Low-Tech Green

Posted on August 4, 2011 by amandawegner

Aren't these kids cute?

Here’s proof that you don’t have to go high-tech to go green.

UW-Madison has always had a strong history of agriculture and livestock research, but recently the UW Campus has looked a bit more like a farm than usual. J.P. Cullen contractors had the help of some living lawnmowers, 32 goats to be exact, to help clear a steep hillside on Linden Drive as part of their renovation of the School of Human Ecology. Shane Swart, a J.P. Cullen site engineer said the goats were “more economical by far” than construction workers and gas-powered machinery.

More economical and more environmental, since the herd had an extremely low-carbon hoofprint, if you will, as they chomped and cleared bush and weeds, even clearing invasive species such as black locust, honeysuckle and buckthorn from the slope. These hardworking kids came from The Green Goats, of Burlington, Wisconsin, and performed quite well for their first job in an urban setting.

In other Madison news, a pilot residential composting program saved 14.4 tons from local landfills. Around 400 households participated in the program to test out a city organics collection service. For now, the compost is taken to a compost facility near Portage, but the long-term goal of the project is to set up an anaerobic digester in Dane County. This digester would produce methane gas, which could be used to generate electricity or even power vehicles.

Madison has always been on the lookout for the environment, and we applaud these creative approaches to using nature’s power for a greener future.

–By Ella Schwierske, Clean Wisconsin Communications Intern

Where is your favorite Wisconsin wonder?

Posted on June 30, 2011 by samweis

Door County Pier, Credit: James Jordan

With the recent 100th anniversary of Devils Lake State Park, Wisconsin getaways have been on my mind. Devils Lake now hosts roughly 1.8 million people each year, all of whom I’m sure enjoy some sweet sunshine and maybe a swim or hike. This Wisconsin wonder is indeed special to many people. It got me thinking about how many families will be spending time this Fourth of July weekend at their own special places and Wisconsin wonders.

For my family, that place would be our beloved Door County. I have looked forward to our yearly summer trip up to Door County for as long as I can remember. A tradition my parents started long before kids, we have made the half-day journey to Wisconsin’s Northeast Peninsula every year of my 21 years of existence, with the exception of 2 years. A majority of those trips were spent camping in the breathtaking Peninsula State Park, a place I will always hold very dear to my heart.

Each trip was a week filled with biking, kayaking, swimming, hiking, hunting crayfish, skipping rocks, pulling garlic mustard, eating ice cream, feeding the ducks, watching the sunset and getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, a combination of activities that I wouldn’t give up for anything. Whether it was scaling the sand dunes at White Fish Dunes State Park, riding the ferry to Washington Island or visiting one of the many lighthouses the list of memories I have from Door County seem endless.

These memories remind me of why it is so important to protect Wisconsin’s natural resources. My family’s yearly trip to Door County was significant to fueling my interest in environmental protection and why I am now an intern here at Clean Wisconsin. So enjoy the long holiday weekend outdoors, and please share with us… Where is your favorite Wisconsin wonder?

-contributed by Ella Schwierske, media intern

Photos With Fish

Posted on May 6, 2011 by samweis

The fishing opener is only one day away, and anglers across the state are readying their reels, rods, tackle boxes and boats to head out tomorrow for the first fishing adventure of the year.

In the spirit of this holiday (at least it’s a holiday from this author’s perspective), we thought that we’d share some of our favorite pictures of staff with fish.

Do you have a favorite fishy picture of your own? We’d love to see it. Make sure to upload it to our Facebook page. Next week, we’ll even choose a few pictures at random and send those who posted them a shiny new Clean Wisconsin water bottle to bring along on their next fishing adventure.

Staff Attorney Elizabeth Wheeler with a mighty panfish

Media Specialist Amanda Wegner with Driftless Region Brown Trout

Communications adult intern extraordinaire Daniel Mostaza "The Staz" with fish and a stylish Wolf sweatshirt.

Communications Intern Ella Schwierske with a Walleye

Clean energy specialist Katy Walter with a yellow perch in Rhinelander

Membership assistant, Jenny Lynes with a Lake Superior lake trout

Media specialist Sam Weis with a bigger Lake Superior lake trout

WINNER: Senior policy director, Keith Reopelle, with a musky on Lake Waubesa

Whether the fish were big or small, or the photos taken recently or years ago, these pictures bring back some fond memories for all of us here at Clean Wisconsin. For many of us here, the love of fishing is a huge reason we fight so hard to protect Wisconsin’s wonderful environment.

From all of us, good luck to all of the anglers heading out this weekend for the fishing opener!

-contributed by Sam Weis, media specialist.