The Green Grok Blogs on Food

Statistically Speaking: Mercury Rising? Why?

erica — 2009-10-21T14:25:12Z

A recent report [pdf] shows American power plants could slash their mercury emissions by more than half. That’s a lot of toxicity to let slip out of the smokestack.

Stop and Smell the Bubbly

erica — 2009-10-06T17:16:54Z

Enough of global warming and toxic waste. Today TheGreenGrok breaks out the champagne.

Warmer Climate May Depress Crop Yields

erica — 2009-09-22T17:45:33Z

Will corn and soybeans wilt as temperatures rise due to global warming?

Forget Mackerel. Holy Bass.

erica — 2009-09-16T21:08:33Z

The Clean Water Act is no longer keeping our water clean.

You Are What Your Farmed Fish Eat

erica — 2009-09-14T17:55:02Z

You can take the fish out of the ocean and raise them in a farm, but you don’t necessarily get the ocean’s protein from the farmed fish.

CO2 Fertilization May Be a Mixed Blessing

erica — 2009-09-01T21:17:22Z

They say “plants love CO2,” but we may not love what CO2 can do to plants.

Is There Enough Water to ‘Grow’ Ethanol?

erica — 2009-06-23T18:02:14Z

A recent study points out that when it comes to water usage, where your ethanol is brewed really matters.

Update: Ag Chair Introduces Bill to Bypass EPA on Renewable Fuels

erica — 2009-08-27T14:14:46Z

Last week Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) took his ”I don’t trust anyone anymore” paranoia one step further. He offered up a bill that would not just bypass the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed renewable fuels standard, but the agency itself.

Statistically Speaking: Diversity in Our Diet

erica — 2009-05-19T15:37:15Z

Because we’re rarely more than a short drive away from a drive-thru, Americans might not even be aware of the increasing trend toward monoculture in our managed ecosystems. (See related video.) It's a worrisome trend. Now here’s something else to nibble on: the loss of diversity in the plants we eat.

Weeds in the Garden: Spraying May Be Harmful to Your Health

erica — 2009-05-04T19:06:18Z

Throughout much of the U.S. of A., spring has sprung. Here in North Carolina, lawns are lush and verdant and blooms are everywhere. But with the good stuff comes those pesky weeds. What’s a gardener to do?

Is a Free-Range Pig a Good Pig?

erica — 2009-04-23T20:13:44Z

A free-range pig is happier than a confined pig. Perhaps. But is a free-range pig safe to eat?

Grok Image: Getting in Touch With Your Roots

erica — 2009-04-13T18:04:11Z

Like many other Americans I was sitting at a table last week eating horseradish to remind me of the bitterness of slavery. My horseradish came out of a jar. But I began to wonder, what does the stuff actually look like?

Statistically Speaking: How Much Exxon Valdez Oil Remains?

erica — 2009-08-27T14:16:39Z

Oil from the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill continues to threaten wildlife and fish in the Prince William Sound ecosystem (see our post from Wednesday). But how much oil is left?

Corn Ethanol or Conservation? What Do You Think?

erica — 2009-03-31T17:38:51Z

Update: Thinner Shells Put Ocean on Thin Ice

erica — 2009-03-31T18:15:30Z

Some argue that more carbon dioxide is a “good thing.” I guess they just can’t get their minds around the whole climate change thing. OK, but what about ocean acidification? If you like seafood, ocean acidification is definitely not a good thing.