This section is an attempt to summarize and distill the data used to calculate Northeast Ohio's carbon footprint. The sources of the data are identified and links are provided where available. 

Electricity Usage

The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company and Ohio Edison, both companies of FirstEnergy, provide about 90% of Northeast Ohio’s electric power. Company-wide data was obtained from annual reports on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's (PUCO) website. A fuel mix for Ohio’s generation was provided by FirstEnergy.

Eleven American Municipal Power of Ohio members (AMP Ohio) and two Rural Electric Associations (REA) distribute the rest of the region’s electrical power. Distribution data was obtained directly from these facilities.

Natural Gas Usage

Combined, Columbia Gas of Ohio and The East Ohio Gas Company provide more than 99% of the region’s natural gas. Both companies provided county level data. The remaining <1% is distributed by four small companies whose data was extracted from annual reports found on the PUCO's website.

Transportation

The region’s two metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) - Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) and Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS) - provided transportation data in the form of daily vehicle miles traveled (VMT).

Solid Waste Generated

Solid waste data for each of the region’s seven Solid Waste Management Districts (SWMD) was provided by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Division of Solid and Infectious Waste Management. Among the data provided were solid waste flows to both transfer facilities and direct hauls to landfills. Recycling data (tons and composition) was also provided by the Ohio EPA.

As “Farmers markets increase, creating competition for local produce” look for land at the edge of the city (or in the city) to increase in value for agriculture. A robust local food market does more than reduce food miles—it also makes the case for preserving farmland, especially in Northeast Ohio where most of our fertile land lies right at the metropolitan edge.

Groups like the Countryside Conservancy and its Farmland Center are reestablishing local farms and farmer’s market networks in the Cuyahoga Valley and surrounding counties. The Center is looking for a program coordinator. Inquiries can be directed here or by calling 330.657.2542.

The state of Ohio has a small program to permanently protect farmland from development. By purchasing conservation easements, the state has protected a few dozen farms in Northeast Ohio (lack of funding has held the program back from expanding even further). Others working on farmland preservation include OSU's Center for Farmland Policy Innovation, which launched a pilot program to protect farms in nearby Portage County with Transfer of Development, a tool widely used in other states.

With fuel prices at historic highs and local food buying on the rise, farms closer to the city should benefit the most. Local food and farmer's markets can continue to grow when regional land-use policies are put in place to protect the farmland that provides fresh food for all.

Location(s)

Kamm’s Corners Farmers Market returns with fresh produce, cheese, honey, meat, coffee, and lots of other food and fun! The market will continue every Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM through October. A perennial exchange takes place on opening day. To participate, simply divide your plants and bring them to the market to exchange with other participants.

Opening day entertainment includes a musical performance by Brand New Hat. Gary Richmond, chef/co-owner at Johnny Mango will be offering a cooking demonstration at 12:30 PM. Additionally, Yester Year Horse & Carriage will offer rides for only $1!

Location(s)

This expo is taking place during the North Union Farmers Market, so partipants will have the opportunity to buy locally grown produce while visiting booths promoting a sustainable future for our region. For more information, contact ReZina at 216-421-2100 or rezina@shad.org.

Can shopping for food grown in Northeast Ohio help save the planet? Our national food system depends heavily on fossil fuels—it takes ten calories of fuel to produce one calorie of food. Two of the most important acts to reduce your carbon footprint relate to food:

• Support a local farmer’s market. Plenty of food is already in season at Coit Road or the six North Union markets, which moved outdoors over the weekend.
• Eat low on the food chain: Try eating more veggies than meat. Livestock production is responsible for more climate change gasses than all the motor vehicles in the world, according to this UN report. When you do eat meat, opt for grass-fed animals —they are healthier for you and the environment.

“The Real Low Calorie Diet”, a documentary screened during last week’s National Public Health Week, described how we can rethink food in a post-carbon economy. It features urban gardening initiatives in Cleveland such as City Fresh, which is helping inner-city residents alter vacant lots into garden plots. In suburban and urban neighborhoods, "edible lawns" are producing veggies and herbs for the dinner table and to sell to local residents and restaurants.

Tremont Farmers Market
Sundays - June 22nd through October 26th from 10:00am-2:00pm
Celebrate local food at the Tremont Farmers Market at the corner of Starkweather and Professor Avenues in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood.  Featuring locally-grown produce, local artists, chef demonstrations, educational activities and musical entertainment.  If you have questions or would like to get involved, please contact us at (216) 575-0920 or tremontmarket@yahoo.com.
www.tremontfarmersmarket.com

In the cover story of EarthWatch Ohio (April/May issue) Brad Masi boldly challenges conventional thinking about where food comes from. A food system beyond fossil fuels means redefining local: Whether its called “permaculture” or something else, the idea of using every available inch of land is catching on in urban areas where the desire for healthier food is driving people to creative means. Cleveland is starting to see gardens sprouting up inside raised beds of concrete block and on top of asphalt parking lots.

“The rising interest in local food systems presents perhaps one of the best opportunities to put into practice the development of a regenerative economic system,” writes Masi, director of the New Agrarian Center in Oberlin. “Because food can be grown just about anywhere (from an urban rooftop to a large open field), local food systems can invite high levels of community participation and invention.”

On the same topic, the Cleveland Health Department hosts a series of events around local food during National Public Health Week. On April 11, learn how to "Grow Food, Not Lawns" with presentations and demonstrations on composting, recycling, and community gardening. Later in the day, the documentary film, "Real Low Calorie Diet," which chronicles the growing local food movement in Northeast Ohio, will be screened.

Has the value of agriculture in Northeast Ohio been overstated? Not the case, says American Farmland Trust, in fact, it's much more valuable as farmland than it would be as housing.

OSU Extension just completed an economic survey of wine country in Lake County and found that land used by residential development in Madison Township requires $1.24 in public services for every $1 those homes paid in taxes. Meanwhile, farm and forest land requires 37 cents in services for every dollar in taxes. Not only that, wineries and vineyards bring $30 million to Lake, Ashtabula and Geauga each year. Read more.

Location(s)

Starting a Community Garden Workshop

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8th from 7 – 9 PM at The Bingham (1278 West 9th Street) in the first floor Community Room.

The program is organized by Steps to a Healthier Cleveland and The Ohio State University Extension, and Historic Warehouse District is assisting in spreading the word.

Bring your friends and neighbors! Or, plan to meet new friends and neighbors!

Maybe people have heard too many stories about polluted food from China or about animals being tortured by industrial agriculture in the U.S. Maybe people are concerned about the carbon footprint of food being imported from thousands of miles around the world to their plate. Or maybe they just want to buy food from trusted sources in their own community.

Whatever the reason, millions of consumers are seeking local and/or organic food. The New York Times reported recently that this demand is making it more profitable to start small-scale farms near cities to supply fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy items, and other high-value crops. Young college graduates are forsaking white-collar careers and donning overalls to be a part of this alternative food system.

In Northeast Ohio, here are some signs of a new food system: