Many thanks to the EDC for publishing this in the latest edition of their journal. 🍃
https://community.ecodesigncollective.org/small-stories-for-solarpunksunday/
#SolarpunkSunday
SUCCESSFUL GLASS RECYCLER ALSO BUILDS WETLANDS
🍾 Franziska Trautmann started a recycling facility in a backyard 5 years ago. Now she's Louisiana's biggest glass recycler.
✋ She has fought against the many obstacles that keep glass recycling in the U.S. to only around 30%.
🦉 The facility operates 3 days a week. Her team uses the other days, with some of their glass, to build coastal wetland islands. And wildlife is returning: Birds, gators, crabs, otters.
✨ Need some positive environmental news? Watch this 13-minute video.
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-louisianas-recycler-rebuilds-wetlands-with-crushed-glass-2026-1
#SolarPunk #SolarPunkSunday (Belated)
#EnvironmentalConservation
#WasteManagement #Environment #Biodiversity #Wetlands #CoastalConservation #Recycling
I love, love, love this idea, @MaQuest ! I want to plant more herbs outdoors this year (lavender, thyme, oregano, sage), but couldn't figure out how to arrange them! Not sure if I'll build a unit like that, but I do like the idea of clustering them together in a circle.
RE: https://mastodon.social/@Snoro/115967501627593008
Almost forgot about this post! Wow!
#SolarPunkSunday #India #ClimateChange #ClimateChangeResilience #Nature #Bioshield #Coastlines #Ecosystems
It's getting late (and I have custards baking in the oven)... So, I'm going to save the #Hempcrete articles for next week's #SolarPunkSunday. I'll also be boosting some SPS posts from yesterday. TY to @BrambleBearSnoring and @MaQuest and everyone else who shared stories and articles! And don't forget that this coming Friday (February 6th) will be the #FirstFridayArtWalk, highlighting #Artists and #Makers here on Mastodon! Stay warm, stay cool, stay safe, and check in with your neighbors! ❤️
Put These 10 Air-Purifying Plants Next To Your Bed For Better Sleep
https://gardeningsoul.com/10-air-purifying-plants-for-better-sleep/
Community Power Secures Future for Nature and People at Middleton Moor
https://www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/news/community-power-secures-future-nature-and-people-middleton-moor
#SolarPunkSunday #Wildlife #Nature #Derbyshire #WildlifeTrusts #Community
Taking a composting break. The first composter is getting pretty full. We've cut down on our food waste immensely though. I can remember a few years ago where both composters would be nearly full by February 1st. (Of course, I also compost soil from the plants that haven't made it through the winter. It happens!)
#SolarPunkSunday #Composting #FoodWaste #ZeroWaste #MakingSoil
I wondered if I've done anything #solarpunksunday -worth for a while. But indeed, gave my friend a bag full of rabbit room cleaning waste (=used and pooped, I mean, readily fertilized hay, straw, hemp bedding etc) for her compost, as my rabbits produce more than I can compost during winter.
Some recipes call for using store-bought soy milk (or freshly made soy milk from an Asian market or health food store). I say, if you're going to go through the bother of making your own #Tofu, fresh is best! Start with some good, dried, organic beans! You won't believe the taste difference (nutty and full of flavor). And if your tofu doesn't set, turn it into dessert (for example #TofuChocolateMousse)!
How to Make Tofu
By Ashley Adams
Updated on 07/23/21
"Tofu is beloved by many around the world for its versatility and texture. The soy dish can be made at home using soybeans, a few special items, and a little time.
What You'll Need
Tofu is made up of three ingredients: soybeans, water, and a coagulant—usually nigari (magnesium chloride) or gypsum (calcium sulfate). Soy milk, prepared with soybeans and water, is the precursor to tofu the way milk is the precursor to cheese. A coagulant is added to soy milk to create curds and whey, similar to the way cheese is made.
The only ingredient that will really affect the flavor is the coagulant. Nigari, which has a slightly bitter taste that many people happen to like, is often used to make this recipe. If this is not to your liking, gypsum results in a less bitter taste and creates the same firm, smooth tofu as nigari (and it adds a lot of calcium to your block, too).
Gather these ingredients:
3 cups dried soybeans
1 tablespoon coagulant (gypsum or nigari)
1/2 cup water
And this special equipment:
Blender
Large pot with lid
Cheesecloth
Fine-mesh strainer
Tofu mold (either an actual mold or a homemade rig), lined with several layers of cheesecloth
About 2 1/2 pounds of weights"
Learn more:
https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-make-tofu-1001574
#SolarPunkSunday #MakingTofu
#TofuCoagulants #Soybeans
#Soy #Vegan #MakeYourOwnTofu
So, I've made tofu using a number of coagulants -- epsom salts in water, vinegar, lemon juice (I haven't tried nigari or gypsum). They all can affect the taste and texture of the resulting #Tofu. Read on to learn more!
Which Tofu Coagulant is BEST?
By Mary's Test Kitchen
January 7, 2024
"What Tofu Coagulant should you use for homemade tofu? I put traditional tofu coagulants (gypsum, nigari) to the test against grocery store ingredients (lemon juice, two vinegars, and epsom salts) to see which coagulant makes the best tofu at home! Will they change taste or texture? Read on!"
https://www.marystestkitchen.com/which-tofu-coagulant-is-best/
#SolarPunkSunday #MakingTofu #TofuCoagulants #Soybeans #Soy #Vegan #MakeYourOwnTofu
COLOMBIA PROTECTS AMAZON FROM EXPLOITATION
🌿 New law turns the Amazon biome within its territory into a reserve, unavailable to new oil and large-scale mining projects.
❌ Announcement means 43 oil blocks and 286 mining proposals won't move ahead.
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Country seeks to prioritize long-term environmental health and sustainable economic solutions.
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/colombia-amazon-ban-new-extractive-projects
#SolarPunkSunday #Environment #Amazon #Conservation #EnvironmentalProtection #EnvironmentalConservation
So, this article is aimed at commercial growers, but if you happen to have a few plots of land to grow stuff, #CoverCrops and #CropRotation is the way to go!
Top 10 Expert Tips for Growing #OrganicSoybeans: Boost Yield & #Sustainability
Excerpt: "Cover Cropping for Soil Fertility
Cover crops like clover, rye, or hairy vetch are game-changers for organic soybean farmers. They fix nitrogen, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure. For example, red clover can add up to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre, reducing the need for external inputs. Plant cover crops in the off-season and terminate them before soybean planting, either by mowing or rolling. Sample Cover Crop Plan: Year 1: Red clover (fall-planted); Year 2: Organic soybeans; Year 3: Winter wheat followed by a summer cover like buckwheat. This rotation boosts fertility and disrupts pest cycles.
Expert Insight: A 2023 study from Cornell University found that cover crops increased organic soybean yields by up to 15% compared to fields without them.
Tip 3 – Implement Effective Crop Rotation
Benefits of Rotation for Organic Soybeans
Crop rotation is a cornerstone of organic farming, reducing pest and disease pressure while enhancing soil health. Rotating soybeans with crops like corn, wheat, or alfalfa prevents the buildup of soybean-specific pathogens like SCN. It also improves soil structure and nutrient availability. For instance, corn residues add organic matter, while alfalfa fixes nitrogen, benefiting subsequent soybean crops.
Planning a Rotation Schedule
Design a 3-5 year rotation plan tailored to your farm’s needs. A sample rotation might include: Year 1: Corn; Year 2: Organic soybeans; Year 3: Winter wheat; Year 4: Cover crop (e.g., clover); Year 5: Back to soybeans. Avoid planting soybeans in the same field consecutively to minimize disease risk. Case Study: John Miller, an organic farmer in Iowa, increased his soybean yields by 10 bushels per acre after adopting a corn-soybean-wheat rotation, as reported by the Practical Farmers of Iowa."
Read more:
https://agricarehub.com/organic-soybeans/
#SolarPunkSunday #GrowingSoybeans
#HarvestingSoybeans #GrowYourOwn
#GrowYourOwnFood #Soybeans #SoybeanCrops
So, this is a pretty good article... Again, if using #InsecticidalSoap (which it recommends against aphids), be careful about when you apply it (don't apply it when they are flowering, maybe apply it at night and rinse it off in the morning?)
How To Grow #Soybeans: #Edamame From Scratch
Edamame, or cooked soybean pods, are a popular Japanese snack food. Learn how to grow soybeans at home and you can keep yourself stocked up!
Written by Kendra Meador Horticulture review by Sarah Jay Last updated: January 20, 2026
"When you think of soybeans, what comes to mind? Large agricultural fields full of bushy plants, or maybe you think of soy milk or tofu. Either way, if you haven’t considered growing your own soybeans, then exploring how to grow soybeans may inspire you to plant your own soybean crop.
"Some claim soybeans are the oldest food crop in the world, which isn’t surprising, considering soybeans are more than a food source. Then there is edamame, the immature green soybeans that are popular in Asian cuisines. If you haven’t eaten edamame, then you are missing out on a scrumptious meal or snack and once you try them, you will want to grow your own.
"Soybeans are an easy crop to grow and care for because they don’t need a lot of special attention, plus they are similar to other bean crops (though not the same). This guide will go over exactly what you need to do, from sowing to harvesting soybeans, so you can be munching on your own edamame by the end of the growing season."
https://www.epicgardening.com/how-to-grow-soybeans/
#SolarPunkSunday #GrowingSoybeans
#HarvestingSoybeans #GrowYourOwn
#GrowYourOwnFood #SoybeanCrops
Plant Native Bee Balm: One Plant Feeds Thousands of Pollinators All Summer
https://gardeningsoul.com/plant-native-bee-balm-one-plant-feeds-thousands-of-pollinators-all-summer/
RE: https://social.agroecologymap.org/@AgroecologyMap/115961383916402332
Tagging for #SolarPunkSunday!
Alt text: Four photographs. 1) a large sunflower in bloom. 2) a squash in bloom. 3) A person carrying a bucket of plants in a field. 4) Colorful ears of corn.
The Gleaners and I film
https://www.lincolntheater.org/films-events/the-gleaners-and-i-(nr)
That is just adorable, @evansky_arts ! Tagging for #SolarPunkSunday and #MastoArt! Perfect for any fan of #Mastodon!
Tagging for #SolarPunkSunday, @Dragofix ! We were posting about #Peat and #Peatlands today!
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