Share and Voice Week 2: ISV Australia Crossings Project

Hey Mate!
For about two weeks this summer I went to Bermagui, Australia! This was the most influential and rewarding trip I have ever been on. During my time here we planted over 1,000 trees, went koala surveying, and learned so many different ways on living a sustainable lifestyle. We stayed with a family who owned "The Crossing". This was an incredible project, I learned what it really meant to rough it and live outdoors. This experience made me truly grateful for everything that I do have, and I learned to take nothing for granted. We cooked and prepared food that we picked out from the garden. I have never eaten so many vegetables in my life! We were also only allowed to shower every 3 days, with a 5 minute timer, so I learned to not waste water. The projects we did was really cool as well. We barely had any electricity, so we had to make our own fun. It was were serene to just sit outside a fire, and listen to Erik play his guitar on the evenings. Or, during the day we would take nature walks, and explore the beautiful land as well. It was exciting when we got to go into town. I learned that I use to take a lot for granted in regards to the amount of paper products I used, or heat. This was the greatest experience I have been apart of. I met so many wonderful people that I still am in contact with today. I also developed so many habits that I still use today. I am less dependent on technology, a better cook, and just more aware of what I am using, and always find the thought in the back of my head of, do I really need this?
If ever given the chance I would go back to Australia, and work on a sustainability project in a heart beat!

                                                         Jumping beside the beach!

                                                      Group after planting 1,000 trees!

                                                        Rendering Australian homes!

                               Group shot with some Aboriginal leaders after koala surveying!

                                                   Just swinging away in the rainforest!

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

Healthy People 2020
EH-2 Increase the different modes of transportation to and from work
Definition: Find different, environmentally friendly ways of transportation in our everyday life that will not pollute the air, or cut down the amounts of fuel we are using and putting into the air
Target: .6 percent
Baseline: .5 percent of trips were made to work via bicycle in 2008

According to Merriam Webster Dictionary the definition of environmentally friendly is something that is not environmentally harmful


HF0400 Environmental and Natural Resource Money Appropriate
Title: To fund the community with money to help clean our air from all of the pollution caused by all of the fuel expensive modes of transportation used. Then, encourage people to use public transportation, or other forms of transportation; bike,walking etc. 
Sponsor: Denny McNamara (R)
Latest Major Action: Representative Denny McNamara, Chair of the Committee on Evironment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance called a forty-fourth meeting to order at 8:53 a.m. on May 3, 2011, in Room 5 of the State Office Building. 
Recommendation: Yes for HF0400 Environmental and Natural Resource Money Appropriate Act
My Political Representative: Governor, Mark Dayton 

Share and Voice Week 1

This is a GREAT website for everyone to look at. Global Stewards: Environmental Tips has so much information on it, and simple everyday actions, and behaviors to do to help our earth. There is simple recycling, reducing, and reusing tips. Then, there are projects you can do around your community to help make it from friendly, like picking up garbage. Also, kind of like our junking project, there is ideas on how to reuse certain materials that you may consider to be garbage, but can actually be used for different things! Everyone should definitely check out this website!
I really liked the part about different methods of transportation, which I think would be great for everyone else to look at, as we all know what a pain it is to park at UMD with the limited parking options. I also learned a lot from all of the pollution that comes from plastic that I never really knew as much about. There is really no need to have plastic bottles, when it would be easier and cause a lot less pollution if everyone would just refill a glass bottle.
Check out this very informational website!

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

This week for our project we learned about political advocacy, and the importance of it. This was a very good idea for me, because I do not pay attention to politics at all. It was good to find out and read a little about who is actually representing me. I do live in Minnesota, but am a registered voter in the state of Wisconsin, so I researched who represents Slinger, WI. 


The President is, Barack Obama. Since he is after all the president it would be hard to reach him personally, but his contact information would go through the White House. 


The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 2500


Visitors Office:
202-456-2121

One of my State House Representatives are, Pat Strachota, a Republican of the 58th District.


Room 324 East
State Capital
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53703


(608)264-8486


Rep.Strachota@legis.wisconsin.gov

The second State House Representative is, Glenn Grothman, a Republican of the 20th District.


Room 10 South
State Capital
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707


(608) 226-7513


Sen.Grothamn@legis.wisconsin.gov

The governor is, Scott Walker.


PO BOX 620437
Middleton, WI 53562


govgeneral@wisconsin.gov

One of the Wisconsin Senators is, Herb Kohl, a Republican. 


310 W. Wisconsin Ave. Suite 950
Milwaukee, WI 53202


senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov

The second Wisconsin Senator is, Ron Johnson, a Republican. 


517 East Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53202


(414) 276-7284


info@ronjohnsonforsenate.com

Reflection Week 1-7

         I know this class is only halfway done, but I have already learned so many things about myself, the environment, blogging and just my surroundings in general. It is actually crazy to think about how much this class has already impacted my everyday life and behavior, especially in these last two weeks!
         Over the last two weeks I have learned about myself as a person. I had always thought that I was a good person, and good to the earth for simple reasons, like taking out my garbage, recycling basic items in my house, and not littering. However, I have learned that it goes much deeper then just these simple tasks, even though they are good starting points. My SMART goal was to not use paper toweling, or paper products, which I am proud to say that I no longer do. I only use only the minimum amount of toilet paper that I actually need when going to the bathroom. These are simple habits that I had never really thought of you. Also I have learned that if I really want to make a change that I will, and from that it will in turn change all of my other habits. After doing the "Junk on the Brain" activity I have found myself looking at everything in my house and finding so many different uses for it. I've cut old t-shirts and used them for rags. I now used an old coffee can to hold flowers in the house. If this would of been me two weeks ago I would of simply thrown all of my garbage away when I was done with it, and never even thought of all of the possibilities of different uses that could come from it. I am really proud of my new outlook on life, of saving, reusing, and recycling a lot of things I have.
         Two weeks ago when we watched the movie GREEN, that really hit home a lot for me. I grew up by a lot of small farms and had always heard and thought that yes farmers work hard, and am ashamed to say that I took their farming for granted, and thought it was something easy they did to save on money. I now see that I am very wrong for this idea, and am embarrassed that I ever even had this idea. From that video I saw that our environment is a very precious item, that should not be taken lightly. It would not be kept the way it is if it wasn't for the farmers producing foods, and keeping it healthy with all of their fertilizing and maintaining of their crops and gardens. Farmers help reduce some of the need for factories, which ruin our environment with all of the pollution they produce. I now have a whole new respect for farmers, and all of the hard work they do for us. I would actually like to go and work on a farm for a few weeks, so I really can get the true experience, I think it would be very humbling and a good idea for me. I have also learned that we are all responsible for our environment, since we are all living here. I believe that actions are contagious. I now try to pick up one piece of garbage everyday that I see (which there is always a ton on my 5 minute walk to school). I believe by doing this that if someone sees me they will pick up the habit, and do it themselves, and if everyone would do this then our world would really be a different place. I also like to do my part with helping to GO GREEN so I have taken a vow to only drive my car when I absolutely need to. I now walk to school everyday to save on not only gas, but the pollution as well. This change has been going on for a little over two weeks now, which I am proud to say that I am helping our environment.
         Within these last few weeks I have found a new love, blogging! In the beginning I was a bit skeptical about blogging, but have found that I really enjoy it. I find myself just going through everyone's blogs and reading of all of the great work that they are doing, and it is so exciting to read and learn from them! I really do enjoy this, and find it inspiring to try some of their new lifestyle changes, or get ideas from this. I really have liked Niki J's idea of trying to eat more vegetables! This has been something I have always wanted to do, but never really found the motivation to do so until I started reading her blog, so if it wasn't for blogging I would still be in phase one of just wanting to change, but not really doing so.
         I can easily say this is my favorite class that I have ever taken here at UMD. I really have never learned so much about our world that I have in these few weeks. I had always taken everything I had for granted, and always expected it all to just be there for me, but never really learned how things work, and the simple tasks that I can do to help our world. I am also excited that form this class I went to Whole Foods Co-op for the first time last weekend, which was such an exciting experience for me. I found myself just wondering around reading the labels on all of the foods, and when I found something that was GM free I was very happy to see that. I bought a lot of organic foods which I am very excited to try, especially a delicious Boca Burger that I just made the other night. I really have enjoyed this class, and am learning so much, and am very excited and happy with the person I am becoming and all of the new different behaviors I have acquired as well!

Eye Opener-Junk on the Brain

Part 1:
Antique: an old collectable item
Junk: any undesired thing or substance
Flea Market: swap meet, place where secondhand or inexpensive good are bartered
Thrift Shop: retail establishment run by a charitable organization to raise money
Upcycling: process of converting waste material or useless materials into new products or materials of better quality or higher environmental value
Resale Shop: the act of selling again to a different party, secondhand selling

Part 2:
All of these terms directly relate to environmental health. They all describe different ways we can reuse our everyday items that we think are trash and find different needs for them. Also, we can go to different places that sell other people's "junk" but find ways to use them for ourselves at a cheap price instead of just throwing everything away. In the end it saves us money, but also it saves the environment from being polluted.
1. Father Time Antiques (antiquing)
395 S. Lake Ave. #1 Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 625-2379
2. Junkers Blog (junking)
Ki Nasseur
From Minnesota, currently living in California
http://junkcamp.blogspot.com/2009/04/calling-all-junkers.html
3. Minnesota Flea Market (flea markets)
Lake Superior College (Annual 2nd Flea Market second Sunday in August)
2101 Trinity Rd.
Duluth, MN 55811
4. GoodWill (thrift shop)
700 Garfield Ave.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 722 3050
5. Christopher's Lowell Upcycled Furniture from Local Homes
Found in the Sears Dept. at Miller Hill Mall
1600 Miller Trunk Hwy
Duluth, MN
(218) 725 0395
6. Savers (retail shop)
1740 Mall Dr.
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 722-1894
I do not do any of these things. I honestly have never really thought of any of these ideas actually. When I have garbage, or something I think I can't use I just throw it away. I have never taken the time to actually look at it and see all of the possible options I could use it for. Also, I never think to shop at thrift stores. I have always just went to Target, so whenever I need something my first thought is to always go there.

