In honor of Arbor Day: The Man Who Planted Trees

There is a power in stories.  After this tale has engraved itself on your heart be sure to visit this site to learn more. 

Meatless Monday Recipe-Vegan Caesar Salad

Vegan Caesar Salad

2 Tbsp. capers
2 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
6 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
1/2 cup croutons, optional

1. In a food processor, pulse the capers and garlic until minced. Add the lemon juice and mayonnaise and pulse a few times to blend. While the food processor is on, slowly drizzle in the olive oil.

2. Place the lettuce in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the lettuce, add the croutons (if desired) and toss thoroughly.

3. Season with salt and pepper.

Found: Animal Times-Spring 2010 (PETA)

Absolutely the best book concerning sustainable living I have ever read: Little House on a Small Planet

By Shay Salomon, with photos by Nigel Valdez, Little House on a Small Planet is by far the most inspiring and deeply useful books on sustainable living I have ever read.  I'm am so overwhelmed by the beauty of the photography and the author's insight that I'm not even going to try to explain my feelings about the book.  I just hope that as many people as possible will read it.

The San Antonio Public Library doesn't have a copy but it can be borrowed via the free Inter-library loan system.  Here's some information you'll need:  The Lyons Press (September 1, 2006) ISBN-10: 1592288685, ISBN-13: 978-1592288687.

Copyright Treaty to limit how information on sustainable technology is shared and raise the stakes for those who share it

Sharing of information is at the core of San Antonio Sustainable Living.  Sharing of information about products, methods and technology is critical for sustainable ways of building and living to be spread.  Many people believe that the secret Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement will hinder the free exchange of information in many ways.

This video of Michael Geist's keynote address at the PublicACTA conference in Wellington, New Zealand on April 9, 2010.   provides an education about the ACTA and its projected effects on people throughout the world and will help you make up your mind.

Compressed Earth Block Workshop

Once every year or two in Central Texas, there’s a premier opportunity to learn all about compressed earthen block (CEB) construction, lime stabilization, and natural finishes. That opportunity returns for three days in May (20-22) here in San Antonio. Jim Hallock and Jeff Rottler from Tierra y Cal, from San Miguel de Allende will offer a very comprehensive class in CEB covering all aspects to consider. If you are thinking green building, building a durable, healthy, high-performance structure doesn’t get any greener than using the earth. Partnering again with Laurence Jetter of Advanced Earthen Construction Technology (AECT), here in San Antonio, Jim and Jeff will be incorporating the best technology in compressed earth blocks available. For more information regarding the agenda and registration details, contact Tierra y Cal directly at their website.

Visit San Antonio's own permaculture farm: Santuario Sisterfarm

Santuario Sisterfarm Open Farm Day: April 17, 2010! Tours will be given at 10:00 am and 12:00 noon.   On the tour, you will see and learn about: Organic growing methods Composting Water conservation Permaculture ethics and practices Renewable energy/conservation Green building Non-toxic/biodegradable household products Contact us for directions and to reserve your place: info@sisterfarm.org or 830.537.4327 Tour Fee: $10/person, $5/child. Pack a picnic lunch, if you wish to eat by the creek or one of our small ponds. Wear comfortable shoes. HEIRLOOM TOMATO PLANTS FOR SALE! Please check our website www.sisterfarm.org for other dates in 2010!

Meatless Monday Recipe-Sicilian Collard Greens with Pine Nuts and Raisins

Sicilian Collard Greens With Pine Nuts and Raisins

Beyond being incredibly yummy, this dish is also a sneaky way to introduce people to the glory of collard greens. Tip: Try substituting the balsamic vinegar for shoyu and the pine nuts for pumpkin seeds.

1 bunch collard greens
2 tablespoons pine nuts
3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1. Use a sharp knife to cut out the central rib and stem from each collard leaf. Rinse the leaves in a sink of cool water, lifting them into a colander to drain a bit (you want some water to remain on the leaves).
2. Toast the pine nuts over medium heat in a dry skillet for about 5 minutes or until golden. Shake the pan often to keep the pine nuts from burning. Transfer to a plate, and set aside.
3. Place the garlic and oil in a large skillet, and saute over medium heat for 1 minute or until the garlic is fragrant. Add the damp collards and stir, then cover the pan and cook for 2 minutes longer.
4. Add the raisins and pine nuts to the collard greens, and stir. Cover and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the balsamic vinegar, cover, and continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer.

Note: The stems of the collard greens are full of minerals, so if you want to use them, chop them into 1 inch pieces and cook for a couple of minutes before adding the collard greens.

SERVES 2 OR 3

From The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone

Great "good examples" of small space living abound in Apartment Therapy's annual contest

One of the highlights of Spring is the Apartment Therapy "Small Cool " spaces contest.   The 2010 contest is in its earliest stages right now where entries can be voted into later rounds.

The contest is divided into 5 categories: Tiniest (400 square feet and under), Tiny (401 to 600 square feet), Little (601-800 square feet), Small (801 to 1,000 square feet) and International (outside the USA under 1,000 square feet and under).

Apartment Therapy features some of the best virtual tours of smaller homes and apartments year round but the cream of the crop comes out in force during their annual contest.  Unlike their usual photo tours which feature a dozen or more photos, each entrant in the Small Cool contest is limited to four photos and a layout of their space.

The entrants are a font of inspiration no matter what size of home or apartment you inhabit or dream of.

So far here are my favorites: Ben's Creative Transformations in Portland Maine (535 sq feet), Shelbey's Itty Bitty Abode in Chicago (450 sq feet),  Yael's Vintage Treasure in Chicago (545 sq feet), Meredith's Well Considered Space also in Chicago (575 sq feet) and Chris's Furniture Tetris in Houston (450 sq feet).

The contest is a reminder that small homes aren't limited to cob cottages in the country and have a place in the big city.

With San Antonio's Earth Day coming up let's look at the 7 R's (and recycling is dead last)

If you are on the San Antonio Environment Meetup list (and why aren't you), you might have caught a link Stephen posted to this Treehugger slide show on the 7 R's (Reuse, Rot, Repurpose, Repair, Return, Refill, Refuse and finally if all else fails Recycle). 

For a number of reasons recycling is promoted ahead of the rest.  It may be more convenient.  It may be in the interests of manufactures of new stuff.  It may be in the interest of recyclers and industries that depend on cheap supplies (Trex for example depends on plastic bags).

With San Antonio's 2010 Fiesta Earth Day coming up April 17 in Woodlawn Lake Park from 10 to 4 pm it will be interesting how well the other R's are represented and encouraged compared to Recycling.  You can RSVP for Earth Day on the San Antonio Environment Meetup event page.

Meatless Monday Recipe-Mediterranean Barley with Tofu, Olives, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Capers

Mediterranean Barley with Tofu, Olives, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Capers

Using the ingredient list as a stepping off point you can add or subtract to it as you like, and it doesn't get any easier. You can make as little or as much as you like...

barley, cooked
tofu, diced
small black olives
sun-dried tomatoes, soaked and finely chopped
capers in salt, soaked and drained of their excess salt
chili pepper, ground or in flakes
lemon juice
salt
extra-virgin olive oil

Fry the tofu slowly in olive oil with chili pepper and lemon juice until crispy.

Mix olives, capers and tomatoes with the barley and stir.

Add tofu, mix and serve.

From the website Lucullian Delights.

Posted by: Kelly Rossiter from Treehugger.com

Sologen Systems avoids hype as high potential geothermal electrical generation project moves forward

Frank Smith, the president of Sologen Systems Inc has a secret of sorts, not a complete secret but a kind of lets not talk about this too much too soon secret.  He did put out a press release on December 31, 2009.  He speaks openly with potential investors and is working through numerous levels of regulators. He even spoke to the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club, and those people really do like to blab about what interests them. But he speaks conservatively.  He chooses numbers from the low end of the ranges that the engineers and oil and gas geologists have developed.  He doesn't oversell. 

Smith's semi-secret is that Sologen with Green Well Power LLC and Free Green Energy LLC propose to harness the high temperatures and pressure found at the bottom of some abandoned natural gas wells which are deeper than 10,000 feet to produce kinetic energy which will power a linear drive engine to produce electricity. 

