Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Listen

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

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.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we began a conversation about population growth and its environmental consequences. Many people tend to think of the problem in terms of birth. While that is certainly a factor, it's only one part of a very complex situation. In fact, fertility rates in the world have actually gone down ... and yet, predicted population numbers are beyond our wildest imagination. Longevity, medical intervention, poverty, education, etc. all play important roles in this story. Our goal, last week, was simply to begin talking about the problem.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Dani joined us and left this comment which gives us a lot to think about: "A population of 9.7 billion would certainly be hard to feed. Or would it? If pandering to the wealthy with their year round exotic food requirements was severely restricted, and restaurants were penalized for throwing away perfectly good food because their portion sizes are too large / not palatable, there would certainly be more food for the masses and less food thrown into skips. Then we have the whole issue of using land for growing crops for fuel instead of food... Seems to me mankind is wandering down the wrong path and catering for inappropriate requirements. Providing for, and enforcing, communal transport would certainly reduce the provision of land for the production of fuel an free it up again for food. And, in addition, there are those greedy individuals who are renting vast area's of cheap land in Africa, paying a pittance for the labour, in order to grow crops to export - thereby reducing the land available for the locals to plant and grow for their specific requirements. All in all, I reckon that individual / corporate greed and the "I'm entitled" attitude is the root of all the feeding problems we are currently experiencing and will experience in the future."

Argentum Vulgaris maintains that births are not the problem. What is? Find out in Change the World Wednesday – 13th Aug. Argentum also offers readers some interesting thoughts on water. He recently began buying drinking water because his tap water became contaminated.

CelloMom wrote a very interesting post entitled Enough People. In it, she offers some facts about population growth. For example, economic prosperity does not, necessarily, affect fertility rates. She also suggests what might be the best solution to the problem. Can you guess what it is? CelloMom also shared a very interesting map which shows crops grown for human food versus animal feed and fuel: How much of the world's cropland is actually used to grow food?. The map and the corresponding article are sobering.

The Hottest Writers on the Web gave CTWW a nice mention. If you love to read, you'll love this paper ... books, authors, new releases, etc. are discussed.

Lois talked about family size and considered her own family tree to gain perspective. Change the World Wednesday, Population speaks to shelter, food, and the environmental impact of having children. She also asks an important question regarding regulation: "do any of us have the right to make that decision for another?"

EcoGrrl offered us a suggestion: "If you haven't, read the 1960's classic "The Population Bomb"."

It was so nice to see Michael Draper who dropped in and shared this: "Enjoyed reading your blog today. You always seem to have subjects that are important. thank you" Thank you, Mike!

Our Twitter friend, @AndreaPtak, joined the conversation and shared the following:

- #Population http://t.co/ZWbnV2pFrv works to achieve a sustainable balance between people and the #environment http://t.co/9mAUzazt2G
- Family Planning and empowering #women help save the #environment #resources #earth http://t.co/CWqBcw36YU...

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@2kidsandacoupon	@a_kiasi	@allcollegeplan
@allnaturalkatie	@andreaptak	@anitaadamsnc
@artbysandra	@catertomyman	@cellomomoncars
@clothaddicts	@collegegogreen	@cryptonfabrics
@ecofiber	@ecofriendlyfurn	@fairytraps
@foggybottomgal	@freshcleanersaz	@garry_rogers
@ginavalley	@givetreegifts	@green_vibes
@greenglobaltrvl	@greenqueenofmod	@groovygreenlivi
@herbgir1972	@kaitlingarder	@kayelleallen
@laalicia	@ladyjcmuses	@lflexkitchen
@mamapoolecooks	@marjoriemcatee	@momfindsout
@momsmadhousex6	@nolafusion	@organicrugs
@plasticfreetues	@rckweddings	@realityarts
@romerojewelers	@sdcdm320	@sfcouncil
@spafloating	@terenceflyntz	@theworld4realz
@treadmyownpath	@treesgroup	@turningclockbac
@wencdj	@whopaysthepiper

My Final Thoughts:

Ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away. Our numbers continue to grow. At some point, the earth will not be able to sustain us all. When that happens, we'll see wide-spread starvation, illness, homelessness, poverty, and death. We're already seeing areas where the supply of natural resources is insufficient to accommodate the populace. There are no clear answers to the situation. But it needs to be discussed if we're ever to find a solution. When the earth can no longer support us, we will suffer ... that much is true! Let's keep the conversation going in the hope that we'll find a solution which is good for us and the planet!

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

The United States has only
12 truly quiet places*

Did you know that noise pollution reduces biodiversity by increasing the population of urban-adapted birds and driving out more noise-shy species? Further, it has been suggested that noise interferes with our natural connection to the earth.

There are very few quiet areas left in the world. A quiet area is defined as somewhere you can go for at least 15 minutes without hearing artificial sound at dawn, the hour when sound travels farthest.

Change begins with awareness. So, let's raise ours!

