The Alligator published some tips Friday on sustainable sex, including suggestions to turn out the lights “when you fancy a shag” and to use phthalate-free sex toys (if applicable). Read the story here.

If you want the full scoop on sustainable sex, come to our meeting Tuesday, February 10 at 6:30pm in CSE E119. Along with green sex tips you definitely want to know, we’ll be hosting a speed dating session for the eco-conscious and sharing vegan Valentine’s Day treats.

Click for more info on the meeting.

The city of Gainesville has once again shown its commitment to sustainability by becoming the first city in the US to implement a solar feed-in tariff.

Under the rules of the new tariff, which will take effect March 1, anyone who generates energy via solar panels in Gainesville can sell the energy to GRU at a guaranteed rate for the next 20 years. That energy will then go back into the grid.

The tariff is modeled after those that have made Germany a leader in the solar industry. Let’s hope ours sparks a similar interest in solar in other cities in the United States.

Read more in The Alligator, or in TreeHugger’s article about the tariff.

Read today’s Alligator article about Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan’s State of the City address, where she discussed Wild Spaces, Public Places and GRU’s proposed solar feed-in tariff.

By Sara Hutton

Here’s an introduction to our garden:

The co-op provides land, seeds, water, tools, compost, manure, and mulch in exchange for a rental fee and labor at weekend work parties to maintain shared spaces and equipment. We don’t use any inorganic inputs.

The gardens are located on 23rd Terrace, about 1/4 mile south of Archer. There’s a blue sign that says University of Florida Organic Garden Cooperative.

We started renting a plot and a half and gardening last fall, and have since acquired another plot. Right now we are growing sugar snap peas, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, onions, leeks, brussel sprouts, strawberries, beets, dill, cilantro, soybeans, and lettuce, and we have room to plant more.

Once we pick a couple days to meet up, we can get everyone acquainted with the garden and our plot, and then get to work. Honestly, it’s really easy and laid back- all we do is weed, water, plant more seeds, and occasionally add organic matter and mulch, and it doesn’t have to be done often.

Everyone is welcome to what we grow, but keep in mind that the amount you take should be proportional to amount of time you spend helping out.

Send me your votes and I’ll get back to you all soon with the results! If you don’t think you’ll have time to come out to the garden, no worries, just let me know and I’ll take you off the email list.

Introducing green takeout! Gator Dining hall is now offering reusable to-go containers at Fresh Food, Gator Corner, and Home Zone.

Now you can enjoy the convenience of take-out without all
the waste. The first 100 people to sign up at the dining halls get a free reusable cup, plus other great prizes along the way.

Use your to-go containers often to earn points for the dorm Eco Challenge — just be sure to let your cashier know what residence hall you live in. For more information, visit Erase the Waste.