Western Illinois University’s Physical Plant; environmental advocate for the University

Western Illinois University Physical Plant’s mission is to maintain and enhance the campus physical environment in support of academic and other related functions of the university.

Charles G. Darnell, Jr. is the Director of Western Illinois University Physical Plant. Darnell’s role is to design standards, environmental regulatory and code compliance, and maintenance operations.

“I have many diverse obligations and responsibilities.” Darnell says.

With the cooperation and dedication of his staff, Darnell is committed to remaining true to the Physical Plant’s mission.

“I can say that the University is truly blessed to have so many supportive and exceedingly competent Physical Plant staff members among its 300+ full-time employees.” Darnell says.

Western Illinois University Physical Plant is dedicated to refuse and recycling. With its contract with Waste Management, Inc. Western Illinois University is a strong advocate for recycling. Bridgeway, a local service organization, processes recycled material. The Physical Plant, along side with various departments on campus, plays huge roles in refuse systems and recycling on campus.

“Additionally, our campus Sustainability coordinator works closely with campus departments, Housing and Dining Services, and with Physical Plant Building Services on continuing initiatives to reduce waste and increase recycling diversion rates on campus.” Darnell says.

Also part of the Physical Plants responsibility is deal with regulatory challenges that exist to the campus’s building structures. Western Illinois University has buildings that were constructed in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s and throughout the century. With times changing and different construction regulations being developed and used, the Physical Plant has to keep the campus up to the current codes.

“Most public school like WIU consists of buildings that were constructed in nearly every decade from the early 1900’s through present day. With changes in building materials, construction processes, engineering procedures, structural, electrical, and mechanical system technologies, as well as evolution building codes and environmental regulation, regulatory challenges are a major part of a Physical Plant’s day-to-day responsibilities.” Darnell says.

Darnell even pays attention to the elements that are beyond the Physical Plants control. Weather is something that effects the campus and the Physical Plant is aware of this issue.

“In addition to several strong thunderstorms and ice storms that have damaged campus trees and caused minor damage to a few buildings, campus snow and ice removal accomplished by Physical Plant is always a pressing and sometime controversial issue between the months of November and March.” Darnell says.

The Physical Plant is also aware of wildlife that effects the environment on campus. Various birds, deer, and raccoons can be found around campus. Sometimes these animals can damage property and plants.

“We do have some wildlife issues on campus such as feral cats, deer that can be destructive to campus planting, birds that roost on historical buildings like Sherman, and inquisitive raccoons that have dined on electrical wiring under the hoods of our State vehicles.” Darnell adds.

Even though the Physical Plant does dedicate its time to keeping the campus clean and pleasant, Darnell still urges students and factuality to do their part. Their cooperation seems small but can offer a big help.

“I would hope that people who are prone to littering would take the time to find one of the numerous trash receptacles located through out campus, many within only a few paces of where the litter is ultimately thrown.” Darnell says.

Darnell is proud of the work that he does with the Physical Plant, but he attributes everything to the dedication of his staff. Through the Physical Plant, Western Illinois University is growing towards becoming a more environmentally safe place.

Karen Hudson

In 2001, Elmwood, Ill. faced the largest animal waste spill in state history.

After years of mismanagement, a locally-owned concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) unintentionally overflowed its waste lagoon, flooding the area with over two million gallons of cow feces.

Karen Hudson, an Elmwood resident, has been protesting CAFOs for 15 years.

In 1996, Hudson founded Families Against Rural Messes (FARM) in order to fight the construction of Elmwood’s ill-fated dairy plant.

“Now we’re a state-wide coalition of 20 or so counties,” Hudson says. “We’re trying to oppose confinement operations opening in Illinois.”

Through public appeals, Hudson hopes to slow the spread of CAFOs in order to prevent disasters like Elmwood’s.

“We use the media,” she says. “We do press conferences, we do news stories, and we write a lot of letters to the editor.”

Aside from the risk of spillage, Hudson says, CAFOs pose a risk to public health and economic stability.

“When large-scale factory farms move in, it’s been shown that there’s less money spent locally,” she says. “Aside from the danger of waste spillage, there’s always the risk of contamination and anti-biotic resistance, too.”

Hudson also works as a consultant for the GRACE Factory Farm Project.

“With that project,” Hudson says, “We’re trying to inform the public about socially responsible farming.”

The Project is run by Food and Water Watch, an activist organization whose stated goal is “to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainably produced.”

With the GRACE Project, Food and Water Watch aims to educate the public on the dangers of pesticides, animal waste, runoff, and mass confinement, while promoting small-scale, sustainable agriculture.

Ted Renner Is Making WIU "Green".

