Urban Sustainability

Area residents who enjoy eating locally grown and produced food should mark May 5^th on their calendars for the season opening of the Keller Farmers Market at 8:00 am.

Opening day will feature jazz music by The Matt Larsen Quartet, and a seed and plant exchange for gardeners looking to trade extra seeds and plants with other gardeners. The exchange is a fun and practical way to meet other gardeners, discuss gardening issues and to exchange a plant for another plant to diversify their own harvest. Tables will be set-up at the entrance to the market, staffed with volunteers who can assist.

“We are expecting local favorites as well as surprise plants at the swap. We hope this is the first of many seed and plant exchanges at the market,” says Keller Farmers Market Executive Director Bridget Rodewald. 

Dallas will participate in the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale on Saturday, April 28 at Beauty Bar in Dallas from 12 – 4 pm. 

This year marks Dallas’ 3rd participation in the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale, an annual event where different organizations across the globe raise money for various causes, charities, and benefits. This year’s bake sale will include items for sale from local favorites Spiral Diner and Nib Chocolates, as well as a variety of treats such as whole pies and cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and brownies.

Dallas organizer Jade Degrio has this to say about this year’s beneficiary, the United Farm Workers of America (UFW):

It is crucial for any movement that fights against oppression to recognize and work against all forms of it, whether it’s the oppression of people or of animals. Using proceeds from the bake sale towards raising awareness and promoting legislative action that helps human lives in an industry we all rely on is an acknowledgement that, as people who are working towards living a cruelty free lifestyle, we need to think about our consumption at all points of contact.

Is your yard work piling up? Let it! Learn the basics of turning that garden debris into garden gold through composting. We cover what to put in, what to leave out, and how to mix, moisten and manage your way to successful soil enrichment. We'll also teach you to use specialized red worms to compost your food waste and create a fertile soil amendment for plants. 

Class meets at the Environmental Education Center, 4116 W. Plano Parkway. 

Saturday, May 5, 2012 8:00am-11:00am 

Registration required! - Please go to: 

https://livegreeninplano.obsres.com/Info.aspx?EventID=3

Don't let the worms crawl in and the worms crawl out -- put them to work! We'll teach you to use specialized red worms to compost your food waste. These use their waste as a fertile soil amendment to benefit your plants. Learn to set up and maintain a worm bin, and to harvest and use the worm castings. 

Class meets at the Environmental Education Center, 4116 W. Plano Parkway. 

Thursday, May 3, 2012 7:00pm-9:00pm

https://livegreeninplano.obsres.com/Info.aspx?EventID=3 

Disposing of Household Hazardous Waste

Grand Prairie residents have the option of taking household hazardous waste to the Environmental Collection Center in Fort Worth or bringing it to a local collection event here in Grand Prairie.

What is Household Hazardous Waste?

Any household product that you no longer want, but which should not be put in the garbage or washed down the drain, is considered household hazardous waste (HHW). Some examples are:

Local Businesses Join UTA Students for Economic Development Event
Students are working with local community to bring downtown and student body together.

 

Graduate Students from the School of Urban and Public Affairs and School of Architecture at The University of Texas at Arlington are partnering to create a unique economic development opportunity in the heart of downtown Arlington. Downtown Front and Center is a temporary “better block” and park installation inspired by previous projects in Oak Cliff and downtown Dallas. It will bring together local businesses, community organizations, and UTA students, and demonstrate how a currently underutilized space can develop into something that gives back to the community. It will help participants and visitors realize the potential of downtown Arlington.