I have had an amazing time this semester getting to know everyone and being involved in a wonderfully informative class that I will be talking away so much knowledge from. Being a Interior Design major, taking Environmental Biology will most definitely be important to me when I become LEED certified and will give me the ability to help my clients pick out the best environmentally sound way to finish there renovation or design.
The final project, I would have to say, was my favorite part of the semester..aside from all the great biking excursions ;)
Creating the 'I Heart BIKE' design will hopefully generate curiosity and awareness, and be used for fundraisers and other community projects to come is a really great feeling!
Thanks everyone for helping in the whole process, and a special thanks to Kristen for sticking it out with me!!
Hope to see you girls in the future!!
Heather
Showing posts with label biking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biking. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Excercising and My Plate
For some reason, I have a mind blockage that, while entering my food intake on "My Plate", relieves you of the exercise aspect of the project. If I do not go over my calorie intake, I feel like I do not have to exercise. Mind boggling, isn't it? LOL! I have managed to walk a little this week, but not to the extent that I like to. I made a conscious effort to park away from the buildings and I also walked up and down the stairs in Main Hall, a couple of times, Monday night. (I was there a little early for class). As for the biking aspect, I have the best time biking. My last adventure was with you all at Salem Creek. I always laugh a lot when I ride. My husband and I have discussed purchasing a couple of used bikes to ride around in the neighborhood. I suppose my concern is my ability to continue biking after this class is over. I do not want to ride for a couple of months and then slowly get out of the habit. That would be a waste of money (that I do not have). In any event, I have a good time biking, laugh a lot, enjoy the outdoors and feel better about myself after the ride. Just like anything else we try to achieve, it takes effort and willingness to succeed. Bike On!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Searching For American ginseng
Today I want with 5 other students to Dr. Eskew's house in Virginia. We enjoyed a day of hiking around her property looking for American ginseng, a medicinal plant we are researching. It was a spectacular day and I had a lot of fun. I also took a bike ride this week on the Salem Creek Trail. With finals fast approaching and lots of things to do, its hard to find time to get in a good bike ride!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Cellphone Used and Brain Activity
Since we did not get a chance to discuss cell phones and their usage during class last week, I decided to find a media article on the subject. This recent article showed that found that less than an hour of cellphone use can speed up brain activity in the area closest to the phone antenna, raising new questions about the health effects of low levels of radiation emitted from cellphones. While the researchers still do not think that cell phone use is harmful, they do believe that new studies need to be performed. Here is a link to the article from the New York Times.
I really enjoyed our class bike ride this week. I had never been on that side of the Salem Creek Trail. The ride was very enjoyable other than the fact that my bike seat was very uncomfortable. I hope we can do one more class ride together.
I really enjoyed our class bike ride this week. I had never been on that side of the Salem Creek Trail. The ride was very enjoyable other than the fact that my bike seat was very uncomfortable. I hope we can do one more class ride together.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Busy weekend for Thru-hikers and TransAmers
We did however, meet a number of interesting people on this trip. Late-April/early-May is the best time to be in Damascus and meet AT thru-hikers. Did you know that hikers have trail names? So instead of meeting Paul and Brian, I met Skink and Red Beard. It is sometimes given to you by other hikers, but some people give themselves the names. What would your trail name be if you had one? I also learned that Damascus is about 450 miles into the AT, so most hikers cant get here much earlier than mid-April, due to winter-weather and that you need to start at the southern end.
One couple that we met were already 3 weeks into their trip. A trip that will take them 3-4 months to complete. Their first stop when they got into town was the post-office. I didn't know that you can mail packages to people to have them picked up along the route. They had received 3 packages, one from each of their mothers and one from a grandmother. The packages were filled with comfort food and little notes of encouragement.
One thing I have to say is that if you are the adventurous type. Take some time off, especially with the still recovering job market, and have an adventure. Even if you cant take the whole summer off to hike or tour Europe, take a month and go do something you've never done, or would love to do more of.
I did crash my bike, this seems to happening more often lately. I am fine, just grated my right shin, which is already on the mend. I just wish we could have stayed longer, but work is a calling, and we both had to get back to reality. I'm excited to spend some more time on the Salem Creek trail.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Promoting Travel to Local Farms
One thing I really miss about not living at home is getting to read the newspaper (in my case, Raleigh’s News & Observer) every day. Now I try my best to read the Sunday paper whenever I am at home, like I did this weekend. I was really thrilled to see this article on the back page of the Life section about travelling to different farms in North Carolina. The article is about a book written by Diane Daniel entitled “Farm Fresh North Carolina”. The book chronicles Daniel’s travels around the state going to different farms, farmers markets, roadside stands and other farm-related places. The goal of her book is to encourage readers to make day trips to some of the destinations included and to increase awareness of all the wonderful farms North Carolina has to offer its citizens. Daniel’s book is divided by region and she offers several different itineraries for each area. The article in the paper included ideas for people in Guilford county that mostly centered around Greensboro. They included visiting the Greensboro Farmers’ Curb Market (the oldest of its kind in the state, established in 1874), the Edible Schoolyard at the Greensboro Children’s Museum (a great way to educate young children about agriculture), and a number of different restaurants (such as Lucky 32). The article, and Daniel’s book, helps to let people know that there are places out there where they can spend some time learning more about their food and having firsthand experiences with how that food is produced.
