This document summarizes an Earth Day workshop presented at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in 2012. The workshop covered topics related to sustainability including gratitude, cooperation, food, waste reduction, energy conservation, water conservation, transportation, shopping habits, and taking action. Resources for local and sustainable food, waste reduction, energy, and water conservation were provided. Films and lectures on sustainability were also listed. The overall message was about small individual actions collectively creating change towards a more sustainable future.

1. 2012 Earth Day
at the Norman Bird Sanctuary
A workshop presented by
Erica Thompson
Americorps OSEEC member at NBS

3. To get up in the morning, to work, to work
hard, to care for yourself, to care for the
environment, to give time and support to
your friends, to your family, to your
community?

4. A sense of responsibility
A deep feeling of gratitude
Feeling called to action or inspired by
others

5. The words and actions of others:
Mahatna Ghandi: “Be the change that you wish to
see in the world.”
Margaret Meade: Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Mother Theresea: “We cannot do great things on
this Earth, only small things with great love.”
Rachel Carson- Author of Silent Spring and founder
of the modern environmental movement (led to the
banning of DDT and the creation of the EPA)
Family, friends, neighbors…..
http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x307/ElkinsWV

6. Gratitude
Kinship
Cooperation
http://geotripper.blogspot.com/2009/11/other-california-things-it-is-not.html

7. Grati
tude
http://priyasingh82.blogspot.com/2011/06/attitude-of-gratitude.html

8. What we share: a common genetic code
98% Chimpanzee
21% Zebra Fish
36% Fruit Fly
15% Mustard Grass
7% Bacteria
This is MY family,
this is OUR home http://www.dailygalaxy.com
http://www.thetech.org/genetics/common.php

9. http://www.noobpreneur.com

10. http://www.leadership-and-motivation-
training.com

11. Sustainability creates and maintains
the conditions under which
humans and nature can exist in
productive harmony, that permit
fulfilling the social, economic and
other requirements of present and
future generations.
-The Environmental Protection Agency

12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5NiTN0
chj0
 Follow the link, watch the video!

13. Environment
Equity
Economics

14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sustainability-diagram-v4.gif

15. http://nooventures.edubl
ogs.org
/2008-04-23-
a-pattern-language-for-
sustainability
-toward-a-conservation-
economy-by-ecotrust/

16. As long as you are on the path, no matter how
small your steps, it makes a difference.
Big cultural changes are usually a collection
of small changes
Humans are extremely adaptable and resilient
Fear is not effective, but dissatisfaction can be

18. Grow your own!!
Buy local, eat with the seasons
Food is more fresh and has travelled far less
Know who grows your food and how they do it.
Do some research, USDA organic is not always
sustainable and too costly for small farmers to get
certified.
Talk to your farmer!
Advocate! Know how the upcoming Farm Bill
effects you and your community

19. http://iamguiltless.blogspo
t.com
“The livestock sector is a major player,
contributing to more than 18 percent of
greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2
equivalent. This is a higher share than
transport.”
-FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED
NATIONS Rome, 2006

20. Hunger
Environment
Cancer
Cholesterol Again,
Natural Resources
Antibiotic
Get Informed!!!!
Pesticides
Ethics
Survival

21. According to the EPA 27% of our waste could be
composted! That’s 1.2 lbs of useful, smelly garbage
per person that could be kept out of a landfills
EVERYDAY!
Recycling is nice, but preventing, reusing and
repurposing are even better
Get crafty
Choose less packaging
Buy in bulk, use reusable containers
Bring your own take home containers and mugs at restaurants
and coffee shops
Ladies: Diva Cup!

22. “Despite America‟s efforts to reduce, reuse and
recycle waste, more than half of the garbage
that Americans produce ends up in
landfills…... Landfills are not designed to break
down trash, merely to bury it. Permitting a
modern landfill generally takes about a decade,
costs millions of dollars…….”
“The average American discards 4.34 pounds of
garbage every day.”
http://www.environmentalistseveryday.org/solid-waste-management/garbage-trash-
waste-facts.php

23. Shop local
Support your community by strengthening your local
economy
Buy handcrafted goods from small shops and farmers
markets
Reduce the transportation mileage that goes into
delivering your goods
What you buy sends a direct message about what
you support
Research the practices of the businesses you support-
What are their ecological and social impacts?

