Big (Green) Deal: TILT Event Educates Children on Compost

Originally written for the Watertown Daily Times by Amanda Taylor, who covered TILT’s (Com)Post-Halloween event at Zenda Farm Preserve over the weekend.

Christopher A. Nevala, 7, smashes leftover Halloween pumpkins with a mallet during the (Com)Post Halloween event at Zenda Farms in Clayton on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Amanda Morrison for the Watertown Daily Times.

TILT Event Educates Children on Compost

CLAYTON — Creating a manageable compost heap is not as difficult as many may believe.

“It’s quite simple and should not be intimidating to anyone,” Corinne M. Mockler said.

Ms. Mockler is the coordinator of education and outreach for the Thousand Islands Land Trust. The group organized a (Com)post Halloween on Saturday to educate children and their families on maintaining a compost heap.

“A lot of families have gardens, but we’re not sure how much kids are involved in the gardening or if they are aware of the fact that anything can be composted,” Ms. Mockler said.

People were invited to bring their leftover pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns to Zenda Farms at 38973 Zenda Road and smash them up in a wooden box with a shovel. The pumpkin pieces were combined with old leaves to create compost that will be used in the spring on TILT’s Community Garden.

“Who can resist? You get rid of grass, old jack-o’-lanterns and kids get to go around and smash stuff,” she said.

New Design Sponge Series: Sound Garden

Angela alerted me to yet another wonderful new sub-column from Design*Sponge: “Sound Garden” by Sarah B. Essentially, florist extraordinaire Sarah B. takes her favorite album covers and translates them into beautiful floral arrangements:

Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life”

Who Needs a Drink?

Depending on which way the cookie crumbled for you last night with the election, you could either use a drink in celebration or in sorrow. This article from Green America suggests that you make it organic!

Photo from Green Earth Cafe & Bakery

Organic Beer and Wine

If you consume alcoholic beverages, try organic beer or wine. They’re better for your health and the planet, and they taste good, too.

Historian Gregg Smith writes that fermented beverages have been nourishing body and enlivening spirit since the very dawn of civilization, dating at least as far back as when the ancient Mesopotamians began storing away “liquid bread” for later use. If you already consume alcoholic drinks, consider buying organic beer or wine for your social engagements and celebrations. There’s a growing number of refreshing offerings from the vine, the grain, and the orchard that contribute to restoring the environment, empowering workers, and protecting your health. Not only are organic beer and wine better for your body, but you may find they taste better than their non-organic counterparts, too.

Why Go Organic?

Choosing organic beverages means that the grapes, barley, hops, apples, and other ingredients used to make your fermented refreshment are spared the application of toxic insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers. These unhealthy chemical inputs pollute our water, air, and soil. Researchers at Cornell University estimate that at least 67 million birds die each year from pesticides sprayed on US fields. The number of fish killed is conservatively estimated at six to 14 million. And, many pesticides are toxic to humans, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Not only does chemically intensive farming devastate ecosystems and harm human populations, it also contributes to the crisis in family-owned farms. The US lost an estimated 650,000 family farms in the last decade. Organic farming, on the other hand, is proving to be small-farmer friendly-most organic farms are less than 100 acres.

Chemical-free organic drinks often taste better, too. Just ask Andrew Myers, dining room manager at Washington, DC’s Restaurant Nora, America’s first certified organic restaurant. “I recommend organic wines and beers to our customers because of their excellent quality, not just because it’s the right thing to do,” says Myers.

Inspiration Station: DIY Plant Hangers from Design Sponge

I’m currently rooting a bunch of houseplants for a friend (seriously, don’t buy a spider plant ever – you probably know someone who could root you a small army of spiders), and am realizing I should re-pot a few of my own. While I love a good vintage macrame hanger (they somehow work with my house decor), I do like modern versions as well. Then this morning I happened upon these two incredible DIY plant hanger projects from the genius minds at Design Sponge:

Leather Plant Hanger

Tiered Hanging Pots

Green(ish) Guest Post: Ditzy Druid Learns Homesteading

 

Not technically a guest post for F that S, but the Ditzy Druid went to the local Homesteading Fair a couple of weekends ago and did a recap on her blog. Here is a snippet of what she experienced:

A Great Time at the Homesteading Fair in Lowville, NY

September 9, 2012 by greycatsidhe

Yesterday I went to a Mother Earth News Homesteading Fair in Lowville, NY.  It was located at the Maple Ridge Center, kind of a hybrid farm, winter recreation retreat, and Christian education facility.    Thankfully, the event was secular in nature and thus very accessible.  The cost was only $10 for a whole day ($15 for the weekend) consisting of vendors, food, children’s activities, live demonstrations, and workshops.  The workshops and demonstrations were lead by experts such as educators in the Jefferson County Cornell Cooperative Extension, farm vets, the New York State DEC, maple syrup orchards, the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, alternative energy experts, and the Sustainable Living Project.

ITEM! Gettin’ Dirty Gets You Happy

Not brand-new news, but an uplifting article to get you ready for gardening season nonetheless, from Shine:

Mood-boosting Bacteria Found in Dirt

By Lylah M. Alphonse, Senior Editor, Yahoo! Shine | Healthy Living – Tue, Jan 31, 2012 4:53 PM EST

Even if you don’t love gardening, digging in the dirt may be good for your health — and it has nothing to do with a love of nature or the wonder of watching things grow. The secret may be in the dirt itself: A bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae that acts like an antidepressant once it gets into your system.

Big (Green) Deal: Disappearing Ink!

As green(ish) as I try to be, I still keep a day planner in my purse, stay organized by writing lists and print out my crochet patterns so I can spread out on the couch while I work. Butchy bought me a Kindle Fire (which solved the the inner debate I was having – I couldn’t refuse a gift, now could I?), and that has allowed me to be more mobile with patterns and anything else I find online that I might otherwise want to print. I’ll also finally be joining the world of smart phones this month, so I’ll be experimenting with using the planner and stickies on that. But there’s really just something about the physical act of writing things down that helps me remember, which is why I was so pleased to come upon these two techie solutions to the ink and paper problem:

Inspiration Station: Green(ish) Holiday Decorations

Inspired by this article from Organic Gardening, I thought I’d round-up some green(ish) decorations for the holidays (and see Etsy for more inspiration):

Big (Green) Deal: The Giving (Christmas) Tree

As someone who only celebrates Christmas through my husband and his family, it is tempting to kitsch it up with a pink plastic tree, but that wouldn’t be very sustainable, now would it? Instead I chose to buy a potted norfolk pine and decorate it with scraps of ribbon from work and leftover yarn from crochet projects. I would have loved to plant it outside when the weather gets warm again, but since it’s made for the semi-tropics, I’ll probably be reusing it every year inside the house. For those of you debating the merits of a real tree vs an artificial one, read this article from Organic Gardening:

The allure of an artificial Christmas tree is obvious: reusable, dependably lush and symmetrical, and best of all, mess-and maintenance-free. But convenience has an environmental price tag, making fresh, fragrant, real trees a better choice. Artificial trees are made from materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and metal and are often imported from China. Because they cannot be recycled, artificial trees end up in landfills when they are no longer useful.

They are also questionable in terms of human health. California Proposition 65, a law that protects consumers from exposure to toxic and cancer-causing substances, requires artificial trees made in China to have a warning label about the potential of lead poisoning. A 2008 report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on children’s exposure to lead noted, “Artificial Christmas trees made of PVC degrade under normal conditions. About 50 million U.S. households have artificial Christmas trees, of which about 20 million are at least nine years old, the point at which dangerous lead exposures can occur.”

Real Christmas trees, in contrast, are grown on farms in all 50 states, taking up to 15 years to reach harvestable size. During that time, they improve air quality by emitting oxygen, and they provide habitat for wildlife—often on ground that is unsuitable for other crops, such as steep slopes and areas beneath power lines.

“Real trees are an important conservation crop,” says Tom McNabb of Yule Tree Farms, a wholesale grower in Oregon. McNabb points out the environmental superiority of oxygen-producing trees “versus a product made from petroleum with additives like lead to keep the needles pliable and which returns toxic gas into the atmosphere during production and disposal.”

In 2007, some of the largest U.S. Christmas tree growers formed the nonprofit Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers. Member growers employ sustainable practices and planting methods that promote good care of the land, including riparian and wetland management. Natural barriers, buffer zones, and vegetative cover protect ditches and streams and contribute to healthy watersheds. Growers use natural and mechanical methods to control pests and competing weeds. The 2007 Census of Agriculture from the USDA reported that of the more than 343,000 acres of Christmas trees grown in the United States, only 4 percent used supplemental irrigation.

Real trees have postholiday value, too, as communities collect and recycle them to turn into mulch, use them as erosion barriers, or sink them in ponds for fish habitat.

Click here to learn how to reuse or recycle a real Christmas tree after the holidays.

 

Green is the New Black (Friday)

While I could go on about the many ways you could have a green Thanksgiving (including eating a free range turkey, as we did last year), let’s focus instead on that glorious tradition of American excess: Black Friday!

I try to either make holiday gifts myself or buy handmade, but if you’re comfortable with hundreds of strangers breathing on your neck, I found some interesting tips on how to “go green on black Friday” from Green Your Life:

Green(ish) Tip: Buy Handmade!

Finding the perfect present for someone has always been one of life’s thrills for me, and making that present is even better. I’ve always been a big believer in encouraging others to buy handmade, and as a current member of an amazing local “crafty sisterhood” (the above photo being a good likeness of our monthly get-togethers), I’m going to take the opportunity to shamelessly plug local creative businesses, starting with mine:

• FiveBirchPerch: My newest crafty venture. Handmade jewelry & decor created from natural materials, man-made trimmings, and some vintage thrown in for good measure. Custom work available.

Green(ish) Guest Post: Denise DeSpirito on United Plant Savers

Below is my good friend Denise DeSpirito speaking about her recent experiences at Ohio-based Goldenseal Botanical Sanctuary:

Telling people I just returned from 6 weeks of studying endangered medicinal herbs in the woods has gotten a few raised eyebrows from my fellow New Yorkers and some not so slick winks from people who think I’m referencing the illegal kind of herb. But I’m talking about Goldenseal, Echinacea, Bloodroot, Ginseng and many more endangered medicinal plants that United Plant Savers work to save at their Goldenseal Botanical Sanctuary in southwest Ohio. Over 500 species of plants, 120 species of trees and 200 species of fungi have been identified at the Sanctuary. Half of the United Plant Savers list of native medicinal plants that are “at risk” for endangerment are
thriving on Sanctuary land, some of which was previously strip-mined or barren pasture. This land can act as an example for reclamation projects and testament to protecting ecological diversity.

Trick or (Healthy) Treat

While I personally see no problem handing out candy during the H’ween party I’m hosting at the Five Birch Perch later tonight,* I can understand not wanting to load up neighborhood trick-or-treaters with the sweet stuff. The folks over at Green Halloween (which I’ve blogged about before) suggest the following as candy replacements:

– Honey sticks

– 100% Fruit leather

– Polished rocks

– Stickers

– Soy or beeswax crayons

– Glass beads

– Seeds

– Play doh (store-bought or homemade)

I agree with handing out stickers or other art supplies – especially if they’re Halloween related and or/educational. And although I love the concepts, I think the significance of seeds would be lost on kids, and they would probably ignore the fruit leathers or any other healthy/homemade snack. I definitely don’t agree with the idea of glass beads, or anything that could be mistaken for something edible – that just sounds like trouble to me.

Shirley Siluk Gregory over at Green/Simple Living suggests “treats like fair-trade chocolate, organic cookies and other treats appropriate for  Halloween giving. Global Exchange’s Fair Trade online store, for example,  features bags of fair-trade gold chocolate  coins while Endangered Species Chocolate sells organic milk-chocolate Bug  Bites.”

However you choose to celebrate, have a Happy Halloween!

*I’m pretty pleased with my decorating skills, but for future parties I think I may want to start focusing on a specific theme, a la the spooky genius over at  My Ghoul Friday.

Garfield Halloween screenshot from Trakt

Big (Green) Deal: Perennial Grains

**This post was featured in the On Our Radar section of Ecopressed**

From Lab Spaces via Washington State University:

Agriculture’s next revolution — perennial grain — within sight

Earth-friendly perennial grain crops, which grow with less fertilizer, herbicide, fuel, and erosion than grains planted annually, could be available in two decades, according to researchers writing in the current issue of the journal Science.

Perennial grains would be one of the largest innovations in the 10,000 year history of agriculture, and could arrive even sooner with the right breeding programs, said John Reganold, Washington State University (WSU) Regents professor of soil science and lead author of the paper with Jerry Glover, a WSU-trained soil scientist now at the Land Institute in Salina, Kansas.

“It really depends on the breakthroughs,” said Reganold. “The more people involved in this, the more it cuts down the time.”

Published in Science‘s influential policy forum, the paper is a call to action as half the world’s growing population lives off marginal land at risk of being degraded by annual grain production. Perennial grains, say the paper’s authors, expand farmers’ ability to sustain the ecological underpinnings of their crops.

“People talk about food security,” said Reganold. “That’s only half the issue. We need to talk about both food and ecosystem security.”

70’s Modern: A DIY Decor Roundup

(The article below was part of my application to write for Re-nest. Unfortunately I didn’t get the gig…but why let a good post go to waste?)

While the 1970’s may be making a style comeback, most people won’t wish to saturate their living room in mirrored surfaces and wood paneling. If you choose to feature only a few key pieces, there’s no reason why these items can’t have a retro and modern feel. And if repurposed materials and DIY tutorials come into the mix – well, you can dig it, can’t you?

West Elm wood veneer pendent ($149.00) as DIY’d by Kara Paslay Designs. While the original doesn’t have any claims to sustainability, Kara’s version was made completely out of materials she had around the house: Two metal hoops from an old lampshade, leftover scraps of vinyl wood flooring, heavy gauge wire and some construction adhesive. Related link:  A DIY Woven Pendant Lamp

From Toilet to Tap: Thoughts on Easing Water Woes

I came across a recent article on the construction of a $13-million water-reclamation plant in western Texas that will turn sewage into drinkable water. While the idea of drinking what was once discarded may have a slight “ick” factor, there was unsurprisingly not a huge public outcry. When the public has such little choice, due to factors both in and out of their control, they’re not really going to argue with a solution, are they?

Obviously this country has been experiencing a severe drought this summer. And obviously this affects already dry areas the worst – so obviously those areas need the most help. No problem with Fort Worth getting the help they need. What I have a problem with here is that the decision-makers of Fort Worth (for example) only got to the point of building this treatment plant once the public got to the point of dire need. Why do plants like this not already exist everywhere? And not just for the sake of creating more water for drought-riddled areas, but also for the sake of keeping sewage out of the oceans?

This may sound like a redundant question, but shouldn’t we, as a collective planet, be putting serious money towards projects like these? Why are we so concerned with finding water on Mars? Are we looking for the next planet to inhabit destroy after we’re done with this one? People (myself included) need to seriously acknowledge that the resources on this earth are actually limited – that once all the drinkable water is gone, that’s it. You won’t be able to ride your Vespa on over to Whole Foods and buy a case of Evian with your platinum Amex – There will be no more water for you to drink.

It’s thoughts like this that make me feel more than ever like Helpless Green(ish) Chick Who Really Wants To Save the Planet But Lacks the Money and Engineering Degree to Make a Massive Difference. The average person, unfortunately, has to leave the big projects up to the big decision makers. But what sort of small everyday water-saving efforts can we do, that if we all did, might make enough of a difference to slow the inevitable?

Photo of a California water district plant from a similiar (and 4-year-old) article at the New York Times.

Got Unwelcome Guests? Just Eat Them.

I’ve blogged before on methods of controlling invasive fish species, but now some are trying to bait (harhar) American foodies into eating them:

[A]n increasing number of environmentalists, consumer groups and scientists are seriously testing a novel solution to control it and other aquatic invasive species — one that would also takes pressure off depleted ocean fish stocks: they want Americans to step up to their plates and start eating invasive critters in large numbers…

It’s My Party and I’ll Compost If I Want To

So as I was saying – I got married this past weekend! The after-after-party was a “morning-after” brunch at the Five Birch Perch, and I knew I absolutely did not want to clean up an enormous pile of Fiesta Ware once the last car drove off. But I was not too keen on the idea of paper plates and plastic forks – I am running a green(ish) blog here people!

For a solution, my friend/brunch caterer Michele suggested we use dishes, bowls, cups and utensils from World Centric. Their products are not only made from sustainable materials, but compostable as well! Now, post-party, I will definitely attest to their durability and performance. The plates and bowls were thick and sturdy and the plastic-esque utensils had me fooled into almost throwing them out. I was pleased with the quality and the price was comparable to bleached paper varieties found in grocery stores. Now if only we could have made it more clear that the plates went in the compost pit, not the burnables pile….but I’ve picked through worse.

Regardless, the used plates, etc are bagged up so we can add them to the compost pile closer to winter – which make more sense to me. And for now I’m just glad I managed to do something towards offsetting the hundreds of miles my guests had to travel by car to be at the wedding!

7 Habits of Reasonably Green People

Simple Organic put out this list a little after Earth Day, but any time of year is a good time to add a little green to your daily to-dos:

1) Be thrifty

How do the greenest among us afford all that fancy organic produce and those swanky tankless water heaters?  Easy –they don’t spend their money on much else!
Nothing, absolutely nothing, will ever green you up faster than using less of whatever it is that you use –borrow, scale back, repair, reuse, repurpose, barter, find it used, or just skip it entirely. Get thrifty, seriously thrifty. Watch the money pile up and tread a little lighter on the earth at the same time.

Green(ish) Guest Post: No Locavore’s Dilemna Here

I recently went to a talk at the Mustard Seed, led by local foods advocate Marty Butts of Small Potatoes Sales and Marketing, a Syracuse-based company that “specializes in helping small scale food & body care producers from Central New York grow their businesses.” The talk focused both on the locavore movement and ideas for eating local in this community. While the majority of the businesses that Marty talked about are also based in Syracuse, the lack of really local info only inspired me to start poking around more up here in the Watertown/1000 Islands area (more on this later…). However, Marty was so kind as to email me his top tips for eating local in any community: