Earth Day is On Its Way: ECS All-School Field Trip

Day 2 of Bay Week:  60 students, 10 or so teachers, 2 buses (and a tight squeeze through the streets of Eastport by the docks), and 26 miles later, the masses of Eagle Cove School descended on The Annapolis Maritime Museum for an all-school field trip. 

Straight from their website (http://www.amaritime.org/) you get a sense of the history of The Annapolis Maritime Museum and their future to educate!

"The Museum campus is the site of the last remaining oyster packing plant in the area, the McNasby's Oyster Packing Company. The McNasby building was severely damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, but has been restored, thanks to community support, as the Bay Experience Center -- an interactive facility like no other."

Eagle Cove PreK-ers through 5th graders had an action-packed day with an hour trip on the Severn River at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.  Miss Charlotte, the Museum's Education Coordinator, was at the helm of our tour, escorting us throughout the activities du jour.  While aboard our boat-portion of our trip, the kids rotated through several docents and 4 stations:  Chart Reading 101; an art center to draw the landscape; a tutorial of live oysters and other creatures that live on an oyster bar; and an investigation of the key structures along the Annapolis shoreline.

But wait, that's not all.  Once back on land, we split again, this time into two groups.  During one shift, we visited inside the Maritime Museum and learned the history of the oyster industry through their new exhibit "Oysters on the Half Shell" with volunteers who had actually lived the oystering life "back in the day" as a boys right there in Eastport.  During the other shift, we learned about "Oystering Today," seeing life through the eyes of a riverman whose current livelihood is crabbing, oystering, and fishing the Chesapeake Bay.  Seeing the "short" 16-foot oyster hand tongs were a big hit among the kids.  (As for the teachers, our delight was when he emphasized that the kids needed math every day--whether in his job or any other...so like it or not, math was here to stay, so you might as well get used to it--not to mention, get good at it!)

Being blessed with a gorgeous day, we ate alongside the water--picnic-style--to re-energize for the last portion of our afternoon.  The students "oohed" and "ahh-ed" while handling the 3 baby diamondback terrapins (very similar to the two we have on campus for the first graders to release later this spring at Poplar Island). Then the kids visited the table-top model of the Chesapeake Bay watershed where we could find all the ways humans impact the Bay.  Pollution, fertilizer run-off, and other human impacts were shown by adding inky water to the model and watching how that polluted water impacted the rivers leading to the Chesapeake Bay.  It was a full and fulfilling day!

To read more about the rich history of McNasby's Oyster Packing Company, go to http://www.amaritime.org/EWT/ewt10.htm  or click the title above to learn more about the Annapolis Maritime Museum (http://www.amaritime.org/).

Then, if you just can't get enough about oysters, you can also check out http://www.ollytheoyster.com/%20. There you'll meet Olly the Oyster who stars in the book "Olly the Oyster Cleans the Bay" by Elaine Ann Allen and illustrated by Kelli Nash.  At Olly's website, you'll find teacher resources galore full of information, lessons, games and activities for both students and oyster-info-hunters!  You also can get links to sites like Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble where you can order the book.  It's a great way to celebrate the Chesapeake Bay...and Earth Day! 

Header picture from the Annapolis Maritime Museum's homepage:  http://www.amaritime.org/ .  "Olly the Oyster" book cover picture from http://www.ollytheoyster.com/%20.

Earth Day is On Its Way: Let Bay Week Begin!

Bay Week.  An Eagle Cove School Tradition every year that runs the full week that holds Earth Day.  Our dedication to the Bay makes perfect sense given our school touches the Magothy River on two sides and has a view of the Chesapeake Bay across the causeway right off our property. 

Bay Week... a full week of eco-centric activities based not only around the Chesapeake Bay and its nature/wildlife, but also the ways we can help the environment.  It's a part of who we are as a Maryland Green School.

To start off Eagle Cove's 2010 Bay Week, today we had two special guest speakers:  Kathleen Woods and Jennifer Keats Curtis.  Their combined focus was akin to a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup:  2 great tastes that taste great together!  Kathleen Woods, one of the 81 certified wildlife rehabilitators in the state of Maryland and the director of the Phoenix Wildlife Center, brought a Great Horned Owl.  The Great Horned Owl is Maryland's largest of its 8 variety of owls.  Kathy came to know this owl through her rehabilitation center after he was injured.  Children in grades PreK to 5 got a small group, first-hand view of this statuesque bird, who has the power to lift 50 pound of prey with his talons.  Students also got an opportunity to see a recovering baby opposum who was only a handful of weeks old. 

