At a time when climate action is critical, RPRIG is planting seeds of sustainability right on campus
As climate change and related environmental issues continue to dominate the news headlines, the importance of undertaking sustainable initiatives cannot be overstated. A closer look at the University of Regina’s 2022-2027 Sustainability Action Plan reveals the addition of four areas of focus: climate action, education, research, and land use.
The Carillon had the chance to connect with Jana Rutten, the Administrative and Outreach Assistant of the Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG), a nonprofit organization on campus dedicated to social and environmental justice.
What sustainability projects is RPIRG involved in, and how are they beneficial for the environment?
We work towards both economical and environmental sustainability through our Green Patch garden which allows us to help combat food insecurity by being able to donate fresh produce to community food banks, while having diverse floral diversity that helps
our bee population. RPIRG also started the U-pass at the University of Regina and has put on bicycle workshops with the aim to prompt alternative modes of travel that are less harmful to the environment than individual driving.
How does RPIRG engage students to increase awareness in sustainability efforts?
RPIRG engages with its peers through having a public garden at the University of Regina. People are able to engage with our garden staff and be introduced to us as an organization. We have Green Patch gardening volunteer opportunities and garden related events, like our harvest celebration or our cooking/jamming workshops that allows our staff to talk with the public about sustainability, while allowing people to take part in the harvesting of the produce.
What challenges do you face when implementing eco-friendly initiatives?
Time, resources, lack of education, inaccessibility, lack of direction by the government, and it not being mainstream affect people’s ability to be eco-friendly. We work on trying to raise awareness and education as a way to help make more eco-friendly options known.
The plants also help contribute to our bee population by allowing them more plants to pollinate and harvest nectar from – Jana Rutten
The RPIRG Green Patch has been existent since March 2012. What do you have to say about the way the Green Patch has evolved in its sustainable practices?
Since we started the Green Patch, we have learned new eco-friendly solutions to protecting our plants. We have expanded the garden and the types of fruit, veggies and herbs that we produce. With each new plant we bring to the garden, our staff has had to expand their knowledge on how to properly take care of the garden, while providing it with the nutrients that it needs.
RPIRG installed the first phase of a public perennial orchard in 2019. How does this endeavor of the campus orchard resonate with the sustainable development goals?
The orchard acts as an extension of the garden, with the same goals and missions. With the berries in the garden we have been able to put on a jam workshop to teach people how to make their own jam. The plants also help contribute to our bee population by allowing them more plants to pollinate and harvest nectar from.
Other RPIRG Workshops
In addition to their commitment to sustainability, RPIRG also conducts a number of workshops for the students. For instance, the “What’s Right with You” workshop, which was held on August 30, taught the attendees how to reframe their thoughts as a way to strengthen mental health. “Often when we think of ourselves we tend to be more on the negative side or focus on what is wrong with ourselves, so this workshop focuses on how to gain a better self-image and wellness,” said Rutten.
Rutten explained that the “What’s Right with You” workshop was only one part of RPIRG’s Green Patch wellness series that focuses on wellbeing and wellness. Other events like dis-orientation week, a student governance workshop, and winter power-up workshops are also to come. More information about RPIRG’s events can be found on their website, rpirg.org
