Dreaming of a Green Christmas

We're getting in the holiday spirit at the Green Center and I'm guessing you're feeling rather festive right now too. But are you thinking green?

No, not red and green, those traditional Christmas colors. But green as in sustainable. It can be tricky to reign in spending and waste and energy use this time of the year, with holiday shopping and wrapping and parties and lights galore. But you can have a green--and no less festive--Christmas.

These great sites and articles show you how:

• Green your holidays (earth911.com)
• How to have a green Christmas (eartheasy.com)
• Green Christmas gift ideas (thedailygreen.com)
• How about a green Christmas? (thehomeknowitall.com)
• Green holiday tips (sierraclub.org)
• Green gift wrapping (thehomeknowitall.com)

Happy holidays from the Green Center!

Photo credit: allerleirau

Students Tackle Campus Waste for America Recycles Day

If you walked by the front entrance to Menard Hall on Monday, you may have noticed a peculiar sight: A pile of garbage bags sitting on the sidewalk.

No, someone didn't forget to take out the garbage. The bags were piled there as part of the LLCC Environmental Club's display for American Recycles Day.

To bring awareness to the importance of recycling on campus, Environmental Club students searched through bins in Menard and Sangamon Halls on two different occasions last week to find items that could have been recycled. (Here, students Samuel Brady and Audra Allen dig through the garbage to pull out recyclable items.) 

It was surprising how often they found recyclable items thrown in the garbage when there were recycling bins right next to the trash cans!

The collection of recyclable materials the students found was displayed in front of Menard Hall on Monday, which was America Recycles Day.

Environmental Club members hung out next to a display that showcased information on the project.

During their one and a half-day collection project, the students gathered 339 plastic bottles, 104 cans, 6.1 pounds of paper.

Given that same rate, the Environmental Club calculated that in one semester, 18,080 bottles, 5,547 aluminum cans, and 325.3 pounds of white paper are thrown in trash cans versus recycling bins in Sangamon and Menard halls alone.

After the display was taken down, Club members took the cans, bottles, and paper to a local recycling center.

Rappin' About Plastic

The Green Center is a supporter of the Springfield-area Better Bag Project, an initiative led by the Green Business Network of Springfield that seeks to decrease the use of plastic shopping bags in Springfield.

So we were particularly excited to spot this YouTube video--a parody of Jay-Z's hip-hop song "Empire State of Mind." It's all about plastic bags. And it's great.

See for yourself.

They Might Be Giants: Electric Car

Come and take a ride in an electric car with They Might Be Giants.

The song and video may be targeted toward kids, but trust me: All ages are sure to enjoy this lively song about clean tech cars. Check it out!

Governor's Mansion Going Solar

On 10/10/10, Governor Pat Quinn announced plans to install solar panels on the Executive Mansion in Springfield.

The solar panels were donated by Wind Free Energy Company in Chicago and BYD America in Arlington Heights. The racking and bracketing was provided by B. Weinstein Engineering in Highland Park. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 193 has donated the labor to install the panels.

The new, 1-kilowatt array will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 30 tons of CO2 over the next 25 years (equivalent to approximately 100,000 car miles or the planting of 1,100 trees, according to the Governor's Office of Sustainability).

The Governor's Mansion already boasts energy-efficient LED lighting, rain barrels, and a community vegetable garden.

Green Fair Wednesday

Don't miss the Green Fair and Recycling Drive at Lincoln Land Community College from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 20 as part of Campus Sustainability Day.

Hop on the DCEO bike to get an idea of how much energy it takes to light a CFL versus a standard light bulb, check out recycled artwork created by LLCC students, purchase green products from the Bookstore at 15 percent off, and sign up to win gift bags loaded with sustainable and local goodies.

Inside the Student Union in Menard Hall, you'll find all of these things plus more than 20 great exhibitors and live entertainment. And outside Menard Hall, you'll find the Recycling Drive and a 100 mpg hybrid electric vehicle on display.

Learn more about what we'll accept for recycling and what's happening for the Green Fair on the Green Center website.

Green Center on Channel 20

Last night, I talked green jobs training at LLCC on Channel 20. Check out a clip of the interview here.

Living Downstream Event Sunday

On Sunday, Oct. 17, join the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Sustainable Springfield, Inc., and the Pesticide Action Network of North America in welcoming Dr. Sandra Steingraber and film-maker Chanda Chevannes to Springfield for a screening of the new documentary, Living Downstream, that explores the connections between chemicals in our environment (including agricultural chemicals) and cancer.

The film is based on the acclaimed book by Illinois native, ecologist, and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D. This film follows Sandra around North America—and back to central Illinois—as she works to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links.

Learn more about the film here.

The screening, at the Hoogland Center for the Arts, will be followed by a Q&A session and book signing with Sandra Steingraber and filmmaker Chanda Chevannes. Signed copies of the new and updated second edition of Living Downstream will be available for purchase before and after the film.

Tickets are $8 and are available online, in person, or by phone (217-523-2787).

10/10/10 Global Work Party Pics

Yesterday, I headed to Jubilee Farm in New Berlin to participate in one of Springfield's 10/10/10 Global Work Party events. I arrived just in time to see a group of bicyclists from the Springfield Bike Club pull into the farm on their 10/10/10 ride.

The timing was terrific, as it allowed me to snap photos of the bike gang with the Jubilee sign (and a 350, in honor of the event, of course).

Then I got to work helping to build the hoop houses Jubilee Farm is putting up to extend the growing season. The weather was perfect and, although the crowd that stuck around to get to work was small, we made some great progress.

Sadly, I didn't get to stay for the final touches--that is, covering the hoop houses with plastic. But that just gives me an excuse to go back to the farm another day and check out the finished product.

Speaking of which, just because the big 350.org event is over doesn't mean the volunteer opportunities are done. The sisters at Jubilee Farm are always looking for volunteers to help with farm chores, including building the other hoop house. So please, go visit and lend a hand!

Can you believe this was only one of 7,347 events in the world yesterday? Crazy, isn't it, what people can do when they join together for a great cause?

Sunday: 10/10/10 Global Work Party

Join the Green Center this Sunday as we participate in the great events scheduled around Springfield for the 10/10/10 Global Work Party.

It's a day when communities all over the world roll up their sleeves and get to work solving the climate crisis by tackling community projects designed to generate awareness of and celebrate climate solutions at a local level.

It's an initiative spearheaded by 350.org, the organization working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 10 percent in 2010 (which brings us one step closer to a healthy level of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere).

There are 18 local events you can participate in around Springfield on Sunday.

Why not attend the Indian Summer Festival at Lincoln Memorial Gardens, clear invasive plants at Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, participate in workdays at Starhill Forest Arboretum and Jubilee Farm, visit the Healthy Springfield Expo at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, or bring items you no longer want or need to the UIS Free Trading Post?

For a complete list of events, visit the springfield350.org website.

Glass Recycling Event Saturday

If you're like me, and you stockpile glass bottles and jars in the garage until you have an opportunity to drop them off somewhere in town, you're in luck.

From 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 2, the city of Springfield is sponsoring a glass recycling drop-off event at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

All colored glass bottles or jars that previously contained food or drink will be accepted. Just leave kitchenware, window glass, and eyewear at home, because these types of glass won't be accepted.

To drop off your bottles, enter the fairgrounds through Gate 11.

And if you can't make it to the glass drive Oct. 2, stay tuned: I'll be sharing info about a recycling drive at the Lincoln Land Community College campus soon.

Tonight: Green Jobs Discussion

Tonight, a group of environmental, labor union, wind-farm, and utility representatives is co-sponosoring a panel discussion on green-job opportunities. The forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Carnegie Room of the Lincoln Library in Springfield. The event is free and open to the public.

Sustainable Springfield, Inc.; the Sangamon Valley Group of the Illinois Sierra Club; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 193; City, Water, Light and Power; and American Wind Energy Management Corp. all will participate.

I'll be there and hope you will attend too!

New Energy Efficiency Rebates Available Now

Newsflash: If you live in Illinois and you have an older, less efficient appliance in your house, Friday may be the time to upgrade.

Beginning at 8 a.m. Friday and continuing until 9 p.m. or as long as funds last, you can get 15 percent off, up to $250, of the cost of a new Energy Star-rated refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, or clothes washer thanks to funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Learn more about the rebates and where you can take advantage of them on the CWLP website.

This Weekend: Biodiversity at the Illinois State Museum

Looking for something to do this weekend?

We vote for heading over to the Illinois State Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 25 for "Fall into Biodiversity." This free, family event involves activities including designing fall posters, creating monarch migration mobiles, playing a bird migration game, and enjoying the museum's exhibits. Plus visitors will learn about how plants and animals prepare for winter, how leaves turn colors in the fall, how to help birds as they migrate, and more.

At noon and 2 p.m., you can listen to Rob Mies from the Organization for Bat Conservation as he presents "Bat Encounter." At 1 p.m., Wildlife Prairie State Park presents "Illinois Winter Life."

To learn more about the event, visit the Illinois State Museum website.

On Letterman: Clinton on Green Jobs

Last night, former President Bill Clinton spoke green jobs and the need to revamp our economy in his appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.

He did a great job of discussing the basics and benefits of the green economy. And he stressed the importance of keeping manufacturing jobs in the United States and of increasing efforts to improve energy efficiency.

We need to start training people for the green jobs that are open and funding the creation of more green jobs, Clinton added.

"We could put America back to work if we took this seriously," he said.

Get the scoop with this clip from last night's show.



Oops! Didn't quite make it onto one clip. Here's the rest:

Local Food with Lincoln Land Community College

If you're a fan of the local food movement, you're in luck. This fall, the Community Learning class schedule includes a variety of local food-focused courses and events, including:

Farm Field Trips

Come with us to visit the source of local food:

September Farm Field Trip: Bear Creek Farm & Ranch
Join us at Bear Creek, where they will offer a tour and samples of their meats and vegetables. Owners Matt and Deb Daniels help us to understand the processes for growing green and managing good practices with animal feed and care. Facilitator: Denise Perry $30 - 1 session, Sunday, 9/12/2010, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Location: Bear Creek Farm & Ranch (vans depart from Trutter Center parking lot promptly at 11 a.m.) Course Code: CEW 120-40

October Farm Field Trip: Gebhart Farms
At Gebhart Farms, we will learn all about growing and harvesting the resources of field and orchard from owner Paul Gebhart. Facilitator: Denise Perry $30 - 1 session, Sunday, 10/3/2010, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: Gebhart Farms (vans depart from Trutter Center parking lot promptly at 11 a.m.) Course Code: CEW 120-41


Farm to Fork
Farm to Fork dinners offer the opportunity to try a variety of culinary menu items created with local foods. Host locations include:

Farm to Fork I: Caitie Girl's
The first of our Fall Farm to Fork dinners, where former LLCC Culinary Arts instructor Caitie Barker prepares a wonderful menu with items from the Springfield Farm Market and other local vendors. Host Location: Caitie Girl's, 400 E. Jefferson, Springfield $45 - 1 session, Thursday, 9/9/2010, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Course Code: CEW 102-X50

Farm to Fork II: Dr. Ugs
In Virginia, Susan Young welcomes us to her location where we again sample from several foods grown in the area, prepared into wonderful specialties at this popular area establishment. Host Location: Dr. Ugs, 142 E. Beardstown St., Virginia $45 - 1 session, Thursday, 9/16/2010, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Course Code: CEW 102-VA50

Farm to Fork III: Jubilee Farm
As we gather at Jubilee Farm, we have the opportunity to share the resources of the harvest and great conversation about the fresh food we enjoy. Facilitator: Denise Perry Host Location: Jubilee Farm, 6760 Old Jacksonville Rd., New Berlin $45 - 1 session, Thursday, 10/7/2010, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Course Code: CEW 102-NB51

What are you waiting for? Sign up today by contacting LLCC Registration Services at 217.786.2292 or visiting the Community Learning website to sign up.

Tour a LEED Platinum Building Wednesday

Sustainable Springfield Inc., a nonprofit organization that sponsors public lectures about eco-friendly and sustainable issues and practices in Sangamon County, is hosting a guided tour of Erin's Pavilion on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m.

Located at Southwind Park, Erin's Pavilion has been designed to incorporate sustainable features and is on track to become one of only 120 buildings in the world to be certified U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum.

The guided tour will be conducted by architect David McDow of Walton and Associates, who was the designer for the project.

Green Building: Jobs of the Future

If yesterday's post about green jobs still leaves you wondering how exactly "green" applies to the workforce, here's a great video that can help. It was produced by the Washington State Department of Ecology, but it applies just as much to Illinois as it does to Washington.

It's a cool video that shows the variety of opportunities for green building jobs. Check it out:

Finding a Green Job

It's Workforce Development Week in Illinois. On Monday, Julie Rourke (director of workforce development at LLCC) and I spoke to a group of jobseekers about green job opportunities and training.

What exactly are green jobs? They certainly include work with renewable energies such as solar, wind, and geothermal, as well as green building. But that only scratches the surface of the possibilities.

According to Phil Angelides, in this Time article, a green job "has to pay decent wages and benefits that can support a family. It has to be part of a real career path, with upward mobility. And it needs to reduce waste and pollution and benefit the environment."

To Green For All, an national organization working to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty, "green-collar jobs are well-paid, career track jobs that contribute directly to preserving or enhancing environmental quality. If a job improves the environment, but doesn’t provide a family-supporting wage or a career ladder to move low-income workers into higher-skilled occupations, it is not a green-collar job." (You can learn more about green collar jobs on the Green For All website.)

In other words, green jobs include new and emerging fields such as renewable energies. But they also include existing occupations that now have more of a focus on environmental quality, as shown in the pyramid at left.

And the demand for these types of jobs, both existing and new, is only going to keep increasing.

If you're interesting in seeking employment in an area related to the green economy, there are a variety of resources available to you. Right here in Springfield, Illinois workNET offers information and assistance to people who are searching for employment.

Or head online. Illinois.greenjobs.net provides listings for jobs available in the state for LEED certified professionals as well as people hoping to work in wind, solar, and more. Yahoo! Hotjobs includes a Green Jobs section. Or you might find employment possibilies at Green Jobs Illinois. While you're at it, check out Clean Edge Jobs, greenjobs.com or the job listings at GreenBiz.com, SustainableBusiness.com, Sustain Lane, Green Environment News, and Green Jobs Ready.

The Green Center in the News

Last week was a big one for the Green Center at Lincoln Land Community College.

First, an article about the Green Center and our upcoming renewable energy certificate program appeared in the State Journal-Register. Then, on Thursday night, Channel 3 news ran a clip about the Green Center and its initiatives on the 10 p.m. news.

We haven't found the Channel 3 clip to share with you yet, but you can read the SJ-R article here.

The Story of Stuff

Have you ever stopped to ponder where all that stuff that surrounds you--from computers to backpacks to kitchen gadgets--comes from and what impact its production has on the environment?

Wonder no more. Annie Leonard's 20-minute video, The Story of Stuff, illustrates our materials economy--the way the items we purchase every day go from raw materials to finished products and then, eventually, to the landfill. It's an eye-opening, not to mention engaging, video that's worth watching.

After you've watched the video (see below), you can learn even more by reading Leonard's new book on the same topic. Or take a peek at her other videos, including The Story of Bottled Water, The Story of Cap & Trade, and the newest addition, The Story of Cosmetics.

Fall Classes You'll Love

Lincoln Land Community College recently released its Fall 2010 Community Learning schedule, and it's loaded with great green classes.

Check out our new Good & Green series of courses for food professionals, food entrepreneurs, and foodies or all sorts. I'm particularly excited about the canning class that's being offered in November.

Then there are our fantastic Farm to Fork dinners and Farm Field Trips, not to mention a composting class taught by master gardener and Green Center favorite Bill Harmon.

What are you waiting for? Check out the course descriptions yourself over at our website. Then be sure to sign up soon. Classes this great are bound to fill up fast!

Office Recycling Made Easy

A new resource provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Illinois Recycling Association makes reducing waste at your business, school, or institution easier.

Recycling Works: A Tool Kit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace, is available for download online. The 94-page guide walks you through all the steps involved in successfully developing a waste reduction program at your workplace and provides plenty of terrific resources to help you make it happen.

And it's only one of the many resources available online. Head over to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website to learn about recycling grant programs in Illinois.

Or visit the U.S. EPA website for a step-by-step guide on setting up a recycling program. And the Sustainable Office Toolkit created by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources provides a handy information module as well.

Regardless of which approach you take for making office recycling happen, our only recommendation is to watch out for Recyclops!

What's Your Water Footprint?

Let's start with some water facts.

Did you know that less than one percent of all the water on Earth is fresh water available for human consumption? [Source: The Water Information Project]

How about that the average American uses 176 gallons of water per day (compared to 5 gallons of water the average African family uses each day) [Source: Water.org]

And how about this one: Only 5 percent of the water we use comes from toilets, faucets, and garden hoses. The other 95 percent isn't as easy to track because it comes from the food we eat, the energy we use, the products we buy, and the services we rely on. [Source: National Geographic]

Those general stats and facts are useful, but if you're like me you want to know how much water you actually use, so you can begin to identify ways to consume less of it.

That's why I'm excited about the new Water Footprint Calculator from National Geographic, which helps you find out your own water footprint and provides information and ideas on slashing water use. According to the calculator, I come in just under the average at 1,877 gallons. I might argue a few options are missing--for instance, although I don't have a new toilet, I do have a bottle in the tank to displace water. And nowhere does it ask if I water my yard with a rain barrel as opposed to the traditional spigot (I do).

But overall, it's eye opening to think about just how much water my commute to work each day or my travels to visit friends and family by plane costs in terms of water. And I'm reminded yet again of the benefits of eating a bit less meat.

Try it yourself, then be sure to peruse the tips included on the site for reducing your water footprint.

And while you're at it, check out the water footprint calculator at waterfootprint.org too. It might require a bit more contemplation on your part, but I think it's worth spending some time thinking about your consumption habits, don't you?

Photo: gehat via Flickr

Farmer's Markets and Farm Tours

Last week, in honor of National Farmer's Market Week, the folks at the Illinois Stewardship Alliance kindly invited me to tag along on a tour of Jubilee Farm in Springfield and a peek at a community garden and the Illinois Products Farmer's Market.

First stop: Jubilee Farm, which is run by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield and, although it is not certified organic (an expensive and difficult designation to get), it is maintained using organic farming methods.

The farm is lovely and productive, and the sisters in charge are passionate about their land and incredibly sweet.

One of the coolest things about Jubilee Farm is that some of their produce goes to feed the Dominican Sisters in Springfield and the rest goes to a Community Supported Agriculture program (in other words, people pay money at the beginning of the season to subscribe, and then receive a bountiful box of whatever produce is ready each week throughout the growing season). Here, they were getting ready for a CSA pickup.

Getting a subscription for the CSA is hard to come by, but if you can snag one it's certainly worth it. Next to the usual summer garden fare, the Sisters like to share a few unique varieties you might not otherwise try, like these tasty cucumbers. And they provide recipes to help subscribers with using their week's produce, too.

After touring the farm, I also got to stop by the Illinois State Fairgrounds to see the big 100-plus plot community garden there. One half of the community gardeners take care of their plots using conventional gardening techniques, while the other half use natural pest prevention and fertilization, so there's something for every type of gardener.

Finally, I stopped at the Illinois Products Farmer's Market, located right on the state fairgrounds on Thursday afternoons (except, of course, during the state fair). It was another great market, where I attended a press conference about National Farmer's Market Week and picked up some terrific locally made pasta, local cheese that makes me wonder why I ever buy anything else, and of course a bit of fresh produce.

All in all, not a bad end to a great National Farmer's Market Week!

Free Flour at the Farmer's Market

Yesterday, I headed downtown to the Old Capitol Farmer's Market to see what terrific fresh produce I could find. It was incredibly humid, but there were still plenty of vendors and shoppers lining the street.

After purchasing a glass of lemonade to cool off, I proceeded to fill my shopping bag with peaches, blackberries, homemade soap, a loaf of bread from Sweet Kneads, and even a cilantro plant.

Oh, and perhaps most importantly, a bag of flour.

But this wasn't just any flour. It was free flour packaged and handed out by Illinois Stewardship Alliance executive director Lindsay Record.

It was shipped to the Illinois Stewardship Alliance as part of the Industrial Harvest project, which aims to distribute flour purchased through the Chicago Board of Trade to food banks, soup kitchens, local farmers, and more as part of a project to learn about how commodities travel through the system.

You can find out more about the Industrial Harvest project and see photos of the bags of flour at the ISA website. And if you're interested in baking something with your own bag of flour, you're in luck. ISA will be handing out more flour at the Illinois Products Farmers Market today and at the Old Capitol Farmers Market on Saturday.

Just get there early, because the wheat flour goes fast!

Eating Seasonal

Even in the middle of winter, it's easy to find strawberries and tomatoes and other colorful produce at the supermarket. But the appearance and flavor of a strawberry purchased in January is a far cry from the vibrant, juicy fresh-picked fruit you had in June.

That's because a lot of the fruits and veggies found at the grocery store year-round are out of season in Illinois, so they have been shipped from California or Florida or even South America, where such crops are still growing strong long after the Midwest growing season ends. By the time they reach the supermarket, these products were picked days or weeks ago and have traveled hundreds, even thousands, of miles. No wonder those "fresh" tomatoes purchased in winter are mushy and flavorless.

By purchasing freshly picked, in-season foods from local farmers, you can enjoy the health and flavor benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables. At the same time, you're supporting local agriculture and forgoing the environmental damage of shipping food long distances.

Stop by your local farmer's market this week in honor of National Farmer's Market Week or anytime there's a market in your area to find the best seasonal produce.

Or if you're still not sure what fruits and veggies you should be buying this time of year. Sustainable Table lets you search what's growing by state and season. And the Epicurious Seasonal Ingredient Map makes it easy to get the scoop on this month's produce picks.

For recipe ideas that match the season, check out the Epicurious Seasonal Recipe Planner or Harvesteating.com. And follow along with Grist's Jennifer Prediger as she attempts seasonal cooking in the Urbivore's Dilemma series.

What are you waiting for? Get to the farmer's market this week!

Photo: thebittenword via Flickr

Celebrate National Farmer's Market Week

It's National Farmer's Market Week in the United States, which means it's time to celebrate the bounty and beauty of farmer's markets large and small across the country.

Start the week off right by reading the National Farmer's Market Week Proclamation from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (PDF).

Then it's time to find a local market near you. Search for markets in your area on the NRDC Simple Steps website or the Illinois Department of Agriculture website. Or visit the Illinois Stewardship Alliance website to download their Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois Directory.

Or visit these Central Illinois farmer's markets:

• Clinton Farmer's and Artisans Market, Mr. Lincoln's Square downtown (Saturdays 9 a.m. to noon)
• Illinois Products Farmer's Market, Illinois State Fairgrounds Commodities Pavilion (Thursdays 4 p.m.to 7 p.m.)
• Old Capitol Farmer's Market, On Adams St. between 5th St. and 3rd St. (Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)
• Urbana's Market on the Square, Corner of Illinois St. and Vine St. in downtown Urbana, (Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon)
• Lincoln Farmer's Market, Scully Park (Wednesdays 4 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon) and Farmer's Market Lincoln, Latham Park (Wednesdays 3:30 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 7 a.m. to noon)
• Pawnee Farmer's Market, Village Square ( Tuesdays 4 to 6 p.m.)
• Downtown Bloomington Farmer's Market, Old Courthouse Square (Saturdays 7:30 a.m. to noon)
• Downs Village Market, SW edge of Downs (Wednesdays 4 to 6 p.m.)

I'm going on a farmer's market tour this week. I'll be at the Old Capitol Farmer's Market in Springfield Wednesday morning, the Illinos Products Farmer's Market at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Thursday, and both Lincoln farmer's markets on Saturday morning.

Which markets are you headed to this week?

The Global Food System

I just stumbled upon this infographic illustrating the global food system and all I can say is wow.

As in, wow it's complex.

Wow, it's convoluted.

Wow, this certainly makes the case for supporting local food systems.

Wouldn't you much rather have a diagram that looks like this: Farmer - Farmer's Maket - Consumer? Or even: Farmer - Consumer? Or even: Backyard - Consumer?

That would look at a whole lot lovelier to me.

See the Global Food Sysem in detail here.

Recycling Works Training for Business

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, July 28.

That's when the Illinois Recycling Association (IRA) and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will be hosting a free recycling training workshop, "Recycling Works: A Toolkit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace."

The workshop will introduce attendees to the new statewide Online Workplace Recycling Toolkit developed by Shaw Industries. In addition, it features a light lunch and an introduction to the new Springfield Green Business Network.

The agenda includes:

10 a.m. to Noon - Workplace Recycling Toolkit
Noon to 1 p.m. - Light lunch
1 p.m. to 2 p.m. - Springfield Green Business Network

Sign up by visiting the Illinois Recycling Association website or contact Mike Mitchell at executivedirector@illinoisrecycles.org or 708-358-0050.

Buy Fresh, Buy Local

The benefits of buying fresh, local food are many. For starters, you'll find that local produce is often fresher, more flavorful, and even more healthful than food shipped from long distances.

And by purchasing local food rather than items from, say, California, you're supporting your area farmers and contributing to the success of your local economy.

But sometimes, finding sources from which to purchase fresh, local food can be tricky. Fortunately, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance is here to help Springfield and Bloomington-Normal residents with the release of its new Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois directory.

It's loaded with information on farmer's markets, grocery stores that stock fresh produce and other locally produced food items, and restaurants that use local food.

Download the directory from the Illinois Stewardship Council website and, while you're there, don't forget to check out the organization's Local Flavors lunch and dinner series. It's the perfect opportunity to try out the tasty, local fare Springfield-area restaurants offer.

Rapping for a Greener Economy

Regardless of where you stand politically, this video by Morehouse College graduate Markese Bryant is worth checking out for its inspiring message about taking back our neighborhoods and building a green economy.



"The Dream Reborn: My President is Green" by Markese Bryant from YouTube.

At the Green Center: Green Jobs Webcast

Want to get the scoop on green jobs opportunities and learn about the training offered at Lincoln Land Community College? Head over to the Illinois Career & Technical Education website.

Yesterday, I sat down with CTE Industrial Technology Facilitator Dr. Robert Hotes and LLCC Director of Workforce Development Julie Rourke to discuss careers in energy efficient technologies specifically related to construction. The 27-minute webcast also delves into what Illinois educators can do to expose their students to green jobs and prepare them for work in the industry.

Click here to go directly to the webcast.

Seeing Solar

There are some exciting developments in the world of solar these days. Check out some of these highlights from the past week:

SoloPower just launched a new thin-film solar product called SFXI-i that's lightweight and flexible. It could be the direction solar heads in the future.

Then again, so could Envision Solar's solar groves, 1,000-square-foot canopies of photovoltaic panels that shade parking lots while generating energy.

And the U.S. Government is putting money behind solar too: President Obama announced last week that the government is spending about $2 billion to fund the world's largest solar power facility in Arizona and the commercial-scale manufacture of thin-film solar panels for two plants.

Photo: Wayne National Forest via Flickr

Green News Roundup

Here's a brief roundup of what's going on in the green world this week:

• Research links green buildings to employee morale and productivity (plus green buildings can boost a company's bottom line). (Source: Greener Buildings)
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are under fire for backing out of an innovative home energy program for homeowners called PACE. (Source: Solve Climate)
• The U.S. Department of Energy likes to tell people saving energy is easy, but it's struggling to slash energy use in its own buildings, according to an energy audit released this week. And many of its offices still use fluorescent bulbs rather than the CFLs the DOE promotes. (Source: NY Times)
• Sustainability and energy efficiency aren't synonymous, argues Seth Scott. So what's the difference? (Source: GreenBiz.com)

No More Phosphates

On July 1, Illinois was one of 16 states to begin a dishwasher detergent phosphate ban, according to a recent report from Environmental Leader.

Why does it matter? The phosphates in our dishwashing products are washed down the drain and eventually end up in our waterways, where they promote plant and algae growth. Bacteria increase to feed on the plants and algae when they die, and these bacteria reduce the oxygen available for other water wildlife. (You may have heard the term "algae blooms" before. That's the result of phosphates in our waterways.)

That's why the U.S. banned high phosphate levels in laundry detergents quite a while ago. The always informative Umbra over at Grist explains in this Q&A why dish detergents have lagged behind. And even this change doesn't mean all detergents must have the maximum 0.5 percent phosphorous levels laid out in the new ban, because commercial detergents are exempt.
 
You probably won't see much of a change on store shelves, because most manufacturers are simply offering the usual brands in low-phosphate formulas. Still, it's still best to opt for eco-friendly options for all your dishwashing needs.
 
Why? Because phosphates are only one of many problematic ingredients.

Dishwasher detergents and liquids often contain toxic chemicals that contribute to indoor air pollution. And some chemicals such as petroleum, alkyphenol ethoxylates, and ethoxylated alcohols have been shown to harm human, animal, and ecosystem health and contaminate waterways and drinking water. Learn more about ingredients to avoid over at The Green Guide.

As if that doesn't make searching for the right detergents difficult enough, remember that terms such as "natural," "nontoxic," "eco-safe," and "environmentally friendly" are not regulated at all, which means anyone can slap them on their labels whether they're actually better for the environment or not.

Lucky you, we're going to address that very topic on the LLCC Green blog soon. In the meantime, check out Ecover, Seventh Generation, and Naturally Yours, all of which offer less toxic dishwashing products.

Photo: Telstar Logistics via Flickr

What is the Green Center?

Right now I'm in the throes of whipping our Green Center website into shape. It has a great look and some handy information, but it hasn't been updated in a while. So I'm busy making it over to provide everything you need to get informed about the Green Center.

In case you're wondering what exactly the Green Center is and what it is we do, head over to the new About page at our website. There, you'll learn a bit about the mission of the Green Center at Lincoln Land Community college, get the scoop on IGEN (the Illinois Green Economy Network), and even find out about a few terms you might be wondering about.

(If you aren't sure what "sustainability," "green jobs," and "green economy" really mean, perhaps our FAQs at the bottom of the About page will provide a starting point.)

I hope you'll bookmark not only this blog but also the Green Center website, so you can stop back often. Soon, there will be more information on our website than you'll know what to do with!

In the meantime, let me know what it is you'd most like to learn about when it comes to green jobs, the green economy, or sustainability. I'm open to suggestions, so leave a comment below or visit our page on Facebook and join in the discussion there.

Welcome to LLCC Green

Hello! Welcome to the first of what I hope will be many blog posts on green jobs training, sustainability, and the green goings-on around Lincoln Land Community College and the Springfield area.

I'm Julie, the new Green Center Manager at LLCC. I'll be your guide on this blog. Follow along with me for a look at what's happening in the world of sustainability, including green jobs creation and training, business, building and remodeling, landscaping, energy and water conservation, renewable energy (such as solar, wind, and geothermal), local and organic foods, waste reduction and recycling, transportation, and more.

Whew! That's a lot to cover, isn't it? But that's a good thing. My goal is to make this blog informative, engaging, and useful to you in your life, whether you're looking for ways to make your everyday actions more environmentally friendly or are interested in pursuing a new career path related to a growing green industry.

So come along for the ride. And thanks for visiting!