I want to thank you all for your support and readership and the wonderful comments you have been leaving us. Over the year we have been working on improving our web site. We are still in this process so the design is not entirely complete. However, we are still publishing many new stories. Our new web address is collegegreenmag.com

We hope you like the changes we’re making!

Sincerely, Katherine

The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference was held Dec 7-18 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The days leading up to the Copenhagen talks had all the usual ingredients for high drama: hacked E-mails that purportedly throw climate change into question, protests from individuals demanding tangible results, and last minute announcements by various world leaders that they would attend. The hopes were high as well as the stakes. Despite the United States and BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India, China) nations agreeing to the Copenhagen Accord, clichés abound in world press of the talks being “a lot of hot air.” The denouement, many claim, was somewhat of a letdown, as there is nothing binding about the accord, which will only be formalized sometime during the next year.

Background Information

To recap some of the background surrounding this issue, greenhouse gases such as CO₂ trap heat and raise surface temperatures. Although there is much debate over what exactly causes climate change, there is consensus that a considerable amount of climate change is a result of human actions, mainly in the form of post-industrial revolution development. Infrastructure, transportation, industry and a high reliance on electrical appliances and electronics are the hallmarks of development. Activities crucial to development also lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and therefore global temperatures. Rising temperatures bring with them the threat of rising sea levels, which puts the very existence of low lying island nations at risk. Ironically, these nations typically have small economies and low emission rates themselves and charge the biggest polluters (China and the United States) with the responsibility of curbing emissions to prevent further rises in temperature.

Per capita emissions are very high in the developed world and are steadily rising in the developing world, where carbon emissions are still comparatively low but haven’t peaked yet. Economic growth follows industrialization, so the Kyoto Protocol sought to combat climate change while being equitable to all nations in its specific strategy. The Kyoto Protocol is the protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change, which was adopted in 1997 and came into force in 2005. It places binding targets on the reduction of greenhouse gases by 37 industrialized nations (known as Annex 1) and general commitments to reduce emissions by all other signatories. It allows emissions trading between Annex 1 and non-Annex 1 nations in a Cap-and-Trade arrangement. The Kyoto protocol is almost universally accepted, with 187 countries having ratified it with the significant exception of the United States, which at the time wanted binding targets and timetables for emission reductions for the developing world.

Following the Kyoto Protocol, the America’s Climate Security Act of 2007 was proposed to bring the United States in line with Kyoto objectives. It was killed in 2008 over economic concerns.

Northeastern states in the U.S. started Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative with their own local cap and trade program. California is now in line with Kyoto, and several U.S. cities participate in cap and trade programs. This list includes several Ohio cities such as Akron, Canton, Columbus and Zanesville.

The Recent Conference

The objective of the Copenhagen talks was to create a mutually agreed-upon framework to tackle climate change. The European Union had already committed to binding legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond Kyoto requirements. Most countries announced moderate emission cuts, with industrialized nations targeting cuts of around 20 percent below 1990 emission levels. The United States announced a cut of 17 percent below 2005 levels, which translates to a 1.3 percent cut below 1990 emission levels.

With most world leaders in Copenhagen, significantly President Barack Obama, who decided in the last minute to be present during a more meaningful phase of the discussions, it was hoped that a legally binding agreement could be reached. This, however, was thwarted by a leaked document that caused a rift between the rich and poor world, that G77 nations (and China) claimed was not previously negotiated and was imbalanced in favor of developed nations.

The talks, which went on until early Saturday, were not a complete failure. The United States and BASIC countries reached a non-legally binding accord that is yet to be signed. The U.S. and other developed countries have promised $30 billion over the next three years to developing nations and another $100 billion in 2020. It isn’t clear yet where the money will come from.

However, many of the accord’s agreements did not meet earlier expectations. The accord limits temperature rise to 2˚C instead of the 1.5˚C that was hoped for. It also dropped earlier proposals to cut CO₂ emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050. It does, however, include a plan to combat deforestation.

Uncertain Results for Southeast Ohio

The effect of the Copenhagen talks on the Southeast Ohio region may not be immediately apparent, or even direct, but just as the Kyoto Protocol encouraged some states and cities to voluntarily adopt it on a local basis, the Copenhagen Accord might spur further action on the issue of climate change. This might include general encouragement of green initiatives, and possibly some form of a cap and trade emissions system. With no binding agreements at this point, it is hard to gauge what the local ramifications will be without being speculative. The local interest (which mirrors global interest) in the Copenhagen talks would at the very least raise awareness on this issue of growing importance.

Butternut squash soup. Photo provided by Elyse McConnell

By Elyse McConnell
CG Commentary

There are hundreds of butternut squash recipes, but this particular one is my favorite. It became a family recipe, so much that we were unable to find it in any of our cookbooks — the only copy of it now is written on the back of a receipt, covered in squash.

