8 Easy Green Thanksgiving Tips

(repost by S Presseller, 11/20/2009) originally by Lauren Hasler

The holiday season is officially in full-swing, and Thanksgiving marks the beginning of big family dinners, extensive gift shopping and elaborate decorations.

But the season isn’t all turkey, stuffing and pie. According to RecycleWorks, from Thanksgiving to New Years Day, household waste increases by more than 25 percent.

So, start off your holiday season on the green foot by making a few small, eco-friendly changes this Turkey Day. It’s easy to get the entire family involved, have fun and decrease the burden on your wallet as well.

click here to learn more: http://earth911.com/blog/2009/11/16/8-easy-green-thanksgiving-tips/

The DNR (Department of Natural Resources) has a lot of great resources on its website including recommendations of drought resistant native prairie plants.  I know spring seems a long way away, but it might be fun to start drawing up a plan for your garden now.  It might make you feel warmer.  Check out his link: http://dnr.state.il.us/education/CLASSRM/ForYourGardengeneral.htm .

Three things to pass along:

1. The Road to Sustainability from Physics World: A cool write up about the sustainable stuff.  Here’s a little intro quote:“Sustainability” is the hottest topic in energy research today, but what does it actually mean? George Crabtree and John Sarrao describe what makes a technology sustainable, and outline the materials-science challenges standing between us and clean, long-lasting energy
2. Newsweek’s Green Rankings 2009: This years marks the beginning of Newsweek’s “green” rankings where they rank 500 of the greenest companies.  Who do you think made #1?
3. Sum Total Being Green isn’t new:

Michelle Obama to promote gardening and eating healthy, local foods on “Sesame Street”

Michelle Obama, who is planting a fruit and vegetable garden on the grounds of the White House, will appear in the November10 season debut of “Sesame Street” — the educational show for kids that is broadcast in more than 120 countries around the world.  The Obama’s garden at the White House is the first of its kind since WWII.   Michelle is leading by example- grow and eat local and sustainable foods- and is doing a great job at it!

We should all be so lucky to have the time and space for our own fruit and vegetable gardens… but if we don’t we can at least seek out our nearest Farmers Market. There are still plenty of them in operation through the fall. You can check this link to find one near you: Local Harvest

And go here to read the whole article about the First Lady’s appearance on Sesame Street: Mrs. Obama on Sesame Street!

Dear Friend of the Forest Preserve District:

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County is proud to present its Daniel Burnham Sustainability Conference, in partnership with the University of Illinois and the Conservation Design Forum, Inc. This conference commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the Burnham Plan, which envisioned the creation of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County as the first system of its kind in the nation, now the largest urban conservation preserve in the country. The purpose of this conference is to share ideas and formulate strategies that enable Cook County to host the most sustainable forest preserve system in the nation.  Please see attached flier.

Dates:                    September 21, 22, 23 2009

Times:                    September 21: 7 pm, September 22: 10am -3:30pm, September 23: 10am-noon

Locations:            September 21: Brookfield Zoo, September 22 & 23: Chicago Botanic Garden

RSVP:                     Please call (708) 771.1511

Website:               www.soclose2you.org

We seek the participation of people familiar with the Forest Preserve District at this workshop so that, together, we can:

  1. Share ideas and formulate strategies that will enable the District   to become the most sustainable forest preserve system in the nation.

  2. Create a model that can be adopted by other preserve systems.

Please join us at the conference kick-off reception at Brookfield Zoo on Monday, September 21, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. Dr. David W. Orr, an internationally renown expert in sustainability, will be the special guest speaker!

On Tuesday and Wednesday, September 22 and 23, we’ll meet at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, to share ideas and formulate strategies. Your ideas will make a real difference here.

All events are open to the public, however, space is limited. If you have not RSVP’d please do so by calling (708) 771-1511.

Registration:  If you have already registered for the conference through the District (Tracy McIntyre), you are confirmed and you have a place at the conference. You need not re-register. Those who have not yet registered should contact Tracy McIntyre at:  (708) 771-1511, or tmcinty@cookcountygov.com.

Facilitator Request: Some of you received an email calling for volunteers to act as facilitators and scribes during the Small Group Break-out Sessions on Tuesday. These sessions are the goal, objective and implementation strategy-setting. Your help to act as a facilitator or a scribe is important and greatly appreciated. Please contact me, John Kersh, at kersh1@illinois.edu if you’re interested in volunteering, or if you have questions about this.

We trust this will clear up any questions.  We look forward to seeing you at the conference.

Sincerely,

John Kersh

Cathy Geraghty

Forest Preserve District of Cook County

536 N. Harlem Ave.

River Forest, IL 60305

PH:  708-771-1097

Fax: 708-771-1360

We look forward to seeing you there!

Over 600 Parties for Parks — Find one near you!The Sierra Club is proud to have played a significant role in the creation of our national parks–and we’re pleased to be featured in Ken Burns’s new documentary. That’s why we’re going to Party for Parks at more than 600 house parties across the country, watch a sneak-preview DVD, and take action to protect these treasures.

Put on your party hat and find an event near you.

If you don’t find one, you can still get in on the fun — virtually! Join the National Parks group in our new online community, Sierra Club Trails, and you’ll be the first to hear the details later this week. You can also check out blog posts in the group, check out beautiful images of the parks, and share your own stories and photos. Love national parks? You’ll love Sierra Club Trails, so head on over!
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/GetTogether?gettogether=event_list&page=event_list&cal_activity_id=1240

FYI: There’s one in October in the area of Oak Lawn…try your zip code and see what you get!

As you get ready to buy your school supplies or your children’s, consider green school supplies.  This bundle from New Leaf is a great deal and 100% recycled.  Check it out here:  https://newleafpaper.s3.amazonaws.com/email_images/bts_bundle_clickable_email_2.html.  Also consider not buying new, but using what you already have.  That backpack will last a few years or more.  Pencils and pens often have more life in them than we think.  Remember first to reduce, then reuse, and to lastly recycle.  Have a great school year!

At Navy Pier this weekend is the annual Green Festival http://www.greenfestivals.org/.  If you are looking for more ideas to green your home and life, this is the place to be.  Eco speakers, music, samples, coupons, food, home products, clothing, books, you name it, will be there.  And if you visit the Drive Less Live More website http://www.drivelesslivemore.com/default.aspx, you can sign up for a free ticket.

It is that time of year: sun, fun and fresh fruits and veggies.  Try to think local and support the farmers in your area by going to farmer’s markets or buying directly from the farm.  But you can also have a mini-farm in your home as well.  I live in a 3rd story walk up and I grow lots of veggies and fruit year round.  You can too.  This article has great tips for a beginner home farmer.  Your produce tastes even better when you put in the so called “fruits of your labor”. http://www.organicvalley.coop/farm-friends/moo/glorias-garden

If you are interested in learning about how to get great local food while eating healthy then plan on coming downtown to the beautiful Chicago Cultural Center this weekend.  Local organic and sustainable restaurants will have samples as well as cooking demos.  For sale will be great foods from local farmers and food craft people.  This is a great place to pick up foods for Thanksgiving and the up coming Holidays.  There will also be plenty of great gift opportunities.   Check out the details below.

http://www.familyfarmedexpo.com/