Yes, We Can Have Global Warming and Record Cold

Photo by Andre Furtado on Pexels.com

This week, parts  of the United States will likely see the coldest weather in two decades. At first glance it doesn’t make sense: how can global warming exist along with a dangerous cold snap? After all, the current polar vortex is bringing temperatures that will rival Arctic and Siberian conditions.

The term “global warming” refers to the rise in temperature that occurs when greenhouse gasses — such as carbon and methane — trap warm air in the atmosphere. Drought, floods and wildfires are obvious examples of extreme conditions linked with global warming. But how can scientists continue to warn about global warming in the midst of blizzards and life-threatening cold?

Well, it turns out that higher-than-normal temperatures in the Arctic regions are contributing to the polar vortex in the Midwest and eastern United States. When Arctic temperatures rise, a warm ridge forms in the atmosphere and drives the jet stream farther south. The result? Cold temperatures that break records and affect southern regions.

Warmer temperatures worldwide also increase the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. Combined with a plunging jet stream, the increased moisture levels bring heavy snowfall and blizzards.

If you’d like to read more about weather extremes, here are some good places to start:

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/01/climate-change-colder-winters-global-warming-polar-vortex/

https://www.popsci.com/cold-weather-climate-change#page-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Climate Change: Add Your Voice

 

The facts about climate change can seem overwhelming and even discouraging. We see severe storms, droughts and record temperatures on the news more frequently. 2014 was the warmest year on record for the earth and its oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Since the 1800’s, scientists have warned of the “greenhouse effect” caused by excess levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Before the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of CO2 was 150 parts per million (ppm); today it is 400 ppm.

But there is good news! A grassroots organization called Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) gives individuals a voice as advocates for addressing climate change. I recently signed up with CCL and am impressed with the in-depth knowledge they provide to citizens who are concerned about climate change. After listening to an introductory phone call, I was able to connect with local members and learn about opportunities for advocacy.

CCL advocates a carbon fee and dividend plan, which is a market-based approach to dealing with CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. The fee would help provide a truer picture of the costs of carbon-based fuels, and encourage the use of solar power and other non-carbon energy sources. Simply put, companies would pay a fee on the amount of carbon in fossil fuels, and the fees would be given back to households.  Countries that do not have a carbon fee plan would face import fees, and American industries that export to these countries would receive rebates.

According to a study by Regional Economic Models, Inc.,  the carbon fee and dividend could reduce CO2 emissions to 50 percent below 1990 levels in 20 years. Air quality improvements could prevent over 200,000 premature deaths in 20 years. The study also found that the dividend would stimulate the US economy and help produce 2.8 million jobs in 20 years.

Yes, there is cause for concern, and yes, the forecasts are dire. But once again, the voices of ordinary citizens add up to a force for meaningful, positive change. If you are looking for a way to connect with like-minded people and add your voice to finding real solutions to climate change, CCL is a great place to start.

Heifer International: Ending Poverty and Hunger Through Empowerment

Yes, it is a bit early to think about Christmas, but one of my favorite Christmas catalogs arrived in the mail today. It’s from the humanitarian organization Heifer International — a group that reminds me of the dramatic difference one gift can make.

Through agricultural and livestock projects, Heifer International has helped impoverished families around the world for 70 years. The Christmas catalog lets you buy a gift for a poor family in honor of a loved one. The gifts, which include a $20 flock of geese, a $50 share of a heifer and a $150 llama, helps families get started on the path to self-sustainability. For example, a $30 gift of pollinating honeybees can help a small-scale coffee farmer increase production by  10 percent and provide honey for additional income.

According to its 12 Cornerstones of Just and Sustainable Development, Heifer International provides training, livestock, seeds, and other needed support to people in the poorest regions of the world. Through one of the most effective cornerstones, called “Passing On the Gift,” families who have been helped by Heifer International give to others in need in their communities. Other cornerstones include “Accountability,” “Nutrition and Income” and “Training and Education.” Women and men are encouraged to reach decisions together, and participants learn sustainable farming methods that protect the environment.

Food Network star Alton Brown explains the benefits of Heifer International:

 

So, if you’re looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season, look up Heifer International’s gift catalog. It’s called “The Most Important Gift Catalog in the World” for good reason. Individual acts of kindness really do make a difference!

Collectively: A New Sustainability Media Platform

This week, a new media platform called Collectively appeared online. Targeting the 18-to-30 age group, Collectively shares articles and videos about sustainability projects from around the world. Many of the world’s largest corporations, including Coca-Cola, Unilever, McDonald’s and Twitter. are partnering with (i.e. sponsoring) the Forum for the Future to bring this platform to the Internet.

 

The Forum for the Future states that the goal of Collectively is to inspire “a generational shift to a new normal.” Collectively highlights encouraging news in the push for sustainable agriculture and energy, as well as related news about art and technology. Visitors to the site can watch a video about urban beekeeping in Los Angeles, for example, or read an article about the promise of micro farming. In an age of alarming news about climate change, wars, and health crises, you don’t have to be a member of the Millennial generation to crave good news about the future of our planet.

It is easy to question the motives of corporate sponsors, and to feel skeptical about claims that the sponsors do not dictate content. However, it is necessary to bring both private and public organizations and businesses to the table as we tackle complex — and urgent — environmental and humanitarian issues.  Meanwhile, young visitors to this new platform will have a chance to learn about sustainability issues and consider their own potential for creativity and leadership. I am at least thankful for that.

Your Food: USDA Tool Can Help You Find Local Farmers’ Markets

Many farmers’ markets are open throughou the fall and even year round. If you’re still looking for a market in your area, a little-known USDA tool can help. The USDA Farmers’ Market Directory lets you search by zip code and distance, and lets you filter your search based on products available, payment accepted, market location, winter markets, and state contacts. To be eligible for a listing, a market must “feature two or more farm vendors selling agricultural products directly to customers at a common, recurrent physical location.”

The directory makes it possible to find a farmers’ market that best suits your preferences or budget. For example, the “Products Available” list includes baked goods, honey, crafts, herbs, meats, dry beans, soaps and many other product categories.  The “Payment Accepted” filter lets you look for markets that accept credit cards, WIC vouchers, SNAP and other Federal nutrition programs.

If farmers’ markets aren’t your thing, you can find other locally-grown options in the USDA Local Food Directories. You can look for Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), for example, which provide members or subscribers with regular deliveries of fresh produce during harvest seasons. Other directories include on-farm markets and food hubs, which manage distribution and marketing of locally-grown food to wholesale, retail and institutional buyers.

Buying from CSAs, farmers’ markets or other local options lets you know where your food comes from, and keeps dollars in the local — especially rural — economy. Besides, fresh food tastes so much better!

 

 

 

 

Beyond Sustainability: The Promise of Regenerative Agriculture

 

image by ethanappleseed via Flickr

 

We hear so much — and rightly so — about our dwindling resources and the need to use our resources wisely. “Sustainable agriculture” is a term that appears in the news and social media, but how many are familiar with the term “regenerative agriculture?” Regenerative agriculture is a model of agriculture that renews and restores the soil, making it it possible to produce highly nutritious food.

The Rodale Institute  describes regenerative agriculture as “farming like the Earth matters.”  For decades, modern agriculture has relied on synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides, excessive tillage and other practices that deplete the soil.  These methods have resulted in the loss of up to 75 percent of the soil’s organic carbon — a substance that is vital for soil health. At the same time, these agricultural practices contribute to excess greenhouse gas or carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which in turn contribute to climate change.

Fortunately, regenerative organic agriculture makes it possible to reverse this destructive cycle. This farming method does not rely on technological advances that are available to only a few industrial farms.  It emphasizes practices such as crop rotation, composting and conservation tillage — practices which help to keep carbon stocks in the soil and prevent harmful CO2 emissions. Carbon is returned to the soil instead of the atmosphere, and the replenished soil produces nutrient-rich crops.

