Columbus To Do List Part 2

For my Columbus To List, I chose to the Nature and Outdoor Recreation.  The first park we went to was the Battelle Darby State Park. For the remainder of our destinations, however, I went to the Olentangy Trail (of course), the Franklin Conservatory, the Topiary Park, and Goodale Park.olentangyThe Olentangy Trail is a blessing to have behind Morrill Tower. When the weather is permitting, I will always choose to run on the trail rather than a treadmill at the RPAC. This particular day pictured was a beautiful, sunshiny Saturday, one of the first of the semester. Maureen, Mady, and I brought food and blankets and made our way down the path.  We found a nice spot along the trail and set up for the day. We painted faces by the river and enjoyed the warm weather. It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday, and I’m looking forward to many more living in Morrill next year.  This was by far the easiest destination to reach on the list.conservatoryThe Franklin Conservatory is a beautiful park filled with flowers, trees, and happy people. Maureen, Jake, Matt, and I decided to venture here first, since it seems gorgeous in the pictures. This proved to be true. We walked along the paths enjoying the scenery and open green space. The conservatory keeps bees, something I was not expecting but very excited to see. The only issue at the conservatory was the price to enter the Conservatory itself. Though it was only 10$, we opted out of paying and decided to enjoy the outside instead. I will whole-heartedly return to the Conservatory, and perhaps suck it up and pay the 10$ to go inside.topiaryWhen we decided to go to the Topiary Park, I was unsure of what it entailed. The answer is shrubs. The Topiary Park had shrubs. However, these shrubs were cut into beautiful works of art, featuring bush couples dancing, a happy bush dog, and even bush kids on a canoe. It definitely seemed to be a place for couples, but the four of us enjoyed the scenery nonetheless. The only difficult aspect of the Topiary Park was figuring out that it was also known as the Park for the Deaf. We were quite confused that google maps took us to a park for the deaf, until we saw the artistic shrubbery. If I’m in the area, I would definitely take a stroll through the park again.

goodale

The Goodale Park is located a bit off the Short North, and was the last stop for our list. This park was beautiful and open, with people playing music, children playing, and a plethora of happy dogs. Needless to say, this park was my favorite. I enjoyed the sense of community, as well as the huge green space for playing with dogs or tossing a frisbee. It featured a beautiful lake with a fountain and some overall good vibes. Since it’s only a short bike ride away, I will definitely be returning to this park with a book, some food, and good friends. (We tried taking the most awkward picture possible here)/

I enjoyed this Columbus To Do List theme. I was able to spend my time outdoors with friends, enjoying sunshine and happy times. One thing that surprised me was how accessible these parks are by car. We experienced little to no difficulty reaching each destination. It is definitely something I will take into account in the future. While driving to each park, I enjoyed seeing the houses and neighborhoods. This led me to want to explore the various neighborhoods of Columbus. This is feasible by bus and extremely easy to do with a car. For anyone who wishes to complete this list, I recommend using a car to arrive at each destination, and choosing days with great weather in order to truly enjoy the outdoors. Bring some good friends along too.

