Green Knights

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

Check out the White House blog for a video on green roofing and scroll down to see the EPA's Earth Day program.

What new habit are you going to start today to help our planet? Recycle more, compost food scraps, change purchasing habits, change driving habits, walk more, or grow a garden?

You can see some vintage posters and sign up for free kitchen garden seeds too!

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Gimme 5

2009-04-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

Many communities, including Fairfax County, do not allow you to put #5 plastics in your recycling bin. They only accept #1 and #2 plastics.

But Preserve, Organic Valley, Stoneyfield and Whole Foods markets have teamed up to give you a place to recycle those #5 plastic containers.

It's called the Gimme 5 program and it allows you to bring your #5s to a participating Whole Foods or send them to Preserve to be recycled into other plastic products. Just check the link to see if your local Whole Foods is participating in the pilot program. My market isn't one of them, but I keep reminding them about it and hope that they'll be added soon.

This is a fantastic program since a lot of plastic containers are #5. They'll even take Brita water filters! Yes, they're #5 too. It's difficult to see the recycling symbol at the underside of the filter though. I'd much rather see these plastics melted down and made into something useful instead of being incinerated or placed in a landfill.

Check out Preserve's web site and all of the useful things they make out of recycled plastics. I've used their toothbrushes and love them. I also use their large cutting board. They make their products in the U.S.A. and are doing lots of good things for the planet.

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Lights Out!

2009-03-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

March 28th is Earth Hour, where people all around the world turn off their lights for an hour.

You can sign up at their web site to pledge to go in the dark from 8:30-9:30 on the 28th. They are calling it a vote for our Earth when you switch the lights off. If you leave the lights on, that's a vote for Global Warming.

I saw on cnn.com where their ireporters are telling what they will do during that hour. You could tell jokes to family members, go for a walk, sit outside and look at stars, eat a candlelight dinner, read by flashlight, sit in zen-like state, whatever you can think of with the lights off.

It will be interesting to see how much power the world saves from just an hour a person.

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Tips for a Great Garden

2009-03-23T12:35:00.001-07:00

Step on over to Treehugger.com for some gardening tips.

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Start a Garden

2009-03-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

I have some seeds started in various planters and am thinking about making our garden area bigger and maybe expanding to the front yard. Our blueberry and blackberry bushes are looking good - a few leaf buds are forming. I hope the asparagus I planted last year comes up. This year, I'm planting cilantro, basil, rainbow chard, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and green beans.

I saw this great article about the new garden at the White House with tips on how you can plan your own plot.

Even if you have a super small yard, you can grow things in pots and hanging baskets.
When it gets warmer, I'm hooking up my rain barrel too.

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Green Living Classes

2009-02-26T09:09:00.000-08:00

I went to a Green Living class last night at the Springfield Whole Foods. Wow! Their Green Mission Specialist Sean Mahaffy gave us tons of great information!

Each class has a different topic and last night's was on energy efficiency. Check out their calendar for a list of classes.

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Healthy Food At Your Fingertips

2009-02-26T09:04:00.000-08:00

Here's a great source for healthy food...

I picked up some vegetable seeds today. Spring is just around the corner. A planting chart at the store listed that our section of the country will be ready for planting in the ground around the 26th of April. So, I can get my seeds started indoors and transplant them out in the garden then.

Here's to sunny days!

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Green School

2009-02-11T09:21:00.000-08:00

What can your school do? Take a look at one school in Washington, D.C. is doing.

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Vroom Vroom!

2009-02-03T11:12:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest in automobile technology this weekend (Feb. 4-8) at the Washington Auto Show.

There will be a Green Car Pavilion where the 2010 Toyota Prius will be with its optional solar panels on the roof.

You can also see Tesla Motors' all electric roadster. We had a chance to see this car 2 years ago when it was in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Senators to check out. It goes from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds and has a range of 244 miles per charge.

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Electronic Waste Recycling Days

2009-02-03T10:51:00.001-08:00

Don't put your computers, TVs or cell phones in the trash. They contain toxic elements and chemicals that do not belong in the landfill.

Fairfax County and Covanta Fairfax are sponsoring Electric Sundays at the I-66 Transfer Station.

Your old cell phones can be recycled at Whole Foods. Just remove all of your numbers and data and place in the bin at the exit door.

Small electronics can be recycled at the post office too. They have envelopes to place your item inside and mail off for recycling.

Home Depot will recycle your rechargeable batteries and fluorescent light bulbs (the compact ones and the long tube bulbs).

Radio Shack has an electronics recycling program. They will also recycle batteries.

Staples is another store who will recycle your electronics and ink cartridges.

There are lots of convenient places to recycle.

It's easy to keep electronics of all types out of the trash.

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Vermi What?

2009-02-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

Vermicomposting. I blogged about it last year when we had our meeting about it.

How are your worms doing? Ours are going to town enjoying our carrots and eggshells, among other food items (never meats). We didn't have many to begin with (couldn't bring ourselves to mail order worms) but found that if we kept adding shredded newspaper and gently shook the container once in a while, the worms were happy. And it's great when we're lazy and don't want to take our vegetable and fruit cuttings outside to the compost heap in 20 degree weather. We just put our clippings into our 32 oz. Stoneyfield yogurt container (also see Whole Foods market's Gimmee 5 program).

But our yogurt container is getting too small for all of the sweet smelling dirt the worms are creating for us. So, we went to IKEA looking for a bigger container. It not only had to be big, but it had to be a dark color (at least opaque) and have a lid. Really, the free breakfast that IKEA advertised got us into the store. But we'd been talking about getting a larger container for a while.

So, we're in the household storage solutions area of the store and spot some white containers. Then, jackpot! We spotted the perfect container. It's a good sized black plastic one with a lid... and it's Made in the U.S.A.!!

Our worms will be happy in their new home. We'll drill some air holes in the lid and place the container in our basement where it will stay cool.

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Classes at Whole Foods

2009-02-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

Whole Foods markets hold free classes every month. Our Springfield store began its Living Green class series last week and what fun everyone had! There was a wealth of information shared. We all got a free gift for attending too!

Check out their calendar of classes. February's class will focus on home energy efficiency. Can't wait!

Sign up as soon as you can. Classes have limited admission and this one is sure to fill up fast.

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Help U.S. Children This Valentine's Day

2009-02-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

I was watching CNN the other day and saw Julianne Moore talking about helping children in America. She asked illustrators for children's books to come up with some wonderful pictures for special Valentine's Day cards.

You can see them here.

Mrs. Moore said that her dream is for Valentine's Day to become a time when children do wonderful things for other children. Donations from these cards will make a difference in many lives.

The Save The Children site requests that you order by February 4th to receive your cards by Valentine's Day.

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day and National Day of Service

2009-01-18T09:51:00.000-08:00

Check out www.usaservice.org for service opportunities in your community. (This link takes you to a list of events within a 10-mile radius of zip code 22153)

We've signed up to take non-perishable food items to the Lorton Community Action Center, give grocery store gift cards to Our Daily Bread, and give blood with INOVA Blood Services in Annandale.

There are lots of opportunities to volunteer -- everything from clean up to food banks to the environment. You're not limited to what's on the list. Think of what you can do to make your community a better place. Every act makes a difference.

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The Milk Man is Back?

2009-01-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

Do you remember when the milk man would deliver fresh milk in glass bottles to your front door? Nowadays, milk is packaged in waxed paper cartons (which aren't recyclable) and plastic cartons (which are recyclable but take a lot of energy to produce).

I read recently in National Geographic's "Green Guide" magazine about dairies who are offering milk in glass bottles. The magazine was rating the energy efficiency and recyclability of milk packaging. And on my last trip to Whole Foods, at the intersection of Rolling Road and Old Keene Mill, I saw these bottles. They stand out in the refrigerated dairy case like gleaming stars. I'm getting too nostalgic, I know. But I can't help it. I am so excited about these milk bottles! It's the little changes that will make a world of difference.

So, here's the scoop. The milk comes from the family-owned Homestead Creamery in VA. Whole Foods has it in whole, 2%, nonfat, chocolate and buttermilk. The 2% I purchased was $3.79 and there's a $2.00 deposit. When you bring the empty bottle back to Whole Foods, they'll refund your deposit. It's a little more expensive than milk in a plastic or waxed paper container, but it's definitely more energy efficient and earth-friendly. The store sends the glass containers back to the dairy who will wash and sanitize them. Then, new milk is pumped in to begin the whole process again.

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More Green Gift Wrapping Ideas

2008-12-08T05:35:00.001-08:00

Check out this link for some great holiday gift wrapping ideas.

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ZooLights Celebration

2008-12-04T18:15:00.000-08:00

Take a trip out to the National Zoo for their display of thousands of LED lights. Pepco is a major sponsor of the event and representatives of Pepco will be educating visitors about simple things they can do to save energy.

Some of the animal exhibits will be open too.

Take a look at their web site here for more info on days, times and ticket prices.

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Bracelet Pattern

2008-12-02T10:51:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, our club members did a fantastic job creating lots of fun gifts using all sorts of items found around their homes. They made pompon snow balls from plastic bags, bracelets from soda pop tops, magnets from screws and other hardware items, and beads from straws and bits of gift wrap and newspaper.

There was a request for the bracelet pattern and I promised to post a link to it here.

The magnet idea came from a book called Funky Junk. It's at the Pohick Library too, if you'd like to check it out.

Have fun thinking of other useful gifts you can make with items you already have!

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Keeping the Love Alive

2008-12-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

Adopt a family and keep the meaning of the holidays alive.

As of November 25, Our Daily Bread's referral list of families needing assistance for the holidays had already exceeded the total number of referrals served last year.

Our Daily Bread’s Holiday Program matches families in need throughout Fairfax County with local community groups, businesses and individual families willing to provide Thanksgiving and December meals and gifts. Families are referred to Our Daily Bread by Fairfax County social workers and Fairfax County Public School guidance counselors. We are proud to partner this year with the Fairfax County Office of Public Private Partnerships to serve the entire Fairfax County area.

Just go to Our Daily Bread and see how easy it is to make a difference in someone's life.

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Energy-Saving Gifts

2008-11-25T06:30:00.000-08:00

TerraPass has lots of great items for girls and guys -- check them out here.

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Fair Trade for the Holidays

2008-11-25T06:13:00.000-08:00

Here's a link to some fair trade products you may be interested in giving as gifts.

You'd actually be giving in 2 ways - to the person receiving the gift and to the people who produced the item.

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Decorating Green

2008-11-20T19:05:00.000-08:00

LED lights save lots of energy and illuminate your house just as brightly. Home Depot has many types of LED holiday lights to choose from. Michaels Arts & Crafts has some too.

I read an article the other day about Christmas trees. The argument was that live trees are more environmentally friendly than the pre-lit plastic and metal ones you buy in the stores. The live Christmas trees at farms are grown for this purpose. After use, they can be ground into mulch or used as a hiding place for fish in lakes. Some trees with root balls can be planted after the holidays are over. Here's a good article at National Geographic's Green Guide web site about this.

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Green Gifts

2008-11-20T18:54:00.000-08:00

It's easier than you might think to find green gifts. Check out Co-op America's web site to find lots of companies who conduct business in an environmentally responsible way. And they have lots of cool stuff too!

Another great place to find eco-friendly gifts is www.uncommgoods.com.

Check out Green Living for more ideas.

And anything produced locally is fantastic because it cuts down on transportation costs and helps the local economy. So craft fairs and making your own gifts are options you may want to consider.

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Wrapping Ideas for the Holidays

2008-11-20T18:30:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about all of the waste associated with wrapping presents and have come up with a few ideas that you may want to adopt or expand upon.

Brown paper shopping bags make great wrapping paper -- so do newspapers -- and leftover fabric.

We're saving cereal boxes and other types of boxes to place gifts inside.

Packing peanuts and bubble wrap are saved and reused.

I was in Target today and found that most of their wrapping paper is Made in the U.S.A.
I haven't found a place that has recycled wrapping paper, but Hallmark stores have 3 styles of 'green' holiday cards. They are made from post-consumer recycled paper and sugar cane fibers. I was so excited when I found them!

What earth-friendly ideas can you come up with? We'd love to hear about them.

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Vermicomposting - Composting with Worms!

2008-10-06T06:22:00.000-07:00

At our October 6th meeting, we'll be making mini worm composting bins and learning all about how worms can turn our food scraps into fertile soil. This is also a great way to keep our biodegradable items out of the landfill.

Here are some resources to learn more:

Savvy Gardener

Worm Digest

Worms Eat My Garbage: How to Setup and Maintain a Vermicomposting System by Mary Appelhof - ISBN 0-942256-10-7

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Important Notice About Candy

2008-10-01T10:43:00.000-07:00

With Halloween coming up, many of us will be purchasing candy. Here's an article about some candies where Melamine has been found. This is the ingredient that's most recently been found in milk powder and milk products in China.

I called Hershey's and investigated their web site. They assured me that their Twizzlers, Mr. Goodbar, and Hershey's Miniatures are made in the U.S.A. and that they have not done business with any Chinese vendor of milk powder or milk products. Here's their press release.

I also checked out the info at Nestle's web site and gave them a call. The Butterfinger, Wonka Mix Ups, Crunch bars, Twix Minis Mix, and Halloween Peanut M&Ms are all made in the U.S. I found out that sometimes they have to ramp up their Canadian plant to help with the demand for the 3 Musketeers and Milky Way bars. But the customer service rep assured me that the candy is safe and they do not use the vendor that has been found to use the tainted milk powder.

In both instances, my packaging didn't say where the candy was manufactured. I was told that if it says, "Distibuted by x," with no mention of another country after it, then the product was manufactured in the U.S. If the candy is made in another country, that country would be listed after the distribution info.

Stay safe and check those packages.

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It's a Sunny Day!

2008-09-23T06:01:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! The National Solar Tour will be October 4th and 5th. There are over 50 homes and businesses in our area participating in the tour. You can visit them and find out how people are using solar and wind power in their everyday lives. Many of the homeowners have implemented other eco products too like solar ovens, electric lawn mowers, and recycled denim insulation.

Visit http://www.solartour.org/for more information and to download the tour brochure for free. You can also purchase it for $5 at REI and at other locations listed on the site.

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Living Green Tour

2008-09-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Coming to the Dulles Expo Center this weekend (Sept. 26-28) is the Capital Home Show. They will have a Living Green Tour where experts will talk about eco-friendly design and products. It will also feature a 2500 square foot Living Green Home furnished with products that conserve energy while at the same time beautify your home.

Information on tickets, attractions and celebrity guests is available at:
http://www.capitalhomeshow.com

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Saving Water

2008-09-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a great blog entry about saving water - it's so easy!

http://www.blueridgeecoshop.blogspot.com/

The Blue Ridge Eco Shop is located in Charlottesville, VA and makes a great day trip.
Visit their web site at http://www.blueridgeecoshop.com/.

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Report a Litterer

2008-09-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Clean Fairfax Council has launched a program to allow citizens to report a litterer. For more information on the program, go to http://www.cleanfairfaxcouncil.org/times.htm.

Just a reminder: The gloves and litter grabbers we purchased last school year are available for you to use for picking up litter around our school. They are stored in the custodians' closet.

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TV Reusing and Recycling

2008-08-06T07:51:00.000-07:00

On February 17, 2009, TV stations will only broadcast in digital. Reception will only affect those who watch free over-the-air TV using a rooftop antenna or "rabbit ears." If you are in this situation, you don't have to get rid of your TV. Converter boxes are available that will convert the digital signal into analog. Since this is another piece of electronics, it will help to purchase an Energy Star rated one. Energy Star rated products use less energy than other products of the same type. See www.energystar.gov/products.

More info about the switch to digital is at www.dtv.gov.

Many people are using this switch to digital as an opportunity to purchase a new TV. But, what to do with the old one? If you can't use it somewhere else in your home (ie. hook up a DVD player to it for the exercise room or use it for your game system), recycle it. TVs have many toxic substances in them that will hurt our air, soil and water. But when you recycle them, the toxic substances are harnessed and the components are put to good use.

Check out these recycling sites recommended by the FCC:
Earth 911 - www.earth911.com/electronics
National Recycling Coalition - www.nrc-recycle.org/localresources.aspx
My Green Electronics - www.mygreenelectronics.org

Closer to home, Fairfax County has Household Hazardous Waste collection events throughout the year. They'll not only take TVs, but also computers (which have toxic substances in them too). See http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/recycling/calendar.htm for dates and locations.

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E-Waste Nightmare

2008-08-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

Our country is making the digital TV transition. This means that there will be millions of TVs thrown away and all of their toxic materials released into our air and ground. But this doesn't have to happen. All of us can recycle our TVs and you can urge the government to do more to inform everyone about it.

Here's a link for you to take action:www.coopamerica.org/takeaction/fcc/

Fairfax County also has a web site with info on recycling your electronics: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/recycling/mat-comp.htm

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I CAN Drive 55

2008-05-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

Check out this link that has info about how much gas you can save when you slow down a bit on the highway and drive 55 mph.

http://action.sierraclub.org/site/SPageNavigator/Drive55_pledge

Take the pledge and save on your gasoline bill this Memorial Day weekend.

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What's Happening to the Bees?

2008-05-07T06:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a piece on cnn.com today about more bees being lost.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/05/06/disappearing.bees.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

This is of great concern because the bees pollinate the fruits, vegetables and nuts that we eat.

While we're talking about bees... We have local sources of honey. Colvin Run Mill has an apiary and sells their honey in the country store. Sometimes, they have programs showing how the bees make honey and how it is harvested. There are also beekeepers in our area and more are joining the list every day. I have a friend in Nokesville who is expecting her bees any day now for her new apiary. Check out our local farmer's markets for local honey.

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Smart Markets

2008-05-04T18:26:00.000-07:00

There are 2 new farmer's markets in our area that are up and running now!

Check out their web site for more information.

www.smartmarkets.org

I read that chef, Emeril Legasse, will be at the Fair Lakes location every other Wednesday taping his new show "Emeril Green" for Discovery's newest channel, Planet Green. The shows will begin airing in July.

You can read more about Planet Green at www.planetgreen.com.

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Bright Futures!

2008-05-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

The students of Newington Forest are taking part in the Bright Futures Project. They are selling compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) to make a positive impact on energy conservation and the environment. CFLs last longer and save more energy than traditional incandescent lightbulbs.

We could prevent 150 million lbs. of greenhouse gasses from our region's atmosphere -- the equivalent of planting over 50,000 trees - and help local consumers save more than $13 million in energy costs!

It's a different kind of fundraiser. This is a great way for each student to make a difference and at the same time earn money for the school's PTA.

There is an awards program too. The student selling the most packs of CFLs (between Arlington and Fairfax Counties) will win an iPod Nano. Four runner up students will receive iPod Shuffles. The school with the highest sales will be awarded $1000 grant.

Find out more at:
http://www.brightfuturesproject.org/

Students are taking orders now. Order forms and money should be turned in to the teachers by Tuesday, May 6th. The CFLs will be distributed on Wednesday, May 28th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Pamphlets about recycling the CFLs will be given to each parent when they pick up the bulbs.

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Sustainability at Wegmans

2008-04-24T13:31:00.001-07:00

Learn what Wegmans is doing to help the environment and conserve energy.

They list great ideas on how we can all reduce, reuse, and recycle.

https://www.wegmans.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&krypto=QJrbAudPd0uK9R2haUUOtzCITjl3%2B60BXaMUnJnp2CctSBpZJoPlM20wsaq3RmfQDMLil9U7C4w%3D&ddkey=http:ProductDisplay

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10 Reasons to Eat Local

2008-04-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

http://www.lifebeginsat30.com/elc/2006/04/10_reasons_to_e.html

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Local Food Challenge

2008-04-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

Farmers' Markets in our area open in May! Visit www.farmfoody.org to find the closest one to you. Local farms who sell directly to consumers are listed there too.

Eating locally means buying and eating foods within 100 miles of where you live. This saves a lot of fuel and time normally used on packing and transporting produce to grocery stores. There are producers of beef, milk, cheese, eggs, honey, fruit and vegetables all within 100 miles of us.

You can even grow a few veggies yourself. It's exciting to see the plants grow and change. And the vegetables are delicious.

Last year, we took the Sierra Club's Local Food Challenge and pledged to buy 25% of our food from local sources. It wasn't difficult at all. This year, we're stepping up our efforts and will freeze more foods from the summer which will cut our costs during the winter.

Keep an eye our for the blackberries along Hooes Road near the golf course. They should bloom soon and ripen in June. We picked enough last year to make a blackberry cobbler and freeze some too.

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No More Plastic at Whole Foods

2008-04-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

If you've been shopping at Whole Foods lately, you've noticed that they phased out their plastic grocery bags. They'll bag your items in recycled paper ones and they encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bags. Whole Foods will even give you 5 cents toward your grocery bill for every shopping bag you bring!

There are several events for the rest of April at Whole Foods in Springfield too. (I'm sure that the other stores in the area are having events. The Springfield one just happens to be where I was today.)

Free Spring Makevovers with Mineral Fusion Cosmetics on April 20th from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

Half Pint Club: Earth Day! on April 22nd at 11:00 a.m.

Cooking Class: Earth-Friendly Foods! on April 24th at 7:00 p.m.

Call 703-644-2500 to sign up.

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Green Guide

2008-03-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

There's a new quarterly magazine that's devoted to informing consumers about green products - and it's from National Geographic. It's called the Green Guide: The Resource for Consuming Wisely. Here's a link: http://www.thegreenguide.com/lp/srb/?c1=GreenGuide&source=goo-TGGLearn

The inaugural issue gives you 10 best ways to reduce your CO2, how to go green and save $60 a week, free your house of toxic chemicals, get better gas mileage out of your car, find safe cosmetics, and more. There's also product reviews and other useful info.

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Green Knights Awarded Johnie Forte, Jr. Memorial Grant

2008-03-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

We are so excited and proud of our group! We are one of the 2008 Johnie Forte, Jr. Memorial Grant Award winners. See the complete list of winners at http://www.cleanfairfaxcouncil.org/forte.htm.

Many thanks to the Clean Fairfax Council, the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program, Fairfax County Wastewater Management and Vantria Federal Credit Union for contributing to this year's grant program and making it possible.

Our project is to beautify our neighborhood by picking up litter around the school and near our homes and create signs that encourage students to put trash and recyclables in their place and not on the ground.

We ordered some litter grabbers in bright red and yellow. The manufacturer even put labels on them with sayings like, "Keeping Our Forest Clean" and "You Can Make A Difference." Off we went to the field at the back of the school with a bag designated for trash and one for recyclables. The kids had a blast finding all sorts of things on the ground and then deciding whether to drop them in the trash bag or the recyclable bag. When we made our way to the playground, the kids playing asked if they could help too. They improvised, using sticks to pick up litter. It's great to see the excitement of taking care of our Earth spread to others.

One of the requirements of the grant program is that we give a presentation on our winning project. We invite you to come to the Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration at the Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale Campus on April 19th. The award ceremony is at 1:00 p.m.

Here's more info about the Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration:
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/publications/recycling/event-earth.pdf

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Photos from January Meeting

2008-02-13T20:03:00.000-08:00

The January Meeting entry is updated with photos of the mural.

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Close the Loop

2008-02-01T17:32:00.001-08:00

What does that mean? It means purchasing products that are created from and packaged using recycled materials.

When you buy these items, you are saving water and energy. It takes a lot of water, oil and energy to create a new plastic bottle. But it takes a lot less water and energy to melt down that bottle and create another one. It's the same thing with toilet paper. Lots of trees are cut down, lots of water and energy are used to make virgin-fiber toilet paper. But if you buy the 100% recycled toilet paper (Seventh Generation's is soft), you are saving all of those trees and lots of water and energy.

It just takes a moment to look at the label on the packaging to see if it was made with recycled materials and if the packaging was recycled. The higher the post-consumer content, the greater the environmental savings. Post-consumer content tells us how much of the items you and I recycle are used in the making of that product or packaging.

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Helpful Web Sites

2008-02-01T17:30:00.000-08:00

Check out these!

www.earth911.org

www.treehugger.com

Green TV

2008-02-01T17:13:00.000-08:00

I've been hoping for a TV channel that would air all sorts of programs about green living.

Well, I've found a great source of 'green' info on the Discovery Home Channel. They have several shows that give useful information about reducing waste, organic gardening and cooking with fresh fruits and veggies.

One show in particular, called "Wasted", deals with our wastefulness. The host visits a family and shows them what they are wasting (ie. food, energy) and gives them practical ways of reducing that waste. One family was heating their home with their oven. Another family was trying to keep their home warm by having fires in their fireplace. In these cases, the host showed the family an energy-efficient space heater and an energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly wood pellet stove, respectively. One mom was wrapping her children's sandwiches every day with plastic wrap. The host encouraged her to put the sandwiches in an airtight container (like Gladware or Tupperware) instead of wasting all of that plastic.

Another show that I like to watch is the "Manic Organic." As Spring gets closer, I will no doubt be watching this show every week. I'd love to have a little garden this year . . . maybe our blueberry bushes will have fruit.

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For Parents - Tax Info - Some Good News?

2008-02-01T16:50:00.000-08:00

It's that task that we put off and put off. Taxes.

But there can be something you can look forward to - tax credits. That is, if you made energy improvements to your home before December 31, 2007, or if you purchased a hybrid vehicle.

Unfortunately, Congress has let most of the consumer tax credits expire (as of December 31st). Hopefully, they will reinstate them as incentives for us to improve the energy efficiency of our homes.

So far, Virginia doesn't have any state income tax credits (none that I've found). But we do have 4 days in October when we can buy Energy Star products and be exempt from the sales tax. It's just like the tax-free days we have for school supplies, but for Energy Star items.

This Monday, February 4th, the Virginia Clean Energy Future Act (SB446) http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/pages/page.cfm?page_id=243
will be voted on by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. This bill will mandate that our state get 20% of our energy from clean sources like wind and solar, and that we reduce our electricity usage by 10%. Check out the link above for the latest news on this bill.

If you'd like to find out more about federal or state incentives to become more energy efficient, check out these web sites:

www.dsireusa.org

www.SEEA.us

www.energytaxincentives.org

www.ase.org/taxcredits

www.deq.virginia.gov

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Our January Meeting

2008-02-01T16:41:00.000-08:00

At our only meeting in January, we created a mural and hung it in the cafeteria. The students brought in small items to embellish their artwork.

They decided to divide the paper into two equal sections. In the left section, the plants and animals are very happy:

There is no air or water pollution. Not a single piece of litter can be found.

But in the other section of the paper, plants and animals are in peril.

Smoke spews from a factory.

Litter covers the ground. The pond is dried up and animals have died.

Everyone did such a great job! It's a powerful piece of artwork.

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Is Your Child Telling You Not To Buy That?

2007-12-17T06:05:00.001-08:00

At our last meeting, Juli Faiola gave a very informative presentation about household chemicals. Thank you, Juli! There are lots of cleaning products that are on the grocery shelves right now that are not good for you or for the environment. Some have carcinogens and others have chemicals that harm our respiratory system.

Some facts:

1. Chlorine bleach is the #1 household chemical involved in poisonings.

2. Common cleaners emit fumes that can increase the risk of kids developing asthma (1 in 13 school-aged children has asthma - that's increased more than 160% from 1980 to 1994).

3. Average cleaners contain hazardous chemicals like kerosene, lye, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, petroleum distillates, formaldehyde, and ammonia.

Did you know that you can clean with vegetables? More and more, it's easier to find cleaning products that are made from natural surfactants (like from coconut, palm or vegetable oils). These are safe for septic systems, are biodegradable, are non-toxic, don't harm your skin . . . and even clean just as well as the name brand products.

Some of the students asked where their parents can find these safer products. Whole Foods has a good selection as does Trader Joe's. There's also an organic market in Alexandria called MOMS. Brands like: Sun & Earth (www.sunandearth.com), Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com), and Ecover (www.ecover.com) are easy to find. Another great place to check out is www.shaklee.com. They have a Get Clean kit which has environmentally-friendly cleaning products for all areas of your home. You can also contact Juli at pjfaiola@aol.com for more information.

The goal of this meeting was not to frighten our kids, but instead, to make them aware that just because a product is on the store shelves, doesn't necessarily mean that it's good for us. We need to look at the packaging labels and be informed so that we can make smart decisions for ourselves and our planet.

It's definitely a challenge to change our everyday habits. We have to think about our buying decisions, not just be on autopilot. But we can do it . . . for ourselves and for our children.

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Going Organic

2007-12-17T05:53:00.000-08:00

A big 'Thank You' to Mrs. Friedman for talking to our club about organics and organic farming. We all enjoyed looking at her photos of animals and crops from her family's farm. All of us are more aware of the foods we buy and how they may have been grown or processed.

I've found that organic fresh vegetables last longer too. And they taste better. We're looking forward to the Spring when the farmer's markets start up again. Local food is fresher and it's a great thing to support smaller farms.

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A New Coal Plant in Virginia?

2007-11-15T09:01:00.000-08:00

Coal is the leading cause of global warming pollution and one of the top causes of respiratory health problems here in Virginia. All coal-fired power plants spew millions of tons of pollutants; from carbon dioxide, sulfur, nitrogen oxides, to cancer causing particulate matter. Coal is by far the dirtiest way to produce power.

Knowing this, you may wonder why Dominion Power wants to build a new coal fired power plant in Wise County, Virginia. If it's built, it would cost $1.6 billion and become one of the state's biggest polluters. And there are lots of renewable energy and efficiency measures that Virginia needs to invest in that will save everyone money and improve the health of all Virginians.

If you'd like to become involved to stop mountain top coal removal and stop the Wise County Plant, there are 3 things that you can do:

1. Sign the No New Coal Petition at www.chesapeakeclimate.org/nonewcoal

2. Contact your elected officials and say no to coal at www.votenocoal.org

3. Come to Richmond on January 8th to fight Dominion Power.
See www.cleanenergyva.org for more info.

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Happy America Recycles Day!

2007-11-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

Today is America Recycles Day.

Pat yourself on the back for recycling at school, work and home.

This is a great day for making new recycling goals. Our family's goal is to recycle and compost more than we throw away. That means, we'll only have one trash bag for the entire week and 2 full recycling bins. We'll shop for items that are packaged in recyclable containers or cardboard boxes too.

Is your family making a new recycling goal?

Every little bit makes a difference.

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Fairfax County Students - On Air Radio Ad Contest

2007-10-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

I made reference to this contest in an earlier post today and thought that I should list the info about it again (see post on September 21st).

You can print the contest application form at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/recycling/school.htm.

Fairfax County is looking for students to create a script for a 30-second radio advertisement. They want the message to concentrate on why everyone in Fairfax County should recycle mixed paper and cardboard. Use your creativity and see what you come up with.

Not only could your ad be heard on the radio, but you're entered in the America Recycles Day Contest too.

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America Recycles Day Contest

2007-10-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

This is the contest that was printed at the bottom of the Fairfax County Students On Air Radio Contest form that came home in the Wednesday folders a week or so ago. It doesn't say where to mail in the entry form, so I did some detective work on the internet and found just what I was looking for. You may have been looking for it too.

If you go to http://www.mwcog.org/environment/recycling/recyclesday/rules.asp, it will tell you how to participate in this contest. Basically, you hand print your full name and address on a scrap piece of paper or the entry card and send it to the address that they have listed under the heading "How to Participate."

There are regional prizes:
One K-12 Student: $300 gift certificate at a bicycle shop AND $500 grant to the local K-12 environmental program/club of choice.
One Adult: $300 gift certificate at a bicycle shop

Send in your entry form (one per person) by November 20, 2007 and see what happens!

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Recycling Online Game

2007-10-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun online activity for ya. The National Recycling Coalition has a nifty contraption called the Conversionator. You can play at www.nrc-recycle.org.

Have fun!

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Virginia Recycling Association Contest

2007-10-22T14:02:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be great to win at a contest?! Even better, wouldn't it be great if the prize was $250 that went to your favorite local environmental charity of your choice?!

The Virginia Recycling Association is having a contest to raise awareness for buying recycled products, recycle what you've used and America Recycles Day which is November 15th. This is a different contest than the one that went out in Wednesday folders a few weeks ago.

Check out http://www.vrarecycles.org/ard.htm and click on the online pledge form. It's easy and a great way to pick up some new recycling ideas and tips.

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As Easy As Changing A Lightbulb

2007-10-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Remember our posting on October 5th? Well, I'm here to tell ya that it's a fantastic deal not to be missed!

I pledged to replace 8 standard lightbulbs in our home and the county emailed me a link. I then printed my coupon and off to Office Depot I went.

The limit for the coupon is 10 CFL (compact fluorescent lightbulbs), but the store only had 8. I bought them out!

The $3 came off of every single one of the bulbs. So, my grand total for 8 CFLs was $12.54! That's just $1.57 a piece! And they'll save us energy when we turn them on . . . and they screw in just like a standard bulb . . . and they'll last 5 years!!

I thanked the salesperson at Office Depot and politely refused the plastic shopping bags she wanted to put them in. I walked out cradling the bulbs in one arm and holding the receipt in the other.

We have posters from the county about this program (just picked them up today), so you'll be seeing them around school.

If you'd like to get in on this great deal, just go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2007/223.htm and click on the link to pledge that you will change at least one of the standard light bulbs in your home to an energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb. After you make the pledge, you will receive a $3 discount coupon toward the energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs at Office Depot or WalMart.

Thank you, Fairfax County, for making it easier for us to Make a Difference and Change a Light!

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And the Winner Is . . .

2007-10-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

Check out www.solardecathlon.org for a list of the winners!
(One of the top 3 is very close to us!)

www.blueegg.com has some great videos of the houses and the award ceremony.

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Have You Heard of the Eastern Garbage Patch?

2007-10-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

I hadn't. Before viewing the video at the link below, I had read a few weeks ago that oceanographers have found more plastic in the Pacific Ocean than zooplankton. Here's more info.

http://www.blueegg.com/videos/2007/8/14/egg-head-garbage-patch.go

What can we do to cut down on the amount of plastic that we throw away? We can recycle and reuse all that we can. We can also take our own canvas or paper bags when we go shopping and refuse the plastic ones at the store. Another option is to purchase items that are packaged in recyclable plastics and find alternatives for the products that are not.

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It's Easy . . . Really

2007-10-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

All of us have developed habits in our everyday lives. Some of these are tough to change, but think about what you do in a typical day.

What can you change to reduce your carbon footprint (the impact you have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced)?

Here are some simple ideas to get you started . . .

- wash clothes in cold water
- line-dry your clothes instead of using the clothes dryer
- only run the dishwasher when it is full
- turn off the water while brushing teeth
- change standard lightbulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescent ones
- make sure faucets don't leak
- turn off lights when not in room
- unplug chargers, stereos, DVRs & TVs when not in use
- turn off computer, monitor, printer, and speakers when not in use
- don't stand with refrigerator door open
- air-dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher drying cycle
- take short showers
- set hot water heater to 120 degrees F (this can cut energy use up to 25%)
- close fireplace dampers
- check for holes or cracks around walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, switches and electrical outlets (these are all places where air can leak out of your home)
- use weatherstripping to close up gaps in doors and windows

To check recommended insulation levels and perform a home energy audit, go to www.energysavers.gov.

Although it's more expensive, one of the most cost-effective ways to make your home retain it's proper temperature year-round is to add insulation to your attic. I saw some insulation on Home Depot's web site that is made from recycled paper. They said that you can achieve any R-value that you'd like.

Programmable thermostats are also helpful in cutting energy costs. You can set it for temperature at which the heat or air will come on (maybe it's different for each day of the week) and there's even a vacation mode.

Much of the above information is included in a helpful booklet produced by the U.S. Government. You can download the entire booklet at www.eere.energy.gov/consumers/tips.

One chart in the booklet that I found particularly interesting listed how a typical household uses water:
clothes washing - 32 gallons per use
showering - 20 gallons per use
bathing - 20 gallons per use
automatic dishwashing - 12 gallons per use
preparing food - 5 gallons per use
hand dishwashing - 4 gallons per use

This really gets me to thinking, "How can I use less?"

Conservation. I can do this. And you can too. It's easy, really.

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Great Reads at NFS Library

2007-10-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Here are titles you may be interested in - these are all in your school library!

If you check out some of these books, write a short paragraph about what you learn and bring it to our meeting to share.

F MIL - Dinah For President by Claudia Mills

E LEE - The Great Trash Bash by Loreen Leedy

177.7 RAA - Caring by Lucia Raatma

363.72 DAV - Waste by Kay Davies

363.728 WIL - Trash! by Charlotte Wilcox

363.7282 GIB - Recycle! A Handbook for Kids by Gail Gibbons

363.7285 MAA - Garbage by Robert Maass

VT 363.7282 WHE - Where the Garbage Goes by Fredric Levine (video)

363.73 PAR - Global Warming by Peggy J. Parks

363.738 LIM - Our Warming Planet by Cheng Puay Lim

363.738 HAW - Climate Crisis by Nigel Hawkes

363.73 HOF - Atmosphere by Mary King Hoff

363.72 HAL - Recycling by Eleanor J. Hall

363.72 DON - Recycling by Rhonda Lucas Donald

551.305 ROS - Re-cycles by Michael Elsohn Ross

628.44 SHO - Where Does the Garbage Go? by Paul Showers

631.4 RYB - Environmental Experiments About Land by Thomas R. Rybolt

745.584 FIA - Cups & Cans & Paper Plate Fans: Craft Projects from Recycled Materials by Phyllis Fiarotta

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Solar Decathlon Update

2007-10-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the Solar Decathlon Saturday. It was crowded (we only got to tour 3 homes), which is a good thing. More and more people are interested in solar energy!

The university teams had great ideas for constructing off-grid homes that are functional but at the same time look great. The Georgia Tech team used space-age materials like an aero gel developed by NASA that diffuses light. The aero gel filled the polycarbonate panels of the walls and the ceiling. This gave privacy but let in a soft light inside the home, which would cut down on the need for electric lighting.

