University of Louisville Sustainability Council

UofL's CSA Farmer for the last two years, Keith McKenzie of K**b Hill Farm, will be experimenting with a new model this year to get you farm-fresh, organic produce without any subscription necessary! Check out his weekly, lunch-time, self-service farmstand, on Tuesdays 11am-1pm, just north of Belknap Campus at 1346 S. 1st Street. (opening this week on June 16, 2026). The self-serve stand accepts payment via cash, Cash App, and Venmo. https://louisville.edu/sustainability/operations/food

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, is thrilled to welcome back to the program Emily Kicklighter in her new role as the Louisville Rhizome Coordinator for the Kentucky Rural Urban Exchange! Listen now at https://soundcloud.com/wfmp-forward-radio/sustainability-now-emily
This is a perfect fit with Emily’s own heart and healing and initiative because of its broad focus on NARRATIVE as a community asset and relationship-builder. Tune in to learn what the Rural Urban Exchange is all about, and consider joining a local “Rhizome” experience such as coffee meetups, picnics, local walks or hikes, museum tours, community events, and more.

Upcoming Rhizome events in Louisville include:
• The SouthEnd Market/Iroquois Park Story Circle Event: Saturday, June 27th
• West End Women's Collab "My Granny is a Genius" Workshop: Saturday, July 18th @ 2pm
• Maybe It's Fate "Appalachian Transplant - house plant exchange" on a Sunday in August
• Valaterra Healing Story Hike and Concert Event: Sunday, October 18th 3-8pm
All of the RUX events will be posted on their website (and links will manifest if registration is necessary) at https://www.kyrux.org/rhizomes

Additionally, Emily is offering a "One Bite At a Time" 90-Day Empowerment Course for cancer patients as part of her Radical Remission work. Learn more at https://go.emilykicklighter.org and get in touch at [email protected]

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

Students: Don't miss this exciting PAID opportunity through the 7th annual Students Taking on Oil and Petrochemicals (STOP) Fellowship! The priority deadline to apply is August 1st! Read more about this year's program which runs from September 2026 thru April 2027 at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b9xJ350Wr_zD9XQ9FqdQN2fKX_dpfCXuwGPQysctkJ8/edit?tab=t.0
Application Link: https://tinyurl.com/STOP26Apply

UofL increases landfill diversion rate, finishes 2nd in 2026 Campus Race To Zero Waste

Final results have been posted and it is clear that the competition was intense in the 2026 Campus Race to Zero Waste! Building on our top-place finishes in 2022, 2024, and 2026, the University of Louisville raised the bar even higher this year, increasing our overall landfill diversion rate to 66.03% (a 1.71% improvement over our 64.32% rate in 2025) throughout the eight-week competition from February 1 – March 28....

UofL increases landfill diversion rate, finishes 2nd in 2026 Campus Race To Zero Waste Final results have been posted and it is clear that the competition was intense in the 2026 Campus Race to Zero Waste! Building on our top-place finishes in 2022, 2024, and 2026, the University of …

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, talks sustainable youth development with Lynn Rippy, Founder, President & CEO of Blueprint502 - Formerly YouthBuild Louisville. Lynn has worked for 50 years in youth development, helping open the Louisville Office of Youth Development prior to her work with YouthBuild. Listen now at https://soundcloud.com/wfmp-forward-radio/sustainability-now-lynn-rippy
You'll learn about some of the many initiatives and programs that Blueprint502 has underway, including:
1. The Smoketown Community Center - opened June 2025, as a hub for summer learning, connection, and opportunity, with offices and event areas available for rent.
2. Milestones Achieved
- Through SummerWorks in 2025, 2,358 young people registered for services, with 1,271 receiving direct support and 212 placed into sponsored jobs. The SummerWorks platform continues to expand, now connecting 262 private employers with more than 4,700 job opportunities.
- YouthBuild Louisville celebrated 28 graduates who completed the program and moved forward with stronger skills and clearer career pathways.
- Urban Conservation Corps program supported 15 members through successful program completion, while workforce-focused training continued to grow: 30 participants earned certifications through the Brownfields Job Training program, 17 individuals became Certified Apartment Maintenance Technicians, and 139 people received industry-recognized certifications through HazMat training.
3. The Rapid Growth of a Housing Program
- Housing Now Program provides safe, supportive, and empowering environments for young adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Three core components—Transitional Housing, Rapid Rehousing, and Supportive Services.

As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW!

Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org

We are thrilled to welcome people to our Silver-level Bicycle Friendly University with newly refreshed (and even repaved in one case!) bike lanes on University Blvd, Floyd Street, and Cardinal Blvd. Time to hop on two wheels and discover the joy, fitness, savings, convenience, and non-polluting transportation afforded by a bicycle! https://louisville.edu/sustainability/operations/bicycling-for-transportation

What a beautiful day for the grand opening of UofL's Gray St Farmers Market, in its new location for 2026 in the new LouMed Commons at 316 East Chestnut Street! It's open every Thursday 10:30am-1:30pm with great local food, crafts, and food trucks for lunch! Don't miss it! https://louisville.edu/sustainability/events/gray-street-farmers-market

Come and see us today until 1pm at the HSC Kornhauser Courtyard at S.M.A.R.T. SummerFest 2026! We're hanging with our friends from the Gray Street Farmers Market and selling UofL honey made by our bees right here on campus!!

Stop by the UofL Sustainability Council / HSC Green Team's booth at the 5th annual S.M.A.R.T. (School of Medicine Advancement, Retention, and Training) SummerFest and earn your way toward a free ice cream cone! SummerFest is designed to be an engaging and informative experience for School of Medicine staff and everyone at HSC is welcome! In addition to a resource fair, attendees can enjoy music, a dessert social, door prize giveaways, and interactive activities. It's a fantastic opportunity for networking, learning, and community-building!
https://louisville.edu/sustainability/events/s-m-a-r-t-summerfest-2026

Emma Beck wins UofL’s Bike Month Challenge 2026 as Team UofL pedals over 5000 miles!

Team UofL racked up tons of fun, fitness, and cleaner air, all on two wheels throughout the Bike Month Challenge, locally co-sponsored by UofL's Sustainability Council, and Get Healthy Now. Together, throughout May 2026, we pedaled a total of 5,086 miles on 345 rides, with 820 miles of bike commuting preventing 527 pounds of carbon pollution!

At the finish line, Emma Beck, a Metadata Librarian in Archives & Special Collections, wore the yellow jersey as the most frequent rider and best transportation cyclist of the month! She won a $50 shopping spree from our local sponsor, Middle of Town Cycling! Emma logged 209 miles over 56 separate bike trips, including 9 days biking to work (4th best)! Just by riding her bike to get places throughout the month, Emma racked up the 8th most miles of anyone on Team UofL. Ride On, Emma!

Kudos also go to Oncology Research Technician, Kamila Bujko, who rode the most miles throughout the month (an incredible 742 miles pedaled over 24 bike rides); Sustainability Director, Justin Mog,who racked up the second most miles (459) just by riding for transportation every day of the month that he was in town (30); and to our top new rider, Alumni Relations Specialist, Amanda James, who boldly rode 17 miles over two rides. Congrats to all!

Read full story: https://uoflsustainable.wordpress.com/2026/06/03/emma-beck-wins-uofls-bike-month-challenge-2026-as-team-uofl-pedals-over-5000-miles/

UofL’s Gray Street Farmers Market opens at new location this week – Thursdays 10:30am-1:30pm!

Thursdays, June 4th – Sept 24th, 202610:30am‒1:30pm New Location! LOUMED Commons • 316 E. Chestnut St. WE HAVE MOVED! We're excited to celebrate the opening of the market at our new location and kick off this exciting new chapter with our vendors, customers, and community! This new partnership gives everyone a great place to gather while keeping everything you love about the market the same....

UofL’s Gray Street Farmers Market opens at new location this week – Thursdays 10:30am-1:30pm! Thursdays, June 4th – Sept 24th, 202610:30am‒1:30pm New Location! LOUMED Commons • 316 E. Chestnut St. WE HAVE MOVED! We’re excited to celebrate the opening of the market at our new locati…