Maintaining the Beauti cation of Our Community

Beauti cation is not only visually appealing, but it often in uences competitiveness. Whether the area is a neighborhood community or commercialized zone, the effort of a well-kept area of owers, shrubs, trees, benches, and signs of welcome allude to a love of a speci c part of a town or city. Once others witness this mentality of beauti cation, the spirit of volunteer led-projects enhances not just one area, but can consume a state. Keep NC Beautiful is a non-pro t organization that “engages and supports individuals and organizations” through programming and education by emphasizing three areas: beauti cation, litter prevention, and waste management.” While it takes groups of people to come together throughout the seasons and year, individual efforts and families can help, too, only by maintaining a clean and beautiful yard and community.

BEAUTIFICATION

With the help from the Garden Club Council of Winston-Salem and the Vegetation Management Division of the city, free plants can assist neighborhood associations and other groups to beautify entrances to communities and other visible locations. The Clemmons Flower Bed program is just one community emphasized project. Volunteers can also invest their time to “Adopt a Flower Bed,” street, alley, park, or stream. Dividing the effort for planting, maintenance, and clean-up eliminates the high cost while inspiring its members to come together in spirit, socialization, and action!

CLEAN AND GREEN SCHOOL CONTEST

Every year during Earth week in April, representatives from “Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful” and the Garden Club Council arrive at our public schools to judge their programs emphasizing beauti cation and environmental education. The requirements to earn a gold-level award are:

• Recycling receptacles of paper, cardboard, plastic or aluminum must be in all classrooms, of ces, break rooms, and the cafeteria. • At least one environmental club offering educational instruction, projects within the school, and a form of outreach, which could include a trail or outdoor classroom, must meet regularly.

• Participate in four environmental programs, which may include the Great American Cleanup,

Adopt-a-Stream, Adopt-a-Road, or

Christmas tree recycling efforts.

Maintaining the Beautification of Our Community BY LISA S.T. DOSS

LITTER PREVENTION

Trash. Something so small and easily disposable costs the taxpayers of North Carolina $15 million annually. Improving the community’s aesthetics and safety takes much more than adding plants, shrubs, and trees to our community. Volunteers are necessary to ful ll the promise of keeping North Carolina beautiful and clean. While contests held in the spring inspire groups and individuals to help, the immediate goal requires a personal commitment to pick up and dispose of trash.

WASTE REDUCTION

In mid-November, a program that celebrates, “America Recycles Day” offers individuals the opportunity to reduce their waste and recycle dif cult items such as electronics (de ned as anything with a cord), paint, rigid plastics (measuring two feet in length and at maximum 40 pounds) as well as light bulbs, batteries, and Christmas trees.

Please note: Not all drives offer the same materials; therefore, it is important to research how to dispose of particular items properly.

VOLUNTEERS

Providing your time to a worthwhile effort can be quickly done just by clicking the following links:

• City of Clemmons: clemmons.org/

• City of Winston-Salem: cityofws.org/departments/ keep-winston-salem-beautiful/

A PROMISE OF BEAUTIFICATION

Keeping the village of Clemmons beautiful is a feeling of pride. It begins with a daily promise to reduce, reuse, and commit to the effort of recycling. The practical ways to help the environment can be self-de ned. A healthy lifestyle and eco-friendliness go hand-in-hand. For instance, local nurseries can assist your endeavor to go green by selling native plants. Beauti cation such as maple trees, cone owers, and blueberry bushes will also help our bird, butter y insect, and bee populations. If you are interested in promoting self-suf ciency, consider planting fruit trees, a variety of berries, or establishing a garden. City dwellers with a minimum of ve hours of direct sunlight could bene t from planting fruits, vegetables, and herbs in containers while using a trellis to save space. Minimizing waste is essential, and with a place to compost, decomposition can turn waste into enriching soil. Just a small area with full sun is needed. Whether you decide to join a group or make a personal promise, promoting aesthetics within your community can begin today!