Furman Greenbelt Sustainable Living Community

By Chloe Sandifer-Stech

If you know me, I have always fiercely defended my caffeine addiction. In fact, one of my first concerns living in the Greenbelt was how I was going to get my daily cup of joe now that I was further from the dining hall (flash forward I purchased my very own Keurig, which now my current prize possession). I always said that as long as my caffeine addiction was not hurting me or others, I didn’t see a real problem with it.

However, ever since my Lifestyle Project this semester I’ve been thinking more about the long-term effects of my actions. One of the category’s I chose was to be vegan several days out of the week. I already eat mostly plant-based, but I wanted to challenge myself further to cut out all animal products completely. Changing my eating habits made me think critically about the environmental imprint of my food: Where was it sourced? How much water was used to make this? Were farmers and workers paid fairly? I started to examine my food choices outside of just animal products, which fed my curiosity about the sustainability of coffee.

One lesser-known sustainability concern about coffee is the method it is grown. Beginning in the 1970s, the rising global demand shifted coffee cultivation from traditional shade-grown farms to farms exposed to direct sunlight in order to increase yield and profit. Sun-grown coffee transforms the plantations into monocrop cultures, a practice which significantly weakens the productivity and health of the soil. In response, farmers are required to use additional chemical fertilizers and protect from pests and diseases that are more prevalent from lack of tree cover. Deforestation and fertilizers disrupt the biodiversity and nutrient cycles of the natural ecosystems, and thus farmers often have to clear large areas of forest to keep up with this farming practice. Specifically in Central America, around 2.5 million acres of forest have been lost to sun cultivation due to the $100 billion dollar annual coffee industry.

One of the easiest ways to ensure you are buying sustainably sourced coffee is to look for the Rainforest Alliance certification on packaging. The Rainforest Alliance ensures that coffee farms meet certain social, economic, and environmental criteria. The certification ensures that coffee farms do not pose a significant threat biodiversity, maintain fertile soils and clean waterways, and pay farmers proper wages. So, next time you shop for coffee, look out for the green logo! Some well-known coffee brands that are rainforest alliance certified include Caribou Coffee, Counter Culture Coffee, and Dunkin Donuts. Personal actions also go a long way in reducing the environmental impact of your morning joe. Buying reusable k-cups as well as composting your coffee groups helps to reduce waste and recycle nutrients back into the soil. Coffee addictions are okay, but make it sustainable!

Sources

1. Find Certified Products: https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/find-certified?location=330&category=130&product=144&keyword=&page=2
2. How Green is Your Coffee? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/oct/04/green-coffee
3. Sun-grown vs. Shade Grown: How it Impacts the Environment and the Farmers: https://www.dlgcoffee.org/news/2017/4/6/coffee-cultivation-sun-grown-shade-grown-and-how-it-impacts-the-environment-and-the-farmers#:~:text=Beginning%20in%20the%201970’s%20the,ecosystem%20and%20on%20coffee%20quality
4. Coffee and it’s Impact of People, Animals, and the Planet: https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/coffee-and-its-impact-on-people-animals-and-the-planet/

Victoria Cruz-Solano

During quarantine, I would spend hours browsing through shein, urban outfitters, and forever 21 looking through endless pages of clothes to buy stuff. Did I really need more clothes? No. But I loved the serotonin kick that I got looking through the clothes, checking out, and receiving my package in the mail. I would see influencers on Instagram do shein hauls making me more inclined to go buy stuff. But I started seeing tiktoks about fast fashion and how most of these common clothing brands partake in this ‘fast fashion industry’. I started researching and learning about fast fashion and realized how many brands are fast fashion brands. 

What is fast fashion? Fast fashion is when clothing is produced quickly to keep up with new trends. Fast fashion is very common because of the extremely low prices. Why spend $35 on a shirt where on clothing websites like Shein and Romwe you can spend $10? Although fast fashion produces very cheap costs for consumers it comes at a cost. Fast fashion brands often exploit workers by paying them very little and having them work in very unsafe conditions. Fast fashion also has a drastic effect on the environment producing microplastic pollution, textile dye pollution, and increased carbon emissions. The fast fashion industry contributes to the ever-growing plastic pollution in the ocean through microplastics. 

Microplastics are from the fibers of your clothing. Surprisingly, most clothes are made with some plastic fibers, microfibers. Microfibers are usually very small and are found in acrylic and polyester clothing. When your clothes are washed once, up to 700,000 fibers can come off and go into the sea. According to Intelligent Living, the United States and Canada produce about 500,000 tons of microplastics from fibers that are deposited into the ocean. That’s the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. The microfibers are now incorporated in the food chain because small fish mistake them for food and they work their way up the food chain where we eventually consume microplastics.

 

 

 

The fast fashion industry also is responsible for 10% of the world’s carbon emissions. People are buying more to keep up with trends, and the fast fashion brands are pushing out more clothing to keep up with demands. People bought 60% more clothes in 2014 than 2000 but only keep clothes half as long (McFall-Johnsen). While people are buying more clothing, they are keeping them for a shorter period of time. “The equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is dumped or burned in a landfill every second” (McFall-Johnsen).

The fast fashion industry produces cheap clothing to keep up with trends at a huge environmental cost. So what other options are there? Today, there are more options available for people looking to shop elsewhere. There are a number of sustainable clothing brands such as Boden and Patagonia. Many people can’t afford sustainable brands so they are turning to secondhand shopping. There are many second-hand shops available today through online sites such as depop, Poshmark, and mercari, and there are many thrift stores and consignment stores in cities. 

The fast fashion industry provides cheap clothes at an environmental cost. We realize the impact of buying new on the environment and turn towards more environmentally friendly ways.

Citations

McFall-Johnsen, Morgan. “The Fashion Industry Emits More Carbon than International Flights and Maritime Shipping Combined. Here Are the Biggest Ways It Impacts the Planet.” Business Insider, 2019, www.businessinsider.com/fast-fashion-environmental-impact-pollution-emissions-waste-water-2019-10. 

Hayes, Adam. “How Fast Fashion Works.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 16 Sept. 2020, www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fast-fashion.asp. 

Steffen, Luana, et al. “’Fast Fashion’ Is Polluting The Oceans With Microfibers.” Intelligent Living, 25 Feb. 2020, www.intelligentliving.co/fast-fashion-is-polluting-the-oceans-with-microfibers/. 

By: Sydney McManus

 

It wasn’t long after becoming a student at Furman University that I began taking advantage of all the opportunities that I was presented with. I became involved and proactive with my time, committing myself to organizations that would develop my personal and professional skills. As my freshman year progressed into what is now my sophomore year, I found myself being drawn more and more to the idea of sustainability, best defined by Kate Raworth as “ensuring that no one falls short on life’s essentials (from food and housing to healthcare and political voice), while ensuring that collectively we do not overshoot our pressure on Earth’s life-supporting systems, on which we fundamentally depend – such as a stable climate, fertile soils, and a protective ozone layer.”¹

 

During an on-campus job search my freshman year, I stumbled upon an opportunity at the Shi Center, now Shi Institute. Within two weeks I found myself as a member of the Shi Institute fellows’ program and the Shi Institute family. A family that was supportive, inclusive, and driven; aiming to encourage, enact, and initiate change and sustainability on campus and beyond. I was off to the races learning all I could about sustainability and sharing with others along the way, all with a goal of breaking down a stigma that I, myself, had once bought into.

 

This year, my sophomore year, I found myself presented with the opportunity to again hold a fellowship position at the Shi Institute and, additionally, the opportunity to live in the Eco-Cabins also known as the Greenbelt…but it gets better, so hang in there!

 

During a “routine” week (whatever routine now looks like in the face of COVID), I was contacted by another student about organizing an event on behalf of one of the clubs I am in, Furman Creative Collaborative/TEDx. Being the ambitious and overcommitting person I am, I said YES. Now I am sure by now you find yourself wondering why all of this is important, but here it is. IDEAS into ACTIONS!

