Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

Last week we became activists and raised our voices for the environment. When I think of the word "activism", I picture sign-carrying crowds of people marching down the street. In reality, it can be as simple as writing a letter or speaking to a store manager or signing a petition. It's any action we take which lets those in charge hear our views. It's paying attention to what happens around us and then speaking up when things could be done more environmentally friendly. Hopefully, when enough people share their thoughts, positive action will be taken. It doesn't always happen but my thought is that they won't know what we want until we tell them.

Our #CTWW Gang took action by tweeting our challenge. Many thanks go to:

@gogreenbeans
@groovygreenlivi
@littlegreenblog
@apolloenergies
@peopletowels
@lynn_stone
@waylandcook
@waxelene
@greentim
@escapingjourney
@tiffanystoybox
@tazzini
@givetreegifts
@accessorygal
@bam_balam
@clothmamajess
@begreen_beseen
@upcycledlove
@AmbianceEco
@youtubetwitts
@greenenvycali
@farminthehood
@whopaysthepiper

So ... how does one become a member of the #CTWW Gang? Easy, just tweet about our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW.

Some members of our Honor Society wrote posts this week. I encourage everyone to read the posts and, perhaps, join in the activity. Let's take a look:

Imagine what would happen if companies received back all the wasteful packaging they sold their products in. That's the idea behind Return to Sender by Mrs. Green. While she says that most responses haven't been what she hoped for, she keeps it up. All it takes is for one company to take heed and make a positive change. Brilliant idea, Mrs. Green!

Our friend Amy decided not to accept this challenge. In this POST she says that she is, perhaps, "looking at activism in too intense of a way". I really appreciated Amy's article because it points out a road block that many of us feel ... we don't have time to commit. My thought is that once we become aware of a road block, we're much more able to find a way around it. By the end of Amy's article, she decided to think outside the box and find a way to take action. Thanks, Amy, for an honest, thought-provoking post.

How old does one have to be to take action? Is there a necessary knowledge base which must be met in order for actions to be effective? Petunia GreenBeans answers those questions by sharing this VIDEO.

Argentum Vulgaris has taken action on behalf of our oceans ... both through Oceana and this POST. In it he offers a lot of important information ... and, he asks this question: "How clean is your conscience?"

Multiple choice question: Would you say that activism is 1) Fun, 2) A lot of hard work or 3) Like having your wisdom teeth pulled? Rewinn answered that question HERE. In his comments he also shared that, for those on Facebook, there is a site where readers can help various causes win funding ... check it out HERE.

Jessica's enthusiasm just bounces off the page. Her favorite store was recently bought out. The new corporation changed some of the Eco-friendly practices put into place by the previous owners. So Jessica is taking action. Want to know how? Check out this POST for exactly what she has done. Yay, Jessica!!

Our friend Lynn expresses a sentiment that I'm sure many of us feel: "Sometimes it seems scary to really take action and do something brave by speaking up and out." Will that stop her? Nope ... Lynn has accepted the challenge and posted it HERE.

The Shopping Charity gave us front page positions on two editions (HERE and HERE). One of these two editions contains an article from one of our Honor Society members. Was it you?

Other members of our Honor Society left thoughtful comments:

EcoGrrl takes action through the NRDC (you'll find the link in last week's post).

Ann wages a personal protest by refusing to buy coffee in "takeaway" cups.

Shane signs a lot of petitions and she recently signed up to be the Chair for the Environmental committee at the high school for 2011-2012. While she thinks this will be fun, she's a little overwhelmed. So let's give her a hand ... anyone have any tips on getting high-schoolers to get involved? I look forward to hearing more about this, Shane!

Nicki Woo is hunting down Styrofoam and plans to take action when she finds it. Yay, Nicki! Be sure to let us know how that activity turns out.

Most of us uphold our green ideals at home ... but when it comes to work it's a bit harder. But not for Alicia. She creates Eco-friendly products (there a link to her shop at the top of her blog). So, by her daily actions, she takes a stand and makes her voice heard. But that's not all she does. Check this out (in her words): " I have been asked if I would speak to a local mothers group of about 75 women on using eco friendly chemical free products. I am really looking forward to sharing with these women how each of us can make a difference and how by choosing products that are chemical free we are not only helping ourselves but the environment as well! We have over 51 retail locations that sell our products and some of them had never carried eco friendly products before. After educating them they have been thrilled to see how many people are choosing the "eco" products over the traditional chemical products. We also use our website and blog to educate people on how to reduce chemicals in their homes like making their own laundry detergent and wool dryer balls which can pretty much eliminate the need for chemicals in that area plus save a great deal of money! I also sign petitions and it has been years since we have ever used anything Styrofoam! As always such a great challenge!!" Yay, Alicia!! Please come back and let us know how your speech goes.

Lynn Fang likes the idea of writing letters and contacting business owners to elicit change. She used to sign petitions using some of the sites we listed but wonders if it's simply "armchair activism". What do you think ... is it? Do you think signing petitions works? Thanks, Lynn ... be sure to come back and let us know how your campaign works out.

Mandi stopped in and hopes to take some of the actions we've talked about. She has a brand new blog so if you have a moment, check it out! Thanks for dropping in, Mandi!

Great job everyone!! As always, if you wrote an article I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. And I'd sure appreciate your using the share button at the bottom of this post to do the same.

