newsbriefs Eastern Shore Chamber Honors Environmental Award Winners The Environmental Committee of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, Baldwin EMC, city of Fairhope Public Works Department and Fred Corte Tree Farm recently joined forces to honor winners of the Chamber’s annual Environmental Award. Three 15-foot oak trees were planted in Fairhope parks, recognizing the environmental efforts of Windmill Market, Habitat for Humanity of Baldwin County and Smart Coast. The 2011 winner, Windmill Market, received a Southern Live Oak that was planted at the Fairhope Municipal Pier. A Shumard Oak tree was planted in the Bay Front Park, honoring 2010 winner, Habitat for Humanity of Baldwin County. The 2008 winner, Smart Coast, received a Nuttall Oak, which was planted in Bay Front Park. The new tree plantings are marked with placards baring the recipients’ names. Each year, the Eastern Shore Chamber selects a member that is proactive in taking steps above and beyond what is required by law to protect the environment and quality of life along the Eastern Shore. The Windmill Market received its award for the green building standards used in reconstructing the warehouse space that is now the market. Habitat for Humanity was honored for utilizing green building standards in the construction of a Habitat home in Fairhope. Smart Coast has been consistently promoting and implementing concepts that foster sustainability in the Gulf Coast region. For more information visit ESChamber.com.
New Modalities at Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center With the recent addition of an alternative energy system, Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center in Citronelle continues to expand its features for healthy living on a healthy planet. The sun’s energy, along with the installation of solar hot water panels, allowed the center to grow organic tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, basil, dill, parsley, oregano, nasturtiums and marigolds in their greenhouse this winter. The panels use the sun’s energy to heat water that runs through pex tubing, buried under the surface of raised garden beds to regulate soil temperatures for year-round growing conditions. Ground mount solar panels generate electricity to power the small circulating pump of the hot water panel system, as well as the center’s greenhouses. Lettuces growing outside in the Gulf Coast winter, coupled with summer veggies and edible flowers grown in their solar-powered greenhouse, created many healthy, tasty salads at Middle Earth this winter. This alternative energy system will also provide power for the air and circulating pumps used in the nearly completed aquaponics system. By creating a closed ecosystem, the aquaponic method will allow Middle Earth to synergistically raise tilapia and cultivate vegetables in aquatic growing beds. The water from the fish tank will circulate through the beds, feeding the plants through their roots, while cleansing the water before being recirculated into the fish tank. According to owners Lisa and Craig Kalloch, “This is a very sustainable practice and a wave of the future.”
Location: 20205 Middle Earth Rd., Citronelle. For information call 251-8667204, email MidEarthHealing@yahoo. com or visit MiddleEarthHealing.com. See ad on page 11. 8
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