Sustainable Missoula: Tools for everyday sustainability

CaseyValencia

With the increasing urgency of today’s climate and environmental crises, the need to rethink the way we live to truly make them more sustainable has been greater than ever. But how does that work in practice?

How do you build sustainability into your everyday life? What resources would make sustainable decisions easier for you and your family? And how does our community support sustainable living on an individual level?

Thankfully, Missoula has an incredible support system for anyone interested in making more sustainable choices, but knowing where to start can be overwhelming!

The Missoula Urban Demonstration Project (MUD) and our partners can help you start your own green journey at home, at work and beyond. MUD’s largest program is our tool library, located on the corner of Russell and Wyoming right next to Home ReSource.

The tool library has nearly 3,000 tools that can be borrowed from a library like books. With so many tools available, our members can create much-needed updates to their living spaces. MUD also hosts a variety of workshops each year to instill sustainable living in our community.

Come to our annual garden party on September 10th to learn more about our work to empower people to build a more sustainable community and check out some of our tips below for incorporating sustainable living into your own life this fall .

Around your house:

  • Check out MUD’s upcoming workshops to learn basic tool skills, including a women-led introduction to carpentry
  • Winterize your home and save on heating – seal leaky windows and doors, ensure adequate insulation and check your heating appliances to make sure they are working properly
  • Fix leaky faucets and toilets to save water – watch our women-led intro to plumbing to learn the skills to do it yourself
  • Patch up your clothing and gear with a MUD sewing machine (or visit a Fixit Clinic at Home ReSource for additional help)
  • Move your home toward Zero Waste with local composting options like Soil Cycle and Missoula Compost Collection

In the yard and garden:

  • Start a garden to grow your own food – fall is a great time to build garden beds for spring planting
  • Check out this local guide from Grow Safe: Non-Toxic Missoula to learn how to take care of your garden without chemicals
  • Install a rainwater collector to water your yard or garden (or check out MUD’s rain barrel workshop this fall)
  • Rent an electric mower and trimmer from MUD to reduce CO2 emissions
  • Preserve your harvest with MUD’s dehydrators, cider presses and meat grinders
  • Get inspired to protect pollinators by touring MUD’s beehives, pollinator garden and bee turf, or check out our beekeeping workshops this fall

On their way:

  • Change up your routine and walk, bike, or take the bus
  • Fix your bike at MUD’s bike repair station or borrow the tools to do it at home
  • Keep your vehicle running efficiently and learn basic car maintenance skills at a female-run workshop this fall

In your community:

  • Volunteers! MUD is always looking for people to help work on projects around the site. It’s a great way to meet people and give back at the same time
  • Learn about community-wide sustainability efforts at events like Climate Smart’s Clean Energy Expo and Home ReSource’s SponCon, both taking place on September 17
  • Do you feel inspired and want to meet other sustainable thinking people in Missoula? Join us for our annual Garden Party at MUD on September 10th from 6pm to 10pm. Buy tickets here for a full moon night of delicious food, live music, upcycled carnival games and fun community connections. The event supports the tool library and our workshops as we continue to provide the tools and skills for sustainable living in Missoula. Hope to see you there!

Casey Valencia is the Executive Director of the Missoula Urban Demonstration Project. This sustained Missoula column is brought to you most weeks by Climate Smart Missoula and Home ReSource, via the Missoula Current.

Sustainability Happenings

Here we offer ideas for sustainable ways to get involved in our community. If you like these offers, you can sign up for the Climate Smart eNewsletter here. And sign up for the Home ReSource eNews via their homepage here.

It’s farmers market season! Support local food and farmers. The Missoula Farmers Market (N. HIggins) and Clark Fork River Market are held Saturdays through October, with a Tuesday night market July through September. Keep an eye out for the Wildfire Smoke Ready booths this week!

10 Sept 6pm – 10pm. MUD’s garden party. Buy tickets here for a night of delicious food, live music, upcycled carnival games, and fun community connections.

17 Sept 10am – 2pm. Climate Smarts 4th Annual Climate and Clean Energy Fair at Caras Park. Solar installers, local climate and sustainability organizations, educational programs, e-bike and car shows, children’s activities and more! FREE!

17 Sept Home Resources Spontaneous build. Missoula’s Festival of Creative Reinvention! Reuse. compete. Create. Enjoy! More information and team registration here.

27 Sept Book Club & Authors Discussion: Saving Us by Katherine Hayhoe. 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Staying with families for a climate worth living in. All are invited to read Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World, followed by a discussion and Q&A with climate scientist, author and climate communications expert, Katherine Hayhoe. Register here.

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