Service day at an Ann Arbor Park: Buhr Park will be an option for service day this year! Stay tuned for times (the dates are July 25/26, but will be confirmed by the parks people this week). Last year about 50 people of all ages turned up to help spruce up the park and it was a ton of fun!
County Cleanup Day: Aug. 8 in Ypsilanti, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Registration is required to attend and opens June 29 at 9 a.m.; the specific location is provided upon registration. At County Cleanup Days, Washtenaw County residents can recycle and dispose of many household items including electronics, household hazardous waste, bulky waste, appliances and scrap tires. County residents may attend any of the events.
Enjoy local farmers’ markets: Shopping at local farmers markets is good for the environment! It slashes greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, reduces single-use plastic packaging, and encourages sustainable, soil-friendly farming practices that protect local waterways and biodiversity (reference). Buy local, buy organic! Here are some local markets:
- Ann Arbor: Saturdays & Wednesdays 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Ypsilanti: Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Tuesdays, 3 -7 p.m.
- Pittsfield Township: Thursdays, 2-6 p.m.
- More info about local farmers’ markets
Swap event!
City of Ann Arbor Monthly Clothing Swaps take place on the third Thursday of every month at City Hall (301 E Huron Street) from 4-7 p.m. The next swap event is on July 16. You can bring clean clothes and accessories to swap or just take what you need!
Free Bus Weekends! Ann Arbor Area busses are free on weekends during the summer with your library card. If you ever wanted to try out the bus, this is your opportunity!
- The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) partners with the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) and the Ypsilanti District Library (YDL) to offer free weekend fares to cardholders.
- When: Every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer, running until Aug. 30.
- Where: Any local, fixed-route bus.
- How: Simply show your AADL or YDL library card to the bus driver when boarding.
Free rain garden consults for Washtenaw County residents: Rain gardens are great for the environment! They act as natural sponges that capture stormwater runoff from roofs, driveways, and lawns. They filter out pollutants like oils, pesticides, and fertilizers before the water reaches local streams or lakes. Consider starting a rain garden! Rain garden consultations at your home are available for free from the Office of the Washtenaw County Water Resources. Staff provide one-on-one advice on creating your garden, meeting with people individually – right in their yard. These meetings have proven valuable in designing “where” and “how big” the rain garden will be. They also help create a planting palette compatible with the owner’s visual preference.