Green Baltimore

It’s no surprise that Baltimore was ranked as the 10th most sustainable city by Sustainlane in 2008. Your lifestyle can be more eco-friendly just by living in Baltimore City since you are closer to the amenities you need daily. Recent statewide and city initiatives show a government commitment to making our city Cleaner and Greener, including many more investments in making the City a more bike friendly place. Grassroots, community initiatives are also blooming all over the city, such as the Velocipede Bike Project and Baltimore’s Gardens of Hope in the Upton community.

Here are just a few ideas on how to live a greener, healthier life in Baltimore City:

Drive Less!

People who live in cities tend to drive less than those in suburbs. It's very common and convenient to walk, bike or use public transportation to get around Baltimore City. Besides the benefits to our planet of lower carbon emissions, this can also benefit your health and stress level if you can avoid spending time every day stuck in traffic jams! The City is also launching Baltimore Car Share.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Baltimore City has single stream recycling which makes it so easy to recycle! Instead of having to separate your recycling prior to pick up, all you have to do is place all recyclable materials in one bin or cardboard box and it will be picked up on designated days based on the zone in which you live.

Buy Local!

Check out Buy Local Baltimore for more information, and also see the links below about local farmers markets. There are so many advantages to buying local:

• great tasting fresh foods that are in season


• healthier, less processed foods


• decreased use of fossil-fuels to transport foods


• more of the money you spend will be invested back in the local economy


• Baltimore City will continue to have great local flavor and unique businesses which reflect the spirit of our neighborhoods.

Be an Urban Gardener!

More and more Baltimore City residents are planting healthy herbs and vegetables, trees, and beautiful flowers. Find out about the community garden in or near neighborhoods all across the city, or learn how to grow your own container garden through a class at the Center for a Livable Future. Read more about parks and recreation in Baltimore.

Save the Bay!

The four urban watersheds that drain through Baltimore City are sub-watersheds of the Patapsco/Back River Drainage Basin, which is a sub-watershed of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. We are all connected to the Chesapeake Bay and influence its health. Join your local watershed association, and contact to learn if qualify for financial incentives to green your yard while saving the Bay!

• Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association


• Herring Run Watershed Association

Additional Baltimore Green Links

• Baltimore Biodiesel Cooperative


• Baltimore Car Share


• Baltimore Green Map


• Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students (BUGS)


• Buy Local Baltimore


• Live Baltimore Public Transportation information


• Living Classrooms Foundation


• Maryland Master Gardeners

City Initiatives

• Baltimore Green Week


• Cleaner and Greener Baltimore


• Department of Planning Office of Sustainability


• Tree Baltimore

Markets

If you want to do like the locals do then you will be sure to hit one of the city's 7 municipal markets, including the world-famous Lexington Market, the world's largest, continuously running market (more than six generations old)! There you will find the freshest seafood, produce, local crafts, flowers and homemade chocolates.

Each Sunday, from May through December, the Baltimore Farmers' Market at Holliday and Saratoga streets under the I-83 expressway offers fruits, vegetables and herbs, cheese, homemade breads, and prepared foods. The Waverly Market at 32nd Street is a popular shopping site each Saturday. Open year-round, one can find a close-knit group of vendors offering beautiful flowers, produce, coffee, and organic foods. New farmers markets are cropping up all the time: the ones at Tide Point and Harbor East just started in 2008!

Farmers Markets

Baltimore Farmers Market


Downtown: Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay Streets (under JFX)


Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to Noon (or sell out) May - December

Charles Street Friday Market


Lanvale Avenue at the 1700 Block of Charles Street.


Friday: 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. May 20 - November 18.

Druid Hill Park Farmers' Market


3100 Swann Drive.


Wednesday: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. June 1 - October 5.

Fells Point Farmers' Market


800 Block of South Broadway, Broadway Square.


Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. June 4 - November 12.

Go Life/Cylburn Farmers' Market


2605 Bannister Road.


Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. June 4 – December 3.

Greater Baltimore Medical Center Farmers' Market


6701 North Charles Street.


Thursday: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. June 2 - September 1.

Harbor Hospital Farmers' Market


3001 South Hanover Street.


Thursday: noon to 4:00 p.m. April 28, May 26, June 23, July 28, August 25, September 22, and October 27.

Harbor East Freshfarm Market


1000 Block of Lancaster Street (between South Exeter Street and Central Avenue)


Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. June - October

Highlandtown Farmers Market


3500 Block of Bank St. at the corner of Bank St. and S. Conkling St.


Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to Noon July - October

Mt. Washington Whole Foods Market Farmers Market


1330 Smith Avenue


Wednesday: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. June - October

Park Heights Community Farmers Market


5201 Park Heights Avenue (Pimlico Race Course Parking Lot)


Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. June - December

32nd Street/Waverly Farmers Market

E. 32nd Street and Barclay Street


Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to Noon Open All Year*

Tide Point Farmers Market


Locust Point, Tide Point office complex on the waterfront


Thursdays: 4-7 p.m. Summer-Fall

Tuesday Market in Lauraville


4500 Harford Road.


Tuesday: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. June 7 - October 25.

Village of Cross Keys Farmers Market


Parking Lot - Village of Cross Keys


5100 Falls Road


Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. June - October