That time again - Local Food 2008

The folks over at Eat Local Challenge for Salt Lake City are once again sponsoring a local food challenge for 2008. Utah has abundant resources for aquiring local foods and this challenge is well worth at least a partial attempt at participation.
Drop in over there to learn more.

AGU~

Wind power initiative

The Utah Geological Survey has begun accepting applications from Utah landowners seeking to learn about wind power possibilities on their properties. The UGS will be providing the selected applicants with an anemometer and pole set up in order to measure the wind force and consistency to provide them with a good picture of the potential for wind powered electric power generation. The UGS will be accepting applications from any Utah resident or business until March 1st for those seeking a spring or summer installation, and August 1 for all those seeking a fall installation.

There are two possible tower heights available. 20m and 50m. The 20m poles and anemometer have no cost attached to them for the land owner. The 50m poles, generally for commercial applications, are supplied with anemometer for free but the land owner is responsible for the installation charge. ( $4,000-$5,000)

It's a possitive thing to be recieving support and encouragement from State offices for alternative and renewable energy sources. It's this kind of thinking that is going to help set Utah apart and put us in a positive position against potential future energy crises.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2660846

Local Food Challenge SLC

Today in Salt Lake City a group of people will be taking up a challenge to eat locally; and I don't mean merely going down to the local grocery, or restaurant. To this bunch, led by Andrea and Michael Heidinger of Salt Lake City locally takes on a more literal meaning. They want to eat only foods that are grown and produced within 100 - 250 miles of Salt Lake City. It's no surprise to most of us that much of our foods are grown in other states and in many cased far off countries. The methods of transporting these foods to our tables consume huge amounts of energy mainly in the form of fossil fuels thus adding to the greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere as well as to our dependance on oil.

Nationwide there is a movement of people gravitating toward re-localizing thier diet and eating "slow food". Many embrace this idea for it's benefit in reducing harmful greenhouse gasses, some to support local agriculture and others to take back control of their diet and decide what is truly in the foods that they feed their families. Whatever the reason I agree with it. It can only benefit a person, family, community to support their local economy and to control their diet.

I encourage you to explore this idea further and agree with the Heidingers suggestion to take a first step if you haven't considered this before, or take a step futher if you are already trying this to some degree. You'll learn more about your community, potentially make some new friends, and help move us towards a greener Utah.

You can read more about the Heidingers and the local food challenge here:

http://localfoodchallenge.blogspot.com/

SL Tribune

Catalyst Magazine