Week 52 - Spread the Word!!

We made it! Fifty two weeks of environmentally friendly ideas, topics and ways to take action.

Key Lessons Learned

1. We kind of go through life with blinders on. Once you choose to take a look, it's apparent we can make small changes that have a big impact. Which leads me to...


2. Living in a more environmentally friendly way is easy once you know you have options. Doing research to discover those options was one of my favorite things about going green and writing this blog.


3. It's possible to make changes that aren't going to make your wallet suffer. If you remember from my introduction, I wasn't going to commit to things that were ridiculously priced; changes had to stay within my budget, and for the most part they did.

Changes with Big Impact

I made a lot of changes in how my family lives. The following made a difference in a big way:

1. Recycling - this is likely the change that takes the most time, because it's ongoing. But going to the Recycling Center a few times a month isn't a big deal. It was immediate gratification. I could see how much less we were sending to the landfill.


2. Reusable Bags - this is one of my favorites. A couple months after I purchased my bags, the grocery stores in town started selling them. I have been asked about them often and store clerks have expressed how they wish more people would use them (younger clerks in particular). I used to have plastic bags exploding from my pantry; now I currently have one.


3. Reusable Containers for Lunches - my kids' lunches are now almost waste free. We purchased containers for them to use over and over. Obviously we have to wash them between uses, but it's a small price to pay.

What Now?

One thing I came to realize was change takes time. There were different things I wanted to do but couldn't fit them in when I wrote about them. Take composting for example. I already have the compost bin. I just have to do some repairs to it, buy a compost pail for my kitchen and start adding to it. I will try to have this done by Spring.

So that's my plan. I will go back to see what changes I haven't set into motion and try to accomplish them. I encourage you, to do the same.

One Last Thought

For the last few weeks I have been thinking about how I should end this blog; thinking about what my final suggestion for helping the environment should be. Here it is: start an eco-conversation everywhere you go. You don't have to take it to the extreme and say, write a blog about it and you don't have to "hit people over the head" either. When opportunities present themselves, share what you know (and at this point you know a lot). If you don't feel comfortable talking, share this blog (it will still be here, I just won't be adding to it).

To close, I would just like to say thank you for going on this journey with me. I hope it has been as interesting, informative and persuasive for you, as it has been for me!

Week 51 - Go Fish, but Keep This in Mind

From the edf.org (The Environmental Defense Fund): "According to a 2006 report in the journal Science, several of the world’s leading marine biologists concluded that, if bad fishing practices continued, in a worse-case scenario all fish and seafood species worldwide would crash by 2048. Worldwide, it is estimated that some 90 percent of species of large predatory fish are gone. Domestically, of 230 assessed U.S. fisheries, 54 stocks are classified as over-fished, 45 are experiencing over-fishing, and the status of just over half of the nation’s stocks are unknown".

We have all heard about the health benefits of eating fish. What we don't hear a lot about is how to:

1. Choose eco-friendly fish


2. Avoid buying over-fished species, and


3. Avoid mercury/PCB contaminated fish.

To make the best choice for the environment and your family, visit the following websites before your next trip to the seafood counter.

Oceansalive.org

This is a fabulous website, with tons of environmental and health information.

Under 'features' click on 'seafood choices'. This takes you to a page that lists various fish as being: eco-friendly, eco-o.k., or eco-worst, and provides a description of what these terms mean.

They also provide:

• A Health Alert chart. This chart lists all the fish and how many servings/month are safe (due to mercury and PCBs) for men, women, older kids and younger kids. I have to say, I was quite surprised at the number of fish that are not safe to eat at all, and at the low number of suggested servings for older and younger kids.
  
• Recipes for eco-friendly fish


• Alternative eco-friendly choices which are similar in flavor and/or texture for the 'eco-o.k.' and 'eco-worst' fish. .


• A printable pocket guide to keep in your wallet.

Blueocean.org

Blue Ocean Institute Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood. Click on "Click here to learn all about your seafood".

Blue Ocean uses a Fish Key to rate the fish. It also indicates the best environmental choice with a check mark and uses a red flag to indicate which fish are contaminated.

They also provide:

• FishPhone (fishphone.org): Blue Ocean’s new sustainable seafood text messaging service (see their website for details on how to access it).


• A down loadable pocket guide.


• The ability to search for your favorite species.

NRDC.org

The Natural Resources Defense Council has a down loadable wallet card. The card rates seafood according to how much mercury it contains, and tells us how many servings are advisable.

They also provide:

• A lot of information about what mercury is, where it's found, and how to protect your family.

Why Should We Care?

1. A lot of the world population relies on fish for food and fishing for income. Yes these same countries are often responsible for a lot of the over fishing (there's enough blame to go around). Someone needs to step up and convince them this is not the way to go; that current practices are a threat to their livelihood. We can send that message by not buying their product.
   
2. Obviously, we want aquatic life. I don't think any of us support the extinction of any animal. The loss of sea creatures would be the start of a disastrous domino effect. Think of all the animals (bears, birds, and people) that eat fish.


3. The amount of mercury, PCBs and other contaminants in fish is staggering. If what industries dump (both in our waterways and into the air) is left unchecked (or at current standards), we won't have any safe fish to eat. What can we do? Vote for a candidate who supports the Clean Air /Water Act and its expansion.

I believe all of us can make this very simple change. It just takes a click of the mouse and you will have in your hand all you need to make an environmentally friendly choice every time you shop. It's good for the earth and your family. One more win-win!

Week 50 - The 3Rs of Sports Equipment

We are now into March and the spring athletic season if off and running. Kids have begun practice and parents are digging deep to ensure their children have the newest and coolest sports equipment. Before you go out and drop a ridiculous amount of money on new equipment, consider swapping or purchasing used equipment. That's right. Once again, I'm talking about the 3 Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle.

The Why

There are several reasons to consider swapping or purchasing used equipment.

• It's cheaper (and the items generally look 'almost new' or better).
• It keeps stuff out of landfills
• It reduces the number of resources used to manufacture and transport items.

The How

1. Try a No Cost Exchange (like Freecycle.org)

From their website: The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,281 groups with 4,622,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns.

They have everything. Go to their site and sign-up (it's free). You can then browse by county or town. If your community doesn't have a group, start one!

Freecycle's purpose is to keep stuff out of the landfill and to help reduce consumption.

Another notable exchange site is Craigslist.com.

2. Purchase Used Sports Equipment

There are a number of ways to purchase used equipment.

Play it Again Sports: This is a nationwide used sports equipment chain. Visit their website at playitagainsports.com to locate one in your area. Before you go, make a phone call to see if they have what you're looking for.

EBay (ebay.com): This online auction site offers everything you can imagine. You can choose to bid on items, or buy them outright.

Recycling Sports (recyclingsports.com): Online classifieds for used sports equipment. According to their site: Sellers are charged a $1.00 listing fee for posting and a closing fee of 2% of the sales price when the item is purchased. Visit the site for details.

Garage Sales: Spring not only brings sports, it also brings garage sales. Obviously you won't be able to anticipate what you may find, but keep an eye out anyway.

Swap or Give Your Stuff to Friends: We all have friends with kids at various stages of growth. Swap equipment with them just like you would clothes. If you can't swap, give your stuff to someone you know. You may not get equipment you need right now, but its great karma and you may get something else you need in the future.

Donate: If you don't have friends that can use your equipment, donate your items to Boys/Girls Clubs, after school programs, coaches or Goodwill.

3. Still Not on Board?

If you still are not convinced that used equipment is the way to go, ask yourself these questions:

How old is my kid and is s/he still growing?

Keep in mind your child may only be using a particular piece of equipment for one season (if you're lucky - think shoes). Why spend so much on brand new. Help the environment and your wallet by borrowing or buying previously owned.

Is this the first time my child is trying a sport or does my kid change sports at the drop of a hat?

If your child hasn't made a commitment to a sport, don't commit with your cash or environmental resources.

Is it important to ME or my child if something is brand new and/or a particular brand?

Does your five year old really need brand new Nike cleats? That's a purchase parents make for themselves.

We often want to put the affects of branding off on the kids ("they just have to have that name brand"), but it's often our own ideas of giving our children the very "best" that motivates us. I would rather have my kids understand everything is not disposable; that when we have something, we should use it up and not cast it aside because something supposedly better has come along. That way of thinking has put us in this environmental crisis.

I understand when our kids get older (or if our child honestly shows exceptional talent in a sport), it gets more difficult. But try not to assume what your child's response to previously owned equipment will be. Instead, use it as a learning opportunity and just maybe they’ll surprise you!!

Week 49 - Greening Baby

All of us at one time or another have either been pregnant or have known someone that is and most of us can say we have attended at least one baby shower in our lives. Expecting a new little life is an exciting time, but it's also an expensive time. You can count on that little person draining your finances for the next, say 24 years. So while you are busy spending hand over fist getting ready for Junior's arrival, the last thing you may be considering is adding even more to the already hefty price tag by throwing in "green" and/or organic products into the mix. But trust me. There are a slew of ways to green your baby (and your pregnancy) without breaking the bank. Let's start with the 3 Rs.


Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

1. Let's begin with the mom-to-be and maternity wear. When I was pregnant Target wasn't in our area, and maternity clothing were expensive and ugly (I still don't understand the whole bow thing). Things have come a long way, but ask yourself: do I really need a new wardrobe; one that will essentially be worn for only about 5 or 6 months? Check with your friends to see if they have any nice pieces, to carry you through that short period. When you are finished with them, pass them on to the next friend that is expecting.
   
2. Baby furniture (crib, change table, rocker, etc.) are the items that cost a lot. Why buy new? I know we all feel the urge to give our children the best of everything and that begins with the nursery furnishings. But remember the days when families handed down cradles? That's what we should be doing. Check with relatives, or the Salvation Army and Goodwill stores, to see what is available at a fraction of the cost. Before you accept or buy used furniture (particularly the crib) ensure it meets all safety standards and is sturdy.


