Reflection: Weeks 5-8

Over the past few weeks, a lot has been brought to my attention.  Between the eye openers, read 'n' seeds, and all of the documentaries we have viewed, I was almost on information overload.  It wasn't a bad thing, just a new one.  In finishing my book, I gained a new world view.  My book focused a lot on human connection to nature and how many of us have lost that connection.  I am starting to realize that we are all connected and that even the smallest microorganisms have a role in our environment.

One of my favorite in-class activities had to be creating the graphical header for our blogs.  I loved working with Picnik and enjoyed seeing everyone's creativity.  I am also looking forward to seeing even more creativity from my new group members in our junk projects.


 I thought the concept of junking was really cool but I wasn't so sure it was practical until I saw all of the great projects from JUNKMARKET Style.com.  I am glad to see that there is a whole community of people out there who turn junk into treasures.  It's great that you can junk just about anything.  You can make something small, such as a trinket, OR you could reuse something larger, such as furniture.  I love it!

Another final thing that really stood out to me was watching "Tapped."  Although it was one of the more recent films we viewed, it definitely had the biggest impact.  As Dr. V and many others said, it makes me feel like I don't want to touch another bottle of water EVER again.  I know that that may be unrealistic, but I definitely am committed to cutting back on bottled water.  It is something that all of us can do.

Overall, I have really just opened up my eyes to different issues and have learned that there is always more to things than what we are led to believe.  Hearing about Nestle just really threw me for a loop.  I see now that we have to look behind the curtain, if you will, and see what injustices are really going on.  In the final chapters of my book, the author talked a lot about hope and change.  I am now hopeful for change.  Change in myself, our community, our environment, and change in our world.  I hope that everyone is growing as much as I have and that we all continue to learn how to make an impact.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's JUNK!

Eye Opener: Junk on the Brain

PART 1

1. Antique:  any work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or thelike, created or produced in a former period, or, according toU.S. customs laws, 100 years before date of purchase.
2. Antiquing:  to shop for or collect antiques;  to make or finish (something, esp. furniture) in imitation of antiques.
3. Junk:  any old or discarded material, as metal, paper, or rags;  anything that is regarded as worthless, meaningless, orcontemptible; trash.
4. Junking:  the retrieval of ordinarily discarded things and materials.  (http://www.davmagic.com/junk/PAGES2.html)
5. Flea Market:  a market, often outdoors, consisting of a number of individual stallsselling old or used articles, curios and antiques, cut-ratemerchandise, etc.
6. Thrift Shop:  a retail store that sells secondhand goods at reduced prices.
7. Upcycling:  is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upcycling)
8. Resale Shop:  the selling again of something purchased.  (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/resale)

*  Unless noted, these definitions were found on Dictionary.com.  

PART 2

All of the above terms relate to environmental health in that they are bettering our environment.  Instead of throwing our "junk" away, we can breathe new life into it.  If we really see no use for it, then we can donate it to other shops so that others can reuse our unwanted "junk."  It is all about using old items in new, sustainable ways and creating less waste.  

1. Antiques/Antiquing: Father Time Antiques 395 S Lake Ave # 1, Duluth, MN 55802-2311(218) 625-2379 ‎.
2. Junk/Junking:   Old Town Antiques & Books 102 E Superior St Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-5426.  
3. Flea Market:  Downtown Hinckley Fleamarket 100 Old Hwy 61, Hinckley, MN 55037(320) 384-6938.
4. Thrift Shops:  Salvation Army 2101 West Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55806-2012(218) 722-7723.
5. Upcycling:  I was unable to find any local resources for upcycling.  
6. Resale Shops:  Goodwill  700 Garfield Avenue Duluth,MN 55802 Phone: (218) 722-6351.

I do use places such as Goodwill or Savers quite often actually.  I recently went to Goodwill to look for items for a Halloween costume.  I love looking through antique shops as well.  Sometimes, it is a total dud and I find nothing, and other times I find tons of trinkets and treasures.  It is always a unique experience.  My mom an I always used to browse through an antique shop on our way to the cabin.  I have never been to a flea market, but I have never really looked for one to go to.  I am now able to use my resources and get out there more.  

PART 3

Here is a project that I instantly fell in love with.  It is simple and anyone could do it!  This is a dust pan bird feeder.  All you have to do is mount it to a fixture and put bird feed in it.  It actually looks pretty cool too.  

Here is another easy project.  Instead of spending money on a valentines present or just a little trinket, this was made of leftover bits and pieces found around the house.  This project is great because anyone could make it, but each person would have creative reign with the items that they find.  I want to go dig through my mom's scraps and see what I can create!

This junk-turned-treasure is an old typewriter that did not work.  The new owner turned it into a decorative centerpiece and rotated pictures throughout the years.  I love the concept here.  Just because something doesn't work like it used to doesn't mean that it can't be used in a different way.  This is a great example of upcycling.