Ted Renner is the Deputy Director of the Physical Plant in charge of facility planning and construction. During Mr. Renner’s time at WIU he has had a major role in building the Multicultural center. What exactly is the Deputy Directors job? “My job is to manage multiple budgets, decide priorities, establish design standards, make sure that the University administration is aware of any problems (or potential problems) schedule and coordinate projects and/ or maintenance repairs with the campus and the trades working at the Physical Plant.” Renner said about the job.
He also is very knowledgeable about everything that needs to be fixed around the campus. He talked briefly about knowing what exactly needs help at all times of the year; “We are always planning ahead to fix something. For example, we have a database of campus roofs. I can very quickly tell you which roofs are in need of replacement, which roofs are in good shape, the status of the warranty, etc. This allows us to plan for replacement. We have the same type of priority list with electrical high voltage feeders, transformers, switchgear, etc, again, allowing to plan for replacement before something becomes a problem at an inconvenient time.” Renner said about keeping the campus in good shape. He is a part of the team that makes sure everything is always in good shape around the campus. His knowledge of maintenance needed around the campus is great for WIU.
Renner has always been interested in building since he was a child he said from the time he was little he could “look at a set of prints and see things in my head very clearly. I enjoy taking a space and renewing it. I love to re-build things. I very much enjoy seeing a building being constructed from the ground up. True, there are problems associated with new construction because, unless you are building tract homes, everything is a prototype.” Someone with his talent makes him the person right for the job.
This talent helped him build and develop the Multicultural Center. Renner also thinks about the environment while he is thinking about building. He is LEED accredited, which means he uses energy efficient and keeps “green” in his mind when building certain areas. That is important in today’s society where many times construction zones give off hazardous gas into the air.
I asked Mr. Renner to touch briefly on his impact on the environment with building “I am well versed in the process of designing and building in such a way that it has minimal impact to the environment. During the construction of the Multicultural Center, more that 50% of the waste generated was diverted from the land fill. Concrete was taken and crushed to be re-used as gravel. Steel was recycled instead of being thrown away. Much of the wood in the building is certified from the Forrest Stewardship Council, which means it is grown and harvested with minimal impact to the environment. Many of these types of construction are so simple and easy to follow that we are adopting them here at the Physical Plant for normal day to day use. We are using low volatile organic compound (VOC) paint across campus on a regular basis. We are putting in items that will last longer with less energy use such as induction lighting. Some of the induction lights we have installed cost slightly more than typical lights, and will last for 20+ years, ADs opposed to the 2 years we get from standard lights.” That was an eye opening discovery in the building phases around WIU. He is able to recycle certain building supplies which makes WIU one of the most environmentally friendly campuses.
He also talked about designing the multicultural center, and Dr. Goldfarbs ideas for this to be a green project. He also talked about how these things that people deem “green” aren’t really green at all they are just efficient “Dr.Goldfarb stepped up and decided that it needed to be a LEED Silver building. That was when we really had to focus on the green aspects. It’s not as hard or as challenging as you think. People would contact me and say that they wanted a tour so they could see all the green things. That's just it: there are no "green things." It’s not as if we are doing something magic, it’s just a different way of doing what we have already been doing, and paying more attention to where things come from for the project, and where they go when they are no longer needed. Essentially just better stewardship of the things we already have.” Renner said.
Going on throughout the rest of his tenure, he intends on designing more buildings with the environment in mind.

Farming: There's More Than Just Corn, Cows, Cash, and Chemicals

“Old McDonald” had one. Many country songs are based on one. Some families rely on one for income. Groceries are filled with products from different ones. What is this mystery place? The answer is a farm.

Today, farming is a booming industry and is mass producing large amounts of corn, soybeans, wheat, and various other crops to help feed people all around the world. Since the 1950s, crop production has greatly increased. Instead of just planting enough food for a single family, farmers are planting crops over many acres of land and are receiving an increased yield and profit.

Many tend to disagree with today’s farming techniques. However, Dr. William Bailey, director of Western Illinois University’s School of Agriculture, discussed the farmer's and agriculturalist's point of view on various topics of environmentalism and technology affecting a farmer’s ability to produce crops.

Before becoming a professor and director at WIU, Bailey graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Trade from the University of Idaho, a Master of Arts in Education from Pepperdine University, a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Idaho, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri. Bailey worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington D.C. for nearly 10 years. He also worked at General Mills, Inc. and was a professor and director in agribusiness at Massey University in New Zealand. He has also received awards from the USDA for personal achievement.

Many organic farmers and citizens around the world feel that the mass production of crops is devastating to our health. These increased yields are the result of Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs. GMOs are a type of crop developed in a lab in which the internal makeup of the crop is altered. This alteration allows crops to be resistant to pesticides and herbicides, which prevent the growth and spread of insects and weeds, respectively. Studies, shown in movies such as “King Corn” and “The Future of Food,” suggest that these crops are directly responsible for obesity and juvenile diabetes.

“There is no evidence that products made using GMO ingredients are either more or less harmful to consumers than non-GMO ingredients,” Bailey said. “GMO technology is key to the ability of farmers to produce enough food to feed the world.”

According to Today in Science History, early farmer Charles Newbold tried to improve upon the heavy wood and cast iron plow imported from Scotland in the late 1700s. However, farmers refused to buy them because they believed that the iron would poison the soil. For those who used this plow, no soil poisoning was ever reported. Bailey feels that this situation from the past is very similar to how today’s consumers feel about GMOs in the global food supply.

“Similar concerns arise, either from farmers or consumers, whenever technology provides an opportunity for a change in production,” Bailey explained.

What about environmental issues? Many organic farmers and environmentalists claim that farms use many chemicals that run off into streams or poison the air around farmland.

However, what critics do not know, according to Bailey, is that farmers are making every effort to combat against this danger to the environment. There are many environmentally safe methods, to not only protect crops, but also prevent weeds and insects without chemicals.

Bailey suggests methods such as cultivation (preparation of the land), planting the crop in a timely fashion, fire, and cover crops, which are crops planted mainly to manage weeds and insects. An example, Bailey said, would be planting turnips, but not harvesting them with the leaves, which, in turn, will kill weeds.

However, although these methods are cheaper, they do reduce the amount of crops produced. Therefore, there is still a presence of pesticides and herbicides in farming. Farmers, who are producing large yields of crops, do have to use these chemicals to be able to produce a profitable yield.

“Frankly, farmers would prefer not to buy herbicides and pesticides, but must in order to farm the large number of acres most people deal with,” said Bailey.

Critics also feel farmers should go back to running small farms that only produce enough food to feed their families or local communities. Bailey feels that farmers should have the right to choose how they want to produce crops and what they should grow. He makes no arguments that local produce is likely fresher and more nutritious than imported foods.

However, Bailey argues that trying to force agriculture into past patterns would have very unpleasant consequences for farmers.

