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July 23, 2010
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| Community Garden |
I think most people are familiar with the concept of a community garden in urban areas. In a larger garden plot, individuals and families can rent/reserve a small plot for personal gardening. This can take many forms. Schools, neighborhoods, apartment buildings, and many other community groups can come together to build a garden for a shared purpose.
Where I live, almost everyone has a garden of their own; usually in their back yard. This usually means big black rectangles tilled up in our neighbor’s lawns every year. Each person plants their own supply of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and maybe even some sweet corn. What does this mean? When July comes around we have more tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and sweet corn than we know what to do with. We pawn it off on our neighbors or ask around desperately trying to find someone who preserves or makes salsa.
I have a solution - Family Vegetable Garden Collectives. A group of families can collaborate on the crops they would like to see in the coming growing season, apart from the traditional tomatoes and peppers. From this list, the families’ individual garden plots can be assigned plants throughout the gardening season. Normally, if you wanted lettuce or radishes you would have to find a place in early spring to plant, and wait to harvest in late spring. This early season crop can overlap with the planting of other summer produce. This can be difficult to manage as one person.
If a collection of families can coordinate the planting of early season, mid season, and late season crops, a huge bounty of produce can be grown on less space and with less effort from each individual family and shared among them. For example:
Jones Family: Early spring crops such as lettuce, spinach, radishes, strawberries and early green onions.
Johnson Family: Late spring plantings such as tomatoes, cucumbers, late large onions, and peppers.
Smith Family: Summer plantings such as watermelon, or cantaloupe.
Moore Family: Late planting such as a variety of squash.
This means each family only tends a garden for a period of the growing season and benefits from the gardens of others in the collective.
Family Vegetable Garden Collectives can be as small as two households working together to get more from their plots, or as many families as you can gather. Make an event out of it. Each Friday families can get together to pick what is ripe and divide it amongst themselves. Weekly gatherings to collect and cook food produced at home can be healthy for your body, your wallet and your soul. |
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July 9, 2010
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| Take A Class |
Summers can be busy, without a doubt. Still it is the perfect time to learn something new. Taking a class is a great way to meet new people and learn new hobbies or skills. Enrolling your children in summer classes and activities can also be a great way to keep them engaged and sharp through the summer break.
There are many places in the Des Moines area to take classes on a variety of subjects. The Des Moines Public School’s Community Education program offers classes in arts and crafts, personal enrichment, dance, health and exercise and many more. You could take ceramic tile making or self-defense, or even ball room dancing.
The Des Moines Social Club offers classes in all sorts of dancing, from belly dance to salsa, you can find something to move your feet. The Des Moines Social Club also offers classes in filmmaking, drawing, knitting, and writing.
Even Living History Farms offers classes from traditional bread making to photography.
Outside of Des Moines, there are still plenty of opportunities for learning. Wheatsfield Grocery, in Ames, offers monthly classes and workshops on eating healthy, cooking creatively, preserving, healing with herbs and other exciting topics.
There are many ways to expand your understanding, learn a new craft or skill, meet new people and make new connections. Between baseball games and beach bumming you can find something to enrich your mind and possibly change how you see and interact with the world. |
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July 1, 2010
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| Unemployed And Homeless - In A New Light |
What is the one, or few, things you can't afford to part with? That worn out comfy couch? That brand-spanking new CD/DVD burner?
What about your home, furniture, bed, everything? Being unemployed forces you to sit down and figure out what can you sacrifice and prioritize your needs and wants.
U.S. News and World Report, in conjunction with Yahoo Finance, tells the story of one such person in Brianna Karp. After losing her job, she sold her belongings and moved home. After an incident with her bipolar mother, she was forced to move out and ended up with a truck and a trailer hitched to it and called it a home. With no electricity, water, or the basic necessities, she was homeless.
With the one thing she couldn't live without, a laptop, she frequented Starbucks as she was searching online for jobs, sending out resumes, and started a blog titled "The Girl's Guide to Homelessness." Karp's blog garnered so much attention, she landed an part-time magazine internship and an upcoming book deal in 2011.
While U.S. News focused on the 10 things that we can't afford to live without, Brianna's story stood out because she wrote about being homeless. Homelessness cuts across the socioeconomic fabric of our world. The homeless isn't always the drunk, the drug abuser, the poor, or the one with constant bad luck and making bad decisions in life. Brianna, through her blog, showed that even the most successful people, college graduates, those who work hard, can end up homeless through situations that are beyond our control, such as being laid-off.
Parents desperately taking low-paying jobs to ensure their children have a home to go to after school, the single person who tackles three part-time jobs and lives out of their car, or the person who searches and interview jobs, after using a restroom in a Wal-Mart, Perkins, or any other public places to wash up and brush their teeth.
