Biogas Project in Ukraine

For those of you who think all this alternative energy talk is a bunch of…poop, listen to what’s being done with all that poop. It’s being turned into energy. That’s right. GE has launched another, as in it’s already being done elsewhere, biogas project in the Ukraine.

The Ukranian Milk Company Ltd. has been putting the dung of their 4,000 cows to good use. The first biogas cogeneration plant (where electric power and thermal energy are produced simultaneously) in their country has been in successful operation for nine months now.

This provides an alternative disposal option for the milk company and alternative energy for the country; reducing CO2 emissions by an estimated 18,000 metric tons annually according to GE.

Read pg 7 of this article and you’ll find that’s equivalent to taking 17,000 cars off the road. That figure is based on each car being driven 10,000 miles a year. I’m a mom in suburban Atlanta so let’s up that figure to at least 20,000 miles/ year. So it would be more like the equivalent of taking 8,500 cars off the road. Granted, those cars are actually still on the road but it does illustrate the “power” of each decision. Not to mention, what else would they do with all that poop?

Other GE biogas projects are in:
China
Pakistan
Wisconsin, U.S.A

For the load on how all this works, visit GE.

Hyrdoelectricity in Turkey

The United States isn’t the only nation with controversy over what’s best for the environment. Hydroelectric power from the Tigris River in Turkey; sounds harmless enough. But is it?

The Hürriyet Daily News reported this week that only 1 of the 34 completed cases brought to court were not ruled against. Most projects were canceled all together. Why? Environmental concerns. In the past, construction of these power plants has left the land and the fishing industry damaged. The only firm ruled in favor of was one which promises to up its environmental standards. photo by AA


Though 31 more cases are still in progress, Andritz Hydro, and Austria-based firm says all requirements for their contract have been met. Despite some typical and confusing back and forth sited in the article on Hydroworld.com, it seems as if the project may continue with Andritz adding: "Together with ... the hydropower plant, modern waste water treatment plants will be built for three cities, the drinking water supply will be enhanced, and bridges and roads will be built."

It will take seven years to complete the project. The goal: another step in helping Turkey generate 30% of it electricity from renewable energy by 2023.

Sprout Watches

It’s no wonder watchmakers are finally catching up with the times. Sprout, an eco-friendly collection of timepieces, offers cute, affordable, and green watches. The case and buckle of these pieces are made of a corn resin that is 99% biodegradable in a year. The straps are made of 100% organic cotton. Even the packaging is made from at least 80% post consumer fibers. Now you can arrive punctually and save the planet all at the same ‘time’.

Empire State Building Goes Green

In an effort to become certifiably green, The Empire State Building is replacing every one of its 6,514 windows. Each one is double-hung and dual-paned which means you’re talkin’ 26,056 panes of glass.

Who’s the lucky contractor? Serious Materials from Sunnyvale, California.

Each pane is retrofit and has a film within the panes of glass to improve energy efficiency. All of this work is being done overnight so there’s no interruption to all those busy New Yorkers as they work away by day.

According to USA Today, the $13.3 million spent on windows is projected to cut their energy consumption by 38% and yield savings of $4.4 million a year. The Environmental Protection Agency's "Energy Star" program has given the Empire State Building a score of 90 out of 100. Pretty good for an 80 year old 102 story building!

Panama City Beach since oil spill

In June tar balls started washing up on the shore in Panama City Beach, Florida. This is the furthest east the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill could be seen thus far. Recently my sister traveled to Panama City Beach and has these photos to report.

Tar balls were found on some beaches. Despite the flattened shape of these in the photo, they do wash up in the form of a ball. Boys will be boys or should I say, men will be men.

Two miles south, however, my sister saw no evidence thus far. According to Govmonitor.com (a public news and information source), 90% of Florida's beaches remain unimpacted. Let's keep our fingers crossed. The Florida Govenor is calling a special session this month to discuss the banning of offshore drilling. For you techies, visit this interactive map for the latest visuals on the oil spill and how wind and water currents are effecting it.

Turkey Lasagna

There are no photos of this lasagna because...we ate it all

The best part about this recipe is you don't have to cook the lasagna noodles ahead of time. This works with regular lasagna noodles and whole wheat. Because you bake it covered to begin with, the steam cooks the noodles as the lasagna bakes. One less, task, one less mess!

