Organic Farming Will Save the Third World

An article from Science Daily reports that organic farming, at least within the third world can increase the amount of produce harvested. Without having to buy extra fertilizers or expand their plots, they can organically provide themselves and the rest of their communities with food. Organic farming is especially important in these areas because if synthetic fertilizers were used, the run off would create dead zones in their water systems because of a lack of oxygen. Conventional farming can also lead to soil erosion, increased pest resistance, and loss of biodiversity. In a community that may already be struggling to survive, a conventional farm could be the straw that broke the camels back and leave the land unusable. A community living in the third world does not have the luxury to order food and have it shipped directly to them. Between the lack of infrastructure and the rural areas, this would cost a lot of money they do not have. An organic farm would insure natural regeneration of soil, no pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, and a natural cycle of nutrients.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070711134523.htm

Ants and Us

The book gives a really interesting example of the thousands of different species of ants around the world and how they adapt to be fitting to their environment, so they are not only beneficial to their species, but also to their surroundings. Humans, in some ways, are similar to ants in that we have developed different cultures and practices in countries all over the world in different ecosystems. However, with humans, (and for the sake of this example lets think of different cultures of people as different species of human),  like the book says, because of our use/transfer of goods and energy, some species thrive, while others decline. This is because some species have managed to develop faster than others, due to power and money; and of course power and money often lead to the accumulation of more assets, furthering still the development of those species. Thanks to the idea of "developed" and "undeveloped" countries and the ramifications that go along with those, we have gone global. Globalization has made us all co-dependent on each other, and is I believe, a big part of the reason that things like changing our behavior to fit climate change, etc., is  so difficult. We have built this web that gets more and more delicate, and more and more intricate with every advance of industry. The big problem with this is that when something goes wrong, it upsets the ENTIRE system and causes big problems for everything and everyone. This is why it is so important to support local businesses and food sources. We need to stop depending on all of the different species of people all over the world for our survival. We need to strive to be more like ants!

locally we can save the world

I felt that this weeks reading and last week readings had a lot in common. The main points in the readings was that buying locally foods and supplies will help out environment, ecological footprint and save us money. some key reasons to buy locally are Fewer or no chemicals to preserve the food, lower shipping costs using less fuels, Less packaging/ package waste, and it also Promotes/supports your community. buying local products does a lot of things for the environment even though it can cost a little more in the long run it is saving our economy money, but it is also a lot more beneficial on the planet with less machines, work, and gas to get you the same supplies you can get right in your backyard in your community. it depends how you look at things if you want to get things shipped in it might be cheaper and give you more quantity, but if you buy locally you know what you are getting and it is of better quality, it is your choice on which you would rather prefer but if you want to do more for yourself, community, and economically, than you should buy locally. This readings had made me better and more aware on how much just buying locally produce and building materials are really so much beneficial to you as a person knowing what you are getting an eating healthier foods with out hormones and pesticides all over and in it, but it is also a lot more beneficial for everyone cutting down on package materials, traveling materials, and not to mention the fuel needed to transport all of these supplies causing pollution and travel fees when I have access to purchase these things right in front of me. The readings have opened my eyes on how buy local products can make a big difference and how I'm going to be better at supporting and buying local products.

Energy from Algae

I recently read an article from EcoWorldly that announces italys plan to use Algae (brought into the canals by ships traveling from Japan and Sargassi Sea) by turning it into fuel to turn turbines to supply 50% of the energy needed in venice. They plan to have a powerplant up and running by 2011. This would be a zero emmisions production of energy and personally I think this is an awesome idea. The Algae planned to be used (Sargassum muticum and Undaria pinnatifida???) are a nuisance to the people of venice, clogging and blocking canals. This is what we need to see more of, taking one thing that we dont need and turning into something we do need. I do not know how they plan on making this work and transforming this algae to fuel but this is, to me, a really genius idea. The article I found was short and I really would like to learn more about this. if anyone wants the article here is the site- http://ecoworldly.com/2009/03/27/algae-a-new-fuel-for-the-venice-seaport/ If you find anymore information on this, please, let me know.

Organic Cotton

I've decided to do my post on an article that I found about organic cotton. I choose this article for one reason; the new "big thing" is eating organic, even though a lot of people dont understand what organic means and why we would benefit from an organic lifestyle. But, you dont hear much about organic clothing. The first and I think, most important benefit of organic cotton is the greatly reduced danger of ingesting/breathing in the toxins for those who still pick cotton by hand in the cotton fields. Though cotton is mainly picked by machines these days, many developing countries do not have the luxury of cotton picking machines doing their work for them and therefore are exposed, daily, to the harmful chemicals being used by non-organic farmers. Another benefit of organic clothing would be, of course, we are not "wearing" harmful pesticides on our skin. I myself do not know enough about the dangers of specific pesticides to explain exactly what it could do to affect your health, but who does? The fact that you know something could be potentially harmful to you or your families health should be enough to make you want to start changing the little things that could, in the long run, make a positive difference in your health.
I have been trying to introduce more and more organic foods into my diet (which isnt always easy). But, I think it would be easy to just start getting clothes made with organic cottons, keep the stuff we already have, just dont buy anymore clothing made with non-organic cotton. I also read that companies like Nike, The Gap and L.L. Bean are starting to use organic cotton in their clothing, meaning the more we buy, the more organic cotton they use and this would influence other companies to use organic cotton. This would be an easy switch, they even say organic cotton is softer :) so why not? This is just one more little step we could take to do our part.

food for thought

I think that the Green Guide is a very helpful, informative book that has a variety of useful tips. I like the fact that it is a recent publication (2008) because I feel that the websites that are mentioned in the book are current and up to date. The book lists many ideas, relating to sustainability, which I really never gave much thought to before. Some of the things addressed in the readings regarding food made me think about some of the food choices that I make. I think that the most difficult challenge for me is going to be to reduce the amount of meat, eggs, and dairy that I consume. I guess I can start with the “meatless Mondays” idea and take it from there. Suzuki states “Changing your diet could make a bigger difference in reducing your ecological footprint than changing your vehicle.”

I think a lot of times people forget about how their personal food choices affect the whole ecosystem. I know that being conscious of the impact of my food choices on the environment is one of the most effective ways to manage my ecological footprint. Last year I joined a community garden for the first time and I felt a great deal of personal satisfaction from planting, growing, and harvesting my own produce. Not only did I save a lot of money but I also reduced my ecological footprint. I learned a lot from the whole process and I plan to continue to have a garden every summer.

Michael Reynolds, Earthships

Ilya Pentenrieder
Blog Entry

I decided to do this assignment on Michael Reynolds, he is an amazing “green” architect from New Mexico. He designs houses and buildings called Earthships, these are buildings made out of all recycled materials. The walls are made from materials that store heat, such as stone, dirt-filled tires and adobe blocks; and a natural ventilation system. These factors work together with the natural temperature of the ground, and with the sun and the seasons, to heat and cool the house without ever requiring air conditioning or heating.

Right after graduating from architect school he left what he called a wasteful building. In 1971 he started collecting all tossed out beer cans and made a beer can home. He made a total of sixty of these homes, and perfected them so that they were sustainable homes.

His latest invention was the Earthship, which is made to sustain a family of four. Earthships are designed so that the house has many layers and stays at a constant 72 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes it an environment where you can grow your own fruits and vegetables. All the appliances in the Earthship are powered by a solar power system. Therefore Michael Reynolds estimates that the electric bill for a four bedroom, six thousand square foot home with high-speed Internet would be $100 per year.

Reynolds has a strong opinion on architects in the present day. He believes that they are all caught up in their lives, and uppity about their designs when all they are doing is screwing up the world. Reynolds can appreciate modern architecture on an art level, but what good is that if there is a flood coming? "I could try and make them look like conventional houses, but why take a Porsche and make it look like a covered wagon?" Reynolds deploys another nautical analogy: "It feels like I'm crossing the Atlantic on a boat and people have been washed overboard. I'm throwing them a life preserver, and they're rejecting it because it's supposed to be white and I've got a green one."
- Michael Reynolds, CNN News-January 25,2008.

Earthships have proved their viability in the American desert and the Sussex countryside, but if they are to be a credible alternative to conventional housing, Reynolds will have to make them work in cities. In order for this to be made possible Reynolds would have to be given a piece of city land to tear down and use all the recyclable materials to build a community of new Earthships that are sustainable for city life and weather.

I think that Michael Reynolds has proven to many American people and people all around the world that living a sustainable lifestyle is possible, and quite simpler then people thought. The Earthship is one of the best inventions yet in my eyes, and I hope that someday we can all look at this genius idea and take advantage of living wonderful sustainable lifestyle.