Clean Up Post 1

Tried to talk to different friends and co workers about my efforts to clean up ada hayden park and the pits. Not a good turn out it seems that everyone has such a busy life they cant take a half hour out of their day to help clean up a place they probably helped mess up...Lets see what happens tomorrow!

Manifesto and The Making of a Marginal Farm

I thought both these pieces were interesting to read. I never really thought about how some people work so hard to create something for years and in days it can be destroyed. But, instead of looking at the picture of what you lost; look at the picture at what you gained.

Berry's intent for both of these pieces is that he wants people not to think about the losses in ones life but look at the experience that was gained doing it. Like in the marginal farm he took land that wasn't great for farming and turned it into a great farm land that produced food and wealth for the family. It took years for him to create such a great farm, but not long for a flood to destroy it. He didn't look at the picture and think all the years lost building a farm. He instead looked at the picture and thought i created a great farm when nobody thought it was possible on this land. He looked at it in a different light and saw the experience gained. In Manifesto,gives the same type of moral at the end of the poem.

Making a Change

Our group thought that we would like to do something on being green. We thought the best thing we could do as students was to focus peoples attention to the issue. So, we decided that we would set up a booth during VEISHEA supporting being green. Then, we would go to different places around Ames such as Earl May, Reimen Gardens, and Country Landscapes and ask for plant donations and hand them out to be planted at our booth. We felt that it would gain peoples attention and having during VEISHEA would be the best time because that is where the most people will be, so we can gain the attention of many.

My Participation: Free Write

I am a member of the Dubuque Jaycees. This is basically a community involvement of a group of young people ages 21 to 41. We basically do a bunch of different thing in our community to help people out. We do different fund raiser type thing like sandbox dig where families pay us ten dollars and we put fresh sand in their kids sandbox. The money we raise goes to another event we hold called toys for tots. This is where families in need can come to our local salvation army and get brand new toys for their kids for Christmas. We also sponsor a few different families during the Christmas season selectively and raise money for Christmas and food for the family.

Being in landscape architecture we like to push for being green. So i project about 5 of us decided to do was set up a huge hydroponic garden on the back elevator in the college of design. This is created by all recycled products. This was to show people that they can grow their own veg. and spices in their window by creating this window "Garden." And, they would be able to do this at low cost and be green sustainable. This is a really good resource to have especially in a large city. Or one can hang one in their dorm room window. Green sustainability is the way to go!

Mission Statement

I believe in the quality of life and enjoying the quality of life the best I can. I tend to constantly enjoy it and hopefully improve other peoples quality life. And, hopefully as I continue through this journey of improving peoples life quality, I will find growth in myself. I realize it may be a struggle to get this accomplished, but i believe if i can do something about my own quality of life other people will see my actions. Hopefully people will learn from what they see and improve their life quality. Because life can't get much better than loving your own quality of life.

Sociology and Social Change

I found it really interesting that we can help make a social change happen. I never really realized what kinda of things would make that type of change. Little thing like making more time by not watching as much television. And, with that spare time I could join our colleges ONE campaign. Or, even littler thing like being green and setting up a budget. Social change can happen and needs to happen a the little thing that several individuals do can lead to big social change. Its interesting to learn the choices we make in our own lives is choices were making in the live of others, too.

Silent Spring

Carson's piece on DDT had a lot of pathos, logos, and ethos. I felt that she was well educated in the field of DDT beings that she brings up a lot of numbers and details. I also thought that she did a good job at making us have feelings for the environment because of the large numbers she uses. I felt she did a great job of making the piece interesting and well informative with the use a great transitions.