What do You Think the Map Represents?
During ChangeLabs Heather Wooten’s Keynote presentation at the Built Environment and the Outdoors Summit, we were asked to guess what the gold dots on this map represent.
Give up? (more…)
Is Hospital Food Putting People in the Hospital?
Business as Usual
At least two-thirds of the U.S. adult population is either overweight or obese and that number is expected to increase to 75% by 2015. Childhood obesity is also widespread, afflicting 17% of U.S. children under the age of 18 (Wang and Beydoun, 2007). While many factors can contribute to the development of obesity, perhaps one of the biggest is diet. With food playing such a large role in the obesity epidemic and its related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, strokes, and certain cancers, should it not follow that our centers of healthcare provide the healthiest food possible for healing? Is it possible that the very institutions trusted with making us healthy might, in fact, be putting us in the hospital?
Aging in the Urban Built Environment
Baby boomers are starting to retire and with that comes the  challenge of supporting their needs. When most of us think of our parents or grandparents aging, I’m guessing we picture them in a  suburban home or, eventually perhaps, a care facility just down the road. What if, like many young people today migrating to cities, our elders instead choose to see their retirement years out in an urban center? (more…)
Fun Activities for Kids in the Garden – Getting Planted
Two years ago I worked with youth in a school and summer program on local farms and in school gardens. In between learning sessions and actual garden work, we played games to drive home the day’s message. In this post, I describe one of the most beloved activities among the youth in the garden. (more…)
“Vanishing of the Bees†Reveals an Ongoing Struggle for Pollinator Populations
Four years ago, the United States government held the first congressional hearing on Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), an as yet unknown affliction responsible for the devastating and sudden losses of native honeybees, which mysteriously disappear and never return to their hives. While the news has been relatively silent on CCD the past couple of years, there’s been a resurgence of other media around this phenomenon, including “Vanishing of the Bees,†a documentary film directed by George Langworthy and Maryam Heinen and narrated by actress Ellen Page (“Inception†and “Junoâ€). (more…)
Pacha’s Pajamas Brings Nature to Life, E-book to be Released this Summer
Pacha’s Pajamas debuted at Pizzaiolo in Oakland tonight (Mother’s Day), Sun. 8 May, with a hip, multi-generational, multi-cultural celebration of song, poetry, dance and wild animal calls from the audience. In attendance were ravens, lions and elephants, among others. (more…)
A PLACE for Sustainable Living Launches with Celebration & Workshops
A PLACE for Sustainable Living attracted over 100 Oakleyville residents with the celebration of their official launch yesterday, Sat. 7 May, 2011, featuring local vendors of sustainable products, workshops on beekeeping, cob building and herbal salve making, food, music and more.
The center is the brainchild of the Sustainable Living Roadshow, a volunteer-organized biofueled caravan that tours the nation each year to showcase and inspire sustainable living practices. (more…)
GROW! A Film About the Next Generation of Young Farmers in Georgia
See my full review on Civil Eats After more than two decades in decline, young farmers are beginning to sprout up across the nation. The recent documentary GROW!, directed by…
Coming Soon!
A blog about topics in sustainability. Check back soon - coming this summer.