 While some classes were taking turns visiting Kathy Woods, others were visiting with author Jennifer Keats Curtis.  Jennifer, a fellow Marylander, is the editor-at-large for Maryland Life Magazine.  In addition to that, she routinely visits elementary schools to give writing workshops with an eco-flair  We've been fortunate enough to have Jennifer a part of our Bay Week for at least the last 3 years.  Jennifer shared all sorts of pictures at the start of her presentation--not only of the children's picture books she's written, but of many of the animals she's met through Kathy Woods.  It is from her experience with Kathy Woods (and Kathy's animal rehabilitations) that Jennifer wrote "Baby Owl Rescue" (2009).  This realistic fiction book shares the experience of a brother and sister who find a baby Great Horned Owl who has fallen from the nest.  Their rehabilitator mom helps show them what she needs to do to reunite the baby with its mama.  Jennifer shared the book with the kids in the second half of her presentation, and quizzed them about how realistic her story details were.  Lots of questions (and the desire to tell many a-story!) followed.  Some of the youngest students nearly climbed in her lap (which she told me was a sure sign of a good presentation), and the older students asked a hearty helping of questions both about her books, owls, and how long Jennifer's been a writer.  Fun facts about owls and activities "For Creative Minds" fill the last four pages of this book.

Important lessons came out of the day:

1. Spring unfortunately is a busy time for wildlife rehabbers, due in part to incidents happening to the youngest animals, new to the world.  

2.  It is against the law to have a wild animal as a pet.  People who do try this ultimately take the "wild" out of the "wildlife."  The animals become habituated to being OUT of the wildlife, and then cannot safely return to the wilderness because they become overly dependent on humans.

3. Baby animals don't always need our help!  We may think they're abandoned, yet they might be under the watchful eye of their parents (or they may only check in with each other a few times a day).  Best thing you can do is sit back and observe, and if you think an animal is in need of help, then contact someone at a rehabilitation center.
 

4.  That apple core you're done with when you're driving along, then toss out the window, might be the very thing that brings an animal into a rehab center.  Even if you have a Major League arm and send it far from the road (because it's biodegradable, right?!), the coast isn't always clear.  The little mouse or chipmunk that goes for it might be at a safe distance from the road, but the birds of prey that go for those little critters might not be so safe while they're swooping in for their meal.  Many of the owls currently at the Phoenix Wildlife Center were victims of being hit by motor vehicles. 

For more information, check out....

• Jennifer Keats Curtis' Website  http://www.jenniferkeatscurtis.com/ 

• Phoenix Wildlife Center  http://phoenixwildlifecenter.com/  

• Maryland Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Referral Directory (to find a rehabber near you) http://www.mwra.org%20/ 

Pictures from today's experience, the Eagle Cove logo, and book covers from http://www.jenniferkeatscurtis.com/ Snapshots from my camera!

Earth Day is On Its Way: Pug...I Mean Hug...A Tree

In Honor of Hankerspank, my brother's pug (and my brother, who got this whole ball rolling)....Thank you too to Earth Day Network & the Daily Puglet!  I love this video!  In order to love it too, click the title above or go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKoLBSK8SSE

Earth Day is On Its Way: Doing the Math

For Easter, my kids were giddy as can be about their chocolate finds:  filled eggs, bunnies, & baskets.  As for me, I perhaps had the same level of excitement as they did by the gift my father-in-law gave me:  the National Geographic quarterly Special Issue--Water: Our Thirsty World.  Not only was there this amazing fold-out map of the world rivers--which I teach--but on the flip side of it, there was an amazing poster of "Hidden Water."  In super-sized droplets, the poster notes the amounts of gallons of "virtual water" it takes to produce different items from beginning to end, including planting, raising, sometimes feeding, and factory production of an item.

For example:  1 pound of beef and some potatoes with a glass of wine could set you back 248 gallons of water:  185 gallons (the beef) + 31 gallons (the potatoes) + 32 gallons (the wine).   And, depending on your dining attire, you could be out 3,666 gallons of water just wearing a cotton shirt (766 gal./water) and a pair of jeans (2,900 gallons).  That's a mind-boggling amount of water!  You can do  further H2O investigations at National Geographic's interactive website:  http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/embedded-water/

Do your own math:  discover your own "Water Footprint" by going to http://www.h2oconserve.org/home.php.  While you're using this Water Calculator, the site gives you helpful hints on how to diminish your water usage.  The H2O Conserve website also has an education and kids section, the latter of which has a cute video featuring "Aqua," an 8-year old gal in search of water info. A cute little video to show your kids or your classroom.  The education section has a 17-page water curriculum complete with student pages and project ideas.  The site also recommends (as do I) a visit to Water: H2O = Life, the online information about the international traveling exhibit from New York's American Museum of Natural History

While you're calculating, you can't just stop at your Water Footprint calculation.  The next logical & important stop is the Carbon Footprint Calculator.  You can find a kid-friendly calculator at http://eeweek.org/carbon_calculator.  Input your numbers and the calculator will do the math for you, telling you approximately how many planets worth of energy you are using as compared to others nation-wide.

Of course, once you do all of these calculations, you'll see that "doing the math" is the easy part.  It's important to decide for yourself...what are you going to do with that information??  What changes can and will you make?

Pictures from http://transitionwestmarin.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/carbon-calculator.jpg, http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/, http://eeweek.org/carbon_calculator, and http://www.h2oconserve.org/home.php%20

Earth Day Is On Its Way: The Man, The Music

Here it is, a mellow Saturday night at my house after a very full family day of outings and adventures.  Kicking back, my husband landed on Maryland Public Television, and we found ourselves soaking in the tunes and philosophy of John Denver and his 1995 "The Wildlife Concert."  The concert benefited the Wildlife Conservation Society. Not only does music of my childhood come back to me with the familiar songs of John Denver, but it was inspiring to see one of the original environmentalist of the 1970s and beyond, speaking the same truths as environmental activists today.

Songs you might remember, that might make good background music for your Earth Day:

• "Calypso"
• "Earth Day Every Day" 
• "Rocky Mountain High"
• "Fly Away"
• "Eagle and the Hawk"
• "Windsong"
• "Wild Montana Skies"
• "Eagles and Horses"
• "It's a Possibility"
• "You Say the Battle is Over"
• "Sunshine on My Shoulders"
• "Take Me Home, Country Roads"

During the show, there were vignettes by John, and I found this one particularly telling:  

"I think that I would most like to be remembered for the fact that I stood up for what I believe in.  That I spoke for it, that I sang for it, I worked for the things that I believe in in the world.... The question I'm most often asked about the environment is 'The problems are so big--what can I do?'  And I remind people that you don't have to do it all.  But there is something you can do.  It can be easy.  It doesn't have to be a great sacrifice.  As I say, if it comes out of your own heart and spirit and your own inclinations, it's the thing that is easy to do.  So you do the thing that you can do, that's an expression of who you are and an expression of your sense of relationship to nature, to the environment.  You do the thing that you can do--I'll do the thing that I can do. And we'll try to get these other people to do what they can do.  And we can save ourselves."

For the words of "The Earth Day Visualization" below, go to the "Living Lightly on the Land" section of Windstar Foundation, an organization co-founded by John Denver and Tom Crum, dedicated to the environment (at http://www.wstar.org/windstar/Education/LivingLightly/LivingLightly%20EarthDay2000.html). There is also a great photo collage remembrance to John Denver on their site at http://wstar.org/Connections/john.html

Earth Day is On Its Way: Green Kidz

Straight from the CGKidz/CynerGreen Press Release:

Award Winning Teenager and Eco Activist “plants” messages at local schools to celebrate Earth Day, increase awareness


April 16, 2010 Little Rock, AR - Eco education for kids has never been more important. With nearly 20% of our nation’s landfills comprised of empty plastic water bottles, Arkansas teenager Riley Hoffer is even more inspired to continue her environmental awareness campaigns.


In 2008, at the age of 11, Riley founded the non-profit CG Kidz. Since then, she’s visited with over 30 groups, donated over 3000 of her specially designed reusable water bottles, and shared a message about sustainability and the importance of taking care of the earth. That message specifically targets kids ages K-8 and teaches them about the responsibility of environmental stewardship. Riley has developed 7 Easy Green Tips for kids that she shares on her website www.cgkidz.com and during her presentations. This year on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, Riley is planting messages and communicating her mission through Earth Week eco-assemblies at local Arkansas schools.


The week of April 19 through April 23, 2010 Riley will visit the following eco conscious schools:

• April 19, 2010 The Anthony School, Little Rock (In partnership with Radio Disney) 1:30pm
• April 21, 2010 Fulbright Elementary, Little Rock 9:00am and 1:00pm
• April 22, 2010 Academic Center of Excellence, Party with a Purpose Cabot Morning Tree Planting
• April 23, 2010 Cabot Gifted and Talented Eco Celebration, Cabot 12:30pm

The week comes to an end for Riley with a trip to Washington DC where she’ll be on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. On April 27, Riley is receiving a prestigious award from the United States Green Building Council for her work in creating environmental awareness. She’s the youngest of five USGBC Youth Leaders to be honored at a special event.


About CG Kidz
CG Kidz’ mission is to bring environmental education, and awareness to kids in K-8th grades; empowering them to take action in their communities for a cleaner, greener future. CG Kidz is the non-profit arm of CynerGreen. CynerGreen is a pioneer in creating environmentally conscious programs for cities, schools, hotels/resorts and business to provide hydration solutions, resulting in plastic Bottle Free™ environments.


CG Kidz mobilizes students in elementary schools, educating them about environmental issues, which in turn, inspires them to take action. A pioneer in linking the power of children’s voices to environmental awareness, it was CG Kidz and CynerGreen who introduced Bottle Free Schools™, launching the idea of eliminating plastic water bottles from schools everywhere, and bringing the concept of reusable water bottles and refill or “hydration stations” to previously unaware districts. CynerGreen and CG Kidz have received recent accolades and awards including Eco Heroes by Arkansas Publishing. Riley was recently named Pottery Barn Teen of the Month and one of “20 to Watch” by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. They have been featured on CBS, Fox News Talk Business, and in Family Circle, Savvy Kids, The Arkansas Green Guide and Little Rock Family.
 For more information, to become involved in our Green Schools program, or to schedule a school visit, contact Danelle Hoffer at Danelle@cynergreen.com or 501.605.0197. CG Kidz is a pending 501(C)3 non-profit organization in the state of Arkansas.

Earth Day is On Its Way: The Mega Resource Center

As a teacher, I think I'm a perpetual collector...of things, of files, of websites, of all kinds of goodies that might be of great use in the classroom.  Here are ten of my great "green" finds for Earth Day activities galore!!  May you be "a kid in the candy store" in the same way I am with goodies like these:

For the "Toys 'R Us" of the Earth Day Internet world, Planet Pals is where your quest should begin!  It easily could be your 1 stop shopping center for lesson plans and activities.  http://www.planetpals.com/earthday.html
 

Elmer's Glue Crew has a printable calendar of 40 days of 40 ways to be Earth Friendly.  How many items on that list can you, your family, or your class mark of as "mission completion?"

http://www.elmers.com/newsletters/GlueCrew/40daysofearthday/Calendar/calendar.pdf

The Earth Day specialists!  Tons, tons, and tons of lesson plans grades K-12 on a myriad of environmental topics.  You won't go home hungry!  http://www.earthday.net/lessonplans

 It's not "Earth Day" themed per se, yet "Meet the Greens" are focused entirely around living the green life, so any of the mini video clips you find there will definitely color your Earth Day the right shade! http://www.meetthegreens.org/

The EPA (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) has 2 websites that have loads of links and activities.  The first is very Earth Day specific, and the latter is the EPA Environmental Kids Club with neat activities for kids.  http://www.epa.gov/earthday/takehomekit.htm  and http://www.epa.gov/kids/

Seventh Generation, the company that produces many eco-friendly cleaning products, has compiled four lessons perfectly timed to share about the importance of clean air inside your home.  Their lessons are catagorized by grade level, and rich with both teacher & student activities to print.  http://www.seventhgeneration.com/give/earth-day-lesson-plan

At The Teachers' Guide you'll find lesson plans for all of the following:  "The Lorax," Earth Day lesson plans, internet/smartboard resources, printouts, clip art, and crafts.  All sorts of fun stuff. http://www.theteachersguide.com/earthdaylessonplans.htm

Another lesson plan super store is here at A to Z Teacher Stuff.  Crafts, mini units, projects and more are here for you...appropriate grade levels are listed.

http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Themes/Earth_Day/ 

Here you'll find a lesson plan storehouse where you can search any topic.  The Earth Day section is well-organized with lesson plans by theme (rainforest, national parks, garbage and recycling, environmental injustice, general Earth Day ideas, and general environmental awareness issues.  There's also a video section.  Boatloads of links!

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/EarthDay.htm

And then, of course, there's my own April 2010 Green Team Gazette, complete with Jeopardy game.  http://www.gics.org/Green%20Team%20Gazettes/Green%20Team%20Gazette%2004_10.pdf

 Okay... just because there's more....Here's #11 from Green Schools Initiatives. The "resources" page is huge!  http://www.greenschools.net/article.php?id=160 

Earth Day is on Its Way: The Movement

Yesterday, my class of all boys and I had a rare and wonderful opportunity to take a video tour through the landmarks of Civil Rights Movement.  No, not an online adventure, but an escorted adventure through the pictures & places Mr. Charles ("Tank") Duckett has been.  Tank, a friend of Eagle Cove School and a guest to our classroom, shared his digital photo journal of his his trip to Civil Rights landmarks such as the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the Rosa Parks Library, Martin Luther King, Jr's home and grave site, Dexter Avenue Memorial Baptist Church, Little Rock's Central High, Fisk University....just to name a few!  My boys heard for the first time the African American National Anthem, and they also got to hear Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winning acceptance speech.

What's the correlation to Earth Day, you ask?  It all got me thinking about parallels and connections.  Tank was talking to my boys about how the Civil Rights Movement began with young people who were eager to take a stand and to take steps to move people forward.  He spoke to them about coming together respectfully to be leaders, to build bridges.  Powerful words to hear as a 3rd grader...more powerful too if they're taken to heart!

Am I saying that the Environmental Movement rivals The Civil Rights Movement?  Oh my word!!  Heavens no! Not one bit!!  What I am saying is that it is through people being committed to something greater than themselves that leaders are made.  It is through small steps--backed by passion--that create change.  From here, we are driven to progress.  That IS the point of Earth Day...or any movement!

I was struck especially with this quote in Dr. King's 1964 acceptance speech: 

"I refuse to accept the idea that man is mere flotsom and jetsom in the river of life, unable to influence the unfolding events which surround him."

Perhaps it caught my attention because flotsom and jetsom are nautical word--words for environmental waste here a week from Earth Day.  Words that describe what David de Rothschild of the Plastiki will most certainly find in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.  Yet more so, I was struck by the small similarity that we have a 40-year old environmental movement that was also started by few, scoffed at by many.  Both movements were fueled by passion.  Both movements have grown from the vision of people who are willing to stand up for what they believe in, to be out there, to do it step-sometimes-by-little-step.  And then there are some, like David de Rothschild, who take bold risks.  The Civil Rights Movement most certainly gained it's momentum by amazing men and women who took bold risks every day, risking their lives and sometimes their families' lives for equality, truth, and justice that were long over due...for a purpose greater than themselves.  Both movement have grown from people who are willing to be true leaders, creating new leaders every day--often amongst the youngest out there.

Returning to Earth Day, it was the brainstorm of John McConnell, and it started in the U.S. in 1970.  Now it has evolved into an annual world-wide celebration to commemorate and concentrate on the Earth, doing all we can to maintain & improve the health of our planet.  From the first Earth Day April 22, 1970, the movement gained momentum in that the Clean Air Act was written to address air pollution (and was later rewritten in 1990) and Congress created the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).  Given the enormous activism of the 1960's and the Civil Rights Movement, perhaps it was only natural that other issues (including the environment) started becoming focal points for change as well.

To visit Mr. Duckett's website, click the link above or go to http://charlesrduckettandassociates.com/ .

To see the lyrics & hear the music for the Black National Anthem "Lift Ev'ry Voice & Sing," go to http://www.black-network.com/anthem.htm .

To join the "Earth Day 2010 Campaign:  Billion Acts of Green," go to http://www.earthday.org/ .

Picture from http://www.artisanartsonline.com/product_info.php/cPath/312/products_id/3007  and shared today by Mr. Duckett.  The quote:  "When your belief is strong and your purpose just, no obstacle can stand in your way."  Good advice regardless your mission.

Earth Day is on its Way: Disappearing Acts

Newsweek is offering up in their latest Special Edition:  100 Places to Remember Before They Disappear. In it, there are 100 photographic reasons why this planet is an amazing place...and 100 places globally that are in danger of doing a disappearing act due to climate change.  Each photograph comes with a synopsis of each location's beauty and wonder, as well as its current risk due to rising temperatures.  Not only are the visuals amazing, but there's a bounty of geography and map skills built in as well as the potential for some great Earth Day discussion on human impact to the world around us. 

To take the virtual visit, click the title above or go to http://www.newsweek.com/id/236064 or go to http://www.100places.com/en/

Image from http://www.100places.com/de/shop/

Earth Day is on the Way: Great Reads

Reading, especially with kids, is a great way to get big messages across.  With Earth Day on the Way (T minus 11 days), there are some really fabulous books out there to get kids thinking on ways they can be tending our planet.

One of my favorites is "Michael Recycle" by Ellie Bethel.  A superhero donning a colander as a helmet & his tell-tale green cape, Michael goes about cleaning up his town.  There's also a sequel "Michael Recycle Meets Litterbug Doug."  The lilting rhyme & pictures instantly draw in kids of any age.

Then there's the classic which you'd be remiss if you skipped:  Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax."  Best line ever:  "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."  At the end of reading this, your youngsters and you might be "speaking for the trees," just like the Lorax.

Jennifer Keats Curtis also has written some wonderful books that discuss some environmental issues that involve our own backyards & the animals that live there.  We're lucky to have Jennifer coming to Eagle Cove School next Monday, the first day of our "Bay Week," to share her newest book "Baby Owl Rescue." Can't wait!  To learn more about her and her other books including "Turtles in My Sandbox" and "Osprey Adventure," check out http://www.jenniferkeatscurtis.com/ .

A fabulous resource for parents and teachers alike lives at the National Environmental Education Foundation's Website.  They have a very comprehensive list of Green Reads for children.  The book lists are sorted by elementary, middle, and high school....and there's a whole other page of resources for educators. This is one of those sites to bookmark because there's so much there you'll want to return to often!   

http://www.eeweek.org/resources/green_reading.htm

And if you're like me, and you can never quite get enough,  there's always Amazon.com of course, which is a super place to go and browse.  They have a whole section on "Green Books, Movies & Music"  Check it out here:   

http://www.amazon.com/Green-Books-Music-TV-Movies/b/ref=amb_link_7284772_2?ie=UTF8&node=554382011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0AG73X1NJQV7KQTSACW8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=424683901&pf_rd_i=554382011

Book images from www.amazon.com

Food For Thought, Part Cinq

I'm from the midwest & lived in the cornbelt.  Summer driving always had us checking out the landscape, trying to decide if the corn plants were "knee high by the Fourth of July."  Typically they were.  Corn is the landscape of my childhood. 

But....I have experienced the difficulty of shopping with a roommate years ago who was allergic to corn.  Corn is in EVERYTHING!  Beyond the obvious: corn...it is also in corn syrup (esp the "high fructose" variety), corn starch, dextrose, maltodextrin, MSG (monosodium glutamate), and GDL (glucona delta lactone) which is an additive in cured meats.  Gee...aren't those a lot of the preservatives in the 2-inch list on processed foods?!

It's also in our hair.  Our hair?!?   We consume so much food with all of the above (plus we eat meat with either corn filler or from corn-fed cattle/poultry), that we are essentially made of corn.  An amazing movie that starts with a hair analysis that elicits a verdict of corn, follows 2 guys fresh out of college to the heartland where they decide to harvest an acre of corn, harvesting a lot of corn facts a long the way (some of which are very disturbing).  "King Corn" is that movie, and it totally changes the way you look at the corn industry.  It's a great chaser to "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution!"

To see the trailer for "King Corn" and learn a little more about the movie...go to  http://www.kingcorn.net/ or click the title above.  Follow it up by renting it!  It's a fabulous, eye-opening movie!!

For a great website on some kid-friendly corn (not corny!) facts, check out http://www.campsilos.org/mod3/students/index.shtml


Corn picture from http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/how-stuff-works/corn.html

Food For Thought, Part Quatre

"French fries are a vegetable."

This quote is a quote from the 3rd episode of  "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution."  Anyone who has watched 2 minutes of this show can imagine Jamie's thoughts on this subject.  And he's right.  It's a ludicrous comment, yet it came from the county's nutrition director because it was "in the book."  It's comments such as this--married with the high schoolers in this episode that were cooking an amazing fundraising dinner--that had Tim Decker, our Eagle Cove School science teacher, comment the following:  

"I have to tell you that I really connect with this show mostly because I've been where he's been.  I grew up in that exact same area.  I know these people.  And it really hurts. I tried to change them environmentally and I ran into the same folks and the same ignorance that he's running into.  And it hurts.  But this episode ... where he gets the kids to do things (third graders can't use power tools ... second graders can't pull up a several hundred pound osprey stand ... fifth graders can't build a greenhouse ...)  This one really hits home."

Clearly it's been doing some "hitting home" with me as well.  Since watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, I'm sure it's a surprise to no one that I'm looking at everything I'm eating.  Doesn't hurt too that I wouldn't mind dropping a pound or two. After only 3 episodes (and a slight obsession), I'm finding myself eating a whole lot more fruits and vegetables...and doing a remarkable job of staying away from my kids' Easter candy.

How?  My new mantra is "Do I want that food inside of me?"  9 times out of 10, the answer is no.  The preservatives, and accompanying calories, aren't worth it.  Interesting too, my scale is starting to move the right direction.  So...if/when my resolve & willpower start to waver, may visions of Jamie Oliver & the ludicrous-ness of the comment "french fries are a vegetable" knock some sense back into me!   

May it begin to hit home with you too.  And if it hasn't, here's the nutritional value of one 9-ounce bag of frozen french fries:

If you still haven't seen any of the shows, click the title above for Episode 3, or go to http://abc.go.com/shows/jamie-olivers-food-revolution/episode-guide/episode-103/411801

Picture from http://www.ryanseacrest.com/blog/food-revolution

"Message in a Bottle" Day 19

Watch the Good Morning America video bit from David de Rothschild from the Plastiki about some of the finds he's finding in the ocean here, 19 days in!


Click the title above, or go to http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Green/david-de-rothschild-sailing-australia-plastiki-boat-made/story?id=10300495

Picture from http://cocoecomag.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Plastiki004_600.jpg

Food For Thought, Part Trois

I completely feel like I'm on an endless expedition.

Not to mention, is it just me, or is it ironic that two 11-year old girls are the heart of a documentary called "What's on Your Plate"--a year's analysis of NYC's food system?  AND, they're essentially finding/drawing conclusions & attention to the same observations that Jamie Oliver is finding in Huntington, WV.  Plus, there's a USA first lady out there running a "Let's Move" campaign on obesity. 

And then there's Oprah Winfrey & Ryan Seacrest.  On the March 26, 2010 episode of "Oprah," Ryan Seacrest was there talking about his new project, my favorite, "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution."  Out of their conversation came the quote, "You have to believe in something greater than yourself, or you can never do anything greater than yourself."   As Ryan spoke out about being a little overweight at the age of 11 or so, he spoke strongly of Jamie Oliver's Mission.  Jamie too came on, speaking the same, even boldly stating that consistently feeding unhealthy food to children is akin to child abuse.  Jamie is hoping "to inspire American parents to have an opinion for themselves" and talking about how he hoped people would open their eyes and support both his and Michelle Obama's mission.

Here's the part of the program where I say environmentalism  (in every sense of the word) truly isn't about politics.  It doesn't matter if you are Republican or Democrat.  What matters is that we in America have a problem with obesity (among other things)...and it's starting younger and younger.  It's not just food, but inactivity, and the lifestyle we've developed here in America that's more "behind the screen [the TV, computer, PSP, etc]" than "out in the green." We can't argue this--it's out there in the CDC facts, these documentaries, these movements, and more.  Did anyone see "Wall-E?"  It was there, with the overweight humans riding their hovercrafts. 

So it's "out there"....and maybe even closer to you in your home.  So what? And "now what?"  To take action or gain information, check out one of the following:

• For a list of 62 great "Store Cupboard Essentials" compiled by Jamie Oliver for the Oprah show, go to http://static.oprah.com/pdf/store-cupboard-essentials-list.pdf

• To check out "What's on My Plate" click the title above or investigate http://www.whatsonyourplateproject.org/

• For Michelle Obama's anti-obesity site, go to http://www.letsmove.gov/%20

• Or rewatch "Wall-E" with a new vision.

Image from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH6TUL47jDhMYIFu8C9ZXm4BcFC0VBAPPTy0twVv-jvYIs0oa8L0hU22DUyslG2IesRnU_VO2uvSae7-4h3dCTCjUF5EVDAfrLZsPeadZs4BsfT77Mm0bnz7Vzhzr0LU7Hheu2fpYtQ/s320/Fat+Human.jpg

Food For Thought, Part Deux

Reality shows aren't really my thing...however I've got to say, I'm hooked.

After taking on the UK's school lunch program, Jamie Oliver has now set his sights for Huntington, West Virginia.  Why here?  Huntington has received the moniker of "Unhealthiest City in America" with it's 50% obesity rate as well as the alarmingly high numbers of people there with diabetes and heart disease.  His goal?  Healthy lunches in all schools not only in Huntington, but beyond.  He's working on slimming down a very-overweight America, beginning with it's youngest consumers!

Click the title above (or go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAo-DtS-tRc) to see what I find to be the most powerful 10 minute snippet of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" I've seen thus far.  This clip is from Episode 2, and it gives you a new perspective on chicken nuggets.  Watching a handful of 2nd or 3rd graders watch Jamie cut apart a roaster chicken and then use the carcass to make a chicken patty--and watching their reaction--is chilling.  It will make you think long and hard about eating processed "anything!"  In my opinion, watching this should be akin to required reading!

To find out more, get recipes, or sign the petition, go to http://www.jamieoliver.com/%20 .

To find out when to watch, go to http://abc.go.com/schedule.  (This week's episode 4 is scheduled to run this Friday at 9 pm EST on ABC.)  You can also find it at http://www.hulu.com/jamie-olivers-food-revolution .

Picture from http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/01/jamie-olivers-food-revolution-takes-on-americas-unhealthiest-city/ where you can see a different 2 minute promo/review of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution"

Food For Thought Part 1.5

Have an Egg-cellent Easter....from my side of  the planet to yours!

(Image à la my Easter basket!)

Food For Thought

Life = synchronicity.  Last weekend I watched the first 2 episodes of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution," caught the first 10 minutes of "What's On Your Plate" and knew I needed to record it to watch, and added in a chaser of watching "Food, Inc." (the book of which is also on my bedside table).  Also, as I've been tracking the Plastiki (who, at this writing, is on Day 15 and 1,251 nautical miles into their journey), I find it interesting that their "Word of the Week" this week is "Food." 

Clearly, I have "Food" on the brain!

And let me tell you, with all of the viewing of the above mentioned shows, my eyes are still a little wide open from all of it.  Shock, horror, amazement wide-open.  I foresee "Food" being the word du jour for me awhile too.

If it's on your brain too, check out the following:

--Watch full episode of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution"  http://abc.go.com/watch/jamie-olivers-food-revolution/250784?cid=fullepisodeaccess

--Find out more about the movie "Food, Inc."   http://www.foodincmovie.com/

--Learn more about "What's on Your Plate:  The Documentary Film About Kids and Food Politics"  http://www.whatsonyourplateproject.org/

--Go to You Tube and search "Child Nutrition Act Celebrity PSA" and you'll find several endorsements like the one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmR6t7M7_5U&feature=PlayList&p=AA4DBE5ABC0FB623&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=6

--Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign pro-nutrition/anti-obesity  http://www.letsmove.gov/

Thanks to The Plastiki's Blog for the image  http://www.theplastiki.com/2010/03/word-of-the-week-food/

April's Green Team Gazette

April's Green Team Gazette "Earth Day Edition" is hot off the presses!  Find out about Sun Chips new compostable bag, play some Earth Day Jeopardy, or celebrate Jane Goodall's 75th bday!

Click the title above or go to website http://www.gics.org/Green%20Team%20Gazettes/Green%20Team%20Gazette%2004_10.pdf