Nine of the 11 members of Indiana’s congressional delegation have sent a letter to President Obama asking him to kill a proposed regulation on coal-fired power plants.......“And "we the people” continue to pay every day the hidden costs in poor health, weather extreme disasters, food shortages, displaced populations, species loss. and so much more due to the activities of big coal, oil, gas, that just increases the bottom line of the greediest among humanity. They in turn use that blood…

Heat, Drought and Water Conservation - The May Green Hour

The May Green Hour - Tuesday, May 21st - 6pm at Black Acre Brewing Co. - 5632 E Washington, Indianapolis 46219 



Remember last summer when severe heat and drought led the City of Indianapolis and many neighboring cities and towns to impose water restrictions? These actions amounted to a culture shock for many of our friends and neighbors. Unfortunately though, in some parts of the…

Fooling with 'feel good measures,' mitigations reported recently regarding ecological destruction along I69 extension, and everywhere else.

If people are 'genuinely enthused about conservation and taking care of the planet,' stay home, plant a garden, plant a tree, ride a bike, take a walk, on 'Earth' day, rather than attending a long distance,  Earth day 'event', especially one sponsored by some of the largest polluters on Earth.

Your muscle ache from shovelling the snow, and we have been germinating for weeks in our kitchen window gardens, sheds and cold frames.  In honor of Heather Tallmans bold decision to have a second act to this play called life, I salute those busy women who still find time to put coconut honey rice pudding in their crockpots and sing, write, and paint their well being into a meaningful life purpose.

Keepers of the hearth plan a garden to replenish your pantry and…

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The number of Monarch butterflies making it to their winter refuge in Mexico dropped 59 percent this year, falling to the lowest level since comparable record-keeping began 20 years ago, scientists reported Wednesday.

"All three countries, United States, Canada, Mexico, need to face up to the fact that it is our collective activities that are killing the migratory phenomenon of the Monarch butterfly"

Grow MILKWEEDs, several different kinds(to lay eggs, is…

What you can expect when… Taking Your PDC in Stelle

Learn to Make A Thermal Mass Rocket Stove

All Day Workshop   –   Sunday, April 14th   –   at Midwest Permaculture, Stelle, IL

Price – $95 – Includes Workshop and Lunch.                                            …

We are having a Leave No Trace Trainer Course on April 5-7 come and learn how to camp and travel low impact style. Trainer Course open to youth and adults 14 and older.

Boy Scouts can become Leave No Trace Troop Trainer for their unit after completing the course. Here is kink for the course.

http://lnt.org/events/trainer-course-1

Trainer Course is open to all user group. Come and enjoy in the fun.…

A Cooperative Program Between Midwest Permaculture and Center for Sustainable Community

Just Posted – Apply Now – Accepting Qualified…

I happened to be in Austin Texas and had the opportunity to rent an electric hybrid bike for 15 days.  I used it for everything and put nearly 300 miles on the bike.  My conclusion was that it is an amazing thing with big implications for Indiana. 

 …

National Index shows where to find clean jobs and compares state sustainability initiatives



After nearly a year of research, Ecotech Institute today revealed the first-ever “Clean Jobs Index,” which aggregates all the available clean jobs in the U.S. The Index found that there were more than three million clean jobs available across the United States (3,014,785) in 2012. The Index breaks down clean…

The cardboard boxes are an expense … upcycle your move with an acquisition strategy that reuses the excess of the food industry.  Boxes are plentiful when you are a wholesaler buying by the case.  I suggest choosing rectangle boxes like corn chip boxes and egg boxes with handles.  Look for boxes already inked with fragile and recycle them into your plan.  Boxes that are unmarked are likely to end up in your urban garden or permaculture patch as we squash the grass and prepare for the season…

Closed windows, gas or electric heat, these are the times of poor air quality.  Using lemon peels with natural sea salt to take absorb the toxins in my winter home.  Trying to add more houseplants and live Rosemary to the mix to "breathe" the extra carbon emissions.  What do you do to clean the air quality of your home?

The Center for Sustainable Community Permaculture Observation Journal Entry #1, January 7th, 2013: Hayden and Ernest “Practicing Biodynamics: Pruning in January”

Today Hayden and I (Ernest) practiced pruning in the orchard. According to the …

Last night I watched the movie "The American President" starring Michael Douglas, Annette Bening, Martin Sheen and Michael J. Fox. The casting, the writing, and the chemistry are all near perfect but what stood out this time (my third time seeing it) was how the issues struggled with seemed so contemporary for a movie made in 1995: Global Warming, Gun Control, Libya, Political Posturing, and Leadership.

Finally, the :President (Michael Douglas) gets it.  He was elected to lead…

Assumptions rule our actions and relationships.

If we assume that Human Nature is driven by self-interest, Mother Nature is an endless storehouse of treasures and a dumping ground for our waste, and that success is measured by GNP (Gross National Product) we get one set of actions.

If we assume that Human Nature is prone to cooperation in cohesive community,  Mother Nature is a benevolent lover, and that success is measured by GNH (Gross National Happiness) we get another set…

Here are photos of some of the first fall harvest vegetables that we preserved in the Center for Sustainable Community Canning Kitchen. We started off the season with storing strawberry corn kernels,canning tomatoes, beets, applesauce, BBQ sauce, sweet & sour sauce, chutney, and lots of peach jam. It was the first time that Megan and I had ever canned this much food from a garden. Enjoy the photos and if your ever in the neighborhood…

Yes, gun regulations and better mental health services may help.  Even so, I think the issue goes deeper.  We have a culture that nurtures violence through win-lose competition and exploitation.  Many are thereby pushed to the margins, isolated, and ignored; a perfect recipe for resentment and discontent.  I fear we will rush in to treat the symptoms and overlook the root causes of violence.