From Larry Venezia -

“I volunteer with EAC because the environment is very important to our well-being. I enjoy planting trees the most, because they will be around a long time and be beneficial to everyone. Why my interest in trees? The big pin oak tree in my yard growing up amazed me. Second, when visiting a private park in S. ILL I found a large monument with the following inscription that got me interested in planting trees.

 “Today I planted a tree knowing that I will not live to see it at the zenith of it’s beauty, nor enjoy it’s shade. But it is for the enjoyment of all those lives yet to come, that they may discover God and the meaning of life in this tree.”    Charley Ruble  2000

Working with the EAC and their programs also gives me an opportunity to meet other folks, share ideas, and encourage the younger generation. The 10K X 10Y tree project has given me the opportunity to do my part, however small that has been. Everyone can be a part of this project, the pace is slow, no goals that must be met, just one tree at a time.

The best part is seeing twenty-five trees planted and then getting another bundle of twenty-five, walking ten feet and planting another tree. The most interesting part for me was walking through a swamp to get to the place where the trees were planted. My favorite tree is the Northern Red Oak.”

Kick Those Leaves to the Curb!

By EAC intern Grace Beyer

The fall season is upon us, which means those beautiful fall leaves are making their annual return. For some, this marks the beginning of the best time of the year, while others are already beginning to dread raking the leaves on their lawn.

No matter what group you sympathize with the most, it is important that everyone is knowledgeable about the benefits of fall leaves, and what different methods exist to deal with them this season.

Perhaps the easiest option of all: let leaves lie! When leaves fall onto your lawn and go untouched for the season, they will eventually decompose into incredibly nutrient dense organic matter. These decomposing leaves can also be the basis for a natural mulch that can protect grasses and plants from the harsh, cold temperatures coming soon. Who knew that being lazy could actually be so great for the environment?

Even though letting leaves lie is a great way to provide the soil with such great nutrients, many people do not enjoy the aesthetic of fallen leaves on their own property. This is understandable, and luckily there are ways for your leaves to still have a positive impact without having to sit on the lawn. First, try to go over your leafy lawn with a mower to break up the leaves into smaller, more manageable pieces. Letting these smaller pieces decompose still provides great nutrients for your lawn with a less messy look. If you don’t want leaves decomposing on your front lawn, composting is another great way to unleash the nutrients from fallen leaves. If you already have you’re your own compost pile, simply rake up your leaves and evenly distribute into the compost; be sure to maintain a 50/50 balance by weight of green items (food scraps, lawn clippings, etc.) and brown items (dry leaves, pine needles, etc.). If you are looking to kick start your own composting journey this fall, be sure to visit CompostBN.org and keep an eye out for upcoming EAC composting workshops.

If you have explored the options above and are still looking for a way to get rid of your leaves, kick them to the curb! The communities of Bloomington and Normal both employ residential leaf collection programs that typically begin in late October. To participate, rake your leaves to the curb, taking care that the leaves do not accidentally end up in the street. When large piles of leaves end up in the street, storm drains often become blocked or clogged. A blocked storm drain prevents storm water drainage, leading to flooded streets and sidewalks. When leaves infiltrate these storm drains, our water supply could potentially be contaminated because of an increased risk of algae blooms. Always remember to be mindful about where you rake your leaves, aiming for the curb and not the street! For more information about local leaf collection, Normal residents can visit www.normalil.gov/210/leaves while Bloomington residents can visit www.bloomingtonil.gov/leaves. To learn more about leaf management practices in general visit mCLEANwater.org.

When those colorful fall leaves begin to overcrowd your yards in the upcoming months, keep the benefits of letting leaves lie in mind! Not only does it mean less raking, but it gives future you soil packed-full of nutrients to help your spring plants thrive. No matter what strategy you employ, ensure that you are making sustainable decisions that will not harm the environment around you. Choose to keep it leafy this fall or kick those leaves to the curb!

Employer Double Match Opportunity this October!

Do you work for COUNTRY FINANCIAL or do you have family, friends or neighbors employed by COUNTRY FINANCIAL? If so, we hope they are aware of the double donation match that COUNTRY FINANCIAL offers during the month of October.  The double match applies when employees make a contribution to non-profits in our local Community during the month of October. The Ecology Action Center’s 2071 Endowment Fund is one such local non-profit that qualifies for this match!

The EAC appreciates the many COUNTRY FINANCIAL employees who have supported us by using their paid time off to volunteer at the EAC.  Several COUNTRY FINANCIAL employees have also served on our Board of Directors and others have supported us by becoming members of the EAC and making financial contributions.

Please encourage your COUNTRY FINANCIAL friends and family to donate to the EAC 2071 Fund during the month of October so their donation can be matched X2!

(The 2071 Fund is vital to supporting our on-going local efforts to protect our waterways, improve our air quality, decrease hazardous and other waste and save energy-all right here in McLean County!)

Pumpkin Composting: The Best Fall Festivity!
By EAC Intern Grace Beyer

It’s that time of year again- spooky season is upon us! October is a time for tricks and treats, but everyone can avoid being a trickster by being sustainable! Pumpkins are a huge part of the autumnal season, but did you know that they can quickly accumulate some scary carbon emissions?

It is estimated that almost 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins end up in the landfill every year, a large portion of which is because of Halloween festivities. While in the landfill, these pumpkins decompose and emit a scary amount of methane, a greenhouse gas almost 21 times more harmful than carbon dioxide. Lucky for us, there are a variety of resources available to ensure your pumpkin doesn’t do more harm than good!

Composting is the best way to avoid your pumpkin from going to waste! Composting provides great benefits for the environment, particularly for the soil. A decomposing pumpkin can provide essential nutrients that makes for a great natural fertilizer that keeps your plants healthy year round. But before you throw that pumpkin into a compost pile and hope for the best, there are a few guidelines that you should follow. In order for your pumpkin to reap the full benefits of composting it cannot be painted or have glitter on it. Additionally, all stickers and decorations must be taken off before composting. If your pumpkin follows all of these guidelines, it’s ready to be composted.

But how and where should these pumpkins begin their composting processes? There are several opportunities available this fall season! If you feel like starting your composting journey, visit CompostBN.org to begin, or attend a composting workshop hosted by the EAC!

If you aren’t quite ready to take the leap and start your own pile, you might choose to attend the Rader Family Farms Pumpkin Smash event on November 2, 2024. To find out more, visit Rader Family Farms. ISU’s Office of Sustainability also offers an Annual Pumpkin Composting Drive. Please drop off pumpkins in the collection bins outside of their building at 305 North School Street.

No matter what route you decide to take, composting your pumpkins is a decision that pays off sweetly! It is up to us all to prevent the scary effects of spooky season. Composting your pumpkin might seem like a trivial action to take, but small choices make a big impact!

Want to compost more than just your pumpkins this year? Join the EAC’s Community Composting program!

The BN Community Composting program is a unique drop-off composting program where participants collect their food scraps at home and then drop them off at one of two kiosk locations. This program allows users to easily divert all of their food waste and other organic material from the landfill. The collected material is industrially composted which means additional items that cannot be broken down in a backyard compost pile can be collected. For example, items like meat, bones, dairy products, paper towels and napkins, greasy pizza boxes and any Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified compostable products are all accepted.

Participation in the program is simple and begins with purchasing a starter kit that includes a 5-gallon bucket, a roll of compostable bags, instructions, and a key card to access the kiosks. Material is collected at home in the compostable bags and stored in the 5-gallon bucket until it’s ready for drop-off. Once the bucket is emptied at the kiosk you simply start again. After the initial starter kit purchase, the cost of participation is just purchasing additional compostable bags from the EAC; all service and disposal costs are built into the price of the bags.

More information about the program, starter kit purchases, or details on sponsorship can be found at BNCommunityComposting.org.