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March 20th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Monday is World Water Day, an international observance organized by the United Nations. This year’s theme is Clean Water for a Healthy World.
Sadly, many of us take water for granted. We cannot explain how the water coming out of our faucets makes its way into our homes. We look at local rivers and assume they’ll always look the same.
Water is often incorrectly perceived as an infinite resource. By 2015, however, many U.S. states may face water shortages and a consequent loss of ecosystems that can affect daily life.
Conservation is critical, as we depend on water for drinking, watering crops, maintaining the oceans’ fish supply, lighting our homes and transportation. Organizations like The Nature Conservancy sponsor hundreds of river and lake projects throughout the United States, working to ensure our drinking water is clean and safe.
This year, the Conservancy has teamed with Crystal Light to support five local river and lake projects:
- Colorado River. Touching seven states, the river has been affected by rapid population growth in the west.
- Great Lakes Basin. Holding 20% of the fresh surface water on Earth, the Great Lakes’ resources are in trouble—a result of climate change, water development and use.
- Meramec River. Part of the Mississippi River, the Meramec supplies drinking water to more than 15 million people and serves as a habitat for thousands of fish, birds and other wildlife. Over time, it has been threatened by excessive use and is one of the Conservancy’s highest priorities.
- Potomac River. The Potomac provides drinking water to 4.3 million people in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Rapid population growth and water management systems in several communities have impacted it.
- Southern rivers. Southern rivers and streams, such as the Pascagoula River in Mississippi and the Flint River in Georgia, span all 15 southern states. Recent droughts and increasing water demands have threatened these important bodies of water.
The Conservancy is seeking volunteers to help with these and other projects. For more information, click here.
For Your Organic Bookshelf: Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What to Do About It
Photo courtesy of ARA
Tags: environment, events, volunteerism, water crisis, World Water Day
Posted in The Environment | 2 Comments »
March 18th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
British celebrity chef and bestselling author Jamie Oliver will host a new ABC series, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, with a sneak preview airing 10:01 p.m. Sunday (ET).
“The time is right for people to rediscover the sense of pride, satisfaction and fun you can get from cooking for the people you love,” says Oliver, author of numerous cookbooks, including Jamie’s Dinners: The Essential Family Cookbook and Jamie’s Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Cook Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals.
“I want to prove that turning around the epidemic of obesity and bad health doesn’t have to be boring or dull in the slightest,” he adds.
The six-episode show is loosely based on Oliver’s U.K. series Jamie’s Ministry of Food and Jamie’s School Dinners. The first episode will repeat 8 p.m. Friday, March 26, followed by the second episode in its regular time period (9 p.m. Fridays).
In the first episode, Oliver heads to Huntington, WV—which has been called the unhealthiest city in America—to launch a new cooking initiative that aims to take the city off that list. Nearly half of Huntington’s adults are considered obese, and the incidence of heart disease and diabetes leads the nation.
In the second episode, Oliver attempts to transform Huntington’s school lunch program.
Photo: Holly Farrell/ABC
Tags: events, Health, Jamie Oliver, obesity, TV
Posted in Health | 1 Comment »
March 16th, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Help raise money to combat the worldwide water crisis by signing up for the Dow Live Earth Run for Water, a series of 6K runs/walks to be held April 18 in nearly 100 cities across 50 countries.
The distance represents how far women and children in some developing countries must walk to access clean water.
Funds will benefit Global Water Challenge, a coalition of nonprofit organizations that bring clean, safe drinking water to millions of people worldwide. Beneficiaries include innovative water reclamation projects in Haiti, Central America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
Singers Melissa Etheridge and Rob Thomas will perform at events in Los Angeles and Atlanta, respectively.
“Through the commitment of these artists, we are able to connect with a wider audience on this important issue and ultimately encourage them to participate in this movement to bring clean, safe drinking water to the nearly 1 billion people on this planet in need,” says Live Earth Founder Kevin Wall.
U.S. residents can enter a sweepstakes to win a free trip to the Los Angeles or New York event by setting up a fundraising page or making a direct donation in any amount to Global Water Challenge. On April 9, one winner will be randomly selected to receive free roundtrip airfare for two and a 2-night hotel stay in either Los Angeles or New York, based on closest proximity.
For Your Organic Bookshelf: Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water
Tags: environment, events, water crisis
Posted in The Environment | 1 Comment »
March 3rd, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
Green Zebras. Bloody Butchers. Big Boys. Polish Linguisas.
Organic gardeners will have a literal field day with these and other tomato varieties at Tomatomania, billed as the world’s largest tomato seedling sale. The event will tour select cities from March 20 to May 23.
If the tour misses your area, you may purchase several collections online—from heirlooms to paste tomatoes used in cooking—from Litchfield, CT-based White Flower Farms, which also sells organic tomato fertilizer. Shipping begins next month.
Tomatomania proprietor Scott Daigre, owner of PowerPlant Garden Design in Los Angeles, will sell his book, Tomatomania! How to Grow Tomatoes Successfully in Southern California, at the shows.
Daigre also teaches a Crazy for Tomatoes! class at California State University, Northridge. The course covers soil preparation, staking, fertilizing, saving seeds and getting the best production.
Tags: events, Los Angeles, organic gardening, shopping, tomato
Posted in Organic Living | 2 Comments »
February 3rd, 2010 - Barbara Feiner
The Fifth Annual Oregon Truffle Festival concluded its run on Sunday, showcasing what gastronomy experts call the ultimate mushroom.
Truffles are found naturally throughout North American woodlands and are poised to become the next big culinary trend.
“With seven truffle orchards in production around the country, and dozens more about to reach producing age, an American truffle industry is about to be born, following in the footsteps of the American wine industry,” says festival organizer and mycologist Charles Lefevre, PhD.
Some of the state’s premier chefs prepared luscious dishes for the festival’s Grand Truffle Dinner, including Naomi Pomeroy of Beast (Crème Fraiche Tarts with Triple Cream, Shaved White Truffles & Mâche Salad with Black Truffle Vinaigrette) and Pascal Sauton of Carafe (Pacific Ling Cod Effeuilée with Foie Gras & Black Truffle Broth).
One of the festival’s highlights was the Truffle Dog Training Seminar, where curious canines learned to hunt for truffles (which grow underground) by detecting their unique aroma. Pigs have traditionally performed this job in Europe.
“The truffle dog’s role is not just to find truffles, but like a shopper squeezing avocados or sniffing strawberries, truffle dogs choose which truffles are ripe and ready to harvest,” says Dr. Lefevre, founder of New World Truffieres, Eugene, OR-based specialists in truffle cultivation.
The truffle business is projected to exceed $6 billion within the next 20 years, “rivaling many other agricultural commodities traded worldwide,” according to a feasibility study Dr. Lefevre conducted. As the study notes, truffles can be managed sustainably with organic farming methods and:
“With adequate support, cultivated and native truffles produced in Oregon could annually exceed $200 million in direct sales income; counting secondary economic benefits, the value of the industry could exceed $1.5 billion. These figures rival the current value of the state’s lucrative wine industry and could be greater if Oregon pursues truffle production with similar passion and focus.”
Truffles usually cost $300 to $500 per pound, according to the National Restaurant Association, but rarer varieties can fetch up to $4,000 per pound. For an affordable option, buy a high-quality organic truffle oil at your local natural food store (or online).
OrganicAuthority Publisher Laura Klein shares some of her favorite truffle-oil recipes here:
- Wild Mushroom and Black Truffle Organic Risotto
- Grilled Heirloom Truffle Potatoes
- Homemade Organic Ricotta Cheese Served with Black Truffle Oil.
Photo by John Valls
Tags: dogs, events, mushrooms, Oregon, Organic Food, truffle oil, truffles
Posted in Organic Food | No Comments »
October 9th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
Sunday marked the beginning of Animal Action Week, an International Fund for Animal Welfare campaign to teach both children and adults about biodiversity, habitat and ecosystems.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio, an IFAW honorary board member, is promoting the campaign, which provides schools with a free education pack and Under One Sky: Why Animals Matter, a 15-minute film he narrates. Click here for access to educational downloads. You’ll also find a wide selection of downloadable Animal Fact Sheets—great tools to share with your kids.
Students may enter an art contest, with the winning design to appear on next year’s campaign poster. Families are also encouraged to sign a global pledge to make lifestyle choices that better protect the environment we share with animals.
“Animals and their vital habitat face more threats than ever before,” DiCaprio says. “Animals, like people, need a home that provides food, water, shelter and space. It’s our responsibility to protect animals and our planet’s vital ecosystems if we want to leave a better world for future generations.”
For Your Organic Bookshelf: The Animal Ethics Reader
Tags: animal cruelty, education, environment, events, Organic Living, Parenting, pets
Posted in The Environment | No Comments »
October 6th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
Toyota’s Solar Flowers exhibit has left San Francisco (see photo), arriving at its final tour stop in Glendale, Calif.
The oversized flower sculptures, on display at The Americana at Brand, are partially powered by solar panels on the backs of their petals and bases of their stems. Some of the flowers are up to 18 feet tall.
Five flowers provide seating for up to 10 people, access to free Wi-Fi service, and power to charge cell phones and laptops. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, now through Oct. 18.
The flowers are part of the 2010 Toyota Prius marketing campaign, whose theme is “Harmony Between Man, Nature and Machine.”
Glendale bus riders will find solar-ventilation bus shelters spread throughout the area, which feature rooftop solar panels that help run fans and circulate air. This experience is designed to demonstrate the Prius’ Solar-Powered Ventilation System, which uses a fan to draw outside air into the cabin to reduce cabin temperature when the car is parked in direct sunlight.
“It’s exciting to see how the public has really embraced both the displays and the vehicle,” says Tim Morrison, corporate manager of marketing communications for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.
Photo courtesy of:
Tags: events, Glendale, Los Angeles, Prius, Solar Flowers, solar power, Toyota
Posted in The Environment | 4 Comments »
October 5th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
During yesterday’s successful concert, Farm Aid leaders asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support measures that help family farmers thrive.
In the 1990s, broken farm policies and consolidated corporate food production forced nearly 80% of hog farmers out of business. According to Farm Aid, similar circumstances are causing dairy farmers to be paid less than half of what it costs to produce milk, and the United States risks losing thousands of dairy farmers this year alone.
At yesterday’s concert, Farm Aid representatives reiterated their request for the USDA to set a price for milk that covers the cost of production, which would guarantee dairy farmers a fair price that keeps them on their land. Farm Aid also asked the USDA to stop using taxpayer dollars to fund new and larger factory farms.
“Family farmers are the first rung of the economic ladder in this country,” said Farm Aid Founder and President Willie Nelson. “Against all odds, they have persevered and found ways to stay on their land, growing good food for all of us and creating strong communities. It’s time now for policy to rise to meet their needs with fair prices and support for their innovations.”
“We invite all Americans to join us in pressing for food production that protects our environment, our health and our economy,” added Executive Director Carolyn Mugar. “We are encouraged by the opportunity the new administration in Washington offers us all for making the needed changes.”
At the concert, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan joined farmers and food advocates in a conversation about the many ways family farmers are rebuilding local and regional food systems and reenergizing the economy.
“Farmers face overwhelming challenges as they work each day to put food on our tables, and Farm Aid’s ongoing efforts on behalf of family farmers have helped put a human face on this vocation,” she said. “At the same time, there is a bright future for small- and mid-sized producers because there is an agricultural renaissance taking place in America. More and more consumers are wanting to better connect with their producers, and USDA’s new Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative helps to accomplish that goal.”
For Your Organic Bookshelf: Farm Aid: A Song for America
Photo: Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve Inc. 2009
Tags: activism, events, factory farms, family farms, Farm Aid, farms, music, Organic Food, USDA
Posted in Organic Living, Political Action | No Comments »
October 4th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
Farm Aid’s 2009 Concert begins at 5 p.m. today (ET), with sets from Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, Gretchen Wilson and Jason Mraz, among other performers.
DIRECTV will exclusively broadcast the event live and in HD on The 101 Network. The company has also pledged to match customer donations up to $50,000 through Oct. 31.
The concert will be streamed live on Farm Aid’s website. To make a $5 donation that helps family farmers, text FARMER to 90999 during the concert. Click here to donate online. To follow the event on Twitter, click here.
Farm Aid has partnered with St. Louis businesses to help achieve zero waste goals during the concert and add to the established Verizon Wireless Amphitheater recycling program.
With the help of Replenishing the Earth and Route 66 Organics, all compostable waste will be turned into agricultural material. Volunteers will help concertgoers differentiate between landfill-bound trash, recyclables and compostables.
The energy used to produce the concert will be offset by purchases of renewable energy certificates through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Farm Aid’s concert greening initiatives are underwritten by Horizon Organic and Silk Soymilk.
Photo by Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve Inc. 2008; courtesy of Farm Aid
Tags: events, family farms, Farm Aid, farming, music
Posted in Organic Living | 3 Comments »
September 27th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
Country star Gretchen Wilson has joined the lineup of stars for the Oct. 4 Farm Aid concert in Maryland Heights, MO.
Already slated to appear are Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, Wilco, Jamey Johnson, Phosphorescent, Billy Joe Shaver, Will Dailey, Ernie Isley & the Jam Band, Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses, The Blackwood Quartet, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, and Titty Bingo.
DIRECTV will exclusively broadcast the event live and in HD on The 101 Network, beginning 5 p.m. ET. The company has also pledged to match customer donations up to $50,000 through Oct. 31.
Farm Aid 2009 will also be webcast and streamed live on the organization’s website, beginning 5 p.m. ET. To make a $5 donation that helps family farmers, text FARMER to 90999 during the concert. Click here to donate online. To follow the event on Twitter, click here.
A limited number of tickets are still available at livenation.com, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Box Office (877-598-8703) and participating Blockbuster stores.
“Farm Aid has deep roots in the Midwest that reach back to our first concert in Illinois in 1985,” says Willie Nelson, the organization’s president. “I’m looking forward to bringing my friends together on the Farm Aid stage to celebrate family farmers and the crucial work they do. Farmers do so much more than bring us the good food we all want to eat. America needs family farmers to revitalize our economy and make our country healthy.”
Presented by Horizon Organic, the event will once again feature HOMEGROWN concessions, with foods from regional family farms and local organic growers. The HOMEGROWN Village will host hands-on activities that give concertgoers a chance to meet family farmers and get their hands dirty.
“Family farmers are innovative entrepreneurs who safeguard our food, environment and health,” says Carolyn Mugar, Farm Aid’s executive director. “Since the beginning, Farm Aid has worked with family farmers in the Midwest to keep them on the land, especially in the face of factory farms that have threatened to take over food production. At Farm Aid, concertgoers will reap the benefits of this work and will experience food grown by Missouri’s family farms.”
Click here for information on Farm Aid’s petition against funding for factory farms.
Tags: events, Farm Aid, farms
Posted in Organic Living | No Comments »
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