Earth and Green Living: Green news for DFW. The good news and the bad news for planet earth in Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond.

Green Earth for DFW Environmentalists

Green News for DFW and Beyond
The Good News; The Bad News

By Harold Brown

Green news for the metroplex.

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The Good News

USDA Increases Organic Research Funding

 The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) could more than double funding for its organic research program next year, a move that highlights the growing importance of the organic industry. Funds for the Organic Transitions research program could be increased from $1.8m to $5m for the next fiscal year, after the House of Representatives last month passed an amendment to its 2007 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The move follows a surge in growth of the nation's organics market, as consumers increasingly opt for the higher quality, more nutritious and earth-friendly foods represented by this category. 

The Bad News

     Ever Higher Electricity Bills are coming soon when "congestion charges" are added to your electricity bill. A portion of each kilowatt hour (kwh) of electricity you purchase has a congestion management fee built in. Congestion is the increasing difficulty the transmission system incurs as it delivers electricity to the load that exceeds the carrying capacity and generation scheduled for the load. As congestion increases, the utility is required to divert electricity through alternate circuits to support higher usage levels or pull generation from alternate unscheduled generation points. 

The cost for the wholesale operators increases and that increase is passed on the the areas causing the congestion. The desired end result is to ensure that costs are allocated to users causing the additional cost, provide incentive to build generation facilities near the end use market, minimize the cost of infrastructure and ultimately lower the price each consumer pays once the market.

The highest congestion in the state occurs in North Texas and our area will see the greatest cost increases when the system is implemented in 2009.

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 A practical guide to and how organic foods are related to nutrition and health. Understand why organic foods are so important, both for our health and for our environment. 

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News and Calendar for Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

July 2008

This calendar covers an extended period of time. Changes happen. If we are informed of new events or changes, they will be posted here and designated Changed. But we don't always get notified so please call number listed before driving to an event.


Saturday, July 5 - Fort Worth Vegetarian Society dinner, 7 pm. Spiral Diner, 1314 W Magnolia at 6th, Fort Worth. No reservation necessary; look for FWVS sign

Saturday, July 5, 2008 - SPCA of Texas’ Pet Grief recovery program for hose grieving the loss of a beloved companion animal. Meet at 1 pm at the conference room at SPCA of Texas, 2400 Lone Star Drive, Dallas. Free.

Sunday, July 6 - Sustainable Sunday Lunch. Thai plant-based buffet at Thai Jasmine, (817) 283-8228, 3104 Harwood at Hwy 121, SW corner, Bedford. This all-you-can-eat buffet is served from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm.

Sunday, July 6 - Wildflower Village ecohousing meeting. Intentional green community for people 55 and over meets at Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce, 311 Houston, Cedar Hill. 2:30 pm. Free. 972 251-1532.

Tuesday, July 8 - Dallas Sierra Club meeting at 7 pm; food at 6 pm. Master Gardener Nancy Wilten talks about hot weather gardening. The Center for Spiritual Living, near the northwest corner of Inwood and Spring Valley in north Dallas, 4801 Spring Valley Road between Midway and the Tollroad. From Spring Valley Road, turn north on International Parkway (called Arborview on older maps). When the road bends to the right, look for the entrance way and Sierra Club signs. 

Friday, July 11 - Green Building and remodeling talk presented by Hao Tran at 1244 College Av, Fort Worth, TX 76104. 817 903-0231. Noon until 1 pm. Bring a sack lunch if you wish.

Saturday, July 12 - White Rock Crossing ecohousing group meets at Central Market, Lovers Lane at Greenville, Dallas. Free, 5 pm. Optional dinner at nearby restaurant after meeting.

Saturday, July 12 - Tarrant Coalition for Environmental Awareness Annual Meeting.  This is the umbrella environmental group for all local activists including Sierra Club, Audubon, League of Women Voters, Arlington Conservation Council, and others.  If you want to meet the local environmental activists and heroes, attend this meeting.  They can help you connect your ideas with the local needs.   All members of the Sierra Club are welcome 1 PM.. Location:  Tin Cup, 1025 W. Abram St.  Arlington.  For info, contact Bonnie 817-265-0008 or bfbg@tx.rr.com

Saturday, July 12 - White Rock Lake Cleanup.Walk and talk while helping to pick up trash and recyclables at the Sierra Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at 8:15 AM at the Love of the Lake office on the Northeast corner of Garland Rd. and Buckner Blvd. Look for a crowd of people drinking free juice and coffee. Gloves, trash bags, etc. provided. Our area includes one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so there are always birds and wildflowers to enjoy. Brunch afterwards. Leader: Carol Nash 214-824-0244(H)

Saturday, July 12 - Black Vegetarian Society of Dallas Vegetarian 101 class at Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 2922 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Dallas. 11:30 am -1:30 pm. Free.

