Bicycles, Books and Reading

This is bike month and National Ride for Reading month. Ride and bike and read!

The Cost of Carbon Pollution

Watch this short video by ClimateReality:

We are all paying the price of carbon.

Bicycle racks at new bus stops in Nashville

This is what NSCC needs next to each building.

Campus Fellowships for students

Campus Fellowships

“Since 2000, National Wildlife Federation has awarded over 150 Campus Ecology Fellowships to students across the country working on projects ranging from campus-wide energy audits to implementing sustainable forestry practices; reaching more than 2.5 million students, faculty, staff and community members at the fellowship campuses.”

Bicycle Commuting to NSCC

This is on the Environmental Biking Librarian’s commute to campus on March 26, 2013.  Snow on the Richland Creek Greenway bridge.  Cold ride, but fun!

NSCC and Bicycles

Nashville State has a perfect location for the campus to become “Bicycle Friendly”.

1. It is on the Music City Bikeway.
2. It has a greenway that runs through it.
3. All of its 10,000 students, faculty, and staff get to campus by some means of transportation.
4. The college teaches architectural design courses and emphasizes LEED principles. (Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design)
5. One class this Spring designed a “bike-friendly campus” plan for NSCC.
6. The obesity rate in Nashville is very high.
7. The college should be encouraging active transportation. It is cheaper in a lot ways than everyone driving cars.

Check out The League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly University program.

Strategies to promoting bicycling.

Check out this bike share program: On Bike Share

“Bike share is quickly growing in popularity as a convenient, cost-effective, sustainable approach to alternative transportation.”

Bicycle transportation on college campuses.

“The use of bicycle on campus is greatly encouraged as a best way of daily transportation…” Nashville, TN is now a “Bicycle Friendly City” by the League of American Bicyclists.

Bicycle Parking

Bicycle Parking

This article is about the new bicycle parking facility at Santa Monica College.

Bike commuting in style

a bicycle trailer

 

A winter bike commute in NYC

Check out this winter bike commute in New York City.  Pretty awesome.

Recycle old electronics for cash

Turn old electronics into holiday cash | MNN – Mother Nature Network.

“If you’ve upgraded and have old Apple products or other cellphones lying around, Gazelle will give you cash. It’s fast, easy and the company will even send you a box and pay for shipping.”

Snow in Nashville

The biking librarian’s bike ride to the NSCC campus. Cold, but fun!

Nashville State Community College and Bicycles

The college has a 30-year-old bicycle parking policy that says no bikes in the middle part of the campus. Is that bike friendly? It certainly does not encourage sustainable transportation or healthy lifestyle. The bike racks are in the parking lot and one is next to portable classrooms. That certainly does not encourage faculty, staff or students to use bicycles as transportation.

This is what was on my bike when I parked my bike under cover on a rainy day. The bike was not in anyone’s way. The Peg Studio does not have a bike parking rack. The correct location would be the Student Services Building parking lot.

Come to the Mayfield Library and check out our “Bicycles as Transportation” exhibit.

Jan/Feb 2012

Bicycles as transportation

Check out how you can use your bicycle as transportation in Nashville.

This is near the Riverfront Train Station in downtown Nashville.

Bicycle parking at NSCC is out in the car parking lot. Cars can actually park closer to the buildings than the bikes. Bikes are not allowed in the interior of the campus.

2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner can carry about 250 passengers. This blog was viewed about 1,100 times in 2012. If it were a Dreamliner, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Local Volunteer Opportunities

RideforReading.org delivers books to low income schools and neighborhoods via bicycle.

Help-Portrait.com takes free portraits of people who could not afford them.

Build bike lanes and they will ride

Check out this articles about bike commuting.

http://www.good.is/posts/if-you-build-bike-lanes-they-will-ride?utm_campaign=goodtweet&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Tennesseans Against Fracking meeting! (Sat., Nov. 3, 2012)

Let’s represent TN students at the first-ever Tennesseans Against Fracking meeting! Momentum is really building around the issue of fracking in the state, and it’s the perfect time for students to really get involved in stopping fracking in the state.

Here’s the meeting info —

Date:  Saturday November 3, 2012

Time:  8:30am-10:30am

BREAKFAST POTLUCK! Bring something delicious if you can!

Address:  2630 Malden Drive, Nashville,Tennessee 37210

Contact: annahaislip@comcast.net; 615-504-8286

Contact Kelsea Norris at (770) 401-7911 or kelsea@cleanenergy.org if you need more info!

PS
For more into on fracking in TN, check out this page: http://www.tcwn.org/frack … and to learn more about fracking in general, check out Gasland on Netflix!

