It’s finally tree planting season! We must continue to plant trees in our landscapes for the myriad of benefits they provide to the entire land community. While trees are beautiful, they aren’t just decorations – they benefit human health. Kansas City may face record-high heats in years to come. We must plant trees today so … Continued
Looking for ideas to keep the kids entertained over spring break? We’ve got you covered! Try these four eco-inspired activities that will get them outdoors in nature and crafting with repurposed materials! 1. Become a Citizen Scientist iNaturalist.org lets you become the scientist by observing and recording the plants and animals around you. Download the … Continued
By Joe Wheelock, Program Manager, Heartland Tree Alliance The City of Fountains covers a whopping 319 square miles, which puts KCMO in the top 25 largest cities by land area in the country. (Not to mention, we also invest time in other areas of the greater region including Liberty, Prairie Village, KCK, Lee’s Summit, Belton … Continued
The KCMO Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee will consider a proposed Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance to protect and preserve Kansas City’s tree canopy at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, February 8, in the City Council Chambers, Floor 26. Testimony can be provided virtually or in-person at the meetings, or emails can be sent to City … Continued
When was the last time you went into your basement and really took a good look around? How about the last time you pulled stuff out from under your kitchen sink or opened your utility closet? Do you have a dripping faucet or a running toilet you’ve been putting off getting fixed? I ask because it’s … Continued
Winter’s not as long in Kansas City as it is in, say, Minnesota, but it’s long enough for most of us. While climate change is erratically spiking some very warm days even in December, we can generally count on it being cold, unpredictably icy or snowy, and somewhat gray for at least four months. I … Continued
When people think of actions they can take to cut their global warming pollution, they typically think first of big, high-tech changes like buying an electric car or installing solar panels on their home. These can certainly have a large impact, but they typically require a big expenditure up-front (even though they will save you … Continued
The holidays can be a stressful time. Maybe you’re getting your home ready for guests, or traveling to see loved ones. There’s food to cook (and 10 unique and contradictory diets to take into account) and gifts to wrap (or, in my case, gifts to purchase still!). And then, when you get to the end, … Continued
A Year-End Letter From BTG’s Executive Director This fall, amidst yards bristling with election signs, I saw a quiet, different sign in a Johnson County yard: “This is a clover lawn.” It was silly to get too excited about it; after all, one little clover lawn can’t do much—not against the millions of U.S. acres … Continued
America Recycles Day is just around the corner again! Beginning in 1994, the day has been celebrated every year on November 15th, which falls on a Tuesday this year. It was created to celebrate recycling and to remind us all just how important it is to recycle. If you’ve been paying attention to the news … Continued
October kicks off the start of National Energy Awareness Month, and October 5 is Energy Efficiency Day. To celebrate, we’ve compiled some helpful tips and resources to help you make your home energy efficiency, and likely save money while doing so. Did you know? Buildings and homes generate 63% of our region’s greenhouse gas emissions. … Continued
Our calendar is starting to fill up with dates for fall volunteer events. We have tree plantings, habitat restorations, recycling shifts, and litter clean ups galore! Fall is a busy time at BTG, and we’d love to get you involved. Here are a few reasons why volunteering this fall is a great idea. 1.) Enjoy the weather. You … Continued
Climate scientists predict an increase in the number of extreme heat days for the KC metro area in the coming years, and this summer seemed to align with that forecast. Two of our programs, Heartland Tree Alliance and the KCMO Recycling Drop-off Centers, take an informal measure of its impact on their work over this past … Continued
I’m a tough old bird, but when I got the news that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) had passed through the House and Senate—projectile tears. For the first time, the United States government is putting what in my opinion is the proper priority on the threat of climate change to the web of life on … Continued
Kristin Riott, BTG’s Executive Director and a passionate gardener, shares her experience and knowledge from years of gardening with native plants at home. I have loved wildflowers since I was a child, picking armfuls of purple phlox and enchanted by the tiny pairs of pants called Dutchman’s Breeches, in a deeply wooded ravine near my … Continued
Land is constantly undergoing development throughout the Kansas City area. Apartments are built on formerly “vacant” lots, farmland is turned into suburbia, ranch-style homes turn into mansions, garages are added, driveways are repaved, irrigation is installed and patios double in size. Whatever the reason for construction, let’s observe what is on our land first to … Continued
Have you noticed trees with brown leaves and what looks like spider webbing all over them? The culprit is most likely the mimosa webworm (Homadaula anisocentra)! These caterpillars are occasional pests of the mimosa tree and several varieties of honey locust. Life Cycle: This pest produces two overlapping generations per year. The first generation typically … Continued
We recently chatted with Cassandra Krul, a program analyst and green team leader, to talk about the EPA’s focus and her background in sustainability. Cassandra Krul has worked at the Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 for over three years. During her career there she has managed grants, led and assisted with special projects, in addition to leading … Continued
Bridging The Gap is proud to announce that thanks to our Program Director Kechia Smith’s leadership, we’ve been chosen as one of only 49 community-based, climate-justice organizations nationally, who are applying local knowledge and wisdom to find solutions to the climate crisis. Anchored in love and service, the Justice40 Accelerator is a 12-month program that … Continued
