Green Jobs Now

Once again, I'm sharing information about another Green initiative, called Green Jobs Now. From their website:

About Green Jobs Now

Green Jobs Now is a day of action on September 27th to show Congress, the next President, and the Nation we want an inclusive green economy, strong enough to lift people out of poverty and solve the climate crisis TK

On September 26, we will watch the first presidential debate of this election.

The next day, the candidates will watch us.

On Saturday, September 27, we're launching a national mobilization to say, "I'm ready for the green economy." We are ready to tackle the climate crisis by building a green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.

Green Jobs Now is a National Day of Action that will empower everyday people to stage hundreds of grassroots events throughout the country. We will have a special focus on low-income communities, communities of color and indigenous people. This will send a message to our leaders that, when it comes to creating green jobs for a more sustainable economy, PEOPLE ARE READY!

To get more information, including locations for meetings, click here.

Campaign Earth

A month ago today, I wrote about Campaign Earth. Their mission is to challenge individuals and business to get involved. Last month, the challenge was to reduce junk mail and catalogs. Here's this month's challege (quoted directly from their site):

Your challenge: Change a Light, Change the World

Campaign Earth is proud to announce this month's challenge is in partnership with the EPA. We are asking all members to change out 2 of their most used regular light bulbs to CFLs, compact fluorescent lightbulbs. It's a quick and easy way to make a BIG difference!
Here are some bright ideas on why this challenge is so important:

* trillion pounds of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.
* Also with this model, the annual energy savings would be equivalent to the annual output of more than 21 power plants!
* Although CFLs cost more initially than traditional bulbs, the electricity savings and longer life more than justify the higher cost. CFLs last 6 to 10 times longer and use one-quarter to one-third the amount of energy of a traditional bulb. In other words, by paying $5 to $8 initially for a CFL, consumers can avoid buying ten ordinary bulbs and save about $45 in electricity costs over the life of the CFL.

Take the challege today. Make a difference. Click here now.

Recycling Men's suits

I just read where Men's Wearhouse is sponsoring a men's suit drive, in September and October.

For many unemployed men, a new suit is the first step toward a second chance. During the National Suit Drive, every one of the Men's Wearhouse stores will be collecting gently used professional attire to benefit at-risk men and youth transitioning into the workforce. All clothing they receive will be distributed throughout the community by local nonprofit organizations. To read more about this program, click here.

Make it a goal to give 1 suit, or other professional clothing (belts, ties, sport jackets, etc) before the end of October.

Reusablebags.com

I know, I've already written about how much I like the reusablebags.com site. I just heard that they received the prestigious Bizrate Circle of Excellence 2008 Award for outstanding customer service! Very cool. Check out their site, if you haven't been on it recently.

They have these really cute baby bottles, called Green to Grow. Green to Grow bottles are the best combination we found of design, safety, and corporate responsibility. Every part of these bottles is made with 100% BPA-free, phthalate-free materials - ideal for parents who want a safe alternative to polycarbonate. What a great baby shower gift!

Got Technotrash?

I found another resource for responsibly and securely disposing of all your computer-related waste. It's called GreenDisk.

GreenDisk takes everything from old CDs to PCs, and everything inbetween. One of the options, pictured above, is one of the "Technotrash cans". Technotrash Cans are convenient collection boxes for CDs, diskettes, DVDs, ink cartridges, cell phones, videotapes, pagers, PDAs, and all of your “byte-sized” technotrash. Collection box, postage, processing, and audit report with the Certificate of Destruction are all included for one low price. How handy would this be in your work environment?

Check out the other services offered by Greendisk here.

Kudos to SAMSUNG!

This week, Samsung announced that they will launch a comprehensive television take-back program, starting next month. Samsung will set up collection sites and sponsor electronics drop-off events in all fifty states. Consumers will be able to drop off any Samsung consumer electronic product for proper recycling for free.

Back in August, I wrote about Sony, who had already announced their take-back program. There are still other manufacturers who have yet to jump on the bandwagon. Our voices do count, and are heard.

If you haven't already done, so, follow this link to send a message to TV manufacturers, asking them to start a take-back program. Do it now.

ICU Eyewear

I was reading the Fall 2008 edition of the GREEN GUIDE magazine tonight (from National Geographic). One thing that caught my eye (pun intended) was a page featuring a company called ICU Eyewear. They make over-the-counter readers from sustainable and 100% post-consumer recycled materials... including bamboo, recycled metal and reclaimed plastic. They range in price from $22.95 to $62.95 (yep, the really cool bamboo ones are the most expensive). Check them out at icueyewear.com

101 Years of Recycling

I have to admit, I'm stuck on a few basic cleaning products these days. I really like Seventh Generation products. I've used their dish soap, laundry soap, and all-purpose cleaner. However, I was intrigued when my niece Erin told me about Arm & Hammer's new green cleaning products. Here's a blub from their web site:

Did you know that Americans throw away 60 billion pounds of plastic each year? Each ARM & HAMMER® Essentials™ Cleaners refill pack you buy means 2 less plastic spray bottles in landfills. And the refill pack uses 80% less packaging than 2 pre-filled spray cleaners. The ARM & HAMMER® Essentials™ Cleaners formula is biodegradable and uses powerful plant-based cleaners* — and contains no harsh ammonia or phosphates.

*With other biodegradable cleaners.

Plus, you’ll save money every time you refill your
ARM & HAMMER® Essentials™ Cleaners bottle — up to 25% compared to buying traditional cleaners. It’s simple: ARM & HAMMER® Essentials™ Cleaners are better for you and your family, and sensible for the environment.

OK... a nice sales pitch, huh? I continued to read more on their site. I think I knew some of this, but I wanted to share this also (from their website):

To consumers like you around the world, ARM & HAMMER® stands for simple solutions to household needs — and for active concern for the environment. We began using recycled paperboard in our packaging over 100 years ago — in 1907. We also launched the nation’s first non-polluting, phosphate-free laundry detergent in 1970. Today,
ARM & HAMMER® Essentials™ products continue to expand our commitment to the environment.

So...next time you grab your box of Arm and Hammer Pure Baking Soda, in the cardboard box, let it be a reminder of how they jumped on the recycling bandwagon...101 years ago.

We Can Solve the Climate Crisis

I always like to share good information when I find it.

Cloth napkins vs paper napkins

Today's post is about cloth napkins. I use them at every meal. I love them. Some people think they are a luxury, but when comparing cloth napkins to paper napkins, cloth wins, hands down. Yes, you have to wash them, but not after every use. I remember my mom once telling me that when she was a child her family used cloth napkins, identified with a napkin ring, for a week before they went in the weekly wash. Each person's napkin ring was different, to identify the user.

I know some of you will think that washing cloth napkins uses more energy, and paper napkins are more convenient. Well...check out this article.

If you insist on using paper towels or paper napkins, make sure you're making the right choice for the environment...chlorine free and 100% recycled.

I admit it. I've been buying bleached white, non-recycled paper towels. From now on, I'm only buying the recycled paper towels. That's today's commitment for "Greener Every Day". What are you doing each day to be Greener Every Day?

Carpet Recycling

For those of you who don't read Danny Seo's blog, I'll share what I learned today. (for those of you who do read his blog...come back tomorrow...)

There is a national organization, called Carpet America Recovery Effort. From their website:

Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) is a joint industry-government effort to increase the amount of recycling and reuse of post-consumer carpet and reduce the amount of waste carpet going to landfills. CARE was established as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding for Carpet Stewardship (MOU), a national agreement signed by members of the carpet industry, representatives of government agencies at the federal, state and local levels, and non-governmental organizations.

Check out the positive things they are doing. Are you looking for a place to recycle some old carpet? Check them out here.

http://www.carpetrecovery.org/

A simple idea

OK. I've been thinking about this simple idea for a while, and started implementing it recently. I'll admit it, I use too many zip-top plastic bags. Once. Although I do wash them, with the intent of reusing them, I rarely do reuse them. I pull them out of the drawer, looking at them, wondering what was in them originally. Then, I look at the new ones, and how clear and shiny they look, and use them instead. So, I have a new plan.

When I use a zip-top bag now, I write the name of the food on it with a Sharpie pen (cheese, tomato, lemon...you get the idea). Once I've used the contents, the empty bag goes back in the fridge, ready to be used again, by the same food. I'm already in the habit of looking to see what bags are in the fridge before I pull out a new one.

I do have my limits...I won't reuse the bags that have had raw meat, or other similar things in them.

That's it. Simple, but it works. One less item in my trash.

Mosquitoes are invading

I don't know about you, but the mosquitoes around my house seem to have multiplied and gained weight in the last few weeks. Earlier in the summer, I was bothered by a few flying pests, but lately, it seems I can hear them flying into my sliding glass door (only a slight exaggeration...)

For those of you who have been to my house in the last year, you know I have a new patio that I have been enjoying on a daily basis. I have lots of plants growing, some fun/funky furniture, and lots of privacy. Except for the uninvited mosquitoes. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. So, at the suggestion of my friend Thomas, I started researching natural, earth friendly solutions to rid my sanctuary of these pesky invaders. Even late in August, I'm not opposed to adding some new plants to my garden. Here's what I've found so far, in my effort to ward off the beasts:

Catnip...this is 10 TIMES more effective than DEET. Did you know that?

Rosemary...one of my FAVORITE herbs...I have some growing in a pot now.

Horsemint...this has a scent similar to citronella. Ya either love it, or hate it. (I hate it)

Marigolds...ANYONE can grow these annuals. They also keep aphids away. Double bonus!

Ageratum...the coumarin in the plant is the odor that mosquitoes DO NOT LIKE. It's used in the perfume industry, and also in some commercial mosquito repellents. I just read that you shouldn't rub the leaves on your skin though...I guess gardening gloves are in order here...

Last, but not least...

Mosquito Plants...actually there are 2 kinds. One is agastache cana, and hummingbirds love it (bonus!). The second kind is a member of the geranium family, that has similar properties to citronella.

Now, please realize that just by have these plants sitting around in pots, or in the earth, you're not going to reap the benefits. The mosquitoes are turned off by the smell, so you'll need to crush a few leaves between your fingers, to release the aroma. Now I have a reason for my fingers smelling like rosemary!

If you have other tried and true natural mosquito repellents, let me know!

Where is "Away"?

Last night, I attended the August meeting of the Kansas City Green Drinks group. The goal of Green Drinks KC is pretty simple: good times shared among people working in, or interested in, environmental and sustainability issues. This is only the 2nd month I've attended a meeting, and once again, I left the meeting informed, inspired, and with new contacts!



The next time you start to throw something "away", think about the above picture. Our society has been trained to think that once the garbage truck leaves our street, the garbage has gone "away". We carelessly and thoughtlessly throw "away" items that can be reused or recycled. What humans manufacture and think they are throwing away, is really disturbing all types of ecosystems. The reality is, the world is a closed loop. Nothing leaves the earth. The bottom line...we are the species responsible for polluting. The damage that we have done as a species, has reached the a calamity tipping point, between the earth and mankind. The earth will win, whether it be tornadoes, global warming, fire or other natural disasters, the earth will win. This is becoming an epic battle between man vs earth. Can man live in harmony with the planet. Yes. Is it too late? No. Waste is the byproduct of poor design. What can we do? Be thoughtful. Make conscious decisions.

• Purchase items with minimal packaging
• Write letters to companies demanding responsible packaging
• Reuse and recycle. Really. Think about everything you are throwing away. Can it be recycled or reused?
• Consume less
• Utilize services like freecycle.com

We can each do our part. Be Greener Every Day.

Foreign Oil vs. US Wind Enery

Just yesterday I heard about T. Boone Pickens website, pickensplan.com. We all know the US is dependent upon foreign oil. Be part of the solution. Check out the Pickensplan here:

Campaign Earth

I'm in the habit of regularly searching for websites that support positive, environmental issues. Today's find was Campaign Earth. This website is educational and interactive. Taking the Campaign Earth monthly challenge provides individuals and businesses tips and strategies for getting involved. The action for this month is to reduce junk mail and catalogs. This topic is near and dear to me, and I've posted resources previously on this blog. (check out the archives to the right).

If you feel called to action, check out Campaign Earth here.

To quote directly from Campaign Earths's site:

The Monthly Challenge Program provides folks with one new thing to implement into their lives each month, slowly guiding them along a path toward sustainability.

To quote directly from Campaign Earth's monthly challenge:

Listed below are three actions you can take to lessen the mail you receive. Take a look at the list and do what you can. Remember, every action counts.

* Stop Those Unwanted Catalogs! Now, with the internet, we can do most of our mail order shopping online. Stack your unwanted catalogs in a pile and spend ten minutes a week calling to request that your name be removed from their mailing list.

* Receive Less Junk Mail! Send a short letter to: DMA Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512. List your name, in all its infinite variations, and request that all of these names be removed from their national database. This removal lasts five years, so keep this address handy. For more information contact the DMA at 212-768-7277.

* Keep Your Catalogs and Magazines out of the Landfill! Many municipalities don't accept catalogs as part of their recycling program so find a second home for them. Keep them out of the landfill by dropping them off at a local hospital, assisted living home, senior residence facility or school (they use them for art classes and other projects). It's the next best thing.

Break the Bottled Water Habit

I LOVE the More Hip than Hippie website and podcasts!

Break the Bottled Water Habit here!

Green Home Environmental store

I want to share another good green resource with you. Green Home Environmental Store has anything you'll need from clothing, appliances, furnishing, pest control, pets, even supplies for your restaurant!

By now, you know recycling is a way of life for me. I'm always looking for ways I can reuse or recycle items. I'm also interested in purchasing products that have been made from recycled material. Remember my kitchen remodeling project? I used Richlite for the countertop. It's made from recycled paper, mixed with resin.

On Green Home Environmental Store (click here), you'll find some great products, including this adirondack chair, made from 100% post consumer recycled plastic.

Check out greenhome.com. Be green.

Recycling my closet...

How many times have you gone through your closet and said, “I don’t have anything to wear?”

One basic idea in recycling is to reuse, right? I know I’m guilty of keeping clothes hanging in my closet way too long. What’s too long? That’s up to you. Many “experts” say if you haven’t worn something in 12 months, it’s time to remove it from your closet.

Recently, I packed for a weeklong trip to New Mexico and Colorado. I needed mostly casual clothes, but also one outfit for a wedding. With a closet (actually more than 1 closet) full of clothes, I had to do laundry before I packed. I couldn’t leave without 2 of my favorite summer blouses, right? (I chose to ignore the dozens that were clean, and hanging in my closet…)
I’ve done it. There have been times when I can’t add another article of clothing to my bulging closet, full of items I don’t wear, and then I do it...I go buy more. I’m sure not practicing what I preach here…

One of the best ideas I’ve learned about recycling is the idea that when it comes to our attention that we are in possession of items we are no longer putting to use, pass them on. I love the idea of knowing that someone who couldn’t afford a new outfit it is wearing something of mine that no longer fits me (or I just grew tired of). The other part of that positive thought is that piece of clothing is no longer taking up space and collecting dust in my closet!

Why have items that we no longer have any use for taking up precious space in our lives? It feels great to have extra room in my closet. It took me a while, but that was one of the best things I ever did for myself: cleaning out my closet. Don’t get me wrong; I know I still have too much “stuff”. This is an ongoing process…the more I get rid of, the more I WANT to get rid of. I pass them on and that feels really good.

Do yourself a favor, go through your closet, find what you’re no longer wearing and pass it on. There are numerous organizations where your unwanted items will be put to good use.

You probably have your favorite charities you donate to. One that I use is Big Brothers, Big Sisters. It’s a great cause, and they will come to your house to pick up the goodies! Check them out here.

To read reviews of different charity organizations, check this out:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Organic Gardening products

Tonight I stumbled (actually I was searching) on a great site that offers natural and organic gardening products.

