 |
TN tech students install a water surface level logger in Gainesboro to help find a solution to flood issues.
|
|
Facilitating Partnerships Between Higher Education and Communities to Enhance Community Well-Being
TDEC established the Tennessee College / Underserved Community Partnership Program (TN CUPP) to help facilitate mutually beneficial partnerships between higher education institutions and underserved communities. TDEC’s TN CUPP program utilizes the expertise of students at higher education institutions to provide low to no-cost technical support and manpower to address environmental, economic, and health issues that impact the quality of life in underserved communities. All partnership participants benefit from the TN CUPP program. Communities benefit from innovative and no-cost technical assistance provided by students attending nearby academic institutions. Professors and students benefit by gaining hands-on experience in their areas of study, with students earning college credit and building their resumes; and professors gaining recognition for their department and university.
The first TN CUPP project to launch is a partnership with Tennessee Tech and the town of Gainesboro, which has been facing stormwater issues. The goal of this project is for students to develop a watershed-wide stormwater management plan for Gainesboro. This will be the one of few watershed planning studies that has been completed in a distressed county in Tennessee. As a result, it may serve as a model framework for watershed planning in other underserved communities. Moreover, this project aligns with the rural focus highlighted by TN H2O, and the Governor’s plan for rural development of distressed counties.
| |
 |
Students at Roane State Community College in Cumberland County come to celebrate the opening of their campus food pantry.
|
| Another project TDEC has been engaged in is partnering with higher education institutions for the establishment of campus food pantries. Many institutions have large numbers of food insecure students and many of these students also have families that are food insecure. To help tackle food insecurity, food pantries represent significant opportunities to support individuals that may be food insecure.
Roane State Community College (RSCC) in Cumberland County worked with TDEC’s Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices to establish a food pantry on their campus after recognizing there were many students going through the day at school without having food to eat. Through the design of this food pantry, RSCC is also addressing food waste by supporting the recovery of unconsumed, wholesome food to a much more desired and beneficial purpose – rescuing this food and feeding people instead of going to the landfill! During Spring Semester 2019 alone, RSCC served a total of 1290 pounds of food to 131 individuals. Of that amount, 19% came from a rescued food source.
The TN CUPP program and Campus Food Pantry pilot project are both part of TDEC’s Higher Education Sustainability Initiative. If you are interested in becoming involved in the TN CUPP program or establishing a food pantry on your campus, you can contact Brook Powell with TDEC’s Office of Policy and Sustainable Practices at brook.powell@tn.gov. You can also visit our website for more information about the TN CUPP program here.
| |
|
Earlier this month, the Tennessee Radon Program hosted the 2nd annual Radon Teacher workshop in Knoxville. Special thanks to Dr. Peter Lemiszki, chief geologist with TDEC, for his presentation on the geology of Tennessee and how the original radon map was derived. In addition, radon certified professional Ryan Murphy educated attendees about radon gas including its origin, characteristics and health risks, and set up a mock mitigation system for a classroom. For more information about Radon, please visit our website at www.tn.gov/environment/radon.
| |
|
Community Action
The Tennessee State Parks Trails Program recently took part in the Tennessee Greenways and Trails Forum, hosted at Pickwick Landing State Park. As a part of the Forum, the Trails Program led a four-hour flexible porous pavement workshop that showed park leaders, planners, and maintenance workers from around the state how to use and install the surfacing. This workshop also helped to install much needed ADA accessible pathways in front of the Visitors Center and aviaries at the park, all while recycling 300 tires in the process.
| |
TDEC launched the Tennessee Sustainable Spirits (TNSS) program on July 23rd. TNSS is aimed at reducing environmental impact and operational costs associated with energy and natural resource use by wineries, wine growers, breweries and distilleries. Stakeholders gathered at Hop Springs in Murfreesboro, including representatives from MTSU’s Fermentation Science program, the Brewing & Distilling Center in Knoxville, the Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Alliance and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Read the full press release here and catch this story from Channel 5.
| |
| TGSP Member Highlight
As soon as you walk into the Clayton Savannah facility, it is evident that the employees and management value the environment, enjoy what they do, and have employee interests and input as a priority. The Savannah location for Clayton Homes leads by example as the first Clayton facility to join the Tennessee Green Star Partnership. Read about their sustainability efforts in the July edition of the Tennessee Green Star Partnership Highlight.
| |
This summer, OPSP partnered with TN State Parks to host two green festivals to promote economic development in rural areas, and grow partnerships between state parks and the local communities. Both festivals implemented guidelines that help vendors and guests become more sustainable during the event, and hopefully at future events. These guidelines include things such as food vendors using compostable or recyclable packaging, vendors using paper bags and being mindful of handouts, and offering recycling and organics collection when possible. The festivals also encourage local vendors to use upcycled, locally sourced, and sustainable items in their products. Examples of artisans and small businesses that attended, include a woodworker that used reclaimed and salvaged wood to make intricate hand-carved items, an artist who used recycled paint in her artwork, and a candle maker that poured her soy candles into reusable containers such as mugs and teacups.
The 731 Fest at Pickwick Landing State Park raised just over $1200 to benefit the Friends of Pickwick Landing. This money will be used to benefit the TSP Honey Project through management of the beehives and growth of pollinator habitats. The park also collected all organics from the festival and composted them on site. The GREEN! Summer Fest at Cove Lake State Park raised $700 that will be used to improve the park and fund projects in the interest of the local community.
| |
| Leading by Example
Bradley Smiddy is an incredibly committed employee of Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail State Park. Beyond his commitment to environmental and natural resource protection, Bradley also spends his time constantly seeking ways to improve the social aspect of sustainability in rural communities. He does this by seeking partnerships between local communities, rural TN school systems, and TDEC, and volunteering his time and talents at many community events, as well as being a member of the Go Green With Us Committee for TN State Parks.
| |
No summer is complete without watermelon! Try these watermelon popsicles to cool you off in the summer heat. Read more>
| |
|
Socket, Nashville's Sustainability Outlet
Conferences/Workshops/Training Opportunities
August 14-16, 2019
August 26-28, 2019
September 11-12, 2019
October 28-31, 2019
November 13-15, 2019
January 21-23, 2020
| |
|
|
|
|
