July / August Issue by Indiana Living Green

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S : BUILDING/REMODELING •

Exterior Paints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

ENERGY

PUBLISHER Lynn Jenkins Lynn@IndianaLivingGreen.com (317) 769-3456 EDITOR Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp Editor@IndianaLivingGreen.com

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Ceiling Fans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

F A M I LY / H O M E / E D U C AT I O N •

Green Funerals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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Safe Cosmetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

G A R D E N / N AT U R E •

Control pests in the garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

LOCAL FOODS/BEVERAGES

CONTRIBUTORS: Susan Gillie Bob Koschka tom mCain Michele McCarthy Ed McKinley Betsy Sheldon Maria Smietana

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Saucy Flavors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

F E AT U R E S •

Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

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Green, Greener, Greenest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

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Green Finds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

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Green Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

COPY EDITOR Joseph L. Bennett

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Footprints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

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News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

SALES Sales@IndianaLivingGreen.com (317) 769-3456

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Publisher’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

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The Last Row . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

GRAPHIC DESIGN Paul Wilson Design (317) 624-9900 WEB DESIGN Margaret Hsu Stout greenway@margaretdesign.com

Let bugs de-bug your yard. Page 10

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GREENโ ขGREENER

GREENEST Indiana Living Green offers ways for

you to make a difference.

GREEN 1. Avoid routine spraying of plants with chemicals. Diagnose specific problems and use the least harmful products only when necessary. 2. Create summer meals made of fresh veggies, organic foods and products from local markets. 3. Dress for the weather and use fans rather than air conditioning to cool an area.

GREENER 1. Create a healthy environment for your plants, including regular additions of compost to the soil. 2. Buy local products, such as breads, salsas, meats, eggs, pies and dairy from local stores, farms and markets, encouraging a system of local food security. 3. When possible, close windows and drapes in the morning to create a cool cave effect; open windows in the evening after temps drop to 70ยบ F or below.

GREENEST 1. Accept a certain amount of insect damage and allow nature to find its balance. 2. Start a compost pile. Grow your own veggies. Make your own salsas. Put away some of your own food for the winter. 3. Purchase green power from your utility provider so that the electricity you use supports a clean environment and green jobs.

T H E VIS I T

GREEN C A L E N D A R

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GREENGreetings!

Lynn Jenkins, Publisher

Summer: chill, simplify, communicate with each other and nature We welcome hot summer days till the heat and humidity get so high that air conditioning is the only relief. We baby boomers well remember the sweltering summers before we Illustration © iStock.com

could travel from air-conditioned homes in air-conditioned cars to air-conditioned shops and workplaces. Evenings were often spent outside where it was cooler. Humid summer nights were worse than the days with the only breeze a squeaky fan, sheets sticking to the skin and pillows constantly turned to find the cooler side. But those oppressive summers gave us the opportunity to chase lighting bugs, dabble in creeks, ride bikes fast just to create our own breeze and even rest in the shade of a tree looking for puppies, cars and other shapes in the thick cumulus clouds. Muggy evenings offered the chance to distinguish the night sounds and to become familiar with the stars as a part of our environment, not just a chapter in the science book. A recent NBC-TV experiment in Philadelphia challenged a group of high school kids to eliminate cell phone and e-mail use for 10 days. The outcome proved surprising for one participant who had to determine what to do with his new-found “free time.” He recounted that

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

he studied more, exercised more and interacted more often with his family. What might happen if we chose to simplify our lives and reach back a bit to communicate more with family, community and the environment? Would our sense of place help us find what we are busily pursuing in our hectic hunt for “better living?” Just maybe, an occasional still evening under the stars catching lightning bugs and listening to the summer sounds, or a warm day watching clouds drift or skipping rocks in a creek might help us rediscover our proper sense of direction.

LY N N J E N K I N S

Please send your Rants&Raves to: Letters@IndianaLivingGreen.com Fax: (317) 251-8545 Indiana Living Green 1730 S. 950 E., Zionsville, IN. 46077

FOOTPRINTS BY BETSY SHELDON

Indiana’s Green Giant

“

hat do you get “When you buy a when you mix new car off the Willie Nelson, showroom, it’s already Leonardo da Vinci, taken more energy to Henry David Thoreau build it than it will and a Hobbit? A man use in its lifetime,” with musical acumen, he says. “My model creative genius, respect will provide jobs, but for nature, and a prefereliminate the factories and When you buy a new ence for living in a halfhuge dealerships.” underground home — a More than 40,000 car off the showroom, man known as Vic Cook. guests have toured the it’s already taken more A musician-by-trade, Giant, and millions more energy to build it than it have learned from TV educator and renewable will use in its lifetime,” energy advocate by documentaries and destiny, Cook lives off the he says. “My model will coverage about the highgrid in the Giant, a home provide jobs, but eliminate tech home. The Giant is he designed and built himpowered by solar panels the factories and self from stone, timber and and storage batteries, huge dealerships. other materials gathered which produce enough on his thick-wooded propenergy to run two com—Vic Cook erty outside Pendleton. puters, a big-screen TV Cook, who observes and a washing machine, that the two environmennot to mention a recordtal issues that affect ing studio and a one-of-aAmericans most are their homes and kind refrigerator. The hollowed beech their transportation, is now focusing tree is positioned to take advantage of on creating an affordable electric cool underground air. With the help of a hybrid vehicle. He’s completed design tiny microchip, the freezer maintains work and has been presenting the temperatures that keep ice cream solid. concept to audiences in the Central Cook, who’s earned the President’s Indiana area, as he seeks $1.5 million Award for tourism and WRTV- Channel to build the prototype. 6’s Leadership Award, anticipates that Cook envisions a car that not only he could complete the prototype of his gets 60 miles per gallon running on vehicle in 14 to 18 months. “It is most ethanol, but also generates enough extra assuredly the car of the future,” he says. energy, to help power the owner’s home. He’s also committed to a production Betsy Sheldon writes regularly about process so simple that the car could topics of sustainability and is co-author of be assembled by a service station or Green Cleaning For Dummies and a blogsmall business. ger for Wiley Publishing.

