VCU Composts!

The Virginia Commonwealth University student newspaper Commonwealth Times has a very positive story this week on the school’s efforts to compost.

VCU’s Dining Services has introduced a new composting program to reduce waste output out of Market-810 as part of VCU’s larger green initiative.
At the end of September, VCU had diverted 11,365 pounds of waste from going to a landfill by sending its organic waste to a compost pile in Waverly, Va. through a company called Natural Organic Process Enterprises (NOPE).
“(Five tons is) the size of (a) construction dumpster,” said Tamara Highsmith, VCU’s Dining Sales and Services manager.

What are other local schools and restaurants doing to compost?

Liz Canfield Recognized By Style Magazine

I meant to post this earlier-

Style Magazine recognized Pine Street neighbor Liz Canfield as part of their “Top 40 Under 40” list.

A great excerpt from the printed profile:

Canfield is vigorously committed to bettering the community she loves. When she isn’t teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University, she’s involved with a number of campus programs, including the Equity and Diversity Committee and Safe Zone workshops designed to combat homophobia and heterosexism by training faculty and staff.

Canfield also volunteers with the Richmond Peace Education Center, Art 180 and Girls Rock RVA, among others. For the past five years, she’s leveraged her creative genius to organize the Richmond ’Zine Fest and curate the Von Gribley Reading Series at Chop Suey Books.

“I see the struggle for social justice as intersectional,” Canfield says. “I try to make my work reflect that. I also see art, activism, and the pursuit of knowledge as thoroughly integrated, so my classes and community work often show that integration.”

Canfield says she believes in the power of incremental change and encourages communities to take care of each other. “It is the small scale change that keeps folks going,” she says. “I think many folks don’t try because they think they can’t do it, but they can. We gotta start with ourselves, our own neighborhoods and communities.”

Congratulations, Liz!

VCU Library Booksale

From announcement:

The VCU Friends of the Library invite you to the annual book sale at James Branch Cabell Library from October 24 through 28, 2011. There are hundreds of books , most for $2 or less. All proceeds from the sale help to fund VCU Libraries’ programs, collections, and lectures.

VCU Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale
October 24-28, 2011

James Branch Cabell Library
Basement, Room B 7
901 Park Avenue
Richmond, VA.

2011 Sale Hours:
Monday, October 24: Noon – 8 p.m.
Tuesday, October 25: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Wednesday, October 26: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursday, October 27: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. **Special ½ price sale
Friday, October 28: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.**Special ½ price sale

Preview Sale for Friends of the Library Donors:
Monday, October 24: 9 am – Noon
(Please present your Friends donor card for admission to the preview sale.)

For more information about the Friends of the Library Book Sale, please contact Antonia FD Vassar at (804)-827-1165 or Gregory Kimbrell at (804) 828-0593.,

Please see http://www.library.vcu.edu/giving/booksale.html for book sale policies and updates about the sale.

the enemy of life is the won, 1864

From The Daily Dispatch: October 17, 1864:

At the residence of his grandmother, on Oregon Hill, Charles T. Barnum, of wounds received near Petersburg; aged twenty-one years and eighteen days.

Fourt this , when life shall cease to thrill this heart of mine;

But not like then can I forget one look or tone of thine;

Oh no at mingles with the sound of everything I hear.

Forget this a bitter word; I would it were un

Forgetfulness is not with life, but the silent dead.

I may cease to think of thee as earthly morning

But, oh ! I’d meet my brother in heaven with heart unchanged and true.

Things we prize are first to vanish; hearts we love to pass away;

But my brother, thus slain in battle, grieves my from day to-day.

The noble crew, but mangled form, lies silent in the

His form now fills a christian soldier’s grave, in battle’s hour bespoke the true and

The bright, no longer fettered by earth’s in seven dwells — the glory of the father sleeps his last long sleep beneath Virginia in death’s cold grasp unnerved he rests every toll. Around him numbers lie, company in the strife, which chilled his manly heart away his life. He’s gone! The bright should guide the heart’s the falling tear. Life’s weary march to own his reward begun; the enemy of life is the won.

His will take place at the Methodist in Hill, Monday, the 17th, at four o’clock friends of the family are respectfully

Baltimore and Philadelphia papers please copy.

Greenhorns Documentary At Byrd Market Tuesday

From the Byrd House Market blog:

…after market we’ll be hosting an outdoor film screening and panel discussion – Shalom Farms is presenting The Greenhorns – a very groovy film about young people choosing the farming profession and way of life.

Figure around 7:20 pm. The 50 min. film will be followed by a panel discussion with local young farmers.