This week I went to my yoga class and walked for about an hour. I am writing this before our class outing on Wednesday, but I am planning on biking when we go out on the trail.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Environmental Issues From 9/11
I found an interesting article last week that talked about how the dust and debris from 9/11 was so hazardous. I have never even thought about that aspect of 9/11, but the New York Times described it as the greatest acute environmental disaster in New York City. Fires burning at 1,000 degrees created a toxic plume that clouded lower Manhattan and spread to adjoining areas. The collapsing towers pulverized cement and everything the buildings contained, including some asbestos, while the tremendous pressure of the collapsing floors fused materials together in potentially dangerous combinations that scientists had not seen before. It is estimated that between 40,000 and 90,000 workers and volunteers spent time on the debris pile and may have been affected in some way by the dust. A new bill calls for providing $1.8 billion over the next five years to monitor and treat injuries stemming from exposure to toxic dust and debris at ground zero.
This week I was so busy that I did not get the chance to truly work out but, I did do a little walking while I was getting petition signatures.
This week I was so busy that I did not get the chance to truly work out but, I did do a little walking while I was getting petition signatures.
Outdoor fitness update: Mid-April Report
My diet has been a wreck, but I have been cooking more, just traditional dishes that may not be the healthiest. I'm recording it on MyPlate, and it isn't pretty.
Saturday I went to the Piedmont Earth day festival at the Dixie Classic Fair Grounds. I'm very glad they had an indoor option, and it was wonderful to network with all the different vendors and learn about different groups and businesses in the Triad doing work to improve the environment.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Food or Fuel?
This week I read an article from the New York Times called “Rush to Use Crops as Fuel Raises Food Prices and Hunger Fears” (which you can read here) by Elisabeth Rosenthal. This article sheds light on the growing biofuel industry and the way it impacts available food crops. There is a rush to convert energy use to biofuel, and in order to produce this biofuel companies need raw materials like corn and sugar cane. Using these crops for fuel rather than food reduces the amount of food available.
The article gives the example of Thailand and the cassava that grows there. Thailand is a developing nation and its cassava supply is an important source of food for its citizens. Unfortunately, cassava is also an important source of biofuel. In 2009, however, 98% of the cassava that was exported from Thailand was sent to China to be made into biofuel, meaning that there was much less of it available to be sold as food to people who depend on it. This contributes to world hunger and increases issues people in these smaller nations already have with nutrition. Additionally, this shrinking food supply increases prices because there is less availability. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Index estimates that food prices rose 15% between October and January alone. This increase put food prices at their highest since the group started tracking them twenty years ago.
Overall, I found this article very interesting because I had not thought about how the increase of the use of biofuel would impact people in different ways. There must be decisions made about whether these crops should be used for food for people in developing nations or if they should be used for fuel. I think that this is an issue that will need to be studied much more before any decisions can be made, but I also feel that it is important for the people growing these crops to benefit from them rather than seeing them made into fuel that they will not be able to use.
This week I went for a walk in my neighborhood for about an hour. I have also been taking a yoga class at Salem, which I really enjoy, in order to fulfill my physical education requirement.
Monday, April 11, 2011
DC is Where I Need to be
I went to Washington D.C. on Thursday to a rally at Capital Hill. I won't talk about that rally in this, because I'm sure some people don't care or don't want to know, so instead I will discuss the FABULOUS bike culture in D.C.
Soooo many people were on bikes and they were everywhere! I felt weird walking. They had bike rental stations like the one below everywhere. It was really awesome to see that type of metropolitan bike culture.
I set up a meeting with the people in charge of the rat to talk to them about buying organic and local. I just want to go in and hear them out. Sorry I couldn't report on that today!
I walked probably 5 miles and have been able to track my food in take. I like the online option but it just isn't doable all the time. I'm writing my in a personal journal and in my phone.
See ya!
