June 2024 Pine Press

Introducing Rowan Price, our Michigan healthy climate core activist.

Hey Folks!

My name is Rowan, and from March ‘til November I’ll be serving with the SHC through Michigan Healthy Climate Corps as our Sustainability Projects Coordinator. I have a lot of ideas for the role, and am excited to be back doing AmeriCorps stuff for the SHC again! If my name doesn’t sound familiar, I served as an AmeriCorps VISTA last year working on how we do maintenance and interface with the various cities we have houses in when it comes time to get inspected. I’m also the president of the Michigan Community Land Cooperative, which I personally think is cool and you should ask me about it if we run into each other.

To begin my role, I want to do a bit of work to understand the SHC’s actual climate impact as it stands, and then use that data to tell me where we can make the most improvement. Right now I’m working with Luca from Apollo to benchmark our houses’ utilities consumption data (Finance Officers, please send me along your electric bills!!) to understand how much energy our houses use to stay warm in the winter. I also want to know how our members are getting what they need and where they need to go, so I’m running a little member survey (QR code attached). Please fill this out and encourage your housemates to do the same! There’s also a second survey that I only need one person from each house to fill out, so poke your house officers to make sure they’ve got it!

In addition to figuring out how we’re doing right now, I’m also learning more about our choices for replacing equipment like furnaces and water heaters at the end of their service lives, as far as which models have the smallest impact on the climate (and your utilities budget lines!).

We’ve got a couple of furnaces that’ll need to be replaced in the next few years, and I want us to be informed and empowered to make the right choices when the time comes! It’s not super cool sounding or whatever but it means I get to think about heat pumps a lot, which I happen to like doing.

Besides filling out my survey, what can you do for the climate now? Engage with your elected representatives, start your house composting, and check out BWL’s rebates for newly-purchased electric appliances, like e-bikes and lawnmowers! Maybe there’s an easy transition your house could make before your lawn gets too long… And if you want to get really involved, you can indicate interest in joining the SHC’s Green Team, which will become whatever you want it to be when we get it rolling.

In Cooperation,

Rowan “The house with the most survey responses is my favorite, sorry Hedrick” Price (he/they)

Michigan Healthy Climate Corps Member: Sustainability Rowan “The house with the most survey responses is my favorite, sorry Hedrick” Price (he/they) Michigan Healthy Climate Corps Member: Sustainability Projects Coordinator rowan@spartan.coop

Member survey responses!

If you were given 100k dollars but told you had to move to another country and never return to the U.S, where would you go? Would you stay and reject the money?

I'm already moving abroad after undergrad, so I'd probably upgrade and go to switzerland! - Rebecca, Howland JAPAN!!! This was an easy one for me. I would love to live in Japan, and although they have their fair share of problems, with 100k, I'm assuming I could at least get a start with a new life there. It would be sad not to be able to visit the US anymore, but it would be fun to show my family and friends around my new neighborhood! - Sonny, Phoenix Give me that 100k NOW! I have grown fond of Michigan, and would have to get away from many of my creature comforts here, but I would probably move to Germany with my family :] - AJ, Vesta Prolly Ghana or Brazil. Getting paid to leave the US forever is a dream - Myron, Orion I would stay and reject the money because I would be worried about the costs of moving (and leaving my job and school) would ultimately be more expensive - James, Orion Anywhere I'd want to go has a high enough cost of living that $100k is not much money probably so I'd say no and stick to Lansing ! ! I like it here! ... canada. I'd move to canada. Small town, kinda up north, cheap. Buy the cheapest house I can and live off the rest. - Rowan, Hillsdale Switzerland - Rachael, Vesta I'd take it. Not sure where to go. Part of me just wants to live on the Caribbean. Part of me likes the idea of places with better benefits and care. I think I would just avoid places that didn't have sizable Black populations before the 80s. - Clay, Phoenix depressingly I would stay and reject the money cuz I dont think I could ever never return because id be leaving too many people behind - Becca, Vesta Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Conner, RaftHill Aotearoa New Zealand - Annika, Beal Scotland - Saylor, Beal

Hard choice between the U.S. and Japan, I'm probably leaning more towards Japan - Justin, Vesta

I would move to another country and take the 100k but I don't know where I would want to move. I would use some of the money to travel around until I found the best place. - Nina, Howland Mexico, hopefully I can get a good reference with one of the Avocado cartels - Jonathan, Phoenix Australia. I will not elaborate - Sam, Phoenix Yeah, let's go to South Africa. The US dollar is really strong there and I can probably finish my degree.

They still speak English and have cool animals and travel options. - Jake, Phoenix

Sounds of the SHC Idwgtbt by the booyah! Kids, Jacobs rest by foster parents, and race by Alex g MacKenzie, Phoenix Chloe Slater - Price on Fun - Rebecca, Howland ramooned - eric presley (song in simlish from the sims 3) on the square - mac demarco - AJ, Vesta Sloppy Seconds (Ick, Pt. 2) by Lay Bankz - Myron, Orion Back in my Dead Kennedy's phase - James, Orion whatever MacKenzie recommended me most recently (It was Death Chants, Breakdowns, and military waltzes - John fahey) Rowan, Hillsdale ^spotify playlist Kiss City, Blondshell - Rachael, Vesta Happy Nation by Ace of Base (solely driven by X-Men 97) - Clay, Phoenix meticulously created playlists inspired by my horrifyingly intricate imagination - Becca, Vesta (real gatekeeper answer if you ask me) Poppy meowing at my door - Conner, RaftHill ( I thought this was a poppy song at first so i added a random poppy song to the playlist) Gorillaz, Joost Klein - Annika, Beal WHERE YO DADDY by concrete boys and it was only a dream by Joey Quinones - Harper, Phoenix You make me feel…. By Cobra Starship and Sabi - Saylor, Beal Forever Love by X JAPAN - Justin, Vesta Cigar by Tamino - Nina, Howland A/B, album by Kaleo - Jonathan, Phoenix Chappell Roan - Sam, Phoenix Wagon Wheel mixed with the sounds of screaming children - Jake, Phoenix

What's your favorite game to play with/group activity to do with your house?

I really like playing jackbox games with other folks as well :] - AJ, Vesta Pizza box for drinking games, egyptian rat screw or coup for non-drinking games - James, Orion Solitaire. - Rowan, Hillsdale pizza box or fuck you - Rachael, Vesta I want more people to play King of the Castle with me. But I think what is also a good play is Secret Hitler. - Clay, Phoenix Baldurs Gate III / Secret Hitler (Board Game) - Connor, Rafthill Beal pickleball - Annika, Beal Pickelball!!! - Saylor, Beal Smash bros ultimate - Justin, Vesta Gardening/Landscaping intermixed with hanging out on the porch over the span of an afternoon/evening - Jonathan, Phoenix Monopoly - Sam, Phoenix With my haus it’s shitler, especially with the problem hausmates. I am also patiently waiting for the Gloomhaven group to form. - Jake, Phoenix

Book recommendations The fifth wound by Aurora Mattia (poetic novel) and Silence, full stop by Karina Shor (graphic novel memoir) - MacKenzie, Phoenix Anything by Dolly Alderton! - Rebecca, Howland Giovanni's room by James Baldwin - a really sad, but good dive into queer exploration and self-discovery in 1950s/1960s Paris. - AJ, Vesta Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi - Myron, Orion High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape, The Chromatic Fantasy (comic book) - James, Orion I do recommend books, yes - Rowan, Hillsdale.

Gone girl!! - Rachael, Vesta I'm re-reading Circe by Madeline Miller. Also just read The Will to Change by Bell Hooks and I consider it a must read for many people. - Clay, Phoenix The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch - Connor, Rafthill minecraft essential handbook - Annika, Beal where do I start? I've been reading "Girls Like Girls" by Hayley Kiyoko (yes its based on her music video), literally anything written by Casey McQuiston and Emily Henry, and as always the super niche Percy Jackson. - Becca, Vesta JADAM Organic Farming: The Way to Ultra Low-Cost Agriculture by Youngsang Cho 100 years of solitude by Gabriel García Márquez - Jake, Phoenix

What's the best reptile?

Skinks are the best because they have a stubby neck that looks silly, they have green blood (but do not try to make a skink bleed please, they are friends), they are also fans of digging, which I find cool because I also like digging sometimes. They are kinda shy, but are able to hunt pretty well. - AJ, Vesta This is a top tier reptile for sure! This submission has opened me up to the vast and beautiful world of skinks. There's so many different kinds and they're all beautiful. pictured here is a red eyed crocodile skink.

Crocodile - Myron, Orion Another solid pick from Myron. I appreciate the crocodile's ability to be both horrifying and goofy as hell. Just look at this guy! Crocodiles are actually the closest living relative to birds, with them both being the only living descendants of the archosaur. While I'm no evolution denier, that makes no god-damn-sense. But what in this life does?

Reptar from Rugrats - Clay, Phoenix This submission, forces me to admit something that I always get shit for when I do. And that is that I fucking hate rugrats. And I only allow myself one fuck a pinepress, so i hope you know i really mean it. The animation is horrifying, dare I say revolting, yes I do dare for it truly is.

But with all that said, I don't hate reptar, maybe it's my undying love for reptiles that makes it so, or just the fact they're the only thing in that show that doesnt make my stomach churn.

Our beloved VPE - James, Orion While I am deeply flattered, I must humbly disagree. Not with the reptile allegations that is, don't let my warm fleshy exterior trick you. I'm as cold blooded as they come. But I wouldn't say that I'm the best reptile, just one of the gang.

Your mom - Becca, Vesta While I do suspect I got my reptile traits from my mothers side. She had a habit of hiding under rocks, basking in an industrial sized heat lamp, and eating all the insects that would pop up around the house. How would you possibly know that becca? How? I don't take kindly to the connotations at all. She may be a cold blooded reptile, but so am I!

Lizard - Rachael, vesta While I cant necessarily be mad at this answer, it's valid. I was hoping for a specific species. But I didn't clarify that, so I'll take the blame this time, Rachel. I didn't know what to put here so I added an infographic about the different lizards that live in Georgia because it popped up when I googled lizards.

I have two notes on this graphic 1. Is a legless lizard not a snake? What makes it not one? This is too confusing, so I'm just not going to think about it.

2. WORM LIZARD!?!? Excuse me? Call me old fashioned but I like my worms to be worms, and my lizards to be lizards.

.Gharial bc it looks like an alien. or a painted turtle bc of the nice plop noise they make when they jump off a log into the water when u go by - Rowan, Hillsdale Rowan came through with an absolute banger with this one, so much so that I'm gracing him with two responses.

The Gharial is native to India and Nepal, and is one of the most ancient still living members of the crocodilian order.

Though they are critically endangered with only a few hundred still living in the wild. This is due to a few factors ranging from decreasing fish populations to the harvesting of their organs to use for aphrodisiacs :’( I also love the little plop these guys make when they jump in the water. Though I wish it wasn't them running away from me. I just wanna pat them on the shell and give em a little hit of my doobie. We could sit on the log together, pondering life and looking up to the stars. When the night comes to a close we’d part ways, never forgetting the bond we shared. But that can't happen, because they're too scared. And I must forgive them for that, but I'll never forgive humanity for making them fear me.

Gopher tortoise - Annika, Beal Happy to see some tortoise representation.

The gopher is native to north america, with range from florida to northern mexico. I personally didn't know there were any land tortoises native to America so that's pretty rad.

If dinosaurs count Ankylosaurs - Connor, rafthill Of course dinosaurs count! Fun MacKenzie fact is that when i was a kid i used to dream of being a paleontologist. And the Ankylosaur was one of my favorites too. All of the images of them that I found were far too dramatic for the way I like to imagine them. That's why I went with the picture I did. Cute, fun and full of childlike wonder. That's how I see them.

They were also herbivores, so I relate to them on that front.

Milk snake - Justin, Vesta Oh yeah, I love these cuties. There are currently 24 different recognized subspecies of the milk snake with a range from Canada to venezuela, making them the snake with the largest range in north america. The one pictured here is a Hounduran milk snake. They have transparent red eyes.

favorite mixed drink and how to make it Pornstar martini: 1.5 part vanilla vodka, 1 part passoa (or any passion fruit liqueur),1 part passion fruit purée, lemon juice, shake, and serve with a shot of prosecco :) - Rebecca, Howland gin and tonic: mix gin, and tonic water together. boom: you get a tasty drink that tastes like you licked the bark of a very sappy pine tree. - AJ, Vesta Vodka cran. You already know how to make it (it's in the name) but lime juice is the most important ingredient. - James, Orion I made a mint simple syrup w/ some of the mint that was taking over Hedrick's garden and it's very nice in almost anything you can think of ! Very refreshing. I should pick up a lime - Rowan, Hillsdale vodka cran. vodka + cran - Rachael, Vesta Sangria and with as much alcohol you can while still making it taste like juice - Clay, Phoenix Taylor Swift cocktail: Diet Coke and vodka (the aspartame gets you drunker faster) - Becca, Vesta 1 Part Kraken Rum, 3 Parts Rootbeer - conner, Rafthill Prob London Mule (gin + ginger beer + lime) or Americano (campari + sweet vermouth + soda water & orange garnish) - Annika, Beal

Makeshift Baja Blast; mix lemon-lime soda with blueberry soda (I forgot what both were called, but you can make it from the drinks offered at some dining halls on the campus) - Justin, Vesta Vodka Cranberry - 4 parts Cranberry juice, 1 part vodka with a lime wedge - Nina, Howland White Russian: 1 part greygoose, 1 1/2 parts Kahlua, over ice topped with half and half - Jonathan, Phoenix A classic daiquiri. Put lime juice and just a little simple syrup in a shaker with ice, shake it, then serve - Sam, Phoenix Get some ginger ale and add a scoop of ice cream. - Jake, Phoenix

What would your last words be?

