CCAT journal

2006-01-23T23:09:00.000-08:00

eating bread unicorns and alligators

2006-01-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

Zack, the newest co-d is finally honest about his heritage.

2006-01-14T13:45:00.000-08:00

Arts Alive Arcata! Rosie, Bell, and Brian jamming out at the Arcata Co-op Friday night.

2006-01-14T13:44:00.000-08:00

Farewell to Anna, Ohio... sunrise behind the KY coffeebean tree outside my window. When I return there will be bright green leaves and warmer temperatures... we shall both have stories to tell.

2006-01-14T13:41:00.000-08:00

Farewell in Ber town to Jessa, Beth, Paiger, and Carrie

2005-12-04T19:38:00.000-08:00

Below is my internship paper... enjoy! If you are less interested in the final product, and would like to read about my adventures-just keep scrolling down. Thanks for visiting my site!

I. Sustainability in Higher Education
II. CCAT Voices: Summary of interviews about CCAT
III. Case studies:
A) HSU Campus Initiatives
1) Recycling
2) Alternative transportation club
3) Community Education Farm
B) Arcata Community Endeavors
1) Arcata Community Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary
2) Community Bike Library
3) Farmers’ Market
IV. SENS In-reach: Ideas about how SENS can reach out to internal offices/departments
A) Courses
B) Residence Halls
C) Offices
D) Clubs
E) Administration

I. Sustainability in Higher Education
“Institutions of higher education, through their teaching, operations, and research, have long been at the forefront of addressing the world’s most critical challenges” (National Wildlife Federation iii). The issue of sustainability is no different than other revolutions fomented in the campus environment. Colleges and universities are ideal places to work for sustainability for a number of reasons. They are a large part of the economy, shapers of leaders who will have great potential to change, and sized at a manageable scale to deal with sustainability issues.
In America alone there are 4,168 colleges and universities (Institutional Data 1). These institutions spend an estimated $225 billion each year (Introduction xii). Directing a portion of this money toward sustainability has the potential to create great change.
Another reason colleges and universities need to be working toward sustainability is that they shape tomorrow’s leaders. Most of the world’s powerful decision makers have at least some college education. Also, on average people with a college education make more money and have the potential to be the largest consumers if not educated about sustainability. In the past, colleges and universities have provided information without knowledge and equipped generations of students merely to be “more effective vandals of the earth”, it is time to change this trend (Earth in Mind 5).
According to David Orr, “seemingly unsolvable global problems are often very solvable if approached at the right scale and with sufficient commitment”(Earth in Mind xi). Because colleges and universities are microcosms of society, they are appropriate places to pilot sustainability programs. If something is successful on a campus it is likely that it could also be transferred to a greater community as well.

I. CCAT Voices: Summary of interviews about CCAT
In an attempt to learn about the multiple facets of CCAT, I interviewed various members of the CCAT community. I focused primarily on former directors and administrators who had worked closely with the group. Below is the compilation of the interviews.

1. How do your policies facilitate a peaceful living/working environment? How do you cope with the fishbowl effect?
POLICY:
-Communication! (Meetings at least once a week.) (4)
-Cleanliness is huge! (We have specific chores; we may get a house keeper) (3)
-Enforce closing times. (2)
-Communal dinners, take turns cooking. (2)
-We talked about how important it is to respect each other’s schedules-it’s critical to attend meetings. (1)
-Recognize that you live in a public place. (1)
-Try to be fair about things, draw straws, etc. (1)
-Know what other resources are available, have good handouts to save your own energy. (1)

PERSONAL COPING:
-Leave when I need to (3)

2. How do you establish roles among the co-d’s? What roles would you say are most necessary for the program?
-When interviewing we look to folks to fill the positions we’ll need. (2)
-The co-d’s sort of fall into place with what they’re interested/talented in. (2)
-We have three roles (internal affairs, external affairs, and physical site). (2)

CRITICAL JOBS:
-outreach coordinator (4)
-grant writer (3)
-grounds (3)
-info request coordinator (2)
-website administrator (2)
-tour guide (1)
-budget (1)
-labor force (1)
-office manager (1)
-good office manager/historian (1)
-housekeeper (1)

3. How involved is CCAT with the other green endeavors on campus?
-CCAT serves as a center for AT on campus. (There could be more of a network of green initiatives on campus.) (4)
-This fluctuates a lot according to co-d’s. (1)
-I think the co-d’s are a really strong voice for the students interested in green things. (1)
(Other organizations include: students for energy independence, Alternative Transportation club, Bicycle learning center, emerging green builders club, green campus, student naturalist club, Campus Recycling Program, etc.)

4. How effective are the steering committee meetings?
-Meetings were a good opportunity to update people on what is going on, more structure would be helpful. (3)
-Generally not effective, unless there’s one big issue that the co-d’s really need advice on. (Monthly steering committee meetings keep them updated enough to give advice when needed. If we don’t have anything to talk about maybe we should just leave it open and have the option of ending early.) (2)

5. What are some of your best programs to bring in a variety of people?
-classes (4)
-workshops (2)
-potlucks (2)
-big events/festivals (1)

6. How have you seen CCAT improve in your time here? How were those improvements implemented-who suggested them, etc?
-The organizational structure suggested by former co-director Jeff Adams. (2)
-Improved documentation (bi-weekly newsletter, electronic files). (2)
-Working with the university administration. (2)
-Re-evaluation of the mission statement, brought up by Garrett. (1)
-Employee binders for each position. (1)
-More outreach. (1)

7. What sort of feedback mechanism does CCAT have?
-The steering committee is the largest feedback mechanism. (3)
-I think we are lacking in this department. (3)
-Employee meetings. (2)
-Co-d generational meetings. (1)

8. How do you feel the program is accomplishing it’s mission statement? Do you have any suggestions for revising the mission statement?
-We are working toward it (the biggest accomplishment is establishing a sense of community). (4)
-We need a strategic planner to develop a mission statement that reflects our goals. (1)

9. How do you feel your opinions were heard?
-When I spoke up, my opinions were heard. (4)
-I feel like they were heard most as a co-d. (2)
-Not with administration. (1)
-Yes, except at a few steering committee meetings. (1)

10. Why are there three co-d’s? Do you think this is an effective amount?
-Three is an effective number because you can communicate well and it is odd, so there is less division. (4)
-It would be more effective to increase the role of middle management. (1)
-I think having people around that were more involved than employees, but less than co-d’s would be helpful. (1)

11. How do you feel about the one year term limit?
-After a year people are normally burnt out. (4)
-It is a handicap of the program. (3)
-It should be easier for a co-d to apply for an additional year if interested. (2)

12. Do you have any suggestions other than changing the one year term, to improve the continuity?
-Co-d training would be helpful. (3)
-Staggered terms help provide some continuity. (2)
-Write reflective papers, journals, and take pictures. (2)
-The January co-d should be required to be involved the semester before they start. (1)
-Maintain a contact list. (1)
-Create reference binders. (1)
-Be more open to people re-applying. (1)
-Require that co-d’s have experience working with CCAT before they are hired. (1)

13. What kind of turnover is there with CCAT? Were there any times you’ve wanted to leave CCAT, what are some of the things that make you want to leave?
-I have felt burnt out by the endless amount of work to do at CCAT. (3)
-Most co-d’s aren’t very involved after their one year term. (1)

14. What keeps you going?
-The fact that I’m a stronger person from all that I have learned here. (2)
-My commitment to CCAT. (2)
-The fact that I’m helping to educate others and myself. (1)

15. Anything else?
What would you do different?
-I would focus more on a few things rather than try to tackle everything. (2)
-If I could do anything differently, I would spend more time reading the CCAT library. (1)
-Make the learning process more of a group activity. (1)
-Utilize campus resources more, network more. (1)
-I could have been more vocal about my opinions and needs. (1)

Before my internship, I conducted a similar interview process in the SENS program. Below is the compilation of the SENS interviews. Interviewees included present and former directors, faculty who work closely with the program, and labor supervisors of other departments who work with the SENS program.
1. How have you seen SENS improve in your time here? How were those improvements implemented-who suggested them, etc?
-More structure in labor meetings. (4)
-Personalized meetings with Richard. (2)
-There is more guidance from the supervisor. (2)
-The interest on improving our program is excellent, not sure who suggested it. (1)
-Better recruitment. (1)
-Improvement in the motivation of workers. (1)
-Suggestions have come from both workers and Richard. (1)

2. How do you feel the program is accomplishing it’s mission statement? Do you have any suggestions for revising the mission statement?
-Continue to find ways to work with CAs. (5)
-Find more ways to involve the campus. (Possibly have a few 0-5 positions for folks who live in dorms.) (4)
-Explain community living. (That residents will learn how to cook, budget for ecologically conscious diets, develop strong relationships with people they work, live, and learn with.) (4)
-Change “It’s desirable to be a SENS major or minor”. (Because we have attracted great workers from other departments. This helps SENS branch out. The statement that we prefer SENS majors probably scares off some good workers.) (3)
-Remove “involvement with EV governance”. (From past experience, this has not been a beneficial thing to be involved in.) (2)
-Make SENS a 10-15 position. (2)
-Reduce the dichotomy of the “residential” and “non-residential” directors. (2)
-Change mission statement to include what the SENS worker can gain from the experience. (“As directors, students will experience a personal increase in understanding of how they fit into their environment, community living, etc.”) (1)
-We should find more ways to work with CDL. (1)
-Do more educational programs. (1)
-List our resource library on BANC like other depts. do. (1)
-We actually have 7 directors not 6! (1)
-Change the mission statement to focus on the SENS labor program and not the SENS House. (1)
-Write a SENS program mission statement. (Visit the
http://www.tgci.com/magazine/98fall/mission.asp for tips on how to create a mission statement that includes:
1. What needs or opportunities you are addressing (your purpose)
2. Tell how you are addressing them (your business)
3. Explain the guiding principles of your work (your values)) (1)
-We are accomplishing our mission statement in a lot of ways. (In the SENS House, we eat mostly locally grown organic food, we hold each other accountable, we’re all working on different but connected sustainable projects, we maintain communication with each other and other sustainable efforts on campus, we are conscious about our personal decisions in the house.) (1)
-Add that the SENS House should be a hub for connections to be made with other student efforts on campus. The SENS labor program should be a model of interdisciplinarly learning and teaching. (1)
-Use positive wording instead of “without degrading the environment” use “while maintaining a clean and beautiful environment.” (1)
-Add that our Ecovillage is family housing and not an intentional community. (1)

3. How do you feel your opinions are heard?
-I feel my opinions are heard. (Our supervisor listens to my ideas and responds in a helpful, honest manner.) (2)
-At labor meetings, it is hard to hear each other out without structure, this is changing. (2)
-I didn’t feel that my opinions were heard. (1)

4. Do you have any ideas for a way we could encourage and work with director feedback?
-Conduct entrance, exit, and mid-term evaluations. (Base evaluations on if the student is meeting their indicators of progress.) (5)
-Have a comment box to be read at labor meetings. (3)
-Do evaluations with a scan-tron section so we can get an idea of statistically how we’re doing. (1)
-Meet with supervisor every semester and during the semester and step back to ask “What do we need to do to make this semester a success?” (Reflection mid-term would be helpful.) (1)

5. One suggestion has been to reduce the number of directors to 4 so working together will be easier. How do you feel about this?
-Increase the number of SENS positions to get more folks involved. (Possibly reduce hours of each director) (4)
-Is there any possibility of other directors being offered apartments in the EV as well? (1)

6. Comments on the turnover in SENS:
-Some turnover is to be expected, folks join SENS as soph., junior, senior. Most study abroad. (1)
-It doesn’t seem appropriate to put a standard on years directors can live in the house, because selection varies with gender balance and is so multi-factored. (1)
-It’s not bad to let others experience SENS if you feel they could contribute more. (1)

7. Issues/stresses of the SENS labor program:
-Need some type of orientation. (Include guidelines about what to count for hours. Include manual of the house, job descriptions, instructions for EM, how you care for gardens and food forest. Each semester have students attend student organizing training. Learn how to make strategy charts, outline goals, and plan how to make the most of the semester. ) (6)
-Lack of direction/focus. (6)
-The lack of feedback can be frustrating. (Feedback should include what we’re supposed to be doing.) (5)
-I felt isolated from other directors. (3)
-Looking for more hands on or varied work. (2)
-Fifteen hours a week is an adjustment. (2)
-Stress, it can feel like SENS is a class, and commitment to the program can be overwhelming. (1)
-I didn’t feel like I was getting much accomplished with SENS. (1)

8. Positive aspects of the SENS labor program:
-The job fits with my ideals. (4).
-Opportunity to be involved in lifetime experiences. (2)
-Opportunity to live in SENS house (experience community living, reduced footprint, personal growth). (2)
-The coworkers are awesome! (1)
-I like the rotating facilitator role at meetings. (1)
-It’s encouraging to see our supervisor put so much effort into the cause. (1)

9. Suggestions for improving the SENS labor program:
-Establish a strong orientation. (6)
-Define labor roles. (Focus on integrating SENS with the campus to avoid compartmentalization.)(6)
-Reduce weekly hours to 10. (Allow some directors to have a 10 hour position with SENS and a 5 hour other places to help balance time.) (4)
-SENS workers could work in teams or pairs more on projects. (Especially on easy routine tasks. Creativity exists between high and low input, people can’t operate at 100% all of the time. Suggest folks spend 80% of their time working on their own projects and 20% helping others.) (4)
-We should think outside our “staff” and try to find ways to involve other groups. (3)
-Involve an advisory board with other SENS professors and Connie. (Possibly broaden this to include other relevant departments: Tech, Black Studies, CELTS.) (3)
-Hold student director meetings occasionally, to regroup. (2)
-Establish the Grade 5 as more of a leadership position, to offer help to other directors. (The grade 5 can make sure that no one person is overextended and delegate jobs when appropriate.) (2)
-Include time management in the orientation. (1)
-Retreats at the beginning of every semester would be beneficial. (1)
-Folks need to feel like their work is being appreciated. (Assure workers that because their work is innovation, they won’t feel 100% about everything.) (1)
-Have informal mentorships for new directors. (1)
-SENS seems to appeal to a certain type of person, efforts should be made to invite others. (1)
-It might be nice to have a place away from home to work together. (1)
-Encourage Compton interns to continue their internship. (1)
-Maybe SENS needs a staff person. (1)
-Be in the Pinnacle every time. (1)
-Offer to do sustainability audits for offices to get other departments involved. (1)
-When creating public posters and campaigns avoid using scare tactics. (1)

By comparing the mini-evaluations of each program I have been able to find common threads that may be inherit qualities of campus sustainability initiatives. Both groups felt overwhelmed at times by the amount of work to be done as well as the sense of urgency with its importance. Also, both groups struggled with documentation, orientation, and continuity. How could these issues best be addressed?
The first commonality of feeling overworked and under the pressure of urgency is a part of the importance of the environmental movement. People running any sustainability initiative that is in tune with the current state of the world, will inevitably feel this way at times. On the other hand, the problems of documentation, orientation, and continuity can all be addressed through increased documentation. These problems occur in part because when feeling the rush to address environmental issues, documentation becomes a difficult thing to justify prioritizing. Improving documentation can in turn provide a basis for an orientation and lead to a more solid sense of continuity. From my experience, if documentation becomes a habit it is no longer something additional to be done. It is important that orientation be conducted before new workers have their own initiatives to work on, because this is when they are most willing to take the time to be trained and have yet to form any habits that would detract from continuity. Another problem faced is the lack of an effective feedback mechanism. Both programs could address this issue by conducting interviews, possibly in the form of a questionnaire, each year. The results should be discussed as a group.
Another observation I gleaned from this process is a better idea about the impact being a part of Berea College has on the SENS program. This became apparent as I compared and contrasted SENS and CCAT. As a part of a larger university CCAT is able to have three co-directors and 18 student employees. At Berea, it has been difficult to fill our 7 labor positions. Also different about the two colleges is the time the average student takes to graduate. Berea is very firm about their four year limit, whereas it is common for HSU students to stay five or more years. (HSU students tend to stay longer in part because unreliable state funding limits availability of classes required for graduation). I believe this difference is one of the reasons SENS struggles with recruitment. Because Berea students all have campus jobs and take a full course load every term, they are less likely to partake in a labor position that is notably more challenging than other options or volunteer with the program.
Personally, this internship helped me realize that what I perceived to be struggles in the SENS program are really common threads among campus sustainability initiatives. I also learned more about community living. As someone with both an insider’s and outsider’s view of CCAT, I had a unique perspective about communication. During the semesters I had spent in the SENS house previous to my internship I frequently found myself needing to set personal boundaries and not knowing how to do so. Witnessing that same need in another group of people I was reassured of the importance of open communication in a demonstration home. Also, the realization that taking care of oneself is vital to the success of any program was one that I gained this summer. In my previous semesters with SENS, I had overworked myself to the point of resenting the position. Now, SENS is part of a more balanced life for me, and I feel that I have been able to accomplish more as a director.

III. Case Studies:
A) HSU Campus Initiatives
1) HSU Campus Recycling Program (CRP)
HSU Campus Recycling Program got its start in the 1970s as one of the first recycling programs among state facilities in the US. After a course in recycling systems two motivated students, Bruce Delgado and Sandy Floyd, and one 1956 chevy truck were able to collect four tons of glass and aluminum. The dynamic program now helps HSU divert over half of its waste.
What started as a simple recycling program has grown by leaps and bounds to accomplish its current successes. One interesting facet of the CRP is the Reusable Office Supply Exchange (ROSE). Managed by two students working up to a combined 20 hours each week, ROSE provides a facility for the redistribution of used office supplies. They accept tape, staplers, paper clips, pens, pencils, calculators, notebooks, binders, folders, envelopes, computer accessories, typerwriter supplies, office furniture, white and colored paper, and backpacks. This not only diverts a great deal of waste, but saves students and faculty a great deal by providing goods for free. To estimate the value of ROSE’s services, goods are signed in and out of the storehouse.
Another way the CRP diverts so much waste is through a composting program, which originally started as a part of CCAT. Initially the group collected food waste from cafeterias. Currently, the group also allows community members to add their compost to the mix, as well as providing buckets around campus for more student accessibility. The program is run by students who host monthly workshops, weekly volunteer days, and an annual festival. Future projects include locating a permanent site and making a transition to biodegradable flatware in food service.
The educational component of the CRP has added to its success. Monthly newsletters are distributed around campus. The newsletters cover a variety of issues from green cleaning to disposing of hazardous wastes. Another educational/outreach activity that CRP conducts are the annual “donation dashes”. CRP volunteers sort through trash of students moving out for recyclable and things that could be donated to local charities. CRP also provides suggestions for reducing, reusing, and recycling on their website.
Some of CRP’s initiatives would be difficult to replicate at Berea because of the limited number of labor positions allocated to recycling. I believe we could set up a small ROSE in the CPO. This idea will be piloted next semester when we make a display with free binders. Even if we are not able to have a large ROSE, even a small display will increase education about freecycling and the availability of office supplies at campus recycling. I also think Berea has the potential to host a donation dash at the end of the semester. This is something Michael is excited about and is working to implement.
2) HSU Alternative Transportation Club
HSU’s Alternative Transportation Club’s mission is “to reduce the number of single occupant vehicle use through educational events, outreach, and encouraging institutions to adopt policies that further this goal” (Alt. Trans. Club 2). The group meets weekly to discuss ways to live up to their mission. Each year ATC hosts a car free day celebration. The group also puts out a newsletter each semester. Another goal of the ATC is to connect people interested in alternative transportation. They do this through a multitude of events and an up to date webpage with a calendar that allows public postings. Their webpage also provides links to local rideshare pages.
Berea Bikes is the most similar organization to the ATC at Berea. They could host more frequent critical mass rides and put on a car free day. However, these things would be a challenge to get started initially.

3) Arcata Community Educational Farm
A spin-off of a former CCAT program, the Arcata Community Educational Farm is a 1.6 acre organic farm run by HSU students. The farm’s produce goes to an 80 member Community Supported Agriculture group. The Arcata Ed. Farm was started in 1993 by Susan Ornelas, an HSU graduate and local farmer. The farm is a part of the City of Arcata’s Bayside Park. The educational component comes in through tours to local students, HSU classes involvement in the farm, and community volunteer days. They also maintain a very informative website with resources on organic gardening.
I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent volunteering at the farm. The farmers were very friendly and helpful in a non-condescending way. We planted potatoes using part of an old bike as a row-maker. Afterwards we enjoyed good conversation and a delicious meal together. I think the Berea College greenhouse could provide similar educational opportunities. Even just sending out periodic e-mail invitations to volunteer and tour the gardens would be a great place to start.

B) Arcata Community Endeavors
1) Arcata Community Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary
In 1986 the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary was constructed. This facility serves the multiple purposes of wastewater treatment, education, wildlife habitat, and recreation.
Wastewater treatment at the marsh starts with primary treatment. The primary treatment consists of the “headworks” where the water is pumped through a screen and the large solids are removed. The next step is to go through two clarifiers to allow finer sludge to settle out. The sludge is used to produce biogas, which is not currently being used. The remaining sludge is then dried, composted, and then used by the city of Arcata for fertilizer. To complete the primary treatment, the water moves to the oxidation ponds.
The oxidation ponds cover 55 acres and are 5 feet deep. Water flows through the ponds very slowly allowing more solids to settle out. These ponds contain algae which aids by producing oxygen for the microbes and bacteria that digest the sewage. Along with the algae, mechanical aerators are also used at this point. After the two oxidation ponds, the water flows through two treatment marshes. These marshes cover almost 8 acres and are 2 feet deep. The purpose of the treatment marshes is to filter out dead algae, remove unwanted nutrients, and to slow down the water so that even more solids can settle out. One specific plant they utilize is the Scirpus acutus, a native bulrush. The next step is the chlorine contact basin in which water is exposed to chlorine for one hour. Immediately after this basin, sulfur dioxide is used to remove extra chlorine. At this point depending on water level, water can either be released into the Humboldt Bay or sent to the enhancement marshes. The enhancement marshes further clean the water and are used for educational, research, and recreational purposes. This entire process usually takes around fifty days to complete.
The marsh provides educational opportunities as well. One example is the educational website about the marsh that was created by Environmental Engineering students at HSU. Another example is the Friends of the Arcata Marsh welcome center, complete with informative displays created by Natural Resources Interpretation students from HSU. Students of biology, wildlife management, botany, and other fields use the marsh as an outdoor classroom. More than two hundred thousand people visit the marsh annually and all leave with more knowledge about this unique water treatment plant.
One of the reasons the marsh is so educational is because it is a rich wildlife habitat. It is estimated that the marsh houses more than three hundred bird and mammal species, one hundred plant species, and 6 species of fish. Also adding to the list of species is the aquaculture fish hatchery. HSU students maintain groups of chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout.
The marsh also provides a space for community recreation. Typical activities at the marsh include organized and spontaneous nature hikes, jogging, bicycling, and picnicking. The recreational activity that draws the largest crowds at the marsh is bird watching. The Redwood Regional Audobon Society leads free bird watching tours every Saturday morning. Along with everyday recreation at the marsh there are also several annual events such as Waterfront Days and an Independence Day 5k race.
SENS would greatly benefit from a student committed to working with the Ecological Machine pursuing an internship with the Friends of the Arcata Marsh. The student could research how Arcata residents worked with their local legal regulations, as well as what regulations are pertinent to the EM in Kentucky. Also, this student could create a webpage about the EM so that others would be able to learn from our experiences just as they can learn from the Arcata Marsh. The student’s SENS position could be a continuation of their internship and they could lobby to release the treated water into another wetland.
2) Arcata Community Bike Library
Visiting Arcata? The uniqueness of this city makes it unnecessary to rent a car for your stay. Not only do the main roads have spacious bike lanes, but the Community Bike Library will loan you a bike for a refundable deposit of twenty dollars. This bike library is the second largest in the United States (Arcata Community Bike Program sec. 3). The mission of the library is to “promote the use of bicycles as a safe, efficient, and environmentally sound means of transportation” (Arcata Community Bike Program sec. 1). The bike library also gives bikes to people who could not otherwise afford them. A variety of volunteers from ages twelve to sixty run the library.
The procedure for checking out a bike includes picking from the library section of the shop and depositing twenty dollars. Once this has been done, the bike is yours for the next six months. At any time in this period, you may trade your bike in for another or return it to receive your deposit. After six months the deposit is donated to the library and the bike is yours to keep. However, providing affordable bikes to purchase is not the goal of the library, they would prefer you check in with them every six months so they can assure your bike is safe to ride. If you have any trouble with your bike the volunteers will give you supplies and teach you how to fix it. I really appreciated this, when one of my bike tires went flat days after I checked it out. For the other end of the spectrum, people looking to get rid of old bikes, the library offers something as well. They have a donation station where they collect old bikes to be rebuilt. They also receive donations from local thrift shops.
The library has a number of special programs, such as an after school program for kids and parents to volunteer and learn about bikes. A program called “Promise Bikes” saves the best quality bikes for town residents who promise not to have a car. They hosted a series of educational programs on bike matainance and repair. Eager to spread this great program, volunteers have organized a bike loaning station in nearby town, Crescent City.
The program’s success has not gone unnoted. Arcata’s bike library has received one of the 2004 WRAP (Waste Reduction Awards Program) awards. Also noteworthy, they were named the Best Organization Waste Reduction Program by the Humboldt County Division of Environmental Health. Most recently, the PBS children’s show ZOOM filmed a segment at the bike library. They were especially interested in a minor who have been a volunteer for two years.
This library is, among other things, a local attraction. Rebuilt bikes hang from the ceiling, tires lie in mounds, bikes in heaps, and the volunteers are as colorful and interesting as the bikes they loan. The eclectic shop is home to an educational pedal power display constructed by local expert Bart Orlando. On sunny days Bart can be spotted around town riding his custom built bike pulling his mobile solar cooker. The bike library is clearly more than just a lending station for bikes, but rather part of the character of the town.
This would be a wonderful organization to send a Berea intern to. A HEAL student working with Berea Bikes could learn a lot about bike matainance and building specialty bikes and human powered vehicles. Even if someone did not do an entire internship, this would be a good group for Berea Bikes to be in contact with.
3) Arcata Farmers’ Market
A trip to Arcata would not be complete without visiting the notorious Saturday celebration of local food. Every Saturday from June through November there is fresh food and music at the North Coast Grower’s Association Arcata Farmers’ Market. Local produce, eggs, honey, cheese, and cut flowers are among the usual items available. The market has a rich history of development over the past twenty three years. What started as a handful of growers has now grown to an impressive seventy vendors. They do not have enough room for all seventy at once, but as the season passes, some farmers have more or less to sell. Along with the Saturday Arcata market the Growers Association also has markets at Southern Humboldt, Fortuna, Eureka’s Old Town , Wildberries Grocery in Arcata, and Henderson Center in Eureka throughout each week.
This growth in farmers markets is one thing Berea has also seen a recent surge in. Currently Berea farmers sell at the MERJ (Madison Estill Rockcastle and Jackson counties) market, the Artisan Center market, and at the College Square market. Because of the work of the MERJ market and the LFI (Local Foods Initiative) through SENS, local foods are growing in popularity in this area. One great way to strengthen this would be through a local foods internship where one student would work with local farmers and organizers to learn about Berea’s food system, this could be done in conjunction with or separate from Bill Best’s summer internships.
IV. SENS Inreach
One student in the field of Environmental Education coined the phrase “sustainability inreach” to include non-curriculum efforts to integrate sustainability into the campus community (Townsend 1). Becky J. Townsend attempted to quantify the number of colleges in North and South Carolina who had inreach initiatives as well as their depth of commitment. She found that the most common inreach efforts were those that required the least management (Townsend 2). She also found the average number of inreach hours paid work per college was 10.2 (Townsend 2). The SENS program potentially has 105 student labor hours each week. Based on this, we have a potential to excel compared to most colleges. Below are inreach suggestions that I have gleaned in my time working with SENS as well as during this internship. Because SENS is in part a curricular program I am using the term more loosely, to cover all fronts that SENS could possibly reach.
One inreach initiative taken this year was the celebration of Berea’s first Campus Sustainability Week. The goal of the week was to raise campus awareness about the sustainability initiatives going on around campus. Many of the programs were very successful. During CSW the Pinnacle printed an article about how Berea College is not sustainable along with a student poll revealing that over two thirds of those questioned felt the same way. While we are doing so much work in the SENS program, clearly much of the campus is not aware of it. This demonstrated the need for more in-reach. Because there are many leaders around campus who could further promote lessons of sustainability, inreach needs to be multi-facetted. An inreach campaign should address the campus community through working with courses, residence halls, offices, clubs, and administration.
A) Courses
One effective way to reach courses is to involve them with SENS events. In this manner, SENS supplements classrooms with real world issues. This can be accomplished by talking with professors and asking them to promote the event in their classes and/or offer students extra credit for attending. Also, classes can be involved in events by being a part of them. This is most applicable to SENS classes.
B) Residence Halls
Residence halls can be reached through programming. This works best if SENS students are able to work with R.A.s. I have found the collegium are helpful in making these connections. Also, it would be helpful to have a SENS student present during the R.A. training before school starts. Also, it is helpful to e-mail R.A.s about SENS programming and remind them they can count it as a 90% program for their requirements. In the future residence halls could be places for experimentation in sustainable living, such as thermal curtains, hand towels in the bathrooms, and compost. We could ask for feedback from residents to see what they might be interested in trying in their halls. Some projects may be more suitable for the specialty houses, such as composting. To really strengthen this area, a SENS director could focus on programming with R.A.’s.
C) Offices
Offices on campus can also be great settings for sustainable changes. SENS could offer “green audits” complete with recommendations to campus offices and local shops. A more time efficient way to reach offices would be to hold a luncheon with take-home suggestions for office sustainability.
D) Clubs
Clubs are another source of leadership on campus and also provide a means for reaching a great number of students. Clubs could be reached by creating a sustainability resource packet to be distributed to all club presidents. In the packet we could include information about purchasing sustainable tee shirts and borrowing the SENS house dish set rather than using disposable plates. We could also include contact information for Kevin Long to invite groups to have recycling receptacles at their events. If a SENS director was interested, we could offer to have compost receptacles at events as well as someone to supervise and explain the process. Also, we could include contact information for local farmers so clubs could have easier access to more sustainable food. Depending on interest, SENS could host a club president dinner to distribute the information packets.
E) Administration
The administration’s voice represents the college on so many levels, educating them about sustainability is a very relevant task. One way to work on this is to invite them to conferences and SENS events. They should receive a copy of the SENS newsletter. Another way to reach them is by sending e-mails or letters about sustainability issues.

Works Cited
Alternative Transportation Club. 2005. Humboldt State University. 12 Nov. 2005.

Arcata Community Bike Program. City of Arcata. 17 Nov. 2005.

Institutional Data. 2003. NACEWeb. 1 Nov. 2005

National Wildlife Federation. State of the Campus Environment. Reston, VA: National Wildlife Federation, 2001.

Orr, David W. Earth in Mind. Washington DC: Island Press, 1994.

Orr, David W. Introduction. Ecodemia. By Julian Keniry. Washington DC: National Wildlife Federation, 1995.

Townsend, Becky J. “Sustainability ‘Inreach’: Baseline Data about Campus Environmental Awareness Initiatives.” MA thesis. North Carolina State University, 2005.

Works Consulted

Arcata Community Marsh and Wildlife Santuary. Humboldt State University. 12 Nov. 2005.

Arcata Educational Farm. 2003. City of Arcata. 12 Nov. 2005.

Campus Center for Appropriate Technology. 2005. Humboldt State University. 17 Nov. 2005. <>

Campus Recycling Program. 2005. Humboldt State University. 12 Nov. 2005.

Kramer, Terry. “Growing Pains for Farmers’ Market.” North Coast Journal 2 Sept. 1999, A1.

2005-07-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

Store Wars--Join the organic rebellion! (And laugh too!)

Berea College SENS Program

Humboldt State University CCAT

2005-07-30T03:06:00.000-07:00

Farewell CCAT! It has been a beautiful summer!

2005-07-30T03:04:00.000-07:00

Spirit of life... Chris and I sang the UU closing song for everyone.

2005-07-30T03:02:00.000-07:00

Pat sharin' his new juggling skills. Go Pat go!

2005-07-30T03:01:00.000-07:00

RAR!!! Glenn and Sean showed us that even making scary faces is a talent. Thanks boys!

2005-07-30T02:59:00.000-07:00

Shout out for the talent show!

2005-07-29T02:57:00.000-07:00

Ready to run Krystal and I prepare to take off in some tie-dye.

2005-07-29T02:52:00.000-07:00

Log:
Tying up an internship is more work than I’d guessed! I spent my morning faxing my time cards and meeting with my supervisor. I spent the afternoon packing and trying to decide what I couldn’t do without seeing again. Let alone packing, which inevitably got pushed farther back than it should have on my to-do list. One last run with Krystal in that beautiful forest. We pretended to fly, it was a joyful occasion. After the run, the exciting CCAT talent show was slated to begin. Due to only one guest and no dinner yet, we pushed back the start time of the talent show and played cooperative games in the meantime. This was also a joyful time! The talent show was an incredible display of odd talents, beautiful music, and community. I never expected to meet so many wonderful people in this place. I recall early on writing about what balance of solitude I might find here. How amusing! I ended the evening by being declared the number one CCAT intern, officially (with a beautiful sash and everything), along with at least a million heartfelt hugs. What beautiful people! Just when I thought my evening was over a friend decided a night hike would be appropriate. The conversation was brimming with absolute presence. We discussed the concept of time as well as comfort and growth. All three of which are twisting together for me at the moment, I’m finally comfortable here and time has expired but I’ll take all of the growth with me when I leave.

Questions:
-It’s not possible to tie up all of the ends I’d like to, what can I get done?
-What will southern California be like?
-Will I ever have a better summer?

Feelings:
Whenever I think it’s the last time I’ll see the community forest, or a friend I always seem to run into them again. I somehow know that this will continue through out life. There’s now a handful more people I can whole heartedly count on in this world, and it’s a small place (thankfully).

2005-07-28T03:00:00.000-07:00

Fried green tomatoes and fried eggs (both local!)

2005-07-28T02:52:00.000-07:00

Log:
We spent our morning giving multiple tours to kids groups. It’s always so fun to have little people around. The kids we worked with today were ages 7 to 12. What a great age range! They really grasped a lot that we talked about, yet were still young enough to be easily excited.
I spent the afternoon interviewing Noelle about her CCAT experience. I really appreciate how concise she is. She seemed to pull together a lot of what I’ve heard in other CCAT interviews and explain a variety of ideas succinctly.
After working at CCAT, Krystal and I went to an African dance class. What an intense workout! There were drummers and at least 30 dancers. Krystal and I were very amused at our inability to understand the moves quickly. After the class we found out that most of the ladies dancing are part of a performance group and are very skilled at this type of dance. That explains so much. Regardless of our level of competency, Krystal and I had fun. I do love dancing!
I ended my day with a dinner of fried green tomatoes and fried eggs. Of course, we watched the movie too. Which I enjoyed, until I fell asleep, woops.

Questions:
-How can SENS reach more young people?
-How can SENS increase contact with former directors?
-Who invented time and why does it speed up?

2005-07-27T02:58:00.000-07:00

Ladies art night at Krystals

2005-07-27T02:51:00.000-07:00

Log:
It’s Wednesday so that means its an afternoon at the river with Carlita. Rosie joined us this time as well. We ran into a large group of firefighters at the river and I appreciated Rosie’s company because then I wasn’t the only person who wasn’t a fire fighter. Also awkward at the river was the large group of teenagers who had brought a radio and bad manners to the beautiful river. Not surprisingly Rosie was up for a small trek upstream to find quieter beaches, and find them we did. Swimming between the shadows of redwoods escaping the hot sun. It was wonderful. I can’t even begin to explain the beauty.
Rosie and I spent the evening with Noelle and Krystal. It was quite the slumber party. We found a few blank postcards to paint while we enjoyed good food and conversation.

Questions:
-How can I leave?
-The clubs coordinator visited CCAT, he mentioned what a great meeting place CCAT is and that it would be good to have other clubs meet here. How can SENS make the space they have more of a welcoming meeting place?
-Why does leaving bring people together?

2005-07-26T02:50:00.000-07:00

Log:
I started my day by interviewing Krystal, a former co-director. It was great to have a lot of my ideas about community living validated. It was also energizing to chat about dorm sustainability programs that we’ve both been working on. It’s my dream that one day Berea will have a sustainability RA in each dorm, similar to the current chaplain position. I think it’s a necessary part of Berea realizing its commitment to sustainability.
I had lunch with Carlita. For the second time in three days I went to Luzmila’s for the tostada deluxe. Mmmm, mmm! When I returned to CCAT I helped out with the bamboo shed deconstruction, which is a huge project.
I spent my evening baking up a storm. I cooked down rhubarb and plums so I can make a fruit leather tomorrow. I made unintentional granola bars as well as two batches of plum, blackberry granola. I really don’t know what’s gotten into me lately with this cooking craze.

Questions:
-What would it take to start a sustainability RA program at Berea?
-How little sleep can I get by on?
-Carlita was the first person in Arcata I connected with and the first I’ll have to say goodbye to (recall from earlier entries that she’s a firefighter working Thursday through Sunday). What have I learned from her?

2005-07-25T02:50:00.000-07:00

Log:
Hooray for kids! Today I got to have fun with twenty kids from a day care. We talked about appropriate technology. They were able to understand more than one might guess, for instance they could tell me that being nice to friends is appropriate and sticking your tongue out all the time is not. As far as defining technology, that was a little more difficult for them. They were so excited to see all of CCAT’s cool gadgets. I rode the pedal powered bikes and we talked about how you can get electricity from a lot of different things. Along those lines, we looked at a solar fountain and a windmill. They really got into our short walk in the woods. Before the group’s arrival I had placed a few pieces of litter on the trail. When we got to the first piece I asked if anyone saw anything that didn’t belong in the forest. They were quick to lead me to this mysterious piece of litter. They were also so proud of themselves when they spotted the pop can farther on down the trail. After we made the trail loop we went back to the patio for snack time. I asked the kids what I should do with the litter and they knew what could and couldn’t be recycled! It’s amazing how much kids know these days. I felt like I was at SENS working with the Child Development Lab kids as everyone was referred to as a “friend”.
At CCAT today I also helped organize salvaged wood in the storage yard.
Krystal and I went on a nice jog to the UU fellowship because I had left my bike there after Sunday’s service. On our way out we had to stop and eat blackberries. They were so ripe they just fell off the vine and dissolved when we ate them. We returned home to find Rosie anxious to cook up a storm for dinner. She made us bock Choy, tofu, and quinoa, all deliciously spicy. After dinner Rosie and I headed for the forest for a mini campout. We slept in my favorite hollowed out stump that must be at least 8 feet in diameter. The night hike out to the tree was so fun. We couldn’t see anything so we relied on the sound of trail gravel beneath our feet to find the path. I didn’t see anymore stardust, but I know it’s out there. It was a cozy slumber party and an interesting experience to wake up under the redwoods.

Questions:
-I think early exposure with kids is critical, but often wonder how much they are capable of grasping. At what age can kids comprehend sustainability?
-What environmental education books are appropriate for preschoolers?
-Does phosphorescent micro bacteria glow year round?

Perceptions:
It looked as if the stars were farther out than they’d ever been. The redwoods stretch so high and the stars are beyond even those giants.

2005-07-24T02:47:00.000-07:00

Log:
I don’t think I could have had a more perfect final Sunday in Arcata. I started my day a smidge later than I’d have liked to and quickly biked off to the UU. The service was about death. What a heavy topic. It was emotionally intense as a woman confessed to a room full of people that she was tired of fighting her health and was ready to accept the fact that she would die. She was 84 years old, this wasn’t some mid-life crisis reaffirmation in comfort with death, but someone realistically close to it confronting it with bravery. The questions of the service were:
-How does your death shape your life?
-How would you like to be remembered?
-How are you working today on your legacy?
-How do you envision your memorial service?
-What symbols do you want to have there?
Answers were mostly from elders (appropriately so), and ranged from funny jokes to concentrated emotion. Humor is one way to approach death. It seemed that the general consensus was that folks weren’t hoping to be remembered as individuals, but rather as a part of some greater humanity. The responses to the memorial service question included the wise observation that memorials are for those left, and should be what they need, rather than what the deceased might have dreamed of as well as the wish that memorial services all be huge celebrations. I was reminded of Tuesdays with Morrie when someone mentioned how important it is to tell people how much you love them while they are alive. The service reminded me of my semi-recent encounter with the death of a loved one, my grampy. It was good to hear the perspectives of older folks, their comfort and acceptance of death reminded me very much of my grampy’s last night spent holding me and Missy’s hands. Family bonds are powerful things, much more powerful than the constraints between life and that which lies beyond. The reminder of life’s fragility elated me to an awe-full state of feeling alive. It was complimented by a yummy lunch and energizing conversation with a friend, Chris, in the “Garcia booth” at Luzmila’s. How I do appreciate the people who have shared their stories in one way or another! I’ve made so many connections that are fully present and real.
As if this wasn’t enough, I topped off my Sunday with possibly my final (for this CA visit anyway) river trip. Sean and I went to Jacque’s farm to enjoy his river access. Sigh. The treat of the day was floating downstream holding a rock, which made it possible to stay under water longer. We must have seen at least three schools of fish. After a lazy afternoon of floating downstream, getting out, walking upstream and repeating, we went back to Jacque’s farm for a delicious eclectic potluck and good company. I enjoyed teasing the little ones and perpetually eating. Once it was dark, a white sheet was hung from the rain gutters and their front yard became a movie theater. Under the stars, several of which were shooting, we watched documentaries about rivers in the area. Several of the films dealt with the conflict between Native Americans and agriculturist battling for water rights. We also showed “Green Eye for the Common Gal” and the audience was roaring with laughter. When it became sufficiently late, Sean and I decided the time had come to leave this place of wonderful food and entertainment for the sleepy Arcata. Many stories later, I was dropped off at CCAT and ready for a good night’s sleep…. And I think to myself what a wonderful world ;)

Questions:
-It’s so easy to be eco-conscious in Arcata. The question remains in my mind, is it better to flock to these amazing places or work to make the rest of the world more like this?
-What will become of these river fights?
-How has death shaped your life (I’m really interested in conversation here)?

Feelings:
Again I felt so overwhelmed by the intense beauty of this place! Remind me why I’m leaving…

2005-07-23T02:57:00.000-07:00

Sushi pilgrim... Glenn in his handcrafted napkin hat.

2005-07-23T02:56:00.000-07:00

Biodiesel rocks! Andy Cooper showed me around Footprint Recycling.

2005-07-23T02:46:00.000-07:00

Log:
My final Saturday in Arcata logically started at the Farmers market. As usual, we weren’t in search of anything in particular. I was excited to find eggs and peaches. Then all of the sudden this crazy desire to bake came over me, so I got some zucchini for bread making this week. Noelle and I were about ready to leave when she asked me if it would be okay if we sat for a minute. Over dripping juicy peaches we sat and watched the show that is Arcata Farmer’s Market. A few people dancing… People from every generation are out today from unborn babies swelling in tummies to toddlers waddling around after one another and chasing older kids, from the college crowd to the middle aged, and even the little old white haired lady who dances every weekend. What an amazing gathering this market is! How beautiful all of these people are, from the dancers to the silent observers, there’s so much energy in this place. After a long silent observation in appreciation of the crowd Noelle and I headed back to CCAT. We stopped along the way to pick some rhubarb at CCAT’s plot in the community garden, this was important as it could potentially be a bartering tool at any garage sale we pass. Luckily enough, we found a place that would take 2 dollars and some rhubarb for a pretty blue sundress.
Rosie and I deemed it necessary to pick the final harvest from our favorite plum tree. As usual, we borrowed the CCAT ladder to get the most yummy plums in this town. Mmm, mmmm!
After fruit pickin’ with Rosie I accompanied Glenn to buy bio-diesel. Andy Cooper, a former CCAT student, started Footprint Recycling which collects waste vegetable oil and manufactures bio-diesel and soap. Andy was kind enough to give us the grand tour.
Saturday night the CCAT folks took me out to dinner at Tomo’s. I must say we sure did clean up nice for the occasion. We enjoyed sampling each other’s sushi. Dinner was capped off by making hats out of the nice cloth napkins. (Simply make a “paper cup” and viola, you’re ready for anything). To my surprise, a woman at the table next to us asked us to show her how to make the hats so she could teach her nieces. I learned that it’s not wise to try and pay for a dinner when folks are trying to treat you, such behavior can and will result in wallet confiscation!

Questions:
-Would the Ecological Design class at Berea be interested in communicating with Andy Cooper?
-How beautiful would the world be to me if I was able to retain this state of openness?
-What other great origami hats could be made from restaurant style napkins?

Feelings:
I feel like I might be approaching sleepless time soon, as I spend my last week in Arcata. There are so many things I’d like to do, so many people I’d like to spend more time getting to know, so many interesting foods I’d like to try to make with all of this fresh fruit, the list goes on and on.

Learn about Footprint Recycling

2005-07-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

Log:
Today I was finally able to get done some hard to prioritize reading. Also important I made fruit leather from some rhubarb that was going soft on us. I gave a few tours to new students as well. It’s so fun to meet that fresh enthusiasm. At times giving tours can be a bit draining, but with not with an interested audience.
At CCAT we hosted a movie screening of a film made by HSU Green Campus. The film was a spoof on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”, titled “Green Eye for the Common Gal”. It was a funny, educational short film. I think it works well for the college audience. It should be online sometime soon. I’d like to see Berea work with the art department to make short films about sustainability. I really like Jason’s (one of the Berea SENS directors) idea about hosting more film viewings at the SENS house in the coming semester.
I concluded the evening with a trip to the Blue Lake Folklife festival, just in time to find out they were sold out of tickets. Luckily the concession stand workers were friendly and entertaining. They suggested that we wait until intermission and see if there might be room then. In the meantime we decided to go to the new raw foods restaurant Green Life. What a good decision it was! We ate the most incredible caramel apple pie and blue berry cheesecake. I must say that I’ve enjoyed some of the most amazing food here. After our mini-dessert we went back to the festival to find that we had perfect timing to slip in for the conclusion of the show just before they cleared the stage for the contra dance. The music was lively bluegrass and the dancing was hilarious. It’s one thing to contra dance at the Folk Center in Berea where most folks have a good handle on things, it’s another to dance with a group mostly new to the style. I really like how informal it is here!

Questions:
-What are more student film ideas dealing with sustainability?
-How much more nutritious are raw foods?
-How many people does it take to deconstruct a bamboo shed?

Perceptions:
It seemed like everyone dancing tonight was a little more free style than the crowd I see in Kentucky. I do love dancing.

2005-07-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

Log:
Another morning cleaning party. I was reminded of Grandma today as I got out the Murphy’s oil soap for the wood floor. I appreciate the distraction cleaning provides.
Another day, another meeting, of course! We met again before the charrette. These CCATers really are interested in being as prepared as possible. As much as I’m not into meetings, I have seen their value in helping us learn about construction. Every meeting we find out something else we should research. I was glad when the actual charrette started. I found it very informative. I was also very amused by the clear roles that most folks seemed to fit into, according to clothing: the neatly dressed architect, the down to earth blue collar house mover/construction guy in a hard hat, the project managers wearing some combination of the two previous uniforms, and the students wearing jeans and chacos. If someone were to be into the comic making business we would have been prime material. We did get done what we needed to at the charrette, hooray! We roughly sited the house, after considering many factors. The three largest were land contour, ADA access, and solar window. We also explained the use of the house and worked with the architect to redesign the basement floor plan. It feels good to have made this progress. I’m really glad that construction administration is not my future profession.
I spent my evening in the woods, in my favorite stump. I always appreciate visiting the same spot at different times of day. It’s very interesting to me to see how light transforms settings. The sun was casting long interesting shadows on the trail. I was able to catch a bright pink and gold sunset through the silhouetted redwoods. What a view! On my way out of the woods I tried to find more glowing phosphorescent microbacteria. I was convinced I had found some on a leaf. When I got out of the woods it turned out that I had actually found a piece of shimmering litter. Only slightly disappointed, I am glad I picked it up anyway.

Questions:
-What should I prioritize in my last week?
-How much research went into designing and building the SENS house?
-Where is the 10 x 10 campaign in its recent push to get a solar panel on Berea’s campus?

Links of the day:

Calculate possible solar output for your home. We used this page at our charrette.

HEAL-a student led environmental and social justice organization at Berea. Click to read about the 10 x 10 campaign I mentioned.

2005-07-21T00:58:00.001-07:00

Twilight canopy

2005-07-21T00:58:00.000-07:00

Goodnight from the community forest

2005-07-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

Mold before green cleaning

2005-07-20T19:43:00.000-07:00

After!

2005-07-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

Green ingredients for a sparkling clean

2005-07-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Log:
I got to talk about forestry this morning. I had a chat with one of the forestry professors about some of the trees on CCAT’s site. It feels good to be learning about trees, forestry strikes such a chord in me.
In an attempt to prepare for the charrette I’m trying to find out all I can about the specifics of materials used in the Berea Ecovillage.
Noelle and I prepared for the green cleaning workshop by identifying good places in the house that needed a little TLC. We found a section of mold spotted wall that really needed a hand. Unfortunately the attendance for the workshop was small, well okay, only one person came. (It is the summer after all.) So Noelle and I got a good bit of cleaning done anyway… and I won’t comment about how I feel about cleaning (I’m keeping that information secret from here on out). I must say that I was really excited that Noelle and I decided to wear matching outfits for the occasion! (A pair of jeans and the infamous CCAT tie-dyed shirt.)
Between the green cleaning workshop and the evening co-director meeting, I was able to sneak off for a run in my favorite woods. I don’t think I’d ever get used to those trees. It’s so moving (literally!) to run through those giants. Sigh.

Questions:
-What type and timing of programs would Berea Ecovillage residents best attend?
-At what point are meetings counter productive?
-How could SENS make a strong connection to the forestry at Berea?

Feelings:
I feel like I’m on a roller coaster when I run in those woods. I go slowly up a hill and then turn a corner to dip and feel the breeze gush past me just in time to bisect a beam of light that snuck in through the tall, tall canopy… I also feel like one of those cartoon characters who walks off the edge of a cliff and doesn’t fall until he looks down. I know in the near future I will leave these trees and all of this, but I’m certainly not looking down yet!

2005-07-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

Log:
Again with the meetings! I can say that CCAT certainly is good at being prepared for meetings. If they only have one shot with a person, they prepare so well for that opportunity. Today we met with our project manager to discuss what we learned at the pre-charrette meeting. We also sent out the Spring 2005 AT Transfer (CCAT publication).
I’m beginning to see tension develop in meetings. It seems as if the intensity of living/working together may be wearing on folks. From my experience it’s that very tension that leads to real conversations full of growth. Human relations are such a huge part of organizations, although they are often overlooked. I’d like to learn more about conflict resolution and community living. Only now, after seriously working at both of the above for more than a year, do I feel like I understand the importance of relationship building (to the extent that I do).
I interviewed Sean Armstrong, a former co-director who spent a good amount of time compiling the CCAT history. I appreciated the enthusiasm and advice he offered. I am so glad that I get to see CCAT from all of these perspectives. There’s a lot that SENS can gain from CCAT’s knowledge.
Also noteworthy today, I received an e-mail from an old friend. Always a refreshing thing!

Questions:
-How effective is the CCAT steering committee?
-At what point are people comfortable enough to have honest conversations about communication styles?
-Could SENS get more labor positions? If so, how many would be a manageable number?

Feelings:
After my conversation tonight I feel excited about returning to SENS with all of the ideas from CCAT. I feel like I could hit the ground running now (which is good because that’s almost what will happen when I get home).

Read past AT Transfers

2005-07-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

One down, shed to go... To be deconstructed for salvagable material that is.

2005-07-18T19:34:00.000-07:00

Log:
The day was centered around preparing for the pre-charrette meeting. In order to best utilize the architect’s time at the charrette, we met with various steering committee and community people familiar with the construction business to draft a list of questions and ideas.
Also we’re one step closer to deconstructing the bamboo shed. After removing rebar and bamboo supports we used a come-along and rope to gently pull the bamboo shed to a soft landing on its side. The morning was amusing because we had three video cameras to document the falling of the shed. The process went smoother than we had imagined, no one was hurt and a lot of the bamboo from the shed roof is in salvageable condition.
Another difficult conversation with a friend from home. Sigh. It’s especially challenging to experience a shift in relationship dynamics when I’m so distanced.

Questions:
-What is a French drain?
-How do you site a house?
-How can I balance my home life with my CA life?

2005-07-17T19:40:00.000-07:00

Contemplation is...

2005-07-17T19:33:00.000-07:00

Log:
“No more talking, no more fun, Quakers meeting has begun.” This was my previous exposure to the Quakers. As a child my mom used this phrase to trick us into having a silent contests with her. Today I expanded that impression as I walked to the edge of Arcata (off Q Street) for a friends meeting. I was a tad late due to the walk being farther than I had guessed and faulty directions. I heard singing and entered a room to find an assortment of couches and chairs arranged in a square filled with people raising their voices. Mid-song I was promptly handed a song book and invited to have a seat. I’ve never been able to read music, but I found the melody of the group and went with it. I even found a couple of the harmonies. It felt really good to click with the people and the music. After a few good songs, the silent part of the service began. At first it was hard to concentrate on internal thoughts, because I wanted to watch everyone in the room. I too found a comfortable silence and was able to open myself to spiritual connections. Periodically, friends stood and spoke if they felt moved. The first message shared today was in remembrance of a friend who had passed away. We were reminded not to get so caught up in our own lives that we don’t care for the world. The second sharing was in reference to a Biblical story. The woman explained that she understands the Bible by reading bits and meditating on them. I found this interesting as that’s what we were all doing in the Quaker meeting, listening and then meditating. She told the parable about Jesus cursing a fig tree that did not feed the people, just as he cursed the church that did not meet the spiritual needs of the people. She emphasized that a personal relationship with God filled her spiritually. The third person to share explained that empathy would make the world a better place and children should grow up not only knowing the word, but the practice of empathizing with the world. I appreciated all of the lessons shared in the service. After the silent time, we rose and shared recent life events. They asked about birthdays, so I told them I was excited to be 20. Joyfully, they sang “Happy Birthday” to me. I thanked them and assured them that indeed it had been a happy birthday.
I couldn’t help but think of Rumi’s “Zero Circle” during the meeting today. It’s one of my favorite poems and surprisingly applicable to the Quaker meeting.
* * *
Be helpless, dumbfounded,
Unable to say yes or no.
Then a stretcher will come from grace to gather us up.

We are too dull-eyed to see that beauty.
If we say we can, we're lying.
If we say No, we don't see it,
That No will behead us
And shut tight our window onto spirit.

So let us rather not be sure of anything,
Beside ourselves, and only that, so
Miraculous beings come running to help.
Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute,
We shall be saying finally,
With tremendous eloquence, Lead us.
When we have totally surrendered to that beauty,
We shall be a mighty kindness
* * *
After the meeting I continued wandering and stumbled upon some stunningly ripe blackberries. It was an amazing moment, feeling spiritually filled by the berries; not unlike the surprise fulfillment that comes from my church sampling.
When I got back into town I had an insatiable urge to write, after not talking for an hour I had a lot to say to myself. Needless to say I had a very full day.

Questions:
-The even curious, should SENS have a term limit for directors? After talking with Kati today I think it would be hard to be at Berea and not be in SENS, how will we both feel about that in a year?
-How prevalent is the Quaker religion?
-As the summer draws to a close, I’m finding that more and more stories are tying themselves up neatly in my mind and morals are being revealed. How much more will I learn in these final two weeks?

Feelings:
I felt completely overwhelmed today by the blackberries, it was such a rich connection.

Learn more about the Quakers

2005-07-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

Marsh afternoon

2005-07-16T19:31:00.000-07:00

Log:
I got a late start today, and I did appreciate it. It wouldn’t be Saturday without the Farmer’s Market, so I went even though the fridge was plentifully stocked. Rosie and I enjoyed the first peaches of the season. Mmm!
I went thrift shopping in search of some goodies for folks back home. A lot of the thrift shops in Arcata are rather up-scale, vintage, and pricey. However, I did find one fine green skirt. So that search was productive.
I enjoyed a call from Carla. It’s always so good to hear from folks back home. I’m able to really be my complete self talking with them, which is a good reminder for me. I spent some time at the Marsh. I’ve really been into solitude lately.

Questions:
-How long do I need to know someone before I am my entire self around them?
-What adjustment stages will I also go through in Australia?
-How will it feel to return home for a short period of time and quickly leave for school?

2005-07-16T00:57:00.000-07:00

It's amazing what you find on a walk

2005-07-15T23:29:00.000-07:00

Log:
Started the morning with a cleaning party! It makes me feel at home. Honestly, I like to clean, but don’t let that one get out. At both CCAT and SENS we use nontoxic homemade green cleaners check out my links to learn more.

***TO LEARN MORE VISIT CCAT WEDNESDAY (July 20) from 2-4 pm, for a free workshop on natural cleaners***

In the afternoon I stuffed the AT Transfers, a semi-annual publication put out by CCAT. It was great to fold sheets of paper and listen to Bell sing Irish folk songs.
My day became quickly more exciting when I met Sonia, a student from Ohio University. She wanted to see CCAT because there’s a similar program forming at OU. It was great to talk to someone who was familiar with Ohio, and even greater to talk to someone in a program younger than SENS. It’s so exciting to see all of that potential! I hope that we will make a lasting networking connection with that program. We also talked about the difference in the natural beauty of the west coast and Ohio. I agreed with Sonia that Arcata is a huge, showy intense beauty with the ocean and the redwoods, while Ohio is more of a calm comforting beauty with the huge sky and subtle forests.
Rosie and I visited our new favorite plum tree again. It’s so much easier to pick plums in the daylight. For the rest of my life, I’ll think of Arcata when I eat plums. I’ve never been so in love with plums. This is a perfect place to be in the summer because it’s so easy to feel connected with your food, delicious fruit specifically.

Questions:
-What variety of plum did we pick?
-At every house Rosie and I stop at to ask if we can pick fruit, the owners tell us they actually don’t even eat it. How many people have fruit trees they don’t utilize?
-How many schools have programs similar to CCAT and SENS?

Learn more about nontoxic cleaning

2005-07-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

Log:
I started my 20th birthday with breakfast in bed/couch. Rosie and Noelle made me the most delicious plum dumplings and fried potatoes….mmm! I must have gotten a million phone calls wishing me a happy birthday. I spent my morning cleaning the bathroom (and no one fights with me over who gets to clean the toilet here… Kati!) and doing laundry. I secretly really enjoy doing laundry. I appreciate the clean slate it provides me with, as well as the gentle scent of clothes dried in the breeze.
This afternoon we had a co-director meeting. The co-directors prioritized action items and to-do tasks for each director. The body language at the meeting was interesting to watch. It seems that the group’s dynamics are very much changing, as members become more familiar with one another.
I enjoyed a great birthday lunch as well. Noelle made me crazy bugs organic macaroni and cheese along with the classic favorite, corndogs (veggie). I don’t think I’ll even outgrow my favorite foods from childhood.
My evening was lovely with calls from family. It was unusually warm, so I went on a nice long walk in the forest. After a short nap in my favorite stump, I awoke to the most beautiful light of day and realized the absolute necessity of taking pictures. I got side tracked on my way home to CCAT and went for yet another walk to take pictures of flowers around town.
Noelle, Glenn, Krystal, and Rosie took me out to the Café Mokka hot tubs for my birthday. Surprisingly enough, it really helped my poison oak. I think the chlorine dried it out a good bit. I also received an amusing birthday collage/card, a “Klean Kanteen”, and a dainty necklace that we’re claiming came from Africa. The CCAT folks really know how to celebrate birthdays. I think anyone in the area should celebrate their birthdays with these fun people.

Questions:
-CCAT employees and co-directors go on a retreat each fall, could SENS implement a similar bonding experience?
-As an outsider watching today’s meeting, it was easy to observe subtle undertones between the participants. What am I like to work with in a meeting setting?
-I think SENS labor meetings have improved so much with our new structure. What do we do that CCAT could learn from in the way we conduct meetings?

Feelings:
It’s so wonderful and unexpected to have such good friends in my life all the way out here. I was uncertain about what it would be like to celebrate my birthday without family, but the CCAT crew made me feel at home.

2005-07-14T23:13:00.000-07:00

Some random Arcata resident's hydrangea bush

2005-07-14T23:11:00.000-07:00

The flowers that motivated me to take a longer walk

2005-07-14T23:05:00.000-07:00

Rays of sun I saw on my birthday walk

2005-07-14T23:04:00.000-07:00

Birthday breakfast in bed :)

2005-07-13T23:28:00.000-07:00

Log:
Another Wednesday, another river trip with Carlita. I enjoyed the sunshine and cool water. I also enjoyed a nice long run when I got home. As usual, I got lost in the woods. I think that may very well be one of my favorite things to do. I’m contemplating my aging (in the very near future).

Questions:
-What should I do for my birthday?
-How many other places have a community forest?
-What has been my greatest lesson this year (age 19)?

2005-07-12T23:27:00.000-07:00

Log:
I knew today would be exciting because we started it at Pal Camp. We gave interactive presentations to kids ages 5-12. They were even generous enough to invite us on super hero day, so the kids were ready to take on anything. We gave a short introduction about CCAT and then broke off into smaller groups. I was teaching the kids about trees. I had everyone share at least one thing they liked about trees. My favorite answer came from a tiny five year old boy in an orange shirt with a very serious look on his face, “I like trees because they’re so beautiful,” he said with a Vannah White-like hand motion. We talked about how trees produce oxygen that we need to breathe, shelter for animals, fruit, places to climb, beauty to look at, as well as many materials that we all use in our everyday lives. We passed around homemade recycled paper and discussed how important recycling is. We also took turns sitting in a bamboo chair to demonstrate alternative building materials. I must admit though the most well liked part of my station was bamboo limbo. Other stations included pedal powered smoothie making, discussion about energy conservation, and cooking with the sun. Amusingly enough we were able to throw together these stations in a few minutes as we were prepared to make smoothies only. It was a good reminded of the importance of flexibility when working with kids.

Questions:
-How could SENS connect with the education department at Berea?
-How can SENS work with more youth?
-What is the job market in this area for Outdoor Education?

Feelings:
It was refreshing to be teaching kids about the environment! Sigh of relief. It’s comforting to work with kids because it’s reassuring that I’m making the right decision majoring in Outdoor Education. It’s also so energizing to work with all of those little excited people.

2005-07-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

CCATers at Pal Camp

2005-07-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

Log:
A package from home really made my day today! Cookies from the infamous Grandma J. Everyone was so excited! I’m pretty sure I have one of the best families. I spent my morning catching up on e-mails. We finally got to move the worm bins out of the bamboo shed this afternoon! Lots of good work going on at CCAT, as always. I went to a campus space committee meeting today. The process state universities must use to choose contractors continues to baffle me. So much so that when I got home from the meeting at 5:00 pm, I had to take a nap. I did wake up just in time for an amazing sunset over hazy Arcata. Finally awake, I went for a short jog, picked some plums, and tried my hand at making granola again. The first batch was a bit dry but I think it will work fine with the next batch which was chewy. All in all, it was a slow Monday.

Questions:
-Age. What do you think about it?
-I have poison oak on my feet, what’s the best way to treat it?
-How can I learn to better accept constructive criticism?

Feelings:
I’m excited about my nearing birthday and contemplating leaving my teens entirely. I really don’t feel old enough to almost be 20. I don’t think age is really something that you feel anyway.

2005-07-10T23:01:00.000-07:00

Sean and Shale's secret spot

2005-07-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

Log:
I started my day with a call from my Kati M… so enjoyable to chat with folks who really know me. After her call I went to yet another UU Fellowship service. Another circle of people sharing their stories. I think this fellowship has something to do with my recent infatuation with stories and personal experiences. The questions for discussion were centered around the sacred. What makes something sacred? What in your religious heritage is still sacred to you? How do you experience the sacred? I took the mike for a second and explained that I still find music to be a sacred thing to share. (In response to the question about religious heritage.) It’s true, there’s something about blending voices and instruments that I find amazing. I also find nature’s solitude very sacred. Some other fascinating answers I heard were:
-the sacred is that which we seek to relieve the uneasiness in our hearts
-the sacred is that which we can destroy, but not create
-family is sacred
-being fully present is sacred

Another inspirational service at the UU Fellowship. Next week I’m going to a Quakers’ meeting. I look forward to it, but know that I’ll probably miss the UU.
Yet another trip to the river. This time Sean and Shale took us to their favorite spot. Glorious! We went exploring upstream and then rode the waves back to the spot we had set up camp at. We discussed what’s sacred to us as well after munching on potluck leftovers warmed in the sun over. I’m very sure that this is the life! It’s such a breathtaking place to live.

Questions:
-What is sacred to you? (Seriously, let’s get some conversation going here)
-How much solitude do I need in my life?
-How many people would appreciate this spiritual sampling that I’m doing?

2005-07-09T22:08:00.000-07:00

Log:
I spent my morning hammering out flight details… Which have finally resulted in success! I’m so tickled that I have tickets to visit Pat Adams! I was so excited to go to the farmers market knowing that I had that to look forward to at the end of this internship when it will be hard to tear myself away. In celebration of my productive morning on the phone, I bought a muffin and headed for the dancing area. In the sun all ages danced to a small band of 6 drummers dressed in white. Barefoot and joyful I found myself in the midst of the moment, just where I needed to be. Sigh. Good times.
Today was such an amazing day already I was really excited to get out my sign. A lot of folks in Arcata have signs that say clever things to try and inspire people to share their food or funds, my sign was different. On a brown paper bag I had written “Tell me your story” and was anxious to see what sorts of tales it would yield. Interestingly enough, even though I wasn’t asking for anything a lot of people avoided eye contact, obviously uncomfortable. It was a different perspective, sitting behind a sign, as people really look at you differently. The first responses were awkward avoidance, cracked smiles, or people saying things like “My back hurts”. Not more than a half hour after I’d been sitting there an older gentleman came up to me and asked if I was collecting stories or what. I told him that’s actually exactly what I’m doing.
He sat and told me his life story: in the service he met and fell in love with a German girl. They married, had two beautiful children and it was happily ever after. She and the youngest child were on a trip back to Germany to visit his wife’s family when they died in a crash. After this he was heartbroken but stressed that it was his faith in people that got him through his hard times. He told me “never stop believing in people, never give up hope that the world will be what you need.” He also told me about how he had been heartbroken by his second wife who cheated on him and left him. Through it all, he believes that everyone is good. The second story was from Elie, who told me a number of unbelievable tales. I didn’t buy any of it. I was actually becoming annoyed by his obviously fake stories. Then along came Ben, who was amused by Elie’s stories and he asked for my story… I said I had many, and he requested something recent and funny. I shared the foot massage story and everyone laughed for a good long while. I considered that a fine conclusion to my story requesting for the day. I think people misunderstood my object-to really get stories, not to pick anyone up or collect anything tangible. I also think that asking for someone’s story might be a little intimidating, I mean we’re all in the process of living our stories and it’s hard to really find the moral at some times and tie things up in a neat package. I spent the rest of the day in the woods listening to rain above the redwood canopy while I stayed completely dry.

Questions:
-Stories… what do they mean to you?
-Would you stop and tell a stranger your story?
-How would it feel to hold a sign asking for money?

Perceptions:
I felt like many people are uncomfortable with anyone holding signs.

2005-07-08T03:30:00.000-07:00

Noelle's world famous scones, stop by and try one sometime!

2005-07-08T03:29:00.000-07:00

CCAT potluck/feast

2005-07-08T03:17:00.000-07:00

Log:
An attempt at an early morning. I simply could not get up at 6:30am to go to the Educational Farm. I enjoyed the return to sleeping. There’s something special about going back to bed, honestly, it’s cozier than just getting up and really starting your day. When I did start my day I prepared to table on the quad with Patrick. This time the fair was for transfer students. The timing was perfect because we could invite everyone to the potluck tonight. It was really enjoyable to get to tell others about CCAT. I don’t always realize how much I’ve learned through this internship, but I was reminded when I was able to answer almost all of the questions anyone asked us.
I also finished the first draft of an article about CCAT for the new SENS newsletter (the first edition is slated to go out in August).
The potluck rolled around and we didn’t get a very large crowd. I was really excited to give the presentation about Berea’s SENS program. Everyone was really interested and amazed at the progress we had made in such a short time. Seeing the reactions everyone had to the Ecovillage and SENS house pictures reminded me how amazing our facility really is, and how fortunate SENS is to have such a house. After my presentation I asked everyone to share their favorite thing about CCAT. The list included:
-CCAT’s sense of community
-the student involvement
-the food and innovative cooking (cob oven, hot box, solar oven)
-the bulletin board with work-trade, internship, apartment and other miscellaneous postings
-the networking is so extensive—CCAT has been around long enough that people know about their program and they receive information requests from all over the world
-the fact that everything at CCAT is being rebuilt enables more students to experience the building process
-how applicable the CCAT technologies are to the average joe’s life
-CCAT changes people’s perceptions of what technology is
-how many needs are met at CCAT by plants on site.

After the potluck crowd had dwindled we took a midnight walk in the forest. After Charles assured everyone that there were indeed magically fairies in these woods we stopped to notice something glowing on the ground. It looked like tiny worms, but felt like bark. I picked up a few pieces, calling them stardust. Of course we took a small detour to the playground for the swings and animals on large springs to rock on. I took everyone to my favorite tree stump to sit in. I was surprised at how much I still recognized the path at night, having only been here a little over a month. An unexpectedly twinkling cloudy night was a fine end to another week at CCAT that went by too quickly.

Questions:
-How are Berea’s orientation weekends going? I hope that the SENS display is being used.
-What could I have done to make my presentation better? (Please leave feedback on this one, thanks for coming!)
-What the heck was on that bark/mulch to make it glow? (Please, please tell me if you know this one)

2005-07-07T03:16:00.000-07:00

Log:
Cob cooking demonstration day started with yours truly in the kitchen. This may not be funny to some of you, but it would be if you knew my cooking. If it isn’t a potato, I’m not sure how to cook it. Amusingly enough, I attempted several recipes successfully.
Another fine day for a run. I absolutely love getting lost in the woods and running longer than I thought I could.
After a long day at CCAT I went with Noelle to Café Mokka for some journal writing and cocoa. The place was crowded as usual, so we shared a table with someone who had already sat down. I recognized that he had been at the Arcata Marsh run. I asked him if my memory served me right, and it had. I was reminded of my previous evening at the greyhound station filled with a short story. A conversation grew around the joys of running non-competitively. I was really pleased not only because Adam may find Krystal and me a ride to another race this coming Monday, but also because I had heard one more person's story.
Also worth noting today was a surprise letter from Kati. It’s so good to hear from friends.

Questions:
-What would I like to get out of the rest of my CCAT internship?
-What should I write my paper about at the conclusion of this internship?
-Obviously, becoming friends needs to be a priority in an organization that works the way CCAT does. How do different personalities play into these learning relationships?

2005-07-06T03:15:00.000-07:00

Log:
I spent the morning tying up loose ends I had neglected over e-mail. I also spoke with the customer service department of American Airlines. I’d really hate to have the job of telling people they’ll never be able to afford to go where they want to be. I do think I’ll visit southern California, though. I’ve come this far. Around noon I left CCAT to journey again to the river. Ahh, it is summer after all. It’s summer with sun and sand. When I returned to CCAT I learned how to properly clean a paintbrush. I really appreciate the conversations I have with the co-directors individually that give me insight into how they saw the day’s events and how they fit together as a team.
Hopped on the roof to catch the sunset through the redwoods. I enjoyed a conversation about the terrible trials of middle school. I also enjoyed a conversation about different ways to relate to your past. I think that you don’t really ever “get through” things, but that you get to a point where you can see the lesson. I also think that you’ll be reminded of those lessons throughout life. It’s hard to face the fact that I’ll be leaving soon.
I went to the greyhound station to welcome Rosie back from her trip. While I waited I talked with another waiting friend of a commuter. He told me about his daughter who recently had twins and all of his kids in college. He didn’t grow up in Arcata but he’s retired here from southern California. He sympathized with my unintentionally falling in love with northern California. It’s funny what connections are made at random times in life. It’s also funny how much time most people spend waiting with other waiting people without talking with them. The whole conversation started with a small question of “Who are you waiting for tonight?” I really appreciate conversations with real connections.

Questions:
-How can I work out this visit with Pat Adams?
-Why do I have trouble getting to sleep?
-How much more connected to everyone in the world would I be if I struck up a conversation every time I was waiting somewhere?

Feelings:
In this beautiful place surrounded by wonderful people I often find myself in silent conversations with something bigger. Before enjoying food, I find myself feeling overwhelmed with blessings-so much so that I’m taken back and silenced momentarily. Every morning, when I’m met with the welcoming hugs of my CCAT friends, I’m so thankful that they’re in my life. I can’t help but be spiritual here.

2005-07-05T03:15:00.000-07:00

Log:
Today was full of meetings and bureaucracy. There were meetings from 8:30 am-12:15! After all of that political discussion, the co-directors and I needed to get away. We ate lunch at the lovely Japhy’s (they sell soup, salads, noodles, and cookies). We returned to CCAT refreshed and ready to work. The yurt is now in the process of being weather-proofed with bio-shield.

Feelings:
I was nervous about leading the new SENS directors into friendship and new jobs next fall, but today I realized that that’s no task for one person. It wouldn’t work if it was something I was doing, but it needs to be something we all put effort into. That said, I will do my best to lead.

Questions:
-I would like to study the psychology of meetings and the roles that evolve in a bureaucratic world. What roles were established in our meetings today?
-The time out at Japhy’s was so needed! It’s obvious to me that in order to run a program smoothly, the directors need to be friends or at minimum understand each other. What’s the most fool-proof way to ensure these relationships are built?
-How can I best prepare myself for next fall’s leadership position in SENS?

What the heck is a Yurt?

2005-07-04T03:14:00.000-07:00

Log:
I started my day with a 5k at the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. These races are a big deal with my family so it was exciting for me to be able to run one today. Krystal and I had a good time running and singing. It was interesting to me that 5k’s don’t seem to be as big of a deal out here.
After our morning run we went to the festival on the plaza to find little old ladies singing songs about peace in protest of war. I couldn’t imagine seeing this in Shelby County, Ohio. It really is a different atmosphere out here.
Back at CCAT we continued to dig out the trex pathway. After a hard afternoon’s work, I was able to take a break and call my family. They’re the only reason I’m leaving.
Our fourth of July celebration included eating a delicious watermelon on the roof and climbing a redwood to see two fireworks shows. We also made all sorts of popcorn and some cookie dough. We may have come to the end of our terribly impulsive eating habits. We reached a point tonight with the cookie dough when we were just not feeling so hot.

Questions:
-How will tomorrow’s meeting with the administration go?
-Where exactly do I fit in the spectrum of patriotism?
-Arcata seems to be so liberal, does this contribute to CCAT’s success? If so, is it possible to be as successful in CCAT-like endeavors in other communities?

2005-07-03T03:28:00.000-07:00

Crazy fun Krystal out the window of Glenn's biodiesel car

2005-07-03T03:27:00.000-07:00

No need for a rag-top, just give me a sunroof after a hot day at the river...

2005-07-03T03:25:00.001-07:00

The beautiful river (this is what everyone talks about!)

2005-07-03T03:25:00.000-07:00

Road trippin' to the river, hooray!

2005-07-03T03:13:00.000-07:00

Log:
As usual, I started my Sunday with a religious service. I had a hard time decided whether to go the UU Fellowship or keep church hopping. Ultimately what made the decision for me was that the UU Fellowship was farthest away and I was running a little behind. I went to the First Presbyterian Church. I’ll admit that my heart wasn’t as open as it could have been because I kept thinking about the UU Fellowship service that I was missing. I did enjoy the singing at the service I attended. Also, I was impressed with a posting about becoming a conscientious objector along with other information about world peace. I was surprised at the similarities between a Catholic mass and the Presbyterian service. It’s hard to open myself to learn more about these other churches now that I feel attached to the UU Fellowship.
After church, I came home to a pancake breakfast complete with hand whipped cream and strawberries. It was amazing! I have eaten more delicious food in the past two days than I had probably in the rest of the time I’ve been here. Wowza!
The hearty brunch was to get everyone enough energy to go swimming at the river. I must admit that this has been something I’ve waited for. Everyone in northern California talks of trips to the river all summer long. I completely understand what all of the fuss is about… For starters it’s sunny and hot (Willow Creek is almost an hour inland). The water is cold and clear and the beach is rocky yet beautiful. This weekend was so much fun! I think I’m going to hang out with the co-directors pretty much forever. This will be a hard place to leave. If only my family were out here.

Questions:
-Do I want to come to HSU for a term or two my senior year?
-I still wonder if I grow more from opening myself to a group I don’t understand or being a part of the dynamic UU service?
-How long is “river season”?

2005-07-02T03:13:00.000-07:00

Log:
Noelle, Krystal, and I started the day with a visit to the tree I found on my run yesterday. It’s really exciting for me to have a chance to share the treasures I find with willing friends. I really have seen so many amazing trees here! After the nice walk we went to the farmers’ market (of course!). The sun was breaking through the morning fog and despite our late arrival at the market we were lucky enough to get the last baskets of strawberries of the day. Yum!
After the market, Krystal and I went for a jog at the Arcata Marsh. It’s really great to have someone to run with. After our run we stopped by a garage sale in search of some kitchenware for Krystal’s new apartment. We found some pots and pans and accidentally caused a bit of a controversy. It turned out that the woman pricing items was not the woman who was running the garage sale, after some price confusion we were able to come away from the sale rather successfully. For four dollars we got: 1 stainless steel pot, 6 bread pans, 1 skillet, 1 wool sweater, and a free shiny blue kimono. There’s nothing better than appreciating someone else’s junk.
After all of that, Glenn took us all out to the beach. Sigh… It was so beautiful. We went for a swim in the ocean. (By swim I mean a quick run in and out of the freezing water). We made a small campfire on the beach and cooked our dinner. Shortly after we finished eating, some other friends showed up with more food! We did still have a fire going, so we didn’t object to Eddie’s shish-kabobs of freshly picked, homegrown, organic veggies. Neither did we object to Jessie’s homemade homegrown raspberry pie. I couldn’t have imagined a more wonderful evening than 7 friends huddled around a campfire on the beach listening to the ocean, eating phenomenal food, and telling stories under a clear starry sky. We were tempted to be annoyed at the two $90 parking tickets we got for being parked at the beach after the sunset, but what the heck it was worth it.

Questions:
-In Shelby County, Ohio, each town has a designated weekend for garage sales. Does Arcata organize their garage sales at all?
-Are the steep parking tickets in the parks a result of tight funding?
-Will I ever see trees such as these again in my life?

Feelings:
I appreciate the co-directors so much for really taking me under their wing, not only within CCAT work hours, but all of the time. At first I felt like I was an additional responsibility for them to worry about, but we’re all just a bunch of friends at this point.

Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary

2005-07-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

The bamboo shed must come down! This is what we started working on today.

2005-07-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

Log:
This morning was perfect for a run! The new trail I took was so exciting! I found a very beautiful tree to sit under after my jog. I’m so glad that I’ve been able to make time for running again, it really energizes me.
Plenty of hard work at CCAT on Friday work days. We took the roof off the bamboo shed and dug up the trex pathway. Both of which will need to be removed to make way for the Buck house at its new location. Under the trex path broken glass and gravel were used as fill. This is beneficial because it is reusing a waste product, broken glass, which is not accepted at most recycling centers and will never decompose. However, I think it should only be used if it can be contained. Because it was not contained under the trex, the area will forever be contaminated with glass shards. Lesson learned!
After the work day we met with steering committee members to prepare for the a meeting next week. We wanted to assure that the current co-directors were prepared with knowledge of previous terms’ promises. During the meeting, we discussed one architect’s proposal for moving the CCAT house, as well as decided priorities and strategies for discussion. I’m impressed with CCAT’s relatively informal meetings and what they are able to accomplish. Key members frequently step up to restate what has been said and gently direct the conversation.
This evening, I went to Café Mokka with Noelle again to write. I’m really appreciative of the atmosphere as well as the yummy hot chocolate and brownies. All in all, another excellent week at CCAT.

Questions:
-Is it more of a priority for CCAT to have excellent architectural plans, or to be able to completely finish all of the plans?
*It is more important to have a good vision. There are things CCAT doesn’t want to compromise, but they’d rather have a well thought out comprehensive plan.
-Where is the line between safety and trying to recover resources?
-How can I better balance my work here at CCAT?

Feelings:
With all of this writing and running, I’m feeling more like myself. Hooray!

Learn about trex: an alternative to lumber

2005-06-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

Marsh restoration at Potawot

2005-06-30T16:57:00.000-07:00

Log:
I spent a bit of my morning at Potawot Health Village. It’s such a tranquil place. I’ll explain more next week after I volunteer for a day in their gardens. In the meantime, you can check out their link.
I went to my first CCAT steering committee meeting tonight. I’ve heard differing perspectives on the effectiveness of meetings, but was impressed with tonight’s. Key members were able to step up and play devil’s advocate enough to answer questions that really needed to be asked.

Questions:
-Potawot Village, under United Indian Health Services, integrates the values and practices of a specific culture. Could such a thing be recreated centering around Appalachian culture?
-When are my efforts to adequately document my experiences counter productive?
-Ultimately which is more effective, to stand up for an organization to the administration or to try establish relationships? Is there room for both?

Learn about Potawot Village

2005-06-29T17:02:00.000-07:00

CCAT co-directors tabling on the quad

2005-06-29T16:56:00.000-07:00

Log:
This morning I worked with Abigail at the Campus Recycling Center’s compost site. They collect pre- and post- consumer food scraps and compost them. She estimated that somewhere in the neighborhood of 40-50 hours a week were spent collectively managing the compost. HSU’s composting system is much more tightly monitored than the pre-consumer waste composted at Berea. I would love to see Berea implement a post-consumer composting program, however I think what we do works well for the volume of students we have.
Today was also a good day because I was able to actually deal with some of the feelings I had been loosing track of in the back of my mind. I also confronted the fact that I had been avoiding much contact with loved ones because I didn’t feel ready to address my confusion. I had a much needed conversation with a long time friend who reminded me who I really am. Sigh of relief! I also went on a wonderful jog in the forest this evening with a new friend, Krystal.

Questions:
-How can I arrange to visit Pat Adams?
-SENS needs a logo, what are characteristics of effective logos? (If you know, please share with me!)
-How have you expressed emotion today? (Seriously, please share with me)

Feelings:
I have them! I’m glad that I was able to relieve my emotional constipation (I know it sounds goofy).

2005-06-28T16:56:00.000-07:00

Log:
Today we found out more details about the CCAT move. Folks from different sides continue to disagree. This process makes me grateful that the SENS house is not going anywhere.
I climbed a huge redwood today! It was both scary and exciting for a midwest kid who had only climbed deciduous trees before. The view was worth it though, I’ll definitely go again sometime, maybe I’ll bring my camera.
We prepared to table on the quad for the incoming freshmen tomorrow.

Questions:
-When could SENS table?
-How elaborate are the camps that tree sitters set up?
-How tall is the tallest tree?

2005-06-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

Log:
Today I tried to work on the rock wall without Rosie, which was less than successful.
After work I joined Noelle for hot chocolate and journal writing at Café Mokka. I appreciated the atmosphere and the cat with a stub of a tail. I found myself overhearing other conversations and wondering what brought these people to where they are today. At times it was difficult to think of anything to write, and through these breaks I realized that maybe I should take the hint and surrender my voice to my ears.

Questions:
-What stories have the café folks lived?
-How important are stories?
-How did Clover the cat lose most of his tail?

Quote of the day/Feelings:
As Noelle and I walked back to CCAT from Café Mokka, I was amused at how easily I get disoriented in unfamiliar places. I explained to her that I get too lost in conversation or looking at flowers along the way to notice which direction I should go. “I pay attention to everything but where I’m going.” This quote is metaphorical of my life as well. I tend to focus on exploring the path I’m on rather than plot out my course and believe I’ll follow it.

2005-06-26T20:14:00.001-07:00

Here's a closer look at the picture below.

2005-06-26T20:14:00.000-07:00

Giants! If you look close at the tree on the right, I'm the dot to the left of the trunk.

2005-06-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

Sunny Sunday

2005-06-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

Log:
Carlita came home from the fire station this morning, so I took her to the UU Fellowship. Another enjoyable service, filled with personal stories and emotion. This week’s topic of conversation was credos (statements of personal belief). One member of the fellowship shared her credo with everyone. I appreciate this place of worship so much for the honest expressions and celebration it encourages! No one is being condemned here, all are validated on their personal spiritual journeys.
After the service, Carlita and I hit the road for the Avenue of the Giants, home to some of the world’s biggest trees. Honestly, this was an item on the to do before I die list. The trees were amazing! It was like being a small gnome or fairy playing in a forest of gigantic trees. They truly are towering, and what a change it is to see that nature producing things that tall. I feel claustrophobic in big cities with skyscrapers that block the sun, but I felt cozy being towered by creations of something much bigger than man.
Carlita and I explored our personal credos. It’s much easier to articulate what you don’t believe in. But revitalizing to remind yourself what you do feel inspired by.

Questions:
-Should I continue to go to the UU Fellowship because I personally find it enriching or continue church hopping to gain some insight into more religions? (I really want to know what you think, please leave me a comment on this one.)
-Am I correct in thinking that the UU Fellowship would allow me to see people more deeply than attending services with only a handful of people speaking?
-Is there a UU near Berea?

Perceptions:
When I saw one of the world’s biggest trees with its sign I felt almost as if I was approaching a depressed animal in a zoo. Because this tree happened to be bigger than a lot of the others around it, it gets extra foot traffic and consequently more compacted soil in its root zone. Personally, I was in awe of the tree, but felt like it had been turned into a bit of a spectacle, rather than the inspiring giant it really is.

2005-06-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

Log:
A cloudy morning at my favorite farmer’s market. The Oyster Festival was today. I wanted badly to want to dance, but I didn’t. I couldn’t shake the feelings from a phone conversation I had Friday night. I gave up on dancing and continued my grocery shopping at Wildberries. I ran into Doug, who invited me to the birthday party of his friend Brian. I knew Brian and recognized my need for entertainment and some sort of companionship, so I went.
It was a re-affirming experience, reminding me of how much I don’t like parties. I appreciated Doug inviting me, but everyone just stood around talking about nothing much at all. Oh well, it’s good to reevaluate my conclusions once and a while.

Questions:
-What happened to the parties like we had back home with twister tournaments and fake pageants?
-Do most folks actually enjoy acquaintance level conversations at anonymous gatherings?
-What are my friends back home up to?

Feelings:
When you’re some place new it’s difficult to really express your emotions honestly. It’s easier to have a “game face” on, especially because no one knows you well enough to call you out on it. This has kept me from keeping in good contact with folks back home as well, because they could pick up on the subtle differences and I’d have to really face my feelings.

2005-06-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

Log:
A slow day at CCAT. I started out my morning with the usual bike ride to work, except I finally remembered to bring a bag to pick some plums. Today’s Friday, so that’s good news but I wasn’t expecting much out of the ordinary at CCAT. I spent some time in the CCAT binders and was about ready to leave when a couple came to the door interested in a tour. Of course I was excited to show them around. They both lead Native American ceremonies and want to decrease their grounds’ environmental impact. We had a great conversation about how everyone is both a teacher and a learner. They were such a curious and excited pair! It was also refreshing to be in the familiar role of teaching others about sustainability instead of my recent position of only trying to learn. They told me a friend of theirs was having a ceremony close to Arcata and they’d see how open it would be and if I could attend. What an experience that would be! Check in with me next week to find out if I get to go.

Questions (From Fred, the gentleman on the tour today):
-How long does it take to get land certified organic?
-When using a cob oven, do you use less wood than you would in a regular fireplace?
-Did CCAT use locally grown bamboo for the bamboo shed?

Feelings:
Whenever I don’t feel energized about being here, someone comes in who reminds me of the importance of the sustainable movement. Thank goodness!

2005-06-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

Log:
More meetings at CCAT. The move continues to be a big focus. CCAT is trying to be as involved in the process as possible. It’s so interesting to see politics in action. Everyone always avoids politics, but they are a reality in getting things done and working with people.
I met the third Co-director, Patrick, today. I think it will be very interesting to see how the three co-directors live and work together. Those are the relationships I’m really interested in watching grow.

Questions:
-What is the next step in the CCAT move, now that our original plan didn’t produce offers we could afford?
-What can I learn from how the co-directors work together personally?
-Why is it so difficult for CCAT to be involved in the process of moving their house?
-What’s the best way for CCAT to raise additional funds to ensure their original house will be moved quickly?

2005-06-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

Log:
I spent the morning working on a structure to store lumber and the afternoon with my favorite retaining wall. In between the two I was soaking up the sun on the CCAT patio, hooray for thermal mass!
After work I went for a much needed run in the forest. Sigh, it was more needed than I realized. I had Rosie take my backpack and bike home. How interesting it was to be home without my laptop or books. I didn’t realize how entertained I am by both of them. I took advantage of that down time by spending some real reflective time in my personal journal. My reflection led me to so many questions.

Questions:
-Why am I not confident in my ability to read people’s reactions lately?
-Why am I holding back in some of my friendships here?
-What would my trip be like if I lived with different people?
-Why am I so uncharacteristically shy around a lot of folks here?
-What undercurrents in relationships am I missing?

Perceptions:
It feels odd to not live with the people I work with. I’m used to the SENS house, the separation makes me feel like I don’t get the full picture at either place (home or CCAT).

2005-06-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

A solstice worth celebrating :)

2005-06-22T14:23:00.001-07:00

The last bits of daylight

2005-06-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

Sun over the Pacific

2005-06-22T14:22:00.001-07:00

The first blue sky in a week!

2005-06-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous canyons on the beach

2005-06-22T14:21:00.001-07:00

Wild sea otters

2005-06-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Rosie and me at the ocean

2005-06-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

Good morning solstice breakfast

2005-06-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

Log:
Hooray for Summer Solstice! We celebrated the morning of the longest day of the year by making a special breakfast (check out the picture!). It’s such a treat to have people in your life to surprise with fun things like breakfast in bed and goofy songs in the morning!
I spent another day at CCAT working on the rock retaining wall. Hauling rocks in a wheel barrow down and up hills certainly leaves one feeling satisfied with a good day’s work. The wall is looking better, we’ve really made a great deal of progress. I have such a new respect for any masonry work! It’s like a slow motion game of tetras.
After work Rosie and I went to Patrick’s Point State Park. We went in search of old growth redwoods but spotted the ocean first. We decided to check out a rock called “wedding rock”. On our way out we met a couple who got married on that rock celebrating their 23rd anniversary. When we reached the spot that overlooked the ocean we accidentally walking into someone else’s wedding ceremony. They really weren’t kidding about it being wedding rock. But what a place to join two lives, it was amazing! The ocean was full rippling with sun drop coated waves. This was a huge deal because it was the first time we had seen sun in almost a week! The ocean was so alive with motion and yet so calming with the regular waves. It reminded me that although my life may be busy with time speeding past me, I can find peace in that whirlwind of movement. What a perfect way to begin my summer and utilize every hour of the longest day.

Questions:
-Where are the closest old growth forests?
-How supportive are retaining walls without grout?
-How many couples have been wed at wedding rock?

Feelings:
I felt so overwhelmed with awe for the ocean. It was great to reawaken that awe-struck side of myself today. I felt like myself more than I have recently. Also, it felt really powerful to be in a place that means so much to so many people.

Patrick’s Point State Park

2005-06-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

Carlita's officially a fire fighter now. This is her before the big first day of work.

2005-06-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

Log:
I spent my Monday morning in the dirt. Rosie and I have started working on one of the retaining walls in the CCAT gardens. What a job! I had no idea how complicated of a project it would be. To take a break from carrying heavy rocks, we spent some time grading a footpath. We realized the wall project would take a good bit of time, so we took a break to finish some sheet mulching so that at the end of the day we could say we finished something. I also spent time reading the CCAT biennial report.

Questions:
-How many people does SENS reach each year?
-Are there any city regulations dealing with retaining walls?
-Is it better to educate more people or complete projects efficiently? How can the two objectives be best balanced?

2005-06-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

Log:
Hooray for sunshine! This morning the rain stopped long enough for me to go to church. This week I went to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. This truly is a participatory service! Our chairs were arranged in a circle and they asked people to share their experiences with female divinity in celebration of the upcoming solstice. I appreciated that their religion has built in room for curiosity; it is a Petri dish for spiritual diversity. I also appreciated that they don’t argue with one another, they just share experiences and gain understanding about others’ perspectives. I feel as though I could almost go to this fellowship every week and see so much religious diversity throughout the summer. However, I want to keep moving even to see more narrow perspectives, because I understand what they’re saying at the UU Fellowship, it’s almost as if my work were done there. I will go back if I manage to round up another other interested folks to join me. Leave me a comment if that’s you! After the service I enjoyed my long walk home. Sundays are very meditative for me. I stopped to enjoy the sunshine and appreciated the lines I could see in my life all coming together: a lot of folks want to change the world to make it better religion and sustainability initiatives are just two of such avenues (I’m reminded of Lydia McCauley’s lyrics “with every breath we are taking, we are being changed, with every breath we change the world”), we want to believe in something (even the move Hook encourages us to rekindle our inner child who sees magic all around), “God has made of one blood all peoples of the Earth” (as I go places and tell how I got there I feel as though I’m an ambassador for Berea College and doing so reminds me of its ideals even more), watching the birds fly and remembering our tour guide yesterday in absolute awe of nature’s wonder, and the list goes on…

Questions:
-What’s the closest UU Fellowship to Berea?
-How have you felt Grace today? (I welcome your comments, I changed a setting so it should be easier to respond)
-How have my religious affiliations affected me throughout my life?

Unitarian Universalist

Feelings:
I felt completely accepted at the UU Fellowship. That was probably the most comfortable I’ve felt in a place of worship in a long time.

2005-06-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

Join the Redwood Region Audubon Society!

2005-06-18T14:11:00.000-07:00

Log:
Glenn, Noelle, and I got an early start with an 8:30 a.m. tour of the Arcata marsh. It turned out to be more about birds than the marsh, so we decided to return another day and learn more about the marsh. Our tour guide was so enthusiastic about soaking up the world’s wonder. It was refreshing at that hour. After the tour we made a quick stop at the farmer’s market and enjoyed some sweet strawberries. Today was yet another consecutive rainy day.
In the afternoon it was great to catch up with Carlita, who I hadn’t seen in almost a week. I returned to CCAT for a movie night. I enjoyed the beginning of Hook, but of course quickly ended up taking a nap. My day was rather relaxed, as a rainy Saturday should be. Hmmph.

Questions:
-How does the Arcata marsh support wildlife and utilize an alternative sewage treatment plant?
-How personal should this journal be?
-When will it stop raining? What affect does rain have on the locals psychologically?

Redwood Region Audubon Society

2005-06-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

Take me out the ball game! (Humboldt Crabs game)

2005-06-17T17:32:00.000-07:00

The Grand Canopy

2005-06-17T17:31:00.000-07:00

Rosie at her beloved filing cabinet

2005-06-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

Our super star Noelle on the pedal powered bike she'll be riding on PBS's California Connection to air June 24