The Green Community week in review: Slow Food Tampa Bay meeting, GM alfalfa controversy, Google maps lists EV charging stations and more

What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed last week:

Genetically modified alfalfa controversy in review – Alfalfa is commonly known to be the fourth most grown crop in the United States. Farmers use the millions of acres of alfalfa to produce forage seed and hay for cows and other livestock. The controversy surrounding United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved planting of genetically modified (GM) alfalfa has everyone in an uproar.

EarthTalk: Pesticide use and thyroid disease connection? – The nonprofit group Beyond Pesticides warns that some 60 percent of pesticides used today have been shown to affect the thyroid gland’s production of T3 and T4 hormones. Commercially available insecticides and fungicides have also been implicated. Women are most at risk.

Sustainable Floridians Master Volunteer Program – Its goal is to teach participants about utilizing sustainability in their everyday lives. Participants will explore values, attitudes and sustainable actions through discussion and hands-on learning.

This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2011.