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<title>GreenKeeneTeens RSS</title><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/index.html</link><description>News from the Green Keene Teens</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2009 Lucy Allosso</dc:rights><dc:date>2009-05-17T19:38:53-04:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Sun, 17 May 2009 19:39:59 -0400</lastBuildDate><item><title>GKT Meeting #6</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>meetings</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-05-17T19:38:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/ce0004af30a3e73fa0d6788a5f12846f-29.html#unique-entry-id-29</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/ce0004af30a3e73fa0d6788a5f12846f-29.html#unique-entry-id-29</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[At today&rsquo;s meeting the focus was on fundraising and summer events. 


I reiterated myself again telling everyone what Punta Mona was and I wanted the club to go there, and that the trip fundraising was going on.   I urged them to start really making an effort so we can make the money for everyone who wants to go.   It was suggested that we ask each member to pay for an amount of the trip on their own.   This would help the club be not have a terribly big amount to raise. 


Laura talked to the group about scheduling a day that Green Keene Teens would be at the Farmer&rsquo;s Market here in Keene.   She suggested that we plan a Saturday in June to do it.   Scheduling the specific day will happen in the next week or so. 


Brea told us a little bit about Harrisville&rsquo;s Old Home Days that is scheduled around the second week of July.   The event sounds like it would be a great place for GKT to sell products and promote being green!    We talked about making things for raffles and maybe doing a kids game or craft. 


We also brainstormed fundraising ideas.   Many good ideas were thrown up in the air, such as making recycled cards and flowers, the plant-able paper, pine needle bags, potpourri, and the hanging oranges that smell good. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Video Contest Entry</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>Pollution</category><category>Olivia</category><dc:date>2009-05-03T19:32:12-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/334d81e9e3a54ea96dc583ec031489ba-28.html#unique-entry-id-28</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/334d81e9e3a54ea96dc583ec031489ba-28.html#unique-entry-id-28</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Three of us in the club got together and entered a video contest as a way to fundraise for our trip to Punta Mona.   The video was for the EPA Water Quality Contest, and would be used to let people know about some of the water pollution problems.   Allie, Olivia and I spent an afternoon deciding what to do for the video and filming it.   This being the first time we had entered a video contest, we weren't exactly sure what we were doing, but we had a lot of fun and ended up with an amusing little clip.   Our video featured Allie as an ignorant car washer, and Olivia as the superhero Enviro-Girl who stopped Allie from dumping her soapy wash water.   The filming was done by yours truly.   After it was filmed, Olivia took the time to edit and upload it.   Interested in seeing it?   Check it out on YouTube - it's the one by user graciegirl625 with the description: "The tale of a Green Super Hero...".   With an "overwhelming number of entries" (EPA website), we may not win, but it was a great experience!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Charms&#x21;</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>rethink</category><category>Mina</category><dc:date>2009-05-17T19:24:30-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/5123e315e4896e1ebe7ef99ca4c7a954-27.html#unique-entry-id-27</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/5123e315e4896e1ebe7ef99ca4c7a954-27.html#unique-entry-id-27</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I made a wicked cool charm thing a while ago, it can be a necklace charm, earrings, or a keychain&hellip; basically whatever you want it to be!    The best thing about it is that it&rsquo;s made of natural pressed flowers, newspaper, and recycled plastics!    Although since mine was the first one I&rsquo;ve ever made, it doesn&rsquo;t look quite as good as I expected, but I know what went wrong and next time it should come out perfect.  

...One rule to remember is that a 1/2 inch diameter circle will shrink to about a 1/16 inch diameter circle after heating.  ...  Cut out two that are exactly the same and put one in the toaster oven.    You should definitely use the tray that sits on top of the oven rack (it should have come with the toaster oven).  ...  After the first minute or so, the plastic will start to curl in on itself and it will look like you messed up, but don&rsquo;t panic it&rsquo;s supposed to do that.  ...  After taking it out of the oven, it&rsquo;s crucial that you remove it from the pan and flatten it while it&rsquo;s still hot.  ...  If you couldn&rsquo;t flatten it because it cooled too fast, you can warm it up in the toaster oven and try it again.  

...All you do for this is cut out a size of newspaper a bit smaller than the plastic sheets you made, and color it.  

...So just pressing them in a book will cause them to lose most of their color, that&rsquo;s why we are going to use a microwave.  ...  Orient the flowers and stems so that they are not touching each other on a sheet of filter paper and place the other on top.    Put the other tile on top of the whole thing and microwave it for a minute.  ...  After the filter paper doesn&rsquo;t look wet anymore, repeat the process but never microwave them for more than a minute at a time.  

...Just use a clear drying glue to glue the newspaper on one sheet of plastic, then glue the flowers in an artistic fashion.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>NH Green Commute Week</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>reduce</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-05-11T19:20:02-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/c30b45a76e730f0e47d2360ef1c4f2db-26.html#unique-entry-id-26</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/c30b45a76e730f0e47d2360ef1c4f2db-26.html#unique-entry-id-26</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This week, May 11-15, is New Hampshire Green Commute week.   In order to clean up the air quality, try to walk, ride, or carpool to work or school.   In Concord, you can register in a contest at the Program of Alternative Transportation and Health&rsquo;s table downtown to see how &ldquo;green at commuting&rdquo; you really are. 


There are many prizes to be won if you are willing to pursue helping the environment in this way.   Prizes and incentives include tickets to a Manchester Wolves game, to tickets on Amtrak.   This week long event can also stimulate you to spend time riding with people you usually don&rsquo;t.   Try to work out your schedule to fit the needs of those that are heading in the same direction as you.   If we all did that, we&rsquo;d save gas!


 To find out more about the special week and how you can get involved visit PATH&rsquo;s website.   Hope to see you out there not driving alone!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>At Stonewall Farm again</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>volunteering</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-05-13T19:16:32-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/b16a929b05285670e6d7b3abc3bacbf4-25.html#unique-entry-id-25</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/b16a929b05285670e6d7b3abc3bacbf4-25.html#unique-entry-id-25</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Giving back to the community is a big part of Green Keene Teens and what we stand for.   We are regularly volunteering at Stonewall Farm in Keene.   Each of our volunteers usually spends about two hours working.


Last Saturday, May 9th, Alishia, Lily, Carolynn and I went to volunteer at Stonewall farm.   This was our second (non-event) volunteering as Green Keene Teens.   We prepared the garden for Stonewall&rsquo;s art auction that evening, raked, and stacked wood. 


The first Saturday Green Keene Teens volunteered was April 11th.   The three girls that joined me on that day were Olivia, Jackie, and Laura.   On that occasion we raked huge piles of leaves and brought them to the compost. 


By volunteering we not only want to benefit ourselves but also help others.   We give back for what we take.   Helping others is not only good karma but it is good way to connect with the people who give and receive the help. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Solarfest&#x21;</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>green people</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-05-01T20:12:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/29753119224193f8869be1dfdf56f4c8-24.html#unique-entry-id-24</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/29753119224193f8869be1dfdf56f4c8-24.html#unique-entry-id-24</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Last week, Keene State College had their Earth Week in celebration of Earth Day.   The environmental group there, Campus Ecology, put on a wonderful solar-powered music festival on Saturday April 25th. 


I got emails from some of the members of Campus Ecology asking us if we would like to have a table to sell products.   I immediately responded saying I would be there and I&rsquo;d pass the word along to the others.   I didn&rsquo;t even take a second to second guess going to Solarfest, because I knew that this was a fantastic opportunity to get Green Keene Teens out there more. 

...I got to Fiske Quad with Laura, Mina and Azzi, and Laura&rsquo;s dad (who was our driver) at 10:30 to set up.   Becky, the president of Campus Ecology greeted us right away with a smile.   We got ourselves in order and watched the bands and crews getting ready to start the entertainment.   The bands featured at Solarfest included Funknut, Birdfeeder, Hot Day at the Zoo, and Garaj Mahal. 

...I don&rsquo;t know if you have ever gone to an enviro music fest, but I have to say you need to go to one!   The atmosphere of the event was tangibly happy and care free, it was amazing.   Campus Ecology did a great job getting businesses, clubs, and volunteers to participate.   There were free booths and crafts such as tie-dye, plant-a-plant, make your own trail mix, jewelry making, and hair wraps. 

...GKT did some selling of pencils, cupcakes and cookies, but we mostly networked and met many cool people who were interested and inspired in what we had started.   I cannot wait until next year, because I can bet you that Solarfest will be bigger and better than ever!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Spring Break in Belize</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>reduce</category><category>Brea</category><dc:date>2009-04-25T20:05:17-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/dfb3728456965be6ad7c17b7aaae5b63-23.html#unique-entry-id-23</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/dfb3728456965be6ad7c17b7aaae5b63-23.html#unique-entry-id-23</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Well, Belize is a small country about the size of New Hampshire that is located in Central America.   This country was the first place to&nbsp;have a jaguar reserve, it has a&nbsp;beautiful landscape with many Mayan temples and history, most of&nbsp;the citrus of Florida Orange Juice&nbsp;comes from here, there are islands all around its shoreline, and it has the second largest coral reef in the world. 

...The group&nbsp;I was with arrived later in the afternoon&nbsp;by&nbsp;boat on the island of South Water Caye.   We were tired, sticky&nbsp;and encrusted with&nbsp;salt from the boat trip, and we wanted showers.   We soon found out that this was not a luxury they had.   This island gets all of its power through generators and solar panels.  &nbsp;It gets its water from rainfall and a small well under the island.  &nbsp;The&nbsp;dry season in this place&nbsp;lasts for almost five months, and we were in it.  &nbsp;Our showers were military style; you get in, wet your hair and body, turn off the water, scrub, turn the shower back on, rinse, turn off the water and you&rsquo;re done.  &nbsp;These showers also had nobs that you had to hold in place if you wanted more water and if you let go the water would turn off.  &nbsp;The reason for this is because they&nbsp;need to reserve water for the months to come.