Here's your challenge ...

This week, spend 15 minutes listening to the sounds in your area. You may wish to sit quietly in your home or out in nature. Perhaps you want to find out what noises you hear in a shopping mall or on a busy street. As you listen, try to hear the sounds of nature. Can you hear them or are they drowned out by man-made noise? The idea, this week, is to simply listen and identify sounds.

Ready to exercise your listening skills? I know that you are!

Until next time ...

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

*Source: The Extinction of Quiet

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Population

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

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.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

How are the trees in your area? Last week we headed out to give them a check-up. I'm happy to say that our trees are healthy and thriving. The challenge educated me on what to look for and gave me tips for ensuring their health for years to come.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Argentum Vulgaris doesn't have a problem with the ALB beetle but he did find a little critter on his tomato bush. Read Change the World Wednesday – 13th Aug and see if you can identify the bug.

Mary joined us and said, "Great post! I like how this one gets us outside to check on our trees! It's very simple but is important. Thanks for sharing!"

Alica checked her tress and reported back with this: "It seems our trees look okay which is great news! Haven't really thought about checking the trees on our land but this challenge was good to make us more aware!"

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @GiveTreeGifts
- "How can I tell if my backyard tree is diseased or dead?" http://t.co/anLgQ501ip
- Pruning at the wrong time can attract invasive bugs that can kill some species of trees. ie Dutch Elm Disease: ow.ly/AieO5
- Detecting Emerald Ash Borer Damage ow.ly/Aif2b
- Know how to spot the signs of a weak, sick or diseased tree to prevent costly emergency services. ow.ly/AifeW

From @laalicia
- RT @ShareAwakening: In the power to change yourself is the power to change the world around you. ~ Anwar Sadat

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@89linz	@allcollegeplan	@allnaturalkatie
@artandgifts	@artbysandra	@bstoneblog
@chrisluce87	@collegegogreen	@crazykids6
@fairytraps	@foggybottomgal	@freshcleanersaz
@givetreegifts	@greenglobaltrvl	@greenqueenofmod
@groovygreenlivi	@herbgir1972	@javamazon
@kaitlingarder	@kayelleallen	@laalicia
@ladyjcmuses	@mamasmoney	@marbaird
@marjoriemcatee	@moha_doha	@momgamerwriter
@plasticfreetues	@realityarts	@romerojewelers
@sampahrumah	@shannongrissom	@spafloating
@stilettofiles	@theworld4realz	@treadmyownpath
@treesgroup	@wencdj	@whywelovegreen
@writerunlive

My Final Thoughts:

Most children learn about basic photosynthesis in school. They are taught that, with the help of the sun, plant life absorbs carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen. Trees are especially proficient in this regard. An average sized tree can create enough oxygen in a year to supply a family of four. In fact, they can significantly reduce global warming. That, in itself, makes them extremely valuable and worthy of our care. But there's more. Trees help eliminate pollution from the soil, waterways, and the air. They provide a home for a variety of species, including some which are endangered (often because of loss of habitat). Simply put, trees are vital!

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

There are 7.2 Billion people in the world

By the year 2050, it is estimated that the world population will be 9.7 Billion. In 2012, people were responsible for 9.7 Billion Tons of carbon emissions (up from 6.1 Billion Tons in 1990). The problems associated with overpopulation (that point where the population exceeds the available natural resources required for sustainability) include access to food and clean water, substandard housing and homelessness, and waste control.

We haven't discussed this issue on Reduce Footprints. It's a sensitive subject. But, as it concerns the environment, it's worth talking about ... with respect and consideration, of course!

Here's your challenge ...

This week, let's open up the discussion on population as it affects the environment. Please leave a comment and/or write a post about your feelings on the topic. You might discuss if, in your opinion, our growing population is a concern. Perhaps talk about such things as the earth's ability to support growing numbers of people, or if the number of children we have should be regulated (and if so, by whom). While religious considerations are often a factor in a person's decision to have children, let's keep this discussion environmental in nature. Let's take an honest look at the environmental affects of population growth.

Are you ready to share your thoughts on this subject? I know that you are!

Until next time ...

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

Six Reasons why cooking at home is Eco-friendly

Earlier this month, we asked how many days of the week you cook at home.

Results

Comments:

• I eat out MAYBE once a month. And it's an organic restaurant!
• we eat out about once a fortnight
• Eating out is for special occasions, with the once in a while take-out when too busy to cook. Seattle has a fabulous vegan restaurant Cafe Flora!

Discussion

Everyone who answered the survey cooked at home for the majority of the week (at least 4 days out of 7).

Most people ate at home every day of the week.

