Going Green Memphis 11-07-10

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    2 GOING GREEN | S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 co mm er ci a l a pp ea l.com

    Whats in this issue ...

    On the cover: Cover illustration by Shane McDermott/The Commercial Appeal

    WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

    Going Green is a special online publication ofThe Commercial Appeal. We welcome your comments and suggestions. FollowGoing Green on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoGreenMemphis.

    Ed i t o r : Kim Coleman, 529-5243, [email protected]

    Community Editor: Emily Adams Keplinger, [email protected]

    4

    14

    18

    21

    What would Jesusdo about the 3Rs?

    Party time

    The season is over andthe farmers aretuckered out; its timeto celebrate theM i d -So u th s harvest

    Cucinas artisan

    breads big sellers

    Green grads in

    need of green jobs

    20

    25

    Sustainability atTenn. Aquarium

    To compost or not:now is the time

    Interfaith movement mobilizesresources, message to driveaction, introspection on theenvironmental issues of today

    Q&A with Rev. Fletcher Harper aboutthe mission of GreenFaith PAG E 8

    Chris Peck: Time to preach thegospel of going green PAGE 10

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 3

    The Green Page

    Ev e n t sG i v eaw ay : Free mulch will be given away to

    Germantown residents Saturday , beginning at 8 a.m. at

    the Public Services complex, 7725 Southern. Bring a proofof residency to receive 11/2 yards of mulch. Public servicesemployees will load mulch into the back of a truck ortrailer. Smaller amounts will be available in a load yourown zone. Residents must provide their own bags. Thereis a limit of one load of mulch per household.

    Hazard mitigation: The Shelby County HazardMitigation Committee has scheduled a meeting forM o n d ay , at 10 a.m., at the Emergency Operations Center,2668 Avery Ave. The Shelby County Hazard MitigationPlan is being updated by Shelby County and its

    municipalities as a guide for the identification andimplementation of mitigation projects. These projects willhelp reduce the human, economic, and environmentalcosts of natural disasters. All are encouraged toparticipate.For more information or to reserve a seat,please contact the Shelby County Office of Preparednessat 515-2605.

    MBG Lunch & Learn: A program called Groupings andcracks and snakes Oh My! will be offered at theMemphis Botanic Garden on Wednesday at noon. Learnlandscaping dos and donts with landscape architect Larry

    Griffin. Bring your lunch or enjoy a box lunch fromFr a t e l l i s at the garden. The program is free for MBGmembers, $5 for non-members. Call 636-4100 forinformation. No reservations required.

    Botany of Design: The Dixon Gallery & Gardens, 4339Park, will host William Cullina on Nov. 18, at 11 a.m., for hispresentation of The Botany of Design. Cullina, directorof horticulture and plant curator as the Coastal MaineBotanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine, will discussbeneficial organic practices involving plants. The programis co-sponsored by the Memphis Garden Club and the

    Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and is included with regularadmission, free to Dixon members. For more information,call 761-5250 or visit d i x o n .o r g .

    Trail blazing: Volunteers are needed on Nov. 20, from 9a.m.-noon, to help the Lichterman Nature Center maintainthree miles of trail by fixing edge boards, spreading graveland clearing overgrowth on the trails. Call 523-2425 tovolunteer, or sign up at v o l u n t e e r m i d s o u t h .o r g .

    GroupsCheck these websites formore information about

    green events in theMemphis area.

    Citizens to PreserveOverton Park (CPOP):o v e r t o n p a r k fo r ev e r .o r g

    Clean Memphis:cleanm e mphis.o r g

    Coalition of LivableCom m unit ies :l i v a b l e m e m p h i s .o r g /

    Friends for Our

    Riverfront:f r i e n d s fo r o u r r i v e r f r o n t .o r g /

    Greater MemphisGreenline: greatermemphisg r e e n l i n e.o r g /

    Lichterman NatureCenter: memphism u s e u m s .o r g / l i c h t e r m a n -o v e r v i ew /

    Memphis Botanic Garden:m e m p h i s b o t a n i c ga r d e n .co m /

    Shelby Farms ParkConserv ancy:s h e l by fa r m s p a r k .o r g

    Strawberry PlainsAudubon Center: strawberryp l a i n s . a u d u b o n .o r g /

    Tennessee Clean WaterNetwork: tcwn.org

    Tennessee Parks andGreenways Foundation:

    t e n n g r e e n .o r g /Tennessee TrailsAssociation, MemphisChapter: tennesseetrails.org/m e m p h i s . p h p

    V&E Greenline:v e g r e e n l i n e.o r g / i n d ex . h t m l

    Wolf River Conservancy:w o l f r i v e r .o r g

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    4 GOING GREEN | S u nd ay , November 7, 2010 co mm er cia l a pp ea l.co m

    FAITH&

    GR

    EEN

    I n t e r fa i t h

    co m m u n i t i esco n s i d e r

    environmental

    protection

    a godly

    mission

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 5

    By Jim Coleman/ Special to Going Green

    WITH EACH PASSING YEAR, new students that enter Dr. Matt Mathews

    class at the Memphis Theological Seminary are posed the same question.

    What is the most pressing issue facing Christians today?

    Typically, eager students with a phrase like right to life on the tip of

    their tongues are surprised by his answer.

    How are we going to live in a sustainable way? That is the

    fundamental question for Christians in the 21st century, according to

    Mathews, associate professor of theology.

    Correlations between faith and environment arent new. From transcendentalists

    like Henry David Thoreau whocommuned with God by living in thewo o d s to religious orders like theAmish whose lifestyles are theessence of sustainability, the twocamps arent necessarily exclusive.However, this philosophy has generallybeen out of the mainstream ofAmerican faith.

    The problem may be with the waymany use and interpret the scriptures,according to Mathews.

    Christians need a moresophisticated understanding of howthe Bible functions in modern society.

    For example, it is common forpassages in the Bible to be interpreted

    as being permissive of exploitation ofthe environment and natural resourcesbecause the texts expressly give mandominion over them.

    Mathews views thesemisinterpretations as feeding into anunholy wedlock betweenfundamentalist Christians and a

    consumerist culture which is drivingmuch of our uncontrolledenvironmental degradation.

    Rev. Fletcher Harper, executivedirector of GreenFaith, an interfaithgroup that works to raiseenvironmental awareness, sees thesame issues with this alliance, butbelieves potential for change exists.

    I have yet to see one environmentalissue where the economic interestdidnt fight it, said Harper. Houses ofworship are great places to effectc h a n ge .

    As an Episcopal priest, he operatesunder the belief that environmentalstewardship is a moral obligation.

