tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32446839364566758862024-03-14T00:22:39.313-04:00superecohealthy and sustainable ideas and goodsLizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.comBlogger525125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-25468122426785217942009-11-30T13:23:00.004-05:002009-12-03T11:27:55.561-05:00the time has come<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://raganella.com/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 194px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SxQaL2Qu1yI/AAAAAAAAEIg/G3GgkR-Twmo/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409977843225384738" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Faithful followers of supereco,<br /><br />It's official. I've moved! Please hop on over to <a href="http://raganella.com/">raganella</a> to continue reading about health, sustainability, and general good stuff happening in NYC.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://raganella.com/blog/"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 153px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SxQadOYF_KI/AAAAAAAAEIo/m9pJE8x7mB4/s400/Picture+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409978141756488866" border="0" /></a><br />Subscribers, please use the subscriber tool in the sidebar to get the latest from the new blog.<br /><br />See you at the new place!Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-15525337965021118162009-11-23T17:46:00.002-05:002009-11-23T17:51:52.549-05:00change is inevitable<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SwsR6vPYnuI/AAAAAAAAEIY/hd9xB8-O3hI/s1600/moving6pf.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 359px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SwsR6vPYnuI/AAAAAAAAEIY/hd9xB8-O3hI/s400/moving6pf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407435478399491810" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dear loyal followers,<br /><br />I just wanted to clue you in to what I'm up to. Things may be a little quiet over here on supereco... so quiet they just might be silenced altogether. But don't panic! I'm moving to a new location - <a href="http://raganella.com/">raganella.com</a>. Just working out the details, but once it's up and running I'll be sure to let you know!<br /><br />Stay tuned...Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-38603863068150104642009-11-14T18:20:00.002-05:002009-11-14T18:43:11.459-05:00restoring the ecuadorian amazon with mycoremediation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sv9AC4iFFDI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/mSXxrpH_QbM/s1600-h/Macrolepiota_procera_031026w.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sv9AC4iFFDI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/mSXxrpH_QbM/s400/Macrolepiota_procera_031026w.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404108496147125298" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Macrolepiota procera</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> [image: <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Macrolepiota_procera_031026w.jpg">Wikipedia</a>]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Between 1964 and 1992, Texaco (now Chevron) dumped over 18.5 billion gallons of oil in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Birth defects, cancer rates and general malaise are exceedingly common in the city of Lago Agrio and other communities living near the 627 open, unlined waste pits that remain full of crude petroleum. The toxins have seeped into the groundwater, poisoning crops and livestock while leaving many residents with no choice but to drink contaminated water.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Mycorestoration uses a host of mycological technologies to rehabilitate ecologically degraded habitats. Mycoremediation applies the natural capacity of mycelium to break down or remove toxic substances such as petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs and heavy metals.</span></blockquote><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cloud Forest Institute & Amazon Mycorenewal Project</span></span><br />Ecuadorian Political Ecology, Oil Pollution, and Mycoremediation<br />Service Learning Course with Spanish Language and Science Labs<br />Dec 15, 2009 – Jan 15, 2010 (or select dates)<br /><br />The Cloud Forest Institute in collaboration with the Amazon<br />Mycorenewal Project and The Clean Up Oil Waste Project invite<br />undergraduate, graduate and lifelong students to attend our 2009<br />Winter Service Learning Course on Ecuadorian Political Ecology, Oil<br />Pollution, and Mycoremediation.<br /><br />Mycoremediation is a developing scientific field experimenting with<br />mushrooms to sequester toxins. Mycelium is now being tested in Ecuador<br />in an effort to clean up billions of gallons of toxic oil wastes left<br />behind by Chevron Texaco during its 20 years of operation there (for<br />which the company is currently on trial in perhaps the largest<br />environmental lawsuit in history).<br /><br />This course will take students to Quito, Lago Agrio, Mindo and<br />Cuyabeno to experience the striking biological and cultural diversity<br />of Ecuador’s many regions including the Andes Mountains and Amazon<br />Rainforest. Students will participate in the development of ground<br />breaking mycoremediation technology and study Latin American political<br />ecology. Service learning with local community members will help heal<br />lands polluted by the oil industry. Students can receive independent<br />study credit through their existing college or universities.<br /><br />Students may enroll in four week-long sections individually or for the<br />entire month long course in which we will examine Ecuadorian cultural<br />traditions, political ecology, oil economics, toxicity and<br />bioremediation. You may also pick and choose which courses you would<br />like to attend in sections of one-week, individually.<br /><br />COURSE DESCRIPTION & ITINERARY*<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Country Study: Introduction to Ecuadorian Culture, History and</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ecology</span><br /><br />Monday, December 14th: Arrive in Quito, evening introductions, welcome<br />and orientation. Tuesday, December 15th: Morning tour through colonial<br />Quito, we spend the first day learning about Ecuador’s history and<br />culture, including do’s and taboo’s and the importance of respectful<br />behavior while in a foreign country. Afternoon travel to Lago Agrio<br />for the first Mycorenewal Workshop.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Section 1 – Field Study: Mycorenewal of Toxic Sites </span><br />Wednesday, December 16th – Monday, December 22nd<br /><br />Students journey to Lago Agrio with the Amazon Mycorenewal Project.<br />This Service Learning mycoremediation course will run in conjunction<br />with community workshops training locals to utilize mycorenewal<br />techniques to clean toxic petroleum pollution. A seed germination<br />toxicity experiment will be installed to test the effectiveness of<br />previous AMP experiments of soil mycoremediation by observing seed<br />ability to germinate and grow. This will take place during two week-<br />long workshops.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Section 2 – Cloud Forest Conservation Holiday Retreat </span><br />Tuesday, December 23rd – Sunday, December 28th<br /><br />While the seeds germinate, students journey to Mindo where they enjoy<br />the cloud forest while learning about Ecuador’s incredibly diverse<br />ecology. Students will be able to participate in a wide range of<br />activities while in Mindo including bird watching, hiking, mushroom<br />hunting, river rafting, visiting waterfalls, orchid and butterfly<br />attractions, and just relaxing by the riverside amongst the<br />butterflies and hummingbirds. Topics to be covered include Biology of<br />the Cloud Forest, Threats to the Cloud Forest, and Conservation of the<br />Cloud Forest. Spanish language instruction is available during this<br />session. Sunday 28th: Leave Mindo and go back to Quito for the night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Section 3 – Journey Into the New Year </span><br />Monday, December 29th – Monday, January 5th<br /><br />In this session, students foray into the Amazon wilderness in Cuyabeno<br />to observe an intact Amazonian environment. Activities include hiking,<br />mushroom hunting, swimming, fishing, and canoeing. Students will meet<br />with indigenous community members and spend time in ritual with<br />shamans of the community.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Section 4 – Myco Workshop II </span><br />Tuesday, January 6th – Thursday, January 14th<br /><br />Peak Oil Issues – Production: Destruction of Ecology, Community and<br />Traditional Ways of Life<br /><br />The course then returns to Lago Agrio for the final session and<br />completion of the seed germination experiment. Stops along the way<br />introduce students to communities and show toxic sites abandoned by<br />the oil industry, including pipeline ruptures, abandoned wells, and<br />communities located near active wells. Thursday 14th: Farewell dinner.<br />Program ends.<br />Itinerary dates subject to adjustment.<br /><br />COSTS<br />$1,000 per section or $3,600 when enrolled in all four sections. Cost<br />covers food, lodging and in country transportation, special gear, as<br />well as all activities listed in the itinerary. Spanish language<br />instruction is optional and costs $10 per hour for individual<br />instruction; this cost may be split between up to 5 students of the<br />same ability level. Additional costs not covered may include, but are<br />not limited to: airfare, required travel insurance, optional travel<br />immunizations, suggested reading, beverages, souvenirs, tips and<br />donations. $100 articulation and curriculum fee for students seeking<br />college credit through independent study. Spanish instruction is<br />included in the $1000 individual section cost for the Cloud Forest<br />Holiday Retreat.<br />Limited scholarships are sometimes available. Students may inquire<br />with Cloud Forest Institute to find out more.<br /><br />FACULTY & STAFF<br /><br />Freeda Alida Burnstad, Director Cloud Forest Institute<br />Course organizer and promoter. Acts in a supportive capacity to the<br />course and course leaders while in Ecuador. Guest speaker during Cloud<br />Forest portion. AMP team member.<br /><br />Lindsay Ofrias, The Clean Up Oil Waste Project LLC Founder<br />New York City liaison. Person of contact for students interested in<br />attending the workshops. Collaborates with universities, NGO’s, and<br />Ecuadorian leaders. Spanish translator and project coordinator.<br />Assistant teacher, Globalization.<br /><br />Cristian Vaca, Environmental Activists and Eco-tourism Organizer<br />Cloud Forest Institute coordinator in Mindo. Provides in country<br />logistical support. Guest speaker during Cloud Forest portion.<br /><br />Mia Maltz MS, RITES Project Founder<br />Permaculturist and Mycoremediation Specialist. Workshop presenter for<br />this course, Solar Living Institute, and many other venues. AMP team<br />member.<br /><br />Auriah Milanes, Environmental Engineer<br />Cloud Forest Institute Alumni. Course leader.<br /><br />Donaldo Moncayo, Amazon Defense Coalition<br />President (Mayor) of the community Santa Cruz. Local host and<br />experiment lead. AMP team member.<br /><br />Nicola Peel, Eyes of Gaia<br />Amazon Mycorenewal Project Founder. Documentary Artist. Guest speaker.<br /><br />Dr. Robert Rawson, International Wastewater Solutions<br />Bioremediation and Waste Water Specialist. Course workshop presenter.<br />Part-time faculty for Santa Rosa JC. AMP team member.<br /><br />Silvia Sornoza, Executive Assistant Cloud Forest Institute<br />Provides in country logistical support. AMP team member.<br /><br />Ricardo Viteri, Ecuadorian Mycological Society Kallambas<br />Commercial mushroom grower in Quito. AMP team member.<br /><br />Language instruction is provided by the licensed instructors of<br />Amazonas Spanish School. Other guest lecturers and local experts will<br />be featured in the course.<br /><br />SERVICE PARTNERS<br />Amazon Defense Coalition, Amazon Mycorenewal Project, Cloud Forest<br />Institute, Ecuadorian Mycological Society Kallambas, The Clean Up Oil<br />Waste Project LLC.<br /><br />***Contact Luz at the Clean Up Oil Waste Project for questions or inquiries regarding this program: cleanupoilwaste@gmail.com, (631) 645-0021.Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-5320319377736657092009-11-10T18:44:00.002-05:002009-11-10T19:09:04.566-05:00permaculture design certification in nycLearn with the permaculturist who taught me...<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Permaculture Design Certification in NYC</span></span><br />with Andrew Faust<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">March to June 2010</span><br />11 weekend sessions 9am to 5pm<br /><br />Permaculture provides positive solutions for the social and ecological issues of today. Come be inspired by one of the leading visionaries in Permaculture Design and prepare to transform your world!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Enroll Early! </span>Before March 1st $1000. After March 1st $1200.<br /><br />Information/Registration, email <a href="mailto:Andrew@HomeBiome.com">Andrew@HomeBiome.com</a><br /><br />Check out the website for more classes <a target="_blank" href="http://www.homebiome.com/">www.HomeBiome.com</a><br /><br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w8l00rPrG6Y&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w8l00rPrG6Y&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-56226154522459400172009-11-10T18:25:00.004-05:002009-11-10T18:41:07.885-05:00permaculture hedonists presents (hands-on workshops)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Svn5TJZUQPI/AAAAAAAAD60/WNWismFereA/s1600-h/800px-Gimchi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Svn5TJZUQPI/AAAAAAAAD60/WNWismFereA/s400/800px-Gimchi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402623335342555378" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Mmmm... kimchi [image: <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gimchi.jpg">Wikipedia</a>]</span><br /><br />******************************************<br />Permaculture Hedonists Presents<br />******************************************<br /><br />Hands-on workshops by Permaculture designers, educators and hedonists Andrew Faust and Adriana Magaña.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Who says you need a homestead to practice Permaculture? We'll show you how to live the good life by putting your hands and kitchen to work! We think our bodies deserve the best and as permaculture hedonists believe that what we create with our hands is far superior to anything you can buy on the shelves of any store.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Last year we ran this series of lactoferment classes along with a Handcrafted Beauty series to great success. Many sold out fast with our cap at 10 students for each class. We checked our busy teaching and parenting schedules and set aside some dates to present these learning opportunities once again. Join us for these three fermented foods classes that will increase your vitality as well as your self-sufficiency. Come learn why they are so incredibly nutritious and how they can fit into your life. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Handmade Beauty series will take the mystery out of formulating your own safe and cheap beauty necessities. We will explore a host of different ingredients from ones found in your kitchen cupboard to exotic floral waxes found via the internet. This series will now include household cleaners as well. All of these will be great for gift giving! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Start crafting today and share your creations with friends and family!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lactoferments</span><br />Wednesday, November 18<br />6:30- 8:30-pm $40<br /><br />This workshop will walk you through making a variety of lactoferments including: kim chee, sauerkraut, ginger-carrots and other root crop lactoferments. Bring 2 wide mouth 1 pint glass mason jars with lids if you would like to take home jars of our finished products. Also bring a good cutting knife a cutting board and the Organic vegatables will be supplied. Handouts of recipes will be provided. IMPORTANT!!! Please register at least one day in advance so we can insure the correct amount of ingredients. This is sure to fill up fast!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sourdough Bread </span><br />Wednesday, December 9th<br />6:30-8:30pm<br /><br />In this, our second fermented food workshop, we will harvest Brooklyn’s wild yeasts to make bread rise into a fluffy loaf that is truly delicious! We will show you the ins and outs of making and baking sourdough bread so that you can get started with confidence! We will also cover sourdough pancakes. Delicious! Participants should bring a small jar to take home some sourdough starter.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Handcrafting Home Brews</span><br />Thursday, December 17th<br />6:30- 8:30 pm $40<br /><br />This third workshop will cover: malting whole grains for superlative home brew beers and will include sources for organic whole grains; preparing herbal tonics and sacred beers with wild dandelion, yarrow, rosemary and others; culturing wild yeasts. Kombucha preparation will also be covered and kombucha “mothers” will be given away to make at home. Handouts of recipes will be provided.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Handmade Beauty Part 1 and 2</span><br />Saturday, December 19th<br />Part 1 - 12am-2pm $40<br />Sunday, December 20th<br />Part 2 - 4pm -6pm $40<br /><br />In this class we will craft a variety of body care products made from ingredients easily found in your kitchen cabinet or local heath food store. You will expand your knowledge of herbs, save money and feel your beautiful best by making and using your own handmade beauty products. Are you spending wads of cash on eco-household cleaners? Well you can stop! We will be providing recipes and samples for some of the most often used cleaners. Bring small containers (washed take out condiment containers work great) if you'd like to take some samples home.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Part 1</span><br /><br />For your Face...<br />*Face Cleanser *Face Scrub<br />*Herbal Face Toner *Moisturizer *Tinted Lip Balm<br /><br />Plus Household Cleaners!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Part 2</span><br /><br />*Herbal Shampoo *Herbal Hair Rinse<br />*Body Scrubs *Tooth Powder/Paste<br />*Mouthwash *Shaving Cream<br /><br />Plus Household Cleaners!<br /><br />-------------------<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Handcrafting Herbal Tinctures, Salves and Extracts </span>will be offered after the new year. So get ready!<br /><br />All of these classes will take place in our small apartment so enrollment in limited to 10 people for each class. Allergic to pets? We have two cats and a dog FYI.<br /><br />Please pre-register so we know how many people to expect <a href="mailto:dreikycaprice@gmail.com">dreikycaprice@gmail.com</a><br /><br />We can and will offer these classes again so please inquire if the dates don't work out for you.<br /><br />Be well,<br /><br />Adriana and Andrew<br /><br />P.S. We are accepting registration for our <a target="_blank" href="http://www.homebiome.com/index.php?top=courses#dc">Permaculture Design Certification</a> from March 27th through June 5th. Sign up early to get a discount and save your spot!<br />To register email <a href="mailto:Andrew@HomeBiome.com">Andrew@HomeBiome.com</a><br /><br />--<br />The Center for Bioregional Living<br />Ellenville / Brooklyn, NY<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.homebiome.com/">www.homebiome.com</a>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-79013818822504916052009-11-10T13:00:00.009-05:002009-11-10T13:00:02.055-05:00green books campaign: the raw milk revolution<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SvhEjbLUbgI/AAAAAAAAD6k/WI3nnZoFXQ0/s1600-h/100bloggers.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SvhEjbLUbgI/AAAAAAAAD6k/WI3nnZoFXQ0/s400/100bloggers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402143128412253698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This review is part of the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank" href="http://www.ecolibris.net/greenbookscampaign.asp">Green Books campaign</a><span style="font-style: italic;">. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on </span><a style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank" href="http://www.ecolibris.net/greenbookscampaign.asp">Eco-Libris website</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SvhEj_fmMII/AAAAAAAAD6s/-t5cDqcMdnA/s1600-h/475.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SvhEj_fmMII/AAAAAAAAD6s/-t5cDqcMdnA/s400/475.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402143138160980098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/the_raw_milk_revolution:paperback#"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Raw Milk Revolution: Behind America's Emerging Battle Over Food Rights</span></a><br />by David E. Gumpert<br />(with foreword by Joel Salatin)<br />Chelsea Green Publishing<br />Printed on recycled paper<br /><br />What do government regulators have against raw milk?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Raw Milk Revolution</span> is an exploration of this and other relevant questions in a time when the entire industrialized food system is coming into question.<br /><br />Based on his blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thecompletepatient.com/">The Complete Patient</a>, David Gumpert <span>provides </span>a reasonable, balanced, and straightforward account of the pros and cons of raw milk consumption and the legal constraints placed on its production.<br /><br />The book provides historic context of the dairy industry, from about the time of the Industrial Revolution to more recent regulatory history regarding food safety. It balances past events with the current trend toward consuming raw dairy, explaining both the purported risks and benefits of the product that comes unadulterated from the cow (or goat or sheep).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A taste of the past</span><br />Pasteurization was a response to the increasingly deplorable conditions and industrialization of dairy farming. As dairy operations crowded into cities and were coupled with distilleries for "efficient" use of grain (as cow feed, something cows do not naturally eat), cows became sicker, farms became a breeding ground for pathogens.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">An emotionally charged debate<br /></span>But is the method of pasteurization - slow on the uptake at the turn of the century, yet widely used today - still valid? Is it making us safer? The answer is somewhat unclear. The rates of raw-milk–related illness are debatable, depending on who you ask. According to some groups, like [grass-fed] raw-milk advocates the Weston A. Price Foundation, the rates are inflated, while state and federal agencies argue that raw milk carries an inherent risk to health. As do parents of children who may have become seriously ill from it.<br /><br />Raw milk is outlawed in 28 out of 50 states. But the incidence of other food-borne illnesses is just as high, if not higher, than that of raw milk. Even pasteurized milk carries some risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the highest rates of listeria illness are due to deli meat. If deli meat is 10 times more likely to expose you to listeria illness than raw milk, why isn't it restricted or outlawed?<br /><br />Another question I kept asking is: Why can't we just put a label on raw milk and let consumers decide whether they want to take the supposed risk? Or more to the point, why don't consumers have the right to choose their foods, raw or treated?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A question of rights</span><br />Joel Salatin, now famous farmer of Polyface Farms in Virginia, posits in the foreword,<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">The only reason the right to food choice was not guaranteed in the Bill of Rights is because the Founders of America could not have envisioned a day when selling a glass of raw milk or homemade pickles to a neighbor would be outlawed. At the time, such a thought was as strange as levitation.<br /><br />Indeed, what good is the freedom to own guns, worship, or assemble if we don't have the freedom to eat the proper fuel to energize us to shoot, pray, and preach? Is not freedom to choose our food at least as fundamental a right as the freedom to worship?<br /></blockquote>Due to the current laws regarding the sale of raw milk, people who choose to produce it are putting themselves at risk of government crackdown in order to fulfill a growing demand. Something is compelling consumers to, in many cases, cross state lines to obtain raw milk. Often, these consumers are pregnant women and mothers. Why are people putting themselves and their families at risk of breaking the law in order to potentially put themselves at risk of illness?<br /><br />Having tasted raw milk and, unknowingly, carrying it over state lines illegally, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Raw Milk Revolution</span> left me wanting to take the risk again, maybe in order to prove that the benefits are worth the risks.<br /><br />I think I now have more questions than answers regarding the raw milk debate, but perhaps this is the point - to keep the questions coming with regard to food and our right to choose what we consider healthful to eat.<br /><br />For more on the raw milk debate, visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thecompletepatient.com/">The Complete Patient</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Founded in 2007, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ecolibris.net/index.asp">Eco-Libris</a> is a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. To achieve this goal Eco-Libris is working with book readers, publishers, authors, bookstores and others in the book industry worldwide. Until now Eco-Libris balanced out over 110,000 books, which results in more than 120,000 new trees planted with its planting partners in developing countries. </span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-5928023641817891212009-11-05T10:36:00.003-05:002009-11-05T10:42:14.643-05:00save coal river mountain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://www.ilovemountains.org/coalriver/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 317px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SvLyLie6T8I/AAAAAAAAD6c/mGPBRQeXel4/s400/CRM_stepitup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400645183219584962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As I've mentioned many times before, the destructive practices of mountaintop removal coal mining are not just devastating the ecology of the Appalachian mountains, they're destroying the health and livelihood of the Appalachian community. Please take action to end this filthy, immoral practice:<br /><br /><blockquote>Today, organizations across the nation are joining forces with iLoveMountains.org to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ilovemountains.org/coalriver/#form">send a powerful message to the Obama Administration</a> that blasting on America's Most Endangered Mountain-Coal River Mountain- needs to stop now. This could be the largest day of action on mountaintop removal ever, and we need your help to make history. <p class="style1" style="font-size: 16px;"><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ilovemountains.org/coalriver/#form">Use the form to send your message now.</a></strong></p> <p class="style1"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ilovemountains.org/coalriver/background">Coal River Mountain</a> is the last remaining mountain untouched by mountaintop removal in the Coal River Valley of southern West Virginia- but Massey Energy wants to turn it into a 6,600-acre mountaintop removal wasteland. Local residents have a different vision for Coal River Mountain - a <a href="http://www.coalriverwind.org/" target="_blank">wind farm</a> that could provide 70,000 households with clean energy, sustainable jobs and a symbol of hope for new industry in the Appalachian coalfields.</p> <p class="style1">The fate of Coal River Mountain is still uncertain, but its implications for our energy future are clear. Will we continue down the path of destroying our nation's oldest mountains for a few years worth of coal, or seize the opportunity to produce clean wind power and generate green jobs and a new energy economy? </p><strong></strong><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ilovemountains.org/coalriver/#form">Please send your message now.</a></strong></blockquote><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ilovemountains.org/coalriver/#form"></a></strong>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-90606418148615616482009-11-02T19:56:00.000-05:002009-11-02T22:45:52.039-05:00introducing - the library of trash<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su85tkzu0uI/AAAAAAAAD30/dfVr4sBgs_c/s1600-h/IMG_1951.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su85tkzu0uI/AAAAAAAAD30/dfVr4sBgs_c/s400/IMG_1951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399597933378065122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This past Saturday, Halloween, I received my permaculture design certificate (hurray!). Today, I feel like I've been reborn with new eyes. I've put on my permie goggles and I'm not going to take them off.<br /><br />As part of the class, each student had to design something using <a target="_blank" href="http://permacultureprinciples.com/principles.php">permaculture principles</a>. This is the story of my project...<br /><br />Something was born out of the design process which I wasn’t expecting. As realities were uncovered and patterns discovered, a broader picture came into view — maybe even something that was there all along. Sometimes all it takes is new eyes to see what lies before us.<br /><blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.</span><br /><div style="text-align: right;">~ Marcel Proust</div></blockquote><br /><br />My original intention for this project was to design my business of helping people with environmentally exacerbated health conditions — like asthma and allergies — to find relief. And in thinking of this business, I thought of myself as the key component of it. I am what people will interact with.<br /><br />So what do<span style="font-style: italic;"> I </span>interact with?<br /><br />Imagining my surroundings as an extension of myself, I thought about the largest thing surrounding me immediately and on a daily basis — the building that I live and work in.<br />“The Belnord” — a 6-story, 41-unit apartment building built in 1921. It’s in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn — just downhill from the second highest point in Brooklyn — Mount Prospect Park — once the site of a reservoir, until the Catskill Mountain and Delaware River Valley reservoirs took over in the 1940s.<br /><br />The Belnord is located in USDA Growing Zone 6B, fed by the Catskill/Delaware watershed west of the Hudson and Croton watershed east of the Hudson. The average rainfall is 46” with a peak dispersal of 4.53” in July. The wastewater treatment facility is Owl’s Head.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su85uugcR0I/AAAAAAAAD4M/PGceoyxcjO8/s1600-h/PDC-Map1.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 194px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su85uugcR0I/AAAAAAAAD4M/PGceoyxcjO8/s400/PDC-Map1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399597953161381698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Owl's Head Wastewater Treatment Facility</span><br /><br />We live on the third floor in a north-facing apartment with no direct sunlight. The desire to grow food prompted us to start a little garden under grow lights in our second bedroom or office.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su85t2Xl3EI/AAAAAAAAD38/tdsg-tqJW9c/s1600-h/peppers.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 277px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su85t2Xl3EI/AAAAAAAAD38/tdsg-tqJW9c/s400/peppers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399597938091875394" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Jalapeños growing under lights in our apartment</span><br /><br />The apartment is used in the traditional domestic sense, for sleeping, cooking, and eating — with the exception of an ever-growing collection of items some may deem trash. I call this my library of arts and crafts to be. It’s also located in the room I call “the office.”<br /><br />There is a similar catalog of materials in the basement of our building called the recycling center. This recyclable trash gets picked up by truck and brought to a facility where lots of water and energy go into recycling it. All the rest of the trash goes to a landfill.<br /><br />The basement, which is only accessible to residents by elevator, is also the site of a book exchange and the residents’ bicycle storage.<br /><br />So I started noticing this pattern of trash, and this resistance in me to both not throw anything away and not take the elevator to the basement, where the recycling center is, and where I kept my bike until I decided to boycott the elevator.<br /><br />And I imagined a place where I could take my trash and put it to good use.<br /><br />But before I get to that, a little more context, or goals articulation.<br /><br />The goals of this project are:<br /><ul><li>To grow and eat nutrient dense, delicious food</li><li>To maintain healthy air to breathe — in my own home, in the homes of those in my community, and in the air outside as well</li><li>To create a community of sustainably minded people</li><li>To reduce the amount of trash going into the wastestream</li><li>To make trash beautiful, and to change people’s minds about trash and its uses</li><li>To provide a center for learning the arts of gardening, crafting, food preparation, and all sorts of creating</li><li>To enhance the local economy through partnerships with budding like-minded businesses</li><li>To provide community members with right livelihood</li><li>To demonstrate what’s possible in the urban center — growing food, upcycling “waste” materials, providing positive work, education, inspiration</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Enter — THE LIBRARY OF TRASH, aka REFUSE</span><br /><br />The plan of which is made entirely from repurposed and found materials.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su85uc7j0oI/AAAAAAAAD4E/WTX-9Bk3Wgc/s1600-h/pdc+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su85uc7j0oI/AAAAAAAAD4E/WTX-9Bk3Wgc/s400/pdc+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399597948443284098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Library of Trash is a 7,000 square foot warehouse space with adjoining outdoor property.<br /><br />It is a multifunctional space run by a multidisciplinary member cooperative. I am the generalist. My partners are gardeners, artists, crafters, builders, and cooks. We collaborate, we barter, we share knowledge with each other and the broader community.<br /><br />In this space there is an experimental vegetable garden, a mini fruit orchard, four-season growing potential, a place to host events and classes, a place to create and experiment, and a place to keep materials for creating.<br /><br />There is a strong foundation and purpose, yet the space adapts to meet the day’s given needs.<br /><br />Passing by the Library of Trash you might be attracted by the living fence, yet detritus and pests will be repelled by it. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su86kVeoCOI/AAAAAAAAD4U/MmflVERcocg/s1600-h/IMG_2023.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su86kVeoCOI/AAAAAAAAD4U/MmflVERcocg/s320/IMG_2023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399598874155813090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A street cart sells produce from our garden or prepared food from our kitchen in front of a window that displays our latest upcycling projects.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su86kZUOW8I/AAAAAAAAD4c/rhhd6LfYl6E/s1600-h/IMG_2024.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su86kZUOW8I/AAAAAAAAD4c/rhhd6LfYl6E/s320/IMG_2024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399598875185929154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A covered bike rack stores our means of transport and distribution. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su-WWDU_atI/AAAAAAAAD50/vjZx7ev3z2E/s1600-h/IMG_2033.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su-WWDU_atI/AAAAAAAAD50/vjZx7ev3z2E/s320/IMG_2033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399699783835151058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When you enter you are greeted by a member working at the mobile reception desk. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su88pvsmLsI/AAAAAAAAD5E/GgopKha25QU/s1600-h/IMG_2032.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su88pvsmLsI/AAAAAAAAD5E/GgopKha25QU/s320/IMG_2032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399601166116335298" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The member is crocheting a yoga mat bag out of plarn.<br /><br />He directs you to the garden on the south side of the property to learn about biodynamic treatment of fruit trees. On your way out, you notice the living curtains which both keep the hot sun out in summer and filter the air indoors, while providing fresh oxygen to the building.<br /><br />While waiting for class to begin at the picnic table on the deck, you can’t help but notice the greenhouse filled with citrus and other tropical produce. In winter, the greenhouse is heated by compost, and the greenhouse helps heat the building.<br /><br />On the back of the greenhouse is a rainfed shower heated by the sun. The grey water from the shower trickle irrigates the vegetable garden.<br /><br />Wastes from the garden and the fruit trees go to the compost. The compost in turn provides nutrients to the soil, and also heats the sink water in the restroom and kitchen.<br /><br />The sink water, fed by the 2,000 gallon water storage units, goes to flush the toilets.<br /><br />The toilets and the garbage disposal from the kitchen sink feed the biogas digester which provides cooking heat and heats the building in winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su88oq1lLgI/AAAAAAAAD4k/BqQwPlQDapc/s1600-h/IMG_2027.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su88oq1lLgI/AAAAAAAAD4k/BqQwPlQDapc/s320/IMG_2027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399601147631971842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The kitchen serves as a demonstration facility for food preparation and preservation, as well as a lab for making and experimenting with beauty and cleaning products made from ingredients grown in our greenhouse and garden. These products are packaged in upcycled jars and bottles that our customers can return to refill.<br /><br />When you finish your lesson in biodynamics, you go to the darkest corner of the property to learn about mushroom cultivation.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su88ow6WjFI/AAAAAAAAD4s/1JwEbju6IeI/s1600-h/IMG_2028.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su88ow6WjFI/AAAAAAAAD4s/1JwEbju6IeI/s320/IMG_2028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399601149262597202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You love learning these new skills so much that you decide to stay all day and learn about upcycling glass bottles into vases and glassware. The materials for this class are sent down from the second floor via dumbwaiter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su88pJ-aJPI/AAAAAAAAD40/4mwAZKKvGZU/s1600-h/IMG_2029.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su88pJ-aJPI/AAAAAAAAD40/4mwAZKKvGZU/s320/IMG_2029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399601155990496498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You are so intrigued to see where these materials appeared from that you take the stairs to the second floor.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su-WXbjtMBI/AAAAAAAAD6M/gqHVJz8IG0M/s1600-h/IMG_2037.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su-WXbjtMBI/AAAAAAAAD6M/gqHVJz8IG0M/s320/IMG_2037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399699807519191058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On this floor, you’re greeted by another member of the co-op. She gives you a tour of the trash library — materials amassed by members on dumpster diving missions or donated by community members.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su-WWdLc2hI/AAAAAAAAD58/628i9sSbwbI/s1600-h/IMG_2035.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su-WWdLc2hI/AAAAAAAAD58/628i9sSbwbI/s320/IMG_2035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399699790774458898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Materials like old pipes, telephone wire, tin cans, and old silverware. Maybe you’re looking for a reclaimed window to make a cold frame or scrap wood from a gutted building to fashion a loom. And here are some scrap fabrics to weave a belt or plastic bags to weave some placemats. How about a decoupage or papier-mache project from junk mail and old catalogs?<br /><br />You hear sounds of sewing and sawing so you ask to see where it’s coming from.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su-WW8Net1I/AAAAAAAAD6E/Cjvt1RNVqOU/s1600-h/IMG_2036.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su-WW8Net1I/AAAAAAAAD6E/Cjvt1RNVqOU/s320/IMG_2036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399699799104468818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the studio space, there’s a co-op member building a compost bin from wooden palettes collected from the curb for a nearby community garden. Another member is making cloth napkins from old dress shirts to sell at Sunday’s market being held on the roof.<br /><br />The roof? You ask. Yes — do you want to see it?<br /><br />And up you go to the top of the Library of Trash.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su886szbabI/AAAAAAAAD5s/4Lz1G79K9EY/s1600-h/IMG_2038.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su886szbabI/AAAAAAAAD5s/4Lz1G79K9EY/s320/IMG_2038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399601457397459378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You take the stairs, but if you weren’t able-bodied, the elevator reaches the roof.<br /><br />In front of you is an expanse of green — greenroofing that attracts native pollinators while keeping the building cool in summer. It also provides a sense of refuge in the urban landscape.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su886LbvxJI/AAAAAAAAD5c/xYIwKwgpLj8/s1600-h/IMG_2040.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su886LbvxJI/AAAAAAAAD5c/xYIwKwgpLj8/s320/IMG_2040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399601448439760018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Solar panels add a redundant source of energy to the biogas digester — to power the elevator and any electric appliances.<br /><br />You smell something baking and walk to the west side of the roof. Bread is baking in the solar oven. The flour was provided by a local grower of heirloom grains, exchanged for a wind turbine that our co-op made from old bicycle parts in order to power their mill.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su885g7mnAI/AAAAAAAAD5U/MAk9hWq8ul0/s1600-h/IMG_2041.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su885g7mnAI/AAAAAAAAD5U/MAk9hWq8ul0/s320/IMG_2041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399601437030652930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You notice the dumbwaiter also reaches the roof. This makes it easier to bring materials to the roof for big events and market days.<br /><br />The roof itself is a giant, 3,500 square foot surface for catching rainwater – enough, not subtracting greenroof absorption, to collect 2,100 gallons of water per one-inch rain event.<br />There is also a small shelter housing a bar for events that serves as rainwater catchment for rooftop use.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su885VAJCUI/AAAAAAAAD5M/ySN1GHNVBP8/s1600-h/IMG_2042.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su885VAJCUI/AAAAAAAAD5M/ySN1GHNVBP8/s320/IMG_2042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399601433828460866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And there are skylights lighting the workspace below.<br /><br />Wow, what a long day, you say.<br /><br />And I turn to you and ask, want to stick around for a sunset rooftop yoga class?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su886OUaR3I/AAAAAAAAD5k/qJPb5Pr_Izk/s1600-h/IMG_2039.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Su886OUaR3I/AAAAAAAAD5k/qJPb5Pr_Izk/s320/IMG_2039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399601449214297970" border="0" /></a>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-85190191598179188802009-10-22T23:26:00.001-04:002009-10-22T23:27:08.895-04:00international day of climate action<object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/s5kg1oOq9tY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/s5kg1oOq9tY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><br /><br />This Saturday, over 4000 events are being planned in over 170 countries to make a loud statement about the importance of action to abate climate change. It may just be the most widespread day of environmental action in the history of the planet.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />To participate, you can volunteer to host an event, like arranging a screening of an important environmental film, such as <span style="font-style: italic;">A Sea Change. </span>(Find out how <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l/4af63;www.aseachange.net/upcoming_screenings.htm">here</a>. Then join the facebook event <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24335660013#/event.php?eid=116294052511&index=1">here</a>.)<br /><br />Or you can join in one of the many existing actions <span style="font-style: italic;">- Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, go to a climate awareness festival in Palo Alto or a picnic in Abu Dhabi. </span>Go <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l/4af63;www.350.org/map">here</a> to find out how you can take part (or just consult the map below).<br /><br /><iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://www.350.org/embed/map/" frameborder="0" height="550" scrolling="no" width="100%"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://www.350.org/map">View Actions at 350.org</a></small><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br />According to 350.org, <span style="font-style: italic;">all events are designed to do one thing: show the support for the most important number in the world: 350.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What’s the big deal with 350? 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for parts per million carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. 350 is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. Most immediately, 350 is the number world leaders need to lead with as they prepare to meet in Copenhagen this December to draft a new global climate treaty.</span><br /><br />How will you get involved?Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-35218914304924592342009-10-15T20:41:00.000-04:002009-10-15T20:41:26.952-04:00care to make a difference: blog action day 09<a target="_blank" href="http://www.blogactionday.org/"><img src="http://www.blogactionday.org/imgs/badges/bad-300-250.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />This post is part of Blog Action Day '09</span><br /><br />Floods, droughts, super storms - these are not the things of fantasy, of Hollywood blockbuster disaster films. They are real. And real people who live off the land are the most affected by these climate-change–induced or -exacerbated events.<br /><br />Yet the wealthiest nations, especially those with large standing militaries, are burning fossil fuels like there's no tomorrow. And there very well might not be if they keep it up.<br /><br />While climate change and its effects are being seen today, most of us are still thinking like it's some futuristic event. It is here, and people are suffering because of it. The time to act is not when things start to <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> get ugly for all of us, the time to act is now.<br /><br />Luckily, there are organizations doing the work now to prevent catastrophe for those who could not recover from it. Organizations like CARE are examining the impact of climate change on coastal and rural communities in economically poor places, and mitigating the negative.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">See how people are impacted, then do something about it.</span><br /><br /><object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Lr6ax3xqJE&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Lr6ax3xqJE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="265" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br /><object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tdOhFcx_9t8&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tdOhFcx_9t8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="265" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br />This is what CARE has to say about the current state of climate change action...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Poor people are especially vulnerable to climate change due to the sensitivity of their livelihoods and the extensive constraints - such as low levels of formal schooling and political marginalisation - that frame their adaptive capacity. Therefore, the world's response to climate change has to challenge entrenched inequities and discriminatory power structures if we are to ensure that everyone can access the information, resources and support necessary for adaptation. But this hasn't happened. Instead, the international community has focused on building capacity within poor countries to integrate climate change in national policy frameworks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Though helpful, this is wholly insufficient because vulnerability to climate change varies within countries, communities and even households. National-level efforts must be complemented by action at the grassroots that understands, targets and reduces the poorest people's vulnerability to climate change. In recognition of this principle, community-based adaptation is finally emerging as a critical part of the global response to climate change.</span><br /><br />And this is how CARE responds to the situation...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">CARE's approach to community-based adaptation is people-centred. It fosters more resilient livelihoods, strengthens local capacity through training and the promotion of appropriate traditional knowledge, supports social change and engages in advocacy to address the underlying causes of poverty and differential vulnerability.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">CARE's community-based approach to adaptation is composed of the following four inter-related action areas:</span><br /><ul><li>Reducing the Risk of Disasters</li><li>Making Livelihoods More Resilient</li><li>Strengthening Local Capacity</li><li>Supporting Social Mobilisation and Policy Engagement</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Read more about CARE's </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.care.org/getinvolved/advocacy/climatechange/?s_src=170941770000&s_subsrc=blogs&utm_source=red&utm_medium=all&utm_campaign=outreach"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">actions in the face of climate change</span><br /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://care.org/getinvolved/advocacy/climatechange/ourwork_adaptation_tools.asp?s_src=170941770000&s_subsrc=blogs">Get involved with CARE</a><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-51162848105452974402009-10-06T13:43:00.010-04:002009-10-06T14:32:55.085-04:00focusing on permaculture<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuDbjeMfvI/AAAAAAAAD2k/9BS_cSgIgRU/s1600-h/permaculture-751102.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 340px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuDbjeMfvI/AAAAAAAAD2k/9BS_cSgIgRU/s400/permaculture-751102.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389545888480526066" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">[design by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.swep.com.au/pages/about/Earthlink_Australia.html">Andrew Jeeves</a>]</span><br /><br />Some of you already know that I'm in the midst of pursuing a permaculture design certificate (or PDC, more about it <a target="_blank" href="http://www.homebiome.com/index.php?top=courses#dc">here</a>). In order to focus on my studies and design project, I will be posting a little bit less for the next few weeks.<br /><br />For now, I'll leave you with a little taste of what I've been learning.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">rainwater harvesting</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuEjfpGwYI/AAAAAAAAD20/xWOFS3KdtqM/s1600-h/IMG_1675.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuEjfpGwYI/AAAAAAAAD20/xWOFS3KdtqM/s400/IMG_1675.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389547124403126658" border="0" /></a><br />Small-scale rainwater catchment (60 gallons) at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cenyc.org/openspace/gardens/man/miracle">Miracle Garden</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuD-FAzVhI/AAAAAAAAD2s/IjNvb8lc1Vs/s1600-h/IMG_1683.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuD-FAzVhI/AAAAAAAAD2s/IjNvb8lc1Vs/s400/IMG_1683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389546481599600146" border="0" /></a><br />1,000 gallon rainwater catchment system at <a target="_blank" href="http://diasyfloresgarden.wordpress.com/">Dias y Flores Community Garden</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">You can learn step-by-step how to build a rainwater harvesting system from the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.waterresourcesgroup.org/wiki/index.php?title=How_to_Make_a_Rainwater_Harvesting_System">Water Resources Group</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">composting</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuE8DljY2I/AAAAAAAAD28/ocfe5zsOsuQ/s1600-h/IMG_1684.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuE8DljY2I/AAAAAAAAD28/ocfe5zsOsuQ/s400/IMG_1684.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389547546368762722" border="0" /></a><br />Compost pile at Dias y Flores<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">learn-as-you-go solutions</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuFNQNH7_I/AAAAAAAAD3E/sS9qr2M6pZM/s1600-h/IMG_1692.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuFNQNH7_I/AAAAAAAAD3E/sS9qr2M6pZM/s400/IMG_1692.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389547841813737458" border="0" /></a><br />After a big rainfall event that overfilled the 1,000 gallon system, Lars Chellberg and Lenny Labrizzi of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.waterresourcesgroup.org/wiki/index.php?title=How_to_Make_a_Rainwater_Harvesting_System">Water Resources Group</a> created this overflow diversion<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">toxic remediation and community building</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuGVeysMbI/AAAAAAAAD3M/HgvtDrVhcYo/s1600-h/IMG_1698.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuGVeysMbI/AAAAAAAAD3M/HgvtDrVhcYo/s400/IMG_1698.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389549082679980466" border="0" /></a><br />Paula Hewitt Amram of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.playgrounddesign.blogspot.com/">Open Road NY</a> describes how this pond filters rainwater to prevent combined sewer overload (CSO) events as well as keep trash out of the river. Aside from completely remediating this toxic site (once a bus depot with underground oil tanks that polluted the school next door), Paula actively fosters the skate park next door (as well as other parks) where young skaters and other community members help with cleanup of the community garden<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuGZ1W8KcI/AAAAAAAAD3U/41oLG-UCn4k/s1600-h/IMG_1700.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsuGZ1W8KcI/AAAAAAAAD3U/41oLG-UCn4k/s400/IMG_1700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389549157457078722" border="0" /></a><br />Not your ordinary sewer grate. Under it are cisterns that hold the water on site to prevent sewer overflowLizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-47415123783029267752009-10-01T10:51:00.000-04:002009-10-01T10:51:45.785-04:00give synthetics the boot (bag)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQpivkWdSI/AAAAAAAADxE/p3hxzKhPCHk/s1600-h/icebreaker-bag.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQpivkWdSI/AAAAAAAADxE/p3hxzKhPCHk/s400/icebreaker-bag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387476731103180066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Icebreaker, maker of some of the finest Merino wool activewear around, will be "bagging synthetics" next week.<br /><br />Starting Monday, October 5, the New Zealand based company will be taking your stinky old synthetic, petroleum-based t-shirts (think polyester) and turning them into reusable marathon shoe bags in the Paragon Sports store window, on the spot, and for absolutely free.<br /><br />Bonus for marathoners and aspiring marathoners: get 26.2% off your Icebreaker GT purchase and get a free pair of Icebreaker socks (from Oct 5 to 12).<br /><br />So why should you ditch your old synthetic tee for a Merino wool one?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Synthetic tees</span>:<br /><ul><li>stink after a run</li><li>feel unnatural</li><li>are made from oil</li></ul><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Icebreaker merino apparel</span>:<br /><ul><li>made from all-natural wool from free-range Merino sheep<br /></li><li>feels soft to the touch</li><li>has natural wicking abilities</li><li>doesn't stink when you sweat in it</li><li>non-polluting</li><li>biodegradable</li><li>suitable for all seasons</li></ul>Plus you can run in Icebreaker apparel for weeks without washing it, so energy costs are reduced and less detergents are put into the environment. Read more about <a target="_blank" href="http://www.icebreaker.com/site/index.html">Icebreaker's ethos</a>.<br /><br />And here are the details for the event:<br /><br />Monday, October 5 to Monday, October 12<br />11 am – 7 pm<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.paragonsports.com/">Paragon Sports</a><br />867 Broadway at 18th Street, NYCLizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-71192918518150949312009-09-30T23:53:00.000-04:002009-09-30T23:53:39.420-04:00milkweed and stinky piglets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQd6t3HRBI/AAAAAAAADu0/bgHd8Fz8DWI/s1600-h/blue-hill-stone-barns.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQd6t3HRBI/AAAAAAAADu0/bgHd8Fz8DWI/s400/blue-hill-stone-barns.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387463948822332434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Rainy days have their benefits. The first, most obvious benefit is the replenishment of available water for plant, animal, and human use. The second is that rain keeps people from enjoying outdoor activities. Why is that a benefit? Well, if you're visiting Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture and want to go on a vegetable tour, you may just be the only one on the tour on account of rain. And being the only ones (bf & I) on the tour last Sunday, we got special attention. Or at least that's how it seemed to me.<br /><br />We went on a whim, despite the rain and forecast for more of it throughout the day. Looking at the clock, we realized we'd have just enough time to grab a bite from the cafe and go on the two o'clock tour. So up we went, to Pocantico Hills, just north of Tarrytown. It's lovely up there, just an hour's drive from Brooklyn, the leaves along the Saw Mill Parkway just starting to change into their autumnal habits. Here are some of the magical things we encountered on our tour of the educational, experimental, sustainable agricultural center:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfBK2xxyI/AAAAAAAADwE/q3w1Q_Oyax8/s1600-h/tasty-lunch.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfBK2xxyI/AAAAAAAADwE/q3w1Q_Oyax8/s400/tasty-lunch.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387465159196395298" border="0" /></a><br />A tasty lunch at the cafe<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfVvf-s8I/AAAAAAAADwc/GswP1GNAcvU/s1600-h/stone-barns-schedule.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfVvf-s8I/AAAAAAAADwc/GswP1GNAcvU/s400/stone-barns-schedule.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387465512630268866" border="0" /></a><br />What's on today?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfXS19lZI/AAAAAAAADw0/cbJOH-xnm_g/s1600-h/stone-barns-market.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfXS19lZI/AAAAAAAADw0/cbJOH-xnm_g/s400/stone-barns-market.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387465539297580434" border="0" /></a><br />Selling the bounty at the farm market<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQecyV58oI/AAAAAAAADvM/fRnruv22eZ8/s1600-h/milkweed.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQecyV58oI/AAAAAAAADvM/fRnruv22eZ8/s400/milkweed.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387464534140777090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Asclepias gomphocarpus</span>, a type of milkweed, attracts butterflies<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQd50oduiI/AAAAAAAADuk/Ccmr-VjNW3w/s1600-h/artichoke-bees.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQd50oduiI/AAAAAAAADuk/Ccmr-VjNW3w/s400/artichoke-bees.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387463933460068898" border="0" /></a><br />Happy bees on past-peak artichokes in the dooryard garden. These delicious thistles are apparently difficult to grow in the Northeast, but Stone Barns is figuring out how.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfCCz5v3I/AAAAAAAADwU/x0I7k9wZ2tw/s1600-h/stone-barns-try-one.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfCCz5v3I/AAAAAAAADwU/x0I7k9wZ2tw/s400/stone-barns-try-one.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387465174216720242" border="0" /></a><br />Go ahead, try one! Stone Barns encourages sampling<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQd6XlwU0I/AAAAAAAADus/mDrl7BienCA/s1600-h/asian-pears-stone-barns.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQd6XlwU0I/AAAAAAAADus/mDrl7BienCA/s400/asian-pears-stone-barns.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387463942843945794" border="0" /></a><br />Super-juicy Asian pears growing in the main field are an experiment. A very tasty experiment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfBn7_hBI/AAAAAAAADwM/_Tc588qWb6E/s1600-h/sunflower-seeds.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfBn7_hBI/AAAAAAAADwM/_Tc588qWb6E/s400/sunflower-seeds.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387465167002895378" border="0" /></a><br />Self-seeding sunflowers take over where the arugula leaves off<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQedMd70tI/AAAAAAAADvU/2FXzLzQSosM/s1600-h/purple-brussel-sprouts.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQedMd70tI/AAAAAAAADvU/2FXzLzQSosM/s400/purple-brussel-sprouts.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387464541153776338" border="0" /></a><br />Purple brussel sprouts in the field...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQedoMQu9I/AAAAAAAADvc/V80TyLBlQ2Y/s1600-h/purple-mustard-greens.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQedoMQu9I/AAAAAAAADvc/V80TyLBlQ2Y/s400/purple-mustard-greens.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387464548595842002" border="0" /></a><br />...and yummy purple mustard greens in the greenhouse<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfAwXOz_I/AAAAAAAADv8/TjlOkgy9B8o/s1600-h/stone-barns-greenhouse2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfAwXOz_I/AAAAAAAADv8/TjlOkgy9B8o/s400/stone-barns-greenhouse2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387465152084758514" border="0" /></a><br />The expansive greenhouse allows 4-season farming<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQd7L5co7I/AAAAAAAADu8/lTwFB2iCiFI/s1600-h/compost-heated-seedlings.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQd7L5co7I/AAAAAAAADu8/lTwFB2iCiFI/s400/compost-heated-seedlings.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387463956885185458" border="0" /></a><br />Seedlings in custom compost are kept warm through water-filled, compost-heated tubes<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQd7dQ-4FI/AAAAAAAADvE/j5rK-Rnsm6c/s1600-h/hoop-houses-on-tracks.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQd7dQ-4FI/AAAAAAAADvE/j5rK-Rnsm6c/s400/hoop-houses-on-tracks.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387463961547300946" border="0" /></a><br />Hoop houses on tracks also extend the seasons<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfAcZ-_dI/AAAAAAAADv0/YJykbOg4lr8/s1600-h/stone-barns-compost2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfAcZ-_dI/AAAAAAAADv0/YJykbOg4lr8/s400/stone-barns-compost2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387465146727595474" border="0" /></a><br />Four kinds of compost are cultivated at Stone Barns<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfX4cfqPI/AAAAAAAADw8/WyMbVYzPdoQ/s1600-h/stone-barns-happy-pigs.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfX4cfqPI/AAAAAAAADw8/WyMbVYzPdoQ/s400/stone-barns-happy-pigs.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387465549391309042" border="0" /></a><br />Berkshire pigs, right home in the forest mud<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfWuoFeiI/AAAAAAAADws/L57nsjqKH0c/s1600-h/stone-barns-pig-closeup.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQfWuoFeiI/AAAAAAAADws/L57nsjqKH0c/s400/stone-barns-pig-closeup.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387465529575701026" border="0" /></a><br />Hey little piggy<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQeekh853I/AAAAAAAADvs/GMeFSPvW4YU/s1600-h/stone-barns-busy-pigs3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQeekh853I/AAAAAAAADvs/GMeFSPvW4YU/s400/stone-barns-busy-pigs3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387464564792944498" border="0" /></a><br />Sorry, we're too busy to look at your camera<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQeeKdICiI/AAAAAAAADvk/q0kjax3Py3o/s1600-h/stone-barns-berkshire-pig.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsQeeKdICiI/AAAAAAAADvk/q0kjax3Py3o/s400/stone-barns-berkshire-pig.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387464557793380898" border="0" /></a><br />Oh, hello there. These pigs sure are cute, but they were also a little stinky.<br /><br />Stone Barns is a magical place where everything is grown for a reason, everything is harvested, nothing is sprayed with pesticides or grown in artificial fertilizers. And everything is repurposed, from food scraps to plastic tarps. You can visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/">Stone Barns</a> for a tour, to volunteer, or to enjoy an 8-course meal at the amazing <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bluehillfarm.com/food/blue-hill-stone-barns">Blue Hill</a> restaurant.<br /><br />This Saturday, October 3, is their 6th Annual Harvest Festival. Get your tickets <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/76654">here</a>.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/sb_directions/default.aspx">Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture</a><br />630 Bedford Road<br />Pocantico Hills, NY<br />914.366.6200Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-8320538078468546962009-09-28T15:19:00.003-04:002009-09-28T15:22:42.104-04:00how can we improve the air quality of our cities?Find out on my new post on Aribra.com!<br /><h2 class="title"><a href="http://aribra.com/big-cities-exhausting-and-exhilarating" title="big cities: exhausting and exhilarating">big cities: exhausting and exhilarating</a></h2><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsEMofsvbUI/AAAAAAAADuc/Cmilx722_MQ/s1600-h/01_nyc_sts39.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SsEMofsvbUI/AAAAAAAADuc/Cmilx722_MQ/s400/01_nyc_sts39.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386600519155281218" border="0" /></a><br /><p>In the big city, on any given day, anything seems possible. Millions of thinkers, dreamers, and doers exchange ideas, creative sparks, and currency. There are plenty of reasons to be a city dweller – more jobs, much inspiration, more opportunities to help people who need it. But there’s one big drawback to city dwelling, especially New York City dwelling: dismally poor air quality.</p> <p>Some might argue we just can’t help it. In a city of millions where almost all of our goods are trucked in and 12,000 tons of residential trash is trucked out every day, how could we fight the beast of diesel exhaust? When coal-burning power plants in the MidWest are emitting mercury and other harmful pollutants that drift our way with the air currents, what are we supposed to do to stop that?</p><a href="http://aribra.com/big-cities-exhausting-and-exhilarating">Keep reading...</a>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-8491096567964620582009-09-24T22:04:00.003-04:002009-09-24T22:53:55.495-04:00stuff for pedal pushers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Woman_with_Bicycle_1890s.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SrwvofM7eiI/AAAAAAAADuU/ZUSz2kKLbEU/s400/364px-Woman_with_Bicycle_1890s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385231627045272098" border="0" /></a><br />Despite the fact that I "fell off" my bike last Saturday (I was cut off & spilled off) and bruised my back & neck up pretty good, I'm still gung ho about biking in this fair city. It's a great way to get around, it burns calories instead of fuel, and it's often faster than driving a car. Luckily for those of the pedal-powered persuasion, new bike paths have been established in the last few years, making it a bit safer for riding amongst the mostly apathetic motorists (even tho' I was in a bike lane when I had my little accident & the guy did stop thankfully).<br /><br />Groups like <a target="_blank" href="http://www.transalt.org/">Transportation Alternatives</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.streetsblog.org/">Streets Blog</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brooklyngreenway.org/">Brooklyn Greenway Initiative</a> are fighting for cyclist rights and the establishment of more continuous bike paths or greenways. Resources for cyclists are ever-improving as well.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Here are some great go-to sites for bikers:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://www.ridethecity.com/">Ride the City</a><br />Great tool for finding the safest or most direct route to your destination<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://www.nycbikemaps.com/">NYC Bike Maps</a><br />Pretty self explanatory<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/transportation/td_cityracks.shtml"><span style="font-weight: bold;">CityRacks</span></a><br />Find bike parking anywhere in the city<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/category/spokes/">Spokes</a><br />The NY Times bicycle news blog<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bikeblognyc.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bike Blog NYC</span></a><br />More bike news<br /><br /><br />If you like cycling group-style, a la <a target="_blank" href="http://times-up.org/index.php?page=critical-mass">Critical Mass</a>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">some events coming up are:</span><br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nycbikemaps.com/spokes/escape-new-york-saturday-september-26-2009/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Escape NY</span></a><br />This Saturday the 26th. <span style="font-style: italic;">Get out of town!</span><br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1150795492&v=feed&story_fbid=1246811767673#/event.php?eid=123982837915"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Four Corners NYC Bike Tour</span></a><br />Also this Saturday the 26th. Via <span style="font-style: italic;">Hey I'm Walkin' Here</span> (facebook group)<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://www.nycbikemaps.com/spokes/tour-de-bronx-october-18-2009/">2009 Tour de Bronx</a><br />October 18th<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 51, 0);">Other cyclist-centric fare:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://bikingrules.org/PSA">Biking Rules</a><br />It's a PSA competition run by Transportation Alternatives to improve the public image of city cyclists. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hurray, if you want to enter, the deadline is Monday the 28th!</span> PSA's will be screened at BAM on Tuesday, November 17th.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://bikeshortfilms.com/">Bike Shorts</a><br />A cleverly named ongoing short film get-together. Submit a film, you could win $100. Next screening is this Sunday the 27th<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Be safe kiddles, where your helmet!</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&x=0&ref_=nb_ss&y=0&field-keywords=bike%20helmet&url=search-alias%3Daps"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 100px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SrwvoNbhpkI/AAAAAAAADuM/SxRVf4qBQ_c/s400/bicycle-helmet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385231622274655810" border="0" /></a>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-53130992037539695562009-09-22T17:23:00.005-04:002009-09-22T17:46:41.671-04:00fresh: the filmIf you didn't get your fill from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027BOL4G?tag=supereco-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B0027BOL4G&adid=05W4V0YR5C8RHSE9YA5C&">Food, Inc</a>., <span style="font-style: italic;">Fresh</span> looks like it takes the story of sustainable agriculture one step further. Featuring Will Allen (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.growingpower.org/">Growing Power</a>), Michael Pollan (the man who needs no introduction), and Joel Salatin (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyfacefarms.com/">Polyface Farms</a>), <span style="font-style: italic;">Fresh</span> looks at the solutions to the problems of our current food system.<br /><br /><object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KwR44T69_Is&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KwR44T69_Is&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="265" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fresh</span> will be screening <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bam.org/view.aspx?pid=1540">at BAM</a>, Tuesday, October 6, 7pm, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Gabrielle Langholtz (Editor of Edible Brooklyn) with the director/producer, Ana Sofia Joanes, plus Reverend Jackson of Brooklyn Rescue Mission, David Shea of Applewood Restaurant, and Letitia James, District 35 - Council Member.<br /><br />Check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.freshthemovie.com/">official site</a>.Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-74840434193739578052009-09-22T16:49:00.005-04:002009-09-22T17:10:56.967-04:00the real dirt on farmer johnA farm isn't dreamed of, conceived, and born over night. Sometimes it takes a lifetime, even generations, for a farm to really hit its stride. And a farm cannot survive, cannot thrive, without the community behind it. And sometimes the right community has to be found before the farm can really come into its own.<br /><br />This is the story of farmer John. Son of a hard-working couple, somewhat of an outcast in his own town. Struggling with his story, his life, his purpose. It is a powerfully touching and revealing look at one man's fight to hold onto his identity. And it also demonstrates the fragility of the land, the delicate balance of ownership, and the dedication that's required to keep people nourished.<br /><br /><object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sqP1SC5Tr7U&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sqP1SC5Tr7U&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="265" width="320"></embed></object><br /><br />If you haven't seen The Real Dirt on Farmer John, add it to your Netflix queue or pick it up at your local video store (if you've still got one).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Farmer John's even got a cookbook</span><br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423600142?tag=supereco-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1423600142&adid=06QYBB3529TQE5597SMN&">The Real Dirt on Vegetables</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423600142?tag=supereco-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1423600142&adid=06QYBB3529TQE5597SMN&"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 323px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Srk83Jzi54I/AAAAAAAADuE/wBbZCFft8Vk/s400/farmer-johns-cookbook-the-real-dirt-on-vegetables.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384401747720726402" border="0" /></a>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-56426824637671259972009-09-21T15:51:00.005-04:002009-09-21T16:22:14.861-04:00brooklyn skillshare: a day of learning, making, sharing, doing<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brooklynskillshare/brooklyn-skillshare"><img src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brooklynskillshare/brooklyn-skillshare/widget/card.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I just love learning new skills. How 'bout you?<br /><br />In the last year I've taken classes on block-printing, jewelry making, and sewing, and taught myself crochet. I'm also learning about permaculture, and I've signed up for a lotion and soap-making class that starts this fall (oh yeah, Happy Autumnal Equinox!). I keep piling on learning upon learning, and I'm hoping there's room in my noggin to squeeze in some more new skills.<br /><br />That's where Brooklyn Skillshare comes in. The Brooklyn Skillshare is a one-day event of <span style="font-style: italic;">learning, making, sharing, doing! </span><br /><br />The best part is, it's <span style="font-weight: bold;">free</span> to the public with a suggested donation for participation. But in order for it to remain free, Brooklyn Skillshare needs your help. They have 18 days to reach their goal of $1200 to cover costs such as renting the venue for the event, paying a bike valet, supplies, food, and more.<br /><br />It's shaping up to be an amazing event with the following groups sharing skills:<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">* Bags for the People - create sustainable alternatives to plastic bags using re-purposed materials<br />* Fiber Arts - knitting and felting using natural materials<br />* Treasure Everywhere! - glass bottles into cups, bowls, and vases<br />* Home audio production using Digital Performer<br />* Bicycle Mechanics 101<br />* How to brew kombucha<br />* Natural/organic metal casting and jewelry making<br />* Screen-printing basics & DIY techniques<br />* Taking care of yourself with massage basics<br />* DIY Electronics: Fun with LEDs, solder, sound, and the Arduino<br />* Basic Raw Food Preparation: the art of “uncooking”<br />* Party Favorites: infused liquor, homemade ginger ale & tasty snacks<br />* Make Your Own Butter and Ricotta (with Recipes and Ideas for Using Both)</span></blockquote>It's an all day affair with 5 blocks of classes that are 1.5 hour long, and 3 classes happening per block. You can attend as many or as few classes as you wish, so make the most of it and attend the whole day!<br /><br />Won't you help fund this incredible event? I just did. So far they've received $221 in funding. That means they only have $979 to go. You can pledge as little as $1. So after you pledge (click on the widget above or go <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brooklynskillshare/brooklyn-skillshare">here</a>), go tell 978 of your friends to help out with this amazing day of skill sharing.<br /><br />Oh, and here are the details for the event:<br /><blockquote>The First Annual Brooklyn Skillshare <b><br />SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10th, 2009</b><br />@ <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gowanusstudio.org/">Gowanus Studio Space</a><br /><b>119 8th street</b><br />Brooklyn, New York, 11215<br />Suite 202, Between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">See you there!</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-47323278827599626202009-09-18T19:55:00.004-04:002009-09-18T20:07:15.686-04:00a feel-good film about fuel<span style="font-style:italic;">Fuel</span>, it's a star-studded little eco-documentary that won some awards at Sundance last year. The title is pretty self-explanatory, as is the trailer. Woody Harrelson, Larry David, Sheryl Crow, Neil Young, and of course Willie Nelson (the face of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.greencar.com/articles/biowillie-fuel-willie-nelson-biodiesel-company.php">BioWillie</a>) all grace the screen. Check it out:<br /><br /><object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/upTCSSkxlxE&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/upTCSSkxlxE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="295" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br />Although it was released last year, it looks like it's getting another chance on the big screen. <span style="font-style:italic;">Fuel</span> is playing at AMC Theater Time Square, starting tonight. Get your tickets <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fandango.com/fuel_118459/movietimes?location=10011&date=9/18/2009">here</a>.<br /><br />Visit the film's <a target="_blank" href="http://thefuelfilm.com/">official site</a>.Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-34809235468981677332009-09-17T10:02:00.003-04:002009-09-17T10:30:10.726-04:00hop on the waterpod while you still can<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SrJGOTuJOWI/AAAAAAAADt0/xvUFpY3W0m0/s1600-h/waterpod.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SrJGOTuJOWI/AAAAAAAADt0/xvUFpY3W0m0/s400/waterpod.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382441716287093090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Have you caught a glimpse of that fantastic vessel, the one growing squash & tomatoes & chickens? The one that composts, harvests rainwater & sustains its shipmates? Perhaps you have, perhaps you've stepped on board. But if you haven't, and have the slightest inkling of curiosity as to what the Waterpod holds, you only have 2 weeks to quench your thirst.<br /><br />The Waterpod is about to sail off into the sunset (well, technically, it doesn't "sail"). Below, a message from the pod regarding their last hurrah.<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Waterpod would like to invite you to join us for our final two weeks open to the public on New York waterways. We will celebrate the closing of our amazing four-month journey with "Future of Mobility, Urbanity, and Water(pods)" at the World's Fair Marina Pier 1 in Flushing, Queens from September 16 - 27th. Visit our website for up-to-date information and events: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thewaterpod.org/index.html">www.thewaterpod.org</a>.<br /><br />This celebration will include events with The Queens Museum of Art, Conflux Festival, Underwater New York, Swimming Cities, Terreform, Wicked Delicate's Truck Farm, <a target="_blank" href="http://homebiome.com/">Andrew Faust</a> and the Center for Bioregional Living [aside: this is who's teaching me the wonders of permaculture], hands-on workshops for Thriving After the Flood by artist Christopher Robbins, Secret School and the K.I.D.S and Natalie Jeremijenko's Environmental Response Systems.<br /><br />We will conclude with an all day "I Remember Future" party on Sunday, September 27, 2009 from 11am-11pm in conjunction with the Queens Museum of Art. There will be trolley service from QMA to the Waterpod. The day will include, "Ascend" a pirate television broadcast/planetarium installation by artist James Case Leal, a globular sound installation curated by Lauren Rosati, and DJ Trent Wolbe from WFMU, among other futuristic happenings.<br /><br />We are at the Worlds Fair Marina Pier 1 from Sept. 16- Sept 27.<br />We are open to the public Thursday/Friday 8am-4pm and Saturday/Sunday 11am-7pm.<br /><br />Here is schedule of events, please join us!<br /><br />Friday 9/18:<br />Conflux Festival 2-4:30pm on the Waterpod. Waterpod team talks about life on board.