Archive for March, 2009
March 31st, 2009
You might be thinking about the green river dyed for St. Patrick’s Day.
But you now can think of taking a trip to the Chicago Green Festival at Navy Pier in Chicago: The bus leaves at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 16, from Choices Natural Market, 6551 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, and returns by 8:30 p.m.
This is brought to you by the “Karens” (Karen King from Choices, below left) and (Karen Poffenberger, below right, of renewu, an organic beauty salon) to “give you the opportunity to meet others with the same mindset on how to make healthier choices for our bodies and our planet.”
There you will have the opportunity to tour more than 350 green exhibitors. You can sample food and drinks, listen to music, see films or check out the fair trade shops before a raw foods buffet dinner at Karyn’s Fresh Corner.
The cost is $55. Registration forms are available at the following locations:
renewu - 129 South Phelps Ave., Suite 513 at the East Wind Mall, Rockford. 815-381-0069
Choices Natural Market – 6551 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford. 815-282-1861
Home Environment Center – 6407 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford. 815-282-9000
Please mail registration forms by April 17, along with the check payable to Choices Natural Market, 6551 E. Riverside Blvd, Rockford, IL 61114.
March 30th, 2009
I’m back in the real world after a week of vacation. Even though I had access to the Web and TV, I was pretty tuned out. So much so that I missed Earth Hour. The World Wildlife Fund encouraged people to turn off their lights for an hour Saturday night to draw attention to the problem of global warming.
In case you missed it, too, you can see a slideshow of darkened world landmarks.
Or you can read about whether this effort made a difference in this Time article, which notes that more than a third of Americans think that global warming fears are exaggerated.
What’s next?
1. Probably another Earth Hour.
2. You can “vote for the Earth” by filling out this form and sending it to politicians.
3. This December, world leaders are expected to work on an agreement to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
UPDATE: Did you participate? Did you take pictures? Share with me in the comments or at jpollock@rrstar.com.
March 27th, 2009
Most of the buzz last week around Gov. Quinn’s address to the General Assembly related, logically, to the proposed tax hike.
But I listened to the address and heard some green talk, in case you missed it. OK, it was only two paragraphs, so no wonder I couldn’t find any stories about it:
WE WON’T JUST POUR CONCRETE AND ASPHALT. WE’LL MAKE SURE MAJOR PROJECTS ARE ENERGY-EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE.
WE NEED A GREEN WAY OF THINKING…AND A GREEN WAY OF ACTING. THAT MEANS LOTS OF “GREEN” COLLAR JOBS…ACROSS THE LAND OF LINCOLN.
Is President Obama having a green ripple effect?
March 26th, 2009
You may have read about people across the country who are choosing to buy only foods grown and produced within 100 miles of their homes. Although this is fun and interesting, not to mention a great challenge, this all-or-nothing approach can be a bit daunting. You can easily begin to incorporate local food items into your everyday life by making small substitutions and changes to your weekly routines. The key point to remember is that every change you make, no matter how small it may seem, can have an impact in our community, to your health, to your pocketbook, and especially to your taste buds!
Here are a few things to consider both now and in a few short weeks when the local farmers’ markets open once again:
- Seek out local foods now (yes, there are some available now, even in early spring!). Check out the Local Foods Directory to find what you are looking for. Items available now include eggs, cheeses and other dairy products, meats, grains, and some storage vegetables (potatoes, onions, garlic, dry beans, etc.).
- Visit a local grocery store. There are several in the area (including The 320 Store and Choices Natural Market) but the best one for year-round availability of local food has got to be Bushel and Peck’s Local Market in Beloit. They have a variety of fresh, frozen, and raw ingredients (as well as processed foodstuffs) from the area in addition to great regional foods (and other non-local items).
- Make a farmers’ market or farm stand visit part of your weekly routine – and go before your weekly grocery store trip. This will allow you to select the freshest produce to inspire your menus. If you have children, let each child choose one item and have them help you make a meal around that item; it’s a great way to involve them.
- Read The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan; it’s an interesting look at just where our food comes from and how it gets to our tables.
- Plant something – it could be a full garden but consider starting smaller if gardening for food is new to you. Plant some herbs and grape tomatoes or bell peppers in pots and place them in a sunny spot outside. Water them well and enjoy their production all summer long. If you have a sunny window or two, start your seeds indoors (right in the pots) now to begin your harvest all the sooner!
- Don’t limit yourself to the point of frustration – regional foods are great for all the same reasons as those from within 100 miles. There is wonderful produce grown in southern Illinois and throughout the Upper Midwest and it’s still better to buy from someone in the region than from thousands of miles away.
- Wait to enjoy produce as it comes into season here – it tastes better and you’ll appreciate it all the more. Here is a general list of when produce typically ripens in our area.
Enjoy finding ways to add local foods to your own table and please comment if you have other ideas or recommendations!
March 26th, 2009
In a random magazine with a bunch of random wedding advice books, I found this: “The Green Bride Guide.”
For $14.99 or for free if you go to its Web site, you can plan a “beautiful and sustainable” wedding.
Why? Well, the author says:
There are 2.5 million weddings a year in the United States, with an average of more than 150 guests each. When you add up all of the stuff that goes into weddings (single-use bleached white dresses, chemically treated imported flowers, toxic makeup and skin care products, mined gem-based jewelry, individual packets of rice, etc.) you see that the environmental impact from these events is enormous.
For example, if every wedding this year used a disposable aisle runner and they were laid end to end, they would circle the globe twice! Similarly, the amount of paper used to make invitations could cover the island of Manhattan. The bottom line is that every green choice makes a difference - no matter how small.
The site features lots of “real” green weddings, like this one, which encouraged the wedding party to wear clothes they already had.
Tips include choosing a location that is close to most attendees, finding recycled paper invitations, using regional/seasonal flowers, catering with organic foods and donating/reselling products after the wedding.
March 25th, 2009
An article in Newsweek will tell you it goes beyond Obama’s green-collar jobs:
It is no coincidence that some of the dirtiest industrial operations are falling victim to the global recession. Over the past two decades, much of the world’s manufacturing moved to where pollution standards are little more than mild suggestions. Since small, corner-cutting, inefficient facilities tend to both flout pollution laws and be most vulnerable to a sudden drop in demand, the global recession has hit such operations especially hard.
March 24th, 2009
If you’ve gone organic in the kitchen but want to do so in the yard, consider this workshop from the University of Illinois Extension-Winnebago County.
“The Basics: Organic Weed and Pest Control for Vegetables and Small Fruits” will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, at its office, 1925 S. Meridian Road, Rockford. Cost is $10. Register by March 30 with that link or call 815-986-4357.
March 23rd, 2009
Reminder: If you really want to do your part to clean up the planet, sign up for the Great American Cleanup in Winnebago County, set for April 25.
Businesses and individuals are encouraged to volunteer a few hours of their time to the Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful event.
This year’s targeted area is Seventh and Charles streets, but there will be other areas as well. According to a recent story:
“There’s no reason why anyone can’t do it, because there are no age restrictions or limit,” executive director Lori Gummow said. “It doesn’t cost anything.”
March 20th, 2009
I don’t usually read Lucky magazine because, frankly, I’m not much of a shopper.
But I stumbled upon it this month and found its green issue, which highlights its “online eco sourcebook,” a set of links broken down by fashion, home and beauty.
There’s also a green tip contest going on. Check out the message board. I like the idea of using dry spaghetti as a coffee stir-stick instead of the darn plastic ones. As a tea drinker, I’ve always thought that’s a waste. Also, someone pointed out that Keds has a green line.
P.S. Don’t forget about the giveaways I found last week.
March 19th, 2009
You might be thinking, “I get my food locally, so why all the talk about local foods?” When we’re speaking of local foods, we’re referring to foods that were grown, produced, or raised within a certain distance from one’s home. This distance varies from person to person, and could range from a 100 mile radius, to Illinois and Wisconsin, to the entire Midwest. Local foods can include veggies, meat, fruit, nuts, honey, dairy products, and grains. Some folks who knit are even interested in finding local fibers.
Foods that are manufactured or processed in our area may or may not fall into this category. Indeed, some of these foods are made from ingredients that come from far away, even from another country. The only way to find out is to ask questions. For example, one member of our Local Foods Working Group has discovered corn chips that are manufactured in Janesville from corn that is grown in this area.
I find it fascinating that folks who support local foods do so for such a wide variety of reasons. Some want to support the local economy and keep their money in our community. Buying local foods is also a great way to support smaller family farms. In these tough economic times, many of us want to do what we can to keep our community afloat.
Others interested in local foods seek to promote food security. This refers to the availability of food and people’s access to it. Instead of being dependent on food grown by a stranger far away, some find comfort in purchasing their food from a store, farmer, or producer whom they have come to know and trust.
Some local food supporters are interested in decreasing the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth hormones, and growth regulators in vegetable and animal production. They’re concerned about possible effects of these substances on humans and the environment. When you get to know your farmer, at a farmers’ market on the farm itself, you can ask questions about his or her farming practices, and encourage and support the use of the practices your favor. For folks concerned about being good environmental stewards, buying food from farmers who are themselves good environmental stewards makes sense.
Going green is another general motivation for some folks seeking out local foods. By developing a closer connection to the source of their food, they can help promote the development of farm systems that are sustainable and protect our land and water. Certain farming practices improve our topsoil and groundwater, enhance biodiversity, create healthy soils, and decrease the carbon footprint of the food we eat.
Another group that comes to mind are those who simply enjoy the taste of very fresh food. Food from local growers is picked at the peak of its freshness and taste, and is sometimes sold on the very day it is harvested. What could be more delicious than that?
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