Who: CT Fund for the Environment & Save the Sound
What: 2014 Annual Meeting with guest speaker Fabien Cousteau, French aquatic filmmaker and oceanographic explorer.
When: Sunday, September 28th 4:00 - 7:00 pm
Where: Ridgefield Public Library, Ridgefield, CT
RSVP: 203-787-0646 x104 or [email protected] by September 21st
For more information and directions, click here.
The Green Harbors Project is an initiative that is aiming to address and solve urban harbors environmental challenges that lead to habitat degradation and the loss of biodiversity, as well as human health concerns. Dr. Anamarija Frankic, director of the Green Harbors Project and founder of the Biomimicry LivingLabs, as well as an internationally-recognized researcher, professor and leader in the field of biomimicry, is leading a team of students from UMass Boston that is focused on designing and testing greener products and solutions that imitate nature to mitigate and restore our urban harbors. The team has established Biomimicry LivingLabs across the world, including Zadar, Croatia as well as many sites around Massachusetts, including Savin Hill Cove, Nantucket, Wellfleet, Mystic River, Neponset River and Pier 5 in the Charlestown Navy Yard.
The Green Harbors Project is a community oriented effort with local businesses stepping in to help. Here in Massachusetts, for example, Spencer-based FLEXcon, a manufacturer of engineered films and pressure-sensitive films and adhesives, has donated materials so that the team can design and test a solution that will prevent biofouling—one of the many environmental issues the team is tackling as part of the Green Harbors Project. Fouling is the accumulation of unwanted organic material on solid submerged surfaces such as the underside of boats, pilings, nets and other harbor infrastructure. Not only are removal costs very high, but the materials that are used (such as formaldehyde) are detrimental to the environment and humans alike. Dr. Frankic and her team are working to create sustainable alternatives.
Continue reading "The Green Harbors Project—A Community Effort" »
Who: The Essex Land Trust and Robert Rocks
What: Robert Rocks will present on the historical evolution of our landscapes from forests to field, and back to forests. He will speak about the great die-offs of elm/chestnuts/hemlocks, and help us envision how climate change, invasive species, and land use practices will determine our forests of the future.
When: May 13th at 7 p.m.
Where: The Essex Library
For more information on this event click here.
Featuring:
BUN LAI, world renowned chef, national James Beard Award semi-finalist and proprietor of New Haven, CT’s Miya’s Sushi, serving innovative sushi from sustainable and locally obtained and foraged flora and fauna, including invasive species.
JOE ROMAN, conservation biologist, researcher and educator, award-winning author, and founder/editor ‘n’ chef of the courageous culinary website, Eat the Invaders: Fighting Invasive Species, One Bite at a Time.
What: An eclectic evening of conversation, master chef demonstration and adventurous eating to benefit The Rockfall Foundation’s environmental education grants
When: Tuesday, May 13th 6-9 p.m.
Where: Chapman Hall - Middlesex Community College
For more background on Bun and Joe: click here .
Donation per guest: $50. Table (6 guests): $300
To make your reservation online: click here.
To download a mail-in reservation form: click here.
by Annie Weis
Recently I was lucky enough to participate in a Q & A with the author of Saving the Planet and Stuff, Gail Gauthier. This comedy novel is about 16 year old Michael Racine who is spending his summer in Vermont working as an intern for a magazine called, The Earth’s Wife. Walt and Nora, 2 of his grandparents’ old friends, have run the publication since the 1960's. Michael must learn how to work and live with people who are much different than anybody he's used to in that they don’t eat meat, don’t use air conditioning and ride bikes to work.
In the following Q & A, you will get a sense of how Gail's love of the environment influenced this novel, as well as some insight into her personal story.
When someone finishes this book, what would you like them to leave thinking?
