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2 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.

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Send in your e-mail about what we can do in our day
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can be a part of your journey and
Editor: Kim Coleman, 529-5243, a resource for information that
goinggreen@commercialappeal.com gives you the tools to help build a
sustainable future for our city.
Community Editor: Emily Adams Thanks, Memphis!
Keplinger,
keplinger@commercialappeal.com Kim Coleman
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 3

What’s in this issue ...


LOCAL NEWS
W:159.942pt
H:118.026pt Landowners find
16 recreation, timber
harvests thrive
with proper forest
management

20 Urban Farms sows


the seeds for new
Precious points for
10 Silver, Gold, Platinum
farmers market in
Binghampton

The LEED rating is growing


in popularity, prestige but 26 Q&A: Green jobs
activist Van Jones
not everyone is sold.

BUSINESS FAITH FOOD

Solar energy class Churches make Food trends in


brightens job changes to leave a Memphis show a
prospects in emerging lighter footprint on the progression toward
field. PAGE 33 Earth. PAGE 40 local sources. PAGE 42

On the cover:Illustration by Shane McDermott, The Commercial Appeal


4 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

The Green List...

Nike turns old mags into new kicks


Leave it to Nike, who has already successfully recycled over 25 million
pairs of tennis shoes with the Reuse-a-Shoe program, to make shredded
magazines fashionable footwear.The Women's Premium Print Pack is a
new shoe decorated with strips of recycled magazine pages. But the
actual magazine part of the shoe is laminated and stitched together for
water-resistance and durability. The end result is not only unique, but
colorful and vaguely readable. Unfortunately, the shoes are currently
available only in European and Asian markets.

If It What would your life be like if you lived in another country? Would you use
less electricity, but have a lower life expectancy? Would you consume more

Were oil and make more money? One interactive website can help. Created in
2010 to track the disasterous BP Gulf Oil Spill, IfItWereMyHome.com aims to
discover if the grass really is greener on the other side.Using statistical
My information from the CIA World Factbook and the World Health Organization,
you can end the age old debate with family and friends about how hard or
Home easy it would be to live in Memphis versus The Netherlands or Egypt.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 5

The Green Pic...

Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal

On the road again


A little cold weather will not keep Horn Lake resident
Mickey Collins from riding his 30 miles a day. Retired
from FedEx, Collins says, "I love this park (Latimer
Lakes), riding gives me an opportunity to think and it's
good for my health. In the last couple of years I've put
more miles on my one owner bike than my truck, I'm
on my 5th set of tires."

Interested in sharing your green experiences: a bike ride on the


Greenline, a successful recycling project or a neighborhood cleanup?
Do you have a stunning nature photo? Send your green snapshots to
goinggreen@commercialappeal.com with "Green Snaps" in the
subject line. E-mail photos as JPEGs that are 1-2 MB in size and
include complete caption information, including the full names of
everyone featured in the photo. Be sure to include a contact phone
number in case we have questions.
6 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

The Green Page...


Old Forest Jamboree
February 13 at Hi-Tone Cafe
on 1913 Poplar, 4 - 7 p.m.
Treehuggers and Memphis
music lovers unite for a good
cause with local bands
Gasoline Grace, Snowglobe,
and the all-star Lorax Posse.
Sponsored by Citizens to
Preserve Overton Park,
donations of $10 will be
accepted at the door to
benefit the organization who
describes its mission as
preserving and defending the
10,000-year-old forest in
Overton Park for future
generations. The show is all
ages and kids get in free.
Events
Friends of Library Book
Farm to Table Conference Sale
February 7 at SOS on 2505 Poplar. All day. February 25-26 at Benjamin
The Urban Farms Farm to Table Conference for L. Hooks Central Library on
Mid-South Producers is not only here to remind 3030 Poplar, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
you where real food comes from, but to help Bibliophiles on tight
connect locals whose livelihoods depend on budgets, rejoice. The annual
making sure the food they grow and cook finds a Friends of the Library Book
direct path into your kitchen. The conference will Sale returns to the Central
feature sessions on marketing to diverse Library to save gently-used
audiences, education on health department rules books from an eternity in a
and regulations and an information exchange land-fill. Encyclopedias,
session for professional attendees. magazines, comics and
There will be an emphasis on issues that are children's books are also up
most important to farmers, chefs, food advocates, for the taking. Paperback
market managers, producers and others with books in the past have been
stakeholds in Memphis food. Lunch will be priced as low as $1.50 per
provided and the cost to attend the conference is book, so bring a box if you plan
$20 in advance and $25 at the door. Contact on stocking up. Proceeds
Mary Elizabeth Phillips at 901-417-1593 for more benefit the Library's programs
information on registration, the conference itself and collections, like book
and if you qualify for a scholarship. clubs and literacy programs.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 7

Programs Saturday throughout February, from 10 to


Winter plant care 11:30 a.m.
Master Gardener Betty Llewellyn will be Feb. 5: “Where the Wilds Things Are”
at the Collierville Burch Library Monday to with guest speaker Sheri Rose, member of
discuss and answer questions about the Tipton County Master Gardener
caring for indoor plants during the winter Association
months. The seminar will be from 1 to Feb. 12: “Roses!” with guest speaker
2:30 p.m. Pre-registration encouraged. Vernon Pairmore, president of the Tipton
Call 457-2601. County Master Gardener Association, vice
president of the Memphis Dixie Rose Club,
Recycling in DeSoto member of the American Rose Society
Feb. 19: “Home Vegetable Gardening”
Waste Connections Inc. district with guest speaker Tom Mashour,
manager Michael Welch will make a public member of Memphis Area Master
presentation on Tuesday at Horn Lake City Gardener Association, gardening from
Hall, 3101 Goodman Road, at 6 p.m. to California and Tennessee since 1967
outline the city’s new recycling program. Feb. 26: “Pass Along Day” bring
Interested residents will pay a $25 seeds and cuttings to share with others.
deposit for a cart and be charged $6.25 on Topic will be Fences, Decks, Arbors,
their monthly utility bills. The program is Walkways, and Whatnots: Outdoor style
scheduled to begin the first week of March. on a Budget” with guest speaker Jere
Hadley, DIY project expert
Gardening seminars Refreshments will be served. Admission
A series of gardening seminars will be for each program is $5 (free to museum
held at the Tipton County Museum, 751 members), call 476-0242 for ticket
Bert Johnston in Covington, each information.

Greenline mixer
On Feb. 11, there will be a “Love
the Park/ Love the Greenline”
membership mixer held at the
Shelby Farms Park Visitor Center,
500 North Pine Lake Drive, from 6
- 8 p.m.
Mix and mingle for a good
cause at the happy hour event
featuring cocktails, food, live
music, prize drawings and more.
The event is free for members;
$10 for non-members (admission Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal
includes one free drink ticket). For
more information, send an e-mail Cycling enthusiast Greg Stablein (right)
to ctinkle@shelbyfarmspark.org or attends the official opening of the Shelby
visit shelbyfarmspark.org. Farms Greenline last October.
8 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

Fluorescent
bulbs:
You get what
you pay for
WHILE I WAS
PRESENTING at a brown-bag
talk for the Memphis Botanic
Garden, the subject of
compact fluorescent lights
came up.
There were
many
complaints
about them.
They take
too long to
come on. The
light is an icky DEANNA
color. They CASWELL
don’t last as Practically
long as they Green
say. I was
asked to
please do some research on it
and write a column. So here
you go. (I will address
complaints about disposal of
spent or broken CFLs in a
future column.)
CFLs save you money, but
that up-front cost is painful.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 9

Over the life of the bulb, How they stack up


the math works out, but
most of us still flinch and A compact fluorescent bulb has
reach for the store-brand a phosphor coating inside the lamp
discount version. It seems that gives off light when it is
that is the reason for exposed to ultraviolet radiation. It
problems with delay, early doesn’t use heat to create light
burnout and poor light which makes it more efficient.
quality. Incandescent bulbs produce light
To avoid those by heating a filament inside the
problems: bulb which becomes white hot and
Buy brand-name emits light. Most of the electric
bulbs. Discount CFLs are energy used is converted into heat.
poorer quality and may
last only six months,
regardless of what the box COST COMPARISON
says. You will still save Incandescent: 60 watt at 8,000 hours times 9-cents
money over the life of the per kWh/1000 W per kWh is $43 of electricity cost per
bulb compared with bulb.Now add in the 10 bulbs needed since they only
incandescent energy cost last about 800 hours each at 40-cents each is $4. For
and bulb replacement. 8,000 hours of incandescent light, we pay about $47.
Buy soft light or CFL: 13 watt at 8000 hours times 9-cents per
daylight varieties to kWh/1000 W per kWh is $9.36 For 8,000 hours of “60W
improve the light quality light” from the CFL, we pay $9.36. With an average cost
and avoid that depressing of $10 per bulb, we pay about $20 for 8,000 hours of
blue fluorescent flicker. CFL light.
CFLs like warmth. In
an environment below 68
degrees, they take longer
to come on. For outdoor money any more. dollars, we’re still saving
use in winter months, use Here’s the math: money.
CFLs specified for outdoor For 8,000 hours of 60 Deanna Caswell is a local
use. Yes, they’re more W incandescent light, we writer who blogs at
expensive, but they’re pay about $43, plus the littlehouseinthesuburbs.com.
worth it. cost of about 10 bulbs. Her first book, “First Ballet, “
And tighten up your For 8,000 hours of what was released this year by
ceiling fans. Vibration is equivalent to “60 W Hyperion. Caswell and her
husband, Jeff, live in
shortens the life of the light” from the CFL, we Collierville. She practices eco-
bulb. pay $9, plus the cost of the friendly living while raising
How much is too much one bulb. their three children, along
to spend on lightbulbs? So unless that CFL bulb with pygmy goats and
chickens.
When am I not saving costs more than $35
10 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

LEED-ING Green
certific
new st

THE WAY?
By Jim Coleman / Special to Going Green
critics
it’s livi

NOT SO LONG AGO it was a new skyscraper that


captured the imagination of the public. Lately, Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design-certified buildings, with
their estimated energy savings and improved environmental
standards, are beginning to stand out.
In a little over a decade, the The U.S. Green Building
Council rating system has gone from the drawing board to
the near defacto method of rating a building’s potential
performance in a variety of areas — energy efficiency, air
quality and CO2 emissions, just to name a few.
In Memphis, LEED-rated buildings are starting to
show up. One of them is the Triad Centre III. The seven-
floor building was built with a heavy reliance on recycled
materials and sits on a previously developed site. It is rated
gold on the USGBC’s 4-tiered rating scale.

Illustration by Shane McDermott/The Commercial Appeal


The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 11

n building
fication sets
standard;
cs question if
ving up to it
12 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

Triad Centre III is the first LEED-certified office building in Memphis.

The LEED Five efficiency, ozone protection and


renewable energy all fall under this
The program has five key elements category. A good example of this is a 10%
they look at before certifying a building as reduction in energy usage for a new
up-to-standard. Each element has in building.
depth standards and codes, but here is a
4. Materials and Resources: This
brief outline of each:
category deals with waste reduction in
1. Sustainable Sites: The chosen site regards to reused materials and recycling.
and design should incorporate a control Using recycled construction materials is a
plan for sediment and erosion. In addition, good example, and one of the
if it’s a new building you might consider prerequisites is that the building has a
which way you build it in relation to storage area to hold the occupants’
sunlight, wind, etc. recyclable materials.
2. Water Efficiency: This category 5. Indoor Environmental Quality: The
deals with water use reduction and main aim of this category is reducing
wastewater technologies, such as using indoor pollutants and improving comfort
rainwater for irrigation or high efficiency and quality of the air and temperature. As
plumbing fixtures. a prerequisite, the design has to meet
3. Energy and Atmosphere: Energy specific ANSI/ASHRAE standards.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 13

“At least in Memphis, it is the only of efficiency. In many European


multitenant office building that is countries, for example, governments
LEED-certified.” said local architect basically tell the architects and
and USGBC member Steve Guinn. builders what you can and cannot do
Guinn said that Triad III will have and things have to be built in a
a “five- to six-year payback,” which sustainable way.
means that the extra costs of Another critic, gadfly actually, is
building a LEED-rated structure Henry Gifford, who recently leveled
should be returned within that a $100 million class-action lawsuit
period of time through things like against the USGBC.
energy savings. “We’re suing to stop them from
But how do Guinn and other making false claims, such as
LEED proponents really know these claiming that LEED-rated buildings
buildings are performing up to snuff. save energy. We’re hoping to ask the
The USGBC’s rating system merely court to prevent them from claiming
sets a list of requirements that a they are ‘Leaders in Energy,’ as
building must meet during implied by the LEED name,” said
construction to become LEED-rated. Gifford, an energy efficiency expert
It says nothing of required energy and co-founder of Architecture and
savings, for example. They also do Energy Unlimited, which is based in
not require energy use of their New York City.
buildings to be tracked or reported. According to Gifford, the main
One of the more prominent critics problem with LEED-rated buildings
of the LEED system is architect is that there is little proof to show
Frank Gehry. The Pritker prize- that they are more efficient than
winning architect made the standard construction.
statement that LEED certification “I base my conclusion on the total
has become “fetishized in my lack of evidence that LEED buildings
profession” and compared it to save any energy at all, and the data
“wearing an American flag pin on from the one study ever done, which
your lapel” during an interview with showed they use 29 percent more
Bloomberg Business. than comparable buildings.”
Gehry isn’t necessarily opposed to Gifford said the LEED approach
LEED, he just thinks there is more to heating and cooling are a big part
than one way to reach a desired level of the problem.

“LEED buildings typically have better air quality and


comfort. That should be talked about more.”
STEVE GUINN, ARCHITECT AND USCCB MEMBER
14 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

“HVAC systems are complicated FedEx headquarters wins


systems that blow large amounts of coveted certification
air around a building to Heat, A low-flow shower head here, some
Ventilate, and Air Condition (cool) a recycled paper products there, and the
building — very hard to get two decade-old FedEx Express World
systems to work as one, three is Headquarters is officially Earth-friendly.
unrealistic. But, they are considered The nine-building campus at Hacks
high end, and for business reasons Cross and Winchester has achieved the
engineers always specify them in U.S. Green Building Council’s
high-profile buildings. They might Leadership in Energy Efficient Design
gold-level certification.
specify more efficient equipment to FedEx said all new FedEx Express
get some LEED points, but they will buildings would follow the industry-
still use much, much more energy leading standards, starting with a Las
than simply doing separate heating, Vegas sorting facility.
cooling and ventilation.” LEED projects incorporate various
He also pointed a finger at one of energy-, material- and water-
the materials used, often quite conservation features in building
design, construction and operation. The
heavily, in LEED-rated buildings. World Headquarters, which contains
“Glass buildings are a joke, yet about 1.3 million square feet of floor
they regularly get awards.” area, qualified under an existing
While Gifford’s focus is primarily buildings rating system.
on the efficiency of the building, The Las Vegas facility, which
Guinn cautions against taking too includes vehicle maintenance and
narrow a view of the green building offices, is the first new project built to
program. the standard. It also qualified for gold,
third-highest of four LEED levels.
“LEED buildings typically have “This certification is third-party
better air quality and comfort. That verification that FedEx is being a good
should be talked about more. But I steward of the planet,” said Don Colvin,
will tell you, one of the parameters of vice president of properties and
becoming LEED-certified is that you facilities at FedEx Express.
have to save 14 percent (in energy) Project architect Stephen Mangin
as a baseline.” said his initial reaction to adopting the
green building standard was surprise.
While the merits of the program “I didn’t think I heard correctly,”
are still being debated, one thing is Mangin wrote on a company blog.
for sure, LEED is gaining popularity. “Surely we just want to specify that our
Illustrative of this is homegrown buildings might go for LEED, not that
shipping giant FedEx’s recent we really intend to certify all our future
announcement that all FedEx projects, right? Wrong! Yes, we wanted
Express buildings would begin to to save energy, help the environment,
follow the USGBC’s standards. and create better places for our
customers and employees, but we also
The jury’s still out on whether it’s wanted to be sure that FedEx was doing
the best investment for their green it the right way.”
dollars. Construction on the FedEx Express
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 15

FedEx photos
“Built right from the start,” FedEx Express’ World Headquarters needed little
changes to earn LEED certification. Doormats at all exterior doors to reduce
the tracking of contaminants inside is one step that helped win the rating.

World Headquarters began in 1998 and cleaning and pest control that they were
was completed by 2000. Planning for LEED already using ecologically safe chemicals.
certification began in June 2008, The waste collector, Republic Services,
Since the facility was relatively new, the conducted a waste-stream audit and
project involved a lot of little changes, identified opportunities to increase
FedEx spokeswoman Deborah Willig said. recycling and reduce trash.
“We were doing a lot of things right “As a result of their findings, we have a
already,” Willig said. “The campus was 10 FedEx team that’s working on improving
years old and was built right from the opportunities for recycling throughout the
start.” Most of the plumbing and heating, headquarters,” Willig said.
ventilation and air conditioning were A U.S. Green Building Council database
already certified as energy- or water-saving. showed four other FedEx projects in Shelby
Installation of newer low-flow aerators County as registered for LEED, but not yet
and shower heads cut water consumption certified. They were a corporate aviation
an additional 17-22 percent. hangar, a hub sort expansion and the main
Suppliers furnished paper products and screening facility, all at the airport; and
trash can liners that include more recycled expansion of the FedEx World Technology
and recyclable content. Center in Collierville.
The company confirmed with vendors of — Wayne Risher, The Commercial Appeal
16 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

LOCAL NEWS

In the land we trust


Recreation, timber harvests thrive with proper management

Photos by Karen Pulfer Focht/The Commercial Appeal files


The Ghost section of the river gets its name because the river seems to
disappear, easily disorienting its visitors. The whole area (Memphis) used to be
covered in bottom land hardwood forest and swamp.

By Suzanne Thompson have stands of 50 to 100 acres, said


Special to Going Green the foundation’s president, Tom
Martin.
With more than 14 million acres While some of the landowners
of forests, Tennessee is one of the use their property for hunting and
nation’s largest producers of hard- fishing, others harvest the timber.
wood, according to the American Proper management of forest
Forestry Foundation. land ensures that these wooded ar-
Most of this land is owned by eas remain viable and help the
private landowners, many of whom landowners achieve their goals,
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 17

whether it is for timber or recreation.


Of great concern is the selling off of
small plots in urban areas, due to the
robust market for timber, Martin said.
“All of us have a stake in making
sure these forests stay forests,” Mar-
tin said.
Candace Dinwiddie, executive di-
rector of the Tennessee Forestry As-
sociation, said overharvesting is not a
problem in Tennessee.
“We’re still growing twice as many
hardwoods than are being harvested,”
she said.
Most owners of small tracts of land
only harvest the trees to sell for tim-
ber once in a lifetime, Dinwiddie said.
Hardwoods such as oak, beech,
cherry and walnut are 65 to 75 years
old before they are mature enough to
harvest, she said.
Tennessee has a Greenbelt Program
that started as a result of the Agri- In Holly Springs National Forest,
cultural, Forest and Open Space Land there are several trails and
Act of 1974. boardwalks for hikers that lead to
This program gives tax advantages various points of the Wolf River.
to landowners who preserve their for-
est land.
“Our goal is to give landowners as gether is the love of their land,” Mar-
many reasons as possible to keep tin said.
their land,” Dinwiddie said. That is certainly true of John Ross
Martin said forest owners generally of Savannah, Tenn., and Richard Day
are not motivated by monetary in- of Cordova, both of whom own land
centives to hang onto their property. that has been in their families for
“One thing that draws people to- generations.

“Our goal is to give landowners as many reasons as


possible to keep their land.”
CANDACE DINWIDDIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TENNESSEE FORESTRY ASSOCIATION
18 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

Kyle Kurlick/Special to The Commercial Appea


Richard Day has been working with a professional forester since 1980 to
manage the 360 acres he and his family own in McNairy County. Day and his
siblings continue to run a good portion of forest land and are managing to keep
a vibrant ecosystem like other wooded lands that are privately owned.

Ross owns about 7,500 acres, and he said.


his forest is comprised of a com- Ross and Day agree that one of
bination of hardwood, wetlands used the most important aspects of
for recreation and Loblolly pine forestry management is the partic-
trees. ipation of a professional forester.
About two-thirds of his acreage is “A professional forester helps me
covered with pine trees and the oth- oversee it,” Ross said.
er third is used for hunting, fishing, Day said he’s been working with a
biking, canoeing and other recre- professional forester since 1980 to
ational activities. manage the 360 acres he and his
“We’ve built trails through it. My family own in McNairy County.
friends and I ride mountain bikes,” His family once owned 600 acres,
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 19

which was purchased after the Civil “It’s part of the natural cycle,”
War, but over the years some sec- Ross said. “A lot of trees respond
tions have been sold off, he said. well to burning, especially pine. It
The Day farm also has a mix of gives them more room and improves
hardwood and pine, and his land is the habitat for deer and turkey.”
mostly used for recreation and ed- Burning increases the growth and
ucation. diversity of forbs, tender greens that
“Boy Scouts have been camping wildlife feed on.
there since 1940,” he said. Burning is done in the winter
When he first started actively months when plants are dormant.
managing his forest, he clear cut Ross thins the stands of pine ev-
about 80 acres and converted it to ery 15 to 20 years, allowing smaller
the cultivation of pine trees. trees to reach maturity, which are
“Sixteen years later, we did the harvested by loggers on a 30- to 40-
first thinning,” Day said. “We’re year rotation.
about due for another thinning Loggers are hired by the profes-
now.” sional foresters, and are paid by the
Thinning the forest can be done ton for the timber.
by harvesting the trees for lumber,
or by burning areas of the forest. The government encourages the
While it may seem counter-intu- preservation of forests through the
itive to start forest fires, Ross said National Tree Forest program,
that prescribed burning is necessary which not only provides professional
from time to time, to make room for advice to forest owners, but pays
new growth. rent per acre based on market value
Open fires within 500 feet of and has a cost sharing plan for re-
forests require a permit from the planting of trees.
state Division of Forestry. Informa- Participating in the National Tree
tion about how to contact the agen- Forest program requires landowners
cy’s local offices is at burnsafetn.org. to have a written forest management
Ross said he handles burning plan.
small parcels of 10 to 15 acres him- Both Day and Ross encourage
self, but for the 100-plus acres he is people who own forest land of any
planning to burn next, he will have size to have such a plan.
bring in the pros, because special Day said the NTF program has
equipment is necessary to manage helped him tremendously in preserv-
such a large fire. ing the land where his family often
The practice of burning areas of gathers in a 100-old farmhouse.
forests goes back to Native Amer- “We designed it to stay in the
icans, who set fires to promote habi- family for generations to come.
tat for deer and other wildlife they We’ve got heaven just an hour or an
depended on for food. hour and half from here,” Day said.
20 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

Kyle Kurlick/Special to The Commercial Appeal


Rosalie Bouck (left), Urban Farms market manager, and Mary Phillips, farm
manager with Urban Farms, stand at the location of the new Urban Farms
Market at the corner of Broad and Tillman that will open in late March.

A market
By Suzanne Thompson
Special to Going Green

The sign at the corner of

blossoms in Broad and Tillman with just a


name — Urban Farms Market —
and a web address was the first
mark of something new

Binghamton preparing to take root in the


spring.
A new farmers market
scheduled to open on March 26
Urban Farms looks to provide plans to offer items not only
fresh produce to neighborhood from its own garden, Urban
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 21

Farms, but also from other local


vendors.
Urban Farms Market is the
fruition of a project that started with
the goal of providing access to fresh
fruit and vegetables in the
Binghamton area, which is
considered one of several “food
deserts” in Memphis.
The Binghampton Community
Development Corp. and Christ
Community Health Services, along Vendor application
with funding provided by The Anyone interested in participating
Memphis Daily News and support as a vendor in the Urban Farms
from the Jack Pirtle family, have Market can go to to apply. You will
cooperated to bring this new market need to review the Guidelines and
to Memphis. Agreement (sign and return the last
The Urban Farms concept started page with your completed
after interested parties took a trip to application) and print and fill out the
Milwaukee in March 2010 to check vendor application form.
out the urban farm project in that
city. Mail the completed forms to:
“We went up and spent a day Urban Farms Market
learning about their strategy and c/o Binghampton Development
operation and then came back and Corporation
kicked off a farm with the intent to P.O. Box 111447
open a market,” said Robert Memphis, TN 38111
Montague, executive director of the
Binghampton CDC.
The 3 acres is part of a 9-acre plot
that was once densely covered with through the top layer of soil,
vines and weeds. providing rich nutrients for
watercress and other vegetables,
On April 1, they began clearing
which also filter out the ammonia
the land, and one of the first
and nitrates from the fish waste in
volunteers for the program, 23-year-
the water.
old Mary Phillips, was made farm
manager in June. The filtered water is then pumped
The farm produces a variety of back into the tank.
vegetables, raises chickens, and has While there is always something
a 1,500-gallon tank in which they are to be done at the farm, Phillips said
raising 1,000 tilapia. her main focus in the winter months
Water from the tank is pumped up is not growing the produce, but
22 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

growing the soil. on its Facebook page.


“You have to grow the soil before “Most of the time half of them (at
you can grow food,” she said. least) are from Mary,” Severs said.
Phillips is tending both worm “We post Urban Farms (whatever it
composting piles and regular is) like this is Urban Farms’
composting piles, to which local cabbage.”
restaurants contribute produce Three Angels Diner serves six
waste. fresh vegetables a day, and Severs
Phillips has also developed a crop said he would like to buy more from
rotation plan. local growers.
She said she has had an interest in And he agrees Memphis has a
agriculture since she was in high shortage of farmers markets.
school and has worked on several “We need more farmers markets in
farms in the area, including the town. There’s not enough produce in
Warren Wilson Farm and Peace Bee Memphis that is local,” he said.
Farm. Looking toward the spring
Even though the market is not yet opening of Urban Farms Market,
open, Phillips has big plans for the Phillips is more concerned with
endeavor. recruiting local vendors to
“We are working towards a year- participate in the market than she is
round market,” she said. with selling the vegetables.
So far, only one vendor has sent in
For some, Phillips and Urban the paperwork and secured a place at
Farms have become synonymous the new market, but Phillips is
because of her work growing confident others will follow.
vegetables at Urban Farms and In addition to produce farmers,
marketing them in the community. Phillips is also trying to get local
Urban Farms already produces beef and pig farmers and dairies to
winter vegetables like beets, carrots participate at Urban Farms Market.
and kale. “We want to have all kinds of
Jason Severs, owner of Three healthy food there,” she said.
Angels Diner, which opened in Initially, the plan is for it to
September on Broad Street, and Bari operate from March through mid-
Restaurant in Overton Square, November.
regularly uses Urban Farms’ produce A booth at Urban Farms Market
in dishes at his new eatery. will also be dedicated as a co-op
“We already get a lot of our booth.
vegetables from Mary,” he said. “The “It’s a chance for the community
first day we opened, Mary called and gardeners to sell their produce,”
said, ‘Here’s what I have, would you Phillips said.
like any of this?’ ” For more information, e-mail Mary
Each day, the fresh vegetables Phillips at
available at the restaurant are posted Mary@urbanfarmsmemphis.org.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 23

Incentives encourage organic


certification by local growers
By Suzanne Thompson
Special to Going Green

There simply are not


enough organic farmers, so
state and federal govern-
ments are doing what they
can to try to change that.
They are offering cost-shar-
ing incentives to farmers who
want to become certified or-
ganic.
“We do have several pro-
grams in place in the state,”
said Jon Frady, organic market-
ing specialist at the Tennessee
Department of Agriculture.
For small fruit and veg-
etable farmers, the cost of be-
ing certified as an organic
farm — usually $600 to $700
— can be an issue.
“Even a few hundred dol-
lars that it costs to certify
organic can be a bit of an
obstacle,” Frady said.
Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal files Certification cost-share
helps defray those costs at a
rate of 75 percent. “If it costs
“I’m excited about it and I $600 to become certified, the
farmer could be reimbursed
hope I can figure it out and $450,” he said.
make it work. ” With only 41 certified or-
ganic farmers in Tennessee,
BRANDON PUGH, OWNER OF DELTA SOL FARM the state is looking to encour-
24 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

“If there was no equipment grant I couldn’t have


funded buying equipment with the money I have.”
KEN LANSING, OWNER OF WINDERMERE FARMS

Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal files

age more farmers to become certified. which is costly and difficult to find
To be certified organic, farmers in Tennessee.
must meet a variety of standards. “A lot of this equipment is special-
They involve, among other things, a ized and there are not a lot of equip-
list of substances that cannot be used ment companies out there that carry
in crop production, and disallow the this equipment,” Frady said. “It can
use of genetically engineered seeds. be a very expensive capital invest-
There is a prescribed border be- ment on the part of the producer.”
tween certified organic farm land and Ken Lansing, owner of Winder-
ground which has been treated with mere Farms, the only certified or-
nonorganic herbicides and pesticides. ganic farm in the Memphis city lim-
Still, growing pesticide-free is very its, said he has purchased most of
different from organic. Simply not his equipment from other states be-
using chemicals in crop production cause of the lack of availability of
does not mean a grower is organic. these specialized items locally.
Certified organic farmers must al- “The only thing I bought in Ten-
so use some different equipment nessee is a tractor and a disk,” he said.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 25

The Tennessee Agricultural En- Farms, said he is not interested in


hancement Program also offers a organic certification and is even op-
capital investment cost-share that posed to it, because he considers
pays up to 50 percent of the price of the process intrusive.
equipment and other improvements “We practice the best methods
essential to farm operation. Even available, but I don’t want anyone
though operating a farm requires telling me how I have to practice,”
much more than machinery, the Forrester said.
equipment cost-share is essential. Brandon Pugh, owner of Delta Sol
“If there was no equipment grant Farm in Proctor, Ark., operated a
I couldn’t have funded buying equip- certified organic farm California be-
ment with the money I have. If I fore moving to Memphis several
didn’t have another funding source, years ago, and he said the presence
I wouldn’t be able to make it,” Lans- of bureaucracy caused him to let the
ing said, referring to his boat gauge certification lapse for two years.
business. “I just decided to step back from
The USDA offers a separate grant it,” he said.
for equipment, which will pay 75 But after reconsidering, Pugh ac-
percent of the costs. knowledges the importance of access
Lansing said he discovered he to organic produce and said he is
could use both the state and federal now very interested in certification.
grants simultaneously. “I’m excited about it and I hope I
Piggybacking the state and federal can figure it out and make it work,”
programs provided a little extra he said.
money to invest in other equipment. Pugh’s certification would be a
“That was wonderful, almost a small step toward bridging the gap
windfall. It cost $7,000, the state between demand for organics and
paid a 50 percent cost-share grant the available supply.
and the federal paid 75 percent, so “Usually the average number has
that let me get some other equipment been about 20 to 30 percent in-
with a lot less cost — a potato digger crease per year in demand. We’re
and I’m getting a seed planter.” seeing about a 1 to 2 percent
To maintain his certification as an growth in supply,” Frady said.
organic farmer, Lansing said he is Officials at the Tennessee Depart-
fastidious about checking with his ment of Agriculture want to encour-
certifier before using new products. age farmers in the state to cash in
If a product has only the most on the growing demand for organic
minuscule amount of a nonapproved produce.
element, the use of it would put “In the state of Tennessee as a
organic certification at risk. whole, we have seen a lot of demand
Some farmers don’t believe organ- and we want our producers to cap-
ic certification is necessary. italize on that by expanding into
Keith Forrester, owner of Whitten organics,” Frady said.
26 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

‘Green Collar’ activist urges


focus on energy of future
By Jim Coleman the keynote address at the Mid-
Special to Going Green South Peace and Justice Center’s
29th Annual Gala on Jan. 15.
Van Jones’ recent visit to Among a long list of
Memphis was a bit of a homecoming accomplishments, he is most
for the environmental and civil recognized for his tenure as the
rights leader. “green jobs czar” — with the formal
“I spent a lot of time in Orange title of Special Adviser for Green
Mound as a kid,” said Jones, whose Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for
father grew up in the area. “I still the White House Council on
have family in Memphis.” Environmental Quality.
He was in the Bluff City to deliver “It was an honor to serve,” Jones
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 27

said of his stint with the Obama Q&A with Van Jones
administration.
“I had a chance to work in the White Q: With your insight as the
House for six months. That’s longer former “special adviser” on
than anybody I know,” he said, laughing. green jobs, can you tell us the
Jones says he draws inspiration to level of commitment the
lead on key issues like the administration has for
environment, social justice and poverty nurturing a green economy?
from the fact that he was born in 1968, The administration knows that
the year Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the cornerstone for long-term
was killed. recovery is innovation and
He also gives a healthy dose of credit manufacturing in the clean
to his father, who joined the military to energy sector.
“give himself an education and Q: How will the new Congress
economic opportunities.” effect the development of a
But it was his father’s later work as a green economy?
principal at a predominantly African- Red states and blue states can
American middle school that opened benefit from a clean energy
the young man’s eyes. revolution. Industrial blue states
“My father took on a very distressed can produce wind turbines, smart
school in Jackson, Tenn. People had batteries and solar panels. But
basically written it off.” rural red states are where the
After receiving a bachelor’s degree solar farms and wind farms will
in communications and political be deployed, at great profit. Both
science at UT-Martin, Jones attended parties should be promoting
Yale Law School, where his awareness clean energy independence.
of social issues grew. Q: What is the potential in
By the time he was out of school, terms of jobs and dollars of
with a plethora of opportunities before the green economy for
him, he chose activism as his path in America?
life. He became involved in — or With smart policy, we could net
founded — grass-roots organizations 2 million jobs over the next 10
dedicated to social justice, such as the years.
Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
and Color of Change. Q: What are some of the
In 2005, Jones began to focus on companies that stand out as
environmentalism, particularly on a leaders in the green economy?
green economy as a way to provide Companies associated with the
jobs for distressed areas. In a few Social Venture Network,
years, his work had gained enough BALLE/Business Alliance for
attention that he was named a “Hero of Local Living Economies, Green
the Environment” as well as one of the America, ACORE and AWEA are
“12 Most Creative Minds of 2008” by among the best.
28 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

Q&A with Van Jones Time magazine. He also had a


New York Times best-seller that
Q: How can the green economy year with his first book, “The
affect environmental justice? Green Collar Economy.”
A cleaner economy is good for After leaving the White House,
everyone. But it will be especially Jones accepted a fellowship at
good for those who are most the Center for American
impacted by toxic pollution. Progress, where he continues his
According to the federal government, work on green jobs, which he
low-income people and people of calls a “tremendous opportunity”
color are especially vulnerable for the country.
because they tend to live near “BP makes $62 million a day
sources of pollution. So those in profits. The oil industry is the
communities have the most to gain most profitable business in the
from a transition to a clean, green world, and we subsidize it. We
economy. Also, a green economy will are subsidizing the past instead
produce more work, more wealth and of the future.”
better health than the pollution-based Jones advocates taking some
economy we have now. of that money and putting it
Q: Do you think Americans have toward green technology.
woken up to the current “Anytime there is something
environmental realities and are new, it has its early enthusiasts
willing to make sacrifices to who adopt it, and then you have
mitigate the effects of global fence-sitters. The difference with
warming, for example? this is the opponents of these
I think Americans are going ideas have a financial stake in
through an awful phase of denial, this as well.”
relapse and backsliding, in our overall “If you look at the tobacco
journey toward recovery from our industry, they spent millions on
addiction to fossil fuel. I do think we trying to prevent a clear-eyed
will come back around as a nation, look at their product, and they
sober up and embrace the clean and lost,” he said.
green future. But it will take awhile. Jones also rues the possibility
Q: If you were a Star Wars of a green-energy industry
character, who would you be? slipping through America’s grasp.
Mace Windu, who is black, bald and “We are in real danger of
second only to Yoda in his mastery of becoming a nation that goes from
the force. He had the cool purple importing dirty energy from the
light saber, too. Of course, the only Middle East to one that imports
other African-American character in clean energy from Asia. Now, I
the whole series was Lando have nothing against the Chinese;
Calrissian, who was a scoundrel. So I I just think we should develop our
am sticking with Mace. own green energy industry.”
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 29

With the support of volunteers and

GRAB A sponsors, folks at the Wolf River


Conservancy plan to transform what are now
open fields of Wolf River lands with a variety
of 3,000 trees with the sixth annual tree
planting effort, scheduled for Saturday.

SHOVEL
The group will meet at 10 a.m. on
Collierville Arlington Road, just north of the
Wolf River Bridge, on the east side of the
road. Participants should park on the access
road for the construction of Highway 385
and look for the WRC signs.
Because of this planting effort, instead of
huge billboards in stark, open fields, future

PLANT
Highway 385 drivers will see protected Wolf
River lands with a restored floodplain forest
verdant with thriving cypress, tupelo gum,
button bush and overcup oaks. Depending
on attendance, the project should be finished
in two-four hours. Bring a picnic lunch.

A TREE
The rain date for the tree planting will be
Feb. 6 at 1 p.m.
Call 452-6500 to let WRC know that you
plan to attend.
Keith Kirkland, In My Own Words
Keith Kirkland is outreach director for the
Wolf River Conservancy.
30 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

Photos by Mike Brown//The Commercial Appeal


Valerie Arnold demonstrates how to make old VHS tapes functional again
by crocheting the tape into assorted bags during the third annual Eco
Expo at Temple Israel.

By Suzanne Thompson
Eco Expo Special to Going Green

Child psychiatrist Dr. Valerie Arnold sat at a


offers booth crocheting with tape from inside an old
VCR cassette, at Temple Israel’s Eco Expo III held

ideas for a last Sunday.


“This is very therapeutic for me,” she said.
She made items ranging from wine gift bags to
greener tote bags and clutch purses, but they were not for
sale.
Her purpose was simply to teach people how to
lifestyle make them.
Arnold was among more than 50 exhibitors at
the third annual Eco Expo, which included small
businesses and public and private agencies.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 31

Her demonstration was


right in line with the goal of
the expo — to educate peo- “We are prospective homebuyers,
ple about recycling materi- so we are trying to inform
als in a variety of ways and
leading greener lifestyles. ourselves, and green seems to be
The pattern for the bags the way to go.”
she makes is available at
myrecycledbags.com and ARTHUR HERRMANN
they are quick and easy to
make.
“This was one movie,”
she said, holding up the
clutch purse, which she
plans to donate to some lo-
cal charity for use as a
silent auction item.
Linda Kaplan, who
chaired the expo, said she
was happy with the turnout
of about 450 people.
“I’m very pleased. I’ve
heard such nice comments
about what they are learn-
ing,” she said.
Arthur and Elizabeth
Herrmann said they both
learned a lot and were glad
they attended.
“We are prospective
homebuyers, so we are try-
ing to inform ourselves, and
green seems to be the way
to go,” Arthur Herrmann
said.
His wife pointed out that
it can be easy to let recy-
cling slide and touring the Geoff Greene (top) demonstrates his invention
booths has her recommit- called the Greene Turbine during the Eco Expo
ting to it. Valerie Arnold crochets old VHS tapes into
“They give you great assorted bags.
ideas, and inspiration,” she
said.
32 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

Temple Israel’s booth displayed It all adds up


insulation made from recycled blue
If, per year, every family in the U.S.
jeans, and glass boxes made from
substituted one roll of toilet paper
recycled windshields which are used
made out of 100 percent recycled
to construct custom showers.
paper for one roll made out of new
Chris Gammill, owner of the local
paper, 423,900 trees would be saved.
1-800-GOT-JUNK franchise, said he
takes about 40 percent of the things If, per year, every family in the U.S.
his company collects to recyclers. substituted one box of tissue made
“Our big thing is landfill diver- out of 100 percent recycled paper for
sion,” he said. one box of tissue made out of new
Gammill said his business is in- paper, 163,000 trees would be saved.
volved in several local recycling pro- If a car is driven 12,000 miles per
jects, including collecting all the year in mostly city driving, and if that
plastic bottles from Earth Day at car gets about 18 city miles per
Shelby Farms and providing parts to gallon, fuel costs would be about
a local bike shop that teaches people $2,000 per year (assuming $3/gallon
who have no transportation how to gas.). However, if you drive a hybrid
build their own bikes from used or other type of car that gets 40 city
parts. miles per gallon, fuel costs would be
“We are constantly looking for about $900 per year, a savings of
ways we can be green and have fun about $1,200 per year.
with it,” he said. — Linda Kaplan
Wolf River Honey sold their eco-
friendly products, like lip balm and
lotion bars made from beeswax.
“It melts to your body temper- wheels are available upon request),
ature and has natural antiseptic the Storm Water Program, and the
properties, so it helps heal cuts,” Memphis and Shelby County Health
said co-owner Lee Cagle of the bars. Department’s air pollution control
Other exhibitors included office.
Mosquito Squad, which provides Although the focus was on learn-
mosquito and tick control using a ing, it was done in a fun environ-
garlic-based organic substance, the ment.
Sierra Club, Memphis Inspection One company handed out free
Services, which provides energy us- saplings to anyone who wanted one.
age assessments, and Urban
Door prizes, many of which were
Forestry.
provided by participants, were given
Local government agencies occu-
out throughout the event.
pied several booths, such as the city
of Memphis’ Public Works Depart- “Having door prizes announced
ment, which provides recycling bins through the day gives it a festive
for curbside pickup (ones with atmosphere,” Kaplan said.
rays
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 33

THE BIZ PAGE

Catching ect
gy class brightens job prosp
Solar ener
s
By Toby Sell
ci alappeal.com
sells@commer
but
Monday’s sky, ght
Clouds blotted University of Memphis thou
ts at th e e it .
29 studen to captur
e sun and how long
mainly about th ts began what will be a week- arn
These st ud en Institut e to le
from th e Te nnessee Solar an d
course design
lar equipment
the basics of so
lunteer
installation.
a pa rt of th e $62.5 million Vo rnor
The class is by former gove the
iative devised
State Solar Init d paid for with funding from ne of
an
Phil Bredesen ery and Reinvestment Act. O
American R ec ov lp train
go al s of th e in itiative is to he ng field of solar
the ergi
r jobs in the em
Tennesseans fo on and installation.
ti
energy produc
34 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

The class in Memphis drew housing facility at Cleaborn Homes.


students mainly from Shelby County, “We’re trying to understand the
but also some from East and Middle overall return you can get by
Tennessee. Course instructor Earl incorporating the panels into the
Pomeroy, a manufacturing project,” Tucker said. “Some of the
consultant for the solar institute, costs of the panels are coming down.
said he expected only 20 students. We’re closing the gap, but it’s still a
The classes began, Pomeroy said, challenge.”
with units on basic electricity and George Graham is an assistant city
mathematics. The courses will attorney in Memphis’ Housing and
progress through the week Community Development
to include the basics of solar energy department. He said his boss, Robert
and solar equipment design. Lipscomb, returned from a
“(The classes) are important for conference “embarrassed” at how far
work force development and also to Memphis was behind the solar curve.
make more apparent the solar “When he made that comment, I
industry throughout the state and knew I needed to enhance my
generate jobs as they become understanding of (solar energy
available,” Pomeroy said. projects),” Graham said.
The program ended Saturday with Two more courses are in the works
a test to assemble a small solar for the spring semester, though the
system, “boot it up, produce some details have not been finalized.
electricity and turn some lights on.” “There’s an adequate work force
Once the students graduate, they for the demand (for solar energy)
will be prepared for jobs as solar right now in Tennessee,” Inabinet
equipment installers, or in sales with said. “The No. 1 drawback to putting
solar companiest. more systems in is the expense, and
Jimmie Tucker, a principal of the only thing that will bring the
Downtown’s Self Tucker Architects expense down is to put more systems
Inc., said he hopes the class will help in. But the incentives we’re getting
him incorporate solar electricity into from the government, that’s a biggie.”
the development of a 400-unit public- — Toby Sells: 529-2742

TENNESSEE SOLAR INSTITUTE


What: Solar Photovoltaic Technology Training Course
When: Through Saturday
Where: University of Memphis
Registration: Course is closed, but new courses to be announced in spring
Details: solar.tennessee.edu
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 35

