Going Green Memphis 9-26-10

2 GOING GREEN | Sunday, September 26, 2010 commercialappeal.
com
What’s in this issue ...

Vineyard at capacity
4 Physicist Peter Howard designed
Crown Winery to maximize energy
efficiency using the sun, landscape
Drinks for a cause Natural wines

10 Cocktail hour returns
13 Winemakers ditch the
with natural ingredients tricks for true flavors
Freshness at top of menu

17 Millington restaurant, supports
local farmers market in kitchen
Detroit alley first

20 Keep these toxins
away from toddler
22 to get green lift
Countries better
25 Recipe for a
meatless Monday
26 off green than gold
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Going Green is a special online publication of
The Commercial Appeal. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Follow Going
Green on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoGreenMemphis.
Editor: Kim Coleman, 529-5243, goinggreen@commercialappeal.com
Community Editor: Emily Adams Keplinger, keplinger@commercialappeal.com
On the cover: Photo by Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal

The Commercial Appeal Sunday, September 26, 2010 | GOING GREEN 3
The Green Page

Trees for Arbor Day Book, which includes information about
Everyone from Tennessee who joins the tree planting and care.
Arbor Day Foundation in September will The trees will be shipped postpaid at the
receive 10 free trees as part of the right time for planting, between Oct. 15
Foundation’s Trees for America campaign. and Dec. 10. The 6- to 12-inch trees are
New members will receive an eastern guaranteed to grow or they will be replaced
redbud, white pine, sugar maple, white free of charge. Send a $10 membership
flowering dogwood, pin oak, red maple, contribution to Ten Trees, Arbor Day
river birch, silver maple, northern red oak Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City,
and Colorado blue spruce. Additionally, NE 68410, by Sept. 30, or join online at
new members will also receive The Tree arborday.org/september.
GREEN PROGRAMS Panelists will include

landscape designer Suzy
Lasagna gardening Askew, Jim Crowder from
Love home-grown Dan West Garden Centers,
veggies but hate all the landscape architect Larry
work? There is a way you Griffin, Len Lawhon of
can have a wonderful Lawhon Landscape Design,
garden without spending landscape designer Tom
countless hours working on Pellet, and Dale Skaggs,
it. Writer and lecturer Pat Director of Horticulture for
Lanza will fill you in on the Dixon Gallery and Gardens.
secret when she speaks at The seminar is 9 a.m. to
Memphis Botanic Garden. noon at MBG. Admission is
Lanza is a long-time $3 for MBG members; $5
advocate for renewing Mark Weber for non-members. Call 384-
garden spaces with layered The Commercial Appeal 8979.
yard waste and newspaper. The Shelby Farms
She has written numerous Greenline’s grand
Greenline opening
books, including “Lasagna opening is Oct. 9. The Grand Opening of
Gardening: A method for the Shelby Farms Greenline
improving the soil with; No is set for Oct. 9. There will
Digging, No Tilling, No not necessary. Call 636- be a 7-mile block party
Weeding, No Kidding!“, 4128. through the heart of
“Lasagna Gardening for Memphis. Activities will
Small Spaces“, and Gardening seminar include a bicycle-powered
“Lasagna Gardening with mobile band, a community
Herbs.” On Oct. 2, Memphis Area run, and a ribbon-cutting
Lasagna Gardening with Master Gardeners and the ceremony. The evening will
Pat Lanza is scheduled for Memphis Botanic Garden be capped off at Shelby
Tuesday, at 7 p.m. Tickets (MBG) are once again Farms Park with live
are $7 for MBG Garden sponsoring a “Dream Team” entertainment. For more
members; $12 for non- gardening seminar, this information, visit
members. Registration is time on landscape issues. shelbyfarmsgreenline.org.
4 GOING GREEN | Sunday, September 26, 2010 commercialappeal.com
Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal

Peter and Rita Howard are owners of Crown Winery & HRH Vineyards in
Humboldt, Tenn.
A toast to this winery

Physicist uses solar panels, sells excess energy
By Suzanne Thompson So who better than a physicist
Special to Going Green
to figure out the most energy-
efficient way to run a winery?
IN SPRING, A PERSON’S fancy
That’s just what British gas
turns to love and flowers. But in fall,
physicist Peter Howard did when he
appetites turn to food and drink.
designed Crown Winery in
And where the latter is concerned,
Humboldt.
beer and wine reign supreme.
Howard and his wife,

Rita, are majority owners
of the winery, which
opened in 2009 and is
built into a hillside to take
advantage of the earth’s
natural cooling powers.
The winery draws most
of the energy it uses from
solar panels, which
provide more than
enough power to operate
the business during
daylight hours.
“We generate at this Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal
time of year, on a sunny Crown Winery & HRH Vineyards uses solar panels to
day, approximately 120 power the winery’s daytime operations and sells the
kilowatt hours a day. It’s excess power to TVA.
far more than what we
use,” Howard said.
Excess energy that when the sun goes and small breweries have
produced by the panels is down, you have no energy.” methods to conserve
purchased by TVA’s At a cost of $140,000 energy and exercise the
Green Switch program, for the 78 solar panels, three Rs — recycle,
which pays 12 cents per the investment was reduce, reuse.
kilowatt hour over the substantial, but they will St. Louis-based
going rate for power. pay for themselves in 11 Anheuser-Busch’s 12
“Power we do not use to 16 years. breweries recycled 99.4
goes out onto the grid “Any time beyond that percent of the solid waste
and is consumed locally,” you’ve got free power,” he material produced in the
Howard said. said. brewing process during
“The disadvantage is Like wine makers, large 2009.
Crown Winery & HRH Vineyards

Address: 3638 East Mitchell Street,
Humboldt, TN 38343
Phone: (731) 784-8100
Website: crownwinery.com
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11
a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, Wine Down!, 7-10
p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Closed on
Monday.
Chuck Skypeck
(standing)
explains some
of the finer
points of a
golden ale to
(left to right)
Jake Meeks,
Damien
Klingberg and
Scott Doney
during a dinner
at Bosco’s.
Brandon Dill
Special to The
Commercial Appeal
Anheuser-Busch has Ghost River Brewing

also been recognized as a
Climate Leader by the Address: 827 S. Main Street,
U.S. Environmental Memphis, TN 38106
Protection Agency for its Phone: (901) 278-0087
efforts in reducing Website: ghostriverbrewing.com
greenhouse gas emissions. Tours: Ghost River Brewing
At its brewery in offers free brewery tours every Saturday at 1 p.m.
Fairfield, Calif., 6 acres of Reservations are required. Call (901) 278-0087 ext. 208 or
ground-mounted solar e-mail info@ghostriverbrewing.com to reserve your spot.
panels were installed in Preserving the river: To learn more about the Wolf
2009 in a partnership River Conservancy, visit wolfriver.org.
with SunEdison.
That facility also has put
in a bio-energy recovery
system, which captures the technologies just isn’t “Beer is 95 percent
nutrients in the brewing feasible. But they do have water and Memphis has
wastewater and converts it other ways to help the great water which is not
to bio-gas, providing 15 environment. only great for drinking
percent of that brewery’s Chuck Skypeck, a but also great for brewing
power needs. The founding partner and beer,” Skypeck said.
renewable fuel reduces the head brewer at Boscos, “We think it makes
use of natural gas. said the company donates perfect sense for us to
For smaller breweries, $1 from the sale of every help an organization that
however, investment in barrel of beer to the Wolf is helping to protect our
broad-scale green River Conservancy. water supply.”
Also, after brew cycles are complete,

the company recycles the grain used in
the brewing process.
It’s a practice the company has used
since it started doing business.
The fermented grain, when dried,
makes excellent feed for livestock.
A cattle farmer from Mississippi
comes weekly and picks up the grain
used in the brewing process to use as
feed. Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal
“He comes and takes it back to feed
his 70 very happy cattle,” Skypeck said. Buster’s Liquors & Wines offers a
After the brewing process, the grain variety of organic wines from around
doesn’t contain alcohol properties, but the world.
is converted into roughage.
The brewing process also produces a
lot of hot water, and that too is
recycled.
“We recycle that water in the sense
Drink up,
that we use it for cleaning,” Skypeck
said.
Drew Barton, a 29-year-old home
brewer who wants to open his own
and save
brewery, said some home brewers
capture hot water used in their brewing
process and use it to do laundry.
the planet
Home brewers also recycle their
grain. By Suzanne Thompson
“It is great filler for garden soil,” Special to Going Green
Barton said. “It aerates the soil really
well.” It’s hard to believe that having a
And even though new bottles are cocktail could help the environment,
available for home-brewed beer, many but the makers of 360 Vodka claim it’s
people re-use beer bottles from a reality.
commercial breweries. Billed as the first eco-friendly super-
Barton has been home brewing since premium vodka, the slogan for the
he was 21, and also has worked as head product is “Saving the planet, one
brewer for the French Broad Brewery glass at a time.”
in Asheville, N.C. In addition to the bottle being made
During his tenure there, he said, that of 85 percent recycled glass, the
brewery was the first in North Carolina company also developed a “close the
to fuel its brewers with used vegetable loop” program. Each bottle comes with
oil. a self-addressed, postage-paid envelope
Photos by Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Bill Boywid points out some of the organic wines available at Buster’s
Liquors & Wines.
(made from 100 percent states in which 360 Vodka the local distributor of the
recycled paper), which is distributed. It is offered products.
they ask customers to use in Memphis by about 14 “We are just introducing
to return the swing-top lid liquor stores, including different flavors like Bing
of the bottle so it can be Buster’s Liquors & Wines, Cherry, Mandarin Orange
reused. Great Wines & Spirits and and Georgia Peach,” he
The swing-top lid also Charlies Wine and Spirits. said. The 360 flavored
makes the bottles ideal The vodka makers vodkas are a little sweeter
for reuse — storing started with only a couple than most other flavored
spiced oils for cooking or of flavors — cola and vodkas, which he believes
homemade liquids. double chocolate — in may give the product a
According to the addition to the original competitive edge.
company’s website, it has 360, but in August the Scheuner said that
received 50,000 tops and company began producing while the green aspect of
for each one that comes six new flavors, according the product is a good
in, $1 is donated to Global to Kevin Scheuner, selling point, only a few
Green USA, a global general sales manager for liquor stores carry the
environmental program. Southwestern product specifically
Tennessee is one of five Distributing Company, because it is eco-friendly.
Another product that is from Argentina, and Our amount of sulfite

gaining popularity with Daily Red, which is made contained in wine is
the environmentally in California. minuscule, as little as 10,
conscious crowd is wine Dego said several times 20 or 30 parts per million,
made from organic grapes, a day people come in and Dego said.
said John Dego, manager ask specifically for Charlie Garavelli, owner
and wine consultant at organic wine. of Charlies Wine and
Buster’s Liquors & Wines. “Usually it’s younger Spirits, also said few
For grapes to be customers who ask for customers request organic
considered organic, the organic products,” he said. products, only about 10
winery must have Gary Burhop, owner of percent, and like most
abstained from the use of Great Wines & Spirits, retailers, he bases his
pesticides in the ordering decisions
vineyard for at least on consumer
three years, he said. demand.
Some organic wines His store, like
are also sulfite-free, many others, carries
which Dego said is boxed wines such as
difficult for Pepperwood Grove,
wineries, because which contain an
sulfite is a amount of wine
stabilizing agent in equivalent to four
the wine-making 750-liter bottles.
process. According to
The French have 360 Vodka lines a shelf at Buster’s. studies, bag-in-box
been making The line of flavored vodkas markets wines use 85
organic wine itself as eco-friendly. percent less landfill
forever, he said, but space and leave a
it’s a claim few American said his store doesn’t have smaller carbon footprint.
wineries choose to put on much demand for organic At Buster’s, a wide
the label. wine and he believes there selection of boxed wines
“Many do it, but don’t is a general misconception are available, including
specify it,” he said. about organic wine. Bota Box wine, the
That’s because at the “They think that packaging of which is not
end of a growing season in somehow organically only 100 percent
some circumstances, like if produced wines have recyclable, but the box is
a heavy rain falls just some health benefit that made from 100 percent
before harvest, wine non-organic wines don’t post-consumer fiber. Inks
makers are forced to use have, or are somehow used in printing on the
pesticides to save the crop. sulfite-free. I hate to tell packaging are soy-based
Buster’s has a small them, but that’s not the rather than petroleum-
selection of organic case,” he said. based and paper layers are
wines, including Natura, a While some organic bonded together with
Chilean wine, Santa Julia, wines are sulfite-free, the cornstarch instead of glue.
Mixology
sees return
of the party
drink, spice
By Michele Buchanan
cocktailhourhome.com
Classic cocktail fans can

rejoice, as the big trends
in the mixology world
include a growth in native
spirits, the return of the
party drink and a turn to
herbal and spicy flavors.
The trends were
highlighted this summer
at the Tales of the Cocktail
in New Orleans, an annual
event showcasing some of
the finest spirits from
around the world. over the past few years, that naturally flavored
The biggest trend to to the point where one communal punches are
emerge is great news for can now make a making a big comeback.
people who love classic Manhattan or Old- Instead of the neon
cocktails but have had a Fashioned that could rival colored, artificially
hard time finding quality anything served on shows flavored party drinks of
ingredients. Native spirits like “Mad Men.” the past 10 years, there’s
such as moonshine (now This leads into the next a move to using more
triple distilled, often big trend, which is the natural, organic and low-
enhanced with fruit return of the party drink. key ingredients that not
essence and made for In keeping with the only taste good but are
easy sipping), rye, growth of the home less likely to lead to a bad
bourbon, applejack and a entertaining market and hangover the next day.
wide variety of American- greater knowledge about The trends are moving
style whiskies have grown food among ordinary away from sugary candy
in abundance and quality people, it’s not surprising flavors and toward those
of fruits and herbs such as

lemon and mint. Gins such
as New Amsterdam and G-
Vine, lighter liqueurs such
Premium cocktail
as the elderflower-flavored
St. Germain, and rums such
as Don Q, Brugal and even
mixers stir interest
Sailor Jerry are making it
possible to make high Tonic, grenadine go upscale
quality party punches for a
relatively low price per By Michelle Locke
glass. Instead of artificial Associated Press
colors, expect to see drink
colors enhanced by natural BERKELEY, Calif. — Spirits have gone
juices. premium. Bartenders have turned artisan. Even
The last big trend came ice has become a little cooler.
from the culinary world. If So, it only makes sense that mixers are getting a
sugar and heavy makeover with upscale versions
sweetness is out, promising to bring chic cocktails
then herbal and spicy to a fridge near you.
flavors are definitely “Consumers just seem to get it
in, and again, they immediately,” says Jordan Silbert,
are from natural founder of Q Tonic, an all-natural
sources. The modern product introduced a few years
cocktail still finds its ago. “Why would I mix my Grey
basis in recipes for Goose with a soda? It just doesn’t
favorites such as the make sense.”
margarita, martini, Silbert got the idea to make a
whiskey sour and gin EO grenadine is 100% better mixer after drinking gin and
fizz, but the flavors pure pomegranate. tonics at his Brooklyn home and
are kicked up a notch realizing the premium gin in his
by items more glass had no business mingling with a mass-market
commonly found in your product containing high fructose corn syrup.
refrigerator or spice cabinet A similar epiphany struck Dushan Zaric and
than at the local bar. Jason Kosmas, mixologists at New York’s
During the event, Employees Only bar who have just released two
delicious cocktails were nonalcoholic mixers — a grenadine and a lime
formulated from muddling cordial — under the name EO Brands.
everything from sweet bell
peppers with mint and “We were not so happy with what was
orange slices, to adding in commercially available out there,” says Zaric.
fresh rosemary and thyme, They researched and began making their own
and grated cinnamon and blend for the restaurants, eventually deciding to
nutmeg. bottle and sell it.
Commercially available “Why would I mix

grenadine is mostly
artificial, red dye and my Grey Goose
sweeteners, Zaric says. with a soda? It
EO grenadine is reduced
100 percent pomegranate just doesn’t
juice sweetened with cane make sense.”
sugar and accented with
spices. The lime cordial is JORDAN SILBERT
reduced lime juice (also founder of all-natural
100 percent) with agave Q Tonic
nectar and kaffir lime
leaves for flavor and spice.
Some purists say
nothing compares to
mixing your cocktails Online bought by Diageo North
from scratch, but says America, a subsidiary of
Zaric, “Ours is as close as employeesonlybrands.com Diageo, a leading spirits,
you can get.” stirrings.com wine and beer company.
EO Brands mixers are qtonic.com Stirrings sells several
being marketed to bars, D’Amato’s site: mixers as well as cocktail
online in New York City centannicocktails.net rimmers, bar sodas and a
through FreshDirect, and new line of liqueurs
are expected to be including ginger, espresso
available in major markets Massachusetts where he and apple, says Jody
soon at an upscale grocer, had a couple hundred Samuels Ike, a senior
Zaric says. cases made. Bartenders brand manager. The
Authenticity drove started buying, and he company uses real fruit
Silbert as well. borrowed his father’s juice, all natural
He figured out the station wagon to make ingredients and pure cane
components of tonic — deliveries. sugar.
quinine (a bitter that in Then he got discovered Victoria D’Amato-
its natural form comes by Plymouth Gin, caught Moran, a San Francisco
from the bark of the the attention of the New bartender, has been
cinchona tree), sweetener York Times and now sells making her own simple
and carbonated water. Q Tonic to almost 3,000 syrups and other mixers
Next step: order a bag of places around the for years, even growing
bark over the Internet country, including Whole her own. “If you’re giving
and get to work. Foods Markets. me a selection of 20
He used agave nectar as A pioneer in the different tonics and ales
a sweetener. But trying to premium cocktail mix was and I can go to someone
create crisp, tight bubbles Stirrings, established in that has harvested their
at home “drove me crazy,” Nantucket in 1997. The own grains and herbs, I’m
so he found a plant in company has since been going to go for that.”
Wine with character
MCT Photo Service

Natural wine making is not a process that can be certified.
Natural By Jessica Yadegaran

Contra Costa Times
process
ditches WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Under the frescoes
of a centuries-old villa in Sarego, Italy, Tracey and
tweaks, Jared Brandt of Berkeley’s Donkey & Goat Winery
were overcome with giddiness.
tricks The Brandts, who have been making natural,
and Rhone-style wines for a decade, were the first and
only Americans invited to pour at VinNatur, an
chemistry annual European gathering of natural winemakers.
Most of those who attend have followed the
principles of minimal intervention winemaking for
generations. wines, instead of lab- go deeper into cooler soil,

“To be in the club cultivated yeasts that resulting in better acidity.
among such amazing deliver specific flavors Then, there’s his harvest
winemakers,” Tracey says. and aromas. They use methodology. Twice
“We were on cloud nine.” little if any sulfur and during harvest — early in
There’s no exact they don’t add sugar or the season and then later
definition for natural water to manipulate — Beinstock selects fruit
winemaking. It’s not a alcohol. In general, they by sight and touch.
practice that can be avoid high tech tricks, “On average, the sugars
certified, like organic such as synthetic color are much lower this way
cultivation. It’s a concentrators and reverse than if we waited, like
philosophy, rooted in osmosis, that are common most wineries, until all the
French viticulture, that in commercial wineries fruit looks homogeneously
limits the use of and tend to produce ripe,” he says.
chemicals and synthetics, homogeneous wines. Not all natural
in the hopes of better “There’s no question winemakers agree on
expressing a wine’s that the closer you get to what’s natural. Some
terroir, or sense of place. that original recipe — don’t always use organic
The Brandts represent grapes, water, sunshine, fruit. Most, but not all,
a growing segment of the man or woman — there’s eliminate plastic from
California wine industry a more interesting their operations because
dedicated to making these expression in the wine,” of the potential of
honest wines. As one says Berkeley wine chemical leaching.
natural winemaker put it, merchant Kermit Lynch, Obviously, the practice is
they’re not the best wines who specializes in these not for everyone. It is
in the world, but they are wines. pricey, laborious, and
unique. It’s hard to tell a Gideon Beinstock of requires a squeaky clean
natural wine by looking at Clos Saron says he aims cellar, especially if you’re
it, although a white could to make wines so place- going to limit sulfites,
appear foggy because it driven that the rocks which protect wine from
hasn’t been filtered. And speak. Beinstock, who is bacteria.
a pinot noir may appear half French and honed his Still, for those who fall
light, closer to a true palate at Steven Spurrier’s for the individuality of
Burgundy. Paris wine shop, makes natural wines, there’s no
Typically, natural natural pinot noir in the turning back.
winemakers start with Sierra foothills, a hot “We love these wines
grapes that were farmed region better suited for and, for our own greedy
organically or syrah or zinfandel. But his palates, wanted a place to
biodynamically. They pick tiny three-acre vineyard is drink them,” says Dagan
by hand, usually based on planted in a cool, Ministero, whose 2-year-
flavor and acid rather mountain pocket. old Terroir, a natural wine
than brix, a measurement Clos Saron does little to bar and shop in San
of sugar. They use natural no irrigation, he explains, Francisco, features
yeasts to ferment their which forces the roots to around 700 natural wines.
“There would be
no GrowMemphis
without
volunteers,” says
GrowMemphis
coordinator
Josephine
Williams (second
from left), along
with Maurice
Jones (from left),
Montreal
McFerran and
Edward Farmer.
Justin Shaw/Special to
The Commercial Appeal
Community gardens spread

knowledge, sense of place
By Angela Knipple / Special To The Commercial Appeal MEET THE VENDOR
Who: GrowMemphis.
WITH THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE their own Where:
Cooper-Young Farmers
crops, some of the more than 15 gardens under Market (Saturdays).
the GrowMemphis umbrella focus on heirloom More information:
725-4990,
produce varieties or herbs. Others choose familiar midsouthpeace.org
Southern crops like greens and okra. Still others /GrowMemphis, e-mail
josephine@midsouth
choose to grow exotic produce. peace.org.
Josephine Williams, coordinator for looked like a loofah to me.”

GrowMemphis, recalls one group that While some of the gardens’ produce is
brought her a huge cucumber from its sold at the Cooper-Young Farmers
garden. “I had no idea what it was. It Market to bring money back into the
farms, most goes to the Spicy Greens Soup

people who grow it and to
other members in the 2 tsp. olive oil ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
community around the 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 qts. chicken or vegetable
2 cloves garlic, minced broth or water
garden. It’s the people 1 large bunch of mustard, Salt and pepper to taste
who grow the gardens collard, and/or turnip greens, ½ lb. cooked chicken breast,
that make GrowMemphis chopped into bite-size pieces cubed (optional)
such a success. 1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated ½ tsp. hot sesame oil (optional)
1 tbsp. soy sauce
“They’re all
volunteers,” she says. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add
“There would be no the onion and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes or
GrowMemphis without until the onion is beginning to become translucent. Add
volunteers. The gardens the garlic and continue cooking for 2 minutes.
are almost exclusively Add the greens, ginger, soy sauce and cayenne pepper
managed by volunteers in to the cooked onions and garlic. Stir to combine, cooking
their communities.” until the greens wilt and soften, about 5 minutes.
Those volunteers Add the broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce
include people of every the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes
age, ethnicity, economic or until the greens have reached your desired
background and skill set. tenderness. If desired, puree until smooth.
A large percentage of If you would like, add the chicken the last 5 minutes
them are teenagers and of cooking to heat through.
senior citizens. For extra spiciness, drizzle hot sesame oil (available
“I think teenagers are at Asian markets) over the soup just before serving.
just naturally inquisitive.
They want to learn. And
the senior citizens have grow year-round. So not often a part of the
time and knowledge that there’s never a time when urban landscape.
they want to share,” she we don’t need “We all need to at least
explains. volunteers,” Williams know how to grow our
The need for volunteers says. own food,” Williams says.
doesn’t end with the The gardens and “These gardens teach
summer. volunteers grow more skills. They help the
“There’s a common than vegetables. They people who work in them
misconception that the help to build community. develop a relationship
farms stop growing They instill a sense of with the natural world.
during the winter. That’s pride in the gardeners. People become better
not the case here. We And they become a place stewards of the
grow produce seasonally, where the people who environment when they
but hoop houses in the come together can learn learn where things come
gardens mean that we can about something that is from.”
Local restaurant supports

farmers market in kitchen
Freshness at the
top of menu for
Millington chef
By Felicia Benamon
Special to My Life
An array of fresh
vegetables lay sprawled
out on the prep table as
executive chef Elio
Aguila of Neighborhood
Bistro in Millington
explains how he would
use each in succulent
dream dishes he whips
up daily.
“I want to do
something unusual on
the plate,” he said.
When he makes
weekly trips to the
newly opened Farmer’s
Market in Millington,
Aguila always “looks for
colors, unusual local
produce” such as hybrid
baby squash and sprite
melon.
For him, attention to “With the fresher product, you will get all the
detail, quality and nutrients that you wouldn’t otherwise get from the
freshness is everything store,” said Executive Chef Elio Agulia. He buys
when he creates a dish produce, eggs and more for Neighborhood Bistro
to tantalize your palate. from the newly-opened Millington Farmer’s Market.
“These are specialty items you mentioned that when care and
can’t usually get from a big concern is taken to select from the
company … I usually get something finest fruits and vegetables from the
(at the market) that catches my Farmer’s Market and incorporate
eye,” he said. “I am keeping it them into menu items, guests
within the community … “remember you for doing that.”
supporting the local growers. Chef Elio loves to experiment
“With the fresher product, you will with different edibles. He said the
get all the nutrients that you baby eggplant he picked up from
wouldn’t the Millington
otherwise get Farmer’s
from the store. Market is small
Store produce and versatile
has been enough to be
handled, bruised stuffed with
and more than goat cheese and
likely contain basil. It makes
pesticides,” he for a good
added. appetizer.
Aguila noted Freshness,
that local taste, and five
farmers usually “Catfish Louisiane,” consisting of a star quality
try to keep to a tender catfish filet atop spinach food is what
natural way of and mushroom in white wine sauce encourages the
growing their is one of Chef Elio’s signature community of
food, and if they dishes and a crowd favorite. At Millington to
do use Neighborhood Bistro, all of Chef push
pesticides, it’s Elio’s dishes are prepared fresh. Neighborhood
not as potent as “Nothing is pre-made,” he said. Bistro to the
the major top. The
producers. restaurant
“To my knowledge, most of our earned “best overall in show,” “best
growers (at the Millington Farmer’s entrée,” and “friendliest” restaurant
Market) don’t use pesticides,” said at the recent Taste of Millington
Toni Holt of Holt Farms. event.
The Neighborhood Bistro, known For more information on booking
for garnering numerous awards in your special event, or enjoying a
the Memphis area, incorporates the lovely evening with a
freshest ingredients in their foods. Mediterranean feel, contact the
“People know more today about Bistro at 873-0200.
cuisine than ever before and will Felicia Benamon is a freelance writer
pay for quality,” said Aguila. He and photographer.
Study: Organic strawberries

healthier than conventional
By Robin Shreeves The organic
Mother Nature Network strawberries had
significantly higher
Many people buy antioxidant activity and
organic foods because they concentrations of ascorbic
believe organic foods have acid and phenolic
higher nutritional values compounds.
than their nonorganic The organic
counterparts. Researchers strawberries had longer one variety of organic
at Washington State shelf life. strawberries was sweeter,
University wanted to find The organic had better flavor, and once
out if these consumer strawberries had more a white light was turned
beliefs were accurate. They dry matter, or, “more on, better appearance. The
tested both organic and strawberry in the testers judged the other
conventional strawberries strawberry.” two varieties to be similar.
grown in 13 side-by-side Anonymous testers, Robin Shreeves blogs about
California fields. working at times under red finding eco-friendly food
Here are a few of their light so the fruit color options at mnn.com/featured-
findings: would not bias them, found blogs/sustainablefood.
Sustainable agricultural practices go to college

By Amanda Lilly awareness about food sustainability to
McClatchy-Tribune News Service an environment that is sure to foster
such a philosophy in the future —
It’s not just talk. While many college campuses.
environmental idealists imagine a world Serving 35 colleges and universities,
where our nation’s food industry is as well as several corporate and specialty
socially responsible and produces venues across the country, Bon Appetit
natural and nonartificial goods, Bon acts as both a model of a large-scale
Appetit Management Co. actually fulfills sustainability company and an educator
this vision. To ensure that their efforts for the people it caters to. With the
continue to make an impact, the on-site prevalence of industrial agriculture
restaurant company is bringing today, education about environmentally
friendly food practices can help

encourage younger generations to
translate them into their own lives, says
What items around
Beth Gentry, general manager of the
Bon Appetit café at Colorado College.
“With college, it’s the first time most
the house can be
kids leave the house,” Gentry said.
“They’re fresh for lifestyle choices and
toxic to toddlers?
are trying to figure out their world view.”
Bon Appetit helps students By Chanie Kirschner
experiment with their own models of Mother Nature Network
sustainable agriculture through its
student-run gardens. Summer interns Q: A while back, you wrote an ar-
sit down with chefs from the company ticle about toxic household cleaning
in the late winter to learn about products. I’m trying to baby-proof
sustainable harvesting and the business right now and I’m wondering — be-
side to running a farm. These students sides cleaning products, what else is
then devote their summers to managing around my house that could poten-
that plot of land, and then selling their tially be toxic to my kids?
produce to chefs at Bon Appetit and Great question. There are so many
local farmers markets. things that we use every day that we
“The students know they have a don’t even think about being bad for
market through us,” Gentry explained. us. Some cleaning
“Having these farms ensures the cause products are an
continues.” easy choice right
At Colorado College, the students’ off the bat, but
farm is actually in the president’s what about every-
backyard. It extends over an acre and thing else? That’s
includes an orchard that produces fruits where my (ex-
like apples, peaches and plums. They pert) advice
also have free-range chickens and grow a comes in.
wide variety of vegetable crops. Alcohol. This
The students and chefs also work very doesn’t just in-
closely with local farmers, the people clude those bottles
they consider to be “the backbone to a of Jack Daniels in
sustainable future.” For instance, each your liquor closet
year Bon Appetit hosts an “Eat Local” (though I really
challenge, held this year on Sept. 28, hope you’ve locked
where its chefs can make meals only those up — and keep them locked up till
with ingredients that come from within your wee one graduates college). There
a 150-mile radius of the café. Gentry says are so many potentially harmful house-
it provides a clear example of how hold products that contain hazardous
sustainability can be done. amounts of alcohol. Nail polish re-
For information, visit bamco.com. mover, shoe polish, and here’s a biggie
— hand sanitizer. I keep my hand san-

itizer at every point of entry in the house
during cold season, but this stuff should
really be kept out of the reach of small
children. Hand sanitizers contain 60 to
65 percent ethyl alcohol, which means
that a little sip from that attractive-look-
ing bottle could actually make your tod-
dler drunk.
Air fresheners. A study released by
the National Resource Defense Council
in 2007 showed that many commonly
used household air fresheners actually
contain phthalates, a chemical that has
earned a bad rap for being linked to
certain cancers and developmental ab- eyes of a toddler. Better yet, crawl
normalities. . Why not try a more nat- through your house. Then you’ll really be
ural way to freshen the air? ) A little able to see everything in your house from
baking soda will usually help rid a sur- their vantage point. Move anything out
face or an area of offensive odors. of reach that can be harmful if swallowed.
Batteries. Make sure not to leave bat- In the bathroom, this means toothpaste,
teries (especially button batteries, you mouthwash and of course, medicine. In
know, like the ones in watches, some the bedroom, this means cosmetics, de-
remote controls and singing cards) lying odorant and lotion. Many of these ev-
around where kids can reach them. eryday items can contain potentially
They may seem relatively harmless and harmful chemicals. I learned this lesson
even fun to play with, but if swallowed, the hard way when I thought the spray
batteries can cause harmful or even fatal bottle of cleaner on the bathroom
results. On the plus side, now you have counter was high enough for my toddler
a great reason to stay away from those
not to reach — that is, until I found him
annoying singing cards in the first place.
standing on the toilet sucking on the
Pesticides. When I was growing up,
spray nozzle like it was a straw. Also,
we had the exterminator come to our
make sure there’s no peeling paint any-
house once a month. He’d walk around
where in the house either, as paint chips
the house with his spray can. To me, it
can look oddly delectable to a toddler.
looked like the Tin Man’s oil can, but
hardly as benign; this one contained tox- Follow this list, use your own com-
ic pesticides. Unfortunately, pesticides mon sense, and you will be able to
are just as harmful to your own bottle- relax, knowing your house is now safe
toting critters as they are to those many- for your little one to explore.
legged critters you’re trying to get rid of. Submit a question to Mother Nature
For natural pest control, try keeping your (mnn.com/askmothernature?destinationadvice)
floors and countertops squeaky clean. and one of our many experts will track down
Finally, see your house through the the answer.
Green in
Detroit alley
is first to get
between eco-friendly
makeover
Brandy Baker/The Detroit News
DETROIT — A trash-strewn alley with project was intended to create a model for
potholes and constant flooding has sustainable alleys of the future.
become Detroit’s first “green alley.” Once with trash, broken pavement,
A stretch of alley in Midtown now is overgrown weeds and neglected sides of
eco-friendly and sports permeable buildings, it is now a vibrant greenway for
concrete, brick pavers and plants. A pedestrians and bicyclists to enjoy the
sewer upgrade and energy-saving lighting gardens, shop at local businesses or
also are part of the project. gather with neighbors.
Before the improvements, the trash- — Associated Press
strewn alley flooded often and had For more on the Green Alley Project, visit
potholes. Often an alley is a visible greengaragedetroit.com/index.php?title
representation of the worst of a city but this =Green_alley
The Clean Air Act:

Last major U.S. factory making Forty years young
incandescent light bulbs closes The Clean Air Act, the
foundation of our nation’s
efforts to clear pollution
By Katherine Butler though it would add 10 from our lungs, is now 40
years old and the U.S.
Mother Nature Network percent to the cost of do- Environmental Protection
ing business. This is due Agency is using the
But as the Washington to the fact that con- occasion to tout its
Post reports, one unin- sumers have a desire for achievements.
tended consequence is goods made in America. They are impressive.
the contribution it makes This is cold comfort for Since 1970 the emissions
to the “continuing ero- the workers at GE’s of the six most common
sion” of U.S. manufactur- Winchester, Va., plant. health threatening
pollutants have been cut in
ing. As companies tran- Workers at the plant, wor- half nationwide. Toxic
sition over to making ry that they will be unable compounds from chemical
CFLs, local plants close to find new positions. plants, petroleum refineries
and jobs are moved out of Many express grievances and paper mills have been
the country. The cost of with the government. De- reduced by nearly 70
making CFLs and other spite promises that the percent, and car exhausts
new technologies is much move to green technolo- are nearly 90 percent
cheaper abroad. As the gies would result in more cleaner.
The U.S. EPA also
Post reports, CFLs must manufacturing jobs, the provides estimates on the
be twisted into a spiral, a government has allowed health consequences of its
task which requires more most of the contracts to rules and clean air
manual labor. This is go overseas. . standards, including the
cheaper in China. President Barack Oba- prevention of 205,000
Many of the innova- ma addressed this issue in premature deaths.
tions for greener light a speech Aug. 16. Obama Much of the attention
these days is paid to
bulbs originated in the said, “When new batter- whether the Clean Air Act
United States. The CFL ies to store solar power is really the law that should
was invented by GE en- come off the line, I want be used to limit emissions
gineer Ed Hammer in the to see printed on the side, of carbon dioxide and other
1970s after the energy ‘Made in America.’ When gases linked to climate
crisis. Then Ellis Yan new technologies are de- change. As Congress
streamlined their produc- veloped and new indus- debates competing bills,
tion. Yan brought their tries are formed, I want the agency is currently
putting together its own
assembly back to China, them made right here in plans and regulations that
where labor was cheaper. America. That’s what would install those limits
As Yan explained to the we’re fighting for.” But on cars, trucks and power
Post, he would consider for the workers in Winch- plants.
bringing his production ester, Obama’s wishes Spencer Hunt, The
to the United States even may come too late. Columbus Dispatch
Do your part
for our
four-legged
friends
By Terri Bennett
McClatchy Newspapers
Anyone that knows me

