Permalink By student, on April 18th, 2013 The organization 350.org just announced that they’re screening a new film about the rising movement for action on climate change.
The movie is called Do the Math, and it’s going to be a fast-paced, inspiring film — you can sign up for a local screening and check out the trailer here: www.350.org/math
We’re hosting a local screening in Ann Arbor – you can sign up for it here:http://act.350.org/event/do_the_math_film/4199/
Or you can search for other events near you by clicking here.
The movie should be great, and it’s a chance to connect with other local climate activists and concerned citizens.
Hope you can make it!
By Ryan, on March 29th, 2013 
 Eiffel Tower before (top) and during (bottom) Earth Hour
One Small Hour for Man…
Last Saturday night at 8:30, downtown Ann Arbor went dark. Streetlights along one block of Main Street plus the lights at many homes and businesses shut off. However, this was all part of the plan. Earth Hour, as it’s called, was a global showing of solidarity in support of tougher action on climate change and reducing energy consumption. It began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and has snowballed into a global movement across hundreds of cities.
P.S. If you like the Eiffel Tower pictures, you can check out more light/dark shots at National Geographic.
Although one hour might not make a huge dent in global energy use, it’s more about symbolism. Essentially, it makes us painfully aware that our lives depend on constant use of fossil-based energy, that there is still no international agreement on global warming, and as a co-benefit reminds people in big cities what the stars look like. It also demonstrates that people from government, businesses, churches, and households can all work together simultaneously to enact positive change. This one small hour is a starting point for collaboration on bigger projects.
Mayor John Hieftje said, “Earth Hour is another way to highlight Ann Arbor’s commitment to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and raise awareness on how citizens and government play a part in addressing climate change.”
As an awareness tool, I’d say Earth Hour was a success in that it reminded this writer to report on something very important to our local climate efforts. (Something he should have reported on 3 months ago.) Something everyone in Ann Arbor needs to know about…
Continue reading Hour of Darkness Sheds Light on Climate Change, and Ann Arbor’s CAP
By monica, on March 26th, 2013  In December, Seattle’s Mayor Mike McGinn sent a letter to the city’s two chief pension funds on friday, formally requesting that they “refrain from future investments in fossil fuel companies and begin the process of divesting our pension portfolio from those companies.”
McGinn’s letter includes a compelling argument:
There is a clear economic argument for divestment. While fossil fuel companies do generate a return on our investment, Seattle will suffer greater economic and financial losses from the impact of unchecked climate change. Our infrastructure, our businesses, and our communities would face greater risk of damages and losses due to turbulent weather that climate change causes. As a waterfront city, several of our neighborhoods and industrial districts are at risk if climate change causes a significant rise in sea level.
Think Ann Arbor should divest too? Sign this petition to Ann Arbor’s City Council to show your support!
By Jill, on March 21st, 2013 Slow Food Huron Valley is hosting the perfect event for the indecisive local eater this weekend: CSA speed dating.
 Delicious bounty ready for you weekly Many of you may be familiar with… speed dating, but CSAs? CSAs or Community Supported Agriculture is a way to connect growers to eaters. Physically, it is a box of food, generally weekly (ranging from assortments of greens, to tubers and eggs, maybe even some dairy or meat) that is available for pickup or delivery usually from Spring until Fall.
The CSA share one purchases is advanced capital to the farmer and therefore a vote of confidence for the farmer. Due to this advanced payment and stability in knowing the steady customers, the CSA share is usually a great deal for the food purchased.
Purchaser/eater receives fresh, seasonal produce weekly while being engaged much more intimately with the grower. And the grower gets the vote of confidence, deeper relationship with customer, and advanced capital to make it all happen. Sounds like a win-win to me.
Continue reading Speed Dating for Local Food: Slow Food Huron Valley hosts CSA Fair this Sunday
By Jill, on March 12th, 2013  Recipe: Tomatoes, beans, cilantro, and some CREATIVE community innovation Funding awesome local projects has never been so tasty.
Only one day remains to submit your ideas for creative, community-based projects to UM Soup.
What is UM Soup you ask? SOUP is a monthly, community dinner that makes micro grants for local projects… projects that often would never have any other means to get off the ground. SOUP is a national movement, with groups popping up all over the country, dedicated to implementing innovative and beneficial projects in their towns. For this month’s March 23rd SOUP meet-up, project proposals are due March 13th!
With a seed grant from Shareable Magazine, UM Program in the Environment junior Isabella Morrison is organizing UM Soup to involve students more in their community. Isabella was inspired after she attended another nearby SOUP in Detroit. Isabella remarks, “[...] I was inspired by the people, ideas, conversations, and community activism that brewed over soup.” What could be a greater metaphor than eating nourishing, warm, comforting, complete-meal-in-a-bowl soup while also sharing ideas about how to nourish and nurture the communities that we live in?
For $5, A2 residents and UM students can have a fun evening learning about local projects, eating a local meal, jamming to live music, and voting on their favorite community project! Continue reading UM SOUP: Opportunity to be both full and fulfilled
By Jill, on January 28th, 2013 
Calling all current and soon-to-be seed enthusiasts!
Did you save more seeds than you could ever use? Did you perhaps go a bit mad at the end-of-year seed sales?
Then the Seed Swap is for you!
Come see what you can exchange your extras for with other gardeners! Bring your loot and your bargaining skills and see how many different varieties you can acquire. Who knows, perhaps you’ll find seeds for delicious corn variety you couldn’t buy enough of at the farmer’s market!
This event is open to the public, so you don’t need to be a Project Grow gardener to attend.
Our hosts do ask that seed swappers find street parking rather than taking spots in their parking lot that could be used by their customers.
Come on out Saturday, February 16th, 10-11:30 a.m., at Downtown Home and Garden, 210 South Ashley in Ann Arbor!
Be sure to come and take care of all your 2013 seed needs – anything you can’t find will certainly be for sale at Downtown Home and Garden!
Downtown Home & Garden
210 South Ashley Street Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Saturday, February 16 2013 10:00am – 11:30am
For more information, contact Monica Patel at 734-369-9277
Don’t know where to begin with seed saving, nonetheless swapping?
The Seed Savers Exchange in Iowa has a webinar coming up – conveniently this Tuesday – about starting your own seed bank.
By Jill, on December 12th, 2012 As an amateur watercolor painter and broke graduate school student, my family and friends are becoming used to my hand-painted cards and wall-worthy (my opinion) paintings as gifts. Plus at least for my nephews and niece, why try to compete against flashy-brightly-colored-Toy-Story-themed-remote-controlled-car with other flashy-brightly-colored-Dora-the-Explorer-themed-remote-controlled-car that is outside of my budget anyway? A pack of colored pencils and glitter, accompanied by some of their Aunt Jill’s works of art will be enjoyed in both the short and long term. This holiday season though, I’m taking my DIY gifts to the next level… and yep, I am completely willing to share some of my finds. (Lucky you!)
First, what’s the most accessible DIY gift?
Food! I am no wood craftsman, BUT I can mix some great ingredients to make a granola that would start your day off right. And I think most could do that. Homemade granola, infused olive oils, fudge, freezer jams…. the list goes on and on. Here’s what I’m cooking and baking this year:
”Kitchen Sink” Chocolate Bark
After 2 years of giving truffles to friends and family for the holidays, I am thinking I will aim for a healthier option with crunchy and delicious chocolate bark. This recipe calls for mixed nuts, dried fruit, and pretzels: you are only limited by your imagination for combinations here. I think I’ll try almonds and dried apricots….
I also am demolishing a canister of coffee beans this week (only three more exams left…) and I’m thinking that with a quick peel of the label, wash, and addition of ribbon, it will make a great container to hold the bark!
By monica, on December 5th, 2012 I thought I’d post the agenda and some discussion points from our meet-ups for people who attended to comment on and for those who didn’t to catch up. This is my first attempt to do so, so I welcome feedback (below in the comments would be great).
Date/Time: Dec 3, 5pm
Attending: Ginny, Larry, Ann, Carolyn, Mal, Ben, Rachel, Jill, Monica
Introductions: Two truths and a lie! Our intro tool. I (monica) did terrible — I accidentally did 1.25 lies, but everyone else was awesome. Some very intriguing facts came out that I want to know more about.
Hurricane Sandy: We watched a local news story about an Occupy Sandy flashmob documentary event and talked about the hurricane and relief efforts by Occupy Sandy. The 24-minute Josh Fox documentary is available here. We’d be happy to “screen” the film if folks would like to watch it together. Let us know below or email us and we’ll set something up. Continue reading Climate MeetUp – December 2012
By monica, on December 5th, 2012  Buying local holiday gifts is the way to go. I don’t need to tell you why when there’s an awesome info-graphic that’ll do it for me. That info-graphic is posted at the bottom of this post, which is guaranteed to make you a gift-giving superhero. I’ll sort it by the following topic areas: Food, Household/Decorative/Art, Experiences, etc.
Ready, set…GO!
Continue reading Our $3.50: Local gift ideas that’ll earn you major points
By Jill, on November 27th, 2012 When Proposal 3 – the Michigan Renewable Energy Standard – was voted down in the November election, many things came to mind. However, I am not ashamed to say that one of the recurring ideas was a meme in the style of “Courage Wolf”. I thought, “Even though Proposal 3 was defeated, this doesn’t slow us down. We are still going to fight for renewable energy truly no matter what.“ And a meme was born.
But then I thought, memes are EXACTLY what would make these environmental discussions easier and more fun, these small images and text convey a lot of info concisely and with the humble tone of humor. Furthermore, why not use other literary and visual tools?
This idea has evolved into a “toolkit” of visuals, metaphors, and stories that could be easily passed on to you all (via Facebook, our blog, Twitter) and that you could then retell and share easily with your coworkers, friends, and family….. Or it could inspire you to find your own analogies and archetypes…. OR, even more simply, could solidify our understanding of the intersections of people, culture, and environment. Someone asks you about the difference between climate and weather and you are prepared to tackle this complex and abstract topic (See #2 below for some help) with ease (and a view visual and literary tools in tow).
Continue reading Memes, Metaphors, and the Military
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