IHE News & Announcements July 2010

• Delightful Delawning: 3 Tips for Replacing Your Turf
  
• Featured Changemaker: Deb Freitag
• Teachers Inspired, Empowered by IHE's Summer Institute
• IHE President Inducted into U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame
• If We Want an Empathic Civilization, Then We Need to Cultivate It
• A Tribute to Khalif Williams
  

DELIGHTFUL DELAWNING: 3 TIPS FOR REPLACING YOUR TURF

One of the deep questions of the universe I always wondered about was who the %@! invented lawns?! Lawns can be useful in certain circumstances, especially if you need a spot for your dog or want to build a common space for you and your neighbors to congregate. But I’ve had a hate-hate relationship with lawns, ever since I started paying attention to just how much space they take up, how many chemicals they use, how much time and effort and water they require, the battle with “weeds”, the destruction of wildlife habitat, and so on.

I’m not alone in my quest to transform lawns into something more MOGO (doing the most good & least harm). News reports like this and this one reflect a growing interest in dumping the grass and going with food, flowers or something else more planet- people- and animal-friendly.

If you’re interested in losing the lawn (or at least part of it), consider these options:

1. Grow Food

Not since the Victory Gardens of World War II has growing our own food on our own little plots been so popular. One of the most well known resources on the topic is the group of local chapters of Food Not Lawns, which encourages using permaculture methods to turn your lawn into an ecologically-friendly food garden.

But not everyone has their own little piece of land, so new resources are popping up, such as Portland’s Yardsharing, which helps people identify neighbors willing to host garden space (or looking for it). Another new trend sweeping up those lawn clippings and replacing them with fresh produce is Neighborhood Supported Agriculture.  Groups of folks, like these in Boulder, Colorado, are choosing to grow food in vacant lots, yards and other small spaces and combine their goodies.

Some people, as mentioned here and here, are even using their (or their neighbors’) former lawns to grow food for profit.

At my cohousing community, we’ve begun to turn several sections of lawn into raised beds for gardening. These garden goodies often find their way into our common meals. We’ve also planted several fruit and nut trees and bushes; just the other day several of us were standing around a cherry tree (grafted with 5 different varieties) snacking while we talked. My husband and I have also transformed the tiny plot in front of our condo from a riot of flowers to an integrated group of wild plants for the wildlife and food for us. That way we can watch the hummingbirds flittering around the salvia while enjoying the strawberries, peas and other tasties from our own front “yard.”


2. Support Wildlife

As our hunger for bigger and better housing grows, good habitats for our fellow creatures disappears, If wildlife watching is more your style, you can transform those blades of grass into critter-friendly habitat. Organizations like the Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, and the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service have suggestions for creating a “healthy habitat” for wildlife, you, and your family.

We’ve made a conscious effort at Cascadia Commons (my cohousing community) to provide wildlife habitat. In fact, nearly one of the almost three acres of our property (which houses 26 families) is dedicated wetlands. Most residents at Cascadia have also made an effort to grow flora in their little yards that’s fauna-friendly. Over the years we’ve seen more than 80 species of birds, as well as countless species of insects (gorgeous butterflies & dragonflies among them), and, considering our urban location, a surprising number of mammals.

3. Plant Something Else

Neither of those ideas strike your fancy? Try one of these:

• Low-maintenance groundcovers (some can even be edible!)
• Xeriscaping
• Rock gardens
• Native perennials and other plants

And there are other options available, too. Just check your local library and/or the web) for more ideas.

Not everyone can go lawn-free, but many of us can at least reduce our lawn footprint by trying one or more of the above delightful delawning ideas. You'll save money, water, energy, reduce the amount of pollution and pesticides in our air, soil and water, and provide beautiful, healthy options for yourself and the other critters who call your green space home. 

Image courtesy of Editor B via Creative Commons.

back2top

FEATURED CHANGEMAKER: DEB FREITAG

IHE HECP student Deb Freitag's passion for exploring the landscape and cultures of the world led her to share that passion with children as a social studies teacher. Her discovery of humane education has sparked another passion in her: to help her students to become positive changemakers for a better world.

Read Deb's profile. 

back2top

TEACHERS INSPIRED, EMPOWERED BY IHE'S SUMMER INSTITUTE

by Amy Morley, IHE's Operations & Events Manager

Twelve dynamic educators gathered at the Institute for Humane Education’s beautiful facility in Surry, Maine, from June 28 to July 2 for Teaching for a Better World: A Summer Institute for Educators.

Each day was designed to give participants an opportunity for personal and professional inquiry into global ethical issues and the core tenets of education and teaching. Participants also examined the way their own educations have shaped their experiences as educators and the role education plays in the health and future of our planet.

The week began with an exploration of the elements of humane education. Through lectures, indoor and outdoor activities, film viewings, large and small group discussions, and role plays, participants expanded their knowledge of existing connections between education, environmental ethics, animal protection, culture, consumerism and media, and human rights, and explored ways to integrate these topics across various disciplines.

Participants each created and presented a 20-minute humane education activity or lesson plan and received feedback. These dynamic presentations demonstrated a real understanding and enthusiasm from the participants.

Participants included:

• classroom teachers
• college advisors
• community educators
• homeschooling parents
  
• a theatre educator and playwright
• a student studying environmental education
  

and came from as close as Maine and as far away as Hong Kong.

IHE faculty Mary Pat Champeau and Zoe Weil facilitated the program, with IHE Executive Director, Khalif Williams, facilitating several discussions. Additionally, participants enjoyed special guest Robert Shetterly, creator of the Americans Who Tell the Truth portrait series. Rob shared his vision of how to help students come to understand their heritage and ultimately, inspire their futures.
 
