Community Roots is beginning its 6th year as a program of KEA. Community Roots began in 2007 with the Local Food Share Program which collects surplus produce from the Farmers Market and backyard gardeners and redistributes it to the many food assistance facilities in our community. To date Local Food Share has provided approximately 30,000 lbs of fruits and vegetables to those that would otherwise more »
Consumers today are more conscientious than ever about where their food is sourced and how it is grown. Since the passing of The Organic Food Production Act in 1990, the organic food industry in the U.S. has grown at a rate of 20-30% per year, making it the fastest growing sector in the food market. Growing awareness of the quality and nutrient value of the more »
Although I consider myself an amateur gardener, I regularly have friends asking me for advice in starting a garden. It can feel like a daunting task; chopping sod, finding someone with a rototiller and tilling the ground, or building raised beds and hauling soil, figuring out what to add to the soil, figuring out how to sow and tend to each plant. The entire months’ more »
As summer is starting to fade into fall I am reminded and wishing for that amazing warm weather we saw this season. With that weather and current pollutants found in lakes, two documented blue green algae blooms exploded in Fernan and Hayden lakes causing health advisories and shutting down lake access. Why is Blue Green Algae showing up in our lakes? Blue Green Algae is more »
Two weeks ago KEA held a Volunteer Lake Monitors kayaking trip. The morning was beautiful and calm, perfect for enjoying the beauty of CdA Lake and Spokane River. The 9 volunteers and KEA geared up and launched out in boats provided by North Idaho College Outdoor Pursuits. We headed downstream towards three stormwater outfall pipes. Here is where we discussed the impacts of stormwater pollution more »
On a Wednesday morning a group of motivated students, part of Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education partnered with Kootenai Environmental Alliance to stencil storm drains with the message, “DUMP NO WASTE, FLOWS TO OUR LAKE.” These volunteers dedicated their time to raise awareness about stormwater pollution. Many people are under the assumption that these storm drains, that have become so apart of the landscape more »
On a recent volunteer effort to stencil stormdrains with the message “Dump No Waste, Flows To Lake,” volunteers also collected garbage. Most of this garbage consisted of cigarette butts. Not only was it unsightly and unpleasant to collect and dispose of, it poses a health problem for our waterways. Cigarette butts are NOT biodegradable, but are made of “synthetic polymer cellulose acetate,” a plastic that more »
Stormwater is run-off from rain events and snow melt that flows over hard surfaces like pavement, roofs and sidewalks and picks up debris and pollutants in its path. This flow is directed either into a storm sewer system or can go directly into our waterways. Even if stormwater goes into a storm sewer system, it still gets discharged directly into Coeur d’Alene Lake or the more »
Just this past week, in a move that was not unexpected expected and long-overdue, the Centers for Disease Control lowered the “level of concern” for the amount of lead in a child’s bloodstream. This new CDC policy expands significantly the number of children that should be considered for lead poisoning interventions. The level of concern had been previously established at 10 µg/dl (micrograms for a more »
We got word from some dedicated ice climbers that Kootenai County Parks and Waterways is considering the sale or disposal of Chilco Falls Park, one of the best ice-climbing spots in the entire inland northwest. Difficult to find, difficult to access, and with no park amenities whatsoever, the property is being considered for surplus, with the proceeds of any sale rumored to go toward facilities in more »
