Week 18 - GO VEGETARIAN!

Well, at least a couple times a week! Believe it or not, in this instance I am not promoting vegetarianism for the ethical reason of not killing a living thing for food. That is a perfectly sound reason particularly in light of the fact we can healthfully exist on fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes; we are omnivores after all. No, I am promoting vegetarianism for another ethical reason, the environment. I bet you have no concept of the impact raising animals for food has on the environment; I didn’t and you will be surprised!

According to greenpeace.org:

• In the United States, more than one third of all fossil fuel and raw material consumption is used to raise livestock.
• It can take up to 15 times as much water to produce animal protein as it does to produce protein from plants. According to author John Robbins in his book The Food Revolution, you could save more water by not eating a pound of California beef than you could by not showering for an entire year.
• Animal agriculture contributes significantly to global warming by producing more than 100 million tons of methane annually. (Women’s Health magazine adds, “cattle and sheep alone pass so much wind - that’s just the way they are - that they generate a whopping 18 percent of all methane, a greenhouse gas”).
• Livestock operations generate roughly 130 times as much bodily waste as the entire human population of the United States, which makes its way into the environment without going through the sewage treatment systems found in our cities and towns. This untreated waste pollutes American waterways more than all other industrial sources combined.
• It takes up to 10 pounds of grain to produce just one pound of meat. In the US, we feed more than 70 percent of the grains and cereals we grow to farmed animals, only a fraction of which is actually converted into the meat that people eat. The world’s cattle alone consume a quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people — more than the entire human population on Earth. (Also note, growing corn requires fertilizer, which releases nitrous oxide, another greenhouse gas. When you want to eat beef, choose pasture-fed cattle. I saw some in the grocery store the other day. Ask your butcher about it or visit eatwild.com).
• More than 260 million acres of US forests have been cleared to grow grain for livestock. In the Amazon, more than 2.9 million acres of rainforest were destroyed in the 2004-2005 growing season to raise crops that were used to feed animals in factory farms. Up to 220 square feet of rainforest are sacrificed to produce just one pound of hamburger.
• Due to the amount of land required to raise animals for food and the destructive effect livestock has on the land, animal farming is the leading threat to endangered species and the number one cause of species extinction in the US and around the world.
• According to the Worldwatch Institute, the meat industry is directly responsible for 85 percent of all soil erosion in the US.

Now that’s astounding! Who woulda thunk it? We thought we were just harmlessly enjoying our t-bone! I know most people are not about to give up meat completely, but I think we could give it up once or twice a week. If you are not motivated by the environment, you should be motivated by your health!

The following is a list of on-line sites to help you go meatless:

1. MeatlessMonday.com : A site dedicated to getting people to reduce the amount of saturated fat in their diets. They focus on starting to make a change one day a week; in this case Mondays. Search the archives where the recipes are organized by holidays, cooking methods, ethnicity and ingredients.
2. Allrecipes.com: This is my “go to” recipe site. I’ve used it for years and it just gets better. You can search for both meatless meals and vegetarian meals. What’s great about it is the recipes get rated which helps you decide if they are worth giving a try. Also, the little tweaks some of the raters provide, lets you know about some minor adjustments you may want to make.
3. Recipezaar.com: It has recipes for everything and they are also rated. Search for vegetarian meals and it will provide you with a lot of recipes for vegetarian versions of your favorites.

You can also peruse your local library’s collection of cook books. Or ask your friends what meatless meals they enjoy.

Listen, if worse comes to worst, how hard is it to boil up some nice whole wheat pasta and top it with plain or vegetable marina sauce, or fresh garden tomato sauce, or olive oil and garlic. Along with a side salad and a crusty roll, you’re good! The environment will thank you, the animals will thank you and oh yeah, your arteries will thank you too!

Week 17 - TIMBER!!!!!

I often see people sitting by their mailboxes, combing through their cache of mail. If they are anything like me, I know what they are doing. They are making piles. One, a little pile, with maybe 2 or 3 pieces of what we consider necessary mail and two, a humongous pile of useless, unwanted, invasive junk! I hate the mail for this very reason. I actually feel my privacy is being invaded and my time infringed upon because I am forced to weed through a bunch of stuff I didn’t request.

But junk mail isn’t the only way we waste one of our most valuable resources - trees. According to Conservatree.com “the average American uses an astonishing 730 pounds of paper product a year. Unfortunately, a scant 5 percent of our national paper consumption is currently made from recycled pulp.” When it comes to paper, we are once again, gluttons (didn’t I say that about gas? Hmm, I’m seeing a trend). Why are we so wasteful? Is it because we have access to too many things without any limits? Have we just forgotten the fact, things don’t always last?
Whatever the answers, I’ve found some painless ways to turn this around!

JUNK MAIL

NativeForest.org's facts on junk mail:

• The average person gets only 1.5 personal letters each week, compared to 10.8 pieces of junk mail.
• Each person will receive almost 560 pieces of junk mail this year. That's 4.5 million tons of junk mail produced each year!
• 44% of all junk mail is thrown in the trash, unopened and unread.
• Approximately 40% of the solid mass that makes up our landfills is paper and paperboard waste.
• By the year 2010, it is predicted to make up about 48%.
• 100 million trees are ground up each year to produce junk mail.
• Lists of names and addresses used in bulk mailings are in mass data-collection networks, compiled from phone books, warranty cards, and charity donations (to name a few).
• Your name is typically worth 3 to 20 cents each time it is sold.

The following is a list of websites that can help you reduce the amount of junk mail you receive.

Dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist ($1.00 fee) - removes you from direct marketing lists
Directmail.com (free)
Optoutprescreen.com (free; opts you out of credit card offers)
NativeForest.org

Keep in mind every time you enter a sweepstakes, fill out and submit a warranty card, or register for a grocery store’s reward card, you are being added to a list. Indicate right on the card/form you do not wish to have your information sold.

It may take a few months, but you should eventually see a decrease in the amount of junk mail you receive.

BUY RECYCLED PAPER PRODUCTS

The book Worldchanging: A User’s Guide to the 21st Century, states “it takes 40% less energy to make paper from recycled stock than from virgin materials”. Thegreenguide.com describes paper made from trees as creating a “double environmental burden”. The first from deforestation and the second from the papers subsequent toxic bleaching process. What does this mean? It means, buy paper products made from paper, not from trees.

There are 2 key things to look for:

1. Look for goods that have the highest Post Consumer Waste (PCW) content. The percentage of PCW in a recycled product refers to the amount of pulp derived from paper that was used by consumers and then recycled. This saves trees and promotes the use of recycled paper.
   
2. Look for products labeled Processed Chlorine Free (PCF). This means that no additional chlorine or chlorine derivatives have been used to bleach the final recycled product.

Also, don’t be confused by the recycling symbol on a particular package. This can be a marketing ploy and may just mean their product packaging is recyclable. Don’t just look at the symbol, read the label too.

NEWSPAPERS

• Recycle it - Americans throw away 44 million newspapers every day. That's 500,000 trees a week.
• Read it online.
• Ask your local newspaper to print on recycled paper.

THE COMPUTER

• Buy recycled paper.
• Print on both sides.
• Only print your final copy - an easy way to cut the amount of paper that goes into the trash or recycle bin is to perfect all of your documents before you print them. Run grammar and spell check to eliminate careless mistakes, and then preview your document in print preview.
• Use discarded paper for scrap paper. Keep a bin by the desk and encourage your kids to use that paper for all their arts and craft projects.
• Where appropriate, send e-mails and e-greetings instead of letters and cards.
• Pay your bills online - you save on envelopes (trees) and stamps (money and trees).
• Request e-statements from your bank.
• Sign-up for e-billing from your utility companies, banks, credit card companies and any other service companies.

IN THE KITCHEN

• Use less paper towel and napkins. Wipe spills with cloths and use cloth napkins. (I’m not certain how this pans out. Yes you use less paper thereby saving trees and the energy used to make them. However, you use water and energy to repeatedly wash the cloths. Hmm?). Marcal brand (found in several grocery stores) makes napkins and paper towel from recycled paper and do so at comparable prices. Seventh Generation has a line of paper products made from recycled paper. They can be found at groceries, health food stores and online. They are pricier.
• Limit your use of paper plates and cups. If you have to use them, opt for those made from recycled paper. Also, look for brands (like Chinet) that will decompose in your compost bin.

IN THE BATHROOM - Purchase toilet paper and tissue made from recycled paper.

AT THE ATM - Don’t print out a receipt. Here are the benefits according to idealbite.com:

• Less litter. Receipts from the 8 billion ATM transactions each year in the United States create a lotta waste.
• Easy access. You can view all your transactions on your bank's website, and some stores, such as Apple, will send an e-receipt to your email.
• Peace of mind. Misplaced receipts can help identity thieves steal your info.

FOR SCHOOL - School will be starting again in about a month.

• Purchase school supplies made from recycled materials whenever you can.
• Encourage your child’s school to use recycled paper products.

A FEW OTHER THINGS

• Think about whether or not you really require a phone book. If not, call and cancel it. If you do need one, ensure you recycle them yearly.
• Use your shredded junk mail as packing materials ( I used some of ours when I put away the Christmas ornaments last year).
• Money talks. Support businesses that use recycled materials.

I believe it’s possible to make a change in at least one of these areas. But if you do nothing else, recycle your paper and together we can save a lot of trees!

Week 15 - THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER...

We have about an acre and a half of sloped property with a 1,200 square foot house on it. We have no detached garage or other outbuildings. What we have is “lawn” and I use the term loosely. When we first moved to our home, my husband did all the customary things one does to a lawn. He fertilized it, applied insect control (which he now believes led to a few years of millipede infestation, since they fled the soil and ran to our house), over-seeded it, etc. However, one day it dawned on us, we have a hedgerow on one side, wild scrub on another and one neighbor that doesn't treat for weeds. What we were doing was not only bad for the environment, it was useless, and just money down the drain. So now, outside of mowing, we do nothing. We have embraced our weeds, and really, as long as its green (well most the time), we don’t care. Sure, we all admire a green, weed free lawn that feels great underfoot, but at what cost. To have that, it takes a lot of time, money and dangerous chemicals. So what are the alternatives? How can we create something around our home that is attractive, easy to maintain and is kind to the environment? Well, we have a few options.

Option #1: Practice Organic Lawn Care

1. Wean yourself off chemical fertilizers and pesticides. These chemicals have been linked to such things as asthma and cancer. Then you must consider how the chemicals can run into streams effecting wildlife and groundwater, potentially affecting us. Instead, fertilize by leaving your grass clippings in place. They are nitrogen rich. You can also purchase organic fertilizers (Concern and Espoma are two brand names), use dried poultry waste or cottonseed meal. Corn gluten is a plant food as well as a weed suppressor. As a weed suppressant, corn gluten acts as a natural "pre-emergent" - it inhibits seed germination by drying out a seed as soon as it cracks open to sprout. Buy the palletized kind and apply in the spring or fall.
   
2. Improve your soil. Have your local cooperative extension test your soil. Once you know what is in your soil you will know what to add to it to make it healthy. Lawns prefer acidic soil. Lime helps balance acidic soil, while sulfur helps with alkaline. You can also use, compost or compost tea, worm castings, kelp, fish wastes and other decomposed organic matter to improve your soil.
   
3. Grow native grasses that will thrive under the conditions around your home and in your region. Do not try to grow something that requires full sun, if you have a lot of shade. Nor is it wise to grow something that requires year round warmth, if you live in the Northeast or Midwest.


