Organizations interested in working with their audiences to learn about and take action to protect the environment can apply now for grants through the Green Partners environmental education program.

Previous grantees can receive up to $20,000 while organizations new to the program can receive up to $8,000.

Non-profit organizations, community and youth groups, schools, congregations, park districts and community education programs can apply for projects that inspire residents to reduce waste, recycle, reduce hazardous waste, conserve energy, protect pollinators, and improve our air and water quality. The deadline to apply is May 5. Learn more and apply.

It’s time to save the food! Starting in May, Hennepin County is supporting a campaign developed by the Ad Council and the Natural Resources Defense Council called Save the Food. The campaign builds awareness about the problem of food waste and promotes actions residents and businesses can take to prevent wasted food.

The problem with food waste

Food waste is a significant environmental and social issue. Each year, 40 percent of food in the United States goes to waste, which means wasted water, energy, fertilizers, cropland and production costs. Food waste also affects household finances, with the average American family of four spending $1,500 per year on food that they throw away. All the while, one in seven Americans don’t have a steady supply of food to their tables.

Spread the word

Hennepin County will be supporting the campaign through our communications channels, and advertising and PSAs will begin running soon. You can help spread the word by using campaign materials available at Save the Food.

Teams of junior and high school teams will have a chance to prove their knowledge of natural resources at the upcoming metro Envirothon on April 19 at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The Envirothon tests students’ knowledge of aquatics, forestry, soils and wildlife. Teams of five students complete hands-on activities and give presentations on current environmental issues. The top three teams from the metro area will move on to the statewide Envirothon.

Schools can still signup for the Envirothon, and funding for registration and bus fees is available. To request funding, contact Stacey Lijewski at stacey.lijewski@hennepin.us  or call 612-348-9938.

Rethink Recycling and Clean Water Minnesota provide new posts monthly to dig deeper into issues related to recycling, reuse, waste reduction and protecting water. Partners can help raise awareness and spread the word by sharing these resources through their communication channels. The following new articles are available: 

Ash trees are a common urban landscaping tree – there are more than 1 million ash trees in yards, parks and streets in Hennepin County. That’s about 15 percent of the tree canopy. All ash trees in the county are threatened by emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest from Asia that kills ash trees.

Most residents of Hennepin County live within 15 miles of an infested ash tree, which means it’s time for residents with ash trees on their property to start thinking about what they’re going to do with their trees.

Our new brochure includes information about the emerald ash borer infestation in Hennepin County, how to identify ash trees, sign of emerald ash borer, and options for managing ash trees. Order printed copies on the literature order form.

Join us for the next Green Partners networking meeting on April 12 from 1 – 4 p.m. to discuss what it will take for the county to reach its 75 percent recycling goal by 2030.

The meeting will include an optional tour of the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), a presentation about our opportunities to reduce waste and increase recycling, and small group discussions about various waste and outreach topics.

There are still a few spots remaining on the tour. You must RSVP and sign a waiver to go on the tour, but you do not need to take the tour to participate in the discussion. RSVP to Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352.

Hennepin County holds two-day, seasonal collection events throughout the county to provide residents more convenient options to get rid of household hazardous waste items. Accepted items include cleaners, paint, auto and fuel wastes, mercury containing items, and much more.  

The county will hold seven events from May through September. Please note that events will be two days this year. Upcoming events:

Cities throughout the county make spring cleaning easier by offering cleanup events. City cleanups offer residents the opportunity to get rid of hard-to-dispose of items such as furniture, exercise equipment, appliances and more through either drop-off sites or special pick-up services. Cities have cleanup events planned throughout the spring, with many cities holding events on April 29 and May 6. See the full list of city cleanup events to learn more.
    

April showers bring May flowers, which is especially exciting if you use a rain barrel. Jim Reckinger explains in a story on Clean Waster Minnesota that rain barrels just make sense. They make yard maintenance easier, and they provide a convenient source of free water. Rain barrels also help reduce stormwater runoff from our roofs, preventing pollution in nearby lakes and streams. And they capture a lot of water – just two-tenths of an inch of rain can fill the Reckingers’ two 55-gallon rain barrels! 

The Recycling Association of Minnesota is offering rain barrels at discounted rates for pick-up at distribution events throughout this spring. There is a distribution event in St. Louis Park on May 6 and May 8. You must preorder a rain barrel for pick up at a distribution events. Learn more and order a barrel. 

Metro Blooms Resilient Yards Workshops help people get their yards and gardens ready for summer and make them more resilient to Minnesota’s ever-changing and increasingly severe weather. Workshop participants learn about Minnesota’s new weather patterns and techniques to lessen their impact. They also get one-on-one design assistance to develop a beautiful and resilient yard. The one-day workshops are scheduled April through June in locations throughout the county, including Champlin, Crystal, Edina, Minneapolis, Plymouth and St. Louis Park. See the schedule and register. 

The National Park Teen Ambassador program gives young people the opportunity to explore National Parks so they can make lifelong connections with the environment. The program will bring Minnesota high school students on a multi-day outdoor learning expedition in Voyageurs National Park and on the Mississippi River this summer. Teen Ambassadors camp, paddle, hike, and explore topics including air and water quality, wildlife research, cultural and natural history, park service careers, and conservation and stewardship.

Highpoint's Access/Print program offers free mentorship to about 10 outstanding teen artists each year. Each artist receives 70 hours of studio access and instruction in the printmaking arts to create a body of print work. The Look/See portion of the exhibition features relief, drypoint, monotype, and screen prints made by Highpoint’s school aged visitors during 2016 - 2017.

Stop by Highpoint before May 6 to see the amazing work from teen artists and participating schools.

It has been a busy fall and winter for the Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light youth interns and Muslim Youth Be the Spark participants. Youth are leading the way and inspiring their communities through monthly leadership meetings, mentoring, learning about climate change and climate action, making a mural to depict youth leading community behavior change, leading climate action workshops, and recruiting individuals to commit to reducing their carbon footprint through concrete and accessible actions. This spring, Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light will be bringing on more interns and sending them to newly recruited faith communities to deliver climate action programming.
 

The Alliance for Sustainability has had a busy fall encouraging neighbors in Edina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka and St. Louis Park to work together to rake leaves out of their streets and storm drains. They also educated local businesses on low-salt winter maintenance to prevent harmful runoff. 

At the Corcoran Community Clean Up for Water Quality/Pancake Breakfast on Saturday November 5, 15 enthusiastic volunteers with Corcoran Grows raked out 60 storm drains in advance of the street sweeping, gave 73 leaf bags to neighbors who pledged to rake leaves off their street after more leaves dropped, and signed up 37 neighbors to participate in the Minneapolis Adopt-a-Drain program. Action is continuing this spring with the alliance engaging businesses in low-salt winter maintenance, expanding the Adopt-a-Drain program, and helping residents with best practices to keep lakes clean.
 

Cool Planet has been working with schools to improve organics recycling programs. Cool Planet is working student groups at Edina, South View and Southwest high schools to mentor students and identify waste reduction strategies. Cool Planet also held the first class of the Cool Planet Family Lives Here Community Education program. Cool Planet is planning a youth symposium on climate change with Edina students, and Southwest High School will continue to hold the community education program.

Climate Generation’s YEA! MN (Youth Environmental Activists Minnesota) program is off to a strong start with students from five metro area high schools meeting on a regular basis to learn together and train their peers. Training focuses on climate literacy and environmental justice, leadership development, and effective organizing at the community level. This spring, students will launch action projects in their schools and communities, ranging from aquaponics to school gardens and composting to peer education programs and bike-to-school days. Action projects will use Climate Generation’s Take Action Guide to empower student leadership during every step in the planning and implementation process. Stay tuned for student blogs coming this spring!