Since most participants are "greenies", I wasn't really surprised by the results. After all, cooking at home is very Eco-friendly. Why? Here are some reasons:

1. 
   We typically drive to and from a restaurant. Meals at home require a quick few steps to the table.
2. When we cook, we can control the method of cooking and choose energy-efficient ways to prepare a meal. These would include things like counter-top appliances and using the residual heat of an oven instead of cooking for the full, recommended time.
3. Most of us use "real" plates and utensils at our table. Restaurants, especially fast food establishments, often serve in single-use, plastic containers. Even up-scale restaurants use plastic or Styrofoam containers to send food home.
4. 
   Have you noticed the huge portions served at restaurants?
   
   Even if we take the leftovers, there's a good chance that the food will be wasted.




5. Some establishments are serving fresh, local products ... they are the exception. When we choose ingredients, we can be sure that we are buying local, sustainable foods.
6. Did you know that, to meet FDA sanitation guidelines, restaurants use either bleach or ammonia (quaternary sanitizers) in their washing procedures? Both products are hard on the environment. At home, Eco-friendly detergent works just fine!

Bonus Reason:

• Have you ever noticed how you feel after eating in a restaurant? Eating establishments are in the business of making our food taste good. They are not, necessarily, trying to provide healthy food. Generous amounts of fat, sodium, dairy, etc. are included to give us that "over the top" experience. So, while this is not an environmental reason to cook at home, it is a health reason ... foods cooked at home are better for us!

Conclusion

Eating out, once in awhile, is a treat. We can make the experience more Eco-friendly by walking to the restaurant, choosing establishments which cook local foods in appropriate amounts, etc.

In the end, even the most Eco-conscious establishment is no match for a meal made in a "green" kitchen at home.

Interview - Lisa Bell of Solarproducts.me

Lisa Bell of Solarproducts.me

I first met Lisa Bell on Ozoshare. Her profile fascinated me. She shared a lot of great content on everyday solar products.

As I got acquainted with Lisa, I learned that she owns Solarproducts.me where, in addition to selling solar items, she educates both adults and children on solar energy. I've found wonderful articles and resources on the site.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Lisa a few questions. Here's our interview:

SF:  Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. When did you first become interested in solar power?

Lisa:  I have been interested in solar energy since my grown children were little. I don’t like to be wasteful and if the sunlight is there I believe we are wasting it we aren’t using it. We started the site back in 2008. Even then it was hard to find a .com with solar in it. My mom had told me that she thought we had an ancestor that was in the Blackfoot tribe. I went to the Native American Language Site and looked up the Blackfoot word for sun. It was long and unpronounceable. When my husband was in the Navy we lived out west and when we came east we passed many reservations. The Dakota Tribe interested me so I looked it up and their word for sun was Anpa Wi. We became Anpa Wi.com. Then about 2 years ago we added the domain Solarproducts.me. It sounds familiar and personal and that is the way we want people to feel when they visit our site.

SF:  How has solar power changed your life?

Lisa:  I have more lights in my yard than ever! I use the lights for everything from decorations to lighting our paths in the yard. It used to bug me when we would go off for the day and get back at night that there was no light. When you leave at 9 am you shouldn’t have to leave a light on all day just so you don’t trip at night. The solar lights that I use have photo sensors and some have motions sensors. The light does not have to be left on all day to work and it doesn’t cost me anything to use it.

I have written about, researched and gotten to try (maybe I should say play with since I have so much fun) with solar products. I am gadget lover so I like using the flashlights and the solar chargers. When I charge the batteries with solar power and put the batteries in my purse or pocket I think of it as keeping some sunshine in my pocket.

The most fun I think I had was building the solar mini house that I use for science fairs and school demonstrations. I made the floors and walls see through so that the kids can see how the wires go from the roof to the house and into the light and fan the run when the house is in the sun. I picked up some doll house furniture to go with it. That house also showed me that my carpentry skills need some work!

SF:  What, in your opinion, is the biggest misconception about solar powered products?

Lisa:  That the products are cheap and they don’t last. Also that they don’t work when the weather is overcast or cloudy. I have had some products that didn’t last as long as I thought they should have. I decided that quality was the better choice so I have taken on a lot of products that are American made. The manufacturers have been very helpful. Our SolarGoose flashlights are made in America from recycled Aluminum. The Gomadic portable solar panels are also made here and I have found the quality on both be very high.

SF:  I notice that you sell solar products on your site. What are some of the more popular items?

Lisa:  Our flashlights are very popular and so are the outdoor lights. I think the most popular are the portable solar panels otherwise known as solar battery chargers. I take them to craft fairs to charge phones and other devices as a courtesy.

SF:  Solar energy is very "green". What other steps do you take to live an Eco-friendly life?

Lisa:  I didn’t think we did that much until I started looking around the house. I know there is a lot more that we could do but here is what I have so far.

