www.greenlivingpdx.com
April 25-28
2012
Portland, Oregon
An Unmatched Forum for Learning, Networking, and Business Development This conference brings together members of the energy industry, energy end-users, policy makers, economic development professionals, and others involved in building the new energy economy. Returning for its fifth year, NEBC’s energy conference is the Northwest event addressing the business side of energy.
• The Business of • Energy Policy & Renewable Energy Economic Development • The Business of • Energy Sector Updates Energy Efficiency Presented By:
www.FutureEnergyConference.com 2
A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Contents
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Publisher’s Page - Amory and the Elephant . .........4 Book Review - Reinventing Fire . ..................................5 Letters to the Editor..........................................................5 Local Notes . .........................................................................6 Building The Joys of Building a Home Together ................. 10 Transportation What the Right Bike Can Do for You....................... 13 The Electric Option....................................................... 14 Electric Vehicle News Ten Electric Cars Coming in 2012 .......................... 15 Electric Vehicle Acronyms......................................... 15 Eco-Fashion Marvelous Millinery from Thrift Store Finds ....... 17 RE-World Re-Art - Washed Ashore Art . .................................... 19 Re-Art - Glean Pile for Cracked Pots........................ 20 Recycling Normal Size Prescription Bottles......... 23 Gardening - Gardening for Habitat ......................... 24 Food - Shop an Online Farmers’ Market.................... 26 Education - Eco-school Networks ........................... 29 Events................................................................................... 30 Classifieds . ........................................................................ 31
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Green Living Journal P. O. Box 677, Cascade Locks, OR 97014 Publisher: Columbia River Press LLC PDX Editorial Team: Katie Cordrey | Gary Munkhoff | Susan Place 541.374.5454 gary@greenlivingjournal.com Advertising: Susan Place 541.374.5454 crads@greenlivingjournal.com Prepress/Graphics/Ad Production: Katie Cordrey iByte Company info@ibytecompany.com 509.493.1250 National Editor: Stephen Morris ed@greenlivingjournal.com Webmaster: Michael Potts Michael@thepublicpress.com Distribution : Ambling Bear, Portland Pedal Power Cover Photos: Women Build: Flickr user Vic Cuban; Nick learning to bicycle: Flickr user sean dreilinger Printed: with soy-based inks on recycled paper by Signature Graphics.
Publisher’s Page continued
strip kicks in wildly spinning the wheel on my meter. Oh well, it's only money. Or is it? That question draws me back to the book on the night stand that kept me up way too late last night. At my age, I should know that sipping wine and reading into the wee hours of the morning wreaks havoc with my sleep and my dream machinery. Oh well, I finished Reinventing Fire by Amory Lovins not because it’s a hair raising thriller or a mind bending mystery, but because of its exciting message. It made burning the midnight oil well worth the effort, and it made the book the obvious choice for our Book Review section in this issue Reinventing Fire is a book that every American should read. It is a must read for anyone that considers themselves to be an advocate for sustainable living, but be forewarned that this is not an easy read. There’s an overwhelming volume of charts, tables, figures and facts, but don’t let that stop you from reading to the end. All of it is absolutely essential to prove Lovins’ assertion that the burning of fossil fuels for energy production is no longer our cheapest option. His data leads us to the monumental conclusion that we have reached the point where using fossil fuels to power our modern society actually costs more than using a combiThe Columbia River edition of the Green Living Journal is published nation of renewable energy sources and super efficiency. If quarterly and 20,000 copies are distributed free of charge throughout the we make the transition to renewable energy plus efficiency Portland-Vancouver metro area. by 2050 we will spend $5 trillion less than business-as-usual We encourage our readers to patronize our advertisers, but we are not with fossil fuels. That $5 trillion saving was calculated withresponsible for any advertising claims. out figuring in the huge hidden costs of burning fossil fuels Subscriptions $9.95 per year. that society will incur in the way of health, environmental, Copyright © 2012 Columbia River Press LLC national security, and military issues. The 2050 US economy could be 158% bigger and still The Green Living Journal have no need for oil, coal, or nuclear energy. Plus it would Family is Proud need one-third less natural gas than we are using today. to be a Member He points out that the transition requires no new federal taxes, subsidies, mandates, laws or new inventions and can be led by business for enduring profit. A refreshing concept for sure, but in my opinion, there is a payoff here for the individual as well. Each one of us can take the profit making Amory and the Elephant steps taken by businesses, adapt them to fit our individual by Gary Munkhoff circumstances, and cash in on this transition in our daily lives Reinventing Fire takes us from wondering what to do I'm sitting at the kitchen table drinking my coffee when about the devastating effects of our energy usage to puting out of the corner of my eye I see that the elephant is still us in the drivers seat on the road to a future powered by there. Weird, and yet I have no sense of there being anyclean, safe and abundant energy. thing out of the ordinary. Then from far off I hear music Amory Lovins presents us with a practical choice in how and voices singing ..." been through the desert on a horse we proceed into the future. We can all get behind him or with no name." The music gets louder..."feels good to be we can continue to live with that huge elephant that keeps out of the rain". I groan, roll over, slap the off button and us warm, transports us, and does our heavy lifting, but also struggle to make the switch from bizarre dream back to devours our money at one end and out the other leaves us everyday reality. with a growing pile of gross, stinking doo doo. The reality is that with the east wind blowing, it's a cold Can we not hear that background music getting louder? day for February, and as I brew my first cup of coffee I notice that the heat pump can't keep up. The watt burning heat Must be time to wake up and get rid of the elephant. A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012 4
Publisher’s Page
Book Review Reinventing Fire:
Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era By Amory Lovins 2011 Chelsea Green Publishing
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Correction
The Public Affairs Director for Timberline Lodge is Jon Tullis, not Joe Tullis that we printed as the author of First EV to Timberline that ran in our Winter issue. Please accept our apologies, Jon.
Letters Dear Gary, I am desperate to properly dispose of my accumulated medication bottles with my info plastered all over them in a green way. Could you please point me in the correct direction? Sincerely, Nina Sarmanian Nina, Thank you, Nina, for the great question. We felt that the answer deserved to be featured in our Recycling section, so check it out on page 23. Gary
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Imagine fuel without fear. No climate change. No oil spills, no dead coal miners, no dirty air, no devastated lands, no lost wildlife. No energy poverty. No oil-fed wars, tyrannies, or terrorists. No leaking nuclear wastes or spreading nuclear weapons. Nothing to run out. Nothing to cut off. Nothing to worry about. Just energy abundance, benign and affordable, for all, forever. That richer, fairer, cooler, safer world is possible, practical, even profitable-because saving and replacing fossil fuels now works better and costs no more than buying and burning them. Reinventing Fire shows how business - motivated by profit, supported by civil society, and sped by smart
policy - can get the US completely off oil and coal by 2050, and later beyond natural gas as well. Authored by a world leader on energy and innovation, the book maps a robust path for integrating real, here-andnow, comprehensive energy solutions in four industries - transportation, buildings, electricity, and manufacturing - melding radically efficient energy use with reliable, secure, renewable energy supplies. Popular in tone and rooted in applied hope, Reinventing Fire shows how smart businesses are creating a potent, global, market-driven, and explosively growing movement to de-fossilize fuels. It points readers to trillions in savings over the next 40 years, and trillions more in new business opportunities. Pragmatic citizens today are more interested in outcomes than motives. Reinventing Fire answers this transideological call. Whether you care most about national security, or jobs and competitive advantage, or climate and environment, this major contribution by world leaders in energy innovation offers startling innovations that will support your values, inspire your support, and transform your sense of possibility.
Local Notes Something Borrowed Portland Lane´ Bigsby is proud to announce the founding of Something Borrowed Portland, a new wedding goods and decor lending library now open in Portland.
