EcoMetro Silicon Valley

EcoMetro Events Through Nov 28

EcoMetro Editors — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:03:00 GMT

Cabaret By the Bay
This fourth annual cabaret incorporates local talent from Dance Synergy Studios and out-of-town acts.
Fri-Sat, Nov 20-22, Fri 7:30pm, Sat 6 and 8:30pm, Sun 2:30pm
Seascape Resort, 1 Seascape Resort Dr, Aptos

Wine Passport Program
Your chance to visit wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains not normally open to the public. Taste wine and have a great time.
Sat, Nov 21, 11am-5pm
Various wineries, Santa Cruz Mountains

Surfing Santa
Santa and his reindeer surf into Capitola Beach. Bring your Christmas list to review with Santa. Candy canes for everyone.
Sat, Nov 28, Noon
Capitola Beach, Capitola Village

Mixed Nutz! The Nutcracker Re-Mixed
Coming this Thanksgiving to the UC Santa Cruz Mainstage Theater with Tandy Beal and Co.
Through Mon, Nov 30
UCSC Theater Arts Mainstage, Santa Cruz

Mission Tours
Find out about lives of people who lived and worked here over 200 years ago. The Mission is Santa Cruz's oldest building. Free.
Sat through Nov, 1pm
School St off of Mission and Emmet St, Santa Cruz

Image credit: Tim Pearce, Los Gatos/Creative Commons

Use Clean Energy

EcoMetro Editors — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:47:00 GMT

Solar Hot Water and Photovoltaic
A solar hot water heater costs less than solar electric panels and can reduce 50-80% of your water heating bill. The system usually consists of a collector plate installed on the roof, and a series of pipes connecting the plate to a solar storage tank. For gray days or winter months, there is also a backup water heater.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (eere.energy.gov), the price of a solar hot water system included in a 30-year mortgage equates to about $15 per month, which compared to water heating costs may make a system immediately profitable. There is currently a 30% federal tax credit for solar water heaters — more info at energystar.gov.

Palo Alto Utilities (cpau.com) customers can get a financial incentive of up to $1,500 for installing a solar water heating system. The State of California’s Flex Your Power web site has a comprehensive list of rebates and incentives for renewable energy at flexyourpower.com.

Purchasing Green Power
Buying green power is more than a boost to your conscience. While it may seem counter intuitive to increase the amount you spend on your utilities, it sends a message to power providers and the money must be spent on expanding green power projects. Customers of PG&E can participate in the Climate Smart Program (joinclimatesmart.com) for around $5/month. Silicon Valley Power (siliconvalleypower.com) customers can participate in the Santa Clara Green Power program, which offers 100% renewable energy for an additional 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, or about $7.50 per month. Palo Alto residents can sign up for Palo Alto Green (cpau.com), a mix of wind and solar energy.

Before purchasing carbon credits or green power, check that the providers are certified through Green-e (green-e.org), an independent consumer protection program that rates renewable energy programs. Both the Palo Alto and Santa Clara programs are Green-e certified.

Make Your Cleaners

EcoMetro Editors — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:18:00 GMT

Scrub the tub Mix baking soda with water for an abrasive scrubbing paste, or substitute castile soap such as Dr. Bronner’s in place of water for extra power. To disinfect the bathroom, spray with hydrogen peroxide and rinse with water.

Claim the drain Pour baking soda in the drain, add 1 cup white vinegar, and watch the volcano, just like in grade school. Flush with hot water and repeat if necessary.

All hands on the pans Mix white vinegar with enough salt to form a paste, and watch the grease slip away. Add 1 tsp lemon juice for scent and extra power.

Lovin’ the oven An overnight soak is the trick. Sprinkle the oven with baking soda and water, and let sit. Pour salt on major spillage. Scour the next day.

See grass through the glass Pour a drink for yourself and use the remaining club soda on windows. In place of paper towels use newspaper. Club soda also makes stainless steel shine.

The floor is a chore Most wood floors can’t take harsh soaps, but 3 tbsp of baking soda in 3 gal of warm water will do the trick. For linoleum, dissolve 2 tsp of dishwashing or castile soap in 3 gal of water, mop, and follow with 1 cup white vinegar in 3 gal cool water.

EcoMetro Community Events Through Nov 21

EcoMetro Editors — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:38:00 GMT

San Francisco Green Festival
Join EcoMetro Guide in booth 532 at the nation’s premier sustainability event, where you will see the best in green. Enjoy more than 125 renowned authors, leaders and educators; great how-to workshops; cutting-edge films; fun activities for kids; organic beer and wine; delicious vegetarian cuisine and diverse live music. Shop in our unique marketplace of more than 350 eco-friendly businesses—everything from all-natural body care products and organic cotton clothing to Fair Trade gifts and beautiful kitchen tiles made from renewable resources.
Fri-Sun, Nov 13–15
Concourse Exhibition Center 635 8th St, San Francisco
View the EcoMetro Guide coupon>>

Healthy Trails Toddler Trek
Join a Docent from Strollerhikes.com for an easy walk on the paved Los Gatos Creek Trail and around the percolation ponds. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring a snack and camera if desired. All ages welcome.
Thu, Nov 19, 4:30pm-6:00pm
Meet at the Los Gatos Creek Park parking lot, Los Gatos Creek County Park

Wine Passport Program
Your chance to visit wineries of the Santa Cruz Mountains not normally open to the public. Taste wine and have a great time.
Sat, Nov 21, 11am-5pm
Various wineries, Santa Cruz Mountains

Eduardo Carrillo Exhibition
Chicano artist Professor Carrillo leave behind a body of work reflecting themes of Chicano history, culture, art and religion.
Tue-Sun, Nov 1-22, 11am-5pm
Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St, Santa Cruz

Mission Tours
Find out about lives of people who lived and worked here over 200 years ago. Mission is Santa Cruz's oldest building. Free.
Saturdays in Nov, 1pm
School St off of Mission and Emmet St, Santa Cruz

Image Credit: naotakem/CreativeCommons

A Locally Grown Thanksgiving

EcoMetro Editors — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:41:00 GMT

Thanksgiving is all about the gathering of great people and amazing food. Use EcoMetro Guide's tips below to have a fun, healthy affordable

holiday.

Farmers Markets: Buying produce at the Farmers Market is a fun exploration of locally-produced fruits, veggies, cheeses, wines. It's also a great wat to support your local farms. Search ecometro.com to find the closest farmers market to you. Use your coupon for a Downtown Palo Alto Farmers Market tote bag to haul your produce around.

Local Natural Grocers: Find options for meat eaters and vegetarians alike at local natural grocers. Save with EcoMetro Guide coupons at grocers like New Leaf Community Markets and Andronico's. Use your grocery manufacturer coupons to pick up your Tofurkey.

Desserts: Thanksgiving isn't complete without a spread of tasty desserts. Get your baking needs with national manufacturer's coupons for Spectrum and Wholesome Sweeteners. Or get ready made treats from bakeries like Black China Bakery and Cafe.

Post-feast Exercise. Check out EcoMetro Guide's local fitness and outdoor recreation coupons to work off your Thanksgiving feast.

Image credit: matthannon/Creative Commons

EcoMetro Community Events Through Nov 13

EcoMetro Editors — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:37:00 GMT

Green Festival
Join EcoMetro Guide in booth 532 at the nation’s premier sustainability event, where you will see the best in green. Enjoy more than 125 renowned authors, leaders and educators; great how-to workshops; cutting-edge films; fun activities for kids; organic beer and wine; delicious vegetarian cuisine and diverse live music. Shop in our unique marketplace of more than 350 eco-friendly businesses—everything from all-natural body care products and organic cotton clothing to Fair Trade gifts and beautiful kitchen tiles made from renewable resources.
Fri-Sun, Nov 13–15
Concourse Exhibition Center 635 8th St, San Francisco
View the EcoMetro Guide coupon>>

A Taste of Santa Cruz
Cuisine from 30+ local restaurants, local wines, 150+ auction items. Tickets support local charity. Call 831-464-2000 for tickets.
Thu, Nov 5, 6-9pm
Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz

Kids Day Camp
Pies, tarts and cobblers for kids 8-12yrs old with Chef Michelle Encarnacion. By using different doughs and seasonal ingredients, your child will learn to create a variety of mouthwatering desserts such as velvety smooth pumpkin pies, scrumptious apple-crumb tarts, delicious banana bread puddings and flavorful cobblers- healthy lunch also provided. Call 408-370-9190 for information.
Sat, Nov 7 10am-3pm, $100 per child
Professional Culinary Institute, Campbell

Mushrooms of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Discover more about mushrooms, where to find them, how to be sure they are the "right" ones, and tips on gourmet preparation.
Sat, Nov 7, 1pm-3pm
Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center, 16 miles north of Santa Cruz, off Hwy 1

Image Credit: confusedmime/CreativeCommons

Urban Foraging: Harvesting Food From Your Neighborhood

Jennifer Morkunas, Celilo Group Media — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:43:00 GMT

Have you ever thought about what sort of food grows around your neighborhood? The bounty of edibles found right around the corner, from apples and nuts to rosemary and greens, is astounding. The urban landscape is filled with fresh, free food if you just know what to look for. Plants you might normally ignore, like dandelions or nettles, can be cooked into healthy, delicious meals.

Many people first experienced wild foods in their childhood—learning to mushroom hunt with their grandfather or picking apples from a neighbor’s tree. Looking for wild fruits, veggies, and nuts is a fun family activity that helps teach kids the value of local, fresh food. In addition to having kids help you forage for your own kitchen, you can volunteer to help harvest urban edibles for those in need (see resources below).

Urban foraging has something to offer everyone, from a locavore who wants to keep their food sources close home, to a baker who picks roadside berries for a pie, to a concerned community member who volunteers to gather extra food for those in need. Many cities have organized local movements centered on foraging and gleaning, but you need not be a local foods activist to explore your neighborhood’s wild food offerings. Get involved at whatever level you’re comfortable using the tips below.

Here are some tips to keep your foraging respectful and safe:

Ask permission before picking from others’ gardens. Many people are happy to share their abundance. Don’t forget to look in public areas such as parks or open lots.
Correctly identify the plant you’re harvesting. Correct identification can keep you from getting sick. Go foraging with people that know what they’re looking for, or check out one of the many helpful books on the subject, The Forager's Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants by Samuel Thayer. For an online guide, see http://plants.usda.gov/
Be aware of your foraging surroundings for food safety. Food found in an urban setting could have levels of toxicity, such as motor oil, car wash runoff or paint that might contaminate the sources you pick from.
Take only as much as you need. Consider how much can you carry and decide before you pick so that what you take won’t go bad. Just say no to over-harvesting.
Never disturb the plant roots. Pick from the top of the plant, where there is new growth and where most plants regenerate.
Familiarize yourself with the laws related to foraging in your area. These laws are usually set with the intention of preventing over-harvesting and protecting endangered plant species.

Here are a few great resources to help you in your urban foraging journey:

Village Harvest: harvests fruit from backyards and small orchards, then passes it along to local food agencies to feed the hungry
Neighborhood Fruit and Veggie Trader: find and share fruits and veggies in your neighborhood
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver: focuses on eating locally and discusses foraging
Fat of the Land: Adventures of a 21st Century Forager by Langdon Cook

EcoMetro Community Events through October 31

EcoMetro Editors — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:18:00 GMT

KGO Radio Presents Girls Night Out
The new Mission City Ballroom at the Santa Clara Convention Center will play host to a night full of food, wine, music and fun. It's a combination of informative classes and demonstrations, and food and wine tasting. Women from KGO will be on hand to share their hobbies and interests and will take the party to midnight with live music and karaoke. The adjacent Hyatt Regency Santa Clara has a specially priced Girls' Night Out rate that night per room, plus more classes and demonstrations throughout the morning.
Fri, Oct 23, 6:30pm, Age 21+
Mission City Ballroom, 5001 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara

18th Annual Wildlife Education Day Festival
Families and children are invited to join Santa Clara Audubon Society and many other organizations from around the Bay Area for a fun, free day of nature arts and crafts, bird house building, live animals, educational presentations, barn tours, raffle prizes, and so much more. There will even be a pre-festival bird walk for families (RSVP required).
Sat, Oct 24, 10am-2pm
McClellan Ranch Park, 22221 McClellan Rd, Cupertino

Heritage Harvest Festival
See tractor, drafthorse and other living history demonstrations, listen to music, do crafts, try your hand at harvest-time activities. Food available for sale, or bring a picnic lunch. For more information, call 831-426-0505.
Sat, Oct 24, 11am
Wilder Ranch State Park, Hwy 1, Santa Cruz

GIST Walk for the Cure
The goal for the San Jose GIST Cancer Walk is to fundraise for research and bring awareness about this devastating and uncurable cancer. 100% of the funds raised go towards research. All administrative costs are through volunteer time and donations.
Sun, Oct 25, 10:30am-2:30pm
Almaden Lake Park, Cross Springs Dr and Winfield Blvd, San Jose

Haunted History Trick-or-Treat at History Park
History San Jose will host a non-scary, old-fashioned Halloween Party. Families can enjoy trick-or-treating at each historic house and other fun activities including trolley car rides, mask making, wrap-a-mummy, and a story-telling princess. A costume parade will take place at 2 pm, followed by a costume contest. Everyone is invited to bring their decorated pumpkins to enter the jack-o-lantern contest. Price: $5 for a family of four or $2 per person.
Sat, Oct 31, 1-4pm
History San Jose, 1650 Senter Rd, San Jose

EcoMetro Events October 15-22

EcoMetro Editors — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:40:00 GMT

Outrageous Outgrowns
Voted Bay Area Parent's "Best Children's Resale" 3 years in a row. Featuring over 40,000 gently used and new children's, maternity and nursing items for sale, all hand checked for quality and neatly categorized and arranged just like your favorite store.
Fri, Oct 16, 9am-5pm
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Rd, San Jose

Halloween Mask Making
Art N Motion joins in to present a program for trick-or-treaters- make a mask using a combination of paper mache and paper plates. You may try for a humorous, scary or humorous-scary mask. For ages 0-18.
Sat, Oct 17, 2-3pm
Vineland Branch Library, 1450 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose

The Santa Cruz Band Review
This event draws 55 marching bands from schools around Northern California to Santa Cruz for a colorful parade of talent. Bands march through Santa Cruz, along Beach St to the Boardwalk. Come and watch this competitive display of musical pageantry.
Sat, Oct 17, 8:30am
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz

Native Plant Sale
Choose from many species of native plants, seeds, and bulbs suitable for California gardens. Speak to experts about lawn alternatives such as native perennials, wildflowers, and grasses. Native plant books, posters, and note cards. Cash or check only. No pets. Free parking. Come early for the best selection and bring boxes to carry your purchases home.
Sat, Oct 17, 10am-3pm
Hidden Villa Ranch, 26870 Moody Road, Los Altos Hills

Ohlone Day Living History Festival
Spend an afternoon at a replica Ohlone village not normally open to the public. Try your hand at acorn grinding and learn how the Ohlone cooked with hot rocks in baskets. Try Ohlone gambling games, view firestarting demonstrations and more. $5 per person with children under 2, free. All proceeds support the Farm's education program.
Sat, Oct 17, 1-4pm
Deer Hollow Farm, Rancho San Antonio County Park, Los Altos

12 Months of Color in the California Native Garden
When it comes to planting California natives, Fall is the new Spring. Master Gardener Cayce Hill will discuss why now is the best time to begin planting natives, and how to choose plants that will provide color and diversity to your garden year-round.
Wed, Oct 21, 7-8pm
West Valley Branch Library, 1243 San Thomas Aquino Rd, San Jose

Green Business Camp Santa Cruz
A one-day event that brings together small green business owners and entrepreneurs from Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, Santa Clara County, San Benito County and the surrounding areas. The event engages participants who are passionate about creating positive environmental and social impact through their businesses, and are committed to successful, sustainable business growth.
Thu, Oct 22, 8am-6pm
Inner Light Center, 5630 Soquel Dr, Soquel

Image Credit: Vlad & Marina Butsky/Creative Commons

EcoMetro Guide Seeking a Community Outreach Manager

EcoMetro Editors — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:09:00 GMT

Celilo Group Media, the leading localized green media company, is seeking a dynamic individual to fill the role of Community Outreach Manager for EcoMetro Guide and ecometro.com recently launched in the Silicon Valley/Santa Cruz area. Currently published in six major metropolitan areas under the names EcoMetro Guide, Chinook Book and Blue Sky Guide, these annual guides along with ecometro.com are unique localized green media products promoting local and sustainable businesses and living a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. This is an exciting opportunity with a growing green media firm.

To read the full job description, click here.

EcoMetro Free Online Coupons for Silicon Valley and Santa Cruz

EcoMetro Editors — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:20:00 GMT

Using Electricity to Save it with eBilling

Scott Thomsen — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:15:00 GMT

Every now and then you run across a situation where instinct tells you to zig when you really ought to zag.

For saving electricity and keeping a few more dollars in your bank account, THIS SPACE is about to bend your mind around the idea of using electricity to save it.

This week’s ONE THING you can do to conserve energy is to try online billing for your utility bills and any other payments you need to make. The switch will increase your time on the computer, which would seem to increase your energy consumption, but this is a situation where one step back can lead to two or three steps forward.

Here’s why.

When you receive your bill and pay it online, you eliminate the need for your utility (like my employer, Seattle City Light) to print the bill and mail it to your home. There’s a whole lot of savings going on there, including the electricity to process wood pulp into paper, run the printing presses, stuff the envelopes and sort that mail.

That’s not even considering the trees that make that paper, or the gasoline to run the vehicles to deliver the raw materials and finished product at the various stages of the production and delivery cycle or the return trip with your payment.

Shifting to electronic delivery of the bill eliminates the physical production and distribution cycle. Less energy use means less impact on the environment, particularly in the area of greenhouse gas emissions tied to climate change.

For the customer, there’s the added convenience of being able to receive and pay a bill without tearing bill stubs, licking envelopes or remembering to drop the payment in the mail box. The customer also gets the immediate savings of 44 cents by avoiding the use of a stamp.

Another part of the savings is indirect for the customer.

When your utility can cut its billing costs, those savings translate into lower rates.

More than 19,000 customers have signed up for electronic billing with City Light since the utility started offering the service in January.

I’ve been steadily adding online billing to my different accounts recently and find myself struggling a bit when I have to pay one with a traditional check in the mail. I’ve grown accustomed to the convenience and my miserly side comes out when I have to attach the stamp to a paper bill.

So give electronic billing a try. If you hate it, you can always go back to the tactile sensations of getting a dead-tree version in the mailbox. If you like it, your bank account and your environment will thank you.

The Subtle Art of the Roll Up

Travis A. Wittwer — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:35:00 GMT

This morning, I took a train to Seattle to teach at a conference. It is one of the joys in life. I bike to the train station, work on a crossword as the scenery passes by, and then bike around Seattle which, by the way, seems to be made entirely out of hills.

Today, I entertained myself with a new distraction, the subtle art of the roll up. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a “roll up” is when a cyclist folds, or in some way “rolls” up, his or her pant leg to avoid it getting caught in the chain. Roll means fold. It’s so clear. A thoughtfully folded pant leg is a style I don’t often sport because my bakfiets has a chain guard. However, today I took a commuter bike on my trip to Seattle, and with 3 hours to kill on the train, I mastered some pretty awesome roll ups. Check them out. Let me know what you think.

TRADITIONAL: Nothing fancy. Textbook functionality for keeping the pant leg out of the chain assembly. The style most often used.

TRADITIONAL PLUS: A bit of a deviation in the sense that this roll up would get some looks as you rode by due to the excess exposure of your calf.

TALL CUFF: Looks good on the ladies. Gentlemen, don’t do it. Seriously. Don’t. You have been warned.

PIRATE RAWWWL UP: Keep your peg-leg-covering pants out of your buccaneering bike chain. Can I get a “Yar!”?

MARTHA STEWART: Anything you can do, Martha Stewart can do better and with more style. Accept it.

ORIGAMI: Not often seen due to the skill one must master before attempting this roll up. Great to look at.

THE STRIPPER: All skin, all the time.

SOCK-IT-TO-THEM: Technically not a “roll up” but serves the same purpose. A nice alternative to the all-too-often-seen roll up.

I-SHOULD-HAVE: An attempt to solve an already destroyed pair of pants by doing a roll up too late in the game. Fourth-quarter foul.

DOUBLE WHAMMY: Hey, the chain is only on one side, but why let that decide your fashion sense. What would happen if the chain suddenly shifted sides and grabbed on to the other pant leg? Better to be safe and do them both up.

MINIMALIST (or would that be a roll down?): Just enough fold to classify it as a roll in the world of competitive roll ups. However, this roll up would not survive more than a leisurely jaunt to the grocery store for a bottle of Shiraz.

BONUS: This is not one from the trip. However, it is something I created a few years ago out of a pant leg so that this "cover" would keep tight my pant leg, like a roll up does, and the cover would act as a shield from any grease or road grit.

There are so many options out there for the roll up. I decided on the “traditional” for my ride through Seattle. The conference went well and biking through the city was wonderful. And for the train ride back to Portland, I will keep myself entertained one leg at a time.

Thank you to Tana for the leg modeling.

Art Monday: Moss Art and Moss Graffiti

Carissa Wodehouse — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:05:00 GMT

Looking for a way to decorate your patio wall or a patch of ground? With a little coaching and watering, grow moss into shapes such as a poem, an eco statement, or animals.

Full instructions are on Instructables.

Image credit: Flickr/aaron13251

Art Monday: Eco Roofs of the World

Carissa Wodehouse — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:38:00 GMT

Eco roofs, and their more visible cousins vertical gardens, are inspiring pieces of architecture which are usually difficult to view, since getting on top of a building is often prohibited or just a hassle. The California Academy of Sciences roof, pictured above, makes it a little easier to take in the benefits and beauty of rooftop greenery. Here is an entire photo gallery devoted to eco roofs of the world, and here is a Flickr pool.

Image Credit: Arex/CreativeCommons

You've Already Got a Solar Clothes Dryer, Use It

Scott Thomsen — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:27:00 GMT

As the long-awaited sunshine pulls us from our fleece cocoons and recharges our vitamin D levels, THIS SPACE is here to remind you that sunshine also offers one of the simplest, low-investment opportunities for saving electricity -- the solar clothes dryer. You might recognize this energy-efficient technology better as a clothesline.

Hanging clothes to dry used to be a commonplace event, but largely disappeared with the arrival of affordable, convenient appliances.

That convenience comes with a cost, which you can turn into a savings.

Image: Flickr/Creative Commons

Running an electric dryer costs at least 25 to 30 cents per load.

Over a year, machine drying could cost a typical family $100. At my house, with three kids still at home, we go through quite a bit of laundry, so my personal total is unfortunately much higher.

The cost comparison is based on a typical clothes dryer, which pulls about 5,000 watts of electricity per hour. When drying, the element is not on the entire time, so a good average is 3,300 watts per hour. Machines with a moisture sensor use less energy than a standard model because the dryer will turn off automatically when it senses the clothes are dry.

During these glorious days of 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daylight, blue skies, light breezes and moderate temperatures, conditions are perfect for using a clothesline.

You've got enough light to hang a load before you head out the door to catch your bus to work and plenty more light when you get home to collect your dry clothes.

Here's the bonus, you get a fresh air scent and avoid the wrinkles that form when you leave a load of clothes in the dryer too long. No ironing means even more energy savings and you'll recoup the time spent hanging the clothes instead of transferring them the few inches from the washing machine to the dryer.

It's the ONE THING you can do this week to cut your energy consumption, reduce your carbon footprint and save some money along the way.

The idea is catching on across the country.

As The New York Times noted recently, Colorado and Vermont are the latest states to pass laws preventing groups like homeowners associations from banning the use of clotheslines. Hawaii's Legislature passed a similar bill that awaits a decision from the governor and there's an effort underway in Oregon too.

So get outside, enjoy summer and reconnect with a retro approach for drying your clothes. Your planet and your bank account will thank you.

Lock Out ‘Butt Dialing,’ Lock In Energy Savings and Increase Phone Lifespan

Scott Thomsen — Tue, 26 May 2009 20:11:00 GMT

Anyone who can relate to the recent cell phone commercial about “butt dialing” knows how our dependence on technology can sometimes get in the way of our best intentions.

Beyond the inconvenience of dialing or answering some unintended calls, there’s an energy cost as well.

Image: Flickr/Creative Commons

I recently changed cell phones and quickly noticed that I was not getting a battery charge to last as long as I expected. That got me to pay a lot more attention to what my phone was doing when I wasn’t using it. I discovered that the holster I carry it in would often get bumped by my arm, jacket, or something else. That caused the screen to light up in preparation for activity, if it wasn’t already trying to dial “brrvdsd” or some other incoherent phone number.

Cell phones, even the latest smart phones that act more like mini mobile computers, have gotten much better on the energy consumption side. A typical phone uses about 50 watt-hours of electricity to charge. But draining that battery with unintended dialing or texting--by any body part--increases the number of times you have to recharge.

That part of the equation amounts to pennies. Unplugging the charger when it’s not in use saves about $3.50 a year and that’s a way bigger energy vampire.

Multiplied by the millions of people who own cell phones, even those pennies would add up, but there’s a hidden cost to consider. And it’s big enough to make most of us take notice.

Rechargeable batteries have a lifespan built on a number of charges. Double the amount of charging you’re doing to keep your phone running and you cut its lifespan in half. Even with the discount for signing up on a new two-year contract with my wireless provider, my new Blackberry still cost $99.

That’s real money.

Fortunately, there’s a handy fix for most of us. It’s the “lock” button on your gadget. Once I started locking the keypad on my phone, a battery charge started lasting for 2-3 days, depending on how much I called. That’s in line with what I expected based on my previous phone. The same goes for my iPod.

So THIS SPACE encourages you to discover the lock function on your electronics as the ONE THING you can do this week to save electricity and keep a little more cash in your bank account.

Your planet and your wallet will thank you.

Green to the Last Bite...of Mizuna. Recipe: Pasta with Mizuna and Walnuts

Becki Walker — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:44:00 GMT

Continuing along on our journey through the land of weird foods you’ll find in the farmer’s market, this week we’ll taste a green of many names: mizuna. Mizuna also goes by the names of Japanese greens, Japanese mustard, and California peppergrass. Botanically, it is classified as Brassica rapa. B. rapa is commonly known as “field mustard” or “turnip mustard” and includes cultivars such as tatsoi, napa cabbage, turnips, and rapini.

When my friend Katie showed up at my door with a bouquet of freshly-sliced mizuna leaves and told me what she’d brought me, I gave her a look of disbelief. When I plucked a leaf and popped it in my mouth, however, I was pleasantly surprised. The intricate, delicately shaped leaf had a flavor to match.

Illustrations courtesy Chuck Groenink

The initial taste was slightly bitter, but it finished with a peppery taste reminiscent of arugula. Katie told me she thought it was delicious in salads, but after a bit of research, I learned it’s common in all kinds of dishes, especially Japanese cuisine.
It’s popular for a reason – this tiny leaf packs a powerful nutritional punch. As a green, it’s obviously fat-free and low in calories. However, it’s high in vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants, which are purported to prevent cancer. All of this nutritional value comes in a package that’s easy to cultivate.

Mizuna is renowned for growing well in cold and hot weather. If you’d like to grow your own, just get some seeds (or buy a package of mesclun mix – mizuna’s often included as an ingredient). Seeds should germinate in about seven days, and can be sown outdoors as late as May. Mizuna can be cut back four or five times each season, and will tolerate sun, shade, heat, or frost. Some gardeners suggest starting a different patch of seeds each month, so that you’ll have a constant supply for the kitchen.
Once you’ve harvested this easy-to-grow-green, the possibilities are pretty much endless. It can be served in salads, of course: the Japanese like to serve it with shaved daikon radish. You can substitute it in dishes calling for arugula or mustard greens, or add it to any dish that’s lacking in vegetables or a bit of flavor.

Heated, it goes well in Japanese soups or noodle dishes, and I think it would do well as a stand-in for spinach (I’m personally not a fan of the texture of it when it’s cooked). The dish I made with my mizuna takes advantage of the green’s unique flavor, while blending it with a few other complimentary tastes. If you’d like to make a vegetarian version, simply leave out the bacon.

Pasta with Mizuna and Walnuts

1 pound of your choice of cooked pasta (I used spaghetti)

3 slices thick-sliced bacon, diced

1 bunch mizuna, roughly chopped (about 3 cups)

1 tomato, chopped

1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

3 tbsp mustard

3 tbsp red wine vinegar

2 tbsp lemon juice

3 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook the bacon in a pan, and drain. Remember not to drain the fat down the sink, as this can clog pipes. Dice the bacon, and set on paper towels to drain. Heat olive oil over medium in a large pan, and add onion, garlic, and red wine vinegar. Cook for five or six minutes, or until onions begin to caramelize (turn clear).

Add mustard, walnuts, lemon juice, and tomato; cook until tomato begins to dissolve (about four minutes). Add mizuna, and cook until it starts to wilt. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve vegetables over pasta, and sprinkle with shaved Parmesan.

Green to the Last Bite...of Artichoke. Recipe: Homemade Lemon Pesto Mayonnaise

Becki Walker — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:56:00 GMT

We’ve come a long way as a society since the 16th century. Women (in America, at least) are now able to drive cars, own property, vote… and eat artichokes.

This last may seem like an odd inclusion on the list, but as an avid artichoke fan, I shudder to think that I may not have been able to enjoy the oddly-shaped thistle. Artichokes were considered aphrodisiacs for a long while, and only eaten by men (Henry the Eighth was famous for his love of them).

Thankfully, Catherine de Medici changed all that when she married Henry II, King of France. When she moved to France from Italy, she brought along her servants, her trousseau, and her passion for artichokes, causing a bit of a scandal. Luckily, we can all hop on over to any supermarket and find artichokes most of the year round. Nearly 100% of the artichokes consumed in America are produced in California (especially the northern part of the state), which makes them a relatively low contributor to your carbon footprint.

Illustration courtesy Chuck Groenink

The history of the artichoke is as curious as the mythical powers it possesses. The globe artichoke’s Latin name is Cynara scolymus – part of the sunflower family, Asteraceae. However, the artichoke is very similar to the Cardoon – Cyanara cardunculus – which is another thistle-like plant having edible leaves and stalks. Some botanists believe the artichoke is a domesticated version of the cardoon, some believe it’s vice-versa, and some don’t believe the two plants are even in the same botanical family.

It can be hard to distinguish the two – as an avid gardener, I myself couldn’t see much difference, except that the fruit of the cardoon is smaller than the fruit of the artichoke. Of course, the vegetable isn’t a fruit at all – the part of the artichoke we eat is actually the bud of a flower that hasn’t opened yet.

If you decide to grow artichokes on your own, consider allowing one or two of the flowers to open, just for fun – you may be surprised at the spiky purple petals that protrude from the flower.

These armored buds can be difficult to break into and eat, though. Once you’ve opened an artichoke, you’ll receive a nicely packaged dose of fiber, vitamin A, potassium, iron, and magnesium. Artichokes also contain cynarin and silvmarin, both of which are believed to promote healthy liver function. The cynarin is a double-edged sword, however. The potent antioxidant leaves a lingering sweetness on the tongue, and pretty much ruins any wine you might be drinking with dinner. One Italian created cynar, an aperitif made from artichokes, thinking it would be delicious with dinner. This experiment ran awry, as did a Pennsylvanian attempt to use artichoke fiber to make paper.

So how does one attack an artichoke? First, buy a nice green one that feels hefty for its size and possesses a minimum of discoloration. Go organic if you can – since you’re eating the part of the plant that’s exposed to the outdoors, you don’t want lots of particles of fertilizer and pesticide mixing in with your meal. Then take a pair of scissors and snip the sharp tips off of the leaves. Boil with water for about 30-40 minutes, with a tablespoon of lemon juice.

Then simply pull off each leaf, dip it in a sauce of choice (I’ve included a mayonnaise recipe below), and scrape it between your teeth to get the “meat” off. Once you’ve eaten all of the leaves, you’re nearly to the heart of the artichoke. Pull of the leaves surrounding the thin cone at the core of the artichoke, and find the “choke,” which is spiky and inedible. Once the choke’s gone, you’ve reached the heart of the thistle. Enjoy this tender piece, and check back next week for more food adventures.

Homemade Lemon Pesto Mayonnaise

Note to readers: I have long hated mayonnaise. Really, really hated it. Then I found out you could make it at home, and it was delicious. Give it a chance.

1 egg yolk
1 ½ tsp lemon juice
1 tsp white vinegar
½ tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp salt
¾ cup olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tsp garlic (or one roasted clove)
3 tbsp fresh basil, minced

Mix egg, 1 ½ tsp lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, and salt. Whisk together.

Now get a friend and have that person whisk the mixture constantly as you add ¼ cup of the oil a few drops at a time. Take a little break (possibly switch whisk-ers!), and then add the rest of the oil in a very slow stream – this will take up to 10 minutes of whisking, so be patient. Then add 1 tbsp lemon juice, the garlic, and the basil, mix together, and use for artichoke dipping sauce.

Companion Planting: Fronds with Benefits

Jennifer Morkunas, Celilo Group Media — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:26:00 GMT

Did you know that some plants grow better when they grow next to other plants? The opposite is also true, where some plants just don’t get along. It is a little known secret in organic gardening and all has to do with one plant repelling pests that would attack the other plant, or attracting beneficial insects, providing nutrients, or in some cases simply offering shade and support. Celebrate this marvelous concept in biodiversity when planning your spring garden.

I first learned about companion planting from the book Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening by Louise Riotte (follow that link for a large excerpt). You can find whole charts on this subject with all kinds of neat garden arrangements.

Let’s start with some very common crops such as corn, beans, and squash. These three have a very special symbiotic relationship whereby beans are able to climb up corn stalks and in return the beans (or other legumes) help replenish the soil with nitrogen after absorbing it from the air and converting it into a usable form for next year's crop. Beans also attract insects that prey on corn pests, such as leaf beetles. Leaves of the squash provide a living mulch that conserves water and provides weed control. Seem a little better than spraying down your yard with weed killers and pesticides?

One of the first questions an eco-minded person should ask when troubleshooting in the garden is, “How can I work with nature to solve this?” It’s possible there is an amazing answer that does not involve driving to the hardware store and buying chemicals that are probably banned in Canada and Europe yet are still available here in the U.S.

Companion planting can also be used in the juxtaposition of crops and flowers. For example, tall-growing, sun-loving plants may share space with lower-growing, shade-tolerant species. In the typical Native American garden, sunflowers were planted along the north edge of the garden so that they would not block out the sun for the others.

If aphids are a problem in your garden, which can be so common, ants herd aphids onto sunflowers, keeping them off neighboring plants. Have you ever seen an ant milk an aphid? Nature is weird! Members of the mint family, such as catnip, are cool because they have square stems (take a look!) and also repel aphids with their strong scent. Mints can also be invasive, though, so plan carefully.

The nice thing about companion planting is that these techniques have been around for a while. You don’t have to go through a whole season of trial and error to figure out what will work best for your garden.

First, figure out what you like to grow and what works for your garden space. Then learn about native plants in your area and utilize those, because they are already perfectly suited for their environment and do not need extra water, and they support local wildlife.

For a whole list of companion crops, check out Mother Earth News Plant Chart, or learn more at Seeds of Change.

Collect more than sweets with trick-or-treat tips from Green Halloween

EcoMetro Editors — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:39:00 GMT

Parents heading out on Halloween with children can do more than just chaperon the candy raids. The site Green Halloween suggests taking along your own reusable bag and offering to collect old cell phones from the neighbors you visit. Not only will you prevent e-waste from reaching the landfill, but you can then send the phones free of charge to the Good Deed Foundation. The phones are recycled and fund programs supporting women and children in poverty.

See Green Halloween for additional ideas, or use our listings for Organic, Fair Trade, and local chocolate for yourself or costumed visitors.

Image: Flickr/refeia

EcoMetro Free Online Coupons

EcoMetro Editors — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:06:00 GMT

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