Clean Valley Council - Roanoke Valley Virginia

“For better or worse, for richer or poorer – a sacred vow that tells us nature knows no boundaries on the environment. The earth is good when we care for it and the poorest people in the world seem to live in the most fragile, ecologically sensitive part of the planet”, observed Lester Brown. The Washington Post calls him “one of the world’s most influential thinkers.” The Telegraph of Calcutta calls him “the guru of the environmental movement.”

I have a VRA tote bag that says, “it is so easy to make a difference” and it reminds me everyday I can make a difference and so can each of you with small effortless habits. I used to speak of the 3 R’s – now there are many R’s. Reduce, respect, recycle, reuse, run-off (stormwater), replenish, replant, rethink . . .just some words I can think of to “re”. I use these words to provoke your thoughts. Why do we do this thing, we environmentalists, for the planet? or at least our own small part of the planet. Clean Valley Council, a non profit agency for 29 years, has connected the people with conservation and preservation for the five valley municipalities.

I believe part of my personal journey began on my grandfather’s farm in my childhood summers. I met the earth head on with animal care, picking from the kitchen garden and riding the plow horse to the creek for water at the end the day. My grandfather taught me to listen to find bee swarms. I’m sure I could still find the fox grapes. I believe we have little to do with our journey. Our life tapestry weaves itself as we work and play. If we listen this journey happens.

Clean Valley offers classroom outreach for the broad diversity of the greater Roanoke Valley. Here in the gorgeous Blue Ridge, our currency is the student community. CVC’s talented educators through the years have inspired encouraged and demonstrated responsible waste management. This opportunity is free to the schools, both public and private. We show how our personal welfare hinges on the condition of our natural environment. We enjoy the thrill of the eager students and the seasons that beckon them to the outside world. They each in their own life may make change for the betterment of the environment in any position they choose.

Clean Valley initiated the first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day with the Junior League of Roanoke Valley. We collected 30,000 used books for Kenya in the Books for Africa project with Cycle Systems and had Critters Don’t Need Litter come to the valley for the schools. Our office wrote 3 statewide grant proposals that provided the products for our peers across the commonwealth to take into the classrooms for students.

One of the things we are most proud is the Earth Summit. In its 8th year, it is a congress for junior and senior high representatives from all the high schools in the valley. This one day is filled with presenters and workshops. It is the only one of its kind offered in the commonwealth. It is the first Thursday in November at the Roanoke Higher Education Center.

Clean Valley like to start things. Our volunteers are good stewards. Would you like to become one?

An unknown source once wrote, Measure your wealth not by the things you have, but by the things you have for which you would not take money.