Week 40 - New Year Resolutions

This week’s post is short and sweet:

Resolve to make more “green” changes to your lifestyle for 2008!

It’s simple. Just go through the archives (listed on the right side of the screen; point and click), and commit to making just one or two more changes you have not yet been able to do. I know there are topics I have covered over the past 40 weeks that I have not yet implemented, so I will try to “catch-up” on the ones I have missed.

The bonus here is, unlike traditional resolutions (losing weight, quitting smoking, drinking less), even short-lived success can benefit the environment and make you feel good about yourself! Give it a try!

Have a healthy, happy and safe 2008!

Week 39 - 12 Green Ideas for Christmas

We are just one day and a wake-up from Christmas and I want to gently remind you of a few ways we can help the environment once the pandemonium is over. The following is a list of 12 simple things you can do to stay “green” this week.

1. When grocery shopping for your holiday gatherings, buy local first and then organic (nice for you, if you don’t have to choose between the two).
2. Sample some organic or bio-dynamic wine along with your old stand-bys (just in case the former tanks).
3. Don’t use disposable plates and cutlery for your holiday gatherings.
4. When you realize you’ve forgotten batteries for some of the toys and electronics, purchase rechargeable. Remember they can be charged hundreds of times and then be recycled (at Best Buy, Home Depot, and Target amongst others).
5. Save any wrapping paper, gift bags, and ribbons that have not been decimated by your family, for reuse.
6. Use your Christmas cards for crafts. For example, kids can make ornaments for next year or I’m going to use mine for next year’s gift tags (cut out a shape, punch a hole, slip some of the saved ribbon through if you like, and there you have it).
7. Recycle any cardboard boxes.
8. Have your tree mulched.
9. Assess whether it’s time to recycle your Christmas lights. If so send them out and remember after Christmas is a great time to purchase new LED Christmas lights.
10. Grind the candy canes that have been on your tree to a powdered sugar consistency and add to hot chocolate, coffee etc.
11. When you are hitting the after Christmas sales, remember to purchase gift wrap and cards made from recycled paper.
12. When family and friends ask why you save this, recycle that, buy local/organic, use china instead of paper, tell them. It’s a great opportunity to get them on board!
    

Have a wonderful Christmas!!!!

Week 38 - Green the Next Generation

We have 8 more days until Christmas and I was thinking it would be a great time to introduce the idea of green living to your kids. While you are shopping for their gifts, pick up a little something that will teach them about environmentalism. The key is to not only give them something to create awareness, but to give them something they connect with.

Gifts Which Describe the Earth

Kids may have a tough time understanding the concepts of “the earth” or “global warming”. They haven’t learned the world extends far beyond their home or neighborhood. What we have to do is show them the earth and space, to help them understand there is more than what they can actually see. There are a few ways we can do this.

Globes - They show kids what the earth looks like. Kids always think its fun when you show them where they live, where other family members live, and where people on the other side of the world live.

Atlases - Like a globe but includes detailed information. Not only detailed maps but also detailed cultural information. So for example, when you tell your child to turn the water off when brushing their teeth because water is a luxury that the majority of the people in the world do not have, you can show them the different places in the world where people don’t have access to running water. It makes ideas concrete.

Nationalgeographic.com offers:

1. An extremely detailed (and pricey) atlas at $99 - $165


2. An award winning Atlas for Kids ages 8 - 12 at $24.95


3. And a Student Atlas for $19.95

Magazine Subscription - A subscription to National Geographic Kids is a great gift. It brings the world to your child. It provides information, photos, games and ideas on ways kids can help. Ensure you teach your child to not only share the mag with friends, but to recycle it too.

Gardening

What better way to teach your child about locally grown food than to give them a book about growing vegetables? Nothing is more local than your own backyard. If you include kid sized gardening gloves, a trowel and a packet of seeds, you’re child will be chomping at the bit for spring!

One of the best kid books about gardening is Roots Shoots Buckets & Boots by Sharon Lovejoy. The book offers a lot of fun activities for kids to do in the garden. There are projects like, planting a pizza garden and making a sunflower house.

Supporting Wildlife

If your child loves birds, butterflies, bats and toads what would be a better gift than something that will help them provide a habitat for those animals, bringing them closer to home for better observation.

Buy a bird house, seed and a book about the birds in your area. Purchase a butterfly or bat house and again include books about local species. Same goes for a toad house; your child will be excited to place it in the new garden they will make this spring.

Support Their Cause

If your child has a favorite animal, “adopt” that animal in their name. You can do this by visiting worldwildlife.org or your local zoo’s website. In most cases you get a stuffed animal as a thank you for your support. Wrap the stuffed animal with a book or DVD about that animal and explain to your child that you have adopted it. Go online together to see pictures and what the adoption means. Your child will feel very proud they are helping something they care about.

All About Recycling

Kids typically enjoy recycling because kids like collecting things. When they get older the novelty sometimes wears off. One way to continue encouraging recycling is to move the focus from collecting to utilizing. Crafts are the way to do this; here the focus now becomes the “reuse” aspect of the 3Rs.

There are many good books out there, but one particularly good book is entitled, Good Earth Art, Environmental Art for Kids by MaryAnn Kohl and Cindy Gainer. This book features more than two hundred projects, and includes ideas for painting and drawing, sculpture and mobiles, collage and printing, weaving and crafts, and handmade art supplies all emphasizing the use of found objects. So if you have a budding artist, this is the way to go!

DVDs

There are a ton of DVDs about the earth, the environment, animal life etc., but if there is one gift you get for your family this holiday season, it should be: The Planet Earth Series (I know I've said it a lot). It truly brings the world home!

With a little thought we can educate our kids in a fun way without being preachy or making them feel they got “ripped off” (present wise). When you give your child a gift that not only informs them but gives them the power to change something, you truly give a gift to the earth!

Week 37 - Take Out, Again?!

So here we are in the midst of all the seasonal craziness. We have so much to get done, and feel there is so little time. While we are tearing through our to-do lists, we realize we have forgotten to take something out for dinner! No problem, we’ll pick something up. But wait! Remember what I wrote about a few weeks ago? You know, the fact that the amount of waste we produce at this time of year skyrockets? Well here is an area where we can make less of an impact on the environment by COOKING AT HOME!

I know what you’re thinking. You’re stressed to the max; you’ve got to stay focused if the family wants a “nice” Christmas; something’s gotta give! But I don’t think it should be cooking meals at home and here’s why.

1. According to idealbite.com more than 15 million tons of polystyrene plastic is produced each year, but less than 1% is recycled.
2. Styrofoam is made using cancer-causing benzene and the brain toxin styrene.
3. Most of the take out consumed by Americans is horrible for the body. You need energy. Quality food and a decent night’s sleep is the only way to get it!
4. You know that holiday weight we hear about and/or experience each year? It’s not just because of the sweets and alcohol. It’s also the continual eating on the go.
5. Making a home cooked meal will slow you down. You will spend time talking with your family. It will help you relax and remember what’s important.

Here are some ideas to make home cooked meals easier:

1. Keep it simple. They don’t have to be big productions. A bowl of pasta or soup with salad and bread is enough.
2. When you are cooking, make enough for at least one more meal.
3. If you are making a big batch of something, freeze some and than offer a portion to a friend. That would be a much appreciated gift!
4. Freeze meals so they are ready to go.
5. Make the crock pot your best friend; nothing could be simpler than putting all the meal ingredients in one pot and letting it cook itself. This Christmas would be a great time to ask for slow cooker recipe books.
6. Organize friends and have each one make a large quantity of a dish to share.
7. Plan ahead. You know you and your family have to eat; meals should be at the top of your list.

So what can you do if you decide you can’t cook at home?

1. BYOContainer. It will reduce waste.
2. Don’t forget your reusable bag for the food to be packed in.
3. Ask the business if they have anything other than Styrofoam and suggest they change to something more environmentally friendly.
4. Say "no" to the extras: plastic cutlery, napkins, salt and pepper packets, condiments.
5. Say “no” do the umpteenth menu.
6. Recycle the containers the food comes in.
7. Recycle cardboard pizza boxes.
8. Dine in. Enjoy a sit down meal at the restaurant, instead of carting the food home.

You may feel you just can’t think about one more thing; but this is pretty simple. More importantly, making this small change gives us several things to feel good about.

• You help the environment by reducing waste,
• You have a better chance at maintaining your weight,
• You will have more energy to get things done, and
• You will spend more time engaging with your family, which is what the holiday season is supposed to be about.

Just think of what it will mean to the people that love you when they see how relaxed and happy you look, as opposed to frazzled and grumpy. You will not only be doing a good thing for the earth, but you may actually give the impression you ENJOY creating a “nice” Christmas for your family!

