October 20. 2010
^.lorthinò (Observer
Page II
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A better Future for All Oregonians
with John S w eeney
Candidate for Director # 2
at Large East Multnomah
Soil & Water
Conservation District
Erin Stan forth (right), sustainable practices coordinator for Portland Community College, shows off
the rocket composter to staff and faculty at its unveiling ceremony on the Rock Creek Campus in
northwest Portland.
John Sweeney is an
advocate and
defender of the
American Way of Life
Rocket Composter Boosts Recycling
Device is the
fourth of its
kind in country
Portland Community College is
proving that composting and creat­
ing an effective closed loop recy­
cling system isn't rocket science.
Last week, the college's Rock
Creek Campus joined a select few
institutions o f higher learning in the
United States in im proving its
sustainability by unveiling its new
rocket composter. The rocket, which
will help recycle post-consumer
waste, is the fourth o f its kind in the
U. S., the only one west o f the M is­
sissippi River and the lone rocket
composter in the country being used
for post-consumer waste like plas­
tic and paper service ware.
"We really walk the talk," said
Rock Creek President David Rule.
"People talk about sustainability,
but PCC, and Rock Creek in particu-
lar, are really doing it. “
plates. Before the rocket composter,
The composter was entirely a the campus had to send all o f its
student-driven process.
post consumer waste to the local
"A lot o f us have been looking landfill.
forward to this day for quite awhile,"
As a benefit to student learning,
said J e f f C h ristia n , stu d e n t the rocket composter, which is a
sustainability volunteer. "It repre­ long metal cylinder, will have a data
sen ts
te c h n o lo g y
th a t
is log computer on it to monitor real
underrepresented and fairly new in time sampling o f conditions inside it
the United States."
for use in biology, environmental
In e s s e n c e , th e ro c k e t science, chemistry and landscape
com poster is a self-contained, technology classes to further their
c o n tin u o u s -c y c le c o m p o stin g research.
unit, Christian said. It allows daily
By creating four stages o f micro­
feeding o f service ware and the bial decomposition, the rocket is
harvest o f com post. To speed up able to compost faster and in greater
the process, it regulates water, volume than other technologies. It
tem perature and hum idity to fa­ will fit well into the Rock Creek
cilitate four stages o f the break­ Campus's loop system where stu­
down o f the com post.
dents grow produce in the campus'
The Rock Creek Campus already learning garden for use in cafeteria
has an award-winning loop system and then recycling pre-consumer
featuring red worms that break down food waste using a composting
leftover food scraps. But as Chris­ worm bin. The loop is completed, or
tian said, the 40,000 worms in the closed off, by using the compost
campus composting bins have their produced by the worms to fertilize
limitation and cannot break down the garden.
Promoting Good Soil, Water
A north Portland resident who
sees the prom otion o f good soil
and w ater as m ajor factors in the
livability and stability o f local
neighborhoods is a candidate for
the East M ultnom ah Soil and
W ater Conservation District in the
Nov. 2 vote-by-m ail election.
Chris Jackson, has lived in the
city since 1983. He has worked in
the Portland Bureau o f E nviron­
m ental Services as an electronic
______ _
system specialist for the past 15 Chris Jackson
years. His jo b duties include in­
spection work at soil and erosion
prevention sites. He is continu­
ing his professional education by
enrolling in the Clean W ater pro­
duction program at Clackam as
Com m unity College.
Jackson said he w ould like to
see more m icro farm ers and com ­
m unity gardens in the m etro area.
A nother priority is encouraging
the building o f w ell-designed, soil
erosion controls.
Voting is hiring!
Hire John Sweeney by voting!
Vote for John Sweeney!
Call 503-548-7198 orjsweeney88@gmail.com
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EMMANUEL
C hurch of God in
C hrist United
4800 NE 30th Ave. Port­
land OR 97211
503-335-8772
You are cordially invited
to worship with us in
these services:
Sunday Service
Sunday School 10:00 A.M
Y.P.C.E. 6:30 PM
Pastor & Wife
Bishop & Mrs. A.L. W right'
Worship Service 12:00 Noon
Evangelistic Service 7:00 PM.
\
Weekday Service
Tuesday Night: Bible Study 7:00 P.M.
Friday Night: Regular Service 7:30 P.M.
Prayer Meeting & Seminar: Monday - Friday 12:00