Greetings, Green Living Bemidji followers!
My name is Caitlyn Schuchhardt and I am the new Minnesota GreenCorps member for 2012-2013. As Brett mentioned in his previous post, his position in the MN GreenCorps is wrapping up as the new program year begins. Though Brett will still be in the area, I will be taking on his GreenCorps responsibilities. I’m incredibly excited to begin working with such a wonderful and diverse community, and I look forward to meeting many of you in the near future!
I was very fortunate to be welcomed to Bemidji at last week’s Sustainable Tuesdays event with both a delicious potluck and a special evening of reflection. Not only did we have the chance to enjoy a table chock full of local food (from wild rice to creamed turnips, salads of all kinds, freshly baked breads, and more!) we had the opportunity to reflect on the success of the past year’s programming.
This also served as a time to thank Brett Cease and Simone Senogles of the Indigenous Environmental Network for their roles in coordinating Sustainable Tuesdays. As community members reflected on the myriad of ways their lifestyles have changed because of what they’ve learned from Sustainable Tuesdays programming, I found myself in awe of all that Simone and Brett had accomplished this past year. Seeing the passion and excitement that this community has for sustainability and environmental stewardship has already inspired me, and I’m looking forward to getting involved this year.
Our next Sustainable Tuesdays event is already on its way!
This coming Tuesday, October 2nd, from 5:30-7:30pm at the Rail River Folk School (303 Railroad St. SW), Sustainable Tuesdays is holding a Composting and Yard Waste Night to help you figure out to do with all these leaves!
Brett Cease will be talking about how to set up and maintain a backyard composting bin—one of the easiest ways to put your yard waste to use while reducing the amount of food waste you may be throwing out at home. He’ll also be talking about the yard waste and demolition site south of town and fielding any questions you may have about composting.
Traditional Skills Workshops for October
Another great opportunity coming up is the Traditional Skills Workshops, a program sponsored by the BSU Sustainability Office. These programs, open to both students and community members, are designed to teach traditional skills that promote sustainability and self-sufficiency. October’s line-up of workshops are hosted by Karen Gebhardt of Leonard, MN. Karen has hosted Traditional Skills Workshops in the past and has been appreciated for her great organizational skills and humor! We’re looking forward to what she can teach us about food preservation and canning tomatoes.
Food Preservation
Tuesday, October 2nd
7:00-8:30pm in the American Indian Resource Center
(Max of 25 participants)
Canning Tomatoes
Saturday, October 6th
10:00 to 1:00pm in the American Indian Resource Center
(Max of 15 participants)
All Traditional Skills Workshops are free for students and $7 for non-students. If you are interested in signing up, stop by the Sustainability Office in the Lower Hobson Memorial Union or contact Erika Bailey-Johnson at 218-755-2560.
World Wide Day of Play
Don’t forget about the World Wide Day of Play events taking place at the Lake Bemidji Waterfront this Saturday from 11am to 3pm! From archery to lawn games to dancing and bounce houses, there is sure to be something for everyone! With a $5 wristband, you can have unlimited access to all the activities.
Old Bemidji High School Arch
And, just a final reminder that the Old Bemidji High School Remembered Committee is looking for volunteers this weekend to help inventory pieces of the old BHS arch. Volunteers will sort through pieces to determine if they can be used in reconstructing the arch as part of the labyrinth at Nymore Beach South Shore Park. If you’re interested in volunteering, here are the available shifts:
Friday, September 28th, from 1 to 5pm
Saturday, September 29th from 9am to 1pm and 1pm to 5pm
Sunday, September 30th from 11am to 5pm
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As always, our program depends on your input and feedback, and we welcome your ideas and suggestions to broaden our community. Sustainable Tuesdays feature a variety of learning opportunities focused on sustainability that connect our beautiful, vibrant community and is a partnership program with the Indigenous Environmental Network, MN GreenCorps, Rail River Folk School and BSU’s Sustainability Office.
For more information, contact Caitlyn Schuchhardt at 755-3765 or Simone Senogles 751-4967.
