greenscene

Wake Tech turns to JouleBug app to turn students green

marycornatzer — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:47:08 -0400

Wake Tech is pushing green with the help of JouleBug, an app that gives you suggestions on how to conserve energy.

Students, faculty and staff on all Wake's campuses can use the app to earn points and badges for doing such things as recoiling, installing energy-efficient bulbs, carpooling or taking public transportation. The school plans to use the app to reward sustainable behavior through student competitions.

JouleBug is the brainchild of Grant Williard, a software executive, who worked with computer scientists at NC State and a sustainability engineer to develop and launch it last year.

The app can be downloaded at www.joulebug.com/

Roundup of Earth Day 2013 freebies

AmyDunn — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:12:05 -0400

Ride Raleigh's buses for free, trade in your dish liquid or laundry detergent for an eco-friendly version, pick up a packet of flower seeds and learn how to turn your old T-shirts into high fashion.

It's all free in celebration of Earth Day.

Here's a roundup of just some of the Earth Day freebies available in the Triangle.

Saturday:

*Park your car for the day in Raleigh and ride Capital Area Transit buses. All CAT routes are free, including those on the R-LINE headed to the Planet Earth Celebration at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh. For routes and schedules, head to www.raleighnc.gov/services and click on CAT.

*The Planet Earth Celebration, which is also free, runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn about composting, the latest green technology, and how to reduce your carbon footprint.

*Whole Foods stores in the Triangle will be handing out free eco-friendly cleaners in exchange for a conventional version from your cleaning cupboard.
Bring in a bottle of laundry detergent, dish liquid or all-purpose cleaner -- new or used -- and swap it for a natural version from the GreenShield Organic line of products.

The exchange runs from:

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Raleigh store.
noon to 3 p.m. at the Durham store.
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cary store.
1 to 4 p.m. at the Chapel Hill and North Raleigh stores.

Different Earth Day-themed activities will be offered at each store. Call your particular store for details.

*At Michael's craft stores, learn how to "upcycle" your old T-shirts into fashion accessories during free workshops scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m.

*Starting Saturday and continuing through Monday, Pottery Barn Kids stores, including the one at Durham's Streets at Southpoint, will be giving away seed packets to children.

Sunday:

Starting at 10 a.m., Target stores nationwide will be giving away 1.5 million reusable shopping bags and coupon booklets for sustainable products.

And if you get lucky, your bag may be one of 250,000 bags filled with sample products, including Method dish soap, Annie's Bunny Grahams, Seventh Generation laundry detergent and Burt's Bee's moisturizing cream.

Don't forget to use your bag for a nickel discount when you check out.

Monday:

*Stop by the Disney Store at Crabtree Valley Mall for a free Disney-themed reusable tote bag. Trade in five plastic grocery bags for a bag from the movies "Cars 2" or "Brave."

*Treat yourself to a free organic milkshake at EVOS. The fast-casual eatery that specializes in organic and natural foods is serving up the free shakes all day.
The restaurant has one location in the Triangle at 1800 E. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill.

Free organic milkshake at EVOS on Earth Day

AmyDunn — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:00:22 -0400

EVOS restaurants are serving up free organic milkshakes for anyone who stops in on Earth Day, April 22.

The restaurant, which serves natural and organic foods in a casual setting, has one location in the Triangle at 1800 E. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill.

Not familiar with EVOS?

The menu includes steak burgers, chicken, meatless burgers, salmon burgers, wraps, salads and veggie chili.

The milkshakes are made with organic low-fat ice cream and have multi-vitamins and minerals added to them.

An Earth Day freebie from the Disney Store

AmyDunn — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:35:04 -0400

The Disney Store is offering a freebie to celebrate Earth Day.

Trade in five plastic grocery bags for a Disney-themed reusable tote on Monday, April 22.

You'll have your choice of a bag from the movie "Cars 2" or the movie "Brave," according to the Disney Store blog, The Buzz.

In the Triangle, head to the store at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh.

A DIY remake for spray starch in aerosol cans

AmyDunn — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:22:07 -0400

I've crossed yet another item permanently off my grocery list.

No more spray starch for me.

But that doesn't mean the family will be walking around in wrinkled clothes.

I've started making my own spray starch, adding it to my arsenal of DIY remakes, saving a little money and treading just a little easier on the environment.

My motivation for this particular DIY remake wasn't so much the money as the aerosol cans used to package commercial spray starches.

Previously, I had been purchasing starch in a pump spray bottle that could be recycled, but the product suddenly disappeared from store shelves. That's when I went hunting for an alternative.

Like a lot of do-it-yourself ideas I've written about, make-your-own spray starch is based on the way things were done in the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

My mother recalls an incredibly labor-intensive process in which her mother dipped the clothes in a tub of homemade starch, ran them through a hand-cranked wringer, then laid them out to dry. Once dry -- and stiff -- she would sprinkle them with water while ironing them.

No thanks.

After a quick Internet search, I settled on a basic recipe for spray starch that takes two minutes to make and costs pennies per bottle.

Here's the recipe:

1 Tablespoon corn starch (I used Argo)
2 cups water

Add the corn starch to the water and stir until dissolved. Some recipes recommend using warm or hot water. The mixture will be cloudy but should not have any lumps.

Use a funnel to pour the starch mixture into a reusable pump spray bottle. I used my last empty bottle of store-bought spray starch but spray bottles are readily available at discount and dollar stores.

Shake well before each use. This is key to avoid leaving your garment with a white residue.

Note: If you like your clothes heavily starched, experiment by adding one additional teaspoon of corn starch at a time.

Cost comparison:

A 20 oz. can of Niagra spray starch is $2.19 at Harris Teeter.

A 16 oz. tub of Argo corn starch -- enough to make endless batches of your own spray starch -- is the exact same price, $2.19.

Or save even more with the store brand of pure corn starch, which is 97 cents on sale right now.

(Check out previous posts for recipes or instructions on how I make my own laundry detergent, foaming hand soap, microwave popcorn, croutons, instant oatmeal and other items by clicking on the Frugal Living tab at the top of the Centsible Saver home page.)

Free entrance to National Parks next week, April 22-26

AmyDunn — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:51:29 -0400

Pass the word to friends and family members: National Park Week is coming up. And that means free entry to all of our national parks.

While the majority of national parks are free to visitors 365 days a year, more than 100 parks with entry fees will be waiving them April 22 through April 26.

In North Carolina, you'll be able to save the $4 per person fee for the Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kill Devil Hills.

Click HERE for a state by state listing of all parks waiving their fees.

The remaining free entry dates for 2013:

Aug. 25, Sept. 28 and Nov. 9 though Nov. 11.

An Earth Day freebie from Pottery Barn Kids

AmyDunn — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:37:38 -0400

Pottery Barn Kids stores will be giving away seed packets to children Saturday, April 20, through Monday, April 22.

Stop in and pick up a packet for free in celebration of Earth Day. No purchase is required.

In the Triangle, Pottery Barn Kids is at Streets at Southpoint in Durham.

Target: Earth Day freebies on Sunday, April 21

AmyDunn — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:47:40 -0400

Target stores nationwide will be giving away 1.5 million reusable shopping bags this Sunday in honor of Earth Day.

Starting at 10 a.m., Target employees will be handing out the free bags and coupon booklets for sustainable products.

Random customers -- 250,000 of the 1.5 million -- will get bags filled with sample products, including Method dish soap, Annie's Bunny Grahams, Seventh Generation laundry detergent and Burt's Bee's moisturizing cream.

Once you've got your free bag, don't forget to use it. Target subtracts a nickel from your order when you use your own bag.

Earth Day freebie: 'Growable' greeting cards

AmyDunn — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:41:45 -0400

Here's a fun and frugal way to celebrate Earth Day -- send friends and family members cards that sprout into pots full of wildflowers.

The "growable" cards are free -- just add potting soil and water.

The online printing company Day2DayPrinting.com is offering a free set of four Earth Day cards through April 22 or while supplies last.

Order the cards HERE. But don't wait too long because they will likely go quickly.

The cards, which measure 3 inches by 5 inches are made of handmade paper embedded with wildflower seeds.

To plant a card, fill a pot two-thirds full of potting soil. Place the card on top and cover with a thin layer of soil. Water well. Place the plot where it will get plenty of sun and keep moist so the seeds inside the card will germinate.

In three to four weeks, you'll have a pot full of wildflowers.

Swap your cleaner for an earth-friendly version at Whole Foods

AmyDunn — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:22:46 -0400

Coming up this Saturday, Whole Foods stores in the Triangle will be handing out free eco-friendly cleaners in exchange for a conventional version from your cleaning cupboard.

