<Green Tallahassee>

energy efficiency, green buildings, slow foods, hybrid cars and alternate fuels.
"A society built on green design, sustainable energy and closed loop systems, a civilization afloat on a cloud of efficient, non-toxic, recyclable technology."
Alex Nikolai Steffan.

Green Food Tallahasee

Sweet Grass Dairy is now selling 100% grass fed beef.
Check out the trailer for the movie, Food, Inc. and FRESH the movie by clicking the Green Food Tallahassee headline above, also for updated listings of local farms and information about the new Bread and Roses Food Coop, and Yahoo Groups TallyProduce and Homegrown Food. Learn about the next Slow Food Tallahassee event and Slow Food USA.
Find out what's going on locally in slow food, organics, local farmers and things good for you--what's a regional fruit calendar?

Looking for information on the new federal energy credits or a list of approved Solar PV systems and modules? Check out the Green Tallahassee Home Page for more information and links.

Upcoming events at Green Calendar

Visit Green Tallahassee Calendar
for Green Things To Do

Green Musings

LAUNCH A GREEN CAREER

Tallahassee Community College provides short-term classroom instruction and hands-on training including: Your Role in the Green Environment, Introduction to Solar Thermal Systems and Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems.

TCC Wakulla Center presents the Green Guide Certification Program through the Wakulla Ecotourism Institute, with 90 contact hours of classroom and field-based training.
Also offering nature based classes and field trips. The Ecotourism Institute membership program offers the opportunity to participate in special events, classes and field trips at a reduced rate.

2008 GREEN TOP TEN

Bike There!
Schools Reducing Pollution and Saving Energy?
Hypermiler or Just a Crazy Driver?
Bringing Energy Efficiency to All City Residents?
Leon County Climate Action
No Illegal Clotheslines in Florida
Solar Powered Golf Cart - Student Prize
USBG Green House Gets Gold
Hybrid Honda Nostalgia
Gainesville Buys Solar

THINKING TRAVEL?

Offset Your Carbon

SUMMER READING:
Books by Tallahassee nature writer, Susan Cerulean, Florida Wildlife Viewing Guide and Tracking Desire: A Journey After Swallowed-tail Kites
Susan is also an editor of Between Two Rivers and The Wild Heart of Florida

Paving Paradise: Florida's Vanishing Wetlands and the Failure of No Net Loss by Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite explains how and why the state's wetlands are continuing to disappear

IGNITION - What You Can Do To Fight Global Warming and Spark a Movement, edited by Jonathan Isham and Sissel Waage

PEAK EVERYTHING: Waking Up to the Century of Decline by Richard Heinberg

Solar House Designs by David Bainbridge, Judy Corbett and John Hofacre

ECOVILLAGES: A Practical Guide to
Sustainable Communities by Jan Martin Bang

Wake Up and Smell the Planet by Grist, a book that is described as a "non-pompous, non-preachy guide to greening your day." Their motto is sign-up for doom and gloom with a sense of humor.

Support your local, independent bookstores by ordering these and more!
We were sadden to see the recent closing of Word Traffic Books. The owners worked hard to create a community space that was much more than just a bookstore.
Keep an eye out in Tallahassee, as they may reemerge in new location.

Calculate Your
Carbon Emissions

What's your carbon footprint on the environment? Calculate Your Own Carbon Footprint.
You can read more about what Tallahassee's doing at this Green Tallahassee Post. Then, share your comments on our blog and we can all learn from each other.

Check your energy spending in Florida with this calculator.

Where to find alternative fuel in
Tallahassee?

Kangaroo/BP 3500 Monroe Street, Available Fuel: E-85*

Waco Food Store/Gas Mart 8120 Woodville Highway, Available Fuel B-20**

Inland Store, North Monroe, Available Fuel: Ethanol

* E-85: An alternative fuel comprised of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline
**B-20: Diesel fuel blended with 20% or less biodiesel

Share A Ride!

Commuter Services of North Florida

LEON COUNTY is a member of ICLEI, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.

City of Tallahassee is a designated GOLD green city.
It is the first city in Florida to receive this designation from the Florida Green Building Coalition.

Green Tallahassee is a
Supporting Member of

FLORIDA CITIES RANK

TONS OF CARBON EMITTED PER PERSON TOP RANKING – 100 BEING HIGHEST EMISSIONS

# 81. Sarasota/Bradenton/ Venice

# 80. Jacksonville

# 70. Cape Coral/Fort Myers

# 54. Orlando

# 59. Palm Bay/Melbourne/ Titusville

# 47. Tampa/St. Petersburg/ Clearwater

# 28. Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Miami Beach
source: Brookings Institution
May 2008

"Petroleum springs and coal mines are not inexhaustible, but rapidly diminishing in many places. Will man then, return to the power of water and wind? Or will he emigrate where the most powerful source of heat sends its rays to all? History will show what will come."
Auguste Mouchout. 1870.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Green, Organic Lawns

"Soil needs to be as alive as we are," says Paul Tukey, author of "The Organic Law Care Manual: A Natural, Low Maintenance System for a Beautiful, Safe Lawn."

His nonprofit organization Safe Lawns is dedicated to promoting natural lawn care and grounds maintenance. He says that going organic is doing what Mother Nature already knows how to do. His website has "how-to" videos about getting organic lawns in balance and resistant to insects. His theory is that a healthy lawn is actually more resistant to bugs and we will, naturally, not need to use pesticides. Stores selling lawn care products now carry about ten percent organic products and the percentage will continue to grow as consumers request organic instead of poison.

He is growing a four acre organic plot of grass in Washington DC on the National Mall between 3rd Ave and 7th St near the Capitol as a demonstration.

I was relieved to hear that he also said to recycle the grass clippings right back onto the lawn. All this raking and bagging seems like quite a waste of energy and time. The compost can take small amounts of clippings, but isn't big enough to accommodate the entire lawn's weekly clippings.

Interestingly, Sarasota County Florida has banned chemical fertilizer use during the rainy season every year since September 2007, and many schools and day care centers are banned by local or school board ordinance from using pesticides on their lawns or plants.

You can also listen to the Safe Lawn podcast at this link.