Sustainable Living

HOOKED

2009-08-12T12:18:00.000-07:00

I've been the worst blogger lately. Life has been crazy, in a good way. I've been very busy, but I haven't forgotten about my pledge to go veg. In fact, I don't think there's any turning back at this point. I'm hooked. I haven't had meat for about a month and I feel great. There's been no shortage of delicious things to eat, my digestive system has never been more efficient, and I've even lost a couple pounds.

The best part is that I don't miss meat at all. Well, mostly. There was one night last week when I made some homemade tomato sauce and mushroom gnocchi (yum!). I cooked up some Italian sausage for my husband to go with it. Italian sausage is what I always thought I would miss the most, and I was right. It smelled so delicious, but I resisted, thanks in part to my supportive husband. He has actually helped me several times along the way. (**Sidenote: My husband hasn't decided to go veg yet, but has drastically cut his meat intake. Although there are a few things in our freezer that he is using up (italian sausage for example), once those things are gone we won't be cooking meat in our home anymore.)

I have tried to commit to a vegetarian diet a couple times before. This time has been much easier and I think the secret was the gradual transition. I cut out beef first, then pork, then chicken. I haven't made a firm commitment to cut out fish yet, but that's not something that I eat very often either. I made the changes that I wanted to make, without guilting myself into it or depriving myself of anything. If you're trying to make it work for you, those are my suggestions.

Tonight I'm making my favorite Mexican dish, chile relleno. I'm using some anaheim chiles from our garden and I'll be mixing and matching these two recipes:

Poblano Chile Rellenos (Macheesmo)

Chile Rellenos Con Queso (The People's Guide to Mexico)

I'll let you know how it goes!

VEG UPDATE

2009-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

You may recall this post from a couple weeks ago in which I pledged to go vegetarian and started with eliminating beef. Well, I haven't had any beef since and now I'm ready to step it up a notch. From now on, I'm not eating pork. Pigs. No more pigs. I would like to have a pet pig one day and I won't be able to look my little pig in the face after eating bacon, so I'm starting now.

Beef was pretty easy to give up. Pork isn't a big deal either. I'll eliminate chicken in a couple weeks, although I'm not eating much of that these days. Once you get started, things just sort of fall into place.

Tonight we're eating fresh wild trout that my father-in-law caught in Montana two days ago. We spent about a week in the Glacier National Park area and just returned last night. The garden went crazy while we were gone, and we'll be eating a fresh head of cauliflower from the garden with our dinner tonight! Photos coming soon...

24 OCTOBER 2009

2009-06-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Want to be part of the largest grassroots climate action in global history? Check out this new animation from 350.org and visit their website to get involved.

MINI-HARVEST

2009-06-24T07:45:00.001-07:00

Last night's mini-harvest has already been eaten, but I took a picture to remember it by. We had enough green beans to share between the two of us for dinner, a beet, a handful of fresh peas, herbs (oregano, thyme, basil, parsley), and of course, a variety of lettuces.

Dinner was whole wheat pasta with tomato sauce made with the herbs you see pictured and some frozen tomatoes from last year's harvest. We also cooked up the green beans and beet, and had a large, lovely salad. There's nothing better than eating straight out of the garden!

VINTAGE BLISS

2009-06-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

I love old things. Homes, furniture, people, you name it. Old things have so much more character than anything you could buy new. Reusing items is easier on our planet than constantly buying new ones. I've made some fantastic finds at garage sales and D.I. recently, like the set of glasses shown above, and I've also been seeing a lot of great vintage items in the KSL classifieds and on Craig's List that I'd like to pass along. Here are just a few of the items available now in the Provo/Salt Lake area:

Vintage Couch $50

Vintage Desk $129

Vintage Metal Bed $95

Vintage Swinging Cradle $35

Vintage Nightstand $10

NO EXCUSE

2009-06-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

"What happens on your plate represents your most important engagement with the natural world and the biggest impact you have on climate change. Meat eating in particular represents a tremendous amount of greenhouse gasses produced." - Michael Pollan

I know, I KNOW. You're right, Mr. Pollan. I should stop eating meat. I've known this for a while now, even tried to go veg once. I have a husband who willingly (NAY, HAPPILY) eats my vegetarian cookin' and who LOVES RICE DREAM. I have a garden full of happy plants that is already offering up it's bounty. I have a desire to lose 5-10 pounds.

In summary, I have no excuse. No excuse to order chicken tacos at Guru's when I could have the Good Karma pasta. No excuse to grill up a "hamburger" (what does that word even mean? ham?) when veggie burgers are so tasty. No excuse to lament limited sources of protein and a burgeoning backside in the same conversation.

I'm going to do this in stages and keep you all updated on my progress every week. First step, eliminate beef from my diet. No more beef. And by beef I mean cow meat. Beef is a word that humans invented to avoid thinking of cows while they're eating. So no more cows. Period.

I'm doing it. Here goes nothing. Wish me luck. If you want, you can join me. And what's more, please share your veggie tips with me. Recipes, whatever. Encouragement is what I need.

p.s. Do you have a Winder Farms account? Did you know that they have a most delicious squash ravioli that goes wonderfully with their cilantro pesto? If what you want is a flavor explosion in your mouth, look no further.

HUNGRY FOR CHANGE

2009-06-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

Check out the trailer for Food, Inc., which appears to hammer home the same principles that Michael Pollan has been writing about. Unfortunately it's not currently playing in Utah, but you can click here to check showtimes in your area.

After watching this trailer I'm inspired to hit up the farmer's market. Have a great Saturday!

**UPDATE** Michael Pollan will also appear in a tv program on PBS, titled after his book The Botany of Desire. Click here to watch a preview.

WATER WISE

2009-05-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've had a few people ask me about watering lately, which is something that I was unsure about when I first started gardening. So here are some tips:

There is no need to water every day. Most plants prefer infrequent, deep watering as opposed to frequent, light watering.

This time of year I like to SOAK the garden area with a sprinkler for 20-30 minutes in the morning about once every 3-4 days. In the middle of the summer I water more often, usually every other day.

Covering the ground with peat moss or mulch will help keep moisture from evaporating.

You can test the soil by sticking your finger about an inch down from the surface. If it's damp, your plants should be fine.

If your plants start to wilt, water them immediately.

Yellowing leaves are an indication of over-watering, so watch out for that as well.

Let me know if you have any questions or tips of your own!

Happy gardening!

GARDEN UPDATE

2009-05-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

These are some recent photos of my garden. We've already been eating romaine lettuce and I'm hoping we'll have some ripe strawberries next month!

Here's a list of everything we've got cooking:

Herbs: basil, oregano, thyme, sage, tarragon, chives, cilantro, spearmint

Greens: romaine, arugula, mesclun, spinach, cabbage

Roots: carrots, beets

Onions: green, leeks

Tomatoes: roma, celebrity, yellow pear, gabrielle grape, brown berry cherry, brandywine, black plum, yellow persimmon, idyll cherry, san marzano

Peppers: red, gold, orange, green, ivory, anaheim

Squash: yellow crookneck, butternut, zucchini, white pumpkin

Other Veggies: cauliflower, brussels sprouts, sugar snap peas, blue lake beans, and another bean that will be a surprise because I don't remember what it was :)

Strawberries!

What are you growing??

GOOD HEN!

2009-05-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

That was one of my late grandmother's favorite expressions. Don't ask me what it means or where she got it from, but "Good hen!" is the exclamation that she would utter whenever she was surprised, frustrated, annoyed, or disappointed. My grandmother lived in Hyde Park, Utah, just north of Logan, where most of the residents raised their own animals. My grandparents raised horses and cows, among other farm animals, on their property, and when visiting we would often go to the neighbor's house to see their "lambies." My grandparents also had a spectacular garden that I will have to elaborate on in a future post. This one is all about the hens.

Recently my friend Ashley over at Bird on the Lawn brought to my attention a new city ordinance that was just passed in Provo. In the words of the Daily Herald, "The new law allows Provoans living in single-family dwellings in any residential zone to keep between two and six hen chickens, depending on the size of their property. The birds must be kept in a clean, well-ventilated and predator-proof coop. No roosters are allowed."

If you've ever dreamed of raising your own chickens and gathering their eggs, now is the time to get started! This post was prompted by a Facebook message that I received today from the Provo Farmer's Market - they will be selling baby chicks at the market this Saturday! The farmer's market sent out the following information:

From the Farm:
Are you interested in the grand adventure of raising chicks?
If so, one of our farmers are selling the following breeds:

* Plymouth Barred Rocks
* Rhode Island Reds
* Buff Orpingtons
* Naked Necks
* Araucanas
* White Leghorns
* Jersey Black Giants

Day old chicks and started birds $2 and up. Call Brent (801) 592-0577 for information and to arrange your order. Brent can help you understand the differences between the breeds and which breeds are best suited to your home situation.

The hens in the photo above belong to my sister, Julia. She and her husband built that coop themselves out of reclaimed materials. One of these days I will convince her to do a guest post and explain how she did it. In the meantime, if you have any insight, experience, or interest in raising chickens, please share!

THIS GUY KNOWS FOOD

2009-05-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food. Check out his latest appearance on Democracy Now, where he explains why it's best to avoid any food that you see advertised.

BIRD WATCHING

2009-05-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

If you're spend much time outdoors during the spring in Provo, you're bound to eventually spot a family of birds just like this one. Yesterday I saw a couple of them in the driveway. I went outside to get a better look and found that there were a dozen or more on and around my front porch.

There are two types of quail found commonly in Utah, I'm pretty sure these are California Quail, as opposed to Gambel's Quail, which are generally found in southern Utah. Quail tend to move around in groups of around 20, which is why you'll often spot a whole group of them at once. I especially enjoy watching them walk around in their little families with their babies in tow.

NATURAL REMEDIES

2009-04-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

Remember how I said I was feeling better? Well it turns out that it was only temporary. My sore throat is back with a vengeance and the problem appears to have spread to my right eye, which is bright red and *TMI alert* gets all crusty overnight. I have a terrible insurance policy, which means if I go to the doctor I have to pay for it, which also means that I never go to the doctor. I could go on and on about the state of healthcare in our country, but that is a different post for a different blog...

After doing some research online, I have decided that most likely my symptoms stem from a bacterial infection like strep. Since I'm fresh out of penicillin, I've decided to try raw garlic, which is supposed to act as a natural antibiotic. I took my first dose about an hour ago, crushed it up and swallowed it with a glass of water. I love garlic, but raw garlic is pretty gross... and it lingers...

I'll keep you all updated on how it goes. But in the meantime, do you have any tried and true natural remedies to share? Please do.

And don't worry, if this thing starts to get out of control I will most definitely break down and visit a local physician.

THE MOST GRATIFYING ROW IN THE GARDEN...

2009-04-23T21:41:00.001-07:00

...perennial herbs! There's nothing better than sitting back and watching your perennial herbs come back to life in the spring with little to no effort on your part. Here are my perennials:

OREGANO

THYME

CHIVES

In the photo of the oregano you can see a few brown, dead branches. These can just be pruned to save energy for new growth. I use a pair of garden shears and just snip them right off. The thyme could use some trimming as well. The chives, however, are looking great! A patch of chives will get bigger year by year unless you divide it, and they're usually the first to show up in the spring, looking all sunny and cheerful. I have definitely noticed that my chives are bigger and more beautiful this year than they were last year. They can be harvested with scissors down to about an inch off of the ground about four times per year.

This year I'm hoping to add sage and tarragon to my perennial mix, even though I probably won't be around next year to watch them grow back. :(

Mint is another perennial - a kindred spirit planted some in our garden before we moved here and it has returned every year.

The earth is so kind to yield such a generous return on the smallest of investments.

Do you have a favorite perennial?

PROVO FARMER'S MARKET

2009-04-22T11:14:00.001-07:00

Happy Earth Day! I apologize for not posting very regularly this past week - I came down with strep throat and wasn't feeling like doing much of anything. But, I'm feeling much better, the weather is beautiful, and my garden is on it's way - I'll post some new pictures soon.

In the meantime, I have great news - the Provo Farmer's market is starting up on May 2. They will have cool season crops like lettuce and peas, as well as seedlings for your garden!

The market is located in Pioneer Park, at the corner of Center St. and 5th West in Provo. Join their facebook group or check out their blog for updates!

SEEDLINGS

2009-04-13T21:44:00.001-07:00

Look at them go! I love checking my seedlings at the end of the day to see how much they've grown. This picture was taken when they were only about a week and a half old!

SOW MUCH FUN

2009-04-02T19:01:00.000-07:00

Above are a few of my little swiss chard and pea plant sprouts. These were started in a damp paper towel on my windowsill and have since been moved to these little peat pellets. I was so relieved that none of them died in the process.

If you're planning on planting some seeds, now is a great time to get started. There are a number of varieties of vegetables that can be started outside from seed right now. Hardy vegetables can be planted outside as soon as the soil can be worked (generally around mid-March). There are a number of veggies that fall into the "hardy" category, some of the most popular are peas, lettuce, swiss chard, radishes, spinach, cabbage, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, and asparagus.

Now is also a great time to start seeds for veggies that you plan to move outdoors after the last frost (most people plan on transplanting at the end of May). These plants are categorized as "tender" and are very vulnerable to frost. They should be started indoors right around now. The list includes beans, peppers, melons, tomatoes, squash, celery, corn, zucchini, and cucumbers.

If you aren't able to plant the hardy vegetables now, don't give up on your garden. Most of those veggies can also be planted around July 1 and harvested into the fall. And if your seeds fail, there are plenty of nurseries around that can sell you the plants that you need at reasonable prices. Last year I purchased a garden full of plants for around $20 and we're still eating frozen veggies from last year's harvest! Sow, have fun, and enjoy the lovely spring weather!

SUSTAINABLE SUPERHERO

2009-04-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Have you heard of Tim DeChristopher? He was indicted today on two felony counts for disrupting a federal auction of oil and gas leases. DeChristopher first made the news back in December, when he walked into a BLM oil and gas lease auction and successfully won 13 parcels of federal land that the Bush administration was quickly trying to sell off before their term was up. Why were they in such a rush? The 77 parcels of land up for auction are located in Utah's redrock country, in the vicinity of two national parks, the Green River, and Dinosaur National Monument. The auction was announced on election day in 2008, which many believe was a calculated effort to keep it quiet.

Since Obama came into office, the sale of the 77 parcels has been placed on hold by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. According to Salazar, the administration "will take a fresh look at these 77 parcels and at the adequacy of the environmental review and analysis that led to their being offered for oil and gas development."

Meanwhile, DeChristopher faces the possibility of up to 10 years in jail and a $500,000 fine if convicted. The problem with DeChristopher's bid is that he didn't have the money to actually purchase the parcels, he was simply trying to block them from being sold for oil and gas development. "This case is about facts and the law, not political positions," said Brett Tolman, U.S. Attorney for Utah. "There are ways to express viewpoints and to press for change without violating the law."

I think Tim DeChristopher is brave. I think he did the right thing. I agree with Mr. Tolman that there are ways to press for change without violating the law. It is possible to press for change, but is it really possible to effect change without doing something drastic? I have my doubts. But what do you think?

A LOW CARB(ON) DIET

2009-03-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

Did you know that your diet can have an even larger effect on the environment than it does on your waistline? The UN has asked everyone to add one meatless day per week to their routine, due to the fact that raising domestic animals for food is responsible for 1/3 of global greenhouse emissions. Check out eatlowcarbon.org to calculate the effect of your diet on the environment.

During the last few months, my husband and I have gradually added more vegetarian meals to our diet. We now enjoy at least three vegetarian meals per week on average. We feel healthier and we eat well. We aren't totally vegetarian yet, but I can see us getting there eventually. I often order vegan meals when we eat out. Tofu can be very tasty when it is prepared well. All this coming from a girl who was raised on a typical American diet where meat was always the main course.

Aside from reducing your meat intake, it is also a good idea to avoid processed foods as much as possible. Try brown rice instead of white, stick to whole wheat breads and prepare meals at home using fresh ingredients. This is especially true if you don't like to cook. Try growing a garden or frequenting your local farmer's market. Use as many fresh ingredients as possible in your meals. That is how I learned to enjoy cooking.

I encourage you to try it out. Eventually the way you look at food will change and you won't feel like you're giving anything up.

Check back soon for some great vegetarian recipes!

DON'T FORGET!

2009-03-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Tonight at 8:30 pm local time.

WANT TO BE CARBON NEUTRAL?

2009-03-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

It's not easy, in fact it's nearly impossible to be truly carbon neutral without some kind of outside help. Luckily, you now have the ability to buy your way to carbon neutrality, and it is more affordable than you might think.

That's the idea behind carbonfund.org. Check out their mission statement:

Reduce What You Can, Offset What You Can’t™

We encourage everyone to continually strive to reduce their carbon footprint through sensible energy reductions combined with cost-effective carbon offsets to eliminate their overall carbon footprint.

Carbonfund.org supports renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects globally that reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the threat of climate change. Carbonfund.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Please join us today.

Of course, it is still important to continue your efforts of recycling, reducing waste and cutting energy use, but it's nice to know that there's a way to make up the difference when we inevitably fall short.

YESTERDAY'S TECH = TODAY'S ART

2009-03-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

This incredible portrait of Bob Dylan was made from reused audio cassette tapes. Check out the artist's flickr page to see more.

CURRENT READ: GONE TOMORROW

2009-03-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

GONE TOMORROW: THE HIDDEN LIFE OF GARBAGE

by Heather Rogers

From gonetomorrow.org:

Eat a take-out meal, buy a pair of shoes, or read a newspaper, and you’re soon faced with a bewildering amount of rubbish. The United States is the planet’s number one producer of trash; each American throws out 4.5 pounds daily. How did we end up with this much waste, and where does it all go? By excavating the history of rubbish handling from the 1800s—an era of garbage-grazing urban hogs and dump-dwelling rag pickers—to the present, with its high- tech “mega-fills” operated by multi-billion-dollar garbage corporations, Rogers answers these questions with a “lively authorial voice” (New York Press), offering a potent argument for change.

Over the past 30 years, worldwide garbage output has exploded, doubling in the U.S. alone. Gone Tomorrow explains that, despite popular wisdom, this torrent of rubbish is not primarily the responsibility of the consumer. In fact, shoppers often have little choice in the wastes they generate. Consider packaging: tossed cans, bottles, boxes and wrappers now take up more than a third of all U.S. landfill space. More prolific today than ever before, packaging is garbage waiting to happen.

Gone Tomorrow also explores controversial topics like the politics of recycling and the export of trash to developing countries. Part exposé, part social commentary, Gone Tomorrow traces the connection between modern industrial production, consumer culture, and our disposable lifestyle. Read it and you’ll never think of garbage the same way again.

While much of the change needs to take place on the corporate end, here are some things we can all do to leave behind a disposable lifestyle:

1. Forget about bottled water. Buy a reusable water bottle or just use a regular glass to drink from the tap.

2. Avoid take-out and the packaging that comes with it. Eat at home more often. When you do go out, try to frequent restaurants that use real dishes instead of disposables.

3. Leave behind disposable cups, plates, silverware, etc. There's no reason to use anything except reusable flatware at home.

4. Leave your own suggestions for reducing waste in the comments!

ANOTHER LOCAL FAVORITE

2009-03-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to do a post about The Smokehouse ever since I found out that they do their best to use local ingredients.

In their own words:

"Whenever possible we get our food from local sources and do the majority of preparation ourselves. We cook it our way, season it our way, cut it our way, etc. We actually prepare the food!!! We only buy top quality ingredients (not pre-prepared products) from our vendors.
Almost everything at the Smokehouse is made from "scratch" and that is why it tastes different.
Our Pizza dough is a recipe we worked on for years and not an "off the shelf" crust.
The majority of our meat comes from Millford, Utah and is dressed in Payson. This means that it doesn't sit in a warehouse freezer for months before getting used.
We make our own BBQ sauces and dressings from scratch."

The pizza is amazing and all of their offerings are affordable. Not to mention the fact that you can feel good about buying local!

Click here for directions to the Provo and Orem locations.

Delicious!

VOTE EARTH

2009-03-15T13:46:00.000-07:00

March 28, 2009, 8:30 pm local time

World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.

NEW IN PROVO: GARDEN TOOL LIBRARY!

2009-03-13T08:14:00.000-07:00

What a great idea! Habitat for Humanity has created a garden tool library at their Habitat ReStore location (626 North Freedom Blvd). You can even borrow large tools like mowers and tillers. Click on the link below to find out more.

www.habitatuc.org

PLANTING A VEGGIE GARDEN IN UTAH?

2009-03-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

It's getting warm out there! If you live in Utah, click here to download a document that will tell you which varieties of vegetables to plant and when to plant them. It doesn't get any easier than that!

The list is provided by the Utah State Extension.

SPEAKING OF COAL...

2009-02-26T15:42:00.001-08:00

Utah gets 96% of it's energy from coal. That is why Utah State House members have adopted a resolution to urge Gov. Huntsman to pull Utah out of the Western Climate Coalition, an organization that exists "to identify, evaluate, and implement collective and cooperative ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the region, focusing on a market-based cap-and-trade system." The House members oppose the cap-and-trade system because it will raise the cost of energy in Utah.

Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, who introducted the resolution, irrelevantly stated, "I do not believe in man-caused global warming," then went on to explain that, "Renewable energy, however beneficial, will cost more money."

The fact that Rep. Noel doesn't "believe" in man-cause global warming is irrelevant. He is no scientist nor does he give credence to scientific theory and research, and he is certainly no friend to the environment. Noel has also recently opposed a water conservation bill, he has fought against the Grand Canyon Trust and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and has been fighting the federal government for a decade, trying to turn land designated as part of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument into a coal mine. Rep. Noel has effectively proved his disdain for environmental preservation.

Also, the idea that sustainable energy isn't worth it because it costs more is crazy. The switch to sustainable energy is not optional. It is something that we must do to continue to survive on this planet.

Republicans like Rep. Noel are contributing to the increasing impotence of the Republican Party. People are beginning to catch on to the fact that their ideas are outdated and that some real changes need to be made. This clip of Gov. Huntsman illustrates that fact very well:

Happily, Governor Huntsman has decided to ignore the resolution and continue his discussion with the Western Climate Coalition. Gov. Huntsman is the only Republican that I voted for in last year's election, and I am pleased to see him holding his ground. It's interesting that I know a number of Republicans who care deeply about environmental issues, it's just the legislature that hasn't caught on yet.

CLEAN COAL AIR FRESHENER!

2009-02-26T15:29:00.000-08:00

Check out this great TV spot directed by the Coen Brothers about "clean coal." While you're at it, stop in at thisisreality.org and learn more about the coal industry's contribution to global warming.

LEARN TO GARDEN LIKE A PRO!

2009-02-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

I haven't been too great about posting this winter, but now that we're a month into the new year and spring is on its way it seems appropriate to get back in the habit. This winter I took a Master Gardener course sponsored by the Utah State Extension program. Master Gardener courses are provided nationwide by extension programs in each state. It is a great way to learn about gardening and to get involved in the community. I have completed my 40 classroom hours and test, now I will need to attend several labs and volunteer 40 hours of my time.

If you're interested in participating in this program, you can find information about it at the utah state extension website: Master Gardener Program. Each county has their own program, Utah County held their classes at the Historic Courthouse and at Thanksgiving Point.

If you don't want to wait for the Master Gardener class to start up again, Thanksgiving Point is offering a number of helpful classes for gardeners: click here to find out more.

I can't wait to implement all that I've learned - I've already been planning my garden for the spring!

YES WE CAN?

2009-01-25T21:37:00.000-08:00

from grist.org
Germany looks to climate breakthrough with Obama
Posted at 8:53 AM on 21 Jan 2009

BERLIN -- Germany is looking to a breakthrough on climate protection after President Barack Obama's pledge to "roll back the specter of a warming planet", Berlin's environment minister said Wednesday.

"The United States appears to have awoken from its Sleeping Beauty slumber when it comes to climate change with the new direction indicated yesterday by the White House," Sigmar Gabriel told reporters.

"With the United States' ambitious objectives for reducing emissions, we should also reach an accord with major countries such as China, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa on an international pact on climate protection in 2009."

In his inaugural address Tuesday, Obama said the United States would "roll back the specter of a warming planet" and "restore science to its rightful place" by making a commitment to fighting global warming.

Obama's remarks were a stark departure from the stance of his predecessor, George W. Bush, whose rejection in 2001 of the landmark Kyoto Protocol almost destroyed multilateral efforts to roll back global warming.

It was only after sharp criticism for holding up the deal that the Bush team signed the "Bali Roadmap" in December 2007 during a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting that set a two-year deadline for a global agreement.

The Bush government had insisted, however, that emerging economies such as China and India make commitments to reducing greenhouse gases before Washington would make any binding agreements.

A new meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009 will attempt to complete a new UN climate treaty covering the period beyond 2012.

Meanwhile, The European Commission is estimating that the global cost of tackling climate change will reach 175 billion euros annually by 2020.

The annual figure will rise progressively to that amount, the EU's executive arm estimates in an internal report prepared for international climate change negotiations in Copenhagen.

Last month European leaders approved a climate change action plan which it hopes will become a model for the Copenhagen talks.

The European Commission has drawn up a series of proposals on the climate change/energy objectives to be shared out by other continents.

These will be discussed in Brussels next Wednesday when the global investment figure will be considered by EU commissioners and their departments among other measures.

All sectors of the global economy, including notably aviation and maritime transport, should take part in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to the commission.

source: Agence France-Presse

UN SAYS EAT LESS MEAT TO CURB GLOBAL WARMING

2008-09-07T11:20:00.001-07:00

Juliette Jowit, environment editor
The Observer, Sunday September 7 2008

People should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that would help tackle climate change, the world's leading authority on global warming has told The Observer

Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which last year earned a joint share of the Nobel Peace Prize, said that people should then go on to reduce their meat consumption even further.

His comments are the most controversial advice yet provided by the panel on how individuals can help tackle global warning.

Pachauri, who was re-elected the panel's chairman for a second six-year term last week, said diet change was important because of the huge greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental problems - including habitat destruction - associated with rearing cattle and other animals. It was relatively easy to change eating habits compared to changing means of transport, he said.

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation has estimated that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. These are generated during the production of animal feeds, for example, while ruminants, particularly cows, emit methane, which is 23 times more effective as a global warming agent than carbon dioxide. The agency has also warned that meat consumption is set to double by the middle of the century.

'In terms of immediacy of action and the feasibility of bringing about reductions in a short period of time, it clearly is the most attractive opportunity,' said Pachauri. 'Give up meat for one day [a week] initially, and decrease it from there,' said the Indian economist, who is a vegetarian.

However, he also stressed other changes in lifestyle would help to combat climate change. 'That's what I want to emphasise: we really have to bring about reductions in every sector of the economy.'

Pachauri can expect some vociferous responses from the food industry to his advice, though last night he was given unexpected support by Masterchef presenter and restaurateur John Torode, who is about to publish a new book, John Torode's Beef. 'I have a little bit and enjoy it,' said Torode. 'Too much for any person becomes gluttony. But there's a bigger issue here: where [the meat] comes from. If we all bought British and stopped buying imported food we'd save a huge amount of carbon emissions.'

Tomorrow, Pachauri will speak at an event hosted by animal welfare group Compassion in World Farming, which has calculated that if the average UK household halved meat consumption that would cut emissions more than if car use was cut in half.

The group has called for governments to lead campaigns to reduce meat consumption by 60 per cent by 2020. Campaigners have also pointed out the health benefits of eating less meat. The average person in the UK eats 50g of protein from meat a day, equivalent to a chicken breast and a lamb chop - a relatively low level for rich nations but 25-50 per cent more than World Heath Organisation guidelines.

Professor Robert Watson, the chief scientific adviser for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, who will also speak at tomorrow's event in London, said government could help educate people about the benefits of eating less meat, but it should not 'regulate'. 'Eating less meat would help, there's no question about that, but there are other things,' Watson said.

However, Chris Lamb, head of marketing for pig industry group BPEX, said the meat industry had been unfairly targeted and was working hard to find out which activities had the biggest environmental impact and reduce those. Some ideas were contradictory, he said - for example, one solution to emissions from livestock was to keep them indoors, but this would damage animal welfare. 'Climate change is a very young science and our view is there are a lot of simplistic solutions being proposed,' he said.

Last year a major report into the environmental impact of meat eating by the Food Climate Research Network at Surrey University claimed livestock generated 8 per cent of UK emissions - but eating some meat was good for the planet because some habitats benefited from grazing. It also said vegetarian diets that included lots of milk, butter and cheese would probably not noticeably reduce emissions because dairy cows are a major source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas released through flatulence.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2008

EARTH'S GOT A CASE OF THE HUMANS

2008-07-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

I came across this video on my friend Torben's blog. I think it's awesome, so here it is:

PAPER OR PLASTIC?

2008-07-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, Andrew and I purchased some reusable grocery bags. It took us a few weeks to get into the habit of using them, but it's become automatic over time. We don't even notice the weird looks that the baggers give us anymore :)

The last few days I have been going through our house purging everything that gets in my way. Last night I took on the cabinet under the kitchen sink. Before our reusable grocery bag days I used to save plastic bags under the sink just in case I ended up needing them for something. So I started pulling out these old plastic bags last night and piling them on my kitchen floor. I pulled and pulled... I couldn't believe how huge my stash had become! Here is a picture (which really doesn't do it justice, there had to be a couple hundred bags under there):

Needless to say, I highly recommend investing in some reusable grocery bags - even if you could care less about the environment, it's a great way to simplify your life.

I got my bags here, but I have since become aware that the Provo Farmers Market has some really stylish ones that are handmade right here in Provo.

RECYCLING IN PROVO IS EASY!