3. If you must buy new, look into buying a crib which will convert to a toddler bed at a later date, and a change table which will later become a chest of drawers.


4. Strollers and car seats. Check out garage sales, the Salvation Army, Goodwill, friends and family first. Again ensure the items meet the current safety standards. I had 4 strollers (two umbrellas, one for rugged terrain, one double stroller and a side-by-side jogger/bike trailer. One soon to be grandparents couple, purchased all of them at our garage sale. Now granted, I'm a little particular so the strollers were in excellent condition. But I'm definitely not the only one like that, so take a look at what's out there first.


5. The above also applies to car seats. **YOU MUST KNOW THE SAFETY STANDARDS! This is an area where I would only be comfortable getting a seat from someone I know and trust (for example, maybe a friend had a baby a short while ago and has moved up to a larger seat).


6. Baby clothes. The amount you receive and buy is staggering and unnecessary. Again, friends, family, garage sales, consignment shops, etc. This would be a great time to organize some friends and do a children's clothing exchange.

This entire section is about reducing how much stuff we accumulate; stuff that may end up in the landfill. It's such a waste, particularly because we use the items for such a short period of time. Remember, if you do want to get rid of things, donate the gently used items to charity.

Cloth or Disposable? (Canadian Living Magazine)

The next chunk of change you spend will be on diapers. But do you choose cloth over disposable? It's not as obvious as it seems. Here's how it breaks down:

Cloth

• You will use about 10/day depending on the age of the child

The pros:

• they now have Velcro and plastic clips which make changing them easier


• they are softer then disposable


• they may cause fewer rashes

The cons:

• they are not convenient for traveling


• many day cares will not use them

The environmental impact:

• home laundered diapers use about 9,000 gallons of water a year; a commercial service uses about 5,500 gallons.


• also, you are likely using hot water (energy), soap and possibly bleach.

Disposable

• You will use on average 5/day (that seems low to me)

The pros:

• they are convenient; they can bought and disposed of anywhere

The cons: see below.

The environmental impact:

• the manufacturing process uses 29% less energy than home laundered cloth diapers; 20% less energy than commercially washed diapers.


• according to idealbite.com: disposable diapers produce at least 70 times more waste than cloth diapers, and Americans trash 18 bil diapers each year.

So in the end (outside of the convenience factor), it seems you have to decide between conserving water/energy, and sending trash to the landfill. It will largely depend on where you live (for example, drought conditions?).

A few other options:

• Visit gdiapers.com. They offer diaper pants with flushable liners. According to their website: "gDiapers have no elemental chlorine, no perfumes, no smell, no garbage and no guilt. In fact, flushables are so gentle on the Earth you can even garden compost the wet ones in one compost cycle, approximately 50 – 150 days. Just think of the standing ovation you’ll get from the planet."


• This is icky to me, but there are some North American cities that offer curbside composting programs, where you can compost your kids' diapers. Check it out, if you are up for it.

Green Baby Care Products

What should you choose to bathe, shampoo, wipe and moisturize your baby? Organic and all natural products would be the place to start. You want to choose products that are free of preservatives, synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, petroleum and of course they should not be tested on animals. There are many companies out there and you don't have to pay a fortune. Do a little research and shop around. You will find something to fit your budget.

Here are a few places to start:

• Burt'sBees.com


• Avalonorganics.com


• WholeFoods.com: they have a baby guide. Click on "whole body", then "whole baby" and you will see the link for the .PDF file.
  

So yes there is a lot to think about and you may feel you just don't need another thing on your list. But keep in mind we are trying to live in a more environmentally friendly way, so we leave a healthy planet for future generations. I can't think of a better reminder of the importance of what we are trying to do, then a new arrival to our families; even if it's just our global family!

Week 48 - 20/20 for Everyone!

I am happy to say that at 42 years of age, I still have perfect vision. Granted my eyes do get tired faster and if I read for a few hours at a time things do get a little fuzzy. But I don’t wear glasses yet, so the number of useless eye glasses that may be lying around taking up space never really occurred to me. Just think about it. Prescriptions and fashion change often, as does a growing child. Not to mention those of us who have gone the Lasik route. Usually these outgrown, out of style or obsolete glasses end up in the landfill and that’s a shame. As a matter of fact, according to the Vision Council of America, “64% of adult Americans wear prescription glasses, yet less than 1/10 of 1% of glasses sold each year are donated and reused.” This is terrible since according to the World Health Organization, about 25% of the world’s population require eyeglasses. So what can we do with all those spare specs to help the environment? Recycle them of course!

Who: Give the Gift of Sight Program (givethegiftofsight.org)

Since 1991 this organization has collected and distributed used eyeglasses to people in developing countries. To date they have restored vision to 2.6 million people in 30 countries. They also provide free vision screening.

How:

Drop off your old glasses at:

LensCrafters
Pearle Vision
Sears
Target
BJ’s Optical

Who: The Lions Club (lionsclubs.org)

This organization collects more than 20 million glasses a year and passes them on to underprivileged kids and adults around the world.

How:

Visit lionsclub.org to find a donation box in your area (check out your local library). Also, on their website you can find a recycling center you can send the glasses to.

Who: New Eyes for the Needy (neweyesfortheneedy.org)

Last year, this organization provided recycled eye wear to more than 280,000 people in 22 countries.

How:

Send your “gently worn” glasses to:

549 Millburn Ave.
P.O. Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078


Keep in mind all of these organizations accept glasses which may need some repair, non-prescription sunglasses and are always very happy to receive children’s glasses.

The Why:

If you require incentive other than the warm fuzzy feeling, consider the following:

• Reusing glasses means saving the energy and materials needed to create a new pair. Okay it’s not a ton, but it’s something.


• Giving away your old glasses is a tax deductible donation.
  

This is another one of those win-win-win changes. The environment wins with less junk in landfills and less energy/material being used for production; our optically challenged brothers and sisters worldwide win by receiving glasses at minimal if any cost, which restores their vision and surely changes their lives; and we really make out: 1) above mentioned warm and fuzzy feeling from helping others, 2) less clutter in our drawers and 3) a tax deduction to boot. Whoever coined the phrase ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ was undoubtedly talking about eyeglasses!

Week 47 - Eco-Wine

Eco-wine. Hmmm. I don’t know.

To start, I should tell you I really enjoy wine and try to have a glass every day for “health” reasons. Before you laugh, research shows drinking about 6 oz. of red wine daily is good for the heart. Studies have also shown it can protect against Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases and has been shown to inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer. That being said, I am in no way a wine snob. In fact I am just the opposite. I believe there is an abundance of lovely, drinkable wines in the $10 - $12 per bottle range. The key word here is drinkable. So are eco-wines truly drinkable? The general consensus is, they've come a long way (apparently they needed to because they weren't very good), and are worth a second look. Below I have outlined what you need to know before making your first eco-wine purchase.

The Key Terms

Organic

To be considered organic, a winery must meet stringent rules outlined by the USDA. The winery must use grapes that have been organically grown. This means no genetically modified seeds, no fertilizers from sewer sludge (yuck), or pesticides. Additionally, these wines must not contain any added sulfites and the vineyard must be inspected every year to ensure they are adhering to the guidelines.

Biodynamic

This is considered the most environmentally sensitive form of agriculture. Biodynamic farmers plant, prune and harvest according to the phases of the moon and apply compost teas.

According to thegreenguide.com “biodynamic standards are older than organic, but very closely allied in their promotion of sustainable practices and elimination of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers“. For more information about biodynamic wines, visit demeter-usa.org.

Sulfites

All wines contain naturally occurring sulfites; it’s what keeps wine from spoiling in the bottle. A lot of people are very sensitive to sulfites and can experience physical reactions that range from headaches and asthma to in rare instances death. USDA certified organic wines must not contain any added sulfites. This is tricky as it makes the wine more susceptible to spoilage. You wouldn’t really consider an organic wine for aging as the whites have about an 18th month shelf life and the reds about 8 years.

If you want to store an organic wine you may want to opt for one with added sulfites. Rather than the USDA certified organic label, the wine will be labeled “made with organic grapes”.

Sustainable

Tricky, tricky! This can mean a number of things. It could mean the winery is in the process of becoming certified organic or it could mean the growers try to farm in an environmentally conscious way. It could also just be a marketing term tossed around to appeal to the ever growing segment of the population that is becoming environmentally sensitive.

Be aware, there are no criteria set out by a governing body which must be met in order to label your wine sustainable. Take time to do your research.

LIVE/Salmon Safe (from thegreenguide.com)

LIVE (liveinc.org), Oregon viticulture industry's Low Input Viticulture and Enology label was put in place to ensure that Oregon vineyards remain disease-free, as they have been historically, while limiting the use of chemical pesticides. Certified by the International Organization for Biological Control, LIVE promotes planting of species appropriate to local conditions, reliance on beneficial insects, fungi and plants, and increased biodiversity.

Salmon Safe (salmon safe.org/wine/wine list.cfm) is a Northwest eco-label for agricultural practices that restores watershed conditions to allow salmon to spawn and thrive. It works in partnership with LIVE to promote runoff control, planting trees near streams and utilizing integrated pest management. Vineyards are inspected by an independent contractor (often an organic certifier) to ensure compliance with both LIVE's and Salmon Safe's standards.

Where to Find Eco-Wines

So now that we know what the terms mean, where can we buy the wine (note: they will be more expensive)?

1) An Online Wine Club (not all states allow wine to be sent through the mail)

• EcoVine Wine Club (ecovinewine.com; $39/month for two bottles)
  
• Organic Connection (fwbchicago.com; $38/month for three bottles)


• Organic Wine Company (theorganicwinecompany.com; $47/month for two bottles)

There are a ton of wine stores on the internet, but not all ship to all states. Some stores like Organic Wine Company have occasional free shipping. They currently have a free shipping special where they will send you 3 bottles of wine with the shipping and handling fees waived. They also ship to PA.

2) Storefronts

• Whole Foods Market (whole foods.com)


• Check out wines shops in your area

Unfortunately in PA we have state stores. In an online search of their website, only one organic wine was available. Since I regularly visit our local store, I’m going to talk to them about getting some organic options in and see what happens.

3) Restaurants

This may be the simplest and least expensive way to sample organic wine. The next time you are dining out, take a look at the wine list and see if the restaurant offers any organic, bio-dynamic, or sustainable wines. Although the cost of wine by the glass is ridiculous, it’s a relatively inexpensive way to see if you will like it before committing to an entire bottle.

So when it comes to eco-wine the caveat is: read the label. You now know the terms, so you can assess if the additional cost is warranted. It may be worth paying a few dollars more for a nice USDA certified organic wine; however, paying more for a wine labeled “sustainable” may not be wise. In the end it comes down to how the wine tastes and only you can be the judge of that. For me, I’m always willing to give something a try, but this is definitely one band-wagon I’ll jump off, if the drink ability isn’t there.

À votre santé! To your health!

Week 46 - Don't Flush 'em!

Expired or unused medications that is! North Americans have typically disposed of prescription and over-the-counter drugs in one of two ways. We either:

1. Flush them down the toilet, or


2. Throw them in the trash.

The Problem

According to thegreenguide.com, “45% of Americans take at least one drug. When we flush old meds they":

1. Can still be active, and


2. Don’t disappear because we no longer see them.

They move on to water treatment plants, into waterways and possibly back to your tap. If they hit the waterways some really freaky things can happen. They have found gender-blended salmon (in Oregon), transgender trout (in Colorado) and bisexual bass (in the Potomac). If this happens to fish, what could this mean for people in communities where they use treated waste water for drinking water? The answer isn’t good. Generally speaking, treatment plants are not equipped to filter out that kind of contamination.

Throwing old meds in the trash isn’t the best option either, as they can contaminate not only the soil, but ground water as well.

Some Solutions

1. Some communities are setting up drug “take-back” programs at pharmacies and police stations so consumers have an alternative to flushing them and contaminating our waterways. I contacted CVS, and was told they unfortunately do not have a program in place. There are a few more drugstores in our area, which I will check out. Give your area pharmacies a call to see if they can lead you in the right direction.


2. Check out The Starfish Project at thestarfishproject.org. It’s a program run out of New York-Presbyterian Hospital which takes donations of certain meds by mail and distributes them to people in Africa.


3. Visit earth911.org and enter your zip code to find nearby drop sites.


4. Check with your local Department of Health for local disposal sites.

If you cannot find a take back program, here are the federal guidelines for drug disposal from whitehousedrugpolicy.gov:

1. Take unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs out of their original containers and throw them in the trash.


2. Mixing prescription drugs with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter, and putting them in impermeable, non-descript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags, will further ensure the drugs are not diverted.


3. Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the label or accompanying patient information specifically instructs doing so.

The Benefits

1. We help reduce water pollution.


2. We reduce fish contamination. This is not only important for preserving aquatic species, but as we are being told to consume more fish, we are protecting our health.


3. Ditto for our drinking water.


4. We also don’t want to forget that whether we care about the environment or not, proper disposal of medications is incredibly important if you have young children around. As a matter or fact, it’s important with teenagers around too (we’ve all heard of “pharm parties“, where older kids rifle through their parents old meds and trade them). These parties could be a myth, but are you willing to take the chance?
   

The best thing for everyone and everything (the environment, wildlife, humans) is to dispose of medications in the most safe and responsible way possible. This is a no brainer and a really simple solution to a variety of potential problems!

Week 45 - The Big To Do About Bamboo!

I’m starting to see it everywhere. Bamboo sheets, bamboo clothing, bamboo flooring, bamboo cutting boards, bamboo fencing etc. So I was thinking, what’s so great about bamboo? It turns out it may be pretty amazing stuff!

What it is: Bamboo is a grass.

What it’s not: Bamboo is not a tree.

Why it’s great: There are several reasons.

1. Bamboo sucks up four times more CO2 when it grows than trees do.
2. It’s a rapidly renewable resource.
3. It can grow 1 - 2 feet, a day.
4. It can be harvested every 3 - 5 years.
5. It can be grown without pesticides or chemicals.
6. It takes very little water to grow.
7. It’s by products are biodegradable.
8. Bamboo will break down in landfills.
9. It’s durable (some varieties can be as strong as steel).
10. When made into clothing, sheets etc. it is so soft it has been compared to silk and cashmere.
11. Bamboo is innately anti-microbial and lets your skin breathe with its naturally formed micro-structure.
12. Bamboo fabric keeps you close to two degrees cooler in hot weather and also keeps you significantly warmer in the cold.
13. As flooring, it is durable, beautiful and often less expensive than wood.
14. It is harder than some popular hardwoods, including maple and oak.

The Concerns

Too good to be true right? Well there are some concerns; some significant concerns.

