Growing trees helps save the planet

Oregon maintains and plants trees even in its flagship city, Portland

 "Agroforestry can deliver a wide range of benefits. It can
enhance food security, improve rural livelihoods, make better use of
scarce rainwater and absorb atmospheric carbon."

Dennis Garrity, Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre, made that 

statement in outlining the value of growing more trees on farmlands, especially in poverty-stricken areas.

Increasing trees on farmlands and the productivity of trees can positively affect
food security and poverty and reduce climate change, according to findings from scientists.

More trees can increase the fertility of trees and increase income from the sale of timber.

This has great potential to help the poor people of the world.  It is even being done in North Korea, one of the poorest countries. Agroforestry is a new but old practice but has yields many opportunities to help small farmers..

The World Agroforestry Centre several years ago launched an Agroforestry Policy Initiative at the XXIII World Congress of the International Union ofForest Research Organizations in Seoul, Republic of Korea to support policy reviews and reforms that will stimulate agroforestry and benefit rural people.

"This Initiative will support national and local policy reforms that will reduce barriers and improve incentives for private investment in agroforestry," said Dennis Garrity, Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre.

Changing policies about growing trees can help farmers produce income and help bring them out of poverty, the Centre maintains.  An example has taken place in Niger, where farmers have been growing new trees.  The country has seen a large increase of trees on over 5 million hectares in the past 20 years.

The benefits from growing more trees is substantial.  Trees can provide subsistence needs, people can earn money from the sale of their fruits,nuts, leaves, while producing animal fodder.  There is high value oils,gums and resins, timber and fuelwood for cooking and medicines from different parts of trees.

Many people in Kenya earn their money from trees.  Even in areas where tree cover is low, the impact of having them can be high, the Centre explains.

Agroforestry promises also to reduce future climate change according to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.   Frank Place, Impact Assessment Advisor for the World Agroforestry Centre, tells us. "It is one of the most effective land use systems in storing carbon above and
below ground."

August Temu, Director for Partnerships at the World Agroforestry Centre, said, in outlining the value of growing trees,  "It is also vital to develop smarter and harmonized forestry and agriculture policies that do not inadvertently affect tree management on farms, to recognize the environmental services generated by agroforestry, and reward farmers who nurture the trees that provide these services."

Oregon is one of those states known for its trees. It also has citizens who value the forests and feel they know the benefit of trees in helping spaces for people to enjoy and to help with going green and climate change.  Oregon has been awarded recognition a number of times for its efforts in growing trees.

It is a need around the world, with deforestation taking place from too much over-development of the land, and as scientists say there is great value in maintaining forests and planting trees for securing man's future. 

Non surgical face lifts expanding in the "greening" of people

Mild rosacea that motivates some people to have a non surgical correction

Carol Forsloff - Portland, Oregon is greening its people it seems to be as young and fresh as its grasses and streams.  Going green is a new way to youth. Will it work?It's the big thing these days, looking younger, as the baby boomers with their accent on youth strive to stay that way forever, so here comes another solution, non surgical facelifts.  But do they work?

Portland,Oregon, center for growing green, has seemingly a doc on each  block with it now.

The demand for non-surgical cosmetic options has brought about new ways that involve ultrasound technology to achieve what the folks there claim will create the same results as a surgical facelefit without the same cost and time it takes for a more intrusive procedure. 

Excitement, for sure, given the growing demand for cosmetic surgery in the United States.  There has been a 162 percent increase in folks clamoring for
help, with the statistics revealing non surgical, non invasive procedures top the list, according to the American Society of Liposuction, reporting 10.2 million cosmetic procedures in 2008.

And while cosmeticians are joining the ever-growing group of those going green, i.e. trying to look youthful without going under the knife, do these procedures work?

In 2013 the Daily Mail tackled that very topic.  This is what they found out.
Most people consider procedures like Botox injections make them appear more relaxed and somewhat younger.  Chemical peels seemed to create a few problems in the healing phase of the procedures, but a patient who was interviewed responded that the end result was worth the pain and the costs.  And a laser treatment also brought a positive response from someone who had used that method to reduce the signs of aging.  Still readers responses on the photos used to show the comparisons of before and after the procedures maintained they could see little difference in them.

Still folks are flocking to clinics in their efforts to look younger and therefore what they assume will be better, a growing trend of going green that seems to appeal to many folks in a world where many want to avoid looking old before their time.

