Going Green Memphis 03-27-11

8/7/2019 Going Green Memphis 03-27-11

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2 GOING GREEN | S u n d ay , March 2 7, 2011 co mm er ci a l a pp ea l.com

FROM THE EDITOR

Make every

day Earth DayThis months cover story got

me thinking about the concept ofearth day, every day.

Its actually come a long wayfrom it start over 40 years ago asthis singular moment in time tostop and think and then dosomething good for the planet.

Now its an exploding topic fordebate and change. Its a way oflife for many. And a new frontierfor others. But its top of mind now more than ever.

Its grown from beingcelebrated as single event on asingle day to dozens of events

over an entire month.Earth Day reminds us of what

we should be doing every day.Recycling, reducing waste,composting and exploringrenewable energy, to name a few.

The Earth Day Networkcreated a Green GenerationCampaign that has these threecore principles:

1.Live carbon-free withrenewable energy sources

2.Consume responsibly andsust ainably

3.Create green jobs and a globalgreen education system

Sounds like a good start.

S u bs c r i b eSign up to receive the latest

issues of Going Green theenvironmental digital magazine ofThe Commercial Appeal - as they arereleased. The e-magazine is

published on the last Sunday of eachmonth. Subscriptions are free tosubscribers of The CommercialAppeal, simply follow the one-timeGoing Green registration process toobtain access.

Upon registration, home deliverysubscribers to The CommercialAppeal receive access to the digitalproduct at no additional cost.

Raise your profileElevate your companys profile

within the Green Community. Sendus a short article or a project outlinefor consideration in Going Green,explaining what you are doing togreen up your lifestyle? Includeyour preferred contact phonenumber.

Send in your e-maila d d r es s

We ll share information andresources to help readers of GoingGreen swap money-saving tips andinformation related to green i s s u esand events. Send toke p l i n ge r @ com me r c i a l app ea l .com .

You can also follow Going Greenon Facebook and at

twitter.com/GoGreenMemphis .

Ed i t o r : Kim Coleman, 529-5243,goi n g g r e e n @ co m m e rci a l a p p ea l .com

Community Editor: Emily AdamsKe p l i n ge r ,ke p l in ger @ com m er c i al a p pea l.co m


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The Commercial Appeal S und ay, March 2 7, 2011 | GOING GREEN 3

Its Earth Dayevery day in April

Memphis Botanic Gardens,International Paper partnerfor month-long celebration

Proper disposal ofwaste helps keepstorm drains andwaterways clearof debris

Whats in this issue ...

12

18

On the cover:Illustration from istockphotos.com

29

26

Local faux finishartist Stephanie Jonesenjoys r ecy c li n gf u r n i t u r e. PAGE 34

W:159.942ptH:118.026pt

For Temple Israel,protecting theenvironment is Godswork too. PAGE 39

A guide for avidgardeners who want tostart their plants fromseeds. PAGE 45

As a certified

arborist, WesHopper climbsthe tallest trees

LOCAL NEWS

O2E: Learningand Leading Green

BUS I N ESS FA I T H HOME & GARDEN


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In London, unwanted subway cars were bought from the city for about

$200 each by a local designer with an innovative idea. After payingsignificantly more to relocate these cars, he transformed them into cheap,solar-powered, rooftop office spaces for artists who can't afford studios.While the space is small, it is efficient for young professionals and thesubway car recycling effort will be expanded and soon taken to the artisticcommunities of Berlin, Libson and Toronto.

Micro Greens...

Subway cars transform into art space

He l pwith

basicsof life

When disaster strikes, like the dual tragedies of the earthquake and tsunami inJapan, ShelterBox responds within hours with survival supplies, essential toproviding families with everything they need while they are temporarilydisplaced or homeless. Every box typically contains a large tent, blankets, atool kit, a multi-fuel stove and more. The value of one box is $1,000, butdonations as small as $25 are accepted and donors can track their box all theway to its recipient country on the ShelterBox website. ShelterBox is anonprofit organization with a mission statement that revolves aroundproviding one of humanity's most basic needs: shelter.


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The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , March 2 7, 2011 | GOING GREEN 5

Green Snap...

Melody Gordon/Going Green

Aury Kangelos (center), an intern with the University ofMemphis, works on a raised bed while Anelle Hernandez

(left), an Alternative Spring Break volunteer from theUniversity of Kansas, helps. They are putting the finishing

touches on the Memphis Urban Ministries CommunityGarden at the corner of Vance Ave and S. Lauderdale St.

Prepping for the season

How edible is your garden? If you are itching to try your hand at growing

vegetables and fruit, here's your chance. Going Green is challenging readersto grow something edible this year. Take photos as you prepare and plant,

work the beds and harvest. Share them with us along the way and later thisseason at harvest. Tell us about your experience. We'll post them on

commercialappeal.com/ goinggreen and publish them in the monthly digitalmagazine. Here's your chance to show off your green thumb, and havesomething great for your table. Questions: 529-2372 or goinggreen@

commercialappeal .com .


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6 GOING GREEN | Su n d ay , March 2 7, 2011 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

Ev e n t s

Tennessee Flea Market grand opening

April 2 at 7060 Winchester, All day

The state's largest indoor flea market, the firstflea market to operate 52 weekends a year, willopen in a building where an old K-Mart once stood making it a great and creative reuse of whatcould have been just another vacant building.Items sold by vendors will range from food andclothing to homemade products and localservices. Parking is free. For more information,please call 901-848-3532.

Signs of Spring WalkApril 10 at Memphis Botanic Garden on 750Cherry Rd, 1 p.m.

No registration is needed to take part in thiscasual walk around the Botanic Garden withMaster Gardener, Judith Hammond. This event isfree with garden admission. For more informationplease call 901-576-4100.

Container plant seminar

April 30 at The StockyardNursery on 10996 Hwy 70,Arlington, TN., 10 a.m

Learn from professionalgardeners and growers withFafard, Inc. on how to makeyour container plantingsbeautiful. Participants canbring their own containersfrom home or purchase onefrom The Stockyard. For

more information, please call9 0 1- 8 67- 873 3.

Memphis Tour de Curefor Diabetes

April 30: Check-In and startlocation at Mud Island, 8 a.m.

Join in the fight againstdiabetes in this bicycle ridedesigned for all skill levels.

This nation-wide event isMemphis' first Tour de Cureever and will include lengthsof 12 miles, 35 miles and 62miles. All Tour de Cure routesare safe and supported withroute marshals, mechanicalsupport, rest stops withwater and snacks and more.For more information pleasecontact John Carroll at

j ca r r o l l @dia be tes .o r g.Going Green Memphis is

now on Facebook. SimplyLIKE the page to receiveregular news briefs andupdates about green eventsand programs taking place inand around the GreaterMemphis area.

The Green Page...


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Tour De Grizz kicks off NBAGreen Week on April 2

As a kick-off for the NBAs annualGreen Week, the Grizzlies will participatein its third annual Tour De Grizz on April 2,an event for all ages that encouragesfitness and environmental awareness,which begins at the Memphis Zoo.

The price, $25 for an individual, $45per family, includes all-day admission tothe zoo as well as a ticket to the game atwhich the Memphis Grizzlies will face offagainst the Minnesota Timberwolves. At5:30 p.m., the group will leave on bicyclesto ride to the FedEx Forum.

Tip-off for the game is at 7 p.m., and

although the ride usually takes about 45minutes, officials planned for twice thatmuch time so all riders will make it to thegame on time. Memphis Police officers willescort them Downtown.

Valet bike parking at the zoo as well as atthe FedEx Forum will be provided. The riderswill meet in the Grand Lobby, where theywill be able to tour a variety of exhibits fromlocal companies, agencies and non-profit

groups, including the Greater MemphisGreenline, Livable Memphis, Church HeathCenter and International Paper.

The team will also be celebrating GreenWeek, an NBA league event from April 3 toApril 10, at its two other home games on

April 5 and April 8, by auctioning offbasketballs made from recycled materialand autographed by players for charity.Players also wear a special, green organicjersey with the NBA logo, when they arenot playing and during pre-game activities,and a similar shirt will be available for sale.Energy saving tips will be announcedthroughout the games in hopes that fanswill leave with more knowledge aboutliving green than when they arrived.

On April 7, the Grizzlies will be workingon a service project with Memphis CityBeautiful. Staff members and a couple ofthe players will participate in the project a neighborhood clean-up.

For more information, call 205-1460 orvisit g r i z z l i es .co m .

Suzanne Thompson,Special to Going Green

FedEx gets first Green Hard Hat

Published on March 23, 2011

FedEx initiatives to conduct its operations inmore environmentally sensitive ways has earnedthe company the first Green Hard Hat Award givenby the Conference on Sustainable Real Estate.

Conference leaders said they unanimously

chose FedEx because the company: hasreceived LEED certification on a 1.25 million-square-foot building leads by example with itssustainable and green actions, such asconverting its airplanes and trucks to greenerfleets; andprovides an international example forconducting business in a more sustainable way.

Full article: commercialappeal .com/news/2011/mar/23/ coffee-break-fedex-gets-fi rst - g re e n- h ard -h a t /

In case you missed it... Breaking ground on eco-friendlyWolf River Boulevard link

Published on March 23, 2011

Officials broke ground on the last two-milelink for Wolf River Boulevard in Germantown.The project will connect where Wolf RiverBoulevard ends with the western section thatpicks back up at Farmington.

The project is on target for a Silver

certification and will be the first state roadwayto be designated as such.

It was challenging because of everythingwe had to do. The city wanted the road to bedifferent and environmentally sensitive, saidWilliam Porter, W.H. Porter & Consultants.

Lela Garlington, The Commercial Appeal

Full article: commercialappeal .com/news/ 2 0 1 1 /m a r/ 2 3 /cl e a re d - fo r - t a k e off /


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Know your produce for pesticidesPoring over those gorgeous seed

catalogs while my goats were ankle deepin snow made me dream of spring.Now its here, and its time to get

serious about gardens.Since Im the only gardener in

the family, and I just deliveredbaby No. 4, I suspect that withoutthe help of some generous friends,my garden will be largelyimaginary this year.

But maybe not.The Environmental Working

Group has listed 49 produce itemsin order of likely pesticide residue(fo o d n ew s . o rg ). The best 15 arenicknamed The Clean Fifteen,while the worst 12 are nicknamed TheDirty Dozen. These are the produceitems that I should buy as organic or

grow myself.According to The Clean Fifteen, Idont need to grow avocados,pineapples, mangos, kiwi, cantaloupe,watermelon, grapefruit or honeydew.

That suits me fine. We arent in the right

area for some of those, and I despise allm el o n s .

Other need-not-grows are sweet corn(dont have the room anyway),onions, sweet peas (my son isallergic), eggplant and cabbage(which I couldnt grow right ifmy life depended on it).

However, two clean itemsmay still make it into the garden.Fresh asparagus is too delicious,and I already have a three-year-old patch. And sweet potatoesare just plain fun. They take overlike ivy, and my kids love diggingthem up at seasons end.

Now, on to the bad guys. The worstoffender on the Dirty Dozen list iscelery. It would be a good idea to grow

my own, but unfortunately I amincapable. Organic celery is readily

DEANNA

CASW E L L

Pra c t i ca l l yG reen


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available and is not that expensive.Peaches (No. 2), apples (No. 4),

nectarines (No. 6), and cherries (No.10) are all good for growing in our area.They take a few years to really get going.

I dont recommend full-size trees, unless youhave a lot of room, butthe dwarf varietiesare easy tofind and getonly about 10feet tall, perfectfor Mid-Southyards. I ordered a

bunch a few yearsback froma rb o rd ay. c o m , andhad I protected them fromthe goats, Id be swimming infruit this season. I now have afabulously sturdy goat fence, soI think Ill replant those treesthis year, or maybe next.

Strawberries (No. 3) take onlya year or two to get going in ourarea and make a great groundcover. Last year I had a bigstrawberry patch in the front yard(no goats up there) and wasoverwhelmed with strawberries. Iwas handing them out to friends,family, even the piano repairman.So theyre definitely in again this

ye a r.Continuing with the Dirty Dozen:Blueberries (No. 5, if domestic) andgrapes (No. 12, if imported) growwell in our area, but like all fruit, theytake a few years to get going. Not aslong as an apple tree, but longer than astrawberry patch. Ive tried twice togrow them. One year they fell victim to

first-time-gardener ignorance. Anotheryear, they fell victim to goats. Goats lovefruit trees and shrubs.

Bell peppers (No. 7), spinach (No. 8),collard greens/kale (No. 9), and

potatoes (No. 11) are all easy togrow in our area.They produce in amatter of months,and amazingly, I

h avesuccessfullygrown allof these.

They will

definitely bein this year.

T h at s fourvegetables to grow and

a whole heck of a lot offruit. If like me, you are

really impatient, reallycheap, and have doubtsabout your success as a

backyard orchardist, juststart with potatoes,spinach, greens, peppersand a few strawberryplants.

You can still cut a lot ofpesticide residue from yourfamilys diet by sticking tofruits on the Clean Fifteen:pineapples, mangos, kiwi,

grapefruit and all of thosem el o n s .

Deanna Caswell is a local writerwho blogs at

l i tt l eh o u s e i n t h e su b u r bs . com . C aswelland her husband, Jeff, live in

Collierville. She practices eco-friendlyliving while raising their four children, alongwith pygmy goats and chickens.


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M E L I SSA

P E T E RS E N

Eating Local,Eating Green

Lettuces a sure sign of spring

Associated Press

Easy-to-grow greens are a much more environmentally friendly way to go - likethis bed of Yugoslavian Red lettuce in the White House Kitchen Garden.

NOTHING SAYS "CHANGEOF SEASONS" like the lushgreen sprouts that carpet thelandscape, seemingly

overnight. Local lettuces - onfarms and in yards - are thefirst produce of spring.

The tenacious can growlettuce all winter long - in coldframes or on a sunny windowsill.But for those of us who look forlocal and less-traveled food,those lettuces in the backyard

are a welcome sight.Put iceberg out of your mind

and your refrigerator. There'sno need to waste your time

with the tasteless when thereare lots of interesting leaves toadd to sandwiches and salads.

Butterhead and leaf lettuces,such as bibb and oak leaf, arepliable with a mild, sweetflavor. Escarole, radicchio andchicories (sometimes known ascurly endive or frise) are


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The Commercial Appeal S und ay, March 2 7, 2011 | GOING GREEN 11

SherryVi n a i g r e t t e1/2 cup sherry vinegar1 shallot, minced1 tbsp. Dijon mustard2 tbsp. honey

1 to 11

/4 cups olive oilSalt and pepper to taste

In a mixing bowl,whisk togethervinegar, shallot,mustard and honey.Slowly whisk in oil.Season to taste withsalt and freshlyground pepper.Serve on fresh springgreens.

Cilantro CitrusVi n a i g r e t t e1/4 cup rice wine orchampagne vinegar1 shallot, minced1 to 11/2 cups olive oil2 tbsp. orange marmalade

or honey1 tbsp. Dijon mustardJuice from 1 limeJuice from 1 lemon1/2 cup fresh cilantroleav esSalt and pepper to taste

Place vinegar,shallots, marmalade,mustard, lemon juice

and lime juice in ablender. Pulse tomix. With blender on,slowly add olive oiluntil an emulsion(thick mixture) iscreated. Add cilantro,salt and pepper andpulse to mix in.

bitter. Sorrel is tart. Watercress and arugula tastepeppery. Colors run the gamut. Some lettuces havesmooth leaves; some have ruffles. Mix them up, and gofor balance. Each bite should have a little of everything.

For food less traveled, plant your own "salad bowl" (amixture of greens seeds). In a few weeks, you should beable to find preplanted salad bowls at garden centers,farmers markets and some groceries - ready to starth a r ve s t i n g.

Lettuce is highly perishable. You may get only a fewdays from the bags at the grocery, because they'vealready spent days on a truck and in storage (think ofthe energy required).

Store lettuces in the crisper drawer of yourrefrigerator, and don't wash until you're ready to use.

Run some cool water, and submerge the leaves. Givethem a gentle stir. The dirt should sink to the bottom.Remove the leaves to a colander or salad spinner, anddry well. Wet greens don't stay crisp, and dressingsdon't stick to them very well.

Tear tender lettuces by hand, but hearty leaves -romaine, arugula, radicchio and spinach - hold up to aknife just fine. The leaf is just the beginning, the perfectcanvas for the local items that are soon coming our way.

Finally, great dressing is the key to a spectacularsalad. A basic vinaigrette salad dressing is simply onepart vinegar mixed with three parts oil and anemulsifier (such as honey or Dijon mustard). Theemulsifier allows the oil and vinegar to stay mixedtogether temporarily (and adds some flavor). Don'tforget to season with salt and pepper.

For punchy dressings, use a strong vinegar, such asbalsamic or sherry vinegar. For mild dressings, use acitrus juice in place of all or some of the vinegar, or use

a mild vinegar, such as rice wine or champagne vinegar.I use olive oil for all of my dressings, but you can useany neutral (vegetable, canola) or flavored (walnut,pecan) vinegar that complements the other ingredients.

You're living green and local; show it off.

Melissa Petersen is the editor of Edible Memphis, a magazinethat celebrates the abundance of local food, season by season. Itis available at various locations around town. Contact her atediblememphis.com .


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EARTH DAY


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By Suzanne Thompson / Special to Going Green

FOR MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN AND INTERNATIONALPA P E R , celebrating the wonders and preservation of the planet on

just one day is not enough. So they have partnered to initiate a

program for the entire month of April, Earth Day, Every Day.

EVERY DAYAt Botanic Garden, April is the month topromote green living practices for families

We thought about a traditionalEarth Day event, but we came

back and we said, The movement,the way that people are choosingto live and their lifestyles areshifting more from a one-timeevent a year to our lives everyd ay, said Kim Wirth, executivedirector of the International PaperFo u n d at i o n .

Kristin Zemaitis, youtheducation program manager for

Memphis Botanic Garden, agrees.Earth Day doesnt just have to

be a one-day thing. Earth Day canbe something that you canpractice and do every day, shes aid.

Like some other great ideas, theproject began with a simple

convers ation.The most interesting and

innovative part of this program isthat we sat down with people atthe Botanic Garden and a lot ofInternational Papers businessesand we realized we are doing allthese great things around theglobe, and tried to identify howwe could bring that to the Mid-South community, Wirth said.

