I am busy, busy, busy, but the work all adds up to play! I have some really exciting Team Green treks coming up over the next six weekends or so and am not sure if I should consider them work or paid vacation! This weekend, Labor Day weekend, I'm spending three days and two nights at the Len Foote Hike-Inn at Amicalola Falls in Northern Georgia. The inn is only accessible by foot on a five mile trail and is named after Leonard Foote, a conservationist, biologist and nature photographer. He dedicated much of his life to teaching of conservation, oudoor saftey and preservation of the wilderness. The inn, therefore, is a tribute to him and exists as a completely green structure. The building is LEED certified (Leader in Energy and Environmental Design) with composting toilets, solar panels, rain water harvesting. The staff at the Hike-Inn will cook all of our meals for us, provide linens and hot water, so all we need to do is hike, relax, and enjoy our labor-less weekend!
The following weekend I could choose between the Oyster Urban Adventure Race or the Ocoee White Water Rafting Weekend Getaway. Since Laurel will be participating in the Oyster Race, I will be co-leading the white water rafting trip. We will leave Friday evening after work at car camp at the Big Frog Campground. Saturday we will raft the full Ocoee (Upper and Middle sections) and Sunday we have the choice of either rafting again for half a day or mountain biking... Decision, decisions.
The Upper section was apparently used during the 1996 Olympic Whitewater challenge! This will be my first time white-water anything! The tech department has equipt me with a helmet cam, which I used during the Dragon Boat Race last weekend. I will be mountain biking on Sunday, so if I don't fall in the water and completely destroy the helmet cam on Saturday, I'll get to catch any crazy mountain bike bloopers I may encounter!
On the weekend of September 12 through the 14th, Team Green is going on its always popular Pickett State Park Weekend Getaway for more camping and hiking. If we get a large enough crowd for that event, I will be joining Suzanne as co-leader, otherwise I will stay in Nashville and help out with the Nashville Clean Water Project:Percy Priest Lake Cleanup event on September 13th. I had to miss out on the last cleanup because family was in town and did not want to subject them to the horrible littering that has infested Percy Priest Lake islands. People boat out to these islands, camp, party, and leave all of their trash behind, assuming what? That the magical Percy Priest fairy will waive her magic wand and make all the garbage disappear? No. Instead volunteers from around Nashville, LaVergne, Smyrna, and all over come out do what they can to reverse the damage. Check out these articles from the Tennessean and Channel4 News.
Events to follow include the Buffalo River Canoe Float, in which we will take the lessons from Percy Priest and help collect trash as we float along the scenic Buffalo River, and Tsali Weekend Adventure at Nantahala Recreational Area in North Carolina. We’ll mountain bike at Tsali, hike the trails around Tsali and the Smokies, and paddle the Nantahala River. Because this trek is so far away and there are so many things to do, Team Green added a day to make this weekend adventure a four day trip. Again, I don't know if I should consider this work or paid vacations!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Off The Grid and Looking for Dirt Bags!
A few months ago I went climbing at the Obed with some friends. We camped over night at Del and Marte's. The Scruggs family has quite a remarkable story. They decided about 10 years ago to live entirely off the grid. What does that mean? They live a sustainable lifestyle by creating much of their own energy and using the renewable resources of the Earth to support themselves. A while ago they opened up their land to some of their climbing friends, allowing them to camp on their property; over time, the property became viral, and more campsites have been carved out. They now charge $5 per person and $2 per dog to stay on their land.
The Scruggs are a family of four: mother, father and two teenage children. All four of them live in a one bedroom cabin, that they built together, complete with wood burning stove and composting toilet. They live off their vegetable and herb gardens for many of their meals, collect rain water with their tin roof to water the garden and do dishes, and of course recycle what commercial waste they do generate. When their son became a teenager, they built a second one room cabin (no toilet or kitchen) for him to sleep in. They now make that the TV cabin, with a TV and laptop powered by a generator that they only turn on when those items are in use. Other neat features on their property include a hillbilly hot tub (a large metal feeding trough with a fire pit underneath!), rope swings, community fire pit, wood burning smoke house, and of course, the world's greatest swimming hole. On top of that, they installed a diesel engine in their VW.
Now that their teenage children are both in high school, the four of them are building a new home on their property... made out of dirt bags! They pack large sacks with dirt, compact it very tightly (so that with enough pressure the dirt becomes tough like stone), and once complete, they will mud the walls with a unique concrete-like mixture. This three bedroom house will have energy efficient windows, two composting toilets, a stone floor, tin roof and other eco-efficient features.
I found their email address today (after searching my random papers for the past month) and contacted them in hopes to organize a Team Green event in which we spend a weekend with them, help build their house, tour their property, and of course, swim at the world's greatest swimming hole. Is this something you, as a Lightning 100 listener or Team Greener, be interested in?
By the way, here is an update on my bruise!
The Scruggs are a family of four: mother, father and two teenage children. All four of them live in a one bedroom cabin, that they built together, complete with wood burning stove and composting toilet. They live off their vegetable and herb gardens for many of their meals, collect rain water with their tin roof to water the garden and do dishes, and of course recycle what commercial waste they do generate. When their son became a teenager, they built a second one room cabin (no toilet or kitchen) for him to sleep in. They now make that the TV cabin, with a TV and laptop powered by a generator that they only turn on when those items are in use. Other neat features on their property include a hillbilly hot tub (a large metal feeding trough with a fire pit underneath!), rope swings, community fire pit, wood burning smoke house, and of course, the world's greatest swimming hole. On top of that, they installed a diesel engine in their VW.
Now that their teenage children are both in high school, the four of them are building a new home on their property... made out of dirt bags! They pack large sacks with dirt, compact it very tightly (so that with enough pressure the dirt becomes tough like stone), and once complete, they will mud the walls with a unique concrete-like mixture. This three bedroom house will have energy efficient windows, two composting toilets, a stone floor, tin roof and other eco-efficient features.
I found their email address today (after searching my random papers for the past month) and contacted them in hopes to organize a Team Green event in which we spend a weekend with them, help build their house, tour their property, and of course, swim at the world's greatest swimming hole. Is this something you, as a Lightning 100 listener or Team Greener, be interested in?
By the way, here is an update on my bruise!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
I Fell in a Hole! and Garden Recipes
We'll start off this blog with a side note, because it's still singing! Today I finally got a chance to move my desk materials over to my new office next to Brian (website guy) and Laurel (well, her stuff isn't over here yet). The office is actually a loft above our conference table and bathroom, and for the past several years has been storage for boxes. We finally put some shelving units along the wall to store some of the excess boxes, and as I was hanging one of our Team Green banners, my entire leg went into a hole just above the bathroom! I have scratches and soon-to-be bruises on my elbow, calf, and thigh... oh well! I'm tough!I had actually planned on writing a blog yesterday at home, but never got around to it. Saturday was a big day for Team Green. We had a Kayak Giveaway at Whole Foods Market, a Franklin 5K Pre-registration Party at Fleet Feet in Brentwood, Woofle Ball at Centennial Park, and to top it off, half the station went to Rodrigo y Gabriella at the Ryman. I took Monday off and spent half the day teaching myself how to make Garden Pesto! Here's an easy recipe I found:
Challenge: Try to only use items you have growing in your garden!
Ingredients
2 cups of packed fresh basil
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup nuts (pine nuts, walnuts or pecans all work)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
3 medium cloves of fresh garlic
salt and black pepper to taste
You'll need a food processor. First add the nuts to the processor and pulse. Next add the basil and pulse. Add your diced garlic, and while blending, slowly add the olive oil. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Salt and pepper should be added to taste. Finally add the cheese. If you plan on freezing the pesto for later use, do not add the cheese because it won't freeze well. To freeze, add the cheese-free pesto into an ice cube tray and cover with cling wrap.
Serve with pasta, over baked potatoes, or spread over toasted baguette slices. In my opinion, the recipe is missing something. Maybe some lemon juice? Try it out and let me know what you do to make it just right!
I also made some garden salsa in honor of Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Ingredients
5-6 tomatoes (Romano are my favorite)
3-7 hot peppers (Jalapenos, Cyrano, whatever you have)
2-3 green peppers
Handful Fresh basil
Handful Fresh parley
1/2 to 1 Onion
Lemon juice
salt and black pepper to taste
2 tbsp Honey (preferably local honey!)
First boil the tomatoes for one minute, then place them in cold water. This allows you to peel off the skins. Cut the tomatoes in half and remove the seeds and as much of the juice as you can (do this in a large bowl so you can then strain the juice and have some fresh squeezed tomato juice!). Then cut the tomatoes into smaller chunks. Next cut up an onion (whole or half). Dice the hot and mild peppers, making sure to remove most of the seeds (those are the hottest part!). Dice your basil and parsley as well. Place all of your tomatoes, half of your onions and a handful of your peppers into a sauce pan. Using a food processor, combine all of your basil, parley, and the remaining onions and peppers, plus your lemon juice and honey. Process for only a moment. Add the processed portion to the larger chunks and heat in a sauce pan to really soak in the flavor. Depending on how many of each item and how large your veggies are, this should make one 10 oz jar of salsa! Serve hot or cold.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Post from the Past: Part 5 (Dirty Business and Shower Curtains)
This blog content was originally posed on July 26, 2008 on my Myspace Blog. I wanted to share.
____________________________
I just started a compost pile today. I half ass started one a few months ago behind the garden, but it wasn't actually in a pile per se, and after almost 2 months nothing was turning into dirt. I attended a green meeting a few weeks ago and at the end they raffled off a "back yard composter." It basically looked like a small garbage can. I didn't win it, but I have a few spare cans at my house, so, I looked it up online. Composting is pretty simple. Here's the gist of it.
There are four key words to remember: Green, Brown, Air and Water.
Green and Brown: The ratio should be between 5:1 and 8:1 Brown to Green. Green is anything moist and quick to spoil. Examples include grass cuttings, weeds, kitchen scraps, etc. Brown is anything dried out, like leaves, that will become a good food source for the organisms that will decompose the green materials. If you have a thermometer, the compost should reach 150 to 160 degrees. If the compost doesn't heat up within 24 hours, then you need more green matter. To compost faster, be sure to cut up both green and brown items so that they can break down easier.
*Pet feces, diary products and meats/eggs should not be added to compost because of potential diseases or attraction of rodents.
Air and Water: The green and brown ingredients need to be moist and well oxygenated in order to break down. The trick is to add water (or other liquids that you would otherwise throw out: stale wine or beer, old soup, etc). You will also need to stir the compost every couple of days to ensure that new oxygen is reaching throughout. If you have your compost in a garbage can, you can also shake or roll the can instead of stirring.
That's pretty much it. I'm told that there are books out there on expert composting. They cover such topics as cold vs. hot composting, what items compost best together, etc. I'm not that ambitious to read up on it yet, but if I do, I'll be sure to share.
So, that was the Dirty Business... now what's up with the shower curtains? A friend heard on the radio that studies have been done on vinyl shower curtains. That horrible chemical smell you notice the first few days after opening a brand new shower curtain is actually toxic. Here is an article published by University of Tennessee Knoxville. There are several alternatives to vinyl, including bamboo shower curtains, waxed cloth curtains, and glass doors. If you can't afford those options, Bed Bath & Beyond sells "Eco-Friendly Non-Chlorine Vinyl" curtains.
____________________________
I just started a compost pile today. I half ass started one a few months ago behind the garden, but it wasn't actually in a pile per se, and after almost 2 months nothing was turning into dirt. I attended a green meeting a few weeks ago and at the end they raffled off a "back yard composter." It basically looked like a small garbage can. I didn't win it, but I have a few spare cans at my house, so, I looked it up online. Composting is pretty simple. Here's the gist of it.
There are four key words to remember: Green, Brown, Air and Water.
Green and Brown: The ratio should be between 5:1 and 8:1 Brown to Green. Green is anything moist and quick to spoil. Examples include grass cuttings, weeds, kitchen scraps, etc. Brown is anything dried out, like leaves, that will become a good food source for the organisms that will decompose the green materials. If you have a thermometer, the compost should reach 150 to 160 degrees. If the compost doesn't heat up within 24 hours, then you need more green matter. To compost faster, be sure to cut up both green and brown items so that they can break down easier.
*Pet feces, diary products and meats/eggs should not be added to compost because of potential diseases or attraction of rodents.
Air and Water: The green and brown ingredients need to be moist and well oxygenated in order to break down. The trick is to add water (or other liquids that you would otherwise throw out: stale wine or beer, old soup, etc). You will also need to stir the compost every couple of days to ensure that new oxygen is reaching throughout. If you have your compost in a garbage can, you can also shake or roll the can instead of stirring.
