Just some of my thoughts on the sustainability project.

I am working on getting more recycling bins in the school, because we only have one and it is in the lunchroom. People are not willing it walk all the way down there to throw a plastic bottle. It is much easier to just throw it in the garbage. Having the bins, however, will stop us from doing that and will save our environment in the long run. If one school makes a difference, then hopefully other schools will follow our example and we can make even the slightest dent in the garbage that is piling up on the earth. 

Today, Me and Nicholas had a very nice chat with Chris Kennedy (the educator) He explained a lot about how energy has a lot to do with sustainability. He gave us questions and we gave him questions and in return we learned something about each other and something about Solar One.  In the area there’s a power plant and a gas station, so ironicilly Solar One is in between the two.  I think it’s a symbol showing that no matter how small you are you can still save.  What I recognized about the place was how small it was.  I thought it would be huge but really it’s about the size of my apartment, maybe smaller.  So he then took us outside and showed us the Stuyvasent Cove Park.  It’s made of recycled benches, and native plants so it really was a sustainable park.  He also, showed us the compost bins.  I learned a lot about solar one today and I think I have a lot of info for the paper we need to right We are meeting on Monday at around 5 for an interview -David 

On Saturday, March 8th, Micki and I went to meet/interview Peter Hoffman at the Farmer’s Market. We spent about an hour and a half touring the market with him, and asking him questions about his passionate realtionship with sustainability, and how the market plays such a huge role in his lifestyle, and with his various restaurants.
~Lilly

On Saturday, March 8th, Micki and I went to the Farmer’s Market to meet up with Peter Hoffman, one of the people we are working with for our sustainability project. While giving us a private tour of the market, Peter explained to us his general process in getting food for his resaturants (specifically Savoy). He showed us how he picks his vegetables and who some of the important people are who work with him every week. Peter introduced us to many of the farmers he sees everyday, and in turn they eached spoke to us about their relationship with sustainability, and what they are doing to help. Through meeting many of the farmers working at the market, Micki and I learned how difficult it is to do things locally, and how challenging it is to accomplish things the “simple way” (which i found slightly ironic.) While Peter was shopping around (this time only for his own family’s dinner), Micki and I got the chance to interview him on his connection with sutainabilty, and creating food in a healthful way for our environment. One of the things he explained to us (which perhaps stood out as the most memerable thing he said to us- for me), was the the name “organic” can be twisted. This had never occured to me before he explained what he meant. He said that cows can be tortured, and kept in cramped, un-healthful conditions, but fed “organic grass,” and “organic corn,” then the lable will read “organic meat” when packaged, when what you are really getting is tortured meat. He pointed out to us how a lot of the time, lables leave out things, making their produce seem as though it has better quality than it does in reality. We continued to talk and tour the market with Peter for the durration of about an hour, continuously learning more about his role in making our world more sustainable.

Yesterday I had an interview with Kevin Uhlingheur. I spoke with him about the initiatives of Patagonia and many of their campaigns. He talked about how they recycle used fleeces and plastic bottles to make clothes. He also discussed how Patagonia uses 100% natural coton without pestasides. He told me a lot of information about saving the national wildlife refuge and my topic. He also talked about roam free.

I interviewed Kevin from Patagonia

In the interview I was interested in one of Patagonia’s campaigns. It is known as “Freedom To Roam.” What this campaigns is all about is helping animals have a safe environment to migrate from and into as the seasons change. For example the bears when moving to warm places during the summer usually are forced to travel over highways or through suburbs to migrate. This program is raising money to ease a large strip of land in the rocky mountains that gives bears and other animal a safe place to migrate to and from.

Today I went to the Solar One building and had very nice chat/meeting/discussion with Chris Kennedy from 4:30 – 5:30.

Today I went to Solar One’s considerably small building.  Actually it wasn’t much of a building but more of a shack.  This “shack” wasn’t really any old shack it hand a roof tiled with solar panels it is a completely “green” building and is right next to Stuyvesant Cove Park. I met Chris Kennedy there who was very nice.  Then in the middle of our discussion David (8th grade) walks in.  So after a really interesting discussion with Chris all of us (David, Chris, and I) go to Stuyvesant Cove Park and take a walk while Chris is still explaining really interesting facts that I can use in my exposé.  I am definitely going back to Solar One next Monday and will probably interview Chris as well as Mark Silberberg.  (some example facts: there are 20 to 30 power plants distributed all over the five boroughs//In twenty years time we will be at our maximum level of pollution tolerance if we did any more damage we could be a serious threat to peoples lives unless we do something about it…)

            I went to a meeting in Leila’s room, in which two representatives from the City Arts Project talked to us about what they do, which is “Global Heart Warming.” They help the environment by creating art and warming people’s hearts all in one project, which sounds difficult to do, but they do it. They are currently focusing on New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damaged, and everything still isn’t completely back to the way it was, and many people there have a horrible living. What the project is doing is having kids paint doors for the people whose homes are in not very good condition. Not only will it help the families by providing doors, the hand painted door will send the message that people care about them, and will warm their heart.

            I learned that sustainability isn’t all about keeping the earth green. It can also be a mental thing as well as a physical thing—cheering people up who are in tough times can be sustainability just as much as a solar panel is because it sustains the people mentally and helps them get on with their lives. A door that is thoughtfully painted and thought out could bring a smile to a Katrina refugee’s face, making their life better.

            I decided (sadly) not to continue with this group, even though I think what they are doing is amazing. I’m not much of an art person, and I really want to concentrate on doing a good job with Grace Hwang because I love working at that center a lot. I also don’t think I would have enough time to do a second sustainability group that meets very frequently, particularly with the robotics tournament so close. However, I know that the people who did continue work with this group will do an amazing job, and I can’t wait to see the final project. 

After my fiasco with Coco Vino’s representative, Alicia, by getting there one minute too late. I sure hope that this new appointment with Peter Hoffman will go smoothly. We have scheduled an appointment on the 18th at the Farmers Market. Unfortunately one of my group members will not make it (Hannah Rifkin). But Lilly and I can handle the whole thing. We plan to interview Peter and take him to each stand and ask him questions about each one. With this information we hope to make a good project on April 30th. By now we have already interviewed Alicia of Coco Vino and on the 18th Peter Hoffman of the Savoy. 

When my group finally got an appointment I missed it. This was due to the fact that there was a misunderstanding and I showed up on-time at the wrong location. On Saturday, however, I finally got to meet one of our sustainability interviewees. He is the owner of a sustainable restaurant and has been for 17 years. Lilly Day and I took him to the Farmers Market and asked him a series of questions. We asked him what food he buys and how much he uses. We noticed that he had a special bond with almost everyone there; he had all their cell phone numbers and knew all their names. He seemed very passionate on the subject  of sustainability. We also got to talk with some of the farmers there who were his friends.We interviewed two farmers: one a pig farmer and  the other a vegetable farmer. The pig farmer told us what constitutes “organic” by law. WMP only gives their pigs high grade, specific grains, however each pig gets a minimal amount of room. But they are classified organic. Whereas, the pig farmer we met has over 200 acres of roaming and grazing land. She can not, however, feed her pigs the highest quality food, so her meat is not classified as organic. The vegetable farmer also had a troubling story to tell. He toll us that in 2006 the number one sold vegetable was potatoes followed by onions and then carrots. In 2007, however, onions lost second place and carrots moved up. This was due to the fact that corporate farms had an over stock of onions. The farmer, who was dependent on onions lost a lot of funds. Although he grows a lot of other vegetables, his income is dependent on the consistent sale of onions. I hope to interview more people and groups since the experience was fun and very interesting ~~~~~ MICKI~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We contacted source and made a date (24th, Saturday). We will work in a kitchen 🙂

Woke up at 10 am. Was at market at 10:15 am, and interviewed Peter Hoffman. Was back at home at 11:50.   (18th of March)

When I talked earlier about starting a “run” to raise money for mosquito nets to help prevent Malaria, I did not explain what a serious disease Malaria is and how many lives it takes. “… nearly 3,000 kids die every day in Africa from malaria. And according to the World Health Organization, transmission of the disease would be reduced by 60% with the use of mosquito nets and prompt treatment for the infected.”(Sports Illustrated 5/1/2006, Vol. 104 Issue 18, p78). The number of kids dying every day in Africa is the equivalant of 10 times population of the LREI lower school and middle school combined. You also might wonder what malaria is.”Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted from one human to another by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.” (The NEW YORK TIMES http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/malaria/overview.html?8qa&scp=1-spot&sq=malaria&st=nyt). Malaria attacks the red blood cells causing the chills, muscle cramps, sweating, convulsions, vomiting, and in some cases a coma. If the disease is not treated the victim may die. Some people native to malaria stricken places have developed an immunity to the disease, but visitors must take extreme precautions to defend themselves, such as wearing protective clothing, using repellant, and even taking anti-malaria drugs.