Saving the Planet & Stuff is a comedy about life choices. I hope that readers will come away with an understanding of the thought, effort, and decision-making that go into even just trying to live an environmental lifestyle. The scene in which Nora only wants free range eggs if they are packaged in something she can recycle--otherwise, she'll make do with regular eggs so long as they're packaged in cardboard and not Styrofoam--is something a lot of us can recognize. Walt and Nora are over-the-top in holding on to items others would consider garbage because they believe they can use them again and keep them out of a transfer station a while longer. But it's only a matter of degree. Other environmental types do it. In our home we have a policy of not replacing items until they are broken, which cuts down on the number of material things we go through and discard. Just this morning I got into a discussion with another family member about items that lose their functionality long before they are truly "broken." If I'm not going to wait until something breaks, how poorly does it need to function before I replace it? And then what do I do with that item that's merely functioning poorly and isn't truly broken?
What about Connecticut has been an inspiration to your writing?
I've published a number of books about children in suburban towns, attending contemporary schools. That comes from the suburban Connecticut world I've lived in as an adult. My life and my experience are a big part of my writing.
Why do you think it's important for young adults to have an understanding of the natural environment?
I lean toward stewardship. There are a great many things we need/want from the environment in order to live comfortably. If young adults hope to live lives in which they have what they need in terms of raw materials and healthy and beautiful surroundings, they need to understand that they have a part in maintaining the environment so that can happen.
By Ben Hastings
The Long Island Sound is among the most treasured areas in Connecticut, and is home to the UCONN Avery Point campus. Unfortunately, this area of the state has fallen victim to the effects of climate change many times over the past few years in the form of hurricanes and unheard of amounts of snow. The Connecticut shoreline is truly a special place to be for vacationers and residents alike, which is why certain preventative actions against climate change need to be taken to preserve a valuable part of our great state.
Those of us who live in CT know all too well about the destruction that Tropical Storm Irene and storm Sandy caused the shoreline. They also realize if we don’t begin to build more resilient communities and take action to mitigate events like these, the state of Connecticut will be in trouble. Sandy alone caused $360 million in damage to our state, and cost 4 people their lives. A disaster like this one requires action by a wide range of stakeholders including companies, community, political leaders, and academia. Their input is needed so that we can better understand how a catastrophe like storm Sandy can be prepared for, and look at the bigger picture that is climate change.
A Climate Change research center will soon be a part of The University of Connecticut at Avery Point. The new Institute for Community Resilience and Climate Adaptation is now a reality. On January 24th 2014, Governor Daniel Malloy and other CT officials gathered together at the beautiful Branford House at Avery Point. The funding for the center will be coming from the $2.5 million result of a lawsuit between Unilever and The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. A grant from NOAA will also contribute $500,000.
It was only fitting that the press conference took place at the Branford House, which was looking over the sound as the CT and UCONN leaders made their statements. Molloy said that we will be facing more storms of this magnitude as a result of the changing climate, and reassured the audience that Connecticut was doing its part to slow climate change. The quote of the day was from Senator Blumenthal who said, “Put simply, the mission of the center is to save the world, so no pressure."
Additional leaders who came out to show their support were Dan Esty, commissioner of DEEP, Rep. Courtney, as well as representatives from the EPA and NOAA.
Although the fine details about what the center might do have not been completely established, statements from the speakers gave me hope for what a great resource this could truly be. This facility would be a source of information for homeowners, businesses and students alike that want to learn how to mitigate the risks that go along with living on the shoreline, especially with the more frequent storms that our region has experienced. Also, this could be viewed as a revitalization of the UCONN Avery Point campus itself. The campus was referred to by Gov. Malloy as, a jewel in the UCONN system that has been underutilized.
The buzzword that I kept hearing over and over from the speakers was, “resiliency.” It seems that the Institute for Community Resilience and Climate Adaptation will be the hub for Connecticut communities to get the information they need to know about climate change events that affect us all. With the diligence and hard work of the folks over at UCONN Avery Point, this center could change the way in which we think, and react to the impacts of climate change on the shoreline. Only time will tell if we have mitigated these disasters properly.
Learn more about the Institute for Community Resilience and Climate Adaptation and this historic day here.
by Ben Hastings
Earlier this month, the Burns & Hammond team had the opportunity to spend the weekend with 22 13 to 18 year olds from East Harlem, to conduct a Sustainability Base Camp field trip to various different sites in Boston! This was a truly fascinating experience, not only for the newly crowned Eco-Champions, but for myself and the organizers as well.
Our day began at The Food Project in Roxbury, MA, where we all got the opportunity to explore their multitude of lush, community gardens. This is where the kids could see a real revitalization that was made in a low income neighborhood. It was incredible to observe the high level of interest in some of their eyes as we walked through the neighborhood that had plentiful green gardens full of delicious vegetables scattered throughout a concrete jungle. Thanks to our gracious hosts at The Food Project, all of the burning questions asked were answered thoroughly, along with ideas for instituting similar projects in their own East Harlem community.
The next stop was a much needed lunch at Haley House, a non-profit, community based organization. Not only is Haley House a great spot to pick up a fresh, local meal, but the cafe strives to have a positive community impact by helping employees build new skills and safer neighborhoods. That being said, the food was secondary to the story we heard from the catering manager Jeremy, who is a significant part of the Haley House’s success. He spoke to the Eco-Champions about how his life on the street got him into jail, but he was able to turn his life around by helping his community any way he could. I think that this was important for the students to tune into because it was a real life example of a person who has a similar background, that ended up making it in the “green industry.”
Finally before we trekked back to the hotel for the night, we made a stop at the largest wind turbine testing facility in the nation! Thanks to Executive Director Rahul Yarala, the tour of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Wind Technology Testing Center included an overview of wind energy as a whole, the process by which wind turbines are constructed and an in depth look at the rigorous testing of the turbines they do in order to make sure they will be able to withstand any outdoor conditions. As someone who has always been interested in and studied alternative energy, being in the heart of a facility that is striving to be a leader in wind was amazing. It also seemed like an eye-opening experience for the students because it was a concrete example of what people are doing on a larger scale to become energy independent and sustainable.
The next day consisted of strolling through the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts' Local Food Festival, where hundreds of vendors lined the streets of Boston selling bread, veggies, ice cream and so much more. The local food movement has really been taking off over the past few years, and this was a perfect example of how it has. These farms and stores of the Boston area graciously gave out delicious samples of their products, allowing everyone to try just about everything!
Unfortunately, this was the last stop on our trip. As the Burns & Hammond team said goodbyes to the Eco-Champions, I had expected to feel a bit of sadness as our time together was over. Instead, I felt a sense of relief that these students had the opportunity to go on a trip like this, and knew that this had really hit home for many of them. It might be wishful thinking to expect all 22 students to go on and eventually become green collared professionals, but hearing the questions they asked, and inspired thoughts about careers that came out of many were enough to make me to believe that this was a positive experience for all. This Sustainability Base Camp was just a building block that added to their environmental awareness, but one that provided a solid foundation due to its real life relatability for these Eco-Champions.
Who: A MetroPool event featuring Steven Wysemuller, IBM’s Global Services Leader for Environmental Affairs & Compliance, John Lyons, President of MetroPool, Dani Glaser and Scott Fernqvist, co-organizers of the Westchester Green Business Challenge.
What: Steven will discuss IBM’s competitive grant program – The Smarter Cities Challenge - and the integral role that transportation and mobility play in creating sustainable communities.
John Lyons will provide opening remarks and preview the 30-year old organization’s strategic direction that responds to the new priorities and emerging opportunities within the corporate and community mobility marketplace.
Dani Glaser and Scott Fernqvist will also provide updates on their highly successful sustainability best practices business initiative for Westchester County.
When: November 20th 4:30pm – 6:00pm
Where: IBM Learning Center 20 Old Post Road Armonk, NY 10504
Networking and Refreshments - Immediately Following
Who: Holistic Moms Network
What: An empowering day of exciting speakers, expert parenting panels, wellness vendors, and so much more. Registration includes all speakers, panels, the exhibit hall, and a gourmet lunch! Keynote speakers are Dr. Shefali Tsabary, Clinical Psychologist, expert on mindful living, and author of the award-winning book, “The Conscious Parent,” and Jeffery Smith, Renowned advocate and expert on GMOs, international bestselling author and filmmaker, and executive director of the Institute for Responsible Technology. Other speakers include Andrea Donsky, Laurie Evans, Barbara Loe Fisher, Philip Memoli, and Lawrence Rosen.
When: Saturday, October 12, 2013, 8:30 am-4:30 pm
Where: Sheraton Crossroads Hotel, 1 International Blvd, Mahwah, NJ
$95 per person, $85 for HMN members. Register now at http://annualconference.holisticmoms.org/
by Benjamin Hastings
On August 26-28 2013, sustainability leaders representing 50+ companies active in the sports industry gathered together in Brooklyn, New York, for the Green Sports Alliance Summit. Founded in February 2010, the Green Sports Alliance is a non-profit organization that brings together different levels of sports teams, venue representatives and sustainability experts.
There were a wide range of attendees -- from governmental agencies and environmental organizations such as EPA and NRDC to product companies such as Liberty Bottleworks and Electronic Recyclers International. Not to mention the incredible lineup of featured speakers including, Andrew Ference of the Edmonton Oilers; Bob Nutting Chairman of the Board for the Pittsburgh Pirates; and Andrew Winston, founder of Winston Eco Strategies, just to name a few.
As a recent graduate, attending a conference with hundreds of professionals who have been successful in the sustainability field - one that I myself are trying to break into - was pretty overwhelming at first. That quickly changed as I started to converse with a multitude of representatives from a lot of different companies. Everyone was eager to share their stories about how they came to be in the sustainability world, and how it relates to sports.
I learned about a wide range of projects related to the sports world, including the revamping of arenas into LEED certified buildings, recycling programs at stadiums, and the inclusion of compostable utensils and containers to organization’s food programs. In fact, the competition between teams has moved from on the field, to off the field initiatives -- including who is recycling the most or who is saving the most energy. I would have to say that this kind of rivalry has the potential to benefit everyone!
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to spend a couple days at The Green Sports Alliance Summit, and to learn a lot about some initiatives business and sports teams are doing to reduce their impact on the environment. Before attending this event, I had no idea how the sports world and the sustainability industry were intertwined, even as an avid sports fan. It was really amazing to see how the greening of sports is beginning to take over nationwide, and I hope to see more sports organizations tap the wisdom of the sustainable businesses I met at the conference into their practices in the future!
Who: Writer/filmmaker and adventurer Jon Bowermaster will be interviewed by international documentary photographer Daryl Hawk. The event is co-sponsored by the Wilton Library and Wilton Go Green.
What: Jon Bowermaster has been traveling the world on behalf of the National Geographic Society studying up close the relationship between man and nature, specifically focused on water issues. His 10-year-long Oceans 8 project took him and his teams around the world by sea kayak, with stops on every continent to report on environmental issues. In the past four years his filmings have taken him to Antarctica, the Galapagos, southern Louisiana and his own backyard in New York's Hudson Valley, where he's focused on the fight over fracking.
When: September 19th, 7:00-8:30 PM.
Where: The Wilton Library. 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton, CT.
Free admission.
Registration is recommended.
You can find registration forms, and more information online.
April 27th
9:00 AM-2:30 PM
Yale, Linsley, Chittenden Hall
New Haven, CT
Summit participants will hear from Bill Nesper, Vice President, League of American Bicyclists, about the Bike Friendly America program and from Keynote Speaker Jeff Olson, Principal, Alta Planning & Design, author "The Third Mode: Towards a Green Society."
The summit will include breakout sessions on "Attacking the Application Process for Bike Friendly Communities, Businesses and Universities;" "Complete Streets Engineering - A Key Component to Bike and Walk Friendly Communities;" and "How to Get Your Project Funded." The program will conclude with optional bike or walk tours of New Haven courtesy of Elm City Cycling, followed by a networking and social hour at O'Toole's. Copies of The Third Mode will be available for purchase at the conference. Attendees who join Bike Walk CT will be awarded $10 off of their individual registration, registration ends April 15th.
