Go Green This St. Patricks Day

This St. Patrick's Day, the "wearing of the green" takes on more significance than ever. The Earth's climate is changing. Resources are under pressure — petroleum, in particular — but also basics like clean water. Enormous disparities in food, medical care and housing exist between East and West; between the Northern Hemisphere, and the South.
Admittedly, St. Patrick's Day isn't the most elevated of occasions. It's a tip of the hat to Ireland and its national patron — and an opportunity for everyone, Irish or not, to have a bit of fun. That's the spirit in which we present this list of ways to "green" your St. Patrick's Day.

So settle in for a bit of Earth-friendly blarney, and let's green our St. Patrick's Day festivities.

1) Buy organic beer.

What's St. Patrick's Day without a mug or two of beer? Beer is one of humankind's most ancient inventions, probablydiscovered when soaked grains fermented in the presence of airborne yeast spores. The process has certainly become more sophisticated over the centuries, giving rise to any number of beer tastes and styles. But it's all basically the same stuff: water plus grain plus yeast equals a fun night at the local pub with your mates.

Good luck separating an Irishman from his Guinness. Its rich, chocolatey body is ubiquitous in all corners of Irish society (and much of the United Kingdom, for that matter). Quite a few pints will be hoisted thisweek in honor of St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland.

Consumer interest in organic foods has certainly caught the eye of most beer manufacturers, which are now producing a broad assortment of brews produced with ingredients that meet organic production standards. Even giants like Anheuser-Busch have gotten into the act.

But one company bucking the trend is Guinness. Given its domination of the Irish market, if you're looking for an organic St. Patrick's libation, you'll have to look elsewhere.

An obvious choice for fans of traditional stouts would be Whole Foods' Old Plowshare Stout. It's brewed by California's North Coast Brewing Company, a pioneer in organic beers. There's also Peak Organic Beers in a variety of styles ranging from pale to amber ales. The good news is that your local healthfood store or well-supplied beer seller is likely to have an organic brew to meet your tastes. Just be sure someone is functioning as the Designated Leprechaun before getting behind the wheel.

2) Wear the green (organics) proudly.
It's a great time to be an eco-friendly consumer. Not only are organic foods finally filtering their way down to your local big-box grocery, it's easier than ever before to find quality organic clothing.

Growing cotton takes a tremendous toll on the earth in terms of water use and the sheer tonnage of pesticides used to keep conventional fields healthy. But that's not the only way to farm cotton, one of humankind's best-loved and versatile fibers. Sustainable cotton production addresses these concerns, seeking reasonable yields which are better for the land and the people who work it.

Wear the green all year long. Most major clothing companies — even Levi's — now carry an organic line or two. Looking for something organic with an Irish touch? Try this shamrock beauty from OfflineTshirts.com. It'll bring good luck to you and the Earth.

3) Go veggie with your Irish cooking.
There's little debate over the impact of livestock farming on the environment. The average cattle ranch can produce as much sewage runoff as a small city. It takes about 16 pounds of grain or soy feed to produce a single pound of beef, and irrigation associated with livestock production accounts for around half of all the consumed water in the United States. The story is similar for the farming of chickens, pigs and other animals that find their way into the human food chain.

So cutting back on meat consumption is an earth-friendly choice. And there's no reason to let traditionally meat-heavy Irish cooking get your way.

Try your hand at producing a veggie version of an old classic, Beef and Guinness Stew. You'll find an easy recipe at About.com which substitutes seitan — a wheat gluten food — for the dish's conventional ingredients. TheFoody.com has a delicious (and meat-free) version of Irish Vegetable Stew and there are all manner of veggie "bangers" available at your local health or whole foods store just waiting to be fried.
Wash it all down with one of those organic beers. Irish eyes are smiling.

4) Plant something green.
Seems obvious, doesn't it? If you're green at heart, put some green in your garden. Or you can pay to have something planted where it will do the most good.
If you're concerned about your carbon footprint — the amount of carbon dioxide generated annually as the result of your person consumption — become a modern Johnny Appleseed and put down some trees. As little as $90 is enough to plant 900 trees, more than enough to cover your annual generation of carbon dioxide.
For a St. Patrick's Day twist, scatter some organic clover seed in your garden. It's attractive, bee-friendly, and helps hold moisture into the soil.

5) Do some good for Ireland.
If you're thankful for your Irish heritage or just want to sew a little good karma in the Emerald Isle, find an Irish charity and lend them a hand. Most of the major international groups have an Irish presence. Habitat for Humanity is one example. You can also find a list of regional organizations at IndexIreland.com.

Good Local Eatin'

One of HUG's core missions is to "Shorten the Loop." Which, among other things, boils down to "keep your food local."

While this is an admirable goal, the most basic reason to keep your food local is simply taste! The freshest and most tasty food you will eat will be the food that is grown closest to your own home. Therefore, we decided to put our money where our mouths were, so to speak.

We raised 20 chickens over the winter. With proper care and handling they have thrived, even in the cold winter. During the winter, the egg production diminished. However, once more sunlight became present, we started to experience up to a dozen eggs a day.

They make the best quiche!

While these hens are aged beyond the 6-8 weeks looked at for the best tasting meat, they can still be used for soups and broths.

Moreover, not only do chickens produce food for us, but their manure makes the best fertilizer. We're planning on using their manure to fertilize our gardens this spring, which in turn will help us make the freshest and most tasty vegetables. Why? Because they come from our own backyard!

What else do you think you can do to keep your food local?

HUG Welcomes MN GreenCorp member Genna Strauss

Through the driving rain, bitter wind, and blistery snow emerges our heroine, Genna Strauss.

Perhaps not so dramatic an entrance but none-the-less I have finally arrived! If you don’t know who I am or what I am doing here, wait no further as I explain. I recently became a member of the environmentally focused Americorps program called Minnesota GreenCorps. The GreenCorps program was created by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as an opportunity to reach out to communities wanting support in achieving various green initiatives and to help aspiring environmental professionals gain valuable experience.

I come to the Pine River Area to serve as a Local Foods Specialist. I attained this position due to both interest and experience in local foods and planning execution. I am excited to utilize my current skills and learn new ones as my year here progresses.

I am originally from Red Wing and the small town of Bellechester both in southeastern Minnesota. I attended the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, MN where I graduated as Natural Science major.

I am here to help the Healthy Green Communities Partnership and the community as whole carry out two specific food goals, creating a community garden and establishing a food co-op. I'll also be helping to strengthen the Pine River Market Square (the local growers' and crafters' market). I look forward to meeting and working with you on these exciting projects. Until then, feel free to contact me at gennas@pinerivergreensteps.org with any questions or comments.