On the Ranch

I won’t even try to summarize this list – GRIST does a great job all on its own, so I’ll just list their top 5 here. See the link below for the entire list. They’ve also got a great RSS feed if you’re interested!

Cover the Waterfront – 15 green books you can actually read at the beach
by Michelle Niijhuis

So maybe you’ll finally have a chance to catch up on some reading this summer. But so many of those books about the environments seem kind of…well, homework-y. What’s a vacationing enviro to do? Turn to Grist for advice, of course! Here are 15 recent page-turners just perfect for stuffing in your beach hemp tote.

1.  The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring
Richard Preston, Random House, 2007

Think nature writing is boring? The Wild Trees is about as boring as a car chase. Master storyteller Richard Preston follows a motley group of professional and amateur botanists into the canopies of the tallest tree in the world, where they explore a sky-high ecosystem almost entirely unknown to humans. A great tale of science and adventure — and a love story to boot.

2.  Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living
Doug Fine, Villard, 2008

A breezy journal of Doug Fine’s attempts to live a low-carbon life in rural New Mexico, despite his lack of gardening and electrical skills. After a year of wrestling with weather, goats, and tax assessors on the Funky Butte Ranch, Fine concludes that “…the greatest impact we can have on crafting a sustainable future is not just by buying ‘green products,’ but rather by actively understanding that every part of life can and should be infused with carbon reduction.”

3.  The Zookeeper’s Wife: A War Story
Diane Ackerman, W.W. Norton, 2007 

During World War II, Antonia Zabinski, the wife of Polish zookeeper, rescued Resistance fighters and Jews by hiding them in her Warsaw villa — and in the empty zoo cages surrounding it. In this real-life historical drama, Diane Ackerman shows how Antonia’s love for the animal world inspired heroism, even as Nazi romanticism about nature led to grossly different acts.

4.  Winter Study
Nevada Barr, Putnam Adult, 2008

The 14th installment in Nevada Barr’s reliably entertaining National Park Service mystery series is one of her darkest and scariest yet. Winter Study takes our heroine, park ranger Anna Pigeon, to a wolf study at Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior, where she contends with all sorts of mayhem, from interagency rivalry to bitter cold to a canine — or human — with murderous intent.

5.  World Made By Hand
James Kunstler, Atlantic Monthly, 2008

An absorbing and disturbing novel about the near future. After a constellation of plagues — war, disease, declining oil supplies, climate change — fracture U.S. society into isolated outposts, former insurance salesmen and software executives are forced to grow their own food, build their own houses, and defend their communities against violence and fanaticism. As dark as Kunstler’s world gets, hints of rural romanticism keep the reader guessing.

Try our locally owned bookstore Sundance Bookstore for these and other environmental books.

Amazon.com, of course, has its own list Enviro Books. Take a look! Amazon.com/Environmental

–Stacey Crowley, Director of Master Planning and Environmental Initiatives – scrowley@kileyranch.net 

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Road improvements to Pyramid Highway are scheduled for this weekend. Kiley Ranch Communities is completing the roadway improvements to accommodate future traffic issues and increase safety on the Pyramid Highway in Spanish Springs.

Pyramid at Lazy 5, Friday, July 25, 9 p.m. to Monday, July 28, 5:30 a.m.
Traffic will be reduced to a single lane in each direction on Pyramid Highway beginning Friday, July 25 at 9 p.m. through Monday, July 28 at 5:30 a.m. for improvements. Activity will include construction of a trench to bring underground utilities across Pyramid at Lazy 5. In addition, Sierra Pacific Power Company will be installing a hot gas tab.

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(Reno, Nev.)—Today Ion Drive, a major new interconnection between Sparks Boulevard and Los Altos, opened to traffic. The interconnection provides direct access to Miguel Sepulveda Elementary School.

The interconnect, designed and paid for by Kiley Ranch Communities, is a safety measure that will provide a crosswalk and traffic light for students walking to the school.

Kiley Ranch Communities is completing the roadway improvements to accommodate future traffic issues and increase safety on the Pyramid Highway in Spanish Springs. Construction on the improvements began the first week in June and will continue throughout the summer months.

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It’s that time of year – when all I want to do is enjoy the long days and warm evenings in my backyard with friends. The work that goes into an enjoyable backyard gets full compensation for the time spent lounging in it. I’ve looked into some unique ways of making the backyard activities as green (and as fun) as possible. Here are a few:

1.  Why mow when you can peddlemow?

The alternative to the gas or electric powered mower has always been the hand mower, but recently creative individuals have turned their daily commute into a mowing machine.

2.  Solar Burger

We all know that the “charcoal briquettes with combustible lighter fluid” grilling method is somewhat passé and emits more carbon monoxide into the air. Now, with propane, electric and even solar powered grills, you can reduce your footprint and still enjoy an outdoor BBQ.

* Don’t forget that grilling leaner meats can reduce the carcinogens that get released from the fat when grilling at high temps.

3.  Repel naturally

Use DEET-free repellents and avoid the harmful chemical that has been linked to neurological problems in children. Although you may need to apply more frequently, natural bug repellents are safe, kid-safe, and a good habit to get into.

• While grilling, throw sage or rosemary on the rack to repel mosquitos.
• Try mixing one part garlic juice to five parts water in a small spray bottle. Shake well and spray lightly on exposed body parts for an effective repellent lasting up to six hours. Strips of cotton cloth can also be dipped in this mixture and hung in areas, such as patios, as a localized deterrent.

Try an herbal repellent, found in stores and online such as Burt’s Bees Herbal Insect Repellent.

When having friends and family over for backyard fun, think about how much waste can be accummulated from paper plates, napkins and plastic cups. Invest in cloth napkins, earth friendly, recyclable or washable plates, cups and silverware and limit the waste. Buy locally, recycle bottles and cans and compost what you can.

Cheers!
scrowley@kileyranch.net

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We are very excited to announce the first harvest of 2008 for the Kiley Ranch Garden! Last week, we were able to donate four large bags of Swiss Chard to the Food Bank in Northern Nevada just in time to take advantage of the huge cooler space in their brand new facility! Other crops that will be ready for harvest in upcoming weeks are beets, beans, cucumbers, squash, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, and corn…and once again we will have pumpkins available for food bank doantions in October. Check back for more details.

If you would like to get involved with the Kiley Ranch Food Bank Garden, feel free to email abarnes@kileyranch.net for more information.

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