    Environmental degradation is sinand environmental restoration isatonement , Harper said during arecent speech at a Bridges USAinterfaith conference in DowntownMemphis. He attributed the quote toPatriarch Bartholomew, a leader of theEastern Orthodox Church who earned

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    6 GOING GREEN | Su n d ay , November 7, 2010 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

    the nickname the green pope for hisenvironmental leadership.

    Both Harper and Mathews are a partof a growing movement in the faithcommunity that encourages membersto reflect on changing day-to-day

    actions to improve the environment.Many are reluctant to turn a critical

    prophetic eye upon themselves. Itsmuch easier to condemn those whoengage in sins that we dont engage in.We are too good at looking outwardand not busy enough looking inward,said Mathews.

    Another re a s o n environment al

    issues dont seem to gain tractionamong people of faith seems to stemfrom the distrust between the scienceand religious communities.

    There is a tendency among the twogroups to think of themselves asmutually exclusive. Mathews, for one,views this as an irresponsible approach.

    I would say that there is a great dealof misunderstanding on both sides.

    Responsible Christians should embracescience as proof of Gods creation.

    Likewise, Harper pointed awithering finger at the scientificcommunity too. Some scientistsforeclose on themysteries of theuniverse toosoon.

    Harper alsopointed to theintract abilitybetween the twogroups as aproblem thatneeds to beconfronted if weare to tackle the

    environmental issues facing us.

    In the end, the religious communityneeds to partner with the scientificcommunity. To hear what the scientificcommunity has to say and to learn

    from it, said Harper, adding that therift between the two needs to behealed.

    Harper also said that as the largerculture begins to adapt and to accept

    environment alissues like globalwarming as a realitythat change will

    become more rapid.Cultural shifts

    precede economicshifts. If it is madeeasy to do the rightthing, then peoplewill do the rightt h i n g.

    We have used Gods creation

    without regard for the impactour rapacity had on the other

    creatures with whom we share

    our earthly home.

    FROM A PRAYER ON THE COUNCIL

    OF CHURCHES W E BS I T E

    The nuns of St. Hildas House aretaking the relatively unusual step ofembracing environmentalism. Its aquestion of stewardship, said SisterFaith Margaret, a Staten Islandnative. Of responsibility.

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n day , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 7

    By John Flesher

    Associated Press

    Where would Jesus drill?Religious leaders who consider

    environmental protection a godlymission are making the Gulf of Mexicooil spill a rallying cry, hoping it inspires

    people of faith to support cleaner energywhile changing their personal lives toconsume less and contemplate more.

    This is one of those rare momentswhen you can really focus peoplesattention on whats happening to Godsc re at i o n , said Walt Grazer, head of theNational Religious Partnership for theEnvironment .

    Activists in the movement oftendescribed as green religion or eco -theology are using blogs and newsconferences to get the word out. Someare visiting the gulf, inspecting oil-spattered wetlands and praying withidled fishermen and other victims.

    And believers in the stricken coastalregions are looking at theconsequences of the oils reach and

    asking what good can come out of it.During worship services, pastor EddiePainter of Barataria Baptist Church inthe fishing village of Lafitte, La., told hiscongregation a silver lining in thetragedy might be renewed governmentcommitment to restoring the regionsbattered coastal marshlands.

    I actually didnt think I would be as

    deeply affected as I was by seeing oil inthe water, the birds with oil stains, themarsh grass that had turned a shinyb row n , said Rev. Jim Ball of theEvangelical Environmental Network,who recently toured LouisianasBarataria Bay by boat.

    Organizations including the National

    Council of Churches and the U.S.Conference of Catholic Bishops haveissued statements calling for soul-searching. Some are providingecologically themed online resources prayers, liturgy, scripture readings for use in worship services.

    The push for an ecological GreatAwakening since the oil spill began inApril has come from liberals as well astheologically conservative groups suchas the Evangelical EnvironmentalNetwork, which previously sponsoredan ad campaign with the slogan W h atWould Jesus Drive? that called formore fuel-efficient vehicles.

    In a resolution, the Southern BaptistConvention declared humanitys God-given dominion over the creation is not

    unlimited, as though we were gods andnot creatures and called for policiesbased on prudence, conservation,accountability and safety.

    Caring for creation is an extensionof loving your neighbor as yourself,said Russell Moore, dean of SouthernBaptist Seminary in Louisville, Ky.,who wrote the statement.

    Green faith movement hopes

    gulf oil spill wins converts

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    8 GOING GREEN | S u n day, November 7, 2010 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

    Rev. Fletcher Harper is an Episcopal priest and GreenFaiths executivedirector. GreenFaith has developed innovative programs linking religiousbelief and practice to the environment.

    An award-winning spiritual writer and nationally recognized preacher onthe environment, he teaches and speaks at houses of worship from a range ofdenominations in New Jersey and nationwide about the moral, spiritual basis

    for environmental stewardship and justice.A graduate of Princeton University and Union Theological Seminary, heserved as a parish priest for 10 years and in leadership positions in theEpiscopal Church before becoming GreenFaiths executive director.

    Q: What is the mission of GreenFaith?A: GreenFaith is an interfaith

    environmental coalition. We educate,inspire and mobilize diverse religiouscommunities to be environmental leaders.

    Q: What chapters of the Bible mostspeak to environmental issues?A: Way too many chapters to list. In the

    first two chapters of Genesis alone, thereare numerous references.

    In Genesis 2, God commands Adam toserve and keep the Earth (Gen. 2:15).

    In the New Testament, Paul writesrepeatedly that Christs salvation involves

    not only people but the entire creation(Col. 1:15-20). In John 3:16 one of themost famous New Testament verses Jesus says, For God so loved the world Its important to realize that Jesus didnt

    just say For God so loved people, and thatthe Greek word for world is ko s m o s which means the entire created order. Idont think most Christians realize thiswhen they recite John 3:16.

    Q: What type of reaction do youtypically receive when you urge peopleto consider environmentalism as aspiritual duty?

    Q&A WITH...

    Rev .Flet c herHar p er

    Executive director ofGreenFaith coalition

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n day , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 9

    A: At first they are curious t h ey ve oftennever heard this invitation from their churchor temple or mosque. People recognize thatprotecting the environment is a moral duty,and people are also deeply grateful to God forthe Earth, and the many ways it sustains ourlives. There are some very conservative

    congregations which are suspicious thatenvironmentalism is all about left-wingpolitics. But when they realize that the corevalues that were talking about are respect forGods Earth, self-restraint in consumption,and care for the most vulnerable, they seethat these are deeply religious values.

    Q: Like periods in the past,environmental awareness seems to begrowing. Do you find that there is agrowing awareness in the religiouscommunity as well?

    A: Without a doubt. Five and 10 years ago,very few religious communities wereaddressing these issues. Then, our nationsaw the devastation caused by HurricaneKatrina, and that really made a difference people realized what was at stake in regardsto global warming. Al Gores movie made adifference also thousands of churchesscreened the film and used it as an

    educational tool. That made a big difference.Q: More and more green productsare hitting the shelves. How prevalent isgreenwashing? Are consumerseducated enough to make the rightc h o i c es ?

    A: If you look at advertising, youd thinkthat every product was good for theenvironment theres a horrible amount ofgreenwashing. We all need to look for third-party certifications not just advertisers

    claims that their products are green.Q: Do you encourage people tobecome environmental activists?

    A: Absolutely, our mission is to equipreligious leaders clergy and lay people tobe environmental leaders. Our FellowshipProgram is the nations only interfaitheducation and training program to helppeople of faith become religious-

    environmental leaders. Our CertificationProgram is the only environmentalcertification program designed specificallyfor houses of worship, to help them becomestrong leaders.

    Q: Why is there such a divide betweenthe religious and scientific

    communities? Can this rift be healed?A: I see more and more healing of this rift

    through religious efforts to protect the Earth.The scientific community has shared somuch insight into the beauty and complexityof the Earth and its ecosystems t h ey vereally made it possible for us to appreciate thebeauty of Gods Earth in a deeper way thanever before. At the same time, most scientiststhat Ive met are deeply concerned about therising levels of pollution around the world, andthey realize that religious groups with ourdeep beliefs and large networks can be animportant ally in efforts to protect the Earth. Isee a great deal of hope in this and I believethat the religious and scientific communitieswill learn to collaborate in important,meaningful ways on this in the future.

    Q: Have you had much dialogue withthe business community? If so, whattype of response do you typically get?

    A: We ve worked with many businessleaders who believe strongly in protecting theenvironment small business owners whorun renewable energy firms, recyclingcompanies, organic farmers, caterers whouse local, organic products. There are lots ofbusiness leaders who believe strongly inprotecting the environment and theyrecognize the importance of a religiouswitness in this area.

    We ve also dealt with companies that

    pollute consistently, and we use advocacyand, very occasionally, litigation to addressthis particularly pollution in poorcommunities. Some bad actors simplybelieve that they can pollute freely in poorcommunities because environmental lawsarent actively enforced, or because thefines are very modest. We think that part ofour responsibility is to fight against this.

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    10 GOING GREEN | S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 co mm er cia l a pp ea l.co m

    Did you know?In 1862, 90 percent of Americans were

    farmers. Today, only 2 percent work as

    fa r m e r s .Americans spend about $11 billion a year

    on bottled water. It takes 1.5 million barrels ofoil to make those bottles.

    One gallon of gasoline can contaminate750,000 gallons of water.

    One full standard toilet flush in thedeveloped world uses as much water as theaverage person in the developing world uses ina day for everything they do.

    More than 150 million cell phones are

    bought annually in the United States. We alsothrow out more than 425,000 daily.

    Some 20 percent of CO2 emissions arethe result of driving.

    Source: Catholics Going Green by WalterE. Grazer

    Small stepsWalter E. Grazer suggests these simple

    things anyone can do to be moreenvironmentally aware.

    1. Start with prayer and put theenvironment in that context. It can lift yourco ns ciou s nes s .

    2. Educate yourself to figure out whatsgoing on with topics you care about.

    3. Examine your lifestyle to see if there areany changes you can make that are moreenvironmentally responsible: Walk more anddrive less; turn off lights if youre going to beout of a room more than 15 minutes.

    4. Try, where you can, to impact the publicsquare, whether its through direct politicalengagement or just talking to neighbors.

    5. Take the time to appreciate nature: Smellthe flowers, watch bees pollinate or take awalk.

    Houston Chronicle

    SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

    CHRIS PECK O pinion

    Time to preachthe green gospel

    SOMETIMES YOU HEAR an ideaand say, that would be good forMemphis.

    H e re s one. Have the churches and

    religious leaders of this city go green.Preach the truth that Gods Earthis in trouble and we in Memphis canhelp do Gods work by helping outour distressed lands and waters andliving more lightly in our businessesand homes.

    Organize congregations to gogreen in their personal lives, theirbusiness lives, their community lives.

    Do it not because a politician saidso, but because your faith in theCreator and your connection toyour community compel you to doyour part to steward the Earthforward for the next generation.

    Rev. Fletcher Harper came toMemphis recently to make thatpitch. He spoke at the first Gather atthe River conference here, apioneering effort to bring theMemphis faith community togetherwith scientists and environmentalexperts to talk about the health of theMississippi River and much more.

    A substantial majority of allAmericans will say that they havehad a spiritual experience outdoors,

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 11

    Harper explained with a smile to theassembled pastors and communityleaders as he talked about the linksbetween faith and environmentalism.But we dont talk about it for more thanabout five seconds.

    Usually those five seconds relate toour experiences in the garden or maybeon the golf course. Our spiritualconnections with a sunset, or the call ofa cardinal, or the beauty of a mightyriver, remain mostly private momentsunconnected to larger issues of faithand community.

    But it shouldnt be that way, Harper

    believes. Most of us have felt a deepconnection to the Earth, which henotes is Gods greatest creation. Andfrom those moments of personalconnection it is possible to see that wemere mortals arent here to use Earthas our playground, but to tend it forfuture generations.

    T h at s the core message ofGreenFaith

    the organizationthat Harperleads.Gre e n Fa i t h smission: toinspire, educateand mobilizepeople of diverserel i g i o u sbackgrounds forenvironment all e a d e rs h i p .

    In Memphis,the GreenFaith movement is only nowgetting rolling. Yes, some churchleaders are working on the connectionbetween faith and environment. Rev.Ralph White, the longtime African-

    American pastor of Bloomfield Baptist,is one. Rev. Cheryl Cornish of FirstCongregational Church is another.

    But for many congregations, socialproblems, crime problems, familyproblems get most of the attention.

    Harper can recount the reasons whypastors can, and should, preach thegreen gospel.

    In the very big picture, our Earth ishurting, struggling to keep people offaith afloat. As a result:

    More than 1 billion people dont haveaccess to clean water.

    Even more dont have enough food,

    which ultimately comes from the Earth.Environmental and weathercatastrophes leave more peopledestitute than all the wars we knowabout .

    On a community level here along thebanks of the Mississippi River we alsoknow these truths:

    Greater Memphis draws all of itsdrinking water from

    an ancientu n d e rg ro u n daquifer, a big pool ofwater right belowwhere 1.4 millionpeople live.Awareness of thataquifer, and steps tokeep it clean, willsupport every life inGreater Memphis.

    Our metro regionstill struggles with

    too many people not having enoughgood food, or good eating habits, inpart because many people dont livenear a grocery store or have the moneyto eat right. Were ripe for more

    Preach the truth that Gods

    Earth is in trouble and we in

    Memphis can help do Gods

    work by helping out our

    distressed lands and waters

    and living more lightly in our

    businesses and homes.

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    12 GOING GREEN | Sun d ay , November 7, 2010 co mm er c ia l app ea l.co m

    community gardens, more caring for otherswho are without the basics of fresh, localfo o d s t u f f s .

    Because Memphis is an old city with anindustrial past, many neighborhoods arebuilt on brownfields polluted by the

    remnants of that early industrialism. Thissickens people and helps drive down realestate prices. Poorer, African-Americanneighborhoods are probably at most risk.

    Then there is the growing personalawareness that each of us can do our part toput less strain on the Earth by shiftingto low-power light bulbs, installing faucetsthat use less water, burning less gasolineand getting more exercise.

    Many churches could pledge to go greenon the church grounds. Manycongregations manage vast tracts of lawnand clusters of large buildings ripe formodification into more Earth-friendly,environmentally sustainable communityhubs. Congregations could explore ways toreduce fertilizer run-off, use less water andsave energy and money by recycling,

    insulating and buying local foodstuffs.All of this, Harper notes, likely wouldbegin to change the larger Memphisculture. Because peoples behavior is notreally changed by information, but byrel at i o n s h i p s , he said. And churches areall about building relationships. Thechurches can help their congregations learnand lead.

    It is a calling, really. If faith leaders would

    join the cause of protecting Mother Earthin Memphis, all of Creation would bes e r ve d .

    Chris Peck is editor of The Commercial Appeal.Contact him at 529-2390 or atpeck@commercialappeal .com .

    To see more of The Commercial Appeal or tosubscribe to the newspaper, go tocommercialappeal .com .

    Fest promotesthe green side

    of MemphisBy Linda A. Moore

    lmoore@commercialappeal .com

    Behind the mellow sounds ofthe Overton High School Bluesand Jazz Ensemble, those want-ing a greener Memphis and thegroups that can show them howcame together during the firstGreenUp Memphis Festival.

    It was presented by Mayor A CWharton and the Memphis CityBeautiful Commission on the fi-nal day of the Memphis FarmersMarket for the season.

    We want to be the greenest

    city in America, and having folkscollaborate and share their sus-tainable practices is a great way tohead in that direction, said EldraWhite, City Beautiful executived i re c t o r.

    The partnership with the farm-ers market helped bring the crowdsthat made the festival a success.

    We come to the farmers mar-ket every Saturday, said AlexS lichter.

    And when we heard about thiswe thought it was nice that themayor was trying to make Mem-phis so beautiful, said his wifeCathy Cozad.

    Displays included retailers with

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 13

    Kyle Kurlick/Special to The Commercial Appeal

    Tiuyana Moy (left) and Quin Paige, volunteers from Douglass High School, workthe grounds and pick up garbage of the first GreenUp Memphis festival.

    pottery, eco-conscious roofing, andgoods made from recycled products.

    There were hybrid Memphis Area Transit Authority Buses and mountedMemphis police officers, the greenest ofp at ro l s .

    Theyre making fertilizer, said or-ganizer Greg Belz with the MemphisCity Beautiful Commission.

    Some participants, like the SierraClub and the Wolf River Conservancy,were expected, along with city agencieslike Memphis Parks Services.

    Another display from Douglass HighSchool showed off their success as anaward winning Tennessee Valley Au-thority Green Schools.

    The FOG programThe citys FOG (Fats, Oils and

    Greases) Program from public works isan effort to stop residents fromclogging drains with kitchen grease.

    Butter, margarine and bacon fat maymelt under hot water and go down thedrain. But once it leaves your house

    and goes through the collection systemit forms into hard, nasty looking solids.Those solids damage the system,

    said Larry Anderson, a public worksenvironmental engineer.

    We re encouraging people to put thegrease in a can, let it cool off, put a lidon it, let harden and then put it in yourtrash, Anderson said.

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    14 GOING GREEN | S und ay , November 7, 2010 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

    At Douglass students in theWatt Busters Club encourageenergy efficient practices forthe school, calculate savingsand bust teachers whose class-rooms dont measure up. The

    tickets carry a $1 fine and haveput $50 in the clubs coffers.

    Overall, with the mayorssupport, the city is headed inthe right direction, Whites aid.

    Plus the community itself iswanting this, she said. We renot driving it. We have to re-sponds to the citizens here.

    They want this and were go-ing to make it happen forthem.

    Linda A. Moore: 529-2702

    We want to be the

    greenest city inAmerica, and

    having folks

    collaborate and

    share their

    sustainable

    practices is a great

    way to head in that

    direction.

    E L D RA WHITE,

    City Beautiful executive director

    Har vest

    Fest i va l

    By Melissa Petersen /Special to The Commercial Appeal

    OUR GROWING SEASON may be

    largely over and the farmers tuckered out,but we all have reason to celebrate the

    Mid-S ouths harvest.

    We ve had an explosion of new

    farmers markets, including the Cooper-

    Young Community Farmers Market,

    South Memphis Farmers Market and St.

    Jude Farmers Market; the farmers havehad a successful season; there is

    increased diversity in the food offered;

    and more chefs are adding locally grown

    items to their menus.

    Chefs, producers joinforces for family-style

    celebration of successfulfarmers market season

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 15

    The Commercial Appeal Files

    A scene from one of the many farmers markets serving the Memphis area: theJones Orchard stand at the Memphis Botanic Garden Farmers Market.

    Today, the Memphis Farmers MarketHarvest Celebration Downtown bringstogether local chefs and producers for afeast of music, fundraising and food. Theticketed event at Central Station givesthe public a chance to meet the peoplewho are growing, producing and sellingthe food they purchase at the markets.

    Market days are always a flurry ofactivity and shoppers, and were allexhausted at the end of the day, s aysLaretha Randolph, vendor chairwomanand chairwoman of the capital campaignfor the Memphis Farmers MarketDowntown. The Harvest Celebration is

    one time when everyone can enjoy eachother, talk and take a step back from allthe hard work to really celebrate anothergreat season.