Given the growing demand and concerns, these new methods of creating a new appearance for people who want to look younger or better, who knows what direction will be the result? 

"You join a long line of people praying to the gods of
beauty to bring some non-surgical answer to their prayers for facial
rejuvenation. It is truly the Holy Grail of plastic surgery.
Unfortunately, there is no non-surgical way to get the same results as a
facelift," responds Adam Rubenstein, plastic surgeon.

How hospitals are going green in their efforts to help environment

Hospital Shuttle, Flickr by Sergev Vladimirov

Amanda Brown--Hospitals are some of the biggest waste producers, second only to the food industry. They throw out several pounds of waste per patient each week. That's why many hospitals are looking for ways to reduce waste, recycle, and make more environmentally friendly decisions.

Take a look at these four things some hospitals are doing to go green and help the environment.

1. Combining Shuttle Services with Nearby Hospitals

Large hospitals often provide shuttle services from their parking lot to all the buildings within their hospital complex. However, they rarely ever fill up, which is a waste of gas. That's why the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston decided to combine shuttle services with four other local hospitals. Amy Lipman, the environmental sustainability coordinator said, "Now they're full and they're moving people more efficiently."

2. Reprocessing Operating Room Supplies

You may not think it, but hospitals are massive waste producers. They throw out millions of dollars in supplies each year — everything from towels and surgical gowns to cutting tools and other medical devices. This is mainly because the supplies have been contaminated in an operating room.

Researchers, from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, show that many of these supplies could easily be sterilized and reprocessed, instead of being thrown out. Only a few hospitals have started to change their ways, though.

Banner Health in Phoenix reprocessed several operating room supplies over a 12 month period and saved nearly $1.5 million. The supplies included things like pulse oximeters, compression sleeves, and open but unused devices. Reprocessing operating room supplies is one way many hospitals are starting to go green.

3. Sending Leftover Food to a Compost Pile

[caption id="attachment_19785" align="alignright" width="300"] Compost - Flickr by Kristen Taylor[/caption]

Hospital food is more appetizing than in the past, but there's still a lot of waste. That's why some hospitals are now going green by throwing leftover food and scraps into a compost pile. One hospital doing this is St. Joseph Hospital. The director of hospitality services, Mark McKenna, said, "We've been recycling since 2009, and this just seemed like the next natural step." The hospital now saves $125 per ton of food sent to the compost pile instead of the landfill.

Of course, there are some things that can't be recycled, such as prescription medications. For instance, when people don't use all the medication, it needs to be disposed of in a safe way instead of a compost pile.

4. Using "Green" Cleaning Supplies

You can count on hospitals to smell sterile, but many hospitals are switching to less abrasive disinfectants that don't leave noxious fumes in the air. These cleaning supplies are better for the environment and the patients. Harsh chemicals cause headaches and are dangerous, so hospitals are better without them. One such hospital switching to green cleaning supplies is the UCSF in San Francisco.

These are just a few of the things hospitals are doing to go green. They still have a long way to go, though. Do you have any suggestions on how hospitals can reduce waste?

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Amanda Brown is a freelance writer with a concern for the environment who focuses on ways of providing alternatives for consumers.

Go Green: Eco-friendly moving across the country

Heather Roberts — Today, it seems like more and more people are getting interested in the topic of being eco-friendly. And it is not only widely discussed, but also this 'green' way of living is embraced by a lot of folks each year. Basically, because of the fact that people are getting more concerned about the health of our environment and the preserving of the Nature, the green way of life tends to get employed in a lot of aspects of our daily life. Even in moving houses.

Everybody knows that this task is really tedious and also leaves a big amount of waste once it is completed: plastic wrapping, heaps of cardboard boxes, packing peanuts, etc. The downside of these is that they are only being used once, after which they go directly into the trash bin. So, next time you are about to go through a moving, why not embrace the eco-friendly method and cut down as much as you can of your moving related items.

Sure that's a no-brainer, but try to carry away as little as possible – only those items that you need and use and are of some value to you. Needless to say, the more stuff you have for moving, the more trips back and forth need to be done, which results in more nasty fumes into the air. If you believe there are thing you do not need anymore, why not leave them behind? However, do not throw them away, but rather donate them (clothes, furniture, electronic devices), or make a yard sale. This way these objects will not only go into the hands of people who actually need them, but you will also win some money. The lighter the load of the moving van, the less gas it will burn.

