Six-Stop Tour: Go Green
April kicks off spring and brings Earth Day … excellent reminders of the importance of going green and taking steps to reduce, reuse and recycle.
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Craft It
Scraps KC, located in Downtown KC, is a shop filled with items begging to be creatively repurposed. You’ll find everything from the unusual to the ordinary: yarn, fabric, bottles, art supplies, paper, plastic, frames and everything in between. A new purpose is just waiting for everything in this oasis for creatives. ScrapsKC.org
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Make It
Habitat for Humanity has five local ReStore locations. At the shops, they sell remodeling materials that would otherwise be discarded. Donated materials—everything from hardware, tile and carpet to the proverbial kitchen sink and furnishings—are sold at a fraction of retail. Good for the budget, good for the environment and a good cause for the community. HabitatKC.org
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Green Spring
Powell Gardens, a970-acre botanical garden, features an entirely edible landscape in their Heartland Harvest Garden, a 600-footliving rock wall,3-mile nature trail, meadows and flower gardens. Through classes, tours and programs, they are committed to nature education for both novice and expert gardeners. Many of the plants are regionally native and all highlight the changing seasons.
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Nature Lovers
Located in Swope Park, Lakeside Nature Center is home to native wildlife including birds of prey, snakes, amphibians, turtles, fish and invertebrates. The center helps care for injured animals and abandoned native animals. With interactive exhibits teaching the importance of conservation and the role we play in protecting nature, the center is dedicated to education. LakesideNatureCenter.org
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Green Zoo
The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium knows the importance of the environment, and they practice what they preach through a variety of initiatives, including a compost program, environmentally friendly construction, the purchase of sustainable products, the use of solar panels and the sale of composted animal manure, or Zoo Manoo, to the public year-round. KansasCityZoo.org
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Eat Green
Cafe Gratitude, located on Southwest Boulevard, is a leader in environmentally friendly dining. They specialize in gourmet plant-based cuisine that is nutritious and delicious. The menu spotlights food that is healthy and sustainable. In addition to a welcoming and warm restaurant, the cafe also offer classes and workshops related to healthy living. CafeGratitudeKC.com