If you are interested in the newly formed Bread and Roses Food Coop, their organizational meeting is today at the public library. Green Calendar has the details.
Sunday, March 29
WHITE HOUSE ORGANIC GARDEN
Over at Green Food Tallahassee, we're wondering: is the White House organic garden a threat to chemical agriculture in the US?
Friday, March 20
SOLAR
About 25,500 new solar water heaters were installed in 2008, growing the industry by 50 percent to reach 139 megawatts, the Solar Energy Industries Association announced last week.
Hawaii led the country in this category in 2008, when 37 percent of the new solar water heaters were installed, followed by 20 percent in Florida and 7 percent for California.
But, one in ten homes in China has solar water heaters, so we have a way to go.
And the city Green Readers are beginning to seriously envy--Gainesville--was featured this month in Washington Monthly:
Hawaii led the country in this category in 2008, when 37 percent of the new solar water heaters were installed, followed by 20 percent in Florida and 7 percent for California.
But, one in ten homes in China has solar water heaters, so we have a way to go.
And the city Green Readers are beginning to seriously envy--Gainesville--was featured this month in Washington Monthly:
this city of 120,000 is gearing up for a solar power boom, fueled by homegrown businesses and scrappy investors who have descended on the community and are hiring local contractors to install photovoltaic panels on rooftops around town.
Thursday, March 19
GREEN LIVING EXPO THIS SATURDAY!
We had so much fun last time and have waited all year, it's finally here!
The Sustainable Big Bend Green Living Expo and Education Fair is a community-based event created to encourage sustainable living and promote a sustainable local and regional economy.
Saturday, March 21st. 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM in Wakulla at the Riversprings Middle School in Crawfordville. It's free and has more vendors, workshops and things of interest than last year, if that's possible! Rain barrels will be availabe at cost ($35). Good food to purchase and more info than can be absorbed in a day! Click here for the workshop listing. See you there and don't forget to carpool!
If you get the Wakulla News, there's an entire insert devoted to this event.
The Sustainable Big Bend Green Living Expo and Education Fair is a community-based event created to encourage sustainable living and promote a sustainable local and regional economy.
Saturday, March 21st. 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM in Wakulla at the Riversprings Middle School in Crawfordville. It's free and has more vendors, workshops and things of interest than last year, if that's possible! Rain barrels will be availabe at cost ($35). Good food to purchase and more info than can be absorbed in a day! Click here for the workshop listing. See you there and don't forget to carpool!
If you get the Wakulla News, there's an entire insert devoted to this event.
Sunday, March 15
ENERGY AND THE PUBLIC PROCESS
Public comment on the biomass plant proposal in Tallahassee allowed citizens to voice their concerns, albeit after some rangling with all parties involved who originally took the stance that the public input had already been provided.
The City of Gainesville utilities canceled a second coal plant as a result of citizen's public meetings. This week, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Orlando Utilities were pursing nuclear power in behind closed door sessions and the Orlando Utilities Commission was quoted as saying that negotiating to buy part of the proposed Progress Energy nuclear power plant to be located in Levy County was being "kept confidential."
The Orlando Peace and Justice and Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN) organizers protested outside the Commission's offices on Tuesday, demanding that the City pursue solar and other forms of renewable energy.
The FCAN is also organizing against utilities' ability to raise customer rates now to pay for investments to build nuclear plants in the future.
The City of Gainesville utilities canceled a second coal plant as a result of citizen's public meetings. This week, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Orlando Utilities were pursing nuclear power in behind closed door sessions and the Orlando Utilities Commission was quoted as saying that negotiating to buy part of the proposed Progress Energy nuclear power plant to be located in Levy County was being "kept confidential."
The Orlando Peace and Justice and Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN) organizers protested outside the Commission's offices on Tuesday, demanding that the City pursue solar and other forms of renewable energy.
The FCAN is also organizing against utilities' ability to raise customer rates now to pay for investments to build nuclear plants in the future.
Friday, March 13
SHORT COURSE IN VEGGIE GARDENING
Check out the upcomimg short course on growing your own veggies with Leon County Extension office. Details on our Green Food page.
Sunday, March 8
SOLAR LIGHTS
One of the very few things I can fault about Tallahassee is its lack of a few good stores for household merchandise. As Green Readers know, I'm not big on consumerism, reduce and reuse being first preference. However, I do love solar lights that are a little nontraditional looking. We can all get the globes on sticks, but these new lights from Solig would look perfect hanging from my porch. They come on automatically at dusk, run for about 9 hours and turn themselves off at light. But, since the shades are made from Polyethylene, I'll have to wait for the next generation of lights available from Ikea.
Saturday, March 7
GAINESVILLE'S FEED TARIFF GAINING TRACTION ELSEWHERE?
The Sarasota Herald Tribune reported today that its Economic Development Corporation voted to support the feed tariff concept recently adopted by the Gainesville Utilities, as noted previously here. This provides opportunities for residents producing electricity through solar panels can sell their power back to the grid.
Currently, the Legislature is considering this concept supported by the Florida Farm Bureau and real estate developers from across the state. Once the state gets the interest of developers, can adoption be far behind?
Currently, the Legislature is considering this concept supported by the Florida Farm Bureau and real estate developers from across the state. Once the state gets the interest of developers, can adoption be far behind?
