A Tidal Wetland in Your Office Building?

   Do you know a school, office building, or housing community, that might benefit from an 75% decrease in its water bill?

Scott Nelles, LEED AP, will be introducing an ecological wastewater treatment system, at Wastewater Education’s online education series, on September 25, 2012 at from 2:00 – 3:15 pm.

Living Machine Systems uses biomimicry principles to provide integrated water treatment systems to large buildings or small communities.  The system mimics a tidal wetland ecosystem, cleaning and recycling kitchen and bathroom wastewater, including the toilet wastewater for 100% reuse– all while providing the nutrients for beautiful flora, that are part of the filtration process!

Don’t Miss Green Cuisine!

  If you are a locavore, a  foodie, or a green living enthusiast,  Green Cuisine is a ‘don’t miss’ event.   Every year Food for Thought  invites the community to their organic farm in Honor, to “raise awareness around just and sustainable food systems.”  It is a chance to sample the works of local food artisans, taste local wines, and tour the farm, all for free!  

Girl Scouts Upcycle Plastic Grocery Bags to Help Haiti

The Girl Scouts are marking their 100th year with a project called “Forever Green.”  The Girl Scouts of Michigan, Shore to Shore, has chosen to take on the issue of plastic waste.  Girl Scouts across Michigan are learning about plastic waste, and switching to reusables.

As part of this project, the Girl Scouts will be collecting plastic grocery bags to crotchet  them into plastic mats.  The mats will be used  to protect materials being shipped to Haiti for disaster relief.  When they arrive, they will be used in orphanages, medical centers and schools for various purposes.  

Decreasing Plastic Is A Win-Win-Win

Check out this Tedx talk from Beth Terry.  In 2007 she committed to not buying any new plastic, and she has come pretty darn close.  She has a website where she chronicles her efforts.  Her talk is moving in many ways, most of all in its explanation of why her individual act matters.

As many of you know, I have been trying to decrease my plastic use for about the past year, and have decided to step this up as one of my 2012 Resolutions.  It boggles the mind to think that we lived without plastic just 100 years ago, and now it is in almost everything we use.