Hello and Welcome to The Sustainable Souls Project August Post.
The Sustainable Souls Project is a monthly artist collaboration inspired
by sustainability issues, concerns, ideas, and thoughts. Each month,
we will pick a sustainability topic and create awareness through art,
using the monthly theme as inspiration. Projects may include
art-journaling, mixed media, assemblage and more. The idea is to create
awareness around Sustainability through art, one paint stroke at a
time! We hope to educate, entertain, and share pretty things for both
humans and the earth.
August's theme is all about how to use and enhance your natural and artificial habitat for a sustainable life. Green Space, Natural Ventilation, Trees, Plants, and Air Purification are all connected in the search for a Sustainable Future and represent a fundamental component of any eco-system.
"Green spaces such as parks and sports fields as well as woods
and natural meadows, wetlands or other ecosystems, represent a
fundamental component of any urban ecosystem. Green urban areas
facilitate physical activity and relaxation, and form a refuge from
noise. Trees produce oxygen, and help filter out harmful air pollution,
including airborne particulate matter. Water spots, from lakes to
rivers and fountains, moderate temperatures.
Urban parks and gardens play a critical role in cooling
cities, and also provide safe routes for walking and cycling for
transport purposes as well as sites for physical activity, social
interaction and for recreation. Recent estimates show that physical
inactivity, linked to poor walkability and lack of access to
recreational areas, accounts for 3.3% of global deaths.
Green spaces also are important to mental health. Having
access to green spaces can reduce health inequalities, improve
well-being, and aid in treatment of mental illness. Some analysis
suggests that physical activity in a natural environment can help remedy
mild depression and reduce physiological stress indicators."
(source World Health Organization)
Besides the enviromental benefits of green space, it can enhance your mood and happiness levels. This Time article has more details.
How can you improve your own personal Greenspace?
1. Take care of your grass. While this may seem like
an obvious piece of advice, it’s often overlooked. Taking care of your
own front yard is a good first step toward protecting and maintaining
your green space. Lawns play a major role in protecting ground water by
reducing runoff, thus preventing soil erosion, maintaining soil
permeability and conserving water. Lawns also provide an extension of
your overall living space, and for many families they become an
enjoyable private oasis.
2. Choose flowers and plants that suit your area’s climate.
It’s imperative to choose plants and flowers that tolerate your area’s
climate. Choosing the correct plants will ensure a beautiful garden year
after year and make the job of caring for your plants much easier.
Having a beautiful green space has also been known to lower blood
pressure, reduce muscle tension, improve attention spans and reduce
feelings of fear and aggression.
3. Prune, prune, prune. Pruning is important to
maintain your flowers, plants and shrubs year after year, but it also
needs to be done correctly. Improper pruning can actually be more
harmful than neglecting to prune completely. Proper pruning will produce
better blooms, maintain a plant’s desired size, and can even rejuvenate
an older shrub. Having well-maintained flowers and shrubs will not only
make your green space more attractive, but it will also provide a
protective habitat for birds and other creatures that serve to enhance
the natural beauty of your outdoor living space.
4. Enrich your soil with a compost pile. Who knew
those old coffee grounds, filters and dryer lint could be the golden
ticket to creating a beautiful green space? These types of materials,
combined with yard clippings, wood chips and leaves, regenerate your
soil. The breakdown of these materials creates humus, which is a
nutrient-filled material, helping the soil to retain moisture. Compost
can also cut down on plant disease and repel pests that are damaging to
your yard. Creating a compost pile will not only provide rich nutrients
that your soil needs, but it also helps the environment by cutting back
on landfill waste, thus extending the life of the landfill.
5. Plant a tree. Planting a tree is one of the most
simple and effective activities you can perform to improve your green
space. In areas of new construction, many neighborhoods start out
virtually treeless. The results include high cooling costs, less oxygen
and more pollutants. There are many trees that are inexpensive and
fast-growing. In fact, some can grow up to 12’ per year, quickly
reversing the effects of new construction. Trees not only help to keep
the heat out of the house, but they also cool the outside temperature
around your home as well. A study in Huntsville, Ala. showed a 31-degree
difference between the shaded and unshaded areas of a parking lot. By
using trees to modify temperatures, the amount of fossil fuels used for
cooling and heating is reduced.
(source Project Evergreen.org)
We asked the Sustainable Souls to
create, using this theme as an inspiration point and as a point to share
what Green Space means to them. I think you will
be amazed at how
each artist interpreted the theme and how they shared their message.
Let's see how 'Green Space' was transformed into art.
(Click names for links to the artist blog post)
In addition this month, we have TWO very special Guest Artists who are
Sustainable Souls at heart and fully embrace Green Space and saving our planet! ♥
First up, please welcome Catherine Scanlon!
Catherine is a wonderful artist and human! We are so happy and thrilled that she is joining us this month!
Let's see how she was inspired by the theme.....
Next up is Roxanne Evans Stout. Roxanne is a fabulous teacher and spirit and we are so excited that she has joined us this month.
Aren't they simply stunning and fabulous?
I'd like to say a special THANK YOU to each of our Guest Artists. We
appreciate you taking the time to create with us this month and for
embracing the importance of Sustainability.
What an incredible collection of art! I personally love the unique
characteristics of each piece and what Green Space means to each
person.
Thank you to each and every artist who took time to create with us this month.
Do you want to know what Cities are currently doing to create more Urban Green? Here is a fantastic video by WWF International.
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