Calculating your water footprint
The California drought is dominating the news. Washington and Oregon have also declared drought emergencies. The list goes on. And the water situation is not likely to get better: “water …
Experiment in Irvine takes crops’ water use to a new low
In the Southern California community of Irvine, vital water research is taking place at a 200-acre University of California research center. Darren Haver, the director of UC’s South Coast Research …
Fruit growers try tricking Mother Nature
Producers in northern Michigan grow a variety of fruits, but tart cherries – sour cherries – are one of their biggest crops. Fickle spring weather has resulted in extreme temperatures …
Protests over “unconscionable” bottled water business in California
As tension over the drought increases in California, residents are mounting protests against bottled water companies. This follows revelations that Nestlé and other big companies are depleting mountain streams and …
Opinion: De-Californify the Nation’s Produce Supply
In the crush of recent articles about California’s drought, a number of op-eds featuring big ideas have appeared. Journalist Tom Philpott (@tomphilpott) – he writes for Mother Jones – has penned …
California orders mandatory water rationing
California Governor Jerry Brown took executive action on Wednesday, ordering the California Water Resources Control Board to implement mandatory water use restrictions across the state, with a 25% reduction identified. …
Marijuana cultivation is impacting California’s streams, environment
A new report confirms what many people already thought: marijuana cultivation in California’s North Coast is sucking streams dry and having serious impacts on the environment. Marijuana is a water-intensive …
Cool beans: they’re designed to beat climate change
The earth is warming. This will certainly require new food crops that can adapt to the changing climate and resource constraints. The latest hope centers on beans being grown in …
UN report: natural disasters taking a heavy toll on farmers in developing nations
A report released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveals that natural disasters are taking a heavy toll on poor farmers in developing nations. These farmers do …
As “rainy” season nears end, California faces 4th year of drought
As the official “rainy” season draws to an end, California is facing a fourth year of drought and seemingly endless troubles that are impacting all parts of the state. Last …