Week 36 - GIVING GREEN

Ti's the season of giving and receiving, so I thought I should discuss the various ways we can be kinder to the environment while doing so. Let’s begin with ‘receiving’.

RECEIVING

The most obvious way to help the environment is to ask for nothing. Consider if you really need more stuff. This isn’t as difficult as it sounds if you focus on the true meaning of the season. When my family asks me what I want for Christmas, I always say nothing. Although there have been years when my husband and I have stuck to that ‘deal‘, I usually do get something. Nevertheless, the truth is, I mean what I say. Maybe in time my family will believe I really just want them to enjoy the day.

If you do want gifts, ask for things like:

1. Tickets to the theatre, the movies or a sporting event. This limits packaging and gives you something you will use.
2. Ask that a donation be made to your favorite charity. This has zero packaging and helps others.
3. Alcohol. A nice bottle of wine or liquor is perfect. It definitely won’t go to waste and the packaging is recyclable.

GIVING

‘Giving’ is the area we need to work on. Most of us are generous and feel we are showing our love for our families and friends when we go overboard with the gift giving. This is especially easy to do with kids. On our eldest child’s first Christmas (when she was aware something special was happening), I bought so much stuff she was overwhelmed; she just wanted to play with the first thing she opened. Her glazed look made it clear I had gone crazy. So now, my kids receive three gifts each and things feel just right. We need to show restraint and realize we can show our love in other ways. Here are some ideas to keep in mind this holiday season:

1. Ask the person what they want and then GET it (it's not important if you like it or think it's a good gift). No fuss, no muss, no waste!
2. Again, as with 'receiving', give gifts like tickets to an event.
3. Make a donation in someone’s name.
4. Give gift cards. They allow a person to choose what they want, again reducing waste.
5. You may think it tacky, but give money. Kids love it (and adults do too)! If you can't go the cash route, buy bonds or contribute to a college fund.
6. Buy memberships to organizations like a local zoo, aquarium, museum, gallery or national park.
7. Adopt an animal through a zoo or the World Wildlife Fund for the kids on your list.
8. Give the gift of a housekeeping service.
9. Give edible items.
10. Give alcohol.
11. Give the gift of knowledge by giving books, movies or documentaries about the environment (or any other topic they may be interested in).
12. Buy gifts with minimal packaging.
13. Shop from your computer.
14. When making on-line purchases, have items shipped directly to the gift recipient. This reduces 'double shipping'.
15. Do not ask for boxes. Wrap gifts in reusable containers.
16. Try to support businesses that:

• Are local
• Offer sustainable products
• Are organic
• Don’t test on animals
• Give a portion of their profits to charities

Last and certainly not least (in fact, I think it's the most important), give the gift of your time.

• Try coupons for babysitting.
• A home cooked meal.
• If someone has just moved into a new home - help him or her paint or decorate.
• Offer to walk their dog.
• House sit during their next trip.
• Commit to have sit down meals with your kids.
• Commit to monthly meals with your extended family.
  

We are always rushing around. The days blend into each other and we wonder where has time gone? This holiday season, stop! Look at what you have on your to do list and ask, is it really necessary. When the kids are grown-ups, will they remember a particular ‘item’ you bought them, or will they remember the time you spent baking cookies, playing or just ‘being’ together? By keeping it simple, we not only work wonders for the environment, but for our sanity and families too!

Week 35 - HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Thanksgiving is over for another year and it’s time to turn our focus to the next holiday, Christmas. Many people bought their Christmas tree and began decorating their homes on the weekend. What is the first thing we do to our trees and our homes? We untangle the lights and get them strung. This year we should consider something new: LED lights. LED stands for light-emitting diode and its technology that uses very little energy. In fact, LEDs will likely become the norm in our homes; they are the next step beyond CFLs.

So what makes them so special, why are they better for the environment and why should we use them? The following explains all you need to know.

The Good News

1. LED string lighting uses approximately 90% less energy than standard incandescent string lights. The EPA says Americans will consume about 2,220 giga watt hours (GWh) of electricity with incandescent Christmas lights in 30 days during the holiday season. If everyone in the country switched to LEDs, it would save about 2,000 giga watt hours of energy. That’s amazing!
2. The product has a long life-cycle. LED string lighting will last for 50,000 hours or more. Obviously, replacing lights less often reduces waste.
3. Price wise, LEDs cost about five times as much as incandescent lights upfront. But remember, their life span is 50,000 hours, instead of 1,000-2,000 hours for incandescents. That means if you lit the LEDs for 45 days each year, 24 hours a day, it would take 46 years for them to dim. The LEDs would pay for themselves in about 4 years.
4. LED string lighting produces very little heat and remains cool to the touch even after hours of operation. In comparison, incandescent lights give off as much as 90% of their energy as heat. So it follows LEDs are safer to use next to combustible materials like say, Christmas trees.
5. HolidayLEDs.com has a Christmas light recycling program. Visit their website for details.

The Bad News

We will be seeing labels on Christmas lights which states they contain lead. Don’t panic, they always have, they just didn‘t have to label them. The wire covering of the lights are unfortunately made of PVC and the lead “acts as a heat resistant insulator and color stabilizer for the wiring“. The U.S. government has determined that they are safe when properly used. Even so, keep the following in mind to ensure everyone’s safety:

1. Do not allow children to handle the lights.
2. Always wash hands thoroughly after handling the lights.
3. Make sure curious toddlers (who want to put everything in their mouths) are kept away from the lights and any other items that may contain lead.

Regardless of the type of lights you choose here are two more things to keep in mind:

1. You can maximize holiday lighting savings by using a timer. Leaving lights on 24 hours a day will quadruple your energy costs--and create four times the pollution.
2. Remember untended incandescent lights can cause fires, so always unplug your interior holiday lights before going to bed or leaving the house.
   

It’s comforting to know we don’t have to “Grinch” Christmas to be kind to the environment. We just have to know what our choices are and when we’re ready, make the best one. I won’t be getting rid of my incandescent lights this year, but when it’s time to replace them, I will definitely go with the LEDs!

Week 34 - Real vs. Fake

This week is Thanksgiving and the weekend to follow is a huge Christmas tree buying time so I thought I should address the various choices we have in terms of what kind of tree to buy and the environmental impact of each.

Artificial Trees

The Pros

1. They are fire- retardant.
2. They can be used for years (although thegreenguide.com claims people throw away their artificial trees after only 6 years of use).

The Cons

1. The trees are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which produces cancer-causing dioxin during both their manufacture and incineration.
2. They also contain lead.
3. Many are manufactured in China.
4. They travel a long distance.

Fresh Cut Trees

The Pros

1. Although farmers may clear land for tree farms, the land is still being used for farming (instead of being developed into say, the next strip mall).
2. Although trees are being cut down, they are continually being replaced; they are a renewable resource.
3. Some claim the trees do not provide animal habitats, but I have seen plenty of bird nests at the farm we get our trees, so I beg to differ.
4. The trees can be mulched after Christmas.

The Cons

1. Land is sometimes cleared in order to plant the trees.
2. Herbicides are used in the care of the trees.

Other Things to Keep in Mind

1. If you can find one, buy an organic tree.
2. Buy from a local grower so you leave a smaller carbon footprint (an actual farm versus a tree lot).
3. This one has nothing to do with the environment, but taking your family to a tree farm to select the tree and cut it down, is a wonderful holiday tradition.

Potted Live Trees (perhaps the best choice)

The Pros

1. Live trees can be planted outdoors after Christmas. If you don’t have space, ask a friend if they would like it or check with a local park.
2. They are a renewable resource.
3. Even if it dies, it can still be mulched.

The Cons

1. Land is sometimes cleared in order to plant the trees.
2. Herbicides are used in the care of the trees.
3. Potted trees are more expensive.
   

Keep these ideas in mind when purchasing your Christmas tree and make the choice that’s best for your family. If you prefer an artificial tree (say someone has allergies), use it forever and pass it on to the next generation. If you choose a fresh cut tree, recycle it. If you opt for a live tree, plant it or mulch it if it doesn’t “make it“. Whatever you choose, just get the most out of it!

Week 33 - Greetings and Wrappings

As I mentioned last week, this time of year is when Americans generate tons of additional garbage that will end up in our landfills. There are two very wasteful traditions which come to mind, and to change them, we need to refocus on what is important. The first is the tradition of sending holiday cards and the second (far worse environmentally speaking), is the tradition of wrapping presents. We’ll begin with the perhaps easier one, cards.

