Welcome to the Environmental Center (EC) Digest for the 2018-2019 academic year!
Every two weeks, this little gem of digital media will arrive in your inbox full of all things environmental, sustainable, socially responsible, and just plain "green."
Scroll down to check out:
- Environmental Center happenings
- Community and campus events, initiatives, and opportunities
- Jobs, internships, workshops and trainings postings
And of course, our ever-anticipated (and always thought-provoking) EC Musings.
Enjoy!
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Saturday, September 22nd marked the Autumnal Equinox, a 24 hour rotation of near equal day and night.* This equinox signifies the return of longer nights to the Northern Hemisphere. It is a societal lean towards contemplation, gathering, and reflection and an ecological time of harvest and decay, a reaping and return of nutrients back to the earth.
Saturday also marked the Environmental Center's annual Fall Retreat. We celebrated the launch of our newest student team in a partnership with the Good Food Collective and harvested 6300 pounds of apples at Laughing Bear Orchard, near Dolores. These apples were distributed to Fenceline Cidery/Outlier Cellars in Mancos, the W.I.C. Food Assistance program in Cortez, and to produce fresh, on-site cider.
Fort Lewis College has just completed its first full month of Fall Semester classes, and the Environmental Center is gathering again to take a contemplative look at our work as we prepare to dive deeply into projects and programs for the year. With the addition of the Good Food Collective, we are now home to 36 student team members, 5 change-making teams, and many more opportunities for volunteers! Come in, say hello, grab yourself a glass of cider, and ask how you can find your place in the good work of the EC!
-Sadie Magnifico, Assistant Coordinator
*At two moments throughout Earth's yearly revolution of the sun, our axial tilt aligns in such a way that the center of the sun is directly above the equator.
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Environmental Center Happenings
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Looking to Volunteer? Attend our first meeting next Wednesday!
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Are you interested in the environment, but busy with a million other things? Want to help with the Free Store but not every week? Well, we have just the thing for you!
This year, we kick off
our new Volunteer Force, our new way of connecting you, our beautiful and passionate environmental friends, with a space to help your ideas come to life.
For more information, attend our first meeting next Wednesday at
2:30 in the Environmental Center!
Until then, stop in our office and sign up on our volunteer interest form! That way we have your contact information and can get a better idea of how you'd like to get involved and how often. Even if it's just one time a month, you're more than welcome to join our family!
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Fundraise While You Shop!
Available for anyone with a City Market Rewards Card
- Go to http://www.citymarketcommunityrewards.com and login (or create an account if you haven’t already).
- Once logged in go to the “Community Rewards” section under My Account
- Enroll in supporting the Fort Lewis College Environmental center (organization AJ646)
- Shop at City Market, use your standard rewards ID, and a the EC will receive a donation from City Market at no charge to you!
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Volunteer in the Food Forest Orchard and Campus Garden!
Our campus fruit trees are brimming with delicious fruit this year! Join EC alumni Duke Jackson in the Food Forest Orchard every Thursday from 9 am - 12 noon to learn more about our permaculture growing techniques and help harvest some delicious fruit.
When: Thursdays from 9 am - 2 pm in the Orchard with Duke; 1 pm - 2 pm in the garden with Tristan and Grace Ann!
Where: Campus Food Forest Orchard - next to Pine Hall; the Campus Garden, adjacent to the Community Concert Hall
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Check out the Free Store
Get some free stuff! And donate your old stuff while you're at it. Be thrifty and keep usable goods out the landfill by visiting our Free Store.
When: Thursdays 12 PM- 2 PM
Where: The Student Union quad or lobby
Cost: Free! But we do auction some items off to help support the EC and Free Store efforts.
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Community Events and Opportunities
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Local
Events and Happenings in our Local Community
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Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. The conversation is shifting from "What does a changing climate mean for the future?" to "What do we do about it?"
Join climate scientist and author Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, the Office of Senator Michael Bennet, Yale Climate Connections’ Karin Kirk, and Dr. Travis Rieder, a Bioethicist at Johns Hopkins for an inspiring evening where we explore the science and solutions surrounding climate change
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Date & Time:
Tue, 10/30; Two Times: 12:30 PM (12 PM doors) and 6:30 PM (5:30 doors)
Location:
Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College
Cost:
$15; Students free with ID
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Grab Fresh Veggies on Campus from the Old Fort!
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Get your veggies every week at the Old Fort Farm Stand on Wednesdays between
1pm and 4pm through October 31st.
Stop by the Farm Stand any Wednesday with cash, a check, or Skycash to support your campus farmers!
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It's Time to Glean!
Join the Good Food Collective on Thursday afternoons in front of the Smiley Building for free, delicious, hand-picked fruit while simultaneously saving the bears!
Not able to make it on Thursdays? Don't worry!
Check out
fruitglean.org any time to locate trees in your area, then simply contact the owner and pick away!
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Apple Days Wants You! Community Harvest & Apple Pressing Opportunities
Be part of an incredible community tradition, get outside...and get free apple juice!
This year's 10th Annual Apple Days is currently looking for volunteers to join our Saturday, 10/6 Community Harvest and our Sunday, 10/7 Community Apple Pressing.
Volunteers receive free juice..and a big ol' smile knowing they helped to support their local food system.
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Save the Monarchs at Our Local Railyard
Trails 2000, Durango Nature Studies, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Alpine Bank are pleased to partner to
plant milkweed seeds at the Hermosa Train Yard next Friday
to help increase monarch butterflies to the area.
Volunteers are needed to help plant milkweed at the rail yard and all ages are welcome. No experience is necessary, as all tools and instruction will be provided.
When:
Friday, Oct. 12 from
3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Where:
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Railyard
Cost:
Free!
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Opportunities
Jobs, Scholarships, Internships, and more!
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National Young Farmer's Coalition is Hiring!
NYFC is actively expanding their capacity and growing their team. A new position is now open: a part-time position as the New Mexico Campaign Manager.
Learn more about their current job openings
here
, and help them spread the word!
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Woah! You made it to the bottom of our newsletter! Good stuff huh? In future weeks, check back here for thoughts and stories from the EC students and staff. For now, all we can say is thank you for being part of our great community, and we hope to have you connect with us throughout the coming year.
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STAY CONNECTED - Like and Follow the EC!
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