Another way to experience the Irish culture in Bloomington is by participating in hurling.  Hurling, which is not as nauseating as it sounds, is over 2,000 years old.  According to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), “hurling is a game similar to hockey, in that it is played with a small ball and a curved wooden stick. It is Europe’s oldest field game.”  While it is easy to think of hurling as an arcane sport from a small island nation, that simply isn’t the case.  In Bloomington, we have an up and coming hurling club led by Tim Fick (Aurora teacher by day, hurling guru by night).  Indianapolis has active hurling teams, Purdue has a team too.  Under-18 clubs are also becoming popular around Indiana.  The Bloomington Team, in partnership with the Irish Lion, are the Indy League summer 2008 champions.  According to Gates, a hurling match is coming up on October 5th (stay posted for details).  The hurling team often practices at Tri-North Middle School or pucks around in Dunn Meadow or Bryan Park.
St. Patrick’s day is not the only time for Bloomington citizens to celebrate and participate in Irish culture activities.  Music, sport, and language opportunities are arising all the time.  The next time you find yourself with a hankering for Irish music or sport, remember you don’t have to look very far.
For more information about hurling, you can contact Tim Fick tfick12906(at)aol(.)com or visit  www.bloomington.indiana.gaa.ie.  If you have additional questions about the Irish scene in Bloomington, contact  devintayto(at)yahoo(.)com.

What are your favorite place for…

Breakfast?
Top Pick: Runcible Spoon
Close Behind: Village Deli, Uptown
Lunch?
Top Picks: Trojan Horse, Siam House, Lenny’s
Dinner?
Top Picks: Trojan Horse & Shanti
Other?
Yogi’s, Soma, Tutto Bene, Chocolate Moose, Bloomingfoods, Casablanca, Bistro et Crepe, Mikado.

Looking back, what do you…

Miss the most from “the old Bloomington?”
Top Pick: White Rabbit
Other Kirkwood Establishments: The Den, Noble Roman’s, Ladyman’s, Jiffy Treat.
Around Town: the original Encore Café, Pancho’s, Garcia’s Pizza, The Viewpoint, Hills, Putt-Putt, The Antique Mall
Still call by its old name?
Top Pick: The Von Lee & Indiana Theatre
Remember being a big local news story?
Top Pick: Jill Behrman
Close Behind: Westinghouse’s Proposal for an Incinerator and Toxic PCB Ash Dump in Bloomington.
“No Incinerator. Stop Toxic Dump”
-COPA
Consider being a quintessential Bloomington moment?

“The Big Dig, the Greetings fire, the riots downtown relating to men’s basketball in 2002.” -Alexandra Simmons
“1987 Basketball Championship (even though it didn’t happen in Bloomington). Also the Bob Knight controversy. Any of them. Nothing says Bloomington like controversy. Speaking of which, the new one is the installation of the concrete beads on Kirkwood. I love it!”
-Kyla Cox

“South winning the state championship in football.”
-Christina Galoozis Hill

“When IU beat Duke to go to the Elite Eight in 2002”
-Eric P. Van Gucht

“Taste of Btown” -Courtney McCullough
“When Bobbie Knight left.”
-Priscilla Portinga

“Going to the farmers market & seeing all of your close friends & listening to 3 different types of music being played at the market.”
-Jada B

Thinking forward what do you…
Hope to see more of in Bloomington?

Top Pick: Local Business/Local Anything
Hope to see less of?
Top Pick: Apartments (Large Brick) “Monstrosities a la Smallwood.”
Close Behind: Corporations/Corporate Anything, Generic Chains
Worth Mentioning: Interstate Highways, Smoking on Campus, Cars
Consider an exciting local project?
Top Pick: B-Line Trail
Worth Mentioning: BEAD District, Sex Week @ IU Fall ’08, Painting of electrical boxes, Boxcar Books moving to a more central location.
Want new people to know about Bloomington?
Representative Quotes:
“Its borders go BEYOND campus and The Square.” –Christina Galoozis Hill
“This city isn’t an airport bar. Don’t just get drunk and move on. There’s a lot of great events and strong culture if you choose to accept it. There’s a world outside of campus.” -Tim Rice

How ’bout those gas prices?  Why would you want to spend money driving to get fruits and vegetables when you can do an energy-efficient saunter to the back yard and find what you need?  Lettuce, tomatoes, asparagus, radishes, apples and blueberries all can grow well in our area.  But this list is by no means exhaustive—zucchini, strawberries, and many other fruits and vegetables are a few of the many options.  Shipping costs have increased with the gas prices, and I’m no economist—but I’m pretty sure that those expenses are passed on to you, the consumer.  Kyle Jones at Worm’s Way confirmed that shipping costs have increased, and that local produce is a lot fresher anyway.

Are these tomatoes safe?  When was the last time you had a tomato without a second thought?  If those tomatoes were from your own backyard, you would know much more about them.  If you’re concerned about deadly diseases or harmful chemicals, you might consider growing your own tomatoes organically.  Organic doesn’t mean that you have to let bugs and other pests eat your prize crops.  Kyle revealed a myth about organic gardening.  He said, “A lot of people think organic is pesticide free, that’s not true.”  He cautions that even organic pesticides can be dangerous for children or pets.  I found that the ingredients in organic products were easier to understand than their counterparts.  When you grow and prepare your own fruits and vegetables, it’s easier to analyze the risks and benefits than with produce from an anonymous and distant farm.

I’m more of a recycler than a gardener; how can I get in on this?  At the risk of bursting into a Lion King song (if you live near Swahili back-up singers it’s more of a risk) just remember that gardening is part of a circle.  Composting is a common way to recycle waste (food, yard, etc.) into quality dirt.  Now, if you’re envisioning tall piles of grass clippings and yourself toiling away with a pitchfork, think again.  Worm’s Way has a product called “Enviro Cycle” which is a small barrel which speeds up the composting process with each turn of the barrel.  You could use a small trowel, your hands, or one of your 8000 Pizza Express cups to scoop out your bounty of fertile compost.  Who knows? Maybe you’ll enjoy reusing those food scraps more than the seagulls at the landfill would.  Your plants will thank you in their own quiet way.

Any other ways to reuse?  Of course!  Instead of using peat moss, which takes awhile to replenish in the natural world, you can use coconut fiber.  Coconut fiber? Worm’s Way carries this renewable peat moss alternative which is a natural byproduct of the coconut industry.  Like the old saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  The Sri Lankan coconut industry is trying to get rid of excess coconut waste.  Somewhere in Bloomington, someone is looking for a renewable peat moss alternative. So globally-minded folk can pick themselves up a lov-e-ly bunch.  It’s a beautiful thing.

What are some of the ingredients of successful organic gardening?  Well, coconut waste and table scraps aren’t the only things you can use in your quest toward becoming an organic gardener.  Other wastes, ranging from traditional to bat guano, can be at hand for your needs.  Kyle told me about a variety of animal byproducts that can be used too: bone meal, blood meal, feather meal.  I never expected soil to have such a carnivorous appetite.   With organic gardening you can “feed the soil,” as Kyle says, “and let the soil feed the plant.”

Bat Guano, coconuts, blood meal… isn’t this too much trouble? Well, organic gardening can take a lot of work.  In many ways, though, it’s more sustainable than mainstream methods.  Many of the fertilizers and other materials which are not-so-organic can have fast effects, but can easily be washed away with a heavy rain or as changing seasons.  Organic fertilizers generally stay in the soil longer than their cheaper counterparts.  So, think of it as a long-term investment rather than a quick fix.

If you are considering expanding your gardening world, I recommend visiting Worm’s Way and other local gardening centers.   Talk to friends, neighbors, and other local gardeners to learn more about the advantages of growing your own food.  Visit the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market to talk directly to organic farmers.  Next time we have a nationwide scare about tainted vegetables, you can be making a delicious salad with spinach and tomatoes you grew in your own backyard.

To check out Worm’s Way visit:

Seven days a week, from 10am to 6 pm.
7850 North State Road 37
Bloomington, IN 47404
800-598-8158 • 812-876-6425
www.wormsway.com

This is not all doom and gloom; successful efforts have already been made to “preserve Indiana’s disappearing landscape.” While some of us look outside and see housing additions and strip malls emerging, others see something else popping up. Across Monroe County and twenty five other counties in southern Indiana you may have noticed signs being placed that read “This land protected by Sycamore Land Trust,” or the newer, “This land protected forever by Sycamore Land Trust.”

Forever; that’s a pretty long time. Next time you drive east on 46, putter around Lake Lemon, or find yourself in a natural area, look for these signs. They are showing up everywhere. I have to admit, when I first saw these signs in my neighborhood, I found them a bit cryptic. After all, what is a “land trust” and what does it do?