MY GREEN JOB

Urban
Forestry
Nick Bridgeman
Natural Resources Technician; City of
Lakeland

Why did you choose a educating and training the and as a Cartographic Aid.
green career? After high public, providing my expertise Working for the City of
school a really good friend of and volunteering for the West Lakeland has been and
mine took me hunting on his Tennessee region, and the continues to be a great
hunting land. The property friendships that I’ve gained experience. I have a great
was run by a forest products along the way. boss, great city manager,
company and it just amazed great mayor, and a great
me at how much actually What education/ Natural Resources Board
goes into land use planning experience did you need here at the city. Since the
and the production of for your job? Natural program was started, the
timber/non-timber forest Resource Technician jobs department has grown to
products. From then on, I was usually require the following: become the most progressive
hooked and started looking Two years of directly natural resources program in
into schools offering Forest related experience, a BS in the State.
Resource Management natural resource
majors. While in college at management from an Career highlights:
The University of Tennessee, I accredited university and/or Completing the city’s
professional certification Natural Resources Inventory
worked for a company in
such as the ISA Certified (15,000 acres)
Pigeon Forge (Tenn.) locating
Arborist programs, and Completing the city’s
trees to preserve ahead of
ability to work in inclement Natural Resources
development; thus I was
weather and strenuous work Assessment
introduced to Urban Forestry.
conditions. Becoming an ISA
When I started work for the
Certified Arborist
City of Lakeland, I really
Most recent job(s): Holding a Conference
wasn’t aware of what all went introducing traditional
Currently I work as the
into Municipal Forestry and Natural Resources Technician foresters to urban foresters
what working for the most for the City of Lakeland. I and their respective
progressive program in the have held internships for the industries
State would entail. This is U.S. Forest Service as a Graduating the
what keeps me going; Biologic Science Technician Municipal Forestry Institute
36 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

Becoming an ISA Municipal Specialist


Being Chairman for West Tennessee
Chamber welcomes Chapter of the Kentucky/Tennessee Society of
Clayton Poff as new American Foresters and as the Chairman for
director of energy West Tennessee Chapter of the Tennessee
efficiency Urban Forestry Council
Clayton Poff recently joined the What’s the hardest thing about finding
Bartlett Area Chamber of work in your field (in the Greater Memphis
Commerce staff as director of area)? Working in a natural resources related
energy efficiency. field is a great job choice. It’s very rewarding.
Teaching children and adults, providing a
Poff is a resident of Memphis and municipal service for so many inside the city
a veteran of the United States and consultation to the public throughout
Marine Corps. His main objective West Tennessee is a huge positive for our
as the BACC director of energy community. That being said, the above
efficiency will be to actively engage positive reasons are why it can be hard to find
in assisting businesses to reduce work like this because people don’t usually
their energy consumption through choose to leave this type of job. In tough
tested and reliable technology. The times, and these are just that, these services
can be seen as a place to look to free up
primary focus of the director is the money in federal, state, and local budgets.
recommissioning of existing Urban Forestry is not necessarily a new
facilities through processes industry by any means. However, we find
approved and recommended by the ourselves continually fighting to keep (or
DOE, EPA and other energy-related establish) a place at the table for the
agencies. Additionally, he will be discussion/argument on our country’s biggest
responsible for maintaining threat to natural resources; urbanization and
awareness in energy conservation forest land fragmentation.
technology that can be easily What green trends would you like to see
disseminated to businesses in the future? I would love to see the Greater
seeking reliable and cost-effective Memphis area become a little more interested
ways to reduce their carbon in recycling. Less emphasis on what it costs
footprint. me now and more emphasis on what it keeps
Poff is working to establish a me from sacrificing or watching disappear in
team of green solution providers the future. STOP littering. The trash in your car
can wait to be tossed out until you pull into
and solution seekers called TEAM your own driveway. Finally, Memphis has a
GREEN ZONE. great urban forest, one of the best in the state.
For more information, contact “Conservation means development as much
Poff at 372-9457 or e-mail as it does protection. I recognize the right and
cpoff@bartlettchamber.org. duty of this generation to develop and use the
Maria Mclendon, Special to Going natural resources of our land; but I do not
Green recognize the right to waste them, or to rob,
by wasteful use, the generations that come
Maria McLendon is director of after us.” Theodore Roosevelt
marketing and communications for the
Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce. — Compiled by Emily Adams Keplinger
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 37

TRANSPORTATION

A new set of wheels


‘Father of plug-in hybrid’ car technology gets a new Volt

By Rick Daysog / Sacramento Bee Andy Frank, a


UC- Davis
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Andrew Frank’s new professor often
Chevrolet Volt is literally the car of his dreams. considered the
The University of California, Davis, father of plug-in
engineering professor is often considered “the hybrid vehicles,
father of plug-in hybrid vehicles,” a field that is tests the new
entering into the mass marketing stage with the Chevrolet Volt.
rollout of the new Volt.
“I’ve been working on this idea for 30 years,” Andy Alfaro
The Sacramento Bee
38 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

said Frank, as he handled his new


car’s plug-in cords like a proud
Eat up, and charge up, father. “This is kind of like a
at the Cracker Barrel culmination of all my work.”
You’re on the highway, and your
Frank, 77, is the first person in
stomach is starting to rumble. You see the the Sacramento area to take home
familiar orange sign — a Cracker Barrel. a new Volt model, which he is
The turn signals are on before you even leasing from GM.
think about it. Now chances are that the As he displayed his silver-green
name Cracker Barrel conjures up a hatchback at a news conference,
number of images — a cinnamon French Frank said it is gratifying to see
toast breakfast with eggs; a Hickory how car manufacturers are
Smoked Barbecue Country Dinner;
signature rocking chairs. But electric cars? beginning to embrace the electric
Nevertheless, Cracker Barrel is taking cars and plug-in hybrids he
a plunge into the unknown with 24 helped pioneer.
electric charging stations (half of them Nissan is rolling out its all-
with ultra-fast 480-volt DC) in a electric Leaf car and Toyota will
Tennessee triangle that includes introduce its plug-in hybrid Prius
Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga. The in 2012.
idea is to “keep the Cracker Barrel brand
relevant to changing times.” And how.
A plug-in hybrid version of the
Grandma’s Oldsmobile can’t fuel up at Ford Escape will also hit the
these electric vehicle pumps, but the market in 2012, Frank said.
Nissan Leaf (to be built in Tennessee) can. “It’s all coming together,” he
Cracker Barrel is partnering with said.
ECOtality and the federally sponsored EV Frank’s 2011 Volt is among the
Project, which is following Nissan Leaf first of several hundred being
rollout markets. Hence the focus on delivered around the country by
Tennessee when Cracker Barrel, which
has 597 outlets, could have put the
GM.
ECOtality Blink stations anywhere. The car uses a rechargeable
“We don’t know yet how many battery to drive 25 to 50 miles at
chargers there will be per store,” said a time. After that, a gasoline-
Caitlin Cieslik-Miskimen, a spokeswoman powered generator kicks in to
for ECOtality. supply the motor with electricity.
I had an amiable chat with Cracker With a sticker price of about
Barrel spokeswoman Julia Davis, andwe $41,000, the Volt isn’t cheap.
noticed that the map of EV locations
describes a rough circle between the
However, federal tax incentives
three cities. You could drive a Leaf along bring down the price by $7,500.
the whole route, which is something like Frank said state credits that kick
425 miles, stopping for refreshments and in for later models will lower the
a charge along the way. The Cracker price by another $2,500.
Barrel Electric Highway is expected to be He test-drove the Volt on Dec.
in place next summer. 21 and found it offers a smoother
Jim Motavalli, Mother Nature Network and more powerful ride than non-
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 39

Andy Alfaro/ The Sacramento Bee


Andrew Frank said he expects to get more than 90 miles per gallon and use about
50 gallons of gasoline a year out of his new Volt plug-in hybrid. A traditional
gasoline car would use about 400 gallons a year for the same mileage.

plug-in hybrids he’s driven, such as A professor of mechanical and


the Toyota Prius. aeronautical engineering, Frank
He said the Volt has an even worked with GM to convert an EV 1
quicker response time than many electric car to a plug-in hybrid
traditional gasoline cars. during the 1990s.
“There’s a lot of gee-whiz stuff in He and his students have
here,” said Frank, as he showed off converted several American-made
the car’s high-tech dashboard, which sport-utility vehicles to plug-in
displays everything from the car gasoline-electric hybrids.
battery’s power levels to the air “I look at this not as the end of a
pressure in the tires. long sojourn. I see this as just the
“This is going to be a great beginning,” he said.
experience for the average person on
the street.” Contact Rick Daysog at
rdaysog@sacbee.com.
Frank isn’t your average motorist.
40 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

FAITH

Local congregations move


to live lighter on the earth
IS THERE A MORE COMMON SYMBOL of
fellowship on God’s green earth than the simple,
disposable, environmentally sinful polystyrene foam
cup?

Creation is littered with — are now clutching


these byproducts of newfangled compostable
countless congregational paper cups or old-
coffee hours, committee fashioned, reusable ceramic
meetings and covenant cups.
groups, not to mention the “International Paper
occasional communion makes the compostable
For more on ceremony. cups, so we’re supporting
matters of Most of these common the environment and the
faith, check out cups will be as old as local economy,” said Bill
the Saturday M Methuselah by the time Landers, a business
section of the they biodegrade. consultant and one of the
Commercial Waste not, want not, the leaders of Church of the
Appeal or go to Bible says. Or was it River’s effort to become an
commercial Benjamin Franklin? In any accredited Green Sanctuary
appeal.com and case, trashing God’s in the Unitarian
click on creation is not an Universalist denomination.
Lifestyle/Faith. expression of faith. If any sanctuary in
That’s why folks at First Memphis should be green,
Unitarian Church of the it’s the Church of the River
River, Lindenwood and its environmentally
Christian Church and St. sublime setting on the
John’s United Methodist fourth Chickasaw Bluff just
Church — to mention a few south of Downtown. It’s
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 41

getting greener every Sunday. congregations in conservation


In addition to raising coffee-cup efforts.
consciousness (and using only fair- “Words like ‘stewardship’ and
trade coffee), the church replaced ‘creation care’ resonate more with
three of its four boilers with more people of faith,” said Dr. Ron Buck,
energy-efficient units, replaced all of Lindenwood’s senior minister. “We
its incandescent light bulbs with are starting with small steps.”
LED lighting, and installed Lindenwood is taking steps to
programmable thermostats. reduce, reuse, recycle — and
The congregation hosts the Sierra reconnect with creation.
Club’s annual Environmental Justice A common chalice has replaced
Conference. Nearly all weekly plastic communion cups at two
newsletters are e-mailed, not Sunday services. Church officials are
printed. The first Sunday of each using smart-phone apps to control
month is Green Sunday, which heating and cooling. New bike racks,
includes lessons and workshops on as well as the church’s proximity to
composting, recycling and other acts the Green Line, encourage members
of faith. to cycle to church.
“The way to greening our habitat Lindenwood was one of the faith-
will not necessarily come from more based sponsors of last fall’s Gather at
technology or reverting to a the River conference. On March 6, it
romanticized past,” Rev. Burton will host Rev. Fletcher Harper,
Carley said in a sermon that executive director of the interfaith
launched the Green Sanctuary advocacy group GreenFaith. Among
program. the church’s small groups is one
“The root of the matter is spiritual devoted to Care for Creation.
. . . Seeing ourselves separate from “We’re taking a gentle approach,”
nature and believing that nature is said Rev. Sarah Taylor-Peck,
here only to serve us is at the root of Lindenwood’s associate minister.
the spiritual problem.” “We’re trying to get people to realize
That’s not an easy lesson for many that 400 people changing their light
congregations, especially in a highly bulbs or not using plastic cups will
charged political context that have a more positive impact on the
equates environmental concerns environment than four people
about global warming and carbon moving off the grid.”
emissions with government controls Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
and economic interference. Repent.
So instead of using politicized The end of polystyrene foam cups
terms like “environmental justice” or is near.
“eco-justice,” some clergy have Know someone who has Faith in
turned to kinder, more personal and Memphis, contact David Waters at 529-
faith-friendly terms to engage 2377 or waters@commercialappeal.com.
42 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

Richard Robbins/The Commercial Appeal


The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 43

FOOD

WHAT’S IN
STORE? Memphis scene already on board
with trends toward local, sustainable
By Melissa Petersen / Special to The Commercial Appeal

A
T THE BEGINNING of every year, food publications
take a stab at listing what they hope will be the hot
food topics for the coming months.
The trends in Memphis food make me
hopeful. While I am looking forward to the “ice pop” trend that
Food & Wine Magazine predicts for 2011, the
COMMENTARY
trends that are already established here show
that Memphis is a great food town and is on its way to being
even better.
You might have to work a little to find the food gems in
Memphis, but they are definitely around. The following trends
are here to stay and growing strong in 2011.
44 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

Getting to know where your food comes


from: Four years ago, Memphis had two
farmers markets and a handful of chefs who
sourced locally on their menus. Now, the area
boasts 14 farmers markets, several dozen
restaurants and even a hospital sourcing locally.
Every grocery store that carries local items
draws attention to them. Why? Memphians are
asking where their food comes from.
“Green” food: This topic encompasses
everything from restaurant recycling to bicycle
delivery. The food industry is notorious for its
waste, but Memphis restaurants are taking
steps to be as environmentally friendly.
Large barbecue productions such as the
Rendezvous and Central BBQ have eliminated
polystyrene foam cups. Project Green Fork has
doubled the number of restaurants it works with
to be environmentally sustainable. AutoZone
Park is recycling bottles. FedExForum is using JENNIFER BIGGS
eco-friendly food trays. Huey’s has built a facility Whining & Dining
to house its compost and recycling in Midtown.
Grow your own: You can’t get more local
than your own backyard, neighborhood, roof or
patio. The Mid-South is seeing schoolyard,
Catch up on
community and restaurant gardens pop up
everywhere. Backyard chickens, homegrown pickling basics
honeybees and even the occasional milk goat
are being employed for food production — both
novelty and necessity.
before summer
Being veggie-friendly: Memphis may be Here’s fair warning: In
known worldwide for its fabulous pork, but about six months, I’ll start
restaurants here have beefed up vegetarian writing about canning
and vegan offerings. From off-the-menu veggie pickles, relishes, chow-chow
plates at places like The Majestic Grille to and so on. If past experience
vegan soul food at DejaVu to all-vegetable holds true, you are going to
dinners at Trolley Stop Market, we still love our be so jealous.
meat, but we’re seeing the glory of local fruits But who wants that? I’m
and vegetables holding their own on the plate. crazy about you people, and I
Melissa Petersen is the editor of Edible want everyone to have a good
Memphis, a magazine that celebrates the time and good pickles to eat
abundance of local food, season by season. all year.
Contact her at ediblememphis.com.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 45

University of Tennessee Extension Agent Oven-Roasted


Donna Downen has stepped up. Join her from 6
to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, for an introduction
Vegetables
2 small fennel bulbs, tops
to food preservation. She’ll cover canning as removed
well as freezing and drying. 1 lb. fingerling or small potatoes
After this class, you can sign up for specific
1
/3 cup good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground
classes (which is where the pickles come in). black pepper, to taste
Here’s the deal: You have to learn the basics 1 lb. French string beans
— the benefits, the drawbacks, the safety rules (haricots verts), trimmed
1 bunch fresh asparagus, ends
and so on. But don’t get discouraged if it sounds removed, cut diagonally into
overwhelming, because, in reality, it’s not. 3-inch pieces
1
/4 cup fresh Parmesan cheese
I spent years wanting to can, but scared to do
it because it seemed complicated and Preheat the oven to 425
dangerous. degrees. Cut the fennel
Meh. Now I put up a dozen jars of pickles in a bulbs into 6 wedges each,
couple of hours on my own, or make a fun cutting through the core to
evening of it with friends — which is not dorky, keep the wedges intact.
no matter how it sounds. Place on a sheet pan. Cut
the potatoes in half
(But let my enthusiasm be your cautionary lengthwise and place them
tale: I cleaned out my refrigerator this weekend on the pan with the fennel.
and found 28 jars of pickles, plus at least a Drizzle the olive oil on the
dozen of relishes and chow-chow.) vegetables, then sprinkle
Learn the basics; then we can share recipes with 2 teaspoons salt and 1
this summer. The class is at the extension office teaspoon pepper. Toss with
at Agricenter International, 7777 Walnut Grove. your hands.
Enter at entrance “B,” and go to the upstairs Roast the vegetables for
conference room. 25 to 30 minutes, until the
It’s free, but preregistration is required. Call potatoes are tender,
752-1207. tossing once while cooking.
Toss the string beans and
asparagus with the roasted
Recipe of the week vegetables and roast for
Once you begin roasting vegetables in the oven, another 10 - 15 minutes,
you won’t want to cook them any other way. The until the vegetables are
caramelization adds so much flavor. While I roast tender. Sprinkle on the
all of the vegetables in this recipe, I’ve never done parmesan cheese and roast
them all in one pan. Serve as a side to just about for another minute or two
anything — chicken, fish, pork. until the cheese melts.
Serves 6.
Contact Jennifer Biggs at
biggs@commercialappeal.com or 529-5223. Her blog is Source: “Barefoot Contessa
whiningdining.com. Back to Basics,” Ina Garten
46 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

MEATLESS MONDAY

Butternut
squash
Winter vegetable
makes for
‘amusing lasagna’
By Alyce Mantia
Special to Going Green

We were having a few


friends in last week for a very
casual get-together. My
husband, Tom, asked what I was
thinking of making, and I said,
“Oh, I don’t know. Some sort of
amusing lasagna.”
I like butternut squash any time, but In Italy, I’ve never had lasagna
this time of year, it just seems right. using the wavy noodles so common
Our guests seemed to like it. I here; it’s always with flat noodles. So
certainly did. Now, I have to say that I’ve often made my own pasta
Tom said later, “But it didn’t have sheets. What a treat, then, to find
any meat in it!“ Barilla makes a noodle that is not
The recipe looks like a lot of work, only flat but also doesn’t have to be
but it goes quickly. And there’s no boiled before using.
reason you can’t have it done
entirely a day ahead. Refrigerate Alyce Mantia Price owned Mantia’s
International Foods in East Memphis for
covered, but be sure to let it sit out 13 years. She blogs about food at
at room temperature for an hour or mantias.blogspot.com. You may contact
so before baking. her at alycem@msn.com.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 47

and discard. Cut the white and light


green part in half lengthwise, then
slice ¼-inch thick. In a large skillet,
heat 2 tbsp. butter over medium-low
heat. Add the sliced leek and cook
until just tender. Add the roasted
squash cubes and the sage, toss to
combine, and remove from the heat.
Meanwhile in a saucepan, heat the
remaining butter over medium heat.
Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring,
Butternut Squash-Goat a couple of minutes. Whisk in the
Cheese Lasagna milk and simmer until thickened.
2 medium butternut squash Add half the goat cheese and whisk
2 tbsp. good olive oil until melted into the sauce. Remove
Salt and pepper from the heat.
3 leeks In a small bowl, mix the ricotta
½ cup butter, divided
¼ cup fresh sage leaves, minced and eggs.
6 tbsp. flour Assemble the lasagna: Butter a
6 cups milk 9-by-13 baking dish (or use cooking
8 oz. goat cheese, divided spray). Spread 2 cups of the sauce
1 large pinch nutmeg, preferably freshly
grated evenly on the bottom. Arrange three
2 cups ricotta cheese or four pasta sheets on top. Spread
2 eggs half the ricotta on top, then half the
1 box Barilla no-cook lasagna sheets squash-leek mixture, then one cup
1 cup Italian cheese mix, divided
of sauce. Sprinkle with one-third of
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. the Italian cheese mixture. Repeat
With a vegetable peeler, strip both the layers.
the hard outside and the lighter Finish with a layer of pasta sheets
flesh just under it from the squash. and the remaining sauce. Be sure
Cut in half lengthwise and with a the sauce/fillings are spread all the
spoon scoop out the seeds and fiber way to the edge of the pan. Crumble
from the center. Cut into ½-inch the remaining goat cheese over the
cubes. Spread on a baking sheet top and sprinkle with the remaining
and drizzle with the olive oil. Toss to Italian cheese mixture.
cover. Sprinkle lightly with salt and Cover the pan with foil and bake
pepper. Roast until tender and just for 20 minutes. Remove foil and
starting to brown around the edges, bake until top is nicely browned,
15-20 minutes. another 20-30 minutes. Remove
Reduce the oven heat to 350 from the oven and let sit for 15-20
degrees. minutes before cutting into squares
Cut a slice off the root end of the to serve. Serves 8 to 12, depending
leeks. Cut off the dark green tops on the appetite of your friends.
48 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

HOME & GARDEN

Stock
your
closet
for a
clean,
green
year
By Deanna Caswell / Special to Going Green

There are many toxic chemicals out there for cleaning your home.
Fortunately, there are plenty of homemade cleaners, but you have to be careful
about the recipes.
The “frugal” crowd and the “green” crowd aren’t always the same crew. Frugal
recipes for homemade cleaners can involve plenty of bad ingredients, like
ammonia or bleach. Green recipes will avoid these two ingredients entirely.
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 49

My favorite websites for green Bronner’s Tea Tree Organic Liquid Soap,
cleaner recipes and reliable Sound Earth Lightning Liquid Multi-
information about truly green store- Purpose Cleaner, Vermont Soap Organics
bought products that work best are Liquid Sunshine Non-Toxic Cleaner.
National Geographic’s
thegreenguide.com and Glass cleaner
eartheasy.com. Homemade: equal parts Heinz White
Here’s what I’ve gleaned to help Vinegar and water.
me stock my cleaning closet for the Store-bought: Aubrey Liquid Sparkle
new year. Many of the products Spray Cleaner, Seaside Naturals Glass
mentioned are available at Whole Cleaner, Sound Earth Crystal Clean Glass
Foods and area grocery stores. If they and Surface Cleaner.
are not, check these online options:
eartheasy.com, amazon.com, and Laundry detergent
drugstore.com or soundearth.com. Homemade: two parts soap flakes
(Fels Naptha, Zote and Ivory are
Scouring powder popular), one part washing soda to cut
Homemade: Baking soda or Borax grease, 1 part Borax to remove stains, ¼
and a scouring pad. cup white vinegar in the rinse to soften
Store-bought: Bon Ami, Sound and eliminate cling. Amount needed per
Earth’s Velvet Hammer. wash varies from 2 tablespoons up
depending on your water.
Tile and grout Store-bought: Nellie’s All Natural
Homemade: Equal parts salt and Laundry Products or Maggie’s Soap
baking soda with enough liquid soap to Nuts.
make a paste My very favorite discovery, however, is
Store-bought: Earth Friendly Shower a homemade disinfectant recipe that is
Kleener. more effective than bleach. It kills
salmonella, E. coli, all that bad stuff. A
Toilet cleaner study was done at Virginia Tech that
found that a counter (or food) misted
Homemade: Full-strength vinegar, or separately (and in either order) with
borax, or baking soda (optional: rinse store-strength vinegar and hydrogen
with vinegar for a fizzy finish) peroxide was 10 times more effective
Store-bought: Ecover Natural than either product alone. Use two
Household Products Toilet Cleaner, separate sprayers. Don’t mix them in the
Seventh Generation Natural Mint Toilet same bottle.
Bowl Cleaner.
Deanna Caswell is a local writer who
All-purpose cleaner blogs at littlehouseinthesuburbs.com . Her
first book, “First Ballet,” was released
Homemade: Mixture made of equal this year by Hyperion. Caswell and her
parts Heinz White Vinegar and water; add husband, Jeff, live in Collierville. She
a few drops of detergent for more power. practices eco-friendly living while raising
Store-bought: Aubrey’s Organics their three children, along with pygmy
Earth Aware Household Cleaner, Dr. goats and chickens.
50 GOING GREEN | Sunday, January 30, 2011 commercialappeal.com

GREATER MEMPHIS GARDENER

Janette
Krauch
How long have you been
interested in gardening? I’ve been
interested in gardening all my life,
but especially during my married
life.
How did you get your green
thumb? I have always loved pretty
yards and attractive landscaping.
Average amount of time involved
with gardening — per week or Emily Adams Keplinger/The Commercial Appeal
month: I “piddle” in the garden Janette Krauch of East Memphis
almost every day — even during the enjoys flowers in every season,
winter. I’m always checking on it. including poinsettias and Lenten
What's your favorite plant and Roses during the holidays. She is a
why? My favorite plants are Knock founding member and a past
Out Roses They are always in bloom president of River Oaks Garden
and you get instant gratification. Club, and she is a member of the
Suburban Garden Club.
What are your favorite gardening
experiences? I’ve been taking
garden classes at the University of memorable gardening moment was
Memphis and attending speciality when I grew arugula for the first
workshops at both the Dixon and the time and enjoyed eating it in my
Memphis Botanic Garden. And I salad. Also, some of my fondest
love reading gardening books. memories were working in the
What type of gardening project garden with my grandchildren when
would you like to try in the future? they were young.
I would like to work in an inner-city What else do you do when you
garden, and I’d like to take Master are not being a gardener? I love to
Gardener classes. travel the world, as well as be with
What is your most memorable my grandchildren and family.
gardening moment? My most — Compiled by Emily Adams Keplinger
The Commercial Appeal Sunday, January 30, 2011 | GOING GREEN 51

Is it safe to pour bleach down a drain?


Dear EarthTalk: My neighbor told me to pour
bleach down my drains every week to keep them
clear. Is this safe to do?
Bleach is a useful cleaner and disinfectant, but
pouring it down the drain will not do anything to help
keep the drains clear. In addition, you could cause a
dangerous chemical reaction if it comes into contact
with other household products you might be using.
Common household bleach, also known as chlorine
bleach, is a liquid compound of sodium hypochlorite.
It’s often used to whiten laundry or to disinfect
kitchen surfaces. Bleach is also an ingredient in other
household cleaners, like those used for bath and
toilet cleaning. Book review: ‘Real
“One of the most common home accidents is the Simple: 869 New Uses
mixing of products containing chlorine bleach with
those containing ammonia,” says Washington Toxics for Old Things’
Coalition (WTC), a Seattle non-profit that advocates for Real Simple manages to make
green friendly household products. The combination the frugal ways of our
creates a gas, which is highly irritating to the lungs. grandmothers seem chic. “Real
Since many cleaning products contain ammonia, the Simple: 869 New Uses for Old
inadvertent mixing must be avoided. Things” contains page after page
Bleach alone is not necessarily of good ideas harvested from the
hard on the environment. When first 10 years of the magazine.
use as directed, it will break Here, a sampling:
down mostly into salt water Use an old contact-lens case
in wastewater treatment to carry spices on a camping trip.
or septic systems, says Give a plastic cassette case
WTC. A dilution of new life in the iPod age: Use it to
bleach in water is keep your earbuds or charger
effective as a cord tidy while traveling.
disinfectant, and can be Coffee filters are a New Uses
scrubbed onto non- favorite. Use one to cover food in
porous food-contact the microwave, to catch splatters.
surfaces like plastic How about using one to line your
cutting boards or flowerpots, to keep the dirt from
refrigerator shelves and dribbling out the drain hole?
left to air dry. Run used wrapping paper
So, what are the and tissue paper through a paper
better ways to keep drains shredder, then use the shreds as
clear? Home drains in the kitchen and bath generally filler in gift bags and boxes.
get clogged by grease, food waste and hair, none of Use a fabric wristband to
which will be effectively dispersed by bleach. WTC protect-wrap a hot coffee cup, or to
recommends carefully pouring a kettleful of boiling keep wine bottles from clinking into
water down the drain to free up a slow drain, or using each other on the way to a party.
mechanical methods such as a plumber’s snake, — Cathy Barber, The Dallas
plunger or hose-end bladder to clean a clogged drain. Morning News

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