• holmes hall
• typical room layout
• residence life recycling
• college of agriculture
• college of arts and sciences
• department of forestry
• department of earth and environmental sciences
• uk center for applied energy research
• uk research in energy and environmental protection

GREEN stands for "Gaining Real Environmental Experience Now". This Living Learning Community allows students to study the tenets of environmentalism and sustainability and put them into practice in their lives. Regardless of major or previous experience, first year students enroll in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary Discovery Seminar geared toward their collective overarching interest in our natural world. Residents will learn about the impacts of their daily decisions on natural resources and will actively work to reduce these impacts through innovative transportation, energy, and food decisions.

Students who participate in this community live with other people who value their same beliefs in protecting and saving natural resources. The community shares space in Holmes Hall. The students live in a community that is largely self-sufficient, plans and maintains an organic garden, and creates community dinners from this garden's produce in a co-operative living environment. Holmes Hall will also serve as a headquarters for student initiated projects that enhance the sustainability of our community, campus and city and will provide hands-on experience in a variety of interconnected fields.

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“Being G.R.E.E.N. gives me a sense of community and that community is making a difference and shows that people do care about the earth.”

“Being G.R.E.E.N. means being responsible.”

“It has been nice to know that as a community we have made a difference to the environment.”

“I never recycled before living in Holmes and for the first time I am making a strong effort to. The (G.R.E.E.N.) dinner was great I will be back!”

“Through my RA’s aspirations and nudging I decided to come to the last G.R.E.E.N. dinner. I wish I would have come to the others because the Dinner was great. I also hope to be able to go to the farm next time and help pick the vegetables. I highly appreciate the dinner because I know it’s fresh!”

courseinformation

Course Information

DSP 130-004 On the Way to Green: Making an Integral Society
Mike Mullen‚ Tony Roccanova‚ Mark Williams
TR 3:30-6:00 pm

Much of the discontent we witness in the world today comes from our lack of understanding and misuse of something that is most near and dear to us, something that we simply cannot live without. This something of course is the Earth. The aim of this seminar therefore is to set forth some modest beginnings in an attempt to rectify this dilemma. Specifically we will explore ideas for integrating agriculture with building, we will show how the traditions of agriculture and building grow from the earth and we will see how an earnest application of these traditions can lead to sustainable living practices, more humane urban settlements, better land use, good architectural design, and healthful food production and consumption. The course will comprise of selected readings, energetic discussions, field trips, hands-on applications, cooking, and eating.

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Mike Mullen has a PhD in Soil Microbiology from NC State. He teaches soil and environmental sciences classes, and his research focuses on nutrient transformations and soil microbial ecology in agro ecosystems. Currently, he is involved with organic and sustainable farming systems.

Anthony Roccanova is an Associate Professor of Architecture. He is actively developing a project to provide architectural services pro-bono in Lexington. Recently, his work has involved wedding building and agriculture in sustainable processes. He is a painter, sculptor, builder and craftsman.

Mark Williams is an Associate Professor of Horticulture. A native Kentuckian, he went to UK for his BS in Botany. After returning from graduate school in California, he has focused on sustainable horticulture crop production, new curriculum in sustainable agriculture, and directing a newly created student-run organic farm.

enews

eNews

The GREEN Living Learning Community has its very own newsletter for members! To take a peek at this exclusive resource... click on the images below. Newsletters are distributed each month and provide interesting articles, important academic updates/information, a calendar of campus and Lexington events, recycling events, sustainability and green-related programs/events/etc., and so much more! The best part is, students can contribute articles, events, letters to the editor, etc. The GREEN LLC Newsletter is unique to the needs and interests of its members - no other newsletter out there is like this one! Check it out!