Apparently, an organization has been started in Iowa City very recently that will help promote and improve environmental sustainability here in town. I just found out about it on Facebook, and I’m already extremely excited about it! It’s being managed by the Iowa City Public Library & the City of Iowa City Public Works Division and funded by the International City /County Management Association, and they’ll be focusing on urban composting & local food, energy conservation, urban stormwater management, and smart waste disposal. Some of the services they’ll be offering here in town will be:

• seed and start give-a-ways
• coupons for free Iowa City Community Compost
• free compact fluorescent bulbs and winterizing kits
• mini-grants for compost bins and rain barrels (apparently, they’ll be selling these at the Iowa City Habitat for Humanity ReStore)
• free smart waste disposal events

If you want more information, please visit the website here, or the Facebook group here.

Hooray, sustainability!

My friend Alice (of food blog Bread and Honey fame) is trying to build up the experience and funds in order to go to tattoo school, which is required to work in a tattoo shop in Portland, OR where she lives, instead of the usual apprenticeship. To help herself accomplish both of these tasks, she’s set up a website where you can commission drawings for the low, low price of $10! She does most of them in pencil and on brown grocery bags, and her illustrations are gorgeous. Go check out her site and if you’ve got a great idea for a drawing that you’d like to have appear in your home, commission something!