Apart from butternut squashes and onions, almost all of this soup’s ingredients tend to be household items, many of which can be bought locally at various locations, including Athens’s Bulk Food Depot on Radford Road. The recipe also includes tamari, which is a less salty, fuller-tasting soy sauce. Tamari is generally wheat-free and will lend its smoky flavor to the soup. The ideal butternut squashes are a muted orange (instead of pale peach).

The recipe is as follows:

Prep time: approximately an hour and a half

Ingredients:

• 6 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
• 5 cups water
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup white flour
• ¾ cup milk — you can use whatever variety you happen to have on hand, although I would recommend using a variety of dairy or soy milk.
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tablespoon tamari
• Olive oil
• Pepper, to taste
• Optional:  ½ cup of slivered almonds or walnuts (added during the last five minutes of cooking or sprinkled on top).

Process:

1. Peel your squash, gut the insides (which are similar to the insides of a pumpkin), and then cut it into fairly equal-sized cubes. My pieces are usually about half an inch or larger in size.
2. In a large pot, combine five cups of water for every six cups of squash. This does not have to be exact.
3. Bring to a boil, and let cook for about 25 minutes, or until tender. I usually use a fork to test the tenderness.
4. Meanwhile, combine thyme and onion in a pan and sauté until tender.  Generally a clear look to the onions is desirable and takes under ten minutes.
5. Strain the squash into a colander. I usually place a medium-sized bowl under the colander to catch some of the water, which is full of nutrients. I later use the water to thin down the soup or make the squash easier to blend.
6. In a blender or food processor, combine squash, onion and milk, and puree.  If your blender isn’t catching the vegetables, add a tiny bit of the water you set aside.
7. Rinse out the large pot used to boil the squash, and add your butter. Melt over a low heat, and then add flour. Slowly stir in squash/milk/onion mixture.
8. Add ginger, tamari, salt, and pepper (if desired).
9. To thin your soup, add milk or water. Thicken your soup with flour.
10. Cook for an additional ten minutes or until hot.
11. Add walnuts or almonds if desired, and serve.
12. To warm up leftovers, add a bit of water and microwave or heat on stove-top.

Using local, in-season ingredients like butternut squash and onions ensures fresh, nutrient-rich foods. Frequently, “fresh” produce at supermarkets takes days to arrive, and may have been picked at an unripe stage, so that it could ripen in transit. Studies suggest that fruits and vegetables begin to lose vital nutrients within 7 days of being picked (Meal Time).

Buying locally also helps to keep money in the community. Studies show that only 43 percent of money spent at a chain store remains in the local economy, whereas local purchases keep 68 percent of the money spent in the community.

This butternut squash soup is a great way to end the fall season.

One of the unique and enduring pleasures of humankind is the ability to gaze up at the night sky in rapt wonder. Astronomy was the television of its day, with the stars and moon providing most of the night-light required by our ancestors. Finding patterns in the stars and familiarizing yourself with the night sky was your best bet at predicting seasons. Planting crops and harvesting them at the right time was a crucial aspect of early agriculture. To this day, most harvest festivals around the world use astronomical calendars, including Easter, which is said to have its roots in a pagan fertility festival (‘harvest’ and ‘fertility’ are often used interchangeably when referring to festivals, to represent the concept of land fertility). Even though they’re lightyears away, it’s easy to see that the stars have had a tremendous impact on human civilization.

Clouds make it difficult to see the starry night above Athens. Photo by Alex Snyder

If you live in a city, however, you are deprived of the starry night in its full glory. It’s hard to perceive the faint band of the Milky Way, a sight familiar to our ancestors, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. You have probably never noticed that one of the ‘stars’ in the Orion constellation is actually a nebula. City lights are bright and will overwhelm all but the brightest objects in the night sky.

Most people erroneously believe that there is a direct correlation between bright lights at night and safety. This is simply not true, with most studies concluding that there is no relation between any kind of lighting and crime. So overall, bright lighting has no real benefits and some distinct disadvantages such as over-illumination.

Over-illumination is just one form of light pollution. There is also light trespass, which occurs any time light from your neighbor’s home bothers you to the point where it affects the quality of your life (for example, by disrupting your sleep). Blinding glare from streetlights is another aspect of light pollution, which can be especially dangerous to drivers. Finally, there is skyglow, the reddish glow around big cities, caused when reflected light from poorly shielded light fixtures is scattered by the atmosphere, reducing contrast between the sky and the stars and making ground-based astronomy extremely difficult.

Each form of light pollution can affect our quality of life. Circadian rhythms, the internal biological clocks in humans and most animals, are regulated by light and roughly follow the earth’s daily rotation. An important aspect of these rhythms is the antioxidant melatonin, which is produced in the absence of light. Research shows that melatonin production is linked with strong immune responses, increased longevity, reduced risk of cancer, migraine and brain injury. Conversely, a decrease in melatonin brought about by too much light robs you of these benefits.

Over-illumination is not only unnecessary and unhealthy but also expensive. Australia has government case studies of such expenses, where public lighting accounts for between 30 and 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and costs $195 million (USD) annually. One study of the city of Coff’s Harbor (pop. 70,000) estimated that by switching to more efficient and reliable lighting, they could reduce CO₂ emissions by 35 percent and rack up a 10-year cost savings of $640,000 (USD).

A Local Campaign

Half a world away in Athens, Ohio, some residents have already recognized the importance of the issue of light pollution and have begun to address it. The effort to reduce excess lighting was spearheaded by Dr. Joe Shields, an astronomer and chair of the Ohio University Department of Physics and Astronomy. Pursuing this effort was imperative for him both as an astronomer and as a resident of an area that advertises its clear night skies.

Shields’ efforts began in 1999 when he talked to the mayor and the Athens city planning boards. When he found that the city was due for a zoning code revision, he did the necessary research and studied other places where light pollution laws were implemented. He formulated a draft, which was presented to the city planning board. The board, Shields says, was very receptive to the idea. The zoning ordinance was passed in 2003,  addressing light pollution, glare and light trespass. The ordinance affects outdoor lamps/luminaries rated at above 1800 lumens and all spot lights rated at above 900 lumens, and dictates that they shall not emit light above a horizontal plane. In addition, lighting is to be designed to minimize illumination of adjacent lots and streets. This ordinance is subject to a grandfather clause and only applies to new private lighting.

The city of Athens contracts with American Electric Power for its street lighting needs, making it rather difficult to estimate the energy/cost savings of efficient lighting. The good news for Athens, however, is that AEP now offers a larger suite of well-designed light-fixtures than it had in the past. Ohio University is exempt from this local ordinance, but has nonetheless also responded well to calls to switch to more efficient light fixtures.

From the year 2000, the Southeast Ohio Astronomical Society and the Ohio University Department of Physics and Astronomy have jointly given out an annual ‘Friend of the Stars’ award that recognizes excellence in outdoor lighting. The Athens City Council was a recipient of this award in 2004, for passing the zoning ordinance. Shields received the 2005 award for his efforts to reduce light pollution locally. Wal-Mart, the Athens Community Center and O’Bleness Hospital are all great examples of good outdoor lighting that have also received this award.

It took the efforts of a few concerned local residents to address the growing issue of light pollution in Athens, a problem that many larger cities have yet to tackle. The ordinance is a small step, but an important one. The ability to see objects as far as our eyes can see at distances our minds can barely grapple with is but one of the reasons to preserve our night sky. Tracing imaginary patterns in the stars and weaving elaborate tales around them has been a unique pastime common to all of humanity. The stars give us perspective, and show us our place in the universe. Clouds notwithstanding, the right to a clear night sky is a basic one, worth fighting for.

Editor’s Note: Swati Ramanathan is a graduate student in the Condensed Matter (CMSS) section of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

The issue of everyday electronic devises and their impact on energy consumption has evolved from a small round table discussion into a massive movement for conservation.

Among those responsible for energy waste are the gadgets that we have incorporated into our everyday lives: cell phones, computers and television sets.

According to an article from The Toronto Star there are approximately one billion computers, two billion television sets and three billion cell phones in use worldwide. While the iPod itself has not yet risen to such popularity, the invention of products like the iPhone (which combines a cell phone and iPod) ensure that the numbers of handheld electronic devices are continually on the rise.

As a generation already highly adapted to the use of electronics on a large scale, how can we more efficiently accommodate our insatiable appetites for exciting and trendy gadgets in a more efficient manner?

When approaching energy conservation, perhaps the most influential factor in determining an individual’s course of action is personal interest. Consider that there are two basic levels of energy conservation that can be executed depending on how important someone deems “saving energy” to be. The following is what people can do to lower their energy consumption, based on their level of personal interest.

The Lightweight of Energy Savings

According to the Department of Energy, using rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) is not only more cost effective but conserves a small amount of energy as well. Other basic ideas such as turning computers off instead of keeping them on “stand-by” reduces energy waste and can be seen as a reward (in the form of a deduction) on your electric bill.

To maximize savings with a laptop, put the adapter on a power strip that can be turned on or off. Even if the device is turned off, keeping an adapter plugged into a wall socket still consumes energy.

Obviously, leaving the television on when you’re going up the street to the store isn’t going to help you save energy. A lot of people like to leave their television on while they are sleeping. Little considerations like turning it off when you’re not using it can produce surprisingly noticeable changes on your electric bill as well. The average color television uses about 12 kilowatts of power when it’s turned off and even more when connected to DVD players and other electronics. While one kilowatt is billed at about 1.2 cents per unit, in the long run it’s in your best interest to simply turn it off if you’re not using it. (To read more about this, check out the CBC news story “Big TVs are big energy hogs”.)

One of my hardest habits to break in my own personal effort to waste less energy involves my cell phone. I have often been known for taking it off the charger and leaving the charger plugged into the wall. This is one of the easiest ways to waste a good amount of energy; especially if the charger sits in the wall for days without being used.

It is also important to know that the average cell phone takes no more than 30 minutes to go from a completely dead battery to completely full. Leaving your phone on the charger for longer than needed drains the battery and ultimately causes the battery to last a shorter amount of time. So in the end you’re using more energy because you have to charge your cell phone battery more often.

A Real Commitment to a Less Energy-Intensive Lifestyle

Energy Star is an international standard for energy-efficient consumer products. It was first introduced in the U.S. in 1992 and has now been adopted by Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan and the European Union.

Devices carrying the Energy Star logo include computers, kitchen appliances and other electronic items. These products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy and can be found online and in stores such as Home Depot, Sears and Office Max.

A recent survey done by The Shelton Group, an agency focused on motivating mainstream consumers to make sustainable choices, found that 71 percent of consumers cited saving money as a reason to buy energy-efficient products.

Using solar powered chargers for cell phones and cordless phones is another way to permanently reduce energy consumption and save money while doing so. The most basic solar chargers come with a universal serial bus (USB) plug that goes from the charger into your phone. The solar panel must be facing skyward in order to find your phone signal, then it charges the battery using solar power.

Life changing efforts to conserve energy go beyond using less or buying products that require less. Using computers at public libraries as opposed to owning one is a good way to reduce your personal energy consumption. Consider that many of the items you use on a regular basis that consume large amounts of energy, can be shared or borrowed like those who carpool to reduce pollution.

Whatever your level of interest, energy conservation is a choice that can save your time, your money and ultimately your environment.

In the world of fashion, one day you’re “in.” And the next day… You’re in a landfill.  Every year, each American sends 68 pounds of clothing to a landfill.

Secondhand stores in Athens offer a variety of clothing and other items for low prices, diverting waste from the landfills. Photo by Sara Salman

Just like tie-dye t-shirts and MC Hammer pants, today’s styles typically end up buried (literally) before they have a chance to be “cool” again. Some of these materials will never biodegrade fully, while others leave behind the chemicals, pesticides and toxic dyes used to produce them.

Given these concerns, some American companies are working to rescue some 2.5 billion pounds of clothing otherwise destined for the landfill. A number of these companies employ people to dig through bags and bags of old clothing. Clothing in good condition is sold, bulking up the ranks of certain secondhand stores, while less stylish apparel is sent to non- industrialized nations (if you ever wondered why villagers in remote places often sport American brands, now you know).

When a culture has such an emphasis on being “in,” it can be hard on someone with a green conscience, and their wallets, to navigate the wily ways of trends, but secondhand stores can be the answer. In Athens, secondhand stores abound — whether you are looking to dress inexpensively, stylishly, uniquely or eco-friendly. Athens Underground, New-To-You Shoppe and Goodwill are sources for fall and winter fashion that suit the budget and the mind.

Athens Underground (90 N. Court St.) is a vintage shop located uptown. Down a set of steps from street-level is a relaxed atmosphere, soft blues music and a catacomb of clothing. Neatly grouped on shelves, display cases, and clothing racks are an assortment of vintage chemises, beaded dresses, fedoras, shoes, jewelry and more. The store is also full of classic fall staples like T-strap heels, neutral trench coats, faux pearls, white button-up shirts, plaid scarves and sheath dresses. They carry fur coats and leather jackets that are so central to this fall’s style. The prices were reasonable for a store stocked with hand-picked gems — like a pair of navy and orange knitted flats priced at only $3.50.

Court Street dead-ends into Carpenter Street just a few steps north of Athens Underground.  Turning left on Carpenter, the looping road heads north to New-To-You Shoppe (90 Columbus Road). New-To-You is a thrift store run by the Athens County Foster Parent Association, with profits benefiting foster children by aiding with the costs of camp, instruments, sports fees and more. There is a small consignment section, but most of the items have been donated. The prices are very low and the items all seem to be in good condition. On the day that I visited, the store was disheveled by the huge amount of inventory, and noisy from several crying children, but I managed to find a sweater for $1.07. They had a large housewares section and a copious amount of purses, but finding unique clothing here was somewhat more difficult. However, their constant stock rotation means that new items appear in the store frequently — it’s just a matter of visiting often and having an eye for that perfect item.

