I was fortunate enough to stay with Greg, an astronomer at the renown Keck Observatory, while on the Big Island and learned quite a bit about the environmental/cultural concerns regarding the development of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). While not yet fully funded (more countries are needed to partner), the telescope could be completed as early as 2018 and is projected to be larger than all existing scopes on Mauna Kea. Mauna Kea is an important ecological site as well as of cultural and spiritual significance. Kahea: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance includes information about Mauna Kea. While I see the concerns regarding TMT, I also see that Keck Observatory does everything possible (water is packed up, all waste [including liquid waste] is packed down the mountain) to minimize its footprint upon the land. I further feel that the whole of the Hawaiian Islands should be scrutinized regarding development as sovereignty is sought and the resort communities leave a regrettably greater impact on areas of environmental, social, and cultural significance.
I am deeply concerned by continued efforts to limit new solar installation on the Islands as well. Energy companies continue to lobby the State to prohibit new solar systems on the grounds that the grid could be "destabilized." True: We need to update the grid to DC power and create adequate storage. Doing so would improve stability and create jobs. That said, it is the desire to avoid paying consumers for the electricity they produce, and not the stability of the grid, that is behind the efforts to prohibit new solar.
Last, but not least, consider the following from pg. 136 of "Big Island Revealed" regarding the 35,000 head of cattle kept on the Island by Parker Ranch: "After being raised on sweet Hawaiian range grass for 5-6 months, most of the cattle are shipped by 747 to the mainland or by boat to Canada, then fattened in various areas before slaughter. Ironically, cattle class on a 747 has more leg room than what you had in coach." Huh...so many levels of wrongness here. Discuss?! Peace out, B.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Zoe was trying to kill me
I thought I bonded with Zoe from the Kohala Center (see previous post), but I think maybe she was trying to eliminate one human from the planet by suggesting I hike the Waipio Valley.
It's beautiful from the top:
And it would be lovely if you made it all the way to the bottom:
But I cannot emphasize enough that the path down is exceptionally arduous (this is misleading as the road literally tilts at about a 45 degree angle):
Though I was (as usual) not carrying the camera, I did see images of the taro fields Zoe promised that looked like this:
Another adventure I would like to have but will ultimately leave to more intrepid students is to WWOOF Hawaii. I lament that WWOOF- whether worldwide or the in States- appears to be age biased in favor of the young- but I still have to advocate for students giving it a shot if interested. I joined the Hawaii chapter (link above) but ultimately did not find any vacancies that overlapped with my tenure. I was disappointed, but yet I was not as I'm not sure I'm ready for the realities of a composting toilet. Just saying. A few years ago, I did have a student work on organic farms throughout Europe. While physically taxing and a bit imperfect at times, I think she had a fabulous adventure working with wine, olives, and meeting new folks. Peace out. B.
It's beautiful from the top:
And it would be lovely if you made it all the way to the bottom:
But I cannot emphasize enough that the path down is exceptionally arduous (this is misleading as the road literally tilts at about a 45 degree angle):
Though I was (as usual) not carrying the camera, I did see images of the taro fields Zoe promised that looked like this:
Another adventure I would like to have but will ultimately leave to more intrepid students is to WWOOF Hawaii. I lament that WWOOF- whether worldwide or the in States- appears to be age biased in favor of the young- but I still have to advocate for students giving it a shot if interested. I joined the Hawaii chapter (link above) but ultimately did not find any vacancies that overlapped with my tenure. I was disappointed, but yet I was not as I'm not sure I'm ready for the realities of a composting toilet. Just saying. A few years ago, I did have a student work on organic farms throughout Europe. While physically taxing and a bit imperfect at times, I think she had a fabulous adventure working with wine, olives, and meeting new folks. Peace out. B.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
We were there and...
...this is needed.
Reminds me of the biodigesters we saw in Costa Rica on our Eco-service trip with Kirkwood several years ago to accommodate pig waste in rural areas.
Reminds me of the biodigesters we saw in Costa Rica on our Eco-service trip with Kirkwood several years ago to accommodate pig waste in rural areas.
No Hazards
On her flight, Melanie met a numerologist from Montreal and was profoundly affected by the experience. Her name is Madeleine and, when Melanie was so moved by the truth of her reading, she said there are 'no hazards' (French-English translation meaning 'no accidents') in life. This morning she sent Melanie a meditation by Wayne Dyer.
There is 'no hazard' in the sending of the meditation either. Since last night, I've been grumpier and unsettled. I had lost my mantra of listening to the heart and was allowing the mind to intervene by trying to control and plan. I decided to start listening to the meditation an hour ago. I was immediately taken by the "I am" portion as reminder of a Tibetan meditation for anxiety. I was further moved by the insertion of "I am that" where the 'that' represents what you wish to embody.
I've mentioned how much I've enjoyed the book "Being, Having, and Doing Enough" by Wayne Muller and the subsequent discussion with my Shalom Center group. Apparently Madeleine's assessment of me is that I am plagued by duality (yep), but have the potential to find solace in a more spiritual life. I think that is true if I remember that my "that" in the "I am" mantra can be exceptionally simple.
If my "that" is 'heartfelt' (kind, gentle, soulful, letting go) or 'making the next right choice,' or just 'present' I can experience peace rather than unrest. Peace is in the present; in a life led from the heart and not the mind; and results in making 'the next right choice.' In a morning where 'a plan' was not forthcoming and the details of life unsettling, I have found precious peace in the present thanks to Madeleine and 'no hazards' in life.
For those who know me well, don't worry. I'm still plagued by my 'duality' and will most certainly forget at some point during the day to live in the present. I will then lapse into swearing like a (very gifted) sailor and you will know that the 'old B' is still in me as well. It will then be time to remind me: "I am that, I am." :)
There is 'no hazard' in the sending of the meditation either. Since last night, I've been grumpier and unsettled. I had lost my mantra of listening to the heart and was allowing the mind to intervene by trying to control and plan. I decided to start listening to the meditation an hour ago. I was immediately taken by the "I am" portion as reminder of a Tibetan meditation for anxiety. I was further moved by the insertion of "I am that" where the 'that' represents what you wish to embody.
I've mentioned how much I've enjoyed the book "Being, Having, and Doing Enough" by Wayne Muller and the subsequent discussion with my Shalom Center group. Apparently Madeleine's assessment of me is that I am plagued by duality (yep), but have the potential to find solace in a more spiritual life. I think that is true if I remember that my "that" in the "I am" mantra can be exceptionally simple.
If my "that" is 'heartfelt' (kind, gentle, soulful, letting go) or 'making the next right choice,' or just 'present' I can experience peace rather than unrest. Peace is in the present; in a life led from the heart and not the mind; and results in making 'the next right choice.' In a morning where 'a plan' was not forthcoming and the details of life unsettling, I have found precious peace in the present thanks to Madeleine and 'no hazards' in life.
For those who know me well, don't worry. I'm still plagued by my 'duality' and will most certainly forget at some point during the day to live in the present. I will then lapse into swearing like a (very gifted) sailor and you will know that the 'old B' is still in me as well. It will then be time to remind me: "I am that, I am." :)
Monday, December 22, 2014
No plan
I'm learning that having 'no plan' for life is best. The mind convinces us that we have a past and a future worth pondering, when all we are given is the present. Melanie asked yesterday what I planned to do today to which I responded, "I don't know." Last night, 'the universe' (or my heart's true desire) said 'the Kohala Center.'
In addition to reef education and energy initiatives, the Kohala Center has Ka Hua Aina farm just outside Honoka'a on the Hamakua Coast where it hosts new farmer education programs.
The farm is land reclaimed from the soil intensive practices of industrial sugar cane production. Farm Program Manager, Zoe, was kind enough to spend time showing me around. [We were accompanied by the farm manager's dog on our walk.] The farm currently features both row cropping and Polynesian-style agro-forestry planting. Zoe informed me that native Hawaiian practice of ahupu'a'a really had more to do with land conservation (i.e., you fished and farmed your slice of the land and traded with a neighbor for what you could not produce) than with farming. She further explained that Polynesian style planting refers to planting mostly perennials that require very little maintenance and are 'packed in' from top to bottom (e.g., we walked to a dense planting that had taro and sweet potato underneath sweet pea and larger banana plants). While she enjoys a 12 month growing season, she does not enjoy the 12 month fruit flies and other blights that force creative, organic solutions to keep her crops alive.
