Creating Educational Opportunities for the Dupree Nature Preserve

October 16, 2013By 0 comment

Dupree Sign photo

It is not every day one gets to be part of a project with the potential to impact generations. In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy of Lexington, Bluegrass Greensource was invited to create educational programming for the region’s newest nature preserve. The Dupree Nature Preserve in Garrard County opened to the public on October 5, 2013 and was a project years in the making. Named after the family of Thomas P. Dupree, Sr., the preserve will honor Mr. Dupree’s desire to conserve the land for future generations of children. Creating a space for children to learn about nature in a hands-on, experiential way is important to Mr. Dupree who credits his own love of nature with time he spent hiking and camping as a child in Harlan County, KY.

Three groups of school children from Garrard County had the chance to explore the preserve and work with Bluegrass Greensource educators during an Outdoor Day, sponsored by Toyota. The fourth-graders learned about watersheds and water quality, karst geology, topographical mapping, orienteering, and forestry. Many of the children were delighted to see Daniel Boone, who had once laid claim to the area, make an “appearance” complete in period costume to discuss the region’s history and guide them in raft-building. The next Outdoor Day of education is planned for October 18.

Dupree Daniel Boone photo

Bluegrass Greensource’s outreach specialist researched and provided written materials about the history of the land, Mr. Dupree Sr., and the preserve scavenger hunt; as well as contributed QR codes for the trail signs. Preserve Monitor Kenneth Brooks assisted in the writing of the land parcel’s history and shared key facts. For instance, in addition to Daniel Boone’s early claims to the land in 1767, the proximity to the river in what is now called Polly’s Bend made it a great site for a ferry. By 1790, a ferry was operational and vital in transporting produce, tobacco, bourbon, corn, pork, and hemp along the Kentucky River.

Dupree Kids learning photo

To visit the preserve, use the address: 2991 Polly’s Bend Road, Lancaster, KY, 40444 in order to map directions.

For additional coverage of the Dupree Nature Preserve, see the following:

The Nature Conservancy’s site:
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/kentucky/placesweprotect/dupree-nature-preserve-profile.xml

Herald Leader article by Tom Eblen:
http://www.kentucky.com/2013/09/28/2849096/tom-eblen-new-300-acre-preserve.html

Tom Eblen’s other article from his blog:
http://tomeblen.bloginky.com/2013/09/29/the-gift-of-nature-new-preserve-showcases-palisades-ecology/

READ MORE

Having a Zero Waste Event Just Got Easier

October 16, 2013By 0 comment

Zero Waste Recycle graphic

Are you planning an event and would like to reduce waste? Bluegrass Greensource can help! We now have a Zero Waste Guide that can help you reduce waste each step of the way, from recycling to composting.  In addition, if you are in Fayette County, you can check out “dual stream” waste containers to place at key locations around your event, and help you find support staff for your zero waste initiative through our newly formed “Zero Waste Team”.  And of course, if you are outside of Fayette County, or just don’t feel prepared to start composting at your event, we are happy to help you with recycling as well.

Are you looking for a fun way to volunteer to help reduce waste from community events? Join our Zero Waste Team listserve.  When we get a request for support for a zero waste initiative at a local event, we’ll send a message out to the listserve to find people who want to help.  It’s a great way to support community events and environmental stewardship while having fun!

To talk about options for your event, please contact Schuyler Warren at schuyler@bggreensource.org.  For volunteer opportunities, please contact Pattie Stivender at pattie@bggreensource.org.

READ MORE

Bringing Water Conservation Education to Local Businesses

October 16, 2013By 0 comment

KAW logo

For the past two months, Kentucky American Water has been partnering with Bluegrass Greensource on water conservation and quality presentations throughout Bourbon, Clark, Owen, Scott, and Woodford counties. The presentations highlighted different ways people can conserve water at work, at home and in their yard.

Did you know the average dishwasher uses 40-55 gallons of water per cycle?  Did you know that 13.7% of the water “used” in the average home actually comes from leaks?