24. Shop thrift and vintage stores- 5.2% of waste in
landfills is clothing
Buy organic cotton- it’s the number one crop for
pesticides world wide
Buy natural fibers- many of them can be
composted!
Support companies that produce high quality
goods that will repair them for the lifetime of the
item like Patagonia.

25. Health and Beauty
Toothpaste, Deodorant, Shampoo, Cosmetics
Cleaners
Repair instead of replace, and then dispose/
recycle responsibly!
Do not put anything on your face or down the
drain that you would not put in your mouth!

26. Avoid flying when possible, the pollution gets
dumped directly into the atmosphere
Public Transport
Carpool
Ride your bike
Take a walk!
http://alttransport.com

27. Only 3% of the planets water is drinkable, and
2/3’s is contained in glaciers and ice caps
Educate yourself about watersheds and how you
can protect our precious water resources
Conserve
Water plants using leftover water from pet baths or
cleaning (assuming you are using eco-friendly cleaners)
Catch and use the cold water that flows while you are
waiting for the water to heat up. Save water AND
energy
Collect rainwater
Flush the toilet less, 1/3 of our water is used for flushing
toilets!
http://liveearth.org/en/save/water

28. Renewably sourced energy and conservation
can save you money and provide more energy
security for individuals and communities
We all know about the value of making
simple reductions in your usage
Don’t leave lights on when you’re not in the room
Turn computers off when not in use
Unplug appliances and cell phone charges, they are
using energy even when you are not in the room!

29. Living sustainably will improve the quality of our
lives, not diminish them, though that may
involve a shift in values
Maybe you will have more quality time with your
family- less time consuming media and more time
gardening, riding your bikes together, or enjoying a
low-lit nutritious meal.
Your health may improve with adopting a diet that
includes a lot more local, whole, plant foods.
Perhaps your social ties and sense of community will
strengthen
In sustaining our environment we allow our fellow
earthlings to flourish too.

30. How nice would it be if
sustainability were simply the
way of life of your
community?
http://fancycribs.com/19060-camp-jrf-eco-village-by-metcalfe-architecture-design.html

31. Learn
Do
Share
Speak up
So that
we can
all….

32. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9I3Q6-ZSTI
 Follow the link, watch the video!

33.  Food
Farm Fresh RI- www.farmfreshri.org/ A directory of farmers' markets and other sources of
locally grown food in the state, including a restaurant guide. The markets sponsored by
Farm Fresh RI accept SNAP benefits, and some of them will begin to accept compost!
 List of farms in/around Middletown:
http://www.farmfresh.org/food/farms.php?zip=02842
 A Market in Newport- http://www.myamarket.com/
 The Green Grocer in Middletown- http://www.thegreengrocerri.com/
 Revive The Roots Foundation- http://revivetheroots.org/- Helping Rhode Islanders
move towards a more sustainable food supply with educational gardening.
 Eating with the Ecosystem- www.eatingwiththeecosystem.org- Sustainable local
seafood for New England
 National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
http://sustainableagriculture.net/about-us/ is an alliance of grassroots organizations
that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food
systems, natural resources, and rural communities.
 Edible Landscaping- a great blog on sustainable, edible landscaping.
http://www.ediblelandscapingmadeeasy.com/
 Sierra club- A great article on food, I especially like the „what you can do‟ portion
 http://www.sierraclub.org/sustainable_consumption/food_factsheet.asp

34. Waste
Fast Facts- http://www.planetpals.com/fastfacts.html
RI Recycling Resource Corporation- http://www.rirrc.org/content/
Composting-
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/composting/index.htm
Plastic bag slideshow- Watch this before you ever use another plastic bag
http://www.poconorecord.com/_flash/soundslides/20080505plasticbags/sound
slider.swf
Energy
Energy Informative- http://energyinformative.org – Information on many
aspects of renewable and non-renewables
Great article from Providence Journal about RI energy-
http://www.worldfutureenergysummit.com/Portal/news/3/9/2011/efficien
cy-is-the-best-way-to-conserve-energy.aspx
Energy Dept Energy saving tips- http://www.energysavers.gov/
RI renewable energy
From ri.gov- http://www.energy.ri.gov/programs/renewable.php
Newport Biodiesel- www.newportbiodiesel.com
Newport Solar- http://newportsolarri.com/

35. Water
Rain Harvesting- http://www.harvesth2o.com/
Conservation tips: http://liveearth.org/en/save/water
DIY
Health and Beauty, and Cleaners- Home cleaners, Deodorant, Shampoo etc
are easy to make yourself at home with safe ingredients. You‟ll be
amazed at all the uses of baking soda and vinegar! You can cut down on
artificial and potentially dangerous ingredients, packaging, shipping, and
COST! Just look up recipes online and start experimenting. Use old
containers that have been cleaned out to store your new DIY beauty
products.
Natural Beauty at Home, a book- http://www.amazon.com/Natural-
Beauty-Home-Easy---
Use/dp/0805070222/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330368695&sr=8-1
Handcrafted Goods- Support those in your community that are handcrafting
goods, and in turn support your local economy- check out craft fairs,
artist open-houses, and farmer‟s markets. The community tent at NBS
Harvest Fair is a great spot to find out what crafters in RI are making!
-RI Handmade Blog- http://rihandmade.blogspot.com/

36. Green Living Websites and Blogs
Apeiron Sustainable RI Things you can do:
http://www.apeiron.org/new/sustainableri/things_you_can_do.php
Sierra Club Sustainable Consumption Committee- a great resource for fact sheets and
green living tips http://www.sierraclub.org/sustainable_consumption/
Treehugger- http://www.treehugger.com/living/
Do The Green Thing-Practical things you can do http://www.dothegreenthing.com/
Green America (NGO)- http://www.greenamerica.org
Green America article: 10 things you should never buy again
http://www.greenamerica.org/programs/shopunshop/unshopping/neverbuy.cfm
Bioengineering Corporation- Building sustainable communities on an ecological foundation-
http://www.bioengineering.com/ourstory.php#
Mother Earth News www.Motherearthnews.com
Transition US- Common people preparing for a time when cheap oil is no longer an option
http://www.transitionus.org/
Natural Step http://www.naturalstep.org/
Earth Island Institute http://www.earthisland.org/
Envirosax- resources list:-http://www.envirosax.com/education_resources
World Changing . org http://www.worldchanging.com/ Worldchanging.com is a nonprofit media
organization dedicated to solutions-based journalism about the planetary future.
EPA Green Living
http://www.epa.gov/gateway/learn/greenliving.html
http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/overview.htm

37. Environmental Quality
RI Department of Environmental Managment- great source of
information on RI‟s environmental quality
http://www.dem.ri.gov/
DEM Earthwatch http://www.dem.ri.gov/earthwatch/index.htm
350.Org- http://www.350.org/
WWF Living Planet Report
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_
planet_report/
Intentional Communities/ Eco-Villages
Great blog entry about the future of intentional communities-
http://www.greenecocommunities.com/blog/2008/08/23/the-
futures-so-bright-sustainable-communities-and-eco-villages/
Fellowship for Intentional Communities- http://www.ic.org/
D Acres in NH- Education center, communal living, and camping-
http://www.dacres.org/index.html

38. Film
Free documentary websites- TV Series
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com Planet Earth
http://watchdocumentary.com/ Design: e²
http://documentaryheaven.com/ YouTube
Real Eyes sustainability
Documentaries animation featured in
 Manufactured Landscapes Sustainability for Everyone
 The Story of Stuff workshop at NBS-
 A New We http://www.youtube.com/
 The Sustainable City watch?v=B5NiTN0chj0-
 Off The Grid Rethink Sustainability, also
 Food Inc featured in Sustainability for
 The Future of Food everyone
 Vanishing of the Bees http://www.youtube.com/
 The World According to Monsanto watch?v=a9I3Q6-ZSTI
 The End of Suburbia About Transition US-
 Thirst http://www.youtube.com/watch
 No Impact Man ?feature=player_embedded&v=Jk
 Zietgeist: Moving Forward 9Qe9O1UiY#!
 Thrive

39.  Lectures
 Visions of a Sustainable World, Yale lecture series-
http://environment.yale.edu/visions/
 Arithmetic, Population and Energy- Sustainability 101
 http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/arithmetic-population-and-
energy-lecture/
 TED talks
 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/graham_hill_weekday_ve
getarian.html
 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/britta_riley_a_garden_in_
my_apartment.html
 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/edward_burtynsky_on_m
anufactured_landscapes.html
 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/ray_anderson_on_the_bu
siness_logic_of_sustainability.html
 http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushro
oms_can_save_the_world.html
 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/william_mcdonough_on_
cradle_to_cradle_design.html
 http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/alex_steffen_sees_a_susta
inable_future.html
 http://www.ted.com/talks/john_gerzema_the_post_crisis_con
sumer.html