Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) ... our effort to walk a little gentler on the earth. Information about this weekly event can be found HERE or just click on the tab at the top of this blog.
As a reminder ... we have a month long challenge in play. Here it is:
February Challenge - February is being chosen by snack food manufacturers as "National Snack Food Month". That means that unhealthy snacks will be unusually promoted and consumers will be encouraged to buy them. Processed foods, especially snacks, are bad for us and bad for the planet. So, let's reclaim February for the good food cause. First, visit #28ate to get the facts and then, participate by taking at least one of the actions they suggest. Come back here and tell us what actions you're taking to support healthy food.
I also want to give you a "heads up" about something fun we're going to do next month, beginning on March 9th. It's going to involve daily challenges ... so stay tuned, more details to come.
Okay ... last week we challenged ourselves to opt for reusable products instead of disposable ones. "Reuse" is the second action in the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" directive. It's no accident that the words fall in that particular order ... reducing is first and foremost because the less stuff created, the less stuff in a landfill. Reuse comes next because we do need a certain amount of stuff in our lives and this directive encourages us to look beyond the initial use of an item and make our choices based on the ability to reuse it. For example ... we often have a choice between a paper product or a cloth version. The cloth version can be washed and reused. Another example is product packaging ... some containers, like plastic wrap, can't be reused ... others, like glass jars, can. That is exactly what our challenge was about ... avoiding disposables and, instead, opting for reusable items. Let's see how our Honor Society handled this challenge:
Chapstick Fanatic says that her blog is not "green" but she linked up to our challenge in this POST. Passing the green word ... that makes La Chapstick Fanatique a green blog in my book. Thanks, CF!
Cinella typically writes about our challenge in her blog but ... not this week. Has she abandoned her "green" beliefs?? Has she turned away from CTWW??? Not at all! In this POST, she is taking this challenge to new heights and sending reusable items to our troops overseas. She's part of We Use Coupons/Operation Troop Aid event ... and, not only is she participating, her post includes all kinds of ways that we all can participate. So head on over to "her place".
Kristen shared that by switching to cloth napkins instead of paper, she reduced her trash considerably. Once again we see that making one small change can make a huge difference. Kristen also shares that cloth napkins are much softer on our skin ... just an added bonus!
Noteasytobegreen has made the switch from disposable to reusable on many items ... napkins, water bottles, bags and even personal hygiene products (reusable cloth pads). She shares that she's having trouble with toilet paper and cotton balls/swabs. Read on for a great suggestion on replacing cotton balls by Kris. As for toilet paper, one could consider a bidet or, in most cases, opt for toilet paper made out of recycled material (ie Seventh Generation). Be sure to check out this POST, which Noteasytobegreen wrote about taking back her food ... it nicely supports our month-long challenge.
Kris, who suggested this challenge, lists a whole bunch of ideas in this POST ... including what to use instead of cotton balls. She also shares a very clever idea for avoiding those little tags in the bulk food section which are used for identifying the bulk item by code. Those tags are not recyclable and she's found a way to eliminate them. Be sure to read through the comments of Kris's post ... she generated a great discussion where more ideas were shared! Thanks, Kris!!
While visiting Hidden Valley Simplicity this week, I read a post (which you can read HERE) about making baby wipes & spray. If fit in so nicely with this challenge that I asked the author, M, if I could share it here and ... she agreed. By the way ... Congratulations to the Hidden Valley family on their new addition, Lil Man!!
Pam stopped in ... thanks for your kind comments, Pam. Hope to "see" you here again!
The Shopping Charity Daily gave our challenge a nice mention. That edition of this fine publication also included a piece on bone marrow transplants and Club P.I.G., lung cancer and a new diet plan called Healthy Living with Ellie Krieger. So be sure to check it out ... lots of interesting reading!
Mountain Mama is excited about this week's challenge (I love her enthusiasm). She offers this POST in support of the month-long snack challenge. Wow ... if you love cheese puffs and thought you could only get them in a package, think again. Mountain Mama shares the recipe. Thanks, MM!
Nicki Woo, The Home Guru, stopped in. If you have never been to Nicki's blog, you're missing out. I've only recently discovered her blog and immediately fell in love with her writing ... she is clever, funny and always entertaining. Check it out! And thanks, Nicki, for your kind comments ... look forward to "seeing" you here again and again!
Our friend, Ann, wrote a post (HERE) which talks about coexisting and sharing resources. She also included our banner. Thanks, Anne!
Toes That Twinkle stopped in. She found us through one of the blog hops which are listed in the side bar.
Denise Nicole accepted the challenge and wrote this POST in answer. She lives in the Philippines and shares that people, there, typically don't use toilet paper. Can you guess what they use instead? Oh you know I won't tell ... you'll just have to go and read it for yourself. But here's a hint ... her post also addresses the concerns of Noteasytobegreen.
Mrs. Green gave us 15 great suggestions ... all of which meet this challenge. You can read them HERE. She had a couple of ideas that I had never thought about ... check out #4 and #8 ... brilliant! By the way, there's a great picture of Mr. & Mrs. Green on this post ... what a handsome couple!
What happens to old sheets? Truthfully, I've never thought about that. But Rewinn has. In this POST he offers us a very creative reuse for sheets, as well as old sweaters and denim jeans. Thanks, Rewinn!
Linda has found that reusing is a great way to stretch a limited budget. Her comment was just full of ideas: using an old blanket as padding to recover kitchen chairs, using plastic grocery bags to make plarn (plastic yarn) and then crocheting bags and rugs, and using old hand towels and washcloths in the kitchen as dish towels and dish cloths. In this POST, she shares such a simple reuse ... but one which is clever, functional and keeps a common item out of the landfill. Thanks, Linda!
Great posts, everyone ... I've Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked them.
We have a very kind group of tweeters out there ... we call them the #CTWW Gang. Each week they pass the word about our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, be sure to follow these great folks:
@cjrthemommyblog
@noteasy2begreen
@ShoppingCharity
As a reminder, if you have an idea for a challenge, please send it to me HERE.
Let's hit the road ... here's this week's challenge:
This week, if you drive, reduce your speed. Reducing your driving speed reduces the amount of fuel you burn ... and that is very Eco-friendly. So ... this week ... slow down!
Or ...
If you don't use a car for transportation, please share your alternate choice and give us practical ideas for making it work. For example, if you ride a bike or walk, please share how you manage inclement weather, shopping and getting to the other side of the city/state. Tell us about the ways in which you stay safe while riding a bike in heavy traffic or walking when there isn't a sidewalk. We'd like to know exactly how you make an Eco-friendly form of transportation work in today's world.
That's it for this week ... thanks Everyone!
WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Guest Post by George Rollins
A Conscious Green Home - Planning, Preparation and Common Sense
All of us would like to live in a green home, but not all of us have the resources to build a geodesic dome, earth-sheltered home or even a passive solar home. Some of us have to do the best we can as we slowly make improvements and remodel the home we already have. Are there options out there for the rest of us? Absolutely - yes, there are. Here are some changes you can make to the home you already have, without spending an arm and a leg on new technologies:
While you are sealing ducts, you may want to consider having a heat audit of your home.You can find out where heat is leaking out, and seal the gaps. This, too, will help your furnace and air conditioner to run more efficiently and use less power - which also means that you will save money. Some communities offer free heat audits of homes in the fall - if your community is one of them, be sure that you take advantage of this service.
When you upgrade your appliances, do your homework and buy the most energy-efficient models you can find. If you are looking for a new furnace, see if you can find one that has an AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating of at least 80, and preferably more than 90, percent. For an air conditioner, try to find one that has a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) of at least 14. If your furnace or air conditioner is not very old, though, don't bother - wait a few years until technology has made even more energy-efficient appliances a reality.
Conserve water. Check for leaky pipes that can be fixed, use low-flow aerator heads on faucets, and use a low-flow toilet (or modify existing toilets by adding an empty milk jug full of gravel to the toilet's water tank).
Use recycled or sustainable materials if you are replacing cabinets or countertops in your kitchen. Try to find cabinets that are made out of compressed agricultural plant material, such as wheatboard or strawboard, instead of particleboard or fiberboard. Better yet, don't replace the internal shelves and drawers in your kitchen at all - replace only the fronts.
If you need to replace flooring, consider using natural flooring. One good option is cork, which is a good choice for allergy sufferers, is easy to install yourself, and also provides you with a floor that is both quiet and beautiful.
Perhaps you can't afford solar panels for your house - but you might be able to manage outdoor solar lights that charge during the day and go on automatically in the evening when the sun goes down.
Some people say that composting is the new recycling. Adding a composter to your kitchen can provide you with a way to recycle your kitchen scraps and have a ready source of soil for your gardening projects at any time - it's really a win-win situation, if you have the space for it.
When you remodel, if you can downsize your home instead of upsizing it, take the opportunity to do so. Find ways to live in less space, or let some rooms do double duty. A Murphy bed (a bed that folds up onto a wall) can be used to convert a home office to a spare bedroom, for example. Or, alternatively, reduce the amount of space in your home that is climate-controlled. Set up your home so that the spare bedroom your college student uses in the summer doesn't have to be heated in the winter, for example.
Remodeling a home can be expensive. Take some time to talk to a contractor who has done green remodels before about options for greening your home without going over budget on your project. Choose the greenest versions you can of the things that you are certain you need to replace - and don't worry about not being able to afford to do everything. You're only human.
George Rollins is a home enthusiast at FurnaceCompare.com, a site that not only has extensive information on furnaces, boilers and air conditioners, but also includes consumer reviews and tips on choosing HVAC contractors. George has a passion for educating consumers on home renovation and improvements, as he feels that the right information helps consumers choose more wisely.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Change The World Wednesday
Welcome to Change The World Wedensday (#CTWW). If you're new here and would like more information about this weekly event, please click HERE ... or click the tab at the top of this blog.
Before we get started with last week's challenge, just a reminder: We have a month long challenge in play. Here it is:
February Challenge - February is being chosen by snack food manufacturers as "National Snack Food Month". That means that unhealthy snacks will be unusually promoted and consumers will be encouraged to buy them. Processed foods, especially snacks, are bad for us and bad for the planet. So, let's reclaim February for the good food cause. First, visit #28ate to get the facts and then, participate by taking at least one of the actions they suggest. Come back here and tell us what actions you're taking to support healthy food.
Last week we challenged ourselves to spread the "green" word in ways which might reach people who aren't part of our "Eco-choir". Once I started thinking about reaching out, the opportunities presented themselves (or maybe they were always there and I just didn't see them). When I visited vegetarian/vegan recipe sites, I left comments, not only about how delicious and healthy a recipe looked, but how a meatless meal was so good for the planet. Another opportunity presented itself, some time ago, at the artisan group which I belong to ... the owner of the group asked me if I'd like to contribute Eco-tips on the front page of the site ... and, of course, I jumped at the chance. When residents of our apartment complex were told that we'd have to start paying for water, I started talking to neighbors about how we could reduce our use ... and I posted water (and money) saving tips on our community bulletin boards. When we start looking, the opportunities to share "green" are there. Let's see how our Honor Society did:
EcoGrrl, as part of her master recycler's certification, will be volunteering at a local Fix-It Fair, an event that her city puts on at high schools around the city to educate folks on ways to go green and save money (read about it here: Fix-It Fair). In this POST, EcoGrrl talks about food waste and while I don't think it was written for our month-long snack food challenge, it fits in nicely and offers a lot of information. Thanks, EcoGrrl!
Mrs. Green started this challenge saying that it scared her. But then, opportunity found her ... in a big way! Read this POST to find out how she's sharing the "green" message. And no, Mrs. Green, I don't have any listening devices or cameras in your home. LOL!
In this POST, Kris shows us how easily one can take the Eco-message to those outside of our green circle. She shares through her actions and in conversations with friends and family ... and she's seeing results. Way to go, Kris!!
Have you been to Cinella's blog lately? Wow ... lots of stuff going on over there. What I especially like about her blog is that she ties green living into all of her activities ... whether it's a giveaway, a blog hop or a blog party about cloth diapers (a very Eco-friendly option). So if you haven't visited lately, head on over. She wrote this POST, about our challenge and in her comment she shares that she'll be attending a parents' meeting at her daughter's school. She plans on speaking up about recycling and earth-friendly activities. From the previous week she shared that the whole family got involved in giving back. Curious about how they did it? Oh you know me ... I won't tell ... you'll just have to go read it. Here's a small hint: when her daughter gets older, she wants to have a "give back" drive once a month. Great job, Cinella!!
Our friend, Mountain Mama, took the challenge. She shared one of the easiest ways to get the message out there ... through our children. When she was growing up, her family planted the "green" seed by recycling and composting ... years later, she is doing the same by involving her son in these activities. She also notes that many people in her area aren't taking advantage of the area's recycling program so she plans to encourage them to do so ... in a gentle way. I hope you'll come back and tell us how it goes, MM. In this POST, she shares a photo and simple words ... both of which carry a big message. Thanks, MM!
I'm always so impressed by what readers do ... how they live their "green" beliefs. Such is the case with Ann. In this POST, she shares that she was invited to speak about recycling to the Maori NGATI WHATUA O ORAKEI tribe. She shared environmental information with them, learned about their culture and then took all of that information back to her students. Great job, Ann!
Jen shares all of the actions she's been taking in this POST ... and they are considerable (Stranger Danger, Girl Guides ... oh you know you want to know about those). She reminds us that living a green life and being open to questions is one of the best ways to get the information out there. Thanks, so much, Jen!
We have a new member to our happy group of "greenies". Denise jumped right in ... she accepted the challenge, wrote about it HERE, and posted our banner in her side bar. YAY! She's already got a great start to an environmentally-friendly life ... she's chosen not to eat meat and she refuses plastic bags. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone took those two actions. Wow! So nice to have you with us, Denise!
Rewinn makes an interesting observation. He shares that while most of us have diverse social networks (friends, work colleagues, etc.), we often don't take information from one and share it with another. In his words "By sharing ideas across our networks, we take advantage of the brainpower of others ...". In THE SPACES I'M IN, he suggests a way to get started ... make an inventory of our social networks. Be sure to check it out because he's not just talking about networks we'll find on the Internet ... but networks "off-line" as well. Thanks, Rewinn!
In many of the comments and posts this week, we've seen that leading by example and including our children are great ways to get the Eco-message out. One of my favorite examples of this comes from my bloggy friend Amy (the Wayland Cook). She and her family are always looking for ways to live a greener, more efficient life. In this POST, Amy's husband builds a solar furnace. You might remember, from a previous challenge, that he also converted their wood stove to accommodate cooking (read about that HERE). Mom and Dad aren't the only ones getting into green living ... Amy's 6 year old son, Wesley, has started vermicomposting (read about his efforts HERE). Now that's truly walking the talk! Thanks, Amy!
Our #CTWW Gang spread the green word in their unique fashion ... by tweeting about our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, be sure to stop by and follow thise folks:
@sprout5
@cjrthemommyblog
@noteasy2begreen
@waylandcook
@jnjgogreen
Thanks to everyone who participated this week. I've Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked your articles.
We've had a couple of tough challenges so let's switch gears and try something new. This challenge is suggested by our friend, Kris, who says, "... instead of finding new ways to use things that we would normally recycle the idea is to think about the disposable items you use and find a better solution. The idea is that it would be better for the environment and, in the long run, better for our bank accounts too. example: instead of using paper towels to clean up a spill, use a rag. Or..instead of using a paper napkin at dinner time, use a cloth napkin that can be washed and used again." So, here's the challenge:
This week, take a look at all the disposable items you use and find Eco-friendly alternatives.
Or ...
If you've already gone from disposable to reusable, please share the changes you've made.
Great challenge, Kris ... I look forward to everyone's comments!
That's it for this week ... thanks, everyone!
WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!
Before we get started with last week's challenge, just a reminder: We have a month long challenge in play. Here it is:
February Challenge - February is being chosen by snack food manufacturers as "National Snack Food Month". That means that unhealthy snacks will be unusually promoted and consumers will be encouraged to buy them. Processed foods, especially snacks, are bad for us and bad for the planet. So, let's reclaim February for the good food cause. First, visit #28ate to get the facts and then, participate by taking at least one of the actions they suggest. Come back here and tell us what actions you're taking to support healthy food.
Last week we challenged ourselves to spread the "green" word in ways which might reach people who aren't part of our "Eco-choir". Once I started thinking about reaching out, the opportunities presented themselves (or maybe they were always there and I just didn't see them). When I visited vegetarian/vegan recipe sites, I left comments, not only about how delicious and healthy a recipe looked, but how a meatless meal was so good for the planet. Another opportunity presented itself, some time ago, at the artisan group which I belong to ... the owner of the group asked me if I'd like to contribute Eco-tips on the front page of the site ... and, of course, I jumped at the chance. When residents of our apartment complex were told that we'd have to start paying for water, I started talking to neighbors about how we could reduce our use ... and I posted water (and money) saving tips on our community bulletin boards. When we start looking, the opportunities to share "green" are there. Let's see how our Honor Society did:
EcoGrrl, as part of her master recycler's certification, will be volunteering at a local Fix-It Fair, an event that her city puts on at high schools around the city to educate folks on ways to go green and save money (read about it here: Fix-It Fair). In this POST, EcoGrrl talks about food waste and while I don't think it was written for our month-long snack food challenge, it fits in nicely and offers a lot of information. Thanks, EcoGrrl!
Mrs. Green started this challenge saying that it scared her. But then, opportunity found her ... in a big way! Read this POST to find out how she's sharing the "green" message. And no, Mrs. Green, I don't have any listening devices or cameras in your home. LOL!
In this POST, Kris shows us how easily one can take the Eco-message to those outside of our green circle. She shares through her actions and in conversations with friends and family ... and she's seeing results. Way to go, Kris!!
Have you been to Cinella's blog lately? Wow ... lots of stuff going on over there. What I especially like about her blog is that she ties green living into all of her activities ... whether it's a giveaway, a blog hop or a blog party about cloth diapers (a very Eco-friendly option). So if you haven't visited lately, head on over. She wrote this POST, about our challenge and in her comment she shares that she'll be attending a parents' meeting at her daughter's school. She plans on speaking up about recycling and earth-friendly activities. From the previous week she shared that the whole family got involved in giving back. Curious about how they did it? Oh you know me ... I won't tell ... you'll just have to go read it. Here's a small hint: when her daughter gets older, she wants to have a "give back" drive once a month. Great job, Cinella!!
Our friend, Mountain Mama, took the challenge. She shared one of the easiest ways to get the message out there ... through our children. When she was growing up, her family planted the "green" seed by recycling and composting ... years later, she is doing the same by involving her son in these activities. She also notes that many people in her area aren't taking advantage of the area's recycling program so she plans to encourage them to do so ... in a gentle way. I hope you'll come back and tell us how it goes, MM. In this POST, she shares a photo and simple words ... both of which carry a big message. Thanks, MM!
I'm always so impressed by what readers do ... how they live their "green" beliefs. Such is the case with Ann. In this POST, she shares that she was invited to speak about recycling to the Maori NGATI WHATUA O ORAKEI tribe. She shared environmental information with them, learned about their culture and then took all of that information back to her students. Great job, Ann!
Jen shares all of the actions she's been taking in this POST ... and they are considerable (Stranger Danger, Girl Guides ... oh you know you want to know about those). She reminds us that living a green life and being open to questions is one of the best ways to get the information out there. Thanks, so much, Jen!
We have a new member to our happy group of "greenies". Denise jumped right in ... she accepted the challenge, wrote about it HERE, and posted our banner in her side bar. YAY! She's already got a great start to an environmentally-friendly life ... she's chosen not to eat meat and she refuses plastic bags. Imagine what the world would be like if everyone took those two actions. Wow! So nice to have you with us, Denise!
Rewinn makes an interesting observation. He shares that while most of us have diverse social networks (friends, work colleagues, etc.), we often don't take information from one and share it with another. In his words "By sharing ideas across our networks, we take advantage of the brainpower of others ...". In THE SPACES I'M IN, he suggests a way to get started ... make an inventory of our social networks. Be sure to check it out because he's not just talking about networks we'll find on the Internet ... but networks "off-line" as well. Thanks, Rewinn!
In many of the comments and posts this week, we've seen that leading by example and including our children are great ways to get the Eco-message out. One of my favorite examples of this comes from my bloggy friend Amy (the Wayland Cook). She and her family are always looking for ways to live a greener, more efficient life. In this POST, Amy's husband builds a solar furnace. You might remember, from a previous challenge, that he also converted their wood stove to accommodate cooking (read about that HERE). Mom and Dad aren't the only ones getting into green living ... Amy's 6 year old son, Wesley, has started vermicomposting (read about his efforts HERE). Now that's truly walking the talk! Thanks, Amy!
Our #CTWW Gang spread the green word in their unique fashion ... by tweeting about our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, be sure to stop by and follow thise folks:
@sprout5
@cjrthemommyblog
@noteasy2begreen
@waylandcook
@jnjgogreen
Thanks to everyone who participated this week. I've Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked your articles.
We've had a couple of tough challenges so let's switch gears and try something new. This challenge is suggested by our friend, Kris, who says, "... instead of finding new ways to use things that we would normally recycle the idea is to think about the disposable items you use and find a better solution. The idea is that it would be better for the environment and, in the long run, better for our bank accounts too. example: instead of using paper towels to clean up a spill, use a rag. Or..instead of using a paper napkin at dinner time, use a cloth napkin that can be washed and used again." So, here's the challenge:
This week, take a look at all the disposable items you use and find Eco-friendly alternatives.
Or ...
If you've already gone from disposable to reusable, please share the changes you've made.
Great challenge, Kris ... I look forward to everyone's comments!
That's it for this week ... thanks, everyone!
WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Change The World Wednesday
Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW). If you are new to our challenges, please click HERE for more information and a complete list of the tasks we've accomplished so far. You're also more than welcome to grab our banner (below) for your site. If you link it to our CTWW page, you'll always have easy access to the most current challenge:
Before we talk about last week's challenge, just a reminder ... we have a month long challenge in play. Here it is:
February Challenge - February is being chosen by snack food manufacturers as "National Snack Food Month". That means that unhealthy snacks will be unusually promoted and consumers will be encouraged to buy them. Processed foods, especially snacks, are bad for us and bad for the planet. So, let's reclaim February for the good food cause. First, visit #28ate to get the facts and then, participate by taking at least one of the actions they suggest. Come back here and tell us what actions you're taking to support healthy food.
Last week's task was a tough one. We challenged ourselves to give back rather than simply reduce our impact. For some it was overwhelming ... some people didn't know where to begin ... and still others embraced it, trying things which they normally wouldn't have attempted. I liked this challenge because it prompted me to think of my actions in a new way. Hopefully, in the weeks to come, we'll all keep this challenge in mind and think of new ways to give back to the environment.
Let's check in with the Honor Society:
Noteasytobegreen, who inspired this challenge, pushed the limits of her comfort zone to accomplish this challenge. How did she do it? In this POST she took up Guerilla Gardening and in this ARTICLE she talks about getting her hands dirty. She also accepted the month-long challenge and says that she's a fan of stovetop popcorn, kale chips and apple sauce.
Frugal Invitation dropped in - she's the host of the Wednesday Blog Hop which you'll find in the side bar.
Sarah found us through the Blog Hop. Nice to "see" you Sarah ... hope you'll stop in again.
Our challenge got picked up in The On Fire For Handmade Daily. Other articles included Cold and Flu Remedies, the Vancouver Island Estuary and Old Fashioned Barber Shoppe Soap. Be sure to check it out!
From a previous challenge, Mysticle shares that she is going to try to make laundry detergent. She's also looking for a recipe for fabric softener ... not the dryer sheet variety but something to add to the rinse cycle. Kris has a suggestion for you, Mysticle ... read it below. Anyone else have a recipe or idea?
Mysticle also commented on the challenge about efficient cooking and shares that she's a fan of crock-pots and outdoor cooking using a propane fueled grill.
Kris wrote this POST in support of our Eco-friendly cleanser challenge. She talks about all that she's doing now and shares some ideas which she has for improving the process. She's also asking for ideas and suggestions for washing sports clothing ... most Eco-friendly laundry detergents don't address the smell of work-out clothes. Anyone have an idea?
From last week's challenge, Kris wrote about snack food HERE and about giving back HERE. She accepts the "giving back" challenge but is asking for ideas ... so if you have an idea, please share it here or on her blog.
Our bloggy friend, Brian, joined the challenge. He suggests that an easy way to give back is to plant something and offers this great tip: The Arbor Day Foundation website sells very affordable trees. He's already ordered some and plans to get his Cub Scout Troop involved in planting as a conservation project. Brilliant!! This simple step gives back to nature and encourages the next generation to give back as well!
Freebiesanddeals found us through a blog hop. She accepts the challenges and says she is going to contemplate actions which will give back. Yay!
Penny is another new follower. Nice to "see" you Penny ... hope you'll stop in again!
Mandy also found us through the Wednesday Blog Hop. Great to have you with us, Mandy!
Mountain Mama has our CTWW Banner posted in her side bar. Thanks so much, MM! She also is taking on our challenges ... she prefers cleaning with vinegar and hates the smell that commercial cleansers give off ... she avoids commercial snack foods sharing that it's not only earth un-friendly but it's expensive .. and she tries to "give back" by composting.
Mrs. Green initially felt overwhelmed and while she had some ideas of what to do, she also felt that they weren't good enough ... that the problem was just too big. It's something that I believe we all feel at times ... that our small actions don't really matter. But, when I read her post HERE, I felt that her actions matter a lot. Check it out and tell me if you agree.
Shopping Charity, a wonderful publication, picked up our challenge this week. They also had pieces on the situation in Egypt, the Humane Society and how to get a job with the government. Be sure to check it out!
Our friend, Argentum Vulgaris, says that Brazil is "snack food crazy". He writes about what he sees children eating on their way to school and how he plans to meet the "snack food" challenge this month. You can read all about it HERE.
Ann gave our challenge a nice mention in this POST which is about educating festival-goers in reducing/eliminating waste.
My friend, and brilliant author, Kathryn (Kat) Magendie stopped in. If you've never been to her site, you're really missing out. So go ... go now ... here the LINK.
Oh Rewinn ... while I do consider you a friend ... I really felt that this POST was just a little too personal. I mean ... do you really want to make us privy to your breakup and new relationship ... even going as far as writing a second POST about the merits of your "new love"? Well ... so be it!
Our friend, Jen, took the Eco-friendly cleanser challenge by giving vinegar a workout. She posts the results HERE. So what do you think ... is she a vinegar "devotee" or is it strictly for cooking?
A long-time friend, Kate of The Holdfast Seeker, stopped in. It's so nice to "see" you Kate ... we look forward to your return to blogging but totally understand that your children take center stage right now.
Our twitter friends, lovingly referred to as the #CTWW Gang, got busy and talked about our challenge using the hashtag #CTWW. These are great folks to follow and get acquainted with:
@cjrthemommyblog
@givetreegifts
@OnFire4Handmade
@waylandcook
@littlegreenblog
@mysticle
@shoppingcharity
@escapingjourney
@jnjgogreen
@sprout5
@devilgrrl
Thanks to everyone who participated this week. If you wrote a post or put our banner on your site, I've Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it.
Okay ... ready for a new challenge? Are you sure??
One of the concerns that I have about writing a "green" blog is that it is somewhat like "preaching to the choir" ... everyone here is of like mind. That is fabulous but I think we can do better. So ... here's the challenge:
This week promote "green" in a manner other than (or in addition to) writing in an Eco-friendly blog. Some suggestions might be to post green-living tips on a public bulletin board, offer to speak to a group about recycling (perhaps at a school or library), enter your green blog into a non-green blog hop, join a non-green forum where you might have the opportunity to introduce green living tips, etc. The idea, here, is to reach people who may not already be part of the "choir". Get creative and let us know what actions you are taking ... and how they work out.
So what do you think ... sound like fun? Yep ... I think so!
Until next time ...
WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!
Before we talk about last week's challenge, just a reminder ... we have a month long challenge in play. Here it is:
February Challenge - February is being chosen by snack food manufacturers as "National Snack Food Month". That means that unhealthy snacks will be unusually promoted and consumers will be encouraged to buy them. Processed foods, especially snacks, are bad for us and bad for the planet. So, let's reclaim February for the good food cause. First, visit #28ate to get the facts and then, participate by taking at least one of the actions they suggest. Come back here and tell us what actions you're taking to support healthy food.
Last week's task was a tough one. We challenged ourselves to give back rather than simply reduce our impact. For some it was overwhelming ... some people didn't know where to begin ... and still others embraced it, trying things which they normally wouldn't have attempted. I liked this challenge because it prompted me to think of my actions in a new way. Hopefully, in the weeks to come, we'll all keep this challenge in mind and think of new ways to give back to the environment.
Let's check in with the Honor Society:
Noteasytobegreen, who inspired this challenge, pushed the limits of her comfort zone to accomplish this challenge. How did she do it? In this POST she took up Guerilla Gardening and in this ARTICLE she talks about getting her hands dirty. She also accepted the month-long challenge and says that she's a fan of stovetop popcorn, kale chips and apple sauce.
Frugal Invitation dropped in - she's the host of the Wednesday Blog Hop which you'll find in the side bar.
Sarah found us through the Blog Hop. Nice to "see" you Sarah ... hope you'll stop in again.
Our challenge got picked up in The On Fire For Handmade Daily. Other articles included Cold and Flu Remedies, the Vancouver Island Estuary and Old Fashioned Barber Shoppe Soap. Be sure to check it out!
From a previous challenge, Mysticle shares that she is going to try to make laundry detergent. She's also looking for a recipe for fabric softener ... not the dryer sheet variety but something to add to the rinse cycle. Kris has a suggestion for you, Mysticle ... read it below. Anyone else have a recipe or idea?
Mysticle also commented on the challenge about efficient cooking and shares that she's a fan of crock-pots and outdoor cooking using a propane fueled grill.
Kris wrote this POST in support of our Eco-friendly cleanser challenge. She talks about all that she's doing now and shares some ideas which she has for improving the process. She's also asking for ideas and suggestions for washing sports clothing ... most Eco-friendly laundry detergents don't address the smell of work-out clothes. Anyone have an idea?
From last week's challenge, Kris wrote about snack food HERE and about giving back HERE. She accepts the "giving back" challenge but is asking for ideas ... so if you have an idea, please share it here or on her blog.
Our bloggy friend, Brian, joined the challenge. He suggests that an easy way to give back is to plant something and offers this great tip: The Arbor Day Foundation website sells very affordable trees. He's already ordered some and plans to get his Cub Scout Troop involved in planting as a conservation project. Brilliant!! This simple step gives back to nature and encourages the next generation to give back as well!
Freebiesanddeals found us through a blog hop. She accepts the challenges and says she is going to contemplate actions which will give back. Yay!
Penny is another new follower. Nice to "see" you Penny ... hope you'll stop in again!
Mandy also found us through the Wednesday Blog Hop. Great to have you with us, Mandy!
Mountain Mama has our CTWW Banner posted in her side bar. Thanks so much, MM! She also is taking on our challenges ... she prefers cleaning with vinegar and hates the smell that commercial cleansers give off ... she avoids commercial snack foods sharing that it's not only earth un-friendly but it's expensive .. and she tries to "give back" by composting.
Mrs. Green initially felt overwhelmed and while she had some ideas of what to do, she also felt that they weren't good enough ... that the problem was just too big. It's something that I believe we all feel at times ... that our small actions don't really matter. But, when I read her post HERE, I felt that her actions matter a lot. Check it out and tell me if you agree.
Shopping Charity, a wonderful publication, picked up our challenge this week. They also had pieces on the situation in Egypt, the Humane Society and how to get a job with the government. Be sure to check it out!
Our friend, Argentum Vulgaris, says that Brazil is "snack food crazy". He writes about what he sees children eating on their way to school and how he plans to meet the "snack food" challenge this month. You can read all about it HERE.
Ann gave our challenge a nice mention in this POST which is about educating festival-goers in reducing/eliminating waste.
My friend, and brilliant author, Kathryn (Kat) Magendie stopped in. If you've never been to her site, you're really missing out. So go ... go now ... here the LINK.
Oh Rewinn ... while I do consider you a friend ... I really felt that this POST was just a little too personal. I mean ... do you really want to make us privy to your breakup and new relationship ... even going as far as writing a second POST about the merits of your "new love"? Well ... so be it!
Our friend, Jen, took the Eco-friendly cleanser challenge by giving vinegar a workout. She posts the results HERE. So what do you think ... is she a vinegar "devotee" or is it strictly for cooking?
A long-time friend, Kate of The Holdfast Seeker, stopped in. It's so nice to "see" you Kate ... we look forward to your return to blogging but totally understand that your children take center stage right now.
Our twitter friends, lovingly referred to as the #CTWW Gang, got busy and talked about our challenge using the hashtag #CTWW. These are great folks to follow and get acquainted with:
@cjrthemommyblog
@givetreegifts
@OnFire4Handmade
@waylandcook
@littlegreenblog
@mysticle
@shoppingcharity
@escapingjourney
@jnjgogreen
@sprout5
@devilgrrl
Thanks to everyone who participated this week. If you wrote a post or put our banner on your site, I've Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it.
Okay ... ready for a new challenge? Are you sure??
One of the concerns that I have about writing a "green" blog is that it is somewhat like "preaching to the choir" ... everyone here is of like mind. That is fabulous but I think we can do better. So ... here's the challenge:
This week promote "green" in a manner other than (or in addition to) writing in an Eco-friendly blog. Some suggestions might be to post green-living tips on a public bulletin board, offer to speak to a group about recycling (perhaps at a school or library), enter your green blog into a non-green blog hop, join a non-green forum where you might have the opportunity to introduce green living tips, etc. The idea, here, is to reach people who may not already be part of the "choir". Get creative and let us know what actions you are taking ... and how they work out.
So what do you think ... sound like fun? Yep ... I think so!
Until next time ...
WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Don't Go Empty Handed ...
Many of us grew up with the adage "Don't Go Empty Handed" ... meaning that when we accepted the hospitality of another, we contributed in some way. Maybe we brought desert to a dinner or flowers to the hostess. Maybe we provided a bottle of wine or treats for the kids. It was a way to show appreciation and respect for our hosts and the gifts we were being given.
Thinking about this custom, it occurred to me that the idea behind it could apply to our current Change The World Wednesday challenge which asks us to give back to the environment. On a daily basis, we enjoy the generosity of nature ... we eat foods from the land, use fuels from the earth ... we enjoy fresh air and clean water and a multitude of natural resources. What if we decided to bring something to the party ... to contribute in some way?
The "thank you" gifts we brought to a dinner host were never huge ... they were small offerings meant to show our gratitude. In the same way, our gifts to the environment can be small. For example, we can put up a bird feeder and help bird populations. When we walk the beach or hike in the forest, we can pick-up trash. Composting and replacing nutrients in the soil is another way to give back. We can plant trees and bushes, improving air quality. Most importantly, we can approach everything we do with an attitude of appreciation. We can consciously consider what we can do to give back ... to help the environment rather than deplete it.
When we entered a friend's home with full hands, they smiled and felt appreciated. The environment offers us it's hospitality every day ... let's not go empty handed!
As always ... I would love to hear from you!
Thinking about this custom, it occurred to me that the idea behind it could apply to our current Change The World Wednesday challenge which asks us to give back to the environment. On a daily basis, we enjoy the generosity of nature ... we eat foods from the land, use fuels from the earth ... we enjoy fresh air and clean water and a multitude of natural resources. What if we decided to bring something to the party ... to contribute in some way?
The "thank you" gifts we brought to a dinner host were never huge ... they were small offerings meant to show our gratitude. In the same way, our gifts to the environment can be small. For example, we can put up a bird feeder and help bird populations. When we walk the beach or hike in the forest, we can pick-up trash. Composting and replacing nutrients in the soil is another way to give back. We can plant trees and bushes, improving air quality. Most importantly, we can approach everything we do with an attitude of appreciation. We can consciously consider what we can do to give back ... to help the environment rather than deplete it.
When we entered a friend's home with full hands, they smiled and felt appreciated. The environment offers us it's hospitality every day ... let's not go empty handed!
As always ... I would love to hear from you!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Vegan Recipe - Italian Rice and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers
It is the first Friday of the month and that means it's time to head to the kitchen for another delicious vegan dish. If you've been following this blog for any length of time, then you know that we promote meatless meals as one of the easiest ways to walk a little gentler on the earth. Putting it briefly, it takes less natural resources to produce one pound of plant-based foods as opposed to the same amount of animal-based foods. If you're thinking that a meatless meal is boring and nothing more than "rabbit food" on a plate ... you're in for a pleasant surprise!
This month's recipe comes from another of my favorite sites: Live. Learn. Love. Eat. Tiffany, author and "chef extraordinaire", shares wonderful vegan recipes such as Cinnamon Pumpkin Pancakes and Veggies Love Macaroni and Cheese. Her recipe page is sorted by meal and each recipe includes easy-to-understand instructions, pictures (even some of her adorable children) and stories. On another page, Tiffany shares information about the ingredients she uses in her recipes. Not sure what nutritional yeast is or how to use Chia Seeds? No problem ... she's got it covered. Live. Learn. Love. Eat. is a friendly, warm site ... and a wonderful cooking resource.
Tiffany has graciously agreed to share a recipe with us today. I hope you'll give it a try.
Italian Rice and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers
Makes 4 stuffed peppers
* 4 large bell peppers
* 1 cup cooked brown rice
* 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 small yellow onion, diced
* 1 small zucchini, diced
* 1 bell pepper of your choice, diced
* 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
* 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce
* 1/2 cup grated soy mozzarella cheese (optional)
Directions
In a skillet heat the olive oil on medium heat and add the garlic. Saute the garlic until it becomes fragrant. Add the onion to the skillet and cook until translucent. Add the chopped zucchini and pepper to the onion and garlic along with the Italian seasoning, sauteing a few minutes more, until the vegetables become soft. Add the pasta sauce, cooked brown rice and black beans. Cook until mixture is hot, reduce heat to low and prepare the peppers. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cut the tops off of the 4 large bell peppers, rinse and take out the seeds. Blanch the peppers in the boiling water for a few minutes, watching them carefully. You do not want them to get too soft or they will not stand. Preheat the oven to 350F. Stand the blanched peppers up in a baking dish and stuff them with the Italian bean/rice mixture.Top with grated soy mozzarella cheese if desired and bake for 10 minutes. Broil the peppers for the last few minutes of the baking time if using cheese, until the cheese is melted.
Doesn't that sound great? I'd to thank Tiffany for that wonderful recipe and I encourage all of you to visit her site and browse around. One warning, however ... her site will definitely make you hungry!
If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please send it to me HERE. All of our featured recipes can be found by clicking the "Vegan Recipe" tab at the top of this blog or by clicking HERE.
This month's recipe comes from another of my favorite sites: Live. Learn. Love. Eat. Tiffany, author and "chef extraordinaire", shares wonderful vegan recipes such as Cinnamon Pumpkin Pancakes and Veggies Love Macaroni and Cheese. Her recipe page is sorted by meal and each recipe includes easy-to-understand instructions, pictures (even some of her adorable children) and stories. On another page, Tiffany shares information about the ingredients she uses in her recipes. Not sure what nutritional yeast is or how to use Chia Seeds? No problem ... she's got it covered. Live. Learn. Love. Eat. is a friendly, warm site ... and a wonderful cooking resource.
Tiffany has graciously agreed to share a recipe with us today. I hope you'll give it a try.
Italian Rice and Black Bean Stuffed Peppers
Makes 4 stuffed peppers* 4 large bell peppers
* 1 cup cooked brown rice
* 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 small yellow onion, diced
* 1 small zucchini, diced
* 1 bell pepper of your choice, diced
* 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
* 1 1/2 cups pasta sauce
* 1/2 cup grated soy mozzarella cheese (optional)
Directions
In a skillet heat the olive oil on medium heat and add the garlic. Saute the garlic until it becomes fragrant. Add the onion to the skillet and cook until translucent. Add the chopped zucchini and pepper to the onion and garlic along with the Italian seasoning, sauteing a few minutes more, until the vegetables become soft. Add the pasta sauce, cooked brown rice and black beans. Cook until mixture is hot, reduce heat to low and prepare the peppers. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cut the tops off of the 4 large bell peppers, rinse and take out the seeds. Blanch the peppers in the boiling water for a few minutes, watching them carefully. You do not want them to get too soft or they will not stand. Preheat the oven to 350F. Stand the blanched peppers up in a baking dish and stuff them with the Italian bean/rice mixture.Top with grated soy mozzarella cheese if desired and bake for 10 minutes. Broil the peppers for the last few minutes of the baking time if using cheese, until the cheese is melted.
Doesn't that sound great? I'd to thank Tiffany for that wonderful recipe and I encourage all of you to visit her site and browse around. One warning, however ... her site will definitely make you hungry!
If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please send it to me HERE. All of our featured recipes can be found by clicking the "Vegan Recipe" tab at the top of this blog or by clicking HERE.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Change The World Wednesday
Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) ... our effort to reduce our carbon footprints and improve the world, one challenge at a time!
Last week we tackled household cleansers and, as always, a whole bunch of people joined in and discussed the subject. We found out what works, what doesn't and even learned some new recipes for Eco-friendly, homemade cleansers.
As I investigated the options available, I came across something interesting ... it ties in with both this challenge and a previous one about Eco-friendly laundry habits. Most commercial brands of laundry detergent contain optical brighteners. They are added to give the appearance of brighter colors and whiter whites. In other words, they fool our eye. They do such a great job of "covering up", in fact, that military personnel are cautioned not to use any detergents which contain them because the optical brighteners negate the camouflage quality of uniforms. Wowee! So ... those brilliant colors and white whites may not be as clean as we think.
Here's what our Honor Society had to say this week:
EcoGrrl is taking a master recyclers certification class (yay, EcoGrrl). She shared some interesting information. In her words: "... last week we had a hazchem person speak to us about the popular green cleaners from the store. 90% of them do not have an MSDS available on their website and many refuse to provide ALL of their ingredients, calling them 'proprietary'. the word 'fragrance' is particularly dangerous as it can mean ANYTHING. the only safe cleaner is the ones we make at home like you recommend, unfortunately. here's the thing, all those pesticides and such they regulated back in the 70's? it was only for chemicals/pesticides that came into being AFTER that law passed - everything else was grandfathered and therefore is not regulated. very scary. California just passed the Green Chemistry Initiative which I recommend folks look at and get inspired to contact their own state's govt - California Green Chemistry Initiative." Thanks for that, EcoGrrl!
Our friend Ann stopped by. In this POST, she includes our banner and talks about natural materials.
Have you ever heard of Sand Soap or Sunlight bar soap for dishes? Argentum Vulgaris talks about both of them, as well as other household cleaners found at Grandma's House in this POST. Thanks, AV!
Carli Alice joined us. While this POST wasn't written for our challenge, it is a great article on crock pot cooking which supports one of our recent challenges on energy-efficient cooking techniques. Thanks, Carli!
Our Village is a Little Different uses vinegar for her cleaning jobs. She shares that it even works for getting rid of washing machine odors. Great tip! She wrote the nicest "Thank You" post HERE ... and mentions our challenges. WhooHoo!
İlhami Uyar joined us all the way from Turkey. He shared that while it's important to always choose natural sources ... it's not always possible in his city.
Cinella had a fabulous idea. In this POST, she made participation in our challenge a way to gain entries into her amazing, "Going Green For 2011" event and giveaway. Wow ... I hope you all got in on that!! In addition to that very clever way to spread the word, she updated us on a previous challenge about cooking outside. What's your guess ... did she cook outside? You'll have to go to her place to find out.
The Accessory Lady makes a cleanser which she says works better than bleach in the tub and bathroom. She graciously shared it with us: "I take a small container and mix about two tablespoons of borax cleaner, a tablespoon of baking soda and then add a few drops of essential oil (pine, lemon or grapefruit or a blend of these). Sometimes I include a little liquid castile soap for some foaming action. When I'm almost ready I pour in a little white vinegar and it bubbles. Then I grab my handle brush and pick up a little bit of the paste to brush at the stubborn stains, mildew and soap scum. Then I rinse with a hose and repeat if necessary. For the door I use the same mixture with a sponge then it rinses clean. Seems like a complicate recipe, but if you keep all the ingredients handy then it's easy to throw together. You could also have the powders already blended to skip a step. For quick touch ups during the week I keep a small bottle of liquid peppermint castile soap in the shower to quickly touch up grimy spots during the week." Tnx, AL!
Noteasytobegreen is transitioning away from commercial "Green" cleansers and towards more handmade versions. She uses vinegar and baking soda and shares that it is much safer than bleach or ammonia based cleaners.
Thanks to Amy (The Wayland Cook), our challenge was picked up by The American Agri-Women Daily. Thanks to both Amy and @Women4Ag.
Christine of Our Homeschool Reviews joined our challenge. She mixes 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water, puts it in a spray bottle and uses it to clean kitchen surfaces. She reminds us that vinegar kills germs. Thanks Christine!
In this POST, Kris shares her recipe for granite cleanser. She also sends out a request for a homemade recipe for a cleanser appropriate for her smooth top stove (you know the ones ... they scratch if one uses an abrasive solution on them). Anyone have a recipe?
Nancy, a new follower, stopped in. Nice to see you, Nancy ... hope you join in our challenges.
Mrs. Green is passionate about Eco-friendly cleansers. She talks about it in this POST and she shares uses for vinegar and baking soda HERE and HERE. Thanks, Mrs. Green!
This week our friend Rewinn gets the prize for the most unique cleanser recipe. Here's a riddle ... what item both starts our day (well, most of us anyway) and cleans a pot? You'll find the answer HERE.
Eemilla, a long-time friend, joined in the fun. In this POST, she writes about the challenges she faces in using Eco-friendly cleansers. Thanks, Eemilla!
TLN dropped in. Always nice to see you, TLN!
Our friend, @shoppingcharity, gave us another spot in her paper Shopping Charity. Thanks so much!
Michael Olivia came by and had some very nice words to say about Reduce Footprints. Thanks, Michael!
Jen stopped in and said that she is accepting this challenge. Wonderful, Jen! While it wasn't written to support this challenge, Jen wrote an interesting post entitled "Poop Happens" (this is one that most parents will relate to). Using vinegar, she's cleaning ... well ... you'll just have to go read it!
Our #CTWW Gang lit up Twitter with their comments this week, spreading the word using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, be sure to drop by and follow these people:
@oneadayart
@waylandcook
@whopaysthepiper
@cjrthemommyblog
@escapingjourney
@givetreegifts
@noteasy2begreen
@rewinn
@shoppingcharity
@littlegreenblog
@stacykinney
Thanks to everyone who participated this week. As always, I Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked your articles.
Are you ready for something new? Let's get WILD!!
This week we're going to do two challenges ... two unrelated challenges. Wow! The first challenge is a month long exercise which was suggested by Rewinn. The second challenge is inspired by one of my favorite blogs, It's Not Easy To Be Green. Here you go:
Challenge #1 - February is being chosen by snack food manufacturers as "National Snack Food Month". That means that unhealthy snacks will be unusually promoted and consumers will be encouraged to buy them. Processed foods, especially snacks, are bad for us and bad for the planet. So, let's reclaim February for the good food cause. First, visit #28ate to get the facts and then, participate by taking at least one of the actions they suggest. Come back here and tell us what actions you're taking to support healthy food.
Challenge #2 - A recent post on It's Not Easy To Be Green (you can read it HERE) talked about the dysfunctional relationship between humans and the planet. To put it briefly, humans take much more than they give in that relationship. So ... the challenge this week is to explore different ways to give back to the planet and nature ... and then take action. What we're talking about, here, is not just reducing our footprint, but rather giving back. Come up with as many ideas as possible, share them here and accomplish at least one of them this week.
So what do you think? Are these two challenges doable? It should be an interesting week and month!
Thanks, Everyone! Join me in our mantra:
WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!
