Comments Of Note

This has been a wonderful month. It's actually been ... exciting! We started our weekly challenges and wow ... so many of you are participating. It's a beautiful thing! :)

We've also had some great comments this month ... thoughts that add to the conversation and educate us. Thanks to everyone who took the time to write ... I wish I could feature each and every one of you.

Now ... here are our ten "Comments of Note":


From Green Gardening Tip - Mulching:

Inge' said...

I have a compost bin and I was able to completely fill my planter box which is almost 6 ft long with compost from my own bin this year!

On the sawdust issue. You need to make sure that the sawdust is not from pressure treated wood. The chemicals used in treating wood can harm your plants so make sure and ask first!


From Banana fanna fo fanna:

Thomas Goodall said...

I heard criticism of the "fair trade" designation.

The 2 main points put forth were that it was condescending because farmers have to provide and accounting of where their money is spent. As if we should have the power to tell them where they should spend their money. And 2, it was a 1 way street. That we have the power to tell them how to spend their money, but they don't have any control over who their consumers are. Maybe farmer A isn't interested in selling his bananas to customer B because Customer B spends his income on cigarettes and then smokes them in the car with his children.

It wasn't my argument, but I thought it was meritorious.

rewinn said...

Thomas, I can't comment on the anti-Fair Trade argument you make since you don't link to it, but it does not sound like any Fair Trade program I have ever heard of. Perhaps you can link to an example?

I have little doubt that there are political factions opposed to Fair Trade because keeping small farmers in debt bondage or the like is highly profitable. History tells us that they will come up with all sorts of academic arguments against fixing the situation. Land reform and so forth is a complicated matter and there's always the possibility that outside efforts can screw up, but more facts would be helpful before condemning Fair Trade.


From Goin to the chapel ...:

The Green Bride Guide said...

These are all great ideas! There are so many ways couples can reduce their impact on the earth and save money too. In addition to what you mentioned - couples can offset their carbon emissions (see http://www.thegreenbrideguide.com/page/carbon-calculator for example).

~Kate
The Green Bride Guide
http://www.thegreenbrideguide.com

EcoGrrl said...

I love this post - very thorough. Especially about gift giving to charities and other ways besides "stuff". Giving the gift of time or an incredible experience -that's what's lovely. I stopped doing holiday gifts several years ago and now don't even think about it - my mom and I now have our annual holiday lunch or dinner and I host a Solstice Party (winter and summer) to celebrate friendship and the start of a new season. Most of us would love just more time with those we love and focusing our energy in that way is just plain good for the soul. When a couple is going forth into their new life together, there are so many ways of gifting them with your presence, with words of encouragement and wisdom, with things you've made that really signify the giver and the recipient - NOT Starbucks or Amazon.com.


From Summer Solstice:

Project Savior said...

The Tip about turning off your computer when not in use not only saves energy cooling your house but they use a surprising amount of electricity.
I've stopped leaving my home office computer on at night and my electric bill dropped by $20 a month. That's $120 a year.
BTW: another way to save on cooling costs is to take cold showers. I've got my hacked together solar hot water heater and on a hot day like today I can use it all and get blasted by super cold water for a minute. Even at 85 degree air temperature it takes a half hour or so to warm back up.

rewinn said...

I cannot say enough about the joys of line-drying. Even in our tiny apartment, we forgo the electric dryer except for emergencies.

It took a little time to figure out how to get everything to dry, but who doesn't like a puzzle? (This is a big principle: make the challenge into a puzzle, so solving it is fun!)

We learned, for example, that socks dry fine on a set of over-the-door hooks; t-shirts dry fine on coathangers hanging on the shower rod. We have a folding rack for towels and such; it's paid for itself many times over in electricity saved.

The one lifestyle adaptation is that airdried/sundried towels are crisper, more exfoliating, less fluffy. Frankly, we've learned to love them that way but it's a change.

One you go airdrying, you'll never go back! Even in a tiny apartment, it pays!

Yanic said...

Wonderful ideas, as always.

My tip to add to the stove-top cooking, try not cooking at all! Make it a point to fresh, no-cook meals a couple of nights a week. Summer is the best times for for fresh, local, often organic fruits, veggies, cheeses, breads... most of them available from you local farmers markets!

Thomas Winther said...

Great list :-)

About clothes drying: Did you know clothes will dry just fine outside on a clothes line in the winter, too? I dry my clothes in the attic, which is so drafty it's almost as cold up there as outside. It's frequently somewhere around -5 degrees celcius (23 degrees Fahrenheit). Admittedly it might take a while for the clothes to dry, but they do. The most important thing when it comes to drying clothes is that there is ample air circulation around them.

Also, if you want even more tips for staying cool in the summer, I'd like to offer my recent series of posts about green home cooling.


From Kicking the habit ...:

K.B. Keilbach said...

Anyone who is on the fence about using plastic bags should look up "Pacific Gyre" on the Internet. By some estimates, the Pacific Ocean Gyre or "Garbage Patch" covers an area roughly twice the size of the continental United States with as much as 100 million TONS of plastic. This "plastic soup" not only pollutes the beaches our children swim in, it poisons the fish we eat and kills birds and other sea life who mistake it for food. Just think about that the next time you're tempted to say, "Plastic, please."

Kimberly
http://kbkeilbach.blogspot.com


Thanks, again, to everyone who commented! Keep them coming because ... you know I love hearing from you!

Comments of Note

This month's comments were wonderful ... readers offered pertinent thoughts and ideas. In fact, the comments were so good that it was a challenge to keep the list down to ten for publication here. I'd like to say "thank you" to everyone who took the time to write!

Okay ... here we go:


From Let's get started ...

MRoth said...

Hooray! It's such a great idea to shut everything down off a power strip when it's not needed - especially kitchen appliances. Phantom loads can really take a toll on energy consumption...

I try to keep everything in the apartment hooked to a power strip. This makes it especially easy to flip it off during hours of non-use.

Alternatively, in a place like the bathroom where there is only one tiny plug, sometimes it's better NOT to have a power strip...this keeps me from plugging in anything that isn't immediately needed.

Thanks for the amazing blog! You're making green living so accessible!

-Megan

From I can see the light (a recycled article) ...

Dafthermit said...

Hi Sf

just a wee visit to say good morning

as for lights as you know i live on a bus and we use the solar lights most people use to light the garden up with and apart from the odd candle our lighting is free music to an old dafthermit

all the best from the highlands and thanks for popping over to my blogs


Andy & Mel x

From Splish Splash I was taking a bath (a recycled article) ...

Hans said...

Saving water is one of the things I really learned when living in Australia. Taking short showers and having water in the fridge are my favourites. And then of course never pour water down the zink. It can always be used for something - watering a plant for example.

Great blog!

From Mmm ... Mmm ... Good (a recycled article) ...

Yanic said...

Wonderful post! I try to make as much as possible from scratch all the time. It's my slight OCD : The lack of control in what goes into my food gets the better of me.

The great thing about freezing in small quantities is that there is no waste.

One of my favorite ways to use home made stock is when cooking rice. Instead of buying all those artificially flavored rices, you can create your own!

