On the longest night of the year, surrounded by family, friends, the woods and a roaring fire, Nick and Leslie promised themselves to each other at the end of their beautiful ecofriendly wedding at Riverside Park.

One year prior, the couple signed a contract to rent the Urban Ecology Center for their winter solstice wedding and the planning began. “Being eco-minded is the foundation of who we are already,” they told me and it helped form what they wanted to do for their wedding. To assist with planning, they attended the UEC’s Eco I Do Green Wedding Expo to get some ideas.

Are you confused about what items can be recycled? Do you think it doesn’t make a difference anyway so why bother? OR do you think you have the whole recycling thing figured out? If so, you might want to read on!

A group of Urban Ecology staff had the opportunity to tour The Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where all of our recyclables are sorted, baled and sold to other facilities that use them to create new products. The Milwaukee Recycling Facility serves both the City of Milwaukee and over 20 communities in Waukesha County. The city works with an educational partner, Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful (KGMB), to provide tours, programs, and recycling information. On the tour, we discovered that in one way or the other, we all were misinformed about how recycling actually works in Milwaukee. (If you live in a community outside of the MRF service area you may want to check your neighborhood’s website as the information shared in this blog may be different.)

Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year for travel in the United States. Last year, over 50 million Americans traveled on average 50 miles to reach their Thanksgiving destination, and nearly 90% was by automobile. But, people aren’t the only ones logging in the miles. American food travels an average of 1,500 to 2,500 miles from farm to table, according to the Worldwatch Institute.

Is junk mail overcrowding your mailbox? If so, you’re not alone; the Environmental Protection Agency reports Americans as a whole receive close to five million tons of junk mail every year and according to the US Postal Service, 59% of all mail delivered is advertising mail, and only about half of it ever gets read. That equates to a lot of wasted paper and even when it can be recycled it still takes a lot of resources to print it in the first place. The Urban Ecology Center receives a lot of junk mail too and here’s how we’re taking steps to (hopefully) get rid of it permanently!

I have every intent to cook healthy, delicious, well-balanced meals for Josh (my husband) and Jude (my two-year old) but every time I venture off to the grocery store I end up with the same ingredients. I swear I make every effort to stop by the produce section and examine all of the colorful fruits and vegetables. I often admire those fearless shoppers who throw jalapenos, bok choy and kale in their carts. They seem brave. They seem to know what they are doing.

Whether you are one of the more than 100 million Amazon Prime members or an avid in-store purchaser, the holidays can rack up a lot of extra cardboard and packaging material quickly. Here’s how to spread holiday cheer while keeping Mother Earth in mind. Let's commit to a more earth-friendly holiday season!

The German zoologist Ernst Haeckel coined the word ecology almost 150 years ago. He combined a couple of Greek words to do this trick: “oikos” means "habitation" and “-ology” means "the study of."

This fact may already be part of your ample knowledge, but a quick reminder won´t hurt: ecology started off as the study of where things live. In ecology, sustainability (from sustain and ability) is the property of biological systems to remain diverse and productive indefinitely. Who doesn't want to be diverse and productive indefinitely? I remember when I was younger and able to dunk a basketball…

As the thaw of spring teases our impatient senses, and the red-winged black bird harmonizes with the drip drip drip of the melting snow, the anticipation of wedding season lingers around the corner at the Urban Ecology Center's Riverside Park branch. Couples planning their magical day look for just the right venue, and the Urban Ecology Center becomes an eco-friendly option host to one of the most important days of their life. Green weddings are not just a trendy theme but a smart approach to making that special day mean even more – and we can help!

For those of you who like to garden but do not have a yard of your own, we have raised beds for rent at Menomonee Valley in Three Bridges Park. Gardeners spend the summer gardening alongside their neighbors, lend a helping hand (or green thumb) to each other, share a potluck dinner, and grow spectacular produce!

Menomonee Valley Community Gardens Handbook

Manual de los Jardines Comunitarios en Menomonee Valley

Menomonee Valley Community Gardens FaQ

We also have garden plots at Riverside Park but those are currently full.  

Riverside Park Community Gardens Handbook

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more information, including prices and availability, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at our Riverside Park branch or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in the Menomonee Valley.

Plots at Riverside Park measure 10 x 15 feet and are located along the Oak Leaf Trail.

Plots in the Menomonee Valley are located in Three Bridges Park, just a short walk from the center. There are two different sizes: 3 x 7.25 and 3 x 11.25

With significant increases in energy costs and the depletion of non-renewable resources, families are embracing energy efficiency. Including your children in decisions and actions you take can be rewarding, educational and fun! Here are a few suggestions to begin building your energy efficient home.