On Thursday April 22nd we will celebrate forty years of Earth Day. This significant anniversary seems like a good time to reflect on any progress that has been made since 1970. Though we have a long way to go...some things have been accomplished:
•· Recycling - In 1970 Atlanta's recycling program consisted of the Boy Scouts collecting newspapers periodically...remember those days? We would tie up the papers with string and drop them off for a "paper drive". Glass, aluminum and plastic recycling was practically nonexistent, although dedicated environmentalists could collect these items and drive to South Atlanta to drop them at three different locations. Today we have curbside recycling...definitely a big improvement.
•· Transportation - The 1970s were the era of the car...the big car. The term gas guzzler had not become a common expression yet and Atlantans loved to drive. While the term "Sunday drive" predates this era, driving everywhere was the norm. Forty years later we are at least aware of the environmental costs of oil production and the air pollution caused by our love affair with cars. And the vehicles we do drive are continuing to evolve as technology is applied to environmentally friendly improvements to our cars. Another big improvement.
•· Food production - On April 22, 1970 I doubt anyone asked how or where their food was produced. If ignorance is bliss, then we were all pretty happy, because organics, the slow food movement, and localism were not factors in our food choices. The only farmers market was in South Atlanta and it was quite a special event to venture there. Today we have weekly farmers' markets, organic food in the traditional grocery store and a growing awareness that we need to preserve the family farm. Schools are planting gardens and teaching our children about how their food is grown...and that French fries are not really the most nutritious vegetable. We still have much to do in this area, but the fact that the issue has reached primetime television via Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, shows that a large number of people are concerned.
Earth Day reminds us that we are making progress, but there is still much to do to keep our Planet a safe and life-supporting place for future generations. After forty years we can say that awareness is growing and we are all becoming better stewards of the Earth.
If you want to mark this Fortieth Anniversary in a special way, you can make a small donation and have it do double duty. WABE 90.1FM is offering to plant a tree for every pledge of ANY amount made on Earth Day! In partnership with Trees Atlanta, this one day offer can give you the satisfaction of supporting public radio and improving the environment. Listen to 90.1 FM on Thursday for details.
And Enjoy Earth Day! It is a celebration after all!!
Donald Trump wants Al Gore to give back his Nobel Peace Prize because of all the snow in the past two weeks. Mr. Trump has declared that the snow is an indication that global warming was not a real threat. I am not aware of Mr. Trump's credentials as a scientist or an environmentalist, but I suspect owning casinos, office buildings, and luxury condos do not qualify him as an expert on the meaning of the recent snowfalls throughout the United States.
Mr. Trump is not the only one asking the question, though. Logic tells us that Global Warming should mean higher temperatures overall. A lot of folks have been in the media declaring these record snowfalls as a sign that our planet is safe. Quite of few have used this clear sign of Climate Change to further the agenda of the environmentally complacent, aka those who don't believe in Global Warming.
Which is one reason why the term Climate Change is more appropriate. While some parts of the planet get increasingly higher average temperatures, other parts experience unprecedented levels of snow and rain. Ken Edelstein gives an excellent summary of the science behind this in his recent blog on the subject at MyGreenAtl.com. He also has some great video from MSNBC and Stephen Colbert featuring some excellent (and entertaining) commentary on the meaning of all the snow.
While you are visiting MyGreenAtl.com, check out some other great information from Ken, especially the section on what you as an individual can do to help the environment. Because the scientists all seem to agree...Climate Change is a real concern, despite the attempts of the uninformed to make us think otherwise. The snow is a sign that it is time for everyone to stop debating about this issue and start working to make changes that will preserve the Earth for our children.
The concept is fairly simple. You sign up to receive a box of produce usually designed to feed a family of four for a week. This is called a share. And, you take what you get. The farmer picks the produce usually grown on his/her farm using organic or sustainable methods. People who participate are learning about new food items, as they usually have a surprise or two in each week's box. This would be a variety of vegetable or fruit which they may not have had before and which is definitely not sold at the local supermarket. Sound fun? I am told it can be, although I have not yet taken advantage of any of the local Atlanta CSAs. As an empty nester, it is hard to imagine taking in enough veggies for four people every week!! However, I recently learned that some CSAs offer half shares or just enough for two, so I may give it a try.
Many CSAs operate during the prime growing season which is April to October, however, some offer a year-round option. You can learn more about the CSAs in your area by visiting Local Harvest or Georgia Organics. The Local Harvest site also has some additional information about how CSAs work to help you choose the one that is right for you.
So, tired of the same old food at the grocery store? Can't get up early on Saturday to visit one of Atlanta's weekly farmer's markets? Check out the CSA approach. And please share your experience here on Lens. We will be waiting to hear about your new culinary finds!!
Chef Linton Hopkins is one of Atlanta’s treasures. Owner and chef at two local restaurants here in town, he has been recognized in the culinary world as one of the best new chef’s of 2009 by Food & Wine magazine. I haven’t had the opportunity to try Restaurant Eugene or Holeman and Finch Public House, but they are both on my list of places to visit.
On Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending a lecture by the Chef. He spoke about one of his passions, Southern food made with local ingredients. At his restaurants, he only serves seasonal food from nearby farms. And yet, he is a fan of The Varsity, another local treasure! As I teenager, I spent many Sundays at The Varsity after church at All Saints’ eating onion rings with a frosted orange, so I immediately felt I had found a soul mate, at least in the culinary world.
Chef Hopkins really focused on what he calls the poetry of the culinary year. That is the true joy of eating a fresh picked tomato or the first peas of the season. And he inspired me to give it a try…to go shopping and only buy seasonal ingredients. As I wondered through the grocery store that afternoon, I also pledged to only buy local or regional. I have to admit, it was difficult. But here is what I found:
- A purple (yes, purple) sweet potato from South Carolina
- An organic butternut squash from South Carolina
- Pork chops from Georgia
- Grass fed beef from Georgia
- Mountaineer apples from North Carolina
- Milk & cream from Sparkman’s Cream Valley in Moultrie, Ga
- Tangerines from Florida
Not bad for a first attempt, but missing some key items, like greens and other fruits. So I wondered, what is seasonal in December?? And local? I found the answer in a great chart from Georgia Organics, listing the harvest for every month of the year…and for our region! Now, I just have to take the time to shop at places like the DeKalb Farmers Market and find these things. I think it will be worth it.
A few months ago I gave up eating some of my favorite foods...bacon and hamburgers. Not for my own health...but for our Planet's health. I had been ignoring all the news about global warming and greenhouse gases...until my Vegan sister educated me...The meat industry accounts for a large percentage of Methane production, which in turn has a huge impact on climate change. WOW...Could this be true? So I began to investigate her belief...and turns out she was right. Some have estimated that raising, processing, and consuming meat accounts for 18 percent of greenhouse emissions worldwide. (MyGreenATL.com)
Which is why there are many groups now advocating at least a reduction in meat consumption worldwide. One is Meatless Monday, an organization founded by the John Hopkins" Bloomberg School of Public Health. Their motto is one day a week, give up meat.
Visit their website, which is interesting and easy to navigate, to learn more facts about meat, the environment, and your health. Plus some amazing recipes for food so delicious, you won't notice the lack of animal protein.
One of the more famous advocates of a meat-free diet is Sir Paul McCartney. He has given his support to the UK version of the movement, Support Meat Free Monday. The site is worth a visit...Paul has recorded a special video which is a Must-see.
So, if you aren't ready to give up eating meat for the good of our planet...that's okay. Just try it one day a week. It will make a difference.
School is back in session for most of metro Atlanta. One of my favorite things as a child was the start of school, the new clothes, and for a period...the new lunchbox with the thermos and a little strap to hold the obligatory sandwich. At some point, things got too hectic at our house in the mornings (I am the eldest of five) and we were allowed to buy our lunch at school. I don't remember much about that except it wasn't very good.
School lunches were not much of a factor for me as a parent. We lived 3 blocks from the school and my son preferred to come home and make his own lunch. I understood when I looked at the choices each day...fried this, cheese covered that, canned peas...thank goodness these were things he didn't want to eat. I remember thinking often, why are they giving these kids such high fat, high sodium and low fiber food for lunch each day?
So today I wondered what are they eating at school now? I visited the Atlanta Public Schools site and was pleased to see that Nutrition is an important feature. In fact APS has dedicated a entire site to Nutrition, Wellness, and Fitness that seems designed to benefit the students AND parents. I learned a few things at the site and actually plan to visit it again.
But I wondered...are the parents reading it? the students? And are kids taking their lunch these days or buying at school.
What are you doing with your kids?
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Atlanta S.O.L.E. Sustainable, Organic, Local & Ethical
