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Go  Local!  See  why  buying  local  is  all  the  rage  on  page  2.

Day  in  the  Life  Ever  wonder  who  provides  all  those  local  products  

in  the  grocery  store  and  in  our  campus  

cafes?  Meet  one  of  Ames’  local  farmers  

on  page  3.

Eating  by  Example  ISU  Din-­‐ing  is  buying  local  and  organic  produce  for  

campus.  Learn  more  about  their  Farm  to  

VEISHEA  Festivities  See  page  5  for  ways  you  can  Live  Green!  at  

VEISHEA.

Live  Green!  Photo  Gallery...  page  6.

LIVE  GREEN!Monthly

April  2011

What’s Inside:Issue  1  -­‐  Volume  6

April  22  is  Earth  Day!

for  events  

taking  place  

on  campus    

and  in  

the  Ames  

community  

to  celebrate  

anniversary  of  

Live  Green  holiday.

Happy  Earth  Month!

 This  is  certainly  true  at  Iowa  State  University.    

Just  take  a  look  at  the  Live  Green!  homepage  

and  check  out  the  Earth  Week  Calendar  that  

Pantelis   Korovilas   (Live   Green!   Campus   and  

Community   Engagement   Intern)  has  put   to-­‐

-­‐

thing  for  everyone  taking  place  during  Earth    

-­‐

Lawn  during  Earth  Day;

Enjoy  GREAT  Earth  Week  specials  from  ISU  

Dining;

Bring  in  your  old  books  and  swap  them  for  

new   ones   at   the   annual   Green   Umbrella  

Book  Swap;

Meet   sustainability   leaders   from   student  

the  community  during   the  Earth  Day  Sus-­‐

tainability  Fair;

Sell   and   trade   your   outdoor   gear   at   Jax  

Take  advantage  of  FREE  days  from  the  City  

of  Ames  for  garbage  and  yard  waste;

Join  the  BioBus  Launch  Party;

  And   the   list   goes   on   and   on.   ISU   and   the  

whole   month   of   April   (at   VEISHEA   too!)   –  

 April   is  also  a  month  when  visions  of   fresh  

fruits   and   vegetables   start   dancing   in   our  

heads.    This  issue  of  Live  Green!  Monthly  cel-­‐

of  Ames’  local  producers.

-­‐

-­‐

to   stop   with   one   day   or   even   one   month.    

Earth  Day  can  be  any  day  and  every  day.

Merry RankinDirector  of  Sustainability

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has  handy  signs   that   tell  you  exactly  how  

bio   about   the   local   farmer.   Look   for   the  

‘Buy   Local’   sign   at   various   dining   centers  

grown  locally.  Click  here  

farmers’  market  and  restaurants  that  serve  

local  foods  near  you.    

  Another   way   to   buy   local   products   is  

through  a  Community   Supported  Agricul-­‐

ture   (CSA)  program.  CSA  has   recently  be-­‐

come  a  popular  way  for  consumers  to  buy  

-­‐

tain  number  of  “shares”  to  the  public.  The  

share  can  consist  of  a  box  of  vegetables  or  

fruits  and  even  meat.  Members  of  the  local  

community  can  then  purchase  a  share  and  

receive   a   box   of   seasonal   produce   each  

week  throughout  the  farming  season.  

This   is  a  wonderful  way  to  meet   lo-­‐

cal  farmers  and  know  directly  where  

your  food  is  coming  from.  Click  here  

to   see   a   list   of   Iowa   CSA   programs  

    Ready   to   dig   in?   There   are   many  

guides   to   buying   local   including   Sus-­‐

  a   website   devoted   to  

-­‐

tled  

 and  

100-­‐Mile  Diet    to  help  get  you  started  

on   your   local   food   journey.  

Why  YOU  should  be  doing  it  today!         By  Ashley  Loneman

Buying  LocalD

o  you   ever   wonder   where   that  

tomato   you’re   slicing   came  

probably  not.  With  the  U.S.   im-­‐

porting  about  one  third  of  its  tomato  con-­‐

get  to  you.  

-­‐

then   sprayed   with   chemicals   to   control  

weeds  and  stave  off  insects.  While  your  to-­‐

into   trucks   and   hauled   to   your   local   gro-­‐

cery   store.   If   that   tomato   you’re   holding  

-­‐

er  buying  locally  grown  produce  where  the  

time  from  garden  to  market  is  in  a  matter  

sustainable   and   keeps   the   local   economy  

running.  

 What  exactly   is   ‘buying   local’?  While  the  

-­‐

buying  local  means  buying  foods  that  have  

been   produced   within   a   100-­‐mile   radius  

and   are   in   season   in   your   area.  Whether  

environmental   sustainability   or   simply  

sustainable   farming   methods   they   incor-­‐

chemicals   they   use.   Knowing   exactly  

what  is  in  your  food  will  help  improve  

able   to  choose  products   raised  with-­‐

hormones.

is  to  reduce  “food  miles.”  “Food  miles”  

refers   to   the  distance  a   food   item  trav-­‐

els   from   the   farm   to   your   home.   Think  

about   the   fact   that  a   typical   carrot   trav-­‐

-­‐

releasing  carbon  dioxide  and  other  pollut-­‐

ants  along  the  way.  Large  amounts  of  pa-­‐

order  to  keep  fresh  food  from  spoiling  as  it  

is  transported  and  stored  for  long  periods  

-­‐

sible  to  reuse  or  recycle.  Buying  local  prod-­‐

packaging  and   reduces   your  environmen-­‐

tal  footprint.  

buy   local   is   knowing   where  

your   money   is   going   –  

straight   into   the   local   econ-­‐

of   every   dollar   you   spend   on  

local  products  goes  directly   to  

can  keep  on  providing  you  

with   fresh   and   sustainable  

businesses   support   social  

sustainability   by   bringing  

together   members   of   the  

community.   By   buying   from   local  

local  jobs  stay  secure.

-­‐

small  by  choosing  one  food   item  to  focus  

Explore   your   local   farmers’   market   and  

look   for  or   request   local   produce  at   your  

grocery   store.    

cents  of  each  dollar  spent  by  

the  consumer  on  local  foods  

goes  back  to  the  farmer.

dinner  travels 1,500  miles

Did  you  know

80-­90

Consuming  just  ten  percent  

more  local  produce  in  Iowa  

emissions  by   7million  pounds

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A  Day  in  the  Lifeof  a  Local  Farmer

by  Caitlin  Jones

Wearing  a  white  and  green  baseball  

cap  and  layers  of  clothing  protect-­‐

man  ready  to  spend  a   long  day  on  an   Iowa  

farm.

enough  to  set  Corbin  apart  from  many  farm-­‐

ers.

where  he  earned  his  degree   in  Community  

-­‐

-­‐

-­‐

with   the   goal   of   providing   local   communi-­‐

in  a  Community  Supported  Agriculture  (CSA)  

-­‐

shares.

-­‐

lot  of  hard  work.

-­‐

says.  

 While  taking  care  of  emails  and  scheduling  

takes   up   this   farmer’s   early  morning   hours  

-­‐

Corbin’s  day  will  begin  with  the  sun.

must  always  keep  an  eye  on  the  weather.  If  

-­‐

the  month  of  August.

 “A  lot  of  crops  are  ready  to  harvest  in  Au-­‐

-­‐

noon.”  Corbin  says.  

they  harvest  all  crops  by  hand.

 While  much  of  the  produce  that  Tabletop  

-­‐

restaurants  like  Vesuvius

farmers’  own  dinner  tables.  

Corbin  says  that  the  hardest  part  of  his  job  

the  most  rewarding  aspect  is  feeding  peo-­‐

community.  

 “We  would  like  to  be  seen  as  a  place  that’s  

well   known   in   the   community   and   pro-­‐

can   come   out   and   feel   comfortable   and  

connect  with  other  families.”  Corbin  says.

 No  two  days  in  the  life  of  Chris  Corbin  are  

the   same.   The   jobs   change  with   the   sea-­‐

of  his  crops.  

 “A  day  in  the  life  of  a  beginning  farmer  is  

-­‐

but  there’s  always  that  fear  that  crops  will

-­‐

ple  of  years  of  experience.”

-­‐

-­‐

-­‐

oughly  enjoys  what  he  does.  

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LIVE  GREEN!  Spotlight

 

 

Celebrate  Earth  Day  April  22   by  Tyler  Pals  and  Ashley  Loneman

produce  on  the  ISU  campus  thanks  to  a  program  

called   Farm   to   ISU?   Live   Green’s   Ashley   Lone-­‐

-­‐

AL:  How  did  Farm  to  ISU  begin?

KM:

-­‐

-­‐

ships  with  many  farmers  and  agricultural  orga-­‐

Iowa’s  agricultural  economy.    

AL:  How  do  you  select  farmers,  or  how  do  farm-­‐

ers  get  involved  with  Farm  to  ISU?  

KM:  ISU  Dining  has  a  set  list  of  requirements  for  

-­‐

-­‐

they   are   able   to   sell   their   products   as   long   as  

materials   to   help   educate   the   ISU   community  

about   whose   products   we   purchase.   To   learn  

more  about  the  farmers   involved  with  Farm  to  

here.

in  working  with  Farm  to  ISU?

KM:   Increasing   the   amount   of   product   pur-­‐

Agriculture   to   support   the   training  and  educa-­‐

local  foods.

-­‐

gram   to   the   ISU   community   through   informa-­‐

-­‐

nity  on  the  importance  of  the  program.

 Look  for  the  Farm  to  ISU  signs  at  various  loca-­‐

the  Memorial  Union  and  MU  Market  &  Cafe.

 Click  here

1green’  lifestyle  really  started  with  the  

 “What  was  the  purpose  of  Earth  Day?  How  

-­‐

that  the  state  of  our  environment  was  sim-­‐

-­‐

behalf   of   the   environment   and   invited   ev-­‐

carried   the   story   from   coast   to   coast.   The  

-­‐

inquiries  poured  in  from  all  across  the  coun-­‐

-­‐

rum  to  express  its  concern  about  what  was  

-­‐  and  they  did  so  with  spectacular  exuber-­‐

ance.  

