Author Archives: BGGS Admin

“This is just like when I watch Nature Cat on TV!”

By Rachel Patton

Nothing compares to the excitement in this first grader’s voice when she stepped outside for Stream Day at the Academy of Leadership at Millcreek Elementary. As she walked towards the stream, a huge smile spread across her face. Just outside the back doors of her school was a setting just like something from one of her favorite TV shows! Together, we explored the tall grasses, trees, and stream, bringing to life what she had learned from watching “Nature Cat.”

Millcreek holds Stream Days twice a year, giving the students the opportunity to explore the stream behind the school, look for creatures in and around the stream, and test the quality of the water. This year, the students spent the week before Stream Day learning about creatures who live in and around streams. Kindergarten and first graders found the juvenile or adult match to their insect, bird, or fish. Second and third graders solved the mystery of a hurt snapping turtle by researching the diets and habits of animals who share its habitat. Fourth and fifth graders participated in a mock water quality assessment by identifying and sorting macroinvertebrates found at different sites along the fake stream.

By the time Stream Day arrived, the students were well equipped with an understanding of the importance of a healthy stream! Despite the above average rainfall in the days leading up to Stream Day, the stream was clear and within its banks by the time Stream Day arrived. The heavy rains had, however, moved quite a bit of litter around. The students were able to observe and discuss the effects this litter could have on the stream and the creatures who rely on it. We tested the pH and dissolved oxygen levels of the stream water, then put on our boots, grabbed nets, and stepped on into the stream!  It was priceless watching the faces of my “Nature Cat” friend and the other students when they saw ducks, minnows, and macroinvertebrates in the stream. Even some of the kindergarteners caught minnows and freshwater mussels in their nets!

Millcreek has a dedicated and passionate staff who goes above and beyond to help ensure the success of Stream Day. Millcreek’s STEM teacher, Kristen Witt, demonstrated her true dedication to environmental education and to her students as she organized another successful Stream Day. The other special area teachers led students in constructing their own watersheds in order to observe the flow of water on land. Many of the classroom teachers got right in the stream with their students (and not one complained about having to help change 20-some pairs of wet and muddy shoes)! I am already looking forward to the next Stream Day.

Our educators are always excited to spend a day outside. If your school has a stream or outdoor classroom, we would love to lead classes there! Please visit our website for more information. The City of Lexington provided the funding for this wonderful event!

It’s football season in the Bluegrass! While we love to hear Carl Nathe shout “FIRST DOWN KENTUCKY,” we equally love to hear “where is the recycling bin?” at the tailgates. To celebrate the excitement over this season, we thought we would provide some tips on how to green up your tailgate. 

• Purchase reusable dishware – Durable plastic dishware is generally low cost and can be found at many general purpose stores.
• Reuse decorations – Those paper footballs and streamers may be cheap, but they are still good for next weekend! 
• Buy in bulk – Have everyone designated to purchase one tailgating item this season so buying in bulk is more practical.
• Grill with a propane tank – Yes, propane is a fossil fuel but it burns cleaner than charcoal. Also, victory couches do not burn clean either. 
• Buy Local – Consider local restaurants and breweries when preparing food options. If you prefer to make your own dishes, check out your local farmers’ market for locally grown ingredients. Many farmers’ markets are open throughout the fall.
• Carpool to the event or walk with friends
• Utilize campus recycling – UK Recycling provides game day recycling at Kroger Field. Use clear bags for recycling and black bags for trash. If you run out of bags you can pick up more at the “Recycling End Zone” located in the Green Lot on the BCTC Lawn or from one of the Big Blue Recycling Crew Volunteers. Items that are recyclable: bottles, cans, and boxes. Items that are not recyclable: paper plates, napkins, cups, food waste, and aluminum foil/pans.

If you have any questions regarding this information please email Noel Osborn at noel@bggreensource.org. GO CATS! 

As the leaves begin to change colors and the weather cools, there are still lots of great things to do to stay green! If you enjoy sweater-weather and your pumpkin-spiced latte, then consider some of these ideas to complete your fun, fall days!

Get Outside…
A regular for many families, consider visiting a local orchard to get some fresh apples, pears, and pumpkins! Eckert’s Boyd Orchard is in Woodford County, Evan’s Orchard can be found in Scott County, and Reed Valley Orchard can be found in Bourbon County. Check out events happening at their locations to maximize your visit!

If you are a spiritual person and looking to spend some time outside, consider a day of silent hiking at the Abbey of Gethsemane in Trappist, KY (bring me back some fudge!) or peaceful meditation at Furnace Mountain in Stanton, KY. Being outside in the woods or mountains can be very recharging for the soul and spending some time with nature is always a great way to remind ourselves of the environment we love to protect.

This is my favorite time of year to go hiking. You can work up a sweat without feeling too overwhelmed by the heat AND your risk of dealing with ticks is significantly lower! Consider finding a local hiking trail you can visit to better explore your own community. From the Red River Gorge to Raven Run in Lexington, check out this list from Kentucky Tourism to find a great trail close to you!

Or Stay Inside!
For our readers that may not be able to get around so much or just prefer to stay indoors, there are great ways to stay green indoors as well. This is a great time of year to crack open windows to cool your house and cozy up with a blanket and a good book. Remember that hot air rises and cold air sinks, so open upstairs windows to let warm air escape and let the cool air settle on the lower floors. If you live in a single story home and your windows were made to open up or down, leave a crack at the top of your window to let hot air escape, much like you might crack a window in your car.

This is the time of year where it is good to switch the direction of your ceiling fan! Look for a little switch around the neck of your fan and give it a switch: you want counter-clockwise in the spring/summer and clockwise in the fall/winter! A ceiling fan and a cracked window can save you a lot of money on your heating/cooling without a lot of effort.

I also recommend watching the big game with some friends. Melt the queso and ready the guacamole and get your friends to share your TV with you! Having many people together sharing a TV as opposed to having people in their own homes with their own televisions and lights on is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint!

Enjoy!
Whether you’re outside or inside, consider the environment in all that you do. It’s easy to do and can still be lots of fun. This October, I hope you FALL into some new GREEN habits and share them with me!

Bluegrass Greensource recently helped honor the City of Lexington’s newest Green Check certified businesses. Including the first ever, Gold Level business, Town Branch Tree Experts! 

Town Branch Tree Experts, Inc. (Gold)

Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington (Silver)

Perspectives, Inc. (Silver)

Meg C Jewelry Gallery (Bronze)

Lextran (Bronze)

Minglewood (Bronze)

Boone Creek Outdoors (Member)

A Cup of Common Wealth (Member)

The Green Check program recognizes businesses for their green initiatives and helps them expand their sustainability efforts. Becoming a Green Check Member business begins with a personal consultation and completion of the Green Check Sustainability Scorecard. The Sustainability Scorecard caters to organizations across a variety of sectors, including restaurants, non-profit organizations, retail, and manufacturers.

Based on their baseline Sustainability Score, the business or organization is awarded Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Member designation. While the certification is valid for three years, member organizations are encouraged to pursue higher tiers through continued participation and achievement.

These eight businesses demonstrated a commitment to increased sustainability within their facilities and operations. Examples initiatives from the businesses include parking lot renovations with permeable pavers, installation of rain gardens, upgrades to energy efficient lighting, office compost programs and promotion of alternative transportation. Beyond these high-impact features, there are lots of actions individual team members can take to improve sustainability in the workplace.

“As a Green Check Certified company, we recognize the importance of establishing procedures and policies to streamline and fulfill our mission of environmental responsibility,” says Sara Hesley, CEO of Town Branch Tree Experts, Inc. “It has allowed us to extend and formalize these commitments throughout everything we do as a company.”

Applications are open for 2019! For more information, including how to become Green Check Certified, please visit www.LexingtonKy.com/GreenCheck.

Saving Your Streambanks

Why is the drainage ditch or stream in my backyard or on the farm getting deeper? Or wider? Why are the edges getting steeper? What can be done?

Our Kentucky streams face many challenges from our day-to-day urban and agricultural activities. Streams and drainage ways are straightened, mowed to the edge, stripped of their floodplains, dammed, used as illegal dumps, and overrun with invasive plants, all of which affect their ability to move water and provide healthy habitat. When we look for answers to our streambank erosion and water quality issues, it’s important to look holistically at the causes. What are the outside factors affecting the stream off-property? What is happening on my property that may be affecting the stream? What does the stream look like on my property, and how could that be affecting the problem?

These are all questions and topics we will explore in our Saving Your Streambanks Free Workshop Series this October, a partnership with County Cooperative Extension and Conservation District Offices. One of the main characteristics of a stable stream is vegetation along the edge and banks of the waterway, as well as access to the floodplain, or low-lying area around the stream prone to flooding. This vegetation along the edge is known as a riparian or streamside buffer and acts as a transition between water bodies and upland uses such as manicured lawns or agriculture.

These buffers are usually a combination of fast and slow growing trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials. The diverse native vegetation holds soil in place and protects the streambanks from the removal of soil, rocks, and other woody materials. Even taking a more passive approach and maintaining a simple 10-to-15 foot no-mow zone around the edge of your stream can improve your streambank and water quality conditions. Streamside buffers have many other benefits, including trapping and filtering sediment and other pollutants from stormwater runoff, reducing flood damage, providing shade and habitat to streams, recharging groundwater sources, and improving the aesthetic value of landscapes.

Saving Your Streambanks Workshop participants will learn about local watershed issues and water quality, the benefits of streamside buffers, how to plant and maintain a buffer, how to identify invasive species and methods for removal, and financial assistance options available for streamside improvements. Financial assistance opportunities include but are not limited to the Bluegrass Greensource mini cost-share grant, State Cost Share funding through the Conservation District, and EQIP funding through the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Through a grant from the Kentucky Division of Water, Bluegrass Greensource is able to offer an 80/20 cost-share program (Up to $2,000) for establishment of riparian buffers to eligible landowners in the Hinkston Creek, Clarks Run and Hanging Fork Watersheds as part of the Watershed Improvement Program for these areas. Applications will only be available to workshop participants, and grant funds will support the planting of native trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials along your backyard stream and the removal of invasive plants (if necessary). More information and registration can be found at bggreensource.org/riparian-buffers/.

• Boyle County, Tuesday, Oct 2nd, 2018, 6-7:30 pm
  • Extension Office Meeting Room, 99 Corporate Dr, Danville, KY 40422
• Nicholas County, Tuesday, Oct 9th, 2018, 6-7:30 pm
  • Neal Welcome Center, 108 W Main St, Carlisle, KY 40311
• Bourbon County, Tuesday, Oct 16th, 2018, 6-7:30 pm
  • Millersburg City Hall Civic Center, 1113 Main St, Millersburg, KY 40348
• Lincoln County, Thursday, Oct 18th, 2018, 6-7:30 pm
  • Extension Office Meeting Room, 104 Metker Trail, Stanford, KY 40484
• Montgomery County, Monday, Oct 22nd, 2018, 6-7:30 pm
  • Extension Office Meeting Room, 106 E Locust St, Mt Sterling, KY 40353

By Kara Sayles, Environmental Educator & Rain Garden Project Coordinator

Garden Springs Park recently installed a pollinator garden at the park entrance off of Garden Springs Drive. The pollinator garden is designed with native perennials to help attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and birds.

Not only is the garden beautiful but it serves as an example to help educate residents about what they can do to protect native pollinator species. Pollinators are in decline due to factors like habitat alterations, encroaching invasive species and overuse of pesticides. Planting pollinator gardens can help slow the decline in population by providing pollinators crucial habitat.

Work on the pollinator garden at Garden Springs Park began in October 2017. Once the site was approved, underground utilities were identified by calling 811, and Lexington Parks & Recreation began removing the sod. Members of the neighborhood, Lisa Fernandez and Wendy Devier, along with Bluegrass Greensource, began amending the soil to plant pollinator-friendly plants.

The plants started to re-emerge and bloom throughout spring, and now bees and butteries can be seen flying from flower to flower drinking nectar and pollinating the plants. 

For more information, visit the pollinator garden and scan the QR code or visit Bluegrass Greensources’s web page to learn all about planting for pollinators

By Chris Porter, Development Director, Bluegrass Greensource

Throughout our history, one thing has been central to Bluegrass Greensource’s mission: providing the resources—be they knowledge, tools, or money—that communities need to take the small steps that will lead to big impacts on our shared environment.

We are very excited to launch the next phase of our outreach and community engagement – the Resource Society.

What is the Resource Society?

The Resource Society is a group of individuals who go the extra mile to increase sustainability in Central Kentucky. Members recognize that working in communities to provide needed resources requires resources, and they work alongside the Bluegrass Greensource staff, board, and volunteers towards the goal of creating an empowered, sustainable Central Kentucky.

Do you want to join us in creating a Central Kentucky that understands and values the benefits of a healthy and protected environment? Consider setting up a recurring monthly donation to help sustain Bluegrass Greensource’s work throughout the year.

Why should you join the Resource Society?

Monthly giving is an easy way to increase the support you provide without impacting your monthly budget. It’s a way to provide a foundation for work that you deeply believe in to survive and to grow. For Bluegrass Greensource, monthly gifts provide us with steady, much needed income that we can plan around, rather than having the uncertainty and guesswork that comes with end-of-year giving campaigns.

The Resource Society is a community of monthly givers whose support allows us to plan better and allocate resources in advance. It helps us give another student the opportunity to be a part of our Kentucky Energy for Youth program, to support the planting of more rain gardens, and to organize more litter clean ups in Central Kentucky communities.

How can you join the Resource Society?

Becoming a member is easy. The Resource Society includes friends of Bluegrass Greensource of all sizes, big and small. Whether you give $10 a month or $1,000, you are valued member of our family. Anything you can commit helps secure our work. Just click on the link below to sign up:

[maxbutton id=”2″ url=”https://bggreensource.z2systems.com/np/clients/bggreensource/donation.jsp?campaign=32&” text=”Join ” ]

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Exclusive YETI lowball with the Resource Society logo for the first 50 Founding Members.
• Invitations to the Greensource annual meeting.
• Early access to Green Living Labs
• Invitations to special partner events and volunteer opportunities.
• More to come!