Spring 2006 Newsletter

The Ecology Center has provided free, non-commercial information to the public since 1969. We help people make informed choices about issues that affect them, others, and the planet. To this end, we make the Eco-Calendar, the Eco-Directory, and this Newsletter accessible and free to all. Please support us and the services we provide by becoming a member. Visit our website at http://ecologycenter.org/donate/

In this issue:

1. Attention All Californians: Batteries, Fluorescent Bulbs, and Electronics No Longer Allowed in Garbage Cans
2. Mold in Your Home, Fungus Among Us, and Mycelium Running
3. Berkeley EcoHouse Becomes an Ecology Center Program
4. Seed Savers Selection at the EC Store Helps Maintain Biodiversity
5. Free Cooking Demos, Samples, and Recipes to Celebrate National Nutrition Month
6. Farm Fresh Choice's Year in Review: Awards, Recipes, Reviews, Lots More
7. Ecology Center to Receive 5% of Whole Foods' Sales on May 2nd
8. Ecology Center Store Offers Beneficial Nematodes for Controlling Fleas and Other Pests
9. Links to Action Alerts on the Endangered Species Act, Justice Alito's environmental record, and more

1. Batteries, Fluorescent Bulbs, and Electronics No Longer Allowed in Garbage Cans

California’s New “Universal Waste” Rule Affects Products in Everyday Use

Beginning February 9, 2006, households and small businesses are required to recycle or properly dispose of “universal waste.” Universal waste includes common household items that can be hazardous to people and the environment, and that can lead to groundwater contamination from chemicals such as mercury, lead, acid, zinc, cadmium, or other corrosive and flammable toxins.

The Ecology Center is glad to see the move towards the proper disposal, recycling, and remanufacture of universal waste items. We would also like to see manufacturers take responsibility for their consumer products at the end of their life cycle, rather than transfer that burden to already overtapped local agencies such as hazardous waste facilities, computer redistribution centers, and grassroots recyclers. Currently, very few companies in the US will take back their spent products for recycling or remanufacture, and products are manufactured for disposal after their ever-shortening lifespans. The burden and cost of proper disposal falls on individuals and local economies, where inadequate public funds are used in attempts to prevent the flood of discards containing hazardous substances from affecting our land, water, and people. Unlike the US, Europe has learned to make producers responsible for eliminating waste, with remarkable results. For more on the corporate responsibility initiatives that are underway, read “The Path to Zero Waste” in Terrain Magazine. To take action to promote manufacturer responsibility, or “extended producer responsibility,” check out the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.

Quick Guide to Universal Waste Disposal

The following everyday items must now be disposed of through County Household Hazardous Waste Programs or other designated disposal centers:

• All common batteries: AA, AAA, C cells, D cells, and button batteries, such as those used in hearing aids. These batteries contain toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, as well as corrosive chemicals, and should be disposed of as hazardous waste. Rechargeable batteries (Ni-Cad, Ni-MH, Li-ion) can be recycled and are accepted by many Bay Area businesses in addition to being accepted at the Hazardous Waste facilities.
• Fluorescent light bulbs and any other lamps that contain mercury. Fluorescent light tubes and bulbs, CFLs, high-intensity discharge (HID), metal halide, sodium and neon bulbs all contain mercury vapors. If broken, mercury can be released into the environment and may cause nerve damage and other serious illnesses.
• Electronic devices: Computer monitors, TVs, cell phones, pagers, printers, computer bodies (CPUs and processors), video cassette recorders (VCRs), DVD players, cordless and regular telephones, radios, and microwave ovens contain lead, cadmium, chromium, and copper which can contaminate soil and groundwater.
• Pilot light sensors, electric switches, barometers, blood pressure devices, stoves, ovens, water heaters, space heaters, clothes dryers, and furnaces that use mercury switches.
• Thermostats, thermometers and novelty items: Thermometers, greeting cards that play music, shoes with lighted soles, and certain maze games contain mercury.
• Aerosol cans: If a can is marked “flammable” or “toxic,” it should not be tossed into the trash unless it is completely empty of all contents.

Where to take Universal Waste

For the most accurate and current information on universal waste disposal, contact your county hazardous waste facility. In Alameda County, contact the Alameda County Recycling Hotline at 877-786-7927 or visit www.stopwaste.org . If you are stumped, you can always call the Ecology Center's Info Desk at 510-548-2220 x233 or email erc@ecologycenter.org. For drop-off locations in Berkeley-Oakland, click here for the Quick Guide to Universal Waste Disposal in the Berkeley-Oakland area.

2. Mold in Your Home, Fungus Among Us, and Mycelium Running

Winter rains bring moisture and fertile conditions for various types of fungus spores to let loose and do their thing. Mushrooms, yeast, mold, and penicillium are some of the multitude of organisms that make up the kingdom Fungi.

We present below a late Winter mix of resources for those battling mold in the house, for those in pursuit of mushrooms to eat, and for those just looking for a good read.

• If you’ve got mold in your living space and are looking for tips on removing it and preventing it from reoccurring, or facts about the health implications of mold exposure, check out the excellent fact sheet Mold in My Home: What Do I Do?
• Renters: Are you experiencing mold and mildew in your home because your landlord hasn’t made necessary repairs to your plumbing, roof, outside walls, or windows? The Repair and Deduct Self-Help Project of Housing Rights, Inc. has prepared a packet for renters seeking relief through California’s “Repair and Deduct” laws. This packet shows you how to insist on repairs without getting evicted.
• Teachers: The latest Terrain for Schools guide has lesson plans in its “Fungus Among Us” section wherein students learn about the Fungus kingdom, antibiotic resistance, mold sampling, and the scientific method. If you’d like to obtain a copy of the teacher’s guide, send an email to liz@ecologycenter.org.

Some outstanding resources for mushroom enthusiasts, or those looking to begin:

• The Mycological Society of San Francisco is a non-profit formed in 1950 to promote the study and exchange of information about mushrooms. Activities include dinners, meetings, fairs, good expert advice, and fun.
• The Sonoma County Mycological Association (SOMA) hosts a popular mushroom camp, mushroom forays, and classes & workshops.
• Fungi Perfecti is a family-owned company specializing in gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. They have mushroom spawn, home growing kits, and medicinal tinctures.
• Two very popular books in the Ecology Center Store that will get you started on your mushroom adventures: All That the Rain Promises and More by David Arora, and Mycelium Running by Paul Stamets.

3. Berkeley EcoHouse Becomes an Ecology Center Program

The Berkeley EcoHouse, located near Hopkins and Peralta in Northwest Berkeley, was founded in April 1999 by a group of inspired individuals with a common passion for restoring our ecological systems and building healthy, socially just, and stable communities. The mission of Berkeley EcoHouse, as a small-scale resource center located amidst a diverse residential area, is to heighten ecological and social awareness and improve the quality of life in its own neighborhood. At a citywide level, Berkeley EcoHouse aspires to overcome the barriers to healthy environmental choices, making ecological ways of living accessible and affordable to people of all ages, ethnic/racial backgrounds, and income levels. To offset as much as possible the homogenizing and displacing effect of gentrification, Berkeley EcoHouse participates in programs that contribute to community stability in multicultural and economically diverse neighborhoods, such as advocating for affordable housing, mass transit, local economies, and community gardens.

After a year of review and consideration by board members and staff of the Ecology Center and Berkeley EcoHouse, the Ecology Center’s members voted overwhelmingly to ratify the Board’s resolution to merge the Berkeley EcoHouse with the Ecology Center. Our next step will be to create an EcoHouse program advisory committee that will help us to make decisions about how to support and build this wonderful community-based educational organization.

The development of Berkeley EcoHouse proceeds with a two-pronged approach, consisting of educational community outreach programs and the EcoHouse environmental demonstration house with its permaculture garden. The outreach program includes solar energy education in local schools. These hands-on classes are fun, popular, and teach students how to use the sun’s energy to reduce pollution and depletion of the planet’s resources. Berkeley EcoHouse also conducts permaculture workshops, and pilot demonstrations with sustainable building materials and ecological building systems on site at the EcoHouse. Look forward to more news about the Berkeley EcoHouse!

4. Seed Savers Selection at the EC Store Helps Maintain Biodiversity

For many years the Ecology Center Store sold organic seeds from what was once a small-scale producer, Seeds of Change. A few years ago, as part of a trend happening across the organics industry, Seeds of Change was purchased by a large multinational company — Mars, Inc, maker of candy bars and conventional rice. “The large conventional food processors are entering the organic market because it's smart business. Although organics represent a sliver of the U.S. food market — about 2 percent — organics are the only sector of the industry experiencing sustained growth,” writes Jason Marks in his article Can Organic Integrity Be Preserved with Big Corporations Moving into the Market? One consequence of this market maneuvering has been a vigorous attempt by large agribusiness to dumb down organic standards in order to include such things as additives, synthetic substitutes, and antibiotics. Read more about this fight in the Terrain article “How Do You Spell Organic?”

When the Ecology Center Store decided it was time to find a new seed company, we asked local gardeners and seed savers for recommendations and were steered towards a non-profit organization, Seed Savers Exchange. They are an organization of gardeners and plant collectors who are saving and sharing non-hybrid, heirloom seeds in order to preserve the genetic diversity of North America’s historical crops. Since it was founded in 1975, their members have distributed an estimated one million samples of rare garden seeds, which are widely used by alternative seed companies, farmers’ markets, chefs, and CSA growers.

Seed Savers grows many of its own crops on an 890-acre wildland farm in Iowa. They maintain 25,000 endangered vegetable varieties by rotating crops on a schedule that renews the seed collection and keeps the collection viable. Other seed is grown out by members through a flower and herb exchange. Not all of their seeds are certified organic, but none of their stock is genetically-modified, and they are creating a national seed bank.