Once communication began, the

project took off.Once we started having a

dialogue about things we faceevery day, like how to recycle andhow to compost materials, andhow to plant trees, we had a littlesynergy where we realized that wehave this information and the


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Botanic Garden has the knowledge ofhow to bring it to people and to bring itto individuals, so it was a greatpartnership in that sense, Wirth said.

While there is something foreveryone at some time during the

month, the focus is on families,students and educators.We have such a deep connection

because our products are fiber-based,Wirth said. So, environmentaleducation is part of our culture. Wehave a lot of great partners around thecity that help us reach differentaudiences about environmental

education, and the Botanic Garden isthe perfect opportunity for us toapproach families and school-agechildren about environmentaleducation messages and how they canpromote green living practices in their

daily lives.While there is a charge for somespecial events, many are free with theprice of admission to the BotanicG a rd e n .

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 forchildren older than 2 years. Childrenyounger than 2 are admitted free.

Some events require reservations.

Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal files

A month-long Earth Day celebration kicks off in My Big Backyard, the childrensarea at Memphis Botanic Garden, with live music, games and food on April 1.

Participants can check out the many ways MBG reuses old things includingthese flower beds in the whimsical Home Sweet Home section.


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April 1: Backyard Bash in My BigB a c kya r d

April 2: Backyard Paint PartyApril 3: Family Rain Barrel

Wo r ks h o pApril 4: After School Green Hour in

My Big BackyardApril 5: Horticulture Society

Lecture, Delicious and NutritiousVe ge t a b l es

April 5, 6: Caterpillar Club: TheWorld Around Us

April 7: Going Green Lunch Scene,Composting 101 with Carl WayneHardeman

April 8: Project Learning TreeEducator Workshop

April 9: Kids-Only Yard SaleApril 10: Signs of Spring WalkApril 11: After School Green Hour in

My Big BackyardApril 12: Memphis Botanic Garden

To u rApril 13: Brown Bag Lunch Lecture,

Going Green from the Ground UpApril 14: Going Green Lunch Scene,

Organic Gardening 101 with KayM c Ad a m s

April 15-17: Spring Plant SaleApril 18: After School Green Hour in

My Big BackyardApril 19, 20: Caterpillar Club: The

World of PlantsApril 19, 20: En vi ron me nt a l

P l ay h o u s eApril 21: Going Green Lunch Scene,

Recycle Right: Creative Recycling inthe Garden with Linda OvertonPhillips

April 21: Aquatic Plants with HyunJung Cho, Ph.D.

April 22: Earth DayApril 23: Family Egg HuntApril 24: Ea s t e rApril 25: After School Green Hour in

My Big Backyard

April 26: Tuesdays on the Terrace,Picnic Wines

April 27: Farmers Market opensApril 28: Going Green Lunch Scene,

Growing and Using Herbs for Health

with Evelyn MosleyApril 29: Wild Food and Herb WalkApril 30: Outdoor Classroom

Symposium at Keystone Elementary

For a full event listing with programdescription, times and costinformation, go to m e m p hi s b o t a n i cgarden .com/i n d ex. c f m ?s e c t io n = 3 & p a g e = 1 3 1 .

Brandon Dill/The Commercial Appeal files

The annual Family Egg Hunt willhave a hint of green this year,with all the crafts centeredaround a theme of recycling andconservation.

Memphis Botanic Gardens Earth Month Events


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Brandon Dill/The Commercial Appeal files

The Memphis Botanic Garden has events planned with all ages in mind,including a Family Rain Barrel Workshop, the annual Spring Plant Sale, openingof the farmers market and displays of artwork made from recycled material.

Earth Day, Every Day includes a widerange of more than 20 activities,including family workshops, nature hikesand seminars for teachers aboutrecycling and composting. One event,the Conservation Challenge Hike, will beongoing during April.

Hikers will have access to thebeautiful setting of the garden, and theywill be steered by signage through s el f -directed hikes.

Each sign will have a conservationquiz question, with the answer beingprovided at the next sign, Zemaitisex p l a i n e d .

A Kids-Only Yard Sale will be held onApril 9, in which children get a booth tosell their toys.

They are recycling their toys byselling them and learning moneymanagement skills, she said.

Earth Day, Every Day is a new eventfor the Botanic Garden, but not all of theactivities offered are new.

Our Caterpillar Club is ongoing, butthe theme for April will be The WorldAround Us, Zemaitis said of the pre-school program, which like othermonthly programs has been tweaked tohave an Earth Day theme.


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The Commercial Appeal S u n day , March 2 7, 2011 | GOING GREEN 17

The Family Egg Hunt on April 23, likethe Spring Plant Sale April 15-17, is ayearly event, but this year all the craftswill be centered around a theme ofrecycling and conservation.

The kids are going to get to make an

Easter bonnet made out of oldnewspapers, and egg carton flowers,she said.

The grand prize will be a big greenegg and a home environmental item, likea composter or water barrel.

We ll also have the After SchoolGreen Hour, a special after-school drop-in out in the childrens garden and

families will do a take-home craft,whether its a worm bin, or a paperrecycling kit. Theres a different themefor each of them, Zemaitis said.

There is no additional charge for theAfter School Green Hour, which isscheduled for 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. onApril 4, April 11, April 14 and April 25.

There will also be a Family RainBarrel Workshop on April 3. Each family

will receive a 55-gallon rain barrel whichthey can paint together and learn aboutu s i n g.

The fee for the Family Rain BarrelWorkshop is $40, which includesBotanic Garden admission.

Not every event is for children.Tuesdays on the Terrace is a monthly

wine tasting event, and in April thetheme will be picnic wines, with adisplay of the creative recycling of winebottles. The charge for this is $35 fornon-members and $25 for members, butmost events are free with the price ofadmission.

Everybody should be able to findsomething they are interested in that wehave offered in April, Zemaitis said.


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LOCAL NEWS

By Tom Charlier

charlier@commercialappeal .com

Chad Pregracke plucked tiresfrom the Potomac and yankedmattresses from the Missouri, butnone of that prepared him for thefoul mess now stretching out beforehim in Memphis main harbor onthe Mississippi River.

Standing in a flat-bottomed boaton McKellar Lake, Pregracke isgazing at large mats of floating trash plastic containers, 40-ounce beerbottles, paper cups, toys, evencoolers and basketballs bobbingin the wake from his vessel.

Never seen anything like it, hes ays.

T h at s quite a statement,

Fishing for trashRiver cleanup group docks in Memphis for McKellar Lake project

Photos by Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Standing on his custom flatboat, envioronmentalist Chad Pregracke (left) talkswith Cargill employee and volunteer Kevin Byrd about the lake of garbagefloating on the Mississippi River.


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considering that Pregracke, founder andpresident of the cleanup group LivingLands & Waters, has been calledAmericas rivers garbage man. O ve rthe past 13 years, hes directed nearly500 cleanups in 18 states and won

prestigious honors, including theJefferson Award, presented by theAmerican Institute for Public Service.

His latest, and perhaps mostchallenging, effort began in lateFeb r u a r y as the Living Lands & Watersflotilla including a towboat, fourbarges and six work boats cruisedinto McKellar Lake, the slack-waterharbor south of Downtown. They werein town for a month-long operation thatsremoving tons of refuse from the water.

M c Kel l a r s litter problems are wellknown, and they arent caused byindustries along the harbor, officials say.Instead, most of the trash is carried intothe harbor by Nonconnah Creek, theurban stream that receives the runofffrom much of Memphis and turns into

something of a massive storm drain

after heavy rains.Its just a function of roadside litter

and debris washing through Nonconnahand flowing into McKellar Lake, s aidPaul Patterson, administrator ofenvironmental engineering for the city.

He said the refuse is a reflection ofhow Memphians habits are not whatthey need to be in terms of makingsure waste is properly disposed of.

The city has considered variousremedies for the harbor pollution,including the possible purchase of a trash-skimming boat. But the cost of the vesselproved too high, and officials concludedthat the dense shoreline vegetation likelywould render it ineffective.

P re g ra c ke s group, which has a smallstaff, has been joined in the cleanup effortby scores of volunteers, including collegestudents from across the Midwest,Southeast and Northeast participating inan alternative spring break.

Like troops in an amphibious assault,the workers ride sturdy 30-foot boats

that surge ashore through the trash and

Its just

n a sty . . .We

make our living

off the inland

w a te r w aysystem. We

want it to be

c l ea n .

GEORGE LEAVELL, WEPFERMARINES EXECUTIVE VICE

P R ES I D E N T


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willows lining the banks. Stepping offthe vessels, theyre almost overwhelmedby the scale of the debris in some places.

This is awful, said volunteerDeborah Manthey.

So abundant is the harbor trash that thegroup has been bagging close to 10,000pounds each day. After each outing thebag-laden boats return to the groupsbarges, where the bags are stacked in animmense heap, eventually to be loaded

into trucks and taken to a local landfill.The 36-year-old Pregracke launchedthe group in 1998.

The groups annual budget is justover $1 million. It gets plenty ofsupport from firms in the Memphisarea, including large companies such asFedEx and Cargils.

Smaller local firms help, too, including

Grainger Industrial Supply, whichprovided a grant, and Wepfer Marine,which offered docking, repairs and otherservices for the groups vessels.

George Leavell, Wepfers executivevice president, said the harbor-servicecompany supports Living Lands &Waters because the firm spends largesums of money each year cleaning updebris around its docks.

Its just nasty..., he said. We make

our living off the inland waterwaysystem. We want it to be clean.Given the scale of thep ro b l e m ,

P re g ra c ke plans to return to Memphisfor cleanups for the next three years.

I dont want to be just a flash in thepan, he said. I want to have a lastingimpact .

Tom Charlier: 529-2572

Volunteer Dave Manthey shows his disgust as he and fellow volunteers fromCargill help clean up some of the trashiest parts of the Mississippi River.


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What an embarrassing, yet telling photofor Memphis.

The one that showed the floating trash inMcKellar Lake on the cover of the Local Newssection.

Remember that one? It showed two rivercleanup volunteers on their boat looking outat McKellar Lake, which is the main Memphisharbor on the Mississippi River.

Harbor. River. You might think of yachts,pristine paddling for a canoe, birds andtranquility.

But you'd be way wrong.The photo of McKellar Lake looked more

like a floating Dumpster.Plastic bottles. Styrofoam. Grocery bags.

Liquor bottles. Toilet paper. A big soggy messright on the Mississippi River.

Rubbish from Greater Memphis has floweddown Nonconnah Creek and into the harborfrom streets in both the poor parts of town

and the richer suburbs.Trashy Memphis isn't something we like tothink about. But it's part of the urbanlandscape. A blight, really, in a city old-timersrecall once was considered, back in the 1930sand 1940s, as among the cleanest in America.

No more. Take a drive off the mainthoroughfares into the vacant, run-downparts of Memphis and you see the mess.Blowing fast-food bags, emptied-outashtrays, wadded-up disposable diapers. It's

everywhere - not just McKellar Lake.The question is, why?Could it be because we've let ourselves get

all wrapped up in our boundaries, our walls,our own worlds?

It's human nature. We need boundaries,places where we feel comfortable.

But when we overdo it, when we define ourlives only by the boundaries in which we chooseto live, it's pretty easy to assume that once your

trash disappears from the front of the house, oreven out the window of your car, it's done with.

But it's not gone. It just flows downstream,to McKellar Lake, or the overburdened stormsewers, or into some else's yard.

This out of sight, out of mind Memphismentality isn't limited to trash and garbage.

It's evident in community attitudes aboutschools, and crime, and poverty, and a lot else.

Yeah, your kids may be doing fine in aprivate school with other privileged kids. Iknow mine did.

But if you live in Greater Memphis, youdon't really get away from the impact of halfthe kids in the region struggling in school,struggling with how to become productiveadults, struggling to get out of theirimpoverished boundaries. Their strugglesaffect who you can hire, who shops at yourbusiness, who votes and gets elected in yourcongressional district.

And yeah, you can move, build a housefarther away from the blightedneighborhoods. But then you are drivingmore, burning more gas, paying the oftenunderreported costs of urban sprawl inutilities and services.

It's tempting to say that you are gettingaway, walling off, separating yourself from allkinds of nasty problems.

But really, we're one world. Onecommunity. One place.

McKellar Lake really is a metaphor for thelarger challenge in Memphis of figuring outhow we can live together, solve problemstogether, and not flush our troublesd o wn s trea m .

Chris Peck is editor of The CommercialAppeal. Contact him at 529-2390 or [email protected]. This columnran in the Commercial Appeal print editionon Xxxxxxxx.

CHRISPECK Inside the Newsroom

Trashy Memphis is embarrassing


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22 GOING GREEN | Su n day , March 2 7, 2011 co mm er cia l a pp ea l.co m

By Suzanne Thompson

Special to Going Green

The warm weather bringsbuds of new growth on trees,blossoming flowers and, ofcourse, green grass, whichmust be maintained through-

out much of the year.Its important that freshlycut grass is properly disposedof, not blown off the yard intothe street, where it ends up instorm drains.

The storm drains are thefirst point of entry for thewater and debris that flow in-to the storm water drainagesystem, and ultimately windup in rivers.

The city of Memphis stormwater system is separate fromthe sanitary system, and isknown as a Municipal Sep-arate Storm Sewer System(MS4). That means water,such as rainfall and runoff, is

conducted through a separatesystem from water producedby household and commerciald i s c h a rge s .

The water is managed bythe city of Memphis StormWater Management (SWM)office and Drain Maintenance.

The water that is gener-

Different type of spring cleaning

Storm drains the first point of entry for local debris

Ben Fant/Special to the Commercial Appeal

John Parker of the City of Memphis Public WorksDrain Maintenance Department clears leaves anddebris from a clogged storm drain in a residentialneighborhood. Parker's crew is responsible forensuring the upkeep of these drains, but theyneed help from residents in the neighborhoods.


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ated from storm events does not go totreatment plants. It goes directly intodrainage ways, which eventually dis-charge into the Mississippi River, B ob-by Allen, manager of SWM, explained.

In 1972, the EPAs Clean Water Act

mandated that states take action to pro-tect their wat e r ways .

The regulatory agency is the Ten-nessee Department of Environment andConservation, which issues permits giv-ing specific authority to various citiesand municipalities.

Under the citys permit there are sixmajor categories: public education, pub-

lic participation, illicit discharge detec-tion and elimination, construction siterunoff control, post-construction runoffcontrol, and pollution prevention.

The categories are intertwined butthey are addressed in different ways.

To educate the public and encourageits participation, SWM erects signs onbus-stop stands and other locations, re-minding people not to put grass cut-

tings and other materials into the stormd ra i n s .

SWM staff members go to communityevents, speak to local clubs and schools,and hold semi-annual public meetings inthe spring and fall.

The SWM office also monitors largeconstruction projects, which must sub-mit an erosion control plan, outlining

how the contractor intends to preventsoil erosion.Allen said his office tries to work

with contractors to give them a chanceto set things up properly. Usually onlythe most flagrant violators are fined, butat $50 a day, the fees can add up fast.

Runoff can cause problems aesthet-ically and environmentally.

You dont want muddy waters run-ning down streams, Allen said. Ru n o f fcan disturb fish habitat.

But its not just construction sitesthat cause runoff problems.

A big concern for SWM is used mo-

tor oil being poured into storm drains.If someone witnesses a person dis-posing of oil in this manner, Allen said,he or she should call Allens office at576-4349.

We dont want to put anyone in anawkward situation. We investigate allcomplaints, and we solicit help from thepublic, he said.

When making a report about improp-er oil disposal, be sure to include thetime, date and location. If the disposalis done by someone using a companyvehicle, include the license tag.

Each municipality is in charge ofmanaging its storm water, Allen said.

Municipalities such as Millington,Bartlett, Lakeland and Collierville alloperate under separate permits, as does

the unincorporated area of Shelby Coun-t y.Allens counterpart in the county is

Chris Masin, a senior engineer withShelby County government and stormwater program coordinator for the coun-tys unincorporated area.

Our region is all part of the Ten-nessee Storm Water Association, which

Semi-annual meeting

The next public meeting will be heldat the Dixon Gallery & Gardens onApril 26. It begins at 6 p.m. with alight box supper provided. Admission

is free.


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24 GOING GREEN | S u n d ay, March 2 7, 2011 co mm er c ia l app ea l.co m

was started about two years ago. Wehave kind of an informal MS4 groupacross the state, Masin said. Tw oyears ago we formalized it and formed anonprofit organization called the Ten-nessee Storm Water Association and weshare information about pollution con-trol and best management practices.

A key component of the job involvesperiodic sampling and analysis of waterquality in lakes, streams and rivers.

We are all now having to develop in-stream sampling plans, Masin said.There are two kinds of sampling, a

visual assessment and physical sam-p l i n g.

The visual assessment not only en-tails surveying the habitat of wildlife,but also looking for tell-tale signs of

contamination, such as frothy patches ofwater or an oily sheen.The physical sampling requires that

the water be sent to a lab to have testsrun fo r E. coli and chemical contam-i n at i o n .

City and county officials also jointlypublished a Storm Water Managementmanual so they would handle storm wa-

Ben Fant/Special to the Commercial Appeal

Cleaning one storm drain can reveal trash, grass, limbs, and leaves. Sometim esthe refuse is not intentionally placed in the drains, but residents failing tomaintain the storm drains in their neighborhoods may inadvertently clog theentire storm drain system and cause flooding.


25/53


ter issues uniformly.

That manual has become the uni-form practice for both the city andthe unincorporated parts of the coun-ty, despite the differences in per-mits, Masin explained.

Pollution continues to be a prob-lem for all areas.

Years ago, pollution was easier todetect, because it was easy to spot most problems arose from dis-charges at factories and other in-dustrial operations.

The biggest source of pollution iswhat we call non-point source pol-

lution, Masin said.This includes everything that runs

off parking lots, lawns, constructionsites and myriad other sources.

That is the biggest pollutant torivers and streams and it is a lotharder to regulate, Masin.

T h at s why its so important forpeople to be aware of things that

might wind up in a storm drain.All the grass and the organic mat-

ter get in there and decays and cancause problems with the fish anddisturb the natural habitat by causingalgae growth, Allen said.

Water that enters storm drainsflows into inlets, collection areas cov-ered with grates, to filter out large

debris so it doesnt reach the cityspipe system.

If the pipe stops up, or the inletstops up, storm water can back upinto the street and then also back upinto peoples yards. Cleaning and re-pairing lines is much more cumber-some than just avoiding it in the firstplace by not polluting.

Rain Gardens: Biofilteringstormwater has numerousenvironmental benefits

When you hear the term rain garden,you might picture someplace tropical and far

away, but rain gardens are increasinglybeing found closer to home.

They are being installed by homeownersand landscape architects to minimize runoff,reduce pollution and create beautiful easy-care plantings.

A rain garden is a recessed flower bedbuilt with the express purpose of detainingrainwater long enough to remove pollutantsand purify the water before it continues oninto storm drains, creeks and rivers.

Plants good for rain gardens in our areaare natives that can take both droughtconditions, like our summers, and wetconditions, like our winters.

With more and more impermeablesurfaces surrounding our homes andneighborhoods, rain water is sweepingthrough our yards, driveways and streets,collecting pesticides, oil and contaminantsand then traveling to our streams and rivers.

Rain gardens hold the water in the earth fora short amount of time, allowing it topercolate long enough to be cleansed of theimpurities before traveling on its way.

When we do have our rains, its intendedto catch the runoff from the stormwater inyour yard, direct it into a basin (or area) thatcan be very small and modest that thendetains it. Then it soaks out into the soil andreplenishes the ground, says Mary Wilder, amaster gardener, Vollintine-Evergreen

Community Association volunteer andmember of Lickcreek Storm Water Coalition.

Ava Middleton,Special to The Commercial Appeal

This article previously ran in theCommercial Appeal print edition on March25, 2011. To read the full article, go tocommercialappeal .com/news/2011/mar/25/ra i n - g a rd e n s / .


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26 GOING GREEN | S u n day, March 2 7, 2011 co mm erci a l a pp ea l.com

L eaps&b ound s

Photos byBrandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Certified arborist Wesley Hopper practices the proper technique for trimming alimb while secured to an adjacent tree at the Lucius Burch Educational Center.

Certified arboristWesley Hopper

examines aShagbark Hickorytree he intends to

climb for ademonstration.

Wesley

Hopper fulfills

childhood

dream to

swing through

the trees like

Ta r z a n


27/53


By Suzanne Thompson / Special to Going Green

WHEN WESLEY HOPPER WAS A LITTLE BOY, his father asked him

and his brothers what they wanted to be when they grew up.

One of his brothers said he wanted to be a firefighter. The other saidhe wanted to be a policeman.

Hopper said, I want to be Tarzan.

International Society of Arboriculture(ISA) Working Arborist of the Year in2005, the 2005 Council Member of theYear by the Tennessee Urban Forestry

Council and the 2009 ISA EducationAwa rd .He has climbed trees that are 110

feet tall, about the height of an 11-story building, with as much as a 128-feet canopy width, so he climbs notonly up, but out.

Hopper speaks of trees with areverence usually reserved for religion.

They are living organisms, a gift

from God.In addition to determining diseases

in trees, arborists give advice aboutpruning. Hopper said a certifiedarborist should be involved whentrimming large trees.

Its a state law that dead limbs beremoved from trees because of thedanger they present during a storm.

Trees should be inspected after a bad

Our goal is to give landowners as many reasons as

possible to keep their land.

CANDACE DINWIDDIE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TENNESSEE FORESTRY ASSOCIATION

Decades later, one of his brothers isa firefighter, the other a policeman andHopper is as close to being Tarzan ashe can get he chose a profession

that requires him to swing throught re e s .I set my goal to work in the trees,

he said.A certified arborist, Hopper has

climbed some of the tallest trees in thecountry and has traveled extensivelythrough the southeastern UnitedStates working on trees and educatingothers about them.

But, when he started 29 years ago,he was told by his employer, the largesttree company in the Memphis area,that he wouldnt make it because hedidnt know enough about trees.

So, he set out to change that.Every day it was a leaf and a book,

or a bug and a book, he said.Since then Hopper has earned

numerous honors, including the


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28 GOING GREEN | S und ay , March 2 7, 2011 co mm er c ia l app ea l.co m

storm, Hopper said, and manyarborists are glad to come and lookthem over at no charge.

However, its not uncommon forpeople who have no formal educationabout trees to go door-to-door offering

to trim the limbs for a fee, tellinghomeowners that theyre lucky a treedidnt crush their houses, he said.

Dont fall for scare tactics.However, the concern is very re a l

and hes seen many crushed roofs andcars caused by felled trees accidentsthat often could have been preventedwith proper tree trimming.

Dont wait until somethinghappens. Then its too late, he said.According to Hopper, most large

trees should be trimmed every two orthree years.

Although Hopper has been involvedin almost every aspect of tree care, atthis point in his career, he is focusingon education, public awareness andc o n s u l t i n g.

Hopper is an instructor for the ISACertified Arborist Study Course, a 15-week course that trains people how towork in trees safely and how todetermine what diseases they mayh ave .

Hopper even conducts treeinventories, because municipalities arerequired to have a certain amount ofnon-pervious space per acre.

During a recent drive around thecity, he remembered thinking, I musthave counted every tree in this city.

He sometimes reviews developmentplans to ensure that they meet properstandards for density.

Its a responsibility he takes verys e r i o u s l y.

After signing a development plan, hesaid he routinely looks at the sites, to

ensure that they are adhering to theplan.

If my signature is on there, I haveto. Otherwise, its pointless, Hoppers aid.

He has made it his mission to try toset and help others adhere to industryst andards.

Working in the tree care industry isnot for the weak at heart either.

Sometimes being Tarzan has itsdrawbacks, Hopper has learnedfirsthand. A tree he was working on f el land landed so near his head that hestuck out his tongue and touched it tothe bark.

People die in this business everyday. Its such a hazardous profession.


29/53


By Suzanne Thompson


BRIDGES, the organization thatoccupies the first green building inMemphis , offers a unique program toeducate people of all ages about theadvantages of going green.

O2E, which stands for Ordinary toExtraordinary, is all about learning andleading green, according to Stephanie

Dennis, program coordinator atBRIDGES.

By 2008, Molly Merry Campbell,director of community engagement,decided it was time to give the public aglimpse of a green building.

Campbell spearheaded a program thatoffers tours of the BRIDGES building toschool and community groups.

Its open to groups of students ofany age, Dennis said, though the tours

O2E educates a new generation

Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal

Stephanie Dennis, program coordinator at BRIDGES, engages the community onissues of sustainability through the Ordinary to Extraordinary program offe r e dat BRIDGES. Its open to groups of students of any age, Dennis said.


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30 GOING GREEN | S u n d ay , March 2 7, 2011 co mm er cia l a pp ea l.co m

seem to be most popular with middleschool children.

Some of the buildings features includea solar water heater, a unique boardroomthat incorporates local materials and arooftop garden filled with plants

indigenous to the Memphis area.For students, the program is a day-

long field trip.The morning portion is spent on the

tour for the building. Then after a lunchbreak, students have an interactivesession in which they are given suppliesand asked to build models of theirschools using techniques and ideas they

learned during the tour.For the first two hours, students rotatethrough 12 different areas of the building.

At the majority of them there aredemonstrations for them to touch andfeel and get a real sense of what we aredoing, she said.

In the afternoon, we do whatBRIDGES is known for, which is teambuilding and leadership and

development .A favorite activity for students is

building the model of their own school.They get an opportunity to build

whatever school they attend using whatthey have learned to build a more greenand eco-friendly building.

Students are given a diagram for thebasics of the school and they makedecisions about what features toinclude, choosing even the plot of landon which the school will be built.

Then staff members talk withstudents individually to find out whatchoices they have made and why.

It ties in all the concepts they havelearned, she said.

Community tours, which take place in

Provided by BRIDGES

Students from Omni Prep Academyparticipate in the O2E learningprogram by taking a tour of theBRIDGES building in February.

How to participateStudents or administrators can

register their class, student groupand/or school for the O2E StudentExperience at b r i d ges u s a .o r g /o 2 es t ude n t ex p er i en ce re g i st r a t i o n fo r m .Student fees for the fieldtripexperience are $6 per student.Transportation and lunch must be

provided by the school.Church, corporate, non-profit

leaders, moms, dads, and individualscan register at b r i d ges u s a.sitewrench.com/ communityexperienceregistrationfom. A $5 perdonation to BRIDGES isre co m me nde d .


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the evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.,are abbreviated versions of the schoolp ro g ra m .

Overall we found out that from youthto adults a lot of them have similarquestions, Dennis said.

The goal of the tours, ultimately, isfor participants to put the knowledgethey gain to work in their ownorganizations or schools.

It also aligns with the BRIDGESmission, which is to help develop acommunity of leaders to advance racial,economic, educational andenvironmental justice, she said.

Cost for the tour is about $6 perstudent, but thanks to a grant from theJunior League and the Tennessee ValleyAuthority, the fee is waived for 30 groupsper school year, according to Dennis.

The schools are responsible forproviding transportation and studentsbring sack lunches.

Omni Prep Academy Northpoint, anew charter school, sent a group of fifth

and sixth graders for the tour in February.Mario Hendrix, dean of students ofenlightenment and exposure and aBRIDGES employee, said the studentsthoroughly enjoyed the program.

It was an opportunity for thestudents to learn not just to go green,but to be a leader in being green in ours o c i e t y, Hendrix said.

The enthusiasm the students showedafter they completed the program madeit apparent to Hendrix that it was a hitwith his group.

It was inspiring to know that theywere still talking about it even on thebus ride back. For the full 30-minuteride they were talking about theex p e r i e n c e , Hendrix said.

The O2E ChallengeAt the end of 2009, BRIDGES set a lofty

goal: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions(GGE) in Memphis by 11 million pounds by2011 with its program Ordinary toExtraordinary: Learning and Leading Green.

After a year of engaging programs andmore than 1,500 participants, O2Eparticipants have reduced GGEs inMemphis by 11,249,808 pounds.

There's still more to due to ensure agreener and more sustainable Memphis.The O2E goal for 2012 is 12 million pounds.

Do you want to join BRIDGES and thecommunity to help reduce greenhouse gasemissions (GGE) in Memphis?

Go to b r i dges u s a .s it ew r e n c h.com /

challenge to register and make a pledge totake any of the following actions:

Turn the water off while I brush myteeth (reducing greenhouse gas emissionsby 5850 pounds per year)

Plant one tree (reducing GGE by 23pounds per year)

Replace one light bulb in my homewith a CFL (reducing GGE by 50 poundsper year)

Change the air filter every three

months (reducing GGE by 305 pounds peryea r)

Spend $1 a week on local products forone year (reducing GGE by 2800 poundsper year)

Turn off one light bulb while I'm atschool or sleeping (reducing GGE by 35pounds per year)

Reduce my shower time by oneminute each day (reducing GGE by 4700pounds per year)

Recycle all my plastic bottles(reducing GGE by 16.7 pounds per year)

Subscribe to 1 TVA green power blockfor a year (reducing GGE by 3 thousandpounds per year)

Reduce my water heater temperatureby 20 degrees (reducing GGE by 1300pounds per year)

BRID GES


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32 GOING GREEN | Sun d ay , March 2 7, 2011 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

THE BIZ PAGE

By James Dowd

dowd@commercialappeal .com

From the early years spent on hisfamilys farm in Bell Buckle, Tenn.,through studies at The Webb School andHarvard University, Phil Coop alwaysloved one subject above all others: science.

That fascination eventually evolvedinto a passion for environmentalpreservation, which Coop later used asthe foundation for his company, EnSafe .

The Memphis-based consulting firm,which started as a one-room operation andtoday counts some 15 offices across thecountry, specializes in environmental safety

Gre en

pione erCoop's EnSafe blazedtrail on environmental

safety procedures

Dave Darnell/The Commercial Appeal

Phil Coop's passion for environmental preservation is the

foundation of his company, EnSafe.


33/53


procedures at sites around the world.More than three decades after

establishing his global operation, the

Memphis businessmans achievementsare being recognized by the Society ofEntrepreneurs . Coop will be formallyinducted into the organization April 9.

In the beginning, we were winging itbecause there was no business model inthe industry for what we were doing, Coop said. Its wonderful to havesucceeded on this level, and beinghonored for that by the society is

h u m b l i n g. Arriving in Memphis in 1973 to

attend medical school, Coop soonrealized his interests were elsewhere, sohe changed his career path toconcentrate in environmental testing.After a few years of working for otherfirms, Coop branched out on his own in1980 and founded EnSafe with Wendell

Knight and James Speakman.Because of increasing governmentregulations regarding environmentalpolicies, Coop managed to get in on theground floor of what was then arelatively nonexistent industry.

Public policy was driving strongerenvironmental protection laws, but thescientific community was behind the

curve and we felt there was anopportunity to step in and fill that void, Coop said. There was a big need forcompanies to adhere to increasingcompliance issues and we managed totap into that developing market.

And that they did.Helping companies address and

resolve environmental issues provedsuccessful, so much so that by 1994EnSafe was named by Inc. magazine asone of the 500 fastest-growingcompanies in the country.

Phil is truly a remarkable story ofinnovation and inspiration, from modest

beginnings to overseeing a companywith global outreach, said PearsonCrutcher, executive director of SOE.He continues to improve ourcommunity and those throughout theworld, and his emphasis on educationensures that new generations will focuson environmental issues.

Coop received the 2004 University ofMemphis Herff Award for distinguished

service to engineering and currentlyserves as chairman of The Webb Schoolboard of trustees.

In addition, he has been an integralpart of advisory boards for theengineering schools at the U of M andat Christian Brothers University, andhas active roles in a wide-rangingspectrum of community organizations.

Phil is dedicated to environmentalimprovement and preservation, and hescreating opportunities for others tocontinue in that work, said Dr. Eric B.Welch, dean of the school ofengineering at CBU . His impact onour school, our community and ourenvironment has been substantial andhes incredibly deserving of this honor.

Phil Coop

Age: 62

Oc c u pa t i o n : President and CEO of EnSafe

Company address: 5724 Summer

Trees Dr.Phone: 372 -79 6 2

Em pl o y e es : 260 in 15 offices nationally

On li n e : e n s a fe.co m


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34 GOING GREEN | Su n day , March 2 7, 2011 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

Stephanie JonesMe & Mrs. Jones, Owner

GREEN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Giving new life to old things

The detailsHow is your business

considered a greenbu s i ness ? The mission at Me& Mrs. Jones is about creating a

more lovely living space by re-making your furniture, cabinets,walls, and fixtures...in otherwords, using existing pieces in anew way. With very fewexceptions, the products I use tomake those transformations arenon-toxic, water-based, and low-to zero- voc, and increasingly,organically made. So, chooseyour buzz word: re-purposing,

up-cycling, re-contextualizing...Ithink its just a practical way tosolve design problems, create alittle beauty and comfort, takecare of your indoor air quality,and be kind to our sweet earth.If you do your shopping atyour own home and attic, or atflea markets and antique shops,its all really just one bigfabulous recycling bin!

In the Me & Mrs. Jonesetsy.com shop, when clientschoose a shipping method,greyhound package express isvery attractively priced. saywhat you will about lack of luxewhile traveling the hound, theyare offering an environmentallyefficient option for shipping

Stephanie Jones (the "Mrs. Jones" of Me & MrsJones company) applies a layer of low-voc paintto a flea market find, giving new life to an oldpiece of furniture.


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large packages...one Ie nco ura ge.

And like manycompanies, Im sure myportfolio and design journalare now online, and I havestarted handling proposalsand invoices electronically. asa result, printing, mailing, andschlepping around in the carwith samples has beensubstantially reduced, alongwith the carbon-guilt.

Why did you choose thiscareer? That part was easy,and it actually sort of choseme. Its been an incredible

way to combine several of myloves: design, color, hand-and brush-work, clientrelationships...while allowingme (almost) total flexibility totend to my family as well.

Most satisfying careermoment: Its a tie: that veryfirst free-lance project /paycheck versus a recentcompliment / affirmation

from a designer who works ona national level, and sees it all.

What do you consider tobe the highlights of yourcareer? When a client is truly,thoroughly thrilled with theresults of a project. thosewow moments never get old.

Whats the hardest thingabout finding work in yourfield (in the Greater

Memphis area)? Luckily, thehardest part is narrowing theprojects down. Memphis ischockful of lovely design-savvy people who are lookingfor smart ways to elevatetheir domestic spaces. Truly, Iwish there were more hoursin a day for me to work.

What one green practicewould you recommend? OK,right now, that thing in yourhand? Dont throw it away!Look at it...is there anypossible way to use it again?

My studio is full of re-useables...Lean Cuisine traysare perfect stencilingpalettes, sour cream tubsmake great brush cleaningdishes, flattened-out boxesare the best drop-cloths forpainting small items andcabinet hardware, tools getcorralled into mayonnaiseand pickle jars. And yes,those were my children dyingof embarrassment the otherday at the yogurt shop when Igathered all their usedspoons into a Ziplock bag inmy purse...I use several a

day, mixing paints and glazes.In a nutshell: try to givethings the dignity of beingused at least twice.

Where are your productsava i l a b l e? My products areavailable locally at MarketCentral, 2215 Central Ave. inMidtown, and also onlinethrough etsy.com, searchmeandmrsjones under

sellers. Plus check out myWe bs i t e,m r s j o nes p a i nt ed fin i s h es .co m .

What green trends wouldyou like to see in the future?The growing awareness andacceptance of a re-use attitudeis thrilling. I love Amazon.comand Ikea as much as the nextgal, but also love that more

people seem to be embracingthe idea that not everythingworth having comes via UPS,shrink-wrapped inside a bigcardboard box. (Not that youwont recycle that box, ofco ur se.)

Compiled by Emily AdamsKe p l i n g e r

This sturdy little pinetable (top), found at thefairgrounds flea market,was given new life afterJones transformed it byusing low-voc acrylicpaint to stencil abrocade pattern on thetop and spruce up the

other surfaces.


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36 GOING GREEN | S u n d ay , March 2 7, 2011 co mm er c ia l app ea l.co m

T R A N S P O RTAT I O N

ANTHONYSIRACUSA Life Cycles

Working together paying off

MEMPHIS-AREA BICYCLISTS h avemuch to be thankful for.

Since July, the number of bike pathsand bike lanes in Memphis has growntremendously. The opening of theShelby Farms Greenline in October 2010meant more families could enjoy bicycle

riding together in the heart of Memphis.

The opening of a new paved trail atthe eastern end of the Shelby FarmsGreenline linked trail users travelingfrom the Binghamton neighborhood tothe center of one of Americas largesturban parks, Shelby Farms.

Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Cyclists cruise down Cooper under a train overpass near Peabody Park as theytake part in the Bike Lane Buy-In Day. Bike riders were showing their supportfor the Madison Ave. businesses that support bike lanes for Memphis residents.


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Bike plans wont sacrifice parkingOne of Madison Avenues longtime restaurants

now says it will support dedicated bike lanes aslong as no on-street parking is sacrificed.

If parking stays, were all about it, Kelly Johnson,general manager of Mollys La Casita said Friday .

The city plans to accommodate bikes in some wayon about 1.5 miles of Madison, between Cooper andWatkins. The effort could be as minimal as erectingShare The Road signs or as substantial asreducing Madison from four lanes to two so theredbe space for a turn lane and bike lanes on both sides.

Businesses along Madison are split on whetherto support the dedicated bike lanes.

Among those not lending their names in supportof designated bike lanes are Hueys, Mercury Valet,Piggly Wiggly and The Bar-B-Q Shop.

Among businesses that bike-lane advocates listas bike friendly include Boscos, Finos, MemphisPizza Cafe, and P&H Cafe.

None of the bike-facility plans being consideredby the city would sacrifice on-street parking, KyleWagenschutz, the citys bike/pedestriancoordinator, said Friday.

In all of the design scenarios the city presented,including the bike-lane option, removal of on-streetparking was never an option, Wagenschutz said.

Other business people have expressed concerns

that reducing Madison to two traffic lanes will alsoreduce traffic, and their sales with it.

Among them is Wight Boggs, an owner of Hueysr est a u r a n t .

She remains unconvinced that reconfiguringMadison to two traffic lanes and a turn lanewouldnt reduce traffic.

Why would we put Hueys business in jeopardyand get these people mad at us? she said.

Another goal of putting Madison on a road dietis to calm traffic, making the street safer and more

appealing for both walkers and bikers.If Madison could be transformed to a beautiful

avenue hopping with street life, Id love to seethat, Boggs said.

And the perception that Hueys is not bike-friendly is far from true, she said.

We d love to work with the city and Kyle on aplan I think makes a little more sense.

Tom Bailey Jr.: 529-2388

The completion of a newbicycle and pedestrian bridgeacross the Wolf River, a bridgetied into the recently expandedWolf River Greenway, links usersto the Shady Grove bicycle lanes

on the south and Shelby FarmsPark on the north. A new pathnext to Farm Road means riderscan now pedal to Shelby FarmsPark without ever actually ridingon Farm Road.

The new paved path leading toShelby Farms from the Wolf Riveralso connects users to a network

of trails around AgricenterInternational, the Wolf RiverTrails in the Lucius Burch NaturalArea and a network of bike lanesin G e r m a n t ow n .

Inside the I-240 loop, thecreation of bicycle lanes onSouthern Avenue now meansUniversity of Memphis studentscan ride in lanes designed

specifically for bicycles all theway to Audubon Park on the eastand onward to Cooper-Young inthe west.

While widely celebrated, theShelby Farms Greenline was nota part of Memphis long-termtransportation plan. It was theresult of committed citizens

working together to createnonmotorized access to ShelbyFarms. The new bicycle lanes onSouthern Avenue, the first of 55miles to be completed by 2014,were the product of AmericanRecovery and Reinvestment Actstimulus dollars committed byMemphis Mayor A C Wharton


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38 GOING GREEN | S und ay , March 2 7, 2011 co mm erci a l a pp ea l.com

to bicycle lanes in Memphis.

To ensure that the best facilities continue to beimplemented here, the city of Memphis and theMemphis Metropolitan Planning Organizationsbikeways and pedestrian coordinator, KyleWagenschutz, want to gather citizen input on futurep ro j e c t s .

We had over 70 people attend last months(planning) meeting, said Wagenschutz, and we gotsome great feedback and ideas for expanding our

re g i o n s greenway and trail network.Wagenschutz says he hopes these meetings will

provide a community forum for citizens from acrossthe Memphis metropolitan region to share theirvision of a Memphis that walks and bikes more often.

Anthony Siracusa is community service coordinator atRhodes College in Memphis and the founder of RevolutionsCommunity Bicycle Shop. Contact him at 843-3401 oranthonysiracusa .blogspot .com .

Bike lanes maycome to N. Parkway

The city of Memphis isconsidering bike lanes forNorth Parkway, possiblymaking room by reducing the

six vehicle lanes to four,bike/pedestrian coordinatorKyle Wagenschutz confirmedlast month .

Since the road is a stateroute, the city would have towork with the TennesseeDepartment ofTr a n s p o r t a t i o n .

The window of opportunityoccurs when the state next

resurfaces North Parkway.Its not scheduled to berepaved this year, and itwont be known until this fallwhether the route will beincluded on the 2012-13repaving schedule, saidTDOT spokesman NicholeLawrence said.

The possibility is not arevelation. The Memphisa rea s long-rangetransportation plan lists NorthParkway as a high priorityroute for bike lanes to helpgive cyclists a way from EastMemphis to Downtown.

We re definitely looking atit as far as putting a bike laneon it, Wagenschutz said.

North Parkway could help

fill the gap in bike lanesbetween the new ShelbyFarms Greenline and the river.

Planning is already underway to plug the gap betweenthe west end of the greenline,at Tillman, and Overton Park.North Parkway borders thenorth side of the park.

Tom Bailey Jr.: 529-2388

Karen Pulfer Focht/The Commercial Appeal

Russell Smith, 32, rides in the temporary bicyclelanes on Broad Avenue during his commute fromMidtown to his job at FedEx World Headquarterson Hacks Cross Road.


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40 GOING GREEN | S u nd ay , March 2 7, 2011 co mm er cia l a pp ea l.co m

number of things through the years notonly to raise awareness about ecologicalissues, but to encourage thecongregation to take action.

While some members of the templewere already recycling at home, it was in2006 during a High Holiday sermon

given by Rabbi Tara Feldman that thecongregation was charged as a wholewith becoming more environmentallyf r i e n d l y.

In her sermon, Fill the Earth andMaster It, Feldman spoke of globalwarming and the ever-growing beast ofAmerican consumption, and encouragedthe congregation to take baby steps tobegin changing their behavior.

She told them about the smallcompost pile she began behind thetemple building.

This compost pile is going to changethe world. Its a tiny, rather messygesture on my part and I look prettyridiculous in my high heels, bucket ofslop in hand, making my way across the

grass and mud to the compost pile. Ilaugh at myself but this small dailyritual pushes away my despair. It givesme a sense of hope. I can do something.

Did the compost pile change the world?It definitely changed the world at

Temple Israel and planted a seed that

got everyone thinking about theenvironment, said Linda Kaplan, whoheads up the Temple IsraelEnvironmental Task Force.

Raising awareness was the first step inbringing about change, Kaplan said.

Rabbi Feldmans sermon led to aregular article in the temples monthlybulletin, which offered quiz questionsabout the environment, like What woodis the most eco-friendly, fastest renewablewood flooring to have installed?

The congregation heard the message,which spread to The HebrewWat c h m a n , a publication serving theentire Jewish community in Memphis,and the quiz question transformed into asemi-monthly advice column called Ask

Buttons areset out on a

table toencourage

recyclingduring the

third annualEco Expo at

Te m p l eIsrael inJanuary.

Mike BrownThe Commercial

A p pea l


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Adam and Eve.One young girl wrote in that her

mother didnt want to recycle paperbecause she said it made too much of amess.

The answer given was that if she was

old enough to recognize this problemshe was old enough to do somethingabout it, followed by practical solutionsto begin a tidy paper recycling area.

The bigger issue encompasses thequestion, are we conscious of our impacton the world? Are we conscious thateach and every thing we do affects theworld we live in, including the earth?

Grossman said.The advice column ran for about ayear, and then officials at the templebegan to focus attention back to thetemple itself.

The eco-efforts of Temple Israel beganformally with the formation of theEDEN committee.

I always thought of it as trying tobring the earth back to the purity of the

Garden of Eden, Kaplan said.The temple began a paper and

recycling program for everythinggenerated there.

Then an environmental educationdisplay was assembled, whichencouraged recycling efforts bydisplaying different types of recycledmaterials and showed eco-trivia, such asHow many trees are used each yearproducing toilet paper?

When Billy Orgel was installed aspresident of Temple Israel in May 2008,his remarks made it clear that he wantedthe congregation to become involved inconservation efforts.

I feel that Temple as part of a largercommunity needs to do all that we can

do to preserve our resources and theenvironment whether that berecycling here at Temple or justconserving electricity by turning offlights and using energy-saving bulbs. Wecurrently have a highly energized

environmental committee that I wouldlike to see continue their innovation in apositive way.

During his two-year term as president,Orgel did see the program progress.

In 2009, the temple began a Sundaymorning speaker series, during whichenvironmental leaders in the communitytalked to the adult Sunday school group.

Judge Larry Potter, who presides overthe citys Environmental Court, spoke tothem one Sunday.

They were a great group, and clearlycommitted to having a positive impacton the environment, he said.

Po tt e r s talk also brought newawareness to people at the temple.

Nobody knew there was anenvironmental court before he spoke,

Kaplan said.Temple Israel started an expo of its

own, the Eco Expo.Held in January, this was the third

year the temple has put on the expowhich is open to the public, and officialsplan to continue with the annual event.

The Eco Expo has really reshaped theculture of understanding forenvironmental issues, Grossman said.

The charge to change behavior whichwill affect the environment is not limitedto any particular faith, Grossman said.

Its the ability that we have as Jews,Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, orwhoever, to really make an impact in ourworld by making simple changes in ourcurrent regimen, he said.


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42 GOING GREEN | Su n day, March 2 7, 2011 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

As the focus on whole grains continues, Quinoa, one of the oldestgrains, is gaining new attention for being nutritious and tasty.

FO O D

MEGANMURPHY Recipe for Health

Quinoa is mother of all grains

CHEFS AND REGULAR COOKS a realways on the lookout for new andinteresting ways to includewholegrains in our diets.

One of the newest to many of us isalso one of the oldest. Quinoasorigins are in the South AmericanAndes, and it has been cultivated

there for the last 3,000 to 4,000 years.The Incas referred to quinoa as themother of all grains, and it has alsobeen called the gold of the Incas.

Its gold because it grows in poorersoils and in adverse conditions, andalso because it is a plant food withcomplete protein, meaning it

contains all the essential amino acidsthe body needs. Essential aminoacids must be consumed throughfoods, as they are not manufacturedin our bodies. Most grains aredeficient in a couple of the aminoacids and are not complete.

In general, whole grains benefit

health in many ways. Whensomething is referred to as a wholegrain, this means the food is the entiregrain with nothing removed. Qu i n o ais a good source of phosphorus andthe trace mineral copper, and a verygood source of iron and magnesium.

Because of its high magnesium


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The Commercial Appeal Sun d ay, March 2 7, 2011 | GOING GREEN 43

Quinoa with Garlic, Pine Nutsand Raisins1 cup quinoa, rinsed well1 (14.5 oz) can reduced-sodium chicken broth cup pine nuts2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped cup raisins1 tbsp. fresh lemon juiceSalt and pepper to taste

Place the quinoa in a saucepan overmedium heat and stir often, until the quinoais toasted, about 3 to 5 minutes. The quinoawill have a nutty fragrance, and the grainswill be popping a bit in the pan.

When the quinoa is toasted, add thechicken broth and bring the mixture to aboil. Reduce the heat to medium-low andsimmer, covered, until the liquid isabsorbed, about 10-15 minutes. Removefrom the heat and let it sit, covered, forabout 2 more minutes.

Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a skilletover medium-high heat, stirring constantly,until golden, about

3 minutes. Be careful not to let the nutsburn. Transfer toasted pine nuts to a smallplate or bowl, set aside.

Add the olive oil and garlic to the skilletand cook over medium heat, stirringfrequently until garlic is just turning golden,1-2 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

Fluff the quinoa with a fork. Add the pinenuts, garlic and oil, parsley, raisins and

lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper ifd es i r e d .Makes 4 servings.

Per serving (cup): 300 calories, 15 g fat ,2 g saturated fat,0 mg cholesterol, 37 g carbohydrates, 4 g

fiber, 8 g protein, 255 mg sodium.

Source: Adapted from Ellie Krieger, for FoodNetwork Magazine, foodnetwork.com

content, quinoa may help preventmigraines. Some healthprofessionals feel that sincemagnesium helps relax bloodvessels, taking in higher amountsmight help prevent the

constriction of some of the bloodvessels in the head, decreasingproblems with migraines.

Quinoa also has theB-vitamin riboflavin, which somestudies have shown to be helpfulin decreasing the frequency ofmigraine attacks.

Magnesium is also good for

helping blood vessels in otherparts of the body relax, possiblyresulting in lower blood pressure.

In the ongoing HarvardUniversity Physicians HealthStudy, researchers found men whoate nonrefined, whole-grain cereal(any type, not just quinoa) hadlower risk for heart failure thantheir counterparts, who either ateno breakfast or had a breakfastconsisting of refined grains.

In a study reported in the July2005 issue of the American HeartJournal, researchers reported thatpostmenopausal women eating atleast six servings of whole grainsper week had decreased plaquebuildup and narrowing of their


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JENNIFERBIGGS Small Bites

Outstanding in the FieldTickets have just gone on sale for the MemphisOutstanding in the Field event Oct. 16, and even though

t h ey re $180 each, they will go fast.It all started in 1998 as a series of simple farm dinners

around Santa Cruz, Calif., and from that Outstanding in theField has grown to an international series of dinners thatfocus on farm meals prepared by prestigious chefs. KellyEnglish, John Currence, Andrew Ticer, Michael Hudman,Jonathan Magallanes and Miles McMath, among others, willhost our dinner at Whitton Farms in Whitton, Ark. A bigtable will be set up, and 150 people will break bread.

These events draw people from all over the country, soIm not kidding when I say the tickets will sell out. Seeo u t s t a n d i n g i n t h ef i e l d .co m , and click on the basket icon.

Recipe of the weekMy brother-in-law is staying with us for a few weeks while

things calm down in Tokyo, where hes lived for 22 years.Hes a vegan, and while we often eat vegetarian meals, wedont even try to take the extra step. Heres something thatis sure to please us all, though. You can buy hearts of palmat the grocery, or at Costco or maybe Sams.

Contact Jennifer Biggs at [email protected] 529-5223. Her blog is whiningdining.com .

Hearts of Palm Carnival1/2 cup coarsely chopped Kalamata olives3 coarsely chopped tomatoes3 chopped green onions, whites and greens1/2 habanero or 1 to 2 jalapeo peppers, minced1/4 cup olive oilSalt and pepper to taste

18 canned hearts of palm, cut in half verticallyLoose-leaf lettuce

In a bowl, mix all ingredients except the hearts ofpalm and the lettuce. Arrange the lettuce on saladplates, place hearts of palm in a fan shape in thecenter of lettuce. Mound the vegetables at the baseof the fan and serve. Serves 6.

Source: The Sugar Mill Caribbean Cookbook,Jinx and Jefferson Morgan

arteries.Quinoa is naturally

coated with saponins,which can make the graintaste bitter. This is whymost recipes calling for

quinoa direct you to rinseit off for a minute or so incold water. Because thegrain is quite small, youwill want a small-sievedcolander, or line yourstrainer with cheeseclothor a coffee filter.

Quinoa can be cooked

like rice or other grains,using about twice asmuch liquid as quinoa. Int o d ay s recipe, thereduced-sodium chickenbroth gives a subtle flavorto the dish. You could usevegetable broth, or if youhave homemade broth,use that.

I used pine nuts, as therecipe directs, but they arequite expensive son ex ttime Ill substitutechopped, unsaltedwalnuts, which are sellingat a more reasonable price.

Garnish with lemonwedges. Leftovers can be

briefly reheated or eatencold, like a salad.

Megan Murphy is aTennessee-licensed registereddietitian and associateprofessor of nutrition atSouthwest TennesseeCommunity College. Call 277-3062, fax 529-2787, e-mailMeganmyrd@aol .com


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HOME & GARDEN

By Suzanne Thompson


Giving advice on how togerminate seeds is like givingadvice on how to feed an animal,it all depends on what kind ofanimal it is and how large it is.

Similarly, the way seeds aregerminated is determined by thesize of the seed and the type, butalso the whether the plant willgrow better in light or dark,

warm or cool soil.To get a shot at a good outcome,its very important to start off

How does your garden

G R OW ?

Health

awareness and

a resurgence in

love of gardening

are fueling the

growing trend to

grow own

from seed


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46 GOING GREEN | S u nd ay , March 2 7, 2011 co mm er c ia l app ea l.co m

with the proper materials, according toRick Pudwell, director of horticulture forMemphis Botanic Gardens.

The worst thing to do for a seedstarting medium is to take soil from yourgarden, because youre bringing in all

sorts of pathogens and fungus andeverything else, he said. You should buya sterile seed starting medium at a nurserybecause then youre starting clean.

Transplanting the seeds outdoors isanother tricky operation. Put them outtoo soon and they wont survive becausetheyre used to windless conditions.

Put them out for too long in the

sunlight initially and they can burn upwithin an hour, Pudwell said.Sowing the seeds directly in the

ground is easier because nature providesthe light and warmth.

Unless youve got a sunroom or agreenhouse or florescent lights set upspecifically for plants, what happens is,the seedlings get thin and stretch outand then its really hard to get them

hardened off to live in the real worldoutside, Pudwell said.

When a plant is hardened off, it hasgrown its first set of true leaves, notthe first leaves it produces, but a secondset of harder, thicker leaves.

Seeds need 16 to 18 hours of light aday, so if florescent lighting is used, itneeds to be turned off overnight and

should be adjustable so it can be bentupwards gradually as the plants grow.We re talking inches here, not feet,

Pudwell said..Also important is proper hum

Documents

Going Green Memphis 03-27-11