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Showing posts with label green. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green. Show all posts

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Portsmouth Sustainability Fair

The Fourth Annual Portsmouth Sustainability Fair 

Saturday, May 14, 2011, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
At a new location! Portsmouth Little Harbour School!

Joining together as community partners, Portsmouth Listens, Piscataqua Sustainability Initiative, The City of Portsmouth, and the Portsmouth School District announce the fourth annual Portsmouth Sustainability Fair on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Portsmouth Little Harbour School . Sustainability entrepreneurs will exhibit their ideas, products and projects. There will be an emphasis on slow and local food along with engaging environmental education for kids. Come enjoy, celebrate and learn. The Fair is an invitation to participate and contribute to the next steps we can take as individuals and collectively in making sustainability a reality.

The theme of the Fair will be The Natural Step Four System Conditions, as adopted in Portsmouth’s resolution to become an eco-municipality. Come experience and learn how The System Conditions give us a compass to guide us into a sustainable future.

Admission and Specialty Recycling

There is no admission fee, but people attending the Fair are asked to bring items for re-use or recycling and drop them off at either of the Entry Gates. We call it “Specialty Recycling”. The purpose is to raise awareness of the impact citizens can have on all four conditions of the Natural Step. Recycling or reuse limits or reduces the need for production and use of more fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals. Recycling or reuse also reduces encroachment on nature by limiting or reducing what is going into landfills; recycling helps meet human needs more fairly and efficiently as recycled or reused goods are utilized by persons of lesser economic means, or turned into cash for non-profits to use to fulfill their goals.

This year, our Specialty Recycling items include:

Cell Phones
Ink Cartridges
Eyeglasses
Books, CD’s and DVD’s
Used Clothing and Shoes
Electronics

Most cell phones are 100% recyclable, and can generate approximately $1-3 for each cell phone recycled. Similarly ink cartridges can be turned into dollars with the proceeds donated to non-profit causes. Last year, the Fair recycled 165 cell phones and approximately 175 ink cartridges.

Eyeglasses (last year 92 pairs) are recycled to needy people throughout the world through the Lions’ Club. Books are recycled to new users at the Fair or through the school and public libraries (last year six boxes of books). Used clothing and shoes are recycled, reused or resold to assist needy people around the world. Last year, over three cubic yards of used clothing and shoes were recycled through Planet Aid.

The largest and most popular specialty recycling item is electronics. Electronics is just about anything you can plug into the wall. While most electronics can be recycled through the City recycling facility, the City has to charge for most electronic recyclables ($8 for a computer) and then pay a recycling fee of over $.10 per pound to have an electronics recycler haul and recycle the collected electronics. This year, the Fair is partnering up with CRT Processing/Uniwaste of Portsmouth, N.H. to collect and recycle the electronics and Samsung is sponsoring the poundage cost. Last year, Fairgoers recycled a staggering 7800 pounds of electronics saving local citizens an estimated $2500 in recycling fees; relieved the City of part of the usual burden of collecting and transferring the electronics; and facilitated an easier pickup of the recyclables. The Fair will be paying a nominal fee for sit costs, and is suggesting donations from electronics recyclers.

So, come one, come all, and bring as many “specialty recycling” items that you can carry, and help make your community more sustainable.

Read more...

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Review: Hefty Basics Tableware & Giveaway

Do you feel like being lazy sometimes?  Now you can with Hefty's new basics paper plates, skip the dishes!  I've given you permission...

I recently received a sample of Hefty's new plates to try out my laziness on.  I love how eco-friendly I can be when using them, plus I'm saving dishwater.  They are compost-able right in your backyard (which I haven't tried yet, but hoping for the best in the summer), plus they contain no inks, dyes or coatings.  The plates are fairly thin, yet sturdy and will definitely withstand a hamburger or steak.  My kids like using these plates because they know they can go in the compost bin.

 
Hefty® Basics™ has also partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation™ on a quest to plant 10,000 trees, one for every ten new “Like”s on Facebook, so be sure to "Like" them!

Lastly, I have two coupons for free product (value up to $2.99) to giveaway.  I am keeping this simple...all you have to do is post a comment with one tip on how to live more green (make sure I have a way of contacting you).  The giveaway will end Friday, February 15 at midnight EST.  I will use random.org to select a winner and it will be announced on Saturday.  Good luck and happy laziness and composting!

Read more...

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Thirst

Thirst is an upcoming water documentary being shown on February 18 at Phillips Exeter Academy as part of their PEA Sustainability Series.

WHENFriday, February 18, 2011 @ 6:30 p.m.

WHEREPhillips Exeter Academy, Tan Lane, Exeter, NH in the Phelps Academy Center, Forum 3rd floor

Free and open to the public; street parking is available.
Is water part of a shared "commons", a human right for all people? Or is it a commodity to be bought, sold, and traded in a global marketplace? THIRST tells the stories of communities in Bolivia, India, and the United States that are asking these fundamental questions, as water becomes the most valuable global resource of the 21st Century.
A character-driven documentary with no narration, THIRST reveals how the debate over water rights between communities and corporations can serve as a catalyst for explosive and steadfast resistance to globalization.
Following the showing, Denise Hart, New England Director of Food & Water Watch will be speaking on these water issues.

Read more...

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Green Movies: Sustainable Futures

*The first movie in the Sustainability Film Series: Tapped has been been postponed to Tues., March 1st at 6:30pm.


A free film series, Green Movies: Sustainable Futures, begins at the Dover Public Library February 22. The series explores the ways that our choices affect the health of the planet and its ability to survive. The films begin at 6:30 on the second floor of the Library, 73 Locust Street, Dover. (click on image for larger picture)

Pull out the calendar, here are the upcoming dates and features!
  • February 22: Blue Vinyl (2002) The other side of siding.
  • March 1: Tapped (2009) Water wants to be free.
  • March 8: A Crude Awakening (2006) The high cost of cheap oil.
  • March 22: Radiant City (2006, 85 mins). When bad design happens to good people.
  • April 5: Dirt (2009, 80 mins.) The human – humus link.

Tapped is about the struggle for public control over water resources and is set in part in Maine, where local activists were able to defeat efforts by the Nestlé Corporation to buy and sell their community’s water. Warning: this movie may prompt you to stop buying bottled water.

Blue Vinyl tells the story of a woman’s reaction to her parents’ decision to recover their Long Island home with vinyl. With humor and persistence, she travels to Louisiana and Venice, Italy, to learn about the toxic legacy of vinyl siding.

A Crude Awakening traces the story of oil, from its discovery in the late 19th century to the present. We have constructed our way of life, from personal automobiles to ubiquitous plastics, on oil. Unfortunately, some day it will run out.

Radiant City is the story of a suburban community which is putting on a play about suburbia. Scenes of family tensions over the play are intercut with comments by architects and designers on the kinds of towns and cities people do best in.

Dirt is a love song to Earth’s radiant skin, the soil on which our lives succeed or fail. It travels the world to find out what’s happening to our topsoil and the actions, large and small, that people are taking to restore and enrich it.

I have seen Dirt, Blue Vinyl and Tapped and all three are wonderful films everyone should see.  I also have heard great things about A Crude Awakening and Radiant City.  Sure to be a film series not to be missed!

The screening costs are being underwritten by the New Hampshire Charitable Fund, the City of Dover, and the Dover Energy Advisory Committee. Friends of the Dover Public Library is generously serving as fiscal agent. Adelle’s Coffeehouse is making the coffee.

Read more...

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Locavore Gift Idea #8

Sneaking in another gift tonight and in a minute I'll tell you why. This gift is a book written by a local author, Lindsey Carmichael. She has written the book, Greening Your Family which offers an overview of three areas; cleaning products, foods, and personal care products.
Greening Your Family is a valuable reference guide for parents to make informed decisions about the consumable products we buy on a regular basis. Information is arranged in an easy-to-use format that allows readers to quickly find what they need. The book includes numerous tables and product lists, recipes for making homemade cleaners, and a variety of web-based resources. Perfect to bring to the store and consult while shopping, Greening Your Family offers busy families an important tool they can use for optimal health.
The book also raises awareness about the legislative landscape, where there is currently little governmental oversight around dangerous chemicals used in food, personal care, and cleaning products. Author Lindsey Carmichael explains how scary, shocking and outrageous this is, promotes advocacy on a grass roots level, and outlines how we can take action to make our families safer.
Why I bring up this now is because you can purchase a Green Alliance membership AND Lindsey Carmichael's book together for just $40 (you do need to pick up this gift at the Green Alliance headquarters in Kittery, ME).  What better way then to commit to a greener and healthier 2011, for yourself or a loved one?

Also, if you have a green techie in your life, Lindsey has released an iPhone app giftable through iTunes for just $2.99.  Check out some of the applications features:
  • Extensive information covering three broad categories: food, personal care and cleaning products
  • Recommendations for safe brands of products in each category
  • Information about ingredients to avoid in conventional products
  • Detailed information about labels on food, cleaning and personal care products
  • Ability to create a ‘favorites’ list for quick access at the store Easy social network integration for Facebook and Twitter
  • Updates ensuring current information about the ever changing green products landscape
  • Safe Guide to Plastics for foods
  • Guide to House Plants That Purify the Air in your home
  • Table of the top 15 ingredients to avoid in personal care products
So pick up your copy of Greening Your Family book or iTunes app this week and make someone's Christmas a lil' greener.

Read more...

Locavore Gift Idea #7

Today's gift is extremely versatile.  A membership to the Green Alliance is great for just about anyone.  The Green Alliance Green Card earns you discounts at close to 100 local green business saving you hundreds even thousands of dollars!

A single membership starts at $35 or you can snag two memberships for a discounted rate of $50.  For a list and map of participating business, click here.  Some of my favorite business/discounts are:

I could go on!  I see well over $35 worth of discounts above.  So visit the Green Alliance membership page and stock up on these handy cards that are sure to be a hit this Christmas.  You can also find Green Alliance on Facebook.

Read more...

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Timber!

Amy Ouellette will be hosting a Tree Harvesting Workshop on August 21, 2010 from 2-5pm.  The cost is $25.00 per person or $35.00 per couple.  The location is 660 Route 126, Barrington NH.
 

We will have Matt Brillon, Certified Arborist, of Lee Tree Company in York, ME, showing us Chain Saw Safety and Maintenance, and how to safely harvest wood from your home wood lot. If you have a few trees you'd like to take down, before the next storm does it for you, if you have an acre or two of standing trees that you'll like to responsibly harvest for the use of heating your home, or just want more information, we welcome you to join us and learn how to do this safely. Matt has been working professionally, taking down trees, for 7+ years and is excited to educate those interested how they can make the most of the standing wood on their property.

You are welcome to bring a chain saw, if you have one, and would like to have it during the demo, to familiarize yourself with what Matt explains. You will also have the opportunity to be involved in the actual cutting of trees, if you would like to try your hand at it, with the professional there to guide you.

Boots are recommend, as the lot where we will be watching the demonstrations, and cutting trees, has various wet spots, and is heavily wooded. Bug spray, and long pants are a good suggestion, as well. Poison ivy and low lying brush could be in our path. We will be walking to different locations on the lot to view different situations to allow for the greatest understanding of how a tree stands and falls.

Sign up by calling Amy Ouellette at 603.664.5254 or via e-mail.

Read more...

Monday, May 3, 2010

Portsmouth Sustainability Fair

Joining together as community partners, Portsmouth Listens, Piscataqua Sustainability Initiative, The City of Portsmouth, and the Portsmouth School District announce the third annual Portsmouth Sustainability Fair on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at the Portsmouth Middle School and Library. Sustainability entrepreneurs will exhibit their ideas, products and projects. There will be an emphasis on slow and local food along with engaging environmental education for kids. Come enjoy, celebrate and learn. The Fair is an invitation to participate and contribute to the next steps we can take as individuals and collectively in making sustainability a reality.

The theme of the Fair will be The Natural Step Four System Conditions, as adopted in Portsmouth’s resolution to become an eco-municipality. Come experience and learn how The System Conditions give us a compass to guide us into a sustainable future.

● Educational Exhibits and Activities
● Commercial Green Vendors
● Local Food
● Sustainable Art
● Entertainment all day and fun activities for the whole family!

There is no admission fee.  Also, please bring the following specialty recycling items to be recycled for no charge:

  • Cell Phones
  • Ink Cartridges
  • Eyeglasses
  • Books, CD’s and DVD’s
  • Used Clothing and Shoes
  • Electronics

    Read more...

    Wednesday, April 28, 2010

    Green Saturday's in Rye

    Grab your planner and check out these Green Saturday events in Rye starting this weekend!

    This event is $5 for admission to the Seacoast Science Center and lecture, but it is free for Rye residents and SSC members.  I'll do my best to remind you of the other Saturdays as they come this summer!

    Each lecture is from 10:30-11:30 AM.

    Saturday, May 1

    with Alexander Lee

    Through art, education and advocacy, Project Laundry Listbrings a positive approach to change, with a goal of making air-drying and cold-water washing laundry acceptable and desirable as simple and effective ways to save energy.

    In his engaging presentation, Lee, Executive Director of Project Laundry List, will give you thirty easy and inexpensive actions to take to slow down climate change, beginning with forgoing your dryer and hanging your clothes out to dry.

    Don't miss this opportunity to be in the movies!! Drying For Freedom will be filming the presentation!  Click here to learn more about Project Laundry List. 

    June 5
    Two Home Owners and an Auditor
    Learn how others "buttoned up" their homes and what an auditor can teach you about your home.

    July 10
    Take the New England Carbon Challenge! with Clean Air Cool Planet

    August 7
    Renewable Energy Credits & New Financing Mechanisms
    NH State Representative David Borden will discuss how your energy saving actions can save you money.

    September 11
    Local Foods, Farming, and Sustainable Practices
    with UNH Professor John Carroll

    About the Honor Your Home Project

    Although the speaker series is open to everyone, you must be a resident of Rye to take part in the Honor Your Home project, and commit to taking three or more actions to lessen your carbon footprint. Once committed, participants will be "honored" by having an artist paint a picture of their home. The artwork will be on exhibit at the Center from November 12-December 16. Proceeds from the sale of the artwork support REC, SSC and local artists.

    Learn about several actions that you can take to lower your carbon footprint visiting the Cool Air Clean Planet web site. Take the New England Carbon Challenge!

    If you have questions, or are interested in signing up for the Honor Your Home project, contact Mimi White at 964-6586 or at mimiwhite@earthlink.net.  Honor Your Home is a Rye Energy Committee program in partnership with the Seacoast Science Center and Clean Air Cool Planet.

    Read more...

    Tuesday, April 20, 2010

    Organic Gardening Is Spreading!

    NOFA-NH PARTNERS IN THE CREATION OF ORGANIC SEACOAST GARDEN PLOTS AT WAGON HILL FARM, DURHAM, NH

    CONCORD, NH, USA, April 16, 2010

    Organic Gardening Is Spreading! The Northeast Organic Farming Association has been “The Voice of Organics” for over thirty-five years. NOFA was formed to serve organic farmers, gardeners and land care professionals as well as health conscious consumers of organically grown food. Since 1980 the NH Chapter of NOFA has been educating its members and the people of NH about the benefits of organic agriculture and provides assistance to growers.

    Continuing its mission in the Granite State and in honor of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, NOFA-NH has partnered with Timberland and Community Gardens for All to initiate plans for creating organic seacoast garden plots at the historic Wagon Hill Farm in Durham.

    Thirty people gathered at Thompson Hall on the UNH campus to attend the First Public Wagon Hill Farm Community Garden meeting on Sunday, April 11th. The conceptual garden plans were shared, possibilities discussed, and an all organic community garden was the consensus.

    Come to Wagon Hill Farm on Route 4 in Durham on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22nd 2010. Community involvement is welcomed and encouraged. Lunch, tools and supplies will be provided by Timberland. Parking is limited, make the earth greener and carpool with your friends and family members.

    Digging and building these organic garden plots will commence at 9:00 am on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22nd 2010.  All are welcome to join in the excitement and festivities of carving out this new organic community garden.

    NOFA-NH recognizes that farmers, gardeners, and consumers of organic products share a "community of interests”: a common need to grow and consume safe, healthy, nutritious, great-tasting food; and, a common interest in preserving a healthy environment that nurtures all of us. NOFA-NH offers educational workshops, farm tours, publications, and a winter conference to re-establish a shared sense of participation in the community-based food systems. Visit NOFANH.org for more info!

    Read more...

    Monday, April 19, 2010

    Giveaways at Simple Butta

    Heather, another local NH blogger, at Simple Butta has two fantastic Earth Day themed giveaways going on right now.

    The first giveaway is for Terracycle's Kids Vegetable Growing KitsTerracycle offers an array of amazing upcycled products.  Two winners will be chosen to win one of growing kits which are upcycled from Stoneyfield Farm yogurt containers.  The contest ends at midnight tonight (April 19th)...sorry for the last minute notice, but you definitely have time to enter!  Head over to Simple Butta and enter now!

    The second giveaway is for a Soap Nut Starter Kit which includes one 100 gram bag of SoapNuts, one 1 ounce bottle of essential oils, one extra wash bag, and one sample bag to share with a friend.  What the heck is a soap nut you ask?  Well here's your answer:
    Soapnuts are a TOTALLY NATUAL DRIED FRUIT with natural cleaning properties. Yep, it sounds crazy -- but it's TRUE! Soapnuts aren't actually a nut at all, they are simply the fruit of a tree (Sapindus Mukorossi), found primarily in the Himilayas. And they are an EXCELLENT alternative to traditional laundry detergents and cleaners.
    I totally want this kit!  This giveaway closes at noon on Thursday.  Head over to Simple Butta again and enter this giveaway as well! 

    There are lots of ways to enter, it's very simple and straightforward!  I will be blogging about a few more Earth Day activities really soon, so stand by for that!

    Read more...

    Wednesday, March 17, 2010

    NH Kids Consignment

    Incredible bargains on gently used children’s items will be for sale at NH Kids Consignment Sale this weekend! Consignors have tagged over 5,000 items giving local shoppers the opportunity to snag some great deals on quality clothing, gear, toys and books! Pay a fraction of what you’d pay at retail on name brands such as Gymboree, Gap, Lands End, Lilly Pulitzer, Abercrombie, Carters, Children’s Place, Little Tikes, Fisher Price and much more!  Admission to the event is free.

    Shop Saturday, March 20th from 9am-1pm and Sunday, March 21st from 9am-12 noon at McKelvie Intermediate School (108 Liberty Hill Rd) in Bedford, NH . Many items will go half off on Sunday too!  Sounds like a great way to be green and save green this weekend! Stock on clothing for the spring and summer seasons that are upon us.

    Also, bring your outgrown open packs of diapers and donate them to the NH Kids Diaper Drop.  They will then be donated to New Horizons. 

    Happy shopping!

    Read more...

    Thursday, February 18, 2010

    Seacoast Green Home & Living Show

    From practical solutions for reducing your home energy bills, to the hottest green gifts and natural health products and services, you'll find all this and more at The Seacoast Green Home & Living Show - Feb 27 & 28, 2010 at The Frank Jones Center, Portsmouth, NH.

    There will be a host of different activities and events, including:

    • Leading exhibitors
    • 20 seminars by industry experts 
    • "Green" prizes
    • Live demonstrations
    • Yoga and massage therapy sessions 
    • Planet Kids Zone 
    • Sustainable cooking demo
    • Shop for green gifts in The Green Alliance Marketplace
    • Live demonstration stage
    • Eco speakers

    You also have the opportunity to meet the author of Greening Your Family, Lindsay Carmichael (who is also a NH resident) on Saturday from 11 am - 4 pm.

    The show will also feature the Green Alliance marketplace, highlighting local businesses specializing in organic, fair-trade, local and earth-friendly products.

    There are also a few "green" ways to save on admission!  First off, look for a $2 OFF coupon, a schedule of activities, exhibitor directory and editorial on greening your home life, in the Feb 26 issue of Foster's Daily Democrat.

    Also, The Green Alliance is one of the sponsors of The Seacoast Green Home & Living Show.  If you are a current member of the Green Alliance, you'll receive free admission to the event.  If you're not a member, but purchase a membership at the door, you'll also receive free admission.

    Otherwise, tickets are $7.00 for adults, seniors and active military are $5.00, and children under 13 are FREE.

    This show is sure to be a one-stop-shop for all things green!

    Read more...

    Friday, February 12, 2010

    "Tap In" Spring Water Series

    Food & Water Watch has teamed up with the University of New Hampshire's Office of Sustainability to sponsor a free film and speaker series designed to be to be both educational and inspiring. I have linked the movie trailers to the bottom of this post.

    All films will be shown at 6:00 pm in the UNH Memorial Union Building Theater 1. After the films there will be a discussion session and also stop by the literature table during the event.

    Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010
    Film: Flow: For Love of Water
    Irena Salina's film is a comprehensive look at water issues around the world. Both moving and informative, this film shows us the struggles that communities from Michigan to India are undertaking to protect their most precious resource--water.

    Monday, Februrary 22, 2010
    Film: Blue Gold: World Water Wars
    Throughout the world, our limited fresh water supply is being polluted, diverted, pumped, and wasted. Blue Gold follows numerous examples of people fighting for their basic right to water, from court cases to violent revolutions to local protests at grade schools.

    Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 7:10pm
    Speaker: Maude Barlow
    Location: 115 Murkland Hall, UNH campus (free parking across Main St.)
    Maude Barlow is the national chairperson of the Council of Canadians, chairs Food & Water Watch's board, and served as senior adviser on water to the President of the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 and 2009. The recipient of eight honorary doctorates as well as many awards, Barlow is also the best selling author or co-author of 16 books and is featured in many films including Blue Gold.

    Monday, March 22, 2010
    Film: Tapped
    Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce? Stephanie Soechtig's debut feature is an unflinching examination of the big business of bottled water.


    Read more...

    Thursday, February 11, 2010

    Real Food Face-Off: My Turn!

    Today I am featured in the Real Food Face-Off at Kitchen Stewardship.  The Real Food Face-Off is a gathering of "real food" bloggers sharing their real food thoughts, ideas and tricks of the trade.

    So please head over to Kitchen Stewardship and check out my answers to the real food questions.  My face-off partner today is Kim at Homestead  Acres.

    And here are some questions and answers that didn't make it live today:

    1. What food was your favorite that you no longer eat (or shouldn’t eat)?

    Cheez-its. Seeing they contained GMO’s on Food, Inc. ruined it for me.

    2. What’s your favorite real/traditional food?

    Enjoying all the butter, oh and bacon…I guess I love breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns…

    3. What’s something you remain afraid to try?

    Definitely has to be organ meat, I need to find a reputable local source. I am also not a big seafood fan!

    4. List your top 3 baby steps to move from a Standard American Diet to Real Food.
    1. Get rid of high fructose corn syrup
    2. Research local meat, meet the farmers and the farms
    3. Switch to raw dairy
    5. Biggest drawback of real food lifestyle?

    It can be frustrating to find real food, it’s definitely not as convenient as modern food, though the health benefits are well worth it and you do figure out shortcuts.

    6. What do you refuse to buy at a grocery store that you do eat from its source?

    Definitely meat. I have to have local grass-fed meats. When I do start incorporating organ meats it will be locally sourced as well.

    7. Best book recommendations? 

    Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
    Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair and Peggy O’Mara
    Holy Cows And Hog Heaven by Joel Salatin

    8. Number one tip you tell your blog readers about eating healthy foods:

    Know where you food comes from, get to know you local famers and food producers, and support the local economy.

    I hope these answers and the answers at Kitchen Stewardship give you some ideas on how to incorporate more real food into your everyday meals! If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or leave a comment.

    You can also follow me on Twitter @livinglocalnh

    Read more...

    Wednesday, February 3, 2010

    Say NO to GE Alfalfa

    Monsanto is at it again.  When are they not at it?  I know alot of local farmers depend on organic alfalfa to feed their animals in the winter.

    From Food & Water Watch:
    The USDA is getting closer to approving Monsanto's genetically engineered alfalfa.  One of the biggest impacts of allowing the use of GE alfalfa is contamination of other crops, including organic alfalfa, which is used by most organic dairies.  The USDA actually acknowledges the problem of contamination, but claims consumers and others in the organic movement may not care about the contamination.  This is absurd, considering one of the main reasons many people seek out organic food is to avoid genetically engineered crops.

    We need to let the USDA know that consumers don't want genetically engineered foods, and don't want organic foods to be contaminated.  Tell the USDA to reject the approval for Monsanto's GE alfalfa.
    You can sign the Food & Water Watch petition here.

    Also from ana Sofia joanes of FRESH, the movie:
    The USDA is well on its way to approving Monsanto's genetically modified alfalfa. In its own report, the USDA says that not enough consumers care enough about organic foods for the USDA to block Monsanto's modified alfalfa seeds. [1]  This is absurd since one of the main reasons people buy organic food is to avoid genetically engineered crops.

    The USDA is only accepting public comments for the next two weeks. We need you to write to the USDA right now and tell them they must not approve Monsanto's mutant alfalfa. We'll deliver your comments before the deadline. [2]

    Click here: http://action.freshthemovie.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1753

    Alfafa is one of the major food sources for certified organic animals, not only because of its quality as forage, but because Monsanto's patented genes are already found in 95% of soybeans and 80% of corn. If the USDA lets Monsanto sell its new alfalfa, it will inevitably overtake organic alfalfa crops through the natural pollination process. [3] As a result organic farmers may be feeding their cows genetically modified food.

    Just like its corn and soy, Monsanto's alfalfa is designed to tolerate its leading herbicide: Roundup. We can't allow Monsanto's greed to take-over one more crop. The consequences to our choice as consumer, to biological diversity, to the survival of our small and organic farmers depends are too dire.

    Monsanto's domination of our food must stop. For the USDA to shrug it off like nobody cares is to add insult to injury. We only have two weeks to submit our comments.The fight for FRESH food will continue, and with your help we'll make it clear that people care about the food they eat.
    Please take a few minutes to sign these petitions.  You don't even have to comment if you don't want to.  It's so important to keep as much of our crops GMO-free. 

    Also, there are two NH bills regarding GMOs.  More information can be found at Seacoast Eat Local.

    Here's a great YouTube video I found last night regarding the dangers of GMO crops:

    Read more...

    Friday, January 15, 2010

    Catch A Flick

    If you're going to go out and watch a movie, why not make it a movie that will enrich your life?  There are a few different documentaries showings in the area that I want to bring to your attention.  I have these showings chronologically and at the end I have posted the film trailers.

    The Music Hall in Portsmouth will be showing No Impact Man on January 21 at 7:00 PM.

    Colin Beavan decides to completely eliminate his personal impact on the environment for the next year. It means eating vegetarian, buying only local food, no elevators, no television, no cars, busses, or planes, no toxic cleaning products, no electricity and no garbage. No problem – at least for Colin – but he and his family live in Manhattan. So when his espresso-guzzling, retail-worshipping wife Michelle and their two-year-old daughter are dragged into the fray, the No Impact Project has an unforeseen impact of its own. Film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring local sustainability experts.
    Phillips Exeter Academy is showing Dirt! The Movie on January 22 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM in the Phelps Academy Center Forum (3rd floor).  Free and open to the public.
    Dirt! The Movie is simply a movie about dirt. The real change lies in our notion of what dirt is. The movie teaches us: "When humans arrived 2 million years ago, everything changed for dirt. And from that moment on, the fate of dirt and humans has been intimately linked." But more than the film and the lessons that it teaches, Dirt! The Movie is a call to action. 
    Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center in Laconia will be showing Fresh on January 29 from 6:30 - 9 pm in the Samuel Pardoe Building.  The evening will start with a potluck followed by screening of Fresh and discussion. Open to public, free of charge with $4 per person donation suggested to cover costs. Whole, organic, and local foods encouraged in potluck offerings.

    Congregational Church in Exeter is showing King Corn on January 29 at 7 pm with director Ian Cheney in attendance.  Free and open to the public.
    King Corn is a documentary movie about two-friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that that drives our fast-food nation. The two friends from the east coast move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, corn on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raised troubling questions about how we eat -- and how we farm.
    Congregational Church in Exeter is also showing Flow February 9 at 7 PM.  Free and open to the public.
    Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis. Salina documents the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.  FLOW also gives viewers a look at practical solutions to the water crisis and developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround.

    The last film being shown at the Congregational Church in Exeter is No Impact Man on February 9 at 7 PM.  Free and open to the public.  See above for film description.

    Food, Inc. will be shown at Christ Church in Exeter on February 19th with the time to be announced.  Free and open to the public.
    Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on America's food industry.  Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.
    CONSUMING KIDS: The Commercialization of Childhood  will be shown at the Rye Public Library on February 11 at 6:30 PM.
    Consuming Kids throws desperately needed light on the practices of a relentless multi-billion dollar marketing machine that now sells kids and their parents everything from junk food and violent video games to bogus educational products and the family car. Drawing on the insights of health care professionals, children's advocates, and industry insiders, the film focuses on the explosive growth of child marketing in the wake of deregulation, showing how youth marketers have used the latest advances in psychology, anthropology, and neuroscience to transform American children into one of the most powerful and profitable consumer demographics in the world. Consuming Kids pushes back against the wholesale commercialization of childhood, raising urgent questions about the ethics of children's marketing and its impact on the health and well-being of kids.




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    Friday, January 8, 2010

    Last Minute Reminders

    Today is the last day to pre-register for the Fourfold Path To Healing Conference in Nashua, NH.  For more info on why you should attend, click here.  By registering today, you can save $50 off "at the door" admission prices.  I can't wait to attend and hope to blog and tweet from the conference, can't wait to meet Sally Fallon!

    Next, as most of you  know, tomorrow, January 9th, is the Seacoast Eat Local's first Winter Farmers' Market of the new year.  This market is located at the Exeter High School and runs from 10 am - 2 pm.

    Don't forget to check out the Button Up NH workshop schedule to learn ways you can "button up" your home for the winter and save some energy.

    I hope everyone has a warm toasty weekend...see you at the market!

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    Thursday, January 7, 2010

    Button Up NH


    Clean Air-Cool Planet and the New England Carbon Challenge are proud to announce the official launch of Button Up NH, a highly successful home weatherization workshop pioneered in Vermont and now available in New Hampshire . Button Up NH presenters will conduct nine free home weatherization workshops in regional hubs across the state this winter, including New London, Lebanon , Grafton, Plymouth, Sanbornton-Tilton, Concord, Rye, Atkinson and Dover.

    WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:

    New London: Tracey Memorial Library; Thursday December 10 @ 7 p.m.

    Concord: City Council Chambers; Tuesday January 12 @ 6:45 p.m.

    Dover: City Hall; Thursday January 14 @ 6:30 p.m.

    Sanbornton-Tilton: Winnisquam Regional HS; Tuesday January 19 @ 6:45 p.m.

    Lebanon: Lebanon Public Library; Saturday January 23 @ 10 a.m.

    Rye: Rye Public Library; Saturday January 23 @ 10 a.m.

    Grafton: City Hall; Tuesday January 26, 2010 @ 6:45 p.m.

    Plymouth: Pease Public Library; Thursday January 28 @ 6:45 p.m.

    Atkinson: Kimball Public Library; Saturday February 6 @ 10 a.m.

    WHAT THE WORKSHOP COVERS:
    Evening workshops are conducted by qualified home energy experts who will introduce homeowner-participants to the basics of home energy budgets and the value of home weatherization. Each workshop will include information on how simple household adjustments and modest investments can lead to significant energy savings over the long haul. Workshop topics will include: residential heat use and loss, the short term benefits of simple do-it-yourself weatherization, the value of a professional home energy audit, the long term benefits of extensive professional energy retrofits, and the technical and financial resources available to make it happen.

    Button Up NH workshops are free and open to the public. We hope you will use this information to help spread the word whenever and however you can.

    WOULD YOU LIKE MORE INFO?
    For more information, please contact Garry Dow, Button Up NH Coordinator, at (603) 422-6464, ext. 115 or gdow@cleanair-coolplanet.org.

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    Tuesday, December 22, 2009

    Holy Cows and Hog Heaven Giveaway

    **Giveaway is now closed**

    I decided I wanted to gift one of my readers a copy of Joel Salatin's book Holy Cows And Hog Heaven.  I couldn't pass on the great prices Peter Allen was offering at the past few Newmarket Farmers' Markets!  And this is a book everyone needs to read!

    Holy Cows and Hog Heaven is written by an honest-to-goodness-dirt-under-the-fingernails, optimistic clean good farmer. His goal is to:
    • Empower food buyers to pursue positive alternatives to the industrialized food system.
    • Bring clean food farmers and their patrons into a teamwork relationship.
    • Marry the best of western technology with the soul of eastern ethics.
    • Educate food buyers about productions.
    • Create a food system that enhances nature’s ecology for future generations.
     The Giveaway
    One copy of Holy Cows And Hog Heaven: The Food Buyer's Guide To Farm Friendly Food by Joel Salatin.

    Note: Please be sure to leave an email address in your comment if it's not public on your blogger profile.

    Main Entry

    Just leave me a nice message!  I don't ask much!  Oh and have a Merry Christmas!

    Extra Entries
    • Follow me (@livinglocalnh) on twitter AND tweet the following message (Leave the direct link to your tweet)  One tweet per day till the giveaway ends, so go ahead tweet away!:
      Win a Joel Salatin book from @livinglocalnh  http://tinyurl.com/y8e5jrx (Ends 1/1) Please RT!! (1 entry)
    • Follow me on blogger. (1 entry)
    • Subscribe to my blog by email OR RSS feeds. (1 entry)
    • Add my button to your blog and leave me the link (1 entry)
    Be sure to leave additional comments for each extra entry you earn!  And leave me links for Twitter and if you post my blog badge on your site!

    Contest ends January 1, 2010. I will choose a winner using random.org and contact the winner by email. You will have three days to respond by email with your contact information.

    Good luck!

    Disclaimer: I bought this book with my own money.  I was not paid or compensated in any way for this giveaway.

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