Here is a free pdf pattern to make fabric produce bags. The closure mechanism is pure genius and double as a storage method. One of the most abundant pieces of waste in our oceans besides plastic water bottles are plastic shopping bags. Give the gift of green: use some old clothing and make some produce bags for your friends.
http://daisyjanie.typepad.com/daisyjanie/2010/12/how-to-fabric-produce-bag-free-pdf-pattern.html
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
NASA Video: The Carbon Cycle
An excellent explanation of the carbon cycle and how it affects climate change:
NASA Video: Climate Change and the Oceans
While this video is a little simplistic, I'm a sucker for satellite images. It also contains some good information.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Reuseit.com
Just found this very cool website to purchase items to replace plastic baggies, disposable cups, forks, spoons, etc. This week they are offering a 10% off coupon on all purchases. Stock up for school or work.
Give Away Month
If you join Green America Today during September they are giving away all sorts of cool stuff.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Dirty Dozen Seafood of 2010
Here is the 2010 dirty dozen seafoods. It is a list by Food and Water Watch, whose mission statement is as follows:
"Food & Water Watch works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable. So we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, we help people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to our homes, protect the environmental quality of oceans, force government to do its job protecting citizens, and educate about the importance of keeping shared resources under public control."
There web site contains all sorts of useful information regarding our seafood supply.
"Food & Water Watch works to ensure the food, water and fish we consume is safe, accessible and sustainable. So we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, we help people take charge of where their food comes from, keep clean, affordable, public tap water flowing freely to our homes, protect the environmental quality of oceans, force government to do its job protecting citizens, and educate about the importance of keeping shared resources under public control."
There web site contains all sorts of useful information regarding our seafood supply.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Changes to Come to UN Climate Change Panel?
A study recomend changes at the UN Climate Change Panel. Read the BBC article
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Sustainable Food and Climate Change
Read this interesting article by Anna Lappe (daughter of Diet for a Small Planet author) linking climate change to agribusiness.
Three Pillars of a Food Revolution
Three Pillars of a Food Revolution
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Climate-Friendly Gardener
The Climate-Friendly Gardener
A Guide to Combating Global Warming from the Ground Up
Download: The Climate-Friendly Gardener
The millions of Americans with a lawn or garden know that even small shifts in weather can affect their outdoor plans. Unchecked global warming, however, could force gardeners to deal with more droughts and floods, and a profusion of pests and weeds. The Climate-Friendly Gardener: A Guide to Combating Global Warming from the Ground Up, shows you how to reduce the impact of climate change in your own backyard.Gardening practices alone won’t solve global warming, but gardeners can point the way to climate-friendly farm policies that will have a bigger impact. Sign our climate-friendly garden pledge today!
The Climate-Friendly Gardener includes these tips:
Tip #1: Choose low-emission garden products and practices
Gasoline-powered garden tools are major emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary global warming gas. But emissions can also come from unexpected sources such as fossil fuel-based fertilizers and pesticides and peat-based potting mixes. Use electric or push mowers, rakes, and other low- or no-emission tools, compost, and natural pest-control methods.
Gasoline-powered garden tools are major emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary global warming gas. But emissions can also come from unexpected sources such as fossil fuel-based fertilizers and pesticides and peat-based potting mixes. Use electric or push mowers, rakes, and other low- or no-emission tools, compost, and natural pest-control methods.
Tip #2: Don’t leave garden soil naked
Stabilize, build, and add nutrients to garden soil that would otherwise remain bare by planting winter cover crops such as grasses, cereal grains, or legumes. In addition to preventing erosion and keeping weeds down, they add carbon to the soil when they are turned under in the spring. Peas, beans, clovers, and other legumes convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into natural fertilizer.
Stabilize, build, and add nutrients to garden soil that would otherwise remain bare by planting winter cover crops such as grasses, cereal grains, or legumes. In addition to preventing erosion and keeping weeds down, they add carbon to the soil when they are turned under in the spring. Peas, beans, clovers, and other legumes convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into natural fertilizer.
Tip #3: Plant trees and shrubsBecause of their size and long life span, trees and large shrubs remove more heat-trapping CO2 from the atmosphere than other plants. As an added bonus, well-placed trees offer summer shade and protection from winter winds, reducing emissions associated with home heating and air conditioning.Tip #4: Recycle yard and food waste
Organic waste decomposing in oxygen-poor landfills generates methane, a heat-trapping gas 23 times more potent than CO2. By contrast, composting this waste in the presence of oxygen minimizes methane production. Composting also produces a nutrient-rich soil amendment that reduces the need for synthetic fertilizer while helping soil store more carbon.
Organic waste decomposing in oxygen-poor landfills generates methane, a heat-trapping gas 23 times more potent than CO2. By contrast, composting this waste in the presence of oxygen minimizes methane production. Composting also produces a nutrient-rich soil amendment that reduces the need for synthetic fertilizer while helping soil store more carbon.
Tip #5: Make your grass “greener”Lawns absorb carbon from the atmosphere, but some studies suggest that this climate benefit may be undercut by heat-trapping nitrous oxide emissions related to fertilizer use and generous watering. While there is no scientific consensus yet on the climate impact of lawns, you can make yours as climate-friendly as possible by choosing drought-tolerant species, mowing high, watering during the coolest part of the day, and leaving grass clippings to fertilize the soil (and add extra carbon) naturally.
 (click to enlarge) Carbon is constantly cycling from the air into plants and soil, and back into the air. Global warming is largely a result of an imbalance in this carbon cycle, due to the release of vast quantities of ancient carbon that have been burned as fossil fuel. (adapted from www.farmingfutures.org.uk/) |
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Sign the petition | Jamie's Food Revolution USA | Jamie Oliver
Sign the petition | Jamie's Food Revolution USA | Jamie Oliver: "Sign Jamie's petition to save cooking skills and improve school food.
I support Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. America's kids need better food at school and better health prospects. We need to keep cooking skills alive.
Jamie would like to take his petition to the White House after the TV series airs, to show The President and First Lady how many people across the country really care about this and ask for their support."
I support Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. America's kids need better food at school and better health prospects. We need to keep cooking skills alive.
Jamie would like to take his petition to the White House after the TV series airs, to show The President and First Lady how many people across the country really care about this and ask for their support."
Monday, March 22, 2010
Raised Bed Gardens
A raised garden bed as big as 12 x 6
Fill it with locally produced compost
Some planting options that can be grown successfully in this area are:
1.Herb Garden: Cilantro, Basil, Chives, Thyme, Sage, Mint
2.Vegetable Garden: Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Chili Peppers, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Lettuce, Radish
3.Pizza Garden: tomatoes, basil, oregano
4.A combination of all three
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)