Category: Earth Day - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

2022 Earth Day Fair - After Action Report

5/17/2022

2022 Earth Day Fair - After Action Report

Saturday, May 7th

Environmental Forum
Nearly 25 exhibitors participated in the Earth Day Fair this year at the Freight House Farmers Market. The theme this year was “Invest in our Planet.” With sponsorship from Living Lands and Waters and WVIK, we were able to offer activities and educational materials to several hundred Quad Citians.

We had over 30 organizations represented, including: Wapsi River Environmental Education Center, Wild Ones Quad Cities Chapter, Family Museum, Niabi Zoo, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Metrolink, River Action, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, Audubon Society, Citizens Climate Lobby, and Quad City Botanical Center.

We also had 5 different musical groups perform throughout the day, and we all enjoyed the perfect spring weather! Thank you to our sponsors and the many organizations who participated. We also thank the many PACG members who came out to help set-up, break-down, and do general chaos control!

This annual tradition was coordinated by PACG’s Environmental Forum. We are grateful to have an effective and fun group of people in this group. We meet via Zoom on the first Monday of the month. Contact our forum if you would like a link to the meeting.

There are numerous pictures of the Earth Day Fair at the Market on our Environmental Forum Facebook page here.

Lori McCollum

Earth Month Proclamations for the Quad Cities - A Message to Our Membership

5/3/2022

Earth Month Proclamations for the Quad Cities

Environmental Forum

This year the cities of Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island, Moline and East Moline issued proclamations regarding Earth Day. Each of these is attached below as a pdf.

The cities in Illinois all agreed to declare April of 2022 "Earth Month." Davenport declared April 18th to the 24th "Earth Week." And Bettendorf gave us "Earth Day" on April 22nd.

You can learn a lot about your home town from these.

Susan Leuthauser

east_moline_proclamation_2022.pdf
File Size:	504 kb
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moline_proclamation_2022.pdf
File Size:	444 kb
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rock_island_proclamation_2022.pdf
File Size:	352 kb
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davenport_proclamation_2022.pdf
File Size:	232 kb
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bettendorf_proclamation_2022.pdf
File Size:	443 kb
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Earth Day Event at St. Ambrose - After Action Report

5/3/2022

St. Ambrose University Earth Day Event - After Action Report

PACG Environmental Forum member PJ Slobojan sharing a laugh at the St. Ambrose Earth Day event on Friday, April 22nd.

On Friday, April 22 from 11am to 2 pm in the Rogalski Center Ballroom, the PACG Environmental Forum tabled with over 15 clubs and community organizations sharing environmental activities and information. We enjoyed celebrating Earth Day and making St. Ambrose University a greener place to bee!

Shirley Johnson

Earth Day Fair 2022 - PACG Event

4/26/2022

Earth Day Fair 2022
Saturday, May 7th from 9:00 am to 2:00pm

Freight House Farmers Market
421 W River Drive
Davenport, Iowa (map)

Environmental Forum

Join us on Saturday, May 7th to celebrate Earth Day 2022. The theme this year is "Invest in Our Planet.” You'll learn what local groups are doing to invest in the planet and in the Quad City community. There will be live music and children’s activities. This event is family-friendly and free.

Susan Leuthauser

Actions for Earth Month Week 4 - What You Can Do Now

4/26/2022

Earth Month Actions - Week 4

Environmental Forum

Read our blog post about Earth Month Actions - Week 3 here.
Read our blog post about Earth Month Actions - Week 2 here.
Read our blog post about Earth Month Actions - Week 1 here.

Lori McCollum

Actions for Earth Month Week 3 - What You Can Do Now

4/19/2022

Earth Month Actions - Week 3

Environmental Forum

Read our blog post about Earth Month Actions - Week 2 here.
Read our blog post about Earth Month Actions - Week 1 here.

Lori McCollum

Actions for Earth Month Week 1 - What You Can Do Now

4/6/2022

Earth Month Actions - Week 1

Environmental Forum

Earth Day Fair 2021 - After Action Report

5/25/2021

Earth Day Fair 2021 - After Action Report

Environmental Forum

On Saturday, May 22nd, PACG's Environmental Forum, along with sponsors, the Freight House Farmers Market and WVIK Quad Cities 90.3 FM, held the third annual Earth Day Fair.

We had such a successful day! The weather was excellent, despite a few sprinkles early in the morning. We had 20 vendors, including conservation, environmental, and outdoor activity organizations. The Metrolink electric bus returned after missing last year due to COVID. The Iowa State University Conservation Station was a hit, with its child-centered activities. We had five different musical groups, as well!

Based on the number of people circulating through the tables and decking, everyone enjoyed the event!

See you all again next year!

See more photographs on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PACGEF/permalink/4041850522573444/

Lori McCollum

What You Can Do Now - Go Plastic Straw-Free with Nicolina

5/23/2021

Earth Day Fair 2021 Was a Huge Success!

A Message from the President

PACG's Environmental Forum organized and presented the Earth Day Fair at the Freight House Farmer's Market on Saturday, May 22nd. It was evident that a lot of work went into making this event a success. Read the After Action Report from the Forum in this WEU, with more details about the incredible day. The linked Facebook post has almost 50 pictures of all of the activity. Thank you to the Freight House for providing the space for this delightful gathering!

In the meantime, I want to highlight one of the most impressive vendors at the fair - Nicolina's Turtle Company!

It was started by Nicolina when she was 8 years old! She was alarmed when she learned about the harmful environmental effects of plastic, and knew that she wanted to do something to make a difference.

One day she noticed her big sister - who was using a stainless steel straw in an effort to cut down on her own plastic footprint - put her straw directly into her backpack. It occurred to Nicolina that it would be a lot more sanitary if the straw could be put in some sort of a bag or container to keep it cleaner. She took sewing lessons and then asked her to mother help her design lined pouches. Nicolina's Straw Pouches were born!

Pouches can be purchased for $10. This includes one stainless steel straw. An extra $3 buys a small brush that can be used to thoroughly clean inside the straws. Each pouch is large enough to carry several stainless steel straws and the brush securely. The fabrics are bright and fun, and the pouches are closed with colorful snaps. Nicolina and her mother have enlisted community volunteers to help make pouches.

But, with the pouches, Nicolina was just getting started on her environmental journey! Merely creating Nicolina's Turtle Company, the pouches, a website and donating to local environmental groups, were not enough projects for her! She decided to approach schools and restaurants to ask them to stop using plastic straws. Restaurants now only offer straws when customers ask for them, and her school has stopped using plastic straws completely!

Nicolina is also working with the QC Straw Free Initiative, sponsored by the Quad City Earth Coalition, to spread this concept across the Quad Cities.

Read more about this amazing young person at her website: https://nicolinasturtleco.com.

By the way, these items are available from Nicolina's website. I bought a bunch of them! They will make stocking stuffers or other gifts for my own (adult) children.

If you wish to purchase larger quantities of stainless steel straws so that you can reduce your plastic footprint, they are available locally at many stores.

If you sew and have scraps of material lying around, consider helping in these efforts. You may also want to make a donation to help her save the environment from plastic and fund local environmental education.

I was touched to see the impact that these children are having on our Quad Cities community. What can you do to help the Earth?

Allison Ambrose

"Kiss the Ground" Viewing and Discussion - PACG Event

3/30/2021

2021 Earth Month Event – Watch and Discuss Kiss the Ground
Film Watching - April 10th through 26th
Discussion Happy Hour April 25th from 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Environmental Forum

To celebrate Earth Day 2021 Restore Our Earth, PACG Environmental Forum is teaming up with Interfaith Power & Light and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities to provide viewing of the award-winning documentary film Kiss the Ground.

Beginning April 1st, visit this Film Sign Up link to sign up to receive free access to the film anytime from April 10th to April 26th. You can also view this film on Netflix, if you have a subscription.

Join us on Sunday, April 25th, from 5-6 pm, for a virtual Happy Hour and panel discussion with soil conservation experts about Kiss the Ground. You will also learn about our local soil conservation efforts. Register at the link below.

Discussion Sign Up

Susan Leuthauser