Sustainable Food Practices

Earth Day

Hey everyone, I'm sneaking this in with just over an hour left of Earth Day, and taking it a little different direction. I know our blog Sustainable Palouse but the semester is coming to an end and many students will be heading to Western Washington for the summer. In light of this I decided to take a look at some of the environmental issues around Seattle, our state's biggest metropolitan area, a home town to many WSU students, and the our heated/hated rivals the University of Washington Huskies.

I found some really interesting stories on The Seattle Times website (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/home/index.html) today, they ran a number of pieces that were related Earth Day or environmental issues west of the Cascades.

A couple that caught my eye were:
A lengthy but interesting and well written piece the plight of Puget Sound.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2004356032_footsound20.html
A cute story about the efforts of students from Discovery Elementary in Sammamish who were trying to set the world record for collecting and recycling plastic bottles. It would be interesting to see a follow up story here, I wonder if they achieved their goal? This article is especially relevant considering the amount of attention plastic water bottles have been getting as of late.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sherrygrindeland/2004359980_grin19e.html

The most interesting article, in my opinion, was one about Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels proposing looser restrictions for environmental reviews for developers. The article left me wanting more. What are the possible cons of such a decision. Chris Leman, who serves on the City Neighborhood Council was the only dissenting voice in the article. It seems there would be many others opposed to these deregulations in liberal Seattle, could I be wrong? Take a look and see for yourselves.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004362615_developers21m.html


This will likely be my last post of the semester but there has been talk of continuing the blog next semester. Keep you eyes peeled for new posts, hopefully we will be updating throughout the Summer and into next Fall.

WSU students work to help developing country

Although not exactly about the Palouse, I did write an article about WSU students who are doing awesome things to help farmers in Malawi.  They are developing a bicycle water pump that local farmers can use to irrigate farmland.  Check it out, click HERE

or copy paste the link below

http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/25519

Hempfest draws awareness for cigarette pollution...to me

AP Photo

NOTE: The following contains blatant commentary mixed with some facts.

It's April again, a time when most cities are throwing lilac galas and gardening shows. In typical Moscow fashion, artsy types from all over migrate to East City Park for the annual Moscow Hempfest to celebrate its many uses (hemp's uses, not marijuana) by singing, selling bongs and tie-die apparel and...smoking. It was a chilly afternoon, even by Moscow standards, so at six hours into the event I shrugged off the small white particulates falling outside my apartment a block from the park as a late-spring flurry. Turns out the weatherman was wrong and what was falling was not snow but ash. Now making the subjective jump of connecting a few chain-smoking legalize-marijuana advocates a block away seems, well, a jump, still it seemed like a good story to plug some interesting facts that people neglect when hatefully cursing an SUV and then burning through a pack of Camels by the end of the day.

First. Studies published in the European Journal of Health show that one joint (of marijuana) is the cancer-causing equivalent of 20 cigarettes (article). Ok, low blow to potheads and a little off topic. But informative nonetheless.

Second. Sidestream cigarette smoke (the smoke emitted from a lit cigarette, not including exhalation by a user) accounts for a strikingly high amount of toxic emissions hazards outside of just the talk about the effects of carbon monoxide, according to governmental studies in Canada. In toxins such as ammonia and acetone, cigarettes have a higher gross tonnage of emission then the entire refined petroleum and coal industry. In formaldehyde emissions, cigarettes rank higher than industries involving production of plastics, paper, wholesales, electrical and electronics, and transportation equipment. "But anything that produces anything gives off some negative substance," you say. "We want to hear about the carbon monoxide levels."

Third. According to a Cambridge University professor's Powerpoint slide, 73.3 cigarettes have the equivalent CO emission of driving the average car for one mile. Granted that seems like a weak set of data for my argument that smoking harms everything living. But it's amazing what crunching the numbers can do. Considering roughly, over, more than, about, around 52 billion cigarettes are smoked each year in Canada (Side note: isn't that like 300,000 per person?) that makes the number of miles-worth of auto emissions a whee bit higher, 709,413,296 miles higher (article). The average car is driven about 10,000 miles a year, which means the CO emissions from 52 billion cigarettes is the same as 70,941 people driving their cars for a year.

So, in conclusion, and with all the veritable data at hand: most Moscowites walk, ride their bikes, or take the transit wherever they go and thus are entitled to smoke two packs a day because they still won't ever come near to the automobile emissions given off by a douche-bag in Seattle who commutes three hours everyday in his Hummer.

Earth Day and Springfest

Sustainability, green, conservation, environmentalism. If you’re feeling a little bogged down or overwhelmed with the publics’ latest buzz words, here’s something that might put a little spring in your step. Literally. It’s Springfest, and amidst the music, comedians, food vendors and yes…beer garden, are Earth Day booths, information and giveaways.

Activities begin April 19 from noon to 9 p.m. in the VetMed parking lot on the corner of Grimes and Stadium Way. It’s free, it should be fun, and what better cause to celebrate that the arrival of spring the protection of our Earth? For more information visit: http://www.getinvolved.wsu.edu/campusinvolvement.wsu.edu/springfest

Erosion: Avoidable?

I took some pictures of the apartment construction project going on across the street from Maple Valley Apartments.  The project is owned by Corporate Pointe Developers, owners of basically every new apartment complex on the Palouse managed by DABCO (Maple Valley, Aspen Village, Providence Court, Emerald Downs etc....).  

The biggest problem I have with the construction is its proximity to the Magpie Forest.  Last year, before construction began, I used to see all types of wildlife on the edge of the forest, including pheasant, ravens, magpies, several deer, and coyotes.  This year the only thing I have seen is construction workers.

The land is basically the only remaining "Shrub steppe vegetation" and is considered Pullmans most important and endangered "critical area."  Basically this is what the Palouse was like before it was converted to farmland.  The forest contains several plant species that only exist on the Palouse, as well as wildlife.  

Construction of new "Pet Friendly" apartments is taking place immediately adjacent to the land.  Does this seem right to you?  I checked with the city planner, and the land is owned by WSU, and there is nothing to protect the forest from development.  Furthermore the apartments that are going in are "PET FRIENDLY," that just tells me that animals will be running all over the forest, destroying natural endangered vegetation, and animals.

I took these pictures of the erosion that is taking place from the massive amount of ground that has been moved around recently.  Does anyone have any thoughts?




These drain pipes aren't working very well if the dirt is eroding so much...














The magpie forest is these trees, the land goes back for quite awhile, and contains several endangered plants, and all types of wildlife. 

With construction access, the area is pretty unaccessible. 

In order to flatten the land for construction trucks moved dirt up onto another hill (not pictured) but cut out a huge amount of topsoil, thus making this "hill" that leads up to the forest.  It is already eroding...

WSU Has Success in Recycling Competition

Check out the story I wrote for the Daily Evergreen about the WSU recycling program. A competition called "Recyclemania" recently concluded, preliminary results show that WSU has collected 90,000 lbs over what they collected last year. Click HERE to see how

http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/25376

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Five research projects at WSU have been awarded “Organic Waste to Resources” grants by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The grants belong to the department’s Beyond Waste Plan which aims to reclaim all waste materials through recovery systems in the next 30 years, in hopes of creating sustainable reclamation statewide.

The five projects include: converting Washington biomass to bioethanol, organic soil amendments, turning waste organic material into a soil amendment, and using bio-refineries to convert softwood bark to transportation. For more information visit the WSU Today website at http://wsutoday.wsu.edu/ and search waste.
(Photo from hotrotsystems.com)

Denmark microbiologist to lead efforts to convert biomass into products.

An internationally recognized microbiologist will join Washington State University as the director of the Center for Bioproducts and Bioenergy and as the Battelle Distinguished Professor, based at WSU Tri-Cities.

Read the rest of the story at http://wsu.edu/spotlight/star-researcher/index.html

WSU Recycling Pilot Program

WSU Waste Management has been working on a new recycling program, check it out

Direct Seeding - The Future of Farming?

We take a look at a more environmentally-friendly farming practice being adapted around the world.

I don't have time for magic tricks

Did you know Washington State University has a Sustainability Office? Ya, I didn’t know that either, and guess why? They don’t do anything. Or at least anything that’s worthwhile, newsworthy, or even important enough to post on their website at http://www.sustainability.wsu.edu/. This seems like another “pull the bunny out of the hat type trick”. We are simply too distracted and impressed by the fact that there is an actual department (bunny), to notice that it’s not doing anything. So the question remains. Where did that bunny come from? And why should I be impressed?

Publisher receives 'green' certification

Washington State's printing facility, University Publishing, has received an honor from the Forest Stewardship Council, due to their efforts to further the University’s commitment to the environment and sustainability. For more information visit For more information, visit http://www.publishing.wsu.edu/

Can you dig it?

Photo from www.unikeep.com

Monday’s bitter blanket of snow may have caused a stir of confusion, but the fact of the mater remains; spring is one its way! As spring begins to reawaken our senses, we must not forget that there is much to be done. Yes, I mean spring cleaning (horrible, scary music dramatizes the scene). But I don’t mean it’s time to start dusting the shutters or washing the windows, no one ever does that anyway. Rather, it’s time to wallow in the mud, slide into your favorite pair of outdoor clogs, and clean up your garden.

For helpful tips of advice visit the Moscow Food Co-op's page http://www.moscowfoodcoop.com/ and view "In the Garden" by Holly Barnes. Now a shameless plug, go on and ready my articles about food. You have to eat don’t you?

Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Forensics Focus of Research at WSU

WSU Chemistry professors have recieved a $3 million grant to investigate methods to recycle used nuclear fuel, according to a February 15 article from WSU News.

In the words of Reading Rainbow's LeVar Burton "Don't take my word for it." Read the article in whole at http://www.wsunews.wsu.edu/viewTips.asp?id=180

Read twice. Then think.

An excerpt from Biology and Ecology a Users Guide

“Unless and until we are ready to expand our conception of me from we, and my family to my community, city, country and planet, the gap will continue to grow”

This quote really spoke out to me. I am a firm-footed believer in the notion that change happens first and foremost at the grassroots level. However; all issues, whether that be environmental sustainability or the economic marketplace, must be approached and viewed in a way that acknowledges their global consequences. Thanks book.

Photo from Evergreen Freedom Foundation

Moscow Food Co-op Deli

Come take this delicious audio journey into the Moscow Food Co-op Deli, where sustainable and locally-grown organic food reins supreme.

WSU Tests New Recycling Program

(Photo courtsey of cwww.ucityphila.org)

Facility operations at WSU will hold a “Single Stream” recycling program at the public station on Dairy Road, Pullman, Wash., beginning Feb. 25. The test pilot differs in that the majority of recyclables can be placed into one mixed container. The purpose of the program is to decrease costs and increase WSU’s economic sustainability. For more information visit http://www.wsutoday.wsu.edu/, and search single stream recycling.

Snows on Kilimanjaro? Global Warming takes ten

As if 28+ inches of Palouse powder wasn't evidence enough, a plethora of severe tantrums by Old Man Winter lashed the far reaches of the world this winter, leading me to think that perhaps Al Gore really isn't the Messiah. Grown Jordanian men were transformed into giddy school boys after snow shutdown commerce and schools for the day throughout Jordan(MSNBC photo). China's transportation infrastructure was nearly shutdown because of the worst winter storms the country has seen in 50 years (CNN clip). Even the deserts of Iraq received snowfall for "the first time in memory"(MSNBC story).

It could be that the exceptionally strong weather is simply a matter of coincidence. Or, perhaps this string of wicked meteorological events is a sort of metaphorical slap to the face from the powers that be for humanity's collective arrogance in taking sole responsibility for shifts in global climate. A scientific Tower of Babel if you will.

A friend of mine (pictured) recently set out with a small group of Pacific Lutheran University students and faculty to scale the slopes of the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Their purpose? To document the toll of global warming and to see first hand how, much like mankind's hope for environmental redemption, snows on the summit of Kilimanjaro have melted into the past. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

Photo courtesy C. Staudinger

Dumpster Diving Galore

This must seem trivial at best; however I find it terribly important, so please tune in your ears. I live with two female roommates, and with much persuasion and some coercion, I’ve gotten them both to recycle. Nevertheless!

Both of my roommates continually throw away the toilet paper roll once it’s finished. Pardon me ladies, and rests of the world, toilet paper rolls are primarily made of cardboard, a recyclable material! To the world, please recycle. To my roommates, don’t make me fish through the trash…

Photo courtesy of jupiterimages.com

College Hill and Pullman Expansion

Story by Keith Chaplin
Pullman is Expanding: How is College Hill holding up?
In August of 2007, Danielle Everett and her roommates decided to move closer to campus. They were aware that they were trading the quality of their CCN apartment for the closeness of a house on College Hill. However they were in for a surprise when they moved into their Maple Street house.
“The carpets were moldy, the walls were stained, and there was junk all over the house,” explained Everett.
“We had to put almost $1000 into cleaning, painting, and re-carpeting before we even moved into our house,” said Everett, a junior teaching major.
Trading quality for proximity is not uncommon for many student tenants moving to the College Hill neighborhood.
Of the hundreds of houses on the Hill, most are in some state of disrepair or neglect, some have even been described as slums by City officials.
Recently, Pullman City Council has been plagued with problems relating to the College Hill neighborhood, which sits adjacent to campus, and contains apartments, and houses as well as several fraternities and sororities.
Historically, College Hill has been a very desirable place for students to take up residence due to its close proximity to the center of campus. However, problems such as poor management, expensive units, parking, and lack of renovations, as well as the consequences of frequent partying on the hill (such as littering, and fighting) have driven students to find housing elsewhere.
Vacancy rates reflect this statement, according to Glenn Crellin, director of the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at WSU.
“Conditions of some College Hill apartments and houses have driven students away from renting the older, more dilapidated buildings and into the newer apartment complexes,” Crellin said.
In response to these problems, City Council has looked into permitting of rental companies, as well as making ordinances relating to the drinking, fighting, and parking on College Hill.
Newly instated Councilman Nathan Weller has different ideas. “My motto is educate, don’t legislate, I believe that instead of passing all these ordinances, we should educate WSU students.”
Weller, a 2005 graduate of WSU lived on College Hill. “I lived in the worst apartments imaginable on College Hill,” explains Weller, “and I know that a lot of students are not informed of their rights as tenants, and that needs to change.”
Weller explained that there has been discussion about instating a program that deals with educating student renters of their rights as tenants, so that they know what to do, who to contact, and when to take action against “slumlord” activity.
“Educating students while they are in Pullman for 4 years gives them the ability to know about their rights as a renter when they move away and start renting in another city in Washington,” Weller said.

Developers find a market
As a result of housing problems on College Hill, several developers have taken the initiative, and apartment complexes now dot the landscape surrounding Pullman.
The biggest developer in the past 10 years is Corporate Pointe Developers, led by President Duane Brelsford. Some of his projects include the Village Centre Cinemas, and the Fireside Grille, as well as several large apartment complexes including Aspen Village, Pine Ridge, Maple Valley, Providence Court, and more recently Churchill Downs and Emerald Downs.
In the past 3 years vacancy rates have risen from 1.1 percent n September 2004, to 5.2 percent in September 2007, a considerable increase in only 3 years, according to Crellin. “Much of the increase in these rates is due to the multi-family housing being built off campus,” Crellin said.
“The development of these apartments completely changed the face of housing in Pullman,” said Brelsford. “The newer, cleaner, cheaper housing gives students choices in housing, which was not the case 10 years ago.”
The expansion of housing in Pullman has some very different meanings to different people.
“Admission rates have not kept up with the market for rentals,” Crellin said.
Since 1997 enrollment at WSU Pullman campus has increased by only 232 students according to the Office of Institutional Research at WSU. This explains why the rental market has seen the larger vacancy rates.
“In most towns, a 5.2 percent vacancy rate is very healthy however in a college town with population fluctuation every summer, most property managers like to see around a 3 percent vacancy rate, because if apartments aren’t rented in September, they are probably going to sit vacant until the next school year,” said Crellin.
Brelsford explained that he likes to see the overall vacancy rate at about 5 percent, and though he has several projects in the works, he put them off until he sees the vacancy rate decline again.
“Students need choices, and I think that a 5 percent vacancy rate gives them choices in where they want to live,” said Brelsford. “I’m not just building apartments to build apartments. I saw a need and filled that need. I’m not trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.”