”

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Footprints provides snapshots of Hoosiers who embrace, promote and foster a sustainable lifestyle. If you have someone to recommend, please e-mail: info@IndianaLivingGreen.com www.IndianaLivingGreen.com

ENERGY

Yorktown lands headquarters, manufacturing operations for renewable energy

Purdue researches new ways to produce biofuels West Lafayette — The U.S. Department of Energy plans to fund a $20 million effort to create an Energy Frontier Research Center to advance work in biofuels at Purdue University. The center will investigate methods to bypass the currently used processes involving biological fermentation, reducing the need for large and expensive biorefineries and expanding the range of biofuels beyond ethanol. The Department of Energy also chose Purdue's project as one of 16 that will be funded by President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The five-year project to develop direct conversion technologies of plant biomass to fuels will create at least 20 new jobs for students, postdoctoral researchers and professional staff in Indiana and another eight jobs at partner institutions.

Yorktown — VAT-Energies, LLC, and VATService, LLC, wholly owned subsidiaries of VAT-Service Getriebetechnik in Germany, plan to locate their North American corporate headquarters, service and manufacturing facilities near Yorktown in Delaware County. the company make vertical vane turbines and renewable energy powered lighting systems for municipalities, neighborhoods and other applications. The companies will invest $3.3 million to locate in an existing 60,000 SF facility in Park One Business Park, at the intersection of I-69 and Ind. 332. The plans call for up to 120 new jobs locally by 2011. VAT is the second group of companies specializing in wind and renewable energy components production to select Delaware County for its U.S. headquarters. Last fall, Brevini announced plans to locate its North American wind turbine gearbox manufacturing facilities in the Muncie area, creating 450 jobs and adding $60 million in new capital investment.

SUBMISSIONS

ENVIRONMENT Conner Prairie expands green initiatives Fishers — Conner Prairie Interactive History Park has installed a 45-foot-tall wind turbine and 22 solar roof panels and begun restoration of a 200-acre prairie grassland to reduce the park’s impact on the environment and conserve resources. The Uni-Solar panels, located on the roof of the Welcome Center, and Skystream wind turbine feed directly into the power grid at Conner Prairie. They also are used to educate guests about the natural environment. The prairie project is expected to have a major impact on water quality and habitat restoration in the upper White River watershed. It will allow guests to explore a typical 19th-century Indiana prairie grass habitat. It will take up to three years to establish fully.

For the latest news about green living, visit: www.IndianaLivingGreen.com. Submit your news items with high-resolution images to: editor@IndianaLiving-Green.com.

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GREEN N E W S B R I E F S

The Cosmetics Conundrum:

ORGANIC, © iStock.com

BY MICHELE MCCARTHY

What’s a girl to do when she wants to treat herself to some new cosmetics, but has heard rumblings about lead in lipstick or mercury in mascara? Could it really be possible that harmful toxic chemicals are in my favorite beauty products? After all, the skin is the largest organ in our bodies, and it readily absorbs chemicals that may be found in the lotions, potions, creams and makeup that we use on a daily basis. Should you search for products that are labeled as natural or organic in order to guarantee they are safe to use? Or are products being greenwashed via clever packaging and marketing campaigns, tricking consumers into thinking these cosmetics are not detrimental to health and not toxic to the environment? Recognition of this cosmetics conundrum motivated Indiana Living Green to explore what’s really lurking in beauty products.

Skin-deep knowledge Savvy green-minded shoppers must educate themselves about their favorite beauty products to learn whether they contain ingredients harmful to health or the environment. Focusing on the labels rather than the often-enticing packaging enables the consumer to make informed choices. Reading the list of ingredients, recognizing what to avoid and understanding what latent effect these chemicals may have are essential steps when deciding which cosmetics to purchase. What kind of basic knowledge is needed in order to make educated choices regarding beauty products? According to Julie Gabriel, author of The Green Beauty Guide, products should be “formulated without harmful toxic chemicals — including paraben

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and formaldehyde-based preservatives, sulfate-based detergents, synthetic penetration enhancers, artificial dyes and fragrances.” Beauty products also “shouldn’t contain chemicals that poison the environment, such as phosphate and sulfate detergents, petrochemicals and phthalates.”

Here is a list of toxic ingredients commonly found in many beauty products and why they may be unsafe. This is by no means an exhaustive inventory; most beauty products contain far too many chemicals to mention, but this is a good starting point. Clip this list and take it along on your next shopping trip.

Unpronounceably toxic

• Phthalates (pronounced tha-lates) are industrial chemicals used to hold color and fragrances. Research suggests that phthalates may disrupt hormonal systems in both men and women. • Parabens are preservatives used to prevent bacteria growth and extend the shelf life of products. Studies have shown that they are weakly estrogenic (female hormones or steroids) and can be absorbed by the body through the skin. • 1,4-dioxane is commonly found in sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates and

What do these foreign sounding words mean to those of us who love to peruse the cosmetics counter, but do not have a background in science? As a rule of thumb, avoid products with ingredients that you cannot pronounce. Use your purchasing power and talk to sales people or retail managers about the cosmetics they sell. Ask them about the ingredients. Use your purchasing power to let the industry know that consumers want eco-friendly and health-conscious cosmetics rather than products full of damaging ingredients.

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

green

chemicals ending with -xynol, ceteareth and –eth. as well as ethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene or oxynol. Research shows that 1,4dioxane easily soaks into the skin. 1,4-dioxane is considered a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. • Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA) are ammonia compounds that can form cancer-causing nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. Nitrosamines are banned in both Canada and the European Union. They are found in most personal care products. • Petrolatum is more commonly known as petroleum jelly and is a cheap byproduct of oil that leaves a large carbon footprint. Petrolatum is commonly found in lip balm and lip gloss.

