December 17, 2009: “On the First Day of Christmas” The Courthouse Will Receive A New Heat Source!

The Recovery Act was intended to jump-start demand in the US economy and create American jobs. An innovative feature of the act was its attention to investment in clean energy projects. But if the country wants to return to pre-recession employment levels, it needs to add 127,000 jobs per month to keep up with population growth. The Seattle area has seen some green job creation, but not enough to dig itself out of the hole and also prepare for climate change.

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December 10, 2009: Blue Marble Energy – Undoing the House that Oil Built

The modern world lives in the house that oil built. Everything around us comes from petroleum. Over 96% of all consumer products, from liquid fuels to plastics, paints, clothes and food are derived from petrochemicals or require oil for their production. Aware of this dependence, Seattle based Blue Marble Energy set out to find a sustainable alternative. Martha Baskin has our story.

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December 3, 2009: Theo Chocolate, The Fair Trade Food of the Gods

When the WTO came to Seattle ten years ago to negotiate a new trade agreement, they were stuck on a model of trade without labor, environmental or domestic protection standards. The model is called "free trade”. The notion of fair trade was not understood. Today companies that promote fair trade are seeing tremendous growth. Green Acre Radio takes us on a tour of a local fair trade company, Theo Chocolate.

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November 19, 2009: Eat Local for Thanksgiving

Tune into Green Acre Radio this week and take the pledge to eat local for Thanksgiving. Fuel the farms that grow the harvest.

Farmers and ‘foodies’, merchants and produce managers from around the state are gathered at the annual Tilth Producers Conference in Yakima. They’re sharing tips on how to increase sales, grow organic table grapes and hops, why it’s important to integrate livestock with crops, and how to make hay in 4 days or less. They're also promoting "Eat Local for Thanksgiving". Something which isn't hard to do in Washington in November. Tune into Green Acre Radio this week and take the pledge to eat local for Thanksgiving. Fuel the farms that grow the harvest.

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November 12, 2009: Green Jobs For Those Who Really Need Them

This week Green Acre Radio gives us a story about the area's first green jobs training program. 19 newly skilled weatherization workers were trained by Laborers Local 242. The program is part of the movement to unite green jobs and clean energy with social justice. The City of Seattle's new hiring requirements will allow the graduates -- most of whom are from low income or disadvantaged backgrounds to begin retrofitting Seattle homes as soon as December 1st.

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November 12, 2009: Green Jobs

This week Green Acre Radio gives us a story about the area's first green jobs training program. 19 newly skilled weatherization workers were trained by Laborers Local 242. The program is part of the movement to unite green jobs and clean energy with social justice. The City of Seattle's new hiring requirements will allow the graduates -- most of whom are from low income or disadvantaged backgrounds to begin retrofitting Seattle homes as soon as December 1st.

Tune in to KBCS or check back later to hear the story!

November 6, 2009: Shadow Lake Bog

This week Green Acre Radio brings you to a unique bog and wetland in south King County. Shadow Lake is known as the "eye" of the bog, a type of wetland dominated by acid-loving mosses. It's one of only 3% left in the county and a place like no other. A bog's most important function is absorbing water, which prevents flooding and recharges the groundwater supply. Hear from those restoring this unique habitat including foresters, entomologists and Earth Corps volunteers.

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SHADOW (Save Habitat and Diversity of Wetlands): www.shadowhabitat.org

October 30, 2009: International Day of Climate Action

This week Martha Baskin brings us a first hand report from Seattle's participation in the "350 International Day of Climate Action," held October 24th at the Seattle Center. Voices include the Sierra Club, Councilmember Richard Conlin, Rep. Jim McDermott, Cool Moms, the Moontown Foundation and Rev. Robert Jefferies with New Hope Baptist Church. The report also features Mark Hertsgaard, The Nation's environmental correspondent, who summarizes the full scientific implications and horrifically dangerous situation humanity has created for itself.

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October 23, 2009: Duwamish Alive!

80% of Puget Sound's living inhabitants (human, mammal and other living organisms) live within two miles of the Duwamish River. The Duwamish was declared an estuary of national significance ten years ago when the EPA also declared it a Superfund Site. Restoring this once mighty river to health in the face of industrial and big city assault is the subject of this week's story. We hear from volunteers, People for Puget Sound, the Duwamish Clean Up Coalition, Puget Sound Keeper Alliance and Ecos, the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle.

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October 16, 2009: Genetically Modified Foods, (Pesticides Included) & The Non-GMO Project

Martha Baskin looks into the labeling (or lack thereof) of foods containing GMOs.

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October 9, 2009: Coming Soon: A Coal Free Northwest With New Demand Met by Efficiency and Renewables

Could the Northwest be the first in the nation to go “coal free”? If you’re looking for the answer from a coalition of environmental, union, utility and business groups, the answer is yes. Kick coal out and replace it with energy efficiency and clean renewable sources. Build a smart grid to deliver the clean resources and in the process create more jobs. Green Acre Radio’s Martha Baskin has our story.

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October 2, 2009: Public Sector & Historical Building Retrofits - – Green Bldg Part III

Today we continue our series on green building with a look at public sector buildings and the growth in green retrofits of historical buildings.

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September 25, 2009: Energy Efficient, Sustainably Built Micro-Communities – Green Bldg Part II

Today we continue the green building tour begun last week with an inside look at a variety of energy saving and environmentally sound strategies in home building.

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September 18, 2009: Energy Efficiency 101 = Weatherization!

Ecofriendly strips of insulation and caulking the outside seams of a house don't often come to mind when reducing your carbon footprint, but for the homeowners we'll meet in Part I of this series, improving their homes' energy efficiency by weatherizing is the low-hanging fruit of green activity.

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Starting Friday, September 18: 3-part series on green building

This week Martha Baskin is starting a 3 part series on green building. The series will look at both residential and commercial buildings.

Part I, which airs this week, is titled "Weatherization, Insulation, Sealing, Oh My!": Ecofriendly strips of insulation and caulking the outside seams of a house don't often come to mind when reducing your carbon footprint, but for the homeowners we'll meet in Part I of this series, improving their homes' energy efficiency by weatherizing is the low-hanging fruit of green activity.

September 11, 2009: Book Review of Thoreau’s Legacy : American Stories about Global Warming

Green Acre Radio begins the Fall season with a review of a new anthology, Thoreau’s Legacy: American Stories about Global Warming. A project of the Union of Concerned Scientists and Penguin Classics, the book is dedicated to the millions of Americans taking action to solve global warming. Martha Baskin has our review.

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August 13, 2009: Fees for Plastic Bags and $1.4M from the American Chemistry Council

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July 30, 2009: The Untold Environmental Crisis: Bees, Colony Collapse Disorder and the Food We Eat

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July 23, 2009: Living with Light Rail: Transit Oriented Development and Existing Communities

Martha Baskin takes a look at light rail, "transit oriented development" and real-life transit options in existing communities.

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July 16, 2009: Putting the Genie Back in the Bottle: Full Disclosure and Bottled Water

Bottled water has become an indispensable prop in our lives and culture. It starts the day in lunch boxes, goes to every meeting, lecture hall and soccer match. Thirty years ago it barely existed as a business. Last year we spent more on Poland Spring, Fiji Water, Evian, Aquafina and Dasani than we spent on iPods or movie tickets - $15 billion. But are the marketing claims of bottled water accurate? Green Acre Radio’s Martha Baskin lets the genie out of the bottle.

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July 2, 2009: Navigating Water Supply in an Age of Global Warming

This week Martha continues her series on water by looking at how climate change might affect its availability. In this public affairs segment we'll hear from Seattle Public Utilities, the county's Regional Water Policy Analyst and the UW Climate Impacts Group.

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June 25, 2009: Water Law & Growth: Tribes & Small Farms vs. Utilities & Developers

Green Acre Radio continues its series on water issues in the NW with a look at the politics of water allocation. Critics say water rights distribution by the Dept. of Ecology is unfair. They claim it allows cities to expand their pipes and pumps at the expense of those who already utilize water. Producer Martha Baskin talks to both sides of this highly contentious water issue.

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June 18, 2009: The Many Faces of the Cedar River Watershed