This area of food waste has drilled into me for months, perhaps years. The concept—truly something that can only happen in a “developed” country—bothers me: that waste could co-exist with food. I watched my mother for years empty the coffee grounds out the back door, and it took me until recently to figure out she [...]
Every person in the United States produces more than twice his or her weight in waste every day. In other words a world of 6.7 billion benevolent vegans or walking Buddhas won’t be enough to save the world.
Michael Toms named our 2008 New Dimensions Radio interview, “Going Green is Not Enough.” The term was right, [...]
Aaron Rust over in Slaterville Springs, NY calls himself “the happy farmer”. He is a one man show with no employees, running a 12-share CSA of mostly vegetables and a few berries. He does this part time but is a full-time dad of three, ages 2, 5, and 7.
Aaron kindly took the time [...]
The NYC Composting Project educates people about composting, including easy online “quick-start” guides for every living situation, whether in a small space outside or even inside a city apartment!
Composting is not only for people with gardens, explains Carey Pulverman, the project manager of the Lower East Side Ecology Center. “New Yorkers who compost can [...]
The Xerolet Eco-System – an innovative wastewater management system that replaces the traditional toilet – is now approved for use in Hawaii homes. Known as an Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (AOWTS), the Xerolet has no need for a sewer connection, holding tank or septic system. Instead, this exciting new technology uses waste water from [...]
We got tired of seeing all the good food scraps going into the garbage at family gatherings where large meals are prepared. So we started carrying a large plastic barrel container that originally held pretzels with a large screw on lid to these gatherings.
Even though we travel 400 miles to visit family we bring our [...]
At Food Not Bombs dinners, people show up with a plate and utensil, to receive a free hot dinner. So what’s the catch? Nothing at all? People of all ages, races, and economic situations eat together around steaming humungous pots of food, and rejoice in a free meal served in a public place.
These meals are [...]
Our children’s children may well be incredulous when we tell them stories of how we used to flush drinking water down the toilet. “Why did you do that?” they may well ask, and we might respond, “Because we were silly and it was the law.” Well, luckily we seem to be ceasing some of our [...]
There is a soft spot in my heart for tree houses, which is why this story caught my attention: A few young fellows in South Norfolk spent three years constructing a tree house set in the branches of a large Oak tree, on one of their mother’s property. They built it without the use of [...]
When I emailed Connie Vandyke with some questions, she responded gently that she does not have time to be on email; she is busy living permaculture.
I heard about Connie when Andrew Rodman did a story in the permaculture magazine In Good Tilth, called “Clothes, Not Lawns!” about her backyard projects. This inspiring woman not only [...]
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