Bright and early this week were the social networks and foodie bloggers abuzz with a story on The Atlantic. Josh Viertel, president of Slow Food USA, wrote a guest post for the magazine regarding the difference between the farmers and those who have to eat. It seems there might be a disconnect between what we should eat and what is accessible. Seems like a palatable enough argument.

Viertel in the opening paragraphs described a Catch-22 where he would sell his home grown food to high-income neighborhoods and sell out. He would offer a discounted 2-for-1 when a person approached paying by food stamps. Either way, Viertel’s family made $12,000 per year, putting them in that same household income range as many low-income families.

Viertel wondered how to keep from only being able to sell to the rich, but also not go bankrupt himself. How could the food go where it needed to be?

Fairness for the eater seemed to mean injustice for the farmer. How could we simply choose to fight for one, with the knowledge that it undercut the other?

And that’s a very interesting question, one not out of line with the issues socially-conscious eaters face. Later, Viertel went on to become Slow Food’s president, and was inspired by a commitment to share meals, but also spread social change so that our food system overall could reflect this community-based eating style.

Later, as the organization evolved, some infighting took place, with members wondering:

Should we be a movement that meets the interests of those who are naturally drawn to us and who can afford to take part, or should we be a movement that meets the needs of those who are most dependent on our being successful — and who are most vulnerable if we fail?

Viertel believes Slow Food can do both. He said, “That to love and support the farmer necessitates loving and supporting the person who should be able to be her customer.” They intend to focus on those who can currently afford to be in the club, but also reach out to those who can’t. If not, they would be no different than the existing elite power-structures in place. The closing sentence says it all: “good protest can start with a pot of good pasta.” Hopefully that pasta doesn’t cost too much.

What do you think about Slow Food’s clashing of ideals?

Slow Food is an organization working to create a world in which people can eat food that is good for them, good for the people who produce it, and good for the planet. In the U.S., Slow Food USA has more than 60,000 members represented in every state. Follow Josh on Twitter at @JoshViertel.

Photo by Flickr User Sara Spildener

You do not have to be a crafter to repurpose your left over toilet paper rolls and prevent waste.

Here are a few ideas we collected:

1. Donate them to your local animal shelter. Small animals love playing in toilet paper rolls and chewing them up to make bedding.

2. Keep spare electrical cords tangle-free by fanfolding the cord and putting it through a toilet paper roll. You can even decorate the roll with colorful paper.

3. Store string around the outside of a roll to prevent tangles. You can create notches at each end to attach the string ends to.

Photo by Flickr User Girlingearstudio

4. Give to kids along with some markers or paint and see what crafts they come up with!

5. Roll your linens up in longer paper towel rolls to avoid creases caused by storage.

6. Use the rolls as seedling planters. Rather than purchase several small starter pots, use one tray, insert in several rolls cut in half horizontally and place soil and the plants in each roll.

7. Poke holes in the rolls and use them as toy building blocks. Kids can poke the ends of pencils into the rolls to build objects.

8. Create wall art! Take a look at these amazing designs by blogger Tali Schiffer Oren for inspiration. Here is one of Tara’s creations:

Tali-schiffer-oren.blogspot.com

9. Prevent your kids’ artwork from sitting in boxes and wrinkling by rolling the pieces up and fitting them into paper towel tubes.

Photo by Flickr User west.m

A short piece of news last week, one with a lasting effect on the web, was an attempted  social media campaign by McDonald’s, which has now been dubbed the #McFail. McDonald’s took advantage of the social network Twitter’s promoted tweet program, where companies can pay to have branded blurbs running amongst organic content.

Seems like an easy thing for marketers to adopt. However, McDonald’s program didn’t exactly go as planned. when their hashtag, #McDStories, were used against them. The fast-food conglomerate had intended to tell happy, wholesome stories about how their food is made, but Twitter users had other ideas in mind, posting comments about heart attacks and well, the benefits of McDonald’s while under the influence. For example, a tweet from @PETA encouraged McDonald’s to come back with:

That posting is absolutely FALSE McNuggets are NOT made from mechanically separated chicken. Only USDA inspected white meat.

Whoops. McDonald’s original tweet, “When u make something w/pride, people can taste it,” can still be seen at the top of the hashtag results page, however, that position is a benefit of being a “Top Tweet,” which may not be a title McDonald’s necessarily wants anymore. Top Tweets become so based on an algorithm created by Twitter based on extremely high engagement when people do a search for a term, in this case #McDStories, most likely to see the humorous non-sponsored Tweets circulating.

I guess next time, if you’re a company which is a “lightening rod in the first place,” it might be best to just make a commercial next time.

Image by Danilo Rizzuti

Upon first hearing the term “passive house,” one might think, “Aren’t all houses passive?” I mean, they do just kind of sit there. They don’t really make a scene or step on any toes. In reality, the homes we live in are often inflicting some kind of footprint onto the environment with high energy consumption. The U.S. Energy Information Administration states buildings are responsible for 48% of greenhouse gas emissions each year and that 76% of all electricity generated by power plants in the United States goes towards the building sector.

