February and March make for dreary offerings, with one notable exception. Kale is a versatile green that serves as a fine inspiration for a soup or a stew, a pasta or a gratin. Because the leaves of this Brassica family vegetable are so sturdy, kale stands up to longer cooking than do chard and beet greens. And while greens like spinach and chard readily suffer from overcooking, stewed kale has a sweet flavor.
Kale is in the same family of vegetables as cabbage. (Italians call black kale cavolo nero, or black cabbage.) Like its cousins, kale is packed with health-promoting sulfur compounds, and it has been found to have the greatest antioxidant capacity of all fruits and vegetables. It’s an excellent source of vitamins K, A and C, as well as manganese, and a very good source of dietary fiber, calcium, iron and potassium. All of this nutritional value comes in a low-calorie package.
Supermarkets generally stock curly kale, the variety with the sturdy, silvery green, ruffled leaves. At farmers’ markets you’ll find several other varieties, including the dark green cavolo nero, plum-red Redbor kale and red Russian kale, which has purplish leaves and red veins. They can be used interchangeably unless otherwise specified.
Kale can be simmered for long periods, or it can be blanched and then quickly pan-cooked in olive oil. Long-simmered kale yields a sweet, nourishing “pot liquor” that you will want to sop up with bread or even sip with a spoon. Kale loses its bright color as it simmers and the flavor of the leaves is strong, but the overall effect is sweet and comforting. The pan-cooked kale is brighter, both in color and flavor, but it will yield much less to serve, because kale loses volume when it’s blanched. Simmered kale, on the other hand, first collapses in the pan, then swells as it cooks.
Read on at NYTimes
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The Trouble With Phone Books
Did you know that over 500 million phone books are produced every year? That's nearly two phone directories printed for every person in the U.S.! According to Yellow Pages Goes Green, 19 million trees are used and the discarded phone books take up 268,000 cubic yards of landfill space.
Yellow Pages Goes Green is a campaign for the movement against unsolicited phone book delivery and a campaign for moving legislation to mandate the stoppage of this activity.
Most residences receive more than one phone book and many people, not knowing what to do with the unwieldy tome, simply throw them away instead of recycling. The movement is not intended to stop the manufacture and use of phonebooks, but rather to provide them only to those who request/order one.
What goes into making 500 million phone books?
-19 million trees need to be harvested
-1.6 billion pounds of paper are wasted
-7.2 million barrels of oil are misspent in their processing (not including the wasted gas used for their delivery to your doorstep)
-268,000 cubic yards of landfill are taken up
-3.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity are squandered
Help raise awareness! Visit the Yellow Pages Goes Green website for more information, a link their blog, and an Opt Out link to sign up to say, "I don't want a phone book, thank you!"
Yellow Pages Goes Green is a campaign for the movement against unsolicited phone book delivery and a campaign for moving legislation to mandate the stoppage of this activity.
Most residences receive more than one phone book and many people, not knowing what to do with the unwieldy tome, simply throw them away instead of recycling. The movement is not intended to stop the manufacture and use of phonebooks, but rather to provide them only to those who request/order one.
What goes into making 500 million phone books?
-19 million trees need to be harvested
-1.6 billion pounds of paper are wasted
-7.2 million barrels of oil are misspent in their processing (not including the wasted gas used for their delivery to your doorstep)
-268,000 cubic yards of landfill are taken up
-3.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity are squandered
Help raise awareness! Visit the Yellow Pages Goes Green website for more information, a link their blog, and an Opt Out link to sign up to say, "I don't want a phone book, thank you!"
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Green Your Black Gold
er, coffee...
We thought this was timely as our friends over at GreenEdge are screening the film Black Gold on Saturday. Learn more about the screening.
The Issue
While chemicals and clear-cutting in the coffee farming process directly impact the environment, the larger issue of humane treatment of farmers looms large over your cup of Joe. When selecting a green coffee, GY recommends seeking overall sustainability: Look for Fair Trade coffee first, which ensures that farmers are paid a living wage for their product and work in safe conditions. (Small farmers usually employ environmentally friendly farming methods.) Next, seek out Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee, which protects both farmer and environmental health. If these coffees are not available, then seek out the individual certifications of organic or shade-grown coffee.
Choose Fair Trade Certified coffee
Choosing Fair Trade Certified coffee helps you go green because...
It promotes ecologically sound, small-scale farming practices.
It supports the economic and social welfare of small producers in developing agricultural communities that do not have the financial means to afford chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
Coffee-based drinks are the most widely consumed beverages in the world alongside water. In the United States alone, 400 million cups are drunk by an estimated 56 percent of the adult population on a daily basis. This high demand makes the crop itself one of the world's most valuable commodities, second only to petroleum, and supports an industry that employs 25 million people around the globe. Coffee—which is made from the roasted seeds or beans of the coffee tree—is produced both organically and conventionally in 53 countries, with Brazil and Colombia being the most active producers. When grown conventionally, coffee is treated with more chemicals in the farming process than any other product farmed for human use, except tobacco.
The coffee crisis
Coffee production is currently in a state of crisis—an imbalance of supply and demand has been created due to a rapid increase in production, especially in Indonesia and Vietnam during the 1990s, that has failed to match the slower increase in consumption. Not only has this affected both farmers and natural ecosystems as more land is cleared for production, but the price of coffee now hovers near historic lows. Since the late 1980s when coffee-exporting nations generated approximately $10 to $12 billion from the crop annually, revenue has dropped to around $5 billion, according to the International Coffee Organization. In countries that rely on coffee exportation as a central source of revenue, the total losses exceed monetary aid. This has led to social unrest, rural unemployment, and illegal immigration.
What is Fair Trade?
The practice of fair trade helps to alleviate the worldwide coffee crisis by ensuring that coffee farmers receive a living wage for their product——a minimum of $1.26/pound. In this way, fair trade is designed to foster an economically stable relationship between North American consumers and farmers in Asian, Latin American, and African countries, while also promoting safe, humane labor conditions. In the United States, Fair Trade Certified coffee is marketed under strict guidelines set forth by TransFair USA, a nonprofit organization that monitors fair trade practices in developing agricultural communities under the umbrella association Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO). These guidelines, based on the seven principles of
Fair Trade established by the Fair Trade Federation, are:
Fair wages: Coffee farmers receive a minimum price for their crop and an extra price premium if their coffee is certified organic, guaranteeing that they make a living wage.
Fair labor conditions: Safe working conditions and no forced child labor are key.
Direct trade: Importers buy the cocoa from Fair Trade producer co-ops as much as possible to allow farmers to develop business acumen and to cut out middlemen who take part of the profits.
Democratic and transparent organizations: Decisions about how to invest revenues are made democratically by the farmers and farm workers.
Community development: Money is invested in social and business development projects that farmers and workers decide upon such as scholarship programs, organic agriculture training or building health clinics.
Environmental sustainbility: Protection of the environment is an integral part of farm management, with restricted use of fertilizers and pesticides and no GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Farmers are encouraged to work toward organic certification, but are not required to do so. When coffee is both Fair Trade Certified and Certified Organic, it will display two separate labels signifying this. Because fair trade coffee producers are commonly small holders who are unable to invest in environmentally damaging practices, such as synthetic pesticides and clear-cutting, many agree to grow certified organic products and direct premiums toward concerns such as health care, education, and housing.
Choose Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee
Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee is good for the environment—it's grown under natural shade cover with minimal to no chemicals—and ensures the fair treatment of farmers.
Choose organic coffee
Conventional coffee crops are treated with environmentally hazardous chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Organic coffee is the chemical-free alternative, safer for you and the Earth.
OUR PERSONAL FAVORITE…Buy a reusable mug
Kick the disposable tea or coffee cup habit and reach for a reusable mug for your next to-go beverage. We’ve got stainless steel coffee mugs, tea infuser mugs, and more.
Choose shade-grown coffee
Coffee grown in natural shade discourages forest clear-cutting, which preserves the habitat of native bird species, and the overuse of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
Choose reusable or recycled coffee filters
When brewing your own coffee, opt for reusable or recycled coffee filters to cut back on paper waste.
Recycle your coffee grounds
In lieu of adding to landfills by throwing nutrient-rich coffee grounds in the trash, use them as an effective, organic lawn and garden fertilizer and composting element.
Buy bulk food to reduce packaging waste
Grande-size your coffee purchasing by buying your beans from bulk bins. This will save on packaging (especially if you bring your own bag), which is key given that many coffee containers are not recyclable.
Choose eco-friendly packaging
Many grocery stores and coffee shops will allow you to bring your own container to be re-filled with coffee—a great way to green your coffee.
Source: greenyour.com
We thought this was timely as our friends over at GreenEdge are screening the film Black Gold on Saturday. Learn more about the screening.
The Issue
While chemicals and clear-cutting in the coffee farming process directly impact the environment, the larger issue of humane treatment of farmers looms large over your cup of Joe. When selecting a green coffee, GY recommends seeking overall sustainability: Look for Fair Trade coffee first, which ensures that farmers are paid a living wage for their product and work in safe conditions. (Small farmers usually employ environmentally friendly farming methods.) Next, seek out Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee, which protects both farmer and environmental health. If these coffees are not available, then seek out the individual certifications of organic or shade-grown coffee.
Choose Fair Trade Certified coffee
Choosing Fair Trade Certified coffee helps you go green because...
It promotes ecologically sound, small-scale farming practices.
It supports the economic and social welfare of small producers in developing agricultural communities that do not have the financial means to afford chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
Coffee-based drinks are the most widely consumed beverages in the world alongside water. In the United States alone, 400 million cups are drunk by an estimated 56 percent of the adult population on a daily basis. This high demand makes the crop itself one of the world's most valuable commodities, second only to petroleum, and supports an industry that employs 25 million people around the globe. Coffee—which is made from the roasted seeds or beans of the coffee tree—is produced both organically and conventionally in 53 countries, with Brazil and Colombia being the most active producers. When grown conventionally, coffee is treated with more chemicals in the farming process than any other product farmed for human use, except tobacco.
The coffee crisis
Coffee production is currently in a state of crisis—an imbalance of supply and demand has been created due to a rapid increase in production, especially in Indonesia and Vietnam during the 1990s, that has failed to match the slower increase in consumption. Not only has this affected both farmers and natural ecosystems as more land is cleared for production, but the price of coffee now hovers near historic lows. Since the late 1980s when coffee-exporting nations generated approximately $10 to $12 billion from the crop annually, revenue has dropped to around $5 billion, according to the International Coffee Organization. In countries that rely on coffee exportation as a central source of revenue, the total losses exceed monetary aid. This has led to social unrest, rural unemployment, and illegal immigration.
What is Fair Trade?
The practice of fair trade helps to alleviate the worldwide coffee crisis by ensuring that coffee farmers receive a living wage for their product——a minimum of $1.26/pound. In this way, fair trade is designed to foster an economically stable relationship between North American consumers and farmers in Asian, Latin American, and African countries, while also promoting safe, humane labor conditions. In the United States, Fair Trade Certified coffee is marketed under strict guidelines set forth by TransFair USA, a nonprofit organization that monitors fair trade practices in developing agricultural communities under the umbrella association Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO). These guidelines, based on the seven principles of
Fair Trade established by the Fair Trade Federation, are:
Fair wages: Coffee farmers receive a minimum price for their crop and an extra price premium if their coffee is certified organic, guaranteeing that they make a living wage.
Fair labor conditions: Safe working conditions and no forced child labor are key.
Direct trade: Importers buy the cocoa from Fair Trade producer co-ops as much as possible to allow farmers to develop business acumen and to cut out middlemen who take part of the profits.
Democratic and transparent organizations: Decisions about how to invest revenues are made democratically by the farmers and farm workers.
Community development: Money is invested in social and business development projects that farmers and workers decide upon such as scholarship programs, organic agriculture training or building health clinics.
Environmental sustainbility: Protection of the environment is an integral part of farm management, with restricted use of fertilizers and pesticides and no GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Farmers are encouraged to work toward organic certification, but are not required to do so. When coffee is both Fair Trade Certified and Certified Organic, it will display two separate labels signifying this. Because fair trade coffee producers are commonly small holders who are unable to invest in environmentally damaging practices, such as synthetic pesticides and clear-cutting, many agree to grow certified organic products and direct premiums toward concerns such as health care, education, and housing.
Choose Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee
Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee is good for the environment—it's grown under natural shade cover with minimal to no chemicals—and ensures the fair treatment of farmers.
Choose organic coffee
Conventional coffee crops are treated with environmentally hazardous chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Organic coffee is the chemical-free alternative, safer for you and the Earth.
OUR PERSONAL FAVORITE…Buy a reusable mug
Kick the disposable tea or coffee cup habit and reach for a reusable mug for your next to-go beverage. We’ve got stainless steel coffee mugs, tea infuser mugs, and more.
Choose shade-grown coffee
Coffee grown in natural shade discourages forest clear-cutting, which preserves the habitat of native bird species, and the overuse of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
Choose reusable or recycled coffee filters
When brewing your own coffee, opt for reusable or recycled coffee filters to cut back on paper waste.
Recycle your coffee grounds
In lieu of adding to landfills by throwing nutrient-rich coffee grounds in the trash, use them as an effective, organic lawn and garden fertilizer and composting element.
Buy bulk food to reduce packaging waste
Grande-size your coffee purchasing by buying your beans from bulk bins. This will save on packaging (especially if you bring your own bag), which is key given that many coffee containers are not recyclable.
Choose eco-friendly packaging
Many grocery stores and coffee shops will allow you to bring your own container to be re-filled with coffee—a great way to green your coffee.
Source: greenyour.com
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Plastic Bag Recycling Up Across US
by Jennifer Berry from Earth911
Driven by greater consumer access to recycling programs and new markets for recycled materials, plastic bag and film recycling increased across the U.S. in 2007, according to the American Chemistry Council (ACC).
The latest National Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Bags and Film Report by Moore Recycling Associates, Inc. estimated 830,180,000 pounds of post-consumer film (including plastic bags and product wraps) was recovered, a 27 percent increase from 2005.
Photo: Greenerpractices.wordpress.comSince these reports are for 2007, they do not take into account the numerous mandatory bag recycling laws and initiatives various states have put in place since then. Additionally, the report noted the challenges in measuring export markets for plastic film, consequently having incomplete data for a growing sector of plastic film recycling.
“More Americans are recycling plastic bags and film than ever before, driven by a growing recognition that plastic is a valuable resource – too valuable to waste,” said Steve Russell, managing director for ACC’s Plastics Division. “Recovered plastic bags and wraps can be recycled into many useful products, including durable backyard decking, fencing, railings, shopping carts and, of course, new bags.”
Many companies are built on the premise of utilizing recycled plastic bags and films to create the new products that Russell mentioned, like TREX, who manufactures recycled construction materials. In fact, Dave Heglas of TREX noted that the company recycled over 2.5 billion pounds of plastic over the last decade.
While composite lumber continues to be the major market for recycled plastic bags and film, there has also been a significant increase in the amount of post-consumer recycled film that went into new film and sheet applications.
Hilex Poly, a leading plastic bag manufacturer, established a program that recycles old bags into new ones called Bag-2-Bag®. In 2008, Hilex recycled the equivalent of 400 million bags and reduced its use of new material by eight million pounds.
Monday, February 23, 2009
ZeroWater Review
Two Brooklyn Green Team members put the ZeroWater filter to the test. Here is what we think...
The water tastes great. We conducted a taste-test.
Using TDS meter makes you feel like a scientist.
They recycle the filters (you have to throw it in the mail and send it to the company).
It does take a long time for the water to filter through, however that's because its doing its job to remove all the detected dissolved solids (you know how pesky those are)
AND it even has a spout so you don't have to take it out of the fridge (although then you're keeping the door open too long)
The best review though is a father to a green team member who remarked "that thing has lines like an ocean liner." when referring to its streamline shape.
Read what the National Geographic Green Guide said.
The final analysis: We liked it.
The water tastes great. We conducted a taste-test.
Using TDS meter makes you feel like a scientist.
They recycle the filters (you have to throw it in the mail and send it to the company).
It does take a long time for the water to filter through, however that's because its doing its job to remove all the detected dissolved solids (you know how pesky those are)
AND it even has a spout so you don't have to take it out of the fridge (although then you're keeping the door open too long)
The best review though is a father to a green team member who remarked "that thing has lines like an ocean liner." when referring to its streamline shape.
Read what the National Geographic Green Guide said.
The final analysis: We liked it.
BOKASHI!!!
Do we have your attention? Good, check this out.
Bokashi is wheat bran which has been inoculated with molasses, water and Efficient Microbes–a blend of yeasts and bacteria which are helpful rather than harmful. What's it for? Composting, of course. The use of bokashi allows you to eliminate the use of newspaper and cardboard and enables you to compost fish and meat!
Bokashi also makes for a quicker composting process. Rich organic compost and bio active soil can be achieved within a month and a half rather than 3 or more months of turning a compost pile. Also, the microbes keep away fungi and bugs.
For more information and a complete explanation of the process, click here.
Bokashi is wheat bran which has been inoculated with molasses, water and Efficient Microbes–a blend of yeasts and bacteria which are helpful rather than harmful. What's it for? Composting, of course. The use of bokashi allows you to eliminate the use of newspaper and cardboard and enables you to compost fish and meat!
Bokashi also makes for a quicker composting process. Rich organic compost and bio active soil can be achieved within a month and a half rather than 3 or more months of turning a compost pile. Also, the microbes keep away fungi and bugs.
For more information and a complete explanation of the process, click here.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
This Brooklyn Green Team member was surprised recently by the smell of chemicals wafting up from her new yoga mat while in downward facing dog. Some brief googling revealed that most traditional yoga mats are made from PVC!
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is the third most commonly used thermoplastic polymer and is used in construction, toys, clothing, and upholstery, just to name a the few of the products we are in nearly constant contact with every day. Needless to say, PVC is an environmental toxin and considered to be the most toxic plastic.
It's ironic that this harmful substance has even worked it's way into yoga practice, but fear not. There are eco-friendly mat alternatives, such as those made from plant fibers or natural rubber. A quick google search for eco mats will bring up a lot of info. Do your research and see what feels comfortable for you.
Read an article about PVC mats.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is the third most commonly used thermoplastic polymer and is used in construction, toys, clothing, and upholstery, just to name a the few of the products we are in nearly constant contact with every day. Needless to say, PVC is an environmental toxin and considered to be the most toxic plastic.
It's ironic that this harmful substance has even worked it's way into yoga practice, but fear not. There are eco-friendly mat alternatives, such as those made from plant fibers or natural rubber. A quick google search for eco mats will bring up a lot of info. Do your research and see what feels comfortable for you.
Read an article about PVC mats.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Fridge
One year ago, Ottawa resident Rachel Muston took her desire to reduce her carbon footprint to a new level and unplugged her refrigerator. For good. Now, she keeps soda bottles filled with water in a freezer in the basement which she rotates to a cooler upstairs containing the few perishables she keeps on hand.
Beth Barnes from Frankfort, Kentucky uses a dorm-sized minifridge.
Duncan Campbell has been without a fridge for three years. His is a mostly bean and grain centered diet and he cans vegetables from his garden.
This may sound radical and the Brooklyn Green Team is not likely to present the No Fridge challenge any time soon, and while experts say that refrigerators use less energy than you would think, it's a lifestyle choice that makes a statement. Perhaps when others hear of the huge, seemingly impossible sacrifices other everyday people are making, the steps we need to be taking right now won't seem so overwhelming.
According to Marty O'Gorman, vice-president of Frigidaire, about 380 kilowatt-hours a year are used by an 18-cubic-foot Energy Star-rated Frigidaire. The cost to homeowners is around $40 dollars a year. Frigidaire's smallest minifridge averages out to about $34.
This kind of living would most likely be easier for those who live alone and for those who have more time to plan and cook meals (no more t.v. dinners or frozen pizzas). Some critics believe the lifestyle would result in more frequent trips to the store, since perishable foods would have to be purchased on a day-to-day basis. This is time consuming and uses more gasoline for car trips. For those who live within walking distance of the grocery store, this wouldn't be an issue.
Congratulations to those brave souls adventurous enough and environmentally committed to making such a huge change. For the full story and tips on how the rest of us can save energy with our fridges, click here.
Beth Barnes from Frankfort, Kentucky uses a dorm-sized minifridge.
Duncan Campbell has been without a fridge for three years. His is a mostly bean and grain centered diet and he cans vegetables from his garden.
This may sound radical and the Brooklyn Green Team is not likely to present the No Fridge challenge any time soon, and while experts say that refrigerators use less energy than you would think, it's a lifestyle choice that makes a statement. Perhaps when others hear of the huge, seemingly impossible sacrifices other everyday people are making, the steps we need to be taking right now won't seem so overwhelming.
According to Marty O'Gorman, vice-president of Frigidaire, about 380 kilowatt-hours a year are used by an 18-cubic-foot Energy Star-rated Frigidaire. The cost to homeowners is around $40 dollars a year. Frigidaire's smallest minifridge averages out to about $34.
This kind of living would most likely be easier for those who live alone and for those who have more time to plan and cook meals (no more t.v. dinners or frozen pizzas). Some critics believe the lifestyle would result in more frequent trips to the store, since perishable foods would have to be purchased on a day-to-day basis. This is time consuming and uses more gasoline for car trips. For those who live within walking distance of the grocery store, this wouldn't be an issue.
Congratulations to those brave souls adventurous enough and environmentally committed to making such a huge change. For the full story and tips on how the rest of us can save energy with our fridges, click here.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Our Friends at Food and Water Watch
Are working on behalf of our youth to get all the gross stuff out of their milk. Food & Water Watch is launching a campaign to get rBGH-free (artificial hormone free) and organic milk into the National School Lunch Program. The current information on health effects due to rBGH milk is too little. The milk options available to school children are too few. We're working to develop legislative advocates that will put language into the 2009 Child Nutrition Reauthorization, allowing public schools the option to specify rBGH free milk in their food bids.
We need your help.
SIGN THEIR PETITION TO CONGRESS.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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