Menu
Commission presents annual Sustainability Awards
The Greencastle Sustainability Commission annually recognizes Putnam County citizens, organizations and businesses for protecting the environment.
The Commission on Sustainability has recognized Pedar Foss and Rebecca Schindler for their commitment to sustainability, Eric Freeman for his work to establish Putnam Parks and Pathways and Caroline Sullivan who organized a trash cleanup day at Greencastle High School. Also recognized were Chiyoda USA Corp. for adding a pollinator field on site and West Central Indiana Quail Forever for its work at Chiyoda and many other pollinator sites throughout Putnam County.
Winners honored at the November City Council meeting were:
-- Youth Award Caroline Sullivan
As a senior Sullivan was to try something new, seeing it as a way to still spend time with friends, learn some new skills and give back to her community.
For her project, Sullivan organized a Trash Clean-Up Day in Greencastle. This wasn’t a “one-and-done” project. Sullivan and her friends have gone out to pick up trash many times throughout town. On a cold windy day they still picked up enough bags of trash to fill up the back of Sullivan’s mini SUV.
-- Pedar Foss and Rebecca Schindler
Pedar Foss and Rebecca Schindler have made a personnel commitment to sustainability as homeowners in Greencastle, recently installing solar panels and a geothermal system. They are also adding native trees to Indiana on their property.
-- Eric Freeman
Freeman has led the Putnam Parks and Pathways groups from an idea to an active group that serves all of Putnam County. Freeman encourages and supports the ideas to make use of the many natural areas in Putnam County.
There are four organizations, with boards totaling nearly 50 people, who work closely and share a staff. The four organizations completed the county’s first five-year master plan for outdoor recreation and are now pursuing it as a team with Freeman leading the way.
Putnam Parks and Pathways is making things happen. Friends of the Park of Putnam County helps fund the vision, and the Putnam County Visitors Center promotes it. A unique collaboration, it’s designed to dream big with the county commissioners and County Council and continually creating fun, meaningful ways to enjoy the health, education, recreation, stewardship and entertainment benefits of nature.
Putnam County has more land in protected nature areas than any other Indiana county.
-- West Central Quail Forever
West Central Quail Forever has been active planting pollinator fields throughout Putnam County. Forest Hill Cemetery is a showplace for the work it has done at schools, businesses and churches.
Quail Forever is dedicated to the conservation of quail, pollinators and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public awareness and education.
Quail Forever has been around since 2004, but the members were Quail Unlimited before that. The national office for Quail Unlimited filed bankruptcy, so they joined Quail Forever. The group has been together since the early 1980s.
The total acres Quail Forever has planted is in the thousands and since getting the new drill in 2020, the drill alone has planted more than 450 acres. The group is now working on 65 acres in Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife area, removing invasive and noxious species.
The effort has saved the city $2,000 a year in mowing costs, Sustainability Commission Chairman John Garner said.
In the spring of 2023 Quail Forever will plant a 2.5-acre pollinator planting next to a parking lot and county road and then 17 acres of a mix of warm season grasses and forbs, hoping to make this property a quail and rabbit habitat that will be an example to private landowners.
-- Chiyoda USA Corp.
Chiyoda USA chose to convert the southwest portion of property from lawn to a prairie field and walking path which provides a natural habitat of wildflowers and prairie grass surrounding its retention pond. This project will reduce its carbon footprint, increase pollination in west-central Indiana and create a sanctuary/exercise area for their associates.
Chiyoda has added a pollinator field south of the factory on a little more than five acres with a walk path, it will have three benches along the trail, when installed. Quail Forever planted a heavy forb mix with at least 17 different species along with two annuals to add color the first summer.
The Greencastle Commission on Sustainability was established in 2009 to “enhance the socio-environmental-economic well-being of the community while taking precautions not to compromise the quality of life of future generations.” The Greencastle Commission on Sustainability meets at 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at Greencastle City Hall. All meetings are open to the public.