Sustainable Monroeville

Soil Food Webs and Composting class on Monday evening, February 5, 2012 at 7:00 PM at the Monroeville Public Library

2012-02-19T12:43:00.000-05:00

As our March 5, 2012 meeting of Sustainable Monroeville at 7:00 PM in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library we will be hosting Jeff Newman of Steel City Soils.

Class topic: Soil Food Webs and Composting

from Jeff: "Join us for an informative class on the basics of your garden soil. This 1.5 hour class will include a lecture by Jeff Newman of Steel City Soils LLC and some interactive group work.

We'll be focusing on getting to know the site and soil at the Monroeville Public Library Food Garden. Talking about soil fertility and plant interactions. Then participating in a small group exercise to get you thinking about the underground city that is your garden soil. You will leave the class with some new facts and some practical things you can do to increase your long-term fertility."

Monroeville Food Garden work session following Sustainable Monroeville third annual pot luck dinner February, 2012 meeting

Amy Baer, Pam Barroso, Susan Cardoza, Sandy McFall, Lois Drumheller, Jeff Newman

Thanks Don Winkie and Emma Winkie for giving us an update on your participation with the local girl scouts in the garden. We look forward to your continuing participation!

Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium

2012-02-01T22:15:00.000-05:00

Elisa Beck and Lorraine Vincent of Sustainable Monroeville presented to the Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium today. The faith leaders in attendance wrote suggestions about how to involve themselves in gardening efforts in the Monroeville Food Garden behind the Monroeville Public Library and beyond. The Monroeville People's Garden provided 500 pounds of vegetables for the four local food pantries this past year!

Here are some of the things the faith leaders wrote: "My parish may have a person or two who might be interested in working in the Monroeville Food Garden. I would be happy to publicize events in the bulletin, newsletter, etc." Eric Ash

"Advertise, Educate, Inform, Invite congregation to participate. Have a Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium member as part of the leadership."

"Have congregations take turns tending garden. Give us a 'garden mentor' to come to our congregations and create our own, also to benefit the food banks. Help us write the grant to the Monroeville Foundation."

"Ask parishiners to become involved. Develop own garden."

"Promote volunteers via weekly e-mails." Crossroads Church has a wonderful garden. They use their vegetables they grow for the folks that frequent their own food pantry.

"We can volunteer to weed and tend the garden, or start various plants at our homes and bring to garden to transplant."

"Tell someone else about it."

Thanks so much Monroeville Interfaith Ministerium for your efforts!

We talked about the importance of a pure food system, enriching the soil, living soil vs. sprayed lawns and promotion of the ideas of Food, Not Lawns in our beautiful suburb. We are the change we have been looking for!

Come one, come all to our February meeting of Sustainable Monroeville on Monday evening, February 6, 2012, in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library. Our third anniversary dinner pot luck will be at 6:00 PM with the meeting from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Bring food that is locally sourced, if possible and your own place setting. This will be a zero waste event and leftovers will be composted. We will have reports from the Recycling Committee, the Monroeville Food Garden, the developing permaculture landscape at the Cedars of Monroeville, and plan for 2012 including the action item of filling out the application for the Monroeville Foundation! Elisa Beck, Founder, Sustainable Monroeville

Happy New Year!

2012-01-07T18:18:00.000-05:00

Beautiful winter sky in Pittsburgh, PA, 2012

Mark your calendars for Sustainable Monroeville meetings in 2012: January 9, February 6, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, Sept. 10, Oct. 1, Nov.5 and December3, 2012. Most meetings will be at 7:00 PM.

The monthly meeting on January 9, 2012 in the downstairs program room at 7:00 PM will feature the documentary Bag It: Is your life too plastic? The film is both lighthearted, and heavy, and a must see!

The February meeting will be at 6:00 PM and will be our annual local foods pot luck dinner. Bring a covered dish that has at least one ingredient that is locally sourced. That gets all of us thinking! Remember to bring along utensils and a plate and cup too. We'll be packing it in and out.

This year, the February, 2012 meeting will be the third anniversary of the founding of Sustainable Monroeville! A local girl scout troop will be joining us too! Come prepared to let us know at least three things you've done in the last three years that have led to a more sustainable home or community or earth!

PolarTrec at Sustainable Monroeville in collaboration with the Monroeville Public Library

2011-11-22T21:40:00.000-05:00

PolarTREC (Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating) is a program in which K-12 teachers spend several weeks participating in hands-on field research experiences in the polar regions. In May 2011, Gateway High School teacher Jim Pottinger went on expedition to Greenland to join a team studying solar radiation on the Greenland ice sheet. The team traversed the ice sheet several times and then lived and worked at Summit Station, located at the peak of the Greenland ice cap atop 3,200 meters of ice. The goal of the project was to gain a better understanding of the Earth's heat balance -- the solar radiation reflected back into space and absorbed by our planet. Join us at Monroeville Public Library on Monday, December 12, 7:00-8:30 p.m. as Jim shares stories and photos from the expedition.

Vandana Shiva in Pitttsburgh. Pure Joy and Inspiration!

2011-11-03T10:29:00.000-04:00

Last night, I went to Point Park University to hear Vandana Shiva, "world- renowned environmental leader and thinker...She is the founder of Navdanya ("nine seeds"), a movement promoting diversity and use of native seeds. ..(she) set up the Research Foundation for Science, Technology, and Ecology in her mother's cowshed in 1997. (Her organization)..has done studies that have validated the ecological value of traditional farming and have been instrumental in fighting destructive development projects in India." She also written many wonderful books including Soil, Not Oil: Environmental Justice in an Age of Climate Crisis, 2008, Staying Alive: Women, Ecology, and Development, 2010, Earth Democracy, Justice, Sustainability and Peace, 2005, Water Wars: Pollution, Profits and Privatization, 2001, Biopiracy: The Plunder of Nature and Knowledge, 1997, (all South End Press) Monocultures of the Mind (Zed, 1993) and The Violence of the Green Revolution (Zed, 1992)

A few of my friends, Steffi S. Eric V. a student from Point Park University, Vandana Shiva and me!

The talk was one of the most upbeat and inspiring talks I have ever heard. Shiva is grass roots and talked about the improtance of doing anything, any small thing, to work towards the world we want to see. She explained how turning land and soil to the organic way by enriching the soil, the earth will heal itself in a very short time, in two years.

After the talk, there was time for Q& A. I told Dr. Shiva that I usually ask questions. Following her talk though, I expressed my admiration that she spoke so well and summarized the healing plan for all of us people, plants, and all organisms through re-establishing the biodiverse earth, that I did not have any questions. Instead I told her what we are doing in our community of Monroeville to work with these issues. I told her about how we are linking the Food Not Lawns campaign with the urban core through the Schwartz Market project on Pittsburgh's Historic South Side.

So the newly established garden behind the Monroeville Public Library in cooperation with the library and the municipality is the first huge step in an outstanding direction. This winter, I will be thinking about, planning, and designing a food garden for our front lawn, out here in this suburb called Monroeville. Our January meeting will be dedicated to the idea of Food Not Lawns. Join Us!

So what does this have to do with the urban core? Well, the urban folks do not have much space to grow food. Let's provide our suburban food for sale in the city and help the city folks establish their own rooftop gardens and urban farms....We are working step by step by step to establish a vibrant Schwartz Market on the South Side on Historic East Carson Street, main street USA! See http://1317eastcarson.blogspot.com. for more on this urban project. The market is available for vendors to sell food and some art, or have their goods sold. Please contact me if you are interested in being involved on any level out here in the suburbs or in the South Side.

I can be reached by e-mail at elisabeck@aol.com which I check almost daily, or sustainablemonroeville@gmail.com which I check infrequently!

So why am I so excited? Because when a person like Vandana Shiva says, oh, yes, that she did not talk about that last night, but that connecting the rural farmers with the urban core is so important and telling me that what we are doing is exactly what needs to happen, I get even more inspired! Perhaps she'll mention some of our after talking in her talk today at Carnegie Mellon University between 12:30 and 1:30 or tonight when she receives the Thomas Merton Award at the Sheraton in Station Squrare.

Join Us in this magnificent journey of vibrant life! Elisa Beck :)

Elisa Beck

The Pittsburgh Public Market at Sustainable Monroeville

2011-10-19T10:49:00.002-04:00

On Monday, November 14, 2011, at 7:00 PM, Rachel Kudrick of the Pittsburgh Public Market will be our speaker. Rachel will be talking about some of their specific plans for how to help communities become healthier, more sustainable, greener and friendlier, including future planning for educational classes, demos and partnerships.

She'll be bringing some maps of the Strip and a few other give-aways. Rachel, center, came to our meeting in September, 2011, and is pictured below with the two speakers from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the Food Security Partnership:

Pittsburgh Public Market is a year-round public market hall located in the heart of the Strip District, Pittsburgh’s historic market district. The market offers a variety of locally grown and produced goods to support local business, industry and agriculture.

They are a non-profit entity under the auspices of Neighbors in the Strip and provide a place for local small businesses to open, learn, grow and thrive without the high cost of overhead that a traditional storefront would entail.

Their mission is to preserve the historic character of the neighborhood, provide healthy food and nutrition education to the neighborhood and surrounding region, provide jobs for low-income individuals with an emphasis on women and minorities, and create a public space that celebrates Pittsburgh’s diverse ethnic and food traditions.

Prior to the meeting NOTE CHANGE! At Monroeville # 4 Firehall, 4370 Northern Pike, in Monroeville, PA, on Monday evening, November 14, 2011, at 5:30 PM there will be a public meeting sponsored by Alcosan to update the community on fulfilling the consent decree to fix the sewage system in Allegheny County. Sustainable Monroeville will not have a pot luck dinner that evening so we can attend this meeting and then follow it with our meeting at 7:00 PM at the Monroeville Public Library.

Background: Alcosan is planning to spend billions of dollars to expand their facilities and put in a new system to handle stormwater.

Another meeting will take place on Wednesday evening, November 9 from 5:30 to 7:30at the IBEW at 5 Hot Metal Street on the South Side. Alcosan has scheduled other meetings too. Go to their website for details.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank's, Kerri LaCharite and James Harrell, Jr., speak!

2011-09-19T13:06:00.010-04:00

Hunger and food access affects one in every seven people in the United States, a total of 14.5% of households. Fresh produce is often the hardest item for families to obtain and purchase. At the same time 12% of produce goes unharvested due to the cost of labor, market price of produce and other factors. Kerri LaCharite, Produce Specialist at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank will speak about local and urban agriculture initiatives and volunteer opportunities in South Western Pennsylvania and James Harrell, Jr., Regional Coordinator of the SW PA Food Security Partnership, will speak about the Southwestern Pennsylvania Food Security Partnership at the October 3, 2011 meeting of Sustainable Monroeville between 7:00 and 8:30 PM in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library. Free and open to the public. Join Us!

http://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Food Security Partnership was formed with the understanding that a unified approach is the way to make substantial progress toward eradicating hunger in our region. Strengthening communications, sharing resources, identifying gaps and forging new collaborations throughout the Partnership’s network is their methodology. It is an approach one set of authors recently described as a “collective impact” rather than an “isolated impact” strategy.

Below is a more detailed link to the Pittsburgh food bank website which shows the types of work that the Partners have been doing in Allegheny County as well as the entire region.

http://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/programs/partnership.aspx

Melons surrounded by Marigolds to stave off extraneous large critters in the Monroeville USDA People's Garden, September, 2011

Stormwater Management and a USDA People's Garden!

2011-09-15T10:37:00.000-04:00

At the first meeting of Sustainable Monroeville in February of 2009, we worked to start two committees, one to begin a rain barrel revolution in Monroeville, and the other to learn how to design and implement 10' x 10' biointensive gardens in our suburban yards. Those specific projects have not happened yet, but we did spark a permaculture-style vegetable garden project at the Monroeville Public Library that is planting the seeds for helping us understand how bioswales are important in stormwater management and much more. The garden is now a People's Garden. The People's Garden is an initiative of the United States Department of Agriculture "that encourages government and other organizations to create gardens to benefit the community." (People's Garden takes root beside library, Pittsburgh Post Gazette 9-15-11, EZ-2 byAnne Tubbs,) The Crossraods Food Pantry and the Pitcairn Food Pantry are receiving the bounty of the Monroeville People's Garden. Here's today's article in its entirety by Annie Tubbs of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

Lake Fong/Post-Gazette

Lois Drumheller examines the garden behind the Monroeville library, recently certified by the USDA as a People's Garden.

Between the library and the senior citizens center in Monroeville lies a two-row garden of flowers, vegetables and herbs.
It's the brainchild of Monroeville Councilwoman Lois Drumheller, who wanted to establish a People's Garden -- a U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative that encourages government and other organizations to create gardens to benefit the community.
She'd hoped to secure thousands of dollars in grants, but when it became clear that wasn't going to happen, she started planning the garden with just $450 in donations.
"This is the first year, and it's all experimental and done on a shoestring budget," she said. The garden is the only USDA-certified People's Garden in Allegheny County.
So far, the 240-square-foot garden has produced about 250 pounds of vegetables, fruits and herbs for two local food pantries -- the Cross Roads Presbyterian Church and the Pitcairn Food Bank.
Early in the year, Sustainable Monroeville, a group that promotes sustainable gardening, helped design a "permaculture" garden -- the plants have a symbiotic relationship to help each other grow.
Then, Ms. Drumheller had the soil tested in March by scientists at the Penn State Cooperative Extension. The test results weren't promising.
"We didn't have very nutritious soil," she said.
So she spent $225 of her budget on a "soil amendment" done by Steel City Soil. After public works employees dug two rows for the garden with a depression in the middle for a bioswale to catch water runoff, topsoil donated and delivered by a local landscaping company was laid down, followed by a nutritious compost mixture from Steel City Soil. On May 31, seeds and seedlings were planted, all of which were either donated or sold at a deep discount by two local garden centers -- June Rose Garden Center in Plum and Mosside Greenhouse in Wall.
Amid the zucchini, tomatoes and cantaloupe, the garden is dotted with marigolds and Irish Spring bar soap because a public works employee told Ms. Drumheller that the smells are offensive to deer.
"Municipal employees are an encyclopedia of knowledge," Ms. Drumheller said.
She also put fences around the tomatoes to further deter four-legged thieves.
She has seen rabbits, deer, turkeys and groundhogs nearby, but they're not really bothering the garden. Only one plant has been gnawed on -- a Jerusalem artichoke
"I don't really see a lot of animals getting into this," she said.
The staff at Monroeville Public Library helps Ms. Drumheller harvest produce from the garden during work breaks.
"It's been exciting to watch it grow and harvest the fruits of Lois' labor," said Christy Fusco, library director.
The small bioswale in the garden catches water on the sloping hill toward the library, preventing some of it from getting into the building.
Ms. Fusco said she hopes to include more environmentally friendly permaculture landscaping on the library grounds to mitigate flooding.
"We're just keeping our eyes open and sort of including that in our plans ... as we address facility issues," she said.
Ms. Drumheller hopes that sustainable gardens expand across the library grounds and onto the nearby Gateway School District campus. School board members took a tour of the garden last week.
Ms. Fusco said the garden is a great start, and she also hopes to "take those ideas and apply them to the whole campus."

Annie Tubbs: atubbs@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1613.

First published on September 15, 2011 at 12:00 am

Check out the link to a wonderful editorial about stormwater management by Brenda Smith, Executive Director of the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, and one of 15 women being honored for making the region more green by the Boys and Girls Club on November 19, 2011, at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture in downtown Pittsburgh: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11243/1170941-110.stm

Exploring the Ingredients for Transition with Rob Hopkins

2011-09-14T11:42:00.000-04:00

Check out the MP3 link of Rob Hopkins of "Exploring the Ingredients For Transition." Go to www.transitionus.org to find the link.

Need some inspiration? Anyone interested in starting a Transition group, let me know, and i will mentor. Contact me through the Sustainable Monroeville facebook page or by commenting on this blog entry. I was one of the founders of the Transition Pittsburgh group and will be excited to see more Transition groups pop up in this region and everywhere! Elisa Beck

Credit: Maria Vons-Gupta

Join our Gift Circle!

2011-09-01T10:08:00.001-04:00

For our meeting on Monday evening, September 12, 2011 we will have a pot luck dinner starting at 6:00 PM and Gift Circle beginning at 7:00 PM! Consider bringing some locally harvested and/or produced fare for everyone to share! Also your plate, cup and utensils. This will be a zero waste event and you can be sure we'll compost any food we do not eat! We'll be sure to peak at the garden too!

Chad Mosseso, the facilitator says: "Come join us build friendships, community resilience, and economic self-sufficiency at the Gift Circle. As we share our needs and gifts with each other we are able to discover and utilize untapped resources within our community, effectively turning one person's unused asset into another person's treasure. This creates more abundance for everyone in the community to enjoy while also cutting waste and unnecessary consumption."

See you at the Monroeville Public Library in the downstairs program room at 6:00 PM on Monday evening, September 12, 2011! Elisa Beck

Your Environmental Road Trip Premier in Pittsburgh, PA September 20, 2011

2011-08-25T13:59:00.000-04:00

Join this amazing adventure that starts and ends in the 'burgh! This will be an excellent event and I hope to see you there! Sustainable Monroeville is one of the sponsors so come on out and show your support. Elisa Beck

50 States. 1 Year. Zero Garbage? Called to action by a planet in peril, three friends hit the road - traveling America with hope, humor…and all of their garbage - to explore the good, the bad, and the weird across every state in search of the extraordinary innovators and courageous citizens who are tackling humanity's greatest environmental crises. As the YERT team layers outlandish eco-challenges onto their year-long quest, an unexpected turn of events throws the project for a loop in this award-winning docu-comedy. Featuring Bill McKibben, Wes Jackson, Will Allen, Janine Benyus, Joel Salatin, David Orr, and music by Ben Sollee, Daniel Martin Moore, Mark Geary and more.

Please join us for the Pittsburgh Premiere of the feature documentary "YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip" on Sept. 20th. Doors open and light refreshments begin at 6:30pm, with screening at 7pm at Chatham University's Eddy Theater, hosted by the Rachel Carson Institute in the School of Sustainability and the Environment at Chatham University. The screening will be followed by Q&A with filmmakers Ben Evans and Mark Dixon. This event is generously hosted by the Rachel Carson Institute in the School of Sustainability and the Environment at Chatham University. This event is sponsored in part by Parkhurst Dining and also by Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) and their Black and Gold City Goes Green, Three Rivers Solar Source, andBreathe Easy, Stay Healthy campaigns. Additional sponsors include the Allegheny Group of the Sierra Club, Tree Pittsburgh, the Green Building Alliance, Venture Outdoors, Grow Pittsburgh, 3RiversBioneers, Transition Pittsburgh, Sust-Enable, Pittsburgh Student Environmental Coalition (PSEC), Peaceful Gathering of Hands (P.G.H.), Sustainable Monroeville, 1317 East Carson/Schwartz Market, and Evolver Pittsburgh. Ticket reservations are essential-- get yours at http://yertreservation.questionpro.com. Learn more at YERT.com.

Visualizing Biodiversity in the Suburbs

2011-08-19T09:41:00.001-04:00

I've been thinking about the potential. The potential of all of the lawn care companies that work on my block transforming the block into 25 homes of front yard food gardens. Imagine that! Imagine the companies that spray noxious and now some eco-friendly lawn and home chemicals morphing into creating and spraying compost teas to enrich the soils, planting fruit and nut trees and perennial food crops like asparagus and herbs, and re-creating biodiversity from the now mostly sprayed monoculture green grass lawns.
What am I also sensing? That our block can transform the western medicalized culture through our example of shifting our lawns to supplying food to our communities and ourselves. After all, there are a lot of medical professionals that reside here. Consistent with our legal drug based culture are the folks on my block that hire companies to spray their lawns. It is a certain aesthetic. The French court aesthetic carried over from the European settler days. Perhaps our permaculture landscape reflects my peasant utilitarian background...

Chemically treated lawn next to Permaculture landscape

The noxious chemicals that maintain the golf course monoculture look wipe out the biodiversity of soil systems. And why does that matter? It matters for the same reason that overuse of antibiotics is wiping out the ecosystem in our guts. And without the ingestion of probiotics and cultured vegetables to re-establish the bacterial flora in our internal ecosystems, we become ill. Digestion in our stomachs and intestines and the proper functioning of our immune systems and the immune systems of our soils are analagous. Let's take steps to heal ourselves, our internal and external ecosystems. Join us at our Sustainable Monroeville meetings and learn how!

Troy educating the Permaculture Design Class in his yard at the backyard pond, part of the home Permaculture landscape. Check out Pittsburgh Permaculture, Octopus Organics and Steel City Soils!

Peaceful Gathering of Hands in Pittsburgh, PA

2011-08-09T23:48:00.000-04:00

The 2nd Peaceful Gathering of Hands - Global Peace DayAugust 14, 2011 from 2pm - 7pm
Schenley Oval Meadow, next to the Skating Rink
1 Overlook Drive (best to approach from Blvd of the Allies, exit beside Schenley Swimming Pool)

The Peaceful Gathering of Hands is a free and collaborative event to unite diverse groups and individuals who are working for a peaceful and healthy Pittsburgh and Planet.

A giant circle of holding hands every-hour-on-the-hour

Bring instruments, outdoor games, food to share, items to share, a blanket or tent, eating implements, plus your talents and your visions for Peace (open mic!)

Groups encouraged to bring their information for networking

At least 500+ at the last event. Come join us!
Pictured below is a partial green roof in Pittburgh's South Side

Sustainable Monroeville will have a tent along with many other individuals and groups. Three Rivers Permaculture will have an interesting composting demonstration. Come learn about the Integrative Design Process through the Schwartz Market project. See http://1317eastcarson.blogspot.com Join Us!

Invite friends to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=141362629280192

Feel free to post the Youtube movie trailer on Facebook: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsDBby2QOFI

The Allegheny Front Rewind: Buildings Go Green

2011-07-25T17:17:00.000-04:00

The Allegheny Front Rewind: Buildings Go Green

A Summer Garden

2011-07-15T12:56:00.000-04:00

Our meeting on July 11 was a blast! We spent the first part of the meeting getting a grand tour of the garden, figuring out which veggies were which, weeding and wondering what would be ready for picking next. The bounty is already going to Crossroads Food Pantry in Monroeville. A few of the children that attended the meeting and a few of the adults enjoyed picking some enormous zucchini. The cabbage and peppers are looking mighty delicious. Kudos to Lois Drumheller and Bern Erb for measuring and collaborating to make this wonderful food garden a reality for the Municipality of Monroeville.

Join us on Monday evening, August 1, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library to be part of seeing and experiencing the garden and learning about beekeeping from a Murrysville beekeeper. The meetings are free and open to the public. Invite a neighbor and a friend or two from Monroeville or any neighborhood in or out of the city!

Seeds for a food forest in Monroeville, PA: July 11, 2011, 7 PM

2011-06-20T20:43:00.004-04:00

Photo above shows a bioswale for water collection next to a row of young vegetables.

Photo shows young cabbage plant with straw mulch.

For our next meeting on July 11, 2011 at 7:00 PM, Michelle Johnson of Spectrum Charter School and Coordinator of Sustainable Monroeville's Recycling Committee will give an update. Lois Drumheller, third ward councilwoman, will take us on an outdoor tour of the new permaculture influenced garden in the back of the library, and there will be a guest speaking on an interesting non-profit that does work with recycling outside the continental U.S.

See you July 11 at 7:00 PM at the Monroeville Public Library Program Room. Bring friends along too!

Happy summer solstice!

Moni Wesner on Eating Your Lawn. Lois Drumheller on new Food Garden in Monroeville!

2011-05-31T23:35:00.000-04:00

Join us on Monday evening, June 6, 2011, at 7:00 PM to hear Moni Wesner talk about Eating Your Lawn. Moni plans to bring along edible plants from her yard for us to sample. Everyone will go home with a plant!

Lois Drumheller, Third Ward councilwoman will give us an update of the newly prepared garden on municipal property outside of the Monroeville Public Library.

Green Environments and Human Health

2011-04-27T10:05:00.000-04:00

Asparagus are sprouting on my lawn! Tonight I'll sautee them with some dandelion greens and sea salt for our family. Mmmmm! The apple trees on our front lawn are showing their lime green leaves. We're getting ready to plant a few pear trees on the side of our house. Wouldn't it be neat if all of our suburban lawns were transformed into food production?

Come learn about permaculture principles this coming Monday evening, May 2, 2011, at the Sustainable Monroeville meeting in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library at 7:00 PM. Our family has had a permaculture designed yard for over 15 years. I just completed my Permaculture Design Certificate and am ready to share what I know! Join Sustainable Monroeville on Facebook and check out http://1317eastcarson.blogspot.com to follow an urban permaculture project in action! Elisa Beck

Green Environments Essential for Human Health, Research Shows

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Research confirms that the impacts of parks and green environments on human health extend beyond social and psychological health outcomes to include physical health outcomes. (Credit: University of Illinois)

ScienceDaily (Apr. 19, 2011) — Research shows that a walk in the park is more than just a nice way to spend an afternoon. It's an essential component for good health, according to University of Illinois environment and behavior researcher Frances "Ming" Kuo.

"Through the decades, parks advocates, landscape architects, and popular writers have consistently claimed that nature had healing powers," Kuo said. "But until recently, their claims haven't undergone rigorous scientific assessment."
Kuo is also the director of the Landscape and Human Health Laboratory at the U of I and has studied the effect of green space on humans in a number of settings in order to prove or disprove the folklore notions.
"Researchers have studied the effects of nature in many different populations, using many forms of nature," Kuo said. "They've looked at Chicago public housing residents living in high-rises with a tree or two and some grass outside their apartment buildings; college students exposed to slide shows of natural scenes while sitting in a classroom; children with attention deficit disorder playing in a wide range of settings; senior citizens in Tokyo with varying degrees of access to green walkable streets; and middle-class volunteers spending their Saturdays restoring prairie ecosystems, just to name a few."
Kuo says that although the diversity of the research on this subject is impressive and important, even more important is the rigor with which the work was conducted.
"In any field with enthusiasts, you will find a plethora of well-meaning but flimsy studies purporting to 'prove' the benefits of X," Kuo said. "But in the last decade or so, rigorous work on this question has become more of a rule than an exception. The studies aren't simply relying on what research participants report to be the benefits of nature. The benefits have been measured objectively using data such as police crime reports, blood pressure, performance on standardized neurocognitive tests, and physiological measures of immune system functioning."
Kuo said that rather than relying on small, self-selected samples of nature lovers such as park-goers, scientists are increasingly relying on study populations that have no particular relationship to nature. One study examined children who were receiving care from a clinic network targeting low-income populations. Another looked at all United Kingdom residents younger than retirement age listed in national mortality records for the years 2001-2005.
"Scientists are routinely taking into account income and other differences in their studies. So the question is no longer, do people living in greener neighborhoods have better health outcomes? (They do.) Rather, the question has become, do people living in greener neighborhoods have better health outcomes when we take income and other advantages associated with greener neighborhoods into account?" That answer is also, yes, according to Kuo.
After undergoing rigorous scientific scrutiny, Kuo says the benefits of nature still stand.
"We still find these benefits when they are measured objectively, when non-nature lovers are included in our studies, when income and other factors that could explain a nature-health link are taken into account. And the strength, consistency and convergence of the findings are remarkable," she said.
Kuo drew an analogy to animals. "Just as rats and other laboratory animals housed in unfit environments undergo systematic breakdowns in healthy, positive patterns of social functioning, so do people," she said.
"In greener settings, we find that people are more generous and more sociable. We find stronger neighborhood social ties and greater sense of community, more mutual trust and willingness to help others.
"In less green environments, we find higher rates of aggression, violence, violent crime, and property crime -- even after controlling for income and other differences," she said. "We also find more evidence of loneliness and more individuals reporting inadequate social support."
The equation seems too simple to be true.

Access to nature and green environments yields better cognitive functioning, more self-discipline and impulse control, and greater mental health overall.
Less access to nature is linked to exacerbated attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, higher rates of anxiety disorders, and higher rates of clinical depression.

If that isn't convincing enough, Kuo says the impacts of parks and green environments on human health extend beyond social and psychological health outcomes to include physical health outcomes.

Greener environments enhance recovery from surgery, enable and support higher levels of physical activity, improve immune system functioning, help diabetics achieve healthier blood glucose levels, and improve functional health status and independent living skills among older adults.
By contrast, environments with less green space are associated with greater rates of childhood obesity; higher rates of 15 out of 24 categories of physician-diagnosed diseases, including cardiovascular diseases; and higher rates of mortality in younger and older adults.

"While it is true that richer people tend to have both greater access to nature and better physical health outcomes, the comparisons here show that even among people of the same socioeconomic status, those who have greater access to nature, have better physical health outcomes. Rarely do the scientific findings on any question align so clearly."
Because of this strong correlation between nature and health, Kuo encourages city planners to design communities with more public green spaces in mind, not as mere amenities to beautify a neighborhood, but as a vital component that will promote healthier, kinder, smarter, more effective, more resilient people.
Parks and Other Green Environments: Essential Components of a Healthy Human was published in a research series for the National Recreation and Park Association.

____________________________________________________________

South Side Forum

2011-04-10T21:41:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 5:30 PM at 2005 Sarah Street, the Brasher Building, there will be an update on the plans for the upcoming projects for 1317 East Carson Street and Schwartz Market.

Part of the update will include mention of when Richard Piacentini, Executive Director of Phipps Conservatory spoke with some of us in March, 2011 about the trials, tribulations, and joys of working on the Living Building Challenge at their facility.

Tony Albrecht and Carrie DiFiore, Architects, displayed their early design models for 1317 East Carson Street on March 2, too.

Permaculture in our town, Darrell Frey, and April 29, 30 and May 1, 2011

2011-04-03T10:54:00.002-04:00

Permaculture in our town. What town am I referring to? Well, first and foremost the town I live in called Monroeville, PA. What other towns am I referring to? Any community urban, suburban, and even rural, for that matter. Who am I referring to? Well, that would be you I'm referring to if you are reading this. Stay tuned for a call for volunteers as we plan and implement our first official permaculture designed garden in a public space out here in Pittsburgh's suburb, Monroeville, PA. When you'd like your very own yard or your apartment designed inside and out with permaculture principles, you'll have many in this region to call upon to help you with designing and implementing your vision.

I, along with 20 others, have just completed the first Permaculture Design Certificate course offered by Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh, PA. Three of the attendees were Phipps employees and two of the three teachers were directly employed by or contract with Phipps to do work. The crowning jewel last day of this amazing course was a visit yesterday to Three Sisters Farm in Sandy Lake, PA. It is about an hour and a half drive north of Pittsburgh. Carpooling recommended!

Darrell Frey, author of the newly released Bioshelter Market Garden, c 2011 by New Society Publishers is the genius behind this farm along with Linda Susan Strawbridge Frey, and many, many others Darrell credits in his book. Permaculture is all about community, redefining the way we live in these times. In the book's introduction, Darrell defines bioshelter as a "greenhouse operated as an ecosystem. " Lucky I just defined that too because my computer underlined it as if it is not a word. This is all about learning new vocabulary, and defining new ways to do things, and to be, in this culture of ours. Redefining culture as we go. Darrell defines market garden as "a commercial scale farm that supplies fresh produce to a regional market." HIs farm is a permaculture farm complete with chickens for eggs, and goats to eat the weeds. The newest amazing design in the works is to make the farm handicapped accessible.

Go to this link to register for an amazing weekend workshop with David Jacke, an amazing and original permaculturist. David will be accompanied by Liz Lynch, Juliette Jones and other permaculturists. Darrell Frey will be introducing David Jacke at an evening event the night before the weekend workshop.

http://pittsburghpermaculture.org/events/healthy-land-healthy-water-healthy-community-regenerating-pittsburgh-from-the-ground-up

See you soon! Elisa Beck www.sustainablemonroeville.com

Earth Hour and Permaculture

2011-03-26T18:39:00.000-04:00

To make a statement about climate change, Saturday evening, March 26, 2011, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM, is Earth Hour. In Pittsburgh, PA, the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh, Hamerschlag Hall at Carnegie Mellon University and other "iconic" structures in Pittsburgh will be dark for that hour. Thanks Bill Peduto of Pittsburgh City Council! Let's all turn out our lights from 8:30 to 9:30 tonight and see what it is like to be with some more natural light rhythms.

As part of the Permaculture Design Course sponsored by Phipps Conservatory, I spent the afternoon walking around a house in the Point Breeze area whose owners have done everything possible to save energy and be as mindful as possible in their lives. They've installed an amazing wood burning stove, energy efficient windows, some that absorb heat and some that repel heat depending upon the orientation, that's north, south, east or west, and lots and lots of extra insulation to seal up all holes and cracks. They even have, and use two home made composting toilets. Of course a Permaculture landscape, complete with a pond with goldfish swimming around, and what I'll call their two year old urban food forest are simply amazing. We are all on this path together!

Happy Spring and have fun with Earth Hour!

The Economics of Happiness trailer (high resolution)

2011-03-09T23:19:00.000-05:00

Training for Transition T4T in Monroeville!

2011-03-09T20:45:00.017-05:00

Mark your calendar for April 9 and April 10, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day for Training for Transition. The training, sponsored by Transition Pittsburgh, will take place at the Cedars in Monroeville and is co-sponsored by Sustainable Monroeville and the Cedars. Carpools will be set up from the city. This course is packed with imaginative and inspiring ways to catalyze, support and engage your community Training4Transition delves into both the theory and practice of Transition that has worked so well in hundreds of communities in the U.K. and around the world.

• Explore ways of increasing community resilience
• Learn to describe the challenges of Peak Oil, climate change, and economic instability in ways that bring people together and inspire action
• Receive tools for community outreach, education and creating shared vision
• Learn ways to work with obstacles that have prevented our communities from responding to the challenges
• Learn how to facilitate community collaboration -- supporting existing activities and expanding the number and diversity of people involved
• Meet others in your region who share your concerns and want to transition to greater stability and security
• Become a part of a rapidly growing positive, inspirational, global movement!

Who should attend: People interested in learning ways to transition their community, people already creating a Transition Initiative, and communities wishing to become an internationally-recognized Transition Initiative.

Instructors: Tina Clarke, certified Transition Trainer will be making her forth trip to Pittsburgh! She will be joined by Fred Brown, of the Kingsley Association in Pittsburgh and certified TransitionUS trainer.

Cost: $160. Refreshments and study materials included. All food is Potluck! (Lodging not included.) If you can donate extra money for scholarships, your generosity will help those with low incomes to attend! A small amount of work-trade spots and scholarships are available.

Registration: Send an Email with your info (name, neighborhood, affiliations) to Jeff Newman: jnewman11@gmail.com or call 814-449-3552. There is more information at our website - http://transitionpgh.org/events/training-4-transition-2-days

TransitionPgh Meetup site - http://www.meetup.com/transitionpgh/events/16850577/
Feel free to share this with anyone that might be interested!

One Woman Farm

2011-03-08T08:40:00.002-05:00

Margaret Schlass of One Woman Farm will be speaking this coming Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Cedars in Monroeville. Go to the Cedars website for details. This is in conjunction with the Cedars coffee and tea house.

David Jacke in Pittsburgh! Food Forest Heaven!

2011-03-04T21:31:00.012-05:00

Schwartz Market on Pittsburgh's Historic South Side is closing for the time being and planning for a new era in food systems and health and healing in America is beginning! Go to http://1317eastcarson.blogspot.com/ for some insights.

Join David Jacke at Chatham University and at the Phipps Garden Center the last weekend in March and through April 1. Details follow.

We will all learn together how to develop our own food forests, produce our own food on our own property and in our own neighborhoods. Clean water, pure air, real food and healthy bodies will move us into our healthy future!

Food, not lawns, is the next phase for Monroeville! Learn with us!

Healthy Land, Healthy Water, Healthy Community: Regenerating Pittsburgh from the Ground Up

Friday Lecture and Weekend Workshop by Permaculture Expert Dave Jacke

Okay, I changed my light bulbs to CFLs, I recycle and compost. What else can I do?! If you are looking for ways to delve deeper into lasting sustainable solutions, then this inspiring evening lecture and weekend workshop is just what you need to discover practical ways to create a healthy and vibrant life—and to regenerate the city in the process! Liz

Friday evening, April 29, 7-9PM, Eddy Theatre, Chatham University, Pittsburgh

Regenerating Communities, Ecosystems, and Landscapes with Permaculture

During the Friday evening lecture, explore the forest gardening vision with Dave Jacke, author of Edible Forest Gardens, as he presents “Regenerating Communities, Ecosystems, and Landscapes with Permaculture.” Learn how to create high-yielding, low-maintenance backyards with lush ripe fruit and perennial edibles, and see ample examples of existing edible Edens. Discover how this systems design model can be used for backyard growing as well as community empowerment to create an abundant future right here, right now. This event takes place on Friday April 29, 2011, from 7-9pm, at Chatham University’s Eddy Theatre.

§ Suggested donation: $10. No one turned away for lack of funds. All are welcome.

Saturday & Sunday, April 30 & May 1, 9AM-4PM 1059 Shady Ave, Phipps Garden Center

Regenerating Pittsburgh from the Ground Up

Join Dave Jacke and regional permaculture teachers for a two-day workshop, April 30^th and May 1^st, at Phipps Garden Center on Shady Avenue. Gain a fresh perspective on functional relationships in plant and human communities. Experience permaculture principles and learn how to replicate the way nature works to provide us with everything we need – food, energy, shelter, medicine, biodiversity, beauty, health, enjoyment - with minimal work in the long run. Engage with other Pittsburghers in real solutions to our region’s most pressing environmental challenges.

§ Sliding scale fee for the weekend workshop is $150- $200. Discounts for groups of 5 or more, pay only $125 per person. Scholarships available, please ask.

§ Pre-registration required, please visit PittsburghPermaculture.org or call Juliette at 412-780-5833.

Kevin May LIVE! "The Two Trees"

2011-02-26T00:33:00.002-05:00

The next meeting of Sustainable Monroeville will feature Kevin May, Philosophical, Cultural Recyclist and Transitioner speaking about life and good living. Join us on Monday evening, March 7, 2011, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at the Monroeville Public Library. We'll also do an update on our work including recycling and Permaculture Design and implementation of a vegetable garden this spring.

Annual Pot Luck Dinner

2011-02-06T09:48:00.004-05:00

Join us on Monday evening, February 7, 2011 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM for our second annual pot luck dinner in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library. Please bring along a dish that has one locally sourced ingredient or a raw food dish.

Last year we asked folks to bring along a dish with one locally sourced ingredient and it got us thinking! One member of the group brought ham from Isaly's, another a potato dish from the prepared foods section of Whole Foods that had locally sourced potatoes. Be creative! This will be a zero waste event so bring your plate, silverware and cup too!

Food and Social Change

2011-01-25T14:04:00.009-05:00

Anna Lappe will speak at Chatham University on Food Activism and social change on Wednesday evening, January 26, 2011, at 5:00 PM. Book signing follows. Admission is free. For more information call 412-365-2473 or email ajulier@chatham.edu. Directions and parking information are located here.

Her lecture, “Firing-Up Food Activism, Cooling-Down the Planet,” promises to be an inspiring talk about sustaining communities and encouraging innovative and democratic solutions to hunger, inequality, and environmental degradation. Ms. Lappé’s journey through the global food system shows us where the problems reside and what people across the globe are doing in everyday actions to challenge and change our world. Her most recent books include “Diet for a Hot Planet” and “Hope’s Edge.”Go to Chatham University website for details.

Join us at the next meeting of Sustainable Monroeville on Monday evening, January 7, 2011 in the program room of the Monroeville Public Library at 6:30 PM for a pot luck dinner. Bring along a dish that has one locally sourced ingredient, or a non-meat raw foods dish. Also bring a place setting so this can be a zero waste event. We will compost our food waste!
This will be our second annual pot luck dinner. We all needed to think long and hard about the local ingredient challenge in February. Here we go again! See you soon. :)

Living Building Renovation

2011-01-09T22:17:00.007-05:00

Check out this video by Kevin May of the Cultural Recyclists and learn something about a fascinating project in Pittsburgh's historic South Side. What can we learn from this work out here in the Pittsburgh suburbs?

Alternative Electricity Suppliers

2011-01-02T14:51:00.004-05:00

Join us on Monday evening, January 3, 2011, for our first meeting of the New Year! We will be planning speakers and happenings for this calendar year and hearing Joni James talk about an opportunity to fundraise for our organization.

Bring along your electric bill if you are ready to have your energy supplied by 20% wind energy or 100% wind energy.

Coffee for a Change and Cedars Coffee House

2010-12-10T10:56:00.004-05:00

Join the Gateway Interact Club for their annual Coffee For a Change Event. This event creates awareness about fairly traded, shade grown and organic coffee and other fair trade products. Building New Hope's coffee will be sold in addition to coffee from Equal Exchange and there will be lots of great musical entertainment by the students. The event is at North American Martyrs On Saturday evening, December 11, 2010, starting at 7:00 PM.

Also on December 11, 2010, is a tea and coffee house at the Cedars Hospice in Monroeville. Details can be found on the Cedars website.

Idea Charette

2010-11-21T14:13:00.003-05:00

Join us on December 8, 2010, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. We'll be hosting an Open House. at 1317 East Carson Street, the home of Schwartz Market. This will also be an idea charette. What is a charette anyway? In this case, a gathering of people interested in creating the new vision for a space in Pittsburgh's Historic South Side. We are forming a food cooperative in the building and also creating accessibility to the second and third floors and the roof to hatch green non-profits and businesses. We'll give tours of the historic warehouse to those that are interested. We will ask for your name and contact information and how you'd like to be involved in the project.

Building New Hope, a Pittsburgh based nonprofit organization, will be offering samples of their organically certified (OCIA), shade grown coffee from El Porvenir, a worker owned farming cooperative in Nicaragua. Artemis Environmental will display products. Architectural drawings for proposed development as a Living Building will be displayed.

The event is free and open to the public. We are engaging the South Side community and beyond in the development process. Integrative systems thinking is our future!
Special thanks to Artemis Environmental, Building New Hope, Councilman Bruce Kraus who will be making an appearance, and the South Side Local Development Company.

Please contact elisabeck@aol.com if you would like to exhibit at this event.

Green Healthy Schools Conference on November 4, 2010

2010-10-31T15:01:00.005-04:00

The Green Healthy Schools Conference will be at Phipps Conservatory on Thursday, November 4, 2010 all day.

Go to the web site of the Green Building Alliance for details.

The Natural Step Presentation Postponed!

2010-10-11T00:12:00.005-04:00

Regina Hauser, the Executive Director of The Natural Step Network in the United States will be presenting a two day seminar/ workshop sometime in November or December. Please go to http://www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org/ for details and updates.

Professor Ingraffea's thoughts on Marcellus Shale

2010-10-11T00:03:00.005-04:00

Prof. Ingraffea’s 9-Point Letter to the Marcellus Shale Industry
Letter

If the Marcellus gas industry did everything it should to make sure natural gas development is "done right," that still would not be good enough for Cornell Professor Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, Director, Cornell Fracture Group. This was presented by Dr. Ingraffea at the Marcellus Shale Conference on September 24, 2010.

The Letter I Wish Had Been Written
July 1, 2007

To: The Citizens of States Over the MarcellusFrom: The Natural Gas Industry
We are writing to ask your permission to develop shale gas in your states using high-volume, slickwater, hydraulic fracturing from long horizontal well legs (HVSHF).
Although you have allowed us to produce oil and gas from thousands of wells over many years, we recognize that we are now asking you to allow us to do much more intense development than ever before, using a technology never before used in your area. We acknowledge our development plan for your states might eventually involve over 400,000 Marcellus wells alone, with thousands more in other shales, and be valued in the trillions of dollars, over decades to come.
We have seen how such intense development with this technology has caused problems where we are using it already in gas shales. We have listened closely to your concerns about these problems, and others on the horizon, so we are writing you now to make a compact with you. We understand that you are granting us a privilege, that, collectively, all of you have to give us the right to develop your gas, because, quite honestly, our plans will significantly affect all of you, not just landowners with whom we might have a business relationship.

Therefore, if you give us the permission we seek, here are our promises to you:

1. Since we will not be developing in your area for another 2-3 years, we have time to help you prepare for our arrival:
We will immediately fund appropriate training programs in your community colleges to produce homegrown workers for our industry. We will subsidize tuition for the students who commit to work in our industry. Those workers will get right-of-first-refusal on our job openings.
We will immediately fund appropriate training programs for your emergency response teams--fire, police, medical, and spill hazards--and we will equip them at our expense.
We recognize that our heavy equipment will damage many of your roads and bridges. We will start now to pay to upgrade these so that they all remain usable not just by our equipment, but by you, too, throughout the development process. This will be a "stimulus" to help your unemployment situation now. When development is complete in an area, we will pay for final repairs necessary to leave all impacted roads and bridges in state-of-the-art condition. This will be a legacy gift to you from our industry.
We will fund the construction or upgrading of regional industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities with adequate capacity to process safely all of the solid and liquid wastes we produce. We will not truck your wastes to other states.

2. We will be transparent about our entire plan for development:
We will tell you as soon as practicable, but no later than 1 year before start of activity, where and when we will drill, and what pipelines and compressor stations will be needed where and by when.
We will publish gas and waste production figures from every well, accurately, and on-time.
We will tell you where your gas is going to market. We will not sell your gas to a foreign market.
We will disclose, completely, all chemicals and other substances we use.

3. We will accept, without debate, all new regulations that might be proposed by your regulatory agencies: your existing regulations are inadequate to cover the new technologies and cumulative impact of HVSHF. We will offer your agencies suggestions for continuous evolution of the regulations as a result of lessons we are learning.

4. With respect to your natural environment legacy:
For every tree we uproot, we will plant at least 1 replacement. We will reforest all access roads as quickly as we can, and minimize the width of all forest cuts.
We will pay a fair price for the water we extract from your lakes and rivers, which will average several million gallons per gas well.
Whatever we break, despoil, or pollute, we will repair, replace, or remediate, at our expense.

5. We will safely dispose of all liquid and solid wastes from our development:
We will never store any flowback fluids or produced water in open pits. All such fluids will be recycled to the highest extent possible by existing technologies, regardless of increase in cost to us.
All liquid and solid wastes remaining from recycling will be treated at the above-mentioned industrial waste treatment plants. We will provide radiation monitoring equipment on every well pad: any materials, including drill cuttings, leaving a well pad that trigger an alarm will be sent to a licensed radioactive waste disposal facility.

6. We will not cause an increase in any tax levy on your citizens.
We will agree to a substantial increase in permit fees to reflect the expected 4-fold increase in person-time we expect you to spend on review of permits for HVSHF.
We will agree to a state severance tax, the level of which will be floating, according to an accurate accounting of all costs to the state and municipalities.

7. We will practice what we preach about clean fuels and emissions:
Every truck, every generator, every pump, every compressor will run on natural gas--no diesel, no gasoline engines.
We will not allow uncaptured gaseous emissions from any of our processes: no evaporation from open pits, no pressure releases from compressor stations or condensate tanks.

8. We will be sensitive to noise and light pollution, even if a community does not have zoning restrictions in place to regulate such:
All of our pads and compressor stations will have sound/light suppression measures in place before startup.
Site drill pads, compressor stations, and pipelines in collaboration with the community.

9. We will not unduly stress any of your communities:
We will never experiment with drilling many wells in a small area over a brief period of time.
We will abide by all area and time restrictions on permitting.
We will never contest loss of well water use by any citizen. If a well is lost, we will replace it with whatever type of supply is requested by its owner at our expense.
We will never require a citizen harmed by our development to promise silence in return for remediation.

Finally, and humbly, we note that even our best plans and efforts will come up short, sometime, someplace, somehow. Therefore, in addition to all the contributions noted above, we also pledge to establish an escrow account which will receive 1% of the value of all gas produced from shale gas wells using HVSHF each year. This account will be administered by an independent 3rd party, advised by an independent panel you select, and will be used as an emergency fund to compensate those financially or physically harmed by our development in your state.
Thank you for your attention to our request.

The Letter I Hope Will Be Written
July 1, 2011
To: The Natural Gas IndustryFrom: The Citizens of States Over the Marcellus
We have observed, calculated, thought, done the science, and we have concluded that even “doing it right” is wrong.
No thanks.

Presented at the 2010 Rachel Carson Legacy Conference in Pittsburgh, PA on September 24, 2010
DOWNLOAD PDF version of the letter.
»
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October, 2010 Meetings

2010-10-07T20:00:00.007-04:00

Join us on October 26, 2010 at 7:00 PM in collaboration with the Monroeville Public Library for Gasland, the documentary, followed by discussion. You might find the following map interesting: http://www.marcellus.psu.edu/images/permit_animation.gif

The meetings on October 4 with Therese of Building New Hope and October 5 with Matt Mehalik of Carnegie Mellon on the Sustainability Needs Assessment for Monroeville were excellent. Thanks so much to both Matt and Therese for their time and expertise. We plan to post the assessment when possible.

Home Grown Sustainability, From Pittsburgh to D.C.

2010-09-28T09:44:00.007-04:00

My fellow classmates are part of University College at American University, which is a living and learning community. We all take the Environmental Science class, Sustainable Earth, and live in the same dorm with each other as roommates. We have the class 2 times a week with an additional lab once a week and a D.C. lab led by our leader an additional day per a week as well. It's really neat to be able to call Washington D.C. our "lab!" So far, we have participated in Freshmen Service Experience which was three days out of a week long welcome week. There were many different groups that American University, Earth Day Network, Green went to many different sites as volunteers. We went to Clagett Farm in Upper Marlboro, MD. As volunteers at this recently certified organic farm, we contributed to the volunteer work force that runs Clagett, harvesting squash, potatoes (digging them out of the ground, very tedious laborious work), and cucumbers and weeding a strawberry field.

While there are some paid workers who serve as the base for the farm, many of the workers are either working for CSA shares or as pure volunteers. In addition, we have gone to The Earth Day Network in Dupont Circle Washington D.C. and learned about their yearlong effort to educate and make changes to society. With lobbyists in Congress and people working with schools and local businesses, they gave us many opportunities to apply for internships and eventual full time jobs, opening our eyes to the importance and relevance of green jobs overall.

In addition to our D.C. labs, our actual class lab has included testing the water quality of the Potomac river in canoes and off a pier, and using those results to find the overall water quality which is not stellar but is better than it has been in the recent past. The Sustainable Earth lecture portion of the class is taught by Dr. Kiho Kim, a researcher of coral reefs. He leads the class discussion with engaging PowerPoints and goofy anecdotes of his experience in Costa Rica and other tropical sites.

Being able to live and have class with students who care about the planet and are mindful of their actions not only gives us all a greater hope for humanity, but helps us produce greater ideas for change and also study for tests. With many more D.C. field trips in the near future and many more problems to solve, the future of Sustainable Earth is exciting. American University has a major focus on sustainability including greening many roofs (which a few of us helped with, hauling rocks and soil) and focusing on locally grown food. If American University is any indicator of the future, the future looks bright. Laura Beck

Rachel Carson Legacy Conference

2010-09-12T22:13:00.003-04:00

The conference opens with views of a sustainable future, and a message from Senator Casey urging support for his legislation rescinding the Marcellus Shale exemption from the Safe Drinking Water Act.This Conference examines the health, environmental and community effects we will experience from Marcellus Shale drilling and offers solutions from other places.

We urge precautions be taken to protect our air, water and fertile land from the effects of development. We focus on building the infrastructure and the economic and social structure to move to a renewable and sustainable energy base soon.. Dr. Karl-Henrik Robert of Sweden, founder of The Natural Step framework and principles will give the keynote address, followed by Mayor Ken Melamed of Whistler British Columbia whose community has implemented a sustainable policy. We have several presenters discussing energy systems based on wind, solar, anaerobic digestion of municipal sewage or dairy manure to produce methane in a sustainable way while solving other water and land use issues. This is a provocative discussion with an eye toward moving forward now to a sustainable future.

Register at www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org

Field Trip to Westmoreland Conservation District September 22, 2010

2010-09-09T23:19:00.006-04:00

Join Us! Visit the Westmoreland Conservation District and learn about green rooftops, permeable pavement, solar and more. Formal tour with Kathy Hamilton, landscape architect, and Sustainable Monroeville 2:00-4:00 PM September 22, 2010; Informal self-guided tour of grounds 5:00-7:00 PM with Jesse John Salensky. http://www.wcdpa.com/

In collaboration with the Turtle Creek Watershed Association and the Monroeville Public Library.

Upcoming Events, August, 2010

2010-08-26T15:20:00.001-04:00

Here are three upcoming events you might be interested in:

1) This coming Friday evening, August 27 at the Blue Slide Park in Squirrel Hill, there will be a showing of the movie Gasland followed by a discussion with Josh Fox, the creator of the documentary. Live music at 8:00, outdoor movie screening at 8:30. Rain Date, August 28.

2) Sunday, August 29, the Rachel Carson Homestead Sustainable Feast on the Ninth Street, now Rachel Carson Bridge. Cost is $10.00. Noon to five PM.

3) Tuesday evening, August 31 at 7:00 PM at the Coliseum 7310 Frankstown Avenue, a joint meeting of Transition and groups forming around the Marcellus Shale issue. Come Learn!

Elisa Beck
http://www.sustainablemonroeville.com/
http://www.transitionpgh.org/

September, 2010 Meetings of Sustainable Monroeville

2010-08-25T17:21:00.005-04:00

Join us on Wednesday, September 1 from 7:00-8:30 PM at the MPL for our regular September meeting. No official speaker, so come prepared with long introductions and brainstorm and plan future sustainable projects in our town! We will re-schedule Mark Dixon of YERT at a future date!

See prior post for another exciting meeting on September 15!

Elisa Beck

Sustainable Monroeville

http://www.sustainablemonroeville.com/

http://www.transitonpgh.org/

In Danger of Falling Food: Free documentary screening and discussion

2010-08-25T17:18:00.004-04:00

In Danger of Falling Food: A Community Discussion
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Monroeville Public Library Gallery Space

Cosponsored by Sustainable Monroeville

Please join us as we view and discuss In Danger of Falling Food, an hour-long documentary about the permaculture concept featuring Australian ecologist Bill Mollison. Mollison was born in 1928 and has been called the father of permaculture, an integrated system of design encompassing not only agriculture, horticulture, architecture and ecology but also money management, land access strategies and legal systems for businesses and communities. The aim is to create systems that provide for their own needs, do not pollute and are sustainable. Mollison received the 1981 Right Livelihood Award for for developing and promoting the theory and practice of permaculture. The discussion will focus on permaculture strategies in Monroeville and will be facilitated by Kate O'Brien, Jeff Newman and Elisa Beck of Sustainable Monroeville.

Mark Hudson
Head of Adult Services
Monroeville Public Library
4000 Gateway Campus Blvd.
Monroeville, PA 15146
412-372-0500x13

Rachel Carson Legacy Conference: September 24, 2010

2010-08-23T22:12:00.003-04:00

If you pick two conferences to attend this year in Pittsburgh, make this one of them!

Challenging Marcellus Shale:
Consequences and Alternatives
Keynote Speaker: Karl-Henrik Robèrt, Ph.D., MD - one of Sweden’s foremost cancer scientists and the founder of The Natural Step.
Register Here
September 24, 2010Pittsburgh, PA

The 2010 Rachel Carson Legacy Conference : Challenging Marcellus Shale - Consequences and Alternatives will address the health, environmental and community effects Pennsylvania will face with the development of the Marcellus Shale natural gas fields.
We have gathered people from New York, Colorado and Pennsylvania with experience and expertise in evaluating hte results of the deep shale fracking industry. The Alternatives approach will be highlighted by keynote speaker Dr. Karl-Henrik Robèrt of Sweden founder of The Natural Step process for reaching a sustainable economy. He will be followed by Ken Melamed, Mayor of Whistler, B.C., who will describe the Whistler 2020 plan as implemented based on Dr. Robert's approach and a panel of renewable and sustainable energy businesses illustrating current economically viable applications of renewable energy systems. Learn more and register

Gasland - Free Film

2010-08-03T20:36:00.004-04:00

Join us for a free community screening of GASLAND, an eye-opening film about the controversial form of gas drilling called "fracking."

Time: 6pm
Date: August 5th
Location: 518 Foreland Street, Pittsburgh, PA

Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," is a process to extract oil and natural gas deep within the earth. Drillers blast water, sand and chemicals 8,000 feet into the ground. The natural gas industry says fracking will create jobs and provide cheap energy for decades. But the truth is that fracking poses a serious threat to clean air and water, biodiversity, and the health of our communities. Companies are now drilling, or seeking to drill, all throughout the Marcellus Shale: a region in the Appalachian Basin that includes large chunks of Pennsylvania which contain largely untapped natural gas reserves. And Halliburton – yes, Halliburton – is building a huge outpost in Williamsport, PA to service decades of drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

The PA Department of Environmental Protection has granted five permits for fracking sites in Allegheny County. They list two of those sites as "active."

About GASLAND - When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND. Part verite travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, part showdown."

Gasland website - http://gaslandthemovie.com/

Marcellus Shale Info - http://www.marcellus-shale.us/

EcoLakewood and Sustainable Monroeville

2010-08-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

Join us tomorrow evening, Monday, August 2, 2010 at 6:00 PM for a pot luck dinner and to hear Jen Goetchius speak at 7:00 in the program room of the Monroeville Public Library. Pot Luck: Bring a dish with at least one locally sourced ingredient if you can. Remember to bring a plate, cup, and utensils!

Jen Goetchius of Sustainable Monroeville was the creator of our Sustainble Monroeville website/ blogspot and facebook page and continues to post on these sites along with me. She also founded EcoLakewood outside of Cleveland and will be working with us to take Sustainable Monroeville to the next level! Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow evening.

Marcellus Shale

2010-07-25T22:36:00.006-04:00

Fracking is an activity that occurs in many parts of the country. While this gas extraction occurs within the state of PA and promotes the intention of "energy independence" the resources and most profits obtained from this gas drilling will not remain in the state; or possibly not even within the United States. See here for an overview.

While often coined to be "clean energy," fracking and gas drilling is NOT a clean energy process. The process actually creates imminent health issues, air pollution and both water quality and quantity issue. Within this New York Times link is a document whereby Weston Wilson, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employee and whistle blower, reveals EPA's potential failure to protect America's groundwater. His belief is that EPA's conclusion (i.e that the fracking process posses no threat to drinking water) is based on unsound science and appears to be improper under the The Safe Drinking Water Act. (SDWA).

The SDWA was amended in 2005. These amendments are currently known as the The "Halliburton loophole". The Amendments actually stripped the EPA of its authority to regulate hydraulic fracturing. It is an amazing article and well worth reading.While the gas drilling companies maintain that the fracking process is not a new process, and point to the fact that this has been going on for decades; the reality is that there have been many changes to this process that need to be scrutinized. The fracking fluid also contains many cancer causing chemicals including benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde.The fracking process also contributes to an increase of green house gasses in the atmosphere. Methane is a Green House Gas 22-25 times stronger than CO2. The Fracking process emits Methane contributing climate change.

New cameras are now being used to show the quantity of these vapors not visible with the naked eye. In addition, this link documents the problems associated with water quality and quantity issues, for example, naturally occurring radioactive materials that are leached in the process are brought to the surface. Water quantity withdrawals are a problem; a gas well can require up to 8,000,000 gallons of water per frack and a well can be fracked up to 18 times.

How many wells are currently permitted in PA? Both NYC and Pittsburgh City council have acknowledged the problems are real and have enacted temporary moratoriums until further threats can be assessed. The EPA is taking public comment about the scope of a new proposed study on fracking and is soliciting public comment before pressing forward with enacting any final regulations related to the the fracking process Please make your voice heard by attending the public meeting tomorrow or by contacting your congressmen or state representatives.

Power of 32: July 27, 2010 6:30-9:00 PM in Monroeville Council Chamber

2010-07-22T00:07:00.003-04:00

Power of 32 is the biggest regional planning project ever undertaken in the United States, involving 32 counties in four states, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland. The idea behind this undertaking is that to compete in a global economy takes the strength and cooperation of a whole region, and that to make this an attractive and vibrant and healthy place to live also takes the whole region working together. This organization recently learned about Sustainable Monroeville at the Monroeville Library, and would be so pleased if some of our members could join the Power of 32 community conversation which will take place at the Monroeville Council Chambers on July 27 at 6:30 P.M. Your passion is obviously critical to enhancing quality of life in the next 25 years, and your voices should be heard! These conversations are the first step in a three phase process to develop a citizen-driven agenda for action. The Library has fact sheets, and flyers about the July 27 meeting.

If you have questions, please contact:
Sue McLaughlin, Outreach Coordinator
Power of 32
412-606-9073

Tomer Nature Reserve in Murrysville, PA

2010-07-17T17:46:00.008-04:00

Pia, of the Friends of Murrysville Parks, led a wonderful walk through the seventeen - acre Tomer Nature Reserve of the Westmoreland Conservancy this fine Saturday morning. Pia is a naturalist and has been facilitating an appreciation of all plants that are native to Western PA and the removal of exotic invasive species at Duff Park in Murrysville for ten years. Pia pointed out many beautiful plants that we want to keep in our wooded and prairie areas of our landscapes including Joe Pye Weed and Milkweed for butterflies and bees, Mayapple, Native Dogwood, Oak saplings, Blackberries and many more species.

Pia also pointed out and pulled out many exotic invasive plants. According to the colorful flyer Pia handed me following the hike, titled, "Help Murry the Squirrel Stomp Out Invasive Plants in Murrysville Parks," these invasives include Garlic Mustard, Bush Honeysuckle, Japanese and Giant Knotweed, Japenese Stilt Grass, Burning Bush, Barberry, Japanese Honeysuckle Vine, Multiflora Rose, and Tree of Heaven. We learned to identify almost all of these species and learned even in a nature reserve it is fine to remove these species from the reserve because they do not belong there.

Exotic invasive species choke out the native species by competing with them for basic soil nutrients, sunlight and water. Pia described how Japanese Stilt Grass uses a huge amount of water and grows so dense that native saplings are unable to germinate.

I enjoyed this hike with several others who reside in and around Murrysville and look forward to Pia's visit to Monroeville to educate us too! Thanks so much Pia, Buck the trailblazer, and the others too... Elisa Beck

July 19, 2010 Sustainable Monroeville Meeting -- Alternative Design Review

2010-07-14T21:09:00.008-04:00

An Alternative Design Overview will be presented by Jeff Yeager of Octopus Organics and Jeff Newman of Steel City Soils, the Pittsburgh Garden Experiment, and Transition Pittsburgh. Meeting Date is Monday evening, July 19, 2010, at 7:00 PM at the Monroeville Public Library.

The 1-hour talk, will have 2 parts: evaluation techniques and permaculture principles for sub-urban applications. Learn about forest gardens, micro-climates, native-species, water and soil management. Both Jeffs will introduce ideas to hone your observation skills, add efficiency, and increase the production and health of your suburban homestead.

Feel free to bring along a locally sourced food snack to share. Questions? SustainableMonroeville@gmail.com

Reducing Pain Through Food Choices

2010-06-30T21:35:00.002-04:00

Can the food you choose play a role in chronic pain and symptom management?

Join integrative physician, James N. Dillard, MD, DC, Lac., formally and uniquely trained in three health professions—acupuncture, chiropractic and conventional medicine—for a day of learning, discovery and innovative hands-on cooking in a supportive environment. Dr. Dillard will discuss evidence-based causes of chronic pain, explore pro-inflammatory dietary habits and explain how he helps patients navigate from illness to wellness with conventional and unconventional modalities.

Turn Dillard’s therapeutic approaches into a reality you can taste through creative hands-on cooking and food learning experiences lead by Amanda Archibald, RD and Culinary Nutritionist, Stefanie Bryn Sacks, MS. For lunchtime enjoy the fruits of your culinary endeavors. The day will close with a panel discussion of medical, nutrition and culinary experts.

Early Registration : $60 (by July 16th )Registration : $80 per ticket
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
9AM – 2:30PM
Urban Zen Center at the Stephan Weiss Studio
711 Greenwich Street at Charles Street
New York, NY 10014

For more information, please email rsvp@urbanzen.org or call 1.212.414.8520.

2010-06-28T20:02:00.006-04:00

Has anybody heard of the musician Dana Lyons (http://www.danalyons.com/) from Bellingham, Washington? One of my favorite CD's is the one he did with Jane Goodall called Circle The World. Here's part of a recent e-mail I received from him about his alter ego, Mr. Green:

Howdy Friends and Family,

Sun Comes Out (temporarily) in Bellingham The sun has finally come out in Bellingham and the entire town is filled with smiles and overjoyous vitamin D-deficient people, myself included. Suntan lotion sales are up. Prozac down.

Dana’s New YouTube Career and Alter Ego:
Greenwashing Super Hero Mr. Green
I really had a great time filming Greenwashing Super Hero “Mr. Green” in the parking lot of the Oakland airport. After many years of singing for small environmental and social justice groups, I’ve recently become aware (thank you, US Supreme Court & the Tea Party) of the abuse that some large corporations have suffered at the hands of bullying citizens. Corporations are people too. And they have feelings, just like the rest of us. Thanks to Forest Ethics http://www.forestethics.org/ for creating this little video so that Mr. Green can help ‘share the joy’ of the greenwashing efforts of some large timber companies.

I've posted the video on my new YouTube channel: DanaLyonsTV.
http://www.youtube.com/danalyonstv
"Stay green!" - Mr. Green

Gas Lease Meeting June 28, 2010 Peters Township

2010-06-28T11:12:00.001-04:00

Peters Township Municipal Building
610 E. McMurray Road
McMurray, PA 15317
Meeting, Monday night, June 28th, 2010
7:30pm
Please attend this meeting to discuss the Gas Lease Bid and ultimate DRILLING on Peters Township Public Land!
Jet Miskis
724-942-0759

Neighbors Lawn Weed Control: What to do?

2010-06-26T15:28:00.010-04:00

Our next door neighbors just had their lawn sprayed. How do I know? Our windows were open. I heard it, saw it, felt it and smelled it. It smelled more than I have yet experienced from next door in my years living here in Monroeville, that is since 1993. I wondered why they went from the granular stuff, even though the contents are similar, to the spray...The applicator man was on a segway-like machine riding around and spraying the lawn. I went next door to ask what he was spraying. I told him it smelled more than I had ever smelled from this type of application. "Fertilizer and weed control, that's all." "And what is in the weed control, I asked?" I do not have to tell you because you are not on the government list." This applicator man went on to say, "I know where you're coming from, I'm not even wearing any kind of protection." I mentioned he ought to and he said his employer does not give him any protection and he was just doing his job.

Many years ago these same neighbors asked me to donate to the American Cancer Society. Do they see any connection between lawn chemicals and cancer, so many years later? When I see my neighbors tomorrow, I plan to suggest they start using an organic lawn care service.... I will not ask them to consider moving towards a permaculture landscape, just to use an organic lawn care service. Do my neighbors understand that even though these chemicals are legal in this country that some of these chemicals are the reason their landscape is sterile, without earthworms and life under their monoculture green grass lawn? Do my neighbors ever think about what their landscape company is doing with their grass? Do any of us realize that humans are part of the ecosystem and that what we do to our grass winds up in all of us, circulating through our blood?

Our neighbors on the other side of our home had their lawn sprayed by accident about three weeks ago. A lawn care company made a mistake and sprayed their lawn even though they were supposed to be spraying a lawn a block away with a similar address. This neighber was upset and came over and told me so. She did not know what to do. She and her family are cool. She got an in-home and outdoor composter from her family for Mother's Day this year. She told me our family has influenced her to make changes. They do not put any granular or liquid weed control on their lawn anymore. That made me feel really good. Positive change takes time and can be painful, but it is possible and after awhile it makes you feel good and understand yourself and others more deeply. Sensibilities change over time if we take the time to educate one another and teach by example.

And the BP workers at all levels are doing their job to provide our American population with cheap oil and the Marcellus Shale folks are doing their job to provide cheap gas. And what is our job to facilitate the health and healing of ourselves and our planet? How must we proceed?
I believe in the precautionary principle. Check out www.healthandenvironment.org for details on the precautionary principle. Let's figure out how to power down together in Transition! Google Rob Hopkins and In Transition, the movie, to learn more about permaculture and moving from peak oil to resilience.

Gasland Documentary

2010-06-21T08:15:00.007-04:00

On HBO, Monday, June 21st, GASLAND will be premiering on HBO. A powerful expose on the hydraulic fracturing process and the devastation it brings to communities; very relevant in light of the “fracking” permits issued in Lawrenceville and Lincoln Place. If you have HBO, please consider hosting a viewing of this documentary for your friends and family – make sure to have lots of ice cream, kittens and/or puppies to combat the very heavy, deep and real messages of this documentary. There is currently a “listening project” being planned for Lincoln Place – to gather information and build awareness of fracking in the community. If you would like to get involved, or are just interested in what this entails, contact Jim Bailey of the Lincoln Place Action Group at dromengo@gmail.com or 412-708-1430

Greening of Pittsburgh

2010-06-19T22:24:00.004-04:00

We are excited to use these occasional updates to share news about the innovative initiatives we are working on, as well as to update you on existing “green” projects in the City of Pittsburgh.

In October 2008, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl hired the City’s first-ever Sustainability Coordinator and created the Office of Sustainability and Energy Efficiency to provide guidance on greening the City’s operations and facilities. The Sustainability Coordinator is tasked with implementing the municipal recommendations of the Pittsburgh Climate Action Plan, adopted in August 2008, as well as collaborating with individuals from all departments to strengthen existing environmental initiatives and ensure that sustainability is integrated into all City operations.

Staffed by the Sustainability Coordinator and Energy and Utilities Manager, the Office of Sustainability and Energy Efficiency also serves as a work and learning space for students and young adults who work with the City through class projects, independent studies, internships and fellowships.

Did you know that the City of Pittsburgh…

Recently created a Green Guide to aid citizens in “going green” in Pittsburgh?
Gave away 2,000 tree seedlings to residents in April 2010?
Was recently recognized with ‘Bicycle Friendly’ status by the League of American Bicyclists?
Replaced all of its traffic signals with energy efficient LED models in 2008, saving nearly $20,000 per month?
Purchases 15% of its electricity from renewable wind sources?
Is one of only 25 U.S. cities to be awarded a Solar America Cities grant through the Department of Energy?
Has transformed over 120 vacant lots around the city into common green spaces through the Green Up program?
Uses a B20 biodiesel blend in all of its diesel equipment?
Collected over 13,200 tons of recyclables curbside in 2009, which is a 19.5% Increase from 2008?

To learn more about these projects, click on City of Pittsburgh

Why Food Matters

2010-06-12T15:55:00.003-04:00

It is remarkable how much progress the sustainable food movement has made in the last 18 months. Only a few years ago, in 2006, Michael Pollan’s best-selling book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma was published, highlighting 40 years of a movement and building off the wisdom of J.I. Rodale, Wendell Berry, Wes Jackson and countless other visionaries who believed that growing food in ways that improved human health, the environment, soil and communities was the best approach to an agriculture that could renew the American spirit rather than degrade it.

After years of wandering in the wilderness, the sustainable food movement has gone mainstream. Just last month Time magazine celebrated four sustainable food thinkers and doers among The 2010 Time 100 List. For those who still haven’t seen a copy of the magazine, joining Michael Pollan in the 2010 Time 100 List are Will Allen, Milwaukee urban farmer and MacArthur Genius award winner, Temple Grandin, the renowned animal scientist and Kathleen Merrigan, current Deputy Secretary at the U.S Department of Agriculture. Together, we continue to make history, proving that a united community can make positive change.

Source: Food Democracy Now and Babble Photo

Turtle Creek Greenway Project

2010-06-05T13:51:00.007-04:00

There is a scheduled Public Educational Workshop for the Turtle Creek Greenway Project on Thursday, June 17. It will begin at 5:30pm in B-Y Park with a cookout, followed by a 2.3 mile walk through the Greenway (Saunders Station Road to B-Y Park), with educational stations along the way on a variety of topics. More specifically, The Turtle Creek Greenway is recognized as a local treasure of remarkable natural beauty and ecological value that offers educational and recreational opportunities. The Greenway is part of a larger regional continuum of greenways and also serves as a resource to protect the Turtle Creek communities from flood damage. These communities have united to share in the responsibilities to remediate, protect, and preserve the Greenway for future generations. For immediate questions contact Amy Wiles, awiles@mackinengineering.com

Transition Pittsburgh Local Economy Discussion

2010-06-05T13:35:00.003-04:00

Please join us for open, public class with the team from Transition Pittsburgh at 2pm on Sunday June 6^th. We will form discussion groups based on real, practical, Pittsburgh-specific solutions. The focus will be on local economy including a hand-full of local speakers. This session will last from 2-5pm and culminate in a potluck dinner to celebrate our growing community in the Burgh. Please bring a dish and your own dinnerware.

Local Economy Discussion and Potluck Dinner

June 6, 2pm-5pm

Kingsley Association

6435 Frankstown Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206-4055

Transition PGH is one of four (as of 21 May 2010) official transition initiatives in Pennsylvania, as listed on the Transition United States website. So, what does it mean for Transition PGH to be an a formal transition initiative? In the context of the transition related movie screenings and trainings starting back in March (see the meetup group), four Pittsburghers, Elisa Beck, Greg Boulos, Mark Dixon, and Jeff Newman successfully went through the the application process described in the transition primer, to become a "Transition Hub" for Pittsburgh. Basically, the point of a hub is to facilitate the formation of local (neighborhood or borough) transition initiatives, such as the recently formed Sustainable Monroeville

[May 2010: Just to be clear, Sustainable Monroeville is not yet an official transition initiative, but it is headed somewhat in that direction. Also, as is likely to be the case with groups which are not Transition Hubs, Transition Monroeville isn't strictly about transition stuff -- it's about Monroeville.]

Art and the Environment and More

2010-06-04T09:20:00.007-04:00

The Three Rivers Arts Festival begins, June 4, 2010. Check out the EcoArcade by the Pennsylvania Resources Council, the solar powered windmills and so much more over the next few weeks.

Be sure to check out how the waste is being collected at the festival. Do you sort your waste? If so, how much of it do you recycle, re-use or compost? I spent an hour watching the waste sorting going on at the main trash area by the food stands several years ago. It is fascinating to think about the total process from where seeds come from, food production to where our waste food goes. And watching folks discard their food at the festival, with all those bins is especially fun, at least from my perspective!!!

Moni Wesner on Mushrooms

2010-06-04T09:09:00.004-04:00

Join Sustainable Monroeville on Monday evening, June 7 at 7:00 PM at the Monroeville Public Library in the downstairs program room to hear Moni Wesner on Mushrooms.

Are you a mycophile? I remember going with our family on a mushroom walk years ago and being very late for the hike. We tried to rush as we were concerned with not being able to catch up with the group. The fungus watchers we were catching up with had so much to look at and talk about that they had barely walked at all. My point is, there's lots of fungus among us to talk about!

Turtle Creek Greenway Educational Walk

2010-06-04T09:06:00.004-04:00

June 17 at 5:30 PM Public Educational Workshop at B-Y Park, Pavilion * 3, PA 130, 7th Street in Trafford, PA. Join the Turtle Creek Greenways Plan Group for this 2.3 mile hike. Wear Boots or sneakers!

First Inspired Composting Program in PA school district

2010-05-27T21:47:00.006-04:00

In the Winter of 2009, members of the Composting Team at the Citizens Climate Corps (CCC) approached Quaker Valley School District about the possibility of starting a composting program in the school district.

Composting Fact: Every ton of food waste diverted from the landfill saves 6 tons of carbon dioxide (equivalent) emissions, mostly through the avoidance of methane formation.

The US sent 25 million tons of food waste to landfills in 2005. Composting this mass would be the equivalent of removing 7.8 million passenger cars from the road.

The Composting Team is one of the action teams formed by the CCC. New action teams will be forming in the near future. If you would like to join one, please send an email to citizensclimatecorps@gmail.com. The Citizens Climate Corps - a new volunteer-led, grassroots organization in Western Pennsylvania - is sponsoring a seminar to empower citizens to approach their school districts to start food waste composting. We helped the first school district in the state get started. We can help you make a difference at your local school, too. Hope you can join us or help us spread the word!

Why Water Matters

2010-05-27T21:27:00.007-04:00

Western Pennsylvanians enjoy their rivers, streams and lakes, but do we take our water for granted? Many parts of the world are plagued with polluted water, or have limited access to any water at all. That may sound like someone else's problem, but people in the Pittsburgh region are taking innovative steps to prevent future water problems and to correct existing ones.

To coincide with World Environment Day events and the Water Matters! Global Water Conference, WQED Multimedia's OnQ program is proud to present a four-day televised (and internet accessible) series. From local water challenges to successes, from water innovators to watchdogs, the entire OnQ staff worked to bring viewers in-depth reports and interviews that remind everyone why "Water Matters" in Pittsburgh.

Monday, May 31, 2010 at 7:30pm:
Why Water Matters - OnQ begins the What's In The Water? series with an overview on the importance of preserving our region's waterways. Michael Bartley hosts a discussion forum with topics that include water sustainability, water solutions, accountability when it comes to keeping our water clean, and the economic impact on communities with or without good water systems.

Guests:
Court Gould, Executive Director of Sustainable Pittsburgh
John Stanik, Chairman, President & CEO of Calgon Carbon
Jeanne VanBriesen, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University
Jerry Paytas, Director of Research for GSP Consulting's Economic Architecture practice.

Additional programming is scheduled at 7:30 pm on the following dates:
Tuesday, June 1: “Water Run-off: Solving the Problems”, “The Fish Study”,“Three Rivers Waterkeeper”
Wednesday, June 2: “Marcellus Shale Drilling“, “Marcellus Shale Drilling Discussion”
Thursday, June 3: “Wingfield Pines”, “Nine Mile Run Rain Gardens”

Content will be available for on-demand viewing after it is televised. For a complete program listing and descriptions, visit WQED’s “What’s in the Water” web page.

Fracking for Natural Gas

2010-05-27T21:16:00.003-04:00

Here is the link to Mayor Calvin Tillman's presentation from Dish, Texas who spoke at Duquesne University about the realities of Marcellus-Barnett shale drilling. The event, which is sponsored by Duquesne University’s Center for Environmental Research and Education, covered a range of topics, from the economic impact of gas drilling in DISH to demands on infrastructure, such as roads, and water supplies, and noise issues.

Why the Environment Matters to the Economy

2010-05-26T22:53:00.006-04:00

The Bottom Line: Why the Environment Matters to the Economy and What Judaism Has To Say About It

Professor Mitch Small, one of the nation's most respected environmental experts, will describe research on the economic benefits of natural assets such as clean air, clean water, erosion control, and flood protection. He'll spell out the consequences of damaging or destroying ecosystems.

Elements of Jewish teaching will be applied to issues such as coral reef protection, mountaintop mining, riverfront open space and energy conservation.

Also featuring Rick Wice, M.S. Geology, on the future of Brownfield Development and Nick Shorr, Ph.D., Agricultural Anthropology, on the frontiers of regional composting.

May 30, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill.

RSVP to Liz Roberts at lroberts@ujfpittsburgh.org or 412-992-5214

Bioblitz in McKeesrocks, PA on May 30 at 10:00 AM

2010-05-26T22:49:00.003-04:00

Join us in the Rocks this coming Sunday, May 30, 2010 at 10:00 AM to learn about and participate in creating a Permaculture landscape in McKeesrocks, PA. Bring a shovel if you can, and be ready to dig and plant. RSVP to 412-778-0140.

Transition Pittsburgh TED talk Screening-May 28 at 7:30 PM

2010-05-26T22:45:00.005-04:00

Come hear Rob Hopkins talk about Transition in his TED talk at a screening at Kiva Han in Oakland, PA, at 7:30 PM on Friday, May 28, 2010. The TED talk screening will be followed by open discussion on Environment, Economy, Social Justice and more.

Celebration of Biodiversity with E.O. Wilson

2010-05-26T21:16:00.004-04:00

May 27, 2010 at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Visioning a New American Dream from 1:00-4:30. E.O. Wilson Public Lecture and Presentation of the Rachel Carson Legacy Award 5:00-6:15 PM; Rachel Carson Legacy Award Reception from 6:30-8:00 PM For more information go to www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org or www.pittsburghwed.com

Bee Curious or Bee Happy?

2010-05-22T08:47:00.003-04:00

Burgh Bees will be hosting the first Open Apiary of the season at the NEW 1st of its kind, Homewood Community Apiary, this Saturday, May 22 from 1pm until 3pm. Protective head equipment will be provided. Please wear or bring long sleeve shirts and long pants. Please, no open toed shoes! A $10 suggested donation to Burgh Bees is appreciated. The apiary is located on Susquehanna St off of N. Dallas ave in the Homewood section of the city of Pittsburgh. It is across from the East End Brewery. Please RSVP by May 21 to Steve Repasky.

Additionally, the Beekeeper Meetups are lively and fun! Whether you are a new beek, a seasoned beak or just bee curious, stop in say hello and become involved! meet us this Tuesday, May 25 at 700pm at the Carson City Saloon, located at corner of 14th and Carson in the Southside part of Pittsburgh! Look for us upstairs in the mezzanine! No RSVP required!

Source: Burgh Bees is an all-volunteer organization that supports beekeeping in Pittsburgh.

Rachel Carson Homestead

2010-05-22T08:38:00.003-04:00

I attended a tour of the Rachel Carson Homestead in Springdale PA today. The Rachel Carson Homestead is the birthplace and childhood home of Rachel Carson, one of the founders of the modern environmental movement. The tour, led by the Executive Director of the Homestead, Patricia DeMarco, included four young adults and an interpreter from Argentina. They are visiting Rotarians and are being hosted this week in the Eastern suburbs. What an inspirational tour of the RCHA and an inspirational group of young adults. See below how you can take action against pesticides. I hope we have inspired these young Argentinians to be environmentally proactive in their country!

By: Elisa Beck, Sustainable Monroeville Member

Are you a MYCPHILE or a MYCOPHORE? June 7, 2010 at 7:00 PM

2010-05-21T11:08:00.007-04:00

Are you a MYCPHILE or a MYCOPHOBE? What comes to mind when you hear the word FUNGUS or MUSHROOM?

Moni Wesner will present an introduction into the fascinating plant kingdom of fungi.
Fungi are masters in SUSTAINING the health of forest, field and gardens. Quite a few are good to eat, and have tremendous medicinal and nutritional values for us.

Join Sustainable Monroeville on Monday evening, June 7, 2010, at 7:00 PM for brief introductions, a brief business meeting and Moni Wesner on Mushrooms!

Mosside Middle School, Monroeville, PA

2010-05-14T14:06:00.005-04:00

Judy Bailey of the NAACP and Sustainable Monroeville, and Elisa Beck of Sustainable Monroeville partnered to do a presentation for students in six sixth grade classrooms at Mosside Middle School (MMS) today. We talked about the meaning of Sustainabilty as encompassing the triad including economy, social justice and environmentalism. We asked these young adults if they had ever heard of either organization, and how many of them had vegetable gardens. We encouraged them to come to our meetings with their parents, grandparents, and guardians, and get involved in community projects. We also challenged them to talk to us through facebook if they are allowed to do so, and by e-mailing to sustainablemonroeville@gmail.com.

Let the conversation and action begin! Thanks Pam Barroso a parent at MMS and a Sustainable Monroeville member for skillfully organizing this event. We are on the road to Monroeville becoming a proud Transition Community!

Please join us at the next meeting of Sustainable Monroeville on Monday evening, June 7 at 7:00 PM at the Monroeville Public Library to meet some of your neighbors and hear Moni Wesner speak on Mushrooms. Sustainable Monroeville meets once a month at the Monroeville Public Library. The meeting schedule is listed at www.sustainablemonroeville.com Join us on facebook!

Transition South Side - Wednesday May 12 at 1:00 pm

2010-05-08T08:04:00.005-04:00

Transition is about powering down, yet regaining energy on so many levels. Energy conservation, developing community, social equity and economic stability are all part of the mix.
See a community in action and learn how you can get involved in transitioning your community to be part of the web of life, yet independent too! Meet with us on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Conservation Consultants (CCI), 64 South 14th Street in the South Side of Pittsburgh. We will be discussing the transition of a food market as the anchor for community change. Bring your ideas and join us!

Bioblitz Today, May 8, Join Us!

2010-05-08T07:57:00.004-04:00

What is a bioblitz anyway? Imagine gardening and learning with friends and making new friends while creating a permaculture landscape. Then imagine those friends coming to your home or apartment complex to help you do the same thing~Join us today between 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM in McKeesrocks for the first bioblitz. Shovels and gloves a welcome addition! To RSVP call 412-778-0140.

A Toxic Spew

2010-05-04T21:02:00.003-04:00

The horrific news about the BP offshore platform explosion is raising our awareness about drilling, oil dependency and corporate profits. With events unfolding, many point to simple pure negligence resulting in a bleeding oil gusher.

This event prompts us to connect more closely with the concern in the what underlies our community connection in the Marcellus Shale. To focus more clearly, hot off the press from Newsweek is insight into "fracking" oil and gas. How do you think this story unfolds for Western PA?

Image Source: Newsweek 2010

Public Transportation and Community

2010-05-03T08:38:00.006-04:00

Yesterday I, Elisa Beck, went to PennFuture's Conference on Creating a Climate for Justice. I knew there was a lot going on in Pittsburgh yesterday, the Pittsburgh Marathon, a Penguin's game, the University of Pittsburgh's graduation and of course the conference I attended at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. I decided to take public transporation for part of the journey. I don't remember the last time I rode on a bus. I was motivated to take public transportation to go to this conference on climate change and social justice. After all, I wouldn't have to bother with my car, traffic and parking. And of course, I would be lowering my carbon footprint.

My husband was traveling from Monroeville into the city and dropped me off at the corner of Murray and Forbes so I could catch the 61 A,B, or C bus into town. I was running very early, so I waited in line with my umbrella in front of Pamela's. I met two very nice people while standing in line. This couple and I had a wonderful conversation over the course of the next hour, as I accepted their invitation to sit with them for brunch. They each ordered the breakfast special, so I did too. I realized it was like two meals for me, but ordered it anyway. Once I had finished eating the eggs and home fries, I needed a rest. I was determined not to leave a plate full of banana walnut hotcakes to go to waste. After all, Pamela's does not yet compost as far as I know, and I did not want to have to ask for, and use, a wasteful container to take the food with me and carry it on the bus. I realized with each moment how using public transportation can help to streamline one's existence.

Terri Taylor filmed the PennFuture Conference and it will be posted to this site just as soon as PennFuture makes it available. How interesting my traveling experience was yesterday!

Your Garden Soil: An Underground City

2010-05-01T14:29:00.003-04:00

Join us on Monday evening, May 3, 2010, at the Monroeville Public Library from 7:00-8:30 PM at our regular May meeting. Jeff Newman of Steel City Soil will be our featured speaker. He'll be talking about and showing us some soil. Where does soil come from anyway? Why care about soil quality?

Harvey, one of the participants in the recent organic gardening workshop, was amazed that the rich black compost he saw in the wheelbarrow was made from the leftover vegetable clippings and leftover fruit scraps from the household waste stream. Do you compost your food scraps yet?

You Are What You Eat

2010-04-28T20:27:00.002-04:00

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) always recommend eating more fruits and veggies and buying them organic if you can, but we know that sometimes they're too expensive or flat-out unavailable. That's why they have created the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides (download here). You’ll be able to know which fruits and vegetables have the lowest pesticide residues and which you should try to always buy organic. This guide was created in partnership with renowned medical expert on natural health and wellness, Dr. Andrew Weil. He shares below in his video that making healthy food choices is simple and leads to money saved and improved quality of life.

Octopus Organic Gardening

2010-04-18T11:05:00.000-04:00

The hardest thing about vegetable gardening is getting started. This is your chance to get inspired, get your hands in the soil and maybe learn a few things you didn't know about starting a vegetable garden in your back yard.

Join Jeff Jaeger of Octopus Organic Gardening on April 29th from 4:00-7:00 PM in Monroeville, PA. We will create two different styles of garden bed, discuss soil, compost, organic growing, and plant a few seeds, vegetable starts and maybe a surprise or two. We will also be sharing a simple pot luck dinner.

The fee for this small group event is $20 and all participants will go home with a packet of information and a small goody bag. Please RSVP and send questions to jefryone@gmail.com

Rally To Save Our Forests

2010-04-17T16:18:00.004-04:00

Start your day by making a difference, and join us for a rally to support our remarkable state forests on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 9-10AM at the Governor's office (301 Fifth Avenue).

You will hear from:

Jan Jarrett, PennFuture President and CEO
Doug Shields, Pittsburgh City Council Member
Lisa Brown, Director of Operations and Outreach, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association
Tom Hoffman, Western Pennsylvania Director, Clean Water Action

Currently the state legislature is moving forward with a budget plan that relies on new natural gas drilling leases on state forest land to cover the budget shortfall - threatening our public natural resources and compromising public access to our forest land. We need forest heroes- our legislators and Governor Rendell must pledge not to support a budget that relies in drilling in forests. Instead, they need to enact a gas extraction impact fee to pay for the damage to natural resources and communities that drilling causes. Our legislators need to support the impact fee and the Save our Forests legislation (HB 2235), which puts a five year freeze on new deep natural gas drilling leases in state forests.Gather your friends and come downtown to show your support for protecting our state forests.If you'd like to attend this event, click here.

Best wishes, and let me know if you have any questions.
Joylette Portlock
Ph.D.Western Pennsylvania Outreach Coordinator
Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture)
412-258-6682

Sustainable Needs Assessment: Final Presentations

2010-04-10T16:21:00.002-04:00

As the intense period of activity related to completing sustainable community needs assessment projects increases throughout this final month of the spring semester, I wanted to send an invitation to you and your colleagues for attending the final presentation briefings and presentations of these projects.

The final briefings will take place from 5:30 – 8:30 pm on April 21 and 28, 2010 in Room 1000 of Hamburg Hall on Carnegie Mellon’s Campus. Light refreshments and beverages will be served for the occasion to celebrate the achievements the students have achieved for your community and six others in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Please RSVP if you and your colleagues are able to attend.

The specific schedule of presentations will take place as follows:
April 21, 2010
5:45 – 6:25 Verona Borough
6:25 – 7:05 Municipality of Monroeville
7:05 – 7:45 Swissvale Borough
7:45 – 8:25 Discussion

April 28, 2010
5:45 – 6:25 City of Pittsburgh/Allegheny County Hard to Recycle Center
6:25 – 7:05 Central Northside Neighborhood Committee
7:05 – 7:45 Wilkinsburg Borough
7:45 – 8:25 Tarentum Borough

In years past there were many opportunities to learn about many of the creative ideas that are proposed for several communities by seeing the presentations of several teams; however, attendance for all presentations for a given evening is not required. We want to respect the busy schedules that you keep. Please feel free to pass this invitation along to colleagues who have interacted with the student team and/or who would benefit from this event.

Please RSVP or direct questions to mmehalik@sustainablepittsburgh.org

Women's Health and Environment Event

2010-03-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 21, 2010, for the 2010 Women's Health and the Environment Conference at the David Lawrence Convention Center. Elisa Beck, team leader for Sustainable Monroeville, was involved in planning the first Pittsburgh Women's Health and the Environment Conference in 2007 when she was the Coordinator for Collaborative on Health and the Environment in Pennsylvania. Some of the speakers this year include:

Teresa Heinz: Chairman of Heinz Endowments and Heinz Family Philanthropies
Will Allen: CEO of Growing Power, Inc.
Lisa Jackson: Administer for U.S. EPA
See all speakers here.

The conference is FREE and open to the public and is a fabulous networking and educational opportunity. See the agenda here and register as soon as registration begins!

April 20, 2010 Free Transition Movie Screening

2010-03-22T16:57:00.003-04:00

Free movie screening and small group discussion of the Transition movie on Tuesday evening, April 20, 2010, at 7:00 PM at the Monroeville Public Library in collaboration with the Library!

Brainstorming, Networking, Open-Space Forums Topics will include Food, Energy, Waste, Transport, Economy, Art, Heart, Creative Land Use, or Host your own!

April 5, 2010 meeting with AJ Stones and Groundwater Up

2010-03-22T15:21:00.002-04:00

The April meeting of Sustainable Monroeville is on Monday evening, April 5, 2010, at 7:00 PM in the program room of the Monroeville Public Library. Join us to hear AJ Stones, Master Green Builder and to see the movie trailer from Groundwater Up introduced by Bob and Tirza Mason. Our meetings start with introductions of those in attendance followed by the speakers and Q& A. Join Us!

Flick of a Switch

2010-03-11T20:39:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, March 27th, at 8:30pmEST, millions of people around the world will call for action on climate change by doing one simple thing - turning off the lights for one hour. This intiative lead by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour symbolizes that by working together, each of us cn have a positive impact in the fight against climate change. Become an Earth Hour supporter where you can join the cause here with friends and family members.

Transition Pittsburgh Training

2010-03-04T21:22:00.004-05:00

TransitionPGH is proud to announce that our city have been selected to host a training for transition (T4T)! Two trainers from our national organization will visit for a two-day intensive training. Training for Transition is the popular, in-depth experiential workshop brought to the U.S. by the international Transition Network. The course describes how to set up, run, and maintain a successful Transition Initiative. It is packed with imaginative and inspiring ways to engage your community, and delves into both the theory and practice of Transition that has worked so well in hundreds of communities in the U.K. and around the world. It meets the training requirement for local initiating groups to become an internationally-recognized Transition Town.

Location: Kingsley House, 6435 Frankstown Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Date: March 13-14, 9am-5pm, 2 days!
Food: A POTLUCK Lunch and snacks are provided. Cost is $200 for 2 days with 2 trainers from TransitionUS. Some scholarships will be given if there is a legitimate need or trade agreement.

Register Here or email jeff@ecoburgh.org

We are limited to 40 spots so RSVP soon!

Watchdogs of Toxic Waters

2010-03-03T22:11:00.012-05:00

Stephanie Simmons, the Water Chair for the Sierra Club asked at our March meeting: Have you heard of the Marcellus Shale? If you haven’t, then you might have asked at one point…can we utilize the kind of drilling processes currently undertaken safely, without significant damage to the environment, communities, and water quality? Stephanie guided us through the lack of disclosure from companies concerning types of chemicals used in the process including the lack of legislative prowess to get in front of the process, instead of significantly behind it. Also DEP's role in regulating, taxing, and leaving one with a simple question: is that enough to protect the commonwealth and its people from a potentially devastating hazard? Has the true cost of operating unconventional horizontal well drilling been calculated? Everyone, even the oil and gas professionals agree, the answer is no. To the degree of liability and culpability there is a dividing line. Some companies have sold their land to sub-contractors because they now realize the risk may be too great to absorb for them, and probably, for us as well.

What follows is Jay Sweeney's enlightening story behind the Marcellus Shale. Jay is the Green party candidate running for the 111th District of the State of Pennsylvania.

In 2008, I was running for State Representative in the 111th District. I attended a League of Women Voters meeting. Everyone was asking, “Did you sign a lease yet?” It was then that I learned of the Marcellus Shale. The Marcellus Shale is a sedimentary black shale. It is located beneath most of Pennsylvania with the exception of the southeastern part of the state. It is also found beneath parts of Ohio, West Virginia and New York. It is named the Marcellus due to it’s outcropping near the town of Marcellus, New York. In Pennsylvania, it is located between 5,000 and 10,000 feet below the earth’s surface several thousand feet below the fresh water aquifer, which is around 400 feet. Trapped between the shale is natural gas. The Marcellus also contains uranium, and the radioactive decay of the uranium-238 makes it a source of radioactive radon gas.

I then learned about the landsmen. They approached landholders to sign mineral leases with them. They were given sign on bonuses and the promise of future royalties. This all began quietly as early as 2005 with landsmen offering large landholders such as farmers $15.00 per acre. Today they are paying $6000.00 per acre. Dr. Terry Engelder, Professor of Geology at Penn State University was the co-author of a scientific paper on the economic and geologic opportunities of the Marcellus Shale formation. He estimates there is between 160 and 525 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Marcellus with about 50 tcu recoverable. This is enough to meet the nations needs for 2 years. Since then estimates have rapidly risen to a 14-year supply, 50 year supply and finally to 100 year supply.

Drilling in the Marcellus is considered unconventional and utilizes a procedure developed by Halliburton called hydrofracturing. As the name suggests, water mixed with sand and chemicals is forced through the shale under pressure to crush the shale and release the gas. Each fracking operation requires 1 to 3 million gallons of water per well. Wells can be fracked several times. While only 5% of the fracking fluid is composed of chemicals, 50,000 gallons of chemicals are used per million gallons of water. The fracking companies claim the formula for their fluids are proprietary. They do not want to release the information about the chemical content.

Before the hydrofracturing, a borehole is drilled. It goes through the aquifer and continues for at least a mile. When it approaches the shale it is curved to run horizontally through it. Then the borehole is cased with pipe. A second layer of pipe is inserted and the well is cased with concrete. A series of explosives are detonated in the area to be fracked, initiating the fissures needed to release the gas. Horizontal drilling allows drilling in several directions from one well and several wells can be drilled from one pad. The number one environmental problem associated with this drilling is the threat to our water, although there is also fragmentation of the land. Drilling pads of up to 5 acres are cleared for each operation. There is also the release of methane, the principal component of natural gas. As a greenhouse gas, Methane is 20 times more dangerous than Carbon Dioxide. Truck traffic, road damage and noise are just a few more of the environmental problems associated with natural gas drilling.

Getting back to water, millions of gallons of water are used in the hydrofracturing process. Roughly one half of the water remains in the ground and the rest returns to the surface. This water contains total dissolved solids that make it 5 times saltier than seawater. It contains the chemical additives, which have been found to include carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. It is also potentially radioactive. This water is now industrial waste and must be treated as such. However, there are few facilities available to handle this type of waste. The drilling pads contain pits where this water can be stored. It is subject to leaks, overflow from heavy rain or snowfall and exposes waterfowl and wildlife to these toxins. It is going to municipal wastewater treatment plants, which are not equipped to properly handle industrial waste. This water is being diluted with the treated water and dumped into our rivers and streams. This resulted in problems with total dissolved solids in the Monongahela River this summer. The Monongahela provides drinking water to many downstream communities.

In addition, this wastewater is dumped on roads for dust control and can be used in the winter to pretreat roads prior to snowfall. All of these activities were permitted by DEP even before it was gutted in the recent budget signed by Governor Rendell. DEP has not lived up to its mission, which reads as follows to protect Pennsylvania’s air, land and water from pollution and to provide for the health and safety of its citizens through a cleaner environment. We will work as partners with individuals, organizations, governments and businesses to prevent pollution and restore our natural resources.

DEP is understaffed, underfunded and cannot possibly monitor activity at the wells. The Oil and Gas industry expects to apply for 5200 permits in 2010; three times more than in 2009! DEP has raised the cost of a permit and these funds will be used to hire more employees. This means that the industry that is subject to DEP regulation and monitoring is now funding the agency. DEP does not plan to regulate the wastewater until treatment plants come online in 2011. Yet, it has streamlined the permitting process to drill a well. The treatment plants that do come online in 2011 will not be sufficient to handle the volume or properly cleanse the wastewater before it is dumped into our rivers and streams. That volume has been estimated to be nearly 20 million gallons per day. At the request of the oil and gas industry DEP Secretary John Hanger removed the County Conservation districts from any oversight or regulatory role in natural gas drilling. Hanger stated that with all of the drilling, there is bound to be environmental impact, but the economic benefit would outweigh the environmental harm. The Green Party of PA called for his resignation.

There have been numerous environmental incidents in the past couple of years. In western PA, there was the contamination of the Monongahela River and the drinking water supply of many area residents. There was the destruction of Dunkard Creek. Atlas Resources was cited for violations at 13 wells, including spills of fracturing fluids and other contaminants onto the ground around the sites. M.R. Dirt, a company that removes waste from drilling sites, spilled more than 7 tons of drilling dirt along a public road. Range Resources spilled nearly 5,000 gallons of wastewater, including hydraulic fracturing fluids, into a tributary of Cross Creek Lake, a protected watershed near Pittsburgh. In NEPA, There was a diesel spill of several hundred gallons in a wetland, there was a frack fluid spill of several thousand gallons that resulted in a fish kill, and there were unregulated water withdrawals from streams. DEP responded with fines that could hardly be described as punitive to companies that generate revenues of hundreds of millions to billions of dollars. Atlas resources paid $85,000 for its offenses. Mr. Dirt paid $6,000 for its violations. Cabot Oil & Gas Company had a litany of violations. Cabot entered into a consent agreement with DEP and negotiated a $120,000.00 fine. One of Cabot’s most egregious violations occurred on January 1, 2009. There was the explosion of a well housing for the water supply of Norma Fiorentino in Dimock. Methane had accumulated beneath the concrete slab over her well. A spark from the electrical connection to her pump ignited the methane.

Norma and others in Dimock could no longer use their once pristine water supply. Water from the faucet could be ignited. It looked and smelled bad. People got sick from drinking it. Cabot denied that this was a result of their operations. DEP studied and recommended that Cabot supply water to some, but, not all of the affected homes. Norma Fiorentino was not one of the residents to receive water. She and other Dimock residents pleaded with Cabot. Cabot still refused. When she asked if she would have to initiate a lawsuit, a Cabot lawyer told her you’ll lose. Finally fed up, a group of 15 families filed a lawsuit against Cabot for polluting their water, medical problems and the loss of value of their property.

I should point out that the Oil and Gas industry is exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, EPA hazardous waste regulations which require a cradle to grave tracking system and more. Other regulatory agencies involved in the process in NEPA include the Susquehanna and Delaware River Basin Commissions. They regulate water withdrawals from streams and rivers associated with their respective rivers. Drilling companies must apply to these agencies before they withdraw any water from the basin. In fact, at least one company was fined for illegally taking water from a stream. Despite claiming to produce local jobs, many of those employed in the drilling industry are transients and bring with them an increase in crime. There has also been a housing issue. As these people move into the area rental values go up and locals are finding difficulty locating affordable housing.

What can we do?

We have formed a watchdog group called Citizens for Clean Water. Members of our group attend public meetings held by DEP and others including Penn State. These meetings are supposed to answer questions and suppress the fear of the public. They tend to be favorable to the industry, but the opposition is growing. One thing that I have learned over the course of attending these meetings for the past year or so is that no one owns the water. It is a commonwealth resource. This is where we have a right and a need to speak out. Private landowners have a right to lease their land, but, they do not have a right to utilize and deplete our water resources to enrich themselves and even more so the oil & gas companies.

Citizens for Clean Water were on hand when an 8,000 gallon frac fluid spill occurred at a drilling site. They documented the spill with video recorders and called DEP to complain. Cabot Oil & Gas was supposed to report this incident, which were actually 3 separate spills over a couple of days, but they did not until Citizens for Clean Water discovered it. Cabot was prohibited from hydrofracturing in the area until they complied with DEPs requirements. Unfortunately, that only lasted 2 weeks. We had Ben Price from the Community Environmental Defense Fund come and speak about the CELDF strategy of passing local ordinances prohibiting offensive behaviors. While I think this is a great strategy, in an area where most have signed a lease and expect to become millionaires, this would be extremely difficult to implement.

Another thing I have learned is that DEP is answerable to the Environmental Protection Agency. We must address our grievances to the EPA. The gas companies would rather deal with the state agencies and why not. They have had their way with DEP. Senator Casey is a co-sponsor of the Fracturing Responsibly and Awareness of Chemicals Act, FRAC Act for short, which would require the industry to disclose the chemicals it uses in hydrofrackturing and subject it to the Safe Drinking Water Act. The oil & gas industry opposes the Act. I personally don't think it goes far enough.

If drilling is planned near you, you should get a comprehensive water test done. If your water becomes contaminated, you will need this water test to validate your claim. To stand up in court, a professional must do it with no interest in your property. A chain of custody needs to be established for the water samples and an EPA certified lab must test them. This is costly, about $1,000, but necessary. You may also want to get an appraisal of your property. If your property value declines due to drilling, you could also present this evidence to the courts.

Finally, there is direct action. I believe we should use Earth Day to assemble outside DEP offices across the Commonwealth to demand that DEP fulfill its mission and protect our environment from the oil & gas industry. The Governor and General Assembly are also responsible. They have sworn to uphold the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which includes, Article I, Section 27. The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people. The failure of the Governor, our State Senators and State Reps to uphold the constitution makes them liable for damages and potential defendants in future lawsuits. We must stand up to these elected officials and challenge them at the polls.

Sustainability Needs Assessment for Monroeville, PA

2010-03-03T21:51:00.005-05:00

Three students from Carnegie Mellon University are currently doing a Sustainability Needs Assessment for Monroeville, PA. These students are in the Sustainable Communities course this semester, Spring, 2010, taught by Professor Matthew Mehalik. Two of the students and 10 Sustainable Monroeville members attended a council study session 0n February 4, 2010, when Professor Mehalik presented to Monroeville council about this wonderful program. The meeting is availabe for viewing at the Monroeville public library.

One of the students, Ian Newborn, attended the March 1, 2010, Sustainable Monroeville monthly meeting and asked that any ideas to work towards a sustainable future for Monroeville be shared! We are looking for ideas and suggestions relating to Economics, the Environment, and Social Justice, the triple bottome line. We are working towards a green future for Monroeville and are looking for any and all input!

We welcome ideas from residents, businesses, religious institutions, business owners, government officials and employees, and others that live, work and play in Monroeville or in the surrounding suburbs in and around Pittsburgh, PA. E-mail to sustainablemonroeville@gmail.com or put a post on this blog with your comments, suggestions and ideas! We welcome input from residents, business owners, religious institutions, politicians and anyone and everyone in and around Monroeville and the Pittsburgh region.

Van Jones Bringin' the Spirit

2010-02-25T07:00:00.001-05:00

Van Jones is America's champion for green jobs. A former White House employee that embodies the spirit of the NAACP Image Awards - an entrepreneurial spirit that comes with a sense of social responsibility. His plan to retool the American economy by creating millions of new "green collar" jobs is groundbreaking, not only because it opens up a new sector of American industry, but also because it does so in a way that creates jobs and protects the environment.

Since 1970, the NAACP Image Awards have celebrated the best in African American Arts and Culture. It is an awards ceremony that honors the aspirations and dreams of all Americans, told from an African American perspective. The President's Award has traditionally honored those whose achievements in public life have been game changing. Recent honorees have included Muhammad Ali, Ruby Dee and President Bill Clinton.

Please be sure to tune in to the live broadcast this Friday, February 26, on FOX at 8:00pm EST. You will also get a chance to see Tyler Perry, Mo'Nique, Morgan Freeman, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Taraji P. Henson and other leaders of the entertainment world walk the red carpet. And do not miss out on exclusive mobile updates here.

Farm to Table: Eat Local Food

2010-02-24T19:00:00.000-05:00

Come and find out where you can buy local milk, cheese, grains, produce, meats and more. There will be a Farm to Table event on Friday and Saturday, March 26 & 27 from 10am to 5pm, at the David Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. Tickets are required to enter and include food tasting, giveaways, cooking demonstrations and speaker series by doctors and healthcare experts.

To learn more about the event, click here.

For the Friday night food tasting info, click here.

March Meeting

2010-02-24T10:59:00.004-05:00

Our next public meeting is scheduled for March 1st, Monday, at 7pm at the Monroeville Public Library. Our guest speaker will be Stephanie Simmons, chair of the Water committee for Sierra Club-Alleghany County. Please join us as we discuss open issues about improving water quality and sharing best practices.

Save Turtle Creek

2010-02-22T16:55:00.004-05:00

Ever heard of Turtle Creek Stream Valley? Well, it needs your help and passion to save a unique stretch of 6 miles in the valley.

The Turtle Creek Greenway Plan Study Committee wants to hear your ideas about conservation, recreation and restoration potential for about 6 miles of the Turtle Creek Stream Valley. It is recognized as a local treasure of remarkable natural beauty and ecological value that offers educational and recreational opportunities. The Greenway encompasses the gorge and is part of a larger regional continuum of greenways and also serves as a resource to protect the Turtle Creek communities from flood damage. These communities have united to share in the responsibilities to remediate, protect, and preserve the Greenway for future generations.

Fast forward to 2010 and a DCNR grant in their pocket, the team is working in close cooperation with the Regional Trail Corporation, four municipalities, both counties, and assorted other stakeholders to evaluate the feasibility of such a project. Some of the land under consideration is already public, but much is private. Diane Selvaggio, executive director of the Turtle Creek Watershed Association, said little money is available from the state or foundations to buy land, but a study of what do with the area could help obtain funding. "It's really quite a jewel in a fairly urban suburban setting," Selvaggio said. "Many of those involved in this project feel one of the best ways to preserve a natural area is to put a trail through it so the community realizes it is a community asset."

The working group is now prepared to update the general public on the progress and to collect more information that will help us make smarter decisions as we proceed. The first public meeting introducing the Turtle Creek Greenway project concept to the community will be held this Wednesday, the 24th, at the Murrysville Senior Center (3091 Carson Avenue) starting at 7:00 p.m. Join us!

Turtle Creek Greenway Project

2010-02-22T11:15:00.006-05:00

To learn more, come to the public meeting of the Turtle Creek Greenway Plan on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 from 7:00-9:00 PM at the Murrysville Community Building at 3091 Carson Street in Murrysville, PA. Provide input on opportunities related to recreation and conservation. The project involves 6 miles along Turtle Creek an d involves Trafford Borough, Penn Township, Monroeville and Murrysville.

The goals of the project are to preserve the integrity of natural, recreational, and cultural resources; manage adverse impacts to the Greenway and its ecosystem from stormwater damage; raise public awareness (yes, so come to this meeting!) and encourage stewardship of natural resources; encourage the Greenway as a destination and encourage ecotourism, and much more. For questions, contact Amy Wiles of Mackin Engineering at 412-788-0472, or Malcolm Sias of Westmoreland county Parks and Recreation at 724-830-3968.

Transition Pittsburgh Event

2010-02-17T19:36:00.005-05:00

Join the up Meetup site of Transition Pittsburgh to sign up to attend the first public meeting of Transition Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is now officially a transition initiative town, number 58 to be exact! All of Allegheny County is included, so of course Monroeville is part of it too! To learn more about what Transition is, check out the book called The Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins, copyright 2008.

Even if you don't sign up to come to the meeting, attend the event on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 anyway! The event will take place at the First United Methodist Church at 5401 Center Avenue at Aiken Avenue in Shadyside. There will be a free movie screening and small group discussion including brainstorming, networking, and open space forums on the topics of food, energy, waste, transport, economy, art, heart, creative land use, or host your own! Bring along a friend or two. For more information contact jeff@ecoburgh.org

Protect the Alfalfa

2010-02-14T15:42:00.004-05:00

I, Elisa Beck, worked for the United States Department of Agriculture when I was an undergraduate at the University of Maryland studying Biology with an emphasis in Ecology back in the early 1980's. We isolated the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) from the environment and worked with it in our laboratory. Bt was used as a biological insecticide at that time. Its commercial name was Dipel. My understanding at that time was that it was an excellent alternative to chemical insecticides as it will biodegrade, or disappear from the environment within a short time period. I believe it was Monsanto that then incorporated Bt into the genetic code of corn and created Bt corn.

I remember panicking and calling the scientists I worked with at the time, Phyllis Martin and Russell Travers, both Ph.D.'s and employees of the USDA. I knew the physiology of how Bt worked. It disrupted the gut of lepidptera larvae (moths and butterflies) and basically blew the animal larvae to pieces.

What would happen to our butterfly and moth populations, I wondered? And how would it affect the human population and all other living species in between?

Phyllis Martin reassured me not to worry, that baby food would always be protected. She did mention that there would certainly be unintended consequences. These unintended consequences are happening in our world every moment now. Whenever the pollen from Bt corn is ingested by a butterfly or moth it not only kills that individual insect, but prevents that insect from pollinating other flowers.

The huge experiment that is being conducted by Monsanto (most recently they want to start a new experiment with Alfalfa) is unacceptable. Once the population at large begins to grasp the enormous complexity of what is going on and how this company called Monsanto is experimenting with the genetic structure of humanity, I am certain any human being that can will express a resounding "NO" to Monsanto's plan. I urge you to go this link and work to to reject Monsanto's application to market GMO alfalfa.

Coal Free Future Project

2010-02-09T21:05:00.002-05:00

Get off the couch, and join us for an evening with award winning journalist Jeff Biggers, filmaker Ben Evans and actress Stephanie Pistello as they share, "Coal Free Future Project." This film will plug you into the movement to stop mountain top removal of coal and create a road map for a coal free future. This evening event will also include a short reading from Bigger's new memoir, "Reckoning at Eagle Creek: The Secret Legacy of Coal." And we can't forget YERT (Your Environmental Road Trip). The hilarious, eye-opening eco-comedy for all.

WHEN: Thursday, February 11th, 8pm
WHERE: The Union Project, 801 N. Negley Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Get Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/98397

Buy Local. Eat Local

2010-01-31T12:00:00.005-05:00

Join us tomorrow evening, February 1, 2010, for the one year anniversary pot luck dinner and meeting of Sustainable Monroeville. The festivities will be in the downstairs program room of the Monroeville Public Library. Dinner begins at 6:00 PM. Remember to use one locally sourced ingredient in your dish, but do not be intimidated or scared away by this request, come anyway! Remember to bring your own bowl, utensils and a cup for Building New Hope coffee (local Non-profit!)

The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM and end at 8:30 PM. Dave Boulos of Blackberry Meadows Organic Farm, will be the speakers. Blackberry Meadows has been at the Monroeville Farmer's Market for a few years already! Our question this month during introductions will be, What does locally sourced food mean to you? We'll talk!

LEED in Monroeville

2009-08-20T13:11:00.001-04:00

John Silvestri is on the board of The Cedars, a local assisted living and skilled nursing facility in Monroeville. John spoke previously at our July meeting about his experiences with the current "green" addition that is being built right now. The plan is to construct the first LEED building in Monroeville, and it is scheduled to be completed before the UPMC structure.

This could develop into something wonderful for the entire Municipality of Monroeville. John is incredibly engaged with the project and pushing the limits of what what initially proposed. It is all fabulous! I'm not sure if John is aware of how much stormwater management is on the minds of the municipal officials at this moment; however, in cooperation with Sustainable Monroeville, we will be able to educate council and the community about sustainable building practices.

Cooling Off With Rain Barrels

2009-08-20T12:49:00.003-04:00

Rain barrels are one of those hot topics this summer. Saving water and helping your vegetables go hand in hand, but where do you buy them? One option is simply making them yourself by buying the hardware online or buy a food grade barrel from DeLallo's. A second option is to buy one from Penn Barrel, already assembled, or just go to Nine Mile Run Watershed Association. Many of these options work with diverter kits that are available online from The Garden WaterSaver. Total investment is $25.00.

In our experience, many citizens still don’t understand the benefits of rain barrels. For one, not all have of them have to be expensive. Some are aesthetically pleasing; yet can easily be portable or tucked behind a fence or stone barrier. The City loves it because during major storms less water rushes through the sewers reducing back-ups and overflows. Personally, we like it because it saves water – simply that! Whether it is a lot of water or not, we don’t care. It simply provides nourishment to my vegetables, herbs, roses, and plants. Given our public discussion, we also learned that the average roof sheds 160 gallons of rainwater per hour during a moderate rainfall. So I have a 50-gallon barrel – do the math!

Future Meetings

2009-07-09T12:27:00.001-04:00

All meetings will be held on Monday's at 7:00pm in the Program Room at the Monroeville Public Library. The Fall and early Winter schedule dates are: August 24, October 5, November 16, and December 7.

Monroeville Public Library
4000 Gateway Campus Blvd
Monroeville, PA 15146
412-372-0500