The Green Buggy

Planning your "Potential"

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:37:00 +0000

If you are anything like me you find this time of year to be stifling, frustrating and sometimes completely overwhelming. The rain never seems to end. The sun seems to take hiatus and leave us with nothing but lackluster dirt and plants who can't even muster enough energy to be a pretty brown. They are dull and lifeless moving inertly in the cold breeze offering little that is thrilling or inspiring. But as my Facebook page gets weighed down by people's images of fleeting winter wonderlands and no-school days due to snow, I find myself dreaming about cucumbers and english ivy; a garden so green even Marvell is taken by its beauty.

"No white nor red was ever seen / So am'rous as this lovely green."

And so this past weekend my wife and I sat down with some tea and a few leftover niblets and began to plan this years "potential."

We talked about containers, raised beds, our existing landscape and what percentage of self-sustainability we were currently living in. We quickly decided to expand our main garden by another 98 sq. ft. We opted to remove our tomatoes from the garden bed and grow them instead in containers so as to move them around, if necessary.

Our seed catalogues had long been sitting next to the couch with dog-eared pages and post-it notes as well as highlighted items and notes in the margins. I have been staring at the pages long enough to know the scientific names of some plants I had never even seen before. Between Victory Garden, Main Street Seeds and Johnny's Selected Seeds we were confident we would have an even better garden than last year.

Armed with a piece of posterboard, a ruler, some Sharpie pens, a Macbook and Excel, we got down to business. I plotted and she entered. Before long we had laid out beds, prepared our seed orders and continued our dream of becoming homesteaders free from the confines of our local grocery store.

Tips for your own "Potential":

Do your homework. Find seed catalogues and online reviews to match. Remember, plant what you like, not what the books tell you to.

Find our germination times and hardness zones. The right time to plant is as important as what to plant! If you start indoors and transplant outside you will need to do some basic calendar counting to figure out your key dates.

Layout your garden on paper. Don't let your taller plants shade out your smaller ones.

Think about companion planting so you can make the most of your soil.

Top 8 Plastics Recycling Tips

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:02:00 +0000

I admit that I completely pulled this from Stef at Focus Organic. She borrowed it from Ideal Bite (used with permission).

Plotting your plastic recyclables' next move? O, well, let us help you plan their X-it with our walk-through of the different kinds (check the Plastic Identification Code - the number in the little arrow symbol on the bottom of the container), which ones are safer for you in the first place, which are usually recyclable, and which ones aren't so much. Then check with your local recycling facility to see what types of plastics it accepts. Game on.

1. We're #1.
Plastics labeled #1 are PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) and fall into the safer plastics category, since they're not known to leach any toxic by-products (such as BPA, which is linked to cancer). Disposable water bottles, peanut butter jars, and TV dinner trays are typically made of PET. These can usually go in the recycling bin no problem.

2. Takes 2 to tango.
The #2 plastics are made of HDPE (high-density polyethylene), which also has a low leaching risk. These include butter tubs, milk and juice jugs, household cleaner containers, and shampoo bottles, and you can usually toss them straight in your curbside recycling bin.

3. The 3 Rs.
Poor #3 plastic - it's in the not-so-recyclable and not-so-safe category. This type's PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and it's arguably the worst plastic for the planet and you. It can emit mercury, phthalates, and dioxins, which can cause reproductive abnormalities; and it's also usually not recyclable, so try to avoid it when possible. You'll often encounter it in cooking oil bottles, food packaging, and plastic wrap.

4. Free 4 all.
LDPE (low-density polyethylene) makes up our #4-labeled plastics. These include plastic grocery bags, produce bags, and food wrap, and the good news is that it has a low risk of leaching. Many curbside recycling programs will take your #4s, but if yours doesn't, see if your local grocery store will at least accept your plastic bags (if you're not already bringing your own).

5. Gimme 5.
Clap it up for #5 plastics - made of PP (polypropylene) - which include yogurt containers, straws, and syrup and ketchup bottles. You can usually toss these straight in the recycling bin, and they're not likely to release toxic chemicals into whatever they're containing.

6. Let's talk about 6, baby.
This one's a mixed bag. Made of PS (polystyrene), these plastics include stuff like egg cartons and Styrofoam, which can release styrene, a possible carcinogen, when heated. Thankfully, you can recycle some Styrofoam, like those little packing peanuts - reuse them by taking them back to a shipping company that accepts them in your area or just by packaging them in another box yourself.

7. Stairway to 7.
The #7 plastics fall into the somewhat ambiguous "other" category - some are safe, but others can contain BPA. With these plastics - which include things like gallon-size water bottles, baby bottles, compostable plastics (nontoxic and break down as fast as paper), and biodegradable plastics - it really just depends. Check out Earth 911 and enter your zip to find out where to send this stuff in your area.

8. Lid 'er rip.
The caps on a lot of containers are made of a different plastic than the container itself. And many recycling centers won't accept the caps and lids, since they're too small and can fall through or jam recycling equipment. The bright side: Aveda stores have a great take-back program for twist-on caps, which turns them into - what else? - new bottle caps. (Or for bonus points: Get in touch with your craftier side to reuse these babies.)

Preparing for next Halloween....by planting garlic

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:04:00 +0000

I have to admit that I made a bad choice. I purchased some lettuce (at about 3" tall already) to plant in my hoop house for some winter greens. I should have known better. Purchases of greens at a hardware store are typically a bad idea. Most of these locations don't know where the plants came from, how old they are or even how to care for them. So, I have ripped them out and transferring my boxes over to garlic.

When To Plant Garlic

You can plant from September through mid-January, as long as the soil is not frozen. Fall planting, when the soil is around 60F, will yield the highest quality bulbs; and generally speaking, the later you plant the smaller the heads will be. However, don’t worry too much if you plant it late - you can even plant it in late winter/early spring and still get a nice fall crop.

Types of Garlic

There are two types of garlic: hardneck and softneck.

Hardneck Garlic tends to have dramatic and distinct flavors, is easy to peel, and has generally bigger cloves. These also produce edible garlic scapes at the beginning of the summer. These are my favorite, but they generally don’t store for as long as softneck garlic. Can be stored 3-6 months.

Softneck garlic is what you’ll find in most supermarkets - it generally has a milder flavor and smaller cloves. However, it can be braided, and generally stores for much longer. Can be stored for a year or more.

Elephant Garlic is actually a member of the leek family so it’s not really garlic, but tastes similarly. It has much larger cloves, with a milder taste than garlic, and it keeps well. Elephant Garlic is wonderful baked: slice off the very top of the head so that you can see the tops of the cloves, pour a bit of olive oil on top, and bake until soft and browned. Then you can eat it by scooping the cloves with a spoon, or adding the cloves to other dishes.

How To Plant & Grow Garlic

Simple, simple, simple

Separate the cloves.
Plant the cloves 1-2″ deep, 4-6″ apart.
Water, and don’t water again until spring.
Mulch - in warm winter areas, a light layer of mulch is enough; in colder winter areas, mulch with 8″ or more. We mulch with straw, you can also mulch with leaves.
Remove the mulch in spring, once danger of frost has passed.
Water. Continue to water whenever soil is dry.
When the leaves begin to turn yellow, stop watering for 2 weeks.
Pull up the plant.
Place the plant in a warm, shady spot to cure for 2-3 weeks (4 weeks for elephant garlic); if you have soft neck garlic, you can braid it and hang it in a dark place with good circulation.
Store in a cool, dark place (50F is ideal, with less than 60% humidity).

Barnesville company, Greenco, makes national news

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Originally written for the Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Lisa R. Schoolcraft, Staff Writer

Some of metro Atlanta’s biggest hotels and a growing number of restaurants and caterers are reducing their food waste, thanks to a company in Norcross. Greenco Environmental LLC hauls away organic waste for hotels such Hyatt Regency Atlanta, InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta and Doubletree Hotel Atlanta in Buckhead.

The Norcross company has just signed a contract to do the same for some of the tenants in Underground Atlanta, and will begin hauling away food waste at Sheraton Atlanta Hotel soon, said Tim Lesko, co-founder and president of the privately held, family-owned business.

“We have been targeting grocery stores, hotels and restaurants, anyone who has a kitchen or cafeteria,” Lesko said of his business, which became operational in November 2008.

Lesko hauls 32 tons to 35 tons of organic and food waste to his 32-acre Barnesville composting facility each day, six days a week.

Greenco’s first hotel client was the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, coming on board in March.

Today, the Hyatt saves 24 tons of organic waste per month from the landfills and estimates it is saving $6,000 per month because of it, said Randy Childers, senior director of engineering at Hyatt Regency Atlanta, which also received top honors recently from the Glass Packaging Institute for its glass-recycling efforts.

Greenco provides 32-gallon trash cans dedicated to food waste in the kitchens of hotels and restaurants, Lesko said.

“Everything from their potato peels to their leftovers from chafing dishes from buffet lines are put in trash,” he said.

The food waste is collected a couple of times a week and brought to the Barnesville composting facility, where in about 90 days, rich organic material is ready for reuse in yards and gardens around metro Atlanta, Lesko said.

Several hotel customers are also using the composted materials for chef’s kitchens, he said.

Doubletree General Manager Dave Rossman had been researching “green” certifications for the hotel when he ran across Greenco.

“We got our chef and food and beverage guys involved,” Rossman said.

Prior to hiring Greenco, Doubletree’s food waste ended up in its compactor, which was emptied every two weeks, he said. All of that compacted material went to area landfills.

“I just went two months before having to [empty] the compactor,” he said. “Every pull I can avoid saves me money.”

Hilton Hotels Corp. has a program that tracks energy consumption and waste generation at each hotel, and Doubletree Atlanta Hotel has reduced 45 percent of its waste from its compactor, Rossman said. “That’s year-to-date over last year and we only started this program in April.”

Greenco also helped Rossman’s staff set up a chef’s garden for the hotel, using 55-gallon plastic drums that were destined for the landfill as well.

“The chef doesn’t have to order fresh herbs any more,” Rossman said. “We know it’s not going to offset our food costs, but it is a great conversation piece. The restaurant looks right out into the garden.”

Limited cost benefits

Affairs to Remember LLC, an Atlanta catering company with an $8 million operation, generates about 8.5 tons of food waste per month, said Patrick Cuccaro, general manager. “In June, which is a big month for us, we generated 12 tons of material.”

Cuccaro estimated 83 percent of that was diverted from the landfill because of Affairs to Remember’s partnership with Greenco. He’s working to increase that amount by bringing organic waste containers to his catering events and hauling it back to his business for recycling.

A true "down home" gift

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:18:00 +0000

Our fellow buggy towner and blogger Tim Palmer over at Life in Lamar has just announced a GREAT gift idea for the holiday season and for the entire year of 2010.

This full-color, 12 month, hanging calendar was carefully photographed over the sunny months of 2009 and features many of Barnesville's finest homes. You will be charmed as you view the stunning detail and warm southern weather reflected in these homes which date from 1875 to the mid-1900's.

To preview or purchase your own copy please follow this link: Barnesville Homes, 2010 Wall Calendar.

Each 11" x 8.5" calendar is coil bound for ease of hanging and is printed on bright white 100# paper for outstanding graphic appeal. There are a total of 23 color pictures. The calendar includes pre-printed holidays and plenty of room to note your own special occasions.

The cost of one calendar is $14.98 plus shipping. Standard USPS shipping is $3.99 and faster options are available. Discounts apply to purchases of 5 or more calendars.

So what are you waiting for? Support a local. Enjoy your town all year long!

Oliver's Twist - antiques and reused lovelies

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:16:00 +0000

I have to admit that I had never traveled down Williamson Road before yesterday. But in hindsight I am glad I did. Otherwise I would not have come across one of the cutest, best kept secrets in Williamson - Oliver's Twist.

Dubbed 'Antiques and Collectibles,' I found the Twist to be a little bit more.
Sure the small red barn shop boasted the obligatory framed floral pastels and the brass, horse-head bookends. But there was more than that. The Twist flaunted a character and a charm often absent from roadside antique joints.

Beginning at the door with Cathy (the owner, as I came to find out) I found nothing but a sense of comfort and familiarity.

Within minutes I found myself wondering how many families the small porcelain teacups had serviced or how many people had read from the leather bound books, gently worn, that lay resting on a secretary's desk. But perhaps the most enjoyable part of the store was not even in the store itself.

As you pull into the driveway of Oliver's Twist you are met with the smiles, stares, curious looks, puzzled expressions and guarding eyes of what I now call "the Twisted Faces." Oliver's Twist excels in lawn decoration. Statues, plant holders, bird baths and water features are spread out all over teaming with English Ivy and late-season hosta's.

It truly was a cool little adventure and one I would recommend to anyone who is out for a new Sunday afternoon drive or anyone looking for their very own "Bird Girl" as seen on the cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Holiday Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:33:00 +0000

Okay, we have been a bit slack at updating the blog. Much has gone on.

Buggy Days was a great success. We spoke to well over 200 people about recycling in Lamar County, greening their own lives, ways to educate others, etc. We had about 12 volunteers help us out over the two days and enjoyed the company of Herald-Gazette, Solar Source GA, yougottabekidding.org and City of Barnesville Recycling Center in our booth. Big thank you to those folks.

Here is where I am going next though. The holidays are fast approaching. Consumerism is a hot topic this year as it has been for the past three years. I refuse to buy gifts. I am going to recycle, repurpose, rebuild, remake, rethink and regift every present I send out. I can't wait. What about you?

What are your thoughts? What are you going to do to make it a "green" Christmas in 2009?

7 ways to reuse your 'naner peel

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:26:00 +0000

Until now I have only done two things with banana peels. I have thrown them away and I have composted them. But as of late I have become aware of a few other things the peel is good for.

1. Help Your Garden Grow: Bananas are naturally high in potassium and encourages plant growth. Use banana peel or puree entire banana and bury with soil.

2. Shoe Polish: Use the peel to make your kicks nice and shiny.

3. Stop the Itch: Rub the inside of a banana peel on a bug bite helps itch relief.

4. Pain Reliever: The oil in a banana peel will help relieve the pain from burns and scratches.

5. Wart Removal: Tape a piece of banana peel on a wart, continue until it’s gone.

6. Make Houseplants Gleam: Just like peels can shine shoes, they can also be used to make the leaves of plants shine.

7. Removing Splinters: Similar to wart removal, tape a piece of the peel over the splinter. The enzymes will help dislodge the splinter and heal the wound.

Sandra 'N' Partners Farms

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:04:00 +0000

If you are anything like me you sometimes wish you could give up your car and instead saddle up and take a horse into town. I mean, for as much as I know horses seem to take the elements much better than cars, they have a whole lot more personality and they shift gears a little easier. They also seem a bit more romantic than, say, a 1998 Honda Civic hatchback.

If you are anything like me you wouldn't be to able to ride or command or horse better than you can currently change the oil in your car. That is why we take it to the professionals!

S'N'P Farm offers several programs for folks like you and me including beginner to advanced classes for students of all ages. A few course offerings are Basic Horsemanship, Dressage and Hunter/Jumper.

The facilities at S'N'P include a lighted riding ring as well as open riding areas on the farm and trails with both morning and evening sessions.

You can also lease a horse at the Farm. Leasing a horse (as opposed to buying one) can be a good way of finding out whether you (or your child) are ready for full-time horse ownership without the long term commitment of purchasing a horse. (Note the similarity to car ownership....I love a good through line). Leasing also allows me and you to experience the joys of horse ownership without the responsibilities. We don't have to buy the horse. We don't have to build a barn. We don't have to find time to groom.

Sandra 'N' Partners certainly seems like an ideal way to put on your chaps and take to the open pasture!

Solar alternative viable for Fayette resident

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:33:00 +0000

Written by Ben Nelms of the citizen.com
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For Jan Grogan it was an idea that made sense. The north Fayette resident just completed the installation of 54 solar panels on the roof of her barn.

That is 930 square feet of generating power that will substantially offset the electric needs of her mini-farm off Ga. Highway 92.

A veteran of the plastics and energy industry, Grogan sees the move as a way to do something to address skyrocketing energy costs. She hopes others will find projects of their own, large or small, that will reduce their dependence on conventional forms of energy.

Grogan worked with Barnesville-based Solar Source for the planning and installation of the $100,000 solar array and battery back-up system. It is a total system that will pay back her entire investment over 25 to 30 years, based on estimated increases in the cost of electricity for that period, Grogan said.

The computer-driven system that handles the power production of the 54 180-watt panels is a work of technical art.

The panels are producing 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month and are expected to generate ad additional 100-200 kilowatt hours once several trees near the barn are trimmed, said Solar Source’s George Andrews.

Those numbers represent a substantial percentage of the electric needs of the average home, he said.
Grogan’s net metering system with Fayette-Coweta EMC provides her with the way to pull power from the company’s system and sell excess energy back to the company.

With the savings being generated and energy being channeled to the panel of inverters and battery back-ups in one corner of the barn, her horses are not likely to mind a little inconvenience, she said.

A breakdown of the cost and saving showed that Grogan’s solar panel array and battery back-up system was $100,000, a cost offset by state and federal tax credits totaling $12,500. But the real savings comes in the form of the money she will save on energy costs needed to run her home, barn and other outbuildings. Based on an assumed utility inflation rate of 8 percent per year, Grogan should expect to save $94,035 in utility costs over the next 25 years, Andrews said.

Andrews said the project will hit a monetary break-even point in 10 years or less, assuming an appreciation in property value. Without any appreciation, the break-even point will come in 14 years, he said.

And in terms more environmentally conscious factors such as carbon dioxide, the system will save 267 tons of greenhouse gases over 25 years, the equivalent of 534,000 vehicle miles.

But for Jan Grogan, the issue is much larger than the solar panels that cover the roof of her barn. The issue is personal, and one that impacts every American.

“I have 30 years in the energy-related field. I know what the oil industry thinks and I know what energy companies are going to do,” she explained. “We’ve got to do something to reduce our dependence on this finite resource. And whether this generation or next, we’re going to pay a price. Large projects or small, everybody can do something.”

Adhering to her own message, Grogan has even more projects in mind. She expects to begin installation of a geothermal system for heating and cooling needs in the coming moths and a gray water recycling system sometime next year.

Affecting Georgians throughout the state, the Public Service Commission approved another rate hike for electric providers such as Georgia Power beginning June 1.

The increase allows the company to charge 3.8239 cents per kilowatt hour to go toward energy purchases the companies need to buy energy generating commodities such as coal and nuclear fuel.

And across America, utility bills have increased nearly 30 percent in the past five years, coal has doubled in price since 2007 and natural gas prices have increased nearly 50 percent, according to a June 16 story in USA Today.

Solar-Electric People Movers

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:36:00 +0000

Go to almost any theme park, beach resort, or zoo and you'll see 'people movers' trundling around moving people from one place to another - often little faster than they could walk. The eco-curmudgeon in me usually mumbles something about emissions, and the laziness of modern society - and then I remember how much fun these things were when I was a kid. So I'm delighted to see Chicago's Botanical Gardens unveiling America's first 'solar powered' people mover. Read on for the details.

Like the Solar Sailor or the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV), people movers are actually a pretty great starting point for showcasing solar-powered battery vehicles. After all, the range is usually small, as are speeds, they are often used in sunny climes - and when there are lots of pedestrians about, air quality matters. Not to mention the fact that you have a captive, often young, audience for some renewable energy brainwashing - I mean education.

The Chicago Botanical Gardens' vehicle comes from The Solar Electric Vehicle Company - makers of factory equipped solar-electric, multi-passenger transporters". Vehicles range from large, multi-seated units of the type you'd see in a theme park, to something more akin to a golf buggy or maintenance vehicle.

Of course the more technically savvy among you will almost certainly comment that the solar charge is unlikely to be enough to move the vehicle by itself very far - and you'd be right. These are designed to be charged from the grid, with the panels serving to add range during the day. The website claims as much as a 33% boast in range thanks to solar, although that sounds a little on the high end to me. Either way, it seems as good a place as any to be experimenting with solar-powered transportation.

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Originally posted on TreeHugger

Southern Nursery Products brings the green to you

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:32:00 +0000

Trees are important, valuable and necessary to our very existence. It's not too hard to believe that, without trees we humans would not exist on this beautiful planet. In fact, some claim can be made that our mother's and father's ancestors climbed trees - another debate for another site.

Still, trees are essential to life as we know it and are the ground troops on an environmental frontline. Our existing forest and the trees we plant work in tandem to make a better world. And for those of us in Lamar County it thankfully begins just out on Highway 341 South. 21 years in the making, Southern Nursery Products is evolving with the changing world to make products that fit the needs of an eco-friendly world and offer a huge selection of pre-dug and container products including Red Maples, Japanese Maples, Thuja and Cypress.

You can reach SNP by visiting 1349 Hwy 341 South in Barnesville or by calling 770.358.0365 or even by emailing snptrees@hughes.net. Owner and president Alan Hudson is a super nice guy with a great deal of knowledge about our region and the plants that thrive in it.

Here are 5 solid reasons to purchase and plant trees:

Trees Produce Oxygen
Trees Clean the Soil
Trees Control Noise Pollution
Trees Slow Storm Water Runoff
Trees Shade and Cool

Can solar panels please the neighbors?

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:44:00 +0000

This post was originally submitted by:

SOLAR SOURCE of Georgia, LLC Sustainable energy systems for home, business or transportation P.O. Box 362 Barnesville, GA 30204

Talk about a hot topic.

The politics of earning approval for solar panels on homes and businesses has sparked some alternate visions from people in the alternative energy community.

Everyone agrees that demand for solar power devices is soaring in the Roaring Fork Valley and — unfortunately — that pockets of resistance still exist in some subdivisions. Homeowners associations occasionally oppose solar power devices, based on aesthetics.

The best response to that opposition is a topic of debate within the robust alternative energy community in Carbondale.

Anson Fogel is a firm believer in showing people the light. Fogel, the owner and chief executive of Carbondale-based Inpower, wants to win opponents over rather than fight them. He believes the alternative energy cause and the fight against global warming will benefit more from a conciliatory stance rather than confrontation.

“Even with the most difficult of homeowners associations, we can get things done,” he said.

Colorado law is on the side of people who install solar devices. Homeowners associations cannot reject them, and they cannot require alterations that add significantly to the cost of a proposed systems.

But Paul Puhr, co-owner of Grounded Renewable Energy, a Carbondale firm that installs solar devices, said homeowners associations often hassle members into altering or even abandoning their plans. Most people don’t want to fight with their neighbors or future neighbors, he said, so they back down from confrontations over the aesthetics of solar devices.

Puhr and others in the industry want alternative energy supporters to fight for their rights. But Fogel fears that approach will have “catastrophic” consequences. He said he received calls from three clients who said they don’t want to do battle with their homeowners groups.

Inpower designs solar photovoltaic and thermal systems, often for high-end homes in the valley. The implication that people need to fight to install a solar device will scare them away — and set back efforts to reduce carbon production, Fogel said.

Instead, he approaches opposition as a simple, unemotional exercise in problem solving. He presents homeowners associations with computer renderings and graphics m to show them exactly what they will get. He reminds associations that they cannot reject solar devices, but asks how to make it work for everyone. He said he almost always makes concessions on behalf of his clients.

Fogel made concessions to earn approval for his own solar device in Stirling Ranch subdivision in Missouri Heights. He installed 24 solar panels, also known as modules, on poles in a system that tracks the movement of the sun from east to west.

He tried to situate the system to minimize interference with neighbors’ views. The he talked to his closest neighbors, earned their support and approached the design review board of his homeowners association.

He concurred with the association that it would be best to move his system downhill. The association also specified the color he could use and requested that he plant trees to shield it.

He installed a system with retail value of about $100,000. He estimated that it cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to earn the homeowners association’s approval. Compromise often comes at a price, Fogel acknowledged. He feels it is worth it.

“If I thought that fighting was going to do more to produce results, I would fight,” Fogel said.

Gary Goodson of the Community Office for Resource Efficiency, a nonprofit promoting energy efficiency, said the Roaring Fork Valley, indeed the world, needs to get beyond debates over aesthetics of solar panels.

The planet, he said, doesn’t have time for such fights. Solar panels should be regarded as a “badge of courage” for the future.

“If we do [get bogged down], I’m concerned that we as a species won’t make it,” Goodson said.

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***Federal tax credits for most renewable energy systems are now uncapped at 30%... potential 65% tax credits for Solar Electric Systems available for Georgia residents! ***

LadyBug's Green Approach to Pest Control

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Eco-friendly pest control isn't new. In fact it's quite ancient. Early man fought insects even before agriculture. After the beginning of agriculture the fight turned into a war. Hundreds and thousands of years ago, there simply were no pesticides to fall back on. And the early farmers were seriously motivated. The failure of a single crop could bring the threat of starvation.

Those ancient farmers were quite observant and quick to emulate what they saw in nature. That doesn't mean they always got it right, but they tried. Various eco-friendly pest control tactics have been mentioned in the writings of ancient China, Sumeria, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. While some of these tactics were rooted in religion or superstition, some had lasting scientific value. Those are the ones we still use today.

Before the term Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was ever considered, the ancients were discovering IPM techniques including:

Biological control - using beneficial organisms to help manage pests
Cultural controls - using crop rotation and sanitation to reduce pests
Physical controls - using baits and traps, and burning crops after harvest
Genetic control - using pest resistant plants

Colleen Grantham, owner of LadyBug Pest Control has been instrumental in providing effective green pest control in the Barnesville area since 1988.

If there is pest activity present, LadyBug will create a pest removal plan to suit your needs. Methods, products, and frequency programs all depend on factors such as the pest type, degree of infestation and the surrounding environment. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to smarter, more responsible pest control. If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

An Intergrated Pest Management (IPM) approach also requires careful selection of pest control products when their use is necessary. Ladybug will select the best reduced toxicity or non-toxic products available on the market for effective pest elimination. Grantham's product line includes some organic and natural based products, including a variety of cutting edge, target-specific products that are scientifically engineered to be more effective, biodegradable and, in some cases, even less toxic than their natural counterparts. The application methods target pest areas such as feeding and nesting areas, as well as the entry points. This crack -and-crevice approach eliminates the need for broadcast application, in turn reducing the amount of product used and your exposure to it.

It is Colleen's business to not only fight pests but also to correct conducive conditions, mechanical or pesticide-free items such as traps and general pest-proofing materials (screens, caulking, door sweeps) and other effective methods to control pests.

You can reach Collen by calling 770.358.8888 or visiting www.ladybugpestcontrol.org.

Another inspiring gardener

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:04:00 +0000

One in 8 million

Original interview by Rogene Fisher and Sarah Kramer
Photographed by Todd Heisler

Mr. English began gardening as a teenager with his grandfather in South Carolina, then took it up again to "stay out of trouble" after moving to the Walt Whitman Houses. He lives with his three teenage daughters (his son lives with a grandmother), and calls his plot of land the Cabbage Patch. A handyman who does odd jobs, Mr. English said the garden helps keep fresh food on the table for his family at low cost. He has won several trophies for his vegetable garden in the New York City Housing Authority's annual contest. "I never dreamed of living in the projects" Mr. English said. "Now you can't even pay me to move out of here. You can't take a bulldozer to get me out of here."

Full interview and images here.

Calling all volunteers

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:47:00 +0000

Okay, I know the title is a bit scary. But please hear me out.

Barnesville Buggy Days is coming up in September. The 19th and 20th, specifically speaking.

Barnesville Green has been offered a free table setup and I am going to need volunteers. I am currently working on getting "vendors" to provide literature and products for out table. But I truly need folks to man the table as well.

So, anyone up for it? Email me (or comment) your name, email and time availability.

Arkansas is no longer the butt of our jokes...

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:35:00 +0000

New Rogers Recycling Center Opens Doors

Mary Marsh Reporter

8:33 PM CDT, August 2, 2009

A brand new recycling center in Northwest Arkansas is about to open its doors.

The Rogers Community Recycling Center is located in a $3,000,000 facility on 22-acres in northeast Rogers, and starting Monday morning, folks can recycle all kinds of waste there, diverting it from the Tontitown landfill. One of the things that makes the new center stand out is that it is the only one in Northwest Arkansas that recycles Styrofoam. They take big blocks of Styrofoam and process it through a red metal machine center manager Dave Hadsell has lovingly dubbed "a monster." It comes out in a :50 to :1 ratio, and will be sold to buyers across the U.S., in small square blocks.

From Styrofoam to tin cans, Rogers volunteers have been working for decades to make the new community recycling center a reality. Hadsell says it "was started in 1979 by citizens as a volunteer organization." Back then, the center was a successful part of Rogers' Parks and Recreation. Hadsell remembers: "we were running about 7 or 8 different machines, all of which had been purchased by the volunteers through their recycling."

But Hadsell says when he took the reins of the new facility this year, a slipping economy took its toll. "I hate to say this, but this year, that one that I took over and began to manage, has been one of the first years they've actually had losses."

Hadsell says their most popular item, cardboard, plunged from $120 to just $10 dollars a ton, but he says city officials voted to keep the center open anyway, to keep waste out of the Tontitown landfill. "No matter what it's going to keep going because we know that what we're doing is keeping stuff out of the landfill."

But, it's costing Rogers taxpayers over $132,000, but Hadsell says things are looking up. "We hope to be able to end the year, (and I'm just saying hopefully) end the year with a plus." And that spells relief for center employees like Ray Schmoll. "I'm glad to have the job, have the job doing something. We're not getting rich off this. This is just kind of a public service. It makes Rogers be a green city." With so much trash to pick up, officials say the center is Rogers' way of going green and leaving less of a footprint across Northwest Arkansas. Officials say when the Tontitown landfill does reach capacity waste will probably go either to Missouri or Oklahoma. Center officials also say 64% of everything Arkansans throw away is recyclable. The new Rogers Recycling Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, but people from any area city are welcome to drop off their recyclable materials at the center any time of the week, day or night.

Only Rogers' residents are allowed to drop off yard waste, but recycling center officials say if any other material has the word "recycle" printed on it, they'll find a way to re-use it.

Repair or Replace (and Recycle): Your Refrigerator

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:23:00 +0000

The following article was written by Collin Dunn of Corvallis, OR for Planet Green.
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If you've got appliances in your home, then you'll eventually be faced with a tough choice when it goes on the fritz: fix it or forget it. There are few automatic choices; new appliances are often much more energy-efficient than their older counterparts, but new appliances also take a tremendous amount of resources and energy to create. Plus, let's face it, it's another thing, more stuff, that enters the world, and older appliances can be tricky to recycle; you can't exactly just leave 'em on the curb for regular recycling pick-up.

So, what should you do when your refrigerator goes down? Well, it all depends, on a few factors. Refrigerators are one of the biggest energy users in your house, but awfully tough to live without, these days, so going without isn't a viable option.New refrigerators can consume 75 percent less energy than those produced 20 or 25 years ago, and are even much more efficient than those made just seven years ago. The most recent federal standards-those employed by Energy Star-went into effect in 2001, so contemporary models can save up to 40 percent over made before the new standards were put in place. Essentially, that means that if your busted fridge came from the 20th century, it'll behoove you to replace it with a new, Energy Star-certified model.

The savings will add up quickly: replacing a refrigerator bought in 1990 with a new Energy Star-qualified model would save enough energy to light the average household for nearly four months; when you add in the rebates you can get for going with energy-efficient models, the savings will be quite tangible. When looking for a new one, look for one with the fridge on top and freezer on the bottom (they're more efficient, when compared to a side-by-side model), and avoid the temptation to keep the old one around if it "sorta works"-old refrigerators can cost you $100 a year, or so, in energy costs alone. Instead, hit up earth911.org for information on properly recycling the old one, since many communities have specific requirements for disposing of refrigerators and other large appliances.

How to Eat Organic on a Budget

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:12:00 +0000

The below post was originally pinned by Mike Lieberman a resident of New York City who is doing his best to lead a simple life in a complex city. You can visit him at www.CanarsieBK.com It was reprinted by Stefanie of focusorganic.com

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I do my best to eat organic foods, especially produce, when I can. Besides the supposed health benefits, I believe that it's what's best for the planet as well.

Some friends and family are interested in doing the same, but say that it's expensive.

That's not true. You can easily make the switch to eating more organic foods and not break your budget or totally change your lifestyle.

Here are some easy ways.

Join your local CSA

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. To sum it up quickly, you pay to become a member and get a weekly "share" of fresh produce, meats and cheeses (depending on your CSA) from a local farm.

The benefit of this is that you have a better connection with your food and community. You can find how the farmer grows the food and treats his cattle. It also cuts down on the travel distance of the food as well. All good for you and the planet.

The upfront cost of the CSA might seem like a lot. If you average it out week by week, it's totally worth it. Plus ask if you can work out a payment plan. Most CSAs are flexible.

To find a CSA close to you, check out LocalHarvest.org.

Grow your own produce

This might seem radical, but it's not as difficult as it sounds. I did it myself and am doing some urban gardening.

I have no experience in gardening and read about a half a book on it. I just decided to do it to help reduce my food bills. It's worked so far. About a month into planting, I've been able to get about 3-4 salads and most of my plants haven't begun to produce.

Space shouldn't dictate your decision to grow. I'm growing vegetables on the fire escape of my Manhattan apartment and in my Grandmother's backyard in Brooklyn. You can grow anywhere. It's just a matter of how much.

TreeHugger recently spotlighted some interesting container gardening options for small spaces as well.

What's the worst that can happen?

Join your local food co-op

This is something that I've considered doing for a while, but haven't yet. I know of people that have and simply rave about it.

Again, these usually have deals with local farmers to keep thing local.

At a food co-op, you pay a small annual fee to become a member. As part of your membership, you get a discount on your purchases.

The amount of the discount usually depends on how many shifts you work at the co-op. If you don't work any, you get a smaller discount. The more you work, the larger the discount.

At my local co-op, if you work 2 hours a week, you get a 20% discount on your purchases. If you are a member and don't work any shifts, you get an 8% discount. There are other levels in between. Point being that you get a discount.

To find a food co-op close to you, check out the co-op directory.

There are definitely other ways to help you incorporate more organic foods into your daily life, but these are a good starting point. They also won't cause a drastic change in your current daily routine.

Now even big city dwellers are doing it in the back yard!

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Originally written and submitted by Jay North of GoingOrganic.com
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In the mid-1940’s the United States government asked the people to plant edible gardens to help support the downwardly spiraling economy and the war effort. During that time millions of people all over the country planted gardens called “Victory Gardens”, and harvested nearly one third of all the vegetables consumed in the country. Gardening became a popular family or community effort planting vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees. Now with the ever expanding state of economic uncertainty many people are again looking for ways to not only, stretch their food dollars but also to avoid the high cost of healthcare by making better lifestyle choices, and so, the idea of the “Organic Victory Gardens” speared on by yours truly are tacking many of our current problems.

Now, even Michelle Obama is setting an example by planting a food garden at the White House, as did Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943 during another time of national crisis. It was reported in national news, In Eleanor’s time; some 20 million people grew their own food to help relieve the food shortages of WWII. While Michelle Obama’s 1,000-square-foot Organic Vegetables garden will help to provide food for the first family’s meals and possibly even formal dinners, she also talked about the garden as a means to educate children about healthful, locally grown fruits and vegetables. With the growing national concern about obesity and diabetes especially among our children, more physical activities and better natural food choices should be encouraged. Creating and maintaining an organic garden perfectly fits that prescription.

When you think about it, growing your own food becomes part of the solution to many growing problems associated with modern living. Such as global warming and reducing your carbon footprint, like me, many people today are concerned about the foods we buy in the supermarkets, what kind of chemicals were used on them, how far have they traveled to reach the shelves in your local store and how long have they been there.

Growing your own organic food can be both fun and healthy. Not only is it great physical exercise and a way to slow down and reconnect yourself with your environment, it also provides an opportunity to take full control of what you put into your body.

Organic gardening/farming is nothing new, it was once the only way to farm. We then began to depend on chemicals and other unnatural methods to grow more, bigger and better. Now that the earth has suffered largely from damage due to these practices, and many of us suffer needlessly from health disorders associated with chemicals, steroids and other unnatural additives to soil, water and food, we are again returning to the way nature intended us to grow. Organic farming doesn't mean sacrificing quality or quantity of product. You will find that since organic farming replenishes the soil rather than robbing it of nutrients, eliminates build-up of chemical products and allows for growing massive amounts of lush, healthy, pest-free produce, your yield will be the same, if not better, than with other methods of farming.

Getting Started in Organic Gardening all about how you can start your first garden or farm or begin to convert your existing garden or farm into a healthy, productive and profitable, natural source of organically grown produce, plants and flowers. There is always something new to learn which makes for a great new hobby.

There are few greater satisfactions than slicing a fresh, juicy tomato and putting it on your sandwich, preparing a salad and knowing all the ingredients came from your own backyard or picking fresh organic beans for a hearty dinner meal. Starting a successful organic vegetable garden may take some know how and some help in getting started, and practice that may span over several seasons but don’t become discouraged if you make some mistakes because we all learn from our mistakes. You will find that organic gardening may become the most rewarding hobby, or lifestyle, you have ever started and shared with your family and neighbors.

For many organic growers, farming or gardening is a passion. We feel a connection to the Earth and believe it has become a moral duty to protect her and provide for her. Aside from the apparently spiritual affiliation, it's just plain fun to be out in the sun playing in the dirt and watching things grow.

Happy Growing and Eat Organic It’s the Best for You and Your Family.

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Jay North is a pioneer in the organic farming industry. He authored Getting Started In Organic Gardening for Fun And Profit, as a means of sharing his philosophy of renewal and self-sustained living. He is an internationally recognized authority in organic gardening contact Jay at www.GoingOrganic.com

How do I say this without being a jerk?

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:21:00 +0000

I hate to see things in a market individually wrapped in plastic.

Bridging the great divide

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:56:00 +0000

10:12 am - I sit at my desk that happens to be situation 37 feet off the railroad tracks on Greenwood Street

10:13 am - The morning train rumbles by and stops. I can hear the brakes stopping the mighty force of the locomotive.

10:16 am - No sign of movement from the train. The operator is no where to be seen.

11:24 am - The train grumbles to life and slowly starts to go back in the direction from which it came.

For over an hour a day (sometimes twice a day) the city of Barnesville is cut in half by old man Norfolk Southern. He staggers in, finds a seat, and parks it without any concern for those who may want to walk across Elm Street or Rose Street (including the historic downtown area). And it is because of this that I think daily about a pedestrian bridge running over the train tracks allowing pedestrians, cyclists, etc. to safely cross over.

What do you think?

DIY Chalkboard Wall

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:06:00 +0000

Post-It notes are the devil. Who needs small bits of paper good for one or two notes and then thrown away? Not to mention the sticky on the back that takes away 1/4 of the overall writing room on the note. Well, I myself an over it. NO MORE POST-ITS. I am moving in a new direction.

I know there are tons of these DIY chalkboard walls on the 'net but this one I found quite nice with its finish trim/molding.

Thank you to 'Remodeling This Life' for the inspiration.

Keep reading....

Street Farmer

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:36:00 +0000

The following article was originally written by Elizabeth Royte for the NYTimes magazine and was brought to my attention by a wonderful supporter of Barnesville Green and the local, sustainable movement.
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Will Allen, a farmer of Bunyonesque proportions, ascended a berm of wood chips and brewer’s mash and gently probed it with a pitchfork. “Look at this,” he said, pleased with the treasure he unearthed. A writhing mass of red worms dangled from his tines. He bent over, raked another section with his fingers and palmed a few beauties.

It was one of those April days in Wisconsin when the weather shifts abruptly from hot to cold, and Allen, dressed in a sleeveless hoodie — his daily uniform down to 20 degrees, below which he adds another sweatshirt — was exactly where he wanted to be. Show Allen a pile of soil, fully composted or still slimy with banana peels, and he’s compelled to scoop some into his melon-size hands. “Creating soil from waste is what I enjoy most,” he said. “Anyone can grow food.”

Like others in the so-called good-food movement, Allen, who is 60, asserts that our industrial food system is depleting soil, poisoning water, gobbling fossil fuels and stuffing us with bad calories. Like others, he advocates eating locally grown food. But to Allen, local doesn’t mean a rolling pasture or even a suburban garden:

(to finish reading the article please visit this page)

Food, Inc.

noreply@blogger.com (anotherkindofdrew) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:15:00 +0000

In the new film Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been hidden from Americans with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA.

Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of e coli--the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually.

We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farms' Gary Hirschberg and Polyface Farms' Joe Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising -- and often shocking truths -- about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

Food, Inc opens June 12 with a limited run in NYC, San Francisco and Los Angeles, from Magnolia Pictures. Unfortunately, it is only playing (near Barnesville anyway) at Atlanta, GA: Sandy Springs 8 -AND- Atlanta, GA: Midtown Art Cinemas 8.