Trunkline Magazine (Louisville Zoo) September 2018 | Page 19

FALL INTO SUSTAINABILITY
Fall is here and the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK)
(Louisville Chapter) has lots of cool ways to help you act sustainably!
See some tips below to help you fall into sustainability this season.
Back to School Lawn Care Fall Holidays
• Have your child pick out a
reusable lunch bag or box.
• Pack reusable snack bags
or containers for lunchtime
goodies.
• The weather is beautiful!
When waiting to pick up
or drop off your child at
school, turn off your vehicle.
• Try setting up a car pool
with other families that live
close by to reduce your car-
bon dioxide footprint.
• Purchase sustainable school
supplies. Just look for labels
that say eco-friendly. • Keep your lawn in
tip top shape with
manual and electric
alternatives to gas
powered tools.
• Use organic
fertilizers.
• Mulch your leaves
to protect your
lawn. Set aside
some leaves for use
in your garden to
help protect plants
throughout the
winter. • Get crafty! Gather up supplies you already have
around your house and yard to make your own
decorations. Pinecones, gourds, leaves and
acorns make great embellishments.
• Cooking? If you are the cook, visit your local
farmers market for seasonal fruits and veggies
that are locally grown.
• Don’t forget to compost your kitchen scraps!
There are lots of great tutorials online if you
need help getting started.
• If you are driving to your holiday destina-
tion, consider purchasing carbon offsets from
carbonfund.org.
• Finally, if you are giving out or serving any
candy or dessert that contains palm oil, make
sure it is sustainable palm oil. Check out the
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s palm oil app in your
apple or android marketplace.
Thank you for looking out for wildlife and wild places.
From Mayor Greg Fischer
Science shows us that access to natural
places and activities leads to happier,
healthier lives, as well as stronger
communities. And by working to improve
access and opportunities to explore outdoor
activities, Louisville is living our core values of
compassion, lifelong learning and improving health.
For example, in July, we celebrated West Louisville
Appreciation Days. The theme was “nature-based
adventure,” introducing individuals and families to the
many recreational opportunities that are possible within
west Louisville parks. At the same time, the Louisville Zoo
brought educational staff and volunteers to share outreach
opportunities for attendees to interact with Zoo animals, engage with Zoo staff and learn about the natural world.
We know that helping young people connect with nature is good for their minds and bodies. Our parks and the
Louisville Zoo provide us with the opportunity to bring nature back into our daily life, whether that means playing
together in the fresh outdoors, enjoying the variety of native flora or experiencing the majesty of wildlife we may
otherwise never get to enjoy.
It teaches us all to consider our place in the natural world, appreciate it more, and feel inspired to protect it.
During this season when the weather in our city is so beautiful, I hope you will take the opportunity to get out,
reconnect and enjoy these wonderful natural spaces.
Louisville Zoo Trunkline • Fall 2018 • 19