Environment & Sustainability

Coverage of green innovations, and climate and environment issues and developments, especially those told by local voices and that offer solutions for community concerns.

The idea behind 4th of July barbecue is serious entertainment

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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June 3, 2010

The Boiling Pot Music Festival is about fun. It also has a mission.In its first year, Kalamazoo's newest outdoor celebration will bring together at least 40 musical acts, 30 artists and a full complement of forums designed to get people talking about areas of importance to the community -- agriculture and food security, energy, education, housing, human security, green space and transportation. Spiritual, mental and physical wellness also will be addressed. The July 3-4 festival is at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo. Matthew Lechel, event coordinator for the I.D.E.A. Association, says the festival can capitalize on what's already happening in the local music and arts scene. "We want to harness the social capital that's already being created as the community comes together and then take it to the next level," Lechel says. Boiling Pot also is a play on words for organizers trying to stir the pot of ideas regarding where creative energy needs to be focused in Kalamazoo.On white boards displayed throughout the festival community members will have a chance to "map" organizations and projects already happening in the community within eight identified sectors. Natural partnerships will be identified and information on a long-term project involving the community is expected to emerge. Art projects from seven previous events sponsored by the I.D.E.A. Association will be on display at Boiling Pot and eight new pieces will be made in the pavilion by those attending the festival.And because sustainability is important to the organizers a greening team has been assembled to make sure no paper, plastic or food from the public or vendors at the event ends up in a landfill.The Boiling Pot Festival is presented by The Strutt and The I.D.E.A. Association. Ticket prices, a schedule of events and a list of artists are available here.Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Matthew Lechel

Latest in Environment & Sustainability

Golf course, $80 million project gets national focus

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Environment & Sustainability

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May 27, 2010

Benton Harbor is driving toward the future with the help of Jack Nicklaus and golf, reports USA Today.A coalition of public and private entities is intent on cleaning up manufacturing brownfields, stimulating tourism and creating jobs. The key component of the work and the centerpiece of a $450 million redevelopment effort over the next 20 years is Harbor Shores, a 530-acre beach and golf resort community that features a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, as previously reported by Second WavOn August 10, Nicklaus will be joined by former rivals Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Johnny Miller for a charity Skins Game at The Golf Club at Harbor Shores.Excerpt: "The event is a great opportunity to highlight how golf is being used as a vehicle for social and economic revitalization," Nicklaus says. "The area needed to be cleaned up, and as a result, create a stimulus for the area, for the community, for the town, for tourism and for jobs. It did a lot of really good things."Nicklaus, 70, a renowned golf course builder with nearly 350 courses worldwide, faced a tough task when called on in 2005 to transform acres of diverse land along the St. Joseph River and Paw Paw River, dunes that rise up to 100 feet above Lake Michigan's beaches, and acres of long forgotten factories, toxic waste dumps and a Superfund site."We had to have a golf course designer who was sophisticated enough to deal with lots of empty buildings, roads, power lines, a railroad track, two rivers, a lake and a public park," says Mark Hesemann, managing director of the Harbor Shores Resort.Nicklaus, he says, had to change the course routing nearly 20 times.For more on the project, read the entire story.Source: USA Today

Studio 246 invites fans and new friends to support theater

By Newsroom

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Economic Development

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May 27, 2010

Some theaters invite patrons to fundraisers with champaign and chocolate covered strawberries. Kalamazoo's newest theater plans a tailgate party. The party, June 6 at 4 p.m., is part of four days of shows Studio 246 has planned raise money for needed renovations and improvements to the space. The weekend also is a celebration of the completion of the first season at Studio 246. To mark the event, Crawlspace Theatre Productions, Kinetic Affect and Fancy Pants Theater plan a series of shows titled Fancy Affection in the Crawlspace.On the first weekend in June, the theater troupes will fill the studio space with spoken word poetry, original theater works, improv and sketch comedy. Performances will include some favorite work from this past season, along with pieces getting their debuts. The actors hope to raise at least $5,000 over the four days of events for such projects as a highly visible mural that patrons of events in the Arcadia Festival Site will notice, new signage out front, improvements to the lobby and air conditioning that will allow the space to be used during the summer."Studio 246 is not satisfied with being Kalamazoo's best kept secret," says Dann Sytsma, Artistic Director for Crawlspace Theatre Productions. "We're aiming to enhance the aesthetics of Kalamazoo by improving our facility. Studio 246 is a storefront theater, and our storefront needs some attention. The leadership of Studio 246 wants to enhance the North end of the Kalamazoo Walking Mall with proper signage, an enhanced building front that exclaims 'the arts are growing in Kalamazoo.'"The studio at 246 N. Kalamazoo Mall has chosen to be "the theater for those seeking less traditional expressions of art," Sytsma continues. "Spoken word poetry, non-traditional plays, homegrown comedy, are just three examples of what you'll see in this space. Studio 246 celebrates the performing arts in its rawest form. It is not so much a theater as it is an incubator of ideas." For showtimes and ticket information visit the Crawlspace Productions Web site.Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Dann Sytsma, Crawlspace Eviction Productions

