Just this month, a new title that dissects women’s involvement in the shift to sustainable farming hit bookshelves. Titled “Farmer Jane: Women Changing the Way We Eat” (Gibbs Smith, 2010), the paperback is an easy and intriguing read, highlighting the like stories of females nationwide in chapters that focus on building new farm-to-eater relationships and networks for sustainable food.

Just as the sunlight lingers farther and farther into the evening hours, the Farmer Jane book release seems to be perfectly in-season. Amid the fireflies and warm early summer breezes, I pored over the pages, the backyard garden a few steps away.

Stories like that of Dru Rivers, farmer at Full Belly Farm, who is inspiring a new generation of earth cultivators through training programs and clever community initiatives, have the ability to nourish the soul as well as the body. But it’s not just Dru and author Temra Costa who are spearheading the female farmer efforts in America. From 2002 – 2007, women farm operators grew 30 percent, leading a bounty of communities, businesses and homes to reconnect with their nutritional sources.

More than delivering satisfying stories, Farmer Jane is a call to action. Advocating social change through gardening at home, shopping the local farmers market, and tax reform on food and farming subsidization, the book details to-dos for eaters, farmers and food business owners and operators, encouraging each of us to do our part to ensure the success of our nation’s farms.  More @ farmerjane.org.

(photo credits:  farmerjane.org; bart nagel and olivia sargeant)

Soft, and well made from 60% recycled material, receive 30% off all RB orders and free shipping throughout the month of May.  Choose from skinny, straight, boot-cut, boyfriend or flare styles.  Enter code MOM2010 at checkout.  Find @ recojeans.com

Brooklyn furniture designer, André Joyau, creates designer home furnishings from reclaimed wood and materials.  I particularly like his Naoki Bed and its headboard made of salvaged, reclaimed beams cut in a repetitive geometric pattern.  Very cool.

With oil spills and pollution infesting the planet’s waterways and oceans, it may be time to think big – challenging the restrictions on what is possible – focus our design and engineering genius – not on drilling for more pollutants far beneath our seas – but on finding new and innovative ways to cleanse the Earth and return it to its rightful, pristine condition.

Faced again this morning with the depressing reality of the Gulf oil spill I thought I’d feature a conceptual design project that envisions technology that could make a positive impact on the world’s environment and waterways.  Physalia, as designed by the French futurist and architect, Vincent Callebaut, is a floating zero emissions amphibious eco structure, powered by renewable energies – creating an inspirational symbol of positive energy and greener technology.  The ship is envisioned passively navigating Europe’s waterways as a floating lab and water cleansing system.

Powered by zero-emissions renewable energy and the flow of the waterway, (sounds kinda sexy, no?) the vessel’s roof would contain a double pneumatic membrane chiseled with smooth photovoltaic solar cells, whilst its hull would feature hydro-turbines to transform the energy of the fluvial stream in hydro-electricity and enable adjustments to the soft navigation.  Physalia’s surface would consist of aluminum, covering a multi-hull steel structure – the silver-plated hull is then covered by a TiO2 layer of Anatase that would react to ultraviolet rays as part of the ship’s water pollution reduction system.

As well as operating as a self cleaning vessel, Physalia is intended to clean the waterways of the pollution created by traditional boats and industries.  Additionally, its double hull is criss-crossed by a hydraulic network that would enable it to filter water channeled from the waterway and purify it biologically via its living, green roof and gardens.

Perhaps through vision and creativity, we’ll eventually achieve positive change and a greener, bluer world, unencumbered by YouTube video feeds of unchecked oil flowing into the once pristine, vibrant oceans.  Back to reality…

vincent.callebaut.org

With things starting to heat up on the weather front (I’m in Florida and it’s hot already) it’s time to take a crack at reducing our summer electric bill.  What follows are some simple green tips that can save you some serious cash this summer.

• Raise that air conditioning a degree or two – and even more significantly if you’re going out for an extended period of time.  Better yet get a programmable thermostat and take control of your indoor climate, room by room.
• During the day, lower those window shades.  You’d be surprised how much radiant heat is generated by the sun.
• As with any time of year unplug, or turn off the power-strips for those sleeping computers, TVs and stereo equipment that are sucking energy up as they sit idle in standby mode.
• Line-dry those clothes.  If you don’t have indoor or outdoor space for a line, simply use hangers to hang up your duds on your shower pole.  Your whitey tidies will smell springtime fresh, last longer, and you’ll save a big chunk on your monthly electric bill.
• Speaking of your electric bill – check what time your off-peak billing cycle begins each day.  By running dishwashers and washers + dryers during off-peak hours you’ll not only be saving your utility company some heavy lifting but you’ll dramatically reduce your bill.

Related:  more green living tips previously on altCon
green tips category

With water at a premium, it’s time to re-evaluate caring for that lush property.  I recently learned that, on average, 50-70% of home water is used outdoors watering lawns and gardens and nearly 85% of all landscaping problems are due to over watering.  Properly designed yards can reduce water use by up to 20% or more each year.

Located in the desert, (above), there’s not a cactus in sight.  A fresh and green, water-hungry lawn is all I see!  Yet with a little ingenuity (below), we’ve got a modern beauty to behold.

Our word of the day: xeriscape!  It’s a sustainable landscape and gardening method that reduces the need for excess water irrigation.  Let’s greet the warm summer season with smarter and greener (no pun intended) yards and lawns.

Xeriscape to grow and maintain an aesthetically beautiful garden.  In addition to the traditional cactus garden, there are plenty of drought-tolerant plants and gardening methods that are easy to implement with the help of your local nursery or Home Depot, and can save you big bucks on the monthly water bill.

Here are some quick to-do’s for your lawns and yards:

• Use mulch around plants, bushes, and trees to retain moisture and prevent runoff
• Plant in the spring or fall when watering is not needed as much
• Use porous materials for walkways and patios to prevent runoff and to keep water in your yard
• Avoid planting on steep inclines or isolated turfs that may be difficult to irrigate
• When choosing plants, try “drought tolerant plants”, particularly perennials, that grow well with LESS water.

Happy gardening!

The vast power of the ocean’s waves presents both a vast opportunity to create electricity and the daunting design challenge of creating technology that can withstand the pounding waves and relentless abuse the ocean dishes out 24/7.

The recent sinking of the Oceanlinx wave power platform off Port Kemba, Australia demonstrates what happens when extreme conditions surpass design specs.  The 70 ton, 2.5 megawatt MK3 wave power generator, which had been officially launched in March of this year, was always intended to be a short-lived prototype and transitional design – just not this short lived.  A series of huge swells battered the installation against a breakwater, eventually breaking moorings and setting the platform adrift.  The extreme weather conditions prevented efforts to tow the platform to calmer waters.

Unlike the recent demise of BP’s Deep Water Horizon oil rig, the sunken Oceanlinx wave power generator poses no immediate threat to the environment or local ships.

releated post on Oceanlinx

• Their PR machine sprang a leak…BP Swamped by Criticism – reuters
• Would you be tempted to protect your biggest client? NYT: Conflict-of-Interest Fears Raised Over Oil Spill Tests – msnbc
• Better Way to Detect Food Allergies - sciencedaily
• Is the medium the message? or This piece of “art” got a mediocre artist this headline…Artist’s Sculpture Shows Polar Bear Eating President Obama’s Head – aol news
• 3 Future Oil Spill Fighters: Sponges, Superbugs and Herders – natgeo
• Is being a blithering jackass Un-American? or Candidate tests the limits of free speech… Criticizing BP is ‘Un-American”: Rand Paul – newser.com

It’s Friday – time to think about looking good and keeping it green.

(above) As seen on Alter Eco donning the Biplane tee, Adrian Grenier is no eco poser (see bleow).  Created by Santa Barbara-based ecozuzu.com; ($46.99) on etsy.com

(above) With truly nomadic roots, originally peddling goods out of a van, nomadshempwear is now based in Nelson, BC – ecofashioning hip and comfy threads from hemp, soy, organic cotton, and a touch of Spandex — for men, women and children. Super comfy and reasonably priced; vegan and fair trade made.  Angel Tank, undies and skirt above, available online  @hornetmountain.com

(above L to R)

Having just sailed through Alligator Alley to reach the suncoast of FL, I find myself drawn to this oversized v-neck tee with an alligator inspired pattern. 50% recycled polyester/50% organic cotton by Generation Love.  It’s a splurge fest, ($80) – find @ generationloveclothing.com

Here’s a spiffy little number with trippy details – the Expedition Dress, 100 percent organic cotton; made in NYC by Samantha Pleet; ($276) @ kaightshop.com

(above R to L)

Manufactured in Canada with a portion of their sales donated to various nonprofits to help raise eco awareness, this distinctly feminine Gazelle dress by lav&kush.com is made of Modal and Spandex, ($156 CAD) available @ mudsharkstreetwear.com.  Or go all Posh (you know, Victoria Beckham); Cape Jacket and Shorts are sold separately, also available @ mudsharkstreetwear.com

So that’s it for today…Here’s to a fun, low carbon impact weekend.

Related:  previously on altCon

2.1.08  13 ways to spot an eco poser

3.2.09  how to spot an eco poser Part Deux

6.1.09  mr happy – a faux green poser