Greensburg GreenTown is looking for two new AmeriCorps interns for the 2012-2013 season. If you are interested in sustainability, making a difference, and having unique and enriching experiences, head on over to our job listing on Idealist.org to learn more and apply to be a GreenTown Project Manager!
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Aerial images of Greensburg from 2006, 2007, and 2011
by Victor Lorente Miralles
In most countries it is easier to throw away plastic packaging than to re-use or recycle it, and sadly, these packages are accumulating in our landfills. Today I want to introduce you to the Argentinean EMIUM system (Modular Interconnectable Multipurpose Packaging), a revolutionary system that will help us take care of our environment.
Image courtesy of emium.com.ar
This innovative packaging is very different from the classic plastic bottle. It completely changes the concept of packaging by providing multipurpose solutions and applications once the product has been consumed. After being used as a regular plastic bottle, it can be utilized for decoration, leisure or construction purposes.
The plastic container can also be used for entertainment and transformed into building toys that can develop children’s creativity. For decoration, empty bottles can be utilized as shelves or any other type of furniture.
Images courtesy of emium.com.ar
This system can also be applied to the construction field to create panels that allow light to pass through the walls, constituting itself as a thermal isolating structure. To create a stronger structure, the revolutionary plastic bottles can be filled with sand or soil. This allows for the bottle to be used in place of regular bricks.
Image courtesy of emium.com.ar
By using this system at home or your workplace, you can contribute to the re-use of a material that is accumulating in our landfills worldwide. Thanks to this new design, plastic bottles now have an innovative, fun, and environmental friendly way to be re-used.
For more on the EMIUM system please check out their website. You can also check out an explanation of the system by Louis Pittau, one of the inventors or a juice commercial using the EMIUM bottles.
En la mayoría de los países es más fácil tirar el envase de plástico que recolectarlo y reutilizarlo. Estos envases se acaban acumulando en vertederos. Desde Argentina nos llega EMIUM (Envase Modular Interconectable de Usos Múltiples).
Este sistema de envase innovador se aleja de la clásica botella de plástico y cambia por completo el concepto de envase y almacenamiento proporcionando múltiples usos, soluciones y aplicaciones una vez consumido el producto. Tras su utilización como envase, a la botella de plástico se le puede dar un uso tanto lúdico, ornamental, decorativo como constructivo.
Como uso recreativo, los envases pueden utilizarse como juguetes o piezas de lego utilizando la imaginación para crear distintas formas. En decoración las botellas vacías se pueden utilizar como estanterías o muebles.
Aplicando este sistema a la construcción podemos conseguir paneles que proporcionan el paso de la luz por el paramento constituyendo a su vez una estructura termo-aislante. Rellenos de arena o de tierra obtenemos una mayor resistencia empleándose como fábrica de obra.
Así pues empleando este sistema ya sea en nuestro hogar o empresa contribuimos a una reutilización de un material que se suele acumular en grandes cantidades en vertederos. Dándole al clásico envase de plástico otra salida más innovadora, divertida y respetuosa con el medioambiente.
Para más información sobre el sistema EMIUM por favor, echa un vistazo a su página web. También puedes ver una explicación del sistema por Luis Pittau, uno de los inventores o un jugo de comerciales usando las botellas EMIUM.
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Barbara helps some of the Girl Scouts plant peppers.It was a beautiful Girl Scout weekend in Greensburg. Over 1,200 girls and their families and leaders - plus a large contingent of scouting alumnae - spent their 100th anniversary celebration with us. Many of Greensburg's streets were closed to through traffic so that our visitors could freely walk around the community, tour various projects, enjoy drugstore fountain refreshments at the Commons, shop, play on inflatable play equipment, and perform community service. We met a lot of delightful girls and made a host of new friends from the Kansas Heartland scouting organization.
GreenTown's Silo Eco-Home was one of the hubs of activity in town and the site of a large service project. Our staff Sarah Thyparambil and Barbara Summers did an extraordinary job of organizing the demonstration garden that the girls planted on Saturday. They worked closely with Girl Scouts Membership Specialist Becky Ayers, whose enthusiasm infused the project from the outset. Ruth Ann Wedel, who serves as Site Manager for the Silo home, did a remarkable job of recruiting folks to help get the yard ready and others to serve as volunteers the day of the event. (At the end of this article you'll find a roster of our amazing helpers and sponsors and donors - it's a long list!) Words cannot possibly do justice to express our gratitude to staff and volunteers who made this project run like a finely-tuned machine.
Girls plant flowers in the Girl Scout Trefoil-shaped planterWhen the girls first checked into town, they were given reusable bags to carry during their stay. Each bag included a beautifully-designed seed tag (thanks to the artistry of Sarah Thyparambil) that the girls could personalize to make their carry-all identifiable. Girls have the option to plant the tags at home and watch the flowers grow!
Girls arrived at the Silo House lot and were greeted at the first station by volunteers who talked about the importance of gardening and got the girls excited about being a part of history. (We always tell visitors that Greensburg is being rebuilt on a foundation of generosity, and the Girl Scouts are now part of that foundation.) The girls went to the next station and picked up their plant and a tag they filled in with the plant name. At the next table they picked up garden gloves and trowels, and then got to work adding their items to the raised bed garden area. Staff and volunteers guided them to the appropriate bed for their planting experiences. Of note is a beautiful flower area in the shape of the Girl Scout trefoil emblem! (Becky Ayers' brilliant idea was implemented by the Frame-It-All company, who provided the raised beds which are crafted from recycled plastic and natural fibers.)
Vining petunias grow in a found-object planter.
Girls were also invited to show their artistic flair with sidewalk chalk in the street next to the Silo House. It was heartening to see lots of variations of "go green". They could also braid their own beautiful jump ropes from recycled fabric.
In the GreenTown lot to the east of the garden, the Wendland family set up their petting zoo, complete with goats, a miniature horse, chickens, and assorted other barnyard critters. The animals were a big hit with the girls. (The set-up was such a success that the Wendlands will be back next Saturday for Anniversary Weekend!)
The weather couldn't have been more beautiful, and it was a wonderful gift to have the energy of so many caring girls and young women infuse the community at one time. We will be forever grateful that Forever Green came to Greensburg. We look forward to many of these Girl Scouts returning to town in the years ahead to check on their garden project.
Here's that list of donors and tireless volunteers:
DONORS
Frame-It-All ~ Clif Bar ~ Stutzmans Greenhouse (Hutchinson) ~ Benton's Greenhouse (Newton) ~ Southwest Nursery-Landscaping (Dodge City) ~ Nature's Corner Greenhouse (Dodge City) ~ Dillons (Pratt) ~ Walmart (Pratt)~ Walmart (Hutchinson) ~ Skaggs Ace Hardware (Pratt) ~ Tractor Supply Company (Dodge City) ~ Waters True Value Hardware (Dodge City) ~ City of Joplin Recycling Center
SEED TAG DONORS
Jean Beeley ~ Kathleen Barber ~ Carol Panzer ~ Beth Kershner ~ Phyllis Brown ~ Carol Montgomery ~ Ruth Hayse ~ Nancy DeGarmo ~ Linda Fegley ~ Barbara Allen ~ Barbara Fetters ~ Sue McGuire ~ Donna Hobbs ~ Judy Conyac ~ Valorie Gean ~ Vivien Elliot ~ Beverly Baker
VOLUNTEERS - GARDEN PREP AND PLANTING DAY
Rex Butler ~ Joan Hayse ~ Ron Shank ~ Matt Deighton ~ spring break students from George Washington University ~ Carol Montgomery ~ Betty Jo Russell ~ Cinda Morehead ~ David White's math class and Travis Powell's wight lifting class from Kiowa County Schools ~ Wanda Booth ~ Dana Trummel ~ City of Greensburg ~ Janice Adamson ~ Nathan Adamson ~ Tom Kotch ~ Girl Scout GreenTeen Volunteers ~ Randy Rinker
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image credit: utne.com
Greensburg will soon be observing the 5th anniversary of the tornado. There are a full slate of activities for visitors scheduled for the weekend of May 4-6: Tragedy to Triumph . . . Five Years Later. There is much to celebrate.
If you're in town for the festivities, we hope you will visit us at the Green Visitors Center inside GreenTown's Silo Eco Home for a tour and refreshment on Saturday from 10-4. For the third year in a row, the Topeka Kitefliers will host a kite festival at the high school football field on South Main Street; this event will run from noon until 3 p.m. They will bring their own beautiful displays, plus they invite the public to join in the fun with your own kites. Greensburg's Studio 54 is the official vendor for the festival and will have kites available for sale on site.
Thanks to all who have supported Greensburg in its reimagining and rebuilding over the past 5 years and for making it possible to have so much to celebrate.
]]>Click here to see the GreenTour Book on our website!
Click here to see the GreenTour Book on issuu.com!
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Photo of Greensburg rebuilt four years after the tornado. Photo credit Greensburg Greentown.
