Food

Brooklyn Grange, Amazing Pioneer Urban Farm

by

Brooklyn GrangeThanks to the Columbia Business School Sustainability Club, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit one of the first and largest urban farms in NYC– the Brooklyn Grange, actually located in Long Island City, Queens.

With a view of the Manhattan skyline, this 40,000+ sq ft (1 acre) farm exists as proof of the power of determination, as the farm required hoisting over 1 million lbs of soil to the roof of a huge warehouse. The 3 main partners are young inspiring entrepeneurs dedicated to healthy local food.

Now in its 4th year, many types of greens, vegetables and seeds are raised and sold to chefs at area restaurants, so this is a successful for-profit enterprise. The soil is made up of compost for organic nutrients mixed with lightweight, porous stones, with an elaborate subsystem for drainage. The food is grown organically and air quality is monitored and found to be of better quality than at street level. The farm also boasts several chickens and two small bee hives. More on this incredible farm and its events and CSA are at: http://www.brooklyngrangefarm.com

Skip the Disposable Plastic Produce Baggies!

by

 

 

 

 

 

Grocery stores provide thin film plastic bags as a convenience for transporting fresh vegetables from store to home. These bags are usually made from LPDE (Low Density Polyethylene) plastic #4, and like large grocery bags, end up in landfills or get incinerated. Like many of us, though I’ve been pretty good about remembering to bring reusable shopping bags (even if they sometimes get forgotten in the car), I had never even thought about a reusable alternative to produce bags. So when I received this one from Environmental Working Group (EWG.org), made by Chico Bag, it was really encouraging. Though it seems to be made from virgin (nonrecycled) nylon, Chico Bag offers to recycle it for you. It’s mesh on one side and lightweight, and I’m hoping it becomes the next big trend! See these links for others like it too!

Chicobag.com

washableproducebags.com

reusablebags.com

Organic Ketchup Packets?

by

If you are in charge of a restaurant kitchen, or school or business cafeteria, you probably offer ketchup packets. If so, consider these, which I was pleasantly surprised to find at a local eatery in Syosset, New York called Energy Kitchen: organic ketchup packets! The difference is that the tomatoes used to create this ketchup were grown organically, meaning no synthetic pesticides, no irradiation, and no genetic modification of the plants. Common ketchup packets typically also contain high fructose corn syrup.

How to Have a Green Halloween

by

According to the Sept./Oct issue of Green American (GreenAmerica.org), Halloween is a $6 billion/yr industry in the U.S., so by making green choices you support green businesses, a healthy environment, and social justice for workers. How?

  • One way is by supporting organic candy companies that support fair trade. Did you know that Hershey, Cadbury and Nestle all have ties to child labor in the production of their cocoa? This is a sad side of chocolate that can be avoided by purchasing chocolate from companies such as Divine Chocolate, Green & Blacks, or Equal exchange instead. Or give out small “treasures” other than candy.
  • Also, in terms of protecting your own kids, make sure to use nontoxic face paint such as Terra Firma. A 2009 Campaign for Safe Cosmetics study found that 10 out of 10 children’s face paints tested contained at least trace levels of lead. (safecosmetics.org)
  • Consider getting rid of those plastic trick or treat baskets—the plastic will be around long after your child wants to use it anymore, so cloth sacks are better.
  • Finally, another way to be green on Halloween is to swap costumes; Sat. October 13, 2012 is National Costume Swap Day!

For more green Halloween ideas and info on costume swaps in your area, see GreenHalloween.org.

The Green side of the Golden Gate City

by

Clary Sage Organics
Earthsake
Muir Woods

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In my recent trip to San Francisco, I visited some shining examples of the area’s trademark eco-friendliness. At Earthsake (www.earthsake.com) in Berkeley, I was able to order a great quality organic cotton mattress, that does not contain toxic fire retardants. They offer natural latex mattresses, bedroom furniture, and organic cotton linens for both adult bedrooms and kids’ rooms.

After dining at the vegan restaurant Greens in Fort Mason (www.greensrestaurant.com), with a lovely view of the famed red bridge, I headed to Clary Sage Organics (www.clarysageorganics.com). There I encountered a full array of unique organic cotton and sustainably made clothing, some bearing the store’s own label. The owner, Patti, has been highly committed to promoting sustainable clothing for years, and the store also features wellness formulas and body care products, for natural beauty inside and out.

San Fran city has also made efforts to help dry cleaners to switch to less toxic cleaning methods, and has committed to providing 100% of the city’s energy needs with renewables by 2020. Of course not forgetting the magnificent Muir Woods nearby with its stand of gigantic sequoia trees, the City by the Bay is a treehugger’s dream.

LI Small Farm Summit Inspires Gardeners & Foodies

by

      The 2012 Small Farm Summit on 4/14/12 was the culmination of months of dedicated work by the North Shore Land Alliance, and numerous Long Island gardening, local food, and healthy school lunch advocates. Hundreds came to Hofstra University to hear football-player-turned-farmer Will Allen of “Growing Power” from Wisconsin, and Renegade Lunch Lady and Author, Chef Ann Cooper (See ChefAnn.com). Will Allen started the day with many success stories of projects he’s started, teaching kids how to grow their own food in urban areas. (See www.growingpower.org). I also got to hear about innovative rooftop farms like Brooklyn Grange, a 40,000 sq ft farm growing on warehouse roof in Long Island City, Queens. (See http://www.brooklyngrangefarm.com). On a scary note, Professor Birgit Woelker, Nassau Community College, reminded us of the many reasons to be concerned about genetically modified crops being grown around the globe, the need for labeling here in the U.S. (See http://tinyurl.com/GMO-NO). I also learned how to make a vertical green wall from teacher Steve Ritz of  Green Bronx
Machine (greenbronxmachine.weebly.com/index.html).

With numerous exhibits and workshops happening at once, the Farm Summit was a smorgasbord of positive learning and sharing. Glad I got to be a volunteer and a sponsor as Green Inside and Out Consulting, to help make this day a wonderful success. See http://www.smallfarmsummit.com/.

Beth Fiteni & Will Allen, Growing Power
Professor Birgit Woelker says no to GMOs
Steve Ritz, Green Bronx Machine, displays a vertical green wall made by his students