Community Awareness – Page 9 – Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination

The Supreme Court just burned us on climate change

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Laura

Tuesday, Republican Supreme Court Justices used their majority to derail what stands to be the most meaningful climate action ever taken by the US.

While Supreme Court Justices are supposedly non-partisan actors, the US Supreme Court is clearly divided along party lines, with five Republicans and four Democrats.

While the Democrats voted to allow the rules to take effect, the majority Republican group opposed that vote, and issued orders:
“the Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units,’ is stayed pending disposition of the applicants’ petitions for review in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and disposition of the applicants’ petition for a writ of certiorari, if such writ is sought.”
Because of the Supreme Court’s schedule and the complex nature of this case, Tuesday evening’s order could delay the rules until after President Obama leaves office. In fact the rules may never go into effect because they are now dependent on the outcome of this year’s presidential election.

Citizen Power Demonstrated in Lansing

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Laura

January 14th, hundreds of Flint Citizens marched on the capitol, occupying the rotunda and gallery within the capitol building. They called for Governor Snyder’s resignation and/or arrest in connection with the Flint Water Crisis.

In 2014, the City of Flint, under “Emergency Management” through Snyder’s own law and appointments, switched to using the Flint River as a drinking water supply. A dark saga unfolded from e. coli, to Trihalomethanes, to lead poisoning, and now legionnaires disease.

While deafening calls for his resignation and arrest filled the capitol building, Snyder phoned the White House asking President Obama to declare a federal state of emergency and provide federal assistance to the People of Flint.

If this is what a few hundred Citizens can accomplish in an afternoon, imagine what a few hundred thousand of us could accomplish in a summer.

More video

Sustainable Garden and Kitchen – Mulch Tips from Shady Grove Farm

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Laura

by Randy Buchler

At Shady Grove Farm we rebuilt our old strawberry patch and planted new plants. I researched environmentally friendly ground cover for weed suppression, but didn’t find anything that met my picky requirements. So, I brainstormed…finally figuring out that if we cut the unopened end of our 3 ply empty chicken feed bags and then slice up the sides, it would create a large piece of ground cover that we could cover the mounds with and then plant the berry plants in holes that we cut in the paper.

The second project involved using pallets (cut in half-ish) to “fence in” our newer strawberry patch so I could stretch the bird netting from the greenhouse ribbon board to cover them. You will also notice the use of bale twine.

Cutting the 3 ply bags open makes it possible to rid them of the strings and unfold them to double the space they cover. Working out really well so far.

The failure of commercial availability of environmentally friendly materials sometimes leads us to a better alternative, and this is a perfect example of that. Not just environmentally friendly and toxic free, but includes the upcycling of a material that is on the farm as a byproduct of feeding organic feed.

The absence of environmentally sound farming products, like a good toxic/chemical free ground cover/weed suppressant, also promotes and encourages creativity through brain storming a wide array of ideas!

Shady Grove Farm U.P. is a small, diversified family farm located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The farm is Certified Naturally Grown, utilizes permaculture practices, adheres to strict and environmentally sound farming practices/standards, and became environmentally verified through the Michigan Department of Ag and Rural Development’s MAEAP (Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program) in 2012. One of the things Shady Grove Farm strives to do is to maintain a “zero tolerance” to toxins or contaminants that may compromise the quality of food and farm products, as well as the soil and environment. Because of these high standards, often times it is hard to find commercial products that fit into our vision. This, in turn, forces us to get creative. But, that is what helps us to keep the integrity in farming!