Happy New Year & Still Time to Make a Donation to Your Favorite Enviro Group

(Paddling Blue Mountain Lake, NY, photo A. Stock)


I’ve been receiving a number of emails from some of my favorite environmental groups reminding me there is still time to make a donation and receive the tax benefit. So, I thought I would pass along links to some of the groups whose work I follow, support, appreciate (or admittedly, employ me :)

Though economic times are tough, now more than ever, every dollar counts for non-profits.

One of my favorite groups which reaches far back to my childhood is the Fresh Air Fund, www.freshairfund.org. I have fond memories of ‘fresh air fund’ kids coming to Gloversville, where I grew up in upstate NY, staying with various friend’s families. As someone who was raised in a predominantly white, middle-class (at the time) community, these kids from the city raised my curiosity.

I remember asking my mother once if we could have a ‘fresh air kid’ sometime. She balked. She had seven of her own kids to feed and take care of each summer, plus a husband and father-in-law, all on one income. Still, we all agreed it was a worthwhile idea, this group which brought city kids up to the country.

I still recall talking with one of the kids about his experience in Gloversville and him saying he’d never been out of the city. Most of the kids were of similar upbringing - had never spent any time out of the city, so a day in the country and swimming at a lake was truly a first-time experience for them.

Somewhere in me, I knew I felt grateful for having grown up with the natural world as my playground. To this day, as a teacher of environmental studies, I find learning about the environment and creating an ethic of appreciation for it, is best done through direct experience with nature.

I’ve since had adult students who also grew up in the city. Most have some love for nature and animals, but also, most of what they know is through TV. When teaching at Bryant and Stratton College, I always made a point to take my students on a field trip to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. One woman, six-months pregnant and who remained mostly silent the entire field trip, told me after, ‘Ms Stock, this was the best experience I’ve ever had.’

That’s why this year, I’m supporting the Fresh Air Fund.

I hope you too will make a donation to your favorite charity, whether environmental or other.

Have a safe and happy New Year!
Amy

Below is a list of some of the nonprofits who are doing important work in the Saratoga-Capital Region, Hudson Valley, and beyond. Most have links to donate online. So, take a moment and consider donating today.
















(Students from Troy High School sell produce they've grown as part of Capital District Community Gardens Produce Project, an urban-farm based entrepreneurial job training program for at-risk youth in Troy, photo courtesy CDCG)

Capital District Community Gardens, www.cdcg.org
Saratoga P.L.A.N., http://www.saratogaplan.org/
Agricultural Stewardship Association, http://www.asa.org/
American Farmland Trust, http://www.aft.org/
Northeast Land Trust Alliance, http://www.northeastlta.org/
Regional Farm and Food Project, http://http//www.facebook.com/pages/Regional-Farm-and-Food-Project/124251794716Sustainable Saratoga, http://www.sustainablesaratoga.com/
The WILD Center, http://www.wildcenter.org/
Ashokan Nature Center, http://www.ashokancenter.org/
Kingston Land Trust, http://www.kingstonlandtrust.org/
Woodstock Land Conservancy, http://www.woodstocklandconservancy.org/
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, http://www.clearwater.org/
Scenic Hudson, http://www.scenichudson.org/
National Audubon Society, http://www.audubon.org/
Conservation International, http://www.conservation.org/
Northeast Permaculture Institute, http://www.thepine.org/
The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, http://www.ecostudies.org/
Sustainable Hudson Valley, sustainhv.org
Lake George Land Conservancy, http://www.lglc.org/
Children & Nature Network, http://www.childrenandnature.org/
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, http://www.wiltonpreserve.org/
Parks & Trail NY, http://www.ptny.org/
Sustainable South Sound, http://www.sustainablesouthsound.org/
The Resiience Hub, http://www.theresiliencehub.org/
Fresh Air Fund, http://www.freshairfund.org/


(North end of Lake George, NY, photo, A. Stock)

Happy Holidays - Winter Solstice, Hannukah, Christmas

It is no wonder to me why so many holidays occur around this same time of year, the winter solstice - the darkest day of the year.
At winter solstice, we enter into the stillness of winter, of the cold, allowing whatever must be let go, let go. At the same time, we celebrate the return of the light, as the earth makes it transit, yet again, around the sun. Solstice gives us a time to gestate new ideas, new thoughts, and new ways of being we want for our lives.

I personally enjoy the winter solstice as it marks for me the ending of one year, and beginning of another. It provides a moment to look at all I have learned, how my life has been going, what I've accomplished, or not, and how I want it to go for the coming year.

I have this quote on a little inspirational card someone gave to me years ago,

The quote says,

"The world is round, and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning." by Ivy Baker Priest

I love this quote. It reminds me at this time of year, that the end of one year also ushers in the beginning of another. So as we hustle and bustle about our lives for the holidays, celebrating in whatever way we may - I wish you all the peace and joy of the returning light. May you celebrate ALL the lessons and joy of the past year, and welcome in even more joy for the coming year.

And remember, at least as I try to, it is often the simple things in life which can bring us the most joy - a smile from a friend, the funny words of a three year old, or the laughter of the clerk behind the counter when you share a joke. Sometimes the small things have the greatest impact.

And, don't forget to shop local - in my opinion, one of the most 'green' things you can do :)

Thank you to all who have read and enjoyed my blog. I look forward to writing more in the coming year, examining sustainability in a deeper way, and on a larger scale.

I want to end sharing a really great video to watch - a wonderful gift and reminder of the small wonders of everyday life. A look at Life In A Day of people around the globe - how they live their lives, their values, friends, challenges and joys. A study of similarities, contrasts, contradictions and interconnectedness of all our lives, complex and yet entirely simple. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/user/lifeinaday?feature=watch

Living with the change of seasons

I have a friend who a few years back wrote to me in an email, 'we're all doing good here. Our life seems to have its own seasons now.'

I woke this morning remembering how much I try sometimes to resist change, and particularly, the change of seasons. I was reminded this morning, as I rose at 6:30, just a bit before the sunrise, that though we are only in early December we are actually in the darkest time of the year.

December 21st, just a few weeks away, marks the Winter Solstice - the darkest day of the year in the northern hemisphere - when the earth is furthest from the sun. As I deal with my busy schedule - end of semester grading, preparing for a family xmas, and other life and work responsibilities, I paused this morning to remember and reflect on how disconnected I can get sometimes from the rhthyms of nature, and yet, how much my body and soul are influenced and directed by those rhthyms.

My body wants to huddle in bed, read a book, sit and meditate, whereas, my spirit is driven to get to work, attend that conference, go out and run. I sleep more in the winter, and that old winter weight is desperately trying to gain itself on.

Now that I own a house and I heat my house, in part, with a woodstove - I have come to be more and more mindful of the impending winter. Fall also means the time for stacking wood, preparing kindling, mulching garden beds, and generally ensuring I've finished my raking (not quite) and put away other outside items.

Still, this doesn't always mean I like the cold, but each year, I force my body and brain to embrace it.

It is however, hard for me to remember, or rather accept, the change of seasons. Perhaps because I love the fall, and, I had a particularly inspiring fall season, November seemed to trick me in wanting to believe winter won't come. Again, my body told me it was time to slow down. This year, just at the change of seasons and change of clocks, I got a major cold. I was sick for weeks, which is actually quite unusual for me. I know it was in part because the change of seasons was telling me: slow down, take your time, and prepare.

That is perhaps the message for me, of winter. And what, I believe, my friend Lisa referred to in her email to me. Just as spring is planting time of new seeds and ideas, summer the time of joy of new growth, and fall the time of abundance and harvest - winter is the time to rest, reflect, take stock, and prepare for the coming year.

As the daylight retreats and the cold approaches, I hope you'll each take the time to reflect on the changes of seasons in your own life, and remember in gratitude just how much we are reliant upon this earth, and one another, for our sustenance.

I want to close with a quote from a section of Aldo Leopold's 'A Sand County Almanac', which I'm reading for one of my classes:

February - Good Oak

There are two spiritual dangers in now owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnance.

