The Eco-Itern

A trip to Whole Foods

2010-10-11T21:47:00.001-07:00

I have decided I definitely need a new camera since I am going to be going out of the country multiple times this summer. Not just that but a recent photography project for art produced several shaky and disappointing pics. I am speaking of cameras in a blog about Whole Foods: one because I am sleepy and we are experiencing stream of consciousness typing and two because I would have taken a pretty picture of my refrigerator garden for you if not for the poor quality of my inherited and out-dated device.

Anyways, in an effort to attempt to go vegan for the Lean and Green Challenge (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/nkuleanandgreen) at school, I purchased all sorts of wonderfully earth friendly goodies. Including mayo made of soy and solar power. A brand of soy turkey and ham, lots and lots of organic veggies and locally brewed coffee to accompany my bamboo filters and Goodwill coffee pot.

I almost went to yoga today but I realized that I have public exercise issues that I seriously need to work out.. haha "punny."

Lean and Green Challenge

2010-09-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

NKU is hosting a contest that challenges people to reduce their weight and their carbon footprint.

Of course I signed up! Today is the first day. I am tracking how many fruits, veggies, whole grains, and water I consume. As well as the amount of exercise I do in a day. There are also events on campus such as the Farmer's Market, which I can earn more points by attending!

I'll keep you posted ;)

The Buzz

2010-09-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Some exciting stuff is going on at school this year!

I have the opportunity to collaborate with three very creative minds on a piece inspired by environmental theatre of the 1960's. We created a script in which our classmates will stumble upon Mother Earth meditating on a nature trail. Mother Nature will then express how beautiful she was and the devastation her children caused. She will tell us"we are all to blame." Then the class is invited to improv, using a litter mask (created/decorated with litter found on NKU's campus). "I am to blame for..." But then Mother Nature leaves us with some optimism, "we are all a part of the solution." Without the mask our audience will announce, "I am the solution, I will...."

In addition to this exciting project and am preparing for my Capstone, a year long independent research project for my Honor's minor. The plan is to study sustainability on a global and local level. I am traveling to Ecuador to study the local sustainable economy, not to mention visit the Andes and Amazon. For the local level of my project I hope to draw upon my experiences at Boone County.

This is a monumental school year for me... I feel incredibly lucky to work on these various projects and have so many wonderful mentors.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event (Updated)

2010-09-16T12:40:00.001-07:00

Saturday November 6th, 9am - 2pm. For more information go here: http://www.nkyhhw.org/. You MUST register before the event. Look for these documents:

Hazordous Waste Horror

2010-09-02T13:14:00.000-07:00

Boone, Kenton and Campbell County Solid Waste Management, Emergency Management and Sanitation District are organizing a Northern Kentucky Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event. The event will take place Nov. 6th from 9 am to 2 pm at Turfway Park in Florence. We will accept the following from Northern Kentucky residents: electronics, oil, bulbs, propane tanks, batteries, tone/ink cartridges and prescription drugs.

We are looking for volunteers to help run the event, if you are interested contact Kelly or Rosie at 334-3151.

YOU WILL NEED TO PRE-REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT

More information to come. ;)

Spinach and Litterbugs

2010-08-30T14:37:00.000-07:00

We'll start on a positive note: food. I love buying my own food. Seems simple enough, right? But you don't realize how much freedom grocery shopping allows until someone else fills the cabinet with butt busting yummies. Since I have been in my new apartment I have lost ten pounds.

As my collegiate budget permits I am buying organic and all natural. My eggs are cage free, my spinach liberated of plastic wrappings and I eat soy milk with my cereal. Hurray! I am proud to say I have even started reading vegetarian cookbooks. I vow to give some recipes a try, as terrifying as the results may be.

Another uplifting aspect of my new life is school transportation. I have two excellent sources of such... my legs! I live amazingly close to school and the walks have been terrific. I am also on the bus route and public transportation also suites my fancy for days of extreme weather.

Now for some negative updates... I hate litter. So that's not news, I know I know but just yesterday while driving home, my boyfriend and I had to pull over on the highway. A sheet of industrial plastic, LITTER, had wrapped itself around my tire. Not only was this inconvenient, it was incredibly dangerous. More than 50% of litter comes from motorists and yet roadways are the worst place to dispose of your unwanted items.

There is no place like home...

2010-08-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

Okay okay so here's the scoop on my moving in experience. As previously stated I was trying to decide whether to buy a new or used couch. Well I ultimately decided to buy a new couch from Value City. Number one to avoid bed bugs and number two because it was cheaper than some of the used couches I found on Craig's List. I also checked Snooty Fox Furniture Den, which was a neat store.

Although, I redeemed myself! I purchased a used bed from my boyfriend's mother and my Mom brought my childhood twin bed for the guest bedroom. Grandma bought my silverware from Goodwill and gave me an old cafe table and chairs. Yay for old stuff (and no I am not talking about my Grandma)!

If you are ever in the neighborhood for furniture, check with friends and family. You are likely to get a cheaper price and you are recycling.

Now, cleaning products. I am happy to say I bought all green cleaning products:

August Eco-Article

2010-08-11T07:21:00.001-07:00

Check it out here: http://i1037.photobucket.com/albums/a454/rsantos_bucket/Picture.jpg

Furniture Frenzy and Recycling Mayhem

2010-08-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

I am in the market for some furniture. I need everything: a mattress, couch, coffee table, entertainment center and probably more.

Now my biggest worries are whether I should succumb to my love for IKEA furniture or brave the bed bugs from used furniture. Talk about moral turmoil! I am currently checking Craigslist, like a good environmentalist.

Research suggests that I should look for the FSC logo - Forest Stewardship Council. IKEA carries some products with the logo.

Next step is Florence Antique Mall, yard sales perhaps a few secondhand furniture stores.

Other than that, I have been looking into recycling at my apartment complex. They do not YET offer curbside. Although, I have tracked down a public recycling bin close-by.

Shew. I'm already worn out from getting this place put together for myself.

Self-sustaining Individual

2010-08-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

I am starting an adventure. Moving into my first apartment is going to test me.

Independence.
Sustainability.
Growth.
Confidence.
Empowerment.
Health.

I feel like this gives me the perfect opportunity for a blog series. For the next few months I will document my trials as a young person starting a new life. Developing my very own environmentally sound practices at home, school and while out and about.

I'll keep you posted ;)

June Eco-Article

2010-07-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

Campbell County published my article this month as well: http://i1037.photobucket.com/albums/a454/rsantos_bucket/Picture019.jpg

Here's Boone's:
http://i1037.photobucket.com/albums/a454/rsantos_bucket/Picture018.jpg

May's Eco-article (My first!)

2010-05-26T06:22:00.000-07:00

Check it out and leave me comments.

http://i1037.photobucket.com/albums/a454/rsantos_bucket/May.jpg

Get To Know Your Dinner

2010-05-13T12:02:00.001-07:00

That's it, shake hands with it. Food could save your life, or not. In fact, food is your life.

Have you ever thought about how many miles food travels before it lands on your plate? The average meal travels 1,500 miles to reach your table! A burger for your lunch does not only affect your health. But also other people, animals and the environment.

Other people- the employees involved in getting that meal to your plate.

Animals- the obvious animals you are eating (that's right there is more than one cow in your burger).

Environment- the fuel used in production, the distance your meal has travelled and the waste left behind (wrappings, left-overs ect.)

So, what are you choices?

Step one: Shopping!

Try to pick items that have minimal packaging. The fresher you can buy the better. Farmer's Markets are a terrific place to start. Shopping local cuts emission costs and also supports your local farming communities. In addition, the goodies at farmers markets are Earth and people friendly.

For the Boone County locals: http://www.boonecountyfarmersmarket.org/pages/

As a consumer you have the power to change the food market. Hard economic times drive consumers to buy items that may not necessarily be healthy for their bodies or the planet, but trend lightly on pocket books. The decisions you make in the grocery store affect the prices and items that are available. For example, when consumers stopped buying milk with growth hormones, Walmart stopped selling it.

Why should an apple cost more than a candy bar? Why is the calorie content in fast food so foreign to consumers? These are the things that consumers do have the power to change.

When consumers demand/buy organic and earth-friendly items, the market will follow. They are fairly easy to recognize. Look for this:

This website: http://www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?pd=Home Allows you to locate sustainable food near you.
Another useful link: http://wellness.nku.edu/docs/CORV_Guide.pdf

When shopping: bring your own reusable bag. Even if you pack the bags in your trunk, they are so easy to forget. I am the first to admit that I am always forgetting the junk in my trunk!

Always try to reduce the amount of waste you create. Only buy what you need and reuse as much as possible.

Step two: Composting
It is not as complicated as you may think.
The first step to creating a compost pile is to chose a location for your compost pile. Then you must add the necessary organic materials. It is important to put in both green (nitrogen) and brown (carbon) materials in the pile. An example of green material is grass clippings and an example of brown material is dried garden debris.
Now for the topic we have all been waiting for: food. You can add all sorts of food scraps to your compost pile. You can add fruits, vegetables and other natural material. In addition, coffee grinds and tea bags (remove the little staple) and lastly egg shells. Avoid meat scraps in the pile!
Don't forget to mix the pile every once in the while because another essential component to a pile is oxygen!

Tis' the season..

2010-05-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

Both my beloved boyfriend and Mary Dickey, my fearless leader, have brought to my attention that I am no longer an intern. The more I sit and ponder this, the more I realize that although I have been upgraded to the prestige of "seasonal employee," I am still very much an intern.

According to dictionary.com, an intern is "a student who is studying to be a teacher." So true, so true my friends. I am a scholar of Mary and Kelly... and in many ways Becky still. Their influence and guidance is crucial to my development and success. In addition, I am a student of the environment. I have many lessons still yet to learn from Mother Nature. There is so much to uncover and research.

Thus, although I am officially a seasonal emloyee, I still very much remain an intern with so much to learn.

Super-sized "Green" Shoes

2010-05-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

Hello wide world,

I am happy to announce my grand debut into the world of blogging!

For the next few months I will blow the dust from Becky Haltermon's eco-shoes and shake what my mentor gave me. I hope you enjoy and wish me luck.

Ahem... Let me first describe the great torch that the lovely ladies at Boone County Solid Waste Management have handed to me. Over the course of the next few months, I am at the right and left hands of Mary Dickey (SUPERvisor) and Kelly Chapman (Enforcement and everything else).
My assignment- the amazing task of helping with our wonderful County's many environmental education and litter programs. A few examples include classroom recycling and litter presentations and the Litter Spotter Program. In addition, I am going to get to chat and connect with our residents about programs and events, answering their questions and providing them with many terrifically trashy resources.

Add us on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/boone.greenteam?ref=profile
And check out our website: http://www.boonecountyky.org/BCSWM/Default.aspx

Contact us!
859-334-3151
Email me: rsantos@boonecountyky.org