Holiday Cards

According to the Greeting Card Association, Americans spend $7.5 billion dollars on greeting cards each year. That’s amazing! Think of what $7.5 billion dollars/year could do to improve our world! Why do we do it? Well, because we like to be remembered and we enjoy sending out holiday wishes and family photos to let others know we are thinking of them too. That’s ok. We just have to think of better ways to do it. Here are some ideas:

1. Send your greetings electronically

Yes, I know email seems cold and impersonal, but it really is the most environmentally friendly way (oh, and the cheapest). Just think about it.

There’s:

• no paper


• no envelope


• no stamps


• you can send your family photos


• you can mass email your family holiday letter (if that’s something you do), and make it as long as you like


• you don’t have to think of something “special” to write in each card (not to mention the hand cramp), and most importantly,


• there’s nothing to throw away after Christmas

2. Buy recycled

• If you must buy cards, look for those made from the highest percentage of PCW (post consumer waste). Sadly, according to idealbite.com only “a tiny percentage of the 2.65 billion cards bought in the United States each year are made from sustainable paper“.


• If you have no luck in stores, search online. Sites like paporganics.com and store.gxonlinestore.org offer organic cotton and/or fair-trade holiday cards. There are many options.

3. Make your own

I think it may be easier to find blank cards and envelopes made from recycled paper. So here’s a time when you can be creative or if you are not particularly crafty use your computer. If you don’t have the time, let the kids do it. Whatever you choose, the card will have more meaning to the recipient since the time and effort you put into it will be apparent.

4. Don’t send anything

• Make a call instead.


• Make an agreement with friends and family, not to send cards. That way no one will feel slighted if they don’t receive one from you.

5. Get together

I know we all feel rushed and stressed at this time of year, but we are in complete control of that. This year put the brakes on and only do as much as what makes you HAPPY! It’s supposed to be a cheerful time. Take more time to actually enjoy your family and friends. It really doesn’t matter if you give great gifts, if you’re miserable to be around. Stop with the gifts and the cards; give 'yourself' instead. Choose a day/night, a restaurant or bar, and meet your friends for a meal or drink. Have some down time, enjoy each others’ company and truly celebrate the season!

Now to the more difficult one:

Wrapping paper

Every year I think the same thing, “what a waste”! My kids take 10 minutes to undo a few hours of work and in the trash it goes! But what can we do because there's no way we will put the gifts under the tree “naked”? Well we can,

• Again, look for wrapping paper made from the highest percentage of PCW. To be honest, I don’t know how easy it will be to find.


• Use gift bags. They may be easier to find and can be used over and over again.


• Buy rolls of recycled paper and let the kids decorate their own. They will have no problem finding their gifts Christmas morning.


• Place gifts in items that can be reused. Boxes with lids, decorative tins, baskets etc.


• Make the “wrapping” part of the gift. Place items in a purse or scarf.


• Make gift bags from fabric you may have on hand.


• I had an uncle who was an artist of sorts. He gave us gifts wrapped in newspaper and foil. I always thought they were so cool, because they looked so different. Think of using things like newspaper or maps.


• Don’t even consider bows.

In general, try to think outside the box. If you do that, you will at least reduce the amount of paper you use. Keep in mind the focus should be on what’s inside the package, not what it’s wrapped in. And seriously when it comes to kids, they don’t care!

All this being said, I have to make a disclosure. I purchased both my wrapping paper and holiday cards just after Christmas last year; well before I began this blog. None of it is environmentally friendly. If you typically receive a card from me, don’t bother looking for the little recycled symbol because it won’t be there, I checked. But I will keep these ideas in mind for next year or any other time I send cards or gifts and you should too!

Week 32 - GREEN YOUR THANKSGIVING!

If you can believe it Thanksgiving is less than 3 weeks away; 17 days to be exact! We are heading into what is likely the toughest time on our environment for a number of reasons. Tons more trash; increased electricity use; astronomical fuel consumption etc. In the following, I have outlined what we can do to reduce our burden on the environment this holiday season.

Travel

Thanksgiving is the most traveled time of the year (think of all the fuel used just while driving and flying alone), so it would follow that two of the significant changes we could make to help the environment is 1) stay home and 2) don’t invite anyone over. HA! It wouldn’t be the holidays if you weren’t bickering with one relative, giving the silent treatment to another, and walking on eggshells with the rest! Seriously, to preserve this sacred tradition you should travel wisely. To do so:

1. Consider the distance. Do you have family close by you could gather with?
2. Maybe the long trek could become an every other year thing.
3. Spread fuel consumption around. Travel early.
4. Ensure your car is in efficient travel condition. Refer to my post Week 10 - Hittin’ the Road for what you need to do to make your car trip ready.

Decorating

Americans generate tons more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. So think twice before buying yet another new table cloth and seasonal decorations. Are you the kind of person that uses things over and over again? Great! But if you are like me, someone that feels the need to change things up every year, stop and think. Don’t buy, use natural things instead. Not only will you reduce what is sent to the landfill, things from nature can be composted and put to good use in your garden next year. Take a walk with your kids and utilize what you find.

Here are some ideas from care2.com/greenliving (visit their site for a complete list):

• Centerpieces: Pumpkins and other winter squashes, Native American corn, acorns, nuts, grapes, pears, pomegranates, and apples overflowing from a wicker cornucopia or heaped in a wooden bowl look abundant and beautiful in the center of your table.
• Natural napkin rings: Tie napkins with raffia and tuck in a pretty fallen leaf and an acorn, etc.
• Simple arrangements: There is a beautiful Zen simplicity in a perfect branch bearing colored leaves set into an earthen vase. Sometimes that’s all you need for a seasonal and dramatic focal point.
• Pumpkin vase: Hollow out a pumpkin and place a cup inside to hold fresh or dried flowers.
• Grapevine: Gather grapevines and twist them into garlands or wreaths for table, mantelpiece, doorway, or stairs. Add leaves and berries, if you like.

Setting the Table

Here are some dos and don’t for the table:

1. Don’t use disposable anything. There are enough people around (and the dishwasher) that doing the dishes will not be a time consuming chore.
2. If you MUST buy disposable, choose paper products that are biodegradable.
3. If you want something prettier, consider bamboo. Visit greenfeet.com to check out Bambu’s All-Occasion Veneerware bamboo plates which decompose in the compost pile in 4 - 6 months. Cool!
4. If your tablecloths and cloth napkins are in good shape, don’t by new ones.
5. If you have enough china, glassware and silverware, don’t by more.

I know us non-traditionalists feel the urge to create something new by using new things, but there are other ways to change things up without increasing consumption. Just follow the 3 Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle.

• The most obvious way to reduce is to borrow things from, and lend things to friends. Someone else’s tablecloths and china will be new to you and look fresh on your table.
• Shop at thrift or antique stores for tableware to reuse.
• If you must buy something new, ensure it is recyclable.

In general, think pilgrim. They made do with very little.

The Menu

This is my favorite since I am always up for a challenge. Treehugger.com has challenged us to have a “100 mile Thanksgiving“. This challenge is based on the book entitled “The 100 Mile Diet” by Canadians Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon, who made the commitment that “for one year, they would buy or gather their food and drink from within 100 miles of their apartment in Vancouver, British Columbia“; that is, food grown locally (see their website 100milediet.org for tons of info and my post from Week 8 - Buying Locally).

It’s an actual contest where you can submit your menu and potentially win a year of free organic milk, but that’s not the part I’m interested in. I just want to see how much I can get from within 100 miles of me; I think there’s a lot! For example, turkey, fruit and pumpkins for pie, the necessary dairy ingredients, potatoes and other root vegetables stored by local growers (each year I dig up my own home grown potatoes for Thanksgiving; this year I have carrots too).

I’m not going to get crazy about it because there are some things I just won’t eliminate from the Thanksgiving table. Cranberries come to mind. According to the American Cranberry Company (Americran.com): Cranberries are grown in the United States and more recently, in South America. In the United States almost all cranberries are grown in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington and Oregon. In South America, Chile is becoming a primary cranberry producer. I’m in Pennsylvania. I may not be able to get cranberries from within 100 miles of me, but I would want NJ or Massachusetts cranberries as opposed to mid- or west coast cranberries and Chilean cranberries are just out of the question.

One more thing to keep in mind is buy organic where possible, but if you have to choose, buying local is better for then environment.

The Bird

The piece-de-resistance, the star of the show, what can we do about the bird?

