Earth Day is here once again giving us the opportunity to start (or renew) our commitments to healthier, cleaner, more sustainable living. These days there are literally hundreds of things that can be done to “go green”, but a handful of these options can be huge investments of time and money, out of reach for many. Luckily, there are numerous small, time conscious and affordable ideas for folks who would appreciate the opportunity to get started and continue ‘green’ efforts right in their own back yard. The joy of working with others in making our Earth (and our Gallatin Valley) a greener place is something worth tweaking our daily routines to make happen.

With water conservation at the forefront of the green movement, here are several ways that you can help the cause:
• Add aerators to faucets. This will use less water and retain the
same water pressure.
• Wash your produce in a basin of water and then use it to water houseplants.
• Turn off the faucet while you brush your teeth.
• Keep drinking water in the refrigerator and save gallons in not running it,
waiting for it to get cold.
• Thaw food in the refrigerator instead of under running water.
• Check your toilets for leaks by putting food coloring in your toilet tank. If the
color appears in the bowl within 30 minutes, there is a leak that you should
have repaired.
• Outdoors, plant drought resistant plants and shrubs; they thrive with less water
than other species and are more likely to be immune to local plant diseases.
• Avoid watering your lawn and garden during hot and/or windy times during
the day. Best time to water is early morning. Even late night is not the best
option as morning watering helps prevents the growth of fungus and reduces
water loss to evaporation.
• Use a broom to clean your sidewalks and driveways, not a hose.
Recycling is another good way to help with the green effort. Here are a few simple ideas to keep in mind when confused as to how (and what) to recycle
• Recycle your used cell phone. There are more than 500 million cell phones sit
ting in our drawers and swelling our landfills. Astonishingly, another 130 million
will be added this year alone. Think about it before you upgrade to the newest
technology. This trend can only get worse and the batteries poison the ground
with mercury as well as lead, cadmium and arsenic. Send your old phone to:
EARTHWORKS c/o Recycle my cell phone. 1612 K Street NW, Suite 808, Washing
ton D.C. 20006.
• Take your used electronics and appliances to your local steel recycler instead of
throwing it away. Or if you are replacing your working appliances, considering
donating the used ones to a charity like Habitat for Humanity, Sacks, or Salva
tion Army. You may be able to find a steel recycling facility by using the Steel
Recycling Institute’s ‘Recycling Locator’.
• Participate in ‘Adopt a Ton’. The second annual glass recycling event hosted by
Gallatin Zero Waste Coalition (GZWC), Full Circle Recycling, the Community
Food Co-op, and Yellowstone Business Partnership.

This Earth Day, come out and participate in one of several events hosted by numerous Bozeman organizations. The Gallatin Earth Celebration is a week long event held in Bozeman, MT focusing on education, outreach and service to the community. Emerging from the traditional “Bozeman Clean-up Day”, the Gallatin Earth Celebration has grown into a larger partnership between Montana State University, the City of Bozeman, local businesses and organizations, and independent citizens. The goal of the GEC is to inspire environmental stewardship and pride of place by bringing community members together to clean up our neighborhoods, learn what is happening in our region to advance sustainability, and get involved.

Events included in this years Gallatin Earth Celebration are:

Adopt a Ton

Tired of throwing away your glass? Wish you could recycle it here in Bozeman? Get Off Your Glass and help sponsor the second annual Glass Recycling Event. Help make this great event possible and show your commitment to reducing the waste stream in our community. Sponsor this event and Adopt a Ton. Only $29 pays for a ton of glass to be crushed, recycled and reused. For more information, please contact the Co-op:  wendy@bozo.coop or call 587-1919 ext. 64 or go to http://www.yellowstonebusiness.org/donate/gzwc/ Adopt a Ton will take place on Saturday, April 16 at the Gallatin Valley Fairgrounds between 9am and 3pm. Members of the community are invited to drop off all of their glass, which will be taken to the Livingston pulverizer by Full Circle Recycling and used for local projects.

Community Clean-up and Sustainability Fair

On April 16th from 8:30am-1:00pm, the City of Bozeman and MSU will host a citywide clean-up of parks, trails, neighborhoods, and other public spaces. Citizens will meet at Bogert Park starting at 8:30am for supplies, maps, coffee, and snacks. After collecting waste and recyclables, volunteers are invited to the Park for a post clean-up celebration featuring food, live music, raffle prizes, and a showcase of local businesses and organizations who support a sustainable Bozeman.

The Run for the Earth

The 3rd Annual Run for the Earth will be held on Sunday, April 17th. The run features a 1 mile fun-run/walk, a 5k, and a 10k (the 1 mile and 5k are both dog and stroller friendly).  The event kicks off at 9:30am with all courses beginning and ending at the Bozeman Public Library and will utilize the Linear Trail system. T-shirts and refreshments will be provided for participants. All runners and walkers can pick up their race number and t-shirts the day of the race. To speed up the check-in process, check in at Bogert Park a day earlier on the 16th during the Clean-Up day events from 8:30am-1:30pm. Stephanie Hanson, Marketing and Sustainability Manager, of Montana State University, says “The Run for the Earth focuses around people, healthy lifestyles, community, and of course, making sustainable living choices… so come run locally and think globally!”

Advance Registration fee: $15.00 — After 4/16/11: $20.00
Please register at www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1945460
or, 406-994-6653.

Don’t leave participation up to everyone else. Our future generations are counting on us for inheriting an inhabitable and healthy Earth.

Stacey Faldetta, currently resides in Belgrade, Montana and is working on her poetry compilation, ‘A Thousand Little Sparks’. She also serves as Vice President on the BOD for Vigilante Theatre Company, is a freelance writer, has extensive background as a political organizer, and enjoys spending time with her 4 children and participating in outdoor activities in big beautiful Montana.