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Urban Conversion

URBAN CONVERSION follows fiscally conservative businessman and host Rodman Schley as he seeks to learn more about the sustainability movement. It is all in an effort to get on the same page as his wife Gina, who wants their family to lead an eco-friendly, environmentally conscious lifestyle. While Rodman enjoys living with all the modern conveniences of the city, Gina would rather move the family to a simple, low impact life in a rural setting. In the spirit of compromise, Rodman and Gina begin to seek ways to bring the country to the city and begin their own "Urban Conversion". Each episode goes beyond the buzzword to find out first-hand what the "green scene" is all about. Cultivating an urban farm, understanding backyard beekeeping, and learning about alternative fuels are just a few of the issues Rodman explores. Schley lends his common sense (and often humorous) perspective to the viewer through hands-on learning experiences, interviews with experts, and profiles of eco-leaders who have built their lives around living more sustainably. The series is set in Colorado, but takes the Schley family across the nation to cities like Detroit, where urban farming is helping to heal a community, and Washington D.C., where White House chef Sam Kass gives them an educational tour of First Lady Michelle Obama's vegetable garden.

Urban Conversion  
  • Clean Energy 101
    Saturday, April 12
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    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.
  • We Bought A Farm
    Saturday, April 19
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    The Schley's find the remaining 2.7 acres of an original wheat farm in Arvada, that allows them to remodel an old estate to meet modern day high performance building standards, and try their hand at small-scale lavender and cut flower farming. In this episode, viewers follow Rodman and Gina as they work with their architect to design a USGBC LEED Certified Home as well as learn about the history of the property, and develop plans to honor the past while designing for the future.
  • Let It Rot!
    Saturday, April 26
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    The Schley's get grounded as they explore the composition of soil, starting with hunting for wild mushrooms with experts from the Denver Botanic Gardens. They learn how mushrooms are the fertilizers of the forest, and take these lessons back to their farm where they try to use mother nature to prep their new fields for planting. Whether they are getting dirty while building a compost pile, learning about tractors from retired farmers, or dredging through pits of mud at the Snowmass Tough Mudder this episode is downright dirty.
  • Whose Water Is It, Anyways?
    Saturday, May 3
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    After experiencing the heat and dryness of the desert sun, the Schley's have a whole new appreciation for water, and with help from the City of Arvada, they explore the question of where exactly their water comes from. From the continental divide to their faucets and fields, they follow the Colorado watershed and learn that water is something to be deeply thankful for, and should be used wisely in their new endeavors.
  • Harvesting The Sun
    Saturday, May 10
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    The Schley's consider all the ways the sun affects their home, farm and life. From orienting the house to capture the most sunlight, to the size and placement of windows, roof, and even flower fields. They learn that paying more attention to the sun could have everlasting benefits. Rodman and Gina learn about window efficiencies, roofing options, and work through home solar option versus community solar options.
  • Across The Desert Sand
    Saturday, May 17
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    The Schley's take a road trip and immerse themselves in the heat of the sun by visiting the Colorado Sand Dunes. They discover the natural properties of sand, and learn how it is a critical component of the insulation that is used to keep the heat inside of homes in the winter, or outside of home in the summer. Rodman and Gina dive into energy usage in the home building process and design creative solutions for their modern farmhouse renovation.
  • Rocky Mountain Air
    Saturday, May 24
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    The Schley's explore the importance of clean air and how their living habits contribute to the quality of air in their lives from cleaning up their old fireplace to starting a local farm air is something that is everywhere, and they hope everyone can see it a little clearer. In this episode the Schley's attend the Telluride Hot Air Balloon Festival as a family, explore radiant floor heating and fresh air ventilation for their home, take a ride on Denver's new light rail system, and exhale their first season of locally grown flowers.
  • Seeing The Forest Through The Trees (Wood, Floors/Cabinets)
    Saturday, May 31
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    The Schley's go into the forest in this episode of Urban Conversion to examine the relationship between man and trees from eating their fruit, using them as shelter, and burning them for warmth and light they gain a better appreciation for sustainably harvesting trees that they use in their home and on their farm. Rodman and Gina explore ways to reuse trees that were taken down on the property, specifically as they design their new kitchen, as well as planting trees in their community and on their property.
  • It Takes A Village
    Saturday, June 7
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    The Schley's wrap up the season with a new appreciation for the many essential community relationships they've built through the project and the importance of building a local sense of place. From selling their locally grown flowers to cultivate more beauty in their community, to supporting other local businesses in the construction process, to throwing community gatherings back at the farm they are putting the "culture" back into agriculture every step of the way.

 

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  • Alternative Building
    Saturday, April 5
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    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.
  • Building Small
    Saturday, March 29
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    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.
  • Zero Waste: Home and Office
    Saturday, March 22
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    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.
  • Upcycled Art and Fashion
    Saturday, March 15
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    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.
  • Freegan Awesome!
    Saturday, March 8
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    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.
  • Back to Nature
    Saturday, March 1
    10:30 am on UEN-TV 9.1
    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.