Sustainable Res Life
May 2, 2017
Program Ideas
Need funding for an event? Sustainability themed programs should fill out the Sustainability Program Funding application.  The Center for Sustainable Communities will be reviewing applications frequently, but it is best to apply at least two weeks ahead of your program.
Host a Stuff Swap for your Hall. Stuff Swaps are a great way to trade out items no longer needed and pick up new things instead of buying them. Not only does this save money, but it leads to being conscious consumers; keeping in mind our impact on the environment. For the Swap, have residents bring clothing or other gently used items they no longer want to a common location where they can leave them and take something else in return. Unclaimed items can be donated to The Depot. 
Bike the Trout Run Trail. 
As the weather warms up, why not enjoy the sunny days with your residents and go for a bike ride? You can take a short ride into town for coffee or ice cream, or go for a longer stretch on the Trout Run Trail. Many people have their own bikes, but there are also bikes available for check out from the Library. The Luther fleet consists of five single-speed bikes and nine multi-speed bikes. Once everybody has a bike, get out and enjoy the ride!

Walk to the Farmers Market. The Winneshiek County Farmers Market opens Wednesday, May 3rd. The market is located outside the Co-op and will be open Wednesdays from 3pm-6pm and Saturdays 8am-11am until October. Why not meander downtown for some tasty spring vegetables and friendly atmosphere? All items sold at the market are grown or produced locally, within 60 miles of Decorah. Whether it be after classes or on a Saturday morning, enjoy the fresh air and fresh food while supporting local farmers!
Features and Updates
Move Out Mindfully: Encourage your residents to Move Out Mindfully. Here's how:
  • At closing meetings, talk to residents about donating and recycling unwanted items. Giving unwanted items a second life has significant sustainability benefits. Donation Rooms will be outfitted with signs for various donation categories. Please sort accordingly and only donate items that are in good condition. Donation categories include:
    • Furniture
    • Clothing
    • Electronics (Working)
    • Electronics (Broken)
    • Books/School Supplies
    • Reusable Decorations
    • Food - For First Lutheran Church Food Pantry
    • Toiletries: Laundry Soap, Shampoo/Conditioner, Lotion, Body Wash
    • Bedding, Towels and Rugs
    • Hangers
    • Batteries / Cell Phones
  • Donation Rooms will be open starting Friday, May 12th in the following locations:
    • Olson:  2nd Floor Lounge
    • Brandt: Ground East Lounge
    • Larsen: Main Lounge
    • Farwell:  First Floor Lobby
    • Miller:  Ground floor study lounge
    • Dieseth:  Ground floor study lounge
    • Ylvisaker:  Game room
    • Baker Village:  Food Donations - Lower Level / Other Donations - Trucks (Saturday/Sunday)
    • College Apartments: Covered areas underneath outside staircases
  • Volunteer to assist with move out waste diversion efforts and encourage your residents to do the same. Dumpster diving and waste education is fun! We will have a training on Thursday, May 11th for all helpers. Sign up here.

Thanks for your help in making this Luther's most successful move out ever!

Move out helpers needed to divert waste. Move out is just around the corner, and the Center for Sustainable Communities is planning for another great year of waste diversion! Five years ago, we sent 42 tons of solid waste to the landfill. In 2016, that number was reduced to 27 tons because we were able to divert unwanted items from the waste stream for recycling and donation. Last Move Out Week, donations filled eight 18' trucks that were sent to thrift stores and 1300 pounds of food was collected for the local food pantry.  We need your help to make Move Out Week 2017 a success! Volunteers are needed for two-hour shifts during finals week. If you have work study hours remaining we can add you to our work study roster to pay you for your assistance or you can choose to volunteer on behalf of a student organization and the money you would've been paid ($7.25 x # of hours) will instead go to your student org. Students helping with move out will also be granted permission to stay late. Email sustainability@luther.edu with any questions. Sign up by Friday, May 5th on the Move Out 2017 Helper Schedule!  
Tips for a Greener Residence Hall
Finished with your school supplies? Don't throw them out! Put them in the Supply Reuse closet in Valders. Give your school supplies new life so that somebody can use them again next year! Gently used folders, binders, spiral notebooks with paper, pencils, pens, paperclips, staplers, tape, all school supplies have a home in the closet. Not sure where this wonderland is? Watch this video of how to get to the Supply Reuse Closet in Valders 364.
This newsletter is provided by the Center for Sustainable Communities . The mission of the Center is to promote sustainability and be a catalyst for change on campus and in the region. For more information on initiatives at Luther and the outreach work of the Center for Sustainable Communities please visit:   www.luther.edu/sustainability 
Upcoming Events
Winneshiek County Farmers Market
Shopping Shuttle
Seed Savers Exchange Annual Heritage Plant Sale
Shopping Shuttle
Student Spotlight
Samantha Clements '19









Samantha Clements is a sophomore Political Science student from Aurora, Illinois. Samantha's first exposure to the Center for Sustainable Communities was through the Immersion Program she participated in before her first year at Luther. She first started working for Sustainability on the Recycling and Compost Crew. Now, Samantha works as an Immersion Assistant Coordinator and as one of the Marketing and Communications Coordinators, where she assists with Immersion Program planning and preparation and marketing and communicating various sustainable efforts and events around campus. Her favorite part about working for the Center for Sustainable Communities is being able to spread the word and participate in positive changes being made on Luther's campus.  Outside of working for the Center of Sustainable Communities, Samantha is a Level 1 Certified Archer, and can teach you how to shoot arrows, too! She looks forward to sharpening her skills on the range this summer. 
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