About GreenSac.org

This is the beginning of something I've wanted to do for some time now. I wanted to create something dedicated to a regional focus AND a green focus. So here it is.

So...you may have some questions for me to explain/justify the way I'm putting this site together. I will be presumptious enough to guess a few and provide the answers. If you have any others you feel I should answer, let me know.

What do you mean by "Sacramento Region"?
There is a current trend, and potentially future way of life, that focuses on locally aggricultural produce, versus produce and such from hundreds, if not thousands of miles away. Most of this focus has been on food. In fact, Kurt Spataro, of local Paragary's fame, has been a proponent of this philosophy in his restaurant work (you can often see him shop at the Natural Food Co-Op).

You can read a great article (with associated links) at Wired to provide a fuller description of this dining/living approach. They also link to a good site that gives you a 100 mile radius map from where you might live. Most of the sites linked to at GreenSac.org fall within that radius, though I do make exceptions for a few locations just outside of that boundary. Such exceptions migh be in the Santa Cruz, Yosemite areas.

Confession: I am still struggling with this approach! This project will help me and hopefully will help you, too!

What is Green?
Here are what I believe to be a good set of rules defining green for this site:

Included:
1) Organizations that use organic or natural materials to make their products;
2) Organizations or events dedicated to preserving or promoting a natural or sustainable environment;
3) Businesses that make products that replace the use of non-renewable resources (eg, biodiesel vs. petroleum based diesel, solar vs coal);
4) Small, local farms which even though they may not be organic, are at least local and thus reduce petroleum consumption to bring their produce to market, though organic farmers will always get preference on this site! This also includes our local, open air produce markets; and,

Not Included:1) Any company that has zero positive and/or negative effect on the environment, such as Exxon and the other petroleum companies. An exception would be for the BP Solar division, but rest of company is out. No matter what advertising you see, an petroleum company is only out for their shareholders and not the environment. Most, though not all, home builders, coal companies, timber companies also would not be included.

Is there more ahead?
In the months ahead, I hope to add many new features. I you have any ideas please let me know. For now the philosophy is crawl, walk, run. Right now, I'm a crawlin'!

Enjoy the New Year,
Dave Dolliver
01/06/07