Sarah
Bus with Your Bike. WS Newsletter
Hello all, I found some really cool information pertaining to, being able to bring your bike on the bus. The Winston Salem Transit Authority, (WSTA) (336) 727-2000 along with, Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation 1-800-588-7787 (PART) have bike racks on thier buses. There is a 4 part diagram that explains how to put your bike in the rack. It looks really easy. Just FYI. Another article or article(s) that I found are in the "Let's Go!" Cycling and Walking Newsletter for Winter 2011. It is sponsored by Winston-Salem's Active Transportation. There were several articles from "thanking" Dorris Adams for officially naming the newsletter to bikes being donated by WS DOT. Ardmore Baptist Church has new under shelter bike parking. There is an article pertaining to WFUBMC being recognized as a bicycle-friendly business. There are public meetings to discuss greenways, sidewalk repairs and study areas. Included in the newsletter is a full calendar. I thought this was pretty neat. Evidently, this must be a new newsletter for them to have just picked out a name.
Exploring My Local Farmers Markets
After our guest speaker on Monday I decided that while I was home for the weekend I would check out the farmers markets near me with my mom. I started out our adventure by asking my mom why we did not go to farmers markets and she said it was because they were more expensive and had inconvenient times. We soon found out that both of these ideas were false. We first went to the Apex farmers market which was about 3 miles from my house. It was fairly small and there was no produce yet (too early in the season) but there was crafts, barbecue, and baked goods. It was really nice to meet everyone and they were all very friendly, but because we went when it was cold outside we were the only ones there and felt very pressured to buy everything. The next place we went was a local farmer with a roadside stand. It was also not open yet. We then drove to the farmers market in Cary. It was also very small, but it had produce. When I talked to the farmer he informed me that all his food was grown in a greenhouse. This kind of turned my mom and I off, but we did notice that his prices were lower than the grocery store. We also saw that this particular farmers market is open on Saturdays and Tuesdays. As we were driving home we saw another roadside stand that was selling meat. We had to be somewhere else so we didn't have time to stop, but it was nice to learn that we had all of these local food options. I also took advantage of the great weather this weekend by taking an hour long bike ride on the greenways near my house.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Off the wagon
Ok, what do I mean by falling off the wagon? Well I have been having a hard time with containing myself in the healthy eating area. Last night I had poached eggs on a bed of feta and butter, tonight it was fried/roasted peppers stuffed with feta and eggs (thank you Bulgarian cuisine and what you do to my arteries). So, I haven't been keeping good track on MyPlate. It has nothing to do with any deficiencies on the site, but it is too depressing to see just how many calories I have been consuming, so ignorance is bliss.
I plan to get back on track this week and to keep up my end of the bargain for the "Bike City" group. I still have 30 days, but I would have liked to get going earlier. I hope others are doing a better job with this task! I just signed up to do a sprint-triathlon in August, so I really need to get into training mode. And learn how to swim!
Local vs. Regional
After Dr. Ferrier came to talk to us this week she made me really start to think about where the food we eat comes from. I looked in my family’s refrigerator and noticed an interesting trend. The majority of our food was produced in places other than North Carolina. In fact, most of our food came from places that seemed impractical. We had apples from Whole Foods that were grown in Washington, carrots from Whole Foods grown in Texas and milk from Target that was produced in Minnesota. We also had salad dressing that was supposedly from Biltmore House, which is in Asheville. I assumed that this meant that it would be produced in that general area, but actually it is produced in West Virginia. The only products in our refrigerator that were from North Carolina were butter and heavy cream from Harris Teeter, which were produced in Matthews, NC near Charlotte. Even though these were produced the closest to our home, they still came from outside of the 100-mile “local food radius” that we talked about in class. I was really perturbed by this, because I had never realized how illogical it is to eat foods that are not local. I decided that I wanted to find out more about this phenomenon, so I went to our local Whole Foods.
A new Whole Foods just opened near my house. Whole Foods presents itself as an alternative to big, national grocery store chains and lulls customers into believing that by shopping there they are being more responsible consumers. I always felt like I was doing the right thing by shopping at Whole Foods, and I was really surprised when I looked in my refrigerator and realized that the organic produce I felt so good about buying was coming from places that are so far away. The apples I bought came from the other side of the country. It does not make any sense for apples being sold in North Carolina to be grown in Washington when there are apples that grow in our state. When I went into Whole Foods I noticed that a lot of the fresh produce they were selling had signs advertising it as “local”. I decided to see just how true this was.
Looking through the different fruits and vegetables I noticed items from across the United States (California, Florida, Idhao and Washington were all popular places) as well as various countries (Chile, Mexico, Bolivia and Argentina). Obviously, these items are far from local, but they also are not being promoted as such. I decided to shift my attention to local and regional products.
I asked an employee how these labels were defined, and he told me that “local” products come from “the entire state of North Carolina and a small slice of Virginia” while “regional” items can come from “South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, and a small bit of Florida, anywhere within a seven hour drive”. While this is more local and regional than California or Washington they are still shipping these products a long distance, adding to consumers’ overall footprint. I looked at the “local” products and found items that came from places twenty to one hundred miles away. I think that if Whole Foods wants to market these products as local they need to reconfigure just what that means for them and rein in these distances. The entire state of North Carolina is not “local”. In my opinion, that would be “regional”, but I think that this further proves that these terms are very subjective and do not have a particularly solid definition. Overall, my trip to Whole Foods proved to me that these terms are very loosely defined and that it is important to look closely at just exactly what they mean.
This week I took my dog for a walk in a local park because the weather was so nice. I enjoyed getting out in the nice weather and having an entire weekend that finally felt like spring!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Fitness this week!
So once again I've been running basically everyday as well as tennis practice. I have also been tracking everything on myplate. This week was still rough for me because I am still sick and trying to figure out what is wrong with me. I am trying to work through it. I think that working out makes me feel better overall even when I'm not feeling 100%.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Moore's Spring Trail Family
Hello everyone,
I went on a short bike ride this week ( I forgot my chap stick again). I was out for about 45 minutes.
Its been quite the busy week! However, I was able to go out to Moore's Spring Trail on Sunday. The drive only took me 30 minutes! I was really excited because today was my first trail build. There were 7 people out there and we got 45 feet finished. It was hard work but a completely positive experience. Tony was really good at explaining everything to me regarding soil and why we clear what we do. There is method to the madness! I met a group of totally devoted individuals. Steve and Randy helped me a lot too.
It was unbelievable that we made a trail on the side of a mountain completely by HAND! It took us 4 hours but we did it! It was so awesome to see the process and the steps to creating a legitimate trail.
I would love to show you all picture of the trail but my camera died right when I got out there. I took a few pictures on my phone but my phone is now broken... Bad luck? Probably. I'm just glad I didn't fall down the side of a mountain.
See you all tomorrow,
Sarah
Friday, April 1, 2011
5 Reasons to Care About Where Your Food Comes From
I am working on my own progress report for Wednesday and tinkering with iMovie. I'm realizing I'm no longer happy with the interface, I can not modify the content enough to suit my taste, so I am going to try working in Adobe Premiere, or Final Cut. I learned Final Cut Pro a couple years back when I took a documentary film class at a community television station, but its NOT like riding a bike and I need to re-learn a lot of what I've forgotten. Anyway, I'm working on a first cut of a look at the semester so far, including portions of the vlog and blog entries. On that note, I ask that you please use personal and web posted photos in your blog entries.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
On a Positive Note
This week I read an article entitled “Food: Six Things to Feel Good About” from the New York Times (which you can read here). The author, Mark Bittman, has a weekly column where he discusses different issues relating to food, health and nutrition. Generally, his columns revolve around something that he is upset about or that is particularly disheartening. In this one, however, he takes the time to look at some of the bright spots in the food industry. He looks at things such as the newfound power people are taking in deciding what food they should eat and where it should come from and the Wal-Mart initiative to make their offerings more health-conscious. I enjoyed reading this article because it helped me to see that there are some bright spots to this issue. For instance, I did not know that there are currently 6,000 farmers in the U.S. or that that number is a 250% increase over the number of farmers there were in 1994. I think that is a pretty impressive statistic and shows that people are starting to reclaim responsibility for the food we eat. I also liked hearing about the work that is underway to make school lunches healthier. It is important for good nutrition to be taught to children at a young age and this is a great way to show them how to eat well for the rest of their lives. Overall, I thought that this article touched on a lot of topics that I did not know much about.
Our service project is going well, we have a pretty solid survey created and I think that we have a clear outlook on just where we want to go with it. I am excited to show everyone where we are and see where everyone else is with their projects! I cannot wait to actually send the survey out to people!
Unfortunately, the weather this week has not been very conducive to getting out and biking or walking, so I have not done anything yet. Things are supposed to look better this weekend, so hopefully it will be warm and sunny so I can get in some time outside!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Media Article: Why aren't GMO Foods Labeled?
The article I found is called "Why Aren't G.M.O. Foods Labeled", by Mark Bittman. It was in the New York Times online. This article talk about the various reason that genetically modified organisms aren't on the labels. Most of this is because the FDA does not require it to be posted unless it contains more than .9%. This is in part because they do not want to give the impression that these foods are different. However, in England there are strict bans on these foods and they must be labeled. Another concern is that when cross pollination occurs that can no longer be considered organic if it has been genetically engineered. There are concerns arising about genetically engineered salmon, that would be fast growing also. The truth is that most Americans believe that G.M.O.'s are unsafe and that they want them labeled. Not even the strongest supports of G.M.O.'s can say that there aren't hidden dangers.
I have continued to record everything on myplate (Even over spring break). This week however I was off to a rough start, I am currently fighting some sort of viral cold, and there is nothing I can do but let it run its course. I have been working out this week just not running everyday. I hope to be up and running again by this weekend. I will continue to use myplate and hope to hear back from more of the class about possibly participating.
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