Green Living Summer 2009

� SUMMER 2008 • South Sound Woman • www.SouthSoundWoman.com

A Guide To Green LivingIn The South Sound

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONSUMMER 2009

Evergreen CollegeNurturing Sustainable Lifestylesin the South Sound

Eco-Friendly BuildingsFrom Start to Finish

The Use of Solar Powerin the South Sound

RecyclingA few steps toward a greener

environment

Prison GardeningReducing the cost and

environmentalimpact of prison operations

LandscapesPractical tips to green gardening

Eco-Friendly

Going Green4 LetterFromtheEditor5 GreenLivingDefinitions Definitionsoftermsusedthroughoutthisissue

Education & Community8 KidsCanMakeADifference PeakandREIOutreachUnite

9 LittleHands,BigIdeas ProjectIdeasandPuzzlesforthekids

Green Building14 WoodwardCommunity By CJ Russo Acommunitycomestogethertolivegreen

16 AlternativeEnergy By Elizabeth Diane Howtostartusingsolarenergyinyourhome

Green in Action19 Transportation Allaboardthegreenbus

23 GreenCleaningTips By Elizabeth Diane Householdproductsbecomecleaningproducts

26 WormComposting Naturalcompostingbecomestea

29 CSA’s By Grier Jewel BuyLocalProduce

Table of Contents

May 2009 l Volume 1 l Number 1

11Eco-Friendly Buildings

From Start to Finish

By Maddy Stephens

6Evergreen CollegeNurturing Sustainable Lifestyles in the South Sound

27Prison GardeningReducing the cost and environmental impact ofprison operationsBy Carrie Rethlefsen

18The Use of Solar Powerin the South Sound

21RecyclingA few steps toward a greener environmentBy Corinna Radtkeand Galen Hammel

24Eco-Friendly Landscapes

Practical tips to green gardening

By Mary Jo Buza

GREENLIvING2009lPage3

MAGAZINESTAFFPublisher/Editor

MicheleMcGehee

vPOperationsJustinWeil

SalesDirectorKennethRussell

AccountExecutivesSherryMilczewski

PatrickParishMallorySchultz

Design/LayoutKatyJacobsElliotBower

MarketingAssistantCarrieRethlefsen

CO N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R SMaryJoBuza

ElizabethDianeGalenHammel

GrierJewelCorinnaRadtke

CarrieRethlefsenMaddyStephens

S U B S C R I P T I O N S

GreenLivingintheSouthSoundisaannualpublicationthatisfreeandavailableatlocationsthroughoutthesouthsound.Toreceiveyourcopy,visitourwebsiteat

www.sustainablesouthsound.comorcallouroffice.

W E WA N T TO H E A R F R O M YO UIfthereisastoryyouwouldlikeustoshareorknowofanorganizationorpersonthat

ismakingadifferenceinourcommunity,[email protected].

©2009byCatalystMediaGroup,Inc.

Allrightsreserved.

Allphotography,articlesandadvertising,oranypartthereofcompiledbyCatalystMediaGroup,Inc.Company,areexclusivepropertyofCatalystMediaGroup,Inc.and

protectedbycopyright.Reproductioninwholeorinpartwithoutexpresswrittenpermissionisprohibited.Opinionsexpressedinthismagazinearethoseofcontributors

anddonotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsofCatalystMediaGroup,Inc.CatalystMediaGroup,Inc.isanenvironmentallyresponsiblecompany.

www.sustainablesouthsound.com

POBox4207•Spanaway,WA98487Phone:360.350.1237•Fax:253.292.3667

www.catalystmediagroupinc.com

WeareluckyintheSouthSound

tohaveamazingresources,especiallyforthosewhoareinterestedinlivingamoresustainablelife.WhenIstartedthisproject,Iknewtherewastheinterestandtheneedforinformation,butIhadnoideawhatwasavailable.AsIstarted

thinkingaboutstoriesandaskingforideasfromtheexperts,Iwasamazedattheresourceswehavelocally.Fromsolarenergytocomposting,businessesandpeoplearejumpingontheconceptofsustainableliving.Anditisexciting!

So what is sustainable living? It is the simple concept

of living a life that can help sustain the local community.

My goal for this publication was to help inform you, our

readers, about the possibilities without overwhelming

you. Sometimes it takes baby steps to get where we

need to be and with all the information out there, it

is hard to decipher what the right path is to better

living. It could be as simple as planting a garden or

as complicated as building a ‘green home’ with all the

bells and whistle. It doesn’t matter the magnitude of

the project or endeavor. What matters is that we as a

community start looking around to see what we can

do to help sustain our community and create a healthy

environment.

We will continue to support this publication via

our website. We would like to hear from you and all the

things that you are doing toward sustainable living. Visit

www.sustainablesouthsound.com to learn more and

share you stories.

Publisher/Editor Michele McGehee

EditorFrom the

Page4lGREENLIvING2009

BiodegradableProductsthatcandecomposeintoharmlessrawmaterialsinthenaturalenvironmentsarebiodegradable.Mostfoods,paperproductsandnaturalmaterialsarebiodegradable.

BuiltGreenTheprogramprovidesconsumerswithfoureasy-to-understandratingsystems,whichquantifyenvironmentallyfriendlybuildingpracticesforremodelingandnewhomeconstructioninWashingtonState.

CarbonFootprintEstimateshowmuchcarbondioxideapersonorhomeusesandreleasesintotheatmosphere.Youcanfigureoutyourowncarbonfootprintat:http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

CarbonNeutralBeing“carbonneutral”meansremovingasmuchcarbondioxidefromtheatmosphereasweputin.

CompostableCompostingiswhenyoutakebiodegradablematerialsandplacethemtogethertocreateanutrient-richproduct.Manypeoplebeginhomecompostingpilesfortheirbiodegradablematerials,especiallyfoodproducts.

DaylightingWhenyoustrategicallyplacewindowsandreflectivesurfacesinplacesthatduringthedaynaturallightwillfillyourspaces.Itaimstoreduceyourenergycostswhilehelpingwithglobalwarming.

EnergyefficientproductsorfacilitiesTheyuselessenergyandareoftenratedbyenergystar.

InsulatingConcreteForms(ICFs)ICFsarerigidfoamformsthatholdconcreteinplaceandserveasthermalinsulation.Theyarelightweightandhelpahometobecomemoreenergyefficientandcreatedurableconstruction.

LEEDRatingSystemLEEDcertificationisaself-assessmentsystemthatwasdevelopedbytheUSGreenBuildingCouncil.Itprovidesastandardforenvironmentallysustainableconstruction,whichlooksattheefficiencyofthebuildingandencourageshealthyworkandlivingenvironments.LEEDcertificationisbasedona100pointscaleandratingsaregivenoutfromBasicCertificationtoPlatinumRatings.Formoreinformation,gotowww.usgbc.org/leed.

NaturalBuildingAnaturalbuilthomeusesmaterialsthatarefocusedonsustainabilitybyusingdurable,minimally-processed,recycledandrenewableresources.Theaimistoproducehealthylivingenvironments,betterairqualityandlessentheenvironmentalimpactofbuildings.

Post-consumerRecycledContentWhenaportionofaproductismadefrommaterialsthathavealreadybeenusedsuchaswaterbottles,paperandevenvacuumcleaners.

RapidlyRenewableMaterialsRapidlyrenewablematerialsandproductsaremadefromplantsthataretypicallyharvestedwithinaten-yearcycleorshorter.Typicalexamplesofrapidlyrenewablematerialincludesbamboo,wool,cottoninsulation,agrifiber,linoleum,wheatboard,strawboardandcork.

RenewableMaterialsRenewablematerialsaresubstancesderivedfromalivingtree,plant,animalorecosystemwhichhastheabilitytoregenerateitself.Arenewablematerialcanbeproducedagainandagain.Forexample,whenweuseplantationwoodtomakepaperwecanplantmoretreestoreplaceit.

SolarPvpanelsAnaffordableelectricitysourcethatcreatestheenergyfromthesun.Theyareeasilyplacedonresidentialhomesandcommericalbuildings.Oftentaxbreaksareofferedtohomesthatinstallthesesolarpanels.

StructuralInsulatedPanels(SIPs)Highperformancebuildingpanelsusedinfloors,walls,androofsforresidentialandlightcommercialbuildings.Thepanelsaremadebysandwichingacoreofrigidfoamplasticinsulationbetweentwostructuralskinsoforientedstrandboard(OSB).SIPsaremanufacturedunderfactorycontrolledconditionsandcanbecustomdesignedforeachhome.Theresultisabuildingsystemthatisextremelystrong,energyefficientandcosteffective.

SustainableIswhenanactionsatisfiesaneedwithoutcompromisingfuturegenerations.Thelessyoutakeanduse,themoresustainableyoubecome.Sustainableisthinkingaboutyouractionstoday,withthethoughtoffuturegenerationsinyourmind.

Glossary of Term

sdef•i•ni•tions

Aglossaryoftermstohelpyouunderstandthelanguageofsustainableliving.

For more information onGreen Living visit us online at,www.sustainablesouthsound.com

BeachesRainforests

Pacific NWHawaii

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Fromedibleforestgardenstoasalmon-safecertifiedorganicfarmtocampushousingoptionsinwhichstudentsconsciouslychooseadifferentwaytorelatetotheirnatural

world,Evergreenprovidesstudentswiththeopportunitytolearntoattunethemselveswithnature,embarkonnewwaysofthinkingandgainknowledgethatwillhelptheSouthSoundprogressasacenterforgreentechnology,businessandliving.ItalsoprovidesamodelforcommunitiesandcollegesfarbeyondtheSouthSound.

Withcourseworkthatintegratesconceptsofbiologyandecology,conservation,communityserviceandsustainablewaysofengaginginbusiness,politics,agriculture,art,management,history,economics,socialwork,science,teachingandmusic,Evergreenstudentsarepreparingtothriveinagreenereconomy.

WashingtonState’s2008ClimateActionandGreenJobsbillspecifiesthatthecurrentnumberofgreenjobsinthestateshouldtripleby2020.Evergreenstudentsarepracticinggreenbusinessdevelopmentnow.StudentsrecentlylaunchedtheCenterforSustainableEntrepreneurship,anefforttogainbusinessskillsandeffectivelyusetheminwaysthatarealsosociallyresponsible.

TheLivingClassroomEvergreen’sthousand-acrecampusfeaturesmilesoftrails,a

halfmileofbeachonPugetSound,wetlands,forestsandevenanorganicfarm.EightypercentofEvergreen’slandisnotbuiltup.Mostofitisusedasalivingclassroom.Beyondeventhat,thetreessoakupandstoreahugeamountofcarbon–keepingitoutofouratmosphere.

NaturalFood,ClosetoHomeEvergreen’sorganicfarmisusedtoteachabroadrangeof

coursessuchassmall-scaleorganicagriculture,ethnobotany,visualarts,beekeeping,forestecology,ecologicalagriculture,andthescienceoffoodandcooking.Organicproducegrownatthefarmisservedincampuseateries,soldthroughaCommunitySupportedAgriculture(CSA)programandatwice-weeklyfarmstandoncampus,anddonatedtolocalfoodbanks.

Whenyoubuyfromlocalorganicfarmers,you’renotonlyeatingfoodgrowninamorenaturalway,youarealsohelpingtoreducethepollutiongeneratedbytransportingfoodlongdistances.

TeachingSustainabilityWhileothercollegesareexperiencingareductionin

courseworkrelatedtosustainabilityandtheenvironment,Evergreenisincreasingtheintegrationofthesetopics.Itsdistinctiveinterdisciplinarycurriculumcreatesopportunitiesforintegratedlearningnotpossibleatothercolleges.

Beyondtheundergraduatecurriculum,EvergreenalsooffersarigorousMastersinEnvironmentalStudiesprogramthatintegratesthebiological,physical,andsocialscienceswithstudiesinpublicpolicy.

TheWashingtonCenterforImprovingtheQualityofUndergraduateEducationatEvergreenhaslaunchedtheCurriculumfortheBioregion,aneffortthatfocuseson

The Evergreen State College

Nurturing SustainableLifestyles in the

South Sound

Educ

atio

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Com

mun

ity O

utre

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Photos By Evergreen College


The Evergreen State College

How can you live more sustainably?

BEGiN AT HOMEAt Evergreen, that entails a wide range of campus initiatives.

For example: • buying only “green” electricity • building more environmentally sustainable buildings • promoting “green” business • supporting community service • encouraging environmentally friendly commuting.

Check out Evergreen’s Greener Living Guide at:www.evergreen.edu/sustainability/greenerlivingguide.html

Calculate your family’s carbon footprint and find the best ways to reduce it at:www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html or www.ecy.wa.gov/forms/carbonfootprint_pledge.html

incorporatingenvironmentalandsustainabilityissuesintogeneraleducationcollegecoursesthroughoutthePacificNorthwest.

WalkingtheTalkEvergreenisoneofonlyahandfulofcollegesinthecountry

thathasactuallyreduceditsgreenhousegasemissions.In2007,Evergreenreduceditscarbonfootprintby300metrictonsand2008willdemonstrateanevengreaterreduction.

Evergreenhaspurchasedafleetofelectriccarstoreplacemanyofitsgasolineanddieselvehicles,hasanactivecommuteoptionsprogram,andusesEnergyStarefficientappliancesthroughoutitsoperations.ThecollegealsobuiltthefirstpubliclyfundedLEEDGoldCertifiedbuildinginWashington.Itisalsoworkingtorenovateitsbuildingsforimprovedenergyefficiencyandwastereduction.

Evergreenstudentspayaself-imposedcleanenergyfeetoensurethat100percentofthecollege’selectricitycomesfromrenewablesources.

SinceSeptember2008,Evergreenhasreduceditslandfillwastebymorethan97,000poundsbyexpandingitscompostingefforts,reducingpaperuse,initiatinganelectronicwasterecyclingprogramandraisingstudent,staffandfacultyawareness.

CaringforEachOtherBythetimetheygraduate,morethan70percentofEvergreen

studentswillhavedonecommunityserviceandvolunteerworktohelpthepoor,feedthehungry,andimprovetheenvironment.Inthe2007-08academicyear,Evergreenstudentsprovidedmorethan19,000serviceandvolunteerhoursinthecommunity,supportingdozensoflocalnon-profitsandthousandsofpeopleinneed.

HundredsofEvergreenalumniworklocally,regionally,nationallyandinternationallytopromoteamoresustainableworld.

Forexample,EvergreenalumnifoundedandcontinuetoleadGRuB(GardenRaisedBounty)inOlympia.GRuBisanon-profitthatservesat-riskyouth,providesmeaningfulemploymenttolow-incomehighschoolstudents,fosterscommunitypartnerships,andinspiressustainablecommunityvaluesinitsworktogroworganicproduceandbuildraised-bedgardensforlow-incomefamiliesandseniors.

EvergreenalumnialsofoundedClimateSolutions,anOlympia-basedorganizationwithofficesinSeattle,PortlandandMissoulaand

aregionalandinternationalreputationthatisworkingtoacceleratepracticalandprofitablesolutionstoglobalwarmingbygalvanizingleadership,growinginvestmentandbridgingdivides.

AGreenerFutureFromdevelopingneweconomicmodelsforsustainableforestryand

constructiontomeasuringthecarbonfootprintsofcitiesandbusinessestoactiveinvolvementinthefairtrade,organicfarmingandecologicalagriculturemovements,Evergreenstudentsandalumniaretakingwhattheyhavelearnedandapplyingittochangetheworldforthebetter.

ThisistheessenceofGreenerLiving:engagingconsciouslytolivebetterandinabetterrelationshipwithourworld.GL

To learn more, please visit www.evergreen.edu


Education&CommunityOutreachEVERGREEN

Environmentaleducationforchildrenisvitalforthefutureoftheplanet.RecreationalEquipmentIncorporated(REI),basedinWashington,believesineducatingyouththroughcommunity

outreachprograms.KevinHagen,theDirectorofCorporateSocialResponsibilityexplainedthatPEAKprogramsare“aboutpreparingthenextgenerationofenvironmentalstewards:ourchildren.”Theprogrambelievesthatthenextgenerationsmusthaveanassociationandappreciationoftheenvironmenttheyliveinortherewillnotbeanyoneheretoprotecttheenvironment.“Ourresourcesdependonthosegenerations,”Kevinexplained,“Theymusthaveaconnectiontotheoutdoorsandtheplacesthatwehavecometolovelikethenationalparks,openspacesandpubliclands.”

PromotingEnvironmentalAwarenessinKids(PEAK)programisapartnershipbetweenREIandLeaveNoTrace,anonprofitorganizationthatpromoteseducationforhelpingtheearth.Theprogramensuresthatenvironmentaleducationisinelementaryschoolclassroomsandprovidestoolsthathelpchildrengetasenseoftheoutdoorsandshowhowwedependonnature.OneofthebestpartsaboutPEAKisthatitisfreeandanyonecanbecomeconnected.Lastyearaloneover187,000kidswereinvolvedwithPEAK.

TypicallyvolunteersfromREIorLeaveNoTraceBehindruntheprogram.“Employeeslovethattheyhaveanorganizedwaytogivebackandconnectwiththeirlocalcommunities.Theyallbringahugeamountofenthusiasmwiththem,”explainsKevin.Thevolunteersbringbackpackstotheclassrooms,communitygroupsorschoolsthatincludeawidevarietyofprojectsandactivitiesthatcanbepresentedinlearningmodulesbasedoninterestandage.Allofthemodulesarecreative,funandinteractiveforthechildrenandareactivity-basedaroundagameorexperience.Onegamebeginsbygivingthechildrenastringwithanidentitylikeatree,cloud,frogorland.Asthechildrenplay,thestringwindstogetherandturnsintoaweb.Theexperiencegivesthechildrenanewperceptionaroundinterconnectivityofournaturalsurroundings.

ThemainmissionofPEAKisgettingkidsoutdoors.“Tomakesurethatpeoplewillbearoundtoprotecttheoutdoors,”Kevinexplained,“weneedtohaveanemphasisongettingkidsintotheoutdoorstoexperiencewildlifeandtoenjoybeingoutside.”Childrenlearnthatifwetakecareofnature,thennaturewilltakecareof.ThePEAKprogramhasheardendlesspositivestoriesabouthowPEAKhadimpactedchildren’slives.

REIalsoinvolveschildrenandtheirfamilieseachsummerintheirfreePassporttoAdventureprogram.ThePassporttoAdventuresummerexperienceoffersfivefamily-friendlyhikesandbikeridesateachoftheREIstorelocations.Kevinsays,“ThemissionofPEAKisagreatplaceforREI.Weareallaboutfiguringouthowtomaketheco-oppartofthesolutionandgettingkidsoutdoors.Wearemorethanjustastore.Weareallexcitedabouttheopportunitiesthatweofferchildren.”

Outreach Unite&PEAK

REI

Education&CommunityOutreachPEAK&REI

For more information, visithttp://www.rei.com/aboutrei/reikids02.html.


Try these fun activities and make sure to check out the word search on the next page!

Smallhands,Big ideas

Takeitemsthatarenormallythrownawayandmakeanartprojectoutofthem!Youcanusepaper,eggcartons,milkcartons,popbottles,buttons,tinfoil,boxesandanythingelsethatmightgetthrownaway.Mobilesarereallyfuntomakeandyoucanuseeggcartonstomakethem.Youcandrawalloverthemandthenhangtheminyourroom!

Thinkaboutallthefoodthatyouhaveeatentoday.Doyouknowwherethatfoodcamefrom?Sometimesthefoodweeatcomesfromfarawayandsometimesyoucangetitfrompeopleinyourowncity.Thinkabouthowmuchyourfoodmaytraveltogettoyou!Itmayhavebeenbroughtoverbyboat.Trytokeepalistoffoodthatyouhaveeatenandthentalktoyourmomordadaboutwherethatfoodcamefrom.Welovetoeat,soweshouldlearnaboutwhereitcomesfrom!Planatriptoalocalfarmer’smarketorlocalfarmandseewhatyoucanbuyrightinyourownneighborhood.

Doyoulovetoplayinthedirt?Well,youcanplayinthedirtandlearnaboutwhathappenswhenyouthrowsomethingout.Itisreallyfuntodo.Youjustfindtincans,dirtandanythingthatyouwanttobury.SomeofthebestthingstoburyareStyrofoam,paper,bananapeels,orangepeels,apples,plastic,asmalltoythatyouwillnotmissoranythinginthetrash.Afteryouhaveyouritems,buryeachofthematerialsseparatelyintheirowntincan.Labeleachcansoyouknowwhatwasinitlater.Aftereachmaterialisinthetincanandcoveredwithdirt,youcanwaterthem.Then,justleavethemsitfortwoweeks.Nowitistimeforfun.Yougettodigallyourmaterialsupandlookatwhatisstillthere!Someofthestuffmayhavechangedalotandsomemaybethesame!Talkaboutitwithmomordad!Itisreallycool!

Fun from Junk! Recycle

Where Did Your Food Come From?

