Soon, there might be new legislation on the books in central Ohio that would require certain businesses to have at least two bike racks available for patrons. Columbus’s Department of Development has proposed a new rule that would require businesses with a large number of parking spaces to make bike racks available– a rule that [...]
Entries from June 2009
June 28, 2009
Wash Post: Changing Face of American Farms
Though this story has little to do with Ohio, it talks a lot about some of the same issues we’re working with here in Wilmington and Clinton County. In Maryland and Virginia, the number of small farms headed by a female is rising faster than anywhere else nationally. The national number, too, is rising steadily. [...]
June 26, 2009
Dispatch: Ohio Gets Renewable Energy Stimulus Cash
Today was another good day for renewable energy prospects in Ohio. The U.S. Department of Energy announced today that Ohio will receive some $38.4 million in stimulus money for renewable and energy efficient projects throughout the state. “Ohio awarded federal funding for energy-efficiency, renewable energy projects.” (6/26). This brings Ohio’s total energy-related stimulus bursar to [...]
June 25, 2009
Ohio Gets Solar Boost
The Ohio House of Representatives passed some significant “green” legislation on Tuesday, implementing a pilot program which will install solar PV (photovoltaic) panels in 70 of the biggest school districts in Ohio. “Solar Schools Pilot Program Will Put Ohioans to Work” (6/23). As the headline mentions, the biggest selling point of this bill (HB 113) [...]
June 22, 2009
First Farmer’s Market
This past Saturday marked the first Clinton County Farmer’s Market of the season, and the first one ever in its new location in the mural parking lot downtown. The turnout was a little better than expected, and the 8 vendors that sold at the market all seemed pleased with the day. Some of the more [...]
June 21, 2009
Dispatch: Couple trade their lawn for food
Today’s Columbus Dispatch features two couples in central Columbus, very near to where I used to live along North High Street, who turned their front lawns into veritable grocery stores. They planted over their (non-native) grass, and now harvest more than 20 edible crops right in front of their homes. “Couple Trade Their Lawn for [...]
June 17, 2009
Urban Gardening in the Times
Even though I’ll be in Indianapolis until Friday afternoon for VISTA orientation and I hadn’t planned on blogging while here, I saw this article in the times this morning before heading out for the day. “Urban Farming, a Bit Closer to the Sun.” (6/17). It’s about rooftop gardening in urban areas, and the governmental tax [...]
June 15, 2009
Ohio Fourth in the Country for Green Jobs
A story in Saturday’s Columbus Dispatch brought some good news to the end of an already good and productive week. A report published by the Pew Charitable Trusts foundation ranked Ohio 4th in the nation for new, green jobs, with more than 35,000 at the end of 2007. “Job push in clean energy pays off” [...]
June 10, 2009
Community Garden Harvest
Yesterday after the sustainable agriculture presentation we went over to the community garden plots and did our weekly weeding, harvesting and planting. Because the only plants that have been ready to harvest these past two weeks have been leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, toy choi) and other salad fixings (radishes, onions), Tara, our boss and director [...]
June 10, 2009
Sustainable Agriculture at W.C.
Last night, Ohio Agriculture Director Robert Boggs and Senior Program Manager for Ohio Sustainable Agriculture Amalie Lipstreu addressed a crowd of almost 100 community members at the Kelly Center on the Wilmington College campus. The presentation, as I mentioned in the previous post, delt with the benefits of creating a strong, local food economy in [...]
