Sustainability Initiative
In late 2007, Pine Mountain began a sustainability initiative. The three primary parts of this initiative are: to increase and diversify food production at PMSS; decrease and conserve energy use at the school; and create educational programs related to food and energy. Randal Pfleger was hired to direct this initiative. He has long-term experience working, studying, and volunteering on a variety of issues related to sustainability.
Since its founding in 1913, Pine Mountain Settlement School has had a history of pro-ducing food served on campus. We believe we can expand these efforts. One way is to extend growing seasons through use of cold frames, succession planting, seedling pro-duction and selection of more cold-tolerant, heirloom, and perennial cultivars. Staff are working to expand the cultivated garden area and incorporate bio-intensive, no-till, sheet mulching, and permaculture methods. We have restarted the composting opera-tion which will help in the enrichment of soil. All fruit trees, blueberry bushes, and grape vines on campus have been mapped and pruning is underway. The farm and kitchen staffs are cooperating on the goal of serving more produce from the garden to visitors. Randal and Joyce Scearse, Laurel House supervisor, are analyzing food costs and redesigning menus to use more locally grown and in-season produce.
PMSS is starting a Community Garden to build community, share knowledge, and generate additional food in the community. Community garden meetings were held in February and early April. Community gardeners plan to begin work on their plots in mid-April. The School also co-hosted a Gardening 101 workshop on March 13.
Energy conservation and efficiency at PMSS poses an interesting challenge. There are 23 buildings on campus, and all have separate energy systems: most have electricity and heat, and a few have air conditioning. Many need to be insulated. We are compil-ing a comprehensive report on energy use at PMSS. A preliminary review shows that the highest cumulative energy demand is in August and November-February. This is when the demand for heating and cooling is greatest. The School has already cut some energy use through conversion of most light bulbs from incandescent to compact fluo-rescent. Staff have installed weather-stripping and door sweeps in some buildings.
After a comprehensive audit, we will work on simple cost-effective measures for all buildings, including: insulation, caulking, weather-stripping, and hot water heater jackets and monitor the effects of these efforts. We are considering a variety of poten-tial renewable energy projects, including: passive solar, active solar, geothermal, small-scale wind, and solar hot water. We will be seeking funding to complete at least one of these projects by the end of 2008.
Public education is a key component of this initiative. One way we will do this is through demonstration projects. Randal is developing information points and signs in Laurel House and other places on campus to tell about the School's sustainability initiative and to share updates on specific projects. Lessons from the initiative will be incorporated into the environmental education curriculum. Information about the initiative will be posted on the School's website.
The Sustainability Initiative presents big questions with no simple answers. It is an exciting time at Pine Mountain. If you would like more information, please contact Randal at rpfleger@pinemountainsettlementschool.com.
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Pine Mountain Settlement School
Sustainability Initiative Internship
(application below)
The Sustainability Initiative at Pine Mountain Settlement School is pleased to announce internship opportunities for summer 2008. PMSS is a National Historic Landmark located in the Appalachian Mountains of southeastern Kentucky on an 800-acre campus of mountains, valleys, forests, and streams. The school operates from over twenty buildings, including library, plant center, dormitory, residential homes, and a large central building. The school also maintains 25 acres and intensively farms over 4 acres.
As part of the Sustainability Initiative, Pine Mountain Settlement School is working towards:
- Reducing use of fossil fuels and moving toward sustainable energy sources, particularly active and passive solar power, wind, micro-hydro, and geothermal systems
- Making better use of farm lands to grow more food for the School's use, and possibly for the local community.
- Creating models for projects that homeowners can use that incorporate resource-saving features.
In its early years, Pine Mountain was nearly a self-sufficient operation with a fully functioning farm, woodworking shop, print shop, and weaving and sewing rooms. Since 1972, the School has been an environmental education center using the surrounding forested mountains, streams and fields as outdoor classrooms. About 3,500 students take classes at Pine Mountain during a typical year.
Pine Mountain has several buildings that were constructed from 1913 to 1940. At present, none of the buildings are heated or cooled with renewable energy sources and all electricity is sourced from the electrical grid.
The sustainability internship provides a challenging and exciting opportunity to work on energy efficiency and conservation efforts throughout the campus, renewable energy project design, farm and garden, a new community garden, and community events.
Intern(s) will work with the sustainability, environmental education, farm, kitchen and maintenance staff at PMSS to develop more of an awareness and appreciation of implementation of sustainability efforts.
Description of work
The sustainability internship program is designed to teach an individual a realistic view of what is involved in implementation of sustainability efforts. We will choose two interns this year, and there will be significant personal attention given to each individual. Depending on the interests of the intern, the training could focus on a variety of the following tasks:
- Whole systems assessment and analysis of PMSS energy consumption (including heating, cooling, electricity, transportation, and food)
- Conceptualizing, researching, designing, and implementing energyefficiency efforts
- Research and design of small- to medium-scale renewable energy projects
- Equipment maintenance and repairs
- Building maintenance and repairs
- All aspects of vegetable production
- Organization and management of harvest record keeping
- Safe use of hand and power tools
- Some building construction, carpentry, insulation, weather-stripping, window glazing
- Fence repair and installation
- Firewood and tree pruning, felling trees, use of a chain saw
- Homesteading skills such as: food preserving, freezing, drying, and canning
- Landscape beautification, flower, shrub, and tree planting, stone wall construction
Minimum qualifications:
- Interest in sustainability concepts
- Experience doing manual labor
- Experience working with a variety of people
- Ability to lift up to fifty pounds
- Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions
- Commitment of a minimum eight consecutive weeks
- Willingness to work on a variety of projects
- A love for the natural world and a desire to share it with others
Desired (but not required) qualifications:
- Leadership skills
- Basic carpentry skills
- Basic knowledge of computer programs (Word, Excel, and Internet)
- Experience with permaculture, biodynamic, biointensive, and/or organic gardening
- Experience with sustainability concepts related to environmental, economic, and social issues
- Experience with appropriate technology and renewable energy
Internship details:
- The dates of the summer internship run from late May through early August (exact dates are flexible)
- Housing is provided in an on-site intern house -- full kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and four separate bedrooms
- Lunch is provided Monday through Friday as well as some breakfasts, dinners, and weekend meals
- The opportunity to learn new skills and sharpen existing ones
- Possible college internship credits
- The chance to live in a beautiful and complex ecosystem in a rural part of the Appalachian Mountains.
- A rewarding life experience!
If you are interested in applying for our internship program please print and mail the application. (See application below) The application process includes an application, letter of interest, and three references.
We look forward to your inquiry.
Contact: Randal Pfleger
Sustainability Director
(606)-558-3571
rpfleger@pinemountainsettlementschool.com
http://www.pinemountainsettlementschool.com
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SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE
APPLICATION FOR INTERNSHIP
Name _________________________________________ Date ___________________
Address _______________________________________ Phone __________________
_______________________________________ Date of birth _____________
The sustainability initiative internship is available for summer 2008 (if you are interested in fall 2008 or spring 2009, please contact Randal). Program dates are listed, though we can be fairly flexible about arrival and departure dates. Please send all application materials together as soon as possible, and no later than April 15, 2008.
June 1-August 1
What is the earliest possible date you could arrive at Pine Mountain? ________________
Can you stay for at least eight weeks? _________
Along with this application, please also include a resume and list of three references with name, phone number, email address and relationship to you. Additionally, on a separate page, please briefly answer the following.
- Provide your educational background and other relevant experiences, as they apply to this position.
- Describe your interests, skills, and strengths.
- Describe any gardening, construction, site analysis, energy analysis, and/or renewable energy experience you have. Include any teaching experience you have.
- What do you hope to accomplish during your stay at Pine Mountain?
- Please describe your experience participating in outdoor activities. Do you have any health or physical limitations? Do you have any specific dietary needs?
Thank you for applying for the Pine Mountain Settlement School sustainability initiative internship!
Please send all materials to: Randal Pfleger, 36 Highway 510, Bledsoe, KY 40810. If you have further questions, call Randal at: (606)-558-3571 or email: rpfleger@pinemountainsettlementschool.com