If your eco-foodie soul’s ever been wounded by a misguided diet-coke-swilling vegan who tried to shame you for eating a cage-free egg, you are not alone — but rest assured that many vegans and vegetarians are friendlier — and wiser. Not too long ago, I wrote about whether or not plastic-wrapped vegan meat can claim any eco-creds — which led to some very thoughtful comments from vegans and non-vegans alike. And this month, a lifelong vegetarian called Kiera Butler visits the same issue at Mother Jones — by eating a grass-fed burger.

This article’s a must-read for anyone who’s been confused about all the conflicting scientific-sounding reports — let alone dogmatic one-sided rants — about eating green. Kiera pulls data from — and provides links to — a large number of studies comparing eco-omnivore diets to vegan ones. Long story short: Everyone agrees factory-farmed meats are horrible, but when you compare local, organic, sustainably-produced meat and animal products to processed plant proteins, one isn’t necessarily greener than another.

What Keira’s article really pointed out to me is how raising sustainable livestock and organic crop farming go hand in hand — since rotating those two functions on a piece of land yields lots of benefits — like reducing greenhouse gases and cutting down on soil erosion. Instead of letting that symbiotic relationship occur, however, land’s often been divvied up for a single, not-as-green, purpose. (more…)

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Do you dream of sustainable urban landscapes when you sleep? Then I hope you don’t live in Orange County, which is just waking up to the fact that maybe mandating gas-guzzling lawns isn’t the best idea when we’ve got water shortages. Other SoCal cities are more water-wise, however, and want your help to get wiser yet. So enter the City of Santa Monica Landscape Design Contest and turn your dream into reality!

The city wants to install 3 new demonstration gardens at 3200 Airport Ave., across from Airport Park — and is crowdsourcing the design. According to the city press release:

These landscape designs must be simple to recreate, yet sustainable water-efficient garden design templates. Participating designers are encouraged to base their layouts on local neighborhood communities in Santa Monica, i.e., Ocean Park, Sunset, North of Montana, and incorporate outdoor living room features, elements from Mediterranean and shade gardens, climate appropriate plants, as well as permeable paving options. Recommendations for scaling up or down the garden design template to match appropriate neighborhood lot sizes should also be included.

Get your design in by Mon., March 15 for a chance to see your dream grow — literally.

Don’t feel confident enough to tackle a landscape design challenge? Maybe you will, after a couple free gardening classes — both happening next week before the contest deadline:

>> Take a FREE Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Garden Class and learn about sustainable landscaping practices that will curb urban runoff and ocean pollution. The class — featuring light snacks — happens Wed., March 10 from 6 pm – 9 pm at Hostelling International Santa Monica, 1436 Second St., Santa Monica. RSVP required; contact oceanfriendlygardens@surfriderwlam.org or 310.694.8351 with first and last name, phone number and email address.

>> Co-opportunity’s also having a Free Gardening Event featuring Darren Butler and Margaret Oakley that will teach you about techniques for sustainable and edible gardening. Be there on Thurs., March 11 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Santa Monica Main Public Library’s Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica.

Gardening goodness doesn’t end there. Put these yummy events into your calendar for the Spring:

>> Learn from a free seminar, Secrets of Growing Delicious Heirloom Tomatoes, in time for the tomato season. The free class happens Sun., March 21 from 9 am – 10 am at the Ocean View Farms Community Garden’s’ 6th Annual Tomato-bration in West L.A. on S. Centinela at Rose Ave.

>> Take the 100 Gardens Challenge and pledge to plant your own edible garden during the weekend of April 24 and 25! I took this challenge last year — and I’m proud to say that my year-old chard plants are still going strong (though the basil died really fast and the lettuce barely grew). Help transform L.A. into an edible oasis over just one weekend by planting that garden — or get involved now with the Westside Permaculture Group, the organization behind this challenge, and help organize the big event.

>> Then head over to the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase and take a self-guided tour on foot or by bike to see pretty, eco-friendly gardens that save water — and money on utility bills. The free event happens on Sun., April 25 and is open to all; a map will be posted closer to date.

Earlier:
>> Book Review: Fresh Food From Small Spaces – Balcony gardens, simplified
>> Urban lawn garden in Santa Monica

Photo by Anika Malone

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How I’m voting for the environment in the Nov. 4, 2008 election.

Want to fund the Subway to the Sea and other public transit projects in LA County? Then vote yes on Measure R, because that’s exactly what the measure will do if passed.

Basically, Measure R would raise the LA County tax by a half cent, then use that extra money to build subways and improve other public transportation, as well as fix up some freeways and roads.

You may wonder why anyone could be against Measure R, considering the horrendous traffic in LA today. After all, the Subway to the Sea, once built, would move people from downtown LA to Santa Monica beach in just 35 minutes — regardless of car traffic! Why would anyone oppose that?

Well, the opposition to Measure R comes from those who want that extra tax revenue earmarked for their pet projects. Those in Pomona would like a subway or light rail specifically servicing Pomona peeps. Those in the valley would like Metro lines expanded in the valley, etc.

Now, I’m not against a rail line servicing Pomona or other parts of the valley or wherever else people want rail lines. However, I’m tired of seeing public transportation initiatives getting beaten down because they don’t solve all problems everywhere.

When it comes to public transportation in LA County, we have a reverse NIMBY issue going on. Everyone agrees we need more public transit, but because funding’s so limited, everyone fights any initiative that doesn’t directly support their own ‘hood.

If we’re gonna improve public transport in LA at all, this “it doesn’t help me personally so I oppose it” thing has gotta stop. If anything, we should be working to support each others’ projects, not tearing each other down in an ill-guided attempt to promote our own pet projects.

Yes, we need rail lines connecting all suburbs to LA proper. But we’re not gonna get there without agreeing to build out individual rail lines, one by one. Right now, we’re trying to build out the subway line in the area with the most density — aka the subway to the sea. Once we build that, it’ll make it easier for every future line to connect to it — thereby ensuring easy access to both downtown and the Santa Monica beach, as well as everything in between: Koreatown, Beverly Hills, Miracle Mile, etc.

This fact was clearly illustrated in the last round of Metro’s Westside Extension meetings, which showed that the benefits of the subway line would be felt throughout the county:

Even the rather conservative LA Times has come out pro Measure R, arguing that “L.A. County residents have a chance to turn our Third World transit network into something more befitting a world-class metropolitan area, and they should take it by approving Measure R.”

The Yes on Measure R peeps have already started airing ads:

Metro too’s put together a less opinionated guide about the measure.

Feel passionate about public transit? Then show up on the corner of Wilshire & Gayley in Koreatown Westwood this Friday, October 17, 2008, from 4 – 6 pm to join UCLA’s Bruins for Traffic Relief with their pro-Measure R, anti-gridlock Rally.

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.

Today’s giveaway’s a DVD copy of Sustainable Table: What’s on your plate, a documentary about the food Americans eat. No, this film isn’t related to SustainableTable.org — the website promoting organic, sustainable food run by Grace I’ve written about before — though both Sustainable Tables share many of the same goals.

This 50-minute film begins by pointing out the many problems with conventional agriculture, covering both larger environmental and economic issues alongside personal health and safety concerns — especially those created by a meat-based diet. Then, the film focuses on solutions by taking a look at some organic farms, profiling a vegan body builder, and reiterating the message that consumers can vote with their forks.

While informative, Sustainable Table can get rather dry and didactic — even gloomy at times. However, the film also serves as a good overview of the major food-related problems — and the potential solutions to them — that confront us today.

Sustainable Table’s produced and directed by a local guy, Mischa Hedges, has screened at 18 film festivals internationally, and aired at a few cable networks. Mischa’s now focusing on a new project on public transit in LA.

Comment or email by Sunday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen Monday (more info on freebies here). US addresses only.

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A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag!

A lil pink piggy came in my gift bag from Sustainable Table — but it confused me. So, an e-convo:

Me: Re: the keychain…. What’s the sticky smushy stuff inside it? Am I supposed to try and get it out? I feel like I”m missing something –

Leslie: ahaahahaha. it’s “poop.” no, not supposed to get it out. i’ve always thought they were a really weird gimmick, but some people love them.

Sure enough, if you squish the piglet really, really hard, it looks like it’s pooping an extremely large goopy mass –

I don’t have the finger power to get the full enjoyment out of it, but perhaps you do.

To sweeten the deal, piggy comes with a Moofius bumper sticker and a “10 Ways to Ensure Healthy Food for you and your family” booklet.

Comment by Friday to get into the drawing, which happens Saturday. US addresses only.

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I had the yummiest piece of apple pie from Angeli Caffe today thanks to The Eat Well Guided Tour of America, which had a kickoff party at Kings Road Park in West Hollywood today.

Eat local, eat well was the theme for the day — as it is for the tour. Put together by Sustainable Table — perhaps best known for The Meatrix films — The Eat Well Guided Tour of America’s “taking the scenic (and delicious) route to this year’s Farm Aid Concert at Randall’s Island in New York City on September 9″ via a biodiesel bus.

That’s 38 days in over 25 cities where Sustainable Table people will stop at the most sustainable farms and restaurants to meet with farmers, chefs, cookbook writers, and general foodies. (right: Me with Leslie of Sustainable Table)

And it all started today in WeHo, with local farmers offering tiny lil carrots and potatoes to nibble on, Amelia Saltsman signing copies of her brand new book The Santa Monica Farmers’ Market Cookbook, and Food and Water Watch and Sustainable Table people — including Moopheus, Leo and Chickity of The Meatrix (okay — they were cutouts) — hanging out. The tasty vegetarian lunch catered by Angeli Cafe was the major highlight —

The tour’s next stop happenss tomorrow at Pie Ranch in Pescadero, Calif. And by Aug. 29, the bus’ll be in Chicago at Crust, that organic pizzeria I wined and dined at last week! Check out the schedule to see if your city’s on the list.

And the whole tour will be heavily blogged, vlogged and photoblogged by the happy foodies of Sustainable Table for you to salivate at — before you go over to Sustainable Table’s Eat Well Guide, plug in your zip, and find the yummy sustainable bakeries, restaurants, shops, and markets near you.

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How I’m voting for the environment on Nov. 7, 2006.

My vote on Prop 85: NO!

Prop 85 — which seeks to require parental permission for minors to get abortions — is pretty much exactly the same as Prop 73, which we Californians successfully defeated last year.

Why’s it up for vote again? Well, the fundies behind 85 just changed some controversial wording — Prop 73 woulda put into the state Constitution wording that implies life begins at conception. Prop 85 takes that out — but still poses the same threat to teens.

On the upside, sort of, I’ve already done all the research on this issue for my post about Prop 73 — which is here. So — The same info still stands, since it’s just a mere year later. [Update: Here's a moving editorial from the SF Chronicle outlining the major reasons you should vote no. (Thnx Larry)]

We have some good groups opposing this bill: Besides some of the obvious, like CA NOW and League of Women Voters, we have the California Nurses Association, PowerPAC, and Cal Labor. Pretty much all the MSM newspapers are against it.

So Erin asked in a comment about the enviro implications re: Prop 85. I hadn’t actually thought of these myself, so I was glad Erin offered some suggestions: “overpopulation and overuse of resources is an environmental – even if controversial – issue. Also, teens seeking abortions who are unwilling to tell their parents are likely to travel further – over state lines or to Tijuana – in order to get services.”

Also, you’ll be glad to know that the Sierra Club’s anti-85 too.

The No on 85 campaign page is here :)

Update, 10/6/06: If you’re free tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2006, then you might wanna go to the volunteer training and door to door voter contact in neighborhoods in the Eagle Rock, Silver Lake and South Pasadena Area between 9:30 am – 1:30 pm. Email Regina Clemente at regina.clemente@pp-la.org for more info :)

Update, 10/27/06: The No on 85 campaign’s launched a TV ad: Think outside your bubble.

Update, 11/4/06: Dirty tactics of an anti-choice group: Salon’s expose on how the scary people behind Prop 85 are using illegally-made recordings to try and pass this misguided parental notification proposition.

Update, 11/6/06: A moving op-ed by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA): “This initiative does nothing to help the over 70% of teens who already involve their parents in these decisions, but it puts at risk the vulnerable teens who should be our highest priority.”

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[image from Salon]

So Starbucks’ frappuccinos are getting seriously dissed. Salon put up a new article talkin’ bout how misguided, weight-conscious teenagers’re consuming frapps as meals in an attempt to get svelte.

I’m no fan of marketing fat-heavy products to kids. That said, I also feel if we’re talkin’ ’bout fatty, crappy food, we have bigger burgers to fry — McDonald’s, Dairy Queen, etc.

But maybe that’s cuz I’m somewhat lactose intolerant and never buy frappuccinos (though I’d like to also point out that many indie coffee shops have — reluctantly or willingly — followed Starbucks’ milk-n-ice blended example).

Meaning: I have no probs critiquing Starbucks’ coffee sourcing practices, cuz, you know, Starbucks defines itself as a coffee company. But about the milk an sugar and fat stuff, I sorta think — why not go after other companies shamelessly running kid-oriented TV ads?

But maybe my view’s too narrowly defined by caffeine? Lemme know what you think ’bout the Salon article –

And if yr stuck at a Starbucks, take the challenge –

Update, 9/17/06: Would you drink a Quarter Pounder with Cheese? If you order a venti (20-oz.) Starbucks Caffè Mocha, you might as well be sipping that 500-calorie burger through a straw.” That’s what the Center for Science in the Public Interest says –

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