Maple Grove Citizens for Sustainability - MGC4S

04/17/2025

Here's a great opportunity to get for your yard.

🌱Native Plant Sale and Free Compost Giveaway!🌱

Robbinsdale is currently hosting a native plant kit sale in partnership with Minnesota Native Landscapes (MNL)! Each $60 kit includes 36 plants (6 species) and covers 40–60 sq ft. There is no purchase limit!

Explore kit options & order at www.robbinsdalemn.gov/nativeplantsale.

The plant kit pickup is scheduled for Saturday, May 17 at Lee Park. To make things even better, the Robbinsdale Sustainability team is hosting a free compost giveaway at the pickup site starting at 8:00 AM! It’s a perfect opportunity to get your garden thriving with both native plants and high-quality compost. Please remember to bring your own container for compost (one five-gallon bucket per resident). The compost giveaway is open to everyone, even if you did not purchase a plant kit.

04/01/2025

Box garden spaces are going FAST! Don't miss out on the opportunity to join us as we move into the fourth year of our incubator project. Our practices are organic, offering 4x8 box gardens.


Sign-up link: https://mgc4s.club/ola/services/field-to-table-incubator-program-2025

02/17/2025

Pour yourself a warm beverage and join us for our next Community Coffee Chat! ☕

Metro Blooms coffee chats are an opportunity to connect with us and catch up on our current projects. Geared for both long-time followers and those new to us, we’ll be sharing stories about a different aspect of our work each season.

On March 5th, we’ll be sharing about how to support soil health in your neighborhood with special guests Bob Dahm, former owner of Organic Bob, and Makayla Freeman, Metro Blooms’ Environmental and Social Justice Manager.

Register for either our 8:30-9 am or 6:30-7 pm session at https://metroblooms.org/community-coffee-chat/

02/17/2025

This is an awesome company! Metro Blooms

We have two open positions for interns with our Community Relations team this summer! 🌱

You’ll learn about environmental and social justice, and your work will include personal projects, gardening, door-knocking, community events, and kids’ programs. Most of the work will be in North Minneapolis.

🌼 June–August, 10-15 hours per week
🌼 Position open to those ages 16–22
🌼 $20 per hour
🌼 BIPOC youth from Minneapolis encouraged to apply!

Apply at https://metroblooms.org/employment/

02/17/2025

OPPORTUNITY FOR AG-TECH STARTUPS!

Ag Startup Engine was founded to support early-stage ag-tech entrepreneurs and drive innovation in Iowa and beyond. They know that reaching the point where you're ready for outside investment can take time, and sometimes, you need a little help. While they are always open to mentoring and advising early-stage founders, they recognize that a bit of capital can make a big difference in your journey.

That's where the Cultivator Grant Program comes in. Funded by Ag Startup Engine, this program empowers agriculture and food startups with grants of up to $2,000, giving you the boost needed to move your ideas forward.

Imagine having the resources to create a prototype that brings your solution to life or test out assumptions with customers to refine your vision. The Cultivator Grant enables exactly that. And the best part? This funding is non-dilutive, so you retain 100% ownership of your idea. Learn more here! https://www.agstartupengine.com/grant-program?utm_source=Ag+Startup+Engine&utm_campaign=ac13b490d6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_12_14_07_56_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-4373766b11-271109382

02/10/2025

Check out these work opportunities from a great company.

Are you interested in getting more involved in environmental stewardship and serving your community? 🌱

There is a place for you! The green economy is growing, providing well-paying jobs and education opportunities to people interested in beautifying and protecting the environment. 🌼

Our Learning and Job Resources page is filled with a variety of career and learning resources: https://metroblooms.org/learning-and-job-resources/

Ready to apply to jobs? Our Blue Thumb - Planting for Clean Water Job Board lists opportunities in the environmental field throughout the state of Minnesota. Many seasonal positions and internships are opening up right now! https://bluethumb.org/job-board/

02/09/2025

Calling all Clean Tech Startups!
Applications for the 2025 Cleantech Open Accelerator are open now!

Are you ready to take your cleantech startup to the next level?

Join a 12-week program designed to help startups scale through expert mentoring, specialized training, and unparalleled networking opportunities.

But don’t wait too long—applications close on April 13th.
Start Your Application: https://www.cleantechopen.org/en/page/2025-cto-accelerator-en

Know another startup that could benefit from Cleantech Open? Share this opportunity with them or refer them here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfW2iOXC9eLO83V34L57n4H1lNNlq_bKvhmklU1UoLmE90Nig/viewform

02/03/2025

IT'S THAT TIME!!! The Application period is now open for Lawns to Legumes Fall 2025 Grants.

WHO: Anyone who lives in Minnesota and has an outdoor space for planting is eligible to apply for a fall 2025 Lawns to Legumes grant.

WHAT: The Lawns to Legumes program aims to increase habitat for at-risk pollinators in residential settings across the state by providing reimbursement-based funding, workshops, coaching and gardening resources. People who live in Minnesota and have a yard, deck, or other outdoor space for planting can apply to be reimbursed for up to $400 in costs associated with establishing new pollinator habitat. The program is available to both Minnesota homeowners and renters.

