From nlv at clarityconnect.com Sun Mar 1 07:43:34 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 10:43:34 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Ohio city looks for ways out of economic slump Message-ID: Note: These articles mention interesting developments in this very hard-hit post-DHL community: Peace Corps bound students starting green jobs efforts in their own 'backyards', small college campus establishing three types of outreach gardens. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hH00bFasFAIbnzKVYzu8RvFOLKZgD968JP500 http://www.wcpo.com/content/news/localshows/living_green_two/story/Community-Gardens-Proposed-To-Energize-Clinton-Co/SMYyBLYASEuf4uFuzylP0w.cspx http://energizecc.com/ From bosak at ibiblio.org Sun Mar 1 09:56:53 2009 From: bosak at ibiblio.org (Jon Bosak) Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:56:53 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green Message-ID: <49AACC65.6020809@ibiblio.org> This article makes a nice sidebar to Tom Shelley's TCLocal piece on waste treatment last month. Jon ================================================================== The New York Times Op-Ed Contributor Yellow Is the New Green By ROSE GEORGE Woolley, England IN the far reaches of Shaanxi Province in northern China, in an apple-producing village named Ganquanfang, I recently visited a house belonging to two cheery primary-school teachers, Zhang Min Shu and his wife, Wu Zhaoxian. Their house wasn?t exceptional -- a spacious yard, several rooms -- except for the bathroom. There, up a few steps on a tiled platform, sat a toilet unlike any I?d seen. Its pan was divided in two: solid waste went in the back, and the front compartment collected urine. The liquids and solids can, after a decent period of storage and composting, be applied to the fields as pathogen-free, expense-free fertilizer. From being unsure of wanting a toilet near the house in the first place -- which is why the bathroom is at the far end of their courtyard -- the couple had become so delighted with it that they regretted not putting it next to the kitchen after all. What does this have to do with you? Mr. Zhang and Ms. Wu?s weird toilet -- known as a "urine diversion," or NoMix (after a Swedish brand), toilet -- may have things to teach us all. In the industrialized world, most of us (except those who have septic tanks) rely on wastewater-treatment plants to remove our excrement from the drinking-water supply, in great volumes. (Toilets can use up to 30 percent of a household?s water supply.) This paradigm is rarely questioned, and I understand why: flush toilets, sewers and wastewater-treatment plants do a fine job of separating us from our potentially toxic waste, and eliminating cholera and other waterborne diseases. Without them, cities wouldn?t work. But the paradigm is flawed. For a start, cleaning sewage guzzles energy. Sewage treatment in Britain uses a quarter of the energy generated by the country?s largest coal-fired power station. Then there is the nutrient problem: Human excrement is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which is why it has been a good fertilizer for millenniums and until surprisingly recently. (A 19th-century "sewage farm" in Pasadena, Calif., was renowned for its tasty walnuts.) But when sewage is dumped in the seas in great quantity, these nutrients can unbalance and sometimes suffocate life, contributing to dead zones (405 worldwide and counting, according to a recent study). Sewage, according to the United Nations Environment Program, is the biggest marine pollutant there is. Wastewater-treatment plants work to extract the nutrients before discharging sewage into water courses, but they can?t remove them all. And there?s also the urine problem. Urine, like any liquid, is a headache for wastewater managers, because most sewer systems take water from street drains along with the toilet, shower and kitchen kind. Population growth is already taxing sewers. (London?s great network was built in the late 19th century with 25 percent extra capacity, but a system designed for three million people must now serve more than twice as many.) When a rainstorm suddenly sends millions of gallons of water into an already overloaded system, the extra must be stored or -- if storage is lacking -- discharged, untreated, into the nearest river or harbor. Each week, New York City sends about 800 Olympic-size swimming pools? worth of sewage-polluted water into nearby waters because there?s nowhere else for it to go. This probably won?t kill us, but it?s not ideal. Environmental scientists in California have calculated that sewage discharged near 28 Southern California beaches has contributed to up to 1.5 million excess gastrointestinal illnesses, costing as much as $51 million in health care. We can do better. Urine might be one way forward. Before engineers scoff into their breakfast, consider that since at least 135,000 urine-diversion toilets are in use in Sweden and that a Swiss aquatic institute did a six-year study of urine separation that found in its favor. In Sweden, some of the collected urine -- which contains 80 percent of the nutrients in excrement -- is given to farmers, with little objection. "If they can use urine and it?s cheap, they?ll use it," said Petter Jenssen, a professor at the Agricultural University of Norway. The price of phosphorus fertilizers rose 50 percent in the past year in some parts of the world, as phosphate reserves, the largest of which are in Morocco and China, dwindle. (The gloomiest predictions suggest they?ll be gone in 100 years.) Although half of sewage sludge in the United States is already turned into cheap fertilizer known as "biosolids," urine contains hardly any of the pathogens or heavy metals that critics of biosolids claim remain in mixed sewage, despite treatment. The rest of Sweden?s collected urine goes to municipal wastewater plants, but in much smaller volume so it?s easier to deal with. Research by Jac Wilsenach, now a civil engineer in South Africa, found that removing even half of the nutrient-rich urine enables the bacteria in the aeration tanks to munch all the nitrogen and phosphate matter in solid waste in a single day rather than the usual 30. Urine diversion also makes for richer sludge and produces more methane, which can be turned into gas or electricity, Mr. Wilsenach said. In short, separating urine turns a guzzler of energy into a net producer. Putting urine to use is not new. A friend?s grandmother remembers the man coming round for the buckets 60 years ago in Yorkshire, which were then sold to the tanning industry. The flush toilet ended that, and no one -- my friend?s nan included -- wants outside privies again. "Any innovation in the toilet that increases owner responsibility is probably seen as downwardly mobile," said Carol Steinfeld, of New Bedford, Mass., who imports NoMix toilets into the United States. Then there?s the sitting problem: in most urine-diversion toilets, a man must empty his bladder sitting down. This wouldn?t be a problem in some countries -- Germany recently introduced a toilet-seat alarm that admonishes standers to sit -- but it has been in others. Professor Jenssen was flummoxed by one participant at a training workshop in Cuba who said firmly, "If a man sits, he is homosexual." For now, "ecological sanitation" -- or more sustainable sewage disposal -- thrives mostly in fast-industrializing countries like China and India, which have money to invest in alternatives but few sewers. A subculture of composting toilets exists in the United States, but only a few hundred urine-diversion toilets have been imported, Ms. Steinfeld said. Necessity -- whether occasioned by fertilizer prices, carbon footprints or crippling capital investments -- could bring change. At a recent wastewater conference, I watched in astonishment as dour engineers rushed to question a speaker who had been talking about stabilization ponds, which clean sewage using water, flow control, bacteria and light. Normally, such things would be cast into the box of hippie-ish ecological sanitation. But to managers struggling with energy quotas and budget limitations, more sustainable, less energy-intensive sanitation may be starting to make sense. As Mr. Zhang told me with a smile: "For me, whatever the toilet is, I use it. For example, here we eat wheat. When we go to the south of China, we eat rice. Otherwise we starve." It?s been more than 100 years since Teddy Roosevelt wondered aloud whether "civilized people ought to know how to dispose of the sewage in some other way than putting it into the drinking water." The Zhang family toilet is not the perfect answer to Roosevelt, as it still uses some water, though 80 percent less than a regular flush toilet uses. But at least it?s the result of someone asking the right questions. == Rose George is the author of "The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters." From levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Sun Mar 1 13:55:15 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 13:55:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] 8:30 pm Mar 28 EARTH HOUR of global darkness Message-ID: <8025.26092.qm@web62108.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Shall we join in? invite the Mayor to invite the City? check it out Switch off the lights to save Earth Written by Ndaba Dlamini Tuesday, 24 February 2009 Joburg has signed up for Earth Hour; its residents are urged to switch off the lights in a bid to help stop climate change. Join Archbishop Dsemond Tutu and sign up for Earth Hour (Photo: Roger Sedres) AS a way to help combat the devastating effects of climate change, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is asking Joburg residents to switch off their lights for one hour on Saturday, 28 March from 8.30pm. Launching the initiative, called Earth Hour, in Sandton on Thursday, 19 February, the chief executive of the WWF South Africa, Morne du Plessis, said Earth Hour was an intensive campaign involving scientists and celebrities to create awareness and drive action for reducing global emissions. "2009 is a critical year for action on climate change, with the world's leaders meeting at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December to sign a new deal to supersede the Kyoto Protocol. "We realise that turning off the lights for an hour won't save much electricity. I think most [people] will realise that that's not the point of the event, but it's worth reminding them. We believe Earth Hour 2009 will deliver a powerful message and an unprecedented global mandate for action on climate change." Earth Hour, an annual international event held on the last Saturday of March, began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 when two million people switched off their lights for one hour. A year later, more than 50 million people across the globe took part on the night of 29 March 2008. Landmarks in darkness On that night, global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome's Colosseum and the Coca-Cola billboard in Times Square, in New York all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour. To date, more than 538 cities and towns in 75 countries have already committed to Earth Hour. This year, over 64 countries and territories are participating in Earth Hour. This number grows every day as people realise how such a simple act can have such a profound result in affecting change. In 2009, Earth Hour aims to reach one billion people in 1 000 cities. "Already, both the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg have committed to supporting Earth Hour," said Du Plessis. "We are confident that more South African cities and towns will still come on board." Joburg commitment Prema Naidoo, the mayoral committee member for the environment, hailed Earth Hour as a great opportunity for the City to show its commitment to containing people's effect on the planet. Earth Hour is an annual international event held on the last Saturday of March "Johannesburg is taking the climate change threat seriously and has embarked on a number of initiatives to reduce the city's carbon emissions. We look forward to joining our residents and the world in pledging to take action against climate change," he said. Well-known people have also committed to the event, according to Du Plessis. These included Archbishop Desmond Tutu and celebrities Ryk Neethling, Marc Lottering, The Parlotones, Freshlyground, Leon Schuster, Jo-Ann Strauss, Derek van Dam and football club Moroka Swallows, among others. In a message played on video, Tutu said the threat of climate change was the greatest natural crisis facing the world today. "It is totally indiscriminate of race, culture and religion. It affects every human being on the planet. Earth Hour is an opportunity for every man, woman and child from all corners of the globe to come together with a united voice and make a loud and powerful statement on the issue of climate change." Moroka Swallows Moroka Swallows' chief executive, Leon Prins, said the team was proud to be involved in the WWF initiative. He appealed to all football lovers to join the team in signing up for Earth Hour and switching off their lights on 28 March. "Climate change is a poverty issue which is caused by the rich and will first and foremost impact the poor. I support Earth Hour as a first step in showing how important I think a bold global deal on climate change is. The fight against climate change will be the greatest global collective effort ever undertaken by humanity. I'm proud to be part of it," said Strauss. Van Dam said the importance of Earth Hour in combating climate change and global warming could not be over-emphasised. "This is the time to make a change. We must celebrate this hour and I hope this hour will make a significant impact," he said. Cut emissions Flora Mokgohloa, the executive director of environmental management in the City of Johannesburg, said the City took part in Earth Hour celebrations in 2008. This year it was planning a huge campaign leading up to 28 March. "We will be getting a whole lot of people to be involved in the campaign to reduce gas emissions. The City is already part of the Clinton Foundation and the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group (known as the C40), which aims to take practical and measurable steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency in large cities across the world." Mokgohloa said the City consumed a lot of electricity (seven percent goes to municipal operations) and it was critical that it started to reduce electricity consumption. "We are also looking at getting our customers to get involved in this campaign. We will be conducting out own campaign on 27 March from 10am to 11am on the day to reflect on climate issues," she said. School learners from around the country would also be signing up and taking part in Earth Hour, according to Du Plessis. Earth Hour gave everyone an opportunity to play a part in the fight against climate change. "We urge every South African to pledge their commitment on the Earth Hour website and then switch off lights from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on 28 March this year. This is an opportunity for all South Africans to unite," he said. 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 andrejs at ozolins.com Sun Mar 1 14:37:10 2009 From: andrejs at ozolins.com (Andrejs Ozolins) Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:37:10 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] 8:30 pm Mar 28 EARTH HOUR of global darkness In-Reply-To: <8025.26092.qm@web62108.mail.re1.yahoo.com> References: <8025.26092.qm@web62108.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49AB0E16.4080201@ozolins.com> FWIW/FYI, I asked the mayor last wkd at the Chili Fest to see how Ithaca can join this event as a city. She said she was putting someone on the task (this was last wkd). I'm planning to observe Earth Hour with the Earth Hour Night Ride, starting from the loop at the end of Park Rd (across the water from Island Fitness). We'll meet between 8:15 and 8:30; ride the loop of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, so that families can bring kids and we can have scooters, skates, skateboards, unicycles all join in. Following the loop, some people have expressed an interest in continuing with the night ride over to the commons, to end with some socializing. There will be enough bike lights and blinkers so that even those without lights will be able to do the CWT loop. (I"ve done the Montreal Tour la Nuit several times, passing through pitch black stretches and everyone can see just enough of eachother to be safe; there's some ambient light just about everywhere.) For the subsequent ride, everyone will need lights front and back. I've been cooking up events to keep bicycling visible to the community. As part of that, there is now a website, http://bikeithaca.org, where I hope the various constituencies interested in cycling and other non-motorized travel options can pool info. Check it out, comment, suggest more/different info (Leave general comments at http://bikeithaca.org/?page_id=4). Please do visit. BTW, it might not be possible to put Ithaca on the main Earth Hour map because I think their focus is on the world's biggest cities. So, in the US we have LA, NY, Atlanta, etc already shown, but no small cities whatever. Whether the absence of any small cities means anything of course I don't know. Andrejs Patricia Haines wrote: > Shall we join in? invite the Mayor to invite the City From gjem5760 at yahoo.com Sun Mar 1 20:41:50 2009 From: gjem5760 at yahoo.com (George Frantz) Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2009 20:41:50 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] 8:30 pm Mar 28 EARTH HOUR of global darkness In-Reply-To: <8025.26092.qm@web62108.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <68464.11787.qm@web44915.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> --- On Sun, 3/1/09, Patricia Haines wrote: Shall we join in? invite the Mayor to invite the City? ? ? ? Why?just the City?? ? Thanks to the notion that anybody can live anywhere they please and still be considered progressive, enlightened and environmentally responsible, City of Ithaca residents now?constitute?less than?30 percent of the total population of Tompkins County, and only about 20 percent of the non-student population in the county.? ? What about the Town of Ithaca, Village of Cayuga Heights, Village of Lansing, Town of Caroline, Town of Dryden, Town of Danby, Town of Newfield, Town of Enfield, Town of Ulysses or Town of Lansing, the?residents of which together now constitute 75 percent of Tompkins County residents? ? Does their electricity use?NOT contribute to global warming? ? George Frantz From sjr37 at cornell.edu Mon Mar 2 06:12:48 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:12:48 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Apple Pruning Workshop, 3/21 Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090302091114.037c71f8@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Apple Pruning Workshop, 3/21 Learn how to prune apple trees at Cornell Cooperative Extension's Apple Pruning Workshop' on Saturday, March 21, 9:00 a.m to noon, at 678 County Route 64, Elmira, NY. Instructor Rick Reisinger will demonstrate pruning techniques to renovate old, overgrown apple trees. He has decades of fruit tree experience on his own orchard as well as at Cornell's orchard in Ithaca. Jabe Warren will also be assisting with the demonstration, a Cornell Cooperative Extension educator in Chemung County and an experienced fruit farmer. The workshop will be held outside in the orchard and we have an indoor warming room, so dress for the weather. The $10 fee includes light refreshments. Pre-registration is required. Directions: Travel Route 17 (Interstate 86) to the exit 51A, Chambers road south. At the end of the road (a T in front of Consumer Square) turn right (west) onto Rt 64. Pass the big box stores. Applebee's, Michaels, Staples, TJ Max and Simmons Rockwell Car Dealership. Cross the bridge and look left. The driveway is on the left, 0.9 miles from Chambers Rd, and there is a boulder with the house number 678 on it. For questions and to pre-register, call 607-687-4020. From nlv at clarityconnect.com Mon Mar 2 06:36:12 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 09:36:12 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Maude Barlow to speek at Cornell on water issues Message-ID: PLEASE CIRCULATE WIDELY! A forum on "Water Sharing and Culture in the Mediterranean" will be held March 6-8 on campus with Mediterranean and local water experts, students and fellows from the Society for the Humanities. Maude Barlow, author and adviser to the United Nations on water issues, gives the keynote address March 7 at 8 p.m. in 165 McGraw Hall. Sessions to be held in A.D. White House include "The Gray Nile: Who gets the post-colonial lion's share?" "What role can the humanities play? Towards an ecology of water" and "Greece: scarcity, pollution and governance." Schedule:http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/Europe/about/waterculturesharing.asp . From nlv at clarityconnect.com Mon Mar 2 06:40:51 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 09:40:51 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Maude Barlow:Video Link Message-ID: <7A964E71-DFEA-4E84-A210-4CEBE4D38A0A@clarityconnect.com> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2452563840429862970 From Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com Sun Mar 1 16:10:41 2009 From: Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com (Joel and Sarah Gagnon) Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:10:41 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green In-Reply-To: <49AACC65.6020809@ibiblio.org> Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20090301190830.020b3a50@pop.lightlink.com> Indeed, it does. This is an apt form of source separation. Joel At 12:56 PM 3/1/09 -0500, you wrote: >This article makes a nice sidebar to Tom Shelley's TCLocal piece on >waste treatment last month. > >Jon > >================================================================== > >The New York Times >Op-Ed Contributor >Yellow Is the New Green >By ROSE GEORGE > >Woolley, England > >IN the far reaches of Shaanxi Province in northern China, in an >apple-producing village named Ganquanfang, I recently visited a >house belonging to two cheery primary-school teachers, Zhang Min >Shu and his wife, Wu Zhaoxian. Their house wasn't exceptional -- a >spacious yard, several rooms -- except for the bathroom. There, up >a few steps on a tiled platform, sat a toilet unlike any I'd >seen. Its pan was divided in two: solid waste went in the back, >and the front compartment collected urine. The liquids and solids >can, after a decent period of storage and composting, be applied >to the fields as pathogen-free, expense-free fertilizer. > > From being unsure of wanting a toilet near the house in the first >place -- which is why the bathroom is at the far end of their >courtyard -- the couple had become so delighted with it that they >regretted not putting it next to the kitchen after all. > >What does this have to do with you? Mr. Zhang and Ms. Wu's weird >toilet -- known as a "urine diversion," or NoMix (after a Swedish >brand), toilet -- may have things to teach us all. > >In the industrialized world, most of us (except those who have >septic tanks) rely on wastewater-treatment plants to remove our >excrement from the drinking-water supply, in great >volumes. (Toilets can use up to 30 percent of a household's water >supply.) This paradigm is rarely questioned, and I understand why: >flush toilets, sewers and wastewater-treatment plants do a fine >job of separating us from our potentially toxic waste, and >eliminating cholera and other waterborne diseases. Without them, >cities wouldn't work. > >But the paradigm is flawed. For a start, cleaning sewage guzzles >energy. Sewage treatment in Britain uses a quarter of the energy >generated by the country's largest coal-fired power station. > >Then there is the nutrient problem: Human excrement is rich in >nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which is why it has been a >good fertilizer for millenniums and until surprisingly >recently. (A 19th-century "sewage farm" in Pasadena, Calif., was >renowned for its tasty walnuts.) But when sewage is dumped in the >seas in great quantity, these nutrients can unbalance and >sometimes suffocate life, contributing to dead zones (405 >worldwide and counting, according to a recent study). Sewage, >according to the United Nations Environment Program, is the >biggest marine pollutant there is. Wastewater-treatment plants >work to extract the nutrients before discharging sewage into water >courses, but they can't remove them all. > >And there's also the urine problem. Urine, like any liquid, is a >headache for wastewater managers, because most sewer systems take >water from street drains along with the toilet, shower and kitchen >kind. Population growth is already taxing sewers. (London's great >network was built in the late 19th century with 25 percent extra >capacity, but a system designed for three million people must now >serve more than twice as many.) When a rainstorm suddenly sends >millions of gallons of water into an already overloaded system, >the extra must be stored or -- if storage is lacking -- >discharged, untreated, into the nearest river or harbor. Each >week, New York City sends about 800 Olympic-size swimming pools' >worth of sewage-polluted water into nearby waters because there's >nowhere else for it to go. > >This probably won't kill us, but it's not ideal. Environmental >scientists in California have calculated that sewage discharged >near 28 Southern California beaches has contributed to up to 1.5 >million excess gastrointestinal illnesses, costing as much as $51 >million in health care. We can do better. > >Urine might be one way forward. Before engineers scoff into their >breakfast, consider that since at least 135,000 urine-diversion >toilets are in use in Sweden and that a Swiss aquatic institute >did a six-year study of urine separation that found in its >favor. In Sweden, some of the collected urine -- which contains 80 >percent of the nutrients in excrement -- is given to farmers, with >little objection. "If they can use urine and it's cheap, they'll >use it," said Petter Jenssen, a professor at the Agricultural >University of Norway. > >The price of phosphorus fertilizers rose 50 percent in the past >year in some parts of the world, as phosphate reserves, the >largest of which are in Morocco and China, dwindle. (The gloomiest >predictions suggest they'll be gone in 100 years.) Although half >of sewage sludge in the United States is already turned into cheap >fertilizer known as "biosolids," urine contains hardly any of the >pathogens or heavy metals that critics of biosolids claim remain >in mixed sewage, despite treatment. > >The rest of Sweden's collected urine goes to municipal wastewater >plants, but in much smaller volume so it's easier to deal >with. Research by Jac Wilsenach, now a civil engineer in South >Africa, found that removing even half of the nutrient-rich urine >enables the bacteria in the aeration tanks to munch all the >nitrogen and phosphate matter in solid waste in a single day >rather than the usual 30. Urine diversion also makes for richer >sludge and produces more methane, which can be turned into gas or >electricity, Mr. Wilsenach said. In short, separating urine turns >a guzzler of energy into a net producer. > >Putting urine to use is not new. A friend's grandmother remembers >the man coming round for the buckets 60 years ago in Yorkshire, >which were then sold to the tanning industry. The flush toilet >ended that, and no one -- my friend's nan included -- wants >outside privies again. "Any innovation in the toilet that >increases owner responsibility is probably seen as downwardly >mobile," said Carol Steinfeld, of New Bedford, Mass., who imports >NoMix toilets into the United States. > >Then there's the sitting problem: in most urine-diversion toilets, >a man must empty his bladder sitting down. This wouldn't be a >problem in some countries -- Germany recently introduced a >toilet-seat alarm that admonishes standers to sit -- but it has >been in others. Professor Jenssen was flummoxed by one participant >at a training workshop in Cuba who said firmly, "If a man sits, he >is homosexual." > >For now, "ecological sanitation" -- or more sustainable sewage >disposal -- thrives mostly in fast-industrializing countries like >China and India, which have money to invest in alternatives but >few sewers. A subculture of composting toilets exists in the >United States, but only a few hundred urine-diversion toilets have >been imported, Ms. Steinfeld said. > >Necessity -- whether occasioned by fertilizer prices, carbon >footprints or crippling capital investments -- could bring >change. At a recent wastewater conference, I watched in >astonishment as dour engineers rushed to question a speaker who >had been talking about stabilization ponds, which clean sewage >using water, flow control, bacteria and light. Normally, such >things would be cast into the box of hippie-ish ecological >sanitation. But to managers struggling with energy quotas and >budget limitations, more sustainable, less energy-intensive >sanitation may be starting to make sense. > >As Mr. Zhang told me with a smile: "For me, whatever the toilet >is, I use it. For example, here we eat wheat. When we go to the >south of China, we eat rice. Otherwise we starve." > >It's been more than 100 years since Teddy Roosevelt wondered aloud >whether "civilized people ought to know how to dispose of the >sewage in some other way than putting it into the drinking water." >The Zhang family toilet is not the perfect answer to Roosevelt, as >it still uses some water, though 80 percent less than a regular >flush toilet uses. But at least it's the result of someone asking >the right questions. > >== > >Rose George is the author of "The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable >World of Human Waste and Why It Matters." > > > >_______________________________________________ >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 levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Mon Mar 2 07:56:27 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 07:56:27 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Mar 28 EARTH HOUR of global darkness In-Reply-To: <68464.11787.qm@web44915.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <816106.56946.qm@web62106.mail.re1.yahoo.com> thank you for the reminder that our area is far more mthan just the City! I asked about involving the City only because I know that the Mayor endorses things like this and that there's a proc3ess for requesting 'official' actioin. Can any of you coach me how to get this moving on County levels? perhaps contacting local representatives? or would it be enough to put something in the newspapers and perhaps a flyer on area bulletin boards? 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 --- On Sun, 3/1/09, George Frantz wrote: From: George Frantz Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] 8:30 pm Mar 28 EARTH HOUR of global darkness To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 11:41 PM --- On Sun, 3/1/09, Patricia Haines wrote: Shall we join in? invite the Mayor to invite the City? ? ? ? Why?just the City?? ? Thanks to the notion that anybody can live anywhere they please and still be considered progressive, enlightened and environmentally responsible, City of Ithaca residents now?constitute?less than?30 percent of the total population of Tompkins County, and only about 20 percent of the non-student population in the county.? ? What about the Town of Ithaca, Village of Cayuga Heights, Village of Lansing, Town of Caroline, Town of Dryden, Town of Danby, Town of Newfield, Town of Enfield, Town of Ulysses or Town of Lansing, the?residents of which together now constitute 75 percent of Tompkins County residents? ? Does their electricity use?NOT contribute to global warming? ? George Frantz _______________________________________________ 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 levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Mon Mar 2 08:12:43 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 08:12:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] 8:30 pm Mar 28 EARTH HOUR of global darkness In-Reply-To: <49AB0E16.4080201@ozolins.com> Message-ID: <409128.70553.qm@web62106.mail.re1.yahoo.com> marvelous - thank you for letting us know! --- On Sun, 3/1/09, Andrejs Ozolins wrote: From: Andrejs Ozolins Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] 8:30 pm Mar 28 EARTH HOUR of global darkness To: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com, "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 5:37 PM FWIW/FYI, I asked the mayor last wkd at the Chili Fest to see how Ithaca can join this event as a city. She said she was putting someone on the task (this was last wkd). I'm planning to observe Earth Hour with the Earth Hour Night Ride, starting from the loop at the end of Park Rd (across the water from Island Fitness). We'll meet between 8:15 and 8:30; ride the loop of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, so that families can bring kids and we can have scooters, skates, skateboards, unicycles all join in. Following the loop, some people have expressed an interest in continuing with the night ride over to the commons, to end with some socializing. There will be enough bike lights and blinkers so that even those without lights will be able to do the CWT loop. (I"ve done the Montreal Tour la Nuit several times, passing through pitch black stretches and everyone can see just enough of eachother to be safe; there's some ambient light just about everywhere.) For the subsequent ride, everyone will need lights front and back. I've been cooking up events to keep bicycling visible to the community. As part of that, there is now a website, http://bikeithaca.org, where I hope the various constituencies interested in cycling and other non-motorized travel options can pool info. Check it out, comment, suggest more/different info (Leave general comments at http://bikeithaca.org/?page_id=4). Please do visit. BTW, it might not be possible to put Ithaca on the main Earth Hour map because I think their focus is on the world's biggest cities. So, in the US we have LA, NY, Atlanta, etc already shown, but no small cities whatever. Whether the absence of any small cities means anything of course I don't know. Andrejs Patricia Haines wrote: > Shall we join in? invite the Mayor to invite the City From mmccasla at twcny.rr.com Mon Mar 2 10:11:41 2009 From: mmccasla at twcny.rr.com (Margaret McCasland) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 13:11:41 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green In-Reply-To: <5.2.1.1.2.20090301190830.020b3a50@pop.lightlink.com> References: <5.2.1.1.2.20090301190830.020b3a50@pop.lightlink.com> Message-ID: <51C8F1F7-AAD2-4EE6-A6E7-8414BD2E37C4@twcny.rr.com> Installing "half-flush" toilets is nice option for reducing water used merely to flush yellow (I believe invented, or at least first popularized in, Australia). I think they have become more available in the US lately; check out the new toilet at Greenstar . . . Also Real Goods/Gaiam sells a retrofit "half-flush handle." Has anyone tried one? I keep meaning to. It would help at the well or water meter end, as well as at the septic/wastewater end. Perhaps a building code requiring half-flush toilets? I believe it has been code in drought-stricken Australia for some time; it is certainly common practice there. Margaret On Mar 1, 2009, at 7:10 PM, Joel and Sarah Gagnon wrote: > Indeed, it does. This is an apt form of source separation. > > Joel > > At 12:56 PM 3/1/09 -0500, you wrote: >> This article makes a nice sidebar to Tom Shelley's TCLocal piece on >> waste treatment last month. >> >> Jon >> >> ================================================================== >> >> The New York Times >> Op-Ed Contributor >> Yellow Is the New Green >> By ROSE GEORGE >> >> Woolley, England >> >> IN the far reaches of Shaanxi Province in northern China, in an >> apple-producing village named Ganquanfang, I recently visited a >> house belonging to two cheery primary-school teachers, Zhang Min >> Shu and his wife, Wu Zhaoxian. Their house wasn't exceptional -- a >> spacious yard, several rooms -- except for the bathroom. There, up >> a few steps on a tiled platform, sat a toilet unlike any I'd >> seen. Its pan was divided in two: solid waste went in the back, >> and the front compartment collected urine. The liquids and solids >> can, after a decent period of storage and composting, be applied >> to the fields as pathogen-free, expense-free fertilizer. >> >> From being unsure of wanting a toilet near the house in the first >> place -- which is why the bathroom is at the far end of their >> courtyard -- the couple had become so delighted with it that they >> regretted not putting it next to the kitchen after all. >> >> What does this have to do with you? Mr. Zhang and Ms. Wu's weird >> toilet -- known as a "urine diversion," or NoMix (after a Swedish >> brand), toilet -- may have things to teach us all. >> >> In the industrialized world, most of us (except those who have >> septic tanks) rely on wastewater-treatment plants to remove our >> excrement from the drinking-water supply, in great >> volumes. (Toilets can use up to 30 percent of a household's water >> supply.) This paradigm is rarely questioned, and I understand why: >> flush toilets, sewers and wastewater-treatment plants do a fine >> job of separating us from our potentially toxic waste, and >> eliminating cholera and other waterborne diseases. Without them, >> cities wouldn't work. >> >> But the paradigm is flawed. For a start, cleaning sewage guzzles >> energy. Sewage treatment in Britain uses a quarter of the energy >> generated by the country's largest coal-fired power station. >> >> Then there is the nutrient problem: Human excrement is rich in >> nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which is why it has been a >> good fertilizer for millenniums and until surprisingly >> recently. (A 19th-century "sewage farm" in Pasadena, Calif., was >> renowned for its tasty walnuts.) But when sewage is dumped in the >> seas in great quantity, these nutrients can unbalance and >> sometimes suffocate life, contributing to dead zones (405 >> worldwide and counting, according to a recent study). Sewage, >> according to the United Nations Environment Program, is the >> biggest marine pollutant there is. Wastewater-treatment plants >> work to extract the nutrients before discharging sewage into water >> courses, but they can't remove them all. >> >> And there's also the urine problem. Urine, like any liquid, is a >> headache for wastewater managers, because most sewer systems take >> water from street drains along with the toilet, shower and kitchen >> kind. Population growth is already taxing sewers. (London's great >> network was built in the late 19th century with 25 percent extra >> capacity, but a system designed for three million people must now >> serve more than twice as many.) When a rainstorm suddenly sends >> millions of gallons of water into an already overloaded system, >> the extra must be stored or -- if storage is lacking -- >> discharged, untreated, into the nearest river or harbor. Each >> week, New York City sends about 800 Olympic-size swimming pools' >> worth of sewage-polluted water into nearby waters because there's >> nowhere else for it to go. >> >> This probably won't kill us, but it's not ideal. Environmental >> scientists in California have calculated that sewage discharged >> near 28 Southern California beaches has contributed to up to 1.5 >> million excess gastrointestinal illnesses, costing as much as $51 >> million in health care. We can do better. >> >> Urine might be one way forward. Before engineers scoff into their >> breakfast, consider that since at least 135,000 urine-diversion >> toilets are in use in Sweden and that a Swiss aquatic institute >> did a six-year study of urine separation that found in its >> favor. In Sweden, some of the collected urine -- which contains 80 >> percent of the nutrients in excrement -- is given to farmers, with >> little objection. "If they can use urine and it's cheap, they'll >> use it," said Petter Jenssen, a professor at the Agricultural >> University of Norway. >> >> The price of phosphorus fertilizers rose 50 percent in the past >> year in some parts of the world, as phosphate reserves, the >> largest of which are in Morocco and China, dwindle. (The gloomiest >> predictions suggest they'll be gone in 100 years.) Although half >> of sewage sludge in the United States is already turned into cheap >> fertilizer known as "biosolids," urine contains hardly any of the >> pathogens or heavy metals that critics of biosolids claim remain >> in mixed sewage, despite treatment. >> >> The rest of Sweden's collected urine goes to municipal wastewater >> plants, but in much smaller volume so it's easier to deal >> with. Research by Jac Wilsenach, now a civil engineer in South >> Africa, found that removing even half of the nutrient-rich urine >> enables the bacteria in the aeration tanks to munch all the >> nitrogen and phosphate matter in solid waste in a single day >> rather than the usual 30. Urine diversion also makes for richer >> sludge and produces more methane, which can be turned into gas or >> electricity, Mr. Wilsenach said. In short, separating urine turns >> a guzzler of energy into a net producer. >> >> Putting urine to use is not new. A friend's grandmother remembers >> the man coming round for the buckets 60 years ago in Yorkshire, >> which were then sold to the tanning industry. The flush toilet >> ended that, and no one -- my friend's nan included -- wants >> outside privies again. "Any innovation in the toilet that >> increases owner responsibility is probably seen as downwardly >> mobile," said Carol Steinfeld, of New Bedford, Mass., who imports >> NoMix toilets into the United States. >> >> Then there's the sitting problem: in most urine-diversion toilets, >> a man must empty his bladder sitting down. This wouldn't be a >> problem in some countries -- Germany recently introduced a >> toilet-seat alarm that admonishes standers to sit -- but it has >> been in others. Professor Jenssen was flummoxed by one participant >> at a training workshop in Cuba who said firmly, "If a man sits, he >> is homosexual." >> >> For now, "ecological sanitation" -- or more sustainable sewage >> disposal -- thrives mostly in fast-industrializing countries like >> China and India, which have money to invest in alternatives but >> few sewers. A subculture of composting toilets exists in the >> United States, but only a few hundred urine-diversion toilets have >> been imported, Ms. Steinfeld said. >> >> Necessity -- whether occasioned by fertilizer prices, carbon >> footprints or crippling capital investments -- could bring >> change. At a recent wastewater conference, I watched in >> astonishment as dour engineers rushed to question a speaker who >> had been talking about stabilization ponds, which clean sewage >> using water, flow control, bacteria and light. Normally, such >> things would be cast into the box of hippie-ish ecological >> sanitation. But to managers struggling with energy quotas and >> budget limitations, more sustainable, less energy-intensive >> sanitation may be starting to make sense. >> >> As Mr. Zhang told me with a smile: "For me, whatever the toilet >> is, I use it. For example, here we eat wheat. When we go to the >> south of China, we eat rice. Otherwise we starve." >> >> It's been more than 100 years since Teddy Roosevelt wondered aloud >> whether "civilized people ought to know how to dispose of the >> sewage in some other way than putting it into the drinking water." >> The Zhang family toilet is not the perfect answer to Roosevelt, as >> it still uses some water, though 80 percent less than a regular >> flush toilet uses. But at least it's the result of someone asking >> the right questions. >> >> == >> >> Rose George is the author of "The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable >> World of Human Waste and Why It Matters." >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 owlgorge at earthlink.net Mon Mar 2 10:25:41 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 13:25:41 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Water conference at Cornell this weekend Message-ID: <380-22009312182541996@earthlink.net> This weekend there will be a water conference at Cornell. The schedule is at http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/files/content/982/water_conference_final.pdf Though the theme is Mediterranean water resources, the keynote address will address global issues. I understand this is free and open to the public: 8 pm Keynote Speaker: Maude Barlow Our Water Commons: Toward a Rights-Based Solution to the Global Water Crisis 165 McGraw Hall Tony Ingraham Ithaca, NY 14850 Owl Gorge Productions www.owlgorge.com From andy at ithacacarshare.org Mon Mar 2 10:54:05 2009 From: andy at ithacacarshare.org (Andy Goodell) Date: Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:54:05 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green In-Reply-To: <51C8F1F7-AAD2-4EE6-A6E7-8414BD2E37C4@twcny.rr.com> References: <5.2.1.1.2.20090301190830.020b3a50@pop.lightlink.com> <51C8F1F7-AAD2-4EE6-A6E7-8414BD2E37C4@twcny.rr.com> Message-ID: <49AC2B4D.5070505@ithacacarshare.org> Save your money! You can half-flush most any standard American toilet manually. Please excuse the big technical words in this official tutorial: The trick is to lightly push the flushy-do-dad so that water goes into the bowl without tipping the rubber-stopper-thingamabob too far to induce the full flush. After about 2 seconds of this balancing game, the liquids swirl down the hole, and you can let up on the flushy-do-dad. It seems to use about half of the bowl. -Andy Margaret McCasland wrote: > Installing "half-flush" toilets is nice option for reducing water used > merely to flush yellow (I believe invented, or at least first > popularized in, Australia). I think they have become more available in > the US lately; check out the new toilet at Greenstar . . . > > Also Real Goods/Gaiam sells a retrofit "half-flush handle." Has anyone > tried one? I keep meaning to. It would help at the well or water > meter end, as well as at the septic/wastewater end. > > Perhaps a building code requiring half-flush toilets? I believe it > has been code in drought-stricken Australia for some time; it is > certainly common practice there. > > Margaret > > From mmccasla at twcny.rr.com Mon Mar 2 11:19:44 2009 From: mmccasla at twcny.rr.com (Margaret McCasland) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 14:19:44 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green In-Reply-To: <49AC2B4D.5070505@ithacacarshare.org> References: <5.2.1.1.2.20090301190830.020b3a50@pop.lightlink.com> <51C8F1F7-AAD2-4EE6-A6E7-8414BD2E37C4@twcny.rr.com> <49AC2B4D.5070505@ithacacarshare.org> Message-ID: <0B36A13A-5954-4392-86C0-126D1F22C73E@twcny.rr.com> I have six tenants and 4 toilets (and wells that are being taxed)--I need ultra-easy to use. Margaret On Mar 2, 2009, at 1:54 PM, Andy Goodell wrote: > Save your money! You can half-flush most any standard American toilet > manually. Please excuse the big technical words in this official > tutorial: The trick is to lightly push the flushy-do-dad so that water > goes into the bowl without tipping the rubber-stopper-thingamabob too > far to induce the full flush. After about 2 seconds of this balancing > game, the liquids swirl down the hole, and you can let up on the > flushy-do-dad. It seems to use about half of the bowl. > > -Andy > > Margaret McCasland wrote: >> Installing "half-flush" toilets is nice option for reducing water >> used >> merely to flush yellow (I believe invented, or at least first >> popularized in, Australia). I think they have become more available >> in >> the US lately; check out the new toilet at Greenstar . . . >> >> Also Real Goods/Gaiam sells a retrofit "half-flush handle." Has >> anyone >> tried one? I keep meaning to. It would help at the well or water >> meter end, as well as at the septic/wastewater end. >> >> Perhaps a building code requiring half-flush toilets? I believe it >> has been code in drought-stricken Australia for some time; it is >> certainly common practice there. >> >> Margaret >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 owlgorge at earthlink.net Mon Mar 2 18:54:02 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 21:54:02 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Nature Nearby: "Remembering Redbud Woods" Message-ID: <380-2200932325420@earthlink.net> Nature Nearby: My Ithaca public access TV series continues on Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m., exclusively on Ithaca cable channel 13 through April. On March 4 and 11 will air the encore episode, "Remembering Redbud Woods" from the fall of 2007. (For those unable to see this, click the link to an excerpt below.) For several years until 2006, Cornell community members, city residents, and the City of Ithaca struggled with the Cornell administration to try to keep them from destroying one of the few remaining green spaces in the city to put up a parking lot. The area along University Avenue once owned by the Treman family was known as Redbud Woods for the abundance of these small trees that bloom with beautiful lavender flowers each spring. Generations of students and people in the neighborhood had come to love the walk through the woods on the way to class or work. After a long campaign that included Cornell suing the city, sit-ins, civil disobedience, and arrests, Cornell crews razed Redbud Woods and paved the area. A group of people involved in the effort to save Redbud Woods vowed that the struggle should not be forgotten and worked hard to get city approval to place a boulder next to the site with a plaque commemorating the woods and the people who tried to save them. Cornell's attempts to block the memorial was an education in institutional arrogance in its own right, and shameful for a university supposedly dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the truth and claiming to be dedicated to environmental sustainability. This clearly was a piece of local history the Cornell adminstration was not proud of. This episode covers the dedication of the plaque with several articulate speakers, including discussion of the history of Cornell student activism over the years. They begin with the late Ben Nichols in one of his last public appearances. Local musician/singer/songwriter Will Fudeman performs the song that he was inspired to write about saving Redbud Woods. Though I'm sure many people who drive by the Redbud Woods parking lot have no inkling of what was lost and what took place there, the memorial plaque is there to be read by those who walk by. In the spirit of that memorial, here is the story again. Ithaca cable channel 13 Wednesday, March 4, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, 7:00 p.m. For those unable to see this program, I posted an excerpt with Ben Nichols's comments at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpUgYfjco1M Tony Ingraham Ithaca, NY 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 Tue Mar 3 05:30:10 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:30:10 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Tonight! Green Building "Site Planning" seminar @ 7 Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090303082847.01eab940@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Green Building Seminar Series Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm First Unitarian Church of Ithaca Annex (208 E. Buffalo St., near Aurora); dates subject to change. March 3: "Site Planning" Whether you?re building a new house on 100 acres or a quarter acre, putting on an addition, or looking for landscaping ideas, this seminar will help you through the thought process. Topics will include site assessment, working with and preserving natural topography and vegetation, water management, making the most?and limiting the harmful effects?of the sun and wind, using native plants, and basic permaculture principles. March 10: "Wastewater Treatment Systems" Learn about the benefits and drawbacks of new technologies, like peat filters and aerobic systems, that can effectively treat a families wastewater when a site wont accommodate a conventional septic system. [no seminar 3/17] March 24: "Solar and Wind Electric" Whether you?re off-the-grid or on, looking to start small or for a commercial-sized system, find out your options, how to size your system, and some of the financial incentives available. March 31: "Green Heating Options" Starting with house design, speakers will cover the basics of point-source heating, geothermal and solar thermal systems, and masonry heaters/stoves. Seminars are presented by Tompkins County Cooperative Extension in partnership with the Ithaca Green Building Alliance. Fee: $5/seminar, Ithaca Hours accepted and scholarships are available. For more information, contact Guillermo Metz at gm52 at cornell.edu or 272-2292, x.185, or visit www.ccetompkins.org or www.ithacagreenbuilding.org. From Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com Tue Mar 3 07:27:06 2009 From: Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com (Joel and Sarah Gagnon) Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:27:06 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green In-Reply-To: <51C8F1F7-AAD2-4EE6-A6E7-8414BD2E37C4@twcny.rr.com> References: <5.2.1.1.2.20090301190830.020b3a50@pop.lightlink.com> <5.2.1.1.2.20090301190830.020b3a50@pop.lightlink.com> Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20090303102111.020b3370@pop.lightlink.com> The issue is not water use. It is the commingling of nutrient-laden urine with the relatively low-nutrient wastewater stream. Then we go to great expense to try to pull the nutrients back out again. This makes no sense. Joel At 01:11 PM 3/2/09 -0500, you wrote: >Installing "half-flush" toilets is nice option for reducing water used >merely to flush yellow (I believe invented, or at least first >popularized in, Australia). I think they have become more available in >the US lately; check out the new toilet at Greenstar . . . > >Also Real Goods/Gaiam sells a retrofit "half-flush handle." Has anyone >tried one? I keep meaning to. It would help at the well or water >meter end, as well as at the septic/wastewater end. > >Perhaps a building code requiring half-flush toilets? I believe it >has been code in drought-stricken Australia for some time; it is >certainly common practice there. > >Margaret > > >On Mar 1, 2009, at 7:10 PM, Joel and Sarah Gagnon wrote: > > > Indeed, it does. This is an apt form of source separation. > > > > Joel > > > > At 12:56 PM 3/1/09 -0500, you wrote: > >> This article makes a nice sidebar to Tom Shelley's TCLocal piece on > >> waste treatment last month. > >> > >> Jon > >> > >> ================================================================== > >> > >> The New York Times > >> Op-Ed Contributor > >> Yellow Is the New Green > >> By ROSE GEORGE > >> > >> Woolley, England > >> > >> IN the far reaches of Shaanxi Province in northern China, in an > >> apple-producing village named Ganquanfang, I recently visited a > >> house belonging to two cheery primary-school teachers, Zhang Min > >> Shu and his wife, Wu Zhaoxian. Their house wasn't exceptional -- a > >> spacious yard, several rooms -- except for the bathroom. There, up > >> a few steps on a tiled platform, sat a toilet unlike any I'd > >> seen. Its pan was divided in two: solid waste went in the back, > >> and the front compartment collected urine. The liquids and solids > >> can, after a decent period of storage and composting, be applied > >> to the fields as pathogen-free, expense-free fertilizer. > >> > >> From being unsure of wanting a toilet near the house in the first > >> place -- which is why the bathroom is at the far end of their > >> courtyard -- the couple had become so delighted with it that they > >> regretted not putting it next to the kitchen after all. > >> > >> What does this have to do with you? Mr. Zhang and Ms. Wu's weird > >> toilet -- known as a "urine diversion," or NoMix (after a Swedish > >> brand), toilet -- may have things to teach us all. > >> > >> In the industrialized world, most of us (except those who have > >> septic tanks) rely on wastewater-treatment plants to remove our > >> excrement from the drinking-water supply, in great > >> volumes. (Toilets can use up to 30 percent of a household's water > >> supply.) This paradigm is rarely questioned, and I understand why: > >> flush toilets, sewers and wastewater-treatment plants do a fine > >> job of separating us from our potentially toxic waste, and > >> eliminating cholera and other waterborne diseases. Without them, > >> cities wouldn't work. > >> > >> But the paradigm is flawed. For a start, cleaning sewage guzzles > >> energy. Sewage treatment in Britain uses a quarter of the energy > >> generated by the country's largest coal-fired power station. > >> > >> Then there is the nutrient problem: Human excrement is rich in > >> nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which is why it has been a > >> good fertilizer for millenniums and until surprisingly > >> recently. (A 19th-century "sewage farm" in Pasadena, Calif., was > >> renowned for its tasty walnuts.) But when sewage is dumped in the > >> seas in great quantity, these nutrients can unbalance and > >> sometimes suffocate life, contributing to dead zones (405 > >> worldwide and counting, according to a recent study). Sewage, > >> according to the United Nations Environment Program, is the > >> biggest marine pollutant there is. Wastewater-treatment plants > >> work to extract the nutrients before discharging sewage into water > >> courses, but they can't remove them all. > >> > >> And there's also the urine problem. Urine, like any liquid, is a > >> headache for wastewater managers, because most sewer systems take > >> water from street drains along with the toilet, shower and kitchen > >> kind. Population growth is already taxing sewers. (London's great > >> network was built in the late 19th century with 25 percent extra > >> capacity, but a system designed for three million people must now > >> serve more than twice as many.) When a rainstorm suddenly sends > >> millions of gallons of water into an already overloaded system, > >> the extra must be stored or -- if storage is lacking -- > >> discharged, untreated, into the nearest river or harbor. Each > >> week, New York City sends about 800 Olympic-size swimming pools' > >> worth of sewage-polluted water into nearby waters because there's > >> nowhere else for it to go. > >> > >> This probably won't kill us, but it's not ideal. Environmental > >> scientists in California have calculated that sewage discharged > >> near 28 Southern California beaches has contributed to up to 1.5 > >> million excess gastrointestinal illnesses, costing as much as $51 > >> million in health care. We can do better. > >> > >> Urine might be one way forward. Before engineers scoff into their > >> breakfast, consider that since at least 135,000 urine-diversion > >> toilets are in use in Sweden and that a Swiss aquatic institute > >> did a six-year study of urine separation that found in its > >> favor. In Sweden, some of the collected urine -- which contains 80 > >> percent of the nutrients in excrement -- is given to farmers, with > >> little objection. "If they can use urine and it's cheap, they'll > >> use it," said Petter Jenssen, a professor at the Agricultural > >> University of Norway. > >> > >> The price of phosphorus fertilizers rose 50 percent in the past > >> year in some parts of the world, as phosphate reserves, the > >> largest of which are in Morocco and China, dwindle. (The gloomiest > >> predictions suggest they'll be gone in 100 years.) Although half > >> of sewage sludge in the United States is already turned into cheap > >> fertilizer known as "biosolids," urine contains hardly any of the > >> pathogens or heavy metals that critics of biosolids claim remain > >> in mixed sewage, despite treatment. > >> > >> The rest of Sweden's collected urine goes to municipal wastewater > >> plants, but in much smaller volume so it's easier to deal > >> with. Research by Jac Wilsenach, now a civil engineer in South > >> Africa, found that removing even half of the nutrient-rich urine > >> enables the bacteria in the aeration tanks to munch all the > >> nitrogen and phosphate matter in solid waste in a single day > >> rather than the usual 30. Urine diversion also makes for richer > >> sludge and produces more methane, which can be turned into gas or > >> electricity, Mr. Wilsenach said. In short, separating urine turns > >> a guzzler of energy into a net producer. > >> > >> Putting urine to use is not new. A friend's grandmother remembers > >> the man coming round for the buckets 60 years ago in Yorkshire, > >> which were then sold to the tanning industry. The flush toilet > >> ended that, and no one -- my friend's nan included -- wants > >> outside privies again. "Any innovation in the toilet that > >> increases owner responsibility is probably seen as downwardly > >> mobile," said Carol Steinfeld, of New Bedford, Mass., who imports > >> NoMix toilets into the United States. > >> > >> Then there's the sitting problem: in most urine-diversion toilets, > >> a man must empty his bladder sitting down. This wouldn't be a > >> problem in some countries -- Germany recently introduced a > >> toilet-seat alarm that admonishes standers to sit -- but it has > >> been in others. Professor Jenssen was flummoxed by one participant > >> at a training workshop in Cuba who said firmly, "If a man sits, he > >> is homosexual." > >> > >> For now, "ecological sanitation" -- or more sustainable sewage > >> disposal -- thrives mostly in fast-industrializing countries like > >> China and India, which have money to invest in alternatives but > >> few sewers. A subculture of composting toilets exists in the > >> United States, but only a few hundred urine-diversion toilets have > >> been imported, Ms. Steinfeld said. > >> > >> Necessity -- whether occasioned by fertilizer prices, carbon > >> footprints or crippling capital investments -- could bring > >> change. At a recent wastewater conference, I watched in > >> astonishment as dour engineers rushed to question a speaker who > >> had been talking about stabilization ponds, which clean sewage > >> using water, flow control, bacteria and light. Normally, such > >> things would be cast into the box of hippie-ish ecological > >> sanitation. But to managers struggling with energy quotas and > >> budget limitations, more sustainable, less energy-intensive > >> sanitation may be starting to make sense. > >> > >> As Mr. Zhang told me with a smile: "For me, whatever the toilet > >> is, I use it. For example, here we eat wheat. When we go to the > >> south of China, we eat rice. Otherwise we starve." > >> > >> It's been more than 100 years since Teddy Roosevelt wondered aloud > >> whether "civilized people ought to know how to dispose of the > >> sewage in some other way than putting it into the drinking water." > >> The Zhang family toilet is not the perfect answer to Roosevelt, as > >> it still uses some water, though 80 percent less than a regular > >> flush toilet uses. But at least it's the result of someone asking > >> the right questions. > >> > >> == > >> > >> Rose George is the author of "The Big Necessity: The Unmentionable > >> World of Human Waste and Why It Matters." > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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 > >_______________________________________________ >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 earthdayithaca at yahoo.com Tue Mar 3 17:55:43 2009 From: earthdayithaca at yahoo.com (Joey Gates) Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 17:55:43 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green In-Reply-To: <5.2.1.1.2.20090301190830.020b3a50@pop.lightlink.com> Message-ID: <593023.37154.qm@web56402.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Crow and I just got back from a Rainbow Gathering where everyone is taught not to "go" near the water because we drink it. On the other end, I come back to my office where the auto-flush function causes the toilet to start flushing as soon as I walk in and not stop until after I leave the restroom entirely. For a good book on the subject, check out the "Humanure Handbook" by Joseph Jenkins. It is available free online and we have a copy I am happy to share. --- On Sun, 3/1/09, Joel and Sarah Gagnon wrote: > From: Joel and Sarah Gagnon > Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green > To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" > Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 7:10 PM > Indeed, it does. This is an apt form of source separation. > > Joel > > At 12:56 PM 3/1/09 -0500, you wrote: > >This article makes a nice sidebar to Tom Shelley's > TCLocal piece on > >waste treatment last month. > > > >Jon > > > >================================================================== > > > >The New York Times > >Op-Ed Contributor > >Yellow Is the New Green > >By ROSE GEORGE > > > >Woolley, England > > > >IN the far reaches of Shaanxi Province in northern > China, in an > >apple-producing village named Ganquanfang, I recently > visited a > >house belonging to two cheery primary-school teachers, > Zhang Min > >Shu and his wife, Wu Zhaoxian. Their house wasn't > exceptional -- a > >spacious yard, several rooms -- except for the > bathroom. There, up > >a few steps on a tiled platform, sat a toilet unlike > any I'd > >seen. Its pan was divided in two: solid waste went in > the back, > >and the front compartment collected urine. The liquids > and solids > >can, after a decent period of storage and composting, > be applied > >to the fields as pathogen-free, expense-free > fertilizer. > > > > From being unsure of wanting a toilet near the house > in the first > >place -- which is why the bathroom is at the far end of > their > >courtyard -- the couple had become so delighted with it > that they > >regretted not putting it next to the kitchen after all. > > > >What does this have to do with you? Mr. Zhang and Ms. > Wu's weird > >toilet -- known as a "urine diversion," or > NoMix (after a Swedish > >brand), toilet -- may have things to teach us all. > > > >In the industrialized world, most of us (except those > who have > >septic tanks) rely on wastewater-treatment plants to > remove our > >excrement from the drinking-water supply, in great > >volumes. (Toilets can use up to 30 percent of a > household's water > >supply.) This paradigm is rarely questioned, and I > understand why: > >flush toilets, sewers and wastewater-treatment plants > do a fine > >job of separating us from our potentially toxic waste, > and > >eliminating cholera and other waterborne diseases. > Without them, > >cities wouldn't work. > > > >But the paradigm is flawed. For a start, cleaning > sewage guzzles > >energy. Sewage treatment in Britain uses a quarter of > the energy > >generated by the country's largest coal-fired power > station. > > > >Then there is the nutrient problem: Human excrement is > rich in > >nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which is why it has > been a > >good fertilizer for millenniums and until surprisingly > >recently. (A 19th-century "sewage farm" in > Pasadena, Calif., was > >renowned for its tasty walnuts.) But when sewage is > dumped in the > >seas in great quantity, these nutrients can unbalance > and > >sometimes suffocate life, contributing to dead zones > (405 > >worldwide and counting, according to a recent study). > Sewage, > >according to the United Nations Environment Program, is > the > >biggest marine pollutant there is. Wastewater-treatment > plants > >work to extract the nutrients before discharging sewage > into water > >courses, but they can't remove them all. > > > >And there's also the urine problem. Urine, like any > liquid, is a > >headache for wastewater managers, because most sewer > systems take > >water from street drains along with the toilet, shower > and kitchen > >kind. Population growth is already taxing sewers. > (London's great > >network was built in the late 19th century with 25 > percent extra > >capacity, but a system designed for three million > people must now > >serve more than twice as many.) When a rainstorm > suddenly sends > >millions of gallons of water into an already overloaded > system, > >the extra must be stored or -- if storage is lacking -- > >discharged, untreated, into the nearest river or > harbor. Each > >week, New York City sends about 800 Olympic-size > swimming pools' > >worth of sewage-polluted water into nearby waters > because there's > >nowhere else for it to go. > > > >This probably won't kill us, but it's not > ideal. Environmental > >scientists in California have calculated that sewage > discharged > >near 28 Southern California beaches has contributed to > up to 1.5 > >million excess gastrointestinal illnesses, costing as > much as $51 > >million in health care. We can do better. > > > >Urine might be one way forward. Before engineers scoff > into their > >breakfast, consider that since at least 135,000 > urine-diversion > >toilets are in use in Sweden and that a Swiss aquatic > institute > >did a six-year study of urine separation that found in > its > >favor. In Sweden, some of the collected urine -- which > contains 80 > >percent of the nutrients in excrement -- is given to > farmers, with > >little objection. "If they can use urine and > it's cheap, they'll > >use it," said Petter Jenssen, a professor at the > Agricultural > >University of Norway. > > > >The price of phosphorus fertilizers rose 50 percent in > the past > >year in some parts of the world, as phosphate reserves, > the > >largest of which are in Morocco and China, dwindle. > (The gloomiest > >predictions suggest they'll be gone in 100 years.) > Although half > >of sewage sludge in the United States is already turned > into cheap > >fertilizer known as "biosolids," urine > contains hardly any of the > >pathogens or heavy metals that critics of biosolids > claim remain > >in mixed sewage, despite treatment. > > > >The rest of Sweden's collected urine goes to > municipal wastewater > >plants, but in much smaller volume so it's easier > to deal > >with. Research by Jac Wilsenach, now a civil engineer > in South > >Africa, found that removing even half of the > nutrient-rich urine > >enables the bacteria in the aeration tanks to munch all > the > >nitrogen and phosphate matter in solid waste in a > single day > >rather than the usual 30. Urine diversion also makes > for richer > >sludge and produces more methane, which can be turned > into gas or > >electricity, Mr. Wilsenach said. In short, separating > urine turns > >a guzzler of energy into a net producer. > > > >Putting urine to use is not new. A friend's > grandmother remembers > >the man coming round for the buckets 60 years ago in > Yorkshire, > >which were then sold to the tanning industry. The flush > toilet > >ended that, and no one -- my friend's nan included > -- wants > >outside privies again. "Any innovation in the > toilet that > >increases owner responsibility is probably seen as > downwardly > >mobile," said Carol Steinfeld, of New Bedford, > Mass., who imports > >NoMix toilets into the United States. > > > >Then there's the sitting problem: in most > urine-diversion toilets, > >a man must empty his bladder sitting down. This > wouldn't be a > >problem in some countries -- Germany recently > introduced a > >toilet-seat alarm that admonishes standers to sit -- > but it has > >been in others. Professor Jenssen was flummoxed by one > participant > >at a training workshop in Cuba who said firmly, > "If a man sits, he > >is homosexual." > > > >For now, "ecological sanitation" -- or more > sustainable sewage > >disposal -- thrives mostly in fast-industrializing > countries like > >China and India, which have money to invest in > alternatives but > >few sewers. A subculture of composting toilets exists > in the > >United States, but only a few hundred urine-diversion > toilets have > >been imported, Ms. Steinfeld said. > > > >Necessity -- whether occasioned by fertilizer prices, > carbon > >footprints or crippling capital investments -- could > bring > >change. At a recent wastewater conference, I watched in > >astonishment as dour engineers rushed to question a > speaker who > >had been talking about stabilization ponds, which clean > sewage > >using water, flow control, bacteria and light. > Normally, such > >things would be cast into the box of hippie-ish > ecological > >sanitation. But to managers struggling with energy > quotas and > >budget limitations, more sustainable, less > energy-intensive > >sanitation may be starting to make sense. > > > >As Mr. Zhang told me with a smile: "For me, > whatever the toilet > >is, I use it. For example, here we eat wheat. When we > go to the > >south of China, we eat rice. Otherwise we starve." > > > >It's been more than 100 years since Teddy Roosevelt > wondered aloud > >whether "civilized people ought to know how to > dispose of the > >sewage in some other way than putting it into the > drinking water." > >The Zhang family toilet is not the perfect answer to > Roosevelt, as > >it still uses some water, though 80 percent less than a > regular > >flush toilet uses. But at least it's the result of > someone asking > >the right questions. > > > >== > > > >Rose George is the author of "The Big Necessity: > The Unmentionable > >World of Human Waste and Why It Matters." > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >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 brew_bird at yahoo.com Wed Mar 4 09:21:04 2009 From: brew_bird at yahoo.com (Eric Banford) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 09:21:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Danby Land Bank Coop 2nd meeting Message-ID: <796136.22765.qm@web52501.mail.re2.yahoo.com> From: Elizabeth Keokosky Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 8:59:45 AM Subject: Danby Land Bank Coop 2nd meeting Danby Land Bank Cooperative second meeting Saturday, March 14, 11am at the Danby Town Hall This meeting consists of two parts: The steering committee will report back on it's progress, and there will be some invited speakers. The speakers will be Ken Lynch of Summerhill Biomass Systems, a engineering company experimenting with powdered biomass for internal combustion machines from Manilus, NY, Matt McArdley of Mesa Reduction, an Auburn, NY company which uses biomass to co-fire with coal for electricity generation, Tom Lindberg of NYS Ag and Markets, and Ken White, a Danby entrepreneur involved with the development of Summerhill Biomass. These companies are interested in how grass and wood can be used for alternative energy, and in what the cooperative is doing. Hope you can come - it should be a learning experience for us all. Betsy _____________________________________________________ Elizabeth Keokosky Lead System Analyst at Tech Services Johnson Graduate School of Management Cornell University Phone: 607 255-9425 243 Sage Hall FAX: 607 255-6114 Ithaca, New York 14853 email: evk1 at cornell.edu From mbrown at ithaca.edu Wed Mar 4 10:03:12 2009 From: mbrown at ithaca.edu (Marian Brown) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:03:12 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Reminder: Sustainability Cafe on "Green Marketing" on Thursday, March 5 at noon Message-ID: <49AEC260.5030101@ithaca.edu> The next Sustainability Cafe at Ithaca college will be held on Thursday, March 5 from 12:00noon 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 Wed Mar 4 11:23:08 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 14:23:08 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Forum, March 26, Ithaca: NATURAL GAS DRILLING: HEALTH EFFECTS, ECONOMICS AND THE WATERSHED Message-ID: <380-2200933419238375@earthlink.net> Passing this along... Contact: Shaleshock Citizens? Action Coalition For Immediate Release Phone: 202-368-8753 March 1. 2009 Email: shaleshock08 at yahoo.com NATURAL GAS DRILLING: HEALTH EFFECTS, ECONOMICS AND THE WATERSHED Al Appleton, former NYC Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and international consultant on water resource management will outline potential health effects, economic consequences, and risks to the watershed from unconventional gas-drilling techniques at a March 26 forum in Ithaca. Joining him will be Barbara Arrindell and Joseph Levine of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability. Advancements in technology have made natural gas trapped in the Marcellus Shale recoverable. The Appalachian Basin, which contains the shale underlying West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and the southern half of New York State, is the largest known shale gas reserve in the United States. With an estimated well head value at 1 trillion dollars, there is intense pressure from industry to begin extracting the gas when the DEC starts issuing drilling permits this summer. But what risks does high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing pose to our health and environment and what costs will our communities bear? You are invited to learn more at this free event to be held at the Ithaca High School Cafeteria, 1401 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY, on Thursday, March 26th, from 7:00-9:15 PM. Light refreshments and seating will begin at 6:30 PM. Following the presentation, the audience is encouraged to participate in a question/answer session with the panel. About The Presenters: Albert F. Appleton is an international consultant on water resource management, the environmental management of watershed and rural landscapes, and the economics of sustainable development. As NYC Commissioner of Environmental Protection in the 1990s, he designed and initiated the world renowned New York City-Catskill watershed protection program. Barbara Arrindell holds a degree in Bioengineering from Columbia University?s School of Engineering, is one of the founders of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (www.DamascusCitizens.org), and serves as DCS's Director and Chief Science Officer. Joseph Levine, another DCS founder, is an architect and partner in the NYC firm Bone/Levine Architects, founded in 1982. The firm has been involved in many research projects focusing on the infrastructure of New York City's river walls, wetlands, tunnels, watersheds, aqueducts, reservoirs and other essential structures. This forum is sponsored by: Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton; Department of City and Regional Planning/Cornell University; Social Ventures; Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga; CRESP Center for Transformative Action; Sustainable Tompkins; Shaleshock Citizens Action Coalition; Ithaca Health Alliance; Back to Democracy From levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Wed Mar 4 12:20:07 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 12:20:07 -0800 (PST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Celebrate Wellness event Message-ID: <947818.11123.qm@web62102.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Level Green and the Ithaca Health Alliance are putting together a Celebrate Wellness afternoon in Center Ithaca for Sunday, April 19th - the 1st day of national Environmental Education Week and Ithaca's Earth Week. ? In addition to panel reflections on how we can take care of our bodies, minds and spirits?while we're working to create sustainable community, we'll have short introductions to movement modalities, a creativity space anchored by local artists, and tables for wellness practitioners to share information and talk individually with visitors. ? I'm looking for three things now: 1) someone who could bring a voice for LAUGHTER as an anondyne for over-work; 2) suggestions for practitioners to invite (including yourselves); and 3) help constructing a questionnaire that can be sent out ahead of time on how people are actually sustaining themselves while contributing to their families, our community & the world. ? thanks - Patricia Haines 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 evk4 at cornell.edu Wed Mar 4 15:03:21 2009 From: evk4 at cornell.edu (Elizabeth Karabinakis) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:03:21 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Local Foods Volunteer Party- March 12, 6-8pm CCE Message-ID: <49AF08B9.50805@cornell.edu> Dear Local Food Enthusiasts, Are you enthusiastic about growing, eating, preparing or preserving locally grown foods? We're looking for volunteers to join a fun team of farmers, chefs, gardeners, home food preservers, nutritionists and concerned citizens interested in promoting local foods and farms. Come learn about upcoming activities, programs and events and how you can put your talents to great use. The Local Foods Volunteer Party will be on Thursday, March 12, 6-8pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca NY. Local snacks provided. For more info or to RSVP contact Liz Karabinakis, 607-272-2292 x190, evk4 at cornell.edu Get ready for an exciting series of 2009 local food events... * Spring Local Foods Potluck & CSA Season Kick-Off * Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty Annual Harvest Dinner * Finger Lakes Artisanal Cheese Open House * Finger Lakes Farm Trail Weekend * Sundaes on Sundays on the Farm * Mothers Day Blossom Festival * Harvest Dinners on the Farm * Finger Lakes Wine Festival * Ithaca Restaurant Week * 50 Mile Thanksgiving * Harvest Festival * Farm City Day * and more... Please forward this invitation to anybody who might be interested. Thank you! Liz --- Elizabeth Viviana Karabinakis Community Food Educator Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County evk4 at cornell.edu (607) 272-2292 Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. From evk4 at cornell.edu Wed Mar 4 15:06:44 2009 From: evk4 at cornell.edu (Elizabeth Karabinakis) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:06:44 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] CSA Fair - March 15, 1-4pm Message-ID: <49AF0984.7020102@cornell.edu> Come learn about one of the most intriguing and mutually beneficial ways to enjoy the freshest locally grown food while directly supporting a local farm keeping our community beautiful and healthy. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a direct arrangement between consumers and farmers where you join a farm now and provide capitol for them to invest in their operations (when they can put it to best use!) and in return you receive a weekly "share" of the farm's bounty throughout the growing season. On Sunday, March 15 will be Cornell Cooperative Extension's Annual CSA Fair where you will have an ideal opportunity to "shop around" and learn about the different CSA options available in our area. Come peruse the informational displays and speak directly with farmers about their CSA including share size and cost, products available, pick-up locations, u-pick options, on-farm work and social opportunities. Bring friends, neighbors and family to enjoy the fun, hands-on agricultural-related activities offered for children of all ages. The CSA Fair will be from 1-4pm at Boynton Middle School located at 1601 North Cayuga Street in Ithaca NY. For more information please contact Liz Karabinakis or Debbie Teeter at Cooperative Extension, 607-272-2292. This event is free and all are welcome. Please circulate this invitation amongst others who might be interested. CSAs have grown tremendously in popularity and will fill up fast so come find out what all the buzz is about and don't miss out this season! --- Elizabeth Viviana Karabinakis Community Food Educator Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County evk4 at cornell.edu (607) 272-2292 Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. From tjs1 at cornell.edu Wed Mar 4 17:29:29 2009 From: tjs1 at cornell.edu (Thomas Shelley) Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:29:29 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Peak Phosphorus Message-ID: <200903050130.n251ULKB012233@authusersmtp.mail.cornell.edu> Dear Friends--This article is almost 2 years old, but new to me. Part of "peak everything" that we are facing. Tom http://www.energybulletin.net/node/33164 ****************************************** 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* What Does Zero Waste Mean? "If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned, or removed from production." Berkeley Zero Waste Resolution See http://www.cityofberkeley.info/council8/newsletter.pdf *noun: a shoot or bud of a plant, esp. one for planting or grafting From edr6 at cornell.edu Wed Mar 4 19:24:08 2009 From: edr6 at cornell.edu (Elizabeth D. Rowland) Date: Wed, 4 Mar 2009 22:24:08 -0500 (EST) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Reminder: Sustainability Cafe on "Green Marketing" on Thursday, March 5 at noon In-Reply-To: <49AEC260.5030101@ithaca.edu> References: <49AEC260.5030101@ithaca.edu> Message-ID: <2305.69.205.147.130.1236223448.squirrel@webmail.cornell.edu> Hi Marian Do you have anything on a website for the Sustainability cafe? I'd like to put a notice up about it on our bulletin board at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Thanks Liz > The next Sustainability Cafe at Ithaca college will be held on Thursday, > March 5 from 12:00noon 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 > > _______________________________________________ > 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 sjr37 at cornell.edu Thu Mar 5 05:21:00 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:21:00 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Chainsaw safety classes at Arnot Forest Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090304145308.03c50da0@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Cornell University's Department of Natural Resources will offer the "Game of Logging" training for land owners, with beginner level classes to be offered on either May 2 or May 18 from 7:30 am - 4:30 pm at the Arnot Forest (more advanced levels are available on other dates for those who already have completed the Level I training). These are small-group (maximum 10) hands-on classes with a certified instructor that cover safe chainsaw use, chain and engine maintenance, and tree-felling (participants personally fell a tree under the instructor's guidance). Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Cost is $152 per day (there's a discount for NYFOA members) and spaces are filled first-come, first served. Full details, including participant feedback and on-line or mail-in registration forms, can be found at: http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/forestconnect/GOL.html Please direct questions to the Cornell Department of Natural Resources at 607-255-2115 or cce-nat-res at cornell.edu. From Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com Thu Mar 5 09:06:35 2009 From: Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com (Joel and Sarah Gagnon) Date: Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:06:35 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green In-Reply-To: <593023.37154.qm@web56402.mail.re3.yahoo.com> References: <5.2.1.1.2.20090301190830.020b3a50@pop.lightlink.com> Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20090305114356.020b8180@pop.lightlink.com> Thanks to Tom for the article on peak phosphorus. The take-home message there was that we need to recycle phosphorus in order to conserve our declining geologic sources. That means beneficial reuse of human and animal "wastes". For more on ecosanitation and urine diversion, see the following: http://www.howtopedia.org/en/Category:Sanitation Joel At 05:55 PM 3/3/09 -0800, you wrote: >Crow and I just got back from a Rainbow Gathering where everyone is taught >not to "go" near the water because we drink it. On the other end, I come >back to my office where the auto-flush function causes the toilet to start >flushing as soon as I walk in and not stop until after I leave the >restroom entirely. > >For a good book on the subject, check out the "Humanure Handbook" by >Joseph Jenkins. It is available free online and we have a copy I am happy >to share. > > >--- On Sun, 3/1/09, Joel and Sarah Gagnon > wrote: > > > From: Joel and Sarah Gagnon > > Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green > > To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" > > > Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 7:10 PM > > Indeed, it does. This is an apt form of source separation. > > > > Joel > > > > At 12:56 PM 3/1/09 -0500, you wrote: > > >This article makes a nice sidebar to Tom Shelley's > > TCLocal piece on > > >waste treatment last month. > > > > > >Jon > > > > > >================================================================== > > > > > >The New York Times > > >Op-Ed Contributor > > >Yellow Is the New Green > > >By ROSE GEORGE > > > > > >Woolley, England > > > > > >IN the far reaches of Shaanxi Province in northern > > China, in an > > >apple-producing village named Ganquanfang, I recently > > visited a > > >house belonging to two cheery primary-school teachers, > > Zhang Min > > >Shu and his wife, Wu Zhaoxian. Their house wasn't > > exceptional -- a > > >spacious yard, several rooms -- except for the > > bathroom. There, up > > >a few steps on a tiled platform, sat a toilet unlike > > any I'd > > >seen. Its pan was divided in two: solid waste went in > > the back, > > >and the front compartment collected urine. The liquids > > and solids > > >can, after a decent period of storage and composting, > > be applied > > >to the fields as pathogen-free, expense-free > > fertilizer. > > > > > > From being unsure of wanting a toilet near the house > > in the first > > >place -- which is why the bathroom is at the far end of > > their > > >courtyard -- the couple had become so delighted with it > > that they > > >regretted not putting it next to the kitchen after all. > > > > > >What does this have to do with you? Mr. Zhang and Ms. > > Wu's weird > > >toilet -- known as a "urine diversion," or > > NoMix (after a Swedish > > >brand), toilet -- may have things to teach us all. > > > > > >In the industrialized world, most of us (except those > > who have > > >septic tanks) rely on wastewater-treatment plants to > > remove our > > >excrement from the drinking-water supply, in great > > >volumes. (Toilets can use up to 30 percent of a > > household's water > > >supply.) This paradigm is rarely questioned, and I > > understand why: > > >flush toilets, sewers and wastewater-treatment plants > > do a fine > > >job of separating us from our potentially toxic waste, > > and > > >eliminating cholera and other waterborne diseases. > > Without them, > > >cities wouldn't work. > > > > > >But the paradigm is flawed. For a start, cleaning > > sewage guzzles > > >energy. Sewage treatment in Britain uses a quarter of > > the energy > > >generated by the country's largest coal-fired power > > station. > > > > > >Then there is the nutrient problem: Human excrement is > > rich in > > >nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which is why it has > > been a > > >good fertilizer for millenniums and until surprisingly > > >recently. (A 19th-century "sewage farm" in > > Pasadena, Calif., was > > >renowned for its tasty walnuts.) But when sewage is > > dumped in the > > >seas in great quantity, these nutrients can unbalance > > and > > >sometimes suffocate life, contributing to dead zones > > (405 > > >worldwide and counting, according to a recent study). > > Sewage, > > >according to the United Nations Environment Program, is > > the > > >biggest marine pollutant there is. Wastewater-treatment > > plants > > >work to extract the nutrients before discharging sewage > > into water > > >courses, but they can't remove them all. > > > > > >And there's also the urine problem. Urine, like any > > liquid, is a > > >headache for wastewater managers, because most sewer > > systems take > > >water from street drains along with the toilet, shower > > and kitchen > > >kind. Population growth is already taxing sewers. > > (London's great > > >network was built in the late 19th century with 25 > > percent extra > > >capacity, but a system designed for three million > > people must now > > >serve more than twice as many.) When a rainstorm > > suddenly sends > > >millions of gallons of water into an already overloaded > > system, > > >the extra must be stored or -- if storage is lacking -- > > >discharged, untreated, into the nearest river or > > harbor. Each > > >week, New York City sends about 800 Olympic-size > > swimming pools' > > >worth of sewage-polluted water into nearby waters > > because there's > > >nowhere else for it to go. > > > > > >This probably won't kill us, but it's not > > ideal. Environmental > > >scientists in California have calculated that sewage > > discharged > > >near 28 Southern California beaches has contributed to > > up to 1.5 > > >million excess gastrointestinal illnesses, costing as > > much as $51 > > >million in health care. We can do better. > > > > > >Urine might be one way forward. Before engineers scoff > > into their > > >breakfast, consider that since at least 135,000 > > urine-diversion > > >toilets are in use in Sweden and that a Swiss aquatic > > institute > > >did a six-year study of urine separation that found in > > its > > >favor. In Sweden, some of the collected urine -- which > > contains 80 > > >percent of the nutrients in excrement -- is given to > > farmers, with > > >little objection. "If they can use urine and > > it's cheap, they'll > > >use it," said Petter Jenssen, a professor at the > > Agricultural > > >University of Norway. > > > > > >The price of phosphorus fertilizers rose 50 percent in > > the past > > >year in some parts of the world, as phosphate reserves, > > the > > >largest of which are in Morocco and China, dwindle. > > (The gloomiest > > >predictions suggest they'll be gone in 100 years.) > > Although half > > >of sewage sludge in the United States is already turned > > into cheap > > >fertilizer known as "biosolids," urine > > contains hardly any of the > > >pathogens or heavy metals that critics of biosolids > > claim remain > > >in mixed sewage, despite treatment. > > > > > >The rest of Sweden's collected urine goes to > > municipal wastewater > > >plants, but in much smaller volume so it's easier > > to deal > > >with. Research by Jac Wilsenach, now a civil engineer > > in South > > >Africa, found that removing even half of the > > nutrient-rich urine > > >enables the bacteria in the aeration tanks to munch all > > the > > >nitrogen and phosphate matter in solid waste in a > > single day > > >rather than the usual 30. Urine diversion also makes > > for richer > > >sludge and produces more methane, which can be turned > > into gas or > > >electricity, Mr. Wilsenach said. In short, separating > > urine turns > > >a guzzler of energy into a net producer. > > > > > >Putting urine to use is not new. A friend's > > grandmother remembers > > >the man coming round for the buckets 60 years ago in > > Yorkshire, > > >which were then sold to the tanning industry. The flush > > toilet > > >ended that, and no one -- my friend's nan included > > -- wants > > >outside privies again. "Any innovation in the > > toilet that > > >increases owner responsibility is probably seen as > > downwardly > > >mobile," said Carol Steinfeld, of New Bedford, > > Mass., who imports > > >NoMix toilets into the United States. > > > > > >Then there's the sitting problem: in most > > urine-diversion toilets, > > >a man must empty his bladder sitting down. This > > wouldn't be a > > >problem in some countries -- Germany recently > > introduced a > > >toilet-seat alarm that admonishes standers to sit -- > > but it has > > >been in others. Professor Jenssen was flummoxed by one > > participant > > >at a training workshop in Cuba who said firmly, > > "If a man sits, he > > >is homosexual." > > > > > >For now, "ecological sanitation" -- or more > > sustainable sewage > > >disposal -- thrives mostly in fast-industrializing > > countries like > > >China and India, which have money to invest in > > alternatives but > > >few sewers. A subculture of composting toilets exists > > in the > > >United States, but only a few hundred urine-diversion > > toilets have > > >been imported, Ms. Steinfeld said. > > > > > >Necessity -- whether occasioned by fertilizer prices, > > carbon > > >footprints or crippling capital investments -- could > > bring > > >change. At a recent wastewater conference, I watched in > > >astonishment as dour engineers rushed to question a > > speaker who > > >had been talking about stabilization ponds, which clean > > sewage > > >using water, flow control, bacteria and light. > > Normally, such > > >things would be cast into the box of hippie-ish > > ecological > > >sanitation. But to managers struggling with energy > > quotas and > > >budget limitations, more sustainable, less > > energy-intensive > > >sanitation may be starting to make sense. > > > > > >As Mr. Zhang told me with a smile: "For me, > > whatever the toilet > > >is, I use it. For example, here we eat wheat. When we > > go to the > > >south of China, we eat rice. Otherwise we starve." > > > > > >It's been more than 100 years since Teddy Roosevelt > > wondered aloud > > >whether "civilized people ought to know how to > > dispose of the > > >sewage in some other way than putting it into the > > drinking water." > > >The Zhang family toilet is not the perfect answer to > > Roosevelt, as > > >it still uses some water, though 80 percent less than a > > regular > > >flush toilet uses. But at least it's the result of > > someone asking > > >the right questions. > > > > > >== > > > > > >Rose George is the author of "The Big Necessity: > > The Unmentionable > > >World of Human Waste and Why It Matters." > > > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > > >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 > > > >_______________________________________________ >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 mmccasla at twcny.rr.com Thu Mar 5 12:12:31 2009 From: mmccasla at twcny.rr.com (Margaret McCasland) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 15:12:31 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green In-Reply-To: <5.2.1.1.2.20090305114356.020b8180@pop.lightlink.com> References: <5.2.1.1.2.20090301190830.020b3a50@pop.lightlink.com> <5.2.1.1.2.20090305114356.020b8180@pop.lightlink.com> Message-ID: <81724F0E-7053-4EB3-AF5B-1EAEC61A6091@twcny.rr.com> Joel is correct (as he so often is); I was conflating two separate issues: water conservation (which matters more now that climate changes here and everywhere have reduced groundwater recharge) and nutrient conservation. However there are linkages. The current system aggravates both problems: it wastes lots of water while "disposing" of "waste" in ways that turn valuable nutrients into nuisance nutrients by putting them in the wrong place. Conversely, some of the alternatives discussed n this thread conserve both water and nutrients. Funny how many "win/win" solutions there are when you start thinking in terms of whole ecosystems . . . . Margaret On Mar 5, 2009, at 12:06 PM, Joel and Sarah Gagnon wrote: > Thanks to Tom for the article on peak phosphorus. The take-home > message > there was that we need to recycle phosphorus in order to conserve our > declining geologic sources. That means beneficial reuse of human and > animal > "wastes". For more on ecosanitation and urine diversion, see the > following: > > http://www.howtopedia.org/en/Category:Sanitation > > Joel > > At 05:55 PM 3/3/09 -0800, you wrote: > >> Crow and I just got back from a Rainbow Gathering where everyone is >> taught >> not to "go" near the water because we drink it. On the other end, >> I come >> back to my office where the auto-flush function causes the toilet >> to start >> flushing as soon as I walk in and not stop until after I leave the >> restroom entirely. >> >> For a good book on the subject, check out the "Humanure Handbook" by >> Joseph Jenkins. It is available free online and we have a copy I >> am happy >> to share. >> >> >> --- On Sun, 3/1/09, Joel and Sarah Gagnon >> wrote: >> >>> From: Joel and Sarah Gagnon >>> Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Fw: Yellow Is the New Green >>> To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" >> >>> Date: Sunday, March 1, 2009, 7:10 PM >>> Indeed, it does. This is an apt form of source separation. >>> >>> Joel >>> >>> At 12:56 PM 3/1/09 -0500, you wrote: >>>> This article makes a nice sidebar to Tom Shelley's >>> TCLocal piece on >>>> waste treatment last month. >>>> >>>> Jon >>>> >>>> ================================================================== >>>> >>>> The New York Times >>>> Op-Ed Contributor >>>> Yellow Is the New Green >>>> By ROSE GEORGE >>>> >>>> Woolley, England >>>> >>>> IN the far reaches of Shaanxi Province in northern >>> China, in an >>>> apple-producing village named Ganquanfang, I recently >>> visited a >>>> house belonging to two cheery primary-school teachers, >>> Zhang Min >>>> Shu and his wife, Wu Zhaoxian. Their house wasn't >>> exceptional -- a >>>> spacious yard, several rooms -- except for the >>> bathroom. There, up >>>> a few steps on a tiled platform, sat a toilet unlike >>> any I'd >>>> seen. Its pan was divided in two: solid waste went in >>> the back, >>>> and the front compartment collected urine. The liquids >>> and solids >>>> can, after a decent period of storage and composting, >>> be applied >>>> to the fields as pathogen-free, expense-free >>> fertilizer. >>>> >>>> From being unsure of wanting a toilet near the house >>> in the first >>>> place -- which is why the bathroom is at the far end of >>> their >>>> courtyard -- the couple had become so delighted with it >>> that they >>>> regretted not putting it next to the kitchen after all. >>>> >>>> What does this have to do with you? Mr. Zhang and Ms. >>> Wu's weird >>>> toilet -- known as a "urine diversion," or >>> NoMix (after a Swedish >>>> brand), toilet -- may have things to teach us all. >>>> >>>> In the industrialized world, most of us (except those >>> who have >>>> septic tanks) rely on wastewater-treatment plants to >>> remove our >>>> excrement from the drinking-water supply, in great >>>> volumes. (Toilets can use up to 30 percent of a >>> household's water >>>> supply.) This paradigm is rarely questioned, and I >>> understand why: >>>> flush toilets, sewers and wastewater-treatment plants >>> do a fine >>>> job of separating us from our potentially toxic waste, >>> and >>>> eliminating cholera and other waterborne diseases. >>> Without them, >>>> cities wouldn't work. >>>> >>>> But the paradigm is flawed. For a start, cleaning >>> sewage guzzles >>>> energy. Sewage treatment in Britain uses a quarter of >>> the energy >>>> generated by the country's largest coal-fired power >>> station. >>>> >>>> Then there is the nutrient problem: Human excrement is >>> rich in >>>> nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which is why it has >>> been a >>>> good fertilizer for millenniums and until surprisingly >>>> recently. (A 19th-century "sewage farm" in >>> Pasadena, Calif., was >>>> renowned for its tasty walnuts.) But when sewage is >>> dumped in the >>>> seas in great quantity, these nutrients can unbalance >>> and >>>> sometimes suffocate life, contributing to dead zones >>> (405 >>>> worldwide and counting, according to a recent study). >>> Sewage, >>>> according to the United Nations Environment Program, is >>> the >>>> biggest marine pollutant there is. Wastewater-treatment >>> plants >>>> work to extract the nutrients before discharging sewage >>> into water >>>> courses, but they can't remove them all. >>>> >>>> And there's also the urine problem. Urine, like any >>> liquid, is a >>>> headache for wastewater managers, because most sewer >>> systems take >>>> water from street drains along with the toilet, shower >>> and kitchen >>>> kind. Population growth is already taxing sewers. >>> (London's great >>>> network was built in the late 19th century with 25 >>> percent extra >>>> capacity, but a system designed for three million >>> people must now >>>> serve more than twice as many.) When a rainstorm >>> suddenly sends >>>> millions of gallons of water into an already overloaded >>> system, >>>> the extra must be stored or -- if storage is lacking -- >>>> discharged, untreated, into the nearest river or >>> harbor. Each >>>> week, New York City sends about 800 Olympic-size >>> swimming pools' >>>> worth of sewage-polluted water into nearby waters >>> because there's >>>> nowhere else for it to go. >>>> >>>> This probably won't kill us, but it's not >>> ideal. Environmental >>>> scientists in California have calculated that sewage >>> discharged >>>> near 28 Southern California beaches has contributed to >>> up to 1.5 >>>> million excess gastrointestinal illnesses, costing as >>> much as $51 >>>> million in health care. We can do better. >>>> >>>> Urine might be one way forward. Before engineers scoff >>> into their >>>> breakfast, consider that since at least 135,000 >>> urine-diversion >>>> toilets are in use in Sweden and that a Swiss aquatic >>> institute >>>> did a six-year study of urine separation that found in >>> its >>>> favor. In Sweden, some of the collected urine -- which >>> contains 80 >>>> percent of the nutrients in excrement -- is given to >>> farmers, with >>>> little objection. "If they can use urine and >>> it's cheap, they'll >>>> use it," said Petter Jenssen, a professor at the >>> Agricultural >>>> University of Norway. >>>> >>>> The price of phosphorus fertilizers rose 50 percent in >>> the past >>>> year in some parts of the world, as phosphate reserves, >>> the >>>> largest of which are in Morocco and China, dwindle. >>> (The gloomiest >>>> predictions suggest they'll be gone in 100 years.) >>> Although half >>>> of sewage sludge in the United States is already turned >>> into cheap >>>> fertilizer known as "biosolids," urine >>> contains hardly any of the >>>> pathogens or heavy metals that critics of biosolids >>> claim remain >>>> in mixed sewage, despite treatment. >>>> >>>> The rest of Sweden's collected urine goes to >>> municipal wastewater >>>> plants, but in much smaller volume so it's easier >>> to deal >>>> with. Research by Jac Wilsenach, now a civil engineer >>> in South >>>> Africa, found that removing even half of the >>> nutrient-rich urine >>>> enables the bacteria in the aeration tanks to munch all >>> the >>>> nitrogen and phosphate matter in solid waste in a >>> single day >>>> rather than the usual 30. Urine diversion also makes >>> for richer >>>> sludge and produces more methane, which can be turned >>> into gas or >>>> electricity, Mr. Wilsenach said. In short, separating >>> urine turns >>>> a guzzler of energy into a net producer. >>>> >>>> Putting urine to use is not new. A friend's >>> grandmother remembers >>>> the man coming round for the buckets 60 years ago in >>> Yorkshire, >>>> which were then sold to the tanning industry. The flush >>> toilet >>>> ended that, and no one -- my friend's nan included >>> -- wants >>>> outside privies again. "Any innovation in the >>> toilet that >>>> increases owner responsibility is probably seen as >>> downwardly >>>> mobile," said Carol Steinfeld, of New Bedford, >>> Mass., who imports >>>> NoMix toilets into the United States. >>>> >>>> Then there's the sitting problem: in most >>> urine-diversion toilets, >>>> a man must empty his bladder sitting down. This >>> wouldn't be a >>>> problem in some countries -- Germany recently >>> introduced a >>>> toilet-seat alarm that admonishes standers to sit -- >>> but it has >>>> been in others. Professor Jenssen was flummoxed by one >>> participant >>>> at a training workshop in Cuba who said firmly, >>> "If a man sits, he >>>> is homosexual." >>>> >>>> For now, "ecological sanitation" -- or more >>> sustainable sewage >>>> disposal -- thrives mostly in fast-industrializing >>> countries like >>>> China and India, which have money to invest in >>> alternatives but >>>> few sewers. A subculture of composting toilets exists >>> in the >>>> United States, but only a few hundred urine-diversion >>> toilets have >>>> been imported, Ms. Steinfeld said. >>>> >>>> Necessity -- whether occasioned by fertilizer prices, >>> carbon >>>> footprints or crippling capital investments -- could >>> bring >>>> change. At a recent wastewater conference, I watched in >>>> astonishment as dour engineers rushed to question a >>> speaker who >>>> had been talking about stabilization ponds, which clean >>> sewage >>>> using water, flow control, bacteria and light. >>> Normally, such >>>> things would be cast into the box of hippie-ish >>> ecological >>>> sanitation. But to managers struggling with energy >>> quotas and >>>> budget limitations, more sustainable, less >>> energy-intensive >>>> sanitation may be starting to make sense. >>>> >>>> As Mr. Zhang told me with a smile: "For me, >>> whatever the toilet >>>> is, I use it. For example, here we eat wheat. When we >>> go to the >>>> south of China, we eat rice. Otherwise we starve." >>>> >>>> It's been more than 100 years since Teddy Roosevelt >>> wondered aloud >>>> whether "civilized people ought to know how to >>> dispose of the >>>> sewage in some other way than putting it into the >>> drinking water." >>>> The Zhang family toilet is not the perfect answer to >>> Roosevelt, as >>>> it still uses some water, though 80 percent less than a >>> regular >>>> flush toilet uses. But at least it's the result of >>> someone asking >>>> the right questions. >>>> >>>> == >>>> >>>> Rose George is the author of "The Big Necessity: >>> The Unmentionable >>>> World of Human Waste and Why It Matters." >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 owlgorge at earthlink.net Thu Mar 5 13:09:20 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 16:09:20 -0500 Subject: “Planning for Farms, Food, and Energy in Central New York” Message-ID: <380-2200934521920843@earthlink.net> The American Farmland Trust is holding a conference entitled ?Planning for Farms, Food, and Energy in Central New York,? which will be held on March 25th in Syracuse. The information including a schedule is found on the links below. http://www.farmland.org/programs/states/ny/farms-food-energy-conference.asp http://www.farmland.org/programs/states/ny/Central-NY-Conference.pdf.pdf From nlv at clarityconnect.com Fri Mar 6 06:00:56 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 09:00:56 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Joe Biden/ Van Jones on Green Jobs Message-ID: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/van-jones/creating-a-green-american_b_172373.html From nlv at clarityconnect.com Sat Mar 7 10:00:09 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 13:00:09 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Maude Barlow from Canada: TONIGHT on World Water Problems Message-ID: http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/files/calendar/9934/water_poster.pdf From rrodomsky at antioch.edu Sat Mar 7 13:00:48 2009 From: rrodomsky at antioch.edu (Rebecca Rodomsky) Date: Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:00:48 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Gardening Upcoming Spring Events at home green home Message-ID: Greetings STers, home green home is hosting a variety of "Gardening" Presentations this spring. Please see the list below of our upcoming talks, including one by Dan Segal of Plantsmen Nursery on Thursday, March 19th. For further information, please contact the store at the information below! Hope to see you there! 1. Event: Sustainable Horticulture and Native Landscape Presentation Presenter: Dan Segal, Owner of Plantsmen Nursery Date: Thursday, March 19th Time: 6:30-8:00pm Place: home green home, 215 E. State Street, On the Commons, Ithaca Description: Learn how quality is lost at the expense of quantity in the world of Big Commercial Agriculture. Come learn more with all-original plant photos, and unique but simple insights you can easily apply in your own landscape. 2. Event: Organic Gardening Series, #2 "Techniques for Success" Presentation Presenter: Becca Rodomsky-Bish Date: Thursday, March 26th Time: 6:30-8:00PM Place: home green home, 215 E. State Street, On the Commons, Ithaca Description: "Techniques for Success" is the 2nd of 3 presentations on Organic Gardening. We will explore answers to the following questions: what tools/supplies will I need; how do I manage pests; how do I manage weeds; why does inter-planting work; and how do I appropriately rotate plants? 3. Event: Seed Swap and Share Date: Wed April 1 Time: 6:30-7:30 PM Place: home green home, 215 E. State Street, On the Commons, Ithaca WHAT TO BRING: flower and/or vegetable seeds packaged to share, labeled with your first name and last initial, a followup phone or email contact, and seed particulars: plant name, sun/shade, other details you think would help the recipient get started. It's OK to bring seeds you collected yourself and/or leftovers from store-bought seeds. Packaging could be old pill bottles, old mint tins, paper envelopes, etc. If you don't have seeds, feel free to attend to ask fellow gardeners questions. If there are seeds left over towards the end that were not traded, we will welcome non-seed-traders to take what remains of the seeds. Thanks, Becca Rodomsky-Bish home green home 215 E. State Street Ithaca, NY 14850 607-319-4159 www.homegreenhome.com From faith.hawkwoman at gmail.com Sat Mar 7 14:54:53 2009 From: faith.hawkwoman at gmail.com (Faith Hawkwoman) Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 17:54:53 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] In Search of Work Message-ID: Hi there Sustainable Tompkins Listservers, My name is Faith Hawkwoman and am moving to Ithaca at the beginning of April. I will be living at Level Green. Patricia Haines, my new land lady suggested that I post an email to inquire about whether anyone knows of any work available. I have lots of experience working with children of all ages, leading outdoor games, gardening, bicycle repair, canoeing, performing arts (including puppetry), crafts and more. I also have experience taking care of farm animals and growing food. I am also happy to help out with household work such as cleaning, organizing, dog walking, vegetarian cooking, errands and yard work. I offer therapeutic body work. I am not a licensed masseuse but have been practicing massage since I was a child and have a very healing touch. I also do tarot readings. I can provide references upon request and answer any questions about my past, present, and future you might have. I will consider bartering my services for goods. Below is my resume. Thanks for your help! Faith Elizabeth Hawkwoman faith.hawkwoman at gmail.com (215) 730-0982 EDUCATION 1999-2003 Bachelors of Science Communications, SUNY Fredonia 1995-1999 Regents, Alexander High School EXPERIENCE Winter 2009 Worker, Salamander Springs Farm Readying garden for the spring, farm maintenance. 2008 Nanny, St John Family Taking care of two boys ages 6 and 8. Fall 2008 Lead Tour Guide and Tour Coordinator, Critz Farm Greeting buses, leading tours, caring for farm animals. Summer 2008 Helper, Lucky Moon Farm Harvesting, washing, and bagging produce for CSA members. 2006-2007 Lead Teacher, Pentridge Children?s Garden Creating and implementing lesson plans with toddlers. 2006-2007 Program Coordinator, Neighborhood Bike Works Responsible for establishing programs with our partner organizations, enrolling youth in programs, developing curriculum, managing volunteers and work study students, hiring and training new instructors, directing the Youth Works program, and organizing special events. Summer 2006 Summer Camp Director, Neighborhood Bike Works Planning programming, recruiting and coordinating volunteers, managing camp staff, teaching lessons, fundraising, and enrollment. 2005-2006 Fitness Instructor, Neighborhood Bike Works Creating and executing lesson plans. 2003-2005 Program Coordinator, Cosmic Volunteers Establishing program in Peru, enrolling volunteers. Summer 2003 Unit Leader, Camp Eagle Island Lifeguard and member of emergency dive team, teaching sailing and canoeing, leading counselors and campers ages 8-16 in activities and camp practices. From earthdayithaca at yahoo.com Sun Mar 8 07:26:23 2009 From: earthdayithaca at yahoo.com (Joey Gates) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 08:26:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Earth Day registration forms now available online Message-ID: <578070.52165.qm@web56408.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Good morning, Earth Day registrations are now available on the Center for Environmental Sustainability website: http://www.ces-ithaca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=30 7 weeks to go! Best, Joey From owlgorge at earthlink.net Sun Mar 8 10:38:19 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 14:38:19 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law: public info meeting March 10 Message-ID: <380-22009308183819468@earthlink.net> Community Announcement Public Information Meeting on Proposed Stream Setback Law: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 7:00P.M. The Town of Ithaca is currently proposing a Stream Setback Law. The proposed law establishes development and use setbacks from streams throughout the Town of Ithaca. Three different setback widths (35Ft., 50Ft, 100Ft.) would apply depending on the size of the land area draining into the stream. The proposed law would pertain to only new development activities and uses and would require among its provisions that the area or ?zone? closest to the stream remain largely undisturbed and that the ?zone? farther from the stream have only limited uses. The goal of the regulation is to maintain natural vegetation along the stream corridor and to buffer this natural vegetation against development encroachment. Streams affected by these regulations have been identified on a Stream Setback Map. Stream setbacks are an important water quality protection tool and provide a number of benefits. The naturally maintained vegetation stabilizes stream banks and protects against stream channel erosion and flooding. Stream setbacks are an important tool for preventing sediment loading and for absorbing nutrients, as well as for protecting important streamside and aquatic ecosystems. The Town of Ithaca will be holding an informal public information meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 7:00 PM at the Ithaca Town Hall, 215 N. Tioga Street. The Town invites you to attend this meeting as an opportunity to gain more information about the proposed law and to offer your comments and suggestions. The meeting will include a 20 minute video on stream forest buffers, followed by a staff presentation describing the draft proposed law. Staff will be available to answer questions and obtain feedback from residents. Copies of the draft law are available at Town Hall or on the Town?s website www.town.ithaca.ny.us/setback.htm. There will be a formal public hearing held at a later date. Please contact Assistant Director of Planning, Susan Ritter (sritter at town.ithaca.ny.us) at 273-1747, if you have any questions or comments prior to the meeting. From emilylacantante at gmail.com Sun Mar 8 11:24:22 2009 From: emilylacantante at gmail.com (emily shumway) Date: Sun, 8 Mar 2009 15:24:22 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] March 14: Nature and Self-Awareness Course, Free Message-ID: <7ac3b0b60903081224v6a6debe5r362a5f7ea8a25160@mail.gmail.com> Freekskool Course--> Nature and Self-Awareness Facilitator: Emily Shumway Contact: emilylacantante at gmail.com Date and Time: March 14-April 4, Saturdays, 1:30-3:30pm Location: 514 N. Aurora St., Ithaca In this 4-session course we will draw on permaculture principles and deep ecology to strengthen our relationships with this place, ourselves, and our community. We will use nature awareness exercises from Starhawk?s ?The Earth Path? and deep ecology exercises from Joanna Macy?s ?Coming Back to Life? to explore our inner responses to the condition of our world and prepare to take part in its healing. Expect an active workshop with a range of experiential exercises. Sessions will begin and end on time, so please arrive on time! Anyone interested in participating is welcome. Please forward this to anyone you think might be interested :) From tjs1 at cornell.edu Sun Mar 8 16:56:45 2009 From: tjs1 at cornell.edu (Thomas Shelley) Date: Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:56:45 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Earth Day planning meeting March 16 Message-ID: <200903090059.n290xH40020456@authusersmtp.mail.cornell.edu> Dear Sustainable Tompkins Friends--The Center for Environmental Sustainability will be holding an Earth Day planning meeting on Monday, March 16, 2009, in Room A, Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca, NY, 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. Tom Shelley, for Joey Gates and the rest of the Earth Day team From ws at twcny.rr.com Mon Mar 9 03:52:49 2009 From: ws at twcny.rr.com (Wendy Skinner) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 07:52:49 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] SewGreen Mini-News, 3-9-09 Message-ID: SewGreen Mini-News, February 9, 2009 www.sew-green.org CONTENTS Volunteers Invited to Fabric Sort Prom Gown Exchange ReFashion Workshop Green Fashion & Fiber Art Challenge FABRIC SORT, March 10 and 11 SewGreen needs help catching up with a surplus of donated fabric, yarns, and other stuff. Volunteers are invited to help sort, evaluate, measure, and fold. Helpers get first pick of materials designated for resale, and there will be plenty of "freebies." Three shifts on both days: 9 to noon; 1 to 4pm; and 5 to 8pm. At the new SewGreen Classroom, Women's Community Building, downtown Ithaca. Please let us know if you plan to help. Contact Wendy coord at sew-green.org or 277-7611. PROM GOWN EXCHANGE, March 13 and 14 The fancy dress exchange sponsored by Tompkins County Solid Waste and others, is happening at the Women's Community Building this coming Friday and Saturday. Teens who have dropped off a gown in advance may choose a "new" one, for free. The hours of the exchange are 3 to 8pm on Friday, March 13; and 11am to 4pm on Saturday, March 14. SewGreen sewing volunteers will be available to make simple alterations on request. Alterations are available from 3 to 6pm on Friday, and 1 to 4pm on Saturday. There are multiple drop-off locations for unwanted dresses, and now's the time to get involved! For more information, contact Stephanie segan at tompkins-co.org or Brenna brennaburlingame at gmail.com. REFASHION WORKSHOP, Saturday, March 14, 1 to 4pm Our teachers will guide and advise you on the best ways to refashion apparel that you'd like to be more attractive or simply fit better. Use our sewing machines or bring your own. Some sewing experience requested. Pre-registration required. $15. SewGreen Classroom, Women's Community Building, downtown Ithaca. Contact Wendy coord at sew-green.org or 277-7611. GREEN FASHION & FIBER ART CHALLENGE The deadline for entries in SewGreen's green fashion and fiber art show at the Community School of Music & Arts is March 23. Send photos of your eco-fashion designs, fiber art, or other reuse needlecraft creations. All entries must be entirely made from reused, existing, or otherwise eco-friendly materials. The gallery show will run from April 1 to April 25, with a green fashion show at the opening on April 3. The show's title is R-E-S-P-E-C-T (with all due honor to Ms. Aretha Franklin), as in: respect for ourselves, our planet, and its inhabitants and resources. Entry forms are available on the SewGreen website: www.sew-green.org ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ From sjr37 at cornell.edu Mon Mar 9 05:10:28 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:10:28 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Tonight! Food Gardening Panel Discussion, 6:30 Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090309090926.01ebe2a0@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Food Gardening Panel Discussion Monday, March 9, 6:30-8:30 pm at Cooperative Extension Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca Don't miss this panel discussion by several experienced food gardeners! Master Gardeners and others with years of food growing experience will highlight some advanced ways to maximize your crop and extend the growing season. This workshop will assume that attendees have had some growing experience. Pre-registration is recommended. Fee: $5. For more information about gardening classes, contact Pat Curran, Horticulture Program Manager, at 607-272-2292, or pc21 at cornell.edu. From sjr37 at cornell.edu Mon Mar 9 06:01:55 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Mon, 09 Mar 2009 10:01:55 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] CU Forestry Webcasts on Climate Change and More Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090309092114.01e531e0@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Cornell's Department of Natural Resources is offering a series of interactive web seminars on forestry topics, to include 3/18/09 Climate Change and Your Woods, with Kristi Sullivan of Cornell University 4/15/09 Rehabilitating Cutover Stands with Ralph Nyland, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 5/20/09 Ecology and Management of Gypsy Moth in North America with Andrew Liebhold, USDA Forest Service Participation is as easy as a high-speed internet connection via a web browser. There is no charge to participate, but participants must pre-register once at www.ForestConnect.info. Email notification of internet URL details for the web conference will be sent to everyone registered. Seminars occur on the third Wednesday of each month and are provided twice: the initial broadcast each month is from noon to 1:00 PM with a repeat broadcast the same day from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, Eastern Time. The ForestConnect Internet Seminar Series is an interactive web conference and was the first of its kind in the US. Each seminar uses the Internet to distribute, or webcast, a live and interactive presentation. Since May 2007, web-based seminars have connected forest owners, managers, and practitioners from throughout the United States and overseas. More than 800 owners and managers from 40 states and three countries are registered and receiving announcements for the monthly webcasts. NOTE: Be sure to visit http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/forestconnect/web/schedule.htm as there are also many archived presentations on forestry topics that can be viewed online, such as Small Scale Firewood Production, Enhancing Biodiversity in your woodlot, Invasive species, and more. Accompanying handouts and fact sheets are available in pdf format, on topics such as Building a Solar Wood Dryer: http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/info/pubs/concircs/CC%20Accelerated%20Seasoning%20of%20Firewood.pdf and How to Choose Firewood Trees:http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/info/pubs/FC%20factsheets/FCFSfirewood. pdf. From owlgorge at earthlink.net Mon Mar 9 14:35:48 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 18:35:48 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Hemlock Woolly Adelgid - new natural areas threat - volunteers needed Message-ID: <380-22009319223548968@earthlink.net> Forwarded message: Dear Conservation Friends and Supporters, Please share this important message with other interested individuals and organizations. An insect pest newly arrived in the Finger Lakes region -- the hemlock woolly adelgid ? was recently discovered in the Cornell Plantations area of Cascadilla Gorge and in the Beebe Lake natural areas and is threatening hemlock trees and the biodiversity they support. This Asian species has decimated hemlock populations across the eastern United States, where altered habitats ? due to the loss of the hemlocks ? have caused a cascade of environmental changes for some amphibians, fish, invertebrates and plants in response to increased light and warmer temperatures. The hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) causes nearly 100 percent mortality in the native eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). The small, aphid-like insects feed on the sap at the base of individual needles on the trees; eventually needles yellow and drop, branches die, and trees succumb in about four to 10 years. Hemlock woolly adelgids were first reported in the central Finger Lakes region in mid-2008, and they now inhabit at least 19 local sites. Early detection of new sites of infestation is now a high priority, and local conservation groups are organizing volunteer surveys as a critical first step in managing this devastating invasive species. Cornell Plantations, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Cornell Department of Natural Resources, the Finger Lakes Land Trust, and the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society are organizing three workshops aimed at training volunteers to identify and report new hemlock woolly adelgid infestations. Each two-hour session will feature a presentation by Mark Whitmore from the Cornell Department of Natural Resources on the adelgid?s biology and the threat it poses to local hemlock forests. Participants will visit Beebe Lake to observe hemlock woolly adelgids firsthand and gain experience in detection and survey protocols. Participants will also have the opportunity to volunteer in the "Adopt-a-Hemlock" program to conduct surveys and report new infestations in local hemlock forests. The training workshops will be held at Cornell Plantations? Lewis Education Center, located at One Plantations Road on the Cornell campus, on Friday, March 13, at 1 p.m.; Saturday, March 21, at 10 p.m.; and Monday, March 23, at 3 p.m. To register for the training workshops, or for more information on the hemlock woolly adelgid, visit www.plantations.cornell.edu. Additional information and instructions on reporting new infestations can also be found at the New York Invasive Species Research Institute website. The mission of the Cornell Plantations Natural Areas Program is to preserve, maintain and restore representative examples of each natural community type and locally rare plant habitat within the Central Finger Lakes region, in order to foster natural heritage conservation, research and education efforts. Cornell Plantations is the arboretum, botanical garden, and natural areas of Cornell University and is a member of Ithaca?s Discovery Trail partnership. Todd Bittner, Natural Areas Director Cornell Plantations 1 Plantations Road Ithaca, NY 14850 [For more information and photos of the hemlock woolly adelgid, see http://nyisri.org/HWA.aspx] From levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Tue Mar 10 07:15:08 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:15:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] artist seeking tree trunks Message-ID: <247944.76833.qm@web62106.mail.re1.yahoo.com> An artist planning to apply for the 2009 downtownoutdoor art exhibition has a wonderful idea for some pieces that would need donated tree trunks. If you have any, or plan to be culling your woods before June, let me know. This year the Downtown Alliance is committed to helping exhibitors find local materials as much as possible. Thanks - Patricia Haines 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 sjr37 at cornell.edu Wed Mar 11 12:09:56 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:09:56 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] 3/15: Community Supported Agriculture Fair Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090311160715.03afb390@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> 3/15; Community Supported Agriculture Fair ITHACA, NY ? Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County will host a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair on Sunday, March 15th from 1 to 4 p.m. at Boynton Middle School, 1601 North Cayuga Street in Ithaca. CSA provides consumers with a weekly selection of just-harvested food grown for them and an opportunity to directly support a local farm operation. But there are differences between CSA programs available such as share size, products offered, pick-up locations, u-pick options and on-farm work and social opportunities. Come learn more about the many benefits of CSA, meet and talk with farmers from 10 different CSA farms serving Ithaca and surrounding towns, and find out which CSA program might be perfect for you. There will also be fun, hands-on agricultural-related activities offered for children of all ages. CSA programs fill up quickly so don?t miss out this season. The CSA Fair is free and open to the public. For more information, call Debbie Teeter or Liz Karabinakis at 607-272-2292. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. From levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Wed Mar 11 12:23:43 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:23:43 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Q&A open session MAR 29 re apllication process for "Celebrating Art for a Just & Sustainable Community" Message-ID: <822251.40367.qm@web62102.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Thanks for passing this on to others - we particularly welcome applications from local artists: ? On Sunday, March 29th at 3 pm, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance will host an open meeting in Center Ithaca to?review its call for applications for the 2009 Art in the Heart of the City outdoor public art exhibition. Staff will be on hand to answer questions about the application and selection process, possible sites, and the 2009 theme, ?Celebrating Art for a Just and Sustainable Community?. ? Now in its 11th year, Art in the Heart has brought over 100 sculptural works from national as well as local artists to the downtown area for temporary exhibition. Some of these have become part of the City of Ithaca?s permanent art collection, others have returned to their creators with warm thanks from the thousands of residents and visitors who enjoy them from June through November each year. ? The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) is now inviting applications for its 2009 outdoor downtown 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 Ithaca Commons pedestrian mall.? ? Guidelines, information about stipends, application process and illustrative exhibition site options can be viewed at the Alliance web site (www.downtownithaca.com). Both experienced and emerging artists are encouraged to apply. ? 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. ? 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. ? For further information, contact art at downtownithaca.com or Patricia Haines, Coordinator, Art in the Heart of the City pfhithaca at yahoo.com 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 firetendercarol at yahoo.com Wed Mar 11 12:30:51 2009 From: firetendercarol at yahoo.com (Carol Clarke) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:30:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Shapleigh, Maine gives legal rights to ecosystems Message-ID: <339030.30914.qm@web35503.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I have no idea how meaningful this is in a practical sense, but it certainly has great symbolic value and is a step in the right direction! Could this be doneto defend the local upper Chesapeake watershed where the natural gas companies are drillingin Candor and Spencer? > Maine Town Passes Ordinance Asserting Local Self-Governance and Stripping > Corporate Personhood > Sun, 2009-03-01 18:08. > http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/40335 > > Today the citizens of Shapleigh, Maine voted at a special town meeting to > pass a groundbreaking Rights-Based Ordinance, 114 for and 66 against. This > revolutionary ordinance give its citizens the right to local > self-governance and gives rights to ecosystems but denies the rights of > personhood to corporations. This ordinance allows the citizens to protect > their groundwater resources, putting it in a common trust to be used for > the benefit of its residents. > > Shapleigh is the first community in Maine to pass such an ordinance, which > extends rights to nature, however, the Ordinance Review Committee in Wells, > Maine is considering passing one in their town. These communities have been > under attack by Nestle Waters, N.A., a multi-national water miner that > sells bottled water under such labels as Poland Springs. > > Communities have opposed the expansion by Nestle Waters, but the > corporation will not take no for an answer. The town of Fryeburg, Maine has > been in litigation with Nestle for six years. Nestle wants to expand and > the town's people say no to the tanker trunk traffic which has disrupted > their quiet scenic beauty, so Nestle's tactic is to wear them down, and > break their bank. > > Nestle is the world's largest food and beverage company and has very deep > pockets. However, we won't back down, we are the stewards of this most > precious resource water, and we want to protect it for future generations. > > Activists in Maine are well aware that the Nestle Corporation is not just > interested in expanding for the purpose of filling their Poland Springs > bottles today, they are interested in the control of Maine's abundant water > resources for the future. They are expanding in many parts of this country > from McCloud, California to Maine. Nestle is positioning themselves to > capitalize on the emerging crisis of global water scarcity. > > The right to water is a social justice issue and we believe that it should > not be sold to those who can afford it, leaving the world's poorest > citizens thirsty. Citizens will do a much better job of protecting this > resource than a for-profit corporation. > > The concept of a rights-based ordinance was pioneered by environmental > attorney Thomas Linzey, founder of the Community Environmental Legal > Defense Fund of Gettysburg, PA. Linzey has assisted the town of Barnstead, > New Hampshire with their rights-based ordinance, which was passed in 2006 > and with another in Nottingham, New Hampshire, which passed in 2008. > > To date there have been no legal challenges to these ordinances. Linzey > also crafted Ecuador's new Constitution, which also gives the ecosystem > rights. Ecuador is the first country in the world to protect its natural > resources from corporate exploitation. > > Activists have learned the hard way that trying to protect their > communities and the environment by going the route of fighting a typical > regulatory ordinance, which is written by corporate lobbyists, will fail to > protect communities from harms done. > > The multi-national corporation's allegiance is never to the communities > where they do business, as that could conflict with their fiduciary > responsibility to make a profit for stockholders. > > People throughout the country are saying "enough is enough, large > corporations have too much power." Constitutional Rights were granted to > corporations from the bench in the 1800's and it is time to rectify a > wrong! People are saying let's dismantle the neo-colonial corporate power > by starting with their right to personhood. > > In Maine, we are tired of Nestle behaving as if they are a Colonial power > with a right to our water resources. We decided that we will behave as if > we have the power and ignore the naysayers who said that people will never > vote to take rights away from corporations or to give rights to nature. We > want to encourage other communities join us. The time is now! > > Copies of the The Shapleigh, Maine Town Warrant calling for a special town > meeting and The Shapleigh Water Rights and Local Self-Government Warrant > are available from the Contact Person, below. > > For more information on attorney Thomas Linzey and the Community > Environmental Defense Fund, please visit: http://www.celdf.org > > > For more information about the battle to protect ground water in > communities in Maine, please visit: www.soh2o.org . > Click on the > LEGISLATION tab and go to ORDINANCES to read the important new Shapleigh > ordinance. > > CONTACT PERSON: Jamilla El-Shafei Save Our Water steering committee member > and organizer steering committee member of the Maine Water Allies > (state-wide coalition) 603.969.8426 jamillaelshafei at gmail.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tree Bressen 1990 Orchard St. Eugene, OR 97403 (541) 343-3855 tree at ic.org http://treegroup.info From owlgorge at earthlink.net Wed Mar 11 12:58:45 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:58:45 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] FW: YouTube - Wendell Berry /Capitol Climate Action- McKibben, RFK, Jr. Message-ID: <380-220093311205845968@earthlink.net> Sent: 3/11/2009 4:15:42 PM Subject: YouTube - Wendell Berry /Capitol Climate Action- McKibben, RFK, Jr. This 2 minute video from the DC action on climate change is pretty cool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3tiGsmZGO4 From owlgorge at earthlink.net Wed Mar 11 16:15:21 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:15:21 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Nature Nearby re-scheduled this week Message-ID: <380-22009341201521609@earthlink.net> For those who have Time Warner Cable in Ithaca, my current episode of Nature Nearby scheduled for Wednesday evenings on public access channel 13 has been re-scheduled this week due to a program scheduling error this evening. The current episode (which also showed last week) is "Remembering Redbud Woods," covering the 2007 dedication of the memorial of the fight to save Redbud Woods on the edge of the Cornell Campus. This episode will air three more times this week: Thurs 6pm Fri 8pm Sat 9pm Public access channel 13 Ithaca. The next episode of Nature Nearby will show at the normal time next week at 7:00 p.m. I have not made a final decision about which one it will be, but if everything comes together, it will be an hour long show about Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. 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 mbrown at ithaca.edu Thu Mar 12 06:32:26 2009 From: mbrown at ithaca.edu (Marian Brown) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 10:32:26 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Gorges Green Expo at Ithaca Festival Message-ID: <49B91CFA.7010208@ithaca.edu> Hi, folks. I don't think I've seen this posted on the ST listserve, but the Ithaca Festival will again include a Gorges Green Expo. An application form and information about the Expo, which will be on Sunday, May 31st at Stewart Park from noon -7pm, can be found at: http://ithacafestival.typepad.com/ithaca_festival/gorges-green-expo.html Hope to see LOTS of you there! Marian From ghadams at gmail.com Thu Mar 12 08:28:43 2009 From: ghadams at gmail.com (George Adams) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:28:43 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law Message-ID: Lessons from a far away jurisdiction may be pertinent..... In its own bollixed bureaucratic fashion, MA has coordinated the health codes with wetlands protection for decades so that there are, in MA, statewide uniform regulations such as Ithaca is now proposing. Where to site a leach field is obviously a concern but the authority now extends to such minutiae as merely disturbing native vegetation in damp areas. http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/laws/title5.htm --who enforces?-- in MA, unfunded town conservation commissions are charged with reviewing all development site plans and, if they deem appropriate, calling in the state agencies. Small towns just hope to find persons who care, are skilled and will work for nothing on these commissions. Developers HATE this and often have projects get hung up in red tape. But it happens to precisely the most negligent developers whose careless attitude toward environment did the damage that prompted the laws in the first place...I have no quarrel with the effectiveness of such regulation as regards the good done for the environment. The apartment dwellers of urban areas who lovingly imagine a world safe for salamanders and frogs LOVE these laws. The state similarly has very strict and thorough regulation of any development that bridges a stream, even an intermittent stream. Its actually just common sense and if you have property with a stream you really ought to just read the rules. http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/laws/wlhappe.pdf To increase the likelihood that people won't blow off the law and its enforcement by sheer ignorance, the state puts up high resolution GIS depicting all the kinds of protected wetlands in the state: vernal pools, streams, ponds, tidal marshes are treated to special burdens of regulation. Extremely valuable info if you are shopping for land! http://www.mass.gov/mgis/mapping.htm In practice however, inequities creep into the system. The more desirable land for the homes of the rich and heedless tend to be near rivers, oceans and beaches...but in the end they are still the only class that can afford the ecological studies and wetlands surveys and engineering fees and filings that the state laws mandated. When I have called MA DEP authorities and town Conservation Commission members to discuss properties and wound up the conversation with the conclusion "So what it comes down to is that only a rich person could live near this stream", they feel a little hurt but sigh with resigned recognition of the effect of their programs. The one thing these laws wound up being was the "full employment for certified wetlands surveyors" act. Ithaca can probably do better. The NY DEC is not quite so heavy handed as the MA DEP but in the end environmental considerations cost money and can hardly avoid having a greater dissuading effect on those who have less money. -George -- freedom is not more important than fairness and much easier to fake. From mmccasla at twcny.rr.com Thu Mar 12 10:48:55 2009 From: mmccasla at twcny.rr.com (Margaret McCasland) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:48:55 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Earth Hour Message-ID: <1267BA66-2DEF-4061-B5F8-2AA9FFEA280A@twcny.rr.com> you can sign up via: http://www.earthhour.org/ The Sciencenter has a family-friendly project connected with Earth Hour and there will be materials on their web site soon. Right now their Earth Hour page links to the Canadian site, where you cannot sign up unless you live in Canada. So use the direct Earth Hour site above to sign up now, and keep checking the Sciencenter site for activity sheets you can do with your family to measure the impact of turning more things off 24/365. --Margaret FYI: WWF created Earth Hour to help people that are concerned about our planet and want to show their support for action on climate change. Earth Hour provides WWF with the opportunity to mobilize millions of people towards global climate change action. At www.earthhourcanada.org, WWF provides the tools and information necessary to participate, while also tracking participation and measuring results. As an international conservation organization, WWF is uniquely positioned to tackle climate change by working with all the necessary players ? individuals, business and government. Leadership from businesses and governments is crucial. They are the ones who can put the right regulations into place to effectively cause change. The world is up against a deadline to stop dangerous climate change. In December, 2009, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen to try to establish an international agreement for controlling greenhouse gasses. This meeting MUST result in a commitment to a fair and ambitious climate deal. Climate change is a global problem and it requires global cooperation to solve. A fair, effective, science-based treaty can be signed in Copenhagen if countries work together. Earth Hour will help signal to those government leaders that we want action. But, each one of us has an important role to play too. So, participate with the rest of the world in Earth Hour and make life better with simple everyday actions to minimize our footprint -- Help From eartharts1 at gmail.com Thu Mar 12 18:09:22 2009 From: eartharts1 at gmail.com (Dale Bryner) Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:09:22 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Forest Gardening Workshop @ Earth Arts Message-ID: <6baa36e80903121909x30579720of14f13821096b0c@mail.gmail.com> *Introduction to Forest Gardening, for Adults and Teens* *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 multi-layered and multi-functional 'forest gardens'. These gardens are designed with our understanding of patterns of growth that we learn from existing forest structures. We will look at various potential plant species to include in your temperate climate forest garden, working with Dave Jacke's recent book, ?Edible Forest Gardens.? Join Kay Cafasso, certified permaculture design course instructor and ecological garden designer, as we begin to create an abundant orchard garden that yields food, fiber, forage, and fun. Everyone will gain new skills, plant knowledge, and ways to create regenerative gardens in their own home landscape. Sliding fee per session: $25-$45. Earth Arts educational programs connect youth and adults to the land through earth-based curriculums that develop awareness, diverse skills, creativity, stewardship, and the power of community. For more information or to register email: eartharts1 at gmail.com or call: 607-272-6486. * * From phillipsville at gmail.com Fri Mar 13 06:57:45 2009 From: phillipsville at gmail.com (Miranda Phillips) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 10:57:45 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] lead assessment -- recommendations? Message-ID: <665d29880903130757i597c2189raa95b7e7b7a8eb79@mail.gmail.com> My husband and I live in an old house (1860) in Fall Creek and plan to get a professional lead assessment. Has anyone had good/bad experiences with this? Would you recommend/avoid a particular lead assessment company? If you used Ecospect, did you opt for their $300 lead assessment, or the $600 one? Why? many many thanks, Miranda -- Miranda Phillips Sustainable Tompkins Volunteer Coordinator 402 Utica St. Ithaca, NY 14850 607 277 1241 From gjem5760 at yahoo.com Fri Mar 13 07:35:46 2009 From: gjem5760 at yahoo.com (George Frantz) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:35:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law Message-ID: <882400.74596.qm@web44902.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> On Thursday, March 12, 2009 George Adams wrote: ? "...but in the end environmental considerations cost money and can hardly avoid having a greater dissuading effect on those who have less money." ? Yes, environmental considerations can and sometimes do increase the cost of housing to a small degree.? That increase in costs however is miniscule compared to the costs generated by the elitist mindsets behind the local zoning regulations that in many areas preclude all but the most wealthy from being able to afford to live in a community. ? There is plenty of land available in the Town of Ithaca outside stream corridors and wetland areas that is both suitable for development and has access to public water and sewer infrastructure.? There is great potential for the development of affordable, walkable, bikeable, environmentally sustainable and diverse neighborhoods in a number of locations throughout the Town.. ? That is?not going to hapen, though, because all but a tiny percentage of the land available for development in the Town of Ithaca is zoned for minimum lot sizes of 15,000 square feet or 30,000 square feet.? As a result practically nobody making less than 6 figures can afford a decent homes in the Town of Ithaca, new or used.? Ergo the Town continues to promote the development of McMansions and Starter Castles in isolated, racially and economically homogeneous, auto-dependent,?cookie-cutter subdivisions.. ? The result is more asphalt, more traffic, greenhouse gasses, an even greater level of social, economic and environmental un-sustainability, and even more damaged wetland and stream ecosystems and natural habitats to boot. ? Don't blame the wetlands and stream corridors for the increased cost of housing.? Elitist community attitude are more often the culprit. ? George Frantz ? From dnr6 at cornell.edu Fri Mar 13 11:20:12 2009 From: dnr6 at cornell.edu (Daniel Roth) Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:20:12 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Cornell Sustainability Discussion on WVBR this Sunday, March 15, 2009 Message-ID: <49BAB1EC.9070503@cornell.edu> *WVBR?s "Sunday Forum" to feature a discussion on the reality of sustainability, March 15, at 6 p.m.* *WHAT: *WVBR?s ?Sunday Forum? to feature discussion on sustainability *WHEN: *Sunday,* *March 15 at 6 p.m. *WHERE: *93.5, WVBR-FM and streamed live on WVBR.com ITHACA, N.Y. ? This week?s ?Sunday Forum/,/? to air on WVBR 93.5 FM Sunday, March 15, at 6 p.m. will feature a discussion about sustainability at Cornell University and beyond. The show will also be streamed live on WVBR.com. The program will cover the definition of sustainability, what drives sustainability, how Cornell is handling this issue, new initiatives and research on the horizon, and what role students play in making the world more sustainable. The show will also tour Cornell?s Central Heating Plant and discuss Cornell?s Lake Source Cooling initiative and current plans to consolidate transportation. Guests will include: Frank DiSalvo, director of the Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future; Dean Koyanagi, Cornell sustainability coordinator; Todd Cowen, Cornell professor of civil and environmental engineering; David Lieb, assistant director for public information for Cornell Transportation; Edward R. Wilson, Cornell manager for central utility plants; and Katherine McEachern, Cornell student activist and former leader of KyotoNOW! ?Sunday Forum? airs the first and third Sunday of every month on WVBR 93.5 FM at 6 p.m., and is hosted by Cornell Vice President for University Communications Tommy Bruce and WVBR general manager Kara Capelli. For more information, visit WVBR.com, keyword ?Sunday Forum,? or contact Kara Capelli at (804) 301-4694 or kcapelli at gmail.com . -- Daniel Roth Sustainability Coordinator Office of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Cornell University www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu Youth Action Team Co-Chair US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development www.uspartnership.org 607-254-8077 (office) 607-280-2312 (cell) 607-255-8461 (fax) 395 Pine Tree Road, Suite 230 Ithaca, NY 14850 From janq at zoom-dsl.com Sat Mar 14 13:44:18 2009 From: janq at zoom-dsl.com (Jan Quarles) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:44:18 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Garbage from elsewhere: 9,000 tons per day Message-ID: <5BFA5CD16C8B42A188BD2259F1011C87@user> Environmental Impact Study Urged By Douglas C. Knipple Daily Messenger Posted Mar 02, 2009 @ 10:29 AM Geneva, N.Y. - Between the Ontario County Landfill in Stanley and the Seneca Meadows Landfill in Waterloo, 9,000 tons of garbage is trucked into the northern Finger Lakes every day. It comes from New England, New Jersey, the New York City area and Pennsylvania. Our region has become the garbage capital of New York state. As if this situation were not bad enough, with hundreds of 18-wheelers hauling trash through our towns and villages, and the smell of the Ontario County Landfill occasionally wafting downwind to the western shore of Seneca Lake, the Ontario County Board of Supervisors is now moving forward with a plan to build a waste-to-liquid fuel gasification plant at the Ontario County Landfill. If it's built, we would have the first commercial facility of its kind in the United States here in the Finger Lakes. The county, as lead agency in the State Environmental Quality Review process, has made a declaration of "no significant environmental impact" for the proposed gasification pilot plant, with no apparent independent analysis or input from scientific authorities. The short Environmental Assessment Form the county submitted to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, in lieu of a full environmental review, fails to address significant technical, environmental, and public health aspects of this unproven technology. Among the unsubstantiated claims in the form is the unbelievable assertion that the proposed plant would produce no hazardous air emissions. We strongly urge the county to rescind its Negative Declaration and allow a full environmental impact study incorporating independent scientific analysis of the potential risks and impacts to county residents before any aspect of this project is initiated. We also urge concerned residents and, especially, our elected representatives on the Ontario County Board of Supervisors, to attend a lecture by Dr. Paul Connett, a world renowned waste expert and chemist, who will speak about sustainable solutions to waste management at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, in Albright Auditorium on the campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva. Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to promote sustainable waste management practices. We support recycling and effective waste reduction strategies. We are dedicated to protecting our environment, protecting the health of our families, protecting our property values and quality of life, and practicing good stewardship of public money and resources. Douglas C. Knipple president Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition Geneva Here's a link to this article: http://www.mpnnow.com/opinions/letters_to_the_editor/x617073721/Environmental-impact-study-urged From bosak at ibiblio.org Sat Mar 14 16:52:16 2009 From: bosak at ibiblio.org (Jon Bosak) Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:52:16 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law In-Reply-To: <882400.74596.qm@web44902.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <882400.74596.qm@web44902.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49BC5140.1040002@ibiblio.org> George Frantz wrote: "There is plenty of land available in the Town of Ithaca outside stream corridors and wetland areas that is both suitable for development and has access to public water and sewer infrastructure. There is great potential for the development of affordable, walkable, bikeable, environmentally sustainable and diverse neighborhoods in a number of locations throughout the Town. That is not going to happen, though, because all but a tiny percentage of the land available for development in the Town of Ithaca is zoned for minimum lot sizes of 15,000 square feet or 30,000 square feet." The reason that much of the Town is zoned for large lots is to encourage agriculture and thus enable the local production of food. And this is why those same large lots (down to about 2/3 of an acre -- I'm skipping over a lot of details here) are specifically zoned to allow keeping most kinds of farm animals and the structures needed to house them. The attitude that would convert our remaining open space to housing is the one that believes that food should come from gigantic factories located Somewhere Else and brought to us by unending supplies of cheap fuel. The conditions that made this briefly possible are about to come to the end of the line, and when that happens, we're going to need to have available every square foot of arable land in the Town. The right place for "the development of affordable, walkable, bikeable, environmentally sustainable and diverse neighborhoods" is in the settlements we already have in Tompkins County -- the City of Ithaca, the villages of Trumansburg, Jacksonville, Dryden, Freeville, Lansing, Groton, and Cayuga Heights, and hamlets such as Etna, Varna, McLean, Peruville, Newfield, Enfield Center, Danby, West Danby, Brooktondale, and Slaterville Springs. These places have plenty of capacity, and in many cases the enonomic need, for more residents. It's also possible for other reasons, chiefly traffic flow optimization, that we might want to create new nodes at Cayuga Medical Center and across from EcoVillage; but generally speaking, the best way to achieve walkability and sustainability in the County is to increase the density of existing urban areas, not spread suburban living across already threatened open spaces. (I thought from previous posts that increasing urban density was George's position, so I'm puzzled at the tenor of his latest message.) The problem with the open land in the Town of Ithaca is not that it's open but rather that it's currently unproductive. I think what we need in the Town of Ithaca is something like the Land Co-op that's being developed in the Town of Danby, where owners of parcels both large and small are forming a cooperative to harvest scrubland, including land too poor to support anything but native grasses, for conversion to biomass that can be sold (and is already being sold) to coal-fired power plants in the region. The proposed co-op is to include people who would simply allow contractors to come in every year and harvest the biomass. This is the kind of initiative we need in order to deal with the future we face here -- not development that would permanently remove more land from production. Jon From gjem5760 at yahoo.com Sun Mar 15 05:55:35 2009 From: gjem5760 at yahoo.com (George Frantz) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 06:55:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law Message-ID: <321174.46858.qm@web44902.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Jon, ? You are correct in that most of the Town of Ithaca is zoned Ag-Agricultural or CD-Conservation District in order to protect agricultural alnds and environmentally sesnitive areas.? I know, because both of those zoning districts are my brainchildren. (They are not "large lot" either, but I can explain that later.) ? In setting asside that several thousand acres of land I also made sure in my planning that there was enough land zoned for development in the Town of Ithaca (ie HDR, MDR, LDR zoning districts) to accommodate 4-5 times even the wildest expectations for population growth in the next 20-50 years. ? That is the land I am referring to.? That is the land that the Town of Ithaca is wasting by catering to large lot development, at the expense of sustainability. ? Cheers! ? George Frantz ? --- On Sun, 3/15/09, Jon Bosak wrote: From: Jon Bosak Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 12:52 AM George Frantz wrote: ? ? "There is plenty of land available in the Town of Ithaca ? ? outside stream corridors and wetland areas that is both ? ? suitable for development and has access to public water and ? ? sewer infrastructure.? There is great potential for the ? ? development of affordable, walkable, bikeable, environmentally ? ? sustainable and diverse neighborhoods in a number of locations ? ? throughout the Town. ? ? That is not going to happen, though, because all but a tiny ? ? percentage of the land available for development in the Town of ? ? Ithaca is zoned for minimum lot sizes of 15,000 square feet or ? ? 30,000 square feet." The reason that much of the Town is zoned for large lots is to encourage agriculture and thus enable the local production of food.? And this is why those same large lots (down to about 2/3 of an acre -- I'm skipping over a lot of details here) are specifically zoned to allow keeping most kinds of farm animals and the structures needed to house them. The attitude that would convert our remaining open space to housing is the one that believes that food should come from gigantic factories located Somewhere Else and brought to us by unending supplies of cheap fuel.? The conditions that made this briefly possible are about to come to the end of the line, and when that happens, we're going to need to have available every square foot of arable land in the Town. The right place for "the development of affordable, walkable, bikeable, environmentally sustainable and diverse neighborhoods" is in the settlements we already have in Tompkins County -- the City of Ithaca, the villages of Trumansburg, Jacksonville, Dryden, Freeville, Lansing, Groton, and Cayuga Heights, and hamlets such as Etna, Varna, McLean, Peruville, Newfield, Enfield Center, Danby, West Danby, Brooktondale, and Slaterville Springs.? These places have plenty of capacity, and in many cases the enonomic need, for more residents.? It's also possible for other reasons, chiefly traffic flow optimization, that we might want to create new nodes at Cayuga Medical Center and across from EcoVillage; but generally speaking, the best way to achieve walkability and sustainability in the County is to increase the density of existing urban areas, not spread suburban living across already threatened open spaces.? (I thought from previous posts that increasing urban density was George's position, so I'm puzzled at the tenor of his latest message.) The problem with the open land in the Town of Ithaca is not that it's open but rather that it's currently unproductive.? I think what we need in the Town of Ithaca is something like the Land Co-op that's being developed in the Town of Danby, where owners of parcels both large and small are forming a cooperative to harvest scrubland, including land too poor to support anything but native grasses, for conversion to biomass that can be sold (and is already being sold) to coal-fired power plants in the region.? The proposed co-op is to include people who would simply allow contractors to come in every year and harvest the biomass.? This is the kind of initiative we need in order to deal with the future we face here -- not development that would permanently remove more land from production. Jon _______________________________________________ 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 Sun Mar 15 10:25:58 2009 From: bosak at ibiblio.org (Jon Bosak) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:25:58 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law In-Reply-To: <321174.46858.qm@web44902.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> References: <321174.46858.qm@web44902.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49BD4836.2070901@ibiblio.org> Thanks for the history lesson, but I'm still left with this question: Why are we talking about creating "affordable, walkable, bikeable, environmentally sustainable and diverse neighborhoods" when the County is already dotted with beautiful little communities starving for more businesses and residents? Weren't you arguing a few months ago that we should be trying to increase the density of existing urban areas rather than settling the countryside? Jon George Frantz wrote: > Jon, > > You are correct in that most of the Town of Ithaca is zoned Ag-Agricultural or CD-Conservation District in order to protect agricultural alnds and environmentally sesnitive areas. I know, because both of those zoning districts are my brainchildren. (They are not "large lot" either, but I can explain that later.) > > In setting asside that several thousand acres of land I also made sure in my planning that there was enough land zoned for development in the Town of Ithaca (ie HDR, MDR, LDR zoning districts) to accommodate 4-5 times even the wildest expectations for population growth in the next 20-50 years. > > That is the land I am referring to. That is the land that the Town of Ithaca is wasting by catering to large lot development, at the expense of sustainability. > > Cheers! > > George Frantz > > > > --- On Sun, 3/15/09, Jon Bosak wrote: > > > From: Jon Bosak > Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law > To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" > Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 12:52 AM > > > George Frantz wrote: > > "There is plenty of land available in the Town of Ithaca > outside stream corridors and wetland areas that is both > suitable for development and has access to public water and > sewer infrastructure. There is great potential for the > development of affordable, walkable, bikeable, environmentally > sustainable and diverse neighborhoods in a number of locations > throughout the Town. > > That is not going to happen, though, because all but a tiny > percentage of the land available for development in the Town of > Ithaca is zoned for minimum lot sizes of 15,000 square feet or > 30,000 square feet." > > The reason that much of the Town is zoned for large lots is to > encourage agriculture and thus enable the local production of > food. And this is why those same large lots (down to about 2/3 of > an acre -- I'm skipping over a lot of details here) are > specifically zoned to allow keeping most kinds of farm animals and > the structures needed to house them. > > The attitude that would convert our remaining open space to > housing is the one that believes that food should come from > gigantic factories located Somewhere Else and brought to us by > unending supplies of cheap fuel. The conditions that made this > briefly possible are about to come to the end of the line, and > when that happens, we're going to need to have available every > square foot of arable land in the Town. > > The right place for "the development of affordable, walkable, > bikeable, environmentally sustainable and diverse neighborhoods" > is in the settlements we already have in Tompkins County -- the > City of Ithaca, the villages of Trumansburg, Jacksonville, Dryden, > Freeville, Lansing, Groton, and Cayuga Heights, and hamlets such > as Etna, Varna, McLean, Peruville, Newfield, Enfield Center, > Danby, West Danby, Brooktondale, and Slaterville Springs. These > places have plenty of capacity, and in many cases the enonomic > need, for more residents. It's also possible for other reasons, > chiefly traffic flow optimization, that we might want to create > new nodes at Cayuga Medical Center and across from EcoVillage; but > generally speaking, the best way to achieve walkability and > sustainability in the County is to increase the density of > existing urban areas, not spread suburban living across already > threatened open spaces. (I thought from previous posts that > increasing urban density was George's position, so I'm puzzled at > the tenor of his latest message.) > > The problem with the open land in the Town of Ithaca is not that > it's open but rather that it's currently unproductive. I think > what we need in the Town of Ithaca is something like the Land > Co-op that's being developed in the Town of Danby, where owners of > parcels both large and small are forming a cooperative to harvest > scrubland, including land too poor to support anything but native > grasses, for conversion to biomass that can be sold (and is > already being sold) to coal-fired power plants in the region. The > proposed co-op is to include people who would simply allow > contractors to come in every year and harvest the biomass. This > is the kind of initiative we need in order to deal with the future > we face here -- not development that would permanently remove more > land from production. > > Jon > > _______________________________________________ > 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 rrodomsky at antioch.edu Sun Mar 15 10:40:07 2009 From: rrodomsky at antioch.edu (Rebecca Rodomsky) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:40:07 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Reminder: Sustainable Horticulture Presentation this Thursday! Message-ID: Greetings, This is a reminder that this Thursday, March 19th from 6:30-8:00pm, Dan Segal, owner of Plantsmen Nursery, will be giving a presentation entitled: Sustainable Horticulture and Native Landscapes: Quality, Quantity and The Original Heirloom Plants Learn how quality is lost at the expense of quantity in the world of Big Commercial Horticulture. You can change that immediately, by knowing the story. Native plants, sustainable nursery practices, and progressive landscaping ethics are parts of a new whole. Come learn more with all-original plant photos, and unique but simple insights you can easily apply to your own landscape. This event is FREE and open to everyone! For further questions call home green home 607-319-4159 or visit us at www.homegreenhome.com Thanks, Becca Rodomsky-Bish From gjem5760 at yahoo.com Sun Mar 15 18:21:17 2009 From: gjem5760 at yahoo.com (George Frantz) Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:21:17 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] The density question Message-ID: <401950.60764.qm@web44914.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Jon, ? Yes I did argue a few a few months ago that we should be trying to increase the density of existing urban areas rather than settling the countryside.? I also included?the existing villages and hamlets of Tompkins County as places where increased density should be encouraged.? ? I?am however also adressing te need to eliminate or at least drastically reduce the 40,000-plus people who daily commute by auto through the streets of Ithaca, degrading city?neighborhoods and pushing people out of the city and into the suburbs and surrounding countryside.? The areas in the Town of Ithaca that I have mentioned are also all immediatley adjacent to the city and hence best located in terms of developing or extending alternative transportation systems such as bike/ped path networks and bus routes to connect residential neighborhoods with shopping and employment centers. ? Encouraging growth in those beautiful little communities that dot Tompkins County is definitely a good idea, from the standpoint of sustainabilty, but it is not one that will solve the problem of getting people out of their single-occupancy automobiles. ? Tha can only happen when you have the critical mass of population needed to support a dense network of bus routes that make public transit more attractive than the automobile,?or people living in close enough proximity to where they work, shop or go to school that walking or biking is more attratcive than the automobile. ? This means concentrating the bulk of Tompkins County's population in or immediately adjacent to the Ithaca. ? Best. ? George ? --- On Sun, 3/15/09, Jon Bosak wrote: From: Jon Bosak Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 6:25 PM Thanks for the history lesson, but I'm still left with this question: Why are we talking about creating "affordable, walkable, bikeable, environmentally sustainable and diverse neighborhoods" when the County is already dotted with beautiful little communities starving for more businesses and residents? Weren't you arguing a few months ago that we should be trying to increase the density of existing urban areas rather than settling the countryside? Jon _______________________________________________ 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 Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com Mon Mar 16 07:28:11 2009 From: Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com (Joel and Sarah Gagnon) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:28:11 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] The density question In-Reply-To: <401950.60764.qm@web44914.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20090316102021.020d5de0@pop.lightlink.com> Let me add to George's comments that my experience is that despite the theoretical value of increasing density in existing population centers, the people living in those places (including the city of Ithaca) for the most part are not receptive to it. They will tolerate infill at the customary spacing and massing, but doing that will accommodate very modest increases in population. It is easier to get a greenfield development like Carromoor (sp?), with a projected population exceeding several of the smaller towns in the county, than it is to grow those villages and hamlets. Joel At 07:21 PM 3/15/09 -0700, you wrote: >Jon, > >Yes I did argue a few a few months ago that we should be trying to >increase the density of existing urban areas rather than settling the >countryside. I also included the existing villages and hamlets of >Tompkins County as places where increased density should be encouraged. > >I am however also adressing te need to eliminate or at least drastically >reduce the 40,000-plus people who daily commute by auto through the >streets of Ithaca, degrading city neighborhoods and pushing people out of >the city and into the suburbs and surrounding countryside. The areas in >the Town of Ithaca that I have mentioned are also all immediatley adjacent >to the city and hence best located in terms of developing or extending >alternative transportation systems such as bike/ped path networks and bus >routes to connect residential neighborhoods with shopping and employment >centers. > >Encouraging growth in those beautiful little communities that dot Tompkins >County is definitely a good idea, from the standpoint of sustainabilty, >but it is not one that will solve the problem of getting people out of >their single-occupancy automobiles. > >Tha can only happen when you have the critical mass of population needed >to support a dense network of bus routes that make public transit more >attractive than the automobile, or people living in close enough proximity >to where they work, shop or go to school that walking or biking is more >attratcive than the automobile. > >This means concentrating the bulk of Tompkins County's population in or >immediately adjacent to the Ithaca. > >Best. > >George > > > >--- On Sun, 3/15/09, Jon Bosak wrote: > > >From: Jon Bosak >Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law >To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" > >Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 6:25 PM > > >Thanks for the history lesson, but I'm still left with this >question: Why are we talking about creating "affordable, walkable, >bikeable, environmentally sustainable and diverse neighborhoods" >when the County is already dotted with beautiful little >communities starving for more businesses and residents? > >Weren't you arguing a few months ago that we should be trying to >increase the density of existing urban areas rather than settling >the countryside? > >Jon > >_______________________________________________ >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 Mon Mar 16 10:38:30 2009 From: mbrown at ithaca.edu (Marian Brown) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:38:30 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Sustainability Cafe to examine "Deconstruction" on Thursday, Match 19 at noon Message-ID: <49BE9CA6.9040409@ithaca.edu> The next Sustainability Caf? in the spring 2009 series will look at "deconstruction."/ /This Caf? will be held on Thursday, March 19, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise, room 301 at Ithaca College. When planning a new construction project on a site where an existing structure still stands, the first step to building "green" is to remove that existing structure responsibly, and reuse and recycle any and all useful construction materials and fixtures from it. The term for this planned disassembly of existing buildings is called "deconstruction."* Hans Milberger*, deconstruction coordinator, and executive director *Diane Cohen*, from Finger Lakes Reuse Inc., will discuss this new service that their organization is now offering to our community to ensure that reusable construction materials are kept in service and out of the local landfill. http://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20090313091305234 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. For a couple more weeks, 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 mbrown at ithaca.edu Mon Mar 16 11:03:49 2009 From: mbrown at ithaca.edu (Marian Brown) Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:03:49 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival needs brown paper bags for art installation Message-ID: <49BEA295.6090501@ithaca.edu> FLEFF needs BROWN BAGS - used brown paper bags. The Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival is collaborating with Chinese/Australian artist PAMELA MEI LENG SEE to do a community art build installation called BROWN CLOUD. Brown clouds are pollution over cities. She will be building an installation from works produced in FLEFF Lab cutting workshops during FLEFF week (March 30 - April 3) -- these will be labs where she will teach Chinese paper cutting techniques. Participants will cut out their BROWN CLOUDS from BROWN BAGS. And then Pamela will install the clouds in the rotunda gallery in the Handwerker Gallery at Ithaca College. FOR NOW, we need EVERYONE to save their BROWN BAGS. We have two weeks to collect them. Bags can be dropped off at Patty Zimmermann's office, Park School of Communications, Room 350. We hope you will all join the BROWN CLOUD FLEFF LABS for a lesson in cutting out brown clouds. (bad pun, but it works...) SEND US YOUR BROWN BAGS! www.ithaca.edu/fleff ------- Patricia R. Zimmermann, Ph.D. Professor, Cinema, Photography and Media Arts Roy H. Park School of Communications Codirector, Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies Ithaca College Ithaca, New York 14850 USA Office: +1 (607) 274 3431 FAX: +1 (607) 274 7078 http://faculty.ithaca.edu/patty/ http://www.ithaca.edu/fleff patty at ithaca.edu From sjr37 at cornell.edu Tue Mar 17 04:20:09 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:20:09 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Learn to Prune Trees & Shrubs Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090317081221.03365bc0@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Learn to Prune Trees and Shrubs A series of workshops on how to prune trees and shrubs will be offered during April by Tompkins County Cooperative Extension, the Cornell Urban Horticulture Institute and the City of Ithaca Parks & Forestry Department. Classes are open to the public for $5/class and are FREE to those who wish to continue on as volunteers with the Citizen Pruner program. Citizen Pruner volunteers prune City trees and shrubs during weekly work sessions that are held from May to October. Workshop dates and topics are: April 6, 7:00-8:30 pm - Trees for Urban Landscapes with Nina Bassuk, Director of the Cornell Urban Horticulture Institute April 13, 7:00-8:30 pm - Learn to Prune Shrubs with Monika Roth, Extension Educator, Tompkins County Cooperative Extension April 20, 7:00-8:30 pm - Learn to Prune Trees with Andy Hillman & Lewis Ward, City of Ithaca Forestry Dept. April 27, 5:30-7:00 pm - Tree & Shrub Assessment for structure and pruning needs - an outdoor class to look at pruning needs and demonstrate practices CLASSES ARE OPEN TO BOTH VOLUNTEERS AND THE PUBLIC. Classes cost $5 each for the public and are FREE to volunteers. For a volunteer application OR to register for the classes, call Tompkins County Cooperative Extension at 272-2292 or e-mail Monika Roth at mr55 at cornell.edu. From kristen at historicithaca.org Tue Mar 17 09:17:22 2009 From: kristen at historicithaca.org (kristen at historicithaca.org) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:17:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Announcements from Historic Ithaca and Significant Elements Message-ID: <30f6abef131bf279846ba8d18b66d0e5.squirrel@webmail.historicithaca.org> Every magazine has a "green" issue these days, and "Preservation" from the National Trust for Historic Preservation is no exception. But this publication does offer some wonderful case studies and inspiration for those of us interested in sustainability and older buildings. "Preservation" is available, along with books and other periodicals, in Historic Ithaca's research library, located at the Significant Elements building at 212 Center Street in Ithaca. Use of the library is free to the public, open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Don't forget this Friday, March 20, is "Free Friday" at Significant Elements architectural salvage warehouse. Overstocked goods are available on a first-come first-served basis beginning at 9am, at 212 Center Street in Ithaca. Historic Ithaca presents the next installment in our Free Class Series, "Yearly Maintenance: Getting Ready for Spring" this Saturday, March 21 at 11am, repeating at 2pm. This 30-minute course will cover the basics of home maintenance, including how to perform an annual inspection. Participants will learn how to save time and money by planning annual maintenance, and will develop a take-home plan customized to their home's needs. The class is held at the Significant Elements building, 212 Center Street in Ithaca. Significant Elements is having a sale this week on Bath and Kitchen items, including sinks and tubs, toilets, tile, cabinets, antique stoves, and more. Save 15-25% through Saturday, March 21. Please feel free to contact us at elements at significantelements.org with any questions. From gaynicholson at gmail.com Tue Mar 17 15:32:41 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:32:41 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Reefer Mathness - Group Crochet, Global Warming and Coral Reefs? Message-ID: Here's an event to stimulate our thinking about engaging others in the sustainability conversation.... On Monday night, March 23 in Malott Hall, Bache Auditorium, at Cornell, there's a free University Lecture that should be of interest to a wide spectrum of students, faculty and the general public. It's going to be an unusual talk -- it tells a remarkable story of groups of artists doing crochet, based on ideas from geometry, and aimed at increasing public awareness of global warming and coral reef destruction. Margaret Wertheim received international acclaim for the 2007 "Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef" project. This project originated from the published crochet instructions of a hyperbolic plane by Cornell University Professors Daina Taimina and David Henderson. Variations on this theme have resulted in a gigantic crocheted coral reef that draws attention to the effects of global warming and the fragility of the Great Barrier Reef. It has been shown at the Andy Warhol Museum (Pittsburgh, Spring 2007), The Hayward Gallery (London, Summer 2008), and museums in Chicago (Fall 2007) and at New York University (Spring 2008). While working on a shoestring budget, Margaret Wertheim has had an unparalleled impact engaging women around the world in active participation and learning about science, mathematics and environmentalism. As marine biologist Kate Holmes of the American Museum of Natural History wrote: *"The crochet project takes a new and interesting twist by looking at the mathematics of coral. It's another entrance point and it allows us to involve craftspeople who might be into conservation.*" Wertheim is known for her work as science writer and commentator. She has written several books, including* Pythagoras' Trousers*, a history of the relationship between physics and religion in Western culture. Her work as been included in included in Best American Science Writing 2003. Shecontributes to The New York Times Science Section, is an Op-Ed contributor to the Los Angeles Times, wrote the "Quark Soup" science column for the LA Weekly, and is contributing editor on science issues for Cabinet. Furthermore, she founded the Institute For Figuring (www.theiff.org) that is devoted to enhancing public engagement in science and mathematics through lectures, exhibitions, books, and an extensive website. Please encourage your students, colleagues and friends to attend -- I know they'll be glad they did. *Reefer Mathness:* *Confronting Coral Reef Destruction and* *Global Warming through Mathematics,* *Collective Art Practice and Crochet* Margaret Wertheim Science Writer and Exhibition Curator Monday, March 23, 7:30 p.m. Malott Hall, Bache Auditorium Reception to follow The lecture and reception are free and open to the public -- ---------------------------------------------------- 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 elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us Wed Mar 18 08:33:26 2009 From: elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us (Elan Shapiro) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:33:26 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Wangari Maathai movie free this Friday 7 PM Message-ID: > >Southern Tier Advocacy & Mitigation Project invites you to . > >COMMUNITY CINEMA >(now in its fourth season) > >COMMUNITY CINEMA is a monthly screening series >which creates accessible opportunities for civic >engagement and public education around important >social issues > >please join us for this FREE feature > >Friday, March 20th at 7 PM >Henry St. John Building - Suite 103 >Clinton & Geneva Streets > > >TAKING ROOT >by Lisa Merton and Alan Dater > >TAKING ROOT follows Nobel Peace Prize Laureate >Wangari Maathai in her quest to reclaim her land >and her culture through the disarmingly simple >act of planting trees. This direct action has >fostered community solidarity, environmental >literacy, and political resolve that helped to >bring down Kenya's 24-year dictatorship. > >learn more about the film here > > > >A COMMUNITY DISCUSSION WILL FOLLOW THE FILM >w/refreshments courtesy of >GreenStar Community >Projects > >featuring SAMITE of Uganda > >TAKING ROOT?s original soundtrack was composed >by Samite >Mulondo. >?Writing music for this film was a healing >experience in itself. The film clips that I >viewed while composing were very moving and many >times I felt so connected to Wangari and what >she experienced, that it felt like she gave me >the songs to write.? > > >the screening is free and handicapped accessible... all are welcome > > >this program is being brought to you by >S.T.A.M.P.'s >guerrilla griots human rights media arts center >a KIDDS | PINS2Prison Pipeline Project > > >please help spread the word! > > > > > >Southern Tier Advocacy & Mitigation Project, Incorporated >focusing on the "under-developed strengths" of at-risk communities >__________________ >S.T.A.M.P.?s Administrative Office >119 East Buffalo Street >Ithaca, New York 14850 >P. 607.277.2121 >F. 607.277.2120 >info at stamp-cny.org >www.stamp-cny.org >www.youtube.com/user/stampcny > > >S.T.A.M.P.?s Guerrilla Griots Human Rights Media Arts Center >Henry Saint John Building - Suite 106 >301 South Geneva Street >Ithaca, New York 14850 >P/F 607.277.2122 >info at guerrilla-griots.org >www.guerrilla-griots.org >www.guerrillagriots.wordpress.com > > > >S.T.A.M.P. was established in 2005 in response >to the frequency with which young people are >referred to juvenile and adult court systems. >S.T.A.M.P. challenges criminalization, >exploitation, incarceration, and pollution by >encouraging self-respect, empowerment, >leadership, and self-determination among young >people, adults, and families most affected by >criminal justice and environmental policies >which disregard individual needs, erode >community assets, and undermine planet security. > > > >Want to $upport S.T.A.M.P. without spending a dime? >Choose STAMP as your charity at >GoodSearch.com. >Search & shop the web using Yahoo. >$upport S.T.A.M.P. at the same time! >__._,_.___ >Messages >in this topic (1) >Reply >(via web post) | >Start >a new topic >Messages >| >Files >| >Photos >| >Links >| >Database >| >Polls >| >Members >| >Calendar >AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES on MLK, Jr. St. Petitions: 1650 approx. >36 people subscribe to this list. > >Businesses (44)That Have Signed On: > >15 Steps (on The Commons) >Alta Spa (308 E. State) >Autumn Leaves Used Books (on The Commons) >Beyond the Wall (on The Commons) >Big Time Barber Shop (on The Commmons) >Books Thru Bars of Ithaca (on The Commons) >Brody Burroughs Art Studio (112 E. State) >Clarity Computing (401 E. State) >Commons Delicatessan (on The Commons) >Community Dispute Resolution Ctr. (120 W. State) >Danica Computing (401 E. State) >Finger Lakes Beverage Center (605 W. State) >Hardpact (on The Commons) >Hook Line & Sinker Bait Shop (900 W. State) >Ithaca Coins and Jewelry (610 W. State) >Ithaca Hemp Co. (on The Commons) >Ithaca Swap Shop (610 W. State) >Jabberwork (on The Commons) >Jesus Only Apostolic Church (corner of State and Plain) >John's Convenient Mart (333 W. State) >Juna's Cafe (146 E. State) >K & H Redemption Center (900 W. State) >Kennedy and Kennedy Law Firm (401 E. State) >Laborers Local Union 589 (622 W. State) >Literacy New York (120 W. State) >Loose Threads (on The Commons) >Model Citizen Tattoo (614 W. State) >Mulberry Knoll (on The Commons) >Night and Day (on The Commons) >Positive News (on The Commons) >RCP Financial (614 W. State) >Rumble Seat Music (121 W. State) >Simonette Antenucci (401 E. State) >Taste of Thai Express (526 W. State) >TC Living Wage Coalition/Workers' Rights Ctr. >T-Shirt Express (on The Commons) >TC Health Care Task Force (on The Commons) >TC Human Rights Commission (120 W. State) >Triad Research (401 E. State) >TuesdayThursday Brand Advertising (120 W. State) >Unique World (on The Commons) >UPS Store (on the Commons) >Zanzinato LL >Zia Lisa's Pizzeria >MARKETPLACE ><"'"http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=14k9il1fh/M=730914.13354441.13465017.10835568/D=groups/S=1705060682:MKP1/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1237323418/L=/B=raTrT0PDhEY-/J=1237316218002602/K=rLdIe10sEwyVUJ3J_zxeGg/A=5667010/R=0/SIG=12elpv1ko/*http://www.socialtrack.net/redir.aspx>Do >you think you're Smart? Find out your IQ today. >Take our quiz at Quizyou.net. > > ><"'"http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=14kmnmbpe/M=493064.12016295.13271503.10835568/D=groups/S=1705060682:MKP1/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1237323418/L=/B=rqTrT0PDhEY-/J=1237316218002602/K=rLdIe10sEwyVUJ3J_zxeGg/A=5530388/R=0/SIG=11nuutlas/*http://explore.yahoo.com/groups/kraft>From >kitchen basics to easy recipes - join the Group >from Kraft Foods > >Change >settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) >Change settings via email: >Delivery: Digest>Switch delivery to Daily Digest >| >Delivery Format: Traditional>Switch format to >Traditional >Visit >Your Group | >Yahoo! Groups >Terms of Use | >Unsubscribe >Recent Activity >Visit >Your Group >Group Charity > >Citizen >Schools > >Best after school > >program in the US >All-Bran > >Day >10 Club > >on Yahoo! Groups > >Feel better with fiber. >Everyday Wellness > ><"'"http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=14hieaque/M=493064.12662708.12980600.8674578/D=groups/S=1705060682:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1237323418/L=/B=sqTrT0PDhEY-/J=1237316218002602/K=rLdIe10sEwyVUJ3J_zxeGg/A=5349272/R=0/SIG=11nhsqmjq/*http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/Ever>on >Yahoo! Groups > >Find groups that will > >help you stay fit. >. > >__,_._,___ > **************************************************************************** Karl Graham ** If you wish to be removed from this mailing list, reply with "Remove" as the first line of text. ** -- Elan Shapiro 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 levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Wed Mar 18 10:38:58 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:38:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] supplies needed for Earth Day parade posters, banners, costumes! Message-ID: <79485.80943.qm@web62102.mail.re1.yahoo.com> The Earth Day Arts Team?is in search of the following supplies for a series of workshops to make posters, banners and costumes for the Earth Day Parades (saturday, april 25, Ithaca Commons; sunday, April 26, Farmers Mkt) and the fabulous family-friendly Party for the Planet (friday April 24). ? The artist-led workshops - part of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance's "Art for a Sustainable Community" Creativity series - ?will be from 1-4 pm in Center Ithaca on sundays March 29, Apr 5, Apr 12 and Apr 19. Folks of all ages very welcome! ? * paint, all colors (half-used cans in your basement?) & brushes * chicken wire (bodies for two-person whale? giraffe? large Earth ball?) * filmy fabrics for fairy wings * old sheets, all colors but especially white * old t-shirts, all colors but especially white - for EARTH DAY 2009 banner * old plywood - and more paint -? for Creativity Wall at community Earth Day celebration on Sunday, April 26, Farmers Mkt ? Thanks - Patricia Haines 339-9472 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 dnr6 at cornell.edu Wed Mar 18 10:03:42 2009 From: dnr6 at cornell.edu (Daniel Roth) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:03:42 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Yale research report, "Climate Change in the American Mind: Americans' Climate Change Beliefs, Attitudes, Policy, Preferences, and Actions." Message-ID: <49C1377E.1080302@cornell.edu> FYI Yale Just released a new report on public attitudes on Climate Change -Dan Roth I just received an announcement about a new research report, "Climate Change in the American Mind: Americans' Climate Change Beliefs, Attitudes, Policy Preferences, and Actions." The report is based on a nationally representative survey of more than 2,000 Americans conducted in October and November. A copy of the report can be downloaded from: http://envirocenter.research.yale.edu/uploads/climatechange-report2.pdf In short, the study found that even in the midst of the growing economic crisis, over 90 percent of Americans said that the United States should act to reduce global warming, including 34 percent who said the U.S. should make a large-scale effort, even if it has large economic costs. Americans strongly supported a wide variety of climate change and energy policies, including funding for research on renewable energy (92%); tax rebates for people buying fuel-efficient vehicles or solar panels (85%); and regulation of carbon dioxide as a pollutant (80%). The research also found that nearly half of Americans expressed a willingness to reward or punish companies for their climate change-related activities, a potentially dramatic increase in consumer pressure. The primary barrier preventing consumers from doing so, however, was simply knowledge - two-thirds said they did not know which companies to target. American opinion about global warming is solidifying. Majorities now believe it is real, happening, human caused, and a serious threat. Likewise, majorities want their elected officials at all levels to take more action and support a variety of policies to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions. Growing numbers of Americans are also willing to express their views politically and through their consumer purchases. A copy of the report can be downloaded from: http://envirocenter.research.yale.edu/uploads/climatechange-report2.pdf -- Daniel Roth Sustainability Coordinator Office of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability Cornell University www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu Youth Action Team Co-Chair US Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development www.uspartnership.org 607-254-8077 (office) 607-280-2312 (cell) 607-255-8461 (fax) 395 Pine Tree Road, Suite 230 Ithaca, NY 14850 From owlgorge at earthlink.net Wed Mar 18 12:37:05 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:37:05 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] The Treman Show: Exploring Robert H. Treman State Park Message-ID: <380-2200933182037562@earthlink.net> My Ithaca area cable TV public access series Nature Nearby continues on channel 13 at 7:00 on Wednesday evenings through April. This Wednesday, March 18, and again on March 25, I will be showing Exploring Robert H. Treman State Park, also known as The Treman Show. This episode, which was a project with the Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park, took two years to make and it won the award for the best public access show in Ithaca for 2008. You can also see The Treman Show online at http://blip.tv/file/946907/ (Be advised as this is a fairly high resolution version, it may experience problems on less capable computers.) The show is 25 minutes long. It looks good full screen. I know this and the mild weather will make you eager to get out there and explore our parks. But remember, many of the trails are still closed for winter and are waiting for spring maintenance and cliff scaling. Getting fined for going on a closed trail would ruin your day. Tony Ingraham 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 gjem5760 at yahoo.com Thu Mar 19 05:01:23 2009 From: gjem5760 at yahoo.com (George Frantz) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:01:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] The density question Message-ID: <23228.63039.qm@web44902.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Joel, ? Theoretical value? ? George --- On Mon, 3/16/09, Joel and Sarah Gagnon wrote: From: Joel and Sarah Gagnon Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] The density question To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" Date: Monday, March 16, 2009, 3:28 PM Let me add to George's comments that my experience is that despite the theoretical value of increasing density in existing population centers, the people living in those places (including the city of Ithaca) for the most part are not receptive to it. They will tolerate infill at the customary spacing and massing, but doing that will accommodate very modest increases in population. It is easier to get a greenfield development like Carromoor (sp?), with a projected population exceeding several of the smaller towns in the county, than it is to grow those villages and hamlets. Joel At 07:21 PM 3/15/09 -0700, you wrote: >Jon, > >Yes I did argue a few a few months ago that we should be trying to >increase the density of existing urban areas rather than settling the >countryside.? I also included the existing villages and hamlets of >Tompkins County as places where increased density should be encouraged. > >I am however also adressing te need to eliminate or at least drastically >reduce the 40,000-plus people who daily commute by auto through the >streets of Ithaca, degrading city neighborhoods and pushing people out of >the city and into the suburbs and surrounding countryside.? The areas in >the Town of Ithaca that I have mentioned are also all immediatley adjacent >to the city and hence best located in terms of developing or extending >alternative transportation systems such as bike/ped path networks and bus >routes to connect residential neighborhoods with shopping and employment >centers. > >Encouraging growth in those beautiful little communities that dot Tompkins >County is definitely a good idea, from the standpoint of sustainabilty, >but it is not one that will solve the problem of getting people out of >their single-occupancy automobiles. > >Tha can only happen when you have the critical mass of population needed >to support a dense network of bus routes that make public transit more >attractive than the automobile, or people living in close enough proximity >to where they work, shop or go to school that walking or biking is more >attratcive than the automobile. > >This means concentrating the bulk of Tompkins County's population in or >immediately adjacent to the Ithaca. > >Best. > >George > > > >--- On Sun, 3/15/09, Jon Bosak wrote: > > >From: Jon Bosak >Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law >To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" > >Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 6:25 PM > > >Thanks for the history lesson, but I'm still left with this >question: Why are we talking about creating "affordable, walkable, >bikeable, environmentally sustainable and diverse neighborhoods" >when the County is already dotted with beautiful little >communities starving for more businesses and residents? > >Weren't you arguing a few months ago that we should be trying to >increase the density of existing urban areas rather than settling >the countryside? > >Jon > >_______________________________________________ >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 _______________________________________________ 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 sjr37 at cornell.edu Thu Mar 19 05:12:39 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:12:39 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] 3/28: "Weeds & Other Aquatic Plants" Conference in Seneca Falls Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090319090505.040f4968@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Cayuga Lake Watershed Network will host a conference "Weeds and Other Aquatic Plants: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" next Saturday, March 28 at 1pm at the Red Jacket Firehouse, 2528 Lower Lake Rd, Seneca Falls. Topics will include:"Long-term History of Weeds & Aquatic Plants in Cayuga Lake" with Bob Johnson, Manager, Cornell Research Ponds; "Aquatic Plant Populations in the Lake: Experiment to Remove Eurasian Milfoil in Skaneateles Lake" with Bin Zhu, Research Scientist at Hobart & William Smith, Finger Lakes Institute; "Management Plan for Weed Control; Factors Influencing Spread of Aquatic Plants" with Marion Balyszak, Director, Finger Lakes Institute; and a Panel Discussion with the audience on "Need For & Methods of Weed Control" with Scott Kishbauch, DEC; Jim Malyj, Seneca County Soil & Water Conservation; Guy Krogh, BASS; and a representative of NYS Parks Dept. A Google map and directions can be found on the web page describing the conference at http://cayugalake.org/news/weeds.php From Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com Thu Mar 19 07:33:53 2009 From: Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com (Joel and Sarah Gagnon) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:33:53 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] The density question In-Reply-To: <23228.63039.qm@web44902.mail.sp1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20090319101530.020e9590@pop.lightlink.com> Why did I throw that qualifier in there? I think it was prompted by misgivings about the sustainability of larger cities in a high-energy-cost environment. The prevailing situation of food imported from great distances will be jeopardized by rising transportation costs. This may never be an issue for commodity crops which provide the bulk of the calories in the diet, but for the fruits and vegetables upon which health and longevity depend, I think it will be very much an issue. More people will be needed on the land to produce those products closer to the point of use. The pre-cheap-energy pattern of population distribution of either densely-settled villages surrounded by working landscapes or less densely settled hamlets surrounded by a distributed population of those working the landscape, may well redevelop where it has been lost. Will there be jobs enough to support the kind of urban populations we have developed in recent decades -- all driven by displacement of rural populations? I doubt it. Will we need new denser development in the population centers, beyond refilling the missing teeth in the historic fabric? Debatable. Joel At 06:01 AM 3/19/09 -0700, you wrote: >Joel, > >Theoretical value? > >George > >--- On Mon, 3/16/09, Joel and Sarah Gagnon > wrote: > > >From: Joel and Sarah Gagnon >Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] The density question >To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" > >Date: Monday, March 16, 2009, 3:28 PM > > >Let me add to George's comments that my experience is that despite the >theoretical value of increasing density in existing population centers, the >people living in those places (including the city of Ithaca) for the most >part are not receptive to it. They will tolerate infill at the customary >spacing and massing, but doing that will accommodate very modest increases >in population. It is easier to get a greenfield development like Carromoor >(sp?), with a projected population exceeding several of the smaller towns >in the county, than it is to grow those villages and hamlets. > >Joel > >At 07:21 PM 3/15/09 -0700, you wrote: > >Jon, > > > >Yes I did argue a few a few months ago that we should be trying to > >increase the density of existing urban areas rather than settling the > >countryside. I also included the existing villages and hamlets of > >Tompkins County as places where increased density should be encouraged. > > > >I am however also adressing te need to eliminate or at least drastically > >reduce the 40,000-plus people who daily commute by auto through the > >streets of Ithaca, degrading city neighborhoods and pushing people out of > >the city and into the suburbs and surrounding countryside. The areas in > >the Town of Ithaca that I have mentioned are also all immediatley adjacent > >to the city and hence best located in terms of developing or extending > >alternative transportation systems such as bike/ped path networks and bus > >routes to connect residential neighborhoods with shopping and employment > >centers. > > > >Encouraging growth in those beautiful little communities that dot Tompkins > >County is definitely a good idea, from the standpoint of sustainabilty, > >but it is not one that will solve the problem of getting people out of > >their single-occupancy automobiles. > > > >Tha can only happen when you have the critical mass of population needed > >to support a dense network of bus routes that make public transit more > >attractive than the automobile, or people living in close enough proximity > >to where they work, shop or go to school that walking or biking is more > >attratcive than the automobile. > > > >This means concentrating the bulk of Tompkins County's population in or > >immediately adjacent to the Ithaca. > > > >Best. > > > >George > > > > > > > >--- On Sun, 3/15/09, Jon Bosak wrote: > > > > > >From: Jon Bosak > >Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Town of Ithaca Stream Setback Law > >To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" > > > >Date: Sunday, March 15, 2009, 6:25 PM > > > > > >Thanks for the history lesson, but I'm still left with this > >question: Why are we talking about creating "affordable, walkable, > >bikeable, environmentally sustainable and diverse neighborhoods" > >when the County is already dotted with beautiful little > >communities starving for more businesses and residents? > > > >Weren't you arguing a few months ago that we should be trying to > >increase the density of existing urban areas rather than settling > >the countryside? > > > >Jon > > > >_______________________________________________ > >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 >_______________________________________________ >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 tonydelplato at gmail.com Thu Mar 19 12:31:22 2009 From: tonydelplato at gmail.com (Tony Del Plato) Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:31:22 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Apocolypse 2030 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: We already know this and are preparing locally, but what kind of foreign policy will US administrations pursue? Tony Del Plato Depending on your email program, you may be able to click on the link in the email. Alternatively, you may have to open a web browser, such as Firefox or Internet Explorer, and copy the link over into the address bar. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/5015051/Food-and-energy-shortages-will-create-perfect-storm-says-Prof-John-Beddington.html For the best content online, visit www.telegraph.co.uk -- I do not know which makes a man more conservative?to know nothing but the present, or nothing but the past. - John Maynard Keynes -- 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 nlv at clarityconnect.com Fri Mar 20 05:15:19 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:15:19 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Chicken Coop Tour Message-ID: http://www.oregon.com/trips/chicken_coop_tour.cfm From elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us Fri Mar 20 08:30:42 2009 From: elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us (Elan Shapiro) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:30:42 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Obamas to Plant White House Vegetable Garden Message-ID: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/dining/19garden-web.html?hp (note: Modeling by credible, respected leaders is a proven key to behavior change and culture change. es) -- Elan Shapiro 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 Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com Fri Mar 20 08:33:52 2009 From: Joel.and.Sarah.Gagnon at lightlink.com (Joel and Sarah Gagnon) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:33:52 -0500 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Chicken Coop Tour In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20090320113310.020d8410@pop.lightlink.com> Noteworthy that Portland allows up to 3 chickens without a permit. Joel At 09:15 AM 3/20/09 -0400, you wrote: >http://www.oregon.com/trips/chicken_coop_tour.cfm > >_______________________________________________ >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 levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Fri Mar 20 10:52:55 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:52:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Chickens: Saturday "Fowl Weather" show opening at Kitschen Sink In-Reply-To: <5.2.1.1.2.20090320113310.020d8410@pop.lightlink.com> Message-ID: <600900.20792.qm@web62104.mail.re1.yahoo.com> a touch of fun & whimsy for this thread: saturday march 21st 2-4 pm opening for pho show and misc chicken themes at Kitchen Sink, 210 Elmira Rd (formerly Spirit & Kitsch, BEFORE THAT VACUUM CLEANER STORE) 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 --- On Fri, 3/20/09, Joel and Sarah Gagnon wrote: From: Joel and Sarah Gagnon Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] Chicken Coop Tour To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" Date: Friday, March 20, 2009, 12:33 PM Noteworthy that Portland allows up to 3 chickens without a permit. Joel At 09:15 AM 3/20/09 -0400, you wrote: >http://www.oregon.com/trips/chicken_coop_tour.cfm > >_______________________________________________ >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 janq at zoom-dsl.com Fri Mar 20 18:23:50 2009 From: janq at zoom-dsl.com (Jan Quarles) Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:23:50 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Rights of citizens to protect ecosystem Message-ID: Good news! The citizens of Shapleigh, Maine just passed an ordinance asserting their rights to protect the ecosystem while denying corporations the rights of personhood. Hopefully more towns across the nation will follow suit. The press release about it (below) was forwarded to me through nywellwatch-forum at googlegroups.com , which, by the way, is a very informative on-line community forum about gas drilling in Marcellus Shale. - Jan Quarles www.backtodemocracy.org ----- Original Message ----- From: Lynne Bursic To: nywellwatch-forum at googlegroups.com Sent: Friday, March 20, 2009 9:35 PM Subject: [nywellwatch-FORUM] Fwd: [MarcellusGasInfo] Relocalization . . . I just received this from the marcellus shale info group...thought everyone should see it if they hadn't already. What a great idea!!! Lynne Bursic ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Adrian/Kuzminski Date: Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 6:08 PM Subject: [MarcellusGasInfo] Relocalization . . . To: sus Cc: marcellusgasinfo digest subscribers Maine Town Passes Ordinance Asserting Local Self-Governance and Stripping Corporate Personhood Submitted by Chip on Sun, 2009-03-01 18:08. Maine Town Passes Ordinance Asserting Local Self-Governance and Stripping Corporate Personhood | Press Release Today the citizens of Shapleigh, Maine voted at a special town meeting to pass a groundbreaking Rights-Based Ordinance, 114 for and 66 against. This revolutionary ordinance give its citizens the right to local self-governance and gives rights to ecosystems but denies the rights of personhood to corporations. This ordinance allows the citizens to protect their groundwater resources, putting it in a common trust to be used for the benefit of its residents. Shapleigh is the first community in Maine to pass such an ordinance, which extends rights to nature, however, the Ordinance Review Committee in Wells, Maine is considering passing one in their town. These communities have been under attack by Nestle Waters, N.A., a multi-national water miner that sells bottled water under such labels as Poland Springs. Communities have opposed the expansion by Nestle Waters, but the corporation will not take no for an answer. The town of Fryeburg, Maine has been in litigation with Nestle for six years. Nestle wants to expand and the town's people say no to the tanker trunk traffic which has disrupted their quiet scenic beauty, so Nestle's tactic is to wear them down, and break their bank. Nestle is the world's largest food and beverage company and has very deep pockets. However, we won't back down, we are the stewards of this most precious resource water, and we want to protect it for future generations. Activists in Maine are well aware that the Nestle Corporation is not just interested in expanding for the purpose of filling their Poland Springs bottles today, they are interested in the control of Maine's abundant water resources for the future. They are expanding in many parts of this country from McCloud, California to Maine. Nestle is positioning themselves to capitalize on the emerging crisis of global water scarcity. The right to water is a social justice issue and we believe that it should not be sold to those who can afford it, leaving the world's poorest citizens thirsty. Citizens will do a much better job of protecting this resource than a for-profit corporation. The concept of a rights-based ordinance was pioneered by environmental attorney Thomas Linzey, founder of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund of Gettysburg, PA. Linzey has assisted the town of Barnstead, New Hampshire with their rights-based ordinance, which was passed in 2006 and with another in Nottingham, New Hampshire, which passed in 2008. To date there have been no legal challenges to these ordinances. Linzey also crafted Ecuador's new Constitution, which also gives the ecosystem rights. Ecuador is the first country in the world to protect its natural resources from corporate exploitation. Activists have learned the hard way that trying to protect their communities and the environment by going the route of fighting a typical regulatory ordinance, which is written by corporate lobbyists, will fail to protect communities from harms done. The multi-national corporation's allegiance is never to the communities where they do business, as that could conflict with their fiduciary responsibility to make a profit for stockholders. People throughout the country are saying "enough is enough, large corporations have too much power." Constitutional Rights were granted to corporations from the bench in the 1800's and it is time to rectify a wrong! People are saying let's dismantle the neo-colonial corporate power by starting with their right to personhood. In Maine, we are tired of Nestle behaving as if they are a Colonial power with a right to our water resources. We decided that we will behave as if we have the power and ignore the naysayers who said that people will never vote to take rights away from corporations or to give rights to nature. We want to encourage other communities join us. The time is now! Copies of the The Shapleigh, Maine Town Warrant calling for a special town meeting and The Shapleigh Water Rights and Local Self-Government Warrant are available from the Contact Person, below. For more information on attorney Thomas Linzey and the Community Environmental Defense Fund, please visit: http://www.celdf.org For more information about the battle to protect ground water in communities in Maine, please visit: www.soh2o.org . Click on the LEGISLATION tab and go to ORDINANCES to read the important new Shapleigh ordinance. CONTACT PERSON: Jamilla El-Shafei Save Our Water steering committee member and organizer steering committee member of the Maine Water Allies (state-wide coalition) 603.969.8426 jamillaelshafei at gmail.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to New York Well Watch Forum. This list is for sharing information, announcing local meetings, and fostering open discussion about the Marcellus Shale gas drilling in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions. To post a message to the list, send email to nywellwatch-forum at googlegroups.com To unsubscribe, send email to nywellwatch-forum+unsubscribe at googlegroups.com For more options, visit http://groups.google.com/group/nywellwatch-forum?hl=en INTERESTED IN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GAS DRILLING IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE? Visit http://www.nywellwatch.org/ -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~--- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.21/2014 - Release Date: 3/20/2009 6:59 AM From jml16 at cornell.edu Sat Mar 21 13:05:56 2009 From: jml16 at cornell.edu (Jane Marie Law) Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:05:56 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] backyard chickens again Message-ID: Hello All, I have been dreaming about having chickens in my backyard for years. I live in NE Ithaca and have a very large yard, almost two acres, and the back yard is completely fences and I could even fence a smaller area for a chicken run outside a coop. I have done all the research on chickens and have friends whoa re willing to help me. But I want no stealth chickens. Is there a movement afoot to change town zoning on this in light of the upcoming economic crisis? JM -- Jane Marie Law http://crcfldressage.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=297824&supId=250513439 From ws at twcny.rr.com Sun Mar 22 05:59:50 2009 From: ws at twcny.rr.com (Wendy Skinner) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:59:50 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] SewGreen News 3-22-09: Women & the Environment Message-ID: <131C081A6E7A4000A727065EB9623DF0@wendyvaio> SewGreen News, March 22, 2009 www.sew-green.org Women's contributions to a better world are featured in number of public events in Ithaca in late March and April. CONTENTS ~ Crochet, Math, and the Environment ~ Women Making History ~ Sister Friends ~ SewGreen at CSMA for Earth Month ~ Seeing the World through Haiku Eyes ~ "Upscale Resale" Benefit in April ~ SewGreen Class Openings CROCHET, MATH, & THE ENVIRONMENT, Monday March 23 Science writer Margaret Wertheim will give a free lecture at Cornell University Monday night, March 23, about a crochet project that has brought a new audience to environmental awareness. An Australian native who grew up near the Great Barrier Reef, Wertheim started a project with her twin sister to "grow" a full-scale reef and its myriad inhabitants from crocheted fiber. Since then, dozens of collaborators around the world have contributed pieces. The reef's authentic beauty derives from expert needlecraft using techniques of hyperbolic geometry published by Cornell mathematicians Daina Taimina and David Henderson. For more about Wertheim, the reef, and how to contribute to the reef's continuation, visit her website at the Institute for Figuring http://www.theiff.org/reef/index.html. Wertheim's talk, "Reefer Mathness: Confronting Coral Reef Destruction and Global Warming through Mathematics, Collective Art Practice, and Crochet," starts at 7:30pm in Bache Auditorium, Mallott Hall, on the university campus. A reception follows. WOMEN MAKING HISTORY, Thursday March 26 An illustrated historical timeline of women's contributions to society encircles the auditorium at the Women's Community Building, where the annual "Women Making History" event will take place Thursday, March 26, starting with a reception at 6:30pm. Following a short awards ceremony at 7pm for outstanding members of the City Federation of Women's Organizations, a panel discussion titled "Saving the Environment, One Woman at a Time" will feature local history-makers Judith Saul, Gay Nicholson, Tina Nilsen-Hodges, Sharon Anderson, Linda Wagenet, Betsy Darlington, and SewGreen's Wendy Skinner. The discussion will center on how women can get involved in environmental and sustainability initiatives, and will include time for questions. The event is free and open to all. The Women's Community Building is located at 100 W Seneca St, Ithaca. For more information, visit http://www.lightlink.com/womens. SISTER FRIENDS, Friday March 27 Meet, greet, and eat with fabulous women of many backgrounds at the 5th annual Sister Friend event Friday, March 27, at the Clarion Hotel off Triphammer Road. Sister Friends is an intergenerational and diverse event that celebrates women of all ages, sizes, religions, ethnicities, and cultures, and their relationships with each other. This year's program will feature a variety of performances by girls, teens, women, and elders. SewGreen will be part of the Women's Market, which runs from 11am to 3pm. A luncheon is served at 11:30 and the program starts at noon. Tickets are $20 and are available at GIAC, 318 N Albany Street, Ithaca and at the Multicultural Resource Center, Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca. For more information, contact Audrey Cooper 272-2292, ext. 135. SEWGREEN AT CSMA, April 1 through 25 April is Earth Month, and SewGreen is celebrating the planet with events that highlight creative reuse of fiber, fabric, and fashion. A gallery show titled "R-E-S-P-E-C-T", to show respect for ourselves, the earth, and its inhabitants, will open Friday, April 3, in the main gallery at the Community School of Music & Arts, 330 E State Street, downtown Ithaca. The opening reception starts at 5pm with a not-to-be-missed green fashion show at 6pm. The gallery show will be up until Saturday, April 25, when it concludes with a Community Crazy Quilting Bee for anyone who wants to make or contribute a piece to a reuse crazy quilt that will be shown the next day at the Ithaca Earth Day celebration at the Farmer's Market pavilion. Crazy quilts are traditionally made from leftover and reused fabric in irregular geometric shapes, and often incorporate messages and images. SEEING THE WORLD THROUGH HAIKU EYES, Monday April 20 Zee Zahava will lead a free creative writing workshop, "Seeing the World through Haiku Eyes: Celebrating our Lives on Earth," in the gallery at CSMA, 6 to 8pm, Monday, April 20. Haiku is a lovely poetic form that lends itself well to reflections of life and the environment, and Zee makes creative writing a pleasure for anyone. Creators of haiku may contribute them to the community crazy quilt! Pre-register for the workshop through SewGreen, coord at sew-green.org or 607-277-7611. "UPSCALE RESALE" BENEFIT CLOTHING SALE, April 1 through 30 Tree Cook is back with another huge sale of well-selected vintage and gently used upscale clothing, including flax and designer labels. This earth-friendly sale will run for the month of April at Ulysses Square, just past Jacksonville on Route 96 North (about 5 miles past the hospital). Tree is donating 100 percent of the net proceeds to a few of her favorite organizations, including SewGreen! Watch for news of the Grand Opening on April 4. SEWGREEN CLASSES & EVENTS, this week A few seats are still available in: ~ Beginning Sewing II, 6 to 8:30pm, Tuesday, March 24. For beginners who want to learn more skills. ~ Beginning Sewing III (Spa Night! part 1), 6 to 8:30pm, Wednesday, March 25. Learn more sewing techniques while making comfort items including a flaxseed eye pillow and microwaveable grain-filled neck pillow. Make a kimono style robe in Part 2, 6 to 8:30pm, Wednesday, April 1, which can be attended separately. ~ Doll Clothes Workshop, FREE, 11am to 1 pm, Saturday, March 28. Mini-fashion playtime for all ages. ~ Zippers Demystified, 2 to 4pm, Saturday, March 28. Learn to put in a zipper. Unless otherwise indicated, classes are intended for teens and adults, and are held at the SewGreen classroom at the Women's Community Building, 100 W Seneca Street, downtown Ithaca. All materials -- reused, of course -- are supplied, and we sew with SewGreen's fine old restored sewing machines. Cost for a single class is $15. Scholarships are available. Pre-registration is required. Contact coord at sew-green.org or call 607-277-7611 to reserve a spot. FIGURE DRAWING FOR FASHION, April 21 through May 26, at CSMA SewGreen coordinator Wendy Skinner is also an artist with extensive experience in figure drawing, and she is offering a class through the Community School of Music & Arts in figure drawing for fashion. Students will be encouraged to develop their own style of fashion drawing while learning more about the human figure. The course is open to all levels of experience and recommended for anyone who enjoys designing fashions on paper, is preparing a portfolio, planning to enter the fashion field, or just wants an inspiring figure drawing experience. Contact CSMA at http://www.csma-ithaca.org/ to register online, or call 607-272-1474. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ To be added or subtracted from SewGreen's newsletter distribution list, contact Wendy Skinner, SewGreen Coordinator, coord at sew-green.org, 607-277-7611. SewGreen is a not-for-profit community program. From elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us Sun Mar 22 11:40:10 2009 From: elansla at ecovillage.ithaca.ny.us (Elan Shapiro) Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:40:10 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Is a Food Revolution Now in Season? Message-ID: Is a Food Revolution Now in Season? Sunday NYTimes business section http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/business/22food.html?_r=1&th&emc=th -- Elan Shapiro 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 steve at workwithnature.net Mon Mar 23 09:51:32 2009 From: steve at workwithnature.net (Steve Gabriel) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:51:32 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Maple Weekend Open House - this weekend! Message-ID: <24121f890903231051g4b1cad3cr93328650b55ea7cb@mail.gmail.com> SAPSQUATCH PURE MAPLE SYRUP Enfield, NY LOCAL ? SUSTAINABLE ? COMMUNITY DRIVEN www.SAPSQUATCH.com announces NYS MAPLE WEEKEND OPEN HOUSE MARCH 28 & 29, 2009 11 AM TO 3PM BOTH DAYS In cooperation with the NYS Maple Producers Association, visit the Sapsquatch sugarbush this weekend and enjoy samples, tapping demonstrations, and informal information sharing on the process, history, and lore of maple sugaring. Maple Syrup will be available for purchase. We have had a wild and wonderful first year and while the roof is still not finished (hopefully this week!) and we are constantly repairing lines and collecting sap we are happy with the progress we?ve made, thanks to many supporters and volunteers. We?d like to open our beautiful land to visitors during this weekend that celebrates local agriculture, sustainable foods, and the arrival of spring! We?d originally hoped to host a pancake breakfast but will wait until next year. SUPPORT OUR WORK: MapleShare (1 Gallon, box of maple candy, sticker): $100 Gallon: $60 Quart: $20 Pint: $12 ? Pint: $8 AVAILABLE AT THE SUGARBUSH THIS WEEKEND! or ORDER ONLINE : www.SAPSQUATCH.com or call 303.815.3535 or email steve at workwithnature.net DIRECTIONS TO SAPSQUATCH Take Rt. 79 W from Ithaca 8 miles into Enfield. Go straight thru the blinking light and begin going up the hill. Soon you will cross a bridge and see a big red barn on the left. Turn Left at the next driveway. Follow signs to parking. (parking is very limited so we are encouraging carpooling or taking the bus ? TCAT #20). Follow the ?Sapsquatch? signs and pink flagging to the sugarshack. MORE INFORMATION: www.SAPSQUATCH.com -- 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 andrejs at ozolins.com Mon Mar 23 12:09:59 2009 From: andrejs at ozolins.com (Andrejs Ozolins) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:09:59 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Earth Hour -- any other observances? In-Reply-To: <79485.80943.qm@web62102.mail.re1.yahoo.com> References: <79485.80943.qm@web62102.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <49C7EC97.6050408@ozolins.com> I thought I remembered some other events planned for Earth Hour this Saturday, but can't find references. What I have is Sciencenter's "Earth Hour Experiment" BikeIthaca's "Earth Hour Night Ride" http://bikeithaca.org/ -- do come and join in! I'd like to hear about anything else to include in announcements. Andrejs From mmccasla at twcny.rr.com Mon Mar 23 14:28:23 2009 From: mmccasla at twcny.rr.com (Margaret McCasland) Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:28:23 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Earth Hour -- any other observances? In-Reply-To: <49C7EC97.6050408@ozolins.com> References: <79485.80943.qm@web62102.mail.re1.yahoo.com> <49C7EC97.6050408@ozolins.com> Message-ID: <0BDDDFED-D90E-401E-8159-DB3D5C5393AF@twcny.rr.com> The City of Ithaca had not yet signed up as an official participant as of a meeting this afternoon, but the Mayor had already planned to ask all city facilities to minimize all possible use of electricity this weekend and especially Saturday evening, as they did last year. I told Carolyn that she could sign up "officially," so she may do so soon. Individual families can sign up via the Sciencenter's web site or on their own at the Earth Hour site: http://www.earthhour.org/home/ Something else you can post is that I was given a "Kill A Watt" meter at the Sciencenter Earth Hour training which people can borrow from me AFTER Earth Hour. It's easy to use to test how much electricity is used by particular appliances, lamps, etc. So far I have found many of my "voltage vampires" (always on unless unplugged or switched off at the plug) don't use much, as in "too low to measure." My TV, however uses A LOT when it's all the way on (and varies with volume). Next up: chargers that are plugged in but not charging anything (but getting hot because the transformer is still changing AC to DC). Thanks for promoting Earth Hour AND biking! Margaret McCasland 272-2544 On Mar 23, 2009, at 4:09 PM, Andrejs Ozolins wrote: > I thought I remembered some other events planned for Earth Hour this > Saturday, but can't find references. > > What I have is > Sciencenter's "Earth Hour Experiment" > BikeIthaca's "Earth Hour Night Ride" http://bikeithaca.org/ -- do come > and join in! > > I'd like to hear about anything else to include in announcements. > > Andrejs > _______________________________________________ > 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 levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Tue Mar 24 09:44:20 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:44:20 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] DIA INVITATION: Exhibition Q&A and Earth Day Downtown pre-parade workshops Message-ID: <861300.15152.qm@web62102.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Thanks for passing this along to others who might be interested: As part of its Art in the Heart of the City program, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance invites you to join local artists for # ART IN THE HEART OF THE CITY 2009 Q&A, Sunday, March 29, 1-2+ pm, Center Ithaca: applications for annual outdoor public art exhibition due April 15 - theme: "Art for a Just & Sustainable Community" (information also at ) # EARTH DAY Pre-PARADE WORKSHOPS, 1-4 pm, Center Ithaca, Sundays March 29, April 5 and April 19: - to make banners, posters, costumes and other fun stuff within 4 elements themes (water, air, earth, fire) for Saturday, April 25th Earth Day Parade on the Commons and Sunday, April 26th community Earth Day Parade at the Farmers Market # EARTH DAY DOWNTOWN, Saturday, April 25th: - PARADE: One People, One World - Ithaca Commons (gather & face painting 11-12, parade 12-1); - FORUM, "Art for Just & Sustainable Community" (1-3 pm, Borg-Warner Room, Tompkins County Library) * public art overview by NYC artist & former Cornell faculty member Alastaie Noble; * reflections from Kathy Bruce, 2008 Art in the Heart artist (The Graces); * audience explorations of directions for the arts in downtown Ithaca) Free. Everyone welcome. Questions, suggestions invited. Patricia Haines, Coordinator DIA Art in the Heart of the City 607-339-9472 From gaynicholson at gmail.com Tue Mar 24 16:11:08 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:11:08 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] =?windows-1252?q?Job_Opening=3A_Ithaca_Farm?= =?windows-1252?q?ers=92_Market_Zero_Waste_Coordinator?= Message-ID: *Ithaca Farmers? Market Zero Waste Coordinator* *Job Description * This position would manage and oversee the implementation and growth of the Zero Waste initiative at the Ithaca Farmers? Market. As the hours coincide with market hours of operation an additional part of the job would be assisting the Market Manager with market functions as required. This individual would be a part of the public face of Market so we would require a willingness to engage both the vendors and public in a courteous and positive manner. Since this position involves composting and waste reduction a passion for this area is recommended as this individual would become an ambassador to help people (vendors and customers) rethink the way we all approach waste. This position would include the following tasks: Setting up Collection Stations with appropriate signage Monitoring Stations throughout the day particularly as compost bins fill. This is also a good time to take quick looks at recycling and garbage receptacles to make sure that they are being used properly. Lingering at each station for a while is encouraged to educate users when appropriate. Working pro-actively with vendors to have appropriate signage at booths to facilitate proper sorting of waste/compostables. This would include talking with Ag/Food vendors about adding any compostables to our food bins at the end of the day. Helping market vendors troubleshoot any questions/concerns with our zero waste program. Keep Compost/Garbage area neat and orderly. At end of day organize all collection areas for breakdown. This may involve minor re-sorting as especially recycling bins become a source of confusion. Bring all compost to compost bins (this will be the bulk of the collection). Garbage and recycling into their respective areas as well. Signs back to appropriate places One day during the week in a timely fashion garbage and recycling are taken to Solid Waste. Market will pay for Solid Waste Permit for vehicle if required. (This could happen on Saturday mornings after compost stations are placed out at market) In addition to all of the above this individual would be expected to help us refine and expand the success and outreach of our zero waste initiative. When it is required and appropriate this individual would assist our market manager with any necessary market related duties. Expected hours Saturday Market 8:30 - 4:00 with a 30 minute break worked into day Sunday Market 9:30 - 4:00 with 30 minute break worked into day 1 hour /week additional to take garbage/recycling to Solid Waste total hours/week?weeks of Saturday market only?8 hours weeks of Saturday and Sunday market?14 hours *Additional Notes* This job would run from April through December when Market is in operation. In April, November and December market days are Saturday only. December markets end the Saturday before Christmas. There is currently no outdoor market January through March. Rate of pay for this job would start at $10 / hour but would be reviewed after 60 days for the potential to move up. Our Market season begins in April so we are looking to fill this position as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Send resume/ letter of interest with at least 2 references either by e-mail or regular mail to: *steve at acorndesigns.org* Steve Sierigk Acorn Designs 5066 Mott Evans Rd Trumansburg, NY 14886 -- ---------------------------------------------------- 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 cjung at twcny.rr.com Wed Mar 25 02:15:47 2009 From: cjung at twcny.rr.com (ChrisJ) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:15:47 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] SustainableTompkins Digest, Vol 24, Issue 17 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <49CA0453.3030205@twcny.rr.com> Hi Jane, I also live in NE Ithaca & I'm interested in changing the City/Town zoning law to permit small "family flocks." This past Saturday, Cornell Cooperative Extension held a "Homesteading" workshop focusing on backyard livestock (mostly poultry). I wasn't able to make it but contacted the organizer. She said at the workshop several people asked about changing the zoning laws. She added that after research on ordinances was done, she could call for a meeting to start the petition. So it sounds like there's a lot of people interested but we're are not organized. By the way, have you checked your zoning? A two acre lot is pretty big and I wonder if you're zoned Low Density Residential. If you are, if I recall the code correctly, you are permitted to have chickens. Chris Jung >>>>>>>>> Message: 13 Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:05:56 -0400 From: Jane Marie Law Subject: [SustainableTompkins] backyard chickens again Hello All, I have been dreaming about having chickens in my backyard for years. I live in NE Ithaca and have a very large yard, almost two acres, and the back yard is completely fences and I could even fence a smaller area for a chicken run outside a coop. I have done all the research on chickens and have friends whoa re willing to help me. But I want no stealth chickens. Is there a movement afoot to change town zoning on this in light of the upcoming economic crisis? JM -- Jane Marie Law <<<<<<<<< From mw267 at cornell.edu Wed Mar 25 02:28:43 2009 From: mw267 at cornell.edu (Maiken Winter) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:28:43 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] SustainableTompkins Digest, Vol 24, Issue 17 In-Reply-To: <49CA0453.3030205@twcny.rr.com> References: <49CA0453.3030205@twcny.rr.com> Message-ID: <17810.62.158.81.242.1237976923.squirrel@webmail.cornell.edu> Check out Vancouver - I think the city just allowed chicken (but no roosters). It might be good to find out how the citizens made this happen and learn from them. Maiken > Hi Jane, > I also live in NE Ithaca & I'm interested in changing the City/Town > zoning law to permit small "family flocks." > > This past Saturday, Cornell Cooperative Extension held a "Homesteading" > workshop focusing on backyard livestock (mostly poultry). I wasn't able > to make it but contacted the organizer. She said at the workshop > several people asked about changing the zoning laws. She added that > after research on ordinances was done, she could call for a meeting to > start the petition. So it sounds like there's a lot of people > interested but we're are not organized. > > By the way, have you checked your zoning? A two acre lot is pretty big > and I wonder if you're zoned Low Density Residential. If you are, if I > recall the code correctly, you are permitted to have chickens. > > Chris Jung > > > >>>>>>>>> > Message: 13 > Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:05:56 -0400 > From: Jane Marie Law Subject: [SustainableTompkins] > backyard chickens again > Hello All, I have been dreaming about having chickens in my backyard for > years. I live in NE Ithaca and have a very large yard, almost two acres, > and the back yard is completely fences and I could even fence a smaller > area for a chicken run outside a coop. I have done all the research on > chickens and have friends whoa re willing to help me. But I want no > stealth chickens. Is there a movement afoot to change town zoning on > this in light of the upcoming economic crisis? > JM > -- Jane Marie Law > <<<<<<<<< > > _______________________________________________ > 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 ws at twcny.rr.com Wed Mar 25 06:08:48 2009 From: ws at twcny.rr.com (Wendy Skinner) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:08:48 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] NEWS RELEASE: Eco Art & Fashions Launch Earth Month in Ithaca Message-ID: <7ED22DAC38FA43669D563A35DF5E3494@wendyvaio> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 25, 2009 Contact: Wendy Skinner, SewGreen Coordinator, coord at sew-green.org, 607-277-7611 Eco Art and Fashions Launch Earth Month in Ithaca Earth Day has expanded to the entire month of April in Ithaca. One of the first events of this annual celebration of the planet is an eco-friendly gallery show by SewGreen at the Community School of Music & Arts, 330 East State Street, in downtown Ithaca. Titled "R-E-S-P-E-C-T," with a tip of the hat to Aretha Franklin, the show opens on Friday, April 3 with a reception from 5 to 8 pm and a green fashion show at 6 pm. Fashions and fiber art pieces by designers of all ages were chosen based on 100 percent reuse of materials, as well as creativity and originality. The last day of the exhibit is Saturday, April 25, when SewGreen will host a community scrap quilting bee in the gallery. Supporters of the exhibit and events, which are free and open to all, include the Alternatives Federal Credit Union and the Center for Environmental Sustainability. SewGreen is a community program that provides low-cost sewing classes for children, teens, and adults. The group also runs a reuse and redistribution program for textiles and sewing machines. Since its start in the fall of 2007, SewGreen has saved from the landfill more than 3 tons of materials and close to 100 sewing machines. SewGreen is located in the Women's Community Building at the corner of Cayuga and Seneca Streets in Ithaca. For more information contact Wendy Skinner, 607-277-7611 or visit www.sew-green.org. - END - From levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Wed Mar 25 06:27:15 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:27:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] local chickens In-Reply-To: <17810.62.158.81.242.1237976923.squirrel@webmail.cornell.edu> Message-ID: <333864.19146.qm@web62106.mail.re1.yahoo.com> has anyone spoken with the Town planning and/or zoning commission to find out how much of a problem this is? 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 --- On Wed, 3/25/09, Maiken Winter wrote: From: Maiken Winter Subject: Re: [SustainableTompkins] SustainableTompkins Digest, Vol 24, Issue 17 To: "Sustainable Tompkins County listserv" Cc: jml16 at cornell.edu, sustainabletompkins at lists.mutualaid.org Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 6:28 AM Check out Vancouver - I think the city just allowed chicken (but no roosters). It might be good to find out how the citizens made this happen and learn from them. Maiken > Hi Jane, > I also live in NE Ithaca & I'm interested in changing the City/Town > zoning law to permit small "family flocks." > > This past Saturday, Cornell Cooperative Extension held a "Homesteading" > workshop focusing on backyard livestock (mostly poultry). I wasn't able > to make it but contacted the organizer. She said at the workshop > several people asked about changing the zoning laws. She added that > after research on ordinances was done, she could call for a meeting to > start the petition. So it sounds like there's a lot of people > interested but we're are not organized. > > By the way, have you checked your zoning? A two acre lot is pretty big > and I wonder if you're zoned Low Density Residential. If you are, if I > recall the code correctly, you are permitted to have chickens. > > Chris Jung > > > >>>>>>>>> > Message: 13 > Date: Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:05:56 -0400 > From: Jane Marie Law Subject: [SustainableTompkins] > backyard chickens again > Hello All, I have been dreaming about having chickens in my backyard for > years. I live in NE Ithaca and have a very large yard, almost two acres, > and the back yard is completely fences and I could even fence a smaller > area for a chicken run outside a coop. I have done all the research on > chickens and have friends whoa re willing to help me. But I want no > stealth chickens. Is there a movement afoot to change town zoning on > this in light of the upcoming economic crisis? > JM > -- Jane Marie Law > <<<<<<<<< > > _______________________________________________ > 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 alh54 at cornell.edu Wed Mar 25 09:54:16 2009 From: alh54 at cornell.edu (Allison L H Jack) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:54:16 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Miguel Altieri on Agroecology April 2 Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090325135257.01e666d0@postoffice8.mail.cornell.edu> >Hi everyone, > >The New World Agriculture and Ecology Group (NWAEG) at Cornell would like >to cordially invite you to hear Dr. Miguel Altieri speak on his current >agroecological projects. > >-Allison > >+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > >Agroecology: Confronting the advance of industrial agriculture and climate >change from the campesino trenches > >Dr. Miguel Altieri >UC Berkeley >Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management >Thursday, April 2 at 4 pm >Mann Library Rm 102 > >Dr. Altieri is an internationally recognized pioneer in the field of >agroecology. His research program focuses on understanding the role of >biodiversity in the control of plant pests. Working extensively with small >farmers in Latin America, he has shown that many traditional agricultural >practices can serve as models for modern science-based sustainable >agriculture. Dr. Altieri has done extensive international development work >in Africa, Latin America and Asia. For more information visit >www.agroeco.org > >This event is free and open to the public. Sponsored in part by the GPSAFC >and the New World Agriculture and Ecology Group at Cornell (NWAEG). >www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/ > >Please distribute widely. The attached poster reproduces well in black and >white, so we encourage you to print one out and post it in your building! >Thanks. > >++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > >************************************************************************************** >Allison L H Jack >Graduate Student >Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology >http://pppmb.cals.cornell.edu >Cornell University >335 Plant Science >Ithaca, NY 14850 >607.273.5762 >************************************************************************************* > > >"...Advancing a productive and sustainable agriculture" >from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences mission statement ************************************************************************************** Allison L H Jack Graduate Student Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology http://pppmb.cals.cornell.edu Cornell University 335 Plant Science Ithaca, NY 14850 607.273.5762 ************************************************************************************* "...Advancing a productive and sustainable agriculture" from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences mission statement From bonnieora at alivinglibrary.org Wed Mar 25 14:04:00 2009 From: bonnieora at alivinglibrary.org (bonnieora at alivinglibrary.org) Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:04:00 -0700 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] A Living Library Earth Hour Event Saturday, March 28 Message-ID: <20090325150400.fipc8hcdookokg44@webmail.alivinglibrary.org> Hello Friends! Happy Spring! We would like to invite you to a?special Art, Ecology, Garden: Think, Talk & Do event?at the OMI/Excelsior Living Library & Think Park held a week early in honor of Earth Hour, an international celebration celebrating our planet's sustainability. Art, Ecology, Garden: Think, Talk & Do provides a unique opportunity to think and talk about issues of sustainable and ecological design, education, art, food and much more while gardening, getting dirty and having fun in a beautiful setting full of native trees, fruits, flowers, and vegetables. The event will take place on?Saturday, March 28th from 10am-2pm?and onwards into the future the first Saturday of every month. What is A Living Library? ? A Living Library is a holistic concept ?created by?Bonnie?Ora Sherk in 1981 and now sponsored by Life Frames, Inc., the non-profit organization she founded in 1992.? A Living Library, or A.L.L. for short, ?provides a vision and shows a way to create meaningful and healing ecological and sustainable environmental and educational transformation in communities - locally and globally. ?A.L.L transforms sunken meadows and brownfields, urban sprawl and desolation, public parks and plazas, concrete and asphalt schoolyards, civic centers or undeveloped wastelands into vibrant and relevant community learning environments and highly visible public magnets offering innovative and practical community and economic development.? In San Francisco, there are 3 Branch Living Library & Think Parks underway:? OMI/Excelsior Branch, Bernal Heights Branch, and Chinatown Branch. ?All sites will soon be linked through Green Powered Digital Gateways. ? To learn more, please visit: http://www.alivinglibrary.org? Please RSVP and let us know if you will be able to join us and please spread the word to anyone who might be interested.? WHEN:? ? ? ? ??? SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH, 10-2PM ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? BRING POTLUCK LUNCH TO SHARE? WHERE:???????? OMI/EXCELSIOR LIVING LIBRARY & THINK PARK ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? at San Miguel Child Development Center ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Between 333-241 Oneida off San Jose Avenue ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? (Oneida is between Ocean and Geneva) ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 1 1/2 blocks from Balboa BART & near MUNI? Thank you for your creative participation!? Jana Blankenship mirjana.blankenship at gmail.com /A LIVING LIBRARY WITH ALL SECTORS OF COMMUNITY, INCORPORATES LOCAL RESOURCES??AND?TRANSFORMS THEM TO BECOME VIBRANT, CONTENT-RICH, ECOLOGICAL LEARNING LANDSCAPES; EACH BRANCH LINKED TO ANOTHER./ From gaynicholson at gmail.com Wed Mar 25 20:23:36 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:23:36 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] a chance to learn about the Transition Town movement Message-ID: Friends and Colleagues - I've been approached by Tina Clarke of the Transition Towns movement about hosting a conversation with her this Sunday evening. Tina is in Rochester this weekend giving the two-day workshop on Transition Towns, and is staying with an old friend in Ithaca. She is interested in meeting with folks in the Ithaca area that are interested in sustainability, and curious about the model that is being developed in Britain and now in the U.S. We will meet at 7:30 pm this Sunday, and view a short presentation on Transition Towns before we settle into a conversation about what people are learning in terms of co-creating more resilient local economies and coping with climate change and Peak Oil. If you are interested in joining us, please send me a quick rsvp. I am working on finding a meeting space, and I'd like to get a sense of how many would be likely to join us. We're lucky to have this chance to talk directly to someone deeply involved in the transition movement. Please email me if you plan to join us on Sunday evening. thanks, Gay *A Wonderful Model for Enhancing Community Vibrancy & Creating A More Secure World* Tina Clarke Transition Towns Trainer and Consultant, Sustainability Institute * www.sustainer.org* WHEN: March 29, 7:30 p.m. WHERE: place to be determined after YOU rsvp! A handful of citizens in the U.K. asked the question: *how can our community increase our local economic resiliency and address the challenges and opportunities of rising energy costs and climate change?* They launched a new movement, ?Transition Towns?, which is now spreading around the world. Tina Clarke is one of a handful of certified Transition Towns trainers in the U.S. Come hear why the Transition model has been so successful and connect with local people working on making our community more sustainable. Tina will share a slide presentation from the founder, Rob Hopkins, and other Transition Towns trainers. For more information about Transition Towns: *www.transitiontowns.org* & *www.transitionus.org* You can reach Tina Clarke (413-549-6834), *tinaclarke2 at comcast.net* . -- ---------------------------------------------------- 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 northsheep at juno.com Thu Mar 26 04:08:46 2009 From: northsheep at juno.com (northsheep at juno.com) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:08:46 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] a chance to learn about the Transition Town movement Message-ID: <20090326.080846.3812.2.northsheep@juno.com> Hi Gay, I am interested in attending. Karl 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 On Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:23:36 -0400 Gay Nicholson writes: > Friends and Colleagues - > > I've been approached by Tina Clarke of the Transition Towns movement > about > hosting a conversation with her this Sunday evening. Tina is in > Rochester > this weekend giving the two-day workshop on Transition Towns, and is > staying > with an old friend in Ithaca. She is interested in meeting with > folks in > the Ithaca area that are interested in sustainability, and curious > about the > model that is being developed in Britain and now in the U.S. > > We will meet at 7:30 pm this Sunday, and view a short presentation > on > Transition Towns before we settle into a conversation about what > people are > learning in terms of co-creating more resilient local economies and > coping > with climate change and Peak Oil. > > If you are interested in joining us, please send me a quick rsvp. I > am > working on finding a meeting space, and I'd like to get a sense of > how many > would be likely to join us. > > We're lucky to have this chance to talk directly to someone deeply > involved > in the transition movement. > > Please email me if you plan to join us on Sunday evening. > > thanks, > Gay > > > > > *A Wonderful Model for Enhancing Community Vibrancy & Creating A > More Secure > World* > > Tina Clarke > > Transition Towns Trainer and Consultant, Sustainability Institute > * > www.sustainer.org* > WHEN: March 29, 7:30 p.m. > > WHERE: place to be determined after YOU rsvp! > > > A handful of citizens in the U.K. asked the question: *how can our > community increase our local economic resiliency and address the > challenges > and opportunities of rising energy costs and climate change?* They > launched > a new movement, ?Transition Towns?, which is now spreading around > the > world. Tina Clarke is one of a handful of certified Transition > Towns > trainers in the U.S. Come hear why the Transition model has been so > successful and connect with local people working on making our > community > more sustainable. Tina will share a slide presentation from the > founder, > Rob Hopkins, and other Transition Towns trainers. > > For more information about Transition Towns: > *www.transitiontowns.org* > & *www.transitionus.org* > You can reach Tina Clarke (413-549-6834), > *tinaclarke2 at comcast.net* > . > -- > ---------------------------------------------------- > 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 > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > ____________________________________________________________ Enhance your image with these great corporate branding solutions! Click now! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTEFLS0Z26UUaPf8hWjuU9FFVBmIaUViJNhzZiNWyCnEP2HFMZTau8/ From alh54 at cornell.edu Thu Mar 26 09:21:23 2009 From: alh54 at cornell.edu (Allison L H Jack) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:21:23 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Upcoming event: World Food Crisis Solutions: Get involved locally and globally Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090326132022.01e9de20@postoffice8.mail.cornell.edu> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ World Food Crisis Solutions: Get involved locally and globally Rising food prices have increased hunger here in Tompkins County and around the world. Join us to promote community food security and agricultural policy changes that will alleviate hunger and preserve the environment. Sunday, April 5 2 ? 5 pm First Presbyterian Church 315 N. Cayuga St. ALL ARE WELCOME! Activities will include: Panel Discussion: Sustainable agriculture and food justice practitioners & activists Action Planning: Building sustainable local food systems, National legislative advocacy, and International development programs and social movements Letter Writing Workshop: Targeting important legislation and key representatives Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the New World Agriculture and Ecology Group at Cornell, the GPSAFC, and the First Presbyterian Church Committee on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. For a detailed schedule of activities or questions, please email Megan Gregory mmg98@cornell.edu and visit www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/. Please post widely and feel free to print out to poster to hang in your building. Thanks! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ************************************************************************************** Allison L H Jack Graduate Student Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology http://pppmb.cals.cornell.edu Cornell University 335 Plant Science Ithaca, NY 14850 607.273.5762 ************************************************************************************* "...Advancing a productive and sustainable agriculture" from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences mission statement From gaynicholson at gmail.com Thu Mar 26 10:28:21 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:28:21 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] World Food Crisis Solutions: Get involved locally and globally Message-ID: World Food Crisis Solutions: Get involved locally and globally Rising food prices have increased hunger here in Tompkins County and around the world. Join us to promote community food security and agricultural policy changes that will alleviate hunger and preserve the environment. Sunday, April 5 2 ? 5 pm First Presbyterian Church 315 N. Cayuga St. ALL ARE WELCOME! Activities will include: Panel Discussion: Sustainable agriculture and food justice practitioners & activists Action Planning: Building sustainable local food systems, National legislative advocacy, and International development programs and social movements Letter Writing Workshop: Targeting important legislation and key representatives Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the New World Agriculture and Ecology Group at Cornell, the GPSAFC, and the First Presbyterian Church Committee on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. For a detailed schedule of activities or questions, please email Megan Gregory mmg98 @cornell.edu and visit www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/ . Please post widely and feel free to print out to poster to hang in your building. Thanks! -- ---------------------------------------------------- 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 shiragolding at gmail.com Thu Mar 26 10:32:13 2009 From: shiragolding at gmail.com (Shira Golding) Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:32:13 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Let's share! Message-ID: Please forward widely - thanks! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LIKE SHARING? HAVE SKILLS? Want to help start a local network to share and barter goods, services and labor? Join us! Thursday, April 16st, 7-9pm 212 N. Plain St. #1, Ithaca From Ithaca Hours and TCLocal to the new Finger Lakes Permaculture Network, there are lots of local initiatives to share resources and support our regional economy. Let's discuss how we can build on existing projects and learn from other models around the world. I'm envisioning a weekly in-person swapmeet to share and barter stuff we grow and make, as well as services and labor. And perhaps a website to support and promote a larger mutual-aid network like what folks in Asheville are doing with the Local Exchange Trading System: http://ashevillelets.org What ideas do you have? I'd like to get the ball rolling by having a first meeting at our home. We'll provide refreshments! Please spread the word and invite other folks! I'll be putting up posters around town - let me know if you'd like any to distribute. To RSVP and for more info contact Shira Golding, shiragolding at gmail.com, 607-821-0654 You can also RSVP and see who else is coming on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=147041630220 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From nlv at clarityconnect.com Fri Mar 27 04:54:55 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:54:55 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] website for chickenistas Message-ID: <6A39E270-88CC-49C6-BCBF-04B8AA570441@clarityconnect.com> http://www.backyardchickens.com/ From levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Fri Mar 27 06:03:07 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:03:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] (no subject) Message-ID: <369470.59895.qm@web62106.mail.re1.yahoo.com> from PEOPLE FOR EARTH: something to explore especially for downtown community gardens? Vertical farming March 17th, 2009 ? Related ? Filed Under The human population is growing at a fast rate and by 2050, it is estimated that the Earth will have an extra 3 billion mouths to feed (9.2 billion in total). An increasing population will require more land for farming and housing. The Vertical Farm Project states that if farming continues to be practised as it is, we would need an extra 109 hectares of land to grow enough food to feed the population. One solution to this problem is vertical farming. What is vertical farming? Quite simply farming vertically. The idea behind it is that existing unused buildings could be converted into vertical farms, or new structures could be built. Dickson Despommier (Vertical Farm Project) estimates that one vertical farm the size of a 30 storey city block would grow enough food for 10,000 people. The fact that these vertical farms could use hydrponics (water) instead of soil to grow food mean they could be based anywhere - even environments that would not normally be suitable for growing food: Cities where there is often a lack of open space Countries where lack of sanitation is a problem (e.g. human faeces used to fertilise crops, spreading disease). At the moment it is an architectural design concept developed as a possible solution to the food crisis, but it could become a reality in the future. Musee du quai Branly by Patrick Blanc Pros A great way to achieve self sustaining communities, ?If you combined a high rise apartment/ green house with maybe some restaurants, a bakery, and a grocery store on the fist few floors you might be able a significant portion of the food you eat from the building you live in?. Food no longer needs to travel hundreds of miles to reach your plate - bringing farming to cities No herbicides or pesticides would need to be used as the crops wouldn?t be exposed to pests The levels of water and nutrients would be highly controlled resulting in maximum efficiency and high productivity of crops Abandoned urban buildings could be turned into food production centers Would eliminate weather and climate related risks- which could be essential as the impact of climate change increases Reduced need for fossil fuels used to power farm machinery and refrigerate food during transportation Cons Could affect countries who have a large income from exporting crops If vertical farms can easily be integrated into cities, there could be less need to keep farm land which may be needed to house a growing population. This would have a massive impact on ecosystems with that area Vertically stacking levels would have reduced access to sunlight, so artificial lighting and heating would be needed to grow food Large scale vertical farms Singapore EDITT Tower Singapore EDITT Tower Image source: Inhabitant The Singapore EDITT Tower is a continuous ramp from the ground floor to the roof top of the building. The total plantable area would be 3,841 sq.m with a ratio of 1:2 for green space:human use area. This structure would require very little energy because it captures rainfall and will use 855 square metres of photovoltaic panels to provide 39.7% of the buildings energy needs. There are also plans for it to convert sewage into biogas and fertiliser. Green Fortune Green Fortune?s vision is one of urban cultivation where plants are integrated with modern urban life. Their view is that it is as much about spiritual replenishment as it creating rooftop allotments that enable people to grown their own fruit. By using hydroponics and carefully controlled environments, they create different tropical climate zones designed to support different types of plants on rooftop gardens. One of their products is called SteamGarden. This recirculates water (hydroponics) to grow plants instead of using soil and are small enough to have in your kitchen. Small scale vertical farming Stackable systems and sprouting trays You can have a vertical farm in it?s simplest form in your own kitchen - a stackable seed sprouter. You can use these devices to grow lots of nutricious foods including: cress, rocket, alfalfa, aduki beans, mustard salad, mung beans and wheatgrass. They also grow very quickly, so after just a few days of planting you have fresh produce ready to eat. Urban permaculture The idea behind urban permaculture is using balconies, window boxes, window greenhouses and pot plants to grow small amount of herbs of vegetables. Wall Gardens Patrick Blanc ?assembles? walls of greenery without the use of soil. These walls use an automated watering and feeding system. He maintains that as long as water and light are available, plants will grow because soil is just mechanic support. His walls can live both indoors and outdoors and are constructed from plants that thrive in that particular climate. They are given an optimum amount of water that prevents them from growing into the wall and damaging brick work. Each wall is made from a metal frame, a layer of PVC and a layer of felt. Seeds/cuttings or ready grown plants are ?planted? in the felt layer, which also holds water to help them grow. Much like vertical farms, these structures can be added to an city in the world and support biodiversity in a man made environment. What do you think? How would you feel about having a vertical farm in your city in the future? 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 levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com Fri Mar 27 07:30:48 2009 From: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com (Patricia Haines) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:30:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] local chickens & "Chickenista" invitation In-Reply-To: <49CCE3D3.3040802@cornell.edu> Message-ID: <556735.92721.qm@web62108.mail.re1.yahoo.com> Thanks to Rod Howe - and Jon Kanter - for this helpful information! If anyone feels like making chicken headwear for the Earth Day parades (IthCommons sat apr 25, farmers mkt sunday apr 26), we have cardboard boxes just for this purpose ready for the three pre-parade sunday afternoon workshops - March 29, April 5, April 19, Center Ithaca - everyone welcome! The chicken headwear idea comes from the GrassRoots Happiness Parade, to which someone has brought a wonderful example these past few years: yellow-painted box cut to sit on the shoulders with chicken head attached to the top. But of course ... chickens come in all kinds of gorgeous colors! Patricia 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 --- On Fri, 3/27/09, Rod Howe wrote: > From: Rod Howe > Subject: local chickens > To: levelgreeninstitute at yahoo.com > Date: Friday, March 27, 2009, 10:33 AM > Mike, Kristie, Rod, and Interested Residents: > > In looking quickly at our existing Zoning Code, it appears > that the keeping > of domestic animals in accessory buildings (which includes > chickens as per > the definitions section - 270-5 of the Town of Ithaca Code) > is permitted in > the MDR (Medium Density Residential) Zone upon receipt of > special approval > from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), provided that the > lot is at least 2 > acres in size, that no accessory building housing domestic > animals is closer > than 30 feet to any lot line, and that there shall be no > raising of > fur-bearing animals, or kennels for more than three dogs > over six months > old. > > In a LDR (Low Density Residential) Zone, the keeping of > domestic animals in > accessory buildings is allowed by right, regardless of the > size of the lot, > provided that no such accessory building shall be located > closer than 30 > feet to any lot line and that there shall be no raising of > fur-bearing > animals, nor shall there be kennels for more than three > dogs over six months > old. > > So, the raising and keeping of chickens (and other animals > classified as > "domestic" - see definition) is allowed in both > the MDR (by special > approval) and the LDR (by right) Zones, subject to the > above limitations. I > think that there were legitimate reasons for requiring the > larger lot size > in the MDR Zone to keep domestic animals because MDR > typically includes more > established residential neighborhoods, and there is more > potential for > greater impact on adjacent or nearby properties if chickens > are raised in > the MDR Zone. So, the raising of chickens does appear to > be allowed in both > the MDR and LDR Zones, just under different procedures and > subject to > different requirements. Even in the MDR Zone, I believe > that an owner could > seek an area variance from the ZBA to keep domestic animals > on a lot less > than two acres in size. Just thought that it would be > helpful to clarify > what our Zoning Code does allow. > > Prior to submitting a petition to change the Zoning, anyone > interested in > raising or keeping chickens in the Town of Ithaca for > domestic purposes > might consider first checking with Bruce Bates, the > Town's Director of Code > Enforcement, to find out what is permitted and to confirm > what the > procedures and requirements are. I think that they might > be pleasantly > surprised. > > Jon > > Jonathan Kanter, AICP > Director of Planning > Town of Ithaca > 215 North Tioga Street > Ithaca, NY 14850 > (607) 273-1747 > FAX: (607) 273-1704 > email: jkanter at town.ithaca.ny.us From sjr37 at cornell.edu Fri Mar 27 08:01:29 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:01:29 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Conference on aquatic weeds tomorrow Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090327120004.01e963a8@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> Reminder: Conference on "Weeds and Other Aquatic Plants: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" is tomorrow at 1pm Seneca Falls Red Jacket Firehouse, Lower Lake Rd just north of the Cayuga Lake State Park see http://cayugalake.org/news/weeds.php for a description, and directions From gaynicholson at gmail.com Fri Mar 27 14:48:49 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:48:49 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] details on April 5 food justice event at First Presbyterian Message-ID: Please see the invitation below from New World Agriculture and Ecology Group at Cornell, the GPSAFC, and First Presbyterian Church Committee on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. For more information please email Megan Gregory at mmg98 at cornell.edu or visit www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/. As a volunteer with the Whole Community Project*, I'm especially promoting this event because the WCP coordinator, Jemila Sequeira, and our colleague Marie Parks, who is a leader in a Southside community gardening effort, are on the panel. Then there is a "Networking for Collective Action Breakout Discussion" with one topic being "Just and Sustainable Local Food Systems." WCP helps support food justice and gardening initiatives and we're looking forward to that discussion. *WCP: every child in Tompkins County should have all the healthy food they need and plenty of opportunities for fun, safe and active play. Contact Jemila: es538 at cornell.edu or 272 2292. Sign up to our food justice email list and/or gardening list by emailing cce-wcp-foodjustice-l-request at cornell.edu and/or cce-schoolandcommunitygardens-L-request at cornell.edu with the word 'join' in your email. See you there! Christine -------------------------- *World Food Crisis Solutions: Get involved locally and globally * Rising food prices have increased hunger here in Tompkins County and around the world. Join us to promote community food security and agricultural policy changes that will alleviate hunger and preserve the environment. Sunday, April 5th 2 ? 5 pm First Presbyterian Church 315 N. Cayuga St. ALL ARE WELCOME Activities will include: -Panel Discussion: Sustainable agriculture and food justice practitioners & activists - Action Planning: Building sustainable local food systems, National legislative advocacy, and International development programs and social movements - Letter Writing Workshop: Targeting important legislation and key representatives Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the New World Agriculture and Ecology Group at Cornell, the GPSAFC, First Presbyterian Church Committee on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. For a detailed schedule of activities or questions, please email Megan at mmg98 at cornell.edu and visit www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/. *TENTATIVE AGENDA* *Time* *Activity* *Speakers/ Facilitators* 2:00 PM Introduction to the world food crisis and debriefing on the conference Allison Jack & Jennifer Gardner, Graduate Students, and M. Jahi Chappell, Postdoctoral Fellow *New World Agriculture and Ecology Group * 2:15 PM Panel: Food Justice and Agricultural Sustainability Practitioners and Activists Jennifer Gardner 2:20 PM *The Farmer Perspective Peter Martens & Megan Fenton, *Lakeview Organic Grains* 2:25 PM *Community-Based Food Security Initiatives Marie Hall, *South Side Community Garden* Jemila Sequiera, *Whole Community Project* 2:30 PM *National Policies for Food Justice & Sustainable Agriculture Megan Gregory, *Bread for the World* 2:35 PM *Sustainable International Development Eric Holt-Gim?nez, *Food First* Ohnmar Khaing, *FAO World Food Programme* 2:40 PM Question and Answer with Panelists 3:00 PM Networking for Collective Action: Breakout Discussions *Concurrent sessions* *Discussions will be facilitated by NWAEG members. Invited participants are listed below.* *Just and Sustainable Local Food Systems Peter Martens, Megan Fenton, Marie Hall, Jemila Sequiera * National Legislative Advocacy Megan Gregory and Elmer Ewing, *Bread for the World* *International Development Programs Eric Holt-Gim?nez, Ohnmar Khaing, M. Jahi Chappell 3:45 PM Report outs: small groups present ideas and action plans to large group 4:00 PM Refreshments and Networking 4:20 PM Letter Writing Workshops: ? Climate Justice ? Reforming U.S. Foreign Policy for Poverty Reduction Megan Gregory and Elmer Ewing 5:00 PM Evaluation and Wrap-Up ------------------- Christine Porter cp226 at cornell.edu 607 272 7330 http://myprofile.cos.com/c_porter -- ---------------------------------------------------- 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 gmail.com Fri Mar 27 14:52:23 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:52:23 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Council of Governments Session to Investigate Natural Gas Drilling Options Message-ID: Council of Governments Session to Investigate Natural Gas Drilling Options The Tompkins County Council of Governments (TCCOG) will hold a special information meeting next week to provide municipal officials the opportunity to learn about what municipalities can do to address issues related to the extraction of Marcellus Shale. The special meeting will take place Monday March 30, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at the Ithaca Town Hall, 215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca. Kimberlea Rea, Esq., of the firm Bosworth, Gray & Fuller, Bronxville, New York, and Mark Millspaugh, P.E., of Sterling Environmental Engineering, Latham, New York will discuss what proactive steps local governments can take and how municipalities can react to issues that arise regarding the pending drilling and natural gas extraction from Marcellus Shale. The public is invited to listen and learn, but the meeting?s focus will be to inform and answer questions from local officials. Caroline Town Supervisor Don Barber, who chairs the Council of Governments, cites the relevant section of New York State Environmental Conservation Law (Section 23-303 (2)), which states: ?The provisions of this article shall supersede all local laws or ordinances relating to the regulation of the oil, gas and solution mining industries; but shall not supersede local government jurisdiction over local roads or the rights of local governments under the real property tax law. ?This section of law would tend to indicate there is little action local governments can take related to this issue,? Supervisor Barber adds. ?This special meeting will describe the legal avenues available.? For more information or questions, contact Supervisor Barber at 539-3395 or 539- 6928. Media contact: Caroline Town Supervisor Don Barber, TCCOG Chairperson, 539-3395 or 539- 6928. ------ Marcia E. Lynch Public Information Officer -- ---------------------------------------------------- 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 gmail.com Fri Mar 27 15:01:50 2009 From: gaynicholson at gmail.com (Gay Nicholson) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:01:50 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Meeting on Transition Towns this Sunday 7:30 pm in Womens Community Building Message-ID: We now have a location for the presentation by Tina Clarke on the Transition Towns movement. SewGreen will host our gathering in their classroom in the Womens Community Building on the corner of Seneca and Cayuga Streets. If the door is locked, ring the SewGreen doorbell. Enter the lobby and go up two short flights of stairs to the left of entry. (This is the former library for those of you famiiar with the WCB.) We'll get started at 7:30 pm with a short presentation, and then open it up for discussion with Tina. I'll bring some refreshments, so if you plan to come, I'd appreciate the rsvp. thanks, Gay ----------------------------------------------------------------- Friends and Colleagues - I've been approached by Tina Clarke of the Transition Towns movement about hosting a conversation with her this Sunday evening. Tina is in Rochester this weekend giving the two-day workshop on Transition Towns, and is staying with an old friend in Ithaca. She is interested in meeting with folks in the Ithaca area that are interested in sustainability, and curious about the model that is being developed in Britain and now in the U.S. We will meet at 7:30 pm this Sunday, and view a short presentation on Transition Towns before we settle into a conversation about what people are learning in terms of co-creating more resilient local economies and coping with climate change and Peak Oil. If you are interested in joining us, please send me a quick rsvp. I am working on finding a meeting space, and I'd like to get a sense of how many would be likely to join us. We're lucky to have this chance to talk directly to someone deeply involved in the transition movement. I've attached the flier for the Rochester workshop this weekend if you want to see more. Please email me if you plan to join us on Sunday evening. thanks, Gay *A Wonderful Model for Enhancing Community Vibrancy & Creating A More Secure World* Tina Clarke Transition Towns Trainer and Consultant, Sustainability Institute * www.sustainer.org* WHEN: March 29, 7:30 p.m. WHERE: place to be determined after YOU rsvp! A handful of citizens in the U.K. asked the question: *how can our community increase our local economic resiliency and address the challenges and opportunities of rising energy costs and climate change?* They launched a new movement, ?Transition Towns?, which is now spreading around the world. Tina Clarke is one of a handful of certified Transition Towns trainers in the U.S. Come hear why the Transition model has been so successful and connect with local people working on making our community more sustainable. Tina will share a slide presentation from the founder, Rob Hopkins, and other Transition Towns trainers. For more information about Transition Towns: *www.transitiontowns.org* & *www.transitionus.org* You can reach Tina Clarke (413-549-6834), *tinaclarke2 at comcast.net* . -- ---------------------------------------------------- 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 ejwray99 at gmail.com Fri Mar 27 15:15:08 2009 From: ejwray99 at gmail.com (Evan Wray) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:15:08 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] details on April 5 food justice event at First Presbyterian In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <01a501c9af31$dfb3ca50$9f1b5ef0$@com> Y'know, they're probably doing great work, but I can't support anything that espouses the "Integrirty of Creation" attached to a church. As I write this, maybe divorced from religion, the Integrity of Creation may be just fine and dandy. However, I'm left wondering... Evan -----Original Message----- From: sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org [mailto:sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org] On Behalf Of Gay Nicholson Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 6:49 PM To: Sustainable Tompkins County listserv Subject: [SustainableTompkins] details on April 5 food justice event at First Presbyterian Please see the invitation below from New World Agriculture and Ecology Group at Cornell, the GPSAFC, and First Presbyterian Church Committee on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. For more information please email Megan Gregory at mmg98 at cornell.edu or visit www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/. As a volunteer with the Whole Community Project*, I'm especially promoting this event because the WCP coordinator, Jemila Sequeira, and our colleague Marie Parks, who is a leader in a Southside community gardening effort, are on the panel. Then there is a "Networking for Collective Action Breakout Discussion" with one topic being "Just and Sustainable Local Food Systems." WCP helps support food justice and gardening initiatives and we're looking forward to that discussion. *WCP: every child in Tompkins County should have all the healthy food they need and plenty of opportunities for fun, safe and active play. Contact Jemila: es538 at cornell.edu or 272 2292. Sign up to our food justice email list and/or gardening list by emailing cce-wcp-foodjustice-l-request at cornell.edu and/or cce-schoolandcommunitygardens-L-request at cornell.edu with the word 'join' in your email. See you there! Christine -------------------------- *World Food Crisis Solutions: Get involved locally and globally * Rising food prices have increased hunger here in Tompkins County and around the world. Join us to promote community food security and agricultural policy changes that will alleviate hunger and preserve the environment. Sunday, April 5th 2 ? 5 pm First Presbyterian Church 315 N. Cayuga St. ALL ARE WELCOME Activities will include: -Panel Discussion: Sustainable agriculture and food justice practitioners & activists - Action Planning: Building sustainable local food systems, National legislative advocacy, and International development programs and social movements - Letter Writing Workshop: Targeting important legislation and key representatives Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the New World Agriculture and Ecology Group at Cornell, the GPSAFC, First Presbyterian Church Committee on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. For a detailed schedule of activities or questions, please email Megan at mmg98 at cornell.edu and visit www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/. *TENTATIVE AGENDA* *Time* *Activity* *Speakers/ Facilitators* 2:00 PM Introduction to the world food crisis and debriefing on the conference Allison Jack & Jennifer Gardner, Graduate Students, and M. Jahi Chappell, Postdoctoral Fellow *New World Agriculture and Ecology Group * 2:15 PM Panel: Food Justice and Agricultural Sustainability Practitioners and Activists Jennifer Gardner 2:20 PM *The Farmer Perspective Peter Martens & Megan Fenton, *Lakeview Organic Grains* 2:25 PM *Community-Based Food Security Initiatives Marie Hall, *South Side Community Garden* Jemila Sequiera, *Whole Community Project* 2:30 PM *National Policies for Food Justice & Sustainable Agriculture Megan Gregory, *Bread for the World* 2:35 PM *Sustainable International Development Eric Holt-Gim?nez, *Food First* Ohnmar Khaing, *FAO World Food Programme* 2:40 PM Question and Answer with Panelists 3:00 PM Networking for Collective Action: Breakout Discussions *Concurrent sessions* *Discussions will be facilitated by NWAEG members. Invited participants are listed below.* *Just and Sustainable Local Food Systems Peter Martens, Megan Fenton, Marie Hall, Jemila Sequiera * National Legislative Advocacy Megan Gregory and Elmer Ewing, *Bread for the World* *International Development Programs Eric Holt-Gim?nez, Ohnmar Khaing, M. Jahi Chappell 3:45 PM Report outs: small groups present ideas and action plans to large group 4:00 PM Refreshments and Networking 4:20 PM Letter Writing Workshops: ? Climate Justice ? Reforming U.S. Foreign Policy for Poverty Reduction Megan Gregory and Elmer Ewing 5:00 PM Evaluation and Wrap-Up ------------------- Christine Porter cp226 at cornell.edu 607 272 7330 http://myprofile.cos.com/c_porter -- ---------------------------------------------------- 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 _______________________________________________ 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 mmccasla at twcny.rr.com Fri Mar 27 17:22:36 2009 From: mmccasla at twcny.rr.com (Margaret McCasland) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:22:36 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] details on April 5 food justice event at First Presbyterian In-Reply-To: <01a501c9af31$dfb3ca50$9f1b5ef0$@com> References: <01a501c9af31$dfb3ca50$9f1b5ef0$@com> Message-ID: Hi Evan, I'm not sure where you're coming from, but I know a couple of Presbyterians who are probably involved with this and they both are firm believers in biology based on evolution. They just also think that there is a God. So it can be important to keep an open mind. Margaret On Mar 27, 2009, at 7:15 PM, Evan Wray wrote: > Y'know, they're probably doing great work, but I can't support > anything that > espouses the "Integrirty of Creation" attached to a church. As I > write this, > maybe divorced from religion, the Integrity of Creation may be just > fine and > dandy. However, I'm left wondering... > > > Evan > > > -----Original Message----- > From: sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org > [mailto:sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org] On Behalf > Of Gay > Nicholson > Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 6:49 PM > To: Sustainable Tompkins County listserv > Subject: [SustainableTompkins] details on April 5 food justice event > at > First Presbyterian > > Please see the invitation below from New World Agriculture and > Ecology Group > at Cornell, the GPSAFC, and First Presbyterian Church Committee on > Justice, > Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. For more information please > email > Megan Gregory at mmg98 at cornell.edu or visit www.rso.cornell.edu/ > nwaeg/. > > As a volunteer with the Whole Community Project*, I'm especially > promoting > this event because the WCP coordinator, Jemila Sequeira, and our > colleague > Marie Parks, who is a leader in a Southside community gardening > effort, are > on the panel. Then there is a "Networking for Collective Action > Breakout > Discussion" with one topic being "Just and Sustainable Local Food > Systems." > WCP helps support food justice and gardening initiatives and we're > looking > forward to that discussion. > > *WCP: every child in Tompkins County should have all the healthy > food they > need and plenty of opportunities for fun, safe and active play. > Contact > Jemila: es538 at cornell.edu or 272 2292. > Sign up to our food justice email list and/or gardening list by > emailing > cce-wcp-foodjustice-l-request at cornell.edu and/or > cce-schoolandcommunitygardens-L-request at cornell.edu with the word > 'join' in > your email. > > See you there! Christine > > -------------------------- > *World Food Crisis Solutions: Get involved locally and globally * > Rising food prices have increased hunger here in Tompkins County and > around > the world. Join us to promote community food security and agricultural > policy changes that will alleviate hunger and preserve the > environment. > > Sunday, April 5th > 2 ? 5 pm > First Presbyterian Church > 315 N. Cayuga St. > ALL ARE WELCOME > > Activities will include: > -Panel Discussion: Sustainable agriculture and food justice > practitioners & > activists > - Action Planning: Building sustainable local food systems, National > legislative advocacy, and International development programs and > social > movements > - Letter Writing Workshop: Targeting important legislation and key > representatives > > Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the New World Agriculture > and > Ecology Group at Cornell, the GPSAFC, First Presbyterian Church > Committee > on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. For a detailed > schedule of > activities or questions, please email Megan at mmg98 at cornell.edu and > visit > www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/. > > *TENTATIVE AGENDA* > > > > *Time* > > *Activity* > > *Speakers/ Facilitators* > > 2:00 PM > > Introduction to the world food crisis and debriefing on the conference > > Allison Jack & Jennifer Gardner, Graduate Students, and M. Jahi > Chappell, > Postdoctoral Fellow > > *New World Agriculture and Ecology Group * > > > > > > > > 2:15 PM > > Panel: Food Justice and Agricultural Sustainability Practitioners and > Activists > > Jennifer Gardner > > 2:20 PM > > *The Farmer Perspective > > Peter Martens & Megan Fenton, *Lakeview Organic Grains* > > 2:25 PM > > *Community-Based Food Security Initiatives > > Marie Hall, *South Side Community Garden* > > Jemila Sequiera, *Whole Community Project* > > 2:30 PM > > *National Policies for Food Justice & Sustainable > > Agriculture > > Megan Gregory, *Bread for the World* > > 2:35 PM > > *Sustainable International Development > > Eric Holt-Gim?nez, *Food First* > > Ohnmar Khaing, *FAO World Food Programme* > > 2:40 PM > > Question and Answer with Panelists > > > > > > > > > > 3:00 PM > > Networking for Collective Action: Breakout Discussions *Concurrent > sessions* > > *Discussions will be facilitated by NWAEG members. Invited > participants are > listed below.* > > *Just and Sustainable Local Food Systems > > Peter Martens, Megan Fenton, Marie Hall, Jemila Sequiera > > * National Legislative Advocacy > > Megan Gregory and Elmer Ewing, *Bread for the World* > > *International Development Programs > > Eric Holt-Gim?nez, Ohnmar Khaing, M. Jahi Chappell > > 3:45 PM > > Report outs: small groups present ideas and action plans to large > group > > > > > > > > > > 4:00 PM > > Refreshments and Networking > > > > > > > > > > 4:20 PM > > Letter Writing Workshops: > > ? Climate Justice > > ? Reforming U.S. Foreign Policy for Poverty Reduction > > Megan Gregory and Elmer Ewing > > > > > > > > 5:00 PM > > Evaluation and Wrap-Up > > > > > > > > ------------------- > Christine Porter > cp226 at cornell.edu > 607 272 7330 > http://myprofile.cos.com/c_porter > > > > -- > ---------------------------------------------------- > 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 > _______________________________________________ > 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 mmg98 at cornell.edu Fri Mar 27 18:03:16 2009 From: mmg98 at cornell.edu (Megan M. Gregory) Date: Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:03:16 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] April 5 food justice event at First Presbyterian - clarification In-Reply-To: <01a501c9af31$dfb3ca50$9f1b5ef0$@com> References: <01a501c9af31$dfb3ca50$9f1b5ef0$@com> Message-ID: <49CD8564.9040009@cornell.edu> Dear friends, My name is Megan Gregory. I am a grad student at Cornell and one of the organizers, along with other New World Agriculture and Ecology group members, of the "World Food Crisis Solutions" event to be held April 5 at First Presbyterian Church. I am also active on the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Committee at First Presbyterian. I just wanted to clarify that the event on April 5 is intended to bring together ALL community members together who are concerned about ensuring that all people have access to sufficient, healthful food and that the land is improved for future generations. The event is not intended to be exclusive to the faith community, though I believe the faith community has an important perspective and passion to offer to the work at hand. However, I am also respectful that many people who hold strong environmental and humanitarian concerns may not espouse a particular religion/faith, and they have just as much to offer to this gathering. I sincerely hope that the event being held at First Presbyterian and sponsored by the JPIC Committee does not deter anyone from attending. That is why we wrote ALL ARE WELCOME on the poster in capital letters! Though perhaps each person frames his or her motivations for working toward environmental sustainability and social justice in a slightly different way, many of us share these passions and I think it is important to come together around what we have in common, without regard to small things that may separate us. The way I see it: if you care about the Earth and about your fellow human beings, then let us work together. The work is too urgent to allow anything to divide us, and our common values indicate that deep down we have common beliefs. I am happy to continue this dialogue, or a broader dialogue on the relationship between faith and environmental and social justice concerns, with anyone who would like to. I realize that the church in many cases does not have a great track record of living out the values that it should. Like any human institution, it is deeply imperfect, and I can understand and respect that some have distanced themselves. Yet some (like myself) find community in the church as well as passion for social transformation, and I hope that can be respected too. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me off the list-serv at mmg98 at cornell.edu. Sincerely, Megan Gregory Evan Wray wrote: > Y'know, they're probably doing great work, but I can't support anything that > espouses the "Integrirty of Creation" attached to a church. As I write this, > maybe divorced from religion, the Integrity of Creation may be just fine and > dandy. However, I'm left wondering... > > > Evan > > > -----Original Message----- > From: sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org > [mailto:sustainabletompkins-bounces at lists.mutualaid.org] On Behalf Of Gay > Nicholson > Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 6:49 PM > To: Sustainable Tompkins County listserv > Subject: [SustainableTompkins] details on April 5 food justice event at > First Presbyterian > > Please see the invitation below from New World Agriculture and Ecology Group > at Cornell, the GPSAFC, and First Presbyterian Church Committee on Justice, > Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. For more information please email > Megan Gregory at mmg98 at cornell.edu or visit www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/. > > As a volunteer with the Whole Community Project*, I'm especially promoting > this event because the WCP coordinator, Jemila Sequeira, and our colleague > Marie Parks, who is a leader in a Southside community gardening effort, are > on the panel. Then there is a "Networking for Collective Action Breakout > Discussion" with one topic being "Just and Sustainable Local Food Systems." > WCP helps support food justice and gardening initiatives and we're looking > forward to that discussion. > > *WCP: every child in Tompkins County should have all the healthy food they > need and plenty of opportunities for fun, safe and active play. Contact > Jemila: es538 at cornell.edu or 272 2292. > Sign up to our food justice email list and/or gardening list by emailing > cce-wcp-foodjustice-l-request at cornell.edu and/or > cce-schoolandcommunitygardens-L-request at cornell.edu with the word 'join' in > your email. > > See you there! Christine > > -------------------------- > *World Food Crisis Solutions: Get involved locally and globally * > Rising food prices have increased hunger here in Tompkins County and around > the world. Join us to promote community food security and agricultural > policy changes that will alleviate hunger and preserve the environment. > > Sunday, April 5th > 2 ? 5 pm > First Presbyterian Church > 315 N. Cayuga St. > ALL ARE WELCOME > > Activities will include: > -Panel Discussion: Sustainable agriculture and food justice practitioners & > activists > - Action Planning: Building sustainable local food systems, National > legislative advocacy, and International development programs and social > movements > - Letter Writing Workshop: Targeting important legislation and key > representatives > > Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the New World Agriculture and > Ecology Group at Cornell, the GPSAFC, First Presbyterian Church Committee > on Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation. For a detailed schedule of > activities or questions, please email Megan at mmg98 at cornell.edu and visit > www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/ > -- Megan M. Gregory Graduate Research Assistant, The Agroecology Lab Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 mmg98 at cornell.edu cell: (847)287-7794 office: (607)255-3918 From owlgorge at earthlink.net Sat Mar 28 04:41:59 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 08:41:59 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Conference on Aquatic Weeds is today Message-ID: <380-220093628124159359@earthlink.net> A reminder that this afternoon (Sat. March 28) at 1:00 p.m. there is a free conference on aquatic weeds in Cayuga Lake near Seneca Falls and Cayuga Lake State Park: http://www.cayugalake.org/news/weeds.php "WEEDS AND OTHER AQUATIC PLANTS: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY" 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. Conference Free and open to all. There is a link to a Google map of the location on the page: http://www.cayugalake.org/news/weeds.php Tony Ingraham 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 michael at fingerlakespermaculture.org Sat Mar 28 15:31:48 2009 From: michael at fingerlakespermaculture.org (burns) Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:31:48 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Permaculture Fundamentals Weekend Workshop, 4/24-26, Montour Falls, NY USA Message-ID: <803330C6-13D5-43C7-8673-F542A2FDB8FA@fingerlakespermaculture.org> FINGER LAKES PERMACULTURE INSTITUTE presents PERMACULTURE FUNDAMENTALS Friday, April 24th at dinnertime through Sunday, April 26th, 2009 Spend a weekend learning the basics of permaculture design and walk away with a toolbox of ecological design principles. This affordable course offers a discussion on the ethics, attitudes, and principles of permaculture as well as an exploration of natural ecology and patterns that lead to regenerative designs. These classes are designed to be an interactive and hands-on way learn how useful permaculture ideas can be in a variety of settings and situations. Because this course covers the introductory classes of our Design Certification Course, your tuition can be applied to the full cost of the Certification Course. We will meet for a potluck dinner on Friday evening and continue through the weekend in the community room at the Harvest Cafe. The Harvest Cafe is located in a historic building on Main Street in the quiet, rural village of Montour Falls, just 30 minutes west of Ithaca and a few miles south of Watkins Glen. (http://www.wherecommunityhappens.org ) Tuition is a sliding scale of $100 to $250. A wood-heated cabin/bunk- house nearby is available with sufficient notice and for a fee. Register at http://www.FingerLakesPermaculture.org ABOUT US Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute provides affordable and experiential learning events in the Finger Lakes bioregion of New York State. We offer Permaculture Design Certification courses and a variety of other programs for permaculture education. Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute P.O. Box 54 Ithaca, NY 14850 http://www.fingerlakespermaculture.org info at fingerlakespermaculture.org ### From bosak at ibiblio.org Sun Mar 29 07:34:04 2009 From: bosak at ibiblio.org (Jon Bosak) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:34:04 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Latest TCLocal article: The Local Foodshed of Tompkins County Message-ID: <49CF94EC.3060007@ibiblio.org> "Eating local" is often presented as one way we'll cope with the contraction of supply chains as fuel prices rise again. But until now, we've seen very little analysis of whether the agricultural resources of our local area are actually sufficient to feed us. In this month's TCLocal article, "Examining the potential local foodshed of Tompkins County," CU researcher Christian Peters has made the first serious attempt to answer this central question. His conclusion, based on extensive work in modeling New York State foodsheds, puts into perspective the challenge that faces us. Chris's article also includes links to several essential statistical resources and to the very cool interactive "Local Foodshed Mapping Tool for New York State" developed by the team he worked with in the CU Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. You can find the article at http://tclocal.org/2009/03/examining_the_potential_local.html People who want to comment on this article or engage Chris in discussion should note that the TCLocal web site is specifically designed to get feedback on these ideas as they are developed. Please use the comment form at the bottom of the article so that we can keep all the input in one place. 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) http://tclocal.org/2009/02/food_processing_in_tompkins_co.html Wasting in the Energy Descent: An Outline for the Future by Tom Shelley (January 2009) http://tclocal.org/2009/01/wasting_in_the_energy_descent.html Local and Urban Small Livestock and Poultry by Angelika St. Laurent (December 2008) http://tclocal.org/2008/12/local_and_urban_small_livestoc.html Health Care in an Energy-Constrained Environment (Part 1) by Bethany Schroeder (October 2008) http://tclocal.org/2008/10/health_care_in_an_energyconstr.html Preparedness Basics (Part 1) by Katie Quinn-Jacobs (September 2008) http://tclocal.org/2008/09/preparedness_basics.html Post-Peak Land Use Part 1: Ecocities and Post-Peak Land Use Part 2: The Country by Josh Dolan (July 2008) http://tclocal.org/2008/07/postpeak_land_use_part_1_ecoci.html http://tclocal.org/2008/07/postpeak_land_use_part_2_the_c.html Water Treatment, Water Power by Jon Bosak (May 2008) http://tclocal.org/2008/05/water_treatment_water_power.html Roads and Bridges in a Post-peak Tompkins County by Simon St. Laurent (March 2008) http://tclocal.org/2008/03/roads_and_bridges_in_a_postpea.html Fruits in a Post-Peak Tompkins County by Angelika St. Laurent (January 2008) http://tclocal.org/2008/01/fruits_in_a_postpeak_tompkins_1.html Other articles scheduled for publication in 2009 include: Household preparation, Part 2 (Katie Quinn-Jacobs) Health care resources, Part 2 (Bethany Schroeder) Food production systems (Karl North) Biomass options (Krys Cail) Local wood heat (Tony Nekut) Local biofuel production (Tycho Dan) 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 pinax.com From owlgorge at earthlink.net Sun Mar 29 14:05:10 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:05:10 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] FW: unique walking opportunity Message-ID: <380-22009302922510526@earthlink.net> I thought you might be interested in this lovely opportunity that my friend and naturalist Adrianna Hirtler is offering. Please pass this along to anyone you think might be interested. -Tony Ingraham http://www.place-odyssey.com/POTrips-NY2009.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: Place Odyssey To: owlgorge at earthlink.net Sent: 3/26/2009 11:48:58 AM Subject: unique walking opportunity Happy Spring!!! Place Odyssey and the Art of Walking will be offering a 3 day 2 night guided walking trip called "Finger Lakes and Forest Toes" on May 2-4, 2009. This trip is led by an out of season Yosemite National Park ranger naturalist and native of the Finger Lakes. It will be a challenging hike, mostly on trails, from Ithaca towards Seneca Lake averaging about 8-10 miles/day. But all you will have to carry is your own personal items for the day and you will eat well of healthy local and place-conscious foods. The first night will be spent camping in a natural forest setting (everything provided) and the next night we'll stay at a luxurious bed and breakfast on Cayuta Lake. Many pleasant surprises will greet us along the way... The price of $260 includes: Environmental interpretation (learn about wildflowers and edible plants, local geology and stars in the night sky) Cultural history interpretation (gain a greater appreciation for those who have walked here before us) Meals of delicious place-conscious foods All lodging (one night of rustic camping and one in a luxurious bed and breakfast) Transportation other than your own two feet when necessary Tastings of local products such as wine, cheese and chocolate A poetry reading and workshop with the Poet Laureate of Ithaca Fun snacks and fine tea Please check out the Place Odyssey website at www.place-odyssey.com To keep the group small, we are limited to 14 participants. Spaces are already filling up so if you are interested, act now! Reply to this e-mail [place.odyssey at gmail.com] or call 279-7509 with any questions or to reserve a space...and please pass this on to anyone who you think might be interested. Looking forward to hearing from you, Adrianna (trip leader) From shawn at energyteachers.org Sun Mar 29 14:01:40 2009 From: shawn at energyteachers.org (Shawn Reeves) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:01:40 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Did Earth Hour impact on electricity consumption in NYS? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: In case anyone else is interested in whether Earth Hour reduced electricity use, I acquired data from the NY Independent System Operator, the folks who control the markets of power swapped around several regions in the state (and also handle trades across the state borders), data for the past week of electric use. I have posted a PDF including two charts of integrated hourly load; integrated means they measured the amount of energy used over the whole hour, then divided that by the time period (1 hour) to derive the average power used during each hour. (I trust them with this math, since it means they have to divide a number by 1.) Page 2 shows Central New York instantaneous loads in MW, measured every 5 minutes, and the difference between this Saturday and the previous Saturday: http://energyteachers.org/ETODocuments/EarthHour2009DataNYS.pdf My first impression of the data is that one really has to squint to notice any effect of Earth Hour, when we were asked to turn our lights out to observe the event, 8:30-9:30 PM, March 28. Because of normal variance, it's difficult to attribute change in the load due to Earth Hour; but, comparing March 28 measured loads with those March 21, I can bracket the possible effect: The impact was certainly under 100MW, 2% of the total load. From the first Central New York chart, since there is no easily perceivable dip between 8:30 and 9:30, one might assume that the Earth Hour impact was between +/-30MW, or 2%. The second CNY chart shows the difference between March 28 and March 21, showing that the whole afternoon/evening, we were using less than the previous week. There is a curious inversion at 8:30, but the datum there is the cumulative energy use between 8 and 8:30. Alright, who jumped the gun? Obviously someone with a searchlight. Those of us who ate late, candlelit dinners, shut off our LED lights, raised the thermostats on our SunFrost refrigerators, unplugged our 5W netbooks and rechargeable-battery-chargers, we can claim that we were able to shut down a small power plant for an hour...maybe. Is it always the people who are afflicting the lesser tragedy on the commons that regulate themselves when the commons tragically suffers? But wait, Alison and I used about 200W less than we would have used were there no Earth Hour. If every NY household cut their use by 200W, that would be almost 2GW of reduction, one nuclear power plant. The analysis above yields a maximum reduction of 100MW/2GW, or 5%. Hey, maybe 5% of New Yorkers participated...not bad. Maybe it was people who used 1kW of lighting who shut them off, in which case 1% of them participated. I certainly enjoyed our candle-lit dinner, after which we played checkers-chinoise. It reminded me of camping, perhaps my all-time favorite activity, where I learned that one can clean dishes after a greasy south-asian dinner with a smidgeon of cold water and soap, that one can brush one's teeth in the dark, that a cold shower isn't deadly. You can access the raw data at: http://www.nyiso.com/public/market_data/load_data/rt_actual_load.jsp -- -Shawn Reeves shawn at energyteachers.org http://energyteachers.org EnergyTeachers.org is a 501(c)(3) public charity, and we provide teachers with free services. A few of us have already used GoodShop while shopping online, where common retailers donate a portion of their revenue to our favorite charity; we pay exactly what we would otherwise pay, no more. To start supporting EnergyTeachers.org without spending an extra penny, go to: http://www.goodsearch.com/goodshop.aspx?charityid=842402 From afole4 at gmail.com Sun Mar 29 18:51:00 2009 From: afole4 at gmail.com (Alan Foley) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:51:00 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Looking for housing... Message-ID: Please forgive my posting here, but I am a little desperate! We are looking for a single family house to rent starting this summer (June or July). We are planning on moving closer to Ithaca for work and community (I recently joined the list and have delighted in the discussions of chickens and land use). I am a professor who will work primarily from home. My wife and I and our two kids (ages 3 and 5) are looking for a house rental (not the obvious student rental scene) in the Ithaca area.We are looking for a home to rent where we can garden, play in the yard and enjoy the community. I have posted in Craigslist, but I am trying to cast a wide net :) Please feel free to respond to me off list (afole4 at gmail.com) if you know of anything. Thanks! Alan From 0waste at earthlink.net Sun Mar 29 16:58:27 2009 From: 0waste at earthlink.net (Finger Lakes Zero Waste) Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:58:27 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] new gas drilling website Message-ID: <452FFE0E-1023-4D42-9B55-39B99F0308FD@earthlink.net> Hello to all, One of our members asked me to forward this newly-launched website on natural gas drilling in the Finger Lakes: http://www.preservethefingerlakes.com/ Also this info: There will be a League of Women Voters-sponsored presentation on Marcellus shale drilling this Monday night at the fire house in Bath at 7 PM. It's at the East Morris Street fire house (on the southeast side of the square in downtown Bath). You can probably email the address on the website for more information. Katherine Bourbeau Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition, Inc. P.O. Box 865 Geneva, New York 14456 0waste at earthlink.net From mbrown at ithaca.edu Mon Mar 30 05:33:36 2009 From: mbrown at ithaca.edu (Marian Brown) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:33:36 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Sustainability Cafe to examine "Carbon Sequestration" on Thursday, April 2 at noon Message-ID: <49D0CA30.2080602@ithaca.edu> The next Sustainability Caf? in the spring 2009 series will look at "carbon sequestration."/ /This Caf? will be held on Thursday, April 2, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise, room 301. RPM Ecosystems LLC, a sustainable company producing high-performance living green products, is on a mission to provide an important resource in the conservation, restoration, and reclamation of major ecosystems that will help restore the earth. RPM's nursery is located on 158 acres in Ithaca that includes two federal wetlands that are being restored and protected. Leslie Carrere* *will explain how RPM trees are being used in verified carbon sequestration projects around the globe. http://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20090327120249853 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 mbrown at ithaca.edu Mon Mar 30 05:35:58 2009 From: mbrown at ithaca.edu (Marian Brown) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:35:58 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Sustainability Speaker Series features Ithaca College alumnus speaking about sustainable enterprise Message-ID: <49D0CABE.2080905@ithaca.edu> On Thursday, April 2, at 8:00 p.m. in room 111 in the Park Center for Business and Sustainable Enterprise, Ithaca College alumnus *Kevin Groman* '92 will return to campus to speak about his work leading three Fortune 1000 companies to become both more sustainable and more profitable. Groman's presentation is titled "The Road to and beyond an IPO and an Economic Recession: Lessons of Leadership, Sustainability, and Profitability." This event is free and open to the public. http://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20090327121946664 From sjr37 at cornell.edu Mon Mar 30 08:41:55 2009 From: sjr37 at cornell.edu (Sandra Repp) Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:41:55 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Volunteers needed to survey for hemlock wooly adelgid Message-ID: <6.2.1.2.2.20090330122820.0421f008@postoffice9.mail.cornell.edu> (forwarded message on behalf of Ruth Richardson, Issues Committee of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. Please pass along!) Volunteers are needed to help survey areas of the Cayuga Lake Watershed for hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA) infestations. This year the HWA has been spotted in Cascadilla Gorge & Fall Creek around Beebe Lake. There is a big push in the next few weeks (before the crawlers emerge from egg sacks) to catalog the extent of the infestation. This will take volunteers willing to hike in the woods and inspect the hemlocks. The Cornell Plantations is coordinating this effort (key contact is the Natural Areas director Todd Bittner rtb52 at cornell.edu). Please consider volunteering by attending hikes and pass the info on to your friends and neighbors. You can stay informed about upcoming survey hikes (joining a knowledgeable leader plus others) by signing up for the HWA listserve. Instructions are at: http://www.plantations.cornell.edu/our-gardens/natural-area/invasive/hemlock-woolly-adelgid/list-serv The Cornell Plantations has a good page for more information on the issue and the efforts underway: http://www.plantations.cornell.edu/our-gardens/natural-areas/invasive/hemlock-woolly-adelgid From kqj at quinn-jacobs.org Tue Mar 31 02:48:06 2009 From: kqj at quinn-jacobs.org (Katie Quinn-Jacobs) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:48:06 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Announcing IthaCan Message-ID: <49D1F4E6.4020002@quinn-jacobs.org> Did you ever want company when facing those gorgeous peaches you bought a bushel of and need to can? Or wonder how to make cheese? Or what to do with the scum on your fermented cabbage? Or hang out in the kitchen with a few friends at a genuine jam session? If so, IthaCan will help you make connections with other local home food preservers. Link: http://ithacan.ning.com/ Meet up online with other IthaCan members to organize your own home food preserver gathering and share information. IthaCan makes it easy to field questions, post videos and photos, and share experiences in the totally cool, totally fun world of putting food by...where oven mitts are the new chic. Signing up is easy: http://ithacan.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp? -- Katie Quinn-Jacobs From nlv at clarityconnect.com Tue Mar 31 05:44:32 2009 From: nlv at clarityconnect.com (Nicolas Vaczek) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:44:32 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Sustainable Agriculture events-open to public Message-ID: From this Thursday to next Tuesday, quite a diversity of speakers and topics related to food and farming: Agroecologist Miguel Altieri seminar on Thursday, 4PM: www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/ "Visible Warnings" conference all day Fri/Sat. --- poster: http://ciifad.cornell.edu/activities/edandtrain/newsitems/foodcrisisposter_030309.pdf Sunday 2 to 5 PM "World Food Crisis Solutions" at First Presbyterian Church 315 N. Cayuga St. Schedule at: www.rso.cornell.edu/nwaeg/ Current Director of Food First, Monday seminar: http://www.sustainablefuture.cornell.edu/events/climatechangeforum/holt.html Dr. Wes Jackson from The Land Institute speaking on "Sustainable Agriculture" at Cornell in Emerson 135 at 12:20 on Tuesday, April 7th. From rachel at ecobooks.com Tue Mar 31 10:23:19 2009 From: rachel at ecobooks.com (Rachel Treichler) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:23:19 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Weekend walk from Ithaca to Seneca Lake Message-ID: <49D25F97.4060909@ecobooks.com> http://www.place-odyssey.com/POTrips-NY2009.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: Place Odyssey To: owlgorge at earthlink.net Sent: 3/26/2009 11:48:58 AM Subject: unique walking opportunity Happy Spring!!! Place Odyssey and the Art of Walking will be offering a 3 day 2 night guided walking trip called "Finger Lakes and Forest Toes" on May 2-4, 2009. This trip is led by an out of season Yosemite National Park ranger naturalist and native of the Finger Lakes. It will be a challenging hike, mostly on trails, from Ithaca towards Seneca Lake averaging about 8-10 miles/day. But all you will have to carry is your own personal items for the day and you will eat well of healthy local and place-conscious foods. The first night will be spent camping in a natural forest setting (everything provided) and the next night we'll stay at a luxurious bed and breakfast on Cayuta Lake. Many pleasant surprises will greet us along the way... The price of $260 includes: Environmental interpretation (learn about wildflowers and edible plants, local geology and stars in the night sky) Cultural history interpretation (gain a greater appreciation for those who have walked here before us) Meals of delicious place-conscious foods All lodging (one night of rustic camping and one in a luxurious bed and breakfast) Transportation other than your own two feet when necessary Tastings of local products such as wine, cheese and chocolate A poetry reading and workshop with the Poet Laureate of Ithaca Fun snacks and fine tea Please check out the Place Odyssey website at www.place-odyssey.com To keep the group small, we are limited to 14 participants. Spaces are already filling up so if you are interested, act now! Reply to this e-mail [place.odyssey at gmail.com] or call 279-7509 with any questions or to reserve a space...and please pass this on to anyone who you think might be interested. Looking forward to hearing from you, Adrianna (trip leader) From owlgorge at earthlink.net Tue Mar 31 11:46:45 2009 From: owlgorge at earthlink.net (Anthony Ingraham) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:46:45 -0400 Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom Project Message-ID: <380-220093231194645718@earthlink.net> Friends of the Floating Classroom - Organizational Meeting Time: 6:45pm-8:15pm, Thursday, April 2, 2009 Location: Borg-Warner Room, East, Tompkins County Public Library. RSVP To: Bill Foster, parsifal at twcny.rr.com or (607) 272-7256 www.floatingclassroom.cayugawatershed.org www.fingerlakestic.blogspot.com The Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom Project provides educational lake cruises and "Trout In The Classroom" programs for nearly 2500 students annually. It also offers public eco-cruises and summer "Water Wizzards" camp programs. The Project is a collaboration of local governments around the Lake, various educational institutions, non-profits and local business. It depends on a volunteer committee of representatives from all these sectors, and on a network of community resources. The Project is growing rapidly, and we need to grow the support network. We need people like you! Agenda: 6:45pm - Welcome & Introductions (Meet the Floating Classroom Committee members) 7:00pm - Overview of Floating Classroom Project Programs, provided by Bill Foster. This overview will conclude with a focus on 2009 priorities and needs: a) curriculum development b) comprehensive marketing/fundraising plan c) opportunities for volunteer service & technical support 7:30pm ? Round-Table discussion: we want to talk with guests to hear their interests and thoughts. Please bring your ideas! 8:10pm ? Wrap-up Session. Can we generate some next steps and interest-area committees? 8:15pm - Adjourn. From earthdayithaca at yahoo.com Tue Mar 31 17:43:47 2009 From: earthdayithaca at yahoo.com (Joey Gates) Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:43:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Earth Day Volunteers needed Message-ID: <537784.73803.qm@web56405.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Hello Sustainability Friends, We are in the final planning stages for the Earth Day Ithaca 2009 Celebration. The Center for Environmental Sustainability, along with other local groups, is planning a weekend of fun and educational activities starting Friday, April 24th and running through Sunday April 26th. To make these events happen, we need many volunteers on board, including someone to help coordinate shifts. If you are interested, please send me an email. Thank you, Joey CES Earth Day Coordinator