• 
  I have painted up a silhouette of a Greyhound (I volunteer at the local shelter). The wood that it was cut out of was repurposed from a crate they got. The hound has one of my solar lights around its neck.
• In my craft business/ hobby, I use repurposed slates to paint on and I have gotten wood from a local children’s furniture company that they were going to throw out.
• I reuse plastic peanut butter jars for use in the kitchen and I use them to give food gifts at the holidays. I use old medicine bottles to save my small craft and other small items.
• I reuse the plastic takeout containers for use in my kitchen. They recycle a lot more than plastic zip bags, which I also reuse, and they are clear so it is a lot easier to organize.
• I donate old blankets to the local animal shelters and old clothing goes to people who need it.
• I shop at yard sales and thrift stores for some things as well.

SF:  Do you utilize solar and/or photovoltaic panels on your home?

Lisa:  No, we don’t have an array for the house. We are renting in anticipation of moving to our own home. We have plans already in place to use solar energy when we do move.

SF:  Any advice for folks interested in solar power?

Solar Fountain Pump

Lisa:  Yes. Remember solar energy is not something that you have to either go big or go home with. If you are not familiar with it start small. Use quality small products like battery chargers and flashlights. Keep them on hand for emergency or everyday use. They are so easy to use, just set them in the sun and go about your business. It doesn’t get much easier than that. When you have used the small products you will be more mentally prepared to go to your own solar electric and hot water systems. I find that when people get familiar with solar energy, or anything, it doesn’t seem nearly as mysterious and then they move forward with more projects.

SF:  Thanks, Lisa ... it's been a pleasure chatting with you!

Lisa:  Thank you for inviting me. I have enjoyed reading your blog and I am happy to be a part of it!

Lisa: Thank you for having me on a Small Footprints. I love getting to chat with others like this. I wanted to let you know that you and a few others inspired me to do a basics article about things to consider when you want to put in a solar energy system. Go to this link and follow the instructions to get the free download. Also stay tuned as we will be getting a little more technical with the next article.

Have a very Sunny Day!

If you would like to contact me you may do so at:
Lisa@Solarproducts.me
Our Website: http://www.solarproducts.me/
Our Phone number: 866.478.9080

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - August is Tree Check Month

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

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.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we mended ... clothing, furniture, etc. I typically set aside clothing items which need fixing and then do them all at once. This challenge prompted me to get out the needle and thread ... and repair. "Art" got in the act as well ... the soles on his favorite pair of work boots were pulling away from the boot. So, he grabbed some glue and repaired them. Fixing broken items is part of our life. If we've purchased things that we like, then it makes sense to fix them when they need it and continue liking them.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Have you ever had one flip-flop fail? Seems a waste to toss them both. Argentum Vulgaris has a solution and, in Change the World Wednesday – 6th Aug, he explains how one can "extend the life of two pairs of flip flops by almost the life of a single pair". Intriguing, right?

Katie says that prevention is the key to extending the life of clothing. In 5 Ways to Extend Life of Clothing [#CTWW] she offers some great tips and ideas! A previous challenge on batteries came at a perfect time for Katie. She was updating her emergency kit and found some "dead" alkaline batteries. So she got busy and learned what to do with them. Read Proper Alkaline Battery Disposal [#CTWW] for more information.

How many dog toys does your pet go through? Have you ever considered mending them? Andrea has! In Rescuing Dog-Toy Plushies she shares a simple technique to repair torn toys. In Put a Shine on Your Shoes she gives an old pair of shoes a second life. And finally, Andrea recommends this post: Basic Hand Stitches ... it's a useful tutorial for any kind of hand sewing.

Alica regularly mends clothing so she offered us some advice for extending their life: "We do this on a regular basis! One great way to extend the life of your clothing is by hanging them up to dry instead of putting them in the dryer.Spring, Summer and a few weeks in the Fall you can hang your clothes outside and they dry quite quickly. In the Winter months we have a designated area that we hang our shirts, blouses and few other things but have to use the dryer for the others. Also your challenge a while back about not washing your clothes as often is another great way to extend their life. When you have worn something and really haven't gotten it dirty, hang it up and wear it again before washing. Both of these suggestions will also save money and energy! When buying clothes at the mall or at your favorite thrift shop look for all cotton and well made clothing because they will last so much longer than clothes made with cheaper fabrics. Using a homemade laundry detergent made from Borax and washing soda is much more gentle than using a harsh chemical based laundry detergent."

JC accepted the challenge and shares this: "This comes at the perfect time. We just started using our very first energy efficient washer and dryer and even though they can use up a lot of electricity, they can also help us live greener by allowing us to go paperless (tissues, paper towels, etc) and helping us to take better care of our clothes so they last longer. That being said, there's an awful lot of mending to do. We had a rather large amount of clothes because we only really go to the laundromat about once every three weeks. That allowed us to just keep going through them and not fix the things that needed repair. Now I've just gone through everything after I did about 150 pounds of laundry and made three piles: recycling, donation and repair. So to fulfill the challenge I will repair two items from the third pile this week and then we'll have some refurbished clothing to use once again or donate locally or to http://thechildrensfellowship.org/about-usacf/. Question, in terms of renewing, what is the best and eco friendliest way to dye a garment?"

