Many of us seek to care for our health, and that of the planet. But unfortunately, modern food systems, advertising, and consumer behaviors have taken us far from our ancestral ways of growing and producing food.

Commercial agriculture and food exportation to support a growing world population all year round has meant that we’ve come to expect bananas and strawberries at any time of the year. Our food choices can be gravely affecting the health of our planet and its precious natural resources. This is why producing and eating sustainable foods is essential for the future of our global food system, and planetary health.

What makes a food item sustainable?

According to the World Health Organization’s Guiding Principles on Sustainable Healthy Diet, to eat sustainably will “promote all dimensions of individuals’ health and wellbeing, and have low environmental pressure and impact.” This means food which is grown organically, without pesticides or herbicides, and food that’s produced locally, with minimal processing, are the best choices. Eating low on the food chain means eating a largely plant-based diet; and it turns out that this helps our own health and conserves resources as well.

Here are ten sustainable foods to eat, and why they’re good for us as well as the planet.

1. Legumes

Legumes like lentils, chickpeas and beans are superstars! They are rich in protein and fiber. They also have the ability to add nitrogen to soil, eliminating the need for artificial fertilizers. Green peas and sugar snaps also add nitrogen to the soil. Lentils are high in protein, require little water, and improve soil quality. They use way less land than what’s required for animal proteins.

Fava beans are one of the easiest legumes to grow yourself. They double as a good cover crop, building the soil, and they are delicious!

Did you know: it takes 100 times more land to produce a pound of animal protein (such as beef or lamb) compared to legumes such as beans? Simply replacing beef with beans could meet up to 74% of the USA’s climate goals.

2. Leafy Greens

Dark, leafy greens such as kale, spinach, chard, collards and arugula, are some of the most versatile and nutritious of all vegetables. Not only are they rich in antioxidants, they have also been linked to lowering the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Even in Oregon, kale is hardy enough to be grown year-round.

They’re planet-friendly because they grow fast (allowing multiple harvests a year), and have low carbon emissions during their growing and harvesting processes.

3. Cruciferous vegetables

Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage have a relatively low carbon footprint. They require minimal land per yield, thrive in cool weather with natural rainfall, cutting down on need for irrigation. Cabbage yields up to 15 tons per acre and broccoli yields around 5 tons/acre.

These nutrient-dense foods are packed with vitamins C, K, and folate, fiber, and unique compounds called glucosinolates. They help lower inflammation, support heart health, aid digestion, and provide powerful antioxidants linked to cancer prevention.

4. Cereals & Grains

The best way to incorporate cereals and grains into our diets is by having a variety. The Wprld Wildlife Federation warns that “there is a pressing need to vary the types of cereals and grains grown and eaten.’” This is because monoculture (only growing one principal crop, like wheat) has a major impact on soil health due to a higher risk of diseases and insect damage, and therefore a higher use of chemical pesticides to combat them. Those chemicals are just as detrimental to human health as they are to soil health! So of course, choose organics as much as possible.

By contrast, a polyculture of plants confuses and discourages pest insects; plants with roots at varied depths can co-exist in a smaller space; and plant diseases do not spread readily.

Additionally, the more we diversify what we’re growing, the greater the range of vitamins and minerals that can be incorporated into our diet. Try spelt, buckwheat, amaranth, millet, and quinoa to diversify your grain intake and improve your gut health. (Quinoa, which is actually a seed, is higher in protein and cooks more quickly than rice.)

5. Oats

Oats are amazing! They thrive in inhospitable places, such as high altitudes, and can be sown between other crop harvests to replenish the soil. They help lower cholesterol and blood pressure and have a lot of fiber.

Did you know: Oat milk uses a lot less water than other plant-based milk alternatives, such as soy or rice milk?

6. Potatoes

Potatoes have a range of qualities that are good for the environment. They require relatively minimal amounts of water. It only takes 34 gallons to grow each pound. By comparison, rice requires 403 gallons for the same volume of crop. Additionally, potatoes can be stored for long periods without damage. And they are very easy to grow yourself!

7. Mushrooms

Fungi are rich in nutrients such as B & D vitamins. They need less water and energy than most other agricultural crops, and help sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Some mushrooms, like Lion’s Mane, promote nerve health; some, like Shiitake and Maitake, promote immunity.

Many mushrooms connect with plant and tree roots through vast underground networks called mycelia. In this mutual exchange, the fungi deliver water, phosphorus, and nitrogen to the plants, while the plants provide the fungi with sugars made via photosynthesis. The microscopic thread-like structures of mycelia bind soil particles together, improving soil stability, water retention, and resistance to erosion.

Mushrooms act as nature’s recyclers in the ecosystem, breaking down wood and leaves and even toxins.

Certain fungi practice mycoremediation, breaking down or absorbing toxic pollutants, heavy metals, petroleum, and pesticides from contaminated soil and water. Did you know that oyster mushrooms can break down the hydrocarbons in diesel fuel (often applied to stumps after a clearcut) and produce food that is delicious and safe to eat?

8. Local Fruit

The further a food has to travel, the greater its carbon footprint. Did you know that only about 40% of fruit consumed in the US is grown in this country? And, of fruit produced in the US, California and Florida grow 75%. Try to eat what’s in season and freeze summer excesses of fresh fruits. Shop at your local farmer’s markets whenever possible.

9. Figs

A whopping 1,300 bird and mammal species eat figs, making them one of the most relied-on fruits on the planet! Planting fig trees can help to regenerate deforested landscapes, restore biodiversity, and the trees are resilient to climate change. With a little luck, and frequent monitoring, you can get some fruit from your tree before the birds or squirrels eat it all!

10. Seaweed

Algae, including seaweed, produces around 50% of all oxygen on earth. It can also absorb CO2, nitrogen & phosphate in the sea and can be harvested several times a year! It’s high in omega 3, vitamins and antioxidants. Kelp can easily be “farmed” without negative impact on coastal waters.

Changing food habits can be difficult. Remember that any steps you take to choose planet-healthy alternatives DO make a difference; and don’t expect perfection from yourself! Happy eating!

