Reduce Footprints

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2012-02-01T00:05:00.020-05:00

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

Before we get started, just a reminder ... if you haven't already done so, be sure to link up your blog on this week's Meet & Greet (which you'll find HERE). While you're there, be sure to click on some of the blogs listed ... you'll find some truly wonderful posts and a lot of pertinent information.

Last week we did a little early spring cleaning with an emphasis on donating usable items. We heard from some folks who have spent the entire month of January purging their homes of excess "stuff" ... and from others who regularly, throughout the year, sort & donate. We learned how one person ensures that her home doesn't accumulate too much excess ... and how another decides which items should be donated. We even heard from one person who has been helped through the generosity of his community. The beauty of this challenge is that we simplified our lives by removing clutter, kept items out of landfills and (most importantly) helped others. What could be better than that!

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

In this ARTICLE Kris shares that she loves to de-clutter and does it regularly. She then offers the items on Craigslist or donates them to the Veterans Foundation. She's going to contact her local animal shelter to see if they take used pet toys, etc. That's interesting, Kris ... I never considered that they might not want such items. Let us know what they say!

Mrs. Green said, Please share your decluttering secrets! She struggles with the process, in part because someone in her house is a "hoarder". That's a tough one! Check out her post and then ... check out the comments ... her readers stepped up and offered some terrific ideas.

We've heard of recycling, upcycling, and freecycling but have you ever heard of Neighborcycling? It's a brilliant concept! Our friend Rewinn shares that it is fun, promotes neighborhood security and keeps things out of landfills. He has both donated and received items and says that a bird bath is his favorite neighborcycle. You might be surprised at why it's his favorite.

Betty Manousos had some lovely words to say about our challenges. Thanks, so much, Betty ... your support and encouragement mean a lot!

Stephanie donates usable items but what does one do with the non-usable items? Toss them in the garbage? No siree ... in 12 uses for an old shirt she offers us some very creative ways to repurpose those shirts which are no longer appropriate to either wear or donate. She suggests using them to make leg warmers, produce bags and even head bands. Wow!

Brenna shares an interesting observation that no matter how much we give away, there always seems to be more. That's really an excellent point, Brenna ... perhaps this activity should really begin with the decision to NOT add to the mix.

Kristina took part in a month-long "purging" activity. You can read about how things went during Week 1 and what happened during Week 2. She includes the list of things she gave away and who received them. I learned a lot from reading through her list. For example, did you know that gift cards can be recycled? I didn't!

Alicia takes on this activity once every six months or so. What's her criteria for deciding which items to keep and which to donate? She says that if an item hasn't been used in a year then it is given away. But Alicia's generosity goes beyond just sorting through closets ... she donates some of her wonderful, organic soaps to shelters which offer bathing facilities to their visitors. How great is that!!

Ann includes our CTWW Banner in this PIECE. While the article, itself, doesn't speak to this week's challenge, it's a real "eye-opener". Most of live our green lives without fear from others ... but Ann tells us what happens when living green comes up against government policies and commerce.

Ed Pilolla is a new CTWW participant ... so nice to "see" you Ed! He shares that he recently donated a TV and rug and says that his local animal shelter needs blankets. He likes EcoGrrl's "rule" ... which you'll see if you read on.

EcoGrrl reminds us that not accumulating stuff in the first place is the key and that we should always ask ourselves if we truly need something before adding it to our collection of things. She has a rule ... "anytime you get something new, you have to give something away." I love that idea! She likes donating to SCRAP (scrappdx.org), an organization which provides educational programs and affordable materials to the community. Nice!

Sometimes we have items which aren't really appropriate for donating ... things like scruffy clothing. In a post entitled Blockhead, Dani shares a creative use for these things. And be sure to check out her side-bar labels and click on "recycling" ... you find posts on other creative ways to reuse items which can't be given away. By the way ... Dani lives in South Africa. I've enjoyed reading through her blog and learning how her green-living challenges, there, are a bit different than mine in America.

Argentum Vulgaris will be the first to say that Brazil has a ways to go when it comes to protecting the environment. But in this POST he shares that Brazilians excel in generosity and helping out neighbors. He offers us a different perspective on donating ... that of the person receiving items.

Donating is a big part of Jacqueline's life. In Reduce, Reuse, Freecycle she talks about what her family has recently donated and offers a strategy for keeping things out of landfills. Number 1 on her list ... Buy Quality.

I love visiting The Green House because Jordyn, the very creative author, regularly features beautiful, handcrafted items ... all made from repurposed materials. In fact, Jordyn, has an Etsy Shop full of upcycled creations. That's not all ... she shared a lovely way to donate ... in her words, "I just started my daughter's Girl Scout Daisies group and one of the "projects" I've introduced is having the girls bring in any little craft items that they have at home that is just lying around or have or have not been used that we can upcycle into other things for their "Swap Hats," a hat they wear that has items pinned on it that they receive and share with other girls they meet at camps, activities, field trips, meetings, etc. It's a good way for them to mingle and bond with other girls while keeping little things from being sent to the landfill. A little bit always helps, right?" Absolutely!

The Shopping Charity picked up several CTWW posts ... was one of them yours? Be sure to browse around ... other topics include Burma Sanctions, a new resource if you're looking for ancestors in Ohio, and how Vassar College mistakenly gave false hope to applicants.

Some of our twitter friends weighed in on this topic:

From @pinkladyapril
-Only 2 wks ago I took 3 big bags of stuff to the charity shop. Have definitely got more I could get rid of - just need to be stricter!

From @givetreegifts
-Spring cleaning may unearth unused items. Old towels, bowls, plastic tubs & prescription bottles can be used at most animal shelters
-Upgrading your work gear & tools? Consider donating work boots, tools, etc to an org that helps unemployed people learn a trade
-Spring Cleaning? Local shelters welcome: sweaters, socks, coats, blankets, pillows, boots, shoes, mitts, gloves, sleeping bag
-Upcycle/Repurpose: After school programs use: toilet paper rolls, plastic tubs, cotton balls (from vitamin bottles) for art projects
-Donate old books, magazines, newspapers to literacy programs. These items are welcomed for after school programs as well
-Old computers & other technology items can be donated to after school programs, schools, adult learning centres...for use or repair.
-If your kids have outgrown their storybooks & games, Children's hospitals typically welcome these items that still have usefulness.
-One thing that can be reused over and over is a smile. Improve the environment by sharing your smiles & make someone's day. :)

From @nonmom
-Already got another pile ready for donating for my #CTWW. I try to donate regularly actually. Nice to see stuff is still useful! :)

From @gwened02
-took 2 bags of clothes to the local hospice just after new year and got another bag to go

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@escapingjourney
@pinkladyapril
@ggirlggreen
@whopaysthepiper
@givetreegifts
@tvjboutique
@nurturedbeauty
@theorganicblond
@cinbrad
@rubbishgeek
@peopletowels
@laalicia
@greenchildmg

@curlycanadians
@tiffanystoybox
@groovygreenlivi
@skipbang
@cinbrad
@nonmom
@erinely
@gwened02
@theriverwanders
@lynnibinny
@almosttruth
@jusjane53

@greenearthbazar
@envirofusion
@myurbanroots
@EarthyUrban
@smallbits
@accessorygal
@babyblossomco
@Darmell
@RobinEaston
@allnaturalkatie
@ChainedHeartDes
@ShoppingCharity

My Final Thoughts: I used to work for a large company which recognized the perils of accumulating too much stuff ... both from a corporate standpoint and from the individual's perspective. They implemented a program which encouraged the following activities: sorting, simplifying, sweeping, standardizing, and self-discipline. The program saved the company money because it reduced the need for purchasing new items and reduced waste. It helped the individual because we had what we needed and could easily find it. The system improved our productivity and, in my opinion, made life easier. After all was said and done, it was the self-discipline that was key ... we had to be ever vigilant not to lapse into old ways and accumulate more than we needed. The lessons I learned there are very applicable to living a green life. Accumulating more than we need only serves to complicate our lives ... and typically results in overused, overstuffed landfills.

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

This Week's Challenge:

This week's challenge comes from Mrs. Green. It is perfect because, in addition to being an Eco-friendly activity, it supports National Heart Month which begins today and runs for the entire month of February. Here it is ...

This week (and throughout the month), experiment with left over fruits and veggies by either blending them into smoothies or making soups. Fruits and veggies are very heart-healthy and finding creative uses for them instead of tossing them out is very earth-friendly (especially the ones which are slightly tired - check your refrigerators for these culprits). Be sure to come back and tell us about your efforts ... and offer recipes if you wish.

Thanks, Mrs. Green ... this challenge is a "trifecta" ... it supports heart health, reduces food waste and saves us money.

If you have a challenge for us, please send it to me HERE.

Until next time ...

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

Meet & Greet Monday

2012-01-30T00:05:00.014-05:00

Welcome to Meet & Greet Monday! Do you have an Eco-friendly blog or site? Do you occasionally write about the environment or ways to live green? If you answered yes to any, you're invited to link up. Here are the rules:

1. If you have a green-living blog and/or write about the environment, sustainability, etc., please use the "linky" below to list your site.
2. Visit at least one other site (and while not required, it would be nice if you told them that you found them here).
3. The linky will stay active until Thursday at 6:00 pm (est).
4. I will randomly choose one of the sites and feature it next week.

This week's featured blog is Green Gifts Guide, a lovely blog hosted by Amity Hook-Sopko. In a recent series called Eco Stylish Weddings, one will find information on earth-friendly gift wrap, how to have glowing skin for that special day and even a lovely video of one couple's simple, meaningful, and green ceremony. Green Gifts Guide isn't just about weddings ... one will find articles on children's parties, gifts for the special people in your life (including co-workers), how to green a holiday and even information on how to beat the financial stress of gift giving. The blog is beautiful and well organized. I hope you'll stop by and visit Green Gifts Guide ... it's well worth the time!

Thanks to everyone who listed their sites last week!

This week's linky is now live so ... list your site, visit and have fun:

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2012-01-25T00:05:00.037-05:00

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

In April of 2009, I did some posts about road blocks and asked readers to share their biggest obstacles to living an Eco-conscious life. At that time, the reasons were personal ... things like forgetting to bring a reusable bag to the store or not really knowing how to start. Last week we revisited our road blocks. Things have certainly changed in three years. Our challenges today seem to include the world outside of our homes ... things like trying to live green in a country that isn't concerned about the environment or how to buy electronics which aren't manufactured in countries with human rights issues. While we still deal with the day-to-day trials, we are also looking outward. And that's important because we can't find solutions until we identify the problems.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

Brenna took on this challenge and while this POST wasn't written for #CTWW, I think it speaks to it. She identifies one of the largest obstacles we all face and offers solutions.

Happy Belated Birthday to EcoGrrl! We hope your special day was fabulous!! EcoGrrl has set a goal for herself to recycle less. What?? Yep, as she has shared with us before, recycling is great but having less to recycle is even better. Her main concern is plastic which is never actually recycled but rather downcycled. So how does one avoid buying items in plastic? Anyone have ideas? Hopefully EcoGrrl will give us an update as she works through this challenge.

In Confessions of a Green Goddess, Mrs. Green shares her road blocks. They are very personal and while she isn't really looking for solutions, I believe that telling her story will help others who find themselves in a similar situation.

Jacqueline, aka The Organic Blonde, faces road blocks which most of us will never experience. In this ARTICLE she talks about the unique challenges she faces living in Doha, Qatar (one of several locations which she and her husband call home). She also shares her solutions to those challenges.

The Accessory Lady has moved into a new home and now has the room to compost. Her only road block is getting a bin which she hopes to pick up soon. So AL ... did you get a bin and start the composting process? We'd love to hear about it!

Ilhami Uyar stopped by and offered his support. As he says, "we havent another wörld ...". And that, basically, is the heart of green living.

Argentum Vulgaris has a unique ability to filter through all the "Eco-Crap" and get to the heart of things. In this POST he identifies what, in his opinion, is the biggest road block of all ... ourselves. In a great line he says, "We need to stop ‘wanting’ and start ‘giving.’ We need to stop ‘taking’ and start ‘doing.’"

Nicole B. wants to compost and really doesn't know why she hasn't started. Sometimes taking that first step is the hardest. What's her solution for this obstacle? "I just need to DO IT".

Kathryn Grace brought up a very interesting obstacle ... one that most of us probably don't think about ... electronics. Here's her COMMENT. She is right ... this road block is as big as a mountain. Anyone have thoughts, ideas and/or solutions?

What happens when one has the knowledge and tools to live green but simply can't get started? In this ARTICLE Rewinn employes some "Emotional Intelligence" to solve the problem.

Betty Manousos stopped by. So nice to see you, Betty!

Andrea, aka Frugally Sustainable on Facebook, posted a simple question on her wall: What are your most common road blocks to "green" living?. When I last popped in, she had over 70 responses. Wowee! People listed things like landlords not agreeing with their tenant's green practices, convenience, the amount of energy required to go green and, the number one obstacle, cost. There are way too many comments for me to list but I encourage you to hop over and read through the list and then ... I'd really like to know your thoughts. Thanks, Andrea, for opening up the discussion ... it gave me a lot to think about.

Donna M. McDine is a brand new visitor. Thanks for stopping by, Donna ... we hope to see you again!

Katie has several speed bumps ... paper, heat and water. Hm ... doesn't that sound interesting! Find out why they are speed bumps and learn about her solutions HERE.

Kristina identified an interesting road block ... the perceptions of other people. In Struggles with Going Green she talks about being "that person", exposing ourselves to criticism and whether writing a blog is enough.

Nicole M. dropped by our Monday Meet & Greet and left an interesting comment about Change The World Wednesday. You can read it HERE. Isn't that great! Thanks, so much, Nicole!

In Speed Bumps Jen talks about her obstacles. I particularly like #4 ... I think it resonates with many of us. What do you think?

Kris' greatest road block is buying local. She feels strongly about it, though, and is working it out. Curious about how? Find out in this POST.

Two papers picked up some of your posts this week ... was yours listed? Find out in the Shopping Charity and The Artists Daily.

Some of our twitter friends commented on this challenge. Here's what they had to say:

From @givetreegifts
-We have no facility for recycling plastics, other than milk jugs & pop bottles. We repurpose containers & cut back plastic use
-Even if you have limited space, you can still adopt odor free kitchen composting bit.ly/yUHrjm #CTWW
-One way to get back to our eco roots is to get back to basics & learn from those who lived during simpler times. Talk to a senior
-Small adjustments to a greener lifestyle can add up to savings. Use those savings towards your next eco project. One step at a time

From @pinkladyapril
-Hello! Roadblocks. I'd like to compost but my garden is too small to use the compost (forgot the hashtag last time!)

From @almosttruth
-I am thinking green roadblocks in my area. We live a place known for being eco-friendly, but still I know plenty!

From @gwened02
-road blocks: money, time, storage in a nutshell

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@ggirlggreen
@cinbrad
@givetreegifts
@theorganicblond
@nurturedbeauty
@envirofusion
@skipbang
@laalicia
@upcycledlove
@peopletowels
@accessorygal
@greennliving
@whopaysthepiper
@gwened02

@pinkladyapril
@jusjane53
@almosttruth
@lynnibinny
@groovygreenlivi
@rubbishgeek
@envirofusion
@freshgreenkim
@noteasy2begreen
@Darmell
@TheRiverWanders
@frugallysustain
@hip2behappy
@robineaston

@greenchildmg
@gaiaperspective
@chainedheartdes
@earthyurban
@brandinav
@erinely
@DPixel
@allnaturalkatie
@myurbanroots
@teedazzle
@escapingjourney
@iseegreentv
@shoppingcharity

My Final Thoughts: Erich Fromm said, "As long as anyone believes that his ideal and purpose is outside him, that it is above the clouds, in the past or in the future, he will go outside himself and seek fulfillment where it cannot be found. He will look for solutions and answers at every point except where they can be found--in himself." I think his words sum up this challenge nicely!

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

This Week's Challenge:

This week's challenge comes from our friend Joanne. I think it's especially appropriate now, after the holidays, when many of us added new "stuff" to our lives. Here you go:

This week, begin creating a list of unneeded household items to donate to nonprofits. Perhaps you have clothing, pillows, books or sports equipment which could be given to men's and women's shelters. Animal shelters are always in need of towels and food containers. So look around your home and see what could be offered. Donating keeps stuff out of landfills & supports local nonprofits that need all the help they can get.

Or ...

If you've already cleaned out your closets, please share other ideas on how we can keep "stuff" out of landfills.

Thanks, Joanne ... I think this is going to be a great activity!

If you have a challenge for us, please send it to me HERE.

Until next time ...

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

Meet & Greet Monday

2012-01-23T00:05:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the very first Meet & Greet Monday!

As I was reading through the wonderful comments left by Change The World Wednesday participants, I realized that many people have green-living blogs and/or regularly post about an Eco-friendly life. Unfortunately, with our busy lives, we often don't take the time to visit each other. And that's a shame because there's a lot of great information out there. So, I'll be hosting a weekly "meet & greet". Here's how it'll work:

1. If you have a green-living blog and/or write about the environment, sustainability, etc., please use the "linky" below to list your site.
2. Visit at least one other site (and while not required, it would be nice if you told them that you found them here).
3. The linky will stay active through Thursday.
4. I will randomly choose one of the sites and feature it next week.

That's it ... doesn't it sound like fun? Okay ... start linking up and visiting:

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2012-01-18T00:02:00.001-05:00

Welcome back to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)! I hope you enjoyed the break and the holidays. There are some exciting changes on Reduce Footprints ... we have a new look ... we have new sponsors ... and, on Monday, we're going to start a new weekly feature (I think it'll be fun). I've also been busy writing articles for other blogs ... the first of them will be posted today at Silverfaeries & Dragonflies. If you have a moment, hop over and check it out.

Okay, are you ready to pick up where we left off? Let's go ...

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.

There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you don't have the time right now, 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

In November we took an energy reading and then spent a month trying to reduce that number. Before taking our break, our challenge was to report back on how well we did. It was a tough challenge, especially as the temperatures dropped in many areas causing some of us to turn on the heat. In my house, the heat is rarely turned on so doing so on the coldest of days caused my energy use to go up. However, that encouraged us to find new ways to minimize use. We decided to close off a bedroom and only heat the main living area. Even though we live in a small space, closing that one room keeps the living area warmer and means we use less heat to stay comfortable. So, while we didn't lower our numbers by 10%, we did learn new techniques for keeping them as low as possible. Let's see how everyone else did:

Since I've been on break, I'm going to do an abbreviated version this update ... I'll be back to "normal" next week.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

EcoGrrl didn't know where to find her numbers for comparison so, while she still tried to reduce usage, she didn't participate in the challenge. That's a good point, EcoGrrl ... many people don't know how to get their readings. Here are a couple of suggestions ... your energy bill should list Kilowatts used. One can also get the information by logging in to the energy providers website ... they typically offer some great tools for tracking usage. Also, there should be a meter somewhere on your property so, simply go and look at it and make a note of the numbers.

Argentum Vulgaris took on this challenge and learned a lesson. Find out about it HERE.

Katie made a graph, by week, of her use and had a few surprises. Here's her POST.

Some of our twitter participants offered energy saving ideas, in 140 words or less:

From @givetreegifts
-If you haven't already made the switch consider led Christmas lights for your tree. Safe & energy efficient
-I've recently discovered Solar Powered Outdoor LED Christmas lights. I've placed some here w/ my Christmas trees
-Saving Energy Begins at Home.

From @skipbang
-We recently moved to a more energy efficient house - I can tell a huge difference this winter already.

From @accessorygal
-My tip is unplugging the cable box when possible. Apparently it uses as much energy as a small fridge!
-Here's an article about the power consumption of cable boxes/DVRs: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/us/26cable.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

From @orbcandles
-Using our candles! :)

From @allnaturalkatie
-Ikea's solar lamp for working on the computer at night.

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@msmoreau_guid
@darmell
@lynnibinny
@jusjane53
@freshgreenkim
@givetreegifts
@whopaysthepiper
@intellihot
@pinkladyapril
@ggirlggreen
@cinbrad
@smallbits
@gwened02

@groovygreenlivi
@envirofusion
@bestrawesome
@earthyurban
@waylandcook
@littlegreenblog
@peopletowels
@laalicia
@krjuchem
@allnaturalkatie
@accessorygal
@frugallysustain

@teedazzle
@theriverwanders
@skipbang
@rubbishgeek
@chainedheartdes
@almosttruth
@garrygreenla
@nurturedbeauty
@theorganicblond
@envirofusion
@waxelene
@dpixel

My Final Thoughts: Reducing our energy use is an on-going effort and, as we found in this challenge, the smallest of actions makes a difference. While there will always be fluctuations in our "numbers", we can better control overall use by understanding the affects of our activities.

Great job, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

January is typically the time of year that we set goals, make resolutions and start anew. So, in that spirit, let's take a look at "road blocks" to green living and find some solutions. Here you go ...

This week, please share road blocks to green living. For example, perhaps you'd really like to compost but don't. We'd like to know why. Maybe you don't recycle ... let us know why. We're looking for all the reasons for NOT adopting a green activity. If you're not struggling with any road blocks at this time, then please share ones which you've heard from others. For example, one of the most common reasons is that it's too expensive.

Then ...

Take a look at the road blocks shared and offer solutions. For example, to people who say green living is too expensive, we might share examples of how green living is actually frugal. The idea of this challenge is to help us all find solutions and "bust" all excuses for not living green.

So what do you think? Are you up for this challenge? I know that you are!

And ... for the first time this year ... please join me in our mantra:

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2012-01-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

Are you here looking for Change The World Wednesday? If you missed the special announcement on our last challenge ... let me fill you in:

I'm currently on a break and spending time with my family. It has been an amazing year of Change The World Wednesday ... we have taken on so many activities and, in my opinion, made the world a better place. You can all be proud! Thanks to each and every one of you for participating, sharing ideas and for your true willingness to search out the truth and live in an Eco-friendly way. I'll be back towards the end of January with more challenges and, perhaps, a few surprises. Until then ... click on the following link to participate in our current challenge:

CURRENT CHALLENGE

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We interrupt this break ...

2011-12-15T12:57:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone ... I had to interrupt this break to introduce you to the 800th follower of Reduce Footprints. Yep ... we've grown! WhooHoo!

Introducing ...

Scott Wischmeyer

Our Tiny Earth

If you're not familiar with Our Tiny Earth, you're really missing out. It's a terrific blog about the journey to sustainability. Recently Scott invited readers to weigh in on how they are promoting the local economy and the environment. It promises to be a great discussion and I encourage each of you to head over and leave your comments ... because ... Reduce Footprints' readers have a lot of valuable information to share.

Thanks Everyone!

We now return to our regularly scheduled break!

Vegan Recipe - Overstuffed Aloo Parathas

2011-12-05T09:00:00.061-05:00

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Vaishali and her wonderful blog, Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes. Vaishali, born and raised in Bombay, India, now lives in a suburb of Washington, DC. Many of her recipes are inspired by the tastes of home. For example, My Dad's "Not-Mutton" Mushroom Curry is based on a dish her father prepared each Sunday for her family. Baked Samosas with a Chickpea Stuffing is inspired by "Thursday's selection" in the cafeteria of her first job. Other recipes are simply foods which Vaishali loves like Can't-Have-Enough-Basil Pizza, Savory Avocado and Herb Tortillas and Whole Wheat Vegan Pancakes. Most recipes come with a story ... little glimpses into how the recipe was created or what Vaishali was doing when she thought of it. Similar to a high-quality cookbook, each recipe includes lovely photography, compliments of Vaishali's husband, Desi.

When I visit Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes, I am reminded that food isn't simply about ingredients and methods ... it's about a whole experience ... about places we've enjoyed, childhood memories and the events which inspire us. I'd like to thank Vaishali for "coming by" and sharing one of her special dishes with us.