The library will serve the public by appointment only and is based in North Portland. The inventory of more than 150 items is mostly wedding decorations and dishes including bird cages, chalkboard frames, mason jars, milk glass, assorted vases, candle holders, and an assortment of other rustic, vintage, and shabby chic decor. For information and instructions on how to donate wedding decor, contact Lane’ Bigsby at 505-707-5787 or www.SomethingBorrowedPDX.com
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Solarize NE Portland Launches Second Project
The mission is to build a greater sense of community, promote thoughtful consumption by sharing, and provide brides-to-be of all income levels the opportunity to have the wedding of their dreams while staying within their means. Items in the library may be borrowed free of charge by the DIY bride. Lane´ came up with the idea before her own wedding last August when she met with local brides who also wanted to share goods. “At Something Borrowed Portland, brides-to-be will be able to save money by borrowing items for their wedding, many of which have been donated by others,” Lane´ said. “When we were planning our wedding, I was unemployed and know how it felt trying to make a dollar stretch. It was also very time consuming making and hunting down one-ofa kind pieces. This is a way for brides-to-be to take a breath, relax, and know there’s a community resource available.” 6
Ever thought about installing solar energy on your home, but didn’t know where to start? Portland homeowners in NE Portland looking to control their energy costs by using solar electricity have a helping hand to guide them through the steps of a home installation. The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN), Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, Solar Oregon, Umpqua Bank and Energy Trust of Oregon are collaborating to launch the second Solarize Northeast campaign. Registration runs through May 15. “With this second round, NECN aims to demystify solar energy for residents and provide a simple and affordable solution for homeowners to install solar panels on their homes,” explains Paige Coleman, Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods’ executive director. “We are pleased to be working with our partners to provide the latest information, technology and incentives to our residents.” Solarize Portland neighborhood projects are designed to simplify the process of going solar and bring cost reductions through volume purchasing. Free informative workshops make the process easy to understand by covering topics such as the size of system to purchase, budgeting, financing, and how to get started. Come to the next workshop and meet the people who can help you determine the next steps. Umpqua Bank is providing financing through their Green Street loan program and offering assistance to the campaign with outreach services and hosting workshops in the bank’s Alberta Street store. “Solarize is a smart way to engage our community,” says Robert W. Cross, store manager, Umpqua Bank Alberta and President Elect of Solar Oregon. “It makes good economic sense for homeowners to pursue solar energy with the abundance of resources out there.” View the schedule of free workshops in Northeast Portland: http://solarize.necoalition.org/workshops Register for Solarize NE: http://solarize.necoalition.org/ For more info: www.portlandonline.com/bps/solarize
A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Local Notes continued Healthy Snacks From Stumptown Vending Wynne Scovill hopes to give vending a fresh reputation by giving access to healthy and locally made snacks with his new venture: Stumptown Vending.
Grahams, Fiber One, Clif Bar, and others. All selections will be clearly labeled for food sensitivity and health values. Scovill’s goal is to have three of his healthy snack machines placed in the Portland area by the end of 2012. For more info: www.stumptownvending.com
Future Energy Conference 2012
For more info: www.FutureEnergyConference.com Visit Our Advertisers They Have the Green Goods & Services that You Need And They Make this Free Magazine Possible
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His first vending location is at Linnton Feed and Seed store at 10920 NW St. Helens Rd. Store owner, Dan Cadmus, says he has been frustrated by not being able to find healthy snacks when he is out and about. Stumptown Vending will be selling locally made healthy snacks through his vending machines which are recycled and retro-fitted with energy efficient lights. Most products in his vending machines will be either kosher, gluten free, vegan and/or organic. Absolutely no junk food and no high fructose corn syrups! At this time, his vending selections include Skout Trailbar, Gorge Delights pure fruit snack bars, Betty Lou’s organic bars, and Erin Baker’s cookies. Other products not locally made will be Surf Sweets gummy bears and gummy worms, Ostrim Natural beef snacks, Annie’s Homegrown Bunny
The Northwest Environmental Business Council (NEBC) and Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association (OSEIA) have joined hands to present Future Energy Conference 2012. As a co-presenter, OSEIA will merge its annual NW Solar Expo to combine the best of both worlds with Future Energy Conference. “The solar industry is no longer a niche market in Oregon, and our merger with Future Energy Conference speaks to the deepening relationship between solar and the rest of the energy community,” said Glenn Montgomery, OSEIA’s executive director. The two-day professional conference promises to deliver compelling content that spans the spectrum of energy issues, and with the merger comes additional offerings for the solar industry including a technical track that satisfies continuing education requirements. Another significant benefit of the merger is the enhanced exhibitor trade show that will attract both business-to-business (B2B) and businessto-consumer (B2C) audiences. “Our sponsors and exhibitors will derive real value from the expansion of the Future Energy Conference and trade show in 2012,” claims Robert Grott, NEBC’s executive director. The Future Energy Conference will be held Wednesday and Thursday, April 25-26, 2012 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, and it is expected to attract 600-700 professionals from the industry, government, education and non-profit sectors. The exhibitor trade show runs Wednesday through Saturday, April 25-28 with over 2,000 trade show visitors estimated to attend.
Local Notes continued
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Youth Empowered Action Camp Expands in Oregon
Youth Empowered Action (YEA) Camp is a unique and inspiring summer leadership program for youth 12-17 who want to make a difference in the world. At a week-long sleepaway program in Corbett, OR, YEA campers choose an issue of importance to them (for example, some have chosen climate change, racism, homophobia, homelessness, or animal rights) and they build the knowledge, skills, confidence, and community to take action on that issue once they get home. Campers also build lifelong friendships between youth with similar interests in bettering their community and society. Youth who have participated in the program report that the camp was one of the most fun, memorable and lifechanging experiences they have had. With YEA’s™ support, many have gone on to get involved in their communities on issues they care about. This year, YEA has undergone a major expansion, adding a second session of the summer camp in Oregon to accommodate up to 55 teens at the Columbia River Gorge location. They have also launched a free, monthly workshop - YEA Academy - in Portland in partnership with Portland Parks and Recreation. For more info: www.yeacamp.org
People’s Food Co-op Farmer Loan Program
People’s Food Co-op provides $8,000 in no interest loans to local farmers “Offering a ‘no interest loan’ is intentionally revolutionary in its unique and progressive approach”, says Kris DeMaria, Finance Coordinator at People’s Food Co-op. No interest loans are opposite of the normal cycle that too many farm8
ers find themselves in – the cycle of high interest loans, debt, and the inability to reach financial security and true economic viability through their business. This approach embraces the relationships that they seek to cultivate when they use the terms “local” - they want to support the growth efforts of farmers to provide our community with food. People’s intention is not to make money off the farmers, but to share the resources that they have to better enable farmers to provide the food and resources needed to live a healthy life. So far, nearly $8,000 has been distributed to eight local farms and farmers. With this “seed money” farmers have started a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, purchased seeds for a farm expansion, repaired a greenhouse damaged in the 2009 winter storms, and procured a bailer to start bailing straw to sell back to the co-op, to name a few. Farmers create their own time line for payback, none having passed six months for complete payback. “The idea is that we lend farmers money when they need it, allowing them to pick the time as to when they can pay it back. The amount returned is just the principle – no interest”, says Johanna Tomesch, Farmer Loan co-creator and produce buyer, “we aren’t taking money from the people that are providing us with our food.” The goal is to make the program accessible to those who need it, while also maintaining criteria that supports the goals of the store. Up to this point, they have focused primarily on offering the loans to farmers that they already work with and know could use some financial assistance. They are in a prime position to truly know their farmers, and knowing their story deeply is what allows People’s to determine a good match. That said, they have gone beyond the store to outside networks including the farmers at their weekly farmers’ market, Mercy Corps funded farmers, and outreach on the Portland CSA website. In addition to the Farmer Loan Program, the Finance Team is continually working on ways to invest money into the community to help farmers start unique projects and add value to their operations. For more info: kris@peoples.coop or johanna@peoples.coop
