The Finger Lakes are sprinkled throughout central New York and aquatic species are an inherent part of our ecosystem even though we don’t live next to the ocean. Ithaca is at the tip of Cayuga Lake, one of the larger Fingerlakes. Cayuga Lake is full of wonder and mystery at first glance, especially since the…
Author: Helen Trejo
Helen Trejo is a sustainable fashion advocate and co-founder of Fiber Novation Loops LLC, a social enterprise that explores the intersection of fashion, agriculture, and technology to support the long-term sustainability of US fiber farms. Helen received her B.A. in fashion design from UC Davis, and her M.A. and Ph.D in Fiber Science & Apparel Design at Cornell University.
www.helenxtrejo.com
Ithaca’s spring!
I walked by the downtown Commons earlier today and it is a mess. They are deconstructing the center area of the Commons to make it easier for people to navigate through the space during seasonal festivals. I’m glad they are reconsidering the layout because it felt like I was in a can of sardines when…
Reflective Construction @ Cornell
Every Tuesday and Thursday I walk by the construction zone of the soon to be Bill and Melinda Gates Hall that will house Computing and Information Science in January 2014. Every time I walk by, I notice the reflection it gives of its surroundings. In the photo, it is reflecting the image of clouds, but…
Preservation of Voices, Culture, and Land
With population growth, there is greater need for basic resources. Energy is a basic resource that is a part of our everyday lives. In Los Angeles, I experienced a few black outs, but electricity returned within 3 hours. In Davis California, I experienced one and remember using a flashlight so that I could do my…
Water Pollution in the name of Progress
As our demand for resources escalate, more community members are realizing the trade offs that come with living in the modern industrialized world. A small suburb town Mayflower, Arkansas is witnessing the consequences of “progress.” The Pegasus pipeline, which is associated with the proposed XL Pipeline in Canada has covered residential land, forest area, and…
Giving Value to our Sustenance
We nourish our bodies everyday by providing it with adequate food and water. But is our use really adequate, or is it over-adequate? A first world issue may not be a lack of food or water, but a lack of “good” food or lack of something other than water. Statements like “I have nothing to…
Grazing Across Lands and Among Species!
I am in great anticipation for the Ithaca Spring and Summer. The Fall was so beautiful and my first Winter in the east coast was not as bad as I expected. I was very excited to see a pair of Canadian geese grazing this afternoon. I was so excited, it reminded me of a visit…
“Natural” and “Artificial” Boundaries
Lately boundaries have been more noticeable. Everyday I walk down a hill towards the Ithaca commons and see signage “Downtown Ithaca.” This makes the division between the residential area I live in and the downtown area obvious. While walking down the hill everyday, I also always see the Six Mile Creek below. This Creek leads…
Education Reform and John Legend
Yesterday, John Legend came to Cornell and discussed how education inequality is the civil rights issue of the 21st century. The inequality stems from early education programs, including pre-school and elementary. At a young age students are divided into class structures based on preconceived intelligence that is oftentimes determined by the community the child is…
Loving Alpacas while Gaining Ecological Knowledge
I was very excited to visit the Alpaca Cass Farm in Davis CA. It will be interesting to compare the information I learned here with information I will learn from a visit to an Alpaca farm in NY in a few weeks. When I first entered their area, the Guard Llama, shown in the photo…
Parallels in Ecosystems
In a recent visit to California, I was very excited to see the Spring. In a previous post about Beebe lake in Ithaca, I noted that there is a harmony in nature, specifically through the photograph of the 2 geese in the center of the photograph. Observing the geese travel in pairs was heart warming…
Transience and Beauty of Beebe Lake
I walked around Beebe lake on a very windy day. Earlier in the day it was 28 degrees and I got snowed on, by the time I got to Beebe lake, it was nice and sunny, but still cold. I typically see the waterfall when I cross the footbridge. This is a great natural landmark…
Age & Durability
It is amazing to imagine that Cornell University was founded in 1865 and is over 100 years old. As an educational institution that provides opportunities to develop intellect and contribute to a greater development of society, it makes sense for the University to exist for such a long time and have such a strong reputation….
Developing Narratives with Clothing and Connections to Place
I first met Audrey Acosta, one of the kindest designers ever, in Spring 2009 at the Whole Earth Festival in Davis California. I was charmed by all of her colorful one-of-a-kind dresses. In an internship with her, she explained that she traveled to India once a year and hand-picked recycled silks to use for her…
Towers!
I recently found an article about the “world’s largest and most expensive family home.” The home is worth $1 billion and is 568 feet tall with 27 floors, several high speed elevators, and a garage that can house over 100 cars. The home is called “Antilia” and belongs to the Ambani family, the richest family…
HELEN TREJO 