Biophilic campus provides a safe haven for children with autism

Austin-based architecture and interior design firm Runa Workshop has recently completed One of the Kids, a nature-inspired campus for children who have autism. In preparing for the project, the architects first needed to educate themselves on how to best suit the needs of the children. Then, the team had to decide how to create a welcoming, comfortable campus within a tight budget of just $800,000 for an approximately 8,000-square-foot space. Cost-effective materials, an emphasis on natural lighting and the incorporation of biophilic and green elements tie the campus together. Created as a local family’s passion project located just north of Austin , One of the Kids provides a safe haven for children with autism to learn and play. The clients sought a campus that would encourage the children to explore their surroundings without overstimulating them. As a result, the designers used biophilic design to create a calming yet inspiring atmosphere. Related: HIVE Project proposes biophilic, self-sufficient homes of the future “Nature has been proven to promote healing, so we incorporated biophilic design to help us achieve this connection,” the designers at Runa Workshop explained. “We maximized the amount of natural light in each therapy room and incorporated a view of nature or green space to tie back into the concept. The design allowed for a large space where children can interact with water and ‘grass’ in a well-lit space while burning off excess energy so they can better focus in their therapy sessions.” Cost-effective oriented strand board , large windows and green paint are used throughout to strengthen a connection to nature, from the green “mountains” painted on the walls to the turf in the play area. In addition to the creation of active social spaces, such as the large indoor/outdoor play area and an indoor pool, the designers also carved out “chill rooms” with low lighting and dark-colored walls to provide children a comfortable place to go calm down when they feel overwhelmed. + Runa Workshop Images via Runa Workshop

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Biophilic campus provides a safe haven for children with autism

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The best eco-friendly gifts for your grandparents

There’s no denying the holiday season is upon us. Whether that makes you ripple with excitement or reluctance, we have help for at least one of your holiday woes — what to buy the grandparents. Grandparents are notoriously difficult to buy for, but keep in mind that many of our loved ones enjoy useful household goods and homemade goodies. As a bonus, these ideas are even good for the Earth! Homemade bread There are endless variations of homemade bread, from cinnamon rolls to a pumpkin loaf. Make it with wheat flour or cater to gluten-free needs. Add seeds or nuts. Mix in some flax, chia or hemp — and don’t forget to add love! Make your homemade gift pretty with a beeswax or cloth food wrap, either of which can be reused again and again. Alternately, place it into a reusable produce bag that they can take to the grocery store later. Related: 9 sustainable living tips to take from our grandparents Aprons At the grill or over the stove, aprons take a beating. Supply grandma or grandpa with a new linen apron from Son de Flor . Linen is made from flax, a plant that is gentle to the environment. In addition to enriching the soil , flax requires less energy and water to manufacture into material than cotton. Even better, linen is completely biodegradable. Earth Polo For a classic polo that honors the planet, lean into the Ralph Lauren Earth Polo . Give grandpa one of 13 color options, all manufactured using an innovative fabric made entirely from plastic bottles. In addition, the rich colors are achieved using a waterless process . Organic handmade pasta Even if you haven’t mastered the art of making handmade pasta yourself, you can give the gift of organic food. Semolina Pasta uses semolina milled from organic durum wheat and makes its pastas in Los Angeles. Organic semolina is non-GMO and is grown sans pesticides or fertilizers. The mill sells by-products to the dairy industry, and there is nearly zero waste in the Semolina Pasta kitchen. For $25, you can put together a gift box filled with three pasta shapes of your choosing. Upcycled cribbage board For the grandparent who enjoys classic game time, give the gift of cribbage with the added benefit of reusing materials off the street. The Upcycled Cribbage Board from Art of Play is made from maple and other hardwoods. The unique inlay in the top is created using upcycled skateboards . Eliminating plastic in the design, the pegs are made of metal and can be neatly stored in a compartment on the bottom of the game board. Eco-friendly cookbooks Chelsea Green publishing not only provides a variety of unique cookbooks, but it is a leading publisher of books on all topics related to sustainable living. All books and catalogs are printed on chlorine-free recycled paper , using soy-based inks whenever possible. They are also printed in partnership with North American printing shops. Plus, Chelsea Green is 100% employee-owned. Here are a few of the popular book options that the grandparents in your life might appreciate. The Fruit Forager’s Companion provides insight for making use of fruit often left hanging on the branch. The art of fermentation has perhaps never been more in the spotlight, for the simple fact that fermented foods are good for your gut. Check out Koji Alchemy for recipes and processes related to koji. Also take a look at Wildcrafted Fermentation , a guide to lacto-fermentation using wild edibles. For grandparents committed to a restrictive diet for health or other reasons, consider The Grain-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free Family Cookbook , which is loaded with recipes that might even get the grandkids excited to roll up their sleeves and start cooking. Buckwheat pillow If your grandparents have the common issue of neck pain and trouble sleeping, a buckwheat pillow may be the solution. The heavy, firm Slumbr Ara Buckwheat Pillow offers personalized support with a design that is shaped by pushing around the buckwheat hulls. Once situated, the pillow retains its shape for consistent support through the night. Laundry kit Laundry is a fact of life, so a gift that makes the process more efficient is thoughtful for your recipient and the planet. LooHoo Wool Dryer Balls Gift Set includes three all-natural dryer balls that help dry clothes faster, and more economically, by saving energy. Wool is locally sourced near the business location in Maine. The gift set also includes a package of SoulShine Soap Company’s all-natural laundry soap, which comes without any wasteful plastic jugs. In addition, there is an equally Earth-friendly stain stick. The entire bundle comes in a box made from recycled cardboard and is plastic-free. Mason Bee Barrel Animal and nature enthusiasts will love this adorable Mason bee barrel via The Grommet . Not only is it visually appealing, but it provides a home for mason bees, which are crucial to planetary health. In return for a safe home, the bees will pollinate nearby flowers and gardens. Frog/toad house for garden If your grandparents enjoy their pond, this Ceramic Frog & Toad House is the perfect complementary item. The ceramic is made from natural materials and is 100% recyclable, giving a home to frogs and toads without damaging the ecosystem in which they thrive. Knitting needle system Keep those hand-knitted sweaters coming with this Adjustable Straight Knitting Needle System . The repetitive action of knitting can be hard on hands, especially when the yarn continuously slips down the needle. This rosewood knitting needle system uses a stopper and spring-loaded slider to keep the stitches at the top of the needle for easier, more enjoyable knitting. Images via Pixabay, Unsplash, Son de Flor, Ralph Lauren, Semolina Pasta, Art of Play, Slumbr, LooHoo and The Grommet