PCC Plans for Largest GroundMounted Solar Array in Portland Area
Portland Community College will soon start construction of a 35,000 square-foot solar array at the Rock Creek Campus (17705 N.W. Springville Road). The project is to be funded by dollars from the 2008 bond measure and is expected to produce 500,000 kilowatt hours
A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Local Notes continued of electricity in its first year of operation – enough to fulfill the electrical needs of 40 average sized homes per year – and nearly 10 million kilowatt hours during the next 20 years. The system will provide 60 percent of the energy needs of Building 9, a 72,000 square-foot structure that houses student and administrative services and the Rock Creek Campus library. The electricity produced will ensure the college’s access to low cost energy over the next 20 years. The array will be owned, operated and maintained by SolarCity. The college will have the option to purchase it after 20 years. The solar array fits PCC’s Climate Action Plan, which pledges to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. To accomplish this the college will make everything from building operations and transportation services, to credit programs and community outreach more sustainable. And that includes using the bond program to help meet these objectives. For more info: http://news.pcc.edu/
A 32,000 square foot ecoroof was installed in 2011 atop The Ramona Apartments (1550 NW 14th Ave), making it the largest single-level ecoroof in Portland. The Ramona is a new mixed-use, mid-rise apartment building consisting of six stories of wood-framed construction over a concrete podium. It includes 138 affordable apartments and ground floor facilities leased by Portland Public Schools and the Zimmerman Community Center. The Ramona is LEED-Gold certified
Courtesy City of Portland
and is located close to shopping, parks, the Portland Streetcar, coffee shops, and bike trails in the Pearl District. The Ramona’s roof holds both a 30 kWh photovoltaic array, expected to generate enough energy to run the Ra-
Local Notes continued mona’s elevators and hallway lights, and 64 solar hot water panels over the ecoroof, which will supply approximately half of the building’s hot water. In the summer, the soil and plants are expected to keep the surface of the roof cooler and reduce the build-up of heat in the attic space, and improve PV panel efficiency. Portland State University researchers believe that combining an ecoroof with PV panels increases the efficiency of the PV panels by reducing the ambient temperature on the roof. They are currently testing this. Additionally, low irrigation rates will be tested on different zones by the City because it’s anticipated that the solar arrays will provide enough shade for the plants to sustain themselves. In addition to the ecoroof, the building’s courtyard contains permeable surfaces, plants, gravel and sand that are designed to filter and retain stormwater. Together with the roof, these elements treat 100% of the property’s stormwater. Additional benefits of the ecoroof are the mitigation of the urban heat island effect and providing habitat for wildlife. For more info: http://bit.ly/xwgNkI
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The Ramona Apartments’ Ecoroof
Local Notes continued
Building The Joys of Building a Home Together by Jessica Kellner
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In Wedowee, AL., Guy and Kay Baker live in a cozy cabin they built with their three sons using almost entirely reclaimed materials. Under the guidance of Guy, a professional builder, the family spent about five years on the project, lovingly and painstakingly building a sustainable The fifth annual Better Living Show returns to the Portland Expo Center Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25, 2012. This free, three-day festival, designed to empower attendees to become more thoughtful consumers, features more than 300 exhibiting companies, showing off the best in high-performance, eco-friendly products and services for every aspect of living a better life. The 2012 Better Living Show is packed with information, exhibits and entertainment for the whole family. There are hundreds of exhibitors and speakers in the home, garden, food, beverage, fashion, transportation, renewable energy, conservation, and natural healthcare industries
Beaverton Living Greener Neighborhood Summit The City of Beaverton Living Greener Neighborhood Summit starts 9am April 14 at the Beaverton Library. Visit with over 50 local businesses and organizations showcasing green products and solutions. Kids Corner activities and raffles, with refreshments from New Seasons Market and Maggies Buns. First 50 visitors receive a free gift! For more info: http://www.beavertonoregon.gov/livinggreener
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Courtesy Michael Schoppen
home using centuries-old materials. The family so loves their hand-built home — initially planned as a vacation cottage — that they ended up moving in full time. Every day, Kay and Guy enjoy the personal connection they have with every detail of their 1,100 square foot space. In 2001, Guy was feeling overwhelmed at work, and Kay was working on her bachelor’s degree in psychology. The couple’s three young sons were becoming increasingly busy with school and their personal lives. When Guy’s mother unexpectedly fell ill and passed away, Guy became acutely aware of the sensation that life was passing him by. For years, Kay and Guy had owned land on which they planned to build — a piece of property formerly owned by Guy’s grandfather — but they’d never gotten around to starting the project. After his mother’s death, Guy felt driven to make good on a longtime dream of building a getaway in the woods for himself and his family. “We just needed some peace and serenity,” he says. Guy had long had a fascination with the antique building materials he saw while working on tear-down buildings in the area. He was impressed with the materials’ quality and durability. He saw the antiques he’d collected as heirlooms of a bygone era that valued craftsmanship over speed. “It amazed me that I could work on houses that were 150 years old, and the damages to these homes were minute because of the materials and the quality of the studs and the
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Building continued lumber,” he says. “A year later, you work on a home that’s only 20 years old, and you see all this termite and water damage.”
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Courtesy Michael Shopenn
For years, Guy had been collecting items — bits of the region’s architectural history — gathered from projects in the area. Though he hadn’t been sure at the time what he would do with them, he knew they were too wonderful to throw away. When it came time to start construction on his family cabin, Guy realized he had collected nearly enough reclaimed materials to build the whole cabin. Guy and Kay were determined to avoid taking on debt to build their dream home. Over time, finding free supplies became a game to Guy. “Anytime you needed something, you knew it was out there, and you could find it. It almost became a challenge to not spend any money and be able to do this,” he says. Guy searched far and wide to find the best materials, then used creativity, artistry and hard work to incorporate them into the home. He used entirely antique window panes from an 1800s-era church his company had worked Columbia River PDX c Green Living Journal d No. 16 Spring 2012
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Building continued to deconstruct. Guy spent hundreds of hours reframing the antique panes with reclaimed wood. Another project was creating a gigantic bathtub by lining a cattle trough with fiberglass. Overall, building the house cost virtually nothing. “Other than the wiring and the plumbing and things like that, we didn’t spend any money,” Guy says. And though saving money was part of the motivation, the family was also keen on using reclaimed materials because they liked incorporating their region’s history into their home. As Guy collected materials, the Baker family started spending their evenings and weekends building. From roofing and tiling to laying flooring, the family members took on every task. The boys — Jeffery, Kyle and Adam, who were 15, 14 and 12 respectively when the project started — were assigned specific jobs, such as constructing the outdoor fireplace from rocks found all over the property. Guy and Kay viewed building their home as an important way to teach their sons the value of hard work, and to show them what a huge feat they could accomplish when working together as a family. Though the teens may have grumbled at times, today all three Baker sons realize how much they learned from building the home, and they know their home
was worth all the hard work. Guy sees the home as a testament to his family’s dedication: “It’s more than a house when you know that you or your children had your hands in the whole project.” “The idea’s been batted around about selling it,” Kay admits. “We’ll say, ‘If someone pulled up in this driveway and offered however much money, would we sell it?’ The boys look at us and just say, ‘No.’ This is the one place that means a lot to all of us.” Excerpted from Mother Earth News, the Original Guide to Living Wisely. To read more articles from Mother Earth News, please visit www.MotherEarthNews.com. Copyright 2011 by Ogden Publications Inc.
Earn Your Certificate in Renewable Energy
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A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Transportation What the Right Bike Can Do for You by Carolyn Szczepanski
Fixing Up an Old Bike
High-end bicycles go for thousands of dollars, but you can get a good-quality new bike starting at about $450. However, you can spend even less by buying or fixing up a used bike. If you’ve got an old, beat-up bike in your basement, take it to a local bike shop for a tuneup before you toss it. Chances are, with a few new parts, it will run as smoothly as the first day you bought it. If you don’t have a bike, investigate recycled options. Check for a bicycle cooperative or nonprofit in your area that fixes up donated bikes (www. bikecollectives.org has a great, frequently updated list).