“Returning to the 1950s is an attempt to make the prosperous farmers of today into peasants. In 1956, per capita farm income was $2,300. In 2010, it was $36,000,” Bailey said. “I really don’t believe anyone would benefit from agriculture going back in time.”

Contrary to popular belief from movies and researchers, these profits, which farmers make directly from their crops, are the only income they receive. Farmers do not obtain subsidies from the government to produce crops. The government only mandates ethanol levels in gasoline, and importation of sugar into the U.S.

While farming does have some environmental set backs, such as herbicides and insecticides, consumers would not have many of the foods they eat today without them. Farmers are making efforts to help the environment, provide food for the world, and make profits for their families.

Without today’s farming techniques, people, even those in apartment buildings and cities, would likely have to grow their own food and grow their own livestock for meat. Therefore, those individuals, who dislike today’s farming practices, do not understand the effort and the products needed for farmers to feed the world and try to keep it as safe as they possibly can.

“The further someone is from production agriculture, the greater is the assumption that farmers are significant polluters,” said Bailey. “Farmers make every effort to be good environmental stewards. They understand that pollution is harmful and inefficient.”

Peace of Earth Lodge

For three years, Pat and Tim Sullivan have operated the Peace of Earth Lodge, an eco-friendly retreat situated just outside of Rushville, Ill.

Originally a project for their retirement, the Sullivans began work on the Lodge after Pat’s unexpected job loss.

“In 2006,” Pat says, “my job ended. In 2007, we finished the first cabin, and in 2008, we started the Lodge.”

In their first year of business, they managed to rent rooms for 22 nights. Last year, that number quadrupled.

Sullivan says that the weak economy hasn’t hurt the business. Instead of spending big on lavish vacations, she suggests, area residents are more willing to keep it local.

Peace of Earth’s visitors are free to choose from a wide range of accommodations. The Sullivans provide guest rooms within the main house, several smaller, more isolated cabins farther into the woods and even a large, raised tree house.

The Lodge’s biggest draw is its scenery. Surrounded by 30 acres of greenery, the retreat boasts a natural atmosphere that few others can match.

With three miles of trails and access to multiple bodies of water, the Lodge offers its guests opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and canoeing.

The Lodge’s environmentally-friendly aspects are also a big attraction for some. The main house is heated through passive solar energy; a forty-foot long window wall allows light to heat the main house’s brick, thick plaster and tile.

Much of the food prepared in the Lodge is provided by the Sullivans’ own organic garden. “We grow all kinds of greens,” Pat says, “tomatoes, peppers, bok choy, lots of herbs, strawberries, onions.” The garden is open to guests for recreation and skill-building workshops.

Though some might not see the appeal, the Sullivans are providing a much-demanded service for a growing market share after a greener, more natural vacation.

Peach of Earth; relaxing with nature

Peach of Earth, located in Rushville, Ill, is more than an average Bed and Breakfast. Besides offering lodging and a great meal, Peace of Earth allows visitors to interact with nature.

Covering 30 acres, Peace of Earth has a main house with three rooms, two cabins, and a tree house for visitors to rent at a nightly base. The grounds also include an activity center for children. The majority of the grounds are vegetation, woodland, and 3 miles of trail.

Pat Sullivan owns and maintains Peace of Earth. Being a former environmental educator, Sullivan with the assistance of her husband, provides visitors with a memorable experience through the serene, peaceful atmosphere the bed and breakfast has to offer.

“Let’s give them [visitors] a place to stay but let’s use our skills to offer recreational and nurture.” Sullivan says while speaking on the reason for opening of Peace of Earth.

Peace of Earth offers visitors organic foods. Some foods grown on the property and some foods are brought from the local markets, such as Hyvee’s. Peace of Earth grows herbs, tomatoes, strawberries, onions, and all forms of greens. Sullivan feels that offering organic food is important.

“We are so far removed as a society from how foods are grown and gardening.” Sullivan says.

Peace of Earth is environmentally friendly with their house as well as food. They have a passive solar home, which the sun regulates the temperature inside, keeping a 55-degree geo-temperature. Sullivan also uses recycled materials throughout the house. The furniture is recycled, the house was built with recycled firewood, and the hardwood floors came from an old barn.

“A lot of thing in the house from the walls to window have stories.” Sullivan says.

One unique feature inside the main house is the compositing toilet. This toilet takes waste and turns it into soil that is used to grow plants. Sullivan mixes peat moss with the waste and churns it into the soil, and it leaves no odor in the restroom!

Peace of Earth is a therapeutic relaxation, bed and breakfast. They provide shelter, food, and activities for schools, church retreats, and even family reunions.

“Our goal is to be a destination rather than a hotel.” Sullivan says.

Peace of Earth and Goodwill Toward Nature

In the middle of the Western Illinois countryside, a bed and breakfast provides a unique twist to a traveler’s weekend getaway. According to its brochure, Peace of Earth, “an eco-friendly lodging experience,” is the place for visitors who want a relaxing and “homey” nature experience throughout the year.

Peace of Earth is located on 30 acres of land outside of Rushville, Ill. Owner/operator Pat Sullivan and her husband, Tim, bought this land in 1978 with the intentions of building a “destination,” or area where visitors could come to interact with nature. They began by building their passive solar home.

According to Pat Sullivan, a passive solar home means “no moving parts.” Every part of their home is a “collector,” or re-used part. While sitting at her dining room table, Sullivan is able to tell stories of the wood used to build the walls, window frames, and beams. The wood on the walls came from a tornado-ravaged barn and the unused wood of a cabinetmaker, she explained.

Secondly, a passive solar home uses the sun’s solar energy to heat and cool it. The Sullivan’s home has many glass windows on the south side of the house. When the sun rises, it shines through the windows and directly onto the tile of the dining and sitting rooms. It also shines on a large brick mass in the center of the room to generate heat. The room heats up slowly and lowers the amount of heat and air conditioning needed throughout the year.

“We only run the air conditioner to control humidity,” Sullivan said. “We have only ran it about five to six hours in the past month and a half.”

After working as Outdoor Education Director for the Girl Scouts, Sullivan decided to create a new career and turn the dream of a “destination” into a reality. In 2006, the Sullivans began work on the bed and breakfast portion of Peace of Earth. By 2007, they began building the first cabin on the property. They also converted their home into a lodge by opening up three rooms in their house for visitors. In 2008, the Sullivans opened the bed and breakfast with three cabins, one tree house, and the three rooms in the lodge.

The lodge itself uses many green practices in its maintenance. The carpet is made from recycled pop bottles. The bedding is made from natural fibers. CFL light bulbs, organic products, and re-useable utensils in the kitchen are other green practices used at Peace of Earth.

However, the most unique green feature inside the lodge is the composting toilet. The composting toilet does not use water or electricity. Instead, it decomposes the waste into soil that could be used as fertilizer. Peat moss is added before use and combines with the waste by use of a crank. The mixture is taken out of the bottom drawer of the toilet and sits for a year before use. Sullivan only uses the mixture as landscaping fertilizer because she does not know if it would effect or contaminate plants in the garden.

Peace on Earth tends to attract people from cities such as Chicago and St. Louis and visitors from out of state, said Sullivan. However, even neighbors from as close as nine miles away have also stayed there, she added.

Visitors can come to Peace on Earth and enjoy various activities. The property has three miles of trails, prairie grass, wildlife viewing, birding, a creek, hiking, off-site canoeing, a natural play area for the children, an organic garden, and environmental center.

“This uses (and builds upon) the natural habitat—supporting a diverse ecological community— takes care of itself,” Sullivan said.

The garden produces tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, herbs, and greens, which are used to prepare breakfast for the guests. Any organic foods, in which they do not produce, are bought from local markets or farmers.

The Sullivans also raise their own chickens for eggs. Sullivan found a unique method for raising chickens from an organic farm in Virginia. All of the chickens graze within a coop on a certain area of grass. Then, they are moved 16 feet to a new patch of grass. This way they can continue to graze and produce eggs while the old grazing area can fertilize the soil and replenish itself.

Sullivan also created an environmental center using techniques from her job with the Girl Scouts. Children, who are visiting from schools or with their parents, can study fossils and pelts of different animals to learn more about nature.

Peace of Earth provides a relaxing and laid-back way to escape the pressures of everyday life. Visitors can reconnect with their families and other guests through the simplicity of nature. It is not only a good place for nature and the environment; it is good for the soul. “It’s very therapeutic,” said Sullivan.

Unique Natue Perspective.

Pat Sullivan, from Rushville, IL has her own unique way of helping the environment. Sullivan is the owner of Peach of Earth Lodge/ Bed and Breakfast. Which was officially started in spring 2008, after budget cutting led to Sullivan losing her job as and outdoor education director in Quincy, IL? Her husband and her run the lodge year round, and take care of their 30 acres of land.
Sullivan also works to main her own garden, and chicken coop. She uses all of her vegetables she grows to provide food for her customers. She makes sure the chickens are fed where she has a coop that allows the chicken roaming ability so they can help fertilize the area as well.
Upon having all these things to enjoy for herself she makes it an enjoyable experience for her customers. She also maintains a preserve center that has the look of a recreation room. In this room there are activities for children and adults alike. This makes it an enjoyable experience for old and young alike. Also back in the wooded area there is a play area for children; that was just added this year. Sullivan says with the help of a WIU intern she was able to construct and design this play area for children. The most unique part of this play area is the sand pit with bones under the sand. “It allows children to know what it’s like to search for fossils. It helps children stay active while they’re here in a generation where children don’t get outside much.” Sullivan says.
Throughout the summer Sullivan teaches certain classes and has professionals come out to teach. She also has a massage therapist come out during certain weekends. Since the opening in 2008 there has been a double in customers. “We found that when the economy went under; when we were just getting started that it helped us gain business. Many people weren’t traveling to faraway places so they would come here and get a great experience.” Sullivan said.
Sullivan looks to keep this going for as long as she can. If that is the case, than she will be doing this for quite some time. This was an enjoyable place to be; while only being there for a short amount of time it showed the peace and tranquility.

A REAL PEACE OF EARTH

On Monday our class went to Peace of Earth Lodge/Bed and Breakfast in Rushville, IL. Peach of Earth had different environmental aspects for people to come out and enjoy a peaceful place to relax and “get away” for a few days.

Pat Sullivan and her husband Tim own the 30-acre sustainable property. The house that they live in is made up of recycled wood. Sullivan said that the wood of her stairs are made up of wood from a tornado in 1981 that a man didn’t know what to do with.

“We were green when it was dorky,” said Sullivan about reusing items.

The main house is a passive solar house, meaning it has no moving parts. The house used solar heat and different installations so they can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Sullivan said she has only run the air conditioning for five hours in over a month and a half to control the humidity.

One of the most interesting parts of the house is the bathroom on the main floor. The toilet is not electric nor does it use water. After someone uses the restroom, the Sullivans add pete moss to the waste so it can decompose and turn into soil. They let it sit for about a year and use it on the trees and plants. Sullivan said she has not used it in the garden because she doesn’t know how it will affect the foods.

Another interesting part of their land is the tree house. It’s not your normal wooden house in a tree with a latter attached. This unique house has a bed, couch, shades for privacy and a door. It was originally was supposed to be used for entertainment but Sullivan said that most young couples like being in there because it is peaceful.

After Sullivan’s 23 years of teaching outdoor education to girl scouts, she decided that the two options she had to continue working was either commute or work from home. She chose the latter.

Her husband built the cabins and the trails on the property. Looking out of each window of the cabins and the tree house, there is nothing but big green trees and plants in sight. There are porches with a sitting area attached to each cabin as well.

They have been running the bed and breakfast since the spring of 2008. They are going into their fourth season of running it.

“No one will leave here hungry,” said Sullivan referring to the hot breakfast that is cooked for guest the morning after the stay.

Peach of Earth has held teaching retreats, church planning retreats and family reunions. People go there and find that it is a peaceful place to hold different events.
Sullivan said that people come to work in the gardens, hike the three miles of trail, and canoe in the creek.

Some of the other events they hold include cooking classes, concerts and hold events in their Environmental Learning Center.

Peach of Earth provides a sustainable relaxing environment for their guest and for themselves. Staying at the lodge for even one night will show people how to live sustainable and be able to use some of the Sullivan’s ideas in their own lives.

Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson was one of the most well known scientist, advocate for nature and the environment and a writer. For the majority of her life she wrote about and studied what was around us. This allowed people to get a look into what was going on and how it affected them.

Carson was born in rural Springdale, Pennsylvania in 1907. She grew up in a small house and according to Linda Lear author of the website rachelcarson.org, Carson once said that her “mother introduced her to the world of loving nature that she expressed first as a writer and later as a student of marine biology.”

During her youth she explored the nature around her and wrote about it. Most of her explorations were around the farm she lived on. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Website, Carson was published in a children’s magazine at the age of 10.

Graduating from the “Pennsylvania College for Women in 1929, she studied at the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory,” (Lear). After her undergraduate career she moved on to receive her Masters in Zoology from John Hopkins University in 1932. After college Carson would then move on to begin her career at the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries.

At the Bureau of Fisheries she wrote “radio scripts during the Depression” (Lear) and most of them were about marine life. As she wrote the radio scripts, she was also writing for another “newspapers and magazines about considering the welfare of fish and as well as that of fishermen,” (FWS). These were published in the Baltimore Sun.

During these times, women were not equal and it was very rare for any woman to hold jobs other than factory working, let alone hold any high positions. Carson soon became Editor-in-Chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during her 15 year career as a scientist and writer.

In 1937, Carson began what would make her known as a “naturalist and science writer for the public, writing about the ocean” (Lear). She published and article entitled “Undersea” for the Atlantic monthly. This article was the stepping stone for her first book she wrote entitled Under the Sea-Wind in 1942. From then on she wrote numerous books like The Sea Around Us in 1952 (which won a prize) and The Edge of the Sea in 1955.

Carson resigned from her job at the Fish and Wildlife Service and continued writing. “She wrote several other articles designed to teach people about the wonder and beauty of the living world,” (Lear). Lear also said that in all of “Carson’s writings it was the view that all humans were but one part of nature distinguished primarily by their power to alter it.”

She focused on ecology and made other people aware of it too. In 1962 her last book Silent Spring was published. In this book she exposed how pesticides can be harmful to the ecosystem. Pesticides were being misused and she wanted people to see the harmful effects of them.

She was attacked and discredited for being against pesticides but she was only trying to inform people of the safe ways to use them. She had previously studied DDT (a synthetic pesticide) and its affects. After appearing in court about the issue Carson “called for new policies to help protect human health and the environment,” (Lear). DDT was banned and Carson became credited “with launching the contemporary environmental movement and awakening the concern by thinking Americans about the environment,” (FWS).

Carson died in 1964 from breast cancer. She has truly been influential woman. She devoted her life to being an advocate for a healthy and safe life for everyone.

http://www.rachelcarson.org/

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/rachelcarson/carsonbio.html

Chad Pregracke: Native son of the Mississippi River

Chad Pregracke is no stranger to the Mississippi River. Growing up in the Quad Cities, Pregracke has always encountered the shorelines with his river enthusiast’s family. He is the founder and president of Living Lands and Waters.

According to George Spyros’s article Chad Pregracke Biography: Founder & President of Living Lands & Waters, “while attending high school and college he worked as a commercial shell diver, a commercial fisherman, and barge hand during the summers.” It was during that time that Pregracke noticed the poor conditions of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers due to the accumulation of trash on the shorelines.

In 1998, Pregracke founded the non-profit environmental organization, Living Lands and Waters, which is based out of East Moline, Ill. According to the Living Lands and Waters website the organization is “committed to the beautification and restoration of our land’s rivers.” Living Lands and Waters offer volunteer work through its Riverbottom Forest Restoration and Adopt-a-Mississippi River Mile programs.

In 2002, Pregracke was awarded the Jefferson Award, which is equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize for public service. Also in the same year as stated by George Spyro Pregracke “was invited by the Coca-Cola Company to attend the World Summit on sustainable Environments in Johannesburg, South Africa.”

Pregracke received an honorary doctorate from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa for his work in education and the environment May 2003.

Pregracke other accomplishments:

• · The Social Entrepreneurship Award from the Manhattan Institute of Public Policy (2003)
• · Appeared in Readers Digest (2003)
• · Biography aired on Quad Cities PBS station (2003)
• · Quad Cities Area Leaders under 40 award (2004)
• · Black Hawk College Foundation Seventh annual “What’s Right with the Region!” award (2004)
• · Achievement in Conservation award (2005)
• · Environmental Stewardship Award
• · National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award
• · People Are Today’s Heroes (PATH) Award
• · Named the 2005 Quad Citian of the Year by Best of the Quad Cities 2005 River Cities’ Readers Poll

Pregracke also is the author of the book From the Bottom Up: One Man’s Crusade to Clean America’s Rivers in 2007. The book is about the creation of Living Lands and Waters.

MSNBC news stated “Pregracke estimates that he and his crew have removed more than 2 million pounds of trash from the river since he started on a shoestring budget in 1997.” Living Lands and Waters now have a $600,000 annual budget.

A Profile of Norman Borlaug

In the latter half of the 20^th century, the international scientific community brought about incredible advances in the field of agronomy. The Green Movement, made up of farmers, researchers, scientists, humanitarians, and activists from around the world, developed new agricultural techniques that have forever changed food production.

At the heart of this movement was Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug, a man who enabled high-yield crops on a massive scale, and dealt a massive blow to world hunger.

Borlaug was born on March 25^th, 1914, in the small, Norweigian-American community of Cresco, Iowa. He assisted his parents in managing the family farm in his youth, leaving at age 19 to pursue higher education.

In 1933, Borlaug was accepted to the University of Minnesota—thanks in large part to his athleticism—where he took part in the school’s varsity wrestling team while studying forestry in the College of Agriculture.

At age 23, Borlaug graduated with a BS in Forestry, and quickly found work with the United States Forest Service.

After hearing a speech on plant disease by Elvin Stakman, professor of plant pathology for the University of Minnesota, Borlaug was inspired to return to the university for further study.

In 1942, he received his Ph. D. in plant pathology and genetics, and began work for E.I. Dupont de Nemours, where he conducted wartime research for the United States military. During this time, Borlaug assisted in the development of waterproof adhesives, insulation for small electronics, canteen disinfectants, and, notably, wartime pesticides and fertilizers.

When World War II ended, Borlaug became head of the Cooperative Wheat Research and Development Program, an international effort by the Mexican Office of Special Studies to hasten the nation’s agricultural development.

The country’s most common strains of wheat were generally tall, thin, and susceptible to disease. Borlaug was tasked with creating new varieties which would maximize growth rates, grain size, and durability.

To achieve this as quickly as possible, Borlaug planned to breed his wheat through summer and winter, which required his team to plant in two very distant regions. Borlaug’s superior, George Harrar, adamantly opposed this plan, pointing to increased costs and a now-disproven agronomical theory, which would require the seeds harvested in summer to “rest” through the winter in order to maximize growth.

Borlaug, with assistance from higher-level project leads, won the battle, and began supplementing his yearly harvest with winter crops in the Sonoran Desert. This allowed him to quickly breed out the Mexican wheat’s susceptibility to fungus, and unexpectedly, developed a new trait that allowed the wheat to adapt to very different regions.

To remedy the wheat’s low seed yield, he made heavy use of nitrogen fertilizer. This resulted in larger seed heads, but the tall, thin stalks were too weak to support them. By obtaining and crossbreeding with a Japanese strain, Norin 10, he was able to generate short, strong stalks capable of supporting the seeds’ weight.

Borlaug’s extensive efforts eventually led to the development of two dwarfed, highly-adaptable, disease-resistant breeds: Pitic 62 and Penjamo 62.

By 1963, these strains accounted for 95 percent of Mexico’s wheat output, which, since 1944, when Borlaug had begun his work, had increased sixfold.

In 1965, Indians were facing a major crisis. Due to post-WWII advances in medical technology, death rates had begun falling worldwide. Offsetting its historically high death rates, India faced a major population boom which couldn’t be sustained by the country’s weak agricultural system.

The Indian government reached out to Borlaug, who offered a massive shipment of his Mexican wheat seeds. Though he initially faced a degree of cultural resistance, his seeds gained popularity, and by 1968, farmers were producing record yields.

In 1970, Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to the science of agronomy, and for his massive humanitarian achievements in Mexico and South Asia.

Nine years later, Borlaug retired from his position with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, but continued to serve the field through research, education, and consultation. In 2009, at age 95, Borlaug died of lymphoma.

Despite his achievements, both scientific and humanitarian, he remains a controversial figure within the environmental community. Many resent his contributions to the Green Movement, which set the stage for industrial agriculture to dominate the market and diminish the role of subsistence farming throughout the world. Others criticize him for his use and promotion of nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides.

In life, Borlaug addressed these criticisms, “Some of the environmental lobbyists of the Western nations are the salt of the earth, but many of them are elitists. They've never experienced the physical sensation of hunger. They do their lobbying from comfortable office suites in Washington or Brussels. If they lived just one month amid the misery of the developing world, as I have for fifty years, they'd be crying out for tractors and fertilizer and irrigation canals and be outraged that fashionable elitists back home were trying to deny them these things.”

"Norman Borlaug - Biography." Nobelprize.org. Nobel Committee, n.d. Web. 18 June 2011. .

"Short Biography." The World Food Prize. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 June 2011. .

Stuertz, Mark. "Green Giant." The Dallas Observer. The Dallas Observer, 5 Dec. 2002. Web. 18 June 2011. .

Tierney, John. "Greens and Hunger." NYTimes.com. The New York Times, 19 May 2008. Web. 17 June 2011. .

Barefoot Gardens; natural food for natural people

The Barefoot Gardens, located in Macomb, Ill, is a market garden that works with nature to offer organic foods to local residents.

The Barefoot Gardens is a Community Supported Agriculture program. The food is grown on the garden and residents come to pick out the food they would like. The Barefoot Gardens grows up to 300 varieties of vegetation.

Besides offering food, the Barefoot Gardens have a social aspect to its existence. John Curtis, farmer and coordinator, explains how the Barefoot Gardens are known as a third place

“It’s [Barefoot Gardens] is a place that’s not work, not home, where you run into people you know.” Says Curtis.

To add to the appeal of the Barefoot Gardens, Curtis arranged everything so that it is consumer friendly.

“I designed the landscape with people in mind.” Curtis adds.

The Barefoot Gardens continue to supply naturally grown food even in a time when industrialization of food causes a decline in rural agriculture. Its continually strive is due to help from outside farmers and volunteers.

“Springfield [Ill} farmers come to Macomb to help out.” Curtis says.

The Barefoot Gardens is one of the only remaining “pick your own” CSA garden. Consumers are allowed to come onto the farm and pick whatever foods they would like.

“Consumers picking their own food is better for them rather than giving them an already made basket because what if the customer doesn’t want a bunch of squash.” Curtis says jokingly.

The Barefoot Gardens act as educators. They inform consumers about the improper handling and manufacturing of foods that are in the local markets The Barefoot Gardens are also advocates for other farmers in the region. The staff speaks out against things that may negatively affect farms. The Barefoot Gardens are against the placement of hog kennels, which can be damaging to the farms. The staff also urges consumers to help in protecting the farms.

“Consumers have the biggest effect on agriculture.” Curtis says.

Thomas Eisner "Father of Chemical Ecology"

Thomas Eisner was born in Berlin during the year of 1929 which was right when the Great Depression was getting ready to start. Throughout his young life his family had moved around a lot due to Hitler and the war. It is said that from a young age Eisner had been occupied with bugs: how they looked, what they ate, and how they fly. When Eisner’s family moved to 1947 he was allowed to get the education he always had wanted.
After receiving a college education Eisner became a very successful man in the biology field. Throughout his research Eisner had honors including membership in the National Academy of Sciences, American Academy Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. Upon being involved in those organizations he also won many awards. The man area he seemed interested in knowing about was bugs. Throughout the rest of his life Eisner studied bugs; how they could be dangerous to human life as well. It all started when he was born in Berlin.
Growing up in Berlin, Eisner didn’t get a chance to learn much at the time for the fact that he was so young. His family didn’t spend much time in Berlin as they were quickly moved due to rise in power of Adolf Hitler. His father, being of Jewish decent, had the family on the run throughout most of Eisner’s early life. Eventually the Eisner family settled in South America before coming to the U.S. During their time in South America Eisner was said to be enthused with the various types of bugs. He was supported throughout his life by his parents his father being chemist. In 1947 the family moved to the United States which lead to Eisner enrolling at Chaplain College in New York. After two years he would transfer to Harvard where he earned a Bachelor’s degree and PhD in biology. In 1957 he gained his first big job as he joined Cornell where he worked in the department of Entomology. In 1964 he moved to the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior; also with Cornell, and he worked in this area until he passed away. He would also serve as director of the Cornell Institute for Research in Chemical Ecology during his time at Cornell.
During his time Eisner was considered the “father of chemical ecology” also he was either author or co-author of over 500 scientific articles. His main premise of his articles were studying insects. He studied how insects mate, trap their prey, and survive. In 2004 he released the book “For Love of Insects” which won Best Science Book, and he also received the Louis Thomas Prize for Writing. Eisner was regarded by many a genius of his time for his works he did. He released a film “Secret Weapons” which won an award at the New York Film Festival. During his time Eisner showed his great passion for insects prompted him to consult chemistry, biology, ecology, evolution, behavior, morphology, and insect physiology. As far as his experiments, and explorations he went beyond what others were doing when studying insects. His thought on insects is that they were “master chemists”. According to Eisner insects were able to tell us more about life than most animals could.
During his time he made a lot of discoveries with insects and their tendencies. Throughout his numerous discoveries his studies included: the web making process of spiders, the high temperature spray of the bombardier beetle, an how some male butterflies secret certain substances. The most recent study before his death in 2011, was the thought of “chemical prospecting” which is the search for new medicinal, agrochemicals and other useful substances from nature. His groundbreaking discoveries helped him earn the 1994 National Medal of Science, which is the highest scientific honor in the U.S.
Thomas Eisner’s discoveries have made him one of the most successful biologists of his time. He will always be known as the “father of chemical ecology” which means he will always be tied to family of environmentalists.
References:
Lang, S. (n.d.). Cornell Chronicle: Renowned biologist Tom Eisner dies at 81. Cornell Chronicle Online. Retrieved June 18, 2011, from http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories
appointment.. (n.d.). Research Interests. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior - Cornell University. Retrieved June 18, 2011, from http://www.nbb.cornell.edu/neurobio

John Muir-One of Nature's First Advocates

For nearly 100 years, Americans have relied on the United States National Park Service to care for, protect, and beautify this country’s many national parks. Who is responsible for the initial preservation of these havens for today’s use?

John Muir, inventor, naturalist, conservationist, author, and advocate, led the way for “protecting our natural heritage,” (“John Muir: A brief biography,” n.d.). Muir has become known as the “Father of Our National Park System” (“John Muir: A brief biography,” n.d.) by forming associations to protect various national parks, including Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, and the formation of the Sierra Club, one of the United States’ most prominent conservation organizations.

John Muir was born in Dunbar, Scotland on April 21, 1838. When he was eleven, Muir and his family immigrated to the United States and settled at Hickory Hill Farm in Portage, Wisconsin. Muir and his seven siblings were raised under their father’s strict hand and were required to work in the fields all day long. His father felt that daylight time should not be wasted on reading (“John Muir biography,” n.d.).

To work around his father’s orders, Muir invented a contraption called the “early rising machine” to toss him out of bed each day at one in the morning so that he could read and study (“John Muir biography,” n.d.).

During other brief recesses from fieldwork, Muir and his brother would explore the Wisconsin landscape, which helped to develop and expand his love and curiosity for nature. This love of nature would influence Muir to study botany and geology at the University of Wisconsin in 1860. That same year, he also displayed his inventions, including the early rising machine, at the Wisconsin State Fair (“John Muir (1838-1914),” n.d.).

However, Muir’s time in college would not last. After three years in college, Muir dropped out to begin a journey across the United States and Canada relying on small jobs to survive. In 1867, he suffered an eye injury while working in a factory in Indianapolis, which left him blind for months. When he regained his sight, he decided to leave his career at the factory and focus on “turning his eyes to the fields and woods,” (“John Muir: A brief biography,” n.d.). He began a journey, on foot, from Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico creating sketches of nature along the way (“John Muir (1838-1914),” n.d.).

After arriving in the Gulf, he sailed to Cuba, Panama, and eventually landed on the West Coast in California, where he made his home. After settling in, he walked from San Francisco to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He fell in love with the Sierra Nevada, or “Range of Light,” as he called it, stating that it was, “the most divinely beautiful of all the mountain chains I have ever seen,” (as cited in “John Muir: A brief biography,” n.d.).

He took several small jobs in his first years in California. He herded sheep and worked in a sawmill. In his free time, he explored Yosemite Valley to become closer to God as he felt, “God is revealed through nature,” (as cited in “John Muir (1838-1914),” n.d.). He took notes, made drawings, and wrote observations of the area. These notes would become articles about his theory of glaciations, or the carving of the Yosemite Valley by glaciers (“John Muir (1838-1914),” n.d.).

In 1880, Muir married Louie Wanda Strentzel and settled in Martinez, California, where they raised two daughters, Wanda and Helen. He began his career of farming a fruit ranch with his father-in-law. (“John Muir: A brief biography,” n.d.).

After ten years had passed, Muir began to grow restless in the confines of the orchard business. Muir, who had made enough money to support his family with his work in the orchards, decided to get back in touch with nature by traveling to Glacier Bay in Alaska and Mount Rainer in Washington to continue his study of glaciers and the freezing process. With the blessing of his wife, he would also travel extensively through Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America (“John Muir (1839-1914),” n.d.).

Muir’s expeditions correlated into 300 articles and 10 books. His most famous series of articles would be published in Century magazine in 1889. In these articles, Muir described and brought attention to the “devastation of mountain meadows and forests by sheep and cattle,” (“John Muir: A brief biography,” n.d.).

With the help of Century’s associate editor, Robert Johnson, Muir influenced Congress to pass an act to create and protect Yosemite National Park. This act (and Muir’s efforts) led the way for Muir to help create Sequoia, Mount Rainer, Petrified Forest, and the Grand Canyon National Parks earning him the title, “Father of Our National Park System,” (“John Muir: A brief biography,” n.d.).

With all of this newfound recognition, Muir gathered his supporters to help in the creation of the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club is an organization committed to preserving natural lands such as Yosemite. Muir stated the club’s mission was to, “do something for wildness and make the mountains glad," (as cited in “John Muir: A brief biography,” n.d.). Muir was appointed president of the club and served that position until his death.

In 1903, Muir caught the attention of then President Theodore Roosevelt with his book, Our National Parks. Roosevelt came out to Yosemite to camp with Muir. Muir used this trip to persuade Roosevelt to protect Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove. He convinced the president to return these areas to federal protection and make them apart of Yosemite National Park. This camping trip began Roosevelt’s “innovative” conservation plan for America (“John Muir (1838-1914),” n.d.).

After the death of his wife in 1905, Muir would only write four more books and embark on one last and unsuccessful crusade for the prevention of the building of a dam near Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy Valley, which would create a giant reservoir. After battling with a brief illness, John Muir passed away on December 24, 1914 (“John Muir (1838-1914),” n.d.).

John Muir was a pioneer in creating America’s National Parks and preserving land in its most natural state. He paved the way for future lobbyists, environmentalists, and conservationists. Muir's efforts provide this generation with the ability to see natural landmarks, such as Yosemite, as they were in his time. Today, Muir’s name lives on not only through his writings, but also through colleges, landmarks, and hospitals named in his honor.

References

Notable Biographies.com. (n.d.). John Muir biography. Retrieved June 13, 2011, from

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Mo-Ni/Muir-John.html

PBS: Public Broadcasting System Online. (n.d.). John Muir (1838-1914). Retrieved June

13, 2011, from http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/people/historical/muir/

Sierra Club Online. (n.d.). John Muir: A brief biography. Retrieved June 13, 2011, from

http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/life/muir_biography.aspx

Community-Supported Agriculture

Barefoot Gardens, situated on the fringes of Macomb, offers locals a unique service: consumer-supported agriculture.

Operated in part by John Curtis, the Gardens build on the momentum of a recent Japanese movement for local, organic food.

While most CSAs require only a material investment, participants at Barefoot Gardens must themselves raise any produce they wish to take home. This is an effort to address the most common complaint among CSA participants: they never get the produce they want most.

Also, by requiring this level of participation, Curtis says, the Gardens provide a place—away from work and home—where amateur agronomists can enjoy each other’s company.

Curtis was inspired to start the CSA by what he saw as the general lack of quality in mass-grown produce. He wanted to provide a counterpoint to a largely automated, quantity-driven industry, and help restore some of the regional vibrancy that’s been lost due to rural industrialization.

In recent years, participation at Barefoot Gardens has boomed. What started as a small, organic farming operation expanded to a community garden, as more and more, customers found that they enjoyed staying and conversing, talking agriculture, and eventually, growing their own food.

The Gardens themselves have also expanded. The operation now features an incredible variety of produce, spilling over a substantial tract of land.

Due to the recent installation of a hoop house, Curtis and his gardeners are able to reap vegetables year-round, without any artificial heat source.

By investing time and money to a local, organic food market, Curtis says, consumers can send a message to the market that promotes sustainability, organic food, and local economies.