Leslie Crenna

I would reword the organic ingredients challenge thus: "I will enjoy one meal prepared with all organic ingredients one day this week." Perhaps, the number of days could be the field that can be changed, rather than the number of meals per day.

I'm a bit flummoxed by the zero waste food challenge because it assumes I cook a meal everyday. I do not. I also find the formula of once every-day-of-the-week to be too difficult to follow.

I think a more reasonable goal would be worded thus: "I will prepare one meal this week that results in zero waste by buying the ingredients in bulk with reusable containers, recycling any containers I cannot avoid, eating all of the food produced especially if there are leftovers, and composting all food scraps."  There might be more items that would contribute to a zero waste meal. Any ideas to help me reformulate this item?

I'm feeling frustrated that the focus of our group is not on the people or possibilities but narrowly on making sure to get the reading done. It is difficult to test the materials and structure when folks aren't fully engaged, but it's equally difficult to be effective when we are trying to do too much and not cutting each other slack in the process.  The human relationships are more important than every other part of this work. We are losing this perspective.

I have been mulching with cuttings and just now wrote a note to my "mow and blow" not-my-choice have-to-because-i'm-a renter guy, to mulch grass clippings as he goes instead of dumping them in one place when he's done. I believe it's just a matter of removing the bag. We'll see what he does. He only comes every other week.

I followed the YouTube link from page 77 in the Water chapter and it was not there (or I could not find it even though I typed in the URL word for word). I also had trouble with the link that started with the USGS because it appears the primary content that is the most accessible was hosted at the USEPA. The link is now broken. Frightening! I am investigating our local watershed and local water issues using the City website and more to put together a presentation titled Water Literacy. I will be presenting it to the group this Wed night and look forward to feedback on the content and ideas.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Last week we learned that one of our participants has a resilience challenge and opportunity in her own backyard. She lives in a senior living facility with a community room that allows only restricted use to the residents. She reports that it has PV on the roof, is regularly cool as a result, but is not offered as a shared space generally. She suggested that on extreme heat days or perhaps often during the summer that it might be made accessible to residents as a cool retreat especially from hot third floor units. I find it an interesting challenge for our group and/or others to hunt out the resources and folks necessary to see if this could be made into an extreme heat day cooling center.  First, is there a plan in place already for our community for such needs and contingencies? Two, can we harness the eloquence of this particular member to speak out on the issues. Three, who can help us solve this problem? Any interest?

I am super lucky to have a friend - local farmer who delivered a full box of meals just picked today!

I am excited to start our course tomorrow and learn about local efforts by reading Kerry's article!