Welcome to Earth Day Online University 2020, our experiment with hosting a virtual Earth Day celebration. Every 15 minutes, we will share a "class" provided by an organization or individual working in the area of green living and sustainability, along with links to help you connect to that organization. We'll cover topics from energy use, to composting, to beekeeping, to environmental ethics, and more. We encourage you to review our entire list of classes and connect with the organizations working in areas that you are passionate about.
Environmental Ethics 101
Dr. Laura Hartman, Roanoke College, discusses the philosophy of environmental ethics, including ways to think about right and wrong when it comes to taking care of our natural world.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#ethics101
- Contact: roanokeaise@gmail.com
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Introduction to a Theology of Creation
Rev. Dr. David Jones of Williams Memorial Baptist Church offers one theological perspective on creation care on behalf of R.A.I.S.E.: Roanoke Area Interfaith Stewards of the Earth.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#theologyofcreation
- Williams Memorial Baptist Church: https://www.williamsmemorialbaptistchurch.org/
- R.A.I.S.E.: https://www.roanokeipl.org/
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Introduction to Environmental Justice
Dr. Laura Hartman, Roanoke College, discusses the history and meaning of environmental justice.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#introenvirojustice
- Virginia Council on Environmental Justice: https://www.naturalresources.virginia.gov/initiatives/environmental-justice/
- Contact: roanokeaise@gmail.com
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How to Turn Climate Anxiety into Action
In an affirming talk, psychologist Renée Lertzman discusses the emotional effects of climate change and offers insights on how psychology can help us discover both the creativity and resilience needed to act on environmental issues.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#anxietytoaction
- TED Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector
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Let’s Prepare for Our New Climate
Vicki Arroyo says it's time to prepare our homes and cities for the new climate. She illustrates this inspiring talk with bold projects from cities all over the world -- local examples of thinking ahead.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#newclimate
- TED Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector
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City of Roanoke’s Sustainability Initiatives and Successes
Nell Boyle, Roanoke’s Sustainability and Outreach Coordinator, reviews the city’s various sustainability programs and its success at reducing its carbon footprint through participation in ICLEI
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#roanoke
- Contact: nell.boyle@roanokeva.gov
- Roanoke’s Sustainability Efforts: https://www.roanokeva.gov/873/Sustainability
- Clean and Green Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/roanokecleanandgreen/
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The Walkable City
Urban designer Jeff Speck shows how we can free ourselves from dependence on the car by making our cities more walkable and more pleasant for more people.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#walkable
- TED Talks on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TEDtalksDirector
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The High Cost of Free Parking
How do parking regulations deform our urban space and prioritize cars over people? Will Chilton and Paul Mackie of Mobility Lab explain
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#parking
- Mobility Lab: https://mobilitylab.org/
- Book: The High Cost of Free Parking by Donald Shoup: https://www.amazon.com/High-Cost-Free-Parking-Updated/dp/193236496X
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ABC Quick Check
Kelsey Harrington, General Manager of Downshift Bikes and Brews in Roanoke, Virginia, goes over the safety basics before hitting the road on your bike.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#check
- Downshift Bikes and Brews: www.downshiftbikes.com
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How to Bike in the City: Tips for the Bicycle Curious
This fun short from Grist goes over the basics of planning your route, riding with traffic, and dealing with the occasional grumpy driver.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#bikecity
- Creating a Bike Route with Google Maps: https://www.evelo.com/blog/how-to-create-a-bicycling-route-with-google-maps/
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The Real Reason Jaywalking is a Crime
Adam Ruins Everything offers this short piece on the origin of the term “jaywalking” and the early history of the automobile.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#jaywalking
- Full episode: Adam Ruins Cars (available via some cable and other subscriptions): https://www.trutv.com/shows/adam-ruins-everything/season-1/episode-3/adam-ruins-cars
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Roanoke Valley Bike/Ped Counts
So how many people ARE using the greenways and bike lanes in the Roanoke Valley? Planners from the Roanoke Valley Alleghany Regional Commission share some hard data on when and how these amenities are used.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#counts
- Contact: rruhlen@rvarc.org
- Contact: amcgee@rvarc.org
- Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission: www.rvarc.org
- Roanoke Greenways: www.greenways.org
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Driving a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Matt and Kim Lombard of Roanoke, VA share the benefits and features of driving a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). #EarthDayOnline
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#plev
- Virginia Clean Cities: http://www.virginiaev.org/
- Generation180: https://generation180.org/pathways/electrify-your-ride/
- Drive Electric Week: www.driveelectricweek.org
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Roanoke Recycling Heroes
Roanoke City School students remind you what does – and doesn’t – go into the city’s single-stream recycling system.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#heroes
- Contact: nell.boyle@roanokeva.gov
- Roanoke’s Sustainability Efforts: https://www.roanokeva.gov/873/Sustainability
- Clean and Green Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/roanokecleanandgreen/
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Turning Plastic Film into Patio Furniture
Celeste Delgado-Librero & Nikki del Castillo of Sustainable Roanoke share a project Nikki is working on with North Cross School to turn plastic waste into something useful.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#plastic
www.facebook.com/thin.bookseller/videos/883509263691/
- Contact: sustainable.roanoke@gmail.com
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Efficiency and Sustainability at Carilion Clinic
Sara Wohlford, Efficiency and Sustainability Manager with Carilion Clinic, discusses some of the practices implemented at the hospital system to reduce waste.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#efficientcarilion
- Contact: sewohlford@carilionclinic.org
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Bottle Brick Bench
The Clean Valley Council is undertaking a creative project to create a Bottle Brick Bench out of unrecyclable materials. Learn more at info@cleanvalley.org.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#bottlebrick
- How to make a bottle brick: https://youtu.be/7na3rZ7Zjvg
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What Is Stormwater?
Roanoke Stormwater discusses how stormwater runoff affects water quality in the Roanoke Valley.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#stormwater
- Roanoke Stormwater Utility: www.RoanokeVa.gov/Stormwater
- Subscribe to the Stormwater newsletter: www.roanokeva.gov/list.aspx
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Water Harvesting at Fralin Biomedical Institute
Nick Lyons with AECOM discusses the goals and design of the rainwater harvesting system implemented with the new Fralin Biomedical Research Institute expansion building in Roanoke, VA.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#fralinwater
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute: https://research.vtc.vt.edu/
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How to Help Your Streams
Amanda McGee and Gabriel Irigaray, planners with the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, review Best Management Practices (BMPs) for improving water quality in the region.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#helpyourstreams
- Contact: amcgee@rvarc.org
- Contact: girigaray@rvarc.org
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Russell Anderson Received Lifetime Achievement
Botetourt County farmer Russell Anderson is recognized with a Lifetime Achievement award for his work protecting Craig’s Creek. See some of practices Anderson used when managing his farm and learn about the life of this remarkable man.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#lifetime
- Mountain Castle Soil and Water District: http://www.mountaincastles.org/
- Contact: Tim Miller: tim.miler@mountaincastles.org
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Connecting with Local Food
Christina Nifong and Ned Savage of LEAP (Local Environmental Agriculture Project) discuss ways to connect to local food, from backyard gardens to CSAs.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#localfood
- Grandin Village Farmer’s Market: https://leapforlocalfood.org/markets/grandin/
- Downtown Roanoke Farmer’s Market: https://www.downtownroanoke.org/explore/farmers-market
- Harvest Collective: https://www.facebook.com/daveyrogner/videos/10109202615421778/
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The Story of Soil
This short animation by Kiss the Ground discusses what makes soil, soil, and how good soil management can be a powerful tool to address climate change.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#soilstory
- Mountain Castle Soil and Water District: http://www.mountaincastles.org/
- Contact: Tim Miller: tim.miler@mountaincastles.org
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Composting 101
Turn food waste into food for your garden with this easy guide to starting and managing a compost pile.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#compost101
- The Harvest Collectinve: www.theharvestcollective.net/
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Building and Managing a Worm Farm
Take your compost pile to the next level by turning it into an active worm farm. Reuse food waste and make the soil in your home garden richer and healthier.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#wormfarm
- Permaculture Masterclass: https://www.discoverpermaculture.com/video-1-pdc-2019
- The Harvest Collective in Roanoke: http://www.theharvestcollective.net/
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Building a Raised Garden Bed
Raised beds are an excellent way to carve productive garden space out of your yard. This enthusiastic tutorial can you get started with your first raised bed.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#raisedbed
- LEAP: https://leapforlocalfood.org/
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Foraging for Medicinal Mushroom
Page & Zephren Turner of Roanoke reveal the bounty that can be found foraging in the local mountains.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#foraging
- Contact: 1pageturner@gmail.com
- Guide to medicinal mushrooms: https://www.culinarynutrition.com/guide-to-medicinal-mushrooms-types-best-uses-and-recipes/
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On the Hunt for Wild Edible Spring Mushrooms
If Page Turner’s video piqued your interest, here’s more detailed information about identifying and locating some common edible mushroom species.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#mushroomhunt
- Learn your Land YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcbf8wnyVJl631LAmAbo7nw
- 49 Mushroom Recipes: https://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/slideshow/mushroom-recipes-slideshow
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How to Start Beekeeping
Concerned about bees and colony collapse? Maybe becoming an amateur beekeeper is the solution! This video will detail everything you need to get started with beekeeping.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#bees
- Virginia State Beekeepers Association: https://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/Information-&-Resources
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Start a Pollinator Garden
Maybe beekeeping isn’t for you, but you can still make a garden that is friendly to bees and other pollinators and the important work they do making sure we have fruits and vegetables.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#pollinator
- Virginia State Beekeepers Association: https://www.virginiabeekeepers.org/Information-&-Resources
- Roanoke Master Gardeners: https://roanokemastergardeners.org/
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Let’s Go on a Micro-Hike!
Heidi Ketler of Roanoke helps children 7 to 13 years old discover the wonders of nature right in their back yard.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#microhike
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What is Leave No Trace
We love to play outside here in central and southwest Virginia, but we need to keep our natural places natural so everyone can enjoy them. That’s the idea behind Leave No Trace.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#lnt
- Roanoke Outside: www.roanokeoutside.com
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Getting Outside with Roanoke County Parks and Rec
This one is a little different. Roanoke County Parks and Rec has created an extensive series out getting outdoors and enjoying the natural environment and wildlife here in Roanoke. So, rather than a single video we’re going to share the hole playlist!
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#outside
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPZzRkIM1UpS3_koIBT87H4gC24Bq5W6J
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Kendeda Building ReviewRecommended by our friends at AECOM, Georgia Tech’s Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design is a remarkable example of what can be done to make great buildings with amazing green features.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#kendeda
- More on the Kendeda Building: https://livingbuilding.gatech.edu/kendeda-building-innovative-sustainable-design
- Kendeda Virtual Visit: https://livingbuilding.gatech.edu/
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Lighting Ugprade at Carilion
Carilion Clinic is saving money and creating healthier hospitals by upgrading to energy efficient lighting. This short video illustrated the impact they are seeing from the improvements.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#carilionlights
- Contact: sewohlford@carilionclinic.org
- Contact: naestevesfuente@carilionclinic.org
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Carilion Solar Array
Carilion’s NRV Medical Center solar array helps provide the hospital clean, green energy from the sun. See it come to life and how much it’s saving the hospital in energy expenses.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#carilionsolar
- Contact: sewohlford@carilionclinic.org
- Contact: naestevesfuente@carilionclinic.org
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Carilion's Solar Sheep
Solar Sheep? That’s right! See how Carilion Clinic manages the land around its NRV solar array by employing a herd of sheep to trim the grass.
Link to this video: https://ridesolutions.org/earthdayonline/#solarsheep
- Contact: sewohlford@carilionclinic.org
- Contact: naestevesfuente@carilionclinic.org
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