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How the EPA regulates particulate matter (PM), & how PMed is Springfield

By Kurt Heidinger on Jan 11, 2012 in Director's Notes, How the Valley Works, citizenship, consumerism, ecology, economy, endosymbiosis, energy sources, sustainability, technological determinism, time

Today we’re investigating the Annual Air Quality Reports found on the MA DEP website for 2010, 2009 & 2008, looking at the data for fine particulate matter—the stuff that, combining w/other pollutants, makes smog. (Data charts are below.) We’ll look at PM 2.5: particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less. This stuff is bad for [...]

If Springfield’s air is already polluted, how can the EPA permit more new air pollution?

By Kurt Heidinger on Jan 10, 2012 in Director's Notes, How the Valley Works, citizenship, consumerism, ecology, economy, endosymbiosis, energy sources, imagination, technological determinism, time

I can’t answer this question; but it is what I’m wondering. Look @ this chart, that graphs the amount of smog (also known as “PM 2.5″) Springfield enjoyed last year: Visualize a horizontal line @ 15 “um/g 3 LC”; b/c that’s where the blue line should be. Here’s the EPA’s legal definition of how much [...]

what “native” means

By Kurt Heidinger on Jan 09, 2012 in Director's Notes, beauty, citizenship, ecology, economy, endosymbiosis, energy sources, evolution, imagination, religion, sustainability, technological determinism, time

What is it about “our” culture, the one we’re online and reading these words in, that makes it so hard for us to be “native”: “WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is banning new hard rock mining on more than a million acres near the Grand Canyon, an area known to be rich in high-grade [...]

Using EPA & MA DEP data & reports to understand our air quality

By Kurt Heidinger on Jan 09, 2012 in Director's Notes, How the Valley Works, citizenship, consumerism, ecology, economy, energy sources, sustainability, technological determinism, time

This is post 3 of an investigation into the air quality of the Pioneer Valley of W. Massachusetts, in the context of the permitting process for the proposed Pioneer Valley Energy Center in Westfield. Though I am focusing tightly on this area, the sites I’ve used contain info about other areas, & w/a lil effort [...]

Consider: a new oil & natural gas burning electricity-generating plant in Westfield

By Kurt Heidinger on Jan 08, 2012 in Director's Notes, How the Valley Works, citizenship, consumerism, ecology, economy, energy sources, sustainability, technological determinism, time

In the previous post, we learned that our air quality is “F.” Consider, then, that a new oil & natural gas burning electricity-generating plant is proposed for development in Westfield. And that the permitting-process is almost over! Have you heard about it? It’s called, by its proponents, the Pioneer Valley Energy Center. Having heard absolutely [...]

natural selection by love, and by force

By Kurt Heidinger on Jan 05, 2012 in Director's Notes, GMO, ecology, economy, endosymbiosis, evolution, imagination, sustainability, technological determinism, time

“Natural selection” is a theory of evolution that argues: creatures that transform their physiologies to suit the conditions of their environments survive, and have offspring. Natural selection by love, or eros as it was anciently called, is observed here: Scientists said on Tuesday that they had discovered the world’s first hybrid sharks in Australian waters, [...]

Food plants that grow like weeds: all of ‘em!!!

By Kurt Heidinger on Jan 02, 2012 in Director's Notes, beauty, bees, citizenship, consumerism, ecology, ecology, economy, endosymbiosis, food weeds, imagination, locavore, permaculture, sustainability, time

Been so hollydazed lately I’m determined, right now, to link you to every food weed I’ve not yet mentioned in the past two months. It’s time to order seeds!! and when we’ve ordered ‘em, we won’t have to think about food weeds anymore…until spring. We’ve looked @ mustards, tatsoi, wineberries, black walnuts, arugula, shallots, tomatillos, [...]

Biocitizen interviewed by the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies

By Kurt Heidinger on Dec 29, 2011 in Director's Notes, GMO, citizenship, consumerism, ecology, economy, endosymbiosis, evolution, sustainability, technological determinism, time

Click here & listen to our lively discussion of how Monsanto’s patented “Round-up Ready” “Terminator” food corn seeds are breeding a new sub-species of corn rootworm that is resistant to “Cry3Bb1.” Here’s an academic report and a news report about our new neighbors, the BT resistant corn rootworm. (If Monsanto owns the patent on the [...]

Food plants that grow like weeds: black walnut

By Kurt Heidinger on Dec 22, 2011 in Director's Notes, beauty, ecology, economy, endosymbiosis, evolution, food weeds, imagination, locavore, sustainability, time

Once they get going in a microbiome, black walnuts take over. They exude chemicals into the soil that prohibit the growth of other plants. But—if you have room to grow them—that’s a good thing, b/c they’re beautiful, offer the best furniture wood, and produce oil & protein -rich nuts. You can de-worm your dog by [...]

Food plants that grow like weeds: arugula

By Kurt Heidinger on Dec 21, 2011 in Director's Notes, beauty, bees, consumerism, ecology, economy, endosymbiosis, food weeds, imagination, locavore, sustainability, time

Harvested arugula today: December 21, 2011. Is it global warming, or is it possible I’m becoming a decent gardener? Or is it the seeds—these plants like growing in winter? Maybe 3 “yeses” have allowed this vivacious pile to grace my cutting board, + one other thing: I love sharing the freedom of free food, & [...]

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