Bike share program

Read what the University of Massachusetts – Amherst:

http://www.umass.edu/livesustainably/projects/bike-sharing-program

It’s through their Campus Sustainability Initiative.

“So Practical, It’s Radical” College Video Contest 2012

“The Rainforest Alliance challenges you to submit an animated or live video that documents what you are doing on your campus that is “So Practical, It’s Radical!” How are you making your campus more sustainable? Have you started a recycling program, created a school garden or taught a class about campus sourcing? Grab your video camera, smartphone or other filming devices and submit a two-minute video about your sustainable initiatives on campus!”

So Radical, It’s Practical

Recycled cardboard bicycle

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/37584656″>Izhar cardboard bike project</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user4499227″>Giora Kariv</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

Student’s Guide to the U.S/ Energy Policy

Student’s Guide to the U.S/ Energy Policy

“This guide takes the reader behind the curtains of American politics and policy development to shed light on the handful of fossil fuel-based companies that are pouring money into Congress and the media in an attempt to undermine America’s ability to confront the climate change crisis.” From the National Wildlife Federation for Campus Ecology/

An Environmental Checklist

http://green.thefuntimesguide.com/2012/08/green-checklist.php

See how many of these things you can do.  The planet will thank you.

 

Environmental Green Living Company

Green-24-7

http://www.green-24-7.com/

“Supplying the Nashville area with products that will make it simple to take the first step toward a more sustainable lifestyle!”

Earth friendly products for everyday use.

Fundraising ideas for organizations.

Bicycle safety education

A new app to share bicycles!

Social Bicycles, lets you find a bike, reserve it, walk to it, unlock it, and ride it to your destination, then return it to and bicycle rack.Bicycle and apps

Climate Solutions University: Forest and Water Strategies

Special ALERT for TN, KY and NC Communities:

 2013 Session

Call for Applications and Webinar Invitation

 Water and forest stewardship are essential to creating climate resilience. This year’s record breaking heat and drought, plus increasing rates of flood, fire and invasive species, are all clear evidence of changing climate trends. Are you ready to join the four southeastern communities that have participated in climate adaptation planning so far?  Applications are now open to rural communities interested in developing an effective climate adaptation plan plus implementation support that brings climate resilience to your community.

Rural communities in TN, KY and NC are especially encouraged to apply. A 30-minute briefing session on the CSU Program and application process will be held for Southeastern communities, including time for your questions. Please register for the webinar and review the program application information at the links below.

Free Southeast CSU 2013 Briefing Webinar:

Friday, July 20, 2012 at 11:30 am Central / 12:30 pm Eastern

Register Here

 

Applications and scholarships are now available for the 2013 session of Climate Solutions University! Click Here to Apply Now!   Assess and Respond to Climate Related Risks

Climate Solutions University (CSU) programs offer North American (primarily U.S.) communities the opportunity to assess and respond to climate-related risks that may be threatening their infrastructure, budgets and resident well-being.  Through the development of forest, water, economic, and climate vulnerability assessments, participating communities can move forward with solutions that are urgently needed for local resilience. This year, Canadian communities are also encouraged to apply. Our curriculum breaks a complicated and often overwhelming process into manageable components.   Now in its third year, the program has impacted 19 communities across the U.S. Our unique training and individualized coaching model helps rural leaders develop: Technical skills to conduct complex research and design adaptation plans, Communication skills to convey the importance of climate adaptation, and Political skills to unite disparate perspectives, find common ground on a divisive issue, and motivate the public to support leaders in taking action to implement on-the-ground change. We offer two levels of participation to suit your community’s needs: Climate Adaptation Plan Development Program (up to 8 positions available) Climate Solutions University’s (CSU) online curriculum, webinars, and community calls will coach your stakeholder team through in-depth assessments of the local risks and opportunities related to climate, forest, water, and economic conditions. You’ll then synthesize your findings into a local climate adaptation plan. Find example plans from current participants here. Climate Adaptation Plan Implementation Program (8 positions available) Receive group and individual support for converting existing plans into action.

 

Could your organization or community benefit from: Being a member of a strong (and growing) network of rural leadership teams equipped with the skills to address climate change in their communities? Learning from a new model training that supports the sharing of strategies and expertise? Expanding your leadership skills? Transforming related planning by adding climate, forest, and watershed-based strategies? Increasing fundraising capacity? Developing new policies and practices that ensure economic stability, community health, and forest and water resources? Saving costly consultant fees? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then consider applying to the 2013 session of Climate Solutions University. Our Partners

This educational opportunity is being conducted in collaboration with these partner organizations: Model Forest Policy Program, Cumberland River Compact, and Headwaters Economics If you have additional questions about our programs or the application process, please contact Community Coordinator, Jeff Morris via email at:  jeff@mfpp.org, or by telephone at: (530) 355-9880. Thank you again for your interest in climate planning! Nancy Gilliam, Ph.D.                          Gwen Griffith, DVM, MS Executive Director                              Program Director Model Forest Policy Program             Cumberland River Compact

National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Program

 23^rd Annual Call for Campus Case Studies

 Submit a case study on your campus sustainability efforts and/or green jobs training programs.

Review the submission guidelines and submit today! (template available)
Submissions are due August 3, 2012. (extensions available)

 BENEFITS TO CAMPUSES:

• Share your efforts with campuses nationwide (NWF’s Campus Ecology case study database is accessed by hundreds of students, faculty & staff)
• Case studies will be shared with our contact list of more than 25,000 students, faculty and staff, plus our social media networks
• Document of your efforts in a searchable database (searchable by topic, state, year and school); the database has more than 650 case studies!
• National press release promoting the 2012 case studies

Each year NWF’s Campus Ecology program publishes case studies contributed by its members and partners showcasing their campus sustainability practices and global warming solutions for the past school year (2011-2012). NWF will release these illustrated reports in Fall 2012 in our online searchable case study database, one of our most popular resources. Colleges and universities throughout the U.S. have made great strides toward addressing global warming and protecting wildlife and habitat. We invite you to share your success stories, and let other campuses learn from you! 

There are case study guidelines and a template (to help you begin).

***Schools are welcome to submit more than one case study if you are working on multiple projects in different areas of sustainability and green workforce development. Case studies can focus on completed projects/programs or ones still in development.

Please contact Campus Ecology with any questions:

campus@nwf.org
703-438-6000
www.CampusEcology.org

London Summer Olympics 2012 Library Exhibit

Come check out the library’s books about the Olympics.

Tour De France Book Exhibit

Check out the library’s books on bicycling, and ride along with the Tour de France racers this mouth.

Have a mobile device?  Checkout the TDF challenge at Map my Ride.

GV1043.7

Bicycle for a blind rider

Interesting…Derek Roncaioli Helps Bike Rider For Senior Project

 

New book in the NSCC Mayfield Library

Coal River. By Michael Shnayerson. About mountaintop removal coal mining in West Virginia.

Call number: TN805 .W4 S56 2008

SheRides Cycling Blog

About SheRides Cycling.

For women who ride bicycles.

Bicycle Month Library Exhibit

May is bike month. Check out ways to use your bike to get to work or school. It lowers your carbon footprint, is good for your health, and most importantly it is a fun way to get around. Come visit us in the library! 

For bicycling as recreation go to: GV1043

Bicycling as transportation: HE5736

Wildflowers on the Richland Creek Greenway

The flowers are beautiful along the Richland Creek Greenway. Take a break and discover this beautiful little piece of paradise right behind our college. We are a part of the Richland Creek Watershed and need to make sure it is protected. Come check out the library’s environmental exhibit. The library has a new book called Weeds of the South (SB612 .S85 W44 2009). We also have a lot of other books about how to take care of our home, the Earth.

Showy Evening Primrose

Rose Vervain

Red Clover

Smooth Vetch (Native to Europe) Found all over Tennessee along roadsides , fields, and waste places.

Privot Hedge (an Invasive species)

Rough Fleabane

Crown Vetch

Carolina Falsedandelion

Smooth Vetch

Yellow Goatsbeard

Indian Hemp (May-July)

Purple Coneflower (not the Tennessee Coneflower) — June

Cleaning up the Eartth

The Environmental/Biking Librarian cleans up Mt. Juliet.

Earth Day exhibit in the library

 

National Environmental Education Foundation

Free Fundraising Webinar

The National Environmental Education Foundation hosted Developing a Fundraising Plan, a free webinar. To paraphrase the sagely advice: “No one plans to fail, they just fail to plan.” The same applies to fundraising. Laying out a strong plan before you start a campaign helps to ensure the success of your organization’s efforts. Learn the various aspects of a fundraising plan including goals, organizational assessment, timelines, fund diversification, identification of donors (and the “donor pyramid”) and evaluation. This webinar, facilitated by of The Association of Partners for Public Lands, discussed how to design a fundraising strategy and tackle the problems frequently found at each stage of the fundraising process.

