Thrift Stores, Celery Root and Slum TV

Megan Sukys
01/07/2009

Sunchokes and celery root are winter vegetables you might find in a French garden. Chef Maria Hines of Seattle Tilth explains why she is working to bring Europe's winter bounty to Northwest farmers. We also check out "Slum TV" and examine the merits of thrift store shopping.

At 2:05 p.m. – The Works: Backup!

Computers and other electronics can be recycled so that their toxic innards are kept out of landfills. But, if there's still life in the machine, then it makes more sense to re–use it. Freelance technology reporter Glenn Fleishman joins us today to direct us to the latest step toward green technology. He also pleas for everyone to backup data. And finally, he suggests a way to ensure that your email gets received.

At 2:20 p.m. – Redeeming the Thrift Store

As a new year begins amid continued economic worries, retail stores are suffering, but thrift stores are becoming increasingly popular. Recently, Terri Thompson, an avid thrift store shopper, took on the challenge of inspiring others to shop at thrift stores too. She convinced a local builder to give her the keys to a model home and she furnished it entirely with secondhand items. As she tells Dick Gordon, the event was a huge success and convinced many more people of the value of purchasing things used. Produced by "The Story," which airs weekdays at 2:00 p.m. on KXOT.

At 2:40 p.m. – Cooking Klatch

Chef Maria Hines of Seattle's Tilth restaurant has been recognized by New York City's StarChefs.com for her wide reaching sustainability practices. She learned to cook locally and with the seasons in France. Now, she's working with farmers in the Northwest to grow unique winter vegetables that are more common in Europe. She joins us with recipes for sunchokes and celery root.

At 2:50 p.m. – Slum TV

Mathare is one of the largest and most notorious slums in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Many of its 500,000 residents never see the other side of the slum. Now, "Slum TV" makes that possible. Reporter Richard Lough shadows a cameraman as he captures the everyday lives of slum residents on videotape and then presents the stories in the monthly "Slum TV" show which residents say projects the real Mathare.

At 2:55 p.m. – African Cell Phones

The hottest growth market for cell phones is Africa. Even the remotest areas of the continent are getting connected. Cell phone users can now track crop prices, make business calls, and stay in touch with family members with text messaging — even in the midst of conflict. Nigel Marsh, World Vision's African communications director, offers an aid worker's diary.