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Seeking balance from the busy corporate world, Monika Roleff became Imogen Crest, the Hermit, under the influence of Heather Blakey, Enchanteur extrao... (more...)
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Sustainable Living - Every Day
"Sustainability City" is part of a Soul Food Cafe initiative called "Wild Gardeners". The intention of this lens is to provide information on urban sustainability, how it is possible, and how it is working every day, often without any fanfare or fuss. Nature just does the work, and the living things of the plant kingdom thrive to their natural pace of evolution with the seasons. It's easy in busy lifestyles to forget that Nature endures, that all life has its place, even in heavily populated urban environments. Possibly these are the places that need nature the most?
LEARN ALL THE WAYS TO BE EARTH CONSCIOUS, TODAY AND EVERY DAY.
Some great new trends emerging:
Vertical Gardens and Green Roofs!
Follow the progress of the vertical gardens and green roof growth trend for cities, providing relief from extreme weather events and warming.
greenroofs.org
More on fertile roofs:
"Sky Veggies - A Brilliant Notion" by Fred Gerendasy of CookingUpAStory fame was sent by Rebecca, explaining a great new idea in food.
EARTH HOUR INITIATIVE! - RESULTS IN!!
Explore the link posted below, to find out the results of global Earth Hour activity. The results were measured around the globe so far, adding to the totals as different countries reached 8pm on the 29th March, 2008.
ABC Online - Earth Hour Results
Explore this link for further details
Earth Hour USA, and some informative visuals and facts on how it started in Sydney, Australia, 2007.
** And don't forget to take note of the extensive sustainability and green links from Squidoo lenses across the community. There are some great resources within Squidoo!
In Defence of Food - Michael Pollan
Food Discussion - In Four Parts
View and discuss with friends, the brilliant series on food, from Rebecca Gerendasy, of Cooking Up A Story, about Michael Pollan's latest book, "In Defence of Food". Rethink your own ideas about food and sustainability. The book is available below from Amazon, along with Anne Vileisis' work "Kitchen Literacy", whose films from the same producer are included further down.
FOOD NEWS: Michael Pollan: In Defense Of Food
Michael Pollan's new book, In Defense of Food, provides the backdrop for his talk at the Bagdad Theater in Portland, Oregon, and this prior interview with Deborah Kane of the environmental nonprofit organization, Ecotrust. Remarkably, Mr. Pollan is talking about a defense of food in a literal sense: it's increasingly difficult to escape from eating foods that are food-like substances (processed foods), but are not whole (real) foods. We have come to look upon "nutritionism" as a valid means of determining (healthy) value in our diet; food has been reduced to its composition of good and bad nutrients, but are we really eating healthier? In part one, we see how simple changes in food labeling requirements can influence consumer behavior, and how food manufacturer's apply overwhelming pressure to effect laws that ultimately protect their own interests. To see more stories, get recipes, and links to additional resources, go to: http://cookingupastory.com/
Runtime: 9:56
14144 views
10 Comments:
In Defence of Food - Michael Pollan
Food Discussion - In Four Parts
Michael Pollan: In Defense of Food 2
In this segment, Michael Pollan talks about how we (Americans) have come to view food through the lens of nutritionism. Focused upon the good and bad nutrients within foods, this is our measure of what we deem healthy to eat, while also largely ignoring other reasons for eating, like pleasure and enhancing a sense of community. To see more stories, get recipes, and links to additional resources, go to: http://cookingupastory.com/
Runtime: 10:36
6500 views
10 Comments:
In Defence of Food - Michael Pollan
Food Discussion - In Four Parts
Michael Pollan: In Defense of Food 3
There's more to eating than just its effect upon our health. Pleasure, a sense of community, our sense of connection with nature, these are all highly important aspects of eating that may get overlooked. In this segment with Deborah Kane of Ecotrust, Michael Pollan connects the dots, between our over-reliance upon science, in this case, the science of nutrition, and our gross under-appreciation of culture as the trustworthy guide to our approach to eating food. To see more stories, get recipes, and links to additional resources, go to: http://cookingupastory.com/
Runtime: 12:07
20182 views
10 Comments:
In Defence of Food - Michael Pollan
Food Discussion - In Four Parts
Michael Pollan: In Defense of Food 4
"It is the best of times, and the worst of times when it comes to food. But, I focus on the best, and there are alot of very positive things happening." So says Michael Pollan in this final installment, as he completes the dots between government policy, public health, and the cost and availability of fresh wholesome foods. To see more stories, get recipes, and links to additional resources, go to: http://cookingupastory.com/
Runtime: 8:25
4144 views
10 Comments:
New Amazon Voting (Plexo) - Sustainable Resources
How Do They Rate? The Top Five
What are the Top 5 best resources to learn about sustainability in cities every day? Have your say and vote!
Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden And Your Neighborhood into a Community by Heather C. Flores
In favour of produce instead of lawns.4 points
Kitchen Literacy: How We Lost Knowledge of Where Food Comes from and Why We Need to Get It Back by Ann Vileisis
A discussion of food production and use.3 points
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan
A discussion favouring keeping food natural.1 point
The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns Can Change to Sustainable Practices by Sarah James
Can cities become sustainable?0 points
Superbia: 31 Ways to Create Sustainable Neighborhoods by Daniel D. Chiras
How to make the suburbs sustainable.0 points
Kitchen Literacy with Ann Vileisis
Part One of a Discussion on Food Production
FOOD NEWS: Kitchen Literacy
PART 1—A conversation with author, Ann Vileisis about Kitchen Literacy, what we know about our food, and how we came to know it. For Ann, her book Kitchen Literacy came about because she was struck by how much she didn't know about the common foods she encountered in the supermarket. In the research for her book, she was surprised to learn how much people expected to know about their food in pre-industrial times. For example, meats, they would find out the sex and age of the animal, the farm it came from, and even the animal's background. Certainly a far cry from our expectations today! To see more stories, get recipes, and links to additional resources, go to: http://cookingupastory.com/
Runtime: 5:15
32720 views
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Kitchen Literacy with Ann Vileisis
Part Two of a Discussion on Food Production
FOOD NEWS: Kitchen Literacy-2
Continuing the conversation with Ann Vileisis, author of Kitchen Literacy, she explains how over time we became gradually disassociated from how foods were produced, and where they originated. Most importantly, the advertising industry played a significant role in changing American values toward food, and easing the transformation to the industrial food production system of today. No easy feat to accomplish, it took 50 years to fully inculcate society to the new norms of food consumption. To see more stories, get recipes, and links to additional resources, go to: http://cookingupastory.com/
Runtime: 5:42
17422 views
10 Comments:
Kitchen Literacy with Ann Vileisis
Part Three of a Discussion on Food Production
Kitchen Literacy-3
Part 3, Ann Vileisis talks about the need to start making connections between our consumption of food, and the environmental and social consequences that result. By taking a more integrative approach to how we choose food, we can promote better environmental practices, healthier food consumption, and insure a locally produced supply of fresh, and nutritious foods. To see more stories, get recipes, and links to additional resources, go to: http://cookingupastory.com/
Runtime: 3:46
8685 views
10 Comments:
Sustainable Tips and Tricks
Good Books on Amazon
Kitchen Literacy: How We Lost Knowledge of Where Food Comes from and Why We Need to Get It Back
Amazon Price: $17.79 (as of 05/11/2008)
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto
Amazon Price: $13.17 (as of 05/11/2008)
Food Not Lawns: How to Turn Your Yard into a Garden And Your Neighborhood into a Community
Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 05/11/2008)
The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns can Change to Sustainable Practices
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 05/11/2008)
Superbia: 31 Ways to Create Sustainable Neighborhoods
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 05/11/2008)
Making the Most of City Living
Urban Sustainability Smarts
Have you ever wondered how you can make a difference in challenging times? There are literally thousands of tips for saving resources and smart city living. Here are some ideas to think about:1. Buy a few extra buckets and keep them in the courtyard for when it rains to capture water. Use this water later to pour over plants in pots or beds.
2. Save fallen leaves in Autumn for mulch - just spread them over garden beds instead of discarding.
3. No matter how small your yard space, a compost can be made by using a small square pit in the earth in a sheltered space, covered with an old mat. Scraps from the kitchen will decompose there, and become useable for potting plants, given time to break down.
4. If you have urban wildlife, be sure to leave out a container of water in the yard for them, in a sheltered place.
5. Swap and share plants and plant cuttings with neighbours. Volunteer to take on plants for neighbours who are moving and can't take them along.
Sustainability Links and Resources
Educate Yourself
- Eco-Bags Cotton String Bags
- In a variety of lovely fresh colours, cotton string bags make a fashionable alternative to plastic bags, and hold lots of groceries!
- Gaiam Fair Trade Products
- Choose from a range of fair trade products at Gaiam, a wonderful resource for sustainable purchases.
- Gaiam Eco Home and Outdoor
- Shop for home and outdoor at Gaiam, for a range of environmentally conscious choices for every day living.
- You Grow Girl
- Wonderful site on all things green in relation to gardening.
- It's a Green World
- A great site for information on green and eco travel, worldwide.
Great Sustainable Stuff on Amazon
Change the Way you Shop!
57 Watt Compact Fluorescent Plug In PL-T, 2700K, Sylvania
Amazon Price: $11.95 (as of 05/11/2008)
Sony Quick Battery Charger with 4 AA Ni-MH Rechargeable Batteries
Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 05/11/2008)
Sony 2500 mAh AA Rechargeable Nimh Batteries, 4-pack
Amazon Price: $11.30 (as of 05/11/2008)
Duracell 15 Minute Charger With 6AA & 2 AAA Rechareable Batteries CEF15RWCP
Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 05/11/2008)
BargainCell Rapid Travel Charger for iPod
Amazon Price: $1.14 (as of 05/11/2008)
Reader Feedback - Sustainable Cities.
Have your say...
Do you think cities can become sustainable?
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Imogen_Crest
Thank you, RMS! Posted May 07, 2008 |
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rms
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! 5* Posted May 07, 2008 |
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Imogen_Crest
Thanks, Susan! Posted May 07, 2008 |
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Susan52
Interesting lens with some very good ideas. Good job! Posted May 07, 2008 |
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Imogen_Crest
Thanks for the comments! Posted April 30, 2008 |
