Greenhawks

Photo Series: Raising Miniature Horses

Even though I am only 20 years old, I've already spent over 10 years raising horses. My grandpa spent his life raising horses on our family farm in Iowa, and my mom grew up riding so naturally that I fell into horse work as well. I have focused most of my efforts into raising miniature horses after my grandparents gifted me a miniature when I was little. They are purely pets and a fun hobby for me. I don't show them, use them for profit or anything like that. I've had a herd of up to 16 horses at one point in time, but currently I just have seven. They all have unique personalities and can be as much of a companion animal as a dog. 

Recycling in Oxford: I Called Butler County So You Don't Have To

When moving into college, whether you live off campus or in a dorm, something that will shock you is the sheer amount of trash produced by students and their families. Piles and piles of plastic, cardboard and Styrofoam crowd trash rooms and front porches all around town. In dorms, there are often helpful infographics in the trash rooms that help students figure out what can and cannot be recycled. However, I live off campus, and after being overwhelmed by how crowded my trash bags were, I decided to check out the recycling services Butler County offers. 

Interning at Cope Environmental Center

What an unexpected year it has been! At the beginning of the year, I was ready to be a camp counselor in Pennsylvania; however, COVID-19 kept me home and looking for opportunities to learn more about sustainability and the nonprofit sector. Cope Environmental Center , just 15 minutes away from my house, was the perfect combination to learn more about both! Cope is an environmental center that promotes sustainability in their 130-acre outdoor classroom through sustainability and nature-based programming. The passion of its founders, Jim and Helen Cope and Francis Parks, continues to shed light on the importance of conserving natural resources and living a sustainable lifestyle. With the construction of the Sustainability Education Center in 2009, Cope has been able to expand its programming about sustainability and cultivate new programs for the surrounding districts.

Summer Travels Photo Series

My Internship With Three Valley Conservation Trust

This summer I spent my time interning at Three Valley Conservation Trust here in Oxford as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Intern. GIS uses computer programs to map and analyze data on earth’s surface. Three Valley works to conserve and protect natural areas and family farms in Southwest Ohio. The Trust does this through conservation and agricultural easements: legal agreements between an organization and the landowner which protects the land from development in order to maintain its agricultural or ecological value.

How to Make a Reusable Face Mask

Whether you’re living in Oxford or not, face coverings are required just about everywhere. While these mandates are slowing down the spread of coronavirus, the amount of personal protective equipment (PPE) ending up in our environment has increased. According to the World Economic Forum, although the pandemic has reduced overall carbon emissions, there is a growing number of PPE equipment being discovered specifically in our oceans. One study claimed that if everyone in the UK used one disposable mask a day, it would create an additional 66,000 tonnes of contaminated waste and 57,000 tonnes of plastic packaging.

Taking the Scenic Route: My Summer Road Trip Out West

Similar to most people, COVID-19 impacted the plans I had for the summer. I found myself at home, bored, and baking way too much banana bread for my own good. So when my dad, a high school teacher, suggested we go on a camping road trip, I was already halfway out of the door. On July 1, we hit the road in our trusty old Dodge Caravan with a stack of U.S. maps and an open schedule. There is no better place to socially distance than the great outdoors; we were armed with masks, sanitizer, and even a pop-up shower to stay safe during the pandemic. 

Until Next Fall!

Cover photo courtesy of Sofia Liszka

See You Soon, GreenHawks

Photo courtesy of Caroline Roethlisberger

A GreenHawks Goodbye

Friday Foodie Feature: Quarantine Cooking Across the USA

Photos courtesy of Sammy Harris & friends mentioned in post

Climate Crisis in the Time of a Pandemic

Cover photo courtesy of Helena Wolenski

How We Are Spending Quarantine

Dr. Kim Weber

A Virtual Earth Day

Cover photo courtesy of Alex Knutte

Earth Day 2020: 5 Great Environmental Changes Happening Around the World

Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay

Nature's Forgotten Treasures Found in Quarantine

Going Green in Your Dorm or at Home

Greenwashing: What It Is and How to Avoid It

Cover photo courtesy of Pixabay

GHM Alumni Profile: Chatting With One of Our Founders

Cover photo courtesy of Amy Barczy

Inside Washington: Spring Semester 2020 at the U.S. EPA

We briefly met Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) on her way to another meeting, thanks to the assistance from IW Program co-director Chad Pergram. While our meeting was very short, it was exciting to have the opportunity to meet with her and ask a few questions.