Sustainable Maryland staff met with the newly-formed Burkittsville Green Team in April to provide them with training on the program. This historic town of 151 residents, located along the Appalachian Trail (AT) and site of a Civil War battle at nearby Crampton's Gap, has the feeling of stepping back in time, with its Main Street of well-preserved 19th century buildings and necklace of preserved farmland and scenic viewsheds.










The Green Team is focusing on several projects in its first year, including, as one might expect from a rural community, those that focus on food and watershed protection. Their Action Plan includes creating a food forest (an example in Greenbelt), holding food preservation classes, creating an online sustainability resource center, and fostering residential energy efficiency amongst the town's residents. Future projects may include a Green Street (an example in Cambridge) to more effectively slow down and filter stormwater run-off, as well as a septic system assessment and inventory, including the possibility of an innovative bulk purchase septic pump-out initiative.
 









The surrounding rolling farmland and foothills are home to the first licensed cider distillery in the state (which uses American heritage apples, many of which have almost been forgotten), as well as the War Correspondents Memorial Arch, which serves as a gateway to the AT. For a small town, Burkittsville has big plans. We can't wait to get back for a visit, and look forward to certifying their efforts in coming years! 

 

Cindy Unangst, Town of Middletown

 

 

The Town of Oxford (Talbot County) recently registered with Sustainable Maryland. As a result of its collaboration with our colleagues here at the UMD Environmental Finance Center, Oxford has recently adopted a Stormwater Management Utility. The town has also started a Community Garden program, and is currently working on a Stormwater Management and Shoreline Protection Master Plan.We look forward to working with the Town of Oxford!