Reflection: Weeks 9-12

In the previous weeks I have primarily learned three key topics: how to advocate, how to compost, and to really think about the products I consume.

Adocacy Project:

In the past few weeks I have been learning what it means to 'advocate' for a right/cause. I have been advocating on using alternative forms of transportation, such as biking, city bus transit, etc. Initially to start out the process I located all of my political representatives -from local to national - and I learned about using THOMAS to look up bills that are proposed to implement throughout the nation. I also answered a number of questions in regards to my topic such as 'Who is affected by the issue?' as well as identifying allies/opponents. This project has really taught me how much effort and time it takes to advocate for a topic. It has also taught me how to advocate in an appropriate manner, it has challenged me to really search for answers and to identify barriers that may be necessary to face. I never realized how much planning and researching went into advocating so I know in the future I will definitely look at both sides of each situation.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change:

These past few weeks I have also adapting and incorporating a new behavior into my lifestyle. I chose to begin composting and it has been a great experience! I have never composted prior to this so as the process began I did some research on the topic to figure out what it really means to compost. I learned you can compost a lot of items other than simply food scraps, for example, tea bags. Once I decided I was going to compost I informed my roommates and encouraged them to join me in the process. My roommates have been extremely supportive and have been composting with me. After witnessing how much of an influence this whole process has had on them the thing I feel I have learned the most from this project is knowing that it is okay to share with others about how to promote health for the environment as well as for ourselves. Having the title 'Health Educator,' I'm realizing comes with a lot of responsibilities and reliability. When I inform people of something related to health and they know that I am a health educator they really take what I say to heart and trust that what I am telling them truly must be to improve their lives!

Story of Stuff Video:

Finally, last week our class visited the 'Story of Stuff' webpage and listened to some videos about consumerism and how they items we purchase seem to have little to no effect on those around us, we were informed that more goes on 'behind the scenes' then what we generally notice. One example mentioned the pricing of products we purchase and what they really cost to make. You see the product on the shelf for a great discount, however, the video talked about how in order for the product to be sold at a discount price for you somewhere or someone else is 'paying' more, (ie. someone may have to live in a highly polluted area where the product is manufactured). I remember learning once in my economics course in high school about the term 'TINSTAAFL' (pronounced tin-staff-ul). The word is actually an acronym that stands for 'There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.' Basically, this word defines the message the video was sending and that message is someone/something always has to pay for something. Or you could something cannot come from nothing. There is a chance that someone may receive an item that really didn't cost them anything (ie. a prize a company is giving away), however, what appears to be 'free' is not (the company may have to pay for the item in order to give it as a prize). Since this video I have noticed that I am a lot more cautious about the items I  purchase and I have been informing my family and roommates about to make them aware of the situation.

Overall, I will say these topics have taught me to be more cautious about what I am consuming and to consider who/what has been advantaged or disadvantaged in order for me to get this item (regarding the 'Story of Stuff'), and how I may leave a legacy that challenges others and myself to make sure we are doing all we can to preserve and sustain our environment (regarding advocating and change lifestyle behaviors).

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4: Weekly Update

I will place any extra food I have after each meal into a bucket to be dropped off and composted at Sara's Table Restaurant (a composting site) each Wednesday between 10:30 - 11:00am. 

I did really well in achieving my goal this past week.  Between my roommates and myself we were able to fill up two full bags of compostable materials.  The only portion of my SMART goal that I did not stick with was the time I dropped off the bag of compost. My roommate actually dropped the bags off Tuesday evening instead of my scheduled time of Wednesday.

Where I succeeded in my goal was taking all scrap pieces of my food and placing it into the composting bag.  What I did to help me be successful in this area was I continued to place the composting bag on my shelf in the fridge which has been a great spot to remind me that once I'm finished eating I should compost any food possible. 

My roommates also helped me succeed. They have really been amazing at placing their scraps of composting materials into the bag as well. I feel this has been motivating me even more to make sure I'm composting because I am the 'health resource' in our home. I want to make sure that I am continuing to set a good example to them. We have also been continuing to encourage one another to place any scraps into the composting bag and when we go to drop the bags off, we have actually been walking together! This really helps me because than there is more of a motivation for me to walk up to Sara's Table.  If I had continued to do this on my own I know I would be struggling a lot more.

One challenge that I encountered was I again the time factor. Having the drop-off time set for mid-morning was a little inconvenient considering I do try to arrive to school by 9am.  The other 'challenge' that I am facing is that one of my roommates moved the composting bucket outside on our entryway. I do not have a huge problem with this, it is just that now I am having a harder time remembering to save my scraps.  I know she means well and the only reason she placed it outside was because she was afraid the bag may begin to release an unpleasant smell in the fridge.  To resolve this 'issue' I am simply going to hang a sticky note on my shelf in the fridge to remind me. I have also decided to, once again, switch the time I bring the bag(s) to the composting site. I am going to do it Tuesday evening 5-7pm. Often times in the mornings I do feel a little rushed and generally in the evenings I am a little more relaxed and feel as if I have more time to do 'piddly' activities. I feel by giving myself a larger time frame as well will make me feel as if I am having an easier time succeeding with my goal.

I'm sure you're wondering how Thanksgiving went for me, well, as I mentioned in my first eco-chic post my family has always been good about taking scrap food and giving it to our pets. So when we did have leftover scraps after our dinner they were either placed into a bag to be brought out to the chickens the following day or placed on a plate that was brought outside for the dog and cats to clean.

It feels great when I see the composting bag fill up with our scraps. I think it is a great visual to demonstrate how much 'waste' we do produce and that even our scraps tend to add up over time. It is also wonderful seeing my roommates get involved and excited about helping the environment as well.

This past week I learned the importance of sharing what you are doing to help the environment with others. When I initially mentioned what I planned to do with my roommates I thought they would be happy for me, but I didn't think they would get so into it! So it doesn't hurt to inform others about what you are doing because you may never know (or imagine) what kind of an impact that may have on them.

I plan to continue with the same goal as before and place any excess or outdated items into the composting bucket and bring the bucket to the composting site at the end of the work week.  The one thing I will change, again, is the time.  Wednesday at 10:30-11am just does not seem to do it, so I will change the time from Wednesday morning to Tuesday evening.  I am doing this to synchronize with our weekly blog posts as well as so that I may not feel rushed when it comes to completing the behavior change!

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 4 hosted by http://amyintherain.blogspot.com/2010/12/eco-chic-lifestyle-change-week-4-weekly.html.

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

Have you ever heard the expression 'One person's junk is another person's treasure?' Well, that quote defines the hobby of junking to a tee. When it comes to junking individuals collect items that are old and of no use to others; next the individual creates something from the old item that may be used to serve a new purpose in their home. Junking is a creative way for people to re-purpose and reuse things as well as a great and fun way to make a home more unique to fit the personality of the family living inside it. Junking also benefits the environment! It saves an item from being disposed of when it may no longer be used or serve its intended purpose. This reduces the amount of waste produced and accumulated in addition to reducing the amount of manufacturing that is 'necessary' to create new goods and items for individuals to use.


Junking is what my project represents. The photos I took represent items and pieces I found displayed around my homes, both, in Duluth as well as back home. My mother and I love to craft and create unique pieces and my parents' home definitely resembles just that. I should let you know that my parents live in a log home and the theme displayed throughout it is a 'western' theme; so a number of the pieces I discovered are related to that. In addition, I can not take the credit for creating these items myself. A majority were made by family members or family friends, however, since they have been collected over a large span of years my mother was unable to remember who made what. I will admit that before this project I had never put too much thought into what these pieces really mean, to us and to our environment, and that's leaving a legacy of sustaining our world. 


Mirror - Made from an old horse breast collar used for horse carriages.

      

Giraffe Memo Holder - Made from a stick, Dixie cup and clothes pin.

      

Picture Frame  - Decorated with old barbed wire.

  

Clock - An old clock that was fixed and decorated with old rope.

      

Pan Cooler/Wall Decoration  - Made from old wine bottle corks.

   

Necklace - from spare washer fastener and scrapbook paper (that's my mom modeling hers!).

      

Miniature Hook Rack - welded together from old horse shoes.

   

Fireplace - from rocks collected from our farm's fields.

   

House Decoration - from horse bells worn by horses when they would pull sleighs.

   

Rail Bars - made from old cementing rods.

   

House Decoration - from spare rope (sorry it's a little hard to see, it covers the space between the logs and the wall).

   

Plate Mat - from scrap pieces of leather woven together (that's my Thanksgiving meal on it!).

   

Sewing Pin Holder - from an animal hoof, scrap pieces of felt, and old jewelry box.

   

Wall Decoration - from an old cabinet door.

Lamp - post made from an old flute (this is the one I mentioned in a previous post).

      

Side Table/Storage Bin - from an old suitcase.

      

Also does anyone know how to get rid of extra spaces that occur in-between paragraphs and pictures!