April 13th Events

Posted on April 11, 2013 by KHolmes

In addition to the 9th District Community Cleanup from 8:30-Noon (meet at the Kroger on lower Brownsboro Road), there are several sustainability events on Saturday, April 13^th.

The Mighty Kindness Earth Day Hoot brings together local services for the body, soul, heart and mind that make our commonwealth more rooted and kind. It is a free community unity festival that celebrates kindness where you’ll find local food, music, art, green businesses, neighborhood and social justice organizations, fun for kids, the healing arts, the spiritual community, free workshops, Massage-a-thon, Circle of Dance, Turners Circus, and more! The Hoot will take place at the Brown-Forman Amphitheater at Waterfront Park from Noon-6pm on April 13^th. Learn more here.

At the Mighty Kindness Hoot the Frankfort Avenue Tree Canopy Project will be raising money for the 2013 fall planting by offering a Massage-a-Thon event with the Louisville School of Massage. All donations are tax-deductible. If you have questions please email findmarissa@yahoo.com.

Also on April 13, YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip Screening and Party: A fundraiser for the Green Institute with food trucks, music, beer, and Q&A with the film’s director at the BBC Brewery/Tap Room at 636 E. Main Street. $10 Suggested Donation. Starts at 6:00 pm with the movie screening at 7:30 pm. Presented by Bluegrass Brewing Company, Center for Neighborhoods, Louisville Timebank, and Germantown-Paristown Neighborhood Association.

Finally, on April 13: St. Leonard Environmental Club Recycling Event in the Saint Leonard Community parking lot, 440 Zorn Avenue, from 8:00 a.m. to Noon. This year’s sponsors include Commonwealth Computer Recycling (CCR) – items taken include obsolete electronic equipment (computers, scanners, copiers, fax machines, game systems, cell phones, spent ink cartridges) and DDC of Kentucky to shred all your important documentation (papers, folders, ID’s, credit cards, etc.) Once again, there is NO COST for disposal – all they ask for is that each person dropping items donate something listed on the Kentucky Humane Society Wish List. All items collected will be responsibly recycled and not end up in landfills! Questions please contact Kim James at 897-5265 or email kjames@stleonardlouisville.org.

Frankfort Avenue Tree Plantings

Posted on February 14, 2013 by KHolmes

Lorene Hunter, chair of the Billy Goat Hill Garden Tree Canopy Committee, shared the following information about implementation of phase 1 of the Frankfort Ave Street Tree Master Plan that was initiated by the committee and was approved by the Clifton Architectural Review Committee in July 2012:

On Saturday 2/23/13, Greenhaven will be removing 15 ornamental pear trees (Pyrus spp.) in the verge along Frankfort Ave. in front of the Kentucky School for the Blind and American Printing House. The following Saturday, 3/2/13, 12 London Plane trees (Platanus x alternifolia) will be planted to replace the pears. Both of these dates are weather permitting and will be rescheduled accordingly if need be. The majority of new trees will be approximately 1 1/2 inch caliper in size. The trees will be watered and cared for by the Kentucky School for the Blind and American Printing House.

The ornamental pear trees being removed are not the right tree in the right place. There is a lot more known today about choosing desirable street trees than there was 20 or so years ago when these were planted. Ornamental pear trees are hazardous in that they split easily and could fall on people or property. They are also considered to be an invasive plant. The Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant council has listed Pyrus calleryana on their severe threat list. Because there are no over head lines at this site, we can replace the small ornamental pears with larger trees in order to maximize the benefits of tree canopy.

This is an exciting opportunity for a partnership between the Billy Goat Hill Garden (BGHG) Tree Canopy Committee, Whitehall, Louisville Metro Tree Advisory Commission (LMTAC) Projects Committee, Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) and American Printing House (APH) to install quality canopy trees by following an existing street tree master plan. In addition to dedicated volunteers and organizations working on this project, it would not be possible without the help of generous grants and/or donations from 9th District Councilwoman Tina Ward Pugh, LG&E Plant for the Planet grant, and DD Williamson.

Keep an eye out for these new tree plantings on Frankfort Avenue!

Clean Air Champion Award

Posted on November 20, 2012 by KHolmes

Mayor Betty Shelton receives the Clean Air Champion Award from Paul Aud of APCD

On November 14^th the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (APCD) presented the “Clean Air Champion Award” to Betty Shelton of the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden for the many volunteer hours she has spent cutting the garden’s grass with the Electric “Goat” Lawn Mower and trimming with a battery powered weed-eater. Mayor Betty Shelton lives in the Sacred Heart Village Apartments and is a former Mayor of Parkway Village, a sixth-class city within Louisville Metro. It’s amazing to watch Mayor Betty maneuver the Electric Goat around the 42 raised garden beds and other obstacles within the garden.

