School-wide waste audit leads Millcreek Elementary students to take lead in school’s recycling program
This past August, after conducting a school-wide waste audit, Millcreek Elementary students realized they had an issue with contamination in their recycling. Items that are not recyclable in Lexington kept finding their way into each classroom’s blue recycling bins.
Students look for contaminates as they empty recycling bins.(Photo provided)
“Though their contamination rate was relatively low,...
Bluegrass Greensource to host recycling forum Oct. 24 in response to new challenges facing communities
Earlier this year, China stopped taking many of the materials from sorting facilities throughout the U.S. which has caused some communities to greatly reduce what can be accepted for recycling. On Oct. 24 at Henry Clay High School, Bluegrass Greensource with host a recycling forum in response to public concerns about local recycling efforts after multiple national stories about major challenges to...
Bluegrass Greensource kicks of fifth annual Main Street Clean Sweep in 19 area communities
Beginning today through April 27, Bluegrass Greensource will organize more than a thousand volunteers across Central Kentucky for community-led litter pickups in 19 different communities. Bluegrass Greensource and organizing sites are accepting volunteers to help clear streets, streams, sidewalks, and parks of litter and debris.
There are multiple opportunities in Central Kentucky to get involved...
Bluegrass Greensource seeking volunteers to fourth annual Main Street Clean Sweep program
Bluegrass Greensource is calling for volunteers to keep Lexington clean and green on Friday, April 21, and Earth Day, Friday, April 22.
Between April 14 and April 22, 2017, Bluegrass Greensource will organize more than a thousand volunteers across Central Kentucky for community-led litter pick ups in 20 communities.
Bluegrass Greensource and organizing sites are currently accepting volunteers to...
Cardinal Valley Elementary team embraces the three R’s: Recycle, reuse, reduce
By Tammy L. Lane
Special to KyForward
Ten-year-old Eduardo Tiscareno, a member of his school’s recycling team, takes his environmental responsibilities seriously, and he knows younger students look to them to set a good example.
“The little kids are following our steps to learn how to keep the trash out of the recycling and the recycling out of the trash,” he explained.
Ashley Bryant Cheney,...
Commentary: Go find your community wherever it may be is a fitting legacy
By Kara Sayles
Special to KyForward
Over the past eight years, I have met some true teachers who serve our beautiful Commonwealth by passing down information about our natural world. They serve tirelessly to help those of us interested in protecting native plant and animal species in the Bluegrass.
Recently, we lost one of those amazing people. In my mourning of a native plant mentor to so many, Mary...
Bluegrass Sustainable Business Summit provides tools & tips to increase sustainability, cut costs
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and Bluegrass Greensource present the first annual Bluegrass Sustainable Business Summit, a one-day sustainable learning summit uniting regional experts offering tools, tips, and resources to increase sustainability and improve businesses’ bottom line, on Wednesday, June 15, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
This year’s workshop topics include sustainable development,...
Bluegrass Greensource presents GreenFest sustainable living festival Saturday
Bluegrass Greensource presents GreenFest 2016, a one-day sustainable living festival featuring green living workshops and resources, community booths and vendors, and local food trucks, music and beer, Saturday, May 21 from 12 – 6 p.m.
And the Bluegrass Greensource Educators will provide fun and environmentally informative activities for the kids.
GreenFest 2016 will be held at Bluegrass Greensource’s...
UK, Lexington join forces for wide range of environment-friendly Earth Day 2016 events
University of Kentucky and Lexington have several events planned to honor Earth Day 2016.
On Friday, Earth Day 2016, members of the UK community plan to participate in Main Street Clean Sweep to help keep downtown Lexington clean and green. In its third year, Main Street Clean Sweep is a one-day, community-led litter clean up in 20 participating cities and towns throughout Central Kentucky.
Volunteers...
Bluegrass Greensource, DLC present the third annual Main Street Clean Sweep; volunteers needed
Help keep downtown Lexington clean and green on Earth Day, Friday, April 22. The DLC Foundation (DLCF) and Bluegrass Greensource are looking for volunteers to help clear Lexington streets, sidewalks, and parks of litter and debris anytime from 12–4 p.m. as part of Main Street Clean Sweep.
Main Street Clean Sweep is a one-day, community-led litter clean up in 20 participating cities and towns throughout...
Greensource: We can significantly reduce our food waste – and footprint – as long as we do it together
As an avid Facebook user, I often feel bombarded by videos promising to change my life. And while many of them are remarkable videos, I can only think of one that has truly left a lasting impact. It was about how to eat an apple. Start at the bottom, eat upward.
The discovery that the inedible core is just a myth was eye-opening to me. And because I do not eat several bushels of apples in a single...
‘Gobble Grease Toss’ good for the environment, good for Sayre Middle School students
Fayette County residents who plan to fry a turkey this year for Thanksgiving can recycle used cooking oil in a safe, environmentally friendly manner at the Gobble Grease Toss, sponsored by the city of Lexington, Sayre School, the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) and Bluegrass Greensource.
The Gobble Grease Toss will be held Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sayre...
Greensource: Saving seeds helps preserve flavor, protect heritage and save you money
By Chris Porter
KyForward columnist
As the current growing season comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to begin thinking about next year’s garden. And as you start to plan, consider saving some seeds from the plants you grow. Why? Here are my top four reasons:
1. Saving seed saves money. Every plant you save seed from and then grow the next year is one less packet of seed that you have...
Bluegrass Greensource: Photography helps
us see natural world from a different angle
Bluegrass Greensource intern Preston Sabharwal spent the day at Dupree Nature Sanctuary taking photographs, shared here and below.
By Preston Sabharwal
Special to KyForward
When the sun is ready to emerge, it will blossom in a marvelous explosion of light. It shifts its head upward and slowly peaks over the horizon. Its roasted orange spark shoots violently, mixing with the popping...
Greensource: Underserved community gets
a little environmental help from its friends
North Limestone Community Development Corporation, with the help of Bluegrass Greensource, has sponsored rain barrel workshops as part of its environmental focus. (Photo from NoLi CDC)
By Schuyler Warren
KyForward columnist
You might have heard of the Night Market, a monthly first-Friday staple of food, entertainment and shopping at the corner of North Limestone and Loudon Avenue in Lexington....
Greensource: Tour showcases the beauty, benefits of Central Kentucky rain gardens
By Kara Sayles
KyForward columnist
A rain garden is a shallow depression that captures runoff from impervious surfaces, such as rooftops, patios, driveways and parking lots, before it enters the storm water system. A rain garden uses natural processes to improve water quality by filtering pollutants and reducing the amount of storm water runoff. The water easily infiltrates into the...
Creating new paper out of old scraps gives
art students an important Earth Day lesson
After a day or two of drying time, Clays Mill Elementary art students could take home their samples of new paper. (Photo by Tammy L. Lane)
By Tammy L. Lane
Special to Kyforward
Earth, wind and fire converged at Lexington’s Clays Mill Elementary as students transformed castoffs into new forms of paper with a hand from Bluegrass Greensource. The art project directed their thoughts...
Greensource: Rain gardens go with the flow, helping reduce runoff, improve water quality
Rain gardens can be customized and are limited only by the resources and time you want to put into them. (Photo provided)
By Kara Sayles
KyForward columnist
As spring shapes up here in Central Kentucky, early flowers are in bloom and trees are starting to bud. For many of us, this sparks an interest in gardening.
One gardening option to consider this year is a rain garden. If you...
Greensource: Litter begets litter, meaning until we stop it we have to keep cleaning it up
By Amy Sohner
KyForward columnist
Today I had sushi for lunch – in my car. Who does that?
I guess it is not as bad as eating a gourmet filet mignon, but the car is not exactly the best place for sushi. A fast food burger or burrito maybe, but nothing that gets dipped in a wonderful mixture of soy sauce and wasabi and is eaten with chop sticks.
I decided on sushi from a grocery...
Greensource: On Earth Day and every day,
it’s easy to bring a little green into your life
One way to celebrate Earth Day is to participate in Bluegrass Greensource’s 30-day photo challenge. Take and post one picture per day based on the topics above. Get creative and be sure to use the hashtag #30daysofearthday. The challenge begins April 1.
By Crystal Barnes
KyForward columnist
Every year in April, Earth Day presents a great opportunity to educate yourself and your...
