Toyota of Georgetown Environmental Field Trips for Students

March 11, 2015By 0 comment

Overlooking nearly 50 acres of wetlands, prairies and woodlands, Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky’s nature trail spans approximately one mile, windingalongside native grasses, bluebird boxes, and Kentucky ‘cane’. Trail markers tell Kentucky’s story and how TMMK works hard to protect the state’s natural treasures. Hikers are guided from one ecological highlight to another, with each stop providing information about the beauty, history and importance of our natural environment.

Admission
Free

Accessibility
Approximately one-fourth of the Nature Trail (1/4 mile) is paved and wheelchair accessible.

Hours of Operation
Guided tours are available for school groups Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Reservations must be made in advance. Self-guided tours available for all visitors accompanied by a Toyota Team Member.

Scheduling
Interested in visiting? Schools may schedule guided trail tours by calling the Visitor Center at 1-800-866-4485. A maximum of 32 (including 1 adult for every 15 students) can be scheduled for guided tours, available Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Guided tours are weather permitting, and scheduled seasonally (March through November). Self-guided tours may be scheduled for groups larger than 32.

 Lunch
Staying for lunch? A covered pavilion is suitable for picnicking, and ideal for school groups visiting the nature trail. Click here for picnic shelter guidelines.

Transportation Reimbursement for Schools
Toyota offers a limited number of transportation reimbursements for field trips to TMMK’s Environmental Education Center| Nature Trail. Transportation reimbursements are available for 4th – 8th grade field trips.  For more information about this program and to apply, click here.

Link for lunch http://toyotaky.com/enviro7.asp

Link for reimbursement request http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K6Y6P2T

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What Book Should All Kentuckians Read in Their Lifetime?

February 12, 2015By 0 comment

Remember your favorite book – the one so good you forgot to eat or sleep because you couldn’t put it down? And then became annoyed when the movie version got it wrong? Share it with someone else!  Bluegrass Greensource is partnering with Teach For America on a “best books campaign,” searching for the one book that every Kentuckian must read.  The number one voted title will be donated to 24 schools in Kentucky. And you can win a Kindle!  It takes just a minute and has a big impact – vote and share!

Snap a picture of yourself with your favorite book!  Photos can be submitted to 1bookkentucky@gmail.com.

Teach For America is an education non-profit that places great teachers in low-income schools in Kentucky.

Link to vote and share – www.yourschoolsyourcall.org

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Science Sensation is a Sensation at the Kentucky American Water Science Fair!

February 12, 2015By 0 comment

More than 700 students from around Fayette County gathered at Tates Creek High School Saturday, February 7th to compete in this year’s science fair.

30 community exhibitors took part in the Science Sensation portion of the fair.  Science Sensation offers hands-on activities and learning experiences for students while they wait to have their projects judged and attend the award’s portion of the fair.   LexMark’s kinetic sand exhibit was a popular booth with students waiting in line to form sculptures from the sand.  Students also learned about gems and minerals, fossils, chromatography, and had the opportunity to examine animal organs.

For the second year, Bluegrass Greensource helped the Science Fair become more environmentally friendly by incorporating recycling into the event.  This year’s fair featured dual stream containers to collect waste.  Each container was labeled with items at the fair that are recyclable.  Bluegrass Greensource volunteers, Sema Sherwani and Frough Sherwani, helped fair goers to dispose of items properly and greatly reduced the amount of recyclables making their way into the landfill-bound waste.  Rosie the Recycling Bin and Louie the Lightning Bug greeted students, reminding them to recycle and conserve energy.

Bluegrass Greensource would like to thank Kentucky American Water, Tates Creek High School, the 150 volunteers, the exhibitors, the students and their families that made this day possible.

The 16th District Science Fair is collaboration between Fayette County Public Schools and Kentucky American Water.  Bluegrass Greensource is contracted through KAW to organize the Science Sensation portion of the science fair.

 

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Rain Garden Opportunities

February 12, 2015By 0 comment

What if all our neighborhoods incorporated stormwater that drains from the roof into the natural landscaping around our homes? Plants would be watered naturally, the groundwater recharged, and excessive curbing and stormwater systems could be eliminated. Instead of this modern, concrete-filled, suburban environment we could have flourishing ecosystems in our own yards, as well as better water quality in our creeks and streams. Utilizing rain gardens can help with many of our storm water issues.

