tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45995027957774326492024-03-16T12:24:52.992-04:00Regeneration in ACTIONan Elemental Impact on-line magazineHolly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.comBlogger414125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-15295563784198220192024-02-26T16:59:00.010-05:002024-02-27T13:27:39.494-05:00Life Spirals: long-time friends, new professional horizons!<p>During the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Ei Era of Recycling Refinement</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) was a leader in the emerging food waste-composting industry. Founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a> (ZWZ,) the nation's forerunner with commercial collection of food waste for compost, Ei made national- and global-news headlines.</p><p>While the ZWZ focus was on back-of-the-house operations, the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/sfci-accomplished/" target="_blank">Sustainable Food Court Initiative</a> (SFCI) addressed challenging front-of-the-house-food waste collection. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdLiCIpsKx2h7GAZgNWQw1Ik5mn7T7GnlS2BJIIafyAEoVnw-qL3idZThZATx24zgIdrfQiepeyZwOl-LNSmbTCwt7kgBAKhU8P-T2yDNlVbQZfTImucI1GkSwYp8TMGMhqlWKId7YLkVMOuDXexfS_sXR_sCBOgYCbQ0Vz_lztfbbCh78NXtrvTcY1mY/s3756/01-23-18_Ei_ATL_USCCpanel-KathyPresenting.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3756" data-original-width="3124" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdLiCIpsKx2h7GAZgNWQw1Ik5mn7T7GnlS2BJIIafyAEoVnw-qL3idZThZATx24zgIdrfQiepeyZwOl-LNSmbTCwt7kgBAKhU8P-T2yDNlVbQZfTImucI1GkSwYp8TMGMhqlWKId7YLkVMOuDXexfS_sXR_sCBOgYCbQ0Vz_lztfbbCh78NXtrvTcY1mY/w201-h242/01-23-18_Ei_ATL_USCCpanel-KathyPresenting.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kathy Kellogg Johnson presenting on<br />the 2018 USCC Ei-Hosted Panel<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of</span> <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Throughout the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> (2010 inception through June 2017,) Ei was a strong presence at the annual U.S. Composting Council (USCC) Conference, often orchestrating Ei-hosted-panel sessions. At the 2018 USCC Conference hosted in Atlanta, Ei Founder Holly Elmore moderated the Ei-hosted panel, <i>Compost’s Empowering Role in Sustainable Soils</i>, the conference’s most popular break-out session. Per the program, the following was the panel description:<p></p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><p><i>Soil is the foundation of life. Healthy, vibrant soil eco-systems are the building blocks for healthy communities with effective stormwater-management programs, solid erosion-control systems, and nutritious urban-food production. … and compost feeds the soil eco-systems!</i></p><p><i>Industry experts shared about compost’s empowering role in carbon sequestration/climate change, soil-management systems grounded in solid economics, and green-urban infrastructure.</i></p></blockquote><p><i></i></p><p>The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine (RiA) article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2018/02/on-january-22-25-2018-atlanta-hosted.html" target="_blank">GAME WON: 2018 compost conference a record-breaking success</a></i>, features the Ei-hosted panel.. </p><p>Once fully entrenched in the Era of Regeneration, Ei platforms no longer directly aligned with the USCC, and Holly ceased attending the annual conferences. Then, in late 2022 Holly reconnected with long-time friend and colleague <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/2023/04/bridgett-luther/" target="_blank">Bridgett Luther</a>, Founder and Visionary of <a href="https://www.table2farms.com/" target="_blank">Table2Farms</a> (T2F.)</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Table2Farms</span></b><br />In 2015, Bridgett and Holly originally met at the National Zero Waste Business Council Conference (NZWBC) hosted in Los Angeles; at the time, Bridgett was the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute Founder & President. Prior to her Cradle to Cradle tenure, Bridgett served as the California Department of Conservation Director from 2005 - 2010 under Governor Schwarzenegger; during her reign, the department managed a $1.2 billion budget and nearly 800 employees.</p><p>Per Bridgett:</p><p></p><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">During my time with Governor Schwarzenegger as California’s Director of Conservation, we boosted California's bottle and cans recycling rate by 20%. Now, my focus is on keeping food waste out of landfills. If we can increase composting by 20% we can have a major impact on climate change, avoiding 0.9 tons of CO2e for every ton of food waste diverted from landfills. Did you know that we waste 300 lbs. of food per person each year?</blockquote><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mZDjSkx88wF8rzWc24jaTv3acLlBwQk0d0CUccUoWUUOF_Lacjis5dQFYwbzkOhFrDRTnozDxS86xV9uF2b-UsyPdNtAk0LXEi_VRnEObF2g5YFCjtjEYVYIwlJUPkapHNSmOIJHaxLKUhIRscx1uneDmNO4umZcZgP3j9EdEDCtx4qI5BHWPDvF_yd2/s2706/02-08-24_USCC_BridgettHolly%20Smart-Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2621" data-original-width="2706" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mZDjSkx88wF8rzWc24jaTv3acLlBwQk0d0CUccUoWUUOF_Lacjis5dQFYwbzkOhFrDRTnozDxS86xV9uF2b-UsyPdNtAk0LXEi_VRnEObF2g5YFCjtjEYVYIwlJUPkapHNSmOIJHaxLKUhIRscx1uneDmNO4umZcZgP3j9EdEDCtx4qI5BHWPDvF_yd2/w209-h202/02-08-24_USCC_BridgettHolly%20Smart-Edited.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Holly & Bridgett <br />@ the2024 USCC Conference</span></td></tr></tbody></table>In her pursuit to decrease methane gas emissions from landfills and to improve soil health, Bridgett founded T2F; the T2F focus is on scaling-up food waste-collection-for-composting programs in small-to-medium-sized markets. Though the individual program impact may be small, the collective impact is tremendous. By working closely with community composters, the intent is to create a top-quality compost that sells for a premium price.</p><p>Upon discovering they lived a mere hour apart on the central Florida Gulf coast, Bridgett and Holly reconnected with open hearts in late 2022. At their initial meeting, Holly joined the <a href="https://www.table2farms.com/#Team" target="_blank">T2F Team</a> as a Principal and Industry Expert, and Bridgett joined the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/leadership/" target="_blank">Ei Advisory Council</a>.</p><p>With perfect timing, the T2F website officially launched days prior to the 2024 USCC Conference hosted in Daytona Beach. Bridgett, Holly, and Tom Wright, another T2F Principal, attended the conference to network with industry experts, learn about new technologies and composting-success stories, and share the T2F launch and intentions. It was an empowering inaugural conference for T2F.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">2024 USCC Conference</span></b><br />Though she officially represented T2F at the USCC Conference, Holly retained her Ei hat and enjoyed reconnecting with her plethora of industry friends and meeting new colleagues. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAFR1rt0c9rGzRVzjrJOkSVdF82fYokmVa83MzGA141CMYW8x-hVycEKEyJNWaHCiK-06ImgB5E7disxd_mAAT8t6WAFPaMCcO7ApRbdVYt_D5tqVOfR4Ss8CK8uh-ZFMTgazWZiApNbX2Cb3EKF5brs3JoXGue6p_O3_igoZoN6n-TcP-oYl9WrxInnL/s960/02-07-24_USCC_HollyKathyKellogg.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAFR1rt0c9rGzRVzjrJOkSVdF82fYokmVa83MzGA141CMYW8x-hVycEKEyJNWaHCiK-06ImgB5E7disxd_mAAT8t6WAFPaMCcO7ApRbdVYt_D5tqVOfR4Ss8CK8uh-ZFMTgazWZiApNbX2Cb3EKF5brs3JoXGue6p_O3_igoZoN6n-TcP-oYl9WrxInnL/w163-h217/02-07-24_USCC_HollyKathyKellogg.jpg" width="163" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kathy & Holly @ 2024 USCC</span></td></tr></tbody></table>A special reconnection was with Ei Advisor and dear friend Kathy Kellogg Johnson, Kellogg Garden Products Co-Owner. Kathy was a panelist in the previously mentioned 2018 USCC Conference Ei-Hosted panel, <i>Compost’s Empowering Role in Sustainable Soils. </i>In 2022. Kathy donated a pallet of organic garden soil to the <a href="https://bit.ly/3mWHlcs" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots</a>.<p></p><p>Much to their amazement, Holly and close friend Kim Charick, EPA R4 Team Lead, Food Waste Prevention, discovered each other at a conference-food station. The encounter lead to three days together enjoying the conference, dinners, and a long walk on the Daytona Beach. </p><p>In 2014 Kim was introduced to Holly while she was the EPA lead on the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/epa-scaling-up-composting-grant-accomplished/" target="_blank">Sustainable Packaging Coalition Scaling-Up Composting in Charlotte EPA Grant</a>; Ei was a sub grantee, and Holly and Kim worked closely together for the duration of the grant.</p><p>Additionally, Ei was instrumental in the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/epa-food-recovery-challenge/" target="_blank">EPA Food Recovery Challenge</a> successes in Atlanta. Holly enjoyed introducing Kim to her plethora of restaurant- and hospitality-industry friends. With their close connection, Kim attended the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/epa-food-recovery-challenge/" target="_blank">Annual Ei Partner Meetings</a> and supported Ei's various projects, especially during the Era of Recycling Refinement. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FHiXY8aVxbIxF-SFuafTY3X1DOdgX9sROFP-q6EASyQv4_MX-Xcs9htPfKB2ihyphenhyphenIUK5MaMgA1Gx9xIaWS9UsLh1TinIiBffvgnNwAkyprNVfz3d6WEmZ_BBlvWUQ2Gt3-bpfwjujEY_2gfCyX0yWi76H3a0yZ2HaE08EQHf5SgOSNK3ZB-J801eCRP67/s1600/05-08-14%20USZWBC%20-%20Charlotte%20Panel.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FHiXY8aVxbIxF-SFuafTY3X1DOdgX9sROFP-q6EASyQv4_MX-Xcs9htPfKB2ihyphenhyphenIUK5MaMgA1Gx9xIaWS9UsLh1TinIiBffvgnNwAkyprNVfz3d6WEmZ_BBlvWUQ2Gt3-bpfwjujEY_2gfCyX0yWi76H3a0yZ2HaE08EQHf5SgOSNK3ZB-J801eCRP67/w231-h173/05-08-14%20USZWBC%20-%20Charlotte%20Panel.JPG" width="231" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Charlotte EPA Grant Team<br />@ the 2014 NZWBC in Atlanta</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">from left to right: Kim, Anne Bedarf,</span> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Laurette Hall, Holly</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Another much-appreciated reconnection was with long-time colleague Brenda Platt, Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) Co-Director and Director of Composting for Community. Brenda and Holly initially connected at the 2010 USCC Conference where Holly presented on the ZWZ; it was Holly's first national speaking engagement and prior to Ei's founding in February 2010.<p></p><p>Brenda was instrumental to the successes within the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/sfci-atlanta-airport-pilot/" target="_blank">SFCI Pilot - Atlanta Airport</a> (ATL) launched in May 2011. It was an honor for <i>the busiest airport in the world</i> to serve as the SFCI’s first pilot!</p><p>With impeccable timing, the ATL was in the midst of Request for Proposals for the entire-airport-concessionaire operations. Working closely with the ATL Department of Aviation, the SFCI Team provided the necessary support for the groundbreaking compostable packaging provision in the ten-year airport-concessionaire contracts. The ZWA Blog post, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2011/10/atlanta-airport-makes-bold-sustainable.html" target="_blank">Atlanta Airport Makes a Bold Sustainable Statement</a></i>, announces the contract provision.</p><p>The new concessionaire contracts effective in 2012 included the following provision:</p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><i>Concessionaire shall use compostable serviceware along with consumer-facing packaging and source separate all food service wastes for direct transport to off-airport composting facilities.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>Working together under a contract with the ATL, Ei and the ILSR created and published the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Compostable_Foodservice_Ware_Info_Packet.pdf" target="_blank">Atlanta Airport Compostable Foodservice Ware Packet</a> for the airport concessionaires. The compostable packaging-contract provision was groundbreaking; the ATL received tremendous industry accolades and awards, including a prestigious 2011 Going Green Airport Award.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlrsQjvDOpZFOgftFewwka3v82do3I2nJ0P3hQ4tQW6C2THFbK8C8fP5FS4_x3CCwjFGE3rP-zZWu5S-4V-ns6YNlchVZc6AILwiLAoO-HJIk3inkeOy6dRJaKdG3kyjEGtk5vxR7HAganAFbUfbOaD0fCHB2snVaAmnyyG5d04BF08y2pdFTR2Qfshli/s3994/12-11-14_FinalF&B_Group.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3411" data-original-width="3994" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlrsQjvDOpZFOgftFewwka3v82do3I2nJ0P3hQ4tQW6C2THFbK8C8fP5FS4_x3CCwjFGE3rP-zZWu5S-4V-ns6YNlchVZc6AILwiLAoO-HJIk3inkeOy6dRJaKdG3kyjEGtk5vxR7HAganAFbUfbOaD0fCHB2snVaAmnyyG5d04BF08y2pdFTR2Qfshli/w223-h190/12-11-14_FinalF&B_Group.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Final F&B Pkging Meeting, Dec 2014</span> <br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Holly is on the left in the front row:<br />Brenda is on the far right, second row</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Throughout the Era of Recycling Refinement, Brenda and Holly continued to work together on a plethora of initiatives in the composting and sustainable packaging arena. Brenda attended the annual <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/fb-packaging-value-chain-meetings-accomplished/" target="_blank">Sustainable Food & Beverage Packaging-Value-Chain Meetings </a>orchestrated by Ei and hosted at Global Green's Washington D.C.'s offices.<p></p><p>In 2023, Ei facilitated an introduction for T2F to Brenda's Composting for Community Team; there are excellent synergies with the T2F mission and the Composting for Community program.</p><p>Post-conference, via Kim's invitation, Brenda and Holly were treated to a three-hour meeting and tour of the <a href="https://4rootsfarm.org/" target="_blank">4Roots Farm</a> Campus in Orlando .</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">4Roots Farm</span></b><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Unearthing the Power of Food to Build Healthy Communities</b></span><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">4Roots is an alliance of community stakeholders investing in a healthy, thriving, sustainable, food system</span></i><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></div><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB6xj_cOBX-iq33RltXLHbuLeK89iikvkmQO7h2zI43CwCrk5VXj8VMrpD2hrMZXB4kjaSoHjRnkV2RDKQ-4O-aB4k4J-FNw-nVoftUQxQNoqNqd8FT16DVGutNViYDtCPQtfXOzQs3aWizjDIdIHxiYkx4dX6HOw5Fw7HEsez8THA3YzX_7XBowwyjxf/s3876/02-09-24_HEI_Ei)4Roots-Group.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2940" data-original-width="3876" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB6xj_cOBX-iq33RltXLHbuLeK89iikvkmQO7h2zI43CwCrk5VXj8VMrpD2hrMZXB4kjaSoHjRnkV2RDKQ-4O-aB4k4J-FNw-nVoftUQxQNoqNqd8FT16DVGutNViYDtCPQtfXOzQs3aWizjDIdIHxiYkx4dX6HOw5Fw7HEsez8THA3YzX_7XBowwyjxf/w244-h185/02-09-24_HEI_Ei)4Roots-Group.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">4Roots tour group photo </span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>4Roots Executive Director Tommy Ward, along with his associates Community Program Manager Brianna Rodarmel, Community Engagement Manager Carmen Gibson, Development Manager Tamara Dempster, and Head Farmer Josh Taylor, greeted Kim, Brenda, and Holly with a warm welcome. After thorough introductions, Tommy educated the group on 4Roots' history, current endeavors, and future plans.<p></p><p>Located on a donated 40-acre tract of urban land, the 4Roots Farm Campus is a well-planned community-based endeavor that is a work-in-progress. The campus is strategically located in the southern Packing District less than two miles from Downtown Orlando. </p><p>A refurbished orange-packing warehouse serves as the 4Roots offices along with workspace for several of their collaborative partners. The HUGE walk-in cooler is perfect for storing farm harvests and food donations as well as prepping food for the community.</p><p>According to the 4Roots Program Impact Statement:</p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><i>4Roots is dedicated to unearthing the power of food to build healthy communities. By engaging the community to think more deeply about where and how food is grown, and why it matters, 4Roots aims to restore and maintain the delicate balance between people and planet.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>4Roots Programs include:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Fresh by 4Roots </b>- sells local, seasonal, and responsibly grown produce, meats, dairy products, eggs, and other pantry essentials – thus strengthening the connections between local farmers and consumers.</li><li><b>Meet the Need</b> - sources fresh produce for distribution to various donation outlets, including churches, schools, and neighborhood centers. This program expands access to healthy food and helps to alleviate food waste.</li><li><b>K - 12 Education</b> - works with educational partners to develop and deliver hands-on learning experiences that inspire K-12 students to explore food and farming, and to consider careers in related industries.</li><li><b>Culinary Health Institute</b> - will develop and implement programming related to the use of food as medicine. It will focus on improving health and wellness through nutrition research, education, and clinical application.</li><li><b>Reverse Demand Model </b>- strengthens our local food economy by encouraging food service partners to commit their buying power for produce to local farms.</li><li><b>O-Town Compost</b> - seeks to become a key component of Orange County’s waste diversion infrastructure to help the City of Orlando meet its zero waste goal and extend the life of Orange County’s landfill.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfoziaiz4rKJIPEfZNM2m6Mb2IWXbMU9aXICkJD-Jj_ESiBI1sDRY-LIWHe4raqwaXLhSrqhA4GUvqN2Lr054Oqtq-enE8fXKKHJi1FzvipUaNFCBmzzUUUVGbQuYiC3i2i1I8BEoLNJfi41Z6aiZLaCB1C71GAgedS8cMTxL8CDPCfjd8cGfiR9tnLqH/s3657/02-09-24_HEI_Ei_SamBaker-bag.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3657" data-original-width="2485" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfoziaiz4rKJIPEfZNM2m6Mb2IWXbMU9aXICkJD-Jj_ESiBI1sDRY-LIWHe4raqwaXLhSrqhA4GUvqN2Lr054Oqtq-enE8fXKKHJi1FzvipUaNFCBmzzUUUVGbQuYiC3i2i1I8BEoLNJfi41Z6aiZLaCB1C71GAgedS8cMTxL8CDPCfjd8cGfiR9tnLqH/w169-h249/02-09-24_HEI_Ei_SamBaker-bag.jpg" width="169" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sam with Solar Soil</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>After the education session, the group was treated to a tour of the warehouse; the first stop was the Wrigglebrew Plant Growth & Rescue laboratory. Wrigglebrew Founder & CEO Samuel Baker shared his unique business model and impressive products formulated from worm castings, Kim, Brenda, and Holly each purchased the Wrigglebrew Plant Growth & Rescue liquid fertilizer and Solar Soil, Vermicompost Soil Amendment for use in their home gardens.<p></p><p>O-Town Compost General Manager Erin Schornagle educated on their food waste-collection-for-compost systems in place. As the ILSR Director of Composting for Community, Brenda was thrilled to visit O-Town Compost's home base and film an interview with Erin to showcase their stellar operating practices.</p><p>Three hours of education and tours only barely introduced the magnitude of 4Roots endeavors. The 4Roots Farm Campus is in the midst of a major evolution broken down into three phrases:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Phase I - Education</li><li>Phase II - Community</li><li>Phase III - Innovation & Discovery</li></ol><div>The multiple-award-winning Education Center is the first building in Florida to attain the energy petal certification of the Living Building Challenge, a monumental achievement! At the upcoming "ribbon-cutting" ceremony, event participants will cut carrot fronds, instead of the typical landfill-bound ribbons. With the Education Center opening in the upcoming months, the 4Roots Farm Campus will complete Phase I of the campus plan.</div><div><br /></div><div>In late March, Holly returns to 4Roots with Ei Advisors <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/2023/12/stephen-suau/" target="_blank">Stephen Suau</a> and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/2023/05/tim-rumage/" target="_blank">Tim Rumage</a> to further explore the campus endeavors as well as synergies with Ei's import work within the <a href="https://bit.ly/4b9Uvr9" target="_blank">What We Eat Matters</a> platform. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Holly Elmore Images-photo album, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/42JyOKI" target="_blank">4Roots Campus Tour</a></i>, gives a pictorial recount of the amazing three hours spent at the campus.</div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Life Spirals</span></b><br />Life magically evolves within spirals where each turn builds upon the prior paths for progressed experiences. The USCC Conference encapsulated Ei's past successes, expertise, and relationships into new professional horizons. </p><p>With Bridget and Holly's inaugural encounter at the 2015 NZWBC, the Bridget connection brings forth Ei's strong relationship with the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council as their media partner during the organization's five-year tenure.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFHzRzMLXjMO2oGfjo-ZS-Kj5vhY43sU_mUqlh1sP-1Bwpb_H3LaqR233N9eF7Lg7NwD871cXdbfyCTei3K-0LR1ruyEeb-gacyy5JEOW7o4NVP2xodb4Ch1IFdVjlN0eT8onql2RiXxQO3Xmc8_M6hjehKyaP1QYTjS-DPLMjAGnAPrF7HrGSOplphlR/s3315/07-30-14%20Concord%20Mills%20-%20plastic%20film%20bale%20&%20Kim.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2740" data-original-width="3315" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFHzRzMLXjMO2oGfjo-ZS-Kj5vhY43sU_mUqlh1sP-1Bwpb_H3LaqR233N9eF7Lg7NwD871cXdbfyCTei3K-0LR1ruyEeb-gacyy5JEOW7o4NVP2xodb4Ch1IFdVjlN0eT8onql2RiXxQO3Xmc8_M6hjehKyaP1QYTjS-DPLMjAGnAPrF7HrGSOplphlR/w244-h201/07-30-14%20Concord%20Mills%20-%20plastic%20film%20bale%20&%20Kim.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Kim checking our plastic-film bales <br />in Charlotte<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>As Holly initially met Brenda at the 2010 USCC Conference, the Brenda connection brings forth Ei's empowering relationship with the USCC during the Era of Recycling Refinement. Additionally, the SFCI-Atlanta Airport-concessionaire-contract work together signifies Ei's exceptional relationships within the hospitality industry. With Brenda attending the annual Sustainable Food & Beverage Packaging Value Chain Meetings, Ei's profound accomplishments in the post-consumer food waste and sustainable-food & beverage-packaging realms are brought forward.<p></p><p>Holly's connection with Kim flows within the myriad of Ei's experiences and expertise, including the foodservice industry, food waste composting, soil ecology, and overall industry relationships. Since meeting in 2014, Holly and Kim developed a deep personal and professional bond, which extended into the Ei Era of Regeneration. Thus, their continued connection is a stable consistency within the life-spiral turns.</p><p>As documented within the 2023 The IMPACT Magazine article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3TlA3eD" target="_blank">Ei Moves!</a></i>, Ei recently completed a series of turns within the life spiral. Thus, the timing is impeccable for Holly to reconnect with long-time friends and embark on new professional horizons.</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">_______________________________________</span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div><div><b style="font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. <a href="https://bit.ly/4b9Uvr9" target="_blank">What We Eat Matters</a> is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div></div></div><p><span>For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a>.</span> </p>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-66976343863612019862024-01-24T19:14:00.013-05:002024-02-05T11:02:51.352-05:00What We Eat Matters<p>The act of eating, a task in which the entire Animal Kingdom engages, integrates within and influences the complete spectrum of earthly phenomena. From an individual perspective, what we eat directly impacts the physical vessel's immediate and long-term health. From a macro perspective, what we eat drives economic markets, commercial agriculture-crop choices and practices, societal justices and injustices, species extinction, and a myriad of other subtle and overt scenarios.</p><p>In his superb <i><a href="https://www.masterclass.com/classes/michael-pollan-teaches-intentional-eating" target="_blank">Intentional Eating</a></i> MasterClass, renowned journalist and author Michael Pollen substantiates how the act of eating is integrated within establishing healthy water and soil systems and addressing the Insect Apocalypse; in a market-driven economy consumers vote with dollars spent. The Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a></i>, introduces the Insect Apocalypse and gives an overview of the <i>Intentional Eating</i> MasterClass.</p><p>Within the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> platform, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) launches the What We Eat Matter (WWEM) focus area; WWEM topics align with work inaugurated during the Ei Era of Regeneration (June 2017 to current.) Initial topics include Personal Well Being, World Water Pollution & Depletion, and Diversity Reduction. </p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Personal Well Being</span></b><br />Healthy soils with active, balanced microbial communities and fungi networks are the foundation for growing nutritious, tasty food that supports mental, physical, and emotional health.</p><p><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Nutrition<br /></span></u>Conventional agriculture practices apply manmade fertilizers and "cides"* to fields and crops. Additionally, conventional farming practices include mono-crop agriculture, often minimal to no cover crops and crop rotations, and livestock separated from the produce fields. This farming protocol compromises and often kills the underlying soil ecosystem resulting in food lacking in nutrition and taste.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMoNdFuDkbnBliiiuf5BWcVLqWKAPMOyddcJchI1vW0yohkNi4GkCIumiIFGvnw3vWv6HPDwcO2aDZZZ2VDRzYNCsUh39pDEwW0VUbL_8PepN7tNtWCzuzI95IEtZ2C39EybZMrEuKgCqqXlou75cI4vcamHkJsrgwwPZN6zzgH8fhA6KRfIy5bggMAu1/s2915/01-13-24_HEI_GardenSalad%20Smart.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2682" data-original-width="2915" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMoNdFuDkbnBliiiuf5BWcVLqWKAPMOyddcJchI1vW0yohkNi4GkCIumiIFGvnw3vWv6HPDwcO2aDZZZ2VDRzYNCsUh39pDEwW0VUbL_8PepN7tNtWCzuzI95IEtZ2C39EybZMrEuKgCqqXlou75cI4vcamHkJsrgwwPZN6zzgH8fhA6KRfIy5bggMAu1/w218-h200/01-13-24_HEI_GardenSalad%20Smart.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Healthy, nutritious meal</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Future articles will explore the importance of organic farming, regenerative agriculture, along with the current controversaries surrounding the terms and practices. Additionally, future articles will delve into the impact of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere on diminished food nutrition.<p></p><p>The RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a></i>, explains how WWII was a catalyst for an era when unforeseen consequences of high-tech development would create toxic environments and devastating scenarios across the globe.</p><p>From the article: though it was introduced in the 1930's, synthetic-pesticide use became widespread after WWII. According to <a href="http://LivingHistoryFarm.org">LivingHistoryFarm.org</a>:</p><p></p><blockquote><p>World War II was the first U.S. war in which diseases – many like typhus and malaria carried by insects – killed fewer people than bullets and bombs. The reason was DDT. The insect killer – or "insecticide" – had been discovered in 1939 and was used extensively by the U.S. military during the war. So, it is no wonder that the postwar period saw the dawning of the chemical age in pesticides.</p><p>Then, as today, agriculture uses 75 percent of all pesticides. Between 1947 and 1949, pesticide companies invested $3.8 billion into expanding their production facilities. They were rewarded by huge profits.</p><p>Many historians have called this the golden age of chemical pesticides – effective new chemicals were available and of all of the risks and dangers to human health and the environment were not yet known.</p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">* "cides" are defined as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides.</span> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health</u></span><br />The health ramifications of farming with chemicals, in lieu of using Nature's perfected biological systems, are severe. Recently published, the <i><a href="https://www.masterclass.com/series/gut-health" target="_blank">Gut Biome</a></i> MasterClass explains in simplistic terms the impact of chemical farming on the gut biome and its implications on the body’s endocrine system. </p><p>In his September 2023 Rev On Air: <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3TVtXDQ" target="_blank">The Power of Regeneration for a More Beautiful World</a></i> interview, Zach Bush. MD shares in a scientific, medical vernacular the role soil health and chemicals (glyphosates, "cides," etc.) play on human mental, physical, and emotional health. Autism is specifically discussed and the dramatic role diet plays with individuals on the mental spectrum.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Tasty Food</u></span><br />Food grown in soils with healthy, vibrant ecosystems are tasty, often in contrast with the bland grocery-store produce from conventional farms. In his The Real Organic Project’s <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vlbx5w" target="_blank">The Power Of Deliciousness</a> </i>interview, Chef Dan Barber sets the stage for emphasizing the importance of delicious food. Chefs have a powerful voice with consumers and may educate and influence the public on WWEM.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZawXrMYSNR-byHUgPe48a4k2QHIBtpGQGuMdQSrqnCA2mwhp7lF924LGrKi3jKRhUFkrkEWESafsEuzae8mX4pKF-l2abwBPtu4bQLrJYTuwowIjVgk3ETfUZLO8_UpMh3bFLAUJAmczu1dCeg5Bx9DDmao3WwwBkbYVWWWX5PdoZRzADULep6W3gUHF/s2935/01-19-24_HEI_Food_Tacos.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2930" data-original-width="2935" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZawXrMYSNR-byHUgPe48a4k2QHIBtpGQGuMdQSrqnCA2mwhp7lF924LGrKi3jKRhUFkrkEWESafsEuzae8mX4pKF-l2abwBPtu4bQLrJYTuwowIjVgk3ETfUZLO8_UpMh3bFLAUJAmczu1dCeg5Bx9DDmao3WwwBkbYVWWWX5PdoZRzADULep6W3gUHF/w190-h189/01-19-24_HEI_Food_Tacos.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tasty, healthy food</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Image</a></span><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">s</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Over the decades Ei worked closely with chefs on zero waste and later regenerative practices, and is one of eleven Collaborative Partners with the <a href="https://feedtheplanet.worldchefs.org/" target="_blank">World Chefs Feed the Planet</a> initiative.<p></p><p>If consumers invoke their power of demand for toxic-free, nutritious, and tasty food, the agricultural industry will respond and conventional farming will segue into organic and regenerative practices. </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>World Water Pollution and Depletion</b></span><br />As water and soil are in a sacred marriage, conventional farming practices equally pollute soil, aquifers, and waterways.</p><p><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Chemical Farming</span></u><br />In addition to causing nutrient-deficient food, the "cides" and manmade fertilizers rich in nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, used in conventional farming seep into the soil. Eventually the toxins and excessive nutrients flow into the aquifers and/or waterways. Heavy rainfall and melting snow wash the "cides" and nutrients from the farmlands into streams, rivers, and other waterways. </p><p>In the U.S., the Mississippi River transports the "cides" and nutrients from the Midwest and Southern farming belts into the Gulf of Mexico. The excessive nutrients cause massive algae blooms that deplete the shoreline water of oxygen necessary to support marine life.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZec-IYXPSGeEUSBUqo0mYxVwtji_LUk_EfBps3cHSe94omJdRFXiga9fzDaKSL7ul2twaDe3KnAbUZLv8_bYJOvE8yg_vWhvRbTOt5kZwUBq5mMZT-GL09C9CbvxYbl-Q9b84S3z4VBEPkYWEeiJKrYOnXNLC33te0KDzC3E7lMaepevGMjw0PLqWNT-z/s1280/deadzone_hypoxia_2021_thumbnail.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZec-IYXPSGeEUSBUqo0mYxVwtji_LUk_EfBps3cHSe94omJdRFXiga9fzDaKSL7ul2twaDe3KnAbUZLv8_bYJOvE8yg_vWhvRbTOt5kZwUBq5mMZT-GL09C9CbvxYbl-Q9b84S3z4VBEPkYWEeiJKrYOnXNLC33te0KDzC3E7lMaepevGMjw0PLqWNT-z/w238-h134/deadzone_hypoxia_2021_thumbnail.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Ocean Today</span></td></tr></tbody></table>According to the 2021 article, <i><a href="https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/deadzonegulf-2021/" target="_blank">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Happening Now: Dead Zone in the Gulf 2021, Larger-than-average Gulf of Mexico ‘dead zone’ measured, River discharge and nutrient loads contribute to size</a>:</i><p></p><p></p><blockquote><p>The Mississippi River is like a drainage system for your street, but it connects 31 U.S. states and even parts of Canada.These nutrients are ultimately funneled into the Gulf of Mexico, sometimes traveling more than a 1,000 miles downstream to start a chain of events in the Gulf that turns deadly.</p><p>The nutrients fuel large algal blooms that then sink, decompose, and deplete the water of oxygen. This is hypoxia, when oxygen in the water is so low it can no longer sustain marine life in bottom or near bottom waters—literally, a dead zone. And it happens every summer.</p><p>When the water reaches this hypoxic state, fish and shrimp leave the area and anything that can't escape like crabs, worms, and clams die. If the amount of pollution entering the Gulf isn't reduced, the dead zone will continue to wreak havoc on the ecosystem and threaten some of the most productive fisheries in the world.</p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Time-Released Fertilizers and Pesticides</u></span><br />With the common use of time-released fertilizers and pesticides in conventional farming came an unintended consequence: the flooding of micro and nanoplastics into the soils from the time-release capsules. ... and what goes into the soils eventually ends up in the aquifers and waterways.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9L0WbF_3d9Kt1NV1lAb1H4v7ggwUGOTSUHO5roe_iSyq462mYf1m1GQ_x4MidcTfHNdj2rv0uRTW2rJ4cyepeKTYtxbsdfZcdbUqKg5nDCTM00cWbQL0GnmpyiNduODS6z1stYiQL0PHsB-23jxFlNBwA0cBXhl9rGLXPaJ2GHRk40P_t79Sy1c5NZUJ/s1202/SowingaPlasticPlanet.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="932" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9L0WbF_3d9Kt1NV1lAb1H4v7ggwUGOTSUHO5roe_iSyq462mYf1m1GQ_x4MidcTfHNdj2rv0uRTW2rJ4cyepeKTYtxbsdfZcdbUqKg5nDCTM00cWbQL0GnmpyiNduODS6z1stYiQL0PHsB-23jxFlNBwA0cBXhl9rGLXPaJ2GHRk40P_t79Sy1c5NZUJ/w153-h198/SowingaPlasticPlanet.jpeg" width="153" /></a></div>In May 2022, the Center for International Environmental Law published a report on the plastics in the soils, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3TmP2E3" target="_blank">Sowing a Plastic Planet: How Microplastics in Agrochemicals Are Affecting Our Soils, Our Food, and Our Future</a>. </i>From the astonishing report:<p></p><p></p><blockquote><p>Plastics are everywhere in agriculture, from greenhouse films and landscaping fabrics to crop coverings and product packaging. Many of these uses provide pathways for plastic contamination. But the application of plastic-coated agrochemicals to soils and crops directly introduces microplastic into the environment and potentially into the food supply. It also compounds the health and environmental hazards posed by agrochemicals themselves. </p></blockquote><blockquote><p>One of the least known and most concerning sources of microplastic pollution is their deliberate addition to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides used in industrial agriculture.</p></blockquote><p>Microplastics disintegrate into nanoplastics that are capable of segueing through cell walls. Thus, plants may join the animal-protein food contaminated with plastics.</p><p>As they use compost and other natural substances for crop nutrition and generally abstain from agrochemicals, organic and regenerative farms do not contribute to the tremendous plastics in the soils from plastic-coated capsules.</p><p></p><p><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Water-Intensive Food</span></u><br />According to the New York Times (NYT) December 2023 article, <i><a href="https://nyti.ms/3TJ9D8Q" target="_blank">How America’s Diet is Feeding the Groundwater Crisis</a></i>, depletion of once abundant aquifers are due to America's increased consumer demand for cheese and chicken, mainly pizza and chicken wings.</p><p>In addition to an increase in exported chicken and dairy products, Americans ate an average of 100 pounds of chicken in 2022, doubling the annual consumption from 40 years ago. Beyond the water necessary for livestock-farming practices, water-intensive animal-feed crops, mainly soybean and alfalfa, are grown on the most arid lands in the American Midwest. Thus, once bountiful aquifers are nearly depleted. </p><p>With water-scarcity challenges in California, many dairy farmers moved their California farms to high-dessert states like Idaho where regulations were less stringent on water usage. Before the dairy-farm migration in the 1990's, Idaho enjoyed a bountiful aquifer that supported life in the arid climate. Yet, over the past decades, the dairy farms along with animal-feed crops severely depleted the aquifer to a dangerous, cautionary state. </p><p>According to the NYT article, "<i>Idaho recently joined Wisconsin and California in an elite club: States that produce at least 1 billion pounds of cheese annually; each pound of cheese produced requires, on average, 10 pounds of milk. And the cows producing that milk need to eat high-protein foods, including water-intensive alfalfa.</i>"</p><p>While Idaho's water woes are caused by dairy ranching, in Arkansas, America's chicken headquarters, once bountiful aquifers are stressed by the expanding chicken farms and the related row crops to feed the fowl. Over the past decade, the value of the state's largest agriculture commodity doubled to an estimated $6.3 billion.</p><p>Additionally, the vast amount of chicken waste often pollutes local water.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKZSjSMupPus9YEbn1JXrccmHsqgnH9bBfy6bP1Id7_NtgwsF78VFxnKEOzrSQhsiStyqomMsHPrNCCaNgBqHrS3kxCFcjZGBM6A7e4Lvir94vavmRsOsdGXXuz3pt0Mw4UWbx1lPlRjkh-8ZQUW0W_YV2L9AcPgEfpV6Kib4HfeHHrRtUVAn2rg12dEg/s847/water-footprint-cost_per-food-type.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="847" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKZSjSMupPus9YEbn1JXrccmHsqgnH9bBfy6bP1Id7_NtgwsF78VFxnKEOzrSQhsiStyqomMsHPrNCCaNgBqHrS3kxCFcjZGBM6A7e4Lvir94vavmRsOsdGXXuz3pt0Mw4UWbx1lPlRjkh-8ZQUW0W_YV2L9AcPgEfpV6Kib4HfeHHrRtUVAn2rg12dEg/w640-h292/water-footprint-cost_per-food-type.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p> As quoted in the NY Times article:</p><blockquote><p><i>Food choices have long led to debates not only about personal health, but also animal welfare, cultural expectations and the role of government regulations in shaping people’s diets. The damage that animal agriculture is doing to fragile aquifers, while less documented, is particularly important: The decline of the aquifers could affect what Americans eat, and potentially become a threat to America’s food supply.</i></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Facts in the Water-Intensive Food section are directly or paraphrased from the NYT article, <i><a href="https://nyti.ms/3TJ9D8Q" target="_blank">How America’s Diet is Feeding the Groundwater Crisis</a>.</i></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Diversity Reduction</span></b><br />For a myriad of reasons, the number of species facing extinction increased dramatically over the past decades; thus, there is a severe reduction in the diversity of species living on the Earth.</p><p><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Insect Apocalypse</span></u><br />At the base of the prey hierarchy, insects are food for fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In addition to recycling soil-system nutrients, insects play an essential role in the decomposition portion of nature’s circular-life cycle.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW5Tg6SwH3RKBYbr5AjKZRWrMvABs6qN7buVl_vHoduOz_GyeqWy5kjA6YWNFo_DuJWA0Jj06pH0yXLFknufG0ZkbIPyVt_WnW8JPiKpy3rPt8CLytLNEsK8soXp4Hmzi59ZEQdKch_bfyd7fl30KIxTdjt2rZ2NYEp_KMgj0HvTJtD4hKjB_eLxn8Ht1/s3190/12-20-21_HEI_Ei-Red-BelliedWoodpecker.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3190" data-original-width="2889" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCW5Tg6SwH3RKBYbr5AjKZRWrMvABs6qN7buVl_vHoduOz_GyeqWy5kjA6YWNFo_DuJWA0Jj06pH0yXLFknufG0ZkbIPyVt_WnW8JPiKpy3rPt8CLytLNEsK8soXp4Hmzi59ZEQdKch_bfyd7fl30KIxTdjt2rZ2NYEp_KMgj0HvTJtD4hKjB_eLxn8Ht1/w185-h204/12-20-21_HEI_Ei-Red-BelliedWoodpecker.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Red-bellied woodpecker <br />feasting on insects</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Since the 1970’s, the Earth’s insect population suffered from severe population declines as well as loss of diversity.<p></p><p>The prolific use of pesticides in commercial and residential landscapes, corporate and municipal-grounds maintenance, and industrial agriculture is a strong contributing factor in the severe decline of insect populations.</p><p>According to the November 2019 Somerset <i><a href="https://www.somersetwildlife.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/FULL%20AFI%20REPORT%20WEB1_1.pdf" target="_blank">Wildlife Trust Insect Declines and Why They Matter</a></i> Report by Professor Dave Goulson, 41% of insect species are threatened with extinction.</p><p>Thus, the Insect Apocalypse is well underway.</p><p>By choosing to eat organic food grown on farms who use regenerative practices, the consumer gives economic incentive for farmers to grow crops in a manner that supports insect populations.</p><p>The RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, </i>introduces and gives additional details on the Insect Apocalypse.</p><p><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Holocene Extinction (sixth mass extinction)</span></u><br />According to the November 2019 Science Alert article,<i><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-how-biodiversity-experts-recognise-that-we-re-midst-a-mass-extinction" target="_blank"> Are We Really in a 6th Mass Extinction? Here's The Science</a></i>, current conditions indicate that the Earth's Holocene extinction, or sixth mass extinction, is well underway. From the article:<br /><i></i></p><blockquote><p><i>A mass extinction is usually defined as a loss of about three quarters of all species in existence across the entire Earth over a "short" geological period of time. Given the vast amount of time since life first evolved on the planet, "short" is defined as anything less than 2.8 million years. </i></p><p><i>... The Earth is currently experiencing an extinction crisis largely due to the exploitation of the planet by people. </i></p></blockquote><p><i></i></p><p>The World Wildlife Fund <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/living-planet-report-2020" target="_blank">2020 Living Planet Report</a> states:</p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><p><i><b>A 68% average decline of birds, amphibians, mammals, fish, and reptiles since 1970.</b></i></p><p><i>The findings are clear: Our relationship with nature is broken.</i></p><p><i>Biodiversity – the rich diversity of life on Earth – is being lost at an alarming rate. This loss effects our own health and well-being. Today, catastrophic impacts for people and the planet loom closer than ever.</i></p></blockquote><p>The above is an excerpt from the RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3qshmpD" target="_blank">Urban Carbon Sinks: Rewilding Urban Carbon Sinks</a></i>.</p><p>Conventional agriculture practices across the globe are a strong contributor to the Holocene Extinction.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Reason for Hope<br /></span></b>As Michael Pollen encourages in his previously referenced <i>Intentional Eating</i> MasterClass, if enough consumers vote with their food dollars, market forces will shift conventional farming to organic/regenerative agriculture. Thus, many of the challenging scenarios featured above will mitigate, disintegrate, and/or lessen the damaging impacts. There is a movement underway to eat healthy, nutritious food.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsW04mX-JOh-BwGQN7zv7g-7s_X1ecCxrZFqs4cRA17GN0TBZYU6uS-r7Vyu5-Vd4UTua3iD8ecNGidWQpLhuyjsWVz7rC38UZ21-GuELgj6DTeKqKa_wfQXG2VyECuKBDtI5ufUqSnD7jXAqvGznOp25ITIrmBkM_NvPrzv3bB1KvUy6j7p1TmuJTgp_/s392/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="392" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsW04mX-JOh-BwGQN7zv7g-7s_X1ecCxrZFqs4cRA17GN0TBZYU6uS-r7Vyu5-Vd4UTua3iD8ecNGidWQpLhuyjsWVz7rC38UZ21-GuELgj6DTeKqKa_wfQXG2VyECuKBDtI5ufUqSnD7jXAqvGznOp25ITIrmBkM_NvPrzv3bB1KvUy6j7p1TmuJTgp_/w203-h198/image.png" width="203" /></a></div>Additionally, there is movement underway for consumers to grow their own food at their homes, in community gardens, and in other urban environments. Beyond building local food security for humans, the increased gardening provides nutrition for urban wildlife, including the insect population. The <a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Pilots</a> at Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore's home serve as an inspiration for "what can be done" at a residential home.<p></p><p>In his two-hour filmed interview, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3U56iBe" target="_blank">The Future of Human & Planetary Health</a></i>, on Rich Roll's podcast, Zach Bush, MD emphasizes the cardinal importance of healthy soil ecosystems to regain human and planetary health. As with Michael, Zach encourages the consumer to get to know their farmers and use their food dollars to influence shifts in current agriculture practices.</p><p>Within the esoteric realms, Zach shares the validity of invoking collective consciousness to create a new healthy earth based on human intentions from the heart. The recent RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/47tXdVO" target="_blank">Collective Consciousness, a movement, a solution</a></i>, introduces the power of collective consciousness as a pathway for regenerating an Earth where life as we know it thrives.</p><p>It is important to understand the far-reaching, global impact of our eating choices. The preceding only touches on several of the impact areas. Remember <b>WHAT YOU EAT MATTERS!</b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">_______________________________________</span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div><div><b style="font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area. <a href="https://bit.ly/4b9Uvr9" target="_blank">What We Eat Matters</a> is an emerging platform that intertwines within the three focus areas.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-46700748660305300012024-01-17T14:34:00.002-05:002024-01-17T15:57:05.580-05:00Elemental Impact supports the Florida Environmental Film Festival<p>As 2023 came to a close, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore accepted <a href="https://www.thefeff.org/" target="_blank">Florida Environmental Film Festival</a> (FEFF) Founder & President Elizabeth Pickett Gray's invitation to serve on the <a href="https://www.thefeff.org/about_us" target="_blank">FEFF Advisory Board</a>. What an honor!</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYfSSTguW8u0SoUYAAqfMhY5upeeG-OrdzLEGcG3cjHZrkFhA7a7nsFUlsk29VcEcfFPILEBDu-9PWzq0_nrqLRt-YD2XfS2y4fVzkQVKONi4z8UZLEHOhaSXk56ySMQYI0-Kw2KVKGaeP_PNwiGhcE_1ThG483TU5W3aHeu-C33qy6OU98XA7A1PVmmg/s4428/09-15-19_HEI_FL_Everglades-cloudreflections.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3130" data-original-width="4428" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYfSSTguW8u0SoUYAAqfMhY5upeeG-OrdzLEGcG3cjHZrkFhA7a7nsFUlsk29VcEcfFPILEBDu-9PWzq0_nrqLRt-YD2XfS2y4fVzkQVKONi4z8UZLEHOhaSXk56ySMQYI0-Kw2KVKGaeP_PNwiGhcE_1ThG483TU5W3aHeu-C33qy6OU98XA7A1PVmmg/w198-h140/09-15-19_HEI_FL_Everglades-cloudreflections.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ten Thousand Islands</span> <br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The FEFF mission is <i>to present environmental films and educational events that advocate for broadening our knowledge of environmental issues impacting Florida</i>.<p></p><p>As a third generation Floridian, Elizabeth experienced first hand the native, wild Florida when waterways were pristine, wildlife flourished on the ranch lands and other untamed areas, and the Gulf beaches teamed with shoreline birds, crabs, and other natural inhabitants. Over the past decades, Florida gained popularity as a vacation destination as well as a retirement haven for full-time residents as well snow birds, those who reside in Florida only during the winter months; subsequently, commercial and residential development escalated, often causing the demise of fragile ecosystems.</p><p>With her cinematic experience, Elizabeth understands how to harness the power of film to educate on challenging scenarios and inspire individual and collective action. In her own words,</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu49Pn8FbYQKUKNt3jM-qghUIng3mmWeKmMxfRROuTJbwFvxqQXyDxFTb6nAnDWIBnno3ANfuJmqxC9FLWb167UzT8PPLahHclf_6cdagMIWcxJE0VMCM7zQ2sgMpmJQft51_Z5QWbIOGd0iSSS1D5KVOFAUMV6ji0qME43OPQeuMYD2BfXAuhJOiWlAL6/s5619/07-31-19_HEI_Everglades-swampcypress.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3970" data-original-width="5619" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu49Pn8FbYQKUKNt3jM-qghUIng3mmWeKmMxfRROuTJbwFvxqQXyDxFTb6nAnDWIBnno3ANfuJmqxC9FLWb167UzT8PPLahHclf_6cdagMIWcxJE0VMCM7zQ2sgMpmJQft51_Z5QWbIOGd0iSSS1D5KVOFAUMV6ji0qME43OPQeuMYD2BfXAuhJOiWlAL6/w195-h138/07-31-19_HEI_Everglades-swampcypress.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Big Cypress National Preserve</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>“I<i><i></i> grew up when the Gulf of Mexico smelled like an ocean, backwoods waters ran clean and clear, and the sound of sweet wildlife rang in my ears. Coming home, I found worsening conditions of red tide, spills of phosphate, dead fish on the water’s edge, spring waters polluted, our precious ranch lands being sold, our beautiful wildlife starving, with nowhere to go… We are now at a pivotal moment in time in Florida. We are the last generation that can change the damage being done to our great state before it’s too late…</i></p><p><i>I surround myself with people who are brilliant and passionate about the environment, and I bring them together to collaborate and create synergistic solutions to problems we face. Together, we make things happen. I’m sort of like the wizard of OZ, I’m the person behind the curtain</i>.”</p><p><i></i></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQb6PMhmGjZ-IJZcvqKABKwpNkZBsCZLxBjN7A7j2ZhWUmj8l9vwKk39CF5fJJAaOsrveTkXY4nM7ZoJDjaZRK6o8NXk4mMkmEuY0nBQLO3b8E5CcTrhe9TSrQwJPf8qBkg9XnNsPUgZqMQrDDFOplMoEYqFU6P1caxmto4b1cTpFCGLLsEabvKATQ2wm/s4863/05-25-19_HEI_SRQ-beach-path.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3405" data-original-width="4863" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQb6PMhmGjZ-IJZcvqKABKwpNkZBsCZLxBjN7A7j2ZhWUmj8l9vwKk39CF5fJJAaOsrveTkXY4nM7ZoJDjaZRK6o8NXk4mMkmEuY0nBQLO3b8E5CcTrhe9TSrQwJPf8qBkg9XnNsPUgZqMQrDDFOplMoEYqFU6P1caxmto4b1cTpFCGLLsEabvKATQ2wm/w204-h142/05-25-19_HEI_SRQ-beach-path.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sarasota public beach path</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Though originally an in-person event, during the COVID pandemic the FEFF segued into a virtual semi-annual festival and continues successfully to host films within a festival format online. Films are followed by panel discussions with ecologists, environmental advocates, and filmmakers along with a question and answer opportunity for the audience. Beyond environmental education, attendees learn how they may volunteer or take other action to address challenges showcased by the film.<div><br /></div><div>The next virtual film festival is scheduled for Friday, February 2 through Sunday, February 11.<br /><p></p><p>In addition to film screenings, the FEFF is active within <a href="https://www.thefeff.org/projects" target="_blank">five project areas</a>:<br /></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><u>Films with Homeowner Associations</u> supported by discussion and question & answer sessions.</li><li><u>Field Trips</u> that showcase how Florida biodiversity works.</li><li><u>Volunteer Testing Waters</u> in partnership with the Florida Lakewatch.</li><li><u>Land & Watershed Cleanups</u>.</li><li><u>Book Circle Conversations</u>.</li></ol><p></p><p>Holly is excited to bring Ei's experience and expertise to the FEFF Advisory Board and contribute to environmental education on current challenges as well as solutions.</p></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-7682853880538411832024-01-14T17:22:00.006-05:002024-01-14T20:38:15.401-05:00Local Food Security: building a movement through yard gardens and food forests<p>During the COVID pandemic, flaws in the national and global food systems were evident with the plethora of empty grocery shelves caused by supply chain and other challenges. Often, local producers came to the rescue by providing healthy, nutritious produce to communities through neighborhood farmers' markets and consumer farm visits.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLYbB5r4o9LKHfzRTR3P7HsHkb_zhgd_yKWyafxWyvTBKEQDfzKgXixhpT8j1bJhb3rmYF9LwPgkRXoQ0jkB-ydZ0mbTScxsjM_yukA0Vi0XpUHpSdFBrIvRB48Qs2aDE7SA-06sdsetI2s5XXJXXxLl5VcqQrlDyjGP9Y5lvxyz6gdHBEpl6ntR-audn/s4201/11-09-22_HEI_Ei-SeedlingsThriving.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3529" data-original-width="4201" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLYbB5r4o9LKHfzRTR3P7HsHkb_zhgd_yKWyafxWyvTBKEQDfzKgXixhpT8j1bJhb3rmYF9LwPgkRXoQ0jkB-ydZ0mbTScxsjM_yukA0Vi0XpUHpSdFBrIvRB48Qs2aDE7SA-06sdsetI2s5XXJXXxLl5VcqQrlDyjGP9Y5lvxyz6gdHBEpl6ntR-audn/w210-h177/11-09-22_HEI_Ei-SeedlingsThriving.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Recently planted garden</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Additionally, there was a significant increase in home and urban gardening. A March 2022 University of Georgia (UGA) study, <i><a href="https://news.uga.edu/covid-19-pandemic-fueled-massive-growth-in-green-industry/" target="_blank">COVID-19 pandemic fueled massive growth in green industry</a></i>, found about one out of every three people began gardening in 2020 because they were home more.<p></p><p>According to the study's lead author, Benjamin Campbell, UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, "<i>Gardening not only gave people something to do, but it also gave them a little bit more happiness.</i>” Food insecurity was a driver for many of those included in the study.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Historic Gardening Movements</span></b><br />Depleted soils, broken food systems, and supply-chain challenges contribute to food insecurity for rural and urban populations. Local food security is a a severe challenge for humanity.</p><p>According to the U.S. Department of Human and Health Services, in 2020, 13.8 million households were food insecure at some point during the year. The World Food Programme made a dire announcement:</p><p>2022: a year of unprecedented hunger</p><p></p><blockquote><i>As many as 828 million people go to bed hungry every night. The number of those facing acute food insecurity has soared - from 135 million to 345 million - since 2019. A total of 49 million people in 49 countries are teetering on the edge of famine.</i></blockquote><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyNq76db7lM3m2twe7eaGJvuQmUgdExA-DM2PtXzXxwvgzFWjjQE1JG_qa6DYxE_8J225Lh2HVRJQYJzKVw19g4jpGqrRP7ue7aNyrftjSBZhQji9rnndCAsev_4V4Wz30aEwwRjpgh5fSgLpc8oeevJmHHSdZeNvEgeqhv9JnSqREBNWDmm4Ii8T3hqG/s381/VictoryGardensPoster.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="300" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyNq76db7lM3m2twe7eaGJvuQmUgdExA-DM2PtXzXxwvgzFWjjQE1JG_qa6DYxE_8J225Lh2HVRJQYJzKVw19g4jpGqrRP7ue7aNyrftjSBZhQji9rnndCAsev_4V4Wz30aEwwRjpgh5fSgLpc8oeevJmHHSdZeNvEgeqhv9JnSqREBNWDmm4Ii8T3hqG/w165-h209/VictoryGardensPoster.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of Living Farm History</span></td></tr></tbody></table>During the Great Depression (1929 - 1939,) local gardens provided a means of survival. According to the <a href="https://ivypanda.com/essays/gardens-role-in-great-depression/" target="_blank">Gardens Role in Great Depression Research Paper</a>, governments introduced relief gardening programs to combat emotional stress, poverty, and hunger. The relief gardens were also referred to as vacant-lot gardens, subsistence gardens, or welfare-garden plots.<p></p><p></p><p>In World War II (WWII,) the federal government called on citizens to plant victory gardens; nearly 20 million Americans answered the call in the name of patriotism. Victory gardens produced an estimated 9 - 10-million tons of vegetables, the equivalent of the commercial-agriculture-crop production destined to feed the troops: victory gardens made a tremendous difference and avoided food-shortage and hunger scenarios during the war.*</p><p>Thus, the U.S. has precedent on preventing food insecurity on a mass scale during the Great Depression and WWII via home and vacant-lot gardening. Challenge: both programs were strongly promoted and supported by the U.S. federal government. Without government support, communities, non-profits, and individuals must create a movement for U.S. residents to plant and nurture gardens, instead of lawns, at their homes.</p><p>*<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Facts provided by the <a href="https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farming-in-the-1940s/crops/victory-gardens/" target="_blank">Living History Farm, Farming in the 1940's, Victory Farms</a>.<br />** Section is an excerpt from the Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" target="_blank">Water & Soil: the foundation of life</a></i></span>.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Modern-Day-Gardening Movement</span></b><br />Inspired by the relief gardens' and victory gardens' past successes and fueled by the food shortages during the COVID pandemic, a modern-day-gardening movement is underway. </p><p>In 2021, Modern Farmer publisher Frank Giustra and Big Green Co-Founder Kimbal Musk announced the launch of the Million Gardens Movement (MGM,) a charitable food initiative; MGM aspires to give everyone the opportunity to grow their own food, whether it is on a windowsill or in a backyard, and to create a healthier, happier, more sustainable world.</p><p>“<i>Big Green and Modern Farmer started Million Gardens Movement to make it simple for anyone to give a family a garden</i>,” says Musk. “<i>Planting a seed is an act of hope for a brighter tomorrow</i>.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoKR8xS4n4DhV_xVDJiQW1pfWYfutVcDf3CZrVPD5I5VJKK14nfv1V65vr-k1wFtqZVAHUxAzbWDNr8mxbTCf6BcSc7ir-4QNE_dlZisYu6QgamfI37Ngi2w6-VhQcX9migfZF7AkjoZ4dlAOu0seRO-40qYowtM0HEmVwWEPx8ttsgm71GwW1gMwiY3X/s5730/08-18-23_HEI_Ei_FoodForest.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3825" data-original-width="5730" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoKR8xS4n4DhV_xVDJiQW1pfWYfutVcDf3CZrVPD5I5VJKK14nfv1V65vr-k1wFtqZVAHUxAzbWDNr8mxbTCf6BcSc7ir-4QNE_dlZisYu6QgamfI37Ngi2w6-VhQcX9migfZF7AkjoZ4dlAOu0seRO-40qYowtM0HEmVwWEPx8ttsgm71GwW1gMwiY3X/w218-h146/08-18-23_HEI_Ei_FoodForest.jpg" width="218" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ei food forest</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) <a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots</a> (EiPilots) support the modern-day-gardening movement and showcase how lawns may be replaced with vegetable gardens and food forests; the Ei Pilots are aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. Located in Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore's spacious front and backyards, the Ei Pilots are easily accessible for tours. <p></p><p>The RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots</a></i>, introduces the pilots while the article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3KmMkwY" target="_blank">Urban Afforestation: Food Forests and Microforests</a></i>, showcases the global-food forest movement.</p><p>Tours are an excellent avenue to inspire neighbors and community residents to join the gardening movement. Individual tours were common from the onset of planting seeds, seedlings and saplings within the Ei Pilots.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Food Forest Tours</span></b><br />As part of their 2023 Eat Local Week (ELW) festivities, Transition Sarasota hosted dual for-pay food forest tours on October 18. As the curator of the Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots and a food forest at his parents' home, Zach Zildjian of ZZ Design Services spearheaded the tours. One of the most popular ELW events, the food tours were oversold!