Hey Sustainers! Happy spring.
We just finished up a great week of Sustain Mizzou events. Looking forward, we've got a general membership meeting on Wednesday and then...
The Show-Me Sustainability Conference!
On the weekend of March 14, Sustain Mizzou will host this statewide conference for student leaders to get together and share our successes and challenges, and plan for the future.
It'll be a weekend of networking, workshops, discussions, and a great keynote speech by Rachel Barge of Campus InPower. Check out the website for the conference, showmesustainability.org, for more information or to register.
Rachel Barge's speech on Saturday at 11 a.m. is free and open to the public, please come hear her talk about the power of campus organizations.
Looking back, we had a great Recycle Mountain day, and the media came out in full-force, as usual. Check out one news outlet's photos and video of the eventhere.
We're also doing well in Recycle Mania, national competition between colleges and universities over recycling on campus.
At this moment, the University of Missouri - Columbia is ranked number 13 out of 288 colleges and universities participating in the Gorilla competition.
Former Sustain Mizzou President Ben Datema has gotten "Mizzou Dashboard" (formerly Building Dashboard) off the ground. Now students in three residence halls can watch their up-to-the-minute energy usage. In April, there will be a competition between residence halls to see who can decrease their energy usage the most.
Also, the students of the University of the Missouri - Columbia voted for a Sustainability Fee. Starting in Fall 2009, $1 of student fees will go towards sustainability efforts, including hiring two graduate assistants and six undergraduates to research and implement projects to increase the university's sustainability.
It's been a good winter, and here's looking to an exciting and progress-filled spring!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Nat'l Teach-In on Global Warming
A new opportunity to learn about sustainability
Mizzou will participate in the national teach-in on global warming. Sustain Mizzou is there, along with some other great sustainers from around town. There will also be a webcast about how the government could act in the next 100 days to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Stop by Memorial Union on Friday Feb. 6 between 10 and 3 to enjoy the wealth of information. At 6 p.m. in the Mark Twain Ballroom in Memorial Union, Sustain Mizzou will be hosting a birthday celebration (We turn 5 on Feb. 4!), feel free to swing on by for that as well.
Here's more info and the schedule for the Teach-In:
National Teach-In on Global Warming: Solutions for the 1st 100 Days
http://www.nationalteachin.org/about.php
Friday February 6, 2009
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Memorial Union - University of Missouri, Columbia
Refreshments Provided
In Memorial Union S110:
Three showings of the Solutions for the 1st 100 Days Webcast featuring David Orr, Hunter Lovins, Ray Anderson and other key environmental innovators speaking about legislative and economic initiatives to reduce Green House Gas emissions by 40% below 2006 levels by 2020. Plus - Updates on MU's environmental sustainability efforts and reports on two key student led projects to reduce MU's environmental footprint.
10:00 Solutions for the 1st 100 Days Webcast plus updates on MU's efforts
11:00 Building Dashboard - Ben Datema
What happens when people can see how much energy they are using minute by minute?
12:00 Solutions for the 1st 100 Days Webcast plus updates on MU's efforts
1:00 Sustainable Living in Downtown Columbia - Adam Saunders
What happens when you combine composting food waste, moving resources by bike, and organic gardening in an urban setting?
2:00 Solutions for the 1st 100 Days Webcast plus updates on MU's efforts
In Memorial Union Stotler Lounge:
Sustainability Fair - Booths from Campus Departments and Organizations with information on what MU is doing about Sustainability and Global Warming, and tips on what you can do to help.
Mizzou will participate in the national teach-in on global warming. Sustain Mizzou is there, along with some other great sustainers from around town. There will also be a webcast about how the government could act in the next 100 days to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Stop by Memorial Union on Friday Feb. 6 between 10 and 3 to enjoy the wealth of information. At 6 p.m. in the Mark Twain Ballroom in Memorial Union, Sustain Mizzou will be hosting a birthday celebration (We turn 5 on Feb. 4!), feel free to swing on by for that as well.