This week we're going to switch gears a bit ... it should be fun! Here you go ...

This week we'd like to hear about your proudest "green" achievement. Perhaps you started a compost for the first time or purchased organic food. Maybe you stopped driving a car or added solar panels to your home. It could be as small as carrying a reusable bag or as large as building an energy efficient home. Whatever your proudest Eco-friendly achievement is ... we want to know about it. Please leave details and tips/ideas so that we can all celebrate with you and perhaps try the activity ourselves.

Don't forget ... if you can improve upon this challenge, please "up the ante".

Until next time ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Switching to a Manual Lawn Mower by Jakob Barry

Switching to a Manual Lawn Mower

Lawn mowers as we know them were introduced to the masses in the early 1800s and were powered by people or animals.

Eventually gasoline and electric versions made their way onto the market and the old style manual “reel” or push mowers got lost in junk yards or the dark corners of basements.

In retrospect the transition made sense since using gas or electric made everyone’s lives easier when it came to cutting large lawns or trying to mow over tall grass.

However, in recent years sheer practicality is bringing back the manual reel.

• It costs less both to purchase and operate
• The newer ones are easier to push than their manually oriented predecessors
• There’s no running on empty (no need for fuel or electricity)
• There’s little if any maintenance though wiping down blades preserves them
• The extra push to cut the grass adds a little workout fever to the chore
  

Meanwhile, grounds for switching back to manual mowers or at least having one as an option can further be justified through two other very important issues: curbing pollution and personal safety.

Pollution

Did you know the level of emissions released over time by gasoline powered mowers for personal or commercial grounds maintenance can eventually equal what automobiles emit over hundreds of miles? Also, fumes or oil spills can poison grass or other plant life in the yard much like it harms vegetation along busy streets.

For these reasons and more the US Environmental Protection Agency has been setting new restrictions for small lawn equipment hoping to reduce the environmental impact. Still, next to wearing a gas mask the best way to not breathe in fumes while mowing the lawn is to use a manual mower.

Alternatively, noise is another type of pollution motor powered mowers cause. A gasoline or electric powered mower engine produces enough racket to affect our hearing and sour relationships with neighbors, especially if the lawn is mowed at the wrong time of day.

With a push mower it’s easy to listen to music and if necessary mow the lawn at six in the morning without making enemies.

Safety

Despite there being various sources calculating the annual amount of people injured in lawn mower accidents its clear those numbers are around 100,000 or higher, many children included. It’s also a fact that negligence is only part of the story as most of these accidents are related to the engine’s powering of high speed blades. In an instant they can cut up many hard substances sending pieces flying like shrapnel.

Electric models themselves have separate issues, as extension cords often get run over or tangled up causing damage to other things in the yard. With gas powered mowers the fuel is a hazard and homeowners have been known to throw out their back trying to start them up.

The bottom line: When it comes to safety there can be no compromising. That’s why although the powered mower is convenient and great for big jobs whenever possible the manual mower should be put to use.


Jakob Barry writes for Hometalk.com, a growing community of homeowners and contractors getting the most from their resources by sharing and monitoring projects together. He covers various eco-friendly home improvement topics including Green landscaping and lawn services.

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

Last week we challenged ourselves to drink our coffee/tea at home rather than going out. What A Card upped the ante by asking us to put the money saved towards an environmentally-friendly purpose. @CoffeeContessa further upped the ante by suggesting that we only brew organic certified! Wow ... what started out as a relatively small action turned into a brilliant, far-reaching activity! Let's see how how Honor Society did with this challenge:

Jessica already makes her coffee at home and it's organic. So she took on the second part of the challenge and made something, at home, which she normally buys. Can you guess what it is? Here's a hint ... she shares the recipe HERE and served this item for Father's Day breakfast.

EcoGrrl brings up a good point ... if one brings their own reusable mug to a coffee shop, it might be more environmental to drink "out". I'd like to add that if one does go to a coffee shop for their daily "cup of Joe", be sure that traveling to and from the shop is also environmental (I know that EcoGrrl keeps it so by riding her bicycle everywhere).

Is this statement true or false: Argentum Vulgaris loves Starbucks coffee and buys his coffee there daily. So what do you think ... true? false? You'll find out HERE and, if you read the comments section, you'll find out a lot about what he thinks of going vegetarian/vegan. Thanks, AV!

Alicia and her husband make their coffee and tea at home. They make a full pot and then they take the rest and chill it for refreshing drinks later in the day. They have recently discovered Kombucha which is sold at Whole Foods but which they've learned to make at home for only pennies per glass. Alicia ... would you be willing to share your recipe? By the way ... in this POST, Alicia was kind enough to give Reduce Footprints a lovely introduction. Thank you, Alicia! Be sure to check out the photos in that post ... you'll never believe what people in a California community are parking in their driveways!

Brian says that he's not a chef but ... he makes all kinds of things at home rather than buying them out. He makes ice cream, whip cream, and soup. He grinds and brews coffee as needed, reducing any wasted coffee. Next up, Brian is going to try bread. He says that his family prefers homemade. Yep ... homemade simply tastes better! Thanks, Brian!

The Accessory Lady drinks loose tea which she buys in bulk. She also uses biodegradable or reusable filters. Her one "sin" is buying an occasional single-serve beverage while she's out. So, she committed to give up the single-serve beverage for the week. Yay, AL! How did it go?

What A Card was going out for coffee 4-5 times a week. That was in 2009. In November of that year, she kicked the habit. Are you curious about why and how she did it? I was. Read about it HERE ... this post includes a link to her 2009 post and is worth clicking over to. WAC used the money she saved on coffee to buy organic milk. Great job, WAC ... and thanks for the "up the ante".

I really enjoyed this POST from Amy. While reading it, I realized that drinking coffee out is often not about the coffee but about the experience. But as Amy points out, the trip out comes with other, less desirable things. In addition to taking on this challenge, Amy is challenging herself to eliminate taking trips with no purpose.

The Shopping Charity gave our challenge a front page spot. This edition contains several wonderful articles, including a piece about The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, an original contemporary abstract painting called Night Moves, and Fundraising Guru LLC.

Kris and her husband don't drink coffee or tea. So she's going to make something at home which she normally buys ... and use the money saved to continue her switch to organic foods. She already makes dinner rolls, croutons and spaghetti sauce at home. So ... hm ... what do you think she's going to tackle next? Find out HERE.

Nicki Woo had two major successes this week. First, while her older children were swimming, her 23 month old daughter looked for trash to dispose of. Wow ... that's GREAT parenting! The second success is that Nicki made Lemon-Mint Slushes at home for her kids and they liked them better than the McDonald's Slush. WhooHoo! Check out this POST for the whole experience and the recipe.

Rewinn loves to brew his own mint tea. He says that the commercial brands just don't compare to tea made from leaves one picks in their own yard. He also shares an interesting tip about tea/coffee grounds and slugs. Check it out HERE. By the way, Rewinn is looking for a good recipe for Mojito ... anyone?

In this POST, Kristina offers us a strategy for weening ourselves away from trips to the coffee shop ... and suggests that on an occasional trip, we bring our own reusable mugs. Her downfall is granola bars ... she loves them. So she's going to try making them at home. She shares a couple of recipes but is looking for the ultimate homemade bar. Anyone have a recipe for her?

Mrs. Green doesn't drink coffee or tea. But she does eat a certain item which she typically buys. So she decided to make it at home. The trouble was, she was hungry and didn't want to take the time to make the recipe per the instructions. So she improvised with ingredients she had on hand ... and whipped up a quick dish which she and her family fell in love with. Head over HERE to find out what she made (she even included mouth-watering pictures).

Petunia GreenBeans has "home-brewed, reusable filtered, favorite mug goodness each morning". Yay! So, she accepted the up-the-ante challenge from @coffeecontessa and ordered some organic roast from Aspire CoffeeWorks. If you don't know about Aspire, check it out. Not only is the coffee fair-trade and organic but "100% of Aspire CoffeeWorks' net proceeds benefit Aspire's life-changing programs for people with disabilities". How cool is that. Petunia says that she's in love with the flavor!

Great job, everyone! If you wrote a post, they have been tweeted, stumbled and facebooked.

Our #CTWW Gang hit the twitter airwaves, this week, talking about our challenge using the hashtag #CTWW. They are great folks to follow so if you're on twitter, stop by and say hello:

@clothmamajess
@waylandcook
@tazzini
@dpixel
@myzerowaste
@whopaysthepiper
@accessorygal
@smallbits
@skipbang
@envirobooty
@apolloenergies
@coffeecontessa
@peopletowels
@gogreenbeans
@givetreegifts
@waxelene
@ShoppingCharity
@escapingjourney
@greentim
@rewinn
@ambianceeco
@groovygreenlivi
@littlegreenblog
@theriverwanders
@bam_balam

Okay ... let's tackle another challenge:

This week, become an activist. Please take some kind of action (letter writing, phone calls, petitions, etc.) designed to encourage a business, community, government, etc. to make a positive change. Need some ideas? Here you go:

• Browse the Care2 Take Action site, HERE, and sign a petition or in some way get involved.
• Write an email/letter to a local restaurant that uses Styrofoam containers for take-away food and politely ask them to consider an Eco-friendly alternative.
• Visit Oceana HERE and take action to protect our oceans.
• Contact your community (apartment managers, homeowner's association, etc.) and suggest "green" improvements to your area.
  
• Choose from one of these 10 Actions to save the whales.
• If you attend a festival, look for ways that the function could be greener and then write to the organizers with suggestions.
• Contact your child's school with ideas on how the school can be greener.
• Find out what you can do to help end nuclear threats HERE (thanks, Mrs. Green)
• Check out the opportunities to take action from the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) HERE. (Thanks to EcoGrrl for reminding me about this one).
• Humane Society International has some "take action" opportunities HERE.
• Another "take action" opportunity from Forest Ethics HERE.
• Check out this PAGE from the Environmental Defense Fund (scroll down to the Take Action section).
  

The idea, here, is to take action and make your voice heard on behalf of the environment and all of it's inhabitants. And, of course, we want to hear about it so please share your experience, links, etc.

Or ...

If you are already taking action, we'd like tips on how to make it successful and we'd like to hear about your lessons learned.

So what do you think? Are you up for the challenge? I know that you are! And don't forget ... challenge us to do better by "Upping The Ante".