AIA and Architecture for Humanity have joined together to launch the Disaster Resiliency and Response Program. The goal of the program is to train and to provide resources to architects so that they can work with their communities to facilitate the transition from a disaster towards a long-term recovery. Architecture for Humanity is a non-profit organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crises and brings professional design services to communities in need. The AIA (American Institute for Architects) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Both groups have their own disaster response initiatives, but by joining together they hope to reach a wider audience, and combine and enhance existing disaster related resources.
One of the first projects of the Disaster Resiliency and Response Program is the Disaster Plan Grant Program, which will provide grants to architects who are developing disaster plans in cities across the US. Applications are currently being accepted for grants of $1,000 to $2,000 to be used to engage disaster management professionals, train architects, document past disaster response activity, or design advocacy campaigns that will advance the role of architects in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
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This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. Founded in Savannah, Georgia in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, the organization boasts a membership of 3.2 million girls and adults, and 50 million alumnae. In conjunction with this momentous anniversary, they launched Forever Green, a national effort of girls leading their families, schools, and communities to improve the environment and protect natural resources.
The Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland have opted to celebrate the anniversary by coming to town for the weekend of April 27-29. We've been told to expect hundreds of scouts. The City, County, and various nonprofit groups and businesses around town have been busily preparing to create a memorable Forever Green event for the scouts and their parents and leaders. The girls, age 6 on up, will help with community service projects, learn about Greensburg’s rebuilding as a model town through its commitment to sustainability, and have time to shop and visit during their whirlwind weekend. They will camp out on lots in town – so keep your fingers crossed about the weather.
GreenTown has been getting the Silo House lot ready for the demonstration garden the girls will help us plant. Many thanks to Rex Butler for rototilling the yard to get it ready for planting the grass seed that has been donated by the Pearl’s Premium company. (Check out their website to read about this eco-friendly, low maintenance product!)
We’ve been gathering donations of seedlings, planters, and garden equipment in order to create a beautiful and welcoming place for visitors. Signage will help people learn about water conservation, organic gardening options, native landscaping, and much more. We are re-using found objects from the Schmidt family farm south of town for planters (a great demonstration of repurposing), and the Girl Scouts procured a donation of raised garden beds from Frame-It-All. Area garden centers have generously promised vegetable and flower seedlings that the girls will plant at the end of the month.
In addition to the demonstration garden project, GreenTown will have a variety of activities for the girls. We’ll have a booth where they can learn about volunteerism. Our friends the Wendlands will bring some of their animals to town and set up a petting zoo - plus they will be a source of education about raising livestock in harmony with nature. (Local folks may also know Brian and Kathleen Wendland from the energy rating services they provided to over 100 homeowners around town.) And we’ll have tours of the Silo House and a slide show of the town’s rebuilding, where the girls and their adult leaders and parents can learn about Greensburg’s comeback as a model green community.
There’s a lot to be excited about. It is awesome to have the opportunity to help girls of all ages learn about sustainability and healthy living.
We will post photos of the garden as they are available - better yet, come see it in person! Check this space for a report after the big event.
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From Left to Right:Boston Fern, Dracenea "Janet Craig", and Pygmy Date Palm. Photos courtesy of guidetohouseplants.com.
I became interested in the idea of plants that purify indoor air after a discussion with my brother, who lives in Beijing, China. Beijing is a city that is notorious for its air pollution. (The city actually shut down its factories for several months prior to the 2008 Olympics to improve the air condition for the sporting events.) My brother hardly ever opens his windows in his apartment, to avoid the dust and smog that would coat his furniture. To combat this lack of fresh air, he began researching plants that would improve the air quality of his apartment, and provide a safe haven for his lungs. I have expanded upon his initial research and compiled a list of the best plants to improve air quality and remove indoor air pollutants from your home and office.
The top ten plants for removing indoor air toxins are listed below:
1. Areca Palm
2. Lady Palm
3. Bamboo Palm
4. Rubber Plant
6. Philodendron
8. Ficus Alii
9. Boston Fern
10. Peace Lily
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On March 16, Ed Truelove sat down with GreenTown’s Catherine Hart for an interview. It was a pleasure to meet and visit with Ed, who moved to Greensburg from Sterling, Kansas when he accepted the position last month.
Ed’s entire career since graduating high school has been about service to country and community. He spent 21 years in the Marine Corps, and nearly 15 years in law enforcement, with the last 4 ½ years as the Sterling Police Department Chief of Police. Ed talked about having the kind of personality that wants to serve the community.
When asked about why he felt drawn to apply for the city administrator position, Ed replied, “[It was] my experience in going to Joplin. Directly after the tornado I went to help my daughter for a week, to sift through and recover. It made the experience very real.” He feels that having helped his family through this ordeal enables him to better connect with the people of Greensburg.
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