Another great way to make tons of it without breaking the bank is to go to your local farmer's market and buy (for a fraction of the price) veggies that have gotten bruised or wilted. They will gladly sell them for pennies and you have all the stock making materials you need!

Chourou said...

Hi,SF. Your posting this time reminds me of the way of taking broth(bouillon in French) which has been traditional and popular in Japan. It is very simple. All you have to do is that you pick up Konbu, or kelp, a sort of seaweeds, and put it into a pan filled with water and leave it. After a day, you put aside the water of the pan and keep in a bottle or whatever. When you cook miso soup, you can use this liquid as a very good basis. We call this liquid “dashi”.

Anyway, your suggestion this time is wonderful. Thank you for sharing your eco-friendly tips again!

GreenWorks said...

Great post and homemade stock is much better than the bought stuff.

On a similar note vegetables left over from a meal added to stock and blitzed to puree makes a tasty and easy meal for the next evening.

From It's a Balancing Act (a recycled article with new comments) ...

Yanic said...

I completely agree. One of the main reasons why I started my own blog was to inspire to take steps towards a greener life and that every little one of those steps count for something. If everyone would take a few steps, then the world would be a much better place. I think the problem is right now that we are at a cross-roads and the ones that are putting forth the effort feel like they have to make up for the ones that don't. Hopefully, that will soon not be such a reality.

Ways I reduce, reuse and recycle...

Recycle : Everything I possibly can! So that point is mute. Although we did build our first compost bin this year so all our compostables will soon be recycled into yummy fertilizer!

Reduce : Between the recycling and the compost bin, we have recently realized that a box of 36 biodegrable trash bags (21 in. X 26 in.) lasts us over 9 months! That is about 1 bag a week and we could not be more pleased!

Reuse : LOL! They call me the garbage lady at work! I bring all my lunch in reused yogourt containers and Mason jars.

Great tip : Reuse all your glas jars for storage! I keep all my discarded pasta sauce, condiment jars, glass bottles to store my grains, pastas, dried goods, spices, maple si=yrup, honey... They are wonderful because they fit very thightly on a shelf, are transparent and stackable!

Nana Net said...

Guilt comes in some many ways, shape, and so on. Still though I agree we all must do our part to help save this world of ours!
As for me I try to do as much as I can. Mostly by trying to becoming more aware of what I am doing wrong! Some examples that I have tried to help in saving our planet is by recycling.
That I reuse the butter containers that the butter comes in. As well as all other plastic containers that I am able to. Especially after a good washing of them first!
Another way is that I try to do large loads of laundry instead of small loads. That way I only have to do less instead of more. If that makes sense to you all. To me it saves on the amount of laundry detergent I have to use! Plus I hang my clothes out on the clothes line instead of using the clothes dryer. Nothing like fresh air to dry your clothes!
I also wash my dishes by hand and let them air dry too. I really do not like having a dishwasher.
Oh well, another thing that comes to mind is that I love watching HGTV. Now that is where I do get alot of neat ides from on "Going Green" too. Still though your blog helps me by far the most!!!!
Have a blessed day.

From A Quick Tip (a recycled article) ...

Mysticle said...

What a great idea, that I had never thought of before. Stumbled!

In our home, we reuse water bottles and plastic bags. Take our green bags shopping. Always Always Recycle.

I like to reuse the cardboard sleeves from my local coffee shop ... just carry in my purse, no need for a new one every day.

TY, Mysticle

From Vacations ... The Eco Friendly Way ...

Mukund said...

Hey one more thing, carry a disposable bag of some sort in the back of your car to throw what you eat or drink (cans, chips wrappers etc.), just in case there are no dustbins around...
I don't about the world outside but lack of dustbins is a major problem in India...
Great to have you back small... :)

May I offer a suggestion? If you have a bit of time and would like to investigate some new sites, click on one of the people listed above ... not only have they left meaningful comments here, they write brilliant blogs.

As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

Comments of Note

This has been quite a month ... we had the wonderful opportunity to hear from three fabulous guests who taught us and inspired us ... we've talked about the rainforest, roadblocks to living green, earth day, Eco-friendly printing fonts and vegan recipes ... and we took a field trip. We also heard from many of our Reduce Footprints "family" ... in fact, choosing ten comments for this monthly post was difficult.

I'd like to thank everyone who left a comment this month. Here are our Comments of Note:

From: Vegan Recipe - Black Bean and Quinoa Salad

gbenton789 said...

What a great salad. In addition to delicious, you Quinoa and White Corn are native to North America and have tremendous benefits to the environment as well as being delicious and great for us. Add heirloom bell peppers, jalepenos and tomatoes and you've got a salad that is especially healthy and great for the planet and sustainability! Five Stars*****

From: This Idea is Full of Holes

Every Photo Tells A Story said...

Voted! What a Great and Innovative idea. This is one of those inventions that comes around too frequently.

P.S. If I may vent. There is another issue that drives me crazy and wastes paper like crazy. Many people don't realize that there is a way to manually select the page they need to print out. Sometimes we search for an article, and many only need page 2 of 25 for our research, etc. So, what most people do is just automatically print "all". When they can simply print page 2 of 25. Doing so can reduce so much waste. You may have already touched on this issue. If so, thank you for letting me vent:)

From: Rainforests - Part One

Argentum Vulgaris said...

SF, as usual you touch the wick. I look forward to the rest of the series. It is, without doubt, the most important of all the issues we face at the moment.

I your list of rainforest products, don't forget rubber which came originally from the Amazon until stolen by the British and propagated in Kew gardens from where it was exported to Malaya. For some great info read a book called One River(can't think of the auhtor's name offhand). He was an ethno-biolgist who spent 50 years in the Amazon and surrounding areas.
AV

Ysabet said...

Recently I posted on a related topic, how forests (especially rainforests) generate wind and rain:
http://gaiatribe.geekuniversalis.com/2009/04/08/how-forests-generate-wind-and-rain/
So destroying the forests can disrupt weather patterns to the point of drying out an entire continent. It is hypothesized that this may explain Australia's condition.

Project Savior said...

You touched on it in post but maybe the most important reason (for humans) to save the rainforests is the scientific research into the properties of various exotic plants hold the keys to all sorts of new medicines.
If the rainforests are destroyed those cures are destroyed as well.

Lesley said...

Excellent post Sf. I hate to see those photos of vast areas of the rainforest that's been cut down...... miles of barren land with the remains of tree stumps.... and then compare it to the lush growth and the infinite number of species that once lived there. It's heartbreaking.

The thing is though that local people make their living from the palm oil plantations, etc. They're poor people and want to enjoy the pleasures that people from other countries enjoy, so they're going to take what work is on offer. I think one of the most important aspects is to try to develop alternative means of income for those people, so they can enjoy a good standard of living without harming the environment.

I look forward to reading your future posts on this subject. :)

From: Rainforests - Part Two

harri pao said...

I'm agree with choosing wood products that don't contribute to destruction of the rain forest is not easy...one of opportunities, in Indonesia, especially in Java where is huge population and scarcity of forest wood...we've been used village-wood from trees planted surrounded the village. But restoring the rain forest have to take action...Your articles, part one and two, are comprehensive enough, keep working!

From: Earth Day

Pseudonymous High School Teacher said...

Thanks for the heads up on these events. FOr Earth Day, a friend of mine is having a clothes swapping party. We bring all the clothes we clean out of our closets and have a potluck. We leave with clothes that feel "new" to each of us without buying anything.

From: Guest Blogger - Kimberly B. Keilbach

Afternoon Tea Break said...

Well said! Thank you for posting this article about the need to be green and the need for companies to actually live up to their "corporate social responsibilities" rather than just having it as a meaningless catchphrase spicing up the annual reports. Is that Barack Obama letter at the bottom real by the way?

Recently in the UK I try to support the local community by buying as much food as possible from local farmers' markets rather than big supermarket stores, and I'd advocate everyone to do the same: not only is it better on the wallet, it tastes far better and lasts a few days longer than supermarket-bought food too. I'm glad your blog encourages others to do the same.

Feel free to follow me on http://creditcrunchcareerchange.blogspot.com

Ron said...

Before commiting myself to the corporation I currently shoot for, I never knew such companies cared so much about the world outside of their boardrooms. It's truly amazing. I think what these companies should do is all come together and work together to solve some of the worlds most daunting problems--only then can we see MORE change. Just my opinion...

Great tips from Kimberly! Thank you!

Again, I'd like to thank everyone who commented this month.

"See" you on Monday.

Comments of Note

Before we get started with this month's comments, I'd like to offer you one final reminder about Earth Hour. Tomorrow, March 28th, is the big day. I hope that each of you will vote for the earth and turn off your lights for one hour between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm. It's an easy way to be a part of a global demonstration ... and tell world leaders that you care about the earth. Here's a short, two minute video:




OK ... on to this month's Comments of Note:


From Buyer Beware!

ginovieto said...

I really think more people need to be aware of this situation. My sister is the one who got me to purchase reusable recycled bags to go to the grocery store! To not buy water bottles but to purchase a aluminum reusable bottle! All these little things can be a great for the planet if MORE people knew about it! Great blog!

Sinclair said...

Thanks for the info! I prefer cotton/canvas or other natural fiber bags, but I do have a couple made from recycled plastics. I gave up plastic bottles because of the harm to the environment AND the harm to me and my family from the chemicals leeching out into my drinks. Keep up the good research.

From Shining a light on recycling CFLs

Ron said...

Incandescent bulbs are banned here in Canada and because of that most (even small) hardware stores have a take back program. Sinclair, if you're not getting on the band wagon by not using CFL's, would you at least consider using LED's at some point? I'm a huge fan of LED lighting.

In fact, I'm so gung-ho on LED technology that I've even switched all my camera lights to LED standards and they've been a blessing! They last longer during shoots and they never heat up! Anyways, sorry I got a bit off topic, but for those who don't support using CFL's, maybe LED could be an alternative. Studies show that they use less than 1% of energy used by a regular incandescent...which goes a long, long way to reducing our footprint.

Thanks, Footprints for raising this topic!

Ron

From Don't toss it ... yet!

Rebecca Woodhead said...

What great ideas! I'd heard the cork key fob one before and forgotten it. It's so simple. You could turn cereal boxes into an in-tray too - ooh, you could use the paper roll holders to stack them. Cover them in something pretty. Job's a good-un!

Rebecca
http://frombrain2bookshelf.blogspot.com

s engelmohr said...

Another great post. I use my old shoe boxes for everything from storing old papers/pics/mag. to storing electronic cords, etc. I reuse glass jars for dried foods, pens & pencils, change and batteries to be recycled. I do like your idea on tooth paste tubes, wish I had known that when my kids were little and making cup cakes. LOL

eemilla said...

We use our old newspaper to clean mirrors and windows. When I had old panty hose that were exhausted, I would wash them once more then cut the legs into one inch bands which I would use in lieu of rubber bands for my pony tails.

Nina E J said...

These are great ideas! I use empty toilet paper rolls to store my oil paints - I put tape at the end and stuff them with a bit of cloth from broken tshirts or something at they can be used for storage! I have some empty cereal boxes that I don't know what to do with however I think I can use the advice here!
Thanks!

Nana Net said...

Love the ones about the toothpast tubes! Who would of thought to use them for cake decorating! Perect idea!
Now I use the giant size containers of coffee and creamer for my hubby to store his odds and ends from his workshop in. You know screw, bolts and things like that. Plus I use them to keep scraps of paper and pens in too. But of course after I wash them out good!
Keep up those great tips coming to us all! And Happy St. Patricks Day!

From A garden by any other name ...

Marcy said...

In my opinion this is one of the best things Obama has done since becoming president. It sends a great message to the citizens of the US. Plus, Michelle Obama said that her kids are more likely to eat fruits and veggies if they grow and pick them themselves. This is so true! My kids could care less about the veggies I bring home from the market, but they are always intrigued by the ones growing on the porch and more likely to try it. Not to mention, having a garden teaches kids valuable lessons about nature and food.

Cesia said...

I recently learned something new! Apparently most seeds that you purchase from big companies are non-seeding varieties, which means our plants can't reproduce in a natural way. This is, obviously, a greedy (for them) and non-sustainable (for all of us) way to live.

Heirloom seeds are not genetically modified and produce seeds. They also are from traditional (old) varieties.

Here's an article about why Heirloom seeds are important.

I bought some for my square foot garden this year! Now I just need to get my lazy butt around to planting them. :)

- Cesia.

Thank you to these commenters and everyone who left a comment this month ... you add so much to Reduce Footprints.

"See" you on Monday!

Comments of Note

The votes were cast and counted ... and ... we have a winner: Continue with the new "Comments of Note" format. Thank you to all who took part in the poll ... and a big thank you to all who left comments this month. Now ... Comments of Note:

From Waste-Free Lunch:

Quirky Mom said...

This is a topic I keep stashing away in my head for when my Apple starts K in a year and a half. Right now she has lunch provided at preschool, so I don't do any packing yet.

Have you seen all the wonderful handmade reusable packaging on Etsy? As on example, check out these reusable snack bags that I bought several months ago.

February 2, 2009 7:19 PM

Heather said...

Tupperware make a lunchbox that's waste free:

http://order.tupperware.com/coe/app/tup_show_item.show_item_detail?fv_item_category_code=7000&fv_item_number=P10055361000

My kids each have one. My son takes milk is a reusuable box in his, with half a sandwich. My daughter takes a juicebox (no, not reusable, but that's usually her only trash) and a whole sandwich. There are two more sections. Usually they have one fruit (sliced apples fit great) and a treat. My favorite part is the it fits on the edge of the dishwasher that's usually wasted to get squeaky clean.

Here's a picture of one of their lunches (although the new boxes are a different color, but they're the same size/layout):

http://forums.delphiforums.com/LivingNatural/messages?msg=796.25

There are more pictures of lunches in similar boxes in the Tupperware Flickr pool:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/tupperware/pool/with/2133722268/

Heather
Living Green and Natural @ Delphi Forums
http://forums.delphiforums.com/LivingNatural/start

February 17, 2009 8:20 PM

From Strange Bedfellows: Paper, Sugar Diapers:

sober white women said...

I had to laugh a little about bleaching. I don't bleach because I have a daughter with breathing problems.
It was not until years later that I learned how harmful bleach is. I was green and did not even know it.
When I would like something to be a little whiter I soak it in vineger water. Yes, vineger is a natural bleach.
Kelli

February 4, 2009 12:41 PM

Argentum Vulgaris said...

SF, as a chef, white flour is essential sometimes, I prefer to use wholemeal or mandioca flour.

Coffee filter is cloth, reusable, life about 18 months with twice daily usage.

Raw sugar in coffee is just great.

Try not to use those products, tea-towel has it hands over paper towels. I reuse brown paper bags to drain fat etc off food. Toilet paper IS one of the essentials, but unbleached is impossible to find in Brazil.

The clothing one is difficult too, unless you shop a chique botique which are horrendously expensive.

Smoke pipe or cigars more often than cigaretts.

Prefer brown paper bags to plastic, have a cloth shopping bag. Prefer to buy loose items than prepackaged if I can find it.

AV
http://netherregionoftheearthii.blogspot.com/
http://tomusarcanum.blogspot.com/
http://thingsthatfizz.blogspot.com/

February 4, 2009 2:20 PM

Quirky Mom said...

This is a topic I've been keen on for several years, since learning that dioxins are implicated in endometriosis (which my mother had, and I may have). I pretty rapidly did away with bleached tampons and pads (and since then have switched to a menstrual cup), paper towels, etc. I've never been a fan of bleached flour, and we rarely use bleached sugar now as well.

The thing I struggle with is finding affordable clothing that hasn't been bleached.

February 4, 2009 4:04 PM

MaryC said...

This is a great post. I went bleach free about two years ago because of my dh and grandson who both have asthma. You can use Hydrogen Peroxide or tea tree oil to kill mold, the former to bleach clothes, clean algae from a fountain or bird bath,etc.
I hadn't considered a cloth coffee filter. That was a great suggestion by one of the posters. I'm on it right now.
Thanks Small!

February 4, 2009 6:09 PM

Quirky Mom said...

Yep, vinegar is great for mold and mildew.

I've used 7th Gen laundry products but prefer Bi-O-Kleen. Another great option is Charlie's Soap. Oxy-Bright (I think that's the right name -- not the one on the TV ads) is chlorine-free and is good at whitening as well. But most of all, don't forget the sun! Hang your dingy stuff out to dry in the sun and you may be surprised at how good it looks after!

February 6, 2009 2:55 PM

From 15 "Green" Tips, Hints and Interesting Facts:


cara said...

Great ideas here! Another one to add to #11 is to check out www.gazelle.com. I just found out about this service-- the either pay you for your used electronic item or if it's not worth anything, they will recycle it appropriately. Paid postage! It's a win-win!

February 5, 2009 1:37 PM

From Vegan Recipe - Lo Mein Noodles:


Chourou said...

Hello,Small Footprints!
I think this nice meal is rather similar with what we call "yasai-ramen",or chinese noodle with various vegetable.It is popular way to cook and eat noodles in Japan, and maybe also in other Asian countries,even though the ingrediants would be a little different respectivly.

February 7, 2009 5:58 AM

From I Can See Clearly Now:


John said...

Make sure your optician or optometrist is honest. Most are dishonest and tell you that you need new frames, just because the previous lens will not fit the new frame, or whatever other excuses.

And just to share something my ophthalmologist friend shared with me... your eyes' long-sightedness will improve as you age, to the point you won't need glasses anymore! So watch out also for those opticians or optometrists that keep prescribing a higher power for you on every visit.

February 10, 2009 9:03 AM

Thanks to everyone who left comments this month.

As always ... I would love to hear from you!

Comments of Note

Before we get started with today's post, I have great news. A site called Empty Easel has picked up one of our articles and ... published it. It was originally submitted to us by a guest author, who wishes to remain anonymous, and Empty Easel thought it was worth sharing with their readers. If you'd like to see the article ... click HERE. OK ... on to today's topic:


This is the last Friday of the month ... in a new year ... with positive changes and hope in the air. While some might view change as a bad thing ... I, personally, embrace it. Change keeps everything fresh and exciting. It forces us to view life from a different angle and that's when we discover all kinds of wonderful things.

So ... I decided to make a small change to the monthly feature where I publish all the comments received. Starting today, I'm going to "pick and choose" comments that add information ... things that teach us more about living greener lives. I will, of course, continue to read every single comment and publish them with the articles they are attached to but ... for this monthly feature, which has grown and grown ... and become a very long post, I'll be selective.

So ... that being said ... here are the comments from the last month which I've deemed "Comments of Note". I hope you enjoy them!

molly said...

Johns research was wonderful, I too am horrified at what chemicals go onto our skin & hair, perhaps more would consider growing the soapwort plant? I have 3 plants, mixed with organic oatmeal they make wonderful soaps, solo they make great kitchen liquid, shampoo and laundry liquid. I would never go back to the days of soap etc after making my own. (Author's note ... to read more about the soapwort plant, click HERE).

Recipes are on my blog under the soap label if you are interested.

cheers

January 4, 2009 8:14 AM

The Accessory Lady said...

Marcal is one my favorite Green companies because all their paper products are made from paper not from trees. 100% recycled. It's also affordable. I buy my toilet paper, paper towels and napkins from them. (Author's note ... read about Marcal HERE).

January 10, 2009 9:33 AM

Cesia said...

Very interesting.

I wanted to comment on what you said about squash not growing upwards ... let me disclaimer this that I don't have a garden, and am in no way an expert here. But this summer I was reading a book called Square Foot Gardening, and they basically assert you can grow anything "vine-y" vertical. If I remember right, this included squash. I mean, squash usually takes up LOTS of horizontal space, and that's not really possible in the teeny tiny square foot garden - thus the vertical-ness. So, um, it might be something you could look into.

:)
- Cesia.

January 16, 2009 12:51 PM

Lesley said...

Roses and Sunflowers...... what an irrestistable combination! I must try that myself. :)

Another crop that makes a good screen is Jerusalem Artichokes and they look attractive too.

January 16, 2009 4:45 PM

Joanne said...

You might try a row of Jet Star tomatoes near a window. Mine grow like a jungle. Just add a little fertilizer and let nature do its work! You'll have a beautiful, and delicious, wall.

January 16, 2009 7:37 PM

E. Michelle said...

Hi there I've been reading the same book as Cesia, and I was going to say the same thing, that you can grow squash vertical. Something fun you might want to grow is this special squash, I forget the name, but when they are mature you harvest them and they are loofah sponges. I've grown them before here in TX and it makes a cool little loofah for your bath/shower. (Author's note ... read about loofah plants HERE).

January 16, 2009 7:57 PM

Ron said...

Hi Footprints, your post reminded me of a segment I shot for Discovery Channel earlier this year about a sustainable house that was built from the ground up. It was in Minneapolis MN. The company was called Live Green Live Smart, I think. And they grew something very similar in their 100% self sustaining home. It was amazing. Would love to see some pictures of your project. (Author's note ... you can read more about Live Green Live Smart HERE).

-Ron

January 17, 2009 4:32 PM

yolanda said...

these are great tips! thanks sf. baking soda can also be used to remove smells from fridges - my mum keeps an eggcup of baking soda in the fridge at home and it absorbs everything!

peace,

yola

January 21, 2009 2:51 PM

Vivienne said...

great tips as always.
Here's another one - putting half a fresh slice of lemon in the fridge will get rid of odors and washing out the garbage can with 1 part water and 1 part vinegar will get rid of odours AND works antibacterial! :)

January 22, 2009 6:17 AM

Nana Net said...

Excellent tips as always! thanks for sharing them. I remember my Mom always telling me to get rid of really strong, nasty odors to open a jar of vinegar and let it just sit open in a room. Well believe me it does work! Is something I still do to this day.

Plus I do love to burn candles. Though I do know some of them do have stronger scents then others. My favorites are by Yankee Candle. (Author's note ... Yankee Candle does have a line of Eco-friendly soy candles. Click HERE to learn more).

Well enjoy the day and will be back to check out more helpful hints from you! Bye.

Nana Net

January 22, 2009 8:54 AM

Thank you to all of these commentators, as well as to everyone who left comments this month. So ... what do you think? Do you like the new format? Let me know by registering your vote on the poll which can be found in the side bar.

As always ... I would love to hear from you!!

Your Comments ...

It's the last Friday of the month ... and that means comments. Thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts and ideas this month. And now ... sit back ... relax ... and enjoy:

Brian said...

Wow! That's a ton comments. You do a great job encouraging readers to participate. Keep up the excellent information and messages you provide. This is definitely one special blog.

November 30, 2008 9:10 AM

Ms. B1tch is tired tired tired...(and very hungry said...

Ms. B listened and watched little mini movie below and it made her feel so much better. Ms B was quite the grump for several days! Now, she feels better - but she should have watched video before posting her tirades, yes? Tee.hee.

November 30, 2008 5:47 PM

Kathryn Magendie said...

Hi! Are you ready for the weather coming?

We sure need the rain - but we may get snow, too!

November 30, 2008 5:55 PM

Robot Nine said...

Cool, neat idea, fun to read, comments make the blog more fun. Thanks for the Shrekulation on Robot Nine. This week I have some more posts that might be a bit. shocking, lol!

November 30, 2008 7:55 PM

Angie Ledbetter said...

Your blog is not only earth friendly, it's people friendly. :)

November 30, 2008 9:05 PM

sober white women said...

You are so right. I have never really drove much, but once gas went high I really stopped. Gas comes from oil, and that is something we can never replace.
We should all conserve gas.
Kelli

December 1, 2008 12:34 PM

Angie Ledbetter said...

The roller coaster prices of gas (with no seeming reason) makes it even scarier to buy something big! Have a great December.

December 1, 2008 12:49 PM

IB said...

The price of oil sky-rocketed and July and plummeted back down in September/October. Regardless of the reasons and/or the identity of those pulling the strings, our reaction to the ever-changing oil market tells me we are very vulnerable, indeed, to a commodity that is managed in a seemingly whimsical fashion. Whatever is happening cannot be healthy for us, as a society, and is another good reason to break ourselves of this poisonous addiction. The multiple costs are simply too many and too great in scale to continue our bad habit. Of course, kicking any habit can be hell, but most of the time proves worth the effort.

Thanks for the thought provoking post.

IB

http://idiotsstew.blogspot.com

December 1, 2008 2:43 PM

Joe's Foster Dogs said...

EXCELLENT POST!!!

Thanks for saying what I am thinking!!!

December 1, 2008 2:50 PM

Argentum Vulgaris said...

The secret is, now that you have learned to economise using gas, don't go and forget it. Keep economising for the sake of the planet.

AV

December 1, 2008 4:09 PM

E. Michelle said...

I've heard that the current prediction is we will run out of gas in about 50 years. Personally, I'm looking forward to it. At first I feel the media will really scare everyone into a frenzy. Later on I feel it will be the best thing that ever happened to not only the environment, but also families.

Nice post!

December 1, 2008 8:20 PM

Barry said...

No doubt about it you are absolutely correct.

The price of gas has dropped largely because of decreased demand.

Not only are we reducing our green house gas emissions, but we're saving money too.

December 2, 2008 5:20 AM

SearchingSoul said...

I missed reading your blogs for quite a while. I have a lot of cathing up to do. :-)

I agree with you that although the price of gasoline has gone down, it is still a non-renewable energy and would be gone one day.

Aside from conserving, we need to consider using renewable energy as much as we could.

Thanks for missing my blog. I just posted one yesterday.

December 2, 2008 5:42 AM

John said...

The price of petrol fluctuates like nobody's business, but one thing remains constant... the declining amount.

It's a matter of how fast it finishes, and how much it cost to finish.

December 2, 2008 6:30 AM

Terri Tiffany said...

I'm still conserving despite the lower costs. Still hoping an alternative is soon to be available. Thanks for some good information as always!

December 2, 2008 8:37 AM

Ms. B1tch is tired tired tired...(and very hungry said...

Ms. B is listening and heeding, yes!

(Ms B put your story about coffee in the lap on her blogpost today - tee.hee. she laughed at the stories and wants more!)

December 2, 2008 9:06 AM

Kathryn Magendie said...

I am still conserving! Just as I do other things - like not letting the water run while washing dishes, my hands, face, etc. And by turning off lights, etc!

December 2, 2008 9:31 AM

mlh said...

Oil did skyrocket, which did not help those living in rural areas who need heating oil for the winter and don't have the luxury of gas. It is reminders like these that need to be told. Thanks for sharing!

December 2, 2008 10:43 AM

Joanne said...

It does seem almost a ploy, to placate us into believing gas will stay cheap and it's safe to go out and buy the huge SUVs sitting idle on the lots. The sad thing is, the gas prices might just be the motivation some people need.

December 2, 2008 11:36 AM

foodbankbarbie said...

You left me my very first comment EVER.. so I was excited enough about that.. and then I come to read YOUR blog.. and find this incredible site that is right up my alley! This blog ROCKS! I absolutely love it.. I am so thrilled. YAY FOR YOU!!!! :) And thank you for that wonderful comment.
Shannon

December 2, 2008 8:39 PM

foodbankbarbie said...

Thank you for adding me to your blog roll! I feel famous. This food blog is GREAT. I'm thinking you should start a commune with all these great ideas.. I mean if you win the lottery and can buy 1,000 acres somewhere green.. okay so maybe it's a stretch. But you would be FABULOUS as the leader of a a little city intent on being green.. which people would flock to and then it would grow and then it could take over the entire world. YOU COULD SAVE THE EARTH. Just a thought. Too much coffee. :)
Shannon
http://foodbankbarbie.blogspot.com

December 3, 2008 1:34 PM

sober white women said...

Thank you for the info. One of the things I do is I throw all of my organic waste out by my rose bush. I do not know how to grow roses or what they need to grow, but so far what I am feed them is working! They are huge. Coffee grinds are great for plants.
Kelli

December 3, 2008 3:06 PM

Marcy said...

Great ideas here. I like to shop with a list and feel "out of sorts" when I don't. I hate to waste food and throw things out. Part of it comes from working in the restaurant business and trying to keep food cost down.

I need to compost more but it's hard when you live in an apartment.

December 3, 2008 8:12 PM

Joanne said...

I was glad to see that I do many of these already! We always plant a vegetable garden in the spring, and right through autumn eat all our produce fresh from the garden or from one of several local farmstands. Another benefit is that the flavor just cannot be beat!

December 3, 2008 9:40 PM

Angie Ledbetter said...

I'm the best food recycler I know. NEVER throw food out, but turn it into something else. Big soups, gumbos and pot pies are awesome for cleaning out the fridge of leftovers.

December 3, 2008 10:39 PM

Marcy said...

Thanks for this post. My husband and I were talking about this the other day. He mentioned that prices will go up again in April.

December 3, 2008 8:09 PM

Laura said...

I am so glad Obama won because that is the only way something will hopefully be done about changing the cars we drive, and how we get around. Someone really needs to start the CHANGE. But, thankfully, the Hummer dealership in my town went out of business.

December 3, 2008 9:11 PM

luthien said...

my goodness sf! another brilliant post! how do you get so many wonderful ideas, you are precious! the world needs lots more people like you :)))) love the post! thanks!

December 4, 2008 1:32 AM

Wellness KIDS said...

Great information - I've been trying to waste less food but I had no idea just how bad food waste was! Thanks for enlightening me.

WellnessKids
http://wellnesskids.blogspot.com/

December 4, 2008 4:29 AM

Vivienne said...

great ideas, I hate wasting food so I'm going to print this off and stick it on my fridge at home - so my housemates have a look as well!
Also, should you have bought too much food - freeze it. That way it won't go off in teh fridge just lying around.

December 4, 2008 5:59 AM

shellyfish said...

Food and our relationship with it plays such a huge part in our interaction with the environment. While I didn't go vegan initially because of the obvious huge benefits for the environment, I'l so happy with all the accidental pluses it brings!
And I love A Christmas Carol - especially the George C. Scott rendition. I show it every year to my EFL classes here in France!

December 4, 2008 9:18 AM

PlantBuddy said...

"Planning ahead twice", now that's an original idea! I like it and all it means is pausing to consider before plopping items into your shopping cart. Local tomatoes grown hydroponically are available all winter and they taste almost as good as garden-grown ones.

December 4, 2008 3:05 PM

Douglas said...

My mother used to keep leftovers for three days and then create what she called "slumgullian", it was always interesting.

On the landfill methane; we should be tapping more of it for energy use. There was a story some years ago about a chicken farmer who dug a pits into which he dumped the chicken droppings. Within a short time, he was able to pipe the methane into tanks, converted his farm machines to run on it, and ran his farm with it.

December 4, 2008 5:04 PM

mlh said...

Wonderful information! Hardly any food is thrown out without being converted into different dishes or used for mulch. And don't forget to mention that some fruits, like orange peels, can be dried and placed into bags for the aroma to air out musty smells in rooms.

December 4, 2008 7:33 PM

E. Michelle said...

This is great information! Food waste is a big problem for sure...I feel such guilt when I throw out leftovers.

I like your tip about cutting down the recipe when you're just cooking for 1 or 2 people. That does save a lot of food!

Thanks for this post!

December 4, 2008 8:51 PM

Brian said...

Love the tips, as always. We always overcook and need to cut down on the waste. I hope you don't mind, but I listed your site as one of 18 Great Resources in my latest entry.

http://www.eazycheezy.net/2008/12/18-tools-to-budget-get-organized-set.html

Take Care,
Brian

December 4, 2008 8:57 PM

Barry said...

Some excellent advice. We reuse all the left overs we can (having a dog helps), compost much of the rest or put it out for the City's composting green bin program.

December 4, 2008 10:41 PM

sober white women said...

This bread sounds good. I often make my own bread. I even grind the organic wheat. There is nothing like baking love.
Kelli

December 5, 2008 12:54 PM

Angie Ledbetter said...

Paisan, love love love that Italian light cakey bread! It's great when it starts to get a little tough to slice, butter and broil for breakfast. Yum!

December 5, 2008 2:37 PM

foodbankbarbie said...

I was wondering.
I've decided to make fun flyers to pass out at work... to customers, so they can donate/recycle food and plastic grocery bags, etc., and to stick in the food boxes of my families.
If this makes you feel funky, I WILL NOT BE OFFENDED.
I was wondering if you care if I put some things from your blog in them.. some of your tips, etc. I can send you what I want to use first so you can okay it, and of course I'll say I got it from you.
I just thought of this like 30 minutes ago, the flyer, so it's still in the planning stages.. I just wanted to check.
Let me know! :)
Shannon

December 5, 2008 3:05 PM

shellyfish said...

I was just thinking that I haven't made a Panettonne! This recipe sounds great - thanks for sharing.
Feel free to link for your gift list - I think that book is a wonderful idea for little ones and it's so wonderful because you can use your fabric scraps to make it!

December 5, 2008 4:36 PM

Small Footprints said...

To foodbankbarbie and ... everyone:

I love passing on the "green" word so ... if you want to use the ideas you see here ... please do! Together ... we can change the world!! :)

To shellyfish ... thanks for giving us the OK to link to your site ... Monday's post promises to be terrific.

Small Footprints

December 5, 2008 5:53 PM

Joanne said...

I think what I love best about this recipe is that you knead tons of love into the bread!! We have a theory in my house, when making food, Christmas food in particular. The right music must be playing on the stereo as we prepare the food (Frank Sinatra Christmas Carols with the lasagna!) to give it an extra special flavor. Music is one of our ingredients :)

December 5, 2008 6:00 PM

Mike Avenue said...

hmmmm... can't wait to try it!

Hope you can add to these posts the ingredients that is available on asian stores.

Thanks!

December 5, 2008 7:51 PM

LittleJ said...

I have never had any luck with baking bread, you wouldn't have any suggestions for a very VERY easy loaf to start with, would you?

December 6, 2008 9:20 AM

Ms. B1tch is tired tired tired...(and very hungry said...

Ms. B is hungry! Ms B wants some of that RIGHT NOW! ohhhhhhh....

December 6, 2008 2:48 PM

luthien said...

hey sf :)
i just wanna pass you a link... probably interest you :)

http://www.rubysupcycledesigns.blogspot.com/

btw... the bread looks gooood!

December 6, 2008 11:17 PM

kat boop magendie said...

I do want some of that - I bet it makes fabulous french toast...now I want french toast.

I linked you to the msn blog!

December 7, 2008 8:42 AM

Small Footprints said...

To Mike Avenue: Good idea ... I'll post some recipes which use ingredients you can get (I love Asian food).

To LittleJ: I have a good Whole Wheat Bread recipe that's pretty easy. If you send your email address to me, I'll send it to you (it's a little long to type in the comments). Write to me at:
reducefootprints@gmail.com

To Luthien: Thanks for the link ... I'm off to check it out now!

Take care, everyone!

Small Footprints

December 7, 2008 11:26 AM

kat magendie said...

Hey, thanks for posting this (and the small press info on my site) - I'll be sure to post these links soon to my msn site *smiling*

December 8, 2008 12:04 PM

sober white women said...

I am going to have to stop by there. Thank you so much for sharing all of these ideas. I have two teen age daughters and this year they are getting stainless steel water bottles in thier stockings.
Kelli

December 8, 2008 2:34 PM

Roxy said...

WOW these are really great ideas!!
I am going to add your blog to mine. Very nice blog - but you knew that.

Stop by mine when you have a minute.

www.realestatenews-roxy.blogspot.com

Roxy

December 8, 2008 2:55 PM

Wellness KIDS said...

Thanks for the great shout out! I had fun working on this with you.

Alison
http://wellnesskids.blogspot.com

December 8, 2008 5:18 PM

Joanne said...

I like the garden kit, to cultivate a lifelong love of gardening, starting when they're young. That's a wonderful idea.

December 8, 2008 8:05 PM

LittleJ said...

I second your nomination of Macbooks as one heckuva gift, my school is Apple-crazy and everyone has one :D

December 9, 2008 8:03 AM

John said...

Looks and sounds sooooooo yummy :)

December 9, 2008 3:59 AM

John said...

Hmmm, my family and friends don't call me garbage bin for nothing... hahaha... I normally end up finishing all the leftovers, which is why I normally don't order much food for myself!

Thanks for sharing about this food wastage and decomposing problem. Never knew that.

December 9, 2008 3:57 AM

NicoMc "the Illustrator" said...

That's a great Christmas Gift Guide. I love Apple computers.

December 9, 2008 12:26 PM

Mike Avenue said...

Great ideas indeed!
Thank you for posting these tips.

December 9, 2008 6:30 PM

Mike Avenue said...

These are all wonderful ideas indeed!

December 9, 2008 6:31 PM

Angie Ledbetter said...

Little indoor herb kits are great for young chefs and farmers too. :) I always liked giving coupon books (handmade) with extra goodies in them like "Stay up 30 minutes past bedtime," "Ride bikes with Mom," etc. made from recycled paper, of course.

December 10, 2008 1:04 AM

yolanda said...

small footprints,

this is on an unrelated topic, but i thought you would be interested in it. there has recently been a recall of ALL irish pork products because extremely high levels of dioxin were found in the meat. if you are interested in knowing more, one of my friends has written about it at length on http://moxyfilms.blogspot.com/

peace and love,
yolanda

December 10, 2008 4:57 AM

shellyfish said...

This is such a rich post! So full of great links & ideas - I have always been a MAC girl, I love that they score higher environmentally.
Thanks for the shout out, too. :)

December 10, 2008 10:50 AM

PlantBuddy said...

Thank you Wellness Kids and Small Footprints for all these wonderful green gift suggestions and ideas and all the helpful links. People (parents and grandparents, etc.) just have to get in the green minded groove. Check where that toy was made and what's it made of before you plunk down your cash at the register. Buyer Beware! The kids are depending on YOU. Have a safe and happy holiday.

December 10, 2008 10:51 AM

Angie Ledbetter said...

This frugal gal (it's in my Italian blood) uses a lot of these already. Thanks for more great suggestions.

December 10, 2008 12:24 PM

Joanne said...

Some of these ideas are so pretty, too. Using scarves & dishtowels to wrap, or finding sprigs of berries outside for bows. Love it. Our family has used the Christmas card/gift tag idea for years now. They make festive tags!

December 10, 2008 1:59 PM

Jane! said...

Finally my box collection is validated!
Be careful with the popcorn - the oil can make spots on things. I learned that the hard way.
Good ideas!

December 10, 2008 2:23 PM

yolanda said...

another good wrapping paper is pages from a magazine! they can also make funky envelopes :-D

yolanda

December 10, 2008 2:36 PM

Barry said...

We use bags, instead of wrapping paper. They are much easier to reuse.

Although my wife does have a pet peeve and that is people who insist on sticking name tags to the bags that can't be reused without ripping the paper.

It is just as easy to tie the tag to the bag handle freeing up the bag for unlimited future use.

Great blog as always.

December 10, 2008 3:16 PM

sober white women said...

I love your idea for packing. I wrote about this a while back, but now I have more idea's. This year you will see a ton of brown under our tree. I did not wrap hardly anything.
I say hardly, because I have a handi cap son who still loves to tear open the paper, but I did buy the paper at a yard sale.
I love your blog.
Kelli

December 10, 2008 6:47 PM

Wellness KIDS said...

Great ideas as always. I saw a great gift wrap idea on the Today Show the other day. They used a Baggu reusable shopping tote to wrap gifts. The colors are so cute. They just put the gift in the bag and tied the handles at the top and it looked like a festive bow.

December 10, 2008 7:34 PM

Argentum Vulgaris said...

I had paper at home that had seen up to 5 Christmases... My ex couldn't understand it (but then she is Brazilian) they don't think of these things.

AV
http://netherregionoftheearthii.blogspot.com/
http://tomusarcanum.blogspot.com/

December 11, 2008 8:03 AM

Annabelle said...

I like the new eco-friendly furniture at officedesigns.com for the "Greener" office. They have an entire gallery that tells you all the info about the stuff. All the fashion and quality with none of the damage to the ozone :)

December 10, 2008 7:48 PM

John said...

Great greener packaging ideas! I'll start to apply that not just for Christmas, but for my work as well, since I do need to send out things from time to time.

Have a nice Thursday, Small Footprints!

December 11, 2008 10:13 AM

molly said...

I'm an ardent reader of The Guardian, and every holiday season they spend a couple of weeks adding in artist or celeb designed wrapping paper, which you can collect over a few weeks. I've got loads of wrapping paper now. Another cool thing about The Guardian, if it's not the holiday giving season, is every day they dedicate their entire centre spread to one or several photos, and while some photos contain subjects you wouldn't want to put presents in (like the week of the Mumbai incedent... that's not good wrapping paper material), sometimes it's just neat or beautiful photos and that works well as wrapping paper too!

December 11, 2008 1:01 PM

shellyfish said...

Old maps and the comics pages from old newspapers are our stand-bys, but this year, we're also using sheets of scrap paper that have been decorated by our 3-year-old. It's such a wasteful time of year, every little bit helps!

December 11, 2008 3:29 PM

Crafty Ladies said...

Thank you so much for the wrapping suggestions! There are some great ideas on your list that I had not thought of before. Have a wonderful Green Holiday!

December 12, 2008 11:41 AM

IB said...

Hello Small Footprints,

This is scary information! I appreciate the effort you went to in researching this post. I'm letting my friends around the office know about it and your righteous blog.

IB

http//idiotsstew.blogspot.com

December 12, 2008 12:27 PM

sober white women said...

O.K. my 16 year old just got frossed out!
I think it is great that you are putting all this info out there.
I agree if you can't understand what you are reading then don't buy it.
Kelli

December 12, 2008 12:27 PM

Angie Ledbetter said...

Good grief! Who knew? Thanks for the information.

December 12, 2008 12:45 PM

MaryC said...

My Goodness! Are we all going to have to stop bathing? How can these companies get by with this stuff? It just amazes me how dangerous our world is now.
One thing about the chlorine in your water, get a whole house water filter or at least an attachment for your shower or bath faucet. Chlorine fumes are very dangerous. We tested our tap water and it had more chlorine in it than our swimming pool.

December 12, 2008 1:05 PM

Joanne said...

I just checked our antibacterial soap - there it is, triclosan! Time to go shopping.

December 12, 2008 1:54 PM

Leon Basin said...

I liked this article.

December 12, 2008 2:31 PM

Everyday Housewife said...

Uh..oh.. looks like I have to go shopping for new products. Going to throw out that bar of antibacterial soap. Thanks for the info!

December 12, 2008 8:26 PM

luthien said...

good grief... what will become of us? toxins even in baby products??? this is not good at all...

December 12, 2008 11:58 PM

SearchingSoul said...

Oh My God! I am having my bath after blogging...and I'm scared to use my toiletries. For sure those harmful chemicals are in my soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, lotion and facial cremes. But on the other hand, I will also die a thousand deaths if I am deprived with my daily rituals in the bathroom. LOL!

Thank you for going out of your way in researching for all these information. You have made a lot of difference in this harmful world.

December 13, 2008 1:14 AM

John said...

Hi Small Footprints,

If you don't mind, I would like to research on these "toxic" ingredients, because the accuracy of these information could be biased, coming from the website of a consumer product (PureZing).

I'll put the results in my next blog post. Have a great weekend!

John

December 13, 2008 2:24 AM

Argentum Vulgaris said...

No wonder all my hair fell out and I've only got half my teeth. Never going to shower again!

Great post SF, informative and surprising as always.

AV

December 13, 2008 6:23 AM

foodbankbarbie said...

I have this ugly big bar of olive oil soap that I use in the shower.. it turns yellow..let's just say it doesn't look too appealing. But it's all natural. My family complains that they even have to look at it. Won't they get a nice surprise when they get home today and find I have thrown out all of that other crap and they have to use it! They'll get used to it. I'm going to try THAT attitude..'Well it's what you're going to use.. or else you won't be using soap.' :) Man made pruducts have screwed our world up. But.. I guess MAN has screwed our world up.

December 13, 2008 7:55 AM

Small Footprints said...

To John ... and everyone:

Yes, yes ... I encourage you to "check the facts". And if you find information which is contrary to what is posted here, please let me know. I view this blog as a place where we can share information and learn ... with the goal being that we lead healthier, greener lives.

Small Footprints

December 13, 2008 11:19 AM

Brian said...

Wow, you're so smart on the topics you cover and this blog has leaped forward into captivating everyone who reads your work. It's evident by watching your followers continually increase. As I mentioned before, this is the "Go-To Site for Going Green"

Keep up all your great work!

December 14, 2008 1:27 PM

Inge' said...

I recently found this website. I haven't delved into it very deeply but it looks worthwhile if you want to take a look: http://www.greenpeople.org/ They have a listing for all sorts of green products. After reading this post, i found a listing of companies that sell natural soaps. Just passing it along.

December 14, 2008 4:01 PM

Stormy said...

Just love your blog! Glad you are following mine as well. I'm pretty new to this, but so far it's fun and I can see that it could be addicting. I love what you write about and look forward to when I have time to read all your older posts!

December 14, 2008 8:40 PM

E. Michelle said...

This is scary stuff, but good to know... I've even seen calcium supplements with SLS in them! Yuck!

December 14, 2008 9:12 PM

Anonymous said...

Those are all such awesome ideas! And there were so many too. There really has to be something there for everyone!

One thing I'd add to the thought that you might not need boxes is that for babies you're probably better off without them anyway. Whenever I've given young babies gifts, they have a little bit easier time opening them when the wrapping isn't absolutely perfect.

Just a thought. (And thanks again!)

-courtney (from Green Living Forum)

December 15, 2008 9:12 AM

PlantBuddy said...

Yes, I've heard about this before. I guess we should buy our soaps, etc. from the health food stores.
Antibacterial soaps are not recommended even for dishwashing liquids because germs can develop a resistance to it.

Thanks for dropping by on weekend and comments. About your question on Poinsettia. I just buy a new one each year. You need special conditions to get the leaves to turn red for you.

December 15, 2008 10:45 AM

Angie Ledbetter said...

Love the clothes-sharing and also the donating. Lots of opportunities where I live for donations. Our church also sponsors a "Giving Tree" each Advent for the needy, which is really nice. Our schools do a lot of used uniform sales too. For cutting food waste, you can always swap leftovers with friends & neighbors. :)

December 15, 2008 1:16 PM

foodbankbarbie said...

Awesome ideas as usual!! I WILL *pass it on*! :)
Shannon

December 15, 2008 3:50 PM

Everyday Housewife said...

I remember reading an article on car sharing. How I wish it would work here. I regret that car pooling hardly works here despite the encouragement of the government. The car sharing in Stehekin would only work if you have honest people. Here, i think the car would be driven away if the keys were left in the lock!

December 15, 2008 8:00 PM

sober white women said...

I buy 99% of my stuff used. I just like it better. I think it is a great way to recycle.
I reuse old toothbrushes to scrub the toilet with and then I pitch them.
OH! I have a ton of old baby bib's..the kind with no plastic... anyway I use them to wash dishes. They work great.
Kelli

December 15, 2008 8:25 PM

Julieanne Paige said...

Hi

Great tips! I especially like the shower tip ;) I'll call my friends today and see if they're interested.

Joking aside though there are so many little things we can do and thankfully people like yourself help more people to become aware of what they can do.

Great blog!

Julieanne

December 16, 2008 5:00 AM

Vivienne said...

Great ideas, sorry I haven't commented for a while. Got another one, not sure how easy it is on your side of hte world though. Over here the shops like Strabucks, Pret-a-manger, etc. (supposedly fresh food) throw out their food at the end of the day as it goes by it's "use by" date and they will not be held responsible if anything happens. So it all goes in the BIN!! So what I've been doing (I do have friends that work at tehse shops though) is ask them to bring me the leftover food and we give it to homeless people or they do it themselves. Not bad eh?

Anyway, I have tagged you...nto sure how you feel about hetse type of games but I will bear it in mind for next time :)

Game - pros and cons about yourself?
I keep seeing meme's (don't know what that is so I've just called it game on my blog) on other people's blogs. You tag each other and it's so much fun. So I'm going to try one out myself! Hopefully it'll work! So here goes.

Tell me three good things about yourself and three bad things about yourself. Post it on your own blog and tag people. So this way I will get to know your good and bad traits! :)

Good:
1 - I'm a great listener.
2 - I'm quite funny.
3 - I don't judge people.

Bad:
1 - Bad temper (at times).
2 - I don't like people touching my things....
3 - I am easy to tease.

I am tagging the following people:

Hektiklyfe - http://thesilentpodium.blogspot.com/

Moments Define Life - http://kitesmoments.blogspot.com/

Danny (with a Y can I just add :) - http://boxofpapers.blogspot.com/

Notes of the Everyday Housewife - http://housewifenotes.blogspot.com/

Reduce Footprints - http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

Now, any others I haven't tagged is because I'm not quite sure whether you'd like this game in general (as I've never seen meme's on your blogs) or where I'm sure you'd hate it - like AV :)

December 16, 2008 5:25 AM

Argentum Vulgaris said...

SF, When I was a kid, clothes always got handed down. First me, then my brother, but my sister hated the idea... then off to cousins and the like.

Electric toothbrushes, really, what a waste of time, energy and resources. I