Saratoga Nutrition
Functional Medicine and Nutrition Historic Roosevelt Baths and Spa Saratoga Springs, NY
When you Support your Body, You Support your Life Here's what people are saying… ͞DĂƌLJ ĞƚŚ ŚĂƐ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ŽĨ ŚĞƌ ƐƵďũĞĐƚ͕ Ă ŶĂƚƵƌĂů ĞŶŐĂŐŝŶŐ ƐƚLJůĞ͖ ŝƐ ǀĞƌLJ ŝŶƐƉŝƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƚĞƐ ĞŶƚŚƵƐŝĂƐŵ ŝŶ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ƚŽ ďĞŐŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŚĞĂůƚŚ ũŽƵƌŶĞLJ͞ ĂƚŚLJ ƌŽƐŬLJ͕ ŚĂƉƚĞƌ ŚĂŝƌ͕ tŽŵĞŶ͛Ɛ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚƐ KƌŐĂŶŝnjĂƚŝŽŶ ͞zŽƵƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ůĞĂĚ ƚŽ ĂŶ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ ŝŶ ŵLJ ŽǀĞƌĂůů ǁĞůůͲďĞŝŶŐ͕ / ŶĞǀĞƌ ƌĞĂůŝnjĞĚ ŚŽǁ ĐƌƵĐŝĂů ŶƵƚƌŝƚŝŽŶĂů ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ŝƐ ƚŽ ŚĞĂůƚŚ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁŚĂƚ ƚƌƵĞ ŚĞĂůƚŚ ĐĂŶ ĨĞĞů ůŝŬĞ͊͟ >ĞŝĂŚ ŽǁĚĞŶ͕ ŶĞƌŐLJ tŽƌŬĞƌ͕ /ŶƚƵŝƚŝǀĞ ƌƚŝƐƚ͕ tƌŝƚĞƌ ͞^ŚĞ ŚĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ƐĞĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƚŚĞ ůŝŶĞƐ ǁŚĞŶ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĞĨĨĞĐƚŝǀĞ ŝŶ ŚĞƌ ĐŽŶƐƵůƚŝŶŐ ǁŽƌŬ͟ DĂƌLJ ŶŶ 'ŽůĚƐƚŽĐŬ D^͕ Z ͕ /ŶƚĞŐƌĂƚŝǀĞ ŝĞƚŝƚŝĂŶ͕ EŝƐŬĂLJƵŶĂ͕ Ez -Treatment of the IndividualLifestyle Breakthroughs/Integrative Health Coaching Workshops, Lectures and more Mary Beth McCue R.D., L.D.N., C.D.N. , www.SaratogaNutrition.com 518.257.6530
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A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Take a stroll down
CHARLTON BEER ALLEY with a wide variety of over a 100 imported and domestic beers...
the best selection in Saratoga County!
OVER 40 FLAVORS of Gourmet Teas
Fresh baked turnovers, cream puffs, mini-cheesecakes, carrot cakes and chocolate chip cookies from locally owned and operated bakeries Handmade Chocolates, over a dozen varieties of peanut butter, variety of local honey, specialty sauces, buffalo jerky and sausage, gourmet popcorn Oversized sandwiches & homemade soups Ethanol-Free Gas! We’ve got MPG - More Power per Gallon! Yes, we have free Wi-Fi
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS BEER TASTING January 27th - Equine Event Guest Speaker: Connie G, Equine Sports Massage Therapist, Ongoing beer tastings – stop by or call for details
WORTH THE TRIP FROM ANYWHERE… WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VISIT! ROUTE 67 COUNTRY STORE & CAFÉ 518-882-7347 1958 Amsterdam Rd. (Rt. 67) Charlton www.rt67cafe.com 4 miles west of Ballston Spa
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On the Cover Annmarie Mitchell is the co-owner and driving force behind Legay Timberframes in Stillwater. She was fortunate to grow up in the early '70's when the opportunities for girls really opened up. Her early forays in shop class gave her inspiration to make things and build stuff. Fast forward thirty years, and Annmarie is making some of the most desirable homes in the marketplace today. Her company, Legacy Timberframes builds beautiful post and beam structures that combine classic wood joinery with modern design and style. Aptly named, Legacy homes are just that, a legacy for the owner and for the land that they sit on. Annmarie is also creating her own legacy as well, as a driving force in the Capital Region Builders and Remodelers Association and founding member of the Professional Women in Building Council. Passionate about local, Annmarie procures her lumber from Adirondack woods, and supports a local team of architechts, contractors and suppliers. She is the embodiment of eco-local living, and we are proud to present her as our first cover for 2011!
DEPARTMENTS
7
News and Views
8
The Wellness Doc
9
Money Matters
10 Ask the Energy Expert 13 The GREEN Designer 34 EcoLocal People
FEATURES
14
The Roosevelt Baths
18
Legacy Timber Frames
22
What’s for Lunch?
24
James Howard Kunstler
30
Thermal Biomass
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Letter from the Publisher Happy New Year 2011! It is becoming more obvious that we are entering into a time of transition - a shift from one era to the next.We read in the history books about past epochs and shifts in societal structure and human understanding. They were times of great tumult, and I've often wondered how it affected the daily experience the average person al;alive at the time. Well, the wondering is over, as we all get to experience this latest epochal change and paradigm shift. The very systems that have allowed our nation to achieve great wealth and prominence are faltering and failing. The great fiat money experiment is completely unsustainable, and its collapse will change everything as we know it. The cheap stuff we take for granted will suddenly become a budget buster. And the expensive stuff? Fugetaboudit! Some say peak oil has arrived, and we cannot expect to afford the ability to operate cars and trucks as we have come accustomed to in the near future. What happens when the just-in-time trucking and inventory system is running late? Are we ready to deal with the passivity that driving will be too damn expensive (along with the rent!)? These are hard questions, and the answers are not easy, nor comfortable. But like it or not, the transition is here, and those who are prepared will weather the storm the best. Beginning to live an eco-local lifestyle is one way to prepare for the coming turbulence. Planting a garden, learning how to preserve it's produce, connecting with local commerce, building your personal network, helping others do the same...these are the steps of empowerment, and sustainability. We've been on this rant for awhile now, and it seems to be getting some attention. That's because living a more localized, connected lifestyle is not only a way to survive the transition, but even thrive! That is why we've been introducing you to some wonderful people in the pages of this magazine over the past couple of years. These are the people who can help you through the transition, because they are already doing the things that will be valuable in the new paradigm. People like Annemarie Mitchell, who graces the cover of this Winter edition. She's not just a home builder, but an amazing team builder and networker. From Beijing to Lake George, she's working it every day. And everyday, someone can smile because they are on Annemarie's team. We've also been introducing you to new ideas in future energy. The transition will mean that we will need to find fuel sources closer to home. In this issue, Robert Millis takes a closer look at an often overlooked local fuel, that of thermal biomass. The first energy source of our region could also be our next energy source. It;s another way of keeping it local! And if all this talk of a transitional time is a little too much to handle, then we've got the answer for you... a trip to the Roosevelt Baths at the Saratoga Spa State Park. Chances are, few of you reading this have experienced the euphoria and vigor of a hot mineral water bath at the Roosevelt Baths and Spa. We are fortunate to have such a treasure in our midst, so consider this your personal invitation to go and check it out. The Saratoga Spa State Park is also an outdoor adventure park this time of year, and winter fun of all kinds is right here in the Capital Region's backyard. Get out and enjoy it today! One transition that is already taking place is in the school lunchroom. Two school districts are experimenting with a novel idea - serving locally-sourced ingredients in the cafeteria. The chicken nuggets and french fries are out; the kale and the broccoli are in! And the kids like it! Tracy Frisch shares with us her experience at the two local schools that are reinventing the lunch menu and loving it. Dealing with the transition will not be easy, but the more of us that are engaging in finding pathways to the new sustainable paradigm, the easier the journey will be. We here at eco-local living are about to embark into our own transition to embrace the new year. Our branding will change to include a more diverse message and audience, taking on the whole of the local living economy. We will be offering a new website and social media engagements, and an exciting 'buy local' promotion that will be introduced shortly. The purpose is to create an integrated network of locally made, locally grown and local independent businesses that you can plug into anywhere in the Upper Hudson Valley (aka Capital Region) and be recognized as part of the IN crowd (hint, hint). It's all about the LOCAL living! Are you IN? - David DeLozier, Publisher 6 ecolocalliving.com
eco LOCAL PUBLISHER / EDITOR / SALES David Delozier 518-858-6866 ecolocalliving.com DESIGN / PRODUCTION Centerline Design 518-883-3872 PHOTOGRAPHY Tom Stock of StockStudiosPhotography.com, Johanna Sophia and Tracy Frisch CONTRIBUTORS Amy Stock,Tracy Frisch, Johanna Sophia, Robert Millis, Harry Moran, Michael Cellini, Karen Totino, Sophie Castro and Mary Beth McCue SUBSCRIBE Eco-LOCAL Living is the free bi-monthly magazine for people choosing to lead sustainable, intentional lifestyles in New York's Upper Hudson Valley. It can be found throughout the region at independent retailers, shops, restaurants and other high traffic locales Visit www.ecolocalliving.com to find a location near you. If you would like to receive a subscription, send $24 along with your name and address to: Eco-LOCAL Media 38 Tamarack Trail Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. If you would like updates and information by email, please sign up at our website. SUPPORT We seek to transform this special region of upstate New York into a local living economy of vibrant towns, productive farmlands and healthy open space. By reading eco-LOCAL, you become part of our cause. But more is needed - we need you to take an active role, by engaging in the commerce that will create the living economy of our future. This magazine is brought to you solely by the advertisers found within. Please tell them you appreciate their support of eco-LOCAL Living. We are all in this together, and we must support each other. Thank you! Every effort has been made to avoid errors and misspellings; however, if you see an error, please accept our apologies. We welcome your ideas, articles, and feedback so that we can give you the best service possible. Eco-LOCAL Living does not guarantee nor warrantee any products, services of any advertisers, nor will we be party to any legal or civil claims or promises. We expect advertisers to honor any claims or promises. We reserve the right to revise, edit and/or reject any and all advertising with or without cause. Liability is limited to the cost of the ad space in which it first appeared for printing errors of the publisher's responsibility or if the publisher fails to print an ad or article for any reason. We reserve the right to edit articles if needed for content, clarity and relevance. Unless otherwise noted, we use the Creative Commons License (in place of standard copyright), which allows anyone to freely copy, distribute, and transmit all content, although it must be attributed in the manner specified by the author or licensor, and no one may use it for commercial purposes, or alter, transform, or build upon it.
News and Views A New Year’s Resolution… breathe! With each New Year, we take a look back on what we achieved and we look forward to new beginnings. As I reminisce about the past, I realize I have come a long way. Not only in my health or my speech, but I have come a long way in my thinking. When I look back, I did realize I'd been holding my breath all my life. Sometimes circumstance is thrust upon us and from that we change either by necessity or by choice. There were many times my body told me I could not do it, and yet a little voice inside me always said I could! I am glad I did not listen to that other voice. It did however make me notice that if my circumstance were different...would I have been here, doing what I do now and doing what I love??? People say that we are put here on God's green earth for a purpose, a dream, a hope or an aspiration. I do believe that as well. I will say that, I also believe that we have to help it along somehow or someway. Ultimately, it is up to us to run with it and make it so. And that is what I did! I sat down one day, knowing I didn't need a reason. I didn't need a new year to come to a resolve. I just needed to make a list, a "bucket list" as it were...AND to start breathing in life!
By Pattie Rakvica my way through it enjoying each moment as they came and to relish the feeling of shear elation as I marked each one off my list.
I will ask you....have you been holding your breath your whole life? Take this opportunity by necessity or by choice to allow this to be your resolution to make your own "bucket list". Think about where you want to go, what you want to see and who you want to be. Our purpose here is to live the best life we can and by doing just that we inspire others to do the same. So what are you waiting for? Don't hold As I took the yellow lined paper and sat and your breath! Get that paper and pencil out stared at it for some time, I thought about what and start writing! I wanted to do. I thought about what I wanted to see and mostly who I wanted to be. As I As always, I wish you peace, joy and a very added to the list line by line...visit Greece, blessed New Year, and don't forget to breathe! speak German fluently and, of course on the Pattie Rakvica is a freelance writer in Saratoga list was to write. As the list grew and the blank County. After a life changing automobile accident lines disappeared, the more I felt I was able to over a year ago she suffered a Traumatic Brain accomplish each of them. Maybe it was the Injury. Pattie has turned to writing where she reflects on life's path and the challenges that face mere fact that I had acknowledged them and her everyday helps her serve as an inspiration to that I had wrote them down. I of course wrote others. Despite significant health issues including it all in pencil because; well to be honest, I can one that affect her speech, Pattie doesn't look back change my mind on a whim. It did not matter if and now works as a Personal Trainer, Motivational the list changed ten times, I knew I would work Speaker, and role model for all to be better and do better so that we may all live life to its fullest.
Another solution will present itself...
By Kathleen Quartararo
That is a line spoken by Qui-Gon Jinn in we thought to be the one thing, THE answer. Kathleen is the Owner of Virgil’s House, 86 Henry Street in Saratoga Springs. Episode I (4th released) of the Star Wars films. What should have been - the only chance! When I heard that response to a seemingly no This perceived solution - GONE FOREVER. Your options are endless, win situation, I was fascinated... & there are hundreds of them! Why oh why do we have the idea that when Fascinated by how surprised I was with his something doesn't work out it is a bad thing? Come in to Virgil’s anytime. answer, and then again, how good it made me Imagine, if instead of feeling miserable, Order any 1 item! feel. Door closes, smile, turn and look for disappointed, sad, angry, resentful, or Hand over this little another one! No pounding or yelling, not an regretful, we just felt relief? Or even piece of paper... ounce of frustration! And not just another hopefulness, or god forbid excitement! Get a 40% or 50% discount. door, but a better one, a righter one, a more You pick. perfectly timed one! That seemed, oh, I don't Why wouldn't we think, “Phew, that was a know, bizarrely confident, as if he already close call!” Then give the knew everything would be fine. He trusted in When the best thing does come along, will we other one the timing of the universe? Huh. Trusting, that see it, or will we be too busy being upset to your friend. ;> our lives are in perfect order, and everything is about what we think we missed or lost out fine. Is that possible? Because here is the on? In a relaxed state of anticipation, with alternative - NO!! IT'S GONE! Everything's the confidence of knowing everything is right ruined! I'm too late! I almost had it! If I had on tract, our eyes are open, our minds are only known! He said no! She won't do it. I clear... our options are endless. Yeah. That should have left earlier. I can't believe they're feels better. all gone. So close. If only… Lamenting what ecolocalliving.com 7
The Wellness Doc By Dr. Dermot Connole Jinks, DC of Adirondack Advanced Chiropractic
In with the Old and Out with New Like many, I am amazed at the speed each new scrape the snow, and I will be able to use an they are influencing social development. The year arrives. I was just 'settling into' 2010 and onboard phone that will respond to my voice - questions I brought to Mom, Dad, brother, - blink -it's gone. Now, I look forward to the so I don't have to dial. sister, aunt, uncle, or neighbor are often new things 2011 will bring. Which answered by computers. More got me to thinking about our and more folks prefer texting to pursuit of 'new' things. talking. As a culture we have an obsession with 'new'. Think about our pension for new clothes, new cars, new phones, new TV's, new computers and the list goes on and on. The accepted logic here is that new is better. But is it always? I remember a time when I got up off the couch to change the TV channel. Now we sit comfortably 'channel surfing”. A couple of months ago I was house sitting for a friend who had three different remotes by the TV. I figured out that the one marked “Bose” controlled the speakers, a second allowed me to flip through the channels (and probably much more, if I knew how to use it) and I still don't know what the third one was for.
As a child I LOVED playing games. I cherish memories of playing hide and seek, learning to skate on a frozen pond, spending hour upon hour shooting baskets at a local playground and having the opportunity to play baseball, volleyball, horseshoes, hockey, lacrosse, golf and many other games. Some where along the line we learned how to put these games into a computer format and a generation is growing up playing tennis and baseball in their The point: in our pursuit of 'new' we often put living room - with much less physical output our comfort first. In fact, most of our new than the real thing. technology allows us to do less… and less. According to the National Center for Health That can have a hidden cost. Statistics childhood obesity has more than The laptop I am writing this article on has tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of internet capability so I can research the stats I obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years share later without visiting the library. The increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in microwave saves time in food preparation so I 2008. The prevalence of obesity among can put more activity into my day. My next car adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased will have equipment installed in it's computer from 5.0% to 18.1%. These trends concern me. system so I won't have to ask for directions, Not only are advances in technology brave the cold to warm the car in the winter or paralleling an increase in sedentary lifestyles
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As a child I remember struggling with mathematics in school. My Dad, who worked two jobs for as long as I could remember to give our family opportunity, would sit down and explain it to me. To this day I find mathematics fascinating and I attribute that, in part, to the time I spent with my Dad working on basic math skills. Today many - maybe most - kids will learn those same lessons through a DVD or online tutorial. In this they will miss spending time, talking with and working through a struggle with a loved one. This may be the greatest cost/loss. In our - Dr. Michael Quartararo, Dr. Todd Defayette, & Dr. Dermot Jinks - work we have found important principles to restore, build and maintain health. These principles find validation health in aligning with the body's natural healing properties. As chiropractors we work toward the reduction and correction of misalignments in the spine commonly called subluxation. Simple and true the body works better when aligned. The level of health will also correlate to diet & nutrition, appropriate exercise, the quality of relationships, and living a full & active life. These are not new ideas - but they have held up over the test of time and - in our personal & clinical opinions - are 'old' treasures.
Money Matters By Harry Moran, CFP® AIF®
Money in Politics As we head into 2011 on the heels of a dizzying and disturbing mid-term election period, I wanted to take a look at a major trend that has been developing which has some very positive implications for investors, voters and consumers. In the first election since the Supreme Court's campaign finance ruling in Citizens United v. FEC, political spending has surpassed old records and taken new pathways, many of them hidden. With the impact of corporate money on the political process now impossible to ignore, investors and tax-payers have a right to expect some degree of transparency and accountability on the part of these institutions. With mutual funds accounting for over $11 trillion of shareholder money, they can be an immensely powerful force for persuading corporations that full disclosure of their political spending activities is truly in their interest, as well as that of their shareholders and other stakeholders. As voters and taxpayers, we deserve to know where our elected leaders’ campaign funds come from. As consumers, we deserve to know how the publicly traded companies we do businesses with spend their money to influence public policy. The Center for Political Accountability, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization formed in 2003 to bring greater transparency and
accountability to corporate political spending, issued a report in December which noted that for the first time, a majority of mainstream mutual fund companies voted “For” or “Abstain” on the Center’s model political disclosure resolution. Previously, the majority of funds opposed this resolution. Since mutual funds hold approximately 25% of all the shares of publicly traded U.S. companies, they of course have tremendous influence on corporate policies.
initiative of the non-profit, nonpartisan Americans for Campaign Finance Reform, has been fighting for public financing of campaigns. Their belief is that no meaningful progress will be made on the economy, health care, energy, education or the environment as long as these interests dominate the political process and that the only way to fix this is to move to a system of public financing of campaigns. They argue that the best way to get big money out of the system is to cut politicians’ dependence on these Last year, the Supreme Court ruled in the contributions. Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission (FEC) case that the government With politicians no longer needing to devote could not ban or limit corporate political so much of their time to securing spending. The position of the narrow 5-4 contributions and then keeping their large majority was that doing so would constitute contributors happy, they would have much limiting free political speech and violate the more time to do the work of the people, no First Amendment. The dissenting minority longer beholden to special interests. argued that allowing corporate money to The statistics are staggering. According to the flood the political arena would further Center, less than half of one percent of damage and corrupt the integrity of the Americans were responsible for 80% of all political process. Given that this is the political campaign contributions. The healthcare and economic landscape we now live in, it industry contributed $825 million to becomes even more critical that we know candidates for federal office from 1990-2008. how corporations are using their very deep Since 1990, the energy industry has invested pockets to influence political decision-making. $500 million in Congressional campaigns. While the current system stacks the deck in Wall St. campaign contributions to candidates the favor of the big money special interest for federal office increased five fold from $60 groups and lobbyists who buy access and million in 1990 to $311 million in 2008. The influence in Washington, the You Street -continued on Page 29
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Ask the Energy Expert By Michael Cellini, Co-founder and Director of Marketing for Adirondack Solar
The Future of Solar in New York Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) SRECs, (or Solar RECs), are certificates that represent clean energy the state. As of 2010, New Jersey has well over 4,000 installed solar generated from a solar electric system. For every 1000 kWh or 1 systems. In just 9 years, New Jersey has become the number 2 state in the country for solar, trailing behind California. With all of these megawatt-hour of electricity produced from installs came local job growth and an increase in tax revenue for a solar system an SREC is earned. These the state. The additional increase of locally produced SRECs are then sold to companies like electricity saves utility companies from rising National Grid, earning the solar system energy production costs and owner an income. The sale of SRECs is allows for better planning. intended to promote the growth of Once solar is installed the distributed solar by shortening the time it costs become fixed. takes to earn a return on the investment. Managing energy in the New York's Renewable Portfolio Standard future will become a big (RPS) is a regulation that requires the State to concern for energy producers increase production of energy from renewable because of increased energy sources. The RPS requires electricity suppliers consumption and rising costs of like National Grid to secure a portion of their fuels like oil, coal and natural electricity from solar generators. The SRECs represent this gas. portion of renewable energy under the RPS. Although solar cannot offer all our New York is on the verge of initiating an SREC market under commercial energy needs (at least the Governor Cuomo. Currently states like New Jersey and current solar technology), it can Massachusetts offer a very lucrative SREC market. Each state offers significantly reduce our addiction to foreign a different value for each SREC. fossil fuels and help curb our carbon footprint. Solar can supply all In New Jersey, the current value of an SREC is worth $640 per MW of our residential needs. And just like National Grid being better able to solar energy produced. If the average residential solar system manage their costs, so to can a homeowner reap the benefits of a produces 8,000 kWh/yr or 8 megawatts of solar energy, then the fixed cost through solar and ultimately make significant earnings. system owner would earn $5,120 in year one. After 15 years, the solar Michael Cellini is Co-founder and Director of Marketing for Adirondack system owner would earn a combined $59,577. For a $14,000* initial Solar. He can be reached at Michael@ADKsolar.com. solar system installation investment, the solar system owner will make $45,577 ($59,577 - $14,000) in profit and save $55,000** in energy costs. The combined Net Value of the solar system is over $100,000 after 25 years. There is no set assigned value to an SREC. Prices are influenced by supply and demand. The supply is determined by the number of solar installations producing SRECs and trading them. The demand is determined by individual state RPS solar requirements and the Solar Alternative Compliance Penalty (SACP) set by the state. The RPS solar requirement represents the number of SRECs that the electric suppliers are required to collect each year. The SACP represents a theoretical maximum value of an SREC, since it is the amount paid per SREC by the electric suppliers if they do not collect enough SRECs. By implementing SRECs in NY, the owners of solar systems will gain significant returns on their investments but additionally, everyone will benefit. In 2001, New Jersey had 6 certified solar systems installed in 10 ecolocalliving.com
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The Green Designer By Sophie Castro & Karen Totino
A ‘Green’ Approach to Renovating a Kitchen While renovating a kitchen is considered to be one of the most rewarding makeovers in your home, it can be both an exciting project as well as daunting. There are many things to consider: will you be changing its size, its lay out, the appliances, the lighting, the wall covering, the flooring? Will you be refinishing or refacing the cabinets, or will you be replacing them? Whether your aesthetic is modern or traditional, there are many eco-friendly materials readily available and design strategies to match your needs. Why choose earth-friendly finishes? In the kitchen, consider the daily interaction between building materials and food preparation, and the amount of time you and family members spend in that one space. The indoor air quality is very important and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, can become two to five time more polluted than outdoor air. Standard new cabinetry, counter tops and paints release toxic volatile compounds for months - and sometimes years, it can be simple to see how this toxicity builds up in our very homes. Most cabinet boxes are made with plywood and particleboard, an inexpensive material made with recycled wood chunks and sawdust. In both however, the resin glue that binds the wood fibers and provides structural strength contains urea-formaldehyde. You can actually The kitchen is for most of us such a central smell it every time you open your new place, the heart of the home, the cabinet doors or drawers. headquarters, the work center – where we Formaldehyde is known to be a carcinogen gather on a daily basis, where favorite family and to leak out into the very air we breath recipes are shared with the people closest to and live in day after day, causing eye, nose us, from the little ones running around our and respiratory irritation. Some people are feet to our oldest and dearest family and highly allergic and can get sick to the point friends. Modern kitchens are much more than where they won’t be able to live in a room a place where we prepare and eat food, they that contains plywood or particle-boardare a symbol of who we are and how we live made furniture. our lives. And so they need to be functional and uplifting – two words that will mean There is only a few companies committed to different things for different people, fabricating their cabinet boxes with a nontoxic soy-based adhesive (a formula called according to our individual needs.
PureBond). In addition, some will also give you the option to select plywood panels that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Considering it safety, PureBond panel’s cost is remarkably competitive with standard formaldehyde construction hardwood plywood. They can also add points to your LEED green building certification. And most importantly, they will not off-gas and make you sick. One of these makers is Executive Cabinetry. Located in South Carolina, they have been using waterborne, eco-friendly stains and paints on their cabinets for the last 15 years. They also offer cabinetry using formaldehydefree adhesives and FSC-certified woods. They are a member of the US Green Building Council and have earned the Greenguard’s children and schools certification for the lowest chemical emissions possible. Their extensive selection of cabinetry, door styles, stains and finishes will be soon available locally at Green Conscience Home & Garden. Another source of toxic emissions comes from most common counter top materials. There is now an exciting variety of materials made with recycled paper products, sand quartz, glass, cork, which are great environmental choices for durable, non-toxic, resource efficient counter tops. We will discuss these options in the next issue. The interior design of your kitchen is not only the reflection of your family’s personality and taste, it also must be efficient, inspiring and safe. Karen Totino & Sophie Castro own Green Conscience Home & Garden, 33 Church St, in Saratoga Springs (tel: 306--5196). Green Conscience is a retail showroom that offers a variety of nontoxic and eco-friendly home improvement products. Sophie Castro is an interior designer who specializes in green and environmentally friendly solutions. For more info, email: Karen@green-conscience.com or dayaadesign@yahoo.com.
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The Roosevelt Baths and the Healing Waters
A Hidden Winter Gem Story by David Delozier, photos provided
Long before Saratoga Springs was famed for its horse racing; it was known for it's natural mineral springs, which attracted visitors from far and wide. Thousands of people from all over the world continue to visit Saratoga Springs - year round - and take the plunge into the refreshing effervescent mineral waters.
million dollar “face-lift” renovation, is a Top 10 New York State Green Destination and just celebrated its 75th anniversary this past summer. It has received the designation of an “Eminence Green Spa” for implementing sustainable practices such as installing high efficiency lighting, recycling awareness and waste reduction.
The Roosevelt Baths and Spa, in the Saratoga Spa State Park -(the building in back of the Hall of Springs Restaurant) - offers everyone the opportunity to “take the waters” as well as partake in an array of other services such as massage, facials, manicures, pedicures, hair styling and the progressive services of an integrative nutritionist. The eco-friendly Roosevelt Baths and Spa has a new multi-
If you think that visiting the spas is a summer-only affair, think again. The springs are far enough underground they are not affected by the ambient temperature and therefore can be used year-round. The mineral water is drinkable and maps at the city's Visitor Center will guide you on a tasting tour of 13 springs, 7 of which are within Spa State Park. The 2,100-acre state park is open for
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snowshoeing, skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, hiking, cross-country skiing and more in the winter months, and the tasting tour can be enjoyed while doing most of these activities. The Park recently bought a new trail groomer, which lays down both ski and skating tracks. There are approximately 3 miles of groomed trails on the golf course. It is best to start skiing on these trails at the warming hut (parking provided) and head south. Maps are at the Administration Building. Spa Park also offers two skating rinks. The Victoria Pool rink is used for figure skating. The rink at the Warming Hut is for hockey. Snowshoes can be rented at the Administration Building for $5 /pair for 1/2 day, or $10 for full day.
At the end of your play, stop in the Bath house for a comforting steam, warming bath & /or revitalizing message. Warm mineral baths are drawn in private rooms at the Roosevelt Bath House ($25-30) and may last for approximately 40 minutes. Since the springs are naturally cool, the water is heated to bring the temperature to a warm comfort level, which will keep the carbonation at its peak. Steam rooms are included. Walk-in appointments are available, but it is recommended to schedule treatments. Relax in newly renovated relaxation room, read or nap by the fire, or just contemplate while sipping warm medicinal tea. On your way home, pure fresh ground water is available 24/7, at the pavilion across from the car museum in the park. The Saratoga County springs are the only naturally carbonated mineral springs east of the Rocky Mountains. The waters could be from 50 to a few hundred feet underground in a layer of dolomitic limestone. Cracks in the shale above the limestone is what allows the creation of the gaseous water and pressure to be released to form natural springs. The waters are a rich source of calcium carbonate, (along with many other minerals), a remnant of the shallow tropical ocean floor that once covered the area. Originally the springs effervesced naturally from the ground. Today they are pumped through fountains (for drinking, spraying on ones body) and pipes (for bathing). The natural springs of Saratoga were considered to be sacred by local Native Americans. It was the Iroquois who are said to have originally used the water's restorative properties. British soldier Sir William Johnson was the first white man recorded to have experienced the springs when he was taken to the “great medicine spring,” today known as High Rock Spring, on High Rock Avenue, to treat a war wound from the French and Indian Wars.
with inflammatory and non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases, chronic low back pain, and fibromyalgia. The effects of pressure and temperature on nerve endings as well as the resulting mental relaxation may play a role in the pain reduction. There is more evidence about the healing qualities we have learned about from the many years of research provided to us from world hydrotherapy expert Dr. Les Moore, a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist who directs The Clifton Springs Hospital Integrative Medicine Center and Spa, in Clifton Springs, NY. His center provides “health care that nurtures the body, mind, and spirit with the goal of promoting wellness and health.” The services are a combination of alternative and complementary therapies, including the historic mineral baths, with conventional Western medicine.
Dr Moore has lectured with the Roosevelt's Functional Medicine and Nutrition Dietitian, and local native, Mary Beth McCue RD, CDN. She sites information from the Roosevelt's website, and that which is in Dr. Moores' research that support the healing properties of the mineral waters. In general, mineral waters support preserving the body by way of “anti-aging effects.” McCue explains that the unique natural chemical characteristics support metabolism and the detoxification process, which occurs in every cell of the body. The waters contain a lot of negative ions, which promote feelings of physical and psychological well-being. More specifically, Saratoga waters have shown to increase hydrostatic pressure and blood circulation in the body, as well as cell oxygenation. “This oxygenation supports energy production, antaging and more, and is a large part of
Hydrotherapy, or the use of water to heal, is a treatment that has been utilized throughout time worldwide. Historical figures of the ancient world such as Aesculapius, Hippocrates, Galen and Celsius are said to have used hydrotherapy as a significant part of their therapeutic regimen. Roman literature cites several classes of thermal and medicinal watersulphur, alum, bitumen, alkaline and acidicwhich are similar to classifications used today. Many experts state that Hydrotherapy is beneficial in reducing many chronic bodily conditions such as with the pain associated ecolocalliving.com 15
McCues' work in the practice of Functional Medicine and Nutrition. Increased blood flow helps dissolve and eliminate toxins from the body and helps nourish organs and tissues, aiding in “cleansing” - including eliminating heavy metals from the body. “I had several common chronic conditions diagnosed by a nationally known Functional Medicine MD, which included metal toxicity. All conditions have almost completely resolved. I follow a specific diet, and nutrient plan, which supports eliminating toxins - including metals. Metals were measured as very high in my blood, as they are said to be in many people.” The Roosevelt Baths is really the perfect place to defrag from a long work week, or soothe those sore muscles from an afternoon of outdoor adventure on the Spa Park's ski and snowshoe trails. A hot bath or deep tissue massage in this idyllic setting of legendary healing is the perfect remedy for chasing away the winter blues. If you have never visited the Roosevelt Spas and Bath, perhaps now is the perfect time to “test the waters” and enjoy one of the many services offered. Not only will you experience a piece of history, but you may enjoy the relaxation and find the insight into your health that you have been looking for. Be sure to visit www.rooseveltbathsandspa.com as well as www.saratoganutrition.com.
SARATOGA SPA STATE PARK offers a wide variety of walking and hiking trails. The flat and mostly gentle terrain of the Park offer easy walking. Stream-side trails have much to offer the naturalist or casual hiker. Dogs are allowed on trails on leash only. For the Winter trail user, Spa Park offers many miles of groomed and ungroomed trails to crosscountry ski or snowshoe. Winter use trail maps are available at the Park Office. For additional information visit www.saratogaspstatepark.org. CANDLELIGHT SKI AND SNOWSHOE: Friday, February 4th 6-8:30pm Families are invited to enjoy an evening at Saratoga Spa State Park’s free candlelight ski and snowshoe event. In addition to a one-mile candlelit loop, the park will be offering ice skating and hot food and drinks. Snowshoes will be available to rent. This event will take place at the Warming Hut. Please call Alli Schweizer at (518) 584-2000 Ext. 116 for more information. SNOWSHOE RENTAL: Get outside and enjoy the winter at beautiful Saratoga Spa State Park! The park has snowshoes available for all ages and sizes. Snowshoe rental is daily and ongoing throughout the winter months. Rental is $5.00 per person for a half day, $10.00 per person for a full day and $25.00 per full day for a group of up to four. 16 ecolocalliving.com
Mary Beth McCue created Saratoga Nutrition several years ago to expand Functional Medicine (FM) and Nutrition in the Saratoga and surrounding areas. Today, there is enhanced local impact of this discipline, evidenced by “ a local medical center that recently hired a FM physician as Chief of Medicine,” she notes. Mary Beth works in conjunction with her clients' Primary Care Physicians (PCP), and with experienced FM physicians so that she can provide the full range of care her clients may seek. She chose to work at the Roosevelt Baths because she was inspired by, and found synergies in, the history and timeless healing qualities of the waters, and of working in harmony with the biochemistry of the body.
medical school in their biochemistry classes - it is just not referred to as FM”. Since the mid 90s, Mary Beth has maintained her professional credentials by continuing education and training with Institutes such as Harvard School of Complementary Medicine, Duke Integrative Medicine and The Institute for Functional Medicine where she acquired clinical certification which, at the time, only 70 US dietitians held. Mary Beth has provided development and counseling for internationally known programs at Canyon Ranch and Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.
She contends there are no financial or educational boundaries with client demographics: “I see As an overweight teen, she was drawn to learn people from all walks of life. The commonality is about health and nutrition, leading to a 5-year that they are connected and listening to their degree as a Registered Dietitian (RD). She worked bodies. They persevere in finding someone that in Health Care for over a decade in all areas of helps resolve, rather than cover up, their health clinical nutrition, while creating many programs in issues. “ McCue sees her job as helping people corporate, community and educational systems. identify the unique story of their body, the cause She has excelled in non-conventional program and effect of conditions and then offering development, one example of which was solutions to resolving them. They learn how to accepting the appointment under her take care of their health, their body and their LIFE. organizations' CEO to create an Integrative Health “A clients' goal could be to get off meds, to lose Care Program, a rare appointment granted to weight, to have more energy, to resolve digestive dietitians. Today, this program continues its problems or ANY common chronic conditions. success. “She also helps clients with insurance Mid-career, when health challenges led her to reimbursement for her services through nutrition seek care within integrative and functional coverage; or by a sliding scale payment if clients medicine, she was initially diagnosed with 17 initiate this with her. common chronic conditions. This led her not only Functional Nutrition supports creating vital health into a personal health, but a professional by working in harmony with the body, mind, and transformation as well. “Functional medicine is energy of an individual; simply because nutrients often sought by individuals that are dissatisfied affect everything in the body. They rebuild at all with traditional care providers, looking for levels. “I see these results all the time with my answers and solutions to their health challenges clients,” which is why I love this work. which, in some cases, have not been supported in Mary Beth is in the process of joining with a years”, states McCue. “Many are told their Functional Medicine MD, and formulating a conditions are in their head. I can honestly say I network of local FM practitioners. have never seen this to be true.” She also explains that FM is, by no means, new medicine. Submitted by: Mary Ann Goldstock MS, RD, “The first Functional Physician I saw - from Integrative Nutritionist, Cornell 1985, Hunter Harvard - told me that MD's actually learn FM in College Graduate School 1989
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Strength and Longevity
Legacy Timber Frames Story by Amy L. Stock
Photos by ´stockstudiosphotography.com
she studied Interior Design in Montreal. After college, she returned back to the Saratoga area, where she grew up. Her first job was as an Interior Designer for a timber frame company. That company, Kaatskill Post and Beam, eventually went out of business. She and her business partner, Dan Roseberger bought the company, which became Legacy Timber Frames. Dan was a subcontractor and knew the field side, and Annemarie knew the joinery and aesthetic. However, in such a new and small shop like theirs, everybody did everything. Said Annemarie, “I was in the field for about ten years; I still run the shop. Co-owners Annemarie Mitchell and Dan Dan runs the field.” Roseberger have both been working in the A Traditional 'Green' Efficient Option building industry for over 20 years. As the only girl in her middle school class to take What differentiates timber frame construction 'shop class' instead of home economics, from regular construction is the unique and Annemarie has “always been interested in specialized attention to the frames. how things go together”. After high school, Commented Annemarie, “We bring the tool to The term timber frame invokes a variety of images: post and beam, timber column homes, Adirondack style, or perhaps an 800 year old temple in China or Japan. Timber frame is a traditional form of building construction utilizing timber posts and beams. According to Annemarie Mitchell, co-owner of Legacy Timber Frames, the strength and longevity of a timber frame structure is what makes it truly a more environmentally sustainable structure and extremely long lasting (multiple generations), thus 'Legacy Timber Frame' is a befitting name for the business.
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the timber. All our tools are hand operated. We do true timber framing, it's a type of post and beam construction, all the connections are done with joinery and oak pegs.” According to Annemarie, the advantage of timber frame construction is that everything is point-loaded, this allows you to get a lot of expansion - allowing such things as cathedral ceilings. The point-loaded timber frame also means there are no load-bearing walls in the center of the house. This provides a lot of flexibility with the floor plan. Post and beam is one of the oldest forms of building construction. Said Annemarie, “I was in China last year in a building built in the 7th century using post and beam. This was a temple still being used today.” Timber frame buildings are noted for their longevity, like the building Annemarie was in, “they last
significantly longer than ordinary construction; timber frame buildings are engineered to last 100's of years.” Legacy Timber Frame constructs predominantly residential structures, though they do some commercial work. Their structures are both long lasting, and highly energy efficient, making them an excellent 'green' option. Residential Legacy Timber Frame's residential structures are custom-designed and built. They use a variety of local woods, primarily white pine and eastern hemlock, which are harvested and purchased from local saw mills. Their team of expert carpenters specifically trained in timber frame construction, prepare and cut the timber to size, which are joined using the oak wood joint pegs. These structures are extremely long lasting and durable. The homes are typically constructed using SIP's (structurally insulated panels.) The SIP's form the walls of the home - these 'panels' are made from a rigid foam insulation and provide extremely high energy efficiency (typically an R37 in the roof and R29 in the walls). The SIP's also have no studs, so there is no thermal conduction or heat loss through the studs, as is the case in standard Cost residential construction. “The SIP's are air Typical of custom-built homes, cost is varied tight and thermally tight with the only holes and completely dependent upon the design, being the windows.” style and materials used. “We can be Legacy Timber Frames works with a number comparable with conventional built homes,” of architects who have expertise in timber said Annemarie. She added that most of their frame design. Their business currently customers seek timber frame construction focuses solely on constructing the frames and because they understand their advantages: panels. They can provide customers with longevity, energy efficiency, and of course, the information on local general contractors aesthetic. “Our clientele typically are more (electrical, plumbing, flooring, etc). Though, concerned with efficiency and longevity.” as an Interior Designer by training, She added that they have built many homes Annemarie is well qualified to work with where customers put their priority in the homeowners to ensure the aesthetic and timber frame and panel construction, and if quality they are seeking in a home is reached. they're on a budget, chose to save costs in other areas, such as lower-cost sink, faucets Commercial Legacy Timber Frame's commercial work is or other interior elements. extremely varied, often done in concert with An Active Member standard construction. Recently, their in Building Trade Groups commercial work has included a number of As a woman working in the construction entryways or other individual spaces which are trades, Annemarie is very active in a variety of part of a larger building. “The aesthetic of building trade groups. She is a member and timber frame is becoming very popular,” Board Member of the Capital Region Builders commented Annemarie. They just finished a and Remodelers Association (CRBRA), and project for Sienna College which included co-chair and one of the founders of the timber frame construction in public areas of Professional Women in Building Council, an new dorms. They also recently completed the affiliation of the CRBRA. Encouraging and entryway of the Comfort Suites in Lake George. assisting other women in the building and
remodeling fields is one of her passions. As a woman in the building trades, she feels very fortunate, “I think being a woman in this field is an asset. As one of the few women, I've gotten a lot more attention, and men in the industry are extremely helpful. Also, women tend to be the decision makers (when it comes to how they want their homes built.) I tend to listen to them.” And this makes for satisfied customers. Started just a year ago and with 33 members strong, the Professional Women in Building Council is focusing their efforts on educating and empowering women, both in the building trades and the general public. Their first-ever showcase mixer will be held at the Hyatt Hotel in Malta on February 8, 2011 from 5-7pm, with members showcasing their businesses. They will also be sponsoring four separate classes, all open to the public, designed to teach women basic carpentry skills, including such topics as 'using power tools and safety', 'sheetrock, taping and painting', and others. They hope these classes will help increase the volunteer base of several local organizations that focus on building homes for those in need, including Rebuilding Saratoga and Habitat for Humanity. ecolocalliving.com 19
Through the CRBRA, Annemarie is also an ambassador to the Green Resource Group. The group, consisting of members of the CRBRA, meets once a month to discuss new products and topics related to green building, providing members an opportunity to exchange information and educate themselves on the latest trends and products. Green Resource Group members include builders, suppliers, architects, designers - anyone involved in the construction industry and interested in 'green' building. The group also provides educational information and talks to the public. Timber Frame, a Specialized Trade Timber frame construction is definitely a specialized niche. According to Annemarie, there are approximately 400 businesses nationwide that build timber frame structures. Through the Timber Frame Guild of North America, individuals working in the industry have the ability to network and receive training and attend conferences to share knowledge. According to Annemarie, this type of joinery requires a level of knowledge and engineering of construction most contractors wouldn't have. “There is a learning curve involved here.” Given the limited number of timber frame companies nationwide, combined with national advertising, their website, and attendance at home shows, Legacy Timber Frame has the fortune of a broad customer reach. They've built homes throughout the northeast and Midwest including Florida, Michigan, Delaware, Maryland, Illinois and New Jersey. “Everything we do is pre-made. We cut the frames here, and bring the cut frames to the site and install them.” With over 100 homes built in the area, Legacy Timber Frames has the knowledge and expertise to move their business forward. According to Annemarie, she sees 2011 as a “great year”, with several homes already planned for construction in the Lake George, Sacandauga and Oswego areas. Visit www.legacytimberframes.com for more information or call 518279-9108. Amy L. Stock is a freelance writer and environmental educator living and working in Saratoga Springs. Her writing focuses on sustainability and supporting local products. She can be reached at astock42@gmail.com or www.goinggreensaratoga.blogspot.com.