...For energy they turn off all electricity at 10 o'clock sharp, so you have no lights and&nbsp;no water pressure (except the toilets and sink).   The people on this island cut down on luxuries to elongate the amount of time they have&nbsp;water and power.   Just think, if&nbsp;parts of the world started doing the same,&nbsp;how much energy and water could we save?  &nbsp;This trip to the island taught me that not everyone is as fortunate as I and that cutting&nbsp;down on luxuries could&nbsp;help elongate our time on this planet.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>GKT Meeting #5</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>meetings</category><category>Olivia</category><dc:date>2009-04-18T19:41:35-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/0ea9ae21cd9d852b7e65eb500d7d7cfe-22.html#unique-entry-id-22</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/0ea9ae21cd9d852b7e65eb500d7d7cfe-22.html#unique-entry-id-22</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The last meeting we had was filled with new and exciting information.   We talked about Green Up Keene Day which is taking place on Saturday starting at 8 so hopefully a lot of peope will be able to come.   We also talked about Solarfest.   Solarfest is a program that KSC is organizing and putting on.   Laura and Lucy said that they would love to have a booth there so I think that&rsquo;s the plan for that.   We also talked a bit about this video contest that we are participating in.   Laura, Olivia and Allie were planning on taping the video on Friday after school and then editing sometime over vacation, so if anyone is interested in helping that'd be great.   We also had a guest speaker, Holly Gowdy.   She is the 4H program coordinator for this part of NH.    Holly heard about us from Barb at 24 Carrots, so she came to see what we were all about and volunteered to help with anything that we need.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>New Members</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>membership</category><category>Mina</category><dc:date>2009-04-19T19:38:30-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/4da6bf3dd4bf00e837216163748e6c2d-21.html#unique-entry-id-21</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/4da6bf3dd4bf00e837216163748e6c2d-21.html#unique-entry-id-21</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I talked to a few people today and got them to consider joining the Green Keene Teens!   I got Azzi to join a while ago by inviting her to come to a meeting and a volunteer event.   I&rsquo;m pretty sure she didn&rsquo;t really have any interest in the environment before joining, and that&rsquo;s okay!   Even if she had no interest or knowledge on it, she can just start learning about it while volunteering and attending meetings!   I&rsquo;m sure that if she learns about how to be green and the benefits it has she would become more and more interested.   I think that everyone should talk to someone about joining the GKT or a local Sierra Club or something today.   Even if they join because of friends, college resumes, or various other reasons, they&rsquo;re sure to have a good time and help out the environment!   Just remember, every effort of every person counts towards the greater goal.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Green Up Keene Day</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>volunteering</category><category>Mina</category><dc:date>2009-04-21T19:24:23-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/c681c8656561458d421d18ded7c97385-20.html#unique-entry-id-20</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/c681c8656561458d421d18ded7c97385-20.html#unique-entry-id-20</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[On Saturday, GKT participated in Green Up Keene Day, an event that called for the citizens of Keene to &ldquo;Green Up&rdquo; the city, or in other words, make our city cleaner.   Although only six of us (including me and Alisha&lsquo;s father) showed up, I would say that we got a lot of work done, and we definitely made a difference. 


...That wasn&rsquo;t too bad, just a lot of broken beer bottles (as well as some whole ones with mysterious fluid inside) and small articles of trash. ...  So many people smoke, and though it&rsquo;s a disgusting habit, it&rsquo;s tolerable if they care for the butts properly. ...  I also think it would be great if we had more trash-can-ash-tray-things.


After we thought we were done with Carpenter field, we went to a different area behind the Beaver Brook Apartments. ...  We found tires, car batteries, Christmas lights, unidentifiable plastics, empty soda cans, beer bottles, candy wrappers, heavily rusted metal pipes and bars, nauseating scented washcloths, of course more cigarette butts, and a simply revolting amount of other debris.   Why would people litter the area with waste that could easily be taken care of by walking an extra 50 feet to a garbage can?   How could they not care about the safety of the organisms depending on the land, or even their own children? ...  Rubber tires don&rsquo;t decompose naturally and they could be made into playground equipment for your kids if they&rsquo;re recycled.   I truly believe that our community needs an immediate wake-up-call and everyone needs to be more aware of the effects of their actions.


...We got a couple of laughs and it felt really great to know that we did something good for our local environment.   A tremendous thank you goes to Dan, Alisha&rsquo;s father, for not only providing us with the transportation but also helping us pick up rubbish.   Without him, it would have been extremely difficult to have done a lot of the work we were able to do (especially lifting the heavier stuff).   Personally, I hope we can do something like it again with maybe three times as many contributors.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Thanks&#x21;</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>thanks</category><category>Mina</category><dc:date>2009-04-21T10:49:51-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/ddaddca52c09879a8c3aa4823d692d0c-19.html#unique-entry-id-19</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/ddaddca52c09879a8c3aa4823d692d0c-19.html#unique-entry-id-19</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If it weren&rsquo;t for them, there wouldn&rsquo;t be a Green Keene Teens at all.


I wanted to take a little time to thank everyone that has help me and the GKT team to start this club. 

...My parents are I think the most important people that have helped me personally pursue this club. ...  Without their giving-ness it would have been a lot harder to get the club started as well. 

...Barbara and Michael from 24 Carrots are still spreading the word about our team to everyone that puts a toe over their front door. ...  Since they are spreading the word about my club I&rsquo;m trying to spread the word about their store. 

...Megan and Jennifer from Hannah Grimes have helped in many ways from having a sale in front of their store on a Saturday in early April and selling our Easter themed products in the store to advertising in their newsletter about the event and a little blurb in the Keene Sentinel on the Environmental page.   They have opened the Hannah Grimes Center to supply us a meeting place in the last few months of the school year. 

...As a result to all these people more and more people and groups are getting in contact with me about Green Keene Teens because they are curious about what we are up to.    Campus Ecology at Keene State College has offered a place for us at their last event of their Earth Week happening this coming week.   Holly Gowdy, who works for UNH and oversees the 4-H clubs in this part of the state stopped by our last to offer any help to our club that we might need or get us more information about anything we are researching on our projects.   Jason Etheridge also sat in on the meeting and told us we could have articles published in one of the Keene Public Library&rsquo;s Teen Advisory Council&rsquo;s issues if we wanted. 


The little things one person can do as I&rsquo;ve said before, have made a big difference in our world. ...  If you are interested in helping or supporting Green Keene Teens please contact me at lucy@greenkeeneteens.com or talk to one of our members. 

...Anyone who is interested in learning more about us (especially members parents) please come to an event or a meeting, grown-ups that have showed support tell me that we are well put together, mature, and motivated group. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Thanks Hannah Grimes&#x21;</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>green people</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-04-13T18:35:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/84d051f688afc504839ab198f358bb3f-18.html#unique-entry-id-18</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/84d051f688afc504839ab198f358bb3f-18.html#unique-entry-id-18</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When GKT started to think about fundraising, my Mom sent out a bunch of emails to local business around the greater Keene area, in hopes that they would consider supporting our club.   Megan at Hannah Grimes (the local artisan shop on Main St. in Keene) emailed saying she and the store would love to host a fundraiser.   So we met with her and worked out when the fundraiser would be and what products we should sell.   Green Keene Teens ended making Woolly Eggs, bunnies, and baskets for the event,  Saturday the 4th of April.   We also sold our homemade laundry soap, Greenciles, and baked goods. 


...Before the sale, Megan and Jennifer from Hannah Grimes met with Laura, Alishia, and me, to talk about writing up a press release that would go in their newsletter and maybe even the paper informing the readers about the club and the sale.   Laura and Alishia wrote a really great press release. 

...The sale started at about 11:30 on that Saturday morning.   The team was prepared for the rainy weather, setting up with a table under an umbrella.   The covered table was greatly appreciated when it started to pour!    But the girls stayed positive about selling, and I believe we sold at least $100 worth of goods.   It ended up being a good day as the remaining members snuggled together as we tried to get rid of our cookies. 


For the remainder of the days leading up to Easter, Woolly Eggs, bunnies and baskets were sold at the store.   I&rsquo;m very glad Hannah Grimes has opened their doors to Green Keene Teens.  ...  Please visit the Hannah Grimes website and store for great gift ideas and even GKT products that might be there in the future!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Green doesn&#x27;t always mean go&#x2c; go&#x2c; go</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>rethink</category><category>Laura</category><dc:date>2009-04-09T19:06:31-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/f8a07146e04f78c9e977a765486f0cb7-17.html#unique-entry-id-17</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/f8a07146e04f78c9e977a765486f0cb7-17.html#unique-entry-id-17</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In the frantic pace of today's society, it is not always easy to slow down and consider the things you can do to be green.   Sometimes it's more convenient to just do something the "normal" way - leave the water running when you brush your teeth, toss that plastic bottle in the trash, or mop up a spill with paper towels.   But really, how much harder is it to switch off the faucet, get a recycle bin, or grab an old towel?   There are so many little things everyone can do to help conserve energy and natural resources.   All that's needed is the ability to stop and think long enough to do them.   After a while it becomes second nature and is just as simple as being wasteful.   So next time you leave the room, switch off the lights, (Mythbusters even proved it saves electricity).   Compost everything that can be composted.   Shut off computers at night.   Turn the water off when you aren't using it (and try not to use it as much, a few germs won't kill you).   If you're really motivated, research energy efficient appliances.   Most old toilets waste gallons of water per flush.   Maybe it's time to flush thoughtlessness and let the fluorescent light bulb go on over your head.


For some great tips on how to save and other green news, check out:


...The Daily Green
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Sap Gathering</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>volunteering</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-04-04T19:47:32-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/5ae04d2d1d22899350e0ffdb851acdad-16.html#unique-entry-id-16</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/5ae04d2d1d22899350e0ffdb851acdad-16.html#unique-entry-id-16</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Green Keene Teens volunteered at Stonewall Farm March 28th, for their Sap Gathering event.    All twelve of our members volunteered!  


(Allie & Brea)


  


(Mina & Lucy & Beth)


We directed cars to the parking areas, from 8:50 to 2:00.    A few of us were bucket fillers, from 12:00 to 4:00.    There were hundreds of people at the event, and we were happy to be able to help out.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>GKT Meeting #4</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>meetings</category><category>Olivia</category><dc:date>2009-04-03T14:29:13-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/7d70774065993eaa1999c8bb30ec2ead-14.html#unique-entry-id-14</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/7d70774065993eaa1999c8bb30ec2ead-14.html#unique-entry-id-14</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In meeting number 4 we were able to get&nbsp;a lot of things done and talked about.   An update about the Recycling Center was announced: we will be making further plans to volunteer there over the weekends about twice a month and we will still be helping with taking book covers off old books and recycling them.   We also talked about Green Up Keene Day, which is going to be happening on April 18th.   The person in charge of the event will be giving us a route that we will be taking and we will be picking up trash along that route.   Lucy also mentioned that we will be having our first bake/products sale in front of Hannah Grimes this Saturday starting at 11:30, so please come!   One of the last things we talked about was the movie contests.   We have already missed one but we have one that we would love to enter in.   The deadline is April 22 and Olivia is planning on getting that organized, so please talk to her more about that if you are interested in participting!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>GKT Meeting #3</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>meetings</category><category>Olivia</category><dc:date>2009-03-23T14:23:20-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/f993338881f587423218462cdf0afbb0-13.html#unique-entry-id-13</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/f993338881f587423218462cdf0afbb0-13.html#unique-entry-id-13</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Today we talked about many new oppurtunities that are opening to us.   Alishia talked to the recycling center and they said that they could use help with recycling books, so that will be something that we can help out with over the weekends.   Lucy also mentioned that there were 3 possible online contests that we could apply for.   All of the contests involve making a one minute-long movie talking about why its important to be green and keep our planet safe and healthy.   We also have a new product-making idea that Lucy and her mother came up with.   We are going to be creating what are called Woolly Eggs.   They are fun, creative music makers, but they can be used for many other purposes.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>When I grow up I want to be just like Barbara and Michael&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>green people</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-03-29T15:31:29-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/c96f378412fa60fad096d4c2d8b7d480-12.html#unique-entry-id-12</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/c96f378412fa60fad096d4c2d8b7d480-12.html#unique-entry-id-12</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We are now selling our laundry soap at 24 Carrots Farm Stand in Swanzey&mdash;well, actually Barbara is selling it for us.    We make it and she puts it out on the shelves of 24 Carrots Farm Stand and tells her customers about us.  ...  Their food consists of fresh veggies, cheese (the best stilton cheese in the world according to my mom), meat (elk, buffalo, venison, and beef), gourmet chocolates, and much more! ...  If you are not such a drinker (or can&rsquo;t drink yet) they also have soda like Izzie, and Jones.    Barbara is selling our soap just to help us out, without even taking a percentage!  

...Someday (I hope a day that comes very soon), I believe 24 Carrots will grow to be just as big and great!    Barbara and Michael are so warm and compassionate in their store, that anyone who walks into 24 Carrots feels like they are welcome.   I like coming back to the store because they are so openly nice that you immediately get into a friendly relationship with them. 


Barbara was so quick to jump on board to support GKT that she ordered 10 gallons of Green Keene Teens Laundry Soap from us on Wednesday&mdash;when we had just come by to give her a sample and say hello. ...  I couldn&rsquo;t believe someone would be that quick to jump on the bandwagon without any persuasion.   Barbara was so open to supporting us that I feel like she is a long lost aunt that wants her niece to do well.   They have even put an ad in the Shopper News about our soap being sold at their store. 

...We chatted with both Michael and Barbara for a while and got on to the subject of our trip to Costa Rica.    Michael lit up because he spent a year in Costa Rica after college and loved it. ...  After looking the website up really fast, he told us that the island is in the best and most beautiful region of the country. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Make a Rice Bag Heating Pad</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>recycle</category><category>Mina</category><dc:date>2009-03-28T12:54:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/75da8c9f9fad2ba4b9c8673dd283e775-11.html#unique-entry-id-11</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/75da8c9f9fad2ba4b9c8673dd283e775-11.html#unique-entry-id-11</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[My friend had a rice bag heating pad at her house the other day when I went over, and since my hands were cold we stuck the bag in the microwave for about 2 minutes to warm it up and ta-dah!  ...  She bought hers somewhere, but I figured I could just make one out of old clothes I don&lsquo;t ever wear anymore.    So I made 4 small bags to stick into your pockets and slippers, and 2 larger ones for warming up my feet when I go to sleep. ...  Both my mom and I use them every night because it&lsquo;s quite relaxing and our beds are always cold when we first get in.)    This is much more versatile than a disposable one-time heating pad sold at Walmart, it&rsquo;s fun and easy to make, and definitely better than throwing your clothes away.  

...Get an old T-shirt (any kind of clothing you don&rsquo;t wear anymore, but preferably stretchy and soft, but NO METALLIC - remember it&lsquo;s going into the microwave!)


Cut out rectangles twice the size of however large you want the bag to be (for instance, if you want a medium sized bag, cut out a rectangle the size of a sheet of paper 8x11 inches)


Fold it in half and sew (either by hand or sewing machine) two short sides of the rectangle together with the inside of the shirt facing outwards


...It should be a rectangle (or square) half the size of what you started out with when it&rsquo;s lying flat on the table


Sew the bottom of the bag together (still inside-out)


Turn the bag inside-out so that the outside of the shirt is facing out and the inside facing inwards


Fold about an inch of the top of the bag into itself so that the frayed edges are now inside the bag


...Put some white long grain (NOT INSTANT) rice in the bag (I suggest that it&rsquo;s full but not too full so the bag can conform to your feet or hand shape)


...Microwave it for only a minute the first time you use it so you don&rsquo;t smell a burning scent then add a minute or two depending on how hot you want it (the length of time you microwave it for depends on the amount of rice you have in it, so until you know how hot you want it and how long it takes to make it that hot, do it in one minute intervals)


...Don&rsquo;t over-do it or you will scald (maybe even burn) yourself
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Beer Bottle Goblets&#x21;</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>reuse</category><category>Mina</category><dc:date>2009-03-20T19:39:36-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/0ed617133c85ea0f739d8d1074681c95-9.html#unique-entry-id-9</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/0ed617133c85ea0f739d8d1074681c95-9.html#unique-entry-id-9</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This is kinda cool!    All you need is an empty beer bottle, super glue, a gas burner (or just something that melts glass), and a saw to cut through the glass with!    Okay, they&rsquo;re not typical everyday objects that might be lying around the house, although if you have the stuff it would be REALLY awesome to make.    Actually, you can use a glass-cutter to score the bottle, and a flame and ice-water will give you a good clean cut.  


You just cut the bottom of the bottle off.    Then fire the edges that you cut (so you don&rsquo;t hurt yourself).    Next, glue the bottom to the top of the bottle, and fire the places where they connect to insure it&rsquo;s leak proof.    They don&rsquo;t look half bad and it&rsquo;s a great way to use a beer bottle again if you&rsquo;re not recycling it (though I gotta say, you should recycle it).    You can actually drink out of this, or use it as a decoration.    Did you know that glasses like this are actually sold online!?    They&rsquo;re priced at &pound;12.95 each (in the U.K.) and come in different beer brands.    Imagine if you made a bunch of these and sold them as a fundraiser!    They are extremely cheap to make so even if you sold it for only $3 each you could make a HUGE profit!    Personally, if I saw this being sold, I would get one to give to my brother.    He would get an artistic recycled kick out of it. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Inexpensive Organic Clothing</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>rethink</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-03-22T19:29:50-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/f451e4a8acaf28d3e243b15c0e19bec3-8.html#unique-entry-id-8</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/f451e4a8acaf28d3e243b15c0e19bec3-8.html#unique-entry-id-8</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Does it seem like being green is spendy sometimes?    Well, Target is trying to help us environmentalists by making organic clothes affordable!   (I know, exciting!!)   Target will be launching a line of Loomstate organic clothing on April 19th, just in time for Earth Day.   The clothes are priced from $14.99- 49.99.   So everyone will be able to find something that fits his or her budget.   In my opinion the clothes are super cute.   Check out TreeHugger&rsquo;s pictures of them. 


Why is buying organic clothes better?    Think of it this way: buying organic clothes is kind of like buying organic produce and food.   Organic clothes are made without chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and defoliants.   By buying these goods instead of the regular, average, chemically processed clothes we are supporting the earth to be used the right way- without killing it- and not hurting ourselves.   The more people buy organic clothes (like the ones found at Target) the faster we can stop the production of non-organic products.   As more and more people catch on, the price will go lower and lower because more companies will offer organic clothes to meet the demand!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Blackle</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>reduce</category><category>Olivia</category><dc:date>2009-03-20T19:18:40-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/d537c72c7eb4e356f86cbf620133c1a8-7.html#unique-entry-id-7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/d537c72c7eb4e356f86cbf620133c1a8-7.html#unique-entry-id-7</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[With new technology spreading rapidly everywhere, some people might think that it is impossible to save energy technology-wise.   Well, I've found something that can help us to get greener with just the click of a mouse.   It's called Blackle.com.   You know how so many people use Google.com to search for pictures and information?    Did you ever wonder how much engery that uses just to load the webpage?   A lot. 


Thats why they&rsquo;ve invented Blackle.   Blackle.com is a website that was created by the same people who came up with Google.   It is pretty much the exact same system, it just uses less energy because it doesn&rsquo;t fill your screen with white.   Pretty cool right?   It's really easy to use too.   You just go to Blackle.com to access the website.   It's that easy!   So if you are looking for a way to save energy but don't really have time, then how about changing the way we use energy and check out Blackle.com.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Soap-Making</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>cleaners</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-03-15T17:59:28-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/c218473ea71ae7bbedc92696e58819bb-6.html#unique-entry-id-6</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/c218473ea71ae7bbedc92696e58819bb-6.html#unique-entry-id-6</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Mina and Olivia came over at 11 a.m. yesterday to get the laundry soap fundraising really started.   I was really ready to get the process moving so that we would be able to acquire some money to pay off our T-shirts in the near future.  

...Mina grated the bars of soap while Olivia and I transported the milk jugs from the barn into the kitchen and peeled them.    It took us a couple trips for us to get all the jugs from the barn.   But we had managed to scrape up 29 milk jugs from our friends, family, and the other members of GKT. 


While we were making the trips back and forth to the barn, my Mom and Dad were heating water on the stove to bring it to a boil.   At the same time I was washing the jugs to make sure that there wasn&rsquo;t any milk scum inside.   After the water had boiled they turned each burner off and mixed the ingredients together in the water. 

...It really helps to mix the ingredients in their own pots of hot water, and then mix them together in the big bucket after they&rsquo;re completely dissolved.  ...  When we made it before, we added the soap, washing soda and borax together in one pot of hot water.  

...After we had finished making one batch we would fill the jugs full and place them on the dining room table to be labeled.   Once we had finished filling the 29 jugs, Mina, Olivia and I sat down and started attaching the logos and information to the jugs, while the parents started to clean up the kitchen.   This was the hardest part of the whole process because the labels and the contact paper didn&rsquo;t stick well to the milk bottle.   We ended up putting the contact paper all the way around the bottle so the labels would not get wet and they wouldn&rsquo;t fall off. 


...Some people asked how it works on clothes, so it was a good thing we&rsquo;ve been using it.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>GKT Meeting #2</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>meetings</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-03-10T17:13:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/adc93b88e0115930328f96aadfaa6dce-5.html#unique-entry-id-5</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/adc93b88e0115930328f96aadfaa6dce-5.html#unique-entry-id-5</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[At second GKT meeting everyone was a lot more comfortable with getting her voice heard.   It was a little hectic, but we got some good ideas throughout the hour. 

...One of the men there offered to get us involved with a Green Up Keene Day. 

...Punta Mona: Briefly we went over the trip to Costa Rica that is planned for next February. 


Fundraising:  We planned when some of the members could make it over to my house to make laundry detergent. ...  At the meeting we also talked about other potential fundraising ideas. 


Logo/T-shirts:  Everyone was pretty excited to make Brea&rsquo;s logo our club&rsquo;s official sign.   Mom recreated the idea in Photoshop, in time to send it to the t-shirt people.  ...  Recently I have been in the process of getting Gemini Screen Printing to make our shirts. 

...Earth Day:  There were some ideas for doing some kind of event for Earth Day, but we decided against it because we have too many things to do right now. 

...Green Magazine:  Laura had the idea of making a Green Magazine after the club got more settled.   We decided if we pursue this idea, that we will have four issues a year corresponding with the seasons. 


Bank Account:  After we get our Non-profit Certificate we will be getting a bank account at one of the banks in town, so we can keep our money in perfect order. 

...Blog Ideas:  I encourage everyone to try to write a blog entry or two.   I provided them with ideas and prompts of what they could write about. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>GKT Meeting #1</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>meetings</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-02-21T14:25:54-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/0871bb98c5e0552087dc3f8041ff09fd-4.html#unique-entry-id-4</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/0871bb98c5e0552087dc3f8041ff09fd-4.html#unique-entry-id-4</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I was curious to see who would show up at my first meeting of Green Keene Teens on Thursday Feb. 19th. ...  When it was over and everyone was leaving Olivia said, &ldquo;No offense, but I didn&rsquo;t think it was going to be this fun!&rdquo; ...  When I got home I already had emails with more ideas for fundraising and a blog waiting for me to read! 

...If you happen to miss any meetings or are just wondering what we are talking about and planning check back here to see what we&rsquo;ve done.   I will be putting up a blog each time we have a meeting with the major things we have gone over and talked about. 


...I wasn&rsquo;t very happy with the Sierra Club at school because not everyone in the club would show up to every meeting because of other commitments or they just weren&rsquo;t excited about what we were doing. 

...To become a member of Green Keene Teens, you have to do some volunteering. ...  Volunteering will make us seem more like an established club that will become well known and liked in the community. ...  I explained that you don&rsquo;t only have to be caring for the animals, you can help with gardens, work on projects and much more. ...  We are also going to be making T-shirts for the club so we are easily identifiable when we are out and about. 

...We will have a club trip to Punta Mona, a sustainable living community on an island off of Costa Rica.   We are going to fundraise all of the money to cover the expenses, so stay tuned to see what cool ideas we come up with. 

...We have come up with a few ideas already like: selling home-made, earth-friendly laundry detergent, felted soap bars, beeswax candles, drawings and paintings of nature scenes, recycled and earth-friendly school supplies, having car washes, healthy/organic bake sales, and much more! 


...This helps make it clear that Green Keene Teens are excited and ready to talk about the environment to anyone. 

...Once we have come up with our logo it will be on this website, our T-shirts, and the things we make. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Save Energy--This Means You</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>energy</category><category>Olivia</category><dc:date>2009-02-20T18:51:31-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/2e2c079417515aad26d964b69e61e4e2-3.html#unique-entry-id-3</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/2e2c079417515aad26d964b69e61e4e2-3.html#unique-entry-id-3</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Today I helped the environment, and it wasn't even that hard.   When I was in my house I noticed that there were many lights on that didn't need to be, so I turned the ones off that didn't need to be on.   By turning off some lights in my house I was conserving energy.


&nbsp;


A lot of people make the assumption that by 'going green' you have to sacrifice a lot and it is very difficult to do.   But in reality it really isn't.   Sometimes you do have to sacrifce things, but thats a part of life.


&nbsp;


So next time you're at home think about turning off an extra light that isn't being used, think about taking shorter showers, think about ways that you can help save our planet.   Cause it only takes one person to make a huge impact in the world.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Making all-purpose cleaner</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>reduce</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-01-28T14:17:35-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/0dc8d87493ef85f6710c0c0be24fc79d-2.html#unique-entry-id-2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/0dc8d87493ef85f6710c0c0be24fc79d-2.html#unique-entry-id-2</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It is true that you can get every cleaner in existence at a local grocery store.   Why should I take the time to make my own cleaner when it is already done for me?   Well here are the answers I thought of off the top of my head: Many manufactured household cleaners iritate the earth and even you. ...  And what might surprise you, is making your own cleaners is very easy and doesn&rsquo;t take much time at all. 


Alishia Alther and I made a whole bottle of all-purpose cleaner in ten minutes before we went out one night last week. ...  There are a few ingredients that you might not have heard of, such as borax and castile soap. ...  These ingredients will probably last our family of six more than 2 years, so the cost isn&rsquo;t that bad.   You will probably be able to find borax at the grocery store, but castile soap you might have to search for a bit. 

...You might be thinking &lsquo;How is making cleaners better than buying them at the store?&rsquo; ...  You have to remember that before the cleaners you buy get to your store they have to be made in a factory, put into those nifty spray bottles that usually only get used once, then they have to be shipped to your store.   Having all the things you need to make your cleaner already at home would save all that energy that gets used to make package, and ship the cleaners. ...  I&rsquo;m not sure how you classify things as 100% environmental because usually any cleaning product has to have something in it like phosphate that will clean well (which usually hurt the earth).   But homemade cleaners don&rsquo;t have any chemicals that are made in a lab. ...  Also there isn&rsquo;t a need to keep buying new bottles with the new cleaner in it. 

...You may have your doubts about them, but just because they don&rsquo;t have that harsh chemical smell doesn&rsquo;t mean they aren&rsquo;t working.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Reduce&#x2c; Reuse&#x2c; Recycle&#x2c; Rethink</title><dc:creator>lucy@greenkeeneteens.com</dc:creator><category>general</category><category>Lucy</category><dc:date>2009-01-23T16:19:49-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/2df6edfbd5e0041af10dcc17877f3b94-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.greenkeeneteens.com/page1/files/2df6edfbd5e0041af10dcc17877f3b94-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Many of us just throw things into the trash bin because we are done using them.   All that &lsquo;trash&rsquo; will get taken away and you&rsquo;ll never see it again, right?   At some point we won&rsquo;t have any place to put the trash anymore.   The landfills will be in our backyards.   We should Rethink what we&rsquo;re throwing away.   Can it be Reused?   Can it be Recylced?    Can we Reduce the amount we use?    This will stop the landfill from filling, and it will put money in your pocket when you don&rsquo;t have to pay for those extra bags not being thrown away.
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