My favorite part of the morning has always been a cup of coffee. Wrapped in a blanket, holding my favorite mug, waking up slowly with the warm, comforting drink. Until recently, it had never occurred to me that my choice in coffee could be unnecessarily causing deforestation… what?

After watching a video one day with my morning brew about the benefits of shade grown

coffee, I was jolted out of my relaxation and launched straight into research mode. I quickly discovered that many coffee companies grow their plants on monocultural, pesticide-laden land that has been cleared of natural vegetation for the farm. Traditionally, coffee grows best among trees and natural vegetation, making it a very environmentally friendly product. However, with the rise of modern agriculture it has been altered to fit into our monocultural methods. Not only is this contributing to deforestation, these modified coffee plants also require more pesticides and insecticides to grow in unnatural habitats. It’s a little crazy to think about how every decision we make, like the products we buy at

the grocery store, can cause such dramatic effects all across the globe.

Small actions add up. They can make a change for the better, especially if we raise awareness, lead by example, and encourage each other with every little difference. Changing the world can start today, even if it’s as simple as buying shade grown coffee. Or, say, another simple thing: voting!

The biggest issues of the year are all more connected than it may seem: social justice protests, the coronavirus, the extreme wildfires and hurricane season. These events do not happen in isolation, and they are built upon broken systems that propagate inequitable impacts. But there is hope. By finding the common connections we can fight for the most effective change on multiple fronts at once. Join us of an eye-opening exploration of the current and future work in sustainability.

When: Monday, Oct. 19 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM

Where: Online - more info and RSVP here!

Cost: Free!

That's a lot of acronyms! For National Public Lands Day (NPLD) The EC joined Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) and San Juan National Forest (SJNF) to plant over 1,000 trees to support burn scar restoration on Missionary Ridge. All our students loved the opportunity to get outside and give back to the incredible public lands that surround our community.

Julie Levy Duvall (Political Science, '05) has 15 years of experience as a leader, communicator, organizer, and presenter. Julie’s interest in untangling sticky problems began at FLC as the PR director for the Environmental Center and only grew stronger after she was elected student body president.

Community Cleanup at Horse Gulch! Did you know a human makes a total of 4.48 pounds of waste per day? Let's make sure none of this gets left on our beloved trails! Join Ellis and Nova for this community clean-up and feel good about keeping our trails clean and green.

When: Sunday, October 24

Where: Horse Gulch trailhead

For more information email Ellis at ecmcnichol@fortlewis.edu or

Nova at nurobbinswaldstein@fortlewis.edu

Looks like the sunny weather is sticking around! Get your hands dirty, learn about cover crop planting, pruning, soil sampling, and compost application.

Garden Days: Thursdays 1-2 PM in the EC Campus Garden

Food Forest Fridays: Fridays 12-2 PM in the Food Forest Orchard - located just north of Pine Hall)

Check out the campus map to find the spaces!

Elections choose our representatives and set the laws that govern our communities. Voting is your chance to have a voice in the future of our country!

Visit the Colorado Secretary of State website for all the information you need on how to register and how to vote. They also have an entire page dedicated to voting in college!

Not voting in Colorado? Search for the Secretary of State for your home state to find the information you need! They are a trusted, neutral source of correct information on voting.

Solar Barn Raising is looking for volunteers to help with a solar installation in Durango. The system is quite large, consisting of 40 panels, so they are looking for at least 5-8 volunteers. Plan on being prepared with water, proper footwear (no open-toed shoes!), ideally long pants, sunscreen, a hat, gloves, and a mask. If you've never installed solar panels, this is a great chance to learn through this community-based organization!

When: Tuesday, Oct. 13 starting at 9AM

Where: Durango (contact Riley for more information)

For more information and to sign-up, contact Riley at riley@solarbarnraising.org.

The Beaver Believers is the urgent yet whimsical story of an unlikely cadre of activists—a biologist, a hydrologist, a botanist, an ecologist, a psychologist, and a hairdresser—working together to restore the industrious and ingenious North American Beaver to the watersheds of the American West. Get your ticket today to benefit the Great Old Broads for Wilderness!

When: Thursday, Oct. 15 from 6 to 7:30 PM

Where: Online - for more information and to get your tickets click here

Cost: $6-$15, proceeds go to support Great Old Broads for Wilderness

Author and former general manager of the Colorado River District, Eric Kuhn will address this question: "What can the last 20 years tell us about the future of Colorado River hydrology?" Kate Greenberg (Colorado Department of Agriculture) and Celene Hawkins (Colorado Water Conservation Board) will speak to the status of Colorado's agriculture and state water funding in the midst of a pandemic. And more!

When: Wednesday Oct. 14 from 4 to 5:30 PM

Where: Online - for more information and to register click here

Conservation Colorado is a statewide non-profit that uses community-engaged activism to push the needle forward on issues from public lands protection, water conservation, to climate action. La Plata Open Space Conservancy is Durango’s local land trust which fills a fascinating niche in conserving your southwest Colorado way of life.

Click here to register or find more information at the Green Drinks Facebook event page.

Hey there campus and community organizations! We pride the EC Digest in being an excellent resource for students and community members looking for jobs, internships, and other opportunities in this field. We believe in the power of strong social networks to share this important information.

Know of an opportunity? Be sure to email it to the EC Coordinator, Marty Pool at mlpool@fortlewis.edu

The mission of Western Resource Advocates is to protect the West’s land, air and water to ensure that vibrant communities exist in balance with nature. They work on climate and energy issues, public lands access and protections, for clean air and water.