Blog #22 Urban Gardening/Vertical Food systems (due 11/28)

Prompt: Which of the techniques would you be most interested in implementing; why is this so? Are there one or multiple urban farming methods that would be more suitable to your lifestyle/region?

Give a brief summary of the method and answer at least 3 of the following questions:

1.       What are some of the steps that need to be addressed before the method is put into place?

2.      How does the system work?

3.      What is the up-keep?

4.      What are the benefits of the sustainable system?

5.      If there are setbacks or possible problems with the system, state and explain them.

Blog Reading Assignments for Urban Farming and Vertical Food Systems

 

Rooftop Gardens:
http://content.ebscohost.com/pdf9/pdf/2008/ASU/01Jul08/33566988.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=33566988&S=R&D=tfh&EbscoContent=dGJyMNXb4kSep7I4zOX0OLCmr0qep7NSsKq4TbWWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGvtkmwrrRKuePfgeyx44Dt6fIA

 Hydroponic Gardening:

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=632f19dc-32a0-4fa0-9670-8dcaacf3f6e6%40sessionmgr114&vid=10&hid=17
http://www.hydroponics.com/howtoinfo/hydroponics%20articles/strawberries.html (optional)
http://www.hydroponics.com/howtoinfo/hydroponics%20articles/hydroponics_at_school.html (optional)
http://www.hydroponics.com/howtoinfo/hydroponics%20articles/organic_vs_inorganic.html (optional)

 

City Garden Plots:
http://www.independent.com/news/2010/sep/02/garden-plots-now-available-city-community-gardens/
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=39846
http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/publicworks/gardenplots/
http://www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/community-gardens/movement

 

Vertical Gardening:
http://www.oudaily.com/news/2012/oct/24/communitygarden/
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/289407/how-vertical-garden.html
http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/Vertical-Garden-Idea-Living-Wall-Kit-Puts-4033746.php

 

 

Blog #23 Global Development Blog (due 12/3)

TOPIC: Global Development
READING ASSIGNMENTS POSTED ON BLACK BOARD!!
(Part 1)Harrison, pages 65-66 (BB), (Part 2) http://www.globalization101. org/what-is-globalization/ and (Part 3) pages 278-295 from the book The Lexus and the Olive Tree "Demolition Man" (BB)


BLOG ASSIGNMENT:
Part 1. Describe the problems facing Africans. What are some sustainable solutions to these problems? Read page 65 - starting with the paragraph "Everywhere in Africa..." through the first paragraph of page 66

Part 2: It is impossible to address sustainability throughout the world without running into Globalization.
Read the definition of globalization here:
http://www.globalization101. org/what-is-globalization/

3. Examine and explain the pros and cons of globalization. The most simple solution would seem to be for wealthier countries to intervene and help with environmental degradation, but where is the line between saving the earth and saving culture? Read pages 278-295 from the Lexus and the Olive Tree "Demolition Man" *These selections are saved in three seperate sections- pay attention to page numbers

Blog #21 ( due:11/26)- Alternative Energy Group

Hi all- the artciles are on Blackboard and were also sent in an email
Here is the prompt:
Blog Assignment for this section: Complete both!

1. Biofuel Article *Read pages 7-20, exploring Bioenergy in context, what the term biofuel really means, and its global context.Detail how energy has changed for humans over time (biomass, renewable, etc). What significant events changed the
way humans used energy? Explain what a biofuel is. What are the advantages of using biofuel for transportation, and
which specific biofuels are used for this?

2. Energy in 2030 and Conservation
Choose one type of alternative energy from this article and briefly describe the benefits and negative aspects of utilizing
that type of energy.

Blog #20 Model Communities- Blog due 11/19

Blog questions:

Before you read the articles, what would you expect a model green community to be like? After reading the articles, which model community was your favorite and why? Compare and contrast the values of the communities. What was different about them, what was similar? Which one was your favorite and why? Which one did you think was the best?

Reading Assignment:

 http://directory.ic.org/21097/Avalon_Community

 http://directory.ic.org/23250/ardhanariswaras

 http://directory.ic.org/23826/Birds_and_Bees_Permaculture_Village

 http://directory.ic.org/21624/Costa_Rica_Ecovillage

 http://directory.ic.org/1794/Earthaven_Ecovillage

 http://directory.ic.org/403/The_Farm

 http://directory.ic.org/23968/RainSong

OPEN BLOG #3

Several of you have submitted Open Blog # and #2. I am making this space available for OPEN BLOG #3. Remember this is a space to reflect on any aspect of the class or activities you have taken part in that relate to the class
Thanks!
Autumn

No Impact Week!

Clink to find out more about next week. This is a great opportuntity for your Action Project!
No Impact Week

Update on Project Topics

Last class we discussed the many topics that we previously itemized as possibilities for your Groupe Teaching Project and your Individual or Group Action Project.
To recap from the Group Teaching Project list:

• Consumption Economics
• Local Groups/Local Politics
• Alternative Energy
• Everyday Green Choices
• Model Communities
• Urban Gardening/food systems
• Congress and environmental issues
• Less developed countries and sustainability issues
• Climate Change
• Mass Transit
• Composting
• Mountain Top Removal

Each student listed their top 6-8 and groups will be determine at Wednesdays class!


To recap from the Individual or Group Action Project Topics: (remeber this needs to be at minimum 6 hours) *you may chose your topic and/or group- come prepared to discuss on Wednesday

• Volunteering at City Roots
• SSREC
• Local Clean-ups (you can organize one or join one that a group has already planned)
• Tailgate-Recycling (you will need to attend the next two- contact Autumn or Malte)
• Tracing our energy use
• Spreading awareness of any specific environmental issue (making literature or even videos or posters)
• Animal Rights
• Organizing a speaker to come present
• No Impact Week

 

Blog #18- Election Group Teaching Project

The blog assignment for Monday is:

Do the quiz located at http://www.isidewith.com/ before reading the articles. Is the result what you expected? After reading the articles what is one thing that you learned about each candidate? Did any of the platforms really surprise you? Did having the information about each candidate change your ideas of who to vote for? Include at least one topic for which you feel extremely passionate about and explain how that influences your decision of who you support.

The reading assignment for Monday is:
http://www.isidewith.com/

http://www.ontheissues.org/2012/Mitt_Romney_Environment.htm

http://change.gov/agenda/energy_and_environment_agenda/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhendrickson/2012/09/20/a-mean-green-obama-wages-war-against-cheap-energy/

http://www.treehugger.com/energy-policy/obama-romney-stein-greenest-energy-policy.html

http://www.lp.org/platform

http://www.lp.org/states/South-Carolina

http://www.lp.org/issues/environment

http://www.gp.org/committees/platform/2010/index.php