Homegrown

A new sandwich shop just opened up in my neighborhood in Seattle, and it's some of the best "fast food" I've ever eaten. All of the ingredients at Homegrown are sourced from "organic, local, all-natural, and/or sustainable producers." Clearly not resting on their low-impact laurels, these guys take things a step further by greatly reducing the use of typical to-go packaging, which creates some of the greatest impact at an establishment such as theirs. In order to achieve "sandwich environmentalism", the Homegrown folks use compostable, recycled, and recyclable packaging. If you decide to eat in at the shop, almost everything you use, with the exception of the recycled paper napkins (which are composted), can be washed and used again. Of course, it also doesn't hurt that one can choose from delicious sandwiches and a rotating, seasonal soup menu. If you want to pick up a sandwich with absolutely no waste, consider bringing your own To-Go Ware containers to the shop.

Unexpected for the Northwest, the sign only refers to food.

For those of you who don't frequent the Pacific Northwest, look for these same types of practices in the restaurants you patronize. More and more restaurants and shops are springing up all over the country as awareness grows about the importance of eating locally and producing as little waste as possible in the process.

Of course, for those of you who want to embrace a local diet, you need not go out to eat. Check out Local Harvest to find farmers' markets and other local food purveyors near you. Thanks to my friend Anne for pointing me in the direction of the Mixed Greens blog, which has recipes and adventures to keep Northwest locavores (or any locavores, really) inspired and entertained.

Shifting the Power

The first weekend of March in Washington D.C. was really cold, like face masks and long underwear cold, but that didn't stop thousands of fired up young people from gathering for the second Power Shift Conference, which brought youth from all over the country together to "hold our elected officials accountable for rebuilding our economy and reclaiming our future through bold climate and clean energy policy."

Guest blogger and high school freshman Amelia Schwalb recounts her experience here:

On February 27, 12,000 young adults ventured to our nation’s capitol in order to change the world. They traveled 28 hours through blizzards and braved long flight delays, but all eventually arrived at the Washington Convention Center for Power Shift 2009.

They were greeted with keynotes by environmental leaders such as Van Jones (Green for All) and Majora Carter and left with the sounds of Santogold and the So So Glows in their ears. These young people went on to spent their weekend attending workshops, panels, caucuses, trainings, keynotes, and concerts with a common goal: repairing our world. They learned that climate change does not only affect nature, but all human kind. They learned that through climate injustice and environmental racism, climate change affects those who cause it the least the most.

Most of all, they learned that climate change is an urgent issue that we must tackle if our species is to survive. Along with regional planning, the Power Shifters’ newfound knowledge culminated in a lobby day in which they asked their representatives to enact aggressive climate legislation adhering to the principles of cutting carbon, investing in a green economy, using renewable energy, and being eco-equitable.



After the lobbying was complete, the younglings headed to the West Lawn for a rally, clad in green hard hats and green t-shirts. Most of the Power Shifters then headed home to start their own mini-Power Shifts in communities all over the country. Memories of Saturday night’s impromptu rally echoed in their minds; “What is it that democracy looks like? This is what democracy looks like!”

1969 : Tree hugger :: 2009 : Recyclable-cardboard-and-mixed-paper-hugger. The more things change...

Adventures in Urban Composting

It's my guilty moment of the week again - time to take out the trash. I glance in to see what the week's detritus consists of, and I feel that familiar twinge. While I am pretty happy about the fact that two people have generated less than a kitchen garbage bag's worth of trash, the majority of our waste is food scraps, which will decompose in the anaerobic landfill environment and produce methane, a global warming gas more potent than carbon dioxide.

I live in a city with a robust recycling system, so I am able to reuse or recycle almost anything else that might otherwise make its way into my garbage. According to the EPA, 24% of household wastes consists of food scraps and yard trimmings, so it seems I am not alone. Some cities, including Seattle and San Francisco are now offering composting bins for residents that are picked up once a week along with recycling and trash. Other areas, like Santa Barbara County, offer composting bins at reduced rates as well as free composting workshops. Check with your local municipality to see if they offer similar services.

If you decide to compost on your own, the EPA's website is a good place to start to get an overview of different methods and services available in your region. Santa Barbara County also has an extensive online composting guide available on their website.

If you decide to go the urban composting route and have limited outdoor space, consider vermicomposting - tapping into the magical power of composting with worms. I have a tiny deck outside my apartment, and this will be command central for my new compost pile.

According to the Santa Barbara County composting guide, bins also give you bang for your buck. You can build one for about $40 or you can order one from a gardener's supply store. The guide tells me how to calculate the size bin I will need, how many red worms to get, and what can be composted. Here is the rundown of treats for my new squirmy friends:

• Vegetable Scraps
• Fruit Peels and Scraps
• Coffee Grounds and Filters
• Plant Clippings and Leaves
• Crushed Egg Shells
• Stale Bread and Grains
• Tea Bags
• Untreated Paper Towels and Tissue Paper
  

In other words, I can pretty much compost everything that I have been throwing in the trash - hooray!

Of course, I'm also on a budget, so I'm off to search a few how-to sites to figure out how to build my bin. Temperature is a consideration when vermicomposting as well; the worms like 55-75 degree weather, which is pretty much the temperature in Seattle eight months out of the year, so I'm all set there. It's been hovering around 45 degrees lately, so I'm going to give myself a few weeks to gather the materials, do a bit more research, and let the air warm to ideal worm temp.

If you are considering setting up your own composting system, check out these resources:

• Rodale Institute
• Worms Eat My Garbage
• Online Composting Guide - Santa Barbara County

For the true worm fanatic, there is also vermicomposters.com, but I don't think I'm there yet. Check back in a few weeks to see how the composting is going and whether or not I am eating my words (but not my worms!).

Armchair Activism

With no more than a computer and an Internet connection, you can easily tell your political leaders, business owners, and other organizations with influence over policy what you think. Best of all, taking action won't cost you a dime (although I am sure the orgs would welcome your donations too!).

If this is your first foray into the world of armchair activism, you'll be happy to learn that many non-profit organizations now offer links from their websites to action items you can take, and if you sign up for it, they will also send you email action alerts. Usually, an action consists of no more than signing a petition or placing a phone call to your senator or representative.

Here is just a small sample of the many actions you can take today:

• The We Campaign has launched a campaign to Repower America with 100% clean electricity within the next 10 years. Right now you can sign a petition on their website that calls for a cap on carbon pollution, which will be delivered to members of Congress.
• ONE has launched a campaign calling on the African Union to support and uphold the new unity government of Zimbabwe, which is in its critical early stages.
• The Sierra Club is asking people to sign a petition urging the Obama administration to ban mountaintop removal coal mining, which is a mining process that's just as destructive as it sounds.

With a new administration making important decisions every day, now is a crucial time to get involved, and these petitions, phone calls, and letters are an effective way to reach policymakers. Consider that the recent efforts of such groups as the Genocide Intervention Network and Save Darfur helped to convince President Obama to appoint a special envoy to Sudan, which is a diplomatic presence sorely needed in that devastated region.

For more ideas about organizations to get involved with, check out the directory of "Organizations Making a Difference" on the Ten Ways website and change the world today from the comfort of your chair.