Still need plans for your Detroit weekend?? Head over Saturday night to the Spaulding Court Benefit Show!
Spaulding Court is a turn of the century limestone apartment building the Corktown area of Detroit. It fell victim to becoming a drug and gun running haven until it was shut down and boarded up by the city a few years ago. Earlier this year a group of Corktown residents purchased the building in hopes of restoring it to it’s original beauty, improving the neighborhood and creating sustainable living.
**Saturday 9/4/10 – 7 to 10pm
**2747 Spaulding Ct. Detroit, MI 48216
**$5 cover (all proceeds go directly to renovating Spaulding Court and the Corktown community)
**Locally grown and organic food available for purchase from The Pink FlaminGO
The California plastic bag ban, bill AB1998, failed to pass yesterday. Some said it was a debate in whether or not the decision was regulating personal choice. Funny how regulating our personal choice on so many other issues isn’t up for debate. I’m just sayin’. One Senator, Mimi Walters, R-Lake Forest, said, “If we pass this piece of legislation, we will be sending a message to the people of California that we care more about banning plastic bags than helping them put food on their table.” The American Chemistry Council represents the interests of chemical companies, including a large percentage of companies that produce plastic bags. They lobbied against the ban heavily, spending millions, accusing California politicians of being focused on “grocery bags” instead of more important issues. Basically mocking them, and it worked.
The ban would have phased out plastic bags over the next year. The alternative would be paper bags or bringing your own. Do you think most people would then just switch to paper? They would also be charged a nickel for every paper bag. The state would make a significant amount of money that way. But paper bags aren’t the best alternative. That’s cutting down trees and still having to produce the product. Maybe we don’t need a ban, we just continue to hope people make a conscious decision to help the environment. I don’t have the answers, but I do have reusable bags and I still believe reducing the amount we use is a good choice. Please share your thoughts!
Stop number two on the farm tour was Earthworks Urban Farm. Earthworks strives to promote sustainable agricultural practices and nutrition in the Detroit area. The city of Detroit does not have any chain grocery stores. They have all packed up and left, leaving residents to find food at corner stores and small markets. Access to food has become increasingly difficult. Earthworks believes in showing people how to build a relationship with nature and grow their own food.
A new term I’ve learned is Community Food Security. ”Community food security is a condition in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice.”
Backyard chickens are catching on. I had city chickens for a couple of years and they were great. While some say, “that’s crazy,” I say “it’s so awesome!” The benefits of having chickens were plentiful. They are probably one of the most helpful animals for being green and sustainable. Chickens hunt and peck all day long. That means less bugs for your yard. They lay eggs. That means you get fresh organic eggs at no cost to you. Don’t like composting, use your chickens. I threw my kitchen scraps in the run area and they went to town. It’s a little sustainable farm of your very own. Read more »
I don’t like single use plastic bags, but this guy has taken an even bigger stand by turning himself into the Bag Monster and going on tour. It’s one thing to hear the number of plastic bags used, but it’s another thing to quantify it by seeing them. A single person will consume 45,000 plastic bags in their lifetime. Are you ready to take a look at what that means? The Bag Monster website has all the facts and figures, and you can also see the tour schedule to see if he’ll be visiting your city. You can also take the pledge to eliminate plastic bags from your life. Visit Bag Monster’s facebook page and pledge today!
