Why Not Lime?

Collars No Longer Restricted to Blue and White1

My sales pitch for the world: Buy Green! Buy Organic! Buy Lime Things! 

You’ve probably already heard about the exciting news: collars are now also allowed to be categorized as green.

Last Sunday’s World Herald had a cover story called: Green Around the Collar, which explored the idea that jobs related to sustainability practices will become more and more popular with the increasing consumer demand for green products. (Why not lime ones? I don’t know either.)

The article also suggests that there are green collar jobs available that aren’t being filled because of the lack of training within the current job applicant pool. It goes on to recommend the Sustainability Business Program at Aquinas College. I don’t know about the program, but I don’t think it’s a bad idea that those who are interested in “green collar” jobs look for some job-specific training to get an edge on their competition. It’s a revitalized and growing consumer demand that will need to be met.

I also found this research article that lists 22 specific sectors in which to find the new green collar jobs. According to the article, many of the new green collar jobs will be available even to those with entry-level abilities, and also to those who are looking for apprenticeship opportunities.

I’m sure many of the green collar employers will not find anyone with the specific abilities required, so apprenticeships are the only option that these companies have. It’s an amazing opportunity to look into.

Treehugger.com has a seemingly popular environmental job board for openings all across the country.

Forbes.com also has an article that suggests several other universities which offer joint graduate degrees in business and environmental science, which include: Stanford, the University of Michigan, and the University of North Carolina… in case you were wondering.

Dually helpful to our economy and our environment, I’m definitely excited about these new job opportunities. We have to remember that they are primarily consumer-driven, though, so we need to carefully choose the companies that we support. And, although it’s initally hard on our bank accounts, especially with the awesome gas prices, we have to remember that supporting our organic/ green companies will be the only way to see the return within our economy, and for our environment.

Save the organic limes. Buy green.

Posted: Local Support, Organic Shopping, Green Politics, Green Jobs

Nebraska Food Cooperative3

I can’t believe I haven’t written about this yet.

Brian O’Malley, the chef/instructor from Metro, informed me about the Nebraska Food Cooperative. Here is their mission:

“To foster a local food community and promote a culture of stewardship by cultivating farmer-shopper relationships, promoting the enjoyment of healthful food, increasing food security through diversity, and enhancing overall rural sustainability.”

If you are a person who believes in supporting locally grown, organic food, then this is exactly where you should be shopping!

In order to participate in the Co-op, there is a membership fee. You can buy a share of the Co-op for $100 if you live in Nebraska and become a voting member (help to decide what’s going on, since you are a part-owner), and then pay a $20 membership fee, which is waived the first year. Or, you can pay a fee of $40 per year to be a non-member shopper.

You can shop for the most unique and most tasteful groceries online, and then have them delivered to your area at least once a month. For example, Jane’s Benson Health Market is where I would need to pick up my food order on delivery day. Their website provides delivery pickup times and locations that are nearest to you.

There are a lot of smart benefits to consider. You’re buying from people in your community, which supports your local economy. Because you’re purchasing goods from a short distance, you’re also supporting food which requires less transportation cost. And, bonus - your food is so much healthier when you eat local!

The Co-op website includes a downloadable list of foods that you can order, which include in-season fruits and veggies, frozen pies, jams and jellies, local livestock, homemade crafts, handmade soaps, Thanksgiving turkeys, and so much more! And, the more we can support the Co-op, the more products will be able to be provided.

I also found this cool tidbit - they’re coming out with a cookbook. The cookbook, entitled Twelve Dishes from Here, will benefit The Nebraska Food Cooperative. Copper Core Consulting, a faculty/student consortium at Metro’s Institute for the Culinary Arts, is helping to create the book. The release date will be in early fall 2008, and they are asking for input regarding price, content, and design. So, if you have time, please visit www.mccneb.edu/culinary to provide your opinion.

Please check out the Co-op’s website and let me know if you are involved or if you’re thinking about doing so! Thanks!

Posted: Local Support, Organic Shopping, Green Groups, Green Health, Getting Started Green

Earth Day Omaha Live Blogging0

5:50 PM

The Pendrakes are just wrapping up their set, and the crowd has grown quite a bit since this morning! While it’s been a good turnout all day, visitors were definitely more apt to come out later in the afternoon.

There are a couple more speakers and a couple more bands left. Vinx is singing right now. It’s really quite beautiful. He has been working with HIV awareness in Mozambique. He’s supposed to be speaking? I’m sure that’s coming next. Omaha’s Son, Ambulance will be performing after Vinx at 6:10, and Steve Thyberg will be the last speaker of the day at 7:00. Sarah Benck and The Robbers will be closing the Earth Day Festivities at 7:10 and playing until 8:00.

In case you haven’t heard, it has been announced that Omaha will now accept recyclable plastics #3 and #5, besides the #1 and #2 that are currently accepted. The crowd cheered and clapped for that. Glass is still not accepted (again), but one step at a time!

I will write more about the Earth Day Omaha soon! Tomorrow, if I can. But for the rest of the night I think I’m going to kick back and enjoy the show.

It’s been a GORGEOUS day - I’m so grateful for that.

Another thanks to Brian Smith and his wife Kelly (who works for Nebraska State Recycling Association) for asking me to blog for Earth Day Omaha, and more thanks to Sprint for providing the Wireless Internet card! It worked SO well. Jake, the Sprint rep, has been trying to switch me to Sprint all day. We’ll see Jake, we’ll see!

Had a great time! Hope you can make it out for the rest of the day, too!

4:30 PM

Bear Country is performing right now, and they sound amazing! Whoa - I’ve been here for over 5 hours, and I think I now have enough news to share with you for at least the next four years.

I picked up my free compact fluorescent lightbulb from the Sierra Club and my free kitchen towel with 10 green tips from the Omaha Green Coalition.

I spoke with Andy Hoig from Metro Magazine about their renovation project this year. This year they went green with their remodeled house, which you can read about in the Metro Magazine special edition. You can also read about it at www.designershowhouseomaha.com, which also provides info about viewing the house for yourself. I’ve asked Andy to send me some favorite green, organic, and local vendors that the designers used for remodeling the house. Will have to have that update later!

You also might want to note that there are free massages being given at the Universal College of Healing Arts booth. And, Omaha Health Expo has been giving demonstrations all day. When I walked by there was a group of people doing Tai Chi, and I believe that Tango Omaha is going on right now. The Omaha Health Expo is an event that will be held at the Omaha Civic Auditorium NEXT weekend, April 26th & 27th. 

I think I might visit the beer garden and talk to the New Belgium rep. Did you know that New Belgium is an environmentally friendly beer??? www.newbelgium.com

2:45 PM

Linda Lovegren is speaking about the Omaha Sewer Overflow program and the sewer upgrades that have to happen in our community in order to comply with federal water regulations and the Clean Water Act. Apparently the improvements will cost almost $1.5 billion. WHOA. More construction for Omaha?

The Friends of the Environment Award is presented to one individual and one corporate nominee every year. The Friends of the Environment Awards were presented by Brian Smith, chairman of Earth Day. The individual winners were the middle school class from Jesuit Middle School in Omaha, with their instructor Mike Mansour. The children set up the website called www.greenmonkeyschools.com. Please check it out!

The corporate Friends of the Environment Award was given to HDR. Apparently they have a very large list of green practices and environmental activities that they’ve completed this year.

CONGRATS to the winners of the Friends of the Environment Awards!

I also spoke with Brian O’Malley, who is an instructor at Metro’s Institute for the Culinary Arts about his message to Omaha. As a chef, Brian tries to teach his students about the value of using local food in their creations, not only because it’s valuable to support local growers, but because the food tastes so much better. Brian pointed out that food is the only unifying factor between all people, in all cultures, and it’s much more satisfying to understand your food and its energy and where it comes from. He asks that we engage our local food scene and that we engage our cooking skills so that we don’t forget the origins of our food, and to teach our kids those skills so that they aren’t ever lost. Very inspirational!!! I’m off to check out the Nebraska Food Co-op booth.

The Black Squirrels are next!  And the beer garden is officially open!

1:55 PM

Yay for the sun! Let me say again - it is PERFECT outside - unless you hate 70-degree, sunny, slightly breezy weather, this is a great day to be outside for Earth Day Omaha. People are bringing their blankets and their lawn chairs and just chilling in front of the stage.

The Southpaw Bluegrass Band is performing right now, and I’m eating a YUMMY veggie pita from the Institute for the Culinary Arts. They also have smoked meat sandwiches  that I see a lot of people snacking on, and some fresh citrus juice with oranges, limes, lemons, and honey. They’re right next to the stage. A must-stop when you come down.

Cammy Watkins with Earth Day Omaha spoke for a few minutes giving “thank yous” to all the organizers. She mentioned that the theme of this Earth Day is “The Power of One” (love it!) and that you can pick up a free energy-saving lightbulb and a coupon at the Sierra Club booth.

Then the Wildlife Encounters group showed a few beautiful animals that they will have available for interaction in the children’s booth. They presented an adorable fennet fox (the world’s smallest fox), a Eurasion Eagle Owl (the world’s largest breed of owl), the European Barn Owl (so pretty!) and a two-year-old North American Alligator.  You can come see the animals in the children’s area now!  

Next to speak will be Shata Bakheit with the Darfur Community Organization at 2:40, Friend of the Environment Awards Presentation, and then Brian O’Malley with the Metro Community College Institute of Culinary Arts.

THEN my good friend Kat and The Black Squirrels will be playing. A lot of good stuff lined up for this afternoon!

12:55 PM

Earth Day festivities are under way! It’s getting warmer, too - the perfect day for being outside and giving the Earth some love.

Right now the Side Effects are rocking hard, and they sound awesome. Cammy Watkins from the Sierra Club is speaking next, and then Wildlife Encounters will be speaking after that. I hope they’ve brought some fun animals with them! Wildlife Encounters is like a traveling zoo. Very fun.

I’ve been walking around to the various vendors, and there are a lot of green initiatives going on around our area. You can stop by here for some cool buttons (they’re everywhere!) and information about what’s going on here in Omaha.

My buddy Maureen works at the Lauritzen Gardens, and they are giving out cute little soybean seed necklaces that sprout a soybean plant, and information on how to take care of it.

The Octopus Garden Art Alliance is here and providing painting and craft activities for the kiddos. There are tables full of art supplies and some kids are painting big white trash cans that will be used at the Summer Arts Festival. You can learn more about their organization at www.octopusgardenart.org.

I talked to Jason Smith at Omaha Streetcar, too. This is an initiative that I fully support, both for green reasons and for economic purposes in our city. Here’s a quick fun fact: For each mile traveled, fewer pollutants are emitted by transit vehicles than by a single-passenger automobile. Buses emit 80% less carbon monxide than a car; rail, almost none! Learn more about public transportation in Omaha at www.OmahaStreetcar.com.

OH There’s a climbing wall, too. I’ve been info-gathering and haven’t gotten a chance to try it yet. Let’s hope I do! Get down here!  

11:20 AM

I’m at Elmwood Park, and it’s gorgeous outside! About a week ago, the weather reports said that it was going to be rainy, but this is such a refreshing change from the weather we’ve had the past couple of days. Bikers are everywhere, everyone’s got their sunnies (sunglasses) on, and I see a lot of white arms and legs ready to see some sun!

THANK YOU to Sprint! Jake Ludacka at Sprint hooked me up with a Novatel Wireless Internet card so that I can blog for the activities here at Earth Day Omaha. It works super fast. It’s honestly like using my computer at home. You’ll have to talk to Jake if you’re looking for something like this - it’s seriously sweet. I asked him how much it would be if I wanted to pay for the service on my own - $59.99 a month. FYI.

ALSO of course a big THANK YOU to Brian Smith, co-chair of Earth Day Omaha, whose idea it was for me to live blog for this event! He also helped me to get the Wireless Internet card from Sprint.

Stay tuned to the blog today. I’m going to add to and update this post all day.

Thanks for reading!

Posted: Recycling, Local Support, Green Politics, Recommendation, Green Groups

Omaha’s Musicians Like the Earth, Too0

Brian Smith from Earth Day Omaha just asked me to do some live blogging for their event on Saturday, April 19th.

I’m not exactly sure about all the details, but this is the gist:

I’ll be there, at Earth Day in Elmwood Park. I’ll have my laptop and a Sprint wireless connection, and I’ll be interviewing speakers and entertainers at Earth Day. I’ll update my post by adding new information all day long as I have more information to share.

That’s pretty sweet. You must plan on visiting whynotlime.com on Saturday, April 19th, and you should probably plan on actually going to the event, too. There will be speakers and live music and activities for the kiddos. Visit their website for more info.

Bonus fact: Earth Day Omaha is the largest ecological event in Nebraska. I don’t know how to put this… but I’m kind of a big deal. (Anchorman quote - credit to Will Ferrell. More cowbell later.)

FREE FOOD! FREE FOOD!!! Please see below!!!

On THIS FRIDAY, you should also check out Benson for Earth Day Omaha’s benefit concert, which will include six venues and over 15 bands.

Regarding the free food… it’s a potluck dinner that runs from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Benson Branch Library. So you should probably bring some food, too!

Tix for the music performances are $12 for 21+ peeps and $7 for the ones who wish they were 21+. The bands, which are totally donating their time, will play from 8 PM until close - or until the bar says so. (Must always obey the bar!)

So… you should go!

Posted: Local Support, Green Politics, Green Groups

Your Own Organic Farm5

When I was a child, I had my own garden. It was a tiny squared-off section of my grandparents’ much larger garden where they grew everything from asparagus to yellow squash to sweet corn. They lived in the country, so there was space for an orchard with various fruit trees that grew cherries, apples, plums, and more, and bushes of raspberries and blackberries were a treacherous source of sweetness. There was an entire plot for potatoes - more than we could ever eat - and they raised chickens for the eggs.

Mint grew next to their house, and I’d chew on it because it was fascinating to me that something so weed-like could taste so good. Who knew I’d be buying it at Hy-Vee in little plastic boxes for homemade mojitos 20 years later?

My food’s path from the land to my dinner table has become wide and more complicated than my grandparents’ organic practices. It’s so much easier for the current urban dweller to pick up all of his food from the grocery store, although sometimes a farmer’s market in the summer might call his name.

I’d like you to imagine that you have just decided to move into the country to start your own 20-acre organic farm.

What would you grow? Would the physical labor of working the land, living in the dirt, buying work clothes for their durability, appeal to you?

To be an organic farmer, you would have the satisfaction of providing one of the most basic human needs. You could plant seeds and foster them into green bean plants, dig potatoes out of the soil, kneel to collect ripe red strawberries, and maybe even cook them into preserves to sell at a farmer’s market. You could gather eggs from the nests of feisty hens who have no choice but to give them up, day after day.

If the thought sounds terrifying, I understand how you feel. Most people feel the same way. I have found that these are activities that are more easily approached when you have been raised in a farming environment. But if the thought appeals to you, there are first generation farmers, and with the new demand for an organic food supply, it’s apparently becoming easier to begin your own farm.

This article from the New York Times inspired my post today. It provides a glimpse into the new organic farms, and how they are able to survive in the midst of the current corporate farm take-over. The article specifically mentions two organic farms that have been started by two sets of partners - both a male-female partnership, neither of them are couples - who are first generation farmers. The links throughout are awesome, and the multi-media interactive feature gives some sound clips from the actual farmers.

Even if you don’t feel ready to start your own farm, maybe you’d feel comfortable starting your own garden. Whether you’re growing fresh basil in your apartment windowsill or working a 10×10 foot plot in your backyard, it would at least give you the opportunity to know the exact origins of your food. You could even start a garden for therapeutic reasons, like as a really productive hobby.

Do you like to garden? Would you garden if you had the space and the time? What do you think of being a first generation farmer?

Do tell.

Posted: Local Support, Organic Shopping, Why Go Green, Getting Started Green

Greening Religion8

This article from The Boston Globe inspired today’s post. I wanted to share it before Lent was said and done!

I grew up in what some might consider a strict Catholic family.

I prayed the Rosary. Went to Confession. Participated in Lent.

For Lent, I dutifully gave up things like chocolate. Pop. Nintendo. (Food cravings were the hardest!)

Oh, the guilt! Ice cream was my mental nemesis.

But never did anyone suggest that I become a better recycler. Maybe I wasn’t listening, but I didn’t hear much reference to helping the environment with my 40 days of “fasting”.

Other religions and cultures have embraced the relationship between the earth and people for gazillions of years.

I first think of Native Americans. Living off the land. Respecting the power of the earth.

What about Buddhists and reincarnation? “Love your trees, you could be one someday.”

Apparently it’s becoming more prominent for Christians to “go green” for Lent. According to The Boston Globe article, there are now eco-friendly palm leaves. (Do you market something like that to a church? “Buy my palms! They’re environmentally sound!”)

So if you are a Lent participater, what habit would you choose to change to go green? (or “lime”, as it is, in my blog.)

Go Lime for Lent. I choose to take shorter showers. And you?

Posted: Local Support, Green Groups

The Food Dilemma: Local vs. Organic2

While reading the New York Times online, I found a very good article that I thought you would find interesting. It makes a few suggestions for easy organic food switches and points out that these particular foods - including milk as its number one switch - tend to have a higher percentage of chemicals in the end product, versus organic foods.

This article focuses on the health benefits offered by organic foods, which are very important, especially when you have a family to consider.

There are other factors to consider when purchasing organic, though. I mean, it’s expensive, right? If I wash off my conventional “pesticide-ridden” apple that costs about $1 less per pound, won’t it be good enough for me?

Commenter #19 to the NYT blog post addressed one of my concerns when shopping organic: is it better to buy food grown locally, or the food that is labeled organic? Is it more important to be concerned about the chemicals on my local food or the “safer” organic food from Washington State?

Of course, either choice is more socially conscious than buying non-organic apples from Chile, and purchasing locally grown organic food is the most ideal option.

Then there’s commenter #9 who grows his own garden, has four hens, and buys half of a grass-fed cow every year. His choices are impressive and seem to be one of the best ways to ensure that you know the origins of your food and reduce the amount of oil required to transfer the food from the farm to a grocery store to your home.

I believe that I’ve unknowingly touched on a very complex sustainable lifestyle quandry. With so many factors to consider, it’s easy to want to throw in the towel on the issue. Those factors include but aren’t limited to: the end product cost, food transportation, cancer-causing pesticides, your local economy, nutrition, quality of taste, and of course, ease of consumer purchase.

After reading several articles, including this extensive one from TIME, it appears that purchasing choices should be made on a case-by-case basis, which is the same dilemma that your grocery store faces. How does that dairy farm care for their cows? Does this local farm use dangerous pesticides? The same place that you purchase your tomatoes may not be the same place that you purchase your fresh fish, and the reasons for those decisions are entirely up to your educated opinion.

While at first these types of choices may seem cumbersome, doing your research and purchasing with the intent of supporting a certain farming practice is another way of placing your vote. It’s empowering.

For example: “Yes, I believe in my local farmer,” or, “No, that local farmer doesn’t use sustainable farming practices, so I’m choosing this other comparny from Florida.”

I’m going to point you in the direction of a Nebraska family who I know that raises cattle in a very safe and effective way. Maybe you’ll be tempted to buy your own half-cow from Pape Steaks once you learn a little more about their ranch.

I’d like to hear opinions from everyone regarding their organic and local purchasing choices. Please let me know your tips, questions, and opinions! Thanks.

Posted: Local Support, Organic Shopping

“Think Globally, Crave Locally”0

I was sitting at my friend’s house the other morning, drinking out of her Jimmy John’s (reusable) plastic cup. This cup was covered in witticisms, and a couple of them caught my eye.

One of them said, “We don’t care where your mouth has been, we just wanna know where it’s at now.”

Clever. Sassy. Funny.

It’s nice that they forgive their customers’ past food selection indescretions.

Then I saw, “Think Globally, Crave Locally”, which I’m probably interpreting differently from what Jimmy John’s intended, considering they’re a sandwich shop chain.

As a female English major, it is officially my job to find meaning in almost everything.

I loved this thought. Shop at your local shops, and think globally.

For example, buying organic foods from a farmer’s market, or even from a grocery store, supports a healthy way of producing food, versus corporate farming that uses pesticides and other chemicals.

Also, knowing the origins of the products that you’re purchasing ensures that everyone involved in the production process is compensated accordingly.
Ya know, everyone gets paid enough.

And I don’t think it’s easy to become a “green” consumer, but that’s why we have information resources like this one! It can be easy by changing our buying and living habits bit by bit. I’ll be sharing tidbits about various products that I find that are better for you and better for our environment.
If you have any thoughts about this clever little phrase, feel free to share below!

Posted: Local Support, Organic Shopping