You can go as far as to empty the fridge of all its contents and to give them away. Surely, they will turn bad by the time you move in into your new home.

Usually, moving boxes tend to get used only one time, and once they've served their purpose, they get disposed, even though most of them are still in usable condition. What you can do is to browse around the internet, looking for ads for secondhand moving boxes. Once the moving is finished, you can try to think of something else to use the boxes for. For example, build your children a castle to play in. Or store various tools in them. There are dozens of options. However, if you don't need them for anything else, or you simply can't think of what to use them for – then it is time for recycling. However, there is also the option of buying polypropylene crates that could be used more than just once.

Securing your possessions could be done not only with bubble wrap; plastic degrades slowly and causes pollution. Why not use newspapers instead? Even towels and pieces of cloth can do the trick.

When choosing the moving company you will be working with, look for one whose vans run on biodiesel. If your company of choice does not practice ‘green moving’, ask them to make an exception. If the firm is a reliable one, they would be glad to do anything the costumer wishes.

Provided that you would like to perform an eco-friendly moving, the options that you have and can use are basically dozens. It all depends on how much time and effort you are willing to invest in that undertaking.

 

About the Author

Heather Roberts is a content writer from London, UK. She has great flair for decoration and interior design. She is searching for new challenges and hence often moves to different places. Therefore her present article is focused on how to easily recover if you moved to a new town.

Green gyms – Tammy Polenz talks about staying fit

[caption id="attachment_17243" align="alignright" width="185"] Tammy Polenz[/caption]

Michell Spoden —Today I talk to Tammy Polenz, from Mentor, OH, the author of Think Fit 2 Be Fit. Polenz is the owner of the eco-friendly Vedas Fitness club, and she serves as wellness coordinator for the Cleveland Hopkins Airport. In our conversation, Polenz shares her knowledge about fitness questions, thinking, and green/positive lifestyle.

Michell: Tammy, please tell us about your Green Gym and how you got started?

Tammy: I’ve been interested in ‘green’ or ‘eco-friendly’ for many years now and have had an intense desire to create a self-sustaining facility because of that interest. I believe that you cannot get healthy if your environment is unhealthy. This is true emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. Environments can evoke physical vitality. We experience this all the time, especially when spending time in nature.  Understanding this is one of the reasons why creating a ‘green environment is important to me. Plus living green leaves less of a footprint in the world, something many of us are coming to understand and appreciate for many reasons.

Michell: Please tell us about your new book and what inspired you to write it?

Tammy: My book Think Fit 2 Be Fit is something I started about 10 years ago, at a time when wellness wasn’t as popular. The reason why I started writing it was because many people just didn’t have the understanding about healthy nutrition that they have now. Coupled with my personal story, it teaches people the basic fundamentals of a good nutrition. It also integrates competitor secrets I learned in order to compete nationally and make it into Oxygen Magazine – the same secrets that models use to get in tip top shape for cover shoots on muscle and fitness magazines. When people read it, they are usually surprised at how easy it is to read and how quickly they begin to see results.

Michell: When it comes to getting “fit”, why do you think going to the gym is better than other types of fitness options?  Or do you? If so please give us your input?

Tammy: Getting fit doesn’t have to revolve around a gym. Getting fit involves just being active. It’s about challenging yourself in a variety of ways. Pushing yourself to lift heavier, walk further, run faster, bike harder, or just do more activity overall. Working out should be challenging enough, so that daily activity becomes a breeze to endure. Exercise should be fun and exciting, something that you look forward to doing. Therefore, when planning an exercise program, choose fun activities and participate in them often. 

Michell: So when you say “think fit”, what do we mean by it? What is the right kind of thinking?

Tammy: Thinking fit means exactly that. If you want to be fit then you have to think like a fit person. Fit people think about healthy foods and then eat those foods. They think about incorporating activities in their schedule that involve movement and then stay active because that is what was on their mind. See, whatever is in your head is the direction your body will go. If you think about eating chocolate then your body will find it to eat, but if you think about fruit or a fish then your body will follow that thought. Therefore, fill your head with proactive thoughts. The better the thoughts, the better the outcome of those thoughts. In the end, it is your thought that leads you to action, so change the way you think and your actions will follow, then success will be yours. 

Michell: Do you think eating right is more expensive or not?

Tammy: Eating healthy will always be the less expensive alternative in the end. There are a variety of foods that you can buy, which are inexpensive and go a long way. Some of those foods include brown rice, oatmeal, Quinoa, eggs, fruits, and vegetables when they are in season, etc. Yes, some healthy foods like steak, chicken or fish can start to add up. This is especially true if you have a large family. The key is to be creative with your food by combining it. For example, you can combine chicken or steak with brown rice, corn, beans, and salsa for a pretty healthy and tasteful meal. This inexpensive meal can feed a large family for only a few dollars. Another thing to keep in mind is, if you eat lots of junk food, you will have more cravings and in response a tendency to eat more often. This can cause your grocery bill to escalate as well. Highly processed foods usually have low nutritional value and tend to be high calories. This can produce weight gain and a whole host of other medical related problems over time.  Consistently making poor nutritional choices will affect medical costs, an indirect expense associated with your grocery choices. You may save some money initially, but cheap food becomes very expensive when you compare it with the expense of your health and vitality. 

Michell: Do you believe staying healthy with gym also improves one’s relationships, like those in one’s family and at workplace?

Tammy: Your body is your temple and what resides within, your sprit or what you call self, it affected by the health of that temple. Think of it this way; your body is like your home. A solid structure can provide shelter, warmth, comfort, a place to feel safe, and a place where personal relationships can thrive. If that home is in good condition then you will experience all of these things to their fullest capacity.  But if your home has holes in the roof, no heat, the walls are falling down, the stairs are creaky, and you are getting very little sunlight or too much sunlight. If this is the case then your basic needs for protection are not being met. Living your day-to-day life in a state of lack, where you are uncomfortable all the time, can have an effect on your entire life including your personal relationships. It’s hard to have a good personal relationship with yourself if you feel uncomfortable, let alone someone else. When we feel good, it shows through. We act very differently when we feel good as opposed to when we feel bad. We have a tendency to treat others differently dependent upon the way we feel. Feeling healthy and happy.

Michell: What is one of your most favorite quotes and why is your favorite?

Tammy: “In life there is no such thing as staying the same; either you are striving to make yourself better or allowing yourself to get worse.” ~ Unknown

This is my above-all favorite quote, because it sums up everything life. Life is about movement; if you are not moving, you are dying in some sort of way. The key is to live and live vivaciously. I live my life like this and it has made for an exciting journey.

Michell: Do you have any future goals or events to share with our readers?

Tammy: I always have numerous goals I am working to attain simultaneously. Goals are a very important aspect of life and without them we would not get the opportunity to experience a sense of accomplishment, like that which happens after each one is conquered. Right now, my main goals include growing my business and spending all of my extra time with family and friends.

Michell: Tammy it was a pleasure doing this interview with you and we wish the very best to you in all of your endeavors. Please keep in touch.

Visit Tammy Polenz’s Vedas Gym online at http://www.vedasfitness.com/.

Choose these 16 ways to secure an environmentally friendly lifestyle

Kate Simmons — Being a good citizen is not just about paying your taxes or lending a hand to your neighbor; it is now about how you are treating the Earth. These days, people are becoming more aware of their carbon footprint and the influence their actions are having on the environment.

Every individual can do or change something in their lives to live a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle. You might think that this is only applicable if you live in the countryside or plant your own crop, but it doesn’t matter if you live in a small apartment or big mansion, you can make a difference.

Let us take a look at 16 ways to secure an environmentally friendly lifestyle:

1. Bike to work

If you live in walking or cycling distance from your workplace, why not commute to work? Try to use your car only when it’s really necessary like for instance when you have to transport heavy items or run all your errands at once. Create a love for bicycles in your family and you will be fit before you know it.

2. Buy reusable bags

Try and buy garbage bags that are reusable; this way when they collect your recycled materials, they will be able to use the bag again. Take your own shopping bags to the shop to prevent having to buy a plastic bag at the counter.

3. Switch off appliances

Switch off your television as well as your computer when you go to bed at night. Remember to unplug all electronic appliances as well.

4. Don’t use the tumble dryer

If the weather permits it, do your washing by hand and hang it on a washing line to dry. On this topic, you can also let your hair dry naturally every now and again instead of always using the blow dryer and straightener.