Time of harvest

The last green beans have been harvested and eaten; the dying leaves on the pumpkin vines signaled it was time to bring in the one giant 15 pound pumpkin and the smaller, pie pumpkin. A few more yellow crookneck summer squashes are still ripening, and the kale is abundant, while the cucumbers and cherry tomatoes are winding down. Meanwhile, the marigolds and calendula add their bright touch of gold, and the maple leaves are starting to blush crimson. We enjoyed a bounty of seedless grapes and figs, and last week we nearly drowned in sweet, delicate green gage plums.

I’m celebrating my transition this week from a cooler, smaller, darker bedroom on the northwest corner of the DuMa Community house, into a larger, warmer, sunnier one on the southeast corner. A giant green and purple flower is painted on one wall, a window-box full of pink and red geraniums graces one window, and I enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the maple trees turning color along with the black-eyed Susans and multicolored zinnias still blooming in the front yard.

At last I have a large enough closet, room for a double bed and chest of drawers… with all the new-to-me furnishings, I feel like I’ve had a distinct upgrade, with more beauty and spaciousness for me and my cat, Ruby. In the quiet of early morning, my furry little friend burrows her head into my armpit; she brings her face up to mine to be kissed, purring loudly as she presses her body against me. I am very grateful!

Having promised myself I would finally update and get my will and my advance directives witnessed and signed before my 80th birthday, I’m pleased to have met that deadline I set myself.

What are you harvesting at this time of your life? What transitions are you grateful for?

Balance

As the night and day are equal for a short time, consider the balance of yin and yang, the feminine and masculine within yourself. Can you respect both aspects of your authentic being? Where do you perceive that you want to put more of your attention and energy? Are you achieving, but at the expense of your intuitive, creative qualities? Are you dreaming but not doing, leaving yourself dissatisfied?

What qualities in your life are coming into greater balance and harmony?

Transformation

It seems we may be entering a crucible for transformation with the fall equinox this year.

According to astrologer Benjamin Bernstein, this is a powerful time for breakthroughs in relationships, power structures, and collective direction; a season of vision, innovation, diplomacy, course correction, and system redesign through collaboration. Intuition and dreams will be amplified, supporting spiritual practice and creative inspiration. Be open to synchronicity and subtle guidance, he advises. Communication, social change movements, cooperation, and justice are favored by planetary alignments; communities will be transformed as power structures shift away from domination and hierarchy.

Now, vision can be translated into meaningful change. We are being called to collaborate and re-negotiate agreements without self-abandonment or giving away our authentic selves; to practice transparency around issues of trust, intimacy, and shared resources. Our task is to find the balance between autonomy and cooperation, vision and reality, progress and consequences, passionate conviction and willingness to negotiate. How skillfully are we able to bring together different viewpoints?

Have a good fall!

A memory came to me of autumnal equinox celebrations at a meadow on Mt. Tamalpais with the Wakwa Society, led by Rafael Gonzalez in the 1990s. We used to celebrate the solstices and equinoxes with a Medicine Wheel ceremony inspired by the writing of Sun Bear, laying large stones, wearing costumes and acting out the archetypes for the directions. The autumn signifies the time of the West, direction of the setting sun, the releasing and letting go of what no longer serves us. The great black Bear archetype embodies the qualities of introspection, maturity, quiet reflection and looking within, slowing down and healing. What a refreshing contrast to the sometimes-frenetic energy of achievement that seems to accompany this season in our culture!

One year, as we ended the ceremony and our traditional potluck feast, we saluted one another, “Have a good fall!” Then, one person accidentally slipped and fell, laughing. Pretty soon we were all falling down laughing, having a good fall!

So my wish for all of us, in this time of transformation and change is…keep your balance, and have a good fall!

As the autumn approaches, and I approach my 80th birthday, I am getting a few things sorted out: my will, my Advance Directives, and what I want done with my body. At this time on the planet, I have little desire to simply prolong my life after I’ve outlived my usefulness. All around me, I see more and more people younger than me who are suffering from dementia, placing a strain on their families’ resources. I have had a wonderful ride with all the best that life had to offer, for 8 decades. I’d rather go out before entering a bleak old age of dependency and forgetfulness, if there’s a chance I could come back in a more useful form, or be more empowered to pull some strings in another realm.

Now about this body…

Have you ever considered the fossil fuel emissions and air pollution involved in traditional cremation?

Traditional cremation requires high-energy fossil fuel combustion, typically natural gas or propane, heating chambers to 1,200–1,800°F for two to three hours. A single cremation releases an average of 535 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂), alongside toxic air pollutants like mercury from dental fillings, nitrogen oxides, and fine soot.

Cremation and Fossil Fuel

• Natural Gas Use: Furnaces burn heavy amounts of fossil fuel to reach extreme operating temperatures.
• Carbon Footprint: Each cycle emits roughly 535 lbs of CO₂, comparable to driving a standard car over 300 miles.
• Container and Material Impact: Caskets, plastics, and clothing incinerated with the body add to the total gas output.

Air Pollutants Released

• Mercury: Vaporized dental amalgam fillings escape into the air unless specialized filters are installed.
• Particulate Matter: Soot and unburned carbon particles enter the local atmosphere.
• Acid Gases: Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) are released from combustion, contributing to local smog and environmental acidification.

Mitigation

• Abatement Filters: Modern facilities can install mercury filters and secondary combustion chambers to trap heavy metals and particulates.

A Better Alternative

Some of you know I have long loved water in all its aspects. So when I heard about “aquamation” as an alternative to cremation, I was excited to learn more about it.

It’s a gentle process that uses water, warm temperatures, and alkalinity to return remains to their most basic and natural components: minerals and water. The process is known as alkaline hydrolysis, aquamation, or water cremation.

This method involves a dramatic reduction in carbon and mercury emissions. In addition, it saves 90% of the energy consumption used in traditional flame cremation.

Water cremation is an eco-friendly alternative. It uses a warm water and alkali solution inside a pressurized metal chamber to accelerate natural decomposition over 4 to 16 hours, leaving only bone fragments and sterile liquid.

How Aquamation Works

• Placement: The body is placed inside a specialized stainless-steel vessel.
• Solution: Water and a strong base chemical (potassium hydroxide) are added.
• Heat & Pressure: The chamber is heated to around 300°F with gentle water circulation.
• Reduction: Organic tissue dissolves completely, leaving only clean white bones and a sterile but nutrient-rich liquid byproduct. The liquid can be used as fertilizer or released into the sewer system.
• Final Remains: The remaining bone fragments are dried and processed into a fine white powder, yielding about 20% more “ash” than fire cremation.

Environmental and Practical Benefits

• Low Emissions: Uses about 90% less energy than flame cremation and creates virtually no greenhouse gases or direct carbon emissions.
• Implant Safe: Medical devices, artificial joints, and dental fillings remain intact and are safely recycled instead of vaporized or discarded.
• Familiar Results: Families still receive tangible ashes that can be scattered, buried, or kept in an urn as in fire cremation.

Cost Breakdown

The average cost for human aquamation in Oregon typically ranges between $1,900 and $2,300. The baseline price for the aquamation process is comparable to, or slightly more than, flame-based cremation.

By comparison, in Oregon a typical green burial will cost a minimum of $4,000: $2100 minimum for a plot, $1400 minimum for grave digging/ filling, $500 minimum for administration. Composting of human remains, in which the family receives a container of compost, costs $5000 and up (e.g., Earth Funeral gave me a quote of $5500).

Drawbacks

- Although the process is legal in over half of US states, not many funeral homes offer it and it is thus less accessible. (But it’s available in Eugene.)

- The process uses 300–600 gallons of water.

- Takes slightly longer than fire cremation.

I hope this information will prove helpful to you and your family; please pass it along to anyone who cares about protecting the environment!

Solar power benefits Europe

Solar is already cushioning Europe from the crippling costs of fossil fuels amid the war on Iran, and has been declared a “shining star” of the European Union’s energy transition.

According to a recent analysis by SolarPower Europe, harnessing sunlight for electricity has already saved the continent a staggering €12.8 billion ($14.6 billion USD) by lowering imports of methane (“natural”) gas since the conflict began.

According to Eurostat data, solar contributed more than 17 percent of the EU’s electricity mix in the first quarter of 2026. Solar capacity is only predicted to keep increasing.

But aside from lowering energy bills and decreasing oil and gas consumption, adding rooftop solar panels to a home comes with some hidden benefits.

Solar panels keep your home cooler during extreme heat

Solar panels create a barrier between your roof and the sun, absorbing UV radiation that would otherwise heat up your roof and enter the home. The glass in solar panels also reflects sunlight away from the property, further reducing the amount of heat it absorbs.

A 2024 study from the University of Exeter, published in the science journal Nature Cities, analyzed the cooling effect that rooftop solar panels would have had on London’s ambient temperature between June and August 2018 — which was the hottest year on record at the time.

Researchers found that if rooftop solar panels had been widely installed, they would also have cooled the city by about 0.6 degrees. This would have prevented an estimated 12 per cent of the heat-related deaths during that summer.

A 2011 study by the University of California — San Diego found that during the day, a building’s ceiling was around 5 degrees cooler under a roof with solar panels compared to a fully exposed roof.

“If you are considering installing solar photovoltaic, depending on your roof’s thermal properties, you can expect a large reduction in the amount of energy you use to cool your residence or business,” said Jan Kleissl, a professor of environmental engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

A recent analysis from energy think tank Ember described solar as a “complementary technology” to air conditioning, since of course the demand for AC is highest when the sun is shining the longest and hottest. The report found that during a recent June heatwave, a typical UK home with rooftop solar generated enough electricity to power an AC unit for five hours per day.

Across the 1.9 million UK homes with rooftop solar, the equivalent to 10 million solar-powered AC hours were generated each heatwave day. This demonstrates how solar can tackle the carbon emissions produced by air conditioning.

Combating Urban Heat

A huge challenge for cities is the “urban heat island effect.” Roads, parking lots, rooftops, and buildings absorb and retain heat throughout the day, causing cities to become significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas. High temperatures increase energy demand, worsen air quality, and pose serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations during extreme heat events.

To address this problem, cities are beginning to invest in green cooling infrastructures such as trees, green roofs, rain gardens, permeable pavements, and restored landscapes. These not only help reduce urban temperatures, but also provide additional ecological benefits.

Denver has a “DePaving Greener Denver” initiative. Unnecessary pavement is removed and replaced with trees, vegetation, and permeable surfaces. By reducing heat-absorbing asphalt and increasing green space, the city is helping lower local temperatures while also improving stormwater management and neighborhood livability.

Trees are well known for cooling cities. Their canopies provide shade that can significantly reduce surface temperatures on streets, sidewalks, and buildings. It isn’t only their shade; through evapotranspiration, trees also release water vapor into the air, creating a natural cooling effect.

Recognizing these benefits, Sacramento has adopted tree shading requirements for certain developments. Shade trees are incorporated into parking lots and public spaces, helping to reduce heat and improve comfort for residents.

Seattle’s Green Factor program encourages developers to incorporate vegetation and ecological features into new projects. Green roofs, landscaped areas, green walls, and other natural elements help increase vegetation throughout the city. These features not only help cool cities but also improve biodiversity and stormwater management.

Green roofs, covered with shallow-rooted vegetation such as sedums, absorb less heat than traditional roofing materials and can significantly reduce building temperatures. They also help absorb rainfall, reducing pressure on stormwater systems during heavy precipitation. Many cities now view green roofs as an important part of climate adaptation planning.

The benefits go beyond lowering temperatures. Green infrastructure improves air quality, supports pollinators, reduces flooding, and enhances mental well-being. Research increasingly shows that access to green spaces contributes to physical and psychological health.

Historically underserved, low-income communities often have fewer trees and green spaces, making them especially vulnerable to extreme temperatures. By targeting green infrastructure projects in these areas, cities can address environmental inequities while improving climate resilience.

At last, here in Eugene the temperatures are getting above the 70s, even soaring into the mid-90s as the days have reached their maximum length. With a friend, I took my first dip of the season into the icy water of the Willamette middle fork, last week, and did a small ceremony to honor the water. We created a mandala from stones, crystals and flower petals, and sang to the river.

We’ve been feasting on the sugar snap peas I planted in March — fat, crunchy and delicious-for a month now. The strawberries are nearly gone, but I enjoy a few succulent, sweet, ripe raspberries or blueberries during my early morning waterings. The arugula is trying to rocket its way to the stars, we have a field of kale, some lovely fragrant basil, and the green bean plants are a leafy wonderland. Small green tomatoes and peppers are forming, along with tiny purple eggplants. We’ve just harvested a magnificent supply of huge garlic heads. The mulberries, as usual, are making a sticky mess on the decks and stairs, and most of them go to the chickens. The front yard is full of an evolving mix of colorful flowers. My home is a nourishing place!

What’s in store for us with the summer season? With gratitude to Benjamin Bernstein, “Astroshaman,” here are some astrological insights.

As the sun moves into the sign of Cancer, we enter a time of emotional nourishment, belonging, and integration of old wounds, clearing up unfinished emotional business. It’s a moment for reflective thought, healing of self-worth issues, and relating to home and family. Give yourself the gift of authentic self-expression and allow your creativity to flow. Trust in life, have reverence for its natural rhythms, and sense the inner security that brings.

It’s a good time to be with trusted friends and loved ones, create restorative spaces, honor our emotional needs, be aware of old wounds, and share the wisdom gained from personal struggles in service to others. To be compassionate toward all parts of ourselves, we can let self-acceptance replace perfectionism.

Our Father the Sun’s day

The Solstice coincides with Father’s Day this year. Today (Saturday) a group from my Unity church gathered to do some collective grief work, and of course I thought of my dear father, Robert Holt, who died 2 years and 2 months ago at the age of 106. Mostly I recalled all the ways I feel grateful for him: his activism and dedication to peace and environmental justice, including many years of service on Truro’s recycling committee; his devotion to the family, taking my sister and me to Yosemite in the summers; the easels he built for us to paint on; his passion for photography and creating slideshows, which we enjoyed for many years afterwards; his joy in growing vegetables, and his wonderful way of incorporating wild foods, like purslane, miner’s lettuce and chickweed, into the salads he prepared; his marvelous tenor voice and astounding 2-part harmonic whistling; his love of the Bach B Minor Mass; his devotion to his graduate students in psychology at NYU, many of whom became good friends; the way his dear eyes would light up when he saw me after an absence.

Questions for reflection (or discussion):

How is my relationship with my father? What can I appreciate about him?

What does “home” mean to me now?

Where do I most belong?

What sustains me emotionally?

What nourishes me?

What in me needs compassion?

How have my challenges shaped my gifts?

How might my own healing benefit others?

How can I express myself more authentically?

Where is life inviting me to step?

What action honors my heart and mind?

Rivers and watersheds need protection

Thanks to the initiative by Protect Lane County Watersheds, we had a chance to vote for defense of our county’s watersheds where I live in Lane County, Oregon. Much of the information in this article was drawn from their website, ProtectLaneCountyWatersheds.org. I went door-to-door canvassing in my neighborhood and found a lot of support. But in the recent May election, the measure (20–373) failed by a large margin.

Rivers like the McKenzie are beautiful to behold, but sadly are polluted due to runoff from clearcuts and aerial spraying of crops with pesticides and herbicides. Mercury has been found in the McKenzie, and many other local rivers are even more contaminated. “Forever chemicals” such as atrazine, illegal in the European Union, are still being used in the U.S. They can cause neuro-degenerative disease, miscarriages, and cancer. Many rural Lane County residents do not have clean drinking water free of sediments, nitrates, pesticides, and other toxins.

Another significant threat is posed by AI data centers, which require vast amounts of water for cooling; some water is returned to the land, but often it’s hot and may contain pollutants. Hood River (near Portland) has an AI data center; owners of this center want to purchase a lake needed by local people for their drinking water.

The measure would have allowed citizens to sue polluting industries or governments to pay for cleaning up the waterways and the watersheds draining into them. As one native speaker declared, “Protecting water’s rights to exist and flourish would mean that we the people can exist and flourish.” Another said, “We are the land and water protecting ourselves.”

Dark money poured in

According to Kunu Bearchum (Northern Cheyenne, Ho-Chunk Nation), one of the chief petitioners behind the Watersheds Bill of Rights, the opposition group “Protect Our County” is an organization pretending to represent grassroots people but in reality funded by powerful business interests.

Protect Our County received more than $100,000 from logging companies, real-estate developers, chemical industry groups, construction and development companies, and mining interests.

That includes $30,000 from Oregon Realtors, $25,000 from an industry front group called Oregonians for Food & Shelter, $20,000 from the Northwest Pulp & Paper Association, $10,000 from a PAC formed by the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, another $10,000 from construction company CPM Development Corporation, and $5,000 from Delta Sand & Gravel Company.

The group has also received $85,000 from a Political Action Committee called Oregon Business & Industry Issues PAC (OBI), which was flooded with corporate cash to Protect Our County (by far the largest expense OBI logged during the same period was a series of four donations to Protect Our County totaling $85,000).

Donations OBI received during that period include:

· $25,000 from Koch Government Affairs

· $25,000 from Oregon Forest & Industries Council

· $12,000 from Sierra Pacific Industries

· $10,000 from Guistina Tree Farm LCC

· $10,000 from Western States Petroleum Association

· $10,000 from Wildish Land Company

· $10,000 from Oregon Farm Bureau Federation

· $7,000 from Milling company Swanson Group

· $2,500 from Oregon Wheat Growers League

· $2,000 from Weyerhaeuser

· $1,500 from Eugene Chamber of Commerce

Many of these funders are highly controversial. The Koch network is well known for opposing limits to toxic chemical pollution, lobbying against rail safety and public transit, funding vast climate denialism campaigns and think tanks, and pro- oil. One report called the Koch companies the “kingpin of climate denial.”

All of these industries rely on harming water and watersheds to generate their huge wealth. Logging and milling companies destroy and fragment wildlife habitat, discharge significant amounts of toxics, degrade salmon and steelhead streams, and since they have cut nearly all mature forests on their lands, rely on unnatural and ecologically degraded tree plantations for timber production.

Oregon’s largest contributor to global warming is the timber industry, which is responsible for 35% of the state’s carbon emissions. Clearcut landscapes create a “flood and drought” cycle which causes erosion and further decreases water quality and quantity, and private forestlands across the state are regularly treatedU by aerial spray of pesticides which have been linked to cancer, reproductive health issues, and other serious illness.

Driven by warming, Lane County is expecting soaring water temperatures and declines in flow of more than 50% in most rivers and streams by the 2040s. These changes will threaten remaining salmon populations, many of which are endangered, as well as steelhead and other wildlife, forests, and water supplies for agriculture and drinking. It will also threaten outdoor recreation, an industry which supports 192,000 jobs and $20.6 billion in total economic output across the state, and drive up costs. Already, extreme heat is costing the average Lane County household nearly $9,000 per year in lower wages, decreased productivity, and increased costs.

Rights of Nature

Water is routinely extracted, commodified, and polluted by corporate activities with little to no financial, civil, criminal, or moral accountability. This is unsustainable, since all of life depends on clean water for survival. “Rights of Nature” is a global movement that advocates for ecosystems such as rivers, lakes, and mountains to bear legal rights in a similar manner as humans. Legal “personhood status” confers the right to be defended against environmental harms caused by human action, including extraction, pollution and climate change. Watersheds are indeed living systems and need the right to flourish, regenerate and naturally evolve, independent of human needs. Protecting the rights of nature acknowledges our utter dependence upon all that nature provides for us, and our need to live in harmony with these systems.

In 2006, Tamaqua Borough, Pennsylvania, banned the dumping of toxic sewage sludge as a violation of the Rights of Nature. Tamaqua is the very first place in the world to recognize the Rights of Nature in law. Since then, some 170 communities in ten states in the U.S. have enacted Rights of Nature laws. This is now a worldwide movement, with advances in Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, New Zealand, Mexico, India, Brazil, Uganda, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Spain, Australia, and more.

To view a worldwide Rights of Nature timeline, please see https://www.protectlanecountywatersheds.org/rights_of_nature_timeline

TThe threat of AI data centers

Are you relying more and more on AI as it becomes pervasive? It is not a benign technology. Data centers pose significant environmental and community dangers, including millions of gallons of daily water consumption for cooling, high electricity usage that strains grids, and substantial noise pollution from fans and generators. They emit pollutants from backup diesel generators and contribute to high carbon emissions.

Environmental and Community Harms

• Water Scarcity: Data centers use up to 5 million gallons of water per day for cooling, often in water-stressed regions, which can deplete local water supplies and hurt local ecosystems. They are worsening already severe water scarcity worldwide.
• Noise Pollution: Data centers operate 24/7, with cooling systems and generators producing constant noise (sometimes up to 100 decibels) that can lead to sleep disruption and health issues for nearby residents. 85 dB is enough to cause hearing loss.
• Air Pollution: Backup diesel generators, tested monthly and used during outages, release harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulates, contributing to health issues like asthma. More fossil fueled power plants are typically constructed to handle the increased demand, meaning more air pollution. Those at increased risk include children, developing fetuses, pregnant people, elderly, and individuals with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular disease.
• Energy Grid Strain: Increased energy demand from data centers can raise local utility rates by 30% or more, and put pressure on electrical grids, necessitating more reliance on fossil fueled power plants.

Operational and Safety Risks

• Physical Security Threats: Data centers are vulnerable to fires.
• Cybersecurity Attacks: They are primary targets for ransomware and attacks that can cause huge data loss and operational disruption.
• Equipment Failure: Loss of power or cooling equipment can lead to severe service disruptions and financial losses.

Land Use and Ecological Impact

• Habitat Loss: Construction means significant land clearing, reducing wildlife habitats.
• Heat Generation: Massive amounts of waste heat are generated, which must be managed and cooled. Water used for cooling is often released still hot into waterways, damaging wildlife.

These facilities also worsen climate change through their immense energy consumption, and most are not powered by renewable energy sources.

What Can We Do?

The companies behind the data center boom are moving quickly into communities across the region, often promising prosperity. But some communities are pushing back and saying that data centers are not worth the health and environmental impacts. If you agree, there are steps you can take to combat data centers in your area.

• Does your municipality have a data center ordinance? If not, urge officials to adopt one.
• Then, identify opportunities for community participation before the proposed data center is approved. Will a public hearing be required? If so, take this opportunity to express your concerns and to help inform other community members.
• Look into ordinances for limiting noise, light, and vibrations, plus zoning laws that would restrict new data centers in your region.
• If the data center must be built, advocate for limiting the use of fossil fuels in both everyday operations and generator backups. Encourage decision makers and developers to utilize renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines and solar panels.
• Press decision makers to require any facility to report their emissions and share an emergency preparedness plan with the community.

To learn more, follow the Environmental Health Project.

Reducing Food Waste

Uneaten Food Consumes:

You have probably noticed that the price of groceries has gone up by 29% over the last 5 years. Did you know that nearly one-third of the food produced for humans never gets consumed? According to ReFed, a nonprofit working to solve food waste, “in the US alone enough food is wasted to fill a 40-ton tractor every 18 seconds.” Some crops are left behind in fields after harvest, some spoils in transport, some is lost during processing. A lot of food is rejected for “imperfections” which are cosmetic only, meaning the food is unspoiled but doesn’t look as pretty or perfectly shaped as consumers expect. Consumers buy more than they eat and waste the rest. Restaurants throw away food at closing time.

Greenhouse gases

Over 90% of this wasted food ends up in landfills, where it rots and produces methane gas, accounting for an estimated 3.5% of US greenhouse gases.

Food insecurity

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN estimates that worldwide, over 820 million people are food insecure, meaning they lack reliable access to sufficient, affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food. One in seven Americans — many of them children — are food insecure.

In 2024, the value of food waste was estimated at $325 billion.

Feeding people

Food banks are one important piece of the solution. By redistributing surplus food from producers and stores, food banks in the US help over 46 million people get nourishment. Worldwide, food banks annually prevent over 10 million tons of greenhouse gases.

For many years, groups like “Food Not Bombs” has collected waste foods from day-old bread to produce with bruises, and created nutritious meals for the homeless, served in public parks. In Asheville, NC, “Twelve Baskets” is an organization where volunteers visit restaurants to pick up unserved, cooked meals that would be tossed out, which are then served to homeless and low-income people, restaurant-style.

Soups can be created from rescued produce. “Disco Soup” is a project initiated by the Slow Food movement, in which a group of volunteers picks up food from farmers’ markets, bakeries and supermarkets that would otherwise be wasted, puts on some good music for the volunteer cooks, and creates a delicious meal for a community.

Upcycling surplus food

In Colombia, many pineapples are wasted because they tend to ripen all at once and the markets are saturated. By dehydrating the fruit, value is added and waste is prevented, helping the farmers. Another Colombian project turns waste from cacao production into dietary supplements and flavorings for sweets. (One cacao farmer’s wife created a delicious vegan “hamburger” out of cacao byproducts!)

UK-based Rubies in the Rubble converts rejected pears, tomatoes, and other fruits into ketchup, relishes, and chutneys. Planetarians transforms the seed waste from producing sunflower oil into high-protein snack chips.

Compost and biogas

Of course, composting spoiled food along with a carbon source such as leaves or straw, yields beneficial nutrient-dense compost for gardening. I’ve written before about anaerobic biogas digesters that can convert kitchen or farm waste into methane to be used for cooking or even sold to local energy providers. The byproduct, a fermented liquid, is rich in organic nutrients in a plant-available form, and much superior to chemical fertilizers which usually come from fossil fuels. In Massachusetts, Vanguard Renewables has set up million-gallon anaerobic digesters on farms; they work with Unilever, Starbucks, and Dairy Farmers of America to convert the waste stream into renewable energy.

Bright spots

Businesses across the supply chain are finally committing to food waste action. The U.S. Food Waste Pact, an initiative led by ReFED and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to help food businesses achieve their waste reduction targets, signed up many trade associations, food distributors, and hospitality industries. Sodexo surpassed its 2025 food waste reduction target with a 52% decrease in food waste at a majority of its US-based sites.

Food waste policy is shifting: Maine became the 12th state in the country to implement a food waste diversion policy. A Massachusetts economic impact report in 2025 reported that its food waste diversion regulation has created over 1,670 jobs and $194 million in economic value. And for the first time, the federal Food Date Labeling Act received bipartisan support in the Senate.

As landfill capacity continues to decline in regions across the country, more states will turn to food waste diversion strategies to extend the life of landfills and divert safe, edible food to those in need.Top of Form

Note: Some material for this article was taken from Environmentalhealthproject.org; Regeneration: Ending the climate crisis in one generation, by Paul Hawken; and Progress on the Plate: 2026 ReFED U.S. Food Waste Report.

Here in Eugene, myriads of daffodils have already finished blooming; the brilliant yellow of forsythias takes up the color scheme. Our front yard is a riot of flowers: purple “money plant,” magenta hyacinths, white plum blossoms and pink flowering shrubs, visited by hummingbirds. Near the cob oven, bright red camelias grace the side yard. Down the street, some magnolia trees are in full bloom. Jasmine scents the night air. Last year’s kale in the garden must be harvested before it flowers, and last year’s arugula has rocketed up. Fava beans and garlic are getting their growth on.

Mayan Tradition

In Mayan tradition, as in many others, the Spring Equinox marks a significant beginning, with letting go of old patterns or accumulated things that have outlived their usefulness, making way for the new seeds to sprout and for the beautiful flowering plants.

The Mayan belief is that the world is structured with four corners, four sides, and a living center. The Solstices and Equinoxes are not only astronomical events, but also the four pillars that support the field where we plant our reality in the world and in human potential.

They say that the separation of Nature in space and temporal planes have caused the human body to go out of Sacred Time. Lack of recognition for the cycles of the Seasons disrupt our physical, mental, emotional, relational and behavioral health. When we celebrate these cyclical events, this allows us to reset our mind, body, relationships and consciousness to prepare us for the new cycle of 91.25 days.

People prepare for the Equinox by reflecting upon and releasing old patterns that have outworn their usefulness, clearing away clutter from their homes, and considering what they wish to bring to life in this season of growth and change. Physical cleansing involves fasting for up to a week from sugar, alcohol, smoking, sex, and other often addictive substances or behaviors. A liquid-only fast for one day prior to the ceremony is frequently undertaken. They face the West at sunset and, holding in mind what they wish to release, brush off their bodies with their hands or with a leafy branch to clear away old energies with intention.

Two nights before the Equinox, often at 9pm, they sit in darkness and call upon the Spirit of Darkness, Yuhualpa (Cosmic Mother in Nahuatl). They state their intention to learn what conscious or unconscious patterns need to be dissolved, whether personal, familial, or ancestral.

On the Equinox, a Sacred Fire is lit for the symbolic releasing of the old. The new season is celebrated with offerings to the Earth, especially flowers, as the intentions are brought into strong focus.

Astrology (non-Mayan)

The Pisces New Moon helps us to reflect, reassess, and be aware of where we are. It guides us to cleanse and let go of all that we no longer wish to carry so we can create space for the new.

During the March Equinox, the planets are aligned to move us into a place of receiving. We are being guided to open our minds and hearts to whatever needs to flow our way.

Mercury stations direct on March 20, adding to the clarity we will be receiving. At this time we can finally see what was missed and experience insights. Previously hidden information may come to light and new guidance be revealed.

There is a lot of strong fiery Aries ram energy around this year’s Equinox, with several cosmic bodies in Aries on this day including the Sun, Chiron, Venus, Saturn, and Neptune. This lineup of fiery energy is going to make it quite a powerful time. When fiery energy is strong, we have passion, motivation, and momentum, helping us to manifest our highest goals and dreams, and to get things done! We also must be mindful of burnout and aware that heated, impulsive emotions may arise.

Welcome new inspiration, new ideas and perspectives. Shed all of the old, outworn thoughts, feelings, situations, and habits that are no longer serving your highest good. Take a deep breath and breathe out all that no longer supports you; then breathe energy into your highest vision of yourself.

Go outside on this day and surround yourself with the healing power of nature, meditate, journal, create intentional time around what you wish to manifest and what you wish to heal. The Universe will be on your side!

· Clear the clutter and cleanse your space

· Spend time in nature

· Get focused on what you wish to attract

· Set goals for the season and take action on those goals

· Start a new healthy habit/ end an unhealthy one

· Reorganize your schedule to align with your purpose

Solar and wind overtake fossil fuels in the EU for the first time

Even as the US under Trump is embracing fossil fuels more than ever, Europe is moving away from that dependency. Wind and solar generated more power than fossil fuels, accounting for a record 30% of EU electricity. In 19 EU countries, coal power is now at less than 5% of total electricity generation.

Sweden has been producing more power with solar and wind compared to fossil fuels since 2010. This milestone was achieved in Luxembourg in 2017, while Finland and Lithuania passed the tipping point in 2022. Portugal, Spain, Austria, France and Belgium all generated more power from wind and solar than fossil fuels in 2023, and Hungary and Germany did so in 2024.

Portugal got over 80% of its electricity in January from renewables

According to the Portuguese Association for Renewable Energies (APREN), a staggering 80.7% of the country’s electricity generated in January 2026 came from renewable energy.

It marks the best record in nine months, since Portugal suffered a mass blackout that triggered nationwide chaos, and bumps the country up to second in Europe overall. Non-EU Norway came first, with 96.3% renewable electricity production last month, while Denmark dropped to third place with 78.8%.

10 European countries pledge 9.5 billion euros for North Sea wind projects

These countries are committing to get off the “fossil fuel rollercoaster” by transforming the wind energy sector. Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK have signed the Hamburg Declaration — a groundbreaking commitment to deliver 100GW of joint offshore wind projects across shared North Sea waters by 2050. That’s enough to power around 143 million homes.

The €9.5 billion pact aims to turn the North Sea into the world’s “largest clean energy reservoir” and mobilize €1 trillion of capital in Europe. It is also expected to create more than 90,000 jobs and reduce power production costs by 30% in the next 15 years.

The Hamburg Declaration comes just days after President Trump dubbed countries investing in wind power as “losers”.

Sweden’s “flying ferry”

In late 2024, commuters in Stockholm gained a novel way to get across town: a “flying” electric ferry. This hydrofoil ferry slashes CO2 emissions by up to 94% compared to diesel ferries, according to a study. Operating between a suburb and central Stockholm, the ferry has cut travel times from 55 minutes to roughly 30 minutes.

The P-12 is the first computer-controlled electric hydrofoil ferry to enter serial production, according to manufacturer Candela.

Wing-like carbon fiber foils mounted beneath the hull generate lift as the boat gains speed, raising it above the water’s surface. By reducing contact with the water, drag drops dramatically — enabling higher speeds, smoother travel and significantly lower energy consumption. This allows high speed and a longer range on battery power alone. An onboard computer system constantly adjusts the angle of the foils in real time, using sensors to keep the vessel stable as it “flies” above the water.

The electric ferry also produces dramatically smaller wakes than conventional ferries, comparable to those of a dinghy with an outboard motor. Creating smaller waves not only means a faster, more comfortable ride, it also reduces shoreline erosion and environmental disturbance. Noise levels decrease, too — sound measurements showed the ferry to be as quiet as a car travelling at 30 mph.

Thanks to its minimal wake, the current electric ferry is allowed to operate under a speed exemption on Stockholm’s waterways. This means it can take advantage of its capabilities with a roughly 25 knot service speed — far greater than the ordinary 12‑knot limit.

An “Uber on rails”

France has thousands of kilometres of disused railway tracks which are too costly to renovate for heavy, modern trains. But one startup has devised an alternative solution to put them back into use. Instead of relaunching trains, the project by engineering firm SICEF will see hybrid vans called Ferromobiles using the lines.

Currently, many rural areas are without public transport connections. SICEF’s solution to reactivating these lines is to launch vehicles adapted from a Peugeot e-Traveller and fitted with a technical system allowing them to switch smoothly from road to rail. The Ferromobiles will begin trials soon on a line in France’s Auvergne region.

The Ferromobiles have been designed to carry a maximum of eight people. The fleet will have the flexibility to operate on a fixed schedule with reduced waiting times, or be booked on demand 24/7 using your phone, “like an Uber ride,” the company says. There will be hubs along railway tracks where passengers can board. The vehicles operate in automatic mode on rails, while a driver takes the wheel on the road.

The underground solution

An invisible key to tackling the climate crisis is emerging: fungi! Evolutionary biologist Dr. Toby Kiers of Amsterdam was named the winner of the 2026 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for her discoveries. Kiers’ work emphasizes that underground ecosystems, which store roughly 75% of terrestrial carbon, are critical for environmental restoration. Dr. Kiers is cofounder of SPUN (Society for the Protection of Underground Networks), which aims to map and protect vast, carbon-storing underground fungal networks. She investigates how plants and fungi trade nutrients, often using high-resolution imaging to study “underground economics”.

“These networks move massive amounts of nutrients and carbon,” Dr. Kiers explains. “They are responsible for drawing down 13 billion tons of CO2 into soil systems every year — that’s a third of emissions from fossil fuels.”

Mycorrhizal fungi, found in soil, act as one of Earth’s circulatory systems — forming a symbiotic partnership with plant roots to create a vast underground network. These fungi also provide nutrients to plants, increase heavy metal tolerance, increase water uptake and make “bigger, sweeter” flowers that support pollinator populations. “Fungal networks served as plant root systems for tens of millions of years until plants evolved their own roots,” Dr. Kiers adds.

Microplastics Filtration

Scientists have developed technology capable of removing 90% of microplastics from seawater.

Key Technologies and Methods

• Membrane Filtration: Ultrafiltration and nanofiltration (pore sizes 0.001–0.1 microns) are highly effective at capturing microplastics and some nanoplastics.
• Adsorption and Granular Filters: Activated carbon, sand, and granular materials are used to physically trap and adsorb microplastics.
• Advanced Materials (Bio-inspired): Novel filters, such as those made from hydrophobic silicone, mimic plant roots to attract and trap particles. These can be self-cleaning and reusable.
• Flotation Techniques: Advanced nanobubble flotation and chitosan-based air flotation can achieve high removal rates (up to 96.7%) by enhancing particle attachment.
• Ship-based Collection: Specialized filtration systems installed on ships allow for the collection of microplastics while sailing, often integrated with ballast water treatment.

Ocean plastic: A problem too big to solve? Or a problem too big NOT to solve?

Boyan Slat is the Dutch inventor and entrepreneur who founded The Ocean Cleanup in 2013 at age 18. Motivated by seeing more plastic than fish while diving in Greece at 16, he developed, and now leads, large-scale technology-driven systems to remove plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and intercept waste in rivers. Born in 1994, Slat is a former aerospace engineering student who presented his (at the time) controversial idea at a TEDx conference in 2012.

• Mission: To rid the world’s oceans of plastic, with a goal to remove 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040.
• Methodology: Passive, floating, U-shaped barriers designed to concentrate plastic, as well as solar-powered “Interceptors” in rivers to stop waste before it reaches the ocean.
• Results: As of 2025, the organization has removed over 21 million kilograms of trash from rivers and oceans.
• Recognition: He has received international recognition, including the UN’s Champion of the Earth award in 2014

Boyan started looking into ocean plastic pollution and possible technological solutions to clean it up, dedicating a school project to developing his idea further. He presented his ideas at a TEDx Conference in late 2012.

Armed with only €300 of saved-up pocket money, Boyan dropped out of his Aerospace Engineering degree at Delft University of Technology and started detailing his plan, but initially struggled to make progress. However, this all changed a few months later when Boyan’s TEDx presentation was picked up and publicized by various news blogs — pushing the video around the world and causing the idea to go viral. This momentum allowed Boyan to assemble an initial team of volunteers and launch a crowdfunding campaign that funded a year-long feasibility study — the first real step in bringing Boyan’s technological solutions to life. Thus The Ocean Cleanup was born.

In the following years, Boyan led the organization through the initial scientific work, testing and concept iterations leading to successfully achieving Proof of Technology in 2021 for both river interception and cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Today, The Ocean Cleanup is actively cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and has deployed Interceptors in some of the world’s most polluting rivers to prevent plastic reaching the ocean in the first place. To see their progress, visit the Impact Dashboard.

“When people say something is impossible, the sheer absoluteness of that statement should be a motivation to investigate further.” -Boyan Slat

The Ocean Cleanup’s headquarters are in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with over 120 employees from more than 30 countries. In the role of CEO, Boyan focuses on strategy and relationships with key partners as well as leading the crew. He continues to be deeply involved in the organization’s scientific and technological work, and has co-authored around a dozen scientific papers and multiple patents. To read more: TheOceanCleanup.com.

Looking upstream

After learning that just 1% of the world’s rivers contribute 80% of the plastic trash clogging the coastlines, Boyan understood the importance of preventing that trash from reaching the sea. That meant 1000 rivers were high priority. He created multiple varieties of “Interceptors” for the mouths of rivers to essentially strain the floating plastic out. “No two rivers are alike,” he says. A lot is plastic from single-use beverage and food containers. Many partners for disposal and recycling/reprocessing of the trash have been necessary.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

And yet, the majority of the plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not from rivers; 80% is from fishing nets and other abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear. The Garbage Patch contains over 110,000 tons of plastic (equal to 740 Boeing 777s); it’s located 1500 miles from civilization, about halfway between Hawaii and California. Two boats tow a net very slowly (allowing fish to escape and swim underneath), through hotspots of high plastic density, guiding the plastic into a large net bag. After 3–4 days, the bag is filled and dumped onto the floor of one boat, where it is sorted and data on its origin is collected. The bag is then replaced to collect more. Each excursion involves 7 weeks at sea.

The Ocean Cleanup pulled out 3,385,000 kilograms of trash in 2025. They determined that the majority comes not from underdeveloped countries, but from industrialized, large economies: Japan, China, Korea, and the US. 48% of that plastic fishing gear is related to trawling, the most destructive form of fishing; it tears up the entire ocean floor in order to catch bottom dwelling desired shellfish like shrimp, and tossing the rest of the dead plants and creatures overboard as “bycatch.” This has been legal, in some areas, and illegal trawlers are difficult to catch. To solve this huge problem involving the global fishing economy will take much collaboration.

Planet Wild

Another organization working to clean up plastic pollution in the rivers and oceans is Planet Wild, which supports a company called Plastic Fischer. They built an interceptor trash fence to stop the Guatemala “plastic tsunami” in the Rio Matagua Basin. And in India, their floating barrier caught 10,000 kilograms of trash a month in just one river. Excavators lift out the plastic; 10% is recycled, while the rest is processed to derive energy. Of course, the world needs to stop producing so much plastic, and prevent the destructive dumping of trash into rivers in the first place.

Art conquers sea-floor destruction

In the Mediterranean ocean, now the most overfished area of the world, much of the sea floor has been destroyed. Although trawling is illegal, it is still a plague; where for 100,000 years, Posidonia Seagrass has been sucking up CO2 while providing food and a nursery for fish and marine animals, it is now mostly gone. Trawling releases over 370 million tons of CO2 per year.

Since it’s difficult to regulate this harmful practice, Planet Wild funded a solution: the ingenious idea of one visionary Italian small fisherman was to commission giant marble sculptures to be placed strategically on the floor of the Mediterranean near Talamone, such that trawlers would tear their nets on them and thus keep out of the area. It is now becoming a beautiful area for regrowth of seagrass and marine creatures, and attracts divers who appreciate art and nature. Further out, large concrete blocks with holes and openings provide safe habitat for many species and protect even more of the ocean floor from trawling.