Here's more info and the schedule for the Teach-In:
National Teach-In on Global Warming: Solutions for the 1st 100 Days
http://www.nationalteachin.org/about.php
Friday February 6, 2009
10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Memorial Union - University of Missouri, Columbia
Refreshments Provided
In Memorial Union S110:
Three showings of the Solutions for the 1st 100 Days Webcast featuring David Orr, Hunter Lovins, Ray Anderson and other key environmental innovators speaking about legislative and economic initiatives to reduce Green House Gas emissions by 40% below 2006 levels by 2020. Plus - Updates on MU's environmental sustainability efforts and reports on two key student led projects to reduce MU's environmental footprint.
10:00 Solutions for the 1st 100 Days Webcast plus updates on MU's efforts
11:00 Building Dashboard - Ben Datema
What happens when people can see how much energy they are using minute by minute?
12:00 Solutions for the 1st 100 Days Webcast plus updates on MU's efforts
1:00 Sustainable Living in Downtown Columbia - Adam Saunders
What happens when you combine composting food waste, moving resources by bike, and organic gardening in an urban setting?
2:00 Solutions for the 1st 100 Days Webcast plus updates on MU's efforts
In Memorial Union Stotler Lounge:
Sustainability Fair - Booths from Campus Departments and Organizations with information on what MU is doing about Sustainability and Global Warming, and tips on what you can do to help.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sustaining the economy with the Local Food Drive
Happy fall, Sustainers.
You may have noticed some strange things around campus this week. Did you think you saw an egg running around Brady Fountain, or a pea-pod breakdancing outside Memorial Union? It's that time of year again, the local food drive.
Here's how it works, in three steps:
Step one: People on campus donate money (we love spare change!) during this week.
Step two: We use the money to buy fresh produce from local farmers (within 50 miles of Columbia)
Step three: We donate the food to the Central Missouri Food Bank throughout the year
In the past, Sustain Mizzou and it's partner organizations have raised around $3000 each year. That's a good chunk of change for wearing a costume around campus for a week teaching people about sustainable food.
The three best things about the food drive:
It helps hungry people be healthier. Food banks tend to rely on non-perishable foods, which are often less nutritious than fresh fruits, veggies, eggs, and meat.
It helps family farms. Food drive representatives set up contracts for local, often organic, farmers so they can adjust their production to meet the needs of the food bank.
It helps the economy. Healthier people are more productive, and putting money into the pockets of farmers almost guarantees it's going to get put back into the Missouri economy.
Oh yeah, and of course, it helps the environment. Most food travels hundreds of miles to get to your table, wasting gasoline, undergoing chemical treatments, and often after having been grown in a non-so-sustainable way. This eliminates excess pollution and land misuse.
So this week, if you see an apple (or is it a tomato?) running around campus, check your pockets and see if you've got a couple coins to make mid-Missouri a happier place to eat.
You may have noticed some strange things around campus this week. Did you think you saw an egg running around Brady Fountain, or a pea-pod breakdancing outside Memorial Union? It's that time of year again, the local food drive.
Here's how it works, in three steps:
Step one: People on campus donate money (we love spare change!) during this week.
Step two: We use the money to buy fresh produce from local farmers (within 50 miles of Columbia)
Step three: We donate the food to the Central Missouri Food Bank throughout the year
In the past, Sustain Mizzou and it's partner organizations have raised around $3000 each year. That's a good chunk of change for wearing a costume around campus for a week teaching people about sustainable food.
The three best things about the food drive:
It helps hungry people be healthier. Food banks tend to rely on non-perishable foods, which are often less nutritious than fresh fruits, veggies, eggs, and meat.
It helps family farms. Food drive representatives set up contracts for local, often organic, farmers so they can adjust their production to meet the needs of the food bank.
It helps the economy. Healthier people are more productive, and putting money into the pockets of farmers almost guarantees it's going to get put back into the Missouri economy.
Oh yeah, and of course, it helps the environment. Most food travels hundreds of miles to get to your table, wasting gasoline, undergoing chemical treatments, and often after having been grown in a non-so-sustainable way. This eliminates excess pollution and land misuse.
So this week, if you see an apple (or is it a tomato?) running around campus, check your pockets and see if you've got a couple coins to make mid-Missouri a happier place to eat.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Kicking off the 2008 season (of Tiger Tailgate Recycling)
Mizzou students, parents, and faculty are now piling through the glorious gates of Faurot field to participate in a great MU sports tradition…fun, football games, and tailgating…while Sustain Mizzou volunteers are bravely reporting for duty for the 2nd most significant sports tradition…Tiger Tailgate Recycling!
With 31 sustainers, 85.84 volunteer hours, 62,305 Mizzou fans, 2 loaves of bread, 1 container of hummus, 42 latex gloves and only one Steve Burdic, were able to recycle 2.24 tons plastic, glass and aluminum. That is just as an amazing start to the season as a score of 52-3. Despite the campaigns of aluminum pirates (disguised as pick-ups) to thwart our recycling efforts by pillaging our bins and bags, despite the unfortunate event of a miscommunication with MU waste management resulting in the improper disposal of two parking lots of recyclables, despite the threat of looming thunderstorms leading to an early end of TTR, despite having a majority of greenhorn sustainers (which I was incredibly happy to see so many new people interested, keep it up!), despite all that challenged us Sustain Mizzou volunteers were still able to sacrifice their sweat, blood (seriously, we had an accident) and hygiene to yield an impressive quantity of containers.
But it seems we can do better. We have the support from the fans (they can’t get enough of the green team), we have incredible volunteers, fantastic sponsors and most importantly the motivation from within to make a difference. Therefore, let’s rock the recycling this season and really make a positive impact on the sustainability movement in Columbia and at Mizzou by recycling tons (literally) of containers and educating the community about environmental responsibility.
Thank you to everyone who helps out with TTR (especially those willing to wake up before 8am).
Mizzou students, parents, and faculty are now piling through the glorious gates of Faurot field to participate in a great MU sports tradition…fun, football games, and tailgating…while Sustain Mizzou volunteers are bravely reporting for duty for the 2nd most significant sports tradition…Tiger Tailgate Recycling!
With 31 sustainers, 85.84 volunteer hours, 62,305 Mizzou fans, 2 loaves of bread, 1 container of hummus, 42 latex gloves and only one Steve Burdic, were able to recycle 2.24 tons plastic, glass and aluminum. That is just as an amazing start to the season as a score of 52-3. Despite the campaigns of aluminum pirates (disguised as pick-ups) to thwart our recycling efforts by pillaging our bins and bags, despite the unfortunate event of a miscommunication with MU waste management resulting in the improper disposal of two parking lots of recyclables, despite the threat of looming thunderstorms leading to an early end of TTR, despite having a majority of greenhorn sustainers (which I was incredibly happy to see so many new people interested, keep it up!), despite all that challenged us Sustain Mizzou volunteers were still able to sacrifice their sweat, blood (seriously, we had an accident) and hygiene to yield an impressive quantity of containers.
But it seems we can do better. We have the support from the fans (they can’t get enough of the green team), we have incredible volunteers, fantastic sponsors and most importantly the motivation from within to make a difference. Therefore, let’s rock the recycling this season and really make a positive impact on the sustainability movement in Columbia and at Mizzou by recycling tons (literally) of containers and educating the community about environmental responsibility.
Thank you to everyone who helps out with TTR (especially those willing to wake up before 8am).
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Sustain-a-Lingo & First meeting = accepting money, friends, announcement
Welcome back to the Sustainablog, or welcome for the first time.
A quick lesson in Sustain Mizzou lingo:
Sustain-a-
can go before anything.
Examples:
Sustainameeting (a meeting of Sustain Mizzou people, or about sustainability)
Sustainaflag (the yellow flag with a recycling symbol on it displayed at our Wednesday table in Brady Commons and at Recycle Mountain in the spring)
Sustainabling (jewelry made from recycled materials, such as aluminum cans, washers, or safety pins)
Now that you know, I can use the proper terminology to describe out first meeting:
Tonight (Wednesday, Sept 3) was Sustain Mizzou's first general meeting of the semester. "General meeting" is a meeting that is general, everyone is invited, and the topic isn't specific, it's just a sustainameeting.
We had around 80 students show up on a rainy, cold night. Thanks a bunch to all the sustainatroopers out there, it was great to see so many happy faces on a day so gloomy.
We voted to accept money for a community garden project (see article below from Thursday's/tomorrow's paper) and to accept money from Anheuser-Busch Corp. for Tiger Tailgate Recycling (explained in an earlier post).
We broke up into small groups, about 5-8 people in a group. My group had six people, and we talked about what we liked about sustainability on campus (hooray for lots of recycling bins, but we could use more), and possible ideas for future improvements (a clothing swap? a sustainatrivia competition?).
Then we heard announcements, a few from Sustain Mizzou project leaders, and then a few from other people. We were out of there around 8:02 p.m.
From other people:
one about registering to vote in order to vote on issues of renewable energy
one about joining PedNet's walking school bus program, which rocks, btw.
one from Steve Burdic, the Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator for Mizzou, about recruiting students to be "recycling champions" for the Indoor Beverage Recycling Program (iBurp)
Here's two articles to check out:
About the community garden/composting class, grant, and project:
Columbia Missourian: Graduate Student Begins Composting Program
And from a few weeks ago, a story about a project to put energy monitors in some Residence Halls, so students can track and lower their energy usage:
Columbia Missourian: Student Wins Grant to Help MU Cut Energy Use
Rock on sustainers. Or shall I say, sustain-a-rock-it.
A quick lesson in Sustain Mizzou lingo:
Sustain-a-
can go before anything.
Examples:
Sustainameeting (a meeting of Sustain Mizzou people, or about sustainability)
Sustainaflag (the yellow flag with a recycling symbol on it displayed at our Wednesday table in Brady Commons and at Recycle Mountain in the spring)
Sustainabling (jewelry made from recycled materials, such as aluminum cans, washers, or safety pins)
Now that you know, I can use the proper terminology to describe out first meeting:
Tonight (Wednesday, Sept 3) was Sustain Mizzou's first general meeting of the semester. "General meeting" is a meeting that is general, everyone is invited, and the topic isn't specific, it's just a sustainameeting.
We had around 80 students show up on a rainy, cold night. Thanks a bunch to all the sustainatroopers out there, it was great to see so many happy faces on a day so gloomy.
We voted to accept money for a community garden project (see article below from Thursday's/tomorrow's paper) and to accept money from Anheuser-Busch Corp. for Tiger Tailgate Recycling (explained in an earlier post).
We broke up into small groups, about 5-8 people in a group. My group had six people, and we talked about what we liked about sustainability on campus (hooray for lots of recycling bins, but we could use more), and possible ideas for future improvements (a clothing swap? a sustainatrivia competition?).
Then we heard announcements, a few from Sustain Mizzou project leaders, and then a few from other people. We were out of there around 8:02 p.m.
From other people:
one about registering to vote in order to vote on issues of renewable energy
one about joining PedNet's walking school bus program, which rocks, btw.
one from Steve Burdic, the Solid Waste and Recycling Coordinator for Mizzou, about recruiting students to be "recycling champions" for the Indoor Beverage Recycling Program (iBurp)
Here's two articles to check out:
About the community garden/composting class, grant, and project:
Columbia Missourian: Graduate Student Begins Composting Program
And from a few weeks ago, a story about a project to put energy monitors in some Residence Halls, so students can track and lower their energy usage:
Columbia Missourian: Student Wins Grant to Help MU Cut Energy Use
Rock on sustainers. Or shall I say, sustain-a-rock-it.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
New Student meeting went great, join us Wednesday!
With frisbees, perfect weather, and more than enough pizza, Sustain Mizzou's new student orientation meeting rocked.
I'm Julia, by the way, the Vice President of Communication for Sustain Mizzou, and I'll be updating the blog most of the time this semester.
These new students have the energy and the interest to make Sustain Mizzou, and thus Mizzou's sustainability, better than ever. Along with our awesome veterans, who helped us pick us aluminum cans at seven in the morning and nine at night, who stood on bales of recyclables in Lowry Mall, who weeded our garden and spread compost, this will be a great semester.
We had about 40 new people at our gathering at the Quad last Wednesday, and I know I had fun, I hope they all did too.
It's always nice to meet a group of people who are excited to be where they are, and who want to do things to make a difference. That's really the basis of Sustain Mizzou.
Our first big project will be Tiger Tailgate Recycling. During TTR (Tiger Tailgate Recycling), our volunteers go around with recycling bags, handing them to tailgaters while teaching them what they can and can't recycle. We also empty the recycling bins that are placed around the outside of the stadium and around tailgating areas. Last year, from the six home games, with the help of our Landscape Services buddies and golf carts, we got over 23 tons of recyclables. Twenty-three tons which would have ended up in the landfill if it hadn't been for our super volunteers.
The first home football game is September 6th, against Southeast Missouri State. TTR will be there, and I'm inviting you and all your friends to come help make the first game our best ever. TTR volunteers meet in our tent right outside the main gate (right to the right if you're coming through the tunnel).
TTR has three shifts for every home game:
Usually people only work one shift, but you might find it's so much fun that you stay for a second or third shift. I know I usually do. Plus there's food, like always. Sustain Mizzou likes to eat, a lot.
If you want to know more about TTR, or sign up for a shift, e-mail John Gardner (jrg7wb@mizzou.edu).
I'm gonna wrap up this blog post, but we have a bunch of other great projects I'll explain when they come up.
Please join us on Wednesday, it's our first general meeting of the year, all our old favorites and new buddies will be there, plus pizza.
What: Sustain Mizzou's first general meeting of the semester
Where: 100 Stewart Hall (behind Memorial Union)
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Sept 3
I'm Julia, by the way, the Vice President of Communication for Sustain Mizzou, and I'll be updating the blog most of the time this semester.
These new students have the energy and the interest to make Sustain Mizzou, and thus Mizzou's sustainability, better than ever. Along with our awesome veterans, who helped us pick us aluminum cans at seven in the morning and nine at night, who stood on bales of recyclables in Lowry Mall, who weeded our garden and spread compost, this will be a great semester.
We had about 40 new people at our gathering at the Quad last Wednesday, and I know I had fun, I hope they all did too.
It's always nice to meet a group of people who are excited to be where they are, and who want to do things to make a difference. That's really the basis of Sustain Mizzou.
Our first big project will be Tiger Tailgate Recycling. During TTR (Tiger Tailgate Recycling), our volunteers go around with recycling bags, handing them to tailgaters while teaching them what they can and can't recycle. We also empty the recycling bins that are placed around the outside of the stadium and around tailgating areas. Last year, from the six home games, with the help of our Landscape Services buddies and golf carts, we got over 23 tons of recyclables. Twenty-three tons which would have ended up in the landfill if it hadn't been for our super volunteers.
The first home football game is September 6th, against Southeast Missouri State. TTR will be there, and I'm inviting you and all your friends to come help make the first game our best ever. TTR volunteers meet in our tent right outside the main gate (right to the right if you're coming through the tunnel).
TTR has three shifts for every home game:
- -A few hours before the game. The first shift is fun if you like talking to people and really educating about recycling.
- -A half hour before kickoff. The second shift is fun if you don't mind getting a little dirty and talking to some crazy drunk people.
- -At the start (or end if you're going to the game) of the fourth quarter. The third shift is fun if you like getting dirty and really seeing the effects of our efforts because you get to pick up all the full recycling bags.
Usually people only work one shift, but you might find it's so much fun that you stay for a second or third shift. I know I usually do. Plus there's food, like always. Sustain Mizzou likes to eat, a lot.
If you want to know more about TTR, or sign up for a shift, e-mail John Gardner (jrg7wb@mizzou.edu).
I'm gonna wrap up this blog post, but we have a bunch of other great projects I'll explain when they come up.
Please join us on Wednesday, it's our first general meeting of the year, all our old favorites and new buddies will be there, plus pizza.
What: Sustain Mizzou's first general meeting of the semester
Where: 100 Stewart Hall (behind Memorial Union)
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Sept 3
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Welcome new students!
Looking for a way to meet other students who love the environment?
Or needing to get out of your dorm or apartment and smell the fresh Columbia air?
Sustain Mizzou's first few events of the semester are coming up.
On Wednesday, August 27, on the Quad (by the Columns), Sustain Mizzou will share information for anyone who's interested about sustainability stuff on campus. Where can I recycle my cardboard? We'll tell you. When is the local farmer's market? We'll let you know (It's Saturday morning, by the way, here's a link: www.columbiafarmersmarket.org). How can I save electricity? We've got some ideas. Stop by the Quad, around 7 p.m., find all of us Sustain Mizzou execs in our yellow inside-out shirts with recycling arrows. We'd love to meet you!
Thursday, August 28
We'll get together again. Invite anyone who's interested in watching an awesome movie, Planet Earth, a BBC documentary that goes around the world looking at different envrionments, in high definition. I'll repost with the location once it gets reserved.
Wednesday, September 3
Sustain Mizzou's first general meeting, which will probably be in Stewart Hall, which is right by Memorial Union. There will be free pizza.
We haven't been approved for the room yet, but it'll most likely be in Stewart. If it's not, we'll have someone stand there and direct you to wherever it got moved to.
Thursday, September 4
A group bike ride around Columbia on Thursday evening.
----
There are still spots available in a class taught by former SM president Adam Saunders Environmental Studies 2150. It's a class on urban sustainable development, particularly community gardens and biking. It involves a lot of fun getting-your-hands-dirty wook. To get a permission number, contact Jan Weaver.
Or needing to get out of your dorm or apartment and smell the fresh Columbia air?
Sustain Mizzou's first few events of the semester are coming up.
On Wednesday, August 27, on the Quad (by the Columns), Sustain Mizzou will share information for anyone who's interested about sustainability stuff on campus. Where can I recycle my cardboard? We'll tell you. When is the local farmer's market? We'll let you know (It's Saturday morning, by the way, here's a link: www.columbiafarmersmarket.org). How can I save electricity? We've got some ideas. Stop by the Quad, around 7 p.m., find all of us Sustain Mizzou execs in our yellow inside-out shirts with recycling arrows. We'd love to meet you!
Thursday, August 28
We'll get together again. Invite anyone who's interested in watching an awesome movie, Planet Earth, a BBC documentary that goes around the world looking at different envrionments, in high definition. I'll repost with the location once it gets reserved.
Wednesday, September 3
Sustain Mizzou's first general meeting, which will probably be in Stewart Hall, which is right by Memorial Union. There will be free pizza.
We haven't been approved for the room yet, but it'll most likely be in Stewart. If it's not, we'll have someone stand there and direct you to wherever it got moved to.
Thursday, September 4
A group bike ride around Columbia on Thursday evening.
----
There are still spots available in a class taught by former SM president Adam Saunders Environmental Studies 2150. It's a class on urban sustainable development, particularly community gardens and biking. It involves a lot of fun getting-your-hands-dirty wook. To get a permission number, contact Jan Weaver.
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