According to thegreenguide.com: “some questions have been raised about the environmental soundness of the manufacturing process involved in turning the bamboo stalk into fiber. Because most of it takes place in China (need you read on?), the process is not transparent to consumers, nor is the environmental regulation stringent; this viscose process is thought to involve harsh chemicals in a process similar to the production of rayon. However, much of the bamboo, including that used by Bamboosa and Shirts of Bamboo, goes through a strict Swiss certification known as Oeko-Tex, which ensures that fabric made from bamboo fibers is chemical-free.”

Others have raised concerns about how bamboo is grown:

1. To keep up with demand, some farmers have now started raising bamboo on plantations as a mono-crop or single crop. This reduces biodiversity (for info on biodiversity, see my post about growing heirloom varieties), leading to increases in pests (thereby increasing pesticide use) and plant diseases.


2. The clear-cutting of forests is taking place, to make room for plantations.


3. The increased erosion which results from clear cutting.


4. Toxic glues. One booming area for bamboo is cutting boards. They are beautiful, but you need to know what you are buying. Some cheaply made boards are glue together with formaldehyde-based glues. Formaldehyde is used to in the drying process. Tom Sullivan, president and founder of Totally Bamboo (totally bamboo.com offers formaldehyde free cutting boards, as does bambuhome.com), explains “bamboo is so porous, it requires a thicker glue to prevent absorption while keeping the product intact. But thick glue takes longer to dry. "Formaldehyde allows you to apply heat and have the glue-bond done in about ten minutes," he notes, their formaldehyde-free glue takes a few hours to dry.
   Although it’s said the levels of formaldehyde are safe, who wants to knowingly expose themselves and their families to it?

The Bottom Line

“Despite the environmental shortcomings in production, bamboo still has a much lighter environmental impact than pesticide-laden conventional cotton and petroleum-derived nylon and polyester synthetics“.

If you are going to try bamboo products (and I would be willing), do a little research first and read the packaging. Just keep in mind, that although bamboo looks promising as being the answer to many of our environmental problems, its widespread use is relatively new; there are many kinks to work out in both its production and manufacture. On the up side, the more people get on board, the more quickly those kinks can be straightened out!

Week 44 - Pass it On!

Over the past several months I have made some suggestions on how to invoke both environmental awareness and interest in our kids. I’ve mentioned ideas like, planning to do something as a family for Earth Day, giving Christmas gifts like books and movies that show the importance of protecting our environment, gardening with kids etc. I now want to provide some resources for kids that want to learn more on their own and for those that want some concrete ways in which they as kids can help our planet.

The easiest way for kids to learn more is for them to surf the web. There are a plethora of websites just for them. They provide information in fun ways that may include games, puzzles, projects, and so on. Adults can learn a lot too, so give them a try!

1. Nature Challenge for Kids

David Suzuki, an environmentalist (a fellow Canadian), has been around it seems forever. He was so far ahead of his time. I remember watching him as a kid. At his website www.davidsuzuki.org/kids, he offers 10 fun and easy ways kids can help the environment. They include things like going meatless once a week and using “kid power” to get around. There’s also a checklist kids can print off, to keep track of how they are doing.

2. EcoKids Online

This is Earth Day Canada’s environmental education program for kids. Their website includes interactive games, activities and an eco-calendar with trivia, riddles and other information. Visit them at ecokids.earthday.ca.

3. Environment Canada Kids Page

This site (www.ec.gc.ca/EnviroZine) by Natural Resources Canada has an “envirozine” with a lot of information. One neat thing I found on is a game called Pathways & Pitfalls which can be printed out. You move along the “board” trying to do positives things for the environment (eating locally grown foods), while avoiding environmental pitfalls (running a sprinkler too long).

4. Fun Zone

Fisheries and Oceans Canada offers games, puzzles, coloring pages etc. about, water conservation, aquatic life and oceans. Their best offering accessed through their site at
dfo-mpo.gc.ca is the Big Blue Bus. It is an interactive website with neat things for kids of all ages to do.

5. Tunza

Tunza (www.unep.org/Tunza) is the United Nations Environment Programme. It has separate sections for children and youth. I love the ‘Story time’ link in the children’s section. It has 9 full text story books in Adobe format. The pictures are wonderful!

6. Children of the Earth

This site can be found at childrenoftheearth.org. It has information on plants and animals; info from Native Peoples; you can read stories written by other kids and pictures drawn by kids about the planet. There is a lot!

If you are so inclined, you can also help this non-profit by making your Amazon.com purchase through their website. It costs you nothing (there is no difference in what you pay), but you will be donating about 5% of your purchase price to them.

7. Field Trip Earth

Fieldtripearth.org is a wildlife conservation website. You can click on a particular animal or select a field trip and you begin a journey to discover all there is to know about that animal. This site is probably better for older kids (10 and up) as there is a lot of reading, but it also offers plenty of pictures too.

8. Treetures

This website is definitely for little kids. It has characters with names like Woody, Humus, and Mama Greenleaf. The Treetures (tiny tree friends) teach kids about trees, tree care and tree planting. Visit them at treetures.com

9. Rodale Institute

The Rodale Institute offers kidsregen.org, which is a very comprehensive website. There mission: “To empower children to make healthy choices for the environment and for themselves“. It has a ton of stuff. Information about food, fitness, gardening, world news… More importantly it reaches everyone: kids, adults, parents, families, and teachers. It’s a terrific site!

