Chico, Sustainable

With the primaries are coming up on Tuesday, I took a few minutes to go through the candidates' official websites (Republicans, Democrats and even Greens) and realized that even though I feel extremely inadequate with regards to comparing health care plans, tax reform proposals, and border concerns, there are plenty of areas where I do have an opinion and even personal expertise--including environmental and education issues. So, is there a candidate out there running on a platform of sustainability who has a legitimate chance of winning?

Well. . .

After a bit of reading, I did come up with a few enlightened statements from one candidate in particular. The question, of course, is whether this person will follow though with promises typed on a campaign website. Not likely, but we can always hope. Still, here is what I found (these are direct quotes from the site):

"[This candidate] will [direct the EPA to] strictly regulate pollution from large CAFOs, with fines for those that violate tough standards."

". . . will help organic farmers afford to certify their crops and reform crop insurance to not penalize organic farmers. [He/She] also will promote regional food systems.

". . .will establish a new program to identify and train the next generation of farmers. [He/She will also provide tax incentives to make it easier for new farmers to afford their first farm.

". . .will increase incentives for farmers and private landowners to conduct sustainable agriculture and protect wetlands, grasslands, and forests."

". . .will also work to ensure that all children have access to a strong science curriculum at all grade levels."

“I don't believe that climate change is just an issue that's convenient to bring up during a campaign. I believe it's one of the greatest moral challenges of our generation."

So, which candidate made these statements? Feel free to glance at the official campaign websites listed below to find out for yourself. (Hint: He/She's not a Green Party candidate)

Green Party Presidential Candidates
Hillary for President
John McCain 2008
Mike Huckabee for President
Mitt Romney for President 2008
Obama '08
Ron Paul 2008

Posted by jmiller at 09:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Certified Permaculture Designer Cathe Fish will be holding a 2-day workshop entitled "Introduction to Practical Permaculture" in Chico, February 16-17.

Permaculture (coined from the words permanent and agriculture) is a system of sustainable design and practices that aim to create sustainability in all aspects of our lives. To use permaculture concepts in gardening is to consciously design and maintain agriculturally productive ecosystems which have the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems and the harmonious integration of landscape.

The workshop is being sponsored by Gaia Creations Ecological Landscaping.

To register call or email Cathe at (530) 478-1852.

For more information contact Stephanie (530) 828-6390, or Brian (530) 321-9715 with Gaia Creations, or call or email Cathe at (530) 478-1852. You can also visit her website, www.practicalpermaculture.com.

Posted by jmiller at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are many folks who are very visible in the sustainability community in Chico: They go to meetings. They sell locally-made, environmentally-friendly products. They participate in workshops, conferences and task forces. They write letters to the editor. They identify themselves with Slow Food Shasta Cascade, the Chico Sustainability Group, the Friends of Bidwell Park, one of a myriad of CSU, Chico organizations, and countless other groups.

And then there are the Potluckers. Dozens of them, likely hundreds.

And I am not sure that they themselves are aware of their true potential.

The signature trait of a potlucker is that they spend quality time with friends and neighbors multiple times a week, and usually only travel a couple of blocks to do so. Engaging with other members of the neighborhood community is the key element here, not just through food, but also art projects, canning, knitting parties, gardening, celebrations, home construction projects, making music, or practicing yoga or dance.

I try to imagine what Chico would be like if spending time with one's local community was a priority for everyone, and where this might lead.

Tighter-knit neighborhoods would be more invested in each other's health and wellbeing, and this could translate into actions such as advocating adding traffic bumps to residential streets to slow down traffic, or establishing a community child-care program, or households banding together to create buyer's clubs or even enticing a solar panel company to give a discount on installing solar panels on 10-15 houses in a single neighborhood.

I don't see this image as being too far-fetched. Potluckers are everywhere, sharing good, wholesome, home-cooked food, and every week someone new seems to be invited to join in. It is an informal web that continues to grow.

This may be perceived as a more passive, spiritual side to creating sustainable communities, but it is an important element nonetheless. There is power and energy here that should not be overlooked or underestimated.

Posted by jmiller at 07:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Does the scene depicted above look familiar?

