This week our field trip was hosted by our previous field trip host to the UC Merced Community Garden, Allajah Wheatley. On the first days of autumn, which felt more like the middle of summer in the Merced heat, we walked over to get a tour of the Recycling Center on campus, which oversees the processing of recycling and compost for the northeast side of campus starting north of the canal which divides UC Merced. There she built upon what we learned about in mid-September about her work as the Zero Waste Coordinator and how all the different systems at the UC work together to maximize sustainability.
At the recycling center, we learned what it’s like for student staff to work at the recycling center and all the 
different challenges that have risen over the years from its operation, from labor laws restricting work hours due to the Merced heat, setting up the recycling processes to maximize productivity, and how to deal with all the critters on campus. We learned Allajah is especially well positioned in giving students a good idea of what it’s like working there. After all, she worked in the Recycling Center while pursuing her bachelor’s degree at UC Merced for four years before graduating and being offered her current position managing the center as Zero Waste Coordinator. On top of learning what it’s like working there, Allajah told students about all the work benefits like year-round guaranteed union employment and having the second highest hourly rate for student employees on campus.
Last time Allajah hosted our class, she
mentioned how establishing the Community Garden led way to other projects, namely the orchards we have on campus. These donated orchards provide food for residents on campus and form part of UC Merced’s efforts towards sustainability. These orchards are located very near to the Recycling Center, and after giving us a rundown of the recycling operations, the group headed over to the orchards to see them in person. There, Allajah elaborated more on what it was like beginning the project, giving us details like why the specific trees were chosen and the challenges they pose. It was a great ending to the field trip being able to catch the trees lively and green, right before autumn and winter shed their leaves.
Now with Allajah showing students to the Community Garden, Recycling Center, and the orchards, students came away with a concrete and tangible idea of the initiatives being taken and the people who are responsible for leading these initiatives. Many people are able to see the importance of recycling and integrate that into their lives, but not many people have the opportunity to physically visit recycling centers to see the impact and effects of recycling in front of their eyes. This is what makes Allajah’s visit to our classroom so important; it gave us all a lens to contextualize the sustainable practices we participate in every day.