Ingredients:
2 TB Olive Oil
1 C chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ lbs ground turkey (organic)
1 28-ounce can organic crushed tomatoes (reserve 2 TB for bottom of pan)
1 6-ounce can organic tomato paste
1 C fresh, organic baby spinach leaves (spinach is optional)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 TB dried ground Basil
2 tsp dried Oregano
1 box lasagna noodles (no need to pre-cook!)
15 ounces organic cottage cheese (do not use low fat)
1 ½ C grated or shredded (whatever you have) parmesan cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese


Heat oil in large skillet, add the onion and cook for ~5 minutes on medium-low heat until translucent. Add the ground turkey, breaking it up with a fork. After about 4 minutes, add the garlic.

note: I like to add the garlic here b/c it can easily burn if you add it earlier and burnt garlic ruins the whole dish.

Add ¾ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper. Continue cooking turkey, onions, garlic for another 4 minutes until the turkey is no longer pink. Add more oil if necessary to prevent from burning. If you use turkey breast, you will definitely need to add more oil. If using ground turkey with both white and dark meat, you may be fine as is.

Once the turkey is no longer pink, add the crushed tomatoes (remember to reserve ~2 TB for later use), tomato paste, Basil, and Oregano. Simmer, uncovered on medium-low heat for about 15-20 minutes, until thickened. Taste and season accordingly.

In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, 1C parmesan cheese, egg, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground pepper. Set aside.

Spread the 2 TB reserved crushed tomatoes in bottom of 9x13 baking dish. Don’t worry if thin, you just need a little liquid at the bottom. If you forgot to reserve the tomatoes, just splash some olive oil around the bottom. No biggie.

No we build our lasagna. Line pan with half the pasta, ½ the mozzarella, then ½ the cottage cheese mixture, ½ C spinach leaves, and top with 1/2 sauce. Go again; pasta, mozzarella, cottage cheese mixture, spinach leaves, and rest of sauce. Top with ½ C Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Cover with aluminum foil Bake 400˚ for 30-40 minutes or until bubbly and noodles fork soft. Remove aluminum foil and recycle it. Put lasagna back in oven for ~5 minutes to let the cheese on top brown. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing. Serves 6-8.

I Ate WHAT???

Confessions of an Everyday Organic:

Yes, it's true; I ate Smucker's dessert topping out of the jar with a spoon.

Let me explain. It's the 4th of July, we're all at the lake...eating...and just like everyone else, I wanted dessert. Apple Pie or Key Lime Pie but I don't like pie. "What do you mean, you don't like PIE?!" bursts out my sister and then adds, "I make Mom's Apple Pie every Thanksgiving!".

"You've known me for 41 years and I have never liked pie. It has nothing to do with your pie, Mom's pie, or anyone's pie. I don't like cooked soft fruit so I don't like pie."

Now that we have that cleared up, what's for dessert? Everyone was putting fudge topping on their pie and the jar was about finished. In my 42 years, one thing is for sure, I have always been a chocolate lover. I took the jar, a spoon and sat down with everyone to eat my dessert.

My Dad just starred at me, took the jar out of my hand, and read the label. NO WAY. He hasn't read one nutrition label his whole life until now. "I'd like to know what your readers would think if they knew you were eating this. In fact, I challenge you to blog about this". Spoken confidently from a man who just a few years ago was asking "blog, what is that and how are you gonna make a living off a blog?" And "Honey, I've eaten this way for x amount of years. I'm fine." Anyway, so here I am making my confession.

My family proceeded to read the ingredients out loud and I will list them in order for you here: milk, sugar, high fructose corn syrup (b/c sugar isn't sweet enough apparently...), partially hydrogenated oil (I could've done w/o knowing that one), and finally cocoa, diglicerides and sitrates.

I am not proud, but I am honest. We all break down and get desperate. Point is, be an Everyday Organic and do the best you can everyday. It's another day in North Georgia and I'm planning on doing better. I'm up for dinner tonight so I can tell you I didn't buy a frozen lasagna for 17 people, I am making turkey lasagna from scratch.

Happy 4th!