Until next time ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Summer Solstice

Happy Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year! The weather is warming up and many of us are thinking about vacations and outdoor activities. This time of year, however, can present us with some unique environmental challenges ... keeping cool, vacationing in a responsible way, maintaining a beautiful & Eco-friendly yard, etc. Is it possible to turn unique environmental challenges into opportunities? Well sure! Here are some ideas:

• Turn your A/C thermostat to 75 degrees or higher. Better yet, don't use it at all.
  

• Use ceiling fans. Adjust them so that they run in a counter-clockwise direction (stand under the fan and if you feel a breeze, it's set correctly).

• Use box fans or small space fans to help circulate air. And here's a tip ... when it's cool outside, put a fan in the window facing in and blow cool air into the room. When it's hot inside, reverse it ... put a fan in the window facing out and blow the hot air outside. It works amazingly well.
  

• Adjust the curtains and windows. Open them when it's cool and the sun isn't shining in. When the sun comes around, close both the windows and the shades.

• Turn off all electrical devices when not in use. For example, when you're not using the computer, turn it off ... you'd be surprised at how much heat a computer puts out (there's a reason there are little fans inside of computers). And don't forget lights ... they generate quite a lot of heat as well.
  

• Eat local and organic. Summer is the perfect time to eat fresh, local, organic produce. Support farmer's markets, CSAs and roadside stands. Or, start a garden and grow your own.

• Get some exercise and leave the car at home. This is the perfect time of year to walk or ride a bike ... so give the car, and our air, a break.

• Are you planning some landscaping this summer? Be sure to opt for native plants ... they'll require far less water and fertilizer.

• When mowing lawns, use a push mower instead of the power version.

• Does your deck, patio or walkway need cleaning? Sweep it instead of using a vacuum, blower or hose.
  

• If you use large appliances like dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers ... operate them either early in the morning or late at night ... you'll not only save money by not running them during peak hours, you'll save energy.

• Consider using a clothes line and make use of the sun.

• Going on a picnic? Be sure to use reusable dishes and utensils ... no paper plates or plastic forks. And don't forget cloth napkins instead of paper. When the picnic is over, be sure to clean the area ... leaving nothing but your footprints.

• Carry a reusable water bottle with you instead of buying bottled water.
  

• Opt for counter top cooking rather than using an oven ... toaster ovens and crock pots make wonderful meals without using a lot of energy.
  

• Are you planning a vacation? Consider a "staycation", playing tourist in your own town. If you decide to leave town, check out this post first: Vacations - The Eco-Friendly Way.

• When buying typical summer products (sun lotions, swim suits, pool toys, etc.) be sure they are Eco-friendly.

• Forgo expensive souvenirs and take digital photos instead. If you really want a souvenir, consider something from nature ... a rock or piece of driftwood.
  

• Start a compost bin ... summer is the perfect time for composting.

• Planning a little hiking or camping this summer? Remember to carry out what you carry in ... no littering. In fact, it's a pretty good rule for any activity, anytime.
  

I haven't forgotten those of you who are moving into winter. For our friends on the other side of the world, check out these posts:

• 15 Energy Saving Tips for Fall
  

• Winter Solstice

With just a little effort, any season can be Eco-friendly ... and wonderful!

Happy Summer (or Winter) everyone!

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

Before we get started, I'd like to introduce you to our new feature. It's called "Up The Ante". Here's how it works ... if you are already meeting and exceeding the current challenge, challenge the rest of us to do better ... in other words, up the ante. For example, when we did our short shower challenge, asking everyone to spend no more than 10 minutes in the shower, readers came back saying they did better by taking only 5 minute showers ... and challenged us to do better. When we asked that everyone use no more than 6 sheets of toilet paper per trip, a reader came back saying she only uses 5. So that's the idea. Just leave a comment with the new challenge (be sure to use the words "up the ante") or drop me a line HERE and put the words Up The Ante in the subject line. As soon as I get it, I will update the challenge ... so be sure to check the post throughout the week to see if the challenges have been improved. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Last week our challenge asked us to reduce paper. This challenge proved something important ... these challenges are FUN! Read on and you'll see what I mean ...

Our Honor Society got busy and blogged about this challenge:

Mrs. Green had me laughing out loud with this ARTICLE. In one statement she says, "I gotta admit it, the idea of using just six sheets already has me crapping my pants and needing EVEN MORE toilet roll." It gets better from there including some great photos which shows another "side" to Mrs. Green. It's a delightful post that you don't want to miss!

Petunia Green Beans offered us a VIDEO in support of this challenge. Yep ... it's a video about toilet paper use. It's another "laugh until you cry" moment and shouldn't be missed. Petunia also introduced us to the "Community Dish Towel". Hm ... that sounds interesting. Check it out HERE.

Argentum Vulgaris, in this POST, offers us a great way to save paper. Here's a hint ... follow AV's suggestion and your guests will know that they are special.

Kristina shares two posts regarding ways to reduce junk mail (read them HERE and HERE). In those articles, she includes some wonderful links and resources. She also shares that she uses the return envelopes which often come in the mail to send permission slips, notes, etc. to school with her children. And speaking of school, Kristina has noticed something ... she has three kids and when the school sends home notices, they send one for each child. Yep ... the same notice three times. She's going to talk to her school and suggest that they only send one per family. Great idea, Kristina!

Jessica wrote this ARTICLE about our challenge. In it she shares a great idea for reducing paper. Here's a hint ... it involves your mobile phone! Hm ... intriguing! Be sure to read the comments of her post because her readers came up with some great paper-saving tips. Jessica also "upped the ante" by challenging everyone to use no more than 5 squares of toilet paper per trip. Wow ... were there any takers to her challenge? And ... if that weren't enough, she left another comment saying that she's down to 3 squares for #1 (she says that since her husband isn't taking the challenge, she's carbon offsetting his use).

Kris has reached Superstar status by doing all of the activities listed in our challenge. In this POST you'll learn how she accomplishes them and you'll find out one new way she's going to further reduce paper use. Thanks, Kris!

Do you organize training sessions or other events requiring printed material? Rewinn recently organized a session using paperless training materials. His idea saved money and time and was embraced by the students. It was a total Win-Win for both organizers and participants. Curious how he did it? Find out HERE. It just proves that small actions can have significant results! Congratulations, Rewinn, on such a successful idea!

Rewinn asks "Has anyone had experience composting paper? Sometimes when paper is just too skanky for recycling, I tear it up fine and put it in the compost heap - it seems to decompose ok." From what I've read, Rewinn, composting paper is safe and beneficial. Here's an article by the Environmental Protection Agency on the subject: The Benefits of Including Paper in Composting. Thanks for the question ... I learned something new while finding the answer.

Our favorite publication, The Shopping Charity, gave our challenge a front page spot HERE. Other articles in this edition include a piece on reimagined wedding gowns (a "Walking Art" fundraiser), products and entertainment for generation XYZ, and a cancer breakthrough.

Ann posted our banner HERE and shares that she doesn't use paper towels but rather a sponge or cloth.

We also had some great comments:

EcoGrrl wasn't sure about this challenge. She uses a checkbook and says that receipts help her to remember to post an entry. Anyone have ideas for her? She's also not sure that 6 sheets of toilet paper will work.

Alicia is another Superstar ... she accomplishes everything in our challenge. She added a couple of tips in her comment (both of which she employs) ... try e-cards instead of buying paper cards and make bags from recycled material instead of bought gift bags. Great ideas!! Alicia saves paper at home and she saves at work. She shares that, in her company, recycled paper is used for all product labels (our very own Alicia makes Eco Natural Soap products which you'll find through a link on her blog).

Thanks to everyone ... if you wrote an article, I have stumbled, tweeted and facebooked it. By the way, I've added share buttons at the bottom of this post and would really appreciate it if you would use them to pass the green word! Yeah, I'm greedy ... I want to increase our Honor Society & #CTWW Gang membership!

Speaking of the #CTWW Gang ... let's meet them! These great folks talked about our challenge on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW.

@skipbang
@gogreenbeans
@peopletowels
@thenewauthor
@waylandcook
@whopaysthepiper
@clothmamajess
@envirobooty
@dazediva
@smallbits
@waxelene
@robcayman
@begreen_beseen
@canarsiebk
@robineaston
@shoppingcharity
@susanlorelei
@givetreegifts
@escapingjourney
@apolloenergies
@queentob
@naturalkidz

And finally, I'd like to introduce you to a brand new blog called Going Green. The author, T.M. Evans, is a 17-year old living in Minnesota whose goal is to one day be a writer. If you have a moment, stop in and show some bloggy support for this new "greenie".

Ready for a new challenge? Here it is:

This week, make your coffee or tea at home. Getting coffee/tea out every day not only costs a lot but also generates a lot of waste. Make it at home instead. And don't forget ... both coffee grounds and tea leaves are great in the compost bin.

Or ...

If you don't drink these beverages or always drink them at home, choose one other food or beverage, which you typically buy at either a restaurant or grocery store, and make it yourself at home. And, of course, we'd like to hear all about it!

Or, if you're a Superstar, accept the "Up The Ante" challenge ...

Our bloggy friend, What A Card, is upping the ante on this challenge. She says, "Use the money you save by not going out for coffee/tea for some environmentally-friendly purpose. I use the money I saved so we could afford to switch to organic milk." Great challenge, WAC!

Or, wanna reach Super-Superstar status? Accept a second "Up The Ante" challenge ...

Whoops - this idea actually came from @CoffeeContessa ... not Jessica (thanks, Jessica for pointing that out). So, here's what @CoffeeContessa says "I'll up the ante and only brew organic certified!" Okay ... who's gonna take on this challenge?


Until next time ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Friday Film Fest

Happy Friday Everyone! We haven't done a film fest in awhile so ... sit back, relax ... and enjoy!

First up, the lovely Accessory Lady shared this:




Next up, from the talented Art Ist:




The fabulous Petunia GreenBeans shared this video after reading this week's challenge. Sorry, YouTube won't let me embed this one but it's great fun so click over and watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gysu0kgFwT0&feature=youtu.be


I recently found a fabulous blog called Urban Organic Gardener. The creative author, Mike Lieberman (aka CanarsieBK throughout the web) put together this video and has graciously agreed to share it with us:




And finally, just because I find it so delightful ... this video which was shared by my mom (thanks, Mom):




Have a great weekend!

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

Welcome to another episode of Change The World Wednesday ... our effort to positively impact the world through Eco-friendly activities done "en masse". If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

Last week our challenge was a bit different from our usual ... we asked that everyone reflect on their world and develop gratitude. The idea is that when we have a positive connection to something, we are apt to protect it ... and developing gratitude helps us to realize that connection. If you missed my post on the subject and would like to read it, just click HERE.