    Harvest celebrations have existedsince people first began to cultivate food.Traditions are varied, based on crops,religious beliefs rituals to please the

    gods abound and time of year.Commemorating a good harvest is a

    tradition practiced in some manner in allparts of the world. Kwanzaa (Swahili forfirst fruits) is a seven-day festivalcelebrating family, community andculture. Even Thanksgiving essentially

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    16 GOING GREEN | Su n day , November 7, 2010 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

    started out as a harvest celebration.The local Harvest Celebration this

    year includes more than 17 participatingrestaurants such as Amerigo, FeliciaS uzannes, Grill 83, Interim, MajesticGrille, McEwens on Monroe and ThymeBistro, all putting on a huge spread offamily-style offerings. You can relax witha glass of wine or local beer from GhostRiver, bid on an auction item and chatwith a chef about the 10 best things tocook with winter greens (theyll tellyo u ) .

    Sometimes I do get very specificre q u e s t s , says Patrick Reilly, chef andowner of The Majestic Grille. I haveall this Swiss chard! Help me! One of my

    favorite recipes is Swiss Chard Strudel.So I share the recipe the best I can andhope that I didnt leave out any vitalsteps. Sometimes it is hard to fullyremember a recipe that early on aSaturday morning (at the market), butwe ll all be much more alert tonight atthe Harvest Festival, so ask away!

    Our rich history as an agriculturalsociety in the Mid-South has includedfestivals to mark the harvests of many ofthe individual crops grown here: RipleyTomato Festival, West TennesseeStrawberry Festival, WatermelonCarnival in Water Valley, Miss.

    With the proliferation of food availableyear-round on store shelves, the need to

    Jill Forrester (left) prepares her flower stand at the Memphis Farmers Market;okra selling by the box at Agricenter International.

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 17

    give thanks and congratulate oneanother on having enough food to livethrough the winter may have gone by thewayside, but lauding the end of asuccessful season continues.

    My family looks forward to seeing

    the farmers that put the food on ourtable each week says MelissaWolowicz, a local-food advocate andmarket regular. Knowing thatKimberlie from West Wind Farmsworked from dawn till dusk and thendrove across Tennessee to bring usfresh, farm-raised goods means a lot tome. The farmers are always glad to seeus, despite long hours. And thanks toour CSA (community supportedagriculture), we have tried many newvegetables that we wouldnt havenecessarily picked out.

    Some of the markets, including theMemphis Botanic Garden FarmersMarket, celebrate the end of the seasonwith a vendor party. While its just forthe farmers and producers, its nice to

    know that the people who are growingour food are friends and workcollaboratively. They talk about whatworks and what doesnt. They helpeach other out. Theyre alreadyplanning for next year.

    Most of the local markets are closedfor the season (South Memphisvendors are invited to sell as long as

    they have product).Memphis Farmers Market hopes to

    use the money raised at tonights eventto build an extension on the pavilion atthe market by next spring.

    Melissa Petersen is the editor of EdibleMemphis, a magazine that celebrates theabundance of local food, season by season.Contact her at ediblememphis.com.

    Local Farms Contact info:

    Bonnie Blue Farm, goat cheeses, (931)722-4628, bonniebluefarm.com

    Delta Pecan Orchard, pecans, flavoredpecans, pecan oil, pecan confections,(800) 281-2582, deltapecan.com

    Donnell Farms, beef, eggs, (731) 424-4526, donnellcenturyfarm.com

    Evergreen Farm, eggs, dairy products,(731) 376-8209, utterlyfresh.com

    Hughes Honey, (901) 475-1918,b h fa r m s @ p r o d i g y . n e t

    Jones Orchard, pears, apples, marketand kitchen, 7170 Hwy 51 N, Millington,873-3150, jonesorchard.com

    Mathis Creek Farms, beef, sausage,497-5892, [email protected]

    Neola Farms, beef, 476-1867,n e o l a fa r m s .co m

    Peace Bee Farm, honey, (870) 702-7976, peacebeefarm.com

    Windermere Farms, honey, 386-2035,[email protected], winfarms.com

    West Wind Farms, dairy products,meats, poultry, (423) 442-9768,w es t w i n d fa r m s .co m

    McCarter Coffee, 5995 Hwy 51 N,Millington, 358-5500,

    m ccart erco f fe e.comFlora Produce, eggs,Va n le e 20 0 1 @ya hoo.co mAlso at Tsumani Farmers Market startingthis monthMarkets

    Miss Cordelias Grocery, 737 HarborBend Road, misscordelias.com. Carriesproducts from Delta Pecan, Neola Farms,McCarter Coffee, Donnell Farms, BonnieBlue Farm and others.

    Trolley Stop Market, 704 Madison.(Saturdays 8 a.m. noon, starting thismonth.) Carries products from DeltaPecan, Neola Farms, Evergreen Farm,West Wind Farms, McCarter Coffee andothers.

    Tsunami Farmers Market, Saturdays,10 a.m. 1 p.m. Tsunami parking lot 928S Cooper. Donnell Farms, Flora Produce,and Evergreen Farm plan to be there.

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    18 GOING GREEN | S und ay , November 7, 2010 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

    Get up early:

    These breadssell quicklyBy Angela Knipple

    Special to The Commercial Appeal

    Bread didnt bring SheriMcKelvie to Memphis, but shecouldnt be here without it.

    I love the dough. And even ina low-carb world, bread is stillgood food, she says.

    McKelvie wasnt professionallytrained as a baker.

    I was house sitting for somepeople in Oregon, and I got

    snowed in. They had a reallygreat kitchen and a book onbaking bread. So the whole timeI was stuck there, I made bread.And that was it. When I camedown from there, I got a job in ab a ke r y, she recalls.

    The breads she makes could be

    Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal

    I love seeing people, says Sheri McKelvie,who sells her Cucina Breads at MemphisFarmers Market.

    I love the dough. And even in alow-carb world, bread is still good food.

    SHERI MCKELVIE

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 19

    considered artisan breads. At her one-p e rs o n operation, the dough rises slowly,and she bakes in small batches, each loafunique.

    I bake every Friday afternoon andnight for the market. Im able to make

    300 loaves, but I only cook 30 at a time.Ive got it down now so that I can do thewhole process in 12 hours.

    After a hard night of work, McKelvieis still a smiling face at the market.

    I love seeing people. I worked inwholesale for three years, but you dontget to see any of the customers whenyou do that, she says. I really likegetting to talk to the people who are

    buying my bread.McKelvie came to Memphis from

    Oregon after her best friend moved tot ow n .

