Old Saybrook Conservation Commission

06/01/2026

🌱 The Spring 2026 Compost Bin & Rain Barrel Sale is LIVE!

Join the RiverCOG in making a positive impact on the environment—right from your backyard.

Why Participate?
♻️ Compost bins help reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil
💧 Rain barrels lower water costs and support your garden naturally

Pickup Details – Sunday, June 14
📍 RiverCOG Office: 145 Dennison Rd, Essex, CT | 1:30–3:30 PM
📍 Middletown City Yard: 485 Washington St, Middletown, CT | 10:00-12:00 PM

Order yours today: https://connecticut.compostersale.com/rivercog/

05/29/2026

Need more plants? Deep River Garden Club has your back!
Email [email protected] for more information. Deep River Garden Club Sustainable Chester Sustainable Essex Town of Deep River Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments

05/18/2026

We hope you can join the Conservation District and Native Plant Trust for the seminar, How to Choose Competitive Native Ground Covers, with instructor Kathy Connolly of Speaking of Landscapes. The seminar will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, 1:30–3:30 PM at deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown. Kathy is a landscape designer, writer, and speaker who emphasizes earth-friendly designs, use of native plants, and low-impact land care techniques.

At the seminar you’ll learn how to leverage native plants' natural competitive strategies to your advantage. You’ll hear about seven ways all plants compete for space and survival, and then learn about natives that cover ground effectively. You'll also have the opportunity to handle some ground covering plant samples from the Native Plant Trust greenhouses and experience firsthand how to observe and identify some of the competitive traits, and how to research others. A PDF handout will be included.

Space is limited and advance registration is required. The event fee is $40. Please register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/how-to-choose-competitive-native-ground-covers/

For more information, contact us at [email protected], or 860-346-3282.

We hope you can join us!

Photo credit: Kathy Connolly
Common violet is a versatile ground cover that readily fills many types of spaces

04/30/2026

🌿JOIN THE MOVEMENT: LESS LAWN MORE LIFE 🌿

What if your backyard (or balcony!) was full of birds, butterflies, and life, and getting there took just one small action a week?

This spring the Pollinator Pathway is excited to be joining the FREE Less Lawn More Life Challenge, a 12-week program that guides you through turning your outdoor space into a thriving habitat. No experience needed. No lawn required. Balcony gardens, small plots, and rural acres all count.

The kickoff is a free live virtual event on May 7th at 7pm ET featuring a keynote from Robin Wall Kimmerer, botanist, author of Braiding Sweetgrass, and one of the most celebrated voices weaving together indigenous wisdom and plant science.

Every participant starts with a free Wildr Score, a 5-minute ecological health assessment of their outdoor space. Take it at the start of the challenge. Take it again at the end. Most people are surprised by how much changes.

Sign up at for the live keynote and the challenge at: https://www.lesslawnmorelife.com/?ref=pollinatorpathways

And share this with someone who's ready to see a little less lawn and a lot more life!

04/14/2026

Tuesday Tip: Avoid using rodenticides. These can be harmful to humans, pets, and wildlife.

04/07/2026

Spring cleaning? Don’t forget the items you can’t toss in the trash.

Join us for our first Household Hazardous Waste Collection of 2026 and safely dispose of materials like old paint, chemicals, batteries, and more.

📦Household Hazardous Waste Collection📦
April 11th | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm | Clinton Public Works Garage

For a full list of accepted materials, please visit: https://www.rivercog.org/hhw

03/16/2026

Sustainable CT Community Match Fund Spotlight:

SOS Trees Save Our Shade Old Saybrook is a community group that has been organized to promote the planting of trees. They want to increase the number of shade-bearing trees to build and restore the tree canopy. Their goal is to raise funds to provide trees to residents and business partners in Old Saybrook. A strong and healthy tree canopy cleans the air, reduces stormwater runoff, intakes carbon, cools summer air, buffers wind and noise, and increases property values.

Donate and learn more via Patronicity:

https://www.patronicity.com/project/sos_trees__save_our_shade #!/

03/06/2026

03/02/2026