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BBC Poll on Issues Requiring Greater Coverage

SBC — Tue, 24 May 2005 14:12:35 -0700

Pete Clifton, editor of the BBC News website, has requested input into what stories require greater attention

Please vote at BBC News CLICK HERE

Which story do you want to see more coverage of?
1. Human stories from Iraq
2. Climate change
3. The peak in oil production
4. UN General Assembly
5. Primate research
6. Africa
7. EU constitution
8. G8 summit
9. Nuclear power debate
10. Marburg virus

Mad River Valley Post Carbon (Vermont)

Peak Oil Petition to Congress

SBC — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 06:11:10 -0700

www.petitiononline.com/EndofOil/petition.html

Click above, sign and pass along to other concerned citizens

Mad River Valley Post Carbon (Vermont)

PowerDown: Imposed by Nature (17 Feb 2006)

xtraspatial — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 07:12:02 -0800

As all of you in the Saratoga area are well aware, we experienced a natural Powerdown scenario Friday, 17 February, when winds, locally in excess of 55 mph, downed trees and powerlines, cutting power to many businesses and over 150,000 area residents. For most, grid power wasn't restored until Saturday night, but some were without power until Tuesday or Wednesday. While temperatures were seasonably mild, many were without a means for heating their homes and those without gravity-driven water systems had no running water.

There was one direct fatality in the Spa area: a DOT worker who was killed when a huge pine tree sheared 15 feet up and crushed his truck. There were house fires, including another fatality in a South Glens Falls house fire.

Sustainable Saratoga Springs (NY)

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

xtraspatial — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:19:34 -0700

I'm in the process of reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life" by Barbara Kingsolver, in which she, along with her husband, Steve Hopp, and daughter Camille describe their experience of eating (nearly) exclusively local food for an entire year.

The book is organized by topics but follows pretty much the chronology of their excursion into the food supplies found in their gardens, their neighbors gardens, and the various places where they travel (including Canada, Ohio, Pennsylvania).

Her style of writing is uplifting and celebratory, with a bit of sarcasm and a pinch of cynicism. It is a great companion to Bill McKibben's "Deep Economy."

Camille includes recipes at the end of most chapters, and I've learned to make Mozzarella Cheese from her! I now make my own very local mozzarella using Meadowbrook milk (just southwest of Albany), citric acid (OK, not so local), and vegetarian rennet. It takes about an hour (less if you use a microwave), and can be eaten directly thereafter or chilled for later. I had it on my tomatoes, and topped it with my basil, drizzled with olive oil (OK, OK!! Not local!), and pepper (I know: not local). I figure it costs me about $2.75 in materials (half-gallon of milk and traces of the citric acid and rennet). This compares to the $4.50 for the same amount of cheese made from non-organic (and probably rBGH-infused) milk from some huge dairy conglomerate and wrapped in plastic. Next, I want to try cream cheese (or Neufchatel), creme fraiche, and some aged hard cheese (like cheddar). Then on to blues.

I don't eat much dairy now, but I'm intrigued by the process of preserving food and cheese foots the bill there.

Anyone else reading the book or have cheese-making experiences to share?

Sustainable Saratoga Springs (NY)