Terracycle March 19, 2009

Two Princeton students started Terracycle back in 2001. It started as a business model to sell organic plant food with no waste (recycled packaging etc).  The company is now a huge operation that collects all sorts of product waste (cookie wrappers, drink pouches, cell phones) and turns them into new useable products. A great site for school kids especially since they would gather the materials (chips bags) then once they have a certain amount they send it in using the free postage, and 2 cents for each wrapper goes to the non-profit of their choice (could be their own school). It appears that brands/companies have to agree to this – so only certain wrappers are accepted (for example Nabisco is one of the collaborators). So, certainly there is some advertising involved. That’s part of the company’s M.O. though, they’ve labelled it “eco-capitalism”. The site is a good educational tool too. They give a simple overview  of our current system of capitalism and 20th century indutrialism then give their theory of eco-capitalism instead. An interesting site overall. We bought a birdfeeder from them last spring and decided to look up what else they made- they’ve become quite a large enterprise.

I am hoping this will inspire my business majors as well!

Student Sustainability Project Proposals March 13, 2009

Today was the last class before Spring Break and my students submitted their research project proposals- and I’m excited about many of their proposals! Before giving you an outline of the assignment I’ve given them I suppose some general information about how I teach composition is in order. They have had 2 papers prior to this project; I try to add new layers of composition skills on to each assignment as we move through the course

I teach composition with a broad focus on critical reading and writing skills, with an inclusive concept of what is meant by “composition”. Most of my class is made up of freshmen and includes a broad spectrum of majors as well as  those categorized as general liberal arts or “undecided”. So, I choose to teach them reading and writing skills that are  applicable broadly across their needs as students, citizens, and  eventual employees (and/or employers). For example, their first paper was a critical analysis of their perspective of some aspect of the university (types of classroom settings, application processes, dorm life, balanacing of academic and social activities, purpose of college etc…) . They use their own direct experience to support an analytical claim about some larger issue or debate surronding college/university life. Many of my students enter college without ever having written an analysis that was not just a regurgitation of other’s ideas. So this unit really focuses on a whole new critical awareness for many of them. In addition, the idea of analyzing the world they live in , as it affects them directly, often seems a foriegn concept. Their second paper is focused on visual literacy. There are a bunch of conflicting stats out there on how much of our information is gained through images- but one thing that is consistent is that it’s a BIG number, and yet most people are not taught how to “read” these images or think critically about them in the same way we are taught about written and spoken language. So,  I teach them strategies for reading images as multi-layered, communicative compositions and then they choose their own image –often Ads, magazine covers, or webpages – and do a close reading of its visual elements and how they work together to create its message(s) or claim(s) and respond to the images messages with their own critical argument. This has brought us to their research project. Now that they have worked on their analytical skills (in both text and images) they will  extend that and include other’s ideas into their arguments and search out additional information. This is the first time I have used “sustainability” as an assigned subject for their projects and it is also the first time I have allowed for such vast choices in how they choose to compose and communictae their research to others. Their areas of research come out of their individual interests and activities (academic or personal). Then, they must come up with research questions about the issues of sustainability surrounding their chosen interest/activity. Some things I asked them to consider were their college majors and future career interests/ hobbies and extracurricular activities/ Campus and community living – daily life activities. Once they’ve discovered the “problems” of sustainability (or unsustainable systems) connected to their area of interest they must then also come up with potential solutions and alternatives. They must then decide on an appropriate audience to share their findings with in order to enact change. They  may use ANY composotion format that they think will be the most persuasive considering their topic and audience. This includes, websites, editorials, brochures, powerpoint presentations, scholarly articles for publication, writing campaigns to companies or government, How-to demonstrations, short videos, lesson plans for El Ed or secondary classrooms, or anything else they can think up. Those who create projects that are not already writing focused will also hand in an analysis of how they made their composition choices and why,  as well as an overview of their research and how it shaped their project.

So here’s a  list of some of the proposal topics:

Tecahing environmental Lit to adolescents (Sec. Ed. English major)

Reasearch onsustainability of pre-school materials & activities as well as how to teach sustainability to pre-schoolers

Coffee production and consumption (with a particular focus on our campus)

Sports equipment

Use and dependence on oil in air travel (physics engineering major- wants to go into aerospace engineering)

Computers, common household usage and waste, what happens to dead computers, and a business model for rehabing old computers (computer science major)

Fashion (works in a clothing store)

SUNY fredonia’s green movement- what they doing, what can students do to help

Campus cafeterias

facebook and other social networks- carbon footprints

“green” products, are they worth buying?

Chocolate!!!

Renting movies

Consumerism and happiness (psych major)

Musical instruments and rare woods (violinist)

Books (harry potter books specifically:-)

Art Materials  & sutainable art (art major)

Hollywood films (tv/digital film major and film fan)

Bottled water (environ. science major)

Sports events and clothing

Baking (chocolate and sugar)

Running and air pollution

farm Raised fish and cooking

Fuel economy and travel

Music recitals and receptions

Tim Horton’s (employee)

Gun ammo and shooting sports (gun enthusiaist)

Thrift shopping

Cell phones

Dorm life- esp typical college products: plastic crates, mini fridges etc

Cosmetics

kids and recycling

Video gaming

 

Suprisingly, nobody chose toilet paper: I’ve seen so many articles on toilet paper the last couple weeks.