10. Climate Change

This is the EPA’s site for kids (epa.gov/climatechange/kids). It explains climate change, weather, and the green house effect. It also offers games and the opportunity to be a climate detective. It’s a nice comprehensive site.

11. The Green Squad

This website by the NRDC (www.nrdc.org/greensquad) encourages older kids to try and make their school environment a healthier place. This is a great site that will really get those activist kids in gear, but providing them with concrete ways to take action. I love how the site outlines the steps kids can take right up to ways to approach school officials.

As you can see there is no shortage of websites to help get your kids interested and excited about the environment. For an even larger list (which includes some of what I have here) follow this link: eartheasy.com/article_enviro_sites_kids.html. I have only checked out what I have listed above, so you may want to visit the other sites before your kids do. The most important thing is to share what you are learning with your kids, so they can grow passionate about the environment and pass it on to their children. Now that’s a legacy I would love to leave!

Week 43 - Green Your Vote!

As you may have noticed, we are now on week 43 of Going Green Painlessly, with this post being one of the last ten. I was thinking about all the different ideas I have written about and how if we can stick with even just a few of them we can make a big difference. One other thing entered my mind. This is an election year.

I realize we have some big problems right now (the War, a slumping real estate market, the tanking economy, oil prices, unemployment, health care…jeez, I’m getting depressed), but I think if the environment is important to us, we need to add it to that list. Now obviously I wouldn’t expect someone to vote for a candidate based solely on where they stand on the “environment“, but what if we were to phrase things differently? How does a candidate plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil? How important does s/he (it’s great adding the “she“!) believe research for alternative fuels is? How focused are they on alternative/renewable energy? Will they place pressure on the automobile makers to manufacture more fuel-efficient models/hybrids? Do they support the Clean Air and Water Acts? What about the Kyoto Protocol? Will they support the US being part of a global effort to reduce greenhouse gases? When put another way, we can see how these issues can affect our economy, and our health.

So what’s the first thing you need to do? Get registered to vote if you haven’t already. You can do this from home. Visit the League of Women Voters’ website vote411.org. Print the form, fill it out and mail it in . That’s it! No excuses!

The next thing we need to know is where the candidates stand on environmental issues. The League of Conservation Voters has a terrific website presidentialprofiles2008.org, which not only outlines where the candidates, but also grades them based on their voting history regarding those issues. They also document candidate responses to various environmental questions. It’s a wonderfully informative website. Grist.org also offers information about each presidential candidate’s stance on environment issues. It may also be a good idea to visit the candidates’ websites to see if what they claim to do is indeed, what they do.

Whether or not you care about the environment, the truth is with the rising cost of both oil and energy everyone is going to feel the crunch. It is becoming more and more expensive to manufacture and move product. As a result, we pay more for them. Therefore, we need to make a smart choice this November and vote for someone who will support the changes necessary (and for those that know me, by "we" I mean those of you who can vote. Since I am Canadian I have to do my part in other ways - like writing an informative blog).

If the environment benefits from those changes even in a secondary way, I’m fine with that. Job well done!

Week 42 - Recycle Your Cell Phone

Christmas was a few weeks ago and I’m certain many people received new cell phones. As a result, there are likely several old phones laying around because you are not sure what to do with them. Well, you should recycle them! The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a campaign to get Americans to recycle their cell phones.


Why should we recycle cell phones?

1. According to the EPA, “the recycling of the 100 million cell phones ready for end of life management in the US would save enough energy to power more than 194,000 US households with electricity for one year“.


2. Recycling just a million cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 1,368 cars off the road for a year.


3. Using less energy means reducing greenhouse gas pollution.


4. We can keep valuable and potentially toxic materials out of landfills and incinerators. Cell phones are potentially hazardous waste because they contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic.


5. We can conserve natural resources (like the metals mined for components).


6. We can help save Gorillas (huh?).

What can be done with the phones?

1. New customers can reuse them.


2. They can be taken apart and their components, such as gold, copper and plastic, can be recycled.

How can we recycle the phones?

1. Drop It Off

The obvious place would be where your purchased your phone, or with your service provider. AT&T, Best Buy, Office Depot, Sony, Sprint, Staples, T-Mobile and LG Electronics all offer a drop off service. Visit their websites for detailed information.

2. Mail It In

You can also mail in your old cell phone, PDA, cell phone batteries, chargers, or other accessories. Nokia, T-Mobile, Sprint, Motorola, Samsung, and LG Electronics have mail in programs. Again, visit their websites.

3. Donate to Charities

There are tons of charities that could use your old phone. Start with your community and check out what agencies would be happy to put an older phone (14 months old; the average age of a phone) to good use.

