Every year, it gets easier to impart the holidays with an air of sustainability -- which is something that Green Space is certainly thankful for. So, in the spirit of the most food-oriented holiday, let us suggest some options from which to purvey your Thanksgiving feast.

In her story "The Omnivore's Detroit", Model D's managing editor Clare Ramsey explores several options for obtaining local, organic turkeys for her family's dinner last Thanksgiving. She ended up scoring at Roeske Farms in Hartland, about an hour  northwest of Detroit, near M-59 and US 23, but also found Sunshine Meadows Farm in Ortonville and Harnois Farms near Pinckney.


Concentrate ran a similar story for those who live in Washtenaw County.

Eastern Market and the Royal Oak Farmers Market boast plenty of locally-grown produce that will remind you that celebration of the harvest bounty is truly at the root of this November holiday.

In other news, the Lions game on the 26th will be a carbon-neutral event. For the third year in a row, the Lions are partnering with TechTown-based Carbon Credit Environmental Services (CCES) and the Greening of Detroit to plant 650 trees in Detroit that will negate the 466 tons of carbon dioxide emitted by travel to and from the game as well as energy used at the stadium.

To get around, consider The Night Move. Thanksgiving Eve, the green shuttle will run its regular weekend route between Royal Oak, Ferndale, and Downtown Detroit from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. as well as a free shuttle for The Night Before Thanksgiving party at the Roostertail (from the Red Wings game at Joe Louis, Fishbones in St. Clair Shores, and Excalibur in Grosse Pointe Park). There's also a Night Move shuttle running to and from the Thursday Lions game, but it's already sold out.

Thanks for reading Green Space!

Sources: Monica Tabares, Greening of Detroit and Jennifer Harlan, The Night Move
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Oakland County is using cyberspace methods to get more real people voting in the next election cycle.

Its latest innovation is to send out an email reminder to voters two weeks before elections and then again on election days. The reminder will also include a bevy of other information voters can use to make the process easier.

"It's kind of like an electronic post-it note," says Ruth Johnson, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds.

The emails will be sent out before all local, school, state, and federal elections and will link to the clerk's website. The site will feature a list of candidates and ballot proposals, campaign finance reports, polling locations, and instructional videos for using voting machines.

It will also feature a new election reporting system that reveals results in real time. Also included will be information on voter registration and on how to become a poll worker, and a link to the state's Voter Information Center.

"This is just one more tool in the tool box," Johnson says.

For information on these new systems, click here.

Source: Ruth Johnson, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds
Writer: Jon Zemke

During these tough economic times, many companies and organizations bring out the long-term statistics from the past several years to put themselves in a better light. Oakland County can fall back on both the long- and short-term statistics.

The county released a report that shows not only has it taken in about $2.4 billion worth of investment over the last five years, it did well in June, with $748 million in investment.

Most of that comes from General Motors' plans for a $650 million Orion Township plant, which will build smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. However, that leaves about another $100 million that the county was able to attract in the midst of one of the toughest economies in generations.

Oakland County has had more than $2.4 billion worth of business investment in the past five years, giving residents a reason to be optimistic about its future during the most difficult economic challenge in its history, County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said recently.

"We had our best month ever during one of the worst times ever," Oakland County Executive L Brooks Patterson said in a press release. "We've withstood all of the body blows and we're still standing."

More of the $2.4 billion came from emerging sectors based in the new economy ($1.3 billion), compared to traditional business sectors, like automotive manufacturing. Oakland County created its Emerging Sectors program five years ago to help diversify its economy and make up for lost manufacturing jobs.

Source: Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke

Internet surfers are increasingly jamming out to online radio stations like Pandora these days. Ferndale-based Livio wants this to continue, but also wants to free listeners from their computers.

The start-up just released an independent Internet radio for Pandora fans. The small box, about the size of a toaster, uses Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection to tune into Pandora. That way users can enjoy commercial-free music without the ball-and-chain of a laptop or desktop computer.

"There is no AM or FM dial," says Greg Kim, sales and marketing manager for Livio. "It works completely off of wireless Internet."

The radios sells for $150 a pop. The guys at Livio think this market, with 69 million listeners and counting, has a lot of room to grow.

"We see ourselves taking off and doing well, especially with the ups and downs of satellite radio," Kim says.

When that happens it will mean growth for Livio's payroll. Right now the start-up employs 10 people and hopes to add more later this year. Staff will be on display June 12 at the official Livio Launch Party at D’Amatos, 222 S. Sherman St. in Royal Oak.

Source: Greg Kim, sales and marketing manager for Livio
Writer: Jon Zemke

Lots of people warned Jake Sigal that his idea for a business wouldn't live up to his expectations. Some said it wouldn't even fly. That was about two years ago. They don't say such things anymore.