Members, Full-time Students & Yale Employees:
Early BIrd, until April 15: $25
General Registration: $30
Non-Members:
Early Bird: $35
General Registraion: $45
*Continental breakfast and lunch included.
Register Here: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=5vvygggab&oeidk=a07e74qzm1z79b79281
For More Information: http://www.bikewalkct.org/summit-2013.html
13 April 2013
1:00 PM-4:00 PM
$15.00 per Person
Canton, MA
People's Action for Clean Energy (PACE) is sponsoring a tour that will introduce the public to the latest trends in solar power. This tour will feature two seminars, where experts in the field will talk about how implementing solar panels can help everyone to live cleaner, healthier lives. There will be a presentation on how the solar panels will be able to charge electric vehicles enough that they will be able to handle an 18 mile commute before the fuel from the gas tank even needs to take over. Owners of these electric vehicles will also be available to share their real experiences with these cars. Later, guests will be able to see how entire houses can be customized to reduce energy costs both to the environment and to the family budget. Also, guests will see the incredible opportunity for cost shaving that can be captured by encouraging their entire community to go green. Registration for this tour is required and is non-refundable and it costs a mere $15.
Register Here: http://www.pace-cleanenergy.org/site/webtickets/tour20130413
For More Information: http://www.pace-cleanenergy.org/resources/includestatic?url=..%2Faction_files%2Fhouse_tour_20130413.html
SAVE THE DATE!
Sunday, April 21st 2013
1:00pm - 4:00p
Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford CT
This event will bring together families and communities from all over central Connecticut who are looking for answers on how to reduce their own carbon footprint. It will be THE Earth Day event in downtown Hartford. Come enjoy speakers, vendors, non-profit environmental groups, along with street and folk artists. We anticipate the participation of local schools from elementary to college. It will be a fun, inspiring, and informational day for the whole family!
2 March 2013
8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Registration Fee Depends on Status
Wilton High School
Wilton, CT
Join the Connecticut Northeast Organic Farming Association as they celebrate 31 years of growing better together! There will be over fifty vendors providing fresh local food, crafts, and books as well as a raffle that includes offerings such as a basket of gardening supplies. Lunch will be Included for an extra fee, but it is worth the price. During the lunch break, attendees have the opportunity to taste delicious local flavors concocted by chefs involved in Fairfield County's farm-to-restaurant program. The New Connecticut Farming alliance will also meet during this time to discuss news and share information.
Guests may select from a wide variety of workshops to attend. There is no need to register for your desired workshop, you may simply show up at the allotted classroom. A program will be handed out to you upon registration that looks exactly like the link provided above. Parents and families are welcome to participate in children's workshops as well. There will also be a screenings of the GMO documentary "Genetic Roulette" throughout the afternoon, where Elaine Titus of GMO Free CT and GMO Free Moms will be available to answer any questions.
Schedule for the Day Registration Fees
8:30-9:30 : Registration (pre-register at this link) Non-Member: $60
9:30-10:45: Workshop I Member: $50
11:00-12:30: Opening announcements and Keynote Student/Senior: $35
12:30-2:00: Lunch Children: FREE
2:15: 3:30: Workshop II *Lunch is optional: an extra $15 for adults
3:45 to 5:00 ~ Workshop II and $8 for children
2013 Conference Program: http://www.ctnofa.org/winterconference/2013%20WC%20programOPT.pdf
Register at: http://www.ctnofa.org/winterconference/2013WC_registration.html
If you forget to register for lunch: http://www.ctnofa.org/winterconference/winterconference_lunch_registration.html
For more Information: http://www.ctnofa.org/winterconference/index.html
April 4th, 2013
9:45 AM-7:15 PM
FREE, Registration Required
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, Connecticut
The CCSU Global Environmental Sustainability Action Coalition invites the public to learn and to teach one another about the actions that we, as human beings, must take to ensure that we live in such a way that we are able to satisfy our needs while ensuring that our children and grandchildren will be able to satisfy their own. The symposium will offer 3 classes, two performances, a panel discussion, a tour, and an optional attendance at the town meeting, as well as opening and closing notes from distinguished professionals in sustainability. This event is FREE: anyone can register online to show up. *Exhibitor tables are still open.
