And so begins a new monthly feature of Green Piece Indy. Each month, we’ll highlight a different Central Indiana neighborhood and its efforts to become a more environmentally-friendly town, village, or district. This month, we checked up on Irvington, named after The Legend of Sleepy Hollow author Washington Irving, and home to the coolest eco-friendly offerings east of downtown Indy.

• Situated on 38 acres of greenspace, Ellenberger Park is a haven for outdoor sports and leisure, boasting 8 tennis courts, 2 playgrounds, 2 baseball diamonds, a softball diamond, football field, swimming pool, ice rink, sledding hill, and 1.2-mile trail. www.indyparks.org
• Irvington residents Mick and Nancy McGrath recently opened Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza. On the menu: a BBQ pizza featuring locally made GT South’s sauce, a Po Boy pizza made with local smoked Cajun sausage from Claus’ Meats, and fresh desserts from Cake, an Indy bakery company operated by Jen Bodenmiller and Kate Duncan. www.jockamopizza.com
• At Edibles, Irvingtonians stock up on local meats, cheeses, dairy products, and more from Indiana farms including Skillington Farms (producer of all-natural beef, pork, and poultry); The Swiss Connection (a Clay City-based cheese maker), Artesian Farm (natural Angus beef from Greenfield), The Pork Shoppe (from Hancock County), and Traders Point Creamery (from Zionsville). www.snips-in.com
• Kudos to the Irvington Garden Club, which, among many other things, maintains a community garden at 156 S. Downey Ave., keeps clean the median on Emerson Avenue south of the I-70 exchange, and does annual tree plantings in the community. They also host the Irvington Farmers Market, taking place the second Sunday of each month, June through October, at Ellenberger Park. groups.msn.com/irvingtongardenclub

Piece out,
Meghan & Renee

Y así comienza una nueva característica mensual de Green Piece Indy. Cada mes checaremos un vecindario diferente de Indiana Central y sus esfuerzos para convertirse en un condado, poblado o distrito con un medio ambiente más ecológico. Este mes, checamos en Irvington, nombrado después The Legend of Sleepy Hollow autor Washington Irving, y casa de las ofertas eco-ambientales más frescas en el este del centro de Indy.

• Situado en un espacio ecológico de 38 acres, el Parque Ellenberger es una muy buena opción para deportes al aire libre, con 8 canchas de tenis, 2 áreas de juegos, 2 canchas de béisbol, una cancha de softball, un campo de fútbol, una alberca, pista de hielo, colinas y una pista de 1.2 millas. www.indyparks.org
• Mick and Nancy McGrath, residents de Irvington, recientemente abrieron Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza. En el menú: pizza característica de BBQ hecha con salsa GT South’s de la localidad, pizza Po Boy hecha con salchichón horneado de la localidad de Claus’ Meats, y postres frescos de Cake, una compañía panadera de Indy operada por Jen Bodenmiller y Kate Duncan. www.jockamopizza.com
• En Edibles, los residentes de Irvington almacenan carnes, quesos, productos de primera necesidad locales y mucho más, de las granjas de Indiana incluyendo Skillington Farms, (productor de bistek, puerco y carne de aves todo natural); The Swiss Connection (una ciudad que se dedica a hacer quesos), Artesian Farm (carne natural Angus de Greenfield), The Pork Shoppe (del Condado de Hancock), y Traders Point Creamery (de Zionsville). www.snips-in.com
• Reconocimiento a Irvington Garden Club, el cual, entre muchas otras cosas, mantiene una comunidad de jardines en 156 S. Downey Ave., mantiene limpia la Avenida Emerson sur en el I-70, y plantan árboles anualmente en la comunidad. También son anfitriones del Irvington Farmers Market, que se lleva a cabo el Segundo Domingo de cada mes, de Junio a Octubre, en el Parque Ellenberger. http://groups.msn.com/irvingtongardenclub

While most of us are rejoicing that the snowy winter is finally over, a new exhibit at the Indiana State Museum is embracing the Ice Age. Running now through Aug. 3, Footprints: Balancing Nature’s Diversity looks back more than 10,000 years to examine the Indiana landscape during the time of the mastodont and the sabertooth cat, noting how our habitat changed over time due to environmental factors and humans’ toll on the planet. Presented by Central Indiana Land Trust Incorporated (CILTI), the exhibit is more than just a fascinating natural history lesson-it’s an eerie reminder that the decisions we make today impact future generations and the world around them.

Check it out at 650 W. Washington Street. Museum admission: $7 adults, $6.50 seniors, $4 children ages 3-12, free for members. 232-1637, www.indianamuseum.org.

CILTI is one of Indiana’s land conservation treasures. They help protect and preserve Central Indiana’s natural areas, improving air and water quality through land protection, stewardship and education. CILTI serves ten counties and oversees 16 properties.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Mientras la mayoría de nosotros nos alegramos de que la temporada de invierno está por terminar, una nueva sala de exhibición en el Indiana State Museum está abrigando la Era de Hielo. A partir de ahora hasta Agosto 3, Huellas: Balanceando la Diversidad de la Naturaleza mira hacia atrás a más de 10,000 años para examinar el paisaje de Indiana durante la época del mastodonte y del gato dientes de sable, observando cómo nuestro hábitat ha cambiado con el tiempo debido a los factores ambientales y a la mortandad de los humanos en el planeta. Presentado por Central Indiana Land Trust, la sala de exhibición es más que una lección de historia natural fascinante - es un recordatorio misterioso de que las decisiones que tomamos hoy impactan en las futuras generaciones y en el mundo alrededor de ellos.

Checa esto
650 W. Washington St. admisión al Museo: $7 adultos, $6.50 tercera edad, $4 niños de 3-12 años de edad, miembros gratis. 232-1637, www.indianamuseum.org. 

Before you hippity-hop your little cottontail to the store for some Easter egg dye, consider this: You can color eggs naturally with foods you may already have in your kitchen, making Easter easier on the planet and your wallet.

Add natural dyes to water while boiling eggs or soak eggs after they’ve been boiled, depending on how many colors you use. For best results: put eggs in a sauce pan; cover with water; add 1 tsp. vinegar; add natural dye; bring water to boil; simmer for 15-20 minutes; if you’re happy with the color, remove eggs from water; for darker colors, remove eggs from water, strain dye through a coffee filter and soak eggs in filtered dye until desired color.

Fresh, frozen or canned produce may be used to create egg dye, as well as spices. Try the following “recipes” or create your own!

Beige to bright pink - juice from boiled or canned beets, cranberry juice, red grape juice

Pale to royal blue, lavender - juice from boiled red cabbage, canned or boiled blueberries

Deep mocha brown - brewed coffee

Bright orange/yellow - boiled turmeric, boiled carrot tops, boiled onion skins

Green - boiled spinach leaves, boiled yellow apple peels

Red - boiled red onion skins 

Naturally, these colorful eggs will make delicious non-toxic egg salad once found on Sunday morning.

Piece out,

Renee & Meghan

Before the Easter bunny comes to town, you might want to drop him a note requesting organic and/or local eggs. Why? Consider the factory farm alternative: eggs from hens who have spent their (short) lives in (tiny) cages, being injected with hormones, antibiotics, and other scary-sounding stuff. 

Here, a short list of farms and companies whose eggs we recommend:

• Luella and David Porter raise pastured chickens that are chemical-, hormone-, and antibiotic-free at their Seven Springs Farm in Carthage, Indiana. Look for their eggs at Good Earth, Kincaid’s Meats, Georgetown Market, Traders Point Farmers Market, and restaurants such as Peterson’s and Cobblestone Grill. www.sevenspringsindiana.com
• At Organic Grass Farm, a 160-acre Amish farm in Rockville, Indiana, Melvin and Suvilla Fisher raise all-natural chicken eggs, then distribute them to Indy stores including Georgetown Market, Nature’s Market, and Whole Foods Market.   
• Though not a local company, Egg Innovations’ certified organic cage-free eggs are widely available at Marsh Supermarkets. Bonus: Unlike the polystyrene cartons that house most supermarket eggs, Egg Innovations’ packaging (#1 PETE plastic) is easily recyclable!

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Wondering how to make your St. Patrick’s Day a little bit greener? Just add local beer. Amaze fellow revelers and impress friends by forgoing traditional Irish brew for the kind made in Indiana. Unlike the Emerald Isle variety, Hoosier-brewed beer travels just a short distance to get from the brewmaster to you. Less miles traveled = a leprechaun-sized carbon footprint. Here, some options for getting jiggy on March 17:

• Barley Island Brewing Company
  639 Conner St., Noblesville
  770-5280, www.barleyisland.tripod.com
• Broad Ripple Brewpub
  840 E. 65th St.
  253-2739, www.broadripplebrewpub.com
• Brugge Brasserie
  1011 E. Westfield Blvd.
  255-0978, www.bruggebrasserie.com
• Oaken Barrel Brewing Company
  50 N. Airport Pkwy, Suite L, Greenwood
  887-2287, www.oakenbarrel.com
• Upland Brewing Company
  350 W. 11th St., Bloomington
  812-336-2337, www.uplandbeer.com

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

¿Te preguntas cómo hacer tu Día de San Patricio un poco más ecológico? Sólo incluye cerveza local. Sorprende e impresiona a tus amigos renunciando y cambiando la elaboración tradicional Irlandés por el que está hecho en Indiana. A diferencia de la variedad Emerald Isle, la cerveza elaborada en Hoosier viaja solo cortas distancias para llegar a su destino, tú. Menos millas viajadas = una huella considerada de menos carbon. Aquí te presentamos algunas opciones que puedes conseguir para este 17 de Marzo:

• Barley Island Brewing Company
  639 Conner St., Noblesville
  770-5280, www.barleyisland.tripod.com
• Broad Ripple Brewpub
  840 E. 65th St.
  253-2739, www.broadripplebrewpub.com
• Brugge Brasserie
  1011 E. Westfield Blvd.
  255-0978, www.bruggebrasserie.com
• Oaken Barrel Brewing Company
  50 N. Airport Pkwy, Suite L, Greenwood
  887-2287, www.oakenbarrel.com
• Upland Brewing Company
  350 W. 11th St., Bloomington
  812-336-2337, www.uplandbeer.com

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

If only we had a dime for every time we’ve been told to swap incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL)…

Not only are CFLs 75 percent more efficient, they last 10 times longer and reduce your carbon footprint by 100 lbs. annually.