The farm currently hosts 'new farmer program' education sessions, which are intended to prepare folks for transitioning to income generating (but diversified and sustainable) farming from hobby farming. We spoke, however, about the imperative for most farmers- whether industrial, hobby, or small/diversified- to have additional employment to make ends meet. As a result, we spoke about how Zoe hopes that the farm will be able to further diversify to provide different sample plots for backyard farming. For instance, if you are not able to farm full time, but would like to begin to live sustainably with respect to food (this is important anywhere, but particularly in Hawaii where isolation means local sourcing is imperative), you might use a small portion of your backyard to grow a Polynesian style garden of taro and banana, but perhaps your neighbor would prefer to do a mix of pineapple and papaya. The farm could show multiple 'backyard configurations' for folks to choose from that would require little time and much potential for trading. Zoe would also like to have the farm provide examples of small-scale critter production as well (both for the reciprocal benefits for the plants and for the ability to produce more humanely raised critters for local consumption).
When we were walking up the farm to see the breathtaking view of the coast from the educational center, Zoe asked if there were similar initiatives to the Kohala Center's farm in Iowa. While I said there were not really organized efforts to systematically challenge industrial model farming in the Midwest, I realized I was woefully under-informed of the efforts at integrated, diversified farming in Iowa beyond CSAs.
As a result, I hope to visit with Scott of Soilmates and the folks at Friendly Farms, etc., around Iowa City to begin learning more about what options do exist for people wanting to engage in diversified backyard farming. I think winter might even be a much more ideal time to visit with farming folks in Iowa because it is the quieter season. I further think these visits could be of great utility to Melanie and I as we think about what we could realistically grow (raspberries, mulberries, apples, watermelon, carnival squash, and hopefully some veggies).
Also on a personal note, I am enjoying the absence of a plan, greater simplicity, and more faith in my heart. I am learning that there is benefit to taking a risk when you trust a decision in your heart. I am also learning to challenge how I think of 'dreams for my life.' I have spent too much time thinking that opportunities to fulfill my dreams had passed. Instead I would like to think of dreams as impermanent and transient. Dreams change and they have their moment in time. The trick is to acknowledge that each new moment is pregnant with each new dream.
I am also recognizing that, while I can grow and learn as an individual, I have certain rather immutable strengths and weaknesses that perhaps it is best not to fight. Notably, I am an excellent generalist. I know a little about a lot of things. I am also skilled at generating project ideas. I am not, however, so good at doing just one thing, or even at learning a lot about any one thing. As much as I might hope to suddenly become a farmer or a marketer or a________, the truth is that I am an educator and a dreamer. I had envisioned a professional development where I became a new person solidly invested in work in alternative energy or food production. The truth is that my professional development is in becoming a slightly deeper version of my original self by researching a variety of positive solutions to a variety of social problems. In so doing, I realized I do not have to volunteer with each program or agency, but that I can instead concentrate my time in learning about the agencies from the people who work for them. The professional development will hopefully result in many more contacts (and networking) with fabulous people and a much greater knowledge of the programs and solutions that exist to do good.
As for tomorrow, there is no plan. Yet. I do hope to visit a former bee farm turned off-grid farm/household. I think there's a farmer's market to visit tomorrow in Waimea. But I'm thinking I just might take Zoe's suggestion to hike the sacred land of the Waipio Valley. She said I would see taro produced according to ancient practices (in cascading ponds). That sounds nice. :) Peace out. B.
In addition to reef education and energy initiatives, the Kohala Center has Ka Hua Aina farm just outside Honoka'a on the Hamakua Coast where it hosts new farmer education programs.
The farm is land reclaimed from the soil intensive practices of industrial sugar cane production. Farm Program Manager, Zoe, was kind enough to spend time showing me around. [We were accompanied by the farm manager's dog on our walk.] The farm currently features both row cropping and Polynesian-style agro-forestry planting. Zoe informed me that native Hawaiian practice of ahupu'a'a really had more to do with land conservation (i.e., you fished and farmed your slice of the land and traded with a neighbor for what you could not produce) than with farming. She further explained that Polynesian style planting refers to planting mostly perennials that require very little maintenance and are 'packed in' from top to bottom (e.g., we walked to a dense planting that had taro and sweet potato underneath sweet pea and larger banana plants). While she enjoys a 12 month growing season, she does not enjoy the 12 month fruit flies and other blights that force creative, organic solutions to keep her crops alive.
