"A new study shows that exposure to polluted air early in life, at levels that correspond to the amount of fine particulate pollution found in many US cities, can lead to increased accumulation of abdominal fat and insulin resistance, even if a healthy diet is followed."
"If the LEAF is charged from a coal plant, it might not be much better than a gasoline car"
Researchers say the more obese people you know, the greater your chances of gaining weight
from Switchboard, from NRDC › Kaid Benfield's Blog by Kaid Benfield 
41 million acres of rural land has been permanently lost in the last 25 years to highways, shopping malls, poorly planned sprawl and other development, according to a new analysis by the American Farmland Trust. Of that amount, 23 million acres (an area the size of Indiana) was agricultural land. The rate of recent farmland loss has been an astounding acre per minute.
There has been a resurgence of interest across the country in fresh, healthy, locally grown food. But the farms that supply local food, those closest to our urban areas, are the most vulnerable and tend to be lost the fastest. Moreover, farmland close to the urban/suburban edge is frequently our most productive for supplying food on the tables of American families:
“America’s cities sprang up where the land was the richest. Today, the farms closest to our urban areas produce an astounding 91% of our fruit and 78% of our vegetables, but they remain the most threatened. In addition, many of these at-risk, urban-edge farms are the ones growing fresh food for farmers markets, CSA’s [community-supported agriculture services] and other direct-to-consumer outlets. And our prime agricultural land – the farmland that has the ideal combination of good soils, climate and growing conditions – are being converted at a disproportionately higher rate.”
[B' Spokes:The bit that got my attention from Streetsblog Capitol Hill]
To help understand the issue in the linked article I will give the following analogy: Let's us say you own a restaurant where the air quality is a problem due to smokers. Well the solution should be obvious... put in more tables for smokers and hire more staff to service smokers to get them in and out of the restaurant a lot faster and make the non-smokers wait as they don't cause any problems hanging around.
By Mary Newsom
Here’s a shocking report for you, at least it was for us at Balance Gym. Out of almost 80,000 Americans polled about all the non-work, non-sleep activities they had done in the last 24-hours, 95 percent answered “eating or sleeping,” 80 percent had watched TV, 71 percent spent time preparing food or drink, 25 percent had done some lawn or garden work but only 5 percent reported a vigorous activity such as using cardiovascular equipment or running.
Discover the Secrets of the Gourdiverse
with Music, Art & Fun @ The Gourd Palace
"GROW ART - GROW COMMUNITY"
an art & effects festival
Sure, you've seen birds hanging out in gourd bird houses. And maybe you've even drunk from a gourd dipper or stored tchotchkes in an artsy gourd container....
But have you ever danced to a gourd guitar/banjo combo or grooved to a gourd flute?
...Nibbled grilled gourd slices under the buttresses of a living gourd palace?
...Turned the kids loose to make gourd art and watch a gourd puppet show?
...Or discovered the mysteries and history of gourds around the globe?
If not - you've been gourdeprived!
The Gourd Palace at CCBC has produced a bumper crop and its time as a living sculpture/organic art installation is running out - so we're saying goodbye with the wildest multicultural eco-social extravaganza in the gourdiverse.
Come and join the local and global community as we celebrate the turning of the seasons and the gathering of a gourdelicious harvest!
Experience adventures in gourdism...
Find tips and tools for greener living...
|
Energy Energy Audit Group Clean Currents Green Building Green Building Institute Rain Barrels ofBaltimore/Annapolis Loading Dock |
Green Space Patapsco Greenway & Heritage Treemendous Baltimore Baltimore Green Space Health & Food Charm City Farms EarthSavers Food & Water Watch Holistic Veterinary |
Nature Study Carrie Murray Outdoor Education Center Transportation One Less Car Green Rider Sustainability Simplicity Matters |
The Gourdacious Harvest-Eco Festival is a community event, open and free to everyone, produced by Doug Retzler of Art & Effects and sponsored and hosted by CCBC.
Like the Gourd Palace, it's a one-of-a-kind happening....and we're hoping to see you there!
For more information,images and updates, see:
www.flickr.com/photos/growart/sets and
http://www.urbanitebaltimore.com/baltimore/palace-of-natural-wonders/Content?oid=1290186
To add your art, performance, food, or other contribution, contact:
410-598-8409
