|
Help on Earth Day! On Saturday, April 22, be part of the team that provides household energy-saving kits to an entire Iowa City neighborhood! Sign up online to reserve your volunteer slot, or add yourself to the list of possible volunteers by emailing MHill@iowa-city.org. For questions or more information, contact climate action engagement specialist Megan Hill at 319-887-6164.
 Join the Green Iowa AmeriCorps Team for crafts, games, and hands-on learning activities all about Iowa's Endangered Habitats and Species. The featured topics will begin with Prairies on March 3, continue with Our Feathered Friends on March 10, and eventually cover wetlands, reptiles, and amphibians too! These activities are for participants ages 6-10 with a parent or guardian in attendance. No registration required.
- 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Fridays, March 3 and March 10
- Robert A. Lee Recreation Center Craft Room
 Eager to dive into an interesting and complicated topic with other climate-minded community members? Join a discussion of The Grid, hosted by Green Iowa AmeriCorps and Iowa City Public Library. Gretchen Bakke's book on "the fraying wires between Americans and our energy future" offers a fascinating look at how we got to now and where we can go from here.
- 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, March 20
- Room B at Iowa City Public Library
 Plan for your spring and summer gardening season by attending the Native Plant Symposium organized by Iowa City Parks and Recreation! Whether you are new to gardening or you’ve got the greenest thumb in town, there will be something for everyone at this event. Hear from Carol Davit, Executive Director of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, and choose from among multiple breakout session topics, such as rainscaping and bioswales, invasive plant ID, native edibles, and more. A catered lunch will be provided as part of the $25 registration fee. There will also be an opportunity to purchase native plants and seeds.
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 29
- Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, 220 S. Gilbert St.
- Register online
 Ken Gatlin
Mass Transit Operator
 How does your family take climate action?
We really focus on getting out and moving more, like walking to school as a family, when we can, rather than driving there.
I talk to my family about things like how important it is that the greasy circle in the bottom of a pizza box doesn’t go in the recycling bin. And then the neighbors see us separating it out, and we talk about it, and now they know to separate it too.
We also have been working to buy a lot of our foods fresh from local farms and do things like can our own tomatoes so we can eat local all year. And we are hoping to get a community garden plot this year.
What can others do to take climate action?
Everything we do can have a ripple effect. On my bus route, there was a rider who would pick up litter around his stop while waiting for the bus and throw it in the trash. I noticed this and started giving him a squirt of hand sanitizer after he got on. And then other riders noticed. When he started getting on at a different stop and other riders saw he wasn’t there, they started picking up the litter. It’s just saying, “I’m going to take that extra step.” It affects people in a positive way. You see others wanting to do the same. It’s a great way to live life.
Why is it important to take climate action?
I do it for the future. I have three kids and I want to be part of the solution. I want to show my kids that it’s not difficult to take that extra step. Once you make it part of your routine, it’s easy.
Iowa City’s Climate Action Commission meets monthly
Access upcoming and past meeting packets at the Climate Action Commission web page.
|
|