Best Bikes for Smooth City Streets
If you’re going to ride on paved streets, your best bet is a road or commuter bike. Road bikes have lighter frames and slender tires, so you’ll be able to zip around with ease and speed. If you’re pedaling longer distances to the store or to work, these models could reduce your exertion and increase your enjoyment. If stability tops speed on your wish list, think European. In countries such as Denmark and the Netherlands, where bicycle travel rates are the highest in the world, many people ride commuter bikes. These models are heavier, but their frames are more durable, their tires are a bit thicker, and their handlebars allow you to sit more upright. Many commuter bikes also have V-shaped, step-through frames, which makes it easier to ride them in work clothes.
Nontraditional Bikes
If you think biking won’t work for you, take a look at some of the many specialized bike models now available before you decide. Does the structure of a normal bike give you back or shoulder pain? A recumbent bicycle allows you to lean back, as if in a chair, while pedaling to your destination. Are you traveling a long distance on hilly terrain? Get an electric-assist bicycle that can provide the added boost of a small motor when you need a little help on those inclines. Live in a small space or need to take public transit for part of your trip? Consider a folding bike, such as those from manufacturers Dahon or Brompton.
Sizing a Bicycle Correctly
Whichever type of bike you choose, be sure it fits your body. When you stand over the bike with one foot on each side, there should be about one inch of space between your body and the top tube of the frame. When you adjust the seat, your knee should be slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. And, when you reach out to the handlebars, make sure your arms don’t lock. You’ll want to have a slight bend in your elbows to help counter the vibrations of the road or trail. Keep in mind that some bikes are designed specifically for men or for women — this may help you find a better fit. Excerpted from Mother Earth News, the Original Guide to Living Wisely. To read more articles visit MotherEarthNews. com Copyright 2011 by Ogden Publications Inc.
Best Bikes for Rough and Rural Roads
Skinny tires and heavy frames don’t work as well on gravel, so if you’re planning to ride on rough terrain, in ruColumbia River PDX c Green Living Journal d No. 16 Spring 2012
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The bicycle is a simple machine that can help solve some of our planet’s most complicated problems. Traveling by bicycle can boost your health, slash your spending on transportation, and reduce your fossil fuel consumption — so it’s no surprise that bicycling is growing in popularity. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the number of annual trips made by bike has more than tripled since 1977 and now exceeds 4 billion. Biking to work is becoming more popular, too. Data from the U.S. government’s American Community Survey shows that the number of people who bicycle to work doubled between 2000 and 2009. “The beauty of bicycling is that it fits every lifestyle, and its benefits are universal,” says Jeff Miller, president of the Alliance for Biking & Walking, a national coalition of bicycle and pedestrian advocates based in Washington, D.C. “Whether you bike 5 or 10 miles to work every day or pedal a few minutes to the grocery store once a week, you’ll build your health — and the health of the planet.” Here are some tips that can help you select the right bicycle for you.
ral areas or on trails, consider a mountain or hybrid bicycle. Mountain bikes have fat, knobby tires for traction, shock absorption for uneven ground, and low gears for easier hill climbing. (ask your local bike shop about the best gear options for your area). If your travel takes you on both gravel and pavement, consider a hybrid bike, which combines the treaded tires of the mountain bike with some of the features of road and commuter bikes, including a more upright riding position and a lighter frame.
Transportation continued
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The Electric Option by Stephen Morris At SolarFest, the summer music and energy extravaganza held in Middletown Springs (VT) each July, the Green Living Journal was right next to the booth for Freedom 4 Bikes of Bellows Falls, Vermont. The bikes were quite a show-stopper, as the shop proprietors would end their sales pitch by hopping on a bike and silently gliding into the distance, whetting the appetite for a test ride. By the end of the day on Sunday I could recite their sales pitch verbatim: • Only costs about $.05 to recharge • Range of 20+ miles • Durable, American-made • Great service back-up • Just leave them plugged in and they’re always ready to go As a longtime mountain biker, I rebelled at the idea of needing an electric assist for my outdoor recreation and conditioning. Even though I am now officially a senior citizen, I’m Courtesy Pedego not about to concede anything to the passage of time. On the other hand, as a “friend of the environment” who works from a home office, the idea of replacing those too frequent trips to the bank, post office, and supermarket with a $.05/charge bike trip was compelling. Moreover, my wife is an enthusiastic cyclist, but she hates hills and you can’t go very far in any direction around here without encountering a hill. By Sunday afternoon I had convinced myself that not buying a his and hers set of electric assist bikes would not only be environmentally irresponsible, but also tantamount
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to spousal abuse. So I asked if I could take a test ride. As I cruised around the Solarfest grounds, my mind was made up. I was going electric. Serious, but friendly horse-trading ensued, and I convinced them to sell me two of their demonstration models at the show at a generous discount. They could even deliver them on their way home from the show. Heh-heh. Two hours later the bikes were in our driveway, and we were all shaking hands and promising to keep in touch. The bikes we bought are Pedegos (pedego.com) built in Irvine, CA. They are fully designed as electric assist vehicles, as opposed to conversion retrofits to existing bikes. The frames are rugged, reminiscent of a vintage Schwinn, with comfortable padded seats and handlebars that keep you upright. All the componentry is top-notch bike gear. The fat balloon tires make for a luxurious ride. We put on our helmets and gave them a test ride. The Pedegos tamed even the steepest inclines, making the entire ride seem like a gentle downhill. “No pain, no gain” was suddenly “no pain, no pain.” It was hard to keep from whooping with joy. So we whooped. Several weeks later our region was hit, and hard, by tropical storm Irene. Our road was devastated, but the rebuilding effort began almost immediately. Although the road was officially closed and even local automotive traffic was discouraged, our bikes proved the perfect vehicles to satisfy our nosiness about how the recovery effort was progressing. Throughout the late summer and fall we watched the rebuilding of our community from the comfortable leather seats of our Pedego electric assist bikes. When I called the dealer to get some additional information for this story, I told her how much we had enjoyed our bikes. “That’s good, because they now have a studded snow tire option available.” Studded snow tires for a bike? No thanks. I think I will wait until there is an electric assist option for my crosscountry skis. Stephen Morris is the National Editor of the Green Living Journal
A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Electric Vehicle News Ten Electric Cars Coming in 2012 By Patrick Connor The year 2011 was a landmark year for EVs. We witnessed regional launches of the Nissan LEAF and the Chevy Volt. These two plug-in cars were the start of a new era for electrified personal transportation. The current American car auto fleet, however, is enormous—and two models alone cannot create change on a large scale. During 2012, these two plug-in cars will have—depending how you look at it—either competition in the marketplace or help in the movement to electrify transportation.
Here is my top 10 countdown of plug-in cars to look forward to in 2012:
Electric Vehicle Acronyms
The many electric vehicles (EVs)coming to dealerships in the Portland area are bringing with them a whole new set of terms and acronyms that can be rather confusing . To that end we thought that defining some of the EV acronyms might be helpful to those readers that are just beginning to develop an interest in EVs.
EV - Electric Vehicle
Usually refers to registered passenger vehicles, but can also be any vehicle that uses an electric motor as its primary source of power to drive its wheels, tracks, propellers, or whatever else pushes the vehicle along. The electricity needed to energize the motor can come from a battery, a fuel cell, or an onboard generator. Unicycles to eighteen wheel semis as well as planes, boats, tractors and such can all be EVs.
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10. LEAF and Volt (Expanded Markets): First on my list is the expanding availability of the two cars that kickstarted the new era of plug-in vehicles. The Volt is now available across the US, Canada and the UK. Nissan says the LEAF will be available in all 50 US states by March of 2012. 9. Smart ForTwo Electric Drive: Daimler reports that it will launch its Smart ForTwo Electric Drive to 30 markets around the world in September of 2012. 8. Honda Fit EV: The Fit EV is scheduled for release in Oregon and parts of California this summer. Only a few hundred cars are expected to reach US shores during 2012. 7. Mitsubishi i: The updated Mitsubishi i-MiEV began shipping to Japan and the UK in 2011. The town of Normal, Illinois received hundreds of i’s in 2011 as part of a test program and publicity campaign. The nationwide US rollout is scheduled for July 2012. At $29,125 (before state and federal incentives) it is one of the most affordable highwaycapable EVs. 6. Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid: With the “Prius Goes Plural” campaign, Toyota adds several new models of the Prius including the Plug-in Prius or PIP. It has the highest MPG rating in the Prius family and will be available in 15 states in spring 2012 with nationwide availability in 2013. 5. Ford Focus Electric: This is the first pure EV of this era from one of the Big 3. It will be a bellwether and will be available in 13 states including Oregon by mid 2012. 4. Fisker Karma: First promised in 2009, the courtesy Ford Motor Co Karma should be available in 2012, although you will need six figures of cash to make it happen. 3. Toyota RAV 4 EV (Redux): This vehicle is a joint effort between Toyota and Tesla. The original RAV 4 EV was a
favorite among the millennium era EVs. It is scheduled for sale in mid-2012. Initially sales will be limited to California. 2. Ford C-Max Energi: The Ford C-Max Energi is a plug-in hybrid version of the Ford C-Max wagon (or compact multi-purpose vehicle, or MPV, as it is referred to in the UK). The 2013 Ford C-Max Energi is planned for launch in North America in 2012, and Europe in 2013. 1. Tesla Model S: This is the car I am most looking forward to driving. Tesla plans to build and sell 6,500 units in 2012. However, unless you are already a reservation holder, you are out of luck because 6,500 people have already put down $5,000 each to get a place in line to buy one. Deliveries are expected to start Courtesy Tesla Motors mid-2012. There are other plug-in cars—from smaller and less proven companies—that could make it to market in 2012, most notably the Coda Electric Sedan. But Coda, as well as BYD, Zap, Zenn, and Wheego are all dark horses in the emerging market. Of course, the only thing that would be truly surprising in this tumultuous nascent industry would be a year with no surprises. Pat is the social media director of the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association (OEVA). You can follow the OEVA on facebook or twitter. He also writes about renewable energy and EVs at http://celticsolar.blogspot.com/ and http://carswithcords.blogspot.com/ He drives a Chevy S10EV and will soon be driving a Nissan LEAF.
EV News continued BEV - Battery Electric Vehicle
An electric vehicle whose electricity is stored in a battery or battery pack. You plug this vehicle into an electric charging station in order to recharge the battery and run the car. There’s no gasoline engine or hydrogen fuel cell to kick in and provide more power when the battery is out of juice. And there is no tailpipe or emissions. The Nissan Leaf is an example of a BEV.
EV News continued
EREV - Extended Range Electric Vehicle
An electric vehicle with a rechargeable battery pack as well as an on-board gas powered generator to recharge the battery for extended mileage. The Chevrolet Volt is an example of this class.
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HEV - Hybrid Electric Vehicle
A vehicle that uses two or more sources of power to operate. One of these sources is an electric motor and the other is usually a gasoline-powered engine. There is no external source of electricity and there is no plug available for recharging the battery from an external source. The Toyota Prius is an example.
PHEV - Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
This is a hybrid electric vehicle with a larger battery pack that can be charged by an external source (i.e. plugged into household electricity) other than its fossil fuel engine. These vehicles often have the ability to travel in a ‘pure electric mode’ without using any conventional fuels. Such a car will also have a combustion engine that extends the range of the vehicle once the battery is drained. The extended range can come through the combustion engine powering the wheels or through the engine generating electricity to run the electric motor in the car. The Chevrolet Volt is example. A Toyota PHEV will be available in 2012.
PZEV - Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle
This vehicle category was created as part of a bargain with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), so that the automobile manufacturers could postpone producing mandated zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), which will require the production of electric vehicles or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. There are two different approaches to meeting the standards for this class. In one, the vehicle has some sort of technology, such as an electric motor, that allows the car to travel at least some of the time without spewing emissions. In the other, the vehicle must meet slightly different criteria that can be met with super efficient tweaks to the internal combustion engine. Subaru makes several models that fit in the latter case.
ZEV - Zero Emission Vehicle
Any of many types of vehicles that emit no tailpipe pollutants from the onboard source of power. Human or animal powered vehicles fall into this category as do BEVs, PHEVs, vehicles that are powered with compressed air engines, liquid nitrogen engines or flywheel energy storage systems, hydrogen vehicles utilizing fuel cells or converted internal combustion engines (ICE), and solar powered vehicles.
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A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Eco-Fashion Marvelous Millinery Heather Daveno’s Hats Are Made from Thrift Store Finds By Katie Cordrey
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Heather Daveno makes incredibly beautiful, highly functional, one-of-a-kind hats from recycled textiles: fortunately for me, she’ll even use her talents to make special wishes come true. I first met Heather at a trade show about a dozen years ago. She’d been handmaking hats based on medieval and renaissance styles from both European and Eurasian cultures and was looking to widen her customer base. I was instantly charmed by the beautiful forms and quality craftsmanship of her work. The fact that she used repurposed textiles for her creations was icing on the cake. I placed an order for my small crafts gallery with the hopes that my customers would appreciate the same qualities that I had seen in Heather’s work. The hats arrived a few weeks later and as I unpacked them from the shipping box, I thought, “If my customers don’t love these, I’m Photo: Katie Cordrey in the wrong business Heather designs her hats one at a time from materials that she salvages from second-hand stores and other people’s castoffs. Using salvaged materials adds to the unique character of each hat, but Heather imbues her work with her fascination of cultural history. Her original hats, like the ones I purchased, resembled Viking and Mongolian headwear. Since then, she has incorporated designs from medieval Russian manuscripts and added architectural motifs from Italy as well as designs from Turkey as a result of her travels. Years before I began to offer Heather’s hats in my gallery, aged and I had no thoughts of retiring it from use. My customers loved Heather’s hats and soon after that I had given my husband a beautiful red Native Americanfirst box arrived, I was ordering more. In those days, she patterned Pendleton jacket which he wore nearly every day marketed them under the name “Lao Hats.” Lao is the Chifor two decades. He loved that jacket and though it grew nese word for “old” and the name was a play on words and a threadbare and worn, he conreference to the use of reclaimed materials in her work. tinued to wear it. I bought Heather first started using recycled items because she another to replace it, but couldn’t find quality clothing and home furnishings at a Pendleton changes their price she could afford. Over the years, her finances have fabric design each year and though he thought improved, but her love of the hunt has remained strong. “Although I could shop at the name brand stores now,” the new, darker design she says, “it’s much more fun digging through racks to find was nice, he loved the that one wool couture suit that no one else owns, or a Chired one more. But nese curio cabinet that I would never find anywhere else. at the time of After 30 years of shopping second hand, my entire closet, my original and virtually my entire house, is outfitted with thrift store hat purfinds.” chase, my The hunt for the unusual is bolstered by her ecological husband’s sensibilities, “I’ve always preferred to work with used furs red jacket and leathers from an environmental standpoint. The wool was only suits, coats and skirts I find in thrift stores are made from middle-
