We just moved into our current house last year, and with tomorrow being National Arbor Day, it is a perfect opportunity for us to plant a tree – something we’ve been lamenting over for several months now.

The 2009 theme, “Trees are Terrific…in Cities and Towns!” was designed to increase student’s understanding of the importance of trees in a community. Here is the official Arbor Day poster for this year:

I’ve also added the “don’t blow it” app to my Facebook page – why?

For every new player, a low-allergenic tree will be planted with American Forests, up to our goal of 20,000 trees. Why? Because studies suggest that higher levels of carbon dioxide and a warmer atmosphere may increase pollen production, which in turn triggers nasal allergy symptoms. And tree planting is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of CO2 in the air.

“Our industrial food system is rotten to the core. Heirloom arugula won’t save us. Here’s what will.” – Paul Roberts

Some excerpts I’ve saved from the excellent article, Spoiled: Organic and Local Is So 2008. After all, why give Delicious.com all the juice?

• For all the benefits of a local diet, eating locally doesn’t always translate into more sustainability.
• Going meat – and dairyless – one day a week is more environmentally beneficial than eating locally every single day.
• A truly sustainable food system is inherently resilient – more capable of self-correction and self-revitalization than its industrial rival.
• A reintegrated model can require almost twice the labor hours of a conventional agribusiness one.

I tried switching to green tea awhile back, but I was getting some strange allergic reaction – tiny bumps on my skin all over – so my dreams of Asian enlightenment were obliterated and I just reverted to my longtime favorite: white chocolate mocha.

A video from the WWF is teaching us that industry needs to do more by using less water in the process:

btw: If you pick up the same flavored syrup from Whole Foods or Starbucks, you can make flavored coffee at home for a whole lot cheaper. A little peppermint and cocoa powder, and I’m set!