A passive house, on the other hand, seeks to conserve energy, while also functioning as a livable home. PassiveHouse.us says:

“A Passive House is a very well-insulated, virtually air-tight building that is primarily heated by passive solar gain and by internal gains from people, electrical equipment, etc. Energy losses are minimized. Any remaining heat demand is provided by an extremely small source. Avoidance of heat gain through shading and window orientation also helps to limit any cooling load, which is similarly minimized. An energy recovery ventilator provides a constant, balanced fresh air supply. The result is an impressive system that not only saves up to 90% of space heating costs, but also provides a uniquely terrific indoor air quality.”

Or, in other words, it’s a building which follows the German Passivhaus standard for energy efficiency, one which focuses on reducing its ecological footprint resulting in ultra-low energy for heating and cooling. The U.S. is taking interest in this standard, however slowly. As of 2010, there were under 20 houses in the U.S., but across the global map there are around 25,000.

Inhabitat reposted an article on their Facebook and Twitter pages of an amazing Williamsburg, NY passive house above a creative shop. The space had been transformed from a standard Brooklyn apartment to a modern, energy efficient home, and the effects are quite stunning. A family in Utah also completed the project last year, to suit their family’s needs. The family bungalow is now an open, welcoming area, perfect for entertaining. See more at OurPassiveHouse.org.

For more information on the passive house movement, visit the Passive House Institute website as well as Passipedia – there is a wiki for everything. And now, more photos!

Researchers at the Woods Hole Research Center, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Geological Survey created the map pictured above, an inventory of the United States’ concentrations of biomass. The darkest greens on the map show areas with the densest and most robust forest growth.

According to the NASA Earth Observatory, the map provides perhaps the most detailed “view of forest structure and carbon storage ever assembled for any country.”

The purpose of the map is to take an accurate, current inventory of the nation’s forests in order to know how best to manage and preserve forests.

Trees fill our air with oxygen. They provide shade on sunny days, prevent erosion and slow a harsh wind. They provide us with raw materials, food, medicines and more. What actions have you made in your daily life to protect our forests?

Many people now consider logging into Facebook as a normal routine, checking in at least once every day. But the last couple of years have shown a growth in social networks tailored to niche communities, like eco-friendly issues. Below are a few networks to take a look at if you’re interested in keeping up with the latest green causes.

The Care2 Network has over 17,000,000 worldwide members, so newcomers are bound to find a group or conversation thread to join matching their interests. The homepage features Care2′s latest petitions and actions, ranging from anti-fur campaigns to child trafficking. There are also daily eco-deals and frequently updated blog posts to keep informed. Members can earn credits for taking part in certain actions and connecting with other users. Definitely a prime information hub for all social causes, with an emphasis on saving the planet.

Carbon Rally is a great site for those hoping to decrease their footprint this year. Rallies are daily as well as are ongoing challenges that one can take part in either as an individual or a group. There are workshops to create your own challenges or sign up for existing ones. Keep track of your progress in-line with other users by using the Rally Map. The goal is to provide a fun and rewarding experience to impact energy consumption.

Change.org may be best known for its poignant and moving petition stream, where users can create a petition based on an issue they care about and use Change.org’s resources to spread the word to the masses. You can also browse hundreds of online petitions by subject area, from sustainability to women’s rights and help causes you care about gain more traction. Keep track of global progress by viewing Change.org’s map of signed petitions. To mobilize local support in your community, set up a meeting via Change.org’s platform as well.

Wiser Earth is an eco-focused network for sustainable organizations and individuals to find each other and share resources. Users can take advantage of a massive Job Board, solution sharing and view what those in your network are up to. By using mind-maps streaming from a list of ten interest areas, users can search and click on related interests and find information in that area. For example, by selecting interest in Urban Communication, I was led to many more subcategories including Green Cities. From there I was led to names of those in the Sustainable Communities program at the University of California, related jobs and events, as well as articles. Very neat!

Greenopolis is a Web 2.0 site helping ordinary folks recycle more easily, track conservation and reward those working towards a cleaner planet. By using a combination of their web network and kiosks, Greenopolis maximizes real-time services and updates, using blogs, video/photo uploads, podcasts, social networks, and infographics. Greenopolis uses branded imagery to help users track their recycling actions and receive rewards. You can find a kiosk at many Whole Foods Markets. Social recycling is in in 2012.

For those of us with pets, we likely understand the range of emotions and intelligence of our animal companions. They can become our best friends, our protectors, our comedic relief and sometimes our confidants.

While the most extraordinary companion animal will always be the one who wakes you up every morning with wet noses kisses and curls up next to you at night, these animals are also pretty amazing. Lets look at their stories.

The first is Dodger, the cat who loves public transportation. Care2.com recently posted about Dodger’s story. The 15-year-old cat reportedly has made a habit of waiting at a certain bus stop for the bus, hopping on and taking a ride before returning to his original bus stop, sometimes taking 10 mile trips. The UK bus company enjoys Dodger’s presence and states, “Given this cat is elderly we suspect it would be eligible for free travel, perhaps a bus puss, if such a thing existed.” Dodger prefers sitting in riders’ laps or on recently vacated seats because they are still warm.

