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The Path to a More Sustainable Life

May 10

31

Memorial Day – Lest we forget

Posted by Mac on May 31, 2010
Posted in Rants, Raves & Musings  | Tagged With: , , , , | 1 Comment

Memorial Day always flusters me a bit and today is no different.  Like most Americans, I’ve looked upon this holiday as a three day weekend opportunity away from work.  It represents the start of summer – with family BBQs, camping and such on many people’s agenda.  For others it is time to shop the holiday specials or attend a parade in town.  In Portland Oregon, Memorial Day weekend is the kick-off of our annual civic Rose Festival.  All over America flags fly, businesses close, and speeches are made, and then we all go on about our business. 

Lingering in the back of my mind is a nagging feeling of neglect, or maybe even guilt, because I’m not honoring the holiday as it was intended.  Sure, I watch the President place the wreath at Arlington Cemetery, catch a parade, or fly my flag at half mast, but rarely do I take the time to reflect on why the day was created, or to honor the honorable.  I should.

Airman Basic - San Antonio, Texas (1972)

I’ve known people (or known of them) killed in war or during their service.  I myself am a Vietnam War Era veteran and I served four long years in the US Air Force.  My father was a decorated veteran of WWII and served in the US Army under General Douglas MacArthur.  Dad was a proud member of the Sunset Division – the Oregon National Guard’s 41st Infantry Brigade – and he was part of a rather famous group of jungle fighters nicknamed “The Jungleers”. 

His father was also an Army veteran and so too was his father’s father.  My brother, John, also served in the US Air Force and all of our Uncles were in the US Navy during time of war.  So, yes indeed, my family is heavily represented in the spirit of this holiday, yet I rarely take a moment to honor them, or those who stood with them, and I should.  We all should.

Sgt. Mac - Saving lives was my business!

For those who have endured military service the experience is personal and it is different for everyone. 

Unlike many of my brethren, I was not emotionally scarred by my military experience although it was during time of war.  Of course Air Force duty is a long way from the front line in most cases and surely not to be compared with grunts that were locked in battle eye-to-eye. 

However, I think it has as much to do with the jobs I had, which were involved in saving lives and not taking them.  All three primary duties I had during my tenure; Aircrew Life Support Specialist, PJ (parajumper /paramedic), and Survival Instructor, were concerned with keeping people alive.  The motto of our unit (promoted to pilots and airman) was “Your Life is Our Business” and business was generally good.  I was lucky enough to have had a different orientation and experience than most get in a time of war … and I am the better for it. 

No Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for me!

I’m sad to say that this isn’t the case for many veterans, especially those who are returning from multiple tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.  My father’s old unit the Fighting Forty-First, that just returned 2,700 soldiers from a year-long deployment in Iraq, recently made news because of the lack of respect these soldiers received from the Army.  You see, injured Oregon Army National Guard troops just back from Iraq say the Army has been forcing many of them off active duty while they still need medical care.  Local congressmen have taken up their cause, complaining to the Secretary of the Army that members of Oregon’s 41st Infantry Brigade are being systematically denied their benefits.  This makes my blood boil and I will make an effort to support the troops in getting the medical treatment they deserve.  In this case, the pen may be mightier than the sword. 

Airman First Class - Technical Training period

 http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/05/oregon_guard_soldiers_demand_m.html

May 10

23

All in all a good show

Posted by Mac on May 23, 2010
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Solar  | Tagged With: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Solar Mac conducts first "Basics" presentationNorthwest Solar Expo and Clean Technology Showcase
The first weekend of May, I attended the 2010 Northwest Solar Expo and represented Solar Oregon on the Main Stage at the Portland Convention Center.  Cool, huh?!   I put on my official yellow apron and stepped on the stage at 11:00 am Sunday morning.  I thought early Sunday was a good time to do my first presentation of “Basics of Going Solar” for Expo attendees. (Basics is a one-hour introduction to Solar Hot Water, Solar Pool Heating, and Solar Photovoltaic energy.)  Good time to work out the kinks, I figured, but I was wrong.  By the time I was winding down there wasn’t an empty seat remaining. 
 
The Northwest Solar Expo and Clean Technology Showcase is an annual event and sponsored by Oregon Solar Energy Industry Association (OSEIA).   Since I wasn’t involved in the professional training aspect of the conference, I have no idea how successful it was overall.  OSEIA does a good job at putting on training workshops, but this year it seemed fewer people (public) attended the exhibit hall as compared to years past. 
 
This doesn’t jive with the interest we’re seeing in Portland and other places where Solarize programs are underway.  I believe one of the main reasons the exhibit floor was lightly attended was the $10 pp admission to get in.  These are tough times and $20 per couple to have the privilege to talk to vendors is a bit steep, I think.  From OSEIA’s perspective, I understand this fee will better qualify the attendees, but what does a person paying the admission get?
Okay, they got an hour of me … but what else? 
Well, there were lots of workshops, exhibits and seminars – like Kathy Bash, President of Solar Oregon, educating others in the commercial basics of going solar and about passive solar design. 

Kathy Bash (Solar Oregon) explains how to go solar

Energy Trust of Oregon presented information about incentives and tax credits for solar; local solar experts like John Patterson (Mr. Sun) and Andy Noel (REC) talked about solar technologies, while others spoke on feed in tariffs, financing systems, and energy efficiency. 

I like the electric bikes! Lee Rahr and David Sweet, (Solarize NE Portland), presented on the city’s Solarize program.  I’m happy to report that hundreds and hundreds of local residents are signing up for solar assessments and the city will add thousands of kilowatt hours, perhaps even half a megawatt, by the end of this year.  We’ve never seen this before in Oregon and I give these programs much of the credit. 

Walking the exhibit floor I checked out the new electric bicycles (I really do want one), but at $2000 they are still too expensive for most consumers, me included (and they look like Pee Wee Herman’s bike!)  I saw a Honda car converted to all electric; inspected some solar hot water systems; glanced at the residential wind turbines; and chatted with several solar manufacturers.

Claire Carlson (Solar Oregon) makes a point

All in all a good show … and well worth it if you want to learn about clean energy. 

Maybe OSEAI needs to find some partners or co-sponsors for next year’s expo.  The professional training component of this expo will most likely expand as more people get involved in the clean energy business.  As for the showcase, I propose they cut the admission price by half and add few more activities to balance the vendor heavy presence.  If they do this I think the public will show up big next year and for years to come.

See you there next year!

May 10

20

Solarize SW Portland Extends Deadline

Posted by Mac on May 20, 2010
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Solar  | Tagged With: , , , , , , | No Comments yet, please leave one

Solarize SW Portland is happening now!

Solarize SW Portland extends deadline to June 15

If you’ve ever thought about going solar at your residence now is the time to do it! 

Fact is, solar has never been more affordable and we’ve extended the deadline to allow others to join the 600+ households who’ve already signed up in SW Portland.  Solarize Southwest Portland is a volunteer-driven community effort in partnership with the Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. (SWNI), that brings neighbors together to enjoy significant savings on solar electric systems.  By joining neighbors you’ll save time and money through bulk purchasing and group pricing.  

These programs are already a huge success, but some folks still aren’t aware, so the deadline to sign-up for an evaluation has been extended to June 15, 2010. 

Mr. Sun Solar - Solarize SW Portland's solar contractor - is conducting dozens of site assessments a day!

Current Energy Trust of Oregon rebates combined with state and federal tax credits and group pricing make this a perfect opportunity to buy clean energy for your home. 

Anyone interested in learning more can attend a free informational workshop in June at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capital Hwy. (6:30 – 8:00pm).

 • Thursday, June 3: Technical Nuts and Bolts of Going Solar

• Monday, June 7:   Tax Credits, Incentives and Financing

 Sign up online today to receive a significant group discount at www.solarizesouthwestportland.org  

Mr. Sun Solar is conducting site evaluations for the households who’ve signed up

Mr. Sun Solar will conduct an evaluation of your home upon signing up - shade is a major concern in Southwest Portland

May 10

18

What’s your 1THING?

