Congratulations Steve Gliessman, Named to Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems

Steve Gliessman Named to Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems
CAN's co-founder and chair of the Board of Directors, Dr. Stephen Gliessman, (Professor Emeritus of Agroecology, University of California, Santa Cruz) has been appointed to an international panel of experts on sustainable food systems. The panel is co-chaired by Dr. Olivia Yambi, nutritionist and former UNICEF representative to Kenya, and Prof. Olivier De Schutter, who recently completed his term as U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food.

The Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation established the IPES-Food initiative, which addresses one of the three areas of action targeted by the International Scientific Committee of the Foundation: evidence-based advocacy on sustainable food systems and diets. The aim is to provide "...policy makers, the private sector and the public at large with the evidence to guide a transition towards sustainable food systems and diets." Learn more by clicking here. Congratulations Dr. Steve Gliessman!

"Seeding Innovation" and spreading IDEASS

"Seeding Innovation" event highlights green technology projects
UC Santa Cruz undergraduates demonstrated green technology projects developed in collaboration with community members during an event on Friday, October 3, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center in Santa Cruz. The event was free and open to the public. This event was the brain child of a UC Santa Cruz program called Impact Designs: Engineering and Sustainability through Student Service (IDEASS). Seeing Innovation is a forum for the community to talk about sustainability, particularly through the use of green technology. To read the full article and learn more about this awesome event, click here.

October 24th is Food Day!

Come Out and Celebrate Food Day!

Food Day celebrates our food system when it works and here at UCSC it's working! Food Day is a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food and a grassroots campaign that culminates on October 24th. Food Day aims to help people eat real. UCSC Dining is about REAL FOOD and UCSC has taken the challenge (endorsed by Chancellor Blumenthal on 3/5/2012)!

On Friday October 24, Dining will feature a dinner meal at all five dining halls which will be 100% sourced local from within 250 miles.

What will this look like? Well, you won't find any pineapple mango relish on our locally sourced seafood, and don't look for your favorite chocolate chip cookie. Nope, those ingredients aren't local so we're leaving them off... The chef's are busy sourcing and looking for the freshest, most local proteins, veggies, fruits, and grains to create a special Food Day Dinner menu which will illustrate just what "eating local" looks like! Don't worry, they won't forget about creating something yummy for dessert!

Watch Dining's website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more details as they arrive! They've got a whole week of "Food Day" happening for you!

October 2014: Contests & Funding

Bioneers Conference Scholarship Deadline October 10
In an effort to make the Bioneers Conference accessible to a wider and more diverse group of people, UCSC's Common Ground Center is thrilled to continue the partnership with Bioneers to bring students, faculty, staff, and recent alumni to the conference at a reduced rate of $30 per person per day. The National Bioneers Conference in San Rafael, CA on October 17-19 is the original whole-systems forum of innovation and collaboration for achieving social, cultural and environmental justice. Serving the sustainability, environmental and social justice communities, BioCon speakers and presenters have included Van Jones, Jane Goodall, Gloria Steinem, Philippe Cousteau, Michael Pollan, Eve Ensler, and Paul Hawken, among many other luminaries. The conference also prides itself on introducing audiences to some of the most innovative voices yet to be discovered. Click here to apply now. More information about the conference is on the Common Ground Center website. Carpool options available. Deadline to apply for the scholarship is October 10!

Carbon Fund Info Session October 23

Have an idea for a project that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on or off campus? The Carbon Fund is a student-passed fee measure that raises $3 per student per quarter totaling up to ~$100,000 per year to allocate to students, faculty, and staff for their project ideas! If you have ideas that will reduce the carbon footprint of UCSC, from energy and water conversation to more efficient composting and zero waste techniques, the Carbon Fund has money for your project. They will be hosting an info session on October 23 from 4-6 PM in the College 8 Red Room to review how to apply and what makes a strong application--pizza will be served! It is recommended that you attend the info session or email the Carbon Fund in advance to ask questions and receive feedback before applying. Abstracts are due November 14 for the 2014-15 funding cycle. Learn more on the website.

Get a Free Bike for the Quarter
Are you interested in having a bike this quarter? The Bike Library's mission is to make bikes accessible to students, faculty, and staff of UCSC to promote transportation sustainability and self-sufficiency. They believe that financial limitations should not be a barrier and provide our services free of charge. Applications have been open since October 1--apply soon! You can learn more about the program and apply here.

Got a Big Idea? Receive Funding and Support!
The 2014-2015 Big Ideas@Berkeley contest has launched with new categories and expanded eligibility to include graduate and undergraduate students across the entire UC system. This year there are four Big Ideas categories open to matriculated students from all 10 UC campuses: Food System Innovations, Global Health, Mobiles For Reading, IT for Society. Big Ideas is an annual student innovation contest aimed at providing funding, support, and encouragement to interdisciplinary teams of students who have creative solutions to important social challenges. Since its founding in 2006, Big Ideas has inspired innovative and high-impact student-led projects aimed at solving problems that matter to this generation. Up to $300,000 in prizes available to students with innovative ideas to improve society... So put on your thinking caps, break out your big ideas and do not miss this opportunity to have the support you need to get started!

Real Food Media Contest
Multimedia video submissions are now being accepted for the Real Food Media Contest. These videos should be between 30 seconds and 4 minutes, showcasing sustainable food and farming. The vides should feature underreported issues, innovative sustainability strategies, and compelling stories of food producers and workers. Make your submission by January 5, 2015. For more information, please visit the website.

Apply for the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Scholarship
CSHEMA is sponsoring the Scholarship Award Program to encourage the study of environmental and occupational health and safety. Currently, one $2,000 scholarship is awarded anually along with paid registration to attend the annual CSHEMA Conference. To be considered for the award, students must meet the following requirements: 1) submit an official transcript, 2) complete application form, 3) write and submit an essay. These items must be delivered in a sealed envelope with university seal and mailed by March 31, 2014. For more information contact April Anstey.

UCSC Farm Hosts Fall Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 12

Fall has arrived and it’s time to celebrate the changing seasons at the 20th annual Fall Harvest Festival, coming up on Sunday, October 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at UC Santa Cruz’s 30-acre organic farm.

The festival features live music from marimba to reggae to bluegrass, including a headliner performance by Dylan McDonald and the Avians. Also on tap: hay rides, kids’ crafts, workshops, pumpkin and produce sales, and campus and community group information tables.Visitors of all ages are invited to sample apples and roasted pepper varieties, enter the pie baking contest, try their hand at pressing cider, scale the climbing wall, pick sunflowers and make a "bike smoothie" as part of the "Food, What?!" youth group's fundraiser, and enjoy locally sourced, tasty treats.

Workshops on making guacamole, growing and using peppers, saving seeds, baking apple crisp using acorn flower and a solar oven, and preparing your garden for fall and winter are also on the schedule, along with farm tours and an herb walk through the garden.

Want so see how your favorite apple pie recipe measures up? Be sure to enter the Apple Pie Contest by 12:30 pm (see rules, below).

Admission is free for UCSC students, kids 12 and under, and members of the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden; general admission is $5. See below for a full schedule of the day's events.

The Harvest Festival is cosponsored by the UCSC Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS), UCSC’s Measure 43, and the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden, with major support from Driscoll’s. People Power will provide free valet parking for bicycles.

For directions to the UCSC Farm, visit the CASFS web site at http://casfs.ucsc.edu/about/directions. Free parking will be available at the Campus Facilities and Barn Theater parking lots, and a free shuttle will be available. For more information call (831) 459-3240 or email casfs@ucsc.edu.

2014 Harvest Festival Schedule

MUSIC

• Ben Davis, acoustic guitar, 11:15 – 12:30
• Sadza Marimba, 12:45 – 2:00
• Ancestree Reggae,  2:15 – 3:30
• Dylan McDonald & The Avians, 3:50 – 5:00

WORKSHOPS & ACTIVITIES

• Roasted Pepper and Apple Variety Tasting, 11:30 – 4:00
• Holy Moly Guacamole, 12:00 – 1:00, Alyssa Billys, Food System Working Group
• Apple Pie Contest Bake-Off (entry deadline), 12:30
• Tours of the UCSC Farm, 12:30 & 4 pm
• Planting the Fall/Winter Garden, 1:15 – 2:15 
• Herb Talk & Walk through the Garden, 1:30 – 2:30: Darren Huckle, Western/Chinese herbalist & licensed acupuncturist
• Seed Saving Workshop, 2:30 – 3:15: Conner Spears, Demeter Seed Library
• Pepper Varieties of the Farm & Garden, 3:15 – 3:45: Orin Martin, Alan Chadwick Garden
• Taste of the Oaks: Sun-Baked Acorn Flour Crisp, 3:45 – 4:30: Leah Walsh, UCSC grad and chef

Official Rules for the Friends of the UCSC Farm & Garden Apple Pie Contest
Pie entries accepted October 12, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Official judging begins at 12:45 p.m. Winners will be announced at between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

1. The Friends of Farm and Garden Apple Pie Bake-Off is a nonprofessional baking competition open to Harvest Festival attendees (entry to the Harvest Festival is $5; free admission for UCSC students, Friends of the Farm & Garden members and for children 12 and under).

2. Contestants are responsible for submitting a written (preferably typed) recipe with their pie.

3. Contestants are responsible for supplying all ingredients and baking the pie prior to bringing it to the contest.

4. All entries in this contest must be homemade.

5. A representative of the Friends of the Farm & Garden will assign each contestant a number. Contestants should verify that the number on the bottom of their container is the same number assigned by the representative.

6. Contestants’ entries are judged on taste, presentation, and creativity.

7. The decision of the judges shall be final. Pie not consumed during judging will be returned to the contestant.

All pies must be entered by 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, at the Fall Harvest Festival, UCSC Farm. For questions or additional copies of the rules, call (831) 459-3240 or e-mail casfs@ucsc.edu.

October 2014: Classes, Training, & Community

Bike Drive Ends October 10
Have a bike you no longer need? Green Ways to School has launched the second session of the Watsonville Earn-A-Bike program, which gets bikes into the hands of needy kids and teaches bike skills, repair and safety. They are in need of bike donations for youth through October 10. If you have a bike you'd like to donate, contact director Tawn Kennedy.

Bike Library Safety Classes 10/16, 10/19

Are you interested in learning about bike safety? TAPS sponsors a  free Bicycle Street Skills class every quarter! The fall class will be held Thursday, October 16 from 12:30 - 2:30 PM and Sunday, October 19 from 12:00 - 2:00 PM. RSVP to receive the location by filling out this reservation form. Learn more about the Bike Library here.

Common Ground Center Launches New Online Community
Kresge's Common Ground Center has launched an online community on the social media platform NING to cultivate relationships near and far. Join them by signing up here and contribute to cutting edge conversation and relationship building. They will also be utilizing this e-village space to keep a pulse on up-and-coming events.

Natural History Class: Wednesdays

Jack Mazza, UCSC senior, will be leading a 2-unit class called the Natural History of the UCSC Campus Field Group. He writes, "Our campus is a beautiful place for exploration and there are an abundance of ecosystems to learn about. By practicing natural history, the direct observation and awareness of a place, you can immerse yourself into the wonders of the habitats on campus." The class will meet Wednesdays from 9 - 11:30 AM. Attend the first meeting on October 8 to receive an enrollment code for the field group. Email Jack for meeting location and any questions, and if you're interested in natural history in general, visit the UCSC Natural History Club Facebook group.

Carbon Fund Info Session October 23

Have an idea for a project that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on or off campus? The Carbon Fund is a student-passed fee measure that raises $3 per student per quarter totaling up to ~$100,000 per year to allocate to students, faculty, and staff for their project ideas! If you have ideas that will reduce the carbon footprint of UCSC, from energy and water conversation to more efficient composting and zero waste techniques, the Carbon Fund has money for your project. They will be hosting an info session on October 23 from 4-6 PM in the College 8 Red Room to review how to apply and what makes a strong application--pizza will be served! It is recommended that you attend the info session or email the Carbon Fund in advance to ask questions and receive feedback before applying. Abstracts are due November 14 for the 2014-15 funding cycle. Learn more on the website.

Food Systems Leaning Journeys (Free - $8): Sign up October 6

"Want to learn more about the food system and how some of your favorite foods are produced? Join a Food Systems Learning Journey to explore issues at various levels of the food system, from seed to table! Sign up for an FSLJ starting Tuesday, October 6 online--the trips fill up fast! This fall the Food Systems Working Group is offering the following FSLJs at little to no cost (free - $8) through the OPERS Recreation Department:

• From Farmers Market to Farm Fresh Cooking with Joseph Shultz of India Joze - a true farmers' market to table meal!
• Growing Gardens at UCSC
• Seed Saving Workshop
• Viticulture (winemaking) and Regional Terrior

October 2014: Internships, Employment, & Volunteering

INTERNSHIPS

Transportation & Parking Services Walk to Class Challenge Paid Internship Available

The Provost's Sustainability Internship Program is still seeking a Transportation & Parking Services intern to coordinate the second annual Walk to Class Challenge! If you are interested in applying for this year-long internship, receive 12 units for the year, and a $1500 scholarship, please email Melissa at mott [at] ucsc [dot] edu. Information about the position is available here.

Student Environmental Center Internships Available

Are you looking for a sustainability internship this year? Check out the Student Environmental Center, an organization where students can grow as individuals, learn leadership skills, and gain invaluable work experience. Interns with the Student Environmental Center learn about current campus projects and policies and have the opportunity to participate or take on leadership roles in many topic areas. They have 2-unit and 5-unit opportunities available for the following positions:

• Blueprint and Earth Summit Intern - The Blueprint for a Sustainable Campus is a multi-use, living document that strives to encompass the current visions of students, faculty, staff, and community members that have come together to share their ideas and goals for the future of UCSC. The Earth Summit is an event held in Winter quarter to celebrate sustainability on campus. A year-long commitment preferred.
• College Eight Garden Intern - Every quarter SEC interns facilitate a gardening class. The campaign coordinators create a syllabus, organize the class, and oversee maintenance of the garden. Interns are needed to assist the campaign coordinators in these tasks. They need 2-unit or 5-unit interns to help maintain the garden this quarter. No gardening experience necessary!
• Outreach and Media Intern - The Student Environmental Center is seeking a student to serve as a Outreach & Media Intern who will work directly with the Outreach and Media Coordinator, staff advisor, and SEC leadership. The intern will gain knowledge in the sustainability organizations on campus, media, and outreach. 

To apply, attend their General Gathering on Wednesday, October 8 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM in the College 8 Red Room. Free vegetarian dinner will be served. Details can be found here. You can also email seccochair [at] ucsc [dot] edu to apply.

Food Systems Internships Available

The Food Systems Working Group has an exciting new cadre of student leaders working across their partnerships with Dining, the Farm, and Garden efforts. Are YOU looking for an internship to join them? Email ucscfswg [at] gmail [dot] com if you'd like to find out more!

Environmental Studies Internships (2 or 5 units!): Deadline October 9
Looking for an environmentally related internship for fall? You do not have to be an Environmental Studies major to get an internship through the program! Internships allow students to apply the concepts and theories they learn about in academic settings to workplace settings. As an intern, you can see how people relate with one another, test out theories learned in classes, and observe the inner workings of the work environment in a myriad of different fields and disciplines. Deadline for learning contracts is October 9--view a list of available positions here and contact Chris Krohn at ckrohn [at] ucsc [dot] edu for more information.

Want to Teach a Class in Sustainability?

The Education for Sustainable Living Program (ESLP) is looking for outgoing, organized and intelligent students who want to create, innovate and teach their own class in sustainability in Winter Training Seminar in 2015. Students will create their own syllabus, lesson plans, learn to lead and facilitate a class, and prepare to teach their own class in Spring 2015. Interested students can email ESLP [at] ucsc [dot] edu or visit their website.

EMPLOYMENT

PICA is Hiring - Applications Due October 13

Program in Community and Agroecology (PICA) is hiring five new interns to commit for the full academic year in the following positions:

• PICA Garden Assistant II (ER # 6573), the Main Garden Coordinator position.
• PICA Program Assistant (ER #6769), the Administrative Assistant position.
• PICA Program Assistant II (ER # 3372), which has three open positions: the Community Meals Coordinator, the Compost Coordinator, and the A-Quad Garden Coordinator 

If you would like to apply, please visit the UCSC Employee Request (ER) system and type in the ER number for the position you're seeking. On the ER system application, please include a cover letter, a resume and two professional references to be considered for the position.

VOLUNTEERING

Apply to Volunteer with Sprout Up

Sprout Up provides free, youth-led environmental education programs to 1st and 2nd grade classrooms in Santa Cruz. Their college student-instructors teach children vital concepts in environmental science and sustainability during the earliest stages of their educational development, cultivating the next generation of passionate caretakers of the earth. Through activities, experiments, and discussions, they get kids thinking in new ways about the world that surrounds them, inspiring them to bring the message of environmental stewardship home to their families and friends. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact them at directorsc [at] sprout up [dot] org, and feel free to visit their website at www.SproutUp.org.

Get Involved with Integrated Climate & Energy Study
Interested in climate and energy sustainability? Want to get hands-on experience exploring these topics in relation to our campus? Chrissy Thomure, Climate Action Manager in the Sustainability Office, is coordinating an Integrated Climate & Energy Study with key stakeholders and a consultant. The study launches this year, and students are encouraged to participate! Email Chrissy at cthomure [at] ucsc [dot] edu to find out more.

Volunteer at a PICA Garden Workday

Want to get your hands dirty and enjoy this sunny weather? Volunteer for the first PICA garden workday of the quarter on Saturday, October 18 from 10 AM - 2 PM. Everyone is invited and a free garden grown lunch will be served. They will be planting veggie starts, digging garden beds, making compost and harvesting from the garden. Come learn about where your food comes from! Meet at the entrance to the A-quad by the Village at UCSC. Check out this website for more information.

Arboretum Volunteer Gardening Opportunities
The Arboretum also has volunteer gardening hours throughout the week! Visit their website for details.

Volunteer for Sea Slugs!
Sea Slugs is a UCSC student-based organization built around environmental activism and community evolvement. The organization has ties with many local organizations including the Save the Waves Coalition and the Surfrider Foundation. For information about meeting times or any other oceanic shenanigans, contact Sea Slugs at seaslug.ucsc [at] gmail [dot] com or visit their website.

Local Bike Clubs Seeking UCSC Volunteers

Want to join Green Ways to School as a volunteer for local middle school Bike Club rides? They are seeking dedicated interns who are available Wednesdays from 1 - 3 PM. Below are some of their upcoming activities:

• 10/8: Bike Skills presentation and practice at school
• 10/15: Mountain Biking practice
• Mountain Bike at DeLaveaga or Emma McCrary trails
• Visit HUB/Bike Church
• Cyclocross Ride
• Intro to Bike Polo
• and more to be determined!

If you're interested in volunteering, please email Tawn at cyclerevolution [at] gmail [dot] com

Volunteer at a Stevenson Garden Workday

Come by the beautiful Stevenson Garden from 1-2 PM on Fridays to help plant seeds, harvest, and have fun in the sun!

Find or Upload Projects to Sustainability Project Clearinghouse
Interested in getting involved in a campus sustainability project, but don't know how? Are you looking for partners for your current project? Have you completed a project that you would like others to learn from? Visit the Sustainability Project Clearinghouse, a centralized database of UCSC sustainability projects, today! You can view published projects or upload your own projects and ideas. For training on how to upload a project, please contact Shauna Casey at scasey [at] ucsc [dot] edu.