July 24th, 2008
From Oklahoma we headed west on I-40, tracing the route of Highway 66 with a stop in Historic Sayre for a look at their Main Street project. After a night in Amarillo, we drove north through the Oklahoma Panhandle (now in the grips of a multi-year drought), to Denver for our last interview.
Reverend Peter Sawtell of the Eco-Justice Ministries talked about the moral dimension of environmental challenges, including the injustice of sitting hazardous facilities in low-income communities and the inter-generational debt we are creating via climate change and resource depletion. The organization is helping the faith community learn about environmental issues — including the benefits of green building and purchasing for congregations — and also has some ideas for environmentalists and the wider public.
After our interview, we headed west once again — into the mountains, down Glen Canyon, and then south through the arid reaches of Utah and Nevada. As we drove home, we thought back to the people we met and the stories, solutions, and also warnings we heard during our trip. The environmental challenges we face are serious and pressing, but opportunities abound to create a cleaner, greener and more sustainable United States.
Many thanks to all of the people who have helped us complete the first phase of this project. Stay tuned for details as our project progresses.
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July 17th, 2008
We began our Oklahoma adventure with a tour of the
Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. In addition to advising farmers and conducting fundamental plant research, the foundation is studying how to raise switch grass and similar plants to produce biofuels. Switch grass has potential benefits over corn in the production of ethanol as it can be grown on marginal land with a minimum of inputs. However, according to their experts, substantial research and development is needed to scale this approach into a viable solution.
At the
National Storm Prediction Center in Norman, we met with Warning Coordination Meteorologist Greg Carbin and learned how Doppler radar, satellites and advanced computer models — combined with old-fashioned human analysis — have improved extreme weather forecasting. Although research is ongoing on the impacts of climate change on hurricanes and tornadoes, Mr. Carbin was firm in his conviction that climate change is a serious threat.
One way to slow and eventually reverse climate change is to improve energy efficiency and Myra Fletcher’s straw bale house on the outskirts of Norman is putting this approach into action.
Straw bale construction is a simple, effective, green-building technique that turns a common farm waste product into an energy-efficient building material.
We then headed up to Oklahoma City to learn about the state’s Main Street program. Main Street Oklahoma, an offshoot of the national program begun by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, helps communities restore historic buildings, install pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and market downtown businesses. We interviewed the Oklahoma Program Director, Linda Barnett, who detailed how their work is helping rejuvenate downtowns and mainstreets.
Saturday morning, we visited the Edmond Farmer’s Market and interviewed market manager Summer Terrell and several producers. The convivial setting and sense of community has made the now twice-weekly market a popular meeting place and the Saturday we visited was packed. After our interviews, and in a clear break down of journalistic independence, we enjoyed some fantastic breakfast burritos and then hit the road west.
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July 9th, 2008
We bid Nebraska farewell and headed south to Junction City, Kansas. After a day to catch up on sleep, laundry and video editing, we visited the
Konza Prairie Biological Station to learn first-hand about prairie management and preservation. Director John Briggs and biologist John Blair showed us how management, including the periodic use of fire and animal grazing, can play an important role in ensuring a healthy mix of prairie grasses and plants.
Later, we visited Kansas State University in nearby Manhattan and the lab of Daniel A. Higgins to learn about solar materials research. Dr. Higgins’ lab focuses on using advanced imaging techniques to better understand the structure of nanoscale materials. These materials could, eventually, lead to inexpensive and relatively “green” photovoltaic coatings that can be painted on surfaces or printed on sheets.
After enjoying Junction City’s Sundown Salute 4th of July fireworks, we drove south on scenic Highway 177 through the Flint Hills to stop by the Tall Grass Prairie National Monument and visit the historic towns of Council Grove and Cottonwood Falls.
Our last stop in Kansas was at the
Elk Grove Wind Farm, a 150-megawatt installation located in part on the ranch of Peter Ferrell. Peter, a fourth generation cattle rancher, has become a passionate advocate for the benefits of wind power. According to Peter and his ranch manager, Jamie Nelson, the turbines provide a key additional source of revenue and don’t perturb the cattle or interfere with the operations of their ranch. And of course wind is a renewable source of power that is abundant in Kansas and throughout the heartland.
Oklahoma, here we come!
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July 6th, 2008
From Omaha, we headed further west, through Lincoln to Grain Place Foods — an organic farm and grain processor located near Aurora, Nebraska. The farm first went organic in 1953 and, after a brief return to conventional production, became one of Nebraska’s first certified organic farms in the early 1970s. Still in the family and run by David Vetter, the farm is unlike many organic grain producers in that they use rotational grazing of cows and hogs to fertilize the fields and replenish the soil. No additional fertilizers are used; weeds and pests are controlled via natural means. Starting in the fields, we traced how a crop goes from field to food via their on-site processing plant — which also provides finishing for other organic producers.
In Lincoln that evening, we enjoyed a fantastic meal at Dish, a local restaurant that is increasingly using local foods to create their culinary masterpieces. On Tuesday morning, we sat down with the owner, Travis Green and chatted about the challenges and benefits of this approach.
We also had the chance to talk green architecture with W. Cecil Steward, the founder of Nebraska’s
Joslyn Institute, while we toured his Asian-influenced and efficient loft. The Joslyn Institute is working to foster green building in Nebraska, combat suburban sprawl and help the region envision a future that protects its unique natural resources.
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