Planting oil seeds may help Montana Ranchers fight escalating fuel costs
By Diane Cochran
Even in Eastern Montana, where conservative ranchers and farmers might be expected to look askance at anything "green," biodiesel is a hot topic.
Organizers were stunned last week when 150 people, most of them farmers and ranchers, turned out for a two-day workshop in Billings billed as a "field to fuel tank" look at making biodiesel.
"Anybody paying over $3 a gallon for diesel is interested in an alternative," said Dennis Getz, a self-described hobby farmer in Glendive who rose at 3 a.m. to do chores before heading to Billings. But are biodiesel, and the prairie-grown oilseeds sometimes used to make it, viable commodities for Montana? Read More>>
High energy costs
put fresh focus on
eco-friendly homes
By Joel M. Lerner
A surge in the cost of wholesale energy, with further price increases in the pipeline, is set to refocus minds on the merits of eco homes in 2008.
Until now, the consumer demand for environmentally sustainable housing has been tentative and often a question of whether it comes for free.
But that could change as the prospect of increasing energy prices and an increasing awareness of the effects of climate change begin to hit home, according to Simon Marks, head of regeneration at EC Harris in Birmingham. Read More>>
Ways to make sure Green's REALLY GREEN By Janice Podsda
Food: Look for food that is certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Also look for Fair Trade products. Although Fair Trade certification doesn't guarantee that a product is organically grown, the nonprofit group has strong environmental standards built into its certification process. For more information, go to www.transfairusa.org.
Clothing: Look for natural fibers, such as organic cotton, wool or hemp that carry the U.S. Department of Agriculture's organically grown seal, or for products bearing the certified Fair Trade logo. Cotton that is grown conventionally accounts for more than 25 percent of the world's insecticide use and 10 percent of the pesticides. One pound of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are needed to grow 3 pounds of conventional cotton, enough for a T- shirt and a pair of jeans, according to www.LotusOrganics.com, an online company that sells organic and natural clothing.Read More>>
____________________________________________ World Environment_News
