How to Really “Eat Local” in Austin

So we’ve all heard the term “local” being tossed around recently. We’ve all been told that eating locally grown food is better for the environment. But what exactly does this term mean? How local is local?

In fact, there are no true regulations pertaining to what is allowed to be labeled local in terms of food.  Many large grocery chains get away with labeling food from as far away as California and Southern Mexico local in Texan stores, places that the majority of Texans would not consider to be close neighbors.  Most of us seem to think that by purchasing a product at the grocery store emblazoned with the “L” word, we are automatically doing good for Mother Earth. Sadly, this is too often not the case.

Thankfully, the city of Austin and community groups are doing a lot to bring local food back to its roots. Community gardens seem to be popping up everywhere in our city, providing residents with a place to interact with nature and others while creating a pleasant space for all who wish to visit. These plots are open for residents, young and old, who have an interest in growing their own food. The gardens encourage self sufficiency and reduce the need for transportation, the most climate burdening process involved in commercial farming.

Homewood Heights Community Garden

Another excellent way Austin promotes truly local food is through the community farmers’ markets. If you live in or near the city you can’t call yourself a true Austinite until you  venture out on a Saturday morning to experience the joy and excitement  of The Austin Farmers’ Market. Each week brings fresh, new varieties of produce and goods produced by family-owned farms from within Central Texas.

Restaurants in the Austin area make it even easier to live a local lifestyle. Many eateries we know and love use locally grown produce in their menus. 24 Diner, Kerbey Lane Cafe, and Walton’s all rely on local farms to supply their customers with fresh, seasonal food.

Eating locally is essential to reducing our impact on our environment. Eliminating reliance on mass transportation and reducing/eliminating use of pesticides and other chemicals makes all the difference when it comes to sustainable living. The city of Austin offers many different ways in which one can become involved in their local food community. Hope to see you at a community garden or market soon!

Helpful Links:

Coalition of Austin Community Gardens- A full list of the community gardens around Austin and surrounding areas

Edible Austin - Publication that informs readers of local food advancements and opportunities in Austin and Central Texas

Real Time Farms- Online food guide to local farms and restaurants that serve local produce

Slow Food Austin- Providing activities and education for a more sustainable Austin food community

Sustainable Food Center Farmers Markets- Full information on the local farmers markets and the opportunities they hold

- Tansy Stobart, Sierra Club Beyond Coal Intern

Clean Air Rules!

The EPA released the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) today protecting the health of millions of Americans. The new rule helps 27 states to lower air pollution and improve air quality for all through the reduction of emissions from coal plants that add to ozone and fine particle pollution.

This new rule replaces the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule, which in 2008 a court ordered the EPA to replace.

Health Impacts

The EPA estimates that this new rule will keep Americans healthy by preventing:

• up to 34,000 cases of premature mortality
• 15,000 non-fatal heart attacks
• 19,000 hospital and emergency department visits
• 420,000 cases of upper and lower respiratory symptoms
• 400,000 cases of aggravated asthma

This adds up to avoiding 1.8 million days of work or school missed by Americans and saving $280 billion/year! According to EPA Administrator, this rule will prevent 670-1,000 premature deaths by 2014 in Texas alone.

Other Impacts

The CSAPR will also:

• Allow families to enjoy the summer without smog.
• Increase visibility in national parks.
• Protect sensitive ecosystems
• More jobs through new construction of pollution controls, according to the EPA

Affects in Texas

“There is no reason why Texas shouldn’t get the benefits of this extraordinary rule like the rest of the country.” –Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator

Texas was one of the states included in this rule, which sets limits for NOx and SO₂emissions. While some in the energy industry are complaining that there was not enough time to comment on this rule, according to EPA administrator Lisa Jackson they were given plenty of time and made a number of comments. The pollution controls are widely available and many power plants have already invested in them.

Also, this rule will help Texas, since Texas is affected by ozone from 11 other states! Most major cities in Texas will be out of attainment when the EPA releases its new ozone standards. Click here to see a map!  Moreover, Texans are the people most severely impacted by pollution from power plants, so the CSAPR will help us to lower pollution in our state benefiting many across Texas.

For more information go to the EPA’s website at: http://www.epa.gov/airtransport/

Also, next week Texas environmental groups will release new data that details pollution problems at existing coal plants and underscores the importance EPA’s inclusion of Texas in this new Cross State Air Pollution rule.

EPA administrator Lisa Jackson thinks it is a fundamental right for people to be able to breathe clean air and raise their families without the health threats of air pollution. Don’t you agree?

Click here to sign a petition supporting the EPA’s new proposal for mercury standards and continue protecting the health of American families!

Join us at a meeting!The Austin group of the Lone Star Chapter of Sierra Club on the 2^nd Tuesday of every month (except holidays) at 7pm (with a social hour starting at 6pm) in North Dining Room of Scholz’ Beer Garten, 1607 San Jacinto.

-Julia Von Alexander, Beyond Coal Intern

The People vs. Pet-coke: Las Brisas hearing delayed

The Las Brisas SOAH hearings have been delayed to October 18th.

The two administrative law judges decided in a conference call hearing this afternoon to postpone the upcoming Las Brisas air permit hearing, originally scheduled to last 4 days starting on September 7^th, to late October.  The judges decided this based on the fact that a key witness for the Protestants (that’s the legal term for people ‘protesting’ an issue at hand…not the religious denomination), an air dispersion modeler, was seriously injured in a car accident yesterday.

This is significant for Las Brisas.  They want to get their permit issued by the TCEQ before 1/2/10 to avoid greenhouse gas regulation. Today’s decision by the ALJs makes it almost impossible that Las Brisas could beat that clock.

This is clearly not a done deal, because although the two judges were clear about their decision to postpone the hearing, Las Brisas’ counsel indicated he would be filing several motions and appealing directly to the three Governor-appointed TCEQ Commissioners.