| Construction underway for Luther College High Tunnel |
 In order to extend the growing season and increase the amount of student-grown produce in the cafeteria throughout the year, a moveable high tunnel is being constructed at the Luther Gardens. A high tunnel is a structure with steel trusses and plastic covering that is used to protect plants from the elements and keep them warm by the heat of the sun. This structure will allow student gardeners to grow more crops like mixed greens and spinach throughout more of the year. The structure itself is 30 feet wide and 96 feet long and runs on a track that is three times its length, allowing the high tunnel can be placed in three different positions. Under the guidance of Giles Teslow and Myron Rediske from Faciliites, students from the garden crew and sustainable food systems class are assisting with construction.
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Natural Areas Feature: Flying Squirrel Forest
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Flying Squirrel Forest is an oak-hickory forest accessible from the loop trail  through Luther College's natural areas. This area of Luther's property was acquired as part of a farm in 1929 and was used for grazing until the farm stopped operation in the early 1980's. The forest canopy is dominated by large oaks and hickories, but elm, black cherry, hackberry, and ironwood trees are also common. In the spring, wild geranium and other spring wildflowers can be seen in the woods. For the past five years, land stewardship has worked to cut out invasive species like European buckthorn and honeysuckle, and pull garlic mustard from this forest. This fall, we hope to introduce fire to the forest floor for ecological research, exploring fire as a potential option for further reducing the abundance of invasive species. Flying Squirrel Forest is located just west of Highway 52 and north of Pole Line Road.
- Kimberly Stocks ('12), Land Stewardship Fellow 2014 |
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Upcoming cooking classes on pickles, knife skills, brown bag lunches
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Throughout the year the Center for Sustainable Communities provides opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to experience new cooking skills and techniques through a variety of classes that are offered on campus during shadow block and lunch. This semester, the following classes will be offered, all in Valders 379:
- Pickles! Tuesday, September 30th, 9:45-10:45 a.m.
- Knife Skills Thursday, October 9, 9:45-10:45 a.m.
- Brown Bag Lunches for the New Century Monday, October 13, noon-1 p.m.
- Homemade Stock: Your Kitchen's Best Kept Secret Thursday, November 6, 9:45-10:45 a.m.
- Fall Comfort Food Monday, November 17th, noon-1 p.m.
To read about the classes offered and to register, visit the Cooking Classes website.
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Summer study-away course focuses on spirituality and sustainability in Hawaii
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 The Center for Global Learning has released a new course for the summer of 2015, Paideia 450: Practicing Embodiment in Hawaii. Students of junior and senior standing have the opportunity to explore what it means to approach the human body and the earth as living partners of a sacred reality, co-creating and sustaining all physical and spiritual life. While living and working on an organic farm, students will employ techniques and practices of spirituality, somatic studies, and sustainable organic eco-farming - including harvesting and meal preparation - to critically deconstruct the dualisms between body and mind, secular and sacred, and the material and spiritual dimensions. To read more about the program and to apply, visit the Center for Global Learning website. |
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Farm to School Month connects students with local foods
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 October is Farm to School Month! In partnership with the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative, the Center for Sustainable Communities is helping 10 area schools celebrate this national event in a multitude of ways. The goal is to connect school children with the food they eat. National Farm to School Month was designated by Congress in 2010 to demonstrate the growing importance of farm to school programs as a means to improve child nutrition, support local economies and educate children about the origins of food. Next month ten regional schools will be serving up local food throughout month, providing taste tests in the cafeteria, visiting local farms, and welcoming farmers into their cafeterias. To learn more and to find out what is happening at schools in Northeast Iowa visit iowafoodandfitness.org. Get involved! Join your child for lunch on a local food day and let your school know you appreciate local food in your school! |
Connect with us on Social Media!
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 Looking for other ways to stay connected with Luther Sustainability? Check us out on our various social media sites! Facebook Twitter Flickr Youtube
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LIS has gone green! All classroom, lab, and residence hall printers now have a duplex option, so you can print long articles and materials double sided! For a complete list of all the updated printers on campus, visit the Technology Help Desk Services webpage.
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This newsletter is provided by the Center for Sustainable Communities, which coordinates all sustainability initiatives at Luther College. The mission of the Center is to promote sustainability and be a catalyst for change on campus and in the region. For more information on sustainability initiatives at Luther and the outreach work of the Center for Sustainable Communities, please visit: www.luther.edu/sustainability.
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Tuesday, September 30th- Cooking class: Pickles!
9:45-10:45am Valders 379
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Tuesday, September 30th- Dee Williams Presentation
6:30-9pm Valders 206
Dee Williams is giving a presentation on her experience with micro-homesteading in Washington, and how her tiny house is making a big difference. Read more |
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Sunday, October 5th- ECO Campus Pick-up
3pm Outside the Union
Join Luther's Environmental Concerns Organization in their first campus trash pick-up of the year! Contact duffem01@luther.edu with questions.
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Monday, October 6th- Gardening Series: Cleaning Up and Preparing for Spring
12:15-1:15pm Valders 362
Properly cleaning up your garden in the fall will make your life a million times easier in the spring. Join David Cavagnaro for an informative session about how to clean-up your fall garden and best prepare for spring. Register online
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Thursday, October 9th- ECO Educational Event
10am Borlaug Room
Professor of Anthropology Anita Carrasco will be presenting to the community about her research with indigenous communities and mining corporations in Chile.
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Thursday, October 9th- Cooking class: Knife Skills
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Monday, October 13th- Cooking class: Brown Bag Lunches for the New Century
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 | | Emily Dufford '16 |
Emily Dufford is a junior Environmental Studies major from Stockton, Illinois. She is a student worker for the Center for Sustainable Communities and does such things as coordinate the Caf to Community Program, market and communicate about events and programs, garden and more! Emily is also the president of ECO, Luther's Environmental Concerns Organization. This summer, Emily stayed on campus and completed research on off-the-grid homesteading in Decorah. "I love being able to make a positive change on campus every day when I come into work. It's great being behind the scenes and seeing all the hard work that goes into campus sustainability projects."
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Executive Director- Nourish
Nourish, a non-profit organization, is seeking an Executive Director to be a dynamic and innovative leader in their efforts to create and share local food with struggling families in the Sheboygan, WI community.Read More
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Climate Action Intern- NextGen Climate Action
NextGen Climate Action is looking for Luther students who are interested in organizing other students on issues of climate action. Stipend included.Read More
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Communications Associate- Farm Commons
Farm Commons is hiring a full-time Communications Associate to make a difference in the lives of sustainable farmers through effective media and education campaigns. Read More
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