June 30, 2011: Nash's Organic Farm

If organic farms want to maintain their unique niche – over the past decade sales of organic produce have shown an annual increase of 20% - they’re going to have to train people to grow the food. The average age of both organic and conventional farmers is 57. Just 6% are under thirty-five. An organic farm on Washington State's Olympic Peninsula is trying to turn things around. For the last fifteen years Nash's Organic Farm has offered jobs to motivated young people interested in learning the art of organic farming. The next step will be offering shares of land to a promising new generation.

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June 23, 2011: Sampling for Toxic Contamination in Puget Sound's Muddy Bottom

Can muddy waters provide answers to understanding what toxic contamination is polluting Puget Sound waters? Marine scientists with the Department of Ecology hope so. The scientists are engaged in a multi-year study to collect sediment or mud from the bottom of urban bays. Sampling in Elliott Bay and Commencement Bay found most contaminants come from storm run off. Some like lead are on the wane, while others like phthlates, the key ingredient added to plastic to make it flexible, remain steady. Green Acre Radio joined ecologists in South Puget Sound’s Oakland Bay and has our report.

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June 9, 2011: Bicycle Tour of Rain Gardens: Special Gardens Made to Absorb Pollutants Before They Reach Local Waterways

A bike tour of rain gardens? Makes sense when you know these special gardens can absorb contaminated runoff. Vehicle runoff of oil and heavy metals is the Sound’s number one pollutant. Seattle Public Utility’s "Rainwise Program" and environmental organizations say more rain gardens are a big solution to controlling the flow of contaminants surging off urban surfaces every time it rains. Green Acre Radio’s Martha Baskin hopped on a bike and has this story.

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June 2, 2011: Interview w/ Edward Humes, author of Force of Nature, The Unlikely Story of Wal Mart’s Green Revolution

This week Walmart is the subject on Green Acre Radio. The largest retailer in the work, reviled by many for its take-no-prisoners approach to market domination, has become an improbable trailblazer in the burgeoning field of green business. Green Acre Radio interviews Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edward Humes about his just released book, Force of Nature, The Unlikely Story of Wal Mart’s Green Revolution.

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May 26, 2011: Multi-Ethnic Churches Move Together in Faith and Health With "Just Gardens"

The multi-ethnic churches call it "Moving Together in Faith and Health." Grow healthy food on site, educate about healthy living and change the health patterns of your congregation. Add a federal grant, an engaged School of Nursing and county health department and last, but not least, a non-profit called the "Just Garden Project" and you have all the ingredients you need for one of Seattle’s newest urban garden projects. Green Acre Radio takes us there in the final chapter of a four part series on growing food in the city.

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May 19, 2011: Job Training for Homeless and 'At Risk' Youth Growing Food in the City

Not to be left out of the urban farm movement, teens and youth are taking a chance. They're taking to it - well, like tomatoes that have finally found the sun. Seattle Youth Garden Works is a green jobs training farm-to-market program designed specifically for homeless and at risk youth. Martha Baskin takes us there in part three of a four part series on the burgeoning quest to grow food in the city.

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May 5, 2011: "Unpaving Paradise": Edible P-Patches Where Once a Parking Lot Grew

In this second of a three part series on farming in the city, Martha Baskin, takes us to "Unpaving Paradise." Words ring a bell? They’re a play on the opening lyrics from the Joni Mitchell song, "Big Yellow Taxi." In this case, "Unpaving Paradise" is the name of a p-patch chosen by community organizers on Capital Hill after they succeeded in building an urban garden where once there was a parking lot.

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