Part 3:
1. How to Display Pumpkins, I find this to be cool because I just carved pumpkins this past weekend, and some of them didn't turn out like I invisioned it, but instead of throwing it away i could plant flowers in it, and make it into a fun fall decoration for my front porch! It is also right in season, so the weather and timing is perfect for this idea!
2. Happy Father's Day Eve, I really like this idea, because I always want to get my dad something memorable, but I can never come up with a good idea. I never have a lot of money to spend, but yet I want to get him something meaningful. I do have old glass bottles and jars laying around I can easily decorate and make bright, and put a picture of me on it. He can then put it on his desk as a pencil holder, and always see me, it's cheap and easy to do, and I know he could actually use it!
3. Candle Holder 101 I just really like this idea simply because it just looks awesome! I love decorating my house and having candles all around, especially different scents during specific times of the years, but I never know where to put them. I like the idea of the old rustic sheet metal. I just think it looks really cool and vintage, and when I get more of a permaent residence I want to decorate my house like this, it's very pretty! I like the idea!
I LOVED this website! There was so many cool ideas, and projects that I can do just with stuff I have laying around. I have never really thought about half of this stuff, but now my wheels are spinning on all the endless possibilities I have on decorating!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change-5 Final Review & Reflection

My SMART goal was to completely cut out the use of paper toweling in my home, and to reduce the amount of toilet paper I use as well. In this past week I did experience success with not using paper toweling, because there was none in the house, so there was none to use. It was helpful with the out of sight out of mind motto. I also experienced success with cutting down the amount of toilet paper I use, and just using what I need, and not taking more then just because I could. I did this by placing a small "t" on my hand to remember to count each time I went to grab toilet paper. I had my overall lowest average, so that was exciting!
This past week I didn't face any challenged regarding using paper toweling since I didn't have access to any at home. I always used old t-shirts as rags that were kept in the kitchen. I did face a bit of a challenge with the toilet paper. When I am at school especially there isn't little squares to count, so I had to estimate the amount I used, which isn't going to be 100% accurate to my count, but it will be close as I do have a good idea on what 7 squares looks like to compare it to.
My feelings after this week are accomplished and successful. I am proud of not using paper toweling, and always being aware of the amount of toilet paper I use. I feel like I am doing good when I only use what I really need verses take extra just because it is there. In a small way I feel like I am helping everyone by doing this. I am also proud when I do this as I feel like I am really changing some of my habits.
This past week I learned that if you really want to change you can, you just have to be willing to. Also, I learned that it is easy to save on toilet paper, and you don't always need as much as you think you do. It's a simple saving technique to try.
My plans for next week and the future are to continue to not use paper toweling at all in my house, and to help share and embrace this idea with my friends, as it is a simple thing to do. I will continue to do this for now on. I am always going to continually only use the exact amount of toilet paper that I actually need instead of just taking more then for no reason. I will not modify my goals for the future.
Average Number of Bathroom Use: 6.3 times a day
Average Number of Toilet Paper Squares: 6.2 (this is a record low for me!

My SMART goal did not change throughout the process. I started with wanting to stop using paper toweling and instead make my own rags (through old t-shirts) and to cut down on the amount of toilet paper I use. This stayed consistent every week.
I found my success was from not buying anymore paper toweling, so I would not even be tempted to use it. I also found it helpful to put a little "t" on my hand in the beginning to remember to think of the toilet paper I was using, and from doing this it eventually just became a habit. I did face a challenge when my roommates would buy paper toweling when we didn't need it. In the future I will just remind them more often, and have them help me cut rags so they can see we really do have them.
I believe I benefitted a lot from this project. I changed simple habits that I had never really thought of before. I believe that now in the long run I am more aware of my simple everyday actions. I am also really helping to save on paper products. I learned that it's easy to reuse and find different uses for many things that are just laying around the house.
My roommates benefited from this as well, because they have not bought paper toweling as much, and are using the rags to clean and do dishes now, which is awesome. We are also going through a lot less toilet paper as a whole house as well.
I will continue with this new behavior and habits of mine as it is a good feeling to know I am helping and it's simple to do as well!
I recomend this idea to everyone, it is simple to take old shirts and make rags, and you will also be saving money by not buying paper toweling as well. Also, you do not need as much toilet paper as you may think you do!
Overall, it was a great project and I am glad I participated in it, and in the end I changed some bad habits of mine!