Franklin Matters

Sunday, September 4, 2011

In the News: SNAP benefits, Irene update

Reimbursements possible for losing food during Tropical Storm Irene

by Staff reports

National Grid: All Mass. customers to have power today

by Staff reports

Jobs and the Massachusetts Economy on Labor Day 2011

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Noah Berger

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Facts at a Glance: Jobs and the Massachusetts Economy, Labor Day 2011

September 2, 2011

After a record-setting economic downturn that officially began in December of 2007 and ended in June of 2009, the US economy is now in a period of weak and fragile recovery, one that features both slow growth and high levels of unemployment. For many Americans, the current recovery feels little different than the recession itself.

This certainly holds true for the many Massachusetts families who have felt the direct effects of this historic downturn - Labor Day 2011 offers little cause for celebration among the Bay State's thousands of unemployed and underemployed workers. By many measures, however, Massachusetts has fared far better than most other states during the Great Recession and its aftermath. We have experienced lower rates of unemployment, lost a smaller share of our jobs, and maintained higher median wages for many of our workers.

A new Facts At A Glance, Jobs and The Massachusetts Economy: Labor Day 2011, provides charts and analysis of the most current data for Massachusetts and the US on unemployment rates, job losses, and median wages. The report offers snapshots of how these measures have changed since the start of the Great Recession and over prior decades. It is available here and at www.massbudget.org.

MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies, as well as economic issues, with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.

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Saturday, September 3, 2011

Community Garden Walkabout

Last Saturday morning, before Irene brought her rain and wind to Franklin, Chris Clay held a "Community Garden Walkabout". Only a few took advantage of this and it was worthwhile.

Here Chris is pulling up some mint which is prolific and he wanted to remove it before if took over the bed.

See how deep and expansive the roots for this plant are. This growth is just since May.

In the walkabout, as Chris and I took pictures, he shared some insights on what we were seeing. On the face of it, these cucumbers look good and healthy.

While they are healthy, the key to picking a cucumber is to do so while there are still some numbs along them. The dark green one in the center is a good example, the two lighter cucumbers on either side are bigger, less or no numbs showing and past prime for picking.

I have more photos and stories from the walkabout to share. The sharing is meant to learn from. I don't mean to pick on anyone for doing something wrong. I am learning so much from this and I hope we all will continue to share and learn and grow better gardens!

"a global fishing crisis that is masked by sparkling blue waters"

Revenga suggests that sometimes supporting policies that may be unpopular in the short term will be beneficial to all in the long term, such as catch shares/limits, no-take zones and fishing gear modifications. She notes that supporting local fisherman and fishing communities is also important. International cooperation is also essential, since more than 80 percent of U.S. seafood is imported and the FDA inspects a small fraction of it.

Consumers' choices are important. Revenga says, "Consumers need to ask questions and be informed. They can ask their stores and restaurants, not only where the fish is from, but how it was caught....The closer to home the better and the less impact the fishing method the better."

Environmentally responsible methods of fishing include: hook and line, trolling, traps and pots, and harpooning larger fish. Products that carry the Marine Stewardship Council label ensure that the fish were caught sustainably (www.msc.org). Responsibly caught seafood tends to be more expensive, but the price will be much higher if we do not take steps now to support conscientious fishing practices.

Friday, September 2, 2011

The demise of guys

Philip Zimbardo was the leader of the notorious 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment. Now retired from teaching for over 50 years, he makes this presentation at TED about the demise of guys.
Video is less than 5 minutes long. You may need to return and watch it multiple times!

For information on a related topic, how little time outside is creating a 'nature deficit disorder'

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to view the video on Franklin Matters