Sustainability Freshman Inquiry

Oct. 28, 2010

Jeff Fletcher

Logistics

• New Reading due Nov. 2 [Corrected!]– Omnivore’s Dilemma Ch. 13-16 – The problem of what to eat

• Continuing 1 on 1 Meetings• TONIGHT: Movie Night (Food Inc.)

– 7:30 sharp, Ondine lobby

• Daily Log:– http://web.pdx.edu/~jeff/courses/sust1011/fall/DailyLog.html – Links to EcoWiki, U.Connect

• Water Footprint Handout– What is an acceptable source– Citations: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

EcoWiki NewsletterOctober 27, 2010

EcoWiki Community,Here's your news update for the week. Enjoy!

 News

Envisioning: PSU as the Sustainable University of the FutureStudents host series of events for Sustainability Education Week

Why Shut Off Your Computer at NightThis November WRC Hosts Social Sustainability Month

 Events

Solutions Seminar: David Orr (Wed, Oct 27 at 5pm)Making & Using Compost at Zenger Farm (Wed, Oct 27 at 6-7:30pm)

Goal Net Zero Interest Meeting by Solar Oregon (Wed, Oct 27 at 6:30-8pm)Idealist Graduate Career Fair by PSU Master of International Management Program (Thu, Oct 28 from 2-9pm)

Welcome Reception for Dr. Robert Costanza by Social Sustainability Colloquium & Network (Fri, Oct 29 from 1-3pm)Re-Use Crafting by Women's Resource Center (Mon, Nov 1 at 4pm)

Sharing Take-Home Stories from AASHE 2010 Conference (Tue, Nov 2 from 12-1:15pm)Fall Green Teams Meeting (Tue, Nov 2 from 4-5pm)

PSU Non-Profit Career Fair by PSU Career Center and Institute for Non-Profit Management (Wed, Nov 3 from 11am-3pm)Solutions Seminar: Joshua Farley (Wed, Nov 3 at 5pm)

Gender Inequality in the Global Economy and Globalization of Western Patriarchal Gender Constructions by PSU Women's Resource Center (Wed, Nov 3 at 4pm)Deep Down at University of Oregon George S. Turnbull Center (Wed, Nov 3 at 6pm)

Campus Sustainability Tours (every Monday from 1-2pm)Campus Garden Tours (every Thursday from 4-5pm)

Take Back the Tap Meetings (every Monday at 2:30pm)Transportation Seminar (every Friday from 12-1pm)

 Opportunities

PSU Business Accelerator Funds Start-Ups (Ongoing)Sustainable Living Roadshow Positions (Ongoing)

Mentor Needed at Tryon State Park (Application Deadline Unknown)Nutrition Education Program Coordinator at Oregon Food Bank (Apply by Oct 25)

OUS Sustainability Center Architectural Intern (Apply by Oct 29)Environmental Club Assistant Coordinator (Apply by Nov 4)

Social Media Internship at Independence Gardens LLC (Apply by Nov. 15)Voices of Climate Change Video Contest (Apply by Dec. 17)

8th Annual EPA P3 Awards (Apply by Dec. 22)Student Sustainability Diary Contest (Ongoing)

Jobs and Internships with the National Council on Science and the Environment (Multiple positions, Ongoing)Bird Safe Portland Survey Volunteers Needed (Through June 2011)

Puta Mona Center for Sustainable Living and Education Internships (Multiple positions)Make sure to visit PSU Career Center's Sustainability Page to find out about green careers and ways to improve your resume!

Find Green Jobs with Sustainable Business Oregon 

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What Qualifies as Organic Food?

• Organic is what the government says it is

• USDA regulates the definitions

• Government does not directly label food as “Organic”

• Instead, the USDA certifies accrediting agencies through the National Organic Program

• European Union is similar

• Pollan p. 131 (comparative lists)

US Government Definitions

• National Organic Program http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateA&navID=NationalOrganicProgram&leftNav=NationalOrganicProgram&page=NOPNationalOrganicProgramHome&acct=nop– What do you notice about this website?

• Organic Food Production Act of 1990• Certified Organic• 7 C.F.R. Part 205

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=9f7d238c82480a19673ba270678268f6&rgn=div5&view=text&node=7:3.1.1.9.31&idno=7

What qualifies as “Local?”

• What is a small farm? What is an industrial farm?

• How many head of cattle?

• How many acres of corn, grass, soy?

• What plant diversity is required?

• What income? USDA $5,000?

• What radius of distribution? 100 miles? http://100milediet.org/get-started/map Eugene, Olympia, The Dalles, Coast

Case study #1: Polyface Farm

• Joel Salatin video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIbXU5iR2P4 (1:42)

Case Study #2: Abundant Life Farm (Dallas, Oregon)

• Abundant Life Farm (Oregon) http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M3686

• http://www.veoh.com/videos/v14930416rdD3sj8g (6:34)

• What did you notice about the chicken coops? (Pollan, pages 126-127)

• How much land did the pigs require?• What did the fences look like?• How big were the cattle?• How do they sell their products?

Pig FarmIndustrial or Local? Organic or Not? How can you tell?

Broiler ChickensIndustrial or Local? Organic or Not? How can you tell?

Cows

• What are they eating?• How much land do the need?• Where does the waste go?

Industrial or Local? Organic or Not? How can you tell?

Social Engineering

Agriculture

Social Engineering Leverage Points

• Policy: Legislation, regulation, standards & guidance.

• Economic or Financial Stimulus: Subsidies, creating markets, pricing, grants and loans, investments.

• Technology: Encouraging inventions, adoption of new technology, implementation on a wide scale.

Social Engineering in AgricultureA mini - exercise

Write down one of each of the following:

• Examples of Agriculture Policies

• Examples of Technologies in Agriculture

• Examples of Financing in Agriculture

Social Engineering in Agriculture

• Examples of agriculture policies– Industrial agriculture (Butz)– USDA definitions & certifications of organic foods

• Examples of technologies– Plant 1 acre in 18 min (King Corn)– GM crops– GPS/Satellite auto-steering (fertilizer, fuel costs)– Soil, nutrient sensors– Feedlots, antibiotics

• Examples of Financing– Public funds make the difference for a corn farmer– Private/ventures in biotech, – agribusiness (Cargill, ADM, Unilever)

Discussion Questions

• Do we have effective social engineering targeted to increase production and consumption of Organic food? Should we?

• Do we have social engineering targeted to increase production and consumption of Local foods? Should we?

• What about water & energy needs?• What about land use?• Who will do the work of local farming?

Omnivore’s Dilemma• Ch 10: Thirteen Ways of Looking at a

Pasture

• Ch 11: The Animals: Practicing Complexity

• Ch 12: Slaughter: In a Glass Abattoir

• Reconciling Livestock and the Environment