CoSpero Consulting’s Post

Thinking globally, acting locally this Earth Day At our Foundation we have always appreciated our local community's respect for nature, outdoor recreation, and wanting to have clean water and clean air and healthy eco systems for all lives of nature to thrive. In honor of Earth Day today, we would like to highlight our efforts in local area to support our dedication to make our home - Earth a better place for all of us at present and for our future generations. We have different funds which support our local parks and environment:- Canton Trail Fund Canton Trail Fund is designed to provide grants to Canton Township for the building and maintaining of public bike and walking trails within the township of Canton. The intention of the fund is to be a supplement to existing and proposed future trail improvement, maintenance, expansion and capital construction activities of the Charter Township of Canton. Creating Habitats for Pollinators Fund The charitable purpose of this fund is to increase the amount of dedicated habitat for pollinating insects by planting native wildflowers in public and private spaces. We hope to engage communities, organizations, and individuals that might not otherwise support native landscaping. Our Lunch & Learn series has hosted several speakers to talk about environmental issues:- Healthy Yard Maintenance Annette DeMaria, Executive Director of the Alliance of Rouge Communities, provided advice and tips on creating a beautiful yard while protecting the Rouge River Watershed. Suggestions for fertilizer/pesticide use, mowing strategies, animal waste, and household chemical use were all discussed. Create Your Own Pollinator Garden David Hammond, Founder & Executive Director of Creating Habitats gave a very informative talk on Creating your own Pollinators Garden. Although pollinators are a critical part of our food system and the cornerstone of many ecosystems, they are in trouble. For the last two decades, pollinators have been under serious threat from habitat loss, climate change and pesticide use. One of the very best, and easiest, things you can do to help pollinators is to plant a wildflower garden at your own home. These wildflower gardens not only provide new habitats for pollinators to thrive, they brighten up your yard, and reduce yard maintenance costs. Eco-Burial Gives Michigan Residents Lower Cost, Environmentally Friendly Option. The way we live impacts the world. So does the way we die. It isn't death that creates ecological problems, but rather the processes for dealing with our deceased. Peter and Annica Quakenbush talked about different options offered to Michiganders.

It’s time to rollout #ecovoltaics/#agrivoltaics across the Commonwealth! Pollinator plantings can be readily managed with targeted sheep grazing to keep woody plants under control, stagger bloom times & provide appropriate disturbance. Reducing grass competition periodically is important as the planting ages to reinvigorate wildflower stands. I look forward to a day when multiple activities are integrated on the same property - habitat, cover crops, vegetable production, grazing & more on different parts of sites or in rotation.

There’s more than one layer to embracing #Agrivoltaics within the landscape fabric of our communities. Solar farms may not be as impactful as Solar ON farms and family owned land. When it comes to how much, where and enviromental impact down to the simplest terms of pollinator habitats it worth the consideration to look at solar through a different lense. There’s more than one way to look at solar. #cleanenergy #AgriVoltaics #thinkglobalactlocal

How could 'Inaction' be productive? I bet, it does in this case ! 😄 Traditional lush green lawn treated with weed killers vs the one with natural clovers; flowers also give the bee population a chance to recover. It's a win-win! TENNESSEE SMART YARDS: Keeping Tennessee’s land and water healthy, one yard at a time. We call it a Smart Yard - a yard that is in balance with the local environment for the benefit of both people and our ecosystem. Tennessee Smart Yards is an Extension-led program that guides Tennesseans on practices they can apply in their outdoor spaces to create healthier, more ecologically-sound landscapes and communities. Nine principles of stewardship serve as the foundation for the program and are explored in online modules and practical workshops taught by UT-TSU Extension and water resource professionals.  https://tnyards.utk.edu/

Thanks to North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) for publishing this blog by my colleague Elizabeth Soper about our Resilient Schools and Communities (RiSC) program Replication Toolkit which discusses the program's '6 Essential Sources of Effectiveness' and provides tools and resources for those wishing to adapt/replicate the program in their communities. #climateeducation #climateaction #resilience #frontline #communities

With the help of my advisor, Dr. Kelly Main, I'm thrilled to share the completion of my senior project! 🎓🌱 This senior project addresses food insecurity in San Diego's Mid-City region by proposing strategies to increase access to healthy, affordable food options. The two main recommendations are re-establishing a community farmer's market with city involvement and implementing a mobile produce market, both aimed at bringing fresh, nutritious food directly to underserved neighborhoods. These initiatives build on the past success of a discontinued community-run farmers' market and an existing, though limited, mobile produce market run by a local nonprofit. By leveraging the City's resources, expertise, and collaborative partnerships, the project strives to increase affordable and equitable access to locally sourced produce, support local agriculture, and foster vibrant community spaces. The proposed approaches emphasize collaborative governance, strategic site selection, vendor recruitment, affordability strategies, community engagement, and sustainable funding models to ensure long-term success and community resilience.

🏡From Farm Life to New Beginnings: Lessons from My Roots 🌾 🚜Growing up on a farm outside Hannibal, MO, was an experience that shaped me in ways I didn't fully appreciate until much later. This picture of my childhood home, taken many years after I left, highlights that part of my life. In middle school, I moved back to my home state of Louisiana, leaving the farm life behind. When I met my wife, one of the first trips we took together was back to see the old farm. I had always told her I grew up in the country, but her reaction when she saw the vast openness was priceless. She said, "Oh, you mean COUNTRY,"😮 expecting something similar to the outer suburbs she was used to. The reality was a stark contrast, a reminder of the simplicity and challenges of rural life. 🌲 🌱Revisiting the farm after so many years and seeing how time had changed it made me reflect on the passage of time and the lessons I learned there. It taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and the importance of staying connected to our roots, no matter where life takes us. 💪 As I continue my journey, these lessons remain with me, influencing my approach to education, training, and personal growth. Our past experiences, no matter how different from our present, hold invaluable lessons that can guide our future. ✨What lessons from your childhood have stayed with you and shaped who you are today? #LessonsLearned #Education #PersonalGrowth #Training #RuralLife #FarmLife #Reflection

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If you haven't already learned about tree equity in your community and hometown, I highly recommend acquainting yourself with American Forests' Tree Equity Score resource here: https://lnkd.in/gS7bh4xm The importance of a healthy tree canopy cannot be understated. Have a look at your neighborhood and find out how your local leaders are addressing urban forestry and tree equity!

By choosing to invest in existing building stock you not only contribute to the fight against climate change but you also help to preserve stories and culture for future generations, and support important heritage skills that are vital to many communities. Imagine.. traditional buildings doing all that by just being there. It’s worth it.