1. Sustainability Freshman Inquiry Oct. 7, 2010 Jeff Fletcher

2. Logistics 1 Field Trip, Zenger Farms –Oct. 21 (2pm to 6pm at latest) –http://www.zengerfarm.org/http://www.zengerfarm.org/ New Reading due Oct. 12 (14): –Transition to College Writing Ch. 1, 2 –Omnivore’s Dilemma Ch. 3-7 (won’t talk about until 10/14) Sustainability tour next Tuesday, Oct. 12 –Meet here by 2pm SHARP –Be prepared to walk around for an hour (rain or shine) –Purpose?

3. Logistics 2 Garden Project –Monday at noon in Food For Thought Café –Counts for Homework 0 Upcoming 1 on 1 Meetings Sustainability LLC in the Vanguard Online –http://www.dailyvanguard.com/online-exclusive- freshman-inquiry-students-use-course-knowledge-in- dorms-1.2355458http://www.dailyvanguard.com/online-exclusive- freshman-inquiry-students-use-course-knowledge-in- dorms-1.2355458 Robert Costanza Talk? New students Calling on students

4. Review: Ways of Knowing Instinct Experience Math/Reason/Logic Philosophy Science/Evidence Literature/Art Oral tradition (parents/elders) Religion/Spirituality Cultural Experience Social Expectations Education/Books/Internet

5. Scientific Method Observation Hypothesis Design Experiments Collect Data Analyze Data Write journal papers / attend conferences Peer Review Develop and Revise Theories Skepticism at all stages –About theories and evidence, but also about how our minds work (biases)

6. General Reading Questions What is the context of the book? Why did the author write it? What is his/her likely motivation? What is the question being investigated? What question was he/she trying to answer, or what is the main point he/she is trying to make? What is the contribution? Is this book likely to be important? To whom? What affect might it have on the world? Is the impact likely to be narrow or broad? Based on what you’ve read so far, is the author making his/her points well? Is it well written and how does this affect its impact? What is the method of investigation? What methods does the author use to make his/her point? How are his/her arguments structured? What alternatives are possible?

7. Important Themes National Eating Disorder Natures way vs. Industrial/Corporate way Omnivore's Dilemma Domestication by Humans; or Domestication of Humans We are corn Dramatic Increase in Corn Yields Corn anatomy and sex

8. Important Themes 1 National Eating Disorder Natures way vs. Industrial/Corporate way Omnivore's Dilemma –What should I eat? What am I eating? Where did it come from? –Missing a narrow culture around food Domestication by Humans; or Domestication of Humans

9. Important Themes 2 We are corn Dramatic Increase in Corn Yields –Hybrid vigor –Plant close together –Genetically identical—don’t compete –GMO advances –Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer –Sun foods vs. petroleum foods Corn anatomy and sex

11. Corn C3 vs. C4 Grasses –Different photosynthesis biochemical pathways –C4 generally evolved later and have advantages: more efficient use of CO2 and water More drought tolerant Corn is a C4 Grass, more efficient that C3 –Back to last term: carbohydrates Carbon 12 vs Carbon 13 –Periodic Table of ElementPeriodic Table of Element

12. Major Grass Grain Crops Wheat (C3) Corn (Maize) (C4) Rice (C3) Barley (C3) Sorghum (C4) Oats (C3) Millet (C3 & C4; different species) Rye (C3) Triticale (wheat & rye hybrid; C3)

13. Domestication Ability to be domesticated is a rare quality in plants and animals (e.g. not zebras) Takes genetic predisposition Takes time and patience: stability of relationship between humans and plant or animal Not as restricted with GMO technology (e.g. Flavor savor tomato)

15. Industrial Fertilizer Modern miracle or modern scurge? Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer –Leftovers from munitions WWI –Fritz Haber (Haber-Bosch process) –Nobel prize 1920 –More than half of all fertilizer goes to corn –N2 in air (80%) is inert The explanation for 2/3 of human population—implications of changes?

16. Groups Consider Characterize the old and new systems of farm subsidies for corn. If your group was in charge, what would be your farm subsidy program?