In my mind the proper place for a ripe peach or fig is a belly, not the ground.

I find this to be a tragedy that happens all too often in Chico, with perfectly good fruit dropping forgotten and unwanted when it could be eaten fresh or canned for a winter's day, if not by the owner than by someone else.

A solution: Fruit Tree Registry has begun in Chico, where volunteers will come by and harvest the excess fruit and distribute it to the community.

Similar programs already exist in Portland, Vancouver, Victoria, and Santa Clara County.

If you know you will have excess fruit this summer and want register your tree or learn more about this program, contact Shari.

Posted by jmiller at 10:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The green recycling bin that I wheel out to the curb once every couple weeks is a mystery to me. All "recyclables" get placed in there: paper, #1-7 plastics, steel cans, glass bottles. . .

Then a truck comes by on Tuesday morning and it all "disappears."

Since it is called a "recycling bin" I am led to believe that these items eventually get reprocessed into other useful objects. Like frisbees.

But truthfully, I am in the dark. The truck comes, the truck goes, and what happens next?

I find not knowing this answer to this question quite disturbing and unsettling. Again, I am told that the items get sorted "at the other end," but having not been to this "other end," I have to take their word for it.

From what I have read, I am pretty convinced that the system is pretty good about recycling aluminum cans, glass, and steel cans (soup cans etc.) into items that can be used and recycled over and over again.

Not so for paper and plastic.

The story of paper and cardboard recycling is pretty basic to understand: After 4-6 go arounds the wood fibers that give paper its structure are too pulverized to be used again. But being from a natural source it is compostable.

Plastics, on the other hand, seem to be from the dark side of the force. Just because it has the little recycling symbol next to the number on the bottom doesn't mean that it can be recycled. In fact, in the U.S. only #1, #2, and #6 plastics are actually end up in other products, though these products are not food containers, rather they are items such parking lot bumpers, flower pots, or rug material--items that rarely, if ever, get recycled.

All other plastics end up in the landfill, or in some parts of the country, the incinerator.

It is easy to get overwhelmed with the tidal wave of arguments and counterarguments regarding what type of packaging is best--I know I do. While the paper folks talk about their product being a renewable resource, those trees might be from a plantation in Brazil that was once a diverse rain forest. Plastic enthusiasts will highlight the fact the fact that their product weighs less than other packaging, and thus requires less energy to transport. And on and on. . .

My solution continues to be to follow the tried and true 3-R method:

1) I have tried to reduce my dependence of packaged goods of any sort to the extent that I can, by buying in bulk or using my own mug, bag, or other container as often as possible.

2) I reuse containers as much as possible. For example, I am saving those plastic mesh bags that the Trader Joe's onions come in, as I am hoping they will be ideal nets for the hanging squash and melons that will be part of my space-saving "vertical garden" this summer.

3) I try to recycle what I can, and I try to buy items that are packaged in glass or metal as much as possible. Even though it weighs more and thus require more energy to transport, I feel that if I can source products that are locally made then I am doing pretty good. Also, my gut instinct tell me that future technologies will be able to reduce the energy required to transport items packaged in heavy recycled glass or steel containers more quickly than it will reduce the energy needed to produce plastic packaging from scratch.

A minor side note--I have been told that today's landfills are the gold mines of the future.

Posted by jmiller at 07:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

In some parts of the country, and in some parts of Chico, there are no fences between the houses, and folks get along just fine.

It becomes so much easier for a kid to retrieve and errant football.

Yes, we know the cliche that adversity brings the community together, but I would argue that downed fences do this too. And in the wake of the storm, plenty of wooden fences succumbed to wind, tree branches, or both.

For a few days I have had a casual view into the backyards around my neighborhood, where I have gazed in admiration of fruit trees, errant orchards, and even a cute family of pigs in the midst of an urban farm.

I have not felt threatened by the lack of barriers between me and my neighbors.

We only had a 7 foot section of back fence topple, and yes, I did rebuild it--Even though I might be able to retrain myself to live without a fence, I can't say the same for our 9-year-old dog--But I did get a chance to meet a new neighbor in the process.