Little to no regulation To further the dilemma about what’s what in the world of beauty products, cosmetics is a $30 billion a year industry, which operates without much regulation of its products. The Food and Drug Administration is the regulatory agency for the industry, but that seems to be only in name. Even though the Federal Food Drug & Cosmetic Act “prohibits the marketing of adulterated or misbranded cosmetics in interstate commerce,” the FDA “does not have the authority to give pre-market approval of cosmetic products and ingredients in order to be marketed legally except for color additives.” Stacy Malkan, author of Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry notes “there are still no industry standards for organic personal care products in the United States.” There-fore, cosmetics companies ultimately are accountable to ensure the safety of their products and ingredients. This type of self-policing creates an environment where consumers must take the initiative to look for beauty products that meet their own standards. – Continued on page 8

THE COSMETICS CONUNDRUM Continued from page 7

Read the label Reading labels is the best way to tell whether products are actually toxin free or whether the marketing department has greenwashed the package to promote a sense of environmental health and well being. The FDA does not have an official definition for organic either, as it applies to cosmetics. A beauty product labeled as “made with organic ingredients” does not have to meet any specific standards. To meet the growing demand for non-toxic cosmetics, products are now being manufactured and stamped as “certified organic,” which means they have met various standards as set forth by a certifying association, but not the FDA. The criteria for various associations are different in regard to what certified organic actually implies. Each organization issues its own seal of approval based on the products’ ingredients, which then provides some sort of consumer protection guarantee. Keep in mind that according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “certified organic” means that an ingredient or the whole product meets its standards and has been grown or produced according to strict government-enforced organic agricultural standards.”

metics along the green spectrum. For online purchases, here are just a few of the many Web sites selling safer cosmetics: www.organicdivas.com, www.Upurea.com and www.natureofbeauty.com. The debate continues about the validity of organic beauty products. Also, regulation of the cosmetics industry is not standardized. The good news is that safer alternatives are available. Learning what ingredients are found in cosmetics will be the biggest advantage in determining whether the product contains potential toxins. Purchasing beauty products as an informed consumer will get you on track toward greening up your cosmetics. © Gimmestock.com

Another piece of this puzzle is the use of the words natural and organic when describing cosmetics. Products being described as natural don’t need to meet any specific requirements. The description is misleading because it often implies the contents are non-toxic. Gabriel notes that according to government labeling requirements, natural means that an ingredient “has not been significantly altered from its original state, nor has anything been removed from it (with the exception of water), nor have other substances been added to it.” However, this definition does not apply to cosmetics or beauty products, and it is not what is implied with the stamp of approval from various certifying organizations. Consumers, therefore, must still read the label to determine what’s actually in the product.

Ingredient database The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetic safety database is a great resource to investigate what ingredients are in various beauty products. This Web site rates products on a scale of 1 to 10, based on a variety of factors, including any potential health or environmental hazards linked to the product. The reports also include whether the company has signed the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics Act, as well as the list of ingredients from the packaging. Eco-friendly and non-toxic products are available both locally and online at a variety of places. Whole Foods, Winding Way Farms, Bllomingfoods, Sunspot Natural Market, Aveda, Sephora, Macy’s Beautiful Planet, Origins and Skin Crafters are just a few places in the Central Indiana area that provide cos-

REFERENCES: • The Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel, HCI (www.thegreenbeautyguide.com) • Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry by Stacy Malkan, New Society Publishers, (www.notjustaprettyface.org) • Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me: A Unique Guide to over 30,000 Products, Plus the Latest SkinCare Research by Paula Begoun with Bryan Barron, Beginning Press • Organic Beauty magazine, www.organicbeautymagazine.net • Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database, www.cosmeticsdatabase.com • FDA: www.tinyurl.com/y8m6n4 • USDA: www.tinyurl.com/539tnq

Michele McCarthy lives in Indianapolis with her husband and four kids. Her love of all things green stems from her passion about holistic health and wellness. She is one of the leaders for the Indianapolis chapter of the Holistic Moms Network, www.holisticmoms.org

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DON’T LET IT

bug

YOU

BY JO ELLEN MEYERS SHARP

Photo courtesy Purdue University

Preying mantis (Stagmomantis carolina)

Lady beetle larva eating aphids.

Parasitic wasp (Ichneumon)

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When it comes to sustainable practices in the landscape, we look to nature for examples. For instance, we use compost, leaf litter, manures and other organic matter to improve our soil. Nature uses these elements, too. We only have to walk in woods and look at the ground to see bits of leaves and other plant debris layered in the soil. Animals make their contributions, too. Lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)

A vital part of nature and a sustainable landscape are the insects and birds. Hummingbirds, finches, bees and butterflies, spread pollen from plant to plant, aiding in the production of food and flowers. Worms, beetles and ants loosen the soil and make pathways for water and other nutrients to reach plants’ roots. Birds also eat insects as part of their diet. And they feed on one another, too. However, none of us wants our landscapes ruined by pests that are going to eat the leaves or suck life’s juices from our fruit and flowers. A sustainable way to protect our landscapes is to practice integrated pest management, a tool shed of methods that reduce or eliminate our need for synthetic chemical intervention. Pest management in this context includes all pests: insects, diseases and weeds. In this article, we’ll look at how this works with insects and diseases. These include cultural practices as well as several types of controls, including biological, genetic, mechanical or physical, regulatory and chemical. IPM is considered a common-sense and cents-saving way to control pests in our landscapes. Here are some tips:

Eliminate the use of insecticides, which are non-selective. Non-selective insecticides do not discriminate between a bad bug, such as an aphid, and a good bug, like a butterfly. Instead, rely on a bad bug’s natural predator to take care of the situation. For instance, adult and larvae lady beetles love to dine on aphids. Spiders are another predatory creature that makes fast work of bugs. You can introduce predatory insects, such as lady beetles, praying mantis and parasitic wasps, to your garden by purchasing them at some garden centers or at retailers that specialize in environmentally friendly products for the landscape, such as Worm's Way, Gardener's Supply and Gardens Alive!

Cultural controls:

Genetic controls:

Make sure your landscape has a wide variety of plant species. The more diversity, the less damage there will be from insects and diseases. Select plants that are resistant to pests. Consider avoiding plants in the rose family, because they are a big draw for Japanese beetles. Select plants that are right for the site in size and horticulture

Select plants that have been hybridized to be resistant to insects or diseases. For instance, there are crabapple varieties that are resistant to the fungus diseases that attack this ornamental tree’s leaves. Also, certain cultivars of tomatoes have been bred to be resistant to wilt and other diseases. – Continued on page 28

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

requirements, such as full sun or wet soil. Make sure plants that are susceptible to fungus diseases © iStock.com have good air circulation to help fight the disease. Follow proper planting methods. Plants that are planted improperly are more susceptible to attacks from insects and diseases. Improperly planted plants also will not thrive.

Biological controls:

Paint It

ÂŠ iStock.com

Green 12

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BY BETSY SHELDON Coffee compost or straw-bale gold? For the environmentally attuned, finding an acceptable paint for the outside of the home isn’t as easy as selecting a color. A number of factors come into play, and first among these is the level of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, in paints. The carbon-based elements found in many household products emit toxic vapors that pollute indoor space and linger for months after the paint dries, potentially causing eye irritation; headaches; nausea; and liver, kidney and nervous system damage. Prolonged exposure has even been linked to cancer. Even though paint fumes dissipate faster outdoors, they combine with fossil-fuel byproducts and sunlight to create ground-level ozone, which adds to smog. To make matters worse, exterior paints and stains typically contain more VOCs than their indoor counterparts. Blame it on the weather: “These paints need to stand up to the elements and temperature extremes,” says Robyn Baker, instore designer for Green Way Supply. “It’s the VOCs that lend the tough, durable attributes.” At present there are no zero-VOC exterior paints, and natural paints based on clay or milk aren’t rugged enough for outdoors. But Baker reports that finding a suitably low-VOC shade — whether net-zero neutral or photovoltaic fuchsia — is possible.

Paint by Numbers Quick lesson: The VOC level in paints and stains is measured in grams per liter, or g/L. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines zero-VOC paints as having less than 5 g/L. Its standard for “low” is 250 g/L for water-

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

based paints and stains, and 380 g/L for oil-based products. These levels are higher than many state and private agency standards. Eco-minded manufacturers are more likely to follow Green Seal’s more stringent GS-11 standard. The independent third-party certification (www.greenseal.org) sets interior paints at 50 to150 g/L and exterior products at 100 to 200 g/L. In addition, GS-11 prohibits a host of EPA-allowed chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene, and sets stringent performance standards for wear and tear and washability. Scott Schmitt, owner of Greenbrush Painters and a painting contractor for more than 13 years, explains that lowVOC paints have come a long way in the past few years, performing as well as or better than traditional paints and available in a spectrum of colors and a variety of textural finishes, from flat to semi-gloss. Best of all, many of these exterior products are available at VOC levels well-below 50 g/L. – Continued on page 14

PAINT IT GREEN Continued from page 13

SHOPPING FOR PAINT

Schmitt suggests the following steps for buying low-VOC exterior paint:

1. Research online. Visit brand Web sites and request VOC information, which may be provided in the form of a Material Safety Data Sheet. You can also find this information on the MSDS Web site (www.msds.search.com). 2. Check for third-party certifications, such as Green Seal. Be alert to certifications that appear to be from the manufacturer. 3. Look for the VOC content in tiny type on the back of the paint can label. 4. Purchase from a paint retailer rather than a big-box store if you want to talk to someone who is knowledgeable about paints and VOCs. 5. Ask about pigments! Consumers often don’t understand that the color added to the base paint can also contain VOCs. Ask whether the store’s tint system is zero- or lowVOC. If not, shop around for one that is—or if that’s not an option, go with a lighter color (the darker the pigment, the more VOCs.) 6. Not surprisingly, no- and low-VOC paints cost more than the conventional formulas. It doesn’t hurt to ask for a contractor discount. 7. If you prefer to hire a painting company, find one that is committed to environmental principles and uses the lowest VOC product possible. Angie’s List now identifies eco-friendly businesses on its Web site (www.angieslist.com).

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• • • •

AFM Safecoat Benjamin Moore Aura Mythic Non-Toxic Paint Sherwin-Williams’ Superpaint, A100, Resilient

Caveats The increase in demand for zeroand low-VOC paints is certainly good news. But it doesn’t mean these products are entirely without risk. As Terry Black, co-owner of Green Way Supply, says, “They harm less, but they aren’t necessarily harmless.” Even zero-VOC paints may contain harsh chemicals that off-gas, such as

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

ammonia, but because they don’t contribute to smog, they’re not considered VOCs. The safest course of action is to buy no more paint than you’ll need, follow the manufacturer’s instructions (I know, it’s sort of like paying attention to the flight attendant demonstrating the seat belt mechanics), and carefully store the remainder. You can also donate leftover paint to a nonprofit enterprise such as Habitat for Humanity’s Re-Store. Says Schmitt, whose business uses low- or no-VOC paints exclusively, “Conventional paint still sells better than low-VOC paint. But green will be our only option sometime soon.”

LOW-VOC PAINTS TO CONSIDER:

Betsy Sheldon writes regularly about topics of sustainability and is co-author of Green Cleaning For Dummies and a blogger for Wiley Publishing.

GREEN FO

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R B Y

E D

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

M C K I N L E Y

Carol Seaman began thinking about alternatives to traditional American burial about a decade ago, after three of her ecologically conscious friends died young. It didn’t seem right to Seaman that lives devoted to recycling, reuse and composting should end with toxic formaldehyde embalming fluid, air-tight caskets sheathed in steel as thick as car fenders and waterproof burial vaults of reinforced concrete. “You don’t want to go out making a statement that is not how you lived your life,” says Seaman, now president of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Bloomington. Through her work with the nearly eight-year-old nonprofit group, Seaman informs consumers of their interment options and is helping to nurture the green burial movement in Indiana. In most discussions of green burial, a trend just beginning to gain momentum here and across the nation, proponents bring up the four-year-old Santa Fe, N.M.,-based Green Burial Council and Joe Sehee, its founder and executive director. The council sets standards for green cemeteries, green funeral homes and green burial products, and it certifies companies that meet the standards.

Like most of his cohorts on the green-burial scene, Sehee points out that much of what Americans think they know about burial laws simply isn’t true. Contrary to popular opinion, not a single state in the Union requires embalming, steel caskets or concrete burial vaults, he says. No laws prohibit burial of an unembalmed body in a biodegradable container placed directly in the ground, he notes. “It’s something that just drives me crazy,” Sehee says of the common misconceptions. “I hold the funeral industry responsible for perpetuating those myths.” He recommends asking 10 random funeral directors about green burial. “I’ll bet you get 10 different shades of the truth.” Despite Sehee’s impatience with what

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

A low-impact burial ground, the council’s first level, reduces waste, toxins and energy use by banning metal caskets, concrete burial vaults and formaldehyde-based embalming. If a cemetery meets the first-level requirements and looks esthetically natural, it reaches the second level and qualifies as a natural burial ground. The highest-level green cemeteries, called conservation burial grounds, meet the parameters of the first two levels and also help restore and steward the land with the help of a conservation entity, such as a land trust. The board of The Preserve at Spring Vale sought help from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Tippecanoe County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Green Burial Council, local conservation groups and seed companies, Canaday says. To return the Preserve to the savannah that once edged northwestern Indiana, he says, the board has planted indigenous grasses and wildflowers while culling a few trees to mimic the natural canopy that typically covered about 50 percent of the ground here before modern development. Instead of traditional marble, granite or limestone tombstones, the Preserve will mark graves with rounded stones found in the area. Families can choose to engrave flat surfaces of the mostly rounded stones, Canaday says. The preserve is planting electronic devices in the graves that the staff can use to locate the exact spots where bodies rest, he adds. At the area’s second green cemetery, Kessler Woods in Indianapolis, planners – Continued on page 20 © Phillip Giddens

he sees as a cavalier treatment of the Standards and advice from the Green facts, the council is working successfully Burial Council contributed so much to with scores of funeral homes and cemethe planning and execution of the teries across the country to advance the Preserve at Spring Vale that Canaday green cause. Local examples include describes the information as “MapQuest” Indianapolis-based Flanner and for traveling from Point A to Point B in Buchanan Funeral Centers, Nathan operating a green cemetery. Butler Funeral Home in Worthington and Lafayette’s Hippensteel Funeral Service and Crematory. Hippensteel performed the first green burial in the Midwest on Sept. 8, 2008, and has logged two more since then, says Joe Canaday, the funeral home’s business manager. Others doubt those burials qualified as the region’s first green interments because nearly all burials before the mid-1800s would count as green. But few would deny the Hippensteel burials’ importance to the green movement. For all three of The Preserve at Spring Vale in Tippecanoe County. Hippensteel’s green burials the families chose100 percent biodegradable caskets, Canaday says. The funeral Contrary to popular opinion, not a home required embalming of two of the single state in the Union requires bodies because the families displayed embalming, steel caskets or concrete them in public visitations, he notes. burial vaults. No laws prohibit burial Hippensteel laid all three to rest in the of an unembalmed body in a Preserve in Spring Vale in Lafayette. biodegradable container placed The Preserve, opened just a week before the first Hippensteel burial there, directly in the ground. is the Midwest‘s first green burial ground, according to Canaday, and was The council defines three categories of the first recognized as green in Indiana green cemeteries, says Sehee. He consulted by the Green Burial Council. The woodexperts in finance, management, sustained one-and-a-half acre Preserve could able landscape design, restoration ecology, accommodate 310 burials and sits adjaconsumer affairs and conservation mancent to the established conventional agement, combined with “way too many Spring Vale cemetery. Available land lawyers” to set standards stringent nearby would allow the cemetery to enough to have meaning but practical expand the Preserve to 20 acres, says enough to accommodate hard-nosed busiCanaday. ness people, he says.

GREEN FOR ETERNITY Continued from page 13

were still mulling over rules for monuments and electronic locators as Indiana Living Green was going to press. The burial ground, a section in Washington Park North that could expand to as many as five acres, was scheduled to open in May. Kessler Woods falls under the jurisdiction of the Washington Park Cemetery Association, a nonprofit organization that operates seven cemeteries in greater Indianapolis in association with Flanner and Buchanan Funeral Centers, says Ted Mau, association president. Except for Kessler Woods, the association grooms its properties to fit the well-manicured image of close-clipped, lush green grass most Americans associate with cemeteries. “We keep it neat and orderly,” Mau says of the traditional grounds. But that’s not the theme at Kessler Woods. “The intent here is to have a more natural feel — like you’re walking in a state park or national park,” says Mau. “I’ve spent a lot of time in Rocky Mountain National Park, and my hope is Kessler Woods winds up looking like something along those lines.” Several families arranged in advance for space in Kessler Woods before the burial ground opened, says Barb Milton, Flanner and Buchanan vice president of community relations. She credited media coverage with an uptick in interest in green burials. But the green burial movement is merely catching up with the low-cost funerals already offered by Nathan Butler Funeral Home, according to Matt Mulligan, the funeral provider’s administrator. The Worthington-based company, which has no bricks-and-mortar funeral home, was launched six years ago. “We didn’t build a multi-million-dollar building and charge a couple thousand dollars for four hours of visitation,“ says Mulligan. “We do them in churches where they are free.” The

Natural lined casket from www.naturescasket.com. funeral home also conducts funerals at fraternal organizations and in clients’ homes. What Mulligan repeatedly refers to as “the Entrenched Industry” charges $8,000 to $12,000 for a traditional funeral — figures that roughly fall into line with surveys of Monroe County funeral homes conducted and published by the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Bloomington. “Our traditional or commercialized funeral service, including the casket and the vault, is $4,500,” Mulligan says. Green funerals typically cost less than traditional funerals because of lessexpensive caskets and the absence of embalming. Some families reduce the cost even more by skipping visitation and even by digging the grave themselves by hand, says Mulligan. Burial in a green cemetery costs about the same as in a traditional cemetery, however, observers agree. Nathan Butler charges $1,350 for the most basic green burial, Mulligan says. The funeral home adds a cardboard casket for $50, or a total of $1,400. For an additional $500, or a total of $1,850, the funeral home includes a locally made flat-top oak veneer casket. “What we would do is come out and pick up the deceased and transport them to the place of burial — or to the funeral home and then later to the place of burial – with refrigeration in the meantime,” says Mulligan. Bigger cemeteries tend to require vaults, but Monroe County alone has 20 or so small town-

ship, private and church cemeteries with no such rules, he says. Nathan Butler’s low-cost burials buck trends that arose partly in response to circumstance and partly as an attempt to capitalize on circumstance, many in the funeral industry agree. Conventional wisdom holds that embalming provided a way of preserving bodies of Union soldiers killed in the Civil War for rail transport home. The near-mummification of Lincoln’s body for repeated viewings during its odyssey from Washington to Springfield, Ill., deepened the acceptance of embalming. By the 1880s, ghouls were digging up freshly buried corpses in the name of science to sell as cadavers to medical schools. That trend gave rise to supposedly secure burial vaults. Cemeteries later justified their requirement for vaults by noting that the dirt atop a grave tends to sink if the casket is allowed to decay, yielding an indentation in the otherwise perfect turf. Funeral directors sold caskets of 18or 20-gauge steel — about the thickness used in automobile bodies — by asking the bereaved whether they wanted metal suitable for a Cadillac’s fender or for a tuna can, one observer notes. Sehee grows so cynical when describing the industry that he cites duplicity as a key reason for starting the council. “Unless the social and ecological benefits associated with green burial were fiercely protected it would just be diminished as another marketing gimmick of this industry,” he says. “It would simply be greenwashed down the drain.”

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Yet, Sehee speaks highly of members of the industry who have embraced green burial, often choosing to enter the niche early because they anticipate growing demand as the Baby Boom generation begins to die off in greater numbers. Besides Hippensteel, Nathan Butler, and Flanner and Buchanan, Indiana funeral homes that have earned the council’s certification include French Funeral Home in Brazil, Erlewein Mortuaries in Greenfield and Fortville, and the Callahan DeBaun Funeral Homes in Terre Haute. Moreover, many in the funeral business agree that any funeral home will assist families seeking green burials. “Funeral homes have always provided the services people request,” says Curtis Rostad, Indiana Funeral Directors Association executive director. “If you are interested in an environmentally conscious burial, let your funeral director know or your cemetery people know. They’re going to do what they can to accommodate you.” Advocates of green burial consider cremation a good alternative because Indiana state law allows families to scatter ashes just about anywhere. However, generating the intense heat required for cremation can entail releasing a lot of carbon into the atmosphere. While Rostad sees a place for green burial in the funeral industry, he hopes the movement will not marginalize the families who choose traditional burials. “Everyone wants to be remembered,” says Rostand. “I hope we don’t get to the point where people think the only way you can have a green burial is to be buried on the side of a mountain where there is no marker and the weeds grow over the spot and nobody knows that you ever existed.” Ed McKinley, a freelance writer and editor, is a former reporter for the Indianapolis Star. He divides his time between Chicago and Monticello.

Saucy FLAVORS Photo courtesy National Garden Bureau

BY SUSAN GILLIE Now is high season for vegetables and fruits. In earlier times, families would “put things by” — save the harvest by making preserves, ketchups, relishes and chutneys. They’d simmer summer tomatoes, making barbeque sauce to use at cookouts, picnics and church socials. That tradition continues among inspired Indiana food artisans who create sauces, salsas and spreads that harken back to those times.

Tim Burton, owner of Burton’s Maplewood Farms, describes his maple barbeque sauce as “not overly tangy, not overly thick or too thin, pleasant to the palate. It has a nice maplely flavor.” Made with 40 percent grade B maple syrup, the sauce is versatile. “You can use it as a marinade, a finishing sauce for grilled meats or in a baked bean dish.” Yearning for an earlier age of “garden parties, big hats and mint juleps,” Erin Jones-Edds was inspired to create Country Mouse City Mouses’s line of dressings, vinaigrettes and spreads. “We really want our food to have a “vintage” appeal“ says Jones-Edds. Nyona Lake Jezebel is an updated version of an oldschool, Southern classic, the Jezebel

sauce. “As for the “Nyona Lake” part, it is a small lake in northern Indiana where our parents have a cottage,” she says. Erin’s version of Jezebel blends organic products: pineapple, grainy mustard, roasted garlic and horseradish. It lends a fruity, tangy taste to summer’s grilled meats and pasta salads. Her new creation, Chimichurri Pesto is great in potato salad. For Yeimy Rodriquez, sauces or salsas, bring back memories of Mexico. A native of the Guerrero region, Yeimy moved with her family to Indianapolis when she was four. “Just talking about salsa makes me feel proud of my heritage and happy that other people enjoy the flavors of Mexican cooking.”

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Now Rodriquez uses her taste memories to create salsas used in artisanal sandwiches and wraps for The Patio at Riley Outpatient Center. This summer she’s making salsa cruda (fresh salsa) with an emphasis on fresh fruits, such as pineapple and mango, as well as cabbage. “Customers are tired of processed foods and crave the taste of freshness,” she says. Two Hoosier natives parlayed their love of salsas into successful businesses that are winning loyal customers, culinary awards and recognition. Jim Campbell of Mild to Wild Pepper and Herb Company markets salsas based on his Indiana-grown peppers. Charlie Ferguson owns Crazy Charlie’s Gourmet

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

“Everyone knows Indiana tomatoes are fabulous,” Ferguson says, “but so are our peppers. Jim Campbell grows habanero chili’s that are the finest in the world. The soil here is great for peppers.” Salsa. “My dad took me down to the farmers market on South Street. We raised peppers; I was raised around produce.” When Ferguson took his salsas to the Fiery Food Show in Texas, he won first place. “Everyone knows Indiana tomatoes are fabulous,” Ferguson says, “but so are our peppers. Jim Campbell grows habanero chili’s that are the finest in the world. The soil here is great for peppers.” – Continued on page 24

SAUCY FLAVORS Continued from page 23

SO U R C E S FO R

SAUCES SALSA Products mentioned in this article can be purchased directly from the artisans’ websites, as well as local farmers markets and specialty and gourmet shops Burton’s Maplewood Farms, Medora Contact: Tim Burton www.burtonsmaplewoodfarm.com Maple syrups, preserves, salsa, barbeque sauces City Mouse Country Mouse, Indianapolis Contact: Erin Jones-Edds www.countrymousecitymouseindy.com/home Salad dressings, vinaigrettes, spreads

The Patio, Indianapolis Riley Hospital’s Outpatient Center, 702 Barnhill Drive Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday Daily salsa specials, artisan sandwiches and spreads, breakfast Mild to Wild Peppers and Herb Company, Franklin Contact: Jim Campbell Web site: www.wildpepper.com/index.html Hot sauces and salsas, ground chilis, pepper mashes Crazy Charlie’s Gourmet Salsa, Fishers Contact: Charles Ferguson www.cgsalsa.com/ Salsa and chili sauces Indiana Artisans Contact: Eric Freeman www.in.gov/indianaartisan

Photo courtesy National Garden Bureau

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Now, through the efforts of the Indiana Artisan project, specialty sauce makers have recognition and support to expand their businesses. Sponsored by four state agencies, a jury panel selects and certifies the finest food producers and artisans in the state. “Erin JonesEdds, Tim Burton and Jim Campbell reflect the excellence and commitment to quality that we look for in an Indiana Artisan,” said program director Eric Freeman. “The goal is to help food artisans promote their businesses.” Burton says the certification has enabled him to move into the Chicago market. “It’s given me credibility. I believe that’s why we were accepted into Chicago’s Green City Market.”

