“Action is the Antidote to Despair” – Joan Baez

The world can be more overwhelming than ever these days.  There are times when I want to hide under my desk, cling to my dog and eat raw cookie dough.  Sure, that can be great for the first hour or so, but eventually my legs cramp up, I run out of cookie dough and my dog wants to go back to barking at cats out the window.  It is not what one would call a sustainable solution.

So I crawl out from under my desk, drink some diet Coke to counteract the cookie dough and look at what actions I can take to help the world and myself feel better.   There are many.

Maybe you have your own desk/cookie dough/clinging to the dog ritual that you would like a change from?   If so, the following are upcoming community events, as well as individual actions you can take. 

Know of something I missed?  Please call it out in the comments below! 

Community Events:

 

#1: Help Prospect Park to Look Great and earn a Chinook Book!

"Litter Be Gone" - October 1 - 10th

Pick up supplies on Saturday, October 3 between 9 & 1

 

Sponsored by the Office of Off Campus Living and the PPA Environment Committee, Litter Be Gone is a series of events to clean up litter across Minneapolis each fall.  Pick up litter in your street and around your block to help keep our city clean.  Lucky enough to have a squeaky clean block?  The banks of the Mississippi could always use some love, as well as Luxton, Tower Hill and Chergosky Park.  And let's not forget the U of M Transitway!

 

Our friends at Chinook Book have generously provided a 12-month full access subscription ($15 value) to all of our Litter Be Gone volunteers who participate in a cleanup and report their results. Chinook Book partners with some of the best local and sustainable businesses in Minnesota to offer rewards and discounts you can use on essentials like groceries, take out, and online purchases of gifts and household items.  Simply pick up litter in your neighborhood between Oct. 1 and 10, then go to https://www.litterbegone.org  to share your results. You will automatically receive an email with an activation code and details on how to redeem it.

 

SUPPLIES: Use your own or pick up gloves and bags on Saturday, October 3 between 9 and 1 at the Family Wise parking lot (corner of Malcolm & University - 3036 University Ave)

 

REPORT RESULTS:  Report results at https://www.litterbegone.org  to receive your free Chinook Book

 

#2: Community Driven “Fun”draiser
SATURDAY OCT. 3  10am-NOON
In Mary Britton’s front yard at 118 Arthur Ave SE

YOU’RE INVITED! to a neighborhood MEET & GREET FUNdraiser!
Co-Hosted by the PPA Environment Committee
Come meet & talk with Community Driven staff & DONATE in person!

FACEMASKS REQUIRED (we will have some on hand if you forget yours 😊)

 * Social distancing WILL be respected
SNACKS * HOT BEVERAGES * NEIGHBORHOOD SOLIDARITY!

Check our website ( www.community-driven.org ) for a reschedule in case of terrible weather.
Of course folks can donate on the website without attending and anyone is welcome to reach out to me through the contact info on the Community Driven website with questions or to talk.

 

 #3 Monthly PPA Environment Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 13th

6:30 - 8 pm

For Zoom details, RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnEhegjkm0_6LAc7dBBhtJCfUn-W8zWpIrP9YpYsdDpcCs_A/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&usp=mail_form_link

 

 Agenda: "Action is the antidote to despair"

If you are concerned about climate change and our environment, please join us in our monthly meeting. Priorities of the environment committee include lowering the neighborhood's carbon output while building community resiliency.

Short term initiatives:

-        Promoting home energy audits

-        U of M student outreach

-        Working with SE Seniors

 

Long term initiatives: Begin drafting 5 year project plan for Prospect Park’s Climate Action Plan. 

-        Reduce neighborhood’s use of natural gas by 20%

-        Promote greener transportation

-        Promote zero waste

-        Plant trees

-        What else?  Ideas welcome!  Volunteers even more welcome!

 

 Southeast Seniors Event, Wednesday, Oct 28

Home Energy Efficiency for Minneapolis Homeowners
Wednesday, October 28th from 1:30-2:30 pm
 
Join Realtor Deborah Van Eendenburg as she shares the City of Minneapolis’s new energy recommendations for homeowners. Learn about the new energy efficiency grades, innovative and cost-effective home insulation tips, and get resources that will support you on your energy-efficiency journey! In this online class, homeowners will also learn how to reduce energy use while making your property more comfortable, and even increase your home's resale value by 2% to 6%.
 
Deborah Van Eendenburg is a Realtor in the Twin Cities metro area. A frustrating experience buying her home in NE Minneapolis drove her to become a real estate agent to support others through what can be a complex and overwhelming process. With the most current knowledge of city and state residential home sale requirements, buyer expectations, and market strategies, Deborah works with her clients to execute smooth and low-stress top-dollar transactions. For fun, Deborah coaches youth lacrosse and cross stitches (when her string-loving cat allows).
 
This class will be held virtually via Zoom. Please call Southeast Seniors at 612-331-2302 or email us at info@seseniors.org with your full
name, email address, and phone number to register. Please note that
registration will close at 9:30 am on 10/28.

 

#4 Individual Actions

 

Sign up for the Hennepin Food Waste Challenge!

Did you know that reducing the amount of food that goes to waste is one of the most important actions we can take to address climate change? It may come as a surprise, but the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with wasted food is equivalent to 1 in 7 cars on the road.

 The challenge has more than 40 actions to choose from in five categories. You can check off the actions you already take, then select up to five one-time actions and five daily actions to make progress on during the 4-week challenge. You can also see the impact of your actions, see how you are doing compared to others, and connect with others who are taking action.

 Sign up opened on August 31, and the challenge runs September 14 through October 11. Learn more, sign up, invite friends and neighbors and get ready to make meals instead of waste at  www.hennepinfoodwaste.ecochallenge.org.

 

Get a Home Energy Audit!

If you are a homeowner, this one is for you!  Did you know that in 2019, the average home in Prospect Park used a whopping 24% more natural gas than the Minnesota average home? 

Go to https://www.mncee.org/solutions/homes/home-energy-squad and sign up for a FREE virtual energy audit.  They will help you determine where your charming old house is leaking energy and the best (and cheapest) ways to stop the waste and pollution.

Adopt A Drain!

See our “Adopt A Drain” information sheet to the left for more information.  Or, if adopting a drain is too much of an emotional commitment, try ‘fostering’ one near you by cleaning out all debris (not just trash) without signing up for it.  By the time the Mississippi has flowed through the Twin Cities, it is 17% dirtier than when the waters entered.  Much of this comes from street drains. 

 

Know of something I missed?  Have questions or comments on what is listed?  Please submit it in the comments section (below this post).

Please note:  We have had to cancel the annual Neighborhood Cleanup this year because of the Coronavirus.  If you were looking forward to getting rid of old metal, please check out our “How to Recycle (Almost) Everything” guide for where you can bring it.  Or hold onto it until next year. 

Thanks, everyone – and please be kind to yourselves in these tough times!

 

Mary Britton

PPA Environment Committee Chair