To avoid the first danger, one should plant a garden, preferably where there is no grocer to confuse the issue.

To avoid the second, he should lay a split of good oak on the andirons, preferably where there is no furnace, and let it warm his shins while a February blizzard tosses the trees outside. If one has cut, split, hauled, and piled his own good oak, and let his mind work the while, he will remember much about where the heat comes from, and with a wealth of detail denied to those who spend the weekend in town astride a radiator.

Film and Food Festival - Saratoga Nov 17-20

Don't miss this great lineup of films this week at Saratoga Film Forum, focused on some of the most critical and contemporary issues facing food and farming in our country.

Thursday
Vanishing of the Bees
Thurs., Nov. 17th, 7:30 p.m. Directed by George Langworthy and Maryam HeneinUSA2009
2009's Vanishing of the Bees is stinging documentary that investigates the economic, political, and ecological implications of the worldwide disappearance of the honeybee due to the tragic phenomenon known as "Colony Collapse Disorder."

Our screening of Vanishing of the Bees will be followed by a panel discussion.
Speakers include: Nate Darrow, Saratoga Apple--From a long line of Vermont applekeepers, Nate Darrow and his wife Christine Gaud took over the third-generation commercial apple orchard and farm stand, Saratoga Apple, in 1994. They also cultivate raspberries, cherries asparagus, plums, and other bee-dependent fruits. Darrow uses both wild bees and European honeybees he rents from beekeepers to pollinate his fruit.

Anne Frey, EAS Master Beekeeper--Anne Frey has kept bees since 1989, but has only considered herself a beekeeper since 1994. She worked for a commercial beekeeper from 2000 to 2003, became an Eastern Apicultural Society (EAS) Master Beekeeper in 2002, and from 2003 to 2007 was president of Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association (SABA). She currently raises hardy northern queens and runs 20 hives in New York State.

Justin Stevens, Betterbee, Inc.--Second-generation beekeeper Justin Stevens is the manager of the Greenwich-based family business, Betterbee Inc, which not only sells honey but has developed more than 30 products for the beekeeping community, and routinely offers workshops in hive management and mite control. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala, Stevens worked with indigenous beekeepers and their Africanized honeybees. He has been keeping bees all his life.

Prior to the screening we will feature a special performance by Jonathan Greene of Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Flight of the Bumblebee."
Official Web site for Vanishing of the Bees
Vanishing of the Bees at the Internet Movie Database


Friday
Urban Roots
Fri., Nov. 18th, 7:30 p.m.Directed by Mark MacInnisUSA2011
Documentary about the spontaneous emergence of urban farming in the city of Detroit. In a city with the most vacant lots in the country, a small group of dedicated citizens has started an urban environmental movement with the potential to transform not just a decaying city, but perhaps a country after the end of its industrial age.

Our screening of Urban Roots will be followed by a panel discussion. Speakers
include: Abby Lublin, Collard City Growers
Patricia Salkin, Assoc. Dean and Director, Government Law Center of Albany Law School--Patricia E. Salkin is the Raymond & Ella Smith Distinguished Professor of Law at Albany Law School where she is also Associate Dean and Director of the Government Law Center. She is the author of the 5-volume American Law of Zoning and the 4-volume New York Zoning Law & Practice. She is a member of the the US EPA's National Environmental Justice Advisory Council and she has recently written a number of articles related to legal issues with urban agriculture including articles on regional foodsheds, backyard chickens and neighborhood beekeeping.

Official Web site for Urban RootsUrban Roots at the Internet Movie Database


Saturday
Spring Street Classic Film Series
The Grapes of Wrath
Sat., Nov. 19th, 7 p.m.Directed by John Ford Screenplay by Nunnally Johnson, based on the novel by John Steinbeck USA129 min.1940Not Rated

This month's Spring Street Classic Film fits in nicely with our Farm and Food Film Festival. John Ford's classic film, based on John Steinbeck's novel, follows the Joads on their arduous trek from Dustbowl-era Oklahoma to the "promised land" of California, and they seek work and opportunity in the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Low & Lonesome, featuring Phil Drum & Rob Adkins will play Depression-era songs before our screening of The Grapes of Wrath.

The Grapes of Wrath will be screened at the Spring Street Gallery, 110 Spring Street.Admission is free. The Grapes of Wrath at the Internet Movie Database


Sunday
The Greenhorns
Sun., Nov. 20th, 3 p.m.Directed by Severine von Tscharner FlemingUSA2010

Armed with a camcorder, farmer/filmmaker/activist Severine von Tscharner Fleming spent two years crisscrossing America, meeting and mobilizing a network of revolutionary young farmers. The Greenhorns is an ode to their grit and entrepreneurial spirit, an exploration of sustainable agriculture, and an enticement to reclaim our national soil.

Our screening of The Greenhorns will include a panel discussion featuring:
Cara Fraver and Luke Deikis, Quincy Farm--After three years working for other farmers in the Hudson Valley, they started off on their own this spring, founding Quincy Farm in Easton, and cultivating just under three acres for the Glens Falls, Schenectady, and Ballston Spa farmers' markets. Despite a challenging first season, they look forward to expanding production for 2012, as well as adding a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to their market outlets.

Michael Kilpatrick, Kilpatrick Family Farm--Michael Kilpatrick is a young, first-generation farmer who is the owner and leader of Kilpatrick Family Farm. The farm, a mixed vegetable and animal operation, specializes in providing vegetables, meat, and eggs through their year round CSA and farmer's markets. Michael and his crew farm 12-15 acres of vegetables, 100 acres of hay/pasture and 1/3 of an acre of covered production in and around Granville, NY on mostly rented land.

Teri Ptacek, Executive Director, Agricultural Stewardship Association--Teri Ptacek has been the executive director of the Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) in Greenwich for over eight years. A land trust that protects farmland in Washington and Rensselaer Counties, the breadbasket of the Capital District, ASA stewards over 12,000 acres, 83 properties, with 19 more farms in the works. Before heading up ASA, Teri was the director of the American Farmland Trust, in Saratoga Springs.

Sunday's screening will also include a special food event. Local chefs will provide appetizers made with local ingredients, as well as homemade desserts.
Participating restaurants include:
Official Web site for The GreenhornsThe Greenhorns at the Internet Movie Database

Doing what you love is sustainable

So many of us are so busy with all our various obligations: work, family, kids, houses, mates, that we forget sometimes to make time to do the things we really love.

I was reminded this weekend of one of the things I used to love - birdwatching, which, I haven't really actively done in a long time. I'm actually okay with this, as I've come to discover other activities I enjoy, or should I say, just happen to be priorities at this time in my life.

One - is running, and the second - is writing. I've actually run on and off for exercise since I was in high school. Only in the past year, and perhaps even the past four to five months, have I discovered the joy I can get out of pushing my body to go farther or faster than I thought I could. Of course, running also triggers lots of feel-good endorphins, as does most exercise, so that's an added bonus. There is however, something fabulous about pushing your limits.

The mornings when I run and write are the days which just flow, and are the most even and balanced. The two activities seem to balance me in just the right way. I think because they are two activities I absolutely must do - my body, my soul, call it what you will, but it's like my entire being is boosted when I do these two things.

There is something really magical about the power of training. Just as when I run more and longer, I train my body to handle longer distances, the same is true of writing. The more I write, and the more time I spend crafting my words carefully, the stronger a writer I become. Both of course, like life in general, are works in progress.

Though I could be using my running time to do other things, for me, this is sacred time I need to remain healthy and balanced. And, when we are healthy and balanced is when we bring our best selves to whatever work or task is in front of us, or contribution which is calling us.

I've also discovered a wonderful community of runners. Ironically, many of my friends have been running for years - good friends from high school, past jobs, etc - all run. I knew they were runners, but I never really understood it as something they'd committed to.

Finally, I've discovered the many benefits. Perhaps it's our tribal nature, but there is also some uncanny bond or connection when you talk with someone who runs, participate in or watch a race. You want each person to succeed, and you want to motivate one another. This is also one of the great benefits of running, from my dental hygienist who encouraged me to run my first 5K, to my friend out west who's been training for marathons for over five years, sometimes by our own committment and action, we encourage each other to become our best.

Cultivating discipline, endurance, committment and steadfastness in any activity, whether running, writing, or gardening, especially one we love, can only lead to greater opening and joy. How can this be anything other than essential to sustainable living!

Figs, Fig Wasps, and Pollinators in Decline Symposium

Below is an interesting link/information I received earlier today about an upcoming symposium on the decline of pollinators. This particularly caught my attention since I'm teaching a course on Biology of Ecosystems, and was just reading in one of the texts, Noah's Garden, how fig plants are reliant upon the fig wasp for pollination, and how one gardener's figs didn't fruit because there were no fig wasps to pollinate.

Sounds crazy - I know. Here's a link to some fig 'fanatics', that is, biologists who study figs and fig wasps. And, if you're not believing me, here's a link to an image that describes the process. In scientific terms, this relationship between the fig plant and the fig wasp is called mutualism.

(Double-click the image to read it. Source: Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com/bps/media-view/19378/0/0/0)

So, here's a concept, we wouldn't have much of our food resources without our pollinators, so pollinators = sustainability.


Onto the Symposium Announcement:

International Symposium Addresses the Pollinator Declines

WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER19, 2011, --/WORLD-WIRE/-- One out of everythird bite of food we consume comes from plants that depend on beesand other pollinating animals for reproduction, yet Colony CollapseDisorder continues to plague honey bees, stump researchers, and alarmthe agricultural community. While many people are aware of pollinatordeclines, very few know how they can help. Now is the chance!

A week of brainstorming and technology transfer between NorthAmerica’s leading pollinator scientists and stakeholders at the 11thAnnual North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC)International Conference will begin with a film screening for thepublic and press of “The Strange Disappearance of the Bees” at theSmithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s Baird Auditorium onTuesday October 25th at 3:30 PM. Attendees will have a chance toparticipate in a question and answer session with the leadingpollinator authorities following the film screening.

Additionally, the public is invited to join the NAPPC morningsymposium, “Our Future Flies on the Wings of Pollinators” onWednesday, October 26, 2011 from 9-11 AM featuring keynote addressesby; Bryan Arroyo, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ed Flanagan, JasperWyman & Son, Rev. Richard Cizik, The New Evangelical Partnership forthe Common Good, and more. During this public session, the Bee SmartTMMobile Planting App and the Bee SmartTM School Garden Kit willofficially be released. The Bee SmartTM School Garden Kit is gearedfor 3-6 grade classrooms interested in learning about the connectionbetween pollinators, food, and people. The Bee SmartTM Mobile PlantingApp is the only pollinator planting app available for smartphones, andprovides nearly 1,000 different planting suggestions based on the typeof pollinator habitat gardeners want to create. “These new toolsgive hands-on support to make a real difference for bees and allpollinators,” said Laurie Davies Adams, ED of the PollinatorPartnership (P2), the 501(c)3 that oversees NAPPC.

The public will also witness the signing of a Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MOU) between P2 and the National Park Service. With thesigning of the new MOU, the total acreage influenced by P2 to promotepollinators will be tipped close to 2 billion acres.

Recipients of the Pollinator Advocate Award will be honored for thework they done for pollinators in local gardens (Dr. Clement Kent –Canada), along utility rights-of-way (Jimmy Brown – USA), acrossagricultural landscapes (Peter and Laura Berthelsen – USA), and atmigration overwintering sites (Dr. Isabel Ramirez – Mexico) at theTuesday VIP evening reception. P2 supporter Spring44 will be at thisevent sweetening the reception with specially crafted cocktails madefrom their signature Honey Vodka; this sustainable spirit is availablenationally and each purchase supports P2’s pollinator conservation.

The NAPPC Symposium is a unique opportunity to get the latest insightson why pollinators matter, what you can do to help pollinators, andwhat are the benefits, challenges, and outcomes anticipated across thecontinent in the next decade. Please join NAPPC and explore theinteraction between humans, plants and pollinators, broadening ourunderstanding of the role pollinators play in major issues facingNorth America. Visit http://www.nappc.org/ to RSVP and learn more about theseevents.

Managed by the non-profit Pollinator Partnership, NAPPC is acollaborative effort of over 130 organizations in the U.S., Canada,and Mexico whose common goal is to promote awareness of the essentialrole that pollinators play in food systems and ecosystems, and toprovide the public with simple, effective ways to engage inenvironmental stewardship.

To learn more about the North AmericanPollinator Protection Campaign visit http://www.nappc.org/ or the PollinatorPartnership visithttp://www.pollinator.org.

CONTACT:
Tom Van Arsdall
tva@pollinator.org <mailto:tva@pollinator.org>
t: 703 509 4746

Olivia Jacobsen
oj@pollinator.org <mailto:oj@pollinator.org>
t: 415.362.1137

10 life lessons learned

It's been quite a while since I posted here. Sometimes life just gets busy...work, more work, house, exercise, meditate, garden, play...it all takes time.

However, in my commitment to follow through on those things I say I will do, below is my top 10 list of 'insights' I came away with on my trip this summer out to the Pacific Northwest to visit friends.

Most are inspired by the stories and experiences shared with people I have known a long time, some almost twenty years. Most were friends who were at one time a daily part of my life, but now mostly we exchange occasional 'hello' and 'how are you' messages via Facebook.

I spent a lot of time one on one, catching up on the intricacies of life, the loves come and gone, the kids that have grown up and graduated, new jobs, illness, weddings. Life moves forward, and yet, I find with people whom I've known so intimately, we easily fall back into a familiar rhythm.

I know this post seems a bit off topic from 'sustainability', but living sustainably, in my opinion, means cultivating deep community. My community expands far beyond the borders of Saratoga, where I live. I still rely upon these friends, near and far, to help nurture and support my creativity and sense of purpose, as I hope I do for them. Of course, cultivating community locally is really essential for what I call deep sustainability. Still, these connections we have with people who live afar are equally important, though perhaps less frequent. Some simply feed some aspect of our soul, and keeping those connections is essential.

So, here's my list of the top 10 great insights/reminders I came away with - inspired by my Oly friends!

1) Good friends who care deeply about you will always be your friends regardless of where you are located - learn to carry them in your heart and you can call upon them at any time.
2) Love takes time - the kind that's really lasting anyways. And sometimes, 'being in love just isn't enough', as one friend said to me of her brief but passionate long-distance romance
3) There is always someone whose life experience has been more difficult than your own - learn from those people's challenges and strengths
4) Change happens - to us all
5) Keep in touch with the people you care about-sometimes they need you more than you might expect
6) Love deeply and care about what you do
7) Laugh a lot!
8) Sometimes it's not so essential to take everything so seriously
9) Enjoy what you have while you have it
10) Be thankful !

It may all seem so simple, but sometimes we need simple reminders to be thankful. Life can change instantly, as I learned of one friend who had a serious illness come upon fast.

And, as people come and go in our lives, there will always be those constancies. They can help you get through the tough times. In the meantime, reaching out to people near you - like my neighbors with whom I share a kindred feeling of 'neighborliness'. We even gardened together this summer. Sharing resources, ideas, information, creativity - that's an essential part of a thriving life, and, in my opinion, for building deep community and sustainability...

So, connect with an old friend, and have a cup of coffee with your neighbor - both may surprise and delight you.

Mid-summer dream

Sorry it has been some time since I posted. I was out of town in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) for two weeks, while most of the east coast sweltered in 100+ degree weather. While I was away, some of my garlic dried up (boo hoo), but otherwise life went on and my garden is slowly growing.

This was a significant journey as I lived out west for nine years, so it's much like going home, except this time I felt more like a tourist than resident. I've now lived back on the east coast for ten years - one more year than I did out west.

I knew I'd become a true east coaster when about 20 minutes into the drive down I-5 toward Olympia, I asked my friend who had picked me up from the airport, "So, what's with all this rain?", in true east-coast fashion, direct and to the point. I couldn't get over the gray skies and rain coming down in the middle of the day.

Granted, the PNW is experiencing an unseasonably wet and rainy summer. Typically by mid-July, the summer weather consists of sunny blue skies with temps in the 80's. Still, it does rain out there a lot the remainder of the year. I was surprised at how tall the trees were, and how dark it felt. I suppose after living on the east coast for so many years now I am more accustomed to four seasons, hot summer, warm pleasant fall, coooold winter, wet spring waiting for snow to melt.

Still, after numerous folks telling me, "be glad you're not in the heat, it's oppressive", I have in retrospect appreciated the mid-60's, low 70's temps I was in while other friends and family were boiling. Except, what I also came to realize was how intimately tied our physical bodies become to our surroundings. After our cold snowy winter, I relish walking out of my air-conditioned office building into the warm summer heat.

Ahh, still, so many wonderful things learned and experienced. I've often used the Pacific Northwest and west coast in general as a sort of sustainable living/community benchmark. For example, 'sustainability' is all the buzz-word here on the east coast, which is great! Still, the City of Olympia was talking about 'sustainability and climate change' twenty years ago - and incorporating these issues into their comprehensive plans. As always, I often have some great environmental insights, and this trip I had several environmental Aha's:

1) Food waste/yard waste composting with roadside pickup is possible! Seattle, Olympia, and many surrounding communities now have this curbside service. That's been a dream of mine for Saratoga/Capital Region for a long time. They are doing it, so it is possible!



2) Seattle/Tacoma finally constructed a major section of Light Rail, connecting downtown Seattle to Sea-Tac Airport! What a dream, and multi-modal experience. I carpooled with friends from Olympia up to the Ferry in Seattle, that took me to Bainbridge Island to visit friends. On my way back I walked by foot from my friends house down to the ferry terminal on the island, rode the ferry over to Seattle, from there walked 5 blocks to the light rail station, then rode light rail to the Airport! A great experience.

3) I was reminded of what a 'bike-friendly' city Seattle and others are. Here is my friend Bryan, who rides the ferry over to Seattle, then bikes another 40 mins to get to work - like many people who live on the Island, he and his wife share one car. The ferry terminal had an entire small building dedicated to 'bike lockers' - where commuters could pay a certain amount per month to store their bikes while they rode the ferry over to Seattle. Even the light rail train had a special area to hang bikes.





And of course, on a personal level, I had many wonderful exchanges and sharing and lessons and reminders which are always wonderful reflections and gauges of how far one has come in their personal life, and perhaps, the next direction to go. I've decided to share these in a later post.

The most important thing I learned though, is it's official, I really am an east coaster - and with that - I'm going to the beach! (Though, for the record, there is still nothing like fresh-grilled salmon from the Pacific Northwest, yes, it even beats fresh lobster from Maine - me thinks!)

Practice Inspiring Yourself

This is somewhat off topic - but an important recent experience I really want to share. And that is, I recently ran my first 5k - the Freihoffer's Run for Women in Albany a few weeks back. After, as friends asked me how it was, I realized, perhaps one of the most significant outcomes of training for and completing that run, was that I inspired my self!

I love people who inspire me - they are the kinds of folks I want in my life - friends who ask me the right questions at the right time, or help me to be kinder, or more gentle with myself and others, or pursue my dreams. And, as a teacher - I love to help inspire others.

I think I can say though, I am accustomed to looking to others to somehow inspire me. Finishing that run - running the last stretch down the Madison Ave hill and under the State Museum overhang, then crossing that finish line - I felt like a true winner. And, I was, myself and all 4,000+ other women who ran it.

Besides crossing that finish line intact, the next best outcome of the run was how my decision to run it and train for it - inspired me. I realize now it's because I took the time to set a goal, train for it, and then complete it. It's been a while since I've done training of any kind, and so on race day, as I turned the corner at the end of mile #2, I was feeling burnt out and exhausted. But then, something kicked in - and I told myself, I can do this. I've been running and training since March.

So a few days ago when a good friend asked me how the run was, I told her, most important was that I inspired myself. I've wanted to run the Freihoffers Run since I first moved to Albany in 2003. A few weeks ago - I did it! My goal was to run the entire way, no stopping or walking, and to finish it. And, I did! Now I'm looking to run another 5k in the fall - and focus on improving my time.

So, I ask others - do you have a goal or a dream - something you've wanted to accomplish but haven't? Have you been looking to or waiting for others to somehow inspire you to complete it? What can you do now to begin that goal - to accomplish or complete something this year which will Inspire Yourself?

Whatever it is - Just Begin - Just Do It - because I can promise when you cross that finish line, the most important person you will have pleased - is yourself!

It's Planting Time!

'Tis the season to be planting your garden. Like many, the past few weeks I've been cleaning up my garden beds, adding compost from my compost pile to the beds, and building up the soil using a technique called sheet mulching.

Sheet mulching is a standard permaculture technique used for growing vegetables. Rather than digging down and turning over the soil, in essence, disturbing the natural layers of soil and various organic matter and critters (think worms, and other detritus-loving invertebrates), instead, sheet mulching builds up the soil, creating additional layers.

For my existing beds, this meant a narrow layer of leaf litter, covered with single sheets of newspaper wetted-down to act as a weed barrier, then several inches of compost. Once I plant into this, I'll then cover the beds with a layer of straw. The straw helps hold in moisture.

Above is a photo of the weed-barrier step in sheet mulching, from my friends house in Maine last summer.

Sheet mulching is also an ideal technique to use when you want to convert lawn to garden. Here's a link that outlines the sheet mulch method for converting lawn to garden. They use cardboard, which is essential when trying to cut out the grass and other weeds. For existing raised beds, newspaper will suffice.

And for those interested, I also often try to follow (loosely), the Farmer's Almanace Lunar Planting Calendar. See my earlier post from last summer that discusses the technique of gardening by the moon in more detail. Here's the current lunar planting calendar for the northeast.

Happy Gardening!

Register for Bike to Work Day - Friday May 20th

Register today for Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network's 3rd annual Saratoga Bike to Work Challenge!

As a SUNY Empire State College employee and participant in last year's challenge, which by the way, the College won for most # of participants, I hear we have a serious contender this year. So, join me in registering for Bike to Work Day.

This is a great opportunity to help generate interest and awareness in bicycling and bike-safety.

In case you didn't know, May is dedicated as National Bike Month, this week is Bike to Work Week, and Friday May 20th is National Bike to Work Day,

Healthy Transportation Network is our local bicycling advocacy group, sponsoring their 3rd annual Saratoga Bike To Work Challenge.

Over 120 riders have already registered, and lots more are expected. This is a great opportunity for your Company/School/Organization to claim one of the great trophies offered (the GearHead, SteerHead, ForHead trophies)

Saratoga Springs Mayor Scott Johnson has also proclaimed May 20th Bike to Work Day in Saratoga

Healthy Transportation Network will also offer a FREE BREAKFAST at the Arts Center on Broadway Friday morning, May 20th, from 6:30 until 9 am. So stop by for a quick breakfast and support your fellow riders.

Stewart's Shops has donated coupons for ice cream cones for all participants.

Sign up today! http://www.healthytransportation.org/

Green Building Conference & EXPO - Fri April 29 - Sun May 1

Reposting - Hope some of you can make it. Check out the agenda, go to http://www.wildcenter.org/

Join us for the Upcoming
Build a Greener Adirondacks:
Green Building Conference and EXPO,
sponsored by the WILD Center, Tupper Lake, NY, April 29-May 1

This 3-day event brings together some of the leading national experts on green building and design to the North Country. For more information see below or go to http://www.wildcenter.org/.

Learn the latest in green building and energy efficiency technologies!


For Architects, Builders, Homeowners, Businesses, Students, Educators, Municipalities, & Anyone Interested in Green Building

Day 1: Green Building Training - Friday, April 29, 9am-3pm
For Builders, Contractors & Architects - a 4 hr course on the fundamentals of green building. Upon completion, participants are eligible to take a Fundamentals certification exam to obtain Green Professional (GPRO) certification on new energy efficiency and green building regulations. Additional information at www.gpro.org.
Cost: $150 Advance online registration; $160 Day of (both include admission to Days 2and 3)

Day 2: Green Building Symposium & EXPO - Saturday, April 30, 8am-5pm For Builders, Homeowners, Businesses, Municipalities, & Anyone Interested in Green Building. Over 30 building science, product and technology experts from around the northeast. Presentations on many topics: passive solar design • green building science • reclaimed lumber • effective building insulation • passive design considerations • alternative green construction techniques • and more.

Featuring leading industry experts:
Johnathan Todd, Jonathan Todd Ecological Designs, Eco-design expert in the northeast
Rob Roy, Earthwood Building School, expert on cordwood masonry & green roofs
Robert Clarke, Serious Materials, high performance windows expert
Dan Frering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, national expert on lamp lighting & efficiency

Green Building EXPO & Product Trade Show: Vendors and exhibitors displaying the newest green products, systems, & technologies.
Cost: $45 advance online registration; $55 day of. Day 2 & 3: $55 advanced online; $65 day of




Day 3: Green EXPO, Speakers & "Ask the Energy Expert" - Sunday, May 1, 10am-5pm For General Public, Homeowners, & Families - Celebrate opening day of the WILD Center with experts speaking on energy efficiency & appliances, weatherization, renovations, and an "Energy Doctor is In" booth where local experts can diagnose your home's energy efficiency ailments and provide "remedies." Green EXPO Vendors & Exhibitors, and special ’wild encounters’ for kids led by museum staff.
Cost: Members free or paid admission (adult: $15; Youth 15 & under: $9; Seniors 65+: $13; Ages 3 & under free)

Enjoying Eating Local

This morning I heard on the radio a woman reporting about the state of our economy and rising food prices. She made reference to a shortage of global food resources as part of the reason why.

I found this curious and then turned it over in mind - thinking - all the more reason to support local farmers & food producers. We need to find ways to provide farmers with funding, grants, and access to land in order to farm, particularly our youth, who may want to go into farming.

And, as I sit here at my desk working on my taxes and other paper work, I'm snacking on a wonderful plate of all locally-sourced foods: a delicious crisp Jonagold apple from Saratoga Apple in Schuylerville, a spoonful of honey from Ballston Lake Aperies (yes it does make the medicine go down too), and a splattering of quark goat cheese from Homestead Artisans in Argyle, NY.

Delicious! All bought fresh yesterday at the Saratoga Farmers Market. I hope you too will think about shopping and buying more locally grown food and produce. And there's nothing like the friendly rapport one can build with the folks who are growing your food.

Green Building Training & Expo: April 29-May 1, The WILD Center Museum

Save the Date for the Upcoming
Build a Greener Adirondacks:
Green Building Training and EXPO,
sponsored by the WILD Center, Tupper Lake, NY, April 29-May 1

This 3-day event brings together some of the leading national experts on green building and design to the North Country. For more information see below or go to http://www.wildcenter.org/.

Build a Greener Adirondacks: Green Building Training & EXPO, The WILD Center, Tupper Lake, NY, Friday April 29— Sunday May 1, 2011
http://www.wildcenter.org/

Learn the latest in green building technologies & methods!
For Architects, Contractors, Builders, Homeowners, Businesses,
Municipalities, & Anyone Interested in Green Building

Day 1: Contractor Green Building Training - Friday, April 29, 9am-3pm
For Builders, Contractors & Architects - a 4 hr course on the fundamentals of green building. Upon completion, participants are eligible to take a Fundamentals certification exam to obtain Green Professional (GPRO) certification on new energy efficiency and green building regulations. Additional information at www.gpro.org.
Cost: $150 Advance online registration; $160 Day of (both include admission to Days 2and 3)

Day 2: Green Building Symposium & EXPO - Saturday, April 30, 8am-5pm
For Builders, Homeowners, Businesses, Municipalities, & Anyone Interested in Green Building Assembling over 30 building science, product and technology experts from around the northeast. Presentations on many topics: green building science • reclaimed lumber • effective building insulation • passive design considerations • alternative green construction techniques • and more.
Featuring leading industry experts:
Johnathan Todd, Jonathan Todd Ecological Designs, Eco-design expert in the northeast
Rob Roy, Earthwood Building School, expert on cordwood masonry & green roofs
Robert Clarke, Serious Materials, high performance windows expert
Dan Frering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, national expert on lamp lighting & efficiency

Green Building EXPO & Product Trade Show: Vendors and exhibitors displaying the newest green products, systems, & technologies.
Cost: $45 advance online registration; $55 day of. Day 2 & 3: $55 advanced online; $65 day of

Day 3: Green EXPO, Speakers & "Ask the Energy Expert" - Sunday, May 1, 10am-5pm For General Public, Homeowners, & Families - Celebrate opening day of the WILD Center with experts speaking on energy efficiency & appliances, weatherization, renovations, and an "Energy Doctor is In" booth where local experts can diagnose your home's energy efficiency ailments and provide "remedies." Green EXPO Vendors & Exhibitors, and special ’wild encounters’ for kids led by museum staff.
Cost: Members free or paid admission (adult: $15; Youth 15 & under: $9; Seniors 65+: $13; Ages 3 & under free)

The Essential Nature of Self-Care

Sometimes we just have to slow down, stop, relax, and listen. With a world that seems spiraling beyond our control: unrest in Libya and other parts of the Middle East, rising gas prices, economic uncertainty, it's easy to get caught in a feeling of overwhelm.

It's important to notice when this happens. Some of us manage our daily stressors better than others. For many, financial concerns present a huge level of stress. Even so, no matter what our situation, it's important to step back from all of this swirling craziness or upset, and return to our center, our core - remembering what is most important - our health, our inner peace and happiness, the health and well being of our families.

Ultimately, we are only responsible for our own happiness. And I believe, it is from this place of honoring our own happiness, we are better able to effect the most change in the world.

I think one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and the world is to take care of your self. Whether you are a parent, an active member of the community, married, single, student, teacher, etc. Taking time for self-care is essential. How can we ever expect to effect any kind of change if we operate from a place of 'not enough' 'not good enough' 'undeserving'.

I was reminded of this important element of living, 'take care of yourself', a few weekends ago. I felt the stress in my body building up for several weeks. Some of it self-imposed, and other work deadlines, household and general living demands. And, that nagging feeling I ought to be doing something more - outside enjoying the snow, inside organizing my files, writing, grading, clearing ice, etc etc.

What I realized at the end of that busy week was, no, what I needed was to take a few hours and allow myself and my body the deep relaxation it needed.

So, I scheduled an appointment at the Roosevelt Baths. If you've never been to Roosevelt Baths, I highly recommend a trip. For $25 you get a 1/2 hour soak in the Spa mineral waters. The baths are deeper and longer than a standard bathtub. When you arrive they bring you to a waiting/relaxation room. Someone will then escort you to the bath, provide you with a robe and slippers, and set you on your way to a wonderful 1/2 hr soak. For a few dollars more you can get an herbal oil added.

When finished, they show you to the relaxation area or you can head to the sauna for more watery heat. I chose to skip the sauna and enjoyed a warm cup of tea while relaxing in one of the long reclining chairs, surrounded by peaceful music, warm green tinted walls and the gentle sound of bubbling water from the wall fountain.

I know some people who are seemingly always on the go. They fill their weekends with activities which sound great, but I often wonder, how do they have time to get anything finished? When do they simply just stop, slow down and relax? Perhaps this is one of those 'to each his/her own'.

But I think getting in touch with our own needs of our own inner soul is really essential. However you do that is great. For me, sometimes it's being in nature, sometimes writing, or sometimes simply a quiet relaxing afternoon in a healing place - the Spa, a beach on a warm day, cozying up in front of my woodstove.

From this place of peace and quietitude, we often can find the healing our soul needs, solutions to questions we may be facing, or simply that deep place of healing love acceptance and forgiveness that allows us to move on to a next phase in our lives.

In the study of Permaculture, the inner-self, is called Zone 00. The philosophy behind Permaculture is to create a home/living space, garden, land, that is in harmony with nature - that provides nourishment, creates systems that are regenerative for both the individuals and the earth resources on the site.

This first Zone 00 represents starting from within - the body, mind and spirit. From there the zones extend out to our families, systems inside the house, the immediate land surrounding your home, the forest and larger landscapes beyond.

Installing a water-retention system to capture rainwater for use in watering your garden is an example of a regenerative system. Within a family unit, communicating your needs and desires, and owning how those get met, is essential to creating harmony and peace within the family unit.

I continue to be convinced, we must continually remember to reenergize our inner-self as when we are in harmony and peace within ourselves and our relations, we allow for greater harmony and peace in other spaces and places in our homes and our lives. And this is what builds true sustainability.

Namaste
ps. Here's a link to a resource on EcoTherapy, applying permaculture principles to psychotherapy. I had this 'aha' moment in my first permaculture course - that principles of permaculture apply to all of our relationships, human and otherwise - to self, to others, to community, to nature.

Sustainable Saratoga: Local Economic Literacy 101

Just passing along info on Sustainable Saratoga's upcoming monthly educational speaker event on Local Economic Literacy 101

Local Economic Literacy 101 Community Meeting March 22, 2011 7-9 pm Lillian’s Restaurant
Sustainable Saratoga, a volunteer organization encouraging efforts to improve the quality of life in Saratoga while conserving the vitality and diversity of regional resources, invites all interested to attend the group’s monthly community meeting on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 from 7-9 p.m. in the upstairs dining room of Lillian’s Restaurant located at 408 Broadway in Saratoga Springs..

The event, dubbed “Economic Literacy 101,” will feature former Saratoga Springs Finance Commissioner and local businessman Matthew McCabe, who will discuss the underpinnings of the municipal budget for the City. He will expand on sources of the City’s revenue, including the City’s unique application of the County’s Sales Tax Formula, as well as the various expenses incurred and services provided by the City. Mr. McCabe served as Finance Commissioner on the City Council from 2004 through 2007. He will discuss policies that might build a more resilient local economy, and what steps our community could take to encourage more local ownership of businesses, provide more local manufacturing, and generate more local purchasing and procurement. Mr. McCabe will also entertain questions from the audience.

The event will also include a participatory game illustrating the funding of public goods/services, an introduction to an demographic and economic atlas of the Upper Hudson River region, and the presentation of some preliminary findings from a personal spending accounting exercise undertaken by Local Economy Committee Co-Chair Jim Zack. Audience members can expect to leave the meeting with a clearer understanding of the principles of Localism in general, as well as the economic conditions and challenges of the region.

The event is free of charge and open to the public. Dinner can be ordered off the menu upstairs from 5:30 to 6:30. Please join us to learn more about how your local economy works and why it is important to you!

Sustainable Saratoga is a volunteer organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Saratoga while conserving the vitality and diversity of regional natural, human and built resources.

For more information on Sustainable Saratoga go to www.SustainableSaratoga.com

Raptor Festival in Ft Edward, NY: March 12-13

This is a bit off the 'green' topic but it is something of interest to me, and possibly other readers.

Something few people here know or remember about me is I'm a bit of a birding enthusiast. One of my favorite days (well, there have been several), was the day I spent with a zoologist and two other serious birdwatchers getting up at 4am to scope out the birds in a proposed 300-acre natural area along the coast of western Washington State. I'll never forget that first time I caught sight of a Hairy Woodpecker climbing up a Western Hemlock tree. The thrill of being able to identify this bird was really profound.

I don't do so much birdwatching these days, but this festival looks really interesting, and a great opportunity for young and old, newbie to birdwatching or long time birder enthusiast.

Raptor Festival in Ft Edward: March 12-13

When: Sat, Mar 12, 2011 until Sun, Mar 13, 2011
Where: Little Theatre On The Farm, Fort Edward, New York
Cost: FREE ADMISSION
Don't miss the 1st Annual Winter Raptor Fest in Fort Edward this winter season! It will be a two-day celebration of the birds of prey found throughout the Washington County Grasslands IBA!

If you enjoy a rare glimpse of these creatures in their wild habitat, you will love this event! See these impressive creatures swoop, soar, and show off their skills in live demonstrations and learn more about how you can help protect the endangered and at risk birds in the area!

Celebrated regional watercolor artist, Tom Ryan, has donated a captivating original painting of a Short-eared Owl to Winter Raptor Fest 2011. Fine Art Prints, Event posters and digital prints reproduced from the Ryan painting are on sale now. View them here.

It's the first ever Winter Raptor Fest, and the first event of its kind in the region. Families and bird lovers from all over the Northeast are expected to attend, and what better setting than the Little Theatre On The Farm!?

Event Highlights:
See Hawks and owls fly through a "Tunnel of Talons" formed by youth volunteers in an amazing free-flight raptor show and watch fascinating presentations about the endangered Short-eared Owls and other birds.
Also enjoy activities for the whole family including: Guided Snowshoe Walks, Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides (or wagon rides, weather dependent), Children’s Activities, Food Concessions, Snow Sculpture Competition, and more!

Presentations & Programs Will Include:
•Talons! A Bird of Prey Experience
•The Wildlife Institute of Eastern New York – Birds of Prey
•New York State Wildlife Rehab Council
•Greenwich Citizens Committee
•North Country Wild Care
•Cloudburst Cultivated Ecology
•Birds of the Washington County Grasslands Important Bird Area
Winter Raptor Fest is a collaboration between lead sponsor Washington County Tourism Association, Friends of the Washington County Grasslands IBA and other nonprofits, local businesses and the community

Hudson Mohawk Re-Skill Festival - April 9, 2011

Forwarding from the Capital District Permaculture Guild

Mark your calendars for...
Hudson Mohawk Re-Skill Festival with Sharon Astyk

Saturday, April 9, 2011: 9a-9p
The Sanctuary for Independent Media
3361 6th Avenue
Troy, NY

A day of skillsharing and planning as we build a local network of shared
values and knowledge around urban gardens, food networking, food
preservation, passive and alternative energies, water catchment, and
social justice. Together we can manifest the critical and necessary
transition from resource-rich industrial capitalism to bioregional
sustainability and community. Workshops with many local and regional
teachers including Andrew Faust of the Center for Bioregional Living.

Sliding scale registration fee $10-30

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

9am-12pm Morning Tour of Troy Sites:
+ Troy Farmer's Market
+ Capital District Community Gardens - Gardening for Beginners: Planning
Your Garden
+ Hydroponic Window Farm with Carolyn Braunius
+ The Urban Homestead with Amy Holloran and Jack Magai
+ Troy Bike Rescue - Cargo Bike Demonstration

1-6pm Workshop List (evolving):

+ Connecting to the World Around Us - Ancient Living Skills with Felix
Lufkin
+ Trapeze with Leah Penninman (geared towards young people)
+ 'Permaculture: The Growing Edge' Starhawk video & discussion with
Nancy Weber
+ Troy Shares with Abby Lublin
+ Homemade Food Factory: Yogurt, Vegetables and Bread with Amy Halloran
and her son Francis Magai
+ Build A Biochar Kiln with Jim Welch
+ Youth Organics!
+ Working with the City with Albany Chickens and AVillage
+ Confronting our Climate Change Challenge - the Biochar Strategy with
David Yarrow

6pm: Community Potluck

7pm: Sharon Astyk, Featured Speaker

Sharon Astyk is a writer, teacher, blogger, and farmer who covers issues
ranging from agriculture to energy policy, from food preservation and
cooking to religious life and democracy. She is the author of three
books: Depletion and Abundance: Life on the New Home Front, Depletion
and Abundance, and A Nation of Farmers: Defeating the Food Crisis on
American Soil.

Featured Workshop Presenters:

Todd Fabozzi - Faculty member of Geography and Planning Department at
UAlbany, Todd will discuss how auto-oriented growth and other regional
dynamics have played out in New York's Capital District. He will also
articulate the components of ecological urbanism, showing how better
urban design can help address the fiscal, social and environmental
challenges of the 21st century.

Toxic Soil Busters - Youth Led Lead Abatement Cooperative -
Environmental Justice - Community Organizing

Scott Kellogg - co-author of The Toolbox for Sustainable City Living
presenting on Urban Regeneration

-------

Co-Sponsors: Capital District Permaculture Guild, Capital District
Transition Network, Troy Bike Rescue, Radix Ecological Center, Soulfire
Farm.

For more info go to:
http://www.mediasanctuary.org/reskill2011http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129783590424439

Top 10 'Green' Vehicles Announced & other musings

Since I've been thinking about and looking at vehicles lately, I thought I would share a few links to the just recently announced Top 10 'Green' vehicles, by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Here the List (Top 13 actually- there were some ties)
HONDA CIVIC GX (Compressed Natural Gas)
NISSAN LEAF (Electric (Li-ion bat.))
SMART FORTWO CABRIOLET / SMART FORTWO COUPE
TOYOTA PRIUS (Hybrid)
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID
HONDA INSIGHT
FORD FIESTA SFE
CHEVROLET CRUZE ECO
HYUNDAI ELANTRA
MINI COOPER
TOYOTA YARIS
MAZDA 2*
CHEVROLET VOLT (Electric (Li-ion batt.))
(note: all vehicles are gas-powered unless otherwise noted CNG, electric or Hybrid)
check out the full list/ratings here

A few comments:
1) I personally do not believe CNG (compressed natural gas), is really a viable long-term option for individual vehicles. The report notes that these vehicles are only sold in a few states, CA and NY among them. The main drawback is the infrastructure needed to 'fill up' these vehicles. CNG can be a good option for fleet vehicles such as for buses or local government public works, but until the infrastructure is there, I don't see this as viable for the average individual. If you differ - would love to hear from you.

2) Most of the gas-powered vehicles listed here are 'manual' transmissions. Personally, I prefer to drive a manual than automatic. This is however a drawback as I'm unsure our younger generations have been taught how to drive a stick-shift. Well, time to start teaching. Interesting, another benefit of 'manual' vehicles, which I and others have known for years, is they get better gas mileage :)

Diesel Vehicles Are An Option
The Best New 2011 Diesel Vehicles have also been announced. This comes from thedailygreen: the consumers guide to the green revolution. For those unaware, most of the newer diesel vehicles are designed with excellent gas mileage. Here's a link to 9 Myths and Facts about Clean Diesel Vehicles which you might find interesting.

For a long time now I've been waiting for the U.S. automobile market to finally get it's act together and start selling high mpg diesel vehicles, which have been selling in Europe for years.

As a matter of fact, I first learned about high mpg diesel vehicles on a trip to Slovakia (Slovak Republic, formerly part of Czechoslovakia) in 2005. I had the fortune of staying with a young couple and their 3 children for several days (relatives of a family friend here in U.S.). During this time, Roman, the father, and I spent a fair amount of time talking about the general state of affairs in the U.S. and Europe, while driving in his GM-made diesel vehicle that got 40+mpg.

Why, I pondered, are these vehicles not available in the U.S.? Clearly, this was a U.S. auto-maker who was manufacturing and selling these high mileage vehicles in Europe. Why not in the U.S.? Well, there's a whole host of reasons - gas prices in the U.S. were much lower at the time, the U.S. auto industry lobby & oil lobby, and the American public's acceptance of what we're given/sold, among other things.

Still, what I remember the most about this discussion and experience was the price of gas at the pump when Roman and I filled up - equal to about $3.50/gallon. Interesting! Just as we here in the U.S. are facing $3.50/gallon gas prices, which I hear are expected to reach $4/gallon this summer - we're seeing the peak of high mileage 'green' and diesel vehicles. At least they are on the market, because we are going to need them. Unfortunately, the economic downturn means for many Americans these vehicles will continue to be out of reach for many.

Of course I cannot post about 'green' vehicles without a caution - Peak oil and the Long Emergency (a book of that same title by Saratoga author Jim Kunstler about the decline of cheap oil) are here, so please keep that in mind when thinking long term as oil is a non-renewable resource, and it's important that we as individuals and communities be thinking and planning how to be self-sufficient and significantly less reliant upon oil as a means of transportation and for producing electricity for our 'electric' vehicles.

Thanks and here's to, well, taking the bus :)

Climate Change in the Adirondacks - Event Feb 22nd

Well, I've been a bit busy these days keeping up with school work, getting my office and paper work organized, and helping to organize this event. So, figured it would make a good post. I hope some local Saratoga/Capital District folks will attend this event. I expect it to be an interesting discussion. And, if you care about or have any interest in Adirondack ecosystems - this event will be a good one. The potential damage to the unique ecosystems of the Adirondacks from climate change could be devastating.

So, hope some of you can come out of your last weeks of hibernation (which is what I've also been doing :), and enjoy this event. I used several of Mr. Jenkins' books for a course I taught this past fall on Environmental Issues of the Adirondacks, so I am particularly excited about the opportunity to meet Jerry and listen to his talk.


ECOLOGIST, AUTHOR JERRY JENKINS TO SPEAK AT SUNY EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jan. 28, 2011) – SUNY Empire State College is hosting a program about climate change in the region. The program is co-sponsored by Sustainable Saratoga and the Empire State College sustainability committee.


What: “Climate Change in the Adirondacks,” a lecture by Jerry Jenkins.

When: Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011; refreshments at 6:30 p.m., lecture at 7 p.m., followed by Q&A.

Where: SUNY Empire State College, 2 Union Ave., room 126, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

Why: Jerry Jenkins is a well-known ecologist and researcher for the Wildlife Conservation Society. He has authored numerous books on the Adirondacks including two books on climate change. His first book, “The Adirondack Atlas (Syracuse University Press, 2004), is a collection of maps and stories, and considers issues of regional significance such as climate change, acid rain, survival of farms and commercial forests, tourism and recreational use, and patterns of development.

His latest, “Climate Change in the Adirondacks: The Path to Sustainability” (Published in Association with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Comstock Publishing Associates – May 1, 2010) provides a comprehensive look at the effects of climate change in the forest-rich upstate New York parklands region as well as sustainable solutions for reducing carbon emissions for the region. For background on the book, please go to http://www.wcs.org/press/press-releases/climate-change-in-the-adirondacks-book.aspx.

Come learn about these critical issues affecting the region, and what local groups and institutions are doing to work towards solutions. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP (requested, though not required), to Susan McFadden, special events coordinator,at: susan.mcfadden@esc.edu or 518-587-2100, ext. 2949.

Parking is located in the back of the building, accessible from Circular Street or on Union Avenue. Carpooling, walking or taking the bus (Rte. 473 – stop at Union and Circular) is highly encouraged.

For additional information or in case of inclement weather go to: www.sustainablesaratoga.com or www.esc.edu.

About SUNY Empire State College
SUNY Empire State College, celebrating its 40th year throughout 2011, was established in 1971 to offer adult learners the opportunity to earn associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the State University of New York. Students learn through independent studies, online courses, seminars and residencies. Learners also may earn credit for prior college-level learning from work and life experience.

The college serves more than 20,000 students worldwide at 34 locations in New York state and online. Its 60,000-strong alumni are active in their communities as entrepreneurs, politicians, business professionals, artists, not-for-profit agency employees, teachers, veterans and military, and more. Many take leadership in advocacy of open and state public education, such as that offered by the State University of New York.

For more information, visit www.esc.edu. For specific information about the 40th Anniversary celebration, please go to: http://suny-empire.esc.edu/40th-anniversary/

About Sustainable Saratoga
Sustainable Saratoga is a grassroots advocacy organization formed in 2008 whose mission is to make the City of Saratoga Springs a better place to live both now and for future generations by promoting economic and environmentally sustainable practices in all aspects of the community. An all-volunteer organization, Sustainable Saratoga works collaboratively with local government, residents, businesses and other organizations to identify, develop and implement policies, programs and resources, which help us achieve this mission. For more information go to http://www.sustainablesaratoga.com/

Food & Science Events at State Museum

Passing along a series of Food & Science Events
Hosted by the New York State Museum in Albany
(this info comes to me from the Capital District Permaculture Listserve - thanks!)


Food and Science - You are Invited !
In celebration of the 202nd anniversary of Charles Darwin�s
birth, the State Museum presents three cooking demonstrations that highlight
the evolution of domestic food. Each demonstration teams a local chef with a
biologist sous chef, and the two prepare the meal together, giving both
culinary and scientific perspectives on the main ingredients. Mansion
resident Dr. Jeremy J. Kirchman, curator of birds, will be on stage for the
final presentation..

*Swine and Dine*
*Wednesday, February 2 - 7 p.m.*
Pigs and their porcine relatives are used as food sources in many cultures,
and 7,000 years of artificial selection have resulted in the domesticated
pig that we farm today. Dr. Jason Cryan, an evolutionary biologist at the
State Museum, discusses the evolutionary origins, current distribution, and
biology of this ubiquitous animal, while Chef Tony Destratis of Lake George
Club prepares and presents inspired dishes.

* Potato: The Perfect Human Food *
*Wednesday, February 9 - 7 p.m.*
For the first few million years, the potato tuber was just a nifty
adaptation to help plants store a bit of energy underground. Then humans
discovered how nutritious it was, started experimenting with its evolution,
and created the perfect human food. Dr. Roland Kays, curator of mammals at
the State Museum, gives the evolutionary back-story to the tuber that
changed the world, and the Food Network�s Chef David Britton cooks up
examples of cuisine it has inspired.

*Living the Bubbly: Bread, Wine, and Beer*
*Wednesday, February 16 - 7 p.m.*
The variety of breads and fermented beverages developed by cultures around
the world are made possible by one species of yeast that has evolved into
hundreds of specialized strains. This microscopic fungus has been
intertwined with human evolution over the last 10,000 years, helping certain
cultures to flourish. Join Museum Scientist Dr. Jeremy Kirchman and Chef
Stephen Topper of the Copperfield Inn, North Creek, N.Y., as they discuss
the fascinating natural history of yeast and prepare delicious dishes.

For more info go to the New York State Museum website

Detroit - City in Decline/City of Hope?

Since I first learned this past fall (and blogged about) the vast network of 1200 community gardens in the City of Detroit (which formed in part as a response to the departure of the last major chain supermarket from the City of Detroit in 2007), my ears and eyes have been on the watch for anything Detroit-related.

This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending the NOFA-NY (Northeast Organice Farmer's Association of NY State) Annual Conference held in Saratoga, to hear the keynote speech by Malik Yakini, a Detroit-native who is a longtime black activist in Detroit on local food, health and urban agriculture. As Executive Director of the NSoroma Institute Public School Academy, an African-centered charter school, he's been instrumental in teaching black youth about their ancestry and history, as well as the age old traditions of agriculture. Mr. Yakini is also Chairman of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, as well as a member of the Detroit Food Policy Council, which the Detroit City Council unaminously approved in 2009.

In a city where there are NO major supermarkets and most residents either travel to the suburbs or buy from small convenient shops (which typically don't offer a wide variety of fresh produce), the Food Policy Council adopted the following mission:
The Detroit Food Policy Council is committed to nurturing the development and maintenance of a sustainable, localized food system and a food-secure city of Detroit in which all of its residents are hunger-free, healthy and benefit economically from the food system that impacts their lives.

Okay, that said, Malik Yakini's hour-long presentation was one of the most honest, inspiring, motivating talks I have heard in a long time (even President Obama's State of the Union, but that's for later this week.) As a black activist, he spoke to the predominantly all-white audience about the intersection between racism, poverty, and access to healthy, local fresh produce.

He shared some disturbing statistics that say only one thing to me: As we experience increased unemployment nationwide, and the decline of industry based on cheap oil and energy, many people are looking to Detroit to see how they are managing as a 'post industrial city'. Check out this link for some images on Detroit's decline.

The statistics Malik provided are disturbing:
In 1950, the population of Detroit was 2 million
In 2000, the population of Detroit was 900,000
In 2011, the predicted population of Detroit is 750,000

- The current unemployment rate is 29% - and that's the official rate, it doesn't include those who have been unemployed so long they are no longer on the unemployment rolls. Given this, Malik indicated the unofficial unemployment rate is closer to 40 or 50%! That is almost half of the population.

And there's more:
- There are 103,000 vacant lots in the city, about half are owned by City government.
- 40,000 Detroit residents are WITHOUT water! That means their water has been officially shut off (apparently there's an underground "market" of people who will come around and turn your water back on for a price.)

The number of people without water astounded me. And, I agree with Malik when he said, "I personally believe it is your human right to have water." Noone should go without water because they cannot afford it.

These circumstances, particularly the lack of water, for me puts Detroit in the category of a 'developing country.' Unfortunately, I feel there are plenty of communities right here in the northeast that are headed the way of serious 'post industrial' decline. My own hometown, Gloversville, NY, in Fulton County, has experienced continued unemployment rates well over 10% (I tried to find actual stat but couldn't.)

However, I do believe there is Hope!

Detroit is a community that's founded in community activism. There is an amazing network of 1200 community gardens in Detroit. The Detroit Food Policy Council is working to develop and support access to healthy food. And according to Malik, there's a large network of people working on teaching and training people how to grow food in the community, including the The Greening of Detroit, among many others.

Malik's organization, the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN), has actively been gardening for a number of years in the community. Their focus is on 1) Food Access, 2) Food Quality, 3) Food 'economies'. In part, the DBCFSN is really looking at how to provide access to healthy local food, and the role of urban agriculture as a potential viable economy.

As Malik says, "We need to Restore the Honor in farming." One could say this is not just true of urban agriculture in Detroit, but in agriculture in general across our country.

There are a few things we need as humans to survive: food, water and shelter. It's no wonder many of us are only a few generations removed from our earlier ancestors for whom farming was a large part or total part of making their livelihood.

In terms of community organizing, if there was any take home message it was this: You have to engage and look to the community members you may be trying to work with to be leaders in creating change. Malik addressed some of the challenges his organization has experienced in trying to encourage African Americans, especially black youth, to take up urban agriculture. He said there are a number of underlying cultural reasons why black African Americans are resistant to farming, and a key one is they associate farming with slavery, and rightly so, since slaves predominantly worked in the fields.

This means new paradigms need to be created or older traditions connected to. Malik spoke about how at the Nsoroma Institute, they teach students about their roots to African culture, a vastly rich culture with deep connections to respecting the land, honoring mother earth and seeing humans as a part of nature. It is from this place which he attempts to educate and motivate youth to get more involved in gardening and growing food.

He also talked about how real sustaining change and empowerment must come from within the community. To paraphrase him, "It seems the people most interested in this new organic agriculture movement and working in disenfranchised communities are young educated white people." He continued, "And this is fine, but then they start getting grant money, and they start hiring their own white friends."

So, once again, the money intended to help communities of color is going to outsiders. That's the reason why he and others started the Detroit Black Food Security Network. So that community members could create the change from within.

Interesting, Malik told me later that his interest in urban agriculture originates with visiting his grandfather who lived in Georgia and had a passion for farming. At 9 yrs old, Malik planted his own garden in his back yard in Detroit. Neither of his parents were interested in farming, but something about it moved Malik to do this. It's this passion that drives Malik, and which he hopes to instill in more youth growing up in Detroit.

Note: There are other good things happening in Detroit as well, like an art revival among others. Here's a link to a blog (and source for the photo above)