When the number of appropriate wells in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi is multiplied by the conservatively stated potential electrical production of each well, the mind boggles.  The numbers and the implications of the numbers are just too big to grasp and to accept, until they become fact, and that is why the Mr. Smith prefers to keep things quiet for now.


It isn't just the amount of electricity that is hard to grasp.  It is how ideal the project is in other aspects.  In our nation’s energy debates we often discuss environmental trade-offs but the Sologen project seems to involve no such trade-offs.

For instance, this energy production produces no significant greenhouse gases.  Its visual impact is minimal.  It produces power in dispersed locations which is in line with the direction our electrical grid is moving.  It blocks no rivers.  It disturbs no migrating birds and no more wild life than the wells themselves did during their producing years.

The estimated cost of these geothermal generators is far below almost any other source of renewable power (except conservation of course).   It is cheaper than any other widely dispersed geothermal energy source in part because they utilize abandoned wells.  These wells cost millions to drill but are now worthless environmental liabilities.  So this energy producing project can mitigate a potential for contamination that has been known for decades.


The power producing wells require no trainloads of fuel.  No mountains need to be removed, no streams are filled in, no air is polluted.  No radioactivity is utilized.  No great lakes of water are needed to cool them.  No army of technicians and security standby to monitor and prevent disaster.

Perhaps best of all the wells produce baseload power, which means it produces whether or not the sun shines or the winds blow and it is a black start source of power which means it is able to be restarted to produce power without relying on power from the electrical grid.  These two characteristics alone make it superior from a utility point of view. 

The project faces hurdles.  Regulators of oil and gas, underground water, environmental issues, electrical production, landowners, oil and and gas rights holders and all the regulators involved in long term investments must be satisfied.

We may see the first fruits of the Sologen project very soon.   If it comes to fruition it will upend a lot of assumptions about renewable energy put forward by the nuclear, coal and gas industries.  It will be a boon to those of us lucky enough to have the right kind of abandoned well  in our region, and will perhaps become the bedrock of power hungry industry.  If it comes to fruition it will be big.  It will be cover of Time Magazine big.  It will be senators claiming they are responsible for it big.

But for now let's keep it our sort of secret and help Frank Smith avoid the hype.

(Frank Smith spoke briefly at our March 2010 San Antonio Sustainable Living meeting.  My earlier SASL article includes the Sologen press release and a video of the linear drive engine and demonstrates an almost complete lack of understanding of the project on my part.)

Photo by Clearly Ambiguous via Flickr (creative commons).

Paul Stamets' Six Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World

This TED talk by Paul Stamets is more than two years old but it is a classic. He has found ways that mushrooms can produce energy, fight our common pathogens (bacteria and viruses), fertilize, sequester carbon, kill and then repel carpenter ants and termites and remediate toxic chemicals in the environment.

DIY Compost Bin ideas from Instructables.com

Instructables.com has an extensive collection of  do it yourself projects. Some are pretty far out, some would fit in better a dorm room than in a mansion.  But they all provide ideas to build on.

Here are links to some compost bin ideas that may be just what you are looking for:

First there's an Overview of Compost Bins on Instructibles.com.  followed by a Compost tumbler on a stand, a compost tumbler that is not on a stand, a different version of a compost tumbler on a stand that uses a standard garbage can , a double deck tumbling compost bin and finally a classic compost bin made from pallets.

Wayne Haese's Grayscaping Inc allows homeowners or whole sub-divisions to maintain lush lawns and landscaping with rain and gray water

Wayne Haese 's systems allow homeowners to keep their lush grassy lawns in drought prone South Texas.   If they want to use chemicals on their landscape he allows them to do so easily and at a depth of 6 inches so that they are less likely to run off.   His code compliant systems enable the homeowner to use rainwater and re-use graywater with little or no effort or change in lifestyle.

Wayne’s company, Grayscaping Inc, offers turnkey graywater, rainwater and hydroponic systems for both edible and non-edible plants that are somewhat more complex than other such systems.  He is extremely careful to create fool proof systems that alleviate the fears of the most risk averse regulator.

He says that he helped educate Texas Natural Resources Commission on gray water and to have asked that they used the term “gray water” rather than “grey water”.  His interest in words also shows in his fondness for trademarked coinages including: Grayscaping™ (gray water collection), Rainscaping™ (rainwater collection),  and Rainponics™ and Grayponics™ which refer to hydroponic growing systems for edible and non-edible plants respectively.

He has systems for individual homes and for whole subdivisions. If you have an existing home on a concrete slab he cannot help you with either rainwater or graywater collection, though he will sell you a hydroponic unit.

His system is predicated on plumbing in a way that separates gray water sources from black water and with an existing slab the pipes just cannot be re-routed.  He can look at houses with pier and beam foundations to see if they can be adapted but primarily though he works with new construction.

His graywater systems include settling tanks and filtration of the graywater.  He always routes a line to feed filtered graywater to the perimeter of the foundation to prevent it from drying out.  (Of course being thorough his system has monitoring that prevents water being routed their when it is not needed.)

He includes a patented access point to allow the injection of pesticides, herbicide and fertilizer into the gray water distribution system. (US Patent 6132138)

In his system the graywater is delivered six inches below the surface through a grid of pipes and valves.  He offers an automatic feed to landscaping hydroponic planters.

He addresses a possible pitfall of graywater diversion by providing an automatic surge of graywater into the sewer line from time to time to make sure that the sewage makes it all the way to the sewer.

Grayscaping Inc also offers rainwater collection systems for individual homes.  In their systems the rainwater can be supplemented by other water sources as needed.  The system can also be used to provide water for edible landscaping or hydroponic units used for growing edible plants.

On a subdivision level Wayne Haese has developed detailed plans for central collection, filtration and redistribution of both rainwater and graywater.  His innovations include specialized designs for trenches and trench liners to prevent cross contamination.

Wayne and his team were the featured speaker at the San Antonio Sustainable Living March 2010 meeting. He previously spoke to our group in 2001 or 2002.

Meatless Monday Recipe-Polenta Casserole With Seitan

Polenta Casserole With Seitan

This dish is elegant, delicious, and satisfying–great for brunch. Because it incorporates a grain, vegetables, and seitan, it’s a complete meal. A nice side of greens would make it absolutely perfect.

1 1/2 cups polenta or cornmeal or 1 cup millet1 medium-size head cauliflower cut in large pieces1 cup peas, fresh or frozen and thawed2 pinches fine sea salt1 (8-ounce) package seitan, slicedKernels from 2 ears corn or 1 cup thawed frozen kernels6 asparagus spears, cut into 1-inch pieces1 1/2 teaspoons roasted sesame tahini1/3cup soy milk1 1/2 tablespoons shoyu plus more for sprinkling on top2 teaspoons umeboshi vinegar1/4 cup chopped fresh parsleyFresh basil leaves for garnish

1. Place the polenta or millet in a large pot. Add the cauliflower, peas (if using fresh), salt, and 5 cups water (add just 3 cups if using the millet). Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer the polenta for 30 minutes (cook for 25 minutes if using the millet). Polenta must be stirred frequently as it cooks to prevent it from sticking or becoming lumpy, but you don’t need to stir millet.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil an 8×8 casserole dish.

3. While the cauliflower mixture cooks, arrange the sliced seitan in the casserole dish. Layer the corn kernels on top, and then add the asparagus.

4. Remove the polenta mixture from the heat. Add the tahini, soy milk, shoyu, and umeboshi vinegar, and mash with a potato masher or fork until the mixture resembles mashed potatoes. Add the chopped parsley and peas (if using frozen) and mix well.

5. Spoon the mashed mixture into the casserole dish over the vegetables, and smooth the top. Poke a few small holes in the surface, and sprinkle with a little extra shoyu (this makes the top crispy).

6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Let the casserole cool for 15 minutes before cutting into squares. Garnish with the basil, and serve.

SERVES 6

From The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone

Read MIT's Technology Review for amazing stories of technological improvement

I recently became addicted to Google's Fast Flip, which as far as I'm concerned is the best way to browse through news sites.

MIT's Technology Review has become one of my favorites. You can flip through the pages of the site by selecting it from among the fifty or so sources for Fast Filp. going to the easily because they cooperate with Google.

One of the best things about this site is that they don't mislead with over hyped headlines and sketchy information.

Here are just a few of the stories that have caught my attention lately.

Gasifying Biomass with Sunlight: A solar-driven process could yield far more fuel than conventional biomass production.

Making Solar Cheaper with Natural Gas: Florida Power and Light has built a solar power plant linked to a natural gas plant.

Catalysts for Plastic Recycling: Chemical process can recycle PET bottles at lower temperatures.

Ultra-Efficient Gas Engine Passes Test: A novel fuel-injection system achieves 64 miles per gallon.

Free Gardening Classes on the west side from Time Dollar alternative currency and Green Spaces

These classes are being offered by the Time Dollar Community Connections (an alternative currency coordinator in San Antonio's impoverished west side with support from Green Spaces Alliance.  All classes take place in the community garden behind the Time Dollar house across the street from Divine Redeemer Presbyterian Church at 2806 W. Salinas. San Antonio, Tx 78207. 

Each class will be taught by Andrew Willems an experienced gardener and community organizer.  Call (210) 433-9851 for more information.

Intro to Square Foot Gardening
(20% of the Space, 20% of the Water, 20% of the Work, 100% of the Harvest)
Tues April 6th 1:30, Wed April 7th 10:00 AM, Thur April 8th 1:30
                   

Planting Techniques                   
(A study of companion planting and other planting guides)
 Wed April 14th 10:00 A.M

Composting                                 
(The key to a great garden)
 Wed April 21st10:00 A.M.

Water Saving Techniques         
(Learn how to best utilize this valuable resource at your home)
 Thur April 29th 10:00 A.M.

More about Plants                      
(Learn helpful tips about plants including herbs and vegetables)
 Wed May 5th 10:00 A.M.

Organic Pest Control                                           
 (Controlling pests and diseases the healthy way)                                                  
 Wed May 12th 10:00 A.M.

Saving Seed & Spring Starters   
(Sustaining your garden for the future)                                                                    
 Wed May 19th 10:00 A.M.

Vegetable Nutrition                    
(You are what you eat)                                                                                               
Thur May 27th 10:00 A.M.

How sustainable is your home from a feline perspective

Some folks will argue that cats themselves are not sustainable due to their propensity to kill off small song birds.  The mining of clay for cat litter has had a devastating effect on the environment.

Nevertheless just as there is appropriate design for humans there is appropriate design for cats which takes into account their need for height, safety and easy climbing throughout their lives.

The most famous cat centric home is the "Cat's House" which is a otherwise unremarkable suburban ranch home in California. A more modernist approach to a cat lifestyle is Asahi Kasei’s Plus-Nyan house.

You can find pictures of it on Apartment Therapy and Crooked Brains.

Meatless Monday Recipe-Corn and Broccoli Calzones

Corn and Broccoli Calzones

These calzones are stuffed with a combination of corn and broccoli, but you can use whatever you have in your fridge. Part-skim ricotta and mozzarella make our pizza pockets lower in saturated fat. Plus a whole-wheat crust adds a nutty flavor and extra fiber. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce for dipping.

1 1/2 cups chopped broccoli florets1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (about 3 ears; see Tip)1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese2/3 cup part-skim ricotta cheese4 scallions, thinly sliced1/4 cup chopped fresh basil1/2 teaspoon garlic powder1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepperAll-purpose flour for dusting20 ounces prepared whole-wheat pizza dough (see Tip), thawed if frozen2 teaspoons canola oil

1. Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 475F degrees. Lightly grease two baking pans.

2. Combine broccoli, corn, mozzarella, ricotta, scallions, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl. On a lightly floured surface, divide dough into 6 pieces. Roll each piece into an 8-inch circle. Place a generous 3/4 cup filling on one half of each circle, leaving a 1-inch border of dough. Brush the border with water and fold the top half over the filling. Fold the edges over and crimp with a fork to seal. Make several small slits in the top to vent steam; brush each calzone with oil. Transfer the calzones to the prepared baking sheets.

3. Bake the calzones, switching the pans halfway through, until browned on top, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

Yield: 6 calzones

Healthy Heart Variation: To reduce saturated fat even further, use nonfat ricotta in place of the reduced-fat ricotta. 334 calories, 2 g saturated fat.

Recipe Tips & Notes
Tips: To remove corn kernels from the cob: Stand an uncooked ear of corn on its stem end in a shallow bowl and slice the kernels off with a sharp, thin-bladed knife. This technique produces whole kernels that are good for adding to salads and salsas. If you want to use the corn kernels for soups, fritters or puddings, you can add another step to the process. After cutting the kernels off, reverse the knife and, using the dull side, press it down the length of the ear to push out the rest of the corn and its milk.

Look for balls of whole-wheat pizza dough at your supermarket, fresh or frozen and without any hydrogenated oils.

Recipe NutritionPer calzone: 350 calories; 7 g fat (3 g saturated fat, 3 g mono unsaturated fat); 21 mg cholesterol; 50 g carbohydrates; 17 g protein; 4 g fiber; 509 mg sodium; 250 mg potassium

Nutrtion Bonus: Vitamin C (35% daily value), Calcium (25% dv), Vitamin A (20% dv).
3 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 3 starch, 1 medium-fat protein

Found on www.Care2/healthyliving.com and www.EatingWell.com

The Death of Coal by Terry Tamminen (Will someone please tell CPS?)

Here's a link to an essay by Terry Tamminen  on the Fast Company website.  He gives several reason why he believes that coal has been unmasked as not only a dirty source of power but also as an uneconomical one.  

The Death of Coal by Terry Tamminen on Fast Company

The new international hit: "The Story of Bottled Water" disects the actions of the water pushers

The makers of "The Story of Stuff" are back with an entertaining analysis of the forces selling us bottled water. You can watch it below or even better go to the storyofstuff.org website.



More than one writer has connected The Story of Bottled Water to Chris Jordan's mind blowing depiction of the two million plastic beverage bottles consumed in the USA every five minutes in his "Running the Numbers" project.

Wayne Haese of San Antonio's Grayscaping Inc to speak at March meeting of San Antonio Sustainable Living

Are you the kind of person who maybe goes to two or three San Antonio Sustainable Living meetings a year? You really ought to be coming to these meetings more often since the price of admission cannot be beat (FREE!). However, if you are particular about what topics are worth your time, this is one of those topics - WATER. Oh sure, you've been to water presentations at the San Antonio Sustainable Living before, and yes, they've been very informative and innovative. Still, we only have about one presentation per year on water issues (I keep track of these things), so you can't say this is all we talk about. This Tuesday's presentation is, trust me, the most important and encompassing water presentation we will have for a long time.

We are more familiar with water source issues. We are at the center of rainwater harvesting activity in the country. We are familiar with the excellent guidelines and programs offered by the San Antonio Water System regarding water efficiency and sensible landscaping. Build San Antonio Green has promoted wise water use for many years in their family of programs. But very little attention has been given to graywater systems. Graywater systems, in brief, makes the most out of water by making it work for you more than once. Very few have addressed this category of water efficiency.

Wayne Haese has been developing water use systems for many years and is a multiple award winner from the San Antonio Water System. I've been looking at a lot of water systems, and Wayne Haese's GrayScaping System is the most comprehensive, but simply elegant use of graywater I've seen. He has designed systems from individual houses to entire housing developments incorporating graywater recycling systems with rainwater recovery augmentation, and has also developed proprietary systems he calls RainPonics, GrayPonics, TreeScaping, FireScaping, and more. For additional information, visit his website. But by all means, do not miss next week's meeting in the classroom inside Whole Foods Market in the Quarry at 7pm.

Meatless Monday Recipe-Lentil Artichoke Stew

Lentil Artichoke Stew
Dear Cancer Project supporter,

This aromatic, fiber-packed, and tasty Middle Eastern dish is great served alone or over brown rice or pasta. Using fire-roasted tomatoes is not necessary, but gives the stew a delicious smoky flavor.

Directions
Makes 6 servings
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1 onion, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, pressed or minced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 cup dry (uncooked) red lentils (3 cups cooked)
1 bay leaf2 cups waterjuice of 1 lemon
2 24-ounce cans chopped tomatoes (preferably fire-roasted), undrained, or 6 cups freshly chopped tomatoes plus 1 cup tomato juice
1 1/2 cups quartered artichoke hearts (1 9-ounce frozen package or 1 15-ounce can)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

Heat broth in a large saucepan. Add onion and sauté on medium heat for about 5 minutes, until golden. Add garlic, cumin, and coriander and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add dried lentils, bay leaf, and water to pan and bring to a boil. Lower heat and add lemon juice, tomatoes and their liquid, artichokes, and crushed red pepper (if using). Simmer for about 20 minutes, until the lentils are tender. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Add salt and black pepper, or to taste.