This edition of Help Recycle Today Daily gave CTWW a nice mention. I found other interesting articles in that paper including one about DIY detergent. Check it out!

The Shopping Charity gave CTWW a headline spot. WhooHoo! Be sure to read the important article about bone marrow donation ... it could save a life!

Our Twitter friend, @GiveTreeGifts, joined the conversation and shared the following:

-Soap & softener residue can be damaging to clothing as well as your washer & dryer. I use white vinegar instead of commercial softener
-When I buy a new article of clothing, I reinforce buttons & hems immediately. This helps eliminate the loss of buttons or fallen hems
-I find that I can extend the life of my clothes & conserve energy by air drying or line drying.

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@2kidsandacoupon	@a_kiasi
@allnaturalkatie	@andreaptak	@artbysandra
@bargainsfinder	@biggreenpen	@bstoneblog
@camillescharms	@chrisluce87	@collegegogreen
@crazykids6	@daft_crafts	@dieselelephants
@ecoexpert1	@foggybottomgal	@freshcleanersaz
@givetreegifts	@green_vibes	@greencwru
@greenqueenofmod	@groovygreenlivi	@helprecycle_com
@herbgir1972	@javamazon	@johnlundin
@kaitlingarder	@laalicia	@ladyjcmuses
@ladyreaderstuff	@lorcadamon	@marjoriemcatee
@plasticfreetues	@rainyofthedark	@rantravewrite
@realityarts	@shannongrissom	@shoppingcharity
@spafloating	@sunnybeads1	@survivalimpact
@terenceflyntz	@theearthnetwork	@theworld4realz
@treadmyownpath	@treesgroup	@violetsbuds
@wasteeguru	@wastejobs	@whopaysthepiper

My Final Thoughts:

Repairing, or mending, makes sense. It prolongs the usefulness of an item, saves us money, and reduces the amount of stuff in our landfills. It also reduces the requirement for newly manufactured products. That, in turn, reduces the need for raw materials. As with many green-living ideas, mending is a small act with far-reaching benefits. Who knew that darning a sock could change the world!

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

This beetle has led to the loss
of more than 110,000 trees in the U.S.

Have you heard of the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB)? It is an invasive bug which destroys trees. Feeding on 13 different genera of hardwood trees, and eventually killing them, the beetle threatens entire forests. According to the USDA, trees in all US states are at risk. Trees in Canada, Trinidad, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK are also at risk.

Once a tree is infected, it must be destroyed. Early detection is the only way to protect our trees. August has been designated as Tree Check Month.

Here's your challenge ...

This week take 10 minutes to inspect trees on your property, in the area, on a hike, etc. Here's how:

• Look up. Stand back and look at the top of the tree. Do you see any dead or dying branches?
• Look it over. Now get in close and focus on the tree trunk and branches. See the beetle? See any dime-sized exit holes or shallow scars in the bark?
• Look down. Do you see any sawdust-like shavings at the tree’s base or on the branches? That’s a sign the ALB has been busy eating.
• If you find evidence of the beetle, report it HERE or call your local forestry department.

OR ...

Here are two more activities to help prevent ALB infestation:

• If you are planning to build a fire (campfire, etc.), use only wood from local sources. Do not carry it with you from other areas (for example, from home to a campsite out of state).
• If you are landscaping, plant a wide variety of trees.

OR ...

If your area is not threatened by ALB, give your trees a health "check up". Click HERE for a list of things to consider.

Are you ready to protect our trees? I know that you are!

Until next time ...

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

Image courtesy of AsianLonghornedBeetle.com

Meet & Greet (#MtaGt) - August - Garry Rogers Nature Conservation

Welcome to Meet & Greet, a regular series designed to grow our green community.

Banner by Art Ist

Grab our banner for your site:<br /> <a href="http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="A monthly link-up party for green blogs on Reduce Footprints" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkes4Ye110zbirkxMV6FAevl_7ymkBSWTCsXC7Li1_Vqm5HuIZkn81pN-CFX8iYJkLxAnDNccMjfHmFEMX8Hy8kFjkepmewEnRhBII4indKyexo3L1n6QDC0YrS0jY5Jy94ZyCLUx-_sg/s220/meet--and-greet-003-1000.jpg"/></a></a>
The rules:

1. Use the link-up tool below to share your green-living blog or collection of environmental posts.
2. Visit at least one other blog and/or the featured site and leave a pertinent comment.
3. The link-up will remain open for a month.
4. Random.org determines the featured site each month.