This next animal is interesting in the way he understands right versus wrong and the expression of guilt. The video explains it all.

Dolphins are a species known for making heroic actions. They have protected swimmers from sharks and brought humans safely to shore in other cases. Last year, a group of dolphins in a canal on Marco Island, Florida saw that a doberman dog had fallen over the cement ledge into the water. The dog could not get out and was believed to have spent 15 hours in the canal before being rescued. The dog rescue occurred because the dolphins swam near the doberman and made a lot of noise, drawing attention to the dog who may otherwise not have been found.

This last story is that of a peculiar cat burglar. Take a look…

Photo Credit: jscreationzs

It’s that time of year again! A time when we sing about times gone by, cheers to the memories and look forward to a fresh, clean start. We set goals and create plans to achieve them. Yet, despite the best intentions, it’s estimated that 80 percent of New Years resolutions fail.

To help you achieve your New Years resolutions, lets look at one of the best guides to help you set goals, the SMART Goal Setting Model.

This model states that goals should be:

• S = Specific
• M = Measurable
• A = Attainable
• R = Realistic
• T = Timely

Specific is the What, Why, and How of the SMART model. What is your exact goal? Avoid vague statements like “To lose weight.” Rather, choose a specific goal such as “To lose 2 pounds a month.” The “Why” is also important. Why do you want to achieve this? What is motivating you? Lastly, how will you achieve this goal? Set a plan you know you can stick with and will get you to your goal. Consult with others who can help you plan your journey.

Make your goals measurable. If you can’t measure your progress, you won’t know if you are getting close to your goal or have reached it. Rather than saying your goal is “To eat healthier,” state it in a measurable way such as “To consume 4 servings of vegetables a day and drink seven 8-ounce glasses of water a day.”

If your goal is not attainable, you likely will not commit to doing it. Keeping your goals attainable will also help motivate you because you will see successes.

Along the lines of an attainability, the goal must also be realistic. Evaluate where you are right now and be honest with yourself. Look at what you think you are capable of doing. Sometimes this may mean you need to evaluate your time constraints or challenges you will have in the coming months. This does not mean you should make your goals too easy, but the key is to make them do-able.

The last guideline is to make the goal timely. Put a clear timeline on your goals and your progress. If you don’t set a timeline, your goal will be too vague. An example of a precise timeline would be “To begin guitar lessons in the next two weeks and take a lesson a week for 6 months.” Or rather, to train for a marathon on May 6th.

With SMART goals, we hope 2012 will be the best year yet for you!

We’d love to hear from you! Have you reached your 2011 goals? What are your SMART goals for 2012?

Photo by Flickr User ronpaulrevolt2008

It doesn’t take long for people to adopt a trend once their favorite celebrity joins in. Recently, an influx of pretty heavy hitters in the acting and music industries have jumped on the train of animal welfare. Folks like Alicia Silverstone and Ellen Degeneres have paved the way of course, but now it seems not a week goes by without a new report of an animal-friendly celebrity making news.

New to the vegetarian circles are hip hop royalty pair Jay-Z and Beyonce. The publicly pregnant Beyonce has decided to embark on a partially-vegan diet, and hubby Jay-Z has similarly begun a sympathy vegan diet for support. Dubbed a “hands-on Dad,” Jay is gaining energy with this new diet in order to keep up with his superstar wife, quickly shutting down the claims that pregnant women will be malnourished if forgoing meat and dairy.

Also in the blogosphere is everyone’s dream actor (and good samaritan) Ryan Gosling. Gosling, along with other celebrities like Zooey and Emily Deschanel, championed a campaign against fast-food giant McDonald’s and their use of factory farms, telling the chain ”I’m Hatin’ It.” The co-written letter states as follows:

“On behalf of compassionate people everywhere, we implore you to help end the needless suffering of these animals by adopting strict and meaningful animal welfare policies worldwide, including the commitment to prohibit the purchase of eggs produced by hens who spend their miserable lives crammed into tiny wire cages.”

And:

“While McDonald’s has already established a 100% cage-free purchasing policy in Europe, your U.S. restaurants continue to support egg factory farms that confine hens for most of their lives in cages so small they can’t even spread their wings. These poor birds never get to walk, run, perch, roost, dustbathe, build nests, see the sun, breathe fresh air, or do nearly anything that comes naturally to them. Common sense tells us that animals with legs and wings should be given the basic freedom to move.

Sadly, there is not a single federal law to protect hens from cruelty from the time they hatch to the time they are killed. While McDonald’s brags about the “billions and billions served,” millions of hens exploited for your restaurants are being grossly underserved. In fact, these animals are being abused in ways that could land your egg suppliers in jail, if dogs or cats were the victims.”

Oh, and:

“It’s a good time for some great changes at McDonald’s. As the largest egg buyer in the entire country, McDonald’s has the power — and the moral responsibility — to ensure that the eggs in its Egg McMuffins don’t come from rotten egg suppliers.”

Thanks celebrities, for using your platforms to do some good in the world, and for taking notice of animal causes.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas, and may your holiday season be filled with family, love and joy.