The farm currently hosts 'new farmer program' education sessions, which are intended to prepare folks for transitioning to income generating (but diversified and sustainable) farming from hobby farming. We spoke, however, about the imperative for most farmers- whether industrial, hobby, or small/diversified- to have additional employment to make ends meet. As a result, we spoke about how Zoe hopes that the farm will be able to further diversify to provide different sample plots for backyard farming. For instance, if you are not able to farm full time, but would like to begin to live sustainably with respect to food (this is important anywhere, but particularly in Hawaii where isolation means local sourcing is imperative), you might use a small portion of your backyard to grow a Polynesian style garden of taro and banana, but perhaps your neighbor would prefer to do a mix of pineapple and papaya. The farm could show multiple 'backyard configurations' for folks to choose from that would require little time and much potential for trading. Zoe would also like to have the farm provide examples of small-scale critter production as well (both for the reciprocal benefits for the plants and for the ability to produce more humanely raised critters for local consumption).
When we were walking up the farm to see the breathtaking view of the coast from the educational center, Zoe asked if there were similar initiatives to the Kohala Center's farm in Iowa. While I said there were not really organized efforts to systematically challenge industrial model farming in the Midwest, I realized I was woefully under-informed of the efforts at integrated, diversified farming in Iowa beyond CSAs.
As a result, I hope to visit with Scott of Soilmates and the folks at Friendly Farms, etc., around Iowa City to begin learning more about what options do exist for people wanting to engage in diversified backyard farming. I think winter might even be a much more ideal time to visit with farming folks in Iowa because it is the quieter season. I further think these visits could be of great utility to Melanie and I as we think about what we could realistically grow (raspberries, mulberries, apples, watermelon, carnival squash, and hopefully some veggies).
Also on a personal note, I am enjoying the absence of a plan, greater simplicity, and more faith in my heart. I am learning that there is benefit to taking a risk when you trust a decision in your heart. I am also learning to challenge how I think of 'dreams for my life.' I have spent too much time thinking that opportunities to fulfill my dreams had passed. Instead I would like to think of dreams as impermanent and transient. Dreams change and they have their moment in time. The trick is to acknowledge that each new moment is pregnant with each new dream.
I am also recognizing that, while I can grow and learn as an individual, I have certain rather immutable strengths and weaknesses that perhaps it is best not to fight. Notably, I am an excellent generalist. I know a little about a lot of things. I am also skilled at generating project ideas. I am not, however, so good at doing just one thing, or even at learning a lot about any one thing. As much as I might hope to suddenly become a farmer or a marketer or a________, the truth is that I am an educator and a dreamer. I had envisioned a professional development where I became a new person solidly invested in work in alternative energy or food production. The truth is that my professional development is in becoming a slightly deeper version of my original self by researching a variety of positive solutions to a variety of social problems. In so doing, I realized I do not have to volunteer with each program or agency, but that I can instead concentrate my time in learning about the agencies from the people who work for them. The professional development will hopefully result in many more contacts (and networking) with fabulous people and a much greater knowledge of the programs and solutions that exist to do good.
As for tomorrow, there is no plan. Yet. I do hope to visit a former bee farm turned off-grid farm/household. I think there's a farmer's market to visit tomorrow in Waimea. But I'm thinking I just might take Zoe's suggestion to hike the sacred land of the Waipio Valley. She said I would see taro produced according to ancient practices (in cascading ponds). That sounds nice. :) Peace out. B.
Chicken personalities (thanks Renee and Kal!)
I was fortunate enough to visit with Renee (gifted body work practitioner and artist) and Kal (very gifted artist) outside Hawi on the Big Island yesterday. Their home includes a studio, farmland, and soon to be teepee for body work and artistic purposes.
Renee showed me her dinosaur kale (it was growing very tall with Hawaii's 12 month growing season!) and other greens as well as her critters. They have VV (a weiner dog short for 'Vienna Sausage'), Copper (the orange cat), Mango (the soon to be ripe mango colored parrot), geese, turtles, and a whole host of all individually named chickens. We spent quality time holding Misty, a chicken recovering from the Chicken Pox. Renee reminded us that chicken pox were so named because the human ailment resembled the sores chickens can get on their combs. Misty was recuperating in the house with Kal and Renee and apparently does a bang up job cleaning up spare spiders in the kitchen.
Renee shared the following video of their rooster guiding some of the hens to the remains of a bowl of oatmeal:
I also have the following video of the chickens playing from Renee. Looks just like when my two cats, Lucky and Stitch, play and also looks a lot like...CHILDREN playing, too!
I share all of this because it harkens back to an earlier time when chickens were revered rather than contained. In the chapter "What came first...the chicken or the egg" in the book Righteous Porkchop, Niman shares that an 1867 text (The Practical Poultry Keeper) insists "Fowls should not be kept unless proper and regular attention can be given to them; and we would strongly recommend that this needful attention be personal."
The attention Renee and Kal paid was personal, loving, and respectful. The respect and acknowledgement they paid to each animal was commensurate to what was given to other humans, which is the way I believe it should be.
I'd like to end on a positive note, but the above video must be contrasted with the contemporary reality for most chickens (unless they live on the Hawaiian Islands in which case many roam free). The rest of the chapter in Righteous Porkchop shares the story for many chickens on the mainland, including the profoundly restricted movement (even in 'cage free' enclosures) and profoundly manufactured (red dye added to food to color the yokes in the absence of exposure to sunlight for the chickens) lives of chickens raised for food.
Additionally, please contrast this video (original source page with more information here) with the video above from Renee. Note that when the video on factory farming is played from Youtube, it comes with a warning that it may be "disturbing to some viewers." Perhaps a disturbing truth is best seen and changed rather than avoided? Mahalo, B.
Renee showed me her dinosaur kale (it was growing very tall with Hawaii's 12 month growing season!) and other greens as well as her critters. They have VV (a weiner dog short for 'Vienna Sausage'), Copper (the orange cat), Mango (the soon to be ripe mango colored parrot), geese, turtles, and a whole host of all individually named chickens. We spent quality time holding Misty, a chicken recovering from the Chicken Pox. Renee reminded us that chicken pox were so named because the human ailment resembled the sores chickens can get on their combs. Misty was recuperating in the house with Kal and Renee and apparently does a bang up job cleaning up spare spiders in the kitchen.
Renee shared the following video of their rooster guiding some of the hens to the remains of a bowl of oatmeal:
I also have the following video of the chickens playing from Renee. Looks just like when my two cats, Lucky and Stitch, play and also looks a lot like...CHILDREN playing, too!
I share all of this because it harkens back to an earlier time when chickens were revered rather than contained. In the chapter "What came first...the chicken or the egg" in the book Righteous Porkchop, Niman shares that an 1867 text (The Practical Poultry Keeper) insists "Fowls should not be kept unless proper and regular attention can be given to them; and we would strongly recommend that this needful attention be personal."
The attention Renee and Kal paid was personal, loving, and respectful. The respect and acknowledgement they paid to each animal was commensurate to what was given to other humans, which is the way I believe it should be.
I'd like to end on a positive note, but the above video must be contrasted with the contemporary reality for most chickens (unless they live on the Hawaiian Islands in which case many roam free). The rest of the chapter in Righteous Porkchop shares the story for many chickens on the mainland, including the profoundly restricted movement (even in 'cage free' enclosures) and profoundly manufactured (red dye added to food to color the yokes in the absence of exposure to sunlight for the chickens) lives of chickens raised for food.
Additionally, please contrast this video (original source page with more information here) with the video above from Renee. Note that when the video on factory farming is played from Youtube, it comes with a warning that it may be "disturbing to some viewers." Perhaps a disturbing truth is best seen and changed rather than avoided? Mahalo, B.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Pedestrian problems
Seems that even the less developed Big Island is still not a pedestrian-friendly place. The island retains much natural topography, but the roads traversing it are crowded and unforgiving if you're on two feet instead of four wheels. After nearly becoming road kill this morning, I decided much more will need to be done with the aid of a motorized vehicle.
I have also been reflecting on the changing nature of plans and dreams and the importance of living in the present. The only peace I can find is in the present. The trick is remembering that it is always there despite physical pain or changing circumstances or whatever else life might throw at you. The peace is there if you lead with your heart and choose, as Wayne Muller suggests, "the next right choice." [I am so thankful to my discussion circle from the Shalom Spirituality Center for all of the insights shared during the reading of Muller's book "Being, Doing, and Having Enough."]
