UH 300: Literature of Sustainability

Instructor: Adam Weinstein

Office: RJ 12
Hours: MWF 9-10, and by appointment
Email: amweinstein@crimson.ua.edu

Course Description
This course takes a look at the contemporary movement embracing sustainable farming
and eating. The readings are all geared towards these ideas, yet you’ll find that the
authors do not all agree on what certain key terms mean—for instance, sustainable and
organic—or prescriptive solutions—for example, whether or not one should eat meat.
Our goal then will be to not only learn about the movement, but begin to define these
ideas and terms, and find solutions for ourselves.

Required Texts
Kimbrell, Andrew. The Fatal Harvest Reader. [Paperback version]
McKibben, Bill. Deep Economy.
Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore’s Dilemma.
Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation.

Assignments
Each week you will be required to write a short (500-750) response to our readings. The
questions for these responses can be found on eLearning under the discussion tab.
EVERYONE MUST POST THEIR RESPONSES TO THE DISCUSSION BOARD BEFORE EACH
CLASS PERIOD. LATE RESPONSES WILL LOSE A FULL GRADE. A On the first day of class we
will settle on a reading schedule: specific students will be required to read their
responses each class as a way to prompt discussion.

Service Learning
Each student will be required to complete 10 hours of service learning over the course
of the semester. Students will work in the school garden at University Place Middle
School, where they will help tend the garden and learn about organic growing methods.
The class will be split into two groups, and, depending on a schedule we can agree on,
each group will spend one hour each week OUTSIDE OF NORMAL CLASS TIME working in
the garden. We will decide on this schedule on the first day of class. Failure to complete
the service learning requirement will greatly affect one’s grade.

Garden Days
Students will be expected to show up on time, wearing appropriate clothing (I highly
recommend pants, close-toed shoes, a hat and a pair of gloves. Sunblock is also
recommended. Open-toed shoes are a bad idea!). I will bring a cooler with water, but I
also recommend a water bottle. There are no restrooms at the garden site, so come
empty.

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Garden Location (1.3 miles from campus)
[If you ride a bike, be careful crossing 15th street! This is a terrible intersection! People
drive terribly! There is no crosswalk! Write your congressman a letter about this
intersection! (Sorry about the rant, but seriously, be careful)]

The garden is located on the large field behind University Place Middle School. The
address for the school is: 2000 1st Avenue
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401-5007

Directions from Nott Hall: Head south on Hackberry Ln toward University. Turn left at
18th St. Turn right at 4th ave.

Field Trips
Take note: There are three field trip days. The Snow’s Bend trip is the only one that will
require a car. We’ll discuss location, rides, etc, but these will take place during class
time, and you’re expected to be there.

Grades
 Weekly response paper (lowest grade dropped): 10 points each (total points: 100).
60% of final grade.
 Garden work: each garden day is worth 10 points, with 10 total garden days (total
points: 100). 20% of final grade. Students who miss more than 3 garden days will
receive no credit for the class.
 Attendance: 14 classes, each worth 10 points. 20% of final grade. Students who miss
more than 3 classes will receive no credit for the class.

Disability Statement
If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me
as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a
disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit
133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course
adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during
office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services,
133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

Policy on Academic Misconduct

All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to
observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects
from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline.
Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any
knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.

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The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic
misconduct.

Severe Weather Protocol

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens
activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and
laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward
the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and
remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado
warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the
instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning
has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.
UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will
remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of
Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These
counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals
should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary
precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the
Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or
severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.
When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is
imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service
and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that
faculty, staff and students take. The Office of Public Relations will disseminate the latest
information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:
• • Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
• • Weather advisory sent out through Connect-ED--faculty, staff and students (sign
up at myBama)
• • Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
• • Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
• • Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA 7. WVUA 7 Storm Watch provides a free
service you can subscribe to that allows you to receive weather warnings for Tuscaloosa
via e-mail, pager or cell phone. Check http://www.wvua7.com/stormwatch.html for
details.
Other
A few extra rules:
1. I will not tolerate any comments that I deem racist, sexist, etc, or harassing or
discriminatory to other students in any way. I will ask you to leave immediately if comments
of this sort are made, and I will report you.

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2. I will not tolerate plagiarism. We will cover plagiarism in class but be warned: if I suspect
plagiarism, I will turn your paper into the dean, and the matter will no longer be up for
discussion (with me).
3. There is to be zero tobacco use in class. DO NOT CHEW TOBACCO IN CLASS!
4. Turn your phone off at the beginning of class. If I see you texting, etc, I’ll ask you to leave.

Tentative Schedule

Date In Class Homework

M 8.23 Syllabus  Written Response 1

 Reading Schedule  Building Soil for Better Crops, Part 1 (On
 Garden Schedule eLearning)
 FHR Andrew Kimbrell, Introduction
 FHR: Wendell Berry, “The Whole Horse”

M 8.30 Discuss Readings  TOD (1-273)

Readers:  Written Response 2

M 9.6 Labor Day (No Class)

M 9.13 Discuss Readings  TOD (275-411)

Readers:  Written Response 3

M 9.20 MEET AT FOUNTAIN IN FRONT OF Continue readings

THE FERG (WE WILL BE TOURING
THE DINING HALL)
Readers:

M 9.27 Discuss end of TOD  FHR Industrial Agriculture’s Toxic Trail

Readers: (119-165)
 Written Response 4

M 10.4 Discuss readings  FHR Ecological Impacts (166-221)

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 Readers:  Written Response 5

M 10.11 Discuss readings  FFN (1-108)

Readers:  Written Response 6

M 10.18 Discuss readings  FFN (109-270)

Readers:  Written Response 7

M 10.25 SNOW’S BEND FIELD TRIP  Continue reading FFN

 Jonathan Safran Foer, “Against Meat” (on
eLearning)
M 11.1 Meet on quad for cooking demo and Written Response 8
picnic
Readers:
M 11.8 Discuss end of FFN  DE (1-95)
Readers:  Written Response 9

M 11.15 Discuss readings  DE (96-226)

Readers:  Written Response 10

M 11.22 Movie: Food Inc Continue Reading DE

M 11.29 Discuss end of Deep Economy Eat something tasty that you can feel good
Readers about!