Sustainable Monroeville at End of Summerfest in Monroeville, PA

This was the first 'officially' combined composted and recycled event, that we know of, in Monroeville, PA. How exciting! Kudos and thanks to PA Resources Council, PRC.org, and their Zero Waste Pittsburgh program for making this possible! In collaboration with Sustainable Monreoville, the Municipality of Monroeville, and Temple David at the End of Summerfest, the PA Resources Council provided 10 recycling containers and one compost container for us.

Kyle came to pick up the compostables and enjoyed posing for this photo with his Steelers Zero Waste shirt! Thanks so much Kyle for all you do! Thanks Temple David, and the Municipality of Monroeville for making all of this possible! Here's Kyle Winkler, of PRC helping out at the end of the day along with a member and huge organizer and helper of the End of Summerfest from Temple David. 

Hey, we wanted a bunch of compost containers, but were educated by Kyle and changed our minds. We decided one compost container for this first collaborative event would be just right. But why? Well, folks, that is, the general public, understands recycling and what to do with their plastic bottles and aluminum cans. But composting? That's a whole different story!

In the 1500's, composting must have been the norm. Or was it? These Renaisasance folks sure were a bit confused looking at these oversized plastic containers. They had chalices hanging from their belts and carried their pewter plates with them. Now that's a vote for sustainability! To learn more about the Renaissance and have lots of fun, consider going to the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival sometime between August 25 and September 30, 2012. Go to www.pittsburghrenfest.com for details. And tell the King and Queen we sent you!

The King and Queen recycling their water bottle. Wait you might think, we just mentioned that the Renaissancers were carrying chalices with them. So here's the real scoop: They were adding bottled water that was supplied by the festival to their chalices in the big tent on the field, their hideaway for the day. But those Renaissance folks are responsible, yes they are. At the end of the day, one of them asked where to recycle the 70 bottles of plastic they had accumulated over the past many hours! They put all of their empty used bottles in the proper blue receptacles. We were informed that usually they have a giant urn filled with water that they use to fill their chalices. Another vote for sustainability! We sure are interested to know more about the Renaissance and what we can learn from looking back. Thanks for being such wonderful participants in our frecycling and composting efforts, King's Court and the King and Queen! We had fun dancing with you too!

    Ira, of Sustainable Monroeville and his beautiful wife visiting us at our booth.

                                                                                         

These ladies were sampling meatballs and cheese. Neither of these food items could go in our compost. Why is that? For small scale composting, meat and cheese are kept out of the pile so as not to attract pesky animals. If not eaten, that meat and cheese was put in the trash. 

        

Dana of Healcrest Farms in Garfield, an awesome urban farm, was selling delicious teas and other wild provisions. Their booth this year was the only booth that intentionally provided compostable tea sampler cups this year. Bravo to Dana and Healcrest!

Who are these groupies? Must be Lois, the hugger guy, a local couple,Pam, Skip, and Lu! Check out that wheatgrass on the table, the beautiful flowers, the great photos of the Monroeville Food Garden and more!

Elisa, founder of Sustainable Monroeville, with Kyle of PRC, at the end of the day. PA Resources Council is the oldest environmental non-profit in the state of Pennsylvania and their work is fantastic!

Thanks again and again for working with us!

End of Summer Festival 2012 in Monroeville Park 2451 Tilbrook Road with Sustainable Monroeville

Join Sustainable Monroeville and the Monroeville Food Garden to celebrate at the End of Summer Festival on Sunday, August 19, 2012, in Monroeville Park. Through Pennsylvania Resources Council's Zero Waste Pittsburgh program, along with Temple David, and the Municipality of Monroeville, we'll be recycling bottles and cans and composting food and other products! Look for the blue containers to recycle glass, plastic and aluminum containers, and look for the green container to compost food waste and other compostables at the event!

Monroeville End of Summer Fest

WHEN: Sunday - August 19, 2012

WHERE: Monroeville Community Park, Tall Trees Amphitheater,
399 Tilbrook Road, Monroeville PA 15146-4232
(Allegheny County Pennsylvania.)

DESCRIPTION: Monroeville End of Summer Fest is a food and music festival open to the public. Admission is free. There will be vendors, arts, crafts, food, a band playing on the stage, carnival-type game booths, face-painting, activities, raffles, and contests.

The event benefits the Weiger School at Temple David.

CONTACT: Email: "endofsummerfest @ gmail.com"

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/events/190510707661573/#!/pages/End-of-Summer-Fest-Aug-19th-2012/195206017182180 .

 End of Summer Fest

Sunday, August 19th   11 am – 7 pm

Monroeville Community Park
2451 Tilbrook Road, Monroeville, PA 15146

The I Made IT Market will be bringing 16 artists to join in the festivities at End of Summer Fest in Monroeville Community Park from 11 am – 7 pm. It’s second year, End of Summer Fest is a fundraiser for the JESP Preschool at Temple David in Monroeville (this school is open to all for enrollment).

This family event centered on health and wellness.  Featuring a kids area with games, activities, and face painting, live entertainment from five bands including Rox Academy, Chasing 9, Lightening Box, and the Pittsburgh Passion, this event will keep the family busy all day long.

Meet and shop from local retailers, food and our local artisans selling handmade wares as part of the I Made It! Market.  This event is free to the public to attend.

A portion of each artist’s sales will be donated to JESP Preschool.

Greening of Pittsburgh

We are excited to use these occasional updates to share news about the innovative initiatives we are working on, as well as to update you on existing “green” projects in the City of Pittsburgh.

In October 2008, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl hired the City’s first-ever Sustainability Coordinator and created the Office of Sustainability and Energy Efficiency to provide guidance on greening the City’s operations and facilities. The Sustainability Coordinator is tasked with implementing the municipal recommendations of the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan, adopted in August 2008, as well as collaborating with individuals from all departments to strengthen existing environmental initiatives and ensure that sustainability is integrated into all City operations.

Staffed by the Sustainability Coordinator and Energy and Utilities Manager, the Office of Sustainability and Energy Efficiency also serves as a work and learning space for students and young adults who work with the City through class projects, independent studies, internships and fellowships.

Did you know that the City of Pittsburgh…

Recently created a Green Guide to aid citizens in “going green” in Pittsburgh?
Gave away 2,000 tree seedlings to residents in April 2010?
Was recently recognized with ‘Bicycle Friendly’ status by the League of American Bicyclists?
Replaced all of its traffic signals with energy efficient LED models in 2008, saving nearly $20,000 per month?
Purchases 15% of its electricity from renewable wind sources?
Is one of only 25 U.S. cities to be awarded a Solar America Cities grant through the Department of Energy?
Has transformed over 120 vacant lots around the city into common green spaces through the Green Up program?
Uses a B20 biodiesel blend in all of its diesel equipment?
Collected over 13,200 tons of recyclables curbside in 2009, which is a 19.5% Increase from 2008?

To learn more about these projects, click on City of Pittsburgh

First Inspired Composting Program in PA school district

In the Winter of 2009, members of the Composting Team at the Citizens Climate Corps (CCC) approached Quaker Valley School District about the possibility of starting a composting program in the school district.

Composting Fact: Every ton of food waste diverted from the landfill saves 6 tons of carbon dioxide (equivalent) emissions, mostly through the avoidance of methane formation.

The US sent 25 million tons of food waste to landfills in 2005. Composting this mass would be the equivalent of removing 7.8 million passenger cars from the road.

The Composting Team is one of the action teams formed by the CCC. New action teams will be forming in the near future. If you would like to join one, please send an email to citizensclimatecorps@gmail.com. The Citizens Climate Corps - a new volunteer-led, grassroots organization in Western Pennsylvania - is sponsoring a seminar to empower citizens to approach their school districts to start food waste composting. We helped the first school district in the state get started. We can help you make a difference at your local school, too. Hope you can join us or help us spread the word!