Actions
Most of us learn best by doing. We also draw strength and inspiration from working together. A core element in Boxerwood's outreach is bringing people together around a shared conservation project. This collective approach builds community, strengthens citizen stewardship, and makes a tangible difference where we live.
Backyard Compost Challenge
Our 10-week citizen science project helps hundreds of people develop new, long-term composting habits each year. With grant-funded supplies and coaching provided by Boxerwood, 80 non-composting families tackle the question, "If given the chance, how many pounds of food waste could households keep out of the Rockbridge County landfill?" Annual success rate exceeds 97%.
BV Cool Trees
This project generates environmental and economic benefits for our partner, the City of Buena Vista. Funded by a grant the Virginia Department of Forestry, BV Cool Trees brings together property owners, public officials, and local youth in a 3-year endeavor to plant more than 250 native trees in town. The project also strengthens civic engagement and connect teens with their community through paid summer internships.
COREworks
Our homegrown carbon offset marketplace (COREworks) makes a difference for the planet right where we live. As an ecosystem of customers, project facilitators, and volunteers, COREworks helps people turn climate concerns into actions. Our verified projects include local tree plantings, solarization, and composting. 100% of marketplace proceeds help fund additional Earth-friendly projects -- a perpetual cycle of good.
Growing Native
This project ensures every Rockbridge-area school child plants at least one tree by age twelve. The kids first meet the trees during our county-wide grade 4 watershed education program. After learning how trees help keep our waterways healthy, the students stock our three nurseries with 600 hand-planted seedlings each spring. Once in middle school, these same kids will meet"their" trees again in Boxerwood-led community reforestation projects.
Waste Busters
A thousand local schoolchildren daily put their learning into action through our school-based Waste Busters project. Created and managed by Boxerwood, the project is now active in five local public schools. Last year, local schoolchildren kept more than 14,000 pounds of food waste out of the Rockbridge landfill. This climate-friendly project promotes youth eco-leadership while also creating healthy soil for school gardens.