Chico, Sustainable

Once again we are hearing the rumblings and rumors of additional high school options in Chico.

It's about time.

Now, don't get me wrong--Pleasant Valley and Chico High both have dedicated educators and administrators, amazing students, and solid academic programs. But even with Chico High's "Smaller Learning Communities" option, it is unrealistic to think that Chico's two high schools can function as the ideal learning environment for every student in this town. Our youth are too diverse.

One of the new high school options will be a charter school, and the other will follow a home school model that will draw heavily on the talents of the parent community.

The charter high school is being billed as a "Green High School," which will weave concepts of sustainability and environmental awareness into both the academics and the social culture of the school. The organizers hope to open the school by fall, 2010. The school will eventually support a student body of about 100 students. They are in the process of seeking out a site for the school, possibly one that will have enough land to incorporate a large school garden.

Generally speaking, school districts are not in favor of charter schools for economic reasons--school funding is based on student enrollment, so the establishment of a charter school in a district leads to reduced funding for existing schools.

The issue is far from simple. One could say that having different educational alternatives is healthier for our students in the long run, and that if the traditonal schools are losing students to the charter schools, then this should be a "wake-up" to change how the traditional schools go about educating kids.

The counter-argument is that existing schools do their best with the resources they have available, and that the lost funding due to the establishment of a charter school hurts many while benefitting only a handful.

Personally, as I write this during my prep period while subbing a life science class, I feel the the fault lies not with Chico Unified, but rather with the educational system that we have created in this country. Case in point--a beautiful 70 degree day in Chico, and life science class is taking place indoors. And as I have mentioned before, this is the norm.

The U.S. educational system is flawed--it was established almost a century ago to train students for a different time, and try as we might, it is sorely challenged by the task of educating our youth for the today's world, today's issues, and today's challenges.

Changing the system is going to hurt.

Posted by jmiller at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If you are interested in local organic produce, and don't have the time to spend at the Saturday Farmer's Market/Chico Community Social Hour, then you might consider ordering ahead with Danielle and picking up some farm-fresh food on Sunday afternoons over on West 4th Avenue in Chico.

That's the distribution point for Danielle Baker's new "Easy Organics CSA" (Community Supported Agriculture), which is sourcing products from Towani Farm in Bangor (southeast of Oroville), Good Humus Farm in Capay, Pedrozo Dairy, and elsewhere in the region.

Serious kudos to those who use their bike baskets to get the food home.

Email or call Danielle at (530) 345-7636 to become of member of this new CSA.

Posted by jmiller at 01:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I can remember squeezing punch from a juice box in the late '80's, but I did not realize the full potential of aseptic packaging (aka Tetra Brik, Tetra Pak) until I traveled to Europe in 1990 and again in 1995, where milk, juice, and most other liquid grocery products are commonly sold unrefrigerated in 1000 mL boxes.

In the last few years Tetra Briks seem to have become all the rage at Trader Joe's and health food stores, and are used for items such as soy milk, rice milk, and of course, butternut squash soup.

Aseptic packaging has the eco-advantages of being both lightweight and its clever paper (70%), plastic (24%) and aluminum (6%) design allows it to store perishable liquids at room temperature, such as milk, which saves energy on refrigeration.

So, they are energy savers, but are they recyclable? Of course they are.

In Canada and Europe.

And in some parts of the U.S., so long as they are rinsed out really well, which is very hard to do.

But they are not accepted in northern California, and certainly not in Butte County. Neither Waste Management nor Norcal Waste Systems recycle them.

CSU Chico's AS Recycling is doing campus the courtesy of collecting and storing empty Tetra Briks until such time as they can find a place that will recycle them. I wish them the best. The west coast contact for the Aseptic Packaging Council isn't returning my email, and a Walnut Creek location that is listed on their site as a collector of post-consumer aseptic packaging. . .doesn't.

So just an FYI, the electricity to power the fridge can come from a renewable resource, but your butternut soup container will end up in the landfill. Unless you express mail it to Canada.

Personally, I am going to try to avoid them, and make my own soup. Its not that hard to do.

Here is a simple and easy recipe for butternut squash soup:

1 butternut squash, peeled
2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
1 onion or 4 leeks, chopped
1 quart cups chicken or vegetable stock
Salt, pepper, nutmeg

Cut squash into 1-inch chunks. In large pot melt butter. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 8 minutes. Add squash and stock. Bring to a simmer and cook until squash is tender. Remove squash chunks with slotted spoon and place in a blender and puree. Return blended squash to pot. Stir and season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Serve.

Posted by jmiller at 09:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

As much as we try to buy in bulk, reuse plastic bags and containers, or trade for or borrow goods, my wife and I still end up accumulating a lot of packaging each week.

Luckily most of the packaged goods that I get comes from the market, and most of this packaging is recyclable.

Or so they say.

But there is a hierarchy to recycling, with some types of packaging being more sustainable than others.

Often you have a choice between different types of "recyclable" packaging. For example, condiments can come in either a plastic or glass container, or cereal in a box or a plastic package. Should the recyclability of a product's package be a factor in determining what grocery items to buy?

I think so. It might not necessarily be the only factor, but it is certainly one worth considering.

So, when the final choice does come down to packaging, here is my "Best to Worst," based on the research I have done:

1) BEST: Aluminum--Light, efficient substance, recycling uses 95% less energy needed to produce new can, can be recycled perpetually.

2) Steel/Iron/Tin--Recycling uses 74% less energy as compared to producing cans from raw material. Heavier than aluminum, plastic, or paper, so it requires more energy to transport. Can be recycled perpetually.

3) Glass--Recycling uses 40% less energy as compared to producing bottles/jars from raw material. Heavy, so requires most energy to transport. Can be recycled perpetually.

4) Paper/Cardboard--Recycling uses 40% less energy than make product from virgin trees. Cannot be recycled indefinitely (6-7 times). Trees are a renewable resource. Paper is biodegradable, or can be burned for energy.

5) WORST: Plastics-Highly versatile, light-weight packaging saves energy in transportation, but other than #1 (PETE) and sometimes #2 (HDPE) is not really very recyclable. Comes from non-renewable resource (petroleum), is not recyclable indefinitely (1-2 times). When recycled, uses 70% less energy as compared to producing containers from raw material, though sadly this is not always cost effective (new plastic resin often costs less than recycled plastic). Not biodegradable, but can be burned for energy. Better to reuse or not purchase at all.

Of course as with most eco-issues, the full equation is complicated to grasp, and I was not able to access as much information as I would have liked. For example, I know nothing about how big a role the cost of transporting goods plays (i.e.: a quart of milk shipped in glass weighs more than milk in plastic), as well as the distance goods are transported. Also not included are the environmental and health costs of recycling which still requires varying amounts of chemicals and water depending on the item being recycled. Finally there are the environmental and health costs of manufacturing packaging in the first place, ranging from bauxite mining for aluminum to the chemical requirements of turning wood into cardboard.

The big take-aways:

1) Take an extra moment to ponder the packaging associated with each purchase.
2) Buy in bulk using your own containers.
3) Reuse packaging (glass jars for drinking, cardboard boxes for weed control in the garden, etc.).
4) Avoid purchasing plastic.
5) Recycle aluminum, steel, glass and paper.

Posted by jmiller at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I attended a two-day "Introduction to Permaculture" course over the weekend and came back with a wealth of ideas and inspirations surrounding sustainable living.

One of them was the olla, a simple, low-tech water saving device for gardening.

An olla is an unglazed pot that you bury neck-deep into a mound of soil. The pot is filled with water which very slowly percolates through the porous clay walls. Veggies are then planted adjacent to the ollas. It is said that 90-100% of the water placed in the olla is eventually absorbed by the plants, whose roots hug the outside of the pot.

Attaching a drip irrigation system to your ollas is also an option.

The ollas can be purchased through Peddler's Wagon for $20-$25/each, OR

You supposedly can make your own "diamond-shaped" olla by gluing together two flower pots with silicone or acrylic caulk and then plugging up the drain on one end, OR

You can go the super low-tek route by using a 1-gallon plastic milk jug with some small holes punched into it. The drawbacks here are that some folks are not thrilled to burying plastic into their vegetable gardens, and they tend to not be as durable as the ollas, which have been known to last for decades (as opposed to 2 years for the milk jug).

I am going to try out the flower pot strategy.

Posted by jmiller at 09:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I saw the second most awesome mailbox yesterday (the most awesome one is pictured above).

It is not what the box looks like, but rather, its location--on the west side of the bike path between East and Lassen.

Hanging out by this mailbox will probably lead you to the most awesome mailman (or mailwoman) in Chico.

Posted by jmiller at 09:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you want to be blown away by amazing ideas for sustainability projects, check out Keen Footwear's STAND contests. Individuals have submitted ideas to compete for cash prizes in three different categories. Two of my favorites were a proposal for a bike delivery service for the city of Cincinnati, and a mobile dishwasher trailer for use at community fairs and events in Missoula, Montana, that would provide and wash thrift-store dishes and silverware for use in place of plastic utensils and paper plates and bowls.

And yes, I also submitted an entry on behalf of Chico's GRUB program, which, by the way, is having an Interest/Volunteer/Intern meeting this coming Wednesday , February 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Woodstock's Pizza. All are welcome to attend and learn more about the many GRUB projects including upcoming work days, school education programs, restaurant compost pickup, fruit tree registry, and the GRUB CSA program.

There seems to be so many more great ideas than one has time for.

Here is a recent one, inspired by a colleague over in Chapman Town: The School Garden Salad.

In short, various local restaurants would be asked to designate a single menu item, such as a garden salad, where some or all of the proceeds of item would go towards funding a school garden at a local school. (The menu item wouldn't necessarily have to be a salad, though "School Garden Salad" sounds pretty catchy).

Different restaurants could be paired with specific schools.

Anybody interested in taking this on? Respond to this post, and I would be happy to chat.

Posted by jmiller at 09:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The sun is out (for a little while, at least) and here are a few eco-oriented events happening in the area:

FEBRUARY 15--The Power of Pollinators, Native Pollinators: Not Just Honey
Join the Tehama County Resource Conservation District on Friday, Feb. 15th for the free workshop, The workshop will be held at the Tehama District Fairground in Red Bluff, Tehama Room, 8 AM to 12 Noon. Come learn how native pollinators can help crops and flowering plants after the recent honey bee decline. Topics presented will cover, why native pollinators are important for our food system, the importance of rangeland for these essential insects, common range plants that support pollinators, and techniques to manage rangeland for cattle and pollinators. Interested parties are encouraged to RSVP and can receive additional information by contacting the RCD at 527-3013, ext. 3.

FEBRUARY 16--Kids and Creeks Benefit Concert, El Rey Theatre
Featuring one of Rolling Stone’s top 10 Artists to Watch in 2008, Brett Dennen, with special guests Dick and Jane. $15 advance or $18 at the door. Tickets will be available at Chico Natural Foods, Lyons Books, The Naked Lounge, and Bustolini’s. You can also register online here. 100% of the proceeds will sponsor outdoor science education opportunities for elementary school classes in Chico and the surrounding area.

FEBRUARY 19--Water Rights Activist Maude Barlow at the Chico Grange Hall at 6:30 p.m. Free Event!
World renowned author, water rights activist, 2005 Right Livelihood Award Winner (alternative nobel prize) and board member for Food & Water Watch, Maude Barlow is on a national tour launching her new book "Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water." The event brings 5 local water activists and experts together with Maude, to talk about what is happening with water in Chico and the surrounding North State counties. This event is FREE and includes delicious appetizers featuring local farm fresh and farmstead products. Presented by Food and Water Watch, Butte Environmental Council, and the Sacramento River Preservations Trust

Posted by jmiller at 06:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cardboard is my new best friend. Back in November I mentioned how I was using cardboard and newsprint as the first layer of my new garden beds. The second layer was 5" of damp, decomposing yard and food scraps.

I am now learning how wonderfully simple it is to use cardboard in conjunction with wood chips to create weed-free areas in my yard.

Round-up or other chemicals not required.

Cardboard and newspaper are free, natural, and biodegradable.

Here's how its done:

1) Get lots of cardboard or newspapers (no glossy inserts). Ask around at local business, or sometimes I have seen used boxes listed as a free item on Craigslist.

2) Lay cardboard over the area that you want weed-free. Place it directly over the weeds, overlapping the pieces of cardboard by at least 6". If you are using newspaper, be liberal--at least 1/4" thick.

3) Get a hold of a lot of wood chips. In the wake of January's windstorm, wood chips are plentiful these days. One of the easiest way of getting a hold of some is to call up a tree trimming company and be friendly. Or, if you see a tree trimming crew with a truck and a wood chipper in your neighborhood, ask if they would be willing to divert their load to your driveway. Chances are pretty good you can find some for free. Any wood chips will do, though it has been suggested that eucalyptus, sycamore, and redwood be avoided near vegetable gardens, though using them near established perennial plants is fine.

4) Pile the wood chips on the cardboard 4-6" deep.

That's it.

The cardboard will act as a barrier to the weeds until it decomposes, but the time this happens most weed seeds beneath the cardboard will have lost their viability. Above the cardboard, the wood chips are a weed-free environment, and windblown seeds will have a tough time growing among the chips (and the ones that do are easy to pull up). I would wager that the area so treated will remain weed-free for at least 3 years, probably longer.

Check back with me in February, 2011.

Posted by jmiller at 07:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The public is invited to review and comment on the newest iteration of the Chico Area Bicycle Map that is currently being developed by the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG). The map is in DRAFT form.

For me, the map brings up two key points about the bicycling landscape in Chico. One, Chico has tremendous potential to become a truly bike-oriented community. And two, we have a long way to go. For example, we have a great bike path that runs west from Bruce Road along Little Chico Creek, ending just as you cross under Highway 99. And then? The logical next step would be to designate Humboldt Avenue as a bike route into downtown, but for some reason this element is not a part of the City of Chico Bike Plan.

The map itself is looking pretty good. It will be a generously sized (22" x 28"), double-sided affair with a lot of information. Perhaps too much, as the various bike and bus routes are painted yellow, red, blue, and green on the map, which is a bit more than my 1980's-brainwashed mind can handle. But that's just me.

The map can be viewed online at the Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) website and hard copies are posted at the following locations and can been seen during regular business hours:
• CSU, Chico, 400 West First Street located in Kendall Hall 107
• Cycle Sport located at 222 West 2nd Street in Chico
• Pullins Cyclery located at 801 Main St in Chico
• BCAG offices at 2580 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Suite 100 in Chico

Comments and suggestions will be accepted through February 8. The development of the map is scheduled to be completed by May 24, 2008.

Posted by jmiller at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)