By Heather Gates

It seems obvious, but sometimes we need to have a bit of fun. To inspire one another to share past actions and planned ones at The Natural Step Monona’s second anniversary party, Jeanie Verschay came up with the idea to pose questions by means of a two big paper trees. Each would pose a question and people could answer by writing on paper “leaves” that were then pasted on the trees.

It was not only fun to create, it was beautiful. We brought the trees out again at our third anniversary party, and then shared them with the public at the Monona Grove Energy & Sustainability Fair in May, slightly altering the first question to fit the audience. See what your friends and neighbors are doing and planning to move toward sustainability.

From the Anniversary parties:

What have you changed as a result of being involved with The Natural Step Monona?

• I picked up litter (child)
• Installed rain barrels, dug up my lawn for a veggie plot, installed an Energy Star toilet!
• Giving classes in ways to go green in your own home
• Installed solar tubes
• Installed (by permit) a composting toilet
• Eat much less food from far away, very little dairy, less coffee
• Use native plants, they require little or no hand watering
• Bought our first compost bin
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Became a one-car family; less driving, more biking; stopped buying paper products (well, almost all J)
• Connected with others for community action
• Have installed a porous driveway
• Sold car, ride bus
• Save mulching materials, hopeful about growing food using less resources
• Front loading washer, installed solar tubes, high efficiency water heater
• My focus has changed from self to community
• Became more aware of green practices
• Reuse of cloth bags at Woodman’s

What plans do you have for future action towards sustainability?

• I could weed. (child)
• Plant more fruit trees, install insulation, educate others when I can
• Get rain barrels and composter, go organic
• Tool co-op or tool lending library
• Bike more, walk more
• Change electric switches to sensor type
• Simplify: Donate “things”& Buy less “stuff!”
• Enjoy each day fully and contemplate nature’s beauty
• Have wind-generated electricity
• Plant a veggie garden
• Explore how to collect/use greywater
• Light rail transit, both Monona and Cottage Grove—integrate a bike route, school to school transport
• Use less, buy less
• Community car/truck in Monona
• Have everyone know and really understand sustainability
• Remembering to bring tote bags for grocery shopping
• Take the bus to work
• Pull weeds by hand
• Build a habitat for small animals in our backyard
• Solar on roof & pellet stove
• Promote renewable energy
• To work harder to get city to sustainability
• Decrease automotive miles traveled. Someday biodiesel?
• Install solar hot water system

From the Energy and Sustainability Fair:

What have you already done towards creating a more sustainable future?

• I don’t toss my cigarette butts on the ground
• We recycled cell phones
• I compost!
• Buy locally made products, or as close as possible
• Ride my bike to work
• We installed Solar Tubes
• I reliably use cloth bags
• I grow my own tomatoes

What plans do you have for future action towards sustainability?

• I will ride my bike more often (child)
• I will recycle forever (child)
• No more cars or rods (child)
• Garage to Greenhouse: Become Sustainable before the Oil Runs Out book project by David and Julie Marca
• Grow food in schools for use in school lunch program and teach children about growing food
• I will use Permaculture techniques in our yard.
• To remember to bring tote bags for grocery shopping
• Recycle & turn it off
• Composting
• Use a push mower
• Are planting a veggie garden… want to explore how to collect/use greywater
• To have everyone I know really understand sustainability