Nutrition Information
Per serving (1/6 of recipe): 176 calories; 1 g fat (0.1 g saturated fat); 4.9% calories from fat; 0 mg cholesterol
11.7 g protein; 34.3 g carbohydrate; 7.5 g sugar; 10 g fiber; 560 mg sodium123 mg calcium; 6.3 mg iron; 28.6 mg vitamin C; 238 mcg beta-carotene1.8 mg vitamin E
This recipe is a preview from the upcoming NEW EDITION of The Survivor's Handbook: Eating Right for Cancer Survival.
View The Cancer Project Recipe of the Week Archive

Meatless Monday Recipe-Indonesian Tofu Stir-Fry

Indonesian Tofu Stir-Fry
Courtesy of The Orchard

For the Indonesian Sauce:
1 1/2 cups tamari
1/2 cup agave nectar
1 cup fresh lime juice
1 cup dry white wine
2 Tbsp. freshly grated ginger
2 Tbsp. freshly chopped garlic
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 cup smooth natural peanut butter
Water sufficient to give it a smooth, sauce-like consistency

•Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a blender. Add the water and blend until smooth.

To Assemble:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 block tofu, pressed and cubed
Vegetables of your choice

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Sauté the tofu and vegetables.

• Add enough of the Indonesian sauce to cover, plus a few extra Tbsp. Cook until reduced and thickened.

• Serve over rice or tossed with soba noodles.
Makes 4 to 6 servings

Found through www.VegCooking.com website

MIT's Artificial Photosynthesis using solar power to pull the hydrogen out of water

They've received funding from ARPA-E.  MIT professor Dan Nocera says his system allows water from a puddle to be used to be split using a trickle of electricity from a photovoltaic panel with the help of a catalyst.  The hydrogen obtained from the water would be stored and burned.   The hope is that the energy your house needs could be produced at your own home.

Sun Catalytix of Cambridge Massachusetts is in the early stages of developing the process for commercial use.

Read more about the process on their website and in these articles:
With Artificial Photosynthesis, A Bottle of Water Could Produce Enough Energy To Power A House (Popular Science) and Shift happens: Will artificial photosynthesis power the world? (Scientific American)

The Green Building Battles : As Eco-friendly Building Takes Off, the Fight Is on to Define What It Means to be Green (By Christine MacDonald)

Here's a link to an interesting story from E Magazine.com.  It mainly concerns the conflict between two competing lumber certification schemes.  One accuses the other of engaging in greenwashing.

The Green Building Battles : As Eco-friendly Building Takes Off, the Fight Is on to Define What It Means to be Green by Christine MacDonald

Christine MacDonald, is also the author of Green, Inc.: An Environmental Insider Reveals How a Good Cause Has Gone Bad .

Is raw meat right for your cats?

At a recent Green Drinks, I held forth on the raw meat mixture I make for my cats. Since not everyone was totally bored by my monologue I thought I'd add information on it to the blog.

When two of our older cats were diagnosed with kidney problems I did some research and found out about raw meat diets for cats. Many people believe that cat foods that which include vegetables and cooked meat are responsible for many cat diseases including kidney problems.

Cats are pure carnivores who don't know how to cook so the thinking is that their food should resemble the food they eat in the wild, which is basically whole raw mice and other small mammals. Since ground raw mice are not available in stores, and breeding, slaughtering and grinding mice is just gross, mixtures that use chicken instead have been developed.

I use Dr. Lisa Pierson's raw meat formula. But my cats wouldn't touch the small chunks of bone that the meat grinder produced or the ground chicken skin so I use boneless skinless thighs instead of leg quarters.

I grind up two 4 pound packages of boneless skinless thighs which produces enough chicken for 3 batches. I use a Maverick electric grinder. (The grinders sold by Northern Tool are also supposed to be very good.)

Along with the thighs I grind liver. I set aside two 2 1/2 pound batches of the ground chicken/liver mixture and freeze them for later use.

I add the required vitamins and nutrients to the last 2 1/2 pound batch. After mixing it well I put into some ice trays that I use for nothing else. Once they freeze I take the meet cubes out of the trays and store them in a ziploc bag.

My cats continue to eat dry food along with the raw meat, which is unusual among raw meat eating cats and may not be recommended. But since they won't eat the bones or skin I hope that the dry food provides some missing nutrients.

Two years after starting my two elderly calicos on the diet, one is doing well while the other passed away a couple of months ago.  Until her kidneys completely gave out the last week or two of her life she thrived.  She ran, jumped, climbed, played and explored. (She was also bulimic but that's another story.) Once one of the calicos passed away our other inside cat started eating the raw meat. She and her surviving auntie seem to really enjoy it.

It takes me about an hour to prepare each batch and to clean up. If you try the diet I recommend that you try to use the leg quarters. They are much cheaper than the thighs and the bones and skin provide essential nutrients.

Be sure to read up on the diet and decide whether you think it is safe and effective.

Meatless Monday Recipe-Gingery Quinoa Salad with Apples, Peas, and Coconut

Gingery Quinoa Salad with Apples, Peas, and Coconut
Serves 6; Vegan; Gluten Free
30 minutes or fewer

Vegetable juice gives this grain salad a gorgeous color, a hint of flavor, and a hefty boost of vitamin C and beta-carotene.

1/3 cup chopped almonds (1 1/2 oz.)
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
1 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups beet-carrot juice or carrot juice
1 cup frozen peas
1 medium apple, diced
1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1. Toast almonds in sauce pan over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes, or until fragrant and beginning to brown, stirring often. Cool.

2. Wipe out sauce pan; add oil and onion. Saute onion 2 to 3 minutes, or until translucent, stirring occasionally.

3. Stir in ginger, quinoa, and juice, and season with salt and pepper, if desired. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed.

4 Remove from heat, and scatter peas over cooked quinoa. Cover, and let stand 10 minutes, until peas are thawed.

5. Stir apple, coconut, and almonds into salad. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Per 1-cup serving: 295 cal.; 9 grams prot.; 11 grams total fat (3 grams sat. fat); 40 grams carbs.; 0 mg chol.; 98 mg sod.; 6 grams fiber; 7 grams sugar
Found: Vegetarian Times-March 2010

Do you want to use grey water for irrigation in San Antonio? Here is an interpretation of the code (with other useful links)

Gray Water is a fantastic way to provide some water for thirsty plants. The good news is that it is legal in San Antonio. Roderick Sanchez, Director of the City of San Antonio Planning and Development Services Department provided an interpretation of the city rules governing residential gray water dated April 20, 2009. I've included a link to a pdf of the interpretation, but for convenience have transcribed the document below:

Interpretation Number: CI2009-002 April 20, 2009

Title: Grey Water Provisions on Residential Applications.

Code/Edition: 2006 Uniform Plumbing Code as amended by COSA

Purpose: To clarify the acceptable provisions regarding the use of grey water on residential applications.

Question: Can I discharge the gray water from a residential washing machine directly onto the ground surface on the exterior of a residence?

Answer: Yes, Gray water may be discharged directly onto the ground surface on the exterior of a residence under the following conditions:

Limited to single family dwellings only.

Irrigated areas must be in a fenced-in area and in control of the occupant of that residence. The area must be limited use and access by residents, pets and foot traffic.

Cannot be used during times of rain.

Irrigation must not create a public health nuisance such as surface ponding.

The irrigated area must support plant growth such as grass, bushes, or be overlaid with a vegetative cover.

The discharge point of the hose shall be kept a minimum of 10 ft from the property lines.

The Director of the Health Department may suspend this practice if he determines that it creates a negative impact on the community health.

Roderick Sanchez, AICP, CBO,
Director and Building Official
Planning and Development Services Department

Joe Barfield provided the above document and link to us. He also included the following resources for anyone considering a gray water system:

Wireless parking finding, paying and behavior system imagined in San Francisco

Stephen found this video on Babelgum. "This is a forward-thinking idea to solve the problem of searching for a parking place as well as putting more money in a meter without having to run back to your car." was his comment.

Here is a version of the video on YouTube: