News

By Deb Larking, Environmental Educator, Bluegrass Greensource

The February thaw always puts me in the mood for gardening.  But in recent years, with less time and energy for it, I have gravitated to pots for my herbs and straw bales for my tomatoes and peppers.

I start preparing my bales about two weeks before planting time.  So usually, mid-April.  Purchase wheat straw bales, and place them in a row where they will receive 6-8 hours of sun each day.  I put cardboard under the bales to prevent weeds.  The cut side should be up and the string binding should be around the outside of the bale.  Pounding in stakes at each end of the row and stringing wire between them helps support both the plants and bales.  Add soaker hoses and you are ready to go!

Next, condition the bales.  This process takes 10-12 days and is designed to jump start the decomposition process within the bales, providing a nutrient rich growing medium for the plants.  For the first three days, water the bales thoroughly.  On the fourth day, add a high nitrogen fertilizer (I prefer ½ cup fish emulsion) and water in.  Alternate fertilizing and watering only for the next six days.  The bales should get “hot” inside.  On day ten, switch to an organic 10-10-10 fertilizer to balance out the nutrients and water thoroughly.  Test to see if the internal temperature has cooled.  If not, keep watering daily until it does.  Now you are ready to plant!

I use two tomato plants per bale, or 3-4 pepper plants.  Cut a hole in the straw, add a little soil and the transplant.  Water it in, tie it up as it grows and use the soaker hoses as needed.  Basically maintenance free, the next step is to harvest and enjoy!  And the old bales go into the compost to fill my pots next year!

By: Chris Porter, Development Director, Bluegrass Greensource

Whether as a service animal or family pet, dogs are integral parts of our lives. With temperatures warming, dog owners will soon be re-emerging from their homes to get outside with their canine companions.

Today, many of Lexington’s apartment communities allow residents to have dogs. But if you manage or work at one of these many communities, you know that allowing dogs often means allowing some of the mess that dogs bring. In particular, you are likely familiar with the issues of dog waste on your property.

Uncollected dog waste is an eyesore and nuisance, but it is also an environmental issue. Each year, America’s 80 million-plus dogs produce more than 10 million pounds of waste. Given that 40% of dog owners do not pick up after their animals, it is no surprise that around 90% of the fecal bacteria found in our city streams is of non-human origin, mostly dog. Dog waste harbors harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites, including e. coli, giardia, and salmonella, and in just three days, waste from 100 dogs can contribute enough bacteria, nitrogen, and phosphorous to close 20 miles of a bay-watershed to swimming and shellfishing. Reducing the amount of uncollected dog waste is both an aesthetic and a health issue.

Whether you want to address environmental issues on your property, or reduce the number of complaints about dog waste that you receive from your residents, Bluegrass Greensource and the City of Lexington can help you address these issues.

The City of Lexington has made available to Fayette County apartment communities free animal waste stations that you can access and install on your property. Each waste station comes with all parts needed for installation, as well as a supply of bags for the trash can and small bags residents can use to collect the waste before disposal. In addition, you will be able to work with Bluegrass Greensource outreach staff who will perform a brief review of your facility and recommend tangible steps – in addition to installation of animal waste stations – that you can take to reduce the amount of uncollected waste at your community.

If you would like to access these resources, please call Chris at 859.266.1572, or get in touch by email at chris@BgGreensource.org.

By: Danny Woolums, Environmental Educator, Bluegrass Greensource

Who knew that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner? Considering the overabundance of Easter décor already at the local Kroger, I had forgotten the day even existed! But whether you’re celebrating Galentine’s Day Leslie Knope-style, spending a romantic evening with your partner, or enjoying a special evening with a spoon and a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, there are a lot of ways that you can show your love of the Earth this February!

Consider a Hike through the Woods!
Hug some trees while hugging your partner this month, and check out some of the beautiful wilderness Kentucky has to offer. From the Dupree Nature Preserve in Garrard County to McConnell Springs in Lexington, there are many places you can visit on a date to stay outside and off of screens or using electricity. And, consider this post from Harvard Health reminding us of the tremendous health benefits to hiking!

Shut off the lights. Light up a candle.
Besides the obvious increase in romanticism that comes with food by candlelight, consider the energy savings as well. Shutting off the lights in your house and turning off the screens are great ways to get your body ready for bed while also being romantic and energy-saving. And once you head to bed, turn down the thermostat! Let the coolness over take your house while you find other ways to keep yourself warm… like an extra blanket.

