Berkshire Environmental Action Team

Invasive Hardy Kiwi Plant Removal
2026-08-08 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Burbank Park Boat Launch, 309 Lakeway Drive, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
Join Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) at Pittsfield’s Burbank Park to help remove Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta), a rapidly spreading invasive vine that threatens our native ecosystems.
Originally introduced as an ornamental plant, hardy kiwi has become a serious problem across parts of the Northeast, including Berkshire County,

MA. Once established, this fast-growing vine forms dense mats several feet deep on the forest floor and climbs high into the canopy, creating thick “curtains” that smother native plants, shrubs, and even mature trees. These areas—sometimes called “amphitheaters”—become barren monocultures that threaten biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
What to Expect:
On this workday, we’ll focus on cutting and pulling hardy kiwi vines—particularly removing any fruit before it can be eaten by wildlife and spread further. This is a great opportunity to get outdoors, get active, and connect with others who care about protecting our local environment. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Who Can Participate:
Everyone is welcome, regardless of age or experience! Volunteers should be able to walk on uneven ground for about 10 minutes to reach the work site.
Why It Matters:
Your efforts will directly support native wildlife habitat and help preserve the health and diversity of our local forests.
Come Prepared:
We recommend wearing long pants and long socks, along with closed-toed shoes. Please bring a full bottle of water. Pulling vines isn’t easy work; we want everyone to stay safe and hydrated! If you have your own work gloves, loppers, or pruning shears, please bring those along. Otherwise, you can borrow some from BEAT.
DATE: Saturday, August 8
TIME: 9:00 AM to Noon
LOCATION: Burbank Park, 309 Lakeway Drive, Pittsfield, MA — We will meet at the Onota Lake Boat Launch parking lot, NOT the main parking area for Burbank Park.
REGISTER HERE
***Extreme or wet weather cancels this event.***
Email team@thebeatnews.org with any questions.

Pittsfield Farmers Market
2026-08-08 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-15 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-22 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-29 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-05 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-12 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-19 09:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-26 09:00 - 13:00 and 5 more dates | Pittsfield Common, 100 1st St., Pittsfield, MA
Every Saturday through October, rain or shine!
Find more details here: farmersmarketpittsfield.org
DATE: Saturday, May 9 – Saturday, October 31
TIME: 9:00am – 1:00pm
LOCATION: The Common, 100 First St, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Points East: Possible Impacts of Constitution Pipeline for New England
2026-08-15 14:00 - 17:00 | Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), 20 Chapel St., Pittsfield, MA
Join Cathy Kristofferson of Pipe Line Awareness Network for the North East (PLAN-NE) and Rosemary Wessel of Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) for a presentation and discussion of the Constitution Pipeline’s potential impacts on the Northeast region.
The rise in demand for data centers is likely the most prevalent driving force behind proposals to build and expand pipelines across the country. The Constitution Pipeline would transmit natural gas from the fracking fields of Pennsylvania to a major pipeline hub in Wright, New York, just west of Albany, where it would then be brought into New England. Pipeline expansion could spur the growth of data centers in New England, with proposals for new locations at a scale of up to six times the size of the current largest centers.
Learn about the market and political factors driving current gas transmission expansion and what the construction of Constitution Pipeline could mean to our local communities and the environment, and what you can do to stop it.
This presentation is part of a series of community events throughout the region impacted by the Constitution pipeline proposal. Spanish interpretation will be available both in-person and online.
DATE: Saturday, August 15
TIME: 2 PM to 5 PM
LOCATION: Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), 20 Chapel St., Pittsfield, MA 01201
VIRTUAL HYBRID EVENT: Zoom (registration required)
REGISTER ONLINE
. . . . .
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Cathy Kristofferson is a co-founder of StopNED and the Pipe Line Awareness Network for the Northeast and is their member of the Mass Power Forward Planning Team. Cathy is also a Conservation Commissioner in the Town of Ashby.
Rosemary Wessel is the co-founder and Program Manager for Berkshire Environmental Action Team’s No Fracked Gas in Mass program and Board Member of Pipe Line Awareness Network for the Northeast.

The Beehive Microgrid Model: Mobile Solar+Storage in New Orleans
2026-08-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Online/Zoom
Prolonged power outages can result in a public health crisis, especially during extreme temperatures, with medically vulnerable or mobility-challenged people particularly at risk. In the wake of Hurricane Ida, two dozen Louisiana residents’ deaths were attributed to the 10-day power outage that followed. In response, New Orleans-based nonprofits Footprint Project and Groundworks New Orleans developed an innovative new model to help communities access reliable power during the next big disaster: the Beehive Microgrid Model. A Beehive consists of a “Hive”—a grid-connected microgrid powered by solar and energy storage (solar+storage)—and “Bees”—a group of mobile solar+storage trailers. Bees are charged and stationed at the Hive. During a power outage, the Bees can be deployed throughout a region to support emergency response and recovery efforts, providing reliable backup power for field operations. The Beehive Microgrid Model was first applied in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans; read CEG’s case study on this first project here: https://www.cleanegroup.org/publication/beehive-microgrid-model/
In this CEG webinar, Nate Heegaard, Associate Director of Technology at Footprint Project, and Todd Reynolds, Executive Director of Groundwork New Orleans, will overview the Beehive Microgrid and discuss the design, development, and lessons learned from the first Beehive Microgrid project located in New Orleans. The presentation will be followed by questions and discussion from the audience. CEG Project Director Marriele Mango will moderate.
DATE: Tuesday, August 18
TIME: 1:00 – 2:00 pm
LOCATION: Zoom
REGISTER HERE
This webinar will be recorded and posted online. If you are not able to attend this webinar but would still like to watch the recording, please register and you will receive an email with the webinar recording and slides 24-48 hours after the webinar ends.
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
This webinar is free, but registration is required.
Clean Energy Group
www.cleanegroup.org

Act on Climate with 350Mass Berkshires
2026-08-19 18:00, 2026-09-16 18:00, 2026-10-21 18:00, 2026-11-18 18:00, 2026-12-16 18:00, 2027-01-20 18:00, 2027-02-17 18:00 | Online
Join members of 350Mass, the local climate group, at their monthly zoom meetings (and sometimes in-person) for good conversation and effective action. Learn about their efforts to promote affordable renewable energy and sustainable building practices in our schools, homes, and municipalities.
The group meets monthly on the 3rd Wednesday at 6:00 pm and is always looking for new people to bring ideas, brainstorm clever actions, and help implement current initiatives.
Please join and you will be made welcome! To contact us and get the Zoom link, email at: berkshires@350mass.org
DATES: 3rd Wednesdays
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Online via Zoom

Cummington Tree Alliance Woods Walk at the Rivulet with BEAT
2026-08-23 09:30 - 11:30 | William Cullen Bryant Homestead, 207 Bryant Rd, Cummington, MA, United States
The Cummington Tree Alliance invites community members to a guided woods walk on Sunday, August 23, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Trustee’s Rivulet Trail on the Bryant Homestead.
The walk will be led by Chelsey Simmons, Stewardship Director at Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), and will explore the rich biodiversity of the Rivulet, one of the region’s most remarkable forest landscapes. The Rivulet contains a mature forest with many old-growth characteristics and provides exceptional habitat for native plants, wildlife, and fungi. During the walk, participants will learn about native tree identification, invasive species, tree diseases, forest ecology, and the many factors that contribute to healthy, resilient woodlands, while exploring one of Cummington’s ecological treasures.
Registration is required, and participation is limited to 10 people.
To reserve your place, please complete the registration form here:
▶ SIGN UP LINK/FORM
Once your participation is confirmed, we will send any additional event information.
DATE: Sunday, August 23
TIME: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
LOCATION: 207 Bryant Road, Cummington, MA 01026
Parking is available next to and behind the red barn at the Bryant Homestead. From there, we will gather as a group and begin the walk to the Rivulet.

Habitat Chat
2026-09-02 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-10-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-11-04 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-12-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
The Massachusetts Pollinator Network hosts monthly drop-in, informal meetings for participants from across the state to learn about topics relevant to our work, share projects, ask questions, and exchange knowledge, ideas, and updates.
Whether you’re a seasoned community organizer, a home gardener, work in the field already, or are new to pollinator protection concerns, all are welcome! Stay for the entire meeting or just pop in for what you can.

To receive the zoom link, please register here.
DATE: First Wednesday of each month
TIME: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Online via Zoom

Housatonic Heritage Walk: Tree Identification Walk on the Housatonic Rail Trail
2026-09-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Housatonic Rail Trail
Join Chelsey Simmons of Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) for an engaging tree identification walk at one of the Berkshires’ hidden gems. On this guided outing, participants will learn how to recognize commonly encountered trees in Western Massachusetts using key characteristics visible throughout the year.
Led by a local naturalist and tree enthusiast, this walk will share practical tips and tricks to help build confidence in identifying trees across the seasons.
The walk will cover approximately 2 miles over the course of about 2 hours, with a relaxed pace and frequent stops for observation and discussion. Trail conditions are flat and forgiving; it’s generally considered an easy walk.
DATE: Sunday, September 6
TIME: 10 AM to Noon
LOCATION: Housatonic Rail Trail, Housatonic, MA – Meeting location details will be provided to registered participants.
Space is limited to 15 participants, and registration is required. Email chelsey@thebeatnews.org to reserve a spot.

This walk is part of the annual Housatonic Heritage Walks, which are free, guided interpretive walks to the most interesting historic, cultural, industrial, natural, and scenic sites in Berkshire County, MA, & Litchfield County, CT.

Berkshire Biodiversity Day 2026
2026-09-19 12:00 - 2026-09-20 12:00 | Bartholomew’s Cobble, 105 Weatogue Rd, Sheffield, MA
As global biodiversity faces unprecedented challenges, Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) is bringing the community together to celebrate and explore the rich variety of life found in the Berkshires.
The 17th annual Berkshire Biodiversity Day, also known as Berkshire BioBlitz, invites nature lovers of all ages to join scientists, naturalists, and environmental educators in identifying as many species as possible—plants, animals, fungi, and more—over the course of 24 hours.
The event will take place from noon on Saturday, September 19, to noon on Sunday, September 20, at Bartholomew’s Cobble, a property of The Trustees located at 105 Weatogue Road in Sheffield, MA. Participation is free and open to everyone, regardless of age or experience.
Attendees are invited to drop in at any point during the event to join scheduled guided walks, attend hands-on demonstrations, and learn from expert-led presentations.
All activities and presentations will be based at Bartholomew’s Cobble, where attendees must register upon arrival. Participants may stop by anytime to take part in the scheduled guided walks, live demonstrations of surveying techniques, and educational presentations, or contribute their own observations to the species survey across the Cobble’s diverse 357-acre landscape.
A full schedule of guided walks and presentations will be available soon—stay tuned!
Berkshire Biodiversity Day is organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). This year’s program is co-sponsored by The Trustees of Reservations and BEAT.
