What You Can Do

Certify Your Business or Household as an Environmental Steward

This is a free certification offered by the City. Staff will offer free assistance to interested businesses. Currently the program extends to households, restaurants, lodging, retail stores, office buildings, schools and places of worship, and automotive establishments. 

Patronize Your Local Farmers’ Markets

Anne Arundel County Farmers’ Market

  • Annapolis: 275 Harry S Truman Parkway
  • WIC and Senior FMNP Checks Accepted at Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday markets
  • Saturday: 7 a.m. to Noon, April  - December
  • Sunday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Year-Round 
  • Wednesday: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., May - November
  • Thursday: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.,  CSA drop-off
  • Have a question or comment, email market secretary at aacfmseretary@gmail.com 

Participate in the Buy Local Challenge

Visit the Buy Local website to make a pledge to eat at least one thing from a local farm every day during Buy Local Week. This year, Buy Local Week is 07-22-2022 - 07-31-2022.

Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Group 

Find a CSA at LocalHarvest.

Measure & Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Your personal or household carbon footprint is the measure of the amount of carbon dioxide that is released in to the atmosphere as you carry on your daily routine.

Here is a list of small things that you can do as a homeowner to reduce your carbon footprint:

  1. Use reusable bags when purchasing groceries or going shopping.
  2. Take your old plastic shopping bags to your local grocery store. Most grocery stores will accept plastic bags and have recycling bins inside the store.
  3. Carpool, bike, walk, or use public transit to get to work.
  4. Fill up your gas tank, lawn mower, or other gas-powered machine after 7 p.m.
  5. Try to run errands in one trip - your car gives off 5 times the emissions from starting after an hour of non-use because the engine is no longer "warm."
  6. Volunteer for community clean-ups and plantings.
  7. Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs - they will last longer and can reduce household energy bills. Dispose properly after use!
  8. Make a conscious effort to turn off lights and appliances in rooms that are not occupied.
  9. Recycle old, used batteries.
  10. Recycle belongings that you no longer use and in good condition by joining the Annapolis Freecycle group.
  11. Unplug electronics such as the television or the computer when not in use.
  12. Buy "current cutters" which are outlet switches that cut off electric currents from appliances without the hassle of unplugging and plugging between uses.
  13. Power Strips are also handy for multiple electronic devices.
  14. Think about recycling and encouraging others to do so.
  15. Recycle or re-use old tires - use for tire swings, cut to use as garden flower beds, and they make great boat bumpers!
  16. Heat or cool only rooms that are being used by closing vents and doors to unoccupied rooms.
  17. Set thermostats down when sleeping and off when the home is not in use.
  18. Purchase locally grown produce and in-season produce.
  19. Only wash full loads of laundry and dishes.
  20. For those who rinse dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, wash in a basin of cold water instead of hot running water.
  21. Line-dry clothes when possible.
  22. Use low - or no-VOC latex or water-based paints instead of oil-based paints and solvents.

Prevent Pollution From Entering the Chesapeake Bay & Its Tributaries

Taken from the United States Environmental Protection Agency website:

  1. Limit engine operation at full throttle.
  2. Eliminate unnecessary idling.
  3. Avoid spilling gasoline.
  4. Use a gasoline container you can handle easily and hold securely.
  5. Pour slowly and smoothly.
  6. Use a funnel or a spout with an automatic stop device to prevent overfilling the gas tank.
  7. Close the vent on portable gas tanks when the engine is not in use or when the tank is stored.
  8. Transport and store gasoline out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place.
  9. Use caution when pumping gasoline into a container at the gas station.
  10. Carefully measure the proper amounts of gasoline and oil when refueling.
  11. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule.
  12. Prepare engines properly for winter storage.
  13. Buy new, cleaner marine engines.