General | Page 61 | Do It Green! Minnesota

Green Gifts Fair

June 23, 2017

Shop among 80+ local, eco-friendly artists and businesses; enjoy holiday food samples, educational passport and prizes, and many green living demos. The Green Gifts Fair is a fun, family-friendly event with an estimated attendance of 6,000.

Pull invasive species at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA

June 19, 2017

Join Friends of the Mississippi River on Thursday, July 20th from 6-8 PM, as we return to protect Pine Bend Bluffs Scientific & Natural Area (SNA), an award-winning restoration site known for some of the best views of the Upper Mississippi River. Working with FMR Lead Ecologist Karen Schik and FMR staff, volunteers will remove…

Fair Food Solstice Happy Hour

June 16, 2017

Join the Domestic Fair Trade Association for a FREE Happy Hour to celebrate fair food! The DFTA is an innovative coalition of farmers, farm workers, NGOs, processors, and retailers. The DFTA was formed in 2008 by organizations and businesses across the agricultural supply chain to unite the values of organic agriculture with the principles of…

Stencil downtown St. Paul storm drains + taproom outing at Tin Whiskers Brewing

June 13, 2017

On Thursday, July 13, 2017 – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, a brief introduction and presentation about run-off pollution will be given by Friends of the Mississippi River staff at the brewery. Volunteers will then be equipped with spray paint, a stencil and safety material, and will head out in small groups to stencil “Keep ’em…

28th Annual Energy Fair

June 11, 2017

The Energy Fair in St. Paul, MN will feature over 80 exhibitors related to renewable energy and sustainability, all FREE and open to the public! Booths include artisans, solar installers, sustainable product vendors & non-profits. Choose from over 100 FREE workshops on topics related to sustainable living, renewable energy, energy efficiency, gardening, and more

Green Tips

Host an Art Night

Looking for a new way to connect with your neighbors, get free life advice, and spark your creative juices? Consider hosting an art night at your house, complete with paints, modeling clay, colored pencils and art smocks. Get messy, be creative, and let the conversation flow. For inspiration and resources, check out this article.

Choose Safe Art Supplies

Arts and crafts materials can be hazardous to your health and the environment. Even though the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act of 1988 requires stringent labeling of hazardous materials in art supplies, many materials are out of compliance. This article offers tips to help you choose safe art supplies, plus substitutes to harmful substances.

Support a Local Business

Did you know that roughly 73 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays within the community, compared to 43 cents for non-local chain stores? When you buy from local businesses, you help that business employ community workers, support other local businesses, and contribute to the community’s overall health. Read more here about the benefits of buying locally.

Buy Green Office Supplies

“Green” doesn’t necessarily mean “good” when it comes to so-called green office supplies. To help your office green up, consider durability, natural resource and energy use, recycled content and recyclability, toxicity, biodegradability and packaging before you purchase supplies. You can also set up a reuse system for the supplies you already have. For more tips on green office products, check out this article.

Think Twice About Bottled Water

If you live in an area with clean drinking water, fill a reusable bottle with tap water and bring it with you wherever you go to avoid buying bottled water. The U.S. sends 2 million tons of plastic water bottles to landfills each year—and producing those bottles requires oil and emits carbon dioxide. Some restaurants in the Twin Cities feel so strongly against bottled water that they refuse to sell it. Learn more.

Contact Your State Legislator

As a constituent, you are your local legislators’ highest priority. Why not share your views with them and ask them to support your position? It may seem like your letters and emails will get lost in a deep, dark political hole, but don’t despair. Whether you call, fax, email or visit in person, this article offers tips on how to effectively communicate with your elected officials and get them to listen.

Get Engaged!

Individuals’ actions are important in setting sound policy, so become an engaged citizen. Whether you call your legislator’s office, testify in a legislative hearing or attend a rally, you can make your voice heard. Still doubt that you can make a difference? This article addresses couple common concerns about whether civic engagement is worth it.

Take the Energy Challenge

The fastest, cheapest, easiest way to reduce your carbon footprint is through energy efficiency and conservation. Plus, you’ll save yourself money in the process! Need a little boost to get started? Join the Minnesota Energy Challenge and learn from thousands of Minnesotans who have pledged to reduce their energy use—and are finding fun, creative ways to do it. Read more about the Challenge here.

Make an Action Plan

Wait. Scratch that. Don’t make your own list of simple things you can do today to make a positive difference for the climate—use ours! This list offers 20 easy things you can do that will help you and your family lighten your load on the environment, keep more money in your pocket, and inspire you to find even more ways to tread lightly on this earth.

Check Out This Template for Action

Scientists say a global warming “tipping point” in the Arctic seems to be happening before their eyes. Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is at its second lowest level in about 30 years. These news flashes are just some of our climate’s changes happening daily. You and your kids can help. Read more here, and then check out Climate Generations’s Take Action! Guide, which offers hands-on activities for grades 3-12.

How Our Food Choices Effect the Planet