Monarch Butterflies and Their Connections Labor Day may be the unofficial end of summer, but September brings changes in our natural world as well. As the air (hopefully) turns cooler, there is a breathtaking natural wonder that unfolds every year: the monarch butterfly migration. Coincidentally, this event aligns with another important celebration – Hispanic Heritage … Continued
More clothing made more quickly: a forward march that culminates with the modern “fast fashion” industry. As the name suggests, today’s “fast fashion” industry places the utmost importance on speed of production and consumption. The consumer fashion industry now produces double the amount of clothing it did 20 years ago and is responsible for 10% … Continued
Kids across the metro will soon be heading back for the start of another school year. August is often a frenzy of shopping for new supplies, clothes, and other back-to-school necessities that can pack a punch both to your wallet and the environment. (Remember how many unused supplies your kid brought home at the end … Continued
We’re heading into the hottest days of summer, and Kansas City, as well as other parts of Missouri and Kansas, continue to be in moderate to severe drought. Is there anything the average gardener can do to deliver water to parched plants, without standing around holding a hose for long minutes each morning, perspiring profusely, … Continued
On April 13, Bridging The Gap celebrated The Future is Green with a community and fundraising event at The Madrid. The keynote speaker was Lionel Bradford, President/CEO of The Greening of Detroit, who shared his roadmap to success for building a green workforce and how green infrastructure is creating a climate resilient community in Detroit. … Continued
Plastic pollution is an increasingly urgent problem for Missouri’s waterways. Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in our rivers, lakes, and oceans, and the problem is only getting worse. Plastic pollution is a major threat to aquatic ecosystems, and it can have devastating effects on the health of our water sources. The … Continued
We humans are a literal bunch, better at responding to the sensory cues immediately before us than to abstract concepts in some far-off time frame. Tangible beats conceptual, and now beats future, every time. Just ask the credit card industry. Our bias toward the tangible and the now can make it hard to appreciate abstract … 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? A do-it-yourself visual leak … 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
October kicks off the start of National Energy Awareness Month, and Energy Efficiency Day falls within the first week. To celebrate, we’ve compiled some helpful tips and resources to help you make your home energy efficient, and likely save you money while doing so. Did you know? Buildings and homes generate 63% of our region’s … 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
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
Our Heartland Tree Alliance program is partnering with UMKC to hire an AmeriCorps Social Justice and Community Engagement VISTA this fall. Could it be you? This position will serve an important role in setting HTA’s focus areas for future tree planting efforts. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and degree verification to shannon.r.wheeler@umkc.edu. Additional … Continued
By Ben Carpenter, HTA Program Associate My little brother is getting married in July. I know, poor timing. If only he had considered the possibility of a global pandemic upsetting his years-long engagement. However, the show must go on, albeit from a distance. This is a situation in which a thoughtful gift from … Continued
By Ami Freeberg, Volunteer Program Manager This week, May 3-9, 2020, we celebrate International Compost Awareness Week, a global initiative to educate and inspire people about composting. I grew up composting in a big pile at the back of our large backyard garden – piling food scraps and grass clippings together to break down and … Continued
The best time to plant a tree is now. The Arbor Day Foundation provides resources to individuals who are interested in doing so, including where to find free or low cost trees in your area and tips about how to plant your tree so it thrive. For those interested in fruit trees are another excellent … Continued