1. Loose it! Yes, all meat and go vegan! If you can do it great, if not read on.
2. Consider a “heritage” turkey. From The American Livestock Breeders Conservancy (albc-usa.org): “There is a movement to reintroduce different varieties of turkeys back to the public” (this is the same concept as the heirlooms seeds I discussed in Week 7 - Variety is the Spice of Life). “Heritage turkeys are raised outdoors, freely roam on pasture, and eat the varied diet nature intended them to eat, unlike most turkeys today that are raised indoors in confinement and are fed grains, fillers and supplements like antibiotics. Whereas conventional supermarket turkeys can be tasteless and dry, heritage birds raised outdoors are juicy and succulent and taste the way a turkey is supposed to taste (does that mean gamy?). Heritage turkeys cost more money, but consumers rave about the great taste and say once you buy one, you can't go back to the tasteless white turkeys found in most supermarkets. The one drawback to buying a heritage bird is that in many cases you must order in advance. Many farmers only grow enough turkeys to cover the demand, so most consumers order their birds months in advance.
3. If you aren't ready yet to buy a heritage turkey, or can't find one, your other option is to buy an organic and/or sustainable bird. An organic turkey is certified by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and must be raised under strict guidelines – no antibiotics, no growth enhancers, only organic feed, and the animals must be given access to outdoors. The animals can be a heritage breed, or the more common Broad breasted White.
4. To find a heritage, organic or sustainable turkey, albc-usa.org, heritagefoodsusa.com, or slowfoodusa.org.

What Next?

Since every one will be in a tryptophan induced haze, this would be the perfect time to discuss Christmas. Why not propose the idea that instead of the adults exchanging gifts, everyone could contribute the money they would spend to a charity. You can decide as a family what charity to donate to, or you can have each person write down their favorite charity and draw from a hat. Make it a tradition and choose a different charity each year.

Right there you will have one more thing to be thankful for, as you will have one less thing to do this Christmas. Oh and again, the warm, fuzzy feeling you’ll have from knowing you are helping others is nice too!

I have covered a lot here! Don’t feel overwhelmed! Remember it’s not about perfection; it’s about doing what we can, where we can! I will let you know how well I do on the 100 mile challenge, and I hope you’ll consider doing it too!

Week 31 - Scary, Boooooo!!!!!

Next week is Halloween and even on this scariest, and next to Christmas most fun holiday, we can help the environment by considering the following:

COSTUMES

I have never been a fan of store bought costumes, so I have usually made them for my kids. A few years ago it dawned on me it was taking hours of my time to create a costume that would be worn for about 2 hours of trick-or-treating. Our school district doesn’t celebrate Halloween and in all these years, my kids have never been invited to a party (we have only hosted one once). So I decided 2 hours was not worth my time, effort and craziness. Since then, I have purchased a few costumes, but usually we use things that are around the house to create them. You know, just like we did when we were kids! My girls think it’s hilarious when I tell them stories of how we would decide what we were going to be the afternoon of Halloween, go home, throw it on, and head out the door. Like in so many other areas, we have gone a little bonkers with this holiday. But it can be a little sobering when we think about what happens to all those costumes and other accoutrement on Nov. 1st.

One of my children will be Paris Hilton, and the only things we purchased was a blond wig and a plain t-shirt (which can be worn again) to do a transfer on. My other child will be a boxer. Again we purchased a hoodie (which can be worn again) and an iron on transfer. Everything else we have. They will look great and the only thing we will eventually toss will be the blond wig. Give it some thought and you will be able to come up with something terrific!

A few other things you can do is 1) rent a costume and 2) pass your old costumes on to others.

CANDY HOLDERS

Please do not purchase yet another jack-o-lantern bucket for your child to collect candy in. It’s just more plastic! Instead, a reusable, canvass or even grocery bag (gasp, if you have one) can be used; when we were kids we used pillow cases! If you must have a bag with a Halloween theme, use it from year to year. In fact, your child should only have one for his/her entire trick-or-treating career.

BEWARE MARKETING

As I mentioned earlier, we are getting a little crazy with this holiday (to the tune of 5 billion dollars). I should say marketers are trying to lure us into the idea that we have to decorate our homes (lights and all) as if it were Christmas. Don’t buy into it! It’s ridiculous! Carving pumpkins with your kids is enough (don‘t forget pumpkins can be composted). If you do want to kick things up a notch, search on-line for environmentally friendly ways to decorate. Most of the ideas are about reusing items. For example, you can use a permanent marker to draw ghostlike eyes and a mouth on an empty and clean gallon milk jug. You can then use some white Christmas lights inside, to illuminate them. Cute and you are using what you already have.

If you do want to buy the decorations, store them and use them year to year.

WALK (HUH?)

I don’t believe I even have to address this, but the last few Halloweens I have actually seen people driving their kids trick-or-treating. Come on! If I have to say it, walk with your kids. It’s better for you and the environment!

DON’T LITTER

Now some people may tell you to bring along an extra bag to hold the wrappers from the candy your kids will be eating en route. I won’t tell you that because your kids SHOULD NOT be eating any candy until you get home and inspect it!

But everyone does things differently and older kids go out on their own, so I might suggest you bring along an extra bag, to pick-up after less environmentally conscious ghouls. That way our neighborhoods will look nice the morning after Halloween.

BUYING TREATS

I bet you think I’m going to say something like, buy organic candy and chocolate. Well if you want your house egged or tp’d go ahead! Most kids just aren’t ready for that and you don’t want your money wasted. What you can do here is 1) buy the most amount of candy in a single package you can find (there are variety packs out there) and 2) consider handing out non-edibles that don’t require wrappers; refillable mechanical pencils for example.


This marks the first of a series of holidays coming up. For each one I will try to give you some tips for enjoying them in a “greener” way.

Have a really wonderful time with your kids and...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Week 30 - What's the Problem with My Candles?

While on this “going green” adventure there have been instances when it feels as though we have been doing everything wrong, as though we lack common sense. This is one of those instances. There we are in our favorite home store sniffing one candle after another for just the right scent to create ambiance and make our homes feel welcoming. Little do we realize we are contributing to the “dependence on oil” problem, diminishing our homes’ air quality, and along with all the other people worldwide who are making the same purchase, releasing tons of carbon into the air.

It’s true. Candles are wonderful. Scented candles can invoke memories of childhood, special occasions or favorite vacations. They can even imprint a memory (good or bad). Candlelight makes everyone look fabulous and really, is a romantic dinner sans candlelight, truly romantic?

We don’t have to give candles up; we just have to look for a few key things to make them safer for our environment and us.

INDOOR/OUTDOOR ISSUES

Regular paraffin candles (the most abundant candles on the market) are petroleum based (a non-renewable resource); you know the same petroleum as fuel. And what does fuel create when it’s burned? Exhaust. And what is exhaust? Pollution. This pollution contains carbon dioxide, which is responsible for global warming. You may say, “come on, I’m just burning a candle”, but think of it globally. Jeez, think of it nationally and that’s a ton of candles! Sure it may not be a major contributor to global warming, but remember we like the ‘every little bit helps’ philosophy. It’s what makes creating change more accessible and manageable.

By burning paraffin candles, we are bringing that same problem into our homes. There is a school of thought, which believes the soot residue from burned petroleum based candles is responsible for breathing problems in some people. True or not, we obviously want to reduce our indoor air pollution, not contribute to it.

So what do we shop for instead? Consider soy candles or even better, beeswax.

SOY CANDLES

Pros

1. Soybeans are a renewable resource.



2. You help support the farming industry.



3. Soya candles burn slower and cooler than paraffin candles.



4. Soya candles are cleaner burning since they are not petroleum based.



5. Soy wax is biodegradable.



6. Soy wax is easier to clean up. It is plant based; you can just use soap and water.



7. Soy wax is non-toxic, so it is safe for children and pets.



8. Scented soy candles are just as readily available as paraffin.



9. One additional bonus may be, if you have a company invested in manufacturing a “cleaner” more environmentally safe soy candle, they will likely use natural oils in creating their scents.

Cons

Soy is one of the most common allergens. If you or a family member is allergic, this is not the way to go.

BEES WAX CANDLES

Pros

1. They are made from a renewable resource, as opposed to petroleum.



2. They are cleaner burning and therefore produce less soot.



3. They last longer than paraffin candles. About 3 times longer since, they have a higher melting point.

Cons

1. These candles may not be easy to find. If you strike out in your area (again, buying locally is better for the environment), shop the internet.



2. Beeswax candles will likely be more expensive.

One more thing, read the label. You want 100% beeswax. Manufacturers can label candles as “beeswax” as long as the product contains 51% beeswax.

So why do I feel like we are losing our common sense, particularly when we are just talking about candles? What do we look for in a candle? Color and scent, right? We don’t consider a thing about it’s contents or how it‘s made. It’s superficial and we do it all the time. If you really think about it, that approach has put us in this environment crisis. I think we have handed over control of our safety. We assume (and remember the outcome of “ass”-uming), someone else is looking out for our best interests! Look at this Chinese manufacturing debacle. We need to be vigilant in our advocacy for our families’ safety and well-being. That includes knowing what we are buying. We have to come off autopilot, become aware, and make educated choices. Even in seemingly meaningless things like choosing the perfect candle.

Week 29 - Hemp Hysteria

For quite a while I have been hearing about hemp, it’s illegality, it’s ban, the environment, Woody Harrelson…you get the picture. All I know about hemp is, it’s a plant you can make clothing from. Well it turns out the history of hemp is pretty interesting and it’s versatility can really help the environment, there’s just one little problem. Read on!


History (from hemp.com)

1. Hemp has been cultivated since 2800 BC in China.


2. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington grew hemp.


3. In the early 1940’s, children participating in 4H clubs grew hemp.


4. Hemp is naturally archival quality and can be safely bleached using hydrogen peroxide.


5. The first paper was made from hemp as well as the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, the first draft of the U.S. Constitution, and even the first Gutenberg Bibles.


6. 90% of all ship sails from at least Fifth Century BC until the late 19th century were made from hemp.


7. In 1941 Henry Ford built a hemp fueled and fabricated automobile that weighed only two/thirds the amount of a steel car and could resist blows 10 times as great without denting.

Uses for Hemp (various sources)

1. Hemp is harvested for its fibers to make clothing. Hemp clothing is warmer, softer, more absorbent, extremely breathable and significantly longer lasting than clothing made from cotton. It is nice to have clothing that looks like linen, feels like flannel, and wears two to three times longer than other fabrics.


2. The seeds are an excellent nutritional source that can provide quality fats and proteins. The protein contained in hemp seeds is the most complete and body available of any in the plant kingdom.


3. Hemp seed oil is utilized for it’s healing qualities in many salves and cosmetics but can also be used to create paint, varnishes, lubricants, and much more.


4. One acre of hemp produces as much paper as 4 acres of trees. Also, making paper from hemp uses only a fraction of the chemicals required to turn trees into paper.


5. The high fiber content of hemp makes it a natural resource for building materials, papermaking, and even biodegradable plastics.


6. Hemp is a presently viable environmentally sound energy source.


7. Hemp is natures longest, strongest, most durable fiber. Just about anything that can be made out of wood or plastic can be made from hemp, and is biodegradable.

Why Hemp Is a Great Crop to Grow (from rootedtonature.com)

1. Hemp plants have anti microbial properties, so they are not very susceptible to pests and do not have to rely on pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides to grow. Hemp’s dense growth habit also crowds out weeds. These properties taken together make hemp a good choice for organic farming.


2. With a relatively short growth cycle of 100-120 days, it is an efficient and economical crop.


3. Hemp can be grown in cooler climates than cotton, replenishes the soil it grows in, and produces three times more fabric per acre than cotton.

The Problem

In spite of hemp’s versatility, in 1970 Congress designated hemp, along with its relative marijuana, as a “Schedule 1” drug under the Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal to grow without a license from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Although both hemp and marijuana are from the species: cannabis sativa, hemp contains virtually no THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Apparently smoking large amounts of hemp flowers can produce a headache, but not a high. Industrial hemp has no illicit uses. While it is theoretically possible to get permission from the government to grow hemp, the DEA would require that the field be secured by fence, razor wire, dogs, guards and lights, making it cost-prohibitive.

Have I mentioned the U.S. is the only developed country that continues to ban hemp as an agricultural crop? Britain lifted their ban of hemp in 1993, with Germany and Canada (which in 2005, tripled the amount of acreage dedicated to growing hemp to meet rising demand) soon following suit. Europe has subsidized hemp production since the 1990s.

So What Now?

From about.com: American farmers are intensifying their lobbying efforts to lift the U.S. ban. State legislatures in Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia have all passed laws that would make hemp legal if the U.S. government were to allow it. But a hemp farming bill introduced into Congress this past year [2006] by Texas Republican Ron Paul stalled out due to opposition from the DEA and the White House. For its part, the DEA maintains that allowing American farmers to grow hemp would undermine the “war on drugs,” as marijuana growers could camouflage their illicit operations with similar-looking hemp plants.

Okay I don’t know a lot about the intricacies of the illegal drug trade, but I do know marijuana is the least of our problems when we are talking about street drugs. I just don’t buy the idea we will have an influx of dealers growing marijuana by disguising it with an industrial hemp crop (now college students,…). Considering the fact one is able to say, mix up a batch of crystal meth in their kitchen, the logic appears outdated. It just seems strange that other countries have embraced it (they can‘t be any less concerned about their drug issues), while the U.S. drags it’s feet.

What We Can Do

On the plus side, the government does not ban the import of items made from hemp (what, people won‘t try to smoke their shirts?), so we can purchase them legally. We can help the environment by supporting companies that manufacture these items. This may also go a long way in showing a demand for such products.

If you wish to learn more about and/or show your support for re-legalizing hemp, you can visit votehemp.com. This website provides a ton of information: who is lobbying for what, where our tax dollars are being spent in the fight against drugs, why it won’t be legalized, the value of hemp etc.

This is a complex issue; one I can’t possibly sum up in this post. If you feel there is value in a hemp crop, you can email your legislators via the votehemp.com website. If not, you will at least learn enough about it to quell the urge to giggle and wink when someone says the word!

Week 28 - TAKE IT OUTDOORS!

Here we are in the first week of October and we are experiencing atypical summer like temperatures. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be hot anymore. I want to wear a sweater. In fact, snow would not bother me! These temps cause me to think about how the hazy, hot and humid days of summer can make working out difficult and push many people indoors to seek out the A/C. Any day now we are going to be able to take our workouts back outdoors without trying to cram them in at the coolest parts of the day (read: prior to 7:00 am).

There are many options for outdoor physical fitness:

1. running
2. walking
3. hiking
4. bike riding
5. rollerblading
6. stadium running
7. fitness trails
8. sports: basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis
9. playing games with your kids.
10. taking your yoga or pilates practice outside. And so on.

Outdoor workouts also have several benefits:

1. fresh air
2. natural light
3. clears the mind
4. boosts your immune system
5. it’s more fun!
6. stimulates the endorphins
7. focuses the mind and body
8. it's more challenging which means you work harder and in turn burn more calories
9. it's environmentally friendly

How is it environmentally friendly? Well there are many ways, least of which is the wonderful opportunity for learning when you take your kids along.

Consider the following:

1. The last thing you want to do is DRIVE to the gym to run/walk on the treadmill (run by electricity) or ride the stationary bike (also run by electricity). You can start your workout by opening your front door. Walk, run or bike directly from your home. You do not have to waste gas to get to the gym, where you will then waste electricity on cardio equipment.
2. If you are heading to the gym to lift or attend a class or you want to hit a fitness trail at a neighborhood park, make getting there part of your workout and ride your bike (or walk, run).
3. Unless you live extremely close to state, national or local parks/game lands/trails, you will likely have to drive there in order to hike. Take along as many people as you can in one vehicle! Remember to bring out anything you take into the area and always stay on the trails.
4. I do not belong to a gym. I have lots of “portable” equipment at home. When it’s comfortable out, I set up a circuit with weights, a step, a jump rope, the stability ball, mats, etc. I will go through the circuit a certain number of times or for 45 - 60 minutes. It’s hard work, fun, time flies by and I haven’t wasted gas, electricity or time.

Once you start spending your workout time outdoors, it will be tough to head back inside. So why do it? I laugh when people say its cold, or it’s dark! Maybe it’s because I am a Canadian girl, but I just think that’s why we have clothing. So many people hate the winter and suffer from seasonal affective disorder; it’s because people act like bears! Get out there! There are so many fun winter sports you can participate in which would make the season more enjoyable. Try it this winter and I promise you will feel happier. Find a place to skate. Load up one vehicle and go skiing. Purchase some inexpensive snow shoes or cross country skis and you can head to a local park or school to get some much needed exercise at this typically gluttonous time of year (again, you don’t necessarily have to drive there).

Obviously, it does get dark earlier, so use common sense. If you are on or near roads, you need to wear something reflective. If safety is a concern, buddy up. Focus on the fact you will be seeing your neighborhood in a new way (maybe a peaceful way) and that can be refreshing!

The last thing I want to say is likely the most important. Given our current environmental crisis and the deplorably high rate of obesity in this nation (particularly in our children), we need to take advantage of the gifts we are given to combat these problems. Luck is on our side since we can “kill two birds with one stone”. The key is we must lead by example. First, get your families up and outside playing and having fun. If your kids see you getting your exercise (especially if you are playing with them), there is a greater chance they will make exercise part of their lifestyle. Secondly, if you make the effort to take your children outdoors to enjoy the natural beauty, which surrounds them, you are creating future environmentalists and green living adults. You are doing so by providing them with the opportunity to develop a respect and love for the earth. They will care more about nature when they have spent time enjoying it. They will want to take care of nature because it will no longer be just an abstract idea; it will be something they will want THEIR children to experience and enjoy! Now what could be better than that?

