C O N T E N T S Building / Design • Reduce, reuse, and remodel: Using salvaged building materials lowers carbon footprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 publisher Lynn Jenkins Lynn@IndianaLivingGreen.com (317) 769-3456 EDITOR Betsy Sheldon Editor@IndianaLivingGreen.com
C O N T RIBU T O RS Mark Finch Wendell Fowler Judy Kenninger Jesse Kharbanda
Maria Smietana Hannah Spencer Jerry Williams
S A LES Sales@IndianaLivingGreen.com (317) 769-3456 graphic design Paul Wilson, Wilson Design, LLC e - n e w s l e tt e r Ed i to r April Perkins Web Design Margaret Hsu Stout Greenway Consulting, LLC
ad v i s o r y b oa r d Hugh Baker John Hazelett Bill Brown Grant Jenkins Jeff Echols Jesse Kharbanda Liz Ellis Glenn Livers Deb Ellman Greg Martz Bert Gilbert Ellen Michel Carey Hamilton p r i nt i n g The Papers – Milford, Indiana s u b s c r i p t i on s $18, six issues Indiana Living Green 1730 S. 950 E. Zionsville, IN 46077 Sign up for our e-newsletter online www.IndianaLivingGreen.com
Community • Broad Ripple’s Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
energy • Plugged-in: Indianapolis joins the electric vehicle revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
F a m i l y / Ho m e • Yes, you can can! Home-canning made easy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
business • WalMart: from rotten tomatoes to GreenCycle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Travel • Car-free and carefree in Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
e nt e r ta i n m e nt • Sustainability takes a bow as green themes star on stage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
f e at u r e s • • • • • • • • •
Business Service Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Eat Right Now with Wendell Fowler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Green, Greener, Greenest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Green Greetings from the Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Green Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Hoosier Environment with Jesse Kharbanda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Last Row . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Media Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 News Briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Advertise With Us Take your message to our 60,000 readers who want to know more about sustainable living. ILG RE A D ERS Gender: 30% Male and 70% Female Age: 80% over 35 Homes: 70% Own their homes Income: 68% ≥ Over $60,000 30% Over $100,000 Education: 90% College 47% Post Grad Contact your Account Executive or call 317.769.3456 Sales@IndianaLivingGreen.com
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NOVEMBER In Our Next Issue DECEMBER Festive meals from great Indiana cooks 10 best no-gift gifts For the birds Plants that attract and protect winter wildlife Low-cost winterizing tips that every home can use
ON THE COVER: Easy access to services, entertainment, recreation, and shopping via his preferred mode of transportation is just one reason that Neal Bennett, president of Green Broad Ripple, loves living in the neighborhood. © Photo by April Perkins S e p t e m b e r / O c t o b e r 2 0 1 0 © 2010 by Indiana Living Green, Inc. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
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GREEN
GREENER Greenest!
Indiana Living Green offers ways for you to make a difference.
G ree n 1. Visit one of Indiana’s 17 Habitat ReStores to see the products and materials available for use in building or remodeling your home. www.Habitat.org 2. Recognize that canning tomatoes (or any other foods) is not just about saving money, but about learning life skills and connecting with our food systems. Read Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. 3. Follow these tips to get better gas mileage from your car: Maintain top speed of around 60 mph, avoid jackrabbit starts, don’t idle, and anticipate stops so you can coast rather than brake suddenly.
G ree n er 1. When updating your home, don’t toss products in the landfill; consider reuse and recycling options for your unwanted waste. See resources in “Reduce, Reuse, and Remodel” on page 20. 2. Learning to use a water bath to can tomatoes and jellies is just a little messy, but not too difficult. Go for it! 3. Keep tires properly inflated, change the air filter, and keep your car running well with regular maintenance and tune-ups. These efforts will enhance gas mileage.
G ree n est 1. If hiring a contractor to do remodeling work for you, select from those who demonstrate a clear understanding of sustainable design and green building products. The right choice here will save you in the long term. 2. Try your hand with a pressure cooker. Nothin’ says lovin’ like a pantry full of home-canned fruits and vegetables. Oh, and make sure your kids (young to young adult) also participate. 3. When it’s time for a new car, consider more than luxury, price, and color. Consider the environmental impact of the time spent in your car. Choose a car that offers both value and eco-friendly features. Choose green!
green greetings
FROM PUBLISHER
LY N N
J ENK I NS
So much to do; so little time I attended the annual meetings of Indiana CAFO Watch and WIndiana this summer-—two exceptional conferences at each end of the green spectrum. Barbara Cox of CAFO Watch has helped bring the smelly and polluting reality of factory farming to more public scrutiny. You don’t need to be downwind of a CAFO in order to suffer from its effects, given that the chemicals emitted into air and the manure in the water are toxic to us all. On the other hand, WIndiana delighted more than 500 attendees with information and optimism about clean renewable energy for Indiana. The conference culminated at Meadow Lake Wind Farm in White County. Standing
beneath the wind turbines as they quietly whooshed renewable, clean, wind energy was truly a moving moment. Fortunately CAFO Watch did not end their meeting at a disgusting manure lagoon from the approximately 650 agri-biz farms in Indiana that operate under filthy, inhumane, and polluting conditions. Watch for stories on these two polar extremes in upcoming issues. Opportunities are still plentiful to visit other exciting events this fall including Indiana’s second Solar Tour with locations around the state. Attend the Indiana Recycling Coalition’s annual Mobius: An Affair to Recycle fundraiser. The Countryside Lifestyle Experience in September offers the chance to see what living is like for those of us who enjoy the “rural life,”with or without chickens! Both the Simply Living Fair in Bloomington and the Living Light Fair in Muncie occur in September with a variety
rants&raves Dear ILG: I believe Marianne Peters must have written her article on high-energy washers (May/June 2010) tongue-in-cheek. Even so, I love my frontloading washer and wish to offer my comments: First, my washer was one of the highest-rated by Consumer Reports. Yet by watching for a sale, we paid only $500. Secondly, I always wash in cold water with good results, including removal of garden dirt. I do use liquid detergent, so there is no worry about it dissolving. Bending over to retrieve clothes from the washer is no more difficult than bending to remove clothes from the dryer. Finally, I find it no problem to spend 10
Comments from our readers
seconds wiping the window and gasket after the final wash load for the day (to prevent possible mildew). If I remember, I had to wipe the top of the drum in my old top-loader to remove residue. The first time I removed the clothes from my washer, I thought the machine had malfunctioned because they felt so dry. I dry all my clothes (except the towels) outside on the clothesline unless the high temperature for the day is lower than 50 degrees. I enjoy your magazine and usually read it all on the day it arrives. I’d be happy to receive it online and still pay a subscription price if that option is available. It would help if I was notified when it is available online. Sandra Miles
SUBMISSIONS: Letters@IndianaLivingGreen.com
of vendors, speakers, and workshop offerings. For entertainment with a green theme, attend Bloomington Playwrights AwareFest: A Green World in October. And if you’re not receiving our twicemonthly e-newsletter written by EcoDiva April Perkins please sign up from our website. This new issue is filled with informative stories about sustainable efforts and ideas in business, auto, travel, communities, and food. We welcome new advertisers Performance Collision Center, Cabinetry Green, Ray’s Trash Service, and Harvest Cafe Coffee Company. Please support them along with all our wonderful advertisers who keep us publishing! Let them know you appreciate their support of Indiana Living Green. Grab the opportunity to go out and do something green: so much to do and so little time. n
Response: Your comments about Indiana Living Green are music to our ears! We certainly appreciate the support of our many readers who subscribe, even though they also read the full, flip-page copy on www. IndianaLivingGreen.com. From the website, you can also sign up for the bimonthly e-newsletter, which will inform you when the next issue is rolling out online. There’s no doubt that front-load washers reduce water use, prolong the life of your clothes, and clean more efficiently at lower water temperatures. And, indeed, as Marianne Peters points out in her article, the minimal downsides are a more than reasonable trade-off. One hint for avoiding stiff-towel syndrome and still getting the benefit of sun-drying: Allow the towels to dry outdoors until they’re just damp, then toss in the dryer for just a couple minutes to soften them up.