<br />5pm Piledrivers music<br /><br />Saturday 9/19:<br />3pm Urban Permaculture workshop with Andrew Faust; Regenerating Today's Cityscapes<br />5pm Betsy Bradley,Father Knickerbocker Meets the Future: Lecture about the World's Fair<br /><br />Sunday, September 20:<br />1pm Christopher Robbins & Matt Bua --Waterborn edibles in New York / Build a solar cooker<br />3pm Underwater New York Readings<br />6-10pm Swimming Cities Fundraiser Party<br /><br />Saturday, 9/26:<br />1pm- Christopher Robbins & Douglas Paulson-Jerry-rigging 101: Build your own boat from urban detritus/Knot tying-bring stuff that might float<br />3pm Secret School and the K.I.D.S. host a "wild tea party": a workshop on making jam and tea from foraged wild edible fruit.<br />4pm: Terreform Lecture founders Maria Aiolova and Mitchell Joachim. talk about the Future of Urbanity<br />6-7pm Artist Hector Canonge "Utopia" video showing<br />6-8pm Jérémie Gindre and Frédéric Post, Special show case and sound performance, co-curated by Espace Kugler in Sweden<br /><br />Sunday 9/27: Final Day of Waterpod<br />11a-11pm "I Remember Future" all day Goodbye Waterpod Party in conjunction with The Queens Museum of Art (Trolley from QMA to Waterpod)<br />12pm Barbara Flanagan "Water Homes" lecture and book signing<br />1pm - Christopher Robbins & Ian Warren-Making portable gardens, Cereal banks (D.I.Y. protectionism) and food preservation<br />2-6pm Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis present their Truck Farm<br />3pm Urban Secret School and The K.I.D.S. make jam and tea and Cassie Thornton Barter System Beauty Salon<br />4-6pm Natalie Jeremijenko's Environmental Response Systems<br />6-8pm Lauren Rosati curates sound installation in dome<br />4-11pm James Case Leal's Ascend Planetarium video installation in dome and broadcast at The Queens Museum of Art<br />8-11pm Trent Wolbe of WFMU will DJ<br />9-11pm Band TBA<br /><br />Subway Directions: From Grand Central Station take the 7 train to Willets Point Blvd - Mets Station. Head towards Citi Field. Take the sidewalk to the left of Citi Field until it ends. Cross the Whitestone Expressway and the World’s Fair Marina Pier 1 is across the street and to the right. Waterpod™ is located at the end of Pier 1.<br /><br />Google Map:<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108226320777055742290.0004739489a1697c86cf6&ll=40.76148,-73.85381&spn=0.010792,0.021265&z=16">http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108226320777055742290.0004739489a1697c86cf6&ll=40.76148,-73.85381&spn=0.010792,0.021265&z=16</a><br /><br />Thank you,<br />The Waterpod Team<br /></span> </blockquote>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-66239227944070566892009-09-14T19:47:00.002-04:002009-09-14T20:00:03.048-04:00even old new york was once new amsterdamIt's been 400 years since Hudson "discovered" what is now the great city of New York. And people are celebrating this historic occasion in varying ways. Here are a handful of interesting events happening now:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >New Amsterdam Market</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L4Zb3I1I/AAAAAAAADtM/MTGDMtVAR7c/s1600-h/new-amsterdam-mkt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L4Zb3I1I/AAAAAAAADtM/MTGDMtVAR7c/s400/new-amsterdam-mkt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381462774515180370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I got a taste of delicious local food at this open air market where the old Fulton Fish Market once called home. Pasture-raised dairy from farms like Hawthorne Valley, Painted Goat Farm, and Valley Shepherd Creamery; natural meats from Fleisher's and Dickson's; and other tasty treats from the like of Marlow & Sons, Stone Barns, Saltie, and Hot Bread Kitchen filled the stalls, doling out samples and food for purchase. A couple of newcomers included Maple Hill Creamery and <a target="_blank" href="http://basisfoods.com/">Basis</a>, a healthful/local/affordable food market coming soon to 14th Street in Manhattan.<br /><br />Three more opportunities are coming up for you to get in on the scrumptious action: Sundays October 25, November 22, and December 20. <a target="_blank" href="http://newamsterdammarket.org/index.html">Get the details.</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L5UNCLBI/AAAAAAAADtk/SyiaaedRONM/s1600-h/peppers-new-amst-mkt.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 228px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L5UNCLBI/AAAAAAAADtk/SyiaaedRONM/s400/peppers-new-amst-mkt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381462790290680850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L4smQM9I/AAAAAAAADtU/PhCUJlLIeGY/s1600-h/olive-oil-cake.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 172px; height: 230px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L4smQM9I/AAAAAAAADtU/PhCUJlLIeGY/s400/olive-oil-cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381462779659039698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(left: peppers from the Garlic Farm; right: olive oil cake from Saltie)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pioneers of Change</span></span><br /><br />Longing for a bit of the old world? Look no further than Governors Island this coming weekend:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><strong style="font-style: italic;">A festival of Dutch design, fashion and architecture on New York’s Governors Island to celebrate a 400-year Dutch-American friendship</strong><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Conceived and curated by Renny Ramakers, co-founder and director of Droog, as part of the NY400 week celebrations, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Dutch to New York.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pioneers of Change highlights a more responsible and sustainable approach to living by celebrating the blurring of low- and high-brow, establishing new collaborations, encouraging involvement, emphasizing sustainability and valuing handcraft and the local context.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Activities will take place in and around eleven officers' houses at Nolan Park, Governors Island, New York.<br /><br /></span><span>[via <a target="_blank" href="http://www.droog.com/presentationsevents/pioneers-of-change/">Droog</a>]</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></blockquote><br />Open: Fri 18 Sept, 10am - 4:30pm<br />Sat 19 Sept / Sun 20 Sept 10am - 6:30pm<br />Download <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pioneersofchange.com/ferryschedule.doc">Ferry schedule</a>.<br /><br />Get the full details <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pioneersofchange.com/home.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" >Enviromedia Mobile: Urban Trekkers' Summer Festival '09</span><br />Designated as an official Quadricentennial Ambassador by the State of New York.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L_LowV6I/AAAAAAAADts/0cTcuqA53_M/s1600-h/tepee.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L_LowV6I/AAAAAAAADts/0cTcuqA53_M/s400/tepee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381462891070248866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I happened upon The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy's Enviromedia Mobile Museum yesterday in Red Hook (after hopping on the free water taxi to Ikea). What an impressionable display complete with tepees, information on falconry, info about threats to native wildlife and health, and a live barn owl!<br /><br />The Enviromedia Mobile Museum will be back at Erie Basin Park (next to Ikea, one of the sponsors) on October 10th. But if you can't wait that long, here's their <a target="_blank" href="http://urbandivers.org/enviromedia.php">full schedule</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L35LrCSI/AAAAAAAADtE/ThJ7cYwS8eM/s1600-h/barn-owl.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 183px; height: 243px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L35LrCSI/AAAAAAAADtE/ThJ7cYwS8eM/s400/barn-owl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381462765857343778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L4w1lYPI/AAAAAAAADtc/ucafeWG3Ndk/s1600-h/pcb-fish.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 172px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq7L4w1lYPI/AAAAAAAADtc/ucafeWG3Ndk/s400/pcb-fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381462780797083890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(top: barn owl in tepee; bottom: info on PCBs)</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-71202260153507228432009-09-14T11:11:00.011-04:002009-09-14T13:55:18.493-04:00mountains, moose, and more mountainsDeep breath in... and out. The smell of pine and sagebrush. The feeling of rock and dirt beneath my boots. Sharp mountain peaks, bright midday sun, glimmering glacial lakes. And the sounds: call of the magpie, chirping of chipmunks, gurgling and whooshing of mountain streams, crackling of moose footsteps. This is the experience of a national park. I am grateful to those who had the foresight to preserve these places. I am thankful that I've had the opportunity to visit them.<br /><br />Here's some of what I saw on the latest trip - to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">of course, there are the mountains</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5p5xJg5kI/AAAAAAAADqw/NLwpcdR0YBA/s1600-h/grand-tetons.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5p5xJg5kI/AAAAAAAADqw/NLwpcdR0YBA/s400/grand-tetons.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355045921023554" border="0" /></a><br />Didn't realize at the time that this was about where <a target="_blank" href="http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/adams/G01.jpg">Ansel Adams</a> snapped a famous photo, I think he was a bit further upstream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5p5f7uUuI/AAAAAAAADqo/1XITVB_HNJY/s1600-h/fire-mount-moran-tetons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5p5f7uUuI/AAAAAAAADqo/1XITVB_HNJY/s400/fire-mount-moran-tetons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355041299780322" border="0" /></a><br />A forest fire burns at the base of Mount Moran. Fires are most often started by lightning and are closely monitored while they are left to burn. They are beneficial to many plants, such as lodgepole pine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qgw3N2mI/AAAAAAAADro/ouj9l1QxXTc/s1600-h/mount-moran.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qgw3N2mI/AAAAAAAADro/ouj9l1QxXTc/s400/mount-moran.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355715859176034" border="0" /></a><br />Mount Moran has a distinctive geologic feature -- a basalt (molten rock) intrusion.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5p42tM6YI/AAAAAAAADqY/PhVofQJEo6c/s1600-h/cascade-canyon.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5p42tM6YI/AAAAAAAADqY/PhVofQJEo6c/s400/cascade-canyon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355030233016706" border="0" /></a><br />Cascade Canyon Trail, an 11-mile hike (or 9 if you take the boat across Jenny Lake both ways, 13 if you skip the boat altogether) with breathtaking views.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5prUnQgKI/AAAAAAAADqQ/Ix7CCBg0gX4/s1600-h/cascade-canyon-rocks.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5prUnQgKI/AAAAAAAADqQ/Ix7CCBg0gX4/s400/cascade-canyon-rocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381354797742981282" border="0" /></a><br />Glacial till from the last ice age. We looked for marmots among the rocks, but they happen to be hibernating already.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5r8uGbliI/AAAAAAAADso/VV8-IwMc8H8/s1600-h/lunch-view-tetons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5r8uGbliI/AAAAAAAADso/VV8-IwMc8H8/s400/lunch-view-tetons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381357295665649186" border="0" /></a><br />Part of the park's "sustainable" menu: elk/bison burgers at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.gtlc.com/lodging/jackson-lake-lodge-overview.aspx">Jackson Lake Lodge</a>. They were delicious, and so was the view.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5r8aNuOSI/AAAAAAAADsg/OtnX8mgZU54/s1600-h/lunch-tree-hill-tetons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5r8aNuOSI/AAAAAAAADsg/OtnX8mgZU54/s400/lunch-tree-hill-tetons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381357290327521570" border="0" /></a><br />This view inspired JD Rockefeller, Jr. to preserve this place as part of the national park.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">families of fauna</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qV09_I0I/AAAAAAAADrg/3ZpOMM4yPL4/s1600-h/moose-mama-calf.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qV09_I0I/AAAAAAAADrg/3ZpOMM4yPL4/s400/moose-mama-calf.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355527982752578" border="0" /></a><br />Mama and baby moose (called cow and calf, respectively), on the appropriately named Moose-Wilson Road.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qVnB2yHI/AAAAAAAADrY/3Utmp4FkqFc/s1600-h/moose-bull-tetons.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qVnB2yHI/AAAAAAAADrY/3Utmp4FkqFc/s400/moose-bull-tetons.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355524240885874" border="0" /></a><br />Papa moose (or bull), seen on the Cascade Canyon trail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5p5GWgIDI/AAAAAAAADqg/z_HH3QkHNDE/s1600-h/elk-tetons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5p5GWgIDI/AAAAAAAADqg/z_HH3QkHNDE/s400/elk-tetons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355034432774194" border="0" /></a><br />An elk bull and his harem.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5pqBNrt3I/AAAAAAAADpw/6HaMxmYzweA/s1600-h/bald-eagle-tetons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5pqBNrt3I/AAAAAAAADpw/6HaMxmYzweA/s400/bald-eagle-tetons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381354775355570034" border="0" /></a><br />One of 5 or 6 bald eagles we encountered on the trip. They like to hang out by waterways, like the Snake River.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5p6I6yg7I/AAAAAAAADq4/uBKI_Q14wmE/s1600-h/least-chipmunk.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5p6I6yg7I/AAAAAAAADq4/uBKI_Q14wmE/s400/least-chipmunk.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355052301714354" border="0" /></a><br />A "least" chipmunk. Tiny and adorable.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">pollinators aplenty, and maybe some pests</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5prNpOkZI/AAAAAAAADqI/5CThoCGI0f8/s1600-h/butterfly.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5prNpOkZI/AAAAAAAADqI/5CThoCGI0f8/s400/butterfly.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381354795872194962" border="0" /></a><br />Butterflies abound.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5pqVDaoSI/AAAAAAAADp4/lqDc3QI163w/s1600-h/bee-tetons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5pqVDaoSI/AAAAAAAADp4/lqDc3QI163w/s400/bee-tetons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381354780681216290" border="0" /></a><br />Bees, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5pq8GBGRI/AAAAAAAADqA/vdVQmYaZ7kY/s1600-h/beetle-tetons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5pq8GBGRI/AAAAAAAADqA/vdVQmYaZ7kY/s400/beetle-tetons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381354791161108754" border="0" /></a><br />This may or may not be an <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uvm.edu/albeetle/">Asian longhorn beetle</a>. If it is, I'm sorry I didn't report the little bugger (I didn't know they frequented these parts). I was too busy trying to get this shot as he was perched on my shoulder.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">lovely flora</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qn3FVDsI/AAAAAAAADsY/T3dPoV9FVaw/s1600-h/weeds-wanted.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qn3FVDsI/AAAAAAAADsY/T3dPoV9FVaw/s400/weeds-wanted.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355837788065474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qnqZbMII/AAAAAAAADsQ/30R2IdU2gmM/s1600-h/weeds-bridger-teton.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qnqZbMII/AAAAAAAADsQ/30R2IdU2gmM/s400/weeds-bridger-teton.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355834382692482" border="0" /></a><br />Leafy spurge, I think. One of the wanted weeds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qiRu9-ZI/AAAAAAAADsI/WcUcpKWx35M/s1600-h/thistle-like-weed-tetons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qiRu9-ZI/AAAAAAAADsI/WcUcpKWx35M/s400/thistle-like-weed-tetons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355741862820242" border="0" /></a><br />Thistle or spotted knapweed?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5z0LYtpzI/AAAAAAAADs0/d4Kb67bp2BA/s1600-h/columbine-tetons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5z0LYtpzI/AAAAAAAADs0/d4Kb67bp2BA/s400/columbine-tetons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381365945001158450" border="0" /></a><br />This one's not a weed, it's a columbine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qh4hOKYI/AAAAAAAADsA/Ce13ArmxfLM/s1600-h/sagebrush.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qh4hOKYI/AAAAAAAADsA/Ce13ArmxfLM/s400/sagebrush.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355735094274434" border="0" /></a><br />Sagebrush bathed in sun.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">adventure!</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq6BEluzSLI/AAAAAAAADs8/lEPxgea0D4Q/s1600-h/hot-air-balloon-tetons.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq6BEluzSLI/AAAAAAAADs8/lEPxgea0D4Q/s400/hot-air-balloon-tetons.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381380520602192050" border="0" /></a><br />Hot air balloons launched right near where we are staying (Teton Village).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qhV9HrVI/AAAAAAAADr4/EtA8enQgN2I/s1600-h/paraglider-tetons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qhV9HrVI/AAAAAAAADr4/EtA8enQgN2I/s400/paraglider-tetons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355725816048978" border="0" /></a><br />If we were staying one more day, I think I might have wanted to try paragliding. We watched this guy take off from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGR118-250">Rendezvous Mountain</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qhDEt3qI/AAAAAAAADrw/1ydKO4kjuJc/s1600-h/paraglider-tetons-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sq5qhDEt3qI/AAAAAAAADrw/1ydKO4kjuJc/s400/paraglider-tetons-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381355720747638434" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Weeeeeee!!</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-87808533899925839652009-09-05T18:00:00.002-04:002009-09-05T18:00:00.448-04:00off to the wilds of wyoming<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SqF3FuwcwoI/AAAAAAAADYk/fuzoMy7Tq7k/s1600-h/bison.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SqF3FuwcwoI/AAAAAAAADYk/fuzoMy7Tq7k/s400/bison.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377710370391376514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Bison in Yellowstone, the Tetons neighbor to the North.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Howdy y'all!</span><br /><br />I'm off to wrassle some dogies out in the wilds of Wyomin'. Well, okay, not really, but a girl can pretend a little, <span style="font-style:italic;">no</span>? <br /><br />In reality we are heading to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm">Grand Teton National Park</a> and the Jackson Hole area for some fresh air, nature loving, hiking, rafting, and horseback riding. A lot to fit into a 4-day itinerary! I'll be back in a week to report on all of our adventures.<br /><br />Happy Labor Day and enjoy the week!<br /><br />x LLizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-17768891111089094652009-09-04T10:00:00.002-04:002009-09-04T10:28:28.802-04:00are we living in the age of stupid?I'm inclined to say yes. And I'd like to confirm my suspicions by watching this:<br /><br /><object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6143388&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6143388&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="225" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6143388">The Age of Stupid Global Premiere Trailer</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/ageofstupid">Age of Stupid</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>This isn't just a film about climate change and what could happen if the most severe predictions come to fruition. It's also a global <a target="_blank" href="http://www.notstupid.org/">call to action</a> (before the film even launches). I think director Franny Armstrong and the producers learned from the anti-climactic, uninspiring suggestions at the end of <span style="font-style: italic;">An Inconvenient Truth</span> for individual energy consumption reduction.* Of course, I think each of us is responsible for our ecological actions, but something as big as climate change requires the attention and concerted effort of policy makers around the world. And the film's release just happens to coincide with the UN General Assembly's climate session.</p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">*Not to discount Gore's own current <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wecansolveit.org/">efforts to thwart climate change</a>.</span><br /></p><p>Want to see what the world might look like if our climate nightmares come true? <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Age of Stupid premieres September 21/22. </span><br /></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ageofstupid.net/">Find out where it's playing.</a></p><p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.notstupid.org/">Find out what you can do to help.</a><br /></p>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3244683936456675886.post-1215682071566159252009-09-03T23:20:00.000-04:002009-09-03T23:20:10.966-04:00september in the city - UPDATE!I love September in New York. Dry sunny days, crisp clear nights. A perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors. Yes, we do have great outdoors in NYC. Here are some great ways to experience them this month.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">I've added a couple things I thought you should see:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Queens County Farm BBQ & Campout<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">This weekend!</span></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">September 6 to 7</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SqCG1nJVU3I/AAAAAAAADYc/a4yS7aTjTKc/s1600-h/farm.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SqCG1nJVU3I/AAAAAAAADYc/a4yS7aTjTKc/s320/farm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377446210679690098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span><span style="font-size:100%;">Here's your chance to nosh on some tasty chicken BBQ'd by none other than celebrated butcher Tom Mylan while sipping on some local suds courtesy Brooklyn Brewery. And if that's not enough, there'll be delish pie, a DJ spinning tunes, camping, and wake-up bloody Marys! Hello?! Why haven't you bought your ticket yet? Get 'em <a href="http://www.queensfarm.org/laborday.html">here</a>.<br /></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Central Park Bird Walks</span></span><br />brought to you by the Nature Conservancy<br />September 3 to October 26<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sp8tz4MDNBI/AAAAAAAADWs/k0lWcGGTo64/s1600-h/art27810_3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sp8tz4MDNBI/AAAAAAAADWs/k0lWcGGTo64/s320/art27810_3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377066849383166994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />NYC is a big stopping off point for birds migrating south for winter. Learn the ins & outs of bird watching with Kellye Rosenheim in Central Park. Get the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newyork/issues/art27810.html">full schedule and details</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Reservations are required. </span><span style="font-style: italic;">Please contact (212) 381-2194 or </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="mailto:nycbirdwalks@tnc.org">nycbirdwalks@tnc.org</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> for reservations and cancellations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance Events</span></span><br />September 4 to 26<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SqCETA1JWuI/AAAAAAAADYU/hNnoEV1QWfw/s1600-h/800px-HudsonRiverJavitsCenter.agr.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/SqCETA1JWuI/AAAAAAAADYU/hNnoEV1QWfw/s320/800px-HudsonRiverJavitsCenter.agr.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377443417255664354" border="0" /></a><br />Waterfront walking tours, kayaking Staten Island, tugboat races, and many more activities are on MWA's calendar this month. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.meetup.com/Waterfront-Alliance/calendar/">Check it out</a>!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Governors Island Art Fair</span></span><br />brought to you by 4heads<br />Every weekend, September 5 to 27<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sp81y3RD_kI/AAAAAAAADW8/jim83zrYzIk/s1600-h/800px-Castle_Williams_Governors_Island_NY.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sp81y3RD_kI/AAAAAAAADW8/jim83zrYzIk/s320/800px-Castle_Williams_Governors_Island_NY.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377075628048907842" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Over 150 independent artists and galleries from around the world come together on Governors Island – free ferry to and from Manhattan and Brooklyn. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.4heads.org/">Get the details</a>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Solar Powered Film Series</span></span><br />brought to you by GreenEdge NYC & Solar One<br />September 10 to 19<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sp8yfN7iiwI/AAAAAAAADW0/aMMoFwLZAzY/s1600-h/3025817381_e1ea0d2450.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sp8yfN7iiwI/AAAAAAAADW0/aMMoFwLZAzY/s320/3025817381_e1ea0d2450.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377071992000383746" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Get your fill of sustainable films in this series of serious documentaries – screenings powered by the sun.<br /><br />Doors open at 7:00 pm each night at Solar One (23rd St. & FDR Drive)<br />Films start at 7:45 pm, followed by Q&A<br /><br />September 10: Addicted to Plastic (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daSFXZT-HYk">trailer</a>)<br />September 11: Who Killed the Electric Car (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsJAlrYjGz8">trailer</a>)<br />September 12: Flow (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGd9D4J0lag">trailer</a>)<br />September 17: A Sea Change (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RASdOlq8B2M">trailer</a>)<br />September 18: The Garden (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhhfr_hIL7A">trailer</a>)<br />September 19: Burning the Sun (world premiere!)<br /><br />Plus, every night of the series features a segment from Brooklyn filmmaker Michelle Vey’s <span style="font-style: italic;">From Elegance to Earthworms</span>. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.greenedgenyc.org/page/green-edge-films">Get more info.</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">National Parks Week NYC</span></span><br />September 19 to 27<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://feelfree.org/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6Psv08sGfM/Sp8pv3_fjPI/AAAAAAAADWk/N4JLvKqEiCY/s320/posterlg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377062382564510962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm a big fan of National Parks. I've only been to 5 of them (soon to be 6!), but I've got my sites set on many more. Luckily, this month, the National Parks are coming to me – and everyone else in this fair city. The National Parks Conservation Association is hosting a full line-up of events all over NYC, including coastal clean-ups in Queens, a tour of Grant's tomb after dark in Morningside Heights, and screenings of clips from Rick Burn's latest documentary about the parks in Central Park. There are just too many events to list here, so <a target="_blank" href="http://www.npca.org/media_center/press_releases/2009/national_parks_week_calendar_082509.html">here's the full schedule.<br /><br /></a>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05134948803039673086noreply@blogger.com0