Volunteer with us:
-Sign up to help with planting and harvest days around town at the Louisville Grows Gardens

Become a Garden Liaison:
-Work with a specific garden throughout the season and be trained by us in sustainable agriculture

Start a garden:
-We are still taking gardens that are looking for a helping hand this year

You can find more information at Our Volunteer Page or at our Start a Garden Page.

Click on the link for more details.

Sustainability Metrics: Life Cycle Assessment and Green Design in Polymers finds that biopolymers are dirtier to produce than oil polymers. The thing I liked about the Environmental Leader’s article is it shows the complexity of issues facing green building decisions. This study finds that it takes more energy to make a biopolymer, but the research is lacking in a number of areas. It doesn’t take into account the costs associated with the environmental and human devastation that come from oil drilling and refining. Also, it does not take into account disposal and health risks of the polymers while in use. I would guess if you brought those factors into play the biopolymers, which have a long way to go in their development, would stand up better to a Life Cycle Analysis.

On a similar note, this article from the Environmental Leader discusses a recent report in Business Week that highlights a study which finds that biofules may cause more green house gases than petroleum. Once again, the researchers failed to include a number of factors. They assume current petroleum fueled agriculture practices as appose to sustainable agriculture in the analysis as well as other end uses of spent grain, as in their potential use as feedstock. But perhaps the biggest hole in this study though is its failure to look at cellulosic biofuels that essentially use waste to create fuel.

Then again, who believes research anymore?

*This post was origanlly written on our sister blog Absolutely Productive

Right now you can receive a 30% Energy Star tax break for the installation of a Energy Start approved solar or wind system. This can be everything from energy production to water heating. Think about it, that’s a third of your installation costs. Now, like any properly run government incentive program their are certain restrictions and qualifications so you should go to the tax credit website and use its guidelines to help you choose a project.

You can either choose an installation business, Avery and Sun is a good local Louisville company, or for the do-it-yourself (DIY) types you can buy a kit and give it a shot. Here’s a good website that explains the benefits of DIY kits. If Google’s investing in installing a $5 billion project that will create 350-mile network along the mid-Atlantic region from New Jersey to Virginia, then it must be a good idea.

But of course the cleanest bit of energy is the one you don’t use so energy efficiency should also be included in this project. For us locals, LG&E has some good programs to consider. For everyone else I am sure that your local utility has similar initiatives. LG&E has a “Demand Conservation” programs that connects a device to your heating and cooling system which can “safely cycle central air conditioners off and on for brief periods during peak usage days during the summer — but only when absolutely necessary to conserve energy during heavy demand.” In exchange they will credit you bill $5 per month (up to $20 per year) for each summer month and each switch they can install. There’s also the residential energy audits they will perform for $25, Louisville Grows will a simular service for $15, the We Care home weatherization program, the AC test and tune up and the Green Power program – everyone should sign up for the Green Energy program. For just $5 you can purchase 300 kilowatt hours (kWh) of pure renewable energy, which helps fund wonderful project like the Mother Ann Lee hydro plant.

With all of these programs it’s easy being green.

*Post was originally aired on our sister blog Absolutely Productive

There have been some very productive meetings with Breaking New Grounds, the Heine Bros organic composting project, the Environmental Finance Center at UofL, Louisville CSA, and the Kentucky School Garden Network. Each group showed there support and some even committed to providing resources in the future once we have our projects up and running. Partnerships and coordination will prove to be the key to making the most of our contributions to Louisville.

Also, Mason presentation at Ignite 502, which went really well. The presentations were interesting and solidified our knowledge that the citizens of Louisville are proud and passionate about their city. We talked about the state of our food system and the easy steps to making a difference here in our community. We should have a video copy of it soon, which will be put up on our pressroom page.

Join me in welcoming two new board members to the organization, Paige Battcher and Guillermo Quintana.

Paige is Louisville native, an avid traveler, and a recent graduate from the University of Louisville with a degree in Finance. As a Fulbright Scholar, Paige taught English as a foreign language in northern Thailand for seven months. She has recently returned to Louisville after directing a summer camp in Tampa, Florida for at-risk youth. Her passions are sustainable food and transportation, supporting the local economy, cycling, running, laughing, and teaching. As the Volunteer Director for Louisville Grows, she is committed to help organize partnerships, projects, and volunteers.

Guillermo is a Peruvian Social Entrepreneur who just moved to Louisville 2 months ago and graduated from Campbellsville University with Master in Business Administration. He is the representative of Microfranchise Solutions Inc. in Peru (www.microfranchisesolutions.com) and will serve as our Economic Development Director.

1. We filed our paperwork to become incorporated
2. We have our first partnership – Food Not Lawns
3. We are developing various programs with JCPS
4. We we’re featured in an eco-blog that is up for an award (http://uprooted.jessicareeder.com/2009/07/guerrilla-gardening-flower-bombing/)

With any luck we’ll also have a park cleaning event organized by the next time you check back this way.  If you are interested in volunteering for it visit us on Facebook – just search for Louisville Grows – or you can contact us at:

volunteer (at) louisvillegrows.org