Compost!

For more green activities, visitwww.sustainablesouthsound.com

By Carrie Rethlefsen


Education&CommunityOutreachKiDS

Find the words in the grid. Words can go horizontally, vertically and diagonally in all eight directions.

L A N D F I L L R L S R R

E Z W B G R D T L U T K T

J N K W E M A K S D R N D

H T E U Q T X T M R N J T

G Y S R I H A T R T K S T

A E B B G I D L A Q O B E

R M A R N Y L X F P T I L

D H J A I M P A M T R C C

E V B J T D T O C G Q Y Y

N L R M V X C R K O L C C

E R E V R E S N O C L L E

M R O W H T R A E D L E R

H C I N A G R O S O L A R

www.WordSearchMaker.com

Bicycle

Compost

Conserve

Earthworm

Energy

Farms

Garden

Habitat

Hybrid

Landfill

Local

organic

Recycle

Reuse

Solar

Sustainable

Education&CommunityOutreachKiDS

Findthewordsinthegrid.Wordscangohorizontally,verticallyanddiagonallyinalleightdirections.

Word Search

Bicycle

Compost

Conserve

Earthworm

Energy

Farms

Garden

Habitat

Hybrid

Landfill

Local

Organic

Recycle

Reuse

Solar

Sustainable


BuildingsEcofriendly

Theconstructionfieldisbeingadjustedtofitthepressingneedsoftheearthandthepeoplewholiveonit.Asmanyindustriesandfieldsof

workarebeingre-evaluatedtominimizeecologicaldamage,theconstructionanddesignfieldsfollowsuit.BuildingandremodelinggreenisawayfortheSouthPugetSoundtogreenit’slifestyle.Readjustingourmethodsforbuildingandreconstructingtheourhomesmeansthatcreativeworkersintheindustryandwillingcustomerswillhavetoworktogethertofindsolutions.

Thesegreenbuildingpracticesareputintoplacebysystemsthatallowforalessernetenergywaste.Beforeusingtechnicalcomponentslikethosementionedabove,however,greenbuildersmustlookatthesitetoseewhatresourceswillbeavailabletothemastheywork.Next,builderandarchitectteamsmeetwiththefuturehomeownerstoassestheirneeds.Dependingonthehomeowner’sneeds,buildersandarchitectswilluseenergy-savingsystemssuchasstructurallyinsulatedpanels.

StructurallyInsulatedPanels(SIPs)areusedforfloorsandwallsofgreen-builthomes.Plasticfoaminsulationissandwichedbetweentwostrandboards,madeofrecycledwoodproductsextractedfromtheSouthPugetSoundarea.SIPsuseslocalwoodproducts,meaningthattraditionallyhazardousmaterialsusedforinsulation(fiberglassandformaldehyde),arenotused.Theabsenceofthesetoxicmaterialsultimatelybettersthehealthofhomeowners.Inadditiontobeingcomposedofrecycledmaterials,SIPsare60percentmoreairtightthantraditionalinsulationmethods.HomeownersusingSIPsspendlessonheatingandcoolingandreleasealowercountofpollutingagentstypicallyreleasedduringheatingandcoolingprocesses.AlthoughSIPSaremoreexpensivethantraditionalmethods,homeownersreapthebenefitsofcleanerairandfindthatSIPSsystemslastlongerandhaveahigherretentionofretailvalue,alustedcommoditygiventoday’srealestatemarket.

WorkinginsynthesiswiththeSIPsusedfortheconstructionofgreenhomesistheReverseCycleChiller.TheReverseCycleChillerusesahighlyefficientheatexchangertotransferenergy

toawaterline,achievingtemperaturesupto120degreesintheheatingmode,anddownto50degreesincoolingmode.Thewaterlinecanthensupplyacentralairhandler,aradiantfloorheatingsystemormultiplezonedairhandlers.Thesystemsuppliesamoreconsistent,comfortablelevelofheatingthatoperatesefficiently,evenatlowtemperatures.

SystemslikeSIPsandthereversecyclechillercouldnotbeusedaseffectivelyifitweren’tforthecollaborationofbuildersandarchitects.Byworkingtogether,thetwofirmscanmergetheirideasintoahousewhichismoreenvironmentallysound.

AppleHomesandTheArtisan’sGrouparetwocompaniesmakingwavesintheSouthPugetSoundarea.AppleHomesisabuildingcontractingcompanythatcollaborateswithTheArtisan’sGrouptofirstdesign,andthentobuildsustainablehomes.TheArtisan’sGroup,anOlympia-basedfirm,centersit’sdesignprojectsuponsustainabilityandaimsforsynthesiswithnaturalsurroundings.Theprojectsundertakenbybothfirmsarecontemporaryandantique,cuttingedgeandcomfortable,boldandinnovative.AppleHomespicksupwhereTheArtisan’sGroupleavesoff,puttingthedesignsintophysicalaction.Thecooperationbetweenthesetwocorporationsisuniqueandspecial,andtogethertheyhavemadepositivechangesinour

Word Search

from start to finishBy Maddy StephensPhotos compliment of Artisan’s Group and Apple Homes

Green Building


immediatecommunityasaresultoftheircollaborativefocusoncustomersatisfactionandecologicalresponsibility.

ThistandemofAppleHomesandTheArtisan’sGroupiscurrentlyworkingontwoprojects,oneofwhichinvolvestheconstructionofanewhome,theotherinvolvingtheremodelingofanexhistinghome.

TheHautalaProjectisanewhomedesignedbyTessaSmithofTheArtisan’sGroup.HautalaisagoodexampleofthegreenbuildingmovementwhichistransformingthePugetSound.HautalausesbothSIPsandtheReverseCycleChiller.AccordingtoPaulHuffofAppleHomes,greenbuilthomeslikeHautalacanstaystandingforaslongas200years,whereastheirnon-greencounterpartsaregenerallyonlypredictablyintactfortwenty.ThefuturehomeowneroftheTheHautalaProject“wantedtodownsizeandexpressedaconcernforenergyefficiency,”saidPaulofhisclient.AppleHomesandTheArtisan’sGrouprosetothecause,institutingSIPsandtheReverseCycleChiller,alongwithothergreen-buildingmechanismslikearainwaterstoragetankandaradiantfloorheatsource.

Paul’sarticulationoftheconsumer’sneedsinTheHautalaProjectillustratesthetremendousfocusplacedoncooperationbetweenclientandcompany.Theinitialstagesofanyundertakingareapre-buildingcheckuponthebuildingsite.“Spacesarecompositions,”saidTessa.“…youhavetoaskquestionslike,‘what’s

availableonsite?Whatresourcesdowehavealready?’”TheHautalaProjectisnotunlikeothergreenbuildingprojectsinthatit’ssuccessstemsfromatriangularlineofcommunicationbetweenTessa,Paul,andtheclient.ThethreemeettoassessclientneedsandanensuingdesigniscraftedaroundthemergeofclientneedsandthespecializedknowledgethatPaulandTessabringtothetable.

WhatspecifictechniquesdoestheHautalaprojectemploythatmakeitmoresustainable?Itusesresourcesthatthesitealreadyembodies,it’sdesigntakesit’srootsinclientneeds.Soundslikeagreatplacetostart,butjustwhatisitthatmakesthewheelsofthisprojectspin?

HautalaiswhatTessaandPaulcalla“darkgreenhome.”It’sdescribedbyTessaas,“notbleedingedge,butdefinitelycuttingedge.”Hautala,likeallotherprojectsundertakenbythisdynamicduois,inPaul’swords,“notaconglomerationofparts,butasystem.”Ahugepartofsustainabilityissoliddesign,whichisexactlywhatHautalaundertakeswithitssynthesisofsystems.

Whilebuildinggreenfromscratchisanenvironmentallysavvymove,remodelinganormalhometomeetgreenstandardscanalsosavethehomeownerstime,money,andcan

lessenhomeowner’simpactontheenvironment.Thisdesigner/builderteamisworkingonanother

projecttobereleasedthisJune—TheEmoryProject,aremodelprojectoccurringinOlympia.As

intheHautalaproject,thefirsttaskundertakenbythebuild-designteamwastoscopeoutthesite.The

EmoryProjectalreadyhadawell,asepticsystemandawell-equippedbuildingsite.

AsinTheHautalaProject,theEmoryshadsomespecificrequests.Theowners,“onlywantedtoadd

750squarefeet,wanteddynamiclightuse,solarhotwaterconnectorsandawaterventilation.”Hearingtheserequests,AppleHomesandTheArtisan’sGroupbegantheprocessthatwouldultimatelysaveimportantresourcesoftheSouthSoundandwouldlessenthehomeowner’sannualoutputofpollutionandenergywaste.

GreenBuildingECOFRiENDLY BUiLDiNG

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TheEmoryProjectmanagedtouseprinciplesandpracticessimilartothoseusedintheprocessofbuildinganewhouse.Forinstance,becauseTheEmoryProjectwasaremodel,thebuilderscouldn’tjustinstalltheSIPsystemimplementedintheHautalaProject.Instead,AppleHomescoatedthebuildingwithfoamandsprayedfoamontheinsidewallsofthehouse,effectivelycreatingaSIP-likesystemwhichwouldpreventthecoldairfromcominginside.

AppleHomesalsodismantledanexistinggarageandincorporatedleftoverwoodfromthedemolitionintheremodel.

LeftoversheathingandinsulationwasdistributedfromthesiteandpostedonCraigslist.Next,thosewithinterestedin

theextrasheathingandothermaterialscametopickthemupfromtheconstructionsite.Nothingfromthesitewas

thrownaway,everythingwasreallocatedtoadifferentuse,meaningthattheprojectputoutlesswastecollectivelythan

non-greenremodelingexpedentures.Thehomealsousessolarhotwatercollectors,radiantfloor

heatingwithgeothermalsheatglassonthesouthernexposurewhichbringsinheatfromtheoutsidetoheatthehome.There

islessmoneyspentonheatingbillsandthatthere’slessenergypollutionemittedfromTheEmoryProjectthananon-green

home.Bothprojectsarearesultofacollaborativeeffortbetween

designersandbuilders,makingthemasuccess.Adaptable,willingworkersandhomeownerswhoarereadytomaketheleaptowardsgreenlivingcanfindsolutionsinthegreenbuildinganddesignprocesses.Toooften,designisapproachedasaquickfixtoprocuringaroofabovetheheadsoffuturehomeowners.ProjectslikeHautalaandEmoryillustratetheholisticthinkingthatcaneffectivelyeliminateexcesscostsforhomeownersandlessentheburdenshoulderedbyourbeautifulecosystems.