We like to call the homeless "bums", but should we be quick to call them "bums" when they are college-educated, smart, and are doing everything they can to land a job and earn income once again? The shame of telling anyone that they are homeless, or even telling friends that they need help is challenging, as Karp explained in this excerpt in her first blog entry in February 2009.
Could I ask friends for help? Possibly. However, my closest friends have so many problems of their own right now – many of them are out of work, or live in small apartments, or have various other personal problems and I am certain that I would be a burden and an imposition on them. There is also the problem of my (very large) mastiff, who I would not dream of selfishly dragging with me into someone else’s home.
So, here I am.
-Brianna Karp, "Initiation" from "the Girl's Guide to Homelessness," February 23, 2009
As much as we want to ask friends, they are too busy with their lives and problems to help out. We don't want to bother them. In the case with family, as painful as it sounds, some will be empathetic and some will look down with disdain. It's like a badge of shame and failure.
It shouldn't be, as Brianna wrote in her subtitle: "You are homeless. You are not a bum". Unfortunate things happen, by our decisions or by something we can't control. It should be temporary, but if there is no support, no direction, and no place to go, sadly it becomes permanent. Some choose to give up because they are hopeless. Other choose to keep finding a way, no matter how low life can be. |
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| April 07, 2009 |
| Networking In Person Isn't Enough |
| by Andy Drish , Des Moines |
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Do you have a blog yet? If not, you should. Networking in person is great but it’s very inefficient. Connecting with people online gives you a whole... Read More
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| April 01, 2009 |
| Five Tools To Manage Your Brand |
| by Andy Drish , Des Moines |
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It’s hard to keep track of all your online activity. These are five tools that I use nearly every day to help streamline the process. Wordpress – I’ve said... Read More
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| March 25, 2009 |
| Iowa Community Service Opportunities |
| by Lauren Burt , Des Moines |
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This year represents an unprecedented opportunity to impact Iowa through the service of VISTA members. Recruitment, and plenty of it, will be critical! The Iowa Office of... Read More
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| March 23, 2009 |
| Most Important Skill: Communication |
| by Johanna Albaugh , Cedar Falls |
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The college experience is packed with educational moments that take place without the supervision of a professor. While the liberal arts core and upper-level, major courses are important, much of... Read More
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| March 17, 2009 |
| Listen To The Experts |
| by Robert Jensen , West Des Moines |
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I am no career expert. In this blog I try to share a few of my experiences and tips but the truth is I am still (and will always be)... Read More
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| March 09, 2009 |
| Time To Start Your Own Blog |
| by Andy Drish , Des Moines |
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A lot of opportunities have come through my blog. It’s opened up more doors than I can begin to write about in a single post. Blogging offers many... Read More
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| March 04, 2009 |
| Campus And Community Involvement For Students |
| by Johanna Albaugh , Cedar Falls |
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The undergraduate experience only lasts for four short years, give or take a few (depending on who you are). Though the duration only covers a short span of time, establishing... Read More
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| February 26, 2009 |
| Social Media Changing The Workforce |
| by Robert Jensen , West Des Moines |
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A strange thing is happening at work. Over the last couple of weeks more and more of my coworkers are popping up on Facebook. At first I was conflicted about... Read More
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| January 28, 2009 |
| Business Cards Vs. Personal Cards |
| by Andy Drish , Des Moines |
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A few months ago I met a guy who handed me two business cards. He said, “Here’s my company card and here’s my personal card. Because companies change, but I’ll... Read More
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| January 14, 2009 |
| Creating A Development Plan |
| by Robert Jensen , West Des Moines |
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In my personal life, I started 2009 with a number of New Year resolutions. My career isn't that much different but instead of resolutions I created a new career development... Read More
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| January 08, 2009 |
| Goodbye, My Career |
| by Katie Smith , Grimes |
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This is my final blog for My Career. It’s been a great experience for me. However, my spare time’s about to be limited as I spend the upcoming months planning... Read More
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| December 23, 2008 |
| Utilize Linkedin Recommendations |
| by Mike Templeton , Ankeny |
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Both myself and my predecessor have discussed the importance of LinkedIn, but today’s topic is about something specific within LinkedIn: recommendations. According to LinkedIn, “Recommendations help illustrate... Read More
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| Office No-nos |
| by Katie Smith , Grimes |
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An interview with a prospective employee recently had a friend of mine looking for a hidden camera. She was stunned that the lunatic before her was the credentialed candidate she’d... Read More
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| December 22, 2008 |
| Health Insurance For 25 And Under |
| by Whitney Warne , Iowa City |
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Iowa health insurance laws recently changed leaving soon-to-be college grads with more options and better coverage then ever before. Under the new law, an insurance company must continue existing coverage... Read More
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| December 18, 2008 |
| Cow Tipping And Barn Parties: Iowa’s Entertainment |
| by Whitney Warne , Iowa City |
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The youth of Iowa and Hollywood movies cultivate many stereotypes about the adolescent social lives of rural teens. The most frequent stories include rampant cow tipping in the wee hours... Read More