Earth Month Challenge

The Earth Month Challenge was a very interesting experience. While I understand this assignment is primarily intended to help the environment, the month became a reflection upon myself as well. My challenges were continuous, so after I started one each week, I continued it for the month. My first and second week challenges included using a reusable water bottle and tupperware. While these challenges were not particularly difficult, they proved a true test to my memory skills. My third week’s challenge was using a thermos for coffee. This challenge was not as difficult, since I could knowingly go without water or leftovers, but for some mornings coffee is necessary. Thus, remembering to bring my thermos was not a difficult task. For my last challenge, I composted my organic material. This was by far the most difficult challenge. While initially conceiving it, I was not worried about not throwing away my banana and orange peels. However, as I continued through the week, I became very aware about my organic waste production. Any unfinished food in dining halls was most definitely organic waste, yet I had neither the ability to take it home nor the stomach to finish it. It helped me become aware of the amount of food I put on my plate. However, perhaps the most important thing I learned is composting in a dorm, on a meal plan, is hard. Once I have my own house, as well as back home, it will not be a difficult process, but carrying around banana peels and my dining hall food is rather annoying.  So of these challenges, I plan to continue the first three, especially using the thermos for coffee. For the composting challenge, I plan to do it once I have my own house, as well as back home. I learned that these challenges are very easy to do, and therefore, helping the environment is not a difficult process by any means. Sure I’m not following a 100% eco-friendly lifestyle, but I’m doing my part to help the environment. If something drives me, such as my love for coffee, I can do most challenges. This is where I think going green can translate itself unto almost anyone; someone simply has to find their drive. Whether it’s a love for saving money or enjoying trying something new, the reason behind helping the environment doesn’t concern me. In the end, if energy and resources are being saved, I don’t mind the intentions behind people’s actions (as long as they aren’t hurting anyone). Thus, almost any person can help the environment in any little way they can, and I think Earth Month is a wonderful way to highlight that fact.

Earth Month Reflection Week 4

For my third Earth Month Challenge week, I started using a thermos to carry coffee instead of buying coffee at cafes. This was an attempt to reduce my waste impact from coffee cups. In addition to this, I continued to use tupperware as well as a reusable water bottle.  This week has probably been the best week thus far, in regards to being aware of my challenge. For both the water bottle and tupperware, the only issues I faced were remembering to bring my water bottle and tupperware. When I forgot, I simply went without the disposable item, such as a bottle of water, and used a water fountain instead. For this week however, I remembered my thermos every single day.  This became a reflection upon myself: I really have a drive to drink coffee. I knew if I did not bring my thermos, I would not be able to drink coffee. Unlike simply walking to a water fountain or refusing to take home leftovers, forgetting my thermos did not possess a simple solution. I knew I needed my thermos in order to get coffee, and therefore my thermos came everywhere. I think this discovery is very important as I continue my Earth Month challenges, and my personal life as well. I need to find what drives me. I can then use that drive to better myself, or the world around me. Though this impact is small, my drive to drink coffee ensures I will not use disposable coffee cups. Imagining this on a larger scale holds infinite opportunities. So far, the thermos led to an additional 99 lbs. of annual carbon emission decrease, and though it isn’t stated on oreoeco, a mug refill costs less than a medium sized cup of coffee! My last challenge this week is using compost, and I look forward to completing it.

Earth Month Challenge Reflection 2

For my second week challenge, I used tupperware.  I attend vegetarian workshop classes where the teacher allows us to take home left over food in Styrofoam containers. This week, I provided my own tupperware to take food home with me. This challenge was not initially difficult in any manner, since it only required me to carry around tupperware.  Once again, I see the issues I run into is based on my ability to remember my challenges.  Using Tupperware is easy; constantly remembering to bring tupperware with me is not. I know remembering to do such a simple task is not difficult, I just have to learn to maintain the habit.  This, I believe, is another reflection on performing simple tasks for a greener lifestyle. These task are not difficult, it is only the in process involved with instilling good habits where people struggle. I will strive to maintain this process of remembering to bring tupperware, as well as my reusable water bottle from the first week, in order to establish a habit of living an environmentally friendly lifestyle.  This directly ties in to my third Earth month challenge week, using a thermos at cafes instead of coffee cups. The only issues I foresee in this challenge is remembering to bring my thermos, otherwise I will not be drinking any coffee! Once again, these challenges are about learning to develop good habits.  This mentality of creating a better lifestyle by striving to remember to do simple tasks each day can help me in various other aspects of my life, such as studying, working out, and taking up new hobbies. Overall, my use of tupperware as well as the reusable water bottle saves 178 pounds of carbon each year. Though oroeco doesn’t state I have any financial savings, I’m fully aware using a reusable water bottle rather than buying water bottles would save the average person at least 5$ a week. I will continue my earth month challenges, and look forward to maintaining and establishing good, environmentally friendly, habits.