URBAN CONVERSION II
# 201: "Back to Nature"
Topic: Healing Qualities of Nature and Mental Health
Rodman is consumed by work and obligations in a fast paced technology filled lifestyle. A therapy session with Reuvain Bacal leads him to the realization he is suffering from Nature Deficit Disorder. Following doctors' orders, he finds himself hiking Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, horseback riding in the wilderness and taking part in a fire ritual. Going beyond a topic, Rodman learns to connect with nature in a way that may change his whole outlook on life.
#202: "Freegan Awesome!"
Topic: Food Waste, Foraging, Gleaning, Dumpster Diving (Freeganing)
In the U.S. alone, 133 billion pounds of food are wasted each year. It’s no surprise that gleaning, foraging and freegan ideology are becoming a popular trend in the face of that number. Rodman and Gina join Freegan vlogger and co-creator of FallenFruit.org, Ethan Welte for a hands on demonstration of the good that can be done through gleaning local farmers markets for food banks, urban foraging for wild growing fruit and, in a segment that will test Rodman’s (and the viewers) limits, Ethan takes Rodman dumpster diving to get an up close look at the U.S. food waste problem.
#203: "Upcycled Art and Fashion"
Topic: Upcycled Art and Fashion
Rodman and Gina expand their artistic horizons at PalletFest, a festival dedicated to putting upcycled art and fashion on display. In the process, Rodman works with an upcycled fashion designer who makes clothing out of discarded bike tubes, squares off with Gina in a team based competition to turn shipping pallets into large sculptures and visits with eclectic artists turning trash to treasure.
#204: "Zero Waste: Home and Office"
Topic: Waste Reduction in the Office and Home
Gina begins working at the office with Rodman and is troubled by the lack of a green policy, recycling and composting. She asks her friend, corporate green consultant Stacey Lambright to come by and audit the office…much to Rodman’s surprise. He is put on the spot as Stacey shows him where he can improve and gives him his green grade. To turn the tables he asks Stacey a favor. Gina is then surprised with a knock at the door and green audit of her own. Finger pointing ensues as Rodman and Gina debate who did better before Stacey puts an end to it with a trip to an actual landfill to see the where trash actually goes if it’s not diverted.
#205: Building Small
Topic: The movement to living simpler by reducing spaces carbon footprint (and mortgage payment).
Rodman and Gina are looking towards the future and what their next home may look like. Their liaison to alternative-environmentally friendly building practices, Brian Fuentes, sets them up on a tour of three examples of living simply and small. Rodman and Gina weigh in on a tiny home, a (literally) hand made cordwood home, container home and even get a laugh out of a tree house.
#206: "Alternative Building"
Topics: Large scale eco-building
After coming to terms with the fact that a family of four probably needs a bit of space, Rodman and Gina continue to explore what other types of alternative builds could be in their future. They are introduced to a family built rammed earth construction home, the benefits of retrofitting an existing build and learning about the environmental benefits of straw bale housing.
#207: Clean Energy 101
Topic: Wind Power, Solar Power, Climate Change
Rodman, a global warming skeptic, puts his views to the test as he visits with climate change expert Casper Ammann. Casper lays out the stakes, leading Rodman to get his knowledge of clean alternative energy solutions up to snuff. First, he visits NREL where he learns the basics of wind energy from expert Fort Felker. Fort then directs him to a backyard where a smaller turbine helps power a single home. Next, he is put to work by Namaste solar, where he learns about the theory behind installing solar panels to contribute to the grid. Still wondering how he will bring this into his own life, he is introduced to the growing phenomenon of solar farms.