At present, I am committing to exploring the Kohala Center and hopefully an off the grid home (former bee farm) for the next week on the Big Island. After that, I am going to follow 'the next right choice' back home though I am pretty certain those choices will include familiarizing myself with the many non-profit activities students could participate in next year.
Either way, I want to make decisions (big or small) from the heart and without looking forward or back. That would be 'peacing out.' B.
P.S. Thanks to Barb D. for all the in-flight conversation and the Kind Bar. :) It was great to catch up!
I have also been reflecting on the changing nature of plans and dreams and the importance of living in the present. The only peace I can find is in the present. The trick is remembering that it is always there despite physical pain or changing circumstances or whatever else life might throw at you. The peace is there if you lead with your heart and choose, as Wayne Muller suggests, "the next right choice." [I am so thankful to my discussion circle from the Shalom Spirituality Center for all of the insights shared during the reading of Muller's book "Being, Doing, and Having Enough."]
At present, I am committing to exploring the Kohala Center and hopefully an off the grid home (former bee farm) for the next week on the Big Island. After that, I am going to follow 'the next right choice' back home though I am pretty certain those choices will include familiarizing myself with the many non-profit activities students could participate in next year.
Either way, I want to make decisions (big or small) from the heart and without looking forward or back. That would be 'peacing out.' B.
P.S. Thanks to Barb D. for all the in-flight conversation and the Kind Bar. :) It was great to catch up!
Thursday, December 11, 2014
First forays
I am beginning the process of developing ties with community non-profits. In addition to researching the Crowded Closet in Iowa City (whose furniture sales benefit natural disaster and energy/food needs, etc.), I have spoken with Josh at Resources Unite in Dubuque County and Marti with The Tapestry. I am very excited about possible community connections and student opportunities with both of these organizations.
Josh likened Resources Unite to the United Way volunteer clearinghouse in Cedar Rapids. Resources Unite seeks to innovate in several respects, however. Not only does the organization hope to do service projects in other states and countries, but it hopes to truly tailor the volunteer experiences to particular passions. Currently, there are opportunities for short- (e.e., sponsoring a foster child for the holidays) and longer-term volunteer projects. In the near future, there should also be chances for community members to begin to build relationships by visiting Resources Unite's physical space to work on discrete projects.
The Tapestry, in Cedar Rapids, is a time bank that transcends charity models of giving in favor of reciprocal exchanges. Each hour served is an hour earned that can be exchanged for a needed service or (in the case of the Tapestry) item of furniture. The organization's Director, Marti, was kind enough to meet with me for a couple of hours today to explain the volunteer intake process and to discuss possible partnerships through Kirkwood and the Social Sciences Department in future. We discussed the possibility of my joining the Tapestry Board of Directors, but essentially establishing a 'rotating' board membership for a social science faculty person (or other representative from a trade at Kirkwood) in future. In addition to thinking more about opportunities for campus-wide presentations about the organization (say during future KCELT professional development) and student participation across the trades (dental, health, and even theater with public speaking) with the Tapestry, I next hope to explore "backpack buddies" programs in the area (these are groups that look to send hungry students home with food at night).
Josh likened Resources Unite to the United Way volunteer clearinghouse in Cedar Rapids. Resources Unite seeks to innovate in several respects, however. Not only does the organization hope to do service projects in other states and countries, but it hopes to truly tailor the volunteer experiences to particular passions. Currently, there are opportunities for short- (e.e., sponsoring a foster child for the holidays) and longer-term volunteer projects. In the near future, there should also be chances for community members to begin to build relationships by visiting Resources Unite's physical space to work on discrete projects.
The Tapestry, in Cedar Rapids, is a time bank that transcends charity models of giving in favor of reciprocal exchanges. Each hour served is an hour earned that can be exchanged for a needed service or (in the case of the Tapestry) item of furniture. The organization's Director, Marti, was kind enough to meet with me for a couple of hours today to explain the volunteer intake process and to discuss possible partnerships through Kirkwood and the Social Sciences Department in future. We discussed the possibility of my joining the Tapestry Board of Directors, but essentially establishing a 'rotating' board membership for a social science faculty person (or other representative from a trade at Kirkwood) in future. In addition to thinking more about opportunities for campus-wide presentations about the organization (say during future KCELT professional development) and student participation across the trades (dental, health, and even theater with public speaking) with the Tapestry, I next hope to explore "backpack buddies" programs in the area (these are groups that look to send hungry students home with food at night).
