October Newsletter 2014

Walmart Grant Provides $50,000 for Waste Reduction Education

At a recent press event, Walmart awarded Bluegrass Greensource a $50,000 grant for waste reduction and recycling education in Boyle, Clark, and Madison County schools. Learn more.

Last Chance to Apply for Waste Reduction Grants for Boyle, Clark, and Madison County Schools

As part of the Walmart Wastebuster Program, Bluegrass Greensource is offering $500 grants for recycling and waste reduction projects to K-12 schools in Boyle, Clark, and Madison Counties. Applications can be found here and are due Friday, October 17th.

Greensource Welcomes New Environmental Educator

Bluegrass Greensource is proud to welcome Emily Casey to our team! Learn more about our newest Environmental Educator here.

Butt, They Decompose. Right? 

Cigarette butts are a major litter problem in Kentucky! Bluegrass Greensource is designing a campaign to address cigarette butt litter in Lexington and we’d like to hear your ideas! Click here for more info and submit your suggestions to Lisa@bgGreensource.org.

First Green Business Tour a Success

On September 26th, Central Kentucky educators took part in the first ever Green Business Tour. Find out which businesses participated and what educators said about the experience here.

Greensource to Co-Host Sustainability Summit

Bluegrass Greensource and Bluegrass Tomorrow have teamed up to host the first-ever Bluegrass Forever Green Sustainability Summit will be held on October 30th.  The goal of the summit is to bring leaders from throughout the region together to share information and best practices, as well as to discuss ways to find regional support and solutions for green initiatives. Click here for more information!

 

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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September Newsletter 2014

College Students Lend a Helping Hand for the Environment

Student groups from UK and Georgetown College recently gave back to their communities by participating in volunteer events. Click here for more information and photos from these events.

Take the Challenge: Competition Opens October 1

All Lexington businesses are invited to participate in this year’s LiveGreenLexington Green Business Challenge. Participating businesses are eligible for prizes, as well as free services, trainings, and resources. Find out how your business can get involved.

Support Bluegrass Greensource While You Shop!

Supporting Bluegrass Greensource is as easy as grocery shopping! Register your Kroger Plus card today to start earning rewards for Bluegrass Greensource, at no additional cost to you, every time you shop.

Waste Reduction Grants Available for Boyle, Clark, and Madison County Schools

As part of the Walmart Wastebuster Program, Bluegrass Greensource is offering grants for recycling and waste reduction projects in K-12 schools in Boyle, Clark, and Madison Counties. Grant applications are due September 24th. Contact Deb Larkin for more information.  

Franklin County Elementary Schools Create Litter-Free Zones

During the last school year, students at Franklin County elementary schools completed a series of litter and water quality classroom education activities, participated in a litter art contest, and designated their schools as litter-free zones. Learn more.

Greensource Welcomes Two New Team Members

Bluegrass Greensource welcomed two new staff members in August! Tiffany Smith joins us as PR/Development Manager. Macy Gould, Americorps VISTA member, will be coordinating the Green Jobs program in 2014-2015. Learn more about Tiffany and Macy here.

Energy Education Opportunities Available

Through the support of the Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence, Bluegrass Greensource is offering energy education programming for Central Kentucky classrooms.  Find out how to bring this program to your classroom.

 

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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August Newsletter 2014

Green Jobs Program Offers Opportunities for Educators and Students

Bluegrass Greensource’s Green Jobs Program is wrapping up its first year with some great events – a Green Business Tour for educators and 3 regional Green Career Fairs. Find out how you and your students can take advantage of these opportunities!

Free Rain Garden Workshops Offered in September

Bluegrass Greensource will be hosting several Rain Garden Workshops this fall in Clark, Madison, and Woodford Counties. Each workshop is FREE and open to the public, and eligible homeowners can apply for a $250 grant to help fund their own rain garden. Learn more.

Water Quality  Program Available for Fourth Grade Classrooms

In partnership with Kentucky American Water, Greensource is offering a water quality and conservation education program for fourth graders in Bourbon, Clark, Owen, Scott, and Woodford Counties. Students will learn about watersheds and where their drinking water comes from, and will participate in a project that lets them take action for water quality in their community! Find out how to bring this program to your classroom!

Local Businesses Recognized for Green Efforts

An awards ceremony held on July 31st recognized the winners of the 2014 LiveGreenLexington Games, including overall winner 3M Ceradyne. Click here to find out which other businesses took home awards and to learn how your business can get involved in the challenge!

Bluegrass Greensource and Bluegrass Conservancy Partner for Elkhorn Cleanup

Volunteers and staff from Bluegrass Greensource and Bluegrass Conservancy recently spent a drizzly day pulling more than 1,800 pounds of material from a section of South Elkhorn Creek in Scott County. Continue reading.

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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July Newsletter 2014

LiveGreenLexington Games Awards Ceremony to be Held July 31st

The 2014 LiveGreenLexington Games Awards Ceremony will be held at Blue Stallion Brewing on Thursday, July 31st from 5-7pm. The awards ceremony is a great opportunity to network with other sustainably-minded folks in the Lexington business community. Learn more about the event and next year’s Games!

Rain Barrel Reception Has Rolled Out Until 2015

Despite the wind and the rain, many people came out to Greensource’s Roll Out the Rain Barrels Reception on June 20th. An excited group of supporters were on site to view the wonderful artistic rain barrels, mingle with our featured local artists, and vote on their favorite rain barrels.  Learn more. 

Volunteer Opportunities Available Throughout the Year

Regardless of your background – environmental science, marketing, journalism, advertising, or underwater basket weaving – Bluegrass Greensource needs YOU!  There are volunteer opportunities in our Lexington office and throughout the 19 county service region.  Learn more.

Join Us for A Green Groups Meeting!

Greensource organizes quarterly Green Groups meetings open to all organizations and individuals interested in our local environment. These meetings provide an opportunity to share ideas, showcase recent work, network, and form partnerships. If you would like to receive e-mail updates about upcoming meetings, contact sandy@bgGreensource.org.

Large Turnout for Spring Rain Barrel Workshops

Through the generous support fo Kentucky American Water, Greensource hosted seven rain barrel workshops in the spring and will host more this fall!  Learn more. 

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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When redecorating for spring, don’t run to buy new or throw out – go green

Spring is finally here, and if you’re anything like me then you like to mix some redecorating in with your spring cleaning. Recently, I have been redecorating my dining room while trying to focus my efforts on reducing my consumption.

Admittedly, the easiest decision may have been to just head to a big box store and pick-up the prettiest items on the shelf, but I wanted do my best to reduce my impact on the environment.

I decided to follow the buying decision chart below. I did my research and decided that I would paint and recover my old dining room chairs. I also decided that we really needed a larger dining table. My first choice was to look for a used table on Craigslist and at thrift/antique stores. However, I soon discovered that the size of table I wanted was not a common size.
(Chart from Infographic)

(Chart from Thenotepasser.com)

My next best option was to find an affordable table made from sustainable materials. Through a little research and some patience, I actually found a local artisan who builds custom furniture from sustainably harvested native Kentucky wood. Yes, I did have to wait for it to be built. However, it is a piece that I know will last, and surprisingly it cost less than many of the mass-produced pieces I have seen at various stores.

Now my dining room has a beautiful new look, and I know that I made a more eco-friendly decorating choice.

If you are looking to do some eco-friendly decorating of your own, I’ve got some tips for creating an environmentally conscious living space. You can find some more tips and even some projects on our Pinterest board here.

When you are trying to do some eco-friendly redecorating, your first step should be to reduce the number of items on your “want list.” Ask yourself, “Is this really something that I need?” or “Will I still want this item in a year?” If the answer is no, resist the urge to purchase.

If the item is something you really need, buying it new shouldn’t be your first choice. Try buying the item used, or look for items made from recycled or sustainably produced materials. Craigslist, Ebay and thrift stores often have great, gently used items for amazing prices.

Do you have some old wood furniture in your house or in storage? Rather than simply discarding it, you could give the piece new life by refinishing, repainting or repurposing it. If you do need to get rid of any item, why not contact your friends and plan an exchange party? I bet your friends have furniture or accessories they are ready to change out.

Their bookshelf might be the answer to your living room storage needs, and your lamp could be the piece his/her bedroom was missing. If it can’t be repurposed or exchanged, consider donating home items you’ve replaced to nonprofits and thrift stores.

Eco-friendly redecorating may take a little more time and energy, but the results are usually worth the time and effort. So when you are redesigning or redecorating, try taking some of these steps to move toward a green theme – and I don’t mean the color.

Ashley photo

Ashley Bryant Cheney is the green jobs coordinator for Bluegrass Greensource, connecting green businesses with a young workforce and preparing students for green careers in the Bluegrass. From Knoxville, she’s worked in volunteer and program management at various nonprofits. She has a bachelor’s in Psychology from Carson-Newman University and a master’s in Urban Studies and Community Development from Eastern University.

 

This article appeared in KY Forward on April 3, 2014.

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Septic System Grants

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Septic System Woes?

Did you know that a failing septic system can require expensive repairs, pose a serious health risk to your family and neighbors, and have negative impacts on water quality?  Bluegrass Greensource awarded five Garrard County homeowners cost-share grants to repair or install septic systems at their homes.  Each grant will pay 80% of the repair or installation cost, while the homeowner is responsible for the remaining 20%. 

To be eligible for the grants, homeowners must reside within the Dix River watershed in Boyle, Garrard, or Lincoln Counties and must attend a one-hour workshop about septic system care and maintenance.  Following the workshop, participants can apply for a cost-share grant for system repairs or installation, or for a free septic tank pump out (a regular maintenance task that is recommended every 3 to 5 years).

The next free septic system workshop will be held on Tuesday, March 4th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM at the Junction City Community Center (724 W. Shelby Street).  Please contact Sandy Bottoms at sandy@bggreensource.org or (859) 266-1572 to register!

Bluegrass Greensource will offer a series of free septic workshops over the next two years, as well as a series of watershed awareness festivals in local communities and water-related activities in area K-12 classrooms.  These activities are 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. 

 

 

 

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