Aloo Parathas are popular Indian eats, but restaurant versions are usually not healthy because they use refined flour and tons of oil or ghee. My Overstuffed Aloo Parathas are a healthy vegan version made with whole wheat and just a touch of oil, but they taste decadent enough to qualify as true comfort food.

Aloo Parathas were the first meal I made for Desi, my husband. I was a new cook at the time and he jokes to this day that I took a whole day to make them. But don’t worry—this recipe won’t take you more than an hour, including prep. Do pay attention to the technique, because that’s half the battle won.

Overstuffed Aloo Parathas:

(Makes 4 parathas)

Ingredients for paratha dough:

1 cup white whole-wheat flour

1 tbsp vegetable oil

½ tsp salt

½ tsp ajwain seeds, also called carom seeds (optional, but very tasty. They are available at any Indian grocery store or online)

½ tsp red pepper flakes

Water for kneading the dough

Place all the ingredients except water in a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer. With your fingers, rub the oil into the flour until the flour looks grainy. This step will help make your parathas flaky.

Add a little water at a time and knead into a fairly stiff but pliable dough.

Place in an airtight box and set aside for at least half an hour to let the dough relax.

Ingredients for the potato or aloo stuffing:

6 medium-sized potatoes (use any kind. I used red bliss this time). Boil the potatoes until tender and then mash them as smooth as possible. Lumps will make it difficult to roll the parathas. I also try to keep the skins on, but if they don’t break up easily just discard them.

½ cups green peas, cooked until really soft, then mashed along with the potatoes

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1 tsp finely grated ginger

1 tbsp lemon juice

¼ cup finely chopped coriander leaves

Salt to taste

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Divide into four portions. The portions may seem large, but remember these are overstuffed aloo parathas—they are really tender and flaky with a thin covering of dough and lots of delicious potato inside.

In a small bowl mix together and then set aside for at least half an hour:

2 cloves of garlic, sliced

1 tbsp olive oil

To put together the parathas:

Divide the dough into four portions. Take one portion, divide it further into two, and roll each into a smooth ball.

Using a little flour, roll each ball into a circle, about 4 inches in diameter. The edges should be slightly thinner than the center.

Place one portion of the stuffing in the center of the round, leaving a ½-inch rim around the edges. Brush some water around the edge and place the second round on top. Press down with your fingers to seal the edges tightly. If you have air bubbles, use the sharp tip of a kitchen knife to poke a hole or two in the top round to remove the air.

Using some more flour (not too much), roll the paratha gently into a slightly larger round, about 6 inches in diameter. If some of the filling squirts out, just repair with your fingers, pat some flour on it, and keep going. Small mistakes won’t ruin your paratha, so don’t fret.

Repeat for the remaining three portions of dough.

Heat a nonstick or cast-iron griddle over medium-high heat. Place a paratha on it and let it cook until golden-brown spots appear on the underside.

Flip the paratha and brush some of the garlic olive oil on top. Once golden-brown spots have appeared on the underside, remove and keep warm by wrapping the paratha in a kitchen towel.

Serve very hot with some chutney, any spicy Indian curry, or just on its own.

Thanks, again, to Vaishali for that delicious recipe. I can't wait to try it!

If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please send it to me HERE. And for all the recipes we've shared so far, be sure to visit our recipe page using the tabs at the top of this blog ... or by clicking HERE.

Vegan Recipe

2011-12-02T09:00:00.007-05:00

It's the first Friday of the month and that means it's time to share another delicious recipe!

However ...

Good Food Takes Time To Prepare

So ... please be patient until Monday while the chef creates something wonderful for you.

It promises to be FABULOUS!

See you then!

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-11-30T00:05:00.049-05:00

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

Last week we attempted to reduce/eliminate food waste. It sounds easy but when put into practice, it's not always that simple. As I wandered around, reading your tips and ideas, I was so impressed with your approach to a problem ... and the many creative solutions you shared.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

EcoGrrl has conquered food waste in her house. What doesn't get eaten gets composted, either in her backyard or in the collection bins provided by the city. Yep, Portland now accepts all food for composting. How great is that!! She shared a terrific link which you can read here: 163 Things You Can Compost (wow ... melted ice cream??). Before composting veggie scraps, however, she suggests that we use them to make veggie broth and freeze it. Thanks, EcoGrrl!

Argentum Vulgaris doesn't waste much but shares that he remains vigilant against the occassional bit of discarded food. In this POST he offers some tips that are not only Eco-friendly but frugal as well. He's been composting for a long time and says that shrimp shells, chicken bones, egg shells and coffee grounds all get added to the heap. After reading EcoGrrl's comments, AV wrote this ARTICLE. In it he talks about how composting has enabled him to grow vegetables in his concrete garden. Be sure to read the end of the post ... there's a link to information about how to compost including tips for those living in cooler climates. Thanks, AV!

Katie was a #CTWW Super Star this week. In Waste No Food she offers tips and some very interesting charts. One of them shows the #1 wasted food item in the US ... I think it'll surprise you ... it did me! Here's another idea from Katie: Leftovers Pie. She also found this link: 10 Tips to Reduce Food Waste During the Holidays. Katie gave us an update on the Vegan For A Day challenge HERE (can you believe she went meatless for Thanksgiving?) and offered us another wonderful Eco-friendly decorating idea HERE. Wow, Katie ... you've been busy! Thanks so much!

NonMom recently noticed a pattern to what gets tossed out. She hates waste and losing her hard-earned dollars. So, her solution to the problem is to simply not buy those foods. Brilliant! She shared some interesting information regarding our energy challenge ... she recently learned that her water heater was set way too high (probably by the previous owners of her home). It has been adjusted and should save both energy and money. Another tip she has for us is covering the windows with film ... she says that the savings last year were impressive. By the way, if you happen to have any bubble wrap around, just moisten the bubble side and place it on the windows (the moisture acts like glue) ... works great. Thanks, NonMom!

Marcy recommends the book "American Wasteland" which explores waste throughout the food system. She wrote Waste not, want not with some wonderful tips. One of them includes foil wrap ... hm ... can you guess how it's used? In another tip she shares how long leftovers can safely be kept. Any guesses? Head on over to find out! Thanks, Marcy!

I knew that Mrs. Green would like this challenge ... waste, especially food waste, is her passion. She wants to focus more on using the freezer but she's got the refrigerator items managed. Click HERE for her very creative zero-waste system. It's brilliant! Awhile back, Mrs. Green told us about a little gadget which is going to save a lot of energy. I have to admit that I had never heard of this device. Bet your curiosity is up, huh? Find out about it in Saving money on electricity - one simple step. Thanks, Mrs. Green

What do you do with tired fruits and veggies? Do you toss them? Rewinn doesn't ... he uses them! In Thankful for Corn, Crocosmia, and Family he shares a recipe for cheesecake (yep, it uses tired fruit), talks about his Eco-friendly decorating this year and tells us what happened to Thanksgiving leftovers. In Mutant Turkey Thanksgiving he talks about how his turkey actually helped him meet this week's challenge. Thanks, Rewinn!

Are you familiar with The River Wanders? It a great blog which discusses many of the social & political issues of our time ... all in a "real person" way. There is a great quote in the header "Apathy - the glove into which evil slips its hand; Action - the antidote to evil." The one thing you won't find in The River Wanders is apathy. The author, a very talented writer, touches on controversial subjects with honesty and heart. If you haven't visited, I highly recommend that you do. I was recently thrilled to read #BlackFriday, Thanksgiving Thursday, & #CTWW where Reduce Footprints got a lovely mention. But that's not all, the author shares something which her family does each year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving ... it's Eco-friendly and helps a bunch of people. Thanks, TRW!

Alicia has a freezer which helps her cut down on waste. If she sees that veggies or leftovers aren't going to be used, she freezes them and then, later, they make perfect ingredients for a quick soup, stew, etc. Not only does she eliminate waste this way, she saves money! As she says "Double Savings". Thanks, Alicia!

Kris says that her "minamalist approach" to meals helps her eliminate waste. That sounds interesting! In this POST she gives us more information on that and shares how sending guests home with leftovers and composting also help maintain zero-waste. Thanks, Kris!

Several online publications picked up #CTWW posts. The Food and Gardening Daily, The One Foot In Reality Daily and The Shopping Charity all contained articles. Was yours listed in any of them? Thank you all so much!

Would you consider dumpster diving a method for reducing food waste? How about becoming a Freegan? These are just a few of the concepts Stephanie shared this week in Dumpster diving anyone? But never fear ... if rummaging through a trash bin isn't for you, she shares a bunch of other ideas ... ones that don't involve any diving at all. Thanks, Stephanie!

Kristina decided to take a look at food scraps and see if she could find uses for them. She found so many uses that she couldn't fit them all into one post. So, she chose to write about one. In Change The World Wednesday - Lemons she shares a ton of uses for lemon peels ... the stuff that we typically toss out. Did you know that they can soften your elbows? That's just one of the many ways to use them. Head over to Kristina's place to read about other uses. Thanks, Kristina!

When Rachel read this challenge she said Waste food? Me? Never! But then, two clementines and nine apples (some bruised) gave her pause ... and promted action. So what did she do? Here's a hint ... it involves an ice tray. Thanks, Rachel!

Think it's hard to convey an idea in 140 characters or less? These folks seem to have no problem and offered us some great ideas this week:

From @givetreegifts
-If your eyes are bigger than your stomach, you can always package portions & freeze them for lunches
-Wash veggies & save the peels for a soup base. After you've extracted flavor & nutrients, compost peels
-Modify recipes for the appropriate portions. No need to make 10 portions for 5 people. Half the recipe
-Don't like bread crusts for sandwiches? Save them for stuffing or dry them for making meatloaf, etc.

From @eegarim
-I have zero food waste by putting all pulp from juicing and other peelings into compost pits.

From @rubbishgeek
-The challenge from ChangeTheWorldWednesday this week is:waste no food for a week!Harder than it sounds!Do you make a weekly meal plan?

Finally, Reduce Footprints was recently honored by being included in the Top 50 Green Living Blogs sponsored by Seametrics. And guess what ... some of your blogs were included on the list as well. WhooHoo!

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@allnaturalkatie
@givetreegifts
@whopaysthepiper
@dazediva
@nurturedbeauty
@theorganicblond
@chainedheartdes
@tif_hamilton
@groovygreenlivi
@cinbrad
@hardknoxfirst

@littlegreenblog
@theriverwanders
@groovygrapevine
@intellihot
@waxelene
@eegarim
@EarthyUrban
@PeopleTowels
@ggirlggreen
@erinely
@ShoppingCharity

@smallbits
@waylandcook
@envirofusion
@UpcycledLove
@laalicia
@teedazzle
@goodblogposts
@AlwaysWellWithn
@rubbishgeek
@gwened02
@hshawjr

My Final Thoughts: Waste of any kind is terrible ... but food waste seems particularly bad. It is like money down the drain (or more specifically, in the landfill) and in these hard economic times, who can afford to toss money away. From an environmental standpoint, rotting food produces methane which contributes to global warming. It also contaminates our waterways as the high concentration of degrading nutrients causes plant "blooms", robbing streams and rivers of vital oxygen. And then there is the human aspect of wasting food. There have been many periods in history when food was scarce. Today, there are more than a few places on the earth where a full stomach is a luxury. It's a sobering thought! Eliminating food waste may be one of the most important, life-changing actions we can take ... and it's really not so hard.

Great job, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

At the beginning of November, we took an energy reading and then spent the month trying to reduce that number by 10%. Now we're going to finish up that challenge. Here you go:

Energy Challenge, Part 2: Throughout the month of December, please take another reading and report back on your efforts. We'd like to know what worked, what didn't, and any lessons learned. This will be an information sharing challenge and hopefully we'll discover more effective ways to minimize our energy consumption.

Special Announcement: Part 2 of our Energy Challenge will be the last challenge of the year. After the December Vegan Recipe goes up, I'll be taking a break from blogging to spend the holidays with my family. It has been an amazing year of Change The World Wednesday ... we have taken on so many activities and, in my opinion, made the world a better place. You can all be proud! Thanks to each and every one of you for participating, sharing ideas and for your true willingness to search out the truth and live in an Eco-friendly way. I'll be back towards the end of January with more challenges and, perhaps, a few surprises. Until then ... enjoy the holidays!

And remember ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-11-23T00:05:00.024-05:00

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

What happens when you combine creative, artistic ideas with a love for the earth? You get fabulous Eco-friendly decorating ideas from the participants of last week's challenge. And wow ... such wonderful ideas ... ideas which honor "Mother Nature" and bring true beauty to our homes. Let's take a look ...

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

EcoGrrl keeps decorating pretty simple. In her words "i am not a huge decorator - i do a tree every few years but not regularly, and i keep it simple with a few candles. my house is more simple/zen than anything, with just photographs that i've taken on the wall. i've had the simple black frames and mats from utrecht for over 15 years and rather than glue them down, i use tape on the edges so that way, whenever i want to change pictures on the wall, i just slip a new one in. so i'm constantly reusing the same frames. i've never been a fan of knick knacks as i think they clutter up most spaces, but i do have a few of my grandmother's brownie cameras and the seashells i've gathered since i was a kid in a big bowl. books and photos, what else does one really need?" Your space sounds lovely and peaceful, EcoGrrl!

Argentum Vulgaris furnishes his home with found treasures. In this POST you can take a peek into his home and read all about it. I love the brick holding utensils ... great idea!

La Alicia is an artisan and creates beautiful handmade items. I was browsing her Etsy shop and found these: Decor by La Alicia.

Jennifer chooses items which have meaning, such as photos which she and her husband have taken ... or photos taken by friends. She says "Frequent redecorating, like wardrobe overhauls, seem wasteful and unnecessary." Nicely put, Jennifer!

Cindy (aka @cinbrad on twitter) is making a stunning wreath. Want to see it? Click HERE. Wow, I am in awe of the talent (and work) required to finish that piece ... it's going to be beautiful! I hope you'll come back with a picture of the completed project, Cindy!

In this POST Cinella says that she and her girls are busy creating something special. Hm ... I wonder what it will be. I guess I'll just have to wait until it's finished because Cinella isn't giving out hints. She promises, however, to post pictures when it's finished.

Early in the week Katie said that her goal is to NOT buy anything but rather make it herself. And then, later in the week I saw this ARTICLE. Wow ... she's come up with some lovely handmade decorations. My favorites are the door adornments ... simply elegant! She promises to put up tutorials soon. By the way, don't forget that Katie runs a series called Green Motivation Monday ... this week's tip is one of my favorites!

Ann posted our banner in this POST where she also talks about chicken and animal cruelty. From our previous challenge on winterizing our homes, she suggests that we winterize our diet by making large quantities of vegetable soup and then freezing appropriate portions for use during the cold months ahead.

Rachel uses evergreens to decorate her home. She prefers holly and ivy, which she's lucky enough to have in her yard, but says that any evergreen works. Once the holidays are over, she takes her decorations and spreads them around the peas in her garden to protect them from mice.

Michele's local farmer's market offers live, potted Christmas trees for sale. After the holidays, one can plant the tree in the yard. But here's the unique part ... for those people who aren't able to plant the tree, the market will buy it back and replant it. It's like "borrowing" a live tree for the holidays. What a brilliant idea!

CL Beck stopped in. So nice to see you Cindy ... hope you'll drop by again!

Mrs. Green and her family celebrate "Yule". Her ornaments are a true celebration of the season and honor the earth. I was particularly impressed with what she does with these ornaments after the holidays. You can find out HERE. And in this ARTICLE, she gives us an update on the energy challenge. I'm sorry to hear that you injured your hand, Mrs. Green ... hope it is much better by this posting!

Alicia has so many wonderful ideas for us. Well ... here ... let's let her tell us: "I like to use greenery and grapevines from our yard for table centerpieces. We like to get Christmas trees that can be planted after the holidays also. Instead of a lot of wrapping paper I use all kinds of cute baskets that the person receiving the gift can use for other things. Instead of bows I use things like pine cones, dried apples, dried cranberries and cedar pieces and glue that to the front of the packages, not only does it look pretty it smells wonderful. The best part is it doesn't go to the landfill! Also small pine cones make great place card holders to set out in front of your place settings so your guests will know where to set." Great ideas, Alicia ... I particularly like the place card holders.

Welcome back to Rewinn ... we've missed you and your always-entertaining posts! In this ARTICLE his first tip begins like this: "Say it loud and say it proud: you do not NEED to buy holiday ornaments." He follows that up with several wonderful ideas. Be sure to check out the picture of Rewinn with Santa. :-) He also suggests that we check out this article entitled Guerilla Gardening at Occupy Wall Street where we'll find some Eco-friendly ideas appropriate for any time of year. Thanks, Rewinn!

Kris says that her lack of decorating makes her "Eco-Friendly". In this POST you'll learn all about it. Towards the end of her article, she talks about new window coverings in the master bedroom. While reading it, I was reminded that beautiful decor can also be functional ... and that it's wise to consider the use of a room when choosing adornments. Thanks, Kris!

In the debate about Christmas Trees (real vs. fake ... cut vs. potted), where do you stand? In this ARTICLE, Stephanie shares information (including some great links) and her thoughts. She not only touches on the tree itself but talks about how it is farmed and the amount of CO2 that one single tree can absorb. And here's a hint about her choice ... she likes Charlie Brown's tree.

Once again this week, Twitter was alive with tips and ideas:

From @upcycledlove
-Turn your old T-shirt into framed art :D

From @peopletowels
-http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10031606&N=&Ntt=baking

From @noteasy2begreen
-I try to live by Wm Morris quote: "Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." I don't always succeed!

From @earthcjewelry
-Earth is where our Maker has placed us. We need to be better stewards to our environment and stop the abuse.
-Make a comittment to give only Eco friendly gifts this year. It shows that you care for Earth and the person receiving the gift.
-Eco Friendly and Fair Trade are both trustworthy. Will you make an effort to consider Eco Friendly and Fair Trade products?

From @givetreegifts
-Eco-Friendly Decorating...Add color & texture w/natural fabrics such as hemp, cotton, canvas, muslin, ramie, silk, linen & wool.
-Choose a mattress of organic cotton or wool so you aren't sleeping with harmful chemicals. 4 the mattress core look 4 natural latex
-Carpeting or rugs can add warmth comfort & texture to a room. Wool fibers or recycled materials are the best eco-friendly choices.
-Sea Grass: soft silky texture when woven that's smoother than some other natural fibers. Gr8 choice of floor mat & stain resistant
-Eco Wood furniture cleaner: 1 tsp olive oil, 1 Cup white vinegar, mix, dip soft rag & wipe lightly over furniture to dust & polish
-When buying wood furniture or accessories, look for the FSC label, to ensure the wood was grown & harvested in sustainable manner
-Furniture from reclaimed wood typically has unique characteristics. Look for the "SmartWood Rediscovered" label (Rainforest Alliance)
-Bring nature into your home with live flowers and plants. They improve air quality, are visually appealing, uplifting & ALIVE!
-Fruits & Vegetables are a simple way to add seasonal color to your home
-Found Art:: A walk in the woods or a stroll down the beach are perfect to gather small treasures to add a personal touch at home
-Earth Tones - colors from nature: Green is comfortable, healing & nature's ultimate neutral color. Found in warm or cool shades
-Furniture that is always in style! Eco-friendly décorating for the abode: The Navy chair shar.es/oH3w6
-Recycling or restoring your furniture Eco-friendly tips while designing your... is.gd/DfgTWM
-10 cool ideas for eco-friendly furniture & decor. ht.ly/7uBYb
-eco-friendly lounge at CTIA! Wood furniture made from reclaimed wood; living succulents yfrog.com/j2c1gg
-How The Latest Tech Is Finally Affecting Furniture Design: The FlatMate Secretary bit.ly/u3rWxO
-Redecorate Your Living Room the Eco-Friendly Way tinyurl.com/5tfvlhm
-Trivet featured in this houzz.com article about reusing wine corks! Sweet!... fb.me/uaJpUUg6
-10 useful Tips how to Green your Lighting shar.es/bMEZw

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@nurturedbeauty
@mom2tle
@ggirlggreen
@blackdogworld
@groovygreenlivi
@accessorygal
@intellihot
@noteasy2begreen
@waylandcook
@msmoreau_guid
@upcycledlove
@ecoverus

@bestrawesome
@smallbits
@peopletowels
@dazediva
@laalicia
@earthcjewelry
@earthyurban
@skipbang
@michele_plus2
@chainedheartdes
@jchapstk
@dearcreatives

@greengiftsguide
@givetreegifts
@whopaysthepiper
@envirofusion
@littlegreenblog
@pinkladyapril
@tif_hamilton
@erinely
@tiffanystoybox
@cinbrad
@theorganicblond

My Final Thoughts: When I was a child, I asked my Grandmother how she and her parents decorated their Christmas tree when she was growing up in Italy. She described how they would hang fresh fruit and nuts on their tree ... items which would then be shared with visitors. They weren't trying to be Eco-friendly ... they simply used what they had. With all of the holiday items on the shelves today, we sometimes forget that there is great beauty in nature ... beauty that we can thoughtfully bring indoors to adorn our homes.

Great job, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

This week's challenge is inspired by an article which I recently read (you can read it HERE). It's from the Worldwatch Institute, "an independent research organization based in Washington, D.C. that works on energy, resource, and environmental issues". It discusses food waste and hunger in the world ... the numbers are staggering. With Thanksgiving and the holidays coming up, I think we could make a huge difference by accomplishing this activity. Here you go:

WEEK-LONG CHALLENGE: This week make a conscious effort to waste no food. If you need some ideas on how to accomplish this, please read the article referenced in the previous paragraph.

Or ...

If you never, ever waste even a morsel of food ... WOW ... you are a hero. Pat yourself on the back and then sit back and relax in the knowledge that you are doing a great thing for the earth!

We have one more week to accomplish the first part of our electricity challenge so, if you haven't started ... get busy! Here it is:

MONTH-LONG CHALLENGE: This month make note of the electricity (Kilowatts) used in your home (find this number on your electric bill, by reading the meter, by using a home electricity monitor, etc.). Then, spend one month reducing that number by 10%. In December we'll come back and report on our success including the actions we've taken to reduce our usage.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-11-16T00:05:00.030-05:00

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

Last week we got busy and prepared our homes for winter ... or summer, as the case may be (waving at you AV). We had suggestions about insulating walls, caulking cracks around windows and preparing the water heater. Some folks are grabbing sweaters and blankets while others are making use of the heat from the oven. One participant uses T-shirts creatively while another is thinking about winterizing her yard. It was a great week full of helpful ideas to ensure that our homes are warm, cozy and "green".

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

In this POST Jen offers us a whole list of ideas to winterize our homes. One involves Eco-friendly and pet-friendly de-icers and traction materials. Brilliant!

EcoGrrl changed the filter in her furnace, removed the water hoses from outside and covered the faucets to keep them from freezing. She also moved her winter clothing out of storage and, before putting the summer stuff away, sorted all items. The clothing which will no longer be used was taken to Goodwill. She also made a big change this year ... she had new windows installed in her living room and shares that the switch allows her to feel comfortable with less heat (she can set the thermostat at 66).

In Brazil, Argentum Vulgaris is moving into the summer months. In this POST he shares how he's getting his home ready. One of his ideas involves a Papaya tree ... can you guess what he's doing? Head on over ... it's a great tip ... one which I used during the summer months and it really works!

Jen heard that we're in for a hard winter this year so she believes that prepping is especially important this year.

Mrs. Green took an energy reading and set goals in this ARTICLE. Check out her plans for the router ... unique and brilliant! She's also been busy prepping her home for the cold months ahead. One of her ideas involves food ... something I wouldn't normally think about when winterizing. Curious about it? Click HERE.

Sometimes living "green" can be a little overwhelming ... sometimes we don't want to make the effort or feel we can't try something new. This week Katie shared a wonderful post ... one which I think we could call The #CTWW Declaration. Click HERE to be motivated and inspired! For this week's challenge, Katie covered HEATING and her YARD.

Lynn is changing the world in her "jammies" (oh she's so cute). She's also winterizing her home with the use of T-shirts. Yep ... you know you want to read it ... and can do so HERE.

Amity's best tip is to bundle up. It just proves that sometimes the simplest actions work best.

Vaishali left a nice comment on our challenge to go vegan for a day. She shares that a vegan diet not only protects animals but is a delicious way to help the earth. By the way, Vaishali's site is just full of wonderful recipes ... my mouth waters every time I visit her site. Thanks for stopping by, Vaishali ... hope to "see" you again!

My friend and NC neighbor, Kat Magendie stopped by. Nice to see you, Kat! By the way, Kat is an author ... I've read all her books and love them. So (hint alert) ... gift-giving is soon upon us. I'm just saying!

Alicia had great ideas to share with us. In her words "We always keep our filters changed which helps out a lot. We also check around all of the windows and doors to see if we can feel any air seeping through. If so my husband gets out his caulking gun and fills in any cracks, It is amazing how much money a tube of caulk can save you!! We have a crack at the bottom of our front door which can't be caulked but lets in cold air so I took a piece of material sewed it down one side and filled it with beans then stitched the top. It works wonderfully for stopping the air from coming in under that door."

A member of the elite #CTWW Gang crossed over and joined the illustrious ranks of the Honor Society this week. Intellihot shared this POST about how to winterize the water heater. Wow ... I learned something new because I had no idea the water heater needed winterizing. Thanks, Intellihot, for a very informative article!

Kris says that she doesn't deliberately set out to winterize her home but she and her husband do many things, regularly, which accomplish the task. There is one thing, however, that she hasn't done and will do to keep things running well in the cold months. Can you guess what it is? Find out HERE. In that post she also talks about the month-long challenge to reduce energy use and the one thing which is making that challenge hard.

How many of you consider "cuddling" a home winterizing task? Well, Stephanie does (and I do too). Read about that tip, and several more, in this ARTICLE.

The SHOPPING CHARITY picked up several #CTWW posts ... was one of them yours?

Some great ideas and tips were shared via Twitter. Let's take a look:

From @pinkladyapril
-I've changed to our winter duvets & started using the slow cooker once a week which often makes enough for 2 days meals

From @gwened02
-we insulated walls & loft last year & have good windows & doors. Preparing the car for winter was on my to do list

From @givetreegifts
-We're having vegetarian chili for supper tonight. Happy #CTWW
-Have your furnace properly maintained to save energy & reduce risk of no heat when you need it the most. Keep filters on hand.
-If you haven't already, switch to a programmable thermostat & program it with a lower temperature while you are sleeping or at work.
-In winter, wear warmer clothes around the house so you can turn down the thermostat a bit. Cooler indoor temps make you more alert
-Check your fridge door. A poorly sealed fridge door can contribute to heat loss & has to work harder to keep food cool
-Install ceiling fans. They direct warm air back down where its needed.
-Replace your old furnace. Consider a condensing gas furnace, which uses 33 to 38% less energy.
-Clean your vents. Ensure furnace, stove and dryer vents are clean and free from dust and debris
-Upgrade your water heater. An energy efficient water heater performs 40% better, reducing energy costs
-Insulate. Fill wall cavities & attic space with foam insulation to prevent heat loss. Install foam gaskets around outlets
-Protect your windows. If double glazed windows aren't an option, buy plastic insulating kits
-Seal cracks. Check doors, windows and walls inside and out
-Consider a home energy audit to identify areas where heat is escaping, cold is getting in, or energy wasted.
-Install a programmable thermostat. The temperature can be set lower at night or while you're away

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@intellihot
@tif_hamilton
@ggirlggreen
@littlegreenblog
@whopaysthepiper
@givetreegifts
@gwened02
@pinkladyapril
@groovygreenlivi
@beckleecottage
@waylandcook
@caradafforn
@passportfrugal
@accessorygal

@noteasy2begreen
@nurturedbeauty
@oneadayart
@blackdogworld
@krjuchem
@laalicia
@tiffanystoybox
@thegreenfamilia
@greengiftsguide
@etsyrocks
@alwayswellwithn
@lisaborden
@peopletowels

@chainedheartdes
@bestrawesome
@allnaturalkatie
@lynn_stone
@mom2tle
@fivefreeapps
@envirofusion
@marjoriecracked
@ericastflblog
@gaiaperspective
@greenerideal
@cinbrad
@upcycledlove

My Final Thoughts: Throughout most of the world, people are recognizing extremes in temperatures. The summers are hotter, the winters are colder. That means that it is now more of a challenge, than ever before, to keep our homes comfortable in an environmentally sound way. Hopefully some of the ideas shared this week have shown us that while it might be a tough task, it's definitely worth the effort.

Great job, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. And brand new this week, I'm also posting them on Google + ... if you're a member, come follow me. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

This week's challenge idea comes from Cinella. It's a good one! Here you go:

WEEK-LONG CHALLENGE: At this time of year, many people are planning holiday dinners, family get-togethers, etc. Typically, decorations play into these events. So this week, we'd like your tips & ideas for decorating in a "green" way. And, of course, we'd like you to choose Eco-friendly decorations for your event.

Or ...

If you are not planning to decorate for a special occasion this year, we'd like to know how you generally adorn your living space. For example, do you purchase recycled items (wall hangings, knickknacks, etc.). Is your furniture made of Eco-friendly materials? Again, we'd love your tips & ideas for creating a comfortable, "green" living space ... and if you're thinking of adding anything new to your home, please choose an Eco-friendly item.

And don't forget, we're still working on a month-long challenge ...

MONTH-LONG CHALLENGE: This month make note of the electricity (Kilowatts) used in your home (find this number on your electric bill, by reading the meter, by using a home electricity monitor, etc.). Then, spend one month reducing that number by 10%. In December we'll come back and report on our success including the actions we've taken to reduce our usage.

I'm really looking forward to all your ideas this week!

Until next time ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-11-09T00:05:00.033-05:00

The #CTWW Gang
The Honor Society
This Week's Challenge

This past week was so much fun! We began our month-long challenge to reduce energy use by 10% and some of you are well on your way with readings taken and a plan in place. Our week-long challenge asked that we go vegan for a day and wow ... there were recipes and menu plans flying around the Internet. Some people found that meatless meals are easy to incorporate into any diet ... others found that it takes some planning and, perhaps, a little education on vegan nutrition. Hopefully everyone had fun, tried something new, and will be able to add at least one meatless meal a week to their diet.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

EcoGrrl is an omnivore but shares that nearly half of the people in her office are vegetarian or vegan. She often brings treats to share and recently found this recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies. For her vegan day, she had oatmeal with jam for breakfast, vegan pizza for lunch and risotto with porcini mushrooms, shallots and hazelnuts for dinner. Yum! She says, however, that it was a challenge and required a lot of attention to detail. Regarding the energy challenge, she's having a tough time because of a less-than-conscientious tenant. It'll be interesting to learn how she handles the situation.

Rachel chose not to participate in the vegan challenge. For the energy challenge she suggests that we take our baseline over a period of time rather than with just one reading ... for example, take a reading at the beginning and end of the week to get an idea of one week's use and then reduce that number in future weeks. Great idea, Rachel ... that will help even out any unusual events. She's having a new heating system installed and, with testing and all, her readings won't represent true usage. So, instead, she's going to write about how the new system will impact electrical use once it's up and running.

Argentum Vulgaris was all ready to tackle this challenge but then ... he realized that eggs aren't vegan. So he went vegetarian for day. Want to know what he whipped up? Find out in this POST. Knowing that AV is a chef, I "double-dog dared" him to try another day of veganism with what I'm sure would be interesting dishes. As of this writing ... not sure if he took me up on that dare. In this ARTICLE, he did a little research and found that there are many foods which might be thought vegan but which are not. It's an interesting list!

The Shopping Charity picked up several #CTWW tweets about your articles ... was one of them yours? That edition also contains some great pieces on lung cancer ... definitely worth a visit.

I love Alicia's enthusiasm. She and her family went vegan a few months ago and it sounds like they are having fun with new recipes! She recently made chili out of chick peas, black beans, onions, garlic and tomatoes and served it with vegan cornbread. Mmm! Alicia shares that they haven't found a vegan recipe yet that they haven't liked.

Mandi says "The benefits of being vegan are amazing- you help the planet, your body, and so many animals." She points out that clothing made from animals (leather, fur, etc.) should be avoided because chemicals are typically used in processing ... definitely NOT Eco-friendly. Be sure to check out Mandi's site ... she has many excellent articles about being vegan and a whole page with recipes. By the way ... thanks, so much, Mandi for including Reduce Footprints in your list of Favorite Blogs.

Jennifer is a vegetarian and, except for a small amount of milk and an occasional dollop of mayo on a sandwich, has vegan days without thinking about it. She recently enjoyed a mock tuna (mashed chickpeas, celery, pickles, green onion, mayo) sandwich for lunch and says she likes it better than she ever liked the "real thing". Jennifer shares a recipe for [Almost] Vegan Lime Cheesecake HERE. Oh wow ... I'm seriously drooling over this recipe!

Mrs. Green is gearing up for the energy reduction challenge. In this POST she shares that she often takes a reading and is always surprised that there is room for improvement. She does have one activity going on this week that might skew the data ... head on over to her place to find out what that is. Even though Mrs. Green has some reservations about a vegan diet, she completed this week's challenge. How'd she do and what does she think? You'll find out in this ARTICLE.

LaTisha says that she'll try to go vegan this week but admits that she enjoys getting her protein from chicken and turkey. She will, at the minimum, try to cut back on animal products. Great, LaTisha ... that will definitely help!

Alana Lanai stopped in - great to "see" you Alana. She says that she buys mostly organic food. So Alana, is that in addition to buying vegan food or are you an omnivore?

Emma Cooper recently did a brave thing ... she challenged herself to write about any subject suggested by her readers. So ... here's the idea I came up with: "How about the best ways to reduce energy use in the cooler months." Oh yeah ... always looking for more tips and ideas to help us meet a challenge. Emma is a true "pro" and accepted the challenge by writing this POST. In it you'll find out about snakes and refrigerator magnets. Huh??? Oh yeah ... energy saving ideas!!

Nicole, another brave woman, decided to take her family along for a vegan day ... without telling them. But wow ... with this MENU I don't think she'll hear any complaints! In this POST she shares a great way to help us cut our energy use by 10%. Here's a hint ... it involves Christmas lights.

Katie and her husband try to work in a vegetarian meal once a week but her husband is a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy. Even so, she's embracing vegan food for a day and bringing her husband along for the ride. First, she decided on a MENU. Oh my ... Banana and Peanut Butter Oatmeal, Chipotle Veggie Bowl and Black Bean and Avocado Quesadilla (without cheese). Doesn't that sound good? So ... did Katie succeed? Did her husband join her? Did they like the food? You'll find out the results HERE. And finally, you'll find out how Katie will approach the energy challenge HERE. Wow, Katie ... you were busy this week (and we benefited)!

If every American skipped meat and cheese one day a week, what kind of environmental impact could we realize? Stephanie answers that question in this POST. I think you'll be amazed ... I was certainly surprised. She goes on to share a lot of information about switching to a plant-based diet, including her favorite vegan chefs and a typical day's menu in her house. And the "pièce de résistance" ... a recipe for Lemon Pie (oh my).

We had good thoughts from our Twitter friends:
From @nonmom:
For my small #ctww I am going to turn my furnace back 'off' when I get home to save power etc. Don't need it this week, fleece is fine :)
From @givetreegifts:
We have a portable solar panel power pack in our south facing window. We use it to recharge our ipod, etc & take it along camping
From @ethicaldeal:
Here's our Vancouver's Community Manager's Secret Chili Recipe..http://ow.ly/7iaEn

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. This week we had a record number of "Gang" members ... 66. WhooHoo! If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@whopaysthepiper
@myqualitytime
@givetreegifts
@allnaturalkatie
@greengiftsguide
@shoppingcharity
@bordenteam
@tiffanystoybox
@lynn_stone
@groovygreenlivi
@gaiaperspective
@thegreenfamilia
@oneadayart
@berryplusclean
@noteasy2begreen
@skipbang
@a23kiki23
@ethicaldeal
@nonmom
@laalicia
@mom2tle
@gbarrocas

@theshepeoples
@peopletowels
@tif_hamilton
@intellihot
@waylandcook
@pfwoman
@theorganicblond
@nurturedbeauty
@beckleecottage
@blackdogworld
@envirofusion
@ggirlggreen
@leadenhalluk
@fivefreeapps
@accessorygal
@krjuchem
@ChainedHeartDes
@marjoriecracked
@waxelene
@sigiedhimawan
@littlegreenblog
@gwened02

@haroldshawjr
@caradafforn
@agingreluctantl
@bg_garden
@parentingextra
@myfitcoach
@mom2ryliepaige
@passportfrugal
@mmgmom3
@mommyltloriley
@ericastflblog
@emilyreviewscom
@langata145
@veggiebuzz
@kristinnw
@ntiveheart
@recycledwarmth
@AlwaysWellWithn
@ohsosavvymom
@susanmcneill
@twiceblessdlife
@alittleumbrella

My final thoughts: Living a "green" life means that we make choices which will impact the environment in a positive way ... or, when a negative impact is inevitable, choices that minimize the harm. Often, our choices must be balanced with life ... health issues, safety, etc. While a long-term vegan diet may not be for everyone, a meatless meal now and again is doable. In my opinion, we owe it to ourselves and our environment to make the effort. Opening our minds to new cuisine is one simple way to change the world. And who knows ... maybe it'll be a culinary adventure filled with fabulous, Eco-friendly delights.

Great job, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

This week's challenge idea comes from Jen. It's perfect for this time of year! And don't forget that we have a month-long challenge in play so if you haven't started that one, now's the time! Here you go:

WEEK-LONG CHALLENGE: This week, prepare your home for winter. Do at least one thing which will ensure that your winter is Eco-friendly. Need some ideas? Click HERE. If you are moving into spring/summer, prepare your home for the warm months ... you'll find some ideas HERE.

Or ...

If you've already prepared your home for the cold (or warm) months ahead, we'd like to know what you've done. Please include tips, ideas and any do-it-yourself advice.

MONTH-LONG CHALLENGE: This month make note of the electricity (Kilowatts) used in your home (find this number on your electric bill, by reading the meter, by using a home electricity monitor, etc.). Then, spend one month reducing that number by 10%. In December we'll come back and report on our success including the actions we've taken to reduce our usage.

What do you think? Are you up for this challenge? I know that you are!!

Until next time ...

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

Vegan Recipe - Pumpkin Spiced Cupcakes with Maple Cinnamon Butter Cream Frosting

2011-11-04T09:00:00.010-04:00

It's the first Friday of the month and that means it's time to share another delicious recipe with you. So why does a blog about "green" living post vegan recipes? Simply put, it takes less natural resources to produce one pound of plant-based foods versus one pound of animal-based foods. Consider this ... say, for example, that we have one acre of land. We decide to grow vegetables. So we plant our seeds, water the plants and then harvest the veggies. Now let's say we decide to raise beef on that acre of land. The cattle will quickly eat anything growing on the one acre so we'll need to acquire more. That means we'll either need to buy it from a farmer who grew it on his one acre of land or we'll need to buy another acre of land to grow feed on. The cattle will need water to drink ... and their feed will need water to grow. So already we're using more land and water to produce meat. And that doesn't begin to address the additional pollution of raising animals versus that of raising veggies. Eating a plant-based diet is the simplest way to reduce our carbon footprint.

This month's recipe comes from one of my new favorite blogs, The Vegetarian (Who Hates Tofu). Michele, the author and "head chef", has put together a beautiful blog full of wonderful recipes. My first impression of the blog was how clean and fresh it is ... in addition to the Home page, there is a page of recipes and a page of Michele's Favorites (links to her favorite books, movies and blogs). The Recipe page includes such tasty treasures as Cauliflower Steak and Tortilla Soup. On the Home Page, I found a list of keywords and the word "breakfast" was listed. For me, creative and delicious vegan breakfasts are a challenge. So I was interested to see what I'd find. Michele offers several dishes including Cinna-Mini Pancakes, Carrot Cake Muffins and Mochi Breakfast Bites. Mmm! If you are interested in incorporating more meatless meals into your diet, then you'll want to bookmark The Vegetarian (Who Hates Tofu) and visit often.

Michele has kindly agreed to share one of her recipes with us. It is perfect for this time of year with all the colors and flavors of fall. I can't wait to give it a try!

Pumpkin Spiced Cupcakes
with Maple Cinnamon Butter Cream Frosting

Pumpkin Spiced Cupcakes

¼ cup almond milk
½ tsp apple cider vinegar
1 medium tart apple, cored and peeled
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/3 cup safflower oil
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
¾ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp fine sea salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine almond milk and vinegar in a small bowl and set aside. Meanwhile, in a blender, puree apple. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together pumpkin and apple puree till well combined. Stir in oil, almond milk, sugar and vanilla extract. Sift in flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and salt. Mix well. Pour into a lined cupcake pan (fill to the top). Bake at 350 for 24 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool completely before decorating.

Maple Cinnamon Butter Cream Frosting

½ cup Earth Balance butter
1 ½ cup confectioners' sugar
¼ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp maple syrup
2 Tbsp almond milk

Beat Earth Balance until creamy, about a minute. Add sugar and cinnamon and beat for 2 minutes. Add vanilla, maple syrup and almond milk. Beat until light and fluffy, about 5 more minutes.

Top each cupcake with a dollop of frosting & enjoy!

Thanks, again, to Michele of The Vegetarian (Who Hates Tofu).

If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please send it to me HERE. And for all the recipes we've shared so far, be sure to visit our recipe page using the tabs at the top of the page ... or by clicking HERE.

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-11-02T00:05:00.032-04:00

This Week's Challenge
The Honor Society
The #CTWW Gang

Last week we challenged ourselves to start thinking about Eco-friendly gift giving. What a fun week! As always, the readers of this blog rose to the occassion and offered a variety of terrific ideas. You might want to bookmark this post for future reference ... your ideas are just THAT good!

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

One of the more unique gift ideas that I received this week came from Catalog Choice, one of my favorite sites for eliminating junk mail from your mailbox. They have always offered a free title-specific opt-out service ... basically one manually types in relevant information from a catalog or advertisement and then, like magic, Catalog Choice gets your name off the mailing list. Now they are offering a subscription service ... they work on a client's behalf to remove personal information from third party marketing lists and personal search services. How does this tie in with green gift giving? They have arranged it so that we can give the "gift of less" to our friends and family for a modest donation. If you're as intrigued as I was, click HERE for more information.

EcoGrrl says that when she gives gifts, she prefers to give her time or an experience. In her words, "When my friends have birthdays I rarely think "what doodad can I buy them?" - instead it's 'how can I make them feel good?' - is it a massage? a night out? babysit? go to the park? people still get me stuff occasionally, but i remember their time more. ... let's help each other see that there's more besides 'stuff', more besides tradition for tradition's sake, and give when it's in your heart, not because a calendar tells you, and give of your time."

Ilhami Uyar stopped by. He likes the ideas shared and says that we must guard the environment and the world.

Rachel has a blog called Growing Things and Making Things so you know she has some good ideas. Here's what she had to say, "...much as I hate thinking about Christmas too much in advance, I find that some "green" gifts take a lot of advance planning. For example, this year I'll be giving my mother in law a cutting from a lavender bush that I took over a year ago. OK I didn't really plan that far ahead - I took more cuttings than I needed in case some didn't take, then ended up with spare plants, which are now established and flowering. In general, I think that giving consumable presents are a good way of avoiding the accumulation of stuff. I give homemade sweets, jam, wine, soap and moisturizer. I also like the idea of flavoured oils and vinegar, but the people I give to probably wouldn't appreciate those."

In this POST Argentum Vulgaris shares his ideas for "green" gift giving including some ideas for reusing computer components. Very clever! He also wrote this ARTICLE about how our mailboxes are full of wrapping paper. Thanks, AV!

Betty Manousos stopped by! Nice to see you, Betty!

Teresa shared a link to Stoney Mountain Farm, a North Carolina farm which preserves the ways of the past while honoring Mother Nature. They sell Eco-friendly products such as wool dryer balls and cat toys. Thanks, T! By the way ... I happen to know that Teresa makes and sells jewelry. Many of her pieces are made with recycled materials ... all of them are gorgeous. So, click on her name and you'll find her shops listed in the side bar.

If you'd rather make your own wool dryer balls to give as gifts, check out this ARTICLE where Alicia shares detailed instructions. You might remember from a previous challenge that Alicia finds materials for her dryer balls at Goodwill. These aren't the only "green" gifts she comes up with ... in her words, "Since Christmas is the Celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we have always taught our children that gifts from the heart are the best ones. We all love to bake so each year we will bake lots of different things and then use recycled materials for the gift wrap. This past year our son went into the woods behind our house and collected grape vines and we made some really cute baskets to put the goodies in. I also have used Christmas table cloths and napkins to make super cute gift bags. I know that technically giving baked items is not considered a green gift but most people like food so it doesn't go to waste and there is no wrapping paper to throw away and the bag or basket can be reused. I am doing a post on this next month because it is amazing the amount of wrapping paper that goes into the landfills during the holidays!" And don't forget that Alicia makes and sells "green" soaps, lotions, lip balms, etc. You'll find a link to her store in the upper right corner of her blog.

The Accessory Lady shared some great ideas. In her words, "I've found that I get the biggest smiles from handcrafted or handmade gifts, and I took it one step further one year and I made green personal care and home product: Laundry detergent, body soap, hand soap, home sprays, etc. I put them in sanitized glass food jars that would have gone to recycling and decorated them. They were a hit and most of the recipes were easy, inexpensive and can be found all over the net. If you don't have time to make them yourself, their are literally thousands handmade/crafted independent merchants that would be so thrilled for your business this holiday season. You can find them on Etsy, Artfire, Storenvy.com & bigcartel.com . They are very good about posting detailed ingredients too. I better get working on this so that I'll have my batch ready for the Holidays! :) " The Accessory Lady is an artisan herself ... she makes lovely items, using Eco-friendly materials. Here's a sample of what you'll find in her shop: Terrestre Organic Cotton Beige Bracelet.

Jennifer is busy making gifts this year. Here's what she has to say "I really like the idea of giving service-based gifts, like gift certificates to a local massage therapist, tickets to an event, or registration for a special class or workshop. After a certain point in our lives (gosh, I sound old), we have just about everything we need and want, so it's silly to keep spending money on things. When I do give physical presents now, they tend to be handmade (usually by me!) or antique, so I'm not supporting big corporations with dubious ethics. This time of year, I'm busy making dainty ceramic mugs at the pottery studio and am thinking of trying to make homemade caramels or truffles to fill them with."

Kris wrote this POST where she talks about a very unique gift that she makes. I haven't seen her idea in any of the other suggestions and it's not only very clever, it's a gift that totally pleases the lucky people who receive it. Thanks, Kris!

With a blog named "Green GiftsGuide.Com", you know that Amity has a LOT of ideas for us. Here's her formula for Eco-friendly gift giving: ADD A LITTLE THOUGHT TO YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT LIST. Mix in THE 2011 ETHICAL HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE. Take the finished product and WRAP IT GREEN. Nice!

Mrs. Green suggested this challenge because ... well ... she has a dilema which I'm guessing many parents face. Has she come up with the solution? Click HERE to find out.

Ange makes earth-friendly gifts for the people on her list and likes the idea of giving a pretty homemade vouchers for a unique service such as a week's ironing or housework, or babysitting for a tired mother. Children, including her own, are more difficult when it comes to "green" gifts. In her words, "With the 'outside influence' even though they are homeschooled, it's not easy. They are quite happy however getting something that's not 'new' so I spend a bit of time in advance hunting through flea markets and 'brocantes' here in France for things that are pre-loved but still in great condition that they might like, if only for stocking fillers. We also have a tendency to buy group or useful presents for Christmas like a trampoline for all one year for example. We encourage the kids to make gifts for their friends and our family with all the stuff I have a tendency to hoard for a 'rainy creative day.' Don't forget to donate toys and games your kids don't use any more to Good will. Our kids love sorting through their things so they can give something in great condition to children less fortunate than themselves. It also encourages healthy 'decluttering' at a younger age :)" If you're looking for a truly unique gift to purchase, check out Ange's shop Signed By Ange. Using words and recycled materials, she creates beautiful home decor.

