April 2015
In This Issue

Did you know that the average American wastes approximately 1 pound of food a day?  Another surprising fact is that food waste is the single largest component of solid waste in U.S. landfills, where it creates methane gas (a potent greenhouse gas) as it decomposes.  Here at Fort Lewis we are fortunate to have "the Rocket" composter that allows us to divert dining hall food waste from the landfill and use the compost in the Environmental Center's (EC) garden.  Last week the EC's Zero Waste team did food waste audit and collected approximately 356 pounds of waste in a single day.  The good news is that Fort Lewis students and staff wasted slightly less than the national average- approximately .85 pounds of waste per person.  According to a National Resource Defense Council issue paper, with nearly 50 million Americans going hungry everyday, rescuing just 15% of food waste could feed ½ of these 50 million people.  While we have a long way to go, we're on the right track to preventing waste and avoiding greenhouse gas emissions! 

Environmental Center Happenings 

 

Real Meal Deal Picnic and Mega Free Store 

What: Come enjoy a locally sourced, humanely raised, ecologically sound and fair meal! We will provide chili (vegetarian and meat options), salad, blue cornbread and iced tea. Cost is $5 for the entire meal. Cream Bean Berry will also be on hand to provide some sweet treats! The mega free store will be co-located so that you can browse and take home reused clothes, shoes, and miscellaneous goods for free! 

When: Real Meal Deal Picnic 12-1pm Thursday, April 16th 

                  Mega Free Store: 9-1, April 16th

Where: Student Union quad

Who: Presented by the Real Food Challenge Team at the Environmental Center!

 

Questions? Contact: Kate McAteer at kcmcateer@fortlewis.edu

 

EC Student Featured in the Wall Street Journal

 Campus Sustainability Team Member, Zack Bauer, was recently interviewed and photographed for a piece in the Wall Street Journal. Great job, Zack!  Wall Street Journal Article
 

Visit Durango Natural Foods Coop  

Shop at Durango Natural Foods and let the cashier know that you want to Round Up. Cumulatively, the pennies and cents you contribute over the next months will help the Environmental Center purchase a solar-powered fan for our on-campus greenhouse. Thank you for your support! And a HUGE thank you to DNF for supporting the EC!

 
When: April 1-June 30  
Where: Durango Natural Foods Coop registers (575 E 8th Ave, Durango, CO 81301, (970) 247-8129)  
Why: Because your contributions are helping to support the next generation of Environmental Leaders that will make their communities and ours healthier, more vibrant, resilient places to live!
 
For More Information: Contact Kamaljit at outreach@durangonaturalfoods.coop


 

Plastic, Plasic, Everywhere


 

The Environmental Center is collecting plastic grocery bags for a project to create sleeping pads for the Homeless. It takes about 500-700 bags to make a light weight and comfy padding.

Drop off your used plastic bags and check out the example padding at the Environmental Center Monday through Friday from 9-5

 

 

Got Supplies?

The Environmental Center is looking for the following items to support garden and orchard operations this spring:

  • Sandstone Pavers (for bed construction)-1/2" thick and 1-1.5' tal
  • Lumber: (15, 4' long 2x4's and 2, 3' 2x2s)
  • Small garden tiller (needed for one day in early March and one day in April; we can come and pick it up/deliver it back to you)
  • Hand pruning sheers
  • Irrigation supplies
  • Shade cloth

 If you have any of the following items that you would like to donate/lend to the Environmental Center, please contact EC Coordinator, Rachel Landis at rllandis@fortlewis.edu or (970) 247-7091. Donation documentation will be provided. We happily accept repurposed and gently used items. Thank you 

  

Fort Lewis Sustainability Webpage

Check it out- Fort Lewis has a new sustainability webpage to showcase all of the great things happening at FLC www.fortlewis.edu/sustainability 

   

 

Community Events & Opportunities

 

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for ICE CREAM. 
 
Jeff Furman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, will be in Durango to tell the story about how our favorite ice cream company maintained employer ethics and social responsibility while becoming a successful for-profit business. 

When: April 15
First event- 130 Noble Hall at Fort Lewis, 4:00-5:30 pm. Attendees at the Fort Lewis event will receive free Ben & Jerry's ice cream vouchers. 

Second event- Public Library, 7:00- 9:00 pm. The library presentation will conclude with a panel of local leaders on different living wage perspectives.  Attendees at the library event will receive free ice cream.

 

Local Renewable Energy Talk

Join Britt Basset, LPEA Board Member, for "Dreams for our Future" a talk about renewable energy.


 

Where: Boiler Room Theater of the Durango Discovery Museum;

When: 5pm Thursday, April 16th

Cost: Free

 

Durango Nature Studies' Earth Day 5k and Family Fun Run Celebration

Join Durango Nature Studies for our 6th annual Earth Day 5k and Family Fun Run Event. The race will start at Rotary Park. Apre's-Race: Music, Free beer and pizza, kids boat race. Even if you don't run, come out for an Earth Day Celebration!

 

Date: Sunday, April 26

Place: Rotary Park

Time: 11:00-1:00

Cost: $15 advance, $20 race day (includes backpack for first 60 registrants), $10 per family for 1 mile fun run

 

Race Registration: Brown's Sport Shoes, Backcountry Experience, or online at http://www.durangonaturestudies.org/earthday.htm 


 
 

April Green Drinks

Mountain Studies Institute is pleased to host the March installment of Durango Green Drinks Thursday, April 30th from 5-6:30 p.m. at Carver Brewing in downtown Durango.

For more information, contact: durangogreendrinks@gmail.com

Animas River Clean-up
Water Justice Project is hosting its 2nd annual river cleanup on Sunday, April 19th from 11am-2pm. We will be meeting at Rotary Park and dispersing from there to various locations between 32nd and Santa Rita Park to pick up trash from the riverbanks. There will also be food provided by Brew so you'll get a free meal for your time and effort.

 

   

When: Sunday, April 19th from 11am-2pm

Where: Santa Rita Park

More information: Peter 801-661-2214 or pianderson@fortlewis.edu

 

Jobs & Volunteer Opportunities

 

Food Recovery Network Executive Director Position

Food Recovery Network is the largest campus-based food recovery movement in the country. We empower college students to donate surplus prepared food from their campus dining halls to local food pantries in order to reduce waste, feed hungry people and fight climate change.

 

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and an additional sheet containing three references, salary history, and any compensation requirements to hiring@foodrecoverynetwork.org. See flier for more information.

 

Ancestral Lands Intern Coordinator- Southwest Conservation Corps

The Intern Coordinator's primary role is to provide support to our Ancestral Lands-National Park Service Career Institute Interns and seasonal conservation crews by offering mentorship and guidance, moral support, and ensuring program integrity through policy enforcement and positive mentoring.

 

Application Deadline: May 10th, 2015

 

Send a cover letter and resume to Chas Robles, Program Director at chas@conservationlegacy.org or 970-403-0146 for questions about the position.  See flier for more information.

 

New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) is hiring

NMWF seeks Conservation Director and Development Director. New Mexico Wildlife Federation, which was founded in 1914 by Aldo Leopold and today is New Mexico's oldest, most effective sportsman's conservation organization. For more information visit their website.

 

Volunteer at the Manna Garden 

Manna Garden Workdays will be every Wednesday from 10 am - noon, April 1st - October 31st. All of the food grown in the garden goes directly into the Soup Kitchen meals and fresh produce boxes for Manna families. 

 

For more information visit http://www.thegardenprojectswcolorado.org/