Vancouver Unitarians for Climate Action

Seedy Sunday – bring seeds and plants to church

Mary Bennett — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:51:56 +0000

Seedy Sunday – March 14

For the Spring Equinox/Ostara worship service – bring some seeds to exchange with others, or perennials that have spread. If you want some lambs ears, vinca major (variegated), creeping Jenny, sedum or the creeping or tall ordinary kind, marjoram, oregano, lemon balm or mint – send me a note and I’ll make sure to bring some. unitarianmary@telus.net – You could post what you have or want at the Environment Committee website at http://ucvenvironment.wordpress.com

CBS News on Antibiotic Resistance

dcswanson60 — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:06:58 +0000

Here’s a very short news documentary about one of the ways factory farming is endangering human lives on a massive scale.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/09/eveningnews/main6191530.shtml?tag=stack

seed books

Mary Bennett — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:14:56 +0000

I found this wealth of children’s books on seeds, and had a need to share them:

From this blog:

http://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2007/03/seeds-and-growing-things.html

Friday, March 02, 2007

Seeds and Growing Things

I am not much of a gardener (that’s my sister’s forte), but have a son who is begging to start a garden at our "new" (it’s been nearly 7 months!) house. Since I am lost in thoughts of spring these days, I decided that this would be a good time to offer up a list of books on seeds and the magic they bring.

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney – Was there any doubt that this would be the first book on my list?! Miss Rumphius vows as a child to make the world more beautiful, and after many years, she finally does.

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons – I am a huge fan of Gail Gibbons. Her books are so well written and easy for kids to understand. This one is no exception. In it you’ll find good information accompanied by wonderful illustrations.

These books in the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science series are standouts.

How a Seed Grows by Helene Jordan
From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle – A fabulously illustrated story about the life cycle of seeds. Find out what happens to many seeds when they are released, and how they must fight to survive.

The Empty Pot by Demi – A long time ago in China, the Emperor decided to choose an heir by giving a flower seed to each child in the kingdom. "Whoever can show me their best in a year’s time," he proclaimed, "shall succeed me to the throne!" When a young boy named Ping admits that he is the only child unable to grow a flower from the seeds, he is rewarded for his honesty.

The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland – When forced to leave her country, a young Vietnamese girl takes a lotus seed with her as a reminder of her past.

Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert – I could name any number of books by Lois Ehlert for this list, but this one is my favorite. I simply love the spreads of flowers representing the colors in the rainbow.

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss – When a young boy plants a carrot seed, those around him tell him it won’t grow, but he is rewarded for his patience and tender care.

The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin – When her neighbors all plant flower gardens, a young girl is disappointed that she and her mother plant ugly vegetables instead.

One Bean by Anne Rockwell – Watch what happens when a bean sprouts on a wet paper towel, grows in a paper cup, and is finally transplanted into a large flower pot.

Seeds by Ken Robbins – This is a terrific photographic nonfiction book that introduces seeds to young children.

Two favorites by Eve Bunting:

Flower Garden – A young girl and her father plant a window box as a birthday gift for her mother.
Sunflower House – A young boy plants sunflower seeds in a large circle. He cares for them and watches them grow into a "sunflower house." He plays in it all summer and then collects the seeds from the dying plants to sow for next year.

Jack’s Garden by Henry Cole – A lovely story of a boy’s backyard flower garden that is based on the old rhyme "This Is the House That Jack Built."

Glenna’s Seeds by Nancy Edwards – When Glenna is given marigold seeds at school, she leaves them in a neighbor’s empty flowerpot. When the neighbor brings home a few geranium plants, she sees the packet of seeds and decides to give the geraniums away to other neighbors. What starts as a random act of kindness transforms an empty street into a place full of colorful flowers.

The Gardener by Sarah Stewart – When her father loses his job during the depression, Lydia Grace is sent to live with her rather sour uncle. Through letters written to her family, she describes how she brightens his dreary bakery and disposition with a little dirt and a suitcase full of seeds.

Vegetable Garden by Douglas Florian – With beautiful watercolor illustrations, readers follow along with a family as they plant, tend and harvest a vegetable garden.

Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert – Okay, I can’t leave this one out either. Watch as vegetable soup is grown from seed to harvest. Pair this one with The Ugly Vegetables.

And last but certainly not least, look for the poem "How Do Seeds Know Which Way is Up?" in Where Fish Go in Winter and Answers to Other Great Mysteries by Amy Goldman Koss.

It was hard not to include gardening here, even though I really set out to focus on the growth of seeds. Oh well, I guess my next list will be on gardening books for kids. Enjoy! And do send me the titles of great books I have overlooked.

P. S. – Don’t miss this terrific article from Book Links entitled From Seed to Harvest: Books About Growing Food.

Take care,

Mary

Mary Bennett

#3-2605 West 5th Avenue, Vancouver BC V6K 1T2

maryinvancouver@gmail.com 604-732-1455 http://www.marybennett.net

About Grass Fed Cattle

dcswanson60 — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 21:54:21 +0000

This article is full of facts I had no idea about the implications of grass fed beef.

http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/grass_fed_beef_wont_save_the_planet/C564/L564/

Screening “The Age of Stupid”

Mary Bennett — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 09:13:45 +0000

Great movie. I will be at work, but you will like it. Pete Postelthwaite “stars”.

http://www.ageofstupid.net/

All the best, Karl

——-

This film screening and panel discussion on climate change may be of interest to many of you. Check out the announcement below about the event, which is being run by the UBC Continuing Studies Centre for Sustainability.

You can view this message on the web by pasting the address below into your browser:
http://www.cstudies.ubc.ca/email/0912-CFS.html

Watch the Explosive New Film “The Age of Stupid”
Join us for the sci-fi docu-drama described as the best climate change film to hit the big screen. Presented by UBC Continuing Studies Centre for Sustainability, The Age of Stupid follows a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking at old footage from present day and asking: Why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?
After the film a panel discussion featuring Brian Nattrass of Sustainability Partners Inc, Robert Safrata of Novex Couriers and Elisa Campbell of the UBC Design Centre for Sustainability will examine potential forward steps in the fight against climate change. Vanessa Timmer of One Earth will moderate the discussion. Find out more about the movie and the post-film panel.

Date:	Tuesday, January 19
Time:	Doors open at 6pm; film at 6:30pm, followed by panel discussion
Place:	UBC Point Grey – Woodward Instructional Resources Centre, Theatre 2 2194 Health Sciences Mall (map and parking)
Cost:	$10 admission

Tickets only available by calling 604-822-1444 or at the door.
The film was “so powerful and so moving I wanted it to go for another hour.”
- GILLIAN ANDERSON, ACTRESS

“Captivating and constantly surprising… the first successful dramatization of
climate change to reach the big screen.”
- THE GUARDIAN

“A much sterner and more alarming polemic than “An Inconvenient Truth,
[this film] will be taken by some as an emergency wake-up call to do everything
possible to avert impending catastrophe.”
- THE NEW YORK TIMES

UBC Continuing Studies
800 Robson Street | Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 3B7 | Tel: 604-822-1444

Designed in Canada

Mary Bennett — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:49:32 +0000

Reitman’s had a 70% off sale this week. When I noticed that everything I picked up had a “Made in China” label on the inside (not that easy to find – not on the neckband), I asked: Is everything made in China?

I was told no, that there are even some things made in Canada as well as India, etc.

“But everything is designed in Canada,” she said.

Now I’ve heard that the label relates to where the last thing was done. So for instance, if all those made in china blouses had had the last button signed on in Canada, it could say “made in Canada”. Anyone know if this is true? or have tips on label watching?

If nothing matters, there’s nothing to save

dcswanson60 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:26:05 +0000

This really beats all the interviews I’ve heard discussing Jonathan Safran Foer’s recent book Eating Animals. Here is a videotaped Jewish literary event in which the author reads from his book and address audience questions. Would I were so articulate. (Skip to #4 on the program to go straight to the author’s address.

http://fora.tv/2009/12/01/Jonathan_Safran_Foer_Eating_Animals#fullprogram

Blog Stats

Mary Bennett — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:12:32 +0000

October – 449

November – 605

December – 392

January (as of January 10) 172

Busiest day: 272 — Tuesday, October 27, 2009

(Following the start-up of the blog and posting of lots of pictures!)

Totals

Posts: 104

Comments: 48

Flexitarian initiatives gaining momentum

dcswanson60 — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:56:20 +0000

World’s largest food service company adds more meatless chioces:

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/news/2010/01/compass_flexitarian.html

Joseph Luoman/iStockphoto

The Humane Society of the United States applauds Compass Group, the world’s largest food service company, for its far-sighted, trend-setting “Be a Flexitarian” initiative.

Beginning immediately, the industry-leading corporation will expand the variety and supply of meat-free options for its customers—promoting healthier, more sustainable, and more humane eating.

Compass Group executives worked closely with The HSUS to develop the program, which will promote flexitarian eating in the company’s 8,500 U.S. corporate and academic food service cafeterias. This initiative to promote the incorporation of more meat-free meals is the largest corporate program of its kind in the world.

Flex Appeal

A flexitarian is someone who actively integrates meatless meals into his or her diet when possible but isn’t a full-time vegetarian.

“Compass Group recognizes that there should be more options in the marketplace for conscious consumers,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS.

“It doesn’t take an all-or-nothing approach to make a major impact, and giving customers more meat-free meal choices will improve health, reduce the impact of global warming, and help animals,” Pacelle said.

Compass-operated dining operations now showcase meatless foods like veggie burgers, burritos, pastas, and stir fries. Many choices feature vegetarian meat alternatives.

“Compass Group is committed to providing healthy meals and building sustainable communities, and our new flexitarian initiative is a great step toward achieving both of these goals,” stated Cheryl Queen, Compass Group vice president of corporate communications. “We’re delighted to have this opportunity to highlight the culinary versatility of meat-free foods that promote better health and preserve the environment.”

The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization reported that animal agriculture contributes 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions—more than all forms of transportation combined.

A Leader for Health and Animal Welfare

This isn’t the first time Compass Group has acted to improve the lives of animals. In 2007, the company switched all its shell (whole) eggs to cage-free for its U.S. clients.

According to Deanne Brandstetter, VP Nutrition and Wellness, Compass Group, “Eating flexitarian can have a positive impact on your health.”

“Vegetable sources of protein, especially legumes and grains, are packed with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and are good sources of more healthful unsaturated fats.” she said. “They also have no cholesterol, are generally low in saturated fat and often are lower in calories than animal proteins.”

Food for Thought

Meat-free foods are an important antidote to factory farms. These massive operations raise and kill more than nine billion farm animals in the U.S. each year and pollute ourenvironment.
Replacing meat with healthy vegetarian foods helps prevent against obesity, heart disease, stroke, many cancers, diabetes, and other serious diseases.
By reducing our meat consumption by only ten percent, we can fight animal cruelty by sparing nearly one billion animals a lifetime of suffering each year.
Per the American Dietetic Association, “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”
Compass Group has shared their recipes for five-bean chili with butternut squash andholiday stuffed Gardein™ scallopini.

Posting via email

Mary Bennett — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:20:43 +0000

If you are a member of the UCV Environment committee, it’s possible to make a post to our blog via email. Just contact Mary about how to do this.