Art, Data, and Environmental Stewardship

Art, Data, and Environmental Stewardship

Parents and teachers who are searching for ways to engage kids with local environmental issues might look to their community parks or science museums for opportunities. But what about art? Environmental issues can often be overwhelming or disheartening for members of the public, and art offers an innovative way to promote interest that can lead to deeper engagement down the line. This approach presents a particular opportunity for younger audiences, combining activities they love – like coloring, building, and crafts – with the basics of environmental issues.

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Are Outdoor Preschools the Answer to Connecting Kids With Nature?

Are Outdoor Preschools the Answer to Connecting Kids With Nature?

In recent years, child development specialists have become increasingly concerned about how “screen time,” — where kids gaze at smartphones, tablets and TVs while the backlit screens cast glows on their youthful faces — is replacing time spent playing outside, where youngsters instead get their fill of a natural source of vitamin D thanks to the warmth and light from the sun. Outdoor learning environments, sometimes called “forest schools,” may be the answer to ensuring kids understand the importance of appreciating nature’s beauty and getting exposed to the elements. The first of these schools launched in Europe over five decades ago. Now, these learning options are springing up all over the world, including throughout the United States.

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Greening In Grim Times, by Phila Hoopes

With the economy in upheaval, Congress reeling, and the environment under continuing assault from Big Oil, Big Coal, and Big Agro, it’s sometimes tempting to question – how much good can living green really do The luxuries of enviro-heedless daily American living surround us on all sides…high-tech petro-based cosmetics…sweatshop-manufactured designer clothing…toxin-emitting furniture, carpets, cabinets… mountaintops being exploded into rubble to keep our lights on and our computers running. Even if you’re committed to a green lifestyle, the relentless din of this consumerist world view can get wearing. In the midst of a hectic day, does it really matter that much to the planet if you drive to the 7-11 to pick up a pack of Clorox wipes instead of cycling to the health food store for white vinegar to use with your reusable cloth towels? But there’s a deeper question here – it’s not a matter of harshly enforcing green discipline. Somewhere over the last sixty years or so, our culture has lost the skills…and joy…and value…of living simply, lightly, in balance with the natural world. I took my 86-year-old father to a local Fair Trade coffeehouse and housewares shop awhile back. He browsed through the reclaimed-wood furniture, clay-based paints, […]

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Leading the Greening of Detroit — and what you can do in your own backyard.

I am the President of The Greening of Detroit, a 20-year old organization devoted to greening the City of Detroit through planting projects, environmental and outdoor education, advocacy and by building community capacity. We have our roots in planting things that make our city greener, but we have expanded our programming over the years to include education and job training, advocacy and capacity building for our community partners.

When they meet me, many people ask what motivated me to become a leader in Detroit’s green movement. I have to say that, when I started this career, I wasn’t really thinking about saving the world. In fact, it was a much more basic instinct.

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Falling in Love with Food Again with Kate Manchester – show 10

On our last show we talked about what goes on our bodies, goes in our bodies. In our show today, we talked about what goes in our mouth. My guest, Kate Manchester, Editor of edible Santa Fe, shares the true cost of food and why it’s important for our planet and the people living on it to fall in love with food again. “Eat it to save it,” she said. And the way to do that, according to Kate, is “everyone cooks!”

About my guest: For 22 years, Kate Manchester was a private chef in New York. She has written for numerous contemporary magazines, authored two books, and taught a variety of seasonal cooking classes over the years. Today, she is the publisher and editor of edible Santa Fe, and host of edible Radio.

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The Greening of Detroit – show 5

Rebecca Salminen Witt has dedicated herself for the past 13 years to greening of Detroit. And she has her job cut out for her. More than half the citizens have moved out. Houses are selling for as low as $15,000.00. And in one recent article, estimate 40 acres of land inside Detroit’s city limits are abandoned. That’s the bad news. Or is that the good news? Listen up!

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