Locally, the 7th Annual Bay Area Seed Interchange Library (BASIL) seed swap happened this last week at the Ecology Center. If you missed the swap, the seed library is still available anytime the Center is open, Tue-Sat 11am-6pm. Borrow seed, grow it out, collect it, and bring it back. It’s pretty simple – come participate. We’ll also be holding a seed saving class this Spring — check the Eco-Calendar for details. For more on BASIL and the local seed saving movement, read “Save those Seeds” in Terrain.

5. Free Cooking Demos, Samples, and Recipes to Celebrate National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month, and the Farmers’ Market crew has organized some special events to celebrate, with cooking demonstrations, samples, and recipes that emphasize seasonal, nutritious, easy-to-make, and inexpensive food. Here’s some of what is happening:

• Every Tuesday in March, Trudy Schafer Paul is handing out food samples prepared from produce at the Berkeley Farmers' Market, along with free recipes. Trudy Schafer Paul specializes in nutritious, appetizing cuisine for people healing from illness.
• On Tuesday, March 28th, Chef Michael Bauce will sauté greens. Michael is a well-seasoned cooking instructor in the Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD).
• On Saturday, April 1st, the Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative will host a free compost give-away next to the Saturday Berkeley Farmers' Market. (Bring your own container. Please, backyard amateur gardeners only – no professionals.)

Check out the event listings on the Eco-Calendar for full details, times, and locations. For more news about Berkeley’s three Farmers’ Markets, read the Market Corner newsletter (PDF, 1MB), which includes the featured article “Thursday Farmers’ Market is North Berkeley’s Greatest New Community Resource.”

6. Farm Fresh Choice's Year in Review: Awards, Recipes, Reviews, Lots More

All year ‘round, rain or shine, our Farm Fresh Choice Program sells local, fresh, nutritious produce at community produce stands located at after-school programs in West and South Berkeley. Farm Fresh Choice’s mission includes bringing low-cost, healthy foods to communities with limited access to produce outlets, and contracting with and supporting independent, sustainable farmers who reflect the communities served by the program. And it does this all through an amazing group of youth interns that receive invaluable job training from the program’s co-managers, Tiffany Golden and Gerardo Marin.

This year, Farm Fresh Choice won Food First’s Economic and Social Human Rights Award. Read all about this, check out youth intern reviews, learn about reading food labels, and get seasonal recipes – all in The Dirt (PDF, 3MB). It takes a minute to load, but is worth the wait.

7. Ecology Center to Receive 5% of Whole Foods’ Sales on May 2nd

Whole Foods Grocery in Berkeley has chosen the Ecology Center as the beneficiary of their next “5% Day.” On Tuesday, May 2nd, 5% of the profits from Whole Foods' sales will be donated to the Ecology Center. The store will be open from 8am to 10pm, and Ecology Center representatives will be there to meet shoppers, answer questions, distribute information, and otherwise do what we do best: be a friendly community resource helping people live more environmentally sustainable lives. Mark your calendars, and go on a major eco-shopping spree on May 2nd. Stock your pantry with bulk organic grains, legumes, dried fruits, and nuts. Load up on organic teas, spices, condiments, and cheeses. And don't forget that 12-pack of recycled-content toilet paper! Help yourself and help your favorite community nonprofit at the same time.

8. Ecology Center Store Offers Beneficial Nematodes for Controlling Fleas and Other Pests

Beneficial nematodes are microscopic critters that prey on a wide variety of insect pests. The nematodes, and the bacteria that they bring with them, enter the bodies of their hosts and grow and reproduce rapidly, consuming the host as they do so. They are an effective outdoor control for fleas. In addition, they kill thrips, fungus gnats, weevils and cutworms, among others.

Nematodes require specific conditions in order to survive, with a range of limitations including availability of prey, soil temperature, dampness, light, and others. This means that it’s most effective to replenish their population by re-introducing them every 4-6 weeks while insect pests are a problem. For more information, check out http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/pathogens/nematodes.html .The Nematodes are packaged on a refrigerated sponge, so ask for them at the Ecology Center Store’s cash register. Use one package per 3,000 square feet, or one per 1,500 square feet for controlling fleas. They cost $13.46 per package.

9. Links to Action Alerts on the Endangered Species Act, Justice Alito’s environmental record, and more

We hope you find this information useful.  Did you know that you can call us with your environmental questions? Our Info Desk staff will give you referrals and provide information to help you make sound ecological choices.   Email erc@ecologycenter.org or give us a call at 510-548-2220 x233. To subscribe to or unsubscribe from this newsletter, send a note to newsletter@ecologycenter.org. This newsletter can also be found online at http://ecologycenter.org/newsletter/20060310.html.

The Ecology Center is a membership organization providing environmental information and direct services to promote sustainable living and a healthy, socially just world. Please support this community resource for the environment by becoming a member or making a donation. Support our work on-line at http://www.ecologycenter.org/donate/