Volunteer For Dandelions Unlimited

Howdy,

Below is a list of volunteer jobs we need help on.

Please drop an email to the volunteer coordinator if you would like to volunteer your efforts.

Please include:
-which volunteer projects you might be interested in
-a brief description of any work, life or educational experience you have had that may be relevant to the project

It may take a few days to get back to you. We are largely a volunteer team, so sometimes things take a while.

Thanks,

Dana


Volunteer Researchers Needed for These Research Projects

We try and break up the research into "bite size chunks," which we estimate will take 10-20 hours each.

The goal of most research is to create a brief write-up of a project going on in a school or place of worship. The story will need to be well referenced and ideally include 2-3 photos (related to the project, people working on the project, or a photo of the place).

Using 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper in the Public Library

Estimated Time: 1-20 hours

Overview:
Homeschoolers use numerous educational facilities in the community, the public libary being one of them. As regular users of the public library, homeschooling families are in a unique position to organize and convince public libraries to use 100% post-consumer paper in their printers and copy machines at the library. Getting the library to adopt this policy may be the first step toward the entire local government adopting this policy.

Research:
Find 3 pubic libraries (ideally one of which is in a large city and one which is in a small town) that have switched to using 100% post-consumer recycled paper in their copy machines and printers.
-What is the story behind the switch?
-Why did they switch?
-What brand of paper do they use?
-What brand and model copy machines do they use?
-Is this a written policy for the library or the efforts of the employees?

-Contact the volunteer coordinator to alert us you’re interested in working on this research.

Places of Worship That Have Stopped Using Pesticides on Their Grounds

Estimated Time: 10-20 hours

Overview:
We want to find some places of worship that have decided not to use pesticides on the grounds. We think that congregation members could take on organizing and convincing their places of worship to cease using pesticides on the grounds.

Research:
Find 1-3 places of worship that have decided not to use pesticides on the their grounds.
-Why did they decide to do this?
-How did the place of worship go about doing this? What changes had to be done to maintain the grounds without pesticides?
-Are the pesticide free grounds more or less expensive to maintain than using the pesticides?
-Describe the different maintenance budgets.

Ideally, we'll eventually feature places of worship doing these projects from different denominations including Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish, Catholic & Muslim. Also featuring a place of worship in a large city and a smaller city or town would be helpful.

-Contact the volunteer coordinator to alert us you’re interested in working on this research.

Places of Worship That Are Using 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper in Their Copy Machines and Printers

Estimated Time: 1-20 hours

Overview:
Places of worship use a lot of paper. If one place of worship switched to using 100% post-consumer recycled paper, many trees would be saved. If an entire denomination switched to using 100% post-consumer recyled paper, entire forests would be saved.

Research:
Find 1-3 places of worship (ideally of different denominations) that have switched to using 100% post-consumer recycled paper in their copy machines and printers.
-What is the story behind the switch? Why did they switch?
-What brand of paper do they use?
-What brand and model copy machines do they use?
-Is this a written policy for the place of worship or the efforts of the employees?

Ideally, we'll eventually feature places of worship doing these projects from different denominations, including Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish, Catholic & Muslim. Also featuring a place of worship in a large city and a smaller city or town would be helpful.

-Contact the volunteer coordinator to alert us you’re interested in working on this research.


Places of Worship Working on Habitat Restoration

Estimated Time: 1-20 hours

Overview:
Some places of worship have large enough grounds where they can re-plant some native habitat. Some places of worship are near a habitat area or waterway that needs to be re-planted with native vegetation.

Research:
Find 1-3 places of worship (ideally of different denominations) that are working on habitat restoration on their grounds (no matter how large or small - even in the largest city, planting 3 native shrubs together will create habitat for some birds or wildlife) or are working on habitat restoration in their communities.
-What habitat are they re-planting?
-What is the story behind this project?
-Who and how many folks are taking part?
-Does the habitat restoration project affect a waterway?

Ideally, we'll eventually feature places of worship doing these projects from different denominations, including Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish, Catholic & Muslim. Also featuring a place of worship in a large city and a smaller city or town would be helpful.

-Contact the volunteer coordinator to alert us you’re interested in working on this research.

Places of Worship Creating Community Gardens

Estimated Time: 1-20 hours

Overview:
As fuel and food prices soar, part of building a sustainable culture is growing food locally. Many places of worship have members who are outstanding gardeners who can help create community gardens on or near the grounds of the place of worship. When the price of food gets high enough, many of us will need to grow our own food.

Research:
Find 1-3 places of worship (ideally of different denominations) that are working on creating community gardens, either on the grounds of the place of worship or in nearby neighborhoods.
-What is the story behind the creation of this project?
-How much food is grown?
-How many folks take part?

Ideally, we'll eventually feature places of worship doing these projects from different denominations including Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish, Catholic & Muslim. Also featuring a place of worship in a large city and a smaller city or town would be helpful.

-Contact the volunteer coordinator to alert us you’re interested in working on this research.

Places of Worship That Have Switched From Using Throw-away Dishes and Utensils to using Reusable Dishes and Utensils

Estimated Time: 1-20 hours

Overview:
My favorite part of going to a religious service is the big feed afterwards. Some fine cuisine, snacks and desserts are served up when the community comes together. And a lot of dishes, bowls, glasses, and utensils are used. Many places of worship are decked out with outstanding kitchens and industrial dishwashers. One place of worship switching to washable reusable good old-fashioned dishes, cups and utensils could eliminate a mountain of trash in a year.

Research:
Find 1-3 places of worship (ideally of different denominations) that have switched to using washable reusable dishes, cups, utensils etc.
-How did they go about making the switch?
-Did they need to buy a new dishwasher? If so what was the cost of that and how did they raise the money?
-Is it more or less expensive to use throw away dishes etc versus washing reusalbe dishes?
-Was the garbage bill reduced?

Ideally, we'll eventually feature places of worship doing these projects from different denominations, including Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish, Catholic & Muslim. Also featuring a place of worship in a large city and a smaller city or town would be helpful.

-Contact the volunteer coordinator to alert us you’re interested in working on this research.

The Effects of Pesticides on Pets and Wild Animals

Estimated Time: 10-20 hours

Overview:
Our dogs and cats don't carefully avoid well-manicured pesticide-laden lawns. How do the pesticides effect them? The deer that comes browsing through the yard, the squirrels scurrying, the raccoon out on the prowl. How are they effected?

Research:
Find well-researched and well-referenced articles on the health effects of pesticides and herbicides on domestic and wild animals. There are probably excellent papers on the web by veterinarians and wildlife specialists on this topic. Make a list of which pesticide can cause or aggravate what symptom or disease. Make sure all studies are carefully referenced.

-Contact the volunteer coordinator to alert us you’re interested in working on this research.

Ontario Bans Cosmetic Use of Pesticides

Estimated Time: 10-20 hours

Overview:
In April of 2008, the province of Ontario banned the cosmetic use of pesticides. Quebec was the first province to ban the cosmetic use of pesticides. How did these bans come about? If Ontaria and Quebec can do it, so can the rest of us.

Ireland's Grocery Bag Tax

Estimated Time: 5-10 hours

Overview:
When I was touring in Ireland, I went to the grocery store and noticed how everyone brought their own reusable grocery bags. Wow, aren't these folks conscientious! As I checked out, I learned that not only were the shoppers conscientious, they were also thrifty: I had to pay around 25 cents for my disposable grocery bag. The moral of this story: if you charge enough for throw-away grocery bags, folks will bring their own reusable bags. Ireland has a law that requires stores to charge a specific fee (around 25 cents) for disposable grocery bags. This creates an even playing field for all the grocers in the country. If this law didn't exist, shoppers would go to the store with the free bags. Because of this law, way less throw-away grocery bags end up in Ireland's landfills. This law should be implemented in every town in the world.

Research:
-Find out what Ireland's grocery bag law requires.
-What is the story behind the creation of the bag law?
-Is there any estimate of how many bags are not landfilled each year because of this law?
-Can you find any other towns, cities, states or countries with a similar law?

Related Article

Curriculum Research Searching for Existing Curriculum That Relates to Projects Featured on This Website

Estimated Time: 10-20 hours

Overview:
We would like to include a curriculum for each of the projects we feature on this site. For example, we would like to include a curriculum that aids teachers in instructing students about the effects of using 100% post-consumer recylced paper on the environment. Or have a curriculum that teaches about the effects of pesticide use on human and animal health to go along with the section on schools that have reduced or eliminated pesticide use.

-Contact the volunteer coordinator to alert us you’re interested in working on this research.

The Cheapest Places to Purchase 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Paper in WA, OR, and CA

Estimated Time: 5-10 hours

Overview:
Dandelions Unlimited is creating a webpage to encourage schools to use 100% post-consumer recycled paper in their copy machines and printers.

Research:
-Call city and state procurement offices and find out if there is a centralized co-op where state agencies (including schools) can purchase 100% post-consumer recyled paper. In Washington we found it at KCDA Purchasing Cooperative (State co-op) • Phone 425-251-8115, Bellevue, WA. They are selling Grays Harbor or Xerox 100% post consumer for $3.29/ream, or $3.21/ream for 400 reams or more.
-Call stores, paper distritutors and/or manufacturers to find the least expensive place to purchase 100% recycled paper. We will list these outlets & prices on the website.

-Contact the volunteer coordinator to alert us you’re interested in working on this research.

Reusable Dishes and Utensils Cost Comparison

Estimated Time: 5-10 hours

Overview:
Dandelions Unlimited is developing a webpage to encourage school cafeterias to use non-disposable plates, cups, bowls, utensils, etc.

Research:
-Find 3 companies (including Cambro) that sell non-disposable dishes, trays, bowls, cups, utensils, etc. and find out what they charge for a bulk order for a school.
-What are the price breaks when ordering 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 2500, 5000, 10,000 sets?

-Contact the volunteer coordinator to alert us you’re interested in working on this research.


Our Long-Term Goal

We want to play a role in the worldwide movement to create a truly sustainable culture that respects all peoples, creatures and habitats. We want to see a beautiful and healthy world for future generations. Needless to say, this will take a bit of effort. We need your help.

We like to think if we can get one school to make a change, such as using 100% post-consumer recycled paper, we can get them all. We like to think that if we can get enough schools to switch, we can change the face of the paper industry in this country. And in the next country.

There are a load of talented and motivated folks out there who want a beautiful future for our world and our kids. If we team up, we can have that beautiful future.

To volunteer, please email the volunteer coordinator.