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Reclaim Your Holidays workshops offer time to reconnect with true reason for the season
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 Holiday season is nearly here, and with it come the traditions and celebrations that are supposed to make this time of year joyful and meaningful, but that too often make it stressful, expensive, and unfulfilling. Reclaim your holidays this year by building your celebrations around what you find meaningful, memorable, and refreshing. Join one of the workshops for practical tips and inspiration on rethinking and greening your holiday gift-giving, decorating, food, and finances. Share your stories, frustrations, and successes with fellow community members and leave with a plan on how you can begin to reclaim your holidays!
- Monday, November 10th Valders 379 noon-1pm
- Thursday, November 13th Valders 379 9:45-10:45am
The workshops are open to students, staff, and community members.To learn more and to register, visit the website.
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Sustainability staff and students attend U.S. energy policy debate in Iowa City
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On Wednesday, October 15th, staff members from the Center for Sustainable Communities took Environmental Studies students to Iowa City for the Meeting the Renewable Energy Challenge Symposium at the University of Iowa. The group had the opportunity to listen to the debate called "Resolved: That the U.S. Congress should implement a plan to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030." The debate brought in Stanford University's Mark Jacobson and Robert Bryce from the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research to debate the United States' future energy policy. Junior Laura Proescholdt said, "Going to the renewable energy debate made me realize more than ever how creative we must be in meeting our energy needs in the future. Not only that, but how the only way we'll be successful is to approach the challenge with energy and with hope."
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Local Foods Spotlight: Ferndale Market
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Sourcing locally and sustainably produced poultry products is challenging, so we are proud that for the past few years much of the turkey served at Luther has been produced by Ferndale Market in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Located just 115 miles from Luther, Ferndale Market has been family owned and operated since it started business nearly 70 years ago. All turkeys are raised antibiotic-free and roam the pastures of the Little Cannon River Valley during the warmer months. Once they reach market weight, turkeys are taken to Lorentz Meats, also located in Cannon Falls, for processing. This summer Luther's Purchasing Specialist and Executive Chef from Dining Services, Sustainable Foods Educator and Sustainable Foods Intern took a trip to Ferndale Market for a tour. Not only were they impressed by what they saw, they also had the opportunity to hold turkeys! To read more about Ferndale Market and other Luther suppliers, visit the Growing Sustainable Food Purchases website.
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Room-by-room lighting study presents many options for energy efficiency on campus
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This past spring, the Center for Sustainable Communities conducted a  campus wide room-by-room study of Luther's lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning infrastructure. Contracting with Michaels Energy, this study was done in the ongoing attempt to reduce energy costs and the college's carbon footprint. The study produced many options for increased energy efficiency, but they all call for the installation of carbon monoxide sensors, occupancy sensors for HVAC and lighting, multi-level switching, and daylight harvesting. The most cost effective list of options would cost $192,150 to install. These measures would result in $54,615 in annual savings, which produces a total payback of 3.5 years. These measures would reduce 274 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. The college is still in the process of deciding the best option for increased energy efficiency. To read more about the study and Luther's energy and climate goals, visit the website.
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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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Carving pumpkins with your friends or with your kids? There are many different things you can do with the pumpkin after Halloween rather than trashing them! Check out the Luther College Sustainability Pinterest page for some seed roasting recipes, and don't forget to cut up pieces of the pumpkin before putting them in the compost!
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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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Thursday, October 30th- Sustainability Open House
4-6pm Sustainability House
Current residents of the campus Sustainability House will be hosting an Open House for anybody from the Luther community to learn about the features of the house and to meet the residents.
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Thursday, October 30th- Bargain Barn Sale
5-6:30pm Ashmore-Jewell BarnThe Bargain Barn sells a variety of items no longer needed by the College but that are still in good condition. Stop by the Red barn near Baker Village to see what treasures you may find! Open to students and the public. Read More
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Sunday, November 2nd- Buckthorn Blitz
1-3:30 pm Anderson PrairieCome join the Natural Areas crew in the annual Buckthorn Blitz. Volunteers will be helping to cut down invasive buckthorn to preserve the natural plant species in Hickory Ridge Woods. Read more
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Thursday, November 6th- Cooking class: Homemade Stock, Your Kitchen's Best Kept Secret
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 | | Katie Vorderbruggen |
Katie is a junior History and Political Science double major from Champlin, Minnesota. She works as a project manager for the Center for Sustainable Communities. In her spare time, Katie serves as the President of SPOKES, Luther's student led biking club. This year, Katie has led SPOKES in making major changes on campus regarding bike safety education, implementing new bike racks, and encouraging students to rent bikes from Luther's bike co-op. "I work for sustainability because they have offered me wonderful opportunities to help contribute to the community at Luther and in Decorah through subjects that I am passionate about." To read more about SPOKES and Katie's plans, visit the website.
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Rural Caucus Coordinator- Center for Rural Affairs
The Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, Nebraska is looking for a Rural Caucus Coordinator/ Climate and Energy Organizer to build relationships, identify community leaders, and work with other advocacy organizations as part of a coordinated campaign for clean energy. Read More |
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Energy Advocate- Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists is looking to hire an advocate in legislative and regulatory policy positions in key Midwest states. This is a one year position based out of Chicago, IL. Read More
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Marketing and Sales Assistant- Iowa Food Hub
The Iowa Food Hub is looking for a part-time Marketing and Sales Assistant to assist them with customer service and order fulfillment at their location in West Union, IA.. Read More
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Local Foods Program Manager- University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa is looking for a Local Foods Program Manager to coordinate, participate in, and support agriculture-based partnerships for the university's Center for Energy & Environmental Education. Read More
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Policy and Grassroots Interns- National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
The NSAC is looking for a policy and grassroots intern for for the winter and spring, beginning in January 2015 and ending in May 2015 in Washington, D.C. Read More
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