Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Teotbat, 3 months in

It's been about or nearly or just over 3 months since we started experimenting on our little wedge of land by the river. Here's what the last two weeks of heavy rain have helped us to grow:


Yeah! Most of the rows have something in them! And some of it's even tall!

Zucchinis, beets, and a veritable okra forest all coming along.


I just mistyped "Okra" and the word "Korea" came out. That must be significant. The basil is tall and strong, if a little wilted and nasty-tasting. Hooray for plants.


Monday, August 23, 2010

Eco-film night! FRESH

WHAT: Eco-film showing - FRESH
WHERE: As usual, Buy the Book Cafe, Rodeo Street (Mr. Pizza Building, 4th Floor), Downtown Daegu
WHEN: Saturday, September 11th, 7:30 PM.
WHO: Anyone who's interested in the science, ethics, or politics of food. Or anyone who wants a smoothie on a hot pre-autumn night.
WHY: Let's talk about that in person .^^ .

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Once again thanks to Sandy at Buy the Book Cafe, we're happy to be showing our second eco-film in as many months. This time, the film in question is:



"FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.

"Among several main characters, FRESH features urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthur’s 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, made famous by Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma; and supermarket owner, David Ball, challenging our Wal-Mart dominated economy.
"

Fresh was an official selection of the 2009 Environmental Film Festival and the 2009 Sustainable Living Film Festival.



Find the Facebook invitation here; share it (and this page) with everyone you know!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Movement for a Clean Green Daegu in the 21st Century Headquarters / 맑고푸른대구21추진협의회

This unassuming building, passed by by so many of us on our way to the airport or immigration office, may actually be the headquarters of Greenish Action in Daegu.



Back Yard: Two tiny plots of land; one has a few rows of tomatoes and peppers and eggplants, one is waiting for some kindergärtners to come try their little hands at planting.

Underground: The Climate Change Experience and Education Center (기후변화 체험교육원). Sort of an underground maze, the walls of which are covered with images, graphs, and blurbs relating to the who, what, why, when, where, and how of global warming. There are a few displays about alternative energy sources, and most importantly, a few displays about what's being done in Daegu and around to slow climate change before its effects become too severe. For example, on Sunday, September 12th, it will be BMW Day in Daegu. Bikes/Buses, Metro, and Walking Day, that is. The main road downtown, from Banwoldang to Jungang Negeori, will be closed to all traffic (usually buses are allowed in). Some other stuff will be happening; more info on that later. Let's go!



Ground Floor: Green Households Market (녹색살림생협 직영매장). A small shop selling a variety of non-perishable organic and/or fair trade foods such as coffee, chocolate, beans, noodles, flour, chips and crackers, sauces, wines, and drinks. Also sells some other non-edibles, like earth-friendly dish detergents, laundry detergents, shampoos, body soap, (real) loofas, and reusable feminine hygiene products. No fresh produce, unfortunately. Don't forget to check out the strawberry makkeoli.

***UPDATE: As of November 2010, the Green Households Market has shut down. It may or may not resume operating in the future. If you want to visit and have a cup of tea, go around back and ring the bell!***



Ground Floor Annex: Soap center! If you're just shopping, then how about some shampoo, rinse, bar soaps, body soap, mosquito repellent, facial cleansers, or other lotions made right on the premises? They'll even refill your old plastic bottles!!! Or, if you have a little more time, stop by for a class (I think Thursday mornings? Best to double-check) or organize your own with a group. The staff will explain the ingredients to you and walk you through the process of choosing dyes and scents, combining, heating, mixing, and cooling everything. Additionally, as an incentive to get people to try making their own hygiene products rather than just buying, it's cheaper to make your own than to purchase it. Nice gifts!



There are two or three more floors, but I haven't had time to see exactly what they do. The second floor looks to be the headquarters of the Daegu Ecofeminist Network (대구여성환경연대), and the third floor hosts the Daegu Green Consumers Network (대구녹색소비자연대), which apparently (ie according to the sign in the picture up top) is agitating to get environmentally friendly foods into school cafeterias. The local chapter of Bicycle Mileage (자전거 마일리지), which hosts occasional gatherings and around-the-city bike-awareness-increasing jaunts for cyclists, may also be housed here.

Location:


Come out of Dongchon (동촌) Subway Station (on the red line), Exit 1. Walk up to the first big intersection, Dongchon Negeeori (동촌네거리), cross the street, and turn left. Walk in the direction of the airport and immigration office; the Green Households Co-op will be on the right.


View Movement for a Clean Green Daegu in the 21st Century Headquarters / 맑고푸른대구21추진협의회 in a larger map

(대구 광역시 동구 검사동 1005-4번지 맑고푸른대구21추진협의회)

Links:

맑고푸른대구21추진협의회 / Movement for a Bright Green Daegu in the 21st Century Headquarters: http://www.d21.or.kr/

대구여성환경연대 / Daegu Women's Ecofeminist Network: http://www.ecofem.or.kr/

녹색살림생협 / Green Households Co-op: http://acoop.or.kr/

대구녹색소비자연대 / Daegu Green Consumers Network: http://www.dgcn.org/

저전거마일리지 / Bicycle Mileage: http://ecobike.org/