 It  was  obvious  that  we  were  headed  for  a  

spectacular  success  on  Earth  Day.  Earth  Day  

worked   because   of   the   spontaneous   re-­‐

sponse  at  the  grassroots  level.  We  had  nei-­‐

million  demonstrators  and  the  thousands  of  

-­‐

pated.  That  was  the  remarkable  thing  about  

Earth  Day.  It  organized  itself.”

-­‐

impact   the  world  we   leave   for   future  gen-­‐

  Earth   Day   is   vital   in   reminding   us   of   our  

important.  

 ISU  students  recognize  this.  

tag.

  “I   think  every   student   should   think  about  

how  they  live  their  life  and  how  this  impacts  

  A   number   of   campus   events   have   been  

-­‐

sored   by   the   Green  Umbrella.   The   fair  will  

feature   campus   and   community   organiza-­‐

take   place   in   front   of   Parks   Library   allow-­‐

more  about  these  groups.  Another  event   is  

a  book  swap  in  the  Memorial  Union.  People  

can  bring  in  used  books  and  choose  to  either  

trade   them   in   for   another   book   or   donate  

books  to  others.  The  Browsing  Library  in  the  

-­‐

on  during  this  week.   I   think  that  ever  since  

-­‐

of   Sustainability]   enables   ISU   to   grow   and  

Peterson  said.

Week   on   campus   include   Keep   Iowa   State  

-­‐

campus  sculptures  on  the  south  side  of  Mor-­‐

rill   Hall   in   the   Anderson   Sculpture   Garden.  

The  ISU  Council  on  Sustainability  will  also  be  

bulbs  in  front  of  the  Parks  Library.    

-­‐

ness  and  involvement  in  living  green  makes    

largest   civic   observance   in   the  world.   Click  

here  for  many  more  events  taking  place  dur-­‐

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LIVE  GREEN! Events

April  Opportunities

VEISHEA

 Washington  D.C.

Earth  Week:

Browsing  Library  Magazine  

Sale

Green   Umbrella’s   Book  

Swap   and   Sustainability  

Fair

ISU  Council  on  

Sustainability  CFL  Light  

Coal

Go  Green  during  VEISHEA!

3  Things  You  Didn’t  Know  

ISU   Dining   purchases   local   foods   from  

without  leaving  campus.

Director  of  Sustainability

Ashley  Loneman

Campus  and  Community  Engagement  Intern

Contact  Us!

The  2011   Iowa  Renewable   Energy  Associa-­‐

  is   the  only  

event  of  its  kind  in  Iowa  hosted  by  the  Iowa  

at  the  Iowa  Memorial  Union  at  the  Univer-­‐

sity  of  Iowa  in  Iowa  City.

speakers   and   workshops   covering   renew-­‐

-­‐

will   have   a   strong   focus   on   Bright   Green  

Business.

-­‐

quartered   in  Washington  DC   and   Lou   Li-­‐

-­‐

here

Interested   in   carpooling?   Contact   Merry  

11-­‐

16

18-­‐

22

28-­‐

May  

1

Follow  

Us:

Special  Thanks...Caitlin  Jones -­‐

nior   in   Journalism  and  Mass  Communica-­‐

Tyler   Pals

-­‐

of   the   Live   Green!   Monthly   and   helped  

make  this  issue  a  success!

Iowa  Renewable  Energy  Association  Symposium  and  Exposition

-­‐

quickly   approach-­‐

ing!   VEISHEA   2011  

will   take   place   April  

11-­‐16  and  has  a  variety  of  events  to  keep  

everyone   from   children   to   adults   enter-­‐

tained.   While   you   are   out   sampling   the  

-­‐

 Leaders  for  a  Sustainable  Community  will  

host  ‘green  tours’  around  the  ISU  campus.      

The   student-­‐led   tours   are   approximately  

on  the  hour  while  VEISHEA  Village  is  taking  

will   highlight   the  

new  LEED  Buildings  

on   the   northwest  

side  of  campus  and  

other   sustainable  

Community  table.  

-­‐

BioBus -­‐

for  CyRide  buses.  Team  PrISUm

will   be   around   campus   include  

The   GreenHouse   Group   and   numerous  

Green  Teams.  

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At  a  Glance:  Stash  the  Trash  and  Earth  Hour    Iowa  Staters  and  Ames  residents  bundled  up  and  came  out  1,000   strong   to   “Stash   the   Trash”   on   March   26.   Together,  they  collected  over  four  tons  of  trash!  

    After   they  were   done   “stashing,”   ISUers   took  part  in  Earth  Hour  activities  (focused  on  reducing  energy   use   by   turning   off   their   lights)   including  

-­pus.  Thanks  to  everyone  who  helped  make  ISU  and  Ames  cleaner  and  greener.