I hope that when other folks go to fix their fences, they have the opportunity to team up to create a community-building experience as a well as a fence-building endeavor.

Perhaps some people will even choose to leave the fence down.

Posted by jmiller at 07:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Between recycling and composting of food waste, my wife and I have reduced the amount of trash in our house to a trickle. We fill up one large lime green garbage bag (purchased from Waste Management) every couple of months, and we would like to decrease this even further.

The number one strategy that has helped us to reduce our waste is buying in bulk. Buying in bulk is easy to do, and is less expensive than purchasing in packages. S & S, Chico Natural, Winco and Raley’s offer substantial bulk options. We bring the food home in plastic bags, and empty them into large glass containers that seal tight. Most of the plastic bags can be reused, especially if they were used to hold dry goods such as cereal or beans.

Here is a quick overview of the variety of items you can buy in bulk in Chico:

--Cereal
--Nuts and dried fruit
--Soup mixes
--Baking staples (flour, sugar, salt, etc.)
--Rice and other grain
--Snack foods (trail mix, animal crackers, etc.)
--Beans, peas, and lentils
--Pasta

You can even bring your own plastic containers to buy items such as liquid soap, honey, or peanut butter.

The Simplest Way To Make Dry Beans Edible
(This process requires less than five minutes of labor!).
Dry beans are cheaper than canned beans, and because they are lighter than canned beans they require less energy to transport to market. Also, purchasing them in bulk requires no packaging to deal with.

1) In the evening, place the desired amount of beans in a pot. Add enough water to cover beans completely. Walk away.

2) The next day, when you get home from work, drain the water and rinse the beans.

3) Add water to the pot to cover beans completely. Add any of the following seasonings: Salt, garlic salt, cumin, lemon pepper, red pepper (not too much), oregano. Stir.

4) Turn stove on to low and cover pot. Right before you go to bed, turn stove off (stove should be on for at least 5 hours).

5) In the morning, place pot in the fridge. If beans are not soft, repeat step 4 that evening.

6) Use as you would a can of beans.

Posted by jmiller at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The recent stormy weather did not keep me from the Farmer's Market a couple weeks ago, where I was proud to support the few hardy vendors that turned out.

One vendor that didn't make it was a couple from Redding that sells potatoes (70 miles away).

I thought I would go without potatoes, but at Trader Joes I spotted a rarity: Organic produce, relatively locally grown--"Frieda's Organic Klamath Pearl Potatoes" (from the Klamath basin, about 200 miles north of Chico)

I bought them immediately (an impulse buy--pitiful, I know, it used to be my impulse purchase was a packet of M&M's), but when I got home I learned that my potatoes had apparently taken a detour to Frieda's 85,000 foot warehouse in Los Alamitos (20 miles south of Los Angeles) prior to showing up in Chico.

Distance from the Klamath Basin (Klamath Falls) to Chico: 211 miles
Distance from the Klamath Basin to Los Alamitos to Chico: 1198 miles

I would have been better off supporting an organic potato grower in Idaho (Boise to Chico: 587 miles).

Or perhaps I should just flag down the Frieda's potato truck when it passes through Orland.

Or wait until the local potatoes return the market.

Or grow my own spuds.

Posted by jmiller at 08:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bandanna Ode

I took a clean cotton bandanna to a party over the holidays.
It became my napkin, and it was happy.
Last week another bandanna kept my thigh from burning
as I ate reheated stew in the passenger seat
while my wife drove.
The red one I used for the sniffles last fall;
I have been told using tissues are better hygiene,
but I accept the risk. My choice. I am not sick often.
Many of my bandannas were thrift store purchases, rescued for 75 cents a piece.
Often ten or more bandannas hang in a rainbow of colors on the laundry line,
like Tibetan prayer flags for cowboys.
(Bandhana means "to tie" in Hindi)
They dry fast, eager to be used again.

Posted by jmiller at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I am leading a spring class at CARD entitled "Sustainable Chico," which will focus on "ideas, tips, discussions, and hands-on activities in support of the quest to live a healthy and meaningful life in Chico while ensuring that future generations will be able to do the same."

This course will be geared towards folks who want to know what sustainability is all about and who want to know what they can do to live more sustainably.

The course begins Wednesday evening January 16 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30p.m. and runs 4 consecutive Wednesday evenings through February 6.

Online registration begins Monday, January 7.

Tell a friend!

Posted by jmiller at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The last two entries have focused on the reasons why folks should be aware of infill development trends in our city, and my take on what might be gained and what might be lost as a result of such development.

For those that want to do more than simply think and ponder this issue, here are some ways to get involved:

1. Vote. Research the issues and then cast your vote for ballot measures and candidates that you think will make a positive difference to our city. You might even consider running for office yourself, or applying to join a city committee or task force.

2. Attend or even speak up at city council meetings or various city planning meetings.

3. Write letters, send emails, or make phone calls to elected officials and voice to them your concerns. These people are in office to represent and make city-wide decisions on behalf of the community, and the community is us.

4. Write letters to the Enterprise Record, News and Review, and the Beat to make your opinion known to the community.

5. Become active in a neighborhood association to be a part of a larger voice. Here are the local Chico neighborhood associations and groups that I can find, with links to their websites:

Chico Avenues Neighborhood Association (CANA)

Barber Neighborhood Association

California Park Association

North Park Neighborhood Association

The Esplanade League (Political Action Committee)

South Bidwell Park Neighborhood Association

South Campus Neighborhood Association

South Chico Neighborhood Association
PO Box 3582
Chico, CA 95927

Vallombrosa Avenue Neighborhood Association
2096 Vallombrosa Ave
Chico, CA 95926

6. Talk to people who are developers or builders. Open a dialog. If you think that they are doing their job in a sustainable manner, tell them so.

7. And finally (and perhaps most importantly), take a moment to appreciate the open spaces that remain in Chico, and to help others to do the same.

Posted by jmiller at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I think it should be every child's right to have access to a safe place to play outside and interact with other youth. I was fortunate to grow up on street that dead-ended into a small apricot orchard a short three-minute walk from my house. I have fond memories of climbing trees, collecting ladybugs and butterflies, and throwing dirt clods.

Not only do Chico's vacant lots and remnant orchards provide a sense of wonder for those who walk through or past them, but they also provide habitat for the urban wildlife that set Chico apart from surburbia-ville: Yes, there are the squirrels, but there are also many species of amphibians, birds, reptiles, and insects that all continue to make their homes in and among the hundred-year-old valley oaks and black walnut trees that keep watch over our neighborhoods, reminding us of Chico's natural roots.

Many argue that that's what Bidwell Park is for. And Lindo Channel. And our large community parks (both existing and planned).

But not everyone lives a five-minute stroll from One Mile.

In my neighborhood, there is a pleasant trail along Lindo Channel that is a 10-minute stroll (much of it braving traffic, as the sidewalk is intermittent), but the most accessible open space is the orchard across the street, which crossed by a pleasant dirt bike path.

Infill happens in this town--even at the smallest rate of growth. The vacant lots and fields and orchards will become human dwellings. But I make two requests of developers, and to Chico community:

First of all, when you build, make it nice. Build us places to live that enhance our neighborhoods. Build in a way that respects our environment, both human and natural. Don't build us dwellings that stick out like an SUV surrounded by bicycles. Rather, build us homes where the walkway to the front door comes off the sidewalk rather than the driveway. Build us homes where the most prominent feature is a front porch, rather than a the garage. Build us homes that can be sold on its merits of energy efficiency and use of sustainable building materials, rather than solely on square footage.

There are plenty of examples of thoughtless construction in this town, houses built solely for the purpose of a builder who wants to turn around and make a quick profit, with little or no regard as to how the building relates to the overall character of the neighborhood. We have the ability to do better. Much better.

Second, leave some of the land alone. It doesn't have to be very big, but leave us something, some part of each lot, so that everyone can have access to a safe place to gaze up at a woodpecker in a tree. I am not asking for every orchard to be turned into a community park, but some small pocket parks would be nice, one to three tenths of an acre in size, open spaces among the new developments, where the some of the wild trees are left standing.

A safe, five-minute walk from our homes.

Posted by jmiller at 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)