4. No one would like to be scalped and your lawn doesn’t appreciate it either. The type of grass you have will determine how much you should take off when mowing, but you should leave about 3”. Longer grass absorbs more sunlight, and in turn can develop deeper roots. Cutting too short weakens the grass and its ability to compete with weeds. Also, ensure your mower blades are sharp. Dull blades tear the grass and make it susceptible to disease.


5. Water only when needed. According to the EPA, “the average lawn consumes about 10,000 gallons of water annually beyond what it gets from rainfall. Nearly a third of municipal water in the Northeast goes to irrigating lawns“. If you improve the soil, your grass will develop deep roots and you will need to water less often. I have previously mentioned my “do or die” philosophy for my flowerbeds, and it goes double for our lawn. However, if you have a smaller yard, water in the morning (to reduce evaporation), until the soil is soaked about 6 inches down.

Option #2: Lose the Lawn!

This is my preferred option because you can create something beautiful, low-maintenance and environmentally friendly.

1. Now before I say it, open your mind, wide! FAKE GRASS. Yes, that’s what I said and before your groan, you need to check it out. It’s not the indoor/outdoor carpeting of yesteryear anymore. This industry is really responding to the increased drought in the U.S. and the growing environmental concerns regarding lawn care. True, it’s not for everyone and it won’t work in all situations, but it may work for you (particularly if you live in dry areas, have large play areas for your kids, dogs, etc). At least look into it. Envylawn.com and Astrolawn.com are decent places to start.


2. There is a great website called LessLawn.com that provides a ton of ideas for getting rid of your lawn. They cover such things as, where to start shrinking your lawn, "lawnless" landscapes and low maintenance lawn alternatives. It’s worth checking out.


3. A number of companies have created lawn mixes. They are a blend of short grasses, herbs, wildflowers, clovers etc. Once they are established, they require very little mowing, feeding and watering. They are pretty to look at and feel great underfoot. Nicholsgardennursery.com offers, “ecology lawn mixes”. The mixes are blended for success in a particular region of the country. Protimelawnseed.com offers a mix called Fleur de Lawn, which is a combination of small flowers, low growing strawberry clover and perennial rye grass. When shopping for a blend, ensure you are choosing one that is appropriate for your area.
   
4. Eartheasy.com has several ideas on how to reduce the size of your lawn and if you require more incentive to do so, here are their reasons:
   reduced water consumption
   saves time and energy on lawn maintenance
   less yard waste to be composted or taken to a landfill - a 2000 sq ft lawn produces 600-800 pounds of clippings per summer on average
   reduction in use of herbicides, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers
   reduction in air and noise pollution caused by gas mowers - lawns cover 20 million acres of residential land in the US, and lawnmowers account for 5% of the air pollution. A 3.5 hp lawnmower pollutes as much in one hour as an automobile driving 350 miles.
   enhanced biodiversity - varied plantings offer shelter and feeding opportunities for wildlife
   increased property values - attractive, low-maintenance landscaping adds value to the home.

I realize for some of us striving for a green, plush, weed free lawn is almost as American as apple pie. So if you choose to keep it that’s fine, just opt for environmentally friendly ways of maintaining it. If you choose to lose it (or at least some of it), know this involves an initial investment of time and patience. Sure, you can put new beds in or plant trees over a weekend, but it will take longer to see the results from over planting your lawn with a blended mix. Remember the adage, “anything worth having, is worth waiting for”. In the meantime, start thinking about what you will do with your time when lawn care isn’t eating into your summer weekends!

Week 14 - BYOB of water!

Bottled water is America’s second favorite beverage (soda is #1). As a matter of fact, we spend 7.7 billion dollars a year on it! Why? This is one of those marketing feats I talked about several weeks ago. Americans have literally bought into the myth bottled water is better than tap water, to the tune of “$10,000 a minute for something that is readily available for free”, (thegreenguide.com). So what’s the big deal about buying bottled water? You might be surprised by the negative effects this industry is having on the environment.

The following outlines the environmental impact of bottled water consumption according to ucsusa.org (Union of Concerned Scientists - Citizens and Scientists for Environmental Solutions), PBS.org and thegreenguide.com:

Fossil fuel consumption: Approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil—enough to run 100,000 cars for a whole year—are used to make plastic water bottles, while transporting these bottles burns thousands more gallons of oil. In addition, the burning of oil and other fossil fuels (which are also used to generate the energy that powers the manufacturing process) emits global warming pollution into the atmosphere.

Water consumption: The growth in bottled water production has increased water extraction in areas near bottling plants, leading to water shortages that affect nearby consumers and farmers. In addition to the millions of gallons of water used in the plastic-making process, two gallons of water are wasted in the purification process for every gallon that goes into the bottles.

Waste: Only about 10 percent of water bottles are recycled. Most bottles will be either incinerated or end up in landfills.

Bottling and shipping water: is the least efficient method of water delivery ever invented. The energy we waste using bottled water would be enough to power 190,000 homes. But refilling your water bottle from the tap requires no expenditure of energy, and zero waste of resources.

Cost: Bottled water can cost up to 10,000 times more per gallon than tap water.

Here are some additional things you need to know about bottled water:

According to government and industry estimates, about one fourth of bottled water is bottled tap water. Others say up to 40% of all bottled water comes from a city water system, just like tap water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standards for tap water are more stringent than the Food and Drug Administration’s standards for bottled water. For example, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) did a four year study of the bottled water industry (go to nrdc.org for the full report). The study found that tap water is often better regulated than bottled water and has to meet more stringent standards at both the federal and local levels. Cities must test their water for chemical contaminants at least once a quarter, but bottlers must only test annually. Among the 1,000 bottles tested, about one-fifth contained chemicals such as toluene, xylene, or styrene, known or possible carcinogens and neurotoxins. We won’t even get into the fact that “city’s tap water cannot have any E. coli or fecal coli form bacteria, while bottled water is allowed a certain amount of these bacteria”. Yuck!!

So how can we make a change?

If you don’t like the taste of your tap water or are unsure of its quality, you can buy a filter pitcher or install an inexpensive faucet filter to remove trace chemicals and bacteria. Brita and Pur are two popular brands, but there are several others so search the web. According to bottledwaterblues.com, the filtered water will cost you under 10¢ a gallon.

Fill a reusable bottle from your tap. Be careful in your selection as there are concerns about chemicals leaching from plastic. The best choices are: HDPE (soft, opaque #2 plastic), stainless steel which doesn’t react or leach, aluminum that has been coated on the interior and glass which is non-reactive and dishwasher safe. Whatever you choose, ensure you clean it often and well; you really don't want to be ingesting the bacteria that can build up. I know some of you will say, this is the reason why you buy bottled water, but really, how long does it take to wash a bottle or toss it in the dishwasher? Here is a list of companies from idealbite.com that make safe reusable containers:

• KleanKanteen – lightweight, food-grade stainless steel, with no toxic leaching or mineral migration ($14).
• SIGG – Swiss-made, lightweight aluminum bottles in cool colors and designs. The water-based inner coating is non-toxic and resistant to fruit acids and isotonic drinks ($20).
• Nalgene HDPE – can’t live without the old camping stand-by? Same Nalgene styling, in a safer, opaque plastic ($7).

Limit your bottled water purchases for those times when you’re traveling where water quality is questionable.

Finally, if you really must buy bottled water there is still two things you can do to help the environment:

1. Buy from local companies. You will help reduce the energy wasted in shipping. At thegreenguide.com you can find a list of companies for your region. And…


2. Recycle your bottles!

I think this is a big problem with really simple solutions. Bottled water is not a fashion accessory. If we have safe, drinkable tap water, why aren’t we using it? So much of the world’s population would give anything to have it. If every person were able to reduce there use by just ½, we would make a significant dent in this problem. We didn’t always have bottled water and we were just fine - as a matter of fact, I think we were better off!