aFewSteps.org

Trees not only clean the air…they can save you energy too!

denisedisney — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:30:49 +0000

Green Tip: Plant a deciduous shade tree south and/or west of your house.

Naturally shade trees provide lower cooling costs in summer and the sun coming through the bare branches helps warm your house in winter. You need a tree that will get taller than your home, one that will reach a mature height of 50’ or more. The photo below (taken in March ) is of the west side of a house, (Click here to continue)

Have you planted a new tree this Spring? Heres an easy & efficient solution for watering.

denisedisney — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:46:16 +0000

Green Tip: Keep newly-planted trees healthy using a watering bag instead of a sprinkler or soaker.

One bag will handle a young tree up to 4 inches in diameter, or two can be zipped together for larger trees. The bag uses only 20 gallons of water, which it delivers slowly at the base of the tree over a period of 5-9 hours and which will sustain the typical tree for about a week. Check with the garden shop for the best watering schedule for your particular circumstances. (Click here for more information)

EnviroFair promoted by Philadelphia Inquirer’s Sandy Bauers!

denisedisney — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:59:23 +0000

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Earth MONTH? Okay. So check out Enviro Fair

We are now, apparently, deep into “Earth Month.”

I vaguely recall that “Earth Day” became “Earth Week” because when April 22 didn’t fall on a weekend, people and organizations were keen to stretch the “day” to give them a little more leeway.

How this morphed into “Earth Month” is beyond me, and for all that I care about the environment, I’m not sure I like this dilution of a significant day.

But I concede that this gives more time to host and attend a wealth of events.

One in this region that has really taken off is the Enviro Fair in Delaware County, which is being held Saturday, April 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m, at the Strath Haven High School in Wallingford.

This year, the two main themes are alternative vehicles and food, but you’ll find a lot more.

For recycling, people can bring papers for confidential shredding from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Consumer electronics can be turned in for recycling from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Click here for full article)

Profiles in Green: Allison Karpyn-Growing Good Eaters

denisedisney — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:13:04 +0000

With spring in the air, many people are starting to think about their gardens. I, for one, have begun replacing dead branches and leaves with new soil and seeds in hopes that the warm weather will bring some early spring greens my way. My kids love the garden. My 3-year-old takes great joy in planting the seeds and watching them grow and my 8-year-old has taken to cultivating a plot of her own. The reality, though, is that many children don’t (Click here to continue with full article by Allison)

Green Tip: Compost on Site

denisedisney — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:14:41 +0000

Allow leaves and sticks broken into smaller pieces to remain in your beds, then cover with a thin layer of mulch.

Compost leaves and sticks on site. This is the lazy person’s guide to highly effective gardening! Hooray! In the fall, you can simply leave leaves in the flower beds where they fall. For leaves that land on the lawn, mow them with a mulching mower and the ground up leaves will feed the grass. If the leaves seem too thick where they fall, spread them around before leaving them in the bed or mowing the lawn. In spring, (tag here to read more of our Green Tip article on Gardening)

Join aFewSteps.org at the Delaware County Enviro Fair April 14th!

denisedisney — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:47:14 +0000

3rd annual Delaware County Enviro Fair, scheduled for Saturday, April 14, 2012, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Strath Haven High School. Highlights include hands-on opportunities with electric & hybrid cars; delicious BBQ food from Occasionally Yours and the Chester Co-op, hourly free raffle items, free paper shredding & electronics recycling, children’s activities, 6 speakers on a variety of topics including bicyling in Delco, cooking sustainably, solar energy in PA, “green” landscaping, and the “Renew America Road Trip” in a Tesla; 4 workshops focusing on home energy improvements and sustainable gardening and food preservation, and over 35 exhibitors and demonstrations. Tag here for more detailed information….

aFewSteps.org has been approved for nonprofit status!

denisedisney — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:41:07 +0000

Recently, aFewSteps.org took a giant leap toward our goals when we received IRS approval as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This means that we can now accept your tax-deductible contributions in support of our work.

While we are an entirely volunteer organization, there are substantial expenses involved in what we do. High on this list is paper and printing, for flyers, worksheets, and informational materials. Another expense is insurance, which we need in order to host events such as this year’s Enviro Fair and our community workshops. And our successful pilot programs will require investments in training and materials as we roll them out on a larger scale.

We accept donations via credit card thru this secure paypal link:

If you prefer to donate by check, payable to aFewSteps.org. Mail to:

aFewSteps.org

P.O.Box 330

Wallingford PA 19086-0330

And don’t forget those employer matching gifts!

It is Leaf Mulch Order Time!

denisedisney — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:19:23 +0000

Leaf mulch is an excellent way to improve the condition of your lawn and garden without chemical fertilizers. Leaf compost contributes organic matter to the soil as it decomposes, adding much needed nutrients. In addition, used as a cover in your vegetable and garden beds, mulch reduces the amount of watering needed because it holds in water and slows evaporation. Order some today to start your spring gardening off right.

The Borough of Swarthmore, PA. and the Township of Nether Providence are currently taking orders for leaf mulch delivery to your property.

Swarthmore PA. Residents: Small Loads (2-1/2 cubic yards) are 60$ and Large (5 Cu. Yards) are 90$ delivered. To place an order of mulch call Swarthmore Borough Office:(610-543-4599) or stop in person Mon thru Thurs 8am to 5pm; or e-mail swarthmore2@comcast.net Payment is prefered in advance (cash or check only). The Swarthmore Borough Office is located at 121 Park Avenue, Swarthmore PA 19081. Deliveries start late March. If you live in a contiguous town such as Rutledge there is an additional charge of 20$.

Wallingford, PA. residents: contact Nether Providence Township to order mulch. The cost for Township residents is $65 for a half load, $105 for a full load. Payment must be in advance at the Township office, 214 Sykes Road. Call (610) 566-4516 for further information.

Check out our “Profiles in Green” article printed in The Swarthmorean 2.22.12

denisedisney — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:14:49 +0000

Profiles in Green: Louis Boxer, Geothermal Energy Enthusiast

By Margaret Murray

Louis Boxer is expecting big financial payback from the geothermal system he installed in his five- bedroom Wallingford home this past October. “But saving money wasn’t the only reason for us to go geothermal,” Boxer said. “We were interested in stewardship; we felt it was important to be environmentally conscious. Geothermal energy made perfect sense.” Click here for the full article

3 Myths “Busted” and 5 to-do’s for Winter Energy Savings

denisedisney — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:55:59 +0000

Check out Phil Coleman’s Recent Article

Winter Energy savings: 3 Myths and 5 to-dos this season

In Woody Allen’s 1977 masterpiece, “Annie Hall,” the lead character, Alvy Singer, introduces the film by comparing life to the dialogue between two old women eating in a familiar restaurant. One says “The food’s no good at this place,” and the other replies “Yeah, I know; and such small portions ….” Home heating shares some aspects with this parable: The house is always cold … and it’s so expensive! Click here to continue with Phil’s Article.