Earlier I mentioned how you can help save the African Gorilla. I was surprised to learn the manufacture of cell phones poses a threat to the Gorilla. An ore by the name of colian, which is used in cell phones, is mined in eastern areas of the Congo. The mining takes place in the middle of endangered gorilla and elephant habitats. According to the UN in the past five years, the eastern lowland gorilla population in the Congo has declined 90 percent. Fifty zoos across North America participate in a cell phone recycling program. It is their hope that by promoting the recycling program, less colian will have to be mined and as a result, more animals can be saved. The zoos gather cell phones at drop boxes and turn the phones over to ECO-CELL, which sells the phones to companies that refurbish and re-sell them to first-time users abroad. Some of the phones are also donated to senior citizens' centers and hospitals for discharged patients to use for emergency calls. Phones that cannot be re-sold are recycled. A complete list of participating zoos can be found at eco-cell.org. If you cannot get to a zoo, phones can be mailed directly to ECO-CELL where you can designate which zoo should receive the proceeds.

What you need to do before donating your phone

Before you drop off or mail in your old cell phone, make sure you have terminated your service contract and erased any data in the phone. To ensure personal information is cleared from the phone, you can:

• manually delete all information and remove the SIM card


• contact your service provider or phone manufacturer for instructions, or


• use a data erasing tool such as ReCellular's Cell Phone Data Eraser

There are many options for cell phone recycling. You can do some good not only for the environment, but for any number of charities too. Again, we have an easy change with many positive implications. If I haven’t said it before, I love it when that happens!

Week 41 - Just One Thing...

If you make just one change this year this should be it and it’s super easy. Recycle your toothbrush! I hadn’t really thought about it, but it makes sense. According to Natural Health Magazine (naturalhealthmag.com), “if every American changes toothbrushes every three months, as dentists recommend, that adds up to almost 100 million pounds dumped into landfills”. Wow, even half that amount is astounding.

Obviously we’re not going to stop brushing our teeth or continue using the same toothbrush over and over again (that‘s just yuck!), so here are some other options:

1. Opt for a brush made from recycled materials.

The Recycline Preserve toothbrush has a handle made from recycled Stonyfield Yogurt cups. That’s not the only good thing about it. When you have finished using it, you can send it back to the company (in the envelope it provides) where it will again be reprocessed into material for plastic lumber. How cool is that?!

The good news doesn’t stop there; the brush comes in packaging which eliminates unnecessary waste. It’s made from recyclable materials, and the reusable brush canister “provides a sanitary holder to keep your brush clean and portable“.

Visit recycline.com for more information on how these toothbrushes are manufactured. You can even watch a video of the process that aired on Robert Redford’s show, The Green on the Sundance Channel.

This toothbrush can be purchased at Target, Wegman’s and online at greenfeet.com for a very reasonable $3.50. Check Recycline’s website for other stores in your area.

2. Opt for Replaceable Heads

This type of toothbrush can be found at any store. You would certainly help the environment when purchasing this type because you would be reducing the amount of plastic being thrown away. But you can do even better by purchasing a brush made from recycled materials or cellulose.

a) Radius offers the Intelligent toothbrush.

It not only uses replaceable heads, it is also made from sustainable natural cellulose and is battery operated. Radius will take back the handle for recycling once the battery dies (lasts through 6 replacement heads or about 18 months).

The Intelligent toothbrush also offers:

• 2 minute timer -- toothbrush beeps once and green light flashes once every 30 sec. to 2 minutes.
• 90 Day wear meter - after 180 uses the light changes to red to indicate time to check bristle wear. Depressing the button for 5 seconds resets the meter to zero.
• Radial bristling - first toothbrush in the world to have it. Makes brushing easier and more effective.
• They are available in soft or medium. Right or left hand.
• One brush runs $7.95, but you can buy 3 packs and 6 packs at significant savings. The replacement heads are 3 for $6.95. They ship from PA and the cost for either a 3 or 6 pack is $4.60.

Visit the radiustoothbrush.com website for more information.

b) Lotus Brands offers the Eco-Dent TerrAdenT toothbrush.

These brushes have snap-on replaceable heads. They cost about $3.00 each and can be purchased at most health food stores or online at eco-dent.com.

3. Join a Recycling Program

ToothbrushExpress.com has the ‘Save the Planet One Toothbrush at a Time’ recycling program. Sign-up to receive a new toothbrush at specific intervals which you specify. Along with the toothbrush, they will send you a postage-paid mailer for you to return your old toothbrushes. The brushes will be recycled into planters, decking or benches.

4. Reuse Your Brushes

So maybe you are picky and prefer a particular toothbrush; or maybe you feel finding one of the above brushes is a pain, what else can you do instead? Use it elsewhere of course. Here is a list of uses for your old toothbrush:

• Use as an eyebrow brush (I’ve done this for years; obviously clean it first)
• Scrub around faucets
• Clean grout
• Clean jewelry
• Spot clean clothing
• Clean fingernails
• Clean carpet stains
• Clean your garlic press
• Clean your screens

The list can go on forever; think of any small or tight space that needs to be cleaned.

In closing, here is the ultimate in recycling and reusing. Follow this link hgtv.com/hgtv/cr_occasions/article/0,,HGTV_3268_1382191,00.html for an inspired craft project your daughter(s) would love!

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!