Go Green
Rockford Woman editor Jennie Pollock knows that we’re not going to transform our lifestyles overnight, but she looks for ways big and mostly small to protect our planet. Read about her experiences (she’s tried giving up plastic and meat, for example) and share your possible solutions here. |
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Add comment May 20th, 2009
Funny enough, I saw this logo on a printout at work while picking up my own piece of paper from the printer.
Google Maps allows you to view on your phone.
I have the Web on my phone and have used Google Maps and Mapquest on there before. But this could make it easier.
Add comment May 19th, 2009
Spring has finally come to our U-pick CSA farm (community supported agriculture), as our gardening experiment continues. New growth shows both promise and validation of past experimentation. Garlic is a foot tall, lettuces are standing proud, peas are beginning to sprawl, and onion sets are filling out. And the asparagus! The three-year old roots are producing magnificent stalks, perfect for spring grilling. Rows of carrots, beets, chard, kale, and radishes are adding life to the garden. The potatoes are “down under” and due up any day now.
Now, it’s time to ready the ground for the warm season crops, which can’t go in too early. Corn, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, cukes, and zukes respond not only to warm air, but need warm soil. Planting them too early risks frost and a failure to thrive due to “cold feet”. Patience is always rewarded when it comes to waiting for the soil temperature to meet the needs of these seeds and seedlings.
This year, for fun, and the need to know if it can work, we planted artichoke seeds under grow lights in early winter. Artichokes are biennial, meaning that they flower and fruit during their second growing season. They germinated atop heat mats and under lights to provide California summer conditions. Being frost sensitive, they are now in the garden under hot caps, little wax paper cones. Now we wait.
We’ve nixed the chicken idea, as they scratch and eat too many of the crops. But in doing some library research, all part of the scientific method, we discovered the book Gardening with Guineas by Jeannette Ferguson and ordered a batch of 30 keets (young guinea fowl) to be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. We’re splitting the batch with Andy Hazzard of Hazzard Free Farms. I know they are coming too late to do a lot of good at the first onslaught of Japanese beetles, but I think they’ll help us later in the season.
Why guineas? They look sort of like chickens with plump bodies, skinny necks, and small heads. They are rough, vigorous, disease-free birds that will consume 90% of their food on free range. They eat weed seeds, grass seeds, and bugs….mostly bugs….Japanese beetles, as well as mosquitoes, ticks, and slugs. They will get a little feed in their house at night to encourage roosting and to provide nighttime safety from predators.
It’s a great time to be part of the local foods network. Our “U-pickers” are interested in healthy, organically grown food, and reducing food miles for the ultimate in food freshness. Plucking food right out of the garden is the perfect way to do this. Grow a few tomatoes and some herbs. Most yards have a spot available, or at least a flowerpot. Find a U-pick garden in the Local Foods Directory (available for download on the Winnebago County Extension website) and pick your own. Farmers Markets are starting to open. They pick for you; all you have to do is choose.
1 comment May 19th, 2009
A co-worker of mine sells Mary Kay, and she pointed out that the company uses bio-peanuts as part of the “Pink Doing Green” initiative.
Never heard of these “nuts,” but they dissolve in water (see my funny test), so you can put them in the trash, compost, septic system or … you can use them again. They’re made with corn and potato starch. Pretty cool.
Add comment May 19th, 2009
The Obama administration is expected to announce today the nation’s first emission limits and a higher requirement for an average miles per gallon — 35.5, up from 25.
Consumers should expect to pay an extra $1,300 per vehicle by the time the plan is complete in 2016. …
Obama’s plan couples for the first time pollution reduction from vehicle tailpipes with increased efficiency on the road. It would save 1.8 billion barrels of oil through 2016 and would be the environmental equivalent to taking 177 million cars off the road, senior administration officials said Monday night.
New vehicles would be 30 percent cleaner and more fuel-efficient by the end of the program.