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What's for Lunch?
The Challenge of Feeding Kids Better in Two School Districts Story and Photos by Tracy Frisch
that tend to get short shrift in the standard American diet. Recalling his own experiences with school lunches, Sliva jumped at the chance to give back to his community. "Not only will it improve the students' health, it will also make them happier," he said. The contest calls for working with a local committee made up of at least one school food professional, student, community member, and chef. When Sliva approached Anne Sheehan, who became the Glens Falls School District food service director 27 years ago, he was pleased to find her receptive. In fact, she would have together a team herself, but was at a loss when it came to finding a chef. The taste-off dishes presented: Cancun Caesar Salad made of curly kale, Students Choice; Broccoli with Pasta (and butternut squash and cannelini beans) and Quinoa Spinach Salad.
The youngest generation of Americans is the first in modern history whose life expectancy is lower than their parents. Epidemics of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions plague more and more of our population at earlier ages. With 31 million children participating in federal school meals programs and one in four children living in poverty, schools are increasingly being called upon to help reverse these devastating trends. (Besides improving kids' diets, schools are under pressure to increase kids' physical activity.) I took a look at some of the steps that two area school districts are taking to improve the nutritional status of their students.
Sliva introduced her to Kevin London, chefowner of the Farmhouse Restaurant at the Top of the World resort in Lake George. Sliva has tended the several acres of vegetable gardens that provision the seasonal dining establishment for the past four years. The two food establishments couldn't be a starker contrast. Operating on a shoestring under astounding constraints, the Glens Falls School District food service turns out almost twenty-five hundred meals every day. On the other extreme, the elite Farmhouse Restaurant has the luxury of sourcing the best locally and sustainably grown foods with minimal regard to price. It only serves about a hundred lunches and dinners a day during the six months it's open.
The biggest stress on school food services is money. These days school districts typically require their food service programs to pay their own way with children's lunch money and federal subsidies for low-income student meals, but they have very little to work with. Funny thing how little value our society places on the nourishment of its children. For food and labor, the Glens Falls district's cost cap is $1.74 per lunch. Of that total, the total available to purchase the food itself is only 59 cents, plus 23 cents for a half-pint of milk. With this tiny sum, schools also must meet federal nutrition guidelines by serving bread or grain, meat or other protein, and a either two vegetables or fruits or one of each. The federal subsidy is finally going up, though barely. The historic Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, signed into law by President Obama in December, adds 6 cents per meal. It also makes far-reaching no-cost reforms. Government reimbursement money will be barred from subsidizing junk food in the cafeteria and schools will have to raise the meal price for students who can afford it. The law also could get rid of junk food entirely, if proposed nutritional standards for a la carte and vending machine items are approved. (Schools don't have to pay cash for all of their ingredients. They get a choice of commodity foods - about 20 cents worth per meal. The federal government purchases these surplus foods to stabilize prices and then allocates them according to a complex formula. Quality considerations are irrelevant.)
Glens Falls native John Paul Sliva is an idealistic 25-year-old. He has a passion for gardening and real food and a patient demeanor. While surfing the web for grant opportunities for local projects, he happened upon the Recipes for Healthy Kids Challenge. Sponsored by the USDA and First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Campaign against obesity, the contest aims to increase students' consumption of nutrient-packed foods. It hones in on protein-rich legumes (beans and peas), dark green and orange vegetables, and whole grains -- categories 22 ecolocalliving.com
Cafeteria staff returning parsley plants to high school's greenhouse on third floor via elevator.
Lack of adequate kitchen facilities complicates the challenge of feeding our children well. Sheehan reported that for the entire district she only has one, greatly undersized, dishwasher and a single freezer. In some schools the district has requisitioned precious kitchen space for other school uses. Half of the district's eight schools have to make do with satellite kitchens with limited equipment and room for prepping. Many school districts though are in worse shape, having years ago converted their school kitchens into a place only to heat ready-made food. THE BIG DAY WAS A GOOD DAY I visited the Glens Falls high school cafeteria on December 17, the day of the taste-off when students got to vote for their favorite of chef London's three creations. The dishes presented by the recipe challenge team for student approval marry healthy gourmet-style cooking with U.S. public school cafeteria realities. It's a difficult job at best. While staying within the 50 per serving limit for ingredients, the recipes must also excite students' taste buds and meet the contest specifications. To entice students to be adventurous, the cafeteria offered the three special dishes in the taste-off at no cost. Some of the student testers were thrilled with the alternative menu options, and the others seemed generally to be positive. But many other students walked right by without noticing to make a beeline for the pizza, hands-down the most popular Friday offering in the cafeteria. When the tally was done, the renamed Student's Choice Broccoli and Pasta was voted the favorite dish by a two to one
margin over the next contender. It became the official Glens Falls entry in the national contest. That the students embraced this variation on macaroni and cheese -- one of our country's top comfort foods - is not surprising. They also ranked broccoli high in their preferences. London's version packed in nutrition with roasted butternut squash and cannelini beans (also known as Great Northern beans), Swiss and Parmesan cheeses, garlic and fresh rosemary from the school's greenhouse. The light colored beans are well-disguised. London deliberated incorporated the squash and beans to broaden the students' horizons. Curious about the student perspective on food, the project team had started its work by distributing a short survey in the high school lunchroom. Asked about which vegetables, beans and whole grains they have tried and which ones they like, a large majority of students responding admitted to not having eaten a startling number of foods. Most said that they hadn't tried butternut squash, kale, or Swiss chard, barley, quinoa, and various types of beans - especially those not typically used in chili or tacos. Of the two other dishes, I especially savored the Cancun Caesar Salad. Freshly chopped, de-stemmed curly kale is mixed with a homemade dressing flavored with anchovies. So many students liked this dark green salad that the supply ran out. The last dish -- a quinoa and baby spinach salad -- found the least acceptance among students, despite the addition of dried cherries and walnuts - two commodity program ingredients that the school food service wanted to use up. But few students
High school senior Jonathan Paradise appreciated having something different for lunch - and he loves broccoli and pasta!
were familiar with quinoa, a protein-rich seed from South America better known in natural foods circles. London remarked that the quinoa salad "suffered" from the substitution of much cheaper, blander vegetable oil for olive oil. He also related something that Sheehan had told him. When she commenced her school career in the Glens Falls district over a quarter century ago, she couldn't keep up with all the butter that was coming from the federal commodity program. Now there's only margarine to be had. -continued on Page 28
Denison Farm, Schaghticoke, N.Y., is welcoming new members for the 2011 season. Our Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA) offers a 22-week share of diverse, organically-grown vegetables delivered to Albany, Clifton Park, Delmar, Guilderland, Niskayuna, Round Lake, Saratoga, Troy, and Schaghticoke. We can also be found at the Troy and Saratoga Farmers' Markets. Take a step towards a more sustainable future by joining our family farm.
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The Artist and the Prophet:
James Howard Kunstler in Private Story and Photos by J. Sophia
Artist by Name, Prophet by Profession, James Howard Kunstler's name actually means “artist” in German. It is missing those two dots above the “u” - that we like to put into brand names when we want to appear European - to render the German word for artist entirely correct: Künstler. But James does not just carry the name, he is indeed an artist in several fields. I discovered Kunstler's logical projections of The Long Emergency and other peak oil considerations about 5 years ago. Thoughts concerning our growth-crazy super-capitalism and its eventual implosion - after eroding its own base and exhausting our resources - had been on my mind ever since I lived in Zimbabwe and saw the exploitation of an entire continent first hand. Kunstler's work, describing the mayhem to be expected when resources run short, when contamination of waterways render entire regions uninhabitable, and when the collapse of our financial systems make organized repair of nature or the return to civilized living in larger cities impossible, made perfect sense to me. Intrigued by his book, I saw Kunstler in the documentary The End of Suburbia. His passion and sharp wit made me laugh and cry. He presents the irony-of-fate kind of view I wanted for a documentary I was working on at the time. I listed him as one of the experts on peak oil I wanted to interview for that TV documentary titled Window Into The Future. We think alike, I thought, except that I always focus more on the solutions. I wanted to bring to audiences existing models of lifestyles and products already developed to solve the problems he was describing. Unfortunately, Window into the Future did not get fully funded and bit the dust in 2006 - and I did not get to meet Kunstler.
In November 2010, I make a last minute decision to attend a TED conference in Albany and am thrilled to see Kunstler on the program. I immediately look for him to tell him that I admire his work. “You are my hero!” I exclaim after his rather alarming speech. “Cool,” he responds - and we hugg! - Ah, like minds! “Can I come to wherever you're staying and interview you?” pops out of my mouth just like that - I know I want to talk more and meet the private person James Kunstler, not just the prophet on his soap box. “I'm still in this time-warp coming back from Australia,” he says, “but next week will be fine. You can come to my house.” “Great!” and we exchange cards and personal cell phone numbers. A few days later, I arrive at his current home - surprise, surprise, he lives in a suburban sprawl development - where the smiling Kunstler greets me between two regular gasoline guzzling cars in his driveway: a pickup and a sedan. No, there's no electric car, no Prius, no bicycle. “This is interesting!” I note, taking in the normed neighborhood. “We don't own this place,” he informs me. “We're just renting.” He's waiting for the housing market to take another nosedive before he'll get some of his own land and property around here, he tells me. We enter his rented modern contraption of all the fossil fuel derived amenities one could wish for, vinyl siding, carpets, window frames, appliances, all made just before the imminent depletion of the planet's deep dark bodily fluids: crude oil. And he's helping to use it all up. Might as well get that Long Emergency started as fast as we can! We spend a minute in the fabulously equipped kitchen where he makes me a tension tamer tea and himself a green one. No, no more coffee, no more bacon and eggs for breakfast and no more pork chops. There are organic fruits on display and lots of shiny vitamin bottles. °”I had too many health problems, so I changed my diet drastically three years ago,” says Kunstler. That's so much later than his awakening to the fact that we need to change our behavior to enhance health on the planet and health in ourselves, I think to myself. And he did not do it out of insight but out of physical distress. It's a long road from thought to action - especially in our own life... Lots of light in the living room and a view of the woods and pastures of upstate New York greet me as James asks me to make myself comfortable on the couch. Holding my hot tension tamer I turn around to see that the walls are covered with paintings of nature, bridges, lakes and village settings. “So your partner is the artist?” I presume, ignorant as I am. “No, no, that's me! She's the rare editions librarian at the College.” There are landscapes, snowy hills, tree-lined city streets, lone farmhouses, impressionist style work. James sits down under what must be a self-portrait of the painter's back standing at the isle, working on a painting under a tree. What a romantic setting. None of the paintings show the despair his lectures and speeches evoke. How do these two Kunstlers, the artist and the alarmist, go together? My first question, jotted down yesterday, gains a new dimension: JS: Why this concern for the future? Do you have children? JHK: You know, I kind of slid into this as I was researching my book Geography of Nowhere. I started seeing the shortcomings and
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inadequacy of suburbia and the end of the resources it is built on. I realized that this whole concept of a living arrangement of parents raising their kids in total isolation from any real life is doomed. Living and raising kids deprived of seeing and experiencing production, farming or manufacturing, forests, rivers, or real neighborhoods, connecting to the rest of the world only by shopping at the mall and by watching television in the catalogue living room, will fail! JS: So you decided not to bring children into this failing world? JHK: No, I never decided NOT have children. In fact, I was married three times and had a lot of, well, I think a fair amount of sex, but it just never happened. One of my ex-wives - no two of them - adopted a child after we divorced. Eventually I said, well, what's the matter here and I had myself tested. The doctor told me it would be very unlikely that I would father a child. So that was that. I suppose I'm OK with just having sex. I came to terms with that. (He shrugs) Kunstler is talking with a touch of sadness but matter-of-factly while I gaze at a particular painting across from me on the other side of the living room: a whole group of folks in bathing suits on rocks under trees at the edge of a creek - a sensual, summery scene in pastel colors, the figures in the frame relaxed and enjoying what looks like a family moment. A painting that captures a sense of well-being -
not at all a sense of deprivation. Kunstler quite comfortably lives in this richly contextualized 21st century high-end culture he deems so short lived in his books and speeches. I slurp my tension tamer and relax further into the couch. JHK: Back to Why the mission - it goes further back: I was a news reporter for Rolling Stone when the Oil Crisis of the 1970's broke. I was exposed to what was going on and the fact that oil was going to run out some time probably in my lifetime and that meant that the car-based living arrangements will fail. JS: Then what drove you to do something about survival? JHK: Don't get me wrong, I do believe the human project has value. Civilization is not just destructive. But the human species is the curious branch of the primate family that is flirting with god-like powers! JS: So if we're not god-like, yet responsible for the destruction and/or the fixing of the planet, then what are we? JHK: Angels and demons! I'm on the side of the angels.
gods. Celebrating life. Creating beauty in culture. Children are part of that - there is no other reason why I don't have children. And I'm not gay. I love the act of attempting procreation!
JS: And as an angel your philosophy is? JHK: Working small scale - finding happiness. Endamonism.
JS: Are you, like me, of the 'make love not war' generation? JHK: Totally! War is excessive masculine behavior. But also survival of the fittest.
JS: What's that? JHK: Producing happiness in life. Seeing the human race as engaged in its purpose of producing happiness. No worshipping of
JS: Or the act of the male who suffers from such great lack of self-confidence that he needs to prove his potency to the world by destroying others? And then becoming ecolocalliving.com 25
worthy of the trophy: the woman? JHK: (laughs) So yes, we're too macho and need to bring out more of our feminine side? JS: Of course. Isn't that same warmonger, that conquistador also the man who is the wifebatterer? JHK: Well yeah: we've battered our planet, our mother Earth. JS: Are men in particular the perpetrators of this mis-planned, war-based world? JHK: One could think so. But look at the abundance of right-wing women in politics now. I don't know, do they want to be like men? They promote the same stereotypes and have the same shared behavior, sometimes worse. The big thing here is habitual actions and life style. On the other hand, I'm called a communist by the tea-baggers and on the other hand I've been getting a lot of criticism from left-wing women because they don't like the female characters in my novels. They are not modern enough, they say, and I'm told it's a failure of my imagination. I don't show women in the corporate world and women are not acknowledged for their feminist revolution. They're not shown climbing the
ladder. It is totally ironic! However, they still have positions of authority in my books. There may be more division of sexes; not extreme though. But we don't need cry-babies, we need action. I'm not one of those who believe we are all the same - we have different qualities. JS: My next question was: would women do a better job? JHK: Not necessarily. Look at our universities. We have lots of women as department chairs. And everything becomes like psychotherapy: it's all about feelings. And this makes it harder to have real conversations about the future. The future needs ACTIONS. Men by virtue of their masculinity have the ability to make fast decisions, to act. Women tend to delay. On the other hand, a lot of care-taking is needed. Women have put aside the care-taking and joined the rat race. I believe care-taking is deeply undervalued and discounted. Modernity must allow for care-taking as a valued contribution to society. JS: Back to the failure of the car-based culture and suburbia: Does suburban life constitute some form of imprisonment of the mind?
Could we see suburbia as a prison camp breeding consumers? JHK: Few people are as aware as I am of the “unintended consequences� of such projects as the suburban sprawl and the car-based culture as of the 1950's. Take one example: the elimination of housework. Women now had dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, washers, dryers, toasters, drycleaners at the mall, and supermarkets where you could shop for the week. Result: women were either bored housewives watching day-soaps or, in the majority, forced into the work force to pay for all of the consumer stuff, because one income was no longer enough. At the same time, with this increased labor force, wages stagnated. The service sector expanded. And of course, manufacturing decreased in the US and we became predominantly a service economy. So we can ask ourselves how much of this suburban lifestyle is really wanted by women and how much is coerced. You also see cultural deprivation and impoverishment of societal interaction. You have this supposedly advanced 'casual lifestyle' to the extreme. You can wear your pajamas to the mall. At the same time, you don't have families meeting for gardening, a concert or the theatre, not even for bowling. There is only television and the talk about the next thing to buy. I've never phrased it that way, but you have a point calling it a consumer prison. And it definitely is an imprisonment of the mind. JS: What have the 'green' changes in policies made in Europe over the last ten years achieved or missed? JHK: Well, Europe has lived through the most horrifying conditions with the convulsions of the industrial revolution, the wars, and fascism. People suffered a great deal during the last two centuries. However, Europe did not give up on its cities and the everyday beauty of human habitats in general. And Europe did not give up on mass transit and the quality of urban life and culture. The esthetics of human environments never lost importance in people's perceptions. Capitalism was not able to kill that perception. Therefore, we have city-life, a city culture, and functioning urban communities everywhere in Europe. There's also much less suburban sprawl. JS: Did the US ever have concepts of beauty for human habitats, urban, suburban, rural or otherwise? JHK: Mostly not, except for the attempts of importing European concepts in the late 19th century and early 20th century. They remained attempts and the general culture or lack thereof was not able or not willing to live up to
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them - because everybody who owned anything could do what they wanted - and when a street, a village, a town is not unified on some level, or does not have a common concept, it's hard to give a damn about it: it's 'everybody for themselves and none for the common good.' Any civilization requires physical dwelling places worth caring about. And that's what was maintained in Europe. In the US we have this crassness of our trailer-park and concrete jungle non-culture. And the few Beaux Arts buildings are mostly not where people live or where an urban culture can develop. In Europe, on the other hand, there's the illusion of using Russia for their energy source, on the one hand and on the other hand there's this dream of a technical “nirvana” where everything is easy! And the outcome is still doubtful - well, some of it could actually work - it depends entirely on scale. Small selfsustaining communities using those principles could be created. JS: The city of Curritiba in Brazil is often cited as an advanced urban, green living example. JHK: I don't agree that it is one. It's important to note that people get too infatuated with the Curritiba model and its bus system. The buses are the big deal and they still run on diesel. And they still cater to a commuter society. We need walkable city centers in which people actually live. Stockholm, Amsterdam, Barcelona are better examples. Livable city centers that also care about beauty, quality of life, and culture for the city center dwellers. These cities are offering what I call “rewarding environments of beauty.” We have to take those examples and construct a post petroleum world without all the pain that comes with crashes. JS: A two-fold question: a) How many and which of your predictions have come true? b) What did not come true? JHK: a) The housing bubble did blow up, the banks crashed, and then the economy tanked a structural catastrophe. That all happened exactly as described in The Long Emergency. Now some people think we're out of it - but this is only the beginning. There will be the second crash and prolonged downturn of the economy. b) I think we're only talking about delays - for example extracting natural gas from shale has delayed our gas shortage. We're doing this crazy 'fracking' which has truly evil consequences - we're fracturing our underground rock and ground water systems to extract deep pockets of gas. We pump
millions of gallons of water and chemicals under pressure into a well and totally destroy the integrity of the shale. This is so dangerous that any benefit is debatable. We already don't have enough drinkable ground water. We polluted or chemicalized, with chlorine and fluoride, the water supplies for human consumption and work, and now we're going to disperse tons of highly carcinogenic chemicals into our ground water resources the few good water sources we have left in places like upstate New York or Pennsylvania. That's why we haven't run out of gas yet. But it's not going to last long, even if we do all the fracking and polluting we could possibly do.
We have to rethink our entire lifestyle. But can we adapt?
JS: Haven't there been some reversals of polluted rivers and bodies of water, particularly in Europe? JHK: Of course, as I said about the cities: European countries have not given up on cities, and they have not given up on rivers either.
JS: Yep, and you've just made my day by revealing that even the prophet James Howard himself, the alarmist, the doomsday singer on his soap box, is just a tad caught up in the current wasteful culture. And by letting me know that the angel in him foresees new forms of localized community life that he will help co-create following male decisiveness ;-) and, last but certainly not least, by the fact that James Howard, the 'Künstler,' sees and captures the natural and localized world and its beauty in awesome paintings. Thanks so much for sharing some of the Artist and the Prophet for this interview.
JS: Some rivers, such as the river Rhine and the river Ruhr which were extremely polluted just 30 years ago have been entirely cleaned up and restored to life, now carrying drinkable water again. They are full of healthy fish and offer beaches in the summer for sweet water swimming… JHK: That shows that it can be done where there is the will and funding to do it. We have not gotten there yet in the US of A. We need to invest into those changes. But when the economy is already in the tank nobody wants to invest in clean-up actions. Things just get worse with the excuse of job-creation or staying in whatever dirty business.
JS: Do you have any hope for happiness then? JHK: You know, I need to be alarmist or people won't even read me or talk about me. At least they are paying attention now. The Long Emergency is taught at quite a few universities. If more people do not become aware and start taking decisive action, we really are doomed! But contrary to my “alarmist” speaker persona, I am actually quite a mellow guy actively pursuing happiness every day - in my relationship, my organic gardening, cooking, painting, and my conversations with intelligent humans...
JS: With your daunting projections for the US why not emigrate? I have friends who have purchased land and have moved to Ecuador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica to live on the land - why not you? JHK: What do you mean, emigrate now? To South America? I wouldn't trust those political systems. The governments are so unstable they could just take your land away any time, socialize it or declare you ineligible to own land in their countries. I think it's totally naive to think we can escape the coming chaos by emigrating to a poorer, less developed and less stable country, especially in Central America. I care about my part of the world, right here in upstate New York where we can at least grow our own food because we still have water. Nevertheless, the problem is that we have NO working models available. And we can't just turn this thing around and make it sustainable. ecolocalliving.com 27
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These observations cut to the heart of the school meals program - to an issue that few dare to raise. How can school lunches be made truly made healthy if many of their basic ingredients are not? (For example, typical vegetable oils are manufactured using destructive processes. Oil is extracted from oil seeds like corn and canola with harmful industrial solvents under high heat and then further refined and even deodorized.) In terms of the taste-off, it was a complete success for the organizers and the students and teachers who enjoyed the new dishes.The project generated "a lot of positive energy," said London. The experience of working with Sheehan and prepping enormous quantities of food with her hard-working employees left him marveling. "What a massive production it is preparing lunch for such a large number of impressionable minds every day!" he said. Sheehan, too, was pleased to be a part of the collaboration. "This was a wonderful committee. They did the work and followed through." No one seems to have any illusions about the rate of change in the school lunch program though. "We are taking baby steps," Sheehan acknowledges. SARATOGA SCHOOLS BUY FROM LOCAL FARMERS In the Saratoga Springs school district, the latest advance involves sourcing food directly from local farms. Some 6,800 students eat district meals. Margaret Sullivan, the district food service director of thirteen years, had been trying to form a farm-to-school partnership without much traction since around 2006. "We found a few local farms, but we didn't have the results we were looking for." In 2009, having outgrown its previous site, the Saratoga Springs Farmers Market chose the Division Street School as the new location for its Saturday indoor winter market. An innovative rental contract allows the market association to deliver up to $9,700 worth of produce to the school district, with equivalent savings from its rent. "Everyone felt comfortable" with the barter deal, Sullivan said. "We negotiated with the farmers for an agreeable price." At the close of the market, cases of vegetables are left for the lunch program. Often the school food service staff doesn't find out what they have to work with until Monday morning.
"We turn around and drive it to our schools," Sullivan explained. "Sometimes the farmers actually grew and harvested for us." RESTAURANT QUALITY SOUP AND AN EXPANDED ROLE FOR FOOD SERVICE EMPLOYEES In early December, the school received butternut squash seconds and made butternut squash soup - "easily restaurant quality," according to Sullivan. The district continues to get produce from the farmers into early June and deliveries resume at the start of the school year, even though the market is held at High Rock Park in the warmer months. While it takes more labor to clean and prepare produce "right from the ground," the experiment has worked quite well, enabling the school district to serve a larger quantity of vegetables as well as less commonplace ones, like bok choy and beets. "The staff is taking more pride in the food that they are producing. It's changed from being a mechanical job where they're just heating and serving. When this new produce comes in, they're challenged to come up with something ingenious," said Sullivan. Flexibility is key. Salad greens get tucked into the salad bar or day's salad. Other vegetables become part of an entrĂŠe, or one of the two vegetables of the day. To highlight the use of local farm fresh foods, the district puts out a plaque announcing the farmer and the type of produce being served. Like Glens Falls, the Saratoga Springs district took French fries off the cafeteria menu some time ago. But in Saratoga, the district also simultaneously forged its first relationship with a farm. Sheldon Farms in Salem was sold the district potatoes, which the food service roasted. "We were stunned how popular they were," recalled Sullivan. Sullivan has tried to keep the press - and thus the parents -- informed of the farm-to-school and other initiatives. When she requested supplementary funding from the school board, the board members couldn't be more supportive. "They loved the local food," Sullivan said. "They had read about it." For the previous three years, Sullivan's program got an extra annual school district allocation ranging from $40,000 to $70,000 for her special initiatives. Besides sourcing food from local farms, these funds help pay for nutrition education and steps towards eliminating Styrofoam disposables. The district's overall food service budget is $2.6 million. For nutrition education, the Saratoga Springs district works with Russell Sage College interns and Cornell Cooperative Extension and even has a high school club. Sullivan has also partnered with executive chefs like Brian Sterner from the Gideon Putnam and Noah Sheetz from the Governor's Mansion. They developed appropriate recipes, trained food service staff, and judged recipe contests among the different schools. A current project entices kids to eat more beans. The motivation to improve school lunches runs deep. Sullivan said, "We feel like it's the right thing to do. It's how I live my life. I believe it's our responsibility to do the best for the children." Resources: For a more comprehensive look at the issue of school lunches, see Free for All: Fixing School Food in America, a book by Janet Poppendiek. The New York Coalition for Healthy School Food advocates for improving children's well-being with healthy plant-based foods, including local and organic, school gardens, education for food- and health-literacy, and more. Check out www.healthyschoolfood.org.
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estimated cost of public financing of all Congressional elections is $1 billion; about $7 annually per taxpayer. The Cato Institute, a nonprofit think tank, estimates that $87 billion each year is given as corporate welfare subsidies to major campaign contributors. If these numbers are on target, public campaign financing starts to look like a very compelling investment! Legislation with strong bipartisan support, combining the benefits of small citizen donations with matching public funds, is currently working its way through the Senate and Congress but needs additional grassroots support to push it over the top. Public campaign financing laws have already been proving themselves in several states and cities, and in virtually every democratic nation around the globe. As hope springs eternal in the beginning of the New Year, I hope this is a cause that concerned citizens of all political stripes will be able to rally around and support since it truly is the mother all issues. The cornerstones of the sustainable and responsible investing movement are transparency and accountability and I believe that full disclosure of corporate political spending and adopting public campaign financing are the keys to a more sustainable, just and prosperous future. Harry Moran helps socially conscious investors define and achieve their highest goals by aligning their money with their values. A 25-year veteran of the financial services profession, Mr. Moran has held the Certified Financial Planner速 designation since 1991. He is a member of First Affirmative Financial Network, a national professional organization dedicated to meeting the needs of the socially conscious investing community. Mr. Moran can be reached directly at Cornerstone Financial Advisors at hmoran@cornerstonefinancialny.com or 518-877-8800. Mention of specific securities, funds, or companies should not be considered an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell the security, fund, or company. To determine the suitability of any particular investment, please consult with your investment adviser. Remember, past performance is no guarantee of future results and no investment strategycan assure success. The opinions expressed are those of the author and may change without notice. Harry Moran is a registered representative offering securities through Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc., member FINRA SIPC. Cadaret, Grant is not affiliated with Cornerstone or First Affirmative.
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Thermal Biomass:
The Key to Regional Sustainability? Story by Robert Millis
Can the simple act of burning wood as a means of keeping warm play a significant role in our nation's next-gen sustainable energy future? An emerging coalition of academics, economists, policymakers and business leaders say “Yes,”and have joined forces to make that very case to both a curious public and a wary green / environmental community. The discussion is underway, and the conversation is both productive and lively. Furthermore, with a stars are aligned just right argument that should be of special interest to readers of this very publication, the suggestion is made that the Northeast US is in a unique position to reap tremendous benefits; economic, environmental and social. The proposition: if the region's cold climate energy
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demands could be transitioned to one that utilizes an internal supply source - of which the NE has a deep reservoir if that source is defined as wood --- combined with the potential of exporting that supply to external markets, a bright future can be pictured.
Northeast with Renewable Biomass - A Vision for 2025. THE PLAYING FIELD Any conversation concerning America's path towards cutting its foreign energy reliance is bound to take one of three directions: the conservation & efficiency path; the tit-for-tat route of seeking domestic replacements for foreign fossil fuels; or the substitution route using renewable alternatives. The wild card in the deck is nuclear, with its own unique health, safety and disposal concerns.
But the realization of those aims won't be easy, given a wide variety of hurdles that the coalition and its supporters need to negotiate in the coming years. Those challenges range from the need to change embedded perceptions to embarking on a massive public education campaign to winning a seat at the The renewable option is the preferred incentives table with other (and more mechanism, because it adds the clean-green preferred) alt-energy options. environmental benefit to the mix: climate In other words: it won't be easy. change is reduced given that carbon emissions are minimized, if not outright eliminated. The EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN sexy twins of solar and wind power lead the From the early beginnings of mankind, the way here, with additional support from notion of setting fire to wood has helped solve geothermal, tidal, and hydro and other the very basic survival need of keeping warm. technologies. For many thousands of years, wood burning was the primary non-solar means of solving the Within that renewable sector, hanging on the mismatch between our warm-blooded body fringes of the public mindset, is a perplexing makeup and the not-always-warm aspects of and misunderstood player that seeks a seat at Mother Nature's master plan. Such was the the discussion table: biomass. way of life, right up until our prior century, BIOMASS PRIMER when fossil fuels became the dominant By its simplest definition, biomass energy is the solution to the “thermal” (aka heat) equation.. utilization of organisms, specifically of the Now, as the vision of a worldwide post-fossil recently-living (as opposed to fossilized) energy future is debated, planned and variety. Biomass energy is sourced from five implemented, the prospect of once again places: trees & plants, garbage, waste stream relying on wood is being offered up as a key subsets, landfill gases, and alcohol based piece of that puzzle. Can this everything old is liquids. Once its energy potential is released -new again solution, now tagged as Thermal - via chemical reaction or good old fashioned Biomass (def: biological material utilized to burning --- that source material can then generate heat), play such a role? contribute to one of three major energy classifications: transportation fuels (biodiesel Leading the charge in the affirmative is a and ethanol); grid electricity (from its burning coalition of five environmental and energysteam); or heating. In addition, earth friendly focused nonprofits: the Biomass Thermal products can be developed as plastic Energy Council, Alliance for Green Heat, NY substitutes. Biomass Energy Alliance, Maine Pellet Fuels Association and the Pellet Fuels Institute. The In analyzing the heating (thermal) application, group is not only beginning the long, hard history shows a trend of biomass being the process of herding a diverse (and sometimes primary thermal source of all societies up until conflicting) constituency of stakeholders in a the point where they reach an advanced spirit of a common mission, but are also taking development level, when fossil and the important step of proposing and publishing (sometimes) nuclear systems - both micro and a preliminary road map, titled Heating the grid-based - kick in as the preferred problem
solvers. Thermal biomass survives in even the most advanced economies, but usually in either a backup or vanity format (example: fireplaces). The late 70s oil shock brought about a miniRenaissance, as a wood stove industry arose, seemingly overnight, to offer cover from the dollar-a-gallon (gasp) oil bills being delivered by agents of previously ignored and troubling strangers from the Middle East. Suddenly, every homeowner seemed to be in the market for these cast iron monstrosities, which typically served the purpose of warming a single space or room in a building. Many pulled the trigger, plopping one down in the living room right next to the TV and the frightened family pet. White collar suburbanites quickly became versed in the quirky measuring unit called a cord. The return of relatively cheap oil in the proceeding decades dampened the enthusiasm for thermal wood burning, although a new variety arose in the late 90's: outdoor boilers with vents running into various entry points in (mostly) rural) homes. Today's thermal biomass boosters wish that this era never occurred, given the dirty & smelly aspect of that period's technology, which haunts the modern day perception.
again, took a back seat not only within the biomass sector, but also within the wider renewables class, with the emergence of solar, wind and geothermal as the more popular choices for heating one's home or business.
Biomass did make a return to the world stage at the start of the 21st Century, but it wasn't in the thermal arena. Instead, it detoured into the transport sector, and biodiesel and ethanol became the rage. The concern for how one fills up her car's fuel tank took precedent over how to heat the home. Many though this was the magic key, and a huge amount of brainpower, funding and political capital was devoted to the green-motoring prospect. Thermal, once
Until now, that is. Things change,and biodiesel is now out of favor for a variety of factors - disrupted food markets, stalled technology development, among them. In addition, the aforementioned in-fashion renewables are getting a second look as to their upside potential as well, and a new and improved thermal biomass approach - cleaner, bigger and more efficient - is being offered. Thermal Biomass looks like it is back in play.
THERMAL BIOMASS Thermal has gained significant traction, especially in the recent two years. 'Thermal' is a quasi scientific term for 'heat', hence this subject addresses the potential of heating homes and businesses with biomass; specifically chuck wood, wood chips as well as clean waste streams. Dead trees, tree branches, yard clippings, left-over crops, sawdust, even livestock manure are all source stock potential. Processed wood pellets offer a high level of efficiency to the math equation. As do the new generation of manufactured units in which those (typically) woody materials are burned. Three important observations need to be made here: 1) These are BOILERS, not the stoves we commonly associate with the application 2) The focus now includes CENTRAL heating, in addition to legacy small space scenario 3) These boilers are increasingly efficient (energy conversion) and clean (carbon and dirt capture) It is obvious that these are not your father's wood stoves. Again, they are not even stoves, but boilers. The typical residential installation is one where a unit in installed in the basement, in the same footprint as a previous oil burner. The same venting system is utilized. Source material (chips or pellets) are fed into holding units (picture them being provided by the legacy oil delivery industry) and a
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mechanized auger does the feeding, as instructed by a temperature control system. Heat is dispersed throughout the home. THE REGIONAL BIOMASS VISION The Northeast USA has a serious problem: it is incredibly dependent on fossil fuels for heating. The numbers are frightening: 86% of the nation's home heating oil consumption is here; and 96% of the region's total heating needs are from nonrenewable (fossil) sources. $18 billion “leaks” out of the region annually as a result, most of it to foreign interests. The Heating the Northeast with Renewable Biomass - A Vision for 2025 declaration calls for what is calls a new American Revolution, whereby the northeast states put in motion a roadmap to domestically produce a significant portion of its internal thermal needs. Specifically, it calls for what is calls a '25 by 25' target: • 25% of the region's thermal heating need are met with renewable sources by 2025 • 75% of that source will come from sustainably produced and local biomass If executed, the predicted numbers are startlingly significant: 1.38 million households would be converted; 1.14 billion gallons of heating oil will be saved annually, $4.5 billion would be retained by the region's economy each year; reduced sulfur emissions, reduced greenhouse gases; and healthier local economies through improved economics of forest and farm ownership (i.e., retained farm and wood lands). Job creation and economic development is an important part of the mix. LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE The ecoLocal Living readership area, especially in its northern points,
was based heavily on the forest industry for a good deal of its economic base in past generations. That industry is in the final stages of decline; in some areas it has already disappeared completely. As a result, many communities in the Adirondacks and its foothills are in Depression-like straits. Many experts think that the themes and suggestions offered by the 25 by 25 Vision offer a path for the renewal and revival of those very communities. Jerry Jenkins, author of the recently published Climate Change in the Adirondacks - The Path to Sustainability, addresses some of the issues from a local perspective by stating the need for integrated approaches: “biomass burning is carbon neutral if the forests the biomass come from are carbon neutral, and is most economically beneficial if biomass production is integrated with lumber production rather than displacing it.” Using the same thoughtful and math-based logic that permeates his book, Jenkins also offers a short analysis of a specific mountain town, using its own unique energy supply and demand coordinates as the basis for concluding that, in this specific instance, the community would be a candidate for a self-sustaining (and sustainable) thermal heating infrastructure build-out ; but not for a large scale biomass electricity plant (the likes of which are drawing ire from many both within and outside the biomass industry) Note: Mr Jenkins will be appearing and speaking locally at the February 22 session of Sustainable Saratoga. Details at: www.sustainablesaratoga.com) In addition, a newly formed local group is busy together a comprehensive plan for what it calls a Biomass Eco Village, which will create a cluster of allied manufactures and service providers, creating a supply chain within both the biomass thermal and transport industries. Although it will not show its 'public face' until an upcoming press announcement, the group has provided ecoLocal Living with a preliminary footprint / map of what such a project might look like. It further explains that it is “laying low” at the present, pending a search for some local economic development partners, both public and private. THE EARLY PUSHBACK This emerging and revitalized thermal biomass industry initiative certainly has early momentum. But, it is also encountering a slew of pushbacks, objections and obstacles that are slowing down both the buy-in to the 25 by 25 Vision, and ultimately its execution. These stumbling blocks are coming from a number of directions. First and foremost is the public perception of what thermal biomass is all about. When broken down to its more comprehensible “burning wood to make heat” translation, red flags are raised left and right. The typical reaction is to picture the space heating wood stoves or the dirty backyard boilers of past decades. A major public relations an education campaign will be the only way to counter that, and must be an invested. Second is the resistance from certain segments of the green community. The core concepts of both chopping and burning trees is enviro-heresy to many; who reject the both the carbon-neutral and the low sulfur arguments of the thermal crowd. Such a debate is in full force, and will need to run its course of continuing and ongoing scientific analysis. Third; there is an internal dynamic that is (or should be ) cause for concern in this nascent industry. Certain divides are becoming apparent; even within organizations that would appear to be a single voice. Examples here are thermal's friction with their transport/biodiesel
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cousins - which centers (currently) on funding and resource investment allocation, and (eventually) on source crop competition. Similar contentions are arising between those advocating the use of biomass for large scale grid/electrification projects, with their matching mega-appetite for competing source wood. Finally, there is the competition with the other, more popular renewable options. It's one thing to not have a seat at the table with solar and wind for consumer exposure, but it's a much bigger problem when you finally get to participate in that setting, but do so with hand tied. That is the position that thermal biomass finds itself in, given that is is not working with most of the financial incentives (both R&D and consumer level) that its competitors are enjoying. It wants equal access, which will be tough politically, for many reasons. SUMMARY Thermal biomass is an industry that feels like its time has come. Out task, as interested consumers and citizens, is to analyze its ecological, environmental and economic claims for validity and accuracy. If that test is passed, it makes full sense to proceed with implementing many (if not all) of the suggestions made in the 25 by 25 Vision plan. Such a process has major future ramifications for ecoLocal Living readers and their communities, for the reasons mentioned. Your participation in that evolving process should be seriously considered. Robert Millis is principal of the Millis Group (Albany & Boston), a strategic advisory firm specializing in the media, internet, energy and entertainment fields. For a copy of Heating the Northeast with Renewable Biomass - A Vision for 2025, email him at RMillis@TechValleyTimes.com
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Eco-LOCAL People
Scott and Susan Garth An interview with Scott and Susan Garth, owners of DISH Bistro, 93 Main Street, Greenwich Eco-LOCAL Living: How long have you been in business and what inspired you to get started? Scott and Susan: Last May, we started doing weekend dinners with the previous owners of the space, which at the time was more of a coffee shop than a restaurant. After several weeks, the opportunity arose for us take over the whole operation, so we polished up our dinner menu, created breakfast and lunch menus, revamped the space with our own sense of style, and gave it the name DISH. Susan had been a private chef for a number of years, and Scott had experience in many areas of the food service industry -- so, opening our own healthconscious, high-quality, locally-sustained and sustaining, affordable, and absolutely inviting bistro (one that was also so close to home) seemed to be a dream come true. ELL: What's the best part about your job? Scott and Susan: Do we have to choose just one best thing? Impossible! So, here are a few of the best things about our job. Sourcing foods from local producers is very satisfying, cooking up scrumptious dishes is certainly fun, and being able to work together as a husband and wife team every day is priceless. But perhaps the very best thing is that since we opened the doors of DISH, we have come to know what a wonderful area our little town of Greenwich sits
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in the midst of, filled with so many interesting, artistic, well traveled, considerate, and intelligent people. We feel like we could not have made any better choice in deciding to set up shop here. ELL: Why do you choose to operate your business in Greenwich as opposed to somewhere else? Scott and Susan: The main reason is the fact that we live here too, we can actually walk to DISH from our house. The non-commuting lifestyle allows us to spend more time with our lovely new daughter, as well as to enliven the quaint downtown area of Greenwich with good eats, local artwork, and great live music. ELL: Why do you think it’s important to keep it local? Scott and Susan: Being in the food biz, you can't get any fresher than locally sourced foods, which is certainly important to us. We also enjoy discovering great products from this region and sharing them with our community. We recently sampled a local honey infused with the flavor of wild marjoram which grows on the hills where the bees gather pollen (yes, Susan is already coming up with a menu item featuring that honey paired with a local goat cheese). Imagine the delicious flavor of a Pinot Gris wine produced on the north fork of Long Island,
where you can actually taste the salty ocean minerality in the grapes. These are the nuances you can't find in mass produced foods. ELL: What locally owned business (other than your own) could you not live without? Scott and Susan: The local food producers, beyond a doubt. Nowhere can we get such high-quality, clean food as what this area produces. Staying local supports and maintains the high quality of life that local producers and artisans help make possible here. ELL: What are some of the things you do to help make the world a little bit better? Scott and Susan: Laugh a lot, recycle everything we possibly can, and do our best to be good and reliable neighbors and friends. ELL: What do you like to do in your free time? Scott and Susan: Our favorite thing to do these days is dote over our awesome baby daughter. We love doing dinner parties with our close friends. Scott is diligent about keeping up on current affairs, and is hoping to find time to start reading books again soon. Aside from creating new recipes in the kitchen (yes, even in her spare time it's still fun), Susan is looking forward to helping kickstart a new Samba music troupe with some good friends in Troy. Being in the thick of winter now, we also try to get out for some cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing, with the occasional walk about town thrown in. ELL: What's the best advice you've ever received? Scott and Susan: Do what you love. ELL: Our Facebook fans want to know: What is it that sets you apart from the national chains and promotes loyal, repeat customers? Scott and Susan: Personal contact, and developing a rapport with customers that enhances the course of the day for all of us. The spirit of the mom-and-pop shop is truly that "we are all in it together, let there be no mistake." This of course is not to mention the great food we offer that is as fresh, unique, and vibrant as you can get. ELL: Our Twitter followers want to know: What drives you to keep doing what you do? Scott and Susan: Creating a place to nourish our community with good foods, as well as a place to nourish the spirit with good conversation, artwork and music -- all at an affordable price. This is our dream-life, and now we have the space in which to realize it.
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