This is the time of year when consumers of local and organic foods start thinking about spring produce -- CSAs are signing up people for the spring. But how do you decide on a CSA, which stands for community supported agriculture, or the farmers' market?

There are so many more farmers' markets now in the region and around the country. You can go and pick what you want from seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as other goodies. Many people like to make a morning of browsing. Many vendors will let you sample.

Some markets, like the main Baltimore City market under the JFX -- which opens May 3 -- have even gotten a little crowded with people who bring the whole family and make an event out of shopping.

But a CSA, where you arrange in advance for a box of fresh seasonal items to arrive at your home or designated location, is also appealing. You know you're getting a lot of good stuff without a trip to the market, including some things you may not have ever thought to buy.

The state has a list of markets and CSAs, if you're interested in exploring one or another -- or both. There are no rules.  

So, which do you prefer? Has anyone participated in a CSA and loved it? Did you still find yourself going to the farmers' market, too?

Baltimore Sun file photo of the farmers' market under the JFX/Amy Davis

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Food, Shopping
        

Round up your friends and family this Saturday and head over to Boordy Vineyard’s Fond of You Fondue event. Nothing could be more relaxing than kicking back to the sultry melodies of Bossalingo while sipping local wines and sampling homemade fondues. Learn about winemaking while touring Boordy’s vineyard and romantic nineteenth century wine cellar. End the evening by toasting marshmallows over an open-flame cauldron.

Festivities will repeat themselves on Sunday, to the tunes of The Mudbugs.

Fondues include rich chocolate fondue, five-cheese and roasted garlic fondue, and creamy caramel and butterscotch fondue. Everything is homemade and/or local.

The price for admission is $18 for adults and $5 for children. The event begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 5 p.m. For more information and directions, visit Boordy’s web site.

Image courtesy of elh70 on Flickr

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 3:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events, Food
        

The long-awaited American Craft Council Show in Baltimore begins today! More than 700 of the country’s leading artisans will showcase their handmade work including jewelry, furniture, clothing, home décor, and more. This year’s show also includes two categories that will be particularly green in spirit.

The Green Craft section of the show features artists who are integrating sustainable methods and making items from found, recycled, and green materials. The AltCraft section features seven local indie crafters whose work illustrates the innovative techniques and materials (including sustainable and green materials) of the burgeoning handmade movement.

On display through Feb. 28, the Baltimore show is the largest in the country. Visit the American Craft Council web site for details on times and tickets.

Whatever you do, don’t miss it!

Image courtesy of Juliet Ames

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Events
        

Environmental groups are complaining about delays in federal action on coal ash, saying improper disposal of waste from power plants continues to contaminate streams and ground water, threatening the health of people and wildlife.

The Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice released a report identifying 31 coal-ash contamination sites in 14 states, including one in Maryland, where it said toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium, selenium and lead were leaking from disposal sites into ground water, wetlands, creeks and rivers.  For more on their report, go here.

The Maryland site is the Brandywine coal ash landfill in Prince George's County, which takes waste from the Chalk Point power plant on the Patuxent River (pictured above). The Maryland Department of the Environment last month formally warned the plant's operator, Mirant Mid-Atlantic, that it faces a lawsuit over alleged water pollution violations for letting high levels of cadmium and selenium get into Mattaponi Creek, which flows through the state's Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary.

Environmental groups had previously threatened to sue the Atlanta-based power company over the landfill. The company has declined comment on the threats of legal action, though a spokeswoman has said its landfill is in compliance with existing permits.

Most of the 31 ash sites identified yesterday are still active, environmental groups say.  Many are so-called "dry" disposal sites like Brandywine, rather than ash ponds or reservoirs such as the one that breached disastrously in December 2008 at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston coal-fired power plant.

The Environmental Protection Agency's administrator, Lisa Jackson, pledged to review federal regulations governing the handling of coal ash disposal in the wake of that incident, but the agency has since twice delayed announcing its findings - putting off a decision now until April. Environmental groups contend that EPA action has been held up since October by the White House Office of Management and Budget, which is studying the economic impact of as-yet undisclosed proposed new rules.  

Activists said that with the 31 sittes they identified, there are a total of more than 100 ash disposal sites nationwide with documented pollution problems. Earthjustice attorney Lisa Evans said in a statement that "we need to regulate these hazards before they get much worse."  They are pushing for federal controls on ash disposal similar to those imposed a little over a year ago in Maryland, which now requires safeguards at all new ash landfills to prevent toxic chemicals from getting into streams or ground water.  The state's rules did not apply to existing landfills like Brandywine, though.

(2006 Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The recession, for all its challenges, does offer opportunities. The real estate slump has slowed the juggernaut of growth engulfing the Eastern Shore's small towns and rural villages, which had provoked some political feuds and court battles over annexing surrounding farmland to double and even triple the size of some municipalities.

Now comes a conference offering Shore residents a chance to talk about how to revive and improve their communities without radically altering their size and character. "About Town" is the title and focus of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy's 11th annual planning conference, to be held Friday (Feb. 26) at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills.

The day-long session aims to bring together local elected officials and government planners with civic leaders, private consultants and interested citizens for discussions and workshops on how to accomplish "good" growth - infill and compact development - and how to avoid conflicts by engaging residents in the planning process. Featured speakers are Jess Zimbabwe of the Urban Land Institute and Ken Snyder, CEO of Place Matters, a Colorado-based nonprofit promoting sustainable development.  Also speaking will be Maryland's state planning secretary, Richard E. Hall, a Shore native.

The session runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a locally grown lunch and a reception to follow. Bus transportation is available to the conference from various locations. Base cost is $30. For more information and to register, go to http://www.eslc.org/pages/apc.php  Volunteers to help with the conference get in free - to do so, contact Joanna Braswell at jbraswell@eslc.org

(Baltimore Sun file photo by Barbara Haddock Taylor)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay, Events
        

Maryland lawmakers are joining 20 other states in considering a ban on BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. The House has already passed the legislation and the Senate plans to take up the measure any day. See a story I wrote in today's Sun.

Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is a chemical that mimmicks estrogen and has been linked to developmental problems in babies and reproductive problems in women, among other problems.

And it's in a lot of our food packaging beyong baby bottles. It's in the lining of most of the metal cans on grocery shelves. It's in soda can and a lot of plastic water bottles. It's also on retail receipts.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it's found in more than 90 percent of Americans. Officials at the Food and Drug Administration, in a reversal, recently said they had "concern" about BPA and have helped form a task force to study the chemical. Results are due in 18 months to two years.

The delay is why states are moving ahead on their own, though they are only addressing the baby bottles and sippy cups because babies are considered the most vulnerable population.

In the meantime, the government and comsumer groups say people should not use scratched bottles or use glass. Avoid cans by buying frozen vegetables and boxed soups. Tomatoes are especially acidic and may leach more BPA out of cans. Wash your hands after touching the receipts. Consumers can also buy containers marked BPA-free, though consumer groups have found trace amounts in some of these products.

The Washington Post said in a story today that the industry is working on alternatives, and have found them for plastic. They are having a harder time finding a replacement for metal can liners. BPA adds to container durability and improves the shelf life and safety of food, manufacturers say.

Getty Images Photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News
        

With government at all levels short of money and developers and farmers pushing back against efforts to regulate them, is there hope for restoring the Chesapeake Bay? The Obama administration's point man for the bay cleanup and a panel of environmental activists will look at the prospects in a panel discussion Saturday in downtown Baltimore.

The morning session at the Baltimore Museum of Industry will be led and moderated by Gerald Winegrad, former state senator from Annapolis and a longtime bay advocate. It's sponsored by Baltimore Green Works, in partnership with the Herring Run Watershed Association and the museum of industry.

Panelists include: J. Charles Fox, senior advisor on the bay to the Environmental Protection Agency; Halle Van der Gaag, director of the Jones Falls Watershed Association; Ned Tillman, author of The Chesapeake Bay: A Sense of Place, A Call to Action; Tom Horton, author of Turning the Tide: Saving the Chesapeake Bay; John Campagna, principal in Restore Capital, and Celeste Amato, director of Baltimore City’s Cleaner Greener Office.

The event will be preceded by a light brunch at 10 a.m., with discussion from 10:30 until 12:15 p.m. It's free and open to the public, though organizers are requesting donations to help cover costs. The museum is at 1415 Key Highway, one block north of the Fort Avenue stop for MTA's No. 1 bus. Street and lot parking is available.

For more information, visit www.baltimoregreenworks.com, email bgw@baltimoregreenworks.com or call 410-952-0344.

(Baltimore Sun file photo by Glenn Fawcett)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay, Events, News
        

60 Minutes had a piece last night about this new energy source called the Bloom Box that would be both inexpensive and clean -- no emissions.

Its inventor, K.R. Sridhar of Bloom Energy, has been working on it for almost 10 years and has some serious investor funding behind him (the same people who put up the money for Google and Amazon).

It's not the only energy invention in the works in Silicon Valley, but experts thought it sounded promising. Sridhar says he thought in 5-10 years companies and homes would be using his box, replacing the existing power plants and the exisintg transmission grid.

A residential unit would cost around $3,000. Some big companies, including eBay, are testing commerical versions now.

Here's a link to the show.  

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: News
        

Here are the latest instruction from Baltimore City on trash and recycling, from the folks at Public Works:

Trash and recycling collections will move to the front of homes in Baltimore City beginning Tuesday.

-Citizens with alley collection should place their trash and recycling materials out in front of their homes for pick up.
-Citizens should ONLY put out trash OR recycling on their regularly scheduled collection day.
-Please make sure your sidewalks are CLEAR OF SNOW AND ICE so we can collect your trash and recycling.
-Call 311 for missed pick-ups; please leave your materials in place until they are collected.
-DO NOT PUT RECYCLING MATERIALS IN PLASTIC BAGS!
-The Bureau will continue to collect from the front of homes until full access to regular collection locations is possible.
-Citizen Drop-Off Centers remain open to the public at their regularly scheduled times. Citizens can go to www.baltimorecity.gov or www.cleanergreenerbaltimore.com to find their nearest drop-off center.
-Bulk Trash pick up is CANCELLED through February 26, 2010.

Baltimore Sun photo of man pull trash can full of snow/Jed Kirschbaum

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 7:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: News
        

I've been hearing a few complaints about the Baltimore City parks in recently days. The trash hasn't been picked up and the cans are overflowing. And the paths are snowy and icy and a potential hazard.

Michelle Speaks-March, a spokeswoman for Recreation & Parks, says that crews have been deployed to help with general snow removal. That was also the case with Public Works until this week, and one reason why residential trash wasn't being collected. But they are getting back on the parks job next week, she says -- 12 days after the last storm.

Crews -- which number 36 plus 15 community aids -- usually pick up trash every day in eight of the biggest parks and every week in 33 smaller parks. But between redeployed crews and parks clogged with snow, no one has done any collecting at all.

As for snow, the city said the priorities for them were streets, then schools and rec centers, then bus stops along parks and then park perimeters. They're not done with the perimeters yet.

The crews typically don't shover inside parks. Speaks-March said the snow usually melts inside parks before they get to them. This time, that wasn't the case. They plan to drive snow plows in bigger parks, like Patterson, to clear them beginning Monday.

But in the smaller parks, they don't always have paths wide enough for trucks and plows. They will likely salt most of them, unless residents request they don't -- dog walkers say it hurts animal feet.

So, bottom line, like the city in general, Rec & Parks asks for patience. They get to your park. If you think there is a dangerous situation or a sanitary problem, call 311. Or call Rec & Parks directly at 410-396-7931.

I'll check back with officials next week on progress. In the meantime, let me know how your park looks and if officials respond to complaints. You can email pictures to me at meredith.cohn@baltsun.com

Photos of a path covered in ice and an overflowing trash can in Riverside Park/Doug Beizer

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 5:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: News
        

If you're among those who worried about dumping dirty snow in the harbor, here's a chance to get involved in long-term cleanup of Baltimore's troubled waters. There's a workshop tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 20) aimed at crafting a plan for reducing the torrents of trash and filthy water washing into the harbor from the streets and yards of southeast Baltimore.

The half-day session, originally planned for last Saturday, was rescheduled because of our blizzards. Sponsored by the Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association, the session will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Casimir's Hall in Canton. St. Casimir's is at 2716 O'Donnell St., on the corner of O'Donnell and Kenwood Avenuve.

Residents and neighborhood leaders from Canton all the way inland to Clifton Park are invited to come talk about the problem and how to make the harbor and their neighborhoods cleaner and more livable - starting by keeping trash out of storm drains, as shown in the above photo.  Helping with the workshop are the Center for Watershed Protection, Morgan State University and Parks & People Foundation.  For more on the effort, go here.

For those who want to get a taste of how the harbor has changed over time, Dr. Ray Bahr, a retired cardiologist, amateur historian and watershed activist, is giving a lecture Saturday afternoon at the Canton Library about the history of the area, once known as Harris Creek.  See you there!

(Photo by Steve Ruark/Special to The Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay, Events, Going Green, News, Urban Issues, Volunteer
        

Sorry for the delay in posting this about Baltimore County. Officials sent a release saying that until further notice, residents that normally have alley collection are supposed to put trash and recycling out front where its visable and accessible.

Here's the full notice. It also says drop off locations are open Monday through Saturday.

Thanks Howard for the tip.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News
        

In a year when green initiatives are few in Annapolis, Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. is pushing for creation of a "Chesapeake Conservation Corps" in the state.

The idea is to enlist students and young adults in community service projects promoting energy conservation and environmental protection while also training them for "green-collar" jobs in those fields. The bill was inspired by a proposal floated last fall in the Obama administration's draft Chesapeake Bay restoration strategy to create a multi-state conservation corps along similar lines.

Participants could get paid small stipends or college credit while being trained and performing various service projects, such as planting bay grasses or oysters, working on reducing runoff from farms, performing energy-saving audits for elderly and low-income households and working with schools and students. (Picture at left is of Marley Middle School students being instructed on planting grasses to help capture runoff from Marley Station Mall.)

The bill drew support from environmental groups at a hearing earlier this week in the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee. But there were also questions about how it would be financed and run, which have prompted Miller's staff to tweak the original idea by proposing some amendments.

As now envisioned, the corps would get "seed" funding of $500,000 a year - down from $1 million originally. Half of the funds would come from an electricity surcharge all state utility customers pay that is now earmarked for researching the environmental impacts of power plants. The other half would come from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, which gets its funds from state income tax checkoffs and license plate sales. The trust, known for distributing grants to groups for environmental projects, would take on the task of managing the corps.

It's not clear just how big the corps would be at that funding level.  Vicki Gruber, Miller's chief of staff, said he hoped it could kick off with an inaugural class of 25 or 30.

Proponents hope that the re-purposed state funds could be supplemented or even supplanted in time by federal funds, if the Obama administration follows through on its idea of creating a regional corps to help with the bay cleanup.  And they hope the idea could draw donations from businesses and foundations.

For Miller, the corps idea combines two imperatives - jobs and the environment, his aide says.  "He views this program as training young adults for the future - one of the very important things we have to do in these times," Gruber says.

Prospects for the state corps are good in the Senate -- the president tends to get what he wants, and a majority of senators have signed on as cosponsors.  House approval is less sure, though the chief sponsor there also has clout - Del. Maggie McIntosh, a Baltimore Democrat and chair of that chamber's Environmental Matters Committee.

(2007 Baltimore Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

The Maryland General Assembly is considering a bill to ban BPA -- the chemical linked to developmental and reproductive disorders -- from baby bottles and sippy cups.

Maryland is one of 20 states considering a ban this year. Two have already passed legislation. The feds are studying BPA, but recently officials acknowleged "concern" about it.

Sen. Brian Frosh, D-Montgomery, the main sponsor in the Senate, says it has a good chance this year.

Anyone out there concerned about BPA and want to talk for a story I'm working on about it? Email me at meredith.cohn@baltsun.com or call 410-332-6480 tonight or tomorrow.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Products
        

Not sure what it looks like on your block, but trash and recycling trucks are back on the job.

The folks at Public Works in Baltimore City say there have been some kinks in the process of collecting, which began yesterday after an extended break because of the snow. But it is mostly getting picked up, they say.

About a dozen neighborhoods worked out special pickup locations with the city.

**The rest of us should put out recycling and trash -- in cans if possible -- on the end of the nearest street or alley** Do not put it in front of your house. I think I may have confused the issue with the last post.

The alleys where much of the stuff is normally placed are too snowy and icy for trucks and crews, said Celeste Amato at Public Works.

Some blocks were missed, she said, encouraging residents to call 311 if they live on one of them.

She also said that piling trash on corners in bags won't bring fines this week. The city has been on a tear recently to stop the behavior because it attracts rats.

Officials hope to get back to alley pickup next week.  More information on trash/recycling is expected Friday, she says, after crews get a good look at the conditions around the city.

And still no bulk pickup this week. Those crews are still detailed to Transportation to help clear snow. Drop off locations for trash and recycling are open, however.

As for the parks, where there is trash piling up, that's Recreation and Park's responsibility. Try calling 311 to get someone on it in your area.

Here's the official list of dos and don'ts from Public Works, though I pretty much already covered the bases:

-Citizens should ONLY place out trash OR recycling on their regularly scheduled collection day.
-Collection locations have been temporarily moved to the end of the nearest street or alley.
-Community Association Presidents may call 311 with alternative collection locations for pick up.
-Care should be taken not to block sidewalks, streets and alleys for vehicles and pedestrians.
-As always, citizens should call 311 for missed pick-ups.
-The Bureau will continue to collect in this manner until full access to regular collection locations is possible.

I haven't seen any notices from the counties on pickup, so I'm guessing it's normal, or as close to normal as they can get considering that there is still snow and ice everywhere.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: News
        

Wind energy is generating some bad vibes in Maine, it seems, where some residents of an offshore village have turned against the industrial-sized turbines they originally welcomed on their island.

As reported recently in the Portland Press-Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram, some island residents who celebrated the startup in November of three wind turbines say their sleep and peace of mind have since been disturbed by the "whump whump" sounds or vibrations emitted by the large, rotating blades. Some liken the sound to whooshing or grinding, or to an airplane that never lands. The sounds seem to vary with the wind intensity and direction, and with the distance from the turbines. Those living closeest appear to get the brunt of it.  Here's a link to another site where residents discuss their experiences in detail.

The developer of the $15 million Fox Islands wind project is reported to be taking steps to try to remedy the situation.  As reported in this other story, the turbine operators are experimenting with slowing the blades down, to see if that reduces the complaints.

Many in the community still support the project, but this situation and similar complaints raised in a couple other Maine communities with large wind turbines are fueling  pressure to change state standards for wind farms to limit the relatively low-frequency sounds that are upsetting nearby residents. 

As wind turbines proliferate across the landscape and belatedly make their way into Maryland, the Maine situation does raise questions.  Are local communities in this state taking turbine sounds into account in determining setbacks and other rules for locating wind facilities in their midst? Or is this an operational problem that turbine operators can easily remedy? Even if so, are there local or state sound regulations that could be applied to ensure industrial-sized wind turbines' peaceful coexistence with the communities they're being built to serve?

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Check out this picture, sent to The Sun by Sandra M. Adams-Doyle.

She said, "I forgot what grass looks like so I planted some in these shoes that have no business in 30 inches of snow.  This photo was taken with my phone. I brought the grass shoes into work to adorn the receptionist's desk.  She has received so many comments that I thought maybe your paper might enjoy a bit of levity." 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

It seems like an especially harsh time of year for this, but naked "bunnies" from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will be out in front of Lexington Market tomorrow at noon to protest fur.

This is part of the animal rights group's "Only Animals Should Wear Fur" campaign.

Two bunnies will wear "little more than bunny ears, cotton tails and signs reading, 'Only Animals Should Wear Fur.'"  They will handout leaflets urging people not to buy fur by explaining how animals become coats. 
 
PETA says rabbits and other fur farm animals live in cramped, filthy cages and are killed by poisoning, gassing, anal electrocution or neck-breaking. Some trapped animals are stomped on, PETA says. The group also says in China, the world's leading fur exporter, sometimes cats and dogs are skinned alive.

"I'll gladly bare my skin in the cold if it will help save animals' skins," said naked "bunny" Amanda Fortino, in a statement. "With so many stylish and toasty alternatives to fur available, there's no excuse for harming a hair on a real bunny's back."

You plan to go and support the cause? Show off your fur coat? Just eat lunch?

Getty Images photo of Washington protest

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Fashion
        

Today, a bunch of legislators and business people plan to show their support for three solar related bills being considered by the General Assembly by gathering in a state office building and explaining how they will make it easier to use solar power, how they will create jobs and how they will lessen dependence on fossil fuels, according to Environment Maryland and the Maryland Energy Administration.

Environment Maryland says a quarter of Maryland homes are ready for solar panels that could capture energy that is now going unused. The group cites information from the International Center for Sustainable Development that shows the state gets about 196,000 gigawatt-hours of solar energy on a sunny summer day. That's more than what's produced at the state's mostly coal-fired power plants here in a year.

The move could reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution, as well as make energy distribution more efficient by creating it locally. It could also save consumers money and create local jobs, the group said.

Environment Maryland describes the three bills this way:

First, Gov. O’Malley has introduced legislation that would require a quicker ramp-up of the solar portion of the state’s renewable portfolio standard. This would mean that utilities would have to get a greater percentage of their energy portfolio from solar power sooner, which would jumpstart job creation and cut down on our emission of greenhouse gases.

Second, Del. Hecht and Sen. Middleton are leading an effort to introduce legislation that would give municipalities the means by which to loan people money for solar and other clean energy projects at very low interest rates, resulting in more homeowners taking advantage of the clean, reliable electricity that solar energy generation provides.

Finally, Dels. Pinsky and Hecht are working on "net-metering" legislation, which would require utilities to pay customers back for surplus energy they create with the solar panels on their roofs.

The state and federal government already do offer incentives for people to get panels as well as make other energy saving upgrades. Anyone of you have panels now? Anyone think they'll get them? Will these bills help?

Baltimore Sun file photo of solar panels/Jed Kirschbaum

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (42)
Categories: Going Green
        

Baltimore City Council is scheduled to take another run Tuesday at reducing the proliferation of plastic bag litter around the city.

The council will have a hearing and work session on bills aimed at banning plastic carryout bags altogether or imposing a 25-cent fee on each.  The hearing begins at 10 a.m. before the Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, 4th floor of City H all.

One bill, introduced by Council members James B. Kraft, Mary Pat Clarke and Bill Henry, would bar grocery stores and "formula retail establishments" (aka convenience stores and fast-food chains) from giving customers their merchandise in plastic bags.

Merchants would only be able to put merchandise in recyclable paper bags or reusable bags. Violators would be fined $250 for a first offense up to $1,000 for three or more offenses in a six-month period.

The other bill, inroduced by Council members Henry, William H. Cole IV, Kraft and Clarke, would require merchants to levy a 25-cent fee on every plastic bag dispensed at carryout. Exceptions would be granted for bagging up fresh fish and meat, candy, cooked foods, dairy products, fruits and nuts and ice.

This isn't the council's first attempt to cut down on plastic bag litter, but supporters note the city is facing a state and federal mandate to do something about the trash littering the harbor, and plastic grocery and takenout bags are a big part of the mess.

How big, no one knows for sure. A separate resolution getting a hearing would commission the city's Department of Public Works to study how much of the city's litter is made up of plastic bags.

In comments submitted prior to the hearing, the city's Commission on Sustainability says disposable plastic and paper bags add to Baltimore's litter and water quality woes. But it says that both banning and slapping a fee on disposable bags would be inconsistent. It supports a fee only if it applies to both disposable plastic and paper bags. A separate bill being reviewed Tuesday would impose the same 25-cent fee on paper bags used for carryout merchandise.

Some other big cities have similarly attacked plastic bag litter, notably San Francisco (ban) and the District of Columbia (fee). DC's was similarly aimed at cleaning up debris fouling the Anacostia River. Legislation has been introduced in Annapolis to regulate and levy a fee on plastic carryout bags statewide. See it here.

What do you think? Should the city or state ban or charge a fee for using disposable plastic or paper bags? Would it hurt businesses that much, or would consumers get used to either bringing their own bags or paying a small fee? Would it help cut down on the litter and floating debris in the harbor?

(2009 AP photo of Giant grocery bagger in Washington D.C.) 

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)
Categories: Products, Recycling, Shopping, Urban Issues
        

Check out this YouTube video sent to me via Baltimore Spokes. A guy took old bike and lawnmower parts and hooked them up to a couple of shovels he got at the hardware store. It seems efficient and good for the environment and the waisteline. Think we could use something like this now?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Going Green
        

If you're truly green, it isn't something you trot out just for Earth Day. So with the card-makers' and florists' favorite holiday bearing down on us, here are a few tips we've seen recently for showing your love for Mother Nature as well as your sweetheart on Valentine's Day.

Make a fancy dinner at home. Instead of dining out, cook your own Valentine's feast, suggests Jessica Harlan at RecycleBank. Or break with tradition, she says, and give your true love a potted plant instead of a dozen red roses, with all the environmental baggage they may carry.

Rather than rush to the store for a big heart-shaped box of sweets for your sweet, Harlan advises, why not make your own truffles? She links to a few recipes here. If you're cooking-challenged (guys), she strongly suggests you shop for organic, fair-trade chocolates. Here's a rundown of brands, courtesy of Mother Earth News.

In the DIY tradition, Harlan also urges the truly green make their own jewelry and cards, rather than buy them. And if you simply must say it with diamonds, she instructs you to insist on conflict-free stones. For those more inclined to fashion gifts, she also advises where to find eco-friendly lingerie, made of bamboo (!), organic cotton, hemp and silk.

Finally, the truly committed earth lover could always skip the conventional gift- and card-giving altogether and make a green statement in his or her true love's honor. One heart-fluttering option - adopt a fin or humpback whale.

For as little as $40 per whale ($50 for a mother and calf pair), your adoption would support the College of the Atlantic's research on cetaceans. Your intended wouldn't be empty-handed, either. He or she would get a photograph of "an individually identfied whale", a personalized adoption certificate and a handy waterproof field guide to whales.

Sadly, the opportunity for this unusually green expression of love has already past - orders had to be placed by Feb. 10. But if you think it's neat anyway, here's the link.

Of course, many of these green alternatives for Valentine's Day take a little extra time and effort.  If you don't have any of those to spare, you can always take comfort as you crowd the card and candy counters in thinking about how you're stimulating our lagging economy.   And remember, it's the thought that counts.

For more to do (and buy) on Valentine's Day, check out this site at baltimoresun.com

(Valentine: AP Photo/The Rawlins Daily Times, Kathy Johnson; Whale: 2006 AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 4:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

We've posted about this before, but we've been getting fresh warnings about using lawn fertilizer to melt ice.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Maryland Cooperative Extension and others ask that people don't use fertilizers the nitrogen and phosphorus are harmful to the bay.

The Bay Foundation says the fertilzers "stimulate large algae blooms which ultimate result in dramatically reduced oxygen levels. If applied to hard surfaces, fertilizer ultimately washes off into nearby creeks and rivers, and increases pollution."

In addition, be careful with deicers that contain urea. It's also harmful to the environment.

Further, overuse of deicers can also ruin concrete sidewalks, metal on cars and siding on houses, the extension service says.

The service recommends mixing deicer with water, wet sand or ashes, so you use less.

Or, deice with no chemicals. Use some warm water mixed with some table salt instead. You can use sand, ashes or plain kitty litter for traction, though not melting.

You can put down a tarp on dry sidewalks or stairs before an ice storm. Or, just use a little muscle like the guy in this picture and chip it away.

Baltimore Sun photo/Amy Davis

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Chesapeake Bay, Tips
        

There's a noticeable if not exactly wow-inducing green streak at this year's Motor Trend International Auto Show at the Baltimore Convention Center downtown.

You won't see the electric Chevy Volt displayed at the Detroit auto show earlier this year, the Nissan Leaf or any of the new plug-in hybrids promised by the car makers. But there are plenty of familiar hybrids and more fuel-efficient autos and SUVs to look at - all handily labeled with green arrows, to help you spot them in the crowd of vehicles on the convention center floor.

The show's "green trail" runs past Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Mercury and Toyota.

One of the new models at this year's show isn't a hybrid at all, but it gets hybrid-like mileage. Ford is unveiling the Fiesta, an extreme makeover for a small economy car that's been on the roads in Europe for years. This version boasts a 119-horsepower, 1.6 liter engine, and it gets 30 miles per gallon in the city and up to 40 miles per gallon on the highway. The one on display is a bright green hatchback, like the one pictured above from the Detroit auto show last month. 

Green it may be, but it also comes with leather upholstery, keyless entry and oodles of electronics. Plus, it's "zippy" to drive, says Paul Anderson, Ford's small vehicle marketing manager.

"The whole idea behind this car, particularly in the US, is to change the mindset around the small car, that it has to be an econo-box," Anderson explains. It's aimed squarely at competing with Honda and Toyota, two brands that have a strong hold on the economy car market. With MSRPs from about $13,000 to $17,000, it's due in dealerships by summer.

For the more business-minded, Ford also brought one of its boxy Transit Connect vans to show. The one on display runs on gasoline, but the auto maker has pledged to offer an all-electric version by year's end.   So you can at least check out its lines here.

Among the hybrids on display were Toyota's Prius, Camry and Highlander, Honda's Insight, ?Chevy's Tahoe and Ford's Fusion and Escape.  (Full disclosure, our familiy owns a Ford and two Toyota cars - one with a recent recall.)  There also was a hybrid diesel bus there, courtesy of the Maryland Transit Administration, which is putting up to 100 of them on the streets this year.

For all that, we may have missed a few alt-fuel vehicles in our quick walk-through. We definitely missed the SUV-looking wheels outside in the convention center driveway with "Fuel Cell" printed on the door - just spotted it as we drove away. Please feel free to report what it was or any other green vehicles we overlooked.

The show got a delayed start because of this week's snowstorm, but it runs Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  For admission prices and other info, go to www.AutoShowBaltimore.com

(Photo: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 2:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

A bill was introduced this snowy week in Annapolis that would require state highway officials to develop a plan to manage use and storage of road salt to protect drinking water and the environment, according to this story in the Gazette.

Salt has been a staple for road crews forever. But it's been getting in waterways and showing up in higher concentrations in testing in the last few years. It's bad for human heart health and bad for fish and plants, too.

Not sure if the bill is going anywhere or what it really would require of the state, which already has been experimenting with a mixture of beet molasses and salt, which is more environmentally friendly, according to a recent story in The Sun.

The state has come close to using up its 300,000 tons or so of salt this season. Hopefully, we won't need any more this season -- for the environment's sake and our's.

Associated Press photo of a salt truck filling up in Washington

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: News
        

I'm just going to give you the whole release below, but the main points: Trash and recycling resumes Tuesday. Put your cans/bins at the nearest street or alley that's accessible. ...

The Department of Public Works, Bureau of Solid Waste, announced today that both trash and recycling collections will resume Tuesday, February 16, 2010. Citizens are asked to place their regularly scheduled trash OR recycling at the end of the nearest street or alley or at an accessible central location in their neighborhood for pick up. The Bureau will continue to collect at these sites until full access to regular pick up locations is possible.

Community Association Presidents may call 311 with agreed upon central locations where their neighborhoods are going to place their regularly scheduled trash OR recycling for pick up. As always, citizens should call 311 for missed pick ups.

The Bureau continues devote resources supporting the Department of Transportation in ongoing snow removal efforts. Citizens are also reminded that Bulk Trash Collections have been cancelled throughout the remainder of the week.

AND, though Citizen Drop-Off Centers are closed to the public today, they will be REOPENED tomorrow, Friday, February 12th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Citizens can go to www.baltimorecity.gov or www.clearergreenbaltimore.com to find the nearest drop off center.

As always, citizens are asked to properly contain trash in cans with tight-fitting lids to keep rats out and keep litter in its place.

As citizens can safely do so, they should clear their sidewalks and then help their elderly and disabled neighbors do the same. It is also very important to clear areas around fire hydrants and storm drains to augment the continuing efforts of Public Works Water and Wastewater crews as they tackle the City’s 33,000 inlets. Daily thawing and melting snow can pool and freeze during the night causing large ice patches.

However, citizens are advised to work slowly and safely. Most importantly, they should listen to and read local media for the latest updates and instructions from the Mayor and the Office of Emergency Management.

We thank Baltimore City’s citizens for their patience and perseverance as we work together to meet the challenges presented by these historic and unprecedented back-to-back storm events.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: News
        

I know I'm a broken record here, but I've gotten some inquiries about trash and recycling. There probably isn't going to be pickup for the rest of the week anywhere. The side roads are still a mess.

Baltimore City canceled today and tomorrow.

Baltimore County is canceled today and tomorrow.

Howard County is canceled today and tomorrow.

Anne Arundel is canceled today. No word on tomorrow.

Harford County government is closed today, so I assume there's no trash or recycling pickup.

Same for Carroll County.

AFP/Getty Images

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 2:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News
        

I was encouraged on my walk to work this morning when I saw a bus driving up Calvert Street. It seems some public transportation is again operating.

The Maryland Transit Administration says it's still really limited, however.

Some bus service will be offered on the following lines: #3, #5, #8, #10 #13, #14, #15, #17, #19, #23, #35, #36, #40, #44,#52, #53 #59 and #77. No other lines are operating. 

Subway service has major disruptions and light rail is operating every 20-25 minutes from Hunt Valley to Cromwell and BWI Marshall Airport. There's no Penn Station service.

There's no MARC service today. But the airlines are bringing back planes to BWI airport and getting some flights out. It probably won't be normal until tomorrow.

So, it's far from perfect. And like one reader pointed out, that if you actually rely on public transportation for work, it's going to be a tough haul. Biking isn't really an option, but cross country skiing might work.

And, there's always walking. Have any of you trucked into work on foot?

Baltimore Sun photo of walker on Calvert Street/Algerina Perna

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News
        

A workshop aimed at helping clean up Baltimore's troubled harbor has been postponed a week by our snowpocalypse.

The half-day session, originally planned for Saturday (Feb. 13), has been rescheduled for Feb. 20, according to Dr. Ray Bahr of the Baltimore Harbor Watershed Association.   The association has been working with the city and other nonprofit groups to round up community support for tackling the trash and storm-water pollution that washes into the harbor at Canton.   Twenty neighborhoods from Canton inland to Clifton Park drain into the harbor there, at a point where once there was a surface stream known as Harris Creek.   It's long since been filled in and paved over.

(The photo above is from a watershed tour offered community leaders on a rainy Saturday last fall.)

The workshop, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Casimir's Hall in Canton, is intended to get residents working on a plan for cleaning up what's draining into the harbor from those communities' streets by greening and upgrading their neighborhoods. Helping with the workshop are the Center for Watershed Protection, Morgan State University and Parks & People Foundation.

St. Casimir's is at 2716 O'Donnell St., on the corner of O'Donnell and Kenwood Avenuve. For more on the effort, go here. To RSVP to the workshop, go here.

Meanwhile, a lecture scheduled Saturday afternoon at the Canton Library about the history of Harris Creek has been canceled by the storm.  Dr. Bahr, a retired cardiologist, amateur historian and Canton native, will recount the tale of shipbuilding, oyster canning and more at a later date to be determined.

(Photos by Steve Ruark/Special to The Baltimore Sun)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Help kick off Baltimore Green Week and celebrate the vernal equinox at Baltimore Green Works' Second Annual Ecoball on March 19th at the Frederick Douglass-Isacc Meyers Maritime Park and Museum.

Musical entertainment, delectable food, and great company are all part of the bill. Enjoy local food, beer, and wine, while dancing to The Mooks and watching Baltimore International College students take part in a "Top Chef-style" competition. Be sure to wear your most stylish eco-friendly outfit. Tickets are $75 per person or $40 per student.

Image courtesy of Baltimore Green Works

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

As if you couldn't guess, there will not be mail today in the Baltimore region, according to the U.S. Post Office. It's just too dangerous for the carriers.

Some retail outlets will be open. You can call you specific branch. You can look up locations here.

As for tomorrow, officials will decide when they see how the roads, side street and walks look in the morning. In the meantime, shovel a path for your carrier to your box.

I know a lot of you have said that you haven't been getting mail all week, though the post office was only officially closed on Saturday. Officials say they the carriers were instructed not to deliver mail if it seemed unsafe, and some roads were just too bad to pass (see photo above). So, even if you shoveled, it may have been a problem along the route to your house.

Baltimore Sun photo of a mail truck stuck in the snow Tuesday/Jed Kirschbaum

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 8:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: News
        

'

I've had a couple of inquires about feeding wildlife during the snowstorm. And it seems the general consensus is that feeding birds and squirrels is good, feeding other wildlife is a mistake.

The Humane Society of the United States says it can be harmful to wildlife such as bears and foxes. People food is not formulated for them, and offering it to them can make them lose their fear of humans. Luring them also can pose traffic risks and cause property damage, and big gatherings of animals can spread disease.

This does not apply to backyard birds and squirrels, however, the group says.

And the University of Maryland Extension's Home and Garden Information Center says to continue feeding wild birds through the remaining winter weeks. Officials say black oil sunflower seeds and suet cakes are good food for a variety of birds.

The service says to keep feeders clean and provide fresh water. You may have to keep checking to make sure it's not frozen over.

The squirrels will try and get into these feeders, so instead you can offer them ears of feed corn. The folks at attracting-wildbirds.com say other squirrel food includes nuts such as acorns and shelled or unshelled peanuts, fruit both dried and fresh, sunflower seeds, and bread products that can be stale but not moldy, dried peas and green beans, table scraps such as hard boiled and scrambled eggs and veggies, and peanut butter based suet.

To keep raccoons, skunks and other wildlife away from your house, make sure pet food and trash are kept in tight containers.

Among the don'ts is this tip from Bird Watcher's Digest: Don't feed birds bread. It's like popcorn to humans in that it's all filler and not much nutrition. You're better off with apples, oranges and meat scraps, the group says. (Though, if you put it out for squirrels, not sure how you keep birds from getting it. And I'm not sure why it's nutritionally okay for them and not birds, either -- though squirrels are considered top scavengers, and even a nuisance, so maybe they're better at scamming food in general.)

Anyone else have a tip?

Photo of squirrel in the snow in British Columbia by AFP/Getty

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: News
        

The U.S Postal Service hasn't officially canceled mail tomorrow, but a spokeswoman said it's not looking so good.

Yvette Singh said so far, mail service was only officially canceled on Saturday because of snow, with service resuming yesterday and today. However, some mail boxes just haven't been accessible, she said. And the carriers, who walk and drive, were instructed not to go to houses where it was unsafe. So, not everyone got mail.

Officials will take a look at the roads tomorrow and make a call about shutting down. But, again, there will be three feet of snow and ice on the ground and that just may be too much to handle.

So, be patient. And, the officials ask, give them a hand and clear your driveway, your sidewalk and a path to your box. The mail will come -- eventually.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: News
        

If you hadn't guessed, the city's Public Works Department says there will be no trash and recycling pick up today or tomorrow, and no drop off either. 

And it's pretty much the same story around the region. Try to keep it in the house can, or in an outside can with a lid, if at all possible.

Howard County was going to and get trash today but not recycling. Not word on Wednesday yet, but I'm assuming they won't be able to get through.  

Same for Anne Arundel, which officially has no pickup today.

Baltimore County was going for limited collections today. Hold it until next week if they don't show.

No word from Harford County. Carroll County said offices are closed on Wednesday, so I'm guessing that means trash, but officials weren't specific.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: News
        

Baltimore City has cancelled trash pickup on Monday and Tuesday. Crews hope to start up again on Wednesday, but we're supposed to get more snow.

With so many streets and alleys inaccessible because of the snow, the Baltimore City Public Works folks had already cancelled bulk trash pickup for the week. They'll reschedule with individuals.

In the meantime, they say to keep trash in can with lids because rats don't take snow days.

Baltimore County has cancelled trash and recycling pickup today. The officials there say hold it until next Monday.

Howard County is going to try and get your trash today, but no recycling.

Anne Arundel is cancelling trash and recyling pickup Monday and Tuesday.

I couldn't find anything from Carroll County. Let me know if you hear.

Baltimore Sun photo of S. Ann St./Jed Kirschbaum

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News
        

Will City Hall keep pushing for a "cleaner, greener" and more sustainable Baltimore now that Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is mayor?

Those had been priorities for the departed Sheila Dixon, who among other things pushed through one-and-one recycling, expanded bicycle lanes and shepherded the development of a sustainability plan for the city.

Rawlings-Blake already has signaled that she's got different watchwords for the city under her mayoralty - "better, safer, stronger." And she's indicated she plans to focus on public safety, education and economic development.

In a recent wide-ranging interview with the editorial board of The Baltimore Sun before becoming mayor, Rawlings-Blake didn't seem inclined to make a wholesale departure from the policies and initiatives of her disgraced predecessor, but indicated she might put her own emphasis and stamp on them.

When asked if she might be planning to change any of Dixon's policies, particularly the "cleaner and greener" initiative, Rawlings-Blake replied; "These are values that you know most Baltimoreans share. You can package it differently ... but we care about crime, we care about grime, we care about jobs, we care about educating our kids. And that's my focus."

Specifically, on the controversial shift to one-and-one recycling in the city, Rawlings-Blake pledged to review it to improve it and fix any problems that have cropped up. But she said she didn't plan to halt it. "I know there's an increase in recycling," she said. " and that is very encouraging to me. I'm certainly committed to making this work. We certainly can't go backwards. You know, we just don't have the money, and it doesn't make sense to go backwards.."

Even so, environmentalists are nervously watching for signals of how much political capital the new mayor will invest in continuing the push to green Baltimore.

Early tests of Rawlings-Blake's green-ness are already on the horizon. One is the adoption of green building regulations and standards to carry out the law passed in 2007 that advocates say is one of the most progressive in the nation. Some developers, though, are warning of "unintended consequences" and trying to get more "flexiblity" written in to the rules.  Dixon had been prepared to push them through, but Rawlings-Blake seems in no hurry.   And one of her transition leaders, Don Fry of the business-oriented Greater Baltimore Committee, has been a vocal critic of the green building law.

Another test may come in the form of a bill put in by Councilman James B. Kraft and others to ban the use of plastic bags in supermarkets and other retail outlets. The council is scheduled to hold a hearing on the measure Feb. 16. City Council balked at levying a fee on the use of plastic bags - now it's being asked to ban them entirely, as San Francisco has done.

A proposed ban is likely to irk some, maybe a lot of folks who aren't in the habit of bringing their own re-usable bags for taking away merchandise they've bought. But the city has a major trash problem, and it's going to come under growing pressure from the state to clean up the tons of debris getting into the harbor every month. Plastic bags are among the most common items in the refuse routinely tossed in streets and gutters, and one of the most difficult to clean up or recycle.  What position do you think the new mayor should take?  

(Baltimore Sun photo by Karl Merton Ferron) 

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: News
        

If you’re house bound this weekend (as many of us will be) keep your hands warm and busy by doing some or all of the following DIY projects:

For the house:

Dig through your recycling for leftover paper, grab some scissors and string: these snowflake curtains are a perfect project for a snowy day.

Make your own memory box tabletop – no tools needed!

While you may not be able to go far this weekend, you can at least plan for a vacation! Begin by making these snazzy luggage tags out of recycled yogurt containers.

Salvage an old chair or other piece of furniture with these easy stencils.

Take a break from your day of craftiness and cook with leftovers – depending on what’s in your fridge or pantry, you may have enough to avoid going to the store altogether.

With the kids:

Gather up some pinecones before they’re covered in snow and make these simple but charming bird feeders.

Playdough provides and endless source of entertainment for kids of all ages and it’s very easy to make at home.

Try making these adorable wax decorations (melt some old candles down if you need extra wax) that are perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Hairpins, felt, and glue (or thread) are all you need to make these fun and funky hair accessories.

Coasters made from recycled magazines are suitable for all ages – the little ones can tear the pages while the older kids fold and weave the paper.

Image courtesy of Bugs and Fishes

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: DIY
        

It seems that organic farming is gaining a nice foothold in America and are doing okay business-wise.

The just release 2008 Organic Production Survery conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows the amount of farmland dedicated to organic crops and livestock is still really small but growing fast.  

It survey is the first widescale survey so there's not a lot to compare it to. But there are some telling numbers.

The survery said there are 14,540 farms that were USDA certified organic or exempt from certification because sales are less than $5,000 -- including 129 in Maryland. The number has doubled at least twice since 1990.

They farm 4.1 million acres of land in all 50 states, though California is home to 20 percent of the farms. That's up from about 1 million acres in 1990. (It's still only about a percent of all farmed crop and pasture land.)

In 2008, sales of organic products nationwide totaled $3.16 billion. Some $1.94 billion was spent on crops and $1.22 billion on livestock, poultry and their products.

Organic farms took in more in sales than conventional farms: An average of $217,675 verses a $134,807 average for all farms. But they also spent more on production: $171,978 on organic farms, compared with an average $109,359 on all farms.

Organic farming is largely local with about 44 percent of sales were made within 100 miles from the farm. Though, just 7 percent were direct to consumers at farmers' markets and other means. The rest went to wholesalers and retailers.

What about the future? More than 78 percent of the farms say they plan to keep up the organic farming and even increase production in coming years.

Baltimore Sun file photo of the Columbia farmers' market/Andre F. Chung

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Food
        

The Baltimore Neighborhood Energy Challenge (BNEC) will host its first annual Mount Washington Eco-Fair on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Mount Washington Elementary School.

A joint program between the Baltimore Office of Sustainability and the Baltimore Community Foundation, BNEC is working with residents in eight Baltimore neighborhoods to “spread knowledge, resources, and motivation to help our communities save energy and money.”

The Eco-Fair will provide an opportunity for residents to sign up for energy-saving services for their homes while also learning about new technology, products, and services that help reduce home energy use. The event will also feature local energy service contractors, urban garden specialists, solar and geothermal energy providers, florists, handmade crafts, eco-friendly products, and local acupuncturists.

Visit the BNEC web site for more information or simply show up on Saturday – this event is free and open to the public.

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

Ever wonder what lay beneath the streets of Baltimore? How does the water get into the house and the sewage get out?

The city will be searching for new ways to tell the story because the main museum dedicated to public works is closing.

Mid-year budget cuts in the city mean that the Baltimore Public Works Museum will close immediately, according to Public Works Director David E. Scott.

The museum on Eastern Avenue opened in 1982 and had about 8,000 annual visitors.

“This is a well thought out and regrettable decision, necessitated by the severe budget shortfalls facing the city and the agency,” Scott said in a statement.

The City faces a $127 million structural deficit for fiscal 2011. That's equal to the combined general fund budgets of the Departments of Health, Recreation and Parks, Housing and Libraries, or 1,700 police officer positions, according to Scott.

Five employees will lose their jobs. 

Funding had come from the departments of Public Works, Transportation and General Services, as well as private donors and grant programs.

Baltimore Sun file photo of a fire hydrant display at the museum/Chris Detrick 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: News
        

Some researchers say they've developed a new method of determining when species are threatened, and it's a lot sooner than previously thought.

The researchers at Baylor University and ecologists from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County are using this new statistical analysis to measure the impact of human-caused environmental degradation on environmental biodiversity. They say it's more precise than current methods.

That precision has shown that scientists were off the mark about the "tipping point" at which species are threatened.

The new method is called the Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN) and is detailed in the British Ecological Society's journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution.

"This new method addresses what we perceived to be problems with existing quantitative approaches for detecting 'thresholds' in the response of organisms to pollutants," said Ryan King, associate professor of biology at Baylor, who developed the metod with Matthew Baker, assistant professor of geography and environmental systems at UMBC.

"Many types of organisms will suddenly decline or disappear once a threshold level of pollution is reached," he said in a statement. "We were particularly dissatisfied with the lack of sensitivity of existing methods and some of the assumptions required by those methods. This method has proven to be much more sensitive while also being very precise in its estimation of thresholds."

Identifying the tipping points for species is important in protecting them and better understanding how ecosystems respond to environmental changes such as global warming, coal mine leaching, agricultural pollution and runoff from development.

For example, the researchers using the new analysis found that it take development of only 1 to 3 percent of land in a watershed to negatively affect the aquatic life. Old methods would show that it would take 20 to 30 percent. 

"This really surprised us, but after carefully examining the data and testing the method using simulations, it became apparent that these declines were real," King said. "It certainly brings to light a strikingly strong relationship between development and degraded water quality in streams, but the mechanisms are not yet clear."

AFP/Getty Images photo of polar bear at Berlin Zoo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News
        

Lawmakers in Annapolis are being asked to ban products containing two chemicals that have raised concerns about their toxicity.

At 2 p.m. today (Tuesday), the House Health and Government Operations Committee is scheduled to air HB33, which would ban the sale, manufacture or distribution of children's toys or child-care articles such as baby bottles made with bisphenol-A, or BPA. The bill, sponsored by Del. Jim Hubbard, a Prince George's County Democrat, would prohibit it by Jan. 10, 2011.

The plastic has been widely used as a lining in canned foods and some plastic water and baby bottles. For years, the Food and Drug Administration maintained it was safe, but amid growing scientific evidence of potential harm, the agency last month reversed course and declared concern about the effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children.   The agency now is pushing to end the use of BPA in baby bottles and infant feeding cups and is pressing for safer alternatives to line canned formula and other foods.

Connecticut and Minnesota already have banned BPA in certain children's products, according to legislative analysts, and 18 states last year weighed legislation to curtail the plastic. Several manufacturers already have begun phasing out use of BPA, including Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us, and Babies “R” Us. For more on the bill, go here.

On Feb. 10, the House Environmental Matters Committee will hear another Hubbard bill, HB35, which would ban the sale of products containing brominated flame retardants.   Decabromodiphenyl ether, or decaBDE, is used in a wide variety of plastic products, including television cabinets and other electronics, in wire insulation and in draperies and upholstered furniture.

Hubbard pressed for a ban before, but his bill failed to pass.  Last year, though the Environmental Protection Agency, citing concerns that exposure to decaBDE may cause cancer and impair brain function, announced an agreement with chemical manufacturers to phase out its use by 2013.   Hubbard reintroduced the bill this year, seeking to ban it in Maryland by January 2011. 

Maryland PIRG is backing both measures.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

One Less Car plans to hold its annual Smart Transportation and Bicycling Symposium Wednesday, Feb. 3 in Annapolis.

The event attracts supports, legislators and others to hear about what's ahead for the year, including the advocacy group's legislative agenda and updates on trail and road projects.

The group describes the event this way:

"This Annual Symposium is an outstanding opportunity for people to meet and share information with advocates, planners, state and local officials, and community leaders who want more bike lanes, better sidewalks, more trails, a statewide Complete Streets policy and access to a variety of modes of efficient transportation for everyone.

"The Symposium is the perfect setting to inform our state Delegates and Senators that Maryland communities need smart commuting opportunities and safe bicycle and pedestrian access to be fully sustainable and livable."

The group usually gets a good turnout. Between 400 and 500 people attended last year, officials said. 

The event is free and there are presentation all day. To RSVP, email Carol Siffdorff at carol@onelesscar.org.

So, what's on your transportation/biking agenda this year that you'd like to be on their agenda?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

A West Virginia wind farm developer has agreed to scale back its project and other conditions to settle a lawsuit alleging the rotating blades pose a threat to endangered bats. The same issue now appears to be emerging - or re-emerging - over a wind farm proposed in western Maryland.

In a deal announced Wednesday, Beech Ridge Energy LLC of Rockville said it is now free to resume construction on its wind farm in Greenbrier County, W.Va., though the total number of turbines would be reduced from 124 to around 100. There already are 40 built along the ridge.

In December, U.S. District Judge Roger Titus in Greenbelt had halted construction on the project, saying it posed risks to federally endangered Indiana bats.

Beech Ridge, an affiliate of Invenergy Wind LLC in Chicago, said it will seek "incidental take permits" from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as ordered by Judge Titus, to mitigate any harm its turbines may do to the rare bats. In the meantime, the company agreed to operate the turbines round-the-clock only during the bats' hibernation period in winter, and to run them just in daylight the rest of the year.

The Animal Welfare Institute and other groups that had filed a lawsuit over the project's impact on the bats agreed not to oppose the take permits.  The company dropped its plan to appeal Judge Titus' rulling.  To read the settlement, go here.  (Photo above is of another West Virginia wind farm, for illustration purposes only.)

Meanwhile, opponents of wind farms in western Maryland have raised the same issue, though they have yet to go to court over it. 

In an "open letter" to Garrett County's commissioners, Oakland lawyer Kimberly Connaughton and two other residents say a national expert on bats presented testimony several years ago that Indiana bats were present near a wind farm proposed on Backbone Mountain near the West Virginia border. Other wildlife experts have testified about the presence there of other species deemed rare, threatened or endangered in Maryland, she points out.

That testimony came out several years ago when the Public Service Commission was reviewing a wind farm proposed by Synergics Wind Energy of Annapolis. The legislature subsequently stripped the commission of its authority to review the environmental impacts of wind facilities of 70 megawatts' capacity or smaller. The commission approved the project in November, though opponents complained the panel had been handcuffed at the behest of the politically connected head of the wind firm, Wayne Rogers, who is former chairman of the state Democratic party.

Though state law now limits the state's oversight of the project, the Oakland lawyer writes that the county is barred by one of its own ordinances from issuing a building permit if the project would harm any federally protected species. Local law also requires landowners and developers to work with state and federal agencies to minimize harm to rare, threatened and endangered species, she adds.

She calls on the county not to grant any permits for the wind farm until the developer gets a "taking" permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and to ask the agency for a formal review of the project.

Frank Maisano, a spokesman for Synergics, said the company already had shifted the location of some of its 20 planned turbines to preserve habitat for species considered rare in Maryland.  He contended that there wasn't any habitat used by federally protected Indiana bats near the proposed wind farm.  And he asserted that the wind farm enjoys broad support among government and business leaders in the area.

Connaughton said by telephone that she and her husband, Stephan Moylan, live within a short drive of Backbone Mountain.  They and Eric Trippy, the third letter signer, formed a group opposing wind farms there several years ago.  She said that "we are discussing our legal options" should the county reject their request.

John Bambacus, a former state senator and mayor from Frostburg opposed to the ridgetop wind farms, made a similar request earlier.  He said last week that county officials have yet to respond.   In the meantime, he is pressing western Maryland legislators for an attorney general's opinion on whether the state Department of Natural Resources still has authority to intervene in wind projects to protect state-listed rare plants and animals from potential harm. 

(2006 Baltimore Sun photo by John Makeley)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)