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The best eco-friendly gifts for your grandparents

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Arctic explorer tests the RIKR recycled plastic backpack

Often when products claim to be made from recycled materials , companies are only talking about the bulk of the item. When it comes to Groundtruth’s RIKR recycled backpack, every single component is 100% recycled, from the main body to the padding, buckles, binding, webbing, zippers, hardware and even the thread that binds it all together. Most of the backpack, such as the outer shell, side panels and webbing, is made from recycled PET bottles, but the rest comes from recycled textiles like nylon, fleece and felt. Groundtruth was founded in 2017 by a team of three sisters who brought their documentary filmmaking talents and technical fabrics specialties together to create a progressive line of sustainable travel products. Each item is field-tested by real experts right in the environment it was designed for, and the RIKR is no exception; polar explorer and environmentalist Robert Swan took the backpack on a journey through Norway and Antarctica to test the water-repellency, stain-resistance, durability and comfort. Related: The durable Solo New York backpack can accompany all of your adventures “If recycled plastic bottles can be made into some thing that can survive these conditions — no one can ever doubt the durability of GROUNDTRUTH,” said Swan, who was the first person to walk to both the North and South Poles unsupported. The company prides itself on design innovation and creating products that directly remove plastic waste from the environment. All products, including the RIKR recycled backpack, are made from 100% recycled materials and by Bluesign-approved manufacturers to ensure responsible and sustainable working conditions. Additionally, the company offsets its entire carbon footprint. Priced at $382, the high-performance RIKR Backpack boasts modular compartments, multiple pockets, a separate laptop compartment, side access and a trolley sleeve, making it airport security-friendly and adaptable. Each backpack comes packaged in a completely biodegradable cassava bag and removes 120 plastic bottles from the environment, according to Groundtruth. Every purchase is carbon-neutral thanks to the company’s offset program, but buyers can choose to go even further by opting to go carbon-negative at checkout. + Groundtruth Via Dezeen Images via Groundtruth

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Arctic explorer tests the RIKR recycled plastic backpack

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Best Cyber Monday Home Improvement Deals From Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Others - The New York Times

Best Cyber Monday Home Improvement Deals From Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Others  The New York Times

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Earth911 Inspiration: Solving Complex Global Problems

Today’s inspiration is from Japanese philosopher, educator, and nuclear disarmament … The post Earth911 Inspiration: Solving Complex Global Problems appeared first on Earth 911.

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Earth911 Inspiration: Solving Complex Global Problems

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Best Ring Video Doorbell Cyber Monday deals 2020 - Tom's Guide

Best Ring Video Doorbell Cyber Monday deals 2020  Tom's Guide

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Cyber Monday 2020: Score this cute, compact Cricut with accessories at QVC for $20 off - AZCentral.com

Cyber Monday 2020: Score this cute, compact Cricut with accessories at QVC for $20 off  AZCentral.com

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November 28 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Ørsted Team Eyes First Green Hydrogen Ferry” • Ørsted is part of partnership including shipping company DFDS that has applied for EU support for development of a ferry powered by green hydrogen created by offshore wind. The ferry would cover DFDS’ Oslo-Frederikshavn-Copenhagen route initially. It would be powered by a 23-MW fuel cell system. [reNEWS]

Green hydrogen ferry (DFDS image)

• “Audi Formula E Drivetrain Is 95% Efficient” • Formula E racing puts a premium on efficiency. Ahead of the start of the Formula E season in Santiago next January, Audi announced that its new MGU05 motor/transmission package, developed by Audi Sport and Schaeffler, converts 95% of the energy stored in the battery into forward motion. [CleanTechnica]
• “Tesla Is Sixth Most Valuable Company In The US On Stock Market” • Tesla, with its focus on sustainability and renewables, is the 6th most valuable American company on US stock markets. Tesla overtook Berkshire Hathaway, as its market cap reached $555.24 billion. It only trails Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Facebook. [CleanTechnica]
• “Sony ‘Could Shift Factories Out Of Japan’ Over Renewable Energy Drought” • Sony warned Japan’s government it could move manufacturing abroad over difficulties sourcing renewable energy for its operations. Chief executives from Sony and other major Japanese companies have demanded reforms to make renewable power procurement easier. [Recharge]
• “India Aims For 220 GW Of Renewables By 2022” • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country aims to increase its renewables capacity to 220 GW by 2022, up from a previous goal of 175 GW. Modi said in a speech at that India currently has 136 GW of clean power installed, representing about 36% of the country’s total generation. [reNEWS]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

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Enter to Win a 2021 Tesla Model 3 by Donating to Charity

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Enter to Win a 2021 Tesla Model 3 by Donating to Charity

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Earth911 Reader: This Week’s Sustainability, Recycling, & Science News Collection

The Earth911 Reader summarizes the week’s sustainability, recycling, and science … The post Earth911 Reader: This Week’s Sustainability, Recycling, & Science News Collection appeared first on Earth 911.

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Earth911 Reader: This Week’s Sustainability, Recycling, & Science News Collection

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Black Friday and Cyber Monday B&Q deals: Nest! Ring! Bosch! DeWalt! Hue! - T3

Black Friday and Cyber Monday B&Q deals: Nest! Ring! Bosch! DeWalt! Hue!  T3

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10 eco-friendly holiday gift ideas for friends

Too often, the giving season feels like a mad rush to check tasks off a list. It’s all too easy (and embarrassing) to wind up giving our friends and family junk gifts that we regret buying. Our  shopping  guide makes it simple to find sustainably made, easy-to-purchase presents that you can feel good about giving over the holidays. Spent grain pancakes Everybody has to eat, and anybody sane likes a good pancake. This  spent grain mix  is low carb, high  protein , contains lots of fiber and uses recycled grains. What?! That’s right, these pancakes are called “spent” because the barley flour comes from microbrewery castoffs. You and your pancake gift recipient will feel even better about breakfast knowing that Grain4Grain donates to a food bank every time somebody purchases a box. Related: How to make soy wax candles for a cozy, autumnal home Shoes by Allbirds Buying shoes can be intimate, so this one is for your close friends.  Allbirds , best known for its sneakers, also makes boat shoes, slip-ons and flats. Choose from shoes made from wool — supposedly these New Zealand sheep have a fabulous life — or, for your  vegan bestie, choose shoes made from responsibly sourced eucalyptus fiber. As a carbon-neutral company, Allbirds puts eco-thought into all aspects of business. The laces are made from recycled plastic bottles, the insoles use castor bean oil and even the shipping boxes are made from 90% recycled cardboard. Digital thrift store gift card Some friends are easier to shop for than others. For some particular people, it’s best to let them pick out their own  gifts . Help them shop sustainably with a digital thrift store gift card from Rent the Runway or thredUP. Upcycled clutch from Jungalow Jungalow  specializes in bright colors and bold botanical patterns. The company is the brainchild of  design  blogger Justina Blakeney. Now you can get Jungalow’s super lush upholstery fabrics in a clutch purse. These clutches use upholstery scraps that wound up on the cutting room floor. Your friend can carry it as a small purse, or keep important things organized inside the clutch while tossing it in a larger bag. Darling little tassels adorn the clutch’s zipper. Girlfriend Collective activewear Through  fashion  alchemy,  Girlfriend Collective  turns old fishing nets, plastic bottles and other trash into chic leggings, bras, socks, sweatsuits and shorts. The company has already sidetracked about 4.5 million plastic water bottles bound for a dubious fate. You can find clothing for all sizes, and even a maternity section on their website. Homemade sugar scrub For a low-cost yet personal gift with a sweet scent, make your friend a sugar scrub. All you need is  sugar , coconut oil (or similar) and a few drops of essential oil. Use the essential oil straight out of the bottle, or make a special blend for your friend. Scoop the scrub into a mason jar, tie a bow around it, and it’s ready to gift. Full details on making sugar scrubs are available at  The Simple Veganista . Malala Scrunchie With a  Malala scrunchi , your friend can secure her hair while simultaneously promoting  education  for girls. When you buy these hair holders, the money goes to the Malala Fund, named for the brave and beloved Pakistani heroine and kick-ass activist Malala Yousufzai. The scrunchies are made from sustainably sourced bamboo fabric and dyed with natural plant dyes, like turmeric for yellow, indigo for blue and madder root for pink. We like the pumpkin color for fall and winter. Cruelty-free, 10-free nail polish from Pear Nova Ten what? Bad ingredients: toluene, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, DBP, xylene, parabens, camphor, fragrances, phthalates or animal ingredients. Not sure what all those ingredients are? The bottom line is you probably don’t want them on your nails.  Pear Nova  products are 10-free, designed in  Chicago  and look much more stylish than your average drugstore nail polish. The inventive colors have fun names, such as Cleo F*ckin Patra, Rub My Temples, It’s Summer Somewhere and Rooftop ‘Til You Drop. Wine barrel Apple Watch strap In another clever example of  upcycling ,  Uncommon Goods  offers an upgrade for your Apple Watch strap. Your oenophile friend will feel good knowing that her new watch strap was once a French oak wine barrel. These straps are made in Austria and compatible with Apple Watch Series 5, 4 and 3. Eco travel kit In this pandemic  holiday  season, everybody wants things to go back to normal ASAP. Give the gift of optimism with this  eco travel kit . Your friend will smell delightful with naturally flavored lip balm, deodorant, moisturizer and perfume in grapefruit, bergamot and rose scents. She’ll nap beneath a silky eye mask and wake to note her thoughts in an artisan-crafted kite notebook. The kits come in a vegan leather case and also include earplugs, q-tips, hair ties, disposable face masks and Emergen-Cs. You can upgrade and personalize the Aria Kit with extra add-ons. Images via Grain4Grain , Katherine Gallagher / Inhabitat, thredUP , Jungalow , Girlfriend , Pixabay, HARA , Pear Nova , Uncommon Goods , and Aria Kit

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10 eco-friendly holiday gift ideas for friends

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Oregon Fire Burns State Senator’s Home

 

Sen. Fred Girod walks through the remains of his home near Mill City, Oregon, on Sept. 13, 2020. Mill City, Gates and other towns along the Santiam River were all but destroyed by the Beachie Creek Fire and residents were forced to evacuate. “This was my forever home,” Girod said. Photo by Brooke Herbert /The Oregonian.

Claire Cohen-Norris

This man is walking through what is left of his home that his parents built in 1968.

He is a state senator. He is one of the eleven state senators that walked out and hid so there would be no quorum and Oregon would be unable to pass climate legislation.

Here’s the thing. Climate change is ruthless. It doesn’t care whether you have worked to mitigate it, or whether you’ve personally pumped oil out of the ground.

It doesn’t care. Because it isn’t a political being. It is reality.

We can still prevent far worse. But we have to get really serious, really fast. Here’s how.

• Always vote for people who accept science for what it is—reasoned conclusions based on observations.
• Next, do not buy anything that burns fossil fuels. Not a gas stove, not an oil furnace, not a gas- engine car. Every bit of infrastructure bought now must be clean-energy-based. Continue to drive your gas car and burn oil in your furnace, but do the research NOW, for how to replace them with systems using clean energy. When the furnace or car dies, you will be informed and ready to do the right thing.
• Finally, figure out what policies you need to enable you to transition to clean energy and demand them. How sad that this now homeless state senator is still not facing the reality of the serious times he and we are now experiencing.

Claire Cohen-Norris is a climate educator and science teacher. She is the chapter leader of Citizens Climate Lobby Mid Hudson Valley West, based in Sullivan County, NY.

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Build Your Own Drones With Black Friday Access To These DIY Kits - Futurism

Build Your Own Drones With Black Friday Access To These DIY Kits  Futurism

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Earth911 Podcast: Jack Kerfoot on Beating Big Oil With Renewable Energy

Earth911 talks with oil industry veteran and critic Jack Kerfoot, … The post Earth911 Podcast: Jack Kerfoot on Beating Big Oil With Renewable Energy appeared first on Earth 911.

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Earth911 Podcast: Jack Kerfoot on Beating Big Oil With Renewable Energy

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November 25 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Superformance Is Building An All-Electric Cobra For 2021” • Superformance claims it has a license from Shelby himself to build “official” continuation Cobras, and this one is just stunning. A few things it does not have are the shiny roll bars, a rumbling, side-mounted exhaust, and a gaudy hood scoop feeding air into the engine bay of the 427. [CleanTechnica]

Shelby Cobra (Image courtesy of Superformance)

• “The Eximus IV Is The World’s Most Energy Efficient Electric Vehicle” • The electric vehicle you see here is the Eximus IV. Built by a team of experts at Sweden’s Dalarna University, it is billed as the world’s most energy-efficient EV. It can transport a person nearly halfway around the world using the energy in just a single liter of gas! [CleanTechnica]
• “European Utility Giant To Invest $190 Billion In Renewable Infrastructure” • Italy’s Enel, Europe’s largest utility, announced plans to invest as much as $190 billion (€160 billion) by 2030 in boosting renewable power generation, decarbonization, and grid infrastructure as part of a new plan to become a “Super Major” in renewable energy. [OilPrice.com]
• “A Harsh Reality In Coal Country – With Or Without Trump” • Colstrip, Montana, has been a poster child for the kind of coal mining community that looked to Donald Trump to bring back the industry and save their town. But after four years of Trump’s presidency, and with Joe Biden about to take office, it is clear that saving coal is not viable. [BBC]
• “The New ‘Gold Rush’ For Green Lithium” • Lithium is crucial for the transition to renewables, but mining it has environmental costs. Now a more sustainable source of lithium has been found deep underground. Extracting lithium from geothermal waters has a tiny environmental footprint compared to mining, with very low carbon emissions. [BBC]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

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Problems Show Up in Unhealthy Soils - In Search of Soil

The new podcast is In Search of Soil.

SUBSCRIBE & LISTEN TO FULL EPISODES:

iTunes - http://bit.ly/soilpodcast

Spotify - http://bit.ly/insearchofsoil

WATCH FULL EPISODES 

YouTube https://bit.ly/watchISOS

 

Let me know what you think @diegofooter - https://www.instagram.com/diegofooter

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Fiat 500 3+1 electric vehicle gets a fresh redesign

The Fiat 500 3+1 electric car is designed to attract customers who want a smart, sustainable ride that blends style and functionality. The addition of a third door is practical, and the car features the same Fiat 500 aesthetic. Best of all, the electric vehicle capabilities are a big win for the planet. For the interior, Fiat chose a warm and soft color pallet on the interior textiles to emphasize a stronger bond with nature. Eco-friendly and recyclable materials are featured as well. Seats are made from a combination of vegan leather and Seaqual fiber derived from recycled plastic, some of which was collected from the ocean. Additionally, chrome replacement paints and mats are made of recycled fibers, and components of the dashboard are made of wood. Related: AUDI’s new electric car will have autonomous vehicle capability and a roof that holds real plants The new Fiat is available in three colors: Rose Gold, Glacier Blue and Onyx Black. It features full LED headlights, two-tone 17” diamond-cut wheel rims and chrome-plated inserts on the windows and side panels, while the seats, dashboard upholstery and steering wheel are all clad in ‘eco-leather.’ The battery pack is now located under the floor, allowing for a roomier interior layout and increased stability. The space has also been organized using modular storage compartments. Technology-wise, La Prima comes with the most advanced level 2 autonomous driving system available, the first of its kind for city cars, according to the company. Customers can look forward to Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, lane centering and control, traffic sign recognition, an autonomous emergency brake with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, Intelligent Speed Assistant, a high-resolution rear camera, 360° parking and urban blind spot sensors, automatic twilight and dazzle sensory, emergency call capabilities, a wireless smartphone charger and an electronic parking brake. The electric battery boasts 85 kW fast charging and includes an 11 kW Mode 3 cable for charging at home or in public. Its electric motor is structured around safety and entertainment, integrating a technological “ecosystem” to connect drivers and passengers to the car through their phones. For example, the Fiat app allows users to view charging points nearby and check battery charge levels remotely. + Fiat Images via Fiat

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Fiat 500 3+1 electric vehicle gets a fresh redesign

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Purse strings, patients, and personal glory - Science Magazine

Purse strings, patients, and personal glory  Science Magazine

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Black Friday 2020: Home Depot's deals are a DIY-er's dream - USA TODAY

Black Friday 2020: Home Depot's deals are a DIY-er's dream  USA TODAY

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Fram Museum extension is dedicated to environmental education

Norway- and Denmark-based architecture firm Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter has won an invited competition for the new extension of the Fram Museum, a museum in Oslo dedicated to the stories of Norwegian polar exploration. Dubbed Framtid — Norwegian for ‘future’ — the museum extension stands out from its sharply angular neighbors with its church bell-shaped gable and fully glazed end wall that allows views into the building and out toward the water. The timber-framed building will also be engineered with environmentally friendly considerations as part of the firm’s vision “that architecture exemplifies how we care for our environment.” Inaugurated in 1936, the Fram Museum was primarily built to honor the three great Norwegian polar explorers — Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup and Roald Amundsen — and is named after the original wooden exploration vessel Fram that sits at the heart of the museum . Although the new curved extension will be visually distinct from the museum’s A-frame buildings, the modern structure will also take cues from the existing layout with its long form set perpendicular to the water. Related: RRA unveils mountain-inspired ski resort that emphasizes nature and community The new Framtid wing will expand the footprint of the museum with gathering spaces, exhibition spaces, a café with an exterior amphitheater and an auditorium. The light-filled café and gathering spaces will be located at the north side of the building for optimal views of the water and easy access to the boat shuttle. The shore, which is currently private, will be made publicly accessible with these new spaces. Framtid’s exhibition spaces will be placed farther back into the building and be equipped with full light controls to create sensory experiences; passageways connect the new exhibition spaces to the museum’s other three wings. “An important aspect of polar expeditions was research on climate and the environment,” the architects noted. “Like the crews of Fram, Gjøa and Maud, the museum’s guests will be inspired to seek knowledge on environmental education in regard to current climate change and sustainable solutions.” + Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter Images via Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter

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Fram Museum extension is dedicated to environmental education

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Will shifting to smaller turkeys help combat food waste?

Will shifting to smaller turkeys help combat food waste? Jesse Klein Wed, 11/25/2020 – 05:00 Thanksgiving looks different this year in America. Grandpas and grandmas, uncles and aunts, and cousins of all numbers probably aren’t gathering together for dinner, unless it’s over Zoom. That reality is creating challenges for producers and suppliers — and new implications for holiday food waste. Holidays — and Thanksgiving, in particular — are huge food waste days. During a typical year, American families throw away 200 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving. And anothe r 200 million pound s of sides will also wind up in the garbage can. But with the coronavirus contracting many people’s Thanksgiving dinners to just their immediate households this year, those numbers are likely to be dramatically different for 2020. Just as food producers shifted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to accommodate the decrease in demand from restaurants, some are pivoting this fall again to provide smaller turkeys for smaller Thanksgiving dinners. Heifer USA , part of Heifer International, a nonprofit that works with small farms, helped farmers change tactics to produce these smaller turkeys. Heifer USA sells through the e-commerce organization Grass Roots Coop directly to consumers.  “Because of the short value chain, we could to pivot very quickly,” said Donna Kilpatrick, the ranch manager and land steward of Heifer USA. “There’s much more agility as a short value chain.” Because of the short value chain, we could to pivot very quickly. According to Kilpatrick, big supermarket chains order their turkeys almost a year in advance, so it’s hard to adjust to shifting demand. Grass Roots was able to get feedback directly from its customers and communicate their changing preferences this year to poultry farmers. Poultry farmers, in turn, sent their turkeys to be processed a few weeks earlier than usual to give cooks smaller and lighter-weight options. According to Grass Roots, the extra-large turkeys were the last to sell out this year, and it made the decision to cut up a higher percentage (compared to last year) of the larger turkeys into breasts and legs because it expected customers to have smaller gatherings. “If it threw anyone off track it would be in our processing facility that is booked and has to quickly change dates,” Kilpatrick said. “Now that can be difficult. I would say they bore the brunt of having to make some shifts.”  Grass Roots sold 3,000 turkeys this year, but also saw an uptick in turkey products including legs, breast and ground meat, signaling that some consumers maybe aren’t cooking an entire bird for just a few people but looking for alternatives to get their turkey fix. This year, Grass Roots reported that it saw a 219 percent lift in ground turkey sales and a 440 percent lift in turkey breast sales. Selling smaller turkeys, especially this year, will hopefully cut back on those millions of pounds of food waste and put consumers on a path to a less wasteful Christmas and 2021 Thanksgiving, even when the COVID pandemic is hopefully behind us Pull Quote Because of the short value chain, we could to pivot very quickly. Topics Food & Agriculture Food Waste Featured in featured block (1 article with image touted on the front page or elsewhere) On Duration 0 Sponsored Article Off Turkey sales are shifting to smaller birds this year and could help decrease Thanksgiving food waste.//Courtesy of Unsplash

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Will shifting to smaller turkeys help combat food waste?

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Climate change is leading to increased winter drownings

A new study, published in the journal PLoS One , has revealed that there is a significant relationship between increased drownings in the winter and climate change. According to the study, regions that have experienced a sharp increase in average winter temperatures are also experiencing more drownings. The study, which was published last Wednesday, analyzed data collected in 10 countries in the Northern Hemisphere: U.S., Canada, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Italy, Russia, Finland, Latvia and Estonia. Many of the drownings that were studied happened when temperatures were just below freezing point. It was also observed that many increases in drownings occurred in Indigenous communities, where the people depend on the ice for their customs as well as for survival. Related: Danger looms as world’s largest iceberg heads toward a critical wildlife habitat The research showed that those affected by the drownings varied demographically. For instance, the most affected were children under 9 years old followed by teenagers and adults from ages 15 to 39. People who are accustomed to walking on icy landscapes may assume that the ice is stable enough without thinking about recent temperature fluctuations. One of the lead authors of the study, Sapna Sharma, explained that people may not think about how climate change is already impacting their everyday lives. Sharma, who is also an associate professor of biology at York University, said that we no longer have to just think about polar bears when we talk about climate change. The drownings are evidence enough that this crisis can affect anyone in any part of the world. “I think there’s a disconnect between climate change and the local, everyday impacts,” Sharma said. “If you think about climate change in winter, you’re thinking about polar bears and ice sheets, but not about these activities that are just ingrained in our culture.” According to Sharma, colder temperatures can be deceiving, especially at a time when the temperatures keep fluctuating. “It might be minus 20 Celsius today and tomorrow and the weekend, but last week it was 15 Celsius,” Sharma said. “Well, we might have forgotten as individuals that it was warm and sunny last week on a Tuesday, but the ice didn’t forget.” If the temperatures are milder than usual, the ice will not be as thick as one might expect. Robert McLeman, a professor of geography and environmental studies at Wilfrid Laurier, explained, “Milder temperatures mean that the ice is not as thick, or not as solid as it would otherwise be. And so people are going out onto it and not realizing that the ice is rotten.” + PLoS One Via The New York Times Image via Pixabay

Continued here: 
Climate change is leading to increased winter drownings

* This article was originally published here