The Ninth District is proud to be home to the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden is thankful for the work done by volunteers at the garden, including Mayor Betty, which makes our community more sustainable. Visit the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden’s website. Learn more about the Electric Goat Lawn Mower. Find resources and incentives to make the air cleaner from APCD.

Mike O’Leary with the Electric Goat Lawn Mower at the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden

Billy Goat Hill Community Garden Harvest Festival

Posted on October 4, 2012 by KHolmes

On Sunday, October 14, 2012, plan to attend the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden Harvest Festival at 2004 Payne Street near Mercy Sacred Heart Village. The event will run from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. rain or shine. Bring your pets to be blessed at 2:30 p.m. Enjoy FREE food, hot dogs, chili, cider and music. Musicians please call Mike at 899-1364 or email mike-and-elwood@insightbb.com. Make this a real ‘green’ event and bring your own tableware.

Sustainability Tip – Eat Locally Grown Food

Posted on July 9, 2012 by KHolmes

Right now is the prime time to eat locally grown food. View a list of what local foods are in season throughout the year in Kentucky. Farmers’ markets around Louisville offer a wide selection of locally grown food. Find a list of farmers’ markets. Or, look into options for joining a CSA – Community Supported Agriculture. There are many benefits to eating locally grown food:

You support local farmers, helping preserve farm land and strengthening the local economy.
Your food arrives to you fresh from the farm: healthy options with amazing fresh taste.
You can ask growers’ about their techniques and choose sustainable options.
Less fuel is used to transport your food, cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions.
By participating in the local food economy, you have the opportunity to grow community.

If you are interested in growing your own food, and need some help getting started, 15Thousand Farmers, a local non-profit can help. Learn more about the organization, which aims to “create, empower, and inspire 15thousand new, sustainable, backyard/front yard farmers in Louisville, KY to feed their families and themselves!” Attend the next 15^th Day Celebration on July 15^th to build community and get started.

Interested in gardening, but don’t have room at home? Consider getting involved in a community garden. Billy Goat Hill Community Garden is located at 2004 Payne Street on the property of Mercy Sacred Heart Village. The garden is a 100 percent volunteer project that has reclaimed a former landfill with the help of neighbors and partners - now has 35 raised beds, bee hives, a daffodil garden, a butterfly garden, mushrooms, and places to rest and refresh. If you’d like to sign up for a garden bed for next season, let them know by emailing CindyAdelberg@gmail.com. Check out the garden online at http://www.billygoatgarden.com/. For more information contact Mike at mike-and-elwood@insightbb.com.

Sustainability Near and Far

Posted on May 7, 2012 by KHolmes

The Green Triangle is collecting green success stories for our website. We’d love to hear about any green project you’re working on, or sustainable steps you have taken. If there is a story you’d like to share, please contact us. Just Creations shared how they are working to create more sustainable communities, near and far:

Just Creations, located at 2722 Frankfort Avenue, is a not-for-profit store that sells fair trade goods from around the world. Fair trade is a system that provides sustainable employment for people who live below the poverty level in developing countries. Some components of fair trade include ensuring that people receive a fair wage, working conditions are healthy and safe, and producers use environmentally sustainable practices. Learn more about fair trade.

In addition to selling goods that are made using practices that support the health of people and the environment, Just Creations engages in green practices in its own store. They recycle or reuse everything possible. The store reuses paper, plastic, bubblewrap, and boxes to wrap purchases for customers, instead of purchasing new wrapping materials. Everything else that can be recycled is picked up by volunteers and taken to Metro recycling drop-off centers. Additionally, the store recently developed a partnership with Pottery Rowe, another local business at 2048 Frankfort Avenue, to reuse extra bubble wrap and other packaging materials for their pottery sales. (You can reuse your packing material at Pottery Rowe too – learn how.) Staff members at Just Creations take coffee grounds and kitchen scraps to the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden on Payne Street for composting. These are examples of great connections that can be made when community members work together to think of sustainable solutions to waste issues.

Just Creations can help you reuse items as well. The store accepts donations of tissue paper and shopping bags for use with customer purchases.

Frankfort Avenue Street Tree Master Plan Public Meeting

Posted on May 3, 2012 by KHolmes

flowering tree The Billy Goat Hill Garden Tree Canopy Committee invites the public to attend a meeting on May 10^th at 6:00 pm at the Clifton Center, 2117 Payne Street, to provide valuable feedback during the design process. The goal of the Street Tree Master Plan is to replant street trees along Frankfort Avenue in Clifton from Mellwood Ave. to Ewing Ave. The plan will focus solely on tree selection and placement. It will not address sidewalk replacement, street furniture or lighting. Charles Cash and Kristin Booker from Urban 1 LLC will present the preliminary design plans. For additional information you may contract: Lorene Hunter, BGHG Tree Canopy Committee Chair, lorene@iglou.com.

