Carbon isn’t the only element effecting climate change, although it might seem like it to many mainstream environmentalist circles. Indeed, “carbon emission” has become the key phrase in reference to most issues surrounding atmospheric change, pollution, temperature shifts, and more. But please don’t forget about other potent ingredients included on the list of elements that have already exceeded the “planetary boundaries” is, such as our longtime helpful friend, Nitrogen. Read more…
If you’re somewhere in the world connected to the media, be it the paper, TV, magazines, or internet (and I have a feeling you are), you then know about the sexiest movement growing across the nation. No, not Zumba, I’m talking about the Grow-Your-Own movement that is capturing the hearts and tastebuds of people worldwide. Sadly, for those with limited spaces, gardening may seem less empowering when you wonder how you and your closet-sized balcony can participate in the coolest emerging activity in town. Thankfully, that’s why being connected helps. Read more…
You may not like it or what youʻve heard about it. You may not like what it sells or what the company symbolizes. But no matter what you think, Walmart is still the largest grocer in the world, making it a catalyst for agricultural change in any form. And lucky for sustainability activists, today Walmart took a huge step in the right direction by pledging to double the sales of locally sourced produce (grown in the state which it will be sold) and will “begin holding farms accountable for the amount of water, energy, fertilizer and pesticides used to grow food.” Read more…
Invasive plants are an ever-looming problem around the world, affecting native food webs, availability of water, and overall plant biodiversity. Easily navigating their way on plane, car, boat, and boot, the problem becomes all the more daunting when you look out the window and realize nearly every plant you see is not, in fact, in its original environment. Although some invasives have a much larger impact on their host environment than others, it’s the immensity of the invasive populations that make any eradication solution less than than appetizing. Unless, of course, you have a fork. Read more…
Fracking, a funny word well worth remembering. If you’ve been listening to NPR recently, you will know that fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a drilling technique that involves blasting millions of tons of chemical-laced water into the ground to release natural gas trapped thousands of feet underground. The goal: mining natural gas deposits. The consequences: your drinking water now lights on fire. Read more…
We all know about the many benefits of buying local. It is, after all, one of the hottest topics in the nation. We are told to support farmers markets when possible, ask for local at restaurants, and “eat with the seasons”. Yet, week after week we find our busy lives standing in the ways of Tuesday afternoon markets, local chefs unable to connect nearby farms, and eating with seasons impossibly hard when you don’t know what’s available. So what do we do now? Concerning local food, the answer is simply connecting the dots. Read more…
If you think back to high school days you may vaguely remember the name Archimedes, a name belonging to the famous Syracusan scientist who coined the term “Eureka!” to be enthusiastically shouted moments after scientific discoveries millennia over. Now be prepared to shout again for a new Archimede, the name given to the world’s first solar power plant that still produces energy at night. The secret? Molten salts. Read more…
What you know about bluefin tuna is that it’s delicious. You eat it in sushi, hope for sashimi, and although you’re nowhere near an ocean can still eat it every week. It is, afterall, one of the most coveted sushi-grade fishes around, thanks to its unique buttery flavor that surpasses anything your average yellowfin or albacore can offer. But what you didn’t know about bluefin tuna is that, because of this delicious and unique flavor, it’s nearly extinct. Read more…
It’s nearly here! Nissan’s soon to emerge Leaf is the world’s first mass market electric vehicle that produces zero emissions while on the road. With no gas tank, gas lines, or tailpipe, the Leaf is on it’s way to being the trendiest “green” car available to the mass public. Sounds almost too good to be true… And that’s where the controversy hits: although emissions aren’t produced while driving, what about those of the electricity produced for the little Leaf as it charges overnight? Read more…
Itʻs time to talk about a 4 letter word that you may be a little squeamish discussing: poop. In places where the daily process surrounding the removal, disinfection, and processing of fecal matter is taken care of by miles of pipes, millions of gallons of water, and expensive treament plants, I suppose it makes sense that many ignore this unsightly activity. But in places where toilets are harder to find than cellphones, itʻs time to approach this “impolite” conversation to save millions of lives and turn tons of raw pollution into compost. Read more…
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