GL


Betweentwoquietdead-endstreetsborderingawoodedravinejustsixblocksfromtheWestsideOlympiaFoodCooparethreeacresofland.Stormwatertanks,sewer,

waterandpowerlineshavebeenburied.ThisisalongtimedreamcomingtrueforagroupofcommittedpeoplewhohaveputanenormousamountoftimeandenergyintothedesignandplanningofWoodardLaneCohousing.ThiswillbeOlympia’sfirstcohousingcommunitytoreachcompletion.

TheideaofcohousingbeganinDenmarkandwasbroughttotheUSintheearly1980s.Manysuchcommunitiesarepoppinguparoundthecountryaspeoplelookforwaystolivemorelightlyontheearthandincloserconnectionwithothers.Therearenowatleast18cohousingcommunitiesinthestateofWashington.

Cohousingisatypeofcollaborativehousinginwhichresidentsactivelyandconsciouslyparticipateinthedesignandoperationoftheirownneighborhoods.Thephysicaldesignencouragesbothsocialcontactandindividualspace.Privatehomescontainallthefeaturesofconventionalhomes,butresidentsalsohaveaccesstoextensivecommonfacilitiessuchasopenspace,courtyards,gardens,aplaystructureandacommonhouse.

Someofthebenefitsoflivingthiswayarethemanyopportunitiesforsocialinteractions,sharedmealsseveraltimesaweek,lotsofplaymatesforkidsandsupportforparents.Certain

is coming to Olympia

By CJ Russo

Cohousing

360-539-50574444Lacey Blvd. SE Suite GLacey, WA 98503

cabinetsbytrivonna.com

What does green mean to you?

To DeWils it means taking conscious steps to minimize our overall foot print and protect the environment – not because it’s the trendy choice, but because it is the right thing to do.

We believe in: Sustainably harvested woods, low VOC fi nishes,reduced waste, increased recycling.

To fi nd out more call


thingslikeashopandtools,lawnmower,andasaunacanbeshared.Someonewillwatchyourkidswhenneeded,takecareofyourpetswhenyou’reaway,andyouarelikelytoencounterasmilingfaceonadaythatyoumightreallyappreciateit.

The4-plexeswillbeclusteredaroundacentralcommonareaofgreenspace.Wewillhavealargecommonhousewithacommunitykitchenanddiningarea,aplayareaforchildren,alaundryroom,andaguestroom.Thegroundswillbetakencareofbyeveryone,andalargevegetablegardenandchickenswillbesharedprojects.

Atthispoint,thememberfamiliesofWoodardLaneCohousingholdweeklymeetingstodeveloppoliciesanddesignbuildings.Decisionsaremadeinanon-hierarchicalmanner,usuallybyconsensus.OneofourmembersisacertifiedNvCtrainer,andweareconsciousaboutusingthatmodelinourinteractions.(NvCisthemethodtaughtbyMarshallRosenburg,sometimescalledCompassionateCommunication.)

Ourhomeswillbeasgreenandaffordableaspossible,withanemphasisonprovidingoptimalnaturallightandconnectionwithnature.Wewillhavesolarpanelsforhotwater,radiantfloorheating,asmall

footprintandefficientdesigninordertominimizeenergycosts.Ourbuilder,ScottBergford,isBuiltGreen

certifiedandwillbeusingnontoxicmaterialswheneverpossible.Hejustreceivedthe

EnergyvalueHousingAwardof“BuilderoftheYear”.

Bythetimethisgoestoprintwewillhopefullyhavepouredthe

foundationsforthethreebuildingsofPhaseOne.Thesewillbethree4-plexes

whichwillhouseelevenfamilies,leavingoneunitforthetemporarycommonhouse.Whenwehaveenoughinterestedfamilies,wewillbeginPhaseTwo.Atcompletiontherewillbeatotalof19unitsplusthelargecommon

house.Althoughourcurrent9householdsspanfourgenerationsandincludetwofamilieswithsmallchildren,weareparticularlyseekingmorefamilieswithchildren.Formoreinformationortogetinvolved,pleasevisitwww.woodardlanecoho.orgorcallCJRussoat360-866-4557.

GreenBuildingWOODARD LANE

Cohousing GL

Barbara WhitlowLoan OfficerYelm Highway

Cherie CloudBr.Mgr/Loan Off.

Belfair

Tami HaleBr.Mgr/Loan Off.

Hawks Prairie

Kayce LambertLoan OfficerDowntown

Chad YerringtonLoan OfficerDowntown

Michelle LordBr.Mgr/Loan Off.

Lacey


Imaginewakingupeachmorningknowingthattheshoweryoutake,thelaundryyoudry,thecoffeeandtoastyoumakearealldonewithcleanpowerproducedatyourhome.Andimagine

payingmuchlesseachmonthforyourpowerbill,gettingacheckinthemailforyourinvestment,increasedequityinyourhomeandasignificantbreakfromtheIRSonyourtaxes.

Ifyouwanttostart‘greening’yourownhomeandwonderwheretoputyourenergy,lookatthesunforthegreatestimpacttomitigateglobalwarmingandsaveyoumoney.AccordingtotheEPA,buildingsintheUSaccountfor68%oftotalelectricityconsumptionand38%ofthecarbondioxideemissions.

Belowareafewideasthatcanmakeaglobalimpactandhelpyourbottomline.

SolarPvPanels

Whynotconvertanabundant,clean,inexhaustiblesourceofenergyintopower?ThePv(photovoltaic)systemturnslightintoelectricityorphotonsintovoltage.AndthereareplentyofthosephotonspassingthroughtheabundantgreycloudsofthePacificNorthwest.Additionally,whenyouinvestinsolar,youcandeduct30%ofthecostofthesolarenergysystemfromyourfederaltaxes.Andnewfor2009,thereisnolimittohowmuchyoucandeduct.Whatotherinvestmentearnsyoua30%returninitsfirstyear?

Consultationwithasolarexpertwillalsopayforitself.KirkHaffnerofSouthSoundSolarinOlympiaexplains:“Wemeasureyourbuildingsiteforsolarpotential.Weaccuratelycalculatehowwellasolarsystemwillperformatthislocation.Weinspectyourhometoensuretheroof,framing,electrical,plumbing,etc.aresatisfactory.Wereviewthehomedesignandlayouttooptimizetheroutefromthesolartothehomesystems.”Kirkadds,“Eventhoughmanyofmycustomerstalkaboutcosts,payback,cleanenergyandsustainablecommunities,theyoftenpointtotherealreasonwhytheyaremakingthedecisiontoinstallsolar−theirchildrenandgrandchildren.”Inthenearfuture,allofuscanbegeneratingenergyfromourrooftops.

Think Clean, Abundant, Life

Alternative

EnErgy

By Elizabeth Diane



SolarHotWaterSystemsForalmosteveryoneintheUS,theenergytoheatwaterfor

householduseistypically20to40%ofourtotalpowerbill.Itbecomesclearwhenyouthinkaboutshowers,baths,dishwashersandlaundrycomingfromatankthatiscontinuallyfueledtokeepahottemperature.Usingtheenergyofthesun,youcangreatlyreducetheamountofelectricityornaturalgasittakestoheatupthatcoldwaterandkeepitwarmforyournextshower.Onaverage,youcanexpectsolarhotwatertoprovide60to70%ofyourannualhotwaterneeds,accordingtoKirkHaffner.Atanklesshotwaterheaterretrofittedtoreplaceorsupplementyourhotwaterheaterisanadditionalwaytoreduceenergyusage.

DaylightingDaylightingisthetermusedbyarchitectsforbringingtheright

amountofdaylightintoaninteriorspaceinordertoenhancethequalityoflightandreduceelectricity.Consultationwithadesignerorarchitectisawiseapproachtomaximizeyouroptions.AccordingtoElizabethDianeofLucid9Design,theplacementofwindowsincombinationwithappropriatelysizedoverhangs,landscapingtreesandsunshadescaneliminatetheneedforair-conditioninginthenorthwest,whileallowingnaturallighttobrightenyourrooms,witheliminatestheneedforlightingduringthedaylighthours.AsimpleretrofitforexistinghomesandroomswithoutwindowsaretubulardaylightingdevicessuchasaSolatube.Theseroof-to-ceilingtubescapturethesun’slightanddirectsitintotheroom,castingafullspectrumlighttoenhanceyourinteriorenvironment.

PassiveSolarDesign

Makingacomebackfromthe70swithamainstreamapproachishomedesignthatallowsthesuntokeepyourhousewarmerinthewinterandcoolerinthesummer.Passivesolardesignallowsthesuntoheataninteriorthermalmass,suchastileorconcrete,capturingtheheatandradiatingitintothehouseatnightastemperaturesdrop.Carefulanalysisismadetoshadethehomefromhotsummersunandallowfornaturalcooling.Thiscanloweryourannualheatingandcoolingbillby20to40%.

MoretoConsider

Othersourcesofalternativeenergyforthehomeareontheriseandbecomingmoreaffordable.Geothermalisasystemthatusestheearth’sconstantambienttemperature(orinsomepartsofthecountry,tappingintoheatreservoirsbelowground)tokeepairatacomfortableandconsistenttemperature.Andinsomeareas,windisagreatwaytoproduceextrapower.Themostefficientdevicesuseelegantly-designedtoproducepowerevenwithajustalittlewind.

Animportantaspectofanyalternativeenergysystemislookingattheefficiencyoftheentiresystem.Ifyouhavealeakyhousefrompoorordeterioratedinsulation,substantialenergysavingsaremadebyinstallinggoodinsulation.Therearelocalbusinessesthatuseinfraredphotographytodeterminewhereyourhomeislosingheat.Itmakesthemostsensetoaddressaheat-leakyhomeasafirst

steptoreducepowerconsumption.Blow-inenvironmentallyfriendlyinsulationisaninexpensivewaytofillthegaps.

Nowimaginesippingacupofteaheatedbythesunandhearingonthemorningnewsthatyouandpeoplelikeyouhavemadeadifferenceinreducingpollutantsandglobalwarming.Yourchoicesupportsmoreinnovationinrenewableenergysothatthenormisinexpensive,abundant,cleanenergyforeveryoneandmosthomesareproducingatleastasmuchormorepowerthantheyconsume,resultinginnet-zeroenergyhomes.Itwouldbeabeautifulnewday. GL


Elizabeth DianeResidential Green Building DesignerLucid 9 Design, inc.“Design Beyond Measure”[email protected]

With contribution from Kirk Haffner, South Sound Solar, www.southsoundsolar.com, 360-951-786

Call for a free consultation

Visit us online at www.southsoundsolar.com

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GreenBuildingSOLAR POWER

Solarpowerisprobablythecleanest,mostviableformofrenewableenergyanditcanbeusedindifferentwaystohelppoweryourhouse.Manygardensnowusesolarlightsorsolar

gardenwaterfeatures.Theavailabilityandwideuseofsolarpoweringardensshowsexactlyhowversatileitisasasourceofenergy.SohowdoessolarworkintheSouthSound?WeaskedBradonthebasicsofusingsolarenergyinourcommunity.

GL:DowegetenoughsunintheSouthSoundforsolarenergy?BB:Onaverage,theSouthSoundgets3.7sunhoursperday.Of

coursethatvariesfromseasontoseason.Forexample,inthesummertimethatnumberjumpsto4.6,butinthewinteritdropsto1.5.

GL:Whatdoesthatmeantotheaveragehomeowner?BB:Ithelpstolookatglobalsunhours.Forexample,thesunniest

placeonearthgetsapproximately8.0sunhoursaday.Denvergets5.5.Soifyoulookatouraveragenumber,wearen’tdoingtoobadly.Ofcourse,inthewintermonths,wewouldhavetorelymoreonthepowergrid.

GL:Howdoesasolarsystemworkforahomeowner?BB:InthestateofWashington,citizensarepaidtocreatesolar

energy.Itdoesn’tmatterhowmuchtheyuse.Wehaveaseparatesolarmeterthatreadstheamountofsolarenergythesystemisproducing.

GL:Howlongdoesittakeforsystemtopayforitself?BB:Onaverage,ittakes12-15yearsforahomeownertopayfora

system.Ifyouarebusiness,ittakesabout4years.Asabusiness,youcandepreciatetheequipmentandtherearetaxadvantages.Panels

comewitha25yearwarranty.Oncethesystemispaidfor,yougetfreeelectricity.ThatisassumingThatisassumingtheelectricitypricesstaythesame.Ifratesincrease,payofftimewouldbeshortened.

GL:Whattypesofpeoplearerequestingsolarsystems?BB:Therearethe50+customersthatarethesametypesofpeople

whoarebuyinghybridcards.Theyhavemoneyandareconcernedwiththeenvironment.Theyaredoingitforpersonalandpoliticalreasonsandwanttosavetheenvironment.

Thesecondgroupispeoplewhoareinterestedinbeingindependentandlivingoffthegrid.Manyliveinisolatedplacesandtheydon’thavealotofmoney.Theystartsmallandbuildtheirsystems.Theystorethepowerinbatteriesanduseitoutofthebatteriesatnight.

Businessesarealsostartingtoinstallsolarpanels.Googleisagoodexample.Theyhavesolarpanelsontheirroofandparkinglotandhavebeensuccessfulinincorporatingitintothecorporateenvironment.

GL:WhatistheaverageelectricityusageforanAmericanhousehold?

BB:Theaveragehouseholdusesbetween12,000kilowatt-hoursto20,000kilowatt-hoursperyear.Incomparison,Germanyhouseholdsuseanaverageof5,000kilowatt-hoursperyear,morethanhalftheaverageAmerican.Itwouldtakealotofpanelstogeneratethatmuchpower.Theimportantthingaboutsolaristhatyoulearntoconserveandknowthatyouareproducingaportionofyourelectricity.

GL:Whatissomeadviceyoucangiveourreaders?BB:Whenitcomestohouses,smallerissometimesbetter.The

largerthehouse,themoreenergyyouneedtosupportit.Andmostimportantly,understandyourenergyuse.Savingenergyisalotcheaperthancreatingpower.Afewsuggestions:

•Turnoffthelightsoffduringtheday. •Usesolartubesorskylightstobringinmorelightindark

areasofyourhouse. •Turnoffelectricalitemsthatyouarenotusing. •Checkyourinsulationandincreaseifnecessary. •Ifyouhaven’talready,installdoublepanewindows. •Useenergyefficientfurnacesandappliances.

Thinksmallandenergyefficiency.

The Use of

solar Powerin the South SoundAn interview with Brad Burkhartzmeyer

of Sun’s Eye Power.

For more about Sun’s Eye Power, please visit theirwebsite at www.sunseyepower.com.

4009 Nor th 19th Street • Tacoma, WA 98406253.414.4099 • www.sunseyepower.com

BRAD BURKHARTZMEYER

The Benefits of Solar Energy• Generate Your Own Power• Add Value To Your Home• Our Systems Qualify Toward Built Green Certification• Advantageous State & Federal Financial Incentives Make It Affordable For Your Lifestyle• Licensed, Experienced Installers

Bring Solar HomeA Powerful Solution For Your Future

Sun’s Eye Power:The Local Source For All Your

Solar Projects

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actor

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22BK


IntercityTransitbusesmaybeblueandsilver,butthey’reallgreenatheart.Ifyou’vewonderedhowyoucangetonboardwiththegreenmovement,ridingthebus(or

supportingpublictransportationinotherways)canbeabigstepintherightdirection.

IntercityTransittakestheplaceofhundredsofvehiclesthatwouldotherwisebeontheroadanygivenday,andthat’sbasedonstatisticsgatheredbeforethecrazyspikeingaspriceshappened.Ridershiphassincegoneupby74percentsince2002.Whenpeopleleavetheirpersonalvehiclesathomeandsharetheride,they’recontributingtocleanerairandwater.They’rereducingstressandsettingagreatexampleforotherstofollow.

IntercityTransitworkshardtosetanexampletoo.Theirbusesrunonultra-low-sulfurbiodiesel,reducingparticulatesby20percent,carbonmonoxideemissionsby13percent,andtotalhydrocarbonemissionsbymorethan10percent.Theyrecyclewaterusedtocleanthevehicles,andtheyselectenvironmentallyfriendlyproductswheneverthey’reavailable.IntercityTransitreusesand/orrecyclesofficematerials,aswellasmaterialsusedinmaintainingthebuses.Theyevenrecyclethevanpoolvansthemselveswhentheirservicelifecomesto

anend.Thevansaredonatedorloanedtolocalcommunityserviceorganizationstotransportvolunteersandthepeopletheyserve.

Thebiggestsecretofallaboutridingtransitisit’snotasacrifice.IntercityTransitcanhookyouupwithagreatridetoanywhereyouneedtogolocallyandasfarnorthasTacoma.Theyofferbusserviceon22fixedroutesaroundurbanThurstonCounty,withconvenientconnectionstoPierceTransit,SoundTransit,GraysHarborTransitandMasonTransit.Ifridingthebusdoesn’tworkforyou,butyoustillwanttosharetheride,IntercityTransitcanconnectyouwithotherswhowanttosharetherideeitherinavanoracar.Eitherway,you’restilldoingyourpart.Ifyouhaveadisabilitythatmakesitdifficultforyoutoparticipate,IntercityTransitoffersaqualified-riderprogramcalledDial-A-Lift,whichwillpickyouupatyourdooranddeliveryoutoyourdestination.There’sevenaprogramcalledvillagevansthathelpsmeettheneedsoflow-incomeindividualsseekingworkorenrolledinanestablishedworkertrainingprogram.

Evenifyoujustcan’tincorporatetransitintoyourlife,youcanstillsupportitinyourcommunitybyencouragingyouremployertooffertransitpassestoemployees,invitinga

Photos courtesy of Intercity Transit

Green In A

ctionAll Aboard theBig green

Bus


speakerfromIntercityTransittogiveatalkatyourclubororganization,andattendingthepublicmeetingsIntercityTransithoststoweighinonthepolicydecisionsnecessarytohelptransitmeetthepublic’sneeds.

Today,agrowingnumberofpeopleinThurstonCountychoosetoleavetheirvehiclesathomeandsharetheride.Someridethebus,someparticipateinvanpools,whileothersjoincarpools.Somehaveevenfiguredoutawaytoincorporateexerciseintotheircommutebyridingtheirbikespartoftherouteandtakingtransittherestoftheway.Everybusisequippedwithanonboardbikerack,makingthetripeasyandconvenient.

YoucanvisittheIntercityTransitwebsitetolearnmoreabouthowpublictransportationismakingadifferenceforourlocalenvironment.visitHYPERLINK“http://www.intercitytransit.com”www.intercitytransit.comandclickon“AboutIntercityTransit”underthe“News&Info”tab.Thereyou’llfindalinktoawealthofinformation,includingIntercityTransit’suseofalternativefuels,recycling,reducingemissionsandearth-friendlyinitiatives.Whileyou’recheckingoutthewebsite,besuretoclickonthe“TravelOptions”tabonthestartpagetolearnhoweasysharingtheridecanbe.

BiCyCLESAre a Green Mode of Transportation

Whatcontinuestobeoneofthegreenestmodesoftransportbesideswalking?Ridingabicycle.Traditionalbicyclesremainthegreenestsolutionforpersonalmobility.Bicyclesburnnofossilfuels,ifconstructedwellcanlastforyears,requirelittlemaintenance,andareeasyforanyonetooperate.

InEurope,somecitieshaveembracedbicycletransportationandencouragethepublictohoponthistwo-wheeledwayofgettingaround.Hollandhasa“pedal-and-park”bikesharingsystemforurbancommuters.Parisgovernmenthaspurchasedathousandbicyclesforfreeurbancommuting.Bikesareparkedinpopularspotscity-widesothepubliccaneasilysharethevehicles.

InourcommunitiesandtownsintheSouthSound,youcanfindclearerandsaferbicyclepaths.Particularlyinurbanareas,therearealsodesignatedracksonwhichtoparkbikeswhennotinuse.Publictransportationalsosupportsbikes.Youcansharetheride!

Bicyclescanbeaverygood,healthywayofgettingaroundbutonlyifsafetymeasuresaretaken.Cyclistswhoridesober,withtheflowoftraffic,wearinghelmetsandusinglightsatnightare99.999percentmorelikelytosurvivetheirrides,accordingtoresearchbyJohnsHopkins.

Manybicycleridersarenotentirelyfamiliarwiththelawsofbikeriding,whichcouldputthemindanger.Itpaystovisityourdepartmentofmotorvehiclesortransportationdepartmenttogetacopyofthelawsgoverningbicycles.Althoughlawsvaryfromplacetoplace,herearesomegeneralrulesthatcankeepyousafe.ßAlwaysridewearingahelmetßAheadlightisencouragedtomakeyoumorevisibleindimlightßDonot“ride”anotherpersononyourbicycleifitisasingle-riderbike.ßRideonlyinthestreet,notonthesidewalkßFollowthesamerulesoftheroadthatcarswouldobey,including

signalingandstoppingattrafficsignals

GreenInActionTRANSPORTATiON

GL


By Corinna Radtke and Galen Hammel

GreenInActionRECYCLiNG

RecyclingIfyoupickedupthismagazineyouprobablyexpectedtoreadaboutthe

latestandgreatestingreentechnologies,buthereisoursurpriseforyou…recycling!Itisthefoundationofallenvironmentallyconsciousbehaviorand

itsbeginningscanbefoundintheearly20thcenturyinEurope.In1921GreatBritainstartedtorecyclepaperandsoonafter,thetwoWorldWarsintensifiedeffortsacrosstheworldtorecyclematerialsthathadbecomesparse.

