Sustainability at Niagara College

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Sustainability at Niagara College

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Welcome back to Waste Wednesday! Today we are goin

Welcome back to Waste Wednesday! Today we are going to think about connections between fashion, land, culture and sustainability. Let’s get started.

In the first series of Waste Wednesday, we explored the ways in which our lives and livelihoods are directly connected back to the land. Fashion and culture are no different. The goal of today is to eschew our assumptions that one needs to look a certain way to demonstrate opulence in society. There’s that word again: opulence.

Opulence, remember, is wealth derived from property and affluence. Through fashion, we can demonstrate to society our prescribed or self-perceived societal affluence and status. Often the term ‘consumerism’ floats around when these topics are discussed. Regardless of the amount of property accumulated, or items consumed, the role of opulence in our culture is still present. My question then becomes does this fashion culture inform or reinforce colonial hierarchies of who is deserving of what?

Call it fast fashion, or mass fashion, mass production relies on industrial supply chains. More on these this Sunday. For our purposes we need to make the connection from popular fashion culture to land. Thinking back, we determined that the first step is the enactment of colonial political boundaries to enclose land for settlements and capitalist economic activities. For those of us just tuning in, capitalist economies are organised to support private individuals and businesses to distribute goods and services based on principles of supply and demand. The dominant narrative for these activities is the abundant creation of wealth. What type of wealth and for whom? I’ll leave that with you.

Sustainable fashion, however, gets us asking the questions: How do we meet our need to wear clothing while preserving our earth for future generations? Can these existing activities and boundaries provide for that future?

It looks like that’s all I have space for today. Look out for a case study on mica and cosmetics in this week’s Sustainability Sunday post!

🏞️ Lindsay
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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL

Happy Global Wind Day!! 🌬️🍃 Global Wind D

Happy Global Wind Day!! 🌬️🍃

Global Wind Day stands to celebrate Wind energy & engage communities in conversations leading to a cleaner future. Wind is one of many renewable energy sources we can utilise today. 💨

💡DYK? Niagara College has it's own wind turbine? This is located at the Welland Campus, which provides hands on education for our renewable energy technician students. On top of this, it powers lights in the Rankin Technology meeting rooms, reducing GHG emissions.

🧐If you want to learn more about wind energy & what it does for our college, go to https://sustainability.niagaracollege.ca/project/wind-turbine/
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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #Welland

📸 (2020) Dorian 'All dressed up with nowhere to

📸 (2020) Dorian 'All dressed up with nowhere to go' [Amanita]

Hello, this is Lindsay your host of Sustainability Sundays!

For the next series of posts, I want to talk about the role of opulence in our culture. To do so, I will attempt to tell a story that connects land, wealth, consumerism, industrial supply chains, and sustainability. Without further delay let us begin by asking the questions: What is a working definition of opulence and culture?

Oxford Languages defines opulence as ‘great wealth or luxuriousness’. Some synonyms include affluence, luxury, abundance, and property. Hold on to that last one. In contrast, antonyms of opulence include poverty, lack, frugality, and economy. To summarise, let us consider opulence as the abundance of great wealth derived from affluence and property.

With a good sense of what is opulence let us turn towards the second part of the question. What is culture? A fantastic definition I once heard came from a documentary on the culture of whales. They said, “behaviour is what you do, and culture is how you do it”. Eating is a solid way of understanding cultural differences. I will continue to use whales as an example. Among different families and communities of orcas there are different strategies they will take to hunt for their meals. In northern Patagonia, there is a pod of orcas who have passed down the ability to hunt for seals right off the beach! Whereas a family of orcas in New Zealand learned to hunt for rays that hide in the rocks. Fascinating, right?!

I hope with these examples today we were able to parse out an understanding of opulence and culture. On Waste Wednesday, we will apply these terms to the idea of "Fast-Fashion" and "Sustainable Fashion".

That’s all I’ve got for you this week! Take care of one another 💟
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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL

Hello, #NiagaraCollege 🍎 🎒 🏫 This week,

Hello, #NiagaraCollege 🍎 🎒 🏫

This week, from June 8th to 14th, we are celebrating Rivers to Oceans Week 🌊 🌊!

Rivers to Oceans Week brings together two important days of recognition. The first being Oceans Day, announced at a UN Earth Summit in 1992, is hosted on June 8th. The second is Canadian Rivers Day which began in 2003 is recognized the second Sunday of June. These two days of recognition since 2007 are celebrated as Rivers to Oceans Week. This week is meant to remind us of the connectedness between various watersheds and the integral role they play in our wellbeing and that of the Earth 🌎.

💡 DYK? Both the Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake NC Campuses are situated near the Welland Canal. This canal system is connected to the greater St Lawrence Seaway and the Atlantic Ocean!

🧐 Interested in more information about Rivers to Oceans Week? Find out more through the Canadian Wildlife Federation at cwf-fcf.org.

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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagara #RiverstoOceans2021 #WorldOceansDay2021 #UNEarthSummit #Water #WaterisSacred #CWF

This week we are concluding the land and sustainab

This week we are concluding the land and sustainability series. We left off at Pontiac’s War in Spring 1763. All culminating to discuss the Royal Proclamation of 1763.

This proclamation on King George’s part was strategic in developing a legal instrument for establishing colonial government that stretched over a good portion of eastern North America. From our vantage point this would represent Quebec. This land was unceded and could not be enclosed for purchase. Whereas historically this land was representative of diverse Aboriginal cultural areas and trade routes the Royal Proclamation set the tone for a novel pan-Indigenous identity. The intent of such a delineation was noted by King George as essential to the interest and security of the settling colonies. This constitutional precedent established a framework for the treaty system and Western expansion. One set of treaties, The Peace and Friendship Treaties, remain today.

So why talk about this today? Aren’t these events history?

The short answer is, no.

Unsustainable land enclosure and Indigenous dispossession continues as capitalist and colonial interests seek profit and power. Want to learn more? A great place to start is with the current treaties. Visit the website: Indigenous Peoples and Lands Records, Treaties, agreements, and claims for more information. Curious where enclosure continues to occur? A directory of interests in First Nations lands can be accessed through the web-based Land Registration.

Indigenous Peoples and Lands
https://bit.ly/3wSF5mc

Land Registries
https://bit.ly/3geHL7j

Forest Industry Petition Reading in House May 3, 2021
Petition e-3301 (Environment) – Halting Logging at Fairy Lake: Protecting Old Growth Forests as a priority for Canada’s Climate Action Plan and Indigenous Reconciliation
https://bit.ly/3cBFSR9

Learning is a step towards a sustainable future. The information provided on many of these websites can be confusing. When needed, I recommend using the accessibility resources provided by the Government of Canada and Parliament of Canada.

That's all folks. This is Lindsay, signing off!
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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL

Happy World Environment Day and International Trai

Happy World Environment Day and International Trails Day!

This year’s theme for World Environment Day is Ecosystem Restoration 🌎 🌳 🥾.

🔎DYK? The Niagara-on-the-Lake NC campus is home to a restoration site? The wetlands systems on the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus were originally built by Niagara Region to treat wastewater from a nearby office complex and a horse track located down the service road because there was no municipal sewer system extending out that far.

💡Fun fact! There are three major interconnecting trails near the Niagara-on-the-Lake NC campus. These include the Bruce Trail, Wetland Ridge Trail, and the Laura Secord Trail. The keys to proper trail etiquette include:

🦶 Stay on the path! Many of these trails are designed for your recreational pleasure. Short cuts and treading deeper in forest without training can cause harm to those who live in the forests.

🌻 Leave wildlife alone. Removing, interacting, or damaging wildlife can cause serious harm to the forest community.

♻️ Properly dispose of your waste. Keep it out of the forest by bringing it home with you.

💧 Bring your own water to stay hydrated!

Keep on safely and respectfully enjoying the outdoors!