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Making lemonade out of lemons
Turns out, I'm still in a bit of Hawaii limbo, which might be fortuitous for work in Iowa. Though I'm not yet where I thought I would be this year, I am making new connections here at home.
As of yesterday, I am officially a member of the Board of Directors of the Iowa City Free Lunch Program. Not only am I beginning to learn more about the operations of all non-profits (e.g., NAMI, DVIP, etc.) at 1105 S. Gilbert Ct., but I am gaining a better understanding of the funding structure and organization of the ICFLP. Perhaps most importantly, I am meeting more movers and shakers in the non-profit world, including a representative for Veterans Affairs and the founder of Soil Mates. I am excited to see how programming, agency representation, and opportunity for training/education of ICFLP clients can be expanded, but I am also excited to think of the partnerships I may form with other Board Members for service learning projects in future. In particular, Scott, of Soil Mates (a non-profit working to bring gardening to the schools) relayed a future project that might be of interest to my students: The restoration of a community garden for marginalized folks at the old "Poor Farm" outside Iowa City.
The fact that I've spent lots of time right here in Iowa working for non-profits the last few months has me thinking about more ways I can turn 'lemons into lemonade' (in so far as we call remaining here a 'lemon'...). As I've done with the Dubuque Rescue Mission, Iowa City Free Lunch Program, Donna Ginter Thanksgiving Dinner, and Table to Table organizations, I'm thinking that I will be spending much more of my professional development time this year and next visiting non-profit agencies in the corridor. The more I think about it, the more I realize how vital this is to community connections, my content area, and contributions to the College in future.
For example, Kirkwood no longer has an official 'service learning coordinator,' but I will definitely continue (and perhaps expand) the service learning components in my classes upon my return. As such, perhaps this is the perfect time for me to have the unexpected pleasure of more of an Iowa winter than anticipated. Eh hem. :) I can use more of my time to begin to visit non-profits on the Service Learning Agency Checklist thereby gaining knowledge and connections.
To that end, I hope to interview the folks at The Tapestry time bank in Cedar Rapids and Resources Unite (an attempt to mobilize volunteers across agencies) in Dubuque and report my findings on the blog in the near future. Happy holidays, B.
As of yesterday, I am officially a member of the Board of Directors of the Iowa City Free Lunch Program. Not only am I beginning to learn more about the operations of all non-profits (e.g., NAMI, DVIP, etc.) at 1105 S. Gilbert Ct., but I am gaining a better understanding of the funding structure and organization of the ICFLP. Perhaps most importantly, I am meeting more movers and shakers in the non-profit world, including a representative for Veterans Affairs and the founder of Soil Mates. I am excited to see how programming, agency representation, and opportunity for training/education of ICFLP clients can be expanded, but I am also excited to think of the partnerships I may form with other Board Members for service learning projects in future. In particular, Scott, of Soil Mates (a non-profit working to bring gardening to the schools) relayed a future project that might be of interest to my students: The restoration of a community garden for marginalized folks at the old "Poor Farm" outside Iowa City.
The fact that I've spent lots of time right here in Iowa working for non-profits the last few months has me thinking about more ways I can turn 'lemons into lemonade' (in so far as we call remaining here a 'lemon'...). As I've done with the Dubuque Rescue Mission, Iowa City Free Lunch Program, Donna Ginter Thanksgiving Dinner, and Table to Table organizations, I'm thinking that I will be spending much more of my professional development time this year and next visiting non-profit agencies in the corridor. The more I think about it, the more I realize how vital this is to community connections, my content area, and contributions to the College in future.
For example, Kirkwood no longer has an official 'service learning coordinator,' but I will definitely continue (and perhaps expand) the service learning components in my classes upon my return. As such, perhaps this is the perfect time for me to have the unexpected pleasure of more of an Iowa winter than anticipated. Eh hem. :) I can use more of my time to begin to visit non-profits on the Service Learning Agency Checklist thereby gaining knowledge and connections.
To that end, I hope to interview the folks at The Tapestry time bank in Cedar Rapids and Resources Unite (an attempt to mobilize volunteers across agencies) in Dubuque and report my findings on the blog in the near future. Happy holidays, B.
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