Richfield, MN

There are many resources out there but it can be hard to know what you're looking for! Here are some resources from around the internet to help you live a more sustainable life.

From Hennepin County:

• Green Cleaning Recipe Guide
• Reduce and Opt Out of Junk Mail
• Identify and Reduce Chemicals at Home
  • Reduce Pesticide Use
• "How to Get Rid of It" guide (for recycling, organics, yard waste, medicine, HHW, and much more!)
• Reduce Food Waste - storage and prep tips
• How to Dispose of Yard Waste
• Where can I donate _____ locally?

Here are a whole host of activities and resources that you can use and do from the comfort of your own home or backyard!           

TREES & CARBON
Resources:

• Check out Tree Trust, an organization that teaches job skills to young people while reforesting the Twin Cities.
• Did you know that more than 30,000 tree species (that's over half of all species!) each exist in a single country? More tree fun facts here!
• Here are 30+ tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint – from minimal effort to huge changes, there’s something for everyone!

Activities:

• Calculate your carbon footprint. How can you reduce your business-as-usual footprint? Extra challenge: calculate using your behaviors before COVID-19 and now. How big is the difference?
• Shop local. Reduce the transportation emissions associated with your purchases, especially food.
• Change your search engine to Ecosia – it’s as effective as others and you help plant trees by using it!
• Take a virtual tour of Yellowstone National Park and other national parks. The National Park Foundation also has virtual tours of historic sites, monuments, preserves, and more here!

 
WATER
Resources:

• Check out this Hennepin County brochure with 10 tips on how to help improve Richfield's water quality.
• Check out Blue Thumb’s website for local partner organizations, grants, and an interactive list of hundreds of plants for raingardens in MN.

Activities:

• A common Earth Day activity: Do an outside clean-up on a smaller scale this year – like your own backyard or a walk around the block!
• Take this online quiz before checking out hundreds of ways to easily lower the amount of water you use.
• Adopt a storm drain! Storm drains flow directly into our lakes, rivers, and streams. Protect water quality and help prevent localized flooding by keeping storm drains clean of sediment, leaves, grass clippings, and litter.
• Watch a sustainability related documentary, like Before The Flood (free here). There are so many others available online, all about different topics – check out these 15! 

ENERGY
Resources:

• Home Energy Efficiency – Home Energy Squad is now offering FREE virtual visits with their experts!
• CEE’s Home Energy Hub (very comprehensive guide to easy improvements)
• Renewable energy options for residents with Xcel Energy
• Learn how to save money with your heating and cooling systems

Activities:

• How many of these energy efficient practices do you already do? Challenge yourself to achieve 1 or 5 more!
• Line dry your clothes outside. The dryer is one of the most energy intensive appliances in a home!
• Switch out your old lightbulbs with LED ones, and get discounts from Xcel on them!

WASTE
Resources:

• For re-use: local Fix-it Clinics, Rethink Tailoring, iFixit (web resource)
• For responsible consumption:
  • Check out local “Buy Nothing” Facebook groups
  • Shop secondhand like at Arc in Richfield
  • Visit zero waste stores like Tare Market
  • 40 Ways to Waste Basically Less of Everything (Buzzfeed)
• For responsible disposal:
  • Search an item to see how you should dispose of it with Hennepin County’s Green Disposal Guide
  • Watch how recycling gets processed locally at Eureka Recycling
  • Check out this interactive NPR feature on the ins and outs of plastic recycling
  • Read Recycling while Social Distancing – Committing to Sustainability at Home

Activities:

• Take inventory of the single-use items (coffee cups, napkins, paper towels, water bottles, straws, etc) in your household/daily life. Plan out how to transition to reusables, like metal water bottles or cloth napkins.
• Fix something instead of throwing it away. If you don’t have the skills, look up tutorials online or find a local business that can help! Check out these five basic hand stitches for repairing your clothes or try making reusable bags, no-sew bags from T-shirts, napkins, or utensil holders.
• National Geographic Recycle Roundup game
• Environmental ed and recycling lesson plans/activities for grades preK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 from Republic Services
• Make an upcycled craft (projects for all ages and skill levels) – coasters, wall décor, pillows, and more! 

FOOD
Resources:

• Learn how to best store your perishables and cook aging groceries with Save The Food.
• Recipes to stretch and use up old, wrinkled produce. These are actually helpful and unique - not just “freeze everything”!

Activities:

• Plan and plant a garden of plants, flowers, and food! Check with your local garden store to see if they have online ordering options.
• Have you heard of Meatless Monday? Cook an intentionally meatless meal or a whole day’s worth if that’s more of a challenge! If you need inspiration, look at these recipe ideas.
• Keep your food waste out of the trash and sign up to participate in Richfield’s Organics Drop-off Program.