Green Living PDX

We're Growing in 2012

2012-01-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

We are excited about 2012.

And yes, we know that there are still too many political and social problems. What with high unemployment, home foreclosures, rising fuel prices, and a volatile stock market casting a pall of pessimism over us all.

Still, we feel there is good reason for optimism.

In our own small world we are growing as more and more people read the Green Living Journal. In order to serve this increased readership we will now be printing 20,000 copies each quarter instead of 16,000, and we will also be expanding our distribution locations from 450 to 550.

From the broader green front here's some news that feeds our optimism:

The Solar Energy Industries Association reports that in 2011 the solar energy industry in the US grew by 140 percent and costs came down by 40 percent. The US Solar industry now employs more than 100,000 Americans at 5,000 businesses across all 50 states, making it the fastest growing industry in the nation.

Locally the Solarize Portland efforts are installing solar at record rates.

The American Wind Energy Association reports that wind power now produces 20 percent of all the power in both Iowa and South Dakota. One utility in Colorado actually generated 55.6 percent of the electricity on its system from wind on October 6, 2011.

The cost of wind turbines has dropped 33 percent. Here in Oregon the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm (largest wind farm in the nation) is well under way in Morrow and Gilliam counties.

Electric drive vehicles produced by major car companies (Nissan and Chevrolet) have arrived in dealers' showrooms and 17,000 of them are now on the road, but the really good news is that more brands are coming for 2012. Going along with the increased number of vehicles is the increase in the number of public charging stations that are being installed. More on all of this this in our Spring issue which will be out in mid-March.

So keep your spirits up and keep reading the Green Living Journal for more great ideas and inspiration.

Post Holiday Waste Recycling

2011-12-26T10:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays!!
After the Holidays where to recycle all of the Holiday trimmings?

Wrapping paper, cards and boxes that are 100 percent paper can be recycled in curbside bins. Do not put foil, plastic coating and glitter into recycle bins. Plastic bottles, jars, tubs and buckets are the only plastics that you can recycle at home.

Christmas Trees and Wreaths in Portland
Oregon Metro Information
http://bit.ly/vsfeXJ

Styrofoam™ Blocks (No food-related Styrofoam)
Total Reclaim $5 per load 5805 NE Columbia Blvd, Portland | 503-281-1899
Recology – $5 per load – two locations: Foster Road location - 6400 SE 101st Avenue, Bldg. #4-A, Portland | 503-774-1418 Suttle Road Location - 4044 North Suttle Road, Portland | 503-285-8777

Rigid plastic and plastic bag recycling
Free drop off at Far West Fibers -Seven locations *6440 SE Alexander, Hillsboro *12820 NE Marx St, Portland *341 Foothills Rd, Lake Oswego *10750 SW Denney Rd, Beaverton *4629 SE 17th Ave, Portland *1520 NW Quimby, Portland *2005 N Rosa Parks Blvd, Portland (503)643-9944 or www.farwestfibers.com

Holiday Lights
If you've been thinking of switching out your old holiday lights for energy-saving LEDs, the Oregon Zoo is ready to help. Throughout ZooLights, the zoo will be collecting old holiday light strings for recycling. Just drop off your old lights at the Zoo Store by Sunday, Jan. 1, and you'll get a coupon for a free piece of Zoo Store fudge in exchange. LEDs are very eco-friendly decorations: They use only about 1 percent of the power of standard holiday lights. NOTE: We are not asking for donations of lights to use at the zoo – all of the lights we collect will be recycled into their component parts. http://www.oregonzoo.org/Contact/

Know of any other resources for Holiday recycling in the Portland, Vancouver area?
Ideas about reducing Holiday debris?
Please share the information in comments.

Sources: Oregon Metro-KGW.com
Photos: top: from flickr member foilman bottom: flickr member PBoyd04

City of Portland Offers Ecoroof Seminars and Incentives

2011-11-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

Interested in getting some green on and from your roof? The city has scheduled two one-day seminars; one for professionals on Tuesday, December 6, and one for property owners on Saturday, December 10. Register and get more information at www.portlandonline.com/bes/ecoroofseminars
The city is also accepting applications for ecoroof incentives to spur ecoroof construction in Portland. The deadline to apply for this cycle is Thursday, December 1, 2011. The next ecoroof incentive cycle will begin in spring 2012. The city will accept incentive applications twice a year through 2013.

Incentive Requirements
The project is within the Portland city limits.
The project manages stormwater.
Construction will start within two years of being approved for an incentive.
The project is feasible and buildable.
Projects that receive the FAR (Floor to Area ratio) bonus are eligible for ecoroof incentives.
Project cannot be complete before the incentive application deadline.

The incentive pays up to $5 per square foot for new ecoroof projects in the city. Ecoroofs in Portland typically cost between $5 and $20 per square foot. Industrial, residential, commercial and mixed-use projects are eligible. For this cycle, the city added criteria to promote diversity in ecoroof projects. Projects that apply the new criteria will rate higher during the evaluation process.

Ecoroof Benefits Include

Environmental Benefits
Manage stormwater
Increase wildlife habitat
Filter pollutants
Reduce the urban heat island effect
Improve air quality
Save energy
Buffer noise
Economic Benefits
Can double the lifespan of the roof
May be eligible for a sewer rate discount
Can lower heating and cooling costs
Social Benefits
Improve community livability
Create greenspaces
Provide educational opportunities
Connect the community with the natural environment

For more information and to find out about the next eco roof incentive cycle:
http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=48724&
or Contact Alice Coker at 503-823-7914

25th Annual Fix it Fair Season

2011-11-15T11:18:00.000-08:00

The City of Portland's 25th Annual Neighborhood Fix it Fairs

Learn about!

Water and energy savings

Safe and healthy home

Food and nutrition

Neighborhood and community resources

Recycling

Weatherizing your home

Gardening and growing your own food

Yard care and composting

Transportation

Plus!

Free lead blood testing

Free giveaways

Hourly door prizes

Free professional childcare

Free lunch

Free minor bike tune-ups and flat tire repair for students and families

Nov. 19th Ron Russell Middle School

Jan. 21st Rosa Parks Elementary School

Feb. 25th Jefferson High School

Better Living Show, the Northwest’s largest sustainable lifestyle show

2011-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

The Green Living Journal is excited to be media sponsors of the 2012 Better Living Show, the Northwest’s largest sustainable lifestyle show!

The fifth annual Better Living Show returns to the Portland Expo Center Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25, 2012. This free, three-day festival, designed to empower attendees to become more thoughtful consumers, features more than 300 exhibiting companies, showing off the best in high-performance, eco-friendly products and services for every aspect of living a better life. Bike enthusiasts can also check out Pedal Nation, Oregon’s largest bike show, happening next-door, both Friday and Saturday.

Ghosn + Czysz + Musk + Lutz + Gadget + Us = A Tipping Point

2011-11-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

Worried about what the future holds for the world your grandchildren will live in?

Last Thursday and Friday we were given an exciting peek at why there is hope for a better tomorrow. This glimpse of optimism was presented in 2 films that showed at the Hollywood and Baghdad theaters.

In "Revenge of the Electric Car" filmmaker and director Chris Paine takes us behind the scenes at General Motors, Nissan, Tesla Motors, and Left Coast Electric for a closer look at the men that are essentially gambling with the survival of their companies. Carlos Ghosn, CEO and President of Nissan, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman of General Motors (now retired), and Greg "Gadget" Abbott, CEO of Left Coast Electric, are all betting big time that the electric motor will replace the internal combustion engine (ICE) in our personal vehicles.

In "Charge" filmmaker Mark Neale documents the Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) electric motorcycle races of 2009 and 2010. The Portland based Motocyzsy team led by Michael Cyzsy is the focus of the film and their winning of the race in 2010 (and again in 2011). Here again we have a company headed by an individual who is investing a lot of money in the electric drive system, only in this case, it's for use in motorcycles.

Whether you are a fan of cars or motorcycles or not, these two films give us compelling evidence that the electric motor is on the verge of replacing the ICE in our personal vehicles. It will do this, not because these people are driven to be green just to be green, but because they are driven to make sound business decisions for the future viability, profitability and sustainability of their companies. The electric motor will allow them to be green and profitable while giving us the opportunity for energy independence by endinging our addiction to oil. We all win with cleaner air and a more secure America.
The key to the success of this switch to electric drive now rests with the consumer. That's you and me, so if you are going to buy a new car or motorcycle at least test-drive an electric one.

The Triple Bottom Line that Keeps the Green Living Journal PDX Free

2011-10-31T14:02:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about the Green Living Journal is the fact that it's free to readers. The reason for this is that advertisers sponsor the content. Without advertisers, there is no Green Living Journal magazine.

How it works: When one of Green Living's advertisers pays for placement, the money is used to pay for the creation, printing and distribution of the magazine. Those advertisers could spend their dollars with other publications, but they choose to support the mission of the Green Living Journal instead.

Why do advertisers do this? Advertisers know that Green Living Journal readers are concerned about the environment, take interest in social and ethical issues, and are more likely to choose goods and services delivered by people who share their values.

What does that mean to readers? Readers should know that when they choose to take their business to a Green Living Journal advertiser, they are doing good - good for themselves, the environment, the advertiser, the economy and the Green Living Journal. Advertisers appreciate being thanked for their contribution and there really isn't a better way than helping them to stay viable in these difficult economic times. For readers who aren't ready to make a purchase, telling an advertiser that you're keeping them in mind for future business is a nice way to let them know that they are noticed.

Readers should also know that THEY can be advertisers.

It's true! The Green Living Journal has classified word-only ads AND classified display ads that are affordable to individuals, crafters, and small businesses who want to reach other mindful people.

The bottom line: Readers, advertisers, and the Green Living Journal are all in this together. Giving readers what they need to make better, more intentional choices about their behaviors; giving advertisers a way to support these informative efforts while growing their businesses; and giving the Green Living Journal the opportunity to serve both its readers and its advertisers is a win-win-win situation... That's the best kind of triple bottom line that there is!

3rd Annual Halloween Candy Buy Back Event at Dentus Dental Nov 2nd

2011-10-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

Dentus Dental in Vancouver, WA has an annual event buying back halloween candy from trick or treaters.
Trick or Treaters can sell their candy for $1.00 per pound. Collected candy is donated to Operation Gratitude to be put in care packages sent to troops overseas. More information is on Dentus Dental Halloween Candy Buy Back Facebook Page.

EcoDistricts Summit is returning to Portland State University

2011-10-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

The EcoDistricts Summit is returning to Portland State University on October 26-28, 2011, and will be hosted by the Portland Sustainability Institute. The EcoDistricts Summit is dedicated to neighborhood-scale sustainability innovation and brings together leading professionals and thought leaders from across North America and beyond, providing a forum to share best practices across a growing number of neighborhood sustainability projects. (The silent video here is a time-lapse rendition of building an EcoDistrict.)

“The EcoDistricts Initiative is creating a living lab of innovation to test and institutionalize a range of best practices from district energy to green streets and behavior and choice,” says Rob Bennett, Executive Director of the Portland Sustainability Institute. “The Summit is an important part of our overall effort to learn from and connect with global professionals and policymakers.”

About PoSI
The Portland Sustainability Institute (PoSI) develops next-generation sustainability solutions for cities. PoSI was founded in 2009 to systematically bring together business, higher education, nonprofit and municipal leaders to drive a set of catalytic initiatives for urban sustainability in the Portland metro region. PoSI works to implement big and game changing ideas that weave together community livability, ecological resiliency and broad-based prosperity.

To learn more about the PoSI and theEcoDistricts Initiative,
Contact: Liz Hopkins 503.922.1661 lhopkins@pdxinstitute.org
or visit: http://pdxinstitute.org/index.php/whatwedo/ecodistricts

reprinted from the Green Living Journal

Food Day - October 24, 2011

2011-10-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Aimed at promoting healthy, sustainable, affordable and just food systems in America, Food Day is a national grassroots mobilization backed by some of the most prominent voices for change in the food movement. On October 24, 2011, people will gather at events big and small and from coast to coast in homes, schools, colleges, churches, city halls, farmers’ markets, supermarkets, and elsewhere to raise awareness about food issues and advocate for change. Think of it as an Earth Day for food!

Spearheaded by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Day is organized around six main policy priorities:

Reduce obesity and diet-related disease by promoting healthy foods
Support sustainable family farms and cut subsidies to large farms
Eliminate food deserts by providing access to healthy and affordable food
Protect the environment and farm animals by reforming factory farms
Promote children’s health by curbing junk-food marketing aimed at kids
Obtain fair pay for food and farm workers

For more info contact Susan Navrotsky 503-232-5657, snavrotsky@gmail.com, or go to: http://foodday.org

Reprinted from the Green Living Journal

ISSUE 15 of the Green Living Journal - Columbia River PDX Coming Up Winter 2011

2011-10-18T22:27:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to believe that the Green Living Journal Columbia River PDX will be publishing its 15th issue in November. The premier issue was published in Summer 2008 and included articles like, The State of Co-ops, The Birth of Locavore, and How to Get Carbon Free in 10 Years. Issues since then have delivered even more timely topics and insight to Green Living readers. The Winter 2011 issue will spotlight books: books in print, out of print and never printed. Don’t worry, articles about building, transportation, EV news, and all the other regular topics will be there, but staff will also be adding some new features including art made with recycled materials, eco-fashion, and e-waste.

The magazine is made possible by the many extraordinary advertisers who believe-in and are working toward ecological and social balance. It’s important that all of us reward these conscientious advocates by supporting their businesses when we make our buying decisions. The Green Living Journal staff hopes that you will contact a Green Living advertiser to help meet your life’s needs whenever you’re considering a purchase.

Green Living Journal staff is passionate about bringing truly practical information to its readers and would like to see the magazine grow beyond its 32 pages. Staff effort and volunteerism are a big component in getting the magazine into print and online: both distribution methods provide access to the Green Living Journal at no cost to readers. The Green Living PDX BLOG content is available via RSS feed, but also as a Kindle subscription for just 99 cents a month! Delivering the entire magazine via Kindle to those who love their e-readers is also in the works.

If you share the vision of nurturing mindfulness in daily living and supporting businesses that give thought to their impact on the world around them, please help Oregon’s Green Living Journal grow. Here’s what you can do:

Like us on Facebook
Share our page links with your friends
Pick up a printed copy from one of our distribution partners and pass it forward when you’re done reading
Buy goods and services from our advertisers
Subscribe to our RSS or Kindle-delivered BLOG
Embed our flipping magazine on your website
Link to us on your website
Advertise! Green Living ads fit even the smallest budget. Even if you’re not in business, 4 lines of Classified copy are only $25!

It’s easy to advertise in the Green Living Journal: Just email susan@greenlivingjournal.com or call her at 541-374-5454. For a list of ad sizes, visit our website.

The Earth and Spirit Council Presents The Economics of Happiness

2011-10-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

Friday Oct. 14th at 7pm at The Hollywood Theatre

An eye-opening documentary exposing the truth about the real price we pay for a globalized economy, The Economics of Happiness also offers a powerful message of hope for the future.

The film features a chorus of voices from six continents calling for systemic economic change, including David Korten, Bill McKibben, Vandana Shiva, Rob Hopkins, Richard, Heinberg, Juliet Schor, Michael Shuman, Helena Norberg‚ÄêHodge, and Samdhong Rinpoche, the Prime Minister of Tibet’s government in exile.

The Earth & Spirit Council is a 501(c)(3) educational organization dedicated to strengthening our connection with the natural world. Their mission is to encourage and support people in developing a healthy, sustainable relationship to the Earth. The Council reaches out nationally and internationally with large scale community projects, classes and workshops.

Their 3 current projects are:

Natural Way: Indigenous Voices-bringing authentic indigenous knowledge to their audience through elders, story tellers, and oral tradition.

Internet Wisdom Education: Videos and recordings of the Natural Way voices saved for posterity.

Earth Arts: K-8 Multi-arts eco-education program. Nurturing children’s curiosity and love for the living Earth through art and story making.

For tickets and more information about the Earth and Spirit Council: http://www.earthandspirit.org/

Reprinted from: The Green Living Journal

Northwest Permaculture Convergence Oct. 14-16

2011-10-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

Hosted at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in St. Helens, OR, as well as in the City of Portland, this event will include a broad spectrum of presentations, activities, tours and opportunities to get involved.
This year’s Convergence theme is “Finding Common Cause”. By that we mean, expanding both our thinking and our networks to include a broader range of allies and partners to work with for making those deep changes.

Permaculture and Finding Common Cause – this year’s event will engage all ages and interests ranging from urban to rural, hands on, from education to timely social, spiritual and economic innovations – local to bio regional. Please join us! Meet and greet. Show and tell. From early morning to after hours, we anticipate a lively, creative and productive 2011 Northwest Convergence.
For more info visit: http://nwpermaculture.com

Reprinted from the Green Living Journal

Provender speakers, Planting Seeds, Harvesting Wisdom

2011-10-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

The 35th Annual Provender Alliance Conference is held in Hood River, OR and while you need to be a member to attend the conference there are several speakers which are available to the public. All talks are $10 at the door and held at the Hood River Inn, Hood River, OR

Solutions from the Underground

Paul Stamets Weds. Oct. 5th 8:00 to 10:00 PM

As we are now well engaged in the 6th Major Extinction (“6 X”) on planet Earth, our biosphere is quickly changing, eroding life support systems. Unless we put into action policies and technologies that can cause a course correction in the very near future, species diversity will continue to plummet, with humans not only being the primary cause, but one of the victims. What can we do? Fungi, particularly mushrooms, offer some powerful, practical solutions. Paul will present six inventions, which help steer ecosystems and humanity to a healthier future. He will discuss the evolution of mushrooms in ecosystems and how fungi can help heal environments. As environmental health and human health are inextricably interconnected, fungi offer unique opportunities that capitalize on mycelium’s diverse properties. Fungi are the grand molecular dis-assemblers in nature, decomposing plants and animals, creating soils and the food web of life. Paul will demonstrate that mycelium offers many of the solutions we sorely need

The Future of Food: Challenges and Opportunities
Dr. Steve Jones Thurs. Oct 6th 8:30 to 10:00 AM

Let us for a moment ignore footprints and food miles and other terms commonly used to describe our local food. It is easier, then, to bring the focus back to the farmers who surround the urbanized regions of the Pacific Northwest and to address ways to help these farmers survive. In fact, something as mundane as wheat or barley may even have a place in this effort. It is difficult to find a region of the United States that at one time did not grow grains for local uses like bread, pastries, and malt. But today there are vast areas of highly diverse farming systems that have lost their rotational grains, and with them the benefit that grains bring to farming systems. Fortunately, recent developments in small grain movements across the country have shown not only that the grains are back but they bring with them a sense and taste of regionality. They also bring added values at many levels that can help in revitalizing small communities.

Thinking Outside the Box
Jesse Ziff Cool Friday Oct. 7th 8:30 to 10:00 AM

In the midst of the big picture of how to create impact within the food system, how do we reach out in our local communities and create change, one person at a time? As a leader, an individual’s methods that are inspirational, inclusive and manifest excitement can’t help but create a ripple. Thinking outside the box, shifting the audience, not just the believers, remains a wonderful part of the work we do in our industry of offering to others good, wholesome, real food.

GoGreen ’11 Portland Tuesday Oct. 4th

2011-09-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

Featuring over 50 speakers, business leaders from Oregon State who are cutting-edge visionaries, sustainability experts and forward thinking individuals who will proviy de you with the knowledge and tools needed to make your business more sustainable.

Showcasing the importance of waste reduction strategies for business, GoGreen ’11 Portland will feature a dedicated panel session on the topic and runway show by the Junk to Funk Trashion Collective at its event, Tuesday, October 4, 2011.
During the program portion of GoGreen ’11 Portland, attendees will hear from local experts on waste reduction and zero impact strategies for business during the Collaborative Approaches to Achieving Zero Waste at Your Business Panel Session.
That session will be lead by Metro’s Sustainability Center Business Waste Reduction Planner, Will Elder, and features locally sourced case studies. GoGreen Conference Portland 2011 is an all-day sustainable business conference brought to you by Pacific Power, Tuesday, October 4, 2011 from 8:30am-5:00pm at the Gerding Theater at the Armory in Portland’s Pearl District.
Please visit: portland.gogreenconference.net for additional event information and to purchase tickets online.

10th Annual Columbia Gorge Green Living Tour Oct. 1st

2011-09-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

Get out to the Gorge and Tour Eco-friendly Homes

10-4 pm Saturday October 1st.
The Green Living Tour highlights about 12 homes with examples of: solar PV, solar hot water, a deep energy retrofit, EPS (Energy Performance Scores), passive house design, an off-grid home, native landscaping, backyard chickens, bees, and more. A tour map will be provided with a description of each site. Cost: $20/car.

Get out of the Car.
Bike/Van Tour (Noon - 2:00 pm) This two+ hour casual bike tour with optional van transportation makes stops at three to four notable "green" homes in the Hood River Heights neighborhood. Each stop is led by a homeowner or contractor and highlights the home's "green" attributes including a "deep" energy retrofit, passive house design, backyard gardens, green building materials, and solar PV.  Cost: $10/family for the Bike & Van tour; $20 for participation in the entire Green Living Tour, including Bike & Van tour. RSVP encouraged to jonathan@cgec.org.

Learn About It
Sustainable Living Workshops (9:00 am – noon)
Several workshops are available on topics including American Clay application; Solar Hot Water Systems; Backyard Bees; Backyard Chickens: Beginning & Maintaining a Small Urban Flock; and Backyard Chickens: Processing, Bicycle Powered Plucking & Sausage Making. Cost: free to $10.

For more information and tickets: Columbia Gorge Earth Center

10th Annual Build it Green Home Tour This Saturday

2011-09-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

The 10th annual Build It Green! Home Tour and Information Fair is a self-guided tour of 22 green remodels and new homes around the Portland metropolitan area. Start and stop where and when you choose.

Visit homes where the owners have used solar panels, ecoroofs (green roofs), rainwater harvesting, natural landscaping, water and energy conservation, natural building materials, alternative construction techniques.
Where else could you talk with the owners and builders who have used the materials and have the experience and are willing to share.

Tour date: Saturday, September 24th, 2011
Tour time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Buy Build It Green! Home Tour tickets online and pick up your guide at Green Depot. You can also buy tickets the day of the tour at Green Depot

819 SE Taylor, Portland, OR
$15 admission
$10 honored citizens/students/alternative transportation.
Children 13 years-old and under are FREE.

The Info Fair is a prelude to the Tour with green vendors, demonstrations, food, drink and music. New Info Fair hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Info Fair is FREE and open to everyone.
Build It Green! Info Fair at Green Depot 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 819 SE Taylor, Portland, OR 503-222-3881

People's Coop Harvest Fest

2011-09-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

People's Coop Harvest Festival and Craft Fair!

Weds. Sept 21st from 2-9

People's Harvest Fest is here and they are closing down 21st Ave and celebrating with:

Craft Fair from 2-7pm
Pie eating contest at 4pm and 6pm
Square dancing in the street 7-9pm
Face painting 2-6pm
Cider press 3-7pm
Live music all day!
Farmers' Market 2-9pm
Beer garden all day!
Delicious food all day!

The Facts About Solar Energy

2011-09-19T11:31:00.000-07:00

We just received the following message from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and we want to pass it along:

"You have undoubtedly seen the news that Solyndra, a domestic solar panel manufacturer that received a Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee, recently filed for bankruptcy.
This is not indicative of what’s happening with solar, and it is disturbing that some politicians and pundits are using this unfortunate situation as an excuse to heap unwarranted criticism on solar.
In the past few days, you have probably heard wild inaccuracies and blatant misstatements about solar energy’s promise and the state of the solar industry.
SEIA is fighting back and is utilizing a variety of resources to actively combat these falsehoods. Solar is the cleanest, safest way to power our homes and communities, and we have a great story to tell. But we have to get this news out.
That is why I am reaching out to you. We need your help in spreading the word about the positive story of solar energy.
Here are the facts about solar:

The solar industry employs more than 100,000 Americans, more than twice as many as in 2009. They work at more than 5,000 companies, the vast majority being small businesses, in all 50 states.
The U.S. solar industry grew by 69% in the past year, making it one of the fastest growing sectors in the U.S. economy.
Since the beginning of 2010, the price of solar panels has dropped by 30%, and costs continue to fall making solar an even more viable choice for residential and business customers.
The U.S. was a net exporter of solar products in 2010 by $2 billion. We were even a net exporter to China.
Solar power in the U.S. now exceeds 3,100 megawatts (MW), enough to power more than 630,000 homes.
Continued industry growth enhances our energy security and diversifies our domestic energy portfolio.

Please help us make sure that our friends and allies are armed with the facts. Take a moment to forward this message to your colleagues and friends and help us tell the real story of solar energy in America." Yours,
Manning Feraci, SEIA

Portland Veg Fest 2011

2011-09-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

Oregon's largest plant-based food event!

Portland VegFest 2011
Saturday & Sunday, September 17 & 18
Oregon Convention Center - Exhibit Hall A
777 NE MLK, Jr. Blvd. Portland, OR 97232
10am - 6pm
$6 admission/day, kids 10 and under free
Bring your own bag to collect samples and info!

Free samples of hundreds of different foods:
Delicious main dishes, decadent desserts and chocolates, fresh organic produce, veggie burgers, non-dairy cheeses, milks, and ice creams, fruit smoothies and juices, hummus, whole grain breads and gluten-free crackers, tofu spreads and dips, nut and seed butters, energy bars and on-the-go snacks, raw snacks and treats, and so much more!

More info.

Muddy Boot Festival Sept. 9-11, 2011

2011-09-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

The 6th annual Muddy Boot Festival happens this weekend at the St. Philip Neri Catholic Church.
This Three-day grassroots event that promotes sustainable living, live music, food and beverage, workshops, panel discussions, kids’ activities and an outdoor marketplace featuring local vendors and exhibitors.This year's theme is "Health + Happiness: Sustaining Vibrant Communities," from healthy eating to the health of our economy and everything in between.
Keynote speaker Joel Makower.

Tickets for the outdoor festival are $7 at the door $5 in advance.

For tickets or more information contact http://www.muddyboot.org/index.php

PCC Brokers a Smoothie Deal with OSU, Food Partners

2011-08-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

Story and images by James Hill.
Article, images, and 'about the author' re-posted from Portland Community College with permission.

It’s not always smooth sailing in the collegiate food and beverage business.

Two years ago, Portland Community College’s Food and Vending Services Manager Dianna Benting had a big problem with her smoothie provider at the college.

Food service worker Myhanh Luu, who takes business courses
at the Sylvania Campus, serves up a delicious smoothie.

“We noticed that every ingredient on the smoothie concept we had, all those particular proprietary ingredients, listed high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient,” Benting said. “We were so locked into the other company’s recipes. We couldn’t alternate or customize for the customers. And, it was expensive. As we looked at it, Pacific Natural Foods had brought over their natural smoothie base for us to sample and I got to thinking that we can use it instead.”

Benting found out she wasn’t alone in being unhappy with the high amounts of sugar in smoothie products of their school, or the lack of wiggle room in developing new smoothie combinations. Oregon State University had a similar issue with the same smoothie supplier. So, Benting teamed up with Rich Turnbull, the associate director of University Housing and Dining Services at OSU, and started the ball rolling on a partnership that highlights how colleges can change what students eat on their campuses for the better.

The broker for Pacific Natural, Tom Allenby with food service broker Morton and Associates, dealt with both of their concerns. He worked with the schools to develop a concept called “Chill” that links food companies Pacific Natural, Ocean Spray, Dannon and Dole to provide all natural and all local ingredients (except for the tropical fruit, of course) for the Chill Concept. The manufacturers chipped in some money and Allenby hired a marketing firm in Chicago to do market and trademark research, and product and logo design.

“This is breaking new ground,” Allenby said of the concept. “It’s the first time multiple manufacturers in the food service industry got together and put together something like this. It was designed for the college and university marketplace. It has all of the positives that the end user needs to have a great food product – it’s clean, natural and has good fiber. I’m pretty proud of it.”

All ingredients for the 18 different smoothies PCC
sells come from local food outlets

As a result of his efforts, it’s been a smooth transition from the old smoothie concept to the new Chill Concept, which started at PCC last fall. Today, demand is high at PCC where the Chill Concept of 18 different smoothies is offered at the Sylvania Campus and the Southeast Center. When the bond program builds out at the Rock Creek and Cascade campuses, the smoothies will be offered at those places as well. At OSU, the school reports smoothie sales are up 8 percent and costs are down 3 percent.

“Students are very appreciative of the idea that all of the ingredients are all natural,” Benting said. “They’re really happy to see that the companies were local, too. The smoothie base is made in Tualatin. It’s organic and we use Pacific Natural’s soymilk for coffee. Ocean Spray uses cranberries and apples from Washington.”

The concept has spread to other colleges. Now, you can find the Chill Concept at the University of Portland, George Fox University and Chemeketa Community College. The concept is open for any college and university to use and Benting thinks the concept will catch on nationally after a national food service publication profiled the concept.

“It costs schools nothing to use,” she said. “Your only agreement is that you make sure you use the four manufactures that paid for the concept. It’s designed for colleges and universities. They can come up with their own formulas and recipes. It’s a great concept.”

About the author: "James G. Hill, an award-winning news and sports journalist, has been the Communications Specialist for the Office of Public Affairs at Portland Community College since November of 1999. He writes the college's official communications that includes news releases, PCC web features, MyPCC announcements and, most importantly, the social networking exploits of Poppe the Panther"

Velomobiles in the Gorge

2011-08-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

If you were traveling on I-84 on July 29 you might have seen what appeared to be a whole bunch of kiddie cars heading east. Well they weren't kiddie cars, they were velomobiles and they were going from Portland to Washington, DC as part of the Roll Across America Tour (ROAM). The tour was billed as the classic tour across the United States, a great adventure, a challenge to will and strength – a world premiere of velomobiling. 5000 km, four weeks, fifty riders from Europe and North America.

They arrived in Washington, DC on August 24th

So what is a velomobile? Basically it is a recumbent bicycle or tricycle with an aerodynamic shell or fairing around it. There are several US manufacturers: Easy Racers, Go-One, Lightfoot Cycles, and Velocity Velos.

John Day or Bust

2011-07-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

John Day Or Bust is a call to action for all electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts who support the vision that replacing the internal combustion engines that are now powering America’s fleet of personal vehicles with electric drive systems is the quickest and cheapest path to breaking our addiction to oil, cleaning up our air and stopping the flow of our dollars to OPEC.

This adventure will coincide with the SolWest Fair that takes place the last weekend in July.

Our goal is to promote the widespread adoption of the EV as a vehicle of utility and adventure as well as being good for the environment.

This event is a collaboration between the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association, the SolWest Renewable Energy Fair, and the Green Living Journal.

Why John Day?

John Day is a little town in the middle of the desert of eastern Oregon settled in the late 1800’s by gold miners, ranchers, loggers, and mill workers. In other words, hardy, pioneer stock, and their spirit still dominates the town. A perfect setting for the pioneers of the EV age. Our point being that if you can drive an EV to John Day you can drive an EV just about anywhere. Plus their SolWest Fair is one of the longest running events of its kind in the west.

The right place and the right time.

Let’s take a lesson from the history of the early days of the gasoline auto. Individuals and groups were constantly setting out on daunting trips across vast regions with poor to terrible roads, no gas stations and no repair shops. They did it and sold a nation on the ICE.

More information: http://bit.ly/j8GBk4

Reprinted from the Green Living Journal

Hands-on Lavender Workshop at ACHS

2011-07-20T11:48:00.000-07:00

Join the American College of Health Sciences and Master Gardener Erika Yigzaw for this unique hands-on workshop where you will distill fresh lavender, learn how to plant lavender, and learn about the different varieties of lavender. Harvest your own fresh lavender from the garden for use in herbal preparations, lavender wands, sleep pillows, or to dry as a colorful, aromatic bouquet. Participants will also have the opportunity to explore the ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden.

Space is limited; RSVP early to (503) 244-0726 or email admissions@achs.edu. July 20, 11 am-2 pm. American College of Healthcare Sciences, 5940 SW Hood Ave., Portland OR 97239.

U-Pick lavender in the ACHS Botanical Teaching Garden will also be ready. Harvest your fresh and vibrant lavender right here in the city! Just $6 per bunch (or 2 bunches for $10).

The ACHS Campus and Botanical Teaching Garden is located in John's Landing at 5940 SW Hood Avenue, Portland OR 97239.

Photo courtesy of Nefi - Flickr