UMD Sustainability

5/23/2012

Minnesota GreenCorps accepting Member Applications now

Know a recent UMD graduate looking for an opportunity to work on sustainability issues in the Duluth area next year? Apply to be a MN GreenCorps member!

May 30 is the deadline to apply, so act now! Application information available via the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Link: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/topics/preventing-waste-and-pollution/sustainability/minnesota-greencorps/looking-ahead.html

5/21/2012

Pollinator conservation planning short course at the UMD library

Duluth, Minnesota
June 13th, 2012
9:00 am to 4:00 pm

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the
Sustainable Agriculture Project at the University of Minnesota Duluth (SAP @ UMD), and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are pleased to announce an upcoming Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course in Minnesota. This full day training will provide you with the latest science-based approaches to reversing the trend of pollinator declines, and will equip you with the recipes necessary to protect and manage habitat for these vital insects.

SPECIFIC TRAINING OBJECTIVES:
Identify approaches to increase and enhance pollinator diversity on the land
Knowledge of current best management practices that minimize land-use impacts on pollinators
Identify bees and distinguish them from other insects
Understand the economics of insect-pollinated crops, and the effects of pollinator decline
Knowledge of the current Farm Bill pollinator conservation provisions in programs such as WHIP, EQIP, CSP, and CRP
Ability to assess pollinator habitat and to identify habitat deficiencies
Ability to make recommendations to farmers and land managers who conserve pollinators (including subjects such as tillage, pesticide use, burning, grazing, and cover cropping)
Ability to design and implement habitat improvements, such as native plant restoration and nest site enhancements
SHORT COURSE DETAILS:
Location:
University of Minnesota Duluth Library
416 Library Drive
Duluth, MN 55812-3001
June 13th, 2012 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Cost:
Registration is $45 per person. Discounted registration is available for NRCS employees at $35 per person.

Each participant will receive a pollinator conservation toolkit which includes a copy of Xerces' latest book, Attracting Native Pollinators. Protecting North America's Bees and Butterflies, as well as habitat management guidelines and relevant USDA-NRCS and extension publications.
Lunch is not included. Please bring a sack lunch with you to the course.
Canceled registrations can be refunded until June 4th, 2012.

Registration is required for this course. Click here to register online or for more information about the course.
Hurry, space is limited!

Questions:
Please contact Ashley Minnerath, Pollinator Program Assistant, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, at shortcourses@xerces.org or (855) 232-6639.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This Pollinator Conservation Planning Short Course made possible with the support of the University of Minnesota Extension Service, the Ceres Foundation and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Additional support for this training is provided by the following: CS Fund, Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, Irwin Andrew Porter Foundation, Turner Foundation, Whole Systems Foundation, and Xerces Society members.
Special thanks to the Sustainable Agriculture Project at the University of Minnesota Duluth for their support and hospitality.

commitment , energy , land + water

5/16/2012

First UMD Market in the Plaza for 2012

Photo collage from the May 16 UMD Market in the Plaza

Today is the first UMD Market in the Plaza for 2012.

It's a gorgeous, sunny day at the Kirby Bus Hub with a temperature in the upper 60's.

Goods being offered at today's market include

Local meats
Eggs
Honey and beeswax candles
Baked goods
Asparagus
Plants, including a variety of herbs, flowers, tomatoes, and peppers
Locally roasted coffee
Jellies
Balms and tinctures

You can also relax with a massage or listening tomusic from today's local artist, Val Turcotte.

events

5/15/2012

DTA Multimodal Transportation Center Project receives funding (press release)

[Duluth, MN] - In an joint announcement made today by the City of Duluth and the DTA, it was revealed that the proposed DTA Multimodal Transportation Center has received all funding required to complete the $27.5 million project.

The project received an initial $16 million from an appropriation by former Congressman James Oberstar in 2010. The DTA had requested $6 million in state funding as part of this year's capital bonding bill from the State Legislature, with the additional funding needed to complete work on skywalk connections and the reconstruction of the Northwest Passage.

The state funding was in addition to $5.5 million in local and private investment funding previously secured for the project. The recently passed bonding bill contains $6.4 million allocated to Greater Minnesota Transit, of which $4.5 has been identified for funding of the DTA project, with the balance allocated to projects in Mankato and St. Cloud. The remaining $1.5 million will be funded through other State sources.

With project funding secured, the DTA expects to begin with the demolition of the Wells Fargo parking ramp below Michigan Street later this year. Actual building construction would begin in the spring of 2013, with completion of the new transportation center projected by late 2013 or early 2014.

The downtown Multimodal Transportation Center will provide an indoor terminal area for the transferring of bus passengers, including regional and intercity carriers.

The Center will include an 8-bay bus boarding platform, along with an indoor passenger-waiting area, seating, and public restrooms. The Center will include a DTA-staffed information desk, similar to what is currently at the Transit Center East for pass and ticket sales and transit information. The Center will also include a bike storage area, a police substation, and public and private parking that will include spaces for van and car pools. Also included in the Center will be Wells Fargo drive through banking services on the second level and other retail spaces.

The project includes construction of a new Northwest Passage skywalk to the DECC, which will include a pedestrian/bike walkway, and a new skywalk connection to Superior Street through the current Transit Center East building.

The Intermodal Center will also serve as a boarding location for Jefferson Lines and Indian Trails inter-city bus lines, along with Arrowhead Transit and LCS Coaches.

The Multimodal Terminal is a major effort by the DTA and the City of Duluth to resolve long-standing parking and sidewalk congestion problems, as well as pedestrian and bus passenger safety issues in downtown Duluth. When completed, the Center will represent a major advancement towards the goal of establishing easily accessible connections between the downtown area and the Canal Park and Bayfront Park areas.

Questions can be directed to Dennis Jensen at (218) 623-4306.

transportation

5/15/2012

UMD Market in the Plaza begins tomorrow

The 2012 season will begin May 16 and run every Wednesday through September 26, rain or shine.

All market vendors are local, sustainable growers, and many are organic. Depending on availability, vendors from the Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association offer fresh fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, farm fresh pasture raised eggs, culinary herbs, bedding plants, hanging baskets, perennials, annuals, vegetable transplants, honey, jams, baked goods, canned goods, lotions, balms, cold relief teas and drops, tinctures, skin products, tub tea bags, and more.

Shoppers can use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Cards at the Market. (EBT customers can visit the Market Information Booth for more details)

A constantly changing art bazaar featuring goods and demonstrations from local artists and crafters. Everything from jewelry and decorative garden stakes to paintings, craft items, books, greeting cards, pottery, and hand-blown glassworks. Local music is also featured at the market weekly and UMD Stores gives a 20% discount on regular items when bringing in a reusable bag during the Market.

The UMD Market Day in the Plaza is located in the Kirby Plaza Bus Hub area, so it’s easy to Ride the Bus! Call 722-SAVE for bus schedules.

Contact Gina Temple-Rhodes at 218-390-8343 or email umdmarketday@gmail.com to become a vendor or subscribe to weekly updates. Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association membership fees are $30/year and $7 per Wednesday you attend.

Keep posted on other LSSFA events by visiting: www.lssfa.org. You can also find 'Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association on FACEBOOK

UMD Market Day in the Plaza is sponsored by the Lake Superior Sustainable

Farming Association (LSSFA), UMD Stores, UMD Dining Services, The Office of Student Life, UMD Wellness Program, Department of Human Resources, UMD Office of

Sustainability and UMD Office of Civic Engagement

commitment , events