SeeingGreen (TM)

My friend, Michele, told me this story about a woman at a party who announced that she had to go home to check her yogurt. Although at the time we were discussing a mutual desire to try making yogurt, we shared a good chuckle about someone saying such a silly thing. I am remembering this today after I heard myself tell Co-pilot that we needed to get home so I could hang up the laundry.

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I’ve been known to have a thing for Airstreams. I even owned one once, although that ended in tearful moment in my driveway as I was told that the frame was rusted out and that basically I bought a hunk of junk. Now many years later I can share in other people’s joy of Airstreams, without the tug of wanting to own one. So I was delighted today to tour a recently renovated “Flying Cloud” and meet Kate (and her husband “John in the plaid shirt” who I didn’t get to speak with).

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Today Co-pilot and I checked out the second annual “Blessing of the Bikes” held in the lovely wrought iron-enclosed courtyard of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in NW Portland. Over 45 people of all ages were there, some on gleaming new steads, others on rattly old clunkers that would require a strong faith to ride. Fortunately for us, everyone was welcome without regard to religious beliefs, although the gathering was held in the “Catholic tradition.”

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I’ve always found joy in the pages of a good book and right now I feel particularly comforted by the stack of tomes on my nightstand. I have one by Annie Dillard, a “page turner” compliments of our lovely library and Tales of a Female Nomad which kept me up reading late last night. I just put down another good read titled Siesta Lane: or, The Good Intentions of Ten People, Two Cats, One Old Dog, Eight Acres, One Telephone, Three Cars, and Twenty Miles to the Nearest Town.

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I am always amazed when I stumble on something new, especially when I find it in a place I visit often. It happened yesterday when I was checking out the new vegetable gardens at City Hall. Just a few steps beyond the freshly-planted crops is a wonderful meditation garden complete with a bench, beautiful landscaping and an amazing sense of quietness for being so close to a busy street. I paused there for a moment and reminded myself to appreciate all the delights Portland has to offer. In that spirit, I thought I would share a few of my favorites and ask you to do the same.

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Living Future is over and I am still recovering. The annual “unconference” is three days packed with speakers, events, catching up with friends and meeting new acquaintances. Admittedly, I’m not the best conference attendee. I have a hard time sitting still all day, especially in cold, windowless rooms. However, I usually get something out of the experience and this time what resonated most was Janine Benyus’ keynote on biomimicry.

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Last night I had the opportunity to speak at the AIA COTE Green Advisor Program’s Happy Hour. I felt very fortunate to be sharing the stage with Dennis Wilde and David Posada, two well-known and highly respected green building professionals. I was asked to answer three questions, including how did you get involved in sustainability, what are you passionate about now and what’s your role in making public policy? I’ll skip the gorey details on the first and last questions, but wanted to share a little bit about what I’m passionate about now.

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Every once in awhile, you snap out of your 21st century haze and look at what’s going around you. Outside most 2×3 inch screens lives a world full of beauty - be it blossoms on tree, a little ditty of a birdsong or witnessing a happy moment between two people. When I do find myself in a wakeful state, one thing I try to notice are “institutions.” No, not your lock me up and throw away the key, institutions. Instead, these institutions mark the edges your territory, your routine, your place.

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In my previous post, I didn’t admit to the full nature of my obsession with small structures. I realize now that I was hiding something from you, and for that I apologize. So here goes the truth…

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For months now I’ve been totally obsessed with the idea of living in a tiny house. Not just small, but tiny. Like under 100 square feet tiny. This affliction is not new. I’ve been falling in and out of love with travel trailers and other mobile hermitages for years now. But something about a tiny home, not just a weekend at the campground, has me inspired to re-examine what I really need to live a happy, fulfilled life.

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Many years ago I lived as a vegan, forgoing the consumption of all animal products that could be found in food, clothing, shoes and beauty products. I was an energetic twenty-three year old high on zines, caffeine and canola margarine. Now more than several years later I no longer live a strict vegan life, but I can still appreciate its platform for a cruelty-free world. Fortunately, vegan options in Portland abound. Here’s a list of some of my favorites.

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This morning I read a great article in the New York Times about a town in Italy that set up “walking” buses for students to take to school. The premise of the “piedibus” is the same as its diesel, fume-belching cousin. There’s a driver (or I should say, walker), a predictable route and stops along the way. Benefits include fewer vehicle miles (the town estimates 100,000 so far), reduced carbon emissions, burned calories and increased awareness of street safety and the feasibility of walking over driving. I think something like this could really take off in Portland. Safe Routes to Schools has some guidance on how to get started. Now let’s get walking (or biking, or skating, or hopping)! See you on the street.

Blogging. Blogger. Blog. Three words that, if muttered five years ago, would have people asking you if you ate something funny at lunch. Now, these three words are so much a part of our media and culture that if you don’t have a blog, people might ask you if you ate something funny at lunch. I really love reading OPB (other people’s blogs). I enjoy the stories, photos, inspiration and mostly links to other places on the Web, especially when it gets me out of my well-grooved routine.

So I thought I’d share some links to blogs that I go to often and most relate to sustainability, building and design. Feel free to comment and add your own links too.

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As most of you readers know, I’ve been rather non-committal about posting on a regular basis. I have a whole list of excuses, but not anymore. This blog-ignorer is making a public decree that she is going to start publishing something every Friday. There I’ve said it. Now to do it…

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Co-pilot and I recently invested in an efficient wood burning stove insert for our living room. After years of keeping the heat down or off and bundling up with hats, scarves and vests, we decided to add a little warmth and comfort to our home. Turns out, a wood burning stove is a good match for us. Co-pilot is a woodworker by trade and often has cutoffs that are no longer usable. Both of us are also scavengers. So today when we were out picking up scrap wood from a jobsite close by (actually Co-pilot was doing all the work since I threw my back out yesterday), I had occasion to remember this great movie I saw last year.

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Beauty is something that’s usually discussed in the context of how a woman looks or maybe in poems about nature. Sustainability is often referenced in terms of creating economic opportunities, conserving natural resources or extending equity. The two concepts, however, are not often linked. Fortunately, this is starting to change.

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I’ve had an unexplained craving for biscuits lately. I think it all started with a trip to SE Belmont where Co-pilot and I stepped into Pine State Biscuits. It was so wildly busy in this little cafe that we opted to keep moving, but ever since then I’ve been dreaming of soft and flaky little pillows of dough. I got a start on solving my biscuit fix with an impromptu visit to Milwaukie, the next city south of Portland and home to still-affordable thrift stores and of course, Bob’s Red Mill.

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Corner stores play an important role in urban life. Instead of having to make your way (usually by driving) to a supermarket, you can walk, bike or skate to your neighborhood corner store and get that missing ingredient for the cookie recipe you just started. I know I rely on my corner store for beer runs, but definitely not for good produce or healthy snacks. So I was pleased when I recently found a corner store that offers a much more sustainable take on the concept.

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For years now, I’ve been personally and professionally committed to creating a more sustainable world. I work in the field of green building, my hobbies tend to revolve around sustainable living practices and often you will find me reading a book (or five) about these issues. However, I wanted to share a few things about this movement that have been really bugging me lately.

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It’s well known in my household that I have a thing for bags. Not purses, wallets or luggage sets per se, but backpacks, messenger bags and small totes that help me transport necessities while I’m out in the world. Granted, I have enough bags to last me a lifetime, but that isn’t stopping my crush on a new company that designs and produces messenger style bags right here in the ol’ US of A (sadly not in Portland though).

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