Today Myine Electronics has grown from just Sigal to 10 employees and a combination of seven interns and independent contractors. The Ferndale-based firm expects to keep hiring, too. It could count up to 30 people on its payroll next year.

Myine Electronics makes audio electronics for people who are either too busy or too ignorant about the latest technology to do it themselves.

"Too many people were confused by electronics," Sigal says. "I thought there had to be an easier way for people like my parents to find out what's going on with technology."

It makes sense in retrospect. How many middle-aged people know there are electronics that allow users to record radio stations and automatically edit out commercials and DJ banter? Or how about technology that lets them play Internet radio through their home stereo system?

Myine Electronics can make that happen, and more. Sigal plans to continue to grow the product variety to the point that it can start to compete with local big-box retailers. It's a goal that might seem impossible for a small business like Myine Electronics, but that isn't something Sigal hasn't heard before.

Source: Jake Sigal, founder and principal of Myine Electronics
Writer: Jon Zemke

Have you ever flirted with the thought of not driving -- or at least not alone -- to and from work each day? Well, next week has been tailor made for you.

SEMCOG -- that's Southeast Michigan's metropolitan planning organization -- is promoting Commuter Challenge week with a variety of ways for commuters to participate.

First off, signing up. You can attend the Commuter Fair at Campus Martius in Downtown Detroit on Friday, May 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sign up in person and get some cool promo goodies. If you can't make it, head to SEMCOG.org/MIrideshare to sign up and then record your progress through the week.

As if living better is not reward enough, there are some serious prizes on the table for participants. The Grand Prize is a one night stay at the Ren Cen Marriott along with meals at Signature Grill and 42 Degree North Restaurant. Other prizes include gift cards to Hard Rock Cafe, Fishbones, Opus One and Bookie's Tavern. There's also an iPod, a 31-day SMART bus pass, and Night Move passes.

Now starts the week. Every day has a special focus, although all forms of alternative commuting -- car- and vanpooling, public transit, biking, walking and telecommuting -- are encouraged all week long.

• Saturday, May 9 - National Train Day

• Monday, May 11 – Carpool / Vanpool / Flextime Day

• Tuesday, May 12 – People Mover Day

• Wednesday, May 13 – Ride the Bus Day

• Thursday, May 14 – Walking Day - Grand Opening of the Dequindre Cut

• Friday, May 15 – Bicycle Day - Annual Bike-to-Work Ride

Save some gas, lower your carbon footprint...it's all good!

Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh

Flexibility. It's the inexpensive way that Oakland County officials are pushing to make their local communities friendlier to new economy companies.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson released a new report today aimed at making local governments friendlier to knowledge-based firms. The idea is that streamlining the old bureaucracy will make it more attractive for new economy start-ups and the jobs they create.

"It's to help review and revamp the community plans for the knowledge economy," says Brett Rasegan, planning supervisor for Oakland County.

For instance, lots of small, older manufacturing facilities stand vacant today and are specifically zoned for the office in the front and industrial space in the rear. One of the report's recommendations calls for communities to give these spaces more flexibility by allowing either office or commercial use.

Rasegan gives an example of an Internet retailer which may need lots of space for warehousing products and only a small out-of-the-way space for a storefront. An older manufacturing space could prove to be a perfect fit.

Such flexible rezonings and redevelopments have already been successfully undertaken in Oakland County. An old factory is being turned into loft-style office space on the edges of downtown Royal Oak. A similar thing has been done with the Zicor building, an old manufacturing facility in Ferndale that's now home to several growing new economy firms.

Source: Brett Rasegan, planning supervisor for Oakland County
Writer: Jon Zemke

Festivals, weddings, birthday parties... These are the things that haunt an environmentally-minded person's sleep.

Why would these "fun" things do that? Because of the horrific amounts of waste they generate. In a throw-away society, these temporary happenings are oftentimes the greatest wasters of them all.

The good news is that things are taking baby steps to get better, and here are just a few of them to look for in the coming months.

Thanks to rider requirements of headliner Willie Nelson, the Downtown Hoedown held at Hart Plaza from May 15 to 17 will have its beverage containers recycled by Recy-Clean, and Michigan Green Safe products will be used.

The same deal is in place whenever Whole Foods sponsors an event -- such as this weekend's Veg Fest and the June 9 Motor City Pride Festival, both held in Ferndale.

Recycle Detroit handles recycling at Dally in the Alley and Movement. This year's CityFest will have a bike corral and recycling as well.

If you are planning something a bit more small-scale, say a fundraiser or wedding, a local company, Eco-Posh, can help. Can't afford an event planner? Their blog offers lots of tips on things like cakes, invitations, even confetti, that are more sustainable than the typical options.

It's good to keep in mind your environmental resolutions when hosting an event -- even though it becomes much harder. Paper plates and plastic cutlery became popular for a reason!

Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh