Nobody knows the local landscape of farmers and sustainable food production like chef and award winning author, dee Hobbsbawn Smith.

Dee introduced Calgary to regional cuisine when she opened her restaurant, Foodsmith, in 1992. Since then she has written three best-selling cookbooks and Shop Talk, a round-up of the best local butchers, bakers and specialty grocery stores, as well as a weekly Calgary Herald column on food. Now dee's back with her latest book, Foodshed: An Edible Alberta Alphabet, which explores local food producers from Asparagus to Zizania (wild rice) and along the way, includes some great recipes and detailed information on sourcing local food.

Dee will be reading from her book and providing a PowerPoint discussion as well as selling copies of Foodshed at the Calgary Public library, John Dutton Theatre (2^nd floor), on Friday, June 1, 7 p.m.

If you care about what you put on your plate, this is an event not to be missed!

It really feels like the thaw is for real, and little bulbs are up, so gardening's on my mind. Here's a list of books that are great reads for new gardeners and gardeners interested in going green outdoors. All have information useful for gardening in Calgary, even the ones whose authors live south of us.

1. All New Square foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. This revised classic focuses on intensive gardening of edibles in small spaces rather than long rows, and is perfect for city gardeners.

2. Eco Yards by Laureen Rama. If you want to go lawn-less in Calgary, this is your go-to guide with excellent information on feeding plants and soil organically.

3. Creating the Prairie Xeriscape by Sara Williams. The updated edition about water-conserving gardens is on order. This is a must-read for its lists of suitable plants.

4. Naturescape Alberta by Myrna Pearman covers a lot of ground and would be a great elementary school teacher resource. It focuses mainly on creating animal and insect habits and is full of information on how to attract birds, frogs, and more.

Feel free to list your eco gardening favorites by commenting. . .

While I’ve never been one for New Year’s Resolutions, I do resolve to waste less food next year.

Image courtesy FoodandYou flickr photostreamFood waste has always been a hot topic in our household. One might think that my husband and I were raised during the Great Depression based on how we respond when good food is thrown out or wasted in our home (while neither of us lived through the Depression we both come from frugal Saskatchewan stock that valued not wasting food).

Eco etiquette: is wasting food a sin? Huffington Post

Our two sons went to Outdoor School with their classes this semester. One of the many things that left an impression on them was the focus on food and food waste. After each meal, every table group (of several children) would gather together all of the food left uneaten on their plates. The goal by the end of the week was to consistently make sure that there was no food gathered—zero food waste. (All four classes succeeded.)

How do we avoid food waste? For me, the most important step is to avoid purchasing too much to start in the first place. Even the smallest amount of meal planning can help individuals or households with buying only the food they will use in a certain time period. Composting organic waste means that leftover food is at least being put to good use. The City of Calgary’s Green Cart pilot will begin in March 2012 as four neighbourhoods try to collect their compostable food waste (that would otherwise go into the garbage) into green bins.

Simple lifestyle changes can reduce food waste Calgary Herald

In a world of abundance, food waste is a crime USA Today

I just discovered the University of Calgary Waste Management site, which shows an impressive push to work towards being a net zero waste campus. The same site has a wonderful checklist for anyone who wants to hold a waste free event.

Sometimes, of course, food should be thrown out for safety reasons. How can you be sure? You may want to visit the StillTasty: your ultimate shelf life guide site (or download its iPhone App), which lets you know when to keep and when to toss.

	American wasteland: how America throws away nearly half of its food (and what we can do about it) by Jonathan Bloom
	Waste: uncovering the global food scandal by Tristam Stuart

If you’ve ever driven a vehicle in Calgary, you’ve come across fast, aggressive drivers. You may be one of those drivers (I confess to sometimes being that driver). Many drivers may not be aware of how driving style and habits can affect fuel consumption as much as vehicle or fuel choice. Choosing an energy-efficient vehicle and regular maintenance help in reducing fuel consumption, but simply slowing down and driving carefully (e.g., coasting to a red light rather than speeding and breaking) are equally valuable ways to drive greener.

According to National Resources Canada’s Auto$mart Fuel-Efficient Driving Tips site:

• Decreasing your speed from 120 km/h to 100 km/h uses 20 percent less fuel. Follow the speed limit and use cruise control on flat highway terrain to prevent inadvertent speeding and, in many cases, help save fuel by keeping your speed constant.
• When combined, speeding, quick acceleration and hard stops—all considered aggressive driving—can increase fuel consumption by 25 percent. Driving smoothly is safer and more fuel-efficient.

The ecoENERGY for Personal Vehicles site is entirely devoted to personal transportation and the environment.

The Alberta Motor Association Guide to Green Driving also has information on how vehicle maintenance, fuel choices and driving habits can save on fuel.

Here are AMA’s suggestions for “10 easy ways to get more out of a tank of gas” (more detailed information is on their site):

1. Carpool
2. Park in the shade
3. Track your fuel consumption
4. Leave early
5. Reduce your speed
6. Don't drive aggressively
7. Cool it on the air conditioning
8. Lighten your load
9. Plan and combine trips
10. Reduce unnecessary idling

If you'd like to read more on driving and the environment, you may want to check out the following:

Green Transportation Basics: a green energy guide by Daniel D Chiras

75 ways to save gas: clean, green tips to cut your fuel bill by Jim Davidson
(also available to borrow in E-book format)

Check out this eclectic selection of our new books on environmental topics:

This Crazy Time: Living Our Environmental Challenge by Tzeporah Berman with Mark Leiren-Young

From blockades to boardrooms, Tzeporah Berman has been a leading activist in Canada for the past two decades. This book is part memoir and part manifesto and is required reading for anyone wanting to understand what we can do at this critical juncture in humanity’s history.

Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies by Gwendolyn Hallsmith and Bernar Lietaer

New systems of exchange like local currencies and time banks can help create vibrant local economies and address issues of food security, health care, education and environmental problems. Case studies pepper the chapters discussing local economics, and examples of complementary currencies provide real-life examples and inspiration.

Bird, Bee and Bug Houses: Simple Projects for Your Garden by Derek Jones

Learn how to build bird, bat and bee houses and even houses for ladybugs and butterflies with a few easy steps (and power tools). Your garden will love you for the pollinators and seed-spreaders that take up residence!

Bicycling: A Reintroduction: A Visual Guide to Choosing, Repairing, Maintaining and Operating a Bicycle by Karen Ruth

This book covers it all: bike riding skills, safety on the road, clothes and accessories, parts of a bike, and how to make common repairs.