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Climate Change Resiliency and Stormwater Management

April 9, 2017

Climate Change Resiliency and Stormwater Management, presented by Dr. Christie Manning. Macalester-Plymouth United Church, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – MAP RSVP for free childcare by 4/17 to mgcc@macgrove.org Climate change is no longer a distant theoretical possibility and we know, in general, what climate change will bring to our region: stronger and more sudden…

Ramsey County Plant Sale

April 9, 2017

The 2017 Ramsey County Plant Sale, hosted by the county’s Master Gardeners, will be held on Saturday, May 20 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at “The Barn,” which is located at 2020 White Bear Avenue in Maplewood. The sale features hundreds of native plants, perennials for sun and shade, tomatoes, herbs, hostas and more…

Dakota County Fix It Clinic

April 9, 2017

Why buy what you already have? Get household items fixed for free and learn valuable repair skills at an upcoming Fix-It clinic. At Fix-It Clinics, residents bring in clothes and household items to receive free guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot and fix items. Clinics build community connections and reduce the…

Dakota County Fix It Clinic

April 9, 2017

Dakota County Fix It Clinica

April 9, 2017

Green Tips

Plant a Seed, Grow a Community

Community Gardens are community spaces that are communally cultivated and cared for; these spaces may consist of individually-worked plots, multiple person caretaker areas, sitting areas, and small-scale children play areas. Some say community gardens are the last existing opportunity Americans have to reclaim common spaces. This article offers great information about the many benefits community gardens provide.

Start a Neighborhood Eco-Parent Group

We all want to do the best for our children, especially when it comes to protecting their health and the environment in which they live. Sometimes, knowing the most effective ways to do this can be confusing and challenging, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Consider starting an eco-parent group in your neighborhood to learn alongside other parents. This article offers some tips.

Pack a No Waste Lunch

A ‘no-waste lunch’ is a meal that does not end up in the trash. Buy food in bulk and put it in reusable containers to carry to school or work. Packing your food in reusables is typically less expensive and creates less waste than buying food that comes in disposable containers.

Check out our No Waste Lunch tips!

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.

Green Your Laundry

Green laundry practices are good for the environment and for your wallet! Use cold water, wash only when clothes are dirty, line dry clothes year round, buy concentrated laundry detergent in refillable containers, use non-chlorine bleach, and purchase Energy Star appliances when possible.

Check out our full list of green laundry tips!

Practice Greener Pest Control

Preventive and non-toxic pest control strategies are not only better for the environment and your wallet, but also human health. Before the advent of toxic aerosol sprays and poisons post World War II, many people used passive and more natural means to control pests by deterring and preventing their entry.

Find a list of green pest control ideas in our article on Pest Control, the Old Fashioned Way!

Recycle Your Paper Products

Most people don’t realize it, but one way to reduce global warming is to recycle paper products. Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees. Each tree helps reduce global warming by capturing and holding carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Remember your bottles and cans, too—any recycling you do means fewer of the Earth’s raw materials are used. Learn more 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.

Start a Recycling Program at Work

If your office doesn’t have a recycling program, consider being a catalyst for big change by starting one yourself. See our full list of tips on how to get started (including identifying a Recycling Coordinator and selecting a Recycling Company) in our article, Green Your Office.

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.

How Our Food Choices Effect the Planet

Climate Change Resiliency and Stormwater Management

Ramsey County Plant Sale

Dakota County Fix It Clinic

Dakota County Fix It Clinic

Dakota County Fix It Clinica

How Our Food Choices Effect the Planet

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