2013 Bike-to-Breakfast Station at NAU was an Amazing Success!
Posted by Liz in bicyclists on May 22, 2013
NAU’s Transportation Action Team has put on another successful bike-to-breakfast station!
On May 22nd, the team was on NAU’s spine (near the union) from 6:30-9:00am with delicious food for bicyclists passing by on their way to work. This year the station included a mobile bicycle repair station, courtesy of the Bicycle HUB which was very successful. They also included a bike lock display provided by Campus Police and had opportunities for bicyclists to register their bikes thanks to Parking and Shuttle Services.
This year’s bike-to-breakfast results:
Participants: 108
Pass (includes fly-bys and waves): 105
Bike Registration: 11
HUB Repairs: 16
A big thank you to Campus Recreation Services for providing logistical support, tables, and the shelter for the event.
The Transportation Action Team educates and advocates for sustainable transportation alternatives at NAU. For more information or to get involved, contact Derek Hansen.
Interested in learning how to bee keep?
Catch the buzz this summertime in Flagstaff. Learn how to work with a gentle colony of honeybees in a backyard top restore the health of the amazing honeybee.
Practicing organic, holistic principles, we will explore the relationships between:
* the queen, workers, and drones.
* flowering plants, pollen, nectar, beeswax, and honey.
* eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults.
* humans and the rest of nature.
Each of the four classes in this course will be held on a Saturday at a private
residence in southwest Flagstaff, with local field trips to Mountain Meadow
Permaculture Farm and Flagstaff EcoRanch.
Dates: June 8; July 13; August 17; and September 14
Cost: $300.00
To register or for more information, visit www.honeybeeteacher.com
or call Patrick Pynes at (928) 600-1193
2013 Earth Week a Success!
Posted by Liz in Earth Week on May 2, 2013
The Student Environmental Caucus- Green Jacks- planned Earth Week again this year for the third year running. Their goal was to include a broader audience and engage students in the question: “What’s your energy? Choose your impact.” They utilized engaging materials such as an “Earth Week” banner and T-shirts that students wrote on, sharing their energy and how they make an impact in their daily lives. All Earth Week supplies were provided by the NAU Green Fund.
2013 Earth Week attracted over 1,220 participants and over 100 volunteers. Events ranged from the ECO fashion show to the Green Fund Symposium.
If you are interested in getting involved next year or want more information on the NAU Green Jacks, contact: Abrahan Garibay, Green Jacks facilitator. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Earth Week possible!!!
The new SNAIL Garden on South Campus is a bit hit!
Students Nurturing Alternatives in Landscaping, also known as SNAIL, has made great progress on their garden, located near the green house on south campus.
SNAIL is a student run cooperative garden founded by Allison Baker from the Masters program in Sustainable Communities. SNAIL is connected to FYS program and has open membership to any NAU student, faculty or staff.
SNAIL was given much of it’s resources from NAU Grounds Department. They have also been able to use tons of dirt from NAU composting program, which has helped in providing a healthy soil base for the garden.
In the very short time SNAIL has been running, they have already built 2 hoop houses so they can grow season-round. (See picture below.)
SNAIL aims to “embody alternatives in landscaping” and have created spaces for outdoor classrooms, student art, picnicking, and a living shade area.
SNAIL’s future goals include reaching out to larger NAU community,such as family housing at NAU so they can have a place to grow food over the summer. Additionally, they are working to educate community members and students on the connections between immigration and food issues. Social justice issues are largely behind big industrial agriculture.
If you want to get involved, or for more information, contact Allison Baker at: ab567@nau.edu
The Sustainability Series at Willow Bend
Posted by Liz in Sustainability, Workshop on February 15, 2013
A monthly program from February through July.
Willow Bend Environmental Education Center sits on land that was once used as a junk yard; our building is energy neutral; and our native landscaping produces habitat for wildlife. Please join us for a series of free presentations by local experts about Willow Bend’s design and building strategy, and how many of these features could be implemented elsewhere. We are a community resource and we invite you to come see for yourself!
February 27 – Designing and Building a Good Home Presented by Ed Dunn, Solar Design & Construction, Inc. Ed built Willow Bend and will talk, generally, about passive solar, comfort, sustainability, building materials, and remodeling.
March 27 – The Fundamentals of Passive Solar Design Presented by Joe Costion, Consultant and Educator on Sustainable Building and Living. Tremendous amounts of energy are used heating and cooling our living and working spaces. Come and learn how the Willow Bend building is heated by the sun. Joe will provide fundamental tools for incorporating passive solar design in new or existing buildings using his solar mantra.
April 18 – Residential Water Harvesting Presented by David McKee, City of Flagstaff Stormwater Management Have you ever thought about how you might catch and use rainwater for irrigation? Come learn about roof catchment systems, as well as other strategies for storing and using water for storing and using rainwater.
May 16 – Solar Photovoltaics: Renewable Energy Presented by Jim Corning of Plug and Play Solar, Inc. The solar panels at Willow Bend meet all of our electric energy needs. Jim Corning installed them and will demonstrate a new strategy – portable solar panels that you can simply plug into an outdoor outlet.
June 5 – Vermicomposting, How and Why Presented by McKenzie Jones, Sustainability Specialist at the City of Flagstaff Come learn how to convert organic waste from your kitchen into nutrient rich soil for gardening using worm composting. We’ll have a demonstration and starter kits available.
July – Native Landscape, Healthy Soils and Gardens Presented by Nigel Sparks, Flagstaff Native Plant and Seed Native gardens help create wildlife habitat, require less water and help reduce the encroachment of invasive species. But they still require maintenance and upkeep. Come learn about how you can implement some of the strategies in use at Willow Bend for your own landscape.
*Register at: www.willowbendcenter.org/public-programs_adult
Or call 928-779-1745
Willow Bend Environmental Center is located at: 703 E. Sawmill Rd. Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Our partners:
Coconino County Sustainable Building Program
Solar Design & Construction, Plug and Play Solar, Flagstaff Native Plant and Seed
NAU Featured in AASHE STARS Quarterly Review
Posted by KevinOrdean in Uncategorized on December 17, 2012
“Northern Arizona University’s rating improved to STARS Gold after its second report was submitted in October 2012. Areas of strength in the latest report included the Co-Curricular
Education and Purchasing subcategories:
- The Community-Based Action Research Teams bring first-year students together with graduate students, faculty, and community partners to work on issues of sustainability and community organizing (ER 1)
- Since 2011, a new purchasing policy was adopted requiring that computers be purchased at EPEAT Gold or higher. A new vendor code of conduct was also adopted (OP 10, OP 13).”
https://stars.aashe.org/pages/news-events/publications/2012-publications.html
Hungry for Local Alternative Food?
Check out Local Alternative’s monthly Supper Club!
The Flagstaff Supper Club; an opportunity to eat fresh, delicious and highly nutritious food w/ tremendous local value. Our ingredients are purveyed from local sources year round. This includes all the organic quality Meats and Produce as well as the Legumes, Dairy and Bakery. We look forward to serving you a special meal and in the enjoyment of it all learning what you would like for your next Supper.
All meals served from 5:30 to 7:00pm at The Green Room – 15 N. Agassiz St, Flagstaff
Next Supper Club Events:
Oct. 11th 2012: Moonrise Farms, Music: Pick n’ Grin 6pm, Live Jazz 6:30pm
Nov. 8th 2012: Flying M Ranch
Dec. 13th 2012: Ridgeview Farms and Summer Place Pecan Farm Flying M Ranch
*To buy tickets, or for more information, please visit: http://www.localalternativeaz.com/supper-club/
Traditional Knowledge Scholars’ Lecture Series FALL 2012
Posted by Liz in Lecture Series on September 21, 2012
Department of Applied Indigenous Studies
SBS West Building (Bldg. 70) – Room 9 (Bottom Level)
Wednesday, October 10th
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Bob Lomadafkie
Dividing the World for Occupation: Post discovery of the “New World” and Indigenous worldview.
Wednesday, October 10
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Marina Vasquez
Herbs and Medicinal Plants: This lecture will focus on 10 medicinal plants that grow in Flagstaff.
Wednesday, October 17th
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Marina Vasquez
Rilaj Maam – The Mayan God of Love, Health and Wealth: This lecture will focus on a Mayan deity born after the Conquest and his importance for indigenous resistance.
Wednesday, October 24th
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Bob Lomadafkie
Occupying the “New World”: Old World imposition upon indigenous lands.
Wednesday, November 7th
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Bob Lomadafkie
1680 Revolution in the Southwest: Unity of Southwest Pueblos for expulsion of the Spanish Crown.
Wednesday, November 14th
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Marina Vasquez
The Mayan Calendar: The Long count Calendar and Its Implications for 2012: This lecture will focus on the end of the 52 year cycle of the Mayan Calendar and the prophecies.
Wednesday, November 21st
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Bob Lomadafkie
Reorientation of the “Universe”: Indigenous worldview, from past into contemporary placement.
Wednesday, November 28th
4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Marina Vasquez
Baktun 13 A New Beginning: This lecture will focus on ways to adapt to the changes occurring in the world today.
Traditional Agriculture & Sustainable Living Conference.
Posted by Liz in Call for Papers, Conference, Sustainable Living, Traditional Agriculture on September 6, 2012
CALL FOR PAPERS!
OCTOBER 12 &13, 2012
Submission Guidelines:
We are accepting submissions for the 7th Annual Traditional Agriculture and Sustainable Living Conference till September 21, 2012 at Northern New Mexico College. We are soliciting papers in all areas where traditional practices are aligned with the concept of sustainability. Presentations should be focused on activities and research on the traditional aspects of sustainability through:
· natural organic farming practices
· seed saving
· education in traditional foods and medicines,
· developing markets for surplus crops,
· value added production, and
· helping communities maintain or return to their traditional cultural lifestyles.
In this conference, we are interested in fostering discussion around work pertaining to:
· Clean, Safe Accessible Water, and Water Rights
· Women in Traditional Agriculture
· Spirituality in Agriculture
· Innovations in Sustainability
Include a 500-word abstract that outlining the topic of the presentation. Each proposal, should include a one- paragraph biography and a one-page c.v., including address, phone, and email address for the point of contact. Indicate AV equipment needs, if any.
Deadline for Statements of Interest: September 17, 2012
Acceptance Notices will be sent by September 21, 2012
Email each submission in PDF form to: sostenga@nnmc.edu Or send by mail service to: Sostenga Center, Northern New Mexico College, 921 Paseo de Oñate, Española, NM 87532.
For more information, visit: http://4bridges.org/conference-information/
Your Chance To Make A Difference At NAU
Posted by cmc467 in Uncategorized on September 5, 2012
Housing and Residence Life is still accepting applications for Eco-Reps with the priority deadline being THIS Friday, September 7 at 5 pm. We are looking for students who live on campus that want to make living sustainably a priority for themselves and others. As an Eco-Rep, you will receive ongoing training and education on a variety of environmental topics along with techniques on how to communicate effectively with your friends and neighbors in order to convince them to make changes in their attitudes and lifestyles. If you are looking for a rewarding student leadership position and plan to work in an environmentally focused field after graduation, don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to make a difference at NAU and develop skills that will make you stand out in today’s competitive job market! For more information on the position and how to apply, please go to www.nau.edu/ecorep.