Indeed, there is a Home Farming movement and it’s being promoted by Kraft Foods.  I checked out the website and found much more than I honestly expected.  If you’re looking for an excuse NOT to do your own garden – don’t go here.

Here’s the deal:  you can enter your zip code, how big a space you have to plant (even if it’s just pots on a deck or balcony), and how much time you want to spend on a garden. This handy site will lay out exactly what, when and how to plant for the best results.  It couldn’t be any easier, and frankly, I no longer have an excuse.  I guess it’s going to be easy for me this summer when I’m picking beautiful tomatoes (and maybe some okra and squash) to answer the age-old question: Mary, Mary quite contrary – how does your garden grow?  I can’t speak for the the rest by Mary Myrick can honestly answer -  my garden grows great!

By the time it gets to you, your food may have traveled as many as 1,500 miles. But the real concern isn’t the trauma inflicted on our food by all this travel, but the potential strain on the environment resulting from these transportation miles.

Historically, we cooked mostly what was available seasonally or could be preserved. Holiday favorites like pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes and pecan pie didn’t become favorites randomly—they became so because they could be easily obtained during the colder months. Now, global supply chains allow us virtually unlimited access to all kinds of food—year round.

Everyone likes options, but with every “food mile” translating into carbon emissions, choosing to incorporate more seasonally- and regionally-appropriate foods into our diet can benefit the environment.

Be especially aware of “frequent fliers”—foods that are typically are flown enormous distances, including bell peppers, blueberries, cherries, asparagus and peaches. Food items transported by plane can be particularly damaging to the environment.

Not sure what is in season near you? Find out what seasonal foods are currently available in your area simply by entering your state and the month.

Farmers’ markets are a great bet for finding locally-grown, seasonal food. If you are not sure where to find a farmers’ market near you, simply enter your zip code on LocalHarvest to pull up a list of nearby markets.

Controlling food miles is only one factor in controlling our overall carbon footprint. But buying more local and seasonal food is a good start on the road to environmentally-responsible living.

A total of $150 million in grants have been awarded to provide green job training as part of the federal recovery act. In connection with this effort, Green Jobs Central Oklahoma (GJCO), a project of the It’s My Community Initiative (IMCI), received a 2-year, $4 million grant to equip Oklahomans for careers in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The grant will benefit impoverished sections of northeast Oklahoma City with a goal of placing 200 people in green jobs within two years.

Green Jobs Central Oklahoma provides recruitment and referral services, work-readiness and occupational skills training and more. Oklahoma Goodwill Industries (OGI) is responsible for the recycling training, apprenticeship and employment components of this effort.

“The grant money will target training for jobs paying at least $14 an hour and offering benefits in the recycling and wind energy fields,” said Mary Myrick, president of Public Strategies, Inc., a social enterprise partner of IMCI. A strong proponent of green initiatives, Mary Myrick believes environmental responsibility should extend into one’s personal as well as professional commitments.

The funding is intended to reach those with little education or workplace experience, according to Sandino Thompson, executive director of IMCI. “A big component of the grant is helping people without high school diplomas and skills get in careers with upward advancement,” he said. “In turn, this will ultimately help to strengthen the northeast OKC community.”

Don’t put on your straw hat just yet, but gardening is cool again. Today, our food travels an average of 1500 miles from farm to table—that distance has real ramifications on food cost, quality and the environment. With the recent economic downturn, a renewed interest in green living, and rising food prices, more young people are embracing gardening again.

But will these hipster gardeners have the same dedication to the task as their grandparents? And does a generation raised on fast food even have the know-how to successfully tend the earth? Like sewing or cooking, gardening is often a skill , or even an art, handed down from one generation to another. You can learn the same skills later in life, but it is considerably harder if you weren’t taught the basics of gardening as a child. Without the benefit of this early training, many young gardeners will find the experiment of gardening more challenging than initially expected.

But like any worthy objective, gardening brings at least as many rewards as it does challenges.

During World War II, Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden became emblematic of self-sufficiency, industry and enterprise. In 1943, Americans created more than 20 million Victory Gardens, accounting for nearly a third of all produce consumed. During these difficult economic times, planting a victory garden of your own can feel empowering and offers clear economic benefits. But will the thrill last when economic recovery fully kicks in?

Trends like mobile gardens, urban gardens and vertical gardens can make gardening seem new and help retain the interest of the next generation of gardeners. But in the end, what really sustains a gardener’s work is a connection between the grower and the earth, an abiding love for good, fresh produce and a tenacious commitment to coax life from the soil.

If gardening space is limited, consider a community garden to benefit several families or even an entire neighborhood.

Short enough to allow for “nose-in” parking, the smart fortwo can fit just about anywhere. With a length of only 250 centimeters, two or three smart cars could fit in the same space as one normal car. If every vehicle sold in the United States was a smart car, it would free up 24,242 miles of roadway—slightly less than the circumference of the earth.

Starting at $11,990, the smart fortwo is also one of the most economical cars on the road today in the United States.

But the smart car’s proudest claim may be that is the most fuel efficient non-hybrid vehicle in the United States. With an estimated 41 MPG highway, the smart car is a great choice for those who want a more fuel efficient vehicle but who are not sold on the concept of a hybrid.

“Owning a smart car is compatible with some of my deepest-held convictions—personal responsibility and consideration for future generations,” said Public Strategies, Inc. president, Mary Myrick. “But my smart car also reflects my personal style and individuality,” said Myrick, “Smart cars are still somewhat rare in my part of the country and people light up when they see one. I love that something as simple as the vehicle I choose to drive can put a smile on someone’s face.”

So whether you are motivated by environmental, economic or aesthetic reasons, a smart car is generally a smart bet.