Our twitter friend, @peopletowels ... a regular challenge participant, sells Eco-friendly towels. And get this, they sell packs that support other great causes like The Breast Cancer Fund. Hm ... a gift that truly gives ... and gives back. Check them out HERE.

Twitter was buzzing with great ideas this week:
From Melanie (aka @mom2tle): Not sure if this counts as green, but we often give as their holiday gift donations to causes in honor of the person
From Gwen (aka @gwened02): me & @liliacangel are doing a 2 day course called "gifts from my kitchen" hope to create Eco friendly gifts on 26th nov
From April (aka @pinkladyapril): Eco gifts. I make a large Xmas cake & cut into mini ones for gifts. Have also made plum jam (from plums I was given)
From Josefin (aka @GaiaPerspective): It feels almost like an obligation to give unnecessary gifts for x-mas. Usually I ask what ppl want, to make sure it'll be appreciated. We can re-give things that we have no use for anymore and reuse wrapping paper from last year. An experience like a consert or a day at the carnival can be a fun and memorable gift as well.
From Ethical Deal (aka @ethicaldeal): Noticed today's #CTWW is #green #gifts! Check out ethicalDeal.com for more green gift ideas!
From Harold Shaw (aka @haroldshawjr): We plan to not use wrapping paper but instead Sunday comics/newspaper and paper bags, then either recycle/fire starter.
From Tanya (aka @pfwoman): Agree, I try really hard to get what they want/need. I'd like to do more home-made this year.

Many people have said that gifts for kids are a problem. Tiffany has solved that problem: "I love making gifts, especially when it comes to the kids. SO have your kids make something like a mug, t-shirt, picture frame or some other cool decorative item to give as a gift. My sons, tristin and tyler love drawing so they make pictures and then make frames out of recycled materials and decorate the frames!" Hey Tiffany, what kinds of things do you make for the boys?

Mean Joe Green likes to give gift certificates to Eco-friendly restaurants to his friends and family. And to make the experience even more "green", he suggests biking to dinner. Have you browsed Joe's blog lately? Well, he's the creator of Eco-friendly cartoons ... but that's not all ... he writes children's poetry and sells art. I'm guessing it's all Eco-friendly and would make a wonderful gift for someone on your list.

Amy (aka NonMom) stopped by with some ideas: "I made my own lavendar and vanilla bath salts and packaged them up nicely too. I also crochet gifts for friends and family. I figure this way there's less drives to the store and I know what I'm getting and sending out and what the ingredients are. Other ideas are giving home baking...again, homemade always has better ingredients."

What is one of Stephanie's all time favorite and most memorable gifts? It's a good one which you can read about in this POST. She has other ideas, as well, including giving tickets to an event. But here's the truly fascinating part of her post ... green gifts that are waste-free. Wow! Be sure to stop by and see what she has to say about that! Thanks, Stephanie!

Joanne sent in a ton of great links to Eco-friendly sites for us to consider:
http://www.ecobears.co.uk/
http://www.eco3p.com/
http://etsyearthteam.blogspot.com/p/mission.html
http://www.etsy.com/shop/recycledwarmth
http://www.gogreen-now.net/gift-giving.html
http://www.earthdivas.com/
http://www.marjoriescracked.com/
https://wwfstore.donorportal.ca/default.aspx
http://greensewn.com/
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/green-gifting/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/baisebeige
http://www.thewoodenbee.com/
http://www.maggiebags.net/
Wowee! Don't forget that Joanne offers very "green" gifts on her site ... just click on her name above.

Michele stopped by with some nice ideas: "I love to give baked goods as well. I do all my baking vegan & use organic ingredients, so I feel like that is more eco-friendly then buying some other gifts. My brother always likes to get music and books, but he has a Kindle and an Ipod now so I can buy the downloadable versions. I also like the idea of giving an experience, like a gift card to a spa or tickets to the theater." Be sure to stop by on Friday because Michele is going to be our "Guest Chef" and the recipe she'll be sharing is a winner!

Katie has several great ideas about gifts and wrapping. You'll find them in this POST. One of her suggestions is to add "bonus" eco-friendly gifts. Curious about that? Head on over to read all about it!

Tiffany makes truly unique green eco-chic jewelry ... they are beautiful (I know because I'm a proud owner of several pieces). But she's focusing on how to give them with no waste. She wrote this ARTICLE about creating a new, better way to give during the holidays. Be sure to check out Tiffany's shop ... you'll find a link on her blog.

Nicki Woo plans to give her neighbors Eco-friendly and conscious gifts ... gifts that will feed their tummies as well as their spirits. Her lucky neighbors will get homemade canned fruit and homemade granola .... mmm, makes me wish I were one of her neighbors. :-) Nicki also left a comment about our pet challenge ... her daughter decided to use their dog in her science experiment (no animals were hurt in this project). She is experimenting with various dog foods to find out which food gives her dog more fuel (fuel as in usable energy vs. empty calories). So far they've discovered that foods made primarily out of meat are better ... and foods made out of grains and fillers aren't. She promises to come back when the project is complete and let us know her daughter's findings.

Ann stopped in and, regarding our pet challenge, says that she's going to begin making dog treats. Yay!

Also from our challenge on pets, Lynn writes this ARTICLE. In it you'll find tightrope walking, tutus and fish. Oh you know you want to read it!

And, Miss T says "For Jennifer who is wondering about the catfood, if it is of any comfort to her, I have read that pets do a lot better on this kind of diet- raw meat. Apparently it works well for dogs too. They are much healthier as a result of it so making an effort to feed them this way as local as she can is well worth it."

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@allnaturalkatie
@beckleecottage
@waylandcook
@ggirlggreen
@noteasy2begreen
@gaiaperspective
@peopletowels
@tanyasharkey
@pfwoman
@tif_hamilton
@laalicia
@greengiftsguide
@lynn_stone
@maggie_bags

@nurturedbeauty
@givetreegifts
@mom2tle
@tiffanystoybox
@gwened02
@groovygreenlivi
@theorganicblond
@thegreenfamilia
@whopaysthepiper
@pinkladyapril
@envirofusion
@accessorygal
@ethicaldeal
@robineaston

@intellihot
@waxelene
@escapingjourney
@skipbang
@haroldshawjr
@ReneeANDSharon
@littlegreenblog
@recycledwarmth
@a23kiki23
@chainedheartdes
@wwfcanada
@marjoriecracked
@pixieguido
@fivefreeapps

My final thoughts: I recently read that a gift can refer to anything that makes the other happier or less sad. It can be something we buy or something we make ... it can be an experience or simply our time. There is another definition that I particularly like ... a gift can be a favor, forgiveness, appreciation, kindness or simply wishing the best for another. A gift is freely given without expectation. Most people will say that the true meaning of gift giving (whether it's for Christmas, Hanukkah, birthdays or Halloween) has become too commercial. Given all that, it hardly seems fair to give gifts that hurt our environment. Imagine what our world would be like if we made this one small change ... if every gift we give pleases the recipient and is kind to the earth.

Great job, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

Are you up for TWO challenges this week? We're going to start a month-long challenge suggested by Mrs. Green and a week-long challenge suggested by EcoGrrl. Here you go:

MONTH-LONG CHALLENGE: This month make note of the electricity (Kilowatts) used in your home (find this number on your electric bill, by reading the meter, by using a home electricity monitor, etc.). Then, spend one month reducing that number by 10%. In December we'll come back and report on our success including the actions we've taken to reduce our usage.

WEEK-LONG CHALLENGE: This week, eat Vegan for one entire day. That means, for one entire day eat only plant-based foods ... no meat, poultry, fish, dairy, etc.

Or ...

If you eat a Vegan diet every day, we'd like to benefit from your experience so please share tips, ideas, recipes, etc.

So ... we're going to be busy with these challenges. What fun!!

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-10-26T00:05:00.057-04:00

This Week's Challenge
The Honor Society
The #CTWW Gang

Last week our challenge, suggested by Jennifer, asked us to "green" up our pets. It was a wonderful activity because we often forget about the environmental impact of pets ... their food, waste disposal, toys and even how they affect wildlife. We also continued the discussion about Eco-friendly light bulbs. We heard opinions about the various options available, learned how people actually using the bulbs like them, and read references on such topics as safety, disposal and cost. It was another week filled with information to help us make the best choices possible.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

EcoGrrl stopped feeding her dog commercial treats because of the packaging (which isn't earth friendly) and because they aren't healthy for animals. So what does her dog get as a treat ... veggies. Yep, EcoGrrl says that her dog goes nuts over carrots and zucchini. She also shared additional information on CFLs which you can read HERE. Be sure to check it out ... she includes a link about CFL myths and shares the best way to clean up if a bulb should break.

Argentum Vulgaris gives us more "food for CFL thought" in this POST. He raises an interesting point about the actual heat generated by various bulbs and their link to our heating expense. In this POST he talks a little more about CFLs and includes an experiment comparing the waves (Ultra-violet and infra-red) generated by CFL versus incandescent bulbs. AV also offers us some Eco-friendly pet ideas ... including a natural way to rid them of fleas.

Alicia has a great tip for Eco-friendly bedding and toys for pets. She finds wool sweaters at Goodwill and uses them for her cat's bedding ... I can just imagine them curled up in their cozy little beds when the weather is cool. She also uses wool to make toys for them ... they are a smaller version of the wool dryer balls which she makes. Maybe we can convince her to share instructions with us ... what do you think, Alicia? By the way ... I've mentioned before that Alicia makes and sells Eco-friendly soaps, lip balms, lotions, etc. Well, she has recently unveiled a new online store and, to celebrate, she's hosting a giveaway of her products. So ... if you've wanted to try them as much as I have, head on over and enter to win. Just click HERE. Of course, one doesn't have to depend on "chance" to try her products ... just click HERE to make a purchase (she's offering free shipping).

Michele (aka The Vegetarian Who Hates Tofu) has only had her dog for 2 weeks. To begin, she's using Greenbone Doobags ... both the dispenser and the bags are biodegradable. Once her dog is a little more settled, she plans to switch her food to an organic variety ... better for her health and better for the environment. Nice!

@pinkladyapril shared some wonderful tips via twitter. Here's what she had to say: "I have 2 much loved cats who are kept in at night to prevent them attacking wildlife & I don't encourage birds in the garden as I don't want the cats to go for them & I don't think it's fair to encourage birds when you have cats. They eat dry food which is healthier & more environmentally friendly than canned meat as it comes in larger packs & is easier to portion control. They have a water fountain which stops their water getting stale & use a litter tray. I only have a small garden & no lawn so don't get much wildlife & won't encourage anything the cats would chase/hunt. Having said that my cats are so lazy the only "present" they occasionally bring me is the odd worm!! Lol!"

Jennifer realizes that owning a cat is, by virtue of it's carnivorous diet, a higher impact choice. She also notes that it's hard to buy truly local natural food for her cat. Even though handling and cooking raw meat isn't something Jennifer wants to do, she is going to talk to the meat sellers at her farmer's market to see if she can make her cat's diet more local. I hope you'll report back, Jennifer, and let us know how that goes. She uses pine/corn litter which is renewable and biodegradable and she folds litter bags out of old newspapers. Her cat is spayed and kept indoors so she's not contributing to native bird population losses or cat overpopulation. Thanks, again, Jennifer for suggesting this challenge ... it's been a good one!!

Nicole B. had several comments on CFLs including a wonderful suggestion for those who use Christmas lights. Read all of her comments HERE. She says that she needs help on the pet challenge and is anxious to read everyone thoughts. That said, she thinks that she can "green" her pet by changing it's food. Let us know how it goes, Nicole!

@gwened02 doesn't have a pet but she weighed in via twitter on how she protects wildlife: "I don't have any pets. We're still collecting elastic bands off the street to protect the birds & the hedgehogs."

Amy has two cats and both are neutered. In this way she lessens their impact by not having litters of babies that will need homes or may suffer. That would break my heart, too, Amy!

Tiffany doesn't have a pet but offers a resource for dog owners to buy biodegradable waste bags ... Annie's Blue Ribbon Store. If you're in Brooklyn, check them out ... if you're not in the area, they ship.

Josefin used twitter to share this great idea: "To protect wildlife you can avoid buying overfished species or buy MSC certified MSC.org."

EnviroFusion suggests Yesterday's News cat litter. She shares that it's a better choice for your feline family member. Since it's made from recycled paper, it's earth-friendly too!

Cinella says that some pet owners are "immortalizing their dog's poo". She also shares that adopting a pet is a good, earth-friendly choice. You can read her post HERE.

Katie doesn't have pets but some of her co-workers have cats so she plans to talk to them about how they make their pets "green". In this POST she shares some great tips for those who have fish. Yep, even fish can be "greened". Thanks, Katie!

Gaby has read about pet waste solutions where the waste is put in a container into the ground ... basically a septic system. She suggests, however, that it may pose a problem by contaminating groundwater. As I understand it, Gaby ... it very well may contaminate the ground and nearby water systems. With human waste septic systems, enzymes are added to the tank to kill bacteria. Dog waste, however, carries bacteria which the enzymes can't kill and which contaminate the surrounding area, including aquifers. This is also the reason why it's not a good idea to leave animal waste sitting on the lawn or in the garden.

In this POST Kris talks about her pet's worst environmental impact. Here's a hint ... it involves her food but isn't her food. Think you have the answer? Click on over to find out.

Using twitter Joanne shared the following: "All our pet care products are natural & eco friendly. We use a trusted source in Regina: Metro Pet Market > they care about your pets. Metro Pet Market's website is a gr8 resource 4 info on natural organic & eco friendly food & care products 4 pets bit.ly/erVMea. Help your pets cope with environmental toxins, which can cause cancer. Natural pet friendly antioxidants & cold water fish oils R GR8."

Amy wrote this POST and shares quite a few good tips and ideas. One of her suggestions is to buy products that last.

Brenna hopes to have chickens in her backyard and will use the many resources in her area to make them Eco-friendly. I hope you'll report back, Brenna, with that adventure. Awhile back she wrote this ARTICLE about our responsibility to animals. It's a brilliant, thought-provoking piece. Check it out and let us know what your thoughts are on whether or not we have a responsibility to animals and if so, what they are. Thanks, Brenna!

Mrs. Green has a pet named "Sunrise". It's not a dog ... it's not a cat ... it's a ... ahhh, you'll just have to click HERE to find out. Be sure to watch the video where you'll see Sunrise dance ... and read the commentary to find out how Mrs. Green obtains food for her pet (might surprise you). Regarding CFLs, Mrs. G was set, quite strongly, against them. After reading all the comments last week, she had this to say: "My take is that it's the cumulative sum of mercury that is a problem. Ok, so a bulb contains less mercury than an amalgam filling, but how many bulbs do we have in our homes? Not just one unless we live very low impact. Then, in 10 years time when the bulbs expire most of them might be dumped in landfill (because let's face it, not all folk recycle well) where, well, who knows what happens after that? Just as we celebrate making small positive changes because they add up to make significant differences, 'small' and seemingly insignificant 'negative' choices can add up to devastating impact too..."

Can a post entitled "Keep Your Tomatoes Regular with Oatmeal!" meet this week's challenge? Well it can if it's written by Rewinn. Check it out HERE and learn what he's going to try to make his cat more environmentally responsible.

Melanie used twitter to share this: "Thought of something for the challenge-when washing your dog, find way to save the water. Not much, but what came to mind."

Most of us search out dogs and cats as pets. But not Ellie. She has pet frogs ... two of them. So how is she going to green their routine? She says, "... they eat live crickets. I've been thinking a lot lately about how wasteful it is buying a tiny plastic container of crickets every week for them. I'm working on my blog post now (thanks for the inspiration) for what I am doing to try and make the frogs a little greener. I am making a "cricket house" from an old fish tank. That way I can buy one large bag of crickets and keep them alive for several weeks. This means I won't have to use multiple containers and I won't have to drive to the pet store every week." Wow! Can't wait to hear all about it, Ellie!!

Rachel quickly identified the main area where her pet's impact could be reduced ... it's food. She was buying cat food in pouches ... one meal per pouch and they can't be recycled (did you hear that collective "ooooooh"). She decided to switch to aluminum cans which contain 3-4 meals each ... containers which can be recycled. She braced herself for fly-infested, half-eaten cat food but was pleasantly surprised when her cats had no objections to the new diet (listen to the collective Yaaaaayyyyy and the audience cheering). You might remember that for our light bulb challenge, Rachel had a "blow out" prompting her husband to order LEDs as replacements. I was curious how she would like the new bulbs. Here's her review: "The LED lights have arrived now and they're horrible. Because the light's so directional the room feels a lot darker, even when the lit areas (work surfaces) are plenty light enough. They were advertised as 'warm' light but they're not at all. The information about light bulbs here and on AV's blog has been really interesting (AV - my attempts at a conversation on your blog failed because my longer comments just disappeared into the ether), and has prompted me to do a lot of research. I'll get round to writing a blog post on it when I'm less busy, but the conclusion is, I'm happy sticking with my CFLs." Rachel did free up some time and wrote this ARTICLE. It's really an interesting piece. In it she identifies the only good reason NOT to use CFLs. Does that mean she's giving them up? You'll find out at "her place".

Ann has fleas (no they aren't her pets ... LOL). She's looking for natural flea prevention/elimination and investigates one idea HERE. It wasn't effective so she's asking for advice on herbs and/or plants which will rid her home of these nasty little bugs ... she'd prefer not to use commercial bombs or sprays. Any advice for her? I hope you find something that works, Ann!

Stephanie wrote this POST which includes 10 tips for reducing the carbon pawprints of our pets. One of her suggestions seemed so obvious when I read it but ... I'm guessing that it's something most of us don't do. Curious? Check out tip number 2 of her article.

Wow ... weren't those comments, posts and discussions great?

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@waylandcook
@whopaysthepiper
@mostesshostess1
@beckleecottage
@mom2tle
@tiffanystoybox
@givetreegifts
@groovygreenlivi
@thegreenfamilia
@envirofusion
@pinkladyapril

@noteasy2begreen
@nurturedbeauty
@hshawjr
@theorganicblond
@skipbang
@gaiaperspective
@ggirlggreen
@gwened02
@peopletowels
@nonmom
@gaiaperspective

@laalicia
@envirofusion
@bewilderedbug
@AccessoryGal
@allnaturalkatie
@escapingjourney
@pfwoman
@Intellihot
@AlmostTruth
@pixieguido

My final thoughts: Pets are big business ... one can purchase pet insurance, clothing, toys and even find pet hotels, spas and bakeries. Our love for a pet is often exploited by companies trying to convince us that we must buy their product to be good, responsible owners. Often those products are made of plastic, come in wasteful containers and aren't healthy for animals. And even more often those products are harmful to the environment. With a little effort and thought, our pets can be just an "green" as we are ... and that makes us true responsible pet owners.

Great job, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

This week's challenge comes from Mrs. Green who says "I think maybe with Christmas/Yule coming up we might start thinking about how we can buy gifts that comply with the other person's values, yet don't have too much of an impact; this is something I struggle with for friends who are NOT on my green wavelength." I decided to do Mrs. Green's challenge now because, as we've learned from several of our challenges, planning is often a key component to successful "green" living. Here you go:

This week, please share ideas on Eco-friendly gift giving. We're looking for anything which helps us choose "green" gifts that will please the receiver. Feel free to offer links, do-it-yourself projects, etc. ... the more creative the better.

So what do you think ... are you up for this challenge?

Until next time ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-10-19T00:05:00.396-04:00

This Week's Challenge
The Honor Society
The #CTWW Gang

Last week was an interesting week. I read a lot about the "Occupy Wall Street" movement, green (and pink) washing and how domestic violence is being decriminalized in Topeka, Kansas. As I read, one thing became quite evident ... there are a lot of people who blindly accept what they are told without having the facts necessary to make informed decisions. The participants of our challenges, however, can never be accused of blind acceptance. Case in point ... last week's challenge. CFLs and LEDs, on the surface, seem to be wonderful energy-saving options. But as we'll find out, some folks dug a little deeper and have serious reservations about their use. And that is the beauty of these challenges ... we have the opportunity to investigate an idea and share information.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

EcoGrrl has been using CFLs for a long time. She plans to transition to LEDs as her bulbs burn out but ... that may take awhile ... her bulbs are lasting for at least 8 years. Wow! She shares that CFLs now come in all sizes and colors, including the "warm" colors that most people missed from incandescent bulbs. EcoGrrl also reminds us that CFLs can be recycled at both Home Depot and Lowes. Nice!

When we first ran this challenge in 2009, Argentum Vulgaris wasn't making the switch ... for some valid reasons. But recently, he started giving them a second thought (read about that HERE). Then he started checking them out ... which lead to this POST which discusses government bans on incandescent bulbs, mercury, corporate manipulation, UV radiation and the lack of appropriate CFL recycling. Conclusion: He's still not making the switch. Be sure to check out his post ... he references other sites which discuss the issue.

Amy (aka NonMom) says that she replaces incandescent bulbs only when they burn out because she doesn't want to waste a working bulb. That's a great point, Amy!

I'd like to welcome Kris back to "the fold". Nice to "see" you again, Kris! She feels the same as Amy and talks about it HERE. She wonders if there is a good, environmental reason to replace a working bulb. So folks ... what do you think?

Joanne shared her thoughts about this challenge on twitter: 1) We made the switch to CFL bulbs long ago but also use LED where possible. Initial investment for LED is high but its our preference.

The Accessory Lady has been using CFLs in her home for the past 7 years and says that her favorite feature is that they last forever. She's wondering how the people who use LEDs like them. Check out Harold's post (below), AL ... he's currently using LEDs. AL also asked about recycling CFLs ... that's a great question AL. As EcoGrrl shared, both Home Depot and Lowes have bins set up for recycling. IKEA, ACE Hardware and True Value Hardware may also recycle them. One can also check Earth 911 or Earth 911 International for recycling options.

Cinella has switched out most of her bulbs for CFLs but has a unique problem in making them last. She's done some investigation and found the reason. The answer surprised me. Curious? Check out her article HERE.

We have a new participant this week. Welcome to Katie!! Katie is a kindred spirit ... she hosts a series called Green Motivation Monday ... a weekly, green challenge. WhooHoo! So if you want to really push yourself each week, participate both here and at Katie's place. Katie commented on our previous challenge about Halloween saying that she tries to avoid plastic. In fact, she's going to avoid it for Christmas as well ... she's gathering pine cones, etc. to make her own wreath. Nice!

Harold replaces incandescent bulbs as they burn out but he's concerned about the mercury in CFLs. He offers his opinions in this POST, including his thoughts on the LED bulbs which he's currently using. Thanks, Harold!

Alicia has been using CFLs for awhile. She's been doing some research on LEDs and plans to make the switch when they have improved the brightness of these bulbs. By the way ... have you heard Alicia's news? Click HERE to read all about it. And may I say, Alicia ... CONGRATULATIONS! That is quite an accomplishment!! Well done, my friend!!

Sarah uses CFLs exclusively in her room but she didn't know that the bulbs can be recycled. Yes indeedy, Sarah!! By the way ... nice to see you again ... we've missed you! For those who haven't checked out Sarah's blog ... head on over ... it's filled with interesting information including a recent post entitled "Lazy Green" where she maintains that the easiest way to live green is to simply be lazy (it's a wonderful post). Thanks, Sarah!

In this POST you'll find out why Mrs. Green thinks that CFLs should be banned. Here's a hint: they contain a component with is a contaminant for life. Read that statement again ... a contaminant for LIFE. Wow! She discusses her bulb of choice and shares that there is one bulb which her husband can actually make. Wow!

Ann stopped in and joined our challenge. In her Blog Action Day 2011 post (HERE) she includes a link to CTWW.

In this POST, Amity meets two challenges ... the Halloween activity and our light bulb challenge. She offers a ton of great ideas for a green Halloween and one of her ideas uses LED bulbs. Fabulous, Amity!

Many folks are concerned with the mercury in CFLs and the possibility of the bulb breaking. But do you know what to do in that event ... and is it really the catastrophe that we fear? Stephanie (aka Good Girl Gone Green) did some research and has the answer for us (read it HERE). Fabulous, Stephanie!!

Rachel has been using energy-efficient light bulbs for a long time and has only had one bulb burn out in the past 10 years. Wow! She's been planning to replace the halogen bulb in her kitchen with LEDs and, just as though her kitchen knew about our challenge, the bulb blew out this week so Rachel's husband ordered four LEDs online. Once they arrive let us know how you like them Rachel.

Brenna doesn't have any incandescent bulbs in her house and hopes to switch her CFLs to LEDs. All of her Christmas lights are LEDs and she shares that LEDs, in general, have improved a lot over the years.

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@allnaturalkatie
@mostesshostess1
@greengiftsguide
@whopaysthepiper
@gaiaperspective
@nextgenlights
@yan_tougas
@skipbang
@beckleecottage
@ggirlggreen
@nonmom

@catcanpaint
@mom2tle
@hshawjr
@noteasy2begreen
@oneadayart
@waylandcook
@envirofusion
@nativegardener
@pfwoman
@tiffanystoybox

@MyCraftCorner
@escapingjourney
@michele_plus2
@nextgenlights
@jnjgogreen
@givetreegifts
@FiveFreeApps
@AccessoryGal
@myzerowaste
@thegreenfamilia

My final thoughts: There are so many considerations in choosing the right light bulb. CFLs save more energy than incandescent bulbs but they do contain a small amount of mercury. LEDs don't contain mercury but may contain lead and/or arsenic (read about that HERE) and they tend to be cost prohibitive. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) don't contain contaminants but they are extremely expensive to manufacture, their life span is relatively short, they are sensitive due to the organic membrane and can be broken easily, and the light they emit isn't yet efficient. So what's the right answer? In my opinion, living green is often a matter of balance and doing the best we can. In order to do that, we must become educated consumers ... we must learn everything we can about the issue and then make the best choice possible. For me that means using CFLs instead of incandescent bulbs with the goal of replacing those with LEDs as they become more affordable. It's not perfect but it's a start.

Great job, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

This week's challenge comes from Jennifer. I think it's going to be a fun challenge! Here you go:

This week, find one way to lower the environmental impact of your pet.

OR ...

If you don't have a pet, suggest ways that we can protect wild animals.

I can't wait to read your ideas on this one!!

Ready for our mantra? All together now ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-10-12T00:05:00.055-04:00

This Week's Challenge
The Honor Society
The #CTWW Gang

Last week's challenge came from Jen who suggested that we reduce the environmental impact of Halloween. What a great idea!! Halloween has become big business with costumes, candy, buckets to carry treats, flashlights, etc. Most of those items are either made out of plastic or come wrapped in plastic ... and many of them are one-use, disposable items. It's a LOT of waste! Does that mean that we ignore our "green" ethics once a year? Nope! There are many ways to reduce waste while still enjoying the event. Read on for wonderful tips and ideas ...

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

Halloween makes Mrs. Green growl and gets her blood boiling. In this POST you'll find out why. But if you're thinking that The Greens are "bah-humbugs" when it comes to celebrations, think again ... they celebrate Halloween in a lovely and fun way!

Argentum Vulgaris offers us several creative ideas in this ARTICLE ... roasted pumpkin seeds, decoration ideas and a "caution" about disposing those pumpkin "guts".

EcoGrrl hasn't observed Halloween for years but she does celebrate Dia de los Muertos. In her words "It's a great family holiday, uses a lot of natural items like oranges, involves arts & crafts, and teaches children about honoring those who have passed before us rather than thinking of death as a scary thing." Sounds like a much more meaningful and fun celebration, EcoGrrl. You might remember that EcoGrrl suggested a previous challenge about riding a bike instead of driving a car. She has been car-free for over three years. Wow! In this POST she talks about how (and why) she started riding bikes, how she makes it work and offers resources for all the little "add-ons" (baskets, helmuts, etc.). It's a great article and I have a feeling it could convert even the most devout "car person".

Gaby wrote this POST about our challenge to ride/walk instead of drive. The problem she faces is that she lives in a bike UN-friendly area ... one that makes it unsafe to venture out on two wheels. So, she offers us ideas to make driving more efficient ... including one way which involves the Internet. For this week's challenge she got to wondering about the meaning behind Halloween. She then started thinking about how she could have a celebration that wasn't about buying candy and expensive costumes or about "following" the trends created by card and/or candy companies. She and Liz had a little conversation and the result was a brilliant idea ... something for the whole neighborhood ... something that celebrates the meaning behind Halloween and ... something which is fun for everyone. Curious? You can read about it HERE.

Alicia left a wonderful comment about this challenge. In her words "When our children were little they wanted to dress up as characters from the Bible so we got to be eco friendly even back then by using items we already had and they would have so much fun putting their costumes together. Because we live in the country we don't have a lot of traffic on Halloween so we don't have to buy a lot of goodies. That makes it easy to go to someplace like Whole Foods and pass out tasty good for you treats! Believe it or not there are a lot of good treats available and most of them taste as good or better than the bad for you treats." Lovely ideas, Alicia!

Costumes aren't just for children ... The Accessory Lady "dresses up" and this year she's going to put together her costume from items she already owns. She's also going to dig out costumes from previous years and make them available to others ... someone who might be able to use them. Oh the lucky person who gets them ... AL has great style!!

In this POST Cinella gives us an update on the walking vs. driving challenge. So here's a question ... what does science have to do with this challenge? Read her post to find out. For this week, Cinella shares that she and her family observe Dia de los Muertos, combining a traditional celebration with Halloween. She suggests that, instead of giving out candy, people give out non-food items, like rulers.

When we purchase Halloween goodies, how do we pay for them? Many of us use debit cards ... which have been in the news lately because a certain bank decided to charge customers for using them. That's the focus of this ARTICLE by Ann. While I didn't come away with specific Halloween tips and ideas, I did learn about change.org and the power of social networks ... and, from the comments section (thanks EcoGrrl) I learned that one can actually use a debit card as a credit card and avoid any problems. Wow ... a challenge on Halloween is far reaching ... rather like "Six degrees of separation".

Jen wrote a wonderful article which you can read HERE. She offers many ideas for greening up Halloween including trading costumes instead of buying them new. Nice!

Joanne shared several ideas on twitter. Check out her tips (all in 140 characters or less): 1) Wait til Halloween 2 prepare lantern. Seeds get toasted in toaster oven, pulp goes in compost, next day bake w/pumpkin. 2) Use clothing you have on hand to create a unique Halloween costume or rework old costumes on hand to create something new. 3) Visit your local organic grocery store for some tasty Halloween treat ideas. If its close enough to walk there, all the better! :). 4) Trick or treat with reusable bags. The kids can decorate them themselves. 5) This Halloween, walk rather than drive the kids to gather treats. 6) Healthy Halloween Goodies: Organic chocolates, Fruity organic cookies, Natural chewing gums in assorted flavors, Organic fruit leather. 7) Swapping Halloween costume a more eco-friendly option http://t.co/8bxqzQ0B 8) Green Your Halloween With Vegan And Eco-Friendly Makeup http://t.co/AGuqr3K4http://t.co/AGuqr3K4. WhooHoo!

Stephanie wrote Thinking outside of the candy box. One of the ideas she shares is to buy fair trade, organic treats. Check out her post for several other great ideas.

The Shopping Charity gave our challenge a front page spot. Thanks so much!

Wow ... really good discussions and wonderful tips!

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of things to say. Let's meet them:

@waylandcook
@groovygreenlivi
@ggirlggreen
@pfwoman
@mom2tle
@msmoreau_guid
@whopaysthepiper
@jnjgogreen
@greencrescentae
@ShoppingCharity

@littlegreenblog
@tiffanystoybox
@gogreenbeans
@noteasy2begreen
@nativegardener
@accessorygal
@hshawjr
@trusk4u
@Tmuffindotcom
@FiveFreeApps

@nonmom
@givetreegifts
@Lynn_Stone
@cjrthemamiblog
@AlmostTruth
@catcanpaint
@topmovingtips
@rewinn
@dpixel

My final thoughts: It's easy to be seduced into buying a lot of wasteful "junk" when it comes to celebrating an event. Last week, as I headed for the cashier, I noticed huge crates full of Halloween flashlights ... cute little characters sure to draw the attention and interest of children (and who can resist the pleading eyes of a child). What bothered me, in addition to the obvious marketing scheme and the fact that these items were made primarily of plastic, was that they were intended to be a single-use item ... they were designed to fail after a few hours. The batteries were sealed into a compartment which wasn't accessible ... and their life span wasn't very long. The lever that opened the flashlight was cheap and sure to break after a short time. It reminded me, once again, that we can never relax our "green" standards ... that we must always consider our impact and make the best choices possible.

Great job, everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

This week's challenge comes from Rachel. She suggests that we revist an old challenge ... with a twist. Here you go:

This week, replace at least one incandescent bulb in your home with either a CFL or LED bulb.

OR ...

If you accomplished this challenge when we first ran it in July of 2009 (or before) ... or if you felt, at that time, that you couldn't participate ... we'd like to know how it's gone since then. Are you using Eco-friendly bulbs ... why or why not? Do you prefer CFLs or LEDs ... and why? If you're using Eco-friendly bulbs, have you noticed a decrease in your electric bill? Do you recycle bulbs ... if so, where? We'd like to know where you're at now in regards to light bulbs.

UP THE ANTE (On the Halloween challenge): Argentum Vulgaris challenges us further. Here it is: Don’t buy anything that is used only once for Hallowe’en! Make, or use what you have. Who's going to take him up on this one??

So what do you think ... ready to take on this challenge?

Until next time ...

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

A Green Halloween

2011-10-10T09:00:00.011-04:00

It's that time of year again ... when the veil between the living and the dead becomes thin and spirits can be seen walking the earth. Shadows come alive and threaten to grab us ... witches fly and ghosts materialize before our very eyes.

In other words ... it's almost Halloween and time for our annual "Spooky" post!

Question: What's the ratio of a pumpkin's circumference to its diameter?

Answer: Pumpkin Pi

It's almost Halloween ... that creepy night of ghosts and ghouls. Little goblins everywhere are getting ready. Can Moms and Dads make it green? Well sure!! Here are some tricks and treats ... I mean tips:

-Are you going to carve a pumpkin ... or decorate one?

If you haven't grown your own, buy one from a local farm or farmer's market.
Use every part of the pumpkin. The seeds can be toasted and eaten as snacks ... they are healthy and taste great. One can toast them in the oven or in a dry frying pan on the stove. When they are brown, carefully remove them (they are very hot at this stage) and immediately sprinkle your favorite seasoning on them (mine is creole seasoning but kids might prefer something less spicy ... like a little salt). Not in the mood for toasting seeds? Try tossing them, either wet or dry, into the yard for birds ... they love them.
Use the flesh of the pumpkin to make a pie, soup, cookies or flan ... it might require a bit more sugar than the smaller, pie pumpkins.
After Halloween ... compost the shell instead of sending it to the landfill.

Question: How do you mend a broken Jack-O-Lantern?

Answer: With a pumpkin patch

-Are you planning a party for your little ones?

Send email invitations rather than the "snail mail" variety. There are a lot of seriously spooky e-cards on the Internet.
Use re-usable plates, cups, utensils, napkins and tablecloths. Paper party goods can be expensive and just add more clutter to our nation's landfills.
Serve some healthy, fun treats that aren't individually wrapped ... popcorn, apples, fruit leather (in the shape of worms and snakes) and ghostly cookie skeletons.

-Get creative with costumes.

Make costumes from old clothes (downsize adult suits, dresses, etc.)
Check your closets for "retro" clothing (got any old "hippie" duds? Cool, dude!).
Pull out costume jewelry ... little princesses, gypsies and pirates love "bling".
Hats of any kind can "top off" an outfit.
Shop at Goodwill ... they have not only organized merchandise into a special Halloween section but also offer some creative costumes ideas made from second-hand garb.

These are just a few ideas. I'm sure that with a little thought ... you can conjure up a few of your own.

OK ... one more ... then I'll stop ... I promise!

Question: What is a pumpkin's favorite sport?

Answer: Squash

OK ... I'm done!

Vegan Recipe - Cabbage Soup

2011-10-07T09:00:00.031-04:00

Welcome to the first Friday of the month and another vegan recipe. I post recipes on Reduce Footprints, once a month, because eating meatless meals is one of the easiest ways to walk gently on the planet. Good food that is good for the environment and our health ... what could be better!

This month's recipe comes from ... me! We enjoy it, with homemade rustic bread, for dinner. I hope you and your family enjoy it as well.

CABBAGE SOUP

Servings: 3-4

Ingredients

1/4 head medium Cabbage, sliced
1 medium Onion, sliced
1 medium Jalepno, sliced
4 large cloves of Garlic
1/4 teaspoon Liquid Smoke
1 Bay Leaf
2 large Bouillon Cubes
6-8 cups Water
2 handfuls dried Beans (any variety, rinsed & sorted)
Salt & Pepper as required

Method

Toss everything, except the salt & pepper, into a soup pot and cook for approximately 90 minutes.
Add salt and pepper as required and continue cooking for another 30 minutes or until beans are cooked.
Serve hot.

Notes

This is a very versatile soup.
For a heartier dish try adding cubed potatoes (1 medium), quinoa, pasta, or rice (a small amount ... about 1/4 cup).
If you like a zestier soup, add cayenne pepper or experiment with different hot peppers.
Any dried beans work in this recipe but I prefer white beans (Northern, Navy, etc.)
One can substitute veggie broth for the bouillon cubes & water.

If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please send it to me HERE. And for all the recipes we've shared so far, be sure to visit our recipe page using the tabs at the top of the page ... or by clicking HERE.

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-10-05T00:05:00.054-04:00

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 with our challenge ... I have GREAT news ... I WON the vegan-tips contest. WhooHoo! You can see my announcement at the top of the blog. Wow! Thanks to all of you who took the time to for vote for my article and support my effort. I'm dancing on air! :-)

There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you'd rather jump straight to the current challenge, you can do so by clicking here: This Week's Challenge

Last week EcoGrrl challenged us all to replace one car trip with a walking or biking trip. Some of you shared that doing so wouldn't work because of safety issues and/or the travel distance involved. Being resourceful "greenies", however, you simply modified the challenge a bit and agreed to reduce driving by making the most of each trip. Other people have been "car-less" for a long time and shared how they make it work. And still others took the opportunity to get out and enjoy the fresh air instead of driving. It was a fun week and I'd like to thank EcoGrrl for a wonderful suggestion.

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who share our challenges on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. They are a fun group of people and if you're a Twitter member, I highly recommend following them ... they have a lot of great things to say. Let's meet them:

@tmuffindotcom
@tif_hamilton
@givetreegifts
@mom2tle
@dpixel
@groovygreenlivi
@whopaysthepiper
@hshawjr
@greengiftsguide
@cjrthemamiblog
@trusk4u

@theorganicblond
@nurturedbeauty
@littlegreenblog
@pinkladyapril
@gwened02
@almosttruth
@waylandcook
@upcycledlove
@nonmom
@gogreenbeans
@theresourceress

@envirofusion
@tiffanystoybox
@skipbang
@lynn_stone
@GreenCrescentAE
@yan_tougas
@shoppingcharity
@nativegardener
@oneadayart
@GGirlGGreen

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing a post about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments. Let's see what they had to say this week:

Gaby and Liz, from Green Baby Diaper Service, have been "MIA" for awhile but they are back. Yay! We missed you and are happy to see you again! Gaby wrote a wonderful post about our previous challenge on reducing water waste. It's a fun "conversation" which you can read HERE. She is also accepting this week's challenge by walking to a nearby store to do her grocery shopping. As for any other trips, she shares that there are no shoulders on the roads in her area and walking/biking isn't safe.

EcoGrrl has been car-free for over three years. Yep ... you read that right ... over THREE YEARS. WhooHoo! So how does she do it? Click HERE to read her comments on the subject. One of the added benefits that she talks about is not having to buy car insurance or gas. Now that's a pretty good incentive to make the switch. She also shares, in another comment, that riding a bike is a great way to get out and explore. Thanks, EcoGrrl!

Amy lives in the country about 15 miles from the nearest store and 25 miles to the nearest town. So biking doesn't work for her. To minimize car use, she makes only one trip a week and does all her shopping at that time. While reading Amy's comment, I was reminded that living "green" is often a matter of planing and being organized. Great job, Amy!

In this POST Mrs. Green shares that riding a bike in her area isn't safe. But rather than think about what she can't do, she focuses on what she can do. And what exactly is that? Head over to her "place" to find out! Love your "can-do" attitude, Mrs. Green! And I hope that by this writing you and little Miss Green are feeling better!

Cinella took on this challenge and walks her kids to school several times a week. She's also hoping to get a bike which she'll use to do grocery shopping. Cinella shares our challenge in this POST.

We have another "Super Star" ... Argentum Vulgaris. He's been car-free for over 20 years. Wowee! In this POST he talks about how the first part of his life was spent driving everywhere (and driving everything). Then he made the switch. What prompted that drastic change? Be sure to read his post to find out ... it's fascinating!

There's more than one way to eliminate a car trip. In this ARTICLE Rachel shares another one with us. Here's a hint: it involves the telephone. Think you know what it is? Head on over to "Rachel's place" to find out.

Tiffany walks her kids (Tristin and Tyler) to school ... and for this challenge she's considering a walk to the grocery store (it's a LONG walk but she's up for it). How did it go, Tiffany?

Lynn shares that just in time for this challenge, the weather changed and became cold and wet. Ugh! But Lynn is another dedicated "greenie" and focused on what she could do. Her "can-do" activity involves the state fair. Hm ... curious? Read all about it HERE.

Betsy is new to our challenges. Welcome, Betsy!! While this POST wasn't written for our challenge, it addresses children and walking to school ... something which many folks have gotten away from ... and another opportunity to leave the car parked. I also learned that TODAY, OCTOBER 5th, IS "NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY". WhooHoo! By the way, Betsy, you don't need to be a tweeter to join our challenges ... we're all about taking small actions that impact the environment in a positive way. Hope to see you, here, again!

This EDITION of The Shopping Charity picked up several of my tweets including one about our challenge, one about "Organic Harvest Month" written by a member of our Honor Society, and one about some changes which Portland, OR, is making to their waste pick-up service (brilliant). Check it out! They also mentioned our challenge in these two editions ... HERE and HERE.

Alicia is another person who lives too far away from shopping, etc., to walk or ride a bike. So she makes every trip count ... when she's making a delivery for her business (Eco Natural Soap), she shops for groceries in the area. She also has a freezer and buys in bulk, eliminating the need for frequent trips. Great job, Alicia!

Brenna and her kids are participating in National Walk To School Day. WhooHoo! In this POST she talks about it and she offers a great suggestion ... a walking school bus. Brenna is lucky to live in an area where she and her family can walk to the library, the grocery store ... and to school. Nice!

Ann shares this POST about a family whose preferred mode of transportation is the bicycle. The interesting thing about this family is that they have small children who aren't big enough to bike on their own ... and they ride during all kinds of weather. Check out the pictures for how they do it. Thanks, Ann!

Sylvia has a wonderful idea ... a 5-mile rule. In her words "I've instituted a 5-mile guideline: if our outing is less than 5 miles one way and I can fit whatever we need for it in my backpack (no panniers YET), we ride the bike instead of taking the car. I keep it under 5 miles because I have a toddler with me in the iBert and our town isn't very bike friendly (lots of busy streets w/o bike lanes or sidewalks). I've been sooo happy with my 5-mile rule! Now, if all I need is an onion, for example, we just hop on the bike and go. In fact, now errands with my son are fun because he loves the ride also. I plan to keep this up as long as the weather permits." Fabulous idea, Sylvia!! By the way, if you're interested in converting from commercial shampoos to natural versions, be sure to check out MaMammalia ... Sylvia offers a ton of recipes and advice.

Most of our reasons for not biking have to do with safety and distance. But in this POST Rewinn talks about another deterrent ... and how he solved the problem. Nicely done, Rewinn!

Our friend Joanne used twitter to offer us a whole bunch of ideas. Here they are: 1) Walk or bike to the store. If it is too far, drive 1/2 way & walk or bike the rest. 2) Take the stairs instead of the elevator. 3) Deliver messages or documents in person. 4) Invest in a bike rack 4 ur vehicle & saddle bags for your bike. If journey is too far to bike, u can drive part way & bike the rest. 5) City of Regina Transit has bike racks on the front of the buses so that you can take your bike along for your commute. Thanks, Joanne!

The fabulous Good Girl Gone Green wrote this POST entitled "Reduce Your Footprints One Step or Pedal at a Time". In it she shares an different perspective ... driving isn't always convenient. Wow! She also shares some eye-opening statistics about trips driven vs. those walked/biked. It definitely makes one stop and think!

Lori, from Groovy Green Livin, wrote a wonderful post for National Walk To School Day which you can find HERE. She offers us some great tips ... ideas that work even if walking the entire way to school isn't feasible for your family. And here's a thought ... the ideas which she presents are workable for more than just trips to school. Thanks, Lori!

My final thoughts on this challenge: Many areas don't have sidewalks or bike lanes so leaving the car at home means sharing the road with traffic and that isn't safe ... especially if you're traveling with children. If that is the case in your area, I suggest contacting city/county officials to let them know that you want these safety features in your community. And get your friends and neighbors involved ... the community leaders need to know how you feel. There are also many areas that don't offer convenient, inexpensive bus service. Again, tell your public officials that it's something you want and need.

Great job, everyone ... I really enjoyed the discussion and learned a lot! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

This week's challenge comes from Jen:

Halloween is coming up so ... this week consider the environmental impact of the treats we give out and offer suggestions for better alternatives. Let's expand on Jen's idea and include parties, costumes, etc.

OR ...

If you don't celebrate Halloween, please offer us some ideas for Eco-friendly snacks and entertaining.

Are you up for this challenge? I know that you are! Thanks to Jen for the idea!!

Ready for our mantra? Here we go ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-09-28T00:05:00.027-04:00

@AlwaysWellWithn
@dpixel
@Tif_Hamilton
@nemecene
@tiffanystoybox
@cjrthemamiblog
@whopaysthepiper
@littlegreenblog
@lynn_stone
@accessorygal
@0wastenorthants
@superwaterman

@nonmom
@givetreegifts
@envirobooty
@greengiftsguide
@waylandcook
@peopletowels
@greencrescentae
@skipbang
@oneadayart
@gwened02
@waxelene

@noteasy2begreen
@groovygreenlivi
@vapur
@hshawjr
@shoppingcharity
@handhmomma
@yan_tougas
@GreenCartoons
@catcanpaint
@LongpointEscape
@AlmostTruth

Our Honor Society is made up of people who write posts and/or leave comments about our challenges. Let's see what they had to say about conserving water:

EcoGrrl has been canning lately and shares that she boils several loads of jars before tossing the water into the garden. Yay! She also has a rain barrel which provided water for her front yard plants (roses, herbs, berries, etc).

In this POST, Mrs. Green offers us 8 tiny tips for reducing water waste. One of her suggestions involves fish. Fish?? Yes, indeedy! Head on over to "her place" and check it out ... it's brilliant!

Argentum Vulgaris has been using bits of water for a long time. One of his saving techniques results in curry-flavored tomatoes. :-) If that wasn't enough to peak your interest, his suggestion for a new challenge just might ... it involves the BBQ. Check out his post HERE

Jen stopped by. She suggested a bunch of challenge ideas which we'll be seeing in the coming weeks.

Joanne Wotherspoon (aka @givetreegifts) tweeted a whole bunch of water saving tips. Here they are: 1) Pre-1990 toilets install water displacement device in the tank. 2) Turn off the tap while brushing teeth & save 95 litres a month. 3) Put food coloring in toilet tank. If it seeps into bowl without flushing you have a leak. Fix the leak & save over 4000 litres/month. 4) Showers use 1/2 the water of a bath. 5) Shorten showers by 1 to 2 minutes & save 500 litres/month. 6) Reuse water used for rinsing veggies to water plants. 7) Install water efficient showerhead. WhooHoo ... thanks, Joanne!

@nonmom had a great suggestion ... instead of printing paperwork, save the files electronically (print to a file, save on an ipod or phone, etc.). If you're wondering how this reduces water waste, consider this ... it takes a LOT of water to produce paper so if we reduce paper use, we reduce water use. Yay!

Tristin and Tyler always turn off the water while they are brushing their teeth. Mom, Tiffany, shares that her biggest problem is letting the water run while she mops and scrubs the toilets/tub. So, she's going to get a bucket and fill it with water when she cleans. Yay! Thanks, Tiffany!

Our very own Good Girl Gone Green, aka Stephanie, wrote Use It Responsibly and shares a number of tips. My favorite is #2 under the heading of "Reuse". Want a hint? Okay ... hanging plants.

Amy has a unique water waste situation ... she has farm animals that seem to enjoy knocking over their water containers ... just for fun. So, she is trying to tie their buckets to a solid object. She uses rain water to water both the animals and her garden. And, as if that wasn't enough, Amy and her husband are planning to install a grey water system for outside and a rain water collection system for use inside. Wow!

We have a new Honor Society member ... Joe Mohr (aka @GreenCartoons on twitter). Welcome Joe! He shares that he's a fellow water conservationist and offers us this POST which includes a whole bunch of water saving ideas. One of the most interesting is the Slingshot. Have you heard of it? It has a bit of an "eeeuuuwwww" factor but it's really quite brilliant. Check it out! Joe also shares this "FUNNY" about "green" snot. He said that in preparing that cartoon he "learned that If every household in the US replaced just one box of 175-count virgin fiber facial tissue with a 100% recycled version we could save 140 million gallons of water, a year's supply for over 1,100 families of four. Buy recycled paper products (if u have to buy any). It's a big way to save water beyond what everyone is already doing." Thanks, Joe!

CC in Canada has a couple of great water-saving tips for us. In her words, "I offer these 2 ideas that save literally GALLONS of water every day: 1) I keep empty 2-liter plastic beverage bottles (from cranberry juice, V8, etc.) in the bathroom. Before having a shower, I catch the still-cold running water from the bathtub faucet into these bottles. Sometimes it seems to take forever for the water to become hot; catching the "waiting water" and using it to water plants later saves at least 2 liters of water per shower. When the water from the tap turns hot enough for the shower, I flick the switch to divert the water from "tub" to "shower". 2) During the non-winter months, I keep a plastic dishpan (or bucket, depending on the depth of the sink and the configuration of the taps) in the kitchen sink. We catch all the water we use from rinsing vegetables, washing hands, running a glass of drinking water---basically everything not involving dishwashing, fats/oils, or meats (we're veggies, so this isn't an issue in our house). We also empty leftover tea and coffee into this bucket. We then dump the collected water onto outdoor plants: flowerboxes, junipers, rosebushes, evergreen trees---anything in the yard. We live on the Canadian prairies, so we don't do this in the winter, as we fear that pouring warm water onto "hibernating" plants at extreme temperatures would result in plant damage. On an average day with 2 adults in the house, we save at least 15 gallons of water this way! We did not have to use the hose to water our plants all summer long. Thanks, CC!

In this POST Lynn says that change is "brewing" ... and she includes visuals. Head on over because you don't want to miss that article! It'll make you smile!

The Shopping Charity picked up a tweet about a #CTWW post ... was it yours? There are a bunch of wonderful articles in this edition of The Shopping Charity, including one about the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Worthwhile reading ... I hope you'll check it out!

Jennifer says that most of her water waste comes from the kitchen (rinsing, washing, etc.). She's going to reduce it and she shares that she'll be taking her cat's water and using it on houseplants. She's going to be taking a break from blogging for awhile. Enjoy your time away, Jennifer ... we'll miss you and will look forward to your return.

Cinella wrote this POST and shares some clever ideas, including one about taking baths. If you're like me, you're thinking that a bath is not a way to reduce water use ... but check out Cinella's idea for baths ... it might change your mind. And later in the post, she takes on City Hall ... well ... maybe not City Hall but taking her suggested action is probably just as tough. Check it out!

When you think about reusable containers, does beer come to mind? Well, it does to Rewinn who is fortunate enough to live close to a brewery. He picked up a "growler" in a thrift store and carries it to the brewery. He gets a little exercise by walking, drinks a freshly brewed beer and reuses a container. Brilliant! In this POST you'll read about another way he uses his "growler" ... his neighbors might be talking but he's living "green".

Brenna says "I think our biggest waste is when waiting for the water to get hold (or cold) and letting it run. I have been trying to capture the water as it gets hotter to water my plants. I am going to start keeping water in my fridge for drinking so I don't have to waste any waiting for the tap to get cold enough."

The Green House used waste water this week to water the lawn. They've been suffering through a drought and that means that their yard has gone without ... so using waste water, including water from their fish tank, they gave it a much-needed drink. While this POST wasn't written specifically for #CTWW, it really speaks to our challenges and what we're trying to do. Be sure to head over and give it a read ... it's wonderful!

Rachel has rain barrels for watering the plants and washing cars. She also shares another, very clever idea ... she uses the still-warm water from her hot water bottle (which I'm assuming she takes to bed with her) to wash in the morning. Fabulous idea! After reading AV's post, she did a little investigative work to learn where her water comes from. She found out that, in Wales, only 5% of water supplies are groundwater and the majority comes from reservoirs. Interesting! How many of you know where your water comes from?

Thanks to everyone for such great ideas and a marvelous effort! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. If you'd like to help spread the word, please use the share feature at the bottom of this post.

This Week's Challenge:

Many of you accepted the second part of last week's #CTWW activity and offered up wonderful ideas for new challenges. So, in the coming weeks we'll get to each of them, starting with this one from EcoGrrl:

This week replace at least one car trip with a bicycle or walking trip.

OR ...

If you never use a car, please write a post about how you make a "no car" life work.

Until next time ...

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

29 Tips for Fall

2011-09-23T09:00:00.115-04:00

Welcome to the first day of Autumn. As we move into the cooler months, we have the perfect opportunity to "green" up our routine. We've been compiling this list of ideas over the past several years ... they are tried and true. If you're moving into spring instead of fall, click HERE for some ways to get ready for the warmer months. Here are your fall tips:

Check the air pressure in your tires. Cooler temperatures lower tire pressure and that, in turn, lowers fuel efficiency. So check your tires and make sure that they are properly inflated.
If you have a garage, park the car in it. As the weather gets colder, using a garage will alleviate the need to warm up the car before driving ... and will save fuel.
Clean and test the furnace. Did you know that your furnace needs cleaning? Yep ... it collects all kinds of dust and debris which not only affects it's performance but could cause a fire. Before you really need the heat, get out your owner's manual for instructions on how to clean it. No manual? Check here or call a furnace maintenance company. If you have a gas furnace, have it professionally inspected once a year.
Move furniture or any obstructions from vents, baseboard heaters, registers on the floor or radiators so that air moves freely. This is also a good time to vacuum these areas to remove any dust or debris. And here's a tip if you have a radiator ... place a reflecting panel behind it ... you can purchase one at a home center or make one yourself with a plywood panel and aluminum foil.
Remove window air conditioners for the winter. If they can't be removed, seal them with caulking or tape and cover them with an airtight, insulated jacket.
Vacuum the refrigerator coils to keep the compressor running efficiently. It's also a good time to check that the refrigerator is level ... the door should automatically swing shut instead of staying open. Check the seal on the door ... try closing it on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out easily, it's time to replace the gaskets. Repeat this process at several spots along the door to ensure that the entire seal is working. Here's another tip for running the refrigerator efficiently ... don't over fill it. Allowing room for cool air to circulate will keep everything at the right temperature. And how about another tip ... plan ahead and defrost frozen items in the refrigerator instead of on the counter top ... the frozen items will help keep your refrigerator cool thus making it run less.
Clean the ducts and area behind the dryer. And don't forget, clean the filter after every use and every once in awhile, give it a good wash.
Check windows for proper caulking. If you have single-pane windows, add storm windows. Even a plastic film over windows will reduce heat loss.
Check doors for weather stripping and replace as necessary. If drafts sneak in under exterior doors, replace the threshold or block the drafts with a rolled-up towel or blanket.
Check your roof for any missing or damaged tiles or shingles.
Clean the roof gutters and make sure downspouts are pointed away from the house. Now would also be a good time to install a rain barrel ... rather than allow water to drain into one spot, a rain barrel would allow you to direct the water to where it's most needed.
Electrical outlets, especially on outside walls, and light fixtures are prime places for cold air to leak into your home. Add foam gaskets behind covers and switch plates, and use safety plugs in unused outlets. Be sure to shut off the power at the fuse box or circuit panel before doing this.
Install foam covers over outside water spigots to prevent freezing.
Check for water leaks both inside and outside.
Wrap the water heater in an insulating blanket.
If you have a ceiling fan, reverse the direction ... the fan should be run in a clockwise direction (stand under the fan and if you feel a breeze, reverse the direction so that air is being drawn upwards). This pushes the air up against the ceiling and down the walls, to gently re-circulate the warm air without creating a cooling "wind chill effect."
Do you have a fireplace? This is a good time to have the chimney cleaned and get vent systems checked.
If your home has no sidewall insulation, place heavy furniture like bookshelves, armoires and sofas along exterior walls, and use decorative quilts as wall hangings. This will help block cold air.
Hang a thick curtain in front of the door to block cold air from entering the house. Use a shower curtain rod and loop hangers so that the curtain can be easily pushed to the side to open the door.
Bring in any houseplants that have spent the summer outdoors. They'll help clean the air. Hint ... for about a week, bring them in at night and then put them out during the day. This will ensure that they aren't "shocked".
Do a little outdoor landscaping. Trees and bushes, planted in the fall, have ample time to develop strong, deep root systems before the heat of the next summer. This increases their chances of surviving and typically means less watering during hot months. For a discussion on fall gardening, click HERE.
As the autumn leaves begin to fall, consider raking them up rather than using a "blower" (it's great exercise). Once raked up, use them as mulch to protect plants throughout the winter or add them to a compost pile.
Even though fresh, local produce isn't as abundant during this season, there are still many options available. Visit local farms or farmer's markets and find out what's available and then, eat locally and in season. Visit Sustainable Table to learn which crops are growing in your area.
Before packing away those summer clothes, go through them and determine which items to keep, which items to repurpose into something else (cleaning rags, craft projects, etc.) and which to donate.
Bring out all those warm sweaters, socks, slippers and blankets so that when the temperature falls you'll be ready to bundle up instead of raising the thermostat.
Are your kids returning to school? Consider buying clothes, backpacks, etc. from second hand stores and/or thrift shops. If you're buying new items at a store, opt for earth-friendly products and don't forget to pay attention to packaging. Also consider investing in reusable lunch items (beverage bottles, utensils, napkins, etc.) to further minimize your child's impact on the planet.
Do your kids ride the bus to school? Often buses sit in front of a school, idling while they wait for kids to climb aboard. Suggest, to your school or the bus company, that bus drivers turn off the engine when waiting for their passengers. And, of course, if it's possible for your kids to walk to school ... all the better (for them and the earth).
Speaking of school buses, as the weather gets cooler, there's a tendency to drive kids to the bus stop. To save that fuel, bundle up and walk your kids to the bus stop instead.
In the fall entertaining moves indoors. There are football parties, cozy dinner parties and later events like Halloween and Thanksgiving. When planning your fall event, consider reusable plates, napkins and utensils, decorations from nature, clean burning soy candles and plenty of plant-based foods on your menu.

Do you have any fall tips that we haven't covered? We'd love to hear them!

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-09-21T00:05:00.022-04:00

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 thank all of you who graciously took the time to vote for my article in the Vegan Coach's contest. I so appreciate your support. The contest ends today and the winner will be announced in a couple of weeks. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but either way, your friendship and support has meant the world to me. Thank you!

Okay ... let's get started on this week's Change The World Wednesday activities!

There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you'd rather jump straight to the current challenge, you can do so by clicking here: This Week's Challenge

Last week we did a little maintenance on our refrigerators. We checked the seals, vacuumed the coils and made sure that we were neither over filling or under filling them. It wasn't a huge activity and didn't take more than a few minutes but keeping it maintained ensures that it runs as efficiently as possible.

We lovingly refer to them at the #CTWW Gang. They hit the Twitter waves each week and spread the word using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on Twitter, these are great folks to follow. Let's meet them:

@envirobooty
@pfwoman
@nurturedbeauty
@theorganicblond
@whopaysthepiper
@lynn_stone
@gogreenbeans
@ggirlggreen
@ReneeANDSharon

@almosttruth
@gwened02
@hshawjr
@noteasy2begreen
@waylandcook
@groovygreenlivi
@yan_tougas
@rewinn
@dpixel

@alwayswellwithn
@greenbacksgal
@cjrthemamiblog
@peopletowels
@givetreegifts
@emevocative
@oneadayart
@mycraftcorner

Our Honor Society is made up of people who write posts and/or leave comments about our challenges. Let's check in with them:

Brenna was in the emergency room, last week, with her daughter. We hope your daughter is okay, Brenna!! She didn't think she'd have time for a post about this week's challenge but ... she made time. In this ARTICLE she talks about her efforts and offers us some additional information. For example, did you know that cleaning around the refrigerator (coils, vents, etc.) can improve efficiency by 30 percent? And how cold should our refrigerators be? Brenna tells us. It's a wonderful, informative post! Thanks, Brenna!

Amy wrote a lovely post called Wishcasting Wednesday and CTWW ... doesn't that sound intriguing? She shares a sentiment that it so important ... in her words: "One of the things that I have to remember in my life is that I can take small steps to get to the large goal I have, I don't have to leap to the large goal right away." How true!

Argentum Vulgaris says that his fridge is his nemesis. Hm ... what do you think he means by that? Are you curious? Head over and read this POST.

Sometimes a picture ... or in this case a video ... is worth a thousand words. That's certainly the case with THIS VIDEO from Cinella. In it she shows us how she checked her refrigerator including checking the seal at various spots on the door. Brilliant!

Stephanie took the challenge and promised to do a little refrigerator maintenance this week. By the way, she's completed her second week of Project Green Foot. Each week she lists her purchases, the miles she and her husband drive, etc., with the goal being to reduce their carbon footprint over a year's time. Be sure to check it out and follow their progress.

Our Funtastically Green Girl, Lynn, met this challenge by potty training her fridge. Oh you know you want to read this one ... and you can do so HERE.

Ann asked a very good question ... should the refrigerator be kept full or not. As I understand it, the refrigerator shouldn't be too full because it operates most efficiently when cool air can circulate around the food. On the other hand, it shouldn't be too empty because cold food helps keep the temperature low. In this POST Ann shares our banner and she talks about teaching children to "save".

Jen was planning on cleaning out her refrigerator so to meet this challenge she decided to do a real "spring" cleaning on it as well. Yay! Recently, on her blog, she did a great piece on junk mail ... check it out HERE and find out what weird mail she received.

Jennifer has a new, Energy Star refrigerator so she's in fine shape. She offers us a good tip on another energy drain ... the stove. She shares that to maximize efficiency, try to match the pot size to the burner size so that no heat is wasted. Brilliant! Have you ever thought about the reasons one might NOT go green? Jennifer has given it a lot of thought as you'll see in this POST.

How did Mrs. Green score on this challenge? She's always very honest with us so do you think her refrigerator is in tip-top condition ... or does it need work? Find out HERE. In the comments section of that post she said something very interesting. When she and her family went on holiday, only three things were left on ... the refrigerator, the freezer and one small LED light. Now remember, The Greens were on holiday so that means that the refrigerator wasn't opened and closed ... neither was the freezer. So how much electricity was used while they were gone for a week? 3 kwh! Wow! It is definitely worth our while to operate all of our appliances as efficiently as possible.

Alicia keeps her refrigerator maintained so she shared a tip on how to keep another energy hog running efficiently ... the clothes dryer. She suggests making sure that the dryer is vented properly and that the lint screen is cleaned after every use. Here's a surprise ... a dirty lint screen can make your dryer use up to 30% more energy. Wow! I'll add a tip to Alicia's ... if you use fabric softener sheets in the dryer (which, by the way, aren't Eco-friendly), the lint screen may become clogged. How can you tell? Take the lint screen and run water through it ... if the screen holds water, it's clogged. Give it a good wash with dish soap to remove the obstructions. Speaking of Eco-friendly, if you're looking for natural soaps, balms and lotions ... check out Alicia's shop HERE.

Mat stopped in. I'm hoping he'll swing back by and give me some hints on how to recover "lost" work from blogger ... last week's post was lost but according to Mat, I might have been able to recover it from somewhere deep in the recesses of my computer. Thanks for coming by, Mat!

Rewinn had his shop vac out a few weeks ago and vacuumed all the coils on his refrigerator. This week he checked the seal and made sure the unit is level. He's in fine shape! So he wrote this POST which made me go "Ahhhhhh". Thank you, my friend ... it was so kind of you! :-)

We talk about cleaning the coils on the refrigerator but do you know why that keeps things efficient? In this POST Rachel gives us a great explanation. She shares before and after pictures of her refrigerator and talks about the "tool" she used to do the cleaning. Rachel offers us another energy-saving tip ... take foods out of the freezer a day before you need them and let them defrost in the refrigerator. That lowers the temperature in the refrigerator so that it doesn't have to work so hard. Great idea, Rachel!

Great job everyone!! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. If you'd like to help spread the word, please use the share feature at the bottom of this post.

Okay ... onward ...

This Week's Challenge:

We've done several challenges designed to reduce water in a big way. For example, we've taken fewer showers, shorter showers and only washed clothes when they were truly dirty. This week we're going to again reduce water use by wasting less. Here you go:

This week pay close attention to the water which gets tossed down the drain and reduce it. For example, if you put ice in your drink, toss the ice in a planter rather than toss it in the drain. Is there a small amount of coffee left in the pot? Try freezing it for use in iced coffees or to flavor cake. How about the water left in a pot after steaming vegetables? Mrs. Green taught me to save that water & use it for making rice, pasta, etc. The idea, here, is to pay attention to those small amounts of water which usually get tossed down the drain and find more Eco-efficient uses for them ... and thereby reduce waste.

AND ...

In addition to reducing water waste, I'd like your help on future challenges. Please leave a comment with ideas for new activities. These can be something your passionate about ... something that you struggle with ... or perhaps something you'd like to use as a way to increase our awareness. If your idea is used (which is almost 100% certain), I'll give you credit and link back to your blog.

Are you up for this challenge? I know that you are!

Until next time ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-09-14T00:05:00.234-04:00

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.

Due to a computer glitch (and Blogger's AutoSave feature) the Change The World Wednesday post, which I spent several hours writing, has disappeared. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to recreate it so we won't be doing a recap this week. I do apologize!

Let's jump right into this weeks challenge:

Refrigerators use a lot of energy. We can minimize their impact by making sure they operate efficiently. So this week let's do a little refrigerator maintenance. Here you go:

Check that your refrigerator is level ... the door should automatically swing shut instead of staying open. Check the seal on the door ... try closing it on a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out easily, it's time to replace the gaskets. Check the back of your refrigerator to be sure that it's clean ... vacuum coils if you have them to ensure that the compressor runs efficiently. How full is your refrigerator? Be sure that it isn't too full ... allow room for cool air to circulate which will keep everything at the right temperature.

Or ...

If you are already diligent at keeping your refrigerator in tip-top condition, please tell us about another electrical device that could run more efficiently with a little "TLC".

Until next time (complete with the week's recap of your posts, tweets & comments) ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-09-07T00:05:00.250-04:00

@yan_tougas
@clothmamajess
@ecobears
@whopaysthepiper
@rubbishgeek
@waylandcook
@dpixel
@nonmom
@givetreegifts
@pinkladyapril
@rewinn

@peopletowels
@jnjgogreen
@pfwoman
@lynn_stone
@russechd
@hshawjr
@noteasy2begreen
@gogreenbeans
@theorganicblond
@ambianceeco
@ggirlggreen

@nurturedbeauty
@waxelene
@littlegreenblog
@gwened02
@skipbang
@oneadayart
@groovygreenlivi
@envirofusion
@tiffanystoybox
@longpointescape

Our Honor Society is made up of people who write articles and/or post comments about our challenge. Let's see what they had to say:

EcoGrrl committed to carrying a "Spork" while away from home. Nice!

In this POST, Rachel says that she spends most of her time at home so reducing waste away from home is a challenge. But she did find one item which she can improve upon ... something she carries in her purse ... something which is a single-use item ... something which comes in plastic containers. Can you guess what it is?

Argentum Vulgaris has a tough time with waste in Brazil ... the country seems, at times, determined to create it. For example, in this POST you'll learn that salt/pepper shakers and condiment bottles are replaced with small packets in restaurants ... and it's mandated by law. But AV finds a way to meet the challenge away from home. Check out his post to find out how.

Alicia has some great ideas for reducing waste away from home. She suggests taking your own cloth napkins to avoid using paper ones in restaurants. She also suggests bringing along your own "doggie bag" containers for leftover food. Both Alicia and her husband carry their own reusable mugs to work, reducing even more waste. Great job, Alicia!

Jessica is back from vacation ... welcome "home" Jessica! She says that she is jumping right back into our challenges.

Nonmom commits to bringing reusable bags to the grocery store and buying local. If you've noticed how many plastic bags a person uses in one trip to the grocery store, then you know that Nonmom's efforts will reduce a lot of waste. Whoot! She is also committing to carrying her own reusable mug. Yay!

Tanya is focusing her efforts towards all the disposable items one receives in a restaurant: straws and their wrappers, coasters for drinks, to-go boxes, napkins, paper menus, etc. Some of the items she simply refuses ... like straws. With other items, she brings her own ... for example, cloth napkins. She also shared an idea from the #NZWW site ... a mobile compost container. Now that sounds interesting!

Lynn Stone is doing many of the same things mentioned by others. She's kicking it up a notch, however, and doing something which I believe will have an even greater impact. Here's a hint ... she'll be doing it at work with her co-workers. Can you guess what it is? Click HERE to find out!

@envirofusion left a great comment: "BYOR - Bring your own Reusables. Every day and everywhere, even when you travel. Let your lifestyle be infectious and share the zero waste concept with family and friends." I love that!!

Amy and her family are very conscientious when they go out to restaurants. They search out restaurants that use straws, utensils, etc. made from recycled products. They have also found a great use for those large plastic cups that many establishments use for drinks. Read about all of their efforts HERE. Amy has another suggestion which I think is wonderful ... she suggests that we share the following link with restaurant owners: http://letsgogreen.biz/pages/utensils/PET_cups.html. It's a page where they can get Eco-friendly service items. Thanks, Amy!

Tiffany and the boys (Tristin and Tyler) were going to a BBQ and they planned to refuse disposable utensils. In addition, the boys will be carrying reusable water bottles ... click HERE to see them talk about it.

Kristina reduces waste by sending her child to school with a cloth napkin and reusable utensils. And, in this POST, she talks about all of the ways one can reduce waste while on vacation. It's full of great ideas! For example ... do you recycle when you're staying in a hotel? She does!!

Stephanie (aka Good Girl Gone Green) has taken this challenge to a new level. She and her husband have committed to not only reducing their waste (both at home and away) but they have started Project Green Foot where they will attempt to calculate their carbon footprint over the next year. Wow! So, how will they do it? One of the most important ways to succeed, according to Stephanie, is preparation. She has a great idea in this POST ... “Zero Waste” goodie bags.

Rewinn is going to reduce waste by carrying his own reusable coffee mug. He's going to further reduce waste by purchasing that mug at a thrift/second hand store. WhooHoo! He calls it Coffee Cup Love!

If you are away from home, and generate compostable waste, but there isn't a composter available, what do you do? Find out what Jen does HERE. Wow! And be sure to read through the entire post, she offers all kinds of ways to reduce waste. Thanks, Jen!

Great job everyone. As always, if you wrote a post I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it. You, too, can help spread the word by using the share features at the end of this post.

Are you ready for more?

This Week's Challenge:

The second phase of National Zero Waste Week is all about updating everyone on how the commitment we made last week is working out. Here you go:

This week we want to know how it's going. Please visit the National Zero Waste Week site HERE and leave a comment about how your committed efforts have worked out. If you write an article about it, be sure to leave the link. Once you're done, come back here and tell us as well. The idea, here, is to talk about what worked, what didn't, etc. so that everyone can learn the most effective ways to reduce waste away from home.

And if you missed last week's challenge ... it isn't too late to participate. Click HERE and make a commitment!

Until next time ...

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

Vegan Recipe - Blueberry Crepes “Raw Fusion”

2011-09-05T09:00:00.087-04:00

Welcome to the first ~~Friday~~ Monday of the month and another delicious recipe.

This month we have a real treat ... a recipe from Patty "Sassy" Knutson - the brilliance behind Vegan Coach. When I became vegan, I had so many questions ... about nutrition ... about recipes that were easy to make and tasted good ... about how to make a vegan diet work. So I searched ... and quite frankly the majority of sites that I found talked about animal cruelty and a vegan lifestyle. While the information was important, it was way too much for me. I just wanted to know what to cook, how to cook it and how to get the best nutrition possible. I wish I would have found Sassy back then ... it would have saved me a lot of time!

Sassy seems to understand what people, like me, are looking for. The Vegan Coach is a wonderful resource. The recipes are delicious, easy to make and don't require one to search the markets for strange ingredients. But the site is so much more than just recipes ... one will learn about vegan nutrition ... there's information about kitchen tools that will help get a meal on the table easily ... and the site includes something unique called Flavor Matches. Flavor Matches? Yes, Indeedy! Sassy has put together a list of foods that go well together. So, when you're planning a meal or are just tired of the "same old, same old" recipe, check for a flavor match and create something spectacular.

The most amazing thing, to me, is that Sassy is involved with her readers. If one has a question, she'll answer it. She interacts through emails and reader participation. One definitely gets the sense that Sassy is a friend.

Sassy has graciously offered to share a recipe with us. It looks so yummy ... I can't wait to try it. I hope that you and your family will enjoy it!

Blueberry Crepes

“Raw Fusion”

This is a fun recipe for a lovely brunch or dessert. It combines a cooked vegan crepe with a delicious raw vegan cashew sauce. Yummmmy.

Plan ahead! Cashews must soak for 2 hours, crepe batter for 1. Use a crepe pan or a good non-stick frying pan.

Crepes can be tricky. If you have never made them before, you might find it helpful to double the crepe recipe below so you have a few crepes you can “practice” on. Don’t give up – you’ll get the hang of it. :-)

CREPES
2 flax eggs
1 cup non-dairy milk
1/3 cup water
1 cup flour of choice
2 Tablespoons Sucanat (or other granulated sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons non-dairy butter (I like Earth Balance)

VANILLA CREAM SAUCE
1 cup cashews, soaked in 2 cups water for 2 hours
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. water
2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup or raw honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

OTHER YUMMY INGREDIENTS:
1 cup organic frozen blueberries (thawed) – or use fresh blueberries when in season
1/2 cup raw organic pecans, chopped
organic powdered sugar

METHOD:

Soak cashews for 2 hours. After 1 hour, prepare crepe batter.
In a blender or food processor, combine all crepe ingredients. Blend for 20 seconds. Do not over process. Allow crepe batter to sit for 1 hour.
Heat oven on the lowest temperature. Then turn oven off (we just want to keep the food warm, not cook it in any way). Chop pecans and set aside. Warm blueberries in the oven while you prepare the rest of the dish.
When both the cashews and crepe batter are ready, prepare the Vanilla Cream Sauce. Place in an oven-proof bowl and set in the oven to keep the blueberries company.
Portion out 2-3 Tbsp. of the batter onto a hot non-stick lightly-oiled pan over medium high heat. Lift and rotate the pan so the batter evenly coats the bottom. Cook until almost dry on top and lightly browned on edges. Loosen the edges with a thin spatula and flip crepe over with your fingers, cooking for an additional 15 seconds. Adjust the heat as necessary. Place a rack on a cookie sheet and place it in the oven where the blueberries and cream sauce are having a party. As you complete each crepe, place on the rack in the oven to keep warm.
When all the crepes are prepared, fill each crepe with 2 large Tbsp. Vanilla Cream Sauce and 1 Tbsp. blueberries. Roll up, sprinkle with pecans and dust with powdered sugar.
Serve 2 crepes per plate.

Makes 8 crepes.

I'd like to thank Sassy for sharing this recipe with us ... and I encourage you to visit her at Vegan Coach.

If you have a vegan recipe which you'd like to share, please email it to me HERE. Find the entire list of all the recipes we've shared by clicking the tab at the top of the page or clicking HERE.

Review - Thrive Foods by Brendan Brazier

2011-09-02T09:30:00.009-04:00

I was recently invited to review the new book, Thrive Foods, by Brendan Brazier. If you've followed my blog for any length of time then you know that I've never done a review and I don't typically promote products or services. But when I learned that Thrive Foods is about nutrient-rich foods which promote health and environmental sustainability ... well, I couldn't resist.

Let me first give you a little background on the author of this book. Brendan Brazier is a professional Ironman triathlete and a two-time Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion. He is the creator of VEGA (an award-winning line of whole food nutritional products) and is recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on plant-based nutrition.

Thrive Foods begins with a wonderful discussion about nutrition and the environmental toll of food production. One will find out what nutrient density is and why it matters as well as learn how food production affects the environment.

Later in the book, the author talks about the key components of good nutrition and which foods will give us those elements. He uses icons to help us easily identify such things as calcium, iron and essential fats. Brendan shares 200 delicious recipes using the most nutrient-rich foods we can eat. We tried the recipe for Eggplant Rollatini ... it was easy to make and tasted wonderful!

But it is Chapter 3 that I found most interesting. It is entitled "An Appetite For Change: Environmental and Health Solutions Through Food". In this section, Brendan shares a unique concept in how we look at food and how we measure it's value ... the Nutrient-To-Resource Ratio. In other words, he's measuring how much nutrient gain we receive from a food versus the resources spent to produce it. He looks at resources such as arable land (land fit for the growing of food and which is in a climate conducive for agriculture with soil containing sufficient nutrients to sustain crops), water, fossil fuel and emissions. All of his calculations are presented for the reader to check and double check. You might be surprised to learn how some of your favorite foods fare in this scenario. For example, in the nutient-to-arable-land ratio he compares kale and beef. Remember, this ratio only takes into consideration the arable land and doesn't consider water, emissions, etc. From the book "To gain an equal amount of micronutrients from beef as from kale, 2900 times more arable land would be needed." Wow! Factor in the other natural resources and you'll see that the cost of beef, in natural resources, is huge!

So why are hamburgers, meat products and processed foods so cheap in the store if they take so many resources to produce? Brendan explains it to us and talks about government subsidies and how the price of food in the grocery store doesn't really reflect it's value ... if it did, most of us probably couldn't afford those items. In fact, if the grocery store reflected the true cost of a food, we'd probably all eat healthier. I quickly realized that there are hidden costs to food ... costs which affect our taxes, our health and the environment. The chapter finishes up with a chart ... it shows how many equivalent miles driven one would save by switching to a whole-food, plant-based, nutrient-rich diet. If you thought driving less was good for the environment, you'll be amazed at how much good you'll do by changing your diet.

Thrive Foods is sure to be a great resource for anyone who cares about their health and about the environment. I know that I'll be referring to it often!

I'd like to thank Brendan Brazier and Sequel Naturals for giving me the opportunity to review this book. You can pre-order Thrive Foods (sales begin on September 6th), as well as order Brendan's other books, from his site HERE.

Now for some exciting news: Would you like a chance to win a trip for two to meet Brendan at the Alive! Green Expo Lounge, surrounding the 63 Annual Emmy's? Just click on Brendan's Facebook Fan page for your chance to win an amazing trip. And while you're there, sign up for a free PDF download of the intro and 3 recipes from Thrive Foods.

Brendan Brazier Facebook Fan Page

You can learn more about Brendan Brazier and VEGA using the following links:
MyVega.com
Vega Facebook Fan Page
Vega Twitter

I received a copy of "Thrive Foods" 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.

Vegan Recipe - Programming Note

2011-09-02T09:00:00.004-04:00

Welcome to the first Friday on the month. Typically you'd see a recipe in this spot but ... today I have something exciting to share with you ... my first-ever review. It's going to post in a little while so come back in about 30 minutes for that event.

And ... if that weren't exciting enough ... here's some more exciting news. I will be posting a recipe on Monday morning. Our guest chef will be none other than Patty "Sassy" Knutson, Vegan Coach/Author/Nutritional Consultant. I've seen the recipe and Mmmmm ... it'll make your mouth water and is sure to become a family favorite.

Okay ... stay tuned .... it's going to be fun!!

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-08-31T00:05:00.223-04:00

@waylandcook
@ggirlggreen
@mycraftcorner
@groovygreenlivi
@tiffanystoybox
@dpixel
@whopaysthepiper
@theorganicblond
@lynn_stone
@oneadayart
@EnviroFusion

@nurturedbeauty
@accessorygal
@ecobears
@peopletowels
@waxelene
@geopalooza
@nonmom
@robineaston
@skipbang
@noteasy2begreen
@littlegreenblog

@gogreenbeans
@gwened02
@givetreegifts
@justaddcloth
@hshawjr
@pinkladyapril
@PFWoman
@rewinn
@greenereveryday
@AmbianceEco

If you are on Twitter ... those are great folks to follow and get to know.

Are you ready for more?

This Week's Challenge:

Our challenges are based on the idea that if a lot of us do the same activity at the same time, we'll have a positive impact. So this week we're going to join forces with Mrs. Green for the fourth National Zero Waste Week. The theme is "Reducing waste away from home". Joining this challenge will make Zero Waste Week an international effort. Here you go:

This week, head over to Zero Waste Week 2011 and commit to at least one activity which will reduce waste away from home. Be sure to come back here and share your commitment. The same rules will apply as always ... if you write about it and/or tweet about, you'll be honored next week. After committing to an activity, keep track of your progress because we'll be talking about our successes next week.

So let's join forces with our neighbors "across the pond" and make this a huge, world-wide event! Are you with me??

Until next time ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-08-24T00:05:00.263-04:00

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.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I'm adding a new feature to our challenges. Currently if you write an article in support of our challenge, it is shared on the social networks on Tuesday. Last week I decided to share them an additional time. So, from here on, if you get your article written early (and please be sure to let me know you did), there's a chance it will be promoted more than once. This will be a random thing ... some weeks I'll promote them once, other weeks more than once. What do you think ... worth your effort?

There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you'd rather jump straight to the current challenge, you can do so by clicking here: This Week's Challenge

Last week we headed outside for a walk ... not just any walk but a walk to pick up litter. Argentum Vulgaris upped the ante by challenging us to actually say something to people who litter (suggesting that they use a trash bin) ... and Harold Shaw raised the ante by asking that we take pictures of the trash we collect and post it for the world to see. So how did you do with this activity?

We lovingly refer to them as our #CTWW Gang. They are people who tweet about our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, these are great folks to follow. Let's meet them:

@robineaston
@nurturedbeauty
@justaddcloth
@nonmom
@oneadayart
@gwened02
@gogreenbeans
@nurturedbeauty
@theorganicblond

@groovygreenlivi
@ecobears
@greengiftsguide
@ggirlggreen
@givetreegifts
@noteasy2begreen
@tiffanystoybox
@waylandcook

@whopaysthepiper
@ambianceeco
@kidzinky
@hshawjr
@lynn_stone
@littlegreenblog
@greenereveryday
@waxelene

Our fabulous Honor Society is comprised of folks who write articles and/or leave comments. Here's what they had to say this week:

Sarah spent a long weekend in a National Park and made it her goal to pick up trash. How did it go Sarah? The idea of cleaning the park so that others will it enjoy it more is lovely and generous! Thank you, Sarah!

For our previous challenge, Brenna wrote an article entitled "Is Electricity Natural". In it, she talks about a discussion she overheard ... you won't believe who was having the discussion. The article also contains some facts about how electricity is generated and how much comes from wind, water, etc. Brenna follows all of this up with some great ideas for getting kids to care about reducing their energy use. For this week's challenge she brings up an interesting thought ... from a parent's perspective, picking up litter can be dangerous for children. She recently found hypodermic needles on a recent walk. So parents ... how do you deal with this kind of thing?

Rachel is lucky ... in her area one doesn't find much litter. But she says that she'll keep her eyes peeled when she's out for her walk. So ... the second half of the challenge, to enjoy nature, was more for her. In this POST, she shares something she discovered while out walking.

Argentum Vulgaris lives in an area where people are not so conscientious about litter. In fact, in the post you'll find HERE, you'll see that even the government doesn't especially care about trash and public bins are left overflowing. AV doesn't give up, though ... when he sees someone litter, he says something to them.

Jennifer feels a bit squeamish about picking up other people's trash. To solve the problem, she suggests carrying gloves and a bag. Here's an interesting question to ask ourselves ... how much responsibility do we feel in picking up other people's trash? As always, Jennifer, you make me think!

Amy is another lucky person who lives in an area with very few litter bugs. She and her family, however, have made it their mission to clean up in another way. Here's a hint ... she says that they leave this area better than they found it. Can you guess where they collect litter? You'll find out HERE.

Good Girl Gone Green is actually way ahead of us and started picking up litter a few weeks ago. In this POST, she shares pictures of what she's collected ... and it seems that her activity has been noticed ... you won't believe what one man asked her while she was cleaning up.

In Have a Trashy Time Kelleigh shares a fun video. She also offers a wonderful idea about finding trash inside your home ... and reusing it. While most of us find plastic and paper on a walk, Kalleigh finds semi tires, coolant containers, food wrappers, etc.

You will not believe what kind of litter Lynn found at the beach. One word ... Eeeeuuuuuwwwwww! But like a trooper, she picked it up. You can read about it HERE. And yep, Lynn ... changing the world with our challenges is good on any day!

Harold Shaw has a cute little Jack Russell named Bennie who gets him out and about so Harold decided to carry a bag on their walks. In this POST you'll learn about another incentive to collect litter ... think "retirement fund".

Kelly L. has been busy traveling but she took the time to drop in and accept the challenge. Thanks, Kelly ... hope you enjoyed your vacation!

Jen is training for the "Weekend to End Women's Cancers Walk" ... so while she's out, she's going to pick up litter. Wow Jen ... what a great cause to participate in. Let us know how it goes!

In Dawn Patrol for Trash, Rewinn talks about some unexpected benefits to walking and picking up litter ... some that have nothing to do with trash ... and some that have to do with reusing. Can you guess what they are?

Alicia shares that it's very easy to carry a bag in one's pocket and pick up litter while walking. She finds mostly paper and plastic which she drops in the recycle bin at the end of her walk. Very nice!

Awhile back, on our challenge to give up paper towels, Mrs. Green broached the subject of "wee towels". Wowee ... that got some attention! She's given us an update on that idea HERE. By the way, be sure to check out the posts which Mrs. Green has written for her "happiness" series. So many great posts including one about trees and one about a spider web. Mrs. Green ... I've headed out to get "Autumn Rush" just because of your recommendation!

Great job everyone! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it.

Are you ready for something new? I know that you are!!

This Week's Challenge:

Have you felt the change in the climate? Yep, fall is just around the corner. So, let's get started on some activities which will help us head into the cooler months in an Eco-friendly, efficient way. Here you go:

This week clean and test the furnace. Did you know that your furnace needs cleaning? Yep ... it collects all kinds of dust and debris which not only affects it's performance but could cause a fire. Before you really need the heat, get out your owner's manual for instructions on how to clean it. No manual? Check here or call a furnace maintenance company. If you have a gas furnace, have it professionally inspected once a year.

Or ...

Have you already accomplished this task ... or don't use a furnace? Then we'd like to hear another Eco-tip or idea for the coming months.

Ready for our mantra? All together now ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-08-17T00:05:00.299-04:00

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 with this week's activity, I have a favor to ask. I've entered a contest and my submission has been posted. To win the contest I need comments. They can be left anonymously and without your email address. So if you have a minute, click HERE and leave me your thoughts. The contest runs through September 12th. Thanks so much!

There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you'd rather jump straight to the current challenge, you can do so by clicking here: This Week's Challenge

Last week most of us thought that the challenge, to turn off our A/C units, would be difficult if not impossible. But then, Mother Nature took pity on us ... or perhaps she chose to reward us for our hard Eco-work ... and the temperatures dropped. Cooler breezes meant that we were comfortable with the doors and windows open ... and without using air conditioning units.

This challenge, for me, was a reminder about "balance". Sometimes it's not practical or safe to take an action, no matter how Eco-friendly it is. In those situations we can still be as efficient as possible and minimize our impact. Living "green" isn't always about living without ... sometimes it's finding a balance between what we need and protecting the earth.

Our CTWW Gang talked about our challenge on Twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're on twitter, these are great folks to follow:

@mcbridesorganic
@celebrategreen
@gwened02
@nonmom
@skipbang
@noteasy2begreen
@gogreenbeans
@tiffanystoybox
@lynn_stone
@littlegreenblog
@waylandcook

@waxelene
@andrealearned
@charlesredell
@greenfabmedia
@almosttruth
@tmuffindotcom
@eco_energize
@groovygreenlivi
@alwayswellwithn
@jenniesmells

@greenereveryday
@givetreegifts
@villagescanada
@greengiftsguide
@whopaysthepiper
@ambianceeco
@clothmamajess
@ecobears
@rewinn
@JustAddCloth

Our Honor Society wrote wonderful posts and left meaningful comments:

Mrs. Green took a good, hard look at her energy use. If you've followed her for long, then you know that she has been whittling away at Chez Green's use for awhile now ... so much so that they have reduced it to the bare basics. But Mrs. Green is an Eco-warrior and was able to find one thing to give up for a day. Can you guess what it is? It's a small thing ... something that I'm betting many of you do on a daily basis ... something that we don't give much thought to. Guesses? Find the answer HERE. And thank you, Mrs. Green ... your opening comments totally made my day! :-)

Ann gave up using her oven and instead used the top plate to cook. She also used a crock-pot ... another energy saving device. In her weekly Save Our World post, where she includes our banner and a link to our challenges, she talks about how a favorite river from her childhood bled.

Argentum Vulgaris uses so little electricity that he's practically off the grid. In this POST he talks about what he does use and about why he doesn't use energy-efficient light bulbs.

Alicia lives in Tennessee and temperatures topped 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Wowee! So living without air conditioning wasn't practical or safe. Instead, she chose a few other energy saving methods: she used a laptop instead of a desktop computer, she prepared raw food instead of using the oven and she didn't use the washer/dryer for a day. In addition, she set her A/C high so that it wasn't coming on often. Great job, Alicia!!

Our friend Lynn took advantage of cooler temperatures to open up doors and windows. In this ARTICLE she talks about indoor air quality and includes a link with great information. Check it out ... I'm sure you'll learn a lot ... I did!

During the summer, Brian turns the A/C up (so that it rarely comes on), uses ceiling fans, and keeps lights off during the day. He's already planning for winter and thinking about ways to keep energy costs (and usage) down. One idea he has is to pull out more blankets for those chilly evenings.

Amy also lives in an area that got hit with severely hot temperatures this year so, for health reasons, they installed a window A/C unit. She's making it as efficient as possible, though, by setting it high and cleaning the unit often so that it works efficiently. She also sets a bucks under the backside of the unit (the end that is outside the window) to collect any water. She then uses that water on her plants.

Tiffany took full advantage of some cooler nights and left the A/C off. As with many of you, she worries about health issues associated with the heat so, if it gets too hot, she uses the A/C.

Last week, after heading into the dark recesses of his pantry, Rewinn seemed to disappear. We were concerned because his last words, before heading in, were to call "911" if he didn't come out in a reasonable time. I'm happy to say that he is fine. He actually didn't go into the dreaded pantry. Why? Here's a two word hint: Guinea Pig. So, are you curious? Read all about it HERE. Be sure to read "Let's Hang Out" where Rewinn shares one of his favorite ways to reduce energy use.

Marcy lives in Montana and they've had an unusually cool summer. But she shares that even on hot days they don't use air conditioning. She and her family save energy by not turning the lights on during the day, and often leave them off at night as well. She believes that there is more they can do, however, so plans to brainstorm ideas. Thanks, Marcy!

Mandi has been on vacation ... welcome back, Mandi! On our challenge to take short showers, she shares that she managed to take a 3-minute shower, only turning the water on to rinse. I loved her comment "I'm so excited that I can do this!" Me, too, Mandi. Check out her post entitled "No Electricity Day". She shares what she won't be turning on and offers a ton of great ideas for ways to spend the day.

I'd like to welcome Kelleigh to our challenges. Kelleigh lives in Alaska and lives off the grid. Wow! In her words "We live off the grid and use pretty much 100% solar most of the year. Because we live in the northern latitudes, we have to run a generator to charge batteries in the winter. But, we are very conscious of using energy efficient light bulbs making sure "ghost power loads" are always turned off. Also, we heat water for showers using wood heat in the winter. Pretty backwoodsy, but it works!" She doesn't stop there and says "For this challenge, I want to be more conscious of when I use the stove and do more baking/cooking at once to reduce propane usage." Check out this POST where she offers ways to stay cool which also make a difference ... it's a totally inspiring idea! Thanks, Kelleigh ... so glad to have you with us!

Shane lives in Florida and it's been hotter than usual this year so ... she's been using the A/C. However, she keeps the setting high and "tries" to get her kids to keep the doors closed.

I'm guessing that Rachel doesn't need A/C in Wales ... it took her awhile to read the second part of the challenge because she was laughing so hard. :-) But yep, we have something for you, too, Rachel. In looking around at her energy use, she found one item which she could (and did) convert from electricity to ... "people power". Oh you know you want to read about this clever conversion. Click HERE to read all about it including pictures and instructions. Thanks, Rachel!

McBride's Organic Farm Daily picked up one of your challenge articles. Was it yours? In addition to CTWW, the publication included pieces on weeds, honey and "Tomatoland".

Jessica said that this challenge was easy because she was on vacation in Santa Cruz and California has had relatively cool weather this year. Nice to have you back, Jessica ... hope you enjoyed your vacation!!

Wow ... as always your efforts are so impressive! If you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it! If you'd like to help spread the word, please use the share buttons at the bottom of this post!

So ... what shall we do this week? How about this ...

This Week's Challenge:

Let's tackle litter this week. Litter is not only unsightly and bad for the environment, it's dangerous for wildlife who mistake it for food or get caught in containers trying to get at food. So let's get rid of it.

This week go for a walk and pick up litter as you go. If you don't find any litter on your walk, then just enjoy being outside and "communing" with nature. By the way, this is a great activity for kids so don't forget to include them.

Or ...

If going for a walk is not doable for you, please write a post about why litter is a problem in the environment and how we can prevent it.

UP THE ANTE: Argentum Vulgaris is raising the ante on this challenge. Here it is: "Next time you see a person drop some trash, take them to task in a friendly way. If everybody did this just once, the world would stay a little cleaner, a little longer." Who's taking him up on this challenge?

RAISE THE ANTE: Harold Shaw has a great idea for us. After picking up the trash, take a picture of all the stuff collected and post it online. Let's show the world how bad litter is. Anyone up for this challenge?

So what do you think ... are you up for it?

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-08-10T00:05:00.391-04:00

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.

There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you'd rather jump straight to the current challenge, you can do so by clicking here: This Week's Challenge

Last week we bravely explored the recesses of our freezers, cupboards and pantries vowing to use what we have before buying more. Harold Shaw upped the ante by suggesting that we inventory, in written form, the items we have on hand. And Bekka raised the ante by challenging us to use leftovers in a new dish. It was all designed to reduce food waste ... and was great fun!

We have a whole bunch of people who use Twitter to pass the word about our challenges. They tweet using the hashtag #CTWW ... and we lovingly refer to them as our #CTWW Gang. Let's meet them:

@greenlegume
@waylandcook
@alwayswellwithn
@groovygreenlivi
@noteasy2begreen
@greenereveryday
@waxelene
@tiffanystoybox
@lynn_stone
@dpixel
@almosttruth
@clothmamajess
@anthropologistm
@aapremlall
@gwened02
@hshawjr
@accessorygal
@mycraftcorner
@flatlinered
@skipbang
@greenereveryday
@peopletowels
@ambianceeco
@mhatched
@martinimom
@jnjgogreen
@givetreegifts
@justaddcloth
@gogreenbeans
@coffeetablepoet
@ecoliciousmama
@becomingcrunchy
@jennymacant
@littlegreenblog
@ecobears
@greenbabydiaper
@judysdesigns
@quashme
@McBridesOrganic
@villagescanada
@villageshouston
@Tmuffindotcom

Our Honor Society is comprised of people who write posts and/or leave comments in support of our challenges. They have a lot of great things to say so ... let's check in with them now:

EcoGrrl gave us an update on a previous challenge where we asked everyone to give up paper towels. The only thing she used them for was buttering a dish. She reports that she is now using a cloth ... or sometimes her hands. For this week she shares that meeting this challenge also saves one money ... and she reminds us that food that does go to waste can be composted.

I love how honest and forthcoming the Honor Society is. For example, Jessica not only shares how she's using up the items in her refrigerator and pantry (complete with recipes), she takes pictures of her food "stash" (check them out HERE). So let me ask you ... how does your food supply compare to hers? Thanks, Jessica ... and have a wonderful "green" vacation!

Amy, who suggested this challenge and who has taken it on for the past month, says that she's only had to buy a few things each week. She's using veggies from their garden and food from her freezer. If you visit her blog, you'll find several posts where she talks about how she's using up her food "stash". One in particular that I liked was this POST about how she used the grill to make several meals at once. Not only did she reduce food waste, she saved energy. Yay! Thanks, Amy!

Dear Ann, your mind works in a lovely way! From our challenge about food waste, she thought about ... are you ready for it ... our colons ... yep, waste removal. In this POST you'll find out about colon health and how eating fruits & veggies helps your digestive system. If you're eating lunch/dinner, you might want to reserve this post for later reading. :-)

Here's a puzzle to solve ... what do green smoothies, an Ozonator and thoughtfulness have to do with this challenge? Brenna tells us in this POST. It's a wonderful piece so be sure to head over and read it.

Fake Lasagna Bake, BBQ Chicken Pizza and Overnight French Toast ... these are a few of the dishes that Kristina made this week with items from her food "stash". While using up what we have on hand is good, she recommends going a step further and planning out meals so that there won't be extra items sitting around and/or leftovers (which account for a lot of food waste). In this POST she offers some great tips and ideas. Thanks, Kristina!

Tiffany shares that she has continued our paper towel challenge. Yay, Tiffany!! That is what we ultimately hope for ... new habits formed. The only area that she has trouble with is cleaning windows ... towels don't do well. She asks if anyone has an idea for something else that works. Have you tried newspaper & vinegar? It works well. I have a reusable "Mystic Maid" towel ... I've literally had it for years and it works great on mirrors and windows. Anyone else have ideas?

Jennifer took the challenge. Yay! She says that her cupboards are probably a little too well stocked and that this challenge will be great on her food budget. Jennifer recently wrote a terrific article (read it HERE) which ties in nicely with our challenge ... it's about having enough ... not just food but everything. Check it out ... it makes one think about what we value in life.

Brian accomplished this challenge right before it was posted ... it's something that he and his family do on a regular basis. He shares that food is rotated through the freezer and doesn't linger, there, long. At this time of year, using up what's in the freezer is necessary because he needs to make room for vegetables from their garden. Mmm ... bet those veggies taste good in the winter months!

Lynn says that one of the problems with forgetting about those hidden containers of food ... and then finding them only to realize that they are indistinguishable ... is that it creates a chain of buy-toss-buy again. In a post entitled "That moldy thing at the back of your fridge" she shares why it's a problem for the planet. She also shares a recipe for Hod-Podge stew (her "go-to" recipe for using up pantry items).

Green Legume participated in our paper towel challenge. She did a great job and only used two paper towels that week. Can you guess what she used them for? Find out HERE. And if you have any tips about how she could do that particular job without them, be sure to leave her a comment ... in fact, come back here and leave it for us, too, because it's usually the biggest obstacle to giving up paper towels. For this week's challenge she shares that, to prevent food waste, she uses a whiteboard in the kitchen. In her words "I keep a running list of things I need to use, much like most people keep a grocery list. It lists thing like the dill I bought earlier this week. I only needed a tablespoon, so I have a TON left over. When I think about what to make for dinner on any given night, I start by reviewing the whiteboard to see what ingredients I already have that I need to try to use up. We just used up our remaining mozzarella, basil, and red pepper tonight thanks to the whiteboard. I would've completely forgotten those were in the fridge otherwise!" What a great idea!

Lori accepted the challenge and says that her freezer is packed with food and that it would be nice to use it up. By the way, she attended BlogHer recently and wrote about it on her blog. Check it out ... there are some great photos of her experience.

This challenge is a way of life for Shane who has been doing it since 2008 when the economy took a nose dive. Wowee! In her words "the important thing about this challenge is to just be conscious of what you are consuming. Again, it is going back to the ways of our grandparents, or great grandparents, for some of you youngsters out there. Using only what you need." Excellent point, Shane. As a "side note" ... Shane is an environmental powerhouse!! Seriously! Her site contains such great information ... if you've never visited, I strongly encourage you to do so. And ... she has a great community on Facebook.

I'd like to welcome Sylvia to our #CTWW family. She is in the habit of using what she buys. The only exception to this is when her husband finds a new item at the grocery store and wants to try it out. It often gets stashed away and forgotten. Sylvia's solution to the problem? She "tries" to keep him from shopping. :-) Glad to have you with us, Sylvia ... hope to see you again!

Kath joined the fun ... nice to have you with us, Kath! She was doubly motivated to make this challenge work because she donated her grocery money to Unicef and their efforts to help the people of Somalia who are suffering through a severe famine. That certainly puts a different slant on this challenge, doesn't it? Yes, we want to save the planet but what if we took the money we saved by not over-consuming and helped people who have nothing. Wow! Your generosity, Kath, is inspiring!

In this POST, Rachel gives us an update on a couple of previous challenges. As many of you noted, paper towels are easy to avoid except when it comes to cat vomit. Rachel has come up with a very unique alternative to paper towels for cat messes ... definitely something that I've never thought about. Can you guess what it is? For this week's challenge she shares that some items in the pantry, which are beyond the pull date, are still quite usable (like baking soda) ... one just needs to know which items are safe and which are not. She's busy filling up her freezer with veggies from her garden. Hey Rachel ... what did you ever do with that green pepper?

A member of the #CTWW Gang, @greenereveryday (aka Rachel White), wrote this POST about composting ... which is another way to avoid food waste. She offers quick and easy ways to set up and maintain a compost bin at home. Thanks, Rachel!

Jen took the challenge and wrote this POST. In it she talks about keeping an organized pantry which helps her to see what she has and what she needs. She also offered another excellent idea ... if we've purchased too much and won't be able to use some items before their "pull" date, donate them to a local food bank. Great idea, Jen!!

Harold Shaw, who upped the ante on this challenge, had some great ideas. He wrote this ARTICLE where he suggests that we not only browse through our pantries but that we look through our camping/backpacking provisions and emergency stores as well. Did anyone accept his challenge to make a written list of everything currently on hand? Come on ... it was a "double dog dare" after all! :-)

For as long as I've known Mrs. Green, she has been passionate about eliminating food waste. In fact, she has worked towards, and accomplished, ZERO food waste. Wow! In this POST she talks about how easy it is to "back slide" when it comes to the diligence required to achieve zero food waste. She also talks about UFOs. UFOs??? Yep! You know you want to see how they tie in with this challenge so ... go ... read!

Check out this LIST of fabulous environmental articles. Our challenge got mentioned on August 4th. I'll warn you, though ... when you head to this site, be prepared to spend some time ... there are so many wonderful posts to read. Thanks to Brian Joseph Ranum for including us!

Our friend Argentum Vulgaris has created an entire page on his new blog for all things Eco ... or as he puts it "Eco-Crap". On this PAGE you'll find his response to our challenge. He has a totally unique view of why we should clear out our pantries. It has to do with the economy and what he believes to be a sure eventuality. What do you think? Do you agree with him?

Has anyone heard form Rewinn? I'm a bit worried! In this POST, which was written on Sunday, he cleaned out the veggie drawer in the refrigerator and learned that plastic speeds up food waste. He promised that on the next day, Monday, he'd tackle the pantry and asked us to call the police if he wasn't heard from again. I haven't seen him "around" or heard from him ... perhaps he's lost in the recesses of the pantry or worse ... the freezer. Stay tuned ... the drama continues!

Alicia checks the refrigerator often and pulls older items to the front to be used. She also prepares a menu plan before shopping so that leftovers can be incorporated into meals. Not only has this reduced food waste but it has saved her nearly $600.00 per year. Wow! Protects the earth and our wallets ... brilliant!

Our challenge got a center page write-up in McBride's Organic Farm Daily. WhooHoo! This edition includes articles on "Market Scene: La Boqueria in Barcelona", "The Most Nutritionally Complete Food Source In The World!" and "Dark Chocolate for Hypertension Support and Possible Cholesterol Improvement".

Wow ... fabulous job everyone! Thanks to all of you, these challenges have become a forum to share ideas and information. As always, if you wrote an article, I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked it.

This Week's Challenge:

This week we're going to attack energy use. Are you ready? Here you go:

This week, for one entire day, do not use Air Conditioning in your home. Instead, employ other ways to stay cool (ceiling fans, adjusting curtains, swimming, etc.).

Or ...

If you live in a cooler climate, or simply choose not to use A/C ever, please look around your home at all the ways you use electricity. Choose one and don't use it for one entire day. Some ideas might be lights, the computer, TV, the stove, the hot water heater, or the radio. The idea is to NOT use the electricity which you typically use in a day.

Or ...

If the only electricity you use is for the refrigerator, we'd like to know how you've managed to live off the grid.

Who's up for this challenge??

Until next time ...

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

Vegan Recipe - Quick & Easy "Cheeseburger" Mac

2011-08-05T09:00:00.005-04:00

My favorite day of each month is the first Friday ... that's the day I get to share a fabulous meatless recipe with you ... usually from a fantastic guest chef. So why does a green living blog post recipes? That's easy ... eating meatless meals is one of the easiest ways to walk a little gentler on the earth because, simply put, it takes less resources to produce one pound of plant-based food as opposed to one pound of animal-based food.

This month I'd like to introduce you to Nicki. Some of you might already know her as Nicki Woo - The Home Guru. She has been a #CTWW participant and supporter for quite some time. Visiting Nicki's site is pure pleasure. She posts a ton of recipes and each one comes with a delightful story. For example, in this POST you'll find a fabulous recipe for Lemon-Mint Slush along with a great story about a sick child, special "sick" treats and how mom's slushes are more special than McDonald's. Recipes aren't her only "thing" though ... you'll find posts on crafts, like this ONE on how to make an autumn wreath ... or this POST where she makes a buried witch topiary (oh you gotta see it). Sprinkled liberally throughout her blog, one will find photos of her beautiful family.

But we're here to talk about recipes, right? Nicki shares her culinary expertise with recipes such as Chicken Lo Mein, Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry and Alligator Gar Balls. WAIT A MINUTE!!! THESE AREN'T VEGAN!!! Nope ... Nicki is a "sometimes vegan", proving once again that one can make a difference with occasional meatless meals.

She has graciously agreed to share one of her vegan dishes with us. She chose this recipe because, in her words, "... in a few short weeks, summer will be ending and we all could use some good weeknight recipes that satisfy and are quick to make from pantry items". So ... check out this recipe and then head on over to Nicki's place and browse around ... I know you'll love it there!

Quick and Easy Vegan "Cheeseburger" Mac

Ingredients:

14-16 oz. of Macaroni (I like 100% Whole Wheat or Barilla Plus)
12 oz. of Vegetarian "Beef" Crumbles
1 14 oz. can Crushed Tomatoes
1 TB olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 TB Chili Powder
1 cup Soy Milk
2 TB Vegan Margarine
2 TB flour
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions:

Prepare Macaroni according to package directions. Be sure to salt the water.
In a large skillet, over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add "Beef" crumbles and onion and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Add Chili powder, stir, and then add the crushed tomatoes. Cover and continue to simmer on low while you make the "cheese" sauce.
To make the "cheese" sauce, place another pan on low heat. Add margarine and allow to melt. In a separate bowl, add the flour to the cold soy milk and whisk to combine. Slowly pour the milk mixture into the pan with the butter, while whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Sprinkle in garlic powder, continue to whisk allowing the sauce to thicken. Remove from heat.
Combine macaroni, "cheese sauce" and "beef" tomato mixture. Season with salt and pepper and serve!

Also great warmed in the oven at 350 F for 15-20 minutes, and then sprinkled with Vegan Cheese. Total Comfort Food!

I'd like to thank Nicki for sharing that delicious recipe with us.

If you have a vegan recipe that you'd like to share, please email it to me HERE. And for all the recipes we've shared on this site, please click the tab at the top of this blog.

Happy eating everyone ...

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

2011-08-03T00:05:00.186-04:00

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.

There's a lot of great information in this post and I encourage you to read through it ... however, if you'd rather jump straight to the current challenge, you can do so by clicking here: This Week's Challenge

Last week the challenge asked us to give up paper towels. Argentum Vulgaris upped the ante by asking us to give up paper napkins, as well. Liz & Gaby challenged us further by asking that we make our own cloth towels/napkins using old T-shirts, sheets, etc. Ecolicious Mama raised the ante again by suggesting that we carry a cloth napkin with us rather than use paper versions when we're away from home. And then ... Mrs. Green topped all the challenges by suggesting that we use "wee" cloths rather than toilet paper. Wow!

Our #CTWW Gang was busy spreading the word this week on twitter. Do you want to be a member of the now famous "gang"? It's easy ... just share our challenge on twitter using the hashtag #CTWW. This week a record number of people joined the gang. Let's meet them:

@waylandcook
@clothmamajess
@mhatched
@greenlegume
@twinvisionameri
@lizzieault
@whopaysthepiper
@lynn_stone
@gogreenbeans
@simpleisworking
@aapremlall
@tiffanystoybox
@givetreegifts
@groovygreenlivi
@skipbang
@peopletowels
@flatlinered
@envirofusion
@ambianceeco
@waxelene
@cheffelisha
@martinimom
@greenlegume
@yan_tougas
@tmuffindotcom
@mycraftcorner
@be_sirius
@homeopath2stars
@littlegreenblog
@noteasy2begreen
@gwened02
@becomingcrunchy
@greenereveryday
@coffeetablepoet
@ReneeANDSharon
@ecobears
@eco_footprint_1
@rework_create
@jnjgogreen
@greenbabydiaper
@RobinEaston
@lorialper
@jeneddinger
@alwayswellwithn
@wokaili

Our Honor Society (people who wrote articles and/or left comments) had wonderful information to share. Check it out:

EcoGrrl gave up paper towels several years ago and uses cloth napkins, dishtowels and sponges instead. She occasionally 'misses' them for buttering a dish. So EcoGrrl ... what do you now use to butter a dish?

Our friend, Argentum Vulgaris wrote a wonderful post. However ... that post along with all of his blogs have been removed from the Internet. Why? No one seems to know. While he resolves the issue, he has started a new blog called "Life is a Labyrinth". So, head on over, follow his new blog, bookmark it, add it to your blog roll, etc. Hopefully his other blogs, and a LOT of work will be restored.

Lynn, one of our favorite "Funtastically" Green Girls, gave up paper towels nearly three years ago. WhooHoo! So ... what clever item does she use instead? Here's a hint ... those "darn" holes make mismatches out of matches. Did you guess it? If not, find out HERE.

Nicole B. uses cloth rags, made from worn-out towels and socks, instead of paper towels. She's recently discovered that cloth diapers make great "rags". Brilliant idea, Nicole!

Rachel does keep a roll of paper towels in her kitchen ... made from recycled paper products and which, after use, are put into her compost pile. She uses them for one thing only ... cleaning up after her cat has been sick. It's a clean-up job that she just can't face with cloth towels. I can relate, Rachel ... it's the "ICK" factor.

Alicia uses cloth napkins, dish towels and sponges. She had a great tip for us ... when she washes these items, she hangs them out to dry saving electricity as well as trees. Thanks, Alicia!

From our previous challenge to take short showers, Chef Felisha says that it may be tough because she has an ultra low flow shower head and an "on-demand" water heater. So, to meet the challenge she planned to turn off the water while lathering. How did it go, Chef?

Liz & Gaby are also affected by the "ick" factor associated with cat ~~puke~~ vomit. On the other hand, they wash their kid's dirty cloth diapers and use cloth towels to wipe their babies' little bottoms. So ... they decided to hide the paper towels and use cloth for everything. It seemed to be going very well until ... something unusual happened. Here's a riddle ... as cute as can be, with an angel's face but like a tornado sending glass every place. Figured it out? Read Liz & Gaby's discussion HERE.

Ecolicious Mama not only uses cloth napkins at home, she carries them with her for those times when she and her family eat out. She also packs them in lunches and uses them for quick hand drying in the bathroom. By the way ... have you visited her blog, My Sustainable Stories? It's a great site full of wonderful information. Check out the "Quick Green Tips" tab where you'll learn about the 4th "R" (something in addition to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle).

Have you ever wondered how your Eco-commitment compares to other people's? While each and every effort is important, I often wonder if I'm doing enough. That's why I love Mrs. Green's blog ... she and her family have "raised the bar" on green living. For example, since they don't use paper towels Mrs. Green decided to reduce paper use in another, creative way. She's using "wee" towels. Wow! Curious? Find out about them HERE. How did it go, Mrs. Green? Are wee towels a workable alternative to toilet paper?

Tiffany says that she ran out of paper towels a couple of weeks ago and has had to use cloth rags. So, she's going to keep it up in support of our challenge. WhooHoo ... don't you just love how the cosmos comes together to nudge us in the right direction? By the way ... check out what Tristin and Tyler (my two favorite green guys) are talking about this week HERE ... and grab your kids ... their show is "PG" and green!

Jessica doesn't use paper towels and prepared a video to show us how she uses cloth. The video is great and gets my award for "Cutest Baby Actor". See if you don't agree HERE.

Inspector Clouseau dropped in ... nice to see you, Inspector. If you enjoy intelligent, thought-provoking posts, you'll love the Inspector's blog "The View From Outside My Tiny Window".

Shana found us in Blog Frog (welcome, Shana!). She has a terrific blog entitled "Prowling Books in the Lair".

The ReWorked Creations Chronicle picked up our challenge ... specifically they picked up one of your articles. Was it yours?

Rewinn is living "The Repurpose-Driven Life". So what, exactly does that mean? You'll have to run over and read his post!

Jennifer is also affected by the "ick" factor of cleaning up cat vomit and that's her only use of paper towels. As I was browsing her blog recently, I noted a post about how she's switched over to a reusable version of a common disposable item (well, common for most women). You can read about that HERE. While that post isn't in support of our challenge, I bring it up because it taught me something about the "ick" factor. I, too, was thinking that reusable cloth for kitty vomit is rather disgusting but ... Jennifer's post made me realize that "ick" is all in the eyes of the beholder. Thanks, Jennifer!

Many of you know her as @groovygreenlivi - one of our most dedicated "greenie" supporters. Now Lori Popkewitz Alper has joined the Honor Society by writing this brilliant ARTICLE. She includes a lot of information in this post, including Trash Facts (you will be shocked) and Tips on how to switch from paper towels to reusable towels. Thanks so much, Lori!

Kristina joined the fun! She shares that she first made the switch from paper napkins to the cloth version. It was so easy that she moved on to using cloth rags instead of paper towels. Her favorite repurposing project is a set of lovely napkins made out of tie-died shirts which she made for her children. The kids have outgrown them so now they dress up Kristina's table. What a great idea!!

From a challenge we did in April, Kelly Crawford says that she uses a water filter for drinking water. In her area filtered water is safer than tap water. Thanks for your comments, Kelly.

Great job, everyone! I hope you're feeling proud of the work you do. As I traveled around and enjoyed your posts, especially reading the comments to your posts, I realized that your efforts are teaching and encouraging others. You are making a difference!!

As always, if you wrote a post I have Stumbled, Tweeted and Facebooked them. I would be so grateful if you'd use the share buttons at the end of this post to help pass the word ... and check out the new "Google +1" button. Just click it to recommend this post to all your friends. Thanks!

One small programming note ... I so appreciate everyone's comments and posts and want to include everything in the Wednesday "wrap-up". To ensure that I have time to get everything in, please submit your posts & comments before 6:00 pm EST on Tuesdays. I'll try my best to include anything that comes in after that time but can't guarantee it. I will guarantee, however, that if it doesn't make it into the current week's post, it'll be in the next week's update.

This Week's Challenge:

Okay ... let's do something different. Have you ever purchased food, perhaps some specialty item or something on sale, that got put away and then ... forgotten? Months (or even years) later you find it in the recesses of the freezer or in a far corner of the cupboard but ... it's so old that it's no longer safe to eat. My friend Amy (twitter personality @Waylandcook and author of Creative Country Cooking) recently challenged herself and her readers to use up everything in the pantry, refrigerator, freezer, etc. before buying more food. It's a brilliant idea because it will reduce food waste and will reduce packaging since we aren't buying new items. So ... that's the inspiration of this week's challenge. Here you go:

This week, use what is in your cupboards, pantry, freezers, etc. before buying new food items.

(A few people have asked for a little clarification on this challenge so here's my view of it - ideally one wouldn't need to shop at all and would make do with what's in the cupboard. However, if that doesn't work for you, then using what you have and buying a little something to go with it would be fine. If you do buy something, be sure that it isn't stashed away and forgotten but rather used up this week. I hope that helps!)

Or ...

If you regularly do this, tell us about some of your more creative dishes using just what was "on hand".

UP THE ANTE: Harold Shaw is stepping up this challenge. In his words "I would like to challenge the #CTWW group to take the time (I know that this is a busy time of year - most of us are harvesting some sort of crop or other) to do a written/computer inventory of the food stuffs you have, which will force you to actually look at what you have and then use up the stuff that should be used up this next week or soon, but if you discover food that is bad dispose of it properly before you buy new food. Remember the food you have designated for emergencies, doesn't count in this challenge. To make it a little more interesting - that includes buying food to eat out for the next week". WhooHoo ... who's going to take him up on this challenge?

Raise the Ante: Bekka, who is Amy's (the Wayland Springs Cook) daughter decided to up this challenge again. Her idea is to further reduce food waste by taking left-overs and turning then into a brand new dish the next day. Wowee ... who's gonna take her up on the challenge?

Thanks, Amy ... I think this is going to be a fun challenge.

Until next time ...

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