Sycamore Land Trust offers creative solutions to several community needs. A primary function of Sycamore Land Trust (SLT) is to protect land in 26 counties in southern Indiana. John Lawrence at SLT gave insight as to what a land trust does. “We protect land by owning it outright, acquiring it though donations or purchases, and then managing it to preserve its special qualities- like planting trees, or removing harmful alien plants,” states John. “We also work with private landowners to protect their land with conservation easements. A conservation easement is just a contract with a landowner, which places permanent restrictions the land’s use and runs with the property’s title.” Lawrence stresses that a conservation easement might be useful for someone who wants to protect woods on their property for future generations, but wish to continue owning the property. SLT also offers an environmental education program- an excellent way to involve area students with environmental science activities.

Staying politically neutral, SLT focuses primarily on preservation, leaving the reasons up to the individual donor or land owner. John Lawrence points out that SLT’s approach to conservation is “something everyone can agree on.” When describing the process, John shares, “We stay out of politics and we don’t take side on issues, which allows us to work with folks from all walks of life. By sticking to land ownership and easements, we don’t turn anyone off and thereby maximize our opportunities to preserve more land for the good of our community.” The people at Sycamore Land Trust try to make the organization accessible to an array of community members.

There is something for everyone to get involved with at SLT. A quick visit to www.sycamorelandtrust.org will introduce a variety of events and activities. SLT recently hosted “Paint Outs” at Touch the Earth in Bartholomew County and at the Beanblossom Bottoms here in Monroe County. This event was related to “Art for All Seasons,” a collaborative effort between Sycamore Land Trust and Gallery North on the Square. In addition, a Mother/Daughter hike took place in the Beanblossom Bottoms in observance of Mother’s Day. “Quarries: Old and New,” a joint effort between SLT and Bloomington Parks and Recreation, will highlight a variety of quarries in Lawrence and Orange counties on June 28. “Moon and Stars: Looking and Listening at Cedar Crest,” will be hosted at SLT’s headquarters on July 12. Visit the calendar link on SLT’s website and you can find out about these events and others. As Sycamore Land Trust grows, opportunities to enjoy properties will increase.

John Lawrence cites that growth has been one of the biggest changes for Sycamore Land Trust over the past few years. “The organization was founded in 1990 by a group of dedicated volunteers, and by 2000, they had protected about 500 acres. They also hired SLT’s first employee in 2000, Christian Freitag, who is now the Executive Director. Since then, our protected acreage has increased from 500 to almost 5,300 acres, which is over 8 ¼ square miles. We have the support of over 700 current members and a staff of five employees, two full-time. Our annual membership meeting has grown from a backyard potluck to a dinner at the Bloomington Convention Center with nearly 350 people in attendance. As protecting the environment is on people’s minds more and more, they have been giving more support to SLT to allow us to protect more land.”

Sycamore Land Trust has grown rapidly over the past few years, and you might be asking yourself, “How do I get involved?” While donating land or getting a conservation easement would be quite helpful, many of us do not find ourselves in a position to do so. As to be expected, SLT accepts monetary donations. In addition, an Individual/Family membership costs $30 and comes with several member perks. Attend SLT events, tell your friends and neighbors, point out protected land to visitors in your area. Sycamore Land Trust continues to do an excellent job of “preserving our disappearing landscape.” I hope, with community support, they will be able to remove the word “disappearing” sooner rather than later.

To rekindle this youthful zeal for bikes, I recently visited the Bloomington Community Bicycle Project. As I approached the brightly colored building, I noticed a woman kneeling on the sidewalk working on her bicycle. As true a sign of spring as a daffodil emerging, in my opinion.

Upon entering, I became engulfed in a flurry of activity. People whipped by with bike parts- visiting highly organized bins of donated materials before quickly exiting out the side of the shop. After several cyclists wove around me entering and exiting the shop, I followed the flow outside via a large garage door to the left. Outside appeared to be the quintessential work area. Catching my full attention was the field of bikes in varying shapes and sizes positively blossomed from the pavement. Tandem bikes (which I think catch everyone’s attention), mountain bikes and road bikes were all receiving parts or adjustment. The people working on the bikes were just as varied, a true cross section of our community. A steady stream of compliments passed between people admiring one another’s bicycles.

According to the organization’s website (www.bloomington.in.us/~bikeproj/) the Community Bike Project serves several functions:

• They have bikes for sale at bargain prices.
• They offer an “earn-a-bike” program based on volunteer work.
• Advocacy for alternative transportation, reuse and recycling.
• Workshops & Classes
• Providing tools for public use
• Bike distribution
• Art

Aside from the in-shop functions of the Bloomington Community Bicycle Project, the people involved provide advice for biking in Bloomington. A Bloomington bicycle map is provided with information about designated bike routes, bike shops, and even steep hills. A series of illustrations reminds riders of guidelines for riding a bicycle safely and with consideration. On the website you can also find Bloomington’s Alternative Transportation Plan and what to do if you have a “close call” while traveling on Bloomington Streets.

At the shop, I talked with Greg Clarke about his experiences working with the Community Bike Project. He emphasized that it truly is “community run.” People donate bicycles and parts, or take classes, or volunteer to help others with a love of bicycles. Though winter is generally less bike-friendly than the other seasons, the shop maintains evening and weekend hours for cyclists in the community. I can understand why people are drawn to this concept. Older parts in good condition can be reused, and new parts can be provided at reasonable costs, making it not only community friendly, but environmentally friendly.
When I asked Greg if Bloomington seems bike friendly, he indicated that it is, though if you ask Greg what would make the city more accommodating to cyclists, immediately reply “more bike lanes.”
The Community Bike Project definitely seems Bloomington friendly: it is community run, low cost, and an environmentally conscious endeavor. By reusing bike parts, waste is reduced and bike repairs and maintenance are quite affordable. To find out more about the Bloomington Community Bicycle Project visit:

214 N. Madison Street

www.bloomington.in.us/~bikeproj/

_____

Many of us have considered alternative forms of transportation but have yet to act. As I fill up the tank of my Civic and watch the dollar amount skyrocket toward $35, I daydream about the days when $15 was enough, and the days when I could coast on my bike to almost anywhere I wanted to go.

It is difficult for everyone to bicycle from “Point A to Point B” but you may decide to develop your own hybrid model of transportation. The Bloomington Transit has bike racks available free of charge. More information can be found at www.bloomingtontransit.com under services. IU endorses bicycling, as well. At a low cost of $5, students are able to register their bikes. For IU bike policies visit parking.indiana.edu.

Being a native myself, I was not introduced to Bloomington via Indiana University—it was the other way around. People often view IU as the provider, so I asked James Capshew, an IU Historian, for clarification on how Bloomington serves as an enabler for IU sustainability. Without hesitation, Capshew was able to identify copious ways in which IU benefits from Bloomington. For example, support staff play a vital role in the daily functions of IU. The support staff often consists of Bloomington residents, a workforce which is already present and does not have to be recruited from afar. However, Capshew said local workers are not the only commodity creating a distinctive culture unique to IU. “Hoosier Hospitality,” as is Indiana’s informal state motto, greatly enhances the operations of the university.

In addition, there are several “bricks and mortar” examples of how Bloomington provides a nurturing environment for IU. Capshew offered the example of the limestone used for IU buildings, a local natural resource quarried and milled by local people. Local artists have contributed to the aesthetic of buildings, like the limestone owl on Maxwell Hall. These are features that make IU unique.

The city and university also collaborate in several important ways. The City of Bloomington maintains the roads around campus, while IU maintains its own parking lots. Bloomington has a long history of water issues. IU built University Lake (on the current IU Golf Course) when the city water was scarce due to droughts. In fact, when IU geologists were employed to find an ideal lake location in the 1920’s, the Griffy site was selected. The university once again uses city water—and it makes sense when looking at the size of University Lake compared to the university itself.

Next time you attend an IU game, you will probably see a Bloomington Hospital ambulance parked near the playing area. This is one of the many services that Bloomington Hospital provides for the IU community. I talked to Amanda Roach, Media Relations Coordinator at Bloomington Hospital, to find out more. She highlighted a slew of services available: Prompt Care for minor illnesses and injuries, Rebound for physical therapy, Behavioral Health center, community health services like nutrition classes, and even a regional center for women and children. “Children…on campus?” some may question. Yes, there are many children on campus and a variety of community services for them, too.

