16th November, 2011 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The Statesman had this article that I saw yesterday but didn’t have time to post. It’s about a project approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality despite the objections of the Texas Railroad Commission and “every state and local official representing Montgomery County, and in spite of an administrative law judge’s recommendation to deny the permit because the well might pollute groundwater.” The article goes into a lot of detail about the backers of the project, who are Perry contributors, and what that may have had to do with approval of the project. The article states:
“These guys are used to getting what they want — you want a project to go through, you donate,” said Rebecca Kaiser, a Conroe-area homeowner opposed to the project. “It’s scary to think that this is going to end up doing something to our drinking water.”
Perry’s presidential campaign opponents have criticized him for “crony capitalism,” the appearance of a pay-to-play culture that gets favorable state government treatment for his campaign donors. Perry also has been criticized for state environmental regulation that appears to put business ahead of environmental quality and safety.
The article goes on to say:
The TexCom project became controversial not just because it was a waste injection well. It was an injection well in the old Conroe oil field where hundreds of oil wells had been drilled since the 1930s, potentially puncturing deep formations where the waste would be injected. Montgomery County homeowners and public officials are concerned that the injection well could pollute the aquifer that provides Conroe and the county with its drinking water.
Check out the whole thing!
13th June, 2011 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
Earlier this year, Austin was a pilot city for the Chevy Volt, and now will be a pilot city for Ford’s first all electric car, the Focus Electric. The comments to this Statesman article about it are entertaining - some are just not very well invormed, but some are honest attempts to figure out the cost-efficiency of buying an electric car that are interesting to read. Check it out!
18th May, 2011 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The City of Austin has released a new map which shows the locations of a ton of places giving away free food this Friday to those who bike to work. The locations with free food are marked on the city’s map which show safety levels/quality of bike roads throughout the City of Austin, so it is a useful way to plan where you would like to hit up on Friday. KUT has also released their own google map, based on the info that the City of Austin provided, which is a little more user friendly. Check them both out here. Some exciting spots I hadn’t previously realized were on the list include It’s a Grind Coffee Shop, Halcyon, Dolce Vita, Thunderbird Coffee, Mi Madre, and Blue Dahlia Bistro (one of my favorite restaurants in Austin).
25th March, 2011 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
This weekend is the Zilker Garden Festival – you can check out their website here
I’ve never been able to make it and won’t be able to again this year, but it sounds like it could be fun. There is a charge to get in, but they have A flower show, gardening talks (including one on organic veggie gardening), and plants for sale. At 12:30 on Sunday, the owner of the Natural Gardener will be talking about organic gardening, which I would have liked to see- check out the full schedule of talks here.
15th March, 2011 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
Yesterday, in an effort to use up some carrots from our Johnson’s Backyard Garden CSA box, I tried this recipe from the website of JBG:
* 4 large carrots, peeled
* Olive oil
* Kosher salt and black pepperPreheat the oven to 400 F.
Cut the carrots into 2-3 chunks. Cut those chunks lengthwise into quarters (or even eighths if the carrot is particularly large).
Place the carrots on a cookie sheet. Drizzle liberally with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Place in the oven and bake, tossing about half way through, until the edges of the carrots start to caramelize, about 20-30 minutes. Keep an eye on them after 15 minutes to make sure they don’t burn.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly on a pepper towel lined plate
I used about 10 carrots instead and they turned out great. I don’t normally like carrots that much but this was a nice way to prepare them that I will be sure to try again.
To use up the rainbow chard and scallions from the CSA box, I sautéed the scallions in 2 tablespoons of butter for about 4 minutes (until they got a little brown) and then added about 2 cups of rainbow chard with the stems removed, plus about 1/3 cup of cream. I cooked this on medium till the chard wilted down a little (about 2 minutes) and added 1/2 cup of mozzarella and some pepper, and then served this on some pasta. It was an easy quick way to use up the chard, and the scallion flavor was really nice.
pasta and carrot fries
10th March, 2011 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
I just saw this now – it’s Electric Vehicle Day today at the Capitol from 8:30-1:00. You can test drive the Volt, 2 Ford models, the Tesla Roadster, and the Prius. There will also be breakfast sandwiches and coffee from P. Terry’s till 10AM, what I assume will be free. Click on the link for more info.
4th November, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
Today City Council voted to expand recycling requirements that will require roughly 4,000 more properties to recycle by 2015. The Statesman has this story about the vote, and here is an excerpt:
The City Council just unanimously passed new rules that will require about 4,000 more properties to recycle by 2015.
As we explained in a story this morning, the city currently requires large apartment complexes and offices to recycle four materials and two materials, respectively.
The new rules will require all apartment complexes, condos, private dorms, offices and institutions, including hospitals, nonprofits and day care facilities, to recycle six materials by 2015. The materials are mixed paper, cardboard, plastics #1 and #2, aluminum cans and glass.
The rules will be phased in, with bigger multi-family and commercial properties having to comply in 2012 and 2013 and smaller properties having to comply in 2014 and 2015.
You can read a past post about me complaining about Austin’s poor apartment recycling here, and a post about how much better Portland’s apartment recycling is here.
8th October, 2010 - Posted by katherine - 3 Comments
This article on the research states that:
The amount of food wasted each year by Americans represents the energy equivalent of 350 million barrels of oil, or about 2 percent of the nation’s annual energy consumption, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Texas say it takes the equivalent of about 1.4 billion barrels of oil to produce, process, package, and transport a year’s worth of food in the United States – between 8 and 16 percent of the nation’s total energy consumption.
Sad that we are using so much energy to produce/package/transport food we don’t end up using!
29th September, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The Austin Business Journal has an article today about Car2go, which states that:
The Austin Smart car rental program has reached 10,000 registered members, the company announced this week, saying it had reached a major milestone four months since launching.
Since the start of the Car2go operations, more than 80,000 rentals have been completed throughout the greater downtown Austin area with average use between 30 and 60 minutes per rental. The customers range in age from college students to retirees, with about 50 percent between 18 and 35 years old
Read more from the ABJ here: Austin’s Car2go reaches 10,000 members – Austin Business Journal
If you are interested in the Austin car2go program, check out this link.
23rd September, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The Austin Chronicle has a few articles this week about updates on the Austin Climate Protection Program. The article notes that the Director of ACPP, Ester Matthews, had hoped to accomplish more this year toward reaching the 2020 goal, but the department lost some employees and also didn’t have as big of a response to its new carbon footprint calculator as expected. However, the article notes the following accomplishments for the 2009-2010 year:
Check out the Austin Chronicle for more details
20th September, 2010 - Posted by katherine - 2 Comments
There’s not a lot of local environmental news that I’ve been able to find today, but I did hear this interesting story on NPR this morning: “Biotech Battle: Are Genetically Engineered Fish Safe?” The article notes that today the FDA is having a meeting in Washington about whether to approve the ”first genetically engineered animal for human consumption — a fast-growing Atlantic salmon.” The article explains that one environmental issue raised is:
[W]hat will happen if these salmon escape from fish farms into the wild. People are concerned about whether they would mate with wild fish, out-compete them for food or irreversibly change their habitats.
There’s also a debate on what labeling would be required:
[Jeff Black, the chef and owner of BlackSalt seafood market and restaurant in Washington, D.C.] prides himself on knowing his fish purveyors well, and where their products come from and how they’re raised. He sells both farmed and wild fish, but he’s not a big fan of farmed fish. He says many fish farms dump their waste into the ocean.
“I would love it if we didn’t sell any [farmed salmon] but the reality is that salmon is the No. 1 selling fish,” he says. He couldn’t keep up with demand otherwise, he says.
Black is concerned that he doesn’t have enough information about genetically engineered salmon and that the FDA seems to be rushing forward.
He’s also worried that consumers won’t have a choice.
“It should absolutely be labeled, and the public should be allowed to make their own decision. In the restaurant industry, we have what’s called truth in menu. And truth in menu requires me to tell the truth about the things I’m serving,” he says. AquaBounty should be held to the same standard, he says.
In the documents it released before the meetings, the FDA says because the flesh of the genetically engineered salmon is essentially the same as traditionally raised salmon, a new label is not required. However, the agency is planning a hearing Tuesday to hear from the public regarding the labeling.
Check out the story to see a crazy picture of how much bigger the genetically engineered salmon is compared to the wild salmon.
16th September, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The Statesman had an article yesterday stating that TCEQ and the EPA were meeting yesterday for negotiations over Texas’ air pollution permit program. Here is an excerpt:
In a meeting scheduled for this afternoon at the North Austin headquarters of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the two sides will present a draft compromise that carves out a way for refineries and large manufacturing facilities to voluntarily give up broad permits issued to them by the state for potentially more stringent permits acceptable to federal authorities…
At issue has been whether industrial plants that had been operating under broad, so-called flexible permits awarded years ago by the state ought to be subjected to more precise, stringent permits. The flexible permits set facility-wide emissions limits, leaving regulators in the dark about how many gases particular parts of the plant are belching into the air.
Hopefully we will know later today the results of the negotiations.
23rd August, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
A while ago I wrote about the new solar powered parking meters that the city of Austin has been installing around the city. It was exciting this weekend to see them in person on Brazos near 10th street!
11th August, 2010 - Posted by katherine - 1 Comment
KUT has this story today about efforts in Austin to build affordable net-zero developments. One such effort is a mixed-income development called SOL in East Austin. Homes in SOL are affordable, subsidized by the city to match owner’s income, and “net-zero” energy capable. There are also plans in the works for an entirely affordable, net-zero subdivision is Guadalupe-Saldana, also in East Austin. The article notes that “In 2015, the city’s goal is that all new single-family homes will be able to make net-zero.”
27th July, 2010 - Posted by carsi - No Comments
My friend Melissa sent me the link to this healthy recipe from the New York Times. I like quinoa recipes (see here and here), and I love pretty much anything with avocado, so I knew this would be a winner. This was a very easy recipe with simple, seasonal ingredients–I found the tomatoes, cucumbers, and jalapeno at the farmer’s market! I didn’t use the onion or cilantro, but the vinegar, jalapeno, and lime juice provided enough flavor to go around. This is a nice summery dish, served hot or cold.
1 cup quinoa
3 cups water
Salt to taste
2 cups diced cucumber
1 small red onion, finely minced (optional)
2 cups finely diced tomatoes
1 to 2 jalapeño or serrano peppers (to taste), seeded if desired and finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, plus several sprigs for garnish
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 avocado, sliced, for garnish
1. Place the quinoa in a bowl, and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes. Drain through a strainer, and rinse until the water runs clear. Bring the 3 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add salt (1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon) and the quinoa. Bring back to a boil, and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until the quinoa is tender and translucent; each grain should have a little thread. Drain off the water in the pan through a strainer, and return the quinoa to the pan. Cover the pan with a clean dishtowel, replace the lid and allow to sit for 10 minutes. If making for the freezer, uncover and allow to cool, then place in plastic bags. Flatten the bags and seal.
2. Meanwhile, place the finely diced cucumber in a colander, and sprinkle with salt. Toss and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Rinse the cucumber with cold water, and drain on paper towels. If using the onion, place in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water and drain on paper towels.
3. Combine the tomatoes, chiles, cilantro, vinegar, lime juice and olive oil in a bowl. Add the cucumber and onion, season to taste with salt, and add the quinoa and cilantro. Toss together, and taste and adjust seasonings. Serve garnished with sliced avocado and cilantro sprigs.
13th July, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
Tomorrow at 6PM there is a free class at Casa de Luz put on by the Natural Epicurian (a new cooking school in Austin). Here’s the class description:
Enjoy a free cooking demo (and sampling!) presented by a graduating culinary program student and a lecture / information session about Macrobiotics presented by a senior staff member. Learn how food affects your health and emotions and how a clearer understanding of dietary choices can bring you optimum health and maximum vitality.
Register here
6th July, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The Statesman had this article yesterday, which states that
A Texas official said Monday that tar balls from the Gulf oil spill have been found on state beaches, becoming the first known evidence that gushing crude from the Deepwater Horizon well has now reached all the Gulf states.
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said two crews were removing tar balls found on the Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston Island on Sunday.
“We’ve said since day one that if and when we have an impact from Deepwater Horizon, it would be in the form of tarballs,” Patterson said in a news release. “This shows that our modeling is accurate. Any Texas shores impacted by the Deepwater spill will be cleaned up quickly and BP will be picking up the tab.”
1st July, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
I recently received the following email from the Austin Sustainable Food Center about four AmeriCorps*VISTA positions:
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Sustainable Food Center is currently seeking applicants for four AmeriCorps*VISTA positions: three to assist with the Sprouting Healthy Communities project and one to assist with the Grow Local program. Applications will be accepted through July 16th, 2010. Please see the job descriptions below, and feel free to distribute widely.
Sprouting Healthy Communities Project
Americorps*VISTA Position
Overview
Sustainable Food Center (SFC) cultivates a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. Sustainable Food Center is hiring three (3) individuals through the Americorps*VISTA program of the Corporation for National and Community Service to organize school-based teams to plan and implement comprehensive health programming. SFC’s Sprouting Healthy Kids project is a farm-to-school and food-systems education initiative that includes incorporation of locally grown fresh foods into school cafeterias, plus in-class and after-school gardening and cooking educational activities. Marathon Kids is a free six-month endurance building running/walking and nutrition program for K-5th public, private and home-schooled children and their families. We are looking for a dynamic, bilingual, relational individual to organize community members in schools and neighborhoods for a Sustainable Food Center/Marathon Kids partnership project. Monthly living allowance and end-of-service stipend or education award provided through the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Position Description
The VISTA will work through underserved middle and elementary schools in Austin to develop, support, and facilitate school wellness teams consisting of parents, teachers, and community leaders. VISTA will lead the teams in the planning and implementation phases of a comprehensive school and community-based nutrition program, with a focus on local food systems efforts such as local food in cafeterias, community and school gardening, healthy cooking classes, and the Marathon Kids physical activity program. Candidate must be fluent in Spanish and pass a written and oral fluency interview.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have an ability to relate to and connect with individuals and groups within the communities in which the work will be done. Candidate must be fluent in both English and Spanish, and must be able to commit to the Americorps*VISTA terms of service. The ideal candidate will have community organizing skills, a familiarity with school settings, and knowledge of farm-to-school, community gardening, and healthy cooking. Bachelors degree preferred, but appropriate experience may be substituted. Applicants must be able to inspire school, neighborhood, and parent stakeholders to commit to building a program that addresses the fitness and nutrition needs of the community.
Primary Functions
· Meet with potential leaders from among school stakeholders (current district and school program leaders, teachers, parents, neighbors, pastors, homeowner association members, other community organizations, etc.) to identify those who will lead the nutrition/fitness program that includes elements of Marathon Kids and Sprouting Healthy Communities.
· Organize planning and training sessions with wellness teams on healthy food efforts, local food systems projects and physical activity programs.
· Applying SFC resources to provide support and monitoring for school and community programming activities.
Compensation
Sustainable Food Center is an equal opportunity employer; women and people of color are encouraged to apply. This is a full-time (40 hours per week), one-year position. Members of AmeriCorps*VISTA are eligible for a: living allowance of $11,232 per year, health insurance, childcare assistance, student loan deferment, and, upon completion of the program, a choice of a $4,725 education award or a $1,200 cash stipend.
Application Instructions
To apply, email resume, cover letter, three references, and a Spanish/English writing sample (1 page) to Andrew W. Smiley, Projects Director, andrew@sustainablefoodcenter.org. Interested applicants MUST also apply through AmeriCorps at https://my.americorps.gov/.
Resumes accepted until July 16, 2010. Position begins August 2, 2010.
Additional organization info: www.MarathonKids.org and www.sustainablefoodcenter.org
Americorps VISTA info:http://www.americorps.gov/about/programs/vista.asp
Grow Local Education Coordinator
AmeriCorps*VISTA Position
Overview
Sustainable Food Center (SFC) cultivates a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. SFC’s Grow Local program offers the resources and education to enable children and adults in Central Texas to develop skills in organic food production, as well as an understanding of the importance of local food production for the health and well-being of themselves, their families and community, and the environment. We are looking for a dynamic, bilingual individual to help SFC incorporate the Citizen Gardener gardening and volunteer program and create a train-the-trainer educational program that will enable us to provide more Basic Organic Gardening classes (in English and Spanish), Community Garden Leadership trainings, and School Garden Leadership trainings in low income communities and throughout Austin.
Position Description
The Grow Local Education Coordinator AmeriCorps*VISTA will create a class management system that integrates Citizen Gardener trainings and restructures SFC’s existing classes into a train-the-trainer program. The VISTA will also assist with implementation and administration of these classes and trainings, as well as assist with the development and implementation of trainings for class facilitators.
Key Responsibilities
· Conduct recruitment and registration of participants, including outreach to low-income communities
· Carry out translation of class materials into Spanish
· Create and implement system to track volunteer hours for Citizen Gardener program
· Assist instructors during classes and trainings
· Process class surveys and carry out other class follow-up activities
· Organize graduation events
· Assist with development of facilitator trainings and materials
· Develop and implement system to recruit and retain facilitators
· Assist newly-trained facilitators with completion of apprenticeships
· Assist with delivery of gardening resources to Grow Local program participants
Qualifications
· Bachelor of Arts or Sciences
· MUST be bilingual (English/Spanish)
· Excellent written and oral communication skills in both English and Spanish
· Ability to work effectively with diverse populations
· Ability to work independently and as part of a team
· Must be organized and detail oriented
· Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office
· Knowledge and experience with food gardening preferred
· Ability to work a flexible schedule
Compensation
Sustainable Food Center is an equal opportunity employer; women and people of color are encouraged to apply. This is a full-time (40 hours per week), one-year position. Serving as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member, you are eligible for the following: living allowance of $11,232 per year, health insurance, childcare assistance, student loan deferment, and, upon completion of the program, a choice of a $4,725 education award or a $1,200 cash stipend.
Application Instructions
To apply, email resume, cover letter, three references, and a Spanish/English writing sample (1 page) to Sari Albornoz, Grow Local Co-Director, at sari at sustainablefoodcenter dot org. Interested applicants MUST also apply through AmeriCorps at https://my.americorps.gov/.
No phone calls, por favor.
Resumes accepted until July 16, 2010. Position begins August 2, 2010.
To learn more about Sustainable Food Center, go to: www.sustainablefoodcenter.org. To learn more about VISTA, go to www.americorps.org/about/programs/vista.asp.
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Sounds like a great position for a recent high school or college graduate to apply for! I did Americorps Teach for America in college and it was the best job I’ve had so far- a very positive experience!
25th June, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
Saturday, June 26 10am-noon
Free Seminar: Rainwater Harvesting
Come enjoy a free seminar concentrating on capturing rainwater and lowering water usage in your landscape. This session will teach you all the basics on building a non-potable rainwater harvesting system. In addition, lower your water usage by learning about rain gardens which capture valuable rainwater in your landscape. Vendors representing tank and gutter companies will be available to answer specific questions. City of Austin representatives will be available to answer permit and rebate questions.
More info at www.tcmastergardeners.org
The Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts, one of the first whole-food and plant-based cooking schools in the United States, is hosting a grand opening celebration at its new location, 1700 S. Lamar, on Saturday, June 26. Cooking demonstrations, food tastings, tours of the new facility, and door prizes (!!!) are on the menu.
Our new state-of-the-art teaching kitchen is fully wired with digital capability for recording and broadcasting cooking classes. Public cooking classes are scheduled to begin at the new location in July. The summer schedule features a variety of courses for new and experienced cooks, including Conscious Cooking Beginner Series, Introduction to Macrobiotic Cooking and Lifestyle, Raw and Living Foods, and Healthy Foods Your Kids Will Love.
“A partial lunar eclipse will be visible across much of North America early Saturday morning, according to the editors of StarDate magazine. As Earth’s long shadow falls across the moon, the part in the shadow will turn dark. It will look as though a chunk were missing from the moon.” (UT News)
The eclipse should be visable around 5:17 AM on Saturday morning.
24th June, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments
The Statesman reports that “In a resolution the City Council will vote on today, Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Council Members Chris Riley and Mike Martinez ask city staffers to determine the cost to taxpayers of processing plastic bags in the waste stream. It appears that they want to build an economic case, rather than simply an environmental one, that the bags are bad for Austin.”
Additionally, “As part of the city’s new One Green Step program, which asks residents to make simple changes to reduce their carbon footprints, some council members want to carry out three “green steps” in city buildings: setting printers, “where practicable,” to double-sided copies; changing the default font on city computers to Century Gothic, Ecofont Vera Sans or other “ink-saving” fonts; and looking into the cost of software that can automatically convert faxes to e-mail to save paper.” The council will vote on these changes today.