Council Flexes muscles
“I have heard so many stories about professors and other residents who used to live on College Hill who were forced to move because of the bad atmosphere on College Hill,” said Mayor Glenn Johnson.
In order to control excessive drinking the council recently passed an ordinance that makes it unlawful for people to carry open containers of alcoholic beverages.
“Although the ordinance was not particularly geared towards College Hill students, it has helped to prevent wandering parties and littering, which really tarnish and destroy the neighborhoods occupied by students,” said Johnson.
Another ordinance that was passed recently was the anti-fighting ordinance.
“This is another ordinance that is needed to control students who have over consumed alcohol, and gives us one more tool in the belt to fight problems on campus,” said Pullman Police Chief Ted Weatherly.
Weatherly said that he has heard from field officers that they had sensed a decline in parties and fighting since the ordinances were passed. He said he would wait until his report in March to give any specific data.
Recently the council has heard discussion about regulating parking and rental permits for College Hill residents and rental companies, although no specific decisions have been reached to date.

RecycleMania

RecycleMania 2008 is in full swing as students from 10 schools compete in the enviro-friendly competition to see who recycle most.

A February 4th release from the WSU Center for Civic Engagement described the event and some of the changes that have been made from last years comprtition.

"The annual RecycleMania competition has begun, and will run for 9 more weeks. This year in addition to recycling; WSU has elected to participate in the Waste Minimization portion of the competition. In this competition Total Recycling and Waste are added together to establish a percapita number. The idea is to reduce the amount of combined weight per person. WSU Recycling invites student groups and ASWSU to work with us on waste reduction strategies over the next 9 weeks and in the future. We encourage the entire campus community to reduce the amount of waste we create, in addition to recycling. Thank you for your support."

For more information contact on RecycleMania contact Rick Finch (finchr@wsu.edu) at the Center for Civic Engagement or look for an article in The Daily Evergreen Friday February 22nd.

Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute

PCEI began as a reaction to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on the other side of the globe. The group, like others showed concern about Washington State's own nuclear power plant at Hanford. When Hanford shut down the group shifted its focus.

“PCEI shifted its focus to the transportation of nuclear and other toxic waste, and then to local concern about pesticide use, which ultimately led to a change in the way the organization approached environmental issues…

…Although the organization's focus has continued to evolve, the underlying purpose has been consistent. "We've had the same mission statement for quite a while, which is to increase citizen involvement in decisions that affect the region's environment." The Institute has grown into one of the most successful organizations in the region. In addition to Community Agriculture, they have programs in Watershed Restoration, Environmental Education, and Transportation,” (information taken from PCEI's Website)

PCEI is a great resource for those interested in environmental issues around the Palouse and their website is a good place to start if you're interested in the organization.

A Consumasaurus lurks around every corner

Photo by John Robertson, courtesy of art.com

I haven’t quite gotten over my 4th grade obsession of dinosaurs, because of this complex; I name everything with the suffix of “asaurus.”

Consumasaurus – those who consume too many resources and are therefore paving the path toward their own self-extinction

I personally want to trample every greedy Consumasaurus that crosses my path. So, if you find yourself feeling threatened, completely baffled or intimidated, wondering if you’re going to get trampled, here’s a checklist of Consumasaurus traits. (Jeff Foxworthy if you’re out there, please don’t sue me, this is original content)

You might be a Consumasaurus if:
1. You leave the water running while brushing your teeth
2. You throw away scraps of food and all other compost materials
3. You use an unhealthy amount of toilet paper
4. You drive your vehicle instead of walking distances less than 1 mile
5. You eat sausage for breakfast, a hamburger for lunch, and stake for dinner (humans are omnivores…did you forget?)
6. You don’t recycle. Plain and simple
7. You water your lawn more than 5 months out of the year
8. You clean with paper towels or other disposable items (wash clothes, rags and sponges can be cleaned and reused)
9. You throw material items instead of fixing them for further use
10. You stomp around like an angry dinosaur criticizing “hippies” “tree huggers” “liberals” and “environmentalists” who fight to save the environment (that means your environment too Consumasaurus)

Floyd: Approaching subjects with a new outlook

Another link I found in the opinion section of the Daily Evergreen. The writer discusses talking to WSU president Floyd about stopping the golf course construction until a source of renewable water is found.
http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/24635

Personally I see Floyd as a man who has the power to do something about this situation. He showed everyone at WSU that he was able to look at a problem differently than past presidents when he closed the school for two days due to excess snow. Most presidents would have upheld that academics were the priority which is the reason school hasn't been closed for over 20 years. Floyd was able to see the fact that the safest thing for students and professors was to cancel school, so he did. Hopefully he can approach all issues with this attitude.

Join the bandwagon, you know you wanna

Oh Nature Boy,
This nod doesn’t imply that your commentary is mind-boggling, unique or standout in anyway. Regardless! You have spoken out alongside our cause and for that we thank you. Here’s a link to the Daily Evergreen’s columnist, Fritz Schoepflin. The troubling state of our overconsumption. http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/24522

Organic Food Research at WSU Supported by Strong Organic Market

Last week I wrote an article for my Journalism 425 class about the condition of the organic market in Washington State and corresponding research at WSU. That article will be featured in The Daily Evergreen tomorrow Tuesday January 29th. Check it out on their website at www.dailyevergreen.com.

-Jimmy Blue

Outdoor winter revelry

With the arrival of finicky winter weather on the Palouse sometimes the drive to the slopes isn't always an option. Often short escapades to local destinations can be an enjoyable substitute to a weekend ski/snowboard-road-trip. Consider trying out something new like snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. These activities are easy to learn, relatively safe, group-orientable, cheap, and allow you to more fully experience the outdoors. Snowshoe and cross-country ski rentals (with poles) average just eight dollars per day. (WSU student? check out prices at the ORC's rental guide. Not a student? Check out the University of Idaho's Rental Center).

Now where? For snowshoers, one gorgeous suggestion is the Elk River Falls recreation area located a few miles west of Elk River, Idaho off of Highway 8 (about 1 1/2 hour drive from Pullman). The highlight of the park is a series of unique waterfalls, which transform into a spectacular cascade of frozen ice in the winter (pictures pending...*sigh* film is old-fashioned). Along with some great views, the park is full of wildlife, including moose, elk, bald eagles, and black bears ( I know from personal witness). The normal road from the highway into the park is snowed-in most of the winter, so it's about 3 miles from the highway to the first set of falls. The hike down from the trail heads is a little rough at times but well worth it.

Skiers, aren't totally excluded however, Elk River Falls offers a variety of great groomed trails for scooting about.

Sustainable Communities Discussion

“Extension Engaged” Feb. 8 at 10 a.m.
Practical approaches to addressing community sustainability will be explored, in addition to outlining community plans of attack. The program will also include videotaped interviews with officials from the cities of Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Washington, as well as other WSU faculty

Programs Goals:
1. Educate cities about sustainability and issues surrounding community sustainability
2. Establish the importance of planning for sustainability at the local scale
3. Promote sustainability assessment as a tool that cities and counties can utilize to achieve greater sustainability and accountability.

Disgustingly so, students and student organizations are not invited to attend the event. However, the discussion can be viewed via teleconference at: http://eces.wsu.edu/video/stream.html

Instructions:
Find the program title, scroll down to the bottom of the program description and click on either the Windows Media or RealPlayer icons to launch the video stream. There will not be any signal available until 15 minutes prior to the event.

How green are you?

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB227D5BY7VTC

New WSU golf course water issues

This video outlines the problems with the new WSU golf course, the aquifer that we get our water from is diminishing by almost a foot a year, and the new course is going to increase water consumption by 56 million gallons a year, Pullman is expanding, but at what cost?

Climate Change, Get Informed

Focus the Nation, a nationwide teach-in on solutions to global climate change, will be held Thursday, Jan. 31, in Todd Atrium. WSU faculty and students are being sought to participate. Learning opportunities include: presentations, posters and class involvement in afternoon lectures/discussions. For more information visit http://csanr.wsu.edu/whatsnew/index.htm.

Photo from www.scienceacross.org