Green New Year's Resolutions

Be green in the new year! Here are some ideas to add to your New Year's resolutions:

Plant a tree (or two, or three...). Join Tree Trust at one of our community forestry events in the spring! Or plant a tree in your own yard. Just be sure you know how to plant a tree the right way.

Shop locally at co-op groceries and farmers markets. Locally produced food requires much less time and energy to transport, so your food is fresher and your money isn't buying fuel for transcontinental shipping. Plus, your local choice supports growers in your own community. Find a farmers market near you.

Grow your own food. Even better than buying locally is connecting with your own food in your own backyard. Don't have a yard? Tomatoes, peppers, and herbs do well in pots on your patio. Don't have a patio? Seek out a community garden to connect with and learn from your green-thumbed neighbors.

Contribute to our Green Futures fund. Your donation will be doubled by a dollar-for-dollar match from a local foundation, and every $150 reached in the fund plants a six- to ten-foot tall tree in a Twin Cities park or recreation area. You can even help plant your tree! Learn more about Green Futures.

We wish you a very happy new year, and we hope you'll make 2010 great and green.