Topic 3 - Developing an Ecological Worldview

any concentration of a toxin, such as pesticides, in the tissues of tolerant organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain

decomposition of dead algae consumes oxygen from the water, lowering the concentration below the level necessary to support most animal life

intermingling plants with complementary qualities

method of designing spaces that focuses on the relationships between people, animals, plants, activities, and buildings

using a tub of worms to transform food waste into soil

planting, mapping, and harvesting from city trees and shrubs

investments, typically in renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, intended to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions associated with one’s lifestyle, including transporting food long distances

eating what is regionally grown

an emerging global trend of mindfully growing, preparing, and sharing nutritious, sustainably produced, seasonal, local cuisine, an approach that benefits both planetary and human health

Consumers buy “shares” prior to the growing season and in turn receive regular deliveries of produce, meat, and dairy directly from a nearby farm

cities with minimal green space and unreliable access to fresh, whole foods

using a combination of fish and gravity to create fertile vegetable gardens in small urban areas

planting food in the unlikeliest places

decision-making tools that aim to minimize environmental impacts by better understanding the scope of possible effects

circular systems where “wastes” must become food, just as they do in natural cycles in which organic wastes serve as fertilizers for the next generation of growth

collaborators each use by-products of another’s production

using dated or tainted materials for new, useful, and higher-quality purposes

the material flow from system members is cleaner, healthier, and of generally superior value than the material inputs

a social movement in which people choose to downscale their material possessions in order to live “consciously, deliberately, while not being distracted by consumer culture”

mass produced imitations of recent designer creations

counter the race to replace by shifting the goal from quantity and novelty to quality and timeless style. This eliminates overproduction and excessive waste before it’s created

not only reducing how much one buys and consumes, but also choosing environmentally sound products

movement that uses social media to generate support for store buycotts