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GreenNotes covers environmental news, programs and events from Hennepin County.
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North High School students plant trees to mitigate for emerald ash borer
Students and community partners at North High School planted 20 trees on the school grounds in October. The trees were placed as young saplings in a gravel-bed nursery constructed in the school courtyard on Earth Day. The trees developed healthy root systems throughout the summer before being transplanted this fall.
The trees were planted near mature ash trees on the school property that will eventually need to be removed due to the emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest that infests and kills ash trees. Proactively planting a variety of trees to replace ash trees will help enhance the urban tree canopy.
The project engaged students in interactive learning about urban forestry. The project was planned and implemented through a partnership of North High School, Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis, and Project Sweetie Pie.
Urban orchard will provide fruit for food shelf in Brooklyn Center
An urban orchard with 30 fruit trees was planted in October at the Hennepin County human services center along Brooklyn Blvd in Brooklyn Center. The trees will provide apples, pears and plums for CEAP (Community Emergency Assistance Program), a food shelf located at the Hennepin County human services center in Brooklyn Center. The fruit trees came from Hennepin County’s gravel-bed nursery at the Adult Corrections Facility in Plymouth. Learn more on Channel 12.
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The Hennepin County Green Disposal Guide received an award from the Web Marketing Association’s (WMA) for outstanding achievement in web development. The WMA is known for setting standards for web development and site excellence, so this national award speaks to the high quality of the Green Disposal Guide.
The Green Disposal Guide provides information on a range of disposal options – from recycling to donation to disposal – for household items. The guide also provides tips on shopping smarter, living greener and creating less waste.
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A little over a year after starting their organics recycling program, the number of residents signed up for the opt-in program has reached 40 percent with more than 42,500 households participating.
In organics recycling programs, food waste and compostable paper are recycled into compost, a valuable soil amendment used in landscaping and road construction projects. This is important because about 30 percent of what we throw away is organic waste.
This successful participation rate speaks to residents’ commitment to protecting the environment and the ease of organics recycling. Hennepin County has provided funding and developed educational materials for the organics recycling program. Minneapolis solid waste and recycling customers who haven’t signed up for organics recycling yet can do so by completing the online form or calling 612-673-2917.
Several other cities and haulers throughout the county offer organics recycling pick-up or drop-off options. Learn more about organics recycling options throughout Hennepin County.
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Green Partners networking meeting:
Environmental education extravaganza featuring learning trunks and activity guides
Participate in environmental education learning trunk activities and learn more about Hennepin County’s new and updated environmental education tools and resources at the next Green Partners networking meeting.
The meeting will be held Tuesday, November 29, 2016 from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Sumner Library in the Cargill Room.
Environmental education learning trunks include supplies, display examples and engagement guides to help educators lead environmental education activities. The recently updated environmental education activity guides can be used to engage audiences of all ages in taking action to protect the environment.
Meetings are open to the public, and anyone interested in educating others about the environment is encouraged to attend. RSVP to Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us.
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Green Gifts Fair
Shop from vendors selling a variety of goods that are recycled, organic, fair-trade, local, and environmentally friendly. The Green Gifts Fair will be held Saturday, November 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Midtown Global Market. There will also a variety of activities including music, food and photo booth. While you’re there, stop by the Hennepin County Environment and Energy table to learn about lower-waste options for gift wrapping.
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Hennepin Natural Resources Partnership:
Update on Minnesota’s buffer law
Minnesota’s new buffer initiative will soon require public waters in the state – including lakes, rivers and streams – to be surrounded by 50-feet-wide vegetated buffers. Additionally, public ditches are required to have 16.5-feet-wide buffers. Buffers need to be installed on public waters by November 2017 and public drainage systems by November 2018.
A buffer is vegetated land adjacent to a stream, river, lake or wetland. Buffers help slow the flow of water and filter out phosphorous, nitrogen, and sediment, which are all pollutants that degrade water quality.
Get an updated on the buffer initiative with presentations from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and Hennepin County at the next Hennepin Natural Resources Partnership meeting. The meeting will be held Tuesday, December 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Ridgedale Library. See the full agenda for more information.
Fix-It Clinics
Get free, guided assistance from handy volunteers on disassembling, troubleshooting and repairing small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more at a Fix-It Clinic. Upcoming Fix-It Clinics are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
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- Saturday, November 12 from noon to 4 p.m. at Wayzata City Hall
- Sunday, December 11 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Grace Center for Community Life in northeast Minneapolis
- Saturday, January 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Ridgedale Library in Minnetonka
Fix-It Clinics are now scheduled through June 2017. See the full schedule.
Volunteer fixers who have skills in electrical, mechanical or electronics repair, wood working, sewing or general tinkering are essential to making the clinics successful.
For more information or to volunteer, contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or 612-348-9195.
The cooler weather and falling leaves means it’s time to prepare our yards and gardens for winter and deal with yard waste. Our yard care practices make a big impact on the health of our lakes, streams and rivers, so take the following steps to protect our water.
Rake your leaves early and often
This will keep your grass healthier and keep them out of storm drains. To dispose of your leaves, bring them to a yard waste site, check with your city or hauler to see if they offer pick-up service, save them to use in a backyard compost bin, or mulch them into your lawn with your mower.
Keep leaves out of the street and storm drains
Leaves in storm drains are carried through storm sewers into nearby lakes and streams, where they can add excess nutrients that pollute the water. Do your neighborhood a favor by adopting a local storm drain and keeping it free of leaves, grass clippings, soil and litter.
Prep for next year
Ensure a healthy yard and garden for next year by pulling weeds, patching bare spots, and aerating if you want to.
Learn more
Learn more about fall yard care tips from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization or in our 10 things you can do to protect Minnesota’s lakes and stream brochure.
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