The Clean Side of Manufacturing

The Clean Side of Manufacturing

 

When I set foot on the ammonia manufacturing plant in Lima, Ohio for a co-op this January, I thought for sure that I had infiltrated enemy lines. There was smoke billowing out of smoke stacks and an orangey-red flame pivoting in the distance—I assumed both were due to under-regulated pollution. I was convinced River Stewards and this plant, which made fertilizer, were opponents in the ongoing argument about what’s best for the environment and its people.

 

 

After weeks of learning about the industry and my role as a water management co-op, I argue that we

are not opponents, but rather coworkers with different strategies to obtain the same goal.

A scientist named Fritz Haber figured out to synthetically make ammonia in 1914. Very soon after its

invention the technology was applied to making fertilizer and was perfect for treating crops like wheat, corn, and rice. World population was already booming, but Haber’s technology made population rates soar. If it hadn’t been for Haber’s invention, millions of people would have died of hunger. Now our world depends on the production of ammonia and without it, millions of people would starve to death.

That really brought home the importance of places like Mission of Mary Farms, who produce an

abundance of healthy food for people in our area. We are blessed to have so much food readily

available even though Dayton is known as a “food desert”. As a river steward, I hope to see that those

who use fertilized farms as their food source switch from that to places like Mission of Mary farms and compost bedding.

The smoke and fire mentioned earlier are heavily regulated to the point where their products are almost completely steam and oxygen. Carbon dioxide is stripped out, cleaned, and sent to a soda

manufacturing company a couple miles down the road. Other byproducts are likewise separated and

sent to places that can turn them into meaningful products. The water that runs the plant is also

conserved. It runs in a continuous loop and is constantly cleaned and cared for as too conserve usage

and save the company money.

My experiences in the manufacturing industry have been enlightening and hopeful. The Lima plant is a nationwide leader in conserving natural resources and redirecting pollution for useful products. I hope I continue to learn as much as I can so I can fulfil my responsibility as a steward for the earth by spreading their sustainable manufacturing mentality.

 

By Tia Ritz, 2018 River Steward Cohort

In Honor of Earth Day ~ our very own River Steward "Giving Tree" Story!



 

 

Our Giving Tree

Almost a year has passed since we said our farewells and congratulations to the 2015 Cohort of River Stewards.  But their River Steward experience and the story of their senior project carries on.  It carries on in the trees that have been planted behind Adventure Central (AC) in the woods of Weselyn Metropark.  It carries on in the seeds which continue to get picked and stored in the refrigerators of AC.  It carries on in the basement under the grow lights, where the seeds slowly become sprouts.  And it carries on in the teens and staff of AC who continue sustain, nurture and steward the project day to day, and season to season.  But, it also carries on in other ways.  In ways each individual River Steward uniquely transfers what they learned into their daily lives and continue to grow, themselves, as stewards of our rivers and communities. 

 

Today I received an email from one of those Stewards, Rachel Bachman, who shared with me how this project has carried on for her and how this week it truly came full circle.  Once I read her email, it brought me back to a very early fall morning in 2014, when I gathered with the senior cohort to talk about the bigger picture of their partnership with Adventure Central and how it was so much more than "just" collecting seeds and working with teens. I shared with them the short video and children's story by Shel Silverstein, "The Giving Tree". I think you will see after you reading Rachel's email why and how it all came together for her this week. Below is Rachel's email for you to enjoy.....

 

"I have a little "story"... I had adopted one of the AC trees before leaving Dayton after graduation. Doug helped me plant a red oak in a huge ranch dressing container Nate gave me. I felt so bad for the little tree because of course I had so much going on (trips before starting my job, starting a job, finding a place to live with Kyle). At the end of the summer the tree was starting to dry out a bit at the ends of the leaves. I transplanted it into a bigger pot and I was having a hard time telling what was happening to it. I couldn't tell if I stunted it or not! Then fall and winter happened and I stuck it in my sunroom for the winter. Once spring came around I keep checking on my tree (well twig at this point) and I was not at all convinced that it was going toake it. I stuck in in my backyard in a pot and then this week I look over at it and IT HAD LEAVES! So I just spent a ton of time telling you I didn't kill my AC tree hahaha. And now I am going to attach a picture. The tree showing life made my entire earth day week (check out the cute little spider on it)!" 

 

excerpt of email from Rachel Bachman

 

 

 

Being Earth Day, I thought it was a perfect moment to re-visit this children's story and honor all those who give back to the earth in whatever way they choose.  I hope you can take a minute to listen to the story in the video linked below.Maybe one day there will be kids swinging on it and families picnicking underneath its shade. I look forward to hearing about how Rachel's tree continues to grow and give life. And, I hope to hear from many more former River Stewards about their "Giving Tree" story and how its grown.. 

 

 HAPPY EARTH DAY and RIVER LOVE TO YOU ALL!   with peace ~ Leslie

 

 

A Steward's Eye-opening Easter

   The last text message I received before I turned off my cell and hoisted my overstuffed pack over my shoulder read, “Jules- You’ll be touching God on Easter morning.” My dad had just sent me this message, as I was about to embark on a four day, three-night adventure in Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois with UD’s Outdoor Adventure Club. Those words reaffirmed my decision to skip out on the typical family Easter to go backpacking. Instead of listening to static while driving to grandma and grandpa’s house, I was listening to the crunch of hiking boots in a silent forest. Instead of hunting for Easter eggs, I was hunting for a glimpse of a flower bud. Instead of talking to my sister about high school, I was talking with horseback riders along the bridal trail. Instead of sitting in a pew, I was sitting awestruck at the striking star infested sky.

   The campfire colored the cave walls and our dirt-streaked cheeks with the warmth and hue of the dazzling flame. We leaned in closer, stuck out our chilled fingers, and grinned. The company was good. Swapping stories of other wild adventures, funny-with-distance mishaps, and contemplations of life’s purpose exposed us as twenty-four individual human beings. However, our attitude towards life clumped us together and marked us as different, odd. Stinging eyes served us only as a reminder of the smoke that billowed from our fire. The simple soup and pb&j tortillas sustained us without complaint. Our sweat-stained t-shirts were our armor against the night’s bite. We recognized the comfort that simplicity brings.

   At the end of the third night, we sprawled out on a boulder that jutted over the rumbling of hills and under the spherical expanse of wonder. Sounds of the Lumineers’ Stubborn Love soothed us into silence. We watched the leaps of light perform upon the inky, black stage. Noticing the three glowing dots of Orion’s belt, pointing, whispering. Without a camera separating my vision and the moment, I swiveled my head right, then left as I captured the memory. I carry that photo in my back pocket now that I have had to exit the woods and reenter the world. Walking back to my apartment after a rough night at the library, I look up, disappointed that no friendly wink meets my glance. Yet, the memories I made this Easter Break serve as a clear reminder of what it means to be full of light- to live simply, talk deeply, and savor the gifts of creation.

Julia Hall

2018 River Stewards Cohort

Montgomery County Solid Waste Station: What We Need To Change

As we stepped out into the parking lot, I couldn't help but notice all the environmentally friendly engineering that starkly contrasted my idea of what a Solid Waste Station would look like. The parking lot was composed of a permeable substance allowing water to be restored to the aquifer. Furthermore, the waste station had a green roof and enormous windows allowing ample sunlight into the building. It is an extremely ecocentric setting for a waste station, and I was excited to learn about the renewable solutions that Montgomery county had crafted in regards to waste.

As the 2018 cohort went through the waste station, our eyes were open to the real issues regarding waste. The waste station has put in tremendous effort to teach the community about the detrimental implications of waste, and the importance of implementing sustainable solutions in the future. The building was remodeled using recycled materials and they were conscious about using sustainable products throughout their building. The goal of these tours is to teach groups about the importance of reducing waste and recycling more. The emphasis that the waste station placed on sustainability was fantastic, however it could not mask the biggest problem that Montgomery County and the rest of the United States faces: our enormous consumption problem.

In just 4 hours the entire storage area was filled with garbage (Fig 1). Most of the waste that came in could have been recycled or composted, sadly it was all taken by trucks to a landfill. On average, a landfill takes about 20 years to fill up...and the largest landfill in Ohio is 3 feet from becoming the tallest point in the state. Most of society is completely oblivious to our consumption and waste problem, not even thinking twice about where their garbage goes. It sadden me to look out the window at the station and see a large pile of garbage building up across the river. In about 15 years, that landfill would be completely full, and another natural area would be bought and used for waste that society and I thoughtlessly contributed.

Fig 1: It took about 4 hours for this room to be filled with waste that would be shortly taken to a landfill.

This experience was extremely eye-opening for our Cohort, and I was empowered that the waste station understood the importance of educating the community about this problem. While the future may seem bleak, the solution is rather simple: stop wasting so much. It is incredibly important that we refocus how we look at waste. If everyone recycled and composted more, consumed less disposable goods and educated themselves on the importance of reducing waste consumption, we would not have an extreme waste problems.

We do not have infinite space for waste. We cannot continue living as everything is at our disposal. Instead, we must implement more sustainable practices in regards to waste before the largest point in the United State is just a pile of trash.

Meg Maloney
River Steward 2018 Cohort