OU Libraries Go Green !

GREEN events this week

2011-10-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

This week a lot is happening in Athens!

First off, there will be a workshop on Fermentation Basics October 20 (This Thursday) at 7pm at ACEnet (On Columbus Road). Fermentation is a great, healthy way to preserve your summer produce!! Kelly Shaw will be giving an overview of how to ferment and the health benefits.

Second, the Chesterhill Produce Auction will be putting on the event Old Fashioned Farm Days this Saturday October 22 from 10am to 4pm in the normal location. This is the last auction of the season and will include arts and crafts and homemade food.

This Saturday is also National Food Day and at the Farmer's Market in Athens from 10:30am to 12pm there will be cooking workshops and the annual Chili Bowl!

Saturday is full of local food goodness! To learn about a native fruit called the Persimmon, come to the Wild Foods Workshop at 2pm in Amesville! The workshop is offered by Community Food Initiatives. For event details contact Badger Johnson, 740 – 593-5971.

Photographic Images: A local to global perspective @Kennedy Museum of Art

Come check out the plethora of local food and events!!

Screening of Film

2011-10-17T13:42:00.000-07:00

Check out the film about famed conservationist Aldo Leopold...

Here is a link to the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQED4YEMx9A

“Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a land ethic for our time”

Thursday, Oct. 20^th 7:30pm – 9:30pm

@ Twin City Opera House, McConnelsville

"Wayne National Forest and Twin City Opera House, located in McConnelsville will host a free screening of the film Green Fire. The movie is the first full-length, high definition documentary film ever made about legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold, and how he influenced the modern environmental movement. "

To learn more about the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the Green Fire movie at www.aldoleopold.org.

For more Wayne National Forest information visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/wayne/

Fracking

2011-10-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

Fracking

What is fracking? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14432401

What is local news on fracking?
http://www.collegegreenmag.com/kasich-plans-fracking-for-ohio
http://frackaction.com/fracking-in-ohio

Moving Planet Day

2011-09-20T16:55:00.000-07:00

New to OU? Try visiting the Office of Sustainability's webpage at http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/.

They list upcoming "green" events like the Moving Planet Day in Athens this weekend. To find out more about the event go to their website here :
http://www.moving-planet.org/events/us/athens/528

Help the global fight against climate change by attending Moving Planet Day!

Hopefully you all visited the Paw Paw festival this past weekend. (The Paw Paw is a native fruit to Ohio)

LIBRARY (EM)POWERED: Earth Month 2011 at Alden Library

2011-03-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

The Alden Library Sustainability Group will host Library (Em)powered on Friday, April 15th, 2011 at Alden Library. Library staff and guests will host events throughout the day on (em)powering themes and DIY projects in support of the Ohio University Office of Sustainability’s Earth Month 2011 activities.

BeyondOrigami: Repurposing Bookcovers into Beautiful, Useful Objects

10-11 AM

Alden Library Rm. 319

Fine Arts Library staff will demonstrate how to makedecorative and useful envelopes from beautiful art bookcovers

WindowFarming: Indoor Vertical Gardening in a Window

10–4:30 (on display) Alden Library 4^th fl.

View a windowfarm display with demonstration video of how a vertical garden can be createdin any window from recycled plastic bottles see related website

Dirt! The Movie

12:00-1:30 PM & 3:00-4:30 PM (2 screenings)

AldenLibrary Rm. 319

Soil is the“living skin of the Earth” – find out how humans can act to preserve this vitalresource see film website

DIYBookbinding

1-2 PM

Alden Library 4^th fl

Learn theJapanese stab-binding technique for making beautiful handmade notebooks from found materials

GreenComputing Q&A

2-3 PM

Alden Library 3^rd fl

Ask questions & learn about energy efficientcomputer use

Alden Libraryis also co-sponsoring a FREE screening of the film, Carbon Nation on Wednesday, April 13from 7-9 PM at the Athena Cinema, 20 Court St. (co-sponsored withArtsforOhio and the OU Office of Sustainability)

Fractured Environments Film Series

2011-02-16T19:52:00.000-08:00

Have you seen any films from the Fractured Environments film series at the Athena Cinema this week? You have one day left! There are still three more films to catch, and best of all the admission is FREE!

4 pm Rivers and Tides profiles artist Andy Goldsworthy, who creates extraordinary art from nature

7 pm On Coal River a former coal miner fights to move an elementary school away from a toxic strip mine

9 pm Gasland explores natural gas "fracking," a practice that exploits large amounts of natural gas lying beneath us

Hope to see you there!

