What's up with Earth week?

Hey there,
     It's almost Earth day! Pretty exciting. We have a few events planned throughout the week. On Tuesday the 22nd, we are screening Thin Ice at 7 PM in Kessler. It tells human stories about people who study or are impacted by climate change. This screening is offered to signers of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). 
     We're screening Bag It on Thursday at 7 PM in Upper Gage. It's about plastic bags. We're also planning a plastic bag and aluminum can drive for the day after Flunk Day. 
     There is going to be a game night on Wednesday. We're planting a new garden on Sunday! I spoke to Susan Woolverton recently and she said plants are arriving at her house. Should be a great week.

Coe Bikes

     One of my favorite parts of e-club, the Coe bikes are free to rent for students. They are red, single-gear, pedal-backward-to-break cruisers. Then get a bit beat up from time to time, so today (54 and sunny) is the perfect day to fix the bikes up and go for a ride.
     The most interesting problem: a wobbly seat. Luckily, it was an easy fix, just tighten a bolt under the seat. The best thing about single-speed bikes is easy repair.
     One chain had come off, and while putting it back on, I cut my finger (oops). Another good thing about Coe bikes: they're kept close to health services. After a band-aid, I was back to putting the chain on.
     With the fleet of five fixed up, I think it's time to try one for a spin around town.
-Peter

Looking Forward

     It's starting to feel more like spring every day. That means it's getting closer to ordering and planting plants. I peeked under the mulch the other day, and the cardboard is decomposing well. The grass is all gone, and the cardboard is still there, but it is very soggy and thin. Surely any big root could push right through it.
     We have not decided on a planting date yet. The frost date in our area is May 1st, the penultimate day of classes. Finals starts on Saturday the 4th and continue on Monday, until they end on Wednesday.
     Maybe planting a garden is the best finals study break imaginable; maybe people will be too buried in exams and papers to bury roots. The weekend before finals is a solid option, too. In any event, we will be planting a garden before the academic year ends; how close to the end remains to be decided.
     The final, President Phifer approved, plan is looking great. The high points are two dwarf pear trees. They should get anywhere from 10-15 feet tall. We will plant either moonglow or seckel pears. They bear fruit in mid-August or mid-September, respectively. Perfect time for students to enjoy fresh pears.
   

Crow College

   
     Each spring, Coe is inundated by crows. Murders everywhere squawking, rustling, and pooping. Definitely something that makes some students uncomfortable. The groundskeepers aren't especially fond of them either. They had hung a fake dead crow on a tree near Kohwak Village to hopefully scare some crows away.
     One of our member walked past it every day and got the creeps (more so than from regular crows) and wanted it to go away. She brought it up to Environmental Club at a Monday meeting. We started talking to our friends and neighbors and found that they didn't like the crow either.
     On Tuesday, I got an email from a Coe staff member saying that the fake dead crow was gone. Coe is still full of real crows, but no more scary, fake crows.

New Blog, Same Idea

Hello,

We're moving the blog here to cover a broader range of topics that Environmental Club is interested in. Of course the permaculture garden is still important, but there's a lot more going on. Some of the plans for the rest of the semester: a recycling table outside of the café with bottle toss; a series of films during Earth Week; a spring clean up day; bike repair day; and much more!

Peter

Design!

This is what our preliminary design looks like! Here is a link to the full design. There is a prominent bench, an abundance of trees and bushes, and all sorts of cool plants. As is often the case with first drafts it may need tweaked, but we're off to a good start!

Buried in Snow

     It snowed last night. The most snow we've had this winter. I walked by the garden and snapped this picture on my phone--it's not spectacular photography, but it is fun to see what mulch buried in snow looks like. Turns out it looks like snow.

Stay warm, 

Peter