One of the easiest thing we can do is to bring your own bag(s)to the grocery store. The positive impact of skipping plastic bags is huge. American use 100 billion plastic bags a year which require 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture. The average American family takes home almost 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year. Plastic bags are used for an average of every 12 minutes.

THINK about this! It takes 500 or more years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill. If someone shops  from 18 years old until they are 88 years old, they will save 350,000 bags. It is never too late to start brining your reusable bags to the grocery store and you are helping our environment.

https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic_bag_facts.html#:

Vintage Green Review is a plastic free, package free, zero waste supplies and re-fill bar. Definitely check it out for their grand opening on Earth Day, April 22nd through April 25th with extended hours from 10am 6pm at 3530 Magazine Street across from Ace Hardware. Every day through the weekend will be different deals. There will be product discounts and opportunities to meet some of the local makers of  the sustainable products. Porch Pop-up with local food vendors will sell delicious treats. Bring your own containers to take them to go!

Check out their Instagram and Facebook page at #vintagegreenreview for details.

Don't forget to bring your totes and refillable containers.

The LSU AgCenter is a wealth of information. LSU AgCenter can give the consumer answers for their garden, family or home. The website www.lsuagcenter.com  has detailed information on the top ribbon. Check out the category Topics. Some of the topics include Environment & Natural Resource, Lawn & Garden, Food & Health and so much more.  Publications is another excellent resource. Publications are an important way to get research-based education material to the public. Most of the publications are available online.  There is a listing of publications by looking at their catalog. The News & Events category produces news release for print, radio, television and social media. 

I could write more but instead I recommend going to LSU AgCenter website. You won't be disappointed.

Need your garden to pop; it is important to use compost with the soil. Schmelly's Dirt Farm is  an organic recycling company that produces high-quality compost and soil products for the farmers and gardeners of Greater New Orleans.  Schmelly's will be selling supernatural soil products at the Mid-City Farmers Market on Thursday from 3 - 7pm at the Lafitte Greenway.  There are other places you can also buy bulk and bagged supernatural soil products this spring. Delta Flora located at 2710 Touro Street open on Saturday 9-4 and Wednesday 2-6.  Hot plants is located in the Upper 9th Ward at 1715 Feliciana Street, open Saturday and Sunday 12-4pm. For details, follow Schmelly's on social media or www.schmellys.com

Don't fret if you don't have a traditional Easter Basket this year. There are many fun items that can be used instead of the traditional Easter basket and some ideas are:

1. Beach towel  2.Rain boots  3.  Beer carton 4. Baseball cap 5. Umbrella 

Create your own idea and fill it with interesting gifts and goodies.

Enjoy

   40 Arpent Wetlands Observatory is very close to the Marigny in Chalmette, LA.    There is a boathouse with a lagoon providing access to the 40 Arpent Canal and great for canoeing, kayaking, paddle boating, fishing and yoga. There is a pedestrian bridge to the dock for viewing nature and bird watching .

Where:  8201 Benjamin St. Chalmette, LA  70043

Hours:  Monday-Friday 7:00am-4:00pm

More Information:  504-278-4200

Read the great Marigny Green News article in the FMIA Newsletter why it is important to keep your catch basin cleaned.

The mantra is: Only rain down the drain!

Glass Half Full has residential pick up.  Glass Half Full converts the glass into sand for our coasts and for disaster relief. For information go to glasshalffullnola.org/residents.

Don't forget there is free glass drop off at 3935 Louisa Street Monday and Wednesday 9am - 5:30 pm and Saturday 9am -4:00pm.  

Directions:  Really easy - take Franklin Ave to Louisa Street, turn right 1/2 block and make a U Turn and you are there!  The building is blue and you will see the bins. 

Vintage Green Review is a zero-waste supplies +  {Re}Fill Bar. Their goal is to reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill. Vintage Green Review(VGR) believes that the "lowest possible impact you can have on the environment is to buy items secondhand if possible before choosing new products made of those materials." VGR has curated secondhand and vintage zero waste products.  VGR items are locally sourced. New items that are sold have details how and where they were made. "Vintage Green Review helps you live a vibrant, low waste lifestyle with vintage-inspired solutions that make sustainability fun and interesting. We research & review time-tested ideas from history to help you reduce waste, and we sell eco-friendly products inspired by life before plastic." 

Vintage Green Review is having a March Pilot Pop Up located at 3530 Magazine Street across from Ace Hardware or you can shop on line with local pickup or zero-waste shipping. Check out their website site for details of products and hours www.vintagegreenreview.com 

• PLASTIC # 1 and #2
• CARDBOX-SHOEBOXES, PAPER EGG CARTONS, DRINK CARTONS, CORRUGATED AND PAPERBOARD BOXES!
• JUNK MAIL! COUPONS! GIFT WRAP! ENVELOPES!
• PAPER BAGS! CATALOGS! MAGAZINES! NEWSPAPERS! PHONEBOOKS!
• SMALL, EMPTY, AND RINSED ALUMINUM AND STEEL CANS!
• CEREAL AND CRACKER BOXES! - RINSE AND REMOVE LINERS

THANK YOU FOR RESPONSIBLY RECYCLING