It started off innocently enough--I just wanted a low-maintenance hobby.

What came of it was intense design plans on graph paper, hours of tilling our rock-hard dirt in the back yard, the purchase of several 2x6 boards, screwing them together with corner joints, and hauling in two truckloads of topsoil--sweating profusely in the process and wishing more than once that I was in front of the television with a cold beer.

But you know what? It was worth it.

My wife and I started a raised vegetable garden this year, in part because of the desire to cut grocery costs, in part to positively impact the environment but initially because I wanted something rewarding to occupy my free time. Something that shows daily progress.

Vegetable gardens are the Earth-friendly, cost-friendly craze of 2009. Gardens are popping up everywhere, with all kind of vegetables from tomatoes to carrots to jalepeno peppers being planted.

As this article points out, eating local food is a statement that you're not interested in contributing to the carbon emissions that transporting food requires. And you can't get much more local than your own yard.

With the cold weather behind us for a while (we hope), now's the time for most of the country to get planting if you haven't already. Here in California, we were able to plant weeks ago. Along with three tomato plants, we planted broccoli, strawberries, potatoes, green onions, chives and various herbs. We've also had a couple of plants fizzle out almost immediately. Oh well. We're rookies. We'll figure it out soon enough.

There are lots of little things to remember, which this article in Newsday touches on in good detail. Some things won't work (like our zucchini) but like anything, you get better the more experience you pick up.

Soon enough, when you eat your first home-grown tomato or bell pepper, you'll realize just how awesome a vegetable garden is--to both you and the planet.

!http://community.active.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/38-10916-6326/turbines.jpg|style=float:right; padding:0 0 .8em .8em;|src=http://community.active.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/38-10916-6326/turbines.jpg!On November 4th, citizens of California will have the opportunity to vote on a radical clean energy initiative.  At a glance, the proposition appears idealistic: by the year 2025, California power plants are to be generating 50% of their power from renewable resources (wind, solar, geothermal, etc).  Supporters explain that by voting this bill into law, California would become a world leader in the production and use of clean energy.

Opponents say the bill is so poorly written that current pitfalls in California's renewable energy policies will remain locked in place and will hamper the creation of new, clean power plants. They also speculate that current power plants that produce less than 30 megawatts would be excluded from the tally and would likely go out of business. Also notable is the projected 10% increase in energy costs, though this point has been sharply contested by the supporters of Prop 7.

It seems that both sides are adamant that the other is providing false information to the public, and both have had fervent rebuttals to each others claims.

I myself am very conflicted with this bill. While I am eager to see progress in the energy arena, I'm not sure this bill will be California's "Clean Energy Panacea". With both sides calling foul on the other (and without reading the wordy 62-page text of this bill), I sit here scratching my head deciding which way to vote.

Whether you live in California or not, you'll want to keep your eye on this battle come November 4th.

For more information on this bill, visit the California Voter's Guide: Voter's Guide - CA Proposition 7

Let's get this thing started!

So we all think it's good to go green and become more environmentally conscious, right? But how can we improve if we don't know what we're doing wrong?

I think the first step is finding out your impact.  According to http://www.climatecrisis.net, the average person produces 7.5 tons of carbon dioxide each year.

Use this carbon calculator to estimate how much do you produce.

I produce roughly 6.3 tons per year, which is smaller than average. But there's still work to do. None of my electricity comes from clean, renewable sources such as solar and wind.

How about you??