In honor of Earth Day, the stores will be replacing your laundry detergent, dish liquid or all-purpose cleaner with a natural version from the GreenShield Organic line of products.

Your bottle can be new or nearly empty so if you've been contemplating a switch to green cleaning, this swap is a great way to try an organic product with no out-of-pocket expense.

The exchange runs from:

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Raleigh store, which will also have a tree seedling giveaway, a seed-starting activity for kids and an outdoor fair showcasing local vendors.

noon to 3 p.m. at the Durham store.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cary store, which will also offer recycling crafts for kids and free compost with a donation of a 365-brand product for the Interfaith Food Shuttle.

1 to 4 p.m. at the Chapel Hill store.

1 to 4 p.m. at the North Raleigh store.

Turn strange trash into cash with KNCB's Unusual Litter Contest

paigemaxwell — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:00:51 -0400

Keep NC Beautiful's Unusual Litter Contest is ready to accept its next round of rare and strange finds.

The contest, which is sponsored by PepsiCo, is now open to all who participate in Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup, the N.C. Department of Transportation's spring Litter Sweep (which runs April 13-21) or a similar litter cleanup event.

Winning entries are awarded cash prizes. The first-place cash prize is $250, second place is $100 and third place is $50.

Entering is easy - find unusual trash during a litter pickup, take a picture of it and complete the entry form. All forms are due by May 31 and can be downloaded at www.keepncbeautiful.org. Entries will be accepted via email or snail mail.

The item(s) must be found on N.C. roadways. Roadway signage, animals or reptiles are excluded from the contest. Photos will not be returned and may be used to promote litter prevention programs.

Operation Medicine Drop an opportunity to safely dispose of old drugs

marycornatzer — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 12:44:54 -0400

Safely dispose of old prescription and over-the-counter medicines this week as part of Operation Medicine Drop.

More than 250 locations across the state will be accepting old medicines on different days during the week.

Last year, more than 15 million doses of old medicines were collected during the events. Law enforcement agencies that collect drugs this week will turn them over to the SBI for safe disposal. The SBI will destroy the drugs using incinerators approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The event, part of National Poison Prevention Week, is sponsored by The Attorney General's Office, the SBI, Safe Kids North Carolina, the Riverkeepers of NC, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of North Carolina and local law enforcement agencies.

To find a complete list of sites and days when the drugs are being accepted go here.

Raleigh compost company wins $5,000 green award

marycornatzer — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:49:08 -0400

CompostNow, a Raleigh company with a mission to turn food scraps into compost, has won a People & Planet Award from Green America. The award comes with a $5,000 cash prize.

The business was started by Matt Rostetter in 2010 to help people who wanted to sustainably dispose of kitchen scraps without dealing with maggots.

For a $25 monthly fee, CompostNow provides a bin for food scraps, takes it away each week and leaves a new bin. You also get a refrigerator magnet telling you what can and can't be composted. Members earn compost soil as well.

The company partners with Brooks Contractor in Goldston to turn the scraps into rich soil.

After starting small — Rostetter was a one-man show, picking up scraps around Raleigh and Cary — he has been joined by a CEO and a chief technical officer. The company has also extended its reach to clusters of homes in Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Apex.

Rostetter said they are close to expanding into Asheville.

"We have a contractor (for the composting) and we've been running a campaign to raise awareness," he said. "We need 300 people to sign up to make it worthwhile and we're almost there."

Rostetter is still the main driver, picking up scraps four out of five days. He said the most immediate thing they'll do with the prize money is hire another driver.

As for long-term, Rostetter said the hope is generate enough interest to be able to sell franchises in other states.

Since starting in 2010, the company has helped divert more than 58,000 pounds from landfills.

Clean Jordan Lake premieres trash treasure hunt at Haw River cleanup

paigemaxwell — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:16:42 -0500

Clean Jordan Lake is making its participation in the annual Haw River Assembly's Clean-Up-A-Thon a lot more fun this year.

The group is introducing a trash treasure hunt, where volunteers can win prizes by hunting for several odd items, such as an eerie doll head, according to Clean Jordan Lake president Fran DiGiano. He says odd items, along with the usual assortment of bottles, cans and styrofoam, undoubtedly come from upstream littering on the Haw River and end up on the lake's shoreline.

The Clean-Up-A-Thon is slated for March 16, and volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Assistance Center at the end of Jordan Dam Road. The cleanup area is the stretch of shoreline that extends from Poe's Ridge Boat Ramp to the B. Everett Jordan dam. The event ends at 1 p.m.

