By Lindsay Mensch Last Sunday, several RISE students and I had the amazing opportunity to visit four farms in Detroit to learn about using hoophouses (also called high tunnels or passive solar greenhouses) to extend the growing season. These farms all differed in why they grew, what they grew, and how they grew, but all…
To Poetry and Beyond!
by Carson Yenchar Poetry. What is poetry? Poetry opens the creative eye to all the opportunities not seen by the average human eye. It lifts us up and beyond the stars, into the vastness of space. Poetry is another dimension that anyone can see if only they believe hard enough. Poetry is meant to be…
A Summer in Photos: Life at the Bailey GREENhouse
By Lindsay Mensch Campus is a much different place in the summertime: far fewer people around, but far more things in bloom! I enjoyed the change of pace this summer, as I spent most of my time every week at the Bailey GREENhouse & Urban Farm as a summer manager. I learned so much about…
First Semester Survival Guide: Tips from RISE Mentors
By Lindsay Mensch Campus can be overwhelming on arrival: full of new people, places, and things to do. However, no one is alone in that experience. Many people go through similar trials and errors, and many have been through them before. If you’re looking for some advice and guidance along the way, this is the…
Going GREEN: Sustainable Advice for a First-Year Dorm Dweller
By Lindsay Mensch Moving into a dorm freshman year is an exciting experience for most people. Living in a new place, meeting new people, and experiencing new things at the beginning of college is a great time for growth and personal exploration. The RISE Program especially encourages students to explore their interests and develop into…
How RISE Has Shaped Me
By Marie Clark I have often wondered how that random email about RISE I got in March of my senior year of high school somehow landed me where I am today. Currently, I am living in Bailey Hall, where I have lived the past two years. I will be in the hall for one…
Reflecting on the RISE Blog
By Lindsay Mensch I spent my first year in RISE drifting on the periphery. There wasn’t any one place that I felt certain I wanted to be; I contributed a large amount of time to the mealworm project, volunteered once or twice to package tea, and often thought about joining the Bee Team. There was…
Freshman Year is Over, and I Have RISE to Thank
From a looking glass, it’s easy to say the RISE program at Michigan State is focused on environmental sustainability and consists of ‘all the kids that like the outdoors and nature’. While that is true, there’s so much more to the program that even I didn’t realize when applying. Yes, I knew it was a…
A Meaning in Every Letter
By Cameron Jenkins The end of my first year at Michigan State is oh so near. Even though I am buried in my studies preparing for final exams, I am taking time to reflect on my experiences. One of my favorite additions to my experience was joining the RISE community and adding the minor in…
Giving Back with Every Pack: Taaluma Totes
Taaluma totes is a company started by college students with a global mindset. Travelers can bring fabric back from any country they travel to, and Taaluma will make backpacks from it. Through the years, they’ve collected some of the coolest fabrics from Indonesia, Guatemala, Afghanistan, Mali, Thailand, and tons more! If you decide to bring…
All Natural, Not so Natural
By Cameron Jenkins Cruising down the aisles at the grocery store, you have a healthier mentality. “I should choose all natural labeled products because that means that they are healthier,” you think. Unfortunately, this isn’t quite the case, and it is traced back to the Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA. The…
Sustainability: The Future of Fashion
Shopping! Whether it’s online, in-store, or with a beloved companion, shopping is my favorite form of therapy. Picking and choosing is all fun and games until you get to the cashier’s’ desk and realize you’re about to spend the last $32.56 in your bank account. I’m always on the hunt for deals and keeping up…
