Eco-FIlm Night #9 - Vanishing of the Bees

You are cordially invited to:

What: DGL's 9th Eco-film Night. This time, we'll be showing the award-winning 2009 documentary "Vanishing of the Bees."
When: Sunday, June 19, 6:30 PM
Where: As always, at Buy the Book in downtown Daegu.
How much: It's free! Anyone can come! Please bring friends!

Here's the official blurb:

"Honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet, literally vanishing from their hives.

Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, this phenomenon has brought beekeepers to crisis in an industry responsible for producing apples, broccoli, watermelon, onions, cherries and a hundred other fruits and vegetables. Commercial honeybee operations pollinate crops that make up one out of every three bites of food on our tables.

Vanishing of the Bees follows commercial beekeepers David Hackenberg and Dave Mendes as they strive to keep their bees healthy and fulfill pollination contracts across the U.S. The film explores the struggles they face as the two friends plead their case on Capital Hill and travel across the Pacific Ocean in the quest to protect their honeybees.

Filming across the US, in Europe, Australia and Asia, this documentary examines the alarming disappearance of honeybees and the greater meaning it holds about the relationship between mankind and mother earth. As scientists puzzle over the cause, organic beekeepers indicate alternative reasons for this tragic loss. Conflicting options abound and after years of research, a definitive answer has not been found to this harrowing mystery."

Vanishing of the Bees - Trailer from Bee The Change on Vimeo.

Come early to enjoy some of Buy the Book's wonderful and healthy food, snacks, and beverages, and stick around to discuss your impressions and learn how others nearby are choosing to act on their knowledge. There will also be chances to sign up for Ggureomi, an organic produce delivery service run by Heuksalim and brought to Daegu by DGL.

Hello Ggureomi!

Daegu Green Living is proud to announce that after months and months of intense procrastination, the dream of offering convenient, safe, clean, healthy, organic, seasonal, tasty food to foreigners living in the city has finally become a reality!

Ggureomi, which in Korean means something like "basket" but also sounds like the words for "worm" and "sleepyhead," is a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA for short) initiative intended to bring producers, consumers, and the earth into a sustainable relationship of mutual benefits. Consumers commit to support the farmers by purchasing a load of vegetables every week, two weeks, or month, without conditions. The farmers, thus freed from the worrying about what will sell, can give more consideration to the climate, seasons, and the needs of the crops and the land. As a result, farmers don't have to handle dangerous chemicals, the earth doesn't have to absorb them, and we don't have to eat them. Win-win-win.

Sometime in May, DGL signed up its first five customers. Here's what they received:

-Tofu (400g): made with pesticide-free Korean beans, no artificial emulsifiers or anti-foaming agents.

-Broccoli (1 stalk): organic.

-Korean cabbage (1 head): pesticide-free

-Red pepper powder (15og): made from dried organic peppers

-Soybean paste (200g): made with Korean beans, no artificial colors or preservatives

-Shiitake mushrooms (200g): organic.

-Radish (1 giant): pesticide-free

-Cherry tomatoes (400g); pesticide-free

In case you're at a loss as to what to make with all this stuff, there's a newsletter with suggestions, slightly reminiscent of Forest Gump:

Pan-fried tofu, tofu stew, tofu and kimchi stirfry, tofu and soybean paste soup, soybean paste soup, broccoli salad, curry with broccoli, broccoli dipped in vinegar and red pepper sauce, rice and meat wrapped in cabbage, lightly dressed cabbage, kimchi soup with cabbage, cabbage pancakes, broth made from shiitakes, sticky noodles with shiitakes, shiitake stew, readish cubes, radish soup, radish slices, radish in kimbap, radish rice, freeze the red pepper and use it whenever, tomatoes as a little snack.

And some recipes for sauces:

Vinegar and soy sauce: 1 part each, plus 1 part water, for a good basic sauce.

Vinegar and red pepper paste: 2 parts water, 1 part red pepper paste, 1/2 part sugar, 1/2 part vinegar, 1/3 part lemon juice, 1/3 part minced garlic. You can also add a little minced onion, wasabi, or Sprite. Refrigerate and use with seafood or as a light dressing for vegetables.

Seasoned soy sauce: 4 parts soup soy sauce (국간장), 2 parts water, 2 parts dark soy sauce (진간장), 1 part minced garlic, 1 part minced green onion, 1/2 part sesame oil, 1/2 part red pepper powder, 1/2 part crushed sesame seeds. Eat with radish rice, mushroom rice, bean sprout rice, seafood rice, "party noodles," and dried seaweed. (Personal note: also awesome to dip pancakes in...)

So far I've made an easy onion/shiitake stir-fry, some decent shiitake burgers (roast them whole with some other vegetables and put 'em o a bun), and I took a chance with the radish and attempted 무생채:

You need: radish, garlic, salt, red pepper powder, crushed sesame seeds, sesame oil, and vinegar. Slice the radish into thinnish strips (longer and thinner than the ones pictured) and mince the garlic. Combine with other ingredients, and season to your own taste. Now you've got a cool, crisp, slightly spicy, low-calorie side dish. Are any other Ggureomi recipients reading? If so, what'd you make? Next up for me: tofu and stinky bean soup, and maybe a shot at homemade vegan kimchi. If you or anyone you know may be interested in knowing more about or receiving a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly Ggureomi boxes, have a look at the official flyers below. Feel free to send comments, questions, and requests to us at noksaeksari at gmail dot com.

iCoop Natural Dream

Those of you who live in Chilgok are more blessed than you know. In addition to being largely free from the dirt and noise of other parts of the city close to downtown, there are actually a fair number of eco-friendly establishments. This website has already covered one restaurant,Porin Shabu Shabu, and one store specializing in local, organic produce, The Farmer's Market.

As if that weren't enough, there's also this place:

Welcome to iCoop Natural Dream - here's their official blurb:

"Your ethical consumption makes the world a beautiful place. We offer you Korean grain and organic produce, along with environmentally friendly foods and household items. We also support farmers in the third world through fair trade coffee, sugar, and cacao. We are working together with hour neighbors to protect the environment."

Sounds good, right? Just like the Farmer's Market down the street, Natural Dream produce and products are all certified organic, pesticiide-free, or low-pesticide, and are either locally made or procured through free trade.

Here you see: Natural Dream's selection of seasonal, organic vegetables, along with Korean pastes and seasonings, and sauces.

And a wide range of grains, noodles and snacks, teas, beauty products, household cleaners and detergents, and local, seasonal fruit - including bananas from Jeju!

What separates Natural Dream from the rest, though, is

A bakery with a selection of treats, made daily from Korean flour and free-range(ish) eggs, and

A butcher shop trading in meat from domestically raised, naturally fed livestock. There's also a refrigerator filled with various environmentally friendly milks and milk products, though, unfortunately, not much in the way of cheese.

Everything at iCoop comes with two prices: one for members, and one for plain folk. You don't need a membership to shop there (which is fortunate, since last time I checked foreigners weren't eligible, though it's possible to do it through a Korean friend) but if you sign up, you receive a discount of about twenty percent (it varies from product to product). The sign-up fee is 30k and costs 15k a month, so you have to spend about 75k a month there to make it worth it. Not too hard if you live with a friend, are willing to make Natural Dream your primary source for eats, or if you habitually consume at least two pastries a day; but even if you decide not to be a member, the prices are reasonable, particularly considering the peace of mind the products themselves bring.

Easy to find but hard to explain, Natural Dream is about 3 minutes south of CGV or 5 minutes west of the Primus theather, sitting just across from the back (north) entrance of Yeongnam Neovil apartments. For those who know where the Farmer's Market is, you can start there, walk along the river towards HomePlus and CGV, then turn right at the first big 4-way intersection. Cross the street and Natural Dream will be on your left in just a minute or two.

Or, look at the google map.

Info:
iCoop Natural Dream
대구광역시 북구 동천동 907-7 자연 드림 (연남 네오빌 아파트 후문 맞은 편)
053-327-0085
http://naturaldream.co.kr
Hours: Daily, 9AM-10PM

Happy shopping! Visit enough and chat them up and they may just make you an honorary member, without any of the pesky complications! But don't tell them you heard it here...

Earth Day, 2011

There have already been posts about two recurring monthly events, both of which have been planned to fall on Earth Day weekend: Daegu Green Living's seventh Eco-Film Night (Saturday at 7:30PM) and Daegu Bike Festival's second ride of the year (Sunday at 11:00AM). But there's more!

In honor of Earth Day - all of it, from 12:00AM to 11:59PM - all cars, buses, taxis, and taxis, and maybe even scooters will be prevented from entering passing through the stretch of road between Jungang Intersection (the corner of Daegu Lotte Young Plaza is) and Banwoldang intersection. The effect on air pollution will hardly be noticeable, but the ambiance of Jungang-no changes significantly. Here are some images from Daegu Car-Free Day last September:

F&*^ Off, cars!

There may or may not be live music.


Who knows who they'll hire for the big stage. Maybe better to bring your own tunes:


Lots of cyclists, tents, and wholesome noise:


Most importantly, the space freed up will be used for stuff like this:

All along Jungang-no, various eco-conscious organizations will be setting up tents, selling products, teaching arts and crafts, explaining this and that, and spreading the word about what they're doing to make Daegu, Korea, and the world a slightly cleaner place. If you want to know what sort of environmental stuff is going on in Daegu, and how and where and when you can get involved, don't miss this chance!

Noksaek Sari will also have a booth! Please stop by, hang out, pass out fliers, and enjoy the spring while it lasts^^

The festivities will likely start at about 10AM, but those who are truly dedicated/slightly crazy are advised to come out at midnight! A few members from the Green Consumers Alliance are planning to pitch a tent or two the moment the car blockade goes into effect, and then spend the whole night there at Jungang-no. Our plans aren't too solid yet, but they will likely include (live) music, card and board games, chatting and snacking, and maybe watching a film or two. Please join us - what's not to like? The YMCA has agreed to stay open and let us use its bathrooms, and, as we all know, kimbap and other snacks are available around the clock. Just bring a a tent, a mat, a blanket, a coat, a water bottle, a snack or two, an instrument, a game, or something to talk about.

Hope to see you there!

2011 Daegu Bike Festival, Round 2 / Earth Day Celebrations

The 2011 Daegu Bike Festival campaign kicked off on March 19, with nearly one thousand riders making a 14-km loop from the West District Office, around West Daegu, and Back. In addition to a massive number of Korean participants, several foreigners joined in the fun, including the first ever foreigner to don the shiny, yellow, slightly obnoxious staff vest then cycle to and fro protecting children and ajumma alike from the vicissitudes of Korean traffic:

More importantly, though, the following picture made it into several local newspapers:

Way to go, Shane and Aaron! How great is it to have some lasting evidence of foreigners participating in and contributing to a meaningful, barely-publicized event like this? Three cheers for integration! (Thanks also to Niall and Matt, who must have been somewhere else in the pack. Maybe if you wear badass sunglasses next time, you'll make the front page.)

So, let's do it again! 2011's second Bike Festival will take place on Sunday, April 24th in honor of Earth Day. We'll kick off from Jungang-no downtown and go for, again, a 14km loop around the southeastern part of the city, with a short break at Suseong lake.

The plan is to start with photos at 10:30, have the opening ceremony at 11:00, hit the road at 11:20, and wind down with prizes at 1:00.

Look here for a map of the course and other details, and click the big orange button to sign up for your raffle ticket.

As with all Daegu Bike Festival events, all are welcome and everything is free.

Hope to see you there!

Eco-film Night #7: The Garden

Earth Day is coming up and Daegu Green Living has been thinking of a few ways to celebrate, inform, and empower. Thus,

Daegu Green Living Presents / 녹색살이대구 보여드립니다

Eco-Film Night / 친환경 영화 상영: The Garden



Unfortunately, it looks like the official website is under attack at the moment. You may have to content yourself with the following trailer and description:

"The fourteen-acre community garden at 41st and Alameda in South Central Los Angeles is the largest of its kind in the United States. Started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992, the South Central Farmers have since created a miracle in one of the country’s most blighted neighborhoods. Growing ...their own food. Feeding their families. Creating a community.

But now, bulldozers are poised to level their 14-acre oasis.

The Garden follows the plight of the farmers, from the tilled soil of this urban farm to the polished marble of City Hall. Mostly immigrants from Latin America, from countries where they feared for their lives if they were to speak out, we watch them organize, fight back, and demand answers:

Why was the land sold to a wealthy developer for millions less than fair-market value? Why was the transaction done in a closed-door session of the LA City Council? Why has it never been made public?

And the powers-that-be have the same response: “The garden is wonderful, but there is nothing more we can do.”

If everyone told you nothing more could be done, would you give up?

* * *

The Garden has the pulse of verité with the narrative pull of fiction, telling the story of the country’s largest urban farm, backroom deals, land developers, green politics, money, poverty, power, and racial discord. The film explores and exposes the fault lines in American society and raises crucial and challenging questions about liberty, equality, and justice for the poorest and most vulnerable among us."

Where: Buy the Book Cafe, Rodeo Street, Downtown Daegu
When: Saturday, April 23rd, 7:30PM-9:00PM

As always, entrance is FREE and all are welcome. Have dinner with friends and then stop by, or enjoy something off Buy the Book's new expanded menu. Hope to see you there!

**In addition, please look for further posts about Daegu Car-Free Day, which will begin at midnight on the evening of the film, and the monthly Daegu Bike Festival, which will start at 11:00AM from Jungang-no on Sunday.**

Porin Shabu Shabu

Let's be honest: despite all the wonderful vegetables present in Korean cuisine, the salad bars here generally leave more than a little to be desired. Either they're ridiculously expensive (lookin' at you, VIPS and NOVOTEL), or they're filled with pretzels, taste-free iceberg lettuce, and out-of-season produce that doesn't even deserve the name (take that, Pizza Hut.) Is there nowhere we can go to find heaps and heaps fresh, local vegetable abundance?

Despair not! Behold, Porin Shabu Shabu in Chilgok.

Ok, so it's not exactly a salad bar. No raisins, shredded cheese, croutons, or thousand-island dressing here. Rather, it's a Shabu Shabu (AKA Chinese hot-pot) buffet. An analogy for the uninitiated: cooked directly in front of you in fine Korean DIY fashion, Shabu Shabu is to Chicken-noodle soup as Samgyeopsal is to microwavable bacon. The poster below explains how it's done:

Step 1) Heat up the broths; one spicy, one mild.

Step 2) Head to the bar and pick up a few plates of veggies and friends. Choose from about ten different kinds of leafy greens, chives, green onions, sliced potato and sweet pumpkin, tofu, bean sprouts, tiny ddeok dumplings, a few varieties of mushrooms, and more.*

If all the choices leave you at a loss, and if you've got a translator, read the explanations of each vegetable and its nutritional benefits. This "jeok-gyeo-ja" is apparently full of vitamins A and C and is reputedly good for your eyes, ears, and "stability of heart.":

Bring the treasure back to your seat, dunk, and enjoy. Dip in either Thai-style hot chili sauce or soy sauce with wasabi.

Step 3) **OPTIONAL** Add either seafood, imported beef, or Korean Han-u.

Step 4) Enjoy a clump or two of nice, thick noodles.

The sign doesn't mention Step 5: Go back for seconds.

If you were a rabbit in your past life, if you're into vegetables piled high, or if you're even the slightest bit tired of standard doenjang and gochujang-based banchan, Porin will be a welcome change of pace. Graze on more kinds of greens than you knew existed, then fill up on delicious pumpkins and thick, chewy noodles. Choose either plum or cinnamon tea for desert, and then enjoy a cartoony game of kawi-bawi-bo with the owner. Win and you get a coupon for your next trip^^

The details:
Name: Porin Shabu Shabu
Location: Chilgok, within about 5 minutes walking distance of HomePlus.
Veg*an-friendly?: The broths are made with some amount of animal products; customers are expected to order meat or seafood with the meal, and the staff are confused if you refuse, but eventually they'll concede.
Price: dinners from W9,000, weekday lunches from W6,500.
Address: 대구 광역시 북구 동천동 904-4번지
Contact: 323-6661

UPDATE: There's a second location (which was actually the first location) at 대구광역시 수성구 수성3가 5번지, on the green line right between Daegu Bank Station and Beomeo Station.

*Up until a few months ago, Porin's Shabu bar contained a good deal of organic produce. Nowadays, due to increased prices, they've had to return to standard stuff. Keep supporting them and maybe they'll be able to switch back!