Get Involved: Upcoming Opportunities (Oct-Nov 2019)
GLOBAL CHALLENGE
The People's Ecochallenge
The People's Ecochallenge is a 21-day environmental and social engagement program. From October 2 - October 23, 2019, you select or create actions that align with your individual values and make a 21-day commitment to complete those actions, all the while practicing and reinforcing good habits. For every completed action, you earn points and create impact. Your points contribute to your team's total points, and your impact contributes to our collective impact. The different challenge categories include: Waste, Food, Energy, Water, etc. A few challenge examples include: use a reusable mug, composting food, car share, buy from a farmer's market, etc. Consider joining my team (Team Name: ConsciousMe; Password: ConsciousMe) or creating your own! This is my first time completing the challenge and I cannot wait!
So far, I have signed up for 3 challenges:
Simplicity (Category): Meditate
I will meditate or create a moment of silence for 10 minute(s) each day to reflect on things important to me. This is SO needed. As someone who talks fast, walks fast, works fast, I am in desperate need of a reminder to SLOW down. A co-worker once gave me a coffee mug with a sloth on it and the quote, "live slow" – a subtle (or maybe not so subtle) hint, I believe.
Health (Category): Happiness
I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone. This is something I have started on and off throughout the last year. Every time, I notice less stress and anxiety, increased appreciation for everything, I am more energized, etc. yet, I manage to slowly get out of the habit. Hoping this gets me back on track.
Waste (Category): Compost Food Waste
I will avoid sending up to .69lbs (.31kg) of food waste to the landfill each day by composting my food or learning how to. SUPER excited about this one. I have been wanting to build my own compost bin at home and this challenge gave me the gentle nudge I needed to reach out to someone for wooden crates – so, by October 2nd, I will have my own DIY compost bin.
ST. LOUIS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Missouri Botanical Garden: Best of Missouri Market
The Best of Missouri Market is this weekend October 4-6th, 2019 at the Missouri Botanical Garden. They are still in need of Zero Waste Ambassadors during the event. As a Zero Waste Ambassador you will receive guidance on how to properly sort materials for recycling and composting, so it is OKAY if you are new to being an ambassador! By volunteering, you will help the garden achieve their goal of diverting over 90% of market waste from the landfill - you can feel good after your shift knowing you made an environmental impact! Also, enjoy FREE admission to the Market before or after your shift and receive an eco-conscious t-shirt to wear. I will be volunteering on October 6th during the 11:45-2:45 timeslot – come join me! Reach out to Maggie McCoy for registration information (mmccoy@mobot.org).
I am SO looking forward to this event. If you aren’t able to dedicate the time to volunteer, this is still a great event to stop by if you can! There will be 100+ local vendors and artisans from the St. Louis region. Good food, drinks, and music, too!
Tower Grove Park: Plant It Forward
The Plant It Forward campaign in September was a success, so Tower Grove Park invites everyone to join again Tuesday, October 15th from 8:30-10:30AM and again, Thursday, October 17th from 8:30-10:30AM. Meet at the Piper Palm House (4271 Northeast Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110) and be sure to register as space is limited. During this event, you will help plant 17,000 tulip bulbs and 5,000 perennial bulbs. As a volunteer, you will be invited back in the Spring to help dig up the planted tulips and perennials to take home and enjoy in your own garden! Sadly, I will not be able to get away from work for this event – hopefully those of you on a more flexible schedule can make it out!
Urban Harvest STL: Drop-In Volunteer Days at the FOOD ROOF Farm
I JUST learned about Urban Harvest STL last week as I was looking at weekend events. Urban Harvest STL is a nonprofit organization that supports equitable access to fresh, healthy food regardless of socioeconomic status, race or location. They grow produce across a network of 5+ urban farms in the St. Louis region and donate the majority of the harvest to nonprofit partners serving communities with limited or non-existent access to healthy produce (also known as food deserts – I just learned this term, too). Every Saturday between 9:00AM-11:30AM (May 11 – Oct 31) you can do a volunteer drop-in on the FOOD ROOF Farm. If you decide to stop by, dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes, and bring plenty of water. By volunteering, you will experience urban farming and gain exposure to a variety of urban agriculture methods. And okay, let's say you don't have a green thumb and so volunteering doesn't totally sound like your thing, you CAN just swing by for fun, with a cup of coffee, a good book, or some fresh bread and cheese (at least, that is what I would bring).
Urban Harvest STL also offers group farm tours. They are currently booked for Fall 2019, but have availability for Spring 2020. For sure looking into this opportunity to volunteer as a team with my co-workers!
Earthday365: Recycling on the Go
Earthday365 is the host to one of the largest Earth Day celebrations in the country (mark your calendar!), and touches over 1 million individuals through its year-round programming like Recycling on the Go. This opportunity is similar to the Zero Waste Ambassador opportunity I mentioned earlier. Recycling on the Go looks for individuals to help green events around St. Louis. Volunteers should be prepared to stand for a significant amount of time (2-8 hours) and lift up to 20-40lbs comfortably. Volunteers will help event attendees sort their waste into compost, recycling and landfill. A few upcoming opportunities include: Food Truck Friday (October 4th), Grove Fest (October 5th) and Girls on the Run (November 16th).
If you know of any other upcoming opportunities, share in the comments below! AND if you decide to check out one of the above, I want to hear about your experience (or come say hi if you see me out and about).