Small Steps, Big Impact: Trillium Woods’ Green Team is Turning Environmental Awareness into Action
At Trillium Woods — the premier senior living community in Plymouth, MN — residents are proving that growing, thriving, and making a difference can be lifelong pursuits. One shining example of seniors living purposeful lives is the Green Team, a passionate group of residents leading campus-wide environmental efforts with heart, creativity, and determination.
The Green Team began in the summer of 2023 following a series of lectures by Elder Climate Action. “My husband and I love to learn, and we regularly attend the educational presentations Trillium Woods offers every week,” explains Barbara Whiting, who co-chairs the group with Anne Jasperson and Mike Sluss. “The topics are varied and always interesting, but this series clearly struck a chord with many of us.”
In particular, one of Elder Climate Action’s messages became a central part of the Green Team’s ethos: “It’s not good enough to just care about the environment — you have to do something.”
“We started small,” says Whiting. “But now we’re meeting monthly, we have 45 people on our list, and nearly everything we discuss turns into action.”
Recent Initiatives
The group has transformed many everyday moments into opportunities for change at Trillium. “In recent years, residents have regularly received generous gifts of poinsettias during the holidays and flowers on Mother’s Day,” Whiting says. “After holidays like Mother’s Day or Christmas, we go door to door and collect over 100 plants that would otherwise be headed for the landfill. We compost what we can and recycle the pots.”
The team has also identified hidden sources of waste. “Trillium was using about 14,000 plastic straws and 10,000 small water bottles annually,” Whiting notes. “We worked with leadership to change the default. Now, straws are available only by request, and signage encourages reusable water bottles.”
They also worked with Trillium’s food and beverage team to reduce disposable waste at large events. “Now we use washable flatware and plates,” says Whiting. “It took coordination and investment, but it’s had a huge impact on how much ends up in the trash. The Trillium leadership and Food and Beverage team have been very supportive and receptive.”
The group also encourages residents to consider the broader effects of local environmental practices. “There are 19 street drains around campus,” Whiting explains. “My husband and I take care of three. Everyone checks theirs for blockages and trash to reduce water pollution in our local streams, lakes, and rivers. It’s part of a citywide program, but Trillium has fully embraced it.”
Education remains central to the group’s mission. The Green Team hosts presentations ranging from plastic-free living to ocean health to best practices for recycling. They’ve also welcomed speakers from RIDWELL, a company that collects hard-to-recycle items, and invited adult children of residents to share their sustainability practices.
“Our motto is to address global issues with local solutions,” Whiting says. “We combine learning with action. Every meeting, we ask ourselves: What’s one small thing we can do?”
Ongoing projects include recycling ink cartridges (over 100 collected in one month), collecting oral care products through a mail-in recycling program, and repurposing items like greeting cards, paper bags, calendars, and old bed sheets for local churches, shelters, and medical missions.
The Green Team is also connecting across generations. In May, they’ll meet with members of Wayzata High School’s Earth Rise student climate committee. “We want to support them and explore ways to work together,” Whiting shares. “Even if we can’t do everything ourselves, we can cheer them on.”
Choosing Trillium Woods
A retired educator and principal, Whiting has lived in Plymouth for over 30 years. She and her husband moved to Trillium Woods after living just a mile away. “We watched it being built,” she says. “The trails, the openness, the learning opportunities — it felt right. We didn’t know anyone when we moved in, but we found mutual connections and a true sense of community. The library is outstanding, as well.”
As a resident who’s involved in three book clubs and active in campus programming, Whiting sees Trillium Woods as much more than a place to live. “This is a place where you keep growing. Where you keep learning. Where you still make a difference.”
Thanks to Whiting, Jasperson, Sluss, and countless other engaged residents, the Green Team is not only protecting the planet — it’s also modeling exactly what it means to remain vital, active, and engaged as seniors.
In addition to opportunities for lifelong learning and volunteering, Trillium Woods offers residents a full schedule of special events, fitness classes, games, parties, trips, performances, and clubs as part of its vibrant, wellness-focused lifestyle.
To see if Trillium Woods is right for you or a loved one, schedule a tour at https://www.trilliumwoodslcs.com/contact/ or call (763) 744-9440.