East Carpenter Street meets up with East State Street, on which the local Goodwill store (743 E. State St.) can be found. The Athens Goodwill thrift store can be somewhat overlooked because of its location, but the shop is clean, tidy and well-stocked. Each Goodwill store is run autonomously, so the purchases made at the Athens Goodwill benefit those in this region. The store’s inventory is entirely donated, and the $3 or so paid for a sweater goes to help those that have disabilities or have experienced downsizing. Like New-To-You, Goodwill has a constantly rotating stock of apparel, some of which is new or like-new and still in style. They have frequent sales, specific to their store location. They also have some classic staple pieces, always a good buy, and tons of acid wash jeans for those wishing to relive the ’80s. What can’t be sold at Goodwill will frequently be donated to organizations that re-purpose the garments — for example, some groups turn t-shirts into cleaning rags.

With options like these that benefit local businesses and organizations, the effort to lower one’s ecological footprint isn’t a chore at all. A little luck and ingenuity is all that’s needed to find unique clothing and to divert millions of pounds of textiles a year from landfills.

By Alex Snyder

By Becca Cochran
CG Lifestyles and People

If you walk into Casa Cantina any Monday night, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a crowd of Birkenstock-clad, lively folks. Some are students, and some are Athens residents, but all are groovin’ to the sounds of Athens’ own Rattletrap Stringband. As you sit enjoying your food and beverage from the bodega, sounds of the fiddle, banjo, guitar and bass waft over the restaurant.

It’s a scene not uncommon to Southeast Ohio, a place where for two hundred years coal mining has been not only a way of supplying energy, but also a way of life.  Within the detailed history of coal in Appalachia is the story of its music: bluegrass. This style of music seems so inherent to Appalachian culture that it is often easy to forget its evolution alongside coal. The two have an intertwined history that resulted in their unique companionship, and so to understand this form of music, it is important to consider the background of the backcountry. (Oh, and fear naught, it bears little resemblance to Deliverance.)

The development of bluegrass culture was due in large part to the geographical and socioeconomic aspects of Appalachia. For nearly two centuries the economy of Appalachia has been contingent on the mining of coal, one of America’s most required, though nonrenewable, natural resources.

By the late 18^th century and into the 19^th century, jobs were hard to come by, and so many men submitted to the arduous lifestyle of an Appalachian coal miner. The work itself was rigorous, and working conditions were far from ideal.  A typical mine was cold and dark and exposure to large amounts of coal dust over time gave many miners the disease known as “Black Lung.” The risk of working in the coalmines, coupled with inadequate pay, made for a taxing life. And so in the tradition of Scotch-Irish and Anglo-Celtic ballads, the trials and tribulations of Appalachian coal miners were conveyed in song:

“Coal mining is the most dangerous work in our land today
With plenty of dirty slaving work and very little pay
Coal miner won’t you wake up and open your eyes and see
What the dirty capitalist system is doing to you and me
They take your very life blood and they take our children’s lives
They take fathers away from children and husbands away from wives
Oh miner, won’t you organize wherever you may be
And make this a land of freedom for workers like you and me.”
-(Come All ye Coal Miners)  – Traditional Ballad

The songs have continued to flow over the hills of Appalachia, telling the stories of miners and their families. Listening closely, you can hear a heedful plea: “…organize wherever you may be,” in order to, “…make this land of freedom for workers like you and me.” It was this sense of collective strife and determined human spirit that led to the organization of labor unions by coal miners in the late 1800s. The labor movement that emerged from the coal miners’ struggle defined labor standards for generations to follow.

Today, through the music of bluegrass, that struggle is remembered. But where does bluegrass grow today? Many might be surprised to find that it hasn’t died out, but has been instead transplanted into the hands of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original authors of traditional Appalachian music.

Today, nonprofit environmental groups such as Aurora Lights strive to preserve the traditions of Appalachia while maintaining a balance between its people and the earth. Based in Morgantown, West Virginia, Aurora Lights fosters locally based projects in Appalachia through education, restoration, and yes, bluegrass. Through the collaboration of local artists from Appalachia, Aurora Lights has recently compiled its second album of bluegrass songs featuring interviews with Appalachian residents who have been affected by mountaintop removal coal mining.

Why is bluegrass now the music of environmentalists? Perhaps it always has been; perhaps coal miners were environmentalists in disguise, only trying to make a living — bluegrass being their only way of telling the story of their strife. Or perhaps bluegrass has rooted itself even deeper into America’s history, as the spirit of those old Appalachian ballads seems to have relevance still today: people living in the Appalachian area continue to change the quality of their surroundings, just as early coal miners did through song.

Matthew McElroy has been playing the fiddle with Rattletrap for almost ten years, and he still finds a connection with that Appalachian spirit: “Where it comes from appeals to me … the community of it — the small contingent of people trying to keep its heart beating.”

And as the tune of the fiddle comes drifting o’er the crowd again, you’re reminded again of what that sound represents: nearly two centuries of music and lyrics illustrating the lives of many who dared to raise their voice about their present condition. Glancing again at those Birkenstock-clad folk dancing to the heartbeat of the song, it’s apparent that the roots of bluegrass music run deep. And the song, though it may have changed hands along the way, remains the same.

The larger, more asymmetric track was made by a bobcat's front foot. The more round and slightly smaller track was made by the rear foot. Photo by Joe Brehm

By Audrey Rabalais
CG Science

A small predator stalks its way through the night in Wayne National Forest, spotting a turkey feather on a tree and further enticed by the scent of beaver castor oil and catnip. It approaches the alluring trap, relieving an itch against blunt nails under the feather. With two quick camera flashes, the bobcat disappears, leaving only a few stray hairs and its picture on the film.

Wildlife biologists like Suzie Prange live for this hypothetical scenario.

“It used to be that I couldn’t wait to get my hands on an animal, but now just getting pictures is so great,” said Prange who is part of a bobcat research project aimed at documenting the distribution and abundance of bobcats (Lynx rufus) in southeastern Ohio.

Bobcats are an endangered species in Ohio, native to central and southeastern areas of the state. The mid-sized cat with black-tufted ears controls small rodent populations and is an essential component of the food chain and ecosystems to which it belongs.

During the 18^th and early 19^th centuries, bobcats were found throughout Ohio, but as more land was cleared for settlement and agriculture, bobcat numbers plummeted, and by 1850 the species was nearly extirpated. Since 1970, there have been 255 verified reports of bobcats in Ohio. A verified report requires physical evidence of the animal such as roadkill or a photograph. Prange said many of the reports are from people who call in to the local Department of Natural Resources office and many of these sightings remain unverified.

“We get a lot of just folks calling in saying, ‘I saw a bobcat,’ ” said Prange. Although unverified reports are not used to estimate bobcat populations, she said it appears that the unverified report trend supports the numbers of verified reports. Prange suggests that the increase in trail cameras bought by hunters and private landowners has lent itself to a larger number of reports in recent years.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife began conducting its bobcat camera trap and hair snare study in 2007 in three sites across southeastern Ohio. Each site was divided into a grid consisting of 12 one-square kilometer areas where hare snares and cameras were set up. The hair snares consisted of a square of carpet with blunt roofing nails inserted in it that could snag fur when the cats rubbed against it. The carpet was scented with beaver castor oil and catnip to attract the cats by scent. A turkey feather was placed above the carpet pad to attract them by sight as bobcats are flashers, predators attracted through movement.

The mesh bag attached to the scent pad contains catnip, which is just as attractive to bobcats as it is to domestic cats. It entices the bobcat to rub on the scent pad, hopefully leaving hair behind on the blunt nails. Photo by Joe Brehm

Two infrared cameras were placed at 90-degree angles toward the scent pad and feather to capture footage of the bobcats that visit the site. Ideally, two picture angles would be captured of the visiting bobcats, Prange said.

After successful monitoring in the pilot study, 12 sites were set up and monitored during 2008 with photos obtained at four sites and hair sample at six sites. Wildlife biologists are now looking for patterns in the movement and territory of bobcats. Individual felines can be identified by DNA analyses of the hair samples, which are also used to estimate total density of the population. Individuals can also be identified by looking at pelage patterns, or the specific pattern of spots in the fur, which ideally are discernable from the photos taken.

Biologists involved with the bobcat project are also trying to determine if seasons affect bobcat detection rates. However, they are not speaking of your typical spring, summer, fall and winter; these seasons are based on the cats’ biology. The first season begins in May with birth and early kitten rearing, followed by late kitten rearing in August, dispersal in November and breeding in February.

To determine if seasonality affects bobcat detection rates, biologists will resurvey each site   from 2008 at which bobcats were detected during the 2009-2010 survey. This will allow identification of the best time of year to survey the bobcats, generating more efficient surveying techniques and better bobcat management in Ohio.

Only four sightings may not seem much for a field site, but Prange said those pictures make the job worthwhile.

“After a long day in the field, I get into my car and turn the headlights on, driving away wondering if those bobcats are going up to the traps I just put up.”

Prange intends to continue the project as long as it lasts, already persevering through a pregnancy last year. She spoke of seeing video and pictures of herself out in the field, eight months pregnant.

“I look forward to when my daughter is old enough to see it and I can say, ‘There’s mommy! There you are looking for bobcats.’”

It appears that bobcats are back in Ohio to stay, and research on these cats is just beginning for dedicated biologists like Prange. Her research now may help ensure that her daughter grows up in an Ohio with a healthy bobcat population.

As bobcats approach the scent pad attached to the tree, their motion will trigger the camera to take their picture. Photo by Joe Brehm

Following the Footsteps of the Ancients
On Oct. 10, about 30 people set out to do something that had not been done in hundreds of years. They began a 7-day, 70-mile walk from Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe to the Octagon Earthworks in Newark. This same pilgrimage was undertaken by the Hopewell people who built these earthen structures 2,000 years ago. Some archaeologists theorize that people may have come to the Octagon Earthworks from as far away as the Grand Canyon for ceremonial gatherings.

Brad Lepper, an archaeologist from Ohio State University, has argued that a road once existed from the Chillicothe Earthworks to the Octagon in Newark, which has been termed the Great Hopewell Road. A diverse group of students, hikers, community members and visitors from other states and countries walked the length of this road from Oct. 10-16. This weeklong journey, labeled “Walk with the Ancients,” was sponsored by OSU at Newark’s Earthworks Center. Walkers’ motives for this pilgrimage were varied. Some participants simply enjoyed walking and hiking and were curious. Others wanted to retrace the steps of their Native American ancestors. Vincent Stanzione, an anthropologist from Guatemala, joined the walk because of his expertise on pilgrimage. Emily Hadet, a senior at Denison University, is researching motivations behind pilgrimage and conducted interviews along the walk.

I had the privilege of joining them for a part of this pilgrimage, and I will never see Ohio’s landscape in the same way. The walk and its participants revealed a new dimension to lands that I travel through often. I have always admired the rolling hills and gentle landscape of southern and central Ohio — its diverse ecology and ephemeral beauty — but never realized that an ancient path of prayer was laid upon the land by those who dwelt here long ago.

Led by Ceremony
I decided to attend the opening ceremony after hearing about this event from Dr. Margaret Pearce, a professor in the Geography Department at Ohio University and Director of the Ohio University Cartographic Center. Dr. Pearce and graduate student Mike Boruta produced the map that guided walkers along their journey.

The deep, resonant beat of a traditional Native American drum sounded across the green fields covering 2,000-year-old earthworks in Chillicothe. A strong October breeze carried the smell of sage and sweetgrass smoke. Lakota spiritual leader Gilly Running and singers Mark Welsh, Hunter Garner and Andrew Baker led a procession of about 70 people to the middle of this cluster of mounds and earthworks. As the pulse of the drum and voices of singers rang out, the large circle of onlookers and walkers faced each of the four cardinal directions — north, east, south, and west — in unison.

The words of a Hunkpapa Lakota elder who had spoken moments earlier settled in my mind: “Most people think that the four colors of the medicine wheel (red, white, yellow and black) symbolize the red man, white man, etc., but that’s not the case. When that wheel starts spinning, the colors blend together, and what you get is brown. When you look around, we’re all just different shades of brown.”

After the ceremony, the walkers began their journey and I rejoined them at Rock’s Mill near Lancaster on their fourth day. After an evening program about the history and restoration of the mill, some of the walkers participated in a traditional sweat lodge ceremony. I sat by the fire as hot rocks were pulled from the coals of a large fire, glowing red in the darkness of the night. The sound of the rushing falls at the mill and the crackling of the fire blended with songs of prayer from the sweat lodge. Those walking along the Great Hopewell Road may have done the very same thing at this place two thousand years ago.

As I sat on the ground near the fire, my thoughts turned to a sweat lodge I participated in several years ago. Sitting in the hot darkness, I had waited for something extraordinary to happen to me, but my expectations were not met as the ceremony carried on. I realized then that the sweat lodge was not about me, it was about the good of all people. So I tried to catch on to the songs and add my voice to the collective prayers of everyone there. Looking back, it is clear that I ended up receiving much more than I gave.

The walkers reflected on their pilgrimage up to that point at a talking circle the next evening in Baltimore, Ohio. Walkers told powerful stories of sharing, getting to know fellow walkers, and walking along the same path as the Hopewell people long ago. The participants inspired me through their commitment to this walk, to each other and to the ancients. Even though I went about my usual routine in Athens — going to environmental studies classes, doing homework and bartending — my week did not feel normal. My thoughts were with those on the pilgrimage. They reminded me that there is much more to sustainability and environmental issues than an ecological footprint.

