Archive for August, 2009
August 31st, 2009
So how much U.S. cropland is farmed organically? Less than 1 percent, according to the USDA.
I learned this in Time’s recent story about the environmental price of cheap food. If you don’t read the whole thing, here is its message in a nutshell.
We don’t have the luxury of philosophizing about food. With the exhaustion of the soil, the impact of global warming and the inevitably rising price of oil — which will affect everything from fertilizer to supermarket electricity bills — our industrial style of food production will end sooner or later. As the developing world grows richer, hundreds of millions of people will want to shift to the same calorie-heavy, protein-rich diet that has made Americans so unhealthy — demand for meat and poultry worldwide is set to rise 25% by 2015 — but the earth can no longer deliver. Unless Americans radically rethink the way they grow and consume food, they face a future of eroded farmland, hollowed-out countryside, scarier germs, higher health costs — and bland taste. Sustainable food has an élitist reputation, but each of us depends on the soil, animals and plants — and as every farmer knows, if you don’t take care of your land, it can’t take care of you.
Each week on this blog, you can learn more from local experts and farmers about eating locally.
August 29th, 2009
In case you missed coverage of Wednesday night’s Winnebago County zoning committee meeting:
ROCKFORD —Winnebago County Board members are seeking what could be called a “third way” to allow companies to build wind farms.
At issue is a 16-page ordinance drafted by Navitas Energy Corp that, if approved, would allow for the placement of wind turbines throughout the county on land zoned for agricultural uses.
But County Board members, who discussed the ordinance Wednesday night during a zoning committee meeting, were skeptical of letting legislation open the door to all wind farm developers with only a staff review of the permit application to make sure everything was in order.
On the other hand, they also seemed reluctant to require a special use permit to place a wind farm. Such a permit would mean that every wind farm project would have to come up for a hearing by the Zoning Board of Appeals, county Zoning Committee and full County Board….
I’m trying to see whether I can track down this ordinance draft.
August 28th, 2009
Just a little reminder: I learned from an Associated Press story this week that demand for water is expected to increase 50 percent by 2050:
Experts warn that booming populations in some Illinois counties, especially around Chicago, could threaten the amount and quality of groundwater supplies.
In Rockford, we’re awfully close to that big city and hope it doesn’t come down to the water wars you hear about in the Southwest and Southeast. According to a 2003 GAO report, 36 states anticipated a water shortage by 2013.
To learn your water footprint, take these quizzes.
From aboutmyplanet.com, here are 10 tips to reduce water use:
1. Consider cutting a little water usage from your morning routine. Keeping a timer in your bathroom will remind you to wrap up and get out of the shower faster.
2. If a home renovation is in the cards, splurge on low-flow and water-efficient appliances they’ll save you money in the long-run. A front-loading washing machine, for example, uses 40-60% less water than top-loading machines.
3. A new toilet can save you water too, but if you can’t install a low-flow toilet, reduce the amount of water used by placing a jar or other closed container full of water into your toilet tank.
4. Install low-flow shower heads and sink spigots, which can both be purchased at your local hardware store, or contact your water utility company to find out if they distribute them for free.
5. When running the dishwasher, make sure it’s full to get the maximum use per drop. There’s no need to pre-rinse, since most of today’s models can handle any kind of grime.
6. Check for–and hastily repair– leaky pipes and faucets. The tiniest leak has far greater impact than you’d think.
7. Don’t use your sinks and drains as trash cans, and dispose of oil and other toxic materials properly. Just one gallon of oil reaching the sewer can contaminate one million gallons of fresh water.
8. Reduce water use in your own yard: Try collecting rainwater by placing containers at the end of each gutter. It’s perfect for watering your garden; water your lawn or garden in the morning or the evening when the water will evaporate less rapidly, and limit pesticide use, as they’ll eventually be carried into our freshwater supply by runoff.
9. Take the easy way out and hit the car wash. A car wash typically uses about 32 gallons of water per vehicle, but the EPA estimates that washing it yourself can use up to 500 gallons of water.
10. Take advantage of recreation opportunities on local lakes and rivers, and learn about the wildlife they support. It will help you understand what we could lose if we don’t manage our water wisely.
August 27th, 2009
The Illinois Food Farms & Jobs Bill was passed on August 18, 2009.
This law creates the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Council, which will work with state agencies, Illinois businesses, organizations, and citizens to build a fully functioning local farm and food system in Illinois. It will open new avenues of entrepreneurship, and we are grateful for the opportunities. This legislation will begin a long overdue transformation of our communities. There are plenty of business opportunities to go around.
Believe it or not, an estimated $46 billion of our money flows out of our state for food each year. Even if the number is off a bit, that’s no small potatoes. Currently, Illinois produces approximately 4% of the food we consume. The goal is to increase that to 10% by 2020 and 20% by 2030. The greatest natural resource in Illinois is our soil. It’s among the best in the world, and is absolutely irreplaceable.
People are needed to grow specialty crops, and workers will be needed to harvest and process the products. Engineers are needed to design and build equipment for those specialty crops. There will be an endless need for modern, reasonably priced, small scale equipment, and people to weld, paint, repair, and sell it.
Distribution hubs are also desperately needed. These will have to be built, furnished, and staffed. Other needs include farm co-ops that meet the needs of diversified growers; specialty crop advisors; and Illinois-specific seed and plant production, plus plant breeding work.
Value-added product development for the local food industry will offer quite a bit of work, including labeling, packaging, publicizing, and marketing these products. Suppliers of soil amendments will find an up tick in work. This could even be the start of diverting some of the organic material that ends up in our landfills, back to farms.
Financial advisors specializing in the local foods industry will be needed. And don’t forget all those farmers who will need to add infrastructure like buildings, storage, and equipment to their farms in order to diversify their cropping systems.
Different industries are specifically mentioned in the legislation, including agri-tourisim, which is already popular in some parts of America and abroad. People want to visit farms to connect with the source of their food. One area farmer, David Cleverdon of Kinnickinnick Farm, is already trying to do this.
The cosmetic/healthcare industry is on the list, along with dairy products and eggs. The fiber industry could see innovations in sustainable fabrics, dye, design, and production. Fish and forestry products include Christmas trees, wood, syrup, mushrooms, and nuts. Fifteen different grains are listed, plus herbs, honey, meat, ornamental plants, recreation, and renewable energy. How about some beer made with local grain?
To read the legislation, visit www.foodfarmsjobs.org. I think this may be the road back to the land of milk and honey, bread and roses.
August 27th, 2009
From Fraiche Cafe’s calendar of events, a few that caught my “green” eye:
Natures’ 911: Using nature’s first aid kit for life’s little emergencies. 10 a.m. Sept. 5
Food Preservation Class: Making sausage, veggie chips and pemmican. $15. 10 a.m. Sept. 19
Cheese and Yogurt Making Class: $15. 10 a.m. Oct. 17
The cafe is at 105 Benton St., Winnebago; 815-335-1064
August 26th, 2009
You’ve heard of Master Gardeners, but how about Master Composters?
The University of Illinois Extension is kicking off a new program Sept. 12 that includes 15 hours of instruction to learn the science and art of composting. According to the U of I’s Margaret Larson:
“One of the more interesting features of the program will be the construction of a worm composting bin. At the completion of the program, we will work with participants to develop volunteer service projects with parks, area gardens and other facilities in order that they can provide education to the public regarding the many benefits of composting.” Twenty service hours in a year, to be exact.
The Extension is also bringing the success of the Master Naturalist Program to Winnebago County; the program educates people of all ages about local natural history, ecosystems and environmental issues. The fall session will begin Sept. 24.
For more information, click the link above or call 815-986-4357.
August 26th, 2009
With the $3 billion incentive program Cash for Clunkers over, instead of turning in your gas guzzler, now you can turn to buying a new refrigerator or freezer.
According to the AP:
This year’s stimulus bill funded a $300 million program that will offer rebates of varying amounts — possibly u$$50 to $200 — to buyers of energy-efficient appliances and other products that carry the “Energy Star” label.
The rebate programs are being run by the states, and the details are still being worked out. But unlike Cash for Clunkers, you probably won’t have to drag your old stove into the store to get money for a new one.
Here are some questions and answers about the rebates.
Q: What is this program, and why haven’t I heard much about it yet?
A: There hasn’t been much talk of the program yet because it’s still taking shape.
Here’s what we know: The government has set aside about $300 million for states to use to give out rebates to buyers of energy-efficient appliances like freezers, refrigerators, furnaces and central air conditioners.
Q: When will this start?
A: States had to send letters saying they wanted to participate to the Department of Energy by Aug. 15. In the next week, they’ll start to receive 10 percent of their funding allotments, which department spokeswoman Jen Stutsman said will be used to help develop the programs.
Plans for the programs — including which products qualify and how much the rebates will be worth — are due back to the federal government by Oct. 15. The Department of Energy estimates that the full $300 million will be awarded by the end of November, and consumers should start to see the rebate programs in stores later this year or early next year.
“It will really just depend on how complex the state’s program is and the infrastructure they have to put in place,” Stutsman said.
Q: Is this a new idea?
A: Yes and no. An energy rebate program was first included in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, but it was never funded until this year’s stimulus bill. From the Department of Energy’s perspective, this is a new federal program. But the trade group estimates that 25 states already have their own rebate programs, which either states or utilities pay for.
Q: What’s the thinking behind the program?
A: Similar to the clunkers program — which gave car buyers up to $4,500 if they turned in a gas guzzler for something more efficient — the goals are to stimulate the economy and improve the environment.
The rebates might spur new appliance sales, which would help an industry that’s really been struggling — sales of big-ticket items like major appliances have slumped in the recession. So far this year, shipments of new appliances to retailers are down 15 percent, according to the trade group. That’s on top of a 10 percent drop last year.
The Department of Energy says it hopes the program will ripple throughout the economy by saving families money on their energy bills and by creating jobs and helping businesses because it will create new sales.
As for the environment, replacing old appliances with new, efficient ones means less energy is required to operate them. The Department of Energy recommends that states focus their programs on rebates for heating and cooling equipment, appliances and water heaters, saying they offer the greatest energy savings potential.
August 25th, 2009
On Sunday, the Chicago Tribune published a story that said the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency let cases against polluters languish because former Gov. Rod Blagojevich basically didn’t get along with Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
The ripple effect? Comptroller and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Hynes called for the ouster of EPA Director and former Rockford Mayor Doug Scott.
Scott says he’s disappointed with those comments and the story, which he called inaccurate.
UPDATE: After hearing Scott on the radio this morning, I feel like all around, people aren’t answering the real questions or giving any specifics! I am frustrated by this in general, but this is a textbook example.
August 25th, 2009
Well, actually, avoiding the unneeded idling of your car isn’t just for the school year, but it is top of mind as parents pick up and drop off their kids again.
The voluntary effort kicked off this February and is gearing up for new things this fall, including a Green Night Nov. 20 with the Rockford IceHogs (green jerseys, giveaways, an auction, an expo and maybe even green ice!).
If you’re interested in sponsorship opportunities or joining the grass-roots committee for its September meeting (TBA), contact Scott Saporiti, one of the main organizers, at the NIZ site; just click on the Contact tab.
August 23rd, 2009
This weekend, I thought about my post from a year ago about Nike’s shoe recycling program.
Because after buying five new pairs of shoes for my growing children, I have a box to mail in. And one of my readers also suggested the reminder. Send in yours so that it can join the nearly 24 million shoes since 1990 that have been ground up to become part of tracks, basketball courts and playgrounds.
Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070
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