Schedule
9:45-10:00 AM: Symposium opening and welcome with Dr. Charles Button and Dr. Jack Miller (tentative) at Alumni Hall
10:00-10:45: Transportation, Migration, and Sustainability in Four Worlds Alumni Hall
Dr. John Kelmelis expands upon a possibility raised by the United States National Intelligence Council when they published Global Trends 2030: Alternative World. This work explores four very possible future worlds. Dr. Kelmelis will explain what each of these worlds might mean for our future as well as what strategies we might use to make the most of each circumstance at the local, regional, national, and global levels.
11:00-11:45: Panel Discussion: Electric Cars and Alternative Vehicles Alumni Hall
The president of the New England Electric Auto Association (Dave Oliveria), an environmental writer and speaker (Jim Motavalli), the Senior Associates Autos Editor for Consumer Reports (Eric Evarts), and a natural gas car owner (Joe Booth) all come together in one place to talk about the real value that hybrid, extended hybrid, and electric vehicles hold. This is a special opportunity to discover what users and reviewers genuinely think about these alternative vehicles.
12:00-1:45 (*with second free registration): Water Wars Performance and Lunch Alumni Hall
While you enjoy your lunch, the Sonia Plumb Dance Company will be performing Water Wars. This is an emotionally charged piece of art that exposes the very important and very tenuous relationship that human beings have with one of our primary sources of life: water.
by Heather Burns
Have you ever bought something just because it was a good deal? Over the years, I’ve been guilty of “retail therapy,” like buying discounted designer shoes that were a half size too small; plastic, disposable toys made in China because they were 4 for $1; and a new comforter (full of fire retardants) with each new season that fell apart within months. While these “bargains” may have temporarily quelled my urge to consume, not only did they mean nothing to me 5 minutes after walking out of the store, they came attached to an enormous ecological price tag.
My awareness has grown over time and I've made progress toward becoming a more conscious shopper (mostlly by avoiding places like the mall altogether), but Rick and Elizabeth Conrad, co-founders of Common Good Market have a mantra: buy things made to last by people who live and work in your community. An online marketplace of artisan-crafted home goods sourced and assembled in New England, Common Good Market has a vision of connectivity that inspires.
Quality vs. Quantity
“When we focus on buying items based on quality, beauty and utility – we surround ourselves with things that serve our needs and that we treasure, value and pass on,” Conrad says. “I’ve been married for thirty years and like a lot of people in that situation, we’ve accumulated a lot of stuff that has or will end up in the waste stream. Instead, we can buy things made by people whose story we know and whose work we love.”
Conscious consumer advocates would argue that this type of “conscious consumerism”—that is understanding that value extends beyond price – is more personally rewarding and has far less negative impact on the environment than purchasing disposable or products that suffer from planned obsolescence.
Building a Living Economy
And it’s not just the environment that benefits from products like those featured by Common Good Market – the local economy is also positively impacted by purchasing locally-sourced, handmade or small batch manufactured goods. “When we choose to buy a table made by a local artisan using sustainably harvested woods, we will absolutely spend more money on that table than we would spend for a table at the chain furniture store. The table at the chain may look nice and may even be made from solid, sustainably harvested wood. But if the table is imported, then how did that purchase support our local workforce? How much of what we spent went back to support the people living and working in our own neighborhood,” says Conrad.
“Visit our site (www.commongoodmarket.com) and read artisan profiles about the lives, passion and dedication of the artisans we’ve come to know and love,” Conrad says.
Last week I
wrote about a pizza place in Avon and no one said a word. Over the holidays I
penned two articles expressing my displeasure about shopping at Discount Food
Outlet in Canton; and readers are still writing in droves to expressing their
displeasure about my perspective, even attacking me personally. More than one
comment suggested that I leave town since I didn’t like it. I was both
confronted and amused by such responses.
The
confrontation part is obvious, I hope—no one likes being openly despised, especially
by people they are unacquainted with. Unfortunately, humans seem all too
willing to express malice towards those people with opinions that do not match
their own (see our current political climate). In my mind, this is akin to
hating the guy next to you because you don’t like the color of his tie. Ties,
like opinions can, and do, get changed. The life that wears that tie or has
that opinion, however, is no less precious, and we are all hard-wired to
preserve it. Fortunately that is not all us humans are born with. Laughter,
they say, is the best medicine.
In another sense, I was very much amused by all the uproar realizing people’s anger was not
because of an unpopular stance on abortion or gay marriage, but a grocery store.
Now that is funny!!! I had no
idea that people were so attached to where they bought their food. Shame on me,
though, as food is always chock-full of intimate meaning for people. Lesson
learned.
In the wake of the fallout from the DFO articles, this week allow me to
offer a more personal piece that I hope will establish a context for what I
write, and why I write it; a kind of road map to my inner gastronome.
The first item on the colloquial menu is the term “connoisseur”; this is what I consider myself in the food arena. Think of it as the “who does this guy think he is?” part of my writing. The second proffering is the usefulness of critique and analysis. While criticism nearly always gets a bad rap, I think we need critics and critical understandings of any subject, food included. As subjectivity is common to all of us, being critical can actually help us appreciate even our least favorite ideas by allowing us to see there is always another side to any story. But first, the connoisseur…
Continue reading "Treehugger: Not Just An Environmental Web Site" »
by: James Simpkins
I like to think of myself as someone who doesn’t miss much.
Not about everything, mind you, but specifically around food related issues. Of
course, this doesn’t mean there is no room for improvement. On the contrary,
the more I look for foodishness around Connecticut, the more I find--the more I
realize how much I’ve been missing. While this week was no exception to that
rule, the folks I came across are birds of a different feather.
Usually, when people talk about the players in food world they
are recognizable entities like Whole Foods, ideas like fair trade or organic,
and brand names like Kashi, Silk or Stonyfield Farms. Others are also well-known
but reside outside the realm of mass distribution, like “farmers’ markets”, “sustainable
and responsible agriculture”, and “compost.” This week, I added “The Unknown
Gardener” to my list of those making a difference in American gastronomy thanks
to two households near North Canton. As I’ve mentioned before, this summer I’ve been driving
quite a bit and have found myself looking for short-cuts wherever I can find
them. Heading north from Canton, Case Street cuts off some distance between
route 179 and route 219 on the way towards Granby and the airport. This wasn’t
a new discovery as I’ve driven this way many times during my tenure in the
Farmington River Valley. What was new
to me was a certain table with fresh cut flowers that I saw a few weeks back. At first I thought this was someone who was trying to make
some money by selling unsuspecting drivers whatever they could pull out of
their backyard. In some ways, I was right. When I stopped being cynical about
it, I realized I was looking at the front line of sustainability, the effort of individuals homes----and driving
right by. So I stopped.
What I saw were four gorgeous bouquets of cut flowers, protected from the heat by the (now charming) pink umbrella overhead and sitting in fresh water from which they were certainly drinking deep. These were not only generic “flowers”, but a lovely mixture of daisies and black-eyed susans and at least five other types of blooms that I don’t know (I’m not very knowledgeable about flowers). The result is in an almost wild aesthetic that brings to mind idyllic, windless, locust-filled meadows of summer that seem to delight in their efforts in growing under the still, even encouragement of the midday sun. And they are five dollars. I am nearly sick with appreciation.
What kind of
person tends their flock of flowers throughout this strange Connecticut summer
then shares them with the rest of us for pennies on the effort? I don’t know.
Somewhat romantically, I don’t want to. It is enough to stop the car, leave my
money on the saw-horse table and look forward to the next time I drive by.
My wait isn’t
long. A mile later I see another umbrella---and more flowers. I pull over
again, incredulous.
By A.J. O'CONNELL
Times Staff Writer
STAMFORD -- Kate L. Harrison and Heather Burns Demelo are hoping more brides will make green part of their wedding color scheme.
The two women hosted the Eco-Chic Wedding & Home Show Event at The Hotel Chesterfield in Stamford last Saturday. The show -- which hosted earth-friendly businesses ranging from caterers to spas to jewelers specializing in rough-cut diamonds --
featured an "eco-chic" fashion show by "green" designers and seminars for the eco-savvy bride and groom.
According to Mia Schipani, spokeswoman for the Hotel Chesterfield, it is Connecticut's first such bridal show.
"It's not just another wedding show," said Harrison, author of "The Green Bride Guide" (http://www.thegreenbrideguide.com).
Harrison wrote the book after she married her husband Barry in 2007. She wants brides to know it is possible for them to go green on their wedding day and save $10,000 at the same time.
"This is the thing about going green today," exclaimed Harrison. "It's not hard!"
Burns DeMelo started her Web site, http://www.ctgreenscene.com, after seeing Al Gore's film, "An Inconvenient Truth." She had her first Green Scene event in Westport in early 2007. This is her first foray, however, into the wedding industry.
"There is an immense amount of waste produced (at weddings). It's a throw-away event. But weddings are also a $70 billion a year industry," she said. "If you can imagine shifting even one percent of that over to green businesses."
Burns DeMelo says that finding green companies for weddings was more challenging than she anticipated. She was surprised at how easy it was to find eco-friendly caterers, while green florists were nearly impossible to find.
"Florists were really tough," she said. "Most flowers come from South America. It's tough to be green when you're shipping thousands of miles in refrigeration."
by Eileen Weber
Have you heard of Victoria Everman? If you haven’t, you need to look her up. She’s done everything from writing to modeling to photography to hosting her own web site about the environment. She’s even gotten into green weddings, which is very fitting as she and her fiancé are soon to be married. And she manages to juggle all that while practicing yoga in her spare time.
Jeff McIntire-Strasburg, Founder and Editor of Sustainablog, a site providing information about the environment, the economy, business and politics since the summer of 2003, said Everman is an incredibly creative person with cool and different ideas. “For somebody involved in fashion and modeling to be this down to earth, you don’t really expect to see that,” he said.
McIntire-Strasburg has known Everman for over two years. They worked together when she was a writer for Green Options Media, a conglomerate of green blogs launched in February 2007. He said she did a lot of fashion articles and took the lead on the site’s crafting blog.
“She’s not afraid of digging in and finding the great stories. I’m impressed with how well she promotes green living. She puts her ideas out there and makes them user-friendly.”
Emily Dodge, Founder of SustainabiliTee, an environmentally-friendly online clothing store, said Everman was easy to work with as a fashion model. Dodge originally met her through her web site, Victoria-E, when she bought ad space. They developed a professional relationship when Dodge did a photo shoot. Everman was one of the models.
“For her age she's very mature and very thoughtful. She has good advice and is actually willing to share it,” said Dodge. “I think she does wonderfully at letting people know what alternatives are out there, and to explore the "green" realm of every aspect of life. She activates people and gives them good information via her written work.”
GS: What specific industry is leading the way in the green revolution?
GC: Renewable energy is poised to make a bigger impact than ever on the economy and the health of the planet. Solar, wind, and other forms of renewable energy have a number of factors that will support their continued rapid growth, even in the face of the current economic turmoil. Providing cost effective clean energy will help our national security, fight climate change, create jobs, and get our economy back on track.
GS: What are your favorite big name companies with bold initiatives?
GC: Green leaders like Gary Hirshberg at Stoneyfield Farms and Ray Anderson at Interface have shown that they can grow a successful business while still doing the right thing for the planet. They have been taking the lead and providing it can be done, which is pretty bold.
The many car makers poised to transform our automotive industry are bold players. If the big automakers like GM can't do it, it will leave the opportunity open to small companies like Aptera. When the auto industry emerges from its current trials with a new variety of electric cars and plug-ins coming to market, it may look very different than it does today.
GS: What's a promising green product or service?
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