Earlier this week I noticed that something (not me) had eaten LARGE portions of my giant coleus. Now, these leaves are huge (8+ "), so something must have been really, really hungry. I'm not sure why they (it?) has waited until mid August to attack, but they have. In searching for a solution to keep the giant leaves giant, I found Fertile Garden: http://www.fertilegarden.com.

I've used Safer's Insecticidal Soap before, but don't have any on hand. I'll head to Family Tree Nursery tomorrow to stock up. You can buy it here.

As I was searching for the coleus killer solution, I found Dry Molasses. It is used to feed and stimulate microorganisms and is a source of carbon, sulfur, and potash. It can also be used in the soil to remove fire ants. What do you know...something that will remove fire ants! Many years ago I lived in the Houston area, and had my first introduction to fire ants...the hard way. They are appropriately named. I remember my neighbor telling me that if I get bit (more likely, attacked), I should take Adolf's meat tenderizer and vinegar and make a paste, and then slather it on the bite(s). Unfortunately, Adolf's meat tenderizer wasn't anything I had in my pantry the first time I got attacked. I don't remember if I ever had to use this potion, but I'm sure the grocery stores in the area sold a ton of Adolf's!

Getting back to the Dry Molasses...for those of you in areas where fire ants reside, check out the Dry Molasses stuff. It might just get those ants scurrying for your neighbors yard. Just tell them about the Adolf's first.

Positively Green - a new magazine

I recently found a new magazine, focusing on green living. It's called Positively Green. The premier issue (Fall 2008) has picture of Rachelle Begley (Ed Begley's wife) on the cover. You probably know that the Begley's (with Ed leading the way), have been 2 of the forerunners of the green living movement, and the hosts of "Living with Ed" on HGTV.

Positively Green does a great job of informing consumers about health, beauty, fashion, food and all things green.

In a previous post, I talked about reducing waste by reducing junk mail. Another site to use, is GreenDimes.com. There are 3 levels of service, the cheapest is "free" (my budget). Although you have to manually enter your information, you can choose to opt out of many pieces of junk mail. There are a few companies that require you to send a letter via mail (can you believe that?), but GreenDimes provides you the letters, addresses, etc. All you need to do is print and mail the letter.

The premiere issue of Positively Green contains information on remodeling your kitchen and bath, decorating (I love the milkbottle lamp on page 81!), furnishings, buying school supplies, giving green and much, much more!

For $4.99, it's a bargain. The only negative...it's not a monthly publication...yet.

Reducing waste

The idea of recycling is to reuse an item rather than toss it into the trash and have it end up filling space in a landfill, right? What about this novel idea? Why not reduce the waste in the first place? How can you do this, without much effort? Take a look:

Be aware of the items you purchase and how they are packaged. Some manufacturers use layers of wrapping that will just get tossed into the trash because there isn't another use for it. Do a little digging, a bit of research to find items that have less packaging and stick to only buying them. I believe the manufacturers will get the hint when consumers start paying attention to the waste one product makes and opt for its competitor.

One way to reduce packaging waste is to buy in bulk. Buying in bulk cuts way down on the packaging and more often than not, you save money. If you think you have to buy too much when you buy in bulk, consider teaming up with a friend or family member...share the fun!

If you have to buy something that has an excess of packaging, try to figure out what you can use that excess for and then put it to good use.

A great way to curb the surplus in a landfill is to reuse things. One easy idea (and obvious to most) is to do this with is the plastic bags you get to carry your groceries home in. Rather than getting the bags home, emptying the contents and putting them away and throw the used bag into the trash, think about the different things you can use that bag for. Just by reusing items like this will cut down greatly on the stuff that is filling up our precious space-craved landfills. If you have an excess of bags, take them to a local retailer who recycles them. Whole Foods, and many other grocery stores have a bin close to the door, to put your used bags in. These bags are recycled into other products.

The best idea is to buy some reusable bags to shop with. I always take mine into the grocery store (Whole Foods has a big sign, asking people to go back to their car to get their reusable bags!). I'm now starting to carry a bag or 2 in my purse, and will use them in department stores, home improvement stores, and anywhere I might make a purchase.

Recycling, at its best, is prevention of excess. Keeping that in mind and taking the steps to incorporate minor changes into your life will reduce waste and will make it much easier for landfills not to get so over-filled. Prevention of waste takes just a little forethought, and any of us are capable of that.

Waste Free lunches for kids

I was recently intrigued by a link on one of my favorite sites www.morehipthanhippie.com. Two women, Amy Hemmert and Tammy Pelstring, founded a company called Obentec.

Obentec was started in 2002, when these 2 women decided to help other families pack low-waste lunches for their school aged children. Their laptop lunch kits provide easily packable, and always reusable containers for lunches (not just for kids!), including an insulated carrying case, utensils, water bottle, and the Laptop Lunch Bento Box.






The Lunch Date (for adults) comes in both designer fabric and hemp. This kit includes a thermos, water bottle, bento box, utensils, cold pack and other goodies. Check them out!

Laptoplunches.com site contains LOTS of practical information, including lunch ideas, nutritional information, recipes, AND, marketing fliers and instructions on how to use the Laptop Lunches for a fund raiser at schools!

Uncommongoods

A few weeks ago, my friend Joey emailed me about a great website, Uncommongoods.com. Today, another friend, Stevie, shared their catalog with me. It's time to share it with you.

One of Joey's favorite recent finds is recycled doormats and baskets made from recycled flip flop foam. Check them out at uncommongoods.com. These items are made in the Phillippines, from the excess foam rubber from flip-flop factories.


Uncommongoods has over 100 products made from recycled materials...everything from jewelry made from old traffic lights, to recycled yoga mats made from rice and feed bags, and glasses and vases reclaimed glass from old car windows.

Check them out here. ENJOY!

Recycling old TVs

February 2009. That's the date that millions of old TVs will no longer be able to receive broadcasts unless a converter box is installed.

Kudos to Sony Electronics USA, who has already established a take-back program for free take-back and recycling to their customers. Sony will take back any product with their brand name on it. We can hope that other manufacturers will follow Sony's lead.

In the meantime, what can we do? Speak out, let the FCC and electronic manufacturers know that this issue must be addressed as a global issue.

Follow these links to speak out:

http://takebackmytv.com/page/speakout/TakeBackMyTV

http://www.coopamerica.org/takeaction/fcc/

Greener in Colorado

Yes, I'm way overdue on this post. I've been on the road for the last week, driving between Kansas City, Albuquerque, Aspen, and beyond. It's been an incredible trip, and I'm heading home tomorrow...
Check back soon. I'll be writing about my experience in Albuquerque and Aspen, CO next. Ever been in a yurt? I have.

In the meantime, I want to share some great sites that I have found to be helpful and informative:
To eliminate/reduce junkmail:

www.GreenDimes.com
www.catalogchoice.com

Great reusable shopping bags:

www.resuablebags.com

Inspiring messages, products and information:

www.idealbite.com
www.greenfeet.com

One of my favorite blogs that I follow:

http://dannyseo.typepad.com

Send me your favorite sites, and I'll share with others. Come back soon.

Excess packaging?

With LOTS of family in town the last week or so, we've had the occasion to play a few board and card games. We play the standards: Apples to Apples, Set, Phase 10, Blokus and others. Last night I opened my fairly newly purchased copy of Qwirkle. We had played this in Sedona in January with I celebrated a recent birthday. I remembered that it was fun, and required some strategy. It's kind of a combination of Set and Dominoes....

In the very large box, were the playing tiles (all neatly wrapped in one plastic block), and a cloth storage bag. All of the tiles (which are all that is required to play), neatly fit in the cloth bag, leaving the very large box, and some card board packaging as trash. Now I realize that MindWare, the maker of this great game, will sell more copies in the very large box than they would otherwise, but this really makes me think about how much they are wasting in packaging. It's a great game, don't get me wrong. I may even buy another copy for a gift someday (or I might not...), but hopefully we'll soon see reductions in the excess packaging. Why am I picking on Qwirkle instead of thousands/millions of other products and manufacturers? Because the empty, very large box is sitting on my kitchen counter, waiting for the trash/recycling truck to come by tomorrow.

Kudos to the company that makes Bananagrams. It's a great game, with similar components to Scrabble. The small cloth banana shaped pouch that the game is sold in has no extra packaging. You keep all of the tiles in the pouch. It will be my next game purchase for sure. Here's their blurb: "The award winning anagram name that will drive you bananas!" They've won several toy awards, for good reason. For more info on the game, click here.

Daily tip from idealbite.com

I just got home from my first "greendrinks" meeting tonight. It's a social group that focuses on environmental issues. It was a great meeting, and I'll take time to write about it in the next day or 2 (it's late, and I'm beat). In the meantime, I thought I'd share the daily tip from idealbite.com:

Quoth the Raven, "How long does trash last in landfills?"

The Bite
Evermore. Like something out of a creepy poem, even biodegradable items like food can hang around in garbage dumps for years. Trash is packed so tightly that it doesn't always get the necessary light, oxygen, and/or microorganisms it needs to decompose, so truly, we implore: Reduce, reuse, and recycle when you can. Ca-caw!

The Benefits

• A future that's not all midnight-dreary. Researchers have found (perfectly compostable) 25-year-old corncobs and grapes, and (easily recyclable) 50-year-old newspapers that are still readable in landfills. The less waste we toss, the fewer mummified remains will hang around in dumps.

Mona here. If you want to read more (and I hope you do), check out their website at www.idealbite.com. Bite sized ideas for green living.

Enjoy!
.

Supporting ocean friendly seafood?

Having extended family in town is always a reason to celebrate, and share great food. Last night was a perfect example. With 2 generations of nieces and nephews in town, I headed to my sister and brother-in-laws for dinner (with dinner in hand).

Wild Alaskan salmon was on the menu, along with some local produce. As you can see from the picture, we had quite a feast of tomatoes with mozzarella, corn on the cob, steamed green beans, sauteed zucchini, and an incredible salad, topped off with "just picked from my sister's flower garden" edible day-lily flowers (did you know you can eat these? they are a bit sweet...and make anything more beautiful). Although not all of the produce was local, most of it traveled from within Kansas and Missouri. Some of the corn came from within a few miles of where we were. For dessert, fresh peaches with ice cream. (Sorry, no pictures...we were busy oooing and aaaahhhing over the wonderful peaches.)

So....this morning I began to wonder about the salmon (were you wonder about the title of the post yet?)

The salmon was incredible, and purchased at Whole Foods. I must admit I wasn't 100% sure if it was Wild Alaskan or not, but I decided to check out their seafood policy. You can read here about Whole Food's buying practices here. If you want to make sure you're buying seafood that is good for you, and good for our oceans, check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. You can download a pocket guide here, listing "Best Choices" and fish to "Avoid".

Enjoy!

Recycling Books

For quite a while, every time I order a book from Amazon, I think, "gee, I have lots of books that I should get rid of". This comment has landed me at Half Price Books a few times, with a crate full of books. I anxiously await my name to be called over the PA, calling me to the buying counter. If lucky, I'll earn enough to pay for lunch, or admittance to one of my nephew's basketball tournaments.

I've managed to get rid of dozens of books over the years, but lately I keep thinking, I'm just "pushing" these titles into a system where I don't know if anyone will "pull" from. (For those of you familiar with Lean Manufacturing, you can relate).

So...yesterday, I decided to post some books on Amazon. While it took me a few minutes to get into the groove, very quickly I was spending about 60 seconds posting each title. Will it earn me any cash? I didn't know, but I was soon to find out.

Within an hour or 2 of posting about 20 titles, I was getting ready to close my computer, but decided to check my email first. Sure enough, I had an email from Amazon reading: "Sold, Ship now...". Oh my gosh, had I really made my first sale within a few hours? Yes, I had. I was pleased to learn that there were other lower priced books that the buyer didn't choose. Why not? The price was lower, the condition similar...oh well, I decided not to dwell on the psychology of buying. I'll just package the book and get it ready to mail.

The story continues...early this morning I checked email, and....you guessed it. Another email from Amazon reading: "Sold, Ship now..." for another title. Very cool I thought. While my basic instinct said "POST EVERY BOOK YOU OWN", I decided that wasn't a wise choice. At least not today. Maybe tomorrow. We'll see...

So, back to the Lean Manufacturing reference. By posting these books on Amazon, I didn't have to "push" these books out to clutter up the shelves of Half Price Books. The 2 books are now in transit to the people who have decided to "pull" from my inventory. Thanks Stephen in Florida and Mindy in Colorado. Thanks for helping me recycle.

Checking out the local organic markets

Last night I had decided to check out the local, organic farmers markets in the Kansas City area. I'd been to the one in Brookside, but not recently. There is also one on Red Bridge.

It was raining this morning...a perfect morning to sleep in. Instead, I was out the door by 8:15, heading to the KC Organics and Naturals Market located at Minor Park, just East of Holmes on Red Bridge Road (111th Street). It wasn't raining yet on that side of town, but I only stopped for a few minutes, since there were only 5-6 vendors. I bought some great looking zucchini squash.

Next was Brookside. I wanted to get there a bit later, after a few of the stores had opened. I was early, but did browse through The New Dime Store. It's such a unique store! By this time, the rain was coming down, so my trip through the Brookside Farmer's market across the street was fairly quick. I did pick up some beets (I LOVE roasted beets), tomatoes, and some flax seed bread.

For some reason, I was inspired to make my favorite meat loaf recipe, from The New Basics Cookbook. (Market Street Meat Loaf). It's full of veggies, and the recipe calls for both beef and pork (but I use ground turkey in place of the beef, and yogurt in place of the half and half). So, my next stop was Whole Foods to pick up the rest of the ingredients.

The farmer's markets are a treat. It's fun to people-watch, and talk to the vendors/farmers. Don't forget your reusable bag. Check these out.

Organic vs. local

Tonight I'm reading "Building the green economy: success stores from the grass roots." It's an inspiring book, showing how individuals and communities are making a difference.

Many people ask whether it's better to buy organic food, or local food. While the obvious choice is "local organic", that's not always an option. Local is better, if you have to choose.

One chapter contains a conversation with Anuradha Mittal, who is the Founder and Executive Director of the Oakland Institute, a non-profit research and advocacy organization. He states that the US is one country where organic farmers have to pay to get the certified organic label on their produce, while chemical farmers get away scot-free so they can provide so-called cheap food.

This book is an eye-opener. From stories about victories over polluters, big corporations, and government to grass-roots movements by unlikely participants, "Building the green economy" is an inspiration.

Thoughts on Big Green Purse

The book, Big Green Purse by Diane MacEachern provides great resources for anyone who spends money. That's you and me, right? I love the title of her book: Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World. She states that "women spend eighty-five cents of every dollar in the marketplace". Women have tremendous buying power, and what we do and don't buy sends powerful messages to manufacturers. The Big Green Purse lists countless resources, from researching/buying furniture, clothing, food, cleaning supplies, cars, cosmetics and more!

The format of the book makes it easy, and fun to read, with icons and quick tips indicating "thumbs up" or "thumbs down", along with "ecocheap" and "green at work".

Check out Big Green Purse. She invites us all to make a pledge to shift $1000 of our annual spending on green products. To make your pledge go to www.biggreenpurse.com. I did.

With my major kitchen remodeling project that was just completed (well...almost completed), I used a counter-top product called Richlite, which is made from recycled paper and resin. I also installed a cork floor, and another counter-top made of bamboo. It's a start.

Check this out too!

KC Green Drinks

Tonight I learned that the next KC Green Drinks meeting will be July 17 at Californos in Westport. I'm excited to attend, and meet others who are proactively working toward sustainability and positive environmental issues. I look back at the changes I've made over the last year, and I'm hoping to be more inspired to do greater things.

Today, I talked to several people about Habitat for Humanity's Re-Store. I've been to the new KCK store several times in the last few weeks...mostly to make donations. Now, I'm ready to pick up some crown moulding for the kitchen project (no, it's not over yet).

Recycling bins at school sporting events?

Yesterday was a basketball marathon day at one of our local high schools, Shawnee Mission South. (Rhys played 3 games). I always carry my reusable bottle, usually full of ice tea, but sometimes just water. As I sat and watched 3 hours worth of games, I stopped counting the number of plastic water, sports drinks, soda, or other beverage containers that went in the regular trash cans. I didn't see one recycling container in the gym. I'm not sure how many games were played yesterday, but let me try to estimate how many bottles were trashed. There were 2 courts being played during the 3 games, which meant 4 teams. On average, 7 players per game. 28 x3=84. 84. That's just the number of bottles used by the players. Add a few dozen for the fans, coaches, etc per game. I know there were a lot more than 3 games played yesterday.

At one high school, 2 days worth of games, there could easily have been over a thousand bottles. I think it's time to send an email to the school district to see what could be done to correct this. Better yet, I can call them tomorrow: Shawnee Mission School District Facilities Office (913) 993-6443.

Saving gas

Last week I signed up on Bridging the Gaps site to do "5 Green Things". One of the things is to "Drive Smoothly". I've tried to make a game out of it, by seeing how far I can coast, (without endangering myself or other drivers). Tonight, thanks to a fairly decent sized hill, I was able to go between 2 stop lights without stepping on the accelerator. Yep, I got a few odd looks, but no honks or obscene gestures. I think I've mastered going the last 2-3 blocks to get to my house, without stepping on the gas.

Here's Bridging the Gap's description:

How

Drive as if you have no breaks – that means no sudden stops and starts. Accelerate gently and read the road ahead to avoid unnecessary braking. Write yourself a small note on the steering wheel or dashboard to remind yourself.

Why

This is a free way to reduce your gasoline use and money spent at the pump while reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of your car or truck, which make up one third of all American GHG emissions.

Sign up here. Make your pledge to do 5 Green Things.

Click here to learn about running a car using water, on Hydrogen Car Network.

Reusable bags

I stopped at Whole Foods yesterday. They had a big sign out front that said: "We'll pay you $.10 per bag to turn around and get your reusable shopping bag from your car!" I was proud to say that I already had 3 in my hand. (I purchased 2 of them from reusablebags.com). I love their website, their mission, and the way they conduct business.

Last month I attended a bridal shower of a dear friend's daughter. My goal was to buy something that had NO packaging, and then gift wrap it with material that could all be re-purposed or re-used. It was a no-brainer that I would use a cloth shopping bag as the wrap (I used kitchen twine to tie a bow.) The bride-to-be loved the Heavyweight Hemp/Organic Cotton Grocery Bag.

My favorites are the Reisenthel - Mini Maxi Shopper, Long Handle bags. I have several colors, but my favorite is the polka-dot one. I bought it this summer in Seattle, and wish I had a few more, in different colors, but haven't been able to find them on-line. Has anyone seen them?

For those of you who still use the plastic bags from grocery stores, department stores, take-out restaurants, and a gazillion other places...please recycle your bags. Wal-mart and Whole Foods both have a great bag recycling program.

Those little plastic gift cards...

A few days ago, I wrote about the plastic "gift cards" you get when you return something to a retail store, without a receipt. At dinner that night, I discussed this with a few friends. We talked about all of the promo mail we get, which includes the plastic "credit cards".

Today, when I opened my mail, I had 3 cards (advertising credit cards, and, oh my goodness, AARP.) When I examined them closely, I found out they weren't plastic (at least these 3 weren't). They were paper (2 with a glossy coating, which was easily torn). That's the good news for the day!

Oh yeah, more good news. I had to return something to Westlake Hardware (without a receipt). They gave me a register receipt, with my credit indicated on the receipt. Although the chances of me losing this is greater than the plastic gift card, I was still thrilled to get it! Kudos to Westlake Hardware!

Recycling my violin?

For several years, I've thought about selling my violin (Gustav August Ficker). It's the same one I've had since mom bought it for me when I was in the 7th grade. Within the last few years, Ken at Beckman Violins did some minor repare work on it. At the time, he said if I ever wanted to sell it, to let him know.

I have mixed feelings about selling, but it needs a good home, with someone who will play it with passion. I took it down to Beckman's today, and left it (Ken is on vacation until Thursday). I'll be anxious to hear back from him, to see if he's still interested in buying.

What happens to used gift cards?

I was at Lowe's today. Surprise. I had to make a few returns. I had some items which had the original receipt. I had some items that didn't have the original receipt. It's Lowe's policy (as it is many retailers) to give store credit if you don't have the receipt. I don't have a problem with this policy. I had a few items to purchase anyway (2nd surprise). At the self-service checkout, the scanner wasn't cooperating (3rd surpise), so the friendly clerk scanned my items. I presented my store credit card that I had received less than 30 minutes prior (you know, a credit card sized, non-recycled piece of plastic) and paid the balance with my debit card. As the friendly clerk placed the now used piece of plastic in the special vinyl pouch under the cash drawer, I asked: "Lowe's recycles these cards, don't they?" I knew they answer, but I just had to ask.

"No they don't, I'm afraid to say". As if her apology would soften the bad news...

So, my task tonight is to find out how many plastic store "credit" cards are being added to the landfills daily...

