The Green Cardinal Initiative is a group of students, faculty, and staff at Saginaw Valley State University who are interested in creating a more sustainable future. This website allows students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members to sign up to be a Green Cardinal and to join in the conversation. Based on funding from the Allen Foundation, SVSU’s WIRED grant from the Department of Labor, and the SVSU Foundation we are working on several projects including, recycling waste from our Dining Services into organic fertilizer, creating sustainable hydroponics systems for inner city urban areas, developing renewable options for fossil fuels, Vermiponics, and raising environmental awareness on campus and throughout Mid-Michigan. Please join us by registering as a Green Cardinal !
We are seeking apprentices for the 2009 season on our organic blueberry farm.
Pleasant Hill Farm is located 5 miles from Lake Michigan, just outside of Fennville and has been certified for over 30 years. We provide housing, a small stipend and a fair amount of food, plus a large plot for a garden. Interns would participate in basic blueberry culture, weeding, helping to mow, learning how to brew compost tea and other activities.
The main work occurs in mid-July to early Sept when interns work on the blueberry shaker stacking (literally) tons of berries and then working on the packing line where we sort fruit. Because of the heavy lifting, workers need strong backs and stamina. Other skills that could be learned are: driving oxen, cheesemaking, canning, milking goats, helping with haying. We live off the grid, so can teach basic information about wind and solar and also are traditional Irish musicians.
For those of you who might be interested, there is still space left for
the Hoophouse Workshop on December 18 at the White River Township Hall
in Montague. Please see the attached flyer for more information or see
it online.
Topics will include:
* Design options for a range of costs and sizes
* Construction methods
* Crop selection and scheduling
* Soil preparation and fertility management
* Planting, growing and harvesting methods
You must RSVP to attend. Please contact the Michigan Food & Farming
Systems (MIFFS) office to register at (517) 432-0712. There is no fee
for the workshop, but you must provide your own lunch.
According the latest bulletin from the American Association for Sustainability in Higher Education, many universities are starting programs related to sustainability and the environment. Below is the table of contents from their latest bulletin. To read these articles, go to http://www.aashe.org/archives/bulletin.php.
1. 4 Ohio Colleges Partner to Launch Master's in Renewable Energy
2. U Michigan Provides $365 K for Energy Modulating Tool
3. Cabrillo College Adds New Degree in Organic Food Production
4. New MPH Degree at GWU Focuses on Sustainability
5. Oklahoma State U to Launch Wind Turbine Technology Program
6. U Michigan, GM Partner to Train Alternative Powertrain Engineers
7. Saint Xavier U Opens Office of Sustainability
8. Humboldt State Launches Sustainability Website
9. Shenandoah U Tries More Equitable Salary Increases
10. College Presidents Give Back Pay
11. Northampton CC Waives Tuition for Unemployed
12. Central Lakes College Receives $100,000 for Energy Research
13. Clarkson U Establishes Center for Sustainable Energy Systems
14. U North Dakota to Establish Bioproducts Center of Excellence
15. Notre Dame Hosts Carbon Neutral Football Game
16. U Georgia Holds Green Football Game
17. Harvard U Unveils Green Housing Complex
18. Emory U Breaks Ground for Green Bookstore & Admissions Office
19. Emory U to Build Green Science and Math Center
20. Eastern Mennonite U to Build Green Residence Hall
21. Suffolk U to Renovate Theatre for Student Housing
22. U Oregon to Upgrade Physical Plant
23. U Rhode Island Launches Campaign to Reduce Energy Use
24. Dakota County Technical College to Construct Rooftop Garden
25. Hendrix College Purchases 2 Electric Vehicles
26. U Alaska Anchorage Test Electric-Diesel Hybrid Bus
27. York Tech Begins Producing Biodiesel for Campus Vehicles
28. EPA Announces P3 Award Winners
29. U California, Northern Arizona U Receive Go Beyond Award
30. Troy U Launches Campus-Wide Recycling Program