Come Make Candles!
If you’re worried about all of the things in candles or about the environmental impacts of transporting them, then come and learn to make your own! Bluegrass Greensource will be hosting a candle-making workshop on February 10th,  right here at our office. Our candle-wizard, Kyle Hager, will teach you the ins and outs  of sustainable candle making, and you’ll be able to enjoy knowing exactly what’s in your candle. It’s a great date and a skill that you can use for years to come.

Eat Local!
Besides the incredible benefit that eating local provides to our local economy, remember the eco-benefit as well. Eating local means less carbon pollution from transporting meat from South America or shipping in your cheese from France. Consider the local vineyards for your evening wine selection! Try out Lexington Pasta for some local sauce and noodles! Check out Marksbury Farms for some local beef! Dive into Boone Creek Creamery for some delicious cheese! I basically just planned your dinner for you, and I didn’t even leave Central Kentucky to get my supplies. Many grocery or liquor stores do a great job of designating what’s local and some Farmer’s Markets have indoor seasons during the cold months.

It’s easy to shrug off Valentine’s Day as an over-commercialized gimmick to increase consumption. But, there’s never a bad reason to love ourselves and the people around us. Enjoy yourself this February and remember to love the Earth every day as well.

By: Ashley Bryant Cheney, Program Specialist/Volunteer Coordinator,
Bluegrass Greensource

Bluegrass Greensource is partnering with UK Recycling to increase student recycling participation in residence halls. With UK’s campus-wide recycling infrastructure growing, continued education is key for recycling participation, especially among residential students. Bluegrass Greensource has implemented recycling education in three residence halls on campus through promotional materials and a peer education program. Students in the residence halls have been recruited as “recyclingchampions” to promote and educate their peers about recycling. The recycling champions have passed out flyers, given away promotional materials, and are planning recycling-based residence hall programming.

Initial results are promising; waste audits in residence halls show an increase in recycling rates and a more accurate knowledge of what materials can be recycled. Education in the three residence halls will continue through the end of this semester, and two more waste audits will take place this semester to track the program’s effect on student recycling habits.

By Amy Sohner, Executive Director, Bluegrass Greensource

On October 14^th, the Nicholasville Farmers’ Market hosted its first annual Farm to Fork Dinner at the Jessamine County Fair Grounds in Nicholasville.  More than 100 people attended to help support the Farmers’ Market as well as the Jessamine County Food Bank and Bluegrass Greensource. 

The dinner was prepared and designed by Scott Anderson, Madison County Public School’s Food Service Director.  The menu included produce and beef from local producers, and was absolutely delicious! 

The live auction included items such as an artistic rain barrel, a basket of mixes donated by Wisenburger Mill, a print donated by Taylor Made Farm, and numerous items donated by the Farmers’ Market vendors. 

Bluegrass Greensource would like to thank the Nicholasville Farmers’ Market, the Jessamine County Extension service and Chef Scott Anderson for making the night such a success.  We can’t wait until next year!

By Kyle Hager, AmeriCorps VISTA Member

As an AmeriCorps VISTA member serving at Bluegrass Greensource, my primary duties often have me behind the scenes and in the office. But from time to time, I get to tag along with BGGS’ enthusiastic and capable environmental educators. These outings provide invaluable insights into the impact hands-on science education can have on young minds. My recent involvement in field trips to the Dupree Nature Preserve has reminded me of the importance of access to green spaces, to knowledgeable mentors, and to well-facilitated instruction. 

I got the opportunity to participate in a scavenger hunt activity in which I led groups of third and fourth grade students from Camp Dick and Nicholasville Elementary, along a trail through tall grass and forested area near the Kentucky River. Students were keen to observe and interact with real-life samples of plants, rocks, birds, mantises, and even spiders. Additionally, students were able to provide some of their own expertise, identifying tracks where animals such as deer had moved through the area, drawing on their own experiences with hiking and hunting.

Students also participated in miniature raft-building exercises, interacted with animal pelts and skulls, and learned about watersheds by creating their own in a pan. The teachers that accompanied the students on the field trips told me that this is one of their favorite outings of the year because it is often the only opportunity that many of the students get to access and learn about green spaces in a meaningful way. And the beautiful idea that struck me was that these students were not just going on yet another nature tour, but rather critically observing and interacting with their environment in a way that transcends a traditional classroom. Mushrooms growing on trees, the lay of the land, the flow of water, the buoyancy of a twig, all become powerful educational opportunities.

I’m grateful to have been a part of the Dupree Days activities, and to witness the curiosity and enthusiasm of young Kentucky students. It is my hope that BGGS and The Nature Conservancy can continue to provide educational programs like these in order to ensure that our young learners have purposeful learning opportunities outside the four walls of a classroom. And maybe I’ll get to escape the office and learn a thing or two myself!