Category: Reduce, reuse, recycle

Wanted: Livingston recycling center members

As The Detroit News reported recently, Recycle Livingston is seeking 500 new members to keep the nonprofit financially stable. Its current membership is about 1,100 in the county of 180,000 people. Its annual membership fee is $25 per regular household or $20 for senior citizens. The recycling center is located at 170 Catrell St. in Howell, north of Grand River between National and Chilson.

Category: Eat

Changing seasons, changing menus

Kudos to the Woodbridge Pub in Detroit, which has opted to use local, seasonal offerings on its menu.

Buying food locally and in season has several advantages:

-- It reduces the amount of energy expended on shipping.

-- It puts fresher food on the table, which means more nutrients for diners.

-- It pumps money back into the local economy.

-- It helps build community by connecting food growers/producers with restaurants and their patrons.

If you'd like to follow the pub's lead and try to become more of a locavore, here are tips on how you can do it!

If you know of other Metro Detroit restaurants taking similar steps, please share with us by leaving a comment!

Category: Reduce, reuse, recycle

An alternative way to recycle

The recyclables at my house are bursting out of their bins. Brown bags waiting to be returned for a small refund have multiplied more quickly than we've been able to take them back and are pushing open the cabinet door under the sink. Old clothes to be donated to the Salvation Army sit bagged and ready to go in our spare bedroom. Unfortunately, my tendency to procrastinate runs counter to my intention to "reduce, reuse, recycle." And, I'm sure I'm not the only one!

But, there's another way to extend the life of your recyclables and other household products. AltUse.com, a wiki-style Web site, offers alternative ways to use everyday items such as coffee grounds, plastic pop bottles and even old socks. It allows users to post suggestions and employs a system that helps them submit, search and rate alternative uses.

The site aims to help consumers -- and companies that want to grow their products -- to reduce waste, said co-founder, Mike Wheeler, a Detroit native and Michigan State University alum.

"Times are tough not only for folks in Detroit, but for people all over the U.S.," Wheeler said in a recent e-mail. "People in Detroit, especially those displaced in the auto industry, would love to learn how companies and individuals are using products in an alternative fashion to save money."

So, check it out for yourself and see what you think! You also can find AltUse on Facebook and Twitter.

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Category: Reduce, reuse, recycle

Bag the bag in the District

On a recent trip to the Giant supermarket while in Washington, D.C., I was shocked to see how many people brought in their own canvas shopping bags. Seemingly everyone was trolling the aisles with them. Why? INCENTIVES!!

As of Jan. 1, businesses that sell food or alcohol in the District have to charge 5 cents for every paper or plastic shopping bag that leaves the store. Yuck, right? Not TOO horrible, considering they will GIVE you 5 cents back for every bag you bring in to carry out your groceries. Check out the Q&A on this program. It appears that they covered all the bases!

Could this work here? Thoughts?

Category: Community

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

I remember this song from my childhood; it talks about the "people that you meet, when you're walking down the street, they're the people that you meet each day." Or at least that's how I remember it. It got me thinking, who are the people in my neighborhood?

Further, what are the things in my neighborhood? As I have learned more about community and neighborhood development, the power of personal connections in our neighborhoods and communities have been highlighted. We can't care about what we don't know about. I have learned that people are amazing. Their stories, their lives, their perspectives and their journeys. If we take an active role in learning about our neighbors we can begin to take a more active role in creating sustainable neighborhoods because we will cherish those relationships.

Beyond relationships though, are the parks, businesses, roads, trees, etc. in our neighborhood. While our transportation technology has certainly enabled us to get from A to B more quickly, many times we aren't spending time "walking down the street." Starting a running club, walking group, or simply connecting with a neighborhood to go for a jog can help all of us to learn more about our neighborhood resources.

Category: Media

Key environmental journalist leaving NYT

Andrew Revkin of The New York Times is taking a buyout from the paper and will be moving on to a position at Pace University.

While Revkin's writing no longer will grace the Gray Lady's pages, the esteemed environmental journalist will continue to contribute to the Dot Earth blog for the foreseeable future. Dot Earth is an excellent source of accessible, well-informed reporting about the health of the planet -- I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I found out he'll continue with it.

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure to hear Revkin speak at the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference, where he moderated a panel with former vice president Al Gore. Revkin was as personable and knowledgable a guy as you'd imagine, having read his work. Clearly, you could see that here is an intelligent person who's doing just what they're meant to do. At Pace, he will continue to pursue that passion by developing new envrionmental programs, teaching, researching and writing.

"I want to look at the role of journalism in the larger world of environmental communication, how information matters in terms of policy and behavior," Columbia Journalism Review quotes him as saying in a recent interview.

While it's a relief Revkin will continue to blog and a gift to academia that he will get the breathing room to research and teach environmental issues, his departure from the newsroom is a huge loss for the craft.

So, here's saying hats off and thanks for your many years of fine work, Mr. Revkin. You'll be missed! And, here's hoping that other journalists in the field will step up to try and patch the huge hole left by your absence!

Category: Community

Urban Neighborhoods Initiative

I have begun a new chapter in my community involvement efforts. I have recently begun work with the Urban Neighborhoods Initiative (UNI), which is focused on creating sustainable communities in Detroit. Oddly, despite the varied challenges plaguing Detroit, this is one of the only organizations I was able to find (in 18 months of searching) that is taking an active role in making tangible changes to our communities.

UNI's focus is purposefully vague. In addressing the challenges facing any community, there will simply not be a one-size-fits-all methodology that can be employed. There is not a simple, quick fix to change a neighborhood. Rather, one must involve themselves in the community, assess the challenges and opportunities and develop a plan for the community to address those challenges. By necessity this will have to include an assortment of community improvement projects, service offerings for the community members, business initiatives, etc. While creating green areas, parks, and other commmunity improvements assist in creating a sustainable community, UNI's focus is broadly defined so as to address the totality of a communities challenges, as efficiently as possible.

I hope to contine to blog regarding our efforts and the results of our work. Most recently, as part of UNI's community development committee, I have participated in identifying challenges, recognizing the areas in which UNI has begun to impact the community, and to develop solutions. In the coming months, we will begin refining our plan for the next two years with projects we believe we can complete next year and those that require a two year process.

I am extremely excited and encouraged by these preliminary meetings. I believe that we are undertaking meaningful projects that will tangible impact this community and improve the lives of its residents.

Category: Events

Green 'D' a hot topic

Plan to attend the Model D speaker series December 16. In partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Model D will host a bevy of local organizations in a panel-style discussion about the realities of a greener Detroit -- what does it mean, and how do we get there?

Panelists will include landscape architect Jeff Klein of Classic Landscaping, The Green Garage, Detroit Evolution Lab, and representatives from the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan's Bureau of Energy Systems.

After a brief introduction from each panelist, discussion will open up to the floor.

Admission is free and the event begins at 6 p.m. at the MOCADÃ, in Detroit's Midtown. Model D asks that you register for the event in advance.

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Category: Volunteer / donate

Forgotten Harvest accepts donation "greener" than money

In line with their mission to reduce hunger and waste, Forgotten Harvest took delivery of their first hybrid-powered truck in June. It will be on the road this holiday season rescuing and delivering fresh food to social service agencies throughout Metro Detroit.

The Class 7 Freightliner with a 20-foot fiberglass refrigerated (all-electric) truck body was generously donated to the nonprofit by Daimler Trucks North America, Daimler Financial Services and Johnson Refridgerated Truck Bodies. It will enable Forgotten Harvest to rescue an additional ONE MILLION pounds of fresh food each year with a fuel savings of 30 PERCENT! This is very cool! With that savings, Forgoten Harvest will be able to direct their donations toward more Earth-friendly methods of food distribution.

If you are looking for a good "green" cause to donate your time, money or foodÃ, to this holiday season, check out Forgotten Harvest.

Category: Eat

Sustainable eating

To me, life is a journey, and many lessons are learned along the way. Of late, I have found myself drawn to life's lessons regarding sustainable food choices. In the last two years, I have learned a great deal about sustainable business practices, living options, energy, and community. Admittedly, there is a great deal more for me to learn.

That being said, our family is trying to make more mindful, purposeful decisions about the foods we eat. We have taken active steps to become more educated about how and where food products are produced, how they are packaged and delivered, and what they do to our bodies. With two young (and growing!) boys, we are certainly mindful of our budget, but also how important nutrition is to their development and well-being.

While the science of food seems to be an ever-changing world with no shortage of opinions, we found the most persuasive science is the evidence from our own bodies. We have noticed improvements in our demeanor, or energy levels, our focus and simply the way we feel day-to-day. Our bodies are certainly telling us that our decisions are positive and responding as such. It has been amazing to us how dramatically the human body can respond to simple changes in diet.