This month, Random.org chose Garry Rogers Nature Conservation as our featured blog. I first "met" Garry via Tribber. His articles captured my attention because many of them spoke about animals. When we think about endangered species, we typically think about elephants, rhinos, polar bears, and whales. While Garry does speak to the plight of these beautiful creatures, he also draws attention to some of the lesser known species like the pangolin (sometimes called the "walking artichoke"), the spiny dogfish , and a very cute little cat called a kodkod. In addition to endangered species, readers will find posts on animal rights and welfare. I was particularly interested in a recent article about circus animals and why circuses should be banned immediately ... it'll make you see events under the "big top" differently. Conservation is not just about animals. Garry presents information on fracking, solar use, sunflowers, and what to do with the blackened woodland left behind after a wildfire. Garry Rogers Nature Conservation is a bit like a quality news network ... it gathers together pertinent, timely, conservation news and serves it to us in a straightforward manner. It is an excellent resource!

For previous features & blogs, check out the Meet & Greet Page: http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html.

Our link-up is live. Please list your blog, visit and have fun!

Vegan Recipe & Cookbook Review - Raw Lime Parfait from The HappyCow Cookbook (#HappyCowRoadTrip)

When I first became vegan, eating out was difficult. There weren't many veg-friendly restaurants, let alone vegan establishments. Servers typically didn't know what the word "vegan" meant and had no idea what was in the meals they served. We were relegated to picking and choosing items off the "a la carte" menu ... workable but not ideal.

The HappyCow site is a valuable tool for vegetarians and vegans. Simply type in the name of a city and it will list vegetarian, vegan, and veg-friendly establishments in the area. It's a great resource for traveling or simply keeping up with restaurants in one's home town.

Eric Brent, founder and director of HappyCow, along with Glen Merzer, coauthor of Better than Vegan, have put together a cookbook which includes recipes from top-rated vegan restaurants around the world.

To say that it's just a cookbook, however, would be an injustice. The book lists restaurants around the world and offers readers information about the owners and how they got started, other items on the menu like gluten-free, soy-free, and sugar-free options, and even asks owners how they reduce their environmental impact. The address of the establishment, phone number, and website (if available) are also provided.

And there are recipes! Fabulous, delicious, recipes!

In 2011, an up-scale vegan restaurant opened it's doors in Asheville, NC. I haven't had the pleasure of eating at Plant but I've talked to people who have. They say that the food is fabulous and that Chef Jason Sellers creates dishes which appeal to both vegans and carnivores alike. The establishment is so popular, in fact, that reservations are advised.

Asheville is a veg-friendly city. Vegetarian restaurants aren't unusual. Plant has quickly become the shining star of the "foodie" culture in this area. It's also the only full-service vegan restaurant in town.

I was invited to review The HappyCow Cookbook which includes Plant Restaurant. I couldn't wait to read about this establishment and try the recipes they share. One of their recipes made me drool.

The kind folks at BenBella Books have graciously allowed me to share that recipe with you.

From Plant in Asheville, NC

Raw Lime Parfait

Serves 4

When it comes to light desserts, nothing beats the interplay of sweet and tart. A generous amount of lime in this parfait lifts the palate and allows for the seasonal fruit to shine. This simple parfait can be made ahead of time and will keep, covered, for a few days. Your parfaits will taste even better if allowed to warm up just slightly after coming out of the refrigerator. At Plant, we serve them with some dehydrated raspberry for a sharp, tart burst.

For the crust:
2 cups almonds
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup agave syrup
3 dates, pitted and roughly chopped

For the granola:
2 cups almonds
Large pinch salt
Large pinch ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons lime zest
1/4 cup agave syrup

For the lime cream:
2 1/2 cups cashews, soaked overnight and drained
3/4 cup agave syrup
Zest and juice of 4 limes
2 tablespoons water

To assemble:
Seasonal fruit (garnish; e.g., 16 thin slices apple, 8 berries, or 4 tablespoons diced pineapple)
4 large pinches orange, lemon, and lime zest (optional)
2 teaspoons agave syrup (optional)
4 sprigs fresh mint or 4 edible flowers (garnish; optional)

For the crust: In a food processor, grind the almonds, salt, and cinnamon into a coarse meal. Add agave syrup and dates, and process until a wet, fairly sticky doughlike mix forms. Chill the crust in an airtight container until ready for use.

For the granola (make 24 hours in advance): Grind the almonds in a food processor until 1/8" pieces remain. Combine almond meal and remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix by hand or with a rubber spatula until uniform. The mixture should resemble a wet granola. Spread the mixture in a single layer on a rubberized baking mat or on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Dehydrate in a dehydrator or in a low oven at about 115 degrees for 24 hours, until crisp and crunchy. The granola will crisp as it cools, so don’t worry if it’s still slightly moist when it comes out of the dehydrator or the oven. Store granola in an airtight container at room temperature.

For the lime cream: Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add water slowly if necessary, until the mixture is smooth, airy, and no graininess remains. Adjust the agave syrup and lime juice, to taste, to achieve the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. Chill the cream in an airtight container.

To assemble: Place a 1/4" to 1/2" layer of the crust mixture into the bottom of 4 parfait dishes, 8-ounce glasses, or any decorative glass serving container. In each glass, alternate layers of granola, lime cream, and your seasonal fruit until only 1/4" remains at the top of the glass container. Try to keep your layers even and distinct, and be careful to keep the sides of the serving container clean from smudges. Fill in the remaining ¼" of the glass with granola and a mix of fruit, and chill.

For a finished look, combine the orange, lemon, and lime zest with the agave syrup in a blender and pulse to make uniform. Drizzle the citrus agave syrup over the fruit in each dish or glass just before serving, and add a sprig of mint or edible flower.


If you'd like to add The HappyCow Cookbook to your library, please visit BENBELLA BOOKS or find it at AMAZON.

For more recipes and reviews, follow the blog tour at these stops:

• The Vegan Pact covering True Bistro (Somerville, MA) on 8/4
• Just a Pack covering covering Peacefood Café (NYC) on 8/5
• The Vegan Chickpea covering Blackbird Pizzeria (Philadelphia, PA) on 8/6
• Veg Charlotte covering Luna’s Living Kitchen (Charlotte, NC) on 8/7
• Reduce Footprints (You Are Here) covering Plant (Asheville, NC) on 8/8
• The Little Red Journal covering Loving Hut (Houston, TX) on 8/12
• More – A Vegan Blog covering Counter Culture (Austin, TX) on 8/13
• Healthy You Network covering Lovin’ Spoonfuls (Tucson, AZ) on 8/15
• Olives for Dinner covering SunCafe Organic (Studio City, CA) on 8/19
• Michele the Trainer covering Real Food Daily (West Hollywood, CA) on 8/14 and Veggie Grill (Hollywood, CA) on 8/25
• Wholly Vegan covering Millennium (San Francisco, CA) on 8/22
• Hungry Vegan covering Cornbeard Café (Eugene, OR) on 8/26
• Positively Vegan covering Veggie Grill (Portland, OR) on 8/27
• Green Living Vegan covering Portobello (Portland, OR) on 8/28
• Andrea’s Easy Vegan Cooking covering Chaco Canyon (Seattle, WA) on 8/29

I received a copy of "The HappyCow Cookbook" in order to write this review. I received no other compensation. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone and reflect my honest opinion of the material reviewed.

Image and recipe courtesy of BenBella Books

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Mend

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

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.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we tackled a common single-use item: batteries. By replacing them with rechargeable versions, we can reduce our carbon footprint significantly. Most of the batteries that I use are for things like remote controls, wireless mice, and cameras. Rechargeables work well for those devices. I always have a few, on hand, so that when one loses it's charge, I can easily pop in a new one. The charger that I have lets me know when the batteries are fully charged, so I don't waste electricity guessing. When one reaches the end of it's life, I can take it to a local hardware store for recycling.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Deborah accepted our plastic bag challenge. She shared this: "I am inspired by this challenge because despite the fact that I carry a shopping tote with me, my husband still brings plastic bags home and uses them mostly to line garbage cans and to carry out recyclable waste. I usually say no to plastic bags when I shop. I recently went to a show featuring beautiful fair trade bags woven from plastic bags by a women's co-op in Africa. What an amazing reuse of plastic bags! I will report back on my progress against plastic this week."

Eco Crap celebrated a milestone ... its 3rd anniversary. Congrats to Argentum Vulgaris (AV) for three years of interesting, entertaining, and informative posts! In Change the World Wednesday – 30th Jul, AV talks about his battery needs and his experience with battery chargers. Does he use rechargeables? You'll have to read the post to find out!

Lois joined us. She shared this: "First, congratulations on your new home in the forest. I am so happy for you. Batteries, I dislike them because they are so hard to recycle. I had found Ikea just over 100 miles away recycled them, then when I had collected all my friend's and relative's batteries and taken them to Ikea the next time I was in the area I learned they no longer accepted them. Batteries tend to be a bigger problem, at least for me, when there are children's toys involved. Since I struggle to find recycling centers I refuse to purchase toys that use them. My home, with the exception of my phone and computer which is another type of battery, is battery free. The one item I wanted to have in my home was a flashlight, I found one that cranks to charge which solved my dilemma of batteries, some will even charge your cell phones. I believe even rechargeable batteries have questionable components so the first step is to reduce the number of items that need them. In my experience children are happier with toys they can manipulate and are battery free anyway." Thanks, Lois!

Joanna stopped by and said: "I always recycle single-use batteries but have never made the switch to rechargeable. In thinking about this, I've noticed that most of the items I use are actually rechargeable anyway (phone, camera, electric toothbrush, epilator etc.) but I am going to pay more attention to items I use every day and see if I can catch myself if I use single-use batteries."

The Shopping Charity included CTWW. Zero Waste Week also got a nice mention! I also found an interesting article entitled "Why longer school days can be more fun for students".

Green Girl Success stopped by and shared this: "I agree with Lois, that it is best to reduce first. We have very minimal uses for batteries in our home and four pack of rechargeable batteries is all we need. We watch minimal TV, but I like to watch DVDs from the library. It is frustrating that I can't use my DVD player without a remote. Otherwise, we might be able to get rid of batteries all together!"

