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A New Blogger here at CEC!

 Hello CEC blog readers!
 

CEC is fortunate to have the help of volunteers to update our blog. These volunteers help support CEC's mission by writing about important environmental developments and keep folks in tune with the programs here on our property. We are so glad to have the help this year of an Earlham Bonner Scholar, Tori from Dallas. As a passionate environmental steward from the Southwest, Tori brings a unique perspective to our blog. Please help me in welcoming her to CEC!

-Emily

 

Greetings, everyone! I am a first year Bonner Scholar and a freshman at Earlham College. As a prospective International Studies/Japanese Studies double major, my volunteer commitment with the Cope Environmental Center might seem to lack some motivation. I assure you this is not the case.

It does not take deep knowledge or passionate activism to be concerned about the environment. Some of the most good can be done by those who donate a few dollars or hours of service to charities and non-profit organizations. I personally believe that caring about the world one inhabits is an innate instinct that an unfortunate group of people in our society appears to lack.

I was born and raised in Texas, specifically a large suburb of Dallas. My city is full of sprawling parks and stringent recycle programs. My childhood consisted of barefoot walks through fields and clusters of live oaks. In my adolescence, I joined an equestrian drill team that required hours served as barn staff in exchange for riding privileges. While much of my time was spent feeding the petting zoo animals and sweeping the tack room, I also assisted with compost maintenance and clearing trails. By working directly with nature, I grew to appreciate it so much more than I would by simply reading a news article or watching a documentary.

My personal concern for the environment stems mainly from my support of conservationism; I acknowledge that what has already been destroyed is lost forever, and I look instead to protect what remains. Successful conservation efforts require the constant education of the masses and community leaders alike, for conservation is not only an environmental concern but also a hot political and social topic: absolute protection requires enforced legislation; such legislation occurs only when elected officials believe they are representing the majority opinion. This brings us back to education, because people cannot truly care about something that remains unknown to them. By giving my time to support organizations like CEC, I am aiding in furthering education about the environment, how it relates to us, and why it is so important. Personal experience has taught me that direct interaction with nature is the most effective teaching method.

Jeff Corwin said: “Today, I’m a conservationist because I believe that my species doesn’t have the right or option to determine the fate of other species, even ones that inspire fear in us.” More than the conservation of usable resources and endangered species, I care about making people understand why “pretty scenery” is so much more than just that. For example, every popular rural tourist spot is the habitat of a variety of species, some of which could not survive anywhere else. There are people who see this as insignificant. They might say, “What’s the loss of one species of bird when there are so many others still alive?” They do not understand the complex workings of an ecosystem, the transfer of energy through a food web, the critical role of keystone species, etc. But this lack of knowledge is not inevitable – it is the result of purposeful ignorance. Our respect for the natural world is diminishing, and I intend to do something about it.

A Fond Farewell-

            Most non-profit organizations are lucky enough to work with volunteers. These individuals donate their most valuable resource to the organization-- their time.  Volunteers, dedicating their energy and talents to a non-profit organization, are able to accomplish some pretty incredible things. Here at Cope Environmental Center, we have wonderful event volunteers and a fantastic corps of dedicated volunteers who lend their skills and time to the betterment of CEC.  Within CEC’s volunteer corps, we have a wonderful mix of helpful individuals called Bonner Scholars.

Bonner Scholars come to CEC through a program coordinated by Earlham College and are a huge asset to the center, working on important projects throughout the school year. This year, as in previous years, we have been blessed with a wonderful group of Bonner Scholars who have added so much to our organization. We grow very close to our Bonner Scholars throughout their four years at Earlham and are always sad to see them go!

This year, we are grateful for the help that Katrina Cohoe, Erin Crooks, and Luke Tierney have provided for us throughout their time at Earlham. Katrina has been essential in leaving a legacy model to use to take care of our produce garden; Erin has done great work caring for the garden and planting it, and Luke has been a tireless eradicator of invasive species on the property. These students have left a lasting impression on the property and on the staff throughout their time here and we wish them great success in their future endeavors. Come visit us soon!

Windy City Diary, Part I

Hello everyone!  It's Erica again, recently back from a trip to Chicago!  One thing that always amazes me about big cities is their initiative to become more "green."  This may seem ironic, considering the vast amounts of waste produced and exhaust fumes emitted all in one area, but if you think about it, these larger cities have much to overcome.  They know that they are hulking beds of environmentally unfriendly industrialism, so they have to fight harder to prove even their tiniest steps in creating a sustainable future.  Chicago seems to be heading in the right direction--at least in the area of awareness. So, I have decided that  I will point out some of this great city's attempts at sustainability.  Let's begin with a topic of interest for the ladies:  fashion.

I am a sucker for cute clothes.  I even switch my handbag each day to match my outfit; however, I realize that not all clothing is created equal.  There are some brands that do not take the environment into consideration in the least, so when I see a shop that promotes sustainability, I am willing to pay a little more.  When I went shopping in Chicago the other day, I was ready to pay that extra buck for a dress made of organic cotton or shoes made from recycled plastic, but what I found was almost too good to be true.

Many of you may have heard of the international brand H&M, if not for their up-to-date fashions, at least for their extremely reasonable prices.  Here I was, entering the doors of this adorable mecca, ready to shop 'til I dropped, when I saw a sign advertising a new sustainable line that they were featuring.  I went to check out the small line, proud that at least a small portion of the store was making an effort, but as I left this area and made my way around the three-story shop, I found that this line was scattered throughout!  I found tops made of recycled polyester and skirts made of organic cotton...to say I was excited in an understatement.  To think that one of my favorite stores could have inexpensive, fashionable clothing that fights for a sustainable future is outrageous!  I did not have room in my bags to buy much; needless to say, I will be returning soon. I suggest you do too!

You can check out this site for more information:

http://www.hm.com/us/conscious-collection

Nature's Crossroads Donates Seeds to Cope Environmental Center's Community Garden

The CEC community garden provides garden plots, seeds, tools, and water for free to community groups in Richmond that would otherwise not be able to grow their own food.  

 

One reason the community garden is able to provide this service is because Cope has received donated seeds the past three years from Nature's Crossroads in Bloomington, Indiana. The purpose of Nature's Crossroads is to provide regional growers with Earth-friendly seeds that improve the environment, get people outside, and encourage them to grow their own food.  Much of their seeds are locally grown, Midwest-adapted, and/or certified organic.

Nature's Crossroads supports garden projects in the Midwest which teach people to garden, grow food for the hungry, or revitalize urban areas.  The CEC community provides educational programs with community groups on how to garden, donates produce to Rock Solid, and provides gardening resources to residents in the City of Richmond.

We at CEC are grateful for the support of Nature's Crossroads, and encourage you to check out their webpage at www.naturescrossroads.com.  Shout out to a regional businesses that works to create sustainable and accessible fresh food!

     Spring has sprung!  The days are getting longer and the temperatures are rising, but what I have also noticed is the vast amounts of calves that I have seen in Wayne County fields.  Why?  Well, spring is known to be the time for budding flowers, budding trees, and budding new lives, of course!  Now that temperatures are comfortable, the little guys are roaming everywhere.  This makes me think:  what kind of a future will these baby cows face?  I do realize that they are not human children, and therefore, are incapable of lessening their own impact on the environment, but the thought of any new life growing up in a world fighting for its own is troubling. 
     I, along with the staff here at CEC believe wholeheartedly in sustainability, and though it is sometimes difficult to do the right thing, I think that we should be thinking about future generations.  I admit that sometimes I forget to throw a plastic water bottle in the trash can--my humanity is at fault for that one, right?!  Those mistakes are rare and are not the point of the bigger picture:  if we do not do our part in living sustainable lives, what kind of a future do we leave for these calves?  Moreover, what kind of a future do we leave for our own generations to come? 
     I know that in this "green" age (and I am not just talking about spring!), we are used to being bombarded with Public Service Announcements and news telling us that we are wrong, wrong, WRONG for forgetting to throw away that single water bottle, but I think what is more important is that we try.  We can try to reduce our usage of shower water, try to reuse plastic containers, and try to recycle our cereal boxes.  Realistically, you alone may not be able save the world, but we are all links in this "green" chain; we are only as strong as our weakest link, and every single one of you should hold yourselves accountable to keeping the chain strong enough to sustain our future generations.  So, if we can all do our part by reducing, reusing, and recycling, isn't is like bestowing the best kind of gift on our children:  the gift of a healthy future?

Just a thought!
Erica

Why can’t the activist and educator be friends?

I recently attended the Green Energy Summit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was impressed at the collaborative atmosphere between activists, educators and businesses that unified to learn and share knowledge pertaining to sustainability and human impact on the environment.  To me, this summit was instrumental in showing how the symbiosis of educators and activists, united behind the cause of sustainability, can be an unstoppable force in garnering support for this pressing issue. 

Passion is important, especially when put behind a cause as pressing as the environment.  This passion can be directed in many ways, with education and activism being the chief outlets. Quite simply put, it is detrimental to the health of the debate surrounding environmental issues when education and activism are pitted against each other.  Too often it is the case that activists perceive educators as passive supporters of their causes, and educators view activists as drawing unwanted attention to the issues that they are so passionate about teaching. 

However silly this may seem, this is the climate that seems to be a trend nowadays, especially surrounding the topic of environmental responsibility and sustainability.  Because this is a relatively new field, and one that is evolving at a rapid pace, the debate over who is really ‘doing the most’ for the cause rages on without the discussants even realizing that the metrics on which they are being ‘measured’ are being developed on a daily basis. Simply put, the field of sustainability is evolving at too rapid of a pace for activists and educators to always be on forefront of new developments.  I propose that the two groups recognize the mutual benefits of working together in order to always stay on the cutting edge. 

From a third-party view, it is plain to see that educators who teach about sustainability and the environment help inspire an ethic of conservation in students- one that is guaranteed to last a lifetime. Equally as important, are the activists who draw attention to the causes that educators are so passionate about. Without educators, activists would not be able to help educate people on the depth of the issues at hand and vice versa. Both roles are essential and needed when trying to gain awareness and support for sustainability and environmental conservation. 

Additionally, because of the unfortunate introduction of ‘green washing’ into the sphere of sustainability, suspicions are immediately raised when people, organizations or businesses take steps to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. Many previously existing programs and initiatives are advertised today as ‘sustainable’ because they loosely fit the bill of benefitting the environment in some way or another.  Not only does green washing provide a false sense of security to consumers, but it does a huge detriment to those who are striving their hardest to make what they do the most environmentally friendly as possible.

Attending the Green Energy Summit gave me a glimpse at the huge potential that could come about if activists and educators work in tandem to help bring support to one of the most pressing issues of our time. Arguing about who is doing more for the environment will only help to detract attention from the real issues at hand. I would encourage all who share a common passion for the environment to work together and find ways to collaborate and utilize the strengths and talents of both activists and educators. 

-Emily Bobrowich

Resource/Volunteer Coordinator