Last week we tackled household cleansers and, as always, a whole bunch of people joined in and discussed the subject. We found out what works, what doesn't and even learned some new recipes for Eco-friendly, homemade cleansers.
As I investigated the options available, I came across something interesting ... it ties in with both this challenge and a previous one about Eco-friendly laundry habits. Most commercial brands of laundry detergent contain optical brighteners. They are added to give the appearance of brighter colors and whiter whites. In other words, they fool our eye. They do such a great job of "covering up", in fact, that military personnel are cautioned not to use any detergents which contain them because the optical brighteners negate the camouflage quality of uniforms. Wowee! So ... those brilliant colors and white whites may not be as clean as we think.
Here's what our Honor Society had to say this week:
EcoGrrl is taking a master recyclers certification class (yay, EcoGrrl). She shared some interesting information. In her words: "... last week we had a hazchem person speak to us about the popular green cleaners from the store. 90% of them do not have an MSDS available on their website and many refuse to provide ALL of their ingredients, calling them 'proprietary'. the word 'fragrance' is particularly dangerous as it can mean ANYTHING. the only safe cleaner is the ones we make at home like you recommend, unfortunately. here's the thing, all those pesticides and such they regulated back in the 70's? it was only for chemicals/pesticides that came into being AFTER that law passed - everything else was grandfathered and therefore is not regulated. very scary. California just passed the Green Chemistry Initiative which I recommend folks look at and get inspired to contact their own state's govt - California Green Chemistry Initiative." Thanks for that, EcoGrrl!
Our friend Ann stopped by. In this POST, she includes our banner and talks about natural materials.
Have you ever heard of Sand Soap or Sunlight bar soap for dishes? Argentum Vulgaris talks about both of them, as well as other household cleaners found at Grandma's House in this POST. Thanks, AV!
Carli Alice joined us. While this POST wasn't written for our challenge, it is a great article on crock pot cooking which supports one of our recent challenges on energy-efficient cooking techniques. Thanks, Carli!
Our Village is a Little Different uses vinegar for her cleaning jobs. She shares that it even works for getting rid of washing machine odors. Great tip! She wrote the nicest "Thank You" post HERE ... and mentions our challenges. WhooHoo!
İlhami Uyar joined us all the way from Turkey. He shared that while it's important to always choose natural sources ... it's not always possible in his city.
Cinella had a fabulous idea. In this POST, she made participation in our challenge a way to gain entries into her amazing, "Going Green For 2011" event and giveaway. Wow ... I hope you all got in on that!! In addition to that very clever way to spread the word, she updated us on a previous challenge about cooking outside. What's your guess ... did she cook outside? You'll have to go to her place to find out.
The Accessory Lady makes a cleanser which she says works better than bleach in the tub and bathroom. She graciously shared it with us: "I take a small container and mix about two tablespoons of borax cleaner, a tablespoon of baking soda and then add a few drops of essential oil (pine, lemon or grapefruit or a blend of these). Sometimes I include a little liquid castile soap for some foaming action. When I'm almost ready I pour in a little white vinegar and it bubbles. Then I grab my handle brush and pick up a little bit of the paste to brush at the stubborn stains, mildew and soap scum. Then I rinse with a hose and repeat if necessary. For the door I use the same mixture with a sponge then it rinses clean. Seems like a complicate recipe, but if you keep all the ingredients handy then it's easy to throw together. You could also have the powders already blended to skip a step. For quick touch ups during the week I keep a small bottle of liquid peppermint castile soap in the shower to quickly touch up grimy spots during the week." Tnx, AL!
Noteasytobegreen is transitioning away from commercial "Green" cleansers and towards more handmade versions. She uses vinegar and baking soda and shares that it is much safer than bleach or ammonia based cleaners.
Thanks to Amy (The Wayland Cook), our challenge was picked up by The American Agri-Women Daily. Thanks to both Amy and @Women4Ag.
Christine of Our Homeschool Reviews joined our challenge. She mixes 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water, puts it in a spray bottle and uses it to clean kitchen surfaces. She reminds us that vinegar kills germs. Thanks Christine!
In this POST, Kris shares her recipe for granite cleanser. She also sends out a request for a homemade recipe for a cleanser appropriate for her smooth top stove (you know the ones ... they scratch if one uses an abrasive solution on them). Anyone have a recipe?
Nancy, a new follower, stopped in. Nice to see you, Nancy ... hope you join in our challenges.
Mrs. Green is passionate about Eco-friendly cleansers. She talks about it in this POST and she shares uses for vinegar and baking soda HERE and HERE. Thanks, Mrs. Green!
This week our friend Rewinn gets the prize for the most unique cleanser recipe. Here's a riddle ... what item both starts our day (well, most of us anyway) and cleans a pot? You'll find the answer HERE.
Eemilla, a long-time friend, joined in the fun. In this POST, she writes about the challenges she faces in using Eco-friendly cleansers. Thanks, Eemilla!
TLN dropped in. Always nice to see you, TLN!
Our friend, @shoppingcharity, gave us another spot in her paper Shopping Charity. Thanks so much!
Michael Olivia came by and had some very nice words to say about Reduce Footprints. Thanks, Michael!
Jen stopped in and said that she is accepting this challenge. Wonderful, Jen! While it wasn't written to support this challenge, Jen wrote an interesting post entitled "Poop Happens" (this is one that most parents will relate to). Using vinegar, she's cleaning ... well ... you'll just have to go read it!
Our #CTWW Gang lit up Twitter with their comments this week, spreading the word using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, be sure to drop by and follow these people:
@oneadayart
@waylandcook
@whopaysthepiper
@cjrthemommyblog
@escapingjourney
@givetreegifts
@noteasy2begreen
@rewinn
@shoppingcharity
@littlegreenblog
@stacykinney
Thanks to everyone who participated this week. As always, I Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked your articles.
Are you ready for something new? Let's get WILD!!
This week we're going to do two challenges ... two unrelated challenges. Wow! The first challenge is a month long exercise which was suggested by Rewinn. The second challenge is inspired by one of my favorite blogs, It's Not Easy To Be Green. Here you go:
Challenge #1 - February is being chosen by snack food manufacturers as "National Snack Food Month". That means that unhealthy snacks will be unusually promoted and consumers will be encouraged to buy them. Processed foods, especially snacks, are bad for us and bad for the planet. So, let's reclaim February for the good food cause. First, visit #28ate to get the facts and then, participate by taking at least one of the actions they suggest. Come back here and tell us what actions you're taking to support healthy food.
Challenge #2 - A recent post on It's Not Easy To Be Green (you can read it HERE) talked about the dysfunctional relationship between humans and the planet. To put it briefly, humans take much more than they give in that relationship. So ... the challenge this week is to explore different ways to give back to the planet and nature ... and then take action. What we're talking about, here, is not just reducing our footprint, but rather giving back. Come up with as many ideas as possible, share them here and accomplish at least one of them this week.
So what do you think? Are these two challenges doable? It should be an interesting week and month!
Thanks, Everyone! Join me in our mantra:
WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!
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