Whew!! Finals are over, now we can begin to post much more frequently.
I am about halfway done with Barbara Kingsolver's latest book, Animal Vegetable Miracle. Its the perfect story for the Wendell Berry House. For the book, Kingsolver moves here family to a rural Virginia farm and attempts to eat only what her family can make or buy from the local community. For the most part Kingsolver is dead on. She makes a coherent argument for the importance of understanding our food.
I would urge each of you to read this book. I assigned it for all of the Wendell Berry House members and think it captures the essence of what we a re trying to do next year.
p.s. I will be posting my summer reading list in the coming days. I'd really enjoy it if anyone reading the blog reads some of the books with me.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
An Inconvenient Trash
Hosted by Media Studies 360, "An Inconvenient Trash" will show from 2-4 p.m. on Friday in Viking. "An Inconvenient Trash" is a mockumentary about sustainability at St. Olaf.
Take a break from studying for finals and see what they have to say.
Take a break from studying for finals and see what they have to say.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Beef with bike storage at St. Olaf?
This isn't really necessary at St. Olaf, but it's still kind of cool.It's a civilian spin-off of a bike first developed for use in military transport and parachute airdrop by the Montague Corporation. The SwissBike is a full-size mountain bike with 26" wheels that folds down to a 36" x 28" x 12" size in under 30 seconds via a quick-release system. It doesn't require tools.
Pick one up for as low as $679. The top of the line, 27-speed model, will run you $2,250, though.
Lily Pad Solar Panels
Fill the desert with solar panels? Install them on roof tops? No.
ZM Architecture has designed some large lily-shaped solar panels for installation in the River Clyde. "After winning the International Design Awards Land and Sea Competition, the concept has been passed on to the Glasgow city council in hopes of a trial going forward in the near future. Essentially, energy gathered by the discs would be transformed and exported to the national grid, and integrated motors could rotate the pads in order to follow the sun for maximum output."
Source: Engadget.com
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Morel Season
Ahh, Morels! Yes, Mother's Day has come and the lilacs are in full bloom, but what this really signifies is the peak season for Morel Mushroom hunting! Concerning support for local foods, foraging for your own food is also a great way to eat sustainably while becoming more aware of the land and it's bounty using the season as your cooking guide. These delicious treasures can be found around the base of dead elm trees where their network of hyphae utilize the nutrients accumulated through the elms roots. They can be found under these trees for 2-3 years after the elm dies. They range in color and size from the earliest 'baby grey's ' to the much larger cream colored 'giants' that typically appear later in the season. And while their sponge like appearance may seem to appeal to little critters, they're quite easy to clean, you simply slice them in half and rinse them under water or you can soak them in a saline solution, but I must warn you this does slightly impede on their robust flavor! The Morel is greatly prized for it's distinct flavor, categorized as Umame or the sixth-sense, it has a meaty/nutty flavor unmatched by any other mushroom. My favorite way to prepare these delectible treats is to saute them in butter and put them on a home-made pizza or in venison stir-fry. They are also great stuffed with smoked gouda and tossed in pasta. For the unseasoned morel hunter they may be tricky to spot, but often if there's one... there's two... then five or ten more and a couple dozen later you've hit the jackpot!
Rainy day rides
Spring has sprung! The grass is turning green, the tulips are blooming, the squirrels are copulating, what more could you ask for? Unfortunately spring also means cold, wet, dreary, and rainy days. It is really easy to ride your bike to work/class/downtown when it is 70 degrees, the sun is shining, and the birds are singing but it becomes more difficult when it is raining. I'm going to share with you a few tips to make your rainy day ride bearable if not as enjoyable as a ride on a beautiful day.
1) KEEP YOUR BIKE WELL MAINTAINED! - This doesn't mean
adjusting the rear derailler or re-greasing the bottom bracket, the most important thing is to keep your chain WELL OILED. Go down to Mike's Bike's or Milltown Cycles in Faribault and pick up a bottle of chain lube!!! they are really cheap and it is an easy way to make you bike last much longer. The trick is to lube the chain after it gets wet, or once every couple of weeks. this keeps the chain from rusting, the chainrings (gears) from suffering unnecessary stress, and the rear derailer (a $50 - $80 fix) from snapping. The following link is for Ernesto chain lube which is a soy based, biodegradable, and renewable chain lube. How's that for sustainable? Plus it works like gangbusters! Pick up a bottle of this stuff, it will protect your bike, you'll spin faster and with less resistance, and if your bike is squeaking, oiling the chain will most likely solve your problem.
http://ernestolube.com/
2) Carry a plastic bag in your pocket - This is for when you need to park your bike. Put the plastic bag over your seat so it stays dry. That way when you get back on to ride again, you don't look like you're sweating profusely from an undesirable area. Plus sitting on a dry bike seat is much more comfortable than a wet one.
3) Invest in some rain gear - A no-brainer. Get some quality rain gear that you can use. If you don't want to get your hair wet, an easy way to prevent this is to wear either a baseball cap, cycling cap, or anything else under your helmet.
4) Don't pump your tires to their maximum pressure - This is just simple physics. when the ground is wet, it is easier to slip and wipeout so you want more of your tire making contact with the ground. You should be able to look on your tires and see a range of PSI. On wet days, stay in the lower range of PSI. You may be a bit slower but you won't slip out.
5) Dry your bike! - Once you've been out in the rain, be sure your bike gets dry again. If this means bringing it inside or under an overhang, do it. If you are really serious, pull the seat out of the frame and flip your bike upside down to let the water drain out. Rusty chainrings and chains are an easy way to ruin a perfectly good bike.
6) Ride more conservatively - The ground, your brakes, and your tires are all wet. Don't expect to be able to come to a screeching halt. Also, if you tend to run stop signs (as many cyclists do including me) when it is raining out BE SURE to at least slow down. I've had too many an instance where I've almost caused an accident only to escape because the car saw me in time. Cars weigh more than bikes. Even if you have the right of way, it's not worth playing chicken with a one ton brick of steel and metal.
7) Wear a helmet - Suck it up and just do it.
The big thing to overcome is the mental block of biking in the rain. Trust me. It's not that bad. Plus you can roll into your next class or pop into Blue Monday and look like a real hardcore badass. Sustainability isn't just biking when it's convenient for you, you really have to make a commitment to it. Especially now when gas prices are meant to reach $4 a gallon by June, motivating yourself to ride in all weather should be much easier. Here's to a greener, more bike friendly planet!
Go ride your bike!!
--Beck
1) KEEP YOUR BIKE WELL MAINTAINED! - This doesn't mean
adjusting the rear derailler or re-greasing the bottom bracket, the most important thing is to keep your chain WELL OILED. Go down to Mike's Bike's or Milltown Cycles in Faribault and pick up a bottle of chain lube!!! they are really cheap and it is an easy way to make you bike last much longer. The trick is to lube the chain after it gets wet, or once every couple of weeks. this keeps the chain from rusting, the chainrings (gears) from suffering unnecessary stress, and the rear derailer (a $50 - $80 fix) from snapping. The following link is for Ernesto chain lube which is a soy based, biodegradable, and renewable chain lube. How's that for sustainable? Plus it works like gangbusters! Pick up a bottle of this stuff, it will protect your bike, you'll spin faster and with less resistance, and if your bike is squeaking, oiling the chain will most likely solve your problem.
http://ernestolube.com/
2) Carry a plastic bag in your pocket - This is for when you need to park your bike. Put the plastic bag over your seat so it stays dry. That way when you get back on to ride again, you don't look like you're sweating profusely from an undesirable area. Plus sitting on a dry bike seat is much more comfortable than a wet one.
3) Invest in some rain gear - A no-brainer. Get some quality rain gear that you can use. If you don't want to get your hair wet, an easy way to prevent this is to wear either a baseball cap, cycling cap, or anything else under your helmet.
4) Don't pump your tires to their maximum pressure - This is just simple physics. when the ground is wet, it is easier to slip and wipeout so you want more of your tire making contact with the ground. You should be able to look on your tires and see a range of PSI. On wet days, stay in the lower range of PSI. You may be a bit slower but you won't slip out.
5) Dry your bike! - Once you've been out in the rain, be sure your bike gets dry again. If this means bringing it inside or under an overhang, do it. If you are really serious, pull the seat out of the frame and flip your bike upside down to let the water drain out. Rusty chainrings and chains are an easy way to ruin a perfectly good bike.
6) Ride more conservatively - The ground, your brakes, and your tires are all wet. Don't expect to be able to come to a screeching halt. Also, if you tend to run stop signs (as many cyclists do including me) when it is raining out BE SURE to at least slow down. I've had too many an instance where I've almost caused an accident only to escape because the car saw me in time. Cars weigh more than bikes. Even if you have the right of way, it's not worth playing chicken with a one ton brick of steel and metal.
7) Wear a helmet - Suck it up and just do it.
The big thing to overcome is the mental block of biking in the rain. Trust me. It's not that bad. Plus you can roll into your next class or pop into Blue Monday and look like a real hardcore badass. Sustainability isn't just biking when it's convenient for you, you really have to make a commitment to it. Especially now when gas prices are meant to reach $4 a gallon by June, motivating yourself to ride in all weather should be much easier. Here's to a greener, more bike friendly planet!
Go ride your bike!!
--Beck
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
oil
In today's New York Times there is an op-ed piece by Thomas Friedman about the decline of democracy around the world. Friedman argues that as the price of oil goes up democracy around the world recedes.
Friedman's point is a good one; global politics are too closely related to a non-renewable resource. Yet, I am not sure if the federal government can do much about this problem. I think (and believe) that it takes strong local community initiatives-like the Wendell Berry House- to create a truly sustainable world.
The government cannot force people to believe in it, however it can help start the conversation.
once it hits your lips
Things in my life that have changed since we received the 'green light' for our proposal:
1. I turn off the lights in my room more frequently
2. I don't leave the water running when I shave
3. shorter showers
4. General increase in awareness of sustainability organizations on and off campus
5. General ridicule from my team mates
6. Surprise from the college republicans (which I am member of)
7. People who I don't know sending me e-mails, and coming up to me in Buntrock expressing their excitement for the house
8. a renewed love of rob smith
Overall, I am a lot more aware of the resources I am using now.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Hobbies
This is kind of an old article, but I just remembered it, and I think it pertains in an interesting way to sustainability.
It discusses the efforts of instrument builders (largely guitar makers) effectively getting the most out of the resources needed to get the desired tone and playability out of their products and protesting the use of these resources on projects that prove wasteful of the full potential of the resource. Frequently it seems that the arts have more leniency when comes to sustainability because after all it is "art". But the fact is that resources are still being used up faster than they are replenishing; and instruments wear out. So I think it is a positive thing that companies are looking into this sort of thing. Reality is (in my opinion) that we're gonna keep making art and music, but we don't have to do it in a wasteful way.
It discusses the efforts of instrument builders (largely guitar makers) effectively getting the most out of the resources needed to get the desired tone and playability out of their products and protesting the use of these resources on projects that prove wasteful of the full potential of the resource. Frequently it seems that the arts have more leniency when comes to sustainability because after all it is "art". But the fact is that resources are still being used up faster than they are replenishing; and instruments wear out. So I think it is a positive thing that companies are looking into this sort of thing. Reality is (in my opinion) that we're gonna keep making art and music, but we don't have to do it in a wasteful way.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Global Cooling?
Global climate change(GCC) is a buzz word around St. Olaf's campus. It is hard to have a conversation about politics without getting into the topic. Yet, I am always astounded at the lack of unified data on the subject. Faculty and students like to say that the "trends" are undeniable, but I wonder what in fact are the trends?
It seems that every week there is data that proves or disproves the existence of GCC, and the effects of greenhouse gases. I just wish there was a consensus.
I was just reading an article in the American Thinker about the distinct possibility that the Earth maybe entering a mini-ice age. While worrying, it seems to be another in the long line of dire predictions soon to be proven false.
However there is a compelling argument for the green and sustainability movements that the Wendell Berry House is apart of: beauty. If we all try to live lives in which we reduce our impact on the world, leaving a smaller "footprint", the worst that can happen is we improve the beauty of the Earth. The best that can happen is we curb global warming and stall the apocalyptic vision some environmentalists foresee. In both cases we win.
Regardless of what the data shows we as a people should be called to better our society and planet. Furthering sustainability is one very important part of that.
It seems that every week there is data that proves or disproves the existence of GCC, and the effects of greenhouse gases. I just wish there was a consensus.
I was just reading an article in the American Thinker about the distinct possibility that the Earth maybe entering a mini-ice age. While worrying, it seems to be another in the long line of dire predictions soon to be proven false.
However there is a compelling argument for the green and sustainability movements that the Wendell Berry House is apart of: beauty. If we all try to live lives in which we reduce our impact on the world, leaving a smaller "footprint", the worst that can happen is we improve the beauty of the Earth. The best that can happen is we curb global warming and stall the apocalyptic vision some environmentalists foresee. In both cases we win.
Regardless of what the data shows we as a people should be called to better our society and planet. Furthering sustainability is one very important part of that.
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