Off On Our Own: Living Off-Grid in Comfortable Independence

Did the damage on the East Coast caused by superstorm Sandy this week leave you wondering how you would manage without power?

On Saturday, November 3 at 1:00 p.m., the GO GREEN Club will welcome Ted and Kathy Carns. Their home, the Stone Camp, is said to be the most isolated dwelling in Pennsylvania's Southwest Division. The Carns basically produce most of their own power through their unique lifestyle. They are living a 21st century success story of zero waste, total recycling and astonishing inventiveness. Their five-acre home in western Pennsylvania is a warm, inviting showcase of self-reliant living. They have all the comforts of modern life, from flat screen TV to morning smoothies from their solar-powered blender. Ted is the author of "Off On Our Own: Living Off-Grid in Comfortable Independence."

Learn more about the Carns' 36 year evolution to an off grid, self sufficient, sustainable lifestyle by visiting their web site. Their recently published book, "Off On Our Own", will be available for sale ($17.95) and signing after the program. Register to attend this program online, at the library's circulation desk or call 724-941-9430.

Read more about Ted and Kathy in this article in the Post-Gazette http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/westmoreland-county-couple-reuse-recycle-live-totally-off-the-grid-660095/.

Choosing Your Best Natural Cosmetics program postponed

Due to the unavailability of the Environmental Working Group web site, we will need to reschedule the "Natural Cosmetics" program to another date. Check this blog for more information about when we will be able to offer this program.

Choosing Your Best Natural Cosmetics and Skin Products

Choosing natural cosmetics is a smart decision for your health and for the health of our planet. Learn more about the products you are currently using and if there may be a better choice available for you. Peters Township Public Library’s GO Green Club will host “Choosing Your Best Natural Cosmetics and Skin Products” on Saturday, October 20 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the library.

GO Green Club member Pam Kuhn will be providing an overview of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) web site, whose mission is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. Persons attending the program are asked to bring a cosmetic or skin product with them that they would like to learn more about. Register for this program online or call 724-941-9430.

3rd Annual Local Foods Potluck Dinner

Celebrate the season’s bounty at the 3rd Annual Local Foods Potluck Dinner at the Peters Township Public Library on Friday, August 3 at 6:30 p.m. The event is being hosted by the library’s GO Green Club and Cooking Club and is open to the community.

Attendees are asked to bring a potluck dish to share made with locally grown foods or some samples from their home gardens. Bring along your recipe to share with the group.

Register online or at the library’s circulation desk by Wednesday, August 1, 2012. For more information, email the GO Green Club.

GO Green Camp for Kids

To introduce young children to green lifestyle choices, the Peters Township Public Library’s GO Green Club will host a new GO Green Camp for Kids at the library on June 12, 13 and 14 from 10:00 a.m. to noon each day. The camp is free and open to children entering grades 3 through 5 in the fall. Registration at the library circulation desk is required as space is limited.

The 3-day camp for kids will offer a different “green” topic each day, and participants can sign up for one, two or all three days of the program. Themes for each day of the camp will include:

Tuesday, June 12: Day One will be all about the WATER CYCLE, featuring speaker Josie Posti from Pennsylvania American Water Company. Featuring the story of our water cycle, an interactive watershed model, creating water cycle bracelets, and a water taste test, you will never think about a glass of water the same way again.

Wednesday, June 13: In Day Two, you will find out RECYCLING from Scott Dellinger from Greenstar. Where does all that stuff you put in your green recycling bin end up? What should you be putting in the bin anyway? Also, GO Green Club member Angie Phares will explain how to turn your food scraps and other materials into wonderful compost – with a little help from some friendly worms.

Thursday, June 14: In Day Three, you will learn all about LOCAL FOODS – and we don’t mean what you buy at the supermarket! You will plant seeds, taste local foods, and prepare simple recipes with Erin Hart of American HealthCare Group. Ms. Hart is also the Director of Farm to Table Pittsburgh. Have you ever visited a local farmer’s market? Find out where you can go to get fresh, local food that tastes great and is SO good for you. Bring a healthy appetite to this program.

Are you a high school student interested in helping with this camp? Email the club, and you will be contacted with more details about volunteering at the GO Green Camp for Kids.

Celebrate Earth Day 2012!

Make a seed necklace, listen to a celebrity storytime, join in a family sing-a-long , and learn how to live your life “greener” at Celebrate Earth Day 2012 at the Peters Township Public Library on Sunday, April 22 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The afternoon of family-friendly activities is being hosted by the library’s GO Green Club.

Kicking off the day’s events at 1:00 p.m. will be a celebrity storytime with Scott Blasey, lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist for Pittsburgh-based rock band The Clarks. Blasey will read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, followed by a family sing-a-long. Immediately following, those attending can spend their afternoon learning how to live a greener more sustainable life through hands-on activities, games, displays, and library materials in the Meeting Room on the 1st floor.

At 3:00 p.m. a free screening of the film “Bag It!” will be offered in the 2nd floor Reading Room. The documentary follows the story of an average guy who makes a resolution to stop using plastic bags at the grocery store. Little does he know that this simple decision will change his life completely. No registration is necessary for the afternoon drop-in events. To attend the film screening, please register online, at the library's circulation desk, or call 724-941-9430.

Families are encouraged to bring their empty ink cartridges to be recycled, and there will be free earth-friendly giveaways for program participants.


The Peters Township Public Library GO Green Club was established in January 2010 with a mission to provide the community with educational resources through programs, library materials, and volunteer activities to help create a more environmentally- friendly and responsible lifestyle. For more information about the club, email ptplgogreenclub@gmail.com.