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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagara #WorldEnvironmentDay2021 #InternationalTrailsDay2021 #BruceTrail #LauraSecordTrail #WetlandRidgeTrail #TrailEtiquette

Lindsay (2021) Niagara Everyone Welcome Hello the

Lindsay (2021) Niagara Everyone Welcome

Hello there, and welcome back to Waste Wednesday.
When we began the land and sustainability series, we determined that in sustainably approaching the land there is consideration for both our immediate needs and those of the future. Today, I want to talk about a growing hot topic: land in the Niagara Region. As many of us know the possession of land or housing is a fading dream.

Recently, the Niagara Region released How We Grow which is one of three planning documents that inform the New Niagara Official Plan. These documents, How We Grow, How We Go, and How We Flow, are all aspects of the ‘Master Plan processes’ and advise the Niagara 2041 planning document.

Based on growth forecasts for Niagara 2041 there is an expected 168,000 persons to migrate to the Niagara Region. Anticipating this growth and planning for successful sustainable adaption will involve a cultural shift to our local relationship with land.

According to the 2016 Canadian Census, the land supply in the Niagara Region is mixed with urban, suburban, and rural spaces. Here in St. Catharines, most residents live in a single-detached house occupied by an average of 2.3 people. The 2041 plan suggests that the way forward for managing the land supply will include developing space for a higher density of people. In the planning literature this is often associated with intensification.

When further enclosing space, I suggest there is a level of mindfulness to be taken and consideration given to the value and necessity of public and common spaces.

Learn more about the New Niagara Official Plan from June 9-23 at a Virtual Public Information Centre by registering at https://www.niagararegion.ca/official-plan/public-information-centres.aspx
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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagara #land #impactreduction

🧡 June is Indigenous History Month 🧡 In Jun

🧡 June is Indigenous History Month 🧡

In June we celebrate and commemorate the history, heritage, and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We encourage the NC community to take this month to utilize the resources available on campus and virtually to learn more about not only the history of Indigenous Peoples in our country, but also take the time to learn more about the peoples’ land you currently live and work on. One way you can do this is to check out the @nclibraries resources and subject matter guides, or by visiting and learning more about the importance of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit gardens at both campuses.

Let us know in the comments below your favourite Indigenous author, speaker or artist! We look forward to celebrating #IndigenousHistoryMonth with you.

📸 Robert Sayer (1763) An accurate map of North

📸 Robert Sayer (1763) An accurate map of North America describing and distinguishing the British and French dominions on this great continent according to the definitive treaty concluded at Paris 10th February 1763 [Map]. London.

Following the enclosure movement, this week we are asking: how does the Royal Proclamation of 1763 fit the land and sustainability puzzle?

In this case we need to take three steps backward to take four forward. Let us have a look at pre-confederation Canada. European penetration of Turtle Island came mainly from the East by the French, English, Dutch, Swedish, and Spanish. Each colonial unit was interested in enclosing this land for the potential of growing empire through settlement and resource extraction. In a grip for power a series of colonial wars ensued. These colonial conflicts included: King William’s War (1688-1697), Queen Anne’s War (1702-1713), Dummer’s War (1722-1725), King George’s War (1744-1748), and the Seven Years’ War (1754-1763). In February 1763, Great Britain, France, and Spain would sign the Treaty of Paris which established the era of British dominance outside of Europe. An agreement therein was made for France to seize land possession to the British. Keep in mind, members of the New France settlements were enjoying certain rights after other British victories not mentioned in this blurb (see: Plains of Abraham 1759).

This affirmation of land transference caused social unrest back on Turtle Island. Many First Nations groups who had fought in these colonial conflicts were not aforementioned nor invited to the signing of this treaty. The precedent had not been established in previous enclosure movements to include Indigenous peoples in these discussions and negotiations. Not to mention the difficulty assimilating the different cultural groups to British rule. This would not be the end of conflict for the British as growing unrest and connection to ancestral land would fuel the people for what would be called Pontiac’s War (Spring of 1763).