Gardeners share nature’s bounty

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Environment & Sustainability

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May 20, 2010

Jane Maddock, of St. Joseph, has too many cranesbill geraniums, ornamental grasses, lilies and black-eyed Susans in her yard. She wants to make sure that garden surplus goes to a good home. Maddock works with Plant It Forward, a local program that brings people who are thinning their gardens together with people who want to start one. "Any time you're a gardener, you have to divide plants anyway. They grow beyond their space and get crowded," Maddock says. "It's great to be able to give plants to people who need them."Excerpt:Plant It Forward was created in 2001 after Janet McClelland, a member of the Indian Hills Garden Club, watched the movie "Pay It Forward" with her grandchildren. She suggested that garden clubs donate plants to people who have an interest in beautifying their property or growing their own vegetables but cannot afford to buy plants. They, in turn, could share their plants with other people in future years. The idea took root and now, thousands of plants are distributed to dozens of families every year.Betsy Langbo, Plant It Forward coordinator, said the event is helping families grow their own vegetables and flowers, and helping children get fresh air and exercise while experiencing the simple joy of growing and tending plants.For the details on the 10th annual event, read the entire story.Source: Herald-Palladium

No cats allowed in Kalamazoo pooch park

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Environment & Sustainability

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May 20, 2010

Dogs in Kalamazoo soon will have a place to romp unleashed, reports the Kalamazoo Gazette. Work is expected to begin soon on the first phase of a city dog park. With a low bid of $208,197.88, the project will be built by 5 Leprechauns, of Jackson. The company came in nearly $40,000 under the next low bidder in the nine-bidder field. For unlimited use of the facility, the city plans to sell annual passes at a cost estimated at $30 to $60. Non-city residents will be assessed a higher charge to use the dog park. Excerpt: Plans for the Fairmount dog park include a fenced area with entrance gates for pooches, waste receptacles, drinking fountains for dogs and their owners, activity areas for the canines, picnic tables, benches, signage, landscaping and parking improvements, vehicular security gates and barrier-free walkways. Once open later this summer, the park will be the first public space in the city of Kalamazoo where dogs can legally roam without a leash. The story goes on to say, a buy-a-brick campaign is now under way to create an endowment for ongoing operating and maintenance costs. For more on the plans for the city's first dog park, read the entire story. Source: Kalamazoo Gazette

Growing gardens from the ground up

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Economic Development

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May 20, 2010

A grass-roots effort supported by the Battle Creek Community Foundation is growing not only vegetables, but neighborhood leaders and a sense of community all at once.The program grew out of a forum in January in which 80 people turned out to brainstorm ideas for getting neighborhood gardens planted.From that discussion has grown a network of community gardeners, a plan to donate surplus produce to local food banks, and a way to address the need for fruit and vegetables in parts of the city where healthy food has not been available -- sometimes called food deserts. Today there are 14 SPROUT Urban Farms, gardens ranging in size from 300 square feet to a single acre, across the city. "We focused on a grass roots strategy, asking people who wanted to participate," says Jeremy Andrews, of the Battle Creek Community Foundation. "We put it on Facebook and it took off."The Battle Creek Foundation has made neighborhood grants available for tools, soil, seeds and seedlings. By the first week of June the plots should be tilled and planted.At harvest time a crop swap and at least one harvest dinner is planned. The urban farmers are developing business ideas that could build the local economy as well, Andrews says. Funding for the program has been provided by the Penny Kelly Center for Sustainable Consciousness. Partnerships have developed with Battle Creek Unlmited, the W.K.Kellogg Foundation, Leila Arboretum, Neighborhoods INC., various neighborhood associations, the County Land Bank, City of Battle Creek, the Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative and the homeless ministry the Haven.Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Jeremy Andrews, Battle Creek Foundation

