Living Sustainably: Think local for vacations with sustainable impact

By Hannah Schulze, Local First of West Michigan One sure-fire way to guarantee yourself an A+ when it comes to planning your family vacation is to emphasize unique, exciting experiences that will result in priceless memories for years to come. And a way to add to those experiences is the human connection that can be gained by …

Living Sustainably: Trees add value in Holland (Hope College Biology Student Research Project)

By Katelyn DeWitt, Hope College Biology Student Have you hugged a tree lately? This summer I have been walking around Holland doing just that. In a joint project between the City of Holland and Hope College, I have been working to census all of the trees on public property in Holland by recording every tree’s trunk diameter and …

Living Sustainably: Holland group boosts plant-based food options

By Rebecca Bochenek, Veg Lakeshore Are you looking to improve your health or help save the planet? The plant-based movement is thriving and building steam in Holland and West Michigan. A few years ago, when you went out to eat, your plant-based food options may have been limited to a baked potato, salad, or soup. Now, more restaurants …

Living Sustainably: Celebrate Your Watershed at this year’s Water Festival

By Ashley Van Zee, Outdoor Discovery Center It’s time to celebrate your watershed! Yes, we all live in a watershed. If you live in the Holland and Zeeland area, you live in the Macatawa watershed. A watershed is an area of land that drains into a certain stream, river, or lake. It’s like a bathtub – all the …

June 2018 Sustainability News

June 2018 Sustainability News June 30, 2018 – Parks enrich children’s lives June 30, 2018 – ‘Task force’ quietly planning James DeYoung vision process June 30, 2018 – The Annual Macatawa Water Festival is right around the corner, Saturday, July 14! June 30, 2018 – Trump claims Saudi Arabia will boost oil production June 30, 2018 – What will become …

Living Sustainably: Eating local: Food for thought

By Madison Ostrander, Hope College ’17 and Eighth Day Farm Intern I spend my days interning on a farm in the middle of a parking lot learning about the intricacies and practices of urban farming. I’m a recent college graduate with a passion for food and an itch to learn more about agriculture, especially as it pertains …

Living Sustainably: Food projects help share the summer bounty

By Lisa Uganski, Ottawa Food It’s summertime in West Michigan, which means it is time to enjoy the abundance of fresh, local fruits and vegetables. However, not everyone has access to the juicy strawberries, crisp asparagus, and tasty blueberries that are grown right here in our community. The good news is that you can help provide local fresh …

May 2018 Sustainability News

May 2018 Sustainability News May 31, 2018 – Avoiding meat and dairy is ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth May 31, 2018 – Group challenges Nestle’s water permit from Michigan May 30, 2018 – Exhibit provides a look at ‘Industrial Nature’ May 30, 2018 – Lower temps at a lower price: How to improve the energy-efficiency …

Living Sustainably: Bus ride to Farmers Market pays off in MAX Market Bucks

By Shelby Pedersen, Macatawa Area Express Holland Farmers Market shoppers will be able to double up their savings simply by riding the MAX bus to the market in June. A new program will launch June 1 in which people who ride the bus to the market can earn MAX Market Bucks to redeem at market vendors. The program …

April 2018 Sustainability News

April 2018 Sustainability News April 30, 2018 – Sustainability at the 2018 Tulip Time Festival April 30, 2018 – Living Sustainably:  Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance’s Summit on Race and Inclusion April 30, 2018 – Department of Energy Announces $19 Million for Advanced Battery and Electrification Research to Enable Extreme Fast Charging April 30, 2018 – 2018 Michigan …