Earth Elephant

A bit of a hiatus

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:06:00 +0000

Growing a baby & now watching my baby grow has kept me busy. I'll be back soon!

Transition

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:56:00 +0000

In my yoga classes I teach that the transitions between the postures are full of possiblity. We are not rooted in the old nor anchored in the new. They can parallel and give us clues about how we transition off the mat.

This idea, of excitement and possibility is at the heart of the Transition Movement started in 2005 by Rob Hopkins. Unlike the general environmental movement, which cues visions of Al Gore, I think this system may have a framework to propel people into action. There is a 12-step process (which a community may follow in any order) that though general, at least provides enough direction for group leaders to organize and actual begin to "relocalize" their community with tangible, visible changes to be self-sustainable in a post-carbon world. Places such as Portland, Maine, Boulder, Colorado and Newburyport, Massachusetts are buying in.

I am completely on board with the goals of local self reliance, appropriate technology, decentralization, localization, relocalization, and life in a certain post carbon, post petroleum world. You can deny global warming all you want but its a fact that there is a limited supply of fossil fuels and that one day, very soon, we will face a future without them. It is also true that we are completely unprepared for this not so distant future.

My main complaint about local environmental groups that I've been involved with is that there is a lot of talk and little action. Time will tell if this movement brings something different. Given the local, community building aspect, I have hope that it will. It seems the best area to begin is in food. Food is something any community can tackle with very little money. Local community gardens and CSAs are a great start to becoming a community which can sustain itself without the use of fossil fuels. Living in New England though, we must solve the problem of year-round food growth by implementing fossil fuel free greenhouses.

I've always been a "homebody". Traveling is great, don't get me wrong. I've learned so much through international travels but I don't think a return to local is a bad thing. Playing out a paradigm shift in which we once again live in villages, creating our own goods and traveling only as far as we can on human powered transport systems is radical in our postindustrial society. But radical times call for radical measures. Is there a middle ground here? I'm not so sure. I don't think we can carry on as we have been and think that bringing our own cloth bags to the grocery store is going to solve the problem.

I'm looking forward to delving into the local food systems as a member of a "Food Visionary" group extending from Transition Newburyport. Book review of The Transition Handbook: from oil dependency to local resilience by Rob Hopkins soon to follow!

UPcycling

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:07:00 +0000

Fix it up and wear it out, make it do or do without.

How often do we find a new home for or recycle our belongings? Flea markets and antique stores frequently dot the landscape of New England but how many people actually furnish and decorate their home with pre-owned goods? Personally, I find my old furnishings bring a bit of history into my home. They have a character that a pressboard cabinet from China just doesn’t have. Not only made from a whole natural substance (wood, glass), they are often sturdier after 50 yrs. than their contemporary counterparts are after 2 yrs.

You don’t have to spend big bucks to buy so called antiques. Look at local flea markets (Todd Farm, Rowley), yard sales and online marketplaces such as craigslist.com or freecycle.com or to your friends who may be updating their outdated kitchen. UPcycle. Clean it up, add a little paint or if you are blessed with carpentry skills, modify the piece to fit your needs. The time you invest will be more rewarding than the time spent walking through the fluorescent-lit aisles of Home Depot. Wouldn’t you rather spend a sunny Sunday morning strolling an open-air flea market?

This method definitely requires patience. If you are looking for the perfect bookshelf it may take you a few weeks to find it…maybe even a few months. The American attitude of instant gratification has caused us to be a wasteful society. We want it and we want it now. It doesn’t matter if it’s an import that isn’t helping our economy, it doesn’t matter if it’s made of cheap materials and will fall apart in 5 years with no other future but to be landfill.

Of course, there are items you won’t be able to find what you need and will have to purchase new but you can do this responsibly and consciously. Ask yourself, where was it made? Is there a company, which manufactures the product in the good ol’ USA? Is the packaging recyclable and easy enough to recycle that you will actually do it? How long is the warranty? Does it seem sturdy or cheaply made? What do the reviews say (epinions.com)? Is it energy star rated? Is there an alternate option made of sustainable resources (bamboo flooring vs. linoleum)?

Let’s remember, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

Belated Happy Birthday to Karma King

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:16:00 +0000

This past Monday many had the day off in observance of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Karma King as I'm calling him this morning.

He truly understood the path of Karma yoga, which is that of selfless service. ANY of us can be on this path...no yoga mat required! You do not have to hold any belief other than the one that to do something for someone other than yourself is a good thing. Any time you do anything of benefit to another being or living system, you are on the path.

Here is a quote from King on service...

"If you want to be important, wonderful.
If you want to be recognized, wonderful.
If you want to be great, wonderful.
But recognize that, he who is greatest among you shall be a servant.
That's the new definition of greatness.
And this morning, the thing that I like about it.
By giving that definition of greatness,it means that everybody can be great.
Because everybody can serve.
You don't have to have a college degree to serve.
You don't have to have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.
You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve.
You don't have to know Einstein's "Theory of Relativity" to serve.
You don't have to know the Second Theory of Thermal Dynamics in Physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace,
A soul generated by love,
And you can be that servant."

--Martin Luther King Jr.

Click to hear the Audio Version

What cause are you serving?

locavore events!

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 20:37:00 +0000

On Saturday, January 9, 35 farmers, fishermen and food producers will be in the cafeteria of the new Exeter High School in Exeter, NH from 10am-2pm, selling their meats, cheeses, milk, eggs, vegetables, fish and shrimp, prepared foods, baked goods, honey and maple syrup! You can find a full list of participating vendors and the products they will be selling at www.seacoasteatlocal.org

The new Exeter High School is located at 1 Blue Hawk Drive, or 315 Epping for GPS. Here's a map!

Locavore Dinner, January 13
The North Hampton Ag Commission is sponsoring a locavore dinner incorporating products of Winter Farmers’ Market participants.
A Roast Beef Dinner, with four vegetables, apple cider and baked apple dessert to be held at the Copper Lantern Restaurant, Lafayette Rd., North Hampton, at 6pm on Wednesday, January 13th.
The price of $20 per person is all inclusive of tax & gratuity, which will cover the purchases from local farmers and the staff of the restaurant. Reservations required, contact Dick Wollmar at 964-6793 or emailorgfarm@comcast.net

Winter Film Series: King Corn, January 29
at the Congregational Church in Exeter, 21 Front St, 7pm

A discussion of “Relocalization” and peripheral topics will be incorporated. There will also be a cozy fire in the fireplace of this homey restaurant. Director Ian Cheney will be in attendance! A documentary movie about two-friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that that drives our fast-food nation. When they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raised troubling questions about how we eat -- and how we farm.Free and open to the public.

eating in snowy new england on a cold winter's day

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 16:11:00 +0000

I'm on a 3 day juice fast so FOOD is on my mind. How much we consume, how much we actually need, and how far of a distance it travels to get to us. Living in New England in the winter, it is impossible to be a total locavore but there are ways to increase your local intake.

Let's start with how much food we actually need in order to function. The general guideline for caloric intake is 1,700 to 2,200 for your average person. Of those calories here is the breakdown in terms of recommended types of foods that we need to consume are:

55-60% Carbohydrates (whole grains, breads, and vegetables, fruits)
20-30% Fats (oil, avocados, nuts..unsaturated is best)
10-20% Protein (eggs, milk, meat, poultry, fish)

So what does that mean in table terms? Using Calorie Count I put together a day of meals within the above recommendations. I then noted in parenthesis how local you can get in the winter in New England. Local items are in green.

BREAKFAST

Oatmeal
1/3 cup rolled oats (Grandy Oats, Maine Grown, Maine made)
2/3 cup water
3 tbs raisins (California)
2 tbs walnuts (California)
1 tbsp brown sugar (Hawaii)

green tea (China)
honey (Tendercrop sells Essex honey, Newburyport, MA or Ipswich)

SNACK
1 med apple (Newburyport, MA)

LUNCH
Avocado Salad of Nesteren with balsamic grilled chicken
Red Sail Leaf organic lettuce (Ipswich)
1 cucumber (Mexico)
1 organic tomato (Ipswich)
2 tbsp olive oil (Italy)
2 tbsp lemon juice (California..if you're lucky)
½ tsp salt (Maine sea salt) 8 olives (Spain)
1 small red bell pepper (although perhaps farther we'll give you the benefit of Mexico)
½ avocado (Mexico)
1 tsp mint (homegrown indoors)
10 oz boneless chicken breast (Tendercrop, Newburyport, MA)
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar (Italy)

DINNER
Wild Mushroom Ragout Pasta
2 tsp olive oil 1 onion (Ipswich)
3 cloves garlic (Purchased from local farm and stored for winter)
1 1/2 lb mushroom (wild mushrooms purchased at Tendercrop and dried)
1/4 cup chicken broth (made from locally raised chicken, Tendercrop, Newburyport, MA)
3/4 cup no-alcohol red wine (California)
2 tbsp tomato paste (tomatos purchased at local farm and canned)
3 tbsp parsley, 2 tsp sage, fresh 1 tsp rosemary, fresh 1 tsp marjoram (homegrown, fresh or dried)
1/2 tsp salt (Maine sea salt)
1/4 tsp pepper (Vietnam or India most likely)
1 lb whole-wheat pasta (mid-west grown wheat or is that wishful thinking?)
6 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated (Italy)

TREAT
Hot Chocolate
250 ml organic skim milk (New Hampshire)
1 tsp sugar (Hawaii)
5 tsp cocoa powder (West Africa, Brazil or Indonesia)

More about the farms mentioned...

Eastern Farm of New England at 143 High Street in Ipswich is currently producing Red Sail leaf lettuce, green & red oak leaf lettuce (cut fresh from the garden), carrots, red potatoes, sweet potatoes, white onions, and red onions. They also sell fresh eggs, and local honey. Best of all, it's all organic.

Tendercrop Farm of Newburyport offers some of their own produce as well as imported produce. They post signs that will tell you what is theirs. The farm uses IPM (Integrated Pest Management) so pesticides may be used.

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:27:00 +0000

In the spirit of fresh beginnings I will once again be writing posts....stay tuned!

My Vote

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 15:05:00 +0000

Ahhh, democracy is in the air with primaries sweeping the nation. I am not however going to debate the best party or candidate but instead cast my vote on fuel, specifically that which we guzzle by the gallons each day.

There are finally expanding options for today's eco-conscious driver. With hybrid technology being relatively new, the downside of battery life and disposal hasn't really presented itself as an issue yet but soon will. No battery lasts forever, recharchable or not. One major problem presented by these batteries is lead.

"According to a 2003 report entitled, "Getting the Lead Out," by Environmental Defense and the Ecology Center of Ann Arbor, Mich., an estimated 2.6 million metric tons of lead can be found in the batteries of vehicles on the road today (and) More than 40,000 metric tons of lead are lost to landfills every year".
Hybridcars.com. 4/8/06. Hybrid Battery Toxicity. 3 Feb. 2008. <http://www.hybridcars.com/battery-toxicity.html>

There is no doubt that batteries are being developed which use an alternative to lead such as nickel or lithium but in the meantime people who are deciding to trade out their old petro powered mobile should seriously consider a renewable fuel source.

Alternative fuel sources include:
Ethanol
Biodiesel
Natural Gas
Propane
Hydrogen

Let's just cross off hydrogen considering the first hydrogen vehicle isn't available to the masses yet (see December's post). Next let us get rid of ethanol since it can only be used in flex-fuel vehicles
and has a comparitively low energy content. Natural gas and propane are both clean burning but are fossil fuels...enough said.

The only alternative fuel to have fully completed the health effects testing requirements of the Clean Air Act is biodiesal.

This very flexible and renewable fuel source can be produced from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases and can be used alone or blended with petroleum diesel. Although there is concern with how it will affect an engine's life cycle, it can be used in most petroleum diesel engines and it is only a matter of time before engines are manipulated to suite this fuel source.

Biodiesal is the most versatile and promising renewable source at this point, in my humble opinion. It does not leave behind lead to recycle or dispose of, it's not a fossil fuel and best of all, we can produce this domestically thus eliminating our dependance on foreign sources.

My vote: biodiesal. My plan? Trade in my current Subaru for the Subaru Boxer Turbo Diesel, just released in Europe. Of course, that is if it indeed is released in America within the next few years. I am predicting, that its popularity in Europe will drive the growth of biodiesal availablity here in the US. In the meantime, ridesharing and offsetting will be way I reduce my emissions and environmental impact.

Oh, one more fact concenring biodiesal, both Barack and Hillary support 60 billion gallons of homegrown biofuels to be produced and used in vehicles by 2030.

Post-holiday waste

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:19:00 +0000

As the holidays draw to a close you may find yourself pulling out your shiny new monitor from its box and likely heading to the nearest trash can with all that polystyrene packing...STOP!

I have collected some info (albeit a little on the tardy side) on recycling those items which curbside does not accept:

Sealed Air, Fill-Air inflatable packaging #4 (LDPE)
Fill-Air® RF air-filled packaging cushions can be manually reinflated with a drinking straw for reuse. If reuse is not an option, all Fill-Air® cushions can be deflated and recycled commercially with low density polyethylene (#4) bags. This is the same material as plastic shopping bags which most supermarket chains accept at the store for recycling so check in at your local Shaws, Shop n' Save, etc.

Packing Peanuts
Find a drop off center near you: http://www.loosefillpackaging.com/
Often times, Mailboxes Etc and such places will accept drop offs. You can also purchase peanuts made from cornstarch which dissolve in water at Staples (Staples® Biodegradable Packing Peanuts)

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam packaging #6
DROP OFF: http://www.epspackaging.org/pdf/AFPRWebsiteRecyclingLocations112907.pdf

OR MAIL it: EPS National Mail-Back Option

If there is no EPS recycling in your community please send it via U.S. Postal Service or other carrier to the address below. Average shipping fees range from $1.50-$9.00 based on the total packaging size. To maximize your EPS recycling efforts via the mail-back option we recommend the following:

1. Make sure the EPS is clean and free of any plastic film, loose parts or glued-on cardboard.

2. To increase the amount of EPS in each shipping container, it can be easily broken or cut into smaller pieces so that more foam can fit in individual boxes. AFPR will also recycle the corrugated boxes used to ship the EPS.

3. When shipping EPS biomedical coolers simply tape the top and bottom pieces together with shipping tape and apply the label and postage directly to the EPS. An outer, corrugated box is not necessary.

4. AFPR does not accept extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam including meat trays, cups, egg cartons or other disposable foodservice items for recycling.

5. Prepare shipping label and affix postage for delivery to:

Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers
1298 Cronson Boulevard, Suite 201
Crofton, MD 21114 USA

6. To facilitate shipping from home, the United States Postal Service (USPS) provides numerous options for printing labels and/or postage using online resources. This convenience also allows you to have the shipment picked up by your local USPS carrier as outbound mail.
EPS can be identified by the number 6 plastic resin identification code. Many types of foam plastic are not clearly marked; if you have questions please contact AFPR at (410) 451-8340 for clarification.

Gift Wrap
Unfortunately, can not normally be recycled but can be reUSED

WasteCap of Massachusetts
Check out this great search engine to find a pick up/drop off for a melange of items: http://www.wastecap.org/wastecap/RSD2003/search.asp

Happy recycling!

Offsetting the jet setting.

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:19:00 +0000

It all began with the snow blower discussion.

"I don't mind shoveling. I like it." This was me pre two New England storms.

My husband on the other hand does not like shoveling....he likes skiing. This requires leaving one's house to pile up with snow and to return when it is sufficiently buried.

“My back hurts and my shoulder blade feels like its been stabbed” This was me post two New England storms.

I revisit what hubs said, “Let’s offset”. Hmmmmm….

Carbon offsetting is something that I’m begrudgingly accepted as necessary in some cases. I know I am difficult to live with in that I want to do everything unplugged and fossil fuel-less, but there are instances where I have to compromise.

Take my car for instance. It’s a Subaru Impreza that gets decent mileage but I’d much rather a hydrogen vehicle ($$), a hybrid or run a Mercedes on bio-diesel. The problem of course: $$. I don’t doubt that I will attain one of these options in the not to distant future but for now, how do I mitigate my current emissions?

First step, calculate my personal footprint. There are a number of online resources to help with this:

http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp#
http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/carboncalculator.cfm
www.safeclimate.org/calculator/
www.gmpvt.com/energy101/myhome.shtml
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
http://www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/home/energyeff/3_calculator.asp

Second step, reduce what I can. There is the usual, change to CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs), insulate doors and windows, unplug unused appliances to prevent phantom loads and the list continues on the following sites:

Clean Air - Cool Planet: 10 Cool Climate-Saving Actions
Earth Day Network: Top 10

For the items left over which are in green transition or for which there is no compromise, I turn to offsetting.

I need to re-calculate my emissions after the above reductions, determine the cost of how much carbon I am emitting per year and spend that amount to fund emission reducing projects. Here is where the research comes in. As with anything else, I have to be an educated consumer. I'm paying for an intangible good so I need to find a reputable organization or investment.

I'll start with this comprehensive comparison and guide of non-profit and profit carbon offset providers:

http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/carbon_offset_wind_credits_carbon_reduction.htm

http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/ConsumersGuidetoCarbonOffsets.pdf

Ahhh yes, isn’t it about that time for New Year resolutions? I think this will be mine.

Perhaps you are in need of one? :)

No thanks, I don't need a bag

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:39:00 +0000

Many, many times I've said "I don't need a bag, thank you" and many, many times I've heard the phrase repeated back to me in the form of a question accompanied by a very baffled look from the cashier. To think that I might carry my items outside...into the light, where they might be seen!

Why do I bring this up? To illustrate that the changes we can make to our lifestyle in order to be more friendly to good ol' mother earth are very simple but are often met with resistance. People question, tease and sometimes even act as if I've just pinched their grandmother when I say, "Actually, you can recycle that".

To be environmentally conscious means that you make choices and decisions every minute, of every day. It means you can't keep your lifestyle exactly as it was before this consciousness. We are all consumers but we have choices in what we consume and if it means you have to give up your favorite lipstick because the container isn't recyclable and the stick is made from chemicals...well now, what a small price to pay for a better place to live, right?

Okay, I'm simplifying but these small choices do indeed matter when the person choosing is consistent. That may mean declaring confidently in front of a line full of people,

"No thanks...I do not need a bag".

I want it now!

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 22:29:00 +0000

Sorry, that's the Veruca Salt in me but it was my honest reaction after viewing a commercial for the Honda FCX Fuel-Cell Car which is now a reality but only being leased to a few in the next year.

A single by-product of water, 68 mpg, durable corn-based polyester covered seats, sans engine noises, quick acceleration, deceptively roomy interior...what's not to love?

I must say there is one little quagmire to sort out. Where will the hydrogen to power such a vehicle come from when the car does begin selling to the public?

That quantity of hydrogen will need to be extracted or created by some resource be it water, biomass, natural gas, petroleum, ALGAE (check out the link...it kinda makes me feel bad for the poor anaerobic cells), or...dum dum dummmmmm, coal. Noooooo!

We can only hope that the winner of a little contest next November 4th, will not see this as an opportunity to keep digging up those nuggets of darkness.

Eco-kitty?

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:49:00 +0000

Those of us trying to be "green" often overlook are our furry little friends. Probably because they're such great companions, offering unconditional love and never talking back.

I'm going to focus on the environmental impact of cats for now versus other pets. Let's start with the major issue...poo.

Approximately 90 million households in the US have cats according to the 2005-2006 National Pet Owners Survey . Obviously a lot of waste is being produced. Unfortunately only Kopi Luwak, or civet cat coffee, is the only valuable thing retrieved from cat waste and this isn't produced by your average domestic kitty...I just couldn't resist throwing this weird tidbit in!

Clay litters are already in their final stages of decomposition so sending it off to a landfill isn't helping anyone. There are alternatives:

Buy a recycled or non-clay litter like: http://www.naturesearth.com/

Unfortunately composting is kind of tricky on account of toxoplasmosis. I'll defer to Grist on this one:
"That said, you can compost your catbox contents! Use a separate container from your other compost. It doesn't need to be fancy -- a small trash can with holes in the bottom and a tight lid will be fine. Just put the soiled litter in, and after all the poop has been in there anaerobically composting for over a year, spread it on your ornamental plants. Or you can bury fresh feces in a foot-deep hole, though not within 100 feet of a water source. Do not put fresh or composted cat poop in your vegetable garden. And if you have kids playing in your yard, I wouldn't do any of this. "
full read: http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2005/09/26/kittylitter/

And now to discuss the pre-ingested situation. Think of how many cans and pouches are trashed (we hope recycled but not everyone is diligent about this) each day after these 90 million cat owning households finish feeding their pets. I know, it's mind blowing. I've heard of a raw food diet for dogs...but is there one for cats?

You bet. Not only is there less waste produced but no hormones, chemicals or pesticides. This diet better resembles what your purrfect pet would be eating in the wild. Dr. Francis M. Pottenger, Jr. did a study in the mid-1900s on the effects of cooked vs. raw diet. Guess which one produced healthier cats? Uh huh.

You definitely will need to do some research though and get a diet plan laid out. Obviously it will be important to speak to your vet about such diet.

An example meal would include some kind of raw meat, cooked grains, raw veggies and perhaps some nutritional supplements. If you are a vegetarian then having a cat or dog is probably not such a good idea considering you will have to deal with raw meat or the mysterious content of canned food.

Is having a pet worth the impact, or the effort to offset it? I'll leave it up to you.

Opening to Grace

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 02:27:00 +0000

So I do a little Anusara yoga and take a little trip to Trader Joes. Anusara means “flowing with Grace,” “going with the flow,” “following your heart.” The style was founded by John Friend in 97.

Anyway I've been practicing Anusara more regularly and after "opening my heart" as the practice does, people started opening up to me about all sorts of things. One older gentleman went into a very descriptive conversation about an old process of coating almonds (what?) I almost didn't get out of there because the cashier stopped scanning my groceries and just kept talking about the degradation of the environment and the fact that all the water was drying up. It was all a little too coincidental and bizarre.

Which leads me to my thoughts before all of this. Many, many people in the U.S. practice yoga. It's the trendy thing to do these days. However, most people practice the Hatha branch of yoga and do not know that there are 6 branches of yoga and 8 limbs (correct me if I'm wrong):

Branches/Types of YOGA:
Jnâna Yoga, the Yoga of wisdom/mind
Râja Yoga, the Yoga of meditation
Hatha Yoga, the Yoga of physical processes
Karma Yoga, the Yoga of service
Tantra Yoga, the Yoga of Rituals
Bhakti-Yoga, the Yoga of devotion

There are 8 limbs, one of which is the physical postures:

1. Yama: 5 positive ethical guidelines (restraints, or abstinences) that include non-violence, fidelity to the Absolute, non-stealing, truthfulness and non-attachment.
2. Niyama: 5 positive behaviors, including cleanliness, contentment, self-discipline, self-study and devotion to God.
3. Asana: Physical exercises that people usually associate with yoga.
4. Pranayama: These are the breathing exercises.
5. Pratyahara: This is detachment from the fluctuations of life.
6. Dharana: This is the practice of power ful and focused concentration.
7. Dhyana: Devotional meditation
8. Samadhi: Absorption of one's individual consciousness in the essence of God...ergo, enlightenment.

Most of I myself have just started branching out and I'm beginning to wonder if yogis have an inherent sense of how to take care of the environment. If the "suggestions" (remember, this is not a religion...there are no commandments) are followed, then the individual has a deep respect for life in all its forms and does not dwell on materialistic matters.

So in summary (because its late and I'm tired) a yogi is inherently an eco conscious person.

Shelter on the brain

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 02:17:00 +0000

Whew. Its been a while...I wonder if anyone is still tuning in? Perhaps someone can post a reply and let me know there is someone out there :) Holla if ya here me.

I'm currently developing a lesson plan for my ceramics class based off some work of my own. The theme for the lesson is the idea of home and the reality of shelter mixed with some form.

So it's come to be that I have shelter on the brain. May also be because hubbs and I are looking for a house, a home, of our own. Let's just say that looking isn't easy when you're green...flash to Kermit...and fade out.

While researching shelter I've come to realize how ridicously far away from necessity we've gotten here in the US. A shelter is about fulfilling needs in regards to climate really. Do we need the 8 layers of latex paint, the new roof that will just need replacing again, the additions built with materials that are non-renewable and in many cases hazardous to your health?

Is there a better way? Are there building options out there for people who can't afford to hire an architectural team to build a new green home? You betcha.

I'm very interested in Michelle Kauffman designs at the moment. While mostly built for California temps, she has created houses for snowbound places such as Colorado and a spokesperson assured me that Maine wouldn't be an issue. Michelle worked as an associate with Frank Gehry. Michelle takes the ugly out of pre-fab housing and paints it green for what I think is a pretty darn reasonable price (remember that environmental solutions are typically more costly in the short term and cheaper in the long term):
http://www.mkd-arc.com/index.cfm

Not what about remodeling or greening an already built house? Ah, you will have to read about that tomorrow because bed time has arrived...

Poverty and Environment: Part One

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 03:25:00 +0000

Every week in the developing world 200,000 children under five die of disease and 10,000 women die giving birth. -The Environment Times, A periodic publication by UNEP/GRID-Arendal

And the statistics go on and on. So much so that we have to just turn our heads because we have our own lives to live, right? Weddings to go to, concerts to enjoy, a night to ourselves with a glass of wine after a long work week.

I'm not saying I don't do the same, its completely overwhelming to think about US poverty alone, never mind poverty globally. But I do think that one way to turn the tide is through building a sustainable environment and I think it begins with US...meaning upper/middle class citizens of the United States to at the very least, model this behavior for the rest of the world....grab hold of the market by demanding goods and services that are produced in a sustainable manner and encourage biodiversity...starting here at home.

Sustainability.
In order for an area to pull itself out of poverty, it must become sustainable. Able to live off its resources and leave options for the future generations. Every place in this world is unique in what it has to offer to the global market .

When areas are stripping themselves of these natural resources to sell for ridiculously low amounts of money to eh, em, the US, the environment is degraded and living situations worsen. As the poor become desperate and begin stripping the land of its resources, harsh consequences follow. Take for instance, the act of deforestation leading to erosion which leads to flooding, loss of homes, the spread of disease through dirty water.

What can you do? Don't buy goods that aren't created from sustainable materials such as bamboo, recycled materials, banana leaves, etc. Buy locally when you can. I bet I may get some disagreement here but I think every place in this world needs to focus internally and create their own products for their society to sustain itself on. Here we are importing LOTs of goods from China and what is all over the news this week? Recalls and news stories about how these products contain lead or other harmful substances that killed the neighbors dog and can endanger your children.

Biodiversity.
To address world hunger we must encourage biodiversity. We in the US have other countries grow particular crops which do not create a well balance ecosystem so pesticides or GMO crops must be used. Although GMO crops may produce plants which create their own pesticides, when many plants have the same characteristics bred in or out, one disease can end it all. The cultivation of varieties of plants is important.

What can you do? Support your local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). They are springing up everywhere and promise a return to small, local farming.
Use your market power to avoid GMO produce/ products. Buy what is in season.

We in the West didn’t develop in an environmentally conscious manner. “As Delhi-based environment organization, the Centre for Science and Environment, points out, if the poor world were to develop and consume in the same manner as the West to achieve the same living standards, "we would need two additional planet Earths to produce resources and absorb wastes ... and good planets are hard to find!" Posted globalenvision.org: November 01, 2006

So let us stop developing and consuming in this manner. We have serious market control and right now all we are telling the world is, we want it fast and we want it cheap. Change your tune and help create a positive upward spiral.

Organic-Based Photovoltaics

noreply@blogger.com (christina) — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:22:00 +0000

You all know how I love my organics :)

WHY is our federal government spending $427 million on researching how to "cleanly" burn coal (capturing...eh em, not eliminating...the carbon dioxide produced), when that shining orb in the sky gives more energy in one hour than what the world consumes in one year? Could it have anything to do with who is in office? Could it have anything to do with the mainstream population who could care less? Perhaps assisted by the fact that roughly 37 million living in this country are considered under the poverty line (under "Dubyah" an extra 5.4 million have slipped below that line) and so probably aren't too concered with renewable energy. YET, cleaning up environmentally is inextricably linked to lowering poverty rates. To be continued in my next blog entry discussing the link between poverty and environment. Now back to photovoltaics.

New Zealand has taken the lead in photovoltaics, in my opinion, by taking a hint from nature....isn't that how we've developed most of our successfully inventions (thought pause)? Anyway, the cells are pretty because they are colored with synthetic organic compounds such as an chlorophyll imposter which is, yes, emerald green. Even better than their looks is their function. The demo cells showed the ability to generate eletricity in low-light conditions, just incase you live in Rochester, NY, and they are way more environmentally friendly than the current silicon technologies. The cells are made from titanium dioxide which is a renewable resource taken from the black sand of New Zealand. Which, of course, is the tree we in the US are barking up.

I didn't mention the best part....its CHEAPER! 1/10th the cost of silicon technology. Those kiwis aren't foolin' around. Cheers to them.