Build a Worm Bin You Can Be Proud Of

Sunny gives a quick report on what FoodCycles city farm learning centre is up to. This includes the building of the worm bins, the salad-herb-sprout growing tables and the raised beds. A special thanks goes to the sensational work of the volunteers including Joe Nigrini (the carpenter maestro), Cliff Changoor, Aaron, Steve, Jacqueline Ronson, Karen Hoyle and Tim Sullivan. See the second part of the report at http://bit.ly/qWpmC. For more on the original building event posting see http://bit.ly/kLrw. [FoodCycles Report Jul 31 2009 Part A]

See the video at FoodCycles.org!

How to Sleep “Over” a Garden

Most people might have slept “in” a garden yet how many do you know have slept “over” one? Jane Hutton (FoodCycles latest member) and her partner Adrian designed an award winning sleep-above-the-garden net as part of the 10th Edition of the International Garden Festival at Les Jardins de Métis in Grand-Métis, Quebec. The festival runs from June 27th to October 4th, 2009 and Jane says “the Gaspe is an absolutely amazing place to visit too.”

Read the rest of the post at FoodCycles.org.

Fruits and Veggies: Better Than a Glass of Water?

Watermelon is rich in Vitamin C , as well as beta carotene and lycopene which will give the body protection from UV light. (Photo via Oregon State University)

A new study has found that some fruits and veggies are 2 times better at getting water into your body than a glass of water…

Read the rest of the post at FoodCycles.org.

How To Beat Bug Resistance with Sponges

Sponges produce a chemical that can fight bugs like MRSA. (Photo via Butte County Public Health)

Recent research by Peter Moeller has found that a chemical in ocean “sponges” can be used to make super bugs not so super. They can be hit with the usual chemicals after that to fight bugs that cause whooping cough, ear infections, septicemia and food poisoning for example. The concept works through an idea similar to “divide and conquer” – you break up the bacteria from working together in something called a “biofilm”.

There’s only 1 problem with this. The problem is that bacteria could eventually adapt to the sponge chemical and then you’d have to find another new chemical to beat the bugs again. Like I say, there’s no such thing as a magic bullet that lasts forever.

Originally from…

Sponge’s Secret Weapon Restores Antibiotics’ Power / Science News: “CHICAGO — A chemical from an ocean-dwelling sponge can reprogram antibiotic resistant bacteria to make them vulnerable to medicines again, new evidence suggests.

Ineffective antibiotics become lethal once again for bacteria treated with the sponge compound, chemist Peter Moeller reported February 13 at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting. “

(Via ScienceNews.)

Resources

MRSA Infections

Building Worm Bins Brews Good Soil [Work Event #1]

The prototype worm bin made of spruce. The modular unit will have 4 of these made with fir plus the growing tables over it. It’ll be elevated too. (Photo via Sunny Lam)

Want to gain some hands on construction experience? Do you enjoy using hammers, nails or handling wood? Do you want to learn how to build a really big worm composting bin to handle food waste like a pro? Here’s your chance! FoodCycles will be constructing its first modular set of worm bins, sprout-salad-herb growing tables and runoff collection systems on Tue, Jul 28, Wed Jul 29 and Sat, Aug 1, 2009 (10 am – 4 pm) at the FoodCycles greenhouse farm (70 Canuck Ave, map and directions http://bit.ly/1GYyWQ). Register ahead of time if you want to come by emailing foodcycles@gmail.com or call 416.845.0818. It’s a potluck lunch event and don’t forget to bring closed toe shoes, extra water, lighter layers and sunscreen. There will be more 3-day building sessions to follow over the next few months so stay tuned! Learn more about FoodCycles city farm at http://foodcycles.org or http://bit.ly/xxTmA.

From Growing Power – Rebekka's photos

Is Peak Oil Real?

Peak oil and the energy desert to come? (Photo via forceChange)

The Oil Drum | Is Peak Oil Real? A List of Countries Past Peak: “Only 14 of the 54 oil producing nations in the world are still increasing their oil production. The era of cheap oil is definitively over, as shown below.“

(Via The Oil Drum.)

Nearly 2 thirds (60.6%) of all oil producing nations have hit and passed their maximum amount of oil production. That only leaves 39.4% of the remaining oil nations to provide more oil in the future. A lot of these areas are in chaos, war or some sort of really big political change. These countries include Angola, Kazakhstan, Sudan and Turkmenistan among them

It seems the need for renewable energy sources has become more important than ever. Otherwise some nations such as China and the United States may try to continue with coal mining. Coal is really dirty and even if you didn’t think about climate change the air pollution deaths alone would make you stop in your tracks.

As population grows and the demand for power rises, things like oil, coal, water and food will be the spark points for wars, arguments and unrest.

Resources

Peak Oil News
Energy Bulletin
Implications of Fossil Fuel Dependence for the Food System
ECO:nomics conference participants debate “peak oil” theory.

Cracking the Clean Coal Myth
Environmental Problems with Coal, Oil and Gas
Environmental Issues with Best Management Practices of Coal Mining

Killing Ants with Jack Hammers? Biotech’s Failure

Can biotechnology fix world hunger or are we just falling through the cracks? (Photo via Ethicurean)

OVERSIZED BULLETS

The most striking point of Doug’s interview at the Ethicurean was that genetic engineering or biotech hasn’t increased the amount of food grown at all. Herbicides and even Bt poisons do far less than any other method (herbicides do nothing according to Doug).

Read the rest of the post at FoodCycles.org.

The Future for Farmers

Agriculture and forestry in the US can absorb up to 13% of US greenhouse gas emissions according to Dennis Spisak of the Ohio Green Party. Unfortunately it also produces 6%. At the same time, there’s heavy resistance to fixing this whole air pollution, greenhouse gas problem from certain country folk who could stand to gain the most. Alas, it is human nature isn’t it?

THE WARNING SIGNS

If the drought in Alberta, the tornado in Ontario and the crazy 7 degree temperature changes in the Great Plains and Midwest are any indication, climate change is real. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution is a good idea any way – it saves on energy, money and other costs which can go to surviving these changes.

THE ROAD BLOCKS

In another example of resistance, politicians supporting big farm businesses wrote the rules so that biofuel companies could get government money or support without any problems from the Environmental Protection Agency. Of course the science was ignored because all these politicians could see was the money.

As David Hawkins of the NRDC (Natural Resources Defence Council) said:

These amendments run the risk of creating a subprime market in both offsets and biofuels.

In addition, the cap and trade marketing system is more business as usual than really fixing things. Of course what it does is that it allows the already rich and powerful businesses to continue making lots of money while looking like they’re trying to fix things. It is unfortunate that even the Obama government continues down this road.

WHAT WILL BE LOST?

If even 5% of US power came from wind for example, farmers and countryside landowners could get $1.2 billion in money and 80,000 new jobs over 20 years. Considering the economic recession and loss of over 3.6 million jobs, every bit counts. And we definitely need to see nations like the US and Canada start shifting their thinking towards a green economy (Obama is thinking that way, alas Canada is behind).

If I were to make an educated guess based on population size, Canada could probably get a 10th of what the US gains in terms of 5% wind power. That’s still pretty significant.

Originally…

Progress Ohio | Dennis Spisak’s Blog: The Future For Farmers: “the one in 300 Americans employed in the $200 billion farming and forestry sector have tremendous opportunities in the shift to a clean energy economy. U.S. agricultural and forest lands sequester 903 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, absorbing 13 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, but U.S.agriculture also produces 413 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year. If industrial agriculture engages in greener practices, then advanced biofuels, wind farms, biological sequestration and other sustainable practices can offer new jobs and billions of dollars of income to rural America. “

(Via Progress Ohio.)

Spicy Dill Cornbread with Garlic Scapes and Red Onion (vegetarian/vegan)

(Photo via Sunny Lam)

This hearty corn bread packs a powerful punch with organic spices like pepper and fresh, local organic garlic scapes. If you’re baking for non spice lovers and the scapes and red onion will more than make up for it.

I baked the first one for FoodCycles volunteers in July 2009 and they absolutely loved it.

Get the rest of the recipe at FoodCycles.org.

World Food Is Running Dry for Too Many

What are the striking facts from the article?

1. FOOD PRICES ARE SKYROCKETING

From 2005-2008, the price of wheat and corn became 3 times higher, rice 5 times higher and what happened?

There were food riots in nearly 24 countries and 75,000,000 (75 million) more people went into poverty.

What’s worse is that it came at a time when farmers actually beat their usual records. Why? The world is eating more food than it is making – simple as that.

Read the rest of the post at FoodCycles.org