Pomona College EcoNews Bulletin

October 19, 2023

During our Walker Flea Market on Sunday 10/22, we will be giving out free reusable food saver bags. Come stop by to learn more about the Sustainability Office, current/ongoing projects, EcoReps, and more. The flea market will take place at Walker Hall from 3-6pm. We also empower everyone to think consciously about purchasing organic for the month of October!

Snapshots From Our Garden Focaccia Event on Oct. 6!

EcoReps María and Betsy hosted an organic veggie focaccia making event for around 12 students, who signed up on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Sustainability Office provided all the ingredients and cooking supplies for the students, especially with help from the Cookware Checkout program, where students can check out cooking or baking supplies for events. After each student designed their own veggie focaccias, we put the loaves in the oven to bake. While waiting, we watched Nancy Silverton Chef's Table episode to emphasize the narratives of local chefs and the importance of knowing where our food comes from. Stay tuned for more fun events!

This newsletter's environmental activity feature: Sydney Tai (PO'26) and EA Trip to the Amargosa Basin in the Mojave Desert

Students trying the world famous date shakes

During the weekend of October 6th, a group of Environmental Analysis students in the Desert Conservation Seminar traveled to the Amargosa Basin in the Mojave Desert just south of Death Valley National Park. One highlight of the trip was visiting the family-owned China Ranch Date Farm. After a winding drive down to the bottom of a dirt canyon, the last bend revealed a surreal view of unexpected lushness: row after row of towering green date palms. Uniquely situated within an oasis where groundwater gathers and allows vegetation to grow, China Ranch is truly a must-see ecological gem in the desert. If you are in the area or on the way to Death Valley National Park, stop by to browse the gift shop, grab a treat from their bakery (their date shakes are world-famous and their vegan coffee are a must-try), or take a scenic hike along Amargosa River.

The owner of China Ranch, Brian Brown, has made a living in the harsh desert by shipping thousands of pounds of dates annually and selling date palms as landscaping trees. However, date-farming is highly labor intensive. As Brian looks to retire, several students from the class are helping him explore options to maintain the environmental legacy of China Ranch. Ideas currently on the table include transforming it into a "glamping" Airbnb site or educational outreach center. To learn more about China Ranch and stay in the loop about its future, be sure to follow them on Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/chinaranch/?hl=en)

Student Feature: Hannah Hughes (PO '25)

Hannah Hughes (PO ‘25) started 5C Plant-Based Mission at the start of her sophomore year to “build community for plant-based individuals on campus” and “raise awareness around factory farming.” Before getting to Pomona, Hannah led a plant-based club at her high school and felt tied to sustainability activism through veganism. She knew she wanted to continue her passion in college and meet other people who care about sustainability through food. While leading 5C Plant-Based Mission, Hannah has been able to organize various plant-based initiatives on campus, like last semester’s Earth Month default oat milk campaign at Café 47 and the 4/7 vegan festival at Frank dining hall with over 300 attendees. Outside of Pomona, Hannah is a Factory Farming Awareness Coalition (FFAC) Leadership Collective Fellow, where she works in collaboration with national animal advocacy organizations. If you would like to get involved with 5C Plant-Based Mission, please follow @5c_plantbased_mission on Instagram or join the club mailing list by emailing 5cpbmission@gmail.com.

Upcoming Events

To submit an event to our biweekly newsletter please fill out this google form!

Weekly Environmental Analysis Study Snack | Tuesdays at 8 pm at The Hive

Introducing EA snack! Every week on Tuesday at 8 PM, find us in the EA lounge @ the Hive! Come out to hangout/do work/meet new people and get free snacks! For more info follow @5c_environmentalanalysis

Celebrating the 78th Birthday of the United Nations | Thursday, October 26, 6 pm – 8 pm Edmunds Ballroom

Students at the seven Claremont Colleges – FREE (courtesy of sponsors). Reservations required by October 19 at lsomoza24@students.claremontmckenna.edu

October Walker Flea Market | October 22, 3-6 pm

Buy homemade, student-created items from 5C students at the Walker Flea Market on Sunday, October 22 from 3-6 pm at Walker Beach. Items sold will include clothes, crochet creations, and handmade jewelry. Start the semester sustainably with us by getting a free food saver product from the EcoReps, buying sustainably, and enjoying some live tunes!

Funding & Job Opportunities

To submit a job or funding opportunity to our biweekly newsletter please fill out this google form!

Join the Campus Climate Network | No deadline

The Campus Climate Network is revitalizing the student climate movement. They aim to build an international coalition of student-led climate justice groups fighting to cut ties with the fossil fuel industry and its enablers. They provide students with the training, resources, and connections they need to run winning campaigns on campus and become the next generation of climate justice leaders. https://actionnetwork.org/forms/get-involved-with-fossil-free-research/

MAP Fellowship | Applications due: October 20

The Morgridge Acceleration Program (MAP) Fellowship is a six-month program for early-to-mid-career changemakers who are passionate about social impact and looking to enhance their professional skills, widen their network, and collaborate with influential nonprofit executives, known as MAP Mentors. Each mentor presents a real-world challenge currently facing their nonprofit that a matched MAP Fellow commits to solving. While driving impact for nonprofits, MAP Fellows gain elite mentorship, travel, speaking and networking opportunities, and access to a tight-knit group of supportive peers. Forbes has called the MAP Fellowship “a powerful opportunity for collaboration and innovative thinking. Apply here (https://discovermap.org/map-fellowship/) by October 20, 2023.

President's Sustainability Fund | Applications Due: November 16th @ 8am

The President's Sustainability Fund (PSF) grants $7500 to student campus sustainability projects annually. These projects seek to protect our natural environment, promote human and ecological health, and drive economical and innovative ways of meeting current human needs, while not compromising the ability of future generations to do so. More information here.

Announcements

Walker Book Room & Free Room Hours:
Tuesday 6-9pm | Thursday 7-9pm | Sunday 6-9pm

Our Instagram account is the best place to stay connected to everything happening with the EcoReps! Give us a follow @pomonaecoreps!

Want to write an article about the environment and be featured in the next edition of the bulletin? Do you have an eco-tip people can follow while at home? Share it with us! Email us at pomonaecoreps@gmail.com

The EcoReps are applying to the President's Sustainability Fund to fund to fund a pilot to implement reusable chopsticks at Pomona dining halls. We want to include student input in our proposal. Make your voice heard, fill out the form!

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Pomona College EcoNews · 170 E Bonita Ave · Claremont, CA 91711-4419 · USA