AfterWorldWarII,withthegrowingeconomy,bolsteredbythebirthofbabyboomers,consumerism,convenientpackagingandthemassproductionofplasticgoodsenteredourdailylives.Butwiththesecamemassiveamountsoftrash.Slowly,peoplerealizedthatyoucouldnotjust“tossandforget”.Thecapacitiesoflandfillsandwastemanagementfacilitieswereandstillarefinite.

Inthelate1960sandthroughoutthe1970s,thelongtermeffectofdwindlingnaturalresourcesandincreasingpollutionbecameacauseforconcern.Duringthattimemoreandmorelandfillswereclosed,somebecauseofstricterenvironmentalregulationsandothersbecausetheyweresimplyfull.

Asareactiontothesedevelopmentsthepublicawarenessroseandtherecyclingmovementexperiencedamajorgrowthspurt.Inthebeginning,itwasmostlyagrassroots,volunteerbasis.Communityorganizations,suchastheboyscouts,held“recyclingfundraisers”encouragingneighborhoodstodonatetheirrecyclablesandbecomemoreenvironmentallyaware.Nowadaysrecyclingoptionsareavailablethroughoutthecountryandalthoughapproximately80%ofourtrashisrecyclable,Americansonlyrecycleabout26%oftheirgarbage,butwhatdoesthatmean?

Some astonishing facts:

TheaverageAmericanuses650poundsofpapereachyear.Recyclingthese650poundsofpaperwouldsavealmost6treesperpersoneachyear,multiplyingthatby300millionAmericans,makesapproximately1.8billionpossibletreessavedayear.

Recyclingoneton(about2,000pounds)ofpapercouldsave17trees,enoughoiltoruntheaveragecarfor1,260miles(twobarrels),enoughpowerfortheaveragehomeforsixmonths(4,100kilowatts),3.2cubicyardsoflandfillspaceand60poundsofpollution.

TheGreatPacificGarbagePatch,aheapofmostlyplastictrash,weighing3.5tonsandovertwicethesizeofTexas,hasbeenamassingfor40yearsinthePacificOceanbetweenSanFranciscoandHawaii.

RecyclingonealuminumcansavesenoughenergytorunaTvforthreehours.Inspiteofthis,Americansthrowawayenoughaluminumtorebuildourentirecommercialfleetofairplaneseverythreemonths.


GreenInActionRECYCLiNG

Feel like recycling yet?

Mostofuscanprobablystillrememberthedebatesaboutenergyindependenceduringthepresidentialcampaign.Theabovefactsstateonethingveryclearly;therearehugeenergyreserveswithinourdailylivesintheUnitedStatesandrecyclingisanefficientwaytotapintothem.

So what can each and every one of us do?

Wecouldlearnfromourneighbors,oneofthemismyhomecountryGermany,whichranksinthetoptenofthemostenergyefficientcountriesintheworld.WhenIgotothesupermarketathomeIbringmyownbags,likeliterallyeveryotherGerman.WearesousedtotheconceptofreusingourshoppingbagsthatI’mstillsurprisedwhenafriendlycashierasksmeifIwantpaperorplastic.InGermany,youactuallygetsomeofyourmoneybackwhenyoubringemptybottlesbacktothestore,wheretheyarecollectedbyanautomatedmachineandlaterrecycledandmostGermansrecycleeverybottle.Wehaveawell-developedpublictransportationsystem,eveninruralareasinordertoreducetrafficandoilconsumption.Inmyfamily,everybodyrecycles,infactIdon’tknowanybodywhodoesn’trecycle.

WhenmyAmericanfinancewasinhighschool,hisscienceteacher

toldhimhowbadoldbatteriesarefortheenvironment.Whentheyendupinlandfillstheyspillmetals,acidsandothercompoundsthat,ifreleased,contaminatetheecosystem.Butwheneverhehadanoldbattery,hedidn’tknowwhattodowithit,sowithafeelingofguiltheslippeditintothenormaltrash.InGermany,wehavecollectionboxesforusedbatteriesinmostsupermarketssoyoucanjustdisposeofthemwhileyou’reshopping.Unfortunately,therearemanysuchthings,likeoldcomputers,carparts,videotapes,CD’s,Styrofoamandsoonthatmanypeopledonotrealizearedangeroustrash.

So what else do we need to know about recycling before we can go out and do it ourselves?

Itisimportanttounderstandhowtherecyclingprocessworks.Itbeginswiththepurchaseofrecycledorrecyclableproducts.Aftertheproductsareused,theyarecollectedforrecycling,sortedbyhandormachine,shipped,andfinallyreprocessedintonewproductsormaterials.Thenewproductsarethenavailabletobepurchasedandcancontinuethecycle.Otherstrategiestoreducetrasharetobuyinbulk,avoidoverpackagedproducts,buyconcentratedproductsandrefillablecontainers.Currently,intheUnitedStatesabout26percentofthewastegeneratedisrecycledorcomposted,8percentisburnedatincineratorsandtheremaining66percentisdisposedofinlandfills.

Sonowthatyouknowsomemoreaboutrecycling,howitisdoneandwhyitisoneofthemostimportantstrategiestoachievegreaterenergyefficiencyinourfuture,wehopethatourarticleinspiredyoutospreadthewordandmakeithappen.And don’t forget, after you read this magazine, pass it on or recycle it!

if this article interested you here you can find more information: How to deal with different hazardous waste: www.obviously.com/recycle/guides/hard General recycling information: www.earth911.com How to recycle Batteries: www.rbrc.org or call 800/822-8837 for a battery drop-off location near you Local information: www.ci.olympia.wa.us/cityutilities/garbage www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm

GL

Built Green® is a program to encourage theconstruction of homes that:• Provide greater energy efficiency and reduce pollution• Provide healthier indoor air• Reduce water usage• Preserve natural resources• Improve durability and reduce maintenance

Built Green® is a program of Olympia Master Builders

www.builtgreenomb.org 360-754-0912 or 800-456-6473

The graph shows the number of homes certified as Built Green® since

the program’s 2005 inception.

THINK GREEN


Americansspendmillionsofdollarsayearonhouseholdcleaningproductsthatweassumearesafe.However,arecentstudybytheEnvironmental

ProtectionAgency(EPA)revealedthat“theairoutsidemaybesafertobreathethantheairinsidethehome.”Accordingtothestudy,peoplespendanaverageof90percentoftheirtimeinsideandindoorairqualityisanimportantconcern.

Inthepast,homeswereventilatedwithopenwindowsthathadleakyseals.Buildersnowmakehomes“tighter”andopenwindowshavebeenreplacedwithcentralairconditioning,trappingallergens,chemicalsandstagnantairinourhomes.Now,morethanever,itisimportanttoknowwhatchemicalsyouareintroducingintoyourhomeenvironment.

Almostallcommonhouseholdcleanerscontainsometoxicingredients;manycontaincarcinogensorsuspectedcarcinogens.Whileprolongedexposureandoccupationaluseincreaserisks,even“normal”householdusecancauselastinghealthproblems.

Sowhat’sthebetterdecisionwhenitcomestimetoclean?Manyagree—replacetoxicproductswithsafernontoxicalternatives.Withthewidevarietyofcleaningproductsandequipmentavailable,consumerswhowanttoprotecttheenvironmentareoftenfacedwithnumerouschoices,butwithlittleclarityonwhatthelabelsanddescriptionsmean–andoftenatarelativelyhighercost.These“greener”productscanbefoundinhealthfoodstores,somesupermarketsorthroughcatalogs.MerryMaids,theleadingproviderofhouseholdcleaningservices,suggestsmakingyourowncleanserswithcommonhouseholditems.

Oneoftheeasieststepstotakeistocleanwithoutbleachorchlorine.Householdcleanersthatcontainbleachcanbereplacedwithnontoxicalternativessuchasbakingsoda,borax,soapandevenvinegar.Anaddedbonusisthatthesenaturalproductsarecheaper,too.Also,don’tusepaperproductsthatarebleachedwhitewithchlorineasthey’vebeenshowntoincreasetheriskofcancer.Insteadchoosetissue,toiletpaperandevenofficepaperthatislabeled“processedchlorinefree”(PCF).

Green Cleaning TipsBy Elizabeth Diane

Easy recipes for safer household cleansersßForagoodallpurposecleaner,

mix1/2cupvinegarand1/4cupbakingsodainto1/2gallon(2liters)ofwater.Storeandkeep.Useforremovalofwaterdepositstainsonshowerstallpanels,bathroomchromefixtures,windows,bathroommirrors,etc.ßScourcopperandbrasswith

1/2cupvinegarmixedwithonetablespoonofsalt.ßDeodorizegarbagecansor

scrubvinylfloorswithfull-strengthpineoil.ßUsebakingsodainplaceofyour

abrasivebathandkitchencleaner.Italsoremovesstainsandodorsfromrefrigeratorsandcoffeepots.ßFreshenthecarpetwith1/2

cupcrushedlavenderflowersand1cupbakingsoda.vacuumafter

30minutes.Trythismixtureasadeodorizerfordiaperpailsandkittylitter.ßScrubyourtoiletbowlwitha

non-toxiccombinationofonecupboraxand1/2cupwhitevinegar.Youcanalsoaddonecupofwhitevinegartotherinsecompartmentofyourautomaticdishwasherforaspotlessrinse.ßRubasliceoflemonacross

achoppingblocktodisinfectthesurface.

Theseideasarenotonlygoodfortheenvironment,butalsogoodforyourpocket.Wheneveryoudecidetothrowawaythoselessenvironmentally-friendlycleansers,besuretodisposeofthecontentssafelyandreuseorrecyclecontainers.

GreenInActionGREEN CLEANiNG

Elizabeth DianeResidential Green Building DesignerLucid 9 Design, inc.“Design Beyond Measure”[email protected]


TiP #2 Reduce Air Pollution with a Rake? Callmeoldfashioned,butIstillusearaketoremoveleaves.Arake

issignificantlycheaperthanaleafblowerandhaszeroimpactontheenvironment.Inasinglehour,agas-poweredleafblowerwillproducethesameemissionsasacarthattravels350miles.Goodreasontostartusingarakeagain.

GreenInActionECOFRiENDLY LANDSCAPES

Landscapes

TiP #3 Conserve Water – Drip Irrigation Therearemanywaystoconservewaterinyourlandscapeand

installingadripirrigationsystemisoneofthemostimportant.Dripirrigationdeliverswaterdirectlytoyourplantswithminimalwasteandisconsideredtobe90%efficient.Withatraditionalabove-groundirrigationsystem,only50%to70%ofthewaterappliedactuallyreachestherootsoftheplants.Withthismuchwaste,weareliterallythrowingmoneyaway.Overtime,thedripirrigationsystemwillmorethanpayforitselfbyreducingyourmonthlywaterbill.

TiP #1 Small Engines – Big Problems Whilegas-poweredmowersareatime-savingdevice,there

areenergyefficientalternativesthatdonotpollute.Considerreplacingyourgas-poweredequipmentwithreliable,rechargeableelectricequipment.Electricequipmentnotonlypromotesenergyconservation,butalsopromotescleanair.Thesmallgas-poweredenginesinourmowers,leafblowersandweedwhackersareconsideredamajorsourceofairpollutionbytheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA).

Thereareotheradvantagestoelectricequipment–theyaresignificantlyquieterthantheirgas-poweredcounterparts–asmuchas50%quieter.Myelectricmowersoundsmorelikeavacuumcleanerthanalawnmower.Electricequipmentiseasytostart-nomorehuffing,puffingandcursingasyoustruggletostartyourgas-poweredequipment.Startingmyelectricmowerisalmostaseasyasflippingonalightswitch.Anelectricmoweralsoweighsmuchlessthanagas-poweredmowerandthereforemucheasiertouse.

By Mary Jo Buza

IdeasforGreenLivingbeginwithenergyconservation,butithaspotentialtogowaybeyondthat.Theideasforgreenlivingoreco-friendlylandscapesthatIexplorehereextendtoissuesof

environmentalpollutionpreventionandwaterconservation.Ifweapplygreenlivingconceptstoourlandscapes,itwillimprovesustainability.

Ecofriendly

Forexample,afewstrategicallyplantedtreescanhelptokeepabuildingcoolinthesummerandreduceenergyneededforairconditioning.Ideallya‘green’landscapeshouldhavelittleornonegativeimpactsonourenvironment.Incorporatingjustafewofeco-friendlylandscapeideaswillreducetheconsumptionofenergy,conservewater,reduceenvironmentalpollution–andsavemoney.


TiP #5 Use an Automatic Timer Forthoseinterestedinsmallerstepstowaterconservation,

consideraddingautomatictimers.Automatictimers,foundinmosthomeimprovementstores,controlthetimeyouwater,andthishelpsyouconserve.Theseeasy-to-installtimersareattachedbetweenyourfaucetandyourhoseandnoelectrichook-upisrequired.Haveyoueversetoutyourlawnsprinklerandbecomebusydoingotherthingsyouforgotaboutyoursprinklerandoverwatered?Ihave.Thissimplelow-costgadgetwilleliminateoverwatering.

TiP #6 Plant Trees to Conserve Energy and Reduce Air Pollution

Treesprovideimportanthabitatforbirdsandotherwildlife.Butmanypeopledonotknowtheimportantroletreeshaveinreducingairpollution.Treesactlikethelungsofourplanet;theybreatheincarbondioxideandremoveitfromtheatmosphereandreleaseoxygen.Carbondioxideisoneofthemajorpollutantsthatcontributetoglobalwarming.

Plantingdeciduoustreeswillhelpyousaveenergy,too.Tomaximizethebenefitsoftrees,planttalldeciduoustreesonthesouthandwestfacingsidesofyourhouse.

Thiswillhelpshadeyourhomeduringthehotsummermonthsandreduceairconditioningcosts.

TiP #7 Recycle Your Plastic Containers Mostnurserieswillrecycleandreuseplasticcontainersthatare

twogallonsorlarger.Beforeyoupurchaseplants,askthenurseryifyoucanreturnthepotstoberecycledorreused.LastyearIfoundoutoneofmyfavoritenurseriesrecyclesbothonegallonandfourinchcontainersaswell.IamsuregladIasked.

courtyard retreats distinctive entriespatios retaining walls water features

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GreenInActionECOFRiENDLY LANDSCAPES

Author Mary Jo Buza, is a landscape designer and has over 20 years experience designing and teaching gardening in the South Sound region. For more information on a custom landscape design or consultation, call 923-1733. Or check out her website: www.maryjobuza.com.

Landscapes

TiP #4 Reduce the Size of Your Lawn Lastyear,severalclientsrequestedalandscapedesignwith

littleornolawninthefrontyard.Theyrarelyusedthefrontyardforrecreationoranyactivity,excepttomowit.Fromadesignperspective,replacingpartofyourlawnwithtreesandshrubsisanopportunitytocreatediversityandbuildwildlifehabitat.TheaverageAmericanlawncostsabout$700tomaintaineachyear;thisincludesherbicide,fertilizer,waterandequipmentmaintenance.Replacingorreducingthesizeyourlawnwillsaveyoutimeandmoney.

We would like to hear from you. if you have an ecofriendly green landscaping tips, please let us know. We would like to share them with our readers.

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WormComposting

GreenInActionWORM COMPOSTiNG

Anicecupofgood,hotteacanrenewyourmindandbody.Centuriesagopeoplelearnedthattheflavorandbeneficialessenceofcertainplantscouldbedrawnfromtheirleaves,

barkandrootsbysteepingtheminwater,sometimesfortifyingthebrewwithabitofmilkandhoney.Weknowthatanipofsoothingmintteawillsettlethestomach,acupoffragrantchamomileteawillsoothefrayednervesandacupofvitaminrichalfalfateacanstimulateaweakappetite.Bysteepingtheseplantmaterialsinwater,weareabletoextractthenutrientsfromtheplants.

Likeherbalteasforourbodies,wormcastingsareoneofthebestandsafestcompleteorganicfertilizersforyourgarden.Wormscanalsobeamajorplayerinyouroverallcompostingplan.Youcanturnyourfoodscrapes,junkmail,personalpapersandbankstatementsintofoodforthelittlecritters.Thewormseatthepaperandfoodscrapesandturnitintodark,richandalmostodorlessmaterialfilledwithnutrientsandsoilmicroorganismcalled‘castings’.Youcanthensteepthecastingsinwatertocreatea‘tea’thatcanfeedtherootsofplants.Itcanalsobesprayeddirectlyonplantfoliage.

Soifyouarelookingforanorganicsolutiontogardenfertilizer,considerbrewingupanicecupofwormcastingteaforyourplantsandenjoyaherbalcupofteaforyourself.

For additional information, visitwww.sustainablesouthsound.com or visit ourlocal resource, Yelm Earthworm & CastingsFarm at www.yelmworms.com.

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Your organic gardenneeds organic soil and amendments,

earthworms, worm compost, casting teaand a little free helpful advice, too!

· Worm bins· Plant food· Veggie starts & seeds

Call 360.894.0707 for directions or visit YelmEarth.com


Composting

GreenInActionPRiSON GARDENS

In2003,DanPacholkebecametheSuperintendentoftheCedarCreekCorrectionsCenterinLittlerock,Washington.AsSuperintendent,Danhadavisiontoexpandtheprison,butwaterusagewastoohightoexpand.Insteadoffeelingdefeated,

Dandecidedtofindasolution.TheinfluenceofTheEvergreenStateCollegeandthesustainabilitycoursesthatweretaughtbyBobMcIntoshandNancyParkinfluencedhimtolearnmoreaboutthewaterusageatCedarCreek.

AsDanwaslearningmore,TheEvergreenStateCollegeProfessor,NaliniNadkarni,hadbeguntousetheCorrectionsCentertogrowflowers,harvestseedsandre-plantthem.Nalini’sinvolvementatCedarCreekhelpedtocreateapartnershipbetweentheDepartmentofCorrectionsandTheEvergreenStateCollege.ThispartnershiphelpedcreatetheSustainablePrisonsProject.Theirmissionisto,“reducethecostandenvironmentalimpactofprisonoperationsbytrainingprisonstaffandoffendersinscience,sustainabilityandskillsfortheemerginggreeneconomy.”

DanandNalinibegantothinkofwaysthattheycouldusewatermoreefficientlyandtheideaofanorganicfarmemerged.The3-acreorganicfarmwascreatedandthevegetablesproducedonthepropertyhelptooffsetfoodcostsandsupportsustainablelivingatthecenter.Danimplementedrainwaterreuseandcatchingsystemswithinthe

By Carrie Rethlefsen

PrisonGardening

ve

nt

S

15th- Slow Roller (Greatful Deadgrass)16th- Intrusions17th- Blackberry Bushes (Bluegrass)21st- vince Brown22nd- Southern Skies (Bluegrass)23rd- David Wayne (Folk Rock)24th- Sundowners (Country)28th- Def Lester29th- Jess & Jacob (Bluegrass)30th- tracey Hooker31st- Quatro (Jazz)

June 18th - Senior Day with entertainmentexplosion!

July 25th - animal awareness Day

oct 31st - Halloween

this is our first year for this and we will have all sorts of organizations dealing with animals here passing out information and some wonderful wild animals on the stage that have been rescued.

ente

Rta

Inm

ent

FoR

may

2009

All Bands play from 11a.m.-2p.m.


prisonandmadetheswitchtolowflushtoilets,reducedwaterforlaundryandstoppedwateringanyvegetationonthepropertythatcouldnotbenaturallysustainedoreaten.

TheorganicgardenprovidestherapeuticvaluetotheinmatesatCedarCreek.Gardeninghasacalmingeffectonpeople,andhasprovidedatherapeuticoutletfortheinmates.TheorganicgardenalsoopensupacuriosityandinteractionfromtheinmatesandDannoticedachangeintheconversationsthathappenwithintheprison.Byaddinghandsonprojectsfortheinmates,importantlifeskillsaredevelopedthathelpthemaftertheirrelease.Theselifeskillshelptheinmatesappreciatetheirnaturalsurroundingsandteachthemskillsthatcanbecarriedintoallaspectsoflife.Itchangeswhatishappeningintheprisonandtransformstheatmospherefromaplaceofconfinementtoanenvironmentthatsupportsrehabilitationandskillbuilding.

WhenDanrealizedthatbecomingasustainableprisonwasalsocuttingthecostofoperations,hebegantoexploreothermoneysavingsustainableprojects,suchascomposting.Soheasked,“Howcanwedosomethingwithoutbuyinganythingnew?”Inthethemeofsustainability,theydidnotspendanymoneyonthecompostingsystem.Insteadtheyusedoldecologyblocks,pickedaroofoffanoldbuildingandsetuptheircompositingsystem.ThecurrentcompostingsystematCedarCreektakesinseveralhundredpoundsofwasteeachday.

Inadditiontocomposting,herealizedthatiftheytookthecardboardthattheynormallyrecycledandinsteadmademoneyoffofit,thathewouldhaveawinningplan.Andhedidjustthat.Agarbage-sorting

centerontheprisonpropertywasborn.Danstates,“Allgarbageisnowhandsortedonavolunteerbasis.Handsortingdoestwothings:First,itmaximizeswhatyoucanrecycle,andsecond,youbecomemoreawareofwhatgoesintothedumpster.”

TheideasbegantogrowandsoonCedarCreekCorrectionalCenterbecameahavenofsustainabilityideasinaction.Theybeganwormcomposting,interiororganicgardens,beeharvestingandhoneymaking,andthroughout

theentireprocess,theycutdownonwater.“Waterusagewentdownfrom130gallonsto100gallonsperday,whichsavedover250,000gallonsofwaterduringthedrymonthsofsummer.Finally,wecouldsupportanexpansionoftheprison.Wehadbrokenafundamentalthreshold,”Danexplained.

WiththehelpoftheDepartmentofEcology,Danfoundoutthatsincetheyhadcutdowntheirwaterusagesosignificantly,thewatertheyputintothetreatmentplantalsowentdownconsiderably.Theyalsofoundthattheircompostingeffortstoimplementplatescrapingservicetocollectalloftheorganicwasteoftheplatesreducedthefoodparticlesgoingdownthedrainanddecreasedtheamountofbio-solidsgoingtothetreatmentplant.ThisdecreasemeantthatCedarCreekdidnotneedtoinvestanymoneytoincreaseitsinmatepopulation.CedarCreekCorrectionalCentersavedhundredstothousandsofdollarseachmonthbycomposting,recycling,andgrowingtheirownvegetablesandthe$1.4milliondollarwaterprojecttheyhadprojectedwentdownto$0becauseofthesustainabilityprograms.

Danbelievesthatcreatinglinksbetweentheinstitutionandcommunityisimportant.Theprisonprojectsarenotjustsomethingbehindafence;theycouldalsosharetheirsuccessstoryandhelpteachotherswhattheyhadlearned.Theystartedtoofferlectureseriessopeoplecanseewhatwashappening.Thisprovidedenvironmentaleducationtothepublic,employeesandinmates.

Fastforwardtotodayandtheprisonexpansionprojectisdone.ThelivingunitsarecompletedandareallequippedwithrainwaterflushtoiletsandurinalsandthebuildingisLEEDsilvercertified.ThePrisonSustainabilityProjectstartedwithasimpleinterestoftryingtoexpandaprisonanddeepdowninsideofthatwasenvironmentaleconomicstoreducecostsalongwithlesseningtheDepartmentofCorrectionsfootprintontheplanet.Danconcludes,“Youthinkofaprisonasbeingmorebehindthetimes,buttheworkwedolocallyiscuttingedge.” GL

GreenInActionPRiSON GARDENS


CsA’sBuy Local

GreenInActionCSA

By Grier Jewel

Isyourpotatopooped?Doesyourlettucelimp?Areyouronionstooweaktoweep?Ifyourveggiesarelikemuchoftoday’sproduce,theyhavegoodreasonforbeingabitrun

down.Oddsaretheyhavetraveledabout1,300milestoreachyourneighborhoodgrocerystore.Evenwiththecosmeticenhancementsofachemicalsprayandbeautywax,thereisnodenyingthefactthatyour‘cukeshaveledahardlife.

Onemightwellunderstandthesortoffatigueyourfoodsuffersaftersomanymilesandnumerousmiddlemen,nottomentiontherudesqueezeofcountlessimpolitehands.IfyourspinachspeaksSpanish,justthinkaboutwhatitmusthaveenduredtofinditswayintoyourproudpastadish.Havesomecompassion,butlookalittleclosertohomenexttime.Thereisabetterlifewaitingforyouandyourfood,anditisjustaroundthecorner.

Thankstoanopportunitytobuydirectlyfromfarmerswhoknowhowtotreatatomatoright,youcanbringhomeproducethatisfreshfromthegarden.KnownasCommunitySupportedAgriculture(CSA),ormembershipgardens,CSA’ssharethebountyoflivelyfruitsandvegetableswithoutallthedramaofalongroadtrip.

Amembershipgardenallowsnon-farmerstodigintoout-of-thisworldregionalproducewithout,well,havingtodig.Bypayinginadvanceforaseason’sshareofproduce,customersarehelpingtosustainlocalfarmers,reducegasconsumption,supportthelocaleconomyandliveinrelationshipwiththeseasons.

JimMcGinnofRisingRiverFarminRochestersaysthatCSAmembershipisarealgrounding,stablepartofourbusiness.Althoughheandhiswifehaveotheroutletsforsellingtheirproduce−suchasthefarmer’smarketandFoodCo-op−CSAgivesthemtheconfidenceofknowingtheyhaveasteadybaseofcustomers.

“Thefarmer’smarketisgreat,butthere’salwaysthatunknownfactor.It’scomfortingtoknowthatwhenyouareplanting,youhaveabaseandthatpeoplewillbebuyingfromusfor20weeks.”

McGinnpointsoutthatCSA’sallowfarmerstogrowwhattheyaregoodatgrowing.Thismeanseachfarmvariesinitsproduce.Customerswhowanttheirarugulamaynotgetitunlesstheyhaveafarmerwhogrowsitwell.Tothisend,McGinnsaysCSA’srequireacustomerwhoiswillingtoexplorenewfoods.

“CSA’sworkwellformemberswhowelcomeproducethattheywouldnotordinarilybuy,”hesays.“You’reforcedtotrynewthings.It’snotforpeoplewhoneedtoshopforspecificmeals.”

SheilaGray,directorofLewisCountyWashingtonStateUniversityExtension,agrees.“Youneedtobeadventurousinyourvegetableeating.Youmightendupwithsomethingyouhaven’ttraditionallyeatenbefore.”Graysaysthatmanyfarms


includenewslettersandrecipeswiththeirdeliveries.Forthoseatalossforhowtoentertaintheirpalateswitheggplant,theserecipesprovideabigboosttoone’sculinarycreativity.

AccordingtoAshaMcElfreshofWobblyCartFarmingCollectiveinRochester,“CSA’sareforpeopleinterestedinlocal,fresh,organicfoodswhowanttocookaccordingtowhat’savailable.It’sadifferentwayofthinking.”Insteadofplanningamealandthenshopping,CSAmemberspreparetheirmealsinharmonywitheachweek’sharvest.

ThisnaturalwayofeatingsuitsAnitaGoin’sfamilyperfectly.“Welovetoeatwiththeseasons.OnWednesdays,thedaywegetour‘veggiebox,’wecan’twaittoseewhat’sinside.Asafamily,wedelightinopeningittodiscoverthedeliciousandwonderfulgoodiesthatareinside.Eachweek,ourfamily’smealsareplannedaroundthecontentsofourboxwherewemakethesuperfresh,locallygrown,organicvegetablesthestarsofeachmeal.Thishasmadeforsomefun,sometimesadventurousandalwaysdeliciousdinnersforourfamily.”

TheGoinfamily’saffectionforfreshfooddoesn’tendatthetable.JoiningaCSAisverymuchinkeepingwiththeirvaluesoflivinglightlyontheearth.“WelovethatbybuyingourfoodlocallythroughourCSAmembership,weareleavingasmallercarbonfootprintthanwewouldbypurchasingfoodthat’sbeenjettedandtruckedfromhalftheplanetaway.”

AlthoughsomeCSAinvitecustomerstopickuptheirfoodatthefarm,theytypicallymakeweeklydeliveriestolocaldrop-offsites.Thecostvaries,dependingonthesizeofshare.Pricesrangefrom$200to$600foroneseason.Afewalsoofferweeklysubscriptions.

AnimportantconsiderationforanyonethinkingaboutjoiningaCSAisthenumberofsharesavailableforpurchase.AsJimMcGinnsays,“Iwanttomakesureeveryonegetsenoughtomatoes.”

AtWobblyCart,McElfreshsayspeopletendtothinkaboutjoiningwhentheweatherisgood.Eventhoughithelpsthefarmto

havemembersjoinasearlyasthepreviousfall,shesaystheywilltakemembersatanytime.

AnnvandemanofLeftFootOrganicsinOlympiastressestheimportanceofsigningupasearlyaspossible.”TheideaofaCSAistoprovidethatupfrontcashbeforethecropisharvestedandthemoneystartscomingin.”Shesaysthatalthoughtheyprefertohavecustomerspayfortheirsubscriptionsinfull,theycanalsomakearrangementstopayininstallments.

vandeman,whoemployspeoplewithdevelopmentaldisabilitiesatacompetitivewage,saysthatCSAmembershipsmakeupabout40%oftheirproduceincome.Sheencouragesanyonewhoisinterestedinsigninguptovisittheirwebsite.SincemanyCSAfarmshavetheirownonlinesites,thisisaneasywaytocomparepricesandofferingswhenlookingfortherightfit.

“Lookatournewslettersandgetagoodideaofwhat’sgoingon,”shesuggests.”Peopleaskmeallthetimewhattoexpectfromweektoweek,soItellthemtolookatpastnewslettersandthatwillgivethemagoodideaofwhatthey’llgetfromus.There’salwaysanelementofsurprise,though.Itjustdependsonnature,andnatureisfullofsurprises.”

WhatcanyouexpectfromaCSAbesidesanenzymaticexplosionoforganicgardengoodness?Dependingontheseason,andtheweather,youmightopenyourboxtofindafreshassortmentofpeas,strawberries,purplebeans,swisschard,cauliflower,leeks,carrots,corn,arugula,kale,garlic,greenonions,broccoli--thelistgoesonandvariesfromfarmtofarm.

Themostimportantingredient,however,appearstobetheexcitementofmemberswhoopentheirweeklysurprisepackageanddiginwithgusto.ForthousandsofSouthSounders,thisopportunitytoreconnectwiththeseason’slocalbountyisworthalotmorethantheypaypershare.ForfamiliesliketheGoin’s,itjustmightbeworthallthefrozenpeasinChina.

For resources and more information,visit www.sustainablesouthsound.com

GreenInActionCSA

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Green Living Summer 2009