WINTER QUARTER 2011

2011-02-03T14:13:00.001-08:00

The best of all possible worlds - we are promoting other areas on campus doing some kind of Environmental film event!

Friday, February 4 @ 7p @ Baker Center for FREE
Living Downstream

The film and discussion is sponsored by the Center for Health and Environmental Justice, Ohio Environmental Council, Ohioans for Health, Environment and Justice, Ohio University Environmental Studies, Rural Action, Sunday Creek Watershed Group, Southeast Ohio Watershed Council, Beyond Pesticides Ohio, Ohio Citizen Action and the Ohio Hospital Association.

NEXT UP:
FRACTURED ENVIRONMENTS

(link to Facebook Event page --- more to come)

Fall Quarter Sustainability Film Screening

2010-10-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

Come see “The End ofthe Line,” the ONLY sustainability film that will be shown this quarter at AldenLibrary, and it’s a biggie !

“Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals withoutseafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop,think and act”—Film website.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Alden Library Friends Room 319

5-7 PM

Free and open to all. Please come join us!

Presentedby the Alden Library Sustainability Group

Food & Community: Come to Eat, Come to Listen, Come to Share!

2010-04-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

Alden Library's last Earth Month 2010 event will be BIG so don't miss it! Ronda Clark, executive director of Community Food Initiatives will join us to talk about CFI's work with food security in Appalachia including:

gardening programs
workshops
seed saving & composting
food donations

Our session will be accompanied by fresh local refreshments, so come join us around the table!

Wednesday April 28th
12-1 pm
Alden Library 319

Image:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinkrejci/ / CC BY 2.0

Heart & Soil Film Screening Next Wednesday w/ Guest Art Trese

2010-04-16T06:35:00.001-07:00

The film Heart & Soil, a documentary on sustainable agriculture, will be shown at Alden Library's next Earth Month event. Please join us!
Wed. April 21
12 - 1 pm
Alden Library Rm 319

We are also very much looking forward to our guest for the session, Prof of Plant Biology Art Trese, who will lead a discussion about his work with community gardening & sustainable agriculture. Here's a video of Prof Trese and OU students at work in the gardens:

Worm Circus Roundup

2010-04-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

A big Thank You to all who made our worm composting workshop on Wednesday a great success -- Thanks to all who helped with the planning, the publicity and the setting up. And Thanks to Will Dewees, our worm expert extraordinaire. Most of all, Thank You to all who attended -- we had our largest audience yet with nearly 40 people!

Will showed the audience that worms need the following to stay healthy and transform food waste into compost:

air ~~ moisture (but not too much!) ~~ darkness ~~ food scraps (no protein)

Read more about the worm composting tips Will presented in today's Post article

Will at the Athens Farmer's Market

Worm composting book recommended by Will:

Appelhof, M. (1982). Worms eat my garbage (1st ed.). Kalamazoo, Mich., USA: Flower Press.

Photos by Sherry DiBari

Worms & Dirt Workshop (Getting Your Hands Dirty Optional)

2010-04-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

Worms & Dirt: Managing Food Waste in a Very Small Space
Wed. April 14
12-1 pm
Alden Library 4th fl patio

Learn about producing food & managing food waste in a very small space. Guest Will DeWees (whom many of you may know from his worms & daffodil sales at the Athens Farmers Market) will demonstrate how easy it is to construct a small-scale worm composting box, and if time permits we will also learn a little bit about gardening in small containers that you can place anywhere there is sun. We will also have a "worm-knowledge" contest and some free giveaways (taking worms home is optional!)

Follow up to Grain Food Workshop

2010-04-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who attended our first Earth Month event, "Grain Food: Building a Regional Staple Food System," and a special Thank You to our guest, Michelle Ajamian, for leading a really interesting discussion about growing staple food crops such as amaranth & black beans locally.

Here are some links we found later about work of the Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative:

Michelle & Brandon were recently featured in Utne Reader complete w/video interview
Keep current with the activities of the Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative on Facebook, including lots of photos
Recent Athens Messenger story
ASFC blog that includes info about the Shagbark Seed & Mill Co.

Also, here is the website address for OEFFA (Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association)

Photo by flora.cyclam on Flickr

Short Films on Food

2010-04-08T20:16:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are links to the free online short films we showed on food -- check out these sources for many more short films on environmental topics:

Media that Matters Film Festival
Good Food: A Collection of Short Films on Food & Sustainability
featuring
"The Meatrix"
Louis Fox / Sustainable Table, Free Range Graphics

Prelinger Archives -- historic ephemeral films produced from 1927-1987. Many topics are represented, but here are some on food:
Miracles in Agriculture (12:49) / Seed for Tomorrow (19:55) / It Takes Everybody to Build This Land (20:00)

Live Earth Film Festival
Award-winning filmmakers were commissioned to create awareness-raising short films.

First Alden Library Earth Month Event This Week!

2010-04-05T07:18:00.000-07:00

Please join us on Wednesday to hear about a very interesting local sustainable food project -- growing grains in Athens -- yes, right here in Ohio! We will also be showing some classic food film shorts to get the discussion going. Open to all Athens students, faculty, staff & community. Refreshments provided.

Building a Regional Staple Food System
Michelle Ajamian & Brandon Jaeger
Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative
Wed Apr 7
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Alden Library Rm 319 (Friends Rm)

See FRESH tonight at Baker Center!

2010-04-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

The new documentary film FRESH will be shown tonight at Baker Center Theater at 7pm. This is a late addition to the Office of Sustainability's Earth Month Calendar so spread the word!

Celebrate Earth Month at Alden Library

2010-03-31T09:13:00.000-07:00

OhioUniversity Libraries will continue its Sustainability Film/WorkshopSeries by sponsoring four events in conjunction with the OU Office of Sustainability's Earth Month 2010 activities.

We have planned a great lineup of workshops, films and speakers onfood-related issues each Wednesday in April from 12-1pm at AldenLibrary. Come join us!

Wed April 7 -- Grain Food: we will kick off our Earth Month serieswith some film shorts about food, and speakers Michelle Ajamian &Brandon Jaeger of the Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative will shareabout their experiences with growing staple grains in Athens.

WedApril 14 -- Worms & Dirt : learn about producing food and managingfood waste in a very small space! Guest Will Dewees will demonstratehow easy it is to construct a worm composting box. Participants willalso learn about growing a garden in a container. There will be freegiveaways & prizes!

Wed April 21 -- Heart & Soil: a short documentary film about community gardening with a post-filmdiscussion led by Art Trese, Associate Professor, OU Department ofEnvironmental and Plant Biology.

Wed April 28 -- Food &Community: guests from Community Food Initiatives will talk about CFI'sprograms & ways the community can become involved. Withrefreshments from local sources.

For questions or information, contact:

Alden Library Sustainability Group

This series is part of Earth Month 2010: Roots of Sustainability, sponsored by the OU Office of Sustainability http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/EarthMonth2010.htm

New Recycling Options at Alden Library

2010-03-09T20:02:00.000-08:00

Check out this great new recycling bin on the 2nd floor of Alden Library!

The OU community can now recycle batteries, cell phones, printer ink cartridges and CFL bulbs in this handy receptacle. Thanks go to Ron Young, Ben Shender and Ed Newman for making this happen.

You can find this bin in the Learning Commons near the technology help desk.

Film about Fair Trade

2010-02-23T18:02:00.000-08:00

What is fair trade? Why is it important? How do I know if products are fair trade?

If you've ever asked these questions, come to our last sustainability series film this week and get some answers!

Film: Buyer Be Fair
Wed. February 24th at Noon & 5:30
Alden Library Rm. 319

See the Buyer Be Fair website

Presentation: Living Green in an OU Dorm

2010-02-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

From composting to clothes drying, find out how to save the planet from right inside your own dorm room!

Living Green in an OU Dorm
Wed, Feb 17
Alden Library, Rm 319
12 Noon / repeats 5:30 PM
Presented by OU Office of Sustainability Eco-Reps

Watch Today's Film Online!

2010-02-10T19:02:00.000-08:00

Weather kept you home today? Luckily you didn't miss a minute of today's short film, The Story of Stuff because its available online.Watch it here at the Story of Stuff Project website .

Also check out The Story of Stuff Project website for more information and other videos such as The Story of Bottled Water and The Story of Electronics.

The Story of Stuff - Resources

2010-02-10T14:39:00.000-08:00

First off you can watch or download the film from the story of stuff website.

The website also contains a factsheet and links to more information if you'd like to dig deeper.

Here is a New York Times article on teachers showing the film in their classes.

Reducing Home Energy Use

2010-02-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

Sorry for the delay, but here is the powerpoint presentation I gave on 1/17/10 and again on 2/4/10. I added some publications I like (and used for the presentation) and some sources to get some of the supplies you might need to save energy in your home.

Best of luck,
Ron

Reducing Home Energy Use

Upcoming Film: The Story of Stuff

2010-02-05T06:47:00.000-08:00

Next Wednesday we will be showing the short film, The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard. This film will really make you think about the roots of American consumerism and how it has escalated to unsustainable levels.

The Story of Stuff (20 min.)
Alden Library Rm. 319
12:00 Noon
(2nd showing @ 5:30)
Audience discussion afterward

Transition Town - INFO from Workshop

2010-02-03T11:50:00.000-08:00

During the lunchtime workshop some ideas, websites and suggestions came out:

Transition Town, Southeast Ohio - SE Ohio's new website for transition town group.
Giant Pool of Money produced by NPR and This American Life. Listen to episode or download transcript. An excellent explanation of economics and the housing crisis.
Athena Cinema, Thursday @ 7p: Helen Nearing: Conscious Living/Conscious Dying

Wednesday Workshop: Transition Town

2010-01-31T16:40:00.000-08:00

What is a Transition Town? Can Athens become one? Come find out at a free workshop Wed, Feb 3 at Alden Library.

Transition Town: Creating local resilience in light of Peak Oil, Climate Change & Economic Crisis, Ben Shender

Wednesday, Feb 3rd
Alden Rm. 319
12:00 PM / 5:30 PM (come either time)
Free & open to all -- please come join us!

The End of Suburbia?

2010-01-25T06:23:00.000-08:00

This Wednesday, January 27 Alden Library's Winter Sustainability Film Series will continue with a look at Peak Oil and the changing landscape during The End of Suburbia.

Film: The End of Suburbia
Alden Library Rm. 319
Wed Jan 27th 12:00 and 5:30

Bring something to eat, bring a friend, and bring your questions for our discussion to follow!

see the film's website

Workshop: Reducing Home Energy Use

2010-01-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

Take an hour and learn how to do something positive about your ecological impact on the earth!

Reducing Home Energy Use
Ron Young, presenter
Noon, repeats 5:30
Alden Library Rm. 319

Climate Change Resources

2010-01-11T08:36:00.000-08:00

Climate science is a complicated field, made only more difficult for the layman by attempts to increase scientific controversy by capitalizing on remaining questions and the nature of scientific inquiry (nothing is ever proven in science, only proven beyond a reasonable doubt). Below are several sources for more information:

www.realclimate.org

Climate Science by Climatologists. Their postings deal with technical issues, but are generally approachable by anyone with a science background and are very responsive to their (quite substantial) comment threads.

http://www.ipcc.ch/

Here you can download the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. The IPCC is generally considered the consensus opinion of hundreds of scientists and researchers around the planet. As such it is in some ways also the "best case" view, as it consists only of the most unimpeachable research and predictions.

http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/nacc/midwest.htm
This is the US National Climate Assessment for our area. Check it out!

New Film Series Lineup for Winter 2010

2010-01-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

Consciousness: Films and Workshops to Change the World, a quarterly series about becoming more sustainable is back with a brand new lineup!

The series will run every Wednesday at Noon with a repeat session at 5:30 from January 13th to February 24th in the Friends of the Libraries Room on the third floor of Alden Library. All students, faculty, staff and community are invited. This week's film:

Wed. Jan. 13 at Noon & 5:30 Everything's Cool
Learn how despite a veritable mountain of evidence, climate change continues to be at the center of controversy.
see all upcoming films/workshops

Bring something to eat, bring a friend, and bring your questions for our discussion to follow!

Brought to you by the Alden Library Sustainability Group at Ohio University.

Film Series: Let's Talk About Water Jan. 9-14

2010-01-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

Arts for Ohio's monthly Film Series at the Athena Cinemais currently running a series of films about water. These films range from long to short, documentaries to experimental. The films run all week and address many issues about water such as the "ownership" of water (does anyone own water?), the beauty of water and conservation.

Arts for Ohio Cinematheque: Let’s Talk About Water

Free and opento the public – all OU staff, faculty, students and the community.

Visit the Athena Cinema website for a daily complete list of films and times.

Sustainability Film / Workshop Series for Winter 2010 -- New Time!

2010-01-07T06:37:00.000-08:00

Consciousness: Films and Workshops to Change the World, a quarterly series about becoming more sustainable is back with a brand new lineup!

The series will move from Sunday evenings to every Wednesday at Noon with a repeat session at 5:30 from January 13th to February 24th in the Friends of the Libraries Room on the third floor of Alden Library.

Wed. January 13 at Noon & 5:30 Film
Everything's Cool will show that despite a veritable mountain of evidence Climate Change continues to be at the center of controversy.

Wed. January 20th at Noon & 5:30 Workshop
Learn how to take your impact into your own hands with Ron Young's presentation Reducing Home Energy Use.

Wed. January 27th at Noon & 5:30 Film
We will look at Peak Oil and investigate the changing landscape during the End of Suburbia.

Wed. February 3rd at Noon & 5:30 Workshop
Learn about Transition Town and how we can use it build locally resilient networks to help fight against Climate Change and Peak Oil in an impacting presentation by Benjamin Shender.

Wed. February 10th at Noon & 5:30 Film
The Story of Stuff takes us on a whirlwind tour of where our stuff comes from and where it goes.

Wed. February 17th at Noon & 5:30 Workshop
From compost to clothes drying, the Ohio University Office of Sustainability Eco-Reps will show you how to save the planet from the comfort of your room in our final workshop of the quarter Living Green in an OU Dorm.

Wed. February 17th at Noon & 5:30 Film
Ending Consciousness for this quarter, Buyer Be Fair will talk about the benefits and opportunities represented by the fair trade movement.

All students, faculty, staff and community are invited. Bring something to eat, bring a friend, and bring your questions for our discussion to follow! Brought to you by the Alden Library Sustainability Group at Ohio University.

Life Running Out of Control

2009-11-09T18:19:00.000-08:00

Alden Library Sustainability Film Series (SustainaFilm)
“Life Running out of Control”
Sunday, November 15 @ 6p
Alden Library Room 319, Friends of the Library Room

A film showing problems with genetic modifications, and unethical uses of genetic studies. Justice and control issues surrounding genetically modified organisms is spotlighted. Genetic modifications replicate themselves, and so over time the contamination becomes greater rather than dissipating.

Bring your DNA, grab a snack and raise your awareness!

Another University Library Film Series

2009-11-07T17:29:00.000-08:00

The library at the University of North Carolina Greensboro has been doing a sustainability film series since 2007 . (so I guess we didn't invent this idea :)There are some great films on this list, including King Corn, which we have at the library for check-out.

From the documentary King Corn
Ian Cheney (left) and Curt Ellis taste their harvest in Greene, Iowa. Photo by Sam Cullman

Check out other videos at the library
See the King Corn website

The Story of Stuff

2009-11-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who attended and helped to organize Alden Library's second film of this quarter's Consciousness Film Series, The Story of Stuff.

We had a lively discussion, shared some snacks and learned more about consumption patterns affecting the planet. Some further resources related to the film from the SOS website:

Want to watch the film again? Learn about what you can do? Check out The Story of Stuff website, where you can view the film, learn how to host a Story of Stuff screening of your own and how to become more active in limiting unchecked consumption of the world's resources.

Also check out The Story of Stuff Facebook Group

Film Series Screening Sunday, Nov. 1st

2009-10-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

Consciousness: Films to Change the World
Sunday: Nov 1, 6 pm
Alden Library Room 319
Free and open to the public
Refreshments and discussion!

This week's film: The Story of Stuff
"A fast-paced, fact-filled look at the under side of our production and consumption patterns, with a special focus on the United States. All the stuff in our lives, beginning from the extraction of the resources to make it, through its production, sale, use and disposal, affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view."

Come see the latest film in the series! View the film's website here

Participants are encouraged to bring their own drinking vessel, but cups will be provided (the post-consumer recycled ones are just expensive!)

This Blog Needs a "Logo" !

2009-10-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

How about a ginko leaf logo in this blog's header? Anyone know how to get or make a nice graphical image (not a photo) that we can put with the blog title up above?

I was thinking of this ginko leaf used by the Friends of the Libraries

This might be a little too fancy for Blogger... Word Press is more customizable.....

Photo Credits

About this Blog

2009-10-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

OU Libraries Go Green is a blog written by Alden Library staff interested in "greening" OU Libraries and helping the Libraries do its part to support the efforts of Ohio University's Office of Sustainability.

Our intention is to use this blog to post the following kinds of things:

ideas for making our building & our workspaces more environmentally-friendly
sharing tips for greening our environments at home
local sustainability event announcements

The idea is to share this blog not just among OU Libraries staff but with the larger community of OU students, faculty, staff as well as the Athens community. Anyone reading this blog may comment, with the understanding that the blog administrators have the right to delete inappropriate or off-topic comments. If you would like to help contribute posts to this blog let the blog administrators know !