Category: Food

Global Food Security

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One of the sustainability issues that’s rarely reported in the mainstream media is food insecurity. Migrants are risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean.  And thousands fleeing Venezuela are not just escaping cruel dictators;  they’re starving!  Here’s some new research about the problem … along with suggestions of what you can do on an individual basis to address the issue.  Most of the readers of these blogs can’t believe it can actually happen where you live.  And that leaves us vulnerable. … Keep reading

Saving Bees with Mushrooms

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Here’s an unusual article about something we might dismiss as non-essential to “Sustainable Living.” However, over a third of our food supply is dependent on bees.  Comments afterwards about what we might do, individually.

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The mushroom dream of a ‘long-haired hippie’ could help save the world’s bees

 

Evan Bush

The Seattle Times

Oct. 6, 2018

 

SEATTLE—The epiphany that mushrooms could help save the world’s ailing bee colonies struck Paul Stamets while he was in bed.… Keep reading

Thriving Urban Farms

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One aspect of sustainable living we rarely see in the news is food production … especially in relation to more healthful foods.  As the federal government seems primarily influenced by major corporate donors, and as the agribusiness corporations prefer to remain as they have been operating, in terms of products and profitability, change most likely must come from local endeavors.  If food shortages do occur, and as it takes time for new crops to grow, it’ll be too late to remedy the situation then.… Keep reading

Sustainability’s Biggest Issue

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Reading about all the different issues related to our ability to sustain life on Earth as we know it can become bewildering. One day we read about lead poisoning in our water systems and the next about failing power systems. It’s fair to ask, at some point, “What do I do about all this?”

In developing a Net Zero sustainable community, I’m finding that providing solar power involves little more than adding sufficient photovoltaic panels to our roofs – including power for cars.… Keep reading

Crop Loss

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Here’s a research report about the impact that global warming is having on crops. It’s brief, and also a solid piece of research.  Comments afterwards.

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Warming, crops,

and insect pests

Crop responses to climate warming suggest that yields will decrease as growing-season temperatures increase. Deutsch et al. show that this effect may be exacerbated by insect pests (see the Perspective by Riegler).

Insects already consume 5 to 20% of major grain crops.… Keep reading