All News Articles

This is our final Little Things Campaign post! Thank you all for your support to help us raise awareness that little things you do help add up to change. Our final “little thing” is all about putting these little things that you do together, and using

We are incredibly lucky to have access to gorgeous hiking trails, lakes, streams, and ponds. The ability to bike, hike, run, swim, fish, and boat is unlike any other in Otsego County.   To maintain the quality of our resources, we must make sure to respect the natural habitats, and

One great way to engage with your community and help the environment is to support local artists and creators. Now, more than ever, we can connect with local creators through social media or in-person events/shops. Otsego County is filled with amazing individuals waiting to share their work with

Similar to using what you already have (or borrowing from others), it is also helpful to consume less in general. We are surrounded by the desire to purchase new, non-essential products on a daily basis. Our society promotes the next best thing before the last next best thing is even out of

Otsego County’s Household Hazardous Waste Day is fast approaching! Join us at the Unadilla Town Barn on the 20th from 8am – 11am, and the Meadows Complex in Cooperstown on the 21st from 8am – 1pm!   Otsego County Household Hazardous Waste Day Event 2021.  – Refer to this link to get all the event details!  Schedule for Saturday at The

These days, you are probably getting most things delivered digitally. We have developed one-click systems to avoid getting unwanted physical mail. However, without realizing, you may still be getting significant amounts of mail through the mail system, which increases waste and costs. Do you have a pile of mail

There are many reusable products available that successfully compete with one-time use dryer sheets.  If you’re using dryer sheets, try out one of the following options to make a small change!   Dryer balls: these can come unscented, scented with essential oils, with materials differing from wool to silicone. These

More often than not, we already have what we’re looking for. Before you purchase something new for anything (clothes, shoes, household wares, supplies for your car/bike, etc.) take stock of what you, or friends and family have on hand.   By taking this pause, you’ll easily save money and help

With repeated use, rechargeable batteries have been found to be more efficient than their alkaline counterparts. Rechargeable batteries are commonly reliable after 500-800 charges, making them incredibly versatile in their household use.  There is one thing to note, though. Some devices or situations do still call for alkaline batteries due to the extended shelf life (about

As the saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, and the second-best time is now.  Now that we’re here, the best time of year to plant trees is late summer into early fall – think late August into early October. This provides the

Similar to our kitchens, our bathrooms are another spot in our home that we can make easy swaps to more sustainable and reusable items. If you haven’t already tried one or some of these swaps, now is a perfect time!  Switch out your plastic body wash bottles for bars of soap.  Do

We use our kitchens often, and we use and reuse many items for food preparation, cooking, and storage. To adopt more sustainable kitchen practices, try switching out single use, throw away items for their reusable items. Think about the items on the following list, and see which swaps you can make in your

One of the easiest things you can do to help our environment is actually something you shouldn’t do. We’re talking about littering!   When you litter, you’re putting your environment and the ecosystem of plants and animals at risk. You’re also taking away from the natural beauty that surrounds us. While everyone knows we shouldn’t

OCCA has many programs and projects that aim to directly improve our local environment. These programs include invasive species (both aquatic and terrestrial) eradication days, highway clean-ups, trail clean ups, and household hazardous waste removal day.  Join us in any of these events by following the link to our

Is your home warm in the summer and cold in the winter? Have you checked your home for drafts/lack of insulation/old windows? HeatSmart Mohawk Valley may be able to help! Our team at HSMV will help you navigate the federal and state benefits of making your home more energy

There is no denying that it’s garage sale season! Historically, OCCA has had an in-person sale for the whole community. Now, we’ve taken things online for easier access and browsing!   Following the link below will bring you to our current offerings. We are always looking for buyers

Did you know that you can save costs relating to shipping and energy use by visiting your local library? Our library system reaches across four counties (Four County Library System, or 4CLS) – Broome, Chenango, Delaware, and Otsego! That means, if you visit any of the 13 libraries in Otsego