G.O.A.L.S.

For our action plan so far we have been in contact with the sustains coordinator who believes it is best to get involved next semester. They are currently weighing compost in one dorm. We are hoping to sit in on one of their meetings and see how we can help. As of now, we purchased candy and made a survey that we are going to conduct on thursday. From 5 to 8, we are going to stand outside of morrill traditions with an ipad and ask people to take the survey in exchange for a piece of candy. We have also posted the survey on the Ohio State facebook page. At the moment there’s not much to do with this issue because the year is winding down and we need to collaborate with sustains. It does feel like we aren’t doing much because this is more of a long term change that can’t be accomplished in one month. At the beginning of the year when we started this issue, we thought we would have been able to accomplish more. Things changes once we realized how much goes into this and that the sustains group had something going. Beside that, I feel like I got caught up in my own work and life.  However, next year we will have to be able to stay motivated to work towards a compost initiative. Communication is definitely key with our group. We will need to establish people’s roles and be more punctual with our meetings and our goals. The biggest challenge is knowing how difficult this will be to turn into a reality. With such a large campus that has so many other concerns and priorities.. It will take a lot of dedication to make this happen. If we stay organized and passionate, I think we can bring about change in these next couple years.

During the first week, we will email the SUSTAINS leader and create a mini survey for morrill students on composting. We will also buy candy to bribe students to answer our survey.

In the second week we will conduct the survey outside of Morrill.

In the third week we will analyze our survey results to see the general consensus towards composting on campus

In the fourth week we hope to meet with SUSTAINS and discuss how we can move further in the next school year.

I was very inspired by the Columbus businesses that were presented to us. I felt engaged with the goals of Hot Chicken Takeover. It was amazing to see how he is able to make a difference in those peoples lives. The type of faith he has in individuals is honorable  and he is changing the paths of people. I also enjoyed learning about the Roosevelt Coffeehouse. I was a little more unclear about his vision or I just wasn’t as engaged. My issue doesn’t relate in the same format that these business operate. Price farms, the business we want to work with benefits the community more by diverting waste from landfills and then they profit by selling their mulch/compost. Additionally we should think of ways to reduce waste on campus in the first place. We can also consider ways to create awareness in the Columbus community. Especially with the issue of Rumpke becoming too expensive. The community as a whole should be moving toward reducing waste and making it easier for citizens to participate. My biggest takeaway actually came from the ted talk for hot chicken takeover. I found the owner’s efforts and passions to be really inspiring. He was able to combine the things he is good at and help others achieve their dreams. To take action on this issue, we will try to increase the volume of composting around campus and move the program forward. It would benefit Ohio State if we could utilize our own waste in on our farms and landscaping. 

A social enterprise organization works like a non-profit in that its mission is to increase social welfare in someway but they do so through their business. From the Social Enterprise Alliance website I learned about the different ways social enterprise can work. For traditional businesses, social enterprise enable a company to integrate social impact into business operations and prioritize social goals alongside financial returns. Social enterprise helps fill the void between traditional approaches that have focused on creating only social impact or financial returns. Price Farms, the business that currently works with OSU is considered a social enterprise. They provide Central Ohio residents and businesses the opportunity to recycle organic materials to produce compost, soil and mulch. They turn materials otherwise destined for a landfill into a product that people can purchase. This has benefited OSU by making our footballs games zero waste. They can then sell our compost for $40.00. Another example is Terracycle, a company that upcycles packaging and other non-recyclable consumer waste, keeping it out of landfills and turning it into new products. Today, Terracycle has established a recycling network resulting in more than 3 billion units of garbage averted from landfills and transformed into new, 100% recycled products. To address this issue we can work with Price Farms to compost our waste and then we can use the product on campus for the gardens and the farm. The challenges that exist may include transportation of the waste to the farm and how cost will play into all of this. It is to my understanding that OSU gets their compost back from Price Farms without any cost. Viewing my issue through this lense, the key consideration is whether osu will receive their compost back allowing our university to save money while also diverting waste from landfills. The first level would include purchasing from businesses that have a social oriented mission. Relating to our issue, this could include trying to buy goods that use recycled materials or buying things second-hand or simply repairing/modifying clothing or other items instead of purchasing new. The second level would include organizing to collect people’s waste. This falls in line with our goal to extend compositing across campus and encourage students to participate. The third level explores why we have so much waste going to landfills. Through compost and only utilizing re-usable and compostable packaging, we can eliminate the amount of waste produced on campus. Another question I have includes the issue of recycling in Columbus. We have plastic cups that can be recycled but Columbus doesn’t actually take them. In addition we have some compostable cups from world centric. So why is it that we aren’t utilizing all of their products. Once we get to the point of actually composting this packaging, hopefully we can find a way to purchase only compostable materials.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw8HU9FTVZ4

This ted talk is a little different. It doesn’t deal with compost directly but the speaker discusses the issue of food waste in supermarkets alongside the fact that their a millions who don’t have access to food. He co founded a social enterprise that turns surplus into commercially viable snacks. The profits generated benefit charities working to eliminate this issue of food poverty. My biggest question was wondering how deep the charities will effect the root issue.. “Why is their food poverty?”

I really enjoyed both of the guest speakers and learning about the organizations they were involved with. Thinking about my issue through this lens, it is a little different than the type of work they were doing. With our project we need to focus on engaging students and creating awareness around the project. Hearing from the speakers encouraged me to have more of a “just do it” mindset. When Jessie mentioned pulling different local businesses together to make the open streets idea happen, you realize that a lot of people have the same goals and ideas its just communicating and making something happen. In the same way I am sure a lot of students would like to stop producing so much waste. We just have to give them the opportunity to do so. Additionally it is important to remember the different things that come into play such as organizing funding and contacting the learning community. My biggest take away was how hearing their stories led me to think about the root issues that needed to be addressed if their problems are ever going to be resolved. With the bill of rights petition, I kept thinking about how the root issue or topic of change needs to be moving towards clean energy. Even though individual causes are great and can be well worth the resources, it really opened my eyes to how many different things are at play with each issue in society. To take action, my group needs to get in contact with the learning community and see where they are at and how we can get involved.

Community organizing is crucial to the success of this composting project. Without support and participation from students, waste managers and the group itself, this project is not doable. We are aware of a living-learning community that might be working on this same issue. It is our job to get in touch with them to figure out what we can do to contribute and make this vision a reality.

With over 60,000 students on campus, spreading awareness of this program and actually implementing it into dining areas will be difficult. There is a lot of work and effort that goes into making sure items are placed properly. With a constant influx of students who are occupied and on their way out the door, they might just throw their containers in the regular garbage because it is easier. We need to find effective ways to reach the Ohio State community by informing them in a brief and effective way.

I think social media will be a beneficial tool in reaching out to our community. This could include doing a mini series on the campus snapchat story. Many students watch this story and it would even be helpful if we could find data on how many people watch the story per day. Additionally, we could get something in the lantern or on other social media platforms. I think that informing students before they might see the system will help the adjustment. When my high school went zero waste it took time for students to get the hang of separating their trash. Even though it was a breeze after a couple months, people are anxious and they don’t want to spend time hovering over trash bins.

Another difficulty with organizing such a project is the size of our campus and the number of trash bins around each facility. Hopefully by targeting one or two areas such as the RPAC or 12th ave bread co, we can familiarize people with the system and eventually expand. We also need to consider how many people need to be involved in this project and the staff and faculty to go through to make this possible. This video is from the zero waste Ohio State football games. It was amazing to see how much trash they have kept out of landfills but also the amount of work that has gone into the effort.  Overall, with time and effort we can hopefully channel the zero waste football program and expand it throughout campus https://youtu.be/mMTpGUDqaY4

 

Environmental Issues

 

Ocean Plastic

The over consumption and production of plastic is becoming more relevant in society’s battle to conserve and protect our planet. I found a lot of research showing the implications of micro plastic and how it is making its way to the ocean and ultimately into the food we consume. I was led to this issue after seeing Adidas’ announcement that they would be partnering with Parley to make a shoe from ocean plastic. Not only does Adidas’ effort stop the use of virgin plastic, it additionally has raised awareness among an entire population for this grave issue. Their announcement also comes at a perfect time considering their traditional Adidas’ Originals are getting tons of attention on the fashion forefront. Seeing their product announcement, I looked more into the effects all of this plastic is having across our waters. According to a study conducted in 2015, eight million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean each year. This pollution is harming marine life who get tangled in or ingest fragments. Furthermore microplastics are found in the digestive tracts of planktivorous fish. In areas where people are highly dependent on seafood, it becomes a public health concern. Becoming more engaged in this issue could be difficult considering location. Most of the littering comes from coastal areas and that where researchers are seeing the biggest impact. That being said, I can still make it a priority to use my own reusable bags for groceries and shopping. In addition to that, I can make sure I also carry a reusable water bottle with me. A challenge with this topic is trying to broaden my efforts to bring about change.

Food Labeling

My second issue explores the deceptions of food labeling in our everyday marketplaces. Business are using marketing tools on their labels to promote “no artificial flavors”, “natural”, “organic”, or “cage free” products whereas the word natural on a food product is virtually meaningless. Many consumers fall to these marketing ploys every day and they end up overspending at the grocery store. There is no doubt that it is important to seek healthier alternatives to processed foods but we need to be cognizant of how much better off we are versus what we are paying. They also use non-gmo labeling to promote their goods when the FDA has safety standards for foods which are genetically engineered. Consumers are free to make their own choices in the grocery store but they shouldn’t persuaded to think that certain products are bad just so corporations can rip money from their wallets. Genetic engineering start ups are in the process of bringing a burger to market that tastes exactly like beef but is made completely in the lab. To combat this issue, we can look to the FDA to put more explicit regulations on food labeling that forces producers to be transparent. As a personally responsible citizen I can look past the labels on products and instead focus on the ingredients and the price per ounce for the good. A lot of this issue is creating awareness and educating people on how to shop for groceries in a sustainable way.

Waste

The third issue confronts waste on campus. Even though it is a small community, reducing waste on campus would be a feasible and impactful project to tackle. Ohio State has invested in a lot of resources into compostable food packaging, however, we don’t have the means to compost any of it. In order to make this sustainable packaging worthwhile, I believe we need to take the next steps toward actually composting. The biggest issue with this project would be cost and time. However if we started a project and kept in ongoing throughout it could gain momentum and become a norm on campus. For funding, we could apply for grants while also going to the university for funding. Additionally, we could target specific food courts to start out with such as the RPAC. Such a project could lead to even greater initiatives to reduce our waste while also setting an example for schools and colleges. Being such a large university, I think we have a greater responsibility to be conscious of the amount of waste we produce. In addition to on campus waste efforts, I could make it a priority to reduce my waste production. I think if students on campus were given the opportunity to compost their coffee cups, smoothie cups and food containers, they would. Simple signage could be implemented to inform students. This is the topic I will choose to tackle as it seems the most doable and impactful.

 

 

 

 

Oct 18

I have chosen the coffee and tea to do list. I chose this list because I love coffee and it would give me a reason to get out an explore the different coffee shops around Columbus while also being able to complete my homework for the week.  I have always preferred coffee as opposed to tea so I am also going to use this as an opportunity to go try out some different teas. For my first experience, I took the COTA bus up to Mission Coffee. To be honest, it was kind of nerve-wracking walking in and seeing all of the coffee fanatics stare you down! I ordered a cold brew Ethiopian Guji blend which was a very different flavor than I am accustomed to. I expected it to be sweeter than it was. When it gets colder, I want to try their hot brews. There is a great social vibe at Mission but personally, I would not consider it a prime studying location. If you don’t mind higher energy study locations, it would be a great place to study. They play great music out of a large amp and the clanking of dishes and grinding of coffee beans fills the small shop. I definitely plan on returning with a friend to try some different drinks and socialize. Overall, it was nice venture to a new location rather than my usual library, crimson cup coffee study routine. For my next adventure I plan to make my way to Kafe Kerouac which hosts comedy shows and poetry nights.

 

Nov 12

On Saturday the 12th, I visited the Short North Coffee house with my two friends Jacalyn and Lucy! I found the workers to be very friendly and it seems like a great place to go for breakfast and coffee. After ordering a iced Caramel Chai, we enjoying the friendly atmosphere. My chai tasted good, although you could tell it was loaded with sugar. Short North Coffee House has a lot of potential to be a really cool atmosphere with the artwork it has on the walls. While some of the walls are filled, others are plain white with no artwork. This definitely gives the space a less cozy vibe but I still plan on going back at some point! I had a great time exploring various shops with Jacalyn and Lucy. We also went in American Apparel and the hippie hut.

 

Nov 23

Today I went to One Line Coffee and Impero Coffee. At one line, I got a hot mocha and loved it! The barista was very friendly and I really enjoyed the vibe inside. The roast had a great flavor; definitely a step up from my daily coffee on campus. So far, one line is my favorite location. The space itself was very warm and inviting with good music. I would really like to go back and try the honey latte. After going to One Line, I went to Impero Coffee and my brother ordered an iced mocha. The coffee tasted burnt and I did not enjoy it as much. The shop itself was cozy and it would be fun to hang out with friends. I was under the impression that they had food there however, I didn’t see anything. Overall I had a great experience at both of these shops and I would definitely recommend them to a friend and plan on inviting friends to go.

 

One Line

 

Impero Coffee

Nov 25

For my fifth and final trip, Randall and I headed over to Cup O Joe by Target! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the vibes. Cup O Joe is open later than the other shops making it a fun place to hang with friends on the weekends or even a solid place to do homework. Randall ordered a white hot chocolate which he somewhat enjoyed. It mostly tasted like a melted white chocolate bar with a couple drips of milk.  Very sweet. I ordered a butter-beer latte per recommendation of the barista. (Harry Potter themed:) Obviously it doesn’t compare to the actual butter-beer that I have had from Harry Potter world but it was still tasty. It had butterscotch and caramel and other forms of sugar! Yum! They had a lot of interesting drinks so I am hoping to go back and try others. I did find it strange that they didn’t have actual mugs as well as the to-go cups. However, they try to get people to reuse their sleeves by making it a punch card and once you get a certain number of punches, you get a free drink. The shop itself had a fire place and some plants to create a warm ambiance. Additonally, they played music and it was lively but not overwhelming.  I would definitely come back here to do homework or hang out.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed my adventures to all of these shops. If I had to pick my favorite shop, I would go with One Line. The mocha I had their was perfectly roasted and not too sweet but also had a rich flavor. The shop itself was really cute and the barista was very pleasant. The one downside to One-Line is that it is the farthest from me. In the future, I still want to visit the juice bars and tea shops which I did not get a chance to experience. For people doing this list in the future, I would recommend making a schedule for yourself right when you get the assignment so that you aren’t rushing in the end. In general, visiting all sorts of shops around Columbus has taught me how important it is to support local businesses. Local businesses are the heart of communities. There will always be plenty of people who will go to Starbucks on high street but not everyone makes their way to the short north to visit the shops. I brought my brother with me for one of my trips to Impero and One-Line because I wanted him to see that their is so much more explore than people realize.  I love the idea behind this whole assignment because it forced me to go explore even if it was a little out of the way.