Blog #17- Bee-Keeping, Master Gardener & Mushrooms

Blog #17
Read about the issues and threats pertaining to our important pollinators on the Xerces Society’s websites  and answer the following prompt: (you will need to review the first three websites)
What are the major issues surrounding the use of neonicotinoids with regards to bees? Even if these chemicals were used years ago, are they still a threat- why/why not? Summarize the principles of the 'Bring back the Pollinators' campaign? What role can we all play in this issue? How have businesses such as Whole Foods helped with this issue?
http://www.xerces.org/neonicotinoids-and-bees/

http://www.xerces.org/bringbackthepollinators/

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs095/1102968923571/archive/1110177608592.html

 

Review the following for some basic information from these sources:

The Beauty of Pollination http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xHkq1edcbk4?rel=0

Information of bee colonies and the lives of bees http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bees/

Ethnobeeology’s facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ethnobeeology/318530098181576

Opportunities with Conservation Voters

We were so fortunate to be able to visit the office of Conservation Voters last week, and Debbie Parker actually came to Sustainable Carolina for a more in-depth talk about the "green" issues facing our state government this year. I wanted to remind you all about the volunteer opportunities they have https://conservationvotersofsc.org/take_action/
*Please note that the Volunteer Lobbying Action groups start back up in January- so make connections now!!

Blog #16 City Roots and Urban Farming

After reviewing the website http://cityroots.org/?page_id=2 respond to the following prompt:

Explain the goals of City Roots. Discuss the City Root's philosophy of farming and what activities that includes. Describe the types of events hosted by City Roots. Do you beleive there should be more urban farms in the the city- why/why not? How might organizations such as City Roots improve some of the public health issues we discussed earlier this semester?
 

Blog #15 due 10/24 Selections of Eco-Poetry

Choose one of the four options for the blog assignmentlisted in "Selections of Ec-Poetry" on Blackboard

Blog option #1: Reflecting on selection #1, what about you has gone away?  What are you feeling coming back?  When do you feel free?

 

Blog option #2: Reflecting on selection #2, what do you wish you knew?

 

Blog option #3: Read the remaining poems.  Which poem is your favorite and why? 

 

Blog option #4: Write a poem of your own and describe the influences and meaning.

Blog #14 (due 10/22)

Using the information in their websites, evaluate and explain the goals and specific programs of Conservation Voters of South Carolina and Sustainable Midlands. For each organization explain which project you find most interesting and list one question that you would like to as the representative that we talk to.

*Review the specific programs of each organization. We will have a quiz before we depart.

Blog #13 (due 10/17)

According to Parms, what topics do activist documentary films focus on? According to Whiteman, in what ways do documentary films have political impact? Describe two specific examples, one from one of the articles by Whiteman and the other from the "Reports from the Road" about Blue Vinyl.

Blog #12- Due 10/15- clarification and trip reminder

 Hi all- it has come to my attention that the blog prompts are out of order on the syllabus. However, the readings are in order with the correct due dates. Here is the blog prompt for the Bob Guild tour we will be taking on Monday.

Blog 12 prompt:

What interested you most about the River Alliance organization? What is a Superfund Site? Summarize the background of the Columbia Organic Chemical plant. Briefly describe the environmental controversies in your hometown (or use the EPA locator to describe a Superfund site near your home). What is one question you have for Bob Guild?

Please be at the corner of Wheat and Sumter as close to 2:20 as you can. We will leave at 2:30. Have a great weekend!

Autumn

Areas of Interest- possible Action or Teaching projects

I have summarized the list we all spoke about yesterday that details your areas of interest. Anyone of these would be great to focus on for you Action or Teaching projects.

Consumption/economics

Local projects involving non-students

Exploring different types of energies- the economics behind them, technology – specifically mountaintop removal

Tracing our energy source

Environmental issues – current political elections

Create literature promoting “green” everyday choices

Local politics- sustainability

Exploring “model communities” best practices

Urban gardening, vertical gardening

Spreading awareness to outside businesses local to campus; sustainability campaigns

Senate/House environmental values

Presidential candidates’ agendas for the environment

Waste impact of football games in areas local to the stadium

Sustainability in underdeveloped countries

Climate change issues- lesser known effects;

Mass transit

Sustainability of specific campus buildings

Most promising current research, technologies and policies

Composting education

Blog #11 due 10/10

Blog#11 (due 10/10):  Write a blog entry with :

(1) one or more ideas for either exploring a discipline (either a new one or one we have already covered),

 (2) one or more ideas for something you'd like to explore in the community, 

(3) a summary of an article that you would like everyone to read, and why you think everyone should read it.

*Be conscious that you need to have 200+ words, so be thorough in your ideas and justifications

Blog#10 (due 10/8):

Blog#10 (due 10/8): What is culture-jamming? What are its forms? What do you think of it as a tool for activism? Be sure to use specific examples for the readings and the Adbusters website. For an extra point, find an example on youtube.com

Campus Action Project Week!

We are devoting our efforts to the Bike Map Project this week. We will be working in teams to collect data that will be used in creating a bike map that depicts high traffic areas, gradient of hills and the absence/presence of bike lanes. I will post teams today after they are assigned in class.
It is up to you and your team to make sure you schedule the needed time to collect your data.

Good luck with your collection!!

Please feel free to email me autumnperkins@gmail.com  or Anna Kirkpatrick kirkpate@email.sc.edu