May 24, 2013: A New Phenomenon: Diving for Spawning Herring in Elliot Bay

Once one of the most abundant fishes in coastal waters, many populations of Pacific herring, a cornerstone of the marine food web, have been on a downward spiral. A new population spawning in Elliot Bay may show the tide is turning. Marine ecologists are diving into near shore waters to determine their genetic identity. It’s not yet clear if the population will take up permanent residence.

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May 14, 2013: On the Edge: A Poverty-Wage Slam and Reality Check

As low-wage service jobs become the new normal for millions of families, more and more poverty-wage workers are rising up to demand good jobs and opportunities for a better future. At a recent "poverty-wage story slam" workers from retail, fast food, home care and other poverty-wage industries talked about living "on the edge."

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May 6, 2013: Hot and Hungry Planet: World Wildlife Fund Urges Humans to Make More With Less

On an increasingly crowded, hot and hungry planet, the earth’s capacity to meet population demand for natural resources is severely strained. The future of wildlife and biodiversity is at a tipping point. World Wildlife Fund Chief Scientist Jon Hoekstra says we need to make more with less. Green Acre Radio caught up with him before a Seattle talk, "Making More With Less: The Challenges of Living on a Finite Planet." Hosted by World Wildlife Fund Partners in Conservation, the talk will be held on Tuesday, May 7th at 6pm at the Palace Ballroom, 2100 5th Avenue. Call 888-495-4401 for information.

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April 26, 2013: A Window on Ocean Acidification and Phytoplankton, the Base of the Food Web

A row of space-age domes off the Washington coast may provide a peek at the future. Not the future of space travel but the effects of increasingly acidic oceans on phytoplankton, the base of the food web. Scientists and students at the University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs on San Juan Island are engaged in the nation’s first controlled-ocean research tool in coastal waters where co2 levels are almost double those in the atmosphere.

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April 18, 2013: 21 Acres of Farmland Holds Its Own in Wine Country

Can farm fresh creamy nettle soup compete in wine country? If 21 Acres Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living has its way, grapes won’t be the only local product getting a ‘value-added’ lift when its turned into wine and its value increases as much as five fold. But the completion is stiff. Woodinville wineries want land to build hotels for their customers. Those committed to growing the local farm movement - even stinging nettle - want land and infrastructure to nurture other Washington grown produce.

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April 5, 2013: A River for All? Environmental Justice and the Duwamish River Valley

Ever since Seattle’s only river was declared a Superfund site, the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition has advocated on behalf of the communities who live near it. In a new report, the Coalition and Just Health Action say the EPA, who is legally responsible for cleaning up the river also have an obligation to the communities whose lives have been impacted.

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March 27, 2013: Mason Bees to the Rescue: Gentle Pollinators Emerge to Solve Food Crisis

When gardeners talk about bees, the buzz is usually about honeybees. After all, honeybees pollinate fruit blossoms and produce sweet amber honey. But with colony collapse disorder decimating their numbers, gardeners are turning to an unsung heroine, the native mason bee. These gentle, solitary bees are pollinating powerhouses. One mason bee can do the pollinating work of 100 honeybees. A local mason-bee entrepreneur has taken note. All he needs are bee-raising partners to help increase their population and ensure the nation’s food supply.

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