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

So, what was old is now new. Housewives, out of necessity, preserved fruits and vegetables, chopping and mixing them up, making them into relishes and sauces. Their reward was money saved on food bills, but the enduring benefit was the recipes they created. These brought happiness to their families and friends, and we can continue to enjoy them today. Old memories, along with new ethnic and culinary influences, are taking us back to a simpler time and purer food. Susan Gillie is a professional cook and blogs at Indieats, www.indieats.com

Cheap

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Chills BY JO ELLEN MEYERS SHARP

If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about four degrees with no reduction in comfort, says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. When the temperatures are moderate, ceiling fans free us from using the air conditioner for extended periods. Fans work best when the blades are 7 to 9 feet above the floor and 10 to 12 inches from the ceiling. They should be installed so their blades are no less than 8 inches from the ceiling and 18 inches from the walls.

Size matters Larger ceiling fans move more air than smaller ones. A larger blade also provides comparable cooling at a lower velocity than a smaller blade. This may be important in areas where loose papers or other objects will be disturbed by a strong breeze. A more expensive fan that operates quietly and smoothly will prob-

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

A ceiling fan is the most efficient way to move summer’s stifling air and reduce the room temperature. As the blades spin, they create a draft that cools us and helps us reduce air conditioning costs. ably offer more troublefree service than cheaper units. Check the noise ratings, and, if possible, listen to your fan in operation before you buy it.

Winter savings, too In the summer, ceiling fans move in a counterclockwise direction. When you stand under the fan, you can feel a breeze. In winter, most fans can be set to move in a clockwise direction. At a low speed, a gentle updraft is created, which moves warm air down from the ceiling. By installing a ceiling fan and adjusting the thermostat, we can realize additional savings in energy and money. Remember that ceiling fans cool people, not rooms. Turn off the ceiling fan when the room is not occupied to save even more. ENERGY STAR rated fans are about 50 percent more efficient than conventional units. That can save more than $15 a year on utility bills for each one used. – Continued on page 28

CHEAP CHILLS Continued from page 27

SELECTING THE RIGHT SIZE Ceiling fan blades span from 29 to 54 inches long. The most popular size is 52-inch. Measure the room to determine the best fan size. Here’s a guide: Room size 75 sq. ft. 76 to 144 sq. ft. 144- to 225 sq. ft. 225 to 400 sq. ft.

Recommended fan size 29- to 36-inch 36- to 42-inch 44-inch 50- to 54-inch Source: ENERGY STAR, http://tinyurl.com/26zyc9

TYPE OF MOUNTS Standard — comes with a 3- to 5-inch downrod, which is a metal piece that extends from the ceiling bracket to the top of the fan. Extended — recommended for high ceilings. Used to hang the fan at the desired 7 to 9 feet from the floor. Check with the manufacturer or sales person to determine the right downrod length for the room. Flush — anchors against the ceiling. Most standard fans can be installed with this mount. Some manufacturer sell low-profile or hugger fans, which are specifically designed as a flush mount. Ideal for rooms with ceilings lower than 8 feet in height or when a fan with an optional light would hang too low. Hugger fans do not move as much air as a regular fan because the blades are closer to the ceiling. Sloped — used for angled or vaulted ceilings. Source: ENERGY STAR, http://tinyurl.com/26zyc9

DON’T LET IT BUG YOU Continued from page 11

Mechanical or physical controls: When you inspect your plants regularly, you can spot trouble early on. When you do, there are ways to remove or trap the pests or create barriers to keep them away. One of the best tools is a strong spray from the garden hose to wash off aphids and other insects from plants. Hand picking or shaking insects from plants also is effective. A damp newspaper in the hosta bed at night will collect many slugs and snails on the earth side by morning. The University of Kentucky recommends one effective method for controlling gypsy moth larvae on a small numbers of trees is to put a band of folded

burlap around the trunk to provide an artificial resting site for the caterpillars. Destroy the caterpillars that gather there. Applying an antitranspirant spray to lilac leaves in summer to prevent infection by the spores of powdery mildew is another example of a protective barrier. Wilt-Pruf is a natural product made from pine resin that coats plants to protect them from drying out.

Chemical controls: Usually considered the last resort after all other methods have failed, pesticides are valuable tools in pest management, but their misuse has led to such disadvantages as pest resistance to the pesti-

cide, outbreaks of secondary pests, adverse effects on nontarget organisms, unwanted pesticide residues and direct hazards to the user. Used correctly, pesticides are indispensable tools in the IPM arsenal. Even then, a chemical, either natural or synthetic, should be applied only when the problem has been identified correctly. Always read and follow the label instructions of the product you use. For more information on sustainable landscape practices and links to IPM resources, please visit www.IndianaLivingGreen.com

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GREEN

BOOK REVIEWS

WILD THOUGHTS: Just Outside the Window by Chris Heeter Yileen Press. $18.00

Growing Your Own Vegetables By Carla Emery and Lorene Edwards Forkner Sasquatch Press, $17.95, Paperback

Chris Heeter’s first book of poetry, Wild Thoughts: Just Outside the Window, began quite by accident when she promised to write a poem every Wednesday and e-mail it to a group of business leaders. The 89 pages of Wednesday poems appear in sections: Sharing the Land, A Walk in the Woods, Present to the Moment, Just Outside the Window, Wild Abundance and Nature’s Reflections. Sketches by Richard Nelson are on environmentally friendly paper. Heeter, whose poetry has been published in Indiana Living Green, is the founder of The Wild Institute, an organization connecting people to nature and one another. She serves as a guide and inspirational leader for kayaking, dogsledding, canoeing and hiking trips for women. Informed by her intimacy with nature, she writes in “The Road Home”:

Carla Emery was an inspiration to a generation of do-it-yourself homesteaders, sharing her experiences and guiding them with her best-selling Encyclopedia of Country Living, published in 1994. Although she died while on a speaking tour in 2005, her words continue to inspire and have as much resonance today as they did 15 years ago. Lorene Edwards Forkner takes a fresh look at Emery’s work in Growing Your Own Vegetables as the first single subject carved from the encyclopedia. The book covers how to get the most food from the least space, whether in the ground or in pots, with the least impact on the environment. The basic philosophy, of course, is that local is best, and how much more local can you get than your back yard or back porch? Forkner offers a common sense and practical approach to growing just about any vegetable, from asparagus to zucchini. She prescribes companion plants for fighting insects and gives tips on crop rotation and maximizing space. She admits that we don’t need our

Through the rain, Coyote stares as I go by — Matted wet fur, steely eyes. He is the one who will follow me home. The one who pierces the night with his wild calls, The trickster whose tracks mimic my own On the journey back to home.

own gardens for fresh food and advocates shopping farmers markets and buying produce in season. “But for those of us willing to brave the weather, dance an evasive tango with pests and disease, kneel in the dirt, sport definitely non-fashion-forward tan lines while shading our heads against the midday sun, or support friends, neighbors and small farmers who do, the table is set for a feast that feeds both body and mind, belly and spirit, at once economically sound and emotionally satisfying,” Forkner writes. BY JO ELLEN MEYERS SHARP

Reminded that poets are tricksters too, Heeter’s success using e-mail to develop an audience is an inspiration. The book is available at www.TheWildInstitute.com or www.YileenPress.com BY ELIZABETH KRAJECK

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

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GREENFINDS

Beach Bum Jewels Artist Linda Michevicius melds her love of beaches and their jewels into beautiful pieces of jewelry. The featured bracelet, called Watermelon, has emerald green and watermelon colored beach glass, shells and beads on a sterling silver link bracelet. All of the glass is authentic and found on a beach, says Michevicius, who lives about three blocks from Lake Michigan in Indiana and is treasurer of the North American Sea Glass Association. She also does custom work using beach or sea glass from peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collections. Jewelry ranges from $20 to about $200. The Watermelon bracelet is $65. Available online at www.BeachBumJewels.com and at select retailers throughout Harbor Country.

Herbal Art Soaps and Skincare Products

BE A PART OF THE

GREEN MARKETPLACE Sales@IndianaLivingGreen.com

Brian Paffen combines his passion for health, wellness and green living with his dream of being his own boss. An Indiana Artisan, he owns Herbal Art, a Fishers-based company specializing in handcrafted soaps and skincare products made with natural and organic ingredients. His products are sodium lauryl sulfate free, paraben free, and use no animal by-products. Honey and Shea Everyday was developed after he moved from North Carolina back home and discovered that some of his soaps were not as effective in Indiana's harder water. He created the Honey and Shea Everyday line which is made with Indiana honey and formulated to keep its fragrance, lather richly and cleanse effectively in both hard and soft water. Soap is $5 a slice. Paffen will open a store July 9 at 9943 Allisonville Road, Fishers. Available online at www.herbalartonline.com

(317) 769-3456 SUBMISSIONS

Indiana Living Green July/August 2009

Please send information about your green products to: Editor@IndianaLivingGreen.com, or mail to Indiana Living Green, 1730 S. 950 E., Zionsville, IN 46077.

THE

LAST

ROW

BY MARIA SMIETANA

Please Buzz (or Crawl) Off… After five years of running an organic produce farm, I know only a few things for certain: bad bugs are everywhere; all the good ones must live at someone else’s farm; and in my next life, I need to get a degree in entomology. That’s the branch of biology dealing with things that creep, crawl, bite, sting and generally bring out the “ick” response in most people. It’s a branch on which I clearly need to climb higher. Each season brings new bugs I’ve never seen, old ones I remember but can’t categorize beyond their six legs and familiar ones whose arrival I greet with dread. The dread comes from remembering what a small number of bugs can do to a large number of plants, especially when those plants provide my livelihood. Our first — and still most destructive — arthropod combatants were the Japanese beetles. They arrived the year my husband installed the grape arbor, and I concurrently dedicated a goodsized patch of garden space to raspberries. Both crops are magnets for the metallic-backed pests, a leafy one-stop singles bar where they meet, munch, mingle and mate. In close second place came the tomato hornworm, something I had only heard other farmers curse over, until I started to investigate why large sections of my tomato plants seemed to disappear into thin air. That’s when I first made face-to-horn acquaintance with the larva that resembles a tomato vine so well as to be all but impossible to detect without lots of practice. It’s battlefield camouflage at its finest. So what’s a small-time produce grower to do? Turns out I could be doing a lot, actually. The Organic Materials Research Institute (affectionately known as OMRI) publishes a whole catalog of natural insecticides approved for use on 32

organic farms. The relatively benign remedies listed therein won’t harm your kids or wildlife (assuming you differentiate between the two), and won’t hang around long enough to damage soil or groundwater. Paranoid purist that I am, though, I vowed early on to run the farm without so much as a speck of chemical inputs, OMRI-blessed or otherwise. I figured if I couldn’t tell the difference between a beneficial bug and its destructive cousin, why would I expect a chemical to be that smart? Insect control on our farm has therefore consisted mostly of hand-to-leg combat. I started to derive great satisfaction from scooping the Japanese beetles into a bucket of soapy bleach water. If I caught them early in the morning, when they were too cold to move quickly, I could send hundreds of them to a quick death

with a deft sweep of a rubber glove. I initially dispatched the hornworms in much the same way, until a member of my organic gardening group pointed out that this ferocious-looking larva morphs into a beautiful moth, and made an eloquent plea to the gathered tomato growers to cease their murderous ways. I don’t know how many other members she converted, but ever since, I’ve deposited most of my daily catch of hornworms into a neighboring hayfield, in hopes they might make dinner of a nightshade species other than tomatoes. I doubt many survive to full moth-hood, but it allows me the illusion that I’m now a more benign killer. After five years, I think we’re winning the war on the hornworms. To the Japanese beetles, I have only this to say: “Don’t make me start raising chickens!”

Maria Smietana, is a refugee from the corporate world who now writes and grows organic produce on her mini-farm in Boone County.