Ten Ideas for SolarDay 2009

Why don't we start a movement in Franklin County?  Here's some ideas of things to do for solar day - as a community. 

1 - SolarDay 2009, Run for the Sun:  how about a nice, friendly 5K walk and run event on a pleasant Sunday, June 21 - with proceeds donated to a fine, local environmental cause in your hometown.  A SolarDay Walk-A-Thon would also be great.

 2 - SolarDay 2009, show Me Your Solar: How about a self-guided tour of local solar homes and businesses so people can see, firsthand, how solar works on a practical basis?

 3 - SolarDay 2009, My Town Eco-Tour: Most towns have cool eco-elements many people don't know about.  Why not an Eco-Tour on SolarDay 2009 to check out the people and places that are living and working eco-friendly in your town?

 4 - SolarDay 2009, Going Green - Ten Steps To Sustainability: Need an expert for SolarDay?  Your local solar energy company can help, as can the U.S. Green Building  Council and local organizations that would be happy to discuss steps everyone can take to live better, greener lives.

 5 - SolarDay 2009, Save Energy: Again, your local solar company can give plenty of advice on saving energy in the home and workplace.  There are also experts from your local utility available to talk to SolarDay 2009 participants about saving energy - everything from turning back the thermostat to long-lasting, energy-efficient lightbulbs to natural lighting to . . . it's a long list of practical, inexpensive ideas that can help reduce the costs of energy in our daily lives.

 6 - SolarDay 2009, Eco-Home, Eco-Business:  We can start improving the quality of our homes and workplaces with low VOC paints, recycled carpets, natural glues and adhesives, natural cleaning products, recycled products, eco-friendly flooring and natural bamboo, FSC-certified wood products - this is a great place to start with an expert speaker about simple tips to improve the eco-quality of our homes and businesses.

 7 - SolarDay 2009, Start Your Organic Garden - you can't grow one without the sun.  Why not have an organic gardening expert at SolarDay 2009 to talk about chemical-free foods, natural and organic and biodynamic gardening.  All good.

 8 - SolarDay 2009, Solar Oven Competition: Speaking of food, why not have a solar-oven competition?  These are easy to build (just Google solar ovens), lots of different designs, you can actually cook food at SolarDay 2009, outside in the sun and offer those delectables to participants at your local event.  Rather cool - and hot enough to cook with.

 9 - SolarDay 2009, Green Getaway Silent Auction: Speaking of green, your organization can create a list of cool green destinations as a vacation getaway to the lucky bidder.  We've all obtained sponsors for silent auctions for our schools and organizations, why not a green getaway weekend package with a green hotel, local organic restaurant, maybe a natural winery - you get the idea. A little creativity and a little work will go a long way toward creating a fun, green getaway package.

 10 - SolarDay 2009, Green Photo Contest: Invite your community to post their green photos on your organization's website to share what folks are doing, in your town, to live green.

click here for the Hampton Today schedule

ten lads a leaping pic from Dragon Drop at flickr.com 

Solar Day

The first annual SolarDay (www.solarday.com) will be held statewide and nationwide on the first day of Summer - Sunday, June 21, 2009 - to educate the public about the benefits of solar energy and solar products.

 SolarDay is the first statewide and national recognition on the importance of solar energy to provide a source of energy that will reduce the U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil.  This is an annual event held each year on the first day of Summer.

 John Reed, Director of SolarDay said: "While oil prices have recently declined, the party's over for cheap fossil fuels, forever.  The new Obama administration provides us with a fresh start to dramatically grow the solar and green energy we need to meet our energy needs. The importance of solar energy has been recognized by the U.S. Congress, which included an 8-year extension of the 30% energy investment tax credit (ITC) in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, and removed the $2,000 cap which enables homeowners to fully use the 30% ITC."

 About SolarDay, 2009

 SolarDay 2009 is the first in an annual, state-by-state and national day of recognition for the growth of solar energy and solar products in the U.S. and a celebration of the growth in our energy independence.

 SolarDay will be held on the first day of Summer each year.

click here to see the schedule of events in Hampton 

Why I Eat At Hardees

I had a meeting at Hardees.  We (I) chose Hardees because they have free wifi.  

I got there early and saw they had a sign for fish and chips.  That's a new item out here in the Midwest.  The general manager was working the register.  I asked her how she liked the fish and chips. She swallowed, hard.  Then she looked me right in the eye and said "the fish last year was better.  It's a lot of money for fish that isn't the absolute best. " 

Give that lady a medal!  A big whopping humungous blue ribbon of a medal.  She told the truth to a customer.  Guess where I'll keep eating?

I sat down and set up my computer.  I couldn't get the wifi to connect.  The manager (same lady) brought my food back to me and asked was I okay.  I told her I couldn't get connected.  She let me know she had no idea how to get connected, but ....now get this .... the cook did!  She said she'd send him back to help me.   He was there in minutes.  Static IP problems resolved quickly.

Guess where I'll keep eating?  

Interactive Website for Tough Times

Extension Launches Interactive Learning Website for Managing Tough Times

 Hard times are hitting families, farmers, businesses and communities that are struggling to stay on their feet. Iowa State University Extension can help put some balance back into these times. At Managing Tough Times, www.extension.iastate.edu/answers,  ISU Extension brings together facts, tools and experts so individuals, businesses and communities can answer the hard times with solutions. Most of these resources are no cost or low cost.

“ISU Extension can help Iowans weather and survive the economic challenges facing our state and our nation,” said Jack Payne, vice president for ISU Extension and Outreach. “We’re bringing together many ISU Extension resources on one Web site so Iowans can take advantage of ‘one-stop shopping’ when they’re looking for help. This multiplies the outreach of our campus, county and field staff.”

The Managing Tough Times Farming in Today’s Changing Economy section offers calculators, articles, videos and expert contact information for the traditional farmer, as well as transitioning farmers and small scale farmers. Farmers who want help creating an in-depth financial plan to guide their decisions can connect with ISU Extension associates through the Web site. Farmers considering transitioning out of farming can watch a video that explains the help available through the Beginning Farmer Center.

Help lines, interactive Web sites, experts and publications that address family issues are available under the heading For Families and Households. Help is categorized under finances, nutrition and health, and coping with stress. Use the recipes, tips and expert blogs to provide nutritious meals on a limited budget. Find out how to connect with a listening and understanding ear through help lines like Iowa Concern (800) 447-1985 and Teen Line (800) 443-8336.

Businesses and communities experience special challenges during tough times, but knowing where to go for assistance makes it possible to manage those times. Managing Tough Time’s Surviving Economic Uncertainty link lists resource centers, experts, Web sites and current programs that can make a difference any time, but especially right now. Businesses that want to understand the market potential of government procurement or reduce the barriers inherent in government contracting are linked to contacts. A survey that can be used to better understand residents’ food security needs is linked to the site. It isn’t impossible to develop community and business leaders during these times; go to the site for a list of ISU Extension leadership programs.

Continually updated to meet changing needs, the Managing Tough Times Web site www.extension.iastate.edu/answers delivers the best available resources from Iowa State University Extension, land-grant universities and other reliable resources. With links to eXtension, Managing Tough Times is an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the smartest land-grant university minds across America.

Contacts:

Willy Klein, Extension Communications and External Relations, (515)294-0662, wklein@iastate.edu