Conservation and Environmental Education
Hot news! and Local Links!
November 2011 -
Well, "old man winter" is
on the way, but here is an indoor activity for February that will allow
you to stay nice and warm...........or if you are brave of heart you can
take it outdoors! The next "Great
Backyard Bird Count" (GBBC) is
set for Friday, February 17 - Monday, Feb 20, 2012.
It's fun, does not require a lot of your time if you have a busy
schedule, and the entire family can get involved if you'd like. Visit
www.birdsource.org/gbbc for more information.
Also Project Feeder watch begins on November 12. To learn more or to sign up (small fee) please visit www.feederwatch.org.
The PA DCNR has many energy saving suggestions....here's one to help with your annual heating bills........
Save approximately 10% on your annual home heating expenditures with a programmable thermostat. Try 68 degrees or cooler in the winter and 72 or higher in the summer. There are many types of programmable thermostats on the market and different types of heating systems, so be sure to select the model that's right for you."Program to save.
Recycling has just gotten easier! Cycl It - a new recycling business is now open and is located at 629 S. 13th Street, Indiana, PA 15701 between the IUP tennis courts and Hoss’s on South 13th Street extension. Phone #:724-309-8188
The recycling center will take the following items: cardboard, glass bottles, all plastics #1-7, cans-aluminum & bi-metal, newspaper, office paper, magazines, batteries, gas grills, lawn mowers & blowers, vinyl siding, computers/electronics, used motor oil, used kitchen oil, all appliances.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is one way to buy local seasonal food directly from a farmer. Information on local CSA's may be found at www.LocalHarvest.org. Local farmer's markets are also listed at this site. Check it out..... it's surprising to see all the wonderful local products that are available in our region.
The Environmental Protection Agency provides guidelines on house and garden pesticides, which provide consumers with proper disposal instructions on these products. Do not throw household and garden pesticides into the trash. Many pesticides are hazardous, and throwing them into the trash puts children, pets and sanitation workers at risk. Neither should pesticides be dumped down drains, which could cause ground and surface water contamination. Consumers are directed to contact their local solid waste, health or environmental agency for information on proper disposal of these products. North American Hazardous Materials Management Association
Newsletters you can sign up for:
'Seeds' from iconserv NR). iConservePA is a web site managed by the Pennsylvania DCNR.
'Keystone Wild! Notes' - the official online publication of the Pennsylvania Wild Resource Conservation Program, administered by the PA DCNR
Recommended Links:
Earth Hour - Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.
Earth Day is Everyday! 2011 Earth Day was Friday, April 22 and this year's theme was a Billion Acts of Green. The purpose is to mobilize one billion acts of environmental service around the world. Acts can be very simple, such as making a pledge to use cold water for laundry or picking up trash (which could be immense!). As stated by the Earth Day Organization, whatever your pledges, "collectively, these acts not only have an impact on global carbon emissions but will demonstrate the power of small everyday individual acts of green". For more ideas on ongoing activities see www.earthday.org.
Arbor Day 2011 was Friday April 29. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, over the course of 50 years, a single tree can generate $31,250 worth of air pollution control, recycle $37,500 worth of water, and control $31,500 worth of soil erosion. Do you know the state tree of Pennsylvania?
National Resource Council - NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.3 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other professionals.
Conservation International - Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, CI empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, for the well-being of humanity.
Past activities included planting trees at Elementary Schools in Indiana County in addition to plantings at various locations throughout the Borough of Indiana for Arbor Day and Earth Day activities.
Trees planted on North 7th Street.
Email