    I came for a visit, and I really liked thecity. I saw a lot of opportunity as a baker,and the music is such a great part ofMemphis to me. And I love the way that I

    can go anywhere in town and I alwaysseem to run into someone I know.While she will be taking a well-earned

    break for a couple of weeks after themarket closes for the year S aturday,McKelvie will bake by special orderevery six to eight weeks throughout thew i n t e r.

    See her website, c u c i n a b re a d . c o m , ore-mail [email protected] for

    more information about her bakingschedule and pickup locations.

    Upside-Down Bread Pudding

    2 cups half and half4 eggs tsp cinnamon1 loaf cranberry walnut bread,

    cut into 1-inch cubes1 baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes3 small pears, peeled, cored andsliced thinly

    cup sugar6 tbsp. butter tsp. vanilla

    In a large mixing bowl, whisk togetherthe half and half, eggs and cinnamonuntil well combined. Add the cubedbreads and stir to coat the breadcompletely. Cover the bowl with plasticwrap and allow it to rest in therefrigerator for at least 4 hours or up toovernight.

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

    Toss the pear slices in the sugar andset aside.Melt the butter in a large oven-proof

    skillet, preferably nonstick, over mediumheat. Once the butter is foaming, add thevanilla and stir to combine.

    Carefully arrange the pear slices in theskillet to cover most of the bottom of thepan. Evenly scatter over any remaining

    sugar. Allow the pears to cook for 2minutes without stirring.

    Gently spread the soaked bread evenlyover the hot pear mixture withoutdisturbing the pear slices.

    Transfer the skillet to the oven andcook for 30 minutes or until the top is aneven golden brown and the puddingsprings back when touched. The breadpudding should still be moist.

    Remove the skillet from the oven, andplace a large serving plate upside-downon top of the skillet without letting thepudding rest. Carefully flip the skillet andremove the pan. The pudding shouldeasily release from the pan with the layerof pears and caramel on top.

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    20 GOING GREEN | S u n day, November 7, 2010 co mm er c ia l a pp ea l.co m

    Program pushes aquariums green initiativesWhat: Sustainable practices throughout the Tennessee Aquarium and its River

    Gorge Explorer attractionCompany: Tennessee AquariumLo c a t i o n : 201 Chestnut St., ChattanoogaHow its green: The aquariums River Gorge Explorer recently was recognizedby the Passenger Vessel Association for implementing green practices thatconserve, protect and preserve the natural environment. The attraction usesthe cleanest burning diesel engines that meet new EPA emissions standards.Also, the aquarium has implemented a Go Green program, complete with asustainability budget, that seeks to make it a more eco-friendly business.

    Why do it this way? We try to do everything we can with the environment inmind, Benson said. Its really from the drawing board to actual operations asmany building components, operational standards, whatever we can get in the r e. Plans for expanding: The aquarium is taking small steps such as recyclingpaper and plastic products, using biodegradable gift bags and purchasinghybrid and biodiesel vehicles. Benson said future Go Green project plansinclude installing low-flow toilets and urinals, motion sensor faucets and airhand dryers in the facilitys bathrooms.

    Brittany Cofer, Chattanooga Times Free Press

    Allison Kwesell / Chattanooga Times Free Press

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 21

    By Tim Barker

    St. Louis Post-Dispatch

    NEOSHO, Mo. With thenation investing billions of dol-lars in clean energy, it stands toreason that tiny Crowder Col-

    lege should be quite popularthese days.After all, this is a place thats

    been educating students aboutalternative energy for more thanthree decades. The school offersdegree tracks in solar, wind andbiofuels. It offers courses bothlocally and through its onlinep ro g ra m .

    Yet fewer than 60 students arepursuing green degrees from theschool. Thats not terribly sur-prising, considering that jobs inthis sector have been slow tomaterialize. Its a market, in-structors say, that depends heav-ily on using government incen-tives to get companies to invest

    in green endeavors. And thatsjust not happening right now.Frankly, with these market

    conditions, its turned out to bevery hard to make a living inthis industry, said Daniel Boyt,whose uncle founded Crowdersalternative energy program inthe 1970s.

    Students pursue green degrees,

    but creation of green jobs lags

    Elie Gardner/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

    (From left) Andrew Poor, Ben Cade andArthur Barker insert tubes into a tank whileassembling a Sun Maxx Solar thermosyphonduring a lab for a Solar Thermal Systemsclass at Crowder College in Missouri..

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    22 GOING GREEN | Su n day , November 7, 2010 co mm er cia l a pp ea l.co m

    Its not that the governmenthasnt tried, at least on the moneyside of the equation, with the Oba-ma administration setting aside $25billion in stimulus money for cleane n e rg y.

    So far, the investment hasntyielded the kinds of results the ad-ministration had hoped for.

    But it has spurred fresh intereston the part of colleges and uni-versities eager to get in on thegreen action.

    It wasnt too long ago that wecouldnt get anyones attention,

    said Alan Marble, Crowders pres-ident. Now everyones got thef eve r.

    The community college near theOzark Mountains with 5,200 stu-dents seems an unlikely place toserve as the states go-to school forall things green.

    But in 1992, Crowder was des-ignated by the Legislature as thest ates renewable energy educationcenter. Later this year, school lead-ers hope to break ground on a $7million home for its Missouri Al-ternative and Renewable Energy

    Technology Center.Its clear the tiny school from

    Neosho takes pride in its status.They have held their own in com-

    petition against teams of studentsfrom big name schools such as theMassachusetts Institute of Technol-ogy, the University of Texas andCarnegie Mellon Institute.

    Lately, the school has been sit-ting out the big competitions be-cause of rising costs. Administra-tors say theyd rather focus

    Incentives, public-privatepartnerships key to growth

    MIDLAND, Mich. Immediate, decisiveinvestments in the green manufacturingsector can help boost Americas exports, lowerthe trade deficit, create jobs and increase its

    competitiveness in a dynamic worldmarketplace, according to Stephanie A. Burns,president and CEO of Dow Corning Corp.

    Im convinced that green jobs, especiallygreen manufacturing jobs, can be a major factorin our economic recovery, she said. I believethat with the right mix of private investment,government support and entrepreneurial spirit,we can revitalize the heart of our nationseconomy our manufacturing sector. .

    Burns made her remarks in her keynoteaddress at the 2010 International DistrictExport Council Conference sessionCapitalizing on Americas Export Advantages:Green & Innovation.

    We need the policies in place forrenewables manufacturing to flourish here in order to have the opportunities for export,she said. Other nations have adoptedaggressive policies to support the growth oftheir renewable-energy manufacturing base,but companies that hope to manufacture inthe U.S. are faced with discouraging barriers.

    Burns also discussed Dow Corningsproposed four-point plan to grow the domesticsolar industry, which she said addresses manyof the manufacturing, legislative, regulatoryand work force-related factors that influenceAm e r i ca s ability to develop a thriving,domestic industry that will increase exports.

    The four points are for the government to:Establish legislative and regulatory

    policies to encourage rapid growth of a viablerenewable energy industry and encourageconsumer adoption.

    Increase investments in research anddevelopment to support innovation in solarenergy technologies.

    Invest in renewable energy-relatededucation, training and job creation.

    Lead by example in the implementation ofclean technologies.

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 23

    resources on campus programs.Part of that focus, however, includes

    the realization that jobs still haventcaught up with the supply of graduates.

    To counter that, Crowder employs a job-hedging system, in which each of thegreen degrees teaches something extra.

    A student who studies wind turbines,for example, also learns about generalindustrial maintenance.

    Its not our purpose to train peopleand take their money, said Marble,C rowd e r s president. Its about gettingpeople ready to go to work.

    Among the students enrolled inC rowd e r s alternative energy program is

    Edwin Moore, a freelance writer fromnearby Anderson, Mo.

    As much as I enjoy my work, itwould be nice to have a steady paycheckand health insurance, said Moore,whos studying biofuels.

    Its a similar story for Victorio An-

    gulo, a chemical engineer based in Ben-tonville, Ark., who is considering a ca-reer shift.

    Id like to work more in that area,Angulo said. And one thing might leadto another.

    But figuring out whether Angulo andMoore will get those green jobs is a bitof a guessing game.

    Elie Gardner/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

    A wind turbine turns behind a solar house built in 2005 for the Solar Decathloncompetition. Tiny Crowder College in Neosho has long been a leader in the pushto educate students for a world that will demand expertise in green technolog ies.

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    24 GOING GREEN | S u n d ay, November 7, 2010 co mm er c ia l app ea l.co m

    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statisticsonly recently started tracking the sec-tor, figuring the nation had around 2.2million green jobs. The bureau has notyet offered forecasts on expectedgrowth from the sector.

    Economic experts, however, arentoptimistic.

    The problem, some say, is that theU.S. lags in green industries comparedto Europe and other parts of theworld. And its still cheaper to usetraditional energy sources thoughmost expect that to change.

    Over time, we know that energy

    prices have gone up and down. Butthey are more likely to go up, s aidJack Strauss, an economics professorat St. Louis University. I would thinkthe jobs are coming.

    Strauss and others say help for thesector could come in the form thecarbon tax thats been pushed foryears as a way to reduce carbon emis-sions by making traditional fuelsources more expensive.

    To some, its simply a matter ofmaking it happen. Dan Eberle, theformer director of Crowders alterna-tive energy programs whos building asimilar program at Johnson CountyCommunity College in Overland Park,Kan., sees parallels to the 1950s whenthe country decided to build a network

    of roads across the nation.When we wanted to build the in-terstate highway system, we incen-tivized it. We made it possible, Eb e rl es aid.

    The $25 billion set aside by theObama administration two years agohas, thus far, produced little in terms

    of job growth.

    Its happening. But its happeningat a very slow and methodical pace,said Rico Kolster, a Kansas City-basedlawyer on Bryan Caves energy indus-

    try team.He said businesses also are leery ofincentive dollars, which they fear willcome with regulatory strings. At thesame time, smaller start-ups eager tograb the federal money often lack theresources and expertise needed to se-cure the funds.

    And its not even clear that new jobs

    will do anything more than put backto work those people whove beenidled by the move away from coal-powered plants and other traditionalpower sources.

    Others, however, say the problemwith creating green jobs is the sameone experienced by virtually every oth-er sector during these tough economictimes.

    Its not good. But thats becausethe overall job market is not good,said Robert Pollin, economics profes-sor at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a consultant to the U.S.Department of Energy on stimuluss p e n d i n g.

    Pollin said getting the stimulusmoney out into the economy has beentough because of difficulties establish-ing how it should be awarded and areluctance on the part of businesses toinvest matching dollars.

    You will get a lot of jobs if youspend a lot of money, Pollin said.But we havent spent the money.

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    The Commercial Appeal S u nd ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 25

    Composting: Not as

    fussy as some think

    By Lee Reich

    Associated Press

    Pity the beginning gardener who dares to readabout composting.What novice would not be intimidated by the too

    often very complicated instructions, as well as al-leged needs for exotic or hard-to-find ingredients?

    Some British gardening books, for example, mighthave you tossing in your pitchfork and gloves indespair trying to find soil for your compost pile.Many British authorities recommend laying down

    Evelyn Mosley and hergrandson, Andrew,work in the

    composting areabehind herGermantown home.She compostsleaves,grass andkitchen waste.

    Karen Pulfer FochtThe Commercial Appeal files

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    26 GOING GREEN | S u n day, November 7, 2010 co mm erci a l a pp ea l.com

    post that has been fed such thingsshould not cause any problems.

    What spells death to insect, diseaseand weed pests in a compost pile is acombination of heat and time. Pile up

    compostable materials in a big batch,with attention to the mix of ingre-dients, air and moisture, and intenseheat soon follows.

    Get a long-probed compost ther-mometer (you can find them atCharleysgreenhouse.com, Fed-coseeds.com, Gardeners.com or John-nyseeds.com, among other places)and watch the dial spin as high as 160degrees, which is hot enough to killvirtually all pests in short order.

    A casually made pile, built grad-ually over a few weeks especiallyat this time of year with weatherturning cooler will generate littleheat. But let any pile of living oronce-living material sit long enoughand it will eventually turn dark brown

    and crumbly. Along the way, pestswill have expired or been gobbled upby other microorganisms. A week at100 degrees could have the samekilling effect on some pests as anhour at 140 degrees.

    Garden gold

    You cannot do much better for your

    garden than to lavish it with compost.And you need plenty of raw materialsto make plenty of compost.

    Dont waste any compostable ma-terials including weeds and pest-ridden plants by bagging them upas garbage or burning them.

    a 1- to 2-inch blanket after every footor so of other ingredients. Where areyou going to find all that soil?

    In fact, soil is a nice, but surely notnecessary, addition to a compost pile.Rather than those layers, just addsprinklings of soil to your compostpiles. Or none at all.

    Clean leaves, stems andfruits

    The directives most likely to per-suade a beginner to abandon com-posting are those telling us not tocompost diseased plants or plant

    parts. The same could be said forwarnings against composting plantsor plant parts harboring insect pests.You might similarly be instructed tokeep weeds out of your compost piles.Is any of this possible or desirable?

    Unless you regularly douse yourproperty with a slew of insecticidesand fungicides, you are unlikely to

    find much plant material that doesnot host some insect or disease pest.T h at s if you looked closely enough.You might find a clean leaf here andthere, but nothing in quantity, andsurely nothing worth picking through.And if you follow warnings againstusing weeds, you miss out on thesweet revenge of reincarnating them,from agents that rob plants of nu-

    trients and water into compost, whichhas the opposite effect.

    Its all good

    So forget all the talk about keepingpest-ridden plants and weeds out ofcompost piles. Using a finished com-

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 27

    Composting primerHere are some composting basics:

    GETTING STARTED

    The first step would be to determinethe best system for you. Some people

    opt to create a compost pile in a cornerof the backyard, sometimes enclosedby a wire, cage-like structure. Othersprefer a large covered bin that rotates.

    The price varies according to thebins features, including whether itturns or stacks. A basic black plasticbin with a screw-on top runs about$100. Check with the local municipalityor environmental center to see ifdiscounts are offered.

    A pile works just great for leaves andgrass clippings, but when you want toincorporate food waste, its time to usea bin to prevent rodents.

    Apartment dwellers also cancompost right in their kitchens,sometimes speeding the process withred wriggler worms or another speciesthat breaks down organic matter. Thisis called vermicomposting. Specializedbins are sold for indoor use, The worms

    are available online.WHAT TO TOSS IN

    Think brown and green a mix ofthe two is best.

    Browns include wood chips anddried leaves from trees. These itemsare sources of carbon. So aren ew s p a p e r s .

    Greens can include grass clippingsand other yard waste and food scraps,

    including vegetable or fruit peels andcoffee grounds. These providen i t r o ge n .

    Use twice as much green material asbrown material if you can turn the pileoften. If you dont turn your pile, gomore 50-50 or even 2-1 in the otherdirection to start.

    By adding soil or some compost, you

    can jumpstart the process.Its recommended that you dont

    throw meat or fish scraps or dairyproducts into your compost bin. Thosecould attract rodents. Material treatedwith pesticides also should not becomposted, nor should you use weedsthat have gone to seed.

    Yo u ll also want to keep the compostpile moist, but not wet, and make sureits aerated.

    HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

    If you just put your organic materialsinto a pile and let it decompose on itsown, it takes about a year to produce

    com p o s t .Start in autumn, when the leaves arefa l l i n g .

    For faster composting, use a unitthat rotates. One such unit has threeseparate bins. The decomposingmaterial is turned from bin to bin, as itde co m p o s es .

    If you use blood meal or corn glutento speed up the process and turn thecompost bin every day, you can havecompost in about six weeks.

    WHEN ITS FINISHED

    Finished compost will be cool, brownand crumbly and smells fresh, like soil.

    It can be used as organic fertilizer inyour yard or to fertilize house plants.

    Associated Press

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    28 GOING GREEN | S und ay , November 7, 2010 co mm er c ia l app ea l.co m

    MEATLESS MONDAY

    Restaurants adapt veggie concept

    Restaurant consultant Andrew Free-man & Co. recently released their 2011Trend List of 18 up-and-coming ideasthat restaurateurs should be watching.The prediction: veggies will boom inrestaurants next year.

    Here are some key points:Even meat-minded chefs are veg-

    ging out as f lexitarian goes main-stream. Meatless Mondays and veg-etable-based tasting menus are gainingtraction as guests realize its not allabout the meat on the plate.

    Many eateries nationwide have al-ready realized that Meatless Mondaysare great for business and a creativeway to showcase skills. In April, celebri-ty chef Mario Batali began offering

    Meatless Monday options in his 14restaurants nationwide; others have fol-lowed his lead. Meatless Monday diningsuggestions are now popping up in Za-gat, the Chicago Tribune, Organic Au-thority and Food & Wine.

    Not only are Meatless Mondayspopular, they make good sense. Restau-rateurs can use plant-based meals totransform an otherwise slow businessday into an opportunity for specialsales, creative promotions and originaldishes. The success of eateries likeDovetail (New York), Nage (Washing-ton D.C.), Maoz Vegetarian and TenderGreens (San Diego) show the popu-larity of the Meatless Monday conceptwith chefs and customers alike.

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    The Commercial Appeal S u n d ay , November 7, 2010 | GOING GREEN 29

    Roasted Pepper Pecan Pesto PastaRed bell peppers are blackened in the oven, then seasoned with garlic, lemon

    juice, cumin and hot pepper flakes. Breadcrumbs and pecans add texture andprotein to this play on an Italian classic, before this pasta sauce is tossed withlinguine and fresh basil. This recipe is courtesy of Circle B Kitchen.

    1 red pepper, halved1/2 cup bread crumbs1 garlic clove, minced1 tbsp. lemon juice1 tsp. ground cumin1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

    1/2 cup pecan halves1/2 tsp. salt1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil1 pound linguine1/2 cup parmesan cheese,

    grated for garnish1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped forga r n i s h1/2 cup fresh parsley, choppedfor garnish

    Turn on the broiler of an oven.Place the pepper halves cut side

    down on a baking sheet and broil 2-4inches from the flame for about 12-15minutes, or until the skins haveb l a c ke n e d .

    Place the blackened pepper in abowl covered in plastic wrap or in asealed zip lock bag. Let the peppersteam for 10-15 minutes. Remove thepepper from the bowl. Scoop out the

    seeds and slip the skins off, but donot rinse under water. Cut the peeledpepper into large pieces and place ina food processor.

    Add the breadcrumbs, garlic, lemonjuice, cumin, red pepper flakes,pecans and salt to the foodprocessor. Begin to pulse and blendthe pesto ingredients together. Slowlyadd the olive oil to the food processor

    while blending, so the pesto becomesa smooth paste.

    Bring a large salted pot of water toa boil over medium-high heat andcook the linguine according topackage directions. Reserve a cup ofpasta water when you drain thel i n g u i n e.

    Place a large saut pan overmedium-low heat. Spoon the pestointo the pan and toss with the drained

    pasta to heat through, adding asmuch of the reserved pasta water asneeded to make a sauce to yourpreferred consistency.

    Serve the pasta in equal portionson plates. Sprinkle with gratedparmesan cheese and fresh choppedbasil and parsley and enjoy. Serves 6

    Red bell peppers are blackened inthe oven, then seasoned with garlic,lemon juice, cumin and hot pepperflakes for this savory main course.