Due to a shortage of time commitment and funding, events and other happenings at Our Common Ground has diminished in quantity.
What is Our Common Ground? Brian Webb, Houghton College’s Sustainability Coordinator who runs Our Common Ground, explained that the facility “is a community resource center” located on the second floor of the Allegany Harvest Cooperative Market off of Route 19. In the past, OCG has hosted workshops that “were meant to be educational experiences that promoted community sustainability and environmental and social awareness,” said Anna Dibble, previous assistant to Brian Webb. Some previous workshops included instruction in gardening, wildcrafting (medicinal herbs), and jelly-making. Webb stated that even though these workshops had great intentions, there would be times when no one would show up to them. “It was most often that we would get ten or fewer. Even five or fewer.”
Some struggles that Webb faced for the workshops were in advertising. Marketing to both college students and the community resulted in unknown preferences. Webb would hang posters at the community library and grocery store, as well as send out emails to the Houghton students. Looking back, he understands that this was not the most effective approach to advertising.
Because of the small amount of participation in workshops as compared to the extensive planning and preparation that goes into them, Webb plans to focus more on what he can do at the college for this school year. This does not mean that OCG is closed, Webb ensured; the recycling program as well as the lending-library are still happening. Also, the location is still open for renting. The workshops, however, “are indefinitely put on hold.”
Bryn Pearson, junior, an intern for Brian Webb this year, said, “I’m sad that the workshops won’t be happening, but I also think it is the logical choice. Even with my own work times as an intern, I would rather put forth my hours each week towards making big structural changes to how the college functions and towards sustainability in that way rather than trying to do little workshops where three to five people show up.” Dibble adds that, while sad that the workshops have ended, “I understand that there may be other more pressing matters to focus on right now.”
Webb’s current “priorities are the projects on campus that he has running,” said Pearson. Webb stated that “what seems to be the wisest use of my time and money resources is to focus on the things that I do at the college. I believe in the mission of Our Common Ground. I just don’t think with the current resources, we are able to prioritize it.” Projects on campus that Webb is currently devoting to include Creation Care, reducing energy usage on campus, composting, and other projects.
Webb stated that no matter what project he is working on, he strives to “honor God by taking care of His creation.”