Home & Yard Handbook

New food chain specializing in Urban Farming coming to the Rochester Public Market

by Brenna Hartmann

Home&Yard Media Group is proud to sponsor the largest Urban Farming Edible Wall in the world, right here in our hometown Rochester, NY.  Green Living™ Technologies, sponsor of the Urban Farming Food Chain, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end hunger in our generation, will establish Green Living ‘edible’ walls in Rochester’s downtown Public Market. Cookie Waller, program manager for The Rochester Teen Court, who is funded by the Center for Youth Services is excited that the students will have the opportunity to build and maintain these edible walls. As part of the Urban Farming Food Chain this link will be part of a global food chain, connected to each other by intention and design, and providing a model that is replicated across the country and abroad as a means of growing food in urban neighborhoods. A portion of the food harvest will be donated to local food banks and neighbors in need.

The walls used to grow edible crops vertically are one of a variety of green products produced by Rochester based Green Living™ Technologies. Thanks to the efforts and expertise of Green Living Technologies, the student members of the Rochester Teen Court program will utilize the opportunity to learn about green roof and green wall technologies. Green Living Technologies CEO George Irwin, a certified teacher has developed an educational component, which includes a 10-week unit plan to be implemented in the non-growing season. During the gardening season the Rochester Teen Court participants will be working hands-on, tending to the vertical farm. In the off growing season, the students will be attending classes to learn about green technologies.

According to George Irwin, the program will offer the students a skill set and enough knowledge to be prepared for an interview with many companies now involved in vegetative green technologies.

The Urban Farming Edible Wall pilot program, which has been implemented in the heart of skid row in Los Angeles, California, has provided empowerment, community involvement and education for those residents. The food grown on these walls can include tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, peppers, herbs and more.

The Rochester Teen Court Urban Farming Food Chain wall installation at the Public Market will begin with a launch event on Saturday June 27th, 2009.  During the growing season the wall will offer immediate access to fresh healthy produce in a time of great need, while simultaneously creating opportunities for team building, skills training and community involvement.

Engineered by Green Living Technologies these innovative food-producing vertical gardens will beautify the downtown core and help to lower heat index in the fight against global warming while providing Rochester’s Teen Court Program an educational opportunity to learn about green roofs, green walls and vegetative technologies.

For more information on the Urban Farming Food Chain Project, visit urbanfarming.org/foodchain. �

Greener Living = Healthier Indoor Air

If you want to live a more sustainable life and protect your family from cancer, you may want to learn more about one of the home’s most dangerous pollutants—radon. Radon is a cancercausing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. It’s the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers and claims about 20,000 lives every year.

Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer. Fortunately, many of the causes of lung cancer can be prevented—and this is especially true for radon.

The Office of the Surgeon General has issued a health advisory warning Americans about the risk from breathing radon in indoor air. Americans are urged to test their homes to find out how much radon they might be breathing.

Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It can get into any type of building—homes, offices and schools—and can climb to high levels if it’s trapped indoors.

For most Americans, the greatest exposure to radon is in their homes, whether those homes are old or new. Any home, any type, any location can have a radon problem. All homes need to be tested unless the building is a high-rise above the third floor. If your home has not been tested, now is a good time to take the test. This will help protect your family’s health and it’s easy to do.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends homes be fixed if the radon level is 4 picocuries per liter of air (4pCi/L) or above. While testing can be easy and inexpensive, millions of Americans still need to have their first home radon test to protect their family.

You can test your home yourself or hire a professional. Reliable testing devices are available by phone or mail order and can be purchased in hardware and home improvement stores.

Fixing a radon problem is easy too—and doesn’t have to be costly. Radon reduction systems can lower radon to an acceptable level. Even very high levels can be reduced to a safer level.

“It’s inexpensive to build a new home with radon-resistant features. A better home will be both greeener for the planet and healthier for your family,” said Fuad Reveiz, a member of the National Association of Home Builders.

For help in identifying radon companies, call your state radon office or visit www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html. For more information, call 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236) or visit www.epa.gov/radon.

Ways to adjust driving to conserve fuel
Aggressive driving is much less energy efficient than normal driving, and speeding consumes more fuel over long distances. The reason for this lies in the engine; the engine works harder when accelerating or speeding, and therefore requires more fuel. To save fuel, accelerate slowly instead of slamming on the gas pedal, and brake easily. 

Is your spring cleaning really as clean as you think it is? Spring cleaning is supposed to be a ritual of purging the accumulated dirt, germs and odor from a winter-weary home to create a clean and healthy living space. Unfortunately, the often caustic and toxic ingredients used in most conventional cleaning products can be just as harmful as the dirt and germs they are meant to eliminate.

Even some so-called natural cleansers can contain these same or similar nasty ingredients. And you would know this only if the manufacturer practices full disclosure of ingredients on its labels, which is not required on home care products. Think about it — when was the last time you saw a full ingredient listing on your spray cleaner?

The best way to make sure your living space is clean and healthy is to use safe, natural cleaning products you create yourself, using natural and inexpensive ingredients you can pick up at any natural grocery store. It’s cost-effective, not difficult and, like the task of spring cleaning itself, it’s satisfying and rewarding. You can craft your own, homespun versions of everything from carpet cleaner to furniture dusting polish — and have the satisfying assurance that you really are keeping your home green and clean.

Whether you’re shopping for prepared natural cleaning solutions or making your own, keep in mind that the word “aromatherapy” is now being applied to everything scented — from dishwashing liquid to laundry detergent. The true practice of aromatherapy relies on using pure essential oils extracted from plants. According to Tom Havran, aromatherapy product developer at Aura Cacia, “These natural plant essences nurture us on mental, emotional, physical and even spiritual levels.” He adds, “While house cleaning isn’t exactly a spiritual exercise, adding the effects and properties of essential oils to your homemade household products can enhance the experience and the effectiveness of your task.”

Essential oils have potent antimicrobial effects along with their clean, pleasant natural aromas. Here are a few “classic” homecare essential oils suggested by Mr. Havran: lemon (clean, sweet, uplifting scent; deodorizing), peppermint (minty, fresh; air purifier; mild pest repellent), and eucalyptus and tea tree (air and surface sanitizers; fresh, therapeutic aromas).

Tom also has a shopping list of key ingredients for making your own homecare products:

• Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) — Gently abrasive scouring powder, odor absorber and an excellent base for making your own cleaning preparations.
• Washing soda (sodium carbonate)
• Borax (sodium borate) — Natural mineral compound, laundry booster, multipurpose cleanser, fungicide/insecticide.
• White distilled vinegar (acetic acid)
• Liquid soap (sodium hydroxide) — Choose from vegetable oil-based soaps such as olive oil or sweet almond.
• Distilled water — Clean, distilled water acts as a better carrier and dirt solvent. Tap water will often contain salts and minerals that can lead to spotting and build-up.
•  Essential oils
•  Spray bottles
•  Natural bristle scrubbing brushes
•  Squeeze bottles
•  Cotton dusting cloth
•  Hemp or jute fiber scrubbing cloth
•  Tote to put it all in

Follow these simple recipes for making your own basic homecare products:

Basic Spray Cleaner

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon sodium borate
• 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
• 36 drops essential oil

Gentle Scouring Cream

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• Liquid soap
• 18 drops essential oil
• Add essential oils to baking soda and blend. Next, incorporate the liquid soap, several drops at a time, until a creamy paste forms.

Window Cleaner

• 2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap
• 36 drops essential oil

Wooden Furniture Polishing Oil

• 3 tablespoons vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil
• 10 drops lemon essential oil

Carpet Deodorizing Powder

• 1 cup baking soda
• 18 drops essential oil

Carpet Cleaner

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid soap
• 18 drops essential oil

For more information and eco-friendly cleaning tips, visit www.auracacia.com. 

Courtesy of ARAcontent

You conserved energy in 2007 by installing programmable thermostats in your home. In 2008, you replaced your home’s incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights. If you’re wondering what you can do in 2009 to further reduce your carbon footprint, just take a look at product packaging.

Americans generated 60 billion pounds of plastic waste in 2006, and recycled just 7 percent of it. Despite our noble efforts, Americans still recycle less than we should. Every day, one landfill closes somewhere in the United States, so reducing the amount of materials that need to be disposed of is a critical part of environmental efforts.

From milk cartons and cereal boxes to household cleaner bottles, the packaging we use in our daily lives generates a lot of waste. In 2009, consider focusing your eco-friendly efforts on reducing the amount of packaging you and your family use and - ultimately - dispose of. Here are a few tips to keep in mind the next time you visit the grocery store.

Household Cleaners

Traditional cleaners may become passé as more people opt for natural products over harsh chemicals. Even if you are using natural cleaners, however, you can still do more for the environment — by choosing products that come in environmentally sensible packaging.

Some cleaning product manufacturers, like Arm & Hammer, are offering ways to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging. The company’s new Essentials Cleaners use plant-based cleaners (with other biodegradable ingredients) with a twist — the “starter kit” includes an empty, reusable trigger-spray bottle and a cartridge of cleaner concentrate. Consumers fill the bottle with tap water, twist in the cartridge and are ready to clean. When they run out, they purchase a refill cartridge and reuse the same bottle.

The bottles can be reused, extending the usable life of the packaging — and keeping them out of the waste stream. The refill cartridges are also smaller and lighter than a full bottle of traditional cleaner, so it’s less costly to manufacture and transport them, reducing fuel expenditure and carbon emissions.  The two-pack refill cartridge system uses 80 percent less packaging than two traditional 32-ounce cleaners.

“Plastic from household cleaners and containers can generate more waste than many people suspect- 28 billion pounds in 2006 alone,” says David Bach, eight-time national bestselling financial author and green lifestyle expert who wrote “Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying).”  “Furthermore, people don’t think about recycling their cleaning products, meaning that most end up in landfills.  Reducing packaging reduces the volume of plastic entering the waste stream.” 

Cosmetics Industry

Much of the packaging used by the cosmetics industry is plastic and most of that does not get recycled — from lipstick tubes to eye shadow compacts. Just as consumer demand for cruelty-free products drove the industry to find alternatives to animal testing, cosmetics manufacturers are now offering more environmentally sensible packaging options.

For example, one company has introduced a lipstick tube made of a biodegradable polymer of organic sugars and oils. Other companies are using recycled materials to manufacture packaging or are designing their packaging with easily recyclable materials like aluminum. Some manufacturers are even offering products like eye shadow in reusable compacts — when the eye shadow is empty, consumers simply dispose of the cartridge and refill the compact with a new one.

Bottled Water

Many bottled water drinkers imbibe in packaged water for their health - bottled water is perceived as clean, healthy and convenient. But until recently, the industry also produced vast quantities of plastic bottles that never made it to recycling bins.

Bottled water manufacturers are trying to turn those numbers around, introducing compactable bottles designed to crumple easily, which makes it easier to recycle them after use. Some companies have also begun making bottles from recycled material. Others market reusable bottles that consumers can fill on their own by purchasing larger sizes of bottled water and filling the smaller, more portable bottles as needed. 

Packaging Pointers

Consumers needn’t simply wait for companies to improve their packaging process, however. There are plenty of ways environmentally conscious Americans can help reduce packaging’s impact on the environment, including:

• Shop for items with packaging that clearly states it is made wholly or in part from recycled materials.
• Avoid buying products in packaging that is not recyclable. You can check to be sure a bottle or other packaging is recyclable by looking for the recycling code - usually located on the bottom of the package.
• Choose to do business with companies that minimize packaging. For example, large wholesale club stores may not provide bags because it saves them money, but they’re also helping the environment by curbing packaging. 
• Let eco-friendly businesses know you appreciate their efforts, and voice your concerns to those that fall short in the area of environmental responsibility.
•  Choose products that have made an effort to improve their packaging and supply chain. Transporting goods through lower-impact transportation options, like railways and barges, produces less pollution than other alternatives such as trucking or air transport.
• Look for companies and brands that have an established history of environmental and social responsibility.

To learn more about Arm & Hammer Essentials, visit www.armandhammeressentials.com. 

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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As the single largest housing expense after a mortgage payment, your utility costs can have a direct impact on how large a mortgage you can afford. You can save money on the cost of utilities by purchasing new  energy-efficient heating and cooling systems or by making home improvements, such as weatherizing and insulating older homes, and these investments can end up saving you money through lower utility bills. As a new homebuyer or current homeowner, you may be able to use an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM) to finance the cost of these improvements. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Energy Efficient Mortgages Program allows you to finance the purchase of a home—or refinance your current mortgage—and include the cost of the energy-saving, cost-efficient improvements through a single mortgage. EEMs are mortgage loans that are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is a part of HUD. 

FHA’s EEM program recognizes the monthly utility cost savings when homebuyers make energy-efficient improve¬ments. Homebuyers, or homeowners when refinancing, may use the EEM program to finance the cost of energy-efficient improvements into their new mortgages, without the need to qualify for additional financing, because cost-effective energy improvements result in lower utility bills making more funds available for their mortgage payments. 

How the Loan Works

You can take out an EEM loan as a 15- or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage or as an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) from an FHA-approved lender. FHA requires that you make at least a 3-percent downpayment on the proper¬ty, which is based on the sale price. Any upfront mortgage insurance premium may be financed as part of the mort¬gage. 

The total amount of your mortgage is based on the value of your home plus the projected cost of energy-effi¬cient improvements. When determining how large a mort¬gage you can afford, the lender can consider the estimated energy savings that are expected once you make energy-efficient improvements to the home that meet energy-con¬serving standards. Because your home will be energy effi¬cient, you will save on utility costs and, therefore, be able to devote more income to the monthly mortgage payment. 

Your final loan amount can exceed the maximum FHA mortgage limit by the amount of the energy-efficient improvements. To find FHA mortgage limits in your area, visit the HUD website at www.hud.gov. A Home Energy Rating System provider or energy consultant determines the estimated cost of the energy improvements and esti¬mated energy savings and provides a home energy rating report to you and your lender. You may finance up to $200 of the cost of the energy inspection report as part of the mortgage. 

A portion of your loan is used to pay for the purchase of the home, or in the case of a refinance, to pay off any existing debt. The remainder is placed in an interest-bear¬ing account on your behalf and released to you after an inspection verifies that the improvements are installed and the energy savings will be achieved. You can begin making energy improvements after the loan’s closing. You are responsible for hiring contractors and getting bids for the work to be done on your home. The work must be com¬pleted within 90 days after closing. 

Eligibility

Almost anyone who has a satisfactory credit record, enough cash to close the loan, and sufficient steady income to make monthly mortgage payments can be approved for an FHA-insured EEM loan. There is no upper age limit and no certain income level required. 

The following types of properties are eligible under the EEM program, including new construction or exist ing one- to four-unit single family residences:

• Detached houses
• Townhouses
• Condominiums. Cooperative units are not eligible. 

The Cost and Types of Improvements 

 You may finance into your mortgage the cost of the energy-efficient improvements determined to be “cost effec¬tive,” which means that the total cost of the improvements, including any maintenance costs, is less than the total pres¬ent value of the energy saved over the useful life of the energy improvement. The maximum cost of improvements that you can add to the mortgage is either 5 percent of the property’s value (not to exceed $8,000) or $4,000, whichev¬er is greater based on the value of your property. For exam¬ple, if your property’s value is $75,000, the maximum cost of improvements allowed is $4,000 because this is greater than 5 percent of the property value. If your property’s value is $100,000, the maximum amount of improvements allowed is $5,000 because this is 5 percent of the property’s value, greater than $4,000 but less than $8,000. Finally, if your property’s value is $160,000, the maximum cost of improve¬ments allowed is $8,000, which is 5 percent of the property value and the maximum allowed overall. 

Examples of improvements that are made under an EEM loan: 

• Replacing a furnace/cooling system 
• Fixing or replacing a chimney
• Insulating an attic, crawl space, and/or pipes and air ducts 
• Replacing doors or windows 
• Installing active and passive solar technologies 

If you can demonstrate an ability to complete the work yourself in a satisfactory manner, you may complete the labor. Materials that you furnish may be applied to your downpayment to the extent of the estimated cost of the materials. 

Applying for an EEM

You may apply with any participating HUD-approved lender, such as a bank, credit union, or mortgage company. You can find a searchable list of HUD-approved lenders online at www.hud.gov. 

Information Resources

Internet: www.hud.gov or espanol.hud.gov

More details about the Energy Efficient Mortgages Program are on the HUD website, including a list of HUD-approved lenders.

HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency Locator

HUD supports a network of approved housing counseling agencies that provide counseling services across the nation. For a complete list of HUD-approved agencies in your area, call the HUD housing counseling referral line toll-free at 1-800-569-4287 or visit the HUD website at www.hud.gov.