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Eco-Fashion continued fabrications that are either a higher grade, or patterns that are no longer woven. They’re also already ‘broken in’ and are not filled with the chemicals and sizing that you find when buy new yardage at the fabric store. In addition, because sometimes the coat or skirt I find is only enough for a couple of hats, it keeps my work very unique and ‘limited edition’. No two hats are identical because of the limitations of the textiles I work with.” The stylish punk rider on the right had humble beginnings. The straw hat from I share Heather’s enthusiasm for which it was made is shown sitting on a lace curtain and placemats that Heather found at a thrift store. “ I seem to be into placemat hats lately,” she says. the lucky find and for the uniquely - Photos Courtesy of Heather Daveno one-of-a-kind creation that can only be had by repurposing something would be special – exactly the gift I wanted to give my husold into something new. So last year, band. And as I thought about the many gifts we’d given one when I stood staring at my husband’s now-scruffy Pendleanother in the course of our relationship, I recalled another ton jacket a few weeks before his birthday, it came to me: bit of clothing that had long since worn out and sent off I’d ask Heather to reclaim fabric from the beloved jacket to another request – for customized scuff slippers. fashion a new hat. The hat and the slippers were extremely well-received, After a few email exchanges, I packed up the red coat so well in fact, that I’ll be hard-pressed to match the delight and sent it off to Heather’s Seattle studio for transformation. they created for many years to come. But there may be She let me know that it had arrived and that she had disasanother special hat from some other bit of disused clothing sembled it in preparation for conversion. “First,” she told in our future. me, “I have to let it sit awhile until it speaks to me.” Heather is ever-expanding her creative repertoire as she I was delighted to think of Heather making a hat that goes about making her hats. “I’ve been introduced to Steamhad something to say about its own creation. I knew that it punk,” she tells me, “a genre of speculative historical fiction based in the Victorian era, envisioning a world as it was described by Jules Verne and his contemporaries. The embroidered wools and furs that are the mainstays of my studio now give way to straw, lace, clock parts and other assorted hardware. In addition to needles and threads, my sewing room is now outfitted with metal snips, pliers, hammer, and
Heather recently completed this wedding hat: a child’s straw steamer with veiling fashioned from a mesh plastic bag that held Satsuma oranges at the grocery store, lace from a thrift store wedding gown, hearts made of broken cloak clasps, and a used thrift-store hatpin. Hand-sewn silver beads provide the perfect final touch. - Photo Courtesy of Heather Daveno 18
A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
drill. My design horizons continue to expand with every buckle, spring, cog and chain I acquire.” I’m wondering what future inspirations I might gain from revisiting Captain Nemo and exploring the flights of fancy rampant in thrift store finds when seen through the lens of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. c--d Heather’s company, August Phoenix, is a registered woman-owned business in Washington State that donates a percentage of sales to Real Change, a not- for-profit organization devoted to ending homelessness and poverty.
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The name, August Phoenix is a reference to the fusion of cultural and time period influences that dominate Heather’s work; a nod to objects reused. New hats from reclaimed materials, handcrafted to wear forever… For more info: http://www.augustphoenix.com/
Re-Art Washed Ashore Art from Marine Debris Inspired by the ocean trash that washes up on Oregon beaches, artist Angela Pozzi created the Washed Ashore Project, an educational traveling art exhibition featuring large sea-themed sculptures crafted from colorful plastic pollution and other marine debris. The community project is sponsored by Bandon-based
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Re-Art continued Glean Pile for Cracked Pots By Jane Comerford
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What do these items have in common: a bright yellow motorcycle side-car; a Swiss Army watch; a brass bed headboard; a saxophone in its carrying case; a stack of baskets; a box of children’s toys; a brand new kimono; pieces of twisted wrought iron; and a chandelier with all its pieces? Read on and you’ll see. Once a year, before our two day summer art sale on the grounds of McMenamins Edgefield Lodge, the board members of Cracked Pots get excited about taking a trip to the “dump” - Portland’s transfer station run by Recology. There, we happily don our safety goggles, bright orange safety vests, leather gloves and hardhats before heading into a giant metal building to begin culling from the mountainous piles of trash. It feels like the day before Christmas!
Re-Art continued Artula Institute for Arts & Environmental Education. Project volunteers help to clean, sort and assemble tons of plastic garbage into the sculptures that travel to raise awareness about marine debris and plastic pollution.
For more info: www.washedashore.org/ 20
Courtesy Cracked Pots
Our mission? Preparing for one of the most popular features at the Cracked Pots Art Show, the “Glean Pile.” The Glean Pile spotlights the incredible things we have found during our several days of culling through items thrown away at the transfer station. We display these fabulous “finds” in a fashion that shows off their desirability. A lamp sits next to an armchair, and on the table next to the chair one might find a basket filled with Christmas ornaments or small plastic children’s toys. The chair may sit on a reclaimed, old, but completely useable, oriental carpet or a natural grass throw rug. The steps of a wooden ladder could hold a deck of playing cards, a box of dominoes, a small glass box filled with jewelry, a pottery vase with silk flowers, or a copper pitcher. A nifty wooden box might contain pieces of copper piping, old bathroom fixtures, or an ornate metal decoration from a vintage magazine stand.
A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Re-Art cont.
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One year, we created “rooms” in a house. The living room was a 10 x 12 rug, on which sat an armchair and a sidetable with a lamp. The kitchen had a 50’s style formica covered table with four chairs, an ironing board, appliances, as well as a cupboard filled with utensils, glassware, and cooking pots. All re-claimed from the dump! While all of this activity is quite fun for us, it’s less “fun” to realize the amount of perfectly reusable items that are taken to the transfer station every day. Each year we are freshly amazed, shocked, puzzled, even mystified by the variety and quality of materials that we find. We wonder why so many new and used (but completely serviceable) items are just “tossed” as garbage instead of being reused. Sometimes there is a story behind a small stash that we find: a failed restaurant (menus, a Japanese kimono, a wok, bamboo chopsticks, napkins); a death in the family (bags of clothes, books, lotions and soaps); a closed business (iron fence pieces, twisted ironwork, sheets
We Are Losing Ground
• In 1960 each American generated 2.68 pounds per day of waste materials and sent 2.51 pounds per day to the landfill. The difference was recycled material. • In 2010 we generated 4.43 pounds of waste per person per day and sent 2.4 pounds per day to the landfill. The difference was recycled, composted or burned for energy recovery. • So even though we are making great strides in recycling and recovery, we are generating so much more waste material per person per day that we are still sending almost as much material to the landfill as we did in 1960. • The bad news is that with the increase in population the net amount actually going to landfills has increased from 82.5 million tons per year to 135 million tons per year. Source: US Environmental Protection Agency
Re-Art continued of metal with various cutouts). But often we just guess at why some items show up in the trash heap. Is it too much trouble to take useable items to a thrift store? Do some people still not realize that their trash is another person’s treasure? Do they care? The Glean Pile is an eye-opener to everyone who attends the event. It serves as a reminder that our society continues
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Re-Art continued to throw away items that are perfectly usable, some still in their original retail packages. Most attendees are astounded by the items they see, and eager to take an item home to be used in a piece of art work, repurposed, or just used again as is. Often we hear statements like “I can’t believe someone just threw that away”. Visitors can choose one favorite piece from the pile We hope they tell the story of their “find” to others, and spread the word about a different way of doing things. We all need to be educators.
Courtesy Cracked Pots
The Cracked Pots art show at McMenamins Edgefield Lodge will be on Tuesday, July, 24th and Wednesday, July 25th from 10am-8pm. Visit the many Cracked Pots artists who make beautiful art pieces from recycled and discarded materials. There are treasures just waiting to be claimed, but get there early! For more info: www.crackedpots.org 22
A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Re-Cycle continued Recycling Normal Sized Prescription Bottles
Re-Cycle continued Preserve’s Gimme 5 Program Courtesy Fickr user Charles Williams
Far West Fibers
Far West Fibers has four recycling drop off depots in Portland that accept all plastic bottles #1 – #7, so you can drop off your #5 prescription bottles. Be sure to either remove the label or black it out with a magic marker. The lids are a little different as not all four depots accept the lids. Best to call ahead and make sure. Locations: • NE Portland – 12820 NE Marx St. Hours: MonFri: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Sat-Sun: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm • SE Portland – 4629 SE 17th Ave. Hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily • N Portland – 2005 N Rosa Parks Way Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily • NW Portland – 1520 NW Quimby St. Hours: Tues-Sat 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Whole Food Locations: • Fremont Store – 3535 NE 15th Ave. • Hollywood Store – 4301 NE Sandy Blvd. • Laurelhurst Store – 2825 East Burnside St. • Pearl Store – 1210 NW Couch St. • Hillsboro Store - 19440 NW Cornell Rd. • Tigard Store - 7380 SW Bridgeport Rd.