Sunshine provides power for RVers, retailers

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Economic Development

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May 20, 2010

The strong winds that often rock Michigan's shorelines and the beating sun are creating energy in Southwest Michigan. And that's creating opportunity for local retailers. "In the upper Midwest, solar business is really starting to pick up," says Jay Quickel, category team leader for general merchandise for Harbor Freight, in Kalamazoo. "We have entry level panels that can power up to 10 hours." For Brian and Leslie Pitts of Vicksburg, "10 hours of electric" is music to their ears. Last summer, they purchased a single solar panel that connects to their deep cycle RV/Marine battery. "It allows us to run our RV without being plugged into electricity," says Leslie. "All functions of our RV can be run as long as the battery stays charged, and it stays charged pretty much indefinitely as long as it's sunny." The Pitt's found out about the solar option from another well-traveled RV couple who had been using their own for years to power their RV. "The panel is about 18 inches by 36 inches and has what looks like jumper cables extending from it," adds Leslie. "It fits nicely against the front of the RV and is small enough so it's easy to tuck away during traveling. Plus, it enables us to travel to more rustic areas while maintaining certain levels of comfort that we like when RVing." Quickel says Harbor Freight is "pleased to provide alternative-power options and many of our products are highly mobile."Currently, Harbor Freight also offers a solar panel that rolls up like a mat for easier transportation.Writer: Stacie CarlsonSources: Jay Quickel, Harbor Freight, and Leslie and Brian Pitts

Contest calls for photos showing Michigan’s architectural heritage

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Economic Development

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May 20, 2010

Old is the New Green is the theme of a photography contest sponsored by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA).From now till June 1 the agency will be accepting photos that showcase Michigan's architectural heritage. Historic preservation plays a significant role in environmentally and economically sustainable development, leading the National Trust for Historic Preservation to adopt the green theme for this year's National Historic Preservation Month, May 1 to June 1. By submitting one or more Old is the New Green-themed photos, entrants become eligible to:• Have their photography displayed on the Michigan.gov/shpo website;• Be featured in media coverage supporting the contest;• Be highlighted on SHPO and MSHDA social media sites;• Be entered to win a Meijer gift card donated by the Michigan History Foundation, or one of three weekend getaway prizes to the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit, the Park Place Hotel in Traverse City, and Stafford's Perry Hotel in Petoskey. The Book Cadillac Hotel is a 2009 winner of the Governor's Award for Historic Preservation, and both the Park Place Hotel and Perry Hotel are listed in the State Register of Historic Sites. The getaway prizes were donated by the three hotels."We hope to spread the word throughout Michigan that preservation is inherently green by supporting sustainability," said State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway.Submit photos via email to or by mail to: Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Complete rules and details of the contest are available online. Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Keith Molin, MSHDA

Windy City residents invited to check out St. Joseph

By Newsroom

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Environment & Sustainability

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May 13, 2010

When Chicagoans pick out their next vacation home they're being invited to look a bit closer.Instead of heading hours up the shoreline of Lake Michigan the Windy City summer refugees are being asked to look at a new development in St. Joseph, reports Crain's Chicago Business. About 100 miles from Chicago, Harbor Shores sits on 530 acres assembled by Evergreen Development LLC, a nonprofit partnership for economic renewal headed by retired Whirlpool Corp. CEO David Whitwam.The development group has ambitious plans to put up close to 800 residential units, with some custom homes topping $1 million.The 18-hole golf course at the center of the development will open in June, with designer and professional golf legend Jack Nicklaus slated to attend a grand-opening celebration on Aug. 10.Excerpt:Ron Eng, director of marketing, predicts that 60 percent of Harbor Shores' buyers will come from Chicago seeking second homes. Billboards on Interstate 94 already promote the development, and ads in Chicago media will soon follow."For years, vacationers looking along the lakeshore skipped the twin cities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph because we were viewed as manufacturing centers," he says. Now, Harbor Shores will create "a Grand Traverse-type of experience with three or four hours' less driving."Source: Crain's Chicago Business

Help on the way for area gardeners

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Economic Development

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May 6, 2010

Gardening is about to get easier. Fair Food Matters, a Kalamazoo-area nonprofit organization that supports and promotes local food, has launched a new program to help area gardeners. As interest in community gardens, school gardens and backyard gardens has picked up around Kalamazoo so has the demand for information. The Garden Network will offer gardening information, resources and networking opportunities to anybody who grows vegetables, fruits or herbs throughout the region. Shelly Claflin has been hired to coordinate the program for 2010. As program coordinator, Claflin will also connect gardeners with one another through an online discussion group and Facebook page. She will offer advice on how to find plants, equipment and other garden necessities. Claflin will conduct educational workshops and help coordinate the 2010 Kalamazoo Community Garden Tour. She also will help make sure excess produce is delivered to regional food banks. Claflin is a seasoned gardener and community organizer, and has coordinated garden projects in the Vine and Oakwood neighborhoods of Kalamazoo. She also has experience in the hospitality industry, as well as in nonprofit program management, event creation and fund development. Claflin earned a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Cultural Anthropology from Western Michigan University. The Garden Network program is free of charge and available to all gardeners in Kalamazoo County. For more information, please contact the Garden Network. Writer: Kathy Jennings Scource: Paul A. Stermer, Executive Director, Fair Food Matters