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Live Green in Plano Volunteers,
Celebrations at the Plano Community Garden are always special! At the spring volunteer recognition picnic, we honored the Live Green in Plano volunteers who completed their 24 hours of service to our program: Joyce Beach, Martha Chalhoub, Jan, Paul and Victoria Gandy, Hanna Hale, Morgan Oberle, Kim Pang, Cynthia Riley, Richard Solomon and Richard Wilder. The range of work provided by these creative and passionate volunteers covers: processing water rebates, Girl Scout trainings, hosting backyard talks, interviewing a Community Supported Agriculture farmer and representing him at the Live Green Expo, posting neighborhood recycle reminder signs, supporting the Live Green Expo and the Zero Waste efforts at the Plano International Festival, working in the Plano Community Garden, co-teaching the Kids in the Garden program, serving on the Live Green in Plano Advisory Board, Tweeting, Facebook and community calendar postings, developing and wearing a reusable bag costume. 
The 2011 Live Green Expo was a great success thanks to the volunteers who helped with planning since January. Collectively they researched crafts, served on committees for the DIY room, the Zero Waste effort, and the Compost Fair. They built a demonstration compost pile, trained volunteers. taught five food waste workshops, hauled props, prepared samples, recruited musicians and produced the courtyard entertainment, and worked tirelessly all day during set up and event day. These volunteers received our thanks and Cinemark movie tickets or a bottle of wine from Lubbock, TX: Tanis Roelofs, Karen Mitchell, Frances Meader, Melissa Wright, Janice Bowling, Barri Montgomery, Jan Eppard, Janice Edgemon, Elbert Liu, Jinx Smith, Chris Morgan and Brenda Steib.
Please help us spread the word about the next volunteer training that begins June 2. You'll find more information below.
Sustainability Volunteer Coordinator
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Green Travel Tips
by Maria Gant
 With summer approaching at a blazing rate, many people are making plans to travel. Here are some things to consider to make your vacation a little greener. Remember, every little bit helps!
If you are going to travel by car, consider taking your bikes along so you can use them at your destination. If you were planning to travel in your own car, and it is large and/or not very fuel efficient, consider renting a model that gets better mileage. If you are going to rent a car:
· Choose the smallest size vehicle necessary. It will use less fuel, and may even save you money.
· Consider renting a hybrid car.
At your hotel:
· Take quick showers, and don't leave the water running while you brush your teeth.
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Apartment Recycling Alternative: Cans and Bottles
By Karen Mitchell 
As we know, the majority of apartment complexes in Plano do not recycle for many logistical reasons. Apartment dwellers want to recycle and a new recycling center in Plano offers them an opportunity to recycle aluminum cans and #1 PET plastic bottles.
The Reimagine Recycling Center is located at Coit Road and Highway121 in the Kroger parking lot. This is a self contained recycling center which crushes and sorts aluminum cans and plastic bottles into bins to be picked up and sent to a recycling center. You collect the cans and bottles in one large container, dump them in at one time, then the machines sorts, crushes and holds them for pick up in one smooth operation.
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Do You Suffer from Too Much?
A book review by Cherie Ware.
 A popular theme in the green movement is to simplify. In our physical environment, simplifying means to de-clutter our excessive volume of material possessions - and that's where Peter comes in. Peter Walsh is the professional organizer from the hit TLC series Clean Sweep and current host of the OWN show, Enough Already!
His first book is a New York Times Bestseller called It's All Too Much: an Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff. The focus is on the home - and how having a lot of stuff doesn't equate to happiness. Peter challenges our relationship with our things and asks "Does this item enhance the life we want to live?"
Peter's approach is positive and forward-looking. He asks readers to create a vision - a vision of what we want in our spaces and in our life. Practical instructions and tools are provided: a "Kick Start" method for dealing with clutter and a "Room Function Chart" for defining what should stay and what should go. Next, specific guidelines and advice are provided for each and every room in your home. Sprinkled throughout the book are entertaining letters from real people with stories of how Peter's work has improved their lives.
This is a great read for folks feeling overwhelmed and stressed in their own homes. Now I'll leave you with a direct question from Peter - "Do you own your stuff, or does your stuff own you?" |
Benefits of Using a Dehumidifier in Your Home
By Mitzi Unda
 A house dehumidifier operates by drawing the moisture out of the air. It sucks the air in and collects condensation in a pan, and then blows the air out with reduced amounts of water vapor.
Making use of a dehumidifier for the home on a regular basis can help you develop a lot more soothing and comfy environment. People feel better when the humidity is between twenty and sixty percent. Humidity over 60% can make you feel tired and irritable. Using a dehumidifier with an air conditioner will produce the best temperature in your home. Even if you have air conditioning, sometimes it is just not enough, and you require a dehumidifier to eliminate the bothersome moisture in order to feel far more comfy and fresh.
Making use of a dehumidifier for the home can also help you avoid some significant health risks. When there is a large humidity level, mold can develop in high moisture locations such as the bathroom, laundry room or kitchen. Mildew can pose a significant threat to your well being, so limiting its spread is critical. De-humidifiers can help you breath easier and feel better. If you have allergies, a home dehumidifier can ease irritating symptoms. It can also help people with asthma breathe far better, and help in recovery for people suffering from pneumonia.
Using a dehumidifier is a way to maximize your comfort level at home and improve your health! |
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Artist Leads Volunteers on Rainy Day Project
Lura Barnes lives design! When this Live Green in Plano volunteer heard there was a need for decorating the concrete rain cistern at the Environmental Education Center, she eagerly offered her creative consultation. Daltile donated tiles made of recycled material and Lura worked the available colors into a design. Three shades of blue tiles flow over the edge of the cistern giving the appearance of water spilling onto a yellow field of purple flowers. She cut the petal tiles at home. Imagine Lura wearing a hat, goggles, raincoat, mask and boots working with a tile saw in the backyard!
The most amazing aspect of this project isn't its beauty, although it immediately catches your attention. This mosaic project was created by 74 teen and adult volunteers, all of whom needed instruction and supervision in their first mosaic tile project. Lura trained volunteers in each part of the process over six days, kept morale up when progress seemed terribly slow, and worked alongside as she empowered everyone in his/her ability to be creative. The result - a colorful, eye-catching public art piece created by committed volunteers for Plano's residents. Stop by and admire the work at the Environmental Education Center located at 4116 W. Plano Parkway at Commerce Road.
Are you interested in working on projects such as this one? Become a Live Green in Plano volunteer! The next series of classes are Thursday, June 2 - Saturday, June 4. Go to livegreeninplano.obsres.com to register. It's FREE!) |
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