Author: Laura Stanton

Going Green: Sustainability at Work

Earlier this month, several Ohio State University Extension educators toured the Ohio Stadium (also known as The Shoe) in Columbus. The purpose of the tour was to learn how the fourth-largest stadium in the country continuously ranks #1 when it comes to recycling. In fact, OSU diverts 90% or more of materials from the landfill by recycling, repurposing, and composting after every football game.  

On the drive home from Columbus, I started to reflect on my behavior at work and the sustainability practices in our county Extension office. Although I do a lot at home to be sustainable, I realized I was not being as environmentally conscientious at work. To be “greener”, I am trying these ideas to make my work life more sustainable. 

  • Eliminate single-use plastics. Think about your break room and find ways to replace coffee pods, plastic utensils, straws, soap dispensers, Styrofoam cups, and water bottles. To reduce using these pesky plastics, visit a thrift store and purchase cups, dishes, and cutlery that can be used repeatedly. Plastic-Free July has numerous resources to help you reduce your plastic consumption. 
  • If you pack your meals, try to be as waste-free as possible. Consider purchasing condiments and other food items that can stay in your office so you can skip individualized food items like ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, sugar, and creamer. 
  • Turn off office lights and electronics when you are out of the office. Purchase energy-efficient lighting and appliances to lower your energy consumption at work and save money. 
  • Educate yourself about your local recycling option and limit what gets put in the landfill. Compost food waste and coffee grinds. Take advantage of the Hefty ReNew program currently offered in central Ohio, Greater Cincinnati, and Greater Dayton. 
  • Reduce paper use by limiting how much you print. When you print something, always use both sides of the paper. Have leftover handouts? Use them for scrap paper before putting them in the recycling bin. 
  • Collect pop can tabs to donate to the closest Ronald McDonald House. There are five locations in Ohio, including Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, and Cleveland. 
  • Consider cloth napkins and towels, as well as Swedish dishcloths to reduce paper waste. In the U.S., it’s estimated that one person produces 40 pounds of paper towel waste every year. If paper towels are the only option, adopt a “one or none” mindset to reduce waste.  
  • Purchase eco-friendly products and supplies, and use the services of sustainable suppliers. 

To be more mindful when planning work events, you can download the Ohio State University Extension Sustainable Meeting Guide to think of ways to limit waste at meetings and conferences. In addition, our Sustainability team has created numerous educational resources to help protect the planet and its resources. Visit our website to find tip sheets, videos, and even a home tour to help you be more sustainable. 

Older hand passing the planet to younger hands

Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Warren County, stanton.60@osu.edu. 

Reviewed by: Susan Zies, Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Wood County, zies.1@osu.edu. 

Up Your Vitamin N(Nature) Dosage this Spring

A group of Blood Root blooms

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, the vernal equinox will mark the astronomical first day of spring in Ohio. The change in season is the perfect time to get outside and commit to increasing your daily dose of Vitamin N(Nature). Why should you go outside? The health and wellness benefits of being outdoors are numerous across the lifespan and are nicely summarized in this 2-minute video, What Happens When You Spend Just 5 Minutes in Nature? . The video was created by Florence Williams, who also authored The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative.

If you need ideas of things to do to increase your Vitamin N this spring, we have five activities for you to try:

1. Search for spring wildflowers, also referred to as spring ephemerals. These early bloomers start blooming before the leaves return to the trees and are a welcome sight year after year. If you want to learn more. visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildflower website to find the Spring Wildflowers of Ohio field guide, weekly wildflower bloom reports, videos, a wildflower checklist, and featured locations throughout our state.

2. Watch the stars, planets, and moon. Visit What’s Up: Skywatching Tips from NASA, an educational website with monthly highlights, daily skywatching guides, night sky news, and other educational resources about our galactic neighborhood. Have you ever seen the International Space Station in the night sky? You can enter your location on NASA’s Spot the Station website and get a calendar of sighting opportunities in your community.

Male Ruby-throated hummingbird at a feeder

3. Look and listen for migrating birds to return to your yard and community. Have you noticed the return of the chatty Red-winged Blackbirds? They are often one of the first migrants of the season. BirdCast is a website that allows you to enter your city and state to get real time bird migration alerts. If you are fond of hummingbirds, Hummingbird Central tracks their journey back to Ohio so you know when to put out your feeder. One more reminder: limit the amount of light pollution around your home as often as possible, but especially during migration season.

4. Walk, stroll, or ride on the 1,523 miles of bike trails in the Buckeye State. To learn about the different trails and find a trail near you, visit the Ohio Bikeways website hosted by the Ohio Department of Transportation. This site features trail safety tips, a bikeways brochure, and a downloadable map.

Green seedlings sprouting in a cardboard egg carton

5. If you or someone you love has a difficult time getting outside, consider bringing nature indoors. Sowing seeds indoors is a fun and educational spring activity. Using a cardboard egg carton is an easy, economical, and environmentally friendly way to plant your seeds.

Every day is an opportunity to get outside and get a healthy dose of Vitamin N. As Florence Williams says, “Go outside. Go often. Bring friends. Breathe.”

Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County. Email: stanton.60.osu.edu

Reviewed by: Susan Zies, Assistant Professor and Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Wood County. Email: zies.1@osu.edu

Photos from Adobe Express.

A 2024 Winter Solstice Primer

The sun shining through snow-covered trees.

Crank up Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles, grab something warm to drink, and enjoy this quick primer on the 2024 Winter Solstice and how to celebrate this passage of time.

What is the Winter Solstice? The Winter Solstice occurs the moment the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn, which is the maximum tilt away from the sun. The significance of this event is that, in terms of sunlight, everyone living in the Northern Hemisphere experiences the shortest day and longest night of the year.

In meteorological terms, the Winter Solstice marks the official start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In Ohio, this will occur on Saturday, December 21st at 4:19 AM.

Here are four ways you and your family can observe and celebrate the Winter Solstice, indoors and outdoors:

Long winter shadows in the snow.

1. Look At Your Shadow
If it is a sunny day, go outside around noon and check your shadow on the Winter Solstice. Even better, measure your shadow and remember how long it is. You can measure your shadow on other days of the year, but it will never be as long as it is on the Winter Solstice. This is because the sun is at its lowest point in the sky and therefore, casts the longest shadows of the year. Visit this NASA link to see a beautiful image that shows how the sun moves across the sky throughout the year and creates a fascinating pattern called an analemma.

2. Attend a Winter Solstice Celebration
Many parks, nature centers, and other outdoor venues hold Winter Solstice events. For example, in southwest Ohio, Fort Ancient Earthworks and Nature Preserve holds an annual sunrise celebration. On the morning of the Winter Solstice, the sun strategically rises through a gap in the Fort Ancient earthworks. In central Ohio, the Chadwick Arboretum hosts an annual Labyrinth Walk and Conifer Tour. For events close to you, try a quick internet search to find a Winter Solstice celebration near you.

3. Read About the Winter Solstice
Make a trip to your local library to find children’s books about the Winter Solstice. Snuggle up, light a fire or a candle, drink hot cocoa, and read a book together. Some book suggestions are:

  • The Longest Night by Marion Dane Bauer
  • The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer
  • The Solstice Badger by Robin McFadden

4. Rest and Reflect
Paying attention to nature and the four seasons is a healthy way to be mindful. It allows you to be fully present in the moment and recognize that life is about change. We change and the seasons change. Pausing to recognize the Winter Solstice connects us to the people, traditions, and memories that have come before us. The cold days and the long nights are perfect for rest, reflection, and setting your intentions for the new year and the next season of life.

Wishing you a wonderful and cheerful Winter Solstice! May the coming days bring warmth, light, and peace.

Winter Solstice Greetings

Written by: Laura Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County, stanton.60@osu.edu.

Reviewed by: Heather Reister, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Butler County.