Being 4 1/2 months pregnant these issues are really hitting home. I want to provide the best nutrition to my child and family. I want to be able to create awareness of wholesome, healthy foods. And, I know that everything I want is achievable.

Jamie’s website has a lot of great information to help you learn more about the dangers our children face. He explains why we need a food revolution and how you can get involved at home and at school.

Take Action: http://www.jamieoliver.com/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/home

If you have 2o minutes, I highly suggest you want this incredible video of Jamie at TED2010.

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

http://jaymecarleton.com

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The Tree Fund provides trees to neighborhoods to enhance the city’s urban forest. Neighborhood groups can receive awards of 10 to 40 trees including up to one fruit tree per household. All projects must demonstrate their capacity to build a stronger and healthier community.

Program participants receive:
• Free trees! Trees can be planted in yards and along streets. Available species
• Watering bags
• Training on proper tree planting and care
• One free bag of GroCo compost, made with King County biosolids
• Helpful tree care tips and reminders

Applications are due August 16th. Review application guidelines at the website.

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

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Funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) offers a tremendous opportunity for state and local governments to jump-start green building efforts, create green jobs, and save energy and money. USGBC is committed to helping our communities make the most of this historic opportunity.

The following resources and best practices are intended to support state and local leadership and assist governments in these critical efforts. I suggest you take a quick look at this website to get an idea of where the ARRA funds are being spent.

- Jayme Mattson

www.secondnatureconsulting.com

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Earth Day Canada

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I think that is a question we should all ask ourselves. Earth Day is a reminder for the entire world to wake up and realize how much our every day life affects our planet. Earth Day broadens the base of support for environmental programs, rekindles public commitment and builds community activism around the world through a broad range of events and activities.

There are many events such as festivals and rallies organized for the weekends before and after April 22. Many communities also celebrate Earth Week or Earth Month by organizing a series of environmental activities throughout the month of April.

Earth Day Network is the driving force around Earth Day – steering environmental awareness around the world. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and impact their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out this group, you should. Right now they are initating a program called “A Billion Acts of Green” where you can fill out their online form letting Earth Day Network know what personal action you are taking in April.

Here are some examples of personal actions you could take to be part of Earth Day and A Billion Acts of Green:

• recycling
• planting a tree
• changing out your light bulbs
• taking the bus to work
• consolidating the trips you take in your car
• drinking water from a reusable stainless steel container instead of buying bottled water
• buying local produce instead of grocery store produce

-JM

www.secondnatureconsulting.com

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Salvage Truck

Each month, Second Use – a salvage company and reseller – diverts 60-100 tons of reusable materials from the waste stream and resells them at affordable prices to the public. Every day homeowners, artists, contractors, junkers, designers, and architects, peruse their ever-changing inventory of vintage architectural pieces and contemporary building materials.

One of the things I really like about Second Use is that they have field crews on the road 5 days a week to remove and pick-up materials from homes, jobsites, and companies. They also have a 6,000 square foot receiving area open 7 days a week for material drop-off. This comes in handy for the general contractor who is trying to be eco-conscious and does not want to landfill all of the older materials in the home.  The general contractor calls Second Use and has them arrive on the jobsite to salvage  any appliances, hardwoods, millwork, doors, toilets, etc. that they can.

Second Use helps the general contractor by:

• reducing the number of dump and recycling fees associated with the older materials in the home
• providing a tax receipt so that the salvaged materials can be a tax write off
• arriving onsite with their own licensed and bonded crews to salvage materials
• allowing the general contractor a “green” edge when bidding a project – what client wouldn’t want to have their old appliances and materials donated for a tax write off?
• providing a warehouse which clients can be directed to
• aligning closely with green building programs so the general contractor can submit the “salvage” material to the green building program for innovation points on the checklist

- JM

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