At the White House yesterday, first lady, Michelle Obama, broke ground on a 1,100 sqft kitchen garden for growing. This really resonates with us at Wonderland Gardens especially with our community gardening and CSA.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/20/kitchen-garden-tips-be-li_n_177480.html
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Arabia Mountain Heritage Area
Arabia Mountain Heritage Area is located within a 20-minute drive east of the City of Atlanta and encompasses land in DeKalb, Rockdale and Henry County. The natural, historical and cultural resources prevalent in this area of Georgia provide an exceptional opportunity for recreation, environmental education and heritage preservation.
The nucleus of this heritage area is Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve; a DeKalb County Park comprised of 2,000 acres of granite outcrop, wetlands, pine and oak forests, streams, and a lake.
The Arabia Mountain Heritage Area has so much to explore. unique plant and wild life, thousands of years of human history and spectacular geological formations. Find out about what you can see go to the website http://www.arabiaalliance.org/index.html
The nucleus of this heritage area is Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve; a DeKalb County Park comprised of 2,000 acres of granite outcrop, wetlands, pine and oak forests, streams, and a lake.
The Arabia Mountain Heritage Area has so much to explore. unique plant and wild life, thousands of years of human history and spectacular geological formations. Find out about what you can see go to the website http://www.arabiaalliance.org/index.html
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A Head with a Heart (President & CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)
Check out what President and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Paul Levy may have found an alternative to layoffs. The auditorium response after his suggestion erupted in applause...thunderous, heartfelt, sustained applause.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/12/a_head_with_a_heart/?s_campaign=yahoo
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/12/a_head_with_a_heart/?s_campaign=yahoo
8 People or Trends to Watch
Always a great source for information, Wired Magazine, has a great article on 8 people or trends to Watch -> http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.05/trends.html
Clean Energy Corps
Here is a cool link, http://www.greenforall.org/what-we-do/working-with-washington/clean-energy-corps, to the Clean Energy Corps and their mailing list. The Clean Energy Corps is a bold, innovative idea for matching up the people who most need work with the work that most needs to be done.
Solving the economic and environmental crises is a long-term project. As we work to ensure the Recovery Package creates green jobs for those who most need work in our communities, we are also keeping an eye on the long-term.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
America is addicted to foreign oil
It's an addiction that threatens our economy, our environment and our national security. It touches every part of our daily lives and ties our hands as a nation and a people.
The addiction has worsened for decades and now it's reached a point of crisis.
In 1970, we imported 24% of our oil. Today it's nearly 70% and growing.
Oil prices have come down from the staggering highs of last summer, but lower prices have not reduced our dependence on foreign oil or lessened the risks to either our economy or our security.
If we are depending on foreign sources for nearly 70% of our oil, we are in a precarious position in an unpredictable world.
In additional to putting our security in the hands of potentially unfriendly and unstable foreign nations, we spent $475 billion on foreign oil in 2008 alone. That's money taken out of our economy and sent to foreign nations, and it will continue to drain the life from our economy for as long as we fail to stop the bleeding.
Projected over the next 10 years the cost will be $10 trillion - it will be the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind.
Can't we just produce more oil?
America uses a lot of oil. Every day 85 million barrels of oil are produced around the world. And 21 million of those are used here in the United States.
That's 25% of the world's oil demand. Used by just 4% of the world's population.
Can't we just produce more oil?
Consider this: America imports 12 million barrels a day, and Saudi Arabia only produces 9 million a day. Is there really more undiscovered oil here than in all of Saudi Arabia?
World oil production peaked in 2005. Despite growing demand and an unprecedented increase in prices, oil production has fallen over the last three years. Oil is getting more expensive to produce, harder to find and there just isn't enough of it to keep up with demand.
The simple truth is that cheap and easy oil is gone.
But America is focused on another crisis: The economy.
All Americans are feeling the effects of our recent downturn. And addressing this problem is the top priority of our nation. This is more than bailing out a bank, an insurance firm or a car company. The American economy is huge and has many facets.
To make a real and lasting impact we must seek do more than create new jobs and opportunities today, we must build the platform on which our economy can continue to grow for decades to come.
