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Thu, 23 Mar 2006

Big Green Summer: 10-Week Immersion Project in Green Living

This article by Nancy Pfoutz has been reprinted in Savvy Vegetarian with permission from the excellent local green news weekly, The Heartland Spirit, in Fairfield IA, greenest town in the midwest. Does 'green midwest town' sound like an oxymoron? Trust me - it's not!

Five fortunate interns will be diving deeply into all aspects of sustainable living and design this summer, as pioneers in the first educational program sponsored by the FairField Internships Project. Founded by Lonnie Gamble, who co-directs the project with Diana Krystofiak, Big Green Summer will offer a 'walk the talk' experience where students will live what they learn.

In a 'total immersion experience', students will learn about: renewable energy in a solar-powered classroom, grow organic produce as they learn about food systems, and harvest their own energy and water. They will intern with local businesses involved in renewable energy, natural building materials, organic agriculture, edible landscaping, social services, and other aspects of cutting-edge sustainable community development.

"We want the program to have the integrity of what they’re learning to be in synchrony with how they’re living," said Gamble. "In most sustainability programs, the facilities don’t reflect what’s being taught – in fact, they often 'teach' the opposite. Lots of kids are looking for a non-traditional educational experience like this where you walk your talk in every aspect."

Read more about Big Green Summer in Fairfield IA.