That's pretty much it. I'm told that there are books out there on expert composting. They cover such topics as cold vs. hot composting, what items compost best together, etc. I'm not that ambitious to read up on it yet, but if I do, I'll be sure to share.
So, that was the Dirty Business... now what's up with the shower curtains? A friend heard on the radio that studies have been done on vinyl shower curtains. That horrible chemical smell you notice the first few days after opening a brand new shower curtain is actually toxic. Here is an article published by University of Tennessee Knoxville. There are several alternatives to vinyl, including bamboo shower curtains, waxed cloth curtains, and glass doors. If you can't afford those options, Bed Bath & Beyond sells "Eco-Friendly Non-Chlorine Vinyl" curtains.
Post from the Past: Part 4 (One Pitch Forkful at a Time)
This email was sent via Green Drinks listserv. If you aren't from Nashville, maybe something similar is happening in your neck of the woods as well!
_________________________________________
"There are somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 official community
gardens with more sprouting every day! If you want to garden, but
don't have the land or tools to do it (and would like to meet neat
people), join up with a garden! Get good food and friends in return!
here's a list of some of them.
Check out this websites as well:
www.nashville.gov/community_garden
We're taking back our dinner one pitch forkful at a time! Hurray!"
Post from the Past: Part 3 (Aloe Vera Warning)
This blog content was originally posed on April 17, 2008 on my Myspace Blog. I wanted to share.
_______________________________
While at the Wilderness First Aid training I learned a little something about sunburns and Aloe Vera: they do not go together!
"There is nothing good about the Aloe plant except for its intense ability to absorb junk." -American Red Cross Instructor
We've been taught to put Aloe Vera on sunburns; the cooling effect is supposedly a sign that it's working, and it feels good on the hot skin. However, the aloe is actually harming your skin. It is able to absorb quickly through the burnt layer of skin and even into the still healthy skin below it. In effect, it dries out both layers (ever wonder why your skin gets really sticky even though the Aloe Vera supposedly has "moisturizers?"). This is why no matter how much Aloe Vera you put on, you still end up peeling within a couple of days.
The aloe's ability to absorb is harmful because once you open your container of Aloe Vera, it immediately absorbs the germs, bacteria, and dirt in the air. The longer the container goes unused, the more germs are absorbed (How many of you have a container that you opened over a year ago?).
The best remedy for sunburn is cool (not cold) water over the skin (running water or with a damp cloth). You skin is hot after being in the sun because it continues to "cook." Cool water helps to lower the temperature and end the "cooking effect" sooner. Keep the skin moist so that it naturally heals on its own. If you feel that you need to use a lotion, use your regular body lotion (unless, of course, if it has aloe as an added ingredient).
With that, hope you all are able to avoid sunburns this summer... I, unfortunately, already have one!!
_______________________________
While at the Wilderness First Aid training I learned a little something about sunburns and Aloe Vera: they do not go together!
"There is nothing good about the Aloe plant except for its intense ability to absorb junk." -American Red Cross Instructor
We've been taught to put Aloe Vera on sunburns; the cooling effect is supposedly a sign that it's working, and it feels good on the hot skin. However, the aloe is actually harming your skin. It is able to absorb quickly through the burnt layer of skin and even into the still healthy skin below it. In effect, it dries out both layers (ever wonder why your skin gets really sticky even though the Aloe Vera supposedly has "moisturizers?"). This is why no matter how much Aloe Vera you put on, you still end up peeling within a couple of days.
The aloe's ability to absorb is harmful because once you open your container of Aloe Vera, it immediately absorbs the germs, bacteria, and dirt in the air. The longer the container goes unused, the more germs are absorbed (How many of you have a container that you opened over a year ago?).
The best remedy for sunburn is cool (not cold) water over the skin (running water or with a damp cloth). You skin is hot after being in the sun because it continues to "cook." Cool water helps to lower the temperature and end the "cooking effect" sooner. Keep the skin moist so that it naturally heals on its own. If you feel that you need to use a lotion, use your regular body lotion (unless, of course, if it has aloe as an added ingredient).
With that, hope you all are able to avoid sunburns this summer... I, unfortunately, already have one!!
Post from the Past: Part 2 (Think Global, Act Local)
We can call this my Earth Day Resolution (Originally posted Apr 12, 2008 on my Myspace Blog). Here are some of the things I've been doing, and plan to start doing in order to do my part on this place called Earth (The list will be updated periodically). X'd items are things I have already instilled in my life.
(x) Refill ink cartridges
(x) Recycle plastic, aluminum, glass, and paper
(x) Do not throw anything besides wood in a bonfire
(x) Leave nothing on the trail that isn't completely biodegradable
(_) Use and re-use my material possessions until they are un-salvageable
(x) Carpool whenever possible
(x) Start a vegetable garden (and loving it!)
(x) Start a compost pile (See "Dirty Business and Shower Curtains")
(x) Turn off lights that I am not using
(_) Install energy efficient lights/windows (when I get a new house)
(x) Buy Organic
(_) Buy Local (this is actually better for the environment than Organic)
(x) Buy All Natural (cat/dog food too!)
(_) Ride a bike to work (gotta buy one first!)
(x) Help spread the word about changing our habits
(x) Use cloth grocery bags or no bag at all
(x) Use non-vinyl shower curtains (That strong smell you notice in most curtains is toxic!)
(x) Minimize use of microwave
(x) Use carpet sweeper as substitute for vacuum (but still vacuum sometimes)
(_) Use non gas powered yard tools (mowers, trimmers, etc)
(x) Reduce (and eventually eliminate) intake of High Fructose Corn Syrup (it's in sodas, syrups, candies... and is completely unhealthy)
(x) Turn off power strips and unplug electronic devices when out of town
(x) Buy Eco-Friendly soaps and detergents
(x) Refill ink cartridges
(x) Recycle plastic, aluminum, glass, and paper
(x) Do not throw anything besides wood in a bonfire
(x) Leave nothing on the trail that isn't completely biodegradable
(_) Use and re-use my material possessions until they are un-salvageable
(x) Carpool whenever possible
(x) Start a vegetable garden (and loving it!)
(x) Start a compost pile (See "Dirty Business and Shower Curtains")
(x) Turn off lights that I am not using
(_) Install energy efficient lights/windows (when I get a new house)
(x) Buy Organic
(_) Buy Local (this is actually better for the environment than Organic)
(x) Buy All Natural (cat/dog food too!)
(_) Ride a bike to work (gotta buy one first!)
(x) Help spread the word about changing our habits
(x) Use cloth grocery bags or no bag at all
(x) Use non-vinyl shower curtains (That strong smell you notice in most curtains is toxic!)
(x) Minimize use of microwave
(x) Use carpet sweeper as substitute for vacuum (but still vacuum sometimes)
(_) Use non gas powered yard tools (mowers, trimmers, etc)
(x) Reduce (and eventually eliminate) intake of High Fructose Corn Syrup (it's in sodas, syrups, candies... and is completely unhealthy)
(x) Turn off power strips and unplug electronic devices when out of town
(x) Buy Eco-Friendly soaps and detergents
Post from the Past: Part 1 (Into the Wild)
This blog content was originally posed on April 11, 2008 on my Myspace Blog. I wanted to share.
_______________________________
"I want to just live away from society, without any material things; to just exist in nature. I want the freedom to truly see the miracles around me."
This is the concept behind Into the Wild (both the non-fiction book and the movie) and it was quoted by a 16 year old girl here in Nashville. Though I appreciate the ambition behind such a desire, this view worries me. It is a view that does not seek true balance. We must not forgot the importance of society; One can live a lifestyle emerged in nature with others; That is, one can be wild without being alone. Part of seeing the true miracles around us is seeing the miracle of human connection. Society doesn't have to mean THIS society. In its simplest form society means a "connection between people and an organized way of living." (At least that's my definition).
If Christopher had just had one or two other people with him, they could have survived off one another long enough to achieve the experience they were longing for (and together, have been able to make it back home if they changed their mind). "Happiness: only real when shared with others."
I may be more materialistic than some of my outdoor friends, but I believe I have a good balance. I love society, and economics, and systems (systems of thought, systems of laws, systems of customs) because they are what allow us to form connections with other people, and they allow us to learn from others experiences. Not every experience needs to be a completely new experience.
People that share Christopher's view also lack an appreciation for the very society that has given them the ability to think for themselves. They have to realize that their instincts have adapted to the society they were raised in. A person sick of city life cannot survive in the wild the way a caveman did. We have evolved into a greater form of human ability, but we have lost the instincts that cavemen were born with. Humans of the past were raised and taught to kill their own meals and use nature as their tools. We were raised and taught to use electricity, silverware, microwaves, and running water. A person with those technologies available to them in their youth cannot go back in time. Instead, people with the "Into the Wild" ambition must appreciate the Yin of Nature and the Yang of society to survive. Experience both. See the miracle of nature, and share it through the miracle of human interaction.
_______________________________
"I want to just live away from society, without any material things; to just exist in nature. I want the freedom to truly see the miracles around me."
This is the concept behind Into the Wild (both the non-fiction book and the movie) and it was quoted by a 16 year old girl here in Nashville. Though I appreciate the ambition behind such a desire, this view worries me. It is a view that does not seek true balance. We must not forgot the importance of society; One can live a lifestyle emerged in nature with others; That is, one can be wild without being alone. Part of seeing the true miracles around us is seeing the miracle of human connection. Society doesn't have to mean THIS society. In its simplest form society means a "connection between people and an organized way of living." (At least that's my definition).
If Christopher had just had one or two other people with him, they could have survived off one another long enough to achieve the experience they were longing for (and together, have been able to make it back home if they changed their mind). "Happiness: only real when shared with others."
I may be more materialistic than some of my outdoor friends, but I believe I have a good balance. I love society, and economics, and systems (systems of thought, systems of laws, systems of customs) because they are what allow us to form connections with other people, and they allow us to learn from others experiences. Not every experience needs to be a completely new experience.
People that share Christopher's view also lack an appreciation for the very society that has given them the ability to think for themselves. They have to realize that their instincts have adapted to the society they were raised in. A person sick of city life cannot survive in the wild the way a caveman did. We have evolved into a greater form of human ability, but we have lost the instincts that cavemen were born with. Humans of the past were raised and taught to kill their own meals and use nature as their tools. We were raised and taught to use electricity, silverware, microwaves, and running water. A person with those technologies available to them in their youth cannot go back in time. Instead, people with the "Into the Wild" ambition must appreciate the Yin of Nature and the Yang of society to survive. Experience both. See the miracle of nature, and share it through the miracle of human interaction.
How I Became Green
It's difficult to love an escape to the outdoors without learning to love the natural beauty and necessity of the environment surrounding you. This, combined with my childhood, my recreational desires, and exposure to a growing green community, I myself became Green. I would like to use this blog as an opportunity to discuss (non-political) green issues and initiatives, Team Green adventures and how they impact me as an individual, and other health and environmental tid-bits that I learn throughout my career.
Nothing that I post is a reflection of the overall opinion of Tuned In Broadcasting, Lightning 100, Team Green, Music Business Radio or any other program within the company that I work for.
It has been an interesting 2 years here in Nashville! My name is Keeley and I am the Programs and Event Coordinator for Lightning 100's Team Green and Music Business Radio. I was raised as a Navy brat traveling from California to Washington DC to Manila, Philippines. When my dad retired in 1992 we moved to Michigan (where my mom's family was) and there we stayed until I graduated college. I never imagined settling in Nashville, or anywhere between Indiana and Florida, really; and I never imagined I would change the course of my life to stay here. Through high school and college I thought I was destined to be an attorney, but reality struck and I discovered how to make an old passion a new career.
I'm pretty sure there are more trees than people in all cities of Michigan except for maybe Detroit and Flint! As a result, I passed most of my childhood hiking through the woods in my backyard and going on Boy Scout trips with my mom and brother. When I decided to move to Nashville to "take a year off from school," I had no idea what sort of beauty existed in the landscape of Tennessee. My first hiking experience was at Fall Creek Falls. A new friend in Nashville and I drove down there for a weekend and hiked to every waterfall we could find within 2 miles of the main trails. My father was raised in Nashville, and we spent many many summers here, yet I had no idea a single waterfall existed in Tennessee! It blew me away!
From there I spent just over a year trying to find friends to hike, backpack, or camp with me, but to some (and I'll never understand why) the outdoors do not appeal to them. Finally in February of 2008 I discovered the Nashville Hiking Meetup and I was on the trails every weekend, sometimes several different trails a week. It was almost an obsession, but what I loved even more than being outdoors was having the opportunity to organize my own events and experience that hike or backpacking trip knowing how much effort and skill it took to get everyone there and back safely. This is how I met Laurel, Lightning 100's Team Green Director. She was looking for an assistant and I had the passion and ability she needed to move forward with Team Green.
While I was in the process of interviewing for the Event Coordinator position, I tried everything I could to become more appealing as a candidate. I took a Wilderness First Aid and CPR course and learned several ways to help sustain life using limited resources. Isn't that basically the purpose of the Green movement? It opened my eyes to several ways in which our environment can be used to help us in emergency. I also decided to attend Green Drinks meetings in order to "conveniently run into Laurel" and meet other people in the Green Business community. I didn't really understand until then just how far the Green movement had taken us towards sustainable business practices. It's amazing, really, how many people don't consider the benefits (and cost effectiveness) of becoming a green business. Around this time, the Discovery Channel launched it's satellite channel Planet Green. It has all of the same great shows that you'll find on HGTV, TLC, Discovery Channel, the Food Network, and more, only with a green twist. Each of these contributed to my eco-transformation.
So, here I am, doing what I love and loving what I do! I hope that this blog offends no one, inspires many, and entertains all.
Nothing that I post is a reflection of the overall opinion of Tuned In Broadcasting, Lightning 100, Team Green, Music Business Radio or any other program within the company that I work for.
It has been an interesting 2 years here in Nashville! My name is Keeley and I am the Programs and Event Coordinator for Lightning 100's Team Green and Music Business Radio. I was raised as a Navy brat traveling from California to Washington DC to Manila, Philippines. When my dad retired in 1992 we moved to Michigan (where my mom's family was) and there we stayed until I graduated college. I never imagined settling in Nashville, or anywhere between Indiana and Florida, really; and I never imagined I would change the course of my life to stay here. Through high school and college I thought I was destined to be an attorney, but reality struck and I discovered how to make an old passion a new career.
I'm pretty sure there are more trees than people in all cities of Michigan except for maybe Detroit and Flint! As a result, I passed most of my childhood hiking through the woods in my backyard and going on Boy Scout trips with my mom and brother. When I decided to move to Nashville to "take a year off from school," I had no idea what sort of beauty existed in the landscape of Tennessee. My first hiking experience was at Fall Creek Falls. A new friend in Nashville and I drove down there for a weekend and hiked to every waterfall we could find within 2 miles of the main trails. My father was raised in Nashville, and we spent many many summers here, yet I had no idea a single waterfall existed in Tennessee! It blew me away!
From there I spent just over a year trying to find friends to hike, backpack, or camp with me, but to some (and I'll never understand why) the outdoors do not appeal to them. Finally in February of 2008 I discovered the Nashville Hiking Meetup and I was on the trails every weekend, sometimes several different trails a week. It was almost an obsession, but what I loved even more than being outdoors was having the opportunity to organize my own events and experience that hike or backpacking trip knowing how much effort and skill it took to get everyone there and back safely. This is how I met Laurel, Lightning 100's Team Green Director. She was looking for an assistant and I had the passion and ability she needed to move forward with Team Green.
While I was in the process of interviewing for the Event Coordinator position, I tried everything I could to become more appealing as a candidate. I took a Wilderness First Aid and CPR course and learned several ways to help sustain life using limited resources. Isn't that basically the purpose of the Green movement? It opened my eyes to several ways in which our environment can be used to help us in emergency. I also decided to attend Green Drinks meetings in order to "conveniently run into Laurel" and meet other people in the Green Business community. I didn't really understand until then just how far the Green movement had taken us towards sustainable business practices. It's amazing, really, how many people don't consider the benefits (and cost effectiveness) of becoming a green business. Around this time, the Discovery Channel launched it's satellite channel Planet Green. It has all of the same great shows that you'll find on HGTV, TLC, Discovery Channel, the Food Network, and more, only with a green twist. Each of these contributed to my eco-transformation.
So, here I am, doing what I love and loving what I do! I hope that this blog offends no one, inspires many, and entertains all.
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