Had the parents over for dinner tonight, and we cooked local.  Lu went to the farmer's market this morning and then to the shop around the corner this evening to get everything we needed.  So it was interesting to read this article in the NYTimes just now talking about doing exactly that, but in Wine Country.

The best part of all of this is that Lu and I are going to San Francisco in just a few days and we will have a chance to visit some of the great places mentioned in that article.  However, one thing the article didn't mention was how important it is to finish the meal with a cup of fresh roasted coffee.

Today was a big day at the Gallagosen household. It was our first foray into the world of gardening and things are looking good. Got some help from a local guy named Jason that knows a ton about gardens, and had the tools to help get us started.

For about 45 minutes this morning he and Lu stood in the sunny back yard discussing the possibilities and evaluating the yard. We have tall trees that create shade during parts o the day, so certain plants have to be planted in very specific locations, while others won't work at all. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be quite enough direct light to grow tomatoes but we're going to aim for the last bright spot out there and hope for the best.

Lettuce, cale, spinach and other greens should do well, though. Herbs, chili peppers, beans, carrots, cukes and scallions are also on the menu and Jason even suggested that we give garlic a try and I am all for it. I love the idea of growing our own garlic.

He said the soil looked good but we opted to have him add in a bit of composted manure and he suggested that some lime was probably a good idea, too. There are soil samples out for testing, but time is wasting and we need to get this going.

The blog here on Responsible Food has focused on some really fascinating issues surrounding our food consumption habits and how they impact the environment. While making these decisions on an individual basis is one of the best ways to make an impact one person at a time, for the big impacts to occur, it's going to require systemic changes in thinking and approach.

All of this came to mind while watching the recent primaries unfold accross the country. While global warming is brought up as an issue, it's definitely secondary to any other number of issues.

I was thinking yesterday that I'd love for a candidate to come forward with a real commitment to the environment and the health of our earth and food chain.

I imagine the creation of a cabinet level position for environmental affairs, and the creation of a department that acted as a watchdog group and advisor to making our government and all its functions as green as possible. Sure, we have the EPA, but it seems like they are more concerned with cleaning up past messes then looking forward towards a sustainable future.

This organization could do things like change all governmental facilities over to using LED light bulbs that use less energy, and would not only be green but also economically sound by saving the government millions of dollars in electricity bills. 

I would love to see a candidate take that kind of bold, forward thinking stance that shows more than lip service to environmental issues. The US government is in a unique position to make a huge impact on the entire earth, given our consumption habits and patterns, and take a real leadership role.

Hey, a man can dream, can't he? 

Did you know that it is possible to recycle steam?  According to this article in Atlantic Monthly:

A 2005 report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that
U.S. industry could profitably recycle enough waste energy—including
steam, furnace gases, heat, and pressure—to reduce the country’s
fossil-fuel use (and greenhouse-gas emissions) by nearly a fifth. A
2007 study by the Mc­Kinsey Global Institute sounded largely the same
note; it concluded that domestic industry could use 19 percent less
energy than it does today—and make more money as a result.

There are a lot of other things out there that can be recycled, and some of them I never expected.  There's a place to send scratched DVDs, toothbruhes and even eyeglasses.

And really there's nothing better than a recylced bicycle.  I need to get one of them myself very soon as spring is here and it's time to roll around!