Also, nobody chose vampires: sorry Kasey.

Scraps February 21, 2009

Just a few bits  to post for today.

My sister-in-law reminded me about the site Etsy. com. It’s an online marketplace for individual artists and crafters to sell their work. Be careful when you visit though, it’s like walking into the world’s largest art fair. I usually find about a dozen things just on the front page I want. The range of talent, prices, and products is vast. You can also search for people who use recycled or organic fabrics and materials (these sorts of craftspeople have a strong presence on Etsy).

sidenote: whoo-hoo I just made $40 more dollars on Craigslist! I assume most people know about Craigslist these days . It’s a great way to get rid of the “stuff” you no longer want AND make a little money as well. The benefits: less stuff in the landfills (one man’s garbage is another woman’s treasure adage), no boring yard sales waiting for people to stop by and paw through your stuff , easier than hauling it off to Salvation Army – because someone comes and hauls it off for me instead (and I make some $)!It’s a great site for those with kids, lot’s of strollers, plastic kitchens and riding toys, playhouses etc.   Disadvantages: I see other people’s stuff I want to buy (although this is “allowed” since it’s not buying new)- and, occasionally the person who comes to get your stuff wears a tank top that barely covers their girth and hairy back.

Also, for those of you that have stuff lying around that you don’t necessarily want $ for there is also the option of freecycle.org, which functions much like craigslist (local postings of stuff people want to get rid of) except no money is exchanged.

I am thinking about trying to make a braided rug. It’s something we need (to cover our ugly green carpet) and it doesn’t seem like the directions for making one are hard (although it may get a bit tedious if making a large one). I figure if I take my time though and work on it when relaxing for the evening watching TV that it’ll get done. So, here’s a call out to all of you with tshirts, sheets, or curtains you no longer want. Put them in a bag and hand them off to me to be included in the great rug project. I’m looking for anything cotton or cotton blend. Those of you that are too far away to hand over your old tshirts to me- here’s an easy (really really easy) way you can upcycle them: Martha Stewart t-shirt bag

Stumble item from last weekend: containers for organizing Cooper’s outgrown clothes.

Ok, I just linked back to etsy to drool over some more stuff: this is officially my favorite item for the day: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=fp_feat_5&listing_id=21176823

Creativity out of Crisis February 3, 2009

So we have a few more items to add to our “stumble list”: some felt from Walmart to make Cooper some more play food (good news: it’s “eco felt” made from recycled plastic bottles) a child proof latch for the oven because Cooper likes putting his new play felt pizza in the real oven rather than his play oven, and the second season of This American Life on DVD (no good excuse for this one except we can’t get it from blockbuster and we don’t have Showtime).

I had a busy and productive week writing abstract submissions for 2 conferences. I have already received one acceptance, so I’ll be reading a paper (taken from on of my dissertation”chapters in progress” ) in late March in Rhode Island. I don’t expect to hear from the second conference submission for another few weeks- it’s a larger, national conference  (American studies association)and I have less hope for being chosen. I have been pushing myself to submit to more conferences  not just because I should beef up my CV (resume) but also in hopes it’ll put the pressure on getting chapters done for my dissertation. I want to have solid drafts for all 5 chptrs by the end of August. This is an ambitious goal since I am still struggling to complete one solid chapter (I have drafts for 4 of the five chapters, however, they are all in preliminary stages and need serious attention and development) . However, it is crucial that I get on the job market this year (if there is going to be any) and I need to have all the heavy writing done so I can focus on job materials for the fall. Being an adjunct is a  precarious state to be in these days as the axs are being swung around ferociously on campuses. I have been very lucky to have the support of the English department at Fredonia, and although they have always been a department that respected and protected their adjuncts I fear they may soon have no other choice but to start cutting us. I already know that I will be facing a reduced load next semester (I am down to teaching 2 courses rather than 3), which means I will need to find another way to supplement our income.  Not a great time to be out looking for jobs, but also not a great time to be a “part-timer”. So all I can do is bust ass to work on what I have control over (finishing my degree) and hope that Obama’s stimulus for education helps some universities lift their hiring freezes next fall.

Ok so some good news about all the belt-tightening? (just because I have to find something!) The environmental  movement has sparked some awesome creativity, but I think the economic times have boosted the awareness of  creative reuse and reduce ideas since they not only are more “green” but also promote rethinking how we can use what we already have at hand. I think one of the most amazing and transformative things that is becoming more widely thought about during  the economic/environmental crisis is the the idea of “upcycling”. Upcycling takes objects that are no longer desireable (out of fashion etc) or are broken/unusable for their original purpose and reimagines a new use for them. What I like about this movement is that it completely shifts our ideas about our “stuff”. It’s great to reduce our consumption and reconsider what we really “need”, but there is still so much stuff out there – in our landfills and our homes– because of our fascination with “disposible” products. Even furniture today is only made to last a few years. In a culture which trends and fashion shift so rapidly it seems more productive to not try and stifle that desire so much as figure out how to creatively refashion what we already have into something “new” and unique/one of a kind . I  love seeing what people come up with, recreating old furniture or clothing or appliances. I like that it promotes a sense of excitement and hope, that answers to our problems don’t just mean sacrifice and reduction but productivity and creativity.  So there, there’s something good to think about in all the doom and gloom.