Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health is emphasizing smart choices for healthy families and healthy communities during public health week. We want to give the public information they need to make the connection between the way we lead our lives, our impact on the planet and the planet?s impact on our health.

BBPH has chosen three topics to address during this week:

- Grow your own food/buy locally.

Bismarck Community Gardens

Rent a plot. West of Washington & South of Front. Plot selection begins April 27.

Cost $25- $15 refunded after harvest. More info 355-1540.

Farmers Market & Urban Harvest

Watch for times and locations.

Community Supported Agriculture

New Idea. Share cropping for veggies. Receive locally grown vegetables each week.

Call 226-1172 or jaythefarmer@yahoo.com

- Shop Smart

Buying the new Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFL?s) is an effective, accessible change

every American can make right now to reduce energy use at home. This prevents power

plant emissions that contribute to climate changes. These bulbs use less energy, save

money and help protect the environment.

There is an estimated savings of $30 in energy costs per bulb for the life of the bulb. If

every home in America replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an Energy Star

CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and

prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 800,000 cars.

- Recycle

What can we do, even on a small part, to reduce the amount of material that goes from

our house to the City Landfill? Recycle, recycle, and recycle some more. What can be

recycled? Plastic containers with the #1 and #2 symbols on the bottom, aluminum and

tin cans, newspapers and all the inserts, telephone books, corrugated cardboard and

boxes, brown paper bags. There are many recycling dumpsters located through out the

city. Not all sites have a container for plastics so check before you go and utilize the

ones that do.

Soon the grass will be growing and with that comes the lawn mower. Don?t just bag up

your clippings and leave on the curb! Take the bags to one of the many dumpsters and

empty them in to the dumpster. Please put your empty sack in the container provided at

each site, too. The City website has all the information you need to know about what,

when, and where to recycle. Visit www.bismarck.org, City Departments, Public Works,

Recycling Program.

By making a few different choices, we can impact the health of our families and communities. Please help us build a healthier community and world! | save this article / add to your favorites list