Posted by Mac on May 18, 2010
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Rants, Raves & Musings  | Tagged With: , , , , , , | No Comments yet, please leave one

Mac

Whew … it’s been a hectic month and I’m a bit behind in my blogging, but I have good news if you’re a steady reader of solarflareblog.com.  Starting this month, I’ll be a contributing blogger for 1THING PDX.  

1THING PDX is one of about 20 websites across the country owned and operated by Entercom Communications Corp. which is one of the five largest radio broadcasting companies in the United States with a nationwide portfolio of 110 stations in 23 markets, including San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, New Orleans, Denver, and Portland.  According to their profile, Entercom has a long-standing commitment to responsible corporate citizenship and environmental stewardship.  

The goal of Entercom’s 1THING is to be a community resource that provides their 30 million listeners across America with easy, relevant ways to begin living green – from hints on energy-efficient appliances to remembering to turn off the water when you brush your teeth.

I’ll be one of a half dozen writers who contribute to the Blogs section with the byline simply as ‘Mac’.  I’ll be yakking about things related to sustainability, including my favorite topic – clean and renewable energy – with focus on Solar.  1THING PDX will post a link to this blog which should add a bunch of new readers to the mix and expand my soapbox a bit more.  I hope I am worthy.

Check it out at http://portland.1thingus.com/blog

May 10

11

Bag Lady

Posted by Mac on May 11, 2010
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Rants, Raves & Musings • Uncategorized  | Tagged With: , , , , , | 2 Comments

Stacked up the paper bags are twice Noriko's height. She replaced these 100 bags with these three cloth totes!

I know it’s not Sophie’s Choice, but I always hated making it.  No matter the decision, it seemed like bad news either way.  If you’ve ever been to a grocery store you know the dreaded question I’m talking about – paper or plastic?  As in ‘do you want to kill trees for this purpose?’ or ‘do you want to fill landfills with petroleum products that take forever to disintegrate’?  Sometimes when I feel carefree and wild I’ll ask the cashier to make the choice for me, just to see which they’ll pick.  I like to live on the edge that way.

Tough choice! Plastic bags are made from nonrenewable petroleum and require the use of toxic resources during production and processing.  According to the experts, it takes more than 1000 years to biodegrade, which means that all of the plastic we’ve ever manufactured is still around.  I don’t like that idea.  Paper bags aren’t ideal either.  Currently 10 billion brown paper grocery bags are used annually in US supermarkets.  Unfortunately, brown paper grocery bags cannot be made from recycled paper because it is simply not strong enough, therefore living trees must be cut down for paper bags. That sucks too.

I had my internal debate and decided to choose paper. Recycling paper bags has been around for years, so the waste cycle question was answered and it was easy to accommodate.  I talked it over with my wife and she agreed so we’ve been paper people for years. Sure, I rationalized my decision so could live with myself, isn’t that what we all do?  

Although I didn’t like the choice, it never occurred to me to seek another option, I don’t know why.  Perhaps it’s because I don’t go to the grocery store much anyway.  Noriko does the food shopping in our family.  You see, my wife is a Foodie and a marvelous cook who cooks only fresh, she rarely takes anything out of the freezer.  Add to this her Japanese mindset and it is not an exaggeration to say she visits the grocery store once per day on average.  I hadn’t counted on that!  

I decided to keep the paper bags from the recycling just to do my own analysis of how many we were using.  Man, the bags piled up fast.  I figure we collected over 1000 bags in one year’s time.  I measured the stack end-to-end and it was over ten feet tall – twice Noriko’s height. 

I used to glance at those few people who brought a cloth sack with them to the grocery store.  I’d quietly shake my head and think “get a life”.  (What – paper or plastic ain’t enough for you?  Huh, maybe they’re European.)  If you’ve traveled outside the US and paid attention to what local people are doing, you will have noticed many use cloth bags called totes. 

That’s old school, but I’m here to tell you, what was old … is new again. 

GOT BAG?

Last year, Noriko made the wise choice to use reusable cloth bags for her everyday shopping.   Since then we’ve not added to our paper stack.  Noriko solved my dilemma and it was such an easy thing to do.  The hardest part is remembering to take cloth bags with us to the store.  Practice helps and so does leaving a set in our car at all times.  New Seasons Market has a big “Got Bag” sign at the store entrance which also helps remind us to bring our totes. 

Now we feel guilty whenever we do shopping without remembering to bring our bags. 

Today, everyone seems to have a logo’d version of their own tote.  I recently returned from a trade convention with a bag full of bags all with company names and logos proudly displayed.  I plan on using all of them.  I’ve read that most US households use ten bags per week for grocery and other shopping chores.   So, if each American household used two fewer bags per week, we could prevent the needless destruction of nine million trees every year.  I think it’s better to eliminate this destruction altogether by using reusable cloth bags.  I’ve got a couple extra you can use if you don’t have any of your own.

Today when I go to the grocery store with my bags, I notice people snickering at me.  Karma is a bitch.

May 10

9

Mother’s Day Memo

Posted by Mac on May 9, 2010
Posted in Rants, Raves & Musings • Uncategorized  | Tagged With: , , , | 1 Comment

Everyone is going to be writing about their mom today, that’s how it should be on Mother’s Day.  So, I will do my part. 

Lucille (Proctor) McDowell - Mom at the Oregon beach

LUCILLE (PROCTOR) McDOWELL

Although my mother passed away almost thirty years ago, I think of her often and she will forever be in my heart.  Her name was Lucy and she was a shy country girl from smallville Emmett, Idaho.  Born in 1924, she grew up in hard times during the Great Depression and World War II and was one of those people who never had much – so she didn’t need much. 

Lucy loved music and wanted to learn to play the piano when she was young.  Her parents couldn’t afford one so she created her own, drawing the keys out on a piece of wood, she then taught herself how to play piano.  I’ve always admired that.  Lucy studied music, moved to Oregon with her family, and graduated from Klamath Falls High School.  After the war, she eventually made it to the big city where she met a sweet-talking, Irish-American, Army veteran she called “Chuck” and married him.  I was their first born.  Mom raised five kids, some mostly by herself after our father died suddenly at the ripe old age of 46.   

Lucy gives a patriotic salute

Mom struggled to survive and leaned a bit on me as the eldest child.  There were lots of difficult times and I watched our poor mother suffer.  For me, one of the toughest times was when I left home for the US Air Force (age 18).  It was Vietnam War time and I didn’t want her to know that I was ever in any danger, so I never told her much about what I did, or where I went.  I didn’t want to add to her stress; however I’m sure she worried mightily just the same.  As a parent, I know that now.

Growing up our Mom taught us music and forced us to go to church (bible school every summer!)  She shared her love for the outdoors and animals with her children and we are all shaped by this.  I chose the top picture to post because I think it showed the spirit of the woman.  In both pictures young Lucy Proctor seems so full of life.  I suppose I prefer to remember her in this way.  Fact is, when she finally lost her long battle with cancer, she was running on empty.  I was the last person she saw or touched in this life.  She muttered, “ I love you” and then died in my arms. 

Sadly, her life was cut too short.  She died at the same age I am today.

As I transition towards a less cluttered, possibly more satisfying and sustainable lifestyle, I feel my mother’s spirit is guiding me.  I really do.  My mother lived a rather simple life but one in harmony with nature and god.  Today I honor her by giving her full credit for my sensitivities and my foundational belief systems.  I am thankful for sharing with me her love of nature, music, animals, and faith.  This apple didn’t fall too far from that tree … and I am the happier for it.

 YASUKO (TAKAISHI) MAEDA 

Yasuko (Takaishi) Maeda on her wedding day – Noriko’s Mom

Norko’s mother‘s name is Yasuko.  As matriarch of the family she is my surrogate mother and I proudly call her Mama-san.  Today I want to tell her that I love her and wish her a Happy Mother’s Day.  She cares for my beloved Noriko and that makes her special in my book.   I feel lucky to have her as a mother-in-law.  I just adore her!

Yasuko Takaishi’s parents were famous in Japan at the time of her birth.  Her father, Katsuo Takaishi, was a celebrated Olympic swimming champion prior to World War II and he went on to become the coach and head of Japan’s Olympic swim teams until the 1960s. Her mother was one of the first college educated women of her generation in a time when women did not have equal rights.  Yasuko grew up in a large family made even larger by hosting potential swimming champions throughout her upbringing.  Her world was one of high standards, rigid discipline, obedience, and honor. 

Mid-1960s - check out the springs on Noriko's baby carriage!

I see where my wife gets her competitive fire and her stubbornness.

Yasuko married Yoshi Maeda in the traditional Japanese custom  … it was arraigned.  They’ve now been married close to fifty years and I give Yasuko all the credit.  The woman has the patience of Job. 

She also has spark and enough energy that people half her age have a hard time keeping up with her.  She is the strength and soul of her family and sets the tone for the Maeda women who are all strong and proud.

 

 

DUCK MOMMA

I wanna give a big Mother’s Day shoutout to the nice duck couple that has been living (partially) in our pool while they’re nesting in the field next door.  I think the eggs hatched over the weekend, so they’re new parents.  I have some concerns for the fuzzy little ducklings, mostly because of the dogs, cats and the wildlife that patrols the area.  I must be ever vigilant. 

Happy Mother’s Day to you too little duck momma!

May 10

4

Waste not, Want not

Posted by Mac on May 4, 2010
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Rants, Raves & Musings  | Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , | No Comments yet, please leave one

Compost curbside pickup begins in Portland

I’ve been blogging for six months and can’t believe I’m just getting around to my first post on the subject of composting.  [I did write a piece on “Vericomposting” called The worm has turned last January.]  Portland is ground-zero if you’re into sustainability and things like composting, so you’d think I’d have covered it already.  It just isn’t a very sexy topic and I can’t seem to get my teeth into it (so to speak).  I’m compelled to write about it now because I found out that my neighborhood of Arnold Creek has been chosen to participate in Portland’s experimental Composting Recycling Program.  Hey, this is big news for a guy like me.  My neighborhood is one of five areas (2000 households) selected to “pilot” compost curbside pickup which begins this month.

Make it convenient and people will do it

In Portland recycling is a big deal, and as a community we are committed to recycling, but we still have a huge waste stream issue especially in the metro areas.  If Portland BPS wants to use our waste as fertilizer, and reduce the amount of garbage going to the landfills, we will support that objective wholeheartedly here at naturehouse.

This pilot program will allow households to use the big green roll carts until now only reserved for yard waste.  Starting this month we can mix this green with our kitchen scraps in the same container!  Pickup will be every other week, and if this works as designed, it will reduce operating costs to haulers and the rate of pollution for everyone in the city. 

I’m told that almost 30% of Portland’s residential garbage is food or food-soiled paper.  In a landfill, food breaks down to create methane, a potent greenhouse gas that scientist say causes climate change.  Programs like this will alleviate the environmental impact while creating something beneficial for agriculture and gardens.  I’m all for it!

Static bins aren't doing the job!

Many of my friends and neighbors already do some composting, mostly using those black plastic compost bins from METRO called “Earth Machines”.  These things are tidy and work at the very lowest effort level, but truthfully they aren’t much good for 6-8 months of the year because it doesn’t get hot enough to cook the ingredients.  Mixing/turning the decomposing material is too difficult when using those static compost bins, so they take forever to breakdown, and when they do they only produce small amounts of useable mulch.

So I plan on building a Three-bin system in our backyard this summer.  We will use this system mostly for our garden and greenhouse debris and will use the roll cart for our kitchen scraps.  This will require more maintenance on my part, but I’m up for the challenge.  Over the years I’ve spent lots of money on compost, peat moss, manure, garden soil, fertilizers and the like.  So, utilizing nature’s own method we’ll be saving big money over the long run – which is an added bonus to the good were doing for the planet and each other. 

SPRING CLEANUP

For readers living in Southwest Portland, this weekend is the annual Spring Clean (May 8-9) at the Portland Christian Center – (parking lot) at 5700 SW Dosch Road.  This full-scale recycling event is from 9:00am – 1:00pm both Saturday/Sunday and is being organized by SWNI and Portland Community College (PCC) Sylvania.  Cost is $10-15 per carload of recycled material, including eWaste such as old computers, monitors, and printers.  If you want more information, go to www.pcc.edu/ecycle or call SWNI at 503.823.4592.

SOLV IT

SOLV brings Oregonians together to improve the environment and build a legacy of stewardship.  On Wednesday, May 12th, SOLV is hosting a Fundraising Breakfast event at the Oregon Zoo – Cascade Crest Ballroom. 

Dan Medin, who is a SOLV Board member and is responsible for the sustainability program at Regence BlueCross BlueShield, has sponsored a table and has invited me to join him and his cohorts at this event.  Thanks Dan, I’ll be there for breakfast and with a donation to help support SOLV.  I’m kinda hoping some of you might join us there also.  Okay… it is early (7:30- 8:30am), but the early bird gets the worm, or so I’m told.  If you’ve been reading, you know how I like the worms!

Interested?  See www.solv.org for more information.

May 10

1

My Empire of Dirt

Posted by Mac on May 1, 2010
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Uncategorized  | Tagged With: , , , , , | 1 Comment

 
We reap what we sow

I would never call myself an avid gardener.  Whenever asked to describe myself or identify my hobbies or past-times I have never answered gardener or gardening.  This is about to change.  

After years of fooling around I’m finally using the greenhouse as god intended.  Peeking inside the greenhouse today I’m happy to report that there are hundreds of tiny yellow-green shoots sticking out of the soil.  Yep, the little sprouts are everywhere and this excites me!  Noriko and I decided to plant our first food garden and the work has now begun in earnest.  (Reference earlier posts The land where people garden and The Greenhouse Story.) 

Simple Beginnings

In February I purchased a bunch of seed packets and Noriko supplemented with seeds for some Japanese vegetables we can’t find here in the States.  We recently potted them to get starts and placed into the greenhouse for germination.  It amazes me how something so important can start from a tiny dry seed.   I’m talking about our food source. 

I also plan to build a small “hot house” for the tomatoes which I’ll place next to the garden plots.  I’m using the windows we replaced during our recent remodel and they’re already framed in aluminum so I simply need to screw things together and add some wood and hinges.  Repurposing is much better than sending to the landfill and I think this’ll work beautifully. 

I’ve spent several hours getting the garden plot ready for planting the starts.  (My back and knees still ache.)  Heavy rain is again on the horizon, and I probably need to rest my aching joints, so in the meantime I’ll read a book about a guy who planted a garden “farm” in his Brooklyn, New York backyard – it’s called “My Empire of DIRT”.   
The full title is:  My Empire of DIRT: How One Man Turned His Big-City Backyard into a Farm and it is written by a NYC food writer name of Manny Howard.  This book was just released and it sounds like a real page turner to me.

 

Manny’s goal was simple … to subsist on what he could produce on his small farm at least for one month.  His effort was undertaken in the context of being aware of food sources, as people all over are now buying/eating more local and more organic food.  My Empire of Dirt is a ground-level examination of the cultural reflex to control one of the most elemental aspects of our lives: feeding ourselves. I’ll read it and let you know if it’s worth the time & money.   If nothing else, I’m sure to learn something.  

Getting dirty in NYC

I don’t think my thumb is all that green so any additional knowledge of what to do, or what NOT to do, is most welcome.  I don’t expect much help from Noriko as she’s been known to kill cactus even while living in Arizona. Growing or nurturing plants just isn’t her thing.  However, I am grateful she is supporting me in this endeavor, and if successful, she will reap the most benefit in the long run as the chef in the house.  

Prepping the plot for planting

If we plant the veggies and herbs we use every day, is it possible to be self-sustaining?  I dunno, but I guess we’ll soon find out?!