Add comment May 18th, 2009
Last week was a busy one in terms of local foods systems activities.  The U of I Extension coordinated three programs; two providing information to producers and one providing participants with an opportunity to learn more about where their food comes from, or could come from. On Tuesday, a workshop on Business Planning and Risk Management for Small Farms and Market Gardens was held, and participants had their eyes opened to many opportunities to grow their businesses. On Wednesday evening, Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant, Small Farms Specialist for the University of Illinois Extension presented a workshop on Grantwriting for Small Farms. Again, participants left that night with their minds whirring with ideas and possibilities. We capped it off with the first of this season’s Sustainable Agriculture Tours (http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/smallfarm/ag_tours.cfm) that included an extensive tour of Eickman’s Processing in Seward and a visit to Open Range Products near Pecatonica. The tour ended with a lunch featuring Open Range hamburgers and other fresh produce supplied by local growers.On Sunday, May 24, our first Openfields Farm Tour will be held (This tour, modeled after the Garden Walk concept, features 11 area farms, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) and on-farm operations and will allow people to learn more about the local foods system in our area. You can come out between 10 am and 6 pm and meet local farms and learn about their farm, their products and see their passion for what they do. Come learn about growing vegetables and fruits in large quantities, raising grassfed beef cattle, poultry and goats, growing herbs and even milling grain using the power of the wind. Participants are encouraged to visit one farm or all 11 at their own pace. There is no charge to participate in this event. For detailed information about the tour, including participating farms and a map, please visit http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/winnebago/). This summer, we will be busy pairing local restaurants and chefs with farmers to work their collective magic for the Openfields Local Foods Dinner Series. The Series will begin on June 21 and will continue with a total of seven events featuring six restaurants. An on-farm dinner and an event at a local nature center will also be featured. Extension and the Winnebago County Local Foods Work Group will be coordinating these dinners, which will feature the farmers talking about their businesses, of course.
Add comment May 18th, 2009
In Barcelona, when you breathe the air, you might also be taking in cocaine.
Air pollution in Spain is a major problem, but the government’s not too worried.
“Not even if we lived for a thousand years would we consume the equivalent of a dose of cocaine by breathing this air,” scientist Miren Lopez de Alda said in a statement.
Still alarming. A reminder: What you can’t see might hurt you.
On related matters:
– This site offers advice for going green while shopping for pharmaceuticals, though it’s pretty broad and common-sensical.
– This article rates “green” shampoos.
Add comment May 15th, 2009
If they are shopping and crafting, at least…
For Memorial Day weekend, Machesney Crossing Shopping Center (at Illinois 173 and 251) will offer “green” arts and crafts for kids ages 5 to 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 23. The free activities will use recycled materials to make things like shoebox dioramas.
Local artists will be on hand to guide the children, who can complete as many projects as they wish; each takes 30 to 45 minutes. The location will be south of Bed Bath & Beyond along the Illinois 251 side of the center.
Participating families will receive a discount card with shopping specials. Food and drinks will be available.
You can choose to shop while your kids craft or do the activities right along with them.
Add comment May 15th, 2009
One of 13 initiatives under consideration by the Rockford Area Economic Development Council’s Leadership Council is a green one.
According to the BusinessRockford.com story, is seeking $60,000 in seed money from the Rockforward! campaign:
One of those proposals — a green development and training center — is being pitched by Comprehensive Community Solutions, best known for its Rockford YouthBuild program. As CCS Director Kerry Knodle envisions, the center would include several components:
Rockford ReUse Center, an existing program with plans for expansion. The ReUse Center, 907 S. Main St., accepts donations of used furniture, building materials, appliances and fixtures, then resells those goods to the public.
A green charter school providing education and training for green jobs.
Green job training programs to provide instruction for solar panel installation, appliance repair, vehicle conversion, urban landscaping and other skills. Shorter-term training programs would prepare workers for residential and commercial retrofitting of existing public and private buildings to improve energy efficiency.
A manufacturing facility to build and market energy-efficient, engineered wall and roof panels for green building projects and an outlet to sell green building products for consumers and commercial users.
Technical support and resources to help new and existing businesses thrive in the emerging green economy.
Add comment May 14th, 2009
In case you missed it. Or the earlier post.
Add comment May 14th, 2009
However, the cable channel is giving away a “green home” in Floria and a GMC Sierra hybrid.
Take a virtual tour of the home here. And watch construction here.
The HGTV Green Home 2009 is a 2,430 square foot single-family residence with a 610 square-foot detached garage that has achieved the highest level of green certification available, LEED Platinum.
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