TOP STORY
 From the Ground Up Food revolutions in the heart of farm country Say the phrase "farm belt," and you probably picture a vast, flat landscape of green fields, marked by the occasional silo or factory. (Unless, of course, you picture that waist-cincher your brother had in 1976, in which case, we sympathize.) While it's true that industrial agriculture has a tight grip on the Midwest, there's more to the farm belt than meets the eye. Today, Tom Philpott profiles two counties in Iowa where residents are fighting for a different kind of picture. In one, local farmers are working to stop confined-animal feeding operations in their smelly tracks; in the other, a community-ag program is blooming. Philpott visited both, and reports back on what he found -- and what the fates of these places could mean for the rest of us. It's all part of our Sow What? series on food and farming. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] new in Grist: In the farm belt, a look at the extremes of agricultural production new in Grist: Images of a sustainable-food revolution see also in Grist: An introduction to the Sow What series |
TODAY'S NEWS
| A Capitol Idea Organic lawn care to be tested on National Mall in D.C. SafeLawns.org has received permission to use organic gardening techniques on a portion of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for a two-year trial period. Can environmentally friendly soil treatments such as compost tea hold up under the heavy foot traffic near the U.S. Capitol? One could cut the tension with a spade. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: National Park Service [PDF] |
| The Procter Is In Big-biz coalition will pressure suppliers to report emissions At least six of the world's largest companies have banded together to urge their suppliers to report and mitigate greenhouse-gas emissions. Joining together as the Supply Chain Leadership Coalition and partnering with the Carbon Disclosure Project -- which is also working with Wal-Mart -- companies including Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Tesco, Nestlé, Imperial Tobacco, and Cadbury Schweppes will pressure thousands of vendors and factories to be up front about their emissions. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: The Wall Street Journal (access ain't free) see also, in Grist: More companies disclosing and mitigating emissions, says new report |
| One Tin Solder Electronics makers lament E.U. phaseout of lead Electronics makers are lamenting the European Union's phaseout of lead from electronics, claiming that the heavy metal is the best-known defense against "whiskers," splinters that sprout off of tin solder. Tin whiskers can cause short circuits, which some estimate have caused as much as $10 billion in damage since they were first noticed in the 1940s. Lead exposure has been linked to learning and behavioral problems, anemia, kidney disease, high blood pressure, and reproductive damage. Tough call. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: Associated Press |
| Through Hell and High Yogurt Yogurt-maker Dannon agrees to pay fine, treat wastewater in EPA settlement International yogurt giant Dannon has agreed to pay a fine of $71,350 and install a multimillion-dollar automated wastewater control system as part of a settlement with the U.S. EPA. There have been some 10 illegal discharges over the past few years at the company's 3-million-cup-a-day yogurt plant in Ohio -- and it's not just spilled yogurt. In February 2005, the company spilled 15,000 gallons of water and milk waste into the storm sewer and a canal, and a September 2005 spill dumped about 1,800 gallons of harsh chemicals and a few hundred thousand gallons of wastewater into the sanitary sewer, killing over 30,000 fish. Few souls above the surface heard the fish's milk-curdling screams. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: Associated Press, Dayton Daily News |
| What a Revelation Publisher will produce first eco-friendly Bible Coming soon to a hotel room near you: the first green Bible, expected to hit the scene later this month from publisher Thomas Nelson. The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Daily Bible -- which perhaps includes the 11th commandment "Thou shalt be principled"? -- will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and contain recycled fiber. Says Tyson Miller of the Green Press Initiative, which is working with Thomas Nelson to green the Holy Book: "The Bible is the most widely circulated book on the planet and Thomas Nelson's leadership and use of environmentally responsible paper is a living legacy to the Bible's message of stewardship." Amen. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: The Book Standard see also, in Grist: A special series on God and the environment |
GRIST COLUMNS AND FEATURES
Into the Wild
On tossing food waste
Q. Dear Umbra,
I am a college student. I eat a lot on the go. When I leave my dorm I usually grab an apple, banana, or other fruit/veggie to eat as I walk to my destination. I don't compost, instead I just throw the banana peel or apple core into the bushes. To me this is an opportunity for new life, but I've heard this eco-littering isn't terribly good. I don't really know and I kinda like my fantasy world where it is. Is my eco-littering ok? Should I start to properly compost my food?
Brendan
Moscow, Idaho
A. Dearest Brendan,
Many angles to consider, here -- or, there's more than one way to peel this apple. Is that the expression? Am I conflating skinning a cat with peel me a grape? We'll sort through the peelings, but let's start with the end and say ...
Read the rest of Umbra's answer.
Into the Wild On tossing food waste
Q. Dear Umbra,
I am a college student. I eat a lot on the go. When I leave my dorm I usually grab an apple, banana, or other fruit/veggie to eat as I walk to my destination. I don't compost, instead I just throw the banana peel or apple core into the bushes. To me this is an opportunity for new life, but I've heard this eco-littering isn't terribly good. I don't really know and I kinda like my fantasy world where it is. Is my eco-littering ok? Should I start to properly compost my food?
Brendan
Moscow, Idaho
A. Dearest Brendan,
Many angles to consider, here -- or, there's more than one way to peel this apple. Is that the expression? Am I conflating skinning a cat with peel me a grape? We'll sort through the peelings, but let's start with the end and say ...
Read the rest of Umbra's answer.
[ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ]
new in Grist: On tossing food waste
Grist: Environmental News and Commentary
©2007. Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Gloom and doom with a sense of humor®.
Grist: Environmental News and Commentary
©2007. Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Gloom and doom with a sense of humor®.
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