Growing Your Own Organic Garden...
It’s getting a little late in the season, but if you hurry up and plant now, you might get something. Here’s an organic gardening how-to video. Maybe jot down the info about growing stuff in the fall.
Veggies Scarce in Poor Communities
A new analysis of 54 studies in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals America’s poorer neighborhoods have fewer supermarkets selling a variety of healthy foods at cheaper prices and more convenience stores that sell less fresh food at higher prices. Minorities and low-income individuals living near supermarkets consumed more fruits and vegetables, in some areas consumption rose by 32%. Poorer communities are also more likely to have more fast food restaurants; Reuters reports.
In New York City, supermarkets are leaving low-income communities, making it harder for residents to find fresh food. Officials claim 3 million people live in high-need neighborhoods, classified as having too many health problems and too few supermarkets. Lack of healthy food and the glut of fast food joints are fueling alarming rates of diabetes and obesity in poorer communities.
But some people are taking a stand. Los Angeles city officials want a moratorium on new fast food restaurants and other L.A. residents are turning empty lots into vibrant vegetable gardens. Awesome!
Image credit: YOUneak
A Brand New Victory Garden!
Eat the View is petitioning the new president to a replant a large organic garden on the First Lawn with fresh fruits and veggies going to the Whitehouse and local food pantries. In the 1940s, to the support the war effort, Eleanor Roosevelt revived the First Garden and encouraged others to do the same, calling them Victory Gardens.
And now, this uplifting video, The Garden of Eatin': A Short History of America's Garden, tells the story of the Whitehouse garden, from its meager beginnings in the 1800s, when John Adams first planted it, to today’s call to bring it back. I say, go for it Mr. President!
Via CalorieLab.
Image credit: roger doiron
Green-News: Thursday 1.15.08
- Plants are an important part of medicine. And not just to eat! Many drugs are derived from plants, like yew tree, hoodia, autumn crocus and magnolia, all of which help treat cancer. But pollution, over-harvesting, and habitat destruction are threatening 15,000 species of medicinal plants; via DiscoBlog.
- The rainforest houses the world’s largest collection of plants and animals. Scientists call it our heart and lungs, but the Brazilian Amazon has suffered major deforestation, more and more land is being cleared for cattle pastures. In some areas, deforestation has increased by 50% in 1 year; from LiveScience.
- Maybe old people can replant the rainforest! A new study suggests gardening helps older men and women feel better. Researchers claim on most days gardeners meet the recommended 30 minutes of moderate physical activity and in the spring many people spent an hour gardening; Reuters reports.
- A Berkeley, California company wants to farm rooftop vegetables. It involves building hydroponic greenhouses on top of local supermarkets to grow fruits and vegetables and then sell them to the customers below. This could cut transportation and production costs by 80%; via GreenUpgrader.
- And a Japanese firm plans to manufacturer CD and DVD cases with rice-plastic. The composite material is 10% rice and consumes significantly less fossil fuel during production and emits 10% less carbon dioxide than traditional materials, but the hybrid cases are more expensive; from CleanTechnia.
- To cut costs, and save the environment, many schools are going paperless, using digital filing systems and online fliers. No paper allowed. It’s going well! Some school districts claim 95% of students are subscribing to school newsletters online. And, it’s keeping junk out of kids’ heavy backpacks; via ENN.
Image credit: Zanthan Photos