All of the household appliances were Energy Star. A couple of the homes had induction stove tops in the kitchen. The glass cooktop stays cool while the pan you are using to cook with heats up. It's faster and more energy efficient than the way we cook now. We also saw a washer/dryer all-in-one. It was compact - and in this one unit, performs all washing and drying settings for your clothes. Toilets were using .8 of a gallon for flushing. One toilet had 2 settings, which you may have seen in stores or commercials. One setting gives you a .8 of a gallon flush and the other is the usual 1.6 gallon flush. I kept looking for the pint-flush toilet but didn't see one. Several of the homes had radiant heating in the floors instead of a furnace. And they had on-demand hot water too.

The Solar Decathlon continues through October 20th and easily accessible from the Smithsonian Metro station. Check out our September 18th blog for the link to the Solar Decathlon site.

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Solar Decathlon This Weekend!

2007-10-12T11:18:00.000-07:00

Check out our posting from September 18th for the link and more info about the Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. this weekend. We're going tomorrow and are very excited!

If any of you are also planning on going, let us know at the meeting on Monday which house was your favorite.

Have a sunny weekend!!

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Cool Toys Site

2007-10-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

We found some awesome toys at www.speedydog.net. They have robots, solar toys and all kinds of science experiment kits. Their customer service was great too - we will be using one of their solar cars at our meeting Monday, October 15th.

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U.S. Geological Survey Event in November!

2007-10-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

Mark November 3rd on your calendars. The U.S. Geological Survey in Reston, VA will be having an Open House that day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission and parking at the event are free. There will be food and beverages for sale.

They'll have exhibits, demonstrations, hands-on activities and live entertainment.

Go to http://www.usgs.gov/homepage/science_features/open_house/ for more detailed information on the exhibits and displays. You can also view a map of how to get to their location and download a flyer and poster for the event.

Explore the wonders of science!

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Colvin Run Mill Event This Sunday

2007-10-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, October 14th, from 2-4 p.m., beekeepers will be at Colvin Run Mill to talk about and demonstrate the process of honey harvesting. Visitors will be able to sample honey on cornbread made from the mill's cornmeal. They will have an observation hive with live bees too. This is a free event and gives everyone a chance to learn how important bees are to us.

For more information about the Colvin Run Mill Historic Site, check out www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/crm.

Also, on Sundays in October, they will be grinding grain in the mill. There is a cost to tour the mill - $6 adults, $5 students 16 and up with ID, $4 children (5-15) and seniors (60+).

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Books You'll Want to 'Check Out' at the Library

2007-10-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

We've been looking at the Fairfax County Public Library catalog and have found many books you'd probably be interested in (for parents and students):

J513M - Earth Day, Hooray by Stuart J. Murphy

363.7H - One Makes the Difference: Inspiring Actions That Change Our World by Julia Butterfly Hill

J363.728M - Garbage by Robert Maass

363.7282A - Why Do We Recycle: Markets, Values and Public Policy by Frank Ackerman

JR JAC - Follow That Trash! All About Recycling by Francine Jacobs

J363.728H - Garbage and Recycling by Rosie Harlow

JR BUT - Recycling Dump by Andrea Butler

363.7282M - Easy Recycling Handbook: What to Recycle and How to Buy Recycled -- Without All the Garbage by Dee McVicker

J363.728S - Where Does All the Garbage Go? by Paul Showers

J363.7288F - How on Earth Do We Recycle Paper? by Helen Jill Fletcher

J363.7288R - How on Earth Do We Recycle Glass? by Joanna Randolph Rott

J363.7288K - How on Earth Do We Recycle Metal? by Rudy Kouhoupt

J363.7288D - How on Earth Do We Recycle Plastic? by Janet D'Amato

J363.7K - Kid Heroes of the Environment by Earthworks Group (U.S.)

J363.738F - Cartons, Cans, Orange Peels: Where Does Your Garbage Go? by Joanna Foster

J363.7S - Earth Book for Kids: Activities to Help Heal the Environment by Linda Schwartz

J363.7G - A Kids' Guide to How to Save the Planet by Billy Goodman

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Solar Tour - What We Saw

2007-10-10T10:40:00.000-07:00

Did any of you go to any of the homes on the Solar Tour this past weekend? If you did, we'd love to hear about it.

We went to one home on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. There were so many great components to each of these homes!

One home in Arlington had solar panels. The owner showed us his thermostat that told him how much energy he was using and how much electricity in $ that he'd saved since April (the panels were installed in April). He now pays about 1/4 of what his electricity bill used to be. He also was cooking brownies for all of the visitors in his solar oven. They were yummy! He mows his lawn with an electric lawn mower (and charges it with a rig he made with solar panels that he bought at Home Depot, a marine battery and an inverter). A rain barrel at the back of his house catches any rain that we get, and he waters his garden with it. They also had a clothesline in their backyard which greatly reduces their energy usage (clothes dryers use a lot of electricity!).

We saw composting in action and insulation made out of recycled blue jeans in the basement of one home.

The owners of a couple homes reused materials from other homes in their construction (purchased at yard sales).

They also planned their home's location according to how the sun shines (southern exposure is best for solar panels), and planted desiduous trees on the south side of the home. These trees keep the home cool in summer (with the shade) and warm in winter (leaves fall off in autumn and provide plenty of space for the sun to shine through).

We even saw a home off of Hwy 123 that has an earthen roof! The owners have to mow their roof! It helps keep the temperature regulated inside the home.

We were definitely inspired by all of the smart an innovative people we visited and came away from this weekend with lots of ideas that we can easily act upon to help the environment - and not for a lot of money.

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Fairfax County's Recycling Info

2007-10-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

Our county has a great resource for all kinds of recycling and trash info.

Simply go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/recycling/.

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Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday This Weekend!

2007-10-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

Starting today, Friday, Oct. 5th, through Monday, Oct. 8th, Virginia is offering an ENERGY STAR sales tax holiday.

Virginia consumers can visit their local retailer and save both state and local sales tax on ENERGY STAR qualified products of $2,500 or less, including household appliances.

More information on the sales tax holiday can be found at www.dmme.virginia.gov.

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Change a Light, Change the World

2007-10-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

Our county (as well as others in the National Association of Counties) has teamed up with Office Depot and the Energy Star Change a Light, Change the World campaign.

Just go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2007/223.htm and click on the link to pledge that you will change at least one of the standard light bulbs in your home to an energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb. After you make the pledge, you will receive a $3 discount coupon toward an energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulb at Office Depot.

Compact fluorescent bulbs provide the same light as the old bulbs but use less energy. This means less greenhouse gasses and a lower energy bill for your home.

If every American home replaced just one light with an energy efficient one, every year we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

Wow! We CAN make a difference!

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Cool Counties Concert & Poetry Slam - Oct. 6th

2007-10-02T11:32:00.001-07:00

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Fairfax County Park Authority are sponsoring the Cool Counties Concert & Poetry Slam on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m at Mason District Park.

For more info, go to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/coolcounties.htm.

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EcoVillages

2007-10-02T11:26:00.000-07:00

Check out www.ecovillages.com to find out about energy efficient homes, healthy spaces, living sustainably and their mission of "building a community of people living in harmony with the Earth and its inhabitants."

Their house is #21 on the Solar Tour this weekend (October 6th).

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October 1st Meeting

2007-10-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

A BIG Thank You to the parents who stayed to help at our October 1st meeting! We really appreciate your time.

Green Knights, you created some fantastic club t-shirts! We can't wait to see you wearing them.

If you had iron-ons applied to your t-shirt, the washing instructions are in another post on this web site, if you need them.

Be thinking about what you'd like your club to accomplish this school year. What kinds of activities would you like to do? Have any ideas for experiments or games? Tell us your ideas.

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Solar Tour This Weekend!

2007-10-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Want to see homes that are actually using solar panels for their electricity? Have you wondered how it all works?

You have a chance this weekend to tour homes that are using solar energy through the 17th Annual Metro Washington, D.C. Tour of Solar Homes and Buildings.

Just go to http://www.solartour.org/ and click on 'Tickets' for the tour. Then, either download the tour guide booklet for free or go to one of the ticket outlets and purchase the guide for $5. You'll need one tour guide booklet per household which will serve as your ticket to tour the solar houses.

I just downloaded my guide and it has maps and descriptions of the houses. It also has advertisements for solar companies and incentives that Maryland, D.C. and Virginia offer.

The EcoVillage house is #21 on the Solar Tour (see the EcoVillage post).

This event as well as the Solar Decathlon (see another post) comes at a great time! We'll be exploring solar with all kinds of activities at our next meeting (Monday, October 15th).

If you attend the Solar Tour, we'd love to hear about it at our next meeting!

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Washington, D.C. Green Festival This Weekend!

2007-10-02T08:50:00.000-07:00

There are at least 3 events going on this weekend that would be of interest to our Green Knights!

One is the Green Festival in Washington, D.C. It's this Saturday and Sunday (Oct 6, 7) at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. Check out http://www.greenfestivals.org/content/view/625/280/ for more info.

And here is a link to their Kids' Zone activities http://www.greenfestivals.org/content/view/780/278/.

Looks like a lot of fun!

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T-Shirt Washing Instructions

2007-10-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

Here are some steps that will help keep your Green Knights t-shirt looking great:

- Turn the t-shirt inside out before washing.

- Machine wash in cold water with a color-safe detergent. Wash the t-shirt by itself for the first washing. Do not use chlorine bleach.

- Remove the t-shirt promptly from washer.

- Tumble dry low (t-shirt is still inside out).

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Fairfax County Radio Ad Contest

2007-09-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be cool to be listening to the radio and suddenly hear an ad that you wrote?! Well, it could happen. Go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/recycling/school.htm and download the entry form. Write a script for a 30-second radio advertisement emphasizing the need for everyone in Fairfax County to recycle mixed paper and cardboard (it's required now of all non residential, apartment and condominum properties -- see http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/recycling/).

Applications are due by November 1st.

On the bottom half of the entry form is a contest that even parents can enter.

Let us know if you've entered an ad. We'd love to hear your entries at one of our November meetings.

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Cool Counties Concert & Poetry Slam

2007-09-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

If you like to write poetry, you'll be interested in this contest. Chairman Connolly is hosting a poetry contest and all entries will be posted on his web site. Poems must have an environmental theme, be a minimum of 14 lines and be no longer than 1 minute when performed. Students may be asked to read their poem at the event.

Submissions are due by October 1st. You may email your entry to Chairman Connolly (chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov) and don't forget to include the following items:
your poem
your name and grade
your address and phone number
your email

The Cool Counties Concert & Poetry Slam will be Saturday, October 6th from noon-3 p.m. at Mason District Park
6621 Columbia Pike
Annandale

The event is free and open to the public, so even if you don't want to enter a poem, it'll be a great day of exploring. Lots of Fairfax County and local environmental organizations will be there providing info about global warming and things that all of us can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Students, if you go to the event, write a few sentences about what you learned and bring it to our October 15th meeting. We'd love to hear what you have to say!

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Reflections

2007-09-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

How can you make a difference? That's the theme of this year's PTA Reflections Program. Students are encouraged to enter in any of the six categories: Literature, Music, Visual Arts, Photography, Dance/Choreography, Film/Video Production. Student entry forms can be downloaded at www.fccpta.org. Entries should be placed inside the box in the school library before October 22nd. Think about how you can make a difference and express it with your creativity.

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Solar Decathlon

2007-09-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

We have a great opportunity to learn about solar power and see it in action at the 2007 Solar Decathlon on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It will be October 12-20. This is an event where college and university students have designed and constructed solar-powered houses and will reconstruct them on the Mall. The houses are judged and the winner is announced at the end of the event. It's open to the public and there are even workshops!

Check out http://www.solardecathlon.org/ for more info.

We'd like to get a group of us together and Metro into D.C. - maybe on Saturday, October 13th? Parents will need to come along with your children. Let us know if you're interested in taking this field trip by emailing jimkelzack@earthlink.net.

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Back to School Nights

2007-09-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

Look for our table at both Back to School nights - 9/18 and 9/19. We'll be in the school lobby handing out goodies and letting everyone know what we have planned for the Green Knights club. See you there!

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T-Shirts and First 2 Meetings

2007-09-12T18:59:00.000-07:00

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We're going to talk about and practice each one of these this year in creative ways. We hope our NFS friends will be excited about exploring our Earth with us.

At our first meeting, we'll talk about recycling. There will be fun facts and activities. But, I don't want to give it all away. Come join us this Monday, September 17th, 12:30-1:30, in the cafeteria.

Our second meeting topic will be resusing. We'd like everyone to bring in a pre-washed t-shirt (white is best). To maximize the "reuse" part of the meeting, it'd be great if the t-shirt is one that you already have. Bring your imagination too. We'll have tools to help you create your one-of-a-kind Green Knights club t-shirt. These will be great to wear on meeting days and at field trips (we'll tell you more about those at the meeting and in future posts). It'll be great to see what everyone comes up with!

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Fairfax County Schools News Release

2007-09-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

Great green news about our county's schools - check out this news release:
http://www.fcps.edu/suptapps/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=699

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