NRRC People’s Orchard Project Featured in CSU Newsletter

In November, 2011, NRRC Building A’s People’s Orchard project was featured in CSU’s Today @ Colorado State University newsletter. The article discusses CSU’s important contribution of initial weed control and drip irrigation to the project and contributions by our other partners:

• The Gardens on Spring Creek, for orchard design and variety selection
• The City of Fort Collins Forestry Department, for truckloads of wood mulch
• Volunteers from four different USDA agencies, two local Boy Scout troops and a Cub Scout Pack for planting and staking trees, spreading mulch and providing necessary maintenance.

CSU’s article also discusses the goals of the People’s Orchard:

• Support USDA’s People’s Garden Initiative
• Promote employee wellness
• Conserve irrigation water
• Demonstrate sustainable gardening practices
• Provide educational opportunities
• Supply fresh fruit to the Larimer County Food Bank

NRRC to host “official” Bike-to-Work day breakfast station

Volunteers from NRRC will join with local businesses to sponsor a Bike-to-Work day breakfast station on the Spring Creek trail, 7:00 – 9:30 a.m.  on December 14.  The NRRC-A Green Team will be joined by volunteers from other USDA buildings on campus, La Luz Mexican Grill and Drake Cyclery to provide tasty breakfast burritos, hot drinks and light bike repair to cyclists participating in the event.  Our breakfast station will be located where the Spring Creek trail goes beneath the railroad,  northeast of the NRRC campus.  The annual event, sponsored by FC Bikes, will feature 16 other breakfast stations across the city.  If the promise of a free hot meal is not enough to lure you from your winter den, our station will offer a rare appearance by Smokey Bear, sponsored by the Arapahoe & Roosevelt National Forests (building E). Come join your fellow cyclists and Smokey for a hot breakfast in the crisp winter air.  “I have a bike; I go to work; I ride my bike to work – no big whoop.”

ZEDfest is Friday, October 7th

You don’t have to be a ZED head to feel the Power on 10/7!

ZEDfest is a City wide Celebration of Home Energy Efficiency and Community.  Sites all over Fort Collins will be hosting fun afternoon gatherings where participants can partake in educational activities and enjoy libations compliments of Odell Brewing Company.

“You may have taken the pledge; you may want to learn more; you may not be familiar with FortZED. No matter where you stand, we want you!”

To learn more or find the host site nearest you visit http://www.fortzedchallenge.com/ or RSVP on Facebook

Free Household Hazardous Waste Collection

The City of Fort Collins is offering a free Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event on Saturday, September 17th from 9 a.m to 3 p.m.

Where:

Parking lot at northwest corner of Lake Street and College Avenue (on CSU campus)

Who:

Fort Collins residents (commercial waste not accepted)

Drop off unwanted household chemicals:

(labeled and non-leaking)

• Paint
• Pesticides
• Used oil
• Batteries (not automotive)
• Cleaning products
• Automotive products
• Mercury-containing switches
• Compact fluorescents

Limit of 30 gallons per household.

More information (such as items not accepted and preparing items for safe transport) can be found at the City’s Hazardous Waste web page.

2011 Sustainable Living Fair

The 12th annual Sustainable Living Fair will take place on the weekend of September 17th and 18th at Legacy Park on North College Avenue in Fort Collins.

The Fair offers a weekend of solution-based, interactive, family oriented events designed to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about: renewable energy, alternative transportation, sustainable agriculture, green building, natural health, environmental & social responsibility, local economies and more.

Fair Hours Saturday 10am – 6pm Sunday 10am – 5pmFair Admission $8/day, Kids under 12 free Tickets at the entrance

On-site parking is limited! Please read about transportation options.

Climate Wise Fall Fair

Today I attended the Climate Wise Fall Fair, which celebrated 10 years for the Climate Wise Program here in Fort Collins. The focus this year was reaching out to engage employees.  Our NRRC Building A Green Team has this as a goal for year 2 of our Climate Wise membership.  There are great presentations on being a “learning organization” and how people retain information.  You guessed it…we learn best by participation and teaching others.  All of the presentations from today will be posted on the Climate Wise web site.

Also, they shared tools for sustainability evaluation and planning.  Check out www.oneplanetvision.org for a free Sustainability Management System you can use at home or for ideas in your office.

Sustainable Living Fair

The 11th annual Sustainable Living Fair will take place on the weekend of September 18th and 19th at Legacy Park on North College Avenue in Fort Collins.

The fair will include games and information on sustainable living practices, renewable energy, green building, natural health, social responsibility, organic and local agriculture and more.

Building A Becomes a Climate Wise Silver Partner!

You may have noticed two new plaques in our front lobby. One recognizes Building A as a City of Fort Collins Climate Wise partner and the other recognizes us for achieving the Silver partnership level.

Climate Wise is a free, voluntary City of Fort Collins program that is dedicated to helping local business and the environment.

The goal of the Climate Wise program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting waste reduction, energy savings, alternative transportation, water conservation, and practicing pollution prevention.

The City’s Climate Wise Team, working closely with your Green Team, conducted a comprehensive environmental assessment of Building A in late 2009. If you work in Building A and would like a copy of the report, send us an email!