Were you one of the 50,000 Minneapolis residents who took part in National Night Out on August 7? The strengthened connections you made with neighbors will make your block a friendlier place to live, and stronger against crime. Some blocks may not meet again until the next National Night Out on August 5, 2008. Why wait? Many block clubs meet periodically to discuss concerns, to share food, and to make sure neighbors look out for one another every day of the year.

A new neighborhood project called Living Green Block Talks will reward your block for getting together, and for helping the environment. What simple things does your household do to conserve energy or reduce waste around the home? Get your block together to discuss these topics, and we'll help you and your neighbors implement these green ideas at home with small mini grants ($50 to $100, depending on the item) and other “Green Rewards.” Examples include high efficiency light bulbs, planting shade trees, or avoiding car trips by walking or biking. These little actions add up to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. Contact Eric at CNO with questions and ideas for a Block Talk, by e-mail or at 612-724-7457.

Living Green Block Talks kicked off on August 11 with a demonstration on Composting – an easy way to make your garden flourish and reduce waste by composting kitchen scraps. Corcoran attendees were offered $50 toward their own home compost system. Kids painted an educational mural about composting on Kathie's garage on the 2200 block of East 31st Street.

Living Green Block Talks is a project of the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization (CNO) and Alliance for Sustainability with support from the City of Minneapolis and the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board.