Welcome!

Hello Athens!

Let me start by telling you a little bit about me: I'm a first year graduate student studying Environmental Studies at Ohio University. I did my undergraduate work in Anthropology and I have a profound respect for native prairie plants. I'm new to the Athens area and hope to become better acquainted with the community and the natural plant life through this e-environment.

In this blog I will be highlighting various garden ideas/topics, what is happening at the Ecohouse, and discussing issues of sustainability. If you have any questions, feel free to use this blog as a forum for discussion.

My objectives with this blog are:

-To provide students, instructors, and community members at Ohio University and in Athens, Ohio with an array of information on natural and sustainable gardening, area events, and newsworthy current events surrounding sustainability;

-To provide an online meeting place for individuals interested in Athens horticulture and sustainability. This blog will create a friendly and open environment for discussion where individuals can engage in garden-related issues as well as topics of environmental viability;

-To create a sense of place and sense of pride for the community members through gardening;

-To promote sustainability in all forms: personal well-being, environmental integrity and community.

I've used the term 'sustainability' quite a few times already. Society has struggled not only to implement sustainability, but also to define it. The Office of Sustainability at OU uses this definition:

The ability to meet the needs of today's society without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. We must appropriately utilize resources and advance our own knowledge in all disciplines in order to contribute to the success of future generations.

The Office of Sustainability is here to help you make proactive sustainable choices in your life. We view sustainability on three levels: People, Planet and Prosperity.What does this mean?

We need to take action towards protecting our planet and its resources, but we have to consider our our personal needs in terms of health and well-being. It's important to start at the community level. As the well-known saying goes, "think globally, act locally." Our economy plays a crucial role in how we value our resource consumption and management. This holistic approach to sustainability allows us to look beyond environmental conservation and get people thinking about how they can move toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

I hope I've intrigued your interest in sustainability! For more information on Sustainability at Ohio University, please visit the Office of Sustainability website: OU Office of Sustainability

For more information on the Ecohouse, please visit OU Ecohouse

Good luck students! Remember to keep sustainability in mind as you prepare yourselves mind, body and soul for whatever path you take after college.

I look forward to getting to know the community better and learning together how we can make change happen!

Markie Miller
mm633111@ohio.edu