Lately, along with working with natural beauty salons, I have been working on the door project with Lilly, David, Brianna, Jack G., Amy, Henry, Emma, and others. We have divided the door in to about a dozen sections shaped like puzzle pieces. I am working on the piece in the top left hand corner. I plan to paint vines cascading down the side of the doors with small flowers all along them. There will also be vines going along the top of the door and intertwined in the vine there will be a circle sign that says love in psychedelic letters. I don’t think I fully understand the projects purpose and how it is going to help children in schools in New Orleans recover from Katrina. The doors are pleasant to look at, but other then that I don’t think they serve any purpose other then the one they were made for. Maybe that’s what these children need, some thing nice to look a, some thing pleasant to the eyes.

Over the coarse of our sustainability project, my eyes have opened to many new things. What would happen if everyone ate organic food, and if fast food companies shut down? I think that everyone would be much happier. People might not be struggling with health or weight problems, and since food can change how you feel, people might just feel better when they eat better. I am sure the government knows about the the factory meat and what happens, but do they care? They are suppose to be for the people, but possibly causing people to be unhealthy and sick isn’t my idea of the government being for me.

Replayground’s visit was canceled, because the person that Cameron had contacted never responded before the date we had to leave. Otherwise, WEACT and I are organizing a clean-up day–to clean up around a community park in West Harlem–and it will be sometime around next week. We are also scheduling an interview which will be around that same time frame. I’m fairly upset that my group didn’t get to visit Replayground, because I was looking forward to work with recycled materials. Otherwise, I’m looking forward to the Earth Day event, especially since we are volunteering in the event and setting up. The event takes place on the 19th at 163 W. 125th St. & ACP Jr. Blvd., and if anyone else wants to come along they can. The event is more of a celebration recognizing the efforts to slow down global warming by a milestone.

Maya PH

Today, Ella, Brianna, Amy, Lilly, Cameron, Jack G, Henry, Emma, Maya PH, Aliza, and I met during recess to learn about the sustainability project that will be starting soon. This project is a City Arts Project that will be directed by Paul, an Indian from New Orleans. We will be painting a door that will be given to New Orleans that has messages of hope on it. We will also be including some things about the earth, and ways of saving it. I think I did well by listening to what Paul and the director of City Arts had to say. We didn’t do too much except learn about the arts in New Orleans, and watch a short video of some Mardi Gras dances, but we also had a few minutes at the very end to come up with a drawing of what we might like to paint on the door. I felt very proud of what I came up with, although it is still a work in progress, and I only had three or four minutes. I hope that the more we have to get together and come up with ideas, the more I can get into this project. I was surprised by how much of our music and arts, comes from New Orleans. I’m not sure what my life would be like without Louis Armstrong’s solos, or the Mardi Gras celebrations! I was interested in what other City Arts sustainability projects were being planned, I think that art is one of the best ways to get something across, especially if kids are the ones doing it, because I think people are amazed by what such young people can accomplish. I hope that for the next session I will be able to finish my idea for the door’s design. I enjoyed the first session, especially since I love art, and I can’t wait until the next one if I decide to continue this project.

During recess Taylor, Robbie, Calen, and I met with Phil for about 15 minutes.

Today Taylor, Robbie, Calen, and I went during recess to Phil’s office.  Phil met us in his office and we began a discussion about how we should get two more “green” recycling bins on the 8th grade floor and on the 7th grade floor right next to the water fountain.  How the “green” bin differ from “blue” bins is that you can now throw away plastic bottles, glass bottles, plastic containers, etc. in them.  We are going to talk to Mark next about it and then Calen is going to find a catalog in Tracy’s office and then Phil will purchase the right kind of recycling bin.

Today Maya (P), Ella and I went about talking about the date of the interview. After Ella called Grace, we found that we were all open on the 11th and now we are scheduled to interview her on the 11th at 3:30.
-Calen

Our group (Maya, Ella and I) spent a couple minutes going over the date of the interview. We ended up coming with a date of Friday, April 11th at about 3:30 PM.

On Monday, April 7th, I along with Taylor, Robbie and Nicholas went to Phil’s office in order to talk to Phil about the water bottle situation and about how getting recycling bins that are for bottles will help the school and the the community. The work went quite well and we have accomplished getting Phil’s vote as long as the water isn’t flavored. We will talk with Mark in order to get the new recycling bins.
-Calen

Spent about 10 minutes in Phil’s Office with Robbie, Taylor, and Nicholas talking about why Phil should allow the students to carry water bottles with us as long as they get recycling cans in the hall ways.

Over spring break, my group worked with Mary Cleaver for 2 days. Unfortunately, I was away at the time and couldn’t join them, so instead to make up for it I followed up on the assignment she asked us to do the first meeting. We were given a packet full of books and websites, and were asked to read at least one book and do a bit of research on some of the websites. I’ve since then read most of fast food nation and went on a few of the sustainability websites she provided. I made my computer homepage switch between a few of them, and gotten some people in my family to read fast food nation too. In our next meeting we are going to discuss everything that we have done so far, and what we still may want to accomplish.

  My mother and I have been talking about becoming vegetarians for a few years, but we never had the drive to. We were always going vegetarian for about seven days, then we ate chicken. My mother does not eat beef or pork so, naturally, i did not eat pork. I did eat beef because my father eats both, along with veal. When i was younger, the idea of killing a lamb made me very upset, so I stopped eating veal. I always thought that killing a defenseless animal was wrong, but I never thought about it in depth. When I did start thinking about the way an animal is killed, I always thought that it was a painless procedure. Now, after watching Fast Food Nation I can see that the way I thought animals were killed is not the way it is in reality. The way animals are killed is by being shot in the back of the head with a nail, then being hung upside down. While upside down, the workers cut the main artery, killing them. After the cows are dead, the workers skin them and cut them up. The meat packing industry uses 99 percent of each cow that they kill. The only thing that they don’t use is the eyes and parts of the head. The factories that the meat is cut up in is very unsanitary and very dangerous. There tends to be rats in the factories and when meat falls on the floor, the workers just pick it up and continue with their jobs, as if nothing happened. People also fall into the machines. In Fast Food Nation, one of the machines ends up getting turned on and someone falls in. While, screaming for help, his leg ends up being ripped off and being shredded into the meat. Imagining that I am eating another human being or things being picked up off the floor disgusts me, and is one of the reasons I decided to become a vegetarian. When I told my mom, she was proud of me and asked me to help her become one. My grandmother was also proud and was glad that I was doing what I thought was right. My dad was slightly upset, but was okay with my decision. Everyone had supported me in a big way, and I’m proud to say that all I eat is chicken and fish.  Some people though that I couldn’t go without meat and told me that soon I would start eating it again. So far, I have not eaten beef or pork in over one month. I still have problems giving up chicken, but I am working on that and hoping to be a vegetarian. I have heard, like Ella has, that not eating meat is not going to change anything. The truth is, I do not care if they think that way, but I am doing this for me, and it’s my choice whether I want to eat meat or not. If I can’t change anything, then maybe me and others who team up can change something in the world. In Fast Food Nation, they did a close up of the cows face, and when they did, you could see the fear in they eyes. In her eyes you could see fear, and pleading, pleading to save her, pleading to get her out of there. That is when I realized that animals have feelings and families, just like humans. They feel pain and happiness, just like us. We are killing animals for out own needs. We are being greedy and always wanting something and when we don’t get it, we complain and protest until we do sometimes. If the government did not gives up beef, there would be a riot and many protests until we were able to have out meat again. We are ending lives for out own enjoyment and consumption.

As a note, I posted this originally on the 24th or 25th of January, but the post has been lost in the void of the blog, so here’s roughly what I wrote:

After my last post on Tuesday, I sent each of the grocery chains that I checked that didn’t have RA certified bananas identical business letters (I believe I sent two). In case they didn’t receive it as with the rest of my emails, I sent them through different addresses. Still, neither of them responded, not even with an automated message. I guess that’s for the better in the sense that they actually look through most of their comments as opposed to just sending out an automatic email explaining to us that they thank us for our concern. Still, they clearly didn’t have anything to say to a 14-year-old commenting on the production of their produce, which is kind of what I expected. What’s depressing is that it doesn’t matter to them anyway, not enough people know about the Ranforest Alliance to stop buying their bananas, and either way, they can live without a few customers.

–The Rob

Emailed WEACT to finalize Earth Day event date. Prepared for Replayground visit tomorrow at 2:00.

The date has been confirmed for April 19th for my group to participate in the Earth Day event. Participating in the Earth Day event is very exciting, especially since the event is like a celebration. It is also exciting because originally WEACT didn’t respond to my emails, and it took a long time for them to finally get back to me on the sustainability project. At the Earth Day event, we will set up the event, exhibit items, etc. We also might be able to relieve the exhibitors when they need a break. Currently, my group and WEACT are figuring out where my group will participate in a clean up activity. We were considering either a community area clean-up, or a park area clean-up. Within the next few days, I’m going to focus on getting a date settled before Monday for the clean-up. It’s really exciting to finally get something set up without having to drop it at the last minute, because when I went to organize a date with Tucker Robbins, they never responded after the last email. My goal for now is to specifically focus on volunteering with Replayground tomorrow, and seeing what I can do for them.

Maya PH

My mother, Renee L. Banks has not eaten pork for as long as I have lived and hasn’t eaten beef in more than 5 years. since my mother does not eat pork, I have never eaten pork a single day in my life. Although my mother doesn’t eat beef, I do because I have been eating beef since I was born, she would not make me stop eating it. Sometimes I get weird responses when I say that I don’t eat pork. People say why don’t you eat pork, I say I don’t no I just don’t. No matter what I never have and probably never will eat pork.

Today I was quite late to my sustainability organization because I over slept. when I got to the group I was one hour late, with only one hour left for activities. I ended up walking around and giving people ideas about their projects. I helped with materials also. I don’t think I will ever be late again, I was embarrassed and ashamed. the next time I have something to get to i will set my clock very early.

On Thursday, March 6th, Hannah and I met up with Alisha (the owner and coordinater of Cocoavino) and interviewed her for almost an hour on how she founded Cocoavino, and it’s relationship to sustainabilty. She told us about how she began working for a non-profit organization called IRC with her business partner Avril, she then went to a French culinary institute because she wanted to do something different, something that people would like, but also (i quote from Alisha)”something that spoke to the same values as non-profit work.” The idea of working with chocolate instantey came to her. So in 2005 she founded a kitchen that would do just that, and named it Cocoavino. From the very beginning it was all organic and fair trade, and Alisha soon found a source to buy from called SweetEarth, located in California. She believes, and i quote “to help people in other countires is to buy the goods that they produce,” this is one of the founding ideas of her organization. Alisha buys the produce in that way because it is responiblely supporting a good cause. Her chocolate contains no pestisides, and their goal is to have it be the cleanest and fairest product that they can produce. Everything that the company does is buy hand, helping our earth as best they can. Alisha went on to tell us about a typical work day, and more about her support for agriculture.

Sophia and I met Mary at the place the movie was going to be screened at around 4:00pm. (I forget what the location was called, but it was on West street, btw Bank and Bathune.) First we were asked to cover the windows with pieces of paper so that people could see the movie clearly. After that we had to wipe down all the chairs and tables. Sophia then had to wash the windows in the lobby area, while I had to cut lemons for the drinks. Once I finished with the lemons I was asked to join Sophia and wash windows. Mary then told us that she had brought us dinner and she would treat us to one water each on the house. We ate our pasta salad with lettuce and went back to work. I had to pour the dips into bowls, while sophia had to shovel popcorn into a giant, wooden, woven platter. Then people started to arrive so Sophia and I just went and sat on the couch and waited for the movie to start. After we had waited for half a hour the movie was introduced. They said it came out around 2006, was made by a European documentary filmmaker and that the movie had no dialogue, but did have ambient sound. The movie consisted of 10 minute long shots of European landscape, people spraying plants, debeaking chicks and cutting up meat. In the middle of the movie I went and bought some waters for Sophia and I. Once it was over, around 9:00pm, there was a Q and A with a woman named Anne, I think, and her friend. People didn’t really ask questions, they more just raised their hand and told her how “controversial” it was. Some people said what I thought, that it was fairly benign compared to some other muck-raker movies. People also mentioned the video of the sick and mistreated cows in the American slaughter house we saw in core, the hog epidemic in China and an upcoming meeting for the Green Market. My dad then came and took us home.I learned that there was a epidemic among hogs in China and I have major lemon cutting skills.Ava 

We spent around 3 hours with Mary Cleaver, shopping for fruit and washing potatoes for the movie screening the following day. ava 

Last Wednesday my group and I met Mary Cleaver at the Union Square Green Market. We organized to meet at 9:30 am at the corner of 16th and Union Square West. We browsed through the stalls with Mary while she tested the fruit and vegetables for ripeness. She mentioned that she was interested in installing  a composte system in the kitchen of her restaurant. We talked to a woman that runs a composte plant and would be willing to help Mary. After that we went to buy twenty-four pounds of apples and carried them to The Cleaver Company in Chelsea Market. When we arrived Mary told us that we would be doing some work in the kitchen. She handed us aprons and introduced us to the head chef. He lead us to a giant sink with about 200 potatoes in a cart beside it. We were instructed to pick out the small potatoes, wash them twice, then dry them. After a hour and a half we had washed all the small potatoes plus another 50-ish large ones. I learned that if you want to start composting that you can just bring the waste to a stall at the Green Market. Also that 12 pounds of apples is a lot heavier than it sounds.Ava 

I have created fliers stating the purpose of Against Malaria and promoting the www.AgainstMalaria.com website. I have also sent out an e-mail to Rob Mather, asking is opinion on the fliers. I intend on distributing them over the weekend. My plan is to first and foremost, make many copies of my fliers and cut them out. I then will go to a very popular area, such as an entrance to Central Park, to hand them out to passersby. What I hope to achieve with this is more awareness about malaria. I am not trying to get them to donate money to the website, but I am trying to get them to at least look around the website and tell their friends, who may give charity. Perhaps I would hand one to a passing school teacher, and he / she might be interested and start a project similar to our sustainability project.

I’m actually pretty excited to go out and distribute the fliers I created. I’m excited because I may find and start conversations with people who have similar organizations locally, who I can meet and further my sustainability project. This would be rather good because we can’t meet with Rob Mather and physically help out with whatever he needs; we can only talk to him over the phone and interview him.

Getting the message out to at least one person who gives a donation to the website is my goal for this weekend, and I think I might achieve that, adding one more person to the three million strong donation list.

One hour spent creating fliers for distribution over the weekend; e-mailed Rob for his opinion.

Quinn and I spent an hour looking at the exhibits.  

Today. Thursday April 3rd, Quinn and I went to theCenter For Architecture on Bleaker and McDougal Street. The place we went towas an exhibit open to the public that had a gallery about the new green basedon the Bank of America Tower. The architects of the building are the samearchitects that Quinn and I visited before break.  When showed up todaywere uncertain of how to go about the building.  There was no guided tourof even someone who worked there who was there to answer questions.  Aftera while of walking around in confusion we found what we were looking for whichwas an exhibit on the Bank of America Tower.

The exhibit was filled with green statistics aboutthe building.  Quinn and I collected some that stuck out to us.  

Such as,

-The air inside the building is cleaner then theair outside of it

-56,250 tons of CO2 prevented from entering the atmosphere 

-Roughly 40% of the building materials come fromwithin 500 miles of NYC

-67% of the buildings debris is recycled

 -Since of the buildings main goals is to beenergy efficient their energy use is self generated so is uses around 300% lessenergy then the typical building

-The tower uses waterless urinals, which conserve 3million gallons of water each year.

-The building uses a lot of sunlight for light andit shows 16% of students test scores raise due to daylight

-The building aims to contribute zero output ofstorm water in the cities sewer system

-The building only has 23% energy lost compared to73% or the typical building

-83% of the construction waste is recycled

-90% ofsmug is made from 50% of power plants 

 

Emailed WEACT to organize dates. Called Cameron to get more information for Replayground. Researched WEACT and collected information regarding their Earth Day event.

I did some research on WEACT and sent out a follow-up email to them, to which I have not yet gotten a response. The follow-up email included questions like: “Would it be possible if we participated in setting up for the Earth Day event or volunteered to work in the event? Or, for working experiences, would we be able to clean-up around a park or spread awareness even further with fliers and/or emails?” I was trying to get some information about specifically what we would be volunteering for during our last three weeks of the project. Currently WEACT is having a Earth Day celebration on April 19th on 125th St. in Harlem. WEACT suggested that my group participate in the event (Flier link below). Over this weekend my group–Emma, Aliza and Cameron–are going to an organization in Brooklyn called Replayground located at 476 Union Ave. in Brooklyn. The organization Replayground is a recycled art organization–they make everyday items out of recycled materials–and so we are going over to work there starting at 2:00 on Saturday. To me, the time that we have to get to the organization is fairly late; I would’ve expected an earlier time, like 12:00 or even 10:00. Looking at the map that my group is using to get to Union Avenue, it seems that the location of Replayground isn’t very far, but, according to my mom, it is a long trip by train from the school. I am very excited to work with Replayground because since Replayground works with recycled art, I’m looking forward to maybe building something with recycled materials later on.

WEACT’s Earth Day Celebration Flier:

Click here

Maya PH

hey, today during core cameron showed me this really cool site that talks about this art gallery going on now. it has dumbo oil drums, basically they are cool sculptures and different pieces of art all made out of only oil drums. we are thinking of going to see it one of these days since it seems really interesting. for anyone who seems interested, heres the link below.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/03/recycled-oil-drum-art-exhibition-dumbo-brooklyn.php

——Emma

467 union ave, brooklyn, NY 11211.

thats the address to this studio me and my group members are going to on saturday. the lady who owns it makes all this artwork and cool sculptures out of recycled things. we havent been doing too much because they wouldnt call us back, so this should be a good start. its all the way in brooklyn so we’re taking the train. we’re going to meet at LREI at 2 pm on sat. ill post again after we come back.

my group members are Cameron, Aliza, and Maya P.H ^_^

——-Emma

Today I sold alot of popcorn and made $60.00.

Today, I sold popcorn with Maya. Yesterday, I made the poppcorn with my mom. Today, Lucy made some more. I brought it to school. I made $60.00. Some people made donations. My mom was able to sell two bags of popcorn for $5.00 each. Someone made a donation of ten dollars. I was amazed at how successful this popcorn sale was compared to the bake sale. I think it was because popcorn isn’t messy, I got there earlier, and each bag was only one dollar flat. It was easy for people to buy. And the fact that it was air popped with butter and salt was probably appealing, as well. The popcorn was actually my moms idea. I was really surprised and really happy that I made so much money so fast. My goal for future sales is to make all the prices easy to pay again and get there early again. This worked out really well. I now have two more posts left before I am done. My next post will be the interview for the expose, and the one after that might be more popcorn. I’m not sure. I didn’t really learn anything about the organization’s inner workings or the environment, social justice, or sustainability, but I did help people with malaria. I will send a check for 70 dollars over the weekend to Madness Against Malaria. What I learned about people skills and work skills today is that if you want people to buy something, you have to find a way to say something appealing fast, before they walk too far away. That way they stop and say, ‘ wait, maybe I do want some air – popped popcorn with butter and salt……’ 

This was definitely a success.  

On Saturday, I went at 10am to work at the Greenmarket. When I was almost there, I called Davy who is the volunteer organizer. I don’t think he really knew who I was, but I explained myself to him (he knows Sophie) and he told me to meet him at the information center. I then called Sam and he met me there while I waited for Davy. Davy came after about a minute, and set me up at a goat cheese stand with a woman named Lynne. She told me the basics about what things cost, and right away had me selling the cheese to people. When there wasn’t a customer, we chatted. She had this cute little book full of photos of her goats, and said that there had been 50 new babies born in the past nine days. She was very friendly. At one point she even left my by myself for about 15 minutes while she went to got coffee (and kindly brought me back a hot chocolate.) After warning me to be careful for people who might “target me” and trick me out of money, she gave me a thing to wear around my waist that held all my change, similar to the one I had worn with Stewart. I stayed there for three hours, and at the end she gave me some cinnamon cranberry goat cheese to take home. It was very good! One of the things I noticed while I was there was how much the market had a reel sense of community. All the farmers knew each other, and would chat during the day. Also, all the customers were so friendly, and many were “regulars” and would chat for up to ten minutes. The whole market had such a nice feel about it.

On Thursday, March 3rd, I visited the AIANY Center for Architecture for 45 minutes.

-Quinn