But there’s one catch: CFLs still contain small amounts of toxic mercury, which can pollute our soil and water.

Recycle your CFL bulbs at one of Marion County’s ToxDrop sites:

Trader’s Point, 7550 N. Lafayette Road
   First and Third Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
IMPD Training Facility, 9049 E. 10th St.
   First and Third Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Perry Township Gov’t Center, 4925 S. Shelby St
   Second and Fourth Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Belmont Avenue Collection Facility, 2700 S. Belmont Ave.
   Tuesday and Thursday, 9 to 11 a.m.
*All sites are closed on any fifth Saturday in a month

FYI – Incandescent bulbs have too many materials in them to recycle, so you’ll still have to throw them in the trash. They could also make a really cool sculpture, if you’re feeling crafty.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Sometimes a quick green living e-mail tip isn’t enough—like when you have some time to kill at your doctor’s office. Or on your lunch break. Or waiting for your tax refund to arrive.

We suggest picking up a free copy of Indiana Living Green, a bimonthly magazine chock full of ideas for leading a more eco-friendly lifestyle, a local calendar of upcoming green events, and environmental news dispatches from around the Hoosier state. And yes, ILG is printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

The March/April issue is out this week and includes the following articles:

• green kitchen remodeling
• scooters
• soil for a healthy garden
• natural pet toys
• mulch
• Indiana and Italy farming similarities

Kudos to publisher Lynn Jenkins and her team—ILG celebrates its one year anniversary this month!

Pick up your free copy of Indiana Living Green at Marsh Supermarkets, Whole Foods Market, Goose The Market, and a number of other Central Indiana retailers. For home delivery service, subscribe for a mere $16.95/year. Visit www.indianalivinggreen.com for more info.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Felíz Cumpleaños, ILG!
Algunas veces un consejo rápido por correo electrónico de green living no es suficiente – como cuando tienes tiempo libre esperando en el consultorio médico. O en tu hora del almuerzo. O esperando a que llegue tu cheque de los impuestos.

Te sugerimos que tomes una copia gratis de Indiana Living Green, una revista bimensual que contiene muchísimas ideas para tener un estilo de vida cada vez más en pro al medio ambiente, un calendario mensual de próximos eventos ecológicos y noticias ambientales que se envían de todo el estado. Y sí, ILG está impresa en papel reciclado con tintas a base de soya.

El número de marzo/abril está circulando esta semana e incluye los siguientes artículos:

• Remodelación de cocinas 
• tierra para un jardín saludable 
• juguetes naturales para mascotas 
• paja similitudes en granjas de Indiana e Italia

¡Un reconocimiento a la publicista Lynn Jenkins y a su equipo—ILG celebra su primer aniversario este mes!

Recoge tu copia gratis de Indiana Living Green en los Supermercados Marsh, Whole Foods Market, Goose The Market, y un gran número de cadenas de Indiana Central. Para servicio de entrega a domicilio, suscríbete por la módica cantidad de $16.95 al año. Visita www.indianalivinggreen.com para más información.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan

Before you take off on Spring Break, look in to offsetting your travels. It’s easy and relatively inexpensive.

Driving to Disney? $12 offsets the 950 mile drive from Indy
Jetting to Jamaica? $9.90–$24 offsets the 3,200-mile flight from Indy

Not sure how to go about offsetting? Try these resources.

Native Energy allows you to calculate your vacation carbon emissions from driving, flying, or taking rail/bus. Their rates are a bit higher than others, but your investment will help finance and build new clean and renewable energy projects that help create sustainable economic benefits for Native Americans, Alaska Native villages, family farmers, and rural communities. Projects include wind turbines and methane use. Offsets are third-party verified. The process is very simple!

TerraPass allows you to calculate your vacation carbon emissions from flying. Their rates are mid-range and support clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction projects such as wind power, animal waste, farm power, and landfill gas capture. Projects are third-party verified and audited. The process is simple, yet not as comprehensive as Native Energy. Expedia uses TerraPass for customers to purchase carbon offsets.

Carbonfund.org offers a flight calculator, or you can select general offsets a la carte. Their rates are nominal (the same flight to Jamaica costs just $3.08, which seems low) and carbonfund.org is a 501(c)(3). They focus on renewable energy like wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass; reducing energy use from coal, oil, and natural gas; and reforestation. The process is somewhat choppy, but offers several options. Happy trails.

Piece out,
Renee & Meghan