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| December 16, 2008 |
| Get Involved: Art Noir |
| by Whitney Warne , Iowa City |
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Film noir; a term used to define the black and white crime dramas of the 40’s and 50’s filled to the brim with moral ambiguity and sexual intrigue. This genre... Read More
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| December 11, 2008 |
| Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah! |
| by Katie Smith , Grimes |
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As Virgin Mobile smartly encompassed multi-traditional holiday greetings a few years ago in its ad campaign, “Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah!” Personally, I’m a Christian and freak when Christmas images of Santa and... Read More
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| December 09, 2008 |
| Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah! |
| by Katie Smith , Grimes |
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As Virgin Mobile smartly encompassed multi-traditional holiday greetings a few years ago in its ad campaign, “Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah!” Personally, I’m a Christian and freak when Christmas images of Santa and... Read More
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| December 08, 2008 |
| Ashton Kutcher Meet And Greet |
| by Whitney Warne , Iowa City |
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Oh man, oh man, oh man; it’s the man himself. Ashton Kutcher, a Cedar Rapids native, model used-to-be and certified funny movie man is gracing Iowa City, Iowa with his... Read More
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| December 05, 2008 |
| Bounce Back From A Layoff |
| by Katie Smith , Grimes |
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This Thanksgiving, I was thankful to have a job. I couldn’t help but think of those not so fortunate. So for those of you faced with this dilemma, hang in... Read More
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| December 02, 2008 |
| Private Universe: Lands Of Fantasy And Imagination |
| by Whitney Warne , Iowa City |
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“You may say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one. Take my hand and join us and the world we live, will live as one.” The Des Moines... Read More
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| December 01, 2008 |
| How To Write A Bio Ripe For Networking |
| by Mike Templeton , Ankeny |
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I’ve talked about many different ways you can use social media websites to do networking, but today’s topic is on writing bios for those beloved user profiles. Many of us... Read More
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| November 18, 2008 |
| How To Keep It Professional When Networking |
| by Mike Templeton , Ankeny |
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When you’re out attending networking events, you’re not just representing yourself, but you’re also representing your professional image. That means the way you speak, the way you carry yourself, the... Read More
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| November 10, 2008 |
| Liven Up Your Workspace |
| by Mike Templeton , Ankeny |
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During my first week on the job I brought in a box full of personal items to decorate my cube and make the workspace feel like my own. These items... Read More
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| November 08, 2008 |
| Tour Of Gymnastics Superstars |
| by Whitney Warne , Iowa City |
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It took a 16-year-old girl from Des Moines to make the rest of the world sit still on their couches and take notice of a little Midwestern state named Iowa.... Read More
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| November 06, 2008 |
| Little Things That Make A Big Difference To Employees |
| by Katie Smith , Grimes |
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When the alarm clock wakes you, and you drag yourself to work, what are the things that keep you going? Obviously you work for a paycheck, but these little... Read More
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| November 05, 2008 |
| Where To Find Iowa’s Best Tenderloin |
| by Drew Van Woert , Cedar Falls |
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It’s true that Iowa is one of the nation’s leading pork and swine producers. So it seems logical that we’d have some of the best tenderloins around, and you’d... Read More
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| November 04, 2008 |
| Thank Your Contacts |
| by Mike Templeton , Ankeny |
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When you're at an event meeting new people it's easy to get caught up in the handshaking, business card exchanging and introductions. As you're giving your pitch you're also trying... Read More
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Statewide Young Professionals Organizations
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| Iowa Jaycees |
| For over 79 years, the Junior Chamber has been the original organization of choice for young adults (ages 18-40) in Iowa, giving young adults the tools and support they need to build the bridges of success in the areas of business development, management, leadership and personal training, community and governmental involvement. With member in local communities throughout the state, the Iowa Jaycees provide a stable organization for young people to help make a positive and lasting impact. |
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Community Young Professionals Organizations
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| Ames Jaycees |
| The Ames Jaycees attracts and unites a group of young, active, civic-minded professionals who have a clear vision of Ames' future as a great place to live, work and play. We host events targeting a wide range of interests including leadership, career advancement, community involvement, professional and personal development, networking and volunteerism. |
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| Young Professionals Of Dubuque |
| Young Professionals of Dubuque strives to make the Dubuque community a more vibrant and exciting place in which to work, live, play and do business. YPD offers members the chance to expand both personal and professional networks, take advantage of leadership and professional development opportunities, and participate in diverse activities within the community and surrounding area. |
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| Young Professionals Network Of Muscatine |
| The Young Professionals Network (YPN) is a personal and professional development organization designed to allow members to interact socially, exchange ideas, share common interests,and build a better Muscatine community. |
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