So smile more! Apparently, happiness really does rub off - a person's happiness depends on the happiness of others with whom they are connected.
One really cool example - a friend who becomes happy and lives within a mile increases your likelihood of happiness by 25%.
Make happy friends and be happy! Especially in the challenging times we're facing now. Happiness is more important than ever.
http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/12/04/happiness.infectious
Friday, December 26, 2008
One Farmer's Field of Dreams
Remember that movie? With Kevin Costner? Side note, even his insanely over-budget, complete flop of a production, Waterworld eventually broke even after about 10 years of DVD sales. So, seems like movies is a pretty good business.
Anyway, thanks Cheryl for sending this article along. What a great story. Farmer opens up his farm at the end of the harvest season for people to come pick food for free. He was done with his CSA and figured, why not give a little back. 40,000 people showed up!! Amazing:
http://peoplepoweredmachines.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/farmers-donate-their-remaining-harvest-40000-show-up/
Anyway, thanks Cheryl for sending this article along. What a great story. Farmer opens up his farm at the end of the harvest season for people to come pick food for free. He was done with his CSA and figured, why not give a little back. 40,000 people showed up!! Amazing:
http://peoplepoweredmachines.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/farmers-donate-their-remaining-harvest-40000-show-up/
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Closing the loop on CFLs
So.....I'm not sure how to say this....but I have 3 ziplock bags with broken CFLs in a closet that I have had no idea what to do with...until now! Our local trash company (think they're pretty big, not just in Austin) has a really cool website with some cool recycling products - one of them being a recycling kit for CFLs. Yay!
Every time I've broken one I've freaked out because of the Mercury in them (http://budurl.com/cfls). I open all the windows, try to leave the room for a while. I'm not sure it does much good since I think most of the exposure is pretty immediate, but it at least keeps it from lingering.
They say the best thing to do is to put all of the pieces in a ziplock to keep them from continuing to off-gas mercury. So I have done that like a good boy...but then what. I couldn't throw them away because the bag will get torn pretty easily somewhere along the way and the mercury will be let out again. Certainly don't want it to end up in a landfill where the mercury eventually finds its way back into our drinking water. So they have lived in my closet. Waiting for news on their fate. And with out further adeiu:
http://budurl.com/wmgreen
If that ever stops working:
https://www.thinkgreenfromhome.com/ThinkGreenFromHome.cfm
Every time I've broken one I've freaked out because of the Mercury in them (http://budurl.com/cfls). I open all the windows, try to leave the room for a while. I'm not sure it does much good since I think most of the exposure is pretty immediate, but it at least keeps it from lingering.
They say the best thing to do is to put all of the pieces in a ziplock to keep them from continuing to off-gas mercury. So I have done that like a good boy...but then what. I couldn't throw them away because the bag will get torn pretty easily somewhere along the way and the mercury will be let out again. Certainly don't want it to end up in a landfill where the mercury eventually finds its way back into our drinking water. So they have lived in my closet. Waiting for news on their fate. And with out further adeiu:
http://budurl.com/wmgreen
If that ever stops working:
https://www.thinkgreenfromhome.com/ThinkGreenFromHome.cfm
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Alternative MBA program
For anyone is not familiar with Seth Godin, he's a best-selling author of 10 books with his latest being Tribes and I think is really a brilliant marketing thought-leader. He's offering an alternative MBA program where you go hang out with him for 6 months starting in January. Sounds like an amazing opportunity to me and I wish I was in a position to apply. Applications are due December 14th:
http://budurl.com/godinMBA
http://budurl.com/godinMBA
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Rodale Institute veteran to lead USDA NOSB
This is great news for the Organic agriculture industry. The Rodale Institute is often called the founding force behind Organics. It has been around for decades and completed the first research on the advantages of Organic agriculture.
Putting such an industry veteran and true believer in Organics atop the NOSB (National Organic Standards Board) ensures strong regulations for the Organic industry. I'm very excited about this news:
http://budurl.com/nosb
Putting such an industry veteran and true believer in Organics atop the NOSB (National Organic Standards Board) ensures strong regulations for the Organic industry. I'm very excited about this news:
http://budurl.com/nosb
Friday, November 28, 2008
Dumb eco-questions you were afraid to ask
Some of them I disagree with....on the hybrid batteries vs gas car question every study assumes the hybrid batteries need to be replace with an average of 3-4 years. If you check out my earlier post on hybrids vs hummers, I mention the Toyota site which claims they have yet to replace a single hybrid battery for normal wear & tear (cause of cited battery replacement) even though they've been selling hybrids since 2000.
But many of these other questions are great:
http://budurl.com/ecoquestions
But many of these other questions are great:
http://budurl.com/ecoquestions
Green Strategies Spur Rebirth of American Cities
It really is a beautiful thing. Cities don't have to be the dirty, polluted, urban cesspools that they occasionally are made out to be.
One of my favorite quotes from the article:
“Environmental policy has emerged as a central organizing principle of economic growth at the metropolitan level in America,”
Makes my heart sing -
http://budurl.com/green1
One of my favorite quotes from the article:
“Environmental policy has emerged as a central organizing principle of economic growth at the metropolitan level in America,”
Makes my heart sing -
http://budurl.com/green1
Monday, November 10, 2008
Honor your elders
I was reminded of this last weekend during a trip to visit my grandparents. My grandfather has been declining in health for some time. He's a scrappy old guy, fighting through several heart problems (multiple bypasses), 2 different cancers, and a slew of other problems. He's 93 and has lived an incredible life.
We made a trip out to the piney woods of East Texas (Sabine county) on a beautiful Sunday morning. He has been an active tree farmer for over 30 years and as a kid I have many, many memories of trips out to the woods. He really enjoyed this trip since he has not been very mobile lately. He also has macular degeneration, leaving him almost completely blind and he's mostly deaf.
As I reflected on everything I learned from him and his life a calm came over me. It was a sad to see his body failing him but it was a stark reminder of the circle of life, which is a beautiful thing. It helped me realize how much I owe to my family and reminded me to always make time for them. And honoring those that came before me instills a humility and humbleness that I'm not sure could come from anywhere else.
I'm often obsessed with productivity, squeezing value out of every last second of the day. And yet, just spending time with my grandfather, not really doing anything, seemed like a priceless activity. Possibly it was even more valuable for him.
We made a trip out to the piney woods of East Texas (Sabine county) on a beautiful Sunday morning. He has been an active tree farmer for over 30 years and as a kid I have many, many memories of trips out to the woods. He really enjoyed this trip since he has not been very mobile lately. He also has macular degeneration, leaving him almost completely blind and he's mostly deaf.
As I reflected on everything I learned from him and his life a calm came over me. It was a sad to see his body failing him but it was a stark reminder of the circle of life, which is a beautiful thing. It helped me realize how much I owe to my family and reminded me to always make time for them. And honoring those that came before me instills a humility and humbleness that I'm not sure could come from anywhere else.
I'm often obsessed with productivity, squeezing value out of every last second of the day. And yet, just spending time with my grandfather, not really doing anything, seemed like a priceless activity. Possibly it was even more valuable for him.
Monday, October 27, 2008
FTC - Leave Whole Foods alone
For those that don't know, last year the FTC tried to stop the merger of WF and Wild Oats citing anti-trust rules. It was ridiculous. Natural Food stores are such a small part of grocery it's amazing they even took notice. Well, the courts wouldn't cooperate and the merger went through.
Now, a year later, merger almost done, an appeals court reversed the decision and the case has been reopened. John Stossel did a great story on it recently:
http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnStossel/2008/10/01/regulator_bullies
Yes, Whole Foods is big if you compare it to only Natural Food stores. But that's not their only competition. All grocers, including Wal-Mart are carrying natural and Organic foods. Whole Foods is much more worried about the big-box stores than other Natural Food stores. The best way for them to compete is to consolidate Natural Food stores to gain more size and purchasing power.
Now, on a fundamental level, any of this large-scale growth seems to complicate the all-important mission of supporting Local food. Local food, from small farmers, hardly fits into mega-distribution systems. A different system needs to be created to handle and support them. It's a very difficult proposition. Here at Greenling we think we have part of the answer. To best support small, local farms we as consumers cannot just expect them to grow their food and put it on a shelf in the hopes that we buy it. There are all sorts of problems with this I won't get into. We, as consumers, need to commit to these farms and trust them. Well over 1000 people do that through Greenling's Local Box.
Working directly with farmers and directly with consumers shortens the supply chain and allows us to better support the farms while bringing you fresher, healthier Local food.
Now, a year later, merger almost done, an appeals court reversed the decision and the case has been reopened. John Stossel did a great story on it recently:
http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnStossel/2008/10/01/regulator_bullies
Yes, Whole Foods is big if you compare it to only Natural Food stores. But that's not their only competition. All grocers, including Wal-Mart are carrying natural and Organic foods. Whole Foods is much more worried about the big-box stores than other Natural Food stores. The best way for them to compete is to consolidate Natural Food stores to gain more size and purchasing power.
Now, on a fundamental level, any of this large-scale growth seems to complicate the all-important mission of supporting Local food. Local food, from small farmers, hardly fits into mega-distribution systems. A different system needs to be created to handle and support them. It's a very difficult proposition. Here at Greenling we think we have part of the answer. To best support small, local farms we as consumers cannot just expect them to grow their food and put it on a shelf in the hopes that we buy it. There are all sorts of problems with this I won't get into. We, as consumers, need to commit to these farms and trust them. Well over 1000 people do that through Greenling's Local Box.
Working directly with farmers and directly with consumers shortens the supply chain and allows us to better support the farms while bringing you fresher, healthier Local food.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Twitterific
Ok, so I finally jumped on the Twitter bandwagon and have already learned more in a day than I usually do in a week. I'm really digging all the awesome links people post. And of course it makes me want to share cool links I find. Anyways, you can follow me @masonarnold, but the most important feed to follow is @greenling_com. We're trying to figure out if we created @greenling and just never finished setting it up or if someone else took it...I'll let you know.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Don't sacrifice your health!
Remember that cutting out Local and Organic, nutritious food is going to cost you more in the long-run. These are uncertain times for a lot of people. But eating well should always be a priority. Do you take supplements? Vitamins? If you eat Local, Organic food, grass-fed meats as accents to vegetables as main courses you won't need vitamins or supplements! You'll get your vitamins and minerals from your food.
So cut out restaurant food or movies if you have to, but eat your vegetables! Thanks.
So cut out restaurant food or movies if you have to, but eat your vegetables! Thanks.
Voted Best of Austin AGAIN!
Best Local Food Company!
Austin Chronicle Reader's Poll
Thanks to everyone who voted for us! 2nd year in a row. We are so honored with this award again. The last company to win this award was Whole Foods....well, Mr. Mackey, maybe we should talk. I got some ideas on how you can support local producers better.
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
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
Thursday, October 02, 2008
VP Debate
This is not leaning in either direction...a pretty funny fact check on their claims during the debate:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/bal-facts1002,0,6731961.story
Remember to register to vote by Monday!
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/bal-facts1002,0,6731961.story
Remember to register to vote by Monday!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Farmers protected against Monsanto
This is awesome:
Some Farmers Now Protected Against Monsanto Lawsuits
farmerFarmers with crops that become contaminated by patented genetically engineered (GE) seeds or pollen have been the target of harassing lawsuits brought by biotech patent holders, especially Monsanto.
But a landmark piece of legislation protecting California's farmers from crippling lawsuits has passed through both legislative houses.
AB 541 enacts protections against lawsuits brought against California farmers who have not been able to prevent the inevitable drift of GE pollen or seed onto their land. The bill also establishes a mandatory crop sampling protocol to prevent biotech companies investigating alleged violations from sampling crops without the explicit permission of the farmers who own the land.
Sources:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_14436.cfm
Some Farmers Now Protected Against Monsanto Lawsuits
farmerFarmers with crops that become contaminated by patented genetically engineered (GE) seeds or pollen have been the target of harassing lawsuits brought by biotech patent holders, especially Monsanto.
But a landmark piece of legislation protecting California's farmers from crippling lawsuits has passed through both legislative houses.
AB 541 enacts protections against lawsuits brought against California farmers who have not been able to prevent the inevitable drift of GE pollen or seed onto their land. The bill also establishes a mandatory crop sampling protocol to prevent biotech companies investigating alleged violations from sampling crops without the explicit permission of the farmers who own the land.
Sources:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_14436.cfm
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
9th Annual Renewable Round up This Weekend
http://theroundup.org/index.php
I will be delivering the Opening Keynote address on How Organic & Local Food fit into overall Sustainability. It will be an absolutely riveting speech that will leave you clamoring to change the world......well, that might be an exaggeration, but you won't know unless you come.
I'm speaking at 5pm on Friday.
I will be delivering the Opening Keynote address on How Organic & Local Food fit into overall Sustainability. It will be an absolutely riveting speech that will leave you clamoring to change the world......well, that might be an exaggeration, but you won't know unless you come.
I'm speaking at 5pm on Friday.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Honey Bees & CCD - Colony Collapse Disorder
There has been a lot of press around this issue but not many answers. To us faithful Organics the reasons are intuitive, but incredibly difficult to prove. Find a (leftist) summary here:
http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/bees.asp?gclid=COGGv6qn45UCFQuHGgod8y5yfA
I was at a talk by Malcolm Beck (one of the founders of Organics in Texas) a few weeks ago and he put up a slide (he always uses the old-fashioned slides) of something that looked like a cross between a bee and a fly. He had a name for it too, but I forget. He acknowledges that everyone is worried about the honey bee and what colony collapse was going to do to our agriculture...then he goes "But where did these bees come from?" He reminded us that honey bees were imported from Europe less than 200 years ago. Who pollinated the flowers before they came along? Well, these fly/bee things and other insects. How profound!
While I share the world's concern for our cute and friendly pollinators, I find it somewhat comforting that even if they disappeared, the NATIVE pollinators would then have a fighting chance at their own proliferation. Because it's all based on nectar. They pollinate, yes, but what they're really after is food for their hive. And so are thousands of other species of insects.
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On a related note - eating local honey helps reduce or eliminate allergies (in case you didn't already know). For Austin, the best honey is Round Rock honey, which has the most diverse pollen profile of any of the local honeys.
http://www.nrdc.org/wildlife/animals/bees.asp?gclid=COGGv6qn45UCFQuHGgod8y5yfA
I was at a talk by Malcolm Beck (one of the founders of Organics in Texas) a few weeks ago and he put up a slide (he always uses the old-fashioned slides) of something that looked like a cross between a bee and a fly. He had a name for it too, but I forget. He acknowledges that everyone is worried about the honey bee and what colony collapse was going to do to our agriculture...then he goes "But where did these bees come from?" He reminded us that honey bees were imported from Europe less than 200 years ago. Who pollinated the flowers before they came along? Well, these fly/bee things and other insects. How profound!
While I share the world's concern for our cute and friendly pollinators, I find it somewhat comforting that even if they disappeared, the NATIVE pollinators would then have a fighting chance at their own proliferation. Because it's all based on nectar. They pollinate, yes, but what they're really after is food for their hive. And so are thousands of other species of insects.
---------
On a related note - eating local honey helps reduce or eliminate allergies (in case you didn't already know). For Austin, the best honey is Round Rock honey, which has the most diverse pollen profile of any of the local honeys.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Greenling listed in Women's Health Magazine
actually it's womenshealthmag.com. But, I think they got their entire list from our site. I had someone here research all the delivery companies in the nation and we put them on our site so people who found us outside of Texas could still use us as a resource to find one near them......their list looks a little too familiar. Aren't they supposed to ask for it? At least reference us? Not mad, just wondering. In fact, i'm flattered and am very happy that the list is getting out there. Everyone deserves access to Local and Organic goodness and I hope one day everyone can get it:
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/lose-weight-faster-0?page=4
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/lose-weight-faster-0?page=4
Uservoice launched - You tell us how to be better!!
This is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time. Gustin, our prodigal developer passed this on to me. If anyone has studied Emergence at all, this makes perfect sense. It does to me. Study after study shows the wisdom of crowds far exceeds the wisdom of individuals. Here's your chance to tell us how to get better and the best part is that the site helps figure out which ideas are best. Vote for your favorite idea, add your own, or just add product suggestions:
http://greenling.uservoice.com/pages/general
http://greenling.uservoice.com/pages/general
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Ah, the little things
I was having lunch yesterday with Corey from vcfo at el Meson on Burleson (apparently they're actually really famous for their mole sauces, but I can never get past the cochitin pibil). they make tortillas fresh daily and everything there rocks.
Anyways, we're ordering food and Corey asks for a coke. 'you want Mexican Coke or regular?' she says, not speaking a lot of english. What's the difference he asks and she replies in a cute, thick accent 'high fructose corn syrup.' Are you kidding? Here we are in a tiny Mexican restaurant on the southeast side of town in the middle of industrial-Austin and she knows the difference between good ole cane sugar and HFCS.
I was so impressed.
Anyways, we're ordering food and Corey asks for a coke. 'you want Mexican Coke or regular?' she says, not speaking a lot of english. What's the difference he asks and she replies in a cute, thick accent 'high fructose corn syrup.' Are you kidding? Here we are in a tiny Mexican restaurant on the southeast side of town in the middle of industrial-Austin and she knows the difference between good ole cane sugar and HFCS.
I was so impressed.
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