Not as much stuff now

Yesterday involved trips to both Goodwill and the Re-Store. Both included drop-offs, with no new purchases. Success. I still have more to drop off at Goodwill (see Friday's blog) Seems like so much of what I have to donate is breakable...I will head back to the Re-Store to get the crown moulding ($1.00 for each 8'section).

Today Thomas and I finished painting in the kitchen, and hung the last light fixture over the bar. Now, every tool, paint brush, ladder and stir stick is back in my kitchen. How does that happen?

Stuff. Too much ordinary stuff

I have a lot of stuff. That's the best word to describe it...stuff. Don't get me wrong...I think I have some really cool, unique, lusted after by others kind of stuff. That's not the stuff I'm thinking about today. The stuff on my mind includes a lot of the kitchen ware that came out of my old, desperately in need of remodeling kitchen. Now that I have my new, long awaited, lovingly planned kitchen, I have no room, or no need for a lot of this stuff. (I can hear my nieces saying..."I'll take some of your stuff.") Come get it. By the time you read this, it might/should/will be gone. You can pick it up at the Goodwill.

Then there's the other stuff. In making room for the extra kitchen stuff, I had to move/pack/hide some other stuff.

Take for instance picture frames. I have a lot of picture frames. Most have pictures in them, some don't. The pictures are mostly of nieces, nephews, other family members, friends and friends kids. With my new kitchen, I have less wall space. Now what?

And vases...how many vases does one need? Right now I have 8 glass vases on my kitchen window sill, full of little yellow flowers. They make me smile. Then I have 1 glass vase with a large bouquet of flowers on my bamboo counter-top (yes, I'm nervous about leaving it there...but I need to get over that). Now, if I counted up the unused vases (which would take me a while, since they're not all in 1 logical location), I would have enough to share. with lots of you. come get 'em now, before they go to the Goodwill.

What about drinking glasses and coffee cups? I'll be right back, I'm going to count them. OK, I'm back-28 glass drinking vessels, 29 plastic drinking vessels, and 21 coffee cups (I don't even drink coffee). That doesn't include my stash of wine glasses, (crystal and plastic:16), or margarita glasses: 4, champagne glasses: 3, or the 8 cordial glasses I inherited from my mom. (I don't ever remember her drinking out of one, or ever using them).

Oh... candle holders. That will be a topic for another day.

Back to the kitchen stuff. I have lots of assorted odds and ends, that I'm finding I don't use very often (shame on you if you are surprised). Now, what to do with this stuff? Do I add it to my stash of stuff to take to the Re-Store? (it's amazing how much stuff surfaced during the remodeling project that can be reused). Do I try to sell some of it on eBay? Or is it just Goodwill worthy?

The funny part is, I need some boxes to pack these things in, just to take them to the Goodwill. Since I've been using my reusable shopping bags, I'm nearly out of plastic bags (which should be recycled anyway). So, it's another dilemma I'll have to continue to face. In the meantime, I need to find homes in my own home for the stuff I want to keep.

Growing green

Today one of my goals was to get some plants in the ground. I purchased a holly bush 2 days ago, and I wanted to give it the best opportunity to thrive in its new home. A few times this spring, I've purchased a plant, brought it home, set it "on" its new home, but didn't dig to plant it. They really don't like it when you do that (I'm finding out the hard way).

I had a few other plants that have been sitting in their original pots for over 3 weeks, just waiting for room to spread their roots. I finally got them in the ground today too (and used the root stimulator from Fertilome...I wonder how safe it is. I've used it for years, with great results), I did this early this morning, since the heat index is supposed to be in the mid 90's today. Yuk. I gave everything a healthy dose of H2O, and was once again thankful that I'm able to stay home and do this. My herbs are thriving, and everything green is staying that way. I'm still "saving" the water from my drippy new Moen kitchen faucet...about a quart every few hours. Tonight Thomas is replacing the cartridge...so no more drippy faucet after tonight! (stay tuned to see if the drip stops...)

I've been procrastinating doing anything paperwork related (balancing my check-book, paying bills, dealing with insurance, etc.). But...today is the day. My office needs a good cleaning-out. That might be this afternoon's project.

To the recycling center

I've been carrying around glass bottles and jars for a week, just waiting to go to the recycling center. Here's a lesson I've learned...in the summer time, don't put your glass bottles and jars in your car, until you're ready to go to the recycling center. No matter how much you think you rinse them out, there are still remains of whatever started out in the jar. (this week I made my favorite quinoa salad, which has pickled jalepeno peppers in it. you can imagine what my car smells like)

Click here to read more about Bridging the Gap. Make your green pledge today!

Check this out...!

Still not working for $$$

Today was day 22 of being unemployed. Is there any significance to that number? I don't think so...I might find out later. I'm amazed every day at how much time it takes to actually be unemployed. How did I get anything done when I was employed? How did I spend my time? Do our activities expand to fill our free time? I feel busier than ever...Is this vacation time?

The kitchen project is moving right along. I've very happy with my green building choices...Richlite countertop, cork floor, and bamboo countertop. I love the way they look. The folks at Straw, Sticks and Bricks have been great to work with. Kudos to Jen, Josh and Teri for their great advise and patience. I'm still putting the oil on the bamboo countertop, and I'm very careful about not setting anything on it yet.

The painting is finished. Now, I just have to wait for the backsplash tiles to arrive... (then, do I learn to tile?) I think so.

Check this out...

Earn some money while you're "unemployed"!