heavy stuff about what we eat

I just read a great post from Think Simple Now about the health, ethical, and environmental implications of our animal-based diet (including dairy products).

When I became a vegetarian, my main motive was for health, but as I dug deeper into what was happening in animal agriculture, the truth was heart breaking. I was in distress after learning about it, and thinking about it still makes me sad.

About 10 billion land animals are killed each year for food in the US, according to the USDA; this includes 35 million cattle, 100 million pigs, 300 million turkeys, and 9.5 billion chickens. That is more than 1 million animals killed every hour. Animal agriculture is a $100 billion a year industry, with even more powerful lobbying interest than the oil and pharmaceutical lobbies (exposed by Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation).

At such a scale and with efforts to drive down cost, how do you think animals are treated? The answer: the most time efficient way possible to minimize cost. With that in mind, animals are skinned alive, limps ripped out of them, beaks or testicles chopped off without pain relief.

Read the whole story.

goats are great (lawnmowers)

I have a thing for goats, as some of you might already know. If I had a yard and it were legal in this city, I'd have a goat. So naturally I was excited to see this Nightline feature on goats as lawnmowers in LA. Check it out:

delicious and nutritious food bar

Have you ever tried a Lärabar? I was looking for a little something sweet yesterday, but I didn't want it to be full of crap. So one by one, I turned over the 'healthy' candy-like energy bars, reading the contents and nutritional info. When I got to the Lärabar, I couldn't believe it. I actually had to read the ingredients list 3 times. Get this -- there are only 3 ingredients in the Peanut Butter Cookie flavor: dates, peanuts, salt. That's it. Naturally sweet and savory, 5 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, 1.7 ounces of delicious.

Lärabar also has a line of Jocolat (or chocolate) bars that I'd like to try.

I don't think they're organic, but they do claim no genetically modified ingredients. And while the umlauts in the name suggest they come from some Scandinavian or Germanic land, the Lärabar is made right here in the USA by Humm Foods.

You can get yourself a whole case, but you might want to try one first.


It looks kind of like headcheese here, but I swear it's yummy!

there are whales out there!

Right here in NYC, not far from the isle of Manhattan, whales are dodging cargo ships and singing their melancholy songs. It's a first for the city, not their presence, but the recording of their sounds -- of humpback, northern right, and fin whales.

This is an exciting time for New Yorkers. Just think, just miles from the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Carnegie Hall and Times Square, the great whales are singing," says Chris Clark, the Director of the Bioacoustics Research Program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "These are some of the largest and rarest animals on this planet trying to make a living just a few miles from New York's shores. It just goes to show us that there are many important and wonderful discoveries to be made about the living world right here, right in our back yards.

Read more at Science Daily.

brooklyn green event recap, part 3: the film

This is part 3 of my recap of Green Brooklyn 2008 (scroll down for parts 1 and 2).
There was a small turnout for this screening, but I think it had an impact on everyone there.

King Corn


Everyone should see this movie. For real. I read a lot of stuff about commodity corn in The Omnivore's Dilemma. But seeing it on the screen, hearing the farmers talk about how they are producing "crap" (and not giving a damn), seeing a small town in Iowa transform from being centered around family farms to industrialized agriculture -- it's frightening stuff. It gets bigger and bigger, a monoculture that's not even edible by humans without being highly processed, that's mostly feed for animals in factory farms.

The main goal and outcome of this agricultural giant: drastically reduce food prices for consumers by flooding the market with corn (thanks in great part to Earl Butz, Secretary of Agriculture in the 1970s). What it's helped create: pollution, sick animals in confined feed operations, and an obesity and diabetes epidemic. It's a moral, economic, and environmental issue worthy of everyone's attention.

Ah, what am I going on about -- just watch the movie!

Oh and...
I think we can all make conscious decisions to change the landscape for the better. Choose foods and drinks without high fructose corn syrup, eat grass-fed and humanely raised beef (or go vegetarian), support your local farmers by visiting farmer's markets. It may cost a little more now, but what you're paying for is a healthy future for yourself and for future generations.

Related posts
What the HCFS?!!!
My own private omnivore's dilemma

green brooklyn event recap, part 2: panel discussions

This is part 2 of my recap of Green Brooklyn 2008 (scroll down for part 1). I attended part of two different panel discussions, one on green investing and the other on solar panel installation.

Panel Discussions

The Real Greenbacks: Investing to Make a Difference

Speakers

• Heather Langsner, Innovest Group
• Lily Scott, Veris Wealth Partners
• Louis Berger and Subir Grewal, UBS Securities
• Richard Feldmann, Ventura Wealth Management

Takeaway
I have to admit, my eyes glaze over when a prospectus is put in front of me. Financial talk goes in one ear and out the other. Which is why I had to attend this discussion. I've been thinking a lot about where our investments are going -- to major polluters and irresponsible corporations (oil companies, big agrobiz, tobacco, &c.). I'd love to invest responsibly, with my conscience, I just need some education.

Sustainable investing goes beyond socially responsible investing (SRI), which traditionally excludes the worst public offenders from the equation. Sustainable investing rewards those public companies with sustainable practices and principles. SRI, according to Lily Scott from Veris Wealth Partners, also apparently rewards investors with a greater return on investment than the S&P 500 (11.67% vs 10.2%). It makes sense if you think about it -- sustainable company = sustainable growth = sustainable return (it's not math, but it makes sense to me!).

Resources

• Calvert Mutual Funds
• Sustainable Business
• Sustainable Investing
• SRI Advisor

Solar Your Building

Speakers

• Noreen Adler, EcoBrownstone
• Chris Moustakis, Solar Energy Systems
• Ken Schles, Brooklyn Homeowner/Solar Enthusiast

Takeaway
I don't own a house, so I can't do my own solar installation. But our building has a nice big sunny roof -- an ideal place for solar panels. I'm not sure if the initial investment would be worth it for a large residential co-op building; the space available for panels and the building's usage may not justify the cost of the panels. I'd like to see our building at least pursue it, the problem is the bump in maintenance costs wouldn't be seen as favorable since most tenants, while they're owners, are probably not in it for the long-haul -- depending on how many panels there are, it could take up to 20 years to make up for the initial costs. There are goverment incentives available now, but many are reaching the end of their term.

While there are many factors to consider when pursuing solar photovoltaics (direct sunlight, a sturdy roof, slanted platforms for a flat roof), at least for Ken Schles, the Brooklyn Homeowner, it seems worth it. He's had some struggles, specifically with Con Edison (they don't know what they're doing when it comes to the whole solar thing, according to him), but overall, he seems to be enjoying the benefits of solar -- a reduced carbon footprint, net energy gains, and a new perspective on energy consumption.

If solar photovoltaics aren't appropriate (usually due to shade), then solar thermal might be a good option for off-setting fossil fuel use. Solar thermal provides the heat for your hot water heater (a big consumer: 14%–25% of the energy consumed in your home). It collects energy both directly and passively, through sunlight and ambient heat -- especially effective in warmer climates and in the summer.

Resources

• DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency)
• Solar Energy International
• How Solar Thermal and Photovoltaics Work

green brooklyn event recap part 1: exhibitors

Some of the exhibitors (and some innocent bystanders) at Green Brooklyn 2008

Held at Brooklyn Borough Hall and in Cadman Plaza fittingly among the greenmarket, Green Brooklyn 2008 was packed with great exhibitors and informative sustainability events -- all free to the public. Here's a recap of some of the things I saw (part 1):

Exhibitors

Blacksmith Institute
This non-profit group helps communities in developing nations overcome pollution and its effects. Jen, a representative of the Institute, told me about their list of the top 10 worst polluted places in the world, which is continually being reassessed. According to their site:

The World Heath Organization, in conjunction with the World Bank, estimates that 20 percent of deaths in the developing world are directly attributed to environmental factors from pollution.

Here's their list of the top 10 worse polluted places:

• Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
• Linfen, China (pictured right)
• Tianying, China
• Sukinda, India
• Vapi, India
• La Oroya, Peru
• Dzerzinsk, Russia
• Norilsk, Russia
• Chernobyl, Ukraine
• Kabwe, Zambia

You can support the Blacksmith Institute by donating here.

CeleBritAy
Brooklyn-based vegan skin care line CeleBritAy is the creation of Liz Santiago, whom I had the pleasure of speaking with. She had some products on hand to sample, sell, and smell -- and the scents were naturally delicious. Sesame oil- and cocoa butter- or almond-based body creams are enhanced with bergamot, raspberry, lavendar, rose/peppermint, or arabian musk (or unscented if you prefer). They contain only natural emollients and essential oils -- no petroleum, synthetic fragrance, or chemical stabilizers. You can treat yourself to these creams or her other bath and spa products at celebritayny.com.

GreenHome NYC
According to their site, GreenHome NYC's mission is "to facilitate the adoption of sustainable building methods and materials by owners of small residential and commercial buildings in New York City." They had a wide array of products for green building and renovation on hand for participants to look at, including recycled denim insulation, PaperStone, and sorghum plywood. GreenHome holds a green building forum on the third Wednesday of each month. Learn more here.

Wearable Collections
386 million pounds of textiles end up in the NYC waste stream every year, reports Wearable Collections on their site. And they seem to have a sensible solution: clothing recycling pick up at residential buildings throughout the city. So far, they've kept 350,000 pounds of textiles out of landfills. You can request a bin for your building here.

Sims Metal Management
Sims is the world's largest recycling company with recycling operations all over the globe, and several facilities in the NY Metro area. They're opening a new metal recycling facility in an industrial part of Sunset Park, Brooklyn at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. A representative from Sims told me that this waterfront location would reduce truck traffic by limiting the distance needed for Department of Sanitation trucks to travel from collection to drop-off. It also allows for easier access to carrier barges. Read their environmental policy statement here.

Eat Well Guide
With this non-profit program, you can find Good Food near you -- food that's local, sustainable, and organic. There are thousands of listings of farms, markets, restaurants, and other good food producers.

The Eat Well Guide was developed by Sustainable Table to educate consumers about the problems of factory farming and to provide them with access to sustainable food options. Watch The Meatrix and learn the truth about where food comes from.

Kiwi Magazine
This family-oriented publication provides parents with information on how to raise children in the healthiest way possible. Their magazine shows parents how to practice a healthy and sustainable lifestyle in light of their busy schedules. I was happy to learn they have a free online version of their magazine.

RePlayGround
I spoke with Stephanie of Garbage of Eden Designs at the RePlayGround table about her cool plastic bag jewelry. She's got great earrings and bangles for sale on Etsy -- 10% of their sale goes to various non-profit organizations (including Added Value Farm). You can read an interview with her at Indie Fixx.

Read about my earlier post about RePlayGround here.


Exhibitors I missed:

• Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture
  I'd love to visit their farm in Pocantico Hills, about 30 miles north of NYC. Their restaurant in the city, Blue Hill, has incredible farm-fresh food and at the farm they have tours, a farmer's market, and a restaurant. I think Autumn would be a great time to visit (harvest, fall foliage, &c.)
• Added Value Farm
  This Red Hook, Brooklyn-based farm has a harvest festival coming up on Saturday, October 18 -- and with food from local restaurants, live music and performances, a pumpkin patch, and farm tours, I plan on being there

Exhibitor I meant to give a piece of my mind:
Bettencourt Green Building Supplies -- when we were renovating our kitchen last year, they didn't show up for an appointment we made and didn't answer my numerous calls when I tried to reschedule. (Grrr! Okay, enough griping.)

new free rice games

I just donated 11,000 grains of rice testing out my Italian language skills. Yep, they added some new games to the mix at freerice.com. Now, in addition to the original free rice vocabulary game, you can test your knowledge of art, science, foreign language, geography, and math. It beats clicking away at Solitaire or Bejeweled because you're actually helping feed hungry people through the UN World Food Program, thanks to the websites sponsors.

As of yesterday, 43,809,979,770 grains of rice have been donated thanks to bored office workers everywhere. Try it out!



[Free Rice via Make]

paint your porch ceiling blue

Everyday, as they say, you learn something new. Today for me, it was this: people paint their porch ceilings blue to keep bugs away. Maybe I never noticed or never thought about it, but as my dear friend Anne was talking about this, we happened upon a porch with a blue ceiling.


Blue porch ceiling in Sea Cliff, NY

I did a little search to find out more about this tradition and it turns out there are other reasons people choose pale blue for their porch ceilings. Some do it to keep wasps from nesting and some to create the illusion of blue sky above. Still others do it to ward off evil spirits.

In the South, there's a name for this special hue, it's called haint blue. A haint is a spirit or ghost and some people even paint the trim on their house haint blue to keep the scaries away.

No matter the reason, it can be a soothing color to choose for your porch. Just be sure to opt for a zero- or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) exterior paint like those from Mythic Paint or Best Paint Company.



[Sources: My friend Anne and NPR]

park(ing) day this friday!

What the heck is Park(ing) Day?

Park(ing) Day is an international event that reclaims over 200 parking spots in 50 cities around the world and transforms them into engaging public spaces for one day a year.

Park(ing) Day NYC is an effort of the New York City Streets Renaissance which offers individuals and groups small grants to turn more than 50 parking spots throughout New York City's 5 boroughs into human-friendly places for a single day. These small, temporary public spaces provide a breath of relief from the auto-clogged reality of New York City, and aim to spark a dialogue about our valuable public space and how we choose to use it.

There's a spot not too far from me on the other side of the park at Cortelyou Ave and Argyle Rd. This particular park is hosted by Sustainable Flatbush blogger Anne Pope.

Sound like a good idea to you? Join the fun and find a spot in 4 out of the 5 boroughs.


[Image: Keka Marzagão]

[Park(ing) Day via Brooklyn Based]

this one's for the ladies

My friend Alison swears by this book. She says every woman of childbearing age should own it. That it tells you things that no one has ever told you about your health but that you need to know.

Here's the book:
Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler



The Amazon review:

This comprehensive book explains in lucid, assured terms how to practice the fertility awareness method (FAM), a natural, scientifically proven but little-known form of birth control (which is not to be confused with the woefully ineffective "rhythm" method). Author Toni Weschler has been teaching fertility awareness for almost 20 years, and it's only just now gaining in popularity. As the book explains, by using simple fertility signs including peaks in morning body temperature and changes in cervical position and cervical mucus, it's possible to determine when ovulation is taking place. Fertility awareness is therefore useful for not only couples who are trying to conceive, but for those who are aiming to avoid pregnancy without the use of chemical contraceptives. It will be of special interest to those women who have suffered from infertility; many FAM practitioners have told the author that by filling in the detailed charts in the book, they've realized that they were chronically miscarrying, even when their doctors told them they weren't conceiving at all. As the book explains, by charting body temperature, it's simple to tell when pregnancy has occurred--and when there's danger of miscarriage. Taking Charge of Your Fertility also explains how to choose the sex of your baby by timing intercourse according to certain fertility signs. It also features thorough, easy-to-understand explanations of hormones, the menstrual cycle, and menopause, along with fertility tests and treatments and their long- and short-term side effects, plus a topnotch resource section. Recommended for any woman who wants to better understand her body.
--Erica Jorgensen --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. (Though I'd think it's not far off.)

While some of the customer reviews (8 out of 1,065) say this book is not helpful, or not appropriate for women with fertility issues, 981 reviewers gave the book 5 stars (that's a 92% approval rating). If you're thinking about pregnancy, how to conceive or how to prevent it, this book may be for you!

5 actions you can take right now

• Support wind farms vs coal mining [Coal River Wind]
• Urge moderators to ask candidates about climate change in the debates [Environmental Defense]
• Help keep dangerous chemicals out of household products [Care2 Petition Site]
• Lower gas prices by supporting clean energy not drilling [Union of Concerned Scientists]
• Help farmers recover from Hurricane Ike's destruction [Farm Aid]

VS

You can also pledge to help stop mountaintop removal by clicking and signing on my iLoveMountains link to the right!

dust bunnies, beware!

I've been rearranging some things in our apartment, finding new uses for existing furniture. But I've discovered something in the process -- man, this place is dusty! I'd like to chase away the dust bunnies, but I don't want to grab chemically fresh Pledge or any of its kin -- that stuff gives me a headache. So I'm whipping up some natural furniture cleaner.


[Image: Lisa Martin, Dust Bunny Challenge]

I did a little research and all it takes is a simple salad dressing. Really. All you need is some vinegar (distilled white works just fine, apple cider works but might stain) and a touch of olive oil or jojoba oil (it keeps longer 'cause it doesn't go rancid). Or some lemon juice and a bit of olive oil if you prefer the lemony fresh scent. Just dip a soft cloth (I used a thick cotton t-shirt rag) in the mixture and wipe on wood furniture. Works like a charm.

Here's a simple recipe using lemon oil, courtesy Annie Bond of Care2:

Lemon Oil Duster
Make sure the lemon oil is pure essential oil and doesn't contain petroleum distillates.

10 drops lemon oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
A few drops olive oil or jojoba

Dip a soft recycled cloth, such as one of flannel, in the lemon oil mixture, and wipe furniture.