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hoosier environment
BY J e s s e K h a r b anda
The Environment Needs You! Free and fair voting is an opportunity we have in this country that billions around the world are denied. And voting, for all the grumbling we do about it, truly matters: In Indiana’s legislative elections, for example, winners have won by a dozen votes—yes, that’s right, 12 votes. When it comes to issues such as the environment, the outcome can make a huge difference. Don’t let the opportunity pass to make an impact in the November 2, 2010 elections. Here’s what you can do: 1. Make sure you’re registered to vote. You can conDon’t be daunted if veniently check at www.indianavoters.in.gov. you feel you’re one of 2. Find out about the General Assembly candidates in your legislative district. You can get their contact a handful who seems details from the “Get Involved-Speak Out” section of www.hecweb.org. Before reaching these candidates, to care about the read our tips on “Establishing a Working Relationship with Public Officials.” environment. The good 3. When you connect with your legislator, share your news is that Indiana concerns about the environment as specifically as you can. Communicate those concerns by e-mail, so that has tens of thousands you can have an ongoing dialogue and have documentation if the legislator abruptly shifts position once of like-minded citizens; elected. 4. Ask questions that reveal the candidate’s commitment more of us just need to to making change in our state. Here are some examples: • “Residential lawn chemicals are a major source speak up—and speak of phosphorus polluting Indiana rivers and lakes. up more often. Would you support a ban on the sale of such chemicals, as Indiana has done for detergents and dishwasher liquid?” • “While Indiana has an abundant amount of coal, our 96-percent dependence on coal hurts our air and water quality. Illinois and Ohio have adopted Renewable Electricity Standards (RES) to diversify toward clean, renewable, and non-polluting resources. Would you support RES for Indiana?” • “The Indianapolis metro area—the 12th largest U.S. city—ranks 99th out of 100 in the size of its transit system. Would you support giving counties in our region the authority to raise dedicated funds to expand transit?” Your involvement, starting with participating in the elections, matters greatly. Don’t be daunted if you feel you’re one of a handful in your neighborhood who truly seems to care about the environment. The good news is that Indiana has tens of thousands of like-minded citizens; more of us just need to speak up—and speak up more often. n Jesse Kharbanda is the executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council. Learn more about renewable standards and the organization’s work at www.hecweb.org
www.IndianaLivingGreen.com
GREEN
Photo courtesy Chicago Field Museum
TRAVEL
Chicago climate change exhibit For its Indiana neighbors, Chicago is a close-enough destination to justify a carbon-consuming journey. And now, one more reason to visit one of the greenest cities in the country: The Climate Change exhibit at the Field Museum in Chicago remains open through November 28, 2010. The exhibit explains the science behind climate change, and focuses on solutions—the many actions needed from governments, businesses, and individuals. Along with the expected dioramas about vehicles of the future, melting ice caps, and the ubiquitous polar bear (this one dumpster-diving rather than drowning), there may be surprises even to those well-versed in climate change. (Who knew that increased CO2 makes poison ivy grow faster and itch more?) The Field Museum www.Fieldmuseum.org Exhibit admission is included in Discover and All-Access passes, and requires a timed-entry ticket. Advance reservations recommended; tickets can be purchased online. $23-29 adults; $19-24 seniors and students; $16-20 children 3-11; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Open every day except Christmas
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MEDIA REVIEWS The Cheapskate Next Door, by Jeff Yeager, 2010, Broadway Books Anybody who’s vowed to do his or her part to save the planet knows that saving money can be a happy outcome of those efforts. As author Jeff Yeager points out midway through the book, “I’m cheap and I’m green. In fact, I would argue that you can’t be the former without also being the latter, even if unintentionally.” What separates Yeager’s book from other coupon-clipping, outlet-shopping, off-season buying advice is his accent on the “reduce” and “reuse” parts of the three R’s. He—and the legions of frugal folk whose advice he shares—focuses more on the “do without” strategy and less on the “buy cheap” outlook, and emphasizes that owning less can actually lead to enjoying life more. In fact, the book subtitle is The Surprising Secrets of Americans Living Happily Below Their Means. Yeager’s book is the result of a media tour for his previous title (The Ultimate Cheapskate Road Map to True Riches), in which he biked his way across the country. At the end of the 3,000-mile-tour, he had collected priceless pointers from characters such as a former stripper-turneddumpster-diver and a backyard barbecue-meister who favors the more unconventional cuts of meat. In addition to rants on rampant consumerism and raves for the public library, the pages are loaded with tidbits: if you don’t borrow movie DVDs from the library, rent them through Netflix; it can be more water-wise to wash dishes by hand—if you dump the dirty dishwater into your thirsty garden. One exercise is especially intriguing —Yeager recommends going on a fiscal fast, taking a week each year and not spending a penny. I’m still trying to figure out the logistics (does it count as “spending” if you have automatic bill-pay?), but
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I’m game. If you’re eager to read more, head for your closest public library branch. And don’t feel bad about cheating a cheapskate out of his royalty fee. Yeager, himself, encourages the reader to borrow rather than buy his book. By Betsy Sheldon
A White House Garden Cookbook: Healthy Ideas From the First Family for Your Family by Clara Silverstein, 2010, Red Rock Press In the spring of 2009, Michelle Obama broke ground on a section of White House lawn that hadn’t seen a garden since a dozen First Ladies earlier. The last time growing food was connected to a national ideal, Eleanor Roosevelt was promoting Victory Gardens during World War II. Mrs. Obama’s motivation was to help children see the connection between their food and their health, and, ultimately, reduce the high incidence of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease among Americans. Her initiative has involved schoolchildren and community gardening groups across the country. As the White House garden is celebrating its second harvest, Clara Silverstein’s book chronicles the history of First Family gardening, offers a season-by-season account of the Obama garden’s first year, and shares recipes that showcase White House favorites, from arugula to zucchini, and come from community gardens, children, and presidents past and present. President Obama even shares his chili recipe.
www.IndianaLivingGreen.com
Silverstein will be speaking and signing books at the JCC as part of the Ann Katz Festival of Books (November 3 to 18). The event is Wednesday, November 10, at 7 pm. Bring your questions—I’m hoping to find out if the Obamas compost. By Betsy Sheldon
The Backyard Bird Lover’s Ultimate How-To Guide by Sally Roth, 2010, Rodale A prolific writer on nature and gardening, Sally Roth has another great book for bird lovers. Paperback makes it a very reasonable pick-up at just $21.99, but I worried that its A-to-Z format was just an update of my long-time favorite of hers, The Backyard Bird Feeder’s Bible (2000). However, a thorough comparison of the entries reveals little overlap and lots of new topics with plenty of valuable commentary. It’s these personal observations that give energy to Roth’s books, such as her experience that cardinals relish cat food that starlings won’t touch. Her guide also stresses conservation with informative bits about issues such as migration and shade-grown coffee. Even the great confusion between common bird grains millet and milo—one loved and one ignored—is simply clarified by Roth. I had the pleasure of hearing Roth speak at a gardening conference in Indianapolis over a decade ago, and later found her Natural Landscaping: Gardening With Nature to Create a Backyard Paradise (1997) a cornerstone for wildlife gardening. A sometimes Hoosier from New Harmony, Roth encourages readers to observe nature from many angles; for example, she suggests we observe a forest’s multi-levels in order to understand how to lure woodland birds to our gardens. Roth’s newest guide will become Volume 2 in my library of her birding A-to-Z guides. I see complementary information in both books, and am pleased to add more of her interesting commentary and valuable nature observations to my collection. By Lynn Jenkins
The Story of Cosmetics
Annie Leonard’s Story of Stuff Project and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, 2010, www.storyofstuff.org/cosmetics Who needs 3D animation when the simply drawn stick figures of Annie Leonard’s The Story of Stuff pack such a power punch? Since 2007, the 20-minute film has enlightened millions worldwide about the impact of runaway consumerism on the planet’s resources. Now, in The Story of Stuff Project’s newest film, made in partnership with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, The Story of Cosmetics revisits the indisputable natural law of “toxics in, toxics out,” and explores how personal care products and makeup are currently manufactured by a system that depletes natural resources and leaves us with dangerous substances (lead in lipstick, mercury in skin cream, coal tar in shampoo) and lots of trash. The film’s summer release coincides with the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, introduced to Congress in July and calling for tighter regulation of chemicals used in cosmetics and skin products. The 7-minute video is available on the website www.storyofstuff.org, as is The Story of Stuff and The Story of Bottled Water, released earlier in 2010. Next on Leonard’s schedule is The Story of Electronics, coming out by the end of the year. It promises to expose yet another ugly truth of a consumption-driven economy. By Betsy Sheldon
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Plugged In Indy poised to join the electric vehicle revolution Thanks to what could be called a perfect electric storm, Indianapolis is poised to become one of the nation’s most plugged-in cities. Those storm clouds were seeded by Project Plug-IN, which is coordinated by the Indiana clean technology industry group Energy Systems Network, and will bring fleets of plug-in electric vehicles, or PEVs, to the Circle City, as well as an infrastructure to support them. According to Paul Mitchell, ESN’s president and CEO, Project Plug-IN is set to begin implementation early fall as public charging stations are installed and state and city agencies begin to take delivery of electric vehicles. Indianapolis is an ideal location for electric vehicles because its central Indiana suburbs are within 20 miles of the city center, Mitchell says—an ideal distance for
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current PEVs, which typically can travel about 100 miles before they need to be recharged. During the first phase of the project, 100 PEVs will be deployed and 250 chargers will be installed at various locations, including downtown parking facilities, universities, state fleet operations centers, and Indianapolis International Airport. Project Plug-IN has the support of more than a dozen companies, including Duke Energy and IPL, which are coordinating their efforts to make sure that recharging can take place seamlessly in different service areas. The second phase, which will begin in the first quarter of 2011, will see commercial sales of PEVs begin and the installation of in-home chargers. These smart chargers will wait to charge plugged-in vehicles until off-peak hours
when rates may be lower. Smartphone applications will be available that will use GPS to guide drivers to nearby public charging stations. Because Indianapolis will have the support infrastructure in place, some PEVs will be available to consumers in advance of other markets. Nissan’s LEAF is expected to be available in early 2011, and Indianapolis will be the launch market for the Think City, a compact PEV that will be built at the Norwegian company’s new U.S. production facility in Elkhart. Daimler plans to make 50 to 60 electric Smart fortwo cars available in Indianapolis, perhaps as early as this October. And Navistar’s eStar electric truck—also built in Elkhart County at a former RV plant in Wakarusa—will be part of the traffic mix as well. Vehicles will be available through regular dealerships, for the most part. The Smart fortwo EVs are part of a pilot
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Vehicle
Range
MSRP
Availability Notes
Tesla Roadster 220 mi
$109,000
Now
Nissan LEAF
$32,780
4th/2010
100 mi
Chevy Volt 40 mi $41,000 4th/2010
40 miles on battery power only; gasoline-powered generator extends range to 300+ miles.
THINK City
production to begin early 2011
100 mi
sub-$20,000 TBA
SMART 82 mi TBA 2012 fortwo EV Ford Focus EV
100 mi
TBA
2011
Ford Transit Connect
80 mi
TBA
4th/2011
Navistar eStar 80 mi TBA 4th/2011
small truck/van medium-sized delivery van; already in limited use by FedEx
Indianapolis drivers may notice a growing number of plug-in electric vehicles such as the Nissan LEAF (opposite page), Tesla Roadster (left), and Smart fortwo (bottom right) on the road. Drivers will be able to recharge their PEVs (left) at some 250 charging stations in the area, to be in place as early as fourth-quarter 2010.
program, and will only be available on a short-term lease to fleet operators. If parent company Daimler decides to proceed with plans to sell them to the general public, it won’t be until 2012. All this could help provide an economic jolt to the area as well. Bills moving through both houses of Congress would require the Department of Energy to select up to 15 cities nationwide to participate in a national electric vehicle deployment program, which would make them eligible to receive up to hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants and loan guarantees. While Project Plug-IN focuses on Indianapolis, it will also have effects in other parts of the state—notably Elkhart County, where some of the vehicles will be manufactured. Firms developing battery and related technologies should see an uptick in business, too. In Washington state, federal funds are helping to make I-5 the nation’s first
September/October 2010
Photo courtesy Tesla
MSRP does not take into account tax credits of $2,500 to $7,500. Most EVs qualify for the maximum amount. Many other manufacturers have electric vehicles in development.
“electric highway,” with enough charging stations to enable electric vehicles to make the entire 276-mile trip from the Canadian border to the Oregon state line. This will entail installing 10 Level 3 charging stations, which can charge a battery in 15 to 30 minutes. With its 100-mile range, a Nissan LEAF would have to stop to recharge at least twice to make the entire trip. “I applaud what
Photo courtesy SmartCar
Photo courtesy Nissan
limited availability in pilot program; production version available to general public 2012
they’re doing up there,” ESN’s Mitchell says, “but cross-country travel really isn’t what PEVs are for.” Here in the Heartland, I-65 has become a biofuels corridor that stretches from Lake Michigan to the Gulf of Mexico. The idea, proposed and partly funded by the DOE, was to give drivers the opportunity of traveling the entire corridor using E85 ethanol (85-percent ethanol, 15-percent gasoline) or B20 biodiesel (diesel fuel containing 20-percent biodiesel). While the E85 pumps worked out well—there are now 150 E85 stations in Indiana—the federal biodiesel tax credit expired last year, so there’s a low demand and short supply of B20 for economic reasons. Motorists wishing to find stations selling biofuel can do so at www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/ locator/stations/ (nationwide) or www. in.gov/oed/2367.htm (Indiana).
—Continued on page 12
plugged in
— Continued from page 11
eat right now
According to Kellie Walsh, executive director of Greater Indiana Clean Cities, this project will also make I-65 a CNG (compressed natural gas) corridor. CNG burns much more cleanly in internal combustion engines than does gasoline. Some trucks are equipped to burn dual fuels (either gasoline or CNG), and Honda’s Greensburg, Indiana, plant makes a CNG-powered Civic, which has been called “America’s Greenest Car.” Owners of CNG vehicles who use natural gas service in their homes for heating or cooking can install a Phill, a home-refueling appliance. In addition to being clean-burning, CNG can cost as little as half as much as the equivalent amount of gasoline. Prices can also be volatile, however, particularly during cold weather when demand increases. Here’s the forecast: Whether your preference is electric, hybrid, biofuel, or CNG, for green-leaning Indiana motorists, there are bluer skies ahead. n
BY W e nde l l Fow l e r
Bring On the Counter-Revolution Accepting imperfect humanness, we struggle to let go of deep-seated rituals. At the grocery, we instinctively reach for expedient sources of food because life’s too busy to cook. Given we’re a malleable bunch, Americans have become reliant on Big Food for our meals. Consequently, we’ve morphed into an aggressive species due to these deviant food-like substances. For this opulence, we’ve made a somber mind/body tradeoff. Before Fat Cats created the ethically malnourished Industrial Revolution, American communities bartered, shared, and canned fresh food, and constructed supportive, A century ago, an peaceful communities. Sustenance centered on local family farms bursting with sun-blessed produce, dairy operations, ecologically centered beehives, and livestock fed the preordained celestial menu community knitted designed by the generous Universe. Eating food shipped itself together with from a source 2,000 miles away was unthinkable. threads of peace and A century ago, everyone knew local farmers by their first name, shaking a calloused milking hand as they friendship through greeted. An ecologically centered community knitted itself the sharing of hometogether with threads of peace and friendship through the made foods simmered sharing of home-made foods simmered with loving energy. with loving energy. There is a full-blown movement in New York City of diverse artisans organizing, sharing, and returning to a pre-Industrial Revolution mentality. Indiana is beginning to embrace the movement, a total disconnect from Big Food and factory farms where animals are treated inhumanely, cows are turned into cannibals, and food is genetically altered into unholy nothingness. To transcend today’s food zeitgeist, we need to establish new peaceful relationships with food and eating; learn intuitive eating skills for long-term results that encourage emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being; the root of earthly peace. Although most Americans believe the steady diet of violence in the media has led to a more violent world, in reality it’s the steady diet of heavy metals, food colorings, animal husbandry chemicals, and pesticides that send bullying bosses and wilding teens over the edge. Because families are rediscovering how the food they eat was grown, home food preservation is experiencing a genuine revival. Discouraged by proliferating dead foods, the energy crisis, and a growing awareness of environmental and social impacts of industrial agriculture and the globalization of food production, home gardeners are returning to the sacred traditions of the ancestors, growing, canning, and sharing their own food fare. Change in the way we eat causes change in others. Without doubt, the sustainable seeds of green, locavorism, and a peace-filled community are being re-planted. Over the coming years, Americans will transcend misguided eating behaviors and enter a new era of lucid sustainability and a nonviolent world. n
Mark Finch’s current biofuel-powered vehicle is a bicycle.
Chef Wendell Fowler (www.chefwendell.com) has been a vegan vegetarian for 20 years, prompted by his near-death from terminal viral heart disease. He lost 100 pounds and overcame alcohol, cigarettes, and fast food. Death can be rather motivating.
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nEWSBRIEFS I.U. Themester brings sustainability scholarship to the public
A tuition-free curriculum of lectures, films, discussions, and exhibitions in Bloomington is open to the wider community this fall. “Sustain.ability: Thriving on a Small Planet” is the theme of this year’s College Themester. The initiative taps into the collective knowledge and creativity of the I.U. faculty and involves students in the exploration of ideas across the disciplines. The Themester begins September 3 and runs through mid-December, and brings some renowned individuals to speak, including activist and poet Wendell Berry and journalist and author Thomas Friedman. All events are standalone—and free. Enrollment is not required and those interested are encouraged to attend as many events as they’d like. For the schedule of Themester events, go to www.themester.indiana.edu. R e us e
Reuse, restyle, repurpose: do-it-yourself upholstery classes
Photos courtesy Betsy Sheldon
A cross between shop and home economics (minus the cooking), do-it-yourself classes from ModHomeEcTeacher are perfect for people who can’t bear to part Before with worn-out furniture, as well as those who like to pick up the odd find at the flea market. (You just know there’s something useful you can do with that old steamer trunk.) Following the mantra, “Reuse, Restyle, and Repurpose,” Shelly Leer, Ms. ModHomeEc-Teacher After herself, guides students in taking what they have and restoring it to practical use—or at least an attractive
Indiana solar tours and open houses
conversation piece. Leer, whose B.S. degree in textiles and design education is from Butler University, is teaching several two-session upholstery workshops during September and October and will be adding six-week classes later. View the dates and times, and register online at modhomeecteacher.com.
Photo courtesy Betsy Sheldon
E d u c a t ion
energy
Got milk bottles? Traders Point Creamery launches return service There are so many positive things about Traders Point Creamery yogurt and milk: it’s organic, it’s locally sourced and produced, the real producers (the cows) enjoy a steady diet of pasture grass. Now, there’s one more thing to add to the list: As of June 1, 2010, you can return—instead of reuse or recycle—the bottles. Since the dairy first began producing in 2003, the owners have sold their milk and yogurt in days-of-yore glass bottles. Loyal consumers have discovered useful purposes for them, but a person only needs so many change jars and reusable water bottles. Instead of hauling the bottles out the recycling bin, customers can now remove the labels, clean, and return the containers to Traders Point, at 9101 Moore Road in Zionsville, where they’ll be sterilized and filled with more award-winning yogurt and milk. Chalk up another point for the environment. But don’t expect to get a nickel back for the deposit.
SUBMISSIONS: For the latest news about green living, visit: www.IndianaLivingGreen.com.
As part of the National Solar Tour October 2, 2010, the Indiana Renewable Energy Association (InREA) will be hosting tours and open houses at renewable energy sites in Indiana. As of press time, tours in Indianapolis and Bloomington are scheduled. The tours are part of the 15th Annual National Solar tour coordinated by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). In 2009, about 150,000 attendees visited some 5,000 buildings in 3,000 participating communities throughout the United States. The Indiana tours showcase examples of how green and renewable power is being generated today all over the state. To find the tour nearest you, check out indianarenew.org. For more information about ASES and nationwide activities, visit nationalsolartour.org. G r e e n F in d
Idle energy a turn-off for smart surge protector Many electronic devices use unnecessary power when idle, in standby mode, or even when turned off. A Department of Energy study shows that 15 percent of the energy an average household uses is for standby current. The GreenGenius Smart Surge Protector, made by Accell, automatically turns off the power to idle devices, plugging that energy leak and reducing the electric bill.
GreenGenius works like this: Say, you want to use it in your home office. Plug your computer into the Master Outlet, then plug the peripheries into the Switched Outlets. When you turn off the computer, the surge protector senses the reduction in electricity flow and shuts off all components plugged into the Switched Outlets. No more leaks. There are additional outlets for devices not connected to your primary device. So even when the computer is off, your desk lamp still works. GreenGenius is available in both six- and 10-plug surge protectors. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price starts at $34.99.
Submit your news items with high-resolution images to: editor@IndianaLiving-Green.com.
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B y B e t s y S h e l don
Waste
Local business participates in Walmart compost initiative
Walmart has been hit with its share of rotten tomatoes, lobbed from proponents of local economies and social justice groups. The mega-corporation has long been criticized for overtaking towns and communities when it opens up new stores, bulldozing over a lot more than mere acreage. But in Central Indiana and nationwide, Walmart will be the one throwing the tomatoes—as well as oranges, lettuce, and whatever else has passed its expiration date in the produce section. And one local company is happy to be the target. Pending completion of permit processes, GreenCycle, which produces landscape products from organic
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materials at its four locations in Central Indiana, will be receiving the food waste from all Walmart stores in the region, and turning it into compost at its Zionsville and Indianapolis locations. “We expect some 60 tons of waste per week, once we get going,” says John Repenning, vice president of marketing and administration for GreenCycle.
From garbage to garden
GreenCycle’s new contract is the result of an agreement between GreenCycle and Organix Recycling, Inc., the company contracted to collect and deliver Walmart’s food refuse—what remains after all consumable material is sent to food banks and other outlets. Midwest-based Organix is involved exclusively in food waste, collecting and hauling the material from grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and industries that produce food, and diverting it to recycling operations. The company will collect from Walmart stores in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and—soon— several southern states. GreenCycle will be the sole recipient of waste in the Central Indiana region. Reflecting on the company’s partnership with Organix, Repenning explains, “We discussed what was acceptable
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waste by 25 percent within three years and achieve zero waste by 2025. Bill Wertz, regional public affairs manager for Walmart, comments, “The compost program is the last piece of our effort to reduce store waste, and it follows giving food to food banks, zoos, animal shelters.” “Walmart has really looked outside the box on this,” says Andy Taylor, national accounts manager for Organix. He explains that few businesses have committed to recycling food waste, which takes up approximately 30 percent of all landfill space. “Only a very small percentage is recycled, and there hasn’t been any infrastructure to facilitate it—until now. Walmart is leading the way.”
Photo courtesy GreenCycle
A huge step for recycling
and what was unacceptable—and what we’re getting is nice, super-clean food waste.” Repenning says that this will be the company’s first experience with working with refuse at this volume.
Looking outside the box The Walmart compost initiative is just one component of a big-picture sustainability plan launched in 2006. Although the big-box behemoth has attracted its share of criticism, many concede that the entity is also leading the way toward more sustainable practices within the larger business community. That Walmart requires its supply chain to meet certain sustainability criteria has had a powerful effect. In fact, the company recently announced its goal to reduce by 20 million metric tons the greenhouse gases it—and its supply chain—generates by the year 2015. Walmart has set a goal to reduce
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GreenCycle, says Repenning, is eager for the opportunity to recycle food waste at high volume, but plans to approach the task one step at a time. “We are only taking material from one source and we are taking a limited amount to start with,” he says. “We want to make sure we do it right.” Few people would use “limited” to describe 60 tons of garbage, but Repenning explains that adding food waste—green material—to compost requires a corresponding amount of brown material, such as wood chips and horse manure. Otherwise, the result will be stinking, rotting garbage. “We don’t want to get overrun with the material and cause an odor problem.” Repenning remarks on the significance of Walmart’s move: “From the big-picture perspective, this is a huge step for our industry. Walmart has really stepped up and taken the initiative to start composting food waste. The potential opportunity for taking food waste from other sources in Indiana is huge.” Taylor agrees. “This kind of exposure is good for everyone—it encourages other chains, hospitals, schools, municipalities, and even smaller businesses to get on board. It will even encourage people to do their own backyard composting. The whole point is that it spreads awareness and bolsters the movement toward zero waste.” n
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e Op n
Broad Ripple’s
By April Perkins
Photo courtesy Katz Lee Finch
When it comes to changing the world, Broad Ripple residents want to start in their own backyard
residents and grassroots startups are coaxing Broad Ripple onto a faster track toward eco-simpatico living. The village has its issues: Residents are quick to complain about traffic congestion on Broad Ripple Avenue and the amount of waste generated by the party-’til-dawn crowd that spills from neighborhood bars and clubs throughout the week. And diehard activists express frustration that the move toward green is glacially slow.
Photo courtesy Credit Broad Ripple Farmers Market
For a community striving toward sustainability, Broad Ripple already has a lot going for it. Most residents live close enough to walk or bike to shopping, dining, and recreation. Public transportation is readily available. Locally owned shops outnumber national chains. Fresh-from-the-farm food is in abundance throughout the summer. Folks don’t have to start up the car to get to a lively night scene. And amid all this are plenty of opportunities for communing with nature, whether in wooded parks or on peaceful riverbanks. It’s a good start, indeed. But for a growing element of environmental advocates, it’s not enough: Both longtime
Wary of greenwash Conrad Cortellini despairs that many of the community’s efforts are less substantive and more greenwash. “They
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keep building, putting up bars, talking people into buying and consuming,” observes the architect who started the
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But what’s grown as abundantly as the tomatoes and basil is neighborly connection: one resident providing the land; another allowing the group to collect rainwater from his property; one watching out for mischief-makers, and many pulling weeds and harvesting. Even Butler University students are involved, performing water tests from the rainbarrels. Johnson says that one of the best outcomes of the effort is “meeting new friends and random passersby. It always seems to gather interest from people walking by.”
But under Bennett’s presidency, Green Broad Ripple continues with efforts such as the glass-recycling initiative among village restaurants. The project started in 2008 with nine restaurants and bars in a one-square-block area. Each week approximately 10 tons of glass is diverted to a company in nearby Muncie that produces food containers. Bennett says that because of the additional material, the Indiana business has increased its production and hired six more employees. As the project enters phase two, Bennett notes, “People have seen it and become interested in how they can be a part. It has doubled in size and is one of the largest in the country now.” The ultimate goal, Bennett says, is to have all Broad Ripple restaurants and bars producing zero waste.
Photo courtesy Broad Ripple Village Association
Photo courtesy April Perkins
en
Glass recycling initiative
Indy chapter of Slow Food in 2000 and co-founded the 501 (c) (3) Green Broad Ripple in 2007. “We need to drastically reduce the amount of energy we use. We need to consume less—there’s no getting around it.” Cortellini has stepped away from his involvement with Green Broad Ripple, and he and his wife, Patti, are soon to launch a newsletter for a national organization, the Alliance for Democracy. Neal Bennett, another founder of Green Broad Ripple, agrees about the greenwashing. “This proliferation of questionable information and advertising is definitely a concern,” he says. “Some discouraging things are the lack of emphasis on green building and green infrastructure.” He blames economic concerns with slowing down enthusiasm for change, too.
Photo courtesy April Perkins
Counterclockwise from top left: Brenda Rising-Moore, Broad Ripple activist and owner of Union Jack Pub, on the Monon Trail; Nonie and David Vonnegut-Gabovitch, proprietors of BRICS in their ice-cream shop; one of more than a dozen artist-designed recycle containers; Morgan Johnson in Broad Ripple’s community garden; the farmers market on a typical Saturday in summer. Next page: Broad Ripple Brewpub owner John Hill.
A working garden Green Broad Ripple is also gaining ground with its urban garden. Morgan Johnson, another founding member, reports that the garden at 61st between Guilford and Winthrop, is now producing enough herbs and vegetables to sell to local restaurants, including Union Jack and Napolese.
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Green Broad Ripple intends to continue to grow its activities involving residents and businesses. In fact, the members have a good working relationship with another neighborhood group, the Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA). “A few of our people serve in both organizations,” says Bennett, “so we have some common ground there. We have separate but in some cases overlapping goals and when they overlap, my hope is to be partners in achieving those goals.” The volunteer-based neighborhood association’s primary focus for 41 years has been to promote the village as a desirable destination to live and shop. And sustainability issues are increasingly part of that mission. BRVA and Green Broad Ripple parlayed a grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management into 14 artist-designed recycling bins located throughout the community. —Continued on page 18
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BROAD RIPPLE’S OPEN
Photo courtesy Katz Lee Finch
— Continued from page 17
A new vision At a recent meeting, BRVA introduced Envision Broad Ripple, the village’s master plan, which is to develop a clear picture of what the village will look like. The auditorium, bracketed with colorful design boards, was filled with residents eager to get a glimpse of that vision. Board member Thomas Healy introduced the plan. The owner of Apple Press and publisher of bimonthly Branches pointed to components such as creating new pedestrian paths, setting universal building codes, encouraging dense urban growth, utilizing alleyways to promote new traffic patterns, planning for eventual mass transit, and regulating a variety of design elements throughout the village. Attendees completed a survey form to indicate the importance of rain gardens, native landscaping, LEED-certified buildings, green roofs, and more. BRVA is proprietor of the summer farmers market, located at the Broad Ripple high school parking lot on Saturday mornings. Conrad Cortellini points to the market as one of the best examples of a successful green effort, although he wishes for support for a village food coop. But for many, the farmers market has been a gateway to greater appreciation of local food. Area resident Kathy Hofmeister says, “The Broad Ripple Farmers Market was my first real exposure to shopping locally.”
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Solar-powered brew Local businesses are doing their part. You can’t miss the large solar panels on top of the Broad Ripple Brewpub. Owner John Hill is proud of his solarpowered brewery, which serves up beer so local that it measures its carbon footprint in inches rather than miles. Other neighborhood mainstays include Dinwiddie’s, where Bernie Dinwiddie divines and sells her one-ofa-kind fashion creations from collected fabrics and deconstructed clothing. And Good Earth Natural Food Company, purveyor of organic produce and Earth shoes for more than four decades. When longtime owner Bob Landman passed away, the outpouring of neighborhood support enabled the employees to purchase the store and continue Landman’s legacy. Brenda Rising-Moore, owner of Union Jack Pub and active member of Green Broad Ripple, says, “The Village itself presents a sustainable lifestyle, where people work and play close to home. When your services, banking, dining, and shopping needs can be found around the corner, everyone wins.” Even the new kid on the block, BRICS (Broad Ripple Ice Cream Station), which has quickly become a gathering place along side the Monon Trail, has taken up the green gauntlet. Owners Nonie and David Vonnegut-Gabovitch are committed to greening their business as much as possible, from the native landscaping to the dual-flush toilets in the restrooms. Even the tasting spoons are made of reusable metal. Neal Bennett contemplates whether these advances in Broad Ripple, from tiny spoons to solar panels, from recycling to zero waste, are enough. “The only way to start changing the world toward sustainability is to begin in your own neighborhood. I love Broad Ripple and I want to leave it better than how I found it.” n
Resources: • Green Broad Ripple; www.greenbroadripple.org • Broad Ripple Village Association; www.discoverbroadripplevillage.com
September/October 2010
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B y BE T SY SHEL D O N
Reduce, Reuse, and Remodel Building with salvage lowers the environmental impact of home renovations
Tom Chandler bought his home 15 years ago—a centuryold bungalow in the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis. With rotting window frames, ancient wiring, and outdated plumbing, the house posed challenges that would have withered the cast of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” And Chandler, lacking the big-box sponsors of the popular TV series, knew the renovations could double, triple, even quadruple his costs. Fortunately, Chandler brought to the task skills honed through a work history as architect, engineer, and carpenter. And instead of patronizing the discount home stores, he turned to Habitat ReStore for secondhand materials: The tidy 1,200- Photo courtesy Betsy Sheldon cabinets—even the draperies material. He square-foot home bordered by a white estimates they ultimately saved as much picket fence is an eclectic as $250,000 in labor and materials. mix of styles: a cozy cottage feel with an antique flavor blended with 21stGrassroots green and growing century-modern materials and fixtures. ReStore merchandise can indeed save Chandler and his wife, Sandra, 75 to as much as 90 percent off normal can trace almost every home detail to retail—and even brand-new, neverReStore: the retro glass blocks in the been-used material is 50-percent less, bathroom window, the trim and wainaccording to Tom Graves, development scoting, the wood from the living room coordinator for the Indianapolis ReStore furniture, which Tom made, the doors at 1011 E. 22nd Street. and windows, light fixtures, and kitchen
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Operated by the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Habitat for Humanity, the more than 600 ReStores in the United States sell home building materials donated by individuals and businesses, in addition to absorbing the leftovers from Habitat home-building sites—everything from full gallon cans of paint to end-ofline kitchen sinks. Cost savings isn’t the only reason that ReStore and other re-use resources are attracting customers. Graves says he has two kinds of customers: “Those looking for bargains—and those who want to be green.” As sustainability gains popularity and the economy continues to push the public into a more frugal mindset, customer traffic at salvage outlets is exploding. “In the last four years, we’ve grown more than 250 percent. We’re already [July 2010] 30-percent ahead of last year.” More people are alert to the fact that the construction waste problem is of Himalayan proportions: The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that building and demolition accounts for 160 million tons—or more than a quarter of total non-industrial waste—per year, depleting resources, creating mountainous landfills, and adding expense to
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Bert Gilbert (Bloomington area) built a mudroom entirely from materials salvaged from construction or demolition sites. The new addition cost him just $200.
the average project. The solution will require more accuracy in forecasting materials needs and better management of the demolition process. In the meantime, sustainably minded homeowners and home buyers are doing their part to build the market for reused and recycled materials.
For the do-it-yourself challenged The Chandler story is inspiring to any homeowner seeking to perfect his or her environment without chalking up more waste, resources, and energy consumption. But for the do-it-yourselfchallenged, is renovating with used materials feasible, let alone cost-effective? Bert Gilbert, owner of Gilbert Construction Company Inc., based in the Bloomington area, warns that cost savings may be offset by the additional labor of a builder or contractor, “at least two to three times as much,” he says. “There’s added time for searching for used materials in enough quantities to complete the job, and there may be repairs or adaptations to make the products usable or bring them up to code.” —Continued on page 22
September/October 2010
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REDUCE, REUSE AND REMODEL
• Find a professional who brings good references and is open to reused materials. Spend some time up front talking about your expectations. Ask questions. • Explore whether costs might be contained if you do the materials search. • If you do the legwork, get clear specifications from the builder: What’s the minimum square footage of tile needed? What are the exact measurements for the countertop? • Go for newer materials and fixtures whenever possible. Older toilets, for example, use an unconscionable amount of water. Mid-century windows may be charming—but they’re
From the kitchen cabinets and countertop (left) to the front door and light fixture on the porch (above), Tom Chapman can trace most of the materials used in his extreme-makeover home remodel to Habitat ReStore, which sells items as diverse as bathroom tile, paint, plumbing hardware, and toilets (top left).
Photo courtesy Julie King
Gilbert routinely salvages whatever he can from demolitions and leftovers. “The building process is inherently very wasteful. Often there are wonderful, quality materials that get thrown in the trash—and I rescue those materials.” Gilbert has been rescuing salvage since he was 12. In fact, the windows and trim he saved from his first effort found a permanent home a few years ago in a cottage he built for a relative. His own abode makes use of mismatched tiles turned into floor designs, weathered windows converted into kitchen cabinets, and an entire mudroom built for just $200. He offers the following tips for working salvage into a home project:
Photo courtesy Julie King
Photo courtesy ReStore
— Continued from page 22
terribly inefficient, energy-wise. Decorative trim may add character; but may also contribute toxic dust from peeling lead-based paint. (See the sidebar on page 23.) • Use surplus materials when possible. ReStore, as do many rehab places, receives donations of unused overstock. These same-as-new products offer a greater assurance that they will work. • Keep in mind that the contractor or builder isn’t responsible if a used item breaks or fails to work. In the state of Indiana, remodelers must guarantee
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their work for three years, but they may disclaim liability for a product they didn’t provide. • Allow for creativity: Your cache of mosaic tiles won’t complete your bathroom? Try creating an attractive border—or floor pattern and use a different tile for filler. • Be flexible. Shopping used can limit your choices. Craigslist or eBay can extend your options, but if espresso express paint isn’t to be found, be willing to go with loco-mocha. n
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The dark side of architectural salvage Prior to the 1978 federal ban on leadbased paint, most paints and varnishes contained a measurable amount of lead, a highly toxic element—particularly for children 6 and under—linked to delayed development, nervous system disorders, and kidney and reproductive damage. Homes built before 1978 are now affected by 2010 by legislation requiring lead testing. That won’t necessarily apply to finds you excavate from salvage. But the chippedpaint charm of an old window frame is precisely what makes it all the more dangerous. Even simply opening and closing the window can release dangerous, easily inhaled paint dust. Before buying a suspect item, have it tested by a certified tester. If it’s proven to contain lead, you’re wise to pass it up, as sanding or repair would require the services of a professional—with respiration mask, protective suit, HEPA vacuum, and other safety equipment (can you say ca-ching?). Other dangers and drawbacks—from faulty electrical wiring in old light fixtures to cabinetry infested with vermin or roaches—can diminish the savings and sustainability benefits of reused building materials. Gilbert advises involving your builder before committing. “Paying your contractor to spend an hour or two looking over the materials with you prior to your purchase is well-worth the investment.”
•
Habitat ReStore 1011 East 22nd St., Indianapolis, IN 317.921.2121; ext. 189 for donations; ext. 211 for questions www.indyhabitat.org/restore
300 W 11th St Bloomington, IN 47404 812.331.2660 www.monroecountyhabitat.org/restore
For all Indiana locations, visit habitat.org • Rehab Resource Inc. 101 S Parker Ave., ndianapolis, IN 46201 317.637.3701 • Asset Recycling Inc. 701 North Holt Rd., Indianapolis, IN 46222 317.635.7774
September/October 2010
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B y
J U DY
K E N N I N GER
youCan Can Among my most vivid childhood memories is opening the pantry on my mother’s instructions to grab a jar of this or that. It may have been the darkest winter night, but that pantry door opened onto the summer past, as jars of golden peaches and bright red tomatoes glowed from their shelves. I felt warmer just looking at them. As I deepen my commitment to eating local, the lessons I learned as a child have served me well. “Putting up” food is a way to get around the lack of local produce in winter. A larder stocked with tomato sauces and salsas, pickled vegetables, and fruits and jams expands meal options without resorting to expensive produce from faraway places that add on the carbon pounds faster than your quart jars of apple pie filling. Whether the motivation is eating sustainably, preserving a little bit of summer, saving money, or using up garden bounty, more and more Indiana residents are home-canning. “I’ve been getting a lot of calls lately,” says Christina Ferroli, Ph.D., R.D., extension educator for Purdue Extension-Marion County. “The economy has heightened awareness of home canning, and many others are interested in knowing exactly what their family is eating.” The trend is national; in late July, Amazon.com was sold out of the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving, considered the bible for home canners.
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If you’d like to join them, the first step is to find a copy of the Ball book or another reliable source of canning instruction and follow it exactly. “There are no acceptable shortcuts in the food preservation arena,” Ferroli says. “The biggest concern is the bacterium clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a deadly form of food poisoning.” She emphasizes that by adhering to instructions, “you’ll know you have a safe product.”
Getting into hot water The equipment required for canning is pretty straightforward. You need containers—jars, lids, and screw bands specifically designed for canning to ensure sterility and safety. The self-sealing lids tightly adhere to the jars during processing, and once the seal is broken, they can’t be reused. The screw bands and jars can.
Photo courtesy Betsy Sheldon
YES,
There are two types of canning processors. A water bath canner involves boiling the filled and sealed jars for a set time in a large pot. A removable rack keeps jars apart and assists in lifting them out. Because the water bath reaches only 212 degrees, only high-acid foods such as tomatoes, pickles, and some fruits should be canned using this method. The process is similar with a pressure canner except that it has a lock-on lid that allows the escape of steam through a vent and maintains the pressure inside with a weighted gauge. This allows it to reach a higher temperature (240F), and can process faster. Low-acid foods such as corn, beans, and meats must be processed only in a pressure canner. Canning equipment—especially jars and lids—is often available at hardware, grocery, and department stores. Waterbath canners are widely available at hardware and department stores, but pressure canners may be harder to find. Walmart carries a seven-quart pressure canner for $65. Both can be obtained online. If you inherit or find a processor at a yard sale, all the better. But don’t use if it shows sign of rust or appears damaged. Pick up all the old jars and screw tops you can find, but remember that used lids are a no-no.
What’s cooking? “Today’s guides have a wide range of recipes,” Ferroli says. “You can make great gifts like fiesta salsa or can your own juices or pickles.” The guides even have recipes for pickling beans, asparagus, and zucchini. If your garden is overflowing with fresh produce, deciding what to can is easy and you’ll
save money. If you don’t have a garden or want to supplement what you’ve grown, look to farmers’ markets, local farms, and orchards for fresh produce. To find them, check out www.pickyourown.org or the Indiana local food guides at www.in.gov/icw/files/food_ guide.pdf or www.localharvest.org.
The process Many home canners start with a water bath canner and tomatoes or pickles. Recipes are numerous, and the Ball website listed under Resources is a good place to start. While the canning process may seem a little intimidating, what with all those alerts about botulism and other forms of food poisoning, the task is fairly straightforward. The most challenging part is timing everything so that hot liquid is poured into hot jars that are then transferred into the hot canning bath. But when you open your pantry on a cold winter afternoon, and choose from jars of your own tomato sauces, strawberry jams, and pickled beets, you’ll appreciate your hot-weather efforts for that fresh taste of summer during the darkest days. n
Resources: • Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving, 2010 edition is available at stores for about $6 or can be borrowed from local libraries. Ball’s website, www.freshpreserving.com, offers free online tutorials. • USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, 2009 revision, can be ordered from Purdue University Extension by calling (888) EXTINFO. You can also download the chapters you need for free at www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/ can_home.html. • Need help getting started? The Purdue
Extension Service offers classes around the state. Call (888) EXT-INFO for dates and times. Judy Kenninger is a Brownsburg, Indiana-based freelance writer who’s now feeling bold enough to try a pressure canner. For her step-by-step instructions for canning tomatoes, visit www.IndianaLivingGreen.com. Photo courtesy Ball Corporation
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© Illustration courtesy Jerry Williams
B y Hanna h s p e nc e r
Green Gets Into the Act Two Southern Indiana performance companies present sustainability themed productions
For the last 30 years, audiences have been able to count on the Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP) for drama and originality both on and off-stage. Last January, the nonprofit play production organization turned off its power and worked for a week without lights or heat to promote the 2010 theme for its annual AwareFest, “A Greener World.” “AwareFest is about bringing light to an issue that impacts our lives,” says Bloomington Playwrights Project producing artistic director Chad Rabinovitz. “This year’s theme was chosen because never before has the environment been as important of a topic as right now. Everything going on with BP
and the oil spill just further proves the importance of the environment.” The 2010 AwareFest, October 1 through 16, features eight 10-minute plays centered on green initiatives such as alternative energy sources, sustainable living, and water conservation. Five of the plays are by well-known playwrights including Emmy-nominated Craig Wright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Jon Marans. Three are the winning entries of local, high school, and national contests. “BPP is interested in creating plays that are not only entertaining but, more importantly, leave the audience questioning what just happened,” Rabinovitz
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says. “Theater is a medium for the universal human condition. It involves audience members and makes them feel a part of the action. It’s not about trying to tell, but about provoking thoughts.” Recycling set materials is one of the sustainable practices BPP has been integrating, not only during last January’s “Blizzardfest,” but also all year long. “Building a set takes a lot of lumber, and reusing sets is important—it really cuts back on spending and waste, “ Rabinovitz says. “Also, we had an energy audit done, and from there we decided to weatherize our building, which has cut down on fuel costs.” Another Southern Indiana company raising awareness about sustainability through the arts is Brown County-based Valley Ranch Retreat, which put on its sixth annual Greenstock festival this summer. “The idea for Greenstock came from my desire to host an event merging the music aspect of Woodstock while spreading green awareness,” says Valley Ranch Retreat owner Gary Bartels. “For only $30 dollars, event-goers can camp out and listen to 10 different bands ranging from reggae to rock.” Festival event organizers make using sustainable resources a top priority. “The up to 1,400 people camping here were not able to take their vehicles onto the camp premises,” Bartels says. “Also, the hot water heaters were solarpowered, and all campers were expected to recycle.” Audience members heard guest speakers, such as Kurt Koehler, cofounder and CEO of the Indiana-based AlGalCo, working with Purdue University to develop a new type of energy source using hydrogen. “This event is about stimulating conversation,” Bartels says. “Any person with a green project or idea is invited to come and speak. It is impossible to know where the next great idea will come from—it could be something a guy comes up with tinkering in his garage, so it is important that there are events like this to provide an outlet.” Hannah Spencer is a sophomore at Indiana University in Bloomington, where she’s studying journalism and dietetics.
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MARKETPLACE
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www.IndianaLivingGreen.com
B l o o m i n gton
MARKET PLACE
Sales@IndianaLivingGreen.com
(317) 769-3456
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Carmel: Restyle, Redesign and Repurpose: Beginning Upholstery for the DIY-er. Go to FliptStudio.com for a schedule of classes and workshops. www.FliptStudio.com
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BY m a r ia s m i etana
Growing up, my younger brothers and I were champion eaters. We came by it honestly. My father, a tall, lean fellow, enjoyed nothing so much as a tasty home-cooked meal, or any meal, for that matter. Not surprisingly, our family spent a lot of time shopping for groceries. As part of the first generation of kids to grow up with supermarkets, we learned early on to think of cheap California lettuce and Mexican strawberries at Christmas as normal. Worse yet, we learned to love chips, sweet rolls, and candy as much as we loved fresh fruit. Once I started my own household, the weekly trip to the grocery store was a ritual that actually gave me a bit of a buzz. Armed with coupons, sales fliers, and checkbook, I made a game of getting the most bang for my food buck in the shortest amount of time. What I brought home was a fair mix of fresh products and prepared convenience foods, with an occasional bag of corn chips or six-pack of soda thrown in on pure impulse. It was all so easy, efficient, and satisfying. So imagine the befuddling moral dilemma I faced several years ago when I became aware of the organic and local food movement and, shortly thereafter, gave up a predictable paycheck to become a small organic vegetable farmer myself. It wasn’t long before the influence of other local growers and producers sparked my resolve to start eating “off grid.” But had I known how many habits I would have to undo to wean myself from grocery stores, I would have armed myself better and started sooner. Giving up store meat, from cuts to sausage, was the easiest step. We were already eating enough meatless meals that some of our confirmed steak-andpotatoes friends were asking in worried tones whether we’d “gone vegetarian.” One taste of local, organically grown chicken and non-CAFO beef, and the
© Illustration courtesy Jerry Williams
Confessions of a Recovering Grocery Store Addict
switch was made. We just ate less to make up for the higher price. Commercial baked goods proved a harder habit to kick. Confirmed carboholics, the hubby and I still answered the occasional siren call of a fresh Krispy Kreme, even though we made and sold whole-grain breads for a living, and ate plenty of them ourselves. We never even tried to give up breakfast cereals; we simply switched to the organic, nonGMO brands—6 a.m. is no time to try to realign one’s moral principles. Produce, the largest part of our diet, proved the greatest source of moral anguish as we pushed our household toward more planet-friendly eating. Was it still OK to buy store lettuce, I wondered, during seasons when we couldn’t grow it ourselves? Once all the farmers’ market potatoes were gone for the year, were conventionally grown ones from southern Michigan arguably less environmentally objectionable than organic ones bearing the whopping carbon footprint of travel from Idaho?
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Suddenly, the enjoyable weekly ritual of shopping turned into a minor nightmare. Trips to the store became less and less frequent, and when I did go, I’d stand in front of the cooler cases for minutes at a time, weighing questions like what could substitute for the nutritionally perfect but rain-forest-destroying banana, and could I really go all winter without a tomato, organic or otherwise? For now, my decision diagram is thin and full of holes, but the rules look something like this: local, organic farmers’ market food first, organic grocery store produce to fill the gaps. No imported produce, except maybe bananas. Seasonal eating encouraged. Now, will someone please sneak me a Krispy Kreme before my head explodes? n Maria Smietana is a refugee from the corporate world who now writes and grows organic produce on her mini-farm in Boone County.
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