Boaters, kayakers and walkers are all welcome, and water, snacks, bags and gloves will be provided. Due to potential hazards associated with bagging and moving trash, children under the age of 11 may not participate, and those between 11 and 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

To register for this event, go to www.meetup.com/helpcleanjordanlake.

Spots in NC, SC make SELC's Top 10 Endangered Places list

paigemaxwell — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:11:23 -0500

The Southern Environmental Law Center has released its 5th annual list of Top 10 Endangered Places in the Southeast, and three places in North Carolina are on the list — Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Fear Basin and Courthouse Creek.

Plans to widen U.S. 64 would destroy 300 acres of valuable wetlands of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, a habitat for the last wild population of red wolves, a federally endangered species.

A massive cement plant proposed for a site near Wilmington in the Cape Fear Basin would destroy 1,000 acres of wetlands, add unsafe levels of mercury to local waters and increase air pollution.

A proposed timber sale in the viewshed of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville threatens 472 acres of sensitive forest in Courthouse Creek, a popular recreation destination, trout streams and local tourism.

Waccamaw River in South Carolina also made the list. Two unlined coal ash ponds near Myrtle Beach are contaminating groundwater with arsenic at up to 300 times the sate standard. The ponds flow into the Waccamaw River upstream of drinking water supplies and a national wildlife refuge.

The remaining places on the list include Talladega National Forest in Alabama due to the threat of fracking, Metro Atlanta's threatened water supply, Goforth Creek Canyon in Tennessee due to a proposed highway, mountaintop removal in Virginia and Tennessee mountains, a proposed bypass in Charlottesville, Va., and Southside, Va., due to a push to lift Virginia's longstanding ban on uranium mining.

The top 10 were chosen from hundreds of special places that the SELC defends through its law and policy work in six states — Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

View a slideshow of the Top 10 Endangered Places in the Southeast.

CVS to end incentive for reusable bags

AmyDunn — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 06:55:00 -0500

CVS, which generously rewards shoppers who use their own shopping bags, is ending the popular "Green Bag Tag" program.

For several years, CVS has given shoppers what amounts to a 25-cent bonus each time they tote their purchases home with their own bags.

To receive the credit, shoppers must first swipe a leaf-shaped green tag at the register. After four swipes, the register churns out a $1 Extra Care Buck, which can be used like cash at CVS.

The "Green Bag Tag" program will end later this year, company spokeswoman Erin Pensa said Tuesday in an email.

For now, shoppers who already have tags will still receive credit for toting their own bags.

But the retailer is no longer selling the tags, which were sold for 99 cents.

Pensa released this statement on behalf of CVS:

"CVS/pharmacy will be phasing out the Green Bag Tag program later in 2013 in order to focus on other environmental initiatives which we believe will have a greater impact on our local communities. Specific information on timing and future plans will be announced at a later date. While the Green Bag Tag is no longer for sale in our stores, current cardholders can continue to use their cards until the official end of the program. We will be contacting customers who are actively using the program with more details in the near future."

Raleigh's yard waste recycling center now accepting rigid plastics

paigemaxwell — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:53:17 -0500

Good news, Raleigh residents and small businesses — the City of Raleigh's Yard Waste Recycling Center is now accepting rigid plastics.

Crates, plastic totes, old recycling bins, buckets, plastic lawn furniture, children's toys, flower pots, plastic clothes hangars and hair brushes are some of the items accepted.

Rigid plastics will only be accepted at the Yard Waste Center, located at 900 N. New Hope Road. The facility is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The center also accepts computers and televisions, all electronic items with a cord and other items accepted through the city's curbside recycling program.

If you need more information regarding accepted rigid plastics or the Yard Waste Recycling Center, call Solid Waste Services at 919-996-6890 or visit www.raleighnc.gov/recycling.

10 eco-friendly, budget-friendly ways to wrap gifts

AmyDunn — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:53:00 -0500

The gifts are purchased and you're feeling pretty good about holding the line on your holiday budget this year. But you still have one major Christmas chore to complete: the wrapping of the gifts.

It's a time-consuming venture, for certain. But it can also be expensive. And then there are the costs to the environment.

Last year, I wrote about how I used old maps, tattered sheet music and hand-sewn drawstring bags to wrap gifts. Click HERE to read about my frugal gift-wrapping ways and see photos of the finished projects. There's even a bow made out of expired coupons.

This year, I've got 10 more ideas for completely free gift wrap, which I found while browsing the virtual bulletin board Pinterest. (Click HERE if you'd like to access the links to these and other DIY gift-wrap projects.) All of these projects can be completed without spending a dime and they'll help you tread more lightly on the planet, a double play in my book.

You're on your own for the time involved.

1. Put a little tin under the tree. Dig through your recycling bin for an empty tin can and lid. Soak overnight to remove the paper label and glue residue. Be sure to wash and thoroughly dry the inside of the can. Place gift inside and seal lid with a little glue.

(Note: You'll need a can opener that leaves no sharp edges, cutting below the lip of the lid so the lid will sit atop the can.)

Decorate as simply or as elaborately as you wish. When it comes time to open gifts, you may need the can opener on hand, if the lid can't be easily pried open.

As a variation: Use a can with a pull-top lid. Use a can opener on the bottom of the can to remove contents, leaving the pull-top lid in place. After cleaning and decorating, place the gift inside and glue the bottom of the can in place. Your gift recipient will open the can using the pull-top. How fun is that?

2. Put your kids to work making paper snow flakes using recycled office paper. Place the snowflakes onto packages wrapped in brown paper bags or other plain recycled paper. Tie with twine. If you want to get really fancy, thread your twine with a couple of white shirt buttons you have lying around the house.

3. If you're making or buying candy or other holiday treats for gift-giving, why not package them in clear glass jars that need no further wrapping beyond a hand-made gift tag.

The color of the candy is festive enough and the lucky recipients get a second gift, which they can use for every-day food storage or refill to give to someone else.

Use mason jars or dip into your recycle bin and salvage jelly jars or pasta sauce jars. Paint the outsides of the lids or cover with decorative paper or fabric you have on hand.

4. Old-school idea. Folks have been wrapping gifts and their kids' middle-school text books in brown paper grocery bags for years, but the bags you get at Trader Joe's put a whole new twist on an old idea.

The retailer's festive white on brown paper bags make for perfect free giftwrap -- with almost no effort on your part, which is a really good thing thing this time of year.

Finish off the packages with scraps of twine or red ribbon you have lying around the house.

5. No knitting required. Get creative with yarn scraps you have around the house. Wind the yarn around and around a package already wrapped in brown or white recycled paper. If you only have short scraps to work with, tie strands individually.

Don't have any yarn scraps? Ask a neighbor, friend or family member. Someone you know is bound to have some they would be eager to declutter. Whatever you do, don't buy your yarn new.

Use multiple colors, the gift recipient's favorite colors or go monochromatic. Add a button or make fringe.

6. Borrow an idea from the Japanese and wrap your gifts in cloth, known as Furoshiki. This idea is especially great for odd shaped gifts that don't lend themselves to conventional paper wrap.

It's also a great idea for those among us who aren't very crafty. All you need is a piece of fabric large enough to encase your gift, with enough room left over to tie a bow on top.

Some suggestions: Go with a red or green bandana or one in the recipient's favorite color. You may have some on hand at home or purchase one super cheap at Michael's or A.C. Moore. Or use a kitchen towel, a scarf or a length of fabric from an abandoned project.

7. Turn your kitchen trash into wrapping treasure. Starting once again with a plain box or a gift wrapped in plain recycled paper, add your adornment using items that might otherwise end up in your trash.

A good example: the plastic mesh used to bundle produce. It's colorful, flexible and easily salvagable. Who says a bow has to be made of shiny paper?

8. Recycle your old memories into new ones. If you still have VCR tapes in your attic but no VCR, why not unravel a few and use them to make gift bows. (See top photo.)

This idea is especially good for large gifts or gifts that need to be bundled together because a single movie will yield yard upon yard of upcycled high-tech ribbon.

Word of caution: If these are home movies you're recycling, be sure you've copied them before you start unraveling and wrapping.

9. Show off your kids' artwork and declutter at the same time. Swipe the finger painting masterpieces and crayon drawings that come home in multiples and give them new life as gift wrap. Coordinate with scraps of yarn or ribbon.

10. Can't be bothered with shopping or gift wrap? Here's one last idea for those who are planning to slip their loved ones cash for Christmas.

Borrowing from the Japanese again, fold the paper money into an Origami figure. Gift and gift wrap all in one. Click HERE for photos and instructions for dozens of money Origami.

Take part in North Carolina Big Sweep

paigemaxwell — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:10:00 -0400

Want to take part in the 26th annual effort to clean up North Carolina? The statewide event is officially held on Saturday, Oct. 6, but cleanups run through most of the month in Wake County and are in need of volunteers.

Saturday, Oct. 6

CARY

Black Creek, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at 9 a.m. at the N.W Maynard Road Black Creek Greenway Trailhead Parking Lot, across from Godbold Park between Harrison Avenue and Chapel Hill Road. Participants will be split into groups and sent out to sites along the greenway. Some car travel is required. RSVPs requested to Zone Captain Christy Perrin at 919-515-4542 or christy_perrin@ncsu.edu

Bond Lake at Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Boathouse and work until noon. Registration is limited! To register, call 919-469-4100. Bond Park is located at 801 High House Road, Cary, NC 27512 between Cary Parkway and Maynard Road, across from St. Michael's Church.

Multiple Locations throughout Cary, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Join fellow citizens to keep our community litter free! Join us at one of our town-sponsored locations or identify a location of your choice such as a greenway, park, or your neighborhood. We welcome groups and individuals. Gloves, trash bags, safety vests, and trash grabbers are provided. Part of the Spruce program, Cary’s Fall Litter Sweep is a local effort to participate in the statewide NC Big Sweep. To register for this event, contact Zone Captain Sarah Justice at 919-469-4301 or sarah.justice@townofcary.org.

GARNER

Lake Benson and Swift Creek at Lake Benson Park, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Join area volunteers in cleaning Lake Benson and Swift Creek watershed. Volunteers should wear closed-toed shoes and bring drinking water & sun protection. Help beautify your community by participating in this cleanup that is appropriate for families with children ages 5 and up. Meet at White Deer Park Nature Center to register and pick up supplies. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., biscuits will be provided to volunteers! Clean-up begins at 9 a.m. and lasts approximately 2 hours. For more information, please call 919-661-6892 or email sshaffer@garnernc.gov. Directions: White Deer Park is located at 2400 Aversboro Road, Garner, NC 27529.

MORRISVILLE

Lake Crabtree at Lake Crabtree County Park, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at 9 a.m. at Boat Rental Complex to clean up one of Wake County's most popular lakes! Gloves, trash bags and data cards will be provided. Cleanup continues until 12 noon. To register, call 919-460-2723. Directions: Lake Crabtree park is located at 1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville, NC 27560. From I-40, take Exit 285 (Aviation Parkway). Go south towards Morrisville, away from airport. Proceed downhill less than 1/4 mile and turn left at the light into park. Once in park, take fourth right to go to Boat Rental Tower.

RALEIGH

Durant Nature Park in North Raleigh, Perry Creek, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Park Office at 9 a.m. to clean up one of Raleigh's most popular parks! Gloves, trash bags and data cards are provided. To volunteer, contact Zone Captain Amy Corbally at 919-870-2871 or amy.corbally@raleighnc.gov. Directions: Take US 1 north to Durant Road, turn left onto Durant Road. Go about a mile and turn left onto Camp Durant Road (North entrance). Proceed to parking lot (about a half mile). The Park Office is on the eastern end of the parking lot.

Falls Lake at Blue Jay Point County Park in north Raleigh, 9 a.m. to noon. Volunteers meet at 9 a.m. for distribution of supplies. Cleanup begins at 9:00 am until 12 noon. All volunteers, age 8 and older, must pre-register by calling 919-870-4330 or emailing bluejaypoint@wakegov.com and must bring a signed Big Sweep Volunteer form with them (see website). Blue Jay Park is on Falls Lake off Six Forks Road in north Raleigh. Directions will be sent to participants that register with the park.

Lake Johnson at Lake Johnson Park, 9 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Boat House on 4601 Avent Ferry Road, Raleigh, NC 27606 for distribution of gloves, trash bags and data cards. For more information, please call 919-233-2121.

Marsh Creek near intersection of Brentwood Road and Stoneybrook Drive, 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Sleep in or catch your fave cartoons! Meet Zone Captain Parnell Bell of the Blue Phoenix Group on the bridge at 11 a.m. Gloves, trash bags and data cards will be provided. Wear clothes & shoes that can get dirty and wet. Please dress for the weather. To pre-register, contact Parnell at (919) 878-5122. Directions: From I-440 Beltline, take Capital Blvd./US 1 North exit. Travel north, away from downtown. Turn right onto Brentwood Road. See Post Office on right, then turn left onto Stoneybrook Drive. See new bridge over Marsh Creek and park here on side of road.

Richland Creek in western Raleigh, 9 a.m. to noon. Join the Umstead Coalition in cleaning Richland Creek! Meet at the Loblolly Trail Head parking lot on E. Stephen Stroud Way (off Edwards Mill Road by Arena) in west Raleigh. Supplies & instructions will be provided. Questions? Contact Zone Captain Jean Spooner at 919-602-0049. Visit web site for additional information: http://umsteadcoalition.org/streamwatch.htm Directions: From Blue Ridge Road, turn onto Reedy Creek Road (across from Art Museum). Turn LEFT onto Edwards Mill Road at light. Go under I-40. Turn LEFT at Arena entrance (E. Stephen Stroud Way). 20-space parking lot is on LEFT just after you cross Richland Creek.

Sunday, Oct. 7

RALEIGH

Yates Mill Pond at Historic Yates Mill County Park, 9 to 11 a.m. Adult volunteers are invited to join park staff in ―sweeping up trash from around the roads surrounding Historic Yates Mill County Park to protect the Swift Creek Watershed. Please arrive at 9 a.m. and come prepared for the weather, wearing proper clothing and footgear. Since this is a roadside cleanup, adults only, please (over 18 years old). Gloves, trash bags, recycle bags, and data cards will be provided. To volunteer, please call 919-856-5638. Directions: From I-40 Beltline, take Lake Wheeler Road exit #295. Travel south approximately 3.2 miles. See last chicken house on right at NCSU Research Farm. Park entrance on right at 4620 Lake Wheeler Road. (If you reach Penny Road intersection, you've gone too far!) From Ten-Ten Road, turn north on Lake Wheeler Road. Travel approximately 3.87 miles. Park entrance on the left at the top of the hill.

WAKE COUNTY - SOUTH

Harris Lake at Harris Lake County Park in New Hill, 2 to 5 p.m. Volunteers age 6 and older meet at 2 p.m. at the park office for distribution of supplies. Gloves, trash bags and data cards will be provided. Wear appropriate clothing for shoreline cleanup – no open-toed shoes! To sign up to volunteer, call 919-387-4342 or email harrislake@wakegov.com. Groups of more than 6 must provide at least 2 days notice for preparation. Small groups or individuals may call by Sunday morning. Directions: Take Highway 1 South to Exit 89 - New Hill Road. Park is 3 miles on the right.

Saturday, Oct. 13

CARY

Swift Creek at Ritter Park, 8:45 a.m. until noon. Join the Cary Central Rotary Club in cleaning Swift Creek that runs through Cary’s Ritter Park. Meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Rotary Shelter to sign up and receive instructions and supplies. Pre-registration is required by Oct. 10th by contacting Zone Captain Doug Lewis at douglas.g.lewis@att.net

Saturday, Oct. 20

RALEIGH

Lake Wheeler at Lake Wheeler Park, 9 a.m. to noon. Come clean up the shoreline and park grounds of Lake Wheeler! Check in at 9 a.m. at the waterfront program center. Volunteers will clean up until noon. Gloves, trash bags and data cards will be provided. Please wear appropriate clothing for cleanup (no open-toed shoes.) Questions? Please call the park office at 919-662-5704. Directions: From Beltline I-40/440, take Lake Wheeler Road exit and drive south for 5 miles. Enter park on right-hand side at 6404 Lake Wheeler Road, Raleigh, NC 27603.

Score a free reusable lunch tote for the kids

AmyDunn — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:36:42 -0400

Hey parents, here's an offer that will save you money and help teach your kids a lesson in environmental awareness at the same time.

Skip the brown paper bags and the plastic sacks, and send your kids to school with an eco-friendly lunch tote that can be used over and over again. It's free -- courtesy of Annie's Homegrown.

The lunch bag, made of 100 percent recycled cotton, is free with the purchase of two products from Annie's Homegrown, Seventh Generation, Stonyfield or Honest Kids.

Eligible products include: any Annie’s Homegrown product, Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt 6-Packs, 4-Packs, or Squeezers, Honest Kids drinks 8-pack carton or 64oz. bottle OR Seventh Generation disinfectant sprays or wipes.

The companies are making the offer to raise awareness of the huge amount of lunch-time trash produced at schools.

Get more details on the offer and download the mail-in form HERE.