Share & Voice: No Impact Man

Watch this video first because it will make this post much better!



Have you ever heard of "No Impact Man"?  Colin Beaven is a man with a plan; a one year plan.  This self-proclaimed liberal felt guilty sitting around waiting for politicians to make things green so he decided to try a pretty extreme experiment.  He created a project in which for 1 year he and his family (wife and 2 year old daughter) would create zero impact on the environment.  This means they will produce absolutely no carbon footprint.  The family lives in the middle of New York, not the easiest place to go green.  This project means there will be no subways, cars, or planes, no trash, no elevators, no objects in plastic, no t.v., etc.  The Beaven family bought nothing, but food for an entire year (and even then it had to be locally grown). Is less more?  Can you be happier by reducing your impact on the environment? I haven't watched the movie myself, but it looks really interesting and I know this family gave up a lot.  I'm not sure how they showered, or went to the bathroom, or washed their clothes. 

"No Impact Man" also has a blog and a book published.  Here is the link to his website: http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/

Anyway, I just thought this was a really awesome experiment and I'm sure watching this video or reading his blog could teach us all little ways to be more environmentally friendly, even if you don't want to go to extremes.

Reflection: Weeks 11 & 12

Another two weeks has flown by and It's already the end of the semester!  With each class I'm feeling more informed and more prepared to be an environmentally friendly steward!

Week 11 was really informative.  We started class by defining environmental literacy, health, and one other word that I nor anyone else can seem to remember (sorry Dr. V!).  It was hard to define because our definitions had to be at the reading level of a ten year old.  I really had no idea how difficult that was, you would think it would make it easier!  That was honestly the most challenging part, that and revising other groups definitions.  Next we watched "The Story of Stuff".  This mini documentary described exactly where all our stuff comes from (like the resources needed to mine, manufacture, produce, and deliver the goods).  This was probably what stuck with me the most from the past two weeks.  I can't believe how corrupt many company's are.  How can they make products that are meant to break so you have to buy new ones?! I am PISSED! When will the earth become more important that making a profit.  It also sucks that although America only consists of 5% of the population we use 30% of the resources.  Does anyone else feel that stat is a little unbalanced?  Lastly we did JUNKING!!!!! How cool was that?! We looked at these 5 items that seemed to have no purpose and came up with different ways they could be used.  I don't think I've laughed that hard in a class since high school.  I think personally, finding a purpose for an object isn't the problem, but actually making your ideas into a reality.  It's one of those "oh, I use it when I have more time" or "I'll make it into a gift then the occasion rolls around".  Anyway, junking is gonna be a new hobby for me for sure!

Week 12 was a little more toned down I'd say.  We learned how to use blog hops, which are pretty applicable to many blogging situations!  In our class's case we used the blog hop to show off our PHOTO ESSAYS!  I really enjoyed doing my photo essay.  My friend from Korea has to go back after she graduates college in December because her Visa is up and Grand Forks has been her home and I've been her family for 9 years.  We even had our graduation parties together!  I took her around with me when I was on my "Green-Tour" and so I got homework done and she got to tour her home one last time.  It was a really good for both of us.  On a lighter note, it was really great to see everyone's photo essays.  Way cool!  Lastly, we talked about writing our advocacy letter.  I'm not gonna lie, it's kind of a step backwards after doing something cool like photo essays, but I understand that it's important.   We'll see how it goes!

My family! Me, Mom, In Young, Dad, Sister, Baby!

Can't wait for our next 2 (and last 2) classes together!

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 9: Weekly Update

My SMART Goal: To use reusable bags 100% of the time I shop.

Success Rate: 100% success rate this week!

The Week: Well, this past week I was home for Thanksgiving and shockingly did not do ANY shopping.  This is highly unlike me, but I was busy with family, friends and homework.  Although I don't have much to report about my own reusable bags, I did notice that my parents have started to use them!  This was so awesome! I hadn't even talked to them about how great they are for the environment!

Lessons Learned: I learned that I don't think I give my parents quite enough credit.  While I was home and I did my photo essay on how Grand Forks is going green I realized that my household has always been pretty green.  My dad is the light master of the house, always turning off every light before we leave and only using the necessary lights in the house.  Ever since I was a kid we've been religious about recycling.  They're even on the ball about the reusable bags, which is something that's even relatively new to me!  Wait to go Scott and Jan! 

Next Week's Plans:  I think I'd like to keep my goal the same.  Only one more week, hope I can make it a success!

My Parents in Edinburgh at the Royal Museum of Scotland

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

 I love the idea of a photo essay.  It's personal, which makes it more interesting!  My first thought was to try and make homemade, non-toxic cleaning products and use them on my kitchen and bathroom; however, I've been home the past 5 days and my mom is some kind of cleaning Nazi who keeps our house looking spotless and immaculate (as you can see from a picture of my bathroom).  Since there is no point in cleaning what's already clean and even less of a point when I'm trying to prove the effectiveness of non-toxic cleaning products I came up with a new idea.  Take a green-tour of the greater Grand Forks area!

In 1997 Grand Forks and East Grand Forks suffered through a huge flood.  The water rose 54 feet out of the banks of the river and broke through sandbags and makeshift dikes.  It ended up destroying many homes, businesses, and other buildings. Piles of contaminated garbage, appliances, and the guts of houses lined the streets for months.  What a huge waste of materials! Since then, these two towns have done a lot to improve our community and build it up even better than it was at first!  In these two pictures I am on opposite sides of the river standing next to what now acts as a flood wall to contain the river if it ever decides to rise again.
 This picture illustrates the record high water level in 1997 along with other flood years. 




Now days along the banks of the Red River we have something called "The Greenway".  It was originally 1200 acres of floodplain, but has now been created into something useful!  There are over 20 miles of bike and running trails, 2 Frisbee golf courses (one on each side of the river), a dog park, numerous playgrounds, sports fields, and more. 
 

In this picture you can see a biker enjoying the use of the trails across the river.  I'm standing next to the statue with the water levels on it as I took the picture.  In 1997 the river was covering the road on the bridge just to give you an idea of how high it was.

<-- Here's one of the Frisbee golf courses.

Here is an information pillar in the Greenway.  It contained a map of the bike paths and "Fitness trails".    -->

There are solar powered street lamps that line a good portion of the trails, which solve the problem of getting electricity to a flood prone area along with really staying true to the idea of a "Greenway".













Along the Greenway is this town square.  It holds farmers markets every weekend during the summer and growing season.  You can buy all kinds of locally grown and organic produce along with other goods!  There is even a stage for music and other performances!

Something that East Grand Forks (EGF) has created since the flood is what we call our "Green Site".  Each resident of EGF is given a card that opens up the gate to the green site and people can recycle all kinds of things like yard wasts such as grass clippings, leaves, and tree branches.

 

 

Just doing some recycling at the Green Site!

Paper only!

Recycling is easy!

 

But please, no dumping.

Something that was new on this home visit to even me was our windmill!  A wind mill was recently constructed on the edge of town.  Wind energy is a green, renewable source of power.  It doesn't require the use of fossil fuels, or create water or air pollutants.

 

Lastly, there have been changes in how we recycle.  I don't remember a time when we didn't recycle at my house.  Everyone on our block did and we had to separate everything!  I remember dragging each individual bin out to the end of the driveway before school.  Glass, cans, plastic, and another bag for paper and cardboard!  Now the city has issued everyone a standard garbage can and recycling bin.  You can throw all of your recycling into one container and hull it out to your curb!