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a greener u
By:by jennifer mccharen
From: the jacksonville carbon neutral initiative
Date: April 23, 2008
“People think I’m slightly crazy when I tell them to go home and garden, but a little thought and reading will convince them that this is, in fact, the solution to many world problems.” -Bill Mollison
The food that makes up the average American dinner travels 1500 miles from farm to plate, requiring ten calories of fossil fuel energy for each single food calorie.
Apart from being jealous that your food gets to travel more than you, think about the other effects of that energy imbalance. Basically, we’re leaning too heavily on a weak leg—a problematic and nonrenewable resource. Our excessive use of cheap fossil energy causes air pollution, global warming and war. Our over-reliance on cars (fueled by that cheap energy) has led to the design of cities like ours, sprawling and hostile to pedestrians and cyclists.
What’s more, the food calories we get from the gas-powered food industry are actually making us less healthy. Researchers have found a clear relationship between rates of diabetes and increased consumption of refined sugars such as high-fructose corn syrup. As we eat fewer fresh vegetables and more empty calories from processed foods we not only get fatter, we get sicker, right along with our planet and our society.
The good news is that a greener life may be as easy as choosing a greener diet, literally. For example, if you made the choice to eat mostly vegetarian, organic and local foods, you’d be helping the planet far more than if you invested in a brand new hybrid car. But speaking of green, how do you deal with the fact that organic food costs so much? Organic produce can cost between ten and thirty percent more than conventional, while organic processed foods can cost up to 100% more. Our answer, and the reason this article belongs in an entertainment paper: Grow it yourself! Or better yet, come grow it with us!
Growing your own food. It’s a terribly simple concept that we’ve left behind in favor of convenience, at the cost of our health, the environment, and our sense of place. It’s a lot of fun, too. Thankfully we live in a climate with an extremely long growing season, and a city with a rapidly growing community of rabid localvores. Here’s a few ways to get started:
The Springfield Community Garden
(904-657-1177 or http://www.jaxgreen.org): This is JCNI’s pet project at the moment. Just north of The Pearl nightclub at 1101 N. Main Street we’re building a raised-bed garden out of salvaged and donated materials. We work together on weekends starting at noon. Sundays at 2 pm we have a potluck lunch together. Come visit or get in touch if you want to rent a plot (sweat equity accepted).
The Beaches Green Market:
For the best in local produce, eggs (they sell out fast!), small-batch roasted fair-trade coffee, and some of the friendliest folks on Earth, stop by Twisted Sisters (1266 Beach Blvd.) on Saturdays from 2-5 pm.
The House on Cherry Street
(384-1999), and the Jenks House B&Bs (387-2092): Both located in Riverside, these two B&Bs have beautiful gardens from which they serve their guests.
Duval County Extension Office Urban Gardens:
Contact Mary Puckett (387-8850 or mpuckett@coj.net) to find out about the Extension Office’s gardening programs. In addition to providing free advice to gardeners and inexpensive classes, they run a number of community gardens and can help you start one in your neighborhood! They’re currently assisting the Beaches Green Market folks (see above) with a new garden. Yes, it’s a small world.!