Participants learned about average water usages in the home, including many common appliances.  They learned ways to save water, including turning off the faucet as you brush your teeth or only washing dishes when the dishwasher is full.   Out in the yard, utilizing rain barrels and rain gardens can not only capture water to utilize in your landscaping, but can also prevent runoff from collecting chemicals and litter and depositing it in the local streams. At work, it’s important to incorporate water conservation into new hire training, as it is not only good for the environment, but also can save the business money.

A wide variety of organizations and businesses participated, including:  Scott County Extension, Full Circle Market in Winchester, Owen County Library, Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass, Leadership Scott County, KCTCS, Bourbon County YMCA, Owen County Rotary Club, Woodford County Extension and the Woodford County Library.

Bluegrass Greensource offers many resources including water audit kits that can be used at home to identify potential wasted water.  By working to conserve water, not only can businesses and individuals save money, but they can help the environment as well.

For more information and resources, contact Ryan Farley at ryan@bggreensource.org.

READ MORE

Septic System Care Workshop Coming Soon

October 16, 2013By 0 comment
Image courtesy of Snohomish Health District
Image courtesy of Snohomish Health District

Did you know that a failing septic system can require expensive repairs, pose a health risk to your family, and have negative impacts on water quality? Bluegrass Greensource is hosting a free septic system care workshop on Tuesday, November 5th from 6 – 7 PM at Maywoods Environmental and Educational Laboratory near Crab Orchard, KY.

Participants will learn about local watersheds and water quality, as well as septic system care and how to identify problems. Additionally, residents of the Maywoods area who attend the workshop may be eligible to receive a free pumpout or a cost-share grant for system repairs.

Light refreshments will be provided. Please call (859) 266-1572 or email sandy@bggreensource.org to register!

The workshop is the first of a series of septic system care workshops and water quality outreach events to be held in Boyle, Garrard, and Lincoln Counties over a three-year period. This program is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act.

READ MORE

RAIN GARDEN WORKSHOP IN BOURBON COUNTY

October 16, 2013By 0 comment
An example of a rain garden, located at Spring House Gardens, Nicholasville, Ky.
An example of a rain garden, located at Spring House Gardens, Nicholasville, Ky.

Bluegrass Greensource is hosting the last rain garden workshop for the fall on October 19th at the Bourbon County Library in Paris.  The workshop is free and open to the public, thanks to the generous support of a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under §319(h) of the Clean Water Act.   If you are interested in attending, register at  https://bourboncoraingardenworkshop.eventbrite.com/.

“Bluegrass Greensource is so excited to host the rain garden workshop in Bourbon County,” said Kara Sayles, rain garden project coordinator, “and we are also offering a limited number of $250 grants to eligible residents for constructing their own rain garden.”  Only residents in Jessamine, Scott and Bourbon counties are eligible to apply for these grants.

A rain garden is a garden with a shallow depression which is strategically located on a property to capture stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces, such as rooftops, patios and driveways, before it enters the storm water system. The soil and plant roots use natural processes to improve water quality by filtering pollutants, the overall amount of stormwater runoff is reduced, and the groundwater supply is recharged.

The workshop is designed to educate homeowners about the benefits of installing a rain garden and improving water quality, and the best management practices for stormwater. Participants will learn how to determine the right location, how to build and maintain a rain garden, and what types of plants are most successful and environmentally beneficial. Additionally, the participants will have the opportunity to take part in planting native plants in a rain garden near the workshop.

“We are proud to educate Kentucky homeowners on the numerous benefits of rain gardens and to demonstrate that they’re a tool that virtually anyone can use to manage their property’s runoff,” Sayles said. Space is limited for workshops, so interested participants must register at https://bourboncoraingardenworkshop.eventbrite.com/.  Plans are in the works to offer additional rain garden workshops next fall in Woodford, Clark and Madison Counties.

This work was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under §319(h) of the Clean Water Act. Bluegrass Greensource (formerly Bluegrasss PRIDE) is an environmental non-profit organization that offers resources and educational information to foster positive environmental change in their communities. Founded in 2001, Greensource provides outreach to schools, community groups, businesses, local government and the citizens in Central Kentucky.

 

READ MORE

Garrard County Joined Us for a Septic Care Workshop

October 15, 2013By 0 comment

Septic Workshop photoHomeowners attended a free workshop about septic system care and maintenance, hosted by Bluegrass Greensource in partnership with the Garrard County Health Department on November 5th.  The workshop, held at Maywoods Environmental and Educational Laboratory, gave local residents an opportunity to learn about how the septic systems in their homes work, how to take care of them, how to tell if they’re not working properly, and what to do if a problem is suspected.  Additionally, Malissa McAlister of the Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute discussed the history of water quality sampling in the Dix River watershed and the impact failing septic systems have on human health and on the environment.  Following the workshop, participants were able to apply for financial assistance, including free pumpouts and cost-share grants for system repairs or installations.

The workshop was the first in a series of similar workshops to be held as part of a grant program funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act through the Kentucky Division of Water.  Bluegrass Greensource will offer a total of nine homeowner workshops over the next three years, as well as a series of watershed festival events in local communities and water-related activities in area Kindergarten – 12th grade classrooms.

The next free septic system workshop offered through this program is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, January 14th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at McKinney Elementary in Lincoln County.  Only residents of the Dix River watershed in Boyle, Garrard, and Lincoln Counties who attend the workshop are eligible to apply for the financial assistance programs.  Please contact Sandy Bottoms at sandy@bggreensource.org or (859) 266-1572 for more information.

READ MORE

Opportunities to learn about environment, how to take care of it, abound

October 3, 2013By 0 comment

A few weekends ago I was fortunate enough to attend the 37th annual Kentucky Association of Environmental Educators conference at the Lake Barkley Lodge down in the western part of the state. It was a fantastic time filled with educational workshops and set in a beautiful part of the state. (If you have never gotten the chance to visit Lake Barkley or Land Between the Lakes, I would highly recommend the long drive. Definitely worth it.)

It was equally exciting to spend time with so many people who understand the value of environmental education and the impact it can have on the lives of others. From professionals like myself, who get to focus on environmental education all the time, to volunteers and school teachers who might not get to spend as much time as they would like, it was great to come together and benefit from the experience of others.

It struck me as I was going from my different workshops and interacting with all of the different people who attended that there really is something for everyone in the environmental education field. As long as you have the desire to learn and teach about the environment as your base, you can take environmental education and plug it in anywhere.

It can be found in obvious places such as schools and with nonprofits, or in less obvious places such as works of art, sports and in businesses. For example, one of the workshops I had the opportunity to take was on eco-graffiti and how artists across the world have used a mixture of moss blended with water a few other materials and have created paintings on the side of brick and concrete surfaces that are alive and grow.

During my time there I enjoyed a trail run and got a chance to canoe, both experiences that offered an opportunity to learn about the environment through both signs and guides. And while networking, it was fascinating to hear about the different ways businesses are learning and interacting with the environment, which not only results in a healthier environment, but also is becoming a standard way to save money and increase profits.

No matter how you look at it, environmental education can be found anywhere and as more people embrace all that it has to offer, hopefully we will all get on the same page about its importance.

1 Ryan-Farley

Ryan Farley serves Bluegrass Greensource in a hybrid role, working as an environmental educator with several outreach specialist responsibilities. Ryan received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgetown College and a master’s in recreation and park administration from Eastern Kentucky University. He has worked at wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in Texas and with Kentucky 4-H in various roles. Farley provides educational programs to several Fayette County schools and works with downtown businesses and the greater Lexington community to educate and empower residents to become better environmental stewards.

This article appeared in KY Forward on October 3, 2013.

READ MORE

Bluegrass Greensource Honored by KY Department of Environmental Protection

October 1, 2013By 0 comment

Lexington, KY – Bluegrass Greensource (formerly Bluegrass PRIDE) was presented with the Community Environmental Luminary Award for outstanding achievement in community-based environmental education and outreach by the Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection. The annual Environmental Excellence Award ceremony took place during the 37th Governor’s Conference on Energy & the Environment held at the Lexington Convention Center.

“Bluegrass Greensource is truly honored to be recognized for our work in the Central Kentucky communities we serve,” said Amy Sohner, executive director of Bluegrass Greensource. “We take great pride in our efforts and to receive this award is very gratifying.”

Bluegrass Greensource’s Environmental Educators and Outreach Specialists cater to both youth and adult populations. They partner with schools and local government to provide programming on the natural environment and energy efficient initiatives.

“Bluegrass Greensource is thankful for the many supporters and volunteers that help make our work possible and we feel they share in this award. We are also fortunate to have partnerships throughout Central Kentucky, particularly with Lexington Fayette Urban County Government and Kentucky American Water,” Sohner continued. “We look forward to building on our success and continuing to encourage Central Kentuckians to work together for a more sustainable future.”

Bluegrass Greensource is an environmental non-profit organization that has offered resources and educational information to 19 Central Kentucky Counties since 2001. Greensource undertakes outreach to over 230 schools, 600 community groups, businesses, local governments and private citizens throughout Central Kentucky. Encouraging small changes in every day lives that make big differences, they foster positive environmental and economic impact throughout the region. For more information please visit www.bgGreensource.org.

READ MORE

Ky. American Water, Greensource among winners of state environmental awards

September 20, 2013By 0 comment

The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection honored the six recipients of its 2013 Environmental Excellence Awards during an awards luncheon at the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment at the Lexington Convention Center in Lexington. Three are from Lexington, two from Louisville and one from Bowling Green.

The recipients are:

 

KY EXCEL Champion Award: Kentucky American Water – Lexington
Kentucky American Water was the first utility to join KY EXCEL as a master member and has been involved in numerous environmental projects, such as environmental education, Trout in the Classroom, Reforest the Bluegrass, rain gardens, stream bank restorations, Adopt-a-Highway, recycling, stormwater mitigation and more.

 

Community Environmental Luminary Award: Bluegrass Greensource – Lexington
The organization provides environmental outreach to 18 counties, and organized 3,000 environmental presentations with approximately 80,000 student interactions. Outreach educators mentored more than 2,500 school administrators and teachers, taking them to coal mines and solar farms to help them teach about energy. They have demonstrated testing water quality of streams; conducted waste analyses, saving a school system $50,000 in waste hauling costs; and assisted in removing 150,000 bags of trash from roads and streams.

 

Resource Caretaker Award: University of Louisville – Louisville
The university created a strategic plan to focus on creative and responsible stewardship. This commitment led to reclaiming more than 200 acres in grayfield/brownfield areas around the Belknap Campus, resulting in being awarded the national Phoenix Award for brownfield reclamation. The university reduced energy consumption by $4.6 million annually, constructed or renovated six major capital projects at the LEED Gold or Silver levels and partnered with local food vendors and producers to utilize local food sources.

 

Environmental Pacesetter Award for an Individual/Organization: Chris Tyler – Lexington
As a member of the Kentucky Chapter of the United States Green Building Council, Chris Tyler has served as the Advocacy Chair, Green Schools Chair and board chair. His leadership in these roles demonstrated his effectiveness, commitment to and passion for the organization’s mission. During Chris’s chairmanship and leadership, the chapter was successful in establishing the first bipartisan Green Schools Caucus in Kentucky, providing the opportunity to educate legislators, school boards, PTA groups and others about the importance of green schools for children.

 

Environmental Pacesetter Award for a Small Business: Pull-A-Part – Louisville
Pull-A-Part has transformed what was once perceived as the junkyard into a sustainable recycling business. The company has made exceptional commitments to resource conservation, waste reduction and pollution prevention, working to set the standard of excellence in handling and recycling of end-of-life vehicles. To protect the environment, Pull-A-Part utilizes proper materials’ management, minimizing solid waste by removing and recycling all fluids and other potential contaminants, maximizing reuse of all possible parts and materials and maximizing recycling of the rest of the vehicle to decrease the residue disposed of by the automobile shredder.

 

Environmental Pacesetter Award for a Medium to Large Business: SCA Americas – Bowling Green
SCA Americas-Bowling Green has awarded environmental education grants to schools and implemented a zero landfill program, which diverted more than 7 million pounds of waste materials from local landfills in 2012. SCA team members participated in several community events, such as county parks trash pick-up days, tree plantings and partnering with Western Kentucky University on providing more than 1,000 sustainable tailgating kits at a football game.

 

From Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection

This article appeared in KY Forward on September 19, 2013.

READ MORE