A rain garden is a garden with a shallow depression that captures runoff from impervious surfaces, such as rooftops, patios, driveways, and parking lots, before it enters the storm water system. Rain gardens can be customized and are limited only by the resources and time you want to put into them. They use natural processes to improve water quality by filtering pollutants and reducing the amount of storm water runoff. The water easily infiltrates into the soil because of the deep roots of the native plants and recharges the groundwater supply.

In 2013, Bluegrass Greensource received a grant through the Kentucky’s Division of Water to conduct an education program about rain gardens. With this grant Bluegrass Greensource will continue to work with community partners to maintain a rain garden program by leading workshops about rain garden benefits on water quality and quantity, encouraging their construction, and keeping a register of rain gardens built in Central Kentucky.

Bluegrass Greensource will be hosting a series of rain garden workshops sponsored by the Kentucky Division of Water. These workshops are free to the public and participants may be eligible to receive a $250 grant for native plants. This grant will offer residents of Jessamine, Scott, Madison, Clark, Bourbon and Woodford Counties educational opportunities as well as possible funds for plant materials. A Rain Garden Tour will also be offered in each county after the grant program has ended.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

February 24th – Bourbon County Middle School, 6-8 p.m.

April 23rd – Woodford County Extension Office,  more information coming soon

April 29th – Bourbon County Extension Office, 1-4 p.m.

May 6th – Madison County Extension Office, 1-5 p.m.

May 7th – Clark County; Rain Garden and Invasive Species Workshop, more information coming soon

If you would like to learn more about rain garden and possible grant opportunities, I would encourage you to visit our webpage at: www.bgGreensource.org/rain-gardens/.

 

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Green Stories

January 14, 2015By 0 comment

We are excited to highlight the work of our LiveGreenLexington Partners through a new video series called Green Stories. These videos will feature a Lexington business who is participating in the LiveGreenLexington Partner Program and showcase their sustainability stories quarterly. The first business to be featured in the series is Bullhorn Creative. In this video Brad Flowers gives us a tour of their building while discussing the benefits of their employee bike program, their volunteer work with Seedleaf, and office composting. The next partner to be featured is the Lexington Public Library, so stay tuned to see the exciting changes their green team is making. If you would like to have your business showcased on Green Stories, please contact Schuyler Warren at schuyler@bggreensource.org

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Sustainable Love

January 14, 2015By 0 comment

Though “The Holiday Season,” is now officially behind us, there’s always another one just around the corner. Whether you see Valentine’s Day as an invention of the card industry to continue sales into the new year, or you feel as though it’s the one day out of the year that you can truly tell your loved ones how you feel, February 14th is quickly approaching. I know those gifts in the seasonal aisle of the grocery store look really appealing, but there are many ways to show you care that are a lot less likely to end up in a landfill so quickly. I’m sure your honey would love the sentiment, but does your house really need another teddy bear holding a heart-shaped pillow? As you look for creative ways to treat others – or yourself – this Valentine’s Day, keep the following options in mind:

Love Local. If homemade gifts and cards aren’t your forte, find a neighbor who is bursting with creativity. Check out markets and craft fairs to support local farmers, artists, and other craftspeople. Locally or homemade chocolate is a great alternative to the boxed kind at the grocery; you can’t go wrong with Kentucky bourbon balls! Also think local when planning Valentine’s Day outings by looking for restaurants that highlight local, in-season ingredients on their menu. Bonus points if your find is made from repurposed materials!

Let your Love Grow. Instead of purchasing flowers that may have been farmed unsustainably and likely travelled a long way between being cut and being bought, give your loved one a living plant. Living plants last much longer and are much better for the environment. Try a potted, flowering plant or get one that you can eventually place in your yard and watch grow, like a native pawpaw tree or blueberry shrub.

Spread the Love. Spend your Valentine’s Day giving back to your community! Volunteer at a local nonprofit with family and friends or give to those in need in lieu of less meaningful gifts to your loved ones. Share your home, and the love of those who live in it, by adopting an animal from your local humane society.

Love your Mother. Mother Nature, that is! Bundle up and spend some time outdoors this February. People tend to forget about litter cleanups in the colder months, so make an effort to pick up your neighborhood for a few minutes each day during the week of Valentine’s day to show some love to your community. Check out other outdoor events happening in conjunction with Valentine’s Day, such as Kentuckians for the Commonwealth’s 10th annual I Love Mountains day happening in Frankfort on February 12th. Organized events are a great way to meet people with similar interests and can get you out of the house if you’re fighting the Valentine’s Day – or simply the cold weather – blues.

earth love

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Join the Greenforce

January 14, 2015By 0 comment

The new volunteer program, Bluegrass GreenForce is up and running.  On Saturday, January 10th, we had our very first Bluegrass Greensource 101 class.  We covered topics on recycling, zero-waste, water-quality, litter, and rain barrels.  Participants were excited to get out and volunteer.  We are looking forward to launching the Bluegrass GreenForce program with this core group of volunteers!

There is still time for you to join the GreenForce!  Joining the GreenForce is an opportunity for you to be trained on important environmental issues, lead stream clean-ups and storm-drain stenciling events, collaborate with our education and outreach staff, educate the community at community events, and implement your own ideas for greening Central Kentucky. There are volunteer opportunities in our Lexington office and on-site throughout our 19 county service region in Central Kentucky.

Bluegrass Greensource is always grateful for help distributing outreach materials, staffing community booths, and designing or translating informational displays.  People ready and willing to get their hands dirty at reforestation events, community cleanups, and water quality testing are also appreciated!  Whatever you want to do, we will find a way for you to volunteer.

The first step in joining the GreenForce is to attend a Bluegrass Greensource 101 class, and we are hoping to schedule another Bluegrass Greensource 101 class for February.  Stay tuned, and please let us know if you are interested in this training!

If you have questions or are interested in joining the GreenForce, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Ashley Bryant Cheney, at ashley@bggreensource.org or call 859-266-1572.

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A New Opportunity at Bluegrass Greensource!

December 18, 2014By 0 comment

A new unique leadership opportunity awaits you at Bluegrass Greensource! Are you interested in developing new skills, strengthening your leadership ability, implementing new ideas, and making an impact in your community?

If so, Bluegrass Greensource has a wonderful new opportunity for you!

In 2015, Bluegrass Greensource will be launching Bluegrass Greenforce. This is more than a volunteer program. It is an opportunity for you to be trained on important environmental issues, lead stream clean-ups and storm-drain stenciling events, collaborate with our education and outreach staff, educate the community at community events, and implement your own ideas for greening Central Kentucky.

Join us on Saturday January 10th at our new office (835 National Ave. Lexington) from 9am-12pm to learn about Bluegrass Greenforce. Whether you are interested in volunteering at community events, schools, in the office, or doing any volunteer work with Bluegrass Greensource, this training will give you the information and tools you need to start making an impact in our environment.

We hope to see you there!

Space for this training is limited. Please RSVP to the Volunteer Coordinator, Ashley Bryant Cheney, at ashley@bggreensource.org.

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Thank You for Your Support During the GoodGiving Guide Challenge!

December 15, 2014By 0 comment

Bluegrass Greensource would like to offer special thanks to those who donated during the GoodGiving Guide Challenge! With your support, we raised $3,275 for environmental education in central Kentucky!

GGG Thank You (1)

Many thanks to our donors:

Mary Arthur

Jack Barnett

Carol Bottoms

Tracy Brown

Martha Brown

Gregory Butler

Sandy Camargo

Susan Cohn

Michael Cronk

Blaine Early

Amy Eddie

Chris Eddie

Daniel Elko

Jane Eller

Lynn Garrett

Ann and Tom Garrity

Ken Gish

Lajuanda Haight-Maybriar

Teresa Hendricks

Kristin Ingwell Goode

Susan Janecek

Diane Kohler

Hope Lanham

Tammy Liles

Tresine Logsdon

Mari Long

David Mannino

Malissa McAlister

Mary Miller

David Miller

Lauren Monahan

Robbie Morgan

Stephen Noel

Angela Poe

Katherine Redmond

David Shehee

Jody Shoup

Amy Sohner

Pattie Stivender

Kenya Stump

Stephanie Trevor

Chris Tyler

Wayne Waddell

Schuyler Warren

Pamla Wood

Phillip Woolery

Danny Woolums

Christina Zavos

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Our Eco-Friendly Workplace: Putting the Green in Greensource

December 11, 2014By 0 comment

Our outreach staff spends a lot of time working with local businesses to help them foster sustainability efforts in the office, but we don’t often talk about the things we do to be green in our own space.  Since we’ve just moved to our new location at 835 National Avenue (come see us!), now is the perfect time to share some of the cool, eco-friendly things going on in our office – from our space, to our equipment, to our people.

