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Donating time to the food bank is being green

November 27th, 2009

On Monday, Ashley and I spent some time at the Fargodome helping to move cans for a local food drive event called Fill the Dome.  This event is put on by all of the High School kids in the area and supported by the college students in Fargo, various businesses and members of the public.  The basic goal of the program is to fill the entire floor of the Fargodome (80,000 sq ft) with donated food.  The kids accomplished this for the 3rd year in a row!

Since this was put on by High School kids, you may wonder what we did to help.  Well, after all 97.1 TONS of the 2009 Fill the Dome booty is splayed across the Fargodome floor, somebody needs to pack it up and help get it to the Food Bank over at Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota.  That is where the kids needed help and made a call out to the community.  So, instead of going to the gym that day, we decided to go pack and move boxes.

I was really impressed with these kids and all that they have done for our community.  They raised 97.1 tons of food and $96,000 to help those who need it in this area.  What a great thing these kids have accomplished this year and I hope the program continues.

Even though the kids had a challenge, I also have a challenge to meet this week.  My goal is to give back in an environmental manner.  I think helping out with Fill the Dome helps accomplish this.  Not only does it help with a local charitable initiative, it also helps promote food recovery and prevent food waste.  As indicated in a previous week’s challenge, over 96 BILLION pounds of good food is tossed away every year.   An important part of reducing this waste is to get potentially wasted food to those who need it!  Mission accomplished and I got a workout at the same time.

This is only a win-win-win-win situation.  The people who get the food win, the kids who put on Fill the Dome win, the community wins and I win!  I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and if you have any comments or suggestions, please leave them in the space below.

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Stuff recovery and giving thanks this Thanksgiving

November 25th, 2009

Going green isn’t merely about changing a light bulb or inflating your tires.  It is also about helping your neighbor.  Since this is the week of Thanksgiving, we are bringing green to a different level.   We will go through our things and donate it to a local thrift store that can use it more than us.  This task, I must say, is sort of selfish of me.   I have been asking Ben to go through our storage closet full of stuff we never look at, and donate it.  This is one way of getting that done, but also help someone also. 

I have been shopping thrift stores for a long time when.  My mom was the person who introduced me to The Dakota Boy’s Ranch.  I buy most of my clothing other home needs at thrift stores; currently I have my eye open for canning supplies.  Plus it is kind of fun not knowing exactly what you will find, and it changes each time you enter the doors.

The thrift stores use the proceeds of its sales to operate the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch foundation which supports at-risk children and their families.  Most all thrift stores support some organization; which is why we should try to donate items we don’t use anymore instead of throwing it away.  This not only reduces waste, but also gives an extended life to many things.

There is also a newer craze called Freecycle or Craigslist.  I personally haven’t used these before simply because it requires more work and time than stopping by a thrift store on my way home from work.  However, Ben has used Craigslist to purchase a used ice auger that has saved us a little bit of money. 

I am very excited to see how much stuff we can get rid of, or find a new home for.  We will not only open some closet space, but we will also benefit an organization that will help at-risk children.  Please leave any comments on any unique things you do to reuse items that may still have some life left in them.

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49 things I am giving thanks for this Thanksgiving.

November 24th, 2009

This week’s challenge is to try and give back and typically on Tuesday I research the topic and try to find out why the current week’s task is important.  This week, the “why” is fairly obvious to me.  I have so many things to be thankful for and appreciate what I have.  There are plenty of folks who could use a little help and giving back may help provide some of that.   The ways I plan on helping this week will also be green since we intend on doing things that stop waste and enables reuse.  Who knows, someday I may need that help.  So, whether you are in the US reading or elsewhere, I think we all have something to give thanks for.   The following is a list of things I am thankful for (some serious and some are fun) and I hope you enjoy!

  1. My wife Ashley and how I am lucky that she married one of the goofiest guys alive (Me).
  2. All three of our kitty cats even though they keep me up at night… Dufus who is the most annoying but cuddly, Velcro who is timid but just a sweetheart and Milo who is one tubby kitty and has an awesome disposition.
  3. My coworkers and the great work atmosphere they provide.
  4. Kansas.  The state and the band.
  5. The upcoming season of Lost
  6. My mother who did a pretty darn good job of making me the way I am.
  7. My puppy dog Charlie who bites his feet, scoots on the carpet and stares at me continuously, but is the sweetest, nicest animal I know.
  8. My health because I know it could be gone at any moment.
  9. My house and all the warmth and awesomeness within it.
  10. www.guygoesgreen.com that has allowed me to make a difference
  11. Netflix because they send me kickass movies and I am in the process of watching every Best Picture ever made.
  12. Ice fishing
  13. The people I go ice fishing with.
  14. My friends who are some of the coolest people in the world
  15. The folks I served with in the Army.
  16. The folks I never served with in the Army.
  17. The folks who lost their lives in the military so that we can enjoy our lives.
  18. The food in my fridge, because I know so many in the world do not have that luxury.
  19.  My dad who I think I got my sense of humor and some of my resourcefulness from.
  20. Our NatureMill composter
  21. My bed… cuz that is where the magic happens.  By magic I mean sleep.
  22. My comic book collection, which is not that spectacular, but have kept it since I was a kid.
  23. All of my new internet friends which include Franke James, Mrs. Green and Eco Geeco.
  24. Mashed potatoes and gravy on Thanksgiving.  YUM!
  25. My siblings.
  26. More cowbell, because couldn’t we all use it?
  27. For Thai food in Fargo, ND.  It took forever to get here, but holy crap it was awesome to get.
  28. The city of Fargo, ND.   I love my community.
  29. That my city and my house did not get flooded last year during the flood of 09.
  30. Strange Brew the movie.
  31. Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Mostly for his acting career.
  32. The opportunity to get an education.
  33. Sanford and Son.  Red Foxx is absolutely great in that show.
  34. Facebook and Twitter.  They are my addictions
  35. My ability to get along with people because it has provided my livelihood.
  36. My little Saturn that has not had any problems in the 105k miles I have put on.
  37. Conan O’Brien for being freakishly tall and David Lettermen for the freakish gap in his teeth.
  38. Brett Favre coming to the Minnesota Vikings.
  39. My In-Laws who have been teaching us how to garden and can.
  40. Homemade tomato soup.  YUM!
  41. Reddit… another addiction.
  42. The United States Olympic Curling Team.  One of these days I will train to be on it.
  43. That I do not live under oppression and that I am in a very free country.
  44. The UFC, because I like watching dudes fight.
  45. All of the good policemen, firefighters and EMT folks who risk their lives every day at work.
  46. All of the charitable organizations out there that are doing good out there.
  47. For hope that things will improve for me and for everyone that needs it!
  48. For a country that I generally am proud of.
  49. gravity

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