Conservation tillage, for example, leaves residue on the soil from the previous year’s crops. According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, this practice can reduce erosion up to 60 to 90 percent, improve soil quality by allowing organic matter to decompose, and reduce air pollution form diesel fuel. Conservation tillage is an example of regenerative agriculture methods that return organic carbon to the soil.

We can all take steps to encourage “farming like the Earth matters.” As consumers, we can seek out and buy locally raised, organically grown food whenever possible. We can learn and spread the word about improving our food supply and the way our food is produced.

You can find out more about regenerative agriculture at the following links:

Rodale Institute: The New Farm

Organic Consumers Association: Regenerative Agriculture — Sowing Health, Sustainability, and Climate Stability

 

Your Food: Don’t Let the Word “Natural” Fool You

When it comes to food labels, we consumers would surely appreciate a high level of trustworthiness. Take the word “natural,” for example.  I like to think that “natural” foods are just that — natural, free of unwanted chemicals and chemical processes. According to a recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, for example, 89 percent of people surveyed believed that a “natural” label on meats mean that the meat does not contain growth hormones, and  87 percent believe that no chemicals were added during processing.

Labels do not necessarily tell us how food is raised or processed.

Turns out, however, that it’s not as straightforward as that. Civil Eats recently interviewed Urvashi Rangan, PhD, the director of Consumer Reports Food Safety & Sustainability Center. She explains that the term “natural” is misleading, and that it means simply that “nothing artificial is added to the cut of meat itself.” Unlike the term “organic,” Dr. Rangan explains, the term “natural” is not verifiable and is not backed by any government standards. So-called natural foods can contain a variety of ingredients, including artificial colors, preservatives and GMOs.

The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) has refused to impose strict standards for the use of the term “natural” on food labels, in spite of the fact that misleading labels can affect the health of consumers. For example, a person who is allergic to a certain preservative could unknowingly eat food labeled “natural,” believing that the label is backed by strict standards.

But the good news is that people are stepping up to demand reliable food labeling standards. There is still time to sign a petition  sponsored by Consumer Reports to ban the use of the word “natural” on food labels. The reasoning behind the petition is that it is better to leave the term “natural” off food labels altogether, rather than to continue with misleading use of the term.

You can also look up food labels and see for yourself at Greener Choices, The page has tools that help consumers check foods based on logos, product type, and more.

I hope you’ll take advantage of these tools that are readily available. The more we know, the more we can make informed, healthy choices, both as consumers and as citizens.

Your Food: The Push For Cruelty-Free Poultry

Like many consumers, my husband and I do our best to buy sustainably produced foods, such as free-range eggs. We have been uncomfortable, however, knowing that free-range does not necessarily mean cruelty-free. The sad truth is, farms that raise egg-laying hens usually rely on large hatcheries for their supply of hens — hatcheries which routinely kill the male chicks shortly after they hatch. According to a report from the Daily Telegraph, male chicks are typically placed on a conveyor belt and minced alive or gassed.

Fortunately, sustainable farmers have found a better way! Turns out that centuries-old farming practices are making a comeback — and rightfully so.

Eatwell Farm: Pioneering the Next Generation of Humane, Sustainable Poultry from Nigel walker on Vimeo.

One of the leaders in the effort to produce eggs in a sustainable and humane manner is Nigel Walker of Eatwell Farm in California. Walker is raising heritage chickens, which are breeds that were naturally bred in the United States prior to the mid-twentieth century. These dual-purpose breeds do very well outdoors and have long lifespans. The sustainable food blog Civil Eats notes that instead of relying on hatcheries, farmers will be able to breed their own male and female chickens and raise them sustainably and humanely for eggs and meat.

Sustainable agriculture offers a variety of benefits. Besides living healthier and happier lives, for example, free-range chickens provide natural fertilizer for plant crops and produce better tasting eggs and meat. When we step away from the factory farm and embrace the independent family farm, we regain our connection to the food we eat.

The change will not be instantaneous, but it is encouraging to know that groups such as The Livestock Conservancy are working to protect and promote sustainable agriculture.  To learn how you can help Eatwell Farms and the movement toward humanely raised poultry, visit Barnraiser.