Healthy Cedar Valley Coalition

BEWARE of Wild Parsnip! Summer camping, hiking and trips trips to local fishing spots can put kids,, adults, and even pets at risk for painful burns and rashes

Wow! The Garden at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo is growing like crazy! Greens, potatoes, beans, peppers, tomatoes, and much more is being expertly tended by staff and many Master Gardener volunteers. All of this produce goes to Food Bank customers right after picking so it's super fresh and awesome!

A big shout out to the Peoples Community Garden in Waterloo for the great work in the garden!

Thank you to everyone who took part in the A Practical Backyard Tour today and stuck around for the prize drawing at Single Speed Brewing Co Waterloo

Unhealthy Air in Eastern Iowa Today

MEDIA CONTACT: Todd Russell, Iowa DNR air quality ambient monitoring, 515-204-3728, [email protected]
DES MOINES -- Exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for fine particulates are expected today over the Eastern third of the State. Smoke from wildfires in both Eastern and Northwestern Canada has converged over Iowa and is expected to lead to fine particulate matter exceedances over eastern and east-central Iowa today.
The smoke may linger over the area and affect air quality in the coming
days until a significant weather system sweeps it out of the area. Wildfire smoke carries large amounts of particulates as well as gases that may act as ozone precursors and can lead to exceedances of the NAAQS for both fine particulate matter and ozone.
The national standard for fine particulate matter is 35 micrograms per cubic meter
(µg/m3) averaged over a 24-hour period, and this level is considered “unhealthy for
sensitive groups.” Groups sensitive to particulate matter include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, and outdoor workers. Fine
particulate levels could reach levels considered “unhealthy” where even healthy adults should consider limiting their activities.
Real-time air quality maps and information about the air quality index can be found on EPA’s airnow.gov site. A graphic approximation of the extent and trajectory of the smoke plume can be seen on the map at fire.airnow.gov/.
EPA’s specific guidelines on what precautions can be taken to minimize the impact of high ozone and fine particulate levels are available at airnow.gov/activity-guides.
Generally speaking, they involve limiting outdoor activities, especially prolonged outdoor exertion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-k4_USHCDo
Excited to finally share with you the final 5-2-1-0 video featuring Waterloo!

5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! in Waterloo Waterloo was one of the communities that received a grant from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to implement 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! s...

Want to learn more about composting? Check out this 3 day workshop in Ames for compost facility operators and those looking into composting careers.

Midwest Compost School Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Mark your calendars! The HCVC Backyard Tour Committee has been hard at work this winter planning the June tour. We are finalizing the spots on the tour later this spring but wanted to announce the June 17th tour date so you can mark your calendars!
Many thanks to committee members & sponsors from the following groups, businesses & departments: City of Waterloo, Iowa - City Hall Cedar Falls, Iowa, City Government Iowa Waste Exchange Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project Green Iowa AmeriCorps - Energy & Community Northeast Iowa Food Bank Prairie Rapids Audubon Society Cedar Falls Seed Library Wapsie Pines Lawn Care and Landscaping Black Hawk County Master Gardeners Single Speed Brewing Co Waterloo & Good Neighbor Iowa.

Stay tuned for the announcement of tour locations in May!

Iowa's Anti-Hunger Day on the Hill is right around the corner! On March 1, drink some coffee and visit with leaders in the hunger fight from food banks across the state.

Just in case you were wondering.

Please help our recycling program! Recent contamination and processing changes are jeopardizing the validity of the program. Our recycling program is currently limited to select items only. The main contaminants we are dealing with are plastic bags and styrofoam.

PLASTIC BAGS ARE NOT A PART OF THE RECYCLING PROGRAM and are NOT allowed in the bins (full of recycling or empty). The material is too thin for the processing and should be discarded as garbage. PAPER BAGS are an acceptable alternative to plastic and they MAY be placed in the Cardboard bins.

STYROFOAM IS NOT A PART OF THE RECYCLING PROGRAM. Styrofoam requires specialized equipment for recycling which the City of Waterloo does not currently have access to. Styrofoam should be discarded as garbage or you may be able to find alternate recycling options.

The program has been penalized recently for the amount of contamination in the bins and contamination has to be minimalized. PLEASE keep ALL styrofoam and plastic bags out of the recycling stream (curbside OR recycling sites). This contamination is punishable by fine so we ask that you please keep these contaminants out of the recycling stream.

We thank you for your participation and the many residents who take the time to make the recycling program a success. A little help with the contamination will keep this program strong and help us advance the recycling program in the future. Thank You Everyone!

Seed Starting Workshops Return in 2023

Seed Starting Workshops Return in 2023

Iowa State Extension and Outreach Black Hawk County will be offering two seed starting workshops for the public. The classes will be Tuesday, March 14 from 6 to 8pm and Saturday, March 18 at 9am to noon.

The workshops will be held in Conference Room A at the Extension office at 3420 University Avenue in Waterloo. Starting soil and seeds will be provided, attendees are asked to bring their own pots or starting trays. The starters will go home with the attendees.

Anyone interested is asked to pre-register for only one class by calling (319) 234-6811 or emailing [email protected]. This workshop is free, but space is limited.

Limited tickets available and only a few remain! https://uni.estore.flywire.com/products?storeCatalog=8501 More information about the dinner can be found on our website. https://cvfoodfarmnetwork.org/save-the-date-for-the-2023-local-food-dinner/

Thinking about goals for the New Year? What about becoming a Master Gardener?

If you love plants and you want to give back to your community, the Master Gardener program wants you!

We are looking for dedicated volunteers to help share their love of plants and horticulture in local communities.

Want to learn more? Check out our website and contact your county extension office to let them know you're interested.

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/become-master-gardener

Growing Together Iowa mini-grant program donated over 114,000 pounds of produce

Locally-grown school meals can help children, farmers and the climate ROME -- According to UNICEF, school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic brought a decade’s growth in school feeding programmes to a dramatic halt, leaving about...

Today over the lunch hour we invited representatives from Grow Cedar Valley and the Beyond Pink TEAM to our store so we could present Beyond Pink with a check for $16,000! We contribute throughout the year to Beyond Pink by sponsoring large events and providing product donations, but presenting this check on the is something we wanted to share with all of you! This contribution is a result of the ongoing support we receive from our customers who shop our products again and again! A portion of our proceeds will always go to this organization doing so much to help those battling breast cancer. Thank you, thank you friends! Today happened because of you. Together we are making a difference!! 💪🏽

Interested in helping out with this summer's backyard tour? The HCVC Sustainability theme group is putting together its team for the backyard tour committee and invite you to join them! Meetings are virtual and once a month- starting Dec 9th (2PM). If interested in joining the committee (or want to nominate a Cedar Valley eco-friendly yard that would fit the tour) contact Tammy Turner with the HCVC Sustainability Theme Group, [email protected], for the meeting link.

Pink Ribbon Run gets record turnout for 2022--Watch some of the Sights & Sounds CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KWWL) The 2022 edition of the Beyond Pink Team's Pink Ribbon Run will go down as a record-setter.

A few photos of the Unity Neighborhood Bike Audit from 9/26. Thank you to Wellmark, Waterloo Bicycle Works, the Cedar Valley Bike Collective, the Jesse Cosby Center, and the Waterloo Police Department for their help.

16TH ANNUAL PINK RIBBON RUN IS THIS SATURDAY!
https://www.beyondpinkteam.org/16th-annual-pink-ribbon-run.html

Bob Westerman of 93.5 The Mix is hosting a Haircut for Cancer! All proceeds benefit the Beyond Pink TEAM! Donate now at https://gofund.me/ed794dd0 then tune in on September 29 and listen!

1 in 5 U.S. kids stricken with obesity as nation struggles for solutions to epidemic Experts agree that lack of access to nutritious food in certain areas, the impacts of poor eating habits during the pandemic and intense weight-related stigma are worsening childhood obesity challenges.

Interested in the Unity Neighborhood Bikeability Workshop tomorrow, Sept 27 from 1-3 PM?

Then, please RSVP via this link to let us know if you'd like to borrow a bicycle or receive a free helmet! https://forms.gle/abbCCCDJVHymhLQn8

Waterloo Unity Neighborhood Bikeability Workshop Thank you for your interest in the Unity Neighborhood Bikeability Workshop! Your time and opinion will help shape future bike access and safety in this area. For questions, please contact Kathryn Gilbery at [email protected] or 319-292-2215

Stroke a silent killer among Cedar Valley residents

Stroke a silent killer among Cedar Valley residents Stroke remains the third-highest cause of death in the Cedar Valley, claiming 2,928 lives between 1999-2020, and its rate of death is well above the national average.

What's killing the Cedar Valley?

What's killing the Cedar Valley? Heart disease, cancer, COVID among 15 leading causes of death First in a series.

Brisk walking cuts the risk of dementia.

Walk this number of steps each day to cut your risk of dementia Want to reduce your risk for dementia? Slap on a step counter and start tallying your steps.

Clover Lawns Are Blooming in Front Yards, and on TikTok Amid droughts and extreme heat, people are welcoming clover into their lawns, an alternative to the purely grass lawn, helping them save water and money.

Good article about heart health in The Courier!

What's killing the Cedar Valley? Local heart disease deaths surpass national average Heart disease, the top cause of death locally and nationally, is more deadly here at 247.5 deaths per 100,000 people compared to the national average of 211, CDC data shows.

Do you love local and love online ordering? Check this out!

Have you been to the Greens to Go online market? https://greenstogo.localfoodmarketplace.com/Products You don't want to miss this awesome selection of produce and local goodies! Order by Tuesday at 4 p.m. and pick up Curbside Wednesday between 4-6 p.m.