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
