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!