Bob Corso, WHSV-TV3 news anchor, spoke with Katie Jantzen, co-leader of Earthkeepers, about sustainability features around campus including food disposal in the dining hall and the compost facility located by the Suter Science Center.

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“David Kline has a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective on what it means to live sustainably and respect God’s creation,” said , professor of at EMU.

As a sponsor of the talks, EMU has arranged for Kline to be driven from Ohio for this series of rare public appearances.

“I think many people will be both surprised and inspired by David’s stories of simple living, observing nature, and his success at promoting small-scale diversified farming in Ohio,鈥� said Yoder. 鈥淗e is one of the most intelligent men I鈥檝e ever met.”

Based on his 120-acre farm in Holmes County, Ohio, Kline is author of 鈥淟etters from Larksong: An Amish Naturalist Explores His Organic Farm鈥� (2010); “Great Possessions: An Amish Farmer’s Journal鈥� (2001); and 鈥淪cratching the Woodchuck: Nature on an Amish Farm鈥� (1999).” He also edits “Farming Magazine: People, Land and Community.”

Kline has been compared to Kentucky-based author and farmer Wendell Berry, who has written the forewords to Kline鈥檚 last two books.

“The farm is a place we live and not merely reside,” said Kline in an interview with the . “Our philosophy was my dad’s philosophy. That we should leave our land in much better condition than when we got it.”

EMU events open to the public

• Thursday, Feb. 9, 8:30-10 p.m., “An Evening with David Kline,” , University Commons.
• Friday, Feb. 10, 10-10:30 a.m., university chapel forum, .

Additional events, more information

In addition to publicly and visiting classes at EMU, Kline will serve as guest speaker on Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 6:45 8:30 p.m., at Montezuma Hall, 4736 Ottobine Road, Dayton, on the topic, “Living on Earth as Respectful Stewards.”

Kline鈥檚 visit is sponsored by EMU and the . Admission is free to the public events.

For more information contact Jim Yoder at 540-421-9912 or email yoderjm@emu.edu.

Katie Jantzen, co-leader of , said the overall goal of the mini-grants was to encourage the campus community to think more proactively about steps they can take to initiate efforts.

“We see these projects as a way of helping to support sustainability initiatives on campus that may not otherwise happen due to lack of funds,” said Jantzen. “Selection was based on the impact the project would have on the EMU community, student initiative, feasibility of implementation, and a diversity of ideas.”

Changes around campus

Projects to receive funding include a $400 grant for an LED theater light fixture for the Technical Theater class; $250 for compost bins in 15 lounge and kitchen areas across campus, submitted by , web content manager and strategist; $125 to purchase local food to reinforce learning in a food writing workshop, submitted by , assistant professor in and the departments; $125 for compost bins in residence halls, submitted by sophomore Christine Baer; and a $100 grant for raspberry hedges as edible landscaping near Northlawn residence hall, introduced by the .

“We hope that our funding can be the initial impetus to get many of the projects off and running as they expand in scope and influence,” said Jantzen.

Winning projects were selected by a committee composed of , sustainability coordinator, , Earthkeepers faculty advisor, Jantzen and co-leader Josh Kanagy and members of Earthkeepers.

Earthkeepers, and the quality enhancement plan sponsored the mini-grants.

About Earthkeepers

The mission of Earthkeepers is to encourage, simplify and implement environmentally friendly practices around the campus community by following Christ’s example of holistic redemption by pursuing sustainable attitudes and practices, according to their website. In addition, Earthkeepers have helped fund composting and recycling programs, edible landscaping and The Bicycle Cooperative.

More information on Creation Care Council and sustainability practices at EMU can be found at .

“Ankle Deep in Reality Tour: Christ, Compassion and Climate, A Call for JUSTpower,” a speaking tour on the issue of climate change and global warming is coming to campus Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 9-10.

Rev. Lusama Tafue, from the island nation of Tuvalu, will speak about the moral imperative of Christians to be active on the issue of climate change 3:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in room 104 of EMU’s Suter Science Center. Admission to the presentation is free.

Rev. Tafue and those travelling with him will also speak in several classes and meet with Earthkeepers recycling group and members of the university’s Creation Care Council during their time on campus.

About the speakers

Rev. Tafue is the chair of the Tuvalu Climate Action Network (TuCAN) and and program secretary of the Department of Peace & Justice, Christian Church of Tuvalu. Accompanying Rev. Tafue are Amber Collett and the executive director of “Restoring Eden,” Peter Illyn.

Restoring Eden is a network of people working to become a grassroots movement within the church. The parachurch ministry is dedicated to encouraging faithful stewardship of the natural world as a biblical, moral, and wise value. Specific efforts focus on nature appreciation, environmental stewardship and public advocacy.

Tuvalu is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaii and Australia. It is one of those places on earth that is most vulnerable to the affects of global warming. The threat of sea level rise may bring complete disaster to the 10,000 Tuvaluans residing on nine extremely low-lying coral atolls.

Meaningful dialogue about climate change

“This speaking tour is a way for Rev. Tafue and his colleagues to reach out to fellow Christians, educate them and provide meaningful dialogue about climate change,” said Tara L. Kishbaugh, associate professor of chemistry. “It is particularly important for Christians to be involved in the discussion on how best to care for God’s creation and the world’s poor who will be most directly and severely affected by climate change.”

“Our belief and hope is that this presentation will open hearts and minds and will offer an opportunity for individuals to take further action on the issue,” Dr. Kishbaugh added.

The visit is sponsored by the Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society (SASS), an organization of faculty, scholars and community members concerned with science and religion and their impact on life and faith. For more information on the presentation, call 540-432-4400.

EMU-branded cloth shopping bags, first made available in December, are now on sale in Common Grounds coffeehouse for only $7.

The idea of reusable bags grew out of regular meetings of the “Recycling, Reducing, and Transportation” task force of EMU’s fast-growing Creation Care Council.

The sturdy bags are made from 80 percent recycled cotton and 20 percent recycled plastic bottles. Each bag features an EMU original design.

Community members first purchased bags from Creation Care Council members after chapel on Wednesday, Dec. 12 and outside the dining hall until early afternoon.

By the end of the work day, only a handful of bags were left and plans for an additional order were already underway.

Send questions or order requests to greenbags@emu.edu.

Be green this Christmas season with EMU-branded cloth shopping bags, available beginning Wednesday, Dec. 12, for only $7.

The idea of reusable bags grew out of regular meetings of the “Recycling, Reducing, and Transportation” task force of EMU’s fast-growing Creation Care Council.

The sturdy bags are made from 80 percent recycled cotton and 20 percent recycled plastic bottles. Each bag features an EMU original design.

Community members purchased bags from Creation Care Council members after chapel on Wednesday, Dec. 12 and outside the dining hall until early afternoon.

By the end of the work day, only a handful of bags were left and plans for an additional order were already underway.

Task force members hope to sell the bags at Common Grounds coffeehouse during the spring 2008 academic semester.

Send questions or order requests to Matt Styer at greenbags@emu.edu.