 

The event I was organizing came to be called Countdown to Our FUture (yes, FUture is a Furman reference) revolving around the CLIMATE CRISIS, with a goal of being carbon neutral by 2030, and the initiative’s origin coming from TED…….as in TED Talks. I found myself excited to have an opportunity to bring this independently organized TED event to my campus community and the Greenville community and to be so interested and connected with this topic after all the opportunities that I have had the chance to be a part of.

 

IDEAS into ACTIONS is one of my favorite elements of the events description from TED and something relevant to not only sustainability but life. As stated by TED “Countdown is a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, turning ideas into action.”² The words “ideas into action” resonate so profoundly with me and should with the global community as well. So often our world is faced with challenges, but we never foster the creative minds that will allow the problem-solving ideas to be presented and enacted.

 

On October 12^th, 2020 Countdown to Our FUture was held with 450 people in virtual attendance. This event lit a spark inside me, and I hope it lit a spark in others as well. I hope nothing more than for the people who attended to have learned and to have been encouraged to turn their ideas into actions! With speakers from around the globe, some of those individuals including actors Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo, along with activists such as  Xiye Bastida, Nana Firman, and so many more, the diversity of people involved with this movement is incredible, inspiring, and gives me hope that one day, perhaps, the world can turn all the impactful IDEAS into ACTIONS.

 

You can visit the link below to watch the full virtual launch of Countdown from TED.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dVcn8NjbwY

 

Sources

1. What on Earth is the Doughnut?… (2020, September 30). Retrieved from https://www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/
2. Ted. (n.d.). To a better future. Retrieved from https://countdown.ted.com/

By Catherine Dawes

During quarantine, people tried new things,  made DIY crafts, learned a skill, or tried to be more active. For me, I wanted to practice being more sustainable. At the time I made this goal, I knew I was going to be living in the greenbelt sustainability cabins when I returned to Furman, and I wanted to change a few lifestyle habits in preparation. I decided to purchase and use items that were more sustainable for the environment, so I purchased products from companies that had a reputation for being environmentally friendly. However, I soon realized these products were not sustainable as they were from companies that greenwash. Corporate greenwashing is the process of promoting sustainable products or practices while hiding non-sustainable practices from the public. Corporations use greenwashing to appear as an environmentally friendly business to the public to attract larger audiences; not only is this deceitful and causes consumers to be skeptical, but sometimes the products they promote cause more harm to the environment than products that do not claim to be sustainable.

A prime example of corporate greenwashing stems from Burt’s Bees which was acquired by the Clorox Company. Burt’s Bees sells products that are made from natural ingredients, but that does not always suggest the products are sustainable as accessing these natural ingredients can cause harm to the environment. Their mantra is to be environmentally friendly; however, they hide the fact that they are owned by the Clorox company- an organization known for not being sustainable as they use harsh chemicals. The only spot on their website that alludes to being owned by the Clorox company is at the bottom of their webpage in small print where the information is less likely to be seen. Through this partnership, Burt’s Bees and Clorox are ultimately one greenwashing corporation with Burt’s Bees’ sustainable front ultimately representing the unsustainable Clorox corporation.

While this currently is corporate greenwashing, Clorox announced a plan to become more sustainable as a company. In 2019, the company announced their intentions to reduce greenhouse emissions by 20% in the coming future. This is part of their IGNITE strategy announced in 2018. Other sustainable goals in the IGNITE strategy include reducing plastic and other waste production, focusing on climate change, and overall being environmentally friendly. Although the project started off on the right track in 2019, it is relatively new and only time will tell if Clorox will abide by the goals outlined in IGNITE.

Overall, the best way to distinguish between which companies greenwash is to do research into company practices. Even if the research consists of “which companies practice greenwashing”, it is a good start to help educate the public about this issue. For a quick search to see how sustainable a personal care product is, use the website listed below:

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

 

Citations

Gunther, Marc. “The Real Story Behind Some of the 10 ‘Greenest’ Brands.” Greenbiz, 10 June 2016, https://www.greenbiz.com/article/real-story-behind-some-10-greenest-brands.

