Going Green Memphis 10-10-10

8/8/2019 Going Green Memphis 10-10-10

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2 GOING GREEN | S u n d ay , October 1 0, 2010 co mm er ci a l a pp ea l.com

Global Work Party

Communities around the worldpromote activities to turn attentionto the issue of global warming.

Blessing the Ground

CBU constructs greenLiving Learning Center

for students.

Good stewards

Montessori schoolbrings gardening into

the curriculum.

The art of good taste

Groovy Foods owner Uele Siebert sees herproducts as a form of art from the heart.

Time to rake upa compost pile

Sunny future ontoxic grounds

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!Going Green is a special online publication of

The Commercial Appeal. We welcome your comments and suggestions. FollowGoing Green on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoGreenMemphis .

Ed i t o r : Kim Coleman, 529-5243, [email protected]

Community Editor: Emily Adams Keplinger, [email protected]

Whats in this issue ...

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http://www.twitter.com/GoGreenMemphismailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.twitter.com/GoGreenMemphis


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The Commercial Appeal S u n day , October 1 0, 2010 | GOING GREEN 3

GREEN PROGRAMS

Randolph Bluffs picnicJoin the Sierra Club

and the TennesseeParks & GreenwaysFoundation for the

Randolph Bluffs FallSunset Picnic todayfrom 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., onone of the last non-privately owned bluffs,along with the Memphisriverfront. The eventwill be held on BallardSlough Road nearNeedham Road, inRandolph, Tenn.

The outing isdesigned to allow thepublic an opportunity toexplore, enjoy and helpprotect this riverfrontproperty as a site for afuture state park. Bringa side dish or dessert to share for the picnic, andenjoy scenic hikes and living historydemonstrations that span the areas history

from the Native Americans to the Civil War. Andstick around to watch the sunset over Ole ManRiver. No pets allowed due to an artillerydemonstration.

For directions or additional informationabout the picnic, see the Sierra ClubChickasaw Group Facebook page(facebook.com/Chickasaw.Group), e-mail

[email protected] or call 363-8299 or276-1387. More information can be found at3 5 0.o r g /r a n d o l p h - b l u f fs - s u n s e t - p i c n i c.

GREEN CELEBRATION

GreenUp MemphisA new festival, GreenUp Memphis,

celebrating things you can do to make Memphisboth more eco-friendly and a more attractive

place to live, will take place on Oct. 30 from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Green at South Front(adjacent to the Memphis Farmers Market,behind Central Station in Downtown).

With live music, festival food, exhibits,prizes and more, this is an event for folks whocare about their hometown and want to makea difference.

For more information, call 576-6000 or e-mail g r e e n u p @ m e m p h i s t n . go v .

The Green Page

T VAs plans suggest more nuclear, less coal

A hike to a nearbyrare, preservedunderground Civil

War powdermagazine will beconducted at theRandolph BluffsFall Sunset Picnic.

NASHVILLE TheTennessee Valley Authoritysfuture is likely to includemore nuclear powerproduction and less relianceon coal, according to a draftof an assessment of theutilitys options for the nexttwo decades.

The Integrated ResourcePlan released recentlysuggests scenarios thatcould mean idling more

coal-fired units and adding

nuclear units as early as201 8.

A handful of strategieswere considered, but thereport indicated that TVAwould be better positioned inthe future if the utilitydiversified its powerproduction and added moreenergy-efficient and demandresponse programs.

The public can commenton the plan through

November and then TVA will

submit the plan to theEnvironmental ProtectionAgency in March for a review

of the environmental impact.The TVA board will approveplans in April.

The nations largestpublic utility supplies powerto nearly 9 million people inTennessee, Alabama,Mississippi, Kentucky,Georgia, North Carolina andVi r g i n i a .

Online: tva .com/irp


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Work for the planetCommunity projects highlight global warming issue

Today, communities across the globeare gathering together for the 2010Global Work Party a

single-day event coordinatedby 350.org to highlight theissue of global warming inyour city or community .

It encourages people to take part in aproject that will be beneficial to theenvironment. Nearly 5,000 projects havebeen organized in 174 countries.

Regionally, more than 20 events are

being held as part of Global Work Party,including neighborhood cleanups and

meet-the-farmer events in

Hot Springs; a green jobsconference in Nashville; anda sunset picnic at RandolphBluffs.

To pay homage to the day, GoingGreen has organized a 10-10-10 list ofthe 3 Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) tohelp you (or those around you) tolighten your footprint on our planet.


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Suzanne Thompson/ Special to Going Green

Lets consider everything purchased brand-new in thepast year. How much do you think you could havecomfortably bought used? Heres a list of 10 items you canbuy used, so you can potentially save hundreds of dollarsthis year. Not only that they often have enough usablelife for you to pass them on, too. Think price and planet.

1. Vehicles: Ev e r y o n eknows as soon as you driveoff the lot in that brand-newcar, the value has justdropped. There are lots ofused cars that can bepurchased for far less thantheir newer counterparts,and some even haveextremely low mileage.