5. Open the curtains

A lot of natural light goes to waste when you live with your curtains closed. Use the day’s natural lighting for as long as possible before you switch on the lights. Start your day early by rising with the sun and allowing your body to follow its natural rhythm.

6. Buy eco-friendly products

Check the ingredients of the product you are buying, especially your cleaning products. They need to specify that they are environmentally friendly.

7. Energy saving lights

If you check at your local supermarket, you will see that you have the option to buy energy-saving bulbs for the lights in your home. These might be a bit more expensive but well worth it in the long run.

8. Pay your bills online

There are a lot of things you can do online to prevent unnecessary paperwork and admin. Ask your bank or account holder to send you an invoice or statement online instead of having it mailed to your home.

9. Collect rainwater

Find a method of collecting the rainwater in and around your home and reuse this water for the garden’s irrigation system.

10. Reduce the use of plastic

Don’t buy bottled water every day. Rather buy two long-lasting water bottles and filter your own water.

11. Plant a seed

Educate yourself in gardening by planting your own herb garden.

12. Buy second hand

Don’t always go for the latest and newest products; check to see if there isn’t already the same product available online that is not being used by someone else.

13. Use scrap paper

This is very smart, especially if you have children that love to draw. Always use both sides of the paper and remember to recycle afterwards.

14. Shop at your farmer’s market

Shopping at your local farmer’s market will support your town’s economy and help a great deal with sustainability.

15. Make your home clutter free

If you organize your home and throw out items that you don’t use anymore, you can give that to your community or someone in need of those items.

16. Spread the word

If you are living an environmentally friendly lifestyle, it won’t be long before people start asking how. Spread the word by holding a monthly green living meeting in your community. Here you can share tips and tricks when it comes to sustainable living.

These are just a few of the hundreds of ways you can secure that you are doing your part for Mother Nature’s survival. Don’t overthink it; start today!



About the Author

Kate Simmons is a fresh graduate who enjoys writing about topics related to education and green economy.

How solar energy can increase your home's value

Kevin Vogel — In the early days of solar power, many people mistakenly believed that solar panels could actually lower your property value. This was mostly due to the perceived notion that the neighbors didn't like it. But that assumption turned out to be a complete myth. Not only are more and more people considering solar panels in their homes, it's also increasing home value by four percent or more. Installation of a solar system in your home can still be very expensive, but with the money you save on utility bills, plus an increase in equity and tax credits, you could find yourself with an investment that more than pays off.

Some of the Reasons Solar Energy could pay off include:

Perspective buyers of your home will know that they are going to pay little to nothing to the electric company, and as energy rates rise, this offers a valuable sense of security.

Solar homes are likely to have more amenities in general. If you've taken the time to install panels and awnings, then you have probably installed and renovated other areas of the home, leading to a greater perception of its value.

Depending on where you live, the government offers huge tax incentives and reimbursements to homeowners willing to switch to solar – enough that the hefty cost of installation can be reduced to a fraction.

Solar panels reflect a certain kind of neighborhood. If you live in a place populated by environmentally-conscious people and college graduates, who may drive hybrid cars and promote healthy modern living, buyers who are looking for that environment will be drawn to your property.

To put it simply, more and more buyers are considering reducing the size of their carbon footprint as well as the dependence of all of us on fossil fuels. For this reason alone, a solar home can sell for a great price and also more quickly.

The payoff is not guaranteed, of course, and it is still possible you could spend more installing than you can recoup. The numbers depend on what kind of system you buy, which region you live in, how old your solar panels are, and how you maintain them. Many realtors will insist that you're aware before you sell your home that panels may not increase the value at all – and in some cases, they don't, especially if they are older panels with decreased efficiency which will need to be replaced soon. But the good news is that the cases where solar panels depreciated the value of a home are virtually nonexistent.

On the whole, solar panels reflect both a sense of environmental responsibility and prestige, and their appeal is growing. The number of homes converting to solar increases by up to 50 percent each year, and as that happens, prices for installation become more competitive, leading the transition to be much more affordable than it was in the past decade. In the long run, it's increased education about the value of green energy that will benefit the value of a solar home most of all.

Permaculture: Growing Hope

[caption id="attachment_11837" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="adult literacy"][/caption]

Bob Ewing - Permaculture is a nature-inspired, holistic design methodology that can be used to grow food, create communities and build businesses.

My personal experience has encompassed all three with creating communities and building businesses being combined and leading the work, both paid and volunteer, I do.

We live in false and troubled time, this reality has been brought into the light by the Occupy Movement and we must keep that light shining as it can guide our way. One of the results of Occupying was the awakening of hope.

Hope, not the buying of a lottery ticket with the goal of increasing your income type of false hope, but real hope that is rooted inaction, is what we need to encourage today.

I like the definition of hope put forward by Rebecca Solinit:”Hope just means that another world might be possible, not promised, not guaranted. Hope calls for action: action is impossible without hope.”

Permaculture design is action, considered action that can change how we see the world around us and how we related to all the elements that bring that world into being.
My study and work using permaculture ethics and principals shows that if we want economic regeneration, and we do want and indeed, need this, then the place to begin is with environmental regeneration.

Urban agriculture, for example, could create enterprises that would revitalize low-income communities. Brownfields and other vacant lands that are suitable for urban agriculture are often located in low income areas. These sites can be reclaimed by the community businesses and become attractive, productive enterprises rather than empty eyesores.

Brownfields are properties, often, industrial or commercial areas that have been abandoned because of perceived environmental contamination. Some examples include abandoned factories or manufacturing plants. Gas stations that are no longer in business are one example.

On-the-job-training, such as adult literacy projects, could be incorporated an urban agriculture enterprise which is located in a low-income community. This provides fresh food, education and work for the community members.

If the urban agricultural project is designed using permaculture techniques in will help reduce the stresses because they can contribute to the strengthening of a community’s resilience.

Resilience is the ability of an ecosystem, in this case, urban environments, to withstand extreme stress and to survive periods of catastrophic occurrences.

Resilience is often used to refer to the ability to survive natural disaster such as floods and hurricanes and permaculture design can create systems that will do this.

However, resilience is also vital when it comes to getting through the human made disaster of a false or lop-sided economy. For example, credit unions, cooperatively owned and operated are a viable alternative to banks. Workers cooperatives are a democratic business structure that empowers the worker-owners.

Permaculture design is praxis or theory in action and as such it grows and nurtures hope, hope that will generate action, action that will bring about, a just and sustainable society where no one will live in fear.

Does surviving the Zombie Apocalypse mean going green?

Samantha Torrence--The Zombie Apocalypse is nearing and survival is the first concern in everyone’s mind.  Are you prepared?  And are you green enough?

Sure you have your regulation Zombie killing weapons, but besides the flame throwers, boomsticks, and machetes what else would you need to survive? After all there is not going to be just a constant wave of zombies to defeat like in a video game so in the downtime you will need to eat, sleep, and get ready for more. When the system collapses, trade ceases, power grids fail, and money becomes obsolete, how are you going to feed and clothe yourself?

If you look around your home,  you have all the convenience of modern life.  How much of the technology in your home that gives you those conveniences would become useless if power infrastructures failed? Would your gas or electric stove work? Would your computer power up? These are questions you need consider as you make a survival plan. What appliances and pieces of technology would you like to keep in a post-apocalyptic world? Things like radios, computers, cooking stoves, heating sources and the like would be essential to keep even a semblance of the quality of life you are used to. You will also need a tactical advantage against the zombie horde this is where radio transmitters, radios, and motion lights would be superb. Perhaps while you still can it would be useful to purchase a wind turbine or solar panels with a power storage and converter for your home. You can even make them yourself if you are handy.  It will not only help you keep appliances powered when the grid fails, but while the grid is in place it will help you with your bill and you can even sell energy back to the power plants.  This would also be a good time to replace any gas run appliances with electric, after all natural gas lines will not be full forever.

Electricity may be the initial choice for preservation, but what about a water supply? Unless your community survives enough to come together and create a defense, that water tower in your area is not going to remain full. Also the water purification system will not be functional. Most people are not used to the bacteria in the natural water supply and ingesting that water would lead to sickness. Learning how to filter your own water for cooking and drinking is essential for survival.

Do you know how to make flour? How about cooking oil? Eating will become mighty dull while trade is at a minimum and you cannot get prepackaged and ready-to-eat foods from the local grocery store.  Storing canned goods is a first step during the initial Zombie wave but eventually you will have to acclimate to old world style cooking. Maybe it is time to visit your grandparents and learn how to can and cook, or even look up these essentials online. For an idea of all you will need to learn to make first look at the ingredients in making just a loaf of bread. Then ask yourself how you will get each ingredient if there are no more stores.  No matter what happens you will need to learn to eat locally. Take this time before worldwide doom to find out what local plants and animals are in your area and how hunt and gather. Even now it is a good idea to get into this habit. Think of all the money you could save on groceries if you hunted for your own food and even made a garden in your back yard.

Clearly surviving the Zombie Apocalypse is going to be about more than just your weaponry, it is going to be about learning to live in a local and self-sufficient way. People will have to relearn old arts like blacksmithing, glass blowing, tailoring, candle making, soap making and farming.  Learning how to live in a localized community is what “going green” is all about. It isn’t about the EPA get rich schemes, or clean air acts, it is about merging the low impact self-sufficient way of life from the per-industrial era and the modern technology that has given us access to great medical care and knowledge of how to keep ourselves healthy through clean living.

Take this time before the Zombie Apocalypse to learn a craft and how to do the everyday housework that people living in super powered countries have forsaken.

Portland, Oregon: Parading for the world

[caption id="attachment_5770" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="We are the world: Rose Festival (Forsloff photo)"][/caption]








Carol Forsloff - Portland, Oregon’s highly regarded Rose Festival again brought acclaim among its citizens for proving once more how the town’s cosmopolitan, going green behavior reflects the best dimensions of the world.

Rose Festival extends from Memorial Day through early June, nearly two weeks of fun-filled activities that culminate in a parade of beauty and a statement from the town of its social and political culture.

[caption id="attachment_5772" align="alignright" width="300" caption="PGE's "tree float" in Rose Festival parade"][/caption]

That statement varies from the Western part of Oregon to its Eastern sections, from liberal to conservative, but the parade, like the Starlight parade held the weekend before the Rose Festival one,  reveals the coming together of the state’s attitudes towards an open-minded, open-hearted way of looking at the world.

Nowhere else is Portland’s attitude better reflected than a parade that brings together every racial, religious and national group that makes the town an uptown capital of America’s movement toward the ecumenical in many special ways.   While in states like Alabama and Arizona, immigration laws might seem to say “we don’t want you anymore,” Portland proclaims instead, “You’re part of us and make us what we are.”  That’s not to say that Oregon accepts illegal immigration with grins and look-asides but it speaks to its acceptance that the world is changing fast and building walls might not be the better way.

The Rose Festival parade brought out that Portland best, with floats and floral fantasies that wove through downtown streets.  The crowds had gathered mid-morning under gray-cast skies, not knowing if the day would bring some sunshine after all.  But just as sure as Portland’s unpredictable manners, the sun broke out in sharp, warm beams that lightened up the day.  The rest of the light came from the mood that one could almost feel while standing and a gazing at the lovely crowd.  The colors of the rainbow that came marching down the street were eclipsed by those who watched the parade of every hue and kind.  The Rose Festival Queen Lamarra Haynes, an African American beauty, received enthusiastic applause from an appreciative crowd that seemed unmoved by the single statement that her coronation makes about the town.  That statement is for Portland folk color and social prominence in parades or politics isn't major news when quality makes sense for folks instead.

[caption id="attachment_5771" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Interracial couple at Rose Festival Parade (Forsloff photo)"][/caption]

The welcome mat was out from the town that sleeps , unlike a sister city San Francisco down the coast, but rests in naps instead, ever mindful, every ready to assume its place as leader in putting out the best parade around.  The world’s parade marched Saturday, with sights and sounds reminding us as Michael Jackson and company once proclaimed,  as Portland does each year, we are the world for sure.

Faith and values impact the water in La., Or

[caption id="attachment_5162" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Drinking water"][/caption]

Carol Forsloff - LOUISIANA - Values and faith are involved in more than just politics and social issues but environmental ones as well, including the water folks drink.

Environmental groups, both private and public, raise concerns about contaminated water caused by hydraulic fracturing for gas or by chemical or waste companies of various types.  Politicians and some religious conservatives maintain that agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency should be dismissed because oversight may lead to rules that interfere with “good business” when some of that business impacts clean water.

East Feliciana Parishn is under a boil advisory until June 2.  The deadline has been extended as the Department of Health and Hospitals has not yet delivered its results on possible contamination following a lightning strike. But contaminated water does not result just from nature's behaviors.  Areas of contamination are often cited in public pronouncements and news in Louisiana.  Natchitoches Parish folks, for example, regularly receive notices that the water of the area has a warning label.  Another example is Plaquemine's Parish in the area of Baton Rouge.  Conamination by Dow Chemical waste has led to heavy pollution of the waters in the area.

Values impact choices.  Environmental issues are often seen as of less consequence in Louisiana with its emphasis on being an oil and gas rich state than they are in places like Oregon where reducing waste has been the order of the day for more than 30 years.  In the 1970’s people were found squashing and flattening cans with their feet in Oregon  in order to reduce tin can rubbish in the landfills.  Oregon also prides itself on its good water from lakes and streams, pointing to Bull Run water in Portland as the hallmark of the best.  Portlanders are quick to brag about the water, as having good, clean water to drink is considered a significant value in the state of going green.

On the other hand, Louisiana’s pride extends to the Saints, the food, Mardi Gras events and anything goes, and often that “anything goes” means healthy water.  Pressure on politicians to save the environment does not match that of ensuring that the productivity of oil and gas remains without interruption, even at the risk of people’s lives.

Already there are legal issues being raised by hydraulic fracturing from the Haynesville Shale, said to be poisoning cows that have been drinking water spilled from a natural gas wellpad.

Louisiana’s beauty in its foliage, fauna and flowing waters gives an atmosphere of nature at its finest; but it takes more than that to really going green.  It means valuing what faith and ethics offers most: the benefits for the overall health of the community as a foundation for a wholesome life.  So long as there is little demand placed upon politicians to ensure environmental safety, and a willingness to accept contamination as the price to pay for corporate bucks from oil and gas, boil advisories will likely continue to be part of Louisiana life when man ignores nature.

Could going green mean living in log cabins?

 Could a log cabin be an answer to the energy crisis, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of using logs for homes in our ancestor's traditions.  Is this an idea whose time has come?  

The Log Home Builders Association claims log homes can fix the real estate market.  So what is unique about them.

Many potential home buyers these days are struggling with trying to obtain financing in the current economy. Others are facing foreclosure on their existing homes. Both might be served by building their own log homes from scratch without a kit, and doing it for the lowest possible price to avoid a mortgage, log home builder groups declare.

"While commercial builders typically buy everything new" said Steve White, a Director of the Log Home Builders Association, ”an owner-builder might opt to use reclaimed lumber, recycled windows and doors, and install used appliances. This can save lots of money in the overall cost of a finished home.”

And with no mortgage, there’s no worry about future foreclosure. "It was important to us that we build our house without a mortgage" said Mary Claire, a member of the Association. "My husband and I worked on the house when we had money and finished it in about six months without a bank loan. No one can take it away from us.”

The Log Home Builders Association offers a 2-day class on how to build log homes from scratch. The next class will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 4th and 5th, 2010. 

Log home builders make a pitch to enumerate their benefits stick-built homes don't have.  What do they say are these benefits?

The benefits listed include the fact that most of these log homes are said to be made to a higher standard of craftsmanship and custom touches and therefore have a higher resale value.  They are said to be sturdy and able to stand up to weather problems.  Log homes are considered energy efficient as well, if built and sealed properly, thereby saving money on energy.  They are also considered to be more quiet than stick-built homes and easier to keep free of mold and infestations.

Log cabin homes can be built from scratch from specially-designed plans or bought from a manufacturer and able to be set up and ready to move into in a matter of weeks, according to some proponents. 

How much does it cost to do this?  One expert gives this estimate:   

" The average cost to build a log home in the U.S. is approximately *$90.00-$110.00 per square foot turnkey. The square footage you need to be concerned with is the actual living area on the main and second floor if applicable. Basement space and garage area are not included in this estimation. You need to take the basement and garage square footage times $35.00-$55.00 approximately to arrive at a cost for construction."

The total cost under these estimates would be $250,000 to $350,000 not including cost of land and including all the bells and whistles with a two car garage and full basement for a 2,000 square foot home.  Costs can be minimized by not having the basement, a smaller garage, and a smaller square footage.

Back to our ancestors?  Is this how they survived the winters and without air conditioning and is that a good idea?  It might be something to consider as more Americans look for choices for the long term.

That's left for the reader to ponder.