Season 3, Episode 12: Haley

In this episode, John Whidden introduces Hailey, a senior at U Chicago. They discuss practical air-cleaning tips, Hailey's Produce Peddlers initiative, her involvement in triathlons, and efforts in campus composting. Hailey emphasizes the self-serving benefits of sustainability and the value of community-supported agriculture programs. Lastly, she shares hopeful insights from her experience at COP 28.

00:00 Introduction and Milestones

00:51 QuickFix: Air Purifying Plants

01:27 Meet Haley: Background and Connections

03:22 Produce Peddlers: A Community Initiative

05:21 Triathlons and Environmentalism

07:03 Phoenix Sustainability Initiative

09:40 Composting Tips and Challenges

14:19 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

16:13 Hope for the Future: Reflections from COP 28

17:38 Conclusion and Farewell

https://produce-peddlers.getlandingsite.com/

https://www.psiuchicago.com/

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Transcript

Haley 0:00

hi, I'm Hailey and you're tuned in to Climate Action Figures.

John 0:13

Well, good day and welcome to the 55th episode of Climate Action Figures. My name is John Whidden and this week on the show you get to meet Haley. Now since I mentioned that this is episode 55, I went into YouTube to check out our total views and I found out that we have just passed the 4 000 mark. And for those of you who listened to the podcast, we just passed the 2 000th download. So thank you for joining in the fun, and we appreciate you, uh, being with us. And speaking of audience on to this week's QuickFix, which comes to us from Heather in Calgary. Heather says, skip the air purifier and clean your air with a plant instead. She says try snake plant, and I'm putting up a photo right here because, I wasn't sure what a snake plant was. I know what it is, but I've just never heard it called a snake plant. She says that removes toxins and adds oxygen. English ivy for allergens, or flowering plants like chrysanthemum lavender or Gerbera daisy for general air pollutants. Welcome, Haley.

Haley 1:28

Well, hello hello! Thank you for having me. That sounds like a great plan. Always love to have plants around me, they're like little friends, always very encouraging. Um, and they won't criticize you at all.

John 1:40

Good point.

Haley 1:41

You on.

John 1:42

Excellent point. So we thank Heather for sending that in, and I'll add that, uh, you know, the Gerber Daisy, I do know about that one because I was hearing a scientist interviewed years ago, who worked with NASA and they use Gerbera Daisies, I believe in space because it's the, the best plant they found for producing oxygen from the carbon dioxide they breathe in. So Gerbera is a good thing to have around you for oxygen.

Haley 2:09

pro tip from NASA.

John 2:10

There you go. And in our house, I know for humidity, we don't even use our humidifier anymore because as you can probably see, we have lots of plants around. Now Haley, I had to kind of untangle this web in my head as to figuring out how we were connected. It was, uh, it was first Globe Aware who contacted us to tell us about the cool things they're doing, and they suggested Kimberly would make a great guest. So I looked in the organization and it was, promoting responsible global volunteering. And that sounded cool. So I asked them if Kimberly was a youth since that's who we interview as a rule, and she replied that she was dubious, but she recommended Alida, who was featured in episode seven, and Alida was such a hit, I asked Kimberly if there were any other youth that she might recommend, and she gave us your name, at which point I realized that she is your mother. So far, so good.

Haley 3:01

Yeah, so far, so good.

John 3:03

so Kimberly said,"I have a daughter, a senior at U Chicago who serves on the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative and created Produce Peddlers where she rescued and collected and distributed food". And, uh, we put a link to that in the show notes and, uh, there's a lot to unpack there. So let's start with the Produce Peddlers, because you've, uh, just mentioned pre-recording that, uh, that's kind of changed and morphed. So, uh, tell us a bit about that.

Haley 3:31

Produce Peddlers started after I worked in Seattle. Um, my first summer after my freshman year, in college. Um, I was working for Pike Place Market and I noticed that food systems seemed like this low hanging fruit for ways to, um, both interact with the community, eat healthier, um, that this was something that I could contribute to. and I'm not a, environmental studies major, it's not something that I have a lot of technical skills with, but I definitely wanted to make an impact in my community. So I was thinking about this and at the time I was training for a Half Iron Man and I was cycling with, this group in Seattle and I noticed that there was this one group that every Sunday they went and they collected food from local grocery stores and then redistributed in the community. And I thought, this is such an amazing project. Um, I feel like we could definitely do something like this in Chicago since, um, at that time I was the only woman on the cycling team, and I noticed that people have this idea of cycling as this very, like, fast-paced, um, not approachable sport, so this would also be a way for people to engage with cycling and think about sustainable transportation too. Um, so I. Got a group together of volunteers and we started rescuing food and brought it to a local food pantry. But then we noticed that they would have a lot of food waste, so we would bike the compost to a compost bin, um, a few blocks away. And it was just a really satisfying, fulfilling experience. Um, we kept it up throughout the winter and spring and um, yeah, it was a great experience.

John 5:11

That sounds like a wonderful idea and uh, I think folks can still go to the website and have a look if they're interested in creating their own version of this. Is that right?

Haley 5:20

Yes, absolutely.

John 5:22

Now we have to go off on a tangent here for a second because you mentioned half Ironman, which is significant and, and that, and we'll talk about that in a second. But noticed on, uh, the website that you are a triathlete and you're on the U Chicago bike team as well. So you have to tell us a little bit about those things and that half Ironman and how that maybe connects into, uh, does or does it connect with your environmental mindedness?

Haley 5:50

Well, one thing I, so I'm no longer cycling with the cycling team, but I am really involved with triathlons still, and something that I think connects both of them is this humility to try things that you're not experts in it's this perpetual mediocrity is how I describe triathlons. Everyone in cycling knows that triathletes are the worst cyclists. Everyone who runs knows that triathletes are the worst runners swimming, et cetera. Um, and I feel like that's the way that people should have. Approach environmentalism is that you don't need to be an expert to be able to make a significant change. I'm a global studies and sociology major. I'm definitely not in a lot of the technical areas where you see people who end up having careers in, um, climate activism and so I think it's just important to remember that no contribution is too small and to try things, even if you're not the best at them.

John 6:46

Those are wonderful reminders. Thank you, Haley, because we don't need to be the best. It's something. And you know, that's, that's what the, the QuickFixes and things on this program are about: you don't have to be changing the world. We just do a small thing and hopefully that takes us in the right direction. So

Haley 7:01

Oh, for

John 7:02

thanks for sharing that wisdom. Now let's talk about the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative, something you're involved with at UChicago, tell us about that.

Haley 7:11

So the Phoenix Sustainability Initiative is a student run group that does everything sustainability at UChicago. Um, I'm specifically working on the compost committee, but they've done a lot of different projects, like starting a thrift store on campus, looking at creating green data and working with education about sustainability. All of these things are completely run by students.

John 7:35

What have you been able to do at the university around compost?

Haley 7:39

We have been able to work with students and provide a heavily subsidized composting service, that they can use through Urban Canopy. So they give you a little bucket. And instructions on what you can and can't compost, and you can choose weekly, biweekly, monthly pickups, and it's really affordable. We usually, um, I know that I pay about. I think it's$12 a month split across my roommates. So it's a super cool program and we've been expanding it to try and find more sustainable solutions like creating community bins, reaching out to, um, local businesses and departments directly to see if we can have people contribute to a larger bin instead of having to foot a lot of the costs on their own. So that's kind of what we've been working on recently.

John 8:27

Oh, that's great. And if people want to look more into that and what you're doing, get some ideas about that. We have put the, uh, the link in the show notes, and tell us what they'll find when they go to that website.

Haley 8:37

Yes, on that website you should find a list of the different project groups. They usually are pretty good about providing stats, um, social media handles. Um, and if you're a student at U Chicago, you can also find links on how to get involved in campus composting, you can find the closest bin. We have a, a project group, that hosts a lot of events related to the arts and upcycling and finding ways to repair your clothes or usable newspapers. So it's a great way to just get involved and meet people in the community and feel like you're doing your step.

John 9:11

And as you have created these, uh, the composting or other ideas that you've followed through on with this group, uh, if a young person is thinking, what could I do around my university? I mean, obviously if you're trying to do a composting program in buildings, there are problems with that because it's difficult, you know, how do we deal with the material? How do we make sure the flies don't come, et cetera, et cetera. What's the easy way to accomplish something great around a university? Well.

Haley 9:40

I'm gonna answer this in two parts. One is there are three reasons that people usually hesitate to compost. Um, one is exactly what you said, people think that it attracts rats and bugs. Two is people think that it smells. And the third one is that people don't really know what to compost and what not to compost. Um, I will say that in most cities there is an independent entity or company that lets you compost independently. You don't need to like wait for your district or like permission from some. Uh, neighborhood organization to start composting. They, it starts, um, just online opening a tab and looking out how to compost in my area. It really is that simple. And when you sign up, they will usually give you a big painter's bucket with a huge lid that seals away all of the smells, and keeps rats and pests. And all of the things that you don't want coming into your house out of it. The best way to visualize this is think about all the food that would, you would usually throw into the trash that's probably stinkier and more appealing to rats and pests than it would be in this sealed container that, you know, you get to put out on the curb and not deal with, and it goes to a great cause. But in terms of something really easy that I think everyone can do, just using your freezer and thinking about, um, preventing food waste instead of having to worry about where you put it. Um, there's a way to think about how much food you eat in a week and then also, people don't realize how much you can actually freeze and store, um, before you throw something away.

John 11:19

Okay. And since you're a composting expert, it would seem, I have a question for you because a friend of mine recently said, knowing that we compost as much as we possibly can here said, have you done worm composting? And I know all about it, but I've never done it. And he said, oh, I've gotta get you a worm composter. So tell us, worm composting in the house versus regular composting. What do you think?

Haley 11:40

I don't know a lot about worm composting, but from what it sounds like, um, and something that I learned through Produce Peddlers is one of the biggest areas of resistance in any food system is transportation. And if you can do something in home, in your house that you don't have to outsource, then you're probably saving gas and resources that are being used to do it in another place. So, um, worm composters in your house. Thumbs up.

John 12:07

good points. Now I have a question sort of out of the blue for you, Hailey, and that is, do you feel like your generation are dealing with problems that you didn't create? Is there a general sense of that amongst your cohort?

Haley 12:20

I think sometimes, um, but more importantly, there's this narrative that doing something for the planet is something altruistic and that you have to be doing something for something greater than yourself. But the truth is, is that being sustainable is incredibly self-serving. Um, if you're using your resources wisely and thinking about how you are treading on the planet, then you will end up living a very fulfilling and, rewarding lifestyle. I mean, I spend a lot less money not wasting as much food or not paying for things that I don't have to pay to consume. A good example of this: I went vegan during COVID. I previously was vegetarian, but um. I was an athlete back then and everyone was telling me that your iron levels are just gonna drop. You're not gonna get any B 12, you're not gonna have any energy to perform. Um, so I was really scared of going vegan for a really long time. So I started, after all of the races were canceled, and as soon as I went vegan, I noticed that my performance increased exponentially. I had energy all day. Um, my splits went down and it was self-serving. I realized that my grocery bill. Was cut in half. And I never thought about the ethics or environmental footprint of it until I started getting involved with vegan clubs on campus and doing my own research. Um, that said, I will say that, you know, um, as with any diet, this is extremely personal. People shouldn't just adopt diets and cut things out of their routines, without doing research and thinking about the impact that I might have on them. So that's a very specific story to me, and I don't wanna be an evangelical vegan.

John 14:12

Very interesting. Now, before we let you go, we need to ask about your climate action, and you've chosen an interesting one for us today. Tell us about that.

Haley 14:20

Yes. So community supported agriculture programs are so underutilized and they exist in so many different cities. Um, a community supported agriculture program is basically a subscription to produce, and it helps to insulate farmers from some of the salary volatility they have in having seasonal harvest. And other kinds of weather and consumer-based variables that can cause volatility for them. What that means for us, me and my roommates will get a big box of seasonal delicious produce every week, and it's a surprise. So I'll get things like shishito peppers and butternut squash and all of these in-season delicious produce. I don't even have to think about it. And it's cheap, sustainable, and. So much fun. So if you can find a CSA program in your community, I highly recommend doing that. And I also know from working on the other side of this, that it has a lot of really interesting unforeseen effects. So for example, if people are eating local produce, then a lot of the times they have a higher stake in the environment and have a more positive view of the local government. People eat healthier and they feel more connected to the community. So, it is really self-serving and it's something that you can do in a very cheap and sustainable way.

John 15:41

And it challenges, your cooking skills, right?

Haley 15:44

Oh, absolutely.

John 15:45

We gonna do with this?

Haley 15:46

Well, I have a tip for this.

John 15:48

Okay.

Haley 15:49

friend and I consistently use the, um, monster salad. So Since a lot of the time they'll throw in a lot of extras. Um, and if there is extra produce, then we can just put it in the salad a lot of the times it tastes really good. There are a lot of different flavor combinations that we would've never tried otherwise.

John 16:07

You never know what might taste good in your salad.

Haley 16:10

So true.

John 16:11

Great final point from Hailey. Last question for you, Hailey: what gives you hope?

Haley 16:16

I think what gives me hope is that idea that, um. Being sustainable is self-serving. And that people, and especially small companies are starting to realize this. I was part of the U Chicago cohort to COP 28 and a little overview of the structure of COP for people who are unfamiliar is that there are different zones, of people who are involved in this climate conference. The most exclusive zone are, you know, governments and, um, large agencies. The second one is, you know, schools, um, still larger businesses. And then there's the green zone, the most inclusive zone. And that's open entry: anyone can come in and the place where I saw the most positive change and you get to see the most innovative ways to tackle climate change are by individuals and small companies who have that flexibility and are able to incorporate that into their business models. So I think that makes me hopeful that people are starting to realize that if you think about how your product will decompose or how your company might end or how a building might not be a building in a few years. Then it becomes this not existential thing that you have to deal with, but a source of hope and a challenge for innovation.

John 17:38

Very interesting and thanks for that insight into COP and thanks so much for joining us today, Haley.

Haley 17:45

Thanks for having me.

John 17:46

And thank you dear viewer or listener. If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment to think about who else might like it and share it with them. We will be back again next week, same time, same place to hear from another climate action figure. Until then,

Haley 18:01

Go figures!