Apply to join the Zero Waste Challenge by April 26
Many people are interested in reducing waste, decluttering, and recycling more but aren’t sure where to start or how to take the next step. Joining Hennepin County’s Zero Waste Challenge is a great way to learn more and get hands-on help.
A lifestyle game-changer for past participants
Carolyn Wieland of Eden Prairie said the Zero Waste Challenge was “truly life changing for our family. It made us take an in depth look at our consumption and waste habits and equipped us with tools and strategies to become better stewards of the environment.”
Jenny Mikkelson of Minnetonka said the support from county staff and volunteers made taking steps toward a lower waste lifestyle less overwhelming and more obtainable.
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“It was a great opportunity to learn as a family, adults and child alike,” adds the Nolan-Eickholt family of Osseo.
Heidi Voss of Bloomington said she was inspired by others in the challenge, and now feels empowered to share what she learned. “I try to demonstrate to my family, friends, and coworkers how to reduce and reuse, and how to incorporate this mindset in every purchase we make. It can actually be a really fun challenge.”
Apply to join the challenge
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Throughout the six-month challenge, participating households receive personalized coaching and support, attend educational workshops, receive waste reduction tips, get access to supplies and educational materials, and connect with other households striving to live lower waste lifestyles.
The 2023 challenge will run from May 7 through October 14. Interested households should complete the online application by Wednesday, April 26.
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Funding is available through the Green Partners grant program to support organizations in educating and motivating residents to become environmental stewards and take environmentally friendly actions.
Grants are available to nonprofit organizations, community groups, youth programs, schools, congregations, early childhood family education programs, and park districts.
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Three types of grants are available:
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Environmental action: For projects focused on motivating adults to do more to protect the environment and take action at home, at work, or on-the-go.
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Youth environmental education: For projects focused on working with youth to develop awareness of environmental issues and increase interest in environmental stewardship.
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Youth green jobs (new!): For projects focused on offering green jobs exploration and training to individuals ages 14 to 24, especially those facing disparities.
Virtual information meetings will be held Thursday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to noon for youth environmental education and youth green jobs grants and Tuesday, April 18 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for environmental action grants.
Proposals are being accepted until Thursday, May 11. Learn more about the grants, how to apply, and RSVP to an info meeting.
For more information, contact Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-596-6856.
Hennepin County recently awarded seven Good Steward grants totaling $155,000 for projects that will improve water quality, enhance natural resources, and promote environmental stewardship in the community. Learn more about Good Steward grants and projects awarded.
The grants awarded will:
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- Employ youth to help add pollinator habitat, rain gardens, and other features to improve stormwater management, provide wildlife habitat, and create green spaces and an outdoor classroom at Jerry Gamble Boys and Girls Club in Minneapolis.
- Install rain gardens and permeable pavement to capture runoff from parking lots, sidewalks, and buildings Chicago Avenue Fine Arts Center in Minneapolis, Highland Gables Apartments in Brooklyn Park, and Mayflower Community Congregation in Minneapolis.
- Install rain gardens and other shoreline stabilization practices along roadways adjacent to Harrison’s Bay on Lake Minnetonka in Orono.
- Restore degraded and eroding natural areas around Nicollet Island in Minneapolis
- Restore woodlands at Camp Eden Wood in Eden Prairie.
The county recently awarded 12 grants totaling $216,000 to prevent and slow the spread of aquatic invasive species. These projects will:
- Create 3D models of aquatic invasive species for interpretive displays at water accesses.
- Create two new art sail designs for sailboats in an adaptive sailing program.
- Increase watercraft inspections, self-inspection, and boater education.
- Create a portable and interactive aquatic invasive species education display for outreach.
- Survey water accesses on Lake Minnetonka for starry stonewort.
- Assess flowering rush treatments and educate lakeshore homeowners to identify flowering rush.
- Expand the use of lakepledge.com on Christmas Lake.
For more information, contact Tony Brough at tony.brough@hennepin.us or 612-348-4378.
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Hennepin County’s community forestry program focuses on protecting the county’s tree canopy to increase the benefits that trees provide.
Trees improve air quality by absorbing fine particulate matter and other pollutants, protect water by slowing down and infiltrating stormwater runoff, provide shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, lower stress, and increase property values.
Some of the work county foresters accomplished in 2022 include:
- Planted 1,011 trees and shrubs grown in the county’s gravel bed throughout the county.
- Sold 3,000 seedlings to residents through the spring tree sale.
- Funded 20 Healthy Tree Canopy grants to seven cities, four affordable housing providers, and nine schools and nonprofits.
- Provided over 185 education hours at community volunteer events.
- Planted 138 trees along a section of Brooklyn Boulevard in Brooklyn Center.
- Conducted an inventory of diseased trees within rights-of-way along county roads, flagging 47 trees for removal, and continued to inventory and monitor the 1,483 ash trees on county properties.
Learn more in the 2022 Community forestry annual report (PDF).
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Hennepin County is selling trees to property owners to restore and improve woodland areas and increase wildlife habitat.
About the trees available
Bareroot trees ranging in size from 18 to 24 inches will be sold in bundles of 25, unless otherwise noted. Due to their small size, the trees being sold are best used for restoration and conservation projects.
Why plant trees?
Trees can create shelterbelts, provide visual screens, and offer shade that increases home energy efficiency. Trees also protect water quality, prevent soil erosion, and improve wildlife habitat.
Place an order
Trees must be ordered by Thursday, April 20. When placing your order, you must selected a date – Thursday, April 27 or Saturday, April 29 – to pick up your trees at the Parkers Lake Golf Center in Plymouth.
See what's available and place an order.
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Earth Day and Arbor Day events
Earth Day and Arbor Day are both coming up in April, and there are many events planned locally to celebrate our community and environment.
You could join a cleanup event, run a 5k, go on a bird walk, learn about local sustainability resources, participate in a clothing swap, help plant trees, hear live music, and much more!
See our list and map of more than 25 events.
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Open house: learn about rural conservation and funding
Thursday, April 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hamel Community Building, 3200 Mill Street in Hamel
Have questions about conservation or managing your farm and livestock?
This open house will be an opportunity to discuss your questions with Hennepin County conservation staff and learn about financial and technical services county staff provide.
For those interested in managing pastures for horses, Dr. Krishona Martinson, University of Minnesota equine extension specialist, will give a short presentation at 4 p.m.
At the open house, you can also:
- Sign up for the new, free, soil health testing program
- Get free tree seedlings
- Enjoy snacks and drinks
RSVP to let us know you’ll be attending the event or sign up to be notified of similar events in the future.
For more information, contact Roz Davis at rozalyn.davis@hennepin.us.
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MSP Home Tour Topic Talk: Deconstruction
Saturday, April 29 from noon to 1 p.m. at 3902 Ewing Avenue S. in Minneapolis
Learn how to reduce waste on your next home project and find out about grant funding and other resources available.
As part of the MSP Home Tour, Hennepin County staff will give a Topic Talk presentation at a house that was awarded a Hennepin County deconstruction grant.
The MSP Home Tour is a free self-guided tour of remodeled homes in the Twin Cities being offered Saturday April 29 and Sunday, April 30.
Coming up: Salvage Crawl in May
The presentation will kick off Hennepin County’s upcoming Salvage Crawl taking place throughout May. Stay tuned for more information about the Salvage Crawl in next month’s newsletter!
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Donate used building materials at the Orono spring cleanup event
Saturday, April 22 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orono Public Works Facility, 2700 Kelley Parkway in Orono
Open to residents of Orono, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, and Spring Park only
Have used or unwanted building materials and tools laying around? Don’t throw them out – donate!
This year at the Orono spring cleanup event, there will be an opportunity to donate usable building materials to a local nonprofit that specializes in the reuse and resale of building materials.
Better Futures Minnesota will be onsite to assess all materials for quality and potential for resale. Any items not accepted by Better Futures can be disposed of the event for applicable charges.
See the City of Orono Spring Cleanup Day flyer (PDF) for more information.
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Tips for sorting through a lifetime of memories and giving them a new home
 Whether you’re downsizing or cleaning out a late loved one’s home, it’s tough to empty a nest full of memories.
Joe and Hope Fischman, owners of Empty the Nest, have made it their business to help people figure out what to do with a lifetime’s worth of stuff.
The key to emptying a nest, Joe says, is to rehome items for reuse. It’s the best option for your memories, budget, and the environment.
Knowing that an item has value and will be treasured by someone else can help with the process of letting go. Writing up the history of an item to share with the new owner can help even more.
In the latest blog on Choose to Reuse, Time to empty the nest, learn more about strategies for cleaning out and sorting materials, the value of things, letting go, and doing right by the environment.
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