Shrink Wrapping Windows

Winter has officially arrived in the northeast, along with our first snow storm. But the cold temperatures greeted us weeks ago. In order to save energy, and mostly, keep my bedroom warm, today I 'shrink wrapped' the bedroom windows. Anyone who lives in cold climates probably knows about this energy saver tip and way to keep cold drafts out.

I was amazed at how much of a draft was coming in through the window, which you can see when you put up the plastic and before you 'shrink' it. The loose plastic moves in and out with any drafts.

As I'm not one for sleeping in a cold room (give me warmth), and since it's hard enough some mornings when I have to get the wood stove going again to heat up - covering the windows in my bedroom was a priority. I happened to have plastic left over from years past. But you can buy it at most any hardware store, Lowes, Home Depot, etc.

Yes, yes, it's plastic and made from oil. But, some things make more sense to use than not. Besides, I reduce my plastic useage in other ways, mostly by using recycled bags when grocery shopping, and I wash/reuse most all of my plastic baggies (much to the horror of more than one family member.) But, many of those baggies are sturdy and last multiple washes, and I save a lot of money by only having to buy a few boxes of plastic baggies a year.

So, if you're looking for a relatively low cost way to reduce cold drafts and save some on energy and energy costs - go out and buy some shrink wrap for windows. A few hints - if you've got blinds on the windows, be sure to take those down first. And, the plastic shrinks best when the blowdryer is on high. Be sure to have a pair of scissors on hand, and if you have a second set of hands - it goes quicker with two people. Well worth the time spent!

A Holiday Muse - 'Tis the Season to be Jolly and Stressed?

It is the season to be jolly and merry, but also busy with all the seemingly endless 'holiday' tasks - make my list, buy my gifts, follow up on gifts like the txt msg to my sister in law 'Got Game of Life', or urgent voice msg from my sister 'Beyblades on sale at Target today and tomorrow only.' But wait, I'm in the middle of making homemade truffles this lovely Sunday afternoon, and besides - the bus doesn't stop at Target!!!

Fortunately the Beyblade crisis was averted (that was after my sister had to spell 'beyblades' 3 times on the phone for me and a google search - obviously I don't have 8yr old boys in my household.) So, I called Target and indeed, they were already out of stock, so my sister stopped at another Target and the crisis was averted. All will be well when my nephews open this gift on xmas eve, and I was saved from figuring out how to get from the Bon Ton to Target (on foot, no sidewalks.)

Yes, I admit. I do shop at the mall, on occasion. I mean, I remember as a kid wanting that fabulous toy (for my sister and I, it was the Barbie Camper - how cool was that?) So, when I buy for my nieces & nephews I tend to buy them the current trendy toys. It is the holiday afterall.

But if I can I prefer to buy local or make handmade. This year I discovered my Christmas dessert 'thing', or what I might call my 'holiday muse' - chocolate truffles. I gave them as gifts to some siblings and they were a hit. The best part, I clipped the recipe from the Sunday Albany Times Union about 3 or 4 weeks ago. Yes, I do still read the paper in print (and then use the paper to light the fire in my wood stove.)

With my big family Christmas behind me (I think we maxed at 30 adults & children in my parent's house), I'm left with a more low key xmas eve preparation.

There are so many things we can all do to be 'green' this Christmas, use recycled paper, buy biodegradable paper plates & napkins, shop local or purchase as much of your holiday food as you can from the farmer's market. So I encourage you to pick one thing. And, relax if some things are out of your control. For years I've been trying to get my mother to save, wash and reuse plasticware at family gatherings.

A small aha moment came this past weekend when I was clearing my plastic fork and plate after our early xmas dinner, and my sister-in-law said, 'save your fork, MaryAnn (my mother), is washing and reusing them.' I guess sometimes our 'green' habits do rub off on others, often in subtle and pleasantly surprising ways.

So, I hope you can find your 'green' thing for the holiday, and remember to also relax and enjoy this busy time of season. For me, on to decorating my tree.

Have a Happy, Jolly, Stress-free Holiday and Great New Year! And as always, 'think green'.

Amy

Committment and follow through

I've been thinking a lot about the word 'committment'. I am living without a car at the moment, and thus, I'm committed to riding the bus, walking or biking on warmer days. This is sort of a forced committment to be auto-free for a while. Overall, it's great. Too often I meet people who really care about the earth, are worried about climate change, and yet don't seem to connect their everyday actions (driving everywhere) to their values (care for earth/support reducing greenhouse gas emissions.)

A friend on facebook a few months back posted a saying (by whom I can't recall), which basically said 'within committment there is great freedom.' I know this to be true. Homeownership requires a major committment, but in that is a wonderful freedom to have my own garden, and create my own space in the way that I want.

Committment helps set boundaries. I think we are so overloaded with technology, access and choices that too many people either avoid committment or they over-committ and then don't succeed at anything.

Right now, one of my committments is living car-free for a while. Within that, my life has slowed down. I am spending more time at home focusing on projects I've wanted to get to for months. And, I'm designing other goals, like exercise regularly, into my regular 'commute' regime.

One of my other committments is also following through. Even here on my blog - by following through with updates on events or things I post.

So - How was the Sustainable Saratoga meeting you ask? Great! One of the best potluck's I've been to in a long time. Something about breaking bread with other people creates an openness and willingness for people to connect and share. And that's what seemed to happen. We followed the potluck by watching a film I use in my Global Climate Change course called 'Recipes for Disaster'.

The film 'Recipes for Disaster' is hardly as ominous as it's title. It's a funny, engaging, interesting documentary following the life of a Finnish family that goes on an oil-diet for a year. It's great to watch the parents and two young kids give up driving and things like plastic wrap and toothpaste. And it shows how deeply reliant we are on oil - whether in household products made from oil byproducts (ie. plastics), or to gas up our cars, boats, trains and yes, buses.

At one point the young sons are talking about 'what would Christmas be like without plastic'. It just wouldn't be Christmas. But in the end the father (who produced the film), shows how much greenhouse gas emissions the family saved in one year (52%). ( to calculate your own greenhouse gas emissions click here.)

And so I ask you, what can you commit to? Are you willing to 'walk the talk'?

I was reminded of this saying a few months back at Jeff Olson's talk at Skidmore on 'The Future is Riding Bicycles'. I ran into Jeff, a local resident who works in transportation and community planning, a few weeks ago and told him what a great reminder it was for me - and he said, 'yeah, one day a week - if people got out of their cars one day a week that would be great.'

So - if you want to help minimize climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions - is there something you'd be willing to commit to?

Could you go one day a week without driving your car? Convert your household bulbs to CFL's? Plan and grow a garden? Switch to 'green' energy?

There are so many things we could all do. It just requires... committment and follow through :) Let me know how you do!

2nd Anniversary Potluck - Sustainable Saratoga

Join Sustainable Saratoga as we celebrate our 2nd Anniversary!
It's a wonderful experience to witness the continued interest in sustainability in our community. I think now more than ever, Sustainable Saratoga has an important role in educating the community, and shaping local activities as they pertain to environmental and economic sustainability.

As an all-volunteer organization, the group's successes the past two years have been a collective effort of many folks stepping up and taking action - contributing time and energy.

So - join us for a celebratory potluck dinner, movie and discussion about this past year's achievements and plans for the upcoming year. Details on the event location, etc are below.

And, in case you missed it, here's a link to the most recent Sustainable Saratoga monthly article printed in the Saratogian, written by current co-chair Bill Sprengnether. He provides a nice summary of Sustainable Saratoga's achievements the past year, as well as outlines the organization's goals for the coming year.


Anniversary Celebration Tuesday Nov. 30th, 2010

What: Sustainable Saratoga 2 year Anniversary Community Potluck Dinner, Movie and Community Dialogue.

Where: Empire State College 113th West Ave (rear entrance)

When: 6:30 pm Potluck Dinner 7:15 Movie

Cost: FREE

Details: Please bring a dish of your choice to share and your own utensils and dishes.

More Info: www.sustainablesaratoga.com

Hope to see you there!

Buying n' Eating Local... eggs

First, let me say as so many others have, I have a lot for which to be thankful. Good health, family and some great friends all over the country. We are communal beings and thus, I feel my community stretches very near and far, and for that I am thankful - for the good people in my life.

Over the weekend, I was reminded again of the oddity of how far our food can travel, and also, my strong belief in buying and supporting local food as much as possible (and affordable.)

Friday morning I cooked up some eggs at my mother's house, and happened to look to see where they came from - Minnesota. I shook my head, a bit stunned these eggs had travelled so far when I'm sure there is some local farmer who would sell her eggs. But, that's ok, it's not her thing.

Besides, being the bargain shopper and coupon clipper that she is (my parents raised seven kids on one income), I figured she'd bought them at a really good price, and of course, she had. Walgreens - 99 cents. You can't beat that price anywhere! Except, you also have no idea the conditions under which the chickens were raised, what they are being fed, and for that price, someone is subsdizing that cost because, you can't transport anything 1500 miles for 99 cents.

That same morning I got a call from my EcoLocal friend Dave, who's raising chickens in his backyard, feeding a family of 4 on them, with lots left over. He sells them to me for $3 a dozen. Yes, three times more expensive than my mothers. However, something just feels more right about buying eggs from a friend who I know - whose house I can go over to any time to check out how the chickens are doing. And, who's feeding them organic grains. Plus, I hope to at some point be able to work a trade with him for something I grow or raise (ie. goats or maybe herbal tinctures.)

So, I cooked up the eggs at my mothers house as they were my only option, and when I got home, Dave had delivered my next dozen of eggs to my backdoor. This kind of exchange - of supporting friends and neighbors growing, raising, selling their own food is really where I think our communities ought to gravitate.

If the price of oil sky rockets, having a relationship with local food producers is going to be essential. That's also why I feel so strongly about supporting the local farmer's markets. When we speak about a resilient economy, that's at least what I mean. People having tradeable skills. And it may not be just food-related. One friend I know is taking up sewing. For me, I imagine there will always be a need for writers (who also garden, and is pretty good at organizing - events, dinners, etc.)

What skills do you have or want to learn? Every day on the news I hear of more and more people who are reaching back to revive older traditions, like, raising chickens, canning, knitting, etc. Some of this is trend-following, but a lot of folks are doing these things because money is tight and these activities are simply more economical. In my opinion, small-scale re-localizing economies will be the new economy.

And, if you're looking for a local larger-scale egg producer, checkout the Thomas Poultry Farm outside of Schuylerville on Rt 29 in Saratoga County. Not sure if they're organic, but they are local.

Ups n Downs of a car-free life

I drove a car yesterday for the first time in three weeks. I was helping out some neighbors on a yard project in exchange for some firewood, and needed to make a run to the grocery store - so my neighbor let me borrow his car. At first, as I drove away I thought, ahh - I really do love driving. There is something so familiar about it, and so satisfying or soothing or I'm not sure what. Wait, I know - freeing.

The automobile provides the ultimate sense of freedom, that I can just drive away - go to a new place, get out of town, get away from the trials and tribulations of daily life by hopping in the car and heading out for an adventure. Yes, that's it. It's what I so enjoyed about renting my house this summer, the driving adventures, seeing new landscapes, new places or old familiar places. The freedom to go where I wanted when I wanted.

But as I continued to drive, this other sense came over me, of the hassles of owning a car. Of the feeling that maybe by 'getting out of town' we're actually avoiding deepening relationships right where we are.

Hmm. Plus, the single occupancy vehicle, as it's called in transportation planning land, is incredibly ineffecient. It's far more efficient to share a ride, whether by carpooling or bus. And, biking - as I've come to know, is actually almost as fast as driving (at least in this town), and far better exercise.

So, I was happy to have borrowed my neighbors car, as it allowed me to pickup a few bigger items that would be more difficult to carry on my bike. And, well, there is the hassle of trying to get to the recycling center and run some bigger errands. Oh, and as a time-challenged person, figuring out and remembering the bus schedules so I can coordinate taking the 473 in order to catch the 472, which only runs once an hour, etc etc etc.

Other than that, it's really pretty interesting to be without a car. On Satruday I ran all my errands on my bike - Farmer's Market, downtown Price Chopper, and finally home. I have these great fold-out metal baskets on the back that allow me to carry several full grocery bags, plus more on the fender. So, I was able to carry all my groceries and bags and keep warm at the stay time (except my fingers - warmer gloves are definitely in order.)

So, though it felt great the next day to hop in the car and go for that ride, I'm actually enjoying walking, biking and the bus - getting to know another little corner of the world right here in my neighborhood.

Some Upcoming Events of Interest

Hi there - Forwarding on this list of announcements of some upcoming events in Saratoga - from the Sustainable Saratoga folks:

Wednesday Nov. 17th - (that's today)
What: Community Discussion on Natural Gas Extraction in NY
Where: Saratoga Springs Library
When: 6 pm Potluck 7 pm Presentation
Cost: Free
Host: League of Women Voters of Saratoga County, cosponsored by Sustainable Saratoga
More Info: www.lwvsaratoga.org


Saturday Nov. 20th
What: Saratoga Walkability Survey
Where: Saratoga Public Library Susman Room 49 Henry St.
When: 11 am
Cost: Free - Volunteers needed to help walk/survey sections!
Host: Mayor's Advisory Committee on Senior Issues
More Info: Mary Zlotnik 366-8582


Sunday November 21
What: Community film, food and dialogue "What's on your plate?"
Where: Saratoga Arts Center 320 Broadway
When: 5 pm
Cost: $20 Adults, $10 children under 12
Host: Saratoga Film Forum
More Info: www.saratogafilmforum.org


Tuesday Nov. 30th
What: Sustainable Saratoga 2 year Anniversary Community Potluck and Presenter or Video.
Where: Empire State College 113th West Ave (rear entrance)
When: 6:30 pm
Cost: FREE
Host: Sustainable Saratoga
More Info: www.sustainablesaratoga.com

Lets All Ride the Bus!

Okay, don't mind my enthusiasm but my car has broken down and I'm car-less for a few weeks. Having no car is actually a relief. I live one block from a CDTA bus that goes downtown, and there's a second bus that goes to my office on the westside. So, I'm finally back taking the bus.

It's great. I am pleasantly surprised at the level of ridership. Many Skidmore students, but others as well. According to one of the drivers, bus fees are included in tuition for Skidmore Students - so they just swipe their student ID and can ride - all prepaid. The driver also told me CDTA has a prepaid arrangement with SUNY Albany students, faculty and staff too, and since Empire State College is part of SUNY I will be looking in to see if ESC is covered.

Busing, biking, walking: I feel like I'm back to more of the style of living I am accustomed. When I was in grad school in Olympia, WA, I lived about 8 blocks from downtown and the main bus station. My grad school friends and I all took the bus - we were mostly in evening classes. Most of us worked at places downtown, then took the bus up to school. It was a great time to catch up, make plans for the weekend, while letting someone else drive.

I'm also walking so much more. Funny how my sense of what's in 'walkable' distance has changed. I live a 30 minute walk from downtown, and it's 55 mins to my office on the west side. I used to live 5 blocks from downtown, so walking was pretty quick. Now, with a bit more planning, I can get downtown or home - while getting great exercise.

The bus is $1.50 for a one-way ride (no such things as transfers on Saratoga CDTA routes); $4.00/day; or there's a monthly pass for $55 or $65 per month (5 day or 7 day/wk).

At first the cost seemed high to me, but then the bus driver reminded me I must have been 'stuck in the 80's and 90's' when it came to bus prices. He was right, it's been quite a few years since I've regularly used public bus transportation. But it feels great to be back using it. I'm aiming to continue busing, walking, and biking (when decent weather) - it really is more sustainable and great for my health! Hope you'll join me - or already have.

Community Gardens in Detroit - A Lesson in Hope

A few weeks ago I was up in Racquette Lake, NY, teaching a course on the Environmental Issues of the Adirondacks as part of the Empire State College's Adirondack Residency. The theme for the residency was Food and the Environment. I was delighted to hear the first night's guest speaker, Phil Ackerman-Leist, Associate Professor at Green Mountain College in Vermont, speak about local food and sustainable agriculture. Phil recently published a book, titled Up Tunket Road, about his family's experience living off grid for 12 years, making a go of it growing their own food, etc.

What I found most interesting about his talk was the part in his presentation on the City of Detroit's vast network of community gardens (~1200) which cropped up in neighborhoods around the City after the last major supermarket pulled out of the city back in the early 1990s.

If you were paying attention to the news this summer, you may have heard about the fires which tore through parts of the city. I remember thinking how horrible & unfortunate, especially for a community which I know has been struggling for many years.

However, in terms of community and economic resiliency, Detroit may be in a good place of hope. According to Phil Ackerman, the community gardens started up in response to the lack of basic fresh foods in the community. About ten years ago, the last major grocery chain left the City - it was no longer economically viable nor was it "safe". That left residents with the only choice to buy groceries within the city limits at small convenience stores, which we know have higher prices and are extremely limited in the quality and quantity of fresh produce they carry.

So, drawing upon an older generation's knowledge of gardening within the African-American community, community gardens started to thrive. Phil said he recently visited the community and some of the gardens - after the fires this summer, and according to people he met they were mostly spared. That's good news.

Over the past few years I've heard and read about Detroit in snippets, 'an abundance of vacant buildings', 'outrageous unemployment rate', 'sky rocketing crime rate'. Learning about this network of community gardens and checking out their websites online, I'm left with hope. Hope that if we come together as communities, in neighborhood pockets and groups, we will find a way to create resiliency in this fast-changing world.

To think that Detroit has already started to create some resiliency to a vastly changing economy reassures me that when the oil wells go dry, we in other parts of America will figure it out too. Hopefully we'll start planning ahead. That's why supporting your own community gardens (like here in Saratoga Springs), farmer's markets, and other groups focused on building local economic resilience and local food security, are crucial.

Ok, next step - building a hoop house to grow some winter greens. More on that after the weekend.

Sustainable Saratoga Meeting 10/26 - Smart Growth & Housing affordability

Join Sustainable Saratoga for their next educational speaker event:
Smart Growth and Housing Affordability is focus of the Tuesday, Oct. 26 meeting, from 7-9pm at the 3rd floor of City Hall, Saratoga Springs (474 Broadway)

The city of Saratoga Springs has some of the highest home appreciation rates in the country, and is routinely listed in the top 10 percent nationally in real estate appreciation. While that can mean good things for longtime homeowners and investors, for those seeking affordable housing in the area, such high rates often mean a far less rosy outlook – and a more difficult time finding and sustaining residency in Saratoga Springs.

Sustainable Saratoga’s Housing and Urban Planning Committee will present a program on Smart Growth and Housing Affordability. The event is coordinated by Laura DiBetta, Sustainable Saratoga’s Housing and Urban Planning Committee chair and program manager at the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

The evening will feature Bob Radliffe, executive director of the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, and Peter Fleischer, executive director of Empire State Future, a statewide coalition of 39 member organizations which leads a citizens’ effort to improve New York’s economic and civic potential through smart growth.

“Bob is a lifelong Saratoga County resident and has been involved with local community and economic development issues for more than 20 years,” DiBetta said. “And Peter brings a statewide perspective with a focus on smart growth and economic development. Combined, our speakers should provide both an overview of community development and housing affordability issues, as well as specific ideas on how to address those issues locally, as they are at a critical stage in our area.”

The program is free of charge and open to the public. Anyone with concerns and/or questions about smart growth and housing affordability in our area is encouraged to attend.

Following the presentation, there will be brief meetings of Sustainable Saratoga’s committees, including: Energy Efficiency and Resources; Farming, Open Space and Natural Resources; Housing and Urban Planning; Media and Communications; Transportation and Mobility; and Waste, Composting and Recycling. Please join us!

Solar Panels on the White House, Making Your Voice Heard, and Global Work Party

A few months ago (I guess August is a few months already), I mentioned a talk I attended by Bill McKibben. It was hosted by the Adirondack Writers Institute up at Paul Smith's College in Saranace Lake. As Bill spoke about 350.org, the advocacy group he formed to encourage reduction of greenhouse gases, he talked about his and others plans this fall to deliver to President Obama the original solar panels Jimmy Carter put up on the White House. Their intention was to ask the President to install these (or other) solar panels on the White House, mostly as a symbolic gesture.

After his talk, I asked Bill if advocating for policy change was worth the effort since advocating for change at any political level (local, state, national) can be very consuming of time and energy (and slow going), and it seems to me our efforts can sometimes be better spent on just moving ahead with making changes in our own lives, or supporting other community members (like, raising chickens or installing solar hot water, or building a greenhouse so you can grow greens all winter long.)

His reply was, yes, it can be draining and slow. But, the reason spending time working on policy change IS important, is that those policy changes CAN make it a lot easier to implement the changes we want to make in our own communities and our personal lives.

For example, changes in funding for sustainable agriculture would significantly improve the viability of small-scale diversified farming, which supports the local economy in many ways, and contributes to local food security and resiliency. He also talked about how disappointed he felt after the Copenahgen Climate Talks last year when the U.S. (again) didn't sign onto an International Agreement. He spoke how about how hard it can be to do this kind of advocacy work and yet how important it is. So, he kept persisting.

After more than a year of a lot of effort working on Sustainability issues here locally, honestly, I felt burned out and disillusioned. However, I left that gathering re-invigorated and reinspired, knowing all levels of advocacy were important.

A month later, I read online that Bill McKibben and some of the 350.org folks had travelled down to the White House to deliver the original solar panels to the White House, and were basically given a 'thank you very much we are working on our own thing here considering what to do' message. I read that - remembering Bill's passion, committment and enthusiasm, and realized, how disappointed he and the others must have felt receiving what seemd a rather lackluster reception from the White House.

In response, I wrote an email to the White House. Well - did I think it might change anything? Not really, but maybe someone would read it and pass it along. What I did know for certain was that Bill McKibben has a passion and dedication for protecting this earth, our environment and livelihoods, and I was plain mad at the response this supposed progressive White House had delivered to this dedicated activist.

I'll admit, my email basically said, shame on you Obama for not embracing this idea. I hesitated writing the email- he is the President after all, AND, I didn't really think it would have much effect, but I was really mad and disappointed myself. And I suppose because I felt so reinvigorated by Bill's talk that night, I felt it important to express my feelings about the need to support his efforts, even if just symbolic in nature.

Well - today I just learned, the White House is in fact going to put solar panels on the White House! I know there were plenty of folks involved in moving this forward to make it known the White House perhaps ought to be the leader in these kind of 'greening of America' activities. I've worked enough on other policy-advocacy related issues to know that politicians make decisions like this for a variety of reasons which often have to do with winning reelection or financial backers. But, I am glad to know that I made my voice heard because I do know that also matters. Perhaps my voice was one in a million, but maybe it was that one extra email that was needed - kind of like Horton Hears a Who.

So, below I'm copying an email I recieved via a group here in Saratoga about the White House announcement and 350.org's Global Work Party effort this weekend, to celebrate 10/10/10. There are some local activities happening here in the Saratoga/Capital District area, which I hope some of you will get involved.

And, my hope is that you WILL participate in the political process while at the same time grow a garden. I do know it IS important to stand up for what we believe in, and sometimes, we might be surprised that there were enough of us doing it that someone out there listened!!!

Thanks - Amy

A few links for 350.org 10/10/10 Global Work Party

350.org Saratoga Events http://www.350.org/map#/map/43.0964412/-73.7242486/11

Capital NY Region Paddles for Climate Action


Subject: 4 Days Left--and Obama is going solar!
Dear Friends,

Just in time to give this weekend's Global Work Party a White House-sized boost, the Obama administration announced this morning that they are going to put solar panels on the First Family's living quarters, returning to a tradition begun by president Jimmy Carter and abandoned by Ronald Reagan.

It's a great win for your efforts over the last months--everyone who wrote letters, signed petitions for our"Put Solar On It" campaign, and turned out for the Solar Road Trip as we rolled down the east coast fromUnity College towing one of the original Carter panels. We were disappointed that day that the White House wasn't prepared to go solar, but are now very happy and honored that they took our suggestion to look into the matter seriously.

Solar panels on one house, even this house, won't save the climate, of course. But they're a powerful symbol to the whole nation about where the future lies. And President Obama will wake up every morning and make his toast by the power of the sun (do presidents make toast?), which will be a constant reminder to be pushing the U.S. Congress for the kind of comprehensive reform we need.

And remember, President Obama's not alone: tomorrow, Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed and a crew from Sungevity will be putting solar panels on the Muliaa'ge, the "White House of the Maldives". It's a trend!

Of course, both of these initiatives are perfectly timed to lead into this weekend's Global Work Party, when 6127 carbon-cutting events (and rising) will take place in 187 countries. If you haven't already gotten involved, now is most definitely the time to join an event near you--or register your own.

The first account of the news from the White House, from Associated Press reporter Dina Cappiello, noted the efforts of 350.org to make this happen. In particular, I'd like to salute Jean Altomare, Amanda Nelson, and Jamie Nemecek, the three young women from Unity College who brought the Carter solar panels to Washington DC, and made such an impression on the White House.

They remind all of us why we'll be working hard this weekend for the Global Work Party--and why, when the day is done, we'll be putting down our hammers and our shovels and picking up our cellphones to call our leaders.

You never know what will happen when you ask for change.

Onwards,

Bill McKibben for the 350.org Team

P.S. Victories like this should be shared. Click here to spread it on Facebook, and click here to post about it on Twitter.


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You should join 350.org on Facebook by becoming a fan of our page at facebook.com/350org and follow us on twitter by visiting twitter.com/350

To join our list (maybe a friend forwarded you this e-mail) visit www.350.org/signup

350.org needs your help! To support our work, donate securely online at 350.org/donate

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350.org is an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilize a global climate movement united by a common call to action. By spreading an understanding of the science and a shared vision for a fair policy, we will ensure that the world creates bold and equitable solutions to theclimate crisis. 350.org is an independent and not-for-profit project.

What is 350? 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (ppm), so 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. To get there, we need a different kind of PPM-a "people powered movement" that is made of people like you in every corner of the planet.

The Future is Riding a Bicycle - Skidmore Event Tonight 10/4/10

Tonight Skidmore College's Environmental Studies Program hosts a talk by Jeff Olson titled, 'The Future Is Riding a Bicycle.' Jeff has worked nationally and internationally helping communities design access for bicycles and pedestrians. A long time local advocate for bicycle and pedestrian access, he will talk about real on the ground solutions to make our community more amenable to bicycles.

Check out this link for more details. The talk is from 7-8pm at the Gannett Auditorium, followed by a reception hosted by the Environmental Studies Program.

The Majestic Plastic Bag - A Mockumentary

Here's a short (3+min) video on the Majestic Plastic Bag's cycle of life, passed onto me from a friend on the west coast. I often say I feel like my life has been taken over by plastic bags. We should all be using our own recycled bags. I personally keep them in my car. If I happen to forget to bring in a recycled bag, then I either carry the items in my hand if it's only a few, or, I ask for as few bags as possible (which is entirely contrary to the Grocery store bagger's training which ironically has them trained to basically use as many plastic bags as possible so to prevent breakage and spillage and to keep some food items away from others.)

What if you had to pay 50 cents for a plastic bag? Would that be motivation to use your recycled bags? Enjoy this mockumentary

Cheese Tour - Sept 11 & 12

If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend, check out the Washington County Cheese Tour. Visit first-hand some of the farmers who are making and selling local artisan cheese. Check out the Cheese Tour website for more info. Most of the farms are within 20 minutes from one another.

Five farms will be open for tour. Come learn the process of cheesemaking, check out their farms and animals, and of course - try the cheese. Farms include: Argyle Cheese Farm, Homestead Artisans, 3-Corner Field Farm, Consider Bardwell Farm and Sweet Spring Farm. Click here for a google map of the farms and tour.

I'm looking forward to checking out some of these farms and seeing firsthand how all their delicious cheeses are made. I'm most looking forward to meeting Liza Porter's goats! Liza and Dave Porter own Homestead Artisans. Earlier in the year I wrote a short profile piece on their farm. At the time of the interview, Liza was literally on the phone while feeding a baby goat. I could hear the goats 'bahhing' in the background! They sounded so adorable. The care these farmers give to their animals, I think, is what makes their cheese and products just that much more special.

So - take a drive out to Washington county and check out the Cheese!

Help Saratoga Farmer's Market become America's Favorite - Vote by Aug 31st

American Farmland Trust is sponsoring a campaign to vote in America's Favorite Farmer's Market. Right now, Saratoga Farmer's Market is in 3rd place (in the 'medium' category). We have until August 31st to move up to the top. Please pass the word and take a moment to vote. If we win, we benefit from some great marketing and promotional support.

The process is simple. To vote for Saratoga Farmer's Market, all you have to do is:

1.) Go to www.farmland.org/vote

2.) Type in 'Saratoga Farmers Market'; and,

3.) Click “Vote” (make sure it's the Saratoga Springs, NY market)

(Saratoga Farmer's Market is under the 'medium' sized market)

You only have one vote to cast per market (though you can vote for multiple markets, but that would defeat the purpose.)

The America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest is a project of the American Farmland Trust. The contest is designed to raise national awareness about the importance of supporting fresh food from local farms and farmers.

At the end of the contest, one small, medium, large, and a new category, boutique, farmers market will win the title of “America’s Favorite Farmers Market” for 2010.

The reward for the winning market in each category will be a shipment of No Farms No Food® tote bags, along with other prizes including free printing services from igreenprint and free graphic design services from Virginia based design firm, SQN Communications.

In addition, I hear that the winning markets get an appearance by a nationally-known chef who will cook up some fantastic fare using product from the market. These events typically draw a large crowd, helping to increase awareness of the local market.

The categories are based on the number of vendors the farmers market has. The four categories are Boutique - 15 or fewer vendors, Small 16 - 30 vendors, Medium, 31 - 55 vendors, and Large, more than 56 vendors.

So don’t forget to vote for Saratoga Farmer's Market at www.farmland.org/vote and spread the word!

Big thanks to everyone who has already voted!

Adventures from the road!

Since I'm renting my house this summer, I'm staying with various family and friends in the northeast. I've been in so many places thus far, I've lost track of where I've been and when. Maine - Saratoga - Schroon Lake - Ticonderoga - Racquette Lk - Lake Placid - Saranac - Saratoga - Gloversville. One thing is for sure - it pays to have family and friends in great places. I am also fortunate I have the kind of work that allows me the flexibility to work from a distance - as long as I have wireless access.

I must say I'm having a great time on my "gypsy travels". I do feel a bit wasteful doing so much driving. But when I get somewhere I am trying to follow these few tenants: 1) bike if you can; 2) eat and buy local; 3) recycle (I'm even carrying my recycling with me when in places where there is no recycling); 4) have fun.

Well, I'm not sure if having fun is going to save the planet - but I do know that swimming in Mirror Lake three days in a row did a lot more for my body and soul than any "green" thing I've done in a while. So maybe that's the current lesson - as I get ready to ride my bike into town to pick up my car from the mechanic.

When we take care of ourselves, we're better able to then contribute and take care of others - in whatever fashion that means for your life and work. It's also coincidentally one of the first tenants in Permaculture.

In Permaculture "talk", it's called Zone 00 (zero zero) - our inner and outer selves. The idea being we must first start with nurturing and balancing ourselves. When our inner and outer lives are balanced and in harmony - the rest of our lives, home, landscape, will more easily come into alignment. So, I'm off to get my daily exercise and bike - part of my own way of staying balanced.

More later on the inspiring talk I attended last week at Paul Smith's College by Bill McKibben - author, journalist, Climate Change activist and founder of 350.org.

(Above is a photo of the glass dining area at Camp Huntington, located on an island in Racquette Lake. Camp Huntington, originally built by William Durant, is owned by SUNY Cortland, used for outdoor educatin and the site of Empire State College's Adirondack Residency (which I'll be teaching in the fall).)

Gone Green on the Road

I'm renting my house out this summer for the track season - so the past two weeks I was consumed with cleaning, packing and prepping to be out of my house for six weeks. This also means I'm posting from the road this summer, so to speak. Fortunately, I have some great friends and family who are opening up their homes and providing me a place to rest my head. Currently I'm up in Maine visiting my permaculture friends, Lisa and Dave. As often is the case, my visits to Maine usually combine some work and play. For the past 6-7 years Lisa and Dave have consciously been converting their suburban homesite to gardens. Visiting them is like going to permaculture school.

For years they've been growing garlic. This morning I helped Dave harvest the garlic tops - which form seed heads with individual bulbs that can be replantd.


I then harvested string beans while Dave pulled the garlic, prepped and hung it in the garage to dry.

Growing garlic or any garden is a lot of work. However, besides providing delicious nutritious food, there's a deep satisfaction that comes with growing a garden, and the ability to feed yourself with food grown right in your own back yard.

Fear not though. Besides work in the garden, and my own work writing and teaching - I am also having some fun and rest.

Next - hang the laundry on the line (so great when your friends share some of the same philosophy of living), then on my bike for a ride to the beach. Write again soon.

White House Blog on Energy Bipartisan Meeting

A few weeks ago I read somewhere that President Obama was holding a bi-partisan "summit" with legislators to talk about the BP oil spill and a new energy bill.

Our tech-savvy Presidential Administration has posted a video blog response to summarize some of the Administration's view points on this. (as a side not - wow- even Jimmy Carter wasn't this advanced technologically.)

So, I wanted to share this video. I think it's important for readers/citizens to be aware of what's being planned in the current administration with regards to energy.

Click here to go to the Obama Administration's video with open questions on energy and climate legislation.

I'd be curious to hear folks comments. While many of us are gearing up for track season or headed into vacation mode (myself included), these are important issues to continue to think about.

How to start your own Compost - 1hr Intro workshop

Here's a 1-hour intro on how to start your own compost hosted by Green Conscience Home & Garden in Saratoga Springs. Call 306-5196 for details.

COMPOSTING - How to start your own Compost

Join us to discuss the various ways you can compost and find out what composting system will be best for you.

FREE Presentation with Karen Totino
SATURDAY July 10th - 10 am to 11 am

at GREEN CONSCIENCE Home & Garden - 33 Church st - Saratoga Springs, NY, tel: 518-306-5196. Check out their website: www.green-conscience.com

And for some background on composting - here's a link to an article I wrote last year on Composting for the Saratogian's Scene

Permaculture and Peak Oil: Part I

I just came back from a long weekend up in Maine at the Northeast Permculture Convergence. Yes, you could say it was a bunch of old and young hippies figuring out how to beat out Peak Oil. But it wasn't. It was an amazing gathering of over 300 people with diverse backgrounds, who are working in their communities, on their own land, with other land owners, to figure out how to really live in a harmonious, regenerative, restorative manner with the earth.

Sounds hoky, I know. But it's not. These are folks who are living in urban areas with greenhouses in their backyards, building neighborhood gardens with disadvantaged youth, raising chickens in the city, and yes, your small "eco-village" in the middle of nowhere Maine. But they're folks who care enough about their communities and future generations to look at how they can be part of the solution to our global energy crisis.

I'm going to post more on this later - what is permaculture, etc etc. But really, it's what I and many others are trying to do - living with less. Knowing when enough is enough. Using the resources and inputs available on your land, and growing and nurturing and designing your home, your garden, your farm, your neighborhood, in a way that is more sustainable and "closes the loop" on energy useage and waste.

Permaculture provides an alternative to the way we are living now, our consumerist model disconnected from our communities, the land and our natural resources. Granted, most of us would find it difficult to entirely disconnect from the "grid". But alternative energy is becoming more and more available. And, if we never run out of oil or fossil fuel and we don't boil the planet along the way, so be it. Implementing behavior changes like growing your own food, installing solar hot water, reducing your electricity useage, these are all still things that are good for the planet and save dollars. And, generally good for the soul too.

Below are a few videos on permaculture. The first a great permaculture 101, and the second is the video slideshow from the Convergence this past weekend. I'll post a 3rd video later by one of the founders of permaculture, on the role of permaculture in the post peak-oil world. I hope others will be inspired to learn more about this solutions-oriented approach. Enjoy.

Green Has Gone Mainstream -- Is that so bad?

Besides the Irish (which I am in part), this week I am asking myself, what is really green? Green has become such a buzz word, everyone's using it (including me.) I know people who are critical of the overuse of the word. My own feathers get ruffled when a 'green' builder calls their homes green but leaves out basics such as building homes south facing and designing in such a way which uses passive solar energy to help naturally heat/cool the house. But, details on green building is for a later post.

Today I'm really thinking about the spectrum of 'green' which exists. Personally, I'm thrilled after 20 years of working in the environmental field and my first hand-washed re-used plastic bag 15 yrs ago - that green has gone mainstream. To think that recycling is now a regular household word and practice, that more people know about the benefits of CFL lightbulbs, and more and more people are waking up to their personal impact on the earth, I'd say we are making progress.

I think about this as I work on two concurrent writing projects along the lines of sustainability. One about a local "green" business, and the other on how Corporations are advancing their sustainability initiatives and their bottom line. A year ago I felt very conflicted about local vs. corporate. Today, I look around and when I hear that Baxter Healthcare, my first employer out of undergrad school, is the leading pharmaceutical industry on sustainability, I can't help but chuckle about the coincidence.

I am in no way a doomsdayer. I don't think we are at the "no-turning back" point yet. But I do think the BP Oil Spill and other events in the world are forcing us, especially Americans, to reassess our "Business as Usual" attitude. Besides freelance writing I also teach on-line environmental studies courses. Embedded somewhere in a comment I read recently about the Obama Administration's Energy Agenda, I read the words 'Net Zero Energy Buildings'. NOW that's GREEN! I could only hope some day that New York State (or say, Saratoga Springs City Council) would require all new buildings be built as Net Zero Energy buildings.

Friends who work in the building industry say they would love to do it, but the materials cost to do it are cost-prohibitive. And I believe them. That's why this demand and buzz around Going Green is really necessary. Because to get to Net Zero Building requirements, it's going to take customers asking for it, citizens requesting it from politicians, politicians providing tax incentives to do it, and business responding. And believe it or not, the smart forward thinking businesses, especially large corporations, know they need to move in that direction.

So, I say, Keep going green. In the meantime, I'm going to keep gardening and try to get on my bike more because when it comes right down to it, though I love my internationally-made clothes and computers, I know the most sustainable living is local living........

Learn How You Can Support a Local Sustainable Economy

The past few years I've spent a lot of time thinking and writing about sustainability, and particularly the importance of supporting local business. I've also spent time thinking about the role of corporations and sustainability. My thoughts about corporate world and sustainability have changed, particularly as I look around at my life and others and realize, in our current paradigm, almost all of our goods and services are provided by national and international corporations. And, I feel they do and will continue to have a major role in our economy - particularly in the technology and energy sectors. However, I also believe it's equally important to advocate for and support our local economy and businesses. Especially if we experience any kind of catastrophic event, it will be our local businesses, entrepreneurs and resources which we rely upon to survive. It also just makes smart business sense to look to local resources as they require less energy to transport and ship.

The next Sustainable Saratoga monthly meeting offers a unique opportunity to learn from local experts on how YOU can make a difference in supporting our local economy. Join us Tuesday, June 22nd from 7-9pm at Skidmore College's Gannett Auditorium to learn more about local economies and resilience. See below for more background and info.

Sustainable Saratoga's Local Economy Subcommittee invites you to a community discussion on the local economy of Saratoga Springs, centered around an expert panel.

When: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 7pm
Where: Skidmore College, Gannett Auditorium, Palamountain Hall
Panelists: Jim Kunstler, David Hess, Todd Fabozzi, Melanie Beam

Localist Movements, Relocalization, Local Living Economies, and New Urbanism will all be topics of discussion this Tuesday night, from 7 to 9pm, in the Gannett Auditorium on the campus of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs.

Local iconoclast/author Jim Kunstler, RPI Professor David Hess, Planner/Poet Todd Fabozzi, and Melanie Beam of Capital District Local First will present their views on the Local Economy of the Saratoga area.

The moderator, Robert Millis, will ask the panelists a selection of questions submitted by you and your fellow community members. Questions for the panelists may be submitted in advance at economy@sustainablesaratoga.com, or at Sustainable Saratoga, PO Box 131, Saratoga Springs, 12866. For more information, see our website: www.sustainablesaratoga.com.

You are invited to make a choice today. Come help us define Saratoga Springs' local economy.

Gardening by the moon & groundhogs

As I sit here in my office trying to get my head wrapped around interview questions I'm preparing on Corporate Sustainability, my mind drifts to the lunar planting calendar I've been following. I heard about planting according to the moon cycle from my permaculture friends up in Maine. This year I found an excellent Lunar Planting Calendar on the Farmer's Almanac site. So, a few weeks back when I was getting ready to plant my garden I printed out the calendar and circled the best days to plant root crops, greens and other above ground veggies, tomatoes, beans, etc.

Ironically, just as I was getting the feeling I had to get my seeds in, the lunar calendar showed I was at peak time to plant. Don't ask me how lunar planting works. It definitely doesn't mean planting in moonlight (though I think the last few of my seeds did go in under moonlight.) It means following the cycles of the moon to plant. Since the moon effects the tides, intuitively it feels to me it might effect plant growth. I don't know the exact science behind it. I welcome anyone who wants to research it. All I know is that it provides some kind of guide. And now that we're past peak seed planting time but I still have more potatotes to plant and some later root crops I want to get in, the lunar planting calendar sounds as good as any.

My garden is beginning to look like a garden. The potatoes I planted early are now over a foot tall. The seeds I planted a few weeks ago have all come up. I've had to thin out the radishes, spinach, swiss chard and beets. The tomatoes I bought from the Farmer's Market (New Minglewood Farm, known for their heirloom tomatoes, and Balet Farms a multi-generation locally owned nursery) are doing great. The eggplant and basil are coming along.

My resident groundhog got my cucumber starters and has foraged into the radishes. So now I'm on a mission to finish putting up fencing so that he doesn't get anymore. I've thought about "relocating" mr. groundhog, but I figure he is really part of the landscape so I ought to find ways to adapt. Besides, based on last year's forage, I know there are certain crops they have no interest in, such as potatoes, tomatoes, squash. And certain ones they prefer, like beans, radishes, lettuce and now, cucumbers. Oh yeah - they love sunflowers.

Actually, groundhogs are vegetarians and prefer flower heads. I was really hooked on keeping him around after one day last spring when I saw him so gracefully and cutely eat the head of a dandelion. They are really quite tame at times. So, I may do what I've heard others do, which is leave one area of garden (often the front) open to allow them to forage, and then they won't bother with digging under fencing to get the rest of the garden. For now, I feel lucky I live adjacent to the Spa State Park where there's lots of other habitat around for him. But, I'm still planning to buy more fencing and get it up before he finds my other beans and radishes.

And, before I signed off, I had to do a quick search on lunar garden planting, here's what I found: On her Web site Gardening by the Moon, Caren Catterall writes, "Plants respond to the same gravitational pull of tides that affect the oceans, which alternately stimulates root and leaf growth. Seeds sprout more quickly, plants grow vigorously and at an optimum rate, harvests are larger and they don't go to seed as fast."

To learn more check out the full National Geographic article on lunar gardening - just so that you know it's not all "lunacy".

New Community Garden - Plots Available to Public

Sustainable Saratoga and the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority have joined together to launch a new community garden project at the Stonequist Apartments, located on the south end of town on 1 South Federal St (off of W. Circular St.)

Over the past week, 18 NEW garden plots were created, thanks to student volunteers from Saratoga Springs High School and volunteers from Sustainable Saratoga and the Housing Authority. Priority for planting was given to residents of the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority, which includes Stonequist Apartment, Jefferson Terrace, and Allen Drive.

However, Garden Plots are STILL available to any resident of Saratoga Springs. It's not too late to get in the last of the starters or plan for a late summer/early fall harvest. Anyone interested in a garden plot please contact Casey Holzworth, Sustainable Saratoga Open Space & Farming Subcommittee Chair by email at: sscommunitygardens@gmail.com.

Thanks and happy planting!

Many benefits to Joining the CFL Challenge

A few weeks ago I posted on the Saratoga Local Living Guide's Community CFL Challenge.

The idea is for people to sign up as "Block Leaders", and handout information to their neighbors to encourage them to swap out their old bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFL's).

I was hesitant to sign up as a Block Leader, in part because if people order bulbs online I'm responsible for distributing them. But, after thinking about it, and realizing I had bulbs I wanted to replace, I decided to sign up. Plus, I've been wanting to meet more of my neighbors. I know those who live just across from me, but I've not met any who live even just a few doors up. So I signed up - and glad I did.

Last week I spent a few hours one evening going door to door to my neighbors. How nice it was to meet those neighbors whom I only see passing by in their cars when I'm out in my yard. All my neighbors are really great, interesting people - living and working here as teachers, nurses, etc.

One of the best parts was discovering two neighbors who couldn't participate because they'd already converted all their bulbs to CFL!!! That was great to hear. The others welcomed me in their homes, we chatted about the challenge, and learned about one another. Now when they go by, we feel less like strangers and more like neighbors. So, besides the cost savings and emissions benefits to becoming a Block Leader, there's also the benefit of getting to know the people who share your neighborhood.

The CFL Challenge goes until June 18th. Besides the reduced price in bulbs, some additional benefits to buying bulbs include:
Saratoga Apple- 1 free apple for every bulb purchased (up to 5)
Four Seasons- 2% off for every bulb purchased (up to 20%)
Esperantos- 2% off for every bulb purchased (up to 20%)
Dawgdom- (good if you see they have a dog)- Free dog treat. No purchase necessary. Also 20% off everything in store.

Please consider signing up to become a Block Leader. You'll need to attend a short 1/2 hr informational meeting - but all the other benefits make it worth it.

Here's more info and links on the challenge.

The Saratoga Community CFL Challenge is a 2-month campaign that provides incentive for residents to replace standard incandescent light bulbs with energy saving compact fluorescents (CFLs). The goal of the campaign is to save residents’ $36,000 on utility bills and keep 311,100 pounds of climate changing emissions from entering the atmosphere.

This is a great opportunity to purchase CFL lightbulbs at a reduced price from Allerdice, a locally owned hardware store, reduce your energy bills and get to know your neighbors.

The Community CFL Challenge is a grassroots effort that utilizes a network of volunteers to reach out to the neighbors on their block. Neighbors are given a coupon code to use to purchase bulbs through the Saratoga CFL Challenge website or at Allerdice Building Supply.

Go to www.locallivingguide.com/cfl for more information on how to sign up or become a block leader, reduced pricing on CFL's bulbs, and learn more about the campaign.

For more information contact Jonathan Greene, Local Living Guide Coordinator at info@locallivingguide.com or call (518) 632-6768

Sustainability Events in Saratoga & Beyond

It seems the buzz of living more sustainably is catching on and gone mainstream. As we watch the weeks-long Gulf Oil spill and resulting devasation of this coastal ecosystem, I believe it's the wake up call, or Siren's song, so many of us need to really feel and think more deeply about our reliance on oil and the impact it is having on our earth. And that perhaps, it's time to make a shift. In that regard, there are lots of positive opportunities to learn about how to make this shift. So, get involved and let's work together to make positive change. Below are some great positive events on the topic of sustainability happening here in Saratoga and beyond.

1) The Saratoga Local Living Guide's CFL Neighborhood Challenge, to encourage homeowners in neighborhoods in the Saratoga area to switch out their old bulbs for more energy efficient CFL bulbs is in full swing. To get involved go to Saratoga Local Living Guide website. (I signed up as a block leader - it was fun to meet some of my neighbors and learn that two of them couldn't participate because they had already switched over all their bulbs to CFL's!!!) From now until June 13th get discounts on the price of CFL bulbs and other benefits every time you buy a bulb.


2) Sustainable Saratoga is doing great stuff. This past week they had a great panel on mobility, access and transportation.
Next month's meeting, Tuesday evening, June 22 at 7 p.m., features a community dialogue with distinguished panelists on resilient local economy for Saratoga Springs. The panel includes area experts James Howard Kunstler, Todd Faboozzi, Melanie Beam, and David Hess.

James Kunstler, internationally known author and speaker, who also happens to live in Saratoga, speaks internationally on the topic of peak oil. Check out more at his website, www.kunstler.com. This will be a great event. To learn more about Sustainable Saratoga or how to get involved go to their website, www.sustainablesaratgoa.com. Be sure to join the email list to get all their event and activity updates.


3) Next week, June 1-3, at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont there's a first-time ever conference on developing a Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index in the U.S., sponsored by the Gross National Happiness USA Project. I learned of this from Empire State Faculty member Eric Zencey, whom I recently interviewed for a story. Eric is an economist and studies history of science and political philosophy. He has been researching and writing on 'sustainability', especially from an economist's view point for many years. Part of his current work is writing on something called the Gross National Happiness Index, which he and many others are calling for as a shift to a new way of measuring economic health. An accurate measure would deduct environment damage and loss of natural capital as costs, and could measure good governance, health, and other positive categories. In essence, the GNH measures overall well-being, something our current form of economic measure (GDP - gross domestic product) does not. GDP just measures "the commotion of money" in the economy, to quote Eric. So, check out this link and the conference. As we think about sustainability we need to be thinking about how our "economy is rooted in nature,"


And, it just gets better...

4) “A Conversation on Climate Change: Where do we go from here?”, Saturday, June 5th, at the Riley Center for the Arts at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, VT, including an exciting panel of nationally and internationally known authors on Climate Change.

The event is sponsored by the Northshire Bookstore, here's their description:

“A Conversation on Climate Change: Where do we go from here?”, featuring some of our nation’s best thinkers, writers, and activists, this vital conversation will focus on the state of our planet and the steps we can take to ensure a future for those who come after us.

Join authors, journalists and activists...

Bill McKibben (Eaarth: Making Life on a Tough New Planet)

Jeff Goodell (How to Cool the Planet: Geoengineering and the Audacious Quest of Fix Earth’s Climate)

Dianne Dumanoski (The End of the Long Summer: Why We Must Remake Our Civilization to Survive on a Volatile Earth)

Elizabeth Kolbert (Field Notes From A Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change)

Sponsored by Northshire Bookstore and Burr and Burton Academy. Begins at 6pm at the Riley Center for the Arts at Burr and Burton Academy.
No tickets are required and seating will be on a first come basis.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to join with other members of our community to learn, discuss, and chart new directions for our collective future.

For more information go to
or call 802-362-2200/800-437-3700

Living in tune with nature

The past two days I had to use my car for errands. I'll admit, I love biking but I also love my car. I own a subura legacy with a hatchback. It's great for moving stuff - I've moved small couches, dressers, desks, even hauled compost from the Town of Milton in it (plastic tarp down of course.) But the past two days when I've gotten in my car, it's felt too big and wasteful, and well, unnatural. And I miss it when I'm not on my bike, out in the open air, relying on my own energy and force to get me around. As I read and think about the Gulf Oil spill, and the devastation of that coastal ecosystem, I can only think how much we are the cause for that destruction, due to our endless need for oil. And, how out of balance we've become with nature.

For two weeks I've been diligently working on my garden. I put in two new garden beds, which involved a lot of moving of compost. Finally last night I finished what I call "phase one" of my planting. What a feeling of deep satisfaction. I realized too, for me, as I know is true for many others, gardening is extremely therapeutic. When I'm having a tough day, if I go spend even half an hour in my garden weeding or moving dirt or raking, any worries will wash away. For me, connecting back with the earth, planting, getting my hands in the dirt, centers and grounds me, and reminds me of what is important. There's something so natural and harmonious about working with the earth to grow food.

Last night, I remembered how much growing a garden is an essential part of who I am. One summer during graduate school, I spent the summer doing stream surveys for freshwater mussels. I worked alone much of that time. Each day I'd get up, check in with the biologist (I was living/working out of the Wenatchee National Forest in Eastern Washington State), then head out to the creek. Where I lived was fairly remote. So, in my free time I hiked, put in a compost, and a small garden. Talk about rocky sandy soils. But, for me it was just what I needed to do. Last night reminded me how essential gardening is for my being, and how much I had been missing when I wasn't able to garden.

I really believe half of our socieatal problems are due to our disconnect from nature. We get in our cars without thinking about the costs to our environment, and the health and culture of those communities whose livelihoods are directly linked to or impacted by oil extraction. We buy food, turn on the tap for water, flush the toilet, all without thinking where it's coming from or going to, and the resources of energy and people required to keep these systems going. I think that's in part why growing my own food is so satisfying. Of course, my life is still tied to oil as is many others. But the more and more we think about conserving the resources we do have, the more healthy and better off our lives will be.

In that regard, there are lots of positive opportunities to make this shift. So, get involved and let's work together to make positive change. See my next post for some more great events on the topic of sustainability happening here in Saratoga and beyond.

More on bikes

So much happening these days. Planted my garden early this morning, CFL challenge in full swing and I signed up to be a block leader, and now that the weather has turned nice I am back on two wheels.

One great thing about my bicycle is that a few years ago I invested in two metal fold-out carry baskets which hang off the back sides of my bike. They are super easy to use, fold in and out for when I need them or not, and all my "stuff" fits in them - my purse, my carry bag with calendar and notebook, and my computer bag.

I am really trying to ride whenever I can. I was tempted yesterday to drive my car, especially since it was a hot day and I had meetings both downtown and the westside. Instead, I packed a change of shoes (professional look), my water bottle and lunch, filled the two carriers with all my stuff and made my way downtown.

A few weeks ago I noticed that the 'summer' traffic in Saratoga seemed to be picking up. If you've not experienced the joys of getting on your bike and getting around town faster than most cars, I encourage you to try it. I travel side streets and less travelled roads when I can, but I'm also becoming more comfortable with riding in downtown traffic and doing what cyclists call 'taking the lane.' This means riding in the middle of the road as if a vehicle. If traffic is slow enough, it's actually better than vehicles trying to get around you on narrow double-lane roads.

Since May is Bike Month, there's been a lot of bicycle-focused events and activities. Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network's Bike to Work Day last Friday was a great success, with over 200 participants. Below is a video from fellow bike commuter Dave Levesque, recording his bike commute into town that day.


I'm also posting a really cool video of bicycle commuters in the city of Utrecht, the 4th largest city in the Netherlands. I have good friends who live in the Netherlands. When I visited them a few years back, their only mode of transportation was 2 bikes, foot, bus and tram. They raised two young children without a vehicle. Each bike is fitted with a child seat on the front and back, and two paniers on the back. I can write from experience, these are hefty bikes. You have to be in pretty good shape to bike with two small kids and groceries in your paniers. But, they did it. It's difficult to describe what it's really like living in a community where bicyclists and pedestrians have the right of way and transportation planning for automobiles is secondary. Here is the video of a typical morning commute in Utrecht (via a Facebook posting by a friend in Albany.) Enjoy and be inspired!

Bicyclists - see you on the streets tomorrow

Lots of bicyclists have hit the road this week to take part in Bike to Work week. I was in Albany earlier this week and was pleasantly surprised even there to see so many obvious bicycle commuters. So, I am ready to hop on my bike tomorrow for the Annual Bike to Work/School Day.

Just a reminder that the folks from the Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network (SHTN) will be in front of the Saratoga Arts Center tomorrow (Friday) morning from 7-9am providing goodies for those who stop by on foot or bicycle as part of Bike to Work/School day.

Come celebrate/support SHTN later in the day at their "Friend-raiser" event at the Olde Saratoga Brewery, from 4-7pm. For $25 you get a membership to SHTN, food, live music, and enjoy the Bike to Work/School awards ceremony at 5:30 (for an extra $5 you can bring along a friend).

I'll save my 'the day I crashed on my bike the one time I was riding w/o a helmet and ended up in emergency care' story for another time (except to say I was lucky to walk away with only a scrape on my head, and achy body for a few days.) But hopefully that will be enough to encourage you to remember to wear a helmet and ride safe. See you on the streets.

Bicyclists Bring Business - Roundtable Discussion Tonight

Bicyclists Bring Business

Here's an interesting free roundtable discussion tonight for local businesses, community leaders and interested citizens, to discover how to profit from the areas growing trails tourism market.

Monday, May 17, 6-8pm, in Schuylerville
Saratoga Town Hall, corner of Rt 29 (Spring St & Rt 4)

Hosted by Hudson Crossing Park & the Champlain Canalway Trail Working Group

RSVP to Parks & Trails NY, 518-434-1583, B3roundtable@ptny.org

May Bike Events

If you've been considering getting back on your bike, the month of May is a great time to do it. Not just because the weather warms up (though the rain last week did damper my riding.) But, because May is Bike Month. The Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network, Saratoga's bicycling & pedestrian friendly advocacy group is sponsoring several events for bike enthusiasts, both new and seasoned riders.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 12th
Free Safe Riding Seminar
6-8 pm, Sussmann Room of Saratoga Library
Learn commuting tips, safe riding skills, and much, much more in this free seminar sponsored by SHTN. This course usually costs $20 per person, so come take advantage of this opportunity to learn from a certified instructor - Tamara Flanders of the League of American Cyclists. This is a great opportunity to learn/relearn riding rules and safety.

Friday, May 21st - Bike to Work Day Challenge
Join SHTN for their Second Annual Saratoga Bike to Work Day Challenge (Friday, 5/21). Companies with workplaces in Saratoga County are encouraged to form Bike To Work teams. Trophies will be awarded in various categories. Go to their website, www.healthytransportation.org to Register and see current team standings!
Check out photos from last year's Bike to Work Day.
Free breakfast for anyone who walks, rides or takes public transportation to work in Saratoga Springs. Stop by the table in front of the Arts Center at Spring St. and Broadway from 7-9 AM.

Last year was a lot of fun. If you haven't signed up yet I encourage you to do so. Last year's team winner was the Quad Graphic's Team. This year I'm signing up with the Empire State College team (the largest team thus far.)

hanging laundry on the line

Yup, I did it. A few weeks ago I strung the clothesline I bought last fall. Overall I'm enjoying the zen-like quality of the chore of hanging laundry, but it has required some adjustment. I have several small garden beds in my backyard, so when I first hung up clothes on the line I realized they were hanging right over my soon-to-be herb bed. So this morning I went out to adjust the clothesline again, to move it away from the circular bed. As I hung up clothes to dry I could hear my mother's voice, "Girls, one of you hang up the clothes on the line."

Growing up, we had a clothesline in our back yard for as long as I could remember. With seven kids, my mother spent most of her time either cooking or doing laundry. I suppose to save money, she always hung the clothes on the line to dry whenever possible. (Plus, back then, everyone had clotheslines.) She used the outdoor clothesline for half of the year and then an inside clothesline in the basement during winter time. That wasn't always as effective, and when things really wouldn't dry one of us would resort to the dryer. Still, I'm sure she saved a lot of money by not using the dryer.

I realized, as a kid, hanging up the laundry was one of the chores I really never minded. Perhaps it's doing a chore that requires you to be outside and get some fresh air. Or, it may be the zen-like quality of the work, requiring focus on how to hang the item, etc, which brings you right into the moment of what you are doing. Since my first initial "hurrying" to hang my clothes on the line and get to my office, I've now come to enjoy it. It does require some coordination. One day I had to rush home to get the clothes off the line before it rained. I'm still using my dryer some, but much less than I did prior to the clothesline being up.

My initial impetus to get a clothesline were several friends who have them. Last fall when my EcoLocal friend Dave and his wife Brenda were at my house for a gathering, he asked me, "So, where's your clothesline?" He was surprised I didn't have one, and so was I, for not thinking of it. A few weeks later I went out and bought a simple nylon clotheseline (I think from Ocean State.) But, fall arrived and I never put it up. Then, a few weeks ago my friend Heather, who has 3 kids, told me how since she started line drying most her family's laundry (and with 3 kids she has a lot), they've saved close to $60/mo on their electricity bill by not using the dryer. She even bought clothes racks to use during the winter. (She's also the one who pointed out the zen-like quality of the chore.) So, I figured if Heather can dry her clothes on the clothesline with 3 kids, so can I.

It's been fun and relatively easy (minus the weather variable.) I hope to save some $$ and reduce my "carbon footprint" even more. Plus, it's one chore in my own household I really enjoy doing. (Now if I could only find someone who would dust.)

Community CFL Challenge

Join the Saratoga Local Living Guide's Community CFL Challenge.

The Saratoga Community CFL Challenge is a 2-month campaign that provides incentive for residents to replace standard incandescent light bulbs with energy saving compact fluorescents (CFLs). The goal of the campaign is to save residents’ $36,000 on utility bills and keep 311,100 pounds of climate changing emissions from entering the atmosphere.

This is a great opportunity to purchase CFL lightbulbs at a reduced price from Allerdice, a locally owned hardware store, reduce your energy bills and get to know your neighbors.

The Community CFL Challenge is a grassroots effort that utilizes a network of volunteers to reach out to the neighbors on their block. Neighbors are given a coupon code to use to purchase bulbs through this website or at Allerdice Building Supply.

The first Block Leader meeting is today, Monday, May 3rd at 6pm at 110 Spring St.

Go to www.locallivingguide.com/cfl for more information on how to sign up or become a block leader, reduced pricing on CFL's bulbs, and learn more about the campaign.

For more information conatct Jonathan Greene, Local Living Guide Coordinator at info@locallivingguide.com or call (518) 632-6768

'Buy Local' Opportunities this Weekend

Buy Local -
Several opportunities to 'buy local' this weekend.
First, as reported in today's Saratogian (in a nice article by Mareesa Nicosia), the Saratoga Farmer's Market moves to it's outdoor location tomorrow, Saturday, May 1st, at the High Rock Pavillion in Saratoga Springs. Market hours are 9-1pm. All market vendors come from within 40 miles of Saratoga, so shopping at the market is a great way to support local farmers & craftspersons and the local economy. Check out their website http://www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/. From the website you can join their email list to get weekly updates by Suzanne Carreker-Voigt, Market Coordinator.

Second, check out the Capital District Local First's 'Spring Buy Local Bash', to be held Sunday May 2, 2010 from 10-1:30pm at Proctor's Theater in Schenectady. According to their website, the event provides a great opportunity to showcase & support the region's locally owned independent businesses to the public.

The event is coordinated with the farmers' market in Schenectady. Sounds like a fun event.

http://capitaldistrictlocalfirst.org/AnnouncementRetrieve.aspx?ID=16944

(I am still figuring out how to insert links properly here.)

For the Love of Compost

I love compost. I love the idea of composting, I love chopping up vegetables and putting all the veggie scraps into my compost bucket under the sink, I love watching my compost pile grow and, this year, I really loved sifting through my year-old compost, shoveling two wheel barrow’s full and spreading it on my garden beds (picture above.) I generate very little garbage waste because I compost almost all of my food scraps except for meat.

To me, composting is the most simple, basic step you can take to become more sustainable. It requires a small bit of yard space, a bucket to keep under your sink to add food scraps to, a shovel, and some dirt. Lawn clippings are good to add too. It's amazing to watch the food scraps turn into nutrient-rich compost, and it's even more exciting when after a year you get to recycle all that wonderful compost back into your garden. I live on the south side of Saratoga near the State Park, so my soils are all sand. This means in order for me to grow anything besides moss I need to add compost. It was a great feeling last week to be able to spread the compost I'd been "creating" since I moved into my house over a year ago. In addition to food scraps and lawn clippings, I also add the ashes from my wood stove. I heat my house in-part with wood so the compost is a great way to "recycle" the ashes while helping to "close the loop" on my resource useage.

There is something incredibly satisfying and logical to me about composting. I lived in apartments for four years in Saratoga during which time I didn't have the space to compost nor would my landlord allow it. I always felt it such a waste when I would throw out food scraps.

Some day it would be wonderful if Saratoga Springs or the County could implement a city-wide kitchen composting program. The idea was raised at last night's Sustainable Saratoga task force meeting, and is a great one. However, implementing such a program presents many challenges. As folks mentioned last night, there are cities such as Seattle, WA and Halifax who have such programs. Someday we may be at the point of implementing a program like this. In the meantime, starting your own compost pile in your backyard, or creating a shared neighborhood compost is an excellent alternative. As with most things, education is key to implementing anything new.

Below are some links to composting sites (thanks to my Sustainable Saratoga friends Celeste and Joanne for this info)

http://earth911.com/news/2010/04/26/the-next-wave-in-composting/
http://gardening.wsu.edu/stewardship/compost/yardcomp/yard3.htm

or search “Backyard Composting” on the web for all the details on starting your own.

There are lots of other resources around on composting, which I hope others will share, and, some folks living in the community who are real experts in composting (Master Composters - similar to the Master Gardener's program.) The more info the better.

(And, here's a link to an article I wrote for the Saratoga Scene on composting
http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2009/07/08/entertainment/scene/doc4a54ce900456e659458051.txt)

I hope some folks will get inspired.

electronics recycling - there is a fee

Electronics Recycling - Bring some $$ with you. Just found out it's .25 cents/lb for printers, computers, and .35 cents for TV's, etc. Part of proceeds to benefit Caroline St School Garden. Still worth it, apologies for any frustration for that missing detail.

Electronics Recycling Day in Saratoga - Saturday 4/24

If you've been holding onto your outdated/broken electronics equipment, here's the opportunity we've all been waiting for to recycle it!

April 24th - 9-1 pm Saratoga Springs
Electronics recycling day Saratoga Springs
Caroline Street School

More info at www.ersiRecycling.com

Celebrate Earth Day at Fun Saratoga PLAN Event on Saturday

Clifton Park Garden Party (aka Wild Lupine planting party).
Type:Trips - Group Trip
Date:Saturday, April 24, 2010
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Just off exit 10 at Ushers Rd. call for direction 587-5554 x 3
Description

On Saturday, April 24th from 10am- 3pm, Saratoga P.L.A.N. (Preserving Land and Nature) will host a “Lupine Planting Party” at their Karner Blue Butterfly Restoration site in Clifton Park. This child-friendly event is free to the public, but volunteers are asked to call for directions. Volunteers will learn how to plant seeds, about the ecological history of the area and more.

Anyone wanting to come to the event should contact P.L.A.N. at 587-5554 x 3. Please wear good boots.

The restoration site, occurring in Clifton Park just off of Ushers Rd., was made possible by a long history of collaboration between Saratoga P.L.A.N., Assemblyman Robert Reilly, The Town of Clifton Park, The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and several local volunteer groups.

In December 2008, members of Clifton Park highway department braved the snow, wind, and even ice storms to help out. They operated an excavator (donated by Caterpillar Corporation) and cleared vegetation to open over an acre of butterfly habitat at the 3-acre site managed by Saratoga P.L.A.N. Their work made it possible for volunteers (in Spring 2009) to plant Wild Blue Lupine (The Karner Blue’s larvaes’ only host plant) on its preferred habitat of sandy soil with full sunlight. The site now includes thousands of mature lupine plants, with another 2 pounds of lupine seeds to be planted at this “Planting Party”.

Anyone wanting to come to the event should contact P.L.A.N. at 587-5554 x 3.

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Earth Days Trailer

Every Day Should Be Earth Day

The other day someone asked me what I was doing for Earth Day. My first response was, ’launching this blog.’ (which btw - was enough for one earth day.) Then she said, ‘Oh, I’m sure you’ll be doing something special outdoors.’ That’s when I thought, huh, I often don’t do anything particular on Earth Day. Perhaps I should not admit this in my first blog post, but I suppose it’s because to me, every day should be Earth Day. Later that evening while cooking dinner I thought more about why this is. I suppose having worked in the Environmental field for close to 20 years now, having spent many hours of volunteer time on environmental projects, written local stories on environmental issues and “going green”, and teaching part-time in Environmental studies the past five years, every day for me is like Earth Day. Every day I try to be conscious of the resources I am using - how much I drive, whether I am eating local, etc etc. However, I am far from living a sustainable life. But I want to be. That's why I am starting this blog. For me in part it’s to push myself to really live more sustainably, by doing such things as converting my lawn to garden, making a much bigger commitment to bicycling regularly, and overall reducing my waste, energy and resource useage.

So this Earth Day - the 40th at that - I’m recommitting myself. I’m going to put up the clothesline I bought last year and hang my clothes outside to dry. I’m going to buy a clothes rack for drying inside (wood stove’s generate great heat for that.) I’m going to once again start turning off my hot water heater during part of the day, along with the garden and biking more. Now that I work more on the west side of town, it’s a longer ride than to Broadway, but I will do it. And, I’m going to start riding the bus when I can. 

So is there something you can do to take that extra step, go that extra mile for Earth Day?

I hope to create here a fun forum to share ideas, resources, and things other people are doing. There are plenty of people in Saratoga “going green” and living more sustainably. I hope others will share what they know too so we can build a community of people and resources interested in sharing and supporting one another.

And, let me know what special thing(s) you did this week to Celebrate Earth Day.

(I rode my bike into town, had a pleasant walk in the state park, and prepped for our 'green' bike riders - some of us from Sustainable Saratoga will be riding in the Artis Parade on Saturday at the Mardi Gras celebration on Beekman St.)

By the way - as one of the co-founders of the Sustainable Saratoga Task Force, I encourage anyone interested in getting involved to attend our next task force meeting. We have lots of great projects happening this year. So, come hear Joe Miranda, Saratoga County Recycling Coordinator, speak about recycling in the county on Tues, April 27 from 7-9pm at the Saratoga Springs City Hall, 3rd floor music hall.


Happy 40th Earth Day!

Amy Stock

Sustainable Living One Day at a Time