Participants also engaged in evening social activities, including dinners at area restaurants, a special dinner at the Institute that included participants’ families, and an evening out at Acadia Improv.

IHE received very positive feedback from participants. Here are a couple samples:

"It rejuvenated me and was an excellent way to gain CEUs. (The) value was immeasurable. I gained friends and confidence and knowledge to share."
~ Andy Bryan, teacher in Maine

"I expected it to be educational and fabulous, and it was both. My overall idea of what humane education means is much clearer. I’ve been inspired to continue. Humane education will no longer be a concept that I endeavor to incorporate into my classrooms and personal life; rather, it will be a chosen lifestyle. I am changed, and will continue to grow and change. I am better for it and will like myself more throughout my life because of it."
~ Deborah Burger, college ESL teacher in Michigan

We IHE staff felt equally inspired and renewed by the experience and thank everyone who attended and made it a very vibrant and productive week!

We’d like to thank a few sponsors that provided scholarship funds to help participants attend:

• Shawn Sweeney, National Program Coordinator with Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots (Shawn is also currently one of IHE’s M.Ed. students)
• Bar Harbor Bank & Trust in Blue Hill, Ellsworth, and Bar Harbor, Maine.

We also want to thank the local supermarkets, Tradewinds and Hannaford, that provided sponsorship for our healthy afternoon snacks. 

See more photos and testimonials from our 2010 Summer Institute.

back2top

IHE PRESIDENT INDUCTED INTO U.S. ANIMAL RIGHTS HALL OF FAME

For more than 25 years, Zoe Weil, co-founder and president of the Institute for Humane Education, has based her life’s work on the conviction that the key to creating a just, compassionate, sustainable world for all lies with humane education: raising a generation with the tools, knowledge and motivation to make choices that do the most good and least harm for all and to become changemakers and problem solvers for a better world. That vision was rewarded on July 17 when Zoe was inducted into the U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame during the 2010 Animal Rights National Conference in Alexandria, Virginia.

The U.S. Animal Rights Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of animal protection for at least ten years. Past inductees include Cleveland Amory, Gretchen Wyler, Ingrid Newkirk, Peter Singer, and Paul Watson.

“To me, this wonderful award is a validation of the power of humane education to help create a compassionate world,” said Zoe. “Having spent my life teaching about the interconnections between human rights, animal protection, and environmental preservation, it’s an incredible honor to have this vision honored in such a public way. That my colleagues in the animal protection movement share our belief not only in the importance of raising a generation to be compassionate and engaged choicemakers and changemakers for a humane and peaceful world, but also in the ability of humane education to achieve that goal means more to me than I can say.”

Caryn Ginsberg, Strategic Idealist for the Priority Ventures Group, former IHE board member, and the person who introduced Zoe said, "Zoe Weil is one of the most inspiring and effective advocates for change I have witnessed in my ten years in the nonprofit field. I have experienced personally, and witnessed in others, the profound impact she has when speaking, in her books and through her programs. She has made an immense contribution to create a better world for us all and continues to bring humane education to new and enthusiastic audiences."

back2top

IF WE WANT AN EMPATHIC CIVILIZATION, THEN WE NEED TO CULTIVATE IT 

by Marsha Rakestraw, Online Communities & Special Projects Manager

"To empathize is to civilize; to civilize is to empathize." ~ Jeremy Rifkin

There's been a fair amount of buzz in the media reflecting concern for a loss of empathy in our culture. From the study asserting that today's college students are less empathetic, to concerns about the effects of the internet on empathy to the uproar about "judicial empathy" as part of the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Elena Kagan, our society seems to be wondering where our concern and compassion for each other (and for other beings) has gone. It's pretty simple. As Colman McCarthy once said: "Why are we violent but not illiterate? Because we are taught to read."

If we want a just, compassionate world where our citizens can easily tap into their empathy for others, we need to teach it. We need to nurture, cultivate and model it as part of the core of what it means to be human. It needs to be a part of our daily lives and part of our educational, health care, economic and other systems.

As Jeremy Rifkin points out in his excellent speech on "The Empathic Civilization," (fabulously animated with marker on a whiteboard by RSA Animate) we've evolved to be empathetic ("We are soft wired to experience another's plight as if we are experiencing it ourselves."), but we have to cultivate it. We have to "bring out that core nature" rather than repressing it through parenting and/or the systems we have in place. Watch the video (about 10 mins.).

back2top

A TRIBUTE TO KHALIF WILLIAMS

On August 6, Khalif Williams, IHE’s executive director, will be stepping down to take a position as the interim director at the Bay School, a wonderful Waldorf school where I sent my own son and where, each year, I offer humane education classes to the middle school students. We are sad to see Khalif go, but excited for both him and the Bay School, which is so lucky to have him as their new director. Fortunately, Khalif will not be leaving IHE entirely as he will remain a leader here by serving on our board of directors.

I met Khalif in 2001 when he attended a workshop I led at Haverford College outside of Philadelphia. Khalif so stood out, not only because he is 6’5” tall, but because he was so engaged and thoughtful and curious. I meet thousands of people through my work each year, yet I recognized Khalif the next time I saw him and remembered his name. That’s rare for me, and is a tribute to what an impression he made upon me.

So when Khalif contacted me about moving to Maine, I encouraged him to apply for a job we had open at IHE. We never bothered to interview anyone else. Khalif has served at IHE for 8 1/2 years, 6 1/2 as our executive director. Under his leadership the organization and its programs have grown substantially. We’ve made inroads into important national conversations on the purpose of schooling and educational changemaking. We’ve trained more people to be humane educators and they in turn are reaching ever more students.

Thank you Khalif. Thank you for all you have done to advance humane education and to serve IHE. We will miss you!

Best of luck and love from all of us at IHE,

Zoe Weil, President

back2top

email

print

del.icio.us