Two Vermont environmentalists will ride to UMF to speak.
By Samantha C. DePoy
Staff Writer

FARMINGTON – Two Vermont environmental activists will pedal into Farmington to teach local residents how to leave less of a footprint on a finite earth and as a result, live better lives.

Jim Merkel and Rowan Sherwood started the Global Living Project over a decade ago and promote sustainable living by making dozens of presentations at colleges and community centers along their route of their 1,000-mile bike treks.

Over the years, they’ve led hundreds of presentations and peddled more than 10,000 miles.

On Monday, they’ll ride into Farmington for two days to speak to three University of Maine at Farmington science classes and give a public presentation Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. in Ricker Addition Room 217.

UMF science professors Grace Eason and Drew Barton say they are looking forward to hearing what Merkel and Sherwood have to say and hope the community has a similar sentiment.

“I am sure they will have amazing insights,” Eason said eagerly. “I am just excited about what they are going to present.”

Much of their message will center on leaving less of an impact on the earth by learning to live within earth’s means and understanding the planet’s carrying capacity.

Merkel also had a newly published book out entitled “Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on a Finite Earth,” which teaches people how to calculate their impact on the earth and then find ways to cut that down. The goal of the book is to teach people how to live on less while finding more happiness.

Merkel and Sherwood will arrive at a campus is already taking steps toward sustainability, both through the work of the school’s Facilities Management department and through the Green Campus Coalition, co-sponsor of Tuesday’s talk.

Over the past several years, Facilities Management, supported by the school’s administration, has taken a pro-active stance in upgrading systems around the campus to make them more environmentally efficient, said Barton, citing the installation of low energy bulbs, several flushless urinals, an improved heating system and thicker-paned windows.

“They are into this,” Barton noted happily. “So we are trying to do one little thing at a time.”

In the future, Barton and Eason would like students to conduct a thorough environmental audit of the school’s system to identify problems and find ways and funding to implement solutions.

The school is also in the middle of a campaign to raise funds for a new “green” education center, which will be built with an eye for the environment and incorporate features like geo-thermal heating and cooling, natural lighting, and use many recyclable materials during construction, among other things.

For more information about greening at UMF or Tuesday evening’s presentation, e-mail Professor Drew Barton at barton@maine.edu, or for more information about the Global Living Project, log on to www.globallivingproject.org.

sdepoy@sunjournal.com

sdepoy@sunjournal.com