Black and Into Green

More schools cultivate learning in student gardens

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:47:00 +0000

More schools cultivate learning in student gardens Is there a school garden in your neighborhood? Volunteers are always needed, call your local board of education or attend a school board meeting to encourage and support school gardening.

Urban Sprouts Grows School Gardens and Much More

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Urban Sprouts School Gardens: About Urban Sprouts Ecologocial education, self-sufficiency, economic empowerment, parental engagement, nutrition and the chance to get outdoors, all rolled up in one mission that is spreading like wildflowers across San Francisco. A project that started out as a thesis a few years ago, is impacting the lives of thousands of young people and their families. This is one of the concepts that I am incorporating in my sustainable do over project for a design class I'm taking. I selected the exterior of my old high school, at this time, it is only a project, but I would love to see it become a reality. Principles of permaculture and a sense of place will play a key role in the campus design. I am working on my site plan today as the project presentation is scheduled for next week. I will be sure to post photos.

Enviromental Justice Grants for Non-Profits

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:02:00 +0000

The EPA anticipates awarding 40 grants of $25,000 each to non-profit agencies offering solutions to addressing enviromental justice and education issues in 2010. Click here for details.

African Nations Hot Over Climate Changes Talks

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:14:00 +0000

How familiar does this sound? You are not the primary contributor to certain economic or pollution related problems, but they hit you the hardest and your voice can be barely heard at the table. Well, ourAfrican brothers and sisters are feeling this way about climate change and have walked out of U.N. climate change meetings in Spain. Read more about their dramatic actions to bring attention to this life or death issue by clicking here.

Employee Engagement In The White House Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:14:00 +0000

Sam Kass, a 29 year old University of Chicago alum with a degree in history, is the personal chef of the first family and a White House food initiative coordinator. Not only does he prepare fine meals for the Obama's, but he also advises policymakers on initiatives ranging from the local food movement, to farmers markets to healthy school lunches. This is truly a first for the White House in terms of fully engaging all of the skills of its employees as well as a great example of how we should not allow our job titles or educational background to limit our contribution to our careers or our community. Read more about him here and be sure to checkout the recipe at the end of the article. I shared a while back that as part of a sustainable design course project, I am redesigning (on paper only - for now) an urban high school exterior (my old high school) to create a sense of place as well as to make it more sustainable. One concept that I want to incorporate into the design is the establishment of an urban farm on the campus grounds as well as fruit trees for shading and food. The produce could be used in the school lunches and sold at farmer's markets. How exciting would that be?! Sound crazy? There is actually a high school in urban Philadelphia that is already doing this. Read about Martin Luther King High School to get a feel for the possibilities. Anyway, this is something, based on the article about Mr. Kass and the White House's food initiatives, that I believe could be implemented at schools across the nation. Now that's something we can all sink our teeth into.

The First Lady and The Food Network

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Mark your calendars for January 3rd, when a special day of food and fun with the First Lady airs on The Food Network. The Iron Chef tv show will air a special episode in the White House garden and kitchen, which will feature Bobby Flay, Mario Batala and Emeril Lagasse. Bam!! Michelle Obama is not playing when it comes to getting the word out to our kids and families on the importance of good, healthy eating. She is such an inspiration. I know that many of you have your own community food initiatives, so read this article from the NY Times, it will make you laugh and encourage you to keep on keepin' on (I'm so old school)! Check out her colorful outfit in the photos.

Child Labor | The High Cost of Cotton

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:45:00 +0000

Child Labor The High Cost of Cotton "The look, the feel of cotton!" Remember that marketing campaign by the cotton industry, it made you feel that cotton was such a pure, simple and natural choice of fibers. Almost made you forget about the misery that our ancestors endured in the cotton fields. Well it appears according to this article, that many cotton growers continue to rely on cheap labor to feed our appetites for jeans, tees and dresses. If it was wrong for our ancestors, why is it okay for today's laborers, especially if they are children? There are retailers that are investing in purchases of organic cotton goods in their stores, but I don't know if organic translates into fair trade. So let the buyer beware.

The Best Green Fashion Online Shopping 2009

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:33:00 +0000

The Best Green Fashion Online Shopping 2009 One negative aspect of living a more eco-conscious lifestyle is the guilt. Once you have a better understanding of the amount of pollution, waste and poor working conditions it takes to make that cute little top, you just don't have as much fun shopping. So while most of my fashion purchases are not eco-friendly, I have been more discrete about what I do buy, limiting my selections to well edited, unique classics. I have included more vintage and thrift pieces into my wardrobe and have really worked what I already have in my closet. Dick's Sporting Goods offers a line of organic workout wear, so that is something that I support with my shopping dollars. My son enjoys shopping at Urban Outfitters and I have been able to buy him a few organic pieces from that retailer as well. The author of the article featured in this post has done the homework of finding some great green fashion sources for us. God bless you! She has screen shots and reviews of the websites, so you can eyeball the sites to see which fits your style. Kind of like walking in the mall and visually scanning each retailer until you see something that catches your eye.

So enjoy some guilt free shopping from the cozy comfort of your home and support the green economy!

Sweeten up your diet with dates: JulieMorris.net

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:50:00 +0000

Sweeten up your diet with dates: JulieMorris.net When I was living with my grandma, I was only allowed to eat candy on Saturdays. When I was a teen, we discovered a health food store called Weber's that was right down the hill from where we lived. They carried nuts, chocolates (white, milk, dark), dried fruits, sesame candies - all kinds of goodies in a special glass case. It was at Weber's that I discovered the sticky deliciousness of dates. They were a regular part of my once a week fix, though I could eat them anytime. Well, I have come full circle, as Weber's has been a great resource for me as I go increasingly raw with my diet. The dates have gotten me over the hump in some of those tough raw moments when you need a snack or something sweet. In fact yesterday, lunch was not an option given my workload, so raw almonds and nuts gave me the energy needed to keep moving. I now even add them frequently to smoothies as a sweetener in place of honey or agave. In raw tomato sauces, they are used in the way brown sugar is used in cooked sauces. Be sure to click on the link in this article for more date recipes.

Ciao!

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Running Raw | Dressing on the Cheap for Cold Weather Workouts

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:41:00 +0000

Running Raw Dressing on the Cheap for Cold Weather Workouts The biggest obstacle for me to have greener workouts in the winter is cold weather. I can't get into the house fast enough when it's cold, so I definitely don't want to go back out in it. When I was younger, I ran in the snow frequently, but you just don't have the tolerance for cold weather as you get older. I have made it out in the winter to run out of desperation and found it to be quite nice once you get started. Maybe this video will encourage me to do more green workouts in the white conditions of winter.

Greener Workouts Are Easier Than You Think

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:35:00 +0000

Greener Workouts Are Easier Than You Think I'm a gym rat myself, but I did a great job this summer of really greening my workouts by keeping out of the gym and into the great outdoors. I try to set a good example at the gym by carrying a stainless steel water bottle, wearing t-shirts with green slogans and the same old tired pairs of tennis shoes. I even sport on occasion eco-friendly gym gear from Dick's Sporting Goods. There are a decent amoung of affluent folk that attend my gym and I just know they wonder about my shoes sometimes, especially the black folk. You know how we do sometimes. Check out the link in the article to Organic Athletes, a site for folks on a plant based diet and into working out.

The Product Sustainability Index: Coming To A Company Near You

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:09:00 +0000

The Product Sustainability Index: It's Not just for Walmart Suppliers GreenBiz.com Walmart has already asked its suppliers to reduce packaging, now they are going for the green jugular, they want to know how sustainable they are too. Walmart being one of the biggest purchasers of goods in the world, will quickly move the green business football down the field with this move. I posted last year that this was coming, hopefully many of you prepared your businesses or your family's/friends about this great opportunity. It's not too late, the article features a checklist that you can use to get started down the road of becoming a greener, cleaner business. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions on this topic.

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Executive Order Firmly Commits Federal Agencies to Sustainability | GreenBiz.com

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Executive Order Firmly Commits Federal Agencies to Sustainability GreenBiz.com When you see these kinds of headlines, you should be putting on your green business brim and thinking about how to get some of that government green in your wallet! Anytime you read about a government agency or a non-profit being awarded stimulus money, you should know that there is an opportunity for you to profit. The great news for our planet, our people and our pocketbooks is that there are unprecedented amounts of funding being allocated to environmental initiatives. This week in Black And Into Green, I will write about the process of becoming a government contractor, it's not easy, but necessary to leverage these unique and exciting opportunities. I attended a fantastic presentation last week sponsored by a law firm that specializes in government work and was able to obtain some great information that I can't wait to share with you! Just in time too, because the next round of federal budgeting is only a few months away.

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There's No Magic Bullet for Companies Going Green -- So Just Do It | GreenBiz.com

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:10:00 +0000

There's No Magic Bullet for Companies Going Green -- So Just Do It GreenBiz.com Persistance and vision pays off. Finally, after a year of cajoling and sharing green business news and information with key individuals in my company, we are taking steps in our regional offices to be a more sustainable company. My goal of greening it up has been constantly disrupted by turbulent economic forces, management personnel changes and a hefty workload, but I did what I could to keep the green information stream flowing after an initial meeting last year. What really blew wind into my sails was the fact that our headquarters office has undertaken several green initiatives in the facilities management area and some in purchasing, so it will be simpler for our region to leverage their efforts and successes. I have been asked to be part of our initial green team, so I am truly happy and grateful to the Lord for this opportunity to do something I love at work. God is good!

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Sky Vegetables: Taking Green Roofs to New Heights | GreenBiz.com

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:02:00 +0000

Sky Vegetables: Taking Green Roofs to New Heights GreenBiz.com I plan to incorporate a green building into my high school redesign project. Very doable, just need to factor in safety and liability issues. This company is growing vegetables, community and green jobs on rooftops around the country. He is a recent college graduate, so you can do what you put your mind to, regardless of age.

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Increasingly Raw: Good Food Photos

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:35:00 +0000

Top - A BLT inspired sandwich made with live sprouted Ezekial bread (not a raw food, but close), macadamia dill based mayonnaise, arugula and heirloom tomatoes

Middle - Rawvioli made with paper thin, olive oil marinated turnip slices and pine nut goat "cheese" (recipe from Living Raw Food - see Fall Reading section of Black and Into Green)

Bottom - Rawvioli served with a cooked veggie dish I found in the October Martha Stewart Living magazine. Actually the kale is raw, but topped with a hot honey-vinegar mixture, the squash is baked.

Raw Food Update: Yummy Nut Cheezy Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:16:00 +0000

I think it is about a month that I have been raw curious. I'm still enjoying the journey and have increased the number of raw meals that I enjoy on a daily basis. My son has even partaken of some of the raw goodies, which include smoothies, rawvioli, mayonnaise and nut butters. Even better - the pants are fitting a bit looser baby! I wasn't even trying to lose weight. Flat stomachs and raw food go together. It takes a while to get your kitchen raw food ready, if you have a blender and food processor and eat a lot of veggies, you are 70 percent of the way there. A couple of good health food stores or even grocery stores (I'm still boycotting Whole Paycheck) will supply many of the raw nuts, seasonings and grains that you will need. The other stuff can be added over time (juicer, spiral slicer, dehydrator, unique seasonings and oils). I add new items with each paycheck. Okay, I'm getting sleepy, will post more cool raw stuff tomorrow.

Peace.

Sustainable Design Class Update: The Green Campus

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:18:00 +0000

I am researching conventional designs for high school exteriors as part of my homework assignment in my sustainable design class. For my project, I have chosen to redesign (on paper only-for now) my old high school exterior space, not only in a more sustainable manner, but with the goal of creating "a sense of place". One of many fond memories I have of my "school daze" is sitting of outside on the metal railings, soaking up the fresh air under the shady trees. It would be great to expand the physical features of the space to create a welcoming, natural, comfortable environment for the students. There is soooo much potential! Currently, like many urban high schools, the exterior entryway is surrounding by a sparse, grassy area and a few trees, another side of the building is fully committed to parking (the tennis court was paved over) and the other two sides feature gravel "landscaping" surrounded by steel posts or fences that serve to protect the school from traffic, I guess. I chose this project for many reasons - the opportunity to work with landscapes, experiment with urban farming, engage teens and the opportunity to integrate the school into the success and activities of the community. Built in 1926, it sits on a corner of the neighborhood known as five points, where traffic flows from five different directions, so it has the potential to be a showcase green project for the entire community. In this week's class we will discuss community planning and sustainable urbanism. Next week - site and land use, permaculture and water managment. Perfect for my project. I will keep you posted on my progress, lessons learned and projects of my classmates (don't worry, were only three deep).

Anti Cheese/Cheese, The Best Cheese On Earth Is Actually Vegan

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:17:00 +0000

Anti Cheese/Cheese, The Best Cheese On Earth Is Actually Vegan Check out this exciting article from Gliving, a totally hip and cool raw recipe emporium! The cheeses referenced in the article have been crafted in the manner of some of the world's finest dairy cheeses, but without harming animals or the environment. May be worth purchasing and sharing over the holidays.

Raw Ravioli Recipe: Stuffed Turnip Ravioli with Seed and Nut Cheese

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:30:00 +0000

GreenChef Leslie Bega Stuffed Turnip Ravioli with Seed and Nut Cheese I am trying out this recipe over the weekend (attending two evening events tonight and tomorrow). Already have the turnips marinating in the oil. Want to see more green recipes? Check out http://www.greenchefs.tv/ .

Back To School: Sustainable Design

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:18:00 +0000

Tonight I completed my first of eight classes on sustainable design principles at The Cleveland Institute of Art, a four year college with graduates working in fields ranging from auto design to product design to fine arts. The class will introduce us to principles of sustainable design (meeting a design objective without harm to the environment and community) ranging from architecture to bioclimatic design. We will also discuss topics of permaculture and community planning. I have no idea of what permaculture or bioclimatic design mean exactly, but hey this is why I'm taking the course! This will be a very hands on class as we are expected to identify a project using a site in the area that could benefit from a sustainable design approach. My class mates are an italian aerospace engineer and another green banker. We will compare and contrast development of our projects using conventional measures against sustainable measures. The project must be presented using drawings and plans (uh oh) and have the goal of convincing a developer to invest in the more holistic option. Next week's assignment is to discuss three possible project ideas. Any thoughts on types of projects? I'm thinking about community gardening, but that has been done quite a bit in my city. Guess I will be really taking a hard look at my community and issues affecting our communities in general over the next week in search of ideas. I will use some of the ideas of the winners of the Re-Burbia (redesign the suburbs) contest for inspiration. The assigned book for the course is "Cradle to Cradle", by McDonough and Braungart. I will keep you posted!

Setting The Stage For A Greener Community

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:58:00 +0000

Last week, I attended the Ohio Planning Annual Conference, which had a theme around sustainability.Most in attendance were urban planners, engineers, architects and consultants. I was the only banker. Planners are professionals that develop long and short term plans for the use of land in a region. They factor the vision for the city, demographic trends, social, enviromental and economic goals into development a document called a comprehensive plan. I attended four workshops, 1) Visioning with Sustainability In Mind 2) City of Cleveland Vacant Land Reuse Plan 3) Historic Building Preservation is the New Green and 4) Engaging Citizens in the Comprehensive Planning Process. This is what I learned:

1) The principles of city planning and sustainability share many values

2) It is important to engage the community or stakeholders in setting the vision for the future

3) There are many approaches to implementing sustainability into your city's plan - the Marin County, CA comprehensive plan is the cadillac of these plans

4) Foreclosures and population declines allow cities an opportunity to re-green space, improve water resources and neighborhoods through land banking

5) Some cities offer residents an opportunity to acquire property for $1 after a period of demonstrated improvements on the land

6) Residents have opportunities to apply for grants to recreate and re-develop their neighborhoods on a micro level

7) Preserving an historic building can be a greener approach to new construction, lots of value stored in the building in the form of solid construction and energy already expended in its' construction

8) You have an opportunity to shape the future of your city, region and/or state through participation on community planning boards and open houses

9) Elected officials, zoning officials and private companies need to be educated on the benefits of sustainability, economic and social rewards

10) There are lots of loan programs, tax credits and grant programs available for small businesses in the area of sustainability and historic building preservation, but no simple way to access this information (I can assist you with this-email me at bn2g00@gmail.com)

11) Bio-waste is the new oil, companies and cities are looking for ways to sell their organic waste

So there you have it, as Gandhi stated "Be the change you want to see in the world". Start visualizing and brainstorming some great ways to productively use land and space in your community, call your council person or county executive and make it happen baby!

Black Raw Foodies

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 03:18:00 +0000

I was reading my new uncookbook and discovered there was a black owned raw food restaurant in Harlem (Raw Soul owned by Lillian Butler). This made me curious about other black owned uncookery's across the nation. Tonight I bring to you, courtesy of Pear Magazine, Black Raw Food History. It includes activists like Dick Gregory, Oprah consultants, fine grandma's, spa owners, bodybuilders and a host of other interesting folk. Be sure to read about Karyn Calabrese, proprietor of the Karyn's in Chicago. The article is dated 2007, so I'm sure there are many great new african american owned raw food establishments in play. I will keep searching and posting my findings.

This Week In The Fall Garden

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:19:00 +0000

This vibrant red dahlia greets passersby with it's pop of color.

This trumpet vine is a native plant and is sought after by hummingbirds. Try to plant as many natives as you can. They are hardy, drought resistant, low maintenance and the birds love 'em. The plan is to train this over an arbor that I will place in the front garden. I can't wait! I can just imagine hummingbird fiestas in my garden. Fiesta, fiesta!

Vintage Store Values on Collectibles

noreply@blogger.com (GLORIA) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:04:00 +0000

For those of you that are into black collectibles, vintage and thrift stores are great places to find good deals, those these were kind of pricey at $65, but I'm sure they are priced below value. I thought the expression on the one to the right was unusually genteel for this type of collectible.

Mod is back! These cocktail set would fit right in on the set of "Mad Men".

Shapely Vegan Purse - I really liked the shape of this old school purse. Very retro. Will pair nicely with my leopard print mules. $18 bucks.