Good Dirt Radio http://www.gooddirtradio.org/ Digging up good news... for a change Good Dirt Radio reports inspiring stories about people helping to solve environmental challenges affecting life on Earth. We share positive environmental ideas and actions that individuals, businesses, institutions or communities can embrace. Good Dirt Radio reports inspiring stories about people helping to solve environmental challenges affecting life on Earth. We share positive environmental ideas and actions that individuals, businesses, institutions or communities can embrace. Public Radio en-us 2005 Good Dirt Radio mail@gooddirtradio.org Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:30:00 PDT Good Dirt Radio mail@gooddirtradio.org http://www.gooddirtradio.org/podcast/gdr.jpg http://www.gooddirtradio.org/ Good Dirt Radio The numbers are in. Conservation of energy is proving to be the lowest fruit on the eco-tree. With costs soaring, it makes sense to save energy because many simple conservation efforts can pay for themselves in a short time... and can reduce climate changing emissions. Tune in to find out about one man's innovative plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The numbers are in. Conservation of energy is proving to be the lowest fruit on the eco-tree. With costs soaring, it makes sense to save energy because many simple conservation efforts can pay for themselves in a short time... and can reduce climate changing emissions. Tune in to find out about one man's innovative plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/half_plan.mp3.mp3 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Only 30 years ago, Americans still threw trash out of car windows. Although we've learned to manage some of our waste, we still throw trash into landfills in unprecedented amounts. Trash that's made of valuable raw materials, that takes considerable energy to produce. One might ask why we throw it away? Tune in to hear about how reusing construction materials is an accelerating trend against the high cost of virgin resources. Only 30 years ago, Americans still threw trash out of car windows. Although we've learned to manage some of our waste, we still throw trash into landfills in unprecedented amounts. Trash that's made of valuable raw materials, that takes considerable energy to produce. One might ask why we throw it away? Tune in to hear about how reusing construction materials is an accelerating trend against the high cost of virgin resources. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/construction _recycling.mp3.mp3 Wed, 28 May 2008 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Have you ever taken a look around the town or city where you live and seen a few things you'd like to change? Maybe you'd create a more compact, walkable downtown; or you might want to get rid of that ugly power plant and its spewing smokestacks on the edge of town. Maybe you'd like to completely start over from the ground up. That's actually what's happening right now in the small town of Greensburg in southern Kansas. After the town of fifteen hundred was destroyed by a tornado, they decided to start over, and this time, they're 'going green.' Tune in to hear the details. Have you ever taken a look around the town or city where you live and seen a few things you'd like to change? Maybe you'd create a more compact, walkable downtown; or you might want to get rid of that ugly power plant and its spewing smokestacks on the edge of town. Maybe you'd like to completely start over from the ground up. That's actually what's happening right now in the small town of Greensburg in southern Kansas. After the town of fifteen hundred was destroyed by a tornado, they decided to start over, and this time, they're 'going green.' Tune in to hear the details. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/greensburg_ks.mp3 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Chances are, most of us don't know just how much power our appliances, electronics and other devices are consuming when they're turned off. This hidden hum of wasted energy is known as 'phantom load.' The Department of Energy estimates that the proliferation of devices with stand-by power gobbles up some 40% of the energy consumed by home electronics. This wasted power equals the annual output of 17 power plants or about six per cent of America's total residential electricity consumption. Join us to find out how to detect and eliminate phantom electrical loads. Chances are, most of us don't know just how much power our appliances, electronics and other devices are consuming when they're turned off. This hidden hum of wasted energy is known as 'phantom load.' The Department of Energy estimates that the proliferation of devices with stand-by power gobbles up some 40% of the energy consumed by home electronics. This wasted power equals the annual output of 17 power plants or about six per cent of America's total residential electricity consumption. Join us to find out how to detect and eliminate phantom electrical loads. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/phantom_loads.mp3 Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio No one expected that Blog Action Day would reach fourteen-and-an-half million readers. No one except the bloggers themselves, that is. Join us to learn how the web log has impacted traditional media news reporting and how bloggers see themselves within their Web communities. No one expected that Blog Action Day would reach fourteen-and-an-half million readers. No one except the bloggers themselves, that is. Join us to learn how the web log has impacted traditional media news reporting and how bloggers see themselves within their Web communities. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/green_blogs.mp3 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio While large corporate agri-business often fails to provide clean, healthy food for consumers, an alternate food economy is sprouting up, around the country. A resurgence of age-old Farmers Markets is providing jobs and locally produced, wholesome foods, all while using less energy. Tune in to find out more about these local markets and how their commerce can reduce climate change. While large corporate agri-business often fails to provide clean, healthy food for consumers, an alternate food economy is sprouting up, around the country. A resurgence of age-old Farmers Markets is providing jobs and locally produced, wholesome foods, all while using less energy. Tune in to find out more about these local markets and how their commerce can reduce climate change. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/farmers_markets.mp3 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Well aware of the major impact on climate change caused by, buildings and their energy needs, real estate brokers are learning how to get smarter with the use of sustainable choices, in construction, energy conservation and plain common sense. One man, in Evergreen, CO saw the need for real change in housing and real estate and decided to take action. Join us to find out how Eco Brokers are helping people make smarter housing choices. Well aware of the major impact on climate change caused by, buildings and their energy needs, real estate brokers are learning how to get smarter with the use of sustainable choices, in construction, energy conservation and plain common sense. One man, in Evergreen, CO saw the need for real change in housing and real estate and decided to take action. Join us to find out how Eco Brokers are helping people make smarter housing choices. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/eco_brokers.mp3 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Weddings are exciting, overwhelming and often expensive. But choosing to go green can give focus to the event, become a personal statement and avoid big ecological impacts. It just takes a little planning. Listen in to hear about people are taking positive action, with weddings, for a change. Weddings are exciting, overwhelming and often expensive. But choosing to go green can give focus to the event, become a personal statement and avoid big ecological impacts. It just takes a little planning. Listen in to hear about people are taking positive action, with weddings, for a change. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/green_weddings.mp3 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Wilderness advocacy comes in all shapes and sizes but the voice of elder Americans had been faint in the debate over wild lands for many years. Then, in 1989, five elder women, inspired by hiking in the Escalante Canyons of Utah, decided it was high time that elders enhanced that discussion. Tune in to find out why The Great Old Broads for Wilderness was formed and what their goals are. Wilderness advocacy comes in all shapes and sizes but the voice of elder Americans had been faint in the debate over wild lands for many years. Then, in 1989, five elder women, inspired by hiking in the Escalante Canyons of Utah, decided it was high time that elders enhanced that discussion. Tune in to find out why The Great Old Broads for Wilderness was formed and what their goals are. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/great_old_broads.mp3 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio In years past, renewable energy was used mainly by 'off '-the-grid' folks and a few forward thinkers... with money. But thanks to improved technologies, lower prices and the abundance of positive media spreading information about these proven options, an unprecedented surge of awareness and positive action, with conservation, energy use and production, is occurring in America. Listen in to find out what solar magazine publishers have to say about the increasing awareness about renewable energy in America. In years past, renewable energy was used mainly by 'off '-the-grid' folks and a few forward thinkers... with money. But thanks to improved technologies, lower prices and the abundance of positive media spreading information about these proven options, an unprecedented surge of awareness and positive action, with conservation, energy use and production, is occurring in America. Listen in to find out what solar magazine publishers have to say about the increasing awareness about renewable energy in America. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/re_trends.mp3 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Knowing that the U.S. is responsible for twenty-five percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and faced with the profound importance of the issue, Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle, and ten other mayors, decided to take action. They challenged mayors in communities across the U.S. to join Seattle in creating positive solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by signing on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Join us to find out how this event is creating change...from the bottom, up. Knowing that the U.S. is responsible for twenty-five percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and faced with the profound importance of the issue, Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle, and ten other mayors, decided to take action. They challenged mayors in communities across the U.S. to join Seattle in creating positive solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by signing on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Join us to find out how this event is creating change...from the bottom, up. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/mayors_kyoto.mp3 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Despite generations of unhealthy domestic products flooding our super markets and toxifying our homes, consumers are learning to re-create healthy homes with safer products and common sense. From personal care and cleaning products to building materials and energy, new markets are flourishing, providing clean alternatives with minimal or no toxic side affects to people, pets or the environment. While local and national media spread information about the importance of clean living space, individuals and organizations from coast to coast are offering healthy alternatives to consumers, creating sustainable and profitable business. Join us to find out more about the importance of making a healthy home. Despite generations of unhealthy domestic products flooding our super markets and toxifying our homes, consumers are learning to re-create healthy homes with safer products and common sense. From personal care and cleaning products to building materials and energy, new markets are flourishing, providing clean alternatives with minimal or no toxic side affects to people, pets or the environment. While local and national media spread information about the importance of clean living space, individuals and organizations from coast to coast are offering healthy alternatives to consumers, creating sustainable and profitable business. Join us to find out more about the importance of making a healthy home. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/healthy_homes.mp3 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio As the availability of petroleum declines and alternate sources of energy are in higher demand, coal is regaining market share, since America has abundant reserves. Although the effects of mining coal continue to be problematic, the gasification of coal is getting new attention. Rather than burning the coal, this improved process converts it to a clean burning gas or liquid fuel that can be easily transported and has other potential advantages. A new gasification technology can now convert a variety of waste products, including municipal trash, agricultural by-products and industrial waste into useable forms of fuel. This process can also reduce future landfill contamination problems while creating relatively clean energy. Join us to find out more about this new technology. As the availability of petroleum declines and alternate sources of energy are in higher demand, coal is regaining market share, since America has abundant reserves. Although the effects of mining coal continue to be problematic, the gasification of coal is getting new attention. Rather than burning the coal, this improved process converts it to a clean burning gas or liquid fuel that can be easily transported and has other potential advantages. A new gasification technology can now convert a variety of waste products, including municipal trash, agricultural by-products and industrial waste into useable forms of fuel. This process can also reduce future landfill contamination problems while creating relatively clean energy. Join us to find out more about this new technology. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/gasification.mp3.mp3 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio International Free Trade policies have skewed global markets toward advantage for a few while often forcing hardship and injustice on the environment, families and producers. Fair Trade, begun in 1937 as Alternate Trade, tackles these issues head on. Tune in to find out why a large and growing number of individuals, businesses and cooperatives are committed to the doctrines of Fair Trade, which place a high priority on human rights, environmental and economic sustainability and encourage partnerships between producers and marketers. International Free Trade policies have skewed global markets toward advantage for a few while often forcing hardship and injustice on the environment, families and producers. Fair Trade, begun in 1937 as Alternate Trade, tackles these issues head on. Tune in to find out why a large and growing number of individuals, businesses and cooperatives are committed to the doctrines of Fair Trade, which place a high priority on human rights, environmental and economic sustainability and encourage partnerships between producers and marketers. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/fair_trade.mp3 Wed, 30 May 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio The job of preserving our environment for future generations is being taken on more and more by the young leaders of those very generations. An increasing number of teens are involved with service learning organizations, like Earth Force, that give youth an opportunity to play an active role in building environmental awareness and creating positive change. Tune in to hear about service learning organizations like Front Range Earth Force that give youth an opportunity to play an active role in building environmental awareness and creating positive change. The job of preserving our environment for future generations is being taken on more and more by the young leaders of those very generations. An increasing number of teens are involved with service learning organizations, like Earth Force, that give youth an opportunity to play an active role in building environmental awareness and creating positive change. Tune in to hear about service learning organizations like Front Range Earth Force that give youth an opportunity to play an active role in building environmental awareness and creating positive change. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/earthforce.mp3 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions have become prominent topics... although still abstract concepts for many. But how can we know how much pollution we're adding individually to global warming in our daily lives? And what can we do about it? Tune in to hear about individuals and companies taking responsibility for their contributions to the problem through 'carbon offsets' and 'renewable energy credits.' Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions have become prominent topics... although still abstract concepts for many. But how can we know how much pollution we're adding individually to global warming in our daily lives? And what can we do about it? Tune in to hear about individuals and companies taking responsibility for their contributions to the problem through 'carbon offsets' and 'renewable energy credits.' http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/carbon_offsets.mp3 Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio In recent years, bio-diesel has been promoted as an up and coming alternative, cleaner, greener fuel. Until now, it's been produced from crops such as soy, canola and even palm oil. But in Fort Collins, Colorado, a team of scientists and entrepreneurs is working on a new way to make biodiesel - from algae grown in a controlled environment. Tune in to find out how this new technology can make a difference with providing clean fuel and reducing global warming. In recent years, bio-diesel has been promoted as an up and coming alternative, cleaner, greener fuel. Until now, it's been produced from crops such as soy, canola and even palm oil. But in Fort Collins, Colorado, a team of scientists and entrepreneurs is working on a new way to make biodiesel - from algae grown in a controlled environment. Tune in to find out how this new technology can make a difference with providing clean fuel and reducing global warming. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/algae_biodiesel.mp3 Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio When it comes to resource efficiency, even in death, we have choices that can affect a sustainable future. Consider the conventional burial, American style, which annually requires 30 million board feet of lumber, over a hundred thousand tons of steel and some 828,000 gallons of embalming fluid. Over the past decade there's been renewed interest in "eco-cemeteries", where people and pets, through respectful, natural burials, are again becoming part of the landscape. And they're helping preserve land in the process. Join us to find out more about the benefits offered by green cemeteries. When it comes to resource efficiency, even in death, we have choices that can affect a sustainable future. Consider the conventional burial, American style, which annually requires 30 million board feet of lumber, over a hundred thousand tons of steel and some 828,000 gallons of embalming fluid. Over the past decade there's been renewed interest in "eco-cemeteries", where people and pets, through respectful, natural burials, are again becoming part of the landscape. And they're helping preserve land in the process. Join us to find out more about the benefits offered by green cemeteries. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/green_cemeteries.mp3 Wed, 31 Jan 2007 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Like veins carrying lifeblood through the landscape, rivers are always in motion, absorbing the contents of everything that touches them along the way. Water quality in our rivers can tell us a lot about the health of the systems they support. And as many citizens have realized, pollution doesn't stay in one place. Join us to find out how river-keepers across America are helping clean up polluted rivers. Like veins carrying lifeblood through the landscape, rivers are always in motion, absorbing the contents of everything that touches them along the way. Water quality in our rivers can tell us a lot about the health of the systems they support. And as many citizens have realized, pollution doesn't stay in one place. Join us to find out how river-keepers across America are helping clean up polluted rivers. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/riverkeepers.mp3 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00 Good Dirt Radio Around the globe, there are many polluted oceans. But Mexico's Sea of Cortez may be one exception. Pristine waters help some locals find hope while becoming educated about conserving their environment. Begun in 1988, the the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve is funded by the Mexican government, Unesco and private foundations. The largest of its kind in Latin America, it covers over 6 million acres of land and water and has 450 kilometers of shoreline on the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean. The staff teaches locals how to manage and conserve fisheries, the gray whale population, land animals and ancient cave paintings. Tune in to find out more about Baja and Sea of Cortez ecology. Around the globe, there are many polluted oceans. But Mexico's Sea of Cortez may be one exception. Pristine waters help some locals find hope while becoming educated about conserving their environment. Begun in 1988, the the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve is funded by the Mexican government, Unesco and private foundations. The largest of its kind in Latin America, it covers over 6 million acres of land and water and has 450 kilometers of shoreline on the Sea of Cortez and Pacific Ocean. The staff teaches locals how to manage and conserve fisheries, the gray whale population, land animals and ancient cave paintings. Tune in to find out more about Baja and Sea of Cortez ecology. http://www.gooddirtradio.org/story_archives/audio/mex_ecoefforts.mp3 Thu, 16 Nov 2006 15:30:00 PDT no 5:00