From burns at panix.com Sun Feb 1 19:53:37 2009 From: burns at panix.com (burns) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 22:53:37 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] REMINDER: Ithaca Freeskool Term Begins References: Message-ID: Ithaca Freeskool is offering permaculture-related classes and events this spring. Look around town in shops and cafes for the Freeskool February - April 2009 Calendar. A full list with class descriptions can be found at: http://ithacafreeskool.wordpress.com/class-descriptions/ While many of the Freeskool classes are of interest to permaculture practioners the following explicitly involve learning and working with permaculture principles: Permaculture Book Club Facilitator: Michael Burns Contact: michael at fingerlakespermaculture.org Date and Time: Wednesdays 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/11 and 3/25, 6-8 pm Permaculture In Action - Projects Course Facilitator: Sean Dembrosky Contact: seandembrosky at gmail.com Date and Time: Tuesday evenings at 7pm Sustainable Forestry 101 Instructors: Josh Dolan and Michael McArthur Contact: sapsquatch7 at gmail.com Date and Time: Feb. 7 (snow date is Feb 14), 11am-2pm Finger Lakes Permaculture Network Regional Consulta Contact:mam233 at cornell.edu, 607-351-3313 Date and Time: Sunday, February 8 2009, 1-5pm Nature and Self-Awareness Facilitator: Emily Shumway Contact: emilylascantante at gmail.com Date and Time: March 14-April 4, Saturdays, 1:30-3:30pm The class list includes (but is not limited to) animal tracking, crafting herbal formulas, bike repair, DIY web design, woodworking, hand spinning, making tempeh, making tortillas, maple syrup production, horse ownership clinic, soap making, tincture swap and pressing, and anti-authoritarian games. http://ithacafreeskool.wordpress.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.flxpermaculture.net regional regenerative resources - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From tjs1 at cornell.edu Mon Feb 2 20:04:12 2009 From: tjs1 at cornell.edu (Thomas Shelley) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 2009 23:04:12 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Earth Day planning meeting February 9 Message-ID: <200902030404.n1344NbA020315@authusersmtp.mail.cornell.edu> Dear Sustainable Tompkins Friends--The Center for Environmental Sustainability will be holding an Earth Day planning meeting on Monday, February 9, 2009, in the first floor conference room at the Old Jail, 125 East Court St., from 6-8 PM. Attendance is free and all are welcome. For more information, contact Joey at (607) 351-0664 or earthdayithaca at yahoo.com. From cjbbey at yahoo.com Tue Feb 3 06:29:55 2009 From: cjbbey at yahoo.com (Carolyn Baskin-Bey) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 06:29:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Laptops needed for Level Green Institute Message-ID: <931815.56286.qm@web36207.mail.mud.yahoo.com> If anyone has access to or knows of any way that we can acquire 2 [1 Mac and 1 Windows based operating system] laptops to support the non-profit initiatives of Level Green Institute, please let us know. Thanks, Cinda From owlgorge at earthlink.net Tue Feb 3 11:38:51 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 14:38:51 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] "Speaking for the Trees" Message-ID: <380-22009223193851500@earthlink.net> My Nature Nearby encore series continues on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. on PEGASYS public access cable TV channel 13 in Ithaca through April. See the promo at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeGcQNWCp88 . A link to an online excerpt from the current episode is listed below. On February 4 and 11 you can see, if you have Ithaca cable TV, the 60-minute show Nature Nearby: ?Speaking for the Trees:? "In October, 2006, members of Finger Lakes Forest Watch met in the woods with officials of Finger Lakes National Forest to argue for the protection of old growth white pine trees that had been marked for logging." I know that a lot of people reading this email cannot see the show on TV. You can, however, see a 7-minute excerpt from this show online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_aw46dEp-s. At the PEGASYS awards ceremony in February 2007, this show won top honors for both the best program of the year in the Public Affairs category and the best public access show overall for the year. It stirred up some online controversy over the definition of old growth and that is, in large part, what this show is about; the back and forth between agency scientific technicians, a professional forester and old growth expert, and local citizens who love their national forest and want to influence timber practices to protect trees they care about. Tony Ingraham Ithaca, NY Owl Gorge Productions www.owlgorge.com See some of my videos at www.owlgorge.blip.tv Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park: http://friendsoftreman.wordpress.com/ From elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us Tue Feb 3 13:42:11 2009 From: elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us (Elan Shapiro) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 16:42:11 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Justice & Sustainability in our Schools -Thu 2/12 6-8:30 Message-ID: Thu Feb 12 Community Gathering, 6:00 - 8:30 PM Unitarian Church Annex Justice & Sustainability In Our Schools. Dinner & Childcare Provided Sustainable Tompkins invites you to a monthly gathering on "Justice and Sustainability in Our Schools" on Thursday, February 12, from 6:00 - 8:30 PM at the Annex of the Unitarian Church, on 208 E. Buffalo St. near Aurora St., in downtown Ithaca. The free event, which will include dinner and childcare, will focus on justice and sustainability initiatives in our schools, what they have in common, and how citizens can support these vital but rarely linked efforts. Short presentations and inspiring video clips will be followed by learning/action circles where participants can focus on themes such as food equity and school gardens, health access, equity and sustainability curriculum, transportation equity, and the New Roots school. The evening will begin with a dinner that includes many local foods. Additional potluck offerings are encouraged and participants are also encouraged to bring their own table settings to minimize the clean up. Childcare is provided but please RSVP for this. For more information, to reserve childcare, or for disability accommodations, contact Elan Shapiro, at elan at sustainabletompkins.org, 607-275-0249. This event is the last in the monthly "Equity and Sustainability" series organized by Sustainable Tompkins, a citizen-based organization dedicated to promoting a more just and sustainable community. www.sustainabletompkins.org -- Elan Shapiro Sustainable Tompkins Community Partnership Coordinator 211 Rachel Carson Way Ithaca, NY 14850 607-275-0249 607-592-8402 Cell "We must be the change we want to see in the world" Mohandas Gandhi From firetendercarol at yahoo.com Tue Feb 3 13:54:30 2009 From: firetendercarol at yahoo.com (Carol Clarke) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 13:54:30 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Urgent: Act now to stop $50 Billion in nuke loan guarantees Message-ID: <860406.33364.qm@web35507.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I heard about this on Democracy Now and remembered having gotten this email.? This is important! ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Nuclear Information and Resource Service Date: Thu, Jan 29, 2009 at 9:08 AM Subject: Urgent: Act now to stop $50 Billion in nuke loan guarantees To: lindaseeley at charter.net Nuclear Information and Resource Service January 29, 2009 The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee late on the night of January 27 snuck in a provision to President Obama's economic stimulus package that would allow as much as $50 BILLION of your dollars to be used as loan guarantees for construction of new nuclear reactors. This would be on top of the $18.5 Billion taxpayer dollars already authorized by Congress during the Bush administration. Please CALL your Senators today (202-224-3121) AND send them an e-mail by clicking here. These loan guarantees would mean more nuclear reactors and more radioactive waste piling up in communities across our country. They would also mean less money for safer, cheaper and cleaner energy alternatives like solar and wind power. The provision is vaguely worded. It would authorize $50 Billion in new loan guarantees for "eligible technologies." These technologies include nuclear, "clean coal," renewable energy sources and electric transmission. But the stimulus package is intended to create new jobs and economic activity over the next two years. Not only should new nuclear reactors and the false concept of "clean coal" be excluded from taxpayer support, but the reality is that neither technology is ready to produce any jobs within the next two years. The Department of Energy apparently would have to decide how to allocate this $50 Billion. If it all went to safe, cost-effective renewable energy sources,that would be one thing. Unfortunately, the provision's backers, like Sens. Robert Bennett (R-UT) and Thomas Carper (D-DE), are clear that their intent is that it would go for new nuclear reactor construction. Yet the Congressional Budget Office predicts a 50% default rate by nuclear utilities using this program! This is simply a nuclear bailout waiting to happen, and we can't afford it. But it's not too late. You can help stop this nonsense. The full Senate will vote on the stimulus package the week of February 2. Please CALL your Senators now (Senate Switchboard: 202-224-3121) and tell them to stop all loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors. AND, please send an e-mail to your Senators with the same message by clicking here. We expect a lot more activity on these issues over the next few days and weeks, and we will keep you alerted to new developments. And NIRS, Physicians for Social Responsibility and other groups are calling for a National Lobby Day on nuclear power for February 27, 2009, which falls right between the Carbon-Free, Nuclear-Free conference and the huge Power Shift conference. If you are coming to Washington for either of those and are willing to meet with your Congressmembers, let us know--we can set up meetings for you and assist in other ways too. We'll be sending more information on the National Lobby Day soon. Thanks for all you do, Michael Mariotte Executive Director Nuclear Information and Resource Service nirsnet at nirs.org www.nirs.org ------------------------------------------------------------- Finally, please help us continue and expand this type of outreach and activity. We know it works! Please make a small, tax-deductible donation to NIRS and support our work for a nuclear-free, carbon-free energy future. You can do so here. Just imagine: if each of you receiving this e-mail donated just the equivalent of a cup or so of coffee a month--just $5--we could hire 2 new people and expand our outreach budget by 50%! That's the kind of huge difference your contributions can make! ________________________________ You have received this email through your subscription to this campaign's email list. If you did not subscribe, or would no longer like to receive email updates unsubscribe here. From andrejs at ozolins.com Tue Feb 3 15:04:49 2009 From: andrejs at ozolins.com (Andrejs Ozolins) Date: Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:04:49 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Petition for Cayuga Waterfront Trail In-Reply-To: <860406.33364.qm@web35507.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <860406.33364.qm@web35507.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4988CD91.7050506@ozolins.com> I hope many on this list will sign the petition at http://bikeithaca.org/?page_id=16#comment-26 It's in support of moving forward on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail phase 2, a big step forward for human-power transportation in Ithaca, imho. Andrejs From owlgorge at earthlink.net Tue Feb 3 18:55:03 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2009 21:55:03 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Latest from Paul Glover Message-ID: <380-22009234255329@earthlink.net> Here's an article from Ithaca's native son, Paul Glover, long-time community activist and innovator, who has been living in Philadelphia the past few years. Prepare for the Best A guide to surviving and thriving in Philadelphia's new green future. http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2009/01/29/philadelphia-green-future See his personal webpage at http://paulglover.org/ . Tony Ingraham owlgorge at earthlink.net Owl Gorge Productions www.owlgorge.com my blog: http://owlgorge.wordpress.com/ See some of my videos at www.owlgorge.blip.tv Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park: http://friendsoftreman.wordpress.com/ From sjr37 at cornell.edu Wed Feb 4 06:12:55 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:12:55 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Online Courses for Beginning Farmers - February 18th Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090204091026.01e9d400@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Online Courses for Beginning Farmers - February 18th The NY Beginning Farmer Project has announced the next round of online courses designed to help plan new farm enterprises. "Taking Stock: Evaluating Your Resources and Choosing an Enterprise" is 5 weeks long. The second course, "Marketing and Profits: Making Money Selling What You Grow" is 6 weeks long and begins March 18. Both courses are designed to stand alone, or build on each other by being taken back-to-back. They will be taught by educators from Cornell Cooperative Extension, and both courses will incorporate real-time interaction with webinars. Register soon as space is limited. Cost is $100 per course or $150 for both. See http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/chenango/agriculture/BegFarmCourse.htm for computer requirements and registration details. From mmccasla at twcny.rr.com Wed Feb 4 10:04:52 2009 From: mmccasla at twcny.rr.com (Margaret McCasland) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 13:04:52 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] workshops on "fostering sustainable behaviour" Message-ID: <12FC5A68-4D23-49DB-92C4-8E52D30ACC32@twcny.rr.com> The Fostering Sustainable Behaviour workshops in Toronto on March 30th and 31st are now full. As a consequence, we have added additional workshops on April 1st and 2nd. Please note that these sessions are the only workshops planned for the Great Lakes region until the spring of 2010. I have provided below a detailed description of the two workshops as well as a link to the registration flyer for these new sessions. Registration closes on March 26th. Registration Flyer: http://homepage.mac.com/dmohr/filechute/Toronto2009April.pdf If you are not interested in attending yourself, I hope that you will consider forwarding this announcement to colleagues who may be interested. Thank you in advance for considering this request. Best, Doug Doug McKenzie-Mohr, Ph.D. Environmental Psychologist (506) 455 5061 voice (506) 455 0550 fax dmm at cbsm.com ******************************************** Workshop Description The cornerstone of sustainability is behavior change. If we are to move toward a sustainable future we must encourage individuals and businesses to engage in a multitude of actions (e.g., waste reduction, water and energy efficiency, pollution prevention, etc.). To date, most programs to encourage such activities have relied upon disseminating information. Research demonstrates, however, that simply providing information has little or no effect on what people or businesses do. But if not ads, brochures or booklets, then what? Over the last decade a new approach -- community-based social marketing -- has emerged as an effective alternative for delivering programs to foster sustainable behaviour. This April Dr. McKenzie-Mohr, an environmental psychologist, will be presenting introductory and advanced community-based social marketing workshops in Toronto (April 1st and 2nd -- please note that these sessions are the only the training sessions being offered until the spring of 2010 in the Great Lakes region). Dr. McKenzie-Mohr is the founder of community-based social marketing and has written and presented extensively on the topic. We invite you to attend either or both of these workshops, as we are confident that the training they provide will fundamentally change the way you think about program delivery. The Workshops Over the last decade more than 40,000 program managers have attended workshops on community-based social marketing that Dr. McKenzie-Mohr has delivered internationally. Here are several anonymous evaluations from workshops held in 2008: "Fantastic. Simply invaluable." ?Easily the most valuable workshop I've ever attended.? ?Outstanding presentation style. Expertise is obvious.? ?Best social marketing workshop that I have attended to date.? ?Great workshop. Lots of useful tools and information.? ?Outstanding!? ?Much, much better than expected.? ?Great information. Speaker was wonderful.? Introductory Workshop (April 1st): The one-day introductory workshop provides a comprehensive introduction to community-based social marketing and how it is being applied throughout the world to foster sustainable behaviour. Those who attend the introductory workshop will learn the five steps of community-based social marketing (selecting behaviours, identifying barriers, developing strategies, conducting a pilot, and broad scale implementation) and be exposed to numerous case studies illustrating its use. Advanced Workshop (April 2nd): The one-day advanced workshop builds on knowledge gained from the introductory workshop. It provides an in- depth exposure to community-based social marketing and provides participants with the knowledge they need to design and evaluate their own community-based social marketing programs. Participants will have extensive opportunity to discuss the application of community-based social marketing. To ensure ample opportunity for discussion, this workshop will be limited to 60 participants. Who Should Attend? If you design or fund programs to encourage individuals or businesses to engage in environmentally beneficial behaviours -- such as those involved in waste reduction, water and energy efficiency, watershed protection, pollution prevention or transportation changes -- you will find these workshops invaluable. The workshops will also be useful for environmental education professionals who work in settings such as zoos, aquariums and parks. Public health professionals who work to foster sustainable lifestyle changes, such as being more active, will also benefit from attending. Registration: To register, please download the registration flyer (http://homepage.mac.com/dmohr/filechute/Toronto2009April.pdf ) and fax or mail it to us. Please consider forwarding this email to colleagues who might benefit from attending. Hope to see you in April. ********************* When you subscribed to the Fostering Sustainable Behavior website you indicated that you were interested in receiving related announcements. To be removed from future emails please respond to this email with the word "Remove" in the subject. From rrodomsky at antioch.edu Wed Feb 4 08:48:31 2009 From: rrodomsky at antioch.edu (Rebecca Rodomsky) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:48:31 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] New Roots Charter School Information Nights Message-ID: Greetings STers: Below are a list of dates for February Parent and Teen Information Nights for New Roots Charter School. If you are interested in enrolling a student and/or what to learn more about the school, feel free to attend. Notice that some of the locations are still being decided upon. There has been a lot of press around New Roots in the past few weeks. These meetings are opportunities to learn more about the details of the school and dispell the myths floating around. Notice, at the end of the month we will be having a "Public Forum" to answer questions to the larger community. Our Parent and Teen Meetings have been very successful and we welcome attendance. Please call the information below to reserve a spot. Thursday, Feb 5th 6-8pm at Danby Town Hall Monday, Feb 9th in downtown 7-8:30pm Wednesday, Feb 11th 6-8pm at Caroline Town Hall Monday, Feb 16th 6-8pm at Danby Town Hall Tuesday, Feb 17th 6-8pm at Enfield Community Building Wednesday, Feb 18th at Giac? 6-8pm Monday, Feb 23rd in Downtown 7-8:30pm Tuesday, Feb 24th at WCB: Public Forum Wednesday, Feb 25th 6-8pm at Caroline Town Hall; Thursday, Feb 26th 6-8pm at Enfield Community Building To RSVP please contact us at: New Roots Charter School, 100 West Seneca Street or PO Box 936 Ithaca NY 14851 (607) 339-6994 fax: 607-269-0646 info at newrootsschool.org Thank you, Becca Rodomsky-Bish Volunteer From sjr37 at cornell.edu Wed Feb 4 11:11:32 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:11:32 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] New "NYS Buy Local" Yahoo Group Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090204140552.03950cd8@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> I thought that subscribers to Sustainable Tompkins would be interested in the following announcement of a new Yahoo group for consumers and producers who are concerned with local foods. Sandy Repp Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County From: "goodsell" Subject: Invitation to Join: Buy Local NY Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 Please Circulate: An Invitation to Participate My name is Martha Goodsell and I currently chair the NYS Working Group on Local Foods and Local Markets. In addition to actively farming, I have been busy promoting local foods for over a decade now- which is one of the reasons I'm now coordinating this effort sponsored by the Cornell Small Farms Program. In July of 2008 leaders in local food movements from across the state gathered for a day long Local Foods- Local Markets Summit to examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges to establishing and maintaining local food systems in and across New York. From an extensive statewide survey, conducted prior to the gathering, summit individuals (working in small groups) were able to focus on the most pressing issues to local market success. Strategies for resolving these barriers were identified and prioritized. You can read all about the progress of the work team including the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) statewide survey, the overall opportunities and challenges summary, the issues identified and strategies suggested by clicking on our page at the Cornell Small Farm website: http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/projects/workteams/LM/localmarket.cfm One of the items that was brought up in later discussion was the need and desire of those interested in or working on local food efforts and initiatives to keep in touch, to share ideas, concerns, thoughts, helpful hints, etc. In response to this request, the NYS Working Group on Local Foods and Local Markets has established a yahoo group: Buy Local NY (BuyLocalNY at yahoogroups.com). This yahoo group is for anyone interested in growing, processing, distributing, selling or promoting New York foods to New York consumers. It?s also for those interested in buying, cooking, preserving and enjoying the bounty of New York. Buy-Local stakeholders including but not limited to program facilitators, project coordinators, farmers, processors, distributors, food service directors, market managers, consumers, and others are invited to join this Buy Local NY yahoo group; which will focus on connecting farmers and consumers. This group is facilitated by the New York State Work Team on Local Foods and Local Markets, which is supported by the Cornell Small Farms Program. Work team leaders include: ? Heidi Mouillesseaux-Kunzman, Community Development Coordinator, Community and Rural Development Institute ? Andy Turner, Executive Director, Greene County CCE ? Todd Schmit, Assistant Professor, Cornell Dept. of Applied Economics and Management ? Monika Roth, Agriculture Development Specialist, Tompkins County, CCE ? Challey Comers, Farm to Market Manager, Watershed Agricultural Council ? Becca Brier-Rosenfield, Agriculture Economic Development Specialist, CCE of Madison County ? Bernadette Logazar , Rural & Ag Economic Development Specialist, Franklin County CCE ? Robert Hadad, Cornell Vegetable Program Specialist, Niagara County CCE ? Mary Jeanne Packer, Executive Director, NY Farms! You can join the discussion on Local Foods and Local Markets by subscribing to the yahoo group. It?s easy. Simply send an email to: BuyLocalNY-subscribe at yahoogroups.com Once you are subscribed you can post a message by sending an email to: BuyLocalNY at yahoogroups.com I hope you consider joining the discussion. --Martha From tjs1 at cornell.edu Wed Feb 4 15:09:45 2009 From: tjs1 at cornell.edu (Thomas Shelley) Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:09:45 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Urban chickens in small-town Maine and Cleveland OH(!) Message-ID: <200902042310.n14NAYE5004051@authusersmtp.mail.cornell.edu> Dear Friends--More on urban chickens (and bees!) from the Fostering Sustainable Behavior Listserv . Checkout the links in the following two e-mails. Tom #1: Hi John, There are a number of towns and cities in Maine that have decided to allow the keeping of chickens. Recently a 10 year old got the City of South Portland to change its regulations. Here is a link to an article: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=132313&ac=PHnws and a link to the family's website: http://www.sailzora.com/SoPoChickens.htm And if you Google 'south portland maine chickens" you will get a number of other links to stories. Maybe you need to recruit a 10 year old! ;-) Best of luck, Marianne DuBois Maine Department of Environmental Protection UnitedStates www.maine.gov/dep #2: The City of Cleveland just today (!!) legalized urban chickens. Councilman Joe Cimperman introduced the legislation and the Ohio State University agricultural extension oficer here has been working hard to get public support. I know there has been some fear, but also lots of excitement. Both of them might be willing to discuss their experience. Today's news article is here: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1233653414210720.xml&coll=2 Good luck! Toni Thayer Preterm United States ****************************************** Tom Shelley 118 E. Court St. Ithaca, NY 14850 607 342-0864 tjs1 at cornell.edu http://www.myspace.com/99319958 (Last updated 12-22-08.) http://www.facebook.com/129295929#/home.php (Last updated 1-14-09.) Compost Educator and Sustainability Scion Buy products in glass, not plastic! Recycle all of your glass bottles. The percentage of PET recycled is declining. PET Recycling Rages Graph Source: National Association for PET Container Resources, American Plastics Council Note: 39% of plastic recycled in 2003 was PET. From fpegi at hotmail.com Wed Feb 4 15:41:13 2009 From: fpegi at hotmail.com (Pegi Ficken) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 17:41:13 -0600 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Urban chickens in small-town Maine and Cleveland OH(!) In-Reply-To: <200902042310.n14NAYE5004051@authusersmtp.mail.cornell.edu> References: <200902042310.n14NAYE5004051@authusersmtp.mail.cornell.edu> Message-ID: What a marvelous civics lesson! Pegi> Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 18:09:45 -0500> To: tcrp at lists.ibiblio.org; sustainabletompkins at lists.mutualaid.org> From: tjs1 at cornell.edu> Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Urban chickens in small-town Maine and Cleveland OH(!)> > Dear Friends--More on urban chickens (and bees!) from the Fostering > Sustainable Behavior Listserv . Checkout the links > in the following two e-mails. Tom> #1:> > Hi John,> > _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live?: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_howitworks_022009 From Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com Thu Feb 5 07:49:45 2009 From: Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com (Joel and Sarah Gagnon) Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:49:45 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Urban chickens in small-town Maine and Cleveland OH(!) In-Reply-To: <200902042310.n14NAYE5004051@authusersmtp.mail.cornell.edu> Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20090205104454.020c6b90@pop.lightlink.com> If the same cities applied the same logic and criteria to the keeping of all animals, there would be far fewer dogs in cities. You have to want the eggs pretty badly to be willing to pay $50 up front in fees before you even begin to construct a chicken house (salvaged materials not allowed, of course) or pen. I guess it's a start. Joel At 06:09 PM 2/4/09 -0500, you wrote: >Dear Friends--More on urban chickens (and bees!) from the Fostering >Sustainable Behavior Listserv . Checkout the links >in the following two e-mails. Tom >#1: > >Hi John, > >There are a number of towns and cities in Maine that have decided to >allow the keeping of chickens. Recently a 10 year old got the City of >South Portland to change its regulations. Here is a link to an article: >http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=132313&ac=PHnws >and a link to the family's website: >http://www.sailzora.com/SoPoChickens.htm >And if you Google 'south portland maine chickens" you will get a >number of other links to stories. > >Maybe you need to recruit a 10 year old! ;-) > >Best of luck, > >Marianne DuBois >Maine Department of Environmental Protection >UnitedStates >www.maine.gov/dep > >#2: > >The City of Cleveland just today (!!) legalized urban chickens. >Councilman Joe Cimperman introduced the legislation and the Ohio >State University agricultural extension oficer here has been working >hard to get public support. I know there has been some fear, but also >lots of excitement. Both of them might be willing to discuss their experience. > >Today's news article is here: >http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1233653414210720.xml&coll=2 > >Good luck! > > > >Toni Thayer >Preterm >United States > >****************************************** >Tom Shelley >118 E. Court St. >Ithaca, NY 14850 >607 342-0864 >tjs1 at cornell.edu >http://www.myspace.com/99319958 (Last updated 12-22-08.) >http://www.facebook.com/129295929#/home.php (Last updated 1-14-09.) > >Compost Educator and Sustainability Scion > >Buy products in glass, not plastic! Recycle all of your glass bottles. > >The percentage of PET recycled is declining. > >PET Recycling Rages Graph > >Source: National Association for PET Container Resources, American >Plastics Council >Note: 39% of plastic recycled in 2003 was PET. >_______________________________________________ >For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, >please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > >RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org >http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org >free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org From gjem5760 at yahoo.com Thu Feb 5 08:21:44 2009 From: gjem5760 at yahoo.com (George Frantz) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 08:21:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Urban chickens in small-town Maine and Cleveland OH(!) In-Reply-To: <5.2.1.1.2.20090205104454.020c6b90@pop.lightlink.com> Message-ID: <548930.57840.qm@web44902.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Joel, ? I just downloaded the text of the South Portland regulations.? ? It is quite conservative but not as bad as some zoning regulations I've read.??It does offer a good starting point for use in Tompkins County. ? I definitely agree that the $50 upfront fee is pretty excessive. (about 2 months worth of egg production from 6 chickens)?? I also think that the annual permit renewal ($25) is a little excessive and not really worth it to the City. ? If anybody would like a copy of the South Portland regulations you can e-mail me offline at gjem5760 at yahoo.com ? Cheers! ? George --- On Thu, 2/5/09, Joel and Sarah Gagnon wrote: From: Joel and Sarah Gagnon Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Urban chickens in small-town Maine and Cleveland OH(!) To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009, 3:49 PM If the same cities applied the same logic and criteria to the keeping of all animals, there would be far fewer dogs in cities. You have to want the eggs pretty badly to be willing to pay $50 up front in fees before you even begin to construct a chicken house (salvaged materials not allowed, of course) or pen. I guess it's a start. Joel At 06:09 PM 2/4/09 -0500, you wrote: >Dear Friends--More on urban chickens (and bees!) from the Fostering >Sustainable Behavior Listserv . Checkout the links >in the following two e-mails. Tom >#1: > >Hi John, > >There are a number of towns and cities in Maine that have decided to >allow the keeping of chickens. Recently a 10 year old got the City of >South Portland to change its regulations. Here is a link to an article: >http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=132313&ac=PHnws >and a link to the family's website: >http://www.sailzora.com/SoPoChickens.htm >And if you Google 'south portland maine chickens" you will get a >number of other links to stories. > >Maybe you need to recruit a 10 year old! ;-) > >Best of luck, > >Marianne DuBois >Maine Department of Environmental Protection >UnitedStates >www.maine.gov/dep > >#2: > >The City of Cleveland just today (!!) legalized urban chickens. >Councilman Joe Cimperman introduced the legislation and the Ohio >State University agricultural extension oficer here has been working >hard to get public support. I know there has been some fear, but also >lots of excitement. Both of them might be willing to discuss their experience. > >Today's news article is here: >http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1233653414210720.xml&coll=2 > >Good luck! > > > >Toni Thayer >Preterm >United States > >****************************************** >Tom Shelley >118 E. Court St. >Ithaca, NY 14850 >607 342-0864 >tjs1 at cornell.edu >http://www.myspace.com/99319958 (Last updated 12-22-08.) >http://www.facebook.com/129295929#/home.php (Last updated 1-14-09.) > >Compost Educator and Sustainability Scion > >Buy products in glass, not plastic! Recycle all of your glass bottles. > >The percentage of PET recycled is declining. > >PET Recycling Rages Graph > >Source: National Association for PET Container Resources, American >Plastics Council >Note: 39% of plastic recycled in 2003 was PET. >_______________________________________________ >For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, >please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > >RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org >http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org >free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org From lennon_kat at hotmail.com Thu Feb 5 13:56:32 2009 From: lennon_kat at hotmail.com (Kat McCarthy) Date: Thu, 5 Feb 2009 21:56:32 +0000 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Friday at 5 * Korova *Sustainability Happy Hour Message-ID: Bring a friend and warm up from the cold at.... Sustainability Happy Hour Friday at 5 Korova Hope to see you there, Kat From kqj at quinn-jacobs.org Fri Feb 6 06:35:37 2009 From: kqj at quinn-jacobs.org (Katie Quinn-Jacobs) Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:35:37 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Cooperative Living Opportunity Message-ID: <498C4AB9.9040608@quinn-jacobs.org> A friend is looking for a third partner in a cooperative living venture. Details below: We're closing on the purchase of 10 acres in Danby township next week. It's a rolling hillside with a dropdead gorgeous view of the Caroline hills and the Dryden hills, and it's about 4 miles from downtown Ithaca.We are looking for a third person(s) interested in quasi-communal living. We want to sell 3 acres to the third family/individual and want them to be committed to green building and to sharing the farm and pond. Each family will own their own parcel outright to facilitate the possibilities of having to sell or devise their property. We could each have edible landscaping and kitchen gardens around our own homes, and we could work together to farm the larger fields behind our houses. We hope to ultimately have a small orchard, solar greenhouse for year-round harvesting, barn, root cellar, pond and maybe as much as an acre of each parcel in farming. We want our land to be a demonstration of mini eco-farming and how it is possible to grow food in your own yard and have a beautiful landscape, too. We may eventually have a picnic area and/or a small cafe, and a vegetable, herb, and fruit stand. Eventually we also want a commercial kitchen where we can produce value-added products (canned goods and herbal preparations). We're open to other ideas as well. If you're interested in finding out more, email us at: sjkahkonen at gmail.com , jvconnor1 at gmail.com and amicamia at 11@yahoo.com . -- From andrejs at ozolins.com Fri Feb 6 06:37:04 2009 From: andrejs at ozolins.com (Andrejs Ozolins) Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:37:04 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] [Fwd: Geography of Hope Spring 2009] Message-ID: <498C4B10.3010602@ozolins.com> I thought some might be interested to read about this event in Cal. Andrejs -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Geography of Hope Spring 2009 Second Annual Conference Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:55:45 -0800 Dear Friends, For many, a long shot. Never the less, a gathering of interest and value. http://www.ptreyesbooks.com/geohope.html Carla From brew_bird at yahoo.com Mon Feb 9 07:10:33 2009 From: brew_bird at yahoo.com (Eric Banford) Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 07:10:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Danby Land Bank Message-ID: <919214.35140.qm@web52509.mail.re2.yahoo.com> I attended the Danby land bank cooperative meeting on Saturday, and was glad to see a good turn out. Lots of interest in not just looking into selling grass for pellets, but also supporting each other in other endeavors through equipment sharing, work swaps, mentoring, etc. A good model for communities to come together and support each other. There is a good article in the IJ summarizing the meeting: http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20090209/NEWS01/902090313/1002 Thanks, Eric From elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us Tue Feb 10 07:31:23 2009 From: elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us (Elan Shapiro) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:31:23 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Justice & Sustainability in Our Schools- 2/12 Program Notes Message-ID: Thu Feb 12 Community Gathering, 6:00 - 8:30 PM Unitarian Church Annex Justice & Sustainability In Our Schools. Dinner & Childcare Provided Sustainable Tompkins invites you to a monthly gathering on "Justice and Sustainability in Our Schools" on Thursday, February 12, from 6:00 - 8:30 PM at the Annex of the Unitarian Church, on 208 E. Buffalo St. near Aurora St., in downtown Ithaca. The free event will focus on justice and sustainability initiatives in our schools, what they have in common, and how citizens can support these vital but rarely linked efforts. The evening will begin with a dinner that includes many local foods. Additional potluck offerings are encouraged and participants are also encouraged to bring their own table settings to minimize the clean up. Childcare is provided but please RSVP for this. Here's the program: Dinner 6:00 Short Presentations and Inspiring Videos 6:30-7:30 ***Justice & Sustainability in our Schools: What's the Connection? Ana Goldsmith & Tina Nilsen-Hodges ***Green Guerillas - Youth Speak Out on Social Justice and Sustainability - Ana Goldsmith & Green Guerilla Members ***Making Connections: Whole Community Project and Health Equity in our Schools - Jemila Sequeira (Whole Community Project) and Judy Hoffman (ICSD Head Nurse) ***Food Equity and School Gardens - Dan Flerlage (Teachers for Sustainable Future & LACS ) and Christine Porter (Whole Community Project) ***Building Community Across Differences- Karen Friedeborn (Equity & Inclusion Leadership Council, Ithaca Youth Bureau) and Tessa Friedeborn & Allison Lewis (IHS, College Discovery Program) ***New Roots Charter School - Building on national models for Social Justice and Sustainability Education - Tina Nilsen-Hodges Learning/Action Circles: 7:30 - 8:10 Engage in smaller groups on one or more of the above projects and topics, with presenters facilitating the discussion and, where relevant, the strategizing of next steps Large group sharing & Wrap up 8:10-8:30 How we can support these and other initiatives ? For more information, to reserve childcare, or for disability accommodations, contact Elan Shapiro, at elan at sustainabletompkins.org, 607-275-0249. This event is the last in the monthly "Equity and Sustainability" series organized by Sustainable Tompkins, a citizen-based organization dedicated to promoting a more just and sustainable community. www.sustainabletompkins.org -- From kristen at historicithaca.org Tue Feb 10 08:41:40 2009 From: kristen at historicithaca.org (Kristen Olson) Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:41:40 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] February events at Significant Elements, Historic Ithaca's architectural salvage warehouse Message-ID: <006601c98b9e$738e2980$5aaa7c80$@org> February Events at Significant Elements Historic Ithaca's architectural salvage warehouse Weekly SALES Tuesday, Feb 10-Saturday, Feb 14 Save 20-50% on all DOORS Tuesday, Feb 17-Saturday, Feb 21 Save 20-50% on all HARDWARE & LIGHTING Tuesday, Feb 24-Saturday, Feb 28 Save 20-50% on all PLUMBING items AND save up to 75% on select items throughout the store Free Class Saturday, Feb. 21: "Surviving Early Structures of Tompkins County" 11am, repeating at 2pm Learn about the early development of the Tompkins County area from 1790 to 1830 and see examples of surviving structures from the era. Check out the local history resources available in Historic Ithaca's library, free and open to the public. FREE FRIDAY Februrary 21 February 21will be Free Friday once again, with a large quantity of overstocked goods available on a first come, first serve basis. Free Friday is always the 3rd Friday of the month. Everyone is invited-especially landlords, contractors and designers planning repairs and upgrades; students looking for inexpensive furnishings for apartments, craftspeople, hobbyists and artists needing supplies; collectors looking for that rare and unique architectural antique; homeowners restoring a home or just looking for a change. There are thousands of items in our store and all are available at a great price for every type of project. THE BENEFIT: Significant Elements is a non-profit program of Historic Ithaca and sale proceeds help fund our mission to preserve and sustain the legacy of the built environment in Tompkins County and the Finger Lakes Region. 212 Center Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 277-3450 www.significantelements.org Store Hours Tuesday, Wednesday 9am-5pm Thursday, Friday 9am-6pm Saturday 9am-5pm Kristen Olson Preservation Services Coordinator Historic Ithaca kristen at historicithaca.org (607)319-4611 Significant Elements Non-Profit Architectural Salvage Program www.significantelements.org 212 Center Street Ithaca, NY 14850 (607)277-3450 From elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us Wed Feb 11 14:20:49 2009 From: elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us (Elan Shapiro) Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:20:49 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Schools/ Justice & Sustainability- 2/12 Program Change Message-ID: I am sorry to announce a late program change in tomorrow night's Justice & Sustainability In Our Schools event. The Green Guerillas will not be presenting. See updated program below. Elan Thu Feb 12 Community Gathering, 6:00 - 8:30 PM Unitarian Church Annex Justice & Sustainability In Our Schools. Dinner & Childcare Provided Sustainable Tompkins invites you to a monthly gathering on "Justice and Sustainability in Our Schools" on Thursday, February 12, from 6:00 - 8:30 PM at the Annex of the Unitarian Church, on 208 E. Buffalo St. near Aurora St., in downtown Ithaca. The free event will focus on justice and sustainability initiatives in our schools, what they have in common, and how citizens can support these vital but rarely linked efforts. The evening will begin with a dinner that includes many local foods. Additional potluck offerings are encouraged and participants are also encouraged to bring their own table settings to minimize the clean up. Childcare is provided but please RSVP for this. Here's the program: Dinner 6:00 Short Presentations and Inspiring Videos 6:30-7:30 ***Justice & Sustainability in our Schools: What's the Connection? Ana Goldsmith & Tina Nilsen-Hodges ***Making Connections: Whole Community Project and Health Equity in our Schools - Jemila Sequeira (Whole Community Project) and Judy Hoffman (ICSD Head Nurse) ***Food Equity and School Gardens - Dan Flerlage (Teachers for Sustainable Future & LACS ) and Christine Porter (Whole Community Project) ***Building Community Across Differences- Karen Friedeborn (Equity & Inclusion Leadership Council, Ithaca Youth Bureau) and Tessa Friedeborn & Allison Lewis (IHS, College Discovery Program) ***New Roots Charter School - Building on national models for Social Justice and Sustainability Education - Tina Nilsen-Hodges Learning/Action Circles: 7:30 - 8:10 Engage in smaller groups on one or more of the above projects and topics, with presenters facilitating the discussion and, where relevant, the strategizing of next steps Large group sharing & Wrap up 8:10-8:30 How we can support these and other initiatives ? For more information, to reserve childcare, or for disability accommodations, contact Elan Shapiro, at elan at sustainabletompkins.org, 607-275-0249. This event is the last in the monthly "Equity and Sustainability" series organized by Sustainable Tompkins, a citizen-based organization dedicated to promoting a more just and sustainable community. www.sustainabletompkins.org -- From gaynicholson at aol.com Wed Feb 11 21:32:04 2009 From: gaynicholson at aol.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:32:04 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] organic roses and local greenhouse flowers Message-ID: <37640AE4-5082-4F43-A63E-C56D9F435F7C@aol.com> Even the cut flower industry is finding a way to turn away from long- distance imports and pesticides..... Sara said she now has many flower species that are grown within 200 miles (which used to be normal!). folks can give Earth-friendly flowers for Valentine's Day, and support a local business. The Business Is Blooming floral design studio here in Ithaca has gorgeous bouquets for sweethearts featuring Organic Roses and Local (greenhouse-grown) flowers for Valentine's Day. Eco-details, photos and online ordering at www.bizbloom.biz. Our flowers have just arrived from the growers and they are spectacular. Any way you can help spread the word would be appreciated! Sara Sara Culotta Business Is Blooming www.bizbloom.biz 1005 N. Cayuga St. Ithaca, NY 14850 607-227-1522 sara at bizbloom.biz Go Green this Valentine's Day. Check out our Organic Roses and Eco- friendly flowers at www.bizbloom.biz. Now offering online ordering! ---------------------------------------------------- Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. 607-533-7312 (home office) 607-220-8991 (cell) 1 Maple Avenue Lansing, NY 14882 gaynicholson at aol.com Sustainable Tompkins Program Coordinator www.sustainabletompkins.org From lennon_kat at hotmail.com Thu Feb 12 10:11:56 2009 From: lennon_kat at hotmail.com (Kat McCarthy) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:11:56 +0000 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Friday at 5*Chapter House*Sustianability Happy Hour Message-ID: Be happy and sustain yourself at.... Sustainability HaPpY Hour Friday at 5 The Chapter House From sjr37 at cornell.edu Thu Feb 12 11:38:12 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:38:12 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] 2/26: Getting Started with Vegetable Gardening Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090212143647.03a58e80@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Getting Started with Vegetable Gardening Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca This is the class for the beginning vegetable gardener! Learn where to site your garden, how to prepare the soil, how to start seeds, how to plant, when to mulch, and which easy veggies to try first. Pat Curran, Horticulture Educator, will also discuss favorite varieties, container gardening, and harvesting tips. Find out about Cooperative Extension's "free seeds" cabinets! This class will be held Thursday, Feb. 26, 6:30-8:30 pm, at the Tompkins County Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca. Fee $5; pre-registration is recommended. Please call 272-2292 for more information or registration. From nlv at clarityconnect.com Thu Feb 12 17:45:50 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:45:50 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Milwaukee's Will Allen: Urban Farmer Genius Message-ID: Today he was in Austin Texas with President Clinton and other (food) thinkers and doers. Much to think about and be inspired by via Allen's years of work in Milwaukee. http://www.macfound.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lkLXJ8MQKrH&b=4513915&ct=5984659 From nlv at clarityconnect.com Thu Feb 12 17:50:40 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:50:40 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Growing Power: Will Allen on urban fish and chickens Message-ID: <124B1EC7-EFF2-413B-9318-B08EABFFDE96@clarityconnect.com> http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/05/growing-power-urban-aquaponics.php From mbrown at ithaca.edu Fri Feb 13 06:28:24 2009 From: mbrown at ithaca.edu (Marian Brown) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:28:24 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Sustainability Cafe on Thursday, Feb 19 to focus on changing driving habits to increase fuel efficiency Message-ID: <49958388.9020509@ithaca.edu> Andy Goodell, assistant director of Ithaca Carshare, will be the expert presenter for our next Sustainability Cafe, talking about simple changes you can make to dramatically increase your vehicle fuel efficiency. This Cafe will be held on Thursday, February 19 from noon to 1:00PM in Room 301 in the Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise. For more information about this Sustainability Cafe: http://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20090211101728246 For those who might be interested in coming to campus to attend this Cafe - which is free and open to the public - below is information on campus parking and access via TCAT: Here is the link to our Campus Map http://www.ithaca.edu/map/ The Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise is navy blue building #29 on the map. Here is the link to our Campus PARKING map. http://www.ithaca.edu/map/parking.php Free visitor parking is shown in orange on the map. What DOES not show on the map is the construction site for the new Gateway/Peggy R. Williams Center which is between the visitor parking lot and the Park Center. You will have to go AROUND the construction site and enter the campus Quad on the sidewalk between Dillingham Center (building #1) and Smiddy Hall (building #14). Come down the Quad toward the Campus Center (building #9A/9B) on the map, and just past Job Hall (building #2) and before Friends Hall (building #3) turn left and take the walkway that connects the Quad to the 2nd floor of the Park Center. Come in the building (you'll enter the second floor atrium) and go up another flight of stairs and come to Room 301. If you wish to ride the TCAT bus to campus, Route 11 runs between the Commons and South Hill on half-hour service. Here is the link to TCAT route 11 service. http://tcat.nextinsight.com/pdfpics/11%20January%202009.pdf The TCAT bus will drop you outside the lower level of the Park School of Communications (building #20). Come up the stairs to the 2nd level - come through the building and exit toward the Campus Center. Come up the sidewalk next to U parking lot and at the intersection of the incoming roadway, turn right and follow the sidewalk along between Williams Hall and the Center for Natural Sciences. Go to the next roadway, which you will cross. Continue forward on the sidewalk between the Muller Chapel and the flagpole circle in front of Textor Hall and you'll be walking toward the Park CENTER for Business and Sustainable Enterprise. Enter the building on the 1st floor and come on up to the 3rd floor to Room 301. See you then! Marian From rrodomsky at antioch.edu Fri Feb 13 10:36:16 2009 From: rrodomsky at antioch.edu (Rebecca Rodomsky) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:36:16 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Organic Gardening Series Message-ID: Greetings STers, home green home is hosting an Organic Gardening Series this spring for those "beginner gardeners" out there. Presentation #1: "Planning Your Garden" by Becca Rodomsky-Bish (myself : )!!)) Wednesday, February 25th 6:30-8:00pm (see our website under Events for other upcoming presentations) at home green home 215 E. State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 319-4159 www.homegreenhome.com I have been an avid organic gardener for 3 years now and grow food to feed my family on approximately one acre of land. This year I am striving to grow for the entire year, so far I have made it through late January. I have a passion for organic gardening and look forward to sharing my experience and insights! In this first presentation we will explore answers to the following questions: 1) Wat do I grow? 2) Do I grow from seeds or plants? 3) How do I organize my garden? 4) How do I best utilize my growing space? 5) What supplies will I need? This event is free and hope to everyone. Please contact us at the information above if you have further questions. Thank you and happy "almost" spring! Becca From owlgorge at earthlink.net Sat Feb 14 09:03:37 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:03:37 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fwd: Re: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid found in Cayuga Basin Message-ID: <380-2200926141733778@earthlink.net> The dreaded day has arrived. We need more details on just where it has been found to date. As most of us are aware, the eastern hemlock is the dominant conifer in our gorges as well as other areas. This is going to be very painful to watch. Tony Begin forwarded message: From: Deborah Dennis Date: February 13, 2009 7:14:24 AM EST To: igba at googlegroups.com Subject: [IGBA] Fwd: Re: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid found in Cayuga Basin Reply-To: dgdny at yahoo.com Something to keep an eye out for in our area.... On Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 4:17 PM, Jacalyn C. Spoon wrote: A nasty pest that came to us from Asia has found it's way to the Cayuga basin far faster than predicted. The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is capable of killing a hemlock tree in just 4 years. It reproduces asexually at an exponential rate. We need your to help us find all of the outbreaks and report them to Mark Whitmore . I'm asking all my birder friends and library colleagues: While you are looking up in those trees at the chickadee's could you please look for these little nasties! For a photo of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and more information this pest read this Forest Service Alert: < http://na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/pest_al/hemlock/hwa05.htm> Much more information is available with a quick internet search < http://www.saveourhemlocks.org/pdf_docs/hwafactsheet.pdf> Thank you for your help, Jacie Tompkins County Environmental Management Council, Invasive Species Committee Chair -- Jacalyn C. Spoon, MLS Adelson Library Administrator Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, N.Y. 14850-1999 Phone: 607-254-2165 Fax: 607-254-2415 Tony Ingraham 368 Stone Quarry Road Ithaca, NY 14850 607-275-0344 owlgorge at earthlink.net Owl Gorge Productions www.owlgorge.com my blog: http://owlgorge.wordpress.com/ See some of my videos at www.owlgorge.blip.tv Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park: http://friendsoftreman.wordpress.com/ From bosak at ibiblio.org Sun Feb 15 07:28:39 2009 From: bosak at ibiblio.org (Jon Bosak) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:28:39 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Scientists: Pace of Climate Change Exceeds Estimates Message-ID: <499834A7.1000906@ibiblio.org> Scientists: Pace of Climate Change Exceeds Estimates By Kari Lydersen Washington Post Staff Writers Sunday, February 15, 2009; A03 CHICAGO, Feb. 14 -- The pace of global warming is likely to be much faster than recent predictions, because industrial greenhouse gas emissions have increased more quickly than expected and higher temperatures are triggering self-reinforcing feedback mechanisms in global ecosystems, scientists said Saturday. "We are basically looking now at a future climate that's beyond anything we've considered seriously in climate model simulations," Christopher Field, founding director of the Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University, said at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Field, a member of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said emissions from burning fossil fuels since 2000 have largely outpaced the estimates used in the U.N. panel's 2007 reports. The higher emissions are largely the result of the increased burning of coal in developing countries, he said. Unexpectedly large amounts of carbon dioxide are being released into the atmosphere as the result of "feedback loops" that are speeding up natural processes. Prominent among these, evidence indicates, is a cycle in which higher temperatures are beginning to melt the arctic permafrost, which could release hundreds of billions of tons of carbon and methane into the atmosphere, said several scientists on a panel at the meeting. The permafrost holds 1 trillion tons of carbon, and as much as 10 percent of that could be released this century, Field said. Melting permafrost also releases methane, which is 25 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. "It's a vicious cycle of feedback where warming causes the release of carbon from permafrost, which causes more warming, which causes more release from permafrost," Field said. Evidence is also accumulating that terrestrial and marine ecosystems cannot remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as earlier estimates suggested, Field said. In the oceans, warmer weather is driving stronger winds that are exposing deeper layers of water, which are already saturated with carbon and not as able to absorb as much from the atmosphere. The carbon is making the oceans more acidic, which also reduces their ability to absorb carbon. On land, rising carbon dioxide levels had been expected to boost plant growth and result in greater sequestration of carbon dioxide. As plants undergo photosynthesis to draw energy from the sun, carbon is drawn out of the atmosphere and trapped in the plant matter. But especially in northern latitudes, this effect may be offset significantly by the fact that vegetation-covered land absorbs much more of the sun's heat than snow-covered terrain, said scientists on the panel. Earlier snowmelt, the shrinking arctic ice cover and the northward spread of vegetation are causing the Northern Hemisphere to absorb, rather than reflect, more of the sun's energy and reinforce the warming trend. While it takes a relatively long time for plants to take carbon out of the atmosphere, that carbon can be released rapidly by wildfires, which contribute about a third as much carbon to the atmosphere as burning fossil fuels, according to a paper Field co-authored. Fires such as the recent deadly blazes in southern Australia have increased in recent years, and that trend is expected to continue, Field said. Warmer weather, earlier snowmelt, drought and beetle infestations facilitated by warmer climates are all contributing to the rising number of fires linked to climate change. Across large swaths of the United States and Canada, bark beetles have killed many mature trees, making forests more flammable. And tropical rain forests that were not susceptible to forest fires in the past are likely to become drier as temperatures rise, growing more vulnerable. Preventing deforestation in the tropics is more important than in northern latitudes, the panel agreed, since lush tropical forests sequester more carbon than sparser northern forests. And deforestation in northern areas has benefits, since larger areas end up covered in exposed, heat-reflecting snow. Many scientists and policymakers are advocating increased incentives for preserving tropical forests, especially in the face of demand for clearing forest to grow biofuel crops such as soy. Promoting biofuels without also creating forest-preservation incentives would be "like weatherizing your house and deliberately keeping your windows open," said Peter Frumhoff, chief of the Union of Concerned Scientists' climate program. "It's just not a smart policy." Field said the U.N. panel's next assessment of Earth's climate trends, scheduled for release in 2014, will for the first time incorporate policy proposals. It will also include complicated models of interconnected ecosystem feedbacks. The panel's last report noted that preliminary knowledge of such feedbacks suggested that an additional 100 billion to 500 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions would have to be prevented in the next century to avoid dangerous global warming. Currently, about 10 billion tons of carbon are emitted each year. From tonydelplato at gmail.com Sun Feb 15 08:12:28 2009 From: tonydelplato at gmail.com (Tony Del Plato) Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:12:28 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Scientists: Pace of Climate Change Exceeds Estimates In-Reply-To: <499834A7.1000906@ibiblio.org> References: <499834A7.1000906@ibiblio.org> Message-ID: There are numerous reports telling the same story and the Obama administration & Dumocrats don't seem to get it yet. We won't even talk about the Repugant Party. We're going to need not only changes on an individual and community level, but massive civil disobedience to shut down not just mountain top coal mining and coal generated energy. We need the transformation of the entire mess called modern industrial/technocratic civilization. Pres Obama may be a "transformative" leader but I suspect that like nearly all politicians, his proponents have jumped on a buzz word, like, dare I say it, SUSTAINABILITY, voiding any meaning or actions. Tony Del Plato On Sun, Feb 15, 2009 at 10:28 AM, Jon Bosak wrote: > Scientists: Pace of Climate Change Exceeds Estimates > By Kari Lydersen > Washington Post Staff Writers > Sunday, February 15, 2009; A03 > > CHICAGO, Feb. 14 -- The pace of global warming is likely to be > much faster than recent predictions, because industrial greenhouse > gas emissions have increased more quickly than expected and higher > temperatures are triggering self-reinforcing feedback mechanisms > in global ecosystems, scientists said Saturday. > > "We are basically looking now at a future climate that's beyond > anything we've considered seriously in climate model simulations," > Christopher Field, founding director of the Carnegie Institution's > Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University, said at the > annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of > Science. > > Field, a member of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on > Climate Change, said emissions from burning fossil fuels since > 2000 have largely outpaced the estimates used in the U.N. panel's > 2007 reports. The higher emissions are largely the result of the > increased burning of coal in developing countries, he said. > > Unexpectedly large amounts of carbon dioxide are being released > into the atmosphere as the result of "feedback loops" that are > speeding up natural processes. Prominent among these, evidence > indicates, is a cycle in which higher temperatures are beginning > to melt the arctic permafrost, which could release hundreds of > billions of tons of carbon and methane into the atmosphere, said > several scientists on a panel at the meeting. > > The permafrost holds 1 trillion tons of carbon, and as much as 10 > percent of that could be released this century, Field > said. Melting permafrost also releases methane, which is 25 times > more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. > > "It's a vicious cycle of feedback where warming causes the release > of carbon from permafrost, which causes more warming, which causes > more release from permafrost," Field said. > > Evidence is also accumulating that terrestrial and marine > ecosystems cannot remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as > earlier estimates suggested, Field said. > > In the oceans, warmer weather is driving stronger winds that are > exposing deeper layers of water, which are already saturated with > carbon and not as able to absorb as much from the atmosphere. The > carbon is making the oceans more acidic, which also reduces their > ability to absorb carbon. > > On land, rising carbon dioxide levels had been expected to boost > plant growth and result in greater sequestration of carbon > dioxide. As plants undergo photosynthesis to draw energy from the > sun, carbon is drawn out of the atmosphere and trapped in the > plant matter. But especially in northern latitudes, this effect > may be offset significantly by the fact that vegetation-covered > land absorbs much more of the sun's heat than snow-covered > terrain, said scientists on the panel. > > Earlier snowmelt, the shrinking arctic ice cover and the northward > spread of vegetation are causing the Northern Hemisphere to > absorb, rather than reflect, more of the sun's energy and > reinforce the warming trend. > > While it takes a relatively long time for plants to take carbon > out of the atmosphere, that carbon can be released rapidly by > wildfires, which contribute about a third as much carbon to the > atmosphere as burning fossil fuels, according to a paper Field > co-authored. > > Fires such as the recent deadly blazes in southern Australia have > increased in recent years, and that trend is expected to continue, > Field said. Warmer weather, earlier snowmelt, drought and beetle > infestations facilitated by warmer climates are all contributing > to the rising number of fires linked to climate change. Across > large swaths of the United States and Canada, bark beetles have > killed many mature trees, making forests more flammable. And > tropical rain forests that were not susceptible to forest fires in > the past are likely to become drier as temperatures rise, growing > more vulnerable. > > Preventing deforestation in the tropics is more important than in > northern latitudes, the panel agreed, since lush tropical forests > sequester more carbon than sparser northern forests. And > deforestation in northern areas has benefits, since larger areas > end up covered in exposed, heat-reflecting snow. > > Many scientists and policymakers are advocating increased > incentives for preserving tropical forests, especially in the face > of demand for clearing forest to grow biofuel crops such as > soy. Promoting biofuels without also creating forest-preservation > incentives would be "like weatherizing your house and deliberately > keeping your windows open," said Peter Frumhoff, chief of the > Union of Concerned Scientists' climate program. "It's just not a > smart policy." > > Field said the U.N. panel's next assessment of Earth's climate > trends, scheduled for release in 2014, will for the first time > incorporate policy proposals. It will also include complicated > models of interconnected ecosystem feedbacks. > > The panel's last report noted that preliminary knowledge of such > feedbacks suggested that an additional 100 billion to 500 billion > tons of greenhouse gas emissions would have to be prevented in the > next century to avoid dangerous global warming. Currently, about > 10 billion tons of carbon are emitted each year. > > > _______________________________________________ > For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, > please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: > SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org > http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins > Questions about the list? ask > sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org > free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org > -- The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness, can be trained to do most things. - Jilly Cooper From elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us Mon Feb 16 10:26:00 2009 From: elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us (Elan Shapiro) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:26:00 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] The Crayon Carnival - Go Green Event Message-ID: Having trouble viewing this email? Click here The Crayon Carnival Go Green Event Nu Chapter of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in partnership with the Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division invite you to join us for a free, one day community wide children's event aimed at "Educating, Enhancing, and Empowering" the children of Ithaca and their families about sustainability issues, environmental stewardship, and green living. The Crayon Carnival - Go Green event will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Shops at Ithaca Mall. We hope you will join us for a day of fun and education for the whole family! Sincerely, The 2009 Crayon Carnival Steering Committee The Crayon Carnival Go Green Event The carnival will feature a variety of exhibits, workshops, informational booths, and live demonstrations with the purpose of involving participants in the exploration of environmental issues including, but not limited to, the effects of automobiles, renewable energy, and energy conservation. Participants will learn fun and easy ways to make Recycling, Reducing, Reusing, and Recovering resources a part of their daily lives. In addition to event programming, there will be carnival-like activities, entertainment, and food. For more information, visit our website at www.crayoncarnival.com. The Shops at Ithaca Mall , March 7, 2009 10:00AM-4:00PM This Week's Featured Events Go Green Fashion Show sponsored by Tuff Soul. Learn about Eco-fashion and Sustainable Clothing at our fashion. Tuff Soul offers a variety of new and used goods, including vintage, recycled, organic cotton, and reconstructed clothing. They strive to bring you stylish clothing, in excellent condition, at reasonable prices! The Lorax performed by Cornell University's EcoPlayers. The performance is based on Dr. Seuss' famed children's book, The Lorax. The story warns us against the dangers of deforestation, pollution, and disregard for the environment. Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Nu Chapter at Cornell University serves and educates people of diverse backgrounds through sisterhood, leadership, and guidance. Since its inception in 1999 Nu chapter has taken the forefront in educating, empowering, and enhancing the lives of children by making contributions to non-profit organizations in the greater Ithaca area that adress the chapter's cause of Child Welfare. The Tompkins County Solid Waste Management Division manages the solid waste of Tompkins County in a manner that is environmentally sound, cost-effective, socially responsible, and safe. This will be accomplished through coordinated administrative, operational, and educational projects in waste reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and disposal. The Crayon Carnival is funded in part by a grant from the Community Partnership Board, a program of the Public Service Center, African Latino Asian Native American Students Programming Board, Minority Finance Commission, Latino Living Center, Ecology House, Ujamaa, and the Ithaca Public Education Initiative. HELP US GET THE WORD OUT! PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Forward email This email was sent to elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us by dawn.brawley at gmail.com. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe? | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. | Nu Chapter - Cornell University | RPCC Box A | Ithaca | NY | 14850 -- Elan Shapiro Sustainable Tompkins Community Partnership Coordinator Sustainable Living Associates, Principal Frog's Way B&B 211 Rachel Carson Way Ithaca, NY 14850 607-275-0249 607-592-8402 Cell "We must be the change we want to see in the world" Mohandas Gandhi From cgrant at indianchimneyfarm.com Mon Feb 16 09:28:52 2009 From: cgrant at indianchimneyfarm.com (Chris Grant) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:28:52 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Creating a sustainable future - one person at a time In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <910CFB9C36E94B2190FA090F60A91AF6@Waterfalls> Pardon this slightly off-topic angle. If we are to have a just and sustainable future, we need everyone to be whole and aware. This course helps.... I took this course last spring and it has made a big difference in my life and helps me every day. I was thinking of you and thought I'd let you know about it, so if you are interested, read on! Want to learn how to relax no matter what is going on with work, school, relationships, family, weather, bank account? It's easy, and you can!! The Art of Living Course was developed in response to the specific need for stress-relief and increased productivity and well-being in today's fast-paced world. Participant experiences and research shows that the course: - increases focus & productivity - powerfully decreases stress - develops confidence & communication skills - enhances leadership skills - is a TON of FUN The Art of Living course includes powerful breathing techniques for stress-relief and increased mental clarity and focus, techniques that decrease social anxiety and increase leadership ability, yoga, interactive processes, and much more! WHEN? February 27 to March 3 (6 to 9 PM Weekdays, 10 AM to 3 PM Saturday & Sunday) WHERE? Foundation of Light (391 Turkey Hill Rd.) COST? $350, $250 students and seniors More details: http://us.artofliving.org/art-of-living-course/ http://secure.artofliving.org/courses.aspx?state=NY&city=ITHACA Still Debating? Get a taste of what the course has to offer in a 1-hr intro session Feb. 18 and 20, 6 PM, Upson Hall (on the Cornell Campus) Room 205. This course only happens about once a year so give it some good consideration. Questions? Contact Chris at (607) 280-2010 or email: cgrant at gorgeswebsites.com Testimonials: "It was very uplifting. It has transformed me into a much more positive person. The stress I had to deal with in college was overwhelming and the Art of Living really allowed me to relieve this stress and acted as a sort of mental healing. It has allowed me to have a positive outlook on my goals and future. " - Maanasa, Sophomore, St. Louis University "Amazing, made me feel so much better about myself. Brought more joy and understanding to my life." -Cullen "...I've read and heard about the importance of breathing before but never got to experience it and I found the result pretty amazing... I realize that it doesn't have to be a choice between being a saddhu (editor - monk) and an investment banker..." --Gaye, MBA student Cornell "I was a freshman in College when I wandered into an intro lecture concerning the Art of Living Course. The speaker said something which really hit home, 'We look everywhere around ourselves for happiness, but we neglect to look in the most obvious place; within our own mind, within our Self.' I took the course that weekend, and its impact on me was immediate. There are so many theories and philosophies on how to live life with harmony, but the Art of Living course goes beyond theories and concepts and enters the realm of direct experience." --Michael, Truman State University From steve at workwithnature.net Mon Feb 16 16:01:57 2009 From: steve at workwithnature.net (Steve Gabriel) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:01:57 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Local Maple Syrup for Sale Message-ID: <24121f890902161601x50d58f4dq5fe6ff252b5ede94@mail.gmail.com> SAPSQUATCH PURE MAPLE SYRUP Enfield, NY LOCAL ? SUSTAINABLE ? COMMUNITY DRIVEN www.SAPSQUATCH.com *Check out our website for updated news, photos, and more! ( www.sapsquatch.com) * Grab a copy of the most recent Tompkins Weekly for an article on sugaring and Sapsquatch! (www.TompkinsWeekly.com) *Order today! We have limited quantities of local syrup and candy for sale. Orders will be filled in the order received starting in March. - MapleShare (1 Gallon, box of maple candy, sticker): $100 - Gallon: $60 - Quart: $20 - Pint: $12 - ? Pint: $8 - Pint of Chipotle-Maple: $15 - Maple Candy: $15 ORDER ONLINE : www.SAPSQUATCH.com or call 303.815.3535 or email steve at workwithnature.net WANT TO VOLUNTEER? Contact steve at workwithnature.net for details. *PROGRAMS & EVENTS* SUGARBUSH TOURS Tours of the sugarbush including the history, lore, and process of sugaring will be offered EVERY SATURDAY at 1:00 pm from February 28 thru April 4th. Learn about the progression of sugaring from the time of the Native Americans to present. Try your hand at tapping. Taste sap and syrup. Donations accepted. SUGAR MOON BENEFIT PARTY 3.13.09 ? 7pm to ??? Join us for stories, music, food, and fun as we gather 'round the boiler and welcome this years sugar moon. Donate and support your local sugaring folk. Enjoy sledding, hiking, and a moonlight sugarbush tour. Donations accepted. NYS MAPLE WEEKEND 3.28 & 3.29 ? 10am to 5pm In cooperation with the NYS Maple Producers Association, visit the Sapsquatch sugarbush and enjoy a pancake breakfast, live music, tours, and more! Check back for updates as we confirm events for the weekend. -- Steve Gabriel Work With Nature *ecological design solutions* 303.815.3535 steve at WorkWithNature.net www.WorkWithNature.net From owlgorge at earthlink.net Mon Feb 16 17:37:08 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:37:08 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Nature Nearby: Archeologists find the Enfield Falls Hotel at Robert H. Treman State Park! Message-ID: <380-2200922171378621@earthlink.net> Please share this announcement. A new episode of my Ithaca public access TV series Nature Nearby will begin airing this Wednesday, February 18, at 7:00 p.m. on cable channel 13 in Ithaca (only). This episode is called, "Searching for the Enfield Falls Hotel." Here is the description. [Online clips are listed below.] For ten years, Prof. Sherene Baugher's Cornell archeology classes have excavated sites of buildings from the former Hamlet of Enfield Falls in upper Robert H. Treman State Park. The most prized goal has been to find the old Enfield Falls Hotel that hosted visitors to the scenic upper gorge in the 1800s. The hotel was the base for visitors while they followed rickety wooden trail structures to 115-feet-high Lucifer Falls (formerly known as Enfield Falls). In 1915, Robert and Laura Treman found the hotel in ruins and decided to try to revive scenic tourism there, eventually choosing to donate the land to the state for a park. This show gives historical background on the hamlet, the hotel, and the search for the hotel site. We go to the active archeology site during the past four years, witnessing the discovery of the hotel, getting down in the dirt with the archeologists, and hearing detailed explanations of the methods and findings at the hotel site. The show is 46 minutes lon g. Here is the TV schedule on Time Warner Cable channel 13: Wednesday, February 18, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 25, 7:00 p.m. Saturday, February 28, 6:00 p.m. The Nature Nearby series will continue every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. through April. If you can't see this program, you can check out the links below to YouTube videos totalling about eleven minutes that present a summary of the park's history and the archeology project: Park history, including the Hamlet of Enfield Falls and the Enfield Falls Hotel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3ZyQ7hs9tQ&feature=channel_page Archeology in the Hamlet of Enfield Falls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klGJiuj5_Z8&feature=channel_page Tony Ingraham Ithaca, NY Owl Gorge Productions www.owlgorge.com See some of my videos at www.owlgorge.blip.tv Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park: http://friendsoftreman.wordpress.com/ From mstephens at ithaca.edu Tue Feb 17 14:41:27 2009 From: mstephens at ithaca.edu (Maura Stephens) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:41:27 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] catastrophic drought and food shortages add to economic woes . . . Message-ID: <499B3D17.4080103@ithaca.edu> [more good reasons not to use up water in gas drilling operations] Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production by Eric deCarbonnel Global Research, February 10, 2009 http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=DEC20090210&articleId=12252 The countries that make up two thirds of the world's agricultural output are experiencing drought conditions. China The drought in Northern China, the worst in 50 years, is worsening, and summer harvest is now threatened. The area of affected crops has expanded to 161 million mu (was 141 million last week), and 4.37 million people and 2.1 million livestock are facing drinking water shortage. The scarcity of rain in some parts of the north and central provinces is the worst in recorded history. The drought which started in November threatens over half the wheat crop in eight provinces - Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and Gansu. Henan China's largest crop producing province, Henan, has issued the highest-level drought warning. Henan has received an average rainfall of 10.5 millimeters since November 2008, almost 80 percent less than in the same period in the previous years. The Henan drought, which began in November, is the most severe since 1951. Anhui Anhui Province issued a red drought alert, with more than 60 percent of the crops north of the Huaihe River plagued by a major drought. Shanxi Shanxi Province was put on orange drought alert on Jan. 21, with one million people and 160,000 heads of livestock are facing water shortage. Jiangsu Jiangsu province has already lost over one fifth of the wheat crops affected by drought. Local agricultural departments are diverting water from nearby rivers in an emergency effort to save the rest. Hebei Over 100 million cubic meters of water has been channeled in from outside the province to fight Hebei's drought. Shaanxi 1.34 million acres of crops across the bone-dry Shanxi province are affected by the worsening drought. Shandong Since last November, Shandong province has experienced 73 percent less rain than the same period in previous years, with little rainfall forecast for the future. Relief efforts are under way. The Chinese government has allocated 86.7 billion yuan (about $12.69 billion) to drought-hit areas. Authorities have also resorted to cloud-seeding, and some areas received a sprinkling of rain after clouds were hit with 2,392 rockets and 409 cannon shells loaded with chemicals. However, there is a limit to what can be done in the face of such widespread water shortage. As I have previously written, China is facing hyperinflation , and this record drought will make things worse. China produces 18% of the world's grain each year. Australia Australia has been experiencing an unrelenting drought since 2004, and 41 percent of Australia's agriculture continues to suffer from the worst drought in 117 years of record-keeping. The drought has been so severe that rivers stopped flowing, lakes turned toxic, and farmers abandoned their land in frustration: A) The Murray River stopped flowing at its terminal point, and its mouth has closed up. B) Australia's lower lakes are evaporating, and they are now a meter (3.2 feet) below sea level. If these lakes evaporate any further, the soil and the mud system below the water is going to be exposed to the air. The mud will then acidify, releasing sulfuric acid and a whole range of heavy metals. After this occurs, those lower lake systems will essentially become a toxic swamp which will never be able to be recovered. The Australian government's only options to prevent this are to allow salt water in, creating a dead sea, or to pray for rain. For some reason, the debate over climate change is essentially over in Australia. The United States California California is facing its worst drought in recorded history . The drought is predicted to be the most severe in modern times, worse than those in 1977 and 1991. Thousands of acres of row crops already have been fallowed, with more to follow. The snowpack in the Northern Sierra, home to some of the state's most important reservoirs, proved to be just 49 percent of average. Water agencies throughout the state are scrambling to adopt conservation mandates. Texas The Texan drought is reaching historic proportion . Dry conditions near Austin and San Antonio have been exceeded only once before---the drought of 1917-18. 88 percent of Texas is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, and 18 percent of the state is in either extreme or exceptional drought conditions. The drought areas have been expanding almost every month. Conditions in Texas are so bad cattle are keeling over in parched pastures and dying. Lack of rainfall has left pastures barren, and cattle producers have resorted to feeding animals hay. Irreversible damage has been done to winter wheat crops in Texas. Both short and long-term forecasts don't call for much rain at all, which means the Texas drought is set to get worse. Augusta Region (Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina) The Augusta region has been suffering from a worsening two year drought. Augusta's rainfall deficit is already approaching 2 inches so far in 2009, with January being the driest since 1989. Florida Florida has been hard hit by winter drought, damaging crops, and half of state is in some level of a drought. La Ni?a likely to make matters worse Enough water a couple of degrees cooler than normal has accumulated in the eastern part of the Pacific to create a La Ni?a, a weather pattern expected to linger until at least the spring. La Ni?a generally means dry weather for Southern states, which is exactly what the US doesn't need right now. South America Argentina The worst drought in half a century has turned Argentina's once-fertile soil to dust and pushed the country into a state of emergency. Cow carcasses litter the prairie fields, and sun-scorched soy plants wither under the South American summer sun. Argentina's food production is set to go down a minimum of 50 percent, maybe more. The country's wheat yield for 2009 will be 8.7 million metric tons, down from 16.3 million in 2008. Concern with domestic shortages (domestic wheat consumption being approximately 6.7 million metric ton), Argentina has granted no new export applications since mid January . Brazil Brazil has cut its outlook for the crops and will do so again after assessing damage to plants from desiccation in drought-stricken regions. Brazil is the world's second-biggest exporter of soybeans and third-largest for corn. Brazil's numbers for corn harvesting: Harvested in 2008: 58.7 million tons January 8 forecast: 52.3 million tons February 6 forecast: 50.3 metric tons (optimistic) Harvested in 2009: ??? Paraguay Severe drought affecting Paraguay's economy has pushed the government to declare agricultural emergency. Crops that have direct impact on cattle food are ruined, and the soy plantations have been almost totally lost in some areas. Uruguay Uruguay declared an "agriculture emergency" last month, due to the worst drought in decades which is threatening crops, livestock and the provision of fresh produce. The a worsening drought is pushing up food and beverage costs causing Uruguay's consumer prices to rise at the fastest annual pace in more than four years in January. Bolivia There hasn't been a drop of rain in Bolivia in nearly a year. Cattle dying, crops ruined, etc... Chile The severe drought affecting Chile has caused an agricultural emergency in 50 rural districts, and large sectors of the economy are concerned about possible electricity rationing in March. The countries woes stem from the "La Ni?a" climate phenomenon which has over half of Chile dangling by a thread: persistently cold water in the Pacific ocean along with high atmospheric pressure are preventing rain-bearing fronts from entering central and southern areas of the country. As a result, the water levels at hydroelectric dams and other reservoirs are at all-time lows. Horn of Africa Africa faces food shortages and famine . Food production across the Horn of Africa has suffered because of the lack of rainfall. Also, half the agricultural soil has lost nutrients necessary to grow plant, and the declining soil fertility across Africa is exacerbating drought related crop losses. Kenya Kenya is the worst hit nation in the region, having been without rainfall for 18 months. Kenya needs to import food to bridge a shortfall and keep 10 million of its people from starvation. Kenya's drought suffering neighbors will be of little help. Tanzania A poor harvest due to drought has prompted Tanzania to stop issuing food export permits. Tanzania has also intensified security at the border posts to monitor and prevent the export of food. There are 240,000 people in need of immediate relief food in Tanzania. Burundi Crops in the north of Burundi have withered, leaving the tiny East African country facing a severe food shortage Uganda Severe drought in northeastern Uganda's Karamoja region has the left the country on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. The dry conditions and acute food shortages, which have left Karamoja near starvation, are unlikely to improve before October when the next harvest is due. South Africa South Africa faces a potential crop shortage after wheat farmers in the eastern part of the Free State grain belt said they were likely to produce their lowest crop in 30 years this year. South Africans are "extremely angry" that food prices continue to rise. Other African nations suffering from drought in 2009 are: Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tunisia, Angola, and Ethiopia. Middle East and Central Asia The Middle East and Central Asia are suffering from the worst droughts in recent history , and food grain production has dropped to some of the lowest levels in decades. Total wheat production in the wider drought-affected region is currently estimated to have declined by at least 22 percent in 2009. Owing to the drought's severity and region-wide scope, irrigation supplies from reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater have been critically reduced. Major reservoirs in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria are all at low levels requiring restrictions on usage. Given the severity of crop losses in the region, a major shortage of planting seed for the 2010 crop is expected. Iraq In Iraq during the winter grain growing period, there was essentially no measurable rainfall in many regions, and large swaths of rain-fed fields across northern Iraq simply went unplanted. These primarily rain-fed regions in northern Iraq are described as an agricultural disaster area this year, with wheat production falling 80-98 percent from normal levels. The USDA estimates total wheat production in Iraq in 2009 at 1.3 million tons, down 45 percent from last year. Syria Syria is experienced its worst drought in the past 18 years, and the USDA estimates total wheat production in Syria in 2009 at 2.0 million tons, down 50 percent from last year. Last summer, the taps ran dry in many neighborhoods of Damascus and residents of the capital city were forced to buy water on the black market. The severe lack of rain this winter has exacerbated the problem. Afghanistan Lack of rainfall has led Afghanistan to the worst drought conditions in the past 10 years. The USDA estimates 2008/09 wheat production in Afghanistan at 1.5 million tons, down 2.3 million or 60 percent from last year. Afghanistan normally produces 3.5-4.0 million tons of wheat annually. Jordan Jordan's persistent drought has grown worse, with almost no rain falling on the kingdom this year. The Jordanian government has stopped pumping water to farms to preserve the water for drinking purposes. Other Middle Eastern and Central Asian nations suffering from drought in 2009 are: The Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Israel, Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Cyprus, and Iran. Lack of credit will worsen food shortage A lack of credit for farmers curbed their ability to buy seeds and fertilizers in 2008/2009 and will limit production around the world. The effects of droughts worldwide will also be amplified by the smaller amount of seeds and fertilizers used to grow crops. Low commodity prices will worsen food shortage The low prices at the end of 2008 discouraged the planting of new crops in 2009. In Kansas for example, farmers seeded nine million acres, the smallest planting for half a century. Wheat plantings this year are down about 4 million acres across the US and about 1.1 million acres in Canada. So even discounting drought related losses, the US, Canada, and other food producing nations are facing lower agricultural output in 2009. Europe will not make up for the food shortfall Europe, the only big agricultural region relatively unaffected by drought, is set for a big drop in food production. Due to the combination of a late plantings, poorer soil conditions, reduced inputs, and light rainfall, Europe's agricultural output is likely to fall by 10 to 15 percent. Stocks of foodstuff are dangerously low Low stocks of foodstuff make the world's falling agriculture output particularly worrisome. The combined averaged of the ending stock levels of the major trading countries of Australia, Canada, United States, and the European Union have been declining steadily in the last few years: 2002-2005: 47.4 million tons 2007: 37.6 million tons 2008: 27.4 million tons These inventory numbers are dangerously low, especially considering the horrifying possibility that China's 60 million tons of grain reserves doesn't actually exists . Global food Catastrophe The world is heading for a drop in agricultural production of 20 to 40 percent, depending on the severity and length of the current global droughts. Food producing nations are imposing food export restrictions. Food prices will soar, and, in poor countries with food deficits, millions will starve. The deflation debate should end now The droughts plaguing the world's biggest agricultural regions should end the debate about deflation in 2009. The demand for agricultural commodities is relatively immune to developments in the business cycles (at least compared to that of energy or base metals), and, with a 20 to 40 percent decline in world production, already rising food prices are headed significantly higher. In fact, agricultural commodities NEED to head higher and soon, to prevent even greater food shortages and famine. The price of wheat, corn, soybeans, etc must rise to a level which encourages the planting of every available acre with the best possible fertilizers. Otherwise, if food prices stay at their current levels, production will continue to fall, sentencing millions more to starvation. Competitive currency appreciation Some observers are anticipating "competitive currency devaluations" in addition to deflation for 2009 (nations devalue their currencies to help their export sector). The coming global food shortage makes this highly unlikely. Depreciating their currency in the current environment will produce the unwanted consequence of boosting exports---of food. Even with export restrictions like those in China, currency depreciation would cause the outflow of significant quantities of grain via the black market. Instead of "competitive currency devaluations", spiking food prices will likely cause competitive currency appreciation in 2009. Foreign exchange reserves exist for just this type of emergency . Central banks around the world will lower domestic food prices by either directly selling off their reserves to appreciate their currencies or by using them to purchase grain on the world market. Appreciating a currency is the fastest way to control food inflation. A more valuable currency allows a nation to monopolize more global resources (ie: the overvalued dollar allows the US to consume 25% of the world's oil despite having only 4% of the world's population). If China were to selloff its US reserves, its enormous population would start sucking up the world's food supply like the US has been doing with oil. On the flip side, when a nation appreciates its currency and starts consuming more of the world's resources, it leaves less for everyone else. So when china appreciates the yuan, food shortages worldwide will increase and prices everywhere else will jump upwards. As there is nothing that breeds social unrest like soaring food prices, nations around the world, from Russia, to the EU, to Saudi Arabia, to India, will sell off their foreign reserves to appreciate their currencies and reduce the cost of food imports. In response to this, China will sell even more of its reserves and so on. That is competitive currency appreciation. When faced with competitive currency appreciation, you do NOT want to be the world's reserve currency. The dollar is likely to do very poorly as central banks liquidate trillions in US holdings to buy food and appreciate their currencies. By Eric deCarbonnel http://www.marketskeptics.com Eric is the Editor of Market Skeptics ? 2009 Copyright Eric deCarbonnel - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Global Research Articles by Eric deCarbonnel ============= Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp From sjr37 at cornell.edu Wed Feb 18 07:49:02 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:49:02 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] 2009 CSA Fair, 3/15, 10-4 pm Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090218104443.01ea1020@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Mark your calendars for the: Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair Sunday, March 15, 10:00 am - 4: 00 pm at Boynton Middle School Cafeteria, Ithaca CSA provides farmers with an established market prior to the production season and consumers with a weekly selection of just-harvested food. Attend the CSA Fair to learn about this intriguing partnership between farmers and consumers and meet farmers from 10-12 different CSA farms serving the Ithaca area. Farms will have informational displays showcasing their operations and be available to speak with interested community members. There will also be some fun, hands-on agricultural-related activities offered for children of all ages. Free! For more information, call 272-2292 or email Debbie Teeter (dlt22 at cornell.edu) or Liz Karabinakis (evk4 at cornell.edu) From ws at twcny.rr.com Wed Feb 18 09:46:07 2009 From: ws at twcny.rr.com (Wendy Skinner) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:46:07 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] SewGreen at CSMA for Earth Month -- info mtg Thurs Message-ID: <1B383FCAA5F541ECAD984B12C0F8883F@wendyvaio> SewGreen is planning several community events to celebrate Earth Day 2009, and we're looking for input and collaborators. SewGreen's "Earth Month" plans include an art and gallery show of reused and redesigned fashions, fiber art, and creative needlecrafts. The show, to be held at the Community School of Music & Arts in downtown Ithaca, is titled "R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Rescued and Redesigned," and will include a green fashion show on the opening night. The show is open to all ages and skill levels, and applications are being accepted now. Other SewGreen Earth-Day related events at CSMA's main gallery in April include a community quilting bee, a panel discussion of green neighborhood centers, a writing workshop with Zee Zahava, and an event to be planned by consensus and collaboration. An information meeting to share and hear ideas will be held at 6 pm, Thursday, Feb 19, at the SewGreen classroom, Women's Community Building, 100 W Seneca Street, Ithaca. For more information, contact Wendy Skinner, SewGreen Coordinator, coord at sew-green.org, 607-277-7611, or visit www.sew-green.org. From gaynicholson at aol.com Wed Feb 18 10:28:04 2009 From: gaynicholson at aol.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:28:04 -0600 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] green job posting Message-ID: *---* *Stephanie McConnell* Assistant Director of Human Resources 607-277-6240 x207 ** *Performance Systems Development* 124 Brindley St., Ithaca, NY 14850 www.psdconsulting.com *Home Performance Analyst* Interested in forging a significant niche in the upcoming "green" economy? If you have an inquiring mind and the physical agility to perform an energy audit, consider becoming a diagnostic building analyst. We will train you to be a building science "detective" and an expert on energy efficiency. *Position Description* As part of the Green Contracting team, the Home Performance Analyst will provide a variety of building performance sales and technical services. Sales services will include outreach, marketing support and sales tracking and closing. Technical services include testing, estimating and reporting support. *Education/Experience Requirements* Associates and 2 ? 4 years of experience, or Bachelor's degree in related field. Excellent computer skills including Excel, Word and Access. Experience with or exposure to building science principles, construction styles and techniques. *Other Skills* The following skills are not required for employment, but do impact one's work experience and contribute to success within the organization. - Good oral and written communication skills - Flexibility and adaptability - Team spirit - Passion for sustainability -- ---------------------------------------------------- Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. 607-533-7312 (home office) 607-220-8991 (cell) 1 Maple Avenue Lansing, NY 14882 gaynicholson at aol.com Sustainable Tompkins Program Coordinator www.sustainabletompkins.org From gaynicholson at gmail.com Wed Feb 18 15:43:20 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:43:20 -0600 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] green job posting Message-ID: not sure this went through the first time... *Stephanie McConnell* Assistant Director of Human Resources 607-277-6240 x207 ** *Performance Systems Development* 124 Brindley St., Ithaca, NY 14850 www.psdconsulting.com *Home Performance Analyst* Interested in forging a significant niche in the upcoming "green" economy? If you have an inquiring mind and the physical agility to perform an energy audit, consider becoming a diagnostic building analyst. We will train you to be a building science "detective" and an expert on energy efficiency. *Position Description* As part of the Green Contracting team, the Home Performance Analyst will provide a variety of building performance sales and technical services. Sales services will include outreach, marketing support and sales tracking and closing. Technical services include testing, estimating and reporting support. *Education/Experience Requirements* Associates and 2 ? 4 years of experience, or Bachelor's degree in related field. Excellent computer skills including Excel, Word and Access. Experience with or exposure to building science principles, construction styles and techniques. *Other Skills* The following skills are not required for employment, but do impact one's work experience and contribute to success within the organization. - Good oral and written communication skills - Flexibility and adaptability - Team spirit - Passion for sustainability -- ---------------------------------------------------- Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. 607-533-7312 (home office) 607-220-8991 (cell) 1 Maple Avenue Lansing, NY 14882 gaynicholson at aol.com Sustainable Tompkins Program Coordinator www.sustainabletompkins.org From ws at twcny.rr.com Thu Feb 19 07:22:16 2009 From: ws at twcny.rr.com (Wendy Skinner) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:22:16 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Invitation: Continuing the conversation about neighborhood centers Message-ID: The second informal but substantive "living room conversation" about a vision for a green (or greener) model for community or neighborhood centers is being hosted by Rob Morache, at his home, 527 North Aurora Street, 2nd floor, at 6 pm, Monday, March 2. Rob is making vegetarian chili; I'm bringing corn muffins. Other edibles are welcome. We expect the discussion to lead to a more refined definition and closer scrutiny of potential benefits. Bring your enthusiasm, desires, and doubts. This kind of thing doesn't happen without plenty of drama! Anyone who's interested is invited. Spread the word. RSVP to Wendy ws at twcny.rr.com or 277-7611. - - - - - - - - - - - Notes from the first conversation follow. Amendments and additions from attendees are welcome. DRAFT Report: Community Center Conversation, evening of Feb 2, 2009, at the home of W. Skinner ** Summary: An informal conversation about a potential new approach to community centers began with a cursory inventory of existing centers and their services. It was strongly held that existing centers are of great value to the populations they serve. Working from this premise, we then explored how community centers might look in a future of less individual prosperity, a large aging population sector, and high energy and transportation costs. The outline of a vision for a sustainability-oriented, neighborhood-based, shared-resources community center began to emerge. ** Initial Observations 1. Community centers in our area range from a) publicly-funded institutions with long histories and a panoply of services, e.g. GIAC, Southside; b) centers associated with subsidized housing complexes, e.g. Northside, Titus Towers; c) facilities in rural towns that serve as gathering places for a variety of purposes, e.g. Brooktondale, Ellis Hollow, Varna community centers; d.) resident-supported shared space, e.g. the common houses at EVI; e) volunteer-driven, innovative centers such as the Dryden Cafe, and f.) de facto centers such as town halls, fire halls, churches, and schools. The centers primarily serve urban neighborhoods; rural towns, villages, and population nodes; and intentional communities. The size of the populations served ranges from a few dozen households to all residents of the City of Ithaca. Support for community centers includes federal and local government funding, community grants, use fees, rents, private donations, in-kind donations, and many volunteer hours. 2. Community Centers can be based on common values or shared needs within a community at large, or on needs within a residential population node. Examples of the former model are a "sustainability center" that could house or host various like-minded organizations, or a "non-profit center" that provides the economy of shared space and equipment. While the first two models have great merit, a center that serves residents within an urban neighborhood, or town, village, or hamlet, is the model that was discussed in further detail. 3. Community center services tend to first meet basic needs and branch out from there, depending on the location and population served. Attributes of existing community centers include: youth activities, services for the elderly, day care, after-school, food pantries, fairs and markets, large-scale kitchen, congregate meals, public meeting space, library, computer lab, gym, pool, exercise room, laundry, cafe, classes, emergency communications center and shelter, produce garden, office space, student internships and community service opportunities, town hall meetings, political or social justice advocacy, central location, walkability. 4. Building on the foundation of the traditional attributes, the "new" or enhanced center might include such things as a shared kitchen for canning and preserving foods, shared meals, a system for borrowing yard or carpentry tools, a sewing room, energy efficient laundry facilities, a drop-off for CSA shares, clothing exchange, a fix-it room, intergenerational information exchange, wireless Internet access, small business incubation, bike share -- as well as comfortable meeting space for all kinds of purposes. The center itself could be highly energy efficient or even be a localized source of energy production. Plausible locations for this sort of center include densely settled, mixed-income neighborhoods or population nodes. -- notes by Wendy Skinner From mmccasla at twcny.rr.com Thu Feb 19 16:55:45 2009 From: mmccasla at twcny.rr.com (Margaret McCasland) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:55:45 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Invitation: Continuing the conversation about neighborhood centers In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Great notes. And rural centers are already to some extent, but could become even more, "park and rides" for cars/bikes/etc tied to bus stops. If I'm not in DC protesting coal that day, I'll try to come. Sounds like interesting and important discussions . . . On Feb 19, 2009, at 10:22 AM, Wendy Skinner wrote: > The second informal but substantive "living room conversation" about a > vision for a green (or greener) model for community or neighborhood > centers > is being hosted by Rob Morache, at his home, 527 North Aurora > Street, 2nd > floor, at 6 pm, Monday, March 2. Rob is making vegetarian chili; I'm > bringing corn muffins. Other edibles are welcome. > > We expect the discussion to lead to a more refined definition and > closer > scrutiny of potential benefits. Bring your enthusiasm, desires, and > doubts. > This kind of thing doesn't happen without plenty of drama! > > Anyone who's interested is invited. Spread the word. RSVP to Wendy > ws at twcny.rr.com or 277-7611. > > - - - - - - - - - - - > > Notes from the first conversation follow. Amendments and additions > from > attendees are welcome. > > DRAFT Report: Community Center Conversation, evening of Feb 2, 2009, > at the > home of W. Skinner > > ** Summary: An informal conversation about a potential new approach to > community centers began with a cursory inventory of existing centers > and > their services. It was strongly held that existing centers are of > great > value to the populations they serve. Working from this premise, we > then > explored how community centers might look in a future of less > individual > prosperity, a large aging population sector, and high energy and > transportation costs. The outline of a vision for a sustainability- > oriented, > neighborhood-based, shared-resources community center began to emerge. > > ** Initial Observations > > 1. Community centers in our area range from a) publicly-funded > institutions > with long histories and a panoply of services, e.g. GIAC, Southside; > b) > centers associated with subsidized housing complexes, e.g. > Northside, Titus > Towers; c) facilities in rural towns that serve as gathering places > for a > variety of purposes, e.g. Brooktondale, Ellis Hollow, Varna community > centers; d.) resident-supported shared space, e.g. the common houses > at EVI; > e) volunteer-driven, innovative centers such as the Dryden Cafe, and > f.) de > facto centers such as town halls, fire halls, churches, and schools. > The > centers primarily serve urban neighborhoods; rural towns, villages, > and > population nodes; and intentional communities. The size of the > populations > served ranges from a few dozen households to all residents of the > City of > Ithaca. Support for community centers includes federal and local > government > funding, community grants, use fees, rents, private donations, in-kind > donations, and many volunteer hours. > > 2. Community Centers can be based on common values or shared needs > within a > community at large, or on needs within a residential population node. > Examples of the former model are a "sustainability center" that > could house > or host various like-minded organizations, or a "non-profit center" > that > provides the economy of shared space and equipment. While the first > two > models have great merit, a center that serves residents within an > urban > neighborhood, or town, village, or hamlet, is the model that was > discussed > in further detail. > > 3. Community center services tend to first meet basic needs and > branch out > from there, depending on the location and population served. > Attributes of > existing community centers include: youth activities, services for the > elderly, day care, after-school, food pantries, fairs and markets, > large-scale kitchen, congregate meals, public meeting space, library, > computer lab, gym, pool, exercise room, laundry, cafe, classes, > emergency > communications center and shelter, produce garden, office space, > student > internships and community service opportunities, town hall meetings, > political or social justice advocacy, central location, walkability. > > 4. Building on the foundation of the traditional attributes, the > "new" or > enhanced center might include such things as a shared kitchen for > canning > and preserving foods, shared meals, a system for borrowing yard or > carpentry > tools, a sewing room, energy efficient laundry facilities, a drop- > off for > CSA shares, clothing exchange, a fix-it room, intergenerational > information > exchange, wireless Internet access, small business incubation, bike > share -- > as well as comfortable meeting space for all kinds of purposes. The > center > itself could be highly energy efficient or even be a localized > source of > energy production. Plausible locations for this sort of center include > densely settled, mixed-income neighborhoods or population nodes. > > -- notes by Wendy Skinner > > > _______________________________________________ > For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County > area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: > SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org > http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins > Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org > free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org From tonydelplato at gmail.com Thu Feb 19 18:43:16 2009 From: tonydelplato at gmail.com (Tony Del Plato) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:43:16 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Getting Prepared for the Great Collapse: Dmitry Orlov Message-ID: Getting Prepared for the Great Collapse: Dmitry Orlov - * Social Collapse Best Practices By Dmitry Orlov Culture Change, February 14, 2009 Straight to the Source * The following talk was given on February 13, 2009, at Cowell Theatre in Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, to an audience of 550 people. Audio and video of the talk will be available on Long Now Foundation web site. go to the following url for the complete talk. Tony Del Plato http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_16876.cfm -- The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness, can be trained to do most things. - Jilly Cooper From sjr37 at cornell.edu Fri Feb 20 05:57:15 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:57:15 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] 2/26: Getting Started with Vegetable Gardening Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090220085535.03354f60@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Getting Started with Vegetable Gardening Thursday, February 26, 6:30-8:30 pm Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca This class for beginning vegetable gardeners was so popular last year, that we are repeating it this spring! Learn where to site your garden, how to prepare the soil, how to start seeds, how to plant, when to mulch, which easy veggies to try first, and so on. Pre-registration recommended. Fee: $5. For information, call 272-2292 or email Pat Curran at pc21 at cornell.edu. From sjr37 at cornell.edu Fri Feb 20 07:21:43 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:21:43 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Urban Farms report; Chickens Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090220095206.03429250@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> I thought that ST listers might be interested in the following: 1. On the CommunityFood listserv (Tufts Univ.), a planning student in Wisconsin requested examples of policies that support urban agriculture, which yielded the following large and very interesting report Vitalizing the Vacant by NYU student Annie Myers, on 5 urban farms at sites across the country. The 37 page pdf is linked at the end of her post. 2. Following up on the recent "urban chickens" thread, it appears that Durham NC this week adopted an ordinance allowing homeowners to keep chickens. Details here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1408262.html Sandy Repp Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County From artcalight13 at gmail.com Fri Feb 20 10:14:18 2009 From: artcalight13 at gmail.com (artcalight) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:14:18 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Ground source heat pump Message-ID: Some time ago someone posted regarding his being about to install a ground source heat pump, I believe in the Ithaca area. I would appreciate the name of the area company (or companies) that does such installation. -- Cecile From gaynicholson at gmail.com Fri Feb 20 22:01:06 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:01:06 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] call for food security-related data Message-ID: Hello all, In advance (if you can call a couple of weekend days "advance") of this workshop Jemila Sequeira announced below, I'm compiling an informal brief on what pieces of the community food security puzzle Tompkins County already has that would fit right into any local assessment effort. E.g., the Compass reports, the information that Sara Pines just sent on FDN work, information the Food Bank collects from its members, and many assessments that CCE-Tompkins County teams have done. If you have some relevant data already collected on the Tompkins County food system, including production, availability of groceries, barriers people face in accessing healthy food, recent changes in use of food emergency and support services, etc., that you would be willing to share in any community food security assessment effort, please send me a blurb on the data you have (e.g, what data what collected from whom in what ways, when). (You do not need to share the data with me, but just be willing to share it if or when a community food security assessment might get underway) After the workshop I will revise and share this brief with this list. Thank you! Christine Christine Porter cp226 at cornell.edu 607 272 7330 http://myprofile.cos.com/c_porter Jemila Sequeira wrote: Greetings! Please mark your calendars for this informative and timely workshop on community food assessment planning! Our apologies for the late notice however this opportunity came to our attention late yesterday afternoon. We look forward to seeing you Feb. 23rd, 8:30am-10:30am. *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * *Community Food Assessment Planning Workshop Our Guest: Hugh Joseph, *Assistant Professor, Adjunct,Tufts University Food and Environment Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy *How food secure are our Tompkins County communities? Where should we focus our food justice efforts? *Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County and Cornell University is honored to offer a workshop by *Hugh Joseph*. This national expert and activist on community food security is offering a public workshop to help us answer these questions on Monday morning. Date:* Monday, February 23rd *Time:* 8:30-10:15am *Place:* Cornell Cooperative Extension- Tompkins County, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca. *RSVP, questions?:* Jemila Sequeira, *es538 at cornell.edu or 272-2292, of the Whole Community Project * Our County has many strengths that we can draw upon to leverage for food justice. This includes an amazing set of institutions, organizations and people already playing a part and ready to invest more in this work, as well as the Compass assessment on individual food insecurity. When we coordinate, build on and focus our work, we can achieve a much more just food system. * In July 2008, twenty community leaders gathered to discuss food justice. These individuals agreed that we need to: - Broaden input into this discussion, including commercial sector and especially people suffering most from food injustice. - Coordinate and communicate, leveraging our existing assets and effort. - Focus not just on those in need; our food system and its injustices affect everyone. - Create action plans for our organizations and as a County. . Further information is available at: www.wkkf.org/Default.aspx?tabid=90&CID=4&ItemID=40177&NID=50177&LanguageID=0 http://nesfp.nutrition.tufts.edu/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Every single child in Tompkins County should have all the healthy they need and plenty of opportunities for safe, fun and active play. Jemila Sequeira T: 607-272-2292x157 Whole Community Project F: 607-272-7088 Cornell Cooperative Extension Email: es538 at cornell.edu Tompkins County 615 Willow Avenue Ithaca NY 14850 -- ------------------- Christine Porter cp226 at cornell.edu 607 272 7330 http://myprofile.cos.com/c_porter From tonydelplato at gmail.com Sat Feb 21 13:00:45 2009 From: tonydelplato at gmail.com (Tony Del Plato) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:00:45 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Cumulative Impacts: Death Knell for Cost-Benefit Analysis In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Rachel's Democracy & Health News, February 19, 2009 *CUMULATIVE IMPACTS: DEATH KNELL FOR COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS* [Rachel's introduction: The impacts of our various economic activities are now adding up to a damaged world -- a world in which Earth's natural capacity for self-renewal has been exceeded and permanent degradation is evident. Our legal and regulatory systems were never intended to limit the accumulation of small impacts. Instead, U.S. law relies on cost-benefit analysis to justify individual impacts -- a practice that is now obsolete because it is destroying the planet as a place suitable for human habitation.] By Peter Montague In the beginning, planet Earth seemed limitless. Yes, humans could see that they were making big changes locally -- hunting the wooly mammoth to extinction, for example, or permanently altering forest ecosystems with fire. However, for eons there was never a hint that humans could become a force of geologic proportions, capable of diminishing the entire planet's capacity to sustain human life. Then in 1864 George Perkins Marshpublished *Man and Nature*, subtitled "Physical Geography as Modified by Human Action," the first scientific study of accumulating harm. In the U.S., "environment and health" only became a public issue in the 1950s , starting with cancer-causing food additives and radioactive fallout from A-bomb tests. In 1962, Rachel Carson's book *Silent Spring* described widespread effects from pesticides, offering evidence that humankind was damaging whole ecosystems. Congress passed the Water Quality Act in 1965 because people knew something was wrong when they saw rivers covered with mounds of foam (from detergents). Even more people started paying attention when the Cuyahoga River caught fire in Cleveland in 1969. In 1970, M.I.T. Press published Man's Impact on the Global Environment, which estimated that the total human "load" on the natural environment was increasing 5 to 6% each year -- thus doubling every 12 to 14 years. (By this measure, since 1970 the total human impact on the global ecosystem has increased somewhere between 7-fold and 10-fold. At these growth-rates, by 2050 (just 41 years from now), if nothing changes, the total human impact will have grown another 7- fold to 10-fold beyond where it is today. Can you image such a world?) Public concern, validated by scientific information, forced Congress to pass more than a dozen new national laws in the 1970s, intended to limit specific harms to the environment. But those laws were not designed (or intended) to control the cumulative effects of many small environmental impacts. As time passed, harm to the natural world grew more ominous and a few scientists and legal scholars began to nibble around the edges of this "cumulative impacts" problem. However, only in the past 2 years have we seen a real breakthrough in analysis -- thanks chiefly to the work of Joseph H. Guth , a biochemist and lawyer, and his colleagues at the Science and Environmental Health Network, where Guth serves as Legal Director. *Acknowledging the problem* In his 1980 book, Overshoot, William Catton, Jr., wrote, "Infinitesimal actions, if they are numerous and cumulative, can become enormously consequential." [pg. 177] And he noted that, by 1973, "The world was becoming a place wherein actions that used to be quite harmless to others became harmful to all of us." [pg. 59] This is the essence of the "cumulative impacts" problem. Actions that are tolerable or even harmless at the individual level can degrade the planet if thousands or millions of people do them. One person fertilizing a lawn near the Chesapeake Bay makes no real difference -- but when thousands do it, the Bay is degraded and the storied blue crab begins to disappear . People routinely cut down forests and woods, displacing habitat for wildlife to make space for crops and domestic animals. One small farm makes no difference, but in 1986 Peter M. Vitousek and others estimatedthat the world's human population (then 4.9 billion) was appropriating for its own use 40% of net primary productivity from Earth's total available land. Net primary productivity on land is the mass of plant material produced each year by photosynthesis using energy from sunlight; it is the total food resource for land-based life. (There is also net primary productivity in the oceans; if you include this, then humans in 1986 were appropriating 25% of total global net primary productivity, Vitousek estimated.) Vitousek did not extrapolate into the future, but his finding meant that humans would appropriate 100% of net primary productivity from land when their numbers grew just 2.5-fold, which will occur around the year 2050 at the current rate of population growth (1.3% per year) if nothing changes. In 1991, two researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee examined 11 industrial chemicals [5 Mbyte PDF] that have contaminated the entire globe (PCBs, benzene, mercury, etc.). Using cancer risk estimates provided by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they calculated that the worldwide lifetime risk of cancer from just these 11 chemicals was one-in-a-thousand. They commented, "Current regulatory approaches for environmental pollution do not incorporate ways of dealing with global pollution. Instead the major focus has been on protecting the maximally exposed individual." This is an important point. U.S. risk assessments (used in conducting "cost-benefit" analyses) evaluate the danger of a single risk to a hypothetical most-endangered ("maximally exposed") individual. If the threat to that individual is found to fall within "acceptable" limits, then no regulation occurs and "acceptable" amounts of contamination can be released forever after. Then another risk assessment and cost- benefit analysis gives a green light to another "acceptable" release of contaminants. Then another and another. No one ever asks, "What is the total impact of all these 'acceptable' risks?" That is the "cumulative impact" problem in a nutshell. Now Joe Guth has analyzed this problem and offered solutions in three scholarly papers,[1,2,3] one of which has already been published (in the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law ), and two of which are "in press" -- soon to appear in the Barry Law Review[2] and the journal Transnational Law and Contemporary Problems .[3] To me, the centerpiece of this triad is the paper, "Cumulative Impacts: Death-Knell for Cost-Benefit Analysis in Environmental Decisions," though *all three papers are essential reading*. In "Cumulative Impacts," Guth lays out the problem in the opening paragraph: 1. We have always assumed that we could tolerate unlimited small increments of harm as byproducts of economic growth. 2. But now things have changed because numerous studies are telling us that the cumulative impacts of our economic activities are degrading the Earth's capacity to support humans. 3. Therefore, humans will have to abandon the use of cost-benefit analysis to justify individual environmental impacts and, instead, focus on limiting our cumulative impact to a sustainable size. As evidence of cumulative harm, Guth cites the authoritative United Nations-sponsored Millennium Ecosystem Assessment(MEA)[4] -- a five-year study of the condition of the Earth's ecosystems, involving 1360 scientists from all across the globe. When the Board of Directors of the MEA issued the first volume of the study, they said , "At the heart of this assessment is a stark warning. Human activity is putting such strain on the natural functions of Earth that *the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted*."[5] Guth also cites the United Nations-sponsored Global Environment Outlook (known as GEO-4), published in 2007. The GEO-4 report concluded (among other things) that human activities now require 54 acres (22 hectares) per person globally, but Earth can provide only 39 acres (16 hectares) per person without suffering permanent degradation. We are living well beyond Earth's means. (For additional corroboration, see Mathis Wackernagel and others, "Tracking the ecological overshoot of the human economy," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Vol. 99, No. 14, July 9, 2002), pgs. 9266-9271 and see the web site of the Global Footprint Network .) *How did we get into this shape?* How did this happen? Joe Guth finds the answer in our laws, which are the rules by which society generallly operates. If we want society to operate differently, we've got to change the rules, change the law. Guth examines legislative law (laws passed by legislatures, such as the federal Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act *and* the common law (the body of law created by judges, such as negligence and nuisance). Guth finds that both bodies of law share similar goals and assumptions, and both assign the "burden of proof" in similar ways, which I'll explain. Guth writes, "Our current property and environmental law,[6] including both federal statutes and the common law, is intentionally designed to promote unending growth in economic activity. It harbors the presumption that economic activity generally provides a net benefit to society despite any accompanying damage it may cause. Grounded almost invisibly in this starting presumption, most of our property and environmental laws permit interference with economic activity only where that starting presumption is proved false, that is, where a particular activity can be demonstrated to fail to provide a net benefit to society. These laws for the most part do not forbid damage to human health or the environment. Rather, even when fully enforced they permit protection of human health or the environment only where the benefits of doing so can be proved to outweigh the costs.... So it is that cost-benefit analysis has become the legal system's primary tool for deciding when economic activity may be regulated in the interest of protecting human health and the environment." But there's more. As Guth has said, the law does not allow economic activity to be curtailed just because it is harming someone. The law will only allow an economic activity to be curtailed if a cost-benefit analysis shows that the activity is creating more harm than good. * And* the law puts the burden of proof on the harmed party, or on the government, to prove that costs are exceeding benefits before an economic activity can be curtailed or regulated. If the harmed party (or the government) cannot meet that burden of proof, the law defaults to its starting presumption: it allows the damaging activity to continue. "This allocation of the burden of proof transforms doubt and missing information into a barrier to legal protection of human health and the environment," Guth writes. "This explains why industrial interests are rationally motivated under our legal system to invest in the manufacture and spread of doubt and confusion." [See David Michaels' book, Doubt is their Product , describing an industry devoted to manufacturing doubt .] So, if information is missing, or there exists scientific doubt, then the law presumes that an economic activity should continue -- even when the law acknowledges that harm is occurring. The default presumption is that the benefits of economic activity always outweigh the costs unless a specific cost-benefit analysis can show otherwise. This explains why the environmental movement -- which has made truly heroic efforts since 1970 -- has been unable to stem the degradation of human health and the environment. Another unspoken presumption of the law is that damage to human health and the environment can continue to grow forever. Guth shows this in in Figure 1. The upper curved line in Figure 1represents endlessly growing benefits from economic activity. The lower curved line shows smaller (but also endlessly growing) legally-permitted harms from economic activity. The space between the upper line and the lower line is "net benefit" or "net social benefit" or "net social utility" -- it is the residue of good that remains after costs have been subtracted from benefits. *The world is new: on our finite planet, ecological limits exist* What's been slowly dawning on people in the last 2 decades is that there really *are* limits on how much harm the Earth can tolerate. There are limits to the total costs the Earth can sustain before it is permanently damaged. The lower curved line in Figure 1(which you can think of as the growing human footprint), by growing without limit as the law assumes it should, will eventually make the planet unsuitable for human habitation. And since this planet is the only place that anyone has ever found in the universe that supports human life, the law is now allowing -- even promoting -- the destruction of humankind's only home. Guth's Figure 2 includes a horizontal line that represents the ecological limits of the Earth -- the point at which the planet starts to be permanently degraded, the point at which human damage has exceeded the Earth's natural capacity for self-renewal. As Guth says, "This is a limit that our current legal system is utterly blind to." Our legal system does not acknowledge that such a limit exists. Joe Guth continues, "Thus we see the fatal flaw inherent in our system of environmental decision-making. Routinely allowing all environmental impacts except those proved to fail a cost-benefit test, it permits those impacts to grow without limit even when their cumulative effect results in ecological overshoot. Many of these impacts occur not because they actually satisfy the law's cost-benefit test but because whenever we do not know enough, the law's default structure permits them to continue." Importantly, Guth points out a fundamental flaw in trying to use cost- benefit analysis after we reach ecological limits: "Even [though] cost-benefit analysis can effectively evaluate impacts when we are far below ecological limits, it cannot do so once we exceed those limits. Each incremental impact, if taken alone in an empty world, might have caused cost-benefit-justifiable harm or even, in many cases (such as carbon emissions), no harm at all. But under conditions of ecological overshoot each incremental impact contributes to a total loss that is immeasurable. Indeed, the permanent loss of the ecological integrity of the Earth, since we need it to survive and prosper, might fairly be considered an infinite loss." If you are going to suffer an infinite total loss, your cost-benefit analysis of each increment of damage ceases to have any meaning. Under conditions of ecological overshoot, cost-benefit analysis is a meaningless exercise and a diversion from what's really important -- shrinking the human footprint back down to a size that Earth's ecosystem can tolerate, learning to live well below the horizontal linein Figure 2 . Guth concludes, "To maintain the ecological integrity of the Earth, *we need a new decision-making structure designed not to promote endless growth in net benefits, but to accommodate the ecological limits of the biosphere*, the horizontal line of Figure 2." [Emphasis added.] *Summary: U.S. law is dominated by cost-benefit analysis* To summarize, then, Joe Guth has described how, in general, the law works (both statutory law and common law): ** Its goal is perpetual economic growth, even if some damage occurs as a byproduct ** It presumes that the benefits of economic growth outweigh any costs (or harms) until someone can prove otherwise ** It places the burden of proof on anyone who wishes to curtail or regulate any economic activity, even a harmful activity, requiring them to prove that the harms outweigh the benefits. If such a showing cannot be made because of missing information, or scientific confusion or uncertainty or doubt, then the law presumes that the economic activity should continue. ** Seeking endless growth in net benefit, the law assumes that both benefits and costs can grow without limit. The law has no way to acknowledge that there exist ecological limits that sooner or later *must* be exceeded by the endless growth of cumulative costs (because the planet has a finite size), and which we exceed at the peril of making our only home uninhabitable for our species. Federal laws contain a few limited exceptions (which I'll describe below) but, as Guth says, "Taken as a whole... the federal environmental statutes are not directed toward an overarching goal such as preservation of ecological integrity. Instead, with some exceptions, they are deeply committed to a highly fragmented, cost- benefit-driven evaluation of each individual action proposed by the government to protect human health and the environment." The way our laws are written, government regulators are not allowed to take into consideration, or try to control, cumulative impacts. Joe Guth continues: "These laws do not permit regulators broadly to take account of what is happening to the world around them. They embed regulators in a decision-making structure that may seem scientific but in fact is profoundly unscientific because it prevents them from responding to the ever more detailed findings by the world scientific community that we are overshooting the Earth's ecological capacities. Rooted in the assumption that ecological overshoot does not occur, our current statutes are incapable of containing the cumulative scale of ecological damage. Their approach to environmental protection is firmly based in the conception of the world as an empty one rather than as the full one that is in fact arising all around us. It is an approach that has become outdated because it is based on assumptions that are no longer valid." Guth then discusses the common law, showing that modern liability doctrines -- both negligence and nuisance -- do not prohibit all harmful impacts, but require the same kind of cost-benefit balancing that is pervasive in the federal statutes: "Negligence and nuisance apply broadly to many different circumstances, including cases arising from damage to human health and the environment. These doctrines do not seek to prevent or impose liability for all harm to human health and the environment. Negligence, for example, places the burden of proof on damaged plaintiffs to demonstrate that defendants created an "unreasonable" risk of harm in order to make them liable for the damage they cause. "Unreasonable" is defined not as a moral principle, but in cost- benefit terms that compare the social utility of the particular challenged act to the risks of resulting harm.... "Similarly, nuisance, the quintessential environmental tort, now places the burden of proof on plaintiffs to prove that the defendant's intentional acts are "unreasonable." As in negligence, "unreasonable" is defined explicitly by a cost-benefit test...." By placing the burden of proof on those who are harmed, the common law "resolves cases of doubt and missing information in favor of economic actors, allowing their damaging activities to continue and rewarding confusion and ignorance," Guth writes. *All is not lost: a new decision structure is possible* With a new decision-making structure, we can learn to enjoy the fruits of modern technologies while living within the Earth's ecological limits. This is where the precautionary principlefits in. Because we can never be certain exactly where the ecological limits lie, once we understand that we are approaching or exceeding those limits, there is only one way to avoid ecological overshoot: eliminate or reduce every environmental impact that we can. This means applying the precautionary principle to *all* activities, large and small, that cause an environmental impact: (a) shifting the burden of proof by assuming that every action that causes an impact on the Earth may be harmful unless proven otherwise; (b) always seeking, then choosing, the least-harmful alternative; and (c) paying attention to consequences after decisions have been made, monitoring, looking for evidence of environmental harm, and being prepared to reverse course if necessary. (d) This last requirement means we should favor decisions and courses of action that are reversible , avoiding irretrievable commitments (such as the current coal-industry proposal to curb CO2 emissions by pumping liquid carbon dioxide deep below ground, hoping it will stay there forever). *Hints of a new decision structure in some existing U.S. laws* In Section II of his "Cumulative Impacts" paper, Joe Guth argues that "Our legal system already harbors examples of decision-making structures that establish a principle or standard of environmental quality or human health and do not rely on cost-benefit balancing. * These examples... show that such legal principles or standards can enable the legal system to contain the growth of cumulative impacts.*" [Emphasis added.] However, to succeed, Guth argues, we must apply these legal approaches broadly to our entire economy: "We must subject *all* our actions to a new decision-making structure designed to defend and maintain the ecological integrity of the Earth." One of these approaches is to establish "environmental rights," as several states have done by amending their constitutions to give citizens an explicit right to clean air and water, for example. But Guth argues that judges typically balance "environmental rights" against other kinds of rights when they conflict, so environmental rights (like other rights) cannot be enforced to their full extent. "Establishing these kinds of [environmental] rights is a critical and valuable step, one that requires care if the rights are to be effective." Meanwhile, as work to establish environmental rights "can and must continue," Guth argues, "both the common law and legislation are quite capable of defining and enforcing standards of environmental integrity and human health." He then shows how U.S. common law in the 18th and 19th centuries (before the modern doctrines of negligence and nuisance were developed) was capable of controlling cumulative impacts. The older liability rule was expressed (in Latin) as "*sic utere tuo ut alienum non laedas*" ("use your own so as not to injure another"). If your economic activities harmed your neighbor, you were liable for the harm regardless of what benefits your economic activity might provide to society. "The principle of *sic utere tuo* was built around the presumption that material damage to property was socially undesirable, and it imposed a rule of strict liability without regard to the social utility of the interfering activity," Guth writes. In other words, there was no cost-benefit balancing in the older doctrine -- you could not harm your neighbor and get away with it by arguing that your actions created net social benefits. (In his published paper, "Law for the Ecological Age[1], Guth traces legal history, showing how the common law changed profoundly in the 19th century, from "sic utere tuo" to cost-benefit balancing.) Under "sic utere tuo" every economic actor who contributed to a demonstrable harm could be held liable for the cumulative results to which his or her actions contributed. "Under rules of law that were focused on protecting defined interests [usable water in a river, for example], rather than on whether a defendant's acts provided a net benefit to society, the law was able to protect those interests from the cumulative impact of individually harmless acts," Guth says. He cites older cases in which businesses contributing small amount of toxicants to a river were held liable for the end result, which was a totally-polluted river. They were forced to stop contributing even small increments to the problem. Then, as industrialization increased, cost-benefit balancing was introduced and economic actors were presumed to create "net benefits" and were allowed to continue polluting unless their pollution could be shown to fail the cost-benefit test. Besides showing that profoundly different legal structures are possible, this history of U.S. property law reveals an important and encouraging fact: in the past, we have changed our law dramatically to suit the goals and circumstances of the times, so we can change it again. Guth then offers some examples indicating that, in small ways at least, some federal environmental laws are beginning to address cumulative impacts of individual pollutants. He points to particular provisions in the federal Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act requiring the government to take into consideration total emissions of particular pollutants into air and water and then allocate those emissions among economic actors, holding the total emissions of each particular pollutant within fixed limits. He points to the "cap" part of the "cap and trade" system created to limit sulfur emissions in the U.S. Acid Rain program. This "cap" puts a limit on cumulative emissions from large industrial facilities emitting sulfur. Similarly, once a species is designated as "threatened" or "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act, government must prevent all actions that contribute to the demise of that species. These are examples of federal statutes and early common laws that are able to control cumulative impacts, but they have been applied only to a few pollutants or impacts on species or common-law-protected interests, each controlled one at a time. They do not broadly seek to prevent ecological degradation as a whole. *A broad legal principle of preservation of ecological integrity* Ultimately, Guth argues, the law will need to expand this conceptual approach to define a broad legal principle of preservation of ecological integrity: "For in ecology we can discover how to evaluate ecological systems, what impacts the Earth can tolerate and what we need to maintain and protect from degradation," he says, acknowledging that it will not be simple or easy. Some progress in this direction has already been made, he points out. The Swedish government has set 16 environmental quality goals that should be met and maintained for the foreseeable future, with many measurable benchmarks. The Natural Step organization has defined four principles of sustainability that aim to allow economic activity to occur within ecological limits. Various ecological studies and organizations have defined what constitutes "degradation" of an ecosystem. Much more work is needed, but we're not starting from scratch. Joe Guth offers some new ideas of his own for how to restructure the law around a principle of preservation of ecological integrity. In his paper, "Law for the Ecological Age ," Guth has proposed creating a new "ecological tort," a "legal rule of the common law that would presumptively impose liability for impacts on the environment that may contribute to ecological degradation." He has also proposed a "Model State Environmental Quality Act" that "defines a threshold level of environmental impacts that would trigger placing the burden of proof on defendants, a definition of who should have standing to assert this rule of law, and a temporary affirmative defense for those engaged in a meaningful search for less damaging alternatives." This does not exhaust the list of suggestions and proposals that Joe Guth briefly describes in his "Cumulative Impacts" paper. The more important point is that Guth's three papers have clearly outlined the specific ways the law will have to change if we are to reverse the slide (driven by cumulative impacts) toward ecological degradation and irreversible destruction of humankind's only home, planet Earth. He has also excavated our legal history to show that, in the past, we in the U.S. have signficantly changed our law in response to new social objectives and realities, and therefore we can do it again. Joe Guth concludes, "The American government and legal system bear a duty to respond to the rise of cumulative impacts. The growing human ecological footprint has made untenable the assumptions on which our current environmental decision-making structure is based. The central goal of property and environmental law must shift from promoting endless growth in costs and benefits to maintaining the ecological systems we need to survive and prosper. "By adopting such a new goal, the law would transform the shape of the economy. If the law contains the permissible scale of cumulative environmental impacts, the economy would become one that continues to develop but accommodates rather than undermines the ecological systems our welfare ultimately depends on. Cost-benefit analysis might remain useful as we seek less damaging alternatives in a quest to reduce the scale of cumulative impacts, but it could no longer be used to justify limitless increments of ecological degradation." Now it's up to all of us to decide how best to change the law, and then to get those changes made. The world is new -- because for the first time in human history the regenerative capacity of the Earth is being palpably damaged by the human economy. In this new world, many of our old assumptions, attitudes, and goals are obsolete and getting in the way. But we can fix all that, so let's get to it. Survival is not negotiable. ============== [1] Joseph H. Guth, "Law for the Ecological Age," Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, Vol. 431 (2008), pgs. 431-512. Available at http://www.vjel.org/journal/pdf/VJEL10068.pdf [2] Joseph H. Guth, "Cumulative Impacts: Death-Knell for Cost-Benefit Analysis in Environmental Decisions," Barry Law Review, 2009. In press. http://www.barry.edu/law/studentLife/lawreview.htm [3] Joseph H. Guth, "Resolving the Paradoxes of Discounting in Environmental Decisions," Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems Vol. 18 (Winter, 2009). http://www.uiowa.edu/~tlcp/html/view_iss ues.html [4] Millennium Ecosystem Assessment -- a series of reports issued by the United Nations starting in late 2005, assessing the status of ecosystems worldwide, including (but by no means limited to) effects on human health. The work began in 2001 and involved 1360 scientists http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/Global.aspx [5] Millennium Ecosystem Assment Board of Directors, Living Beyond Our Means: Natural Assets and Human Well Being (2005). http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/BoardStatement.aspx [6] By "property and environmental law," Guth is referring to "all our laws that control the impacts people may have on the environment, both by altering their own lands and by externalizing impacts onto the lands of others, or of the commons." -- The male is a domestic animal which, if treated with firmness, can be trained to do most things. - Jilly Cooper From levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Sat Feb 21 13:40:00 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:40:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] INVITATION: applications for Ithaca's outdoor public art exhibition In-Reply-To: <6.2.1.2.2.20090220095206.03429250@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Message-ID: <846146.73492.qm@web62105.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Thanks for passing this invitation along to appropriate others. Questions, contact PATRICIA HAINES (607-339-9472 ), Coordinator, Art in the Heart of the City, Downtown Ithaca Alliance. ? Invitation: Art in the Heart of the City 2009 The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) is pleased to invite artist applications for its 10th annual outdoor public art exhibition, Art in the Heart of the City.? The deadline is April 15th for 2-5 works to be installed in mid-June, for exhibition June ? November, 2009 on and around the famous outdoor Ithaca Commons pedestrian mall.? ? Guidelines: See attached for guidelines, information about stipends, and application process. Additional information and iIllustrative exhibition site options can be viewed at the Alliance web site (www.downtownithaca.com). Both experienced and emerging artists are encouraged to apply. ? Jury: The Alliance has commissioned a jury comprised of leading art experts and Ithaca community leaders to select featured artists for the 2009 exhibition. Jurists include Patricia Phillips, Chair and Professor, Cornell University Art Department; Franklin Robinson, Cornell?s Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art; and Sydney Waller, Executive Director of Sculpture Space in Utica, NY. ? Theme: This year's theme - ?Celebrating Art in a Just and Sustainable Community??- is meant to be a broad, open ended invitation for all artists and sculptors. Ithaca is at the national forefront of sustainable community practices and thought. This exhibition will help celebrate and illustrate the diverse ways people can define and contribute to a sustainable community. All styles, mediums, and materials are invited and welcome, subject to the criteria for public art described in the attached. Please note that this is an inclusive theme and is not meant to be restrictive for artists or to limit applicants to recyclable or green materials. ? Pre-application conversation encouraged: We encourage prospective applicants to contact Patricia Haines, Art in the Heart Coordinator (607-339-9472 pfhithaca at yahoo.com) to discuss ideas, guidelines, site options, the Ithaca art scene, and any other concerns..???Thanks for passing this invitation along to appropriate others. Questions, contact PATRICIA HAINES (607-339-9472 ), Coordinator, Art in the Heart of the City, Downtown Ithaca Alliance. ? Invitation: Art in the Heart of the City 2009 The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) is pleased to invite artist applications for its 10th annual outdoor public art exhibition, Art in the Heart of the City.? The deadline is April 15th for 2-5 works to be installed in mid-June, for exhibition June ? November, 2009 on and around the famous outdoor Ithaca Commons pedestrian mall.? ? Guidelines: See attached for guidelines, information about stipends, and application process. Additional information and iIllustrative exhibition site options can be viewed at the Alliance web site (www.downtownithaca.com). Both experienced and emerging artists are encouraged to apply. ? Jury: The Alliance has commissioned a jury comprised of leading art experts and Ithaca community leaders to select featured artists for the 2009 exhibition. Jurists include Patricia Phillips, Chair and Professor, Cornell University Art Department; Franklin Robinson, Cornell?s Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art; and Sydney Waller, Executive Director of Sculpture Space in Utica, NY. ? Theme: This year's theme - ?Celebrating Art in a Just and Sustainable Community??- is meant to be a broad, open ended invitation for all artists and sculptors. Ithaca is at the national forefront of sustainable community practices and thought. This exhibition will help celebrate and illustrate the diverse ways people can define and contribute to a sustainable community. All styles, mediums, and materials are invited and welcome, subject to the criteria for public art described in the attached. Please note that this is an inclusive theme and is not meant to be restrictive for artists or to limit applicants to recyclable or green materials. ? Pre-application conversation encouraged: We encourage prospective applicants to contact Patricia Haines, Art in the Heart Coordinator (607-339-9472 pfhithaca at yahoo.com) to discuss ideas, guidelines, site options, the Ithaca art scene, and any other concerns..?????? From burns at panix.com Sat Feb 21 16:55:42 2009 From: burns at panix.com (burns) Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:55:42 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling, PUBLIC MTG @ MECKLENBURG FIREHOUSE References: Message-ID: <634566B9-F76E-4554-AC18-A6EBA8C4A564@panix.com> PUBLIC MTG @ MECKLENBURG FIREHOUSE - Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Wednesday, February 25, 2009 7:00 to 8:30pm Mecklenburg Firehouse (on County Route 6, just south of route 79) Come express your concerns about the threats to our ground water, wells, and soil at a meeting about the Marcellus Shale gas drilling in Schuyler County. The people organizing this meeting are paid by an energy company to organize landowners to accept leasing their mineral rights, with their lawyer and also people from the state farm bureau. In other words, people who are gung-ho about the gas drilling. We need to be there with solid information and tough questions that will resonate with our neighbors. The Marcellus Shale Play means that political, economic, media, legal, and cultural strategies are being employed by the energy companies to get at the natural gas below our land and aquifers. Natural gas drilling and hydro-fracing are a threat to our water, soil, quality-of-life, and home values. It is not reasonable to trust oil and gas companies for small, short-term profits while risking long- term contamination. A local blog has begun: http://www.nywellwatch.org A grassroots group of Finger Lakes residents: http://www.shaleshock.org/ The Catskill Mountain Keeper has a great website that can serve as a primer about Marcellus Shale Drilling: http://catskillmountainkeeper.org/node/290 The local press is describing environmental regulations as a mere formality that will be waved through promptly: http://www.stargazette.com/article/20090216/NEWS01/902160307/1007/RSS01 Listen to a public radio broadcast about the leasing contracts people are being pressured, tricked, or blindly accepting: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wskg/.jukebox?action=viewMedia&mediaId=793059 Read the New york State DEC web site on Marcellus Shale Drilling: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/46288.html Here is the law that may make it easier for oil and gas drilling companies to acquire leases and to overule local zoning ordinances: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/26498.html State Republican politicians believe the hype: http://www.the-leader.com/homepage/x545173268/Chemung-County-projects-may-create-1-000-jobs Scientific American describes the problem: http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=drill-for-natural-gas-pollute-water News about impacts, accidents and investigations regarding local, regional and nationwide drilling operations: http://www.un-naturalgas.org/news_reports.htm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.flxpermaculture.net regional regenerative resources - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - From levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Mon Feb 23 13:17:43 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:17:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] new eco-fashion bk by Ithaca's Summer Rayne Oakes Message-ID: <42539.96712.qm@web62104.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Better World Books--Green Living Eco-Fashion: Dressing Responsibly Style, Naturally The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion and Beauty By Summer Rayne Oakes Buy from $19.98 There is more to being green than eating right and conserving energy. Made of 100% recycled paper and vegetable-based ink, style meets substance in this lavishly illustrated and highly informative book on sustainable fashion. Summer Rayne Oakes, fashion model and eco advocate, will show you how to make informed (and environmentally friendly) choices while shopping. In addition to explaining the basics, Summer Rayne showcases hundreds of her favorite designers such as Stella McCartney and Safia Minney and eco-friendly brands such as Levi's, Loomstate, and Aveda that have each made earth-friendly materials and sustainable practices a priority. Visit BetterWorldBooks.com today and pick up a copy of Summer Rayne's Style, Naturally. With this "Eco-Model's" advice, looking good and doing good just became one in the same. Don't forget, your purchase with Better World Books funds literacy causes and ships carbon-free. Fashionably Green Chemically treated clothes made in unhealthy conditions by poorly paid employees not quite your cup of tea? Ours either. You'll be happy to know eco-fashion is quickly becoming the next best thing to eating organic under solar powered lights. We even know a company called Brilliant Earth specializing in conflict free diamonds. Check out these eco-fashion bestsellers from Better World Books and learn how to be green from head to toe. Eco-Chic The Fashion Paradox Buy $28.98 FutureFashion White Papers Buy $18.48 Green Chic Saving the Earth in Style Buy $11.98 LEVEL GREEN - fostering sustainable community through collaborative initiatives in hospitality, education and the arts, in the 150 year-old democratic spirit of the Danish Folk School. 1519 Slaterville Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 339-9472 From nlv at clarityconnect.com Tue Feb 24 06:33:56 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:33:56 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Foul Economy Has City Residents Raising Chickens : NPR Message-ID: <508CC1D1-0B57-4BBA-8134-B58AB815BAE2@clarityconnect.com> http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101082172 From edr6 at cornell.edu Tue Feb 24 06:43:13 2009 From: edr6 at cornell.edu (Liz Rowland) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:43:13 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Summary of Fuel Efficiency talk? Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090224093844.0256d398@postoffice7.mail.cornell.edu> If anyone went the presentation on how to increase your fuel efficiency by Andy Goodell at last week's Sustainability Cafe, and is prepared to send me a brief summary of Andy's recommendations, I'd be very grateful. Several people here at the Lab of Ornithology couldn't go to the talk but would appreciate the tips, so I'll forward anything anyone sends me to them. Thanks Liz From mbrown at ithaca.edu Tue Feb 24 07:15:32 2009 From: mbrown at ithaca.edu (Marian Brown) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:15:32 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Summary of Fuel Efficiency talk? In-Reply-To: <6.2.1.2.2.20090224093844.0256d398@postoffice7.mail.cornell.edu> References: <6.2.1.2.2.20090224093844.0256d398@postoffice7.mail.cornell.edu> Message-ID: <49A40F14.4000807@ithaca.edu> Hi, Liz et al. Andy has posted his presentation with his recommendations for "hypermiling" on the Ithaca Carshare website under Carshare resources. www.ithacacarshare.org Marian Liz Rowland wrote: > If anyone went the presentation on how to increase your fuel efficiency by > Andy Goodell at last week's Sustainability Cafe, and is prepared to send me > a brief summary of Andy's recommendations, I'd be very grateful. Several > people here at the Lab of Ornithology couldn't go to the talk but would > appreciate the tips, so I'll forward anything anyone sends me to them. > > Thanks > Liz > > _______________________________________________ > For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: > SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org > http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins > Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org > free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org > From jhogg at mac.com Tue Feb 24 07:32:00 2009 From: jhogg at mac.com (James Hogg) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:32:00 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Guinea Pigs Message-ID: Getting over my yuck factor. I was watching Global Trekker on PBS Sunday night and the traveler was in Peru. He hiked up in the mountains and stayed with a family who raised Lamas for wool and they had guinea pigs in the home for food. I had seen this episode before and I recall having a typical U.S. citizen reaction. "Oh no they aren't going to eat them. Yuck!" This time around I had a different reaction. They look easy to raise, probably reproduce prolifically and once it is cooked, the traveler said it tasted like chicken. (Everything seems to taste like chicken. Well Octopus does not.) I have heard of people raising rabbits for food. Has anyone heard about raising guinea pigs for food? I mean outside of Peru? My wife challenged my thinking with, "could you kill and clean one to eat?" And I replied if I had to do it to feed the family yes I could. I have respect for people who do hunt for food and they can dress a deer or duck. That is something more of use will have to do going forward. We may have to get our hands dirtier to eat. Anyway just a thought to pass along as far as getting protein in a world winding down. I am hopeful about the cities allowing chickens. OK City of Ithaca and Town of Ithaca lets do it too. I apologize to the vegetarians and vegans on the list. Jim From edr6 at cornell.edu Tue Feb 24 08:01:08 2009 From: edr6 at cornell.edu (Liz Rowland) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:01:08 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Summary of Fuel Efficiency talk? In-Reply-To: <49A40F14.4000807@ithaca.edu> References: <6.2.1.2.2.20090224093844.0256d398@postoffice7.mail.cornell.edu> <49A40F14.4000807@ithaca.edu> Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090224110031.026c7f70@postoffice7.mail.cornell.edu> hi Marian, Thanks a lot for this - I've sent it out to our sustainability group list. Liz At 10:15 AM 2/24/2009, you wrote: >Hi, Liz et al. >Andy has posted his presentation with his recommendations for >"hypermiling" on the Ithaca Carshare website under Carshare resources. >www.ithacacarshare.org >Marian > > > > >Liz Rowland wrote: >>If anyone went the presentation on how to increase your fuel efficiency >>by Andy Goodell at last week's Sustainability Cafe, and is prepared to >>send me a brief summary of Andy's recommendations, I'd be very grateful. >>Several people here at the Lab of Ornithology couldn't go to the talk but >>would appreciate the tips, so I'll forward anything anyone sends me to them. >> >>Thanks >>Liz >> >>_______________________________________________ >>For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, >>please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ >>RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >>SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org >>http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >>Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org >>free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org >> > > >_______________________________________________ >For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, >please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > >RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org >http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org >free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org From bosak at ibiblio.org Tue Feb 24 14:10:38 2009 From: bosak at ibiblio.org (Jon Bosak) Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:10:38 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Backyard chickens In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49A4705E.5070007@ibiblio.org> James Hogg wrote: > I am hopeful about the cities allowing chickens. > OK City of Ithaca and Town of Ithaca lets do it too. Raising chickens is already perfectly legal in many parts of the Town of Ithaca. The City is a different matter. As a result of some correspondence on this subject back in January, I did a little online research and came up with the following list of commonly cited benefits for changing zoning laws to allow backyard chickens and a corresponding list of commonly cited objections. People who would like to push for a change in the City of Ithaca's prohibition of backyard chickens may find this initial overview useful. Jon ################################################################## BACKYARD CHICKENS: COMMONLY CITED BENEFITS Food security Eggs from backyard chickens are a secure and sustainable source of high-grade protein that doesn't rely on transportation. They are also much cheaper than eggs of comparable quality bought at the store. Chickens can subsist largely on bugs and food scraps if necessary. Individually owned chickens have historically sustained people though hard times and continue on occasion to do so now. If we're entering a depression, economic forces will make household ownership of chickens highly desirable. Nutritional quality Backyard eggs can be much higher in nutritional value than factory-farm eggs. Recent research published by Mother Earth News found that eggs from chickens allowed to forage naturally have, on average, seven times more beta carotene, three times more vitamin E, two times more omega-3 fatty acids, and two-thirds more vitamin A than their factory farm cousins. Such eggs also have one-third less cholesterol and one-quarter less saturated fat on average. And eggs from backyard chickens typically contain no pesticides, hormones, or antibiotics. Freshness Backyard eggs are obviously fresher than any other kind. By contrast, industrially produced eggs can be a couple of weeks old by the time they reach supermarkets. Waste management Chickens eat all sorts of food scraps that otherwise would go to local landfills. In the Flanders region of Belgium, chickens were part of a program that raised the region's recycling rate in rural areas by 72 percent. Chickens produce their own waste, of course, and in industrial settings, chicken manure presents a major environmental problem. In backyard settings, it is a valuable soil amendment. Pest control Chickens are voracious consumers of fleas, ticks, grasshoppers, and other insect pests. They also keep down weeds and aerate the soil. Educational value Chickens provide an opportunity for children to see where their food comes from. Growing up with these animals as both pets and food source goes a long way toward inculcating a respect for animals and an appreciation of what they give us. Involvement with chickens introduces children to facts of life, death, sustainability, and food production. Ethical treatment of animals Industrially raised chickens are often debeaked, kept in stacked "battery cages" with less than 8 square inches per bird, and given feed laced with antibiotics and arsenic. Backyard chickens, on the other hand, often have the status of pets, and in some places (for example, New York City) are legally considered to be pets. Entertainment Chickens can actually be quite engaging pets, and people already have the right to own pets that are far more problematic. ################################################################## BACKYARD CHICKENS: COMMONLY CITED OBJECTIONS Objection: Chickens keep people awake. Response: The noise that people object to is caused by roosters. Hens create far less of a noise problem than parrots or dogs. Many (perhaps most) people believe that roosters are necessary to egg production. In fact, they have nothing to do with it; roosters are required only for producing more chickens. The noise problem is usually dealt with simply by prohibiting ownership of roosters, though some ordinances also separately prohibit the breeding of chickens just to be on the safe side. Objection: Chicken manure smells bad. Response: Odors (and flies) can be a serious problem in keeping any animals, chickens included, if the owner is not responsible about cleanliness, food storage, and waste disposal. Reasonable setbacks can help with this, but most ordinances simply make proper upkeep a legal requirement. Composting chicken manure can be carried out quickly and odorlessly if done correctly. This is mostly an educational challenge. Like noise, odor is really a code enforcement issue. For example, the ordinance governing the keeping of chickens in South Portland (Maine) requires that odors and noise must not be detectable at the property lines. Odor problems increase with increasing number of chickens kept; for this and other reasons, most recent ordinances set strict limits on the number that can be kept by any individual owner. A typical limit is three or four hens, sometimes varying upward depending on the size of the lot or density of the zoning. Objection: Chickens create unsightly back yards. Response: Chickens are no more unsightly than any other domesticated animal, so the issue here is the appearance of the henhouse. Again, this is a code enforcement problem. For example, the South Portland ordinance requires that henhouses must provide adequate shade and be made of the same type of material throughout -- sheet metal and waste board are banned -- and painted uniformly so they "shall be in harmony with the surrounding area." Clearly there is nothing to prevent the same kind of control over accommodations for chickens that zoning laws typically exercise over those for humans. Objection: Enforcement of codes relating to chickens will increase municipal expenses. Response: Code enforcement can be paid for through permit fees, which typically range from a one-time charge of $8 to an annual fee of $25 (per owner) plus another one-time charge of $25 for approval to build a henhouse or chicken pen. In addition to funding the incremental cost of enforcement, permits also make enforcement easier by clearly identifying the owners, and where permits are required for approval, they both fund and provide the opportunity to enforce code requirements regarding construction, materials, and appearance. Objection: The emergence of deadly avian influenza in Asia and Eastern Europe was due in part to people living and sleeping in the same area as chickens. Response: Americans who raise chickens generally don't sleep with them or allow them in the house. Most municipalities that allow chickens ensure this by mandating that the chicken coop be located some distance from the nearest residence, 25 feet being a typical requirement in urban settings. Considering the number of chickens that are kept in proximity to human dwellings, the worldwide incidence of avian flu is extremely low. One is as likely to contract worms from a pet dog or Trypanosoma from a pet cat as get avian flu from an infected chicken. In fact, avian flu does not currently exist in the U.S. It could be brought in by infected geese or ducks, but if the chickens are not allowed to mix with migrating flocks, the risk of infection is vanishingly small. Chickens do carry some diseases that can be transmitted to humans, most commonly salmonella, but they do not pose a significantly higher risk to humans than other common pets, such as dogs and cats. For example, most cases of salmonella among children in the U.S. result from handling lizards. If henhouses are well maintained, there is little chance that chickens will spread disease. Nonetheless, people who raise chickens must be aware of avian diseases and symptoms and have veterinary care available -- not so much to protect humans as to prevent epidemics among other chickens in the area. If chickens were allowed in high density zones here, Cornell Cooperative Extension would have an important role to play in making individuals aware of this problem and in promoting clean practices generally. Objection: Opening up back yards to chickens will set a precedent for the introduction of more farm animals -- goats, for example. Response: A variety of pet animals are already allowed in back yards. The reason their presence doesn't lead to the introduction of goats (for example) in zones where they are not allowed is because keeping goats in those places is illegal. Changing our zoning regulations to allow a few hens in those places won't change the legal status of other farm animals. It must be noted that there is a certain amount of arbitrary prejudice in objections to particular animals based on the fact that they have agricultural uses. No one objects to pigeon lofts in cities, despite the fact that a large flock of pigeons presents greater potential noise, odor, dirt, and disease problems than a small flock of hens. And neither chickens nor pigeons cause noise, odor, dirt, or disease problems remotely as serious as those we take for granted in connection with dogs. There's no such thing as a rabid chicken. Objection: For a variety of reasons, people don't want chickens slaughtered near where they live. Response: Many ordinances explicitly prohibit the slaughter of chickens in urban environments. Owners must take their chickens to separate facilities. Objection: Chickens may attract predators such as coyotes. Presumably the concern here is for the safety of other pets. Response: It is true that chickens must be protected against predation, especially by raccoons. But their presence probably doesn't attract predators like coyotes any more than the uninvited squirrels and rabbits already present in most people's yards. Objection: Neighborhoods may be overrun by people wanting to keep chickens. Response: In practice, this is not a problem. Keeping chickens in our climate requires a substantial investment in housing and equipment (around $500 to get started) and a continuing investment in time. Ann Arbor, a university town not unlike Ithaca, recently passed an ordinance allowing chickens in the city. After months of vocal public hearings leading up to the decision, officials were stunned to receive just three permit applications in the five weeks after the ordinance took effect. At the moment, this question is more about decriminalizing an activity that relatively few people are interested in than opening the door to a flood of backyard chicken farmers. Further expansion of this practice in the future would be evidence of serious and widespread economic hardship -- in which case, implementation of suitable regulations and procedures allowing people to raise their own food will be seen as an example of prudence and foresight. Objection: If the goal is to provide community food security, it can be more effectively accomplished through community farms or local cooperatives. The Town of Ithaca contains plenty of land already zoned for this. Response: There can be little doubt that collective egg and meat production is a more efficient use of resources than trying to make every household literally self-sustaining. But implementing successful collectives requires the resolution of a number of difficult issues, not least of which is the assignment of responsibility for problematic aspects such as cleaning and waste disposal. More to the point, this objection ignores the host of perceived advantages (see list above) that make some people want to raise their own chickens. Maintaining a sense of perspective In assessing potential problems associated with keeping chickens in urban environments, it's important to remember that chickens have been allowed for years in many cities in the U.S. without causing any noticeable problems. Chickens are legal in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston -- the four most populous cities in the country -- and dozens of other urban areas. In NYC and Los Angeles, there are no limits at all on the number of chickens that can be kept (though as usual, both cities prohibit the keeping of roosters, and NYC requires that the chicken area be kept clean). Chicken ordinances recently adopted in Seattle, Portland (Oregon), and Madison (Wisconsin) have drawn praise and few complaints. In practice, the problems anticipated by people opposed to allowing backyard chickens rarely materialize, and well-written ordinances provide adequate recourse when they do. From ws at twcny.rr.com Wed Feb 25 03:34:00 2009 From: ws at twcny.rr.com (Wendy Skinner) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:34:00 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] SewGreen News 2-25-09: We're Expanding! Message-ID: <62847EDF3A6A47C98370C0829475E7F6@wendyvaio> SewGreen News, February 25, 2009 www.sew-green.org SewGreen is a community not-for-profit program that encourages sustainability through the reuse of fabric, fiber, and fashion, and the rediscovery of sewing as a self-reliant skill. CONTENTS ~ Larger Classroom for SewGreen ~ Updated Class Offerings ~ Volunteer Days ~ Prom Gown Exchange ~ Two Green Fashion Shows to Enter ~ Sundays at SewGreen ~ About Us -------------------------------------- THE BIG MOVE SewGreen is moving to a larger classroom space! We will still be in the Women's Community Building (WCB), which is a perfect location for us. The move will increase our square footage and will allow us to offer more classes and activities for youth and adults. We are very grateful to the WCB for working with us to swap spaces with the building's free library, and to the library manager Zee Zahava. VOLUNTEERS are needed for the move, which will take place on Saturday, February 28, from 9am to 5pm, with a pizza break at noon. Please let us know if you can help! -------------------------------------- MARCH CLASSES, UPDATED Unless otherwise noted, SewGreen classes are held at the Women's Community Building, 100 W Seneca Street, in downtown Ithaca, and are open to teens and adults, of both genders. All materials, including sewing machines, are supplied. Fees are due at the time of the class. Scholarships are available if cost is a barrier. Pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, contact Wendy, coord at sew-green.org; 607-277-7611. Classes are also listed on the SewGreen website, www.sew-green.org. ~ Wednesday, March 4, 6 to 8pm. Beginning Sewing I. Learn to use a sewing machine and make a tote bag. $15. ~ Thursday, March 5, noon to 4 pm. Kids Sew. For boys and girls ages 8 to 12. Hand and machine sewing. $25. ~ Friday, March 6, noon to 4 pm. Kids Sew (repeated). For ages 8 to 12. Hand and machine sewing. $25. ~ Saturday, March 7, 10:30am to half-past-noon. Beginning Sewing I. Learn to use a sewing machine and make a tote bag. $15. ~ Saturday, March 7, 1 to 4pm. Clean Machine. Hands-on training in how clean and oil your older sewing machine. $15. ~ Saturday, March 14, 1 to 4pm. ReFashion Workshop. Bring items to restyle or alter; get advice and help from sewing experts. Some sewing experience requested. $15. ~ Wednesday, March 18, 6 to 8:30pm. Beginning Sewing II. Review sewing machine technique; make a cool non-gender apron. $15. ~ Friday, March 20, 11am to 4pm. Teen Sew. Learn or review machine sewing skills; progress from easy to a more difficult project. $25. ~ Saturday, March 21, 1 to 4pm. Braided Rug Workshop. Learn a no-sew technique for making braided rugs from old t-shirt or denim strips. $15. ~ Monday, March 23, 6 to 8pm. Mending & Alterations. Learn some tips for repairs, and bring items that need fixing. $15. ~ Tuesday, March 24, 6 to 8:30pm. Beginning Sewing II: Review sewing machine technique; make a cool non-gender apron. $15. ~ Wednesday, March 25 and Wednesday, April 1, 6 to 8:30pm. Beginning Sewing III: Spa Night! Make items to indulge the senses and relieve stress. Two sessions. $30. ~ Saturday, March 28, 1 to 3pm. Zippers Demystified. Learn and practice how to put in a zipper. $15. -------------------------------------- VOLUNTEER DAYS: ATTACK THE MOUNTAIN! Help SewGreen sort through a mountain of interesting fabric and yarns, to identify and evaluate this wonderful "stuff" for optimal reuse. Sorters get freebies and first pick of any items assigned to resale. Two days: Tuesday and Wednesday, March 10 and 11. Morning shift: 9 to noon. Afternoon shift: 1 to 4 pm. Evening shift: 5 to 8 pm. -------------------------------------- PROM GOWN EXCHANGE, MARCH 13 & 14 Tompkins County is again sponsoring a Formal and Prom Gown Exchange, for anyone who wants to save money on a dress for a big dance. Teens are encouraged to drop off gowns they no longer want at Lansing Central School, BOCES, or the Lehman Alternatives Community School. In return you receive a ticket that allows you to "shop" for a dress at the exchange, which will take place at the Women's Community Building, from 3 to 8pm, Friday, March 13; and 11am to 4pm, Saturday, March 14. SewGreen seamsters will be available to make minor alterations or advise on refashioning your dress. For more information, contact Stephanie or Brenna at Tompkins County Solid Waste, 607-273-6632 -------------------------------------- TWO GREEN FASHION SHOWS TO ENTER DIY enthusiasts, reuse designers, and refashioners: There are two opportunities in April to strut your stuff. * CSMA, DOWNTOWN ITHACA* SewGreen is hosting a green refashion and fiber art show at the Community School of Music & Arts, April 1 - 25, with a refashion show at the opening reception on the evening of Friday, April 3. The theme is R-E-S-P-E-C-T (thank you, Miss Aretha) and entries must be entirely made from reused, existing, or organic materials. All ages are welcome. Guidelines are posted on the SewGreen website: www.sew-green.org . Deadline for photo entries is March 23. * EARTH DAY CELEBRATION, FARMERS MARKET * The annual eco-fashion show at Ithaca's 2009 Earth Day celebration is being directed by Amelia Rosenthal, an eco-fashion designer in her own right. The show's title is "Transfigure," and designers are invited to enter fashions constructed or reconstructed from second-hand or organic fabric. Deadline for photo entries is March 26. The show date is April 26. Contact Amelia at sistahlyra at yahoo.com or 607-319-0213 for details. -------------------------------------- SUNDAYS AT SEWGREEN SewGreen Open Sews, 1 to 4 pm on the first and third Sunday of every month, are times when the SewGreen classroom and machines are available. You may work on your own project, or sew for SewGreen's charity client, Hospicare. No formal instruction. Free. NOTE: the Open Sew on Sunday, March 1, is cancelled, so we can organize our new space. The next dates for Open Sews are March 15, April 5, and April 19. -------------------------------------- ABOUT SEWGREEN SewGreen is a not-for-profit program based in Ithaca NY that encourages thrift, reuse, creativity, and a rediscovery of sewing and traditional handcrafts in a welcoming setting. We serve the entire community across an inter-generational demographic that includes many cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. We depend on volunteers to help teach sewing and reuse to youth and adults. Donations of fabric, sewing machines, and sewing materials are reused in our classroom, given to other groups that do charity sewing or knitting, or resold to gain revenue to support our education and outreach programs. For information on what we accept in our reuse program, visit our website at www.sew-green.org. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ To be added or subtracted from SewGreen's newsletter distribution list, contact Wendy Skinner, SewGreen Coordinator, coord at sew-green.org, 607-277-7611. From cjung at twcny.rr.com Wed Feb 25 03:40:16 2009 From: cjung at twcny.rr.com (ChrisJ) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:40:16 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Backyard Chickens - Town of Ithaca In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49A52E20.2040505@twcny.rr.com> From: Jon Bosak >>James Hogg wrote: >> I am hopeful about the cities allowing chickens. >>OK City of Ithaca and Town of Ithaca lets do it too. >Raising chickens is already perfectly legal in many parts of the >Town of Ithaca. The City is a different matter. Hi, I'm new to this mailing list and joined because I've wanted to raise a small flock (3-4) of chickens in my backyard for several years. We own a house in NE Ithaca (Salem Drive, .45 acres) and it is zoned Medium Density Residential. According to the online TOI zoning rules, chickens can only be kept on Agricultural & Low Density Residential properties (i.e. the decidedly country part of the Town of Ithaca). I don't think chicken keeping in those zones fit the concept of city/town backyard chickens. So is my info out of date? Can we raise chickens in the "Town" part of the Town of Ithaca? It looks like this subject has been discussed on this list & I better look into the archives to get up to speed. I would love to meet others who want to raise a flock of chickens in Ithaca (city & town). I want to do this legally - no stealth chicken keeping here. Chris From bosak at ibiblio.org Wed Feb 25 05:21:24 2009 From: bosak at ibiblio.org (Jon Bosak) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:21:24 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Backyard Chickens - Town of Ithaca In-Reply-To: <49A52E20.2040505@twcny.rr.com> References: <49A52E20.2040505@twcny.rr.com> Message-ID: <49A545D4.8090403@ibiblio.org> ChrisJ wrote: | I'm new to this mailing list and joined because I've wanted to | raise a small flock (3-4) of chickens in my backyard for several | years. We own a house in NE Ithaca (Salem Drive, .45 acres) and | it is zoned Medium Density Residential. According to the online | TOI zoning rules, chickens can only be kept on Agricultural & Low | Density Residential properties (i.e. the decidedly country part of | the Town of Ithaca). That's correct. | I don't think chicken keeping in those zones fit the concept of | city/town backyard chickens. So is my info out of date? Can we | raise chickens in the "Town" part of the Town of Ithaca? I'm not sure whether you're making a rhetorical point here or are unfamiliar with the use of "town" as it relates to New York State organizational terminology, which can be confusing if (like me) you come originally from points west or south. I'm going to guess that you know what "town" means here and are just trying to make a point about higher density zones vs. lower density zones. My personal opinion is that the Town should allow keeping a few hens on parcels in some of the higher density zones, and maybe someday we will see the Town zoning law changed to make that possible. But people opposed to such a change can say, not unreasonably, that if you wanted to raise chickens, you should have chosen to buy one of the many parcels in the Town that are zoned for that. My wife and I live in the Town on a place less than three miles from the City limits on which we could legally put a hog farm if we wanted to. There's plenty of agricultural and LDR land in the Town available to folks who want to get into growing things and are willing to get in a car when they need to go shopping. And this doesn't count sizable tracts in other parts of Tompkins County that are zoned agricultural or not zoned at all. The City of Ithaca is a different matter. If you want a way of life in which you can walk to services (which I think everyone on this list will agree is a highly desirable goal, but which clearly you decided was not a priority), and you want fresh eggs from your own back yard, you are currently out of luck. A growing number of cities around the country are finding that backyard chickens can easily be accommodated with few problems if the relevant ordinances are properly written. If the economy continues to deteriorate, some City residents are going to start wanting to raise chickens just to save money. I think it would be smart of the City to get ahead of this trend. But I'm afraid you're not going to get much sympathy from current residents of the Town for choosing to live on land that isn't zoned to allow such uses. Jon From gjem5760 at yahoo.com Wed Feb 25 06:58:52 2009 From: gjem5760 at yahoo.com (George Frantz) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:58:52 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Backyard Chickens In-Reply-To: <49A52E20.2040505@twcny.rr.com> Message-ID: <494823.78550.qm@web44909.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> On Wed, 2/25/09, ChrisJ wrote: ....It looks like this subject has been discussed on this list & I better look into the archives to get up to speed. I would love to meet others who want to raise a flock of chickens in Ithaca (city & town).?? I want to do this legally - no stealth chicken keeping here.??? Chris ? I blieve that both the Town and CIty zoning regulations need to be revised.? ? I can draft up zoning language for the both the Town and City to consider and distributed it to the list for review and comment, but I would not be able to get to it until April or May. ? People could certainly begin lobbying for change now, but I think that the propsects of change would be much better if something beyond an abstract idea were presented.? Otherwise residents and officials will panic and kill the idea outright, or send it off into the bureacracy or a committee for months of further study and discussion. ? Presenting the Town Board and Common Council?with draft regulations to respond to however will likely provide?immediate answers to many of the questions that will be raised, help short circuit bureacratic attempts to stifle the idea and?possible cut months off the process. ? Meanwhile keep those chickens (and ducks, geese?and emus)?quiet and under cover. ? George Frantz --- On Wed, 2/25/09, ChrisJ wrote: From: ChrisJ Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Backyard Chickens - Town of Ithaca To: sustainabletompkins at lists.mutualaid.org Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 11:40 AM From: Jon Bosak >>James Hogg wrote: >> I am hopeful about the cities allowing chickens. >>OK City of Ithaca and Town of Ithaca lets do it too. >Raising chickens is already perfectly legal in many parts of the >Town of Ithaca. The City is a different matter. Hi, I'm new to this mailing list and joined because I've wanted to raise a small flock (3-4) of chickens in my backyard for several years. We own a house in NE Ithaca (Salem Drive, .45 acres) and it is zoned Medium Density Residential. According to the online TOI zoning rules, chickens can only be kept on Agricultural & Low Density Residential properties (i.e. the decidedly country part of the Town of Ithaca). I don't think chicken keeping in those zones fit the concept of city/town backyard chickens. So is my info out of date? Can we raise chickens in the "Town" part of the Town of Ithaca? It looks like this subject has been discussed on this list & I better look into the archives to get up to speed. I would love to meet others who want to raise a flock of chickens in Ithaca (city & town). I want to do this legally - no stealth chicken keeping here. Chris _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org From eartharts1 at gmail.com Wed Feb 25 07:12:53 2009 From: eartharts1 at gmail.com (Dale Bryner) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:12:53 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Earth Arts "Greening our Neighborhoods and Schools" Series In-Reply-To: <6baa36e80902250638u2fe47b25ged484042f8519310@mail.gmail.com> References: <6baa36e80902250638u2fe47b25ged484042f8519310@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <6baa36e80902250712y515b93ffk45f1980ac051139@mail.gmail.com> Earth Arts is offering the following Spring and Summer workshops for adults: ?Greening our Neighborhoods and Schools Series" Permaculture Native Plants Forest Gardening School Gardening Native Living Skills ?INTRODUCTION TO FOREST GARDENING? Saturday, March 28, 1-5pm: Intro Class, indoor presentation and discussion Sunday, May 3, 1-5pm: Hands-on design time and outdoor planting Join us for an inspiring exploration of gardening like the forest does, with permaculture instructor and designer Kay Cafasso. Together we'll create a design for an abundant garden that yields food, fiber, forage, and fun, among the forest trees and fruit orchard at Earth Arts. Everyone will gain new skills, plant knowledge, and ways to create regenerative gardens in their own home landscape. Sliding fee per session: $25-$45. ?FOREST ECOLOGY & MANAGEMENT? Saturday, June 21, 10 am ? 2pm Steve Gabriel, of Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute, offers an enjoyable hike through the forests of the Six Mile Creek area while discussing forest ecology and how to manage your forest for long-term health and productivity. Games, activities, and stories will make for a fun and educational day in the woods. Sliding fee: $25 ?$45. ?DESIGN YOUR BACKYARD ECOSYSTEM? Saturday, July 11, 10 am ? 3pm Steve Gabriel, will lead participants through a Permaculture design process that demonstrates how to assess the environmental characteristics of a site, formulate clear goals for sustainable use, design beautiful and productive veggie gardens, orchards, small ponds, and more. Turn dreams into reality and transform a yard into a beautiful, productive habitat for humans and nature. For educators, homeowners, and gardeners. Sliding fee: $40.?$80. ?NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE? Saturday, July 18, 9am-4pm Julie Kulik, experienced public school teacher, naturalist, and outdoor educator at Earth Arts, Ithaca will demonstrate how to integrate nature-based learning into the curriculum inside or outside the classroom. Richard Louv and others have brought awareness to the need to get students outside to learn and make connections. This experiential workshop is guaranteed to bring delight and heightened performance to teachers and students alike. ADHD, at-risk, and gifted children, all find nature-based curriculum engaging and inspiring. The cultural richness and diversity of these learning methods removes blocks, creates passion for learning, and improves overall academic performance. Sliding fee includes a textbook with curriculum and many activities, ?Coyotes Guide to Connecting With Nature, for Kids of all Ages and their Mentors? Sliding fee: $100.-150. ?NATIVE LIVING SKILLS FOR EDUCATORS? Saturday, August 8, 9am-4pm, Sunday, August 9: 9am-2pm Master-craftsman, teacher, Darrell Birchenough presents a two day experiential immersion in Native American and global native living skills, crafts, and stories for the classroom with hands on authentic projects. Participants will experience native cultures through building a forest shelter, make friction fires, prepare and cook delicious wild edible foods, create reed baskets, tools, practice native gardening techniques, with direct application to the classroom. These life skills, commonly used by all cultures, inspire cooperation, stewardship, and creativity. Participants will take home baskets, tools, cultural stories, knowledge of building shelters, fire from forest materials, and a deeper connection to the place they live. Sliding fee: $100.-$150. ?BRINGING GARDENS INTO THE CLASSROOM? Saturday August 15 & Sunday August 16, 9 am ? 4pm both days The trend to revive the school garden is growing worldwide as an integral part of classroom curriculum. Here, students begin to form a deep understanding of the ecology of which they are part and cross curriculum learning flows naturally. Steve Gabriel, of the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute offers a comprehensive plan for developing school gardens, a plan to guide teachers through this process, offer activities and curriculum tools for educators and parents to bring garden-based lessons to the entire curriculum. Participants will learn about the ecology of the landscape and how nature can help children understand elements of science, math, music, history, etc, while reconnecting themselves to a sense of place and delight in the natural world. Steve will provide samples of unit plans, activities, core learning?s and documented school benefits. Sliding fee: $110 ?$160. Earth Arts educational programs connect youth and adults to the land through earth-based curriculums that develop awareness, creativity, diverse skills, stewardship, and the power of community. For more information or to register email: eartharts1 at gmail.com or call: 607-272-6486. From Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com Wed Feb 25 08:29:15 2009 From: Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com (Joel and Sarah Gagnon) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:29:15 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Backyard Chickens In-Reply-To: <494823.78550.qm@web44909.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <49A52E20.2040505@twcny.rr.com> Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20090225112239.020d6260@pop.lightlink.com> At 06:58 AM 2/25/09 -0800, you wrote: "People could certainly begin lobbying for change now, but I think that the prospects of change would be much better if something beyond an abstract idea were presented. Otherwise residents and officials will panic and kill the idea outright, or send it off into the bureaucracy or a committee for months of further study and discussion. Presenting the Town Board and Common Council with draft regulations to respond to however will likely provide immediate answers to many of the questions that will be raised, help short circuit bureaucratic attempts to stifle the idea and possible cut months off the process." This has been my experience. If you want government to do something, it is wise to make it as easy as possible. Want a resolution for or against something? Propose a text. I think George's proposal of presenting a draft ordinance that already reflects public input into its creation and the result of research on what is best practice around the country would be hugely helpful in getting this proposal considered. Have I made this point before? Guess I must think it's important. Joel >On Wed, 2/25/09, ChrisJ wrote: > >....It looks like this subject has been discussed on this list & I better look >into the archives to get up to speed. I would love to meet others who want to >raise a flock of chickens in Ithaca (city & town). I want to do this >legally - no stealth chicken keeping here. > >Chris > > >I blieve that both the Town and CIty zoning regulations need to be revised. > >I can draft up zoning language for the both the Town and City to consider >and distributed it to the list for review and comment, but I would not be >able to get to it until April or May. > >People could certainly begin lobbying for change now, but I think that the >propsects of change would be much better if something beyond an abstract >idea were presented. Otherwise residents and officials will panic and >kill the idea outright, or send it off into the bureacracy or a committee >for months of further study and discussion. > >Presenting the Town Board and Common Council with draft regulations to >respond to however will likely provide immediate answers to many of the >questions that will be raised, help short circuit bureacratic attempts to >stifle the idea and possible cut months off the process. > >Meanwhile keep those chickens (and ducks, geese and emus) quiet and under >cover. > >George Frantz > >--- On Wed, 2/25/09, ChrisJ wrote: > >From: ChrisJ >Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Backyard Chickens - Town of Ithaca >To: sustainabletompkins at lists.mutualaid.org >Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 11:40 AM > >From: Jon Bosak > > >>James Hogg wrote: > >> I am hopeful about the cities allowing chickens. > >>OK City of Ithaca and Town of Ithaca lets do it too. > > >Raising chickens is already perfectly legal in many parts of the > >Town of Ithaca. The City is a different matter. > >Hi, >I'm new to this mailing list and joined because I've wanted to raise a >small flock (3-4) of chickens in my backyard for several years. We own a >house >in NE Ithaca (Salem Drive, .45 acres) and it is zoned Medium Density >Residential. According to the online TOI zoning rules, chickens can only be >kept on Agricultural & Low Density Residential properties (i.e. the >decidedly country part of the Town of Ithaca). I don't think chicken >keeping in those zones fit the concept of city/town backyard chickens. So >is my >info out of date? Can we raise chickens in the "Town" part of the >Town of Ithaca? > >It looks like this subject has been discussed on this list & I better look >into the archives to get up to speed. I would love to meet others who want to >raise a flock of chickens in Ithaca (city & town). I want to do this >legally - no stealth chicken keeping here. > >Chris > > >_______________________________________________ >For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please >visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > >RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org >http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org >free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org > > > > >_______________________________________________ >For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, >please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > >RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: >SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org >http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins >Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org >free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org From mbrown at ithaca.edu Wed Feb 25 13:02:23 2009 From: mbrown at ithaca.edu (Marian Brown) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:02:23 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Ithaca College Environmental Studies program seeking Message-ID: <49A5B1DF.1040208@ithaca.edu> The Environmental Studies program at Ithaca College is again seeking information about sustainability-related internships for summer 2009 and Fall 2009. If you have a project and could benefit from an intern, please complete the survey at the following website: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=uNBj9dh8HGBUbQYIDbXiVw_3d_3d Or you can hit the link on the ESP webpage: http://www.ithaca.edu/hs/depts/envstudies/internships/ Thanks in advance. Marian Brown From steve at workwithnature.net Wed Feb 25 18:58:22 2009 From: steve at workwithnature.net (Steve Gabriel) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:58:22 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Friends of MacDaniels Nut Grove Meeting Message-ID: <24121f890902251858k2c43c0e4v4a34a0f555c010d1@mail.gmail.com> 2/13/09 Friends of Macdaniels Nut Grove Are you interested in agroforestry and/or forest farming? We are sending this to folks who have expressed or might be interest in agroforestry-related activities including students who have taken the *Practicum in Forest Farming* (PFF) course at the MacDaniels Nut Grove (MNG), and others within and outside the Cornell communirty. Several of us involved in agroforestry locally are in the process of reactivating a club called the *Friends of MacDaniels Nutgrove,* and we thought you might be interested. If so, please read on. *Agroforestry* is an environmentally sustainable land-use system in which woody perennials are grown on the same land as other crops and both are managed to maximize positive ecological and economic interactions among them. The MNG is an example of a particular agroforestry practice known as *Forest Farming* in which non timber forest products are grown beneath the canopy of an established forest or woodlot. Another agroforestry practices is alley cropping which is underway at the adjacent Dilmun Hill farm. Other agroforestry practices including silvopasture, riparian buffers, and windbreaks might be suitable for Upstate New York. The MacDaniels Nut Grove forest farm is located on the south edge of the Cornell campus, along Cascadilla Creek. It is adjacent to and part of the Dilmun Hill Student Farm. At MNG, students have been growing a variety of non timber forest crops including fruits (e.g. berries, paw paw), nuts (e.g. hickories, walnuts) gourmet mushrooms (e.g. shiitake, oyster), botanicals (e.g. ginseng, goldenseal), and ornamentals (e.g. ferns, hosta). These are all growing beneath the canopy of and established forest that was originally planted to nut trees by Lawrence MacDaniels in the 1930's. The mission of the site is to promote education in forest farming including but not limited to the *Practicum in Forest Farming* course. In addition to Cornell students, MNG has been open to, but not very well know by the wider Ithaca community and beyond. We hope to make it better known as an agroforestry education center. Why now? Because students in the Practicum in Forest Farming class, associated staff, and Steve Gabriel undertook an ambitious planning process that will be the basis of a major site improvement project at MNG. Steve Gabriel, who is Coordinator of the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute, worked with students last Fall to apply a permaculture site assessment and design approach to the MNG forest farm. This approach is quite similar to Dave Jacke's Forest Gardening (?gardening *like* the forest?), except that it involves ?gardening *in* the forest?. Implementation of the plan will include increased production of mushrooms and other non timber forest crops, construction of a pavilion and other infrastructure, and more effective use of signage to facilitate public education. We envision that members of the FMNG club will help implement the plan in the spirit of hands on learning, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of the MNG, as well as initiate and take part in other agroforestry-related activities at other locations (speakers, work days at member?s farms, field trips, etc.). So, this is an invitation to Cornell students, staff, and community member to come to an FMNG information meeting on Sunday, March 1, 2009 at 2:00 PM. The meeting will be held in Room 37 Plant Science Building, on Tower Road. Ken Mudge, and Steve Gabriel will talk some about agroforestry, forest farming and its relationship to permaculture; setting the sage for all present to have a discussion about starting up the FMNG club. Please RSVP to this email address, or just show up. Please pass this invitation along to anyone you think may be interested. For more information contact Ken Mudge ( *kwm2 at cornell.edu* , 607-339-6950). Thanks. -- LOCAL PURE MAPLE SYRUP *support us with community supported sugaring share!* www.SAPSQUATCH.com Work With Nature *ecological design solutions* 303.815.3535 steve at WorkWithNature.net www.WorkWithNature.net Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute *design certification, apprenticeships, workshops* www.FingerLakesPermaculture.org From nlv at clarityconnect.com Wed Feb 25 19:17:02 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:17:02 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Cornell Chronicle: Hydroponics garden at NYC jail for youth Message-ID: <4EC3D33E-9696-481F-B4DD-C7DD5145AE2E@clarityconnect.com> Hello Folks, Why don't we see if this food 'community organizer' could pay a visit up here ...and perhaps find a way to introduce him to our local youth, including those out on Route 34. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Feb09/RikersHydroponics.aa.html From bosak at ibiblio.org Thu Feb 26 08:50:16 2009 From: bosak at ibiblio.org (Jon Bosak) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:50:16 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Latest TCLocal article: Food Processing in Tompkins County Message-ID: <49A6C848.1090007@ibiblio.org> Local food production and distribution are objects of concern for many on this list. Almost as important, however, is local food processing, for this determines to a large extent how food produced locally is preserved and made available independent of the seasonal production cycle. In this month's TCLocal article, "Food Processing in Tompkins County," Seph Doliner has written a comprehensive overview of food processing methods and the facilities currently available in our area. Like all TCLocal articles, it approaches the subject in the context of local responses to energy descent. You can find it at http://tclocal.org/2009/02/food_processing_in_tompkins_co.html The TCLocal web site is specifically designed to get your feedback on plans for local policy responses to energy descent as they are being developed. As usual, we invite responses from readers coming at these issues from different perspectives. Please visit the site and let us know what you think. ABOUT TCLOCAL Every month TCLocal brings you another in our series of articles addressing various aspects of energy descent in Tompkins County. Contributors to TCLocal are members of the community committed to helping prepare for a future with less available energy. Articles that have appeared so far in this series can be found at tclocal.org. They include: Food Processing in Tompkins County by Persephone Doliner (February 2009) Wasting in the Energy Descent: An Outline for the Future by Tom Shelley (January 2009) Local and Urban Small Livestock and Poultry by Angelika St. Laurent (December 2008) Health Care in an Energy-Constrained Environment (Part 1) by Bethany Schroeder (October 2008) Preparedness Basics (Part 1) by Katie Quinn-Jacobs (September 2008) Post-Peak Land Use Part 1: Ecocities and Post-Peak Land Use Part 2: The Country by Josh Dolan (July 2008) Water Treatment, Water Power by Jon Bosak (May 2008) Roads and Bridges in a Post-peak Tompkins County by Simon St. Laurent (March 2008) Fruits in a Post-Peak Tompkins County by Angelika St. Laurent (January 2008) Articles scheduled for publication in 2009 include: Local foodsheds (Chris Peters) Local wood heat (Tony Nekut) Local biofuel production (Tycho Dan) Househould preparation, Part 2 (Katie Quinn-Jacobs) Health care resources, Part 2 (Bethany Schroeder) Food production systems (Karl North) Articles appearing at tclocal.org are published under the Creative Commons license and are owned and managed by the contributors as a group. People interested in becoming TCLocal contributors should first check the Terms of Reference at http://ibiblio.org/tcrp/process/terms.htm and then contact the TCLocal editor at the address below to sign up. Jon Bosak Editor, TCLocal bosak at ibiblio.org From tonydelplato at gmail.com Thu Feb 26 09:07:43 2009 From: tonydelplato at gmail.com (Tony Del Plato) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:07:43 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Latest TCLocal article: Food Processing in Tompkins County In-Reply-To: <49A6C848.1090007@ibiblio.org> References: <49A6C848.1090007@ibiblio.org> Message-ID: This is terrific. Thanks Jon Tony Del Plato On 2/26/09, Jon Bosak wrote: > > Local food production and distribution are objects of concern for > many on this list. Almost as important, however, is local food > processing, for this determines to a large extent how food > produced locally is preserved and made available independent of > the seasonal production cycle. > > In this month's TCLocal article, "Food Processing in Tompkins > County," Seph Doliner has written a comprehensive overview of food > processing methods and the facilities currently available in our > area. Like all TCLocal articles, it approaches the subject in the > context of local responses to energy descent. You can find it at > > http://tclocal.org/2009/02/food_processing_in_tompkins_co.html > > The TCLocal web site is specifically designed to get your feedback > on plans for local policy responses to energy descent as they are > being developed. As usual, we invite responses from readers > coming at these issues from different perspectives. Please visit > the site and let us know what you think. > > ABOUT TCLOCAL > > Every month TCLocal brings you another in our series of articles > addressing various aspects of energy descent in Tompkins County. > Contributors to TCLocal are members of the community committed to > helping prepare for a future with less available energy. Articles > that have appeared so far in this series can be found at > tclocal.org. They include: > > Food Processing in Tompkins County > by Persephone Doliner (February 2009) > > Wasting in the Energy Descent: An Outline for the Future > by Tom Shelley (January 2009) > > Local and Urban Small Livestock and Poultry > by Angelika St. Laurent (December 2008) > > Health Care in an Energy-Constrained Environment (Part 1) > by Bethany Schroeder (October 2008) > > Preparedness Basics (Part 1) > by Katie Quinn-Jacobs (September 2008) > > Post-Peak Land Use Part 1: Ecocities and > Post-Peak Land Use Part 2: The Country > by Josh Dolan (July 2008) > > Water Treatment, Water Power > by Jon Bosak (May 2008) > > Roads and Bridges in a Post-peak Tompkins County > by Simon St. Laurent (March 2008) > > Fruits in a Post-Peak Tompkins County > by Angelika St. Laurent (January 2008) > > Articles scheduled for publication in 2009 include: > > Local foodsheds (Chris Peters) > Local wood heat (Tony Nekut) > Local biofuel production (Tycho Dan) > Househould preparation, Part 2 (Katie Quinn-Jacobs) > Health care resources, Part 2 (Bethany Schroeder) > Food production systems (Karl North) > > Articles appearing at tclocal.org are published under the Creative > Commons license and are owned and managed by the contributors as a > group. People interested in becoming TCLocal contributors should > first check the Terms of Reference at > > http://ibiblio.org/tcrp/process/terms.htm > > and then contact the TCLocal editor at the address below to sign > up. > > Jon Bosak > Editor, TCLocal > bosak at ibiblio.org > > _______________________________________________ > For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, > please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: > SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org > http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins > Questions about the list? ask > sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org > free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org > -- I do not know which makes a man more conservative?to know nothing but the present, or nothing but the past. - John Maynard Keynes From sjr37 at cornell.edu Thu Feb 26 09:26:32 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:26:32 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] 3/21: Homesteading 101, Home Livestock Production Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090226121718.01eae510@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> CCE-Tompkins is now taking registrations for the following workshop: Homesteading 101: Home Livestock Production Saturday, March 21, 9:00 am- 12:00 Noon 4-H Acres, Lower Creek Road, off Rt 13 North, Ithaca Thinking of raising poultry for eggs or meat, a pig, cow or even keeping a dairy cow for milk or to make yogurt and butter? This class is a how-to primer for beginning homesteaders. Karma Glos of Kingbird Farm is the instructor. Karma has loads of experience and will share her knowledge with others starting out with backyard livestock. To register for the workshop, call 272-2292. Class size is limited to 40. There is a $10 charge per person or $15/couple, kids free. From ws at twcny.rr.com Fri Feb 27 04:39:32 2009 From: ws at twcny.rr.com (Wendy Skinner) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:39:32 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Reminder: Continuing a Conversation on Neighborhood Centers, March 2 Message-ID: <1141620FFDCB48ED82DDE98EEFC6B45A@wendyvaio> Reminder: The second informal but substantive "living room conversation" about a vision for a green (or greener) model for community or neighborhood centers is being hosted by Rob Morache, at his home, 527 North Aurora Street, 2nd floor, at 6 pm, Monday, March 2. Rob is making vegetarian chili; I'm bringing corn muffins. Other edibles are welcome. This conversation grows more interesting by the day. The informality does not imply a lack of action or actors. Anyone who'd like to know more -- and express dreams, desires, or doubts -- is invited. Spread the word, please. Notes from the previous meeting are available on request. RSVP to Wendy ws at twcny.rr.com or 277-7611. From jg16 at cornell.edu Fri Feb 27 08:24:09 2009 From: jg16 at cornell.edu (Joanna Green) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:24:09 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] [Fwd: Chip Ward on "Homegrown Security"] Message-ID: <49A813A9.1070103@cornell.edu> Hi everyone. A colleague just sent this article around. I think its' excellent, and directly connects to the Sustainable Tompkins mission.....An interesting and relevant assessment of food security and the relocalization movement -- well worth reading: Homegrown Security vs Homeland security - I LIKE it! http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175039 After the Green Economy, Green Security *How to Build Resilient Communities in a Chaotic World* By Chip Ward Now that we've decided to "green" the economy, why not green homeland security, too? I'm not talking about interrogators questioning suspects under the glow of compact fluorescent light bulbs, or cops wearing recycled Kevlar recharging their Tasers via solar panels. What I mean is: Shouldn't we finally start rethinking the very notion of homeland security on a sinking planet? From mbrown at ithaca.edu Fri Feb 27 11:01:35 2009 From: mbrown at ithaca.edu (Marian Brown) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:01:35 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Sustainability Cafe on March 5 to look at targeting "green consumers" Message-ID: <49A8388F.4010600@ithaca.edu> The next Sustainability Cafe will be held on Thursday, March 5 from noon to 1:00PM in Room 301 in the Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise. The co-founders of a market analysis firm called "EarthSense" will speak about reaching "green consumers" - finding them, and how to effectively market to them. This event is free and open to the public. Local business owners may find this session especially interesting. http://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20090226105751601 For those who might be interested in coming to campus to attend this Cafe - which is free and open to the public - below is information on campus parking and access via TCAT: Here is the link to our Campus Map http://www.ithaca.edu/map/ The Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise is navy blue building #29 on the map. Here is the link to our Campus PARKING map. http://www.ithaca.edu/map/parking.php Free visitor parking is shown in orange on the map. What DOES not show on the map is the construction site for the new Gateway/Peggy R. Williams Center which is between the visitor parking lot and the Park Center. You will have to go AROUND the construction site and enter the campus Quad on the sidewalk between Dillingham Center (building #1) and Smiddy Hall (building #14). Come down the Quad toward the Campus Center (building #9A/9B) on the map, and just past Job Hall (building #2) and before Friends Hall (building #3) turn left and take the walkway that connects the Quad to the 2nd floor of the Park Center. Come in the building (you'll enter the second floor atrium) and go up another flight of stairs and come to Room 301. If you wish to ride the TCAT bus to campus, Route 11 runs between the Commons and South Hill on half-hour service. Here is the link to TCAT route 11 service. http://tcat.nextinsight.com/pdfpics/11%20January%202009.pdf The TCAT bus will drop you outside the lower level of the Park School of Communications (building #20). Come up the stairs to the 2nd level - come through the building and exit toward the Campus Center. Come up the sidewalk next to U parking lot and at the intersection of the incoming roadway, turn right and follow the sidewalk along between Williams Hall and the Center for Natural Sciences. Go to the next roadway, which you will cross. Continue forward on the sidewalk between the Muller Chapel and the flagpole circle in front of Textor Hall and you'll be walking toward the Park CENTER for Business and Sustainable Enterprise. Enter the building on the 1st floor and come on up to the 3rd floor to Room 301. See you then! Marian From owlgorge at earthlink.net Fri Feb 27 12:24:04 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:24:04 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] A Conference on "Weeds" in Cayuga Lake Message-ID: <380-22009252720244687@earthlink.net> >From the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network: A Conference on "Weeds"* sponsored by the Watershed Network and the Intermunicipal Organization at 1pm, March 28, 2009 at the Red Jacket Firehouse, 2528 Lower Lake Rd., Seneca Falls. Free and open to all. http://www.cayugalake.org/news/weeds.php Tony Ingraham owlgorge at earthlink.net Owl Gorge Productions www.owlgorge.com my blog: http://owlgorge.wordpress.com/ See some of my videos at www.owlgorge.blip.tv Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park: http://friendsoftreman.wordpress.com/ From northsheep at juno.com Sat Feb 28 18:08:25 2009 From: northsheep at juno.com (northsheep at juno.com) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:08:25 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] California ag woes Message-ID: <20090228.210825.3168.21.northsheep@juno.com> As a likely trend, this kind of event should eventually stimulate relocalized food growing here. Karl North Northland Sheep Dairy, Freetown, New York USA www.geocities.com/northsheep/ "Mother Nature never farms without animals" - Albert Howard "Pueblo que canta no morira" - Cuban saying http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE51J6MO20090221?feed Type=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California's main source of irrigation water is expected to go dry this year for most of its growers due to drought, idling at least 60,000 workers and up to 1 million acres of farmland, federal officials and experts said on Friday. The zero allocation for most of the farmers who buy water from the federally managed Central Valley Project was declared as California water officials repeated their plans to cut amounts supplied from a separate state-run water system to 15 percent of normal. ____________________________________________________________ Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTFoYb3hB3tQPt12fJpIQeaSAortfuZJLqpnt5sCebkCVb4KrneDmg/ From gaynicholson at gmail.com Sat Feb 28 19:38:51 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:38:51 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Sustainable Enterprise event on March 9 Message-ID: PLEASE JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL EVENT! Register today! The Green Resource Hub is working to create a regional Sustainable Enterprise Network to support our local green businesses and help create a resilient and sustainable local economy. Come learn more about our efforts and about one of the country's most successful green business networks? Holly Harlan Founder and President of *Entrepreneurs for Sustainability* will speak on "Connect-Learn-Do: How Cleveland Businesses are Redesigning for a Sustainable Economy" Monday, March 9, 2009 7:00 ? 9:00 p.m. Second Floor Conference Room Island Health and Fitness Center, 310 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca *Note: please park across the street in municipal lot near Boatyard Grill* Register today! Space is limited. Email gay at greenresourcehub.org to reserve your seat. $10 per person includes reception prior to presentation. -- ---------------------------------------------------- Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. 607-533-7312 (home office) 607-220-8991 (cell) 1 Maple Avenue Lansing, NY 14882 gaynicholson at gmail.com Sustainable Tompkins Program Coordinator www.sustainabletompkins.org From gaynicholson at aol.com Sat Feb 28 20:00:31 2009 From: gaynicholson at aol.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:00:31 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Sustainable Enterprise event on March 9 Message-ID: PLEASE JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL EVENT! Register today! The Green Resource Hub is working to create a regional Sustainable Enterprise Network to support our local green businesses and help create a resilient and sustainable local economy. Come learn more about our efforts and about one of the country's most successful green business networks? Holly Harlan Founder and President of *Entrepreneurs for Sustainability* will speak on "Connect-Learn-Do: How Cleveland Businesses are Redesigning for a Sustainable Economy" Monday, March 9, 2009 7:00 ? 9:00 p.m. Second Floor Conference Room Island Health and Fitness Center, 310 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca *Note: please park across the street in municipal lot near Boatyard Grill* Register today! Space is limited. Email gay at greenresourcehub.org to reserve your seat. $10 per person includes reception prior to presentation. -- ---------------------------------------------------- Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. 607-533-7312 (home office) 607-220-8991 (cell) 1 Maple Avenue Lansing, NY 14882 gaynicholson at gmail.com Sustainable Tompkins Program Coordinator www.sustainabletompkins.org From mmccasla at twcny.rr.com Sat Feb 28 20:57:37 2009 From: mmccasla at twcny.rr.com (Margaret McCasland) Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:57:37 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] California ag woes In-Reply-To: <20090228.210825.3168.21.northsheep@juno.com> References: <20090228.210825.3168.21.northsheep@juno.com> Message-ID: <1C977549-CED0-458E-B863-02A8CF5A0BF0@twcny.rr.com> Even here, we'd better start planning for growing food under altered conditions: more high heat, more dry spells, more flooding. Our climate is changing also. Why is there so little coverage in the media--including the Ithaca Journal--of the connections between the 3 year drought in Ca, the 12 year drought in Australia, the infernos that "wildfires" in both those locations have turned into, and climates already changed by global warming? There is a new film out with Peter Postelthwaite as a reporter looking back on 2008 from 100 years hence and wondering why "we" were so oblivious, when we "knew" our inaction could start causing temperatures of 101 degrees in once-temperate places (from the trailer that seemed like a projection for the distant future). That future is already here, even in Ithaca, where average rainfall is the same, but higher spring and summer temperatures (many more days in the 90s than ever before) and then more rainfall during violent storms (AKA "rain events") leads to runoff and thus flooding instead of "watering" our soil and recharging our aquifers. Melbourne has been reaching 115 many times this current summer/fire season; and the countryside outside Melbourne was often going closer to 120. This is not Death Valley or the Red Centre of Australia but the once green agricultural district, once upon a time cooled and watered by the Southern Ocean (think of the pastoral movie "Babe," shot in nearby New South Wales). And that kind of heat means less water, worse fires. Two years ago Australia had to start thinking about choosing between agriculture and drinking water in cities (it rained in the nick of time in 2007). At least one Australian city already partially drinks recycled sewer water, and more will be going that way. Ann Landers used to say, "Wake up and smell the coffee." I wonder if some people in the media, even some scientists, let alone some politicians, aren't blowing the coffee aromas out the window (with a coal-powered fan, no doubt) so that we won't smell the coffee. Sure most people admit maybe some global warming is happening, and maybe some climates are going to change, but there is little public discussion about how much has already changed. Or maybe the media does see the writing on the wall and is too scared to talk about it. Arnold makes the connections; my brother in Southern CA does. And my family and friends in Melbourne, well, that message is literally "blowing in the wind." I just received a copy of the 2007 IPCC "update" on how fast GW is actually happening--the part that was suppressed by the major polluting countries. The Nobel Prize was being given for 2004 data at the same time that the 2007 data was being suppressed! Thank goodness many politicians are finally talking about it. But I hope they know how bad it already is so that they start taking truly bold actions. Now that scientists are finally noticing reality is worse than their computer models predicted, maybe the rest of us will start noticing as well (albeit that a long, cold, snowy, winter is consistent with models of climate change in the NE). Pardon the rant. I'm just tired of only half the story being told by most of the media. Margaret On Feb 28, 2009, at 9:08 PM, northsheep at juno.com wrote: > As a likely trend, this kind of event should eventually stimulate > relocalized food growing here. > > Karl North > Northland Sheep Dairy, Freetown, New York USA > www.geocities.com/northsheep/ > "Mother Nature never farms without animals" - Albert Howard > "Pueblo que canta no morira" - Cuban saying > > > http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE51J6MO20090221?feed > Type=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0 > > LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California's main source of irrigation water > is > expected to go dry this year for most of its growers due to drought, > idling at least 60,000 workers and up to 1 million acres of farmland, > federal officials and experts said on Friday. > > > The zero allocation for most of the farmers who buy water from the > federally managed Central Valley Project was declared as California > water > officials repeated their plans to cut amounts supplied from a separate > state-run water system to 15 percent of normal. > ____________________________________________________________ > Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! > http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTFoYb3hB3tQPt12fJpIQeaSAortfuZJLqpnt5sCebkCVb4KrneDmg/ > _______________________________________________ > For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County > area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ > > RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: > SustainableTompkins at lists.mutualaid.org > http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins > Questions about the list? ask sustainabletompkins-owner at lists.mutualaid.org > free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org From gaynicholson at gmail.com Sat Feb 28 21:10:38 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 00:10:38 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] looking for office mates for "sustainability suite" Message-ID: Hello Friends, Sustainable Tompkins and the Green Resource Hub are looking at office space in a lovely historic house on South Albany Street. The building is owned by Taitem Engineering and is full of the latest energy-saving features. Taitem is also very interested in creating a collaborative work space and the building will feature shared access to a copier/printer/fax machine. The rent seems very reasonable and includes all utilities, internet service, and a cleaning service. There's a nice foyer/waiting area that we can use for a sustainability "bulletin board" area. There is another lovely office adjacent to the one we want, and we were thinking about the two together as an office suite. It has two solid wooden french doors that lead to our space, but has it's own separate entrance as well in the building. We think this room could easily accommodate 3 workspaces. The Hub will take one of these spaces, and we wanted to see if either individuals or other groups would like to have one or two desks in a downtown location. Rent would be only $150 per month for a workspace. That price includes access to kitchen area, bathrooms, production work space, some attic and basement storage, and the shared copier/printer. If you are interested in being office mates with Sustainable Tompkins and the Green Resource Hub please get in touch with me and I'll arrange for a look at the office. Many of our small groups do not have full-time staff, but we have hard-working volunteers, part-time workers, and student interns. Having an office downtown makes it easier to work on projects together. If you are an individual active in the sustainability movement, we'd welcome you as an office mate too! thanks, Gay -- ---------------------------------------------------- Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. 607-533-7312 (home office) 607-220-8991 (cell) 1 Maple Avenue Lansing, NY 14882 gaynicholson at gmail.com Sustainable Tompkins Program Coordinator www.sustainabletompkins.org