HOW TO APPLY: Lawns to Legumes is administered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) in partnership with Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water. Apply for Fall 2025 grants on Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water’s website: https://bluethumb.org/lawns-to-legumes/apply/

WHY: “Even small plantings in yards or boulevards make a difference for Minnesota’s pollinators,” said BWSR Executive Director John Jaschke. “Lawns to Legumes gives Minnesotans a unique opportunity to take a hands-on approach to conservation.”

WHEN: Applications will be accepted through May 15.

If you previously applied for the program and did not receive an award, you will need to reapply to be considered for fall 2025 funding.

More than 8,000 residential habitat projects across all 87 Minnesota counties have been completed since the program launched in 2019. Lawns to Legumes also shares online resources such as gardening templates, habitat guides and advice about selecting native plants for all Minnesotans interested in creating pollinator habitat in their yards.

The state’s general fund supports Lawns to Legumes.
For more information about Lawns to Legumes, visit BWSR’s website: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l

02/03/2025

Apply for the spring Community Recycling Ambassadors class by February 6.

Volunteer in our community and inspire others to reduce, reuse and recycle as a Hennepin County Community Recycling Ambassador!

Spring 2025 course schedule
Dates: Thursdays from February 20 through March 27
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: The class will take place virtually via Zoom.

Registration policy and commitment
Before applying, please ensure that you meet the following requirements:
• You are 18 years of age or older
• You live, work, or go to school within Hennepin County
• You are available for all six class sessions
• You can commit to 30 hours of volunteering after the class completes
• You have access to internet and a computer or similar device to attend class virtually.

Participants agree to attend all six class dates and to dedicate approximately one hour per week of independent study outside of class. Any field trips are optional but highly encouraged. There is no fee to join the program.

Participants commit to volunteer 30-hours of public outreach within Hennepin County after graduating from the class. When the 30-hour commitment is fulfilled, participants are considered certified Community Recycling Ambassadors and are encouraged to continue their volunteer service.

Apply now!
The application is open now and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, February 6. Applicants will be notified whether they are accepted into the class by the end of the day on Thursday, February 13.

To apply, complete the Community Recycling Ambassadors application. https://hennepinco.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8ujttOtcthYp1gW

Join fellow waste reduction enthusiasts and inspire others to reduce, reuse and recycle as a Hennepin County Community Recycling Ambassador (formerly known as Master Recycler/Composter)!

02/01/2025

ATTENTION SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS - $2 million available for small businesses to upgrade or purchase capital equipment

Applications accepted on a rolling basis:
The MPCA is still accepting applications for the Small Business Environmental Improvement Loan! 0% interest loans are available to assist Minnesota’s small businesses improve their business practices to meet or exceed environmental regulations. More information can be found on the small business environmental improvement loans webpage. https://www.pca.state.mn.us/grants-and-loans/small-business-environmental-improvement-loans

Funding available:
Approximately $2 million in funding is available. The minimum loan amount is $1,000 and the maximum loan amount is $75,000. The interest rate is zero percent (0%).

Eligible applicants and projects:
Eligible applicants include existing Minnesota small businesses that must have:
• less than 100 full-time employees.
• an after-tax profit of less than $500,000.
• a demonstrated ability to repay the loan.
Examples of eligible projects include:
• Upgrade refrigerants to a lower global warming potential (GWP)
• Upgrade winter maintenance equipment (i.e. brine equipment, snow blade equipment, snowblower etc.)
• Water Based Paint Equipment/Booth
• Auxiliary Power Unit
• Installation of EV charging stations at small businesses
• Upgrade to battery powered commercial landscaping equipment
• Equipment to support outdoor air emission reduction projects from finishing operations and autobody shops

Ineligible projects: Lighting, HVAC, or the purchase of a new vehicle.

Questions?
Email any questions regarding the loan program to [email protected].

10/28/2024

This! Let's get kids outside!! Grants available.

QUEERY is a nature club for q***r and questioning middle and high school youth that receives partial funding through the No Child Left Inside grant offered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Recent research has shown that students are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature. Encouraging more people to engage with the outdoors is crucial for the future preservation of Minnesota's natural resources. The No Child Left Inside grant program is designed to support initiatives that promote youth engagement with the outdoors.

Our program offers a safe space for young people in southeast Minnesota to learn outdoor skills, form connections, and explore the intersection of q***rness and the natural world. During our first QUEERY meetup on Saturday, October 12th, in Northfield, MN, we will introduce the program, get to know each other, and then take a walk to appreciate the fall colors and learn about a very q***r animal preparing for winter.

To learn the exact location of this event, please complete the sign-up form. We also want to emphasize that QUEERY is an inclusive space for individuals with disabilities. We will tailor our activities to accommodate the diverse needs of our attendees, ensuring that everyone can participate. Find out more and sign up here: cleanriverpartners.org/events/q***ry-oct