Limited by a 2200 character count I will leave you with this. Until next week.

🧐 Lindsay
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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL

Hello, #niagaracollege! After a cloudy weekend, we

Hello, #niagaracollege! After a cloudy weekend, we wanted to bring some sunshine to your screen with this #TBT ☀️.

Spring brings on new life and the cutest creatures, babies🐣! Swipe through to see some of our favourite little friends.

When out and about enjoying nature, we encourage you to:

👣 Watch where you step! There might be wee ones underfoot.

🐥 Do not play with wildlife. This could encourage younglings to leave their families.

👋 If you find abandoned younglings around a Niagara College Campus email us (sustainability@niagaracollege.ca) or contact a registered Ontario wildlife custodian.

We hope you had a great weekend exploring the outdoors🌷!

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#sustainability #myNCstory #wildlife #babybird #rockinrobin #sunshinedownonme #feellikespring #climatechange #tbt #sustainabilitync #NiagaraCollege #ourstudentsrock #turtle #turtles #paintedturtle #savetheturtles #turtleconservation #watchyourstep #WetlandRidgeTrail #reptile #biodiversity #biospherereserve #UNESCO #NiagaraEscarpment #getoutside #neat #babyturtles #ourstudentsrock

Welcome back to Waste Wednesday! This week is ep

Welcome back to Waste Wednesday!

This week is episode two of the Small Space Hacks series. Today features community spaces in the Niagara Region. I’ve detailed any known Covid-19 restrictions and additional resources.

nac Studio 🎨

nac Studio is an affordable communal creative space located in downtown St. Catharines. The space leased by the Niagara Artists Centre and subsidised by funding through the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Artists can use this space for many art forms including photography, mixed media, painting, and printing.

nac Studio and NAC are temporarily closed to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Booking and other details can be found at https://nac.org/nac-studio/

COMMIS 🍽️

Ideal for early-stage food entrepreneurs COMMIS is a communal kitchen available for rent by the hour or through a recurring monthly membership. This space is equipped with a 6-burner gas range, 60-quart HOBART planetary mixer, a deck oven, among other awesome features. The kitchen is inspected by Public Health and users must have liability insurance and a food safe handler's certificate.

Curious? Find out more at https://www.commisculinaryworkspace.com/about

SMUN Community Garden 🍅🥦

The Start Me Up Niagara Community Garden was made possible through a donation by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and dedicated volunteers. This garden supplies food for SMUN Healthy Kitchen and drop-in lunch programs.

Visit https://www.startmeupniagara.ca/site/volunteer for information about volunteering.

For the mean time and in between time this is Lindsay signing off.

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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagara #land #impactreduction

Lindsay (2021) Simplicity Gone Amiss Hello, welc

Lindsay (2021) Simplicity Gone Amiss

Hello, welcome back to this week’s episode of Sustainability Sunday!

This week we will look at the first of two important events to round out our understanding of land sustainability: land enclosure. For those of us who have not heard of this historical event and the conceptual application, this will be the post for you. Over the next two weeks, I will do my best to give you a working knowledge of both land enclosure and the Royal Proclamation of 1763.

The land enclosure movement I am referring to is a recent historical event that began in 12th century England. Basically, land enclosure occurs when commonly held fields, meadows, pastures, and other arable lands are politically subdivided for the benefit of those in positions of power. When referring to 'commonly held' I speak to the Indigenous people of the land, often referred to in the social hierarchy at the time as the peasantry and commoners. Historically speaking, this would be to the benefit of manorial lords and other monarchical entities. Once the land is physically enclosed the individual with title to it would have the right to police and manage it for, predominantly, social and economic reasons within the boundaries of the prevailing laws and policies. In England, the enclosure of common land would take place well into the 19th century.

The completion of enclosure is still debated. In this case study, we can see how a thorough understanding of both physical and political boundaries would be of use to those in positions of power subdividing the land. Particularly when the goal of enclosure was ‘agricultural efficiency’. This movement comes to mind when I think of burgeoning sustainable restorative agricultural practices today. Specifically, I am interested in how who and what benefits from these practices is defined. Something for us all to sit with, I suppose. Curious what you fine people think! 😊

Well, that is all for this week, folks. This is Lindsay signing off! ^..^

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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagaracollege #niagara #philosophy #history #enclosure

📸 Jess (2021) Plant Corner Hello, and welcome

📸 Jess (2021) Plant Corner

Hello, and welcome back to Waste Wednesday!

Today’s episode will be an extension of the land and sustainability investigation. Over the next few weeks Waste Wednesday will feature a small space hacks series. If you are someone like me who usually rents a single room or has lived with a friend or loved one, then you will probably relate to many of these hacks. For those of us in these living situations we are working with small space. Even if this is not your current situation many of these hacks can work for you too!

When I think about connecting to land my mind goes straight to food. The beauty of growing and tending to a plant is that you can meet all sorts of immediate needs. Several of my plant loving friends rave about the mental health benefits of watching and caring for new life. Oftentimes when we think of food we think of big farms and extensive fields. With this image in mind the opportunity that comes with a windowsill can be missed.

The two windowsill herbs I have had the most success with are cilantro and mint. They grow quickly, can be resown, and transplanted easily. Warning though, mint will take over the space you plant it in. The first time I transplanted my windowsill plants was through an employment opportunity at BrockU. A part of my role was to tend a garden plot at the on-campus community garden. It was here I learned the value of research and planning when it comes to gardening. I did not realise there are a lot of plants that like to ‘run-wild’. No matter, at the end of the day there was more to go around and share with the students I worked with. It ended up being a fantastic win-win.

This summer, I look forward to connecting with residents in my area and learning more about native plant species through the @ncStewards Pollinator Project. ncStewards is a student run club at Niagara College! Interested in participating and connecting with the land sustainably? Send the club a DM on Instagram or email ncstewards@outlook.com.

For the mean time and in between time this is Lindsay signing off.

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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagara #land #impactreduction

📸Lindsay (2021) Welcome to the City of St. Cath

📸Lindsay (2021) Welcome to the City of St. Catharines

Hello, and welcome back to Sustainability Sundays!

On Waste Wednesday, we prepared to investigate the intersection of land and sustainability. We centred our research with a land acknowledgement. Today we have four important questions to unpack. What does freedom mean when coming to know the land? What are physical and political borders? What is the enclosure movement? And lastly, what is the royal proclamation? I know we are all chomping at the bit to try answering these questions. So, let’s begin.

In a previous Sustainability Sunday post, I drew attention to the idea that freedom overlaps with many areas of our day-to-day life. The land around us is no exception. When getting to know the land there are many approaches, we can take. We can look at the spiritual aspects of land and our connection to it. We can approach the land through an opportunity and loss perspective. For our purposes in this series, I would like us to think of land as a means of sustaining our immediate needs and those of the future. To bridge this concept with the teachings from the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Agreement the land we share in this part of the world sustains our life when each of us take what we need. The symbolism of the spoon indicates a gentle hand is needed when we do take from the land.

So, how do we know where to look for sustaining our needs? This is where the importance of physical and political borders come into play. Physical borders are geographic and ecological barriers marked by land-based processes. These can be anything from mountain ranges, water's edge, and forests. The list goes on. Political borders are boundaries that separate one political unit from another. These boundaries can be delineated by a physical feature, or, purely abstract and contested metaphysically.

It appears we have come to the end of the Insta letter count for this week. There are still two major questions we need to unpack. I will save those for the next Sustainability Sunday. Until then, this is Lindsay signing off!

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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagaracollege #niagara #philosophy

Welcome back to Waste Wednesday! Over the next f

Welcome back to Waste Wednesday!

Over the next few weeks, I wanted to explore the connection between land and sustainability. On Sustainability Sunday we will look at theoretical and analytical concepts. In the spirit of Waste Wednesdays as an opportunity to discuss ways of reducing our impact and living sustainable lifestyles, I will provide ‘real-world’ applications for our Sustainability Sunday concepts. My goal is to get us thinking and talking about sustainability and land in nuanced and practical ways.

I want to take a moment and acknowledge that the land I am writing from is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Huron-Wendat, and Neutral peoples. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties, Between the Lakes Purchase (Treaty 3), and is within the land protected by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Agreement. Today this gathering place is home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples.

Acknowledging this reminds us that our great standard of living, as Ontarians, is directly related to the resources and friendship of Indigenous peoples. As well, this land acknowledgement serves as a grounding centre for our future discussions of land and sustainability. I encourage us all to be mindful that Indigenous communities are not monolithic groups (i.e., do not think the same way or similarly come into ways of knowing) and the distinct importance of Pan-Indigenous Solidarity.

This Sustainability Sunday we will begin by looking at land and sustainability both philosophically and historically. We will try to answer: What does freedom mean when coming to know the land? What are physical and political borders? What is the enclosure movement? What is the royal proclamation?

Get started with your own research by investigating treaties in your area: https://www.ontario.ca/page/treaties

For more information on the Upper Canada Treaties in your area visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/map-ontario-treaties-and-reserves

Curious about Wampums and the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Agreement? Visit: https://archaeologymuseum.ca/wampum/
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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagara #land #impactreduction

This Waste Wednesday, I wanted to share some of my

This Waste Wednesday, I wanted to share some of my favourite mobility alternatives to help curb wasteful CO2 emissions from unnecessary driving. Within the past year I’ve needed to adapt my mobility choices because of a mild back injury in Summer 2020. Many of my top picks reflect the changes and mobility solutions I’ve implemented when feeling all cooped up.

🐶 Moving about is always better when spending time with the ones you love. For me, that is my fur-baby Sarj. Sarj is a sucker for walks, hikes, and the dog park. Even though he is a big dog, Sarj will be patient with me when I need to take breaks and is a great motivator to keep going. Pets are awesome mobility companions!

🌳 No matter the loved one I’m with I feel an overwhelming amount of peace in the forest. While I can’t tackle extended steep hills there are plenty of trails in Niagara Region that make hiking accessible to me. I do recognize, however, that many trails are not on public transit routes. On my hikes I now use trekking poles which make it easier to stay stable and slowly attempt slight inclines. The trail picture featured above is Fall 2020 at Louth Conservation area. This trail has a good mix of inclines and is connected to the Bruce Trail. If you’re looking to get lost it is a great place to start.

🛶 My number one passion is paddling. I have a deep sense of connection with water and enjoy bonding with others over its spiritual qualities. The boat featured above is a result of this desire to spend as much of my on the water. Given my mobility needs I chose something with a back rest and plenty of space to move around in. The added weight does make lifting the boat quite difficult. When portaging I now bring a cart which allows me to travel further without stressing out my back.

In the moment we often must work with what we’ve got. That doesn’t mean we can’t plan for the future. So, I’m curious, what are your favourite ways to get around? Do you have any suggestions for the future of mobility in your community? Let me know in the comments below!

~ Lindsay
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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagara #ncgreen #reduce #reuse #waste #wastereduction #mobility

Lindsay (2020) The Open Road is Where I Felt at Ho

Lindsay (2020) The Open Road is Where I Felt at Home

Hello, and welcome back to Sustainability Sundays! While we had a bit of a break, I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. This summer we will take a turn and explore some important themes within the world of sustainability. To kick start this journey I wanted to dig in and be vulnerable with you fine folks. I feel that we learn the most when we begin from a place of openness and honesty. This week I want to explore a small bit of what freedom means to me.

When I was younger, I would chomp at the bit to drive anything. From boats, to Go-Karts, to backhoes, anything that essentially operated on combustion principles I was there. I loved the feeling of having one hand on the wheel and the other on a gear shift. Vehicles always gave me a sense of freedom. I could take myself virtually anywhere and do almost anything with this power. You can imagine my anticipation for the day I would be eligible for my G1 license. The start of a journey towards getting, what I perceived as ultimate freedom: the open road.

Into my adult life, mobility and freedom have remained two important values for me. Some days, all I want to do is get in my car and drive off into the sunset. No destination, no plans – just me, Shania Twain, and a blow-up mattress. I have learned, however, that this idea of freedom comes at a high environmental cost. According to Seth Wynes and Kimberly Nicholas (2017) ‘Personal choices to reduce your contribution to climate change’, living a car free life has a high impact for annual climate savings (tCO2e). For someone like me this has caused a great deal of cognitive dissonance.

It is hard to reconcile with wanting to experience this sense of freedom while stewarding a sustainable world. Coming to grips with the reality of climate change has made me pause on many aspects of my life. This Waste Wednesday I will reflect on some mobility alternatives that I now use to experience that same sense of freedom. Until Wednesday, this is Lindsay signing off!
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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagaracollege #niagara #philosophy

Welcome back to Waste Wednesdays! This is Lindsa

Welcome back to Waste Wednesdays!

This is Lindsay writing to you from the comfort of my home office. You may know me from previous Sustainability Sundays posts. I have the pleasure and honour of taking over Waste Wednesdays for the Spring and Summer.

The inspiration for this week came from a workshop led by the previous renowned Jess Nguyen. Today we will learn how to make glue/tape! This recipe is useful for wrapping gifts and creating labels for your everyday items like glass jars and notebooks.

| Materials List |

Water (1-cup)

Stovetop or single burner

Pot

Whisk

Cornstarch (4-cups)

| Recipe |

Step One: Bring the 1-cup of water to a rolling boil

Step Two: Add cornstarch to the water, whisk until consistent, and remove from heat

Step Three: Transfer the mixture, once cooled to room temperature, to a glass jar

Step Four: Store in fridge for a couple of weeks.

Now you’re ready for the fun! Cut out strips of thick papers, such as paper bags and construction paper, and apply your glue. The strips can then be secured to all sorts of material to act as tape or a label.

For more awesome low waste solutions check in next week!

Lindsay

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#sustainability #sustainabilitync #myncstory #NOTL #niagara #ncgreen #reduce #reuse #waste #wastereduction

💙 Happy Earth Day to all, and thank you for cel

💙 Happy Earth Day to all, and thank you for celebrating with us and @ie_nc today! 💚

We would like to leave you with a final thought this Earth Day, with the words provided by our Niagara College Vice President, Student Success, Rick Anderson:

“The context for me is when I think about taking care of Mother Earth, respecting the environment, it’s important for me to also think about all the other amazing animals and creatures that share this planet with us – we need to be aware that our actions can have tremendous impact on the others we share the planet with. Being able to hang out with the horses and feeding them carrots is a great outdoor activity that focuses me on the earth and the amazing creatures that live here.”

Rick’s message has really stuck with us during a time where our connection with Mother Earth and her creatures is more important than ever. Thank you Rick, and in that light we ask that for Earth Day our community take time and appreciate Earth’s creatures while connecting with nature 🐴.

@niagaracollege, 👏 YOU 👏 SHOWED 👏 UP 👏

@niagaracollege, 👏 YOU 👏 SHOWED 👏 UP 👏 this Earth Week! We are blown away by how many of you shared how you connected with nature for #EarthDay and beyond! Here some of the students’ favourite ways to connect:

❌ invasive species removal - #bye garlic mustard.

🧘 just simply showing up in and for nature.

🔬 observing nature #bioblitzing.

🌱starting/planting gardens!

🚴‍♀️ bike riding and being active outdoors.

🐕‍🦺 and of course, taking a pet for a walk!

No matter how you connected with nature this past week, we hope that it allowed you to take a deep breath and reset to get through the final leg of the semester. Now for what you’ve all been waiting for... check out our stories for our giveaway winners!

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