There is nothing more important to the present and future of our economy than energy. Any effort to address our economic problems with require a thorough understanding of this issue and willingness to confront our dependence on foreign oil and what domestic resources we can use.
It is a crisis too large to be addressed by piecemeal steps. We need a plan of action on scale with the problems we face. That is the spirit in which the Pickens Plan was conceived. The Pickens Plan is a collection of steps that together form a comprehensive approach to America's energy needs.
Check out the Pickens Plan -> http://www.pickensplan.com/theplan/
The addiction has worsened for decades and now it's reached a point of crisis.
In 1970, we imported 24% of our oil. Today it's nearly 70% and growing.
Oil prices have come down from the staggering highs of last summer, but lower prices have not reduced our dependence on foreign oil or lessened the risks to either our economy or our security.
If we are depending on foreign sources for nearly 70% of our oil, we are in a precarious position in an unpredictable world.
In additional to putting our security in the hands of potentially unfriendly and unstable foreign nations, we spent $475 billion on foreign oil in 2008 alone. That's money taken out of our economy and sent to foreign nations, and it will continue to drain the life from our economy for as long as we fail to stop the bleeding.
Projected over the next 10 years the cost will be $10 trillion - it will be the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind.
Can't we just produce more oil?
America uses a lot of oil. Every day 85 million barrels of oil are produced around the world. And 21 million of those are used here in the United States.
That's 25% of the world's oil demand. Used by just 4% of the world's population.
Can't we just produce more oil?
Consider this: America imports 12 million barrels a day, and Saudi Arabia only produces 9 million a day. Is there really more undiscovered oil here than in all of Saudi Arabia?
World oil production peaked in 2005. Despite growing demand and an unprecedented increase in prices, oil production has fallen over the last three years. Oil is getting more expensive to produce, harder to find and there just isn't enough of it to keep up with demand.
The simple truth is that cheap and easy oil is gone.
But America is focused on another crisis: The economy.
All Americans are feeling the effects of our recent downturn. And addressing this problem is the top priority of our nation. This is more than bailing out a bank, an insurance firm or a car company. The American economy is huge and has many facets.
To make a real and lasting impact we must seek do more than create new jobs and opportunities today, we must build the platform on which our economy can continue to grow for decades to come.
There is nothing more important to the present and future of our economy than energy. Any effort to address our economic problems with require a thorough understanding of this issue and willingness to confront our dependence on foreign oil and what domestic resources we can use.
It is a crisis too large to be addressed by piecemeal steps. We need a plan of action on scale with the problems we face. That is the spirit in which the Pickens Plan was conceived. The Pickens Plan is a collection of steps that together form a comprehensive approach to America's energy needs.
Check out the Pickens Plan -> http://www.pickensplan.com/theplan/
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
HIV/AIDS among Youth
According to the CDC, young people are at persistent risk for HIV infection. The CDC HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet (revised August 2008) provides compelling statistics on HIV/AIDS as well as risk factors and barriers to prevention.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/Factsheets/PDF/youth.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/Factsheets/PDF/youth.pdf
Major Challenges Remain for World Food Supply Security
What is overlooked with the world financial crisis is the the rising food prices are preventing more from getting enough to eat each night. The UN estimates that one person in six or nearly a billion people go to bed hungry each night. This is a thought provoking article published on the Voice of America website -> http://article.wn.com/view/2009/03/06/Major_Challenges_Remain_for_Global_Food_Security/Feed Your Kids Fish to Make Them Smarter
I think we have heard this before about diet and smarts. Well, a recent article published on the world news website, indicates that a diet of fish will make your kids smarter is a scientific fact. Check it out ->
http://article.wn.com/view/2009/03/10/Feed_your_kids_fish_to_make_them_smarter/
http://article.wn.com/view/2009/03/10/Feed_your_kids_fish_to_make_them_smarter/
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Identity Theft Humor
With the rising indicences of identity theft, I thought this cartoon from Dave Carpenter would lighten the mood.
Recession on Track to be Longest in Post War Period
Interesting article talking about the projected duration of the recession.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/08/recession-on-track-to-be-_n_172845.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/08/recession-on-track-to-be-_n_172845.html
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Energy Vampires: Fact vs. Fiction
There has been a lot of talk about how to conserve power in the home by unplugging unused electrical devices. Through this discussion, the concept of Energy Vampires which draw energy even when the devices are turned off has been raised. Here is a good Yahoo article by Lori Bongiorno on the topic that discusses fact versus fiction.
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/50/energy-vampires-fact-versus-fiction.html
http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscious_consumer/50/energy-vampires-fact-versus-fiction.html
Thursday, March 5, 2009
U.S. Economic Stimulus Package Includes Billions for Energy and the Environment
A good article with additional links is on About.Com written by Larry West. Check out the full article, I have dropped the summary of the green provisions in the stimulus package in this post.
Energy Investments
· $4.5 billion for repair of federal buildings to increase energy efficiency using green technology.
· $11 billion for smart-grid activities, including work to modernize the nation’s electric grid.
· $6.3 billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Grants to help state and local governments make investments that make them more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions.
· $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program to help low-income families reduce their energy costs by weatherizing their homes and make our country more energy efficient.
· $2.5 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy research.
· $2 billion in grant funding for the manufacturing of advanced batteries systems and components and vehicle batteries that are produced in the United States.
· $6 billion for new loan guarantees aimed at standard renewable projects such as wind or solar projects and for electricity transmission projects.
· $1 billion for other energy efficiency programs including alternative fuel trucks and buses, transportation charging infrastructure, and smart and energy efficient appliances.
· $500 million to prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy fields.
Infrastructure Improvements
· $4.2 billion to invest in energy efficiency projects and to improve the repair and modernization of Department of Defense facilities, including Defense Health facilities.
· $1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation to provide clean, reliable drinking water to rural areas and to ensure adequate water supply to Western communities affected by drought.
Transportation Improvements
· $8.4 billion for investments in public transportation.
· $1.5 billion for competitive grants to state and local governments for transportation investments.
· $9.3 billion for investments in rail transportation, including Amtrak, high speed and intercity rail.
Environmental Clean-Up and Clean Water Investments
· $6 billion to clean up former weapon production and energy research sites.
· $6 billion for local clean water and drinking water infrastructure improvements.
· $1.2 billion for EPA’s nationwide environmental cleanup programs, including Superfund.
· $1.38 billion to support $3.8 billion in loans and grants for water and waste disposal facilities in rural areas.
Scientific Research
· $3 billion for the National Science Foundation, including $2 billion for expanding employment opportunities in fundamental science and engineering to meet environmental challenges and to improve global economic competitiveness.
· $2 billion to the Department of Energy for basic research into the physical sciences including high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and fusion energy sciences and improvements to DOE laboratories and scientific facilities. $400 million is for the Advanced Research Project Agency–Energy to support high-risk, high-payoff research into energy sources and energy efficiency.
· $1 billion for NASA, including $400 million to put more scientists to work doing climate change research, including Earth science research recommended by the National Academies.
· $600 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for construction and repair of facilities, ships and equipment to improve weather forecasting, support satellite development and address critical gaps in climate modeling.
Energy Investments
· $4.5 billion for repair of federal buildings to increase energy efficiency using green technology.
· $11 billion for smart-grid activities, including work to modernize the nation’s electric grid.
· $6.3 billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Grants to help state and local governments make investments that make them more energy efficient and reduce carbon emissions.
· $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program to help low-income families reduce their energy costs by weatherizing their homes and make our country more energy efficient.
· $2.5 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy research.
· $2 billion in grant funding for the manufacturing of advanced batteries systems and components and vehicle batteries that are produced in the United States.
· $6 billion for new loan guarantees aimed at standard renewable projects such as wind or solar projects and for electricity transmission projects.
· $1 billion for other energy efficiency programs including alternative fuel trucks and buses, transportation charging infrastructure, and smart and energy efficient appliances.
· $500 million to prepare workers for careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy fields.
Infrastructure Improvements
· $4.2 billion to invest in energy efficiency projects and to improve the repair and modernization of Department of Defense facilities, including Defense Health facilities.
· $1 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation to provide clean, reliable drinking water to rural areas and to ensure adequate water supply to Western communities affected by drought.
Transportation Improvements
· $8.4 billion for investments in public transportation.
· $1.5 billion for competitive grants to state and local governments for transportation investments.
· $9.3 billion for investments in rail transportation, including Amtrak, high speed and intercity rail.
Environmental Clean-Up and Clean Water Investments
· $6 billion to clean up former weapon production and energy research sites.
· $6 billion for local clean water and drinking water infrastructure improvements.
· $1.2 billion for EPA’s nationwide environmental cleanup programs, including Superfund.
· $1.38 billion to support $3.8 billion in loans and grants for water and waste disposal facilities in rural areas.
Scientific Research
· $3 billion for the National Science Foundation, including $2 billion for expanding employment opportunities in fundamental science and engineering to meet environmental challenges and to improve global economic competitiveness.
· $2 billion to the Department of Energy for basic research into the physical sciences including high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and fusion energy sciences and improvements to DOE laboratories and scientific facilities. $400 million is for the Advanced Research Project Agency–Energy to support high-risk, high-payoff research into energy sources and energy efficiency.
· $1 billion for NASA, including $400 million to put more scientists to work doing climate change research, including Earth science research recommended by the National Academies.
· $600 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for construction and repair of facilities, ships and equipment to improve weather forecasting, support satellite development and address critical gaps in climate modeling.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Americans everywhere are feeling the recession’s pain
Are you curious as to how your state and every other state is feeling the pain with the recession related to unemployment, state budge deficits, and foreclosures? Check out this cool interactive US map from the CNN Money website that provides this information.
http://money.cnn.com/news/storysupplement/economy/gapmap/
http://money.cnn.com/news/storysupplement/economy/gapmap/
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Serenbe, a community in Palmetto, Ga., plunges into green living
Chicago Tribune article by Dahleen Glanton highlights Serenbe, a community modeled after environmentally conscious Prairie Crossing in Grayslake joins a crop of rural zones going green across the globe in Palmetto. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-green-townmar03,0,1098365.story
A Shrinking Green Dot
A thought provoking article from Jennifer Leber from Journal Watch.conservationmagazine.org on March 3.
The urban jungle could become more concrete and less green as people flock to live in cities at an ever accelerating pace, a study in Biology Letters finds.
Green space in European cities varies widely – from 11 percent in Birmingham, U.K. to 39 percent in Stockholm, Sweden – but few studies have taken a birds-eye view at the data to look for a trend. Analyzing green space, city area size, and population across 386 cities, the authors found that as a city got physically larger, the relative proportion of green turf grew. By contrast, the more densely populated a city, the less access to nature each person had. The result: residents of compact, dense cities most suffered a lack of green in their lives. As governments implement policies to limit sprawl and increase urban density, they could be doing so at a cost to urban biodiversity and ecosystem services, not to mention the social, physical, and psychological benefits of living green. – Jessica Leber
The urban jungle could become more concrete and less green as people flock to live in cities at an ever accelerating pace, a study in Biology Letters finds.
Green space in European cities varies widely – from 11 percent in Birmingham, U.K. to 39 percent in Stockholm, Sweden – but few studies have taken a birds-eye view at the data to look for a trend. Analyzing green space, city area size, and population across 386 cities, the authors found that as a city got physically larger, the relative proportion of green turf grew. By contrast, the more densely populated a city, the less access to nature each person had. The result: residents of compact, dense cities most suffered a lack of green in their lives. As governments implement policies to limit sprawl and increase urban density, they could be doing so at a cost to urban biodiversity and ecosystem services, not to mention the social, physical, and psychological benefits of living green. – Jessica Leber
Rebuild America - Stimulus Funds
The Obama administration has launched a website that details and tracks the spending of all the stimulus funds that is fairly detailed with usage by program and state along with the milestones for distribution and spending. Check it out to see how the money is being spent -> www.recovery.gov
Green Energy Blog
If you are looking for a provocative blog containing threads on green energy, check out the Green Energy Blog run by 1800Blogger.com. http://www.greenenergyblog.com/
Monday, March 2, 2009
New WG videos loaded on website
We have posted two new videos to the site about Wonderland Gardens. The first is a feature on Shelon and the Wonderland story and the other is a Discovery Channel TV Show called Rally Round the House from 2003. Take a look and tell us what you think.
www.wonderlandgardens.org
www.wonderlandgardens.org