Summer in Prescott

One thing I love about Prescott College is the option to take classes in the summer. Not only do these classes—with names like Public Art: Mural Painting, River Guides Training, Surfing and Oceanographic Principles of Wave Dynamics, Sustainable Urban Food Production—sound awesome, there’s a huge variety! All the areas of study are represented in the list of summer courses, so everyone can find something relevant to their studies.
Sometimes, though, you want a summer off to do other things. This summer I’m staying busy outside of school: I’m working in the admissions office at Prescott College, and as a barista in a local coffee shop. I also scored an internship with a local artist, where I’m learning how to make paper out of all kinds of materials from denim to roses. This internship is right up my alley—I LOVE making things. Recently, with my lack of homework, I’ve had more time to spend on small projects—this Saturday, I hit the farmer’s market with my partner Jack, and we let the day take us from there. I’ll take you through our Saturday in a few blog posts—recipes and directions included. :)

Jack and I have a 4-mile round-trip hike to the farmer’s market, and recently the weather has really started to heat up the early morning. We try to leave the house before 9, so that our food doesn’t wilt on the walk home. Before we left, I set up a batch of sun tea so that it would be ready in the early afternoon. If you’ve never had it before, sun tea is pretty much the best summer drink, hands down.

To make it, you’ll need:

• a big glass jug or jar (I use an old Carlo Rossi wine jug, but lots of grocery stores sell sun tea/lemonade jars) 
• water 
• A few tea bags. For my personal blend of sun tea, I use the following mix of tea
• bags: 2 plain black, 1 lemon, 1 spiced orange (I like “Constant Comment” by Bigelow), and 1 ginger. Go with what sounds good to you! It’s pretty much impossible to go wrong. 

Dangle all of the tea bags into the jug, and fill it up. Screw on the cap/cover the top to keep ants out, agitate it a little, and find a spot where the jug will get a few hours of sun. Leave it out all day (4-8 hours, the longer the stronger), pour it over ice, and enjoy!

Now, on to the market! The farmer’s market is open from May to October, and there are a number of vendors who provide food for the CSA run through the Prescott College bookstore during the school year. The market is held every Saturday in the parking lot of Yavapai College, from 7:30 to 12. From the Prescott College end of town, take Sheldon toward P Mountain (actually Badger Mountain).

http://www.prescottfarmersmarket.org/

Whipstone Farm is one of the tents Jack and I visit every week. This time, we bought a dozen eggs, some lettuce, and sugar snap peas. They always have a huge blackboard with their offerings for the week. One thing I’d love to try is their edible flowers—maybe next week…

There’s always live music going on—this week it was Tim and Sarah Crews, PC faculty and alumna (respectively).

Tim is currently teaching the agroecology summer suite with Rebekah Doyle—next summer I’m hoping to get into the summer semester, for my minor in small-scale agriculture. Sustainable, local agriculture definitely has a strong hold in the hearts of Prescott residents, and the farmer’s market is proof! If you’re interested in studying agroecology/agriculture/food systems/food justice, Prescott is a great place to see sustainable, earth-conscious ideas put into practice every day. I love the fact that I'm working directly farmers, supporting local agriculture. Getting to meet the person who grew the corn, canned the pickles, or picked the berries makes a big difference in how you view your food. My corn is a little sweeter, the pickles a little more amazing and the mixed berry pie--well, you'll find out in the next blog.

~Claire Tuchel, 06.18.2012

Morgoth Story Time!

I’ve been prompted to tell a heartfelt story about Prescott College!

This past semester after spring break I started to get real sick, I didn’t how sick or why I was sick until it was too late.  But to spare everyone the gruesome details I had complications from an intestinal surgery two and a half years ago (which is another crazy story).  I didn’t know this but at the end of March this year my colon had sealed itself off and nothing was passing through my system.  By March 22^nd of 2012 I had already began dying and no one had a clue.

By the morning of the 23rd I thought that I had the stomach flu and the community came together and took care of me while I was horribly sick.  For someone who doesn’t own a car and walks everywhere moving around with organ failure is kind of difficult.  The students here fed me, drove me around, opened their houses, and let me use their comfy beds.  The students did this for me!!!!