After some encouragement, I decided to put off my responsibilities for a day and walk with everyone on Thursday (Day 6). It was cold and raining, but the group was in amazingly high spirits. We walked 11 miles along roadsides through Baltimore and along remnants of the Erie canal en route to Buckeye Lake. We traveled past corn and soybean fields, forests, homes and horse pens and conversed with each other about our lives and motivations for making this pilgrimage. We stopped only twice in the light rain and cold wind — once to sing a traditional Lakota song together, and once to eat lunch. Both stops provided much needed nourishment.

As we approached Buckeye Lake, I occasionally had to step off the road and into the grass to avoid traffic. When I glanced down at the wet grass I saw the footprints of those who had traveled before me. I could not see or hear all of them, but I knew they had walked across the very ground that I now tread upon. We were connected by the path we walked. The same is true of the Hopewell people that walked this path long ago. At that moment, I felt connected not only to all the walkers on this trip, but also to everyone who had ever made the pilgrimage. As one of the elders pointed out, we are all human beings, all searching for the same thing. I think that is why many of the people made this pilgrimage — to connect to ancestors who were also trying to be the best human beings they could.

Mary Borgia, a teacher in Newark, wrote a song for “Walk with the Ancients,” and one verse in particular resonated after this experience:

I walk with mothers and with fathers
With my sisters and my brothers
Our sons and our daughters
Give us strength to carry on

Implications of Walk with the Ancients

I spoke with Carol Welsh, the executive director of the Native American Indian Center of Columbus, Ohio (NAICCO), about the importance of this event. She felt a sense of pride from the complex earthworks constructed by her ancestors, and also gladness that scientists are finally acknowledging the complexity and brilliance of the mound builders. She also saw this event as important in bringing awareness to Native American issues in local communities in Ohio and also across the U.S.

I believe that “Walk with the Ancients” certainly did bring awareness to local communities. The many local residents who attended evening events were curious and eager to learn about the walk, its participants and Indigenous culture. The hospitality that walkers received along the way also indicated that Welsh’s vision for this event was fulfilled. The churches, community centers and parks where the walkers stayed were very friendly, giving and eager to learn about this pilgrimage.

Everyone took something different from this experience. I learned from great people such as Running and Sandy Garner that sustainability is not just about the kind of car you drive or putting up solar panels. It is about ceremony, renewal and a long-term sense of place that can only be earned by fostering a relationship with the landscape over hundreds of generations. It is about taking the time to sit around a fire and think about our ancestors. It is about cultural sharing, and stepping outside of a western, scientific worldview. Finally, it’s about a love for fellow human beings and for the land. I am thankful for the opportunity to walk for a while with so many great people on such a meaningful journey.

While results from the Oct. 5-8 Nelson Dining Hall food audits showed that student waste habits have slightly improved, the results from the “no-tray” meal at Nelson Dining Hall last night did not reflect this trend.

The 1,077 diners at Nelson generated an average of 6.02 ounces of waste per person during the tray-less meal. The highest amount of waste produced during the Oct. 5-8 Nelson audits was 5.54 ounces per person.

On “no tray” day during the winter of 2008 Jefferson Dining Hall audits showed that students generated 4.52 ounces per person, the lowest figure of the audit.

Staff of the Office of Sustainability hoped that no trays would cause students to reevaluate their food consumption habits.

“The point of ‘no-tray’ day is to get students to pause and think: ‘Hey maybe I’m not going to eat all that food and waste it’,” said Kim Criner, an Office of Sustainability employee.

Criner said no trays would cause some students to reevaluate their waste habits while others would simply continue their current routines.

Sophomore Chris Schade’s said the absence of trays made it more difficult to carry his food, but it did not affect the amount of food he ate.

Unlike Schade, sophomore Chelsea Barranco said not having a tray would definitely affect the amount of food she took without trays and in the future with trays.

“With a tray you pack it all in until it’s filled and sometimes [you] don’t eat it all,” Barranco said. “But after not having a tray I’ll be able to see what I can really eat, and once trays come back I’ll probably adjust my habits.”

The Office of Sustainability and Dining Services collaborated for “No Tray” night in their search for solutions to reduce food waste.

“Dining Services’ support is critical when we do things like this,” Criner said.
Frank Rzesutock, a manager in Nelson Dining Hall, said Dining Services has been eager to have a no-tray meal for a few weeks and wants to reduce the amount of food waste produced.

“Dining services is in favor [of generating] less waste,” Rzesutock said, adding that trays are likely to stay because even though students usually generate less waste without them — though this was not the case at Nelson last night.

“We’re still in the experimental stages with the no-tray things,” he said.

The Nelson “No-Tray” night does not mark the end of the Office of Sustainability’s and Dining Services food waste research.

Criner said the Office of Sustainability and Dining Services is planning more food audits to get a better measurement of food waste and learn how further improve waste strategies. Criner said the next food audit will be later in the school year.