going green memphis 9-26-10

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GOING GREEN | Sunday, September 26, 2010

commercialappeal.com

Whats in this issue ...4 10 17 20 25Vineyard at capacityPhysicist Peter Howard designed Crown Winery to maximize energy efficiency using the sun, landscape

Drinks for a causeCocktail hour returns with natural ingredients

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Natural winesWinemakers ditch the tricks for true flavors

Freshness at top of menuMillington restaurant, supports local farmers market in kitchen

Keep these toxins away from toddler Recipe for a meatless Monday

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Detroit alley first to get green lift Countries better off green than gold

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!Going Green is a special online publication of The Commercial Appeal. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Follow Going Green on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoGreenMemphis. Editor: Kim Coleman, 529-5243, [email protected] Community Editor: Emily Adams Keplinger, [email protected] the cover: Photo by Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal

The Commercial Appeal

Sunday, September 26, 2010 | GOING GREEN

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The Green PageTrees for Arbor DayEveryone from Tennessee who joins the Arbor Day Foundation in September will receive 10 free trees as part of the Foundations Trees for America campaign. New members will receive an eastern redbud, white pine, sugar maple, white flowering dogwood, pin oak, red maple, river birch, silver maple, northern red oak and Colorado blue spruce. Additionally, new members will also receive The Tree Book, which includes information about tree planting and care. The trees will be shipped postpaid at the right time for planting, between Oct. 15 and Dec. 10. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced free of charge. Send a $10 membership contribution to Ten Trees, Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE 68410, by Sept. 30, or join online at arborday.org/september.

GREEN PROGRAMS

Lasagna gardeningLove home-grown veggies but hate all the work? There is a way you can have a wonderful garden without spending countless hours working on it. Writer and lecturer Pat Lanza will fill you in on the secret when she speaks at Memphis Botanic Garden. Lanza is a long-time advocate for renewing garden spaces with layered yard waste and newspaper. She has written numerous books, including Lasagna Gardening: A method for improving the soil with; No Digging, No Tilling, No Weeding, No Kidding!, Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces, and Lasagna Gardening with Herbs. Lasagna Gardening with Pat Lanza is scheduled for Tuesday, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 for MBG Garden members; $12 for nonmembers. Registration is

Mark Weber The Commercial Appeal

Panelists will include landscape designer Suzy Askew, Jim Crowder from Dan West Garden Centers, landscape architect Larry Griffin, Len Lawhon of Lawhon Landscape Design, landscape designer Tom Pellet, and Dale Skaggs, Director of Horticulture for Dixon Gallery and Gardens. The seminar is 9 a.m. to noon at MBG. Admission is $3 for MBG members; $5 for non-members. Call 3848979.

The Shelby Farms Greenlines grand opening is Oct. 9.not necessary. Call 6364128.

Greenline openingThe Grand Opening of the Shelby Farms Greenline is set for Oct. 9. There will be a 7-mile block party through the heart of Memphis. Activities will include a bicycle-powered mobile band, a community run, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The evening will be capped off at Shelby Farms Park with live entertainment. For more information, visit shelbyfarmsgreenline.org.

Gardening seminarOn Oct. 2, Memphis Area Master Gardeners and the Memphis Botanic Garden (MBG) are once again sponsoring a Dream Team gardening seminar, this time on landscape issues.

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Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal

Peter and Rita Howard are owners of Crown Winery & HRH Vineyards in Humboldt, Tenn.

A toast to this wineryPhysicist uses solar panels, sells excess energyBy Suzanne ThompsonSpecial to Going Green

IN SPRING, A PERSONS fancy turns to love and flowers. But in fall, appetites turn to food and drink. And where the latter is concerned, beer and wine reign supreme.

So who better than a physicist to figure out the most energyefficient way to run a winery? Thats just what British gas physicist Peter Howard did when he designed Crown Winery in Humboldt.



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Howard and his wife, Rita, are majority owners of the winery, which opened in 2009 and is built into a hillside to take advantage of the earths natural cooling powers. The winery draws most of the energy it uses from solar panels, which provide more than enough power to operate the business during daylight hours. We generate at this time of year, on a sunny day, approximately 120 kilowatt hours a day. Its far more than what we use, Howard said. Excess energy produced by the panels is purchased by TVAs Green Switch program, which pays 12 cents per kilowatt hour over the going rate for power. Power we do not use goes out onto the grid and is consumed locally, Howard said. The disadvantage is

Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal

Crown Winery & HRH Vineyards uses solar panels to power the winerys daytime operations and sells the excess power to TVA. that when the sun goes down, you have no energy. At a cost of $140,000 for the 78 solar panels, the investment was substantial, but they will pay for themselves in 11 to 16 years. Any time beyond that youve got free power, he said. Like wine makers, large and small breweries have methods to conserve energy and exercise the three Rs recycle, reduce, reuse. St. Louis-based Anheuser-Buschs 12 breweries recycled 99.4 percent of the solid waste material produced in the brewing process during 2009.

Crown Winery & HRH VineyardsAddress: 3638 East Mitchell Street, Humboldt, TN 38343 Phone: (731) 784-8100 Website: crownwinery.com Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, Wine Down!, 7-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Closed on Monday.

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Chuck Skypeck (standing) explains some of the finer points of a golden ale to (left to right) Jake Meeks, Damien Klingberg and Scott Doney during a dinner at Boscos.Brandon Dill Special to The Commercial Appeal

Anheuser-Busch has also been recognized as a Climate Leader by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At its brewery in Fairfield, Calif., 6 acres of ground-mounted solar panels were installed in 2009 in a partnership with SunEdison. That facility also has put in a bio-energy recovery system, which captures the nutrients in the brewing wastewater and converts it to bio-gas, providing 15 percent of that brewerys power needs. The renewable fuel reduces the use of natural gas. For smaller breweries, however, investment in broad-scale green

Ghost River BrewingAddress: 827 S. Main Street, Memphis, TN 38106 Phone: (901) 278-0087 Website: ghostriverbrewing.com Tours: Ghost River Brewing offers free brewery tours every Saturday at 1 p.m. Reservations are required. Call (901) 278-0087 ext. 208 or e-mail [email protected] to reserve your spot. Preserving the river: To learn more about the Wolf River Conservancy, visit wolfriver.org. technologies just isnt feasible. But they do have other ways to help the environment. Chuck Skypeck, a founding partner and head brewer at Boscos, said the company donates $1 from the sale of every barrel of beer to the Wolf River Conservancy. Beer is 95 percent water and Memphis has great water which is not only great for drinking but also great for brewing beer, Skypeck said. We think it makes perfect sense for us to help an organization that is helping to protect our water supply.



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Also, after brew cycles are complete, the company recycles the grain used in the brewing process. Its a practice the company has used since it started doing business. The fermented grain, when dried, makes excellent feed for livestock. A cattle farmer from Mississippi comes weekly and picks up the grain used in the brewing process to use as feed. He comes and takes it back to feed his 70 very happy cattle, Skypeck said. After the brewing process, the grain doesnt contain alcohol properties, but is converted into roughage. The brewing process also produces a lot of hot water, and that too is recycled. We recycle that water in the sense that we use it for cleaning, Skypeck said. Drew Barton, a 29-year-old home brewer who wants to open his own brewery, said some home brewers capture hot water used in their brewing process and use it to do laundry. Home brewers also recycle their grain. It is great filler for garden soil, Barton said. It aerates the soil really well. And even though new bottles are available for home-brewed beer, many people re-use beer bottles from commercial breweries. Barton has been home brewing since he was 21, and also has worked as head brewer for the French Broad Brewery in Asheville, N.C. During his tenure there, he said, that brewery was the first in North Carolina to fuel its brewers with used vegetable oil.

Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Busters Liquors & Wines offers a variety of organic wines from around the world.

Drink up, and save the planetBy Suzanne ThompsonSpecial to Going Green

Its hard to believe that having a cocktail could help the environment, but the makers of 360 Vodka claim its a reality. Billed as the first eco-friendly superpremium vodka, the slogan for the product is Saving the planet, one glass at a time. In addition to the bottle being made of 85 percent recycled glass, the company also developed a close the loop program. Each bottle comes with a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope

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Photos by Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Bill Boywid points out some of the organic wines available at Busters Liquors & Wines. (made from 100 percent recycled paper), which they ask customers to use to return the swing-top lid of the bottle so it can be reused. The swing-top lid also makes the bottles ideal for reuse storing spiced oils for cooking or homemade liquids. According to the companys website, it has received 50,000 tops and for each one that comes in, $1 is donated to Global Green USA, a global environmental program. Tennessee is one of five states in which 360 Vodka is distributed. It is offered in Memphis by about 14 liquor stores, including Busters Liquors & Wines, Great Wines & Spirits and Charlies Wine and Spirits. The vodka makers started with only a couple of flavors cola and double chocolate in addition to the original 360, but in August the company began producing six new flavors, according to Kevin Scheuner, general sales manager for Southwestern Distributing Company, the local distributor of the products. We are just introducing different flavors like Bing Cherry, Mandarin Orange and Georgia Peach, he said. The 360 flavored vodkas are a little sweeter than most other flavored vodkas, which he believes may give the product a competitive edge. Scheuner said that while the green aspect of the product is a good selling point, only a few liquor stores carry the product specifically because it is eco-friendly.



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from Argentina, and Our amount of sulfite Another product that is Daily Red, which is made contained in wine is gaining popularity with in California. minuscule, as little as 10, the environmentally Dego said several times 20 or 30 parts per million, conscious crowd is wine Dego said. made from organic grapes, a day people come in and ask specifically for Charlie Garavelli, owner said John Dego, manager organic wine. of Charlies Wine and and wine consultant at Usually its younger Spirits, also said few Busters Liquors & Wines. customers who ask for customers request organic For grapes to be organic products, he said. products, only about 10 considered organic, the Gary Burhop, owner of percent, and like most winery must have Great Wines & Spirits, retailers, he bases his abstained from the use of ordering decisions pesticides in the on consumer vineyard for at least demand. three years, he said. His store, like Some organic wines many others, carries are also sulfite-free, boxed wines such as which Dego said is Pepperwood Grove, difficult for which contain an wineries, because amount of wine sulfite is a equivalent to four stabilizing agent in 750-liter bottles. the wine-making According to process. studies, bag-in-box The French have 360 Vodka lines a shelf at Busters. wines use 85 been making The line of flavored vodkas markets percent less landfill organic wine itself as eco-friendly. space and leave a forever, he said, but said his store doesnt have smaller carbon footprint. its a claim few American At Busters, a wide wineries choose to put on much demand for organic wine and he believes there selection of boxed wines the label. is a general misconception are available, including Many do it, but dont about organic wine. Bota Box wine, the specify it, he said. They think that packaging of which is not Thats because at the only 100 percent end of a growing season in somehow organically recyclable, but the box is some circumstances, like if produced wines have some health benefit that made from 100 percent a heavy rain falls just non-organic wines dont post-consumer fiber. Inks before harvest, wine have, or are somehow used in printing on the makers are forced to use packaging are soy-based pesticides to save the crop. sulfite-free. I hate to tell them, but thats not the rather than petroleumBusters has a small case, he said. based and paper layers are selection of organic While some organic bonded together with wines, including Natura, a cornstarch instead of glue. Chilean wine, Santa Julia, wines are sulfite-free, the

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Mixology sees return of the party drink, spiceBy Michele Buchanancocktailhourhome.com

Classic cocktail fans can rejoice, as the big trends in the mixology world include a growth in native spirits, the return of the party drink and a turn to herbal and spicy flavors. The trends were highlighted this summer at the Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, an annual event showcasing some of the finest spirits from around the world. The biggest trend to emerge is great news for people who love classic cocktails but have had a hard time finding quality ingredients. Native spirits such as moonshine (now triple distilled, often enhanced with fruit essence and made for easy sipping), rye, bourbon, applejack and a wide variety of Americanstyle whiskies have grown in abundance and quality

over the past few years, to the point where one can now make a Manhattan or OldFashioned that could rival anything served on shows like Mad Men. This leads into the next big trend, which is the return of the party drink. In keeping with the growth of the home entertaining market and greater knowledge about food among ordinary people, its not surprising

that naturally flavored communal punches are making a big comeback. Instead of the neon colored, artificially flavored party drinks of the past 10 years, theres a move to using more natural, organic and lowkey ingredients that not only taste good but are less likely to lead to a bad hangover the next day. The trends are moving away from sugary candy flavors and toward those



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of fruits and herbs such as lemon and mint. Gins such as New Amsterdam and GVine, lighter liqueurs such as the elderflower-flavored St. Germain, and rums such as Don Q, Brugal and even Sailor Jerry are making it Tonic, grenadine go upscale possible to make high quality party punches for a relatively low price per By Michelle Locke glass. Instead of artificial Associated Press colors, expect to see drink colors enhanced by natural BERKELEY, Calif. Spirits have gone juices. premium. Bartenders have turned artisan. Even The last big trend came ice has become a little cooler. from the culinary world. If So, it only makes sense that mixers are getting a sugar and heavy makeover with upscale versions sweetness is out, promising to bring chic cocktails then herbal and spicy to a fridge near you. flavors are definitely Consumers just seem to get it in, and again, they immediately, says Jordan Silbert, are from natural founder of Q Tonic, an all-natural sources. The modern product introduced a few years cocktail still finds its ago. Why would I mix my Grey basis in recipes for Goose with a soda? It just doesnt favorites such as the make sense. margarita, martini, Silbert got the idea to make a whiskey sour and gin EO grenadine is 100% better mixer after drinking gin and fizz, but the flavors pure pomegranate. tonics at his Brooklyn home and are kicked up a notch realizing the premium gin in his by items more glass had no business mingling with a mass-market commonly found in your product containing high fructose corn syrup. refrigerator or spice cabinet A similar epiphany struck Dushan Zaric and than at the local bar. Jason Kosmas, mixologists at New Yorks During the event, Employees Only bar who have just released two delicious cocktails were nonalcoholic mixers a grenadine and a lime formulated from muddling cordial under the name EO Brands. everything from sweet bell We were not so happy with what was peppers with mint and commercially available out there, says Zaric. orange slices, to adding in They researched and began making their own fresh rosemary and thyme, blend for the restaurants, eventually deciding to and grated cinnamon and bottle and sell it. nutmeg.

Premium cocktail mixers stir interest

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Commercially available grenadine is mostly artificial, red dye and sweeteners, Zaric says. EO grenadine is reduced 100 percent pomegranate juice sweetened with cane sugar and accented with spices. The lime cordial is reduced lime juice (also 100 percent) with agave nectar and kaffir lime leaves for flavor and spice. Some purists say nothing compares to mixing your cocktails from scratch, but says Zaric, Ours is as close as you can get. EO Brands mixers are being marketed to bars, online in New York City through FreshDirect, and are expected to be available in major markets soon at an upscale grocer, Zaric says. Authenticity drove Silbert as well. He figured out the components of tonic quinine (a bitter that in its natural form comes from the bark of the cinchona tree), sweetener and carbonated water. Next step: order a bag of bark over the Internet and get to work. He used agave nectar as a sweetener. But trying to create crisp, tight bubbles at home drove me crazy, so he found a plant in

Why would I mix my Grey Goose with a soda? It just doesnt make sense.JORDAN SILBERTfounder of all-natural Q Tonic

Onlineemployeesonlybrands.com stirrings.com qtonic.com DAmatos site: centannicocktails.net Massachusetts where he had a couple hundred cases made. Bartenders started buying, and he borrowed his fathers station wagon to make deliveries. Then he got discovered by Plymouth Gin, caught the attention of the New York Times and now sells Q Tonic to almost 3,000 places around the country, including Whole Foods Markets. A pioneer in the premium cocktail mix was Stirrings, established in Nantucket in 1997. The company has since been

bought by Diageo North America, a subsidiary of Diageo, a leading spirits, wine and beer company. Stirrings sells several mixers as well as cocktail rimmers, bar sodas and a new line of liqueurs including ginger, espresso and apple, says Jody Samuels Ike, a senior brand manager. The company uses real fruit juice, all natural ingredients and pure cane sugar. Victoria DAmatoMoran, a San Francisco bartender, has been making her own simple syrups and other mixers for years, even growing her own. If youre giving me a selection of 20 different tonics and ales and I can go to someone that has harvested their own grains and herbs, Im going to go for that.



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Wine with character

MCT Photo Service

Natural wine making is not a process that can be certified.

Natural process ditches tweaks, tricks and chemistry

By Jessica YadegaranContra Costa Times

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. Under the frescoes of a centuries-old villa in Sarego, Italy, Tracey and Jared Brandt of Berkeleys Donkey & Goat Winery were overcome with giddiness. The Brandts, who have been making natural, Rhone-style wines for a decade, were the first and only Americans invited to pour at VinNatur, an annual European gathering of natural winemakers. Most of those who attend have followed the principles of minimal intervention winemaking for

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generations. To be in the club among such amazing winemakers, Tracey says. We were on cloud nine. Theres no exact definition for natural winemaking. Its not a practice that can be certified, like organic cultivation. Its a philosophy, rooted in French viticulture, that limits the use of chemicals and synthetics, in the hopes of better expressing a wines terroir, or sense of place. The Brandts represent a growing segment of the California wine industry dedicated to making these honest wines. As one natural winemaker put it, theyre not the best wines in the world, but they are unique. Its hard to tell a natural wine by looking at it, although a white could appear foggy because it hasnt been filtered. And a pinot noir may appear light, closer to a true Burgundy. Typically, natural winemakers start with grapes that were farmed organically or biodynamically. They pick by hand, usually based on flavor and acid rather than brix, a measurement of sugar. They use natural yeasts to ferment their

wines, instead of labcultivated yeasts that deliver specific flavors and aromas. They use little if any sulfur and they dont add sugar or water to manipulate alcohol. In general, they avoid high tech tricks, such as synthetic color concentrators and reverse osmosis, that are common in commercial wineries and tend to produce homogeneous wines. Theres no question that the closer you get to that original recipe grapes, water, sunshine, man or woman theres a more interesting expression in the wine, says Berkeley wine merchant Kermit Lynch, who specializes in these wines. Gideon Beinstock of Clos Saron says he aims to make wines so placedriven that the rocks speak. Beinstock, who is half French and honed his palate at Steven Spurriers Paris wine shop, makes natural pinot noir in the Sierra foothills, a hot region better suited for syrah or zinfandel. But his tiny three-acre vineyard is planted in a cool, mountain pocket. Clos Saron does little to no irrigation, he explains, which forces the roots to

go deeper into cooler soil, resulting in better acidity. Then, theres his harvest methodology. Twice during harvest early in the season and then later Beinstock selects fruit by sight and touch. On average, the sugars are much lower this way than if we waited, like most wineries, until all the fruit looks homogeneously ripe, he says. Not all natural winemakers agree on whats natural. Some dont always use organic fruit. Most, but not all, eliminate plastic from their operations because of the potential of chemical leaching. Obviously, the practice is not for everyone. It is pricey, laborious, and requires a squeaky clean cellar, especially if youre going to limit sulfites, which protect wine from bacteria. Still, for those who fall for the individuality of natural wines, theres no turning back. We love these wines and, for our own greedy palates, wanted a place to drink them, says Dagan Ministero, whose 2-yearold Terroir, a natural wine bar and shop in San Francisco, features around 700 natural wines.



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There would be no GrowMemphis without volunteers, says GrowMemphis coordinator Josephine Williams (second from left), along with Maurice Jones (from left), Montreal McFerran and Edward Farmer.Justin Shaw/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Community gardens spread knowledge, sense of placeBy Angela Knipple / Special To The Commercial AppealWITH THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE their ownMEET THE VENDOR

crops, some of the more than 15 gardens under the GrowMemphis umbrella focus on heirloom produce varieties or herbs. Others choose familiar Southern crops like greens and okra. Still others choose to grow exotic produce.Josephine Williams, coordinator for GrowMemphis, recalls one group that brought her a huge cucumber from its garden. I had no idea what it was. It

Who: GrowMemphis. Where: Cooper-Young Farmers Market (Saturdays). More information: 725-4990, midsouthpeace.org /GrowMemphis, e-mail josephine@midsouth peace.org.

looked like a loofah to me. While some of the gardens produce is sold at the Cooper-Young Farmers Market to bring money back into the

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farms, most goes to the people who grow it and to other members in the community around the garden. Its the people who grow the gardens that make GrowMemphis such a success. Theyre all volunteers, she says. There would be no GrowMemphis without volunteers. The gardens are almost exclusively managed by volunteers in their communities. Those volunteers include people of every age, ethnicity, economic background and skill set. A large percentage of them are teenagers and senior citizens. I think teenagers are just naturally inquisitive. They want to learn. And the senior citizens have time and knowledge that they want to share, she explains. The need for volunteers doesnt end with the summer. Theres a common misconception that the farms stop growing during the winter. Thats not the case here. We grow produce seasonally, but hoop houses in the gardens mean that we can

Spicy Greens Soup2 tsp. olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 large bunch of mustard, collard, and/or turnip greens, chopped into bite-size pieces 1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated 1 tbsp. soy sauce tsp. cayenne pepper 2 qts. chicken or vegetable broth or water Salt and pepper to taste lb. cooked chicken breast, cubed (optional) tsp. hot sesame oil (optional)

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes or until the onion is beginning to become translucent. Add the garlic and continue cooking for 2 minutes. Add the greens, ginger, soy sauce and cayenne pepper to the cooked onions and garlic. Stir to combine, cooking until the greens wilt and soften, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the greens have reached your desired tenderness. If desired, puree until smooth. If you would like, add the chicken the last 5 minutes of cooking to heat through. For extra spiciness, drizzle hot sesame oil (available at Asian markets) over the soup just before serving. grow year-round. So theres never a time when we dont need volunteers, Williams says. The gardens and volunteers grow more than vegetables. They help to build community. They instill a sense of pride in the gardeners. And they become a place where the people who come together can learn about something that is not often a part of the urban landscape. We all need to at least know how to grow our own food, Williams says. These gardens teach skills. They help the people who work in them develop a relationship with the natural world. People become better stewards of the environment when they learn where things come from.



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Local restaurant supports farmers market in kitchenFreshness at the top of menu for Millington chefBy Felicia BenamonSpecial to My Life

An array of fresh vegetables lay sprawled out on the prep table as executive chef Elio Aguila of Neighborhood Bistro in Millington explains how he would use each in succulent dream dishes he whips up daily. I want to do something unusual on the plate, he said. When he makes weekly trips to the newly opened Farmers Market in Millington, Aguila always looks for colors, unusual local produce such as hybrid baby squash and sprite melon. For him, attention to detail, quality and freshness is everything when he creates a dish to tantalize your palate.

With the fresher product, you will get all the nutrients that you wouldnt otherwise get from the store, said Executive Chef Elio Agulia. He buys produce, eggs and more for Neighborhood Bistro from the newly-opened Millington Farmers Market.

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These are specialty items you mentioned that when care and cant usually get from a big concern is taken to select from the company I usually get something finest fruits and vegetables from the (at the market) that catches my Farmers Market and incorporate eye, he said. I am keeping it them into menu items, guests within the community remember you for doing that. supporting the local growers. Chef Elio loves to experiment With the fresher product, you will with different edibles. He said the get all the nutrients that you baby eggplant he picked up from wouldnt the Millington otherwise get Farmers from the store. Market is small Store produce and versatile has been enough to be handled, bruised stuffed with and more than goat cheese and likely contain basil. It makes pesticides, he for a good added. appetizer. Aguila noted Freshness, that local taste, and five farmers usually Catfish Louisiane, consisting of a star quality try to keep to a tender catfish filet atop spinach food is what natural way of and mushroom in white wine sauce encourages the growing their community of is one of Chef Elios signature food, and if they dishes and a crowd favorite. At Millington to do use push Neighborhood Bistro, all of Chef pesticides, its Neighborhood Elios dishes are prepared fresh. not as potent as Nothing is pre-made, he said. Bistro to the the major top. The producers. restaurant To my knowledge, most of our earned best overall in show, best growers (at the Millington Farmers entre, and friendliest restaurant Market) dont use pesticides, said at the recent Taste of Millington Toni Holt of Holt Farms. event. The Neighborhood Bistro, known For more information on booking for garnering numerous awards in your special event, or enjoying a the Memphis area, incorporates the lovely evening with a freshest ingredients in their foods. Mediterranean feel, contact the People know more today about Bistro at 873-0200. cuisine than ever before and will Felicia Benamon is a freelance writer pay for quality, said Aguila. He and photographer.



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Study: Organic strawberries healthier than conventionalBy Robin ShreevesMother Nature Network

Many people buy organic foods because they believe organic foods have higher nutritional values than their nonorganic counterparts. Researchers at Washington State University wanted to find out if these consumer beliefs were accurate. They tested both organic and conventional strawberries grown in 13 side-by-side California fields. Here are a few of their findings:

The organic strawberries had significantly higher antioxidant activity and concentrations of ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds. The organic strawberries had longer shelf life. The organic strawberries had more dry matter, or, more strawberry in the strawberry. Anonymous testers, working at times under red light so the fruit color would not bias them, found

one variety of organic strawberries was sweeter, had better flavor, and once a white light was turned on, better appearance. The testers judged the other two varieties to be similar.Robin Shreeves blogs about finding eco-friendly food options at mnn.com/featuredblogs/sustainablefood.

Sustainable agricultural practices go to collegeBy Amanda LillyMcClatchy-Tribune News Service

Its not just talk. While many environmental idealists imagine a world where our nations food industry is socially responsible and produces natural and nonartificial goods, Bon Appetit Management Co. actually fulfills this vision. To ensure that their efforts continue to make an impact, the on-site restaurant company is bringing

awareness about food sustainability to an environment that is sure to foster such a philosophy in the future college campuses. Serving 35 colleges and universities, as well as several corporate and specialty venues across the country, Bon Appetit acts as both a model of a large-scale sustainability company and an educator for the people it caters to. With the prevalence of industrial agriculture today, education about environmentally

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friendly food practices can help encourage younger generations to translate them into their own lives, says Beth Gentry, general manager of the Bon Appetit caf at Colorado College. With college, its the first time most kids leave the house, Gentry said. Theyre fresh for lifestyle choices and are trying to figure out their world view. Bon Appetit helps students experiment with their own models of sustainable agriculture through its student-run gardens. Summer interns sit down with chefs from the company in the late winter to learn about sustainable harvesting and the business side to running a farm. These students then devote their summers to managing that plot of land, and then selling their produce to chefs at Bon Appetit and local farmers markets. The students know they have a market through us, Gentry explained. Having these farms ensures the cause continues. At Colorado College, the students farm is actually in the presidents backyard. It extends over an acre and includes an orchard that produces fruits like apples, peaches and plums. They also have free-range chickens and grow a wide variety of vegetable crops. The students and chefs also work very closely with local farmers, the people they consider to be the backbone to a sustainable future. For instance, each year Bon Appetit hosts an Eat Local challenge, held this year on Sept. 28, where its chefs can make meals only with ingredients that come from within a 150-mile radius of the caf. Gentry says it provides a clear example of how sustainability can be done. For information, visit bamco.com.

What items around the house can be toxic to toddlers?By Chanie KirschnerMother Nature Network

Q: A while back, you wrote an article about toxic household cleaning products. Im trying to baby-proof right now and Im wondering besides cleaning products, what else is around my house that could potentially be toxic to my kids? Great question. There are so many things that we use every day that we dont even think about being bad for us. Some cleaning products are an easy choice right off the bat, but what about everything else? Thats where my (expert) advice comes in. Alcohol. This doesnt just include those bottles of Jack Daniels in your liquor closet (though I really hope youve locked those up and keep them locked up till your wee one graduates college). There are so many potentially harmful household products that contain hazardous amounts of alcohol. Nail polish remover, shoe polish, and heres a biggie



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hand sanitizer. I keep my hand sanitizer at every point of entry in the house during cold season, but this stuff should really be kept out of the reach of small children. Hand sanitizers contain 60 to 65 percent ethyl alcohol, which means that a little sip from that attractive-looking bottle could actually make your toddler drunk. Air fresheners. A study released by the National Resource Defense Council in 2007 showed that many commonly used household air fresheners actually contain phthalates, a chemical that has earned a bad rap for being linked to certain cancers and developmental abnormalities. . Why not try a more natural way to freshen the air? ) A little baking soda will usually help rid a surface or an area of offensive odors. Batteries. Make sure not to leave batteries (especially button batteries, you know, like the ones in watches, some remote controls and singing cards) lying around where kids can reach them. They may seem relatively harmless and even fun to play with, but if swallowed, batteries can cause harmful or even fatal results. On the plus side, now you have a great reason to stay away from those annoying singing cards in the first place. Pesticides. When I was growing up, we had the exterminator come to our house once a month. Hed walk around the house with his spray can. To me, it looked like the Tin Mans oil can, but hardly as benign; this one contained toxic pesticides. Unfortunately, pesticides are just as harmful to your own bottletoting critters as they are to those manylegged critters youre trying to get rid of. For natural pest control, try keeping your floors and countertops squeaky clean. Finally, see your house through the

eyes of a toddler. Better yet, crawl through your house. Then youll really be able to see everything in your house from their vantage point. Move anything out of reach that can be harmful if swallowed. In the bathroom, this means toothpaste, mouthwash and of course, medicine. In the bedroom, this means cosmetics, deodorant and lotion. Many of these everyday items can contain potentially harmful chemicals. I learned this lesson the hard way when I thought the spray bottle of cleaner on the bathroom counter was high enough for my toddler not to reach that is, until I found him standing on the toilet sucking on the spray nozzle like it was a straw. Also, make sure theres no peeling paint anywhere in the house either, as paint chips can look oddly delectable to a toddler. Follow this list, use your own common sense, and you will be able to relax, knowing your house is now safe for your little one to explore.Submit a question to Mother Nature (mnn.com/askmothernature?destinationadvice) and one of our many experts will track down the answer.

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Green in between

Detroit alley is first to get eco-friendly makeover

Brandy Baker/The Detroit News

DETROIT A trash-strewn alley with potholes and constant flooding has become Detroits first green alley. A stretch of alley in Midtown now is eco-friendly and sports permeable concrete, brick pavers and plants. A sewer upgrade and energy-saving lighting also are part of the project. Before the improvements, the trashstrewn alley flooded often and had potholes. Often an alley is a visible representation of the worst of a city but this

project was intended to create a model for sustainable alleys of the future. Once with trash, broken pavement, overgrown weeds and neglected sides of buildings, it is now a vibrant greenway for pedestrians and bicyclists to enjoy the gardens, shop at local businesses or gather with neighbors. Associated Press For more on the Green Alley Project, visit greengaragedetroit.com/index.php?title =Green_alley



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Last major U.S. factory making incandescent light bulbs closesBy Katherine ButlerMother Nature Network

The Clean Air Act: Forty years youngThe Clean Air Act, the foundation of our nations efforts to clear pollution from our lungs, is now 40 years old and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is using the occasion to tout its achievements. They are impressive. Since 1970 the emissions of the six most common health threatening pollutants have been cut in half nationwide. Toxic compounds from chemical plants, petroleum refineries and paper mills have been reduced by nearly 70 percent, and car exhausts are nearly 90 percent cleaner. The U.S. EPA also provides estimates on the health consequences of its rules and clean air standards, including the prevention of 205,000 premature deaths. Much of the attention these days is paid to whether the Clean Air Act is really the law that should be used to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases linked to climate change. As Congress debates competing bills, the agency is currently putting together its own plans and regulations that would install those limits on cars, trucks and power plants. Spencer Hunt, The Columbus Dispatch

But as the Washington Post reports, one unintended consequence is the contribution it makes to the continuing erosion of U.S. manufacturing. As companies transition over to making CFLs, local plants close and jobs are moved out of the country. The cost of making CFLs and other new technologies is much cheaper abroad. As the Post reports, CFLs must be twisted into a spiral, a task which requires more manual labor. This is cheaper in China. Many of the innovations for greener light bulbs originated in the United States. The CFL was invented by GE engineer Ed Hammer in the 1970s after the energy crisis. Then Ellis Yan streamlined their production. Yan brought their assembly back to China, where labor was cheaper. As Yan explained to the Post, he would consider bringing his production to the United States even

though it would add 10 percent to the cost of doing business. This is due to the fact that consumers have a desire for goods made in America. This is cold comfort for the workers at GEs Winchester, Va., plant. Workers at the plant, worry that they will be unable to find new positions. Many express grievances with the government. Despite promises that the move to green technologies would result in more manufacturing jobs, the government has allowed most of the contracts to go overseas. . President Barack Obama addressed this issue in a speech Aug. 16. Obama said, When new batteries to store solar power come off the line, I want to see printed on the side, Made in America. When new technologies are developed and new industries are formed, I want them made right here in America. Thats what were fighting for. But for the workers in Winchester, Obamas wishes may come too late.

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Do your part for our four-legged friendsBy Terri BennettMcClatchy Newspapers

Anyone that knows me knows I love animals! Over the years Ive had cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs. Add in a few lizards, countless fish and even a few frogs and you can see why my house is called the zoo. My pets are like family, so I am always mindful of the products that I buy to care for them. Since the dogs and cats get free run of the house, Im even more careful about the chemicals used in their products. Fortunately, its easier than ever to find eco-friendly alternatives that are equally as effective and will reduce your exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals. Flea and tick treatment is the most obvious place to start. Collars, sprays and topical applications are often made with dangerous pesticides that

Comstock

Make smarter choices when buying products for your four-legged friends. Youll be keeping potentially toxic materials away from your pets, your family and our environment. can rub off on humans. Oral flea treatments for dogs and cats are the safer alternative. If you notice fleas, wash bedding in hot soapy water and vacuum the home weekly to remove eggs and larvae. Use a powder or shampoo with all-natural diatomaceous earth to kill fleas on pets. You can control flea populations in your yard and garden with microscopic worms called nematodes, which can be



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found at many garden centers. Dog shampoo is another place where potentially dangerous chemicals are lurking. Some shampoos are made from petroleum-based ingredients and can irritate skin, create rashes and cause cancer. Over years, those toxins can be absorbed into your pets skin and into the skin of the person doing the dog washing. Then the toxins go down the drain, polluting the water supply. A much better choice is biodegradable shampoos free from coloring, preservatives or fragrances. For the felines its all about the kitty litter. Avoid using clay-based clumping cat litter that contains sodium betonite. Tiny silica dust particles can cause lung disease or worse in humans and respiratory or digestive problems in cats. There are many other options that are better for you, your cat and the planet. Litters made from used newspapers, reclaimed wood chips or even whole-kernel corn are easy to find. If you need help battling odor you can also add a layer of baking soda to the bottom of the litter pan before filling. Its inexpensive and nontoxic. Baking soda is also great for removing pet odors around the home. You can freshen up carpets or pet bedding by sprinkling a little on and letting it set for 15 minutes before vacuuming. And when the inevitable accident happens, reach for nontoxic vinegar to clean up the mess. Its a natural disinfectant that costs pennies on the dollar compared with other cleaners.Terri Bennett is a TV meteorologist, syndicated columnis, and host of DoYourPart.com, where you can find everyday green living ideas that are better for you and the planet. Send questions to [email protected].

MEATLESS MONDAYS

Spinach Artichoke Pita PizzaArtichoke hearts and fresh baby spinach top a whole wheat pita round coated with pesto. These pita pizzas quick to prepare and can be made in your toaster oven. This recipe comes from Jen of Appetite for Conversation.Basic basil pesto: 1 /2 cup well-packed basil leaves 1 /6 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 1 /8 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground 1 /8 cup Parmesan cheese, grated For the pizza: 1 round piece whole wheat pita bread 1 tbsp. pesto 1 /2 cup fresh baby spinach, washed 1 /2 cup artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped 1 /4 cup part-skim mozzarella, shredded 1 tbsp. parmesan cheese, shredded Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

To make the basic basil pesto: Place the basil, olive oil, garlic, black pepper and Parmesan together in a food processor. Process until smooth and set aside. Spread the pesto on the pita bread round. Save the leftover pesto in the refrigerator and use as a spread or dip. To complete the spinach artichoke pita pizza:Top the pesto pita with the spinach, artichoke hearts, mozzarella and parmesan. Season with black pepper. Place the pita pizza into a toaster oven or under a preheated broiler for about 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the artichoke hearts begin to turn golden brown. Serves 1.

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Ahmad Massoud/Associated Press

Afghanistans reserves of iron, copper, cobalt and gold and other strategic minerals are estimated at $1 trillion. However, mineral wealth doesnt necessarily lead to peace and prosperity for a country.

BETTER OFF GREENLoss of natural resources contributes to instability, conflict in developing countriesBy Anthony ZinniMcClatchy-Tribune News Service

Recently the Department of Defense reported that the value of Afghanistans reserves of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and other strategic minerals approached $1 trillion. Some have started calling this financially strapped nation the Saudi Arabia of lithium. Even Zimbabwe, one of the poorest countries in the world, could vault into the top ranks of the worlds diamond producers, according to a United Nations announcement. It sounds so hopeful, yet in fact we see very few examples of nations where mineral wealth has led to peace and prosperity.



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Instead, gold and other rare minerals in Congo have helped to finance that regions longstanding conflicts. Oil drilling in Niger has enriched politicians while creating few jobs for local people. And Sierra Leones diamonds have funded a violent national crime syndicate. If developing nations are looking toward natural resources as a way to help break the cycle of poverty and conflict, their hopes may not be misplaced. But they could be looking at the wrong resources. A recent study by the Center for a New American Security examined how environmental degradation, poverty, migration, conflict, weak societal institutions and failed states form a feedback loop. It found that loss of natural resources, such as forests, fresh water, fish and fertile soils, can play a significant role in driving instability and conflict. In fact, possessing green wealth may contribute more to peace and prosperity than gold, diamonds or lithium. Environmental degradation by itself, of course, doesnt automatically lead to conflict, for the linkages are complex. But ample evidence indicates that the desperation, hopelessness and displacement of people that can come from exhausted green resources can encourage conflict and even failed states. According to an analysis by the United Nations, at least 11 violent struggles since 1990 have been fueled in part by the degradation of forests, fish, water or soils. While these connections are usually ignored by the media, environmental decline has played a role in several conflicts critical to U.S. interests. For three reasons, protecting green wealth in the developing world offers far greater potential for peace and

prosperity than exploiting mineral resources. First, access to the economic benefits that environmental resources provide is far more broadly and democratically shared than that of minerals, which are typically controlled by a single entity. Second, protecting the environment requires cooperation, participation and openness. Its no surprise that in some of the worlds most autocratic countries, many of the only open institutions are local forest councils and water boards. And finally, mineral stocks eventually run out, encouraging a gold rush mentality that defeats longer term considerations. Green resources, however, can keep on giving if used thoughtfully and shared equitably. Its no surprise that the handful of developing countries that decided years ago to take a development path preserving their environmental resources have experienced higher economic growth and greater social stability than their neighbors. Conservation-minded countries like Costa Rica and Botswana have also been islands of peace in regions otherwise wracked by conflict. The new scholarship on conservation and security also contains lessons for the United States: Serious environmental degradation has the potential to undermine our security, economic and political goals in many regions of the world. The lesson is being taught to us in Afghanistan, Somalia and many other places, if we care to pay attention: Its harder to win over hearts and minds when the environment has already been lost.Anthony Zinni is a retired four-star Marine general and a former commander in chief of the U.S. Central Command. Contact him at [email protected].

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House OKs loans for rural energy efficiency

Legislation passed by the House authorizes the spending of $993 million over five years to cover the cost of a loan program that allows rural homeowners to borrow $3,000 to $7,500 to make upgrades to their homes for energy-efficiency.By Jim AbramsAssociated Press

WASHINGTON Rural homeowners could get loans of about $3,000 to $7,500 to make their homes more energy-efficient under legislation the U.S. House passed this month.

Democrats, who sent the bill to the Senate on a mainly party-line vote, said the loan program would promote construction jobs, boost American manufacturers and help bring down rural energy costs. The bill authorizes the spending of $993 million over five years to cover the cost of the program, although



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supporters said it would be paid for through repayment of the loans. Under the legislation, the Agriculture Department would make zero-interest loans to rural electric co-ops, which in turn would make loans to qualified consumers at interest rates not to exceed 3 percent. The loans would be repaid over 10 years on the consumers utility bills, with savings from the energy upgrades covering much of the cost. The chief sponsors of the bill, House Democratic Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina and Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Va., said more than 90 percent of the materials used in the program caulking, hot water heaters, sealants, windows and doors are made in America. The program, dubbed Rural Star, is part of a series of bills that House Democrats are promoting to help manufacturing and keep jobs in America. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the initiative would create as many as 40,000 jobs a year in the construction industry. The measure also includes a loan program that Republicans succeeded in stripping out when the House passed the Home Star energy efficiency program last May. Home Star, also known as Cash for Caulkers, would make many homeowners eligible for thousands of dollars in rebates for carrying out energy-efficient renovations to their homes. The Home Star bill has yet to be considered by the Senate. Republicans contended that the Rural Star duplicated an existing Department of Energy program to help families weatherize their homes. I dont see the need for another program, said Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, top Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Trane offers new courses on green building requirementsLA CROSSE, Wis. Building design professionals, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professionals, can fulfill continuing education now required to maintain green building credentials through new courses offered by Trane. As a U.S. Green Building Council Education Provider, Trane has developed courses to allow LEED professionals to more easily stay competitive in the sustainable building industry. The courses are also approved by the American Institute of Architects and offer architects technical education on HVACrelated design. The courses qualify as health, safety and welfare and sustainable design continuing education learning units. Trane is offering courses free of charge to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability through heating, ventilation and air conditioning principles. Courses are available at trane.com/continuingeducation. Participants can earn an average of 1.5 continuing education hours per program. The automated process allows users to view the 90-minute programs, take an assessment quiz and, upon successful completion, receive a certificate that documents Green Building Certification Institute information needed to self-report participation. Each course includes handouts, presenter biographies, bibliographies and topic-related resources to help fulfill self-study requirements.

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