There are certain parts of campus where the youngest person may be 18, but there are several children who live on campus with graduate student parents. Not so long ago, in the history of IU, these children might have attended University School at 3rd and Jordan. University School grew as a collaborative concept between the Monroe County Community School Corporation and officials at IU. Many of the children who live on campus attend present day University School, other MCCSC schools, or local private schools. Maybe there are not children attending school in the heart of campus anymore, but Bloomington’s children provide IU with something else: test subjects. Entering the Psychology Building, one can often find ads or bulletin boards relating to children. Many of the participants are from the Bloomington community. Several of my elementary school classmates and I have been active participants since 1987.

Some people believe that Bloomington would be nothing without IU, and maybe it would not be the same Bloomington. IU would probably still exist without Bloomington, but it would be very different. The fact is, the two have become interrelated throughout their history. Perhaps IU would be little more than a cluster of run-down buildings at 2nd and College, the former location of the campus. Private land owners have made many contributions to the IU campus. Many of the faculty and students occupy private real-estate rather than living on campus. There are countless ways in which Bloomington and IU feed off of each other.

While researching, I passed Downtown Dental on Morton. I stopped in my tracks to examine a decal; it was the familiar CampusAccess logo. Slightly bewildered, I considered how CampusAccess encourages the IU world to use local businesses. In turn, local businesses provide services to IU students via CampusAccess. I walked by Bloomington Bagel Company—only to see again the CampusAccess logo. Later, I addressed my Chipotle craving—CampusAccess was available there, as well. I must admit, I used to scoff when I heard students ask, “Do you take CampusAccess?” but apparently this system has really taken off. According to the CampusAccess website (cacard.indiana.edu) there are over sixty off-campus locations that take CampusAccess. Remembering my original mission, exploring how IU benefits from Bloomington, I examined the steps it takes to become a business that accepts CampusAccess. It costs $300 up front and another $115-$320 depending on the equipment the business chooses. It takes 2-3 weeks from the submission of the CampusAccess application to the time CampusAccess can be accepted.

IU and Bloomington often take each other for granted. It must be normal for this to happen around the 200 year anniversary of the two being interrelated.

It reminds me of how I never realized how many one way streets we have in Bloomington until I gave directions. “No, that part of 6th street is one-way,” I’ll say, “but if you take this street it will take you to a two-way street.” I am amazed at how often I have heard someone say, “Finally, a two-way street.” The relationship between IU and Bloomington is not a one-way street, as some might like to think. IU gives, Bloomington takes. Bloomington gives, IU takes. The relationship may change, but the dependence of one on the other is something that stays. Next time you look at the dynamic between IU and Bloomington, take a moment to appreciate that it is one of the oldest and most heavily traveled two-way streets in town.

Under the darkness of a November sky, an array of community members file into St. Thomas Lutheran Church with oddly shaped cases and rickety metallic devices. To any average 3rd Street onlooker, this might be quite the strange sight. However, this is quite normal to members of Bloomington Community Band. From about 6:30 to 7:00, St. Thomas’ Heritage Hall fills with friendly people of all ages and backgrounds. They remove their shiny instruments from oddly shaped cases and position their rickety metal music stands. The sounds of tuning accompany stories about the preceding week, discussions about computer problems, and announcements about the well-being of other band members. As the start time nears, fragments of holiday tunes fill the air. It’s that time of year for Bloomington Community Band, holiday time.

One of the greatest features of Bloomington Community Band is that it’s a group that performs in a variety of places at a variety of times. This summer you may have heard the band performing at the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market or at Picnic with The Pops. The band upheld tradition of playing on the courthouse lawn for the 4th of July parade. Bloomington Community Band also stretched the performance boundaries by performing down in French Lick. So, you might be saying, “thanks a lot for telling me about all the wonderful performances I’ve missed this year, what can I do about it now?” There is one more chance to see Bloomington Community Band perform in public this holiday season.

In addition to performances at Bell Trace and Redbud Hills Retirement Center, the Bloomington Community Band will be performing at College Mall on Sunday, December 9th, at 2 P.M. Though the specific location is undetermined at this point, mall personnel or your natural attraction to music will guide you to the right location.

When you are feeling overwhelmed by holiday shopping, please stop by and listen for a few minutes or the whole hour. Enjoy the music that your community members play. You might hear old favorites like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” or a blend of Sousa and sleighs with “Jingle Bells Forever.” It’s a great opportunity to spot that co-worker who drums in his cubicle all day, your neighbor who plays lovely flute music, or that trumpet player who went to your high school. To find out more about Bloomington Community Band you can visit: http://bloomingtoncommunityband.com/. You will find a schedule of upcoming performances as well as history and information on how to join Bloomington Community Band.