Blogs

When I visited the Artists for Humanity (AFH) headquarters in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood last week, my intentions were to tour the city’s only LEED Platinum certified building and learn about its green design features. As is often the case, I walked away with something much richer. Many of you are probably aware of the work of Artists for Humanity.

Can you hear mooing coming from the Common? Listen closely: it’s distant. Like
200 years in the past distant, but it’s there – part of the spirit of Boston. It’s easy to forget in our modern local foods movement that urban agriculture is not a new idea. Yes, dairy cows and sheep once grazed the Boston Common, and the victory gardens of the first and second World Wars were successful in producing millions of pounds of food.

2011 was a challenging year for the economy and the environment.  Yet despite this, dedicated businesses, organizations, communities, and individuals all around the world pushed-on and persevered in their efforts to make the world a more environmentally sustainable place.  Here is just a small sampling of local achievements we should all feel very proud of….

It is no secret that health in America has become a major issue. With diets consisting of processed foods and daily activities involving computer and TV screens it’s no wonder we have an obesity problem.  As this epidemic grows so do the exercise and diet industries. “The latest figures from Marketdata, Inc., which analyses ten major segments of the U.S.

Over the past decade environmental awareness in the United States has increased significantly and has become a topic of mainstream discussion.  According to research from Intellitrends, “when asked about their future purchase of products that are green, 93 percent of U.S. consumers say they will “definitely” or “may” purchase these eco-friendly products.”  Seizing on this growing awareness, businesses have begun to offer a wide variety of “natural”, “eco-friendly” and “green” products from shampoo, to ice cream and appliances. 

Food Desert Blog Series- Part 2

Take Back the Kitchen

One of the most recent graduates of SBN’s Sustainable Business Leader Program is the Haley House Bakery and Café. This unique project in Roxbury’s Dudley Square has not only taken major steps toward being a greener business, but is also working, through it’s Take Back the Kitchen Program, to address issues of nutrition among youth in Roxbury. Recently I visited Haley House Bakery and Café Chef Didi Emmons and Program Coordinator, Robin Saunders. Over Didi’s famous chocolate chip cookies, I learned all about Take Back The Kitchen’s innovative approach to nutrition education. 

Food Deserts Leave Low-Income Families High and Dry in their Search for Nutritious and Affordable Food

In honor of World Food Day late last week (October 16^th), this will be the first in a series of blog posts addressing issues of access to healthy and affordable food for all, a primary goal of the Sustainable Business Network’s Boston Local Food Program.

by Ray Soohoo, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston

The modern day meaning has changed a bit from the day where early American settlers gathered together to help their neighbor build a new barn by pooling together labor and materials.

by Katie Mindess, Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston

We are a culture that loves and relies on our electronics.  Everywhere you look people are on cell phones, laptops, iPads and other handheld devices.

by Katey Tobin, Boston Local Food Program

Sustainable Business Leader Program participants and graduates Boston Organics, City Fresh Foods, Dancing Deer Baking Co., Haley House Bakery Café, Harvest Coop, Save That Stuff, Stone Hearth Pizza Co., Taza Chocolate, The Longfellow Clubs, and Ula Café will be at the 2nd Annual Boston Local Food Festival on Saturday, October 1, 2011 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Fort Point Channel.