2008-07-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

Here is some info for those of you who live in or around Provo and don't know where to recycle. You have two easy and affordable options:

1. Sign up for curbside recycling with Provo City. They will bring you a fancy blue garbage can that you can put all of your recyclables in and they will pick it up every two weeks. The cost: $5/month. It's a pretty sweet deal. Orem offers the same program for $3/month.

2. This is what we do, since we rent and can't add the recycling to our garbage bill: Provo has a drop-off recycling center where you can take the following recyclables:

plastics #1 and #2
cardboard
paper
phonebooks
aluminum and tin

The recycling center is located at the compost station, which is at 1625 S. Industrial Parkway in Provo (behind East Bay). You just drive past the compost to the recycling bins just behind it. The cost: $0.

WHAT IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE ME?

2008-07-10T16:01:00.000-07:00

If everyone lived like me, it would take 2.1 earths to sustain all of us. And I'm really trying here, people. Click on the link below to find out what it would take to sustain a full earth of people just like you.

Consumer Consequences

THE MOST IMPORTANT NUMBER ON THE PLANET

2008-07-10T12:37:00.000-07:00

This is a brilliant video about global warming, made by the same people that did The Story of Stuff. Check it out, tell your friends, visit 350.org

ANOTHER REASON TO COMPOST

2008-07-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

I came across this article recently and was shocked by what I read:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/pdxgreen/2008/05/eat_your_greens_when_biodegrad.html

It turns out that even 'biodegradable' items that we throw in the trash are not going to degrade, at least not for decades or even centuries, as long as they're in a landfill. That includes food scraps, paper, and anything else that would normally degrade on its own. So what's stopping them? The problem is that landfills are deprived of oxygen, which is required to break down anything that is considered to be biodegradable.

There are commercial composting facilities available in some cities (Provo has one) where biodegradable items can be disposed of properly, however in most locations the only way to return these resources to the earth is to compost them yourself.

This will definitely make me think twice about what I choose to throw in the trash. The bright side is that these items can still be discarded through composting, which is actually a pretty simple process.

GARDEN AND COMPOST UPDATE

2008-07-08T09:49:00.000-07:00

The garden is doing great! I harvested a bunch of banana peppers last week and just today I picked 3 zucchinis and a summer squash. I might have to make some zucchini bread today.

Here is a picture of the compost bin. It's looking really good - those worms have done a great job. It doesn't smell like rotten food anymore, it just smells like dirt. Pretty amazing.

THE TRICKLE EFFECT

2008-06-29T11:42:00.001-07:00

I was doing the dishes the other day and I thought this looked so cool that I had to take a picture. I love the way these colors complement each other.
We don't have a dishwasher, so I handwash our dishes. I recently discovered that I had changed a bad habit of mine without even trying. The effect of learning about sustainability and environmental issues seems to have trickled into areas of my life that I hadn't made a conscious effort to change yet. I used to let the water run the whole time I was doing the dishes. A couple of weeks ago I found myself filling the sink about a quarter of the way with soapy water and using that water to wash the dishes instead of letting the water run the whole time. It wasn't a conscious decision, it just kind of happened. So half the battle is over, now I just have to make sure I don't slip back into my old habits.

BANANA PEPPER MANIA!

2008-06-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

Don't they look pretty?

This being my first garden, I am a bit concerned about knowing when certain veggies are ripe. Anyone know how to tell when a banana pepper is ripe? I've been told you want to pick them before they turn red, but how do you know when they're yellow enough? I'm also looking for a good pickling recipe.

FOOD, NOT LAWNS

2008-06-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here's an excerpt from the article "Don't be Wasted on Grass! Lawns to Gardens!"
by Heather Coburn, excerpted from Food Not Lawns (Chelsea Green 2005).

French aristocrats popularized the idea of the green grassy lawn in the eighteenth century, when they planted the agricultural fields around their estates to grass, to send the message that they had more land than they needed and could therefore afford to waste some. Meanwhile, French peasants starved for lack of available ground, and the resulting frustration might have had something to do with the French Revolution in 1789.

Today, 58 million Americans spend approximately $30 billion every year to maintain over 23 million acres of lawn. That’s an average of over a third of an acre and $517 each. The same size plot of land could still have a small lawn for recreation, plus produce all of the vegetables needed to feed a family of six. The lawns in the United States consume around 270 billion gallons of water a week—enough to water 81 million acres of organic vegetables, all summer long.

Click here to read the full article.

These people are doing it - check out Path to Freedom.

Forget lawns - gardens taste better!

BACKYARD GARDENING UPDATE

2008-06-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

The basil is going crazy, I actually used some fresh basil and oregano in the spaghetti that I made yesterday.

These are the tomato plants, they have some tiny green tomatoes growing on them.

Our zucchini plants are huge! And there are 2 or 3 baby zucchinis growing.

This little guy is going to be a red bell pepper someday:

SOMEBODY'S TRASH = MY TREASURE

2008-06-21T13:21:00.001-07:00

Another way to foster sustainability is to buy other people's used stuff instead of buying it new. I found this amazing set of glasses at a garage sale this weekend - the set of six was only $2!

This is a set of 8 that I found at Deseret Industries last year - another place to make other people's trash your own. :) I love this set because it has an awesome carrier and looks great in my retro kitchen.

VERTICAL FARMING - THIS GUY IS A GENIUS!

2008-06-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

Click on this link to watch a video about Dickson Despommier's Vertical Farming design:

Discovery: Urban Farms Grow Up

Or visit the project's website at verticalfarm.com

This may save our lives one day.

A BRIGHT IDEA

2008-06-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

We've started replacing our burnt out light bulbs with CFLs. These compact fluorescent light bulbs use less energy than the old school kind we were using before, plus they will last up to 9 years - can you imagine not changing a light bulb for nine years? Pretty sweet. They cost a little more than a regular light bulb, but make up for it in energy savings and longevity.

Pizzeria Seven Twelve!

2008-06-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a new eatery in Orem that is worthy of our support: Pizzeria Seven Twelve. These guys are committed to sustainability and are proving it by using local ingredients to make their delicious food (and I mean delicious!). The owners of this hip little place used to be pastry chefs at Sundance. Their pizzas and salads are amazing - I've never had a pizza with fresher tasting tomato sauce! Click on the link above to check out their menu - they do serve other things other than pizza. Most of their ingredients are obtained from local farms and they make their own ricotta cheese and sausage.

Pizzeria Seven Twelve is located at 320 S State St 185 , Orem Ut 84058.

The Story of Stuff

2008-06-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

This is just a preview of this amazing video. Visit The Story of Stuff website for the full 20-minutes.

Utah Food Co-op

2008-06-03T22:41:00.000-07:00

I signed up for the food co-op and picked up my first share last week. Unsure of what to expect going into it, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the whole experience. This is how it works:

First you mail or fax in your order form, which can be found here:

Order Form

As you will see, you really get a lot for your money.

Next, you wait until the end of the month and then go to pick up your food. Make sure you bring your own bags or box to carry your load. I expected to see more people at the pick up location in Provo, it seems that not a whole lot of people have caught on to this phenomenon just yet.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the meat that you purchase through the co-op comes from a Salt Lake City butcher and the bread from a Salt Lake baker. Most of the produce was not local, however on the June order form there is a spot where you can order locally grown organic produce.

Besides the price, one of the best things about the co-op is the sense of community that I felt when I went to pick up my food. As I waited in line, I struck up conversations with some of the people around me, and even learned the proper way to prepare an artichoke. It really hit me that the key element in a sustainable community is the community itself! Meeting new people and finding new ways to be involved in the community are vital to the whole process.

Welcome to my worm bin!

2008-05-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

After doing some research and talking to some people, I decided the best composting option for me is a worm bin. I chose the worm bin because I have a limited amount of yard space at our apartment and I can keep the worm bin in our garage since it doesn't need to be in the sun.
This is how I did it - I already happened to have a large, shallow tupperware bin sitting unused in my garage. I poked air holes in the bin all around the sides - about 2/3 of the way from the bottom of the bin. Next, I put a layer of cedar chips on the bottom, then a layer of vegetable scraps, as well as some paper towel and cardboard bits. I followed that with another layer of wood chips and some old potting soil. I will probably add some more scraps and wood chips before my worms get here (I had to order them online as I couldn't find a place in Provo that sells live red wrigglers.)
Also, I have only begun to fill up one half (one side) of the bin because once the worms do their job on that side, I will be able to fill up the other half and they should all move over into the new scraps. That way I can keep my worms in the bin when I remove the compost.
I found out once I was finished that it is also a good idea to put some bedding at the bottom of your bin, like damp newsprint or paper towel. I will have to try that next time.

I can't wait to see this process in action! I had never realized before how many things we throw into a landfill that we could return back to nature right in our own backyard. Here is an abbreviated list of things that can be composted (p.s. it works best if items are cut into small pieces):

paper towel
cardboard
rags that are 100% cotton
hair
eggshells
vegetable scraps or rotten veggies
newspaper
yard clippings
leaves
tea bags

...and the list goes on!

Backyard Gardening

2008-05-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

I planted my garden last weekend. This is my first time maintaining my own garden, so we'll see how it goes. I started some seeds earlier this spring, but they didn't turn out so well. What I ended up doing is going to a local nursery and buying some plants. I spent about 20 bucks and got everything that I could have wanted for my garden:
red peppers (6 plants)
green peppers (6 plants)
gold peppers (6 plants)
cherry tomatoes (6 plants)
hot peppers (1 plant)
cucumbers (1 plant)
zucchini (6 plants)
summer squash (1 plant)
strawberries (1 plant)
and a bunch of herbs: chives, oregano, basil, garlic,etc.
Oh, and I'm taking a chance on a couple of the little pear tomato sprouts that came up from seed. They are still tiny but I believe in them.
I have been studying a lot about caring for the garden in a way that doesn't harm the environment or use too much water. Here are some great websites that I found if you're interested:

Conserving Water in the Vegetable Garden

Efficient Water Use in the Vegetable Garden

Garden Simply

Next, I'm going to try my hand at composting!