Sustainability Tips – Food

Posted on February 22, 2012 by KHolmes

Garden This week’s warmer weather is making spring seem just around the corner. Whether or not this warm weather sticks around, it’s never too early to think about how to be more sustainable in our eating habits.

Don’t waste food. Plan out what you need when you do grocery shopping, and eat leftovers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, over 34 million tons of food waste was created in 2010, more than any other waste category besides paper. With a 2010 USDA study showing that 14.5% of households were food insecure (lacking access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life), we should work to avoid food waste for more than just environmental reasons.
Eat food that is in season. When possible, eating food that is locally grown and in season supports our local economy while limiting the energy used in transporting food. View a list of what local food is in season throughout the year in Kentucky.
Buy local food. Find a list of farmer’s markets, some of which are open year round. Or, subscribe to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), or buy through Grasshoppers Distribution year round to connect you with local farm fresh food. This supports our local economy while limiting the energy that goes into transporting food.
Grow your own food. Start planning your 2012 garden. 15,000Farmers is hosting its first Beginning Growing Workshop of 2012 on February 25 from 10am to Noon. Learn more on their website. The Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service has helpful resources for gardeners. If you don’t have space for a home garden, consider getting involved in a community garden. Find a list here from the Extension Service, or learn more about the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden located on Payne Street.

This sustainability tip was taken from the most recent edition of the Green Triangle eNews. See the full eNews, and sign up to receive it every 2 weeks.

Green Triangle 2011 in Review

Posted on January 10, 2012 by KHolmes

2011 was an exciting year for the Green Triangle. As the Green Triangle works with individuals, businesses, and government to realize our vision, the 9^th District office is also working to view public projects through a green lens. Below is a review of Green Triangle and 9th District office work on sustainability in 2011.

Green Triangle Projects:

Green Triangle website launched at http://www.mygreentriangle.com/ with lots of resources for living a more sustainable life. This year the website will become fully interactive.
The Expanded Recycling Program was created for 9^th District residents and businesses. For a onetime fee of $55 businesses and residents can receive a 95-gallon recycling cart.
The Green Triangle Coordination Team used community input to create two initial Green Triangle community goals:

Waste/Recycling Goal: Create a universal access system for recycling and repurposing in the 9th District, to reduce the overall waste output of the District.
Network Goal: Create a supportive network as a tool that connects people and ideas to each other, empowering individuals, businesses, and organizations to be more environmentally sustainable in their thoughts and actions.

Volunteers were recruited to serve on two Goal Teams to create strategies and projects to achieve the goals above. We’re still recruiting in 2012 – learn more about how to get involved.
Waste Cooking Oil Recycling: The Green Triangle started a partnership with Louisville Biodiesel Cooperative and MSD to provide residents the opportunity to recycle waste cooking oil to create renewable biodiesel.
Partnered with River Metals Recycling to offer extra incentives for 9^th District residents to recycle metal leading up to the fall junk pick up.

9^th District Public Projects and Grants with a Green Lens:

A 12-stall bike rack was installed at the public parking lot on Frankfort Avenue and N. Keats Avenue. This is the first bike rack to replace a vehicle parking space in the county.
Two rain gardens were installed on Warren Road to address storm water runoff issues.
Sponsored a resolution, which was approved by the Metro Council in July, creating changes to the Land Development Code to include incentives for green development. Read a press release on the new ordinance.
The Billy Goat Hill Community Garden received the “Electric Goat,” a new electric riding lawn mower, through 9^th District Neighborhood Development Funds.
The Tree Canopy Committee of Billy Goat Hill Community Garden received 9^th District Neighborhood Development Funds to implement the first phase of the Tree Canopy Improvement Plan for Frankfort Avenue. This will increase the vitality of the urban forest along Frankfort Avenue from Mellwood to Ewing through measuring the health of current trees and suggesting appropriate types of trees for future planting.
Funds were provided for Metro Parks staff to provide seasonal land management for the Clifton Heights Greenway.
Volunteers at the Spring 2011 9th District Clean Up
Produced “Recycling 201” video with 8^th District Councilman Tom Owen and Metro TV to explain the single stream recycling system that Louisville Metro is now using. Watch the video on the District 9 website.
Helped sponsor the 2011 Wild and Scenic Film Festival, hosted by the Kentucky Waterways Alliance.
Sponsored spring and fall 9^th District community cleanups, in conjunction with Brightside’s Community-Wide clean ups.

Billy Goat Hill Community Garden Video

Posted on November 11, 2011 by KHolmes

On October 22 the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden on Payne Street hosted a PAINT (Producing Art in Neighborhoods Together) event, which was sponsored by the Center for Neighborhoods.

Through the PAINT event, local artists Lauren Argo and David Bibelhauser worked with community members to install two Geodesic Domes in the garden. Watch this video by Along the Trail Productions to learn more about the PAINT program and the Billy Goat Hill Community Garden.