In response to “Water Month,” a month-long sustainability event hosted by Furman University’s Global Issues Forum (GIF), I decided to interview EAG President/GIF Officer Alison Bressler to find out why water is such an issue.
Within the context of why GIF chose water as their theme this semester, I asked Alison to explain why she thought water was such an important issue. As her answer, she explained how water is connected to a larger picture. It is used not only for domestic use but for agriculture and gasoline production as well. It is much more than simply “how much water you are consuming in your showers,” or obvious water use. Water is used in recycling, raising cattle, and even manufacturing plastic. But unfortunately, people are often unaware of water’s interconnectedness between their everyday lives and the global scope of water.
Students do not think about water outside of their everyday lives.
To remedy this, Alison suggests students take action and become educated on the subject. Furman students specifically can become involved by participating in Water Month CLPs as well as the upcoming Water Walk. The Furman Water Walk is scheduled for April 13th at the Library Loop from 9am to 4pm. As mentioned in one of my previous blogs, the Water Walk will be designed to simulate how much effort it takes to carry water long distances, illustrating the difficulties some families without water face.
Through the film, co-directors Stephanie Soechtig and Jason Lindsey reveal that water should be a right, not a big business product. From depriving communities to polluting the ocean, bottled water companies have significantly affected sustainability. They freely take a natural resource and sell it back for an excessive profit. They also advertise their water as something purer than tap, but in reality, “40 percent or more of bottled water is really just bottled tap water – sometimes further treated, sometimes not.” Information on the topic is not widely known because production is often self-regulated. It is Tapped filmmakers’ hope that more people become aware of this highly privatized, damaging industry.
Visit Tapped’s homepage for more information about the documentary.
Bottled water has downsides. We can live without it!
After the event, I asked Professor Bill Ranson of Furman University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences what he thought students seeing the film should take away from it. He responded by saying that he would like them “to get the message that there are a lot of downsides to bottled water, and that it is a product that, really, we can do without.” Dr. Ranson allows suggests that in reaction to the “downsides of bottled water” perhaps Furman could “ban the use of bottled water on campus.”
How often do you think about how water impacts your life? I know most of us don’t think about how important water is in our everyday lives. However, water use is not just an environmental issue. It is an interdisciplinary issue. Water issues are addressed in Political Science public policy classes, dissected and analyzed in Business and Economic classes, and depicted in art classes. Water is the source of inspiration for poetry and literature and a source of life in biology. No matter how you look at it, water is a part of everyone’s life at Furman.
Furman Water Bottle
Because water is a part of everyone’s lives at Furman, we need to find away to address growing concerns about the world’s water supply. One aspect many colleges are addressing is the bottle water industry. Currently, the United States is the largest consumer of bottled water and we pay 240 to over 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than tap water. A blog that I follow, Ban the Bottle, discusses issues with the bottled water industry along with how bottled water effects the environment now and in the long run. Diagrams depict the making and tapping of water, how bottles are recycled, and where they end up if they are not recycled.
Some colleges are in the process of taking bottled water to a whole new level! Currently 90 colleges including Harvard and Dartmouth have banned bottled water on campus. This project was introduced by Ban the Bottle in an effort to reduce the environmental footprint and impact that bottled water creates. Can Furman live without bottled water?
Clare Grover, a senior accounting major said: “I never buy bottled water and always carry a reusable water bottle with me. I would like to see more refilling stations around campus because they make it easier and more accessible for everyone.” Most students I have discussed this with don’t see any harm in banning bottled water. Colleen Roberts, a junior neuroscience major stated: “Most people who drink water on a regular basis already carry a water bottle around with them. The only people that this is effecting are those who don’t have their habits already formed.” Will this new ban draw those students to soda or other high calorie drinks?
The University of California Berkeley decided to not ban bottled water because it thought the ban would encourage other drinks to be consumed because most people who buy bottled water do it for convenience. Read this article posted in the Harvard Crimson, which explains why schools should not ban bottled water. However, how do we know what is right or wrong without trying? After all, Greenville was awarded best tasting tap water in the country. Why pay extra for water that is not even bottled here?
Here are steps Furman could implement to make a bottled water ban work:
– Add more refilling stations around campus inside buildings and outside
– Provide all incoming students with a water bottle
– Place water cups in dining locations and workout areas that are free of charge
– Inform students about the life cycle of bottled water and how it effects our local environment
Check out my video for more information about what Furman University is doing to use water more effectively on campus! Here are more photos about water use on campus:Slideshow on Campus Water
When we walk into the grocery store we buy what we think looks goods, sounds good, or fits into our recipes. At Furman, we walk into the dining hall and pick from a variety of pre-made choices. We don’t question how many miles it traveled to get there or how the product was treated along the process. Did you know that typical carrot has to travel 1,838 miles to reach your table? Our grocery stores are stocked with any product we need, however according to the Food and Agriculture Organizationworldwide food available per capita is declining continuously over the past 23 years. Even more startling, 56% of the world’s population or 3.7 billion people are malnourished (WHO).
Eat Local
Not everyone is as lucky as we are so we need to figure out a way to make food production more sustainable. Our world population of 7 billion is growing to around 9 billion by 2050 and our land isn’t growing any larger. Agriculture uses almost 60% of our total water to grow and produce crops. By making all of our agriculture systems more efficient we should be able to support our growing number!s.
Ways to Make Food Production More Sustainable:
Center Pivot Agriculture
– Eat local and seasonally: For example, if Iowa grew 10% more produce locally in we could save 280,000 to 346,000 gallons of fuel, and have an annual reduction in CO2 emissions from 6.7 to 7.9 million pounds.
– Have Farmers use Center Pivot Agricultureto save water: A sprinkler system that moves in a circular motion around a crop circle with is about ¼ mile long. This allows for effective drainage and all areas of the circle to be reached with water without creating unnecessary runoff or soil erosion.
Allow developing countries to create their own markets and not exploit them. By teaching them how to set up a farm, reduce soil erosion, and use less toxic fertilizers developing nations can produce their own food.
At Furman we need to make a conscious effort to do our part. While we might not be setting up agricultural crop systems we can be aware of the food that we buy. We have our own garden located outside the Shi Center; you can’t get more local than that! Check out Sara Mangold’s blog post about the Furman garden. Since so much water goes toward agriculture we need to learn about water systems and how to make them more sustainable. Listen to my podcast to learn more about water use in developing nations! Thanks to the Shi Center and Furman students we are creating a water plant in Guatemala. Listen to my Water Podcast for more information!
“Do The Ducky Quack”. The words of choreographer, Barbara Steele, are still ringing in my head. Choreographed specifically for the Greenville Rotary Club, the Duck Strut is a dance that adds flavor and excitement to the Reedy River Duck Derby. Members of the Rotary Club have learned the Duck Strut and some will perform it on the day of the Race, May 5th, so that members of the community can join in on the fun. Watch them learn the process through this slideshow!
Barbara Steele and her team prepare to teach the Duck Strut!
The Duck Strut is meant to promote the Reedy River Duck Derby and draw attention to charities and sponsors involved. Modeled around natural duck movements, the Duck Strut is easy to learn and fun for all ages.
The seven simple steps to the Duck Strut are as follows:
Swim: Heel-toe walk 4 times with breaststroke swim motion: Right, Left, Right, Left
Waddle: Waddle to the right, Waddle to the left (2 steps right, 2 steps left)
Duck Strut: Strut 8 times in a large, full circle to the left (counterclockwise), starting with right foot, flap “wings” (end circle at point where you started the dance with “swim”)
Quack: Place hands beside face, flip fingers up/down, say “Quack, Quack, Quack”
Tail Feather Shake: Bend forward, point arms back and Shake, Shake, Shake
Quack: Quack, Quack, Quack
6. Tail Feather Shake: Shake, Shake, Shake
7. Repeat: dance until music ends
In addition to dancing like a duck you can now adopt a duck online! Become our friend on Facebook in order to receive the latest news about the derby! And don’t forget to start practicing your duck strut; the race is right around the corner!
We use water everyday without thinking. We take a 15-minute shower, fill up our water bottle at the water fountain, and wash our hands in the sink. We take for granted these simple actions that make our lives so much easier. For the last two years Dr. Clemens, a Professor in the Business Department, took students to a small village in Guatemala. There, students experienced the environment, the culture, and worked with the villagers to learn how they live. These types of trips bridge the gap from Furman to the outside world. Students shape a global and local perspective while creating an interaction between the environment and society.
Some villages in Guatemala have no running water, so water has to be collected from streams and run off. Can you imagine having to carry your water up and down small roads to get take a shower or wash the dishes? The Shi Center for Sustainability saw this as an opportunity to help a community have a potable water supply. They searched for grants to help fund a water treatment plant and system in the small village of Esperanza San Antonio. The Duke Endowment has pledged $12,500 towards the water system, but fundraising still needs to be done to help with the additional funds.
The United Nations stated in 2010 that there are 884 million people worldwide without access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion without basic sanitation services. This leads to unsanitary practices, which is detrimental to health and productivity. The region where the village Esperanza San Antonio is located has suffered from civil war increasing the poverty levels and wealth distribution. Creating a water system for this area will increase economic development and force the community to organize under one cause. Since the villagers will be running and operating the system this will provide jobs and a sense of ownership.
Students who have been on the trip state that it is a life changing experience and they cannot wait to see how the water system develops. This real life adventure working alongside Guatemalans shows how we all can be involved in the sustainable movement. Student Maddie Parks stated: “I loved the trip and cannot wait to see how Furman can help transform the village.” Since more funds need to be raised before the groundbreaking can begin students can get involved by donating, visiting the village, or even learning about the importance of water purification.
Take a sip of water… how long would you walk to get that refreshing taste?
The Furman Farm, which is located between the Cliffs Cottage and Furman Lake, grows a wide variety of produce throughout the year. Lettuce, radishes, sweet potatoes and peppers are some of the many freshly grown items that the Furman Farm has to offer. According to the Furman Farm Website, these products are grown by use of sustainable agricultural practices such as natural fertilizers and crop rotations. You may ask, who eats all of this food? Well, the CSA program provides us with the answer.
Fresh Produce from the CSA Program
Founded in 2010, the CSA program, which stands for Community Supported Agriculture, is a program in which members of the Furman and Greenville community purchase a share of the Furman Farm and are given a weekly bag of produce in return. This bag of produce has contains anywhere from 5-10 vegetables and could easily be enough to feed several people throughout the week. The money that the CSA members pay goes directly into the upkeep and maintenance of the farm. A price of a membership is 60 dollars for non-students and 32 dollars for students per month. Each member is expected to pay the full yearly cost up front.
How do Furman students get involved with the CSA program? Brittany DeKnight, Associate Director of the David E. Shi Center for Sustainable, said, “Any students can sign up; during the season, flyers are posted to student news, and they can get more information by contacting the student farm manager, Katie Premo, or visiting the Farm’s Website.”
How do Furman students benefit from this program? Again, Brittany DeKnight provides us with the answer. “Furman students who sign up for the CSA program can get affordable, organically-grown vegetables and fruits from right here on campus (there’s nothing more convenient than that!) Also, many students work or volunteer in the farm, gaining valuable experience with farming and with small business operations through the CSA and farm stand program.”
The CSA program has had great success in their expansion since 2010 as more and more people are becoming CSA members. In order to maintain this success, students and members of the Greenville community are encouraged to sign up. So, next time you need some fresh produce, stop by the Furman Farm and buy your very own organically grown products!
Students ask how could we possibly be involved with the Shi Center? Some think that you have to know everything about the environment. But you just need a drive and a passion to help sustain Greenville. Catherine Pate started working for the Shi Center for Sustainability this summer after taking an environmental class and falling in love with sustainability.
Catherine applied for the AV Davis fellowship through the Shi Center because they were willing to let her apply her own talents and interests. Throughout her fellowship she used her photography skills to document the progress in Greenville. She brought light to the updated environmentally friendly housing and expanded green spaces that the city has been working on. Another passion of Catherine’s is teaching. She worked with the city to hire a livability educator and came up with lesson plans for the educator to teach.
The livability education program is a new initiative that the City of Greenville is working on. It strives to teach children at young ages how to become involved with the environment. Through games and activities that teach recycling and the importance of nature, children work hands on with the environment and cultivate a new relationship. Through this program and the website that Catherine helped design, the City of Greenville is creating awareness. Catherine explained how the City of Greenville is concerned with the citizens wants, but is also showing them what they need to live more sustainable lives.
Reedy River Downtown Greenville || Katherine Jenkins
By working with the Shi Center and the City of Greenville, Catherine was able to bridge the gap and create a two-way relationship. The City loves to work with Furman students because they have young minds and help cultivate new ideas. Catherine emphasized how great an opportunity this fellowship was because they were willing to met her needs so she could help meet theirs.
Catherine thinks that there are so many ways other students can get involved with Shi Center. Sustainability is a multifaceted issue and needs all types of people to approach it with new thoughts. Teaching the livability education program is one way any student can get directly involved through service learning. Student art shows highlighting the past and present of Greenville brings to community to Furman. The Shi Center welcomes all students so stop by today!
Ever wonder where all the leftover food goes in the Furman Dining Hall? Last spring I had the privilege of finding out when I enrolled myself in a class called Sustainability. Throughout the semester I was given the opportunity to volunteer in the garden at the Shi Center for Sustainability. Me, being the outdoorsy person that I am, decided to spend 3 hours every week laboring in the garden. For my first task, I was told I would be making lasagna. I soon found out that this type of lasagna was not the delicious Italian dish that we all know and love. They were referring to the layers of a compost pile that I would be building.
According to Easy-Green-Living, a compost pile is “the purposeful bio degradation of organic matter such as yard and food waste.” These components decompose to form organic matter that can be used as fresh soil. My job was to create a compost pile by spreading a layer of moist soil filled with leaves and twigs in each of the four compost boxes on the farm. I then had to spread a layer of food scraps on top of the soil and repeat this step until I had formed multiple layers, creating a lasagna-like structure.
As I finished my job, I thought; what was the purpose of creating these compost piles? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, compost piles have the ability to regenerate poor soils by breaking down organic matter that infuses the soil with nutrients. This nutrient rich soil aids in the prevention of plant diseases and crop pests. Compost also helps prevent erosion and soil pollution by replacing contaminated soil with nutrient rich soil. This nutrient rich soil provides a healthy base for other plants to grow.
You may ask, “Why did Furman create these piles and what impact does this have on their students?” Furman created these compost piles in order to produce rich soil that could be used in the growing of their crops. These piles provide Furman with the opportunity to recycle and refresh old soil. In addition, these compost piles put good use to the large amount of waste Furman students produce every day.
So, as you throw your food scraps away in the Dining Hall, I hope you think back to this process and realize the effect your having on Furman’s garden. And who knows, maybe it will even inspire you to create your very own home compost pile!
