Hello Sam Readers!
Tangletown Environmental Committee members have been a busy bees this year! I thought I would take some time to fill you in on all the initiatives it has been busy pursuing.
First, the committee wrapped up their programming on living a low waste lifestyle. This initiative included multiple events focused on practices individual households could adopt to live more sustainably. There were events on how to compost, how to reduce food waste, how and what to shop in bulk, as well as tips on how to shop to reduce packaging waste. The committee even held a cooking event where a chef showed us innovative ways to use the lesser used parts of vegetables. They hosted this programming on Zoom and recorded it. Information and links to all recording can be found here.
Next, the committee turned its focus to demystifying solar power. In April, they hosted three panelists who discussed solar power in Minnesota. Specifically, the panelists addressed what community solar and solar farms are and how to participate, the pros and cons of installing solar panels on your house, and the current landscape for solar energy at the state and municipal levels politically. This event was recorded and can be viewed here. The feedback received from the solar event has been overwhelmingly positive, and the committee is currently looking into ways to make solar energy more accessible to Tangletown residents. Keep an eye out for more information on a possible group solar panel buy or developing a Tangletown community solar site.
In the meantime, the committee hosted another spring compost distribution event where seven yards of compost were made available for residents to pick up and use in their spring gardening projects. The event was so popular that they ran out of compost by noon! The committee plans to buy more next year to meet the growing demand. The small donations collected for each bag of compost were greatly appreciated and were used to cover the cost of the event.
The committee is also hosting its second annual Clothing Swap this year. Last year’s clothing swap was the final event in a year-long initiative to educate residents about textile waste and how to reduce it. It was a resounding success, so the committee resolved to make the event annual. This year’s clothing swap will be on Saturday, August 27, from 10:00-1:00 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Nicollet and 49th street. Bring your gently used clothing and “shop” for new treasures! Here is more information about the swap.
The committee has also teamed up with 15 other Minneapolis neighborhoods to host an electronics recycling and paper shredding event on Saturday, September 24, from 9:00-Noon in the Mayflower Church parking lot on E. Diamond Lake Rd. They have partnered with Tech Dump, a local non-profit that responsibly recycles and disposes of small electric appliances, computers, audio-visual components, and many other types of e-waste. They will also have a paper shredding company at the event that will safely shred and dispose of sensitive paper documents. The event is free, but if you can, a $5 donation given when you drop off your items will help us cover event costs, such as the recycling fees we will pay to Tech Dump and the paper shredding company. Learn more about the electronic waste recycling event here.
Lastly, the committee is partnering with Lyndale and Kingfield neighborhoods to participate in a Lawns to Legumes Demonstration Neighborhood grant project. This project is sponsored by the State of Minnesota’s Board of Water and Soil Resources and is designed to create more habitat for the endangered state bee of Minnesota, the Rusty Patch Bumblebee. Tangletown and the other participating neighborhoods will be planting pollinator gardens in key areas of our neighborhoods to provide the Rusty Patch Bumblebee with shelter and a grazing corridor to Minnehaha Creek. Stay tuned for more information about this project and how you can participate!
The Tangletown Environmental Committee is a “small but mighty” group of engaged residents committed to doing their part to create a healthier, more sustainable world. The committee is always looking for more members to help them meet their goals. Join the fun and come to the next meeting! Meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 7:00-8:30 pm over zoom. At least one in-person meeting is held annually. Email info@tangletown.org for more information or visit tangletown.org/committees/ for meeting links and more information about all of Tangletown’s committees, including the Environmental Committee.
Sustainably,
Sam
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