"Project Green" students have received a grant from the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority, in the amount of $8,650 to use for a recycling program that will encompass every dorm on campus. We will use the funds to purchase individual bins for each dorm room as well as larger bins where students can dump their recycling when their containers are full. We hope to have the individual bins in the dorms before the students arrive for the start of the fall, 2007, semester. We will use whatever money is leftover for permanent, educational materials in each room about easy ways to "green" their room.

(For a related article on Project Green in the March 20th issue of The Collegian, go to http://media.www.smccollegian.com/media/storage/paper841/news/2007/03/20/News/Student.Organization.Spotlight.Project.Green-2782574.shtml)

Project Green started in 2006-07 and we've done so much!  The Project Green coordinators thought that we would inform you of what we have already accomplished this year to create a more sustainable community.  Thank you so much for supporting us!

The year so far:

We describe ourselves as a group on campus that focuses on making SMC a more sustainable community.  Project Green was created by John Stratton '08 who decided that he wanted "to be a hippie."  After describing his ideas more extensively with Shawny Anderson, he decided to create the group.  At the beginning of the year, during the first two meetings, the group decided to focus on three different aspects of "greening" our school: recycling, composting, and organic foods.

Eventually, student leaders were "found" within the group and consist now of Kaitlin Caruso '10, Christo Raines '08, Kyle Bonderud '09, and John Stratton '08.  The first semester consisted of hours upon hours of research and small attempts to create small things.  Basically, the first semester was a learning one- who to talk to, how to plan successful events, etc.  Composting was researched intensely, but was set aside because of a plan to acquire an Earth Tub that was much more difficult than expected.  Organic foods turned into a plan to change all of Oliver Hall to locally-grown, organic foods.  Lastly, the recycling project* expanded and we won a grant to acquire recycling bins for all of the freshman dorms.  Through the grant from the school, and one from the Contra Consta County Solid Waste Authority (CCCSWA), Project Green was able to buy all of the recycling bins that we needed (and plenty more!), including large dumpster-style recycling bins.  In March, we brought them door-to-door to all of the freshmen with help from the general meeting attendees.

In January, with help from Matt Carroll, Project Green was able to hold an organic taste-testing event in Oliver Hall to help gain awareness about what organics are and how they differ from conventionally-grown food.  This event was very successful and students were excited and are anticipating more organics in their cafeteria.  Currently, Matt Carroll is buying more organic foods and on April 25th, at lunch, will be part of an "Eat Local Challenge."  This means that the entire meal will be made with locally-grown, organic foods and will be available to anyone who comes to Oliver Hall to eat.

Project Green's next big endeavor is to take on the task of creating small, organic, permaculture gardens around campus for student, faculty, staff, and the Lamorinda community's use and benefit.  In doing this, we hope to create a larger sense of community between all of the aforementioned groups and also gain awareness about the style of gardening and how the food differs.

We have also agreed to a joint project with the Bike Club to organize and put on an event entitled "Pedal for the Planet" which will occur on April 18th.  Any student/faculty/staff member can bike/skateboard/walk/etc their way to campus and receive a free t-shirt, breakfast, lunch (which will be mostly organic), and take part in the day's festivities which include, among other things, an environmental vendor fair in Ferrogiaro Quad during community time.  The groups running this event have also invited the Lamorinda community to participate so as to help with community connections and help fuse relationships between our school and the outside community.

Also, current L&CS students have decided to take on their own projects with the guidance of Project Green Coordinators.  Some projects include, adopting a dorm to "green," creating a new recycling system in North & South Claeys, and researching more about composting and organics by visiting Cal's campus- among other ideas.

Lastly, with the growth and visibility of Project Green growing rapidly, we have been contacted by many groups and events including Integral Waltz and Gaelstock to help "green" their events.  These are "in the works."

Towards the end of the year, Project Green is planning on holding a "green" dinner/dance partly for fundraising purposes, and partly to celebrate what everyone has done this year in our efforts to create a more sustainable community.

During this coming summer, the current coordinators are hoping to create a group mission statement (We do not want to be labeled a club because we want to hold off the feeling of exclusiveness.  Also, we consider people members if they simply support us.) and specify what we can do and what we won't do in a written document.

We welcome questions, comments, ideas, and suggestions at any time.  All of our coordinators are easy to reach and reply back in a timely fashion.  Our contact information is as follows:
John Stratton:  Currently in Rome for the Spring '07 semester, but does a large amount of research.  His approval is needed for all events and large decisions.
                     jstratto@stmarys-ca.edu

Kaitlin Caruso:  kdc1@stmarys-ca.edu
                     cell: 916-214-5425

Christo Raines:  crr4@stmarys-ca.edu
                     cell: 503-754-5843

Kyle Bonderud: kwb1@stmarys-ca.edu
                     cell: 650-392-5546

Our main source of communication with the students is done through our Facebook group which contains over 140 members supporting our cause through action.

*To introduce our recycling project, we held a Trash Day on campus.  We took all of the trash from Oliver Hall from one breakfast period and placed it all in Dante Quad with educational signs on cardboard, 1/4-page leaflets with tips and facts, and plenty of Project Green members available for questions.  This event was very successful.



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Kaitlin Caruso
916.214.5425