Water Conservation

Well water month is on our doorstep, and HDH is really pushing the conservation of Housing and Dining facilities.

Just recently static clings went up in most (all is in progress) Resident Hall and Apartment showers and bathrooms. They support turning off water, not wasting it and knowing what you as a student can do to cut back on the amount of water you use.

You as a student can be water wise by doing some of the following things:

Take 5-minute showers.

Turn off the water when shaving and brushing your teeth.

Wash only full loads of clothes (and if you air dry you save electricity too).

Report leaks of faucets, toilets, showers and sprinklers to 858 534 2600.

Refrigerate water instead of letting it run till it is cool.

Conserving water starts with us, as individuals, but if you want to do more there are green groups on campus, such as the Aqua-holics who do more. Stop by the student organization center at Price Center for more information on green groups.

Thank You!

Angela =]

Signs in Dining Halls

Hey guys!

I hope you are all having a wonderful week. We know we are at HDH because we are updating all of the recycling and composting signs in the dining facilities and really working on implementing the composting program.

If you didn't know, UCSD is going to start COMPOSTING around November. The composted goods from UCSD are going to go to "The Greenery" at the Miramar Landfill. There they will be transformed into soil and be used to beautify the earth!

For those of you who read the Guardian, there was an article written about our composting plans in the 42nd volume and 5th issue (Volume XLII, Issue V). It's called "Compost Plans Still in Early Stages" for those of you really interested in learning about composting at UCSD.

The updated signs will include the recent changes to the acceptable recyclable and compostable items for specifically the UCSD campus.

NOW COMPOSTABLE:

-Meat and bones

NOW RECYCLABLE:

-milk jugs/cartons

-#3-#7 recyclables (things such as yogurt cups)

And napkins have always been compostable. That is a compostable item that most people are in unbelief about. But believe it!!

Hilary, *the Compost Queen*, enforcing the composting way.

Look out for the new signs, and follow them. Happy composting!

-Jessica B.

Feelin icky? Get a FluBuddy!

Hey tritons!
So I know that you are all aware of the epidemic swirling around campus....the FLU that is. I just survived my week of illness, and I'm here to tell you that you can too. Whether you've already been sick, are currently, or have a feeling you're next in your res hall ; ), I have some helpful hints on how to make it through.

My amazing boss, Krista Mays, actually told me about this awesome service on campus that provides students with a "flu buddy" (no not another sick person to hang out with). Flu Buddies are Student Health Advocates on campus that can bring you a Get Well Kit from the Student Health Center, and Flu Recovery Meals that are delivered by them to you.

The main goal of this awesome service, is to bring sick students essential get-well supplies, so you don't have to get them yourself. That way, you can stay home and rest, and keep your peers from gettin what you got. : ) It's a win-win situation! So e-mail FluBuddy@ucsd.edu, and get all the details about the kits ($5) and meals. They can hook you up Monday-Friday between the hours of 8am and 4pm.

Remember that hydration is super important when you're sick. I was able to stay on top of it by refilling my reusable water bottle at every hydration station I encountered. What's a "hydration station" you ask? They are located in every dining hall on campus. So you don't have to go to the store and re-stock the kitchen with water bottles. By carrying around your reusable water bottle, you can easily fill up free of charge! Yay! Honestly guys, since I've been living on campus (Sept. 11th, 2009), I have not purchased one plastic water bottle. Trust me, it's possible, you can do it!

If you do muster the strength to head to a dining hall while sick, remember to use the free hand sanitizer stations while there. ; )

For more info on what flu symptoms to look out for, go to https://studenthealth.ucsd.edu/flu.shtml.

Stay happy and healthy.

-Hilary

Composting: The Scoop

So I have heard so many things from students about Housing-Dining-Hospitality’s Composting program:

“We have one…?”

“Its not real they throw it away…”

“I never see the signs…”

“No meat or bones…”

And so, so much more…

Well here is the deal about Housing-Dining-Hospitality composting…

Yes, we do have one. Participate! Make it better!

It has been being thrown away with the trash –wait, don’t start yelling yet!- there are reasons for that.

1. There wasn’t enough room for UCSD to start the program at the Miramar landfill; they didn’t have enough room for the amount of compost we would bring in yet.

2. The compost had to be relatively clean of non-compostable materials, so we had to get you students use to not throwing other stuff in there. It’s got to be clean healthy compost material! =]

BUT we will be starting at the Miramar Landfill in November. It’s the real deal people, so be prepared!

If you don’t see the signs ask the people working in the dish area! They will be more than glad to help you. (Ask and you so shall receive!)

Everything on your plate can be composted! The meat, the cheese, the fish, the pasta, the sauce, the syrup, the salad, the dirty napkins, the straws, the cups, the soup containers, the plates, the containers, the wrap papers… all of it. Ain’t it great?

Composting. Do it.

Oh, by the way, for all the people who asked, Recycle-Mania is from January to April. Be prepared to make your college the best!

Angela =]

Cage-free Eggs!

So, Housing*Dining*and Hospitality has made a compassionate switch to sell only cage-free eggs in all Housing and Dining facilities! This is a time of celebration as chicken can finally flap their wings. HDH now sells eggs which are produced in Wilcox Farms, and certified humane-raised and cage-free. This egg conversion was drawn about by HDH's sustainability goal and customer interest in humanely raised products.

To advertise and celebrate this switch, a few of us EcoNauts went about in a chicken suit, scaring people in the early morning. Check out the photos!

And remember, if you have any ideas of ways to make HDH more sustainable, socially responsible, educational, even cuter, just shoot an email our way and your demand will be taken very seriously!

Best of wishes,

Jessica

jbaltman@ucsd.edu

Budgeting Your Points

As a freshman this is the first time I have ever had budget. I have to weigh my options cheap to expensive, fresh and healthy to delicious and unhealthy. It’s not easy especially when you have a set amount of money. Is that Venti Carmel Machiato at Earls worth it? It tastes good, but I only have so much dining dollars. At first I had no clue how much I had spent or how much I should have, so I started going through all the info that HDH had given me.

In the resident halls you get about $82 to spend per week.

In the apartments you get about $63 to spend per week.

(On the minimum plans).

There is a schedule by week of how much money you should have left. You can check your balance every time they swipe your card; it shows up on the meter they use to ring u

p your purchases. If you don’t see it, then ask.

Don’t forget that if you want those Carmel Machiato’s every day then you can always bump up your dining plan, or have family put Triton Cash or Dining Points on your account!

Here is the schedule:

For bigger pictures use this link:

http://hdh.ucsd.edu/diningservices/images/DiningDollarsBudget.pdf

If you have any questions remember to visit:

http://hdh.ucsd.edu/diningplan/

Angela =]

RD in da House!

Greetings!

So I've been in contact with Becky McDivitt, our local RD in da House (Registered Dietitian). And she is pretty much one of the most awesome people on staff. She can help any of you with your dietary needs and nutrition, and you can come to her to offer suggestions for various food options.

Here is her website so you can check out her credentials:http://hdh.ucsd.edu/diningservices/nutrition.asp

And here is her email to get in touch with her: rmcdivitt@ucsd.edu

And here is her picture:

Don't gain the freshman 15, work with Becky and you'll be lookin' fine!

As a vegan, I've been working closely with her to try to get more vegan options established at Canyon Vista (my local dining hall). And she gave me some close contacts to offer suggestions to the staff there. At the bottom is a list of names of the management of Canyon Vista Restaurant for all of you who want to offer a helpful hint or even share concern you have and a way to make it better, of course. The staff is there for YOU! To better your college eating experience, and to offer quality food for fuel. Take advantage of it, and take advantage of the wonderful opportunity you have to meet with a dietitian, especially one as cool as Becky.

Speak with a manager on duty to make a special request. At Canyon Vista... Scott Spangler (the senior manager), Mark Azhocar (chef), Nancy Thompson (senior cook), Peter Maxwell (some evenings) or Tom Jones (front of the house manager.)

Shoot me an email if you want the names of staff in other dining halls.

jbaltman@ucsd.edu

Until next time :-) ,

Jessica