|
Dear LGIP Volunteers,
Happy holidays! I hope yours are filled with all that you hold dear!
Fall is almost behind us and with that is a fresh, newly-trained group of LGIP Volunteers. If you see an new face, I hope you welcome them and share why you became a LGIP Volunteer. Congratulations to the the 18th Class!
Every part of LGIP has been busy the past couple of months. Make a Difference Day and Love Where You Live cleaned up bags and bags of litter around Plano. Lots of 1st graders came out to visit our garden and learn how they can make a difference in their natural world. The  Recycle Right Plano Street Team has been at area festivals every month spreading the word about recycling. Jump on Instagram and check out some of their photos at #recyclerightplano or on our Facebook page, Live Green in Plano.
Tis the season to give your house and energy checkup. The You've Got the Power energy savings series is in full swing. There are still three more classes and the best part..its FREE! Go online to learn more and register at livegreeninplano.obres.com.
Although the leaves are falling and the grasses are going dormant, it's the perfect time to begin thinking about your fall vegetable garden. Beginning in January, several classes are being offered to help you get started. PLUS, two of our very own Plano Community Gardeners are writing a series on home gardening that begins in THIS newsletter..THIS month! Read on to learn more!
Have a season full of joy and I look forward to seeing you all in the New Year!
~Charlotte
Charlotte DeMolay
Sustainability Volunteer Coordinator |
|
|
Home Gardening Series
Step 1: Planning the Site
by Jan Eppard & Brenda Steib
 Have you ever considered trying vegetable gardening? This is the perfect season to start your planning.
Your first step to success is to find the perfect location for the size of garden you desire. For beginning gardeners, we recommend considering a 4' x 4' to 4' x 8' area. Plants have four basic needs; soil, sunshine, water, and air. The location needs plenty of sunshine and good drainage. Most herbs and vegetables need a minimum of 8-12 hours of direct sunlight daily. The best way to ensure a sunny location is to survey it throughout a sunny day to ensure there are no shadows caused by obstructions such as trees or fences.
|
|
It's the Holiday Season!
by Erin Yang
 Everyone is busy with shopping, finding great deals, choosing just the right gifts, and running around being Santa Claus. There are so many ways that we can be green while shopping, wrapping, and getting ready for the Christmas season. Here are some tips on how to have a sane and green shopping experience (Adapted from an article by Dan Shipley from thedailygreen.com): 1. Make a List
Eliminate the waste by following Santa's example. Before buying, make a list of the items you might purchase for the people in your life, along with the cost of each item.
|
|
Energy Audits and Radiant Barrier
by John Reas
 When I went through the Learn Green to Live Green seminar series this past spring, one item I wanted to follow up on was an energy audit of my home. I fulfilled that goal when I received a call from State Energy Conservation, in August offering to conduct an energy audit. State Energy Conservation, is a Florida based organization, expanding into the Texas market to assist homeowners with helpful suggestions on how to reduce their electricity bills. The audit is conducted free of charge, and there is no obligation to use State Energy's services. Their firm specializes in installing solar electric power systems, solar water heaters and radiant barriers for the home.
|
Book Review: The Nature Principle
by Ananya Jha
 The Nature Principle: Human restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder is written by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods. This book was published in 2011 and talks about the lack of people's exposure to nature. In this book, Louv challenges the readers to utilize nature's restorative powers to aid them in their lives. Louv skillfully weaves varied examples into this book explaining the use of nature as therapy. He has come up with several terms to exemplify his idea of using nature as therapy for body. One such term is "solastalgia," which is the pain people experience when they withdraw from a place they love and cherish.
To read more click here... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Desire to Educate Plano about Food-Waste Composting
Long-time Plano resident, Jan Eppard, leads a dual life. During office hours her tools are her computer and phone as a Release Manager for  Aon Hewitt. Evenings and weekends she grabs a rake and bucket and heads outside.
For over seven years, she has been a member of the Plano Community Garden and a Live Green in Plano Volunteer. She leads in both roles as a Garden Mentor and a member of the Live Green in Plano Advisory Board.
To read more about Jan click here... |
|
Upcoming Programs
For more information click the image.
|
|