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The normal (smaller than 6 oz.) prescription bottles can't be tossed in the curbside recycling bins, but there are options for keeping them out of the landfills.
Preserve uses recycled #5 plastic (polypropylene) to make toothbrushes, razors, tableware and kitchen storage container which are in turn all 100% recyclable.They collect prescription bottles and other #5 plastic containers at Whole Foods stores nationwide. You can only drop off the lids if they are stamped with #5. Before you bring them to the dropoff location, remove the labels. The best way to do this is to soak the bottle in hot water and then scrape the label off.
Gardening Gardening for Habitat By: Gaylen Beatty,
Diy
Save money & packaging!
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When my husband and I purchased our home in 2002, it was the first time I had an opportunity to own land and to garden. Even with a background in environmental science, gardening was new and I had little understanding of design, plants or how to prioritize projects. I took many trips to local plant nurseries looking for anything that provided year round color and beauty. I also wanted immediate gratification by looking for plants that filled in areas quickly. The result was a garden full of single species ornamental plants that were extremely aggressive in how they grew and a fragmented landscape that
A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Gardening continued into our plants - and the native plants thrived beautifully. To date, the current BHCP is working with over a thousand homeowners. We see our yards as an important component to support larger conservation initiatives in our region, while achieving ecologically significant habitat restoration in the urban landscape. It has been an amazing journey, and I am blessed to see my children engage with nature in our own backyard. In their own way they can observe our yard’s connection with the greater region’s ecosystem. At six and eight years old, they can now identify along the trail during our gorge hikes, the same native plants that I grow in my garden. I am also encouraged to hear from other Backyard participants that they are experiencing the same journey. Using native plants in my backyard was a small step. But one thousand backyards (one thousand small steps) help to bridge the gap between habitat restoration on public and private lands. It has the potential to make a significant impact in our region. More important, it has the potential to enrich our gardening experience and enjoyment of our little piece of land. The Backyard Habitat Certification Program (BHCP) is a collaborative program of the Audubon Society of Portland (ASOP) and the Columbia Land Trust (CLT). Its mission is to engage and recognize urban landowners (1 acre or less) in invasive plant removal, creating wildlife habitat, responsible stormwater management and gardening sustainably. Broadly, the BHCP aims to achieve ecologically significant habitat restoration while using the backyard as a tool to connect participants to larger conservation initiatives. For more info: www.columbialandtrust.org or www.audubonportland.org. Gaylen Beatty is the Manager for the Backyard Habitat Certification Program with Columbia Land Trust
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was less attractive than I hoped, and devoid of animal and insect life. At the same time, while working for a local land trust, I was given the opportunity to design a gardening certification program for the southwest hills of Portland. The goal of the program was to take a comprehensive approach to urban restoration. There are many efforts to remove weeds and replant with native vegetation in public natural areas. The certification program would support that work by engaging homeowners adjacent to natural areas to compliment the restoration work on public land. Little did I know this was the start of a huge movement in our region and the newly formed Backyard Habitat Certification Program (BHCP) was the vehicle to pull it all together. When I began designing the BHCP, it signified an evolution in my own gardening journey . There are so many amazing resources in our region where we can learn and implement native habitat in an urban environment. For example, there are free naturescaping, rain garden and habitat classes, and it is heartening that native plants can be found at inexpensive prices. It was all there and I absorbed those tools into the BHCP and into my garden. I started to remove a lot of the “specimen” and aggressive plants I had purchased over the years. I replaced them with local native plants and constructed a six by 35 foot rain garden that managed all my stormwater onsite. As my garden became a reflection of the local environment, the certification program grew and our backyards became a shared experience. Along with the homeowners that participated in the certification program, I found that significant changes were occurring in our yards. We started to see more birds, butterflies and other insects. We stopped using synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and noticed that a natural balance was created. We also noticed that “maintenance” of our gardens significantly diminished because we were putting more thought
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Food Shop an Online Farmers' Market by Chris Arnold
so household customers and focused on selling to families. Over the next five years, his dozen customers grew to 3,000. The LocallyGrown network is now in Canada, the United States and the Virgin Islands. What began and failed as an online food market to restaurants succeeded as an online food market to families.
How it works
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Courtesy Grit magaziine
What is an online farmers’ market? It’s a brilliant blend of farmers’ market, community supported agriculture groups and electronic communication. It’s one more avenue to bring locally grown food to eager consumers. The idea is not even a decade old, but is catching on all over the world. The concept is the brainchild of Eric Wagoner, a farmer and software developer in Athens, Georgia. He and a few fellow farmers started a collective in 2002 to sell quality food to area chefs. The idea of selling to chefs never succeeded, but he took his small core of a dozen or
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In 2007, Wagoner made the LocallyGrown.net software available to other markets, charging a fee to cover software and hosting costs. The philosophy still centers on local farmers and local pickup points. The concept to make it convenient for buyers to find locally grown produce and artisan foods is appealing to urban and rural communities. Additionally, the buyers support local farms with a guaranteed outlet for the farm’s products and fresh, sustainably grown food. How does it work? Let’s use the Cumberland (Tennessee) Sustainable Farmers’ Market as an example. The subsite is Crossville.LocallyGrown.net. To become a member, you create an account on the sign-up page, and you then receive emails letting you know when the market is open and what products are available. You are free to order from any or all of the farmers and bakers. Growers who would like to sell on Crossville.LocallyGrown.net fill out an application online to give the manager an idea of the producers’ growing or baking practices. For now, the market only accepts farmers practicing sustainable farming and providing chemical-free products. Producers prepare a short biography of themselves and their farming practices. They list their products, prices, photographs, recipes, and/or some type of description of the product. They also list amounts available. If an item sells out, it is posted as “Sold Out.”
A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Food continued
Different from a CSA
How does this differ from a CSA (community supported agriculture)? The principal differences are: • No required advance money for customer food shares. • Customers are able to choose which foods they receive each week. • No required weekly orders. One of the obvious advantages of an online market is that the market is not affected by weather or time. Rain is a “market killer” for an actual farmers’ market, and farmers end up wasting a trip, and time. Some customers cannot go to a live farmers’ market until after work, and many times the selections have been picked over or sold out. Online ordering can eliminate some of that problem. Customers can order from the comfort of their homes, and farmers can sell from the comfort of theirs. Time and fuel are not wasted for either party. The farmer sets out with guaranteed sales, and the buyer travels to pick up a guaranteed order. In addition, customers and farmers may email each other if they have any questions.
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www.greenlivingpdx.com
All products are organized into categories. For example, the category of vegetables contains some 40 to 50 varieties (depending on the time of year). The buyer finds the vegetable wanted, clicks on the name, reads about it, fills in the quantity, and then clicks “add to cart.” The buyer then proceeds to another selection or stops shopping. There are no minimum requirements. The Crossville market opens at 3 pm Sunday and closes at 8 pm Tuesday. Customers are sent an email containing the products, prices and amounts available for sale. Buyers may log in to their accounts and make their selections. They do not pay for their items until pickup day on Thursdays. Every Wednesday, growers get a packing list showing them what they’ve “sold,” days before they have picked any produce. Buyers also receive a printout of their order. Come Thursday, the designated pickup day, the market manager has the drop-off boxes ready and properly labeled at the designated “drop-off ” point, which is in a parking lot near the new library. The sellers drop their orders into the correct box, and from 3 to 3:30, the customers arrive to pick up and pay for their orders. When the online customers have paid for their orders, the market manager hands the grower a check. There are no membership fees. Buyers are charged an additional 7% of their total; sellers are charged a 3% fee. Any extra from these fees goes toward operation and management of the market. The producers also set up a table on Thursdays to display their goods for the general public and to meet their customers. The double online and “on-site” farmers’ market is a great opportunity for customers to get to know their farmers.
Save the date! Saturday, April 14, 2012 9- 1 p.m. @ Beaverton Main Library 12375 SW 5th Street
Free Event! Family Friendly Activities
www.greenlivingpdx.com
Join us to explore: More than 50 local exhibitors and fun activities at the Kids Corner.
Educational presentations on sustainable solutions.
Refreshments provided by Maggie’s Buns, New Seasons Market, and more.
Need to recycle your worn-out sneakers? Nike Reuse-A-Shoe will be onsite with collection bins.
Great prizes to win. Raffle drawings every hour!
Free gift for the first 50 attendees!
For more information visit: BeavertonOregon.gov/LivingGreener Presented by the Beaverton Committee for Citizen Involvement
Food continued A disadvantage of the online market is the loss of an on-site market’s festive mood — seeing, smelling and touching unknown foods, tasting samples, and impromptu cooking lessons. The variety of products sold on an online market varies from market to market. The Crossville online market consists of about a half-dozen different producers: retired people growing small backyard gardens, active produce farms, artisan bakers, and one large certified-organic grassfed meat, cheese, milk and egg farm. The quality and variety of the products is excellent. Conscientious farmers and bakers provide excellent fruits, vegetables, bedding plants, flowers, organic meats, cheese, milk products, eggs, jellies, jams, and artisan baked goods. Farmers have always taken advantage of technological advancements, so for a farmers’ market to go virtual is consistent with their entrepreneurial spirit. It 28
is a benefit to have another market to sell to, especially one that is so advantageous to both farmer and customer. The additional venue for independent entrepreneurs increases their chances to sell their own products directly to consumers, a key component of a sustainable economy, particularly in economically challenged rural areas. Hopefully, both online and on-site farmers’ markets will continue to expand. Excerpted from Grit, Celebrating Rural America Since 1882. To read more articles from Grit, visit Grit.com or call (866) 6249388. Copyright 2011 by Ogden Publications Inc.
A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
Education Eco-School Networks Building a sustainable society will require a paradigm shift in how we interact with the world around us. This will mean lots of changes in how we conduct our daily lives, and making those changes will not be easy. Old habits die hard. One of the key actions that can be taken is to prevent these old habits from being passed on to our children. Which is exactly why, since 2009, the Center for Earth Leadership has been working with concerned parents to create Eco-School Networks in local school districts.. The main network encompasses the Portland Metro area with members from 40 public and private schools in the Portland Public School District. The Center also assisted in forming an independent network of nine schools in the Lake Oswego School District in 2010. They are presently working with parents and teachers from the Beaverton School District to establish a new network in their schools.
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What is an Eco-School?
An Eco-School is one in which an individual parent is taking a leadership role to introduce sustainable practices and eco-consciousness in at least one of four target arenas within the school: 1) Facilities and operations including building operations, energy use, waste management systems, and materials used in the school. Examples: • Milk carton recycling that requires washing and drying each carton. • Styrofoam food tray phase-out with a return to reusable trays. In the absence of washing equipment parents are volunteering to hand wash the new trays. • De-lamping areas that have too many lights. • Student Watt-Watchers to encourage reduced energy consumption. • Pilot lunchroom waste composting projects. 2) Classroom instruction such as Watt Watchers to encourage reduced energy consumption and science enrichment programs focused on connecting students to the ecology around them. 3) Extra-curricular activities such as gardening, art projects, and nature clubs that foster both a caring for the earth and the building of personal self-confidence. 4) Events and activities such as greening auctions and other fundraisers, organized at school but involving the school community, parents and/or the neighborhood.
What is the Network?
The Network is an organization of parents from the schools that are participating in the program along with support from Center for Earth Leadership. It is guided by a Steering Committee and a core group of active parents. Columbia River PDX c Green Living Journal d No. 16 Spring 2012
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· Events · Events ·
Education continued Members of the Network
Presently there are almost 100 Agents of Change working in the Portland, Lake Oswego and Beaverton school districts. They all: • Want a sustainable future for our children. • Promote sustainable practices and raise ecological awareness at a school. • Have taken the Center's course, "How to be an Agent of Change in your Circle of Influence." • Share a common framework and language from the course experience.
Network Activities
• Periodic gatherings and field trips to share information with other parents. • Tools and aids for use in schools, which have been created and used by Network members and are shared through an online space. • Periodic updates from the Center about schools and generic strategies for the Agent of Change. • For some active members: involvement in projects organized by the Center to promote district-wide change.
How Do I Get My School Involved?
Contact Emily Klavins at the Center for Earth Leadership, 503-227-2315 or emily@earthleaders.org
Real world. Real results. Conway’s 10-month master’s program applies regenerative and whole systems thinking to design projects at multiple scales. Now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 academic year. Learn more at www.csld.edu.
WEEKLY Bikes for Humanity Volunteer opportunity Refurbish Bikes for Bike Adoptions 7-10 Every Tues. 10-2 Every Sat. www.b4hpdx.org
MONTHLY Oregon Electric Vehicle Assoc 2nd Thurs. each month 7pm http://www.oeva.org Green Drinks 1st Tues. each month http://www.pdxgreendrinks.org/ Vancouver Green Drinks 2nd Weds. Each month http://bit.ly/zbY6z5 VOIS 3rd Thursday Networking 5:30 http://voisalliance.org/ Solar Drinks 2nd Thursday of each Month http://solaroregon.org/solardrinks
SPECIAL EVENTS The 2012 Better Living Show March 23th to 25th Portland Expo http://www.betterlivingshow.org/ Pedal Nation PDX Bicycle Show March 24th and 25th Portland Expo http://pedalnationevents.com/ Cohousing Open House April 1 Daybreak Cohousing www.daybreakcohousing.org Sense of Place-Inčii Wanałama (Big River People) April 4 6pm Hood River, OR http://bit.ly/wl3qI2 City of Beaverton Living Greener Summit April 14th Beaverton City Library http://beavertonoregon.gov/index. aspx?NID=696 Goldendale Home and Garden Show April 20-22 Klickitat County Fair Grounds http://www.goldendalechamber.org/ 12th Annual Earth Day City Repair April 22nd PCC Cascade Campus http://earthday.cityrepair.org/
PO Box 179, Conway, MA 01341
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A Practical Journal for Friends of the Environment c GreenLivingJournal.com d Spring 2012
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· Events · Events · Future Energy Conference-North West Solar Expo April 25-28 Oregon Convention Center http://bit.ly/x3mcT0 Living Future 2012 May 2-4 Hilton Downtown http://cascadiagbc.org/living-future/12 Goal Net Zero Tour May 5th Various Locations http://solaroregon.org/events/goalnet-zero-tour-2012
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20th Annual Women in the Trades Career Fair May 17-19 8am IBEW Electrical Training Cntr http://www.tradeswomen.net/fair_2012/ Village Building Convergence 2012 May 25th - June 3 Location TBA http://vbc.cityrepair.org Bike Tours of Tiny Homes under 800sf June 10, 17 and 24 10:00am - 12:30pm http://shift2bikes.org/cal/viewpp2012.php Fiddling under the Stars June 15 Goldendale, WA http://www.goldendalechamber.org/calendar Recycled Arts Festival June 23rd and 24th Ester Short Park http://www.recycledartsfestival.com/ North American Organic Brewers Festival June 29th-July 1st Overlook Park http://www.naobf.org
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Columbia River PDX c Green Living Journal d No. 16 Spring 2012
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