Green Angst

Just as I was getting ready to slice open the cantaloupe I bought Sunday, I saw reports about an outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe causing 72 illnesses — including 16 deaths.

Would I have to chuck my uneaten cantaloupe in the compost bin?

It turns out the recalled cantaloupe is from Jensen Farms in Colorado. But the FDA also strongly recommends tossing out the melon if you don’t know where it’s from.

If I had bought the cantaloupe from the grocery store, there is a distinct possibility I would have no clue as to the melon’s origin — or if I was lucky, maybe there would be a vague “Grown in U.S.A.” sticker on the fruit.

But because I bought the cantaloupe from my local farmers market, I know — with certitude — that the melon is from a farm in Turlock, Calif., and isn’t subject to the recall.

Just another example of why it’s worthwhile to shop at the farmers market or a CSA and know where your food is from.

This weekend’s Eat Real Festival in Oakland’s Jack London Square was a mix of local street food, wine and beer, and exhibits for gardeners, urban homesteaders and DIY’ers.

Oh, and a booth with Chipotle.  I’m as confused as you are.

Here’s some non-fast-food-chain highlights:

(Not pictured: amazing lamb and fish tacos from The Taco Guys)

The new family-friendly Prius V was on display. That’s pronounced V as in violet - not the Roman numeral for 5, okay, guys? This may be my future car.

Curious onlookers felt the need to open all the car’s doors.

The Prius V has 58 percent more cargo space than the standard Prius. While the large trunk will be, no doubt, good for schlepping all your kiddies’ accoutrements, there’s no option for additional seating in the trunk, like most soccer mom station wagons have.

The standard Prius is already quite spacious, but the Prius V’s leg room will come in handy when my future children are teenagers and already taller than Mom.

Despite the recent summer weather, fall squash are here (please don’t touch).

My favorite name for an urban homesteading business. It pays to have a catchy name: Because FarmCurious made me giggle, I contacted its owner for a story I did on urban homesteading a few months back.

Ah, can’t you just smell the glorious aroma wafting from this bread-baking oven?  Not at all like the odor a Subway pumps out, which Jon Stewart accurately described last week as if bread took a dump. Anywho, how in the world do you think they carted this monstrous oven to the festival?

I am not happy unless any event or large venue has a water bottle refilling station. Thanks for making me happy, Eat Real.

While Al Gore gave us 24 Hours of Reality last week, countering denials of climate change science, Reuters released findings of a recent poll, showing that more Americans than last year believe the Earth is warming up.

I’ve had a company crush on Method ever since I came across a sleekly-designed bottle of their biodegradable hand soap at Target years ago (note: a company crush is like a celebrity crush, except better).

Not only does the SF-based company make eco-friendly and effective home cleaning and personal care products, but they also aim to make their operations as environmentally responsible as possible.

On Thursday, I attended a press event at Method’s headquarters, on the border of Chinatown, to see them unveil a new bottle made from ocean plastic litter and hear government officials discuss how Obama’s American Jobs Act can help small businesses like Method.

Check out my photos from the tour:

The company’s biodiesel delivery truck.

Keeping track of the competition…

SF Mayor Ed Lee proclaims Sept. 15 as “Method Day” in San Francisco.

L to R: Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills, Method co-founder Adam Lowry, SF Mayor Ed Lee, Method co-founder Eric Ryan, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.

The new Method bottle made of reclaimed ocean litter is on the left. The flakes and pellets in the two other bottles show the process of grinding and pelletizing the collected marine debris to make a new bottle.

If you’re at a loss for something to do tomorrow and you don’t already have plans to go to your sister-in-law’s baby shower, like some of us, check out these two cool enviro-events:

Make a difference and clean up beach litter at this year’s California Coastal Cleanup Day at an event near year.

Or head to Richmond for the Green Drive Expo to see the latest in alternative fuel vehicles and the North American debut of the 2012 Prius plug-in hybrid.

I don’t like Las Vegas.

I hate secondhand smoke, and gambling bores me. Although I try not to be one of those environmentalists who lets her beliefs ruin all her fun, when I look at Las Vegas, all I see is a giant waste of water and energy.

Clearly, I’m not itching to get back to Vegas. But if I ever end up in Sin City again (another reason to dislike Vegas: cheesy, self-important nicknames), I just found out about a hotel I could stay in while maintaining some semblance of sanity.

The Vdara Hotel and Spa is smoke-free, non-gaming and eco-friendly. The resort is LEED certified, boasts energy-efficient appliances in the rooms and lighting in the parking garages, and uses non-toxic cleaning supplies.

Now if the hotel just had Thunder from Down Under, everyone’s favorite unintentionally-funny all-male revue, I would never venture out of the resort.

Photo: Flickr/brx0

Zoologist Richard Freeman begins his quest deep in the Sumatran jungle to find the elusive orang pendek — a species of ape known in local folklore but never documented scientifically.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of staying at the luxurious and eco-friendly Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur (a trip made more enjoyable by the fact that we did not have to pay for the pricey resort).

Check out some of the Post Ranch’s cool green features:

Post Ranch offers free reusable water bottles to take advantage of the area’s clean, fresh water and to discourage disposable water bottles.

Want chilled water? The resort provides glass water bottles in each room’s fridge, refilling and reusing empty bottles.

The resort’s 208 kilowatt solar array.

And who knew solar panels made a great shelter for wild turkeys?

Many of the fruits, vegetables and herbs used at the Post Ranch’s restaurant are grown in its own garden.

And did I mention that Big Sur is paradise?  Who needs Hawaii and palm trees?  I’ll take Big Sur over a tropical vacation any day.

On Friday, I published an article on recycling cartons — you know, those plastic- and aluminum-coated paper cartons that store milk, soy milk, juice, broth and soups.

We don’t go through a lot of cartons in my household — lactose intolerance prevents us from buying milk, and we choose water over juice. The only product I buy in a carton is Trader Joe’s chicken broth for making soups and cooking grains.

I had just assumed that I couldn’t recycle this carton through my community’s curbside recycling program, so I’ve been pitching old cartons in the trash for the past few years.

But while researching the article last week, I came across the recycling locator on the Carton Council’s website and discovered that carton recycling is, in fact, available in my city. I confirmed the new information with my city’s recycling website, and now I’ll be happily throwing my chicken broth cartons in the blue recycling cart — not the trash bin.

Has it really been a year since the horrible natural gas pipeline explosion in my neighborhood that destroyed over 30 homes (including a house we almost bought) and killed eight people?

Above was my view of the fire that fateful day.

My heart goes out to my neighbors who are still recovering from this tragedy — rebuilding their homes and lives and mourning the loss of loved ones.

Check out San Bruno Patch’s continuing coverage: The San Bruno Fire: One Year Later

My greatest hits from August:

Do Solar Panels Increase Home Values?

5 Ways to Pack a Zero Waste Lunch

8 Ways to Reduce Your Junk Mail

Greener Grilling: Gas or Charcoal?

Coming Soon: A New Symbol for Bioplastics

While new research at Columbia University found more evidence that phthalates in plastic products interfere with the human endocrine system, other scientists are developing a less toxic solution to the harmful flame retardants used in children’s clothes and car seats.

Whole Foods pulls Skinnygirl Margaritas from its shelves because the low-calorie mixed drink contains sodium benzoate, a preservative that turns carcinogenic when mixed with ingredients containing vitamin C, Hollywood Life reports.

So much for natural foods, Bethenny.

Photo: Creative Commons, by Jon Sullivan