knows I love animals!
Over the years I’ve had
cats, dogs, rabbits,
hamsters and guinea pigs.
Add in a few lizards,
countless fish and even a
few frogs and you can see
why my house is called the
“zoo.” My pets are like
family, so I am always
mindful of the products
that I buy to care for them.
Since the dogs and cats get
free run of the house, I’m
even more careful about
Comstock
the chemicals used in their
products. Fortunately, it’s Make smarter choices when buying products for
easier than ever to find your four-legged friends. You’ll be keeping
eco-friendly alternatives potentially toxic materials away from your pets,
that are equally as effective your family and our environment.
and will reduce your
exposure to potentially can rub off on humans. Use a powder or shampoo
dangerous chemicals. Oral flea treatments for with all-natural
Flea and tick treatment dogs and cats are the safer diatomaceous earth to kill
is the most obvious place alternative. If you notice fleas on pets. You can
to start. Collars, sprays fleas, wash bedding in hot control flea populations in
and topical applications soapy water and vacuum your yard and garden with
are often made with the home weekly to microscopic worms called
dangerous pesticides that remove eggs and larvae. nematodes, which can be
found at many garden centers. MEATLESS MONDAYS

Dog shampoo is another place where
potentially dangerous chemicals are
lurking. Some shampoos are made from Spinach Artichoke Pita Pizza
petroleum-based ingredients and can Artichoke hearts and fresh baby
irritate skin, create rashes and cause spinach top a whole wheat pita round
cancer. Over years, those toxins can be coated with pesto. These pita pizzas
absorbed into your pet’s skin and into quick to prepare and can be made in
the skin of the person doing the dog your toaster oven. This recipe comes
washing. Then the toxins go down the from Jen of Appetite for Conversation.
drain, polluting the water supply. A
much better choice is biodegradable Basic basil pesto:
1
/2 cup well-packed basil leaves
shampoos free from coloring, 1
/6 cup extra virgin olive oil
preservatives or fragrances. 1 garlic clove, minced
For the felines it’s all about the kitty 1
1
/8 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
litter. Avoid using clay-based clumping cat /8 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
litter that contains sodium betonite. Tiny For the pizza:
silica dust particles can cause lung disease 1 round piece whole wheat pita bread
or worse in humans and respiratory or 1 tbsp. pesto
digestive problems in cats. There are 1
1
/2 cup fresh baby spinach, washed
many other options that are better for /2 cup artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped
1
/4 cup part-skim mozzarella, shredded
you, your cat and the planet. Litters made 1 tbsp. parmesan cheese, shredded
from used newspapers, reclaimed wood Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
chips or even whole-kernel corn are easy
to find. If you need help battling odor you To make the basic basil pesto:
can also add a layer of baking soda to the Place the basil, olive oil, garlic, black
bottom of the litter pan before filling. It’s pepper and Parmesan together in a
inexpensive and nontoxic. food processor. Process until smooth
Baking soda is also great for removing and set aside.
pet odors around the home. You can Spread the pesto on the pita bread
freshen up carpets or pet bedding by round. Save the leftover pesto in the
sprinkling a little on and letting it set for refrigerator and use as a spread or
15 minutes before vacuuming. And when dip.
the inevitable accident happens, reach for To complete the spinach
nontoxic vinegar to clean up the mess. It’s artichoke pita pizza:Top the pesto
a natural disinfectant that costs pennies pita with the spinach, artichoke
on the dollar compared with other hearts, mozzarella and parmesan.
cleaners. Season with black pepper.
Terri Bennett is a TV meteorologist, Place the pita pizza into a toaster
syndicated columnis, and host of oven or under a preheated broiler for
DoYourPart.com, where you can find everyday about 5 minutes, or until the cheese
green living ideas that are better for you and is melted and the artichoke hearts
the planet. Send questions to
terri@doyourpart.com. begin to turn golden brown. Serves 1.
Ahmad Massoud/Associated Press

Afghanistan’s reserves of iron, copper, cobalt and gold and other strategic
minerals are estimated at $1 trillion. However, mineral wealth doesn’t
necessarily lead to peace and prosperity for a country.
BETTER OFF GREEN

Loss of By Anthony Zinni
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
natural
resources Recently the Department of Defense reported that the
value of Afghanistan’s reserves of iron, copper, cobalt, gold
contributes to and other strategic minerals approached $1 trillion. Some
instability, have started calling this financially strapped nation the
Saudi Arabia of lithium. Even Zimbabwe, one of the
conflict in poorest countries in the world, could vault into the top
ranks of the world’s diamond producers, according to a
developing United Nations announcement. It sounds so hopeful, yet in
countries fact we see very few examples of nations where mineral
wealth has led to peace and prosperity.
Instead, gold and other rare minerals in prosperity than exploiting mineral
Congo have helped to finance that resources. First, access to the economic
region’s longstanding conflicts. Oil benefits that environmental resources
drilling in Niger has enriched politicians provide is far more broadly and
while creating few jobs for local people. democratically shared than that of
And Sierra Leone’s diamonds have minerals, which are typically controlled
funded a violent national crime syndicate. by a single entity.
If developing nations are looking Second, protecting the environment
toward natural resources as a way to requires cooperation, participation and
help break the cycle of poverty and openness. It’s no surprise that in some
conflict, their hopes may not be of the world’s most autocratic countries,
misplaced. But they could be looking at many of the only open institutions are
the wrong resources. local forest councils and water boards.
A recent study by the Center for a New And finally, mineral stocks eventually
American Security examined how run out, encouraging a “gold rush”
environmental degradation, poverty, mentality that defeats longer term
migration, conflict, weak societal considerations. Green resources,
institutions and failed states form a however, can keep on giving if used
feedback loop. It found that loss of natural thoughtfully and shared equitably.
resources, such as forests, fresh water, fish It’s no surprise that the handful of
and fertile soils, can play a significant role developing countries that decided years
in driving instability and conflict. In fact, ago to take a development path
possessing green wealth may contribute preserving their environmental resources
more to peace and prosperity than gold, have experienced higher economic
diamonds or lithium. growth and greater social stability than
Environmental degradation by itself, their neighbors. Conservation-minded
of course, doesn’t automatically lead to countries like Costa Rica and Botswana
conflict, for the linkages are complex. have also been islands of peace in regions
But ample evidence indicates that the otherwise wracked by conflict.
desperation, hopelessness and The new scholarship on conservation
displacement of people that can come and security also contains lessons for the
from exhausted green resources can United States: Serious environmental
encourage conflict and even failed states. degradation has the potential to
According to an analysis by the United undermine our security, economic and
Nations, at least 11 violent struggles political goals in many regions of the
since 1990 have been fueled in part by the world. The lesson is being taught to us in
degradation of forests, fish, water or soils. Afghanistan, Somalia and many other
While these connections are usually places, if we care to pay attention: It’s
ignored by the media, environmental harder to win over hearts and minds when
decline has played a role in several the environment has already been lost.
conflicts critical to U.S. interests. Anthony Zinni is a retired four-star Marine
For three reasons, protecting green general and a former commander in chief of
wealth in the developing world offers far the U.S. Central Command. Contact him at
greater potential for peace and Aczinni@aol.com.
House OKs loans for

rural energy efficiency
Legislation passed by the House authorizes the spending of $993 million

over five years to cover the cost of a loan program that allows rural
homeowners to borrow $3,000 to $7,500 to make upgrades to their
homes for energy-efficiency.
By Jim Abrams Democrats, who sent the bill to the

Associated Press Senate on a mainly party-line vote,
said the loan program would promote
WASHINGTON — Rural construction jobs, boost American
homeowners could get loans of about manufacturers and help bring down
$3,000 to $7,500 to make their rural energy costs.
homes more energy-efficient under The bill authorizes the spending of
legislation the U.S. House passed this $993 million over five years to cover
month. the cost of the program, although
supporters said it would be paid for through Trane offers new

repayment of the loans. courses on green
Under the legislation, the Agriculture building requirements
Department would make zero-interest loans to LA CROSSE, Wis. — Building
rural electric co-ops, which in turn would make design professionals, including
loans to qualified consumers at interest rates not Leadership in Energy and
to exceed 3 percent. Environmental Design Accredited
Professionals, can fulfill continuing
The loans would be repaid over 10 years on education now required to maintain
the consumers’ utility bills, with savings from green building credentials through
the energy upgrades covering much of the cost. new courses offered by Trane.
The chief sponsors of the bill, House As a U.S. Green Building Council
Democratic Whip James Clyburn of South Education Provider, Trane has
developed courses to allow LEED
Carolina and Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Va., said professionals to more easily stay
more than 90 percent of the materials used in competitive in the sustainable
the program — caulking, hot water heaters, building industry.
sealants, windows and doors — are made in The courses are also approved
America. by the American Institute of
Architects and offer architects
The program, dubbed Rural Star, is part of a technical education on HVAC-
series of bills that House Democrats are related design. The courses qualify
promoting to help manufacturing and keep jobs as health, safety and welfare and
in America. sustainable design continuing
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the education learning units.
Trane is offering courses free of
initiative would create as many as 40,000 jobs a charge to demonstrate its
year in the construction industry. commitment to sustainability
The measure also includes a loan program through heating, ventilation and
that Republicans succeeded in stripping out air conditioning principles.
when the House passed the Home Star energy Courses are available at
trane.com/continuingeducation.
efficiency program last May. Home Star, also Participants can earn an
known as Cash for Caulkers, would make many average of 1.5 continuing
homeowners eligible for thousands of dollars in education hours per program.
rebates for carrying out energy-efficient The automated process allows
renovations to their homes. users to view the 90-minute
programs, take an assessment
The Home Star bill has yet to be considered quiz and, upon successful
by the Senate. completion, receive a certificate
Republicans contended that the Rural Star that documents Green Building
duplicated an existing Department of Energy Certification Institute information
program to help families weatherize their needed to self-report participation.
Each course includes handouts,
homes. presenter biographies,
“I don’t see the need for another program,” bibliographies and topic-related
said Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, top Republican resources to help fulfill self-study
on the Energy and Commerce Committee. requirements.

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2 GOING GREEN | Sunday, September 26, 2010 commercialappeal.

What’s in this issue ...

Drinks for a cause Natural wines

Freshness at top of menu

Detroit alley first

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

On the cover: Photo by Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal

The Green Page

GREEN PROGRAMS Panelists will include

Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal

A toast to this winery

Howard and his wife,

Crown Winery & HRH Vineyards

Anheuser-Busch has Ghost River Brewing

Also, after brew cycles are complete,

Photos by Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal

Another product that is from Argentina, and Our amount of sulfite

Classic cocktail fans can

of fruits and herbs such as

Commercially available “Why would I mix

Wine with character

MCT Photo Service

Natural By Jessica Yadegaran

generations. wines, instead of lab- go deeper into cooler soil,

Community gardens spread

Josephine Williams, coordinator for looked like a loofah to me.”

farms, most goes to the Spicy Greens Soup

Local restaurant supports

Study: Organic strawberries

Sustainable agricultural practices go to college

friendly food practices can help

— hand sanitizer. I keep my hand san-

Brandy Baker/The Detroit News

The Clean Air Act:

Anyone that knows me

found at many garden centers. MEATLESS MONDAYS

Ahmad Massoud/Associated Press

BETTER OFF GREEN

House OKs loans for

Legislation passed by the House authorizes the spending of $993 million

By Jim Abrams Democrats, who sent the bill to the

supporters said it would be paid for through Trane offers new

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