Before 6 am in the morning Monday the 26^th when I literally thought I was going to die from pain my friend took me to the hospital (carried all my stuff in), wheeled chaired me around, and even sat with me in the emergency room for hours!  

A few hours later and a ton of intestinal scar tissue removed I was spending a week in the hospital, of which I had as many visitors as I wanted, and afterwards I had such a heartfelt welcome at school that I knew that I was at home and these people were my family.  Even after my release from the hospital the student and greater Prescott College family are taking care of me!  

I mean… family members provide the kind of support that I received from my friends here.  I was literally dying and it was the Prescott College community that saved my life and brought me back to health!  The love is so powerful here that you can literally feel it (I accredit it towards much of my healing)!

I love this place.

I love these people.

Photo: Lucy, Ellen, Will.  These are three of many of the people who watched over me and cared for me while I was staying at Ellen and Zach’s house.  Much love to you all!!!

They are my family; they enable and empower me not only to live but to thrive!
 

I have a fierce passionate gratitude for Prescott College, and this is just one of many reasons why!

~Morgoth, 06.19.2012

Public Art: Mural Painting class proudly presents: Xeppe, Desert, y la Gente

The Public Art: Mural Painting class proudly presents: Xeppe, Desert, y la Gente

at Prescott College’s Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies

Bahia de Kino, Sonora, Mexico

Please read the interpretive statement below.  To view more photos and learn about the mural project and process, please visit the course blog (maintained by student Sarah Cupka): http://publicartmuralpaintingkino.blogspot.com/

Xeppe, Desert, y la Gente

Sea (Comcaac), Desert (English), and the People (Spanish)*

This mural represents the mission and vision of the Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies.  Based on themes of environmental conservation and research, education, and outreach, the mural reflects the cultural and biological diversity of the Midriff Island region, while focusing specifically on priority species and ecosystems, cultural interactions, and complex conservation challenges.

Kino Bay Center Mission Statement: Protecting priority species and habitats through integrated application of science, education, information exchange, and community participation

Kino Bay Center Vision Statement: Promoting and modeling collaborations between people from different cultures and institutions to co-create solutions to complex conservation challenges

The mural depicts, from left to right:

Collared Lizards, Crotaphytus dickersonae

Double-crested Cormorants, Phalacrocorax auritus

Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus (vertebrae)

American Oyster Catchers, Haematopus palliate

Red Mangrove, Rhizophora mangle

Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens

Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus (blow)

Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus (fluke)

Short-finned Pilot Whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus (dorsal fin)

Brown Pelicans, Pelecanus occidentalis

Red-billed Tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus

Leatherback Sea Turtle, Dermochelys coriacea

Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus

Nudibranchs, Chromodoris norrisi & Elysia diomedea

Manta Ray, Manta birostris

Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

Gulf Sun Star, Heliaster kubiniji Xantus

Sierra Mackerel, Scomberomorus sierra

Fishhook Barrel Cactus, Ferocactus wislizeni

Desert Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis nelsoni

Cardon Cactus, Pachycereus pringlei

Spiny-tailed Iguana, Ctenosaura similis

San Esteban Chuckwalla, Sauromalus varius

Agave, Agave americana

The merging of visual elements in the mural is intended to represent the integration and co-creation that is fundamental to the philosophy and practice of the Kino Bay Center.   Our intention is that this mural will have many interpretations; our hope is that it will initiate questions and conversations about relationships amongst the natural environment, culture and community.

Xeppe, Desert, y la Gente was designed and painted by Prescott College’s Public Art: Mural Painting course in May 2012.  Instructor: Julie Comnick; Students: Claire Andreason, Lauren Brule, Celia Chatham, Mara Clifton, Sarah Cupka, Andi DeRivera, Maria Doffing, Audrey Hamann, Chelsea Phillips, and Mikial Tolmosoff

*Interpretive statement will be translated and posted in English, Spanish, and Comcaac (Seri).
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