Saturday, July 12 - Animal Connection of Texas meeting. 11 am. Center for Community Cooperation, 2900 Live Oak Street, Dallas. 214 373-7867. Free.

Monday, July 14 - Mid-Cities Ecovillage Meeting, 7 pm. Healthy Approach Market, , 817 399-9100, 5100 Hwy 121, Colleyville, 76034 on west side of freeway between Hall-Johnson and Glade Roads

Wednesday, July 16 - Fort Worth Sierra Club meeting, 7 pm, free.  Gayle Loeffler, a member of the national Sierra Club's Population Committee will update on population related issues: What Does Population  Have to Do with Sustainability and Global Warming.  Location:  Ft Worth Botanic Gardens, 817 871-7686, 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard at University, north of I-30, Fort Worth.

Wednesday, July 16 - Denton Organic Society meeting at Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Av, Denton. 940-382-8551.

Thursday, Jul 17 - Arlington Sierra Club shows "Fighting Goliath--Texas Coal Wars" followed by a discussion of where Texas is today. Narrated by Robert Redford and produced by Alpheus Media, the film follows the story of Texans fighting a high-stakes battle for clean air and centers around the unlikely partners- mayors, ranchers, lawyers, cities, citizens, green groups, and CEO's-that came together to oppose the construction of 18 coal-fired power plants that were slated to be built in Eastern and Central Texas and being fast-tracked by the Texas Governor. 3 p.m. RSVP for location.  For more information call 817-266-8569 or bfbg@tx.rr.com.

Thursday, July 17 – Cool Cities Training, 7 pm.  Come learn about the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities program, the aim of which is to help solve Global Warming one city at a time.  You will learn how to take part in making our local communities cool cities.  For more information visit: http://coolcities.us/.  Location: Ft Worth Botanic Gardens, Moncrief Garden Center, 817 871-7686, 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard at University, north of I-30, Fort Worth. Contact Dewayne Quertermous, 214.558.1407.  

Saturday, July 19 - White Rock Crossing ecohousing group meets for social. Call 214 448-3222 for information and location.

Sunday, July 20 - Sierra Club's Sustainable Sunday Lunch. Plant-based, all-you-can-eat buffet from 12 noon until 2 pm. Regularly $9, $1 off for Sierra Club. New Start Garden, (972 243-0507) 2330 Royal Lane, ste 900, Dallas 75229. Just west of I-35 on the south side of Royal. Organizer: James Bisby 469-371-1938.  

Sunday, July 20 - Wildflower Village ecohousing meeting. Intentional green community for people 55 and over meets at Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce, 311 Houston, Cedar Hill. 2:30 pm. Free. 972-251-1532.

Monday, July 21, Collin County Sierra Club, 7 pm, Haggard Library, Coit and Park, Plano. 

Wednesday, Jul 23 - Sierra Club's Conservation & Political Committees Meeting, 7 pm.  Come discuss conservation and political topics of interest to all.   Location: Panera Bread, 1409 North Collins, Arlington, TX 76011 (Just south of I-30). Contact Dewayne Quertermous, 214.558.1407.  

Thursday, July 24- Dallas Organic Gardening Club Monthly Meeting. Fretz Recreation Center, Dallas. 7 pm. Free.

Thursday, July 24 - Arlington Organic Gardening Club Monthly Meeting. Bob Duncan Community Center Garden Room, 2800 S. Center St. in Arlington. 7 pm. Free.

Saturday, July 26 - White Rock Crossing ecohousing group meets at Central Market, Lovers Lane at Greenville, Dallas. Free, 5 pm. Optional dinner at nearby restaurant after meeting.

Sunday, July 27 - Dayhike in the shade at Gateway Park in Fort Worth. Hike about 2.5-miles on concrete trail. Difficulty level is easy. Dogs welcome on 6 foot leash or shorter. Meet at 2:00 PM.  No reservations needed, just show up. Bring mosquito repellent, water for you and your dog and pick-up bags. Directions: From I-30, exit Beach Street and go north to 1st Street. Turn east on 1st street and go to park entrance on right.  Turn right into park and go to the end of the road.  We will gather in the pavilion. Hike cancelled if raining at park. Leader: Bonnie Bowman 817-265-0008(H) or bfbg@tx.rr.com

Monday, Jul 28 - Mid-Suburban Sierra Club shows first 60 minutes (of three-hour  class) of green-building video by nationally acclaimed green builder Jim Sargent at 7 pm, Community room at Healthy Approach Market, , 817 399-9100, 5100 Hwy 121, Colleyville, 76034 on west side of freeway between Hall-Johnson and Glade Roads. Terry Jensen, 817 545-0140

Sunday, Aug 3 - Sierra Club's Sustainable Sunday Lunch. Thai plant-based buffet at Thai Jasmine, (817) 283-8228, 3104 Harwood at Hwy 121, SW corner, Bedford. This all-you-can-eat buffet is served from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. Organizer: Terry Jensen, 817 545-0140  

Copyright © DFW Earth Now 2001-2008 All rights reserved

Thai Jasmine: First Sunday of each month, 11:30 am until 2 pm, $8, children $4. All-Veg’n Buffet
3104 Harwood, southwest corner of Hwy 121 and Harwood in SC center with Tom Thumb, Bedford. 817 283-8228. Thai Jasmine is in a free-standing building on south side of Harwood, backing up to Martin.

Sponsored by Dallas-Fort Worth Vegetarian Education Network  Sierra Club   Veggie Kids, and Earth Singles

Directions:  

From Airport Fwy, exit Hwy 121 North, then exit Harwood from Hwy 121 North. Turn left across highway. Thai Jasmine will be on your left.

From LBJ and Hwy 114, exit Hwy 121 south to Fort Worth. Be careful to stay on Hwy 121 SOUTH coming thru Grapevine. It can be confusing. Exit Harwood, turn right. Thai Jasmine will be on your left.

From Fort Worth, take Hwy 121 as if you were going to DFW Airport. You will see an exit to Hwy 121 North right after you pass Central Drive in Bedford. Exit Hwy 121 north to your right. Exit Harwood. Turn left across highway. Thai Jasmine will be on your left.

Botanic Garden, 817 871-7686, 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard at University, Fort Worth. 
Directions

Driving west from downtown Fort Worth, take the University exit and turn north or right. The Garden has two entrances on your left about 1.5 miles north of I-30. The Garden Center is located at the second entrance. When you enter the building ask for the Sierra Club or turn right to find the Azalea Room.

Directions to Kalachandji's  214 821-1048, 5430 Gurley Av, Dallas. Exit I-30 at Grand Av, turn northeast. Turn left 3 blocks at Beacon St and left again at Gurley. Restaurant is located in the temple building. Kalachandji Park is to right of temple.

Directions to Bob Eden Park:

From the North: Exit SH 121 at FM 157 (Industrial Blvd) to Mid-Cities/Cheek-Sparger Rd.  From exit ramp, Do Not reenter SH 121, take either of the center two lanes under SH 121 to the traffic light (Mid Cities Blvd) and turn left. The entrance to Bob Eden Park will be on your right.

From the South: Exit SH 121 at Mid-Cities Blvd.  Turn Right and proceed past the next street (Industrial Blvd) to entrance to Bob Eden Park on your right.

Directions to Spiral Diner, 1314 W. Magnolia Av, NE corner at 6th, 817 332-8834, Fort Worth. Going west from downtown Fort Worth on I-30, exit on 8th and turn left. Turn left on Magnolia and Spiral Diner will be on your left.

Directions & Map to Healthy Approach Market, 5100 Hwy 121 Colleyville 76034. From Hwy 121 in Grapevine, exit Hall-Johnson Road and remain on west access road, From Hwy 121 north from Airport Freeway, exit Hall-Johnson Road and turn left under freeway to west access road.

Stay on west access road past Gateway Dr and past Rio Mambo and Mac restaurants. Immediately past the restaurants, turn right into Healthy Approach parking lot. Sign is hard to see because of trees. If you reach Glade Rd, you have passed entrance to Healthy Approach.

Community room is on second floor with stairs in the far right hand corner of the restaurant. Telephone number of store is 817 399-9100. See map below: