Gaia 2010
Did you know?
'Gaia' is an ancient Greek idea which sees the earth as a single living organism.
Goal 1: Reduce Waste
Hallway recycling has arrived. We are collecting, on average, 36.4 pounds of recyclables per week from hallway bins; a small but important addition to the 825 lbs of recyclables collected from classrooms and offices.
Jonathan, a student in the Greenhouse Gourse, made this short video about the ODSS recycling program . . .
Goal 2: Increase Reusable Water Bottle Use
Last year, ODSS threw out 16,170 plastic water bottles. To help reduce plastic waste, the Gaia Club is selling reusable water bottles for only $5 per bottle. 154 bottles have been sold to date.
Goal 3: Provide Fair Trade & Organic Alternatives
Fair trade organic coffee is now available at ODSS. 'Fair trade' means coffee farmers are paid a fair wage. 'Organic' means your cup of coffee is chemical free. Get your cup of java every morning @ 10:15 am in front of the office.
Local organic milk and cream is provided by our sponsor Harmony Whole Foods. Thank you Harmony!
Goal 4: Grow Food
The Gaia Club contributes funds and muscle power to the Greenhouse Course at ODSS. In 2009, the Greenhouse Course produced over 200 pounds of locally grown veggies. These veggies either ended up in lunches (made by student chefs in our school kitchen) or were sold directly to staff and students.
Check out the ODSS hoop house. A low cost, low impact way to grow cold hardy crops throughout the winter . . .
Our greens being served at the inaugral Slow Food Elora dinner . . .
Chef Chris Jess of Centre Wellington's Food School and co-chair of Slow Food Elora uncorking a bottle of local red wine . . .
Goal 5: Learn
The Gaia Club participated in the first ever 'Green Screen' festival in Orangeville - a film festival that celebrates planet Earth. Check out the trailer for one of the films we watched below.
Goal 6: Get Outside
In late September, the Gaia Club got the chance to explore Mono Cliffs on a morning hike. Mono Cliffs is part of the Niagara Escarpment - a Southern Ontario jewel and a World Biosphere Reserve. Check out this video highlighting the Niagara Escarpment.
Goal 7: Provide Ecofriendly Alternatives for the Holidays
This year, the Gaia Club is selling baskets filled with earth friendly goodies. Take a look!
Each basket contains:
- Local Honey - from Bee Hives near Fergus
- 100% Biodegrable Soap - from Heather's Natural Soap Company based in Guelph
- Hand Made Candle - Made from local beeswax in Fergus.
- Local Jam - made from berries grown outside of Orangeville
- Fair Trade Organic Coffee - Roasted by Planet Bean in Guelph. 'Fair trade' means coffee farmers are paid a fair wage. 'Organic' means your coffee is chemical free.
- Fair Trade Organic Tea - A healthy warm drink to fend off the winter blahs
- Seeds - Plant these come Spring to start your own veggie garden - the seeds were saved from veggies harvested in the Fall by an ODSS Gaia Club Member.
- Heck, even the basket is reused and the confetti is shredded newspaper from ODSS.
Goal 8: Divert Ink cartridges, Cellphones, and Batteries from Landfills
Ink cartridges are now being recycled at ODSS with the support of Staples. ODSS has recycled 64.5 lbs of cartridges this Fall alone. Next step - add battery and e-waste recycling stations to our school.
Check this Out!!!
Check out Utrecht, Holland, where everyone rides bikes and uses public transit.
Archives: Gaia 2009
The Gaia Club represented Orangeville at the Eden Mills Eco Conference on Monday, Oct. 19th.
The Gaia Club supported the Town of Orangeville in celebrating the International Day of Climate Action on Oct. 24th. Visit www.350.org for more information.
The Gaia Club completed a waste audit for ODSS in mid-November. Garbage was collected from around the school, sorted, and weighed. Results can be found here.
The Gaia Club sold environmentally friendly gifts as part of our 'Green Christmas' campaign. Products included bamboo clothes and pencil cases made from reused juice box containers.
The Gaia Club sold "So-Bee-It" lip balm made by one of our club members using local bees' wax from her family's bee hive.
The Gaia Club, in conjunction with Dufferin County, started a new composting program at ODSS.