219 GreenConnect

If you innovated for 3.8 billion years, how creative would you be? Very! So it is with nature.

Innovation is just what it has been doing since the beginning of time: designing processes and systems and figuring out other ways to survive. From the beginning, humans have looked to nature for new ideas. Leonardo da Vinci of the Renaissance, for example, watched flying birds for hours. From them, he learned and replicated aerodynamic principles and built gliders, a helicopter and other flying machines.

da Vinci’s technique is still useful as people solve complex problems. Today, it is called “biomimcry” - a creative practice of observing and copying nature. The tool is used by innovators in businesses, medicine, organizations, transportation, technology and more.

The Center for Creative Solutions, Inc., a local non-profit organization, sponsors two annual events, northwest Indiana’s celebration of World Creativity and Innovation Week in April and the Innovation Forum in the fall. In addition, it offers other programming throughout the year. To learn more call 219-326-7259, email [email protected], or visit CenterforCreativeSolutions.com.

• Cynthia Hedge, co-founder and CEO of the Center. An attorney, she is also a trainer, facilitator and consultant to non-profit organizations, businesses, government agencies, schools, professionals and individuals.

• Keri Marrs Barrón, a creativity consultant, trainer, facilitator and works with the Center for Creative Solutions on special projects and serves on its Board. Like Hedge, she has a masters degree from the International Center for Studies in Creativity and Change Leadership in New York (SUNY). Her other Purdue University degrees are in biology.

219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Leslie Dorworth about the Indiana Master Watershed Steward. New in 2019, it will be offered virtually this year (2021).

Indiana Master Watershed Stewards are trained volunteers who understand how watersheds work and are willing to help with watershed improvement efforts in their communities.

Master Watershed Stewards complete a 12-week training program that pulls together information from scientists, researchers, and watershed management professionals. Topics will include how watersheds function, what factors affect watershed health, how water is managed for human use, and how volunteers can play a part in promoting watershed health and appreciation.

Once they complete the training program, Master Watershed Stewards put their knowledge to work on different kinds of volunteer projects, depending on their interests. Some examples are:

Monitoring streams for plants, animals, and water chemistry.Pitching in to help with local streambank restoration projects.Joining a local watershed group.Promoting safe boating on local waterways.Organizing a riverside clean-up event.Staffing an information table at a local festival or event.Organizing community workshops on topics such as rain barrels, rain gardens, wildlife, pollution prevention, or invasive plant control.Working with community leaders to find creative ways to protect local rivers and streams.

If learning more about water and natural resources excites you, then you will make an excellent candidate for the Master Watershed Steward Program!

Indiana Phenology is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to empowering Hoosiers of all ages to participate in citizen science. We are committed to developing and implementing engaging educational content, facilitating the state-wide collection of data, and making data accessible to policymakers, scientists, educators, residents, and other stakeholders.

In this episode 219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Founder & Executive Director Amanda Wanlass and board member Amanda Cantrell about their programs and how citizens can get involved.

219 GreenConnect host Kathy Sipple speaks with Zach Schalk, the Indiana Program Director for Solar United Neighbors about an innovative, affordable way for people in Northwest Indiana to purchase solar systems for their residences or small businesses. 

The first co-op is forming now! Listen to the podcast and learn how to take next steps. 

To join, click here. http://SolarUnitedNeighbors.org/NWI

Join the Indiana Facebook group

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The youth of Gary, Indiana have traditionally lacked access to food security, extracurricular opportunity, and employment for too long. For that reason, the Gary Food Council is establishing a 3-year program to train and employ more than 100 youth in best urban farming practices in partnership with major local growers and assistance from our local Purdue extension office.

After our certified Junior Urban Farmers complete their internships, we will then employ those 100 trained and certified youth as Urban Farming Educators. In this capacity, they will deliver urban farming and nutrition education to more than 1,500 students in the city while expanding access to locally grown food in the city for their peers and fellow residents.

Host Kathy Sipple, together with Jim Poyser from Earth Charter Indiana, speak with Highland residents and volunteers, Alex Bazan and Connie Wachala about their organizing efforts around this pioneering region-wide effort. Connie Wachala, along with several other region residents attended last year's Climate Leadership Summit, hosted by Earth Charter Indiana. Encouraged by the resources she learned about, Connie began planning a Climate Action Blitz in Highland, Indiana on February 15, 2020. 65 northwest Indiana residents from 13 communities attended the event. Based on momentum from the blitz, a group formed, calling themselves NWI Region Resilience. 

Their primary focus at this point it to urge the region to join Indiana University's 2021 Resilience Cohort and to conduct a region-wide greenhouse gas emissions inventory to get a baseline measurement the region can use as a basis for planning in the future. 

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Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Daniel Walker about Purdue's new online course available to Hoosiers who want to learn more about the planning process. More information here.

American Citizen Planner – Indiana provides training to Indiana citizen planners who currently serve or plan to serve on area or advisory plan commissions. The program features 28 units of online content detailing core planning theories, practices, and processes. A comprehensive assessment and two in-person training events reinforce the content learned in the units. The program is hosted by a local Purdue Extension educator for either a county or a region.

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Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Dori Chandler & Blake Gardiner about their work with Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light.

Hoosiers of faith working together to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, as a response to climate change.

Visit their website and follow them on social media to learn more about their advocacy work, workshops, and other programs to help faith communities make a difference in Indiana.

https://hoosieripl.org/

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Host Kathy Sipple speaks with Natalie Johnson, Executive Director at Save the Dunes about their new Clean Water Ambassador program.

Help is needed in the following neighborhoods:

---South of Chesterton Area---

Wind Ridge, Liberty Township, Porter Co.

Tanner Trace, Liberty Township, Porter Co.

Troom, Liberty Township, Porter Co.

Mallards Landing, Liberty Township, Porter Co.

---Valpo Area---

Moraine Manor, Liberty Township, Porter Co.

Lexington Farms, Liberty Township, Porter Co.

Woods of the Winding Creek, Liberty Township, Porter Co.

Lakeside Meadows, Center Township, Porter Co.

Waterford, Center Township, Porter Co.

Wedgewood Park, Center Township, Porter Co.

Vernon Woods, Center Township, Porter Co.

Wedgewood Park East, Center Township, Porter Co.

Warren Woods, Center Township, Porter Co.

Aberdeen, Union Township, Porter Co.

Sagamore, Union Township, Porter Co.

Little neighborhood north of Shorewood, Union Township, Porter Co.

Spectacle Lake, Porter Co.

---Westville Area---

Carriage Hills, Jackson Township, LaPorte Co.

High Meadow West, Jackson Township, LaPorte Co.

Jackson Heights, Jackson Township, LaPorte Co.

White Thorne Woods, Jackson Township, LaPorte Co.

---Lake County Area---

Hidden Creek, near Winfield, Lake Co.

Prairie Crossings: A Boardwalk Community, near Lakes of the Four Seasons, Lake Co.

Deep River Estates, by Indian Ridge Golf course, Lake Co."

The Department of Environmental Affairs gave Aja Yasir a citation for her nontraditional yard. She has wood chips instead of lawn and was told that her wood chips are debris and that the chips attract bugs and fungi; therefore they are being deemed a health hazard. 

I befriended Aja after touring her garden on a Farm Hop, sponsored by the Northwest Indiana Food Council. Her unique garden grows both food crops and ornamentals and was very attractive. Her garden was selected for inclusion not only for its beauty, but also because of the regenerative agriculture techniques she uses. By adding more chips, the soil gets better every year and therefore, her yields get better too. Without tilling. Without adding chemical fertilizers. Requiring far less watering due to the chips holding moisture far better than bare ground or turf grass. All of these things are very beneficial for the environment and especially the watershed health.

Please sign and share this petition to help let local decision makers know you stand with Aja and others who want to use these methods to improve their soil and the environment.