Week 27 - One Woman's Trash...

This past week I went through my daughters’ closets and drawers. They tried on clothes, passed down what didn’t fit, and I was left with one huge pile for Goodwill and one smaller (but still quite large) pile too worn to donate. I usually think this is a chore, but this time I was thinking two additional things. The first was in regard to the clothing that was being sent to the landfill. It was a lot of fabric. I felt bad throwing it away and outside of making a ton of dusting cloths, I was wondering what else could I do with it. The second thing I was thinking was how donating gently used clothing to Goodwill, The Salvation Army, your church etc. is the ultimate in recycling. As a matter of fact the whole process is a lesson in, reducing (getting rid of clothing no longer worn; seeing what you actually have, so you know what you actually need), reusing (hand-me downs), and recycling (donating clothes).

What I think we need are more options for where we can donate our used items. No offense to the old standbys (Goodwill etc), but we can opt for not-for-profits that are a little more exciting and spread our donations around.

Donating Clothing

The charities “Dress for Success” (dressforsuccess.org) and Careerwardrobe.org (a member of The Women’s Alliance) assist women in being dressed appropriately for interviews, so they may obtain better jobs and become self-sufficient. They accept new or gently used: contemporary suits, blouses, blazers, jackets, professional shoes, purses, briefcases, scarves and jewelry. They suggest you ask yourself “what would I be comfortable wearing to an interview” before making your donation. Visit their websites for details.

Glassslipperproject.org is a wonderful organization that made me think of my niece (now in the working world) and how many beautiful dresses she had for proms and homecomings. They accept donations of prom dresses to help underprivileged kids look great for their proms.

These are just a few of the countless organizations you can find online. Keep in mind homeless shelters and women’s shelters are often looking for clothing donations for all ages and both genders.

Making $$ With Your Clothing

Clothing is expensive so it’s nice to make a little bit of your money back from your gently used pieces. This is especially true when it comes to baby and toddler clothing since they grow so quickly their clothes can often look new. Find a knowledgeable and well patronized consignment shop in your area (take a look in the yellow pages) and recoup a portion of your costs.

Another way to make some of your money back is to include your clothing in a “dreaded” garage sale. It’s true, clothing can be hit or miss but it’s worth a try. Unfortunately what I find in my area is people expect you to have ridiculously low prices. I have felt that if I’m going to “give the clothes away” I would rather actually give the clothes away. Things may be different where you are, so try it!

You can also post your items on eBay.com, Craigslist.com, quikdrop.com, auctiondrop.com, or foundvalue.com. Visit each site to determine what they allow to be posted and on how to actually do it. Always include a picture.

Sharing Kids Clothes

I have friends with kids in staggered ages and sizes. They pass the clothes their kids have outgrown onto friends with kids of the right size. I think it’s great. The kids love getting something that is new to them, and the little kids get a kick out of having something which belonged to their bigger friends.

Host a Clothing Swap

Do you have any items in your closet you haven’t worn in quite a while? Maybe your job or your (gulp) weight has changed? Whatever the reason, if you haven’t worn it in a while chances are you won’t again. But a friend may be coveting those items, so why not host a clothes swapping party? It’s simple: 1) invite friends, 2) set a minimum number of pieces and 3) let the trading begin! I think even ‘tween and teen girls would enjoy this.

Swapstyle.com offers an international completely online clothing swap. It’s free to register and there are no limits. Check it out and make certain you understand their terms and conditions (the site itself is not responsible for bad swaps, inequitable swaps etc.).

You can also check out clothingswap.org, swaporamarama.org and buffaloexchange.com for fashion exchanging events.

Sneakers

Nike has their Reuse-A-Shoe program (nikereuseashoe.com) which recycles old and unusable shoe material into basketball and tennis courts, soccer fields and running tracks.

From their website:

To keep our recycling equipment running smoothly, we have a few guidelines for recycling:
Athletic shoes only (any brand)
No shoes containing metal
No cleats or dress shoes
No wet or damp shoes

Check their website for drop off locations. If there is not a collection partner in your area, you can send any number of shoes to:

Nike Recycling Centerc/o Reuse-A-Shoe26755 SW 95th Ave. Wilsonville, OR 97070(Nike will not accept shoes delivered with postage due)

Here are some other websites to check out before tossing those sneakers:
shoebank.org and shoe4africa.org

Uses For Too Worn Items

I have to say, I have not found any exciting uses. There are of course rag rugs, which do sound pretty cool and seem fairly straight forward to make. There are also braided rugs. Instructions for both can be found online. I think what I’m looking for is a place to send them the items other than the landfill. If you have any ideas let me know.

This one is soooooo easy! Not only do we have a lot of options for how to reduce, reuse and recycle our clothing so we make less of a negative impact on the environment, we get to help others and save a boat load of money too! I love it when our choices are win-win!

Week 26 - CFLs: Yes or No?

Before I begin I would like to point out this post marks the half way point in my “going green” adventure. To date it’s been fairly easy and really just involves paying attention; being aware of all my options. In the last 6 months I have noticed a ton of environmentally friendly products hit the market, providing more choices at realistic price points. For me the most exciting thing to happen since I began this blog is, both grocery stores in our town now offer reusable grocery bags at $.99! I think it’s great because they are available to all, are more than reasonably priced and will make a truly positive change for the environment with very little effort.

Now onto CFLs a.k.a.: compact fluorescent lights. I have to say with what I’ve been reading the last few months, I’m miffed. Here’s why. For about the last year we have been inundated by media from various sources (including environmental and governmental) encouraging everyone to switch from incandescent light bulbs to the new energy saving CFLs. We were led to believe the biggest hurdle for us would be the upfront higher cost of these bulbs and were assured we would experience savings over time. Using these bulbs would greatly reduce our energy expenditure and many countries including ours, have plans to eliminate incandescent bulbs altogether.

What we have not heard is CFLs contain mercury and as such are considered hazardous waste which requires specific methods and locations for disposal. We also have not heard, if we break one of these bulbs in our homes we have a hazardous waste situation; we have released mercury into the air. What’s the deal? Have we exchanged one problem for another? That is, greater energy consumption for hazardous waste?

Well here are some key points from National Geographic News (to read the article in it’s entirety visit news.nationalgeographic.com):

1. CFLs' cool-burning illumination is made possible by a pinch of poison—about five milligrams of mercury sealed inside every glass tube—and the need for the element is unlikely to change anytime soon.

2. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin and long-lived environmental contaminant, and even the small amount present in CFLs poses a problem. When the bulbs break, either in the house or at a waste disposal site, their mercury content is released.

3. "There's a lot of misleading information out there," said Joel Hogue, president of Elemental Services and Consulting, an Ohio-based company specializing in the cleanup of sites contaminated with mercury. "But when people learn the facts, the level of hysteria dies down." Like with many other household products, Hogue said, the use of CFLs requires some commonsense precautions. But if a bulb breaks, his company's clean-up services are not required. "There's an extremely small amount of mercury in those bulbs," "It's a very minimal risk" and can easily be cleaned up at home.

4. One CFL contains a hundred times less mercury than is found in a single dental amalgam filling or old-style glass thermometer, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

5. A compact fluorescent bulb can produce the same amount of light for less than quarter of the energy and last eight to ten times as long.

6. Because of these benefits, CFLs are widely seen as an "easy" first step for nations seeking to reduce global warming. The burning of coal for electrical power is a major source of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is now widely believed to be changing the earth's climate.

7. According to a recent report by the Washington, D.C.-based Earth Policy Institute, a worldwide shift to CFLs would permit the closing of more than 270 coal-fired power plants. Switching to CFLs in the U.S. alone could save the energy output of 80 plants.

8. For environmentalists, the clincher is that by requiring less energy, CFLs will actually cut down on mercury pollution produced by coal burning, and the EPA agrees.

Okay! It’s #8 which puts it into perspective.

While the use of mercury in these bulbs hasn’t been shouted from the rooftops (although it is labeled on the bulbs’ boxes, but who reads those?), it's origins have not been explained either. We just know it’s dangerous. More importantly, the average person probably has no idea to what extent we are already exposed to mercury.

What is mercury (from the EPA)? Mercury is an element (Hg on the periodic table) found naturally in the environment. Mercury emissions in the air can come from both natural and man-made sources. Coal-fired power plants are the largest man-made source because mercury that naturally exists in coal is released into the air when coal is burned to make electricity. Coal-fired power generation accounts for roughly 40 percent of the mercury emissions in the U.S.

This explanations tells us we will have mercury in varying degrees, one way or another. But here’s the kicker: deliberately bringing mercury into my home! I had to really think about this. What other hazardous materials do I have already? Paint, cleaning products, oil, gasoline, batteries and I may have a couple tins of tuna. I think what it comes down to is this: these bulbs are something new and new things can make us nervous. There’s no doubt about it, we could have been provided with a lot more information AND I believe given the life of these bulbs, our government and manufacturers just felt they would have a lot of time to figure out pesky details like recycling availability and disposal procedures. They should have been upfront.

Our key concerns are how to dispose of spent bulbs and how to clean up broken ones. Here’s how from Energystar.gov‘s FAQ August 2007:

What precautions should I take when using CFLs in my home?

CFLs are made of glass and can break if dropped or roughly handled. Be careful when removing the bulb from its packaging, installing it, or replacing it. Always screw and unscrew the lamp by its base (not the glass), and never forcefully twist the CFL into a light socket. If a CFL breaks in your home, follow the clean-up recommendations below. Used CFLs should be disposed of properly (see below).

What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?

EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or http://www.earth911.org/ to identify local recycling options.

If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. CFLs should not be disposed of in an incinerator.

ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a warranty. If the bulb has failed within the warranty period, return it to your retailer.

How should I clean up a broken fluorescent bulb?

The following steps can be performed by the general public:

**Never allow children or pregnant women near the spill area!!
**Do not use a vacuum or broom!!

1. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
2. Remove all metal jewelry, which might attract mercury magnetically.
3. Use disposable rubber gloves, if available (i.e., do not use bare hands).
4. Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a sealed plastic bag.
5. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the plastic bag.
6. Place all cleanup materials in a second sealed plastic bag and put it in the outdoor trash container or in another outdoor protected area for the next normal trash disposal. Note: some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken to a local recycling center.
7. Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.

If a fluorescent bulb breaks on a rug or carpet:

1. Remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner, following the steps above. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
2. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag or vacuum debris in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.

For both:

1. Leave the window open and turn on a fan to air out the room for at least 24 to 48 hours.
2. If you've touched mercury or are concerned about your exposure, call the Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

Here's one more from me:

1. Ensure everyone in your house knows how to deal with a broken bulb.

I know it sounds scary! Initially I wanted them out of my house, but then I calmed down. I thought about how often I’ve actually broken a light bulb (maybe twice in my life) and knowing how to clean it up safely definitely makes me feel better. The next thing I thought was, how disposing of them is a pain. But 1) the mercury recovered is completely recyclable and 2) using them makes such a difference to the environment - so what’s a little inconvenience? In the end the answer to the question “CFLs: Yes or No?” is yes (I think, at least for me). But with this one, I’m not putting ANY pressure on you!

Week 25 - What's In That Polish?

In the past several years it has become quite a trend for women and girls to go have a "mani" and/or "pedi" at their local nail salon. Ten years ago this was not a common occurrence. I for one have never had either done by a “professional”. It’s not because the products used there are bad for the environment (and believe me, are they ever!), it’s because a) the salons smell horrible, b) you put your feet in a thingy that several other people have put their feet in (yes, I know they get cleaned but really how clean?) and c) a stranger is touching you (oddly enough, massages don’t bother me). I just try to keep my nails clipped and cleaned.

Manicures and pedicures make people feel good and I’m all for that. We just have to know what we are exposing ourselves and the environment to and how to make better choices. So let’s start with nail polish.

Nail Polish

According to Puresolutions.com, the major safety concerns of nail polish are:

1. Chemical fumes: Solvent-based nail polish formulas use aromatic chemicals that quickly evaporate, leaving behind a hardened coat of paint. Environmental chemicals do not simply bounce off our bodies in a neutral fashion. In order to prevent damage, our bodies have to efficiently process them. Most chemical that you inhale, will be absorbed into your blood stream, deactivated by your liver and expelled from your system (via your colon, urine, or sweat). Noxious chemicals like the ones found in solvent-based nail polish can place an increased burden on your liver. The more chemicals you are exposed to, the harder it is for your liver to function efficiently. Overwhelmed livers can set the stage for a variety of health problems. It is generally recommended to limit your toxin exposure when possible - switching to a safer nail polish brand is a great start.

2. Dibutyl Phthalates: Prevents nail polish from chipping. Prenatal exposure to phthalates has been shown in animal studies to cause birth defects. Phthalates also improve absorption of topical ingredients into the skin (this is a negative quality when used in formulas that contain other chemical ingredients).

3. Toluene and xylene: Petroleum-based organic solvents that are toxic and may be linked to cancer.

4. Formaldehyde: (the stuff they preserve dead things with, YUCK) Noxious chemical - highly toxic to the liver and carcinogenic.

It goes without saying these chemicals are bad for us. But to keep things in perspective, how often and how long are we exposing ourselves to them? Unless you have some kind of sensitivity or work in an industry where you have increased exposure, we are likely going to be okay.

The environmental effects however, are of greater consequence because of 1) the manufacturing process where chemicals are released into the air, are absorbed by the soil and can end up in waterways, and 2) although polish is packaged in glass they are almost never recycled since we rarely finish an entire bottle before throwing it out! The waste increases chemical levels in landfills.

So what to do?

If you want to continue using nail polish (and I’m certain most of us do), choose safer options. Go to cosmeticsdatabase.com, a cosmetic safety database which rates various brands of nail polish products and removers. Most popular brands of nail polishes (Cover Girl, Sally Hansen, Revlon) come in with a 5-6 rating, on a scale of 1-7, with 7 being the worst. OPI—perhaps the most popular brand of nail polish at salons—recently removed toxic chemicals from its products. So that’s some good news.

Don’t be fooled by the term “natural formula”. A solvent based nail polish can still be “natural”. If a polish is solvent based, it likely contains acetate. Read the labels and decide what you can live with. The safest nail polish is water-based.

HoneybeeGardens.com's Water Based Nail Polish is considered the safest, can be found at Whole Foods stores or ordered from their website. They offer both no peel and peel options. Their no peel polish can be removed with rubbing alcohol, vodka/grain alcohol or their own Odorless Polish Remover

Colornpeel.com offers ToeShades Nail Polish. It looks like a pretty cool product. It contains no formaldehyde or toluene; requires no acetone to remove since it just peels off; it’s low odor; it’s non-flammable and it will last 21 days or longer on your toes.

Here are some other suggestions from Idealbite.com:

SpaRitual Nail Lacquers - 72 different hues of vegan, phthalate-free polish ($10).
Peacekeeper Nail Paint - we like the muted purple Paint Me Grateful. All profits go to women's health and human rights orgs ($12-$17).
Firoze Nail & Skin Care Products are hypoallergenic & never tested on animals

Note: most natural polishes take longer to dry (remember they are lacking the chemical that speeds drying). Use a blow dryer to speed things along.

One other thing we can do is purchase the smallest bottle of safe polish we can find. Maybe than we have a chance of both finishing the product and recycling the bottle.

Nail Polish Remover

Anything that can take the finish off a table, eat a hole through fabric or discolor a carpet cannot be good for us or the environment! Nail polish remover is nasty stuff! Here’s the ingredient list as outlined at CareFair.com:

Acetone

Acetone is the main ingredient found in most nail polish removers and is a highly inflammable liquid widely used as an organic solvent and as material for making plastics.
Acetone can irritate and cause redness to eyes, but it can cause lung congestion and even shortness of breath when exposed to its’ vapors. The effects however are only temporary if exposure is minimal.

Toluene

A colorless flammable liquid obtained from petroleum or coal tar, toluene is found in many nail polish removers and is also used as a solvent in high-octane fuels.
Toluene can also cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, confusion and even memory loss in minimal exposure. Repeated exposure to the chemical has been known to cause birth defects in children.

Ethyl Acetate

This chemical has been found as a substitute for nail polish removers that label themselves as non-acetone. Ethyl acetate is a fragrant colorless flammable volatile liquid ester made from ethanol and acetic acid. The chemical is also used in perfumes and as a solvent for plastics.
Ethyl acetate has been known to have the same effects as both acetone and toluene when exposed to.

The fix? Switch to a safer product. There are a lot of other options on the market that contain gentler ingredients. Also keep in mind that non-acetone removers are no safer than ones that contain acetone. Try:


Suncoat Natural Nail Polish Remover (a number of on-line vendors carry it) is “an earth friendly product which is 100% Soya and Corn based. It is naturally derived from farm crops and does not contain any petroleum ingredients. Non-toxic, non-carcinogenic and is also readily biodegradable.”

HoneybeeGardens.com offers their acetone-free fragrance-free formula enriched with horsetail extract to strengthen nails, and fortified with vitamin E and aloe to soothe and protect cuticles.

Fake Nails

Sometimes I wonder what future anthropologists will say about our current culture. Picture it. There they will be, brushing away at a skeleton when they come to a grinding halt because several things just seem off. There's a pair of silicone “pillows”, the teeth are still blindingly white, and what’s that by the hands - it appears to be extra fingernails, decals and all! Can you imagine what they will think? Will it be as interesting to them as discovering say, the ancient Egyptians? Anyway…

Artificial nails are made from acrylic resins, residues of which can cause allergic reactions. The ingredients in adhesives used to secure the artificial nail to the real nail can cause irritation or reaction as well. Worst of all is the solvent used to remove acrylic nails: acetonitrile. This chemical breaks down into cyanide when swallowed and at least one child has died after ingesting a single mouthful of a nail remover containing acetonitrile.

Do we really need them? Instead, let’s try and take care of what we were born with. Consider the following:

1. Your nails are going to reflect what you eat. If you eat nothing but junk, don't expect your nails to be strong and healthy
2. Get into the habit of wearing rubber gloves as often as possible.
3. Wear gloves while gardening.
4. Moisturize your hands AND nails with lotion. It helps strengthen them.
5. Moisturize your cuticles daily.
6. Trimming your nails will keep them looking nicer, longer.
7. Keep emery boards everywhere and remember to file in one direction.
8. Don’t use your nails as tools.
9. Don’t bite your nails. Besides being icky, it makes your fingers look terrible.
10. Using a buffer regularly will create a natural low lustre sheen.

I think this might be an area where making a change could be tough. Sure we can take better care of ourselves and the environment by shopping for less toxic supplies (which are not readily available yet), but if you have the quantity of polish I have (3 females in the house) it’s going to take a while to make this change. It’s not an area I would feel comfortable just dumping what I have and starting over because it would be releasing more toxins into the environment. So we just have to be patient, use what we have with care and make better choices in the future!

Week 24 - Back To School

For most kids, school began last Tuesday and like my family many of you did the traditional back-to-school shopping for supplies (yes I realize I am a little late with this post, but we buy school stuff throughout the year so I think it's still pertinent). It’s always a little exciting picking out the new items that will help get the year off to a good start. The question is: were you thinking green? No doubt about it many environmentally friendly school supplies cost more (a lot more). Prices are slowly coming down, but I won’t be fully on board until they are comparable. Still, there are areas we can make a change and not take a big financial hit.

To start, here is the World Wildlife Fund’s list of 10 ways to green your child’s backpack and my commentary on each tip:

1) See if there are things such as pencils and pens, left over from last year that can be used this fall.

Besides, pencils and pens etc. determine if your child really needs a new backpack, or book bag? Does your child really need a new lunchbox? (I have to say we have a lot of backpacks from previous years. We use them to store toys and such, so they are being reused but it is kind of crazy). Once you know what you need, it’s time to shop.

2) Look for school supplies—folders, notebooks, staples—made of recycled materials. Using recycled products helps save landfill space and cut pollution.

I’ve said it once, twice, maybe 20 times, buy recycled paper! That is, paper made from paper. Look for paper with the highest post-consumer waste content. Do this for computer paper, notebooks, composition books etc.

3) Try finding back-to-school deals on the Web. Ordering school supplies online or by phone saves you a trip to the store as well as the fuel needed to drive from store to store.

Okay, this one is just dumb. Do the supplies walk to your house? Someone is doing the driving, either you or the shipping company. I think it’s a net zero. It might be a good idea to use the internet to determine who has most of the supplies your are looking for, and then make one trip to that particular store. Don't spend forever driving around looking for that one specific pencil!

4) Look for the FSC label on pencils and paper. Many paper products are made from trees specifically grown and harvested for papermaking, thus sparing delicate rainforest ecosystems. The Forest Stewardship Council certifies that wood and paper products are grown and managed responsibly.

Other ways to be environmentally friendly when it comes to pencils are:

a) Buy refillable pencils made from recycled plastic (make sure you check with your child’s school about this, our school does not allow them).


b) Purchase Papermate’s EarthWrite Recycled Pencils. These No. 2 pencils, which contain 100% recycled materials, can be easily found (Staples, Office Depot, etc.).


c) Consider buying Smencils. Smencils are “gourmet scented pencils made from recycled newspapers”. They are made by wrapping newspaper around a #2 graphite core and come in 10 scents: bubble-gum, cherry, popcorn, grape, chocolate, cotton candy, watermelon, orange, very-berry and root beer. Cost: $.66 - $1.00/pencil.


Here are more Smencil facts:

• An average sized cedar tree will make about 172,000 wood pencils.
• 172,000 Smencils can be made from 430 newspapers.
• Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times saves about 75,000 trees.
• The average tree can filter about 60 pounds of air pollution per year.
• If everyone in the US recycled just 10% of their newspapers, we would save about 25 million trees each year.
  

5) Purchase supplies with minimal packaging. Packaging makes up about a third of the garbage that piles up in landfills. Also, less processing and packaging means less energy goes into production, and less global warming pollution is created.

Buy in bulk!

6) Brown bag meals and avoid plastic. Pack school lunches in brown, unbleached, recycled paper bags whenever possible. And if your child has a favorite superhero, there's a good chance the character is printed on a re-usable lunchbox.

Buy reusable containers for sandwiches and snacks. Using 2-3 bags per lunch creates a lot of unnecessary waste and expense! It is estimated that each student generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That equates to 18,760 pounds of lunch waste for just one average-size elementary school!

Also check out wastefreelunches.org which provides information about how to pack a waste free lunch and where to get a "laptop lunch box" with reusable containers that neatly fit into a lunch box.

7) Prepare lunches using local produce. Be aware of the distances food travels and the emissions necessary to ship and truck it there. Although broccoli is grown at nearby farms, the ones that shoppers pick up at the supermarket traverse an average distance of 1,800 miles.

We are getting into harvest time and there will be a lot of fresh and nutritious foods to choose from. By shopping locally you not only help the environment, you support your local farmers and boost the economy.

8) Refill water bottles. Don't throw them away. One and a half million tons of plastic are used to bottle water every year. Such large-scale manufacturing and disposal of water bottles can release toxic chemicals into the environment.

In a previous post I outlined the types of water bottles to choose. Consider purchasing one not just for your child’s lunch, but also if your child participates in after school sports.

9) Look for laptops made by companies working to reduce their global emissions. The ENERGY STAR sticker is a good tip-off that a product is compliant with EPA guidelines. Some backpacks even have built-in solar panels to provide an eco-friendly way to power laptops. Also, turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.

10) Walk or bike to school, not only to get exercise but also to benefit the environment. By burning calories walking, you and your child don’t burn a vehicle's gasoline and thus do your part to help reduce global warming. Surely, the PE instructor will approve.

Unfortunately we are not able to do this. But if your school is nearby and doesn’t involve crossing dangerous roads, try this!

Do you need more ideas? Okay. You can,

11) Reuse book covers until they can be used no more. You can even use brown paper bags from your groceries to cover your child‘s textbooks (you shouldn’t really have brown paper bags because you have been shopping with your reusable bags, right?). Your child can then decorate them any way s(he) wants.

12) Reuse last year’s plastic art or pencil box by decorating it for a new look. There’s no need to buy another one, but if you do ensure it is recyclable.

13) Try to buy water-based paints and soy-based crayons, which are better for the environment than oil-based products. Prang makes Soybean Crayons which cost $1 for 8.

• Soy crayons have the following advantages:
• Soy crayons are easier to use: they glide smoother and don’t flake.
• The colors of the soy crayons are brighter.
• They are safer for children (less toxic).
• Soy crayons are better for the environment. Soy crayons are completely biodegradable and are made from renewable resources.

Also check out crp3.tripod.com which has a cool crayon recycling program (a neat way for little kids to learn about recycling).

Finally…

14) Support companies and businesses that manufacture and/or sell recycled products.

Office Depot sells products by Mead and Second Nature, which include notebook paper, bound notebooks, and other paper products (50% recycled paper, 30% post-consumer waste). Dixon-Ticonderoga pencils made from certified sustainable-harvest wood; and EnviroTech products, which have a higher recycled content.

Staples sells Ampad Recycled Notebooks (50% recycled content, 20% PCW), Staples Recycled copy paper (30% PCW), Earthwise Recycled Composition Book (100% recycled), Southworth 25% Cotton Recycled Paper.

Many Glad (TM) products are made with polypropylene and are PVC-free, including Glad bags, Gladware reusable containers, and Glad plastic wrap. Avoid #3 plastics.

More and more options are becoming available all the time. Instead of reaching for the same old thing take a look around, there is likely an environmentally sound option right next to it. Be sure to read the packaging as everyone is sticking the words eco, green, and environmentally friendly on everything. Know what you are buying and feel proud that you are sending your children back to school with their first lesson already under their belts. That is, how to be a socially and environmentally responsible citizen!