For instance, new carsare put into service by localdealerships to ferry golfpros around town duringthe St. Jude Golf Classicgolf tournament. After thetournament is over, thosecars are sold, and eventhough they may be the

latest model, they must besold as used.Used cars also are

available all over theInternet, from eBay toC r a i gs l i s t .

2. Clothes: Thrift storesare all the rage these daysand you can find some

really great items in them.The Junior League operatesa thrift store on SummerAvenue called the RepeatBoutique Ive picked updesigner pieces there stillbearing the original pricetag.

The Salvation Army

recently opened a newstore on Whitten Roadwhere clothing items areseparated not only bycategory but also arrangedby color. Be prepared to

spend some time, but whenyou get to the checkoutcounter youll see it wasworth the effort.

Another option is topurchase fromconsignment stores. Theprices there are a usually abit higher, but the clothingis in pristine condition.

3. Furniture:Lots ofpeople just get sick of theirdecor and decide they wantnew furniture. Takeadvantage of their changingtastes to get a great bargain.From kitchen tables tosofas, buying used furnitureis not only practical but also

e co -f rie nd l y .Used furniture is pay dirtfor those who are fond ofshabby-chic decor. You canfind listings for usedfurniture in the classified

R EUS E

New-to-you saves money and the Earth

Thrift storesandconsignment

shops offerbargains inusedclothing.

J u p i t e r i m a ges


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section of The Commercial Appeal or onFreecycle.com or Craigslist.

4. Baby items:You can find some greatbargains by purchasing used car seats,strollers, high chairs, changing tables andeven toys. Youll want to disinfect them once

you bring them home, but unless youare purchasing something fromsomeone whos raised sevenkids, the stuff is usually in verygood condition. Blankets andclothing are also good to buyused. You can even getbackyard playsets at a steal.

There are several major consignmentsales in the area at different times of the

year just Google childrens consignmentand Memphis.

5. Household appliances: Many peoplereplace washers and dryers that haveplenty of good life left in them. The latesttrend is a set that washes and dries a loadof clothes in 37 minutes. Take advantage ofsuper-busy folks who have a spare $4,000to use saving time, and pick up their oldmachines for a song. Used refrigerators canalso be found at great savings.

6. Electronics:Many people just cantresist the allure of a bigger screen or newfea t u r es , so when they upgrade they selltheir old sets, which are often in great shape.Some stores will sell demo modelsoff the floor and that can snagsome savings too. Ev e r -changing technology often

puts used computers on themarket for a bargain price. Iused a reconditioned laptopfor two years. Gaming systemsare usually a good bet to buyused, because people often are upgradingtheir systems and switching brands.

7. Games, CDs and DVDs:Le t s face it,there are only so many times you can defeat a

game before itsno fun anymore. In additionto purchasing these used items on theInternet, stores like Game Stop not only sellused games but will also accept them in tradewhen making another purchase. If you enjoyyard sales, you can often find them there.

There is real truth in the old adage On emans trash is another mans treasure,andthat applies to music and movies, too.

8. Books: Many people, and Im one ofthem, dont read a book more than once.Reference books, of course, are a differentmatter. Used bookstores usually have anextensive title collection, so you can find acookbook or a crime novel. Mostof the used bookstores

accept books in trade, butthey wont take books ofwhich they have amplecopies, or that are inshabby condition.

9. Jewelry: You canfind some real bargainsby purchasing jewelryused. As I write this, I amwearing a pair of 14-caratgold earrings I bought at apawn shop. I can hear the collectivegasping, but gold is gold. For those of youwho would never think of setting foot in apawn shop, estate sales are a great place tofind jewelry, and many antique stores carryvintage jewelry that is quite stylish.

10. Sports equipment: The treadmillthat has been sitting in the corner of

someones room so long its grown cobwebsis a prime purchase. Dust off those cobwebsand youre ready to go. Trendy workoutitems, like the Doorway Gym and the PerfectPush Ups, can usually be easily found.Sometimes you can find these at thriftstores, but youre more likely to find theseon Craigslist, Freecycle.com or in the paper.


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R ECYC L E

Paper, plastic ... and

lots of other stuff tooIf youre old enough to remember the Carter

administration, youre old enough to have witnessedthe birth of modern-day recycling in the USA. Todaymore than 80 percent of U.S. households have easyaccess to locally based programs for recycling paper,plastic, glass and aluminum.

But recycling isnt just about everyday household

items any more. Nonprofit organizations andspecialized businesses are springing up everywhere torecycle almost everything imaginable.

1. Wine corks: Yemm &Hart (y e m m h a r t .co m ) ,which produces recycledbuilding materials, turnsused corks into floor and

wall tiles.2. Foam packaging:

Lightweight p ea n u t s made from expandedpolystyrene contain 25 to100 percent recycledmaterial. The PlasticLoose Fill Council(l o o s ef i l l p a c ka g i n g .co m )has a Peanut Hotline at(800) 828-2214 which youcan call to find localrecycling centers,including chain-storeshippers such as Pak Mailand The UPS Store. Torecycle large, moldedchunks of expanded

polystyrene used tocushion televisions, airconditioners and such,contact the Alliance ofFoam Packaging Recyclers(e p s p a c ka g i n g .o r g ) .

3. Potato chip bagsand other foil packagingthat often are used towrap up junk food can berecycled at Terracycle.net.

4. CDs, jewel cases,DVDs, audio and videotapes, pagers,

rechargeable and single-use batteries, PDAs andink/toner cartridges: Fo r$30, GreenDisk will sendyou a cardboard box inwhich you can ship themup to 70 pounds of any ofthe above. Your fee covers

the box as well as shippingand recycling fees. Call(800) 305-GREENDISK orvisit greendisk.com.

5. CDs/DVDs/GameDisks: Send scratchedmusic or computer CDs,DVDs, and PlayStation orNintendo video game disksto AuralTech forrefinishing, and theyllwork like new: (888) 454-3223 or a u r a l t e c h .co m .

6. Phone books: If yourlocal recycling centeraccepts phone books,drop them off there.Otherwise contact theclosest Project

ReDirectory center. Findyour local center with anInternet search or bycontacting the companyissuing the directories.

7. CFLs: Many peoplealready know that IKEAaccepts your old compactfluorescent light bulbs. So


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do many hardware and homeimprovement stores, though theymay charge if youre notreplacing an old bulb with a newone. LampRecycle.org listsbusinesses and organizations

that will recycle these bulbs.8. Carpets, rugs, padding:There are places that will try torecycle used carpets and rugs

rather than toss them intolandfill. To recycle

yours(depending onyour area) try

checking with

the CarpetA me r ica

Recovery Effort,UGA Carpet Recycling Resource,the California Integrated WasteManagement Board or any othernumber of organizations gearedtoward recycling.

9. Old medicine: Rather thantossing it into the toilet (where itcan end up in the water supply)or in the garbage, why notrecycle it? Somestates haveenacted drugr e cyc l i n gprograms.Check the NationalConference of State Legislatures

website for updated information.10. Paper towels andnapkins: If you live in Canadaand dont compost, Partners for aGreen Hill has a program just forold napkins and paper towels.

re-nest .com

REDUCE

Yo u re never too

busy to think greenEven busy people can cut their eco-footprint

by using this quick guide.

1. Use cleaner transportation: Walk, bikeor take public transit whenever possible. Onaverage, your ecological footprint can be

reduced by as much as 20 percent if you dontown and drive a car.Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep

the emission control systems operating atpeak efficiency and check the cars air filtermonthly. Keep the tires adequately inflated tomaximize gas mileage.

2. Eat local and cut down on food waste:Growing your own fruit and vegetables takesaway the energy waste which goes into getting

food from the field to the plate such astransport, refrigeration and packaging.

If you just dont have a green thumb (or thetime), then eating more local, organic, in-season food from a farmers market or naturalfood store can make a significant reduction.Look for local, in-season foods that haventtraveled long distances to reach you.

3. Minimize air travel: Aviation has thefastest growing carbon emissions of anyindustry sector. Flying has an even greaterimpact on climate change than was previouslythought flying has two to four times theimpact of CO2 emissions on climate changebecause it releases water vapor and nitrousoxide at high altitude.

When thinking about the next vacation,consider staying at home and checking out all


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the local haunts youre usually too busyfor on the weekends. Or consider aleisurely train trip across the country.

4. Choose sustainable buildingmaterials, furnishings and cleaningproducts: Explore green design features

for your home solar heating,rainwater barrels or gray-waterrecycling system, and recycledmaterials. Look for furnishingsthat are secondhand, recycledor produced in a sustainablemanner.

Drought-tolerant ornative plants in yourgarden and yard will help

reduce the amount ofwater and pesticidesneeded to maintain youroutdoor space.

Finally, when its cleaningtime use biodegradable, nontoxicproducts.

5. Buy secondhand orborrow: On average, 10percent of our footprint ismade up of the things webuy new. Houses are oftencluttered with items that getused or worn only a few times.

6. Home energy efficiency:This tip is one of the simplest to follow.Improving your homes insulation, whichcan be quick and easy, will typically recoup

the cost in reduced energy bills within a fewyears. When its time to replace appliances,choose efficient models as well as installinglow-flow shower heads, faucets and toilets.

7. Adopt water-saving habits: Ta keshorter, less frequent showers (saveswater and the energy used to heat it);turn off garbage disposal and compostinstead; run the dishwasher and the

laundry machine only when full; washcars rarely, or better yet, take them to acommercial car wash.

8. Easy behavioral changes: Byturning down your thermostat by just onedegree you could cut your heating bills by

10 percent; turning it down by fourdegrees could save theaverage home 5 percent ofits total ecological footprint.

Other easy changesinclude:

Clean or replace dirty air-conditioner filters asrecommended to keep the AC

operating at peak efficiency.

Unplug yourelectronics when not in

use. To make it easier,use a power strip.

Dry your clothesoutside whenever

p o s s i b l e.Defrost your

refrigerator and freezerregularly.

Choose green electricity.Many utilities give you the option

to purchase electricity generated bywind and solar power for a small rate

s u r c h a r ge.9. Vegetarian diet:The ecological footprint of vegetarians

who eat a moderate amount of milk andeggs could be 40 percent lower than their

counterparts who consume a low-meatdiet.10. Recycle everything:Avoid overpackaged products when

shopping. Donate unwanted items tocharity shops. Use your curbsiderecycling collection and find out whereyou can recycle items that are notco l l ec t e d .


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Faith, science uniteEnvironmentalissues draw

attention

By Jim Coleman

Special to Going Green

Ever since the first

set of data wascollected for science,there has been frictionwith the religiouscommunity. Thisstalemate betweencamps, one armed withthe certainty of facts,the other with thecertainty of faith, has

been waged formillennia. Stem cellresearch, for example,has been viewed bysome of faith as a wayto further codifyabortion not only as anacceptable procedurebut one that isbeneficial, too.

This distrust hasonly helped to createambivalence aboutenvironment alconcerns.

A good example isthe most pressing

Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal files

The Gather at the River conference was designed todraw attention to Memphis largest geographic feature,the Mississippi River, and raise awareness ofenvironmental issues.


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about the environmental issues we face.Houses of worship are great places

to effect change, said Harper, whoalso addressed the issues of economicsand culture and the effect they have onbringing awareness to the

environment .I havent seen one environmentalissue ever where economicissues didnt fight it.

But Harper also pointed out thegrowing public awareness thatenvironmental issues are now

re c e i v i n g.If you look at all the

marketing over the last

two to three years andyou would think that allof our problems aresolved with all of theg re e n p ro d u c t sava i l a b l e , said Harper.

He likened thisawareness to the anti-smoking campaigns ofthe 1990s, whichrendered what wasonce an acceptablehabit into a bad one.

Look at the changein culture versus cigarettes, i.e.,secondhand smoke. When I was achild we didnt even know whatsecondhand smoke was.

Ultimately, Harper said, the only

way to make drastic changes inpeoples behavior to make ourpractices more sustainable is to makeit easy for them.

If it is made easy for people to dothe right thing, people will do theright thing, said Harper. If you starteasy, that gives you a sense ofmomentum that change is possible.

issue facing humanity, according to aconsensus of the scientific community:global warming.

In a decidedly Christian nation (78.4percent of Americans are self-described Christians, according to

recent data compiled by the PewForum on Religion and Public Life),belief that global warming is caused byhuman activity tops out at 48 percentamong Protestants and only 34percent for Evangelicals.

Although both groups appear to be atloggerheads, there isdialogue between thetwo about how to

address environmentalissues without breedingdistrust .

In the end thereligious communityneeds to hear from thescientific communityand to learn from it. Weneed to heal the riftbetween them, said Rev.Fletcher Harper.

Harper is exe c u t i vedirector of GreenFaith,a New Jersey-basedorganization whose mission is to healthe divisions between the scientificand religious communities. It hasbranches throughout the U.S.,including one in Memphis.

GreenFaith is just one of many groupswith this focus that gathered recently atBridges in Downtown Memphis for theGather at the River conference. Thetwo-day event was designed to drawattention to Memphis l a rge s tgeographic feature, the MississippiRiver, and to help mobilizecommunities of faith to build awareness

In the end the

religious community

needs to hear from

the scientific

community and to

learn from it. We

need to heal the rift

between them.

REV. FLETCHER HARPER

GreenFaith executive director


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How does your garden grow?At local school, its with help from the kids

By Suzanne Thompson


Evergreen MontessoriSchool has a gardenplanted with such varietythat it rivals one used by amajor local restaurantgroup to grow producefor their eateries.

For the past two yearsthe students have beencultivating an extensivegarden and the harvestgoes into their lunches.

The school, whichopened in 1985, waslocated in a building atEvergreen Street and

Poplar Avenue until threeyears ago, when itrel o c at e d .

At the old facility therewas always a modestgarden, and students werealready learning aboutcomposting and recycling.

In 2004, they used olddresser drawers to create

raised beds where theygrew greens for makingsummer salads, s aidAngela Flowers, head ofschool at EvergreenMontessori.

Students who attendedthe summer program atthe school participated

i n i t i a l l y.The summer students

also raised chickens and

the eggs were used inmeals.

After the school movedto its new location onNorth Trezevant Street,the garden projectm u s h ro o m e d .

T h e re s more behindgrowing the fruits andvegetables than justsupplying food for lunches.

Garden really is part ofthe curriculum inMontessori,Flowers said.It starts from the veryyoungest child learning tobe good stewards of theearth and goes all the way

Kennedy Ross(left), 7, and

Re m yFeathers, 8,

work withSteve Ross inthe vegetable

garden atEv e r g r e e n

M o n t es s o r i .

Mike Maple

The CommercialA ppea l


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The Commercial Appeal Su n d ay, October 1 0, 2010 | GOING GREEN 13

In the garden

Some of the items grown in theEvergreen Montessori garden:

Eg g p l a n t

Several varieties ofsquash

Several varieties ofpeppers

Corn

Pea s

B ea n s

To m a t o es

Po t a t o es

Sweet potatoes

Eg g p l a n t

Wa t e r m e l o n

Cantaloupe

S t r aw b e r r i es

B l u e b e rr i es

B l a c k b e r ri es

An extensive mintga r d e n

A herb garden

into the older elementary ages for biologylessons, learning how plants survive inthe world and doing a little moreexperimentation with botany.

Hutchison School has a 2-acre farm,but the reason for having it there is

purely educational, according to SteveODell, community relations coordinator.Its basically a way for the lower

school and middle school to see howthings grow. They measure the pHbalance in the soil. Its all incorporatedthrough science, he said.

Vegetables raised in the garden areeither given to individuals or to variouslocal charities.

At Evergreen Montessori everythingthat is raised in the garden isincorporated into the lunches whereStephen Hassinger, who has been aprofessional chef for years, turns thebounty into meals that have includedpasta with roasted red peppers, sundriedtomatoes, basil and parmesan creamsauce, mushroom risotto and carrotbisque as main dishes.

In addition to working as innkeeperand general manager at the Inn at Hunt-Phelan, every morning at 8:30 Hassingergoes to the school. He leaves at noonafter the children have finished lunch.

He particularly enjoys letting thestudents try new dishes.

Its really fun turning them on to newthings when I bring out something that

theyve never had before and they say,Mr. Steve, I dont like rutabagas, orwhatever and then I cook it and they endup really liking it, he said.

Hassinger said he serves almost allvegetarian lunches that include a maincourse, a raw vegetable (usually a salad),bread and fruit. T h at s five meals out ofhopefully 21 that they dont necessarily

have meat, he said.While it may seem amazing a toddler

would eat mushroom risotto or carrotbisque, serving the food to the childrenas a group also helps them to be moreopen to trying new foods.

If you put out the food and 30 kids sitdown at the same time and eat it and someof them really like it, then the others are alot more willing to try it, Hassinger said.

Hassinger said growing theingredients for lunch has made adifference in the childrens school day.

The biggest change is the wo n d e r factor, and the personal involvement thatthe kids have in creating the productionof the food, he said.

Evergreen teaches students from age14 months to 14 years old and has about60 children enrolled.

The youngest children who tend thegarden are 3, according to Flowers.

Its important for the children tounderstand where their food comesfrom, and how to nourish their bodiesthe correct way, Flowers said.


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Among thoseparticipating in theceremony were BobbyWhite (left), chief of

staff for the Memphismayor; Shelby CountyMayor Mark Luttrell;CBU president JohnSmarrelli; U.S. Rep.Steve Cohen and CBUboard chairman RobertM c En i r y .

experience with thegreen aspects ofe n g i n e e r i n g.

This newmultipurpose centerwill include premium

residence halla c c o m m o d at i o n s ,public spaces(Commons) on eachfloor for both formaland informalgatherings, fullyequipped servingkitchen, meeting

room/classroom on themain floor, an exteriorpatio accessible fromthe Main Commons,quiet study space,game and video areas,and laundry andrecycling facilities oneach floor

The center is being

designed with C BUGre e n features thatinclude electric car

charging stations,recycled construction

materials, occupancysensors, low-flow toiletfixtures and mechanicalsystem sensors. Inaddition, the center willmake use of energy-efficient componentssuch as white roofingand water efficiencymeasures including a

67-gallon rain barrel tocollect rain to use inirrigation of nearby

p l a n t i n gs .Among those who

participated in theceremony were ShelbyCounty Mayor MarkLu tt rel l and arepresentative fromthe office of MemphisMayor A C Wharton.

Elisa C. Marus isexecutive director ofcommunications andmarketing for ChristianBrothers University.

Artist rendering of the new Living LearningCenter at CBU.


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Ta st i n g ro ov y

Photos by Justin Shaw/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Groovy Foods owner Uele Siebert sees her productsas a form of art. Its a way of expressing myself, ofbeing able to put my touch on something, she says.

By Angela Knipple


WHEN UELESIEBERT st arted

Groovy Foods in

2002, she never

thought of it as being

strictly a business.

For her, it is as much

about art as it isabout food.

When people thinkof art, they think aboutpainting and sculpturefirst, but people arestarting to have agreater perception of

food as art. For me,t h at s what it is. Its away of expressingmyself, of being able toput my touch onsomething, of tweakingit somehow, she says.

Sieberts businessis about art as

well as eats


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Groovy Foods came aboutas a way for Siebert to be herown boss after a job loss. Shehad previously offered a lunchdelivery service, but k n ew

that she needed somethingthat would be accessible to alarger audience.

I had to follow my heart.These were things I wasdoing for fun in my ownkitchen. I thought, Well, ifthis turns me on, maybe it willturn someone else on, too.

Siebert was right. Hergranola, infused honeys andvinegars, and herbal teassoothe the soul as much asthey nourish the body for heras well as her customers.

Still, the business didntgrow enough to become herfull-time career until twoyears ago. Getting her

products into markets otherthan local farmers marketstook time. She had to buildrelationships with theMemphis community to keepfrom being overlooked.

In some ways that washard for me. Im not a

MEET THE VENDOR

What: Groovy Foods, 669 Philadelphia St.,Memphis, 38104

Contact info: 335-2469, groovyfoods.org,e-mail: [email protected]

Products available: Memphis Farmers Market(Saturdays), Otherlands, Java Cabana, Seans(Midtown and East), Maggies Pharm,Fr e ew h e e l i n Franks, Trolley Stop Market, MuddysBakeshop, Miss Cordelias, YoLo (Collierville andMemphis)

Groovy Foods Civil Granola is high in fiber, acholesterol lowering product, and its highenergy producing food, says owner UeleSiebert.

I operate on lifelines instead of deadlines, and I get to

have the meditation time I need to stay groovy.

UELE SIEBERT, Groovy Foods owner


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Groovy Piecapitalist. Im notdriven by a need toget out and make awhole bunch ofmoney. So it startedby people seeing me

at unexpectedvenues like artopenings andfestivals. Throughthat work, thataccessibility andcontact, peoplewere able to get toknow me. They gotto have a more

o rga n i cunderstanding ofmy work, she says.

Today, GroovyFoods is giving theartist in Siebert thetime she needs tofuel her art as well asthe family time thatkeeps her inspired.

As an artist, Ihave to be able togo back insidemyself to retreat,recharge and findinspiration. Ioperate on lifelinesinstead ofdeadlines, and I get

to have themeditation time Ineed to stayg ro ov y.

To prepare the crust: Break up granola. In a medium bowl,combine granola and brown sugar with melted butter. Pressmixture into a pie tin and refrigerate until set, about 30min u t es .

To prepare the apples: Bring apple cider, cinnamon andcloves to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Add the appleslices, reduce heat to medium-low and cover pan. Simmer for10 minutes or until tender. Transfer to a covered dish andrefrigerate for 1 hour or until chilled. Bring remainingpoaching liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. Allow liquidto boil, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until liquid has reducedby 2/3 to make 1 cup. Transfer to a covered bowl andrefrigerate for 30 minutes. The liquid will thicken as it cools.

To prepare the filling: Sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup of

water in a small heat-proof bowl or double boiler. Allow gelatinto soften for 2 minutes. In a medium bowl, whisk togetheryogurt and honey until smooth.Bring 2 to 3 inches of water toa simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Set indouble boiler or set the bowl of gelatin over the pan, makingsure that it does not touch the bottom. Allow gelatin mixtureto heat, whisking constantly, dissolved, about 1 minute.Remove gelatin from heat and whisk into yogurt mixture. In alarge bowl, whip heavy cream and vanilla until stiff peaks

form. Gently fold yogurt mixture into whipped cream.To assemble the pie: Place chilled apples into preparedcrust in an even layer. Drizzle over 1/4 cup of the reducedpoaching liquid. Spoon yogurt filling over apples and smooththe top. Cover and refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours.

To serve, garnish with granola and a drizzle of honey orreduced poaching liquid.

For the crust:2 cups granola(about 11 oz.)2 tbsp. brown sugar1/2 cup unsaltedbutter, melted

For the apples:3 cups apple cider orapple juice1/2 tsp. groundcinnamon

or 1 cinnamon stick1/2 tsp. whole cloves1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg2 Granny Smithapples, peeled, coredand sliced thin

For the filling:1 packet unflavoredge l a t i n2 cups plain Greek orstrained plain yogurt

1/2 cup honey,flavored if desired1 cup heavy whippingcream1/2 tsp. vanilla extractor 1/4 tsp. vanilla paste

Garnish if desired: cup granola2 tbsp. honey or 1/4cup reservedpoaching liquid


19/23


GREEN SUMMIT

George Doyle

By Dawn Hinshaw

McClatchy Newspapers

Joan Taylor had a lowspot in her yard andstarted raking leaves into

it. Before she knew it, shehad started composting.Taylor recently

attended a session oncompost at the locallibrary, looking to learnmore about the richbrown humus that

seemed to make her redand yellow purslane evenmore brilliant this year.

I just want to do mypart to help out theEarth, said Taylor, 52.

Workshop leader Ryan

Nevius said that seems tobe a common thread: Thepeople who have turnedher composting classesinto standing-room-onlyevents want to connectwith nature and make a

Start simpleto build

compost pile

The Memphis Urban Garden Program,along with the Sunshine Crew GardenClub, St. Luke United Methodist Church(HARC), and 7th Harvest Farms, will hosta Green Space Summit II on Thursdayfrom 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. LukesFellowship Hall, 480 S. Highland.

The session will offer informationabout utilizing green space in ShelbyCounty with an added nutritional value.Topics will include backyard andcommunity gardening soil preparation,Shelby Countys available land use,nutrition, hoop houses and year-roundgrowing, and social economics.

Speakers will include Dr. Jac Varcoof Mississippi State University, Dr .Barry Colley of Forrest City, Ark.,Robson Zimuto of Zimbabwe andDonna Downen of the UT ExtensionService. Information will also beavailable about scholarships in

agriculture and consumer science.The public is invited. Registration isavailable at s u r v ey m o n key .co m/s/LKVMCTC or by e-mail tog r e e n spa ces u m m i t II @ g m ai l .co m.

You can also register by calling RoseGales of the Sunshine Crew gardengroup at (901) 745-5240.


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20 GOING GREEN | S u n day, October 1 0, 2010 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

Drink pouches:50 million and counting

Of all the reusable bags Ive amassed overthe years and not a duplicate among them the one that seems to be the favorite of

grocery store baggers is the TerraCycle sackmade from Capri Sun drink pouches.Its my favorite, too. Its incredibly sturdy,

ooze-proof and pretty snappy-looking to boot.Apparently, I have schools throughout

Philadelphia and well beyond to thank.TerraCycle and Capri Sun recently announcedthat their Drink Pouch Brigade schools andorganizations that participate in a free

fundraiser thatpays 2 cents for

every drinkpouch collected has broken the50 million mark.That means $1million has been

returned to the groups, just for stuff thatwould otherwise be garbage.

TerraCycle, based in Trenton, N.J., and thebrainchild of Tom Szaky, u p cycl es thepouches into various products, including

totes, cosmetic/pencil cases and more. InPhiladelphia, the company reports, there aremore than 70 Drink Pouch Brigades.

Our goal is for people to look at waste in awhole new way, and through its sponsorshipof the Pouch Brigade program, Capri Sun hashelped us to expand the numbers of thosewho are doing so, said Szaky in a preparedstatement.

When I wrote an article about thecompany in 2009, delivery trucks were

arriving every day with drink pouches, yogurtcontainers for a similar program and more. Awarehouse was full of still more products in some cases, entire rolls of misprinted orout-of-date labels.

Szaky and Co. could hardly keep up withthe task of thinking up products to makewith them, but clearly theyre still at it.

Sandy Bauers, The Philadelphia Inquirer

d i f f e re n c e .T h e re s so much buzz about

sustainability and folks trying to gogreen, and this is something tangible,she said. They know fall is coming on,and they can use their leaves.

Nevius said using compost makesplants healthier and helps the groundretain moisture, which saves on waterbills.

The South Carolina county whereNevius lives wants to encourage peopleto manage their yard waste, too,because dumping it in the landfill isexpensive. She said 63 percent ofhousehold trash including fruit and

vegetable trimmings, yard waste andpaper products can be composted.

We ve got to do better, she said. Wecan do better.

Taylor said she and her neighborhave started doing yard work together.He saves his coffee grounds so she canput them in her compost pile.

But the two are the only ones ontheir street who put out their recyclingbins each week, she said. Its kind ofsad that the service is there, andpeople dont use it.

Maxie Benjamin, 66, said he has alittle compost pile in his yard butlearned recently that he wasnt mixingin all the right materials.

Nevius threw out words likemicrobes and humus, and warned

participants they might get h o o ke d on the intricacies of making goodcompost. But theres really no need tostress out about the temperature, themoisture, the layers of green andbrown materials.

You can just throw it on a pile andlet it be, she said, and, trust me, itwill rot.


21/23

The Commercial Appeal Su n d ay, October 1 0, 2010 | GOING GREEN 21

Plumber: Eco bathrooms a natural choice

By Ed Del Grande

H GTV Pro . co m

Q: Im a contractor.Recently I startedworking with a designeron a project, and she isvery excited about usoffering the homeownerthe option of an e co ,

instead of a conventional,bathroom. Im new to all

this eco thinking forbathrooms and wouldlike your views. Can youexplain in plain Englishsome basic componentsused in eco bathrooms?

A: Simply put, an ecobathroom shouldincorporate as muchnatural and recycledmaterial as possible, andefficient plumbing,lighting, heating andcooling equipment. But itdoesnt stop there; thematerials used for theproject should also beordered from factoriesand manufacturers that

have kept environmentalconcerns in mind whenmaking the products.

T h at s the short version.For a more detailedbreakdown, here are afew ideas and tips thatcan be used to create aneco bathroom:

Vanities andcountertops: Nat u ra lstone is a great choice for

vanity tops, along withman-made countertopsthat use recycledmaterials. For va n i t i e s ,natural moisture-resistantproducts like teak arebecoming a popularchoice.

Wall tiles: Nat u ra l -

stone tiles and recycled-glass tiles work well. Also,fired-clay tiles thatincorporate recycledmaterial and lead-freeglazes are commonlyused.

Flooring: Once again,natural-stone tiles are in

high demand. However,environmentally friendlyand energy-efficient,

lightweight concreteflooring can be a goodchoice for bathroomswith radiant-floorh e at i n g.

Plumbing fixtures:Cast-iron tubs and sinksare back in style sincethey are made from about

90 percent recycledmaterials. High-efficiencytoilets and shower headsare flying off the shelves,since new flushingsystems and pressure-delivery designs allow fortop performance whileusing less water.

SHNS file photo courtesy DIY Network

Cast-iron tubs and sinks are back in style since theyare made from about 90 percent recycled materials.


22/23

22 GOING GREEN | Su n day , October 1 0, 2010 co mm er cia l a pp ea l.co m

Lighting fixtures:Wide choices indecorative fixturesthat use less energythan standardlighting fixtures have

made it easy toconserve electricity inthe bathroom. Also,installing skylightsand making the bestuse of naturalsunlight is consideredvery eco-friendly.

Eco-packing forbathroom materials:Using companies thatship products fromthe factory withrecycled and/orrecyclable materialsin the packing, makestrash disposal easieron the localc o m m u n i t y.

These are just afew ideas designed toget your mind goingin the right directionwhen it comes tocreating ecob at h ro o m s .

Mastercontractor/plumber Ed

Del Grande is author ofEd Del Grandes HouseC all and hosts TVshows on ScrippsNetworks andHGTVPro.com .

For more information,visit eddelgrande.com orwrite [email protected] .

Sunny days ahead forNew Jersey solar project

By Kevin Riordan

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Atop a sealed mound ofindustrial waste on a

historically toxic swath ofGloucester County, N.J.,Bill Geary sees a sunnyf u t u re .

His company awaitsdelivery of about 6,500solar panels for theformer RollinsEnvironmental facility,where six people died

and at least 30 wereinjured after a massiveexplosion on Dec. 8,1977.

This notoriouslywounded place looks farfrom hellacious; in fact,its sort of scenic. Gearyand I climb the slope of

the defunct landfill thatrises above the marshygrass in the heart of thesite.

With maps andrenderings, Gearyindicates where ana r ray of 6-by-3-foot solarpanels will be connected

like Legos. Covering sixof 90 acres of thelandfills grassy surface, itwill generate 1.5megawatts of electricity,potentially enough for1,100 homes.

This is our very firstsolar array, and wed like

to have it energized bythe end of January at thelatest , says Geary, anaffable Bostonian whospresident of CleanHarbors EnvironmentalS ervices.

Founded in 1980, theMassachusetts-based firmis among the largesthazardous-waste cleanupcompanies in theNorthern Hemisphere(its been working on theGulf of Mexico oil spill).Clean Harbors obtainedthe 480-acre LoganTownship property in2002, and maintains

crews and equipmentthere for response toregional environmentale m e rge n c i e s .

In the unregulated erabefore the 1970s,industrial waste of allsorts was transported to,and stored and

Site was once atoxic waste dump


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Ro b e r tBucknamJr. (left)and BillGeary lookover theCleanHarborssite whileholding theplans.

Charles Fox

incinerated at, Rollins. The facilityoperated in stunning proximity tothe Raccoon Creek, the DelawareRiver, and farms and homes. Itclosed in 2001 after its owner at thetime, a company called Safety-Kleen,went bankrupt.

Although the landfill was sealed

before 2002, Clean Harbors hassince spent $7.7 million to remediateother environmental damage on theproperty. The new $7.2 million solarpanels will offset the use ofcommercial power on the site.

The remediation itself will bepowered by renewable energy,Geary says.

Noting that the New Jerseytownship has installed solar panelson the municipal building, LoganMayor Frank Minor is enthusiastic.

Its wonderful, says the mayor,who hopes the project will generate

jobs as well as electricity.Surplus power could well be an

incentive for adjacent development,

Geary says. We can also sell itback to the utility grid, he adds.

Turning brown into green,agrees Robert W. Bucknam Jr., theHaddonfield, N.J., lawyer whohelped Clean Harbors obtain theapprovals required for the project.

The chair of the land use and

environmental permitting group atArcher & Greiner, Bucknam praisesthe states innovative and aggressiveincentives for solar development.

No wonder private firms arerushing to install solar panels atopthe vast warehouses along theturnpike; closed landfills are likewiseattractive. Arrays are already in

place on two former landfills, and 15more are in development elsewherein the state.

We looked at 20 other locationsin other states, but we decided onthis one because of New Jerseysi n c e n t i ve s , says Geary, citing inparticular the states SolarRenewable Energy Certificates.

Going Green Memphis 10-10-10

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