Renewable Round-Up Notes

Here are the materials I passed out at my speech at the Renewable Round-up in Fredericksburg:

Here are some tips compiled by our Fearless Forager, Elizabeth, on eating for sustainability:
10 Ways to Eat for Sustainability


1. REAL
• Eat real food, mostly plants, with a small amount of meat as an accent rather than the main ingredient (Michael Pollan)
• Cheap processed food doesn’t reflect its true cost. Plan ahead to avoid them
2. VALUE
• Re-define the way food is valued and fit into the household economy
• Spend money on wholesome foods, not supplements
3. FLEXIBILTY
• Cook from ingredients rather than recipes (See recipe section of Greenling.com)
• Read blogs and the internet for ideas to use what you have and what’s in season
4. EDUCATION
• Ask questions about where your food comes from, everywhere you eat
• Know the farmer who produced it or have a surrogate (like Greenling) to know the farmer for you
5. SEASONALITY
• Learn to stop thinking of out-of-season items as everyday necessities or staples
• Learn seasons ahead of time so you can plan for their bounty
6. PRESERVE
• Learn to preserve and save leftovers to be incorporated into other dishes/meals to eliminate waste
• Can or freeze fruits and vegetables in season. Make your own stock and sauces
7. VARIETY
• The more diverse your diet is, the healthier and happier you will be
• Try new things rather than relying on a few standard ingredients
8. FLAVOR
• Appreciate food for flavor and slow down to enjoy it
• Stop judging produce by its shape, size, and color (some delicious local produce wouldn't win a beauty contest)
9. INNOVATE
• Learn to cook, appreciate, and enjoy lesser-known foods that are in season
• Don’t be afraid to make stuff up! If it tastes good, you just discovered a new recipe.
10. TOGETHER
• Cook and eat with friends and family. We all know that food can sometimes be a great pleasure…why shouldn’t it always?
• Join discussion groups and list-serves to collaborate on ideas

Here are some links to stories I mentioned during my speech:

Sustainability
Cuba’s advanced food infrastructure - http://bss.sfsu.edu/raquelrp/pub/2000_aug_pub.html
Vancouver, BC model of sustainability - http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/sustainability/index.htm
California building solar fields -
http://greenwombat.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/08/14/california-game-changing-solar-deal/
Entire Oregon community off the grid -
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18744225/
Eco-rig to provide power & food to Japan -
http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/03/eco-rigs-will-provide-power-and-food-to-japan/#more-1002
Development of kerosene-based aviation fuel derived from algae -
http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/03/researchers-creating-algae-aviation-fuel/#more-1001
Thin-film Solar energy information -
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/02/thinfilm-solar-clobbering-oil.php
Solar cells produced in pizza oven -
http://www.smh.com.au/news/energy-smart/thinking-outside-the-square-finds-light-in-oven/2008/08/19/1218911717526.html
No remaining scientific body of national or international standing is known to reject the basic findings of human influence on climate change (the debate is over) –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_opinion_on_climate_change

Sustainable Agriculture
USDA info on the Economics of food -
http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/
Brazil’s Food Security Program
http://www.panna.org/files/Belo_Horizonte.pdf
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs

Benefits of Organics
USDA National Organic Program –
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop
Federal Organic Research funding increased in Farm Bill –
http://ofrf.org/pressroom/releases/080527_farm-bill-victories.html
Organic Farm Research Foundation –
http://ofrf.org
Organic Research Center news links –
http://www.organic-center.org/science.environment.php - Everything environment
http://www.organic-center.org/science.pest.php - Pesticide news & research
Kids affected the most by pesticides –
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/349263_pesticide30.html
Environmental Working Group produce study (origin of “The Dirty Dozen”) –
http://www.foodnews.org/methodology.php
Study linking pesticides to autism –
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2007/10168/10168.pdf
Organic farming builds soil health –
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul07/soil0707.htm?pf=1
Organic farming produces equivalent crop yields with less energy & no pesticides –
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/July05/organic.farm.vs.other.ssl.html
Organic milk and meat enhance breast milk nutrition –
http://www.organic-center.org/science.hot.php?action=view&report_id=101
Organic fruits & vegetables have higher nutrition –
http://organic-center.org/reportfiles/OPma08CoverStory2.pdf
http://www.springerlink.com/content/p45041417m45185q/
http://www.ioia.net/images/pdf/orgvalue.pdf
http://www.mindfully.org/Farm/2007/Tomatoes-Organic-Flavonoids23jun07.htm
http://www.misa.umn.edu/vd/bourn.pdf
http://www.ehponline.org/members/2005/8418/8418.pdf
http://www.eap.mcgill.ca/Publications/EAP38.htm
Myers, A. Organic Futures. 2005
Schuphan, W., “Nutritional Value of Crops as Influenced by Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer Treatments: Results of 12 Years’ Experiments with Vegetables (1960-1972)” – Qualitas Pantarum – Plant Foods for Human Nutrition
Meadows, Donella. “Our Food, Our Future.” – Organic Gardening, September/October 2000

Benefits of Local
Locavore the word of the year –
http://blog.oup.com/2007/11/locavore/
Oil consumption of conventional agriculture –
Kinsolver, B. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. Harper. 2007.
1800 Food-mile average for produce in store –
http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/buylocal/
Organic food can still be junk when processed –
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/tdoct2007pg44.shtml
Benefits of grass-fed meat –
http://www.eatwild.com/articles/whygrassfed.html
Success of urban farms –
http://www.newfarm.org/features/1104/urban_farm/
Organic meat regulations still have loopholes – know your producer –
http://www.michaelpollan.com/article.php?id=78
Some Benefits and Drawbacks of Local Food Systems –
http://www.sustainweb.org/pdf/afn_m1_p2.pdf

How to Eat and Shop Local and Organic
People spending more money on wholesome food –
http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/February08/Features/CovergingPatterns.htm
Cheap food isn’t really cheap –
http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/cheapfood012304.cfm
Missouri parents push for organic school lunches –
http://missouriorganics.blogspot.com/2008/05/parents-push-for-organic-school-lunches.html
Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch Project –
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/07/locally_grown_f_1.php
Texas Farm to School Program –
http://www.farmtoschool.org/state-home.php?id=20
Greenling Organic Delivery –
http://www.greenling.com
LocalHarvest –
http://www.localharvest.org
AcresUSA –
http://www.acresusa.com
Edible Austin –
http://www.edibleaustin.com