Create and Customize Your Own Compost, Recycling and Landfill Signs

There are three poster types (Compost, Recycleables, and Landfill) at this link that you can select, drag and drop items to.  It was next to impossible to find ready made and "accurate" signs by searching Google.  This is so simple and will help my family to stop asking me "Where does this go? (all the time)!  It's really not that hard (or is it?)

http://www.sfenvironment.org/signmaker

Exciting Stuff!

"Composting legalization up for vote in Grand Rapids, with 5 conditions" mlive.com article:
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/08/composting_legalization_up_for.html

"Things you think you can recycle with the city but can't":
http://thetreehuggerstore.com/?p=483

"Tree Huggers at Home – Groupon
Two-Hour In-Home Waste-Free Family, Chemical-Free Home, or Eating Cleaner Consultation (51% Off)"
http://www.groupon.com/deals/tree-huggers?c=deal_button&d=deal-page&date=20130822&p=1&s=body&sid=269335b7-fc8e-4432-ac7a-2570f83f2bf2&user=2a4f5489aee23d408e6cf51f4f3bb7213acda88c80f6c9410529c599c928a563&utm_campaign=tree-huggers&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter

Gone Zero-Waster :)

It's been a while since I've blogged... here's the latest news from me...

BIG news for me-- 

Have you ever considered being a Zero-Waster?  This has been a goal of mine that has evolved since my Everglades trip with Charlie Bunker of Davenport.  :)  I just cancelled my garbage service this morning!  I cancelled my service, not because I'm changing service companies or moving, but because I only throw away about half a plastic grocery store bag of stuff per week (most times less.)  And, I'm very grateful that Everkept will allow me to continue using them for recycling service at the usual rate of $12.00 per quarter.  I've called several other providers and they do not provide recycling cart service only, unless it is bundled with garbage service (which I no longer need.)  I recycle just about everything at Treehuggers, but am extremely happy not to lug the extra along that I usually recycle with Everkept.  I replaced my garbage service with Organicycle (they accept 100% food waste, all paper products, even wax coated cartons, and even accept yard waste, pet waste and meat and dairy – it’s all composted.)  I cannot thank my family enough for being *somewhat* supportive of my (our) new efforts and making this lifestyle change, and a special thanks to my dear husband Mike!  Mike continually helps make all of my dreams come true, no matter what they are and I am grateful for him!

More to come.  I've been wanting to post my notes from the Grand Rapids Garbage Tour 2013.  I'm hopping to get those up within the next week or so.

Have a great day!!!

Itinerary for Greater Grand Rapids Garbage Tour Tomorrow

 

The Greater Grand Rapids Garbage Tour will run, as scheduled on Wednesday, April 24, 2013.

The itinerary is as follows:

10:30 AM - Introduction, sign in, and board the bus at GRCC’s Tassell MTEC, 622 Godfrey SW, Grand Rapids, MI. 

                   Parking is free and available on site.

11:00 AM - Arrive at Kent County’s Material Recycling Facility (MRF)

1:00 PM - Arrive at Covanta Energy Waste To Energy Facility

2:30 PM - Arrive at South Kent Landfill

4:00 PM - Arrive at GRCC’s Tassell MTEC, and depart

Last week’s rain and flooding may impact access to some parts of the facilities, but the tour will go on.

Please note:

·         Long sleeves and long pants are required

·         Wear flat, closed-toed shoes or boots

·         Bring a sack lunch. We’ll eat following our tour at the MRF, then follow our trash for the rest of the day.

See you Wednesday! 

Workforce Training

Grand Rapids Community College

622 Godfrey Ave. SW

616.234.3400

workforcetraining@grcc.edu

I'm signed up and looking forward to attending the 2013 Grand Rapids Garbage Tour on 4/24 - Where does all the garbage go?

Information about the tour:
https://learning.grcc.edu/ec2k/CourseListing.asp?master_id=573&course_area=CERE&course_number=130&course_subtitle=00

Here is a YouTube video of the 2012 tour:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38WVa7ioYhc

National Geographic Great Barrier Reef Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=wbNeIn3vVKM

Pictures from Cleanup in Elliott Key - Biscayne Bay

Click here to view these pictures larger

Thank You Email to students from Biscayne Park Ranger Dan

From: Crossett, Dan
Date: Thu, Apr 4, 2013 at 2:01 PM
Subject: Those that pick up trash!!

Hey all!

I hope this message finds all of you save and fulfilled after an incredibly productive alternative winter/spring break season.

First and foremost, I would just like to say thank ya'll so very much. All of the trash removed from the beaches/mangroves/canals here in Biscayne National Park could not have been done without the help from such motivated students like yourselves!

A total of 18 groups came down to visit us in not always so sunny and warm Florida, making up 2832 hours of service! Nice! Bring it on trash...
Though, this also could not have been done without the other volunteers helping out the Park as well as staff assisting with logistics and good ol' fashion brute labor.

The trash area removed can be calculated in a myriad of different parameters.
First, we filled 100 cubic yards of dumpster space....That giant green dumpster that we have all seen resting, filthily, on the Headquarters quay, is only a trivial 30 cubic yards of dumpster space. So, multiply that by 3 and then add 1/10th and imagine that in your living room!...Or not, it may be just too vivid, but it is an instant reward to see it removed from the many eco-tones patrolled.

Secondly, we can look at 130 gallon contractor bags used to transport trash from the beach, through the chilly waters and heaved onto the boat. That number would be 581 bags. Now imagine a parade of nearly 200 proud college students, giant black bags slung over their shoulders, and multiply that by 2.5. It may bring back images of Aladdin's princely parade but I assure you, there were no genies involved!

Lastly, and a much more qualitative approach, we can view before and after pictures of dense, refuse-filled pockets of human influence scattered about the Park. This is where I was hoping ya'll might come in handy. It turns out, I did a rather poor job at documenting many transitions of trash-to-sand, trash-to-mangrove, trash-to-(insert natural habitat). So, I have set up a Shutterfly account online!

Bring on the photos! And once again thank you all very much, we truly appreciate all of your hard work.

Cheers,
Dan Crossett
Biscayne National Park
Biological Science Technician

DU Everglades Video Debut

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5Nkh2_slQk&list=UU8PsvnE7rtwL9ygd7WMQN0w&feature=player_detailpage

Thank you to Jamie Barnes for all of the video-graphing  editing, creating and sharing of this awesome summary of our journey.

Oceans & Household Cleaners

Over the last two weekends, I've gone through my kitchen and bathroom cabinets and took out anything considered a household cleaner.  I then spent much time on the web trying to find out what's good and what's bad.

This website:  http://www.ewg.org/consumer-guides rates household cleaning products A-F.  I've written the rating on each product.  See attached photos.  

Next, I contemplated how to get rid of the products I no longer desire to use, but ended up giving them to my mom.  I felt bad about that, but they were already in circulation and I feel good about the impact I'll be making on the environment in the future.

This was a difficult task.  All of my products were either C's, D's or F's.  I learned the most natural and safe products we could use are baking soda, baking soda wash, lemon juice, salt, white vinegar, tea tree oil and castile soap, in spray water bottles and glass jars.  

Helpful websites I found are below:

Our Stuff - Hot or Not - For the Ocean:

http://www.takepart.com/sites/default/files/HotOrNot.pdf

Most Dangerous Ocean Species (Trash!):

http://www.takepart.com/sites/default/files/MostDangerousSpeciesintheOCean.pdf

Make Your Own Water Friendly Cleaning Products:

http://www.takepart.com/sites/default/files/resources_householdcleaners.pdf

About Water Usage and Bottling Water:
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-much-does-us-tap-water-cost.htm

The result...

Day 8 - Snorkeling in Pennekamp

Today we took a boat named "The Dolphin" out to snorkel and visit three different coral reef systems.  It wasn't as sunny as we'd hope, but the water was great!  It's so funny, we were highly encouraged to wear wet suits as this is winter for the Floridians.  We all say no thanks and chuckle a little.  While entering the boat, our captain asked us if we'd like some hot chocolate.  I said, "Nah, we're from Michigan, we've been drinking hot chocolate since October."  In all seriousness though, it was cool when we were out of the water, between reef stops.

Here is a list of the fish I saw today.  My water camera, a 35 mm disposable camera did not take the best pictures.  I will still post some later and will post some from our other DU team members.  

• Stoplight Parrotfish
• Redband Parrotfish
• Great Barracuda
• Bluehead wrasse
• Rock Beauty
• Rockhind or Redhind
• Some groupers
• Bar jack
• Blue Tang
• Sergeant Major
• and a statue of Jesus

These are only those that I remember.  I could be off on some, but I will firm up the list as soon as I review all of our group's underwater photos.  My excitement for identifying the fish surprised me.  They were so beautiful.  Colors in drawings cannot even come close to the true beauty of the color of the fish in the ocean.

Plant life included the following:

• Labrynthine Brain Coil
• Staghorn Coral
• Sea Lettuce
• Coral Reefs

Our boat route to and from the marina included numerous mangroves.

Pennekamp Park Website: http://www.pennekamppark.com

The travel to and from snorkeling and the four hours snorkeling took up a good portion of our day.  Following snorkeling, we returned to the Everglades Hostel, showered and went out to dinner at Mutineers, where they have EXCELLENT seafood.  

Day 6 - Departing to Flamingo, In the Southern part of the Everglades

We've departed for Flamingo, with a stop at the Gator Grill. We ate alligator today! I learned that the part of the alligator we eat is the tail. I was nervous about it at first, but it was great!! Sortof like chicken, LOL! Why do all the odd things taste like chicken!

There are four crocodiles (not alligators) known to be in the Everglades, FL. Last year's DU group saw 2 of the 4 in Flamingo. Today we're hoping to see them all! [Update: we only saw one crocodile, but it was amazing. They have longer tails and bumpier backs]

In addition to searching for the crocodiles, we're going kayaking. (Yay!!) We think it will be in the Florida Bay, but we will see. [Update: it was in the Florida Bay which leads out to the Atlantic Ocean].

Love how birds fly across the water really low. Are they just getting their wings wet or are they getting ready to eat a fish? Hmmm.

We are canoeing among the ten thousand islands. Charlie said their are probably ten thousand islands.

We saw the brown and white pelicans, a crocodile, seagulls, cormorants, jumping fish and we thought we saw a shark fin, but Charlie says it was a big fish. Boo!! Saw Royal Tern birds. Also saw dolphin fins and manatee noses.