I probably would just observe everything around me, and just try to think about the stuff that made life worth living :3 - AJ, Vesta Oh fuck - Myron, Orion Aghhh - James, Orion a few good options: "I am about to die." "Meeting Adjourned" "gharial bc it looks like a alien" Or more likely I'll make the best pun I've ever made, resulting in my grisly demise. - Rowan, hillsdale Bye - Rachael, Vesta Death, take me swiftly and sweetly - Clay, Phoenix Boop - Becca, vesta "Don't focus on winning the match, focus on enjoying it. Even the winners go back to the lobby." Peely - Connor, RaftHill Lalalalala - Anika, Beal Man I wonder what my last words should be - Jonathan, Phoenix Hey, wanna see a dead body? - Sam, Phoenix Wow this is painful - Jake, Phoenix

Best summer recipe?

Grilled Plantain. Maybe a nice pasta salad - Clay, Phoenix summers are good in salads but the prep takes forever and you need a BIG BOWL. Nice with radishes and feta. - Rowan, Hillsdale baileys strawberry pudding shots (for non alcoholic option, just don't add baileys) Ingredients: 1 3 oz. package strawberry instant pudding (I used Sonic Strawberry Shake flavored instant pudding, DONT GET THE KIND YOU COOK!!!)

1 cup milk 1 cup Strawberries & Cream Baileys' 4 oz. frozen whipped topping (½ an 8oz. carton) Instructions: Pour strawberry pudding mix into a medium mixing bowl. Slowly pour milk and Strawberries & Cream Baileys over the pudding mix and stir to combine. Beat with a wire whisk for 2 minutes, until combined and soft. Add up to half a container of frozen whipped topping until thoroughly combined with desired consistency.

Immediately spoon into serving dishes.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. shanny ust's (aj's mother) pasta salad ingredients: a box of rigatoni, tri colored if you can get it a big ass head of broccoli 1 cucumber 1 red onion three bell peppers (red, orange, yellow) a carton of cherry tomatoes black olives (they r lame, I hate olives, so you can add them if you want) pasta salad seasoning salt and pepper to taste a bottle of italian dressing instructions: boil your pasta (you can add a healthy amount of salt so that it is seasoned.) and strain. let cool in the fridge along side the italian dressing. dice the red onion into little bits. chop up the cucumber into slices, from there cut the slices into 4ths. chop up the bell pepper into small squares, alongside that slice the cherry tomatoes into thin slices. make sure to thoroughly check your broccoli for bugs (bugs are friends, but not in our food), and separate the broccoli flower from the stems (you should get little tree lookin guys). retrieve the noodles and dressing from the fridge, and add in all of your vegetables (olives go into the pasta salad if you are lame). throughly mix the salad together, incorporating most of the italian dressing as

you go along. add salt and pepper to taste, a few shakes of pasta salad seasoning and BOOM there you have it: a classic shanny ust pasta salad. - AJ, Vesta homemade popsicles - Becca, Vesta Onika burgers - Annika, Beal Hamburgers with minced onions and some spices mixed in - Justin, Vesta go to the convenience store, buy a canned beverage, ask for a brown bag - Jonathan, Phoenix Watermelon - Jake, Phoenix

If you were a mug, what would the shape and design on it be? - My MS paint renditions Rock climber mug even though I don't rock climb - Annika, Beal Didn't exactly know what to do with this, so I used my climbing experience to craft the perfect novelty mug that would be sold at a climbing gym. It'd be one of those small shitty travel mugs that always spills, an obnoxious color, and super overpriced. You can rearrange the holds on the mug to make different routes, and the little guy would clip to them.

Barrel Mug (its a mug that looks like a small barrel but it's actually a mug) Conner, Rafthill Simple, elegant, and timeless.

I have a mug that says "whore" with flowers on it so probably Becca, Vesta My finger hurts and dont have the energy to make this one, so i'm leaving this one to y’alls imagination.

Literally just make me a figure mug but make it transition goals - Clay, Phoenix So first of all, this was a lot harder than I thought it’d be. I hate this program so much, my finger won't stop locking up. Second, we all love you, Clay.

aspect ratio like 3:1 (tall), big handle for big hand, hand-thrown and kinda wobbly (but mostly flared out so it's easy to clean). a glaze made of the colors of a tortoiseshell cat and a little bit of green in there too. Guff - Rowan, Hillsdale This might be the perfect guff mug. Thank you for your (as always) incredible contributions! :”)

Diner mug (only correct option) w/ a checkerboard pattern - Rebecca, Howland

mid-size height, light lavender, straight cylinder with a handle slightly lower than the middle of the cup Johnathan, Phoenix This would be a good mug, in concept that is. If the version I made was to be actualized maybe not so much…….

I saw a mug shaped like a pig one, I think that would be pretty cool - Sam, Phoenix I request that you please show the horror you see on this page forgiveness for its existence. My finger really hurts from doing this at this point and she did not ask to be this way.

If your mug was not included in this article it is because you submitted it after the deadline, or it was too complicated to make in ms paint and im sorry but that shit was really hurting my fingers (I have joint and tendon issues that cause my fingers to lock up)