</p><p>The RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/47gffvm" target="_blank">Food forests transform lawns into lovely, beneficial landscapes</a></i>, features the ELW food forest tours.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2TQhyDEsXvx3o_uct45r1at1GYU84KLbgrWeTgXz4nVQYeBXBxpCTVUQrKXpSUaRGlpN0sxhw8QUWupCPFjBkwQl9JDH53SuXA2kYz25TQGt96qq1rQuYW_-KPHFfwrf9hl4srDuPbLXrDzC7VmbNBL7wVVKJDiViNhiCldxEJNx4Fxn3J2k5Z3ggEWP/s4003/01-07-24_AG_Ei_FFTour.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2390" data-original-width="4003" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2TQhyDEsXvx3o_uct45r1at1GYU84KLbgrWeTgXz4nVQYeBXBxpCTVUQrKXpSUaRGlpN0sxhw8QUWupCPFjBkwQl9JDH53SuXA2kYz25TQGt96qq1rQuYW_-KPHFfwrf9hl4srDuPbLXrDzC7VmbNBL7wVVKJDiViNhiCldxEJNx4Fxn3J2k5Z3ggEWP/w278-h166/01-07-24_AG_Ei_FFTour.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Holly begins the Ei Food Forest tour in her backyard.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Ana Galeana</span></td></tr></tbody></table>On January 7, 2023 the FB group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/157355036300888" target="_blank">941 Natural Gardeners</a> hosted an Ei Pilots tour focused on the backyard food forest and the vegetable, herb and edible-flower garden. Nearly 30 intrigued local residents attended the Sunday morning tour. Though Holly lead the tour, Zach was on site to answer in-depth and technical questions.<p></p><p>Beginning indoors due to the rain and chilly temperature, tour participants were welcomed with homemade sweet treats along with Holly's butterfly pea blossom-white-tea blend. While indoors, Holly gave the an introduction to Ei, the Ei Pilots, and the underdevelopment Ei Focus Area What We Eat Matters. </p><p>As the rain subsided, the tour began with the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank">Native-Plant-Landscape Pilot</a> in the front yard; the pilot intention is to provide food and habitat for local, urban wildlife. Over two-years young, the Native-Plant-Landscape Pilot was designed by Pam Callender of Lifelines and installed on November 18 & 19, 2021. Holly explained that the impervious driveway was removed to enlarge the pilot area and aid with rainfall retention on the property.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWPcPMCzlgO4tDAHiZXlE9PMZmTKWPVEHtxyfSTfvIRuicUI1d3MZNHMIO4v7X_P_TxnaYPfHfMHxdH1ljNLSeGoJLqtof3S2vNPQCpp-_IGPPlwTWAhcMqtJxKcCgpSQGRy5BQ342GeIljJaf26cE26ebb4tRBOvB78kV0cfhv29ig7HXIxeO0gTHGWG/s4032/01-07-24_AG_Ei_FFTour02.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifWPcPMCzlgO4tDAHiZXlE9PMZmTKWPVEHtxyfSTfvIRuicUI1d3MZNHMIO4v7X_P_TxnaYPfHfMHxdH1ljNLSeGoJLqtof3S2vNPQCpp-_IGPPlwTWAhcMqtJxKcCgpSQGRy5BQ342GeIljJaf26cE26ebb4tRBOvB78kV0cfhv29ig7HXIxeO0gTHGWG/w279-h209/01-07-24_AG_Ei_FFTour02.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Holly explains the evolution of the Ei Food Forest.<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: Ana Galeana</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Once in the <a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture Oriented Landscape (POL) Pilot</a>. Holly explained how the backyard was permitted to grow wild for almost nine months. As she weeded the tall grass of sandspur plants, the yard guided Holly on the paths that eventually earmarked the food forest home. While still in the wild state, the invasive carrotwood tree was removed from the southside yard; once the large tree was removed, the area was perfect for the <a href="https://bit.ly/3fGCLfg" target="_blank">vegetable, herb, and edible-flower garden</a> (garden.)<p></p><p>The POL Pilot general rule is any non-native plant must either produce human food and/or nourish the soil ecosystem.</p><p>After Holly hand weeded it, the designated food forest area was covered with cardboard and topped with mulch to prepare the soil for the trees and ground cover. On June 15, 2022, the food forest was installed under Zach's design and direction. An organic process, the food forest welcomes new plantings, ground cover, and trees on a sporadic basis.</p><p>Two of the groundcover crops - sweet potatoes and African mint potatoes - produce an abundant, tasty harvest. The Meyer lemon, Persian lime, Surinam cherry, Barbados cherry, mulberry, and loquat trees bore fruit in their first year; though healthy, the tangerine, Eureka lemon, persimmon, pomegranate, and kaffir lime trees are yet to bear fruit. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbQhyphenhyphenJIAsA13BOYl0UAWzx5z1BEF-PGW9aKXU_4T7IUFCH9aC4bmeOcSSe0PDDUUaI-LULL5bmS9FY8HXh7dxX2mjE7BR-0WfODcqS692rXPfxrTi6_oYC_ulBvGN0mNZYZ0orc1C0hOzOiV-r8scUko8aiMzx7UcBDI1JkpI4B5y_zIph1iLfvAcEdxm/s4032/10-01-23_HEI_Ei_HouseTeaBlend.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="4032" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbQhyphenhyphenJIAsA13BOYl0UAWzx5z1BEF-PGW9aKXU_4T7IUFCH9aC4bmeOcSSe0PDDUUaI-LULL5bmS9FY8HXh7dxX2mjE7BR-0WfODcqS692rXPfxrTi6_oYC_ulBvGN0mNZYZ0orc1C0hOzOiV-r8scUko8aiMzx7UcBDI1JkpI4B5y_zIph1iLfvAcEdxm/w273-h216/10-01-23_HEI_Ei_HouseTeaBlend.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Harvested blossoms and house-made tea blend</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>On a regular basis, Holly harvests and dehydrates butterfly pea and sun hemp blossoms, lemongrass, moringa leaves, pennyroyal stems, and lobster flower leaves for house-made tea blends. Additionally, Holly uses lemongrass stalks and kaffir lime leaves for culinary dishes.<p></p><p>In late September, 2022, Holly along with Zach's crew planted over 500 seeds in preparation of the garden installation weeks later. </p><p>... and then Hurricane Ian ravaged the Florida Gulf Coast mere days after planting the seeds. As they were moved indoors while preparing for the hurricane, the seeds were unharmed. Though Ian wreaked havoc on it, the food forest proved resilient and sustained minimal long-term damage.</p><p>Hurricane debris, mainly large branches and medium-sized tree trunks, were perfect for confining the garden's three main plots. In its second winter season, the garden thrives and produces an abundance of lettuces, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers.</p><p>As the tour concluded, many participants eagerly accepted plant cuttings and seedlings from the food forest.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Beyond Food Security</b></span><br />Though a strong proponent of building local food security for humans and urban wildlife alike, the Ei Pilot's primary focus is on replacing lawns and open space with native-plant and permaculture-oriented landscapes. </p><p>Lawns are environmentally detrimental as they lack diversity, generally are non-native plants, and are often treated with the "cides"* and petro-chemical fertilizers. The previously referenced RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" target="_blank">Water & Soil: the foundation of life</a>, </i>explains the devastating impact of lawns on the environment and urban wildlife.</p><p>Ei celebrates that the Ei Rewilding Urban Landscape Pilots create a tremendous added-value benefit by supporting the modern-day-gardening movement via building local food security with yard gardens and food forests.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">* the "cides" include herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides.</span></p><div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">_______________________________________</span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div><div><b style="font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a>.</span> </div></div></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-24565494923576287052024-01-11T09:54:00.010-05:002024-01-14T17:19:28.551-05:00I AM Humanity<p>On October 28, <a href="https://www.iamhumanity.net/" target="_blank">I AM HUMANITY</a> hosted the first annual Humanity Day, a virtual celebration complemented with an in-person event hosted at the Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota; the well attended Sarasota event honored local environmental leadership for their important work.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZAZqODy0lgc19Wt1rMk4B-1Szoc5bLb1A8iEOOp5LWrudl02SP7PQemlApRC6fcfKZdyK2SSQSDE4zCTgtflJ4kkEhfOZyiyFVKBG1I8Vp59o3Wytk4f5P9JBQeI3YJzaeGOI908QUd6SEcsvfkYBo63kGsYALPWe6-WTWlfT7sK2FNI-Gy4tcJNGpKN/s960/10-28-23_HUMANITYDAYPanel_JaneCharlesChristine.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="960" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZAZqODy0lgc19Wt1rMk4B-1Szoc5bLb1A8iEOOp5LWrudl02SP7PQemlApRC6fcfKZdyK2SSQSDE4zCTgtflJ4kkEhfOZyiyFVKBG1I8Vp59o3Wytk4f5P9JBQeI3YJzaeGOI908QUd6SEcsvfkYBo63kGsYALPWe6-WTWlfT7sK2FNI-Gy4tcJNGpKN/w244-h219/10-28-23_HUMANITYDAYPanel_JaneCharlesChristine.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Humanity Day panel discussion</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Within an excellent panel discussion, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) Advisor Charles Reith showcased the environmental and community impact of the Suncoast Urban Reforesters microforests. Fellow Ei Advisors Tim Rumage, Ringling School of Art and Design Professor of Environmental Studies, and Sandy Gilbert, Solutions to Avoid Red Tide Chair, as well as Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore attended the in-person event.<p></p><p>For the virtual celebration, Holly was interviewed regarding Ei's decades-long impact and her personal philosophies. The <a href="https://bit.ly/4aAlcFh" target="_blank">12-minute-interview video</a> is available on Vimeo for viewing.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Introductions</span></b><br />After introducing Ei, Holly gave an overview of current endeavors in the discovery/pre-launch stage that extend beyond <a href="https://bit.ly/3qshmpD" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a>:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><u><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8zPripGhTStV05ckaVeY14TB2ln02YBRvForE0W2Vf5jCwJLLuw1yJVEOpac3f7XYJFdfoNbbyZLLKPl09iE2sP7djJ7BLccDzOyO_vLfdzcVU8wKcdRSYD7qHlnzhuEOqXqN1ZvIk_cOPdGTEc8CHgLIDjT6ofHPNQfjiqisgCjIQj0fovKxPAuaqL3/s1202/SowingaPlasticPlanet.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="932" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8zPripGhTStV05ckaVeY14TB2ln02YBRvForE0W2Vf5jCwJLLuw1yJVEOpac3f7XYJFdfoNbbyZLLKPl09iE2sP7djJ7BLccDzOyO_vLfdzcVU8wKcdRSYD7qHlnzhuEOqXqN1ZvIk_cOPdGTEc8CHgLIDjT6ofHPNQfjiqisgCjIQj0fovKxPAuaqL3/w164-h212/SowingaPlasticPlanet.jpeg" width="164" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo courtesy of the CIEL</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Invasive Species</u> – focus on invasive species as a tasty food source by working with the established food manufacturing and distribution systems; restore ecological health while providing nutrition to the growing human population.</li><li><u>Micro | Nanoplastics in soils</u> – issued in 2022, the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) <a href="https://bit.ly/3TmP2E3" target="_blank"><i>Sowing a Plastic Planet: How Microplastics in Agrochemicals Are Affecting Our Soils, Our Food, and Our Future</i></a> report established the tremendous amount of micro and nanoplastics in our soils from time-released fertilizers and pesticides; work with residential and commercial landscaping nurseries on shifting practices away from using time-released products.</li><li><u>Scaling-Up Composting in Sarasota</u> – Ei serves as a <a href="https://www.table2farms.com/" target="_blank">Table2Farms</a> industry expert during the organization’s funding stage; a Sarasota composting pilot spearheaded by Ei is in the budget within the first round of funding.</li></ul><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Keys to Success</span></b></div><div>When asked about the keys to Ei's proven success, Holly explained that her corporate (Arthur Andersen auditor and Trammell Crow Company controller) and entrepreneur (owner of two restaurants and an off-premises catering business) experiences play a critical role. As a business person and entrepreneur, Holly speaks in a voice that is heard by business executives, government officials, and respected scholars; Ei has an excellent track record with creating regenerative operating practices that make good, solid business sense, including bottom-line and intangible benefits. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another key to success is Holly's awareness of FLOW, knowing when to flow with a project’s progress, when to step to the sidelines when the flow ceases, and when to return to the flow. There are many examples of projects that "went to the sidelines" and flowed into tremendous impact when focused upon a few years later.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Collective Consciousness</span></b><br />As introduced in the Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/47tXdVO" target="_blank">Collective Consciousness: a movement, a solution</a></i>, working together in a holographic manner where ALL benefit is a must to ensure survival of humans as the predominant species on the Earth. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP_FrgmdZmXGApMRGMJft0fl0sd5eEwcQKzK82kDN3QqosV6knjbWt8s6RzabBImXFggQRmOyc3SqXuSyIgNygVTZhRH1pegekFq0MhUS08D_Ddij73uVc8BrQwf9ki9reUww8IqXsvjHITsvavXmOvUr6eHJNwjxxXaN-s6FqdPXBOmkgGu8LhA1otWz/s5376/CollectiveConsciousnessGraphic.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3707" data-original-width="5376" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGP_FrgmdZmXGApMRGMJft0fl0sd5eEwcQKzK82kDN3QqosV6knjbWt8s6RzabBImXFggQRmOyc3SqXuSyIgNygVTZhRH1pegekFq0MhUS08D_Ddij73uVc8BrQwf9ki9reUww8IqXsvjHITsvavXmOvUr6eHJNwjxxXaN-s6FqdPXBOmkgGu8LhA1otWz/w236-h163/CollectiveConsciousnessGraphic.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo courtesy of </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></td></tr></tbody></table>In 2012, Ei introduced the WE Consciousness as a higher octave of the then tagline <i>Sustainability in ACTION</i>. When the "I" is replaced with "WE," the impact of our actions extends to the entire community and beyond; collective action accomplishes more profound results than singular effort. By working together, synergies are unlocked, unnecessary boundaries, including competitive barriers, disintegrate, and creative energies catapult possibilities into grounded realities.</div><div><br /></div><div>The following initiatives showcase how the WE Consciousness naturally integrates within Ei's important work.</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2012/09/zero-waste-is-team-sport.html">Zero Waste is a Team Sport</a></li><li><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/fb-packaging-value-chain-meetings-accomplished/">Food & Beverage Sustainable Packaging Value Chain Meetings</a></li><li><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <i>the Earth will heal and renew herself, when she chooses</i>.</li></ul><div><div>In 2015 Ei Advisor Tim Rumage, a planetary ethicist, along with David Houle co-authored <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/This-Spaceship-Earth-David-Houle/dp/0990563537" target="_blank">This Spaceship Earth</a></i>. The book's premise compares the Earth to a spaceship where there are finite resources necessary for survival. To replenish resources for survival, humans must understand there is no waste, only the segue into the resource's next valuable use.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN8DabXi6DIW_7oP4QEohX9TRJrSDZBHwM_Qyj5E-Qn0Osq2QmenBuGUp91QdQ-q5ai9mXHXWqwH-M3tbpSFiyofbS-6GNcu5MDCfZ7OA7o5fFj9MWgIr3qBmDnm3K80ZNQF7-uzw5dFyYURCbeX9PYhCkUSXFA59DsW9E9zmB-Dlqi9jApwbcwynpEc2/s315/ThisSpaceshipEarth.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="210" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilN8DabXi6DIW_7oP4QEohX9TRJrSDZBHwM_Qyj5E-Qn0Osq2QmenBuGUp91QdQ-q5ai9mXHXWqwH-M3tbpSFiyofbS-6GNcu5MDCfZ7OA7o5fFj9MWgIr3qBmDnm3K80ZNQF7-uzw5dFyYURCbeX9PYhCkUSXFA59DsW9E9zmB-Dlqi9jApwbcwynpEc2/w154-h231/ThisSpaceshipEarth.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>This Spaceship Earth introduces crew consciousness:</div><blockquote><div><i>The critical difference between the spacecraft of the space programs and science fiction and Spaceship Earth is simply that: we live on a spaceship that must resupply itself from itself. This is why we need to recognize that we are crew not passengers.</i></div></blockquote><blockquote><div><i>When humans shift from the unaware passenger mentality to crew consciousness, the current wasteful-use-of-resources and polluting-the-planet practices will evolve into solutions for replenishing finite resources and cleansing the environment.</i></div></blockquote><p>Marshall McLuhan succinctly states the crew-consciousness premise, “<i>There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth, we are all crew</i>.” … and the crew must work in unison for the spaceship to survive and once again thrive.</p><div></div><div>In alignment with the Nature Prevails premise, Tim emphasizes "<i>We are not trying to save the earth - we are not trying to save the planet. We are trying to save ourselves from ourselves</i>"</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I AM Humanity is another derivative of building an empowering collective consciousness.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Worker Populations</span></b></div><div>Since recorded history, humans often developed out-of-balance dynamics within their culture where worker populations were disrespected and frequently abused. The current scenarios of extreme poverty, severe homelessness, and food scarcity prevalent across the globe impact many urban environments; the challenging scenarios reflect the unbalanced societal hierarchies established within cultural and government norms. If humans emulated insect- and animal-community protocol an equitable societal structure would emerge.<br /><br /></div><div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxNrIwGHGFX-XZ2O56BRCeIl4nc617Gt18hddupAhpSQ5ytqlj1OAK_a3LGWE6XW5cccmfAOSGbvca2894SDi89IRmTYFrI7II08Lj1V5qnuiJUV3-oPVzXup2Mc9cXX6Ykt5fuHPTkZHZUrnCljoc7ZRSTWLquPZm-ZXD5ugzva0gRYS_0j5YC6kFy4z/s1711/05-30-16%20HE%20AUS%20man%20sleeping%20on%20concrete.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="1705" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxNrIwGHGFX-XZ2O56BRCeIl4nc617Gt18hddupAhpSQ5ytqlj1OAK_a3LGWE6XW5cccmfAOSGbvca2894SDi89IRmTYFrI7II08Lj1V5qnuiJUV3-oPVzXup2Mc9cXX6Ykt5fuHPTkZHZUrnCljoc7ZRSTWLquPZm-ZXD5ugzva0gRYS_0j5YC6kFy4z/w202-h203/05-30-16%20HE%20AUS%20man%20sleeping%20on%20concrete.jpg" width="202" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A gentleman sleeps on a <br />sidewalk in Austin, TX</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Societal hierarchies within bee and ant colonies, wolf packs, elephant herds, bird flocks, and other eusocial colonies demonstrate that the community is only as strong as the weakest link; as long as they perform their designated tasks within these eusocial colonies, the workers are treated fairly and with respect. When it maintains dynamic balance within their population and the other Principles of Nature* align, the community thrives.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>In essence, water, soil, and insects are the foundation for life on the Earth and must be addressed as a trilogy. The RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3I0OEb2" target="_blank">Nature Prevails: it is time to emulate Nature's perfected systems</a></i>, establishes the trilogy.</div><div><br /></div><div>In human societies, indigenous races and worker populations are comparative to the insects' role in nature's perfected cycles. Indigenous races carry the wisdom of their ancestors when humans lived in balance with Nature, respecting the resources generously provided by the Earth; the worker population provides the necessary labor for the overall population to thrive within the balance of basic essentials: food, shelter, and clothing.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: small;">* </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span>The Principles of Nature are defined in the referenced article, </span><i><a href="https://bit.ly/3I0OEb2" target="_blank">Nature Prevails: it is time to emulate Nature's perfected systems</a></i></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">A Renewed Earth</span></b><br /><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZPkSJcuUuWpCMcGnYar93S35qNyXpIXNrN4GVKPiaxz3riZq9KwZvR6Pmtp_hC50x1KGrpwCjdaFYa9JuYAAYByeZNcorWwkro-VQ9G5k90qT7OANiwPUN4skC2naWNFddV5AasV9tDVVUo7eRPFsNsOCqR9q_vtUC0zCIKx68VAICzt_64XWisUorXY/s738/Plastic-Pollution-Book-Cover-72dpi.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="562" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZPkSJcuUuWpCMcGnYar93S35qNyXpIXNrN4GVKPiaxz3riZq9KwZvR6Pmtp_hC50x1KGrpwCjdaFYa9JuYAAYByeZNcorWwkro-VQ9G5k90qT7OANiwPUN4skC2naWNFddV5AasV9tDVVUo7eRPFsNsOCqR9q_vtUC0zCIKx68VAICzt_64XWisUorXY/w154-h202/Plastic-Pollution-Book-Cover-72dpi.jpg" width="154" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ei book cover:</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">From Macro <br />to Micro to Nanoplastics <br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Within the current physical reality, it is impossible to clean up the challenges that humans created on the Earth. For example, it is not possible to clean-up the massive micro and nanoplastic pollution; nanoplastics segue through cell walls and cause yet-to-be-determined health hazards in the plant and animal kingdoms. </div><div><br /></div><div>Humans created a HUGE mess on the planet; a mess that the Earth will regenerate into evolved life systems yet most likely after humans are extinct or at least not the planet’s predominant species.</div><div> </div><div>From Holly's perspective, collective consciousness is key to creating a renewed Earth. When the tipping point is reached of heart-based humans living on the Earth, collective consciousness will simply create a new reality based on the heart-based intentions of those humans participating.</div><div> </div><div>With a collective consciousness movement underway. there is optimism for humanity's survival.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Back to Basics</span></b></div><div><div>In her closing remarks, Holly shared that it is time for humanity to get back to the basics. For Ei, the basics are Water, Soil, and the Microbial Communities integral to water and soil life systems. Holly often states the following quote during interviews:</div><div><i><blockquote>We must, absolutely MUST, return our water and soil microbial communities back to a healthy, balanced state for life as we know it to survive and once again thrive on planet Earth.</blockquote></i></div><div> Another aspect of back to basics is taking care of and nurturing our worker populations, similar to ant and bee colonies. A community is only as strong and resilient as the health and happiness of its worker population. Humanity has a lot to learn from the eusocial species throughout the animal kingdom. </div><div> </div><div>Holly concluded her interview with a sincere thank you to I AM Humanity for their collective consciousness initiatives. As she bowed in reverence, Holly proclaimed " I AM Humanity."</div><br /></div></div><div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">_______________________________________</span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div><div><b style="font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a>.</span></div></div></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-54203956495988173972023-11-15T14:37:00.005-05:002024-01-11T09:52:03.057-05:00Collective Consciousness, a movement, a solution<p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnOJ4fgYDYC29pnRpPvgT6DmhQ2-EN3k4Pb8-MgqclCErb682V84HzGxbvwozUZj1N3wUSryjTxHyuksIhyEvLkQnnpjIR6_0vjmWnWU4hI7ndsY7Fiz87VAy9U1b96x-fVmJuScJGURMbXyxJiJU5yNZawdU0jAgDmF80DuwfFoqcwM0Rs9THjDFlovb/s5376/CollectiveConsciousnessGraphic.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3707" data-original-width="5376" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnOJ4fgYDYC29pnRpPvgT6DmhQ2-EN3k4Pb8-MgqclCErb682V84HzGxbvwozUZj1N3wUSryjTxHyuksIhyEvLkQnnpjIR6_0vjmWnWU4hI7ndsY7Fiz87VAy9U1b96x-fVmJuScJGURMbXyxJiJU5yNZawdU0jAgDmF80DuwfFoqcwM0Rs9THjDFlovb/w224-h168/CollectiveConsciousnessGraphic.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>As humanity toils with significant survival challenges - rising sea levels, extreme weather, diminished fresh water, excessive toxins and pollution, and more, ancient wisdom emerges from within the chaos with a message: <i><b>collective consciousness is a solution</b></i>. Working together in a holographic manner where ALL benefit is a must to ensure survival.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">ALL is defined as the entire spectrum of living species and ecosystems as well as inanimate earth resources. Within humanity, ALL refers to the various societal structures and ensuring that the worker population is treated with dignity, respect, and cared for with the necessities of food, shelter, and clothing.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Definitions</span></b><br />In 1893 collective consciousness was introduced as a concept by French sociologist Émile Durkheim in his <a href="chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/http://fs2.american.edu/dfagel/www/Class%20Readings/Durkheim/Division%20Of%20Labor%20Final%20Version.pdf" target="_blank"><i>The Division of Labour in Society</i></a> paper. According to Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D. in her 2019 <i><a href="https://www.thoughtco.com/collective-consciousness-definition-3026118" target="_blank">Collective Consciousness Definition</a></i> essay for ThoughtCo., collective consciousness (sometimes collective conscience or conscious) is a fundamental sociological concept that refers to the set of shared beliefs, ideas, attitudes, and knowledge that are common to a social group or society.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs699kgO3sGfwiSdw1gNqU9aWOJHkGtvCtHcWfOakNQ3FDdSIwhD54Rq6kBUQBaOQuBKbRqqqpRILWtgvbk6tZ-BBZlyRZEoVpzeR_wWpBw8nvMYyjFjp2MQhq76kvuUp-k1uZbnTELI810S_Gyu5amjcyDnZ0BrwoCB_0jctbDjlfKGyTVDsGJ-qd_DpP/s1000/CarlJung_CollectiveConsciousness.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="662" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs699kgO3sGfwiSdw1gNqU9aWOJHkGtvCtHcWfOakNQ3FDdSIwhD54Rq6kBUQBaOQuBKbRqqqpRILWtgvbk6tZ-BBZlyRZEoVpzeR_wWpBw8nvMYyjFjp2MQhq76kvuUp-k1uZbnTELI810S_Gyu5amjcyDnZ0BrwoCB_0jctbDjlfKGyTVDsGJ-qd_DpP/w143-h215/CarlJung_CollectiveConsciousness.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung expanded on Durkheim's concepts in his 1916 essay, "<i><a href="chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://ia800200.us.archive.org/0/items/psychologyofunco00junguoft/psychologyofunco00junguoft.pdf" target="_blank">The Structure of the Unconscious</a></i>." Jung provided a distinction between the personal unconscious - a reservoir of each individual's memories and experiences, and the collective unconscious - a more profound layer teeming with archetypes.*<p></p><p>The Meridian University July 2023 <i><a href="https://meridianuniversity.edu/content/understanding-the-mystery-of-collective-consciousness#" target="_blank">Understanding the Mystery of Collective Consciousness</a></i> article gives a deeper dive into Durkheim's, Jung's, and Sigmund Freud's exploration of collective consciousness and collective unconsciousness.</p><p>For purposes of this article, collective consciousness is defined as an open-hearted approach to resolve challenges and create scenarios where ALL concerned are honored, treated with respect and of equal importance, and benefit from outcomes. The consciousness may encase the Earth in its entirety or a community working together on creative solutions. Additionally, the consciousness may be a family unit, organization, or company.</p><p>As previously stated, ALL is defined as the entire spectrum of living species and ecosystems as well as inanimate earth resources. ALL is the common ground in collective consciousness, no matter the extent of the consciousness definition.</p><p>The following sections give examples of how the ancient wisdom of collective consciousness is implemented within modern-day organizations.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">* direct quote from The Meridian University article.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">WE Consciousness</span></b><br />In 2012, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) introduced the WE Consciousness as a higher octave of the then tagline <i>Sustainability in ACTION</i>. When the "I" is replaced with "WE," the impact of our actions extends to the entire community and beyond; collective action accomplishes more profound results than singular effort. By working together, synergies are unlocked, unnecessary boundaries, including competitive barriers, disintegrate, and creative energies catapult possibilities into grounded realities.</p><p>The following initiatives showcase how the WE Consciousness naturally integrates within Ei's important work.</p><p><u>Zero Waste is a Team Sport</u><br />The 2012 Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2012/09/zero-waste-is-team-sport.html" target="_blank">Zero Waste is a Team Sport</a></i>, further defines the WE Consciousness within the context of implementing effective zero waste practices. The article details the three initial shifts necessary for zero waste to replace landfill waste:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>First</b>, the "pay and forget" era is over; the consumer must take responsibility for the by-products generated from their activities and ensure materials are reused or recycled.</li><li><b>Second</b>, waste management is replaced by materials / by-products management. In nature there is no "waste"; it is time to emulate nature's perpetual life cycle systems.</li><li><b>Third</b>, the "I" focus is replaced with the "WE" focus. When ALL work together, seemingly miraculous results are common.</li></ul><div>One of the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a> taglines was <i>Collaboration is Key for Success.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><u>Food & Beverage Packaging Value Chain Meeting<br /></u>Each December from 2011 through 2014, Ei orchestrated an empowering meeting of executives from the trade associations and non-profits representing the entire food and beverage packaging value chain. For the final three years, Global Green USA graciously hosted the gathering at their Washington D.C. offices.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7-8PtfLv3dCgHKEdlXHNSse93vhRiIp49uJKtjK4cmmW6VwJseArUxDmG2rYvl5Z4RNR_lEQBUuKFxs_qG5AWY962_P_ic2kNVUm7hZVOFk354CIMIjnxN7NBTInUAp98P2GXV8a_HF65SQDT7SAVpxmnUyPHctpPdVR68ssMJ62tngJXGg5P-tNirjA/s3994/12-11-14_FinalF&B_Group.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3411" data-original-width="3994" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7-8PtfLv3dCgHKEdlXHNSse93vhRiIp49uJKtjK4cmmW6VwJseArUxDmG2rYvl5Z4RNR_lEQBUuKFxs_qG5AWY962_P_ic2kNVUm7hZVOFk354CIMIjnxN7NBTInUAp98P2GXV8a_HF65SQDT7SAVpxmnUyPHctpPdVR68ssMJ62tngJXGg5P-tNirjA/w232-h198/12-11-14_FinalF&B_Group.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Group photo at final <br />F&B Packaging meeting</span></td></tr></tbody></table>The National Restaurant Association (NRA) represented the purchasers of the packaging while the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) membership consisted of the packaging manufacturers. The U.S. Composting Council members provided a sustainable solution for used product disposition. Additionally, GreenBlue's Sustainable Packaging Coalition, Institute for Local Self Reliance, Green Seal, BPI Compostable Packaging Certification, Keep America Beautiful, and Global Green participated in the annual meeting.</div><div><br /></div><div>In early 2011, Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore attended the annual FPI conference as a speaker. With sustainable packaging emerging as an industry sector, Holly witnessed competition within the sector leaders when there were ample synergies. Thus, Holly orchestrated the inaugural <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/fb-packaging-value-chain-meetings-accomplished/" target="_blank">Food & Beverage Packaging Value Chain Meeting</a> in partnership with the NRA; the intention was to introduce the various industry leaders and support synergistic joint projects and endeavors.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the 2014 meeting nearly every project presentation was a collaboration among the attendees. Thus, the Food & Beverage Packaging Value Chain Meeting mission was accomplished! It was heartwarming to announce that the 2014 meeting was the final gathering.</div><div><br /></div><div>The RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2014/12/sustainble-f-packaging-moving-from.html" target="_blank">Sustainable F&B Packaging: moving from an emerging to a maturing industry</a></i>, chronicles the final 2014 meeting and exemplifies the established collective consciousness.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Nature Prevails</u></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFScdz4VyAR2uS2qoCRIKPrBAxb_DhgZQUa6ar7RbaAZ8s3G4uAZiyD62ELO5Jxxh7vKmVx2XNj9PFXJwb8rnPOeZ9yZ6GtJ1yzDawRFgbX_EJHMru5XR0-Wd0gCVpnphs93sijK2TGzLXOUHfuklCkkjaJoNuOYleSEcrXeIbIwXXhGJnEs7Qv-7lOFZ/s4178/01-17-17%20HE%20Cuba%20%20Havana%20tree%20growing%20within%20building%20-%20close-up.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3961" data-original-width="4178" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFScdz4VyAR2uS2qoCRIKPrBAxb_DhgZQUa6ar7RbaAZ8s3G4uAZiyD62ELO5Jxxh7vKmVx2XNj9PFXJwb8rnPOeZ9yZ6GtJ1yzDawRFgbX_EJHMru5XR0-Wd0gCVpnphs93sijK2TGzLXOUHfuklCkkjaJoNuOYleSEcrXeIbIwXXhGJnEs7Qv-7lOFZ/w171-h162/01-17-17%20HE%20Cuba%20%20Havana%20tree%20growing%20within%20building%20-%20close-up.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tree grows as one with a <br />Havana, Cuba building<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Image</a></span><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">s</a></td></tr></tbody></table>When Ei announced that the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> in June 2017 and entered the Era of Regeneration, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> emerged as the predominant platform. The Nature Prevails tagline is <i>The Earth will heal and renew herself, when she chooses</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>From Ei's perspective, the Earth is perfectly fine within the calamitous scenarios caused by humans. When enough is enough, the Earth will simply rid herself of these pesky humans who wreak havoc on Nature's perfected systems; healing of the environment and renewal of life forms will follow.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Principles of Nature</i></div><div><div>With a commitment to align projects with Nature, Ei defined The Principles of Nature (PON) with three broad categories:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Diversity</li><li>Dynamic Balance & Nutrition Systems</li><li>Necessity of Cover & Ability to Roam</li></ul></div></div><div><div>Though they define natural systems, the PON also apply to human communities and cultures. For example, roadways, airports, and broadband communication align with the Ability to Roam; agriculture, the hospitality industry, and food-security challenges align with Nutrition Systems: social inequities, environmental justice, and severe poverty align with Dynamic Balance; affordable housing, homeless individuals, and urban neighborhoods align with the Necessity of Cover.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtmFnYh90h8Q2_6ebgC8XAQnPON70stWPnKjB9BTKuAyl5afTsoEa7Z9I2k9f-ZzFkssVZWVmiNzDllxB6ud8fvy1r0Lm3RDqCrphRXiYqhPbs5oRJhnBdKcpNsOzPhkRqm5PvugttoyvqKUul1NJ303eAkTi-GBLcYlSEEkFkM54trGytECk2X8ngTPp/s1711/05-30-16%20HE%20AUS%20man%20sleeping%20on%20concrete.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="1705" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtmFnYh90h8Q2_6ebgC8XAQnPON70stWPnKjB9BTKuAyl5afTsoEa7Z9I2k9f-ZzFkssVZWVmiNzDllxB6ud8fvy1r0Lm3RDqCrphRXiYqhPbs5oRJhnBdKcpNsOzPhkRqm5PvugttoyvqKUul1NJ303eAkTi-GBLcYlSEEkFkM54trGytECk2X8ngTPp/w171-h172/05-30-16%20HE%20AUS%20man%20sleeping%20on%20concrete.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A gentleman sleeps on a<br />sidewalk in Austin, TX<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Image</a></span><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">s</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Societal hierarchies within bee and ant colonies, wolf packs, elephant herds, bird flocks, and other eusocial colonies demonstrate that the community is only as strong as the weakest link; as long as they perform their designated tasks within these eusocial colonies, the workers are treated fairly and with respect. When it maintains dynamic balance within their population and the other PON align, the community thrives.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since recorded history, humans often developed out-of-balance dynamics within their culture where worker populations were disrespected and frequently abused. The current scenarios of extreme poverty, severe homelessness, and food scarcity prevalent across the globe impact many urban environments; the challenging scenarios reflect the unbalanced societal hierarchies established within cultural and government norms.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Insects</i></div><div><div>Insects are the base of the predator-prey hierarchy, integral to the natural ecosystem foundation, and essential to supporting the Earth’s life web. Many insects, such as dragonflies and mosquitoes, live their juvenile or larva stage under water and their adult lives on land supporting plants and soil systems; aquatic larva is similar to a butterfly's caterpillar stage.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwfuQ2poYN5phf1lY9kSqG4S_MyNdu2hMKLS0Q6b4pnQGmZrwXaA-B0l1Cf9CGzc-5lpr8WkZFzl0Z1UThACJm0Zb33HfwLoVM6-YHoS2xLFj0TMKBzRNi98LNreEFjkAX4QgPyeXFENzKObwj5JZlIyJasRnVzG2T1t_RY2B5alH_mvTxUs9fqSgzDGY/s4212/10-20-23_HEI_Ei-honeybee-closeup.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3553" data-original-width="4212" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwfuQ2poYN5phf1lY9kSqG4S_MyNdu2hMKLS0Q6b4pnQGmZrwXaA-B0l1Cf9CGzc-5lpr8WkZFzl0Z1UThACJm0Zb33HfwLoVM6-YHoS2xLFj0TMKBzRNi98LNreEFjkAX4QgPyeXFENzKObwj5JZlIyJasRnVzG2T1t_RY2B5alH_mvTxUs9fqSgzDGY/w197-h166/10-20-23_HEI_Ei-honeybee-closeup.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Honey bee on a<br /> butterfly pea blossom<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Image</a></span><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">s</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Insects are food for fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In addition to recycling soil-system nutrients and pollinating plants, insects play an essential role in the decomposition portion of nature’s circular-life cycle. Insects provide a plethora of environmental services that often go unnoticed until the services cease.</div></div><p></p><p>In essence, water, soil, and insects are the foundation for life on Earth and must be addressed as a trilogy. The RiA article, <a href="https://bit.ly/3I0OEb2" target="_blank">Nature Prevails: it is time to emulate Nature's perfected systems</a>, establishes the trilogy.</p><p>In human societies, indigenous races and worker populations are comparative to the insects' role in nature's perfected cycles. Indigenous races carry the wisdom of their ancestors when humans lived in balance with Nature, respecting the resources generously provided by the Earth; the worker population provides the necessary labor for the overall population to thrive within the balance of basic essentials: food, shelter, and clothing.</p><p>The WE Consciousness is integrated within the Nature Prevails platform as initiatives strive to restore balance and health to entire ecosystems, including manmade systems.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Crew Consciousness</b></span><br />In 2015 Ei Advisor Tim Rumage, planetary ethicist and the Professor of Environmental Studies at Ringling School of Art and Design, along with David Houle co-authored <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/This-Spaceship-Earth-David-Houle/dp/0990563537" target="_blank">This Spaceship Earth</a></i>. The book's premise compares the Earth to a spaceship where there are finite resources necessary for survival. To replenish resources for survival, humans must understand there is no waste, only the segue into the resource's next valuable use.</p><p><i>This Spaceship Earth</i> introduces crew consciousness:<br /></p><p></p><blockquote><i>The critical difference between the spacecraft of the space programs and science fiction and Spaceship Earth is simply that: we live on a spaceship that must resupply itself from itself. This is why we need to recognize that we are crew not passengers</i>.</blockquote><p></p><p>When humans shift from the unaware passenger mentality to crew consciousness, the current wasteful-use-of-resources and polluting-the-planet practices will evolve into solutions for replenishing finite resources and cleansing the environment.</p><p>In alignment with the Nature Prevails premise, Tim emphasizes "<i>We are not trying to save the earth - we are not trying to save the planet. We are trying to save ourselves from ourselves</i>"</p><p>The popularity of the book spawned the launch of <a href="https://thisspaceshipearth.org/" target="_blank">This Spaceship Earth</a>, Inc. (TSE) a global environmental non-profit with Origina, the global leader in IBM software maintenance, as the lead corporate supporter.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMRfaQPJ6C2tpzN037yeVWBrn3S0-Pth_7_Hu-qeHLz4agatbGHW2cG-9MUXK4aUF298SsPyDVO4jRdtNl7OryPXs0HQCLAfbadn4NVN1_tcbKz2q2XqRRRz0kEUkpAuj5hIIcYVW36wcaZbCbovTeoKvPN4R4nTMAxWKvLp2TMjkQy54ZQUfCEN3p6LP/s286/TimRumage_NowthatYouKnow.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="176" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMRfaQPJ6C2tpzN037yeVWBrn3S0-Pth_7_Hu-qeHLz4agatbGHW2cG-9MUXK4aUF298SsPyDVO4jRdtNl7OryPXs0HQCLAfbadn4NVN1_tcbKz2q2XqRRRz0kEUkpAuj5hIIcYVW36wcaZbCbovTeoKvPN4R4nTMAxWKvLp2TMjkQy54ZQUfCEN3p6LP/w142-h231/TimRumage_NowthatYouKnow.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>Inspired by a "I did not know," common response to his presentations, Tim along with David and Bob Leonard published a free e-book, <i><a href="https://thisspaceshipearth.org/download-now-that-you-know/" target="_blank">Now that You Know</a>, </i>that updates on the Earth's status, how we arrived at the current crisis point, and what we can do about it.<p></p><p>With a goal of one billion crew members, the TSE site boasts over 140,000 crew members from across the globe. On the <a href="https://thisspaceshipearth.org/get-involved/acting-as-crew/" target="_blank">Acting as Crew</a> page, TSE provides the following guidelines on how to live within crew consciousness:<br /></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We all need to lessen our carbon footprint. Greenhouse gas emissions are a primary cause of Climate Change.</li><li>We all need to consume less stuff. Mindless consumption puts stress on TSE.</li><li>We need to move from a Growth Economy to a Spaceship Economy. Be mindful of what you buy, how it’s produced, and any waste that will remain after the product is used.</li><li>Lower your entire footprint on TSE. Less is more.</li></ul><p></p><p>Additionally, TSE details specific individual-action points within the following categories: transportation, food & diet, shopping, reduce plastics, home, and politics and activism.</p><p>A quote from Marshall McLuhan succinctly states TSE's message: </p><p></p><blockquote><i>"THERE ARE NO PASSENGERS ON SPACESHIP EARTH, WE ARE ALL CREW.”</i></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>I AM Humanity</b></span><br />On Saturday, October 28, 2023 <a href="https://www.iamhumanity.net/" target="_blank">I AM Humanity</a> orchestrated the first annual Humanity Day Event. While the global event was virtual, a well-attended, in-person event was hosted in Sarasota, FL at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvPxMRiQtDdya61v9e5IVv1nyRml9Ge_AiHTc7Cmu9EsAQadPpNHMfmjPchZTOU18FzqdnGEbNC5Oll9How3AKGXleFX9BLOzxpTSH103vEgHijhqmrgPDOhkdFLudN5wxJswxYzQnGCJrDO620Tjj2xyJhbHi1VJiGDVj_JRZaS3iM-dJK36H_6tnH_C/s960/10-28-23_HUMANITYDAYPanel_JaneCharlesChristine.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="960" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGvPxMRiQtDdya61v9e5IVv1nyRml9Ge_AiHTc7Cmu9EsAQadPpNHMfmjPchZTOU18FzqdnGEbNC5Oll9How3AKGXleFX9BLOzxpTSH103vEgHijhqmrgPDOhkdFLudN5wxJswxYzQnGCJrDO620Tjj2xyJhbHi1VJiGDVj_JRZaS3iM-dJK36H_6tnH_C/w185-h166/10-28-23_HUMANITYDAYPanel_JaneCharlesChristine.jpg" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Humanity Day panel</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Image</a></span><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">s</a></td></tr></tbody></table>At the in-person event, Ei Advisor Mary Ann Bowie was the master of ceremonies while Ei Advisor Charles Reith served as a panelist during the impressive program. I AM Humanity Board member Susan Hoskins interviewed Holly and Tim as part of the virtual event's presentations.<p></p><p>As detailed on the I AM Humanity website:<br /></p><p><b>Mission</b>:</p><p>I AM HUMANITY - is a catalyst and a clearing house; creating the language for a cultural conversation which causes a tipping point, a societal shift, shifting a global conversation from “me” to “we”.</p><p>WE ARE I AM HUMANITY - A clearing house and catalyst for the flourishing of humanity and our common home.</p><p><b>Goals</b>:<br /></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We reach 4 billion people.</li><li>We provide branding, “The Green Treatment”, that promotes and nourishes the flourishing of humanity.</li><li>We spotlight organizations, non-profits, volunteers, celebrities, foundations, and youth who are engaged in programs, activities and events that are expanding the flourishing of humanity.</li><li>We provide speaking engagements that share and educate about the flourishing of humanity, and what’s available when you declare “I AM HUMANITY”.</li><li>We have ambassadors and representation in every state, in every country, who highlight local groups and events, such that those groups are aligned under the umbrella of I AM HUMANITY as PARTNERS FOR HUMANITY. </li></ul><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>From the health of an individual to the vibrancy of humanity.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>From the individual's education to the consciousness of humanity.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>From the success of one to the success of all.</i></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">The movement to promote and embrace Collective Consciousness by diverse organizations and communities provides hope for viable solutions within humanity's challenging scenario.</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">_______________________________________</span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div><div><b style="font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-19203611784566832042023-11-13T20:56:00.000-05:002023-11-23T11:11:39.953-05:00Food Forest: a perfect Montessori school classroom<p> After over a year of planning, 7th- and 8th-grade students at NewGate Montessori (NGM) planted a food forest on October 11, 2023 under the guidance of Zach Zildjian of ZZ Design Services. Due to limited space on the five-acre campus located in Lakewood Ranch, the food forest footprint is long and narrow along the parking lot. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviwQhKNRFmUpqSxUxVWoLtzDFyM6msZkm2Qtw5-2e4BMN6bmZeUHDjjg9F-MT7FmHgJwOhTxHeX1D9ByUBmFppW7c9V5cH1wkFW2qH3FiolS-HX4w9iyPvWB5JwplZ5jh-5n6ariHuqKHUtgZoENwRwx01uw7jivlzDLEjOG6NwJomcAJArtr7xy_UiGF/s4163/10-11-23_HEI_Ei_NGM-StudentsWorking.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2904" data-original-width="4163" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviwQhKNRFmUpqSxUxVWoLtzDFyM6msZkm2Qtw5-2e4BMN6bmZeUHDjjg9F-MT7FmHgJwOhTxHeX1D9ByUBmFppW7c9V5cH1wkFW2qH3FiolS-HX4w9iyPvWB5JwplZ5jh-5n6ariHuqKHUtgZoENwRwx01uw7jivlzDLEjOG6NwJomcAJArtr7xy_UiGF/w207-h144/10-11-23_HEI_Ei_NGM-StudentsWorking.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">NewGate food forest planting day</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Secondary school guide Gillett Cole, who oversees 7th- and 8th-grade students, was inspired by the SURF - Suncoast Urban Reforestors - Colony Cove Microforest installation in June 2022. Gillett and a fellow school instructor participated in the microforest planting day where he met <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore. The Holly Elmore Images (HEI)<i><a href="https://bit.ly/3NcoQIt" target="_blank"> Colony Cove Microforest</a></i> album gives a pictorial recount of the microforest-planting day.<p></p><p>Subsequently, Holly, Zach, Gillett, and fellow NGM staff met to strategize on a meaningful and profound educational experience for the students. During the meeting, the microforest concept evolved into a food forest; the fruit harvest expanded the education with culinary and commerce opportunities.</p><p>The Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3KmMkwY" target="_blank">Urban Afforestation: Food Forests and Microforests</a></i>, educates on the underlying premises of food forests and presents numerous global examples.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Montessori Schools</span></b><br />As described on the <a href="https://amshq.org/" target="_blank">American Montessori Society</a> site:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><i>Montessori is an education philosophy and practice that fosters rigorous, self-motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development, with a goal of nurturing each child’s natural desire for knowledge, understanding, and respect.</i></p><p><i>Montessori classrooms are ideal workplaces, where children are engaged, energetic, exploring, social, and most of all, learning to take ownership of their own education. They’re also unified communities in which each child understands the responsibility of being an individual student in the class while supporting the learning of others.</i></p></blockquote><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyH28d50NCDm7No3hvNzu4Z1uxlKGm7Svf6cOtioHgyjt_smIQZ5O2wEYQJYKtHHGwS0PSKZ8EWLYHO8Lk2Hbos9Ec84_WvoLizk2WS6Iw-gAqwgSXvWmNru-48VdqSsXhHan5zFZP85KvJLtQwzBsIhENyz3Ak2Oq4KUfetD1TZMhVRETuJqLzJyb4q4/s3398/10-11-23_HEI_Ei_NGM-Sign.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2386" data-original-width="3398" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyH28d50NCDm7No3hvNzu4Z1uxlKGm7Svf6cOtioHgyjt_smIQZ5O2wEYQJYKtHHGwS0PSKZ8EWLYHO8Lk2Hbos9Ec84_WvoLizk2WS6Iw-gAqwgSXvWmNru-48VdqSsXhHan5zFZP85KvJLtQwzBsIhENyz3Ak2Oq4KUfetD1TZMhVRETuJqLzJyb4q4/w223-h157/10-11-23_HEI_Ei_NGM-Sign.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Entrance to the NewGate campus</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>At NGM, classrooms are designed to stimulate children’s independence and intellectual development. Rather than present or lecture students, NGM teachers are akin to facilitators, mentors, and coaches and often guide students in small groups. <p></p><p>Classrooms are vibrant, fluid, and support independent learning at a student's own pace.</p><p>Sustainable environment creation as well as commerce and economic viability are integrated within the educational platform. Planning, designing, and planting a food forest aligns perfectly with the Montessori core values.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Student Participation</b></span><br />After he explained the basic premise of food forests, Zach walked the campus with the students to determine the options available for the forest. The students selected an easily accessible site next to the parking lot and close to and within existing campus landscaping.</p><p>Under Zach's tutelage, students measured the site and computed the number of trees, shrubs, and ground cover plants required; the students researched of potential plant species and with Zach's guidance devised the plant list. Though many of the fruit-producing trees are not native species, the ground cover plants selected were native to Florida.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBF6sBMltAVGcxvhiJbGpwLQcLSvRO2xwPVaKkI60Gihu6fpHnFBZzQhpGupieD7hwGMgqUx7gHPWxeV7ytgtmFOsEIkElwp_xbki24gqEMvplintUs6lyRErXVIjNy4YN0ANXnyO1P7LY7s3EkG_IqM84_GdU0-wVJ9liKCWJ0r4EEny8MtJwUXmvXosI/s3954/10-11-23_HEI_Ei_NGM-ZachEducating02.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3483" data-original-width="3954" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBF6sBMltAVGcxvhiJbGpwLQcLSvRO2xwPVaKkI60Gihu6fpHnFBZzQhpGupieD7hwGMgqUx7gHPWxeV7ytgtmFOsEIkElwp_xbki24gqEMvplintUs6lyRErXVIjNy4YN0ANXnyO1P7LY7s3EkG_IqM84_GdU0-wVJ9liKCWJ0r4EEny8MtJwUXmvXosI/w209-h184/10-11-23_HEI_Ei_NGM-ZachEducating02.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Zach demonstrates <br />tree-planting protocol</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Image</a></span><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">s</a></td></tr></tbody></table>On planting day, Zach educated on the intricacies of placing and planting the trees, shrubs, and ground cover; the students placed the plants within food forest best practices. After Zach demonstrated how to dig and hydrate the holes for the plants, the students used the provided shovels to complete the planting process.<p></p><p>Gillett and his fellow teacher worked alongside the students until the food forest was completely planted.</p><p>The students are responsible for nurturing and maintaining the food forest as it matures. With an on-campus kitchen, fruits harvested from the forest may be made into jams, marmalades, and other products available for sale.</p><p>In the spring, two to three students will prepare a professional PPT presentation along with a possible video for a speaking engagement at a Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay luncheon meeting. Holly is a club member and will schedule the presentation</p><p>The HEI album, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/45Kckth" target="_blank">NewGate Food Forest Planting Day</a></i>, chronicles the October 11 planting day.</p><p>Food forests, organic gardens, and native-plant landscapes provide excellent outdoor classrooms that align perfectly with Montessori educational principles.</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">_______________________________________</span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div><div><b style="font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-35617209230140321012023-11-12T21:36:00.000-05:002023-11-23T11:11:54.575-05:00Food forests transform lawns into lovely, beneficial landscapes<p>In recent years, backyard food forests moved from an anomaly to an emerging trend in urban environments. Local food security, soil regeneration, as well as nutrition and habit for urban wildlife are common catalysts for designing and planting backyard food forests.</p><p>In addition to backyards, small tracts of urban land contribute to the community ecosystem via food forests. Across the globe tiny food forests reside on former empty lots, school and corporate campuses, and common areas such as city parks.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Food Forest Basics*</span></b><br />According to <a href="https://projectfoodforest.org/" target="_blank">Project Food Forest</a>, a food forest, also called a forest garden, is a diverse planting of edible plants that attempts to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature. Food forests are three-dimensional designs, with life extending in all directions – up, down, and out.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSA1aSy-RzLfnwv_lar3CvX7s6MOIuE0htcOC4TABjtoDc5ThvPCPSBZa88zvKlMApvlqKIUkIlzxWdXnlb1ovkoPedIJbydX0LtP-PJZnXJemeA5inhVcreOgOVkwvmmt3xN2ujsCWDCltaU0LIMzYHy4S1cCMi81NOtI9__O_DHzlhvcn3YaI2vyhm4k/s5730/08-18-23_HEI_Ei_FoodForest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3825" data-original-width="5730" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSA1aSy-RzLfnwv_lar3CvX7s6MOIuE0htcOC4TABjtoDc5ThvPCPSBZa88zvKlMApvlqKIUkIlzxWdXnlb1ovkoPedIJbydX0LtP-PJZnXJemeA5inhVcreOgOVkwvmmt3xN2ujsCWDCltaU0LIMzYHy4S1cCMi81NOtI9__O_DHzlhvcn3YaI2vyhm4k/w246-h165/08-18-23_HEI_Ei_FoodForest.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ei Backyard Food Forest</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>A food forest consists of numerous layers of plants ranging from fruit- or nut-bearing trees to shrubs to dense ground cover that protects the soil and prevents weeds. Perennials and self-seeding annuals are recommended to create a forest with minimal yearly maintenance. </p><p>Plant diversity is important to nurturing a healthy, self-sustaining food forest. Selecting plants that attract beneficial insects who pollinate the forest and control pest insects creates an ecosystem based on nature's perfected principles.</p><p>Prior to planting, soil preparation is key to establishing a nurturing forest foundation where mycorrhizal fungi and other soil-ecosystem components flourish. In an urban environment, a common soil-preparation method places cardboard covered with a thick layer of mulch over the forest footprint; the soil preps for weeks to several months. Upon planting, compost and other natural amendments are added to the soil.</p><p>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">The Food Forest Basics section is an excerpt from the Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3KmMkwY" target="_blank">Urban Afforestation: Food Forests and Microforests</a>, </i>where the impact of food forests and microforests across the globe are introduced.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots</span></b><br />When she returned to her hometown, Sarasota, Florida, after residing in Atlanta for four decades, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore dedicated her spacious approximately 8,500-square-foot yard to two rewilding pilots: 1> <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank">Front-Yard Native Landscape Pilot</a> and 2> <a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture Oriented Landscape (POL)Pilot</a>.</p><p>The pilots' intention are to showcase how rewilding traditional lawns into lovely landscapes benefits human as well as wildlife inhabitants. Though many homeowner associations prohibit rewilding practices in front yards, there is often flexibility within backyards, especially if there is a fence that prevents public viewing.</p><p>Fortunately, Holly's home resides in a City of Sarasota neighborhood without a homeowner association. Thus, it flowed to implement front and backyard pilots.</p><p>The Holly Elmore Images (HEI) <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i> album documents the pilots' progress in a series of photo galleries.</p><p><u>Ei Backyard-Permaculture-Oriented Landscape (POL)Pilot</u><br />The backyard pilot follows POL practices with an emphasis on human-food-producing plants. A food waste-compost circle surrounded by banana trees is integral to the design. Thus, the general rule for the backyard landscape: any non-native plants must produce human food and/or provide direct soil-ecosystem benefit.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E7yRyfxm4fcLSUPk2lEyqQoeKA5GMcREoW3izAY6ZBi7WcRm9j8N1EsRWjPjh4B3wBESVVrKYEhuntED3qNTjCZM6IRjdvCd_jBaKWOd_JyArp2TFbgurERRARb3tD4IbLsBfN4YAoD3z_bDwquPbt9-CWBaOlSm_qahsIc5_BsEkjSh9n_FUXB50fm9/s5227/10-08-21_Ei_SRQ-BkYard-side02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3637" data-original-width="5227" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E7yRyfxm4fcLSUPk2lEyqQoeKA5GMcREoW3izAY6ZBi7WcRm9j8N1EsRWjPjh4B3wBESVVrKYEhuntED3qNTjCZM6IRjdvCd_jBaKWOd_JyArp2TFbgurERRARb3tD4IbLsBfN4YAoD3z_bDwquPbt9-CWBaOlSm_qahsIc5_BsEkjSh9n_FUXB50fm9/w231-h161/10-08-21_Ei_SRQ-BkYard-side02.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Backyard in its wild state</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>While the front-yard landscape is strictly native plants and was installed over a two-day period, the backyard pilot is an evolutionary process. For nearly nine months, the backyard was permitted to return to its "wild state" with abundant plant diversity; a variety of happy insects frolicked in the knee-high grass infiltrated with flowering plants.</p><p>Beginning in early 2021, the backyard was slowly "tamed" with mulched paths, a banana compost circle, a row of native-blueberry bushes under the roof dripline, a pollinator garden, a food forest, and a raised herb-garden area with sun protection. Once the invasive carrotwood tree was removed, the south-side yard was opened to ample sunshine and prepped for a <a href="https://bit.ly/3fGCLfg" target="_blank">vegetable, herb, and edible-flower garden</a>.</p><div>No herbicides or soil tilling were used in the taming process; Holly hand-weeded the majority of the areas before prepping for its destined purpose.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Ei Food Forest</u><br />In alignment with the permaculture focus, a food forest was planted in the center backyard within an area designated by paths. After several months of soil preparation, the initial trees were planted on June 15, 2022 along with native shrubs and sweet potato ground cover. Three months later, the young food forest proved resilient when it survived Hurricane Ian's battering of the Florida Gulf Coast.</div><div><br /></div><div>With ample shade from two magnificent live oaks, the food forest's growth is reasonably stunted due to limited sunlight. It is comfortable to work midday in the food forest during the summer heat due to the abundant shade.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTYBLswi7rAMZJVw_hZ9Nes1TT08GCZl6qBKPgpbcKNVV39FOd2Kan64QEH5cN530Tzep8E7_0TVsR_CBy_1UfHHSwLLDJFlcXDLCFgXEM6eDg32ph1BIPNz1ULxaUF3YBPOezvJ4fJtBhIpIx8NjrU-mkcYSIUYm75BJoYM5vpkscrDC2LGfUvwUTIgH/s4327/01-02-23_HEI_Ei-SweetPotatoHarvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4327" data-original-width="3669" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTYBLswi7rAMZJVw_hZ9Nes1TT08GCZl6qBKPgpbcKNVV39FOd2Kan64QEH5cN530Tzep8E7_0TVsR_CBy_1UfHHSwLLDJFlcXDLCFgXEM6eDg32ph1BIPNz1ULxaUF3YBPOezvJ4fJtBhIpIx8NjrU-mkcYSIUYm75BJoYM5vpkscrDC2LGfUvwUTIgH/w190-h224/01-02-23_HEI_Ei-SweetPotatoHarvest.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sweet potato harvest</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Image</a></span><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">s</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Fifteen-months post planting, the backyard food forest thrives with frequent, diverse harvests; the young trees gifted inaugural, though not abundant, Meyer lemons, Persian limes, Barbados cherries, surinam cherries, mulberries, and loquat fruit. Though healthy, the tangerine, Eureka lemon, and pomegranate trees did not produce fruit in their first year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sweet potato and African mint potatoes were bountiful ground covers. Edible flowers - marigolds, cosmos, butterfly pea, ground sorrel, and borage blossoms - were used fresh as garnish for food-styling and dehydrated for house made tea blends; the lobster flower and moringa leaves and cranberry hibiscus were also dehydrated for tea and other culinary accents.</div><div><br /></div><div>In anticipation of a 30-person food tour, the peripheral backyard gardens were cleansed of Spanish nettles and other plants in unchosen places (aka weeds!) Growth around the paths was trimmed or pulled and the paths were refreshed with mulch. The HEI <i><a href="https://bit.ly/46jvw1P" target="_blank">2023 Backyard Permaculture Pilot Restoration</a></i> album includes before and after images to showcase the impressive restoration.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Food Forest Tours</span></b><br />As part of their 2023 Eat Local Week (ELW) festivities, Transition Sarasota hosted dual for-pay food forest tours on October 18. As the curator of the Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots and a food forest at his parents' home, Zach Zildjian of ZZ Design Services spearheaded the tours. One of the most popular ELW events, the food tours were oversold!</div><p><u>Zildjian Food Forest</u><br />Soil preparation on the Zildjian Food Forest (ZFF) started in February 2022 followed by initial planting in April 2022. Though only several months older, the (ZFF) is significantly more mature due to daily direct sunlight.</p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg-95aDSFO8ngFu-n4TW9YfvkZntJMAR91PYQA9VfPWDbuZ02Isakr9uLe42ZlPMTiFm4oFo-GirkvXBhFwqnCEVRUq2Gp-KpSqQqXoFMW1Nl6katRcwjG0kKId2d6Kl1p6f9btTeULUFfmTT6_BwDBXdNR4FX8d-Vb3enM-_B5FU5BFYRFwohhZClT4Q/s2235/10-18-23_Ei_ZFFTour-ErinS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="2235" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg-95aDSFO8ngFu-n4TW9YfvkZntJMAR91PYQA9VfPWDbuZ02Isakr9uLe42ZlPMTiFm4oFo-GirkvXBhFwqnCEVRUq2Gp-KpSqQqXoFMW1Nl6katRcwjG0kKId2d6Kl1p6f9btTeULUFfmTT6_BwDBXdNR4FX8d-Vb3enM-_B5FU5BFYRFwohhZClT4Q/w193-h154/10-18-23_Ei_ZFFTour-ErinS.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Zach hosting ZFF Tour</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of Erin Saba</span></td></tr></tbody></table>As prominent caterers known for their locally sourced organic food, the Zildjians planted unique and hard-to-source produce in the ZFF for utilization in their business. Additionally, decorative greenery and flowers grow to accentuate their delicious cuisine and buffet tables.</p><p>The ZFF was first on the tour itinerary and attendees enjoyed lovely refreshments before heading over to the Ei Food Forest.</p><p><u>Ei Food Forest</u><br />As the Ei Food Forest was second on the tour itinerary, the attendees were happy to stay past the stated end time. Attendees were greeted with Holly's house-butterfly pea white tea along with apple-cinnamon cakes; Zach hand harvested the apples on a recent trip to North Carolina.</p><p>Following Holly's background and overview dialogue, Zach took the group through the food forest while explaining the design, planting, and maintenance protocol. Attendees asked a multitude of questions and chimed in with their own experiences.</p><p>Many of the attendees accepted Holly's offer to gift second- or-third-generation seedlings as well as various plant clippings.</p><p>As anticipated, the formal ELW tours spurned a deluge in informal and formal Ei Food Forest tours.</p><p>With the Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots closing in on two-year anniversaries, the pilots reached a maturity level where tours are excellent vehicles to showcase their intentions; the pilots showcase how rewilding traditional lawns into lovely landscapes benefits human as well as wildlife inhabitants</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">_______________________________________</span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div><div><b style="font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-53417676772560369622023-09-19T11:50:00.004-04:002023-11-23T11:12:38.716-05:00Atala Butterflies Return from Near Extinction<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the 1970’s the Earth’s insect population suffered severe population declines as well as loss of diversity. The NY Times 2018 article, <i><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/magazine/insect-apocalypse.html" target="_blank">The Insect Apocalypse Is Here. What does it mean for the rest of life on Earth?</a></i>, reported: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The German study found that, measured simply by weight, the overall abundance of flying insects in German nature reserves had decreased by 75 percent over just 27 years. If you looked at midsummer population peaks, the drop was 82 percent</i>.</span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppVpieJQPspxIlHv322rHAvkYUUgJfY-fHsJDEwBovCvJNBrCGDaoUXObZgP0zvr8FKsNp7b2s78FMKgtsrtlLM90eUdNdNV2BS6D6I92XIx0Um0wzayIOWLntLb3wZa-HfONl_YHUG_yFn26FM6whcbd1XOzrmJFQJb5wc4icrprLGs-5gGnJcAMEDzh/s2645/07-22-23_HEI_Ei-AtalaWings.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2379" data-original-width="2645" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppVpieJQPspxIlHv322rHAvkYUUgJfY-fHsJDEwBovCvJNBrCGDaoUXObZgP0zvr8FKsNp7b2s78FMKgtsrtlLM90eUdNdNV2BS6D6I92XIx0Um0wzayIOWLntLb3wZa-HfONl_YHUG_yFn26FM6whcbd1XOzrmJFQJb5wc4icrprLGs-5gGnJcAMEDzh/w231-h208/07-22-23_HEI_Ei-AtalaWings.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">An Atala butterfly emerges from its cocoon<br />Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">According to the November 2019 Somerset Wildlife Trust <i><a href="https://www.somersetwildlife.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/FULL AFI REPORT WEB1_1.pdf" target="_blank">Insect Declines and Why They Matter Report</a></i> by Professor Dave Goulson, <i><b>41% of insect species are threatened with extinction.</b></i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though the overall insect-population is in a dire state, there are ample success stories of species restoration. A common contributing factor to success stories is the growing trend of replacing non-native ornamental plants with native flora and greenery in residential, commercial, and community landscapes. The 2021 RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3qshmpD" target="_blank">Urban Carbon Sinks: Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>, introduces the Holocene extinction, the Insect Apocalypse, and how rewilding urban landscapes may avoid catastrophe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Homegrown National Park</span></b><br />The December 2022 RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" target="_blank">Soil & Water: the foundation of life</a></i>, features award-winning author and renowned entomologist Doug Tallamy's <a href="https://homegrownnationalpark.org/" target="_blank">Homegrown National Park</a> (HNP.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHAA3aiqn32p_G3XmGaHCA03GFwTbeI0GuQsuRrXOT5nRQmfkXqI3-XajhyWgr735HZ4Aw0zuadTuxdZBr8jMfjHo0VCexREDPlBiSBBJ33LgcCYAY0vI3fYDnnn5clWXuVXYwjuj_NhmFHG8ov-Ut1DOUIe5XBSrvCrD5_gmMQKei4ZsQovRdAQyJv8U/s1294/HNP_Image.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="1000" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHAA3aiqn32p_G3XmGaHCA03GFwTbeI0GuQsuRrXOT5nRQmfkXqI3-XajhyWgr735HZ4Aw0zuadTuxdZBr8jMfjHo0VCexREDPlBiSBBJ33LgcCYAY0vI3fYDnnn5clWXuVXYwjuj_NhmFHG8ov-Ut1DOUIe5XBSrvCrD5_gmMQKei4ZsQovRdAQyJv8U/w174-h225/HNP_Image.jpg" width="174" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">HNP is a grass roots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity. According to Doug,</span><p></p><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i>In the past, we have asked one thing of our gardens: that they be pretty. Now they have to support life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators, and manage water.</i>”</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">National awareness is HNP's product along with a request for the below actions on the more than 40-million acres of private lawn in the United States:</span></p><p></p><ol><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reduce lawns.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Plant more native plants.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remove invasive and/or non-native plants.</span></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <i><a href="http://bit.ly/3W97zFf" target="_blank">What's the Rush</a></i> 24-minute video by Doug is a superb overview of the critical status of the insect population along with simple lifestyle changes by individuals that collectively make a huge difference.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Success Story</b></span><br /><div>The once abundant Atala butterflies were thought to be extinct from the 1930’s until 1959 when a few specimens were discovered. In 1979, a colony of Atala butterflies was found on an island off the Miami Coast. It is likely that the current population are descendants of the island butterflies.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oMGwZYsAr9_-TT9grjMutXNGa-GBWNc32E_pC6OKg0BsPUKx3_BluaMPNIXpI8EZ6mKJ4a-7cLDl-ZvNbmfedufv2GTjTQMMNXNCJ_ToL7C_c-hegjgi7KxN4lyxbT_-LT5a55G9Gbm83RgXkCRUjhDafINLZGNS3o8Zf2eIZGJ2IVsKF_vXPx1FKjPn/s5466/07-22-23_HEI_Ei-AtalaCocoons.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5466" data-original-width="3644" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oMGwZYsAr9_-TT9grjMutXNGa-GBWNc32E_pC6OKg0BsPUKx3_BluaMPNIXpI8EZ6mKJ4a-7cLDl-ZvNbmfedufv2GTjTQMMNXNCJ_ToL7C_c-hegjgi7KxN4lyxbT_-LT5a55G9Gbm83RgXkCRUjhDafINLZGNS3o8Zf2eIZGJ2IVsKF_vXPx1FKjPn/w182-h273/07-22-23_HEI_Ei-AtalaCocoons.jpg" width="182" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Atala butterfly cocoons<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Like the Monarch butterfly’s relationship with the milkweed plant, the Atala butterfly has a symbiotic relationship with the coontie palm; the female only lays eggs on the coontie palm. Thus, when early Florida settlers overharvested the coontie palm for its starchy root, the Atala butterfly population declined and disappeared along with its host plant.</div><div><br /></div><div>With its recent popularity as a native ornamental plant in Florida landscapes, the abundant urban coonties support healthy populations of the once nearly extinct Atala butterfly.</div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="https://bit.ly/VQ8b3I" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) <a href="https://bit.ly/3mWHlcs" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots </a>contain three coonties, one in the front-yard native-plant landscape and two within the backyard food forest. This summer Zach Zildjian, the pilots’ curator, noticed a female Atala butterfly laying eggs on one of the food forest coonties. </div><div><br /></div><div>Over the next weeks, Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore documented the transformation of ravenous caterpillars into the chrysalis stage along with their emergence as magnificent butterflies. With perfect timing, Holly captured one Atala literally emerging from its cocoon. The Holly Elmore Images (HEI) album, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/46fRAKA" target="_blank">Atala butterflies return from near extinction</a></i>, gives a pictorial recount of the magical experience.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Coontie Palm</span></b><br />Once abundant in South Florida the coontie palm (Zamia integrifolia) supported a healthy Atala butterfly population. Poisonous in its unaltered states, the coontie palm gifts the Atala caterpillars and butterflies a natural protection from predators via their poisonous state.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje-TBsLuMRGnJqBZJzH8mHeUPF8F_O-6TWx7o-e3ZjsWnGyzSr-pMecnxMB1bphUbxnXNUcOLhYcB6TmoY95rkBS-hSrB5EOJrFo5JzpzX7JozSzSwxGKsjKyvKOZrR4_kT5JM9Mno_fuf4PjYZFtVWCcQTNJ78GD8Z_Sq4eyJ-hlnupkN2ZCTfBv6MbJ/s3024/09-18-23_HEI_Ei_Coontie.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2566" data-original-width="3024" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjje-TBsLuMRGnJqBZJzH8mHeUPF8F_O-6TWx7o-e3ZjsWnGyzSr-pMecnxMB1bphUbxnXNUcOLhYcB6TmoY95rkBS-hSrB5EOJrFo5JzpzX7JozSzSwxGKsjKyvKOZrR4_kT5JM9Mno_fuf4PjYZFtVWCcQTNJ78GD8Z_Sq4eyJ-hlnupkN2ZCTfBv6MbJ/w244-h207/09-18-23_HEI_Ei_Coontie.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Coontie in the Ei Rewilding Pilot<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Often called a fossil plant, the coontie palm is a cycad, an ancient plant group that thrived along with the dinosaurs during the Jurassic Period; most likely, the cycads were a predominant food source for the many herbivores. According to a 2011 Berkeley News article, cycads are among the most endangered plants. The coontie palm is the only cycad native to Florida, and according to several sources the only one native to North America.</div><div><br /></div><div>With proper processing, the water-soluble toxin cycasin washes away from pulverized coontie root, which transforms into an edible flour for bread, porridge, and cakes. Indigenous tribes mastered the cleansing practices and shared it with the Seminoles; around 1825, the Seminoles taught early settlers how to process the poisonous coontie root. Additionally, the dried rhizomes were used for medicinal purposes, treating ailments such as stomachaches and skin irritations. </div><div><br /></div><div>As south Florida populated, the coontie palm was overharvested, and the once common coontie palm segued into an endangered species. As the coontie requires a decade to reach a harvestable state, natural species replenishment was not feasible.</div><div><br /></div><div>According to the February 2020 The Palm Beach Post article, <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4599502795777432649/5341767677256036962#" target="_blank">Coontie, Florida’s only native cycad, wins National Award from GCA</a></i>:</div><div><blockquote><i>During World War I, as many as 18 tons of coontie were processed daily for the military. This led to the original decimation of the plant, which was further depleted by overdevelopment in the later housing booms</i>. </blockquote></div><div>The coontie is listed as a Commercially Exploited Plant [(FDACS/DPI rule 5B-40.0055 (C)]; thus, harvesting coontie in the wild is prohibited without a permit.</div><div><br /></div><div>With emergence of native-plant landscapes, nurseries began cultivating the hardy coontie for residential, commercial, and community planting purposes. Per the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County: <i><a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/2023/07/27/a-florida-friendly-landscaping-tale-of-survival-and-resurgence-part-i-coontie-cycads/" target="_blank">A Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Tale of Survival and Resurgence (Part I): Coontie Cycads</a>:</i></div><div><blockquote><div><i>As modern landscapers shifted towards plants that utilize less fertilizer and less water, coontie was finally recognized for this crucial use. Adaptable, low maintenance, drought tolerant, and with evergreen tropical fronds; this plant has surged in popularity. You commonly see the plant serving as an excellent foundation or accent plant in various landscape designs.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>The coontie’s status as a rare native plant also adds an ecological dimension to any landscape. Encouraging local biodiversity and supporting the caterpillars of the rare Atala butterfly. You are not only beautifying your surroundings but also contributing to the conservation efforts of these imperiled species.</i></div></blockquote><div><i></i></div></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX6pflWZJycPyJujSNSMSpcjZSXjAStfKQuqAYCxeZ6MRWOZDY9kMSBFERt_qdBmnI3WN3e5xdaLEtZkRnbwgi1x-wMQoPRp_7-ZZuh4Jvu224r2Dnrc2mkuKv1ZEzAn0l3vhNZderD7VHb6LyfCmuWUktjWMe37icbcd3cVADFyJUxVm6oCkjgkgpLJ-/s5020/07-24-23_HEI_Ei-AtalaButterflyCocoon.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5020" data-original-width="4016" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX6pflWZJycPyJujSNSMSpcjZSXjAStfKQuqAYCxeZ6MRWOZDY9kMSBFERt_qdBmnI3WN3e5xdaLEtZkRnbwgi1x-wMQoPRp_7-ZZuh4Jvu224r2Dnrc2mkuKv1ZEzAn0l3vhNZderD7VHb6LyfCmuWUktjWMe37icbcd3cVADFyJUxVm6oCkjgkgpLJ-/w166-h208/07-24-23_HEI_Ei-AtalaButterflyCocoon.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Atala butterfly recently<br />emerged from its cocoon</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The re-emergence of the near-extinct coontie as well as the Atala butterfly is a prime example of the extended benefits of embracing native-plant landscapes. By recognizing the Florida-friendly growing traits of the native coontie, commercial nurseries and landscapers began the restoration of two nearly extinct species.</div><div><br /></div><div>As native-plant landscapes segue into customary practice and harmful pesticides and fertilizer use is diminished, population-restoration success stories like the Atala butterfly along with its host plant the coontie palm (Zamia integrifolia) will be common, rather than miraculous. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Additional resources:</b></div><div><i></i></div><div>The Conservancy: <i><a href="https://conservancy.org/atala-butterfly-and-the-coontie-plant-a-mutualistic-relationship/" target="_blank">The Atala Butterfly and the Coontie Plant: A Mutualistic Relationship</a></i></div><div><br /></div><div>Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry: <i><a href="https://fdacsdpi.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/do-you-know-coontie-floridas-native-indians-and-settlers-did/" target="_blank">Do You Know Coontie? Florida’s Native Indians and Settlers Did</a></i>.</div><div><br /></div><div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">_______________________________________</span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div><div><b style="font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div></div></span></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-55195402326759397052023-09-11T16:28:00.002-04:002023-09-12T10:51:21.477-04:00Sargassum, a hurricane's gift<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuabEnjhgeWIrM9ZSQK_t52jt_HTKemvXHCKqdrfoPmC0W7ADfS4HDpyl5y2rnNdX-MyJy2BqaJPsLksj6grbX5R7bUwvRQNd8aF6wpZVC59bdXMp4wZajz0-KJe0In_sFX_KqEO2wX-iEDC6oHZ7UJaPmJ44aJj4xNGCWCd4JDwlfuAaL_M_4lk8OJNu/s1024/09-04-23_HEI_LBK_Sargassum02.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuabEnjhgeWIrM9ZSQK_t52jt_HTKemvXHCKqdrfoPmC0W7ADfS4HDpyl5y2rnNdX-MyJy2BqaJPsLksj6grbX5R7bUwvRQNd8aF6wpZVC59bdXMp4wZajz0-KJe0In_sFX_KqEO2wX-iEDC6oHZ7UJaPmJ44aJj4xNGCWCd4JDwlfuAaL_M_4lk8OJNu/w176-h234/09-04-23_HEI_LBK_Sargassum02.jpg" width="176" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sunbaked sargassum mounds</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">HollyElmoreImage</a>s</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Tuesday August 29 and Wednesday August 30, 2023, Hurricane Idalia's outer storm bands pummeled Florida’s Gulf Coast before making landfall on the peninsula’s big bend. In addition to significant flooding from storm surges, Idalia deposited tremendous mounds of sargassum seaweed infiltrated with boater and fishermen trash on barrier island and coastal beaches.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunrise walks on Longboat Key, a barrier island nestled between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, revealed Hurricane Idalia's gift of sargassum along the normally pristine beaches. Sargassum deposits first appeared a mile north of the beach condo, increasing in strength to nearly a foot deep on the northern beach stretch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">On the first day, the stench was overbearing as the dying sargassum released hydrogen sulfide that smells similar to rotten eggs. The normally sparkling gentle surf was brownish with floating sargassum and other debris. The floating sargassum often contains jellyfish larvae that causes a red, itchy rash upon contact. For nearly a week post-hurricane, Manatee County issued no-swimming advisories due to the water toxicity. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Sargassum</span></b><br />According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: sargassum is a genus of large brown seaweed (a type of algae) that floats in island-like masses and never attaches to the seafloor.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>In Balance<br /></u></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">When in balance, the naturally occurring sargassum plays an integral role within the ocean ecosystem. In the May 2019 </span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/utilise-sargassum-seaweed-its-many-benefits" target="_blank">Utilise Sargassum Seaweed For Its Many Benefits</a></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> press release by the British Virgin Islands government, Marine Biologist at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Mervin Hastings states, </span></p><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje74R1aOjwt7XX8DJagmiyQVjiIZ2uzbEtB9dW9d3CNJVmAFD8C5jwS4Ynlzhe9BRt_4GyyfwGhneYZcIoIpzQ9t7qkH-Z4iRaClRtL08qefJByncQFtIrX92faKEdYcL1nGixlYckoWi7v_R-Z2BmG7wKKtanr9hlHujz-QVPqUXzje8Z6uDUYX4qpD3z/s2691/09-06-23_HEI_LBK_SargassumCloseup.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2691" data-original-width="2568" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje74R1aOjwt7XX8DJagmiyQVjiIZ2uzbEtB9dW9d3CNJVmAFD8C5jwS4Ynlzhe9BRt_4GyyfwGhneYZcIoIpzQ9t7qkH-Z4iRaClRtL08qefJByncQFtIrX92faKEdYcL1nGixlYckoWi7v_R-Z2BmG7wKKtanr9hlHujz-QVPqUXzje8Z6uDUYX4qpD3z/w169-h177/09-06-23_HEI_LBK_SargassumCloseup.jpg" width="169" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In-balance sargassum on beach<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">HollyElmoreImage</a>s</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>"<i>The Sargassum seaweed provides a source of food, home and nursery to an amazing variety of marine species (plants, shrimps, crabs, birds, fish, turtles, etc.). Sargassum also aids in creating sand dunes which helps in restoring eroded beaches</i>."</span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rich in iodine, bromine, mineral salts and vitamins, sargassum is beneficial for human use. According to <a href="https://www.indigo-herbs.co.uk/natural-health-guide/benefits/sargassum-seaweed#:20of%20Agar." target="_blank">Indigo Health</a>: </span></p><p></p><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is antioxidant, promotes proper hormone balance, protects from radiation and kills bacteria and fungi. When the thyroid is compromised, symptoms can include unexplained weight loss/gain, fatigue, hair loss and dry skin. Sargassum is one of the algae used in the production of Agar.</span></i></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Per the Florida Department of Health, sargassum may contain large amounts of heavy metals like arsenic and cadmium and should not be used in cooking.</span></p><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiEBr1n9v-6aplCt79jKTEaLWkNDzdoHLAaRb3ubBjFLGB2tg7cTEsprP5H-13o6fDieS02FHnnmypDzSZoT9Bs0eGiWtWLh2ssfhQFekfDcJ-s7_z__uwSgk2j2HXnRF1laAjD6sTG_5nZAHPcNqr-Xkg4D20lJeGmwYl2Bcd60piAmXHenlGrFhJ-Oq/s1024/09-04-23_HEI_LBK_Sargassum01.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiEBr1n9v-6aplCt79jKTEaLWkNDzdoHLAaRb3ubBjFLGB2tg7cTEsprP5H-13o6fDieS02FHnnmypDzSZoT9Bs0eGiWtWLh2ssfhQFekfDcJ-s7_z__uwSgk2j2HXnRF1laAjD6sTG_5nZAHPcNqr-Xkg4D20lJeGmwYl2Bcd60piAmXHenlGrFhJ-Oq/w155-h206/09-04-23_HEI_LBK_Sargassum01.jpg" width="155" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Over-abundant sargassum<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">HollyElmoreImage</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Out of Balance<br /></u></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Around twenty years ago, sargassum blooms crossed a threshold from beneficial to suffocating and harmful, both at sea and when washed up on shorelines. Similar to red tide, Karenia brevis, the naturally occurring algae blooms are fueled by human-produced and -released nutrients/toxins into waterways and eventually to the oceans. Nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers and other toxins dispersed into the oceans often result in explosive red tide and/or sargassum algae blooms.</span><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unlike red tide, which is deadly to marine life, sargassum does not release toxins that directly kill marine life. Like red tide, sargassum deposits on shorelines are costly to local economies with immediate, direct impact on tourism-driven coastal communities. Additionally, the seaweed can clog power plant turbines, boat engines, and other propeller-driven machinery.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">When it leaves the cooler Atlantic Ocean waters and enters the warmer Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, the floating sargassum mass can smother sea grasses and coral reefs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt </u><br />Initially noted in 2011, the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt (GASB) spans over 5,000 miles, weighs approximately 5.5 million metric tonnes, and consists of connected sargassum masses, many an acre in size. The GASB spans twice the length of the United States; yet, if compressed together the mass condenses to about the size of Delaware.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKAt3lSAqUZX9X87uhTp42dSXyjPn3FIIPSKeAjmgF1gALNN0fKCtFLBVdXafJkI2XQLZZayW3y6Ym4aU-5NOHwGaST7R5v1H-gEmAOrKwJlDof1JFBgwMSJCuRnuvWij5LwWJ3tew65_38iVMs67XTwBdEscOM41OwQTmLgOy5ryfVTIynMWd81VPLoA/s3826/09-03-23_HEI_LBK_sargassum01.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2670" data-original-width="3826" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKAt3lSAqUZX9X87uhTp42dSXyjPn3FIIPSKeAjmgF1gALNN0fKCtFLBVdXafJkI2XQLZZayW3y6Ym4aU-5NOHwGaST7R5v1H-gEmAOrKwJlDof1JFBgwMSJCuRnuvWij5LwWJ3tew65_38iVMs67XTwBdEscOM41OwQTmLgOy5ryfVTIynMWd81VPLoA/w214-h149/09-03-23_HEI_LBK_sargassum01.jpg" width="214" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sparsely deposited sargassum</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">HollyElmoreImage</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">First documented by Christopher Columbus, the Sargasso Sea is located in the mid-Atlantic Ocean, provides food and habitat for marine life, and stays reasonably contained by ocean currents. The sargassum in the Sargasso Sea is a different strain that the algae within the GASB.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though not proven, many scientists believe fertilizers and other agriculture nutrients flowing from the Amazon River basin into the Atlantic Ocean provided the food source for the GASB formation. Ocean currents carry the sargassum masses from its West African origin across the Atlantic Ocean into the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sargassum deposited by Hurricane Idalia on Longboat Key beaches originated in the GASB.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Sea Turtle Impact</span></b><br />Fortunately, Hurricane Idalia arrived near the end of the Gulf Coast sea turtle-hatching season. The remaining estimated 30 - 50 sea turtle nests were destroyed or flooded by the storm surge. Within the sargassum mounds, there were a multitude of hatched turtle shells, most likely from pre-hurricane hatching.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhTOpcfKgLGnnJLraoHBCfQKKpvRDHorJapfQmvS02ii-stCZRD-Mu6lSEH8jHad8OWseMd5lcpe-KGR1bacofi9xTzjAIH3nj_RR3BBpPmoRSavH6qbSYTbh-f5YjqbgKgEKzjpleKIK1-nYzRAjB2mCkrh3ac1zdoqxkc8VQHFWIpl1tvB8KD2ZKqmp/s3129/09-08-23_HEI_LBK_SeaTurtleEggShells.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3129" data-original-width="3024" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhTOpcfKgLGnnJLraoHBCfQKKpvRDHorJapfQmvS02ii-stCZRD-Mu6lSEH8jHad8OWseMd5lcpe-KGR1bacofi9xTzjAIH3nj_RR3BBpPmoRSavH6qbSYTbh-f5YjqbgKgEKzjpleKIK1-nYzRAjB2mCkrh3ac1zdoqxkc8VQHFWIpl1tvB8KD2ZKqmp/w190-h197/09-08-23_HEI_LBK_SeaTurtleEggShells.jpg" width="190" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hatched sea turtle eggs</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">HollyElmoreImage</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">When a nest of eggs hatches, Turtle Watch protocol is to count and return the hatched and unhatched eggs to the nest, which is then covered with sand. Presumably, the hurricane winds, rain, and surge destroyed the covered nests and dispersed the hatched eggs within the storm debris.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sea turtle nesting season runs from May 1 through October 31 when loggerheads and green turtles return to Longboat Key where they propagate the species.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Without turtle nests to monitor, the Longboat Key Turtle Watch volunteers joined in on the trash clean-up from the sargassum mounds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Heartwarming Cleanup</span></b><br />Until the beach was cleansed, each sunrise residents, vacationers, and Turtle Watch volunteers filtered through the smelly sargassum mounds and collected boater and fisherman trash washed up from the Gulf of Mexico. The variety and quantity of trash carelessly disposed of in the open water was astounding.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFriOr2NHq7LiqHWg5adLkc-spst1bemd4t6HksOXN0S8byouHCt3LmskJvG1mU-ncbdy6YIlGW79u4bIdXMUda9-ie-bi9zs0yzNpU48X7r6QDqbbuEd5WRgdyTQZJBl-6kV6HQwQJs55jAencJsddIOr-6hDQUypYBG39TdypJcGwG0Kew8C26bRZKb/s3492/09-04-23_HEI_LBK_HowardTipton.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3492" data-original-width="3024" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFriOr2NHq7LiqHWg5adLkc-spst1bemd4t6HksOXN0S8byouHCt3LmskJvG1mU-ncbdy6YIlGW79u4bIdXMUda9-ie-bi9zs0yzNpU48X7r6QDqbbuEd5WRgdyTQZJBl-6kV6HQwQJs55jAencJsddIOr-6hDQUypYBG39TdypJcGwG0Kew8C26bRZKb/w178-h208/09-04-23_HEI_LBK_HowardTipton.jpg" width="178" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Howard Tipton and<br />his daughter Michelle<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">HollyElmoreImage</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Early Labor Day morning, Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton visited the LBK beaches with his daughter to assess the sargassum scenario. Howard planned to contact Manatee County for removal of the voluminous sunbaked sargassum from the lovely beaches.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Within two days, the beaches were raked yet most of the sargassum remained. By Friday morning, the sargassum was removed with only wisps of the sea weed deluge remaining. Thanks to the community cleanup effort the removed sargassum was essentially cleansed of trash!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was literally heartwarming to witness the cheerful, cleanup teamwork amongst residents, visitors, non-profit volunteers, and local government. The sargassum deposit was a community gift by Hurricane Idalia; strangers worked in unison to return the Longboat Key beaches to their pristine state.</span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Howard validates the community spirit inherent within Longboat Key residents and visitors with his statement:</span><br /></span></p><blockquote><span><i>“Living on the coast in Florida, storms impacts are just the price for living in paradise. What’s amazing on Longboat is how the community comes together to support one another, and how we support a healthy natural environment.”</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images album, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3Lj8gZg" target="_blank">Idalia's Gift of Sargassum</a></i>, showcases the sargassum-infiltrated beach along with the community-driven teamwork for the clean-up.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember there are always Divine gifts in circumstances, no matter how dire they appear on the surface!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">_______________________________________</span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div><div><b style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">About Elemental Impact:</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-39381748084462935282023-08-30T12:38:00.003-04:002023-11-12T07:58:20.875-05:00Beyond regenerative landscapes: rewilded landscapes<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Beyond regenerative agriculture and landscape practices, rewilding land restores the natural ecosystem that evolved over thousands of years. Regenerative practices focus on building and maintaining a vibrant, healthy soil ecosystem yet does not address native foliage. Rewilding land requires the restoration of native plants and cultivates food for indigenous insects. Strong insect populations are the foundation for restoring wildlife-predator/prey hierarchies that once thrived prior to human intrusion.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The RiA Magazine article, </span><span style="color: #222222;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3mWHlcs" target="_blank"><i>Ei Rewilding Urban Landscape Pilots</i></a>, explains the importance of rewilding landscapes and introduces the Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots (Ei Pilots.) </span><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYVwnprS4GIfrHsU6-TCTCQnuwpTotL49a6jQdlPIXlV_VZTsUIGhbMdcD6HcYgaGnP6AD99hDvjgi2X-Ogdy3HmqzpQJSNl9tIE01S8J0RePXrAc17bArmC73QQJMDL0pJqH_ZQuMRzvoPdYxIggdSTuzUoDmcFYOXyJQb8vu9ngUhElU9faVj48O4iy/s5730/08-18-23_HEI_Ei_FoodForest.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3825" data-original-width="5730" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYVwnprS4GIfrHsU6-TCTCQnuwpTotL49a6jQdlPIXlV_VZTsUIGhbMdcD6HcYgaGnP6AD99hDvjgi2X-Ogdy3HmqzpQJSNl9tIE01S8J0RePXrAc17bArmC73QQJMDL0pJqH_ZQuMRzvoPdYxIggdSTuzUoDmcFYOXyJQb8vu9ngUhElU9faVj48O4iy/w265-h177/08-18-23_HEI_Ei_FoodForest.jpg" width="265" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Food Forest in the backyard POL Pilot</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span>W</span><span style="color: #222222;">hen she returned to her hometown, Sarasota, Florida, after residing in Atlanta for four decades, Elemental Impact (Ei) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore dedicated her spacious approximately 8,500-square-foot yard to two rewilding pilots. While the front-yard landscape is dedicated to native plants, the backyard pilot follows permaculture-oriented landscape (POL) practices with an emphasis on human-food-producing plants. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Thus, the general rule for the backyard landscape: </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">any non-native plants must produce human food and/or provide direct soil-ecosystem benefit.</i></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images (HEI) <a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a> album documents the pilots' progress in a series of photo galleries.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Urban Wildlife</span></b><br />A major thrust for the rewilding pilots was creating and providing food and habitat for local urban wildlife. With the front-yard pilot nearing its two-year anniversary and the backyard POL pilot months past its one-year anniversary, urban wildlife thrives within the Ei Pilots; the various animal kingdoms are represented in the diverse wildlife.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><u></u></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><u></u></span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtmwwEEQ_Gx_xiuEp_QYDRKeHeUpV4mzRBqYLJ47FNu7Wy5VOV_lbbvJt3DcC7noZshs5ajivd3O5MD1Dtnf1fi3M7IsZ6brTlfdhr5fF_cop23c7pdpsq3mmYsm-KCQ1Uws6H_stUGycwDe8ItrTu5jV9VVJURMGmCG9tUrV1rV_HeWQsl9jtjr-uDEJ/s3190/12-20-21_HEI_Ei-Red-BelliedWoodpecker.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3190" data-original-width="2889" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtmwwEEQ_Gx_xiuEp_QYDRKeHeUpV4mzRBqYLJ47FNu7Wy5VOV_lbbvJt3DcC7noZshs5ajivd3O5MD1Dtnf1fi3M7IsZ6brTlfdhr5fF_cop23c7pdpsq3mmYsm-KCQ1Uws6H_stUGycwDe8ItrTu5jV9VVJURMGmCG9tUrV1rV_HeWQsl9jtjr-uDEJ/w220-h243/12-20-21_HEI_Ei-Red-BelliedWoodpecker.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Red-bellied woodpecker<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><u>Mammals</u> - though rarely seen, evidence of mammal activity is common including scat, rummaged plants, deep holes and surface scratching, soft areas above underground lodging, and prey remnants. A partially consumed mouse and an intact dead mole were discovered. A scurry of bossy, noisy squirrels reside within the four magnificent oak trees on the property. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><u>Feathered Friends</u> - a plethora of bird species call the oak trees home. A murder of crows live in the neighborhood and often raise havoc in the yard; the bird feeder is used to clean their predatorial kills with remnants left behind for discovery.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><u>Reptiles </u>- a variety of lizard species are ever present in the yard and serve as prey for Holly's cats as well other wildlife. A black snake resides in the backyard and occasionally makes its presence known. Once a partially consumed young red-eared slider turtle from the nearby park pond was left behind in a bird bath as a crow's gift.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><u>Insects </u>- the yard is a haven for pollinators and other insects. With ample native host plants, multiple generations of butterflies reside in the yard and caterpillars devour the plants. The Gulf fritillary caterpillars are ravenous and killed numerous passion vine plants. A milkweed vine replaced the milkweed plants as a sturdy host for monarch butterfly caterpillars.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Lady bug larvae keep the aphids in check and seem to also consume small caterpillars as well as their eggs.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonjSzRmiTj8fOjoBX7NsJbhGzCrGT1TzXe23n8vji5e2IXfFgZdP7ZSHIv9o3LN5Qc-2ynyXMOYhGoJ57JmHhf5fjpYJPF2HTeuSV94QiQJw4TID1H2-ds8CQEy9NbjZb61VbDzI9pe2ZcQrTBwsAm7BiiE7mSSnybW5KQqcDZoZfX7cvpPVOsq-51EAC/s3584/07-22-23_HEI_Ei-AtalaEmerging.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2867" data-original-width="3584" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonjSzRmiTj8fOjoBX7NsJbhGzCrGT1TzXe23n8vji5e2IXfFgZdP7ZSHIv9o3LN5Qc-2ynyXMOYhGoJ57JmHhf5fjpYJPF2HTeuSV94QiQJw4TID1H2-ds8CQEy9NbjZb61VbDzI9pe2ZcQrTBwsAm7BiiE7mSSnybW5KQqcDZoZfX7cvpPVOsq-51EAC/w245-h196/07-22-23_HEI_Ei-AtalaEmerging.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Three stages of the Atala butterfly's<br />transformation from a caterpillar to butterfly.<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Once thought extinct, the Atala butterfly population is rebounding thanks to native-plant landscapes; the native-to-Florida coontie palm is the Atala butterfly host plant and popular in residential and commercial landscape designs. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Holly witnessed an Atala butterfly lay eggs one on the food forest coontie bushes, the Atala caterpillars feast on the coontie leaves, transform into the chrysalis stage, and emerge as magnificent butterflies. </span></p><p>The HEI album, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/46fRAKA" target="_blank">Atala butterflies return from near extinction</a></i>, gives a pictorial recount of the magical experience; t<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">he RiA Magazine article, </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3Zvsipt" target="_blank">Atala Butterflies Return from Near Extinction</a></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">, celebrates the Atala butterfly and coontie palm return from near extinction with a historical recount of contributing events.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Pollinators, including an array of bees, wasps, flies, and more, inhabit the yard. The variety of lettuce, herb, and vegetables plants were permitted to bolt and to go to seed in the </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3fGCLfg" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Vegetable, Herb, and Edible Flower Garden</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">. While in the flower stage, the plants were a refuge for the pollinators and segued into bird food with the seed stage. Added benefit: the garden reseeded itself for many of the species.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Harvest</span></b><br />Between the <a href="https://bit.ly/3yol1L9" target="_blank">Food Forest</a> and the Vegetable, Herb, and Edible Flower Garden, the <a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard POL Pilot</a> produced abundant harvests of diverse vegetables, lettuces, fruit, edible flowers, and leaves. When the magnificent fennel bulbs were harvested, the fronds were the foundation for a delicious pesto. Later in the summer, carrot tops were used for several pestos, including a lovely green olive, pistachio, and carrot-top pesto.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcB8CU4fA9YMFoRtCJiqRGIp--sMsh3GZ-KvvEKenM_Y_14YiTmnp3DgjCFsYwVihlspkCVI8yrJs7MwWBzRM3mv2Lr3tgfffIQycB_dn5U5qdNTj6g8rgb393fgMXyltPxPaDkiXB1iesTU1j2V3tAD8tkkDKt1nFqUB_BttMAOA6Q4utOcWFkSRLz4U/s5889/06-01-23_HEI_Ei_CarrotHarvest.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5889" data-original-width="3931" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcB8CU4fA9YMFoRtCJiqRGIp--sMsh3GZ-KvvEKenM_Y_14YiTmnp3DgjCFsYwVihlspkCVI8yrJs7MwWBzRM3mv2Lr3tgfffIQycB_dn5U5qdNTj6g8rgb393fgMXyltPxPaDkiXB1iesTU1j2V3tAD8tkkDKt1nFqUB_BttMAOA6Q4utOcWFkSRLz4U/w160-h239/06-01-23_HEI_Ei_CarrotHarvest.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Summer carrot harvest<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Image</a></span><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">s</a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Sweet potato and African potato mint ground cover in the Food Forest produced ample vegetables for sharing with neighbors and friends. The first Meyer lemons harvested made superb preserved lemons. Herbs including parsley, sage, basil, thyme, and oregano were a delight to gather for various culinary escapades. Spicy peppers added color and heat to select dishes.</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Edible flowers served a variety of culinary purposes, including simple garnish, basis for house-made tea blends, and fermentation. Daily harvests of the beautiful purple butterfly pea blossoms were pressed for baking garnish, dried for tea blends, fermented for salad dressings, and used fresh to add color in a multitude of photo shoots. Yellow cosmos, orange marigold, bright pink ground sorrel, basil, and arugula blossoms were colorful, tasty accents for a variety of food-photo shoots.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Moringa, cranberry hibiscus, lemongrass, lobster bush, and pennyroyal leaves were harvested, dehydrated, and stored for eclectic, creative tea blends.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">With the fall growing season around the corner, sorghum and sun hemp are cover crops that add nutrients to the soil, protect the remaining crops and soil from the harsh summer sun, and retain moisture. In late September, the garden's second season will be planted from seeds and seedlings nurtured in the backyard.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Zach Zildjian of ZZ Design Services is the mastermind of the Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots. Under Zach's tutelage, Holly maintains the yard via watering during drought times, constant weeding, pruning bushes and trees, harvesting the garden bounty, gifting the abundant volunteer seedlings, planting new species, and replenishing mulch to prevent weeds and retain moisture.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Protected from public viewing, the backyard retains a "wild," abundant energy and is sacred space.</span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">As they mature, the Ei Pilots showcase how rewilding urban landscapes provide a plethora of benefits and environmental services to the property owner, the community, the environment, and urban wildlife.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">_______________________________________</span></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p></div><div><div><b style="font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-57213489658444218032023-08-26T09:48:00.009-04:002023-08-27T17:01:20.747-04:00Regeneration in ACTION Magazine tops 550,000 views<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">On June 4, 2023 the RiA Magazine topped 550,000 views!</span></b></p><p><i>The 550,000 milestone for a niche blog is a monumental achievement, substantiating the published article collection as a prominent industry resource and respected journalism.</i></p><p>On September 19, 2021 during the COVID pandemic and at the completion of <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) Founder & CEO and magazine author Holly Elmore's return to her hometown, the Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine topped the coveted 500,000-pageview milestone. The IMPACT Magazine, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3TlA3eD" target="_blank">Ei Moves!</a></i>, chronicles Holly's move to Sarasota along with accomplishments during Ei's relocation.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>An Evolution<br /></b></span>Launched in early 2009 as the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a> (ZWZ) Blog, the inaugural posts chronicled the challenges and successes of the ZWZ program along with industry-specific topics. The name evolved into the Zero Waste in ACTION (ZWA) Blog when the National Restaurant Association purchased the ZWZ in 2012.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3xktFJYqIvv9KVn4fJuswIS7YBufwjR-Nyr8SKP6IZpurGPeGy-osCIFUunSuC3JJ2-a8G0_cCeKJWuCu1xAjsEH8mzd_Mf-MPBUp2Ko7b9atn77Eb2q4oHr_n9UDap0GUZOYdguCDfHnzhF41g_R57o_KS8I_QvWnqO0rsIf-VF6E2BNPzwbuohTdo8/s2299/EiMagLogos-CroppedBorder-RiA2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2299" data-original-width="2218" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR3xktFJYqIvv9KVn4fJuswIS7YBufwjR-Nyr8SKP6IZpurGPeGy-osCIFUunSuC3JJ2-a8G0_cCeKJWuCu1xAjsEH8mzd_Mf-MPBUp2Ko7b9atn77Eb2q4oHr_n9UDap0GUZOYdguCDfHnzhF41g_R57o_KS8I_QvWnqO0rsIf-VF6E2BNPzwbuohTdo8/w213-h220/EiMagLogos-CroppedBorder-RiA2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p>In May 2010, <a href="https://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The IMPACT Blog</a>, launched as a sister Ei Blog to celebrate topics, achievements, and news not directly associated with zero waste endeavors.<p></p><p>When the ZWA Blog surpassed 100,000 pageviews in July 2013, the ZWA Blog article, <i><a href="http://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2013/08/zwa-blog-powerful-industry-resource.html" target="_blank">ZWA Blog: A Powerful Industry Resource & Voice</a></i>, chronicled Ei's evolution from a zero waste cheerleader to work in Recycling Refinement, <i>moving beyond landfill diversion</i>. Below is an excerpt from the article:</p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><i>Authored by Ei, the ZWA Blog articles document the evolution of zero waste from concept to emerging industry standard, tell the story of zero waste pioneers and warriors who shifted paradigms in materials management, and shine light on fallacies within accepted recycling practices. </i></blockquote><p></p><p>In June 2017 Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a>. The RiA Magazine article, <a href="https://bit.ly/38u9yuf" target="_blank"><i>A Decade of Impact: Era of Recycling Refinement</i></a>, showcases Ei's major accomplishments and success from inception through June 2017.</p><p>Thus, Ei segued into the Era of Regeneration where <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a> and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a> are the primary focus areas. Once within the Era of Regeneration, the ZWA Blog evolved into the RiA Magazine to reflect new endeavors as well as the in-depth articles, versus shorter posts.</p><p>In celebration of the 475,000-pageview milestone, the January 2021 RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/2Kazp4m" target="_blank">Ei: invigorated impact and influence</a></i>, substantiates Ei's evolution into respected environmental journalism, photojournalism, and documentary work. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHonmcN-HIt4zmKR97M6C8NdnpG5qM5mLAUUkTur6E7hFlBn3h6hf21jg6ypzFhWtvn9WKI3aP0QXLgTGIHiLHzdrZYujjoWcQkzNWHoDG0s7HSOS67UEUI9yHlg2evuJx74WHJgwAIxcFFWpEnweOlcIzYb92JUiLy_QpBgHpAy7JXuSrP98nhEa7yTG9/s738/Plastic-Pollution-Book-Cover-72dpi.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="562" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHonmcN-HIt4zmKR97M6C8NdnpG5qM5mLAUUkTur6E7hFlBn3h6hf21jg6ypzFhWtvn9WKI3aP0QXLgTGIHiLHzdrZYujjoWcQkzNWHoDG0s7HSOS67UEUI9yHlg2evuJx74WHJgwAIxcFFWpEnweOlcIzYb92JUiLy_QpBgHpAy7JXuSrP98nhEa7yTG9/w199-h261/Plastic-Pollution-Book-Cover-72dpi.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>Examples include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-digital-books/" target="_blank">Ei Digital Books</a> (pdf-document versions of articles published in national magazines,) Ei Article Book <i>(<a href="https://bit.ly/30SITpq" target="_blank">From Macro to Micro to Nanoplastics</a></i>, an excerpt from the RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2019/10/plastics-double-edged-sword.html" target="_blank">Plastics: a double-edged sword</a>,) </i>various published articles via media inquiries, and the 2016 <a href="http://www.plasticfilmrecycling.org/pdf/MallCaseStudy_2016.pdf" target="_blank">Comparative Case Study: Plastic Film Recycling at Two Simon Malls</a>; the case study was prepared by Ei on behalf of the Wrap Recycling Action Program, an American Chemistry Council Plastic Film Recycling Group program.<p></p><p>Further validating Ei for respected environmental journalism, the below prominent invitation arrived in early November 2016:</p><p></p><blockquote><i>The U.S. State Department invited Ei to join the invitation-only COP22 preview press conference call. Journalists from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times were among the respected, mainstream media on the call.</i></blockquote><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Ei Magazine Stats </span></b><br />Below is a quick overview of the current magazine stats:</p><p>The IMPACT Magazine:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb83KdTNdxH1UnP-P_i8Cvua5kKSIQqwg2n0WOYXRNlDcKJVxbgN00SZK9iHtUoZkrT8RxNN94A9skS9urcpaK4v2rn3Ry6RWX3RB6V4Y1O7VZpPg_Ml-kQ6WlidSj10asxOYmW3dLM8hHSg0DH5GbtSJs7KFIBwQMBArymwhFB3wlHsr8BH-FLgIOFHXb/s800/Impact-Logo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb83KdTNdxH1UnP-P_i8Cvua5kKSIQqwg2n0WOYXRNlDcKJVxbgN00SZK9iHtUoZkrT8RxNN94A9skS9urcpaK4v2rn3Ry6RWX3RB6V4Y1O7VZpPg_Ml-kQ6WlidSj10asxOYmW3dLM8hHSg0DH5GbtSJs7KFIBwQMBArymwhFB3wlHsr8BH-FLgIOFHXb/w236-h118/Impact-Logo.png" width="236" /></a></div>209,200 pageviews</li><li>146 published articles</li><li>Average 1,430 pageviews per article</li><li>Most popular article: <i><a href="http://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/2012/12/ei-new-mission-statement-new-directions.html" target="_blank">Ei New Mission Statement</a></i> (12/12) 3,860 direct views</li></ul><p></p><p>The RiA Magazine:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaCn3gBVdpDdxwdHqeS2XDE5mSQXmcrgzoTQCOZshtIOKhfXKOZqz15HnSolfrRio-ucEfRgJBRXFPVzLAv9YJS87DJvRqeGiQ65bwUTWLfZcZAj4MhISbd-5qiZjoIngeqKVfRbvYOqcKj9g7x36up5p2FAdZgnju8E8r70fekOUMLuZUS7ZcAtCB4nZ/s800/RiA-Logo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaCn3gBVdpDdxwdHqeS2XDE5mSQXmcrgzoTQCOZshtIOKhfXKOZqz15HnSolfrRio-ucEfRgJBRXFPVzLAv9YJS87DJvRqeGiQ65bwUTWLfZcZAj4MhISbd-5qiZjoIngeqKVfRbvYOqcKj9g7x36up5p2FAdZgnju8E8r70fekOUMLuZUS7ZcAtCB4nZ/w238-h119/RiA-Logo.png" width="238" /></a></div>564,100 pageviews<br /></li><li>410 published articles</li><li>Average 1,375 pageviews per article</li><li>Most popular article: <i><a href="http://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2012/02/reduce-first-donate-second-and-compost.html" target="_blank">Reduce First, Donate Second, Compost Third</a></i> (02/11) 18.600 direct views</li></ul><div>Overall the RiA Magazine boasts 12 articles with more 2,000 direct views; the second most popular article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2012/05/waxed-cardboard-boxes-landfill-destiny.html" target="_blank">Waxed Cardboard Boxes = Landfill Destiny = $$ Lost</a></i>, received over 16,200 direct views since publishing in May 2012 and 180 direct views in the past 30 days.</div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Photojournalism</span></b><br />The majority of the Ei Magazine images are courtesy of <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a> (HEI.) Additionally, Holly often volunteers her photography skills for event documentation; the <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/Elemental-Impact-/Urban-Reforesting" target="_blank">HEI Urban Afforestation</a> gallery documents numerous SURF (Suncoast Urban Reforestation) microforest plantings in the Sarasota vicinity. The RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3KmMkwY" target="_blank">Urban Afforestation: food forests and microforests</a></i>, introduces the two emerging movements in urban areas along with their environmental and community benefits.</p><p>When she returned to Sarasota after residing in Atlanta for four decades, Holly Elmore dedicated her spacious approximately 8,500-square-foot yard to two rewilding pilots: <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank">Native-Plant-Landscape Pilot</a> (front yard) and <a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture Pilot</a>, including a food forest. The RiA article, <a href="https://bit.ly/3mWHlcs" target="_blank"><i>Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots</i></a>, introduces the Ei Pilots while the <a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">HEI Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a> album documents the pilots' progress in a series of photo galleries.</p><p>When albums are created or updated, the HEI site averages 80,000+ monthly views; otherwise, with dormant uploading activity, the site averages 35,000 - 40,000 monthly views.</p><p>Respected environmental journalism and photojournalism are integral to success and impact as Ei shifts gears new and exciting initiatives.</p><p>_______________________________________</p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div><div><div><b style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p><br /></p>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-6399987374678377552023-08-21T16:21:00.006-04:002023-08-28T16:31:13.565-04:00Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNM34hsqT2JUj4mDsO85SqJ-nfmxfzPbPgatG0w8vnElChudx027Jmibsp5is2FieevVt5fd5689AU-yl5XBesg2oUynJQYiKb5lpQRYyOyiJA4huWRx5T7XCF2ExAqTtkEERS7EGyiuUtR7SWz7jLEhPB3Yxwz0QCN6EZZRdliZ3sDS7YWtU10h4tjia/s800/05-25-23_EcoJusticeDialogue-graphic.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNM34hsqT2JUj4mDsO85SqJ-nfmxfzPbPgatG0w8vnElChudx027Jmibsp5is2FieevVt5fd5689AU-yl5XBesg2oUynJQYiKb5lpQRYyOyiJA4huWRx5T7XCF2ExAqTtkEERS7EGyiuUtR7SWz7jLEhPB3Yxwz0QCN6EZZRdliZ3sDS7YWtU10h4tjia/w270-h152/05-25-23_EcoJusticeDialogue-graphic.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>The <a href="https://templeofunderstanding.org/" target="_blank">Temple of Understanding</a> (ToU)* invited <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) to host the May monthly <a href="https://ecojusticeforall.org/dialogues-2023" target="_blank">Eco Justice for ALL Dialogue</a>. With the topic, <i>Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective</i>, Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore orchestrated the following panel of Ei Advisors as the dialogue speakers.<p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Stephanie Barger -TRUE Certification for Zero Waste / U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Global Director of Market Transformation</li><li>Simon Lamb -, author of award-winning <a href="https://www.junglenomics.com/" target="_blank">Junglenomics</a></li><li>Tim Trefzer - Honeycomb Strategies Event and Venue Sustainability VP, Sports & Venues.</li></ul><div>Holly served as the dialogue moderator.</div><div><br /></div><div>The entire <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3PiCHSu" target="_blank">Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective</a></i> Dialogue is available for viewing on YouTube.</div><div><br /></div><div>In addition to Ei Advisors, the panelists are members of <a href="https://www.lai.org/">Lambda Alpha International</a>, a 90-year-old land economics honorary.</div><div><br /></div><div>* The ToU is an international interfaith organization that advocates for interfaith values in the secular setting of the United Nations.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Eco Justice for ALL Dialogues (EJAD)</span></b></div><div>According to the website, EJAD are special intimate discussions about the climate emergency with international ChangeMakers.</div><div><br /></div><div>The EJAD series is an ongoing ToU-project focus for past 12 years; the focus is to increase awareness among religious leaders of the climate crisis and its negative impact on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In particular, the EJAD focus is on peace, justice, women's health & safety, food sovereignty, and environmental sustainability.</div><div><br /></div><div>In her welcoming statements, ToU executive director Alison Van Dyk mentioned that the <i>Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective</i> dialogue was the first time the EJAD hosted a business-oriented topic.</div><div><br /></div><div>As she closed her welcoming statements, Alison turned the program over to Holly as the dialogue moderator.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Overview</span></b><br />Within her opening remarks, Holly established herself as a seasoned business woman who started her career as an Arthur Andersen auditor and later served as Controller of Trammel Crow Residential, SE Division. Holly's 15 years in the foodservice industry as a restaurateur and off-premises caterer was the perfect background for the 2009 <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones </a>(ZWZ) launch.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvRc-6zsaK7O9GoaN0FsqWN2jCJxxsNr3UXg674qkoqLE47SlPy8MMEJlQgi6SHZBQYIuSt2mRM6ggQdDhuQSUBF-L7_OCxzF5Mlm-tUCIGjTKtsCpqvcECvjDmyEnLVkmkIkmQfL4SKPSU7pW1IinwIKnk9pSn-eWe5GSLM4cMc09PT1reWO8M9UFWrf/s346/Ei_logo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="278" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvRc-6zsaK7O9GoaN0FsqWN2jCJxxsNr3UXg674qkoqLE47SlPy8MMEJlQgi6SHZBQYIuSt2mRM6ggQdDhuQSUBF-L7_OCxzF5Mlm-tUCIGjTKtsCpqvcECvjDmyEnLVkmkIkmQfL4SKPSU7pW1IinwIKnk9pSn-eWe5GSLM4cMc09PT1reWO8M9UFWrf/w121-h151/Ei_logo.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>In 2010, Ei was formed as the home to the ZWZ, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. From inception through 2017, Ei operated with tremendous success within the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> (RR.) In June 2017, Ei declared the Era of RR<a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank"> Mission Accomplished</a> and segued into the Era of Regeneration where <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> is the primary platform.</div><div><br /></div><div>During the Era of RR, Ei worked closely with Stephanie and Tim; Holly and Simon support each other in the Environmental Economics focus area, which resides within the Nature Prevails platform.</div><div><br /></div><div>As her opening remarks closed, Holly shared the dialogue landscape: it began with Stephanie presenting a broad perspective on why environmental stewardship makes good, solid business sense. Tim followed with specific examples of accomplishments within his role as Director of Sustainability at the Georgia World Congress Center, the nation's fourth largest conference center and home to the Atlanta Falcon's football stadium, and involvement with major sporting events. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the final presenter, the discussion shifted gears with Simon's talk on Junglenomics and how sustainable accomplishments are no longer feasible to avoid climate disaster; regenerative solutions are imperative.</div><div><br /></div><div>Holly turned the microphone over to Stephanie to answer a series of prepared questions.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Broad Perspective</span></b></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwwoknIk_OYkVqj3CmsGu8yluw-JFz1u904XQPjRrV6FmaXafYB_niDlzETNtR27WC9UXj5JTKBaIPDIM49OgR-zwsykwewV3M5HXeG7puP9ALJaBEN_43MdL9YzFrvLD0t-4luBRbn96jQhr5QMkQlO5HqacnQGYOP-uvalQ2oKmEYC3CeDmRmFEyz2g/s742/StephanieBargerUSZWBC.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="438" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwwoknIk_OYkVqj3CmsGu8yluw-JFz1u904XQPjRrV6FmaXafYB_niDlzETNtR27WC9UXj5JTKBaIPDIM49OgR-zwsykwewV3M5HXeG7puP9ALJaBEN_43MdL9YzFrvLD0t-4luBRbn96jQhr5QMkQlO5HqacnQGYOP-uvalQ2oKmEYC3CeDmRmFEyz2g/w118-h199/StephanieBargerUSZWBC.jpg" width="118" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stephanie Barger</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit:<br /><a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>In her self introduction, Stephanie mentioned that she shares a common accounting and audit background with Holly and entered the environmental non-profit realms in 2000 with the launch of Earth Resources. As the founder and executive director of the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC,) Stephanie orchestrated the annual National Zero Waste Business Conferences from 2012 through 2016. Additionally, the USZWBC launched the Zero Waste Certification Program (ZWCP.) </div><div><br /></div><div>When the USGBC purchased the USZWBC in 2016, Stephanie segued into the USGBC Global Director of Market Transformation position, and the ZWCP transformed into the TRUE Certification for Zero Waste. In her USGBC capacity, Stephanie works closely with global corporate leadership on achieving zero waste and embarking on other sustainability endeavors.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Driving Forces</u><br />Multiple factors - many consumer driven - motivate corporations to embrace environmental stewardship. Often the local, state, and federal regulations governing pollution generation, manufacturing by-product disposal, natural resource extraction, and beyond were the result of public outcry related to environmentally damaging common practices.</div><div><br /></div><div>Astute companies realize that they must protect the limited valuable resources used in their products to ensure their long-term sustainability; thus, these companies developed internal environmental stewardship practices to protect their corporate longevity. Additionally. company products must be safe to use and free of hazardous materials to maintain a profitable customer base.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another driving force for sustainable best practices is they simply makes good, solid business sense on tangible and intangible levels. When less resources and energy are expended in the production, packaging, and transportation cycles, lower costs are incurred and the bottom line benefits. An intangible benefit is improved staff morale, which aids in employee retention and recruitment; overall, employees enjoy working for a company that cares about their environmental impact.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Industry Leaders</u><br />For zero waste initiatives, Japanese companies were early leaders with embracing resource-recovery and waste-not practices. Limited landfill space on the island was a natural incentive for operating within zero waste standards. Japanese manufacturers Toyota, Subaru, and Ricoh Electronics incorporated their standard zero waste practices when opening U.S.-based plants across the country. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJof97R4Oxk5EvBb7bJPZWiHzqj_KxW1X6zg5TsO_JMIQ0_ScDuyt5qJOBZ1_u_xUShW3gXAuUqt0ZHYAe-TYlmZf3eXcT20nn-R2QrzXAj_NyqFrg50A93-CxGFTLhErnu-GaOi-uK0VmRJP4lpWpq7osP6VnAleI8cu7Ffojjfxu3BhYqHyIjVi_n3dF/s480/06-26-12%20Eiko%20and%20Stephanie%20on%20stage.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="434" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJof97R4Oxk5EvBb7bJPZWiHzqj_KxW1X6zg5TsO_JMIQ0_ScDuyt5qJOBZ1_u_xUShW3gXAuUqt0ZHYAe-TYlmZf3eXcT20nn-R2QrzXAj_NyqFrg50A93-CxGFTLhErnu-GaOi-uK0VmRJP4lpWpq7osP6VnAleI8cu7Ffojjfxu3BhYqHyIjVi_n3dF/w183-h203/06-26-12%20Eiko%20and%20Stephanie%20on%20stage.JPG" width="183" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Eiko & Stephanie </span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>At the inaugural NZWBC in 2012, Ricoh division manager Eiko Risch was an empowering keynote speaker who inspired the audience on "what could be done." The 2012 Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2012/06/us-zero-waste-business-council-hosts.html" target="_blank">U.S. Zero Waste Business Council hosts first-rate conference</a></i>, highlights Eiko's impressive keynote presentation.</div><div><br /></div><div>When their products directly impact customer health, such as personal beauty items and cleaning supplies, a manufacturer often incorporates environmental stewardship within its corporate ethics. Earth Friendly Products (EFP) is a prime example; EFP is a home-based product manufacturer who adheres to ethical standards ranging from manufacturing ingredients, employee and social equity stewardship, and zero waste practices.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the 2015 NZWBC hosted in Los Angeles, EFP Vice-President Sustainability and Education Nadereh Afsharmanesh spoke at the conference and hosted Holly on a pre-conference tour of their local zero waste-certified plant; the EFP environmental policies were beyond impressive. The 2015 RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2015/05/zero-waste-makes-good-business-sense.html" target="_blank">Zero Waste Makes Good Business Sense</a></i>, features the EFP tour as well as Nadereh's and other zero waste leaders' presentations.</div><div><br /></div><div>Beverage companies like Sierra Nevada are environmental leaders via their ingredient sourcing, zero waste practices, and supporting local economies. Over the past decade, many farms shifted to regenerative agriculture practices and incorporated agri-tourism into their business models. The 2018 RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2018/11/regenerating-bright-future-for-planet.html" target="_blank">Regenerating a Bright Future for Planet Earth</a></i>, features regenerative ranch White Oak Pastures (WOP) within the synopsis of The Savory Institute's Global Network Reunion hosted at WOP in south Georgia.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Corporate Culture</u><br />Corporate culture is key to a long-term environmental stewardship commitment. Beyond the executive team, the company stakeholders, including the Board of Directors and stockholders along with the supply chain, must be in alignment with the commitment. </div><div><br /></div><div>For TRUE certification at the highest level, the supply chain must adhere to strict zero waste practices; otherwise, there is waste inherent within the raw materials used in product manufacturing and/or services provided. Additionally, the company's product packaging must be minimal for safe transportation, reusable or recyclable, and contain no waste passed on to the consumer.</div><div><br /></div><div>For employees to align with the culture, environmental stewardship must be discussed during the employee-interview process, included in job descriptions and evaluations, and integral to consistent staff training, similar to safety standards.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Certifications</u></div><div>As she closed her dialogue, Stephanie explained the important role third-party certifications play with establishing industry standards, setting metric-collection protocol, and preventing green washing. Additionally, trusted certifications educate the public on environmental and health concerns within commonly accepted operating practices as well as with building structures.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGulFrT5H5sysOEBZgHk89Js-aCsJTckC5ZT48QQq3xyDSixhq0MWRT-tuhSeYkYMS2zgoxMTOK9TCBLQG4HCRBVgOjaQ7fRfiwxL6yPBTt2Tc2uJbcyz-yT-NHAwzs1iF3BgspI768DgmBPVjETh1QUvVFs59jgq8iAcko87slG-VDomKdebRk0RunPZC/s730/TRUE_ZW_logo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="535" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGulFrT5H5sysOEBZgHk89Js-aCsJTckC5ZT48QQq3xyDSixhq0MWRT-tuhSeYkYMS2zgoxMTOK9TCBLQG4HCRBVgOjaQ7fRfiwxL6yPBTt2Tc2uJbcyz-yT-NHAwzs1iF3BgspI768DgmBPVjETh1QUvVFs59jgq8iAcko87slG-VDomKdebRk0RunPZC/w137-h187/TRUE_ZW_logo.jpg" width="137" /></a></div>While the TRUE Zero Waste Certification takes a holistic approach via supply chain waste practices and product-packaging implications, the USGBC LEED - Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design - certification addresses how buildings are designed, constructed, and operated. Internationally held in high esteem, LEED is a green-building-certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices within the USGBC umbrella.</div><div><br /></div><div>Beyond LEED certification, the International WELL Building Institute certification focus is on the built environment's impact on employee's mental, physical, and emotional health. Focus areas include air and water quality, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Corporate Stewardship</span></b></div><div>During his decade-long tenure at the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA), Tim excelled in the new position that segued into the Director of Sustainability at the state-owned 220-acre campus; the GWCCA campus housed the nation's fourth largest convention center, the Georgia Dome (home to the Atlanta Falcons football team,) and Olympic Centennial Park. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR56YWrtoMOA_e139mp6wz7rvD9S58-6k9yRV4r5ejIFoqPkIC2Lrh479SFrvHqtX6Cg22hhyEGg3E0YRXDhDaF2nRvuIUnxeiW21oGa45fi4Jg0z3-v2j1onDuDXy7vP-MzaoeZpXxCjtcQxsDa2zuiHQQ659VsPHMutl6iP_q5M_wE_SWhBOLkeYc0WK/s3608/11-17-16_EiPtrMtg_TimSpeaking_SOS.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3019" data-original-width="3608" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR56YWrtoMOA_e139mp6wz7rvD9S58-6k9yRV4r5ejIFoqPkIC2Lrh479SFrvHqtX6Cg22hhyEGg3E0YRXDhDaF2nRvuIUnxeiW21oGa45fi4Jg0z3-v2j1onDuDXy7vP-MzaoeZpXxCjtcQxsDa2zuiHQQ659VsPHMutl6iP_q5M_wE_SWhBOLkeYc0WK/w209-h175/11-17-16_EiPtrMtg_TimSpeaking_SOS.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tim presenting at an Ei Partner Meeting<br /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2017/08/changing-of-guard-welcome-tim-trefzer.html" target="_blank">Changing of the Guard: Welcome Tim Trefzer to the Ei Leadership Team!</a></i>, welcomes Tim to the Ei Leadership Team and gives an overview of his impressive environmental accomplishments during his GWCCA tenure.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tim utilizes his extensive sporting event expertise in his current position as Honeycomb Strategies Event and Venue Sustainability VP, Sports & Venues to support venues and teams with their environmental stewardship commitments.</div><div><br /><u>Sporting Event Industry Leadership</u></div><div>As they encompass a vast cross section of business, government, and community sectors, the sporting event industry emerged as an environmental leader early in the sustainability movement. A multitude of businesses engage with sporting event venues for a variety of services and benefits, ranging from food service to grounds maintenance to corporate-sponsorship contracts Often local or state governments own or are otherwise financially involved in the venue; the GWCCA is a state-owned facility.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sporting event venues are a significant local employer, especially during games or other events. Employees as well as fans are drivers for environmental stewardship, especially in the zero waste realms. Zero waste initiatives are easily observed and experienced by the employee and/or fan. Though it is an important component to environmental stewardship and a cost-saving initiative, energy efficiency is intangible and not directly part of the fan experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>When Tim initially joined the GWCCA team, LEED Certification was pursued as a competitive advantage for winning large sporting event contracts. A decade plus later, LEED Certification is simply expected.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><u>Georgia World Congress Center</u><br />On October 28, 2014, the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) announced the 3.9 million-square-foot conference center was awarded LEED Silver certification. The announcement thrust Atlanta into the national | global sustainability spotlight as home to the world's largest LEED-certified convention center AND the 14th largest LEED-certified building.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3QnQbq0heSYgFK_iOLy8ePLmkH7IMAf3tQ27FFIIULjWImPpuQUp01dW_2TsA23j1h6Y7T9Hs1g8HibfuJW6AZhiVXlMvCg6yniACI0J-HW_byBETTHv29wzqf-heKAUvIYmPQykRx1-7E_D-ya4f-YmJsKIwdRcJeOddIAYuB46kLnaJBF6SAqQmDo5/s2759/10-28-14%20GWCCA%20LEED%20-%20Holly%20&%20Tim.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2759" data-original-width="2747" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3QnQbq0heSYgFK_iOLy8ePLmkH7IMAf3tQ27FFIIULjWImPpuQUp01dW_2TsA23j1h6Y7T9Hs1g8HibfuJW6AZhiVXlMvCg6yniACI0J-HW_byBETTHv29wzqf-heKAUvIYmPQykRx1-7E_D-ya4f-YmJsKIwdRcJeOddIAYuB46kLnaJBF6SAqQmDo5/w205-h206/10-28-14%20GWCCA%20LEED%20-%20Holly%20&%20Tim.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Holly & Tim with Gold LEED plaque</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Recertifying two years early, on November 28, 2017, the GWCC was awarded LEED Gold certification, the second highest level in the rating system. In the recertification, the GWCC was thirteen points higher than the 2014 application and five points higher than the minimum requirement. The majority of the additional points related to the energy-saving performance contract.</div><div><br /></div><div>IMPRESSIVE: the GWCC experienced a 40% reduction in energy usage via the $28 million energy-saving performance contract! Via the contract terms, the new equipment was paid for with energy savings with no upfront investment by the GWCC.</div><div><br /></div><div>The 2018 IMPACT Magazine article, <i><a href="https://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/2018/02/atlanta-greenest-convention-sports-and.html" target="_blank">Atlanta: the greenest convention, sports, and entertainment destination in the world</a></i>, showcases the GWCC's exceptional environmental stewardship commitment under Tim's leadership.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><u>Sporting Event Expertise</u></div><div>As host to the 2013 NCAA® Men’s Final Four®, the second most popular sporting event across the globe, Atlanta set a high standard for sporting event sustainability practices. One of the Atlanta Local Organizing Committee (ALOC) stated goals was to make the 2013 Final Four the "<i>greenest games ever</i>." Tim took the helm for achieving the lofty goal.</div><div><br /></div><div>SUCCESS: the comprehensive ALOC plan culminated in impressive green footprints before, during and after the games. The ZWA Blog article, <i><a href="http://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2013/06/final-four-green-footprints-continue.html" target="_blank">Final Four green footprints continue after the games</a></i>, gives an overview of event sustainability stats; the <a href="https://elementalimpact.worldsecuresystems.com/_literature_122101/Final_Four_Sustainability_Report_(May_2013)" target="_blank">May 2013 Final Four Sustainability Report</a> is the official in-depth report.</div><div><br /></div><div>Post-event, Tim and an EPA colleague drafted the Final Four Sustainability RFP sustainability section. Thus, new industry standards were established!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0UWKkpPjFBjisrJCXTu43meMRKCC19Ks6BBukZnAhr_KtZpuSEoNWP8QWy-r-mwx9I-edIAdpPqkyBfj9gKoqAOy_x7Idlr9JwnZTzzAx1j8Xbgh6or1AeRkQLs2tGFID4vf2NNGWnwEAlfNIfQ6UGjQZ8CMEXkVGtjJtfMgxUhfI0kYhJbWOMvpokVn/s1325/Tim_JackGroh_SBForestryEvent_SF_2016.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1325" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0UWKkpPjFBjisrJCXTu43meMRKCC19Ks6BBukZnAhr_KtZpuSEoNWP8QWy-r-mwx9I-edIAdpPqkyBfj9gKoqAOy_x7Idlr9JwnZTzzAx1j8Xbgh6or1AeRkQLs2tGFID4vf2NNGWnwEAlfNIfQ6UGjQZ8CMEXkVGtjJtfMgxUhfI0kYhJbWOMvpokVn/w236-h148/Tim_JackGroh_SBForestryEvent_SF_2016.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tim & Jack Groh at a Super Bowl event</span></td></tr></tbody></table>For several years, Tim consulted with the College Football Playoff and the Super Bowl leadership on establishing sustainability standards at their prestigious sporting events. In addition, Tim was the sustainability liaison for the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship and the 2019 Super Bowl host committees. The events were hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS;) on the GWCCA campus, MBS replaced the Georgia Dome as home to the Atlanta Falcons and other sport franchises.</div><div><br /></div><div>Validating Tim's significant contributions to sporting event sustainability, National Football League Director of Environmental Programs Jack Groh honored Tim, along with two other icons, in his 2017 Green Sports Alliance Environmental Leadership Award acceptance speech.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><u>Small Businesses</u></div><div>For his final commentary, Tim addressed how a small business may adopt environmental best practices for their facility and operations. Power-purchase agreements are often available where a third party funds the renewable energy-equipment installation and gets paid via energy savings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tim recommended that small businesses shift their waste-stream perspective. Beyond reducing the waste stream, there is a market for many of the disposed materials; mini bales of aluminum, water bottles, and cardboard are three common items that may be sold in the commodities market. Thus, by shifting from a waste to a materials-stream perspective, the business may achieve an improved bottom line via reduced waste-hauler charges and revenue from material sales.</div><div><br /></div><div>Holly advised small businesses to check with their local government for programs designed to fund renewable energy conversions or other energy savings. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Regenerative Solutions</span></b></div><div>In the 2017 RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/2M9QJEa" target="_blank">Beyond Sustainability: Regenerative Solutions</a></i>, the below opening paragraph sets the stage for the dialogue's final speaker Simon Lamb.</div><blockquote><div><i>Over the past decade, sustainability moved from a buzz word to a movement to a culture within leading communities, universities and businesses. Significant strides were made in zero waste practices, renewable energy technology, and reduced carbon / water footprints. Yet the glaciers continue melting, global temperatures are rising, the ocean acidification levels are increasing, and desertification is escalating.</i></div><div></div></blockquote><div>Sustainability merely prevents increased waste, energy usage, resource extraction, and release of toxins into the atmosphere, soils, and waterways. With the tremendous damage inflicted upon the earth via human activity, regenerative solutions that repair, heal, and rejuvenate earthly resources are necessary for life as we know it to survive and once again thrive on our blue-green planet. </div><div><br /></div><div><u>Junglenomics</u></div><div>Simon pursues an academic approach to economic solutions for environmental challenges. Published in 2019, Junglenomics encapsulates 25 years of Simon's study and research on how to create economic markets that support and value environmental stewardship. Within Junglenomics, social policy is equally important to environmental policy.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-usAJId5Ck5OarwfA57468HfIA1cGrb8SmYy7xH-KKLlPEPpxML-91VXuUVRU8xkUYCKXZaTXFIoXt1OhfgGvnmLAZJ4JK7-i1Wh_VpMQW3vvSQx8R5jYJ4qTygwBTbMZXrdV8J9peZrS5ia00fRe0JBagzxYwA6Vp5FGilgeRy-DmBxck9Xerkd5khUd/s3518/JunglenomicsBookCover_FullSz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3518" data-original-width="2281" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-usAJId5Ck5OarwfA57468HfIA1cGrb8SmYy7xH-KKLlPEPpxML-91VXuUVRU8xkUYCKXZaTXFIoXt1OhfgGvnmLAZJ4JK7-i1Wh_VpMQW3vvSQx8R5jYJ4qTygwBTbMZXrdV8J9peZrS5ia00fRe0JBagzxYwA6Vp5FGilgeRy-DmBxck9Xerkd5khUd/w156-h241/JunglenomicsBookCover_FullSz.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>In his self-introduction, Simon explained how his lifelong passion for regenerative solutions based on economic markets emerged. Simon was strongly influenced and inspired by renowned oceanographer, filmmaker, and author Jacques Cousteau as well as <i>Silent Spring</i> by Rachel Carson published in 1962.</div><div><br /></div><div>As a young man, Simon was enthralled with the ancient oak woodlands near his home in the North Wales countryside; the woodlands were a place of reverence, a place of joy. Simon cherished the profound diversity within the forest life cycle including a plethora of insects and pollinators, abundant flora and fauna intermingled within the elder trees, along with a variety of species from the animal and fungi kingdoms. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, Simon discovered an unfathomable alternative perspective: others only valued the ancient woodlands for the lumber derived from fallen oak trees.</div><div><br /></div><div>According to Simon, evolution and economics are closely related within the concept of own wealth, a self wealth. Every creature perceives the world with a unique perspective based on their priorities and need to acquire resources. The economic markets flow within a similar manner as individuals are driven to acquire profitable commodities that provide basic needs for their families and businesses. Thus, individuals are constantly seeking profitable resources.</div><div><br /></div><div>A core problem is the current commodities markets value natural resources once they are extracted or otherwise destroyed; there is no financial incentive to keep the natural resources and their related environmental services in tact.</div><div><br /></div><div>Junglenomics presents Nature's clear blueprint for reorganizing the current economic domain,</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Environmental Services Bonds</u></div><div>Often, the countries rich in natural resources are poor in financial stature with severe poverty, food scarcity, high illiteracy rates, and significant health challenges.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>By creating commodities markets that align with Nature, Simon believes that big business will shift from extractive measures to conservative and regenerative practices. With the extensive damage to natural resources, it is imperative to create financial incentives that regenerate resources back into abundant, balanced states.</div><div><br /></div><div>Utilizing one of the many Junglenomics policies, Simon proposes an Environmental Services Bond market where wealthy countries purchase environmental services from the poor country rich in natural resources. The capital is used to create national parks where resources and wildlife are protected, restore depleted land using regenerative agriculture practices, and create healthy communities with access to nutritious food, education, and medical services.</div></div><div><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Closing Commentary</span></b></div><div>In the Q&A and closing commentary, the speakers addressed how consumers may take effective, individual action.</div><div><br /></div><div>The three speakers emphasized using the power of consumer demand to influence change in corporate practices and product development. Consumers may cast an empowering vote via purchases with their financial resources and by engaging with business managers. In addition to constructive criticism, it is important to applaud businesses for their environmental stewardship successes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Stephanie recommends a review our own lifestyle and habits prior to looking to businesses for solutions. Supporting local small businesses builds a resilient economy where regenerative practices may flourish.</div><div><br /></div><div>Simon recommended purchasing stock in targeted businesses to obtain a stockholder vote. Additionally, Simon emphasized that government is essential and sets the tone for corporate policy and practices and personal living choices; the Environmental Services Bond market requires government participation.</div><div><br /></div><div>In her answer to Tim's question on the USGBC's future focus, Stephanie commented that a plethora of new third-party certifications are added to their portfolio; a primary USGBC emphasis is "lifting everyone up" by providing an array of tools that businesses may use to reduce their various footprints and increase their environmental stewardship.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alyson closed the <i>Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective</i> dialogue with empowering praise and a commitment to include the business perspective in future dialogues and initiatives. </div><div><br /></div><div>If government, educational institutions, non-profits, the secular sector, and businesses work together, major strides in environmental stewardship will naturally flow for a WIN benefiting humanity and all life on our lovely planet.</div><div><br /></div><div>The entire <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3PiCHSu" target="_blank">Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective</a></i> Dialogue is available for viewing on YouTube.</div><div><br /></div><div>________________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p></div><div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div><div><div><b style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">About Elemental Impact:</b></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-77481752303152199522023-06-06T11:21:00.010-04:002023-06-21T17:57:49.790-04:00Coastal Water Quality: land-based activity determines the quality & related economic impact<p>In 2021, <a href="https://bit.ly/VQ8b3I" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore returned to her hometown, Sarasota, Florida, after residing in Atlanta for 40 years, 37 years in her eclectic urban condo. Along with Holly, the Ei national and global headquarters moved to Florida. The IMPACT Magazine article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3TlA3eD" target="_blank">Ei Moves!</a></i>, chronicles activities as Ei settled into Sarasota and joined the empowering environmental community.</p><p>Upon arriving in Sarasota, Holly immediately embarked on building a local Lambda Alpha International group of At-Large members. Holly scheduled Ei- and LAI-introduction meetings with the Sarasota environmental leadership. With nearly 100% success, the environmental leaders accepted Holly's LAI At-Large-member nominations.</p><p><b style="font-size: large;">Lambda Alpha International</b><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span><a href="https://bit.ly/3pz72RI" target="_blank">Lambda Alpha International</a> (LAI) is a 90-years-old honorary society for the advancement of land economics. LAI provides a forum for the study and advancement of land economics where the "winnowing and sifting" of ideas takes place in an atmosphere of mutual respect.</p><p>LAI operates through a network of chapters. A LAI Chapter provides a variety of programs and forums for its members to share information critical to understanding important land-use issues. The IMPACT Blog article, <i><a href="http://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/2014/01/lambda-alpha-international-atlanta.html" target="_blank">Lambda Alpha International Atlanta Chapter: growing membership, influence and impact</a></i>, introduces LAI along with its history and designated purposes.</p><p>In December 2013, Holly was inducted into membership and served on the LAI Atlanta Chapter Board until her 2021 return to Florida. As the International Assistant Communications Director, Holly serves on the LAI Global Executive Committee.</p><p>With no current chapter in Florida, Holly established an environmental Leadership Group (LG) of At-Large LAI members; intentions are to launch a formal LAI Chapter in the future once membership expands beyond the environmental community to a broad spectrum of land economics professionals.</p><p><b style="font-size: large;">The Leadership Group</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8dNUQexqO7kzdP2HMRptpiDxh5FEp-e7ymudrUFlK_QeM-FyZATxBCOTUty1Lov8W2joXSm8taTeebVp_6Xbq0tAcWdy_YOniH-kAn0kl2zigG9X572CazHPqBWHORnXxJlbn2mn_7ZPMgeI7h5_s5ZQuh9okph8dFeQg2suHNnv-zem8SrzoHZSiA/s4489/09-07-17_HE_SRQ_WhtSands-NLongboatKeyBeach.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2756" data-original-width="4489" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8dNUQexqO7kzdP2HMRptpiDxh5FEp-e7ymudrUFlK_QeM-FyZATxBCOTUty1Lov8W2joXSm8taTeebVp_6Xbq0tAcWdy_YOniH-kAn0kl2zigG9X572CazHPqBWHORnXxJlbn2mn_7ZPMgeI7h5_s5ZQuh9okph8dFeQg2suHNnv-zem8SrzoHZSiA/w259-h159/09-07-17_HE_SRQ_WhtSands-NLongboatKeyBeach.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sarasota-barrier island beach<br />photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Established in late 2021, the LG consists of prominent environmental leaders in the Sarasota area with a stated commitment to the economic impact of water quality on the region. Located on the Central Florida Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Coast, Sarasota is a gem in The Sunshine State. With amazing barrier-island beaches (Siesta Key was named #1 beach in the U.S. by TripAdvisor,) and lovely intracoastal waterways, Sarasota's economy is water-quality based and driven by tourism.<p></p><p>CFGCC members include the below prominent Sarasota leaders:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Aaron Virgin, Save our Seabirds CEO</li><li>Bridgett Luther, Table2Farms Founder & Visionary</li><li>Charles Reith, Ph.D, Suncoast Urban Reforesters Founder</li><li>Christine Johnson, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast President</li><li>Dave Tomasko, Ph,D, Sarasota Bay Estuary Foundation Executive Director</li><li>Holly Elmore, Ei Founder & CEO</li><li>Jon Thaxton, Gulf Coast Community Foundation SVP for Community Investment</li><li>Mary Anne Bowie, FAICP, Retired & Universal Unitarian Green Team Chair</li><li>Sandy Gilbert, Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START) Chair</li><li>Tim Rumage, Ringling College of Art & Design Professor of Environmental Studies</li></ul><div>Community members, along with their respective headshots and bios, are listed on the <a href="https://bit.ly/3IAH8DP" target="_blank">Ei LG</a> page.</div><div><br /></div><div>As shared by Christine, the poignant quote by Luna Leopold sets the theme for the LG:</div><p><i></i></p><blockquote><i>The health of our waters depends upon how well we live on the land</i></blockquote><p></p><p>The LG members are committed to action via projects, education, and collaboration within the Sarasota community; initial focus is on the Sarasota Bay-water quality including prevention of contaminants flowing from the land and cleansing pollutants within the water.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Coastal-Water Quality: challenges, solutions, and economic impact</b><b><br /></b></span>With tourism a major regional economic driver, it is imperative to retain the pristine status of the region's barrier-island beaches, the bays and estuaries, the Gulf, and inland water-oriented recreation areas. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoQlpmZOEi2YSJp3me_KGXMNOrIlfUyiPN0JBhRSUKLHMwxbil-wZWOZe-K7TZARQKiMqg2Wyo6wYui8eDZiFxbaFaB8Pp_WPcAw9Oq3d8fI8f4UMzbkS9bDybr10d2m_yKm_WG1L0CrN4aPX02VhL2JCn-Ola5ykcco7Mns3spWtGewtg3lFXLLYzA/s2025/02-17-23_GlobalCoastalWaterWebinargraphicv1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="1620" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoQlpmZOEi2YSJp3me_KGXMNOrIlfUyiPN0JBhRSUKLHMwxbil-wZWOZe-K7TZARQKiMqg2Wyo6wYui8eDZiFxbaFaB8Pp_WPcAw9Oq3d8fI8f4UMzbkS9bDybr10d2m_yKm_WG1L0CrN4aPX02VhL2JCn-Ola5ykcco7Mns3spWtGewtg3lFXLLYzA/w194-h243/02-17-23_GlobalCoastalWaterWebinargraphicv1.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>Ei orchestrated an impressive February 17, 2023 LAI <i>Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact </i>Global Webinar. The global webinar was the second program in an eighteen-month series about water and land economics around the globe hosted by the LAI Global Water Group.<p></p><p>LAI LG Members shared on global-coastal-water challenges along with the economic impact to the local and regional communities. With a well-orchestrated plan, via the Water-Quality Playbook, community organizations execute programs designed to prevent water contamination from land use and to cleanse contaminates in the water.</p><p>The Sarasota Bay Report Card documents achievements and remaining challenging scenarios. Teamwork is required for success with support provided by local, state, and federal governments as well as the community (foundations and taxpayers.)</p><p>Panelists included:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>David Tomasko, Ph.D</li><li>Jon Thaxton</li><li>Christine Johnson</li><li>Sandy Gilbert</li></ul><p></p><p>Sarasota ROCKS when it comes to water-quality commitments; after all, the local economy and way of life depend on healthy waters!</p><p>Watch the webinar recording on <a href="https://bit.ly/3YU0hXD" target="_blank">LAI TV</a> to learn about Sarasota’s successful collaborative water-quality projects and programs; the Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine article,<i><a href="https://bit.ly/3EIddrD" target="_blank"> Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact</a>,</i> provides an in-depth synopsis of the webinar content; panelist PPT presentations are available for download within the article copy.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>In-the Water Projects<br /></b></span>START is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1995 to reduce the excess nutrients in our waterways that feed red tide and other Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs.) START's mission is accomplished via public-education programs, water-quality government outreach, and nutrient-control programs. Sandy Gilbert is the START Chair and Charles Reith serves on the Board.</p><p><b><u>Healthy Pond Collaborative<br /></u></b>According to START, stormwater contributes 65% of the nitrogen in Sarasota Bay, which feeds red tide and causes other damage to water quality and wildlife. You may call them lakes, but the more than 6,000 bodies of water in Sarasota County are all manmade and only operate at 40% to 60% efficiency in removing the excess nutrients that contribute to water pollution.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Igjm5ntBr7Y523N6SJNLc98WlDR4_zyEU_KaGCKfLRemNRzDrdpAIVbDUKvKTAC7XAtefp0QFS9Kqgsu5DQJYUyMegQm3JXvf2RDU5meb1l8rtbdItKPYWJwq0DC7HXSTclIIBWFGBwDeQm9c_W2eeB9fa_L8npIT29aRXcm-xwlKd6Zmd7-vd25gQ/s726/09-22-21_pressconf_sandyspeaking_726px.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="726" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Igjm5ntBr7Y523N6SJNLc98WlDR4_zyEU_KaGCKfLRemNRzDrdpAIVbDUKvKTAC7XAtefp0QFS9Kqgsu5DQJYUyMegQm3JXvf2RDU5meb1l8rtbdItKPYWJwq0DC7HXSTclIIBWFGBwDeQm9c_W2eeB9fa_L8npIT29aRXcm-xwlKd6Zmd7-vd25gQ/w242-h156/09-22-21_pressconf_sandyspeaking_726px.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sandy speaking at the bayside press conference<br />photo courtesy of the<br />Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation</span></td></tr></tbody></table>On September 22, 2021, Sandy accepted the initial $250,000 START grant from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to develop a regional “Healthy Pond Collaborative (HPC)” initiative at a bayside press conference.<p></p><p>HPC objectives are threefold: 1> control erosion, 2> improve pond-filtering efficiency, and 3> help implement cost-efficient pond-maintenance programs. This unique effort and collaboration helps establish state-wide and national models that may be recreated in other communities.</p><p>Overall, stormwater-maintenance best practices are cost effective in the long run and reduce homeowners' and HOAs' landscape- and grounds-maintenance costs. </p><p>Added bonus: a real estate study showed that homes on healthy ponds have a 20% increased property value.</p><p>In 2022, the HPC funded the installation of over 4.3 miles of newly planted pond shorelines in Sarasota County and another 2.9 miles in Manatee County; the planted shorelines, along with no-mow zones, filter the excess nutrients in stormwater runoff before it flows downstream to the Bay.</p><p>The LAI KeyNotes post, <i><a href="https://www.lai.org/news/2021/sep/30/solutions-avoid-red-tide-start-launches-regional-healthy-ponds-collaborative" target="_blank">Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START) Launches Regional Healthy Ponds Collaborative</a></i>, announces the HPC initiative and features the press conference.</p><p><b><u>Gulf Coast Oyster Recycling and Renewal </u></b><br />Another successful START in-water endeavor is the <a href="https://start1.org/gulf-coast-oyster-recycling-renewal-gcorr-program/" target="_blank">Gulf Coast Oyster Recycling and Renewal</a> (GCORR) Program. According to the START website:</p><p><i></i></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7l7JiIkEqir2K4asRfuHi6NLXN2RrJSsEelPSA3ZO0AqChwYqJs5lXy24iJo7teMpxvphhhqhOIfKVULj1uic1r0RGN5l4f9VScJTR9LrFwkpsLRVhDFpBlZRE9zbq5DMdxtPBPftj-ZzwSnZY4uy95s9gJVK3UBNyN0P_6QFO6AI0bDoM5Lzyj-qg/s4122/03-28-23_HEI_Ei-Unfiltered-CharlesMaryAnneTim.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3738" data-original-width="4122" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7l7JiIkEqir2K4asRfuHi6NLXN2RrJSsEelPSA3ZO0AqChwYqJs5lXy24iJo7teMpxvphhhqhOIfKVULj1uic1r0RGN5l4f9VScJTR9LrFwkpsLRVhDFpBlZRE9zbq5DMdxtPBPftj-ZzwSnZY4uy95s9gJVK3UBNyN0P_6QFO6AI0bDoM5Lzyj-qg/w238-h216/03-28-23_HEI_Ei-Unfiltered-CharlesMaryAnneTim.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Charles, Tim, and Mary Anne are joined<br />by John Lambie at the event reception.<br />photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><i>Restoring our local oyster population is a top environmental priority because of the critical role they play in improving water quality and supporting other species. One mature oyster can filter from 9 to 50 gallons of seawater every day. That helps remove nitrogen and phosphorus that clouds the water column and can feed red tide and other harmful algae blooms (HABS). Clearer water allows more sunlight to penetrate the surface helping to grow more and healthier seagrass, another key species for improving water quality.</i><p></p><p></p><p>In April, LAI Community members - Charles, Holly, Tim, Mary Anne, and Aaron - attended the Sarasota Film Festival screening of <span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2F3AxkuYM%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3GHfnOBgYYgasmzwJi6SahFfBt7Zhw7Rrpqygq8qoVN3EOn3rGeLvDyOA&h=AT1I-Q6uIaZBX-qOnHFNltabL7G-xGsmi3J_JY5OxZ8ReuBvGkOoTmfTng5e-dP7EELL27E2rW9EYSPPJ05Zaa-s0JyvqQqX_I2P-qt9F24nnYi_T-yOlFdaLE0btmCcAg&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0JIGi49qKiXYtURlE7MzJIICkKaCo0BRkpjGrvRxWQKPhBm52Ql-RPeL5SVIICRWKhtbcjilDgdsX9UFa1Y-mlLT88ALNsI2LyIBOoKhrQO98x8tDnKP1QUbHijk-pjOom9AlueShp8A0rtt5sv6zIagSXJnsKBsJRyMhvf1y5o_SxsygF0kUWCwu2_U1ePjNtL9JeLULu" target="_blank">Unfiltered: the truth about oysters </a></i>to support Sandy. The film features the GCORR including an interview with Sandy, and START is a "Friend of the Film."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Land-Based Projects</b></span><br />As exemplified by Luna Leopold's quote, land-based activities directly impact the Sarasota Bay water quality. Rewilding land back to its natural state restores watershed systems, prevents soil erosion, eliminates the use of nitrogen-based fertilizers and the "cides" - pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, regenerates soil ecosystems, and provides habitat and food for local and migrating wildlife.</p><p><b><u>The Quads & Bobby Jones Golf Course</u></b><br />Working closely with local governments and organizations, The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast (CFGC) secured conservation easements on The Quads and Bobby Jones Golf Course.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-gWHf26x1bCX8m76zihWL8iu-Bb8Hy_82DX1rfUaI2PbTVXc4CR8wgJREb0V9iFucOOgoKUjP5gL__WaAX2F5CA2wIdGydTXlESQ5i6Kpazj3vmTVQVqK7CIt6lUZatp2ZseiS4qMscfcCmh_yZR2TIta3DuxmerNreVDeBcXr8upVN4wI6xKW-oGQ/s487/ChristineJohnsonBobbyJonesGC.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="487" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-gWHf26x1bCX8m76zihWL8iu-Bb8Hy_82DX1rfUaI2PbTVXc4CR8wgJREb0V9iFucOOgoKUjP5gL__WaAX2F5CA2wIdGydTXlESQ5i6Kpazj3vmTVQVqK7CIt6lUZatp2ZseiS4qMscfcCmh_yZR2TIta3DuxmerNreVDeBcXr8upVN4wI6xKW-oGQ/w252-h133/ChristineJohnsonBobbyJonesGC.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bobby Jones Golf Course<br />photo courtesy of CFGC</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Partnering with the Sarasota Audubon Society, CFGC obtained conservation easements from Sarasota County on three of the four 11-acre Quad parcels located just east of I-75. Contiguous to the world-renowned birding site, The Celery Fields, the Quads project intends to augment bird habitat by planting a forest on one of the parcels. Though there is ample opportunity for unique human access, a primary focus is rewilding the land for the benefit of wildlife.<p></p><p>Originally opened in 1926 as the 18-hole Sarasota Municipal Golf Course, the City of Sarasota-owned golf course was renamed the Bobby Jones Golf Course and eventually expanded to 45 holes over 300 acres. In January 2022, the City of Sarasota donated a conservation easement to the CFGC with the provisions that a 27-hole course will use 45 acres; the remaining land was dedicated to wetland restoration.</p><p>START is a partner in the Bobby Jones Golf Course wetland restoration.</p><div>Thanks to Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota donating conservation easements on The Quads (33 acres) and the Bobby Jones Golf Complex (300 acres,) the CFGC will ensure wetlands are restored, provide urban-wildlife food and habit, create unique public access, and improve the area's water quality.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Microforests</u></b><br />Renowned Japanese botanist and ecologist Akira Miyawaki (1928 – 2021) developed the Miyawaki method for microforests. In 1972, Miyawaki installed his first microforest at the Nippon Steel Corporation's plant in Ōita Prefecture. According to Urban Forests, since the 1980's over 2000 microforests were successfully planted across the globe using the Miyawaki method.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo5xDdNw0r6-JoBRx3AbWbTkyfQ_M6wdoExpLK2oj9pps23HR-hnqukZdJSgiC2TB6O23qO7txVdZffX5UALTFf6C420w3gDqI1M5rgCoAlUmZMGNyb7Fe1nIa6Cj5OkphoEQgqHyvWQ-7OQbEb8Tf18nzsB7s7EV4cSOFmi_nAFrFSqGykE01iiphw/s4340/01-18-23_HEi_Ei_HH_ClimateFirst.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2834" data-original-width="4340" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo5xDdNw0r6-JoBRx3AbWbTkyfQ_M6wdoExpLK2oj9pps23HR-hnqukZdJSgiC2TB6O23qO7txVdZffX5UALTFf6C420w3gDqI1M5rgCoAlUmZMGNyb7Fe1nIa6Cj5OkphoEQgqHyvWQ-7OQbEb8Tf18nzsB7s7EV4cSOFmi_nAFrFSqGykE01iiphw/w266-h174/01-18-23_HEi_Ei_HH_ClimateFirst.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Charles honors Climate First at the Heritage<br />Harbor Microforest Planting, Sandy is in the back.<br />photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Randomized planting of native-tree saplings creates four layers: canopy tree, tree, sub-tree, and shrub; trees within each category are not planted next to each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>Due to the dense planting and fast growth, microforests draw down carbon from the atmosphere into the soil, via photosynthesis, at a faster rate (10X) than traditional forests. Microforests have a cooling impact on and provide a natural oasis within urban environments. With indigenous trees and shrubs, microforests are a haven for urban wildlife via food, habitat, and refuge from buildings and impervious surfaces.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Founded by Charles, Suncoast Urban Reforesters (SURF) is a collaborative organization dedicated to installing a series of microforests on Florida's Central Gulf Coast. SURF operates within START's organization structure.</div><div><br /></div><div>To date, SURF boasts the successful installation of five local microforests, ranging in size from a 1/4 of an acre to a full acre. Four additional microforests and two living walls are in the development stages.</div><div><br /></div><div>SURF microforests focus on erosion control and stormwater abatement. As stormwater often contains contaminants including nitrogen-based fertilizers, stormwater abatement aids in the prevention of severe and costly red tide outbreaks. </div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievA7GrqjWMwyOZf6Y9oKS_WfxtFpYNRoDHEBDMdQRz2g1g9j5KxdoIBko3pY4FtUw3GA9fGP0iOPVFT0JQk3MAyS-WudK-pc9H0Gx4LHNpNExMEPxsBaZoYmaY-HeNwL5DKyGza7HaasbAsalwFlgsFSiQKIG7r5SAoo5QnxJ6tmeMB0rUnHCMDF8AA/s4047/01-18-23_HEi_Ei_HH_TimPlanting.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3846" data-original-width="4047" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEievA7GrqjWMwyOZf6Y9oKS_WfxtFpYNRoDHEBDMdQRz2g1g9j5KxdoIBko3pY4FtUw3GA9fGP0iOPVFT0JQk3MAyS-WudK-pc9H0Gx4LHNpNExMEPxsBaZoYmaY-HeNwL5DKyGza7HaasbAsalwFlgsFSiQKIG7r5SAoo5QnxJ6tmeMB0rUnHCMDF8AA/w204-h194/01-18-23_HEi_Ei_HH_TimPlanting.jpg" width="204" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tim plant tree saplings<br />photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Red tide occurs when there is a higher-than-normal concentration of Karenia brevis, a microscopic algae, in the nearby Gulf of Mexico; Karenia brevis feeds on nitrogen, phosphorous and other pollutants. Thus, a microforest's absorption of stormwater prevents the flow of contaminated stormwater into waterways that eventually reach the Gulf of Mexico and helps to deter red tide outbreaks.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Tim works closely with Charles on the SURF microforests planning and development, Mary Anne routinely volunteers at microforest-planting days, and Holly serves as the official START/SURF photographer. Additionally, Holly mentors Zach Zildjian, Zach Zildjian Design Services owner, who designs the microforest footprint and oversees the tree-planting day.</div><div><br /></div><div>The RiA article, <a href="https://bit.ly/3KmMkwY" target="_blank"><i>Urban Afforestation: Food Forests and Microforests</i></a>, introduces microforests and features the Heritage Harbor Microforest-planting day orchestrated by SURF; The Holly Elmore Images(HEI) <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3YDi3hq" target="_blank">Heritage Harbor Microforest Planting</a></i> album gives a still-photo documentary of the event.</div><p><b><u>Save our Seabirds (SOS)</u></b><br />Via an Ei introduction, Charles and Aaron met at the SOS property to strategize on how to incorporate a microforest into the landscape designs. Though the microforest is a year to so away, Aaron is committed to rewilding the property via replacing invasive, non-native species with native plants.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw38VOdZ8Jk6Wto3JlUqS2gBVdjTfSR8EtHBTJsiiL3j615W0fi-p3X0PkRYKXEvI9DrbHOz3WQBCIGz0uya1ee0q00QTRcxvyqZl7pc9n8MxbaukCrtSSfXz55rmdNj5AezTUIejLunxXieaUxFtoXrdJkb6AAjKWb4HkEpDlu0GPNxaHq6blKyn2FA/s2966/04-20-22_HEI-AaronCharles.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2939" data-original-width="2966" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw38VOdZ8Jk6Wto3JlUqS2gBVdjTfSR8EtHBTJsiiL3j615W0fi-p3X0PkRYKXEvI9DrbHOz3WQBCIGz0uya1ee0q00QTRcxvyqZl7pc9n8MxbaukCrtSSfXz55rmdNj5AezTUIejLunxXieaUxFtoXrdJkb6AAjKWb4HkEpDlu0GPNxaHq6blKyn2FA/w177-h175/04-20-22_HEI-AaronCharles.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aaron & Charles <br />photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>In May 2022, Holly introduced Aaron to Pam Callender of Lifelines who specializes in native-plant-landscape design. Funded by a Longboat Key Garden Club grant, Aaron contracted with Pam to design the transformation of an unsightly drainage ditch into a stormwater-demonstration garden. Native plants were selected for coastal properties and bird habitat. On February 28, 2023, Pam oversaw the installation of 360 plants (54 species) by volunteers and Aaron himself!<p></p><p>The RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="http://bit.ly/3L7EYxN" target="_blank">Ei Connections: Save our Seabirds | Lifelines</a></i>, showcases the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-connects/" target="_blank">Ei Connection</a> as well as the Lifelines drainage-ditch transformation; the HEI album, <i><a href="http://bit.ly/3L7EYxN" target="_blank">Save our Seabirds / Lifelines</a></i>, provides a pictorial recap.</p><p><b><u>Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots</u></b><br />When she returned to Sarasota, Florida, Holly dedicated her spacious approximately 8,500-square-foot yard to two rewilding pilots. The front-yard native-plant-landscape pilot provides habitat and food for local urban wildlife; the bountiful insect population is the base of the predator-prey hierarchy and supports a robust wildlife community. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9W3YBEg0BEcEcPxkGforsQ3alPqNeinJ2_fw-PXeWC4ATjRN66eyOet-HxUNN0H9C7-EwDSWv72mcuReQjZfBLYsizFps2nwSv6MEswIhWa_RBjw7v6UzrIUJlFJGdisMKyYdpcSlm7JdUuTDXIFafg5JlRN-U1_CJl8FKC4AUdqjRPdjaK4xolJKGQ/s4601/10-21-22_HEI_Ei-CharlesMtg.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3707" data-original-width="4601" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9W3YBEg0BEcEcPxkGforsQ3alPqNeinJ2_fw-PXeWC4ATjRN66eyOet-HxUNN0H9C7-EwDSWv72mcuReQjZfBLYsizFps2nwSv6MEswIhWa_RBjw7v6UzrIUJlFJGdisMKyYdpcSlm7JdUuTDXIFafg5JlRN-U1_CJl8FKC4AUdqjRPdjaK4xolJKGQ/w254-h205/10-21-22_HEI_Ei-CharlesMtg.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Charles strategizing with Zach & his team<br />in the backyard pilot.<br />photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The backyard pilot follows permaculture-oriented-landscape (POL) practices with an emphasis on human-food-producing plants. Thus, the general rule for the backyard landscape: <i>any non-native plants must produce human food and/or provide direct soil-ecosystem benefit</i>.<p></p><p>While the front-yard landscape is strictly native plants and was installed over a two-day period, the backyard pilot is an evolutionary process. For nearly nine months, the backyard was permitted to return to its "wild state" with abundant plant diversity; a variety of happy insects frolicked in the knee-high grass infiltrated with flowering plants.</p><p>Beginning in early 2022, the backyard was slowly "tamed" with mulched paths, a banana-compost circle, a row of native-blueberry bushes under the roof dripline, a pollinator garden, a food forest, and a raised herb-garden area with sun protection. Once the invasive carrotwood tree was removed, the south-side yard was opened to ample sunshine and prepped for a vegetable, herb, and edible-flower garden.</p><p>Charles introduced Holly to Zach, who oversees the backyard pilot evolution, and continues to provide support and inspiration for the POL</p><p>The RiA article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3mWHlcs" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots</a></i>, introduces the pilots; the Holly Elmore Images (HEI) <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4599502795777432649/7748175230315219952#" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots</a></i> album documents the pilots' progress in a series of photo galleries.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Soil & Water: <i>the foundation of life</i></b></span><br />As the Unitarian Universalist Church Green Team Chair, Mary Anne invited Holly to speak at their November 2022 meeting. Zach joined Holly for the the <i>Soil & Water: the foundation of life </i>presentation and shared on POL including its environmental impact.</p><p>For an encore performance, Holly spoke solo at the ECO Democrats Manatee February meeting.</p><p>The RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" target="_blank">Soil & Water The Foundation of Life</a></i>, recaps the presentation outline with more in-depth information; the PPT presentation is available for download at this <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/11-30-22_EiPPT_UUChurch.pdf" target="_blank">link</a>.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Table2Farms (T2F)</span></b><br />Within a year of each other, Bridgett and Holly moved to the Florida Central Gulf Coast, a mere hour from each other. Once reconnected, Bridgett invited Holly to join the <a href="https://www.table2farms.com/" target="_blank">T2F</a> Team as the industry expert during the pre-funding stage. T2F is committed to scaling-up food waste-composting operations in small- to medium-sized cities across the nation.</p><p>T2F vision: <i>to aggregate billions of dollars for compost infrastructure funds and establish hundreds of industrial composting facilities in cities across the United States.</i></p><p>Once T2F secures initial funding, Holly will spearhead a Scaling-Up Composting in Sarasota Pilot working with Sunshine Community Compost; the intention is to develop a replicable template for scaling a grassroots-composting system into an operation with a solid business model including ample capacity for growth.</p><p>The LG will support the pilot in various capacities.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Working Together</span></b><br />As showcased in this article, the LG members work closely together within a myriad of interfaces related to coastal-water quality. With tremendous synergies, the LG intends to create a research project that augments and scientifically substantiates an existing local endeavor. Potential funding sources include one of the local foundations focused on environmental concerns as well as a Land Economics Foundation grant.</p><p>The environmental Leadership Group continues to grow its membership and influence in the Sarasota coastal area. Stay tuned for updates on the progress and substantial impact.</p><p>__________________</p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a>.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><u>About Lambda Alpha International</u></b>:</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Lambda Alpha International (LAI) is an honorary society for the advancement of land </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">economics. LAI provides a forum for the study and advancement of land economics where the "winnowing and sifting" of ideas takes place in an atmosphere of mutual respect.</span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">LAI operates through a network of chapters. A LAI Chapter provides a variety of programs and forums for its members to share information critical to understanding important land-use issues. The IMPACT Blog article, <i><a href="http://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/2014/01/lambda-alpha-international-atlanta.html" target="_blank">Lambda Alpha International Atlanta Chapter: growing membership, influence and impact</a></i>, introduces LAI along with its history and designated purposes.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In December 2013 Ei Founder Holly Elmore was inducted into membership and served on the LAI Atlanta Chapter Board until returning to Florida in 2021. As the International Assistant Communications Director, Holly serves on the LAI Global Executive Committee.</span></span></div><p><br /></p>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-3597072056943472862023-05-12T11:58:00.001-04:002023-05-12T19:48:53.804-04:00Nature Prevails: it is time to emulate Nature's perfected systems <p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In September 2020, <a href="https://bit.ly/VQ8b3I" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei), a U.S.-based non-profit with a global audience, announced a new platform, <a href="https://bit.ly/2FWkecw" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, that complemented the existing <a href="https://bit.ly/40urOPr" target="_blank">Soil Health </a>and <a href="https://bit.ly/1tfFQAV" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a> platforms. Within the Nature Prevails premise, the Earth heals herself and nurtures renewed life forms, no matter the calamity caused by humans, natural disasters, or extraterrestrial activities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_9bEwk2Eh3xU5K-5dr84vTs8hp6myKnsU9IyBeg_ypazKXjqkRHn2E2q5sNuqLC5j99QIcB5RWZIcecWTQ1BcSLjVX-4mBgCuFxyk939ui4HsQsbQy7-T5ZcSgoU1GobBKebP7AmDF8J-L_QvrCOwYZoO4Yi85hvP-yO78G9dC9skkekJMi4Nb5dzg/s743/NaturePrevails.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="665" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_9bEwk2Eh3xU5K-5dr84vTs8hp6myKnsU9IyBeg_ypazKXjqkRHn2E2q5sNuqLC5j99QIcB5RWZIcecWTQ1BcSLjVX-4mBgCuFxyk939ui4HsQsbQy7-T5ZcSgoU1GobBKebP7AmDF8J-L_QvrCOwYZoO4Yi85hvP-yO78G9dC9skkekJMi4Nb5dzg/w232-h259/NaturePrevails.JPG" width="232" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nature Prevails tagline: <i>The Earth will heal and renew herself, when she chooses</i>.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the 2020 COVID-19-global-pandemic quarantines, citizens witnessed the immediate impact of reduced human activity via clearer skies, orchestras of bird songs, and the roaming of wild animals in urban and rural parks. The experiences were a glimpse of how quickly the natural world resumes when human activity subsides.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span>From Ei's perspective, the Earth is perfectly fine within the </span>calamitous scenarios caused by humans. When enough is enough, the Earth will simply rid herself of these pesky humans who wreak havoc on Nature's perfected systems; healing of the environment and renewal of life forms will follow.</span></p><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Principles of Nature</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">With a commitment to align projects with Nature, Ei defined The Principles of Nature (PON) with three broad categories:</span></span><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Diversity</span></span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Dynamic Balance & Nutrition Systems</span></span></li><li><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Necessity of Cover & Ability to Roam</span></span></li></ul></div></h3><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGunLeo5aQ-RordE4ialUOTUi5OV2CBmhIrvdBaZM57RGXzSljDF6Xd1_U5Bk_P92w2_0jz3BX5q53OjOFeaberXLpHikcxTpHp9RM5SPeOkS2e76nP4_Lxqh4ZyPdq3RKBNqdleFDbcim7GixU1MRzpQmFDUsp2s255u1_7Z5VtDNmye414kD1VTG9w/s1711/05-30-16%20HE%20AUS%20man%20sleeping%20on%20concrete.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="1705" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGunLeo5aQ-RordE4ialUOTUi5OV2CBmhIrvdBaZM57RGXzSljDF6Xd1_U5Bk_P92w2_0jz3BX5q53OjOFeaberXLpHikcxTpHp9RM5SPeOkS2e76nP4_Lxqh4ZyPdq3RKBNqdleFDbcim7GixU1MRzpQmFDUsp2s255u1_7Z5VtDNmye414kD1VTG9w/w226-h227/05-30-16%20HE%20AUS%20man%20sleeping%20on%20concrete.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A gentleman sleeps on a sidewalk <br />next to a water moccasin-infested stream.<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though they define natural systems, the PON also apply to human communities and cultures. For example, roadways, airports, and broadband communication align with the Ability to Roam; agriculture, the hospitality industry, and food-security challenges align with Nutrition Systems: social inequities, environmental justice, and severe poverty align with Dynamic Balance; affordable housing, homeless individuals, and urban neighborhoods align with the Necessity of Cover.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Societal hierarchies within bee and ant colonies, wolf packs, elephant herds, bird flocks, and other eusocial colonies demonstrate that the community is only as strong as the weakest link; as long as they perform their designated tasks within these eusocial colonies, the workers are treated fairly and with respect. When it maintains dynamic balance within their population and the other PON align, the community thrives.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since recorded history, humans often developed out-of-balance dynamics within their culture where worker populations were disrespected and frequently abused. The current scenarios of extreme poverty, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">severe homelessness, and food scarcity </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">prevalent across the globe</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> impact </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">many urban environments; the challenging scenarios </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">reflect the unbalanced societal hierarchies established within cultural and government norms.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Back to Basics: Water, Soil, & Insects<br /></span></b></span><span>As featured in her May 2020 </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3dsGwib" target="_blank">Bigger than Us podcast interview</a><span>, Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore is known for the following quote:</span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In order for life as we know it to survive and thrive on planet earth, we must - absolutely must - get our soil and water microbial communities back to a healthy, balanced state.</span></i></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As presented in the RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" target="_blank">Soil & Water: the foundation of life</a></i>, soil and water are in a sacred marriage, support life on Earth, and must be addressed in unison. Healthy well-structured soil is a living, breathing ecosystem and retains significantly more water than depleted soil. Additionally, healthy soil filters water and removes contaminates as it flows to aquifers. In return, water keeps a healthy soil ecosystem hydrated.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArwT3jR2kIrpjdq4V2OpK_8dUCWmMs1BCex5uZRh4yBZwzbXYl0FfkudKtNdydvdsOu4lbiOIkXgl-DILa8eIKNRFM5K6a2nzj_xQg5UeWmxYtENJaTno9Vh7ytAfu0aW4K4f-a5V6KMbPu6KmTZkQ0o1Vq2wkZPNnBZu_mNVQPzab5i-B74JpHqWUg/s730/07-03-15%20HE%20ABG%20macro%20-%20dragonfly%20on%20plant%20TE.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="730" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjArwT3jR2kIrpjdq4V2OpK_8dUCWmMs1BCex5uZRh4yBZwzbXYl0FfkudKtNdydvdsOu4lbiOIkXgl-DILa8eIKNRFM5K6a2nzj_xQg5UeWmxYtENJaTno9Vh7ytAfu0aW4K4f-a5V6KMbPu6KmTZkQ0o1Vq2wkZPNnBZu_mNVQPzab5i-B74JpHqWUg/w227-h191/07-03-15%20HE%20ABG%20macro%20-%20dragonfly%20on%20plant%20TE.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dragonfly at an<br /> Atlanta Botanical Garden pond<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Insects are the base of predator-prey hierarchy, integral to the natural ecosystem foundation, and essential to supporting the Earth’s life web. Many insects, such as dragonflies and mosquitoes, live their juvenile or larva stage under water and their adult lives on land supporting plants and soil systems; aquatic larva is similar to a butterfly's caterpillar stage.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the base of the prey hierarchy, insects are food for fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In addition to recycling soil-system nutrients and pollinating plants, insects play an essential role in the decomposition portion of nature’s circular-life cycle. Insects provide a plethora of environmental services that often go unnoticed until the services cease.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In essence, water, soil, and insects are the foundation for life on Earth and must be addressed as a trilogy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In human societies, indigenous races and worker populations are comparative to the insects' role in nature's perfected cycles. Indigenous races carry the wisdom of their ancestors when humans lived in balance with Nature, respecting the resources generously provided by the Earth; the worker population provides the necessary labor for the overall population to thrive within the balance of basic essentials: food, shelter, and clothing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Environmental Services </span></b><br />Environmental services are the contributions natural resources along with the plant and animal kingdoms provide to the overall and/or local ecosystem within the Earth's perfected operating systems. Yet, human-created markets do not value the often intangible services necessary to support life as we currently know it on our planet.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjKV6svpLu197xbq6cBAHiJT7aawlzDI93BWn6tklHCwxFC7_-KQBqw-urBVrvgBNZwbtKG0k3zqrYPT8iC9PJTQIecDiI1mTCqEcRELq4omxtX9ysfygoIUgXjbp4yOQoDdvsYJKZ4GmjBVhpBDnHA-yn5wPM5I7vkWBr07jw0bPJIp6MOJdegdG-Q/s820/amazon-rainforest-peru.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="820" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjKV6svpLu197xbq6cBAHiJT7aawlzDI93BWn6tklHCwxFC7_-KQBqw-urBVrvgBNZwbtKG0k3zqrYPT8iC9PJTQIecDiI1mTCqEcRELq4omxtX9ysfygoIUgXjbp4yOQoDdvsYJKZ4GmjBVhpBDnHA-yn5wPM5I7vkWBr07jw0bPJIp6MOJdegdG-Q/w224-h168/amazon-rainforest-peru.webp" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Amazon rainforest<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="https://eos.org/" target="_blank">Eos</a><br /></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Global commodity markets are a strong contributing factor to the destructive treatment of natural resources and environments. Rather than valuing the environmental services freely provided by the Earth ecosystem, the current markets place value on "destroyed resources." For example, a thriving rain forest contains no intrinsic value in the current commodity markets until the trees are cut down for wood and/or agricultural land. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tropical rainforests, residing around the Earth's equator from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn, provide a wide range of environmental services to the nearby communities as well as across the globe. The </span><a href="https://www.arborday.org/programs/rainforest/importance-of-rain-forests.cfm" style="font-family: Calibri;" target="_blank">Arbor Day Foundation</a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> lists the below rain forest environmental services:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Provide habitat for approximately 50% of the world’s plants and animals found on land.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Serve as wintering grounds for songbirds.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help maintain global weather patterns and rainfall.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reduce erosion.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maintain soil fertility on the forest floor.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Supply food, medicines and other plant-based products that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hold immeasurable amounts of untapped potential for new medicines.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span>According to the October 2020 Xprize article, <i><a href="https://www.xprize.org/prizes/rainforest/articles/economic-benefits-of-saving-the-rainforests#" target="_blank">Economic Benefits of Saving Rainforests</a></i>, research conducted by economists and agricultural engineers valued the economic benefit of a conserved Amazon Rainforest at </span>$8.2 billion a year.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The current commodity markets promote natural resource destruction and place no value on conservation of environmental services.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ecological Economics</b></span><br />In his award-winning book, <a href="https://junglenomics.com/" target="_blank"><i>Jungelnomics</i></a>, Ei Advisor Simon Lamb </span>provides a vision for a future world rescued from decline; the vision is based on an understanding of the profound forces at work in modern economies. Junglenomics presents Nature's clear blueprint for reorganizing the current economic domain, and is the culmination of 25-years of research and insight.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp2tRj-8xzw2S8V6h_nSweVcRzmZ58vlHuJULvc6eHdH4bRtQTd_FXXlvpbPA245H0isbw_qoTwaGIte21S7RMK2eAXenaCmT-ZHyoMdLPcuQbFFXCWq2L8dq6pRCZ4gYaMVI6VeKfDVwANUR1yfRfvWykZ23tglJQJJAXB_Mh5zGY6TkLIec2TO92Q/s237/JunglenomicsBookCover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="213" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp2tRj-8xzw2S8V6h_nSweVcRzmZ58vlHuJULvc6eHdH4bRtQTd_FXXlvpbPA245H0isbw_qoTwaGIte21S7RMK2eAXenaCmT-ZHyoMdLPcuQbFFXCWq2L8dq6pRCZ4gYaMVI6VeKfDVwANUR1yfRfvWykZ23tglJQJJAXB_Mh5zGY6TkLIec2TO92Q/w173-h193/JunglenomicsBookCover.jpg" width="173" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Often, the countries rich in natural resources are poor in financial stature with severe poverty, food scarcity, high illiteracy rates, and significant health challenges.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By creating commodity markets that align with Nature, Simon believes that big business will shift from extractive measures to conservative and regenerative practices. With the extensive damage to natural resources, it is imperative to create financial incentives that regenerate resources back into abundant, balanced states.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Utilizing one of the many Junglenomics policies, Simon proposes an Environmental Services Bond market where wealthy countries purchase environmental services from the poor country rich in natural resources. The capital is used to create national parks where resources and wildlife are protected, restore depleted land using regenerative agriculture practices, and create healthy communities with access to nutritious food, education, and medical services.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Future articles will delve deeper into the Environmental Services Bond market specifics.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Junglenomics' policies align with the PON presented earlier and seek to benefit the impoverished human populations as well as restore natural resources.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Conclusion</span></b><br /></span><span>Strong, resilient ecosystems align with the Principles of Nature; </span>the smallest life forms, whether single-cell microbes, insects or other minute life forms, are integral to the ecosystem's foundation. Larger, dominant wildlife are dependent upon the smallest life forms for their species to thrive; the entire ecosystem is interdependent within its diverse life forms.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As with dominant wildlife species, humans are dependent upon the microbial communities, insects, and diverse plant and animal kingdoms for survival. As Simon Lamb eloquently presents in Junglenomics, overhauled commodity and financial markets are an avenue for humanity to emulate Nature's perfect systems, restore and regenerate natural resources, treat indigenous and worker populations with dignity and respect, and thrive while in alignment with Nature.</span></p><div>________________________</div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a>.</span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div></span></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-85822031123424640682023-03-15T10:21:00.003-04:002023-11-12T13:50:47.793-05:00Ei Rewilding Urban Landscape Pilots<div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beyond regenerative agriculture and landscape practices, rewilding land restores the natural ecosystem that evolved over thousands of years. Rewilding land requires the restoration of native plants and cultivates food for indigenous insects. Strong insect populations are the foundation for restoring wildlife-predator/prey hierarchies that once thrived prior to human intrusion.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his New York Times bestseller, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Best-Hope-Approach-Conservation/dp/1604699000/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=natures+Best+hope&qid=1615228240&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in your Yard</a></i>, Doug Tallamy encourages citizens to rewild their yards via replacing toxic lawns with native plants that support local insect populations.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div>Inherent within rewilding urban landscapes are three primary benefits: </div><div><ul><li>Restoration of vibrant soil ecosystems and urban-wildlife populations; production of nutritious food destined for wildlife and humans.</li><li>Drawdown of carbon from the atmosphere into the soils via plant photosynthesis.</li><li>Establishment of food-secure neighborhoods within a community.</li></ul><div><b style="font-size: x-large;">Homegrown National Park</b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>Via his recent book, <i><a href="https://www.workman.com/products/bringing-nature-home/paperback" target="_blank">Bringing Nature Home, how you can sustain wildlife with native plants</a></i>, Doug announces his <a href="https://homegrownnationalpark.org/" target="_blank">Homegrown National Park</a> (HNP) initiative in partnership with Michelle Alfandari, business development consultant, entrepreneur, small business owner, and retimer.</div></div></span></div><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6Yv6dpNIYAYZccTi8_1C5NjZLRBDyI8rCCZSjphgLXSHZWIj4ceVPnCUeHTekPpS4zdunEGQDXUIZwUqe8xuQLQAU5Y4kN3iJdi8SP8vJVo5GlRl_71g-IPeCY6AONYd1X189a0uGUeJ9TROLwaUi6Ij31fdVfyHHTN7yw1ZDcnQr3JDp_SIpmJBOQ/s1294/HNP_Image.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="1000" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6Yv6dpNIYAYZccTi8_1C5NjZLRBDyI8rCCZSjphgLXSHZWIj4ceVPnCUeHTekPpS4zdunEGQDXUIZwUqe8xuQLQAU5Y4kN3iJdi8SP8vJVo5GlRl_71g-IPeCY6AONYd1X189a0uGUeJ9TROLwaUi6Ij31fdVfyHHTN7yw1ZDcnQr3JDp_SIpmJBOQ/w201-h261/HNP_Image.jpg" width="201" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">HNP is a grass roots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity. According to Doug,</span><p></p><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i>In the past, we have asked one thing of our gardens: that they be pretty. Now they have to support life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators, and manage water.</i>”</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">National awareness is HNP's product along with a request for the below actions on the more than 40-million acres of private lawn in the United States:</span></p><p></p><ol><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reduce lawns.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant more native plants.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remove invasive and/or non-native plants.</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The <i><a href="http://bit.ly/3W97zFf" target="_blank">What's the Rush</a></i> 24-minute video by Doug is a superb overview of the critical status of the insect population along with simple lifestyle changes by individuals that collectively make a huge difference.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Permaculture-Oriented Landscapes (POL)</b></span><br />In the previously referenced video, <i>What's the Rush?</i>, Doug refers to POL as ecological landscapes with the following four purposes:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><ul><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGN7F5AbChDRYfgC6633l-4aH7jmUTkVjzinKovYnlx8lo7yr-qi15D4tba3UN3k7EY3xW2i84HyFkjLej1AopSuv9GClWzL6bOA9eHAUmreKofjXLo0JJT2bPH2m1g9a8x1V9HVcOpVWR_bBLdDgo9NXJQJLljDmO0_iYr97hMCTzqugBdvfz6jk-A/s4572/07-15-22_HEI_Ei_Backyd_Paths-CompostCircle.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3483" data-original-width="4572" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGN7F5AbChDRYfgC6633l-4aH7jmUTkVjzinKovYnlx8lo7yr-qi15D4tba3UN3k7EY3xW2i84HyFkjLej1AopSuv9GClWzL6bOA9eHAUmreKofjXLo0JJT2bPH2m1g9a8x1V9HVcOpVWR_bBLdDgo9NXJQJLljDmO0_iYr97hMCTzqugBdvfz6jk-A/w248-h189/07-15-22_HEI_Ei_Backyd_Paths-CompostCircle.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Path leads to a banana-compost circle for</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">yard debris and kitchen-food waste.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Support food webs, human and wildlife.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sequester carbon.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clean and manage water.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Support pollinators.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei partners with Zach Zildjian Design Services (ZZ Design) on promoting POL. Per Zach Zildjian, an ecological landscaper, POL have three main components:</span></p><p></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Food forest (perennial food production.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vegetable & herb gardens (annual food production.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Compost of landscape debris as well as home-food waste.</span></li></ul></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><b>Ei Rewilding Urban Landscape Pilots</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When she returned to her hometown, Sarasota, Florida, after residing in Atlanta for four decades, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore dedicated her spacious approximately 8,500-square-foot yard to two rewilding pilots. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images (HEI) <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i> album documents the pilots' progress in a series of photo galleries.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Ei Native-Plant-Landscape Pilot</u></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Native-plant landscapes provide urban wildlife access to food and habitat. When "cide*" free, native-plant landscapes provide wildlife a safe haven amid urban life filled with buildings, roadways, and often sterile and/or toxic open areas.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ598evNkOKeFb8CvyT1jSgTdtpxmBmjaRVLJszjRjGJt1SEWljWFBVSN0IpKB82qlAF0IWYXQx78g31bkLFepYs3MxPsDTw3MYsBdc-xcb2VyDVd23FUslNrbxuRADQz-MSlz0Zbvsfj7h357AO_uAolZO3IfxhsZmNxdSRu9otOEfVA-UWiW2k5wiQ/s5486/11-09-22_HEI_Ei-FrontYard1Yr.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3900" data-original-width="5486" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ598evNkOKeFb8CvyT1jSgTdtpxmBmjaRVLJszjRjGJt1SEWljWFBVSN0IpKB82qlAF0IWYXQx78g31bkLFepYs3MxPsDTw3MYsBdc-xcb2VyDVd23FUslNrbxuRADQz-MSlz0Zbvsfj7h357AO_uAolZO3IfxhsZmNxdSRu9otOEfVA-UWiW2k5wiQ/w251-h178/11-09-22_HEI_Ei-FrontYard1Yr.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The young front-yard native-plant landscape</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">thrives as it matures.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Local wildlife evolved to thrive on native foliage and, in general, do not eat or nest in non-native plants. Additionally, many non-native plants are invasive and choke out native plants, further challenging urban wildlife.</div><div><br /></div><div>Holly's front yard was designated for only native plants with a focus on food and habitat for local urban wildlife. First steps included removing the non-native, decorative plants from prior residents and smothering the existing grass.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pamela Callender of <a href="https://www.pamelacallender.com/lifelines.htm" target="_blank">Lifelines</a> consulted, designed, purchased the plants, and installed the native-plant landscape on November 18 & 19, 2021 and continues to provide support.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The HEI album, <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Ei Native-Plant-Landscape Pilo</i>t</a>, documents the the front-yard evolution through a series of photo galleries.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">* "cides" are defined as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides.</span></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Ei Backyard-Permaculture Pilot</span></u><br /><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjioqKkq1w4vFIFR3lzLAD3CHxV8BCyUwcqGzbaIuk94eO0oZ0O9muLISQxfe6iXRgPmHn-Ha8RqMonhlKFcwuYL5h88EiC0uZID196qWW4VTFpipce9sRKymvoRVGJXpcaun3JB4avgbOopIh-53a6cUalOJMB4YF9fZ_sTWChMiOl0xywn0LYwyPw/s4804/10-08-21_Ei_SRQ-BkYard-viewnorth.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3839" data-original-width="4804" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjioqKkq1w4vFIFR3lzLAD3CHxV8BCyUwcqGzbaIuk94eO0oZ0O9muLISQxfe6iXRgPmHn-Ha8RqMonhlKFcwuYL5h88EiC0uZID196qWW4VTFpipce9sRKymvoRVGJXpcaun3JB4avgbOopIh-53a6cUalOJMB4YF9fZ_sTWChMiOl0xywn0LYwyPw/w228-h182/10-08-21_Ei_SRQ-BkYard-viewnorth.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The backyard in its "wild state</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The backyard pilot follows POL practices with an emphasis on human-food-producing plants. A food-waste-compost circle surrounded by banana trees is integral to the design. Thus, the general rule for the backyard landscape: <i>any non-native plants must produce human food and/or provide direct soil-ecosystem benefit.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While the front-yard landscape is strictly native plants and was installed over a two-day period, the backyard pilot is an evolutionary process. For nearly nine months, the backyard was permitted to return to its "wild state" with abundant plant diversity; a variety of happy insects frolicked in the knee-high grass infiltrated with flowering plants.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beginning in early 2021, the backyard was slowly "tamed" with mulched paths, a banana compost circle, a row of native-blueberry bushes under the roof dripline, a pollinator garden, a food forest, and a raised herb-garden area with sun protection. Once the invasive carrotwood tree was removed, the south-side yard was opened to ample sunshine and prepped for a <a href="https://bit.ly/3fGCLfg" target="_blank">vegetable, herb, and edible-flower garden</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpP7ZfmB13YwX0Sp2cVvlsiwKfk2zGgwaVXLd8FMfyrTp2xeFhUbOF_iH6ZIm49QMzNf7H3GN0LEiF2ExorcJGJ3rFCg7zufR94nV0dIfdjWZC0pZlgNpt4FjoLeoy6ikPuNAltgF9Kt2xuwCr_KUXC6jFKdnadKIEF5zxB-BVADxxWKaydF_j3Z7wBA/s5483/11-09-22_HEI_Ei-FF-ViewNorth.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3437" data-original-width="5483" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpP7ZfmB13YwX0Sp2cVvlsiwKfk2zGgwaVXLd8FMfyrTp2xeFhUbOF_iH6ZIm49QMzNf7H3GN0LEiF2ExorcJGJ3rFCg7zufR94nV0dIfdjWZC0pZlgNpt4FjoLeoy6ikPuNAltgF9Kt2xuwCr_KUXC6jFKdnadKIEF5zxB-BVADxxWKaydF_j3Z7wBA/w242-h152/11-09-22_HEI_Ei-FF-ViewNorth.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">After taming the backyard with mulched<br /></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">paths & soil preparation, a food forest <br />was planted</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>No herbicides or soil tilling were used in the taming process; Holly hand-weeded the majority of the areas before prepping for its destination.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ZZ Design oversees the backyard evolution and uses the pilot as a showcase for "what can be done" in a neighborhood scenario.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The HEI album, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Ei Backyard-Permaculture Landscape Pilot</a></i>, documents the backyard's evolution through a series of photo galleries.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei is honored to introduce the <a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots</a>; the intention is to inspire others to take rewilding steps in their yards. Though the pilots are complete yard transformations, Ei supports taking small, manageable steps; it is important to take whatever steps flow for the individual or organization. Celebrate successes, share with friends and family, and join the </span><a href="https://homegrownnationalpark.org/" target="_blank">Homegrown National Park</a>!</div><div><br /></div><div>Note: this article is an excerpt from the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a></i> article published in December 2022.</div><div>________________________</div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a>.</span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div><p></p><div><br style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" /></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></div></span></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-53455391605044269082023-03-07T20:09:00.008-05:002023-03-08T11:56:19.568-05:00Ei Connections: Save our Seabirds | Lifelines<p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) plays a valuable industry role by introducing organizations and individuals who share synergies for powerful relationships and action. The <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-connects/" target="_blank">Ei Connections</a> page details empowering introductions along with their long-lasting impact.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-oTFfo929ecckKU1DGakDiQcB45seS-6mOVSLOGPJVbfjZclS1RbogL-WTeD4epqZwVf6PY_AeBlEzhyRoXOs9u6_K-aOxvWXgNJ_yakWpDmk_ORxe7w3QGfo7CrDkWCp10VhZuaKLwbloLrk1eY1A36MPGnFKmOh2K_ZczRzFIJEzjX1E7prkzeag/s3174/05-03-22_HEI_Ei-AaronPam-IntroMtg.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3174" data-original-width="2950" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-oTFfo929ecckKU1DGakDiQcB45seS-6mOVSLOGPJVbfjZclS1RbogL-WTeD4epqZwVf6PY_AeBlEzhyRoXOs9u6_K-aOxvWXgNJ_yakWpDmk_ORxe7w3QGfo7CrDkWCp10VhZuaKLwbloLrk1eY1A36MPGnFKmOh2K_ZczRzFIJEzjX1E7prkzeag/w186-h200/05-03-22_HEI_Ei-AaronPam-IntroMtg.jpg" width="186" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Pam & Aaron enjoy their <br />intro meeting*</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Save our Seabirds | Lifelines Introduction<br /></b></span>In May 2022, Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore introduced colleagues and friends <a href="https://www.saveourseabirds.org/" target="_blank">Save our Seabirds </a>(SOS) CEO Aaron Virgin and <a href="https://www.pamelacallender.com/lifelines.htm" target="_blank">Lifelines</a> Founder Pam Callender.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SOS is an <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-team/" target="_blank">Ei Strategic Ally</a>, and Aaron is an <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/leadership/" target="_blank">Ei Advisory Council</a> member as well as a <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/global-regenerative-land-economics-initiative/" target="_blank">Regenerative Working Group Executive Team</a> member. Additionally, Ei Founder & CEO Holly Elmore and Aaron are both <a href="https://www.lai.org/" target="_blank">Lambda Alpha International</a> (land-economics honorary) and Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay members. Thus, there are ample opportunities for Ei Connections.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">SOS mission: committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured birds with the goal of releasing them back to their natural habitats. A lifelong sanctuary and specialized medical care are provided for those birds that cannot be released. SOS uses their stories to educate the public about avian conservation. The SOS facility is located on a three-acre tract of City of Sarasota-owned bayfront property on City Island.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Via staff and volunteers, SOS responds to 5,000 bird-rescue calls annually. The Avian Hospital is staffed with a full-time, on-site veterinarian who treats 1200-1400 injured birds per year. If they are not candidates for release, the birds have a permanent home in a natural-habitat setting within the Wild Bird Learning Center; approximately, 120 birds live in the Wild Bird Learning Center. </span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbm1ozh8jholNvZ5Hi2YMSWpHq4CtgH9567RTmaa2auayh6EwKHLCVNIAVdJo9xLbw1xsq0OOzLHfRQ2exy_bzcFFSrB-v8hb3JU-t_WIYJCMuOTed_pHazFP6MU-ejlhyBj97Wd_FY9QjG1jTVTMTqKyuNSolwH-TijjOTagldWWWUtTT1aQ-1b-ykw/s3238/02-28-23_HEI_Ei-PamAaronStanding.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3238" data-original-width="3058" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbm1ozh8jholNvZ5Hi2YMSWpHq4CtgH9567RTmaa2auayh6EwKHLCVNIAVdJo9xLbw1xsq0OOzLHfRQ2exy_bzcFFSrB-v8hb3JU-t_WIYJCMuOTed_pHazFP6MU-ejlhyBj97Wd_FY9QjG1jTVTMTqKyuNSolwH-TijjOTagldWWWUtTT1aQ-1b-ykw/w197-h209/02-28-23_HEI_Ei-PamAaronStanding.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pam & Aaron during the stormwater-<br />demonstration garden installation*</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lifelines: an Eco Art project that designs and builds a contiguous line of native flora and fauna habitats through urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods. Eco Art is work that utilizes both the science of ecology and creative processes of art making to identify solutions to environmental concerns. Pam designed and installed the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank">Ei Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</a> in Holly's front yard.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With its commitment to native flora and fauna, Lifeline projects create habit and food sources for urban wildlife, including feathered friends. Aaron understands the importance of incorporating native plants wherever practical within the SOS grounds and bird enclosures.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Funded by a Longboat Key Garden Club grant, Aaron contracted with Pam to design the transformation of an unsightly drainage ditch into a stormwater-demonstration garden. Native plants were selected for coastal properties and bird habitat. On February 28, 2023, Pam oversaw the installation of 360 plants (54 species) by volunteers and Aaron himself!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aaron shares his appreciation of the Ei Connection via the following quote:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>"We at SOS are very appreciative of the introduction to Pam Callender by Holly to help facilitate our stormwater-demonstration garden. By utilizing the rainwater from the adjacent parking lot, we have transformed a neglected area next to our entrance into a unique natural habitat beckoning birds, butterflies, other insects, and the public! While our primary goal is to mitigate polluted stormwater from entering Sarasota Bay, we are excited that visitors to SOS will see what they can do on their own property to counter runoff and increase wildlife habitat." </i></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images (HEI) album, </span><i style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3L7EYxN" target="_blank">Save our Seabirds | Lifelines Connection</a></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, documents images of the drainage-ditch transformation into a stormwater-demonstration garden.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Rewilding Urban Landscapes</b></span><br />The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding-urban-landscapes work within the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> focus area. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Within the referenced articles, the Insect Apocalypse is introduced along with contributions to the demise of bug populations. A primary contributor to the apocalypse is the prolific use of nonnative plants in landscapes and other maintained grounds. </span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj992_HxG95E8CHQqJQizDF1EEx3jMJ50GJLVblJsr4nb8HXp_1XWUUrQxtihKE5ne-802F5s3nBAaUWaM2fee1u8UmrGe5Nzd3JUefpC2qSXmHsJ5ZTXGDZ2H2mpTnKKsdiUR0MaXr1o3Sw_cvRN1Ygcs0BsrNfMo4ba9u-8JX8RRGhxWuOb46AM51Ow/s2755/08-10-22_HEI_Ei-MonarchButterfly.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2718" data-original-width="2755" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj992_HxG95E8CHQqJQizDF1EEx3jMJ50GJLVblJsr4nb8HXp_1XWUUrQxtihKE5ne-802F5s3nBAaUWaM2fee1u8UmrGe5Nzd3JUefpC2qSXmHsJ5ZTXGDZ2H2mpTnKKsdiUR0MaXr1o3Sw_cvRN1Ygcs0BsrNfMo4ba9u-8JX8RRGhxWuOb46AM51Ow/w189-h186/08-10-22_HEI_Ei-MonarchButterfly.jpg" width="189" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">A monarch butterfly feasts on a <br />native blossom in Holly's backyard*</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Insects are integral to the natural ecosystem foundation and essential to supporting the Earth’s life web. At the base of the prey hierarchy, insects are food for fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In addition to recycling soil-system nutrients, insects play an essential role in the decomposition portion of nature’s circular-life cycle.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Insects and plants evolved together and often developed symbiotic relationships. Thus, nonnative plants frequently do not serve as habitat or a food source for insects. Including native plants in landscaped areas supports the insect population that in turn serves as food for the local and migrating birds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Holly's front and backyards serve as Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilots, with a focus on urban-wildlife habitat and food as well as a local human-food source. The HEI <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kudos to Save our Seabirds for taking initial steps in rewilding their exterior grounds. Future projects may include incorporating native plants within the Wild Bird Learning Center. Stay tuned for progress over the upcoming months and years.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">* all photos courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">______________________________________</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-48646995502921069472023-02-27T12:56:00.002-05:002023-03-02T13:06:09.537-05:00Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact<p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Around 10,000 - 12,000 years ago, early humans abandoned their nomadic nature as hunter-gathers, embraced an agrarian lifestyle, and settled into communities, often along shorelines; the coastal waterways provided a protein-food source, transportation, and hydration (if fresh water.) As lifestyles permitted leisure, coastlines provided recreation that eventually segued into the tourism industry.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Communal living brought a new challenge to our ancestors: how to dispose of excrements from livestock and themselves as well as other waste. Contaminated water transmitted pathogen-related illnesses and were a serious public-health concern.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thus, water-quality challenges are integral to human development from ancient communities through the industrial and digital revolutions to the current information age. With each age, new toxins were developed and released into waterways and aquifers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the industrial age, water contamination expanded to include toxic-manufacturing byproducts; modern agriculture and landscape practices introduced petro-chemical fertilizers and the "cides" - herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides; the information age brought environmental challenges with mineral mining and disposal of obsolete and/or broken electronic equipment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The International Water Association article, <i><a href="https://www.iwapublishing.com/news/brief-history-water-and-health-ancient-civilizations-modern-times" target="_blank">A Brief History of Water and Health from Ancient Civilizations to Modern Times,</a></i> explains the importance of water to human civilizations as well as all life on the planet:</span></p><p></p><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Water is life – and life on earth is linked to water. Our existence is dependent on water, or the lack of it, in many ways, and one could say that our whole civilization is built on the use of water.</span></i></blockquote><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvj9e6LWwxrOwwT78WGsrFqDu2hHP2Pld5hX2kHNGnGY_vdUrIujR9Ocqbs1Qi5Nm4QAmaPcPafZ7f7YS9cVOJuL1-ePQQOMr_V83PebfpxY1EYnpWQH1jopys379ocO30Sv8FvfGjnO5g-a0zsCUhKV9Y0uiFaM9ZwymW98shYAWvbDufhR014HiROg/s4489/09-07-17_HE_SRQ_WhtSands-NLongboatKeyBeach.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2756" data-original-width="4489" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvj9e6LWwxrOwwT78WGsrFqDu2hHP2Pld5hX2kHNGnGY_vdUrIujR9Ocqbs1Qi5Nm4QAmaPcPafZ7f7YS9cVOJuL1-ePQQOMr_V83PebfpxY1EYnpWQH1jopys379ocO30Sv8FvfGjnO5g-a0zsCUhKV9Y0uiFaM9ZwymW98shYAWvbDufhR014HiROg/w269-h165/09-07-17_HE_SRQ_WhtSands-NLongboatKeyBeach.jpg" width="269" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">North Longboat Key public beach<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="http://HollyElmoreImages.com">HollyElmoreImages.com</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coastal-water quality, whether seaside, inland-lake and -pond shorelines, or river banks, is of paramount concern with direct environmental and economic ramifications.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Located on the Central Florida Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) Coast, Sarasota is a gem in The Sunshine State. With amazing barrier-island beaches (Siesta Key was named #1 beach in the U.S. by TripAdvisor,) and lovely intracoastal waterways, Sarasota's economy is water-quality based and driven by tourism.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Sarasota Bay Estuarine System is designated as an Outstanding Florida Water and an Estuary of National Significance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Coastal-Water Quality Webinar</b></span><br />On February 17 <a href="https://www.lai.org/" target="_blank">Lambda Alpha International</a> (LAI, a land-economics honorary) hosted the Global Webinar <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3YU0hXD" target="_blank">Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact</a></i> presented by Sarasota’s environmental leadership. As a member of the LAI executive committee, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore orchestrated the webinar.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53MRCpR46wx5lYxbWBZclXi13HTDzCmkyIT-GOw6OWyyRybsre_PbecCP1kOf0ShPyGQELNX9FZCPT_JknRN_SzW0NOMcxeGO4050-TP-_ofcfKZ8fdnAbwm6XCdde-WwBLsCWBGUxGsg06t4Zm-Ma9csLUfdoS5uVoBs1bY5VGwTmZXnPe3CarcrfQ/s2025/02-17-23_GlobalCoastalWaterWebinargraphicv1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2025" data-original-width="1620" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53MRCpR46wx5lYxbWBZclXi13HTDzCmkyIT-GOw6OWyyRybsre_PbecCP1kOf0ShPyGQELNX9FZCPT_JknRN_SzW0NOMcxeGO4050-TP-_ofcfKZ8fdnAbwm6XCdde-WwBLsCWBGUxGsg06t4Zm-Ma9csLUfdoS5uVoBs1bY5VGwTmZXnPe3CarcrfQ/w190-h237/02-17-23_GlobalCoastalWaterWebinargraphicv1.jpg" width="190" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The global webinar was the second program in an eighteen-month series about water and land economics around the globe hosted by the LAI Global Water Group.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LAI At-Large Members from Florida’s Central Gulf Coast shared on global-coastal-water challenges along with the economic impact to the local and regional communities. With a well-orchestrated plan, via the Water Playbook, community organizations execute programs designed to prevent water contamination from land use and to cleanse contaminates in the water.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Sarasota Bay Report Card documents achievements and remaining challenging scenarios. Teamwork is required for success with support provided by local, state, and federal governments as well as the community (foundations and taxpayers.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After LAI International Vice President Kathline King gave introductory remarks, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) Executive Director Dave Tomasko opened the webinar with his State of the Bay presentation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>State of the Bay<br /></u></span></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDQ-9cUkcgYiAMnhC3dXXLL66n_-YG057spD_ZxBD2JvemcnpPUcGKIJv-t6SHqCUGz-AMiNwZa4WcI8v6aP3fPSejUM5T4VYPc-0ABPTnb8paV0ot6m6XARszdnML549H_77sj-GhA_47sMb0XmBB7qlgYBsTFKkJ2mFkGkbmnCwbuAwuk_w58wp3Q/s2003/DaveTomaskoOpeningSlide.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="2003" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDQ-9cUkcgYiAMnhC3dXXLL66n_-YG057spD_ZxBD2JvemcnpPUcGKIJv-t6SHqCUGz-AMiNwZa4WcI8v6aP3fPSejUM5T4VYPc-0ABPTnb8paV0ot6m6XARszdnML549H_77sj-GhA_47sMb0XmBB7qlgYBsTFKkJ2mFkGkbmnCwbuAwuk_w58wp3Q/w280-h155/DaveTomaskoOpeningSlide.JPG" width="280" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of SBEP</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his opening slides, Dave introduced the Sarasota Bay (Bay) system's five bays and emphasized that "Managing Sarasota Bay Means Managing Nitrogen Levels." The main indicators of the Bay's health are:</span><p></p><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Total Nitrogen (TN)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Macroalgae abundance</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seagrass acreage</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Using graphs and diagrams, Dave showcased how the Bay's health is better than 30 years ago yet with recent set backs caused by human activity and natural events. For five years, 2013 - 2019, over 750 million gallons of treated wastewater with high-nutrient content were released into the Lower Bay. Wastewater-treatment-facility upgrades corrected the devastating scenario. Additional upgrades are underway in Sarasota County.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In April 2021, over 200 million gallons of high-nutrient wastewater were pumped from Piney Point, an abandoned phosphate mine, into Tampa Bay; the wastewater contained 10X more nitrogen than the worst wastewater-treatment effluent released in Sarasota. Though the release was north of Sarasota in Tampa Bay, the Bay was significantly impacted.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh5Sj2K7RXdvJmfMTxh5EM40WzVyfs6JtNX5eBVJoa2KSrHkFXiDlJa3t7eFVIv21lv_sZIOlr7l5WjUoYZBxubzO-Drtebdqyes4KsZ7n8KAdOFhWPTlYYVLpQ3Y2Draz89L3B0gJiak9UGQQPBS9YNmlq4WhXDpinfJKwNfWlX7m2qIxMfjykh2Lg/s916/DaveTomaskoBeforeAfterIan.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="913" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoh5Sj2K7RXdvJmfMTxh5EM40WzVyfs6JtNX5eBVJoa2KSrHkFXiDlJa3t7eFVIv21lv_sZIOlr7l5WjUoYZBxubzO-Drtebdqyes4KsZ7n8KAdOFhWPTlYYVLpQ3Y2Draz89L3B0gJiak9UGQQPBS9YNmlq4WhXDpinfJKwNfWlX7m2qIxMfjykh2Lg/w264-h265/DaveTomaskoBeforeAfterIan.JPG" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Image courtesy of SBEP</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Though it made landfill south of Sarasota, Hurricane Ian pummeled the central Gulf Coast with 85-miles-per-hour winds and 5 - 15 inches of rain; there was no storm surge. Yet, a tremendous volume of contaminated stormwater flowed into the Bay and later into the Gulf. Once in the Gulf, the high-nutrient water triggered a significant red tide-algae bloom. Five months later, remnants of the red tide bloom are still felt on the barrier-island beaches.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The health of seagrass beds is a barometer of the overall health of the Bay. Seagrass suffers when light penetration is limited due to algae growth in the Bay waters. A keystone species, seagrass serves as a nursery for marine life and a food source for manatees, green turtles, and dugongs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dave emphasized the ecological as well as economic impacts from compromised Bay-water quality. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">View or download Dave's <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SBEP_DaveTomasko_StateoftheBay.pdf" target="_blank">The State of the Bay</a> PPT presentation via the hyperlink.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Community Playbook for Clean Waterways</u></span><br />As Chair of the <a href="https://waterqualityplaybook.org/" target="_blank">Community Playbook for Clean Waterways</a>, referred to as the Water-Quality Playbook (WQP,) Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) Senior Vice President of Community Investment Jon Thaxton gave an excellent presentation on the WQP purpose, audience, and format.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UlrOBmRVffmLyTe3n1Tc1LWQDSbnybvRvpZytPklnf27PtEw24HfJQk0b1waHMY37cR6lwR0-6n_pspY9XnVjdDk8fY1NPg6cAhqQfUnDuzs_lzwUwlyW_OAUAOKFQQoKCUpQU8-sC55QWSltv-DlIRWvNgtMPsTS4HexARAwiaOBJTrTgf9RBdqDw/s1109/JonThaxtonDecadesofInvestment.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="1109" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UlrOBmRVffmLyTe3n1Tc1LWQDSbnybvRvpZytPklnf27PtEw24HfJQk0b1waHMY37cR6lwR0-6n_pspY9XnVjdDk8fY1NPg6cAhqQfUnDuzs_lzwUwlyW_OAUAOKFQQoKCUpQU8-sC55QWSltv-DlIRWvNgtMPsTS4HexARAwiaOBJTrTgf9RBdqDw/w282-h175/JonThaxtonDecadesofInvestment.JPG" width="282" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Kayaking at sunset in the Bay<br />Image courtesy of GCCF</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Using local chamber's, visitor bureau's, and other organization's water-themed marketing-collateral material as substantiation, Jon emphasized that Sarasota's sensational water-based geography is THE basis for the local economy. From the Bay to the Gulf to the barrier-island beaches, Sarasota is a paradise for coastal-water enjoyment and entices global tourists, whether for a week or the winter season. Protecting water quality protects "Our Way of Life."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With decades of investment, Sarasota is a pioneer in successful water-quality initiatives including fertilizer ordinances, stormwater management, seagrass restoration, and land conservation. The pioneering efforts substantiate Dave's affirmation that the water quality is better now than thirty years ago.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Jon states:</span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Estuaries are sensitive to nutrient pollution. Excess nutrients can change the balance of native flora and fauna in ways that degrade water bodies for fish, wildlife and human uses. As nutrient levels increase, macroalgae and phytoplankton outcompete seagrasses, which require the perfect balance of light levels and nutrients to flourish. Algal blooms, including macroalgae, blue-green algae, and red tide are of particular concern</i>.</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prolific use of nitrogen-based fertilizers disrupts the natural-nitrogen cycle; nitrogen segues from a nutrient to a pollutant that instigates algae blooms. Increased algae blooms decrease light penetrating the water. With decreased light, the seagrass beds decrease and in some cases disappear.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9-6sOeAM9QF4OixVetNcVgQaF47HVGKiah8wT5mLGm2HYUBz_BuB87pOlgTjxacAhyQd5kDT3NtAtojTxU2Qlj-nteAi2gRNzMsXFNC2tI2O-yQgHH_0q0l1I8WxcZ7TP1ftPuD7FNREhaM0IfodWhqGxsiAuCtBJZE6pf8GuSFKtiKWqF04sUHQZA/s1208/JonThaxtonOurWayofLife.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1208" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9-6sOeAM9QF4OixVetNcVgQaF47HVGKiah8wT5mLGm2HYUBz_BuB87pOlgTjxacAhyQd5kDT3NtAtojTxU2Qlj-nteAi2gRNzMsXFNC2tI2O-yQgHH_0q0l1I8WxcZ7TP1ftPuD7FNREhaM0IfodWhqGxsiAuCtBJZE6pf8GuSFKtiKWqF04sUHQZA/w257-h146/JonThaxtonOurWayofLife.JPG" width="257" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Arial view of the John Ringling Causeway &<br />the City of Sarasota<br />Image courtesy of GCCF</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The 2017 severe red tide bloom catapulted the Sarasota area into a local economic recession and was the catalyst for the GCCF to champion the WQP.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An impressive team of diverse professionals served on the WQP Steering Committee, including representation from the four panelists' respective organizations.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The WQP Goals are:</span></div></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">REDUCE anthropogenic-based nutrient loading in natural systems; sources: fertilizer, biosolids, wastewater, septic systems, and engine emissions.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">REMOVE anthropogenic-based nutrient from natural systems.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BUILD CAPACITY and resilience of ecosystems and human systems to maintain Goals 1 and 2 through education, incentives, partnerships, better data, and public policy.</span></li></ol></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To keep it functional and current, the WQP audience is policy makers and government agencies and is only available online to enable timely updates. Though Sarasota-focused, the WQP intention is to serve as a template for other coastal communities to emulate.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The final Steering Committee slide was perfect segue to the next presentation.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">View or download Jon's <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/GulfCoastCommFound_JonThaxton_LAI-Feb2023.pdf" target="_blank">Water-Quality Playbook</a> PPT presentation via the hyperlink.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Conservation Easements</u></span><br />Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast (CFGC) President Christine Johnson began her session with a poignant quote by Luna Leopold; the quote set the theme of her presentation:</span></div><div></div><blockquote><div><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The health of our waters depends upon how well we live on the land</span></i></div><div></div></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TIlc_DHMNCWjD7AWcnzYmEQ6uN8-nzt1TC28ssH1QVaq_SKzw004X1gu-_FHvuV5xaqdg4d_yyDGdzpKc5aOfI61hJ9uV98iJI8lA32Fh4CL7ixR5b1_o696hzPqOkkT9hZ0oeYrv62fsa9Dp1lIisnT5fRkbivut5gGjIw5Ak5zVrbSgp3DOKxCfg/s1769/ChristineJohnsonOakTree.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1769" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9TIlc_DHMNCWjD7AWcnzYmEQ6uN8-nzt1TC28ssH1QVaq_SKzw004X1gu-_FHvuV5xaqdg4d_yyDGdzpKc5aOfI61hJ9uV98iJI8lA32Fh4CL7ixR5b1_o696hzPqOkkT9hZ0oeYrv62fsa9Dp1lIisnT5fRkbivut5gGjIw5Ak5zVrbSgp3DOKxCfg/w271-h147/ChristineJohnsonOakTree.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oak tree on inland waterway.<br />Photo courtesy of the CFGC</span></td></tr></tbody></table>With a territory that extends from south of Tampa Bay to the Everglades and covers five counties, the CFGC focuses on waterfront, imperiled wildlife, connectivity, and unique public access. The CFGC mission is to protect the land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature; CFGC envisions a future where the human and natural worlds of Southwest Florida flourish together. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Throughout her presentation, Christine emphasized that conservation easements are FOREVER! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Per one of her slides: A land trust or a land conservancy is a nonprofit organization that works with landowners and the community to conserve land, as well as steward or take care of the conserved land <b><i>forever</i></b>. By taking care of the land, the nearby and faraway water benefits.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As they extinguish development rights on the designated land, conservation easements eliminate or minimize impervious surfaces and limit stormwater runoff with nutrient loads. By allowing the land to hold water, conservation easements prevent downstream flooding and erosion into waterways.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many conservation easements require best-land-management practices and incentivize land restoration; restoration grants often require a conservation easement. Signage required along the land boundaries educates and brings awareness to the public of the property's protected status.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To date, the CFGC holds conservation easements on 56 properties, consisting of over 19,200 acres.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two of the CFGC recent easements are on former wetlands and have direct impact on water quality.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Rewilding the Quads</b><br />Partnering with the Sarasota Audubon Society, CFGC obtained conservation easements from Sarasota County on three of the four 11-acre Quad parcels located just east of I-75. Contiguous to the world-renowned birding site, The Celery Fields, the Quads project intends to augment bird habitat by planting a forest on one of the parcels.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though there is ample opportunity for unique human access, a primary focus is rewilding the land for the benefit of wildlife.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before human intervention, the wetland area was called Big Camp Sawgrass; the land is integral to the local watershed with water flowing into Phillippi Creek on its way to the Gulf.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bobby Jones Golf Complex</span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Originally opened in 1926 as the 18-hole Sarasota Municipal Golf Course, the City of Sarasota-owned golf course was renamed the Bobby Jones Golf Course and eventually expanded to 45 holes over 300 acres. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk2InNpudx3K77ttTL8BmwDhme0JKw02XWFore6cBy_XKhFbAsWDiC_n_vnNO7FWf3q44z9_bAYFwgPtTEFjoPkrBQ_F0ps8lN_L3oU78bPKKb_R007E2n9GVCypmh1srl9CG-H-Wbj0yBHJ1psIDagRDQd8jKvoKu_5cjX38fSWssn3MLq-yuUPz7Q/s487/ChristineJohnsonBobbyJonesGC.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="487" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzk2InNpudx3K77ttTL8BmwDhme0JKw02XWFore6cBy_XKhFbAsWDiC_n_vnNO7FWf3q44z9_bAYFwgPtTEFjoPkrBQ_F0ps8lN_L3oU78bPKKb_R007E2n9GVCypmh1srl9CG-H-Wbj0yBHJ1psIDagRDQd8jKvoKu_5cjX38fSWssn3MLq-yuUPz7Q/w256-h135/ChristineJohnsonBobbyJonesGC.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bobby Jones Golf Course<br />Image courtesy of the CFGC</span></td></tr></tbody></table>With the onset of the pandemic, the golf course closed. Fortunately, in January 2022, the City of Sarasota donated a conservation easement to the CFGC with the provisions that a 27-hole course will use 45 acres; the remaining land was dedicated to wetland restoration.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prior to the golf course development, the land was called Little Camp Sawgrass and directly connects with The Quads as water drains west into the Gulf.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks to Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota donating conservation easement on The Quads (33 acres) and the Bobby Jones Golf Complex (300 acres,) the CFGC will ensure wetlands are restored, provide urban-wildlife food and habit, create unique public access, and improve the area's water quality.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As they are partners in the wetlands restoration, the Bobby Jones Golf Complex was a perfect segue to the Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START) presentation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">View or download Christina's <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ConservationFoundationJohnsonCPPT-1.pdf" target="_blank">Conservation Easement PPT</a> presentation via the hyperlink.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Healthy Stormwater Ponds</u></span><br />START is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization founded in 1995 to reduce the excess nutrients in our waterways that feed red tide and other Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs.) START Chair Sandy Gilbert shared that their mission is accomplished via public-education programs, water-quality government outreach, and nutrient-control programs.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9aNKfxPzQkaTreq2nDqiI6i6V8a7P-a7l8MmIpyXOh5tyP65ZNDxT-FKuxNhnkf_1fnhjFH6Xp1V_a9VyD-KrdI1PkQ95UlWrla1mfA1Jre1jmhqyRIsKOo5uTNMfPIDUCIKTiPQ40_2dmnDjIl9h_YMtmdNGE0rFpTwcbSnv093QXR8JRaxDCkVPQ/s861/GilbertSandyHealthyPond.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="861" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9aNKfxPzQkaTreq2nDqiI6i6V8a7P-a7l8MmIpyXOh5tyP65ZNDxT-FKuxNhnkf_1fnhjFH6Xp1V_a9VyD-KrdI1PkQ95UlWrla1mfA1Jre1jmhqyRIsKOo5uTNMfPIDUCIKTiPQ40_2dmnDjIl9h_YMtmdNGE0rFpTwcbSnv093QXR8JRaxDCkVPQ/w251-h219/GilbertSandyHealthyPond.jpg" width="251" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">A healthy stormwater pond<br />Photo courtesy of START</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Examples of the nutrient-control initiatives include Sarasota bi-valve restoration programs, stormwater-filtering at Bay Park, microforest plantings, and stormwater pond-enhancement programs. Thus, START initiatives prevent water contamination from land use and cleanse contaminates in the water.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In September 2021 START secured a $250,000 three-year grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to develop a regional “Healthy Pond Collaborative (HPC)” initiative. In addition to START, partners include Sarasota County’s Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team, the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, and the Science and Environment Council of Southwest Florida. The work was in part inspired by the WQP shared earlier by Jon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A second grant was later received to expand the HPC beyond Sarasota County to Manatee County.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stormwater ponds are manmade with three main purposes: 1> flood control, 2> filter out excess nutrients (nitrogen & phosphorus) and pollutants (oil & gas,) and 3> provide wildlife habitat. The manmade ponds are part of an overall stormwater-control system of linked ponds, man-made control boxes (weirs.) and natural wetlands that eventually flow stormwater into the Gulf.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately, many of the more than 6,000 stormwater ponds in Sarasota County are decades old and only operate at 40 - 60% filtering efficiency. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">HPC objectives are threefold: 1> control erosion, 2> improve pond-filtering efficiency, and 3> help implement cost-efficient pond-maintenance programs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The main premise of healthy ponds are two-fold: no-mow zones of 8 -12 inches high and 3-feet wide and aquatic vegetation on the littoral shelf (shallow water) with at least 30% to 50% density. Taller grass in no-mow zones have deeper roots that prevent erosion, keep grass clippings and fertilizers out of the pond, and absorb more stormwater and excess nutrients. Additionally, heavy equipment no longer weakens the bank of the pond; there is reduced labor and carbon footprint due to the decreased mowed area. </span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz-hCR-5UwyOoRTjRfY-nUJaNQtP6bLUjU6CbLHcdafajjx6vjbrzuPTkj4IGxi-a0D-tgR8P_lRzZBsrPeJ66R-IZHeMGxqVVDDMeLv6ChDyvxT8PONIkKFF-W9A0_i4hfgrJ2AIkZJasURDklombQWoBx0_SnKKcNt5lnq_5rSeJ-cmqWMJ589_bQ/s1062/GilbertSandyHealthyPond_NeighborsWildlife.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1062" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz-hCR-5UwyOoRTjRfY-nUJaNQtP6bLUjU6CbLHcdafajjx6vjbrzuPTkj4IGxi-a0D-tgR8P_lRzZBsrPeJ66R-IZHeMGxqVVDDMeLv6ChDyvxT8PONIkKFF-W9A0_i4hfgrJ2AIkZJasURDklombQWoBx0_SnKKcNt5lnq_5rSeJ-cmqWMJ589_bQ/w276-h217/GilbertSandyHealthyPond_NeighborsWildlife.JPG" width="276" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Neighbors & wildlife enjoy the healthy pond<br />Photo courtesy of START</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Aquatic vegetation crowds out algae, shades sunlight, absorbs nutrients, and reduces the need for herbicides (copper sulfate.) The limited sunlight and reduced algae-food source stymies algae growth. Beyond controlling algae growth, aquatic plants blunt wind and wave action against the bank, minimizing shoreline erosion.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is common practice for homeowners and homeowner associations (HOA) to over fertilize and water their lawns; thus, the excess water carries the surplus fertilizer underground to the pond. Essentially, the ponds, instead of the lawns, are fertilized. The practice results in unnecessary expenditures as well as pond pollution.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Overall, stormwater-maintenance best practices are cost effective in the long run and reduce homeowners' and HOAs' landscape- and grounds-maintenance costs. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Added bonus: a real estate study showed that homes on healthy ponds have a 20% increased property value.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 2022, the HPC funded the installation of over 4.3 miles of newly planted pond shorelines in Sarasota County and another 2.9 miles in Manatee County; the planted shorelines, along with no-mow zones, filter the excess nutrients in stormwater runoff before it flows downstream to the Bay.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">View or download Sandy's <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GilbertSandyPPT.pdf" target="_blank">Healthy Stormwater</a> PPT presentation via the hyperlink.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The global-webinar presentations ended with Dave returning to quantify how the community will achieve water-quality goals.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>How do we meet our water-quality goals?</u></span><br />In his closing remarks, Dave compared the referenced period 2006 - 2012, when the Bay returned to a healthy state, to the current health status; research confirms that the Bay's dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) load increased 20%, or 12 tons.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">DIN-load sources include:<br /></span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reclaimed water from non-Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) - up to 20 tons / year.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WWTP overflows - up to 6 tons / year (peak in 2018.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Septic tanks - estimated up to 20 tons /year; 70% now offline.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stormwater - still the biggest source; CFGC and START programs significantly reduce contaminated stormwater flowing into the Bay.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Based on the known sources, there are more than 20 tons of DIN reduction available.</span><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7hcmXZ5Oh79GFRw7mbXZvZ80KE7jobFIUkcARnLFBmNzeE-yXVfBJl482Y4a6e3xgCQvcn30jJ_tPfimDxYR-6D10hI3NAtDrd7qMHsL50TsUZ6_1_3hF6jW-_n4Y6EOQcweIGEGgz-e7jvw4S089celoNOEP-nNmJfmRgbqclFwh8ZVnAL5_JGCQA/s815/DaveTomaskoBoatersEnjoyBay.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="815" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7hcmXZ5Oh79GFRw7mbXZvZ80KE7jobFIUkcARnLFBmNzeE-yXVfBJl482Y4a6e3xgCQvcn30jJ_tPfimDxYR-6D10hI3NAtDrd7qMHsL50TsUZ6_1_3hF6jW-_n4Y6EOQcweIGEGgz-e7jvw4S089celoNOEP-nNmJfmRgbqclFwh8ZVnAL5_JGCQA/w258-h192/DaveTomaskoBoatersEnjoyBay.jpg" width="258" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Boaters enjoy the Bay <br />Photo courtesy of SBEP</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A key to success is community involvement. Beyond the non-profit- and foundation-community sector represented by the webinar's panelists, local government is committed to upgrade the area's wastewater systems. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">IMPRESSIVE: local governments - City of Sarasota, City of Bradenton, Sarasota County, Manatee County, and Town of Longboat Key - expended over $400 million for WWTP upgrades in the past two decades. At the November 2021 Water Quality Restoration Workshop, the referenced local governments committed to spend nearly $1 billion on future WWTP upgrades in the next 5 - 10 years!!!</span><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dave confirmed it is realistic to be optimistic with a cautionary tone; the Bay is warmer, the air is warmer, and the Bay is six-inches deeper. Yet, with community-wide commitment to restoring the Bay water quality, it is achievable to return to acceptable DIN loads experienced during the referenced period.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">View or download Dave's <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/SBEP_DaveTomasko_HowToMeetWQGoals.pdf" target="_blank">How do we meet our goals?</a> PPT presentation via the hyperlink.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A vibrant questions and answer (Q&A) session followed Dave's wrap-up presentation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Q&A Session</u></span><br />LAI Global Water Group Co-Chair, LAI San Francisco Chapter Past President and current Board Member, Jim Musbach moderated the webinar Q&A session.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Economics of Red Tide Blooms</b><br />Dave and Jon answered the questions related to red tide blooms. Dave educated that red tide occurs when the microscopic algae Karenia brevis exceeds certain thresholds. Additionally, Dave shared that humans do not cause red tide; humans make red tide worse by the nutrient loads added to the Bay.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During a red tide outbreak, waterfront properties along with those up to a mile inland decrease in value by 20 - 30%. Decreased property values result in lower property taxes that pay for local community services: police, fire, schools, and more.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Waterfront properties are collectively valued at an estimated $5 billion with around 20,000 residents employed at waterfront businesses. Jon emphasized how low-wage workers, many of these 20,000 jobs, disproportionately suffer economically during red tide outbreaks; there is an increase in homelessness and demand for community social services.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Dave's perspective, the local governments' nearly $1 billion commitment to WWTP upgrades that will significantly reduce the nutrient loads flowing into the Bay and is a solid, wise investment</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6C8sqKQ9v50xPC5uKy-Hp4w3mvewlIf3JvOxbvbBWiJVAGHsUliBFyXAhY7fkwlPiotEzHi02kdDtKZD69p_oo0xM7Jk6Kud4TE1w3Iz5p_fwtrcTSHSE4iwWCh92NPlGcW5maQoeQda0GuiujzCEbZ1njMRwGfRftxswHqW1rsQtZb22PGoWNxwyxw/s3184/GilbertSandyVolunteers.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1838" data-original-width="3184" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6C8sqKQ9v50xPC5uKy-Hp4w3mvewlIf3JvOxbvbBWiJVAGHsUliBFyXAhY7fkwlPiotEzHi02kdDtKZD69p_oo0xM7Jk6Kud4TE1w3Iz5p_fwtrcTSHSE4iwWCh92NPlGcW5maQoeQda0GuiujzCEbZ1njMRwGfRftxswHqW1rsQtZb22PGoWNxwyxw/w277-h160/GilbertSandyVolunteers.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Volunteers from local government, non-profits,<br />college, and caring residents.<br />Photo courtesy of Carmen Merriam</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Community Collaboration<br /></b>Jon shared that the WQP was designed to educate and support local government officials and policy makers when faced with difficult tax-appropriation decisions. Using a disinterested third-party approach, the WQP affords local officials with the foundation to make the financial commitments necessary to restore and maintain the Bay's water quality, the driver for the local economy.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No where else in the State has a community come together in a strong collaborative plan for water quality. The $1 billion-WWTP funding comes from the local sources, with no state or federal assistance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Local officials made another bold commitment: necessary legal steps were taken that allow allocation of funds within the tax bill's stormwater- and utility-line item for water-quality measures. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Fertilizer-restriction ordinances</b><br />Jon provided in-depth answers to the question regarding fertilizer ordinances. During his tenure as a Sarasota County Commissioner, Jon authored the first fertilizer ordinance in The State of Florida; the ordinance included a black-out period for nitrogen- and phosphorous-based fertilizers during the summer-rainy season. Ordinance provisions also restrict applying fertilizers on impervious surfaces and too close to waterways. Jon also served on the State Fertilizer Task Force.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Upon request, Jon is happy to share a copy of the fertilizer ordinance. </span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3Ih5w26pvR4pJYS26UlcsRbm5CfXMocX4PQYnSqPBM_lKZ3Ad2wWBUWPcvU8fd-pBoO9nSp2KxmxKJId1RUc6gUroYOtOEnbOvYgNhKi_hlx4QPa47aKMJQu6DWc43rbe6Q_dCfukhY-31dlL5SUIgH3S_oYCxOeE4sR7Y40nx4s-y8IdFrWSDWVvA/s2933/JonThaxtonOpeningSlide.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1958" data-original-width="2933" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3Ih5w26pvR4pJYS26UlcsRbm5CfXMocX4PQYnSqPBM_lKZ3Ad2wWBUWPcvU8fd-pBoO9nSp2KxmxKJId1RUc6gUroYOtOEnbOvYgNhKi_hlx4QPa47aKMJQu6DWc43rbe6Q_dCfukhY-31dlL5SUIgH3S_oYCxOeE4sR7Y40nx4s-y8IdFrWSDWVvA/w260-h174/JonThaxtonOpeningSlide.jpg" width="260" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Surf at a Sarasota Beach<br />Photo courtesy of the GCCF</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his commentary, Jon emphasized that the fertilizer ordinance is difficult to enforce. Yet, the ordinance is an educational tool for local residents regarding using too much fertilizer at the wrong time of year and in the wrong places.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until the Sarasota County ATP WWTP is complete, the reclaimed water available for lawn and landscape irrigation includes more nitrogen than is recommended by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for a healthy lawn. Thus, irrigation with reclaimed water provides ample fertilizers to lawns and landscapes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sandy chimed in about over fertilizing lawns. At one of his HPC ponds, pond-water tests showed a 70% reduction in nitrogen simply by following the required fertilizer restrictions. Additionally, Sandy proved to the HOA that elimination of their fertilizing practices would reduce costs while maintaining beautiful lawns. Thus, the HOA achieved cost-savings and improved their pond health, all with lovely lawns!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Seagrass Beds<br /></b>As Dave established in his opening presentation, nitrogen levels and the state-of-seagrass beds are two barometers for the Bay's health. Though there were many prior success stories 5 -10 years ago, the current seagrass-bed status is devastating. It is estimated that 1/3 of the manatee population on Florida's East Coast starved to death due to the depletion of seagrass beds from water pollution; a manatee's primary food source is seagrass.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though the Bay's seagrass beds are healthier than in most other coastal waters, the overall scenario is dire and a crisis. Statewide there is a loss of approximately 150-square miles of seagrass beds.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since ancient times, diminished water quality caused devastating scenarios, often with human death. In the modern era, water-quality challenges segued to include environmental and economic impact in the impaired areas. As demonstrated in the <i>Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact </i>Global Webinar, Sarasota environmental leaders demonstrated that with collaborative community effort water quality may be restored. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Economic and environmental impact provide strong incentives for a community to adopt a collaborative plan for water-quality restoration. The Gulf Coast Community Foundation's <a href="https://waterqualityplaybook.org/" target="_blank">Water-Quality Playbook</a> is a valuable template with proven success for communities to follow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The recorded 90-minute <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3YU0hXD" target="_blank">Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact </a> </i>Global Webinar is available for viewing via the hyperlink.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a>.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><b><u>About Lambda Alpha International</u></b>:</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">Lambda Alpha International (LAI) is an honorary society for the advancement of land </span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">economics. LAI provides a forum for the study and advancement of land economics where the "winnowing and sifting" of ideas takes place in an atmosphere of mutual respect.</span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">LAI operates through a network of chapters. A LAI Chapter provides a variety of programs and forums for its members to share information critical to understanding important land-use issues. The IMPACT Blog article, <i><a href="http://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/2014/01/lambda-alpha-international-atlanta.html" target="_blank">Lambda Alpha International Atlanta Chapter: growing membership, influence and impact</a></i>, introduces LAI along with its history and designated purposes.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">In December 2013 Ei Founder Holly Elmore was inducted into membership and served on the LAI Atlanta Chapter Board until returning to Florida in 2021. As the International Assistant Communications Director, Holly serves on the LAI Global Executive Committee.</span></span></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-68251828623323213492023-02-20T10:30:00.003-05:002023-02-28T11:24:40.898-05:00Urban Afforestation: Food Forests and Microforests<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Food forests and microforests are two emerging movements within urban environments. Benefits include carbon sequestration from the atmosphere into the soil, soil-health restoration, urban cooling, urban-wildlife habitat and food, “forest bathing” for local residents, and community-environmental education.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With their focus on human-food production from the variety of trees and groundcover, food forests contribute to food security within the community. In general, microforests are planted with native tree and bush species and are a haven for urban wildlife. Due to the Miyawaki-planting method, a microforest can grow into a dense, 100-year old forest in a decade or two.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Food Forests</b></span><br />According to <a href="https://projectfoodforest.org/" target="_blank">Project Food Forest</a>, a food forest, also called a forest garden, is a diverse planting of edible plants that attempts to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature. Food forests are three-dimensional designs, with life extending in all directions – up, down, and out.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A food forest consists of numerous layers of plants ranging from fruit- or nut-bearing trees to shrubs to dense ground cover that protects the soil and prevents weeds. Annuals and self-seeding perennials are recommended to create a forest with minimal annual maintenance. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-JyAtjFbbrAF10gPm1onzAIyrtSjP5C0HjFsQGbyNqwkwDy3c4aP525NB_lfyrGd7Y2Mq2Znjv0wkNxGNQsj7Qb0nrYMOFizSEbTTZVrSOQB5entakjHK_5C6vvftncPECwM3GcV0T4FwiUszbMePYJ1rgqJpIPoL77shWWqwjIdlXr7xeETlPK2Xg/s1200/MoracaanFoodForest.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-JyAtjFbbrAF10gPm1onzAIyrtSjP5C0HjFsQGbyNqwkwDy3c4aP525NB_lfyrGd7Y2Mq2Znjv0wkNxGNQsj7Qb0nrYMOFizSEbTTZVrSOQB5entakjHK_5C6vvftncPECwM3GcV0T4FwiUszbMePYJ1rgqJpIPoL77shWWqwjIdlXr7xeETlPK2Xg/w294-h196/MoracaanFoodForest.jpg" width="294" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">The Moroccan Food Forest That Inspired an <br />Agricultural Revolution<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-permaculture-food-forests" target="_blank">Gastro Obscuro</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant diversity is important to nurturing a healthy, self-sustaining food forest. Selecting plants that attract beneficial insects who pollinate the forest and control pest insects creates an ecosystem based on nature's perfected principles.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prior to planting, soil preparation is key to establishing a nurturing forest foundation where mycorrhizal fungi and other soil-ecosystem components flourish. In an urban environment, a common soil-preparation method places cardboard covered with a thick layer of mulch over the forest footprint; the soil preps for weeks to several months. Upon planting, compost and other natural amendments are added to the soil.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Food forests may vary widely in size depending on the availability of land. When planted on public land, it is wise to partner with an organization to harvest the fruits and nuts from the trees and vegetables from the ground cover. Non-profit organizations such as <a href="https://www.concrete-jungle.org/" target="_blank">Concrete Jungle</a> in Atlanta and <a href="https://www.transitionsrq.org/" target="_blank">Transition Sarasota</a> use a volunteer model to harvest food grown on public and private land; the food is donated it to shelters or other community programs dedicated to local food security.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Urban Food Forests</u></span><br />The June 2022 Sustainable Urban Delta article, <i><a href="https://sustainableurbandelta.com/urban-food-forests/" target="_blank">10 incredible urban food forests from around the world</a></i>, showcases the many benefits of thriving urban food forests. As most are maintained by a local volunteer network, food forests build community networks as well as establish local-food security. Additionally, the forests provide excellent educational opportunities, whether via formal workshops/classes or experiential learning through simple participation.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsxQy962l0TATr1tAMiurD7HDCXB-xX83ggB4rz22FnjQgLRsRpnxq-uA13pdKJM0Lmw_5H3UwmaQyhZI1J1_YzDQFr3oDv8PGDlvTiOCAvSsGmFfm03wk__sZ5VpDBquA1-RW5tHfrGLlycuWLWCI5-xHHf6JUBZl4sdhOpjeyPo7bdTjzOv8Q0hTg/s1440/SwalesFloatingFoodForest.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsxQy962l0TATr1tAMiurD7HDCXB-xX83ggB4rz22FnjQgLRsRpnxq-uA13pdKJM0Lmw_5H3UwmaQyhZI1J1_YzDQFr3oDv8PGDlvTiOCAvSsGmFfm03wk__sZ5VpDBquA1-RW5tHfrGLlycuWLWCI5-xHHf6JUBZl4sdhOpjeyPo7bdTjzOv8Q0hTg/w273-h182/SwalesFloatingFoodForest.webp" width="273" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swales, a floating food forest<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.finedininglovers.com/article/swale-sustainable-floating-food-forest-new-york" target="_blank">Fine Dining Lovers</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In New York City, Swales founder Mary Mattingly sidestepped city regulations by growing the food forest on barge where it is legally assessible to the public for harvesting. Though Swales closed during the pandemic, plans are in place to reestablish the floating food forest in Brooklyn. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the City of Ashdod, Israel, a degraded public park was transformed into the <a href="https://restor.eco/platform/sites/208462cc-f423-4513-8aee-948ee70b585d/" target="_blank">Ashdod Community Food Forest</a>; the community food forest is a collaborative effort between residents, community groups, schools, and city staff. In addition to providing local, nutritious food, the forest provides community inspiration. From their Instagram page, a young neighborhood resident states, "I get bored at school. Whenever I get home, I always come here to the forest. I love it here.”</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rather than focusing on one forest, the <a href="https://4returns.commonland.com/organisations/cooperatie-ondergrond/" target="_blank">Coöperatie Ondergrond</a> in Rotterdam, The Netherlands creates a series of food forest gardens throughout the city utilizing empty lots and other available land. As stated on their website: </span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Our aim is to strengthen the bond between city and country, consumer and producer, and between people and nature. By creating food forest gardens and edible green spaces within the city, the food forest story is told through the experience of seeing, feeling, smelling and tasting.</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Mini Food Forests</u></span><br />As demonstrated by the Coöperatie Ondergrond, tiny food forests are vehicles for small tracts of urban land to contribute to the community ecosystem. In addition to empty lots, backyards are often excellent avenues for urban mini food forests.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMao0It_33Wg2e3SjfZ9FdIXT69voFOeuFfFaF6NtypRJ346Oy69XqFoYHbH-M2JGBHBVZIRCHZGegmt7jEWhjoQ5VZe_CksMv5fGXDCMaimUC8QczyeBoHdMEey3LOoq9h3kiNRUXPTCvQQE6-jBLrFS4cbvyy9dona4Aaid78jx2wcvLRgjsysSZBQ/s5699/11-14-22_HEI_Ei-FoodForest.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3599" data-original-width="5699" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMao0It_33Wg2e3SjfZ9FdIXT69voFOeuFfFaF6NtypRJ346Oy69XqFoYHbH-M2JGBHBVZIRCHZGegmt7jEWhjoQ5VZe_CksMv5fGXDCMaimUC8QczyeBoHdMEey3LOoq9h3kiNRUXPTCvQQE6-jBLrFS4cbvyy9dona4Aaid78jx2wcvLRgjsysSZBQ/w273-h172/11-14-22_HEI_Ei-FoodForest.jpg" width="273" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Ei Food Forest five months after planting.<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Within the <a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes Pilot </a>hosted in <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact </a>(Ei,) Founder & CEO Holly Elmore's home yard, the <a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot </a>includes a mini food forest. After several months of soil preparation, the initial trees were planted on June 15, 2022 along with native shrubs and sweet potato ground cover. Three months later, the young food forest proved resilient when it survived Hurricane Ian's battering of the Florida Gulf Coast.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Though supportive of microforests, Ei's focus is on urban food forests within the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> platform.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Microforests</b></span><br />Whereas it's primary focus is to produce food for human consumption, food forest trees and supporting foliage may not be indigenous to the area. In contrast, Miyawaki microforests consist of native trees and shrubs that provide food and habitat for local urban wildlife.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Renowned Japanese botanist and ecologist Akira Miyawaki (1928 – 2021) developed the Miyawaki method for microforests. In 1972, Miyawaki installed his first microforest at the Nippon Steel Corporation's plant in Ōita Prefecture. According to <a href="https://urban-forests.com/miyawaki-method/" target="_blank">Urban Forests</a>, since the 1980's over 2000 microforests were successfully planted across the globe using the Miyawaki method.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As state on the <a href="https://www.lamicroforests.com/" target="_blank">LA Microforest</a> site: </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Microforests (also called pocket forests, mini forests, and tiny forests) are densely-planted, multilayered indigenous forests planted in urban spaces which act as self-sustaining ecosystems that reconnect fragmented habitat and restore biodiversity.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>The Miyawaki method involves the randomized planting of small saplings of various indigenous shrubs and trees (grown from local, regionally adapted seeds) in very close proximity together, where no two trees or shrubs of the same height are planted side by side.</i></span></p></blockquote><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBgQxaDkFS9yQWbFONN77baSq2wsAw38N7VkCdd1R2g9o9Kc4NrKOSK8kIQDz58lLKd72PZoMz9NkDdJ2mM1_yG4cF0CGfba5baxI8bJO3raDbW55vjyC6DHurGkP2ZFQqX7jQ5gbI9dXpDJHl0xj1UgoBW7klPkAUtgUyA-Ne7gDmqulkGE_UzqQhA/s640/Microforest.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBgQxaDkFS9yQWbFONN77baSq2wsAw38N7VkCdd1R2g9o9Kc4NrKOSK8kIQDz58lLKd72PZoMz9NkDdJ2mM1_yG4cF0CGfba5baxI8bJO3raDbW55vjyC6DHurGkP2ZFQqX7jQ5gbI9dXpDJHl0xj1UgoBW7klPkAUtgUyA-Ne7gDmqulkGE_UzqQhA/w267-h150/Microforest.webp" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Miyawaki-method microforest in India<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="http://thebetterindia.com">thebetterindia.com</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Randomized planting of saplings creates four layers: canopy tree, tree, sub-tree, and shrub; trees within each category are not planted next to each other.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Due to the dense planting and fast growth, microforests draw down carbon from the atmosphere into the soil, via photosynthesis, at a faster rate (10X) than traditional forests. Microforests have a cooling impact on and provide a natural oasis within urban environments. With indigenous trees and shrubs, microforests are a haven for urban wildlife via food, habitat, and refuge from buildings and impervious surfaces.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prior to planting, the soil is prepped for a microforest in a similar manner to the previously mentioned technique in the food forests section.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In general, it takes two years of nurturing via watering and weeding for a microforest to evolve into a self-sustaining state. By leaving the leaves on the forest floor, a natural leaf mulch develops that prevents weeds and contributes to establishing a healthy underlying soil ecosystem. As they are native, the trees and shrubs evolved to thrive on the area's typical rainfall for hydration.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many microforests are designed with walking paths, educational signage, and areas for "forest bathing." Thus, microforests provide a community amenity in addition to its environmental benefits.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>A Global Movement</u></span><br />Organizations such as <a href="https://www.ivn.nl/aanbod/tiny-forest/" target="_blank">IVN Nature Education</a> (IVN,) a Netherlands conservation group, commit to design and plant microforests, or tiny forests, in their local vicinity and beyond. Since 2015, IVN supported the planting of hundreds of microforests. Similar organizations are active in Belgium and France.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24pTMIGQuoKHmEADcFk0oyp56QkCv2YGjdRzGfJH5Em_ew1xsLb4-72zLwjzHKeXzB9BsDm55CJZTcNAyofWahW5rrDYCrgWxnmeeY6QPZL8sVtvY63qHWa-Q0EEQaL3F5vpF0DCaLIRDtrdcSh6iCkISRbX5QtatRqQ02kef3qVr-xWmN-JMSweNSA/s992/Microforest-Europe.webp" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="992" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24pTMIGQuoKHmEADcFk0oyp56QkCv2YGjdRzGfJH5Em_ew1xsLb4-72zLwjzHKeXzB9BsDm55CJZTcNAyofWahW5rrDYCrgWxnmeeY6QPZL8sVtvY63qHWa-Q0EEQaL3F5vpF0DCaLIRDtrdcSh6iCkISRbX5QtatRqQ02kef3qVr-xWmN-JMSweNSA/w247-h172/Microforest-Europe.webp" width="247" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Microforest planted by IVN<br />Photo courtesy of <br /><a href="https://platformurbangreening.eu/inspiration/tiny-forests-improve-biodiversity-in-urban-areas/" target="_blank">European Platform/Urban Greening</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As stated in the May 2022 Nippon article, <a href="As stated in the May 2022 Nippon article, Urban Forests: Restoring Nature Through the Miyawaki Method of Afforestation, "To date, some 900 projects in Japan have utilized the technique (Miyawaki method,) including those to reestablish protective coastal forests devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake’s tsunami in 2011, as well as more than 300 afforestation efforts in such far-flung places as Southeast Asia, the Amazon, Chile, and China."" target="_blank"><i>Urban Forests: Restoring Nature Through the Miyawaki Method of Afforestation</i></a>, "To date, some 900 projects in Japan have utilized the technique (Miyawaki method,) including those to reestablish protective coastal forests devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake’s tsunami in 2011, as well as more than 300 afforestation efforts in such far-flung places as Southeast Asia, the Amazon, Chile, and China."</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At LA Microforests, native-plant horticulturist and educator Katherine Pakradouni focuses on the collective impact of a series of microforest installations. According to Katherine,</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Rocks and succulents, they reduce water, but they don't solve the biodiversity issue, they don't solve the carbon-sequestration issue, and they don't improve soil health in the same way that a really diverse multi-layered oak woodland microforest might.</i></span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While these micro forests might be small, planting a large number of them could go a long way in solving our climate and biodiversity crises. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you add it up, it becomes cumulative. Even a small pocket of forest habitat has the ability to sequester a lot of carbon and has the ability to become a haven and refuge for wildlife that is otherwise being pushed farther and farther out of our cities.</span></i></p></blockquote><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Co31R7zwVs5Fw5j9bpc-tq9zT7vuvSeYHyNLeaIaOdqe15eUxUDqkKLILU-lTmA7n13d8AwGdzY7ePN59dXqv9QIO_GCd2W8qFUId17tuFGNqpQMMyo-bFhrezftiHcPBVajbJRHs-sUXz93ReaM6bfmN01T-PgLJ-XjE6eNzj61p-wJFnc_oiOvuQ/s4773/01-18-23_HEi_Ei_HH_FrontView.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3360" data-original-width="4773" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Co31R7zwVs5Fw5j9bpc-tq9zT7vuvSeYHyNLeaIaOdqe15eUxUDqkKLILU-lTmA7n13d8AwGdzY7ePN59dXqv9QIO_GCd2W8qFUId17tuFGNqpQMMyo-bFhrezftiHcPBVajbJRHs-sUXz93ReaM6bfmN01T-PgLJ-XjE6eNzj61p-wJFnc_oiOvuQ/w235-h165/01-18-23_HEi_Ei_HH_FrontView.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heritage Harbour Microforest Planting Day<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u style="font-size: large;">Suncoast Urban Reforesters (SURF)<br /></u>Founded by Charles Reith, Ph.D., SURF is a collaborative organization dedicated to installing a series of microforests on Florida's Central Gulf Coast. SURF members include Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START,) Florida Veterans for Common Sense (FVCS,) and the Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay (RCSB.) To date, SURF boasts the successful installation of five local microforests, ranging in size from a 1/4 of an acre to a full acre.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition to the previously mentioned microforest benefits, SURF focuses on erosion control and stormwater abatement. As stormwater often contains contaminants including nitrogen-based fertilizers, stormwater abatement aids in the prevention of severe and costly red tide outbreaks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Red tide occurs when there is a higher-than-normal concentration of Karenia brevis, a microscopic algae, in the nearby Gulf of Mexico; Karenia brevis feeds on nitrogen, phosphorous and other pollutants. Thus, a microforest's absorption of stormwater prevents the flow of contaminated stormwater into waterways that eventually reach the Gulf of Mexico and helps to deter red tide outbreaks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Heritage Harbour Microforest</b><br />On January 18, 2023, over 100 volunteers from 5-years old to 85-years old participated in the Heritage Harbor (HH) Microforest-planting day. Due to superb underlying organization by Ei Strategic Alley Zach Zildjian Design Services, over 2,000 trees were planted on the 1/2 an acre site in less than five hours.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Climate First's $10,000 grant was the capital catalyst for the well-funded microforest design and installation. Beyond financial support, Climate First associates volunteered at the planting day.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As it is not a formal organization, SURF is housed within START's legal structure. START Chair Sandy Gilbert attended the planting day and educated attendees on the important environmental impact of microforests to the community and beyond.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJQXe63Vm3gnjp0Pzs7jx0177Ib42wKBhPvbduCilEJi2tnZBVtMuzSZVBzUCZ4cNm4pXBgXMyQe5dXKiSmcdBSDecqqDZd0UGW3zPm6zJ6CcM7NANFEgp6fLGlyYO7WBJGt3UdWLEVUKNbRb5sLQDJzsngXYdtRMsR6vqxdFpEF8mLOxOhWLGzImvw/s4371/01-18-23_HEi_Ei_HH_Don&Group.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3313" data-original-width="4371" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJQXe63Vm3gnjp0Pzs7jx0177Ib42wKBhPvbduCilEJi2tnZBVtMuzSZVBzUCZ4cNm4pXBgXMyQe5dXKiSmcdBSDecqqDZd0UGW3zPm6zJ6CcM7NANFEgp6fLGlyYO7WBJGt3UdWLEVUKNbRb5sLQDJzsngXYdtRMsR6vqxdFpEF8mLOxOhWLGzImvw/w232-h176/01-18-23_HEi_Ei_HH_Don&Group.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">HH Microforest educational signage with <br />Don Smith of HH and Rotary members<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With perfect timing, the RCSB hosted a delegation of District Governors Elect from across the globe; the microforest-planting day was one of the delegation's activities; thus, Rotary members from Israel, India, Chile, Denmark, Poland, Norway, Germany, England, Uganda, Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand attended the HH Microforest planting.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition to funding support, the FVCS provided a strong volunteer crew who aided students in the distribution of soil to the planting sites. FVCS was responsible for excellent local media coverage and will produce a 40-minute documentary of the microforest planting.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As done with past microforest-planting days, videographer Bill Wagy donated his talents to film the event and produced an amazing three-minute video showcasing the successful HH Microforest planting day. Enjoy the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3YIzAEB" target="_blank">Heritage Harbour Microforest</a></i> video compliments of Bill.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3YDi3hq" target="_blank">Heritage Harbour Microforest Planting</a></i> album gives a still-photo documentary of the event.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A sixth SURF microforest is slated in spring 2023 at a local private school.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Afforestation, planting trees on land that has not recently been covered with forest*, is an emerging environmental movement that provides many community benefits, ranging from local food security to "forest bathing." Though small by their intended design, the cumulative impact of food forests and microforests has potential for significant affect. Importantly, the movement attracts media attention and inspires others across the globe to participate in afforestation within their locale. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">* definition provided by the <a href="https://www.american.edu/sis/centers/carbon-removal/fact-sheet-forestation.cfm#:~:text=Reforestation%20includes%20planting%20trees%20or,recently%20been%20covered%20with%20forest." target="_blank">American University, Washington, DC.</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a></span></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div><p></p>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-40587115425154070292022-12-11T14:01:00.028-05:002023-03-15T10:54:49.151-04:00SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life<p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In September 2020, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact </a>(Ei) announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> platform with the Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine article, <a href="https://bit.ly/2FWkecw" target="_blank"><i>Nature Prevails: an new Elemental Impact platform</i></a>, to complement the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a> platforms. Within the Nature Prevails premise, the Earth heals herself and nurtures renewed life forms, no matter the calamity caused by humans, natural disasters, or extraterrestrial activities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With a commitment to align work with Nature, Ei defined The Principles of Nature with three broad categories:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Diversity</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dynamic Balance & Nutrition Cycles</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Necessity of Cover & Ability to Roam</span></li></ul><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0nmCAHpGlGVHRm9l0DoMbAFW3lfgaWd-N5B48TneLIvjPBkkOpl49NI-2ni8bAgu9q4gGn8l1GSy4cGmyR83d9T5hfxHlGhzPBbKNJIXRXB-2pwRGl7BuZE3XPGC6WkIEsdXIqfsNmUXJSL-jivZaQDOwWXUXUC0zpjdKuLiWLK-wQKvgPlmCUDdkHg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img alt="Bigger than Us podcast promo graphic" data-original-height="166" data-original-width="200" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0nmCAHpGlGVHRm9l0DoMbAFW3lfgaWd-N5B48TneLIvjPBkkOpl49NI-2ni8bAgu9q4gGn8l1GSy4cGmyR83d9T5hfxHlGhzPBbKNJIXRXB-2pwRGl7BuZE3XPGC6WkIEsdXIqfsNmUXJSL-jivZaQDOwWXUXUC0zpjdKuLiWLK-wQKvgPlmCUDdkHg=w172-h143" title="Bigger than Us podcast promo graphic" width="172" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">Bigger than Us podcast<br />promo graphic</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Healthy, balanced water and soil microbial communities are the foundation to life on Earth and integral to the Principles of Nature. As featured in her May 2020 <a href="https://bit.ly/3dsGwib" target="_blank">Bigger than Us</a> podcast interview, Ei Founder Holly Elmore is known for the following quote:</span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>In order for life as we know it to survive and thrive on planet<span> E</span>arth, we must - <b>absolutely must</b> - get our soil and water microbial communities back to a healthy, balanced state.</i></span></div></blockquote><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><u>A Sacred Marriage</u></span> <br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Soil and water are in a sacred marriage and support life on Earth and must be addressed in unison. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Healthy well-structured soil is a living, breathing ecosystem and retains significantly more water than depleted soil. Additionally, healthy soil filters water and removes contaminates as it flows to aquifers. In return, water keeps a healthy soil ecosystem hydrated.</span></span></span></h3><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Insects </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">are the base of predator/prey hierarchy,</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> integral to the natural ecosystem foundation, and essential to supporting the Earth’s life web. Many insects, such as dragonflies and mosquitoes, live their juvenile or larva stage under water and their adult lives on land supporting plants and soil systems; aquatic larva is similar to a butterfly's caterpillar stage. </span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3El5G2M2E_yVWGKdSUgTb9HAC0KEElGw8D_1xGbucPPMo6c5MBxWU0VfwGXWLkLjvDAcnzpKpiZ5ULluNME2eTyR6pVwk37blgQM59zHvqCVfz3K7KfUi5uzn-RkcmLmxx-B9x8vI96_NeBpVmT6iCe02Xvha38PW9llYcoXIilyVnHUybxkhuXswpw/s3190/12-20-21_HEI_Ei-Red-BelliedWoodpecker.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3190" data-original-width="2889" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3El5G2M2E_yVWGKdSUgTb9HAC0KEElGw8D_1xGbucPPMo6c5MBxWU0VfwGXWLkLjvDAcnzpKpiZ5ULluNME2eTyR6pVwk37blgQM59zHvqCVfz3K7KfUi5uzn-RkcmLmxx-B9x8vI96_NeBpVmT6iCe02Xvha38PW9llYcoXIilyVnHUybxkhuXswpw/w192-h212/12-20-21_HEI_Ei-Red-BelliedWoodpecker.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">A red-bellied woodpecker feeds on</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">tasty insects living in the utility pole.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><u style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Insect Apocalypse<br /></span></u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the base of the prey hierarchy, insects are food for fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In addition to recycling soil-system nutrients, insects play an essential role in the decomposition portion of nature’s circular-life cycle.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since the 1970’s, the Earth’s insect population suffered from severe population declines as well as loss of diversity.</span></p><div><div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The NY Times 2018 article, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/magazine/insect-apocalypse.html" target="_blank"><i>The Insect Apocalypse Is Here. What does it mean for the rest of life on Earth?</i></a>, reported: <i>The German study found that, measured simply by weight, the overall abundance of flying insects in German nature reserves had decreased by 75 percent over just 27 years. If you looked at midsummer population peaks, the drop was 82 percent</i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the November 2019 Somerset Wildlife Trust <i><a href="https://www.somersetwildlife.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/FULL%20AFI%20REPORT%20WEB1_1.pdf" target="_blank">Insect Declines and Why They Matter Report</a></i> by Professor Dave Goulson, 41% of insect species are threatened with extinction.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thus, the Insect Apocalypse is well underway.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Contributing factors to the demise of insect populations include:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tFMaalI4GMp7ftub1-Y1qxjbah7WF7qMP0dGpyfcTmTE-T69Xvjpkp5qDBQIIuUX4svWFXQ0xNZq4pZGmJcwl0Fc0cfUrnMa29bxdLhrmFrHf10xcPwHeF34e92AjZaZkgFTGa-YacEUZWuPwPZJO8VlYVERLlcGgZahzNu_3KYnKFs2Zif4tg-OBA/s3977/05-21-22_HEI_Ei-Wasp.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3776" data-original-width="3977" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tFMaalI4GMp7ftub1-Y1qxjbah7WF7qMP0dGpyfcTmTE-T69Xvjpkp5qDBQIIuUX4svWFXQ0xNZq4pZGmJcwl0Fc0cfUrnMa29bxdLhrmFrHf10xcPwHeF34e92AjZaZkgFTGa-YacEUZWuPwPZJO8VlYVERLlcGgZahzNu_3KYnKFs2Zif4tg-OBA/w188-h179/05-21-22_HEI_Ei-Wasp.jpg" width="188" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Common thread-waisted wasp</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">feeds on a native stoke aster bloom.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Prolific use of pesticides </b>in commercial and residential landscapes, corporate and municipal-grounds maintenance, and industrial agriculture.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Loss of habitat</b> due to urbanization, transportation systems, farming, and landscape-maintenance practices.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Infiltration of non-native plants</b>; insects evolved to thrive on native plants, and non-native plants are often not food sources for local populations.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Intangible pollution</b>, including artificial light, noise (leaf blowers,) and electromagnetic fields.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to American biologist Edward O. Wilson:<b><i> </i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i>Insects are the little things that run the world!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><u>Evolution Towards Soil Integrity</u></span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a></i>, establishes that organic certification is a first, yet far from final, step in achieving healthy, balanced soil ecosystems.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswMvhyfOYBlpGKRUKxYFizSGXeaY7tZa7kA_Pm_opq7wlLUJKUQn_H365Z2B84ZlhLcc_ZnQo3vyJKudGq2E-iI-sQ-Yk8O7nxR00nk-6f4fXdx3_RE6ffG46J0AqN9FUMNSTdh15JN7Tlb3QrQrb62JLOkohQc1kps6En2zE7tlgD8Nwb-yn_gc85Q/s5699/11-14-22_HEI_Ei-FoodForest.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3599" data-original-width="5699" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswMvhyfOYBlpGKRUKxYFizSGXeaY7tZa7kA_Pm_opq7wlLUJKUQn_H365Z2B84ZlhLcc_ZnQo3vyJKudGq2E-iI-sQ-Yk8O7nxR00nk-6f4fXdx3_RE6ffG46J0AqN9FUMNSTdh15JN7Tlb3QrQrb62JLOkohQc1kps6En2zE7tlgD8Nwb-yn_gc85Q/w262-h165/11-14-22_HEI_Ei-FoodForest.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">A vibrant young food forest thrives within </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">the backyard of a urban home.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Organic certification prohibits the use of "cides*," GMO (genetically modified organism) seeds, and petrochemical fertilizers. Thus, organic food is non-GMO and reasonably "toxin-free" Yet, organic certification does not address soil health or the nutritional value of food produced on the certified farm. Often, organic food lacks in flavor and nutrition due to unhealthy soil.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition to adhering to organic-farming practices, regenerative agriculture focuses on restoring and maintaining a healthy-soil ecosystem. Diverse crops, including cover crops, and no-till farming practices are basic regenerative-agriculture protocol. Food grown on regenerative farms and home gardens is nutritious and delicious due to thriving soil ecosystems.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As important as it is to restore healthy-soil systems, produce nutritious food (for human & wildlife,) and drawdown carbon, regenerative agriculture does not focus on native plants. Thus, it often contributes to, versus alleviates, the insect apocalypse. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beyond regenerative agriculture and landscape practices, rewilding land restores the natural ecosystem that evolved over thousands of years. Rewilding land requires the restoration of native plants and cultivates food for indigenous insects. Strong insect populations are the foundation for restoring wildlife-predator/prey hierarchies that once thrived prior to human intrusion.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his New York Times bestseller, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Best-Hope-Approach-Conservation/dp/1604699000/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=natures+Best+hope&qid=1615228240&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in your Yard</a></i>, Doug Tallamy encourages citizens to rewild their yards via replacing toxic lawns with native plants that support local insect populations.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div>Inherent within rewilding urban landscapes are three primary benefits: </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Restoration of vibrant soil ecosystems and urban-wildlife populations; production of nutritious food destined for wildlife and humans.</li><li>Drawdown of carbon from the atmosphere into the soils via plant photosynthesis.</li><li>Establishment of food-secure neighborhoods within a community.</li></ul><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">* "cides" are defined as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides.</span></div></div></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Homegrown National Park</span></u><br />Via his recent book, <i><a href="https://www.workman.com/products/bringing-nature-home/paperback" target="_blank">Bringing Nature Home, how you can sustain wildlife with native plants</a></i>, Doug announces his <a href="https://homegrownnationalpark.org/" target="_blank">Homegrown National Park</a> (HNP) initiative in partnership with Michelle Alfandari, business development consultant, entrepreneur, small business owner, and retimer.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGKzMlSZ1QQ58Z4uGS-lz0DkI3Umh8GiyKNXlZ_IJ5GrvXZ67P_nz8n8CHdzbDJpsa56zw906hFKXCNdRcmBTJdfL3meLr2V5ZLN6TMTt1FyUqhJ9JIZKqHiqHxizCNBm8jkzLKXQxdEXT_bdJuPAMIpfW5oEqStpHTmJr3swxhIILezftJBl3MNviQ/s1294/HNP_Image.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="1000" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGKzMlSZ1QQ58Z4uGS-lz0DkI3Umh8GiyKNXlZ_IJ5GrvXZ67P_nz8n8CHdzbDJpsa56zw906hFKXCNdRcmBTJdfL3meLr2V5ZLN6TMTt1FyUqhJ9JIZKqHiqHxizCNBm8jkzLKXQxdEXT_bdJuPAMIpfW5oEqStpHTmJr3swxhIILezftJBl3MNviQ/w190-h246/HNP_Image.jpg" width="190" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">HNP is a grass roots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity. According to Doug,</span><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></blockquote><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<i>In the past, we have asked one thing of our gardens: that they be pretty. Now they have to support life, sequester carbon, feed pollinators, and manage water.</i>”</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">National awareness is HNP's product along with a request for the below actions on the more than 40-million acres of private lawn in the United States:</span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reduce lawns.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Plant more native plants.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remove invasive and/or non-native plants.</span></li></ol><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The <i><a href="http://bit.ly/3W97zFf" target="_blank">What's the Rush</a></i> 24-minute video by Doug is a superb overview of the critical status of the insect population along with simple lifestyle changes by individuals that collectively make a huge difference.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Local Food Security</u></span><br />In addition to the </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Insect Apocalypse, local food security is a a severe challenge for humanity. Depleted soils, broken food systems, and supply-chain challenges contribute to food insecurity for rural and urban populations.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">According to the U.S. Department of Human and Health Services, in 2020, 13.8 million households were food insecure at some point during the year. The World Food Programme made a dire announcement:</span></div><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><i>2022: a year of unprecedented hunger</i></b></span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>As many as 828 million people go to bed hungry every night. The number of those facing acute food insecurity has soared - from 135 million to 345 million - since 2019. A total of 49 million people in 49 countries are teetering on the edge of famine</i>.</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNCrlNC-oEWXndsAxEkjZaK-pVD8M9kSenZLb6C9WEJkLgmyh7XLpuUFelTSkYf2kRC_fDsQURlKwa2JdB1BxU0B3ZUxKML9Kv0bwD__vsrb6BBOOGXz3Drg22-qutifPDebl1wklc4bEAny2y7K6w4upon-t9jkKJYCVlU3lL6MNA8lyT7vc5S5_Hg/s5916/12-07-22_HEI_Ei-Garden-thriving.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="5916" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNCrlNC-oEWXndsAxEkjZaK-pVD8M9kSenZLb6C9WEJkLgmyh7XLpuUFelTSkYf2kRC_fDsQURlKwa2JdB1BxU0B3ZUxKML9Kv0bwD__vsrb6BBOOGXz3Drg22-qutifPDebl1wklc4bEAny2y7K6w4upon-t9jkKJYCVlU3lL6MNA8lyT7vc5S5_Hg/w268-h182/12-07-22_HEI_Ei-Garden-thriving.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">A regenerative home garden; beds are constructed</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">with tree trunks compliments of Hurricane Ian.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Similar to Doug's grass-roots approach to regenerating insect populations, Ei encourages individuals to embrace permaculture-oriented landscaping. Rather than follow the in-depth permaculture protocol, Ei provides a simple permaculture-oriented-landscape definition: <i>if the plant is not native, it <b>must</b> produce human food or other direct benefits.</i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the Great Depression (1929 - 1939,) local gardens provided a means of survival. According to the <i><a href="https://ivypanda.com/essays/gardens-role-in-great-depression/" target="_blank">Gardens Role in Great Depression Research Paper</a></i>, governments introduced relief gardening programs to combat emotional stress, poverty, and hunger. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The relief gardens were also referred to as vacant-lot gardens, subsistence gardens, or welfare-garden plots.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In World War II (WWII,) the federal government called on citizens to plant victory gardens; nearly 20 million Americans answered the call in the name of patriotism. Victory gardens produced an estimated 9 - 10 million tons of vegetables, the equivalent of the commercial-agriculture-crop production. Thus, victory gardens made a tremendous difference and avoided food-shortage and hunger scenarios.*</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thus, the U.S. has precedent on preventing food insecurity on a mass scale during the Great Depression and WWII via home and vacant-lot gardening. Challenge: both programs were strongly promoted and supported by the U.S. federal government. Without government support, communities, non-profits, and individuals must create a movement for individuals to plant and nurture gardens, instead of lawns, at their homes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">* Facts provided by the Living History Farm, Farming in the 1940's, <a href="https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/crops_02.html" target="_blank">Victory Farms</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Permaculture-Oriented Landscapes (POL)</u></span><br />In the earlier referenced video, <i>What's the Rush?</i>, Doug refers to POL as ecological landscapes with the following four purposes:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdn3czTP0exdQqoO2i95N_EZyvmQRNBClD2yj52z18JE-kRYIAYkJXLAx65x5kbF4rHRwYUGFyPbMWMKaTiuj1nldElJcxf8Wp5vRN9Z4JHVeFARZ9IQ5NTGycupmpo6NkIRPCxF3L50QLYHW4rNEgwVtnLIjwmUycGrx9iIDS6hD8jaSL-cfvPVTX_w/s4572/07-15-22_HEI_Ei_Backyd_Paths-CompostCircle.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3483" data-original-width="4572" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdn3czTP0exdQqoO2i95N_EZyvmQRNBClD2yj52z18JE-kRYIAYkJXLAx65x5kbF4rHRwYUGFyPbMWMKaTiuj1nldElJcxf8Wp5vRN9Z4JHVeFARZ9IQ5NTGycupmpo6NkIRPCxF3L50QLYHW4rNEgwVtnLIjwmUycGrx9iIDS6hD8jaSL-cfvPVTX_w/w219-h167/07-15-22_HEI_Ei_Backyd_Paths-CompostCircle.jpg" width="219" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Path leads to a banana-compost circle for</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">yard debris and kitchen-food waste.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Support food webs, human and wildlife.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sequester carbon.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Clean and manage water.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Support pollinators.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei partners with Zach Zildjian Design Services (ZZ Design) on promoting POL. Per Zach Zildjian, an ecological landscaper, POL have three main components:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Food forest (perennial food production.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Vegetable & herb gardens (annual food production.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Compost of landscape debris as well as home-food waste.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscape Pilots</span></u><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Xfa9cKOQdvA7v3dXi_8bMDIOnTMVPNwXHCoUnj7d-oVYbUg4wd3ept5ysJtNyQ5x6sirU_lPr0grIIYYzMpwdevIOOCfg-toSqH4exex_MENWjxk4h4ZctxmjRDQi2CWNmb5FXs7zP2Blnara7Hu612JD-7c3gDMd2ek24tMEwc7bR5CO0sbOHv05Q/s3926/06-10-22_HEI_Ei-BlkSwallowtailCaterpillar.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3926" data-original-width="3044" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Xfa9cKOQdvA7v3dXi_8bMDIOnTMVPNwXHCoUnj7d-oVYbUg4wd3ept5ysJtNyQ5x6sirU_lPr0grIIYYzMpwdevIOOCfg-toSqH4exex_MENWjxk4h4ZctxmjRDQi2CWNmb5FXs7zP2Blnara7Hu612JD-7c3gDMd2ek24tMEwc7bR5CO0sbOHv05Q/w149-h192/06-10-22_HEI_Ei-BlkSwallowtailCaterpillar.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Black swallowtail caterpillar</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">devours a parsley plant.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Beyond regenerative agriculture and landscape practices, rewilding land restores the natural ecosystem that evolved over thousands of years. Rewilding land requires the restoration of native plants and cultivates food for indigenous insects. Strong insect populations are the foundation for restoring healthy predator/prey hierarchies that once thrived prior to human intrusion.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When she returned to her hometown, Sarasota, Florida, after residing in Atlanta for four decades, Holly dedicated her spacious approximately 8,500-square-foot yard to two rewilding pilots. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images (HEI) <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Ei Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i> album documents the pilots' progress in a series of photo galleries.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Ei Native-Plant-Landscape Pilot</b><br /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Native-plant landscapes provide urban wildlife access to food and habitat. When "cide" free, native-plant landscapes provide wildlife a safe haven amid urban life filled with buildings, roadways, and often sterile and/or toxic open areas.</span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOxyB04xwyX_13VGcU2Uo8meRQkZievbOXweZ9Ok30LARnKnZgaTK51HWYyDlDPiqKb4_46FcY-mHQRcGfg-h-uZG9s_s8j0rRpkGq8kC-cZ9Pja2kx3udpY3kmzPnCGIAhCX2FnnHyJ66PsQ-XUIUpqWVs4uJ-2gb81vAKjzF__aLTzeklvwYw3E_g/s5486/11-09-22_HEI_Ei-FrontYard1Yr.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3900" data-original-width="5486" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOxyB04xwyX_13VGcU2Uo8meRQkZievbOXweZ9Ok30LARnKnZgaTK51HWYyDlDPiqKb4_46FcY-mHQRcGfg-h-uZG9s_s8j0rRpkGq8kC-cZ9Pja2kx3udpY3kmzPnCGIAhCX2FnnHyJ66PsQ-XUIUpqWVs4uJ-2gb81vAKjzF__aLTzeklvwYw3E_g/w249-h177/11-09-22_HEI_Ei-FrontYard1Yr.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The young front-yard native-plant landscape</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">thrives as it matures.</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Local wildlife evolved to thrive on native foliage and, in general, do not eat or nest in non-native plants. Additionally, many non-native plants are invasive and choke out native plants, further challenging urban wildlife.</div><div><br /></div><div>Holly's front yard was designated for only native plants with a focus on food and habitat for local urban wildlife. First steps included removing the non-native, decorative plants from prior residents and smothering the existing grass.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pamela Callender of <a href="https://www.pamelacallender.com/lifelines.htm" target="_blank">Lifelines</a> consulted, designed, purchased the plants, and installed the native-plant landscape on November 18 & 19, 2021 and continues to provide support.</div><div><br /></div><div>The HEI album, <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Ei Native-Plant-Landscape Pilo</i>t</a>, documents the the front-yard evolution through a series of photo galleries.</div></span></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Ei Backyard-Permaculture Pilot</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGom2zcFYCTqji-qsdwGXjq1LPIgH4L9wl4vN65c4xJ0QrEyFI5z9GUeDMfGv9Z5hWoj7fiV0SObZMvTdiTscENi48t_a2YIf7ZCksoe-6Kr07AAP8bABhkYjTHtTsIxCZRBz47QyHRFk6doQfVxdZVvVXJH1yH7S6-WZHLrmVlhnLpgtlG1FxSD93EA/s4804/10-08-21_Ei_SRQ-BkYard-viewnorth.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3839" data-original-width="4804" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGom2zcFYCTqji-qsdwGXjq1LPIgH4L9wl4vN65c4xJ0QrEyFI5z9GUeDMfGv9Z5hWoj7fiV0SObZMvTdiTscENi48t_a2YIf7ZCksoe-6Kr07AAP8bABhkYjTHtTsIxCZRBz47QyHRFk6doQfVxdZVvVXJH1yH7S6-WZHLrmVlhnLpgtlG1FxSD93EA/w201-h161/10-08-21_Ei_SRQ-BkYard-viewnorth.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Backyard in its "wild state."</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The backyard follows POL practices with an emphasis on human-food-producing plants. A food-waste-compost circle surrounded by banana trees is integral to the design. Thus, the general rule for the backyard landscape: <i>any non-native plants must produce human food </i></span><i style="font-family: Calibri;">and/or provide direct soil-ecosystem benefit.</i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While the front-yard landscape is strictly native plants and was installed over a two-day period, the backyard pilot is an evolutionary process. For nearly nine months, the backyard was permitted to return to its "wild state" with abundant plant diversity; a variety of happy insects frolicked in the knee-high grass infiltrated with flowering plants.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beginning in early 2021, the backyard was slowly "tamed" with mulched paths, a banana compost circle, a row of native-blueberry bushes under the roof dripline, a pollinator garden, a food forest, and raised herb-garden area with sun protection. Once the invasive carrotwood tree was removed, the south-side yard was opened to ample sunshine and prepped for a <a href="https://bit.ly/3fGCLfg" target="_blank">vegetable, herb, and edible-flower garden</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiTJAqR2PRxehTG9vnItuIjjcRhLrfWuAJVMBhjBm3tHYfkgOwCaNz5VLCr9rkvGy6BEUMK60N7_LAkjDUqbEjzY7dWlxV6E2h3ydrd_hW4cBpZi9BbljtT4u8AmH4_ZLOtNXFncDEkFOc9XGhUw5nmuc7ZAits_6-2mIH72gWYQ6n5CecS_nrlmt6g/s5483/11-09-22_HEI_Ei-FF-ViewNorth.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3437" data-original-width="5483" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiTJAqR2PRxehTG9vnItuIjjcRhLrfWuAJVMBhjBm3tHYfkgOwCaNz5VLCr9rkvGy6BEUMK60N7_LAkjDUqbEjzY7dWlxV6E2h3ydrd_hW4cBpZi9BbljtT4u8AmH4_ZLOtNXFncDEkFOc9XGhUw5nmuc7ZAits_6-2mIH72gWYQ6n5CecS_nrlmt6g/w267-h168/11-09-22_HEI_Ei-FF-ViewNorth.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: x-small;">Similar backyard view one year later</span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: <a href="https://bit.ly/3MHDHvY" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>No herbicides or soil tilling were used in the taming process; Holly hand-weeded the majority of the areas before prepping for its destination.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ZZ Design oversees the backyard evolution and uses the pilot as a showcase for "what can be done" in a neighborhood scenario.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The HEI album, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Ei Backyard-Permaculture Landscape Pilot</a></i>, documents the backyard's evolution through a series of photo galleries.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><u>Intentional Eating</u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Renowned journalist and author Michael Pollan's <a href="https://www.masterclass.com/classes/michael-pollan-teaches-intentional-eating" target="_blank">Intentional Eating MasterClass</a> is exceptional; the class substantiates how the act of eating is integrated within establishing healthy water and soil systems and addressing the Insect Apocalypse; in a market-driven economy consumers vote with dollars spent.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfSc0NCh4DAOhmhxJnn5cFJSCl35oT1UoZVxwtz3p3CD4y9pAKmV54uayrBqwcPSkjcH03IdeY68yG3WMJ9yofGgZcT-6S1Vuiownu5kEHLbnfhZICg2Vv9Axl6nlE7YpvJ_hPYBwVqt6gQ4lFi6eTadMaLFBoWOqTBNrEr9O9qKcFwL7o7XIA7sbixA" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="392" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfSc0NCh4DAOhmhxJnn5cFJSCl35oT1UoZVxwtz3p3CD4y9pAKmV54uayrBqwcPSkjcH03IdeY68yG3WMJ9yofGgZcT-6S1Vuiownu5kEHLbnfhZICg2Vv9Axl6nlE7YpvJ_hPYBwVqt6gQ4lFi6eTadMaLFBoWOqTBNrEr9O9qKcFwL7o7XIA7sbixA=w222-h217" width="222" /></a></div>In his MasterClass, Michael gives ample homework; the assignments are designed to showcase how one's relationship with food and their related choices impact the environment and societal injustices:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>What are you eating? </b>- a low-stakes food audit.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Identify your values</b> - eating with heart.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Grow microgreens</b> - even if you live in a concrete jungle you can witness the magic of nature.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Grocery store/neighborhood analysis</b> - not all stores are created equal.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Eat with the seasons </b>- for most of human history, people cycled eating along with trips around the sun. What changed?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>The "Better" food questionnaire </b>- a more meaningful food audit.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b>Track your food sources </b>- be your own ethics inspector. </span></li></ul></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the class, Michael visits an urban-regenerative farm designed to provide nutritious food to residents in a fresh-food-deprived city sector. It was promising to witness how a dilapidated commercial property transformed into a thriving farm regenerating the environment as well as the surrounding neighborhood.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A future article will provide suggestions on how the average consumer can make a difference. The suggestions will range from simple and no-cost / inexpensive tasks to actions that require time and financial investments.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><u>Individual Collective Action</u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Regenerating soil and water systems, at the microbial and macro levels, is key to sustaining life on Earth. Collective individual action will make a tremendous impact on system restoration and eventual regeneration.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Organizations like the Unitarian Universalist Church (UUC) in Sarasota, Florida are committed to taking action within their community. With a stated soil focus, the UUC Green Team invited Ei and ZZ Design to present at their November monthly meeting. The PPT presentation may be downloaded: <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/11-30-22_EiPPT_UUChurch.pdf" target="_blank">Soil: The Foundation of Life.</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please consider taking action in what makes sense in your life, knowing that a key to success is "<i><b>Taking Baby Steps, Lots and Lots of Baby Steps!</b></i>"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a>.</span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine articles, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a> </i>and <a href="https://bit.ly/3Btaws2" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">SOIL & WATER: the foundation of life</a>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Holly Elmore Images <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3vPYZ2A" target="_blank">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>-album folder documents two active pilots: the <a href="https://bit.ly/3xUMnYX" target="_blank"><i>Native-Plant Landscape Pilot</i></a> and the <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3yjmT8R" target="_blank">Backyard Permaculture-Oriented Pilot</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div></div><p></p><div><br /></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-78673194862433321492021-06-24T23:29:00.030-04:002023-02-28T11:25:57.766-05:00From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity<p>World War II (WWII ) revolutionized manufacturing processes and catapulted personal and commercial markets into an era of increased consumption, convenience, and highly toxic pollutants. </p><p>The Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2019/10/plastics-double-edged-sword.html" target="_blank">Plastics: a double-edged sword</a></i>, articulates the history of plastic consumption, benefits, and challenges; in WWII plastic manufacturing increased 300% and continued to escalate post-war.</p><p>Though it was introduced in the 1930's, synthetic-pesticide use became widespread after WWII. According to <a href="https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/pests_01.html">LivingHistoryFarm.org</a>:</p><p></p><blockquote>World War II was the first U.S. war in which diseases – many like typhus and malaria carried by insects – killed fewer people than bullets and bombs. The reason was DDT. The insect killer – or "insecticide" – had been discovered in 1939 and was used extensively by the U.S. military during the war. So, it is no wonder that the postwar period saw the dawning of the chemical age in pesticides.</blockquote><p></p><blockquote>Then, as today, agriculture uses 75 percent of all pesticides. Between 1947 and 1949, pesticide companies invested $3.8 billion into expanding their production facilities. They were rewarded by huge profits.</blockquote><blockquote>Many historians have called this the golden age of chemical pesticides – effective new chemicals were available and of all of the risks and dangers to human health and the environment were not yet known.</blockquote><p></p><p>During WWII, the United States (U.S.) government built ten plants across the country to manufacture nitrogen-based bombs and other explosives. When the war ended, the plant-production capacity was shifted to petrochemical, nitrogen-based fertilizer manufacturing. Thus, the use of petrochemical fertilizers in farming, along with grounds maintenance and lawn-care practices, exploded in the post-WWII era.</p><p>WWII was a catalyst for an era when unforeseen consequences of high-tech development would create toxic environments and devastating scenarios across the globe.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Glyphosate and GMOs</span></b><br />Glyphosate was first patented in 1961 as a Descaling and Chelating Agent and later purchased by Monsanto in 1974. Monsanto branded as Roundup, a powerful herbicide used in home landscapes and commercial agriculture. By 1982, Monsanto scientists were researching Roundup Ready genetically modified seeds for crops resistant to the herbicide. </p><p>In 1996, the first genetically modified crops (soybeans) were planted in the U.S. At the time, glyphosate usage was 3.8% of the total volume of herbicide-active ingredients applied in agriculture (28 million pounds in 1995.) Glyphosate usage boomed over the next decades; usage increased 9-fold in the U.S. and 15-fold worldwide by 2014. A 2016 research study by Food Democracy Now! and The Detox Project found alarming levels of glyphosate in many popular processed food brands. *</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ebl5HfGelLQ/YNU9Qhq0jgI/AAAAAAAAyjs/8VHibmGN-Bk96QtxmsByFB5lmRckfK4UQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/ZackBush.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="171" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ebl5HfGelLQ/YNU9Qhq0jgI/AAAAAAAAyjs/8VHibmGN-Bk96QtxmsByFB5lmRckfK4UQCLcBGAsYHQ/w304-h171/ZackBush.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Rich Roll 414 Podcast</span></td></tr></tbody></table>According to <a href="https://zachbushmd.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Zach Bush</a>, a triple-board certified medical doctor specializing in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism, as well as in Hospice and Palliative care, the human race is in a vast epidemic of chronic inflammation, mainly caused by the prolific use of glyphosate. Dr. Bush attributes the widespread diagnosis of celiac disease to the use of glyphosate within the harvest of wheat. The March 2018 Rich Roll <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWgnkgYtqnw" target="_blank"><i>GMOs, Glyphosate & Gut Health</i></a> interview with Dr. Bush is an excellent introduction to his profound work and perspectives. In a later Rich Roll podcast, Dr. Bush connects soil health with nutritious food production. <p></p><p>The <a href="https://www.responsibletechnology.org/" target="_blank">Institute for Responsible Technology</a> is another respected resource dedicated to the detrimental health impact by the rampant use of glyphosate along with GMOs (genetically modified organisms) in commercial agriculture.</p><p>With toxins infiltrating water systems, including drinking water, the atmosphere, the soils, the food system, and nearly every aspect of human existence, health for all life on the planet suffers from continuous exposure to human-created poisons.</p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">* Glyphosate history obtained from The Natural Farmer, the newspaper of the Northeast Organic Farming Association, <i><a href="https://thenaturalfarmer.org/article/a-short-history-of-glyphosate/" target="_blank">A Brief History of Glyphosate</a></i> article.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Environmental Movement</span></b><br />Published in September 1962, <i>Silent Spring</i> by Rachel Carson is credited as the catalyst for the environmental movement. Though it addressed the devastating ramifications of DDT-pesticide use, <i>Silent Spring</i> showcased the far-reaching impact of toxic-chemical use whether for pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, or other uses.</p><p></p><p>The August 2015 Natural Resources Defense Council <i><a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/story-silent-spring" target="_blank">The Story of Silent Spring: How a courageous woman took on the chemical industry and raised important questions about humankind's impact on nature </a></i>explains <i>Silent Spring's</i> legacy:</p><p></p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OVpF3krPb0E/WrRhd8bDbkI/AAAAAAAAb10/p_BkeJxUV24EA5n0qEcujkVxJqelCDCbgCPcBGAYYCw/s285/silent-spring-and-rachel-285.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="285" height="199" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OVpF3krPb0E/WrRhd8bDbkI/AAAAAAAAb10/p_BkeJxUV24EA5n0qEcujkVxJqelCDCbgCPcBGAYYCw/w199-h199/silent-spring-and-rachel-285.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo courtesy of Peter Scales</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote><blockquote>The most important legacy of <i>Silent Spring</i>, though, was a new public awareness that nature was vulnerable to human intervention. Carson had made a radical proposal: that, at times, technological progress is so fundamentally at odds with natural processes that it must be curtailed. Conservation had never raised much broad public interest, for few people really worried about the disappearance of wilderness. But the threats Carson had outlined—the contamination of the food chain, cancer, genetic damage, the deaths of entire species—were too frightening to ignore. For the first time, the need to regulate industry in order to protect the environment became widely accepted, and environmentalism was born.</blockquote><p>As the environmental movement grew, awareness of toxic-petrochemical fertilizers' and the "cides'" - herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicide - impact on human and environmental health was substantiated via well-documented scientific research.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nature Prevails</span></b><br />Within <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> 's (Ei) <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> platform, The Principles of Nature are defined as:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Diversity</li><li>Dynamic Balance & Nutrition Cycles</li><li>Necessity of Cover & Ability to Roam</li></ul><p></p><p>The RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2021/01/nature-prevails-action-plan.html" target="_blank">Nature Prevails; an action plan</a></i>, defines The Principles of Nature and explains how human-made systems are ruled by the principles. When humans defy The Principles of Nature. there are often tragic results.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Insect Apocalypse</u></span><br />Insects are integral to the natural ecosystem foundation and essential to supporting the Earth’s life web. At the base of the prey hierarchy, insects are food for fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. In addition to recycling soil-system nutrients, insects play an essential role in the decomposition portion of nature’s circular-life cycle.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRKIkx6jczY/YEa0HCkmrSI/AAAAAAAAwjM/P1WFoDYy_fw9tWqiToVmT_sr-EH51MYMACPcBGAYYCw/s2048/07-22-16%2BHE%2BATL%2BBHNP%2Bmacro%2Bmulti-age%2Bmilkweed%2Bbeetles.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1477" height="277" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cRKIkx6jczY/YEa0HCkmrSI/AAAAAAAAwjM/P1WFoDYy_fw9tWqiToVmT_sr-EH51MYMACPcBGAYYCw/w200-h277/07-22-16%2BHE%2BATL%2BBHNP%2Bmacro%2Bmulti-age%2Bmilkweed%2Bbeetles.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A multi-generations of milkweed<br />beetles at a rewilded park.<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Since the 1970’s, the Earth’s insect population suffered from severe population declines as well as loss of diversity.<p></p><p>The NY Times 2018 article, <i><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/magazine/insect-apocalypse.html" target="_blank">The Insect Apocalypse Is Here. What does it mean for the rest of life on Earth?</a></i>, reported: The German study found that, measured simply by weight, the overall abundance of flying insects in German nature reserves had decreased by 75 percent over just 27 years. If you looked at midsummer population peaks, the drop was 82 percent.</p><p>According to the November 2019 Somerset Wildlife Trust <i><a href="https://www.somersetwildlife.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/FULL%20AFI%20REPORT%20WEB1_1.pdf" target="_blank">Insect Declines and Why They Matter Report</a></i> by Professor Dave Goulson, <b>41% of insect species are threatened with extinction</b>.</p><p>Contributing factors to the demise of insect populations include:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Prolific use of pesticides in commercial and residential landscapes, corporate and municipal-grounds maintenance, and industrial agriculture.</li><li>Loss of habitat due to urbanization, transportation systems, farming, and landscape-maintenance practices.</li><li>Infiltration of non-native plants; insects evolved to thrive on native plants and non-native plants are often not food sources for local populations.</li><li>Intangible pollution, including artificial light, noise (leaf blowers,) and electromagnetic fields.</li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>Holocene Extinction (sixth mass extinction)</u></span><br />As documented by the November 2019 Science Alert article, <i><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-how-biodiversity-experts-recognise-that-we-re-midst-a-mass-extinction" target="_blank">Are We Really in a 6th Mass Extinction? Here's The Science</a></i>, current conditions indicate that the Earth's Holocene extinction, or sixth mass extinction, is well underway. From the article:</p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><p>A mass extinction is usually defined as a loss of about three quarters of all species in existence across the entire Earth over a "short" geological period of time. Given the vast amount of time since life first evolved on the planet, "short" is defined as anything less than 2.8 million years. </p><p>... The Earth is currently experiencing an extinction crisis largely due to the exploitation of the planet by people. </p></blockquote><p>The World Wildlife Fund <i><a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/living-planet-report-2020" target="_blank">2020 Living Planet Report </a></i>states:</p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><p>A 68% average decline of birds, amphibians, mammals, fish, and reptiles since 1970.</p><p>The findings are clear: Our relationship with nature is broken.</p><p></p></blockquote><p></p><blockquote>Biodiversity – the rich diversity of life on Earth – is being lost at an alarming rate. This loss effects our own health and well-being. Today, catastrophic impacts for people and the planet loom closer than ever.</blockquote><p>Though the Holocene extinction is well underway, a tragic outcome may be avoided by aligning human-created systems with The Principles of Nature. </p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Increased Predation and Nutrient Deficiency</span></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XEc3UCmWVo/W4MQn-iLarI/AAAAAAAAgRM/voVWTgsLQD0nCxyGZ-Eduk8f_bdwcYcvwCPcBGAYYCw/s828/Pollinator_EiDigitalBook_Cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="650" height="272" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2XEc3UCmWVo/W4MQn-iLarI/AAAAAAAAgRM/voVWTgsLQD0nCxyGZ-Eduk8f_bdwcYcvwCPcBGAYYCw/w214-h272/Pollinator_EiDigitalBook_Cover.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>As stated in the Ei Digital Book, <i><a href="https://issuu.com/hollyelmore/docs/ei_holly.pollinators.final?fr=sMGU0NzE2MTgxNDU" target="_blank">Restoring Pollinator Populations</a>:</i><p></p><p></p><blockquote>Eliminating the use of man-made fertilizers also removes chemical influence which can damage plants. When synthetic fertilizers are applied, plants grow faster than their natural rhythm. Faster growth results in plants with thinner cell membranes that are vulnerable to predation by insects, parasites, and fungus. Healthy, robust plants with thick stalks and leaf-cell membranes are not as enticing for pests.</blockquote><p>Thus, the use of petrochemical fertilizers ignites the cycle of pest control, most often via toxic insecticides and pesticides. Unfortunately, pesticides often kill "good bugs" as well as the targeted insects. Additionally, pesticides pollute waterways via farm run-off or by filtering through the soil to the area aquifer.</p><div>In 2004, Dr. Donald Davis, a member of the University of Texas at Austin Biochemical Institute, and his team published a <a href="https://news.utexas.edu/2004/12/01/study-suggests-nutrient-decline-in-garden-crops-over-past-50-years/" target="_blank">study that suggests nutrient decline in garden crops over past 50 years</a>, According to Dr. Davis: </div><div><i></i><blockquote>"Efforts to breed new varieties of crops that provide greater yield, pest resistance, and climate adaptability have allowed crops to grow bigger and more rapidly, but their ability to manufacture or uptake nutrients has not kept pace with their rapid growth. There have likely been declines in other nutrients, too, such as magnesium, zinc, and vitamins B-6 and E, but they were not studied in 1950 and more research is needed to find out how much less we are getting of these key vitamins and minerals."<br /></blockquote><p>Soil ecosystems are alive with an intertwined network of fungi, microbial communities, insects, and other small animals working together, often in symbiotic fashion, to nurture plant roots. In return, the plants deliver carbon dioxide, sugars, and other nutrients to the soil system. When the soil ecosystem is healthy, plants produce nutritious food for humans and wildlife.</p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BVFyGsga9U/XdWUNkbN-iI/AAAAAAAArrk/-G44zcn_XPcIT3ARppqgh5CuWsHI2KtWACPcBGAYYCw/s2048/08-14-19_HEI_SCSD6-covercrop-tall.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2048" height="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0BVFyGsga9U/XdWUNkbN-iI/AAAAAAAArrk/-G44zcn_XPcIT3ARppqgh5CuWsHI2KtWACPcBGAYYCw/w276-h220/08-14-19_HEI_SCSD6-covercrop-tall.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Healthy cover crops at a regenerative farm.<br />Photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Diversity and necessity of cover, two of The Principles of Nature previously mentioned, are essential for a healthy soil ecosystem. Common monocrop farming with neat, barren rows between crops defies nature and deteriorates soil health. Tilling the soil breaks up the soil communication and nutrient-transfer systems governed by fungi networks. <p></p><p>Per Mother Earth New's article, <i><a href="https://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/nature/symbiotic-relationship-zm0z14aszkin" target="_blank">Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Roots: A Symbiotic Relationship</a>,</i> Mycorrhizal fungi help plant roots absorb nutrients and fight off harmful, soil-dwelling predators. In exchange, the fungus receives sugars and nutrients from its host plant. Furthermore: </p><p></p><blockquote>At least 80 percent of the plant species on the globe, representing more than 90 percent of all the plant families, are known to form mycorrhizae. In addition to facilitating the transportation of nutrients, at least one kind of mycorrhizal fungus attracts and kills the tiny soil-dwelling arthropods called springtails, a rich source of nitrogen. Other carnivorous fungi capture the superabundant microscopic worms known as nematodes, either with sticky knobs that develop from the hyphae, fine filament meshes, or loops that constrict to snare passing prey — fungal lassoes.</blockquote><p>Over the past decades, toxic-chemical additives along with modern-day farming practices significantly compromised soil health, and resulted in nutrient-deficient food. Organic Certification is a strong first step in aligning with The Principles of Nature, yet is far from a final step.</p></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Organic Certification</span></b><br />A focus on organic farming emerged as petrochemical fertilizers and "cides" were introduced to commercial agriculture post WWII. As the environmental movement gained momentum in the 1960's, after <i>Silent Spring's</i> publication, decentralized organic-farming standards were established across the nation. </p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mm1vkAArYhM/YNTvKW8m6eI/AAAAAAAAyjk/ujKWSuZ5XP8zg0jr2adsTN61Vn2HTjN5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/Verum-USDA-Organic-Certification.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1200" height="153" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mm1vkAArYhM/YNTvKW8m6eI/AAAAAAAAyjk/ujKWSuZ5XP8zg0jr2adsTN61Vn2HTjN5wCLcBGAsYHQ/w270-h153/Verum-USDA-Organic-Certification.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image compliments of Verum Ingredients</span></td></tr></tbody></table>In 1990, Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) to develop a national standard for organic-food and -fiber production. The USDA’s National Organic Program, authorized under OFPA, issued their Final Ruling in October 2002; the ruling established the federal organic-certification program, administered by the respective state departments of agriculture.<p></p><p>Organic certification prohibits the use of "cides," GMO seeds, and petrochemical fertilizers. Thus, organic food is non-GMO and reasonably "toxin-free" Yet, organic certification does not address soil health or the nutritional value of food produced on the certified farm.</p><div><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Regenerative Agriculture</span></b><br />In addition to adhering to organic-farming practices, regenerative agriculture focuses on restoring and maintaining a healthy soil ecosystem. Diverse crops, including cover crops, and no-till farming practices are basic regenerative-agriculture protocol.</p><p>Inherent within soil restoration is increasing the organic matter (carbon) content; thus, regenerative agriculture creates carbon sinks, a designated area that draws down more carbon than is released into the atmosphere. An emerging trend is to incorporate applicable regenerative agriculture protocol into landscape- and grounds-maintenance practices.</p><p>In 2017, Ei coined the term urban carbon sinks in the RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2017/11/beyond-sustainability-regenerative.html" target="_blank">Beyond Sustainability: Regenerative Solutions</a>. </i>Additionally, the article substantiates regenerative agriculture, and landscape/grounds-maintenance practices as a viable solution for balancing the carbon cycles. The RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2017/02/carbon-crisis-simply-matter-of-balance.html" target="_blank">Carbon Crisis: simply a matter of balance</a></i>, introduces the carbon cycles and compost’s role in restoring balance; the article features John Wick and the <a href="https://www.marincarbonproject.org/" target="_blank">Marin Carbon Project</a>.</p><p>As important as it is to restore healthy soil systems, produce nutritious food (for human & wildlife,) and drawdown carbon, regenerative agriculture does not focus on native plants. Thus, it often contributes to, versus alleviates, the insect apocalypse. </p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rewilding Landscapes<br /></span></b>Beyond regenerative agriculture and landscape practices, rewilding land restores the natural ecosystem that evolved over thousands of years. Rewilding land requires the restoration of native plants and cultivates food for indigenous insects. Strong insect populations are the foundation for restoring healthy predator/prey hierarchies that once thrived prior to human intrusion.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jYZqpeFlcw/YNTm7lXJLlI/AAAAAAAAyjc/LKVyyeUXVt44nvgFvQTbcUb5c2r4OjwTACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/NaturesBestHope.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1385" height="292" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jYZqpeFlcw/YNTm7lXJLlI/AAAAAAAAyjc/LKVyyeUXVt44nvgFvQTbcUb5c2r4OjwTACLcBGAsYHQ/w197-h292/NaturesBestHope.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>In his New York Times bestseller, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Best-Hope-Approach-Conservation/dp/1604699000/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=natures+Best+hope&qid=1615228240&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in your Yard</a></i>, Doug Tallamy encourages citizens to rewild their yards via replacing toxic lawns with native plants that support local insect populations. Caterpillars are a primary food source for many birds and other wildlife. According to Doug, Carolina chickadees must catch 6,240 – 9,120 caterpillars to raise one clutch.<p></p><p>Inherent within rewilding urban landscapes are three primary benefits: </p><p></p><ul><li>Restoration of vibrant soil ecosystems and urban wildlife populations; production of nutritious food destined for wildlife and humans.</li><li>Drawdown of carbon from the atmosphere into the soils via plant photosynthesis.</li><li>Establishment of food-secure neighborhoods within a community.</li></ul><p>In the RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2021/03/urban-carbon-sinks-rewilding-urban.html" target="_blank">Urban Carbon Sinks: Rewilding Urban Landscapes</a></i>, Ei announced a commitment to Rewilding Urban Landscapes via pilots focused on urban agriculture, lawns, corporate complexes, college and university campuses, highway medians and shoulders, airport land surrounding runways, parks, and other available urban land. For the rewilding pilots, native foliage is planted and cultivated with the exception of human-food producing plants, such as tomatoes.</p><p>Pilots are in the development stage with various grant applications underway.</p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Align with The Principles of Nature</span></b><br />Human ingenuity catapulted the planet into a sixth extinction. Though the scenario appears dire, nature is forgiving as long as her principles are honored. If humans start aligning crafted systems with The Principles of Nature, a new spectrum of probable outcomes materializes and a vibrant, miraculous future is possible.</p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i>Tax-deductible donations in any amount are greatly appreciated to support Ei's important work. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://bit.ly/3IxyQf7" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">DONATE HERE</span></b></a>.</span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Regeneration in ACTION Magazine article, <i><a href="https://bit.ly/39OO7KL" target="_blank">From Organic Certification to Regenerative Agriculture to Rewilding Landscapes: an evolution towards soil integrity</a></i>, published to explain and substantiate the importance of Ei’s rewilding urban landscapes work within the Nature Prevails focus area.</div><div><br /></div><div>MISSION:</div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</div><div><br /></div><div>The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-510-9336 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></div></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-66586132798834123682021-05-09T17:42:00.002-04:002021-05-09T17:42:34.552-04:00The Last Unknown, an epic documentary<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><i><a href="https://www.discoveryplus.com/show/the-last-unknown" target="_blank"></a></i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMVXZYorhM8/YJGiHQpqdCI/AAAAAAAAws0/OHfR8WFo8zUTi5omld4x1WT2wuJ6azMwQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/TLU_PromoImage.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="271" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iMVXZYorhM8/YJGiHQpqdCI/AAAAAAAAws0/OHfR8WFo8zUTi5omld4x1WT2wuJ6azMwQCLcBGAsYHQ/w271-h271/TLU_PromoImage.jpg" width="271" /></a></i></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><i><a href="https://www.discoveryplus.com/show/the-last-unknown" target="_blank">The Last Unknown</a> (TLU,)</i> is an acclaimed discovery+ documentary by award-winning photographer, author, film and television producer,
conservationist, and educator Ian Shive; <i>TLU</i> engages the audience on an epic adventure in the Aleutian Islands (AI). L</span>ocated in the freezing sea between Siberia and Alaska, the AI are one of the wildest, most pristine, and remote places on Earth. The AI showcase natural wonders, treacherous existence, and astounding beauty, mostly untouched by human interference.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ian and his four-person crew joined the United States (U.S.) Fish & Wildlife Service's (FWS) on board the Tiglax research vessel as they traversed one of the wildest places on the planet. Most of the remote islands are completely devoid of human intrusion with no docks, trails, or services; access is challenging and weather may prohibit a safe landing. <i>TLU</i> offers a glimpse of Nature in her untamed state and leaves the viewer in a state of awe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Discovery </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Executive Vice President of Multiplatform Programming, Factual & Head of Content, Science </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Scott Lewers validates Discovery's investment in <i>TLU</i>:<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: arial;">“Ian’s journey takes viewers to a part of the world that few people will ever get to see in real life. Showcasing the vital work being done to protect our diverse wildlife and ecosystem is an important part of Discovery’s heritage and we are thrilled to share this latest addition to the vast collection of natural history documentaries available on discovery+.” </span></i></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The FWS research assesses the overall ecosystem health via evaluating the marine-mammal and bird-population status. When it feeds at sea, a bird essentially captures thousands of ocean samples with each bite. By studying the bird populations, scientists examine huge swatches of ocean health. Vibrant predator populations are indicators of strong prey populations and ocean-marine life.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">During their three-week voyage, Ian and his crew face perilous elements as they visit five of the AI and tell the story <span style="background-color: white;">of<span> untamed </span>p</span>laces where no one, or at least only a few, have ventured.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgVZamGrT5o/YJGmPaXqfXI/AAAAAAAAwtE/gI1609qkCggMeWvOdQm72EdWQgdISwYPQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/TLU_Auklets-flying.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PgVZamGrT5o/YJGmPaXqfXI/AAAAAAAAwtE/gI1609qkCggMeWvOdQm72EdWQgdISwYPQCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/TLU_Auklets-flying.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Auklet swarm at sea<br />Photo: Tandem Stills + Motion</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Island Explorations</span></b><br />The first stop is Akutan Island where the crew witnesses an endangered Steller sea lion colony. Beginning in the 1970's and accelerating in the 1980's and 1990's, the rapid decline of the Steller sea lion population is most likely due to depleted food sources from over fishing.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Kiska Island, Ian and his crew find an exceptionally healthy auklet population. According to the <a href="https://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/kiska-island-colonies" target="_blank">Audubon Kiska Island Colonies</a> page, Kiska Island is home to seven seabird colonies consisting of fourteen seabird species and an estimated 3,333,961 birds. In <i>TLU</i>, the footage of the huge auklet swarm undulating in the sky within geometric patterns was breathtaking and a phenomena few humans will ever experience.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Cynthia Martinez, Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) for the FWS, confirms the amazing experience:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>"Watching swirling clouds of tiny seabirds at Kiska Island is one of the most awe-inspiring wildlife spectacles I have ever seen. The thousands of islands that are home to millions of birds and marine mammals make the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge an iconic example of our National Wildlife Refuge System. I’m excited that viewers will get to experience the beauty of the Aleutian Chain, the traditional homelands of the Unangax̂ people."</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Though generally devoid of human activity, remnants of World War II (WWII) occupation by the Japanese </span><span>survive in the harsh conditions </span>on East Kiska Island<span>; </span><span>the crash-landing site of a B24 in December 1942 is one of the WWII relics. Additionally, Ian explores one of the Japanese underground bunkers dug into the hillside.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">FWS field techs Sarah Youngren and Dan Rapp welcome the film crew to Aiktak Island where they completed their 500th day on the island this season. The island is home to an active puffin colony. While the parents feed at sea during the day, the pufflings remain in the security of the burrow among the island's rocky landscape. Weekly, Sarah and Dan weigh and measure select pufflings to monitor their progress and assess the overall ocean-health status. The featured puffling did not gain weight over the past week, signaling potential ecosystem-health challenges.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErjosxk2xjyBRZG3qY4gP-Zbc-oQ4z6KyWQ4pB45zLm7PcLaw8I8SsXfHtD9JzE2BbIwGvYQjgedS7WWtCOAwvkGeja2p4e7qYVEMSuYH3CV8tLjtWSmtt9RJVKgBtm7r_ldQuIojeDQ/s1080/TLU_volcano.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErjosxk2xjyBRZG3qY4gP-Zbc-oQ4z6KyWQ4pB45zLm7PcLaw8I8SsXfHtD9JzE2BbIwGvYQjgedS7WWtCOAwvkGeja2p4e7qYVEMSuYH3CV8tLjtWSmtt9RJVKgBtm7r_ldQuIojeDQ/w200-h200/TLU_volcano.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Active volcano<br />Photo: Tandem Stills + Motion</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">Tanaga Island, the highest point in the Western AI, is an active volcano with a constantly changing landscape filled with magnificent waterfalls and connected shoreline caves. The drone footage of the spectacular island is masterful. According to Ian, the landscape is surreal and reminds him of an amusement park.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On Bogoslof Island, the final island visit, an estimated 100,000 -140,000 fur seals occupy the island as their annual breeding grounds. Once nearly extinct, the fur seals thrive on the island, which is the top of enormous volcano. Orca (killer whales) patrol the fur seal-abundant waters for their next meal. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The first to arrive at the breeding grounds from as far away as Los Angeles, over 3,000 miles to the south, male fur seas return to the territory claimed in years past. Once on the island, the males oversee their harem and do not leave for two months, not even to feed. T</span><span style="font-family: arial;">he </span><span style="font-family: arial;">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that 36,015 pups were born on the island in 2019. The excellent <i>TLU</i> fur seal footage captures the magnitude of the island population along with showcasing the aggressive, often simply grouchy, male behavior.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Active since the late 1700's, the Bogoslof Island volcano erupted seventeen times in the last 70 years; the last major eruption was in 2017. Ian gives an up-close tour of the volcano heart complete with steaming thermal vents and bubbling water pools. Using a laser thermometer, Ian records temperatures as high as 199 degrees Fahrenheit. It is fascinating to witness Ian traverse the steaming and gurgling volcano!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><i>TLU</i> provides viewers a glimpse of thriving ecosystems in one of the most remote, treacherous, and inaccessible places on earth. Via masterful cinemaphotography, </span><i>TLU</i> is a rare opportunity to witness Nature's raw magnificence </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">AI Topography and History*</span></b><br />Comprised of 80 large volcanoes, the AI is one of the of the most volcanic places in the world and is the northern anchor of the Pacific Rim of Fire, a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Though immediately disruptive, volcano eruptions are essential to the AI ecosystem; eruptions carry minerals from the Earth's core to the surface, create nutrient-rich land and seas, and support food sources for the predator and prey populations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVOmQZGYgeM/YJGnaGw74tI/AAAAAAAAwtU/5fxHaGq-CNY3rzsb6YQry2nloziJ4iSaACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/TLU_Drone_BayMtns.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVOmQZGYgeM/YJGnaGw74tI/AAAAAAAAwtU/5fxHaGq-CNY3rzsb6YQry2nloziJ4iSaACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/TLU_Drone_BayMtns.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Stunning AI landscape<br />Photo: Tandem Stills + Motion</span><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">A rugged, wild network of 2,500+ islands that stretch into the middle of the Bering Sea, the AI </span><span style="font-family: arial;">span 6,821 square miles. Though the majority of the islands were devoid of land mammals, including humans, the eastern islands closest to the Alaskan mainland were inhabited by native Unangax̂. When they arrived on the AI in the mid-1700's, the Russians wreaked havoc on native human, marine mammals and avian species</span><span style="font-family: arial;">.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1750, the Russians released captured artic blue foxes on some of the islands to support the lucrative fur exploitation. As they lived in an habitat with no land-roaming predators, the AI birds evolved as ground nesters. The foxes, and later the introduced rats, feasted on the avian eggs devastating the island-bird populations. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">B</span><span style="font-family: arial;">y 1768, the Russians drove the 25-foot-long Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) to extinction in a mere 27 years; later </span><span style="font-family: arial;">t</span><span style="font-family: arial;">he flightless spectacled cormorant was also extinct.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Between 1786 - 1787, Russians decimated the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Unangax̂ population from an estimated 16,000 to 1,900 due to relocation, slaughter, and enslavement. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By 1800, Russian fur traders exported a total of more than 400,000 fur </span><span style="font-family: arial;">seals, 96,000 sea otters, and 102,000 fox pelts from the Pribilof and Aleutian islands </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and the Kodiak Archipelago.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Slow-moving, docile bowhead whales, who yield around 100 barrels of oil per whale, were hunted to near extinction. In 1852 alone, 2682 bowhead whales were harvested by New England whaling ships.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">After the American Civil War in 1867, the U.S. purchased the AI from Russia for $7,200,000. In 1869, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Congress created the Pribilof Islands Reservation </span><span style="font-family: arial;">to protect fur seals on their main breeding grounds. Yet, the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">American government continued to use fur seals as a cash crop until 1983.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuaABkq0NAk/YJGouSt0ObI/AAAAAAAAwtk/IIm3xVn8Fps_Puvva3qg928O4ZUxFaNKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/TLU_Auklets-rocks.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tuaABkq0NAk/YJGouSt0ObI/AAAAAAAAwtk/IIm3xVn8Fps_Puvva3qg928O4ZUxFaNKACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/TLU_Auklets-rocks.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Auklets are one of the many AI<br />ground-nesting avian species.<br />Photo: Tandem Stills + Motion</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">By 1892, Americans released artic blue foxes on 450 of the AI and left them to feed off the ground-nesting birds, whose populations were annihilated. Later fur farmers purposely released mice onto the islands to serve as winter food for the foxes.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The turn of the century brought wildlife protection to the AI. In 1900, the Lacey Act prohibited the commercial sale or </span><span style="font-family: arial;">hunting of birds and animals to sell as meat, feathers, or skins. President Theodore Roosevelt established a series of refuges in 1909 to protect AI native wildlife and restore diminished populations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By 1932, sea otter populations expand under the wildlife-protection acts. In the mid 1930's, warnings arose of native ecosystem disruption caused by the introduced foxes and other land-based mammals to the islands. By 1940, regulations prohibited fox farming on some of the islands.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Post WWII, underground atomic bomb tests were detonated on Amchitka Island. The final five-megaton atomic bomb test - the largest underground atomic bomb blast in U.S. history - was in 1971. Though underground, the atomic blasts wreaked havoc on the island's tundra and streams.</span></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrgnyhXAD4Y/YJGoBth5HRI/AAAAAAAAwtc/m4sjm7C_rrssxKMXNmQh3w517GGofbTpQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/TLU_FurSeals.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrgnyhXAD4Y/YJGoBth5HRI/AAAAAAAAwtc/m4sjm7C_rrssxKMXNmQh3w517GGofbTpQCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/TLU_FurSeals.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Healthy fur seal population on<br />Bogoslof Island<br />Photo: Tandem Stills & Motion</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980 and created the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (AMNWR). </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Totaling 4.9 million acres, the AMNWR combined eleven existing refuges as well as other land to create the world's largest seabird refuge. The RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2020/10/an-evolutionary-call-to-action.html" target="_blank">An Evolutionary Call-to-ACTION</a></i>, gives the NWRS history, purpose, and how it relates to National Parks and National Monuments.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With the formation of the AMNWR, the AI are doubly protected via its remote location as well as a national wildlife refuge. Under this new-found protection, assistance arrives to let nature prevail with restoration of the ecosystem.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">* <span style="font-size: x-small;">Information from the <a href="https://www.fws.gov/refuge/alaska_maritime/" target="_blank">AMNWR Historical Timeline</a> document substantiated the copy in the AI Topography and History section.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nature Prevails</span></b><br />The AI natural-ecosystem destruction caused by human activities and the subsequent restoration once activities were ceased or reversed substantiate the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> platform. Within the Nature Prevails premise, the Earth heals herself and nurtures renewed life forms, no matter the calamity caused by humans or extraterrestrial activities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YEPZOGT4zbo/X5A_q-zrsXI/AAAAAAAAvAc/RIabN1BVr5k5lhJvyNmTYzdIgylfGgsawCPcBGAYYCw/s800/GreenPlantsPostFire.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YEPZOGT4zbo/X5A_q-zrsXI/AAAAAAAAvAc/RIabN1BVr5k5lhJvyNmTYzdIgylfGgsawCPcBGAYYCw/w288-h192/GreenPlantsPostFire.jpg" width="288" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">Nature Prevails: green plants rise from the remains<br /></span><span style="text-align: left;">of the California Lake Fire. Photo: @IanShivePhoto</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">Tragic, human-caused outcomes may be avoided by aligning human-created systems with The Principles of Nature. Ei defines The Principles of Nature are defined as:</span><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Diversity</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Dynamic Balance & Nutrition Cycles</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Necessity of Cover & Ability to Roam</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2021/01/nature-prevails-action-plan.html" target="_blank">Nature Prevails; an action plan</a></i>, defines The Principles of Nature and explains how human-made systems are ruled by the principles.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Within the AMNWR protection, the AI ecosystems realigned with The Principles of Nature and restoration of damaged maritime populations flourished.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ian Shive: a man with a mission</b></span><br />After almost ten years in media and publicity at Sony Pictures Entertainment working on over 60 motion pictures including the Spider-Man franchise, Ian left the corporate world in 2007; Ian's photography career was already thriving. An amazing photographer who follows his inner calling, Ian built a well-earned reputation as the “<i>leading chronicler of America's national parks</i>."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the next decade plus, Ian segued from an accomplished nature photographer into a respected multi-media artist incorporating author, film and television producer, conservationist, and educator into his professional repertoire. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>An Evolution with Impact</u></span><br />In 2014, Tandem Stills + Motion (TSM,) Ian's company founded in 2009, segued into short-film production via a Nature Conservancy three-minute plus film <i><a href="https://vimeo.com/96749143" target="_blank">Conserving Cuba's Coral Reef</a></i>. Via a pitch to the Discovery Channel, Ian and his team organized logistics, filmed (on land & underwater,) and produced the <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0116VX68O/ref=stream_est_hd_ep?autoplay=1&t=0" target="_blank">Tiburones: The Sharks of Cuba</a></i>, a first-ever Cuba adventure for SHARK WEEK. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">TSM segued into cinema films in 2016 with the four-minute plus film, <i><a href="https://vimeo.com/149362853" target="_blank">Rob Krar: Chasing the Distance</a></i>, which explored the lives of husband and wife ultra-running team Rob Krar and Christina Bauer. Ian's stunning drone photography, along with stellar time-lapse sky clips, augmented the story as well as showcased the Grand Canyon landscape.</span></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cn2ji2YBdvw/X5BM1zAIvGI/AAAAAAAAvBU/f_YDOH4ndlUJqoGyyDvK3naCUekyXFQFgCPcBGAYYCw/s600/LaysonMotherChick-Midway.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="294" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cn2ji2YBdvw/X5BM1zAIvGI/AAAAAAAAvBU/f_YDOH4ndlUJqoGyyDvK3naCUekyXFQFgCPcBGAYYCw/w221-h294/LaysonMotherChick-Midway.jpg" width="221" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;">A Laysan albatross tending to her chick</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">serves as the </span><i style="background-color: white;">Midway</i><span style="background-color: white;"> promo image.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Photo: @IanShivePhoto</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">The 2017 <i><a href="https://vimeo.com/216538464" target="_blank">Battle of Midway: 75th Anniversary Commemoration Film</a></i> (<i>Battle of Midway</i>) produced by TSM in cooperation with the FWS honors the two fierce World War II (WWII) battles on the atoll. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Until the <i>Battle of Midway</i>, Ian's proven expertise was in documenting natural phenomena in stills and motion. With the Battle of Midway, Ian exhibited compassionate interviewing and filming skills as he coaxed the surviving veterans to share their traumatic, emotional battle experiences. Close-up images captured the lingering pain in the veterans' eyes as tears rolled down their weathered cheeks.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Inspired, Ian used the extensive motion clips and stills captured during the two-week Midway Atoll visit to create the 40-minute film <i>Midway: Edge of Tomorrow</i> (<i>Midway</i>.) Though the World War II significance is prominent, the film's prime focus is on the regeneration of the atoll's ecosystem; the Laysan albatross are stars of the film!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Midway</i> is available on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/midway-edge-of-tomorrow/id1301146627" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Midway_Edge_of_Tomorrow?id=DrdKKNlM2h0" target="_blank">Google Play</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Midway-Edge-Tomorrow-John-Grunewald/dp/B0779FTBP6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511978083&sr=8-1&keywords=midway+edge+of+tomorrow" target="_blank">Amazon Prime</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Hidden Pacific<br /></span></u></i>Produced by TSM and directed by Ian, <i>Hidden Pacific</i> was distributed by Giant Screen Films in 44 cities in late 2019 | early 2020. Designed for IMAX theatres, <i>Hidden Pacific</i> is a cinema phenomena, especially when viewed on the big screen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Hidden Pacific</i> transports the viewer to the magical world of three atolls hidden within the massive Pacific Ocean volcanic seascape: Palmyra Atoll within the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument in American Samoa, and the Midway Atoll within the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3JrxpGGpzEo/X5BNv3CfbmI/AAAAAAAAvBg/u3iXNc0Ft700dQKvAm9ZcSx_Z8QOZDQFwCPcBGAYYCw/s800/RoseAtoll-Drone.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3JrxpGGpzEo/X5BNv3CfbmI/AAAAAAAAvBg/u3iXNc0Ft700dQKvAm9ZcSx_Z8QOZDQFwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/RoseAtoll-Drone.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: left;">Aerial view of Rose Atoll<br /></span><span style="text-align: left;">Photo: @IanShivePhoto</span></span><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">On the Rose Atoll, Ian and his team are the first photographers (and probably the only ever) permitted to make the extensive travels necessary to visit the pristine atoll, devoid of direct human activity. Thus, the stills and film captured are literally a global treasure.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As with <i>TLU</i>, <i>Hidden Pacific </i>gifts viewers with a virtual visit to remote, inaccessible destinations that showcase nature's magnificence when undisturbed by human activity.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In mid-film promotion the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the globe; <i>Hidden Pacific</i> screenings were cancelled as theatres closed their doors and the film promotion went dormant.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Yet <i>Hidden Pacific</i>'s storyline is timeless. Its imperative narrative will gain exceptional traction once the global community emerges from the pandemic cocoon.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">A printed masterpiece</span></u><br /><i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Refuge-Including-Mountains-Coffee-Table-Conservation/dp/1647221447" target="_blank">REFUGE, America's Wildest Places, Exploring the National Wildlife Refuge System</a></i> (<i>REFUGE</i>) published in October, 2020 features Ian's stunning photography. As with Ian's prior books, films, and other mediums, <i>REFUGE</i> is a masterpiece and serves as a portal to explore our planet's intrinsic beauty.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LbHZZ_z9awU/X4-hA8cjw4I/AAAAAAAAvAA/Pbb5NuftHJwjve9p3x2fWilO6kZKJKeOQCPcBGAYYCw/s660/Refuge_Final%2BCover_Small.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="660" height="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LbHZZ_z9awU/X4-hA8cjw4I/AAAAAAAAvAA/Pbb5NuftHJwjve9p3x2fWilO6kZKJKeOQCPcBGAYYCw/w200-h182/Refuge_Final%2BCover_Small.jpg" width="200" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>REFUGE</i> is a glimpse into the magnificence and sacred nature of the NWRS, one of the largest protected land and water networks in the world. The NWRS encompasses land and water ecosystems coast-to-coast within the continental U.S. as well as the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, and U.S. territories.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">An impressive series of essays augment Ian's images and showcase the book's importance and far-reaching impact. Additionally, <i>REFUGE</i> is an excellent resource with the 560+ refuges listed with those open to the public earmarked. Additionally, a two-page-spread map of refuge locations is included. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Many of the featured refuges are difficult, if not impossible, for the public to visit due to intricate travel requirements and/or NWRS restrictions. Thus, <i>REFUGE</i> is one of the few, if not the only, vehicles to travel vicariously through the expansive system of connected refuges. Though most are not contiguous, many refuges are connected by migratory bird routes, other natural phenomena, or simply via intention. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Many still images captured during the <i>TLU</i> filming are included in <i>REFUGE</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The previously mentioned RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2020/10/an-evolutionary-call-to-action.html" target="_blank">An Evolutionary Call-to-ACTION</a></i>, showcases and applauds <i>REFUGE</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><u><span style="font-size: medium;">From behind the camera to host and on-air talent</span></u></i><br />In January 2019 Ian's evolution continued at Discovery Channel's <i><a href="https://www.discovery.com/shows/nature-in-focus" target="_blank">Nature in Focus </a></i>where he moved from behind the camera to the front. As the <i>Nature in Focus</i> host, on-air talent, and executive producer, Ian transports viewers around the globe for short photography and education adventures within natural paradigms.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>TLU</i> is a major milestone in Ian's illustrious professional career. Ian pitched, coordinated with FWS for the two-week ALI visit, wrote the script, and directed, produced, and hosted the incredible film. In addition to his front-of-the-camera presence, Ian contributed to the film's still and motion images.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZKYkCX-td8/YJGi7m7j02I/AAAAAAAAws8/ZA0dgQFJllMxd4VfHEsSsefGfFdrh3CAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/TLU_IanCamera.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ZKYkCX-td8/YJGi7m7j02I/AAAAAAAAws8/ZA0dgQFJllMxd4VfHEsSsefGfFdrh3CAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h200/TLU_IanCamera.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Ian Shive in the AMNWR</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">Photo: Tandem Stills + Motion</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">A Personal Driver</span></u><br />For Ian, a personal driver is the responsibility to give back to the Earth; humans take so much from nature and it is important to gift back from the heart. As an educator, Ian's intentions are to inspire others to take individual and collective action to protect and restore the fragile land and marine ecosystems.</span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In Ian's words:</span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>"I am a photographer and a filmmaker, that much is obvious, but I see my actual role very differently. The camera is just a tool, like a bridge that gets you across a river to the other side, the camera is a bridge to places that people may otherwise never have the opportunity to visit or appreciate. I'm motivated by the idea that I can be more than just the maker of pretty pictures and films, but also be an educator and connector to the ecosystems and places that are so important, so valuable to our planet and to the tens of millions of wildlife that rely on our action to keep them protected. How can we care if we have no idea what is at stake?"</i></span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ian encompasses an effective strategy: the viewer falls in love with the amazing images, whether stills or motion. Then, Ian slips in human-created scenarios impacting the vitality of the wildlife and corresponding ecosystem. Viewers are then inspired to take action.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tremendous Impact</b></span><br /></span>With his profound commitment as a conservationist and educator, Ian is destined to make a tremendous impact with his past, current, and future timeless masterpieces. Ian's evolution from stills to motion to cinema to on-air persona expands his audience, reach, and potential influence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><a href="https://www.discoveryplus.com/show/the-last-unknown" target="_blank">The Last Unknown</a></i> is simply Ian's first step into new dimensions of impact - stay tuned!</span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;">____________________________________</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: arial;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-261-4690 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></span></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-6230784597027636992021-03-08T19:15:00.011-05:002021-04-27T15:35:53.425-04:00Urban Carbon Sinks: Rewilding Urban Landscapes<p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PahRWfCTbKM/YEec-nkdOeI/AAAAAAAAwj4/uZPoz5xse4ojz6_aaSBeMVaIqF_qthAIgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/10-12-18_HEI_DCG-entrance_sign.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1517" data-original-width="2048" height="195" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PahRWfCTbKM/YEec-nkdOeI/AAAAAAAAwj4/uZPoz5xse4ojz6_aaSBeMVaIqF_qthAIgCLcBGAsYHQ/w263-h195/10-12-18_HEI_DCG-entrance_sign.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Community gardens are integral to<br />creating an Urban Carbon Sink<br />photo credit: <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the past decade, sustainability moved from a buzz word to a movement to a culture within leading communities, universities, and businesses. Significant strides were made in zero-waste practices, renewable energy technology, and reduced carbon | water footprints. Yet the glaciers continue to melt, the ocean acidification levels are increasing, and desertification is escalating.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2017/11/beyond-sustainability-regenerative.html" target="_blank">Beyond Sustainability: Regenerative Solutions</a></i>, proposes regenerative solutions in the form of <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/urban-carbon-sinks/" target="_blank">Urban Carbon Sinks</a> to restore the carbon cycles and pending crises. The RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2017/02/carbon-crisis-simply-matter-of-balance.html" target="_blank">Carbon Crisis: simply a matter of balance</a></i>, introduces carbon cycles and explains how their out-of-balance state creates alarming scenarios.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Building Crisis: diminishing food and oxygen supply<br /></b></span>The previously referenced <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2017/11/beyond-sustainability-regenerative.html" target="_blank">Beyond Sustainability: Regenerative Solutions</a></i> article establishes the building crisis of the diminishing food and oxygen supply.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">According to a Global Agriculture <a href="https://www.globalagriculture.org/report-topics/soil-fertility-and-erosion.html" target="_blank">Soil Fertility & Erosion Report</a>:</span></p><p></p><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Our most significant non-renewable geo-resource is productive land and fertile soil. Each year, an estimated 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil are lost due to erosion. That's 3.4 tonnes lost every year for every person on the planet. Soils store more than 4000 billion tonnes of carbon.</span></i></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A dangerous dilemma is brewing with an increasing global population and a diminishing ability to produce food. Healthy soil is necessary to generate nutritious food, whether plant- or animal-based. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">According to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) June 2020 <i><a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean-oxygen.html" target="_blank">How much oxygen comes from the ocean?</a></i> fact sheet:</span></p><p></p><blockquote><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Scientists estimate that 50-80% of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean. The majority of this production is from oceanic plankton — drifting plants, algae, and some bacteria that can photosynthesize. One particular species, Prochlorococcus, is the smallest photosynthetic organism on Earth. But this little bacteria produces up to 20% of the oxygen in our entire biosphere. That’s a higher percentage than all of the tropical rainforests on land combined.</span></i></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Yet plankton is perishing at astonishing rates due to ocean acidification and warmer water temperatures. Thus, the atmospheric oxygen supply is diminishing and may eventually lead to potential asphyxiation for land-based animals and eventual species extinction.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Holocene Extinction (sixth mass extinction)<br /></b></span>According to the November 2019 Science Alert article, <i><a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-how-biodiversity-experts-recognise-that-we-re-midst-a-mass-extinction" target="_blank">Are We Really in a 6th Mass Extinction? Here's The Science</a></i>, current conditions indicate that the Earth's Holocene extinction, or sixth mass extinction, is well underway. From the article:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><p><i><span style="font-family: arial;">A mass extinction is usually defined as a loss of about three quarters of all species in existence across the entire Earth over a "short" geological period of time. Given the vast amount of time since life first evolved on the planet, "short" is defined as anything less than 2.8 million years. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: arial;">... The Earth is currently experiencing an extinction crisis largely due to the exploitation of the planet by people. </span></i></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The World Wildlife Fund 2020 <i><a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/publications/living-planet-report-2020" target="_blank">Living Planet Report</a></i> states:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><p><i><b><span style="font-family: arial;">A 68% average decline of birds, amphibians, mammals, fish, and reptiles since 1970.</span></b></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: arial;">The findings are clear: Our relationship with nature is broken.</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Biodiversity – the rich diversity of life on Earth – is being lost at an alarming rate. This loss effects our own health and well-being. Today, catastrophic impacts for people and the planet loom closer than ever.</span></i></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i></i></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj8AHzoXiQ4/YEavazIaF4I/AAAAAAAAwi8/b3WkR-R00Loh25aXWtrb4aJyWkZqvibmQCLcBGAsYHQ/s725/NaturePrevails-PoN.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="725" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj8AHzoXiQ4/YEavazIaF4I/AAAAAAAAwi8/b3WkR-R00Loh25aXWtrb4aJyWkZqvibmQCLcBGAsYHQ/w287-h179/NaturePrevails-PoN.JPG" width="287" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Though the Holocene Extinction is well underway, a tragic outcome may be avoided by aligning human-created systems with The Principles of Nature. Within <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> 's (Ei) <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> platform, The Principles of Nature are defined as:</span><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Diversity</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Dynamic Balance & Nutrition Cycles</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Necessity of Cover & Ability to Roam</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2021/01/nature-prevails-action-plan.html" target="_blank">Nature Prevails; an action plan</a></i>, defines The Principles of Nature and explains how human-made systems are ruled by the principles.</span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">Insect Apocalypse</b><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>Insects are integral to the natural ecosystem foundation and essential to supporting the Earth’s life web. At the base of the prey hierarchy, insects are food for fish, mammals, and birds. In addition to recycling soil-system nutrients, insects play an essential role in the decomposition portion of nature’s circular-life cycle.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUy4iMThYBY/YEa44IQUjaI/AAAAAAAAwjY/MdraVhG0d343Rko2701l_qVeeThMHHF9QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/07-22-16%2BHE%2BATL%2BBHNP%2Bmacro%2Bmulti-age%2Bmilkweed%2Bbeetles.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1477" height="264" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUy4iMThYBY/YEa44IQUjaI/AAAAAAAAwjY/MdraVhG0d343Rko2701l_qVeeThMHHF9QCLcBGAsYHQ/w191-h264/07-22-16%2BHE%2BATL%2BBHNP%2Bmacro%2Bmulti-age%2Bmilkweed%2Bbeetles.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Multi-generations of milkweed</span><br style="font-size: x-small;" /><span style="font-size: x-small;">beetles at a rewilded urban garden</span><br style="font-size: x-small;" /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: </span><a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" style="font-size: x-small;" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">Since the 1970’s the Earth’s insect population suffered from severe population declines as well as loss of diversity.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The NY Times 2018 article, <i><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/magazine/insect-apocalypse.html" target="_blank">The Insect Apocalypse Is Here. What does it mean for the rest of life on Earth?</a></i>, reported: <i>The German study found that, measured simply by weight, the overall abundance of flying insects in German nature reserves had decreased by 75 percent over just 27 years. If you looked at midsummer population peaks, the drop was 82 percent</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">According to the November 2019 Somerset Wildlife Trust <i><a href="https://www.somersetwildlife.org/sites/default/files/2019-11/FULL AFI REPORT WEB1_1.pdf" target="_blank">Insect Declines and Why They Matter Report</a></i> by Professor Dave Goulson, <i><b>41% of insect species are threatened with extinction.</b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Contributing factors to the demise of insect populations include:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Prolific use of pesticides in commercial and residential landscapes, corporate and municipal grounds maintenance, and industrial agriculture.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Loss of habitat due to urbanization, transportation systems, farming, and landscape-maintenance practices.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Infiltration of non-native plants; insects evolved to thrive on native plants and non-native plants are often not food sources for local populations.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Intangible pollution, including artificial light, noise (leaf blowers,) and electromagnetic fields.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Carbon Sinks</b></span><br />Simply, a carbon sink is an area of land where plants drawdown more carbon via photosynthesis - the process plants use to convert carbon dioxide and sunlight into sugars for energy - from the atmosphere than is released from the soil into the atmosphere. The oceans are technically carbon sinks as they currently absorb more atmospheric carbon than is released. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By re-establishing abundant land-based carbon sinks, the carbon cycles may return to balance via atmospheric carbon returning to the soils. Once a threshold of lowered atmospheric carbon is reached, the oceans will release their stored excess carbon into the atmosphere. Thus, ocean acidification will reverse, and marine plant life may revive back into healthy oxygen-producing states.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Urban Carbon Sinks</b></span><br />As well documented in the previously mentioned article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2017/11/beyond-sustainability-regenerative.html" target="_blank">Beyond Sustainability: Regenerative Solutions</a></i>, regenerative agriculture is a viable solution for restoring weakened soil ecosystems and drawing significant carbon from the atmosphere back into the soil. Thus, regenerative agriculture creates carbon sinks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--qxYBcebJzo/YEa1jBqSCEI/AAAAAAAAwjQ/7T3RO04oPqYfXeKjMYRoY-AK7MI-mWqXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/08-14-19_HEI_SCSD6-covercrop-tall.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1630" data-original-width="2048" height="193" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--qxYBcebJzo/YEa1jBqSCEI/AAAAAAAAwjQ/7T3RO04oPqYfXeKjMYRoY-AK7MI-mWqXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w242-h193/08-14-19_HEI_SCSD6-covercrop-tall.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">C</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">over crops on a certified organic farm that uses<br />regenerative agriculture practices.<br />Photo credit: <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">Regenerative agriculture practices include no-till farming, diverse crops, and use of cover crops and are void of “cides” usage (herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides.) For livestock farming, herds are rotated among fields allowing the animals’ excrements to serve as natural fertilizer instead of potentially toxic waste. The 2018 RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2018/11/regenerating-bright-future-for-planet.html" target="_blank">Regenerating a Bright Future for Planet Earth</a></i>, delves deeper in the regenerative agriculture principles and showcases several regenerative farms.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Regenerative landscape and grounds-maintenance practices incorporate applicable farming practices into urban environments.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2017 Ei announced intentions to create urban carbon sinks via integrating regenerative landscape and grounds maintenance practices on corporate complexes, college | university campuses, highway medians | shoulders, airport land surrounding runways, parks, and other available urban lands. Collectively, the regenerative landscaped areas are destined to serve as urban carbon sinks and aid in restoring the carbon-cycle balance.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rewilding Urban Landscapes</span></b><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntYg4GrW_r0/YEa6FhizzUI/AAAAAAAAwjo/zgpbnOJhD-4L2XzpeqET66CjkhBRETNfgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/09-26-20_HEI_ATL-CCF-Bldg.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1621" data-original-width="2048" height="206" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ntYg4GrW_r0/YEa6FhizzUI/AAAAAAAAwjo/zgpbnOJhD-4L2XzpeqET66CjkhBRETNfgCLcBGAsYHQ/w261-h206/09-26-20_HEI_ATL-CCF-Bldg.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Nature Prevails: rewilding is a natural process <br />Photo credit: <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">Beyond regenerative landscape practices, rewilding urban land restores the natural ecosystem that evolved over thousands of years. Rewilding land requires the restoration of native plants and cultivates food for indigenous insects. Strong insect populations are the foundation for restoring healthy predator/prey hierarchies that once thrived prior to urban development.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Inherent within rewilding urban landscapes are three primary benefits: </span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Restoration of vibrant soil ecosystems.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Drawdown of carbon from the atmosphere into the soils via plant photosynthesis.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Establishment of food-secure neighborhoods within a community.</span></li></ol><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In his New York Times bestseller, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Natures-Best-Hope-Approach-Conservation/dp/1604699000/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=natures+Best+hope&qid=1615228240&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in your Yard</a></i>, Doug Tallamy encourages citizens to rewild their yards via replacing toxic lawns with native plants that support local insect populations. Caterpillars are a primary food source for many birds and other wildlife. According to Doug, Carolina chickadees must catch 6,240 – 9,120 caterpillars to raise one clutch.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With more than 40 million acres of lawn nationwide, there is tremendous potential to reverse the diminishing food and oxygen deficiency crisis simply by rewilding lawns!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rewilding Lawn Pilot</span></b><br /></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U5S_2f4FszA/YEebDsf8cbI/AAAAAAAAwjw/NYnR-_eXRu4Ck86o2Sjo4eTRlKwJ5sEXACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/03-04-21_HEI_ATL-rewildedlot.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1709" height="243" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U5S_2f4FszA/YEebDsf8cbI/AAAAAAAAwjw/NYnR-_eXRu4Ck86o2Sjo4eTRlKwJ5sEXACLcBGAsYHQ/w203-h243/03-04-21_HEI_ATL-rewildedlot.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A vacant lot naturally rewilds.<br />Photo credit: <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">A first step in the Urban Carbon Sink-Development Template is the rewilding of a private-home lawn. With private ownership, controlled documentation of the soil-health baseline as well as pilot challenges, lessons learned, and success is easily facilitated. The intention is to partner with the state agriculture university along with local government, a seed co-op, gardening clubs, schools, and other engaged organizations.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Below is an outline draft of the various pilot stages:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Stage One</b> – establish the yard base line & begin soil restoration.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Stage Two</b> – create a “wild” garden.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Stage Three</b> – prepare a template for rewilding lawns, parks, and other common areas.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Stage Four</b> – apply the rewilding lawns template.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Individual Action is Key</span></b><br />If each individual takes regenerative action that works within their life, the collective impact will prove staggering and alter the current destructive path humanity created over the past millenniums. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">According to <i>Nature's Best Hope</i>, there are 599-million acres available in the nation via public utility and transportation ROWs (right-of-way,) golf courses, airport grounds, residential developments, and urban centers available for potential rewilding. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Rewilding urban landscapes is a simple, inexpensive solution available to individuals, governments, educational institutions, and the business community. Rewilding urban landscapes may avert the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">diminishing food- and oxygen-supply crisis. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The time to take individual action is NOW!</i></b></span></p><div>____________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>MISSION:</div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</div><div><br /></div><div>The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-261-4690 | <a href="mailto:holly@elementalimpact.org">holly@elementalimpact.org</a></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-58164945785204751352021-01-27T13:40:00.004-05:002021-02-04T20:38:15.778-05:00Nature Prevails: an action plan<p><span style="font-family: arial;">In alignment with the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) tagline, <b><i>Regeneration in ACTION</i></b>, the Ei <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/global-regenerative-land-economics-initiative/" target="_blank">Regenerative Working Group</a> (RWG) Executive Team crafted a <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> Action Plan. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Srr6jHDTwqQ/YBGbSvVvEGI/AAAAAAAAwEw/7lNUK8ahb_I5iVtPcqn7T6R-9FDp7J28gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/05-05-19_LAI_PRLEW-PR-TreeWall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1601" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Srr6jHDTwqQ/YBGbSvVvEGI/AAAAAAAAwEw/7lNUK8ahb_I5iVtPcqn7T6R-9FDp7J28gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/05-05-19_LAI_PRLEW-PR-TreeWall.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tree grows through a wall in Old San Juan,<br />Photo credit: <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>The September 2020 Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2020/09/nature-prevails-new-elemental-impact.html" target="_blank">Nature Prevails: a new Ei Platform</a></i>, announces the new platform to complement the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a> platforms. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Within the Nature Prevails premise, the Earth heals herself and nurtures renewed life forms, no matter the calamity caused by humans, natural disasters, or extraterrestrial activities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">During the 2020 COVID-19 global-pandemic quarantines, citizens witnessed an immediate impact of reduced human activity via clearer skies, orchestras of bird songs, and the roaming of wild animals in urban and rural parks. The experiences were a glimpse of how quickly the natural world resumes when human activity subsides.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In addition, the article states Nature Prevails is in partnership with the RWG and defines the Principles of Nature.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Regenerative Working Group</span></b><br /><i>Global thought leaders supporting complete and equitable communities.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A first task was designation of a powerful RWG Executive Team. Focused on guiding the RWG's segue from a vision into a viable initiative, the team commits to making a difference in global arenas. The RWG Executive Team consists of the following individuals:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/2018/11/holly-elmore/" target="_blank"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gGJKLigoD0/X35JuXo5-MI/AAAAAAAAu88/dIH2iWx0Yw02-nqy1ZmNMagI88lrybNewCPcBGAYYCw/s1722/RWG_PPT_TitlePg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1722" height="116" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3gGJKLigoD0/X35JuXo5-MI/AAAAAAAAu88/dIH2iWx0Yw02-nqy1ZmNMagI88lrybNewCPcBGAYYCw/w200-h116/RWG_PPT_TitlePg.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The opening slide in the RWG intro PPT<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">photo credit: </span></span><a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Holly Elmore</a>, RWG Chair (Ei Founder)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadetteaustin/" target="_blank">Bernadette Austin</a>, RWG Focus Area Lead (Acting Director of the Center for Regional Change at the University of California at Davis)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/2020/05/brad-bass-ph-d/" target="_blank">Brad Bass</a>, RWG Advisor & Industry Expert (30-year veteran at Environment and Climate Change Canada as well as a Status Professor at the University of Toronto (UT))</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/2020/04/ronald-thomas-faicp/" target="_blank">Ronald Thomas</a>, FAICP, RWG Adviser & Industry Expert (Ron Thomas & Co. President)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/2018/11/tim-trefzer/" target="_blank">Tim Trefzer</a>, RWG Adviser & Industry Expert | Ei Regeneration in ACTION Chair (Georgia World Congress Center Authority Director of Sustainability)</span></li></ul><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With the Executive Team in place, the next task was crafting the RWG Vision and defining the Focus Areas and Commitment as follows:</span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;">RWG Vision:</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> to explore challenges related to stated focus areas from a holistic approach where the community, environment, and local economies benefit from commentary, discussions, and proposed projects.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">The RWG seeks to be a thought leader in supporting complete and equitable communities.</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Focus Areas</b>:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/grlei-infrastructure-focus-area/" target="_blank"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YPuRWyQZZo/X3Hyx6X4gEI/AAAAAAAAu6w/V4G-IeXKKNoc7qfm0CjpPWtbPgLyF8UHQCPcBGAYYCw/s1748/RWG_PPT_FocusArea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1748" height="122" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0YPuRWyQZZo/X3Hyx6X4gEI/AAAAAAAAu6w/V4G-IeXKKNoc7qfm0CjpPWtbPgLyF8UHQCPcBGAYYCw/w200-h122/RWG_PPT_FocusArea.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The FA slide in the RWG intro PPT<br /><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/2018/11/holly-elmore/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;" target="_blank"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">photo credit: </span></span><a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></td></tr></tbody></table></a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Infrastructure</a> – explores the built environment including a city’s water & sewer systems, water-treatment plants, public utilities, as well as corporate, government, and educational districts | campuses. Additionally, focus is on the availability of and access to affordable housing within a community.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/grlei-environmental-resources/" target="_blank">Environmental Resources</a> – explores the impact of existing and proposed projects and infrastructure within urban and rural communities on energy sources, soil health, local greenways, open spaces, waterways, and resident access.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/grlei-social-equity/" target="_blank">Social Equity </a>– explores ways to promote complete communities that include equitable access to housing, transportation and transit, education, employment, human services such as healthcare and safety, and other amenities such as parks. Complete communities balance land uses focused on people, (such as commercial- and residential-land uses), with natural- and working-land uses such as open space, waterways, farms, and ranches.</span></li></ul><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Commitment:</b> the RWG is committed to action, whether in the form of drafting educational documentation (articles, white papers, website copy), global webinars, and/or projects designed for community impact. RWG members must actively participate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Within each Focus Area, the team identified a series of Topics designed for member engagement within the commitment to action. Many of the Topics overlap within several Focus Areas. For example, affordable housing relates to the Infrastructure and Social Equity Focus Areas. The Topics are detailed on the respective linked Focus Area pages listed above.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Biosolid Management Systems, Broadband Communication Access, and Soil Erosion are the first Topics earmarked for member engagement.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Principles of Nature</span></b><br /></span>With a commitment to align work with Nature, Ei defined The Principles of Nature with three broad categories:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Diversity</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Dynamic Balance & Nutrition Systems</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Necessity of Cover & Ability to Roam</span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-we6fwqE5IdE/YBGfZjc8zII/AAAAAAAAwE8/N2P_zxY75gY3w8HHq5krOVRoCCqH8XDlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/11-08-19_LAI_AUS_LEW-fallentree..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1997" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-we6fwqE5IdE/YBGfZjc8zII/AAAAAAAAwE8/N2P_zxY75gY3w8HHq5krOVRoCCqH8XDlQCLcBGAsYHQ/w195-h200/11-08-19_LAI_AUS_LEW-fallentree..jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fallen trees provide cover and <br />nutrition for insects & small animals.<br />Photo credit: <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;">Beyond the environment-related activity within in each category, societal systems including economic structures, financial markets, urban design, and others also align within and are impacted by The Principles of Nature. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei Advisory Council member Simon Lamb's groundbreaking book <i><a href="https://junglenomics.com/" target="_blank">Junglenomics</a></i> published in late 2019 presents Nature's clear blueprint for reorganizing the current economic domain; the blueprint's intentions are to protect and benignly coexist with natural environments, halt species decline, and benefit the poorest. The result of 25 years of research and insight, <i>Junglenomics</i> provides a new vision for a future world rescued from decline, gained through an understanding of the profound forces at work in modern economies.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The RWG team classified each Focus Area Topic with one or more of the Principles of Nature. For example, Affordable Housing relates to Necessity of Cover and Broadband Communication aligns with Ability to Roam.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Action Plan - Step #1</span></b><br />In the three-step Nature Prevails Action Plan, the Step #1 is: <i>apply the Principles of Nature to natural ecosystems</i>. Research is underway in the following categories:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Address the role of keystone species (predator, prey, habitat engineers, etc.) in natural ecosystems. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Identify examples of disrupted natural systems caused by population eradication.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Wildlife Eradication</span></u><br />By the mid 1900's wolves were eradicated from Yellowstone National Park. With the loss of a keystone predator, the natural ecosystem was disrupted and unbalanced. In 1995, the wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone and the ecosystem began the restoration process.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0IRE6xlBM2s/YBGjCnlpP7I/AAAAAAAAwFI/YTz2W1xgV3QsfAkUyJ5_C1Su-hyXwibaACLcBGAsYHQ/s259/buffalo-skulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0IRE6xlBM2s/YBGjCnlpP7I/AAAAAAAAwFI/YTz2W1xgV3QsfAkUyJ5_C1Su-hyXwibaACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/buffalo-skulls.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Giant pile of buffalo skulls<br />Photo compliments of businessinsider.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Prior to colonization of the western prairies, it is estimated 25 - 30 million buffalo roamed North America in massive herds. Due to the buffalo massacre during colonization of the land, there were less than 100 wild buffalo in the prairies by the late 1800's. Depriving Native Americans of their primary food, shelter, and clothing resource was a driver for the tragic buffalo massacre.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Due to the buffalo massacre coupled with the introduction of mono-crop farming, the lush prairies segued into the devastating Dust Bowl from 1930 to 1936. Though not technically "wild," ranches are restoring a portion of the </span><span style="font-family: arial;">buffalo </span><span style="font-family: arial;">population.</span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Future articles will correlate how the eradication and eventual return of keystone species demonstrate the Principles of Nature within natural ecosystems. Wolves and buffalo are keystone species. Ei research intern Jahin Kahn is dedicated to the underlying necessary research.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Action Plan - Step #2</span></b><br />Once Step 1 is complete, the RWG team shifts focus to Step 2: <i>apply the Principles of Nature to human-created systems</i>. As previously mentioned, the RWF Focus Area Topics were correlated to one or more of the principles.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Research will substantiate the necessity for human-created systems to align with the Principles of Nature to survive and thrive.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Economic Markets</span></u><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBcs6Em1dR0/X2fNLTA9yAI/AAAAAAAAu2w/7w35QXhKtBAs6xEAhl_753589zx2hddGgCPcBGAYYCw/s277/NatureofNatureBookCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="182" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBcs6Em1dR0/X2fNLTA9yAI/AAAAAAAAu2w/7w35QXhKtBAs6xEAhl_753589zx2hddGgCPcBGAYYCw/w131-h200/NatureofNatureBookCover.jpg" width="131" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">In the recently published <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exjndysi_TI" target="_blank">The Nature of Nature, Why We Need the Wild</a></i>, author Enric Sala explains the fallacies inherent within using a country's Gross National Product (GNP) as the standard indicator for a country's economic growth and stability. According to The Economic Times, GNP is defined as follows:</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>GNP measures the monetary value of all the finished goods and services produced by the country’s factors of production irrespective of their location. Only the finished or final goods are considered as factoring intermediate goods used for manufacturing would amount to double counting. It includes taxes but does not include subsidies.</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In Enric's perspective, the GNP is one of the worst indicators of human prosperity for three reasons:</span></p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">It does not factor in the destruction of the natural world and externalizes devastating consequences in favor of manufacturing capabilities.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">It assumes that the only value of a society is what can be measured as part of an official, organized market.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">It does not measure well-being and happiness.</span></li></ol><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Simon's and Enric's referenced books are excellent research-starting points for correlating the Principles to Nature to economic markets and beyond.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><u><span style="font-size: medium;">Societal Structure</span></u><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMVTdfdsgCo/YBGk0zbN-II/AAAAAAAAwFU/_ngtvPqzTqAEHv1rW0IZ62vsseS9yVXwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/01-08-19_HEI_LG-%2Bhoneybeeduet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1771" data-original-width="2048" height="173" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uMVTdfdsgCo/YBGk0zbN-II/AAAAAAAAwFU/_ngtvPqzTqAEHv1rW0IZ62vsseS9yVXwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h173/01-08-19_HEI_LG-%2Bhoneybeeduet.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A duet of worker honey bees<br />Photo credit: <a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Within Step #2, the RWG Team will explore the societal hierarchies within bee and ant colonies, wolf packs, elephant herds, bird flocks, and other eusocial colonies. Anticipated discovery: the workforce population is treated well, as long as the workers tend to their designated tasks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Next the team will compare societal-hierarchy principles explored to the treatment of the human workforce across civilization boundaries. Recommendations for human co-existence that emulates natural communities are forthcoming. Human and environmental health implications are integral within the research and analysis.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Action Plan - Step #3</span></b><br />Following completion of Step #2, the team embarks on Step #3: <i>e</i></span><i>stablish the importance of ecosystem foundations</i>. As featured in her May 2020 <i><a href="https://bit.ly/3dsGwib" target="_blank">Bigger than Us</a></i> podcast interview, Ei Founder Holly Elmore is known for the following quote:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>In order for life as we know it to survive and thrive on planet earth, we must - absolutely must - get our soil and water microbial communities back to a healthy, balanced state.</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Building from the eusocial-colonies research in Step #2, the Step #3 goal is to establish the importance of ecosystem foundations and how they align with the Principles of Nature. Research begins with the importance of balanced, healthy water and soil microbial communities and extends to the base species within the prey hierarchies; i</span><span style="font-family: arial;">nsects often establish the foundation of prey hierarchies</span><span style="font-family: arial;">. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YYBRwN-tKwY/YBGmf2_eufI/AAAAAAAAwFg/haC9qYSgwsAIw8XYbiOwkno7vgmNdGFaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/09-02-18_HE_SRQ-Macro-%2Bdeadfish-flies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1167" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YYBRwN-tKwY/YBGmf2_eufI/AAAAAAAAwFg/haC9qYSgwsAIw8XYbiOwkno7vgmNdGFaQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/09-02-18_HE_SRQ-Macro-%2Bdeadfish-flies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">A fish who succumbed to red tide provides a feast for<br />for the flies; initial steps in regenerating <br />the prey hierarchy begins<br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">Photo credit: </span><a href="https://www.hollyelmoreimages.com/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: small;" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Research on the implications of the insect apocalypse underway is integral to Step #3. Intangible pollution, including light and noise pollution, impact the entire natural ecosystem spectrum. Yet the insect species are often more dramatically impacted. Indirect impact from destroyed insect populations flows through the entire prey hierarchy to the keystone prey species.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The importance of base species in prey hierarchies correlates to balanced microbial communities as well as worker populations in eusocial colonies and human civilizations. Overall community health and strength is dependent upon the effectiveness of worker populations. Thus, those at the hierarchy top tier are incentivized to care for worker populations, whether insects, animals, or humans.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">With an established plan, the RWG Team is staged for action mode. Stay tuned!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">___________________________________</span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">MISSION:</span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: arial;">To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei is a creator, an incubator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</span></i></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-261-4690 | holly@elementalimpact.org</span></div></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4599502795777432649.post-36452939895291479912021-01-13T19:41:00.005-05:002021-01-22T12:24:30.288-05:00Ei: invigorated impact and influence<p><span style="font-family: arial;">On November 25, 2020, the Regeneration in ACTION (RiA) Magazine surpassed the 475,000 pageviews milestone! The coveted 500,000 pageviews achievement is mere months away!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RIsY8WOMFW56bMsujy2GBTaQ3u1KqFInyfvkdY-Bzxa4FteVPpOaPIb5MnDXBDZkpD4BjzEv4pXBCKXTyYZGQIVnXwxXvnxwUQas8NL3ujgLOT0ujbLCWUWvxF-2eJN1jgPkvKBQ804/s1062/01-12-21_RiA_478%252C752views.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1062" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RIsY8WOMFW56bMsujy2GBTaQ3u1KqFInyfvkdY-Bzxa4FteVPpOaPIb5MnDXBDZkpD4BjzEv4pXBCKXTyYZGQIVnXwxXvnxwUQas8NL3ujgLOT0ujbLCWUWvxF-2eJN1jgPkvKBQ804/w230-h166/01-12-21_RiA_478%252C752views.JPG" width="230" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Launched in 2009 as the Zero Waste Zones Blog, the original premise was to document the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a> (ZWZ) successes and later the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Recycling Refinement</a> and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/sfci-accomplished/" target="_blank">Sustainable Food Court Initiative</a> accomplishments. When the ZWZ were sold to the National Restaurant Association in 2012, the ZWZ Blog evolved into the Zero Waste in ACTION (ZWA) Blog. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The June 2018 RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2018/06/new-era-new-name-regeneration-in-action.html" target="_blank">New Era, New Name: Regeneration in ACTION!</a></i>, announced the ZWA Blog evolved into the RiA Magazine. Additionally, the article stated the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) tagline segued from <i>Sustainability in ACTION </i>to <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Respected Journalism</span></b><br /></span><span>Over the past decade, the </span><span>RiA Magazine, </span>along with sister Ei magazine, <a href="http://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The IMPACT</a>, grew into valuable industry-media resources. In 2016 Ei catapulted into respected environmental journalism when the below prominent invitation arrived in early November:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>The U.S. State Department invited Ei to join the invitation-only COP22-preview press conference call. Journalists from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times were among the respected, mainstream media on the call.</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The IMPACT Blog article, <i><a href="http://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/2016/12/ei-respected-journalism.html" target="_blank">Ei: Respected Journalism</a></i>, chronicles Ei's segue from a valuable industry-media resource to respected environmental journalism. In addition to the magazines' contributions, Ei Founder Holly Elmore authored a plethora of industry-trade-journal articles and documents, which are detailed on the HollyEmore.com <a href="https://hollyelmore.com/fingertip-press/" target="_blank">Fingertip Press</a> page.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Below is a quick magazine-stats overview:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The IMPACT Magazine</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLVDkDqDHBM/Xpt46NzzF6I/AAAAAAAAtNI/lSsmyMtTrwQv9HA-UMfBiZuh7bYNCDTrQCPcBGAYYCw/s800/Impact-Logo.png" style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: arial; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="100" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cLVDkDqDHBM/Xpt46NzzF6I/AAAAAAAAtNI/lSsmyMtTrwQv9HA-UMfBiZuh7bYNCDTrQCPcBGAYYCw/w200-h100/Impact-Logo.png" width="200" /></a><li><span style="font-family: arial;">184,000 pageviews</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">137 published articles</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Average 1,340 pageviews per article</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Most popular article: <i><a href="http://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/2012/12/ei-new-mission-statement-new-directions.html" target="_blank">Ei New Mission Statement</a></i> (12/12) 3,080 views</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial;">RiA Magazine:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uBUSqR_0TbY/X_-FTiAN3pI/AAAAAAAAv7o/mKl4NyqLaEoTisgWhVJwiSh7yYEpUkkzACLcBGAsYHQ/s249/regeneration-249px.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="113" data-original-width="249" height="91" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uBUSqR_0TbY/X_-FTiAN3pI/AAAAAAAAv7o/mKl4NyqLaEoTisgWhVJwiSh7yYEpUkkzACLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h91/regeneration-249px.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>479,100 pageviews</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">389 published articles</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Average 1,230 pageviews per article</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Most popular article, <i><a href="http://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2012/02/reduce-first-donate-second-and-compost.html" target="_blank">Reduce First, Donate Second, Compost Third</a></i> (02/11) 16,800 views</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Photojournalism</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In late 2017, Holly expanded her journalism to photojournalism with a series of articles published in nationally distributed <i>Southern Farm & Garden (SF&G)</i>. The articles showcased Ei's important work as well as <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/leadership/" target="_blank">Ei Strategic Ally</a> accomplishments. Article images were courtesy of <a href="http://hollyelmore.com/holly-elmore-images/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Images</a> (HEI.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u>Ei Digital Books</u></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Additionally, the <i>SF&G</i> articles were published as <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-digital-books/" target="_blank">Ei Digital Books</a> available for view as page-turning-pdf documents on the Issuu platform. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The following <i>SF&G</i> articles were published as digital books:</span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><a href="https://issuu.com/hollyelmore/docs/ei_holly.hickory_grove_farm?fr=sNDA5OTE2MTgxNDU" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://issuu.com/hollyelmore/docs/ei_holly.hickory_grove_farm?fr=sNDA5OTE2MTgxNDU" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56VyO4P6yoc/X_-GAy09T9I/AAAAAAAAv7w/xOkcma25ZrUanMFfGbaYYzUE52YDdgaRACLcBGAsYHQ/s325/HOLLY.POLLINATORS.cover_250p.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56VyO4P6yoc/X_-GAy09T9I/AAAAAAAAv7w/xOkcma25ZrUanMFfGbaYYzUE52YDdgaRACLcBGAsYHQ/w246-h320/HOLLY.POLLINATORS.cover_250p.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><a href="https://issuu.com/hollyelmore/docs/ei_holly.hickory_grove_farm?fr=sNDA5OTE2MTgxNDU" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture Revives Soils & Local Ecosystems</a></i> </b>- <i>SF&G</i> fall 2017 issue - the seven-page, multiple-article feature gives an overview of Kennesaw State University’s (KSU) stellar sustainability commitment at the Michael A. Leven School of Culinary Sustainability & Hospitality, The Commons (KSU’s Gold LEED-certified dining hall), and Hickory Grove Farm. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><a href="https://issuu.com/hollyelmore/docs/ei_holly.pollinators.final?fr=sMGU0NzE2MTgxNDU" target="_blank">Restoring Pollinator Populations</a></i> </b>- <i>SF&G</i> spring 2018 issue - the six-page feature article gives an overview of challenges facing pollinator populations along with tips for pollinator-friendly gardens. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><b><a href="https://issuu.com/hollyelmore/docs/ei_holly._bee_swarms.final?fr=sZTU0ZjE2MTgxNDU" target="_blank">Bee Swarms: Nature’s Way to Grow Strong Bee Populations</a></b></i> - <i>SF&G</i> summer 2018 - the two-page photo essay educates on the important role bee swarms play in propagating bee populations, both from the size of and the number of colonies. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><u>Ei Article Books</u></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div>In September 2020, the Fingertip Press published the first Ei Article Book: <i><a href="https://bit.ly/30SITpq" target="_blank">From Macro to Micro to Nanoplastics</a></i>, an excerpt from the RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2019/10/plastics-double-edged-sword.html" target="_blank">Plastics: a double-edged sword</a></i>. </div><div><br /></div><div>From <i>Plastics: a double-edged sword</i>:</div><blockquote><div><i>The seemingly magical gift of plastic came with a double-edged sword filled with the potential to destroy life as it is currently known on Earth.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>In less than seventy years, humans managed to infiltrate the Earth with micro and nanoplastics from discarded single-use and durable products in literally every nook and cranny, ranging from the arctic snow caps to the depths of the oceans and everywhere in between.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>It is time to shift perspectives from human-focused to life-focused and let the Earth show us how to heal the damage inflicted. Answers will come to those who live and take action from the heart.</i></div></blockquote><div><i></i></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kynSAT3Vnuw/X_-GfJLvJfI/AAAAAAAAv78/5cEhGST2ZKkbiGuGSs5H6IcKKlujfm8WQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1230/PlasticPollutionBk-FrontCover.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1230" data-original-width="936" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kynSAT3Vnuw/X_-GfJLvJfI/AAAAAAAAv78/5cEhGST2ZKkbiGuGSs5H6IcKKlujfm8WQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/PlasticPollutionBk-FrontCover.JPG" /></a></div>Additionally, the <i>Nanoplastics</i> article includes the following new sections:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><u>Plastics at the beach</u> - showcases how readily available durable and single-use plastic items are common place during beach enjoyment.</li><li><u>Beyond litter, cigarette butts are plastic pollution</u> - explains how cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a plastic.</li><li><u>Ei Exploration of Fungi, Soil Health, & World Hunger</u> - gives an overview of the empowering October 2018 exploration.</li><li><u>COVID-19 plastic pollution</u> - explains how the recent pandemic resulted in a new surge in plastic pollution.</li></ul></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div>Soft cover, magazine-style books are available for purchase at $11.99 each plus delivery; volume-purchase discounts are given. Additionally, a pdf version of the book is available for $8.99. Here is the link to purchase the book: <a href="https://bit.ly/3bl2Zxs">https://bit.ly/3bl2Zxs</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>A portion of the book proceeds is donated to Ei, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a> platforms.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Fingertip Press is a division of <a href="http://hollyelmore.com/" target="_blank">Holly Elmore Enterprises</a> and the nomenclature for Holly's published articles, documents, and other written communication. Photos in the <i>Nanoplastics</i> book are courtesy of HEI.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Environmental Journalism</span></b><br /><div>In 2015, the National Geographic (NatGeo) Channel invited Ei to join a virtual discussion on the exciting progress in the field of alternative energy. The conversation tied into the soon-to-air <i>Breakthrough: Energy on the Edge</i> episode. Rather than craft a single article, Ei published the following two articles in a point-counterpoint fashion:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uP5jH0VaDA4/X_-H65Lih0I/AAAAAAAAv8I/Pnyh0u7wotU_5CBuxwfljv-b3rHeW9ygQCLcBGAsYHQ/s760/solar%2Bpanels%2B-%2Bmassive.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="760" height="133" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uP5jH0VaDA4/X_-H65Lih0I/AAAAAAAAv8I/Pnyh0u7wotU_5CBuxwfljv-b3rHeW9ygQCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h133/solar%2Bpanels%2B-%2Bmassive.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo credit: solarreserve.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table>RiA Magazine: <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2015/11/alternative-energy-creating-solutions.html" target="_blank">Alternative Energy: creating solutions or potential disasters?</a></i> - gives a reality-check perspective on the potential dangers inherent within some of the emerging energy technologies.</li><li>IMPACT Magazine: <i><a href="https://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/2015/11/alternative-energy-embracing-creative.html" target="_blank">Alternative Energy: embracing the creative spirit!</a></i> - gives a counterpoint perspective while showcasing the creative spirit of featured scientists.</li></ul><div>With each article, the common thread is a recommended focus on harnessing energy versus creating energy.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Since 2016, Ei was included on environmental press-media lists with regular invitations for interviews and advance-book copies. In fall 2020, Ei received interview invitations from two prominent environmental and conservation photographers. Holly was honored to research, interview, and write articles featuring her heroes. Back in the 2014 - 2016 timeframe, Holly took on-line photography classes from the photographers and holds them in high esteem</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The articles catapulted Holly from documentation of Ei's important work into respected mainstream environmental journalism. </div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><u>The Photo Ark: a gift from the heart</u></span><br /><div>On May 15, 2020, a press release announced the Nat Geo <a href="https://www.joelsartore.com/photo-ark/" target="_blank">Photo Ark</a> added the 10,000th image to the impressive collection of species portraits from animals in human care around the globe. Each portrait is captured on a white or black background, and published images are the same dimension; thus, a tiny mouse is literally the same size as an elephant in the Photo Ark.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2xmDBA_OMk/X4eX6q05VDI/AAAAAAAAu9k/GHOkyECzjU0NONJxFh67fZg1JlYlml_1gCPcBGAYYCw/s1253/Horiz_PhotoArk..jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1253" height="96" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e2xmDBA_OMk/X4eX6q05VDI/AAAAAAAAu9k/GHOkyECzjU0NONJxFh67fZg1JlYlml_1gCPcBGAYYCw/w200-h96/Horiz_PhotoArk..jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Currently, the Photo Ark boasts 11,230 formal portraits. In addition to the portrait gallery, a comprehensive nearly 40,000-photo Photo Ark Gallery, including in-the-field images, is available for viewing. An excellent search function accompanies the gallery.</div><div><br /></div><div>Renowned Nat Geo photographer Joel Sartore created the Photo Ark as a vehicle to showcase the Earth's tremendous biodiversity within the Animal Kingdom along with the mass extinction in process.</div><div><br /></div><div>The RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-photo-ark-gift-from-heart.html" target="_blank">Photo Ark: a gift from the heart</a></i>, chronicles the Photo Ark's history and gives accolades to Joel Sartore for his tremendous commitment to endangered species.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><u><span style="font-size: medium;">An Evolutionary Call-to-ACTION</span></u><br /><i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Refuge-Including-Mountains-Coffee-Table-Conservation/dp/1647221447" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Refuge-Including-Mountains-Coffee-Table-Conservation/dp/1647221447" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LbHZZ_z9awU/X4-hA8cjw4I/AAAAAAAAvAA/Pbb5NuftHJwjve9p3x2fWilO6kZKJKeOQCPcBGAYYCw/s660/Refuge_Final%2BCover_Small.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="660" height="182" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LbHZZ_z9awU/X4-hA8cjw4I/AAAAAAAAvAA/Pbb5NuftHJwjve9p3x2fWilO6kZKJKeOQCPcBGAYYCw/w200-h182/Refuge_Final%2BCover_Small.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Refuge-Including-Mountains-Coffee-Table-Conservation/dp/1647221447" target="_blank">REFUGE, America's Wildest Places, Exploring the National Wildlife Refuge System</a></i><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Refuge-Including-Mountains-Coffee-Table-Conservation/dp/1647221447" target="_blank"> </a>(<i>REFUGE,</i>) published on October 27, 2020 as an extraordinary coffee-table book; photography is by renowned photographer, author, educator, and filmmaker Ian Shive. As with Ian's prior books, films, and other mediums, <i>REFUGE</i> is a masterpiece and serves as a portal to explore our planet's intrinsic beauty.</div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div><i>REFUGE</i> is a glimpse into the magnificence and sacred nature of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), one of the largest protected land and water networks in the world. The NWRS encompasses land and water ecosystems coast-to-coast within the continental United States (U.S.) as well as the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska, and U.S. territories.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ian's profound commitment as a conservationist and educator are destined to make a tremendous impact with his past, current, and future timeless masterpieces. Ian's evolution from stills to motion to cinema to on-air persona expands his audience, reach, and potential influence.</div><div><br /></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dc7SG_IbQgA/X5BCucqtbqI/AAAAAAAAvAs/e8oVQAubSK8W0nyvQe37uQOehFRJd2SUQCPcBGAYYCw/s1418/bruce_springsteen-shive_archive-045.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dc7SG_IbQgA/X5BCucqtbqI/AAAAAAAAvAs/e8oVQAubSK8W0nyvQe37uQOehFRJd2SUQCPcBGAYYCw/w141-h200/bruce_springsteen-shive_archive-045.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: James Shive</span></td></tr></tbody></table><i>REFUGE</i> is an evolutionary call-to-action for the collective community to preserve and restore the Earth's fragile ecosystems. The Earth will only tolerate a certain quota of human devastation; once the quota is reached the Earth will simply heal herself, most likely to the detriment of the human species.</div><div><br /></div><div>The RiA Magazine article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2020/10/an-evolutionary-call-to-action.html" target="_blank">An Evolutionary Call-to-ACTION</a></i>, is an in-depth chronicle of Ian's adventures culminating in the profound book along with overviews of his amazing short films.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>FUN: read the article to learn how a 1976 in-concert photo of "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen and the "Big Man" Clarence Clemons flows within the article!!!!</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Invigorated Communication Realms</span></b></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1uVHebj98M/X_-LU8d52kI/AAAAAAAAv8U/jcrso5E-un4antWIdIKK9rc71kG02WgFgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/01-17-17_HEI_HavanaTreeBldg_b%2526w_lowres.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1942" data-original-width="2048" height="189" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1uVHebj98M/X_-LU8d52kI/AAAAAAAAv8U/jcrso5E-un4antWIdIKK9rc71kG02WgFgCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h189/01-17-17_HEI_HavanaTreeBldg_b%2526w_lowres.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A tree grows in unison with an <br />Havana, Cuba building<br />Photo credit: Holly Elmore Images</span></td></tr></tbody></table>With the 2020 Nature Prevails platform launch, Ei catapulted into expanded realms of influence and impact. The RiA article, <i><a href="https://zerowastezone.blogspot.com/2020/09/nature-prevails-new-elemental-impact.html" target="_blank">Nature Prevails, a new Ei Platform</a></i>, announces the platform launch in partnership with the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/global-regenerative-land-economics-initiative/" target="_blank">Ei Regenerative Working Group</a> (RWG.) </div><div><br /></div><div>Within the Nature Prevails premise, the Earth heals herself and nurtures renewed life forms, no matter the calamity caused by humans, natural disasters, or extraterrestrial activities.</div><div><br /></div><div>The IMPACT article, <i><a href="https://elementalimpact.blogspot.com/2020/09/ei-welcomes-new-advisors.html" target="_blank">Ei Welcomes New Advisors</a></i>, announces the impressive new Ei Advisory Council members who are committed to RWG projects and task forces. Additionally, two University of Toronto-affiliated Ei interns researched the Nature Prevails premises necessary for the RWG's important forthcoming work. Future Nature Prevails articles are on the Fingertip Press docket.</div><div><br /></div><div>During the 2020 pandemic, Holly focused on expanding her technical-design skills to embellish the Ei communication platform. The <i>Nanoplastics </i>book was the inaugural project where Holly designed the book layout.</div><div><br /></div><div>With a new platform, a stellar RWG Team, and new-found design skills, Ei is staged to soar with invigorated energy in the global environmental network and beyond.</div><div><br /></div><div>__________________________________________</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>About Elemental Impact:</b></span></div><div><a href="https://elementalimpact.org/" target="_blank">Elemental Impact</a> (Ei) is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 2010 as the home to the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/zero-waste-zones-accomplished/" target="_blank">Zero Waste Zones</a>, the forerunner in the nation for the commercial collection of food waste for compost. In June 2017, Ei announced the <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/ei-recycling-refinement-era/" target="_blank">Era of Recycling Refinement</a> was <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/mission-accomplished/" target="_blank">Mission Accomplished</a> and entered the Era of Regeneration. Current focus areas include <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/what-we-do/nature-prevails/" target="_blank">Nature Prevails</a>, <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/soil-health/" target="_blank">Soil Health</a> | <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/regenerative-agriculture-landscapes/" target="_blank">Regenerative Agriculture</a>, and <a href="https://elementalimpact.org/water-use-toxicity/" target="_blank">Water Use | Toxicity</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>MISSION:</div><div><i>To work with industry leaders to create best regenerative operating practices where the entire value-chain benefits, including corporate bottom lines, communities, and the environment. Through education and collaboration, establish best practices as standard practices.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ei’s tagline – <i><b>Regeneration in ACTION</b></i> – is the foundation for Ei endeavors.</div><div><br /></div><div>The following mantra is at the core of Ei work:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei is a creator, an incubator.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei determines what could be done that is not being done and gets it done.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei brings the possible out of impossible.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ei identifies pioneers and creates heroes.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>For additional information, contact Holly Elmore at 404-261-4690 | holly@elementalimpact.org</div></div></span></div></div>Holly Elmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15320051691727973987noreply@blogger.com0