Coal-thirsty

I was born and raised (for the most part) in rural western Pennsylvania. We lived in the coal mining boss's house in a worn out coal village. Though the coal mines have been closed for decades and workers have fled to cities for work, I grew up reminded of coal. After floods, our creek would be a swirling flood of orange - from iron oxide leaks in the mines. Unintended consequences.

Coal mining takes a different face today, as coal bosses have moved to new hills and developed new methods to extract Appalachian gold. This article reports on one facet of unintended human consequences from mountaintop removal coal mining - one of the most violent and destructive methods of extracting coal. The Science Daily report explains findings published in the journal Environmental Research which "contribute to the growing evidence that mountaintop mining is done at substantial expense to the environment, to local economies and to human health."

Go (urban) compost!

From Science Daily, based on a report published in HortScience:

Dairy Manure Goes Urban: Organic Compost Improves Soil, Enhances Ornamental Plants in Residential Landscapes

When natural ecosystems are replaced by roads, homes, and commercial structures, soil is negatively impacted. Studies have shown that, among other issues, distressed urban soils are often significantly compacted, may have alkaline pH, and may contain low amounts of essential organic matter and nutrients. This altered soil is typically not conducive to healthy plant root growth and establishment, leading to challenges for urban landscapes and home gardens.

"The management of urban soils often requires a different approach than is applied to natural or agricultural soils, but some management practices that are commonly used in agricultural systems have the potential to improve the quality of urban soils," explained Amy L. Shober, corresponding author of a new report from the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Science. Shober, along with graduate student Shawna Loper and their colleagues, designed a study to determine if the addition of compost -- with or without the application of shallow tillage or aeration -- improves soil properties and plant growth in simulated new residential landscapes.

"We found that composted dairy manure solids can improve soil physical and chemical properties in residential landscapes when sandy fill soils are used. Application of composted dairy manure solids can also enhance the establishment and improve the growth of selected ornamental landscape plants," Shober said. "However, topdressing with composted dairy manure solids enhanced plant growth and quality as much as incorporation of compost to a depth of 20 cm by tillage."

The study showed the benefits of compost additions only during the first year after planting; the authors noted that the increased growth and the subsequent health of plants resulting from applications of compost may also prevent future plant failure.

Unexplored and in peril

A "fish" friend of mine suggested I read this article explaining the dreary report from the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO), a global panel of marine experts. According to the IPSO authors, we are "at high risk for entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history." The cumulative and rapidly occurring impact of overfishing, pollution, and climate change is endangering Earth's most undiscovered frontier.

The report explains: "The oceans have already absorbed more than 80% of the additional heat added to the climate system and about 33% of the carbon dioxide we've emitted into the atmosphere. That's slowed down climate change on land, but it's changing the pH levels of the water in ways that could have a bigger impact on sea life than a thousand factory-fishing boats"

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2078840,00.html#ixzz1Q10sc3vg

Food tribes

Love. this.

Making fun of ourselves is a positive character trait. Which are you?

Sustainable sea food

June 2009. That's the first time I ever had freshly caught, local fish. A French neighbor popped over to the A Rocha France volunteer house one summer evening and left us standing with six little fish (nope, don't remember what kind) and instructions to wrap them in foil with a slice of lemon and a ring of onion. My eyes bugged out as I ate the tiny portion of white, succulent, flavorful meat. My summary - fresh seafood is amazing. I need to make friends with fisherpeople. Or learn what kinds of seafood I can order at restaurants without a liberal dose of guilt as a sidedish. Many popular species of fish and shrimp have been severely and unsustainabily overharvested. Beyond the obvious danger of declining numbers, we cannot fully grasp the impact such dramatic change in population has on ocean ecology.

Check out these sites and apps for guidance to make your next earth-shattering seafood meal both wise and delicious.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch App for Android and iPhone
- National Geographic's Seafood Substitutions
- Food & Water Watch's 2011 Smart Seafood Guide

Agroecology and international development

I recently 'liked' World Watch Institute's Nourishing the Planet project on Facebook. A fantastic decision. Why? This program communicates agricultural innovations and ideas, focusing particularly on rural poverty and producing major reports on their observations of trends. Most days, my facebook homepage has a scattering of Nourishing the Planet blog articles informing me of new reports, studies, meetings, conferences, or ideas in sustainable and ecological agriculture. This is a project to watch!

I particularly resonated with Nourishing the Planet's recent post on the article, "Agroecology and the Right to Food," by U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter. De Schutter presented his ideas on agroecology and food security at a Global Hunger and Food Security briefing held by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and the Interfaith Working Group on Global Hunger and Food Security. While his ideas aren't particularly new, they are well-put and aptly applied to today's developing world. Nourishing the Planet summarizes that "agroecology can help alleviate the poverty crisis by encouraging small farmers to grow a variety of complimentary crops to be sold locally, instead of growing grains exclusively for sale in the global market."

Of final interet...the World Watch project blog states that this briefing was attended by representatives from United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and American Jewish World Service (AJWS). Wouldn't it be awesome if USAID developed agroecological programs? One can dream...