Let's check in with the Honor Society to see how they handled this challenge:

While reading Jessica's beautiful Homage to Mother Nature, I realized that gratitude can be shown by how we live our lives. Some of us learn to appreciate the natural world as children ... and then we have the fabulous opportunity to pass those gifts on. As she says, "I like to think that being green is more of a way of life than of a movement ..." Her post is definitely a "must read".

Petunia GreenBeans is grateful for many things. She offers us several posts that express her appreciation for Eco-friendly people and innovations. In this ARTICLE, she shares information about 11th grader Daniel Burd and his plastic chomping experiments. Very cool! Have you ever heard of Greenopolis? Pentunia says it's the best thing to happen to recycling. And, in this POST you'll learn all about "Eggs".

There are so many ways to develop gratitude. In this PIECE, K.C.Woolf shares another way to do so ... one which encourages conservation. Can you guess what it is? I'll never tell ... but you you'll find out by reading her post.

Does Argentum Vulgaris believe in God? Who is Pachamama? Which country has special ways of getting rid of toilet odors? And what do these questions have to do with our challenge? AV says that this was a difficult activity (he had to think too hard) ... ahh, but he's a great thinker as you'll find out HERE.

In Reflecting on life and the environment, Mrs. Green talks about loneliness, separation, awareness, the rippling effect of gratitude and mindful eating. It's a beautiful post. Thanks, Mrs. Green!

The Shopping Charity Daily mentioned our challenge and one of your posts ... was it yours? You'll also find pieces on "Educating the Shan: Refugees Without a Camp", the Paunglaung Dam project and the 8,000 people who will be forcibly relocated and a piece entitled "Til Death Do Us Unfriend".

Our friend, Rewinn, after some unseasonably cool weather was finally able to plant this week ... and he's feeling gratitude for all the people, animals and conditions that came together to enable his garden. You might be surprised at everyone and everything involved. Check out this POST where he talks about it. Nice to have you back, Rewinn ... we've missed you!

In this POST, our friend Ann displays our older CTWW banner, thereby spreading the word. Thanks, Ann! You also find a wonderful article about birds and bird-nest soup.

Our bloggy friend, Rob Cayman, has dedicated a facebook page to creating sustainability and changing the world. You'll find it HERE. I'm hoping (hint, hint) that Rob will include a link to CTWW as part of the effort.

As always I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked your articles ... and I would sure appreciate your using social networks to pass the word about Change The World Wednesdays. :-)

Our Honor Society also offered us some wonderful comments:

EcoGrrl shared a fabulous Cree Indian Proverb, "Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money."

Ange dropped in. She shares that gratitude is something she and her family work on regularly in their home. The philosophy of "shared energy" is something she believes in and reminds herself to "Recognise that 'the other' is you". Brilliant! Nice to have you back, Ange!

Miss T of Prairie Eco-Thrifter dropped in to thank Rob Cayman for mentioning her post last week. She has a great blog ... if you have a moment, I highly recommend it.

İlhami Uyar came by and had such lovely words for us. He said "I beleive that you can solve all problems". By the way, Mr. Uyar's blog, in my opinion, is a celebration of the natural world as well as life in Turkey. He speaks, often, about bee-keeping and growing food. A recent post talked about "Ottoman" meals ... a traditional celebration of food and music for workers. His blog is in both Turkish and English ... and is one of my favorites!

The #CTWW Gang is growing! These wonderful people hit the twitter "airwaves" this week and talked about our challenge using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, these are great folks to follow:

@apolloenergies
@peopletowels
@waxelene
@littlegreenblog
@thenewauthor
@skipbang
@envirobooty
@clothmamajess
@robcayman
@greenplate
@gogreenbeans
@waylandcook
@kimberlykaye
@robineaston
@smallbits
@whopaysthepiper
@dazediva
@crissymohrscrea
@ShoppingCharity
@cjrthemamiblog
@givetreegifts
@dpixel
@rewinn

Okay ... are you ready for more? Let's go ...

This week, lets reduce the amount of paper we use. Please choose at least one of the following actions and accomplish it (take on all of them to be a true Eco-superstar).

• Use no more than 6 squares of toilet paper per bathroom trip.

• If given the option, choose not to have receipts printed out.

• If you must print things out, print on both sides of the paper (try to avoid printing by saving a file electronically instead).

• Visit Catalog Choice, Do Not Mail (US), Red Dot Campaign (Canada), Stop Junk Mail (UK), or a similar service to remove your name from mailers, advertisements, catalogs, junk mail, etc.

• Read the newspaper online rather than buy a paper copy.

• Use cloth napkins and towels rather than the paper varieties.

• Opt for reusable plates rather than paper plates.

Or ...

If you're already doing the above, please come up with at least one other way to save paper and share it with us.


UP THE ANTE (a new feature)

• Jessica takes on this challenge, especially the toilet paper part, and raises us one (or in this case, decreases us one) ... she's going to use only 5 squares per trip. Who's up for Jessica's challenge?
  

I'm looking forward to reading everyone's ideas. Until then ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Gratitude

Every morning I visit my garden, inspecting every plant, anxiously waiting for produce to appear. Yesterday, the most beautiful caterpillar was munching on my parsley. It was fascinating to watch him, so busy eating a leaf and then moving to the next stem.

