Growing food: learning what it takes, taking (and tasting) what is learned
With spring approaching in Wisconsin, I find myself looking forward to fresh, local produce—the ever-shifting offerings of the season, starting with tender young asparagus in the spring and ending with hearty squash in the late fall, and, of course, plenty of zucchini in between.
Although eating locally does not necessarily result in a net reduction of [...]
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Leading by example? Let’s hope so…
President Obama appears to be taking initiative in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, setting a reduction target for the Federal Government of 28% by 2020. “As the largest energy consumer in the United Sates,” Obama said, “we have a responsibility to American citizens to reduce our energy use and become more efficient.”
It is encouraging [...]
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The climate change debate- in pictures!
Recent conversations with a meteorological scientist have reignited my interest in why some scientists deny that human activities are accelerating global climate change. I tend to think of the “climate-change deniers” as those with a vested interest in the fossil fuel industry, but this particular scientist lives a very “green” life by most standards—he bikes [...]
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Tragedy of the Commons: does it have to be so tragic?
In the aftermath of the Climate Conference in Copenhagen, many environmentalists and world leaders alike are feeling defeated and disillusioned. However, it is little surprise that attempts to draft an international agreement with any clout result in gridlock. What the international community is facing is a classic “tragedy of the commons” problem: it is in [...]
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Design Principle #5: Chronosophy
In a recent speech given at Lawrence University, Geology professor Marcia Bjornerud presented a “list of five design principles that seem to be signatures of the House of Earth.” The fifth design principle she lists is Chronosophy.
Bjornerud defines chronosophy as “the wisdom that comes with knowing and embracing Time, not only the past that [...]
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Design principle #4: Micro-cracy
In a recent speech given at Lawrence University, Geology professor Marcia Bjornerud presented a “list of five design principles that seem to be signatures of the House of Earth.” The fourth design principle she lists is Micro-cracy.
Micro-cracy, or “rule by the tiny” is a key to understanding the evolution of our planet. “Although the inexorable [...]
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“Design principle #3: Nestedness”
In a recent speech given at Lawrence University, Geology professor Marcia Bjornerud presented a “list of five design principles that seem to be signatures of the House of Earth.” The third design principle she lists is Nestedness.
Bjornerud uses the term “nestedness” to describe the numerous levels of hierarchy in nature—“each level in the hierarchy [...]
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Design Principle #2: Loopiness
In a recent speech given at Lawrence University, Geology professor Marcia Bjornerud presented a “list of five design principles that seem to be signatures of the House of Earth.” The second design principle she lists is Loopiness.
Our planet is arguably the best recycler—remaining forever young through the processes of evaporation, precipitation, oxidation and reduction, [...]
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Design principle #1: Heliophilia
In a recent speech given at Lawrence University, Geology professor Marcia Bjornerud presented a “list of five design principles that seem to be signatures of the House of Earth.” The first design principle she lists is Heliophilia.
What does this mean? At a fundamental level, it means that all life depends upon the sun; the [...]
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Lessons from the Geologic Past
In a recent speech given at Lawrence University, Geology professor Marcia Bjornerud eloquently argues for a “deep respect” of “deep time”—the term Geologists use to refer to the Geologic past. Introducing the term “Geomimicry”, Bjornerud suggests that we look “to the Earth itself as our ‘mentor, model, and measure’ in building new, just, and sustainable [...]
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