Our Space

  • Repurposed Building: Our office was once an empty warehouse.  In a world of suburban sprawl, we’re proud to occupy existing infrastructure in the heart of Lexington.
  • LED Lighting: Our energy-efficient lighting cuts our carbon footprint down to size.  Lighting accounts for 25-40% of energy consumption in an average building; it’s an important place to strive for efficiency.
  • Natural Light: Windows and skylights allow us to turn off our overhead lighting on sunny days.
  • Recycled Paint: Our walls feature recycled latex paint: donated to the Lexington Habitat for Humanity ReStore, mixed by Greensource employees, and put to work brightening our space – not sitting in a landfill.
  • Low-Flow Facilities: Guilt-free flushing courtesy of our water-efficient restrooms.  We’re hoping to take it to the next level in the near future with the installation of dual-flush toilets.
  • Pre-Owned Furniture: Most of our couches, chairs, cabinets, and décor are pre-owned, refurbished, and reused.

Our Equipment

  • Hybrid Company Car: With a 19-county service area, we do a lot of driving.  Our fuel-efficient hybrid gets more than 40 miles out of a gallon of gas.
  • Programmable Thermostats: We don’t want to waste energy on heating and cooling our space overnight and on weekends; thanks to our programmable thermostats, we don’t have to.
  • Three Rosies, One Herbie, and Recycling Bins at Every Desk: We’re set up to make recycling easy and effective.  Our common area – and each individual work station – has a recycling bin, and we recycle more than we throw away.
  • Personal Lighting: Desk lamps cut down on energy usage; during low occupancy, the lamps are on and the overhead lighting is off.
  • Duplexed Printers: By setting duplex (2-sided) printing as our default, we cut our paper use in half.
  • Power Strips: Each workstation is plugged into its own power strip, making it quick and easy to eliminate energy waste when it’s not in use.
  • Reusable and Compostable Dishes: Americans use more than 14 billion disposable paper coffee cups every year, and more than 50 billion plastic water bottles, but we’re bucking the trend at Bluegrass Greensource.  Reusable dishes are provided, and employees are encouraged to bring their own mugs and water bottles – and when we have to go disposable, our cups, plates, and utensils are compostable.

Our People

  • Recycling: We recycle as much as we can: glass, paper, cardboard, cans, and plastic – all of which the city of Lexington collects – but also electronics and ink and toner cartridges.
  • Paper Reuse: Paper that’s been printed on one side doesn’t go to waste; we reprint the blank side with internal memos and documents.
  • Lights Out: Between natural light and workspace lighting, we don’t always need the overhead lights to be on – so we turn them off.  The same goes for any areas of the office that aren’t occupied or in use.
  • Shut Down: Each employee shuts down his or her workstation at the end of the day: computers and other electronics are never left running, and power strips are switched off to prevent vampire energy loss.
  • Vermicomposting: A compost bin with a hardworking team of red wiggler earthworms helps us dispose of food waste naturally.
  • Hand Towels: Yes, paper towels are still an option – but the hand towels in our restrooms and kitchen are our waste-free option of choice.
  • Carpooling and Alternative Transportation: We support and encourage biking and walking to work, and carpool to meetings, events, and activities every chance we get.
  • Green Purchasing: Our purchasing power matters, and we choose to support suppliers and manufacturers of sustainable products.  From printer paper to cleaning supplies to promotional materials to trophies and plaques, awe seek out post consumer recycled content, reclaimed materials, and safe, biodegradable components.

Being sustainable at work doesn’t have to mean major building improvements or expense; it can be as simple as a few extra recycling bins and a little staff training.  If you’re interested in making your workplace a little more eco-friendly, we can help!  Get in touch with our Outreach Specialists and find out what changes you can make to go a little greener.

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