Later, he was gone. I looked everywhere ... other plants, the ground beneath the parsley pot ... and nothing. I hoped that we'd see him again ... perhaps transformed into a beautiful mariposa in our garden.

In the evening, again inspecting my garden, I saw him ... hanging from a silk harness ... already transforming. At that moment, I felt such a sense of privilege ... I was witnessing something special. The knowledge that no one else in the world would see that particular caterpillar turn into a butterfly was awe inspiring ... and I felt gratitude.

I began to think about all of the elements which came together for that one moment ... the plants in our area that encouraged the butterfly to choose this as an appropriate place to lay her eggs ... the people who planted them and chose not to cover them with toxic chemicals ... the weather, temperatures, etc. And I wanted to do more to encourage a larger mariposa population.

At the farmer's market, I bought beautiful tomatoes. These tomatoes have never been refrigerated nor have they seen a grocery shelf ... they came straight from the soil to me.

Again I thought about how it got to me ... the seed, perhaps collected from last year's crop ... the farmer who prepared the soil and planted that seed ... the water & sun that nurtured it ... the person whose hands placed the tomato into a box ... the truck that drove it to me. My thoughts continued, thinking about how the farmer learned to grow things ... perhaps from his father ... and to his children who are fed, clothed and housed because of the profits from the crops. Maybe one of those children will grow up to do great things ... maybe solve the world's environmental problems. As with the butterfly, I felt gratitude and wanted to protect the process.

It's the web of life ... everything connected in some way to our past and our future.

Developing gratitude allows us to see all of the ingredients required to bring that perfect tomato to our table. It encourages us to protect the process.

What if we develop gratitude for the natural world and work to protect it ... what would happen?

Someday soon, a beautiful mariposa will glide through my garden ... maybe it will land for a moment and we'll look at each other ... and I'll feel gratitude.

Vegan Recipe - Roasted Veggie Pizza

It is my favorite day of the month ... the first Friday of the month when we share a delicious recipe. You might be wondering why a blog about "green" living posts recipes ... well, simply put, meatless meals are Eco-friendly because it takes far fewer resources to produce one pound of plant-based foods versus animal-based foods. So, it's an easy (and tasty) way to walk a little gentler on the earth.

I'd like to introduce you to Kristi, the brilliant author of Veggie Converter 365. This site is a bit different from other recipe sites which I've shared ... this one takes family favorites, usually made with meat, and converts them to vegetarian/vegan versions. You'll find marvelous dishes such as Spicy Rice Balls, which can be fried or cooked in a crock pot and which can be made ahead and frozen. How about Beefy Tacos or, for a more elegant dinner, Beef Wellington. Sounds good, doesn't it? Kristi also helps us out with vegan substitutes ... on this PAGE, you find substitutes for ham, eggs, gelatin, etc. It's a wonderful resource!

Today Kristi has kindly agreed to share one of her recipes with us. It looks delicious ... I hope you'll give it a try!

Roasted Veggie Pizza Recipe

Hello to Reduce Footprints readers. I'm so happy to share a vegan recipe with you: a delicious throw-every-veggie-in-the-oven pizza. You could make this with just about any combination of vegetables your family likes.

Roasted Veggie Pizza
Ingredients
1 pizza crust (I use the Betty Crocker recipe)
2-3 Tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 onion, diced
1/2 bunch asparagus
2 portabella mushrooms, sliced
1-2 bell peppers, sliced
1 small or 1/2 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise
House seasoning, to taste
1.5 C Daiya Mozzarella cheez (optional)

Directions
Par-bake crust at 400 for 20 minutes. Place all vegetables on a cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with House seasoning. Bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes, flipping vegetables once about halfway through.

Top pizza crust with additional olive oil, veggies and "cheez," if desired. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

This pizza is excellent with or without the "cheez." I think I actualy prefer it without the cheez. The roasted veggies really shine when on their own.

Kristi @ Veggie Converter and vegetarian author of OAMM

@veggieconverter
@vegetarianOAMM


I'd like to thank Kristi for sharing this delicious pizza recipe with us. If you have a vegan dish that you'd like to share, please send it to me HERE. As always, you can find all of the recipes we've posted by clicking the tab at the top of the page or clicking HERE. Happy Eating!!

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

Welcome! If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the activities we've taken on so far.

Last week our bloggy friend, Petunia GreenBeans, asked for help with recycling. She wanted everyone's ideas, tips and information ... all the ingredients necessary for making this activity a success. And wow ... Reduce Footprints' readers answered the "call to action" in their usual, fabulous and helpful style.

First up ... we had a record number of people tweeting about this challenge using the hashtag #CTWW. We lovingly refer to them as our #CTWW Gang ... and they are great folks to follow if you're on twitter. Huge thanks to:

@gardeningguru
@dpixel
@thenewauthor
@coffeecontessa
@smallbits
@robcayman
@skipbang
@turningclockbac
@peopletowels
@waxelene
@groovygreenlivi
@dazediva
@gogreenbeans
@noteasy2begreen
@etsy4animals
@envirobooty
@sistersjewelry
@crissymohrscrea
@LittleGreenBlog
@shoppingcharity
@clothmamajess
@kimberlykaye
@coffeetablepoet
@cjrthemamiblog
@givetreegifts
@whopaysthepiper
@rewinn
@robineaston


Next ... our Honor Society picked up the gauntlet and ran with it:

EcoGrrl has a long history with the 3R's (reduce, reuse, recycle), beginning in high school where she wrote a paper on why we all must recycle. Since then, she's been upping the ante and this year became a certified master recycler in Portland, OR. Yay, EcoGrrl!! So, what do you think is her biggest finding to date? It might surprise you and make you think differently about those recycling codes found on containers. Curious? Read her comment HERE.

Here's a riddle ... what comes in all shapes & sizes, is typically out of sight and rhymes with "wins"? Answer that and you'll know the identity of Cinella's number one recycling tip. But if you can't figure it out ... or even if you can ... check out her post HERE.

K.C. Woolf stopped in ... thanks for your kind comments KC!

Kristina wrote 5 Easy Steps to Recycling ... it's a brilliant post and includes a lot of useful information. Step one is something we talk a lot about on this site ... and step two is my favorite. Which is your favorite and how many of the 5 steps are you doing? Thanks, Kristina!

Jennifer stress that before recycling we must make an effort to reduce and reuse. She suggests that we pay attention to what we buy so that we don't end up with a lot of packaging. She also has some ideas about cooking and eating out which you can read HERE.

Rob Cayman found an excellent post called 10 Things You Didn't Know you Could Recycle. This post is just full of great information. The two recyclables that I found most interesting are #4 & #5. By the way, be sure to click on Rob's name (which will take you to his site) and check out his posts on changing the world. He's got some interesting ideas on sustainability and how we can make this world a better place. Thanks, Rob!

Mrs. Green is passionate about reducing waste and recycling! Want proof? She and her family managed their waste so well that, in one year, they only filled one trash bin. Yep, you heard that right ... one bin of landfill waste for the entire year! Wowee! That's not waste management ... that's waste elimination!! In this POST, she offers us a concrete plan for getting started and here's a surprise ... the first step requires nothing but thinking.

Petunia GreenBeans says that Reduce Footprints readers ROCK OUT LOUD! Yeah ... I totally agree! Hey Petunia ... be sure to drop back in when you have your master list on recycling put together ... we'd love to see it and I'm sure it's going to become a great resource.

Alicia agrees that reducing waste is the first step in recycling. She has some clever ways to do that involving t-shirts, shampoo and cleansers. Are you intrigued? Read her ideas HERE.

From twitter, People Towels sent us a link to their site ... after all, reusable towels are ... well ... recyclable. Check them out HERE.

The Shopping Charity mentioned our challenge ... and mentioned my favorite reusable bottle. Can you guess which brand it it?

Coffee Table Poetry Musings also gave our challenge a mention. There's also a piece about why we should be eating avocados and they picked up one of my tweets about a giveaway I entered (my secret's out). :-)

From our previous challenge on NOT washing clothes, we had the following comments:

As you might remember, Nicole B. met this challenge because her washing machine broke down, forcing her to do less laundry. This was a hard challenge for her because she really likes doing laundry (wish you lived closer to me, Nicole ... lol). I asked her if she would continue the practice of wearing clothes longer ... can you guess what she said? Read it HERE. By the way, in that comment she also shared that she's using EcoFriendly laundry wash balls, eliminating laundry detergent altogether. While she doesn't want to promote companies, she is willing to share information with you so, if you're interested, read the comment for how to contact her. Thanks, Nicole!

Michelle stopped by and shares that she and her family have moved away from the mentality which says that wearing something once means it's dirty ... and it saves a ton. Thanks, Michelle!

North Jersey Air Systems say that they are going to join this revolution to change the pollution levels and make it a healthier environment. Yay! They like the idea of washing clothes less often and they use solar power to dry. Thanks for stopping by NJAS!

Financial Success for Young Adults stopped by and shares that, except for socks and underwear, she wears clothes a few times before washing. Thanks for stopping in FSFYA!

Finally, our twitter friend, @waxelene, dropped by with a quote for this challenge:

"How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days." ~John Burroughs

Wow ... great job everyone! There was so much activity this week that it was hard to keep track. Hopefully I didn't miss a thing but, if I did, just drop me a note HERE and I'll pick it up next week. And, as always, if you wrote an article, I've Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it.

I wonder where the #CTWW wheel will stop this week? Place your bets ...

In the past week, a couple of notable things have happened (well, notable to me). First, I read several articles on the idea that we are connected to all things ... that we all, world-wide, share the same energy. That was a difficult concept for me until I read this ARTICLE about Gratitude (which is the second notable thing). In the article, which I hope you'll read, the author talks about reflecting on everything in our life and considering how things, attitudes and our very existence came into being. For example ... the cup, which we drink our coffee from, didn't just materialize by magic ... raw materials, people and knowledge brought it into existence. The author goes on to suggest that we develop gratitude for all that went into bringing us to this very spot. So that's the basis of our challenge:

This week, reflect on your life, the environment and nature. Think about the path that brought you to this point ... the people who taught you life lessons, the folks who developed Eco-friendly versions of common household items, the engineer who makes sure you have clean water and "Mother Nature" who shares so many gifts. Then, begin developing gratitude for these events. The mere act of gratitude will enable us to see our connection to the universe more clearly and will help us to protect that which we are thankful for. As always, we want to hear about it so please write a post and/or leave a comment.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts!

Ready for our mantra?

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!