Alica joined us and shared this: "I hope that your move went well and I know you all are thrilled to be living on your land! We use very few batteries. The batteries I use most are for my camera and I have a rechargeable battery pack plus a back up one. This has made me aware that we need to get rechargeable batteries for the remotes and the few other things we use that require batteries. I am sure that there are a lot of others like me who hadn't thought much on this subject! Thanks." Thanks, Alicia ... our move went very well!

Clare came by and said, "Like everyone else I try to Reduce everything and especially single-use items such as batteries. I used to use battery-powered lights during power cuts but now use solar lights - they were expensive to buy so I just bought one occasionally and gradually built up enough. Flashlights come in shake-able versions so no batteries needed there (cool) - but if you do use a battery-powered torch, did you know that actually, rechargeable batteries are NOT the best choice? See http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/disposable-or-rechargeablebatteries and find out which items are perfect for rechargeables and which (sadly) need disposables - then you can try to Reduce those items in your home and work. Thanks for another great challenge Small, I've been scouring my home looking for battery culprits, luckily there are very few - manual razors, toothbrushes etc - but difficult to Reduce my 2 remote controls, hmmm.... working on those."

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @CaliCarting
- It's crucial that everyone disposes of their batteries and e-waste properly! We don't want them in landfills.
- Residents should bring batteries to their designated county Special Waste Collections where e-waste #recycling is available.

From @GiveTreeGifts
- Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers ow.ly/zKvqR
- Are Rechargeable Batteries Better? ow.ly/zKvys
- We use rechargeable batteries for anything that takes batteries. We buy them on sale so that we have enough to rotate them as needed.

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@0824line	@89linz	@_d0es
@a_kiasi	@allnaturalkatie	@aqua0961
@bananagrabber3	@bella623	@biggreenpen
@climately	@climately_news	@climatelycheryl
@crazykids6	@debsmikdav1	@givetreegifts
@greenomic	@groovygreenlivi	@herbgir1972
@homesustainable	@ishida3s	@jadekerrion
@kayelleallen	@laalicia	@ladyjcmuses
@lgwhiteauthor	@marbaird	@marjoriemcatee
@nao0319708	@pa2mahi1sa4ta3h	@rt8810
@segg9184	@shannongrissom	@shoppingcharity
@solarkoala16	@solarkoalatweet	@spafloating
@spookymrsgreen	@takumi130629	@tammycurry
@wencdj	@zincuronos

My Final Thoughts:

Switching to rechargeable batteries is an easy way to reduce our carbon footprint. Some people will argue that while rechargeable batteries perform well and help the environment, alkalines are more budget friendly. That's probably true ... initially. Consider this: rechargeable batteries can last up to 300 charges and each charge lasts between 1000 to 2700 mAh (Milliamp Hours). Alkaline batteries last between 1700 to 3000 mAh. Let's do the math: let's say that a rechargeable battery only lasts for 150 charges and each charge lasts for 1000 mAh. That's a total of 150,000 mAh for a low-end battery. A high-end alkaline battery will only last 3,000 mAh. One, low-end rechargeable battery equals about 50 high-end alkaline batteries. So rechargeable batteries, even adding in the price of the charger, are cost effective. More importantly, since very few single-use versions are recycled, they end up in landfills and contaminate the ground. Reusing a battery means less of them are tossed out.

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

A patch could extend the
life of worn jeans

Have you been following Mrs. Green's Zero Waste Week posts on Facebook? She's been sharing a ton of tips and ideas on ways to reduce waste in our lives. Participants are also weighing in with their ideas.

Mrs. Green recently posted about mending clothing. What a great topic for CTWW!

Here's your challenge ...

This week take a look at your clothing and fix anything which needs repair. This might include darning a sock, sewing up a rip, or replacing a lost button. Perhaps a shoe's sole needs to be glued or a shoe lace needs to be replaced. The idea, this week, is to repair an item of clothing to extend its life.

OR ...

If this is something which you regularly do, please offer tips and ideas for extending the life of clothing. This can include mending, laundering, or even buying for longevity.

Are you ready to accept this challenge? I know that you are!


Want an easy way to keep up with our challenges?
Just add the banner below to your blog by
copying the code & pasting it into your site!

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Until next time ...

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

Do you cook at home ... or eat out?

Cooking at home is Eco-friendly!

When we cook at home, we can control all aspects of a meal. We determine everything from the type of pots and pans we use, to the ingredients we buy, to the amount we prepare.

Eating out, on the other hand, is a bit harder on the environment. Restaurants use a lot of energy, waste ingredients, and don't always use local, whole foods in their recipes.

So I'm wondering ... how many times, in a week, do you cook at home?

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

If you're reading this post via email, please use this link to participate in this month's survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NNBWGM8

Join us on August 19th for the results.