Rain Gardens: Beneficial & Beautiful!

March 22, 2016By 0 comment

Rain Garden MapRain gardens are an excellent and proven way to limit run off from entering our storm sewers and streams. In addition to helping reduce nonpoint source pollution such as litter, fertilizer, and animal waste (from pets or livestock) from entering our waterways, rain gardens can be an attractive way to address these challenges, particularly where urban-related runoff is a problem.

For the past decade, Bluegrass Greensource has been educating Central Kentucky homeowners about the benefits of rain gardens, in addition to providing the technical and financial resources needed to install them. Our goal is to increase awareness of water pollution, how it happens, and how to clean it up, especially when it comes to sources of pollution that average person has some control over. Our approach is to educate residents on how to select an appropriate site for the garden, how to construct it, and what plants are suited for a rain garden. In the time that we have worked to increase the installation of rain gardens, we have learned that most people also need information on how to renovate, maintain, and care for a rain garden once it is has been established.

In the past few years, we have worked with the Kentucky Division of Water on a grant program designed to greatly increase the number of gardens throughout Central Kentucky. Our efforts have been very successful, with more than 50 rain gardens installed or renovated in the past two years. This particular project focused on homeowners in the six counties that border Fayette: Bourbon, Clark, Jessamine, Madison, Scott and Woodford, in addition to extending the program to Fayette County in the second year of the grant. In this program, we reached more than 350 people through 22 workshops, three rain garden tours, eight community festivals, and outreach to various schools and scout groups.

With spring finally here, it’s a great time to get started on installing your own rain garden. If you are interested, but aren’t sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. You can visit a dedicated page on our website. Once there, you can access a very popular Rain Garden Manual that we produced to help residents better understand the how’s and why’s of installing a garden. Additionally, if you’re looking for inspiration and want to see some cool examples of existing gardens, we have created an interactive map that provides a guide and brief profile of area rain gardens.

So get inspired, find the resources you need, and join us in creating sites that are beautiful and help reduce pollution!

 

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Growth of Energy Education at Bluegrass Greensource

February 16, 2016By 0 comment

Ever wonder what Bluegrass Greensource staff are up to? Every so often, we like to provide first-person descriptions of some of the work our staff complete in the  communities we serve. This month, we hear from Olivia Oakley, an Americorps Vista who is working hard to provide energy education to Central Kentucky youth and adults.

Olivia Energy Education
Students work on creating their cardboard homes, which they will then work to make more energy efficient.

As Bluegrass Greensource’s Energy-Efficiency Educator, I have been developing and providing energy education to youth and adults in Fayette County. Since September, I have been working to bring new energy activities into the Lexington schools we serve. One of these new activities is the Energy House project, an activity originally from the NEED project. This project requires groups of students to make an energy efficient cardboard house. With specific rules and guidelines, children learn to weatherize their homes by reducing air leaks and increasing insulation. This activity requires students to use real world cost applications to make their miniature home energy efficient by using materials such as caulk, cotton padding, and weather stripping, which help students learn the costs associated with saving energy. This activity targets education in energy efficiency, weatherization, conductors/insulators, cost conservation, and basic math calculations. So far, the Green Team at Sayre School and the Science Club at Cassidy Elementary have successfully participated in this project. It is extremely rewarding to watch students as they problem solve and work together to learn about residential energy use.

For younger groups (preschool through kindergarten), a big project like the Energy House is much too complex. However, it is possible to use Bluegrass Greensource’s residential energy audit kits and infrared cameras to tailor energy lessons in ways that makes sense to them. For example, I have developed a Window Coloring Activity that better explains Infrared pictures. I first explain how an infrared camera works by taking a “thermogram,” which measures temperature variations throughout different surfaces.

An infrared photo of this class makes energy personal and fun!
An infrared photo of this class makes energy personal and fun!

I then show the students dramatic thermograms like a picture of the inside of a refrigerator or the outside of a hot cup of coffee. From there, students are given a blank window to color in, and I ask them to think about what a thermogram of a window might look like. After we are done coloring, we take a picture of a window inside the classroom and discuss our colored windows. Even kids as young as three and four are able to discuss how color and temperature relate to each other in a thermogram.

Discussing such a broad topic such as “energy” can be challenging, as there are many avenues for discussion. When asking students what they already know about energy, I often hear about their understanding of how bodies use energy to move and jump. This is great, and I love coming into classrooms in Fayette County and hearing from even the youngest kids about energy. As an Environmental Educator, it is my job to take their understanding of energy a step further and instill in these students a sense of responsibility toward our natural environment, one that makes connections between energy and the environment. My goal is for students to better understand how energy is produced and used in Kentucky and why it’s important to conserve it. Home energy is one of  biggest areas of electricity usage in the Commonwealth and is also where most students will be able to make the biggest difference through affordable equipment and basic behavior changes. This makes our efforts of increasing and further developing energy education in Fayette County extremely important.

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Resolution Results

February 16, 2016By 0 comment

2016NewYearResolutionsSlider

With the beginning of the new year, Bluegrass Greensource asked you to tell us in which areas of your life you resolved to make sustainability improvements.

Your responses were wonderful and demonstrated your deep commitments to making the small changes that lead to big impacts in our local environment. Almost everyone who participated committed to making changes in more than one area of their lives. Of the four resolution categories, 27% of respondents said they wanted to get outside more; 22% resolved to make their homes more energy efficient; 20% resolved to conserve water at the home or office; and 20% committed to improve recycling and/or composting at their homes. Perhaps most exciting were the 11% of respondents who resolved to make improvements in areas other than those listed. While these responses varied, a good many involved a desire to grow more food, make more purchases from local vendors, educate friends and neighbors about sustainability issues, and more consciously reduce their own personal consumption.

As part of the campaign, Bluegrass Greensource entered all respondents into a drawing for a $200 gift that can be used to give a jump start to the winner’s resolution efforts. We’re happy to announce that the winner of our drawing was Julie Riggs of Lawrenceburg. Congratulations Julie!

In addition to your commitment, your responses give us a great idea of the types of resources that you want and that we can provide or develop to help you along the way. Thanks to everyone who participated and resolved to increasing your efforts to become more sustainable in 2016!

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Thank you for supporting our work!

January 6, 2016By 0 comment

This fall, our goal was to raise $7,500 to support three mission-critical areas of our work. We are so excited to report that with your help and that of many other friends and supporters, we reached our goal. At 11:51 p.m. on December 31st, we received our last donation through the GoodGiving Guide Challenge, which pushed us over the top! Throughout November and December, we received 82 donations totaling $7,571.

This support is essential to furthering our work in three critical ways:

  • Help us provide 150 students an opportunity to participate in Outdoor Learning Days, where our education staff lead a daylong learning event at the Dupree Nature Preserve in Garrard County. Funds help to pay for transportation costs, materials for the students to use during the day, and our staff time.
  • Help us provide 33 free weatherization kits that will be given to low-income families that participate in our energy efficiency home weatherization workshops. Because winter utility bills are one of the greatest financial burdens low-income families face, making homes more energy efficient is one of the most immediate ways to reduce bills, save energy, and save money for families. And because even a small upfront cost can be a barrier to a low-income family being able to implement energy efficiency measures, we are raising funds this winter to provide these kits, which will increase access to energy efficiency and personal comfort, while also helping to reduce a family’s financial burden and carbon footprint.
  • Help support our 3rd annual Main Street Clean Sweep, which is a volunteer-led litter clean up that Bluegrass Greensource organizes in Central Kentucky communities. Last year, we had almost 1,000 volunteers who collected nearly 4 tons of litter throughout 17 communities. This year, our goal is to engage 2,000 volunteers, expand to 19 communities, and collect eight tons of litter.

We couldn’t have achieved this success without you. Thank you for helping us get 2016 off to a wonderful start!

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Call To Artists

October 21, 2015By 0 comment

What?

Bluegrass Greensource seeks  local artists to create works of art on fully functional rain barrels.  This year, the theme for all barrels will be horseracing, and we need you to put your artistic spin on one of only 10 barrels.

Why?

Thousands of people will be exposed to your artwork throughout April and May of next year.  Each barrel will be displayed, along with artist bios and contact information in high volume areas throughout Central Kentucky.  Examples of past display locations include Starbucks on Main Street in Lexington, Magees Bakery and The Hub Coffee Shop in Georgetown.

All rain barrel artists’ contact information will be promoted to supporters who buy plain barrels and who participate in rain barrel making workshops to potentially provide future work.

Additionally, because of the theme, Bluegrass Greensource is actively working to have all of the barrels on display at Keeneland during their spring meet.

When?

Barrels will be displayed in various locations throughout April and May of 2016.  All barrels will be brought together during Bluegrass Greensource’s annual event, GreenFest on May 21st,and will be sold to help fund Bluegrass Greensource’s environmental education activities throughout our region.

How?

  • Submit a rough sketch of your racing barrel idea by November 30, 2015
    • For reference, these are 55 gallon drums that measure 34 1/4 inches tall and 23 1/4 inches in diameter.
  • Artists will be selected and barrels can be picked up on December 15, 2015
  • Completed barrels MUST be returned to Bluegrass Greensource by February 1, 2016
  • Artist Responsibilities
    • Priming the barrel
    • Creating a functional, attractive piece of art that can withstand the weather
      • Acrylic paint works best and artists are not allowed to adhere anything (such as paper, tiles, etc.) to the barrels
      • To help with planning, the spigot is the front of the rain barrel, and the back is usually against a wall.
    • Submit supporting information, including the title of the work, artist’s bio, contact information and a short interpretation of the work at the same time (or before) as the barrel.
  • Bluegrass Greensource Responsibilities
    • $50 will be given to each artist to help defray the cost of supplies
    • Professionally topcoat each barrel
    • Work with local media to give as much exposure to this program as possible

Who?

Bluegrass Greensource is THE source for all things green in Central Kentucky, encouraging small steps toward a sustainable future for our communities.  Formerly known as Bluegrass PRIDE, Bluegrass Greensource is a non-profit organization that provides education and resources on how we affect our environment. Since 2001, we have provided outreach to schools, community groups, businesses, local governments, and citizens throughout Central Kentucky.

Download Our Flyer

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Green News in the Bluegrass – October 2015 Newsletter

October 15, 2015By 0 comment

BRIDGET’S NATIVE TREE PICKS

 

Fall is upon us, and it is the perfect time to think about planting trees. Whether you are planting in the fall or planning for an early spring planting, choosing the right native species for the site is essential for the survival and vigor of the tree. Read More…

ENERGY AUDIT KITS TO THE RESCUE

 

Bluegrass Greensource provides free Energy Audit Kit’s through the public libraries for checkout. The Energy Audit Kit’s are designed to guide you through the first steps of making your home more energy efficient. Read More…

ANNOUNCING: SEPTIC SYSTEM MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP

 

To help improve water quality in the Dix River watershed area, Bluegrass Greensource offers homeowner workshops in Boyle, Garrard, and Lincoln Counties. Participants will learn about local watersheds and water quality, how to properly care for septic systems, and how to identify problems with septic systems. Following the workshop, participants can apply for a cost-share grant for septic system repairs, or for a free septic tank pumpout. To be eligible for the grants, homeowners must reside within the Dix River watershed in Boyle, Garrard, or Lincoln Counties. Read More…

KRA GRANT OPPORTUNITY

 

Wishing you could find some funding to help improve your favorite local stream, river or lake?  Are you located in the Kentucky River Basin? If so, please consider applying for a Kentucky River Authority Watershed Grant. Applications are being accepted until November 16, 2015. Read More…

IT’S COMING!

 

Wait – what’s coming?

It’s mid-October, and that means that we’re less than a month away from one of Central Kentucky’s best events – the Bluegrass Community Foundation and Smiley Pete Publishing’s GoodGivingGuide Challenge. Read More…

BLUEGRASS GREENSOURCE AND GLAA PARTNER TO PROMOTE APARTMENT SUSTAINABILITY

 

Increasing residential sustainability has been one of the primary goals at Bluegrass Greensource since its inception in 2001. This goal serves a double purpose in that it not only benefits the environment, but also offers additional incentives for homeowners looking to save money on utility expenses. But what happens for the thousands of Lexington/Fayette County residents who live in apartments and lack the ability or resources to implement such changes on their own? Read More…

BGGS OPEN HOUSE

 

There was a flurry of activity and much excitement as Bluegrass Greensource Educators hosted an open house for educators in the Bluegrass area.  Educators and students were given the opportunity to learn about environmental activities and materials available to the public. Read More…

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

 

We will be offering a volunteer training class at our office on Saturday, November 21st. Please let our Volunteer Coordinator, Ashley Bryant-Cheney, know if you are interested in attending!

Check out our Events Calendar to learn more about upcoming green events in your community! Submit your organization’s green event here.

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BGGS Open House

October 15, 2015By 0 comment

There was a flurry of activity and much excitement as Bluegrass Greensource Educators hosted an open house for educators in the Bluegrass area.  Educators and students were given the opportunity to learn about environmental activities and materials available to the public.  While teachers and educators discussed lessons and upcoming events students participated in hands-on activities.  The recycled jewelry table was crowded with older students making earrings and bracelets.  Younger students made animal track books to take home.  Recycled hover crafts made from CDs and bottle caps were a big hit with all age groups!  BGGS educators also modeled how to host a waste free event by using compostable and/or reusable tableware.  If you weren’t able to attend but would like information about activities and materials available to the public please contact Pattie Stivender, our Education Director.

See photos from our event on our Facebook page!

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Bluegrass Greensource and GLAA Partner to Promote Apartment Sustainability

October 15, 2015By 0 comment

Increasing residential sustainability has been one of the primary goals at Bluegrass Greensource since its inception in 2001. This goal serves a double purpose in that it not only benefits the environment, but also offers additional incentives for homeowners looking to save money on utility expenses. But what happens for the thousands of Lexington/Fayette County residents who live in apartments and lack the ability or resources to implement such changes on their own?

Often times the responsibility for increasing sustainability and educating residents falls on the shoulders of apartment managers where the prospect of making substantial changes with limited time and resources can seem rather daunting. Fortunately, this is where Bluegrass Greensource comes into play as a valuable resource for supplying apartment managers with the education and tools they need to become more sustainable.

Recently, Bluegrass Greensource has partnered with the Greater Lexington Apartment Association (GLAA) to provide resources and education to apartment managers about easy to implement, sustainable practices that can help reduce their financial bottom line and increase livability for residents, all while helping the planet. This approach to sustainability, known as the Triple Bottom Line (Profit, People, Planet), was the focus of a recent presentation by Bluegrass Greensource Outreach Staff at the GLAA September General Membership Meeting on September 22nd.

Outreach Specialists Rob Gates and Bridget Abernathy spoke to a crowd of 60+ GLAA members, representing properties throughout Lexington and Fayette County, about the many ways sustainable initiatives can benefit a property’s triple bottom line by minimizing costs, attracting clientele, and gaining a competitive advantage among other properties. The presentation covered a wide array of topics ranging from energy/water conservation, energy efficient purchasing and retrofitting, running a successful recycling program, urban landscaping, proper FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) disposal, as well as potential rebates and resources available for implementing such measures.

With all the options available it can be difficult, and somewhat overwhelming, to know where to begin when deciding what sustainable goals are right for each property. Because of this, it is important to note that even small changes can add up over time to make a substantial difference in increasing a property’s sustainability, with the first step being to engage and encourage residents to adopt sustainable practices themselves. Thankfully Bluegrass Greensource is available to help property managers assess their current state of sustainability, identify potential areas of improvement, and provide the resources and expertise required to develop a plan of action to set and achieve attainable goals.

If you are a property manager, or a resident who would like to see your apartment complex become more sustainable, please feel free to contact Rob or Bridget with any additional questions.

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It’s Coming!

October 15, 2015By 0 comment

GGG.Vert.ImageWait – what’s coming?

It’s mid-October, and that means that we’re less than a month away from one of Central Kentucky’s best events – the Bluegrass Community Foundation and Smiley Pete Publishing’s GoodGivingGuide Challenge.

If you haven’t experienced it before, the GoodGivingGuide Challenge is an awesome six-week campaign aimed at raising awareness of, engagement with, and funding for the many amazing nonprofits providing critical services in the bluegrass. This year’s Challenge will begin at 9 a.m. on November 13th and run through December 31st at 11:59 p.m.

Once again, Bluegrass Greensource is participating in the Challenge and will be seeking to engage with you – our supporters and community partners. We’ve got an exciting campaign planned, one filled with useful information and tips for greening your home and workplace, in-depth looks at the work Bluegrass Greensource does each day, and some fun filled ways that you can support our work.

This year’s Challenge also features some new and exciting ways for supporters to engage and raise awareness on behalf of their favorite nonprofits, many of which go beyond making a monetary donation. In short, it’s an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the needs of our shared environment and help get the word out about all the ways that we can actively work to improve our communities and the natural systems on which we all rely.

So stay tuned! If you don’t already, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Keep an eye on your inbox. And help us spread the word to your friends and others in your network that share your passion for protecting and improving environmental sustainability in Central Kentucky!

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