Log:
Today I got down in the dirt and spent most of my time removing invasive species. This work was difficult and satisfying. After working four or five hours, Rosie and I had only cleared a relatively small area (See today’s quote for more details).
Aside from pulling ivy and digging up catoneaster, I went with Noelle to see the campus and learn from her visit with Debi who handles the funds for all Associated Students programs. It’s been very interesting to see politics that I’m not involved in. While we were out we stopped at R. O. S. E. (Reusable Office Supply Exchange). It’s a small storage room filled with binders, folders, and other office supplies. I was really surprised to see that they even had book bags. I was even more surprised to find a laptop book bag, I’ve been looking for one of these for months and was never willing to pay the steep prices. Happily, I swapped my thrift shop bag with the new laptop bag and left a note of thanks on their clipboard. I have gotten lucky so many times since I’ve been here!
Late in the afternoon the co-directors regrouped slightly off-site, to enable more focus on the conversation. We discussed current projects, most of which deal with landscaping the new grounds. After our short discussion we got to work moving plants from the nursery to the area surrounding the yurt.
After a full day at CCAT, I went to the coffee shop to check my e-mail. The shop has wireless internet that puts out a strong enough signal that even the outside picnic table is a fine spot to use the internet. I like to check my e-mail when they are closed because that’s when I’m off work and then I don’t feel rude not buying anything. Today a few people were gathered eating a picnic dinner at the table. I asked if they wouldn’t mind my sharing the table. They were fine with sharing. We talked about the coffee shop and many other odds and ends. After they finish their supper they were preparing to leave when the man offered me a ten dollar bill. I turned him down, and he insisted that I take it and pay him back later in the summer. He said I should use the money to come inside and get a cup of coffee sometime, and that I should always feel welcome in the shop because he’s friends with the owner who is a really good person. What he said next stuck with me the most, “It’s just a game piece, and the object of the game is to empower one another.” I’m familiar with the saying “vote with your dollar”, but this older gentleman’s words offered a more intimate look at what money can do for a person. I often regard money as something I should deal with only because I have to and something that there will never be enough of. I had overlooked the empowerment money can be to a person, along with the support you can give to an honest business. I appreciated this change of perspective, and concluded that there really is something sort of lucky about Arcata.

Questions:
-How much extra time would it take Berea’s recycling program to start and run a R.O.S.E.?
-What location would be best for a R.O.S.E. on Berea’s campus?
-I witnessed the conflict between co-directors living in the house that they worked in today, in what ways do the CCAT folks deal with the fish-bowl effect?

Feelings:
I can’t help but feel appreciative to be in Arcata. I’ve had so many lucky experiences. I get the feeling that people really look out for each other here.

Quote of the day:
“If you confine your gaze to this small square you can see what accomplishments we’ve made” –Rosie (while removing invasive species)
Isn’t that the only real way to see such success? You can’t fix the world in a day, but it’s the small jobs well done that add up.

Links of the day

• Learn about invasive species


• HSU Recycling Program


• Berea College Recycling Program