 Hennepin County has healthy tree canopy grants available for tree plantings, ash tree removals, tree inventories, outreach and more. Grants are available to cities, affordable housing properties, schools, and nonprofit organizations.
The grants aim to combat threats to trees from invasive insects and disease, educate the public on tree care and the importance of trees, and increase the diversity and resiliency of the tree canopy.
Virtual information meeting and application deadline
Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25. Learn more by reviewing the grant flyer (PDF) or attending a virtual information meeting on Wednesday, March 5.
Contact us
For more information, feedback on your project ideas, or help with your application, contact Leslie Alcantar Mejia at leslie.alcantarmejia@hennepin.us.
 Are you a business, nonprofit organization or reuse retailer looking to prevent waste? Hennepin County has a grant program to support just that!
Apply for up to $50,000 for your waste prevention project. A 25% match is required. Eligible expenses include reusable food packaging, reusable shipping and packaging containers, food waste tracking software, and research and development for innovative waste prevention projects.
Virtual information meeting and application deadline
Attend a virtual information meeting on Thursday, March 20 from 2 to 3 p.m. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8.
Contact us
For more information, feedback on your project ideas, or help with your application, contact a business recycling program specialist at businessrecycling@hennepin.us.
Farm and County Coffee Hour
 The Farm and County Coffee Hour series is an opportunity to ask Hennepin County staff about financial and technical assistance available for conservation projects on rural and agricultural properties.
Coffee hours will be held at the Hy-Vee Market Grille in Maple Grove on:
- Wednesday, March 12 from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Wednesday, March 26 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Coffee and pastries on us!
Learn how Hennepin County’s Cost Share for Conservation program can help offset the costs of addressing erosion, improving soil health, and installing conservation practices on rural and agricultural properties. Also sign up for the free soil health testing program.
Contact us
If you can’t make it, reach out to conservation staff directly: Kevin Ellis, kevin.ellis@hennepin.us or 612-382-3956 or Roz Davis, rozalyn.davis@hennepin.us or 952-262-0397.
Helping Hennepin County residents waste less food and save money
 Hennepin County's food waste prevention specialist, Jenny Kedward, is on a mission to get residents to waste less food. About 20% of what residents buy at the grocery store ends up in the trash or compost bin. For a family of four, that adds up to about $2,500 a year wasted.
It starts with a simple mantra: buy the food you will eat and eat the food you buy. Accomplish this by planning out 3 to 4 meals a week, leaving flexibility for eating out, and setting aside a night to eat leftovers. Other actions that prevent wasted food include learning how to store food properly, keeping an inventory of your fridge or freezer, and understanding what date labels really mean.
Learn more in the Star Tribune and visit TrashorCash.org for resources.
Fix-It Clinic volunteers share repair tips and offer free assistance
 Have you ever wondered what it's like to attend a Fix-It Clinic? Two of our amazing volunteers were recently on KSTP’s Minnesota Live to talk about how they help people fix just about anything! Watch them troubleshoot an issue with a mixer live on air and share other tips and insights from their experiences at Fix-It Clinics.
Modernizing lake accesses to improve the experience for all users and protect water
 Hennepin County’s Tony Brough, who oversees some of the public accesses and manages navigational buoys on Lake Minnetonka and other area lakes, was recently on the Minnesota Bound Podcast to discuss the North Arm Public Access redesign.
The public access in Orono is currently being redesigned to provide a better experience for all users, including those who are launching boats, fishing from the shore, or putting in paddleboards and kayaks. The access will also have improved stormwater management and space and tools to clean equipment to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species to protect water and habitat.
 Over time, our homes can become filled with items we rarely use and mean little to us. Creating a more organized space can reduce stress and boost productivity.
Breaking the process down into manageable steps can make it relatively easy:
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Start small: Choose one room, closet, or space in your home to get started.
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Set goals: Decide what you want to accomplish.
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Categorize: Place items into categories of keep, donate, sell, and discard. Check out our reuse directory and Green Disposal Guide for information on the best way to recycle, reuse, or dispose of items.
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Maintain: Consider how you can take a more intentional approach to your possessions and make more thoughtful choices about the items you purchase so you can avoid clutter in the first place.
Check out the latest Choose to Reuse blog for more about the benefits of decluttering.
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