NWF: Campus Ecology Student Webinars

April 18 Webinar:
Eco-Reps – Student Sustainability Educators

Join this webinar and learn about our new guide, Student Sustainability Educators: A Guide to Creating and Maintaining an Eco-Rep Program on Your Campus

This new resource, co-published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and National Wildlife Federation, features more than 18 campuses and their efforts to design, implement and evaluate an Eco-Rep program. This webinar will spotlight four campus Eco-Rep programs, including Babson College, University of Pennsylvania, Western Washington University and Lehigh University. This webinar is being hosted in partnership with AASHE and facilitated by Dr. Christina Erickson from Champlain College, author of Student Sustainability Educators.

The free webinar, with Q&A, will begin at 2:00pm Eastern (NY time) and end at 3:00pm. Participants will receive instructions two days before the conference. Participants that want to participate via the phone only can request a copy of the presentation; options are available to receive audio by phone or computer.

 

 

More upcoming opportunities:

US Green Building Council Community Green Chairs – Deadline for Applications is April 13

The Center for Green Schools at USGBC seeks to recruit and train five mid-career professionals to serve as Community Green Chairs. These Volunteer Chairs will work with USGBC National to support green building education and training efforts at community colleges, and will lead the development, implementation, management and growth of Community Green program activities in their region.

April 16-17, 2012: Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference, University of Maryland

This conference will include directors and staff from sustainability, facilities, health & safety, campus planning and business offices, as well as other stakeholders and partners in sustainability. The 2012 conference tracks are life cycle of the built environment, community connections, campus as a learning laboratory, fostering behavior change, and strategic implementation. National Wildlife Federation will host a workshop on campus sustainability as hands-on training and co-host a workshop on the Campus Conservation Nationals, resource use reduction competition.

April 17, 2012: EPA Region 6 Conversation with Universities for Earth Day Webinar

The “EPA/RSC R6 Converses with Universities” webinar will focus on Sustainability. Sala Senkayi will provide a short introduction, followed by David Reazin who will go over Water Sustainability, Joyce Stubblefield will discuss Development and Redevelopment, and Eugene Thilsted (2011 RSC Chair) in addition to Stacy Murphy will both present a segment on Integrated Pest Management (aka IPM). This webinar will serve a relevant purpose of informing the general public of how EPA deals with Sustainability across the Agency’s many Divisional Programs. The webinar is on April 17 from 2:30-4:00pm CDT; click the link above to join on April 17.

May 10-11, 2012: Good Jobs, Green Jobs in Detroit 

The Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference will feature workshops covering topics such as workforce development, clean energy manufacturing, transportation infrastructure investments, emerging green sectors, worker safety and the financial tools needed to build the green economy. National Wildlife Federation will host a workshop on community colleges and their successful programs and partnerships for emerging green sectors.

Bikes and libraries: double-barreled independence | Atlanta Bicycle Coalition

Bikes and libraries: double-barreled independence | Atlanta Bicycle Coalition.

Bicycles and libraries just go together!

Both represent freedom.

Riding a bike to the library is the best.

Bicycles are good for the environment and your health, too.

Reading and bicycling are both just plain fun!

Moving in Harmony

Moving in Harmony is an educational campaign to increase safety for all users of the road in Nashville. Mayor Karl Dean announced the program today at Riverfront Station as part of the unveiling of the Music City Bikeway.

•  Moving in Harmony is an advertising and marketing campaign to address ways for motorists to drive safely on Nashville streets when sharing space with pedestrians and cyclists, while additionally educating cyclists and pedestrians on adhering to road rules ensuring their own safety.

• Over the past 10 years, Nashville has added 200 miles of sidewalks, totaling close to 1,000 miles of sidewalks citywide. Additionally, the city has 133 combined miles of bike lanes and shared routes.

•  Moving in Harmony is supported through Nashville’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work Grant, which is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with the Metro Public Health Department.

•  More information is at http://www.nashvitality.org/movinginharmony.

Using LEED on Your Campus: NWF webinar 3/22/2012

Join NWF for an exciting webinar, Using LEED on Your Campus: How to Make the Most of Green Building Planning and Implementation for Your Buildings Old and New.

This webinar is being offered in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools.  

Where: WEBINAR – online and phone. Dial-in and URL information will be sent via email two days before the webinar. Presentations are available upon request for attendees unable to participate online.

When: Thursday, March 22, 2012, 2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern – NY time)

Contact us by email campus@nwf.org or by phone 703-438-6262 with questions or presentation requests. Thank you.

Registration closes at 12:00 pm on March 22nd.

The Greenforce Initiative is a partnership of Jobs for the Future and National Wildlife Federation.

Date: Thursday, March 22, 2012
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

If you’d like to attend this event you can RSVP online.

Student opportunity: MobilizeU Competition

http://www.earthday.org/MobilizeU

 AASHE has partnered with Earth Day Network for the launch of MobilizeU, an international collegiate competition calling upon students to mobilize their campus communities around four weeks of environmental activism surrounding Earth Day 2012 (March 29 – April 29). Students worldwide are encouraged to join the movement as a regional coordinator or school coordinator and organize activities including campus clean-ups, new voter registration drives and Earth Day events. Coordinators will share a photo or video documenting their efforts on the MobilizeU Facebook page.

Cycling Pulse Takes Campus Bicycle Programs Mobile

Cycling Pulse has unveiled Web-based and mobile portal Ride Campus for college and university faculty, staff, and students who commute by bicycle.

From: Campus Technology, Feb. 6, 2012.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2012/02/06/cycling-pulse-takes-campus-bicycle-programs-mobile.aspx

Bicycles on College Campuses

“Promoting Pedaling”.  American School and University.  April 1, 2010.

Academic OneFile – Document.

Build a Bicycle — Some Assembly Required

From Nashville Public Radio.

Bicycles are more than just toys.  Listen to this amazing story.

Some Assembly Required – Nashville Public Radio.

Tennessee’s Arbor Day

State Arbor Day celebration is March 2

Ceremonies commemorating Arbor Day in Tennessee are set for Centennial Park in Nashville March 2 at 11 a.m. State and local representatives will make remarks, read the official proclamation and present Tree City and Treeline USA awards.

Co-sponsor Metro Nashville Beautification and Environment Committee will plant three memorial trees and present awards for Arbor Day essays. The celebration is held annually in the city of TUFC’s tree board of the year, which was Metro Tree Advisory Committee in 2011

Recycle your old Greeting Cards with St. Jude’s

From St. Jude’s website:

Recycled Card Program

WE NOW ACCEPT USED, ALL-OCCASION CARDS YEAR ROUND!!

You can mail your donations to:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

Phone orders:
877-977-SJRC (7572)

Recycled Card Program History

Over thirty years ago, wishing to show our donors appreciation for making St. Jude’s Ranch for Children possible, the idea was conceived for turning the previous year’s Christmas cards into “new” cards for the coming season. The recipients were so delighted with their unique “thank you,” they requested the children sell them the special cards. And so, the St. Jude’s Ranch Recycled Card Program was born.

Since then, the program expanded to include all occasion greeting cards…just about anything that starts with a used greeting card. People from all over the world have sent us their used cards!

Operated by Kids’ Corp., a program for the children at St. Jude’s Ranch to learn entrepreneurship skills, the children participate in making the new cards by removing the front and attaching a new back. The result is a beautiful new card made by the children and volunteers. The benefits are two-fold: customers receive “green” holiday cards for use and the children receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of “going green”.

The ongoing support for the Recycled Card Program has been overwhelming! The Program grew and soon we were receiving over one million cards. We have since redesigned the process to more efficiently manage the increased production from the increased volume and we welcome your submissions!

NOTE: We currently have an increased need for both Birthday and Thank You card submissions.

To Purchase Cards:

Cards are sold in packets of 10 for $10.00 and are available in the following categories:

• General Christmas Cards
• Religious Christmas Cards
• Easter Cards
• Birthday Cards
• Thank You Cards
• All Occasion General Greeting Cards

Orders may be placed by any of the methods below:

• By Phone:
  1-877-977-SJRC (7572)
• By US Mail:
  Send your request and donation to:
  St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
  ATTN: Donor Office
  P.O. Box 60100
  Boulder City, NV 89006-0100

To Donate Cards:

We welcome your donation and ask that you please review the below tips before sending your donation. Currently, we have found the least expensive way to mail large quantities of card donations is through the USPS in a Flat Rate Box which holds up to 70 pounds (available at the Post Office).

Card Donating Tips:

• All types of greeting cards, including Christmas are used.
• Only the card front can be used (please check to be sure the back side is clear of any writing, etc.)
• We can not accept Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards.
• 5″ x 7″ size or smaller is preferred.
• Mail donations to :
  St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
  Recycled Card Program
  100 St. Jude’s Street
  Boulder City, NV 89005
• Thank you!

What 10:10ers did in 2011

http://www.1010global.org/2011-roundup/

TASSC Project Proposal

The statewide network of groups like Green Sleeves that we have discussed, TN Alumni and Students for Sustainable Campuses (TASSC), is actually compiling a list of possible projects for schools across the state to work on. You can access a copy of the latest (very) rough draft here: http://tinyurl.com/tasscprojectcopy

New kind of bike that reads your mind!

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/pulse/201112/ring-my-bell-new-bike-reads-your-mind

From Toyota and Parlee Cycles.