Tsui, Jenna. “The Negative Effects of Corporate Greenwashing.” Sea Going Green, 26 Feb. 2020,  https://www.seagoinggreen.org/blog/the-negative-effects-of-corporate-greenwashing.

Burt’s Bees. Clorox Company, 2020, Durham NC. https://www.burtsbees.com/values/.

Legg, Teresa. “4 Ways greenwashing will damage your brand.” The Carbon Report, 22 Oct. 2019, https://www.thecarbonreport.co.za/4-ways-greenwashing-will-damage-your-brand/.

Taylor, Amy. “Greenwashing: Don’t be Fooled.” 100 Days of Real Food, 24 Mar. 2020, https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/greenwashing-dont-be-fooled/.

“Sustainability in Our Facilities.” The Clorox Company, 2020, https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/corporate-responsibility/environmental-sustainability/operations/ghg-emissions/. Accessed 9 Oct. 2020.

-Carolyn Little

Over the past few weeks, I have learned how to become more sustainable without even realizing it. I believe that the process is very difficult in daily life. However,  a friend recently told me the other day that “imperfect sustainability is okay because it is a learning process.” Ever since she told me these words, I have felt more comfortable with learning how to be more sustainable instead of being pressured to do so each day. Since this semester started, I have learned to become more sustainable by avoiding the emission of greenhouse gases. I knew that the emission of harmful chemicals in our environment was unhealthy beforehand, but I did not realize to what extent this affects our environment or how to prevent it. For example, a few years ago in 2016 when my family and I vacationed (again) in the Smoky Mountains solely for the purpose of going on multiple hiking trails, I heard that the Chimney Tops fire occurred merely days after we left. The fire was caused by two brainless people, who were (thankfully) arrested. The fire hit “11,000 acres, which [was] about 2% of the over 500,000 acres in the park boundaries” (National Park Service). This fire made me further appreciate the beauty of nature and be grateful that most of the animals survived the fire, while I also learned what greenhouse gases release into the atmosphere and how it affects the environment. This Chimney Tops fire, for example, released harmful gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and many other chemicals that are harmful to ecosystems and to organisms’ respiratory health. When trees are killed by fires, they release even more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Fires in general produce “aerosols, including black carbon and gases,” which block sunlight distribution and pollute the atmosphere by “warming the planet” (Berwyn). These gases cause climate change, which is detrimental to our planet’s health, organism’s health, and agricultural health. 

One way that I have participated in helping prevent greenhouse gas emission during this semester is by biking instead of using my car. The majority of transportation vehicles release carbon dioxide into the air as well due to the “combustion of petroleum-based products,” like gasoline (EPA). In 2018, 28.2% of greenhouse gases that were released from the atmosphere were caused by vehicles, which still is the largest contributor of negative chemical emissions (EPA). A way to lower gas emission by transportation is by using public transportation more frequently, such as electric buses in China and Chile and/or bicycles, instead of individual vehicles, which can help “cut transport emissions [by] 80%” (Wang). I have helped prevent this emission by using my bike more often than I ever had in my life. It is even a good exercise tool as well! My watch tracks the distance I bike and says that it is about 2 miles to get to Plyler and back.

Overall, I did not realize to what extent greenhouse gases from transportation and fires affect our planet, but now I know that every bit of even a little sustainability counts in order to keep our environment safe and healthy. 

 

Berwyn, Bob. “How Wildfires Can Affect Climate Change (and Vice Versa).” Inside Climate News, August 23, 2018. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/23082018/extreme-wildfires-climate-change-global-warming-air-pollution-fire-management-black-carbon-co2#:~:text=Wildfires%20emit%20carbon%20dioxide%20and,effects%20on%20warming%20and%20cooling 

 

“Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, https://insideclimatenews.org/news/23082018/extreme-wildfires-climate-change-global-warming-air-pollution-fire-management-black-carbon-co2#:~:text=Wildfires%20emit%20carbon%20dioxide%20and,effects%20on%20warming%20and%20cooling

 

“Chimney Tops 2 Fire.” National Park Service, Great Smoky Mountains, December 22, 2016. https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/chimney-tops-2-fire.htm

 

Wang, Shiying. “Everything You Need to Know About the Fastest Growing Source of Global Emissions: Transport.” World Resources Institute, October 16, 2019. https://www.wri.org/blog/2019/10/everything-you-need-know-about-fastest-growing-source-global-emissions-transport

 

By Emma Johnston

It occurred to me recently that I kind of like being in small spaces. I grew up sleeping in a “Privacy Pop” (sometimes under a weighted blanket), and have this tendency to curl my limbs in tight to my body whenever the situation (and seating) allow it. I don’t know that I’d go so far as to say I’m a claustrophiliac. I certainly prefer soothing compression over strict confinement. But it got me thinking…

…we were staring at the exterior of a refurbished 1969 Lamar vintage camper at the Swamp Rabbit Inn in Travelers Rest. My mom was in town to deliver a “new” used bike, and we took it – and my old cruiser – for a ride on the trail. She had stumbled upon a listing for the camper the week before, and arranged to see it in person. Absorbing what 17 feet by 7 feet by 8 feet looks like in real life, we gushed at how precious it was; like, theoretically, how adorable it would be for someone else to inhabit it – perhaps a doll-sized person. But as soon as we stepped inside, I became completely captivated with the idea of downsizing to “camper living.”

The interior was stunning, which you wouldn’t (or, at least, I didn’t) necessarily expect from a trailer. A macrame chandelier hanging over a live edge dining table. A beautiful copper bathroom sink. A bohemian-style queen bed under a panoramic window. And a layout so smart, you wouldn’t even believe you’re looking at less than 100 square feet of space. Not to mention all of the amenities you could ever need: heating and air conditioning, electrical outlets, cable TV, high speed wifi, and a full kitchen! What dawned on me during this tour – which basically amounted to turning 360 degrees – was how much someone could genuinely love living here. Sure, there are the prudent reasons for downsized living: the minimalist lifestyle, money-saving benefits, mobility and, perhaps most importantly, environmental friendliness. But I’d figured that, in the transition, the emphasis would be on what had to be given up in the transition. Inside that perfectly-appointed little Lamar, however, was not a vibe of sacrifice but of refinement, dignity, and comfort.

Although downsizing or tiny living is becoming increasingly popular, the average American residence continues to increase in size. The average American home has swelled by 140% from the typical 1,000 square feet in 1950. During the recession of 2008, Americans began to downsize, citing economic or environmental reasons. But this phenomenon was woefully short-lived. Now, it seems as with so many aspects of American life, there are increasingly polar opposites: those seeking to live larger and more opulent, and those looking to clean out and scale back. There is, of course, evidence that Mother Earth favors the latter.

Perhaps the greatest sustainable outcome of the switch to tiny living is the reduction of carbon emissions. Out of electricity, natural gas, and heating oil, electricity uses up the most energy in American households, making up 53% of the energy used in an average American home. According to Timothy Carlin, author of the article “Tiny Homes: Improving Carbon Footprint and the American Lifestyle on a Large Scale,” the production of electrical energy also primarily relies on coal as fuel, creating 241.6 million metric tons of carbon emissions. This amount of carbon waste would fill 15,100,000 dump trucks. On the individual level, the average American carbon footprint is more than 28.5 tons of carbon emissions per year, with about 2.72 tons produced from electrical energy. 

So, how does camper living decrease carbon emissions? Clearly a camper comprises a much smaller space than the average American home, requiring less electrical energy to run compact appliances, provide temperature control, and provide lighting. In fact, natural daylight can illuminate nearly the entire space. In addition, campers require minimal natural gas for heating and cooking. Not only do campers cut back on carbon emissions, but they also save water with composting toilets. This is the most common type of toilet in a camper, as these structures are not connected to a pre-existing septic system. Composting toilets reduce household water usage by up to 60%, reduce marine pollution, and oftentimes, the waste is recycled into the environment as fertilizer, creating more productive and fertile soil. 

Aside from these measurable, directly-sustainable benefits of camper living, there are other advantages that may not be as apparent. With the necessity of downsizing comes picking out only the most essential belongings, from clothing and keepsakes to kitchen goods and cleaning supplies. Intentionally eliminating unnecessary items that don’t actively serve a purpose in everyday life is the mentality needed for camper living. This minimalist mindset – enforced by limited camper storage – decreases consumer waste; you simply don’t have the physical room for the purchase of unnecessary items, so you don’t have the mental room for constant upgrade and replacement, either. This, blissfully, produces a feeling of control over – and settled satisfaction in – one’s life.

Back on campus, I pondered how I could really make that lifestyle a reality someday. There’s the option of purchasing an old camper and refurbishing it, like the folks at the Swamp Rabbit Inn. I also discovered a company called Happier Camper, which offers flex-designed trailers for downsizers concerned more with function and flexibility over aesthetics and repurposing. Happier Camper also offers an “Adaptiv” line of block-in-grib components for existing camper- or van-owners. These modular interior pieces allow for complete customization of the layout of just about any size trailer or campervan.

Consider how it would feel to truly love every square foot and every single feature of your home – from gorgeous flooring to awesome appliances to the perfect mattress – because being scaled way down makes it much more affordable. You can feel savvy and righteous in your eco-friendly lifestyle, but you can also genuinely enjoy how every single charming nook and cranny hugging you in serves a purpose. Turns out I’ll take a hug from a nook or cranny anytime, anywhere – maybe someday everytime, everywhere.

 

Sources:

“Adaptiv™ System.” Happier Camper, Happier Camper, happiercamper.com/pages/adaptiv%E2%84%A2-for-campers. 

Carlin, Timothy. “Tiny Homes: Improving Carbon Footprint and the American Lifestyle on a Large Scale.” Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day, College of Saint Benedict, 24 Apr. 2014.

“Stay in Travelers Rest With Lola The Glamper Camper.” Swamp Rabbit Inn, Swamp Rabbit Inn LLC, 19 Oct. 2018, www.swamprabbitinn.com/blog/2018/10/11/go-glamping-with-lola-the-vintage-camper. 

“To Flush Or Not To Flush: The Truth About Composting Toilets.” The American Home Shield, American Home Shield Corporation, www.ahs.com/home-matters/cost-savers/the-truth-about-compost-toilets/. 

“​1969 Lamar.” Vintage Camper Trailers, 4 Jan. 2019, www.vintagecampertrailers.com/for-sale/1969-lamar. 

-Olivia Pulliam

Ever since I can remember, I have had bird feeders everywhere within sight. My grandmother taught me about the beauty of birds. They have the freedom to fly anywhere, yet they stay grounded in one territory for most of the year. I am fascinated by their choices. It brings me peace to just sit and watch them.

Since being at Furman, I have become to be known as Snow White or the Swamp Queen. I take pride in each of these titles. Like Snow White, I feel a connection towards nature. I believe it is my duty to educate

Right now, I have three bird feeders outside the Cabin. Each feeder has a different purpose.

 

 

 

First, I have what is called a hopper feeder. This is a feeder with a middle storage system that dispences the seeds at the base through openings. This feeder is easy for birds and squirrels to eat from. This type of bird feeder is great for beginners because it is easy to refill and will hold most types of seeds.

The bird at the feeder is a Tufted Titmouse. His name is Peter because his call sounds like peter-peter-peter.

 

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Next, I have a seed cake feeder. These feeders are typically metal cages that hold the seed cakes. As you can see in this picture, the seeds are all stuck together. This is because instead of loose seeds, this feeder is filled with a type of condensed cake that is typically filled with berries and seeds.

The bird shown in the picture on the left is a House Finch. It has a unique stocky beak that is characteristic of finches. Her name is Darla.

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Finally, I have a nectar feeder. These feeders are targetted toward hummingbirds. They are typically a glass bottle attached to fake flowers. The opening in these flowers is only big enough for a hummingbird’s slim beak. The flowers are typically red. Hummingbirds can see color and are most attracted to red.

The bird in the picture to the left is a rufous hummingbird. His name is Buzz-Lightyear.

 

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How to Make Bird Food

Nectar: When making the nectar you need 1 part sugar and 4 parts water. It is important to change the nectar out every four or five days because it can mold. Mold is harmful to all birds.

Bird Cake:

• ¾ cup white or wheat flour
• 3 cups bird seed mix
• ½ cup dried cranberries
• ½ cup raw peanuts
• ½ cup water (boiling)
• ¼ ounce unflavored gelatin
• 3 Tbsp. light corn syrup

Bird Seed:

Different types of birds are attracted to different seeds and berries. If you are trying to attract a certain type of bird you can use food that they prefer. Sunflower seeds are liked by most birds so they are a great seed to use in every feeder.

You can make bird food out of kitchen scraps too. Here is what not and what you can safely feed birds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Ta. (2019, March 05). Types of bird feeders. Retrieved September 26, 2020, from https://www.welcomewildlife.com/types-of-bird-feeders/

1, J. (2019, July 17). How To Make Your Own Customized Bird Seed Blend! Retrieved September 26, 2020, from https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/how-to-make-your-own-customized-bird-seed-blend/

Mayntz, M. (n.d.). What Kitchen Scraps Can You Feed Birds? Retrieved September 26, 2020, from https://www.thespruce.com/kitchen-scraps-to-feed-birds-386571

By Calla Pederson

If you know me, you know that I’m always found with a mouth full of gum – it’s basically a personality trait at this point, an extension of myself. I feel incredibly lucky that my environmental-scientist parents instilled pretty sustainable habits within me, so when I decided to go landfill-waste-free for a few days, the only thing I really had to cut out was my gum-chomping habit. Recently, I saw a video on TikTok (by @chessi) about gum’s adverse environmental and health effects, which I had never considered and inspired me to look further into this routine of mine.

Chewing gum is the second most littered item on Earth, second only to cigarette butts! Chewing gum has long been a practice of humans, but Indigenous peoples chewed tree resin. The first manufactured gum was chicle-based. Chicle is tree sap from the Sapodilla tree.

Later, after gaining widespread popularity in the United States, the synthetic polymer polyisobutene replaced the more sustainable option. Other “gum bases” (aka plastics) include petroleum, polyethylene, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), or polyvinyl acetate and are linked to cancer and autoimmune disorders. It was found that high doses of the preservative BHT in animals causes cancer, but the FDA considers minimal doses safe. Titanium dioxide is used to whiten and smooth products, and in high doses, caused organ and nervous system damage in rats. Goodyear, yes that Goodyear – the tire company – manufactures most gum bases. Chronic gum-chewing is also linked to IBS and jaw issues.

Gum doesn’t fully break down in the highly acidic environment of the stomach, so it definitely doesn’t in the environment around us. People chew (and throw away – or litter) 560,000 tons of gum annually. The good news is there are some gum recycling companies and startups out there, such as UK-based startup Gum Drop and Terracycle in the US and Mexico. They turn gum into pencils, shoe soles, and coffee cups. However, this does mean that the gum must be properly recycled, and it’s already difficult enough to ensure that regular recycling gets… recycled appropriately. Removing littered gum from city streets also costs more than a pretty penny – about $3 per piece!

Long story short, Healthline says gum does no severe damage to your health (you can be the judge of that), but the environment is another story. Another thing I have focused on a lot recently is sustainable habits. Over the past few gumless days, I have noticed I feel more present and conscious of the task at hand, which is strange because I always chewed gum to help myself focus and manage stress and anxiety. I’m not going to lie – the first day was definitely a struggle! If you still can’t kick your gum addiction, opt for natural, chicle-based gum, or better yet, buy all-natural mints in bulk and refill an old Altoids container with them. Time to get gum out of Mother Earth’s hair!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credits: https://www.amazon.com/Sapodilla-Manilkara-zapota-Organic-Tropical/dp/B07CRMWFBM

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/chewing-gum-good-or-bad#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/this-is-what-your-chewing-gum-habit-is-doing-to-the-environment_uk_5aec2613e4b041fd2d253823https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/science/the-green-lantern-is-chewing-gum-bad-for-the-environment/2011/03/29/AFrVjO1D_story.html

Small Changes—Big Difference
Claire Maybin

Living in the Greenbelt this past year has encouraged me to make more sustainable choices in my everyday life. Now, the challenge is taking the habits that became norms in the Greenbelt and continuing them while at home and wherever we each may live next. It is not likely that everyone in the word will become a vegetarian, or commit to zero waste, or strive to live a carbon neutral life, but there are small changes that everyone can do that cumulatively can make a big difference. Many of these initiatives that revolve around emissions, pollution, waste, etc., are trying to address huge systems that are interconnected and often difficult to present solutions. Waste, for instance, is not simply the discards of individual mass consumption it also comprises the waste generated at each phase of production, in mines or fields, in factories and shops, all of which far exceed consumer waste—and a few small changes can decrease that supply chain and production chain, reducing waste, and the products you choose can also decrease your waste footprint.

One initiative I have been particularly fond of embracing has been sustainable beauty products! I have recently started using a shampoo bar from lush, replacing large clunky plastic containers with this small little coffee infused bar. Lush, a cosmetic brand, pride themselves in their handmade products that are sourced ethically and are offered without any plastic packaging. Their shampoo bars are concentrated shampoo so a little goes a long way; one bar could equal up to three bottles of liquid shampoo. This is just a small change but think about the huge difference it would make if everyone used bar shampoos! Second, I ditched the liquid body wash and liquid hand soap, and both were replaced with good old fashion bar soap. My favorite has been Red Clay Soap from a local goat farm in the Traveler’s Rest area. This sweet soap contains up to 25% goat milk in each bar. The great thing about goat milk is that it is loaded with natural acids, vitamins and minerals making it the perfect exfoliator and moisturizer. Again, a simple switch but one that cumulatively makes a significant difference. Bar soaps and bar shampoos use little to no packaging and do not contain harmful chemicals that other liquid alternatives may. One small step towards less waste, a successful step towards sustainability.

Goat Milk Soap, Handmade Goat Milk Soap. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.redclaysoap.com/

Lush Shampoo Bars. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lushusa.com/hair/shampoo-bars/

Murray, R. (2002). Zero waste. London: Greenpeace Environmental Trust.

By: Rebecca Hearn

As we are all staying home during this time, many people have been finding unique ways to stay entertained. People have been doing puzzles, organizing their rooms, and even dyeing their hair. Another thing people have been doing to fill up their time at home is to tie dye their clothes. While you can order synthetic dye kits off of the internet, you can also dye your clothes with regular household foods and food scraps. Natural dyes are an awesome new hobby to discover while practicing social distancing at home, and it is a hobby that I have learned a lot about lately. Natural dye is a more sustainable option than synthetic dyes because you are using natural materials, and often food scraps, that you would otherwise just be composting, like avocado pits (which create a beautiful pink dye). Creating dyes from food is a creative way to upcycle and be sustainable and it can leave you with a beautiful product that you can be proud to say you created.

There are many tutorials on natural dyes that provide helpful visuals and information. Rather than repeating their instructions, I want to point you towards the information I found most helpful and provide the tips that I learned in my own journey of using natural dyes.

The first thing I learned was that natural fibers hold color much better. My best and most vibrant color pay off came from using cotton.

I also learned to take instructions seriously when they tell you to treat your fabric with Alum or sodium bicarbonate. These can easily be found in most houses or ordered, but using it really does make a difference in the pay off you get.

Additionally, the methods of doing this are not going to give you a typical tie dye pattern, so don’t expect a widely colorful spiral. But, you can bunch your fabric together and secure it with rubber bands to get some variety and added texture.

Most importantly, be patient, some parts of this process may seem tedious, and they might not make sense, but for the best results you should take your time. What else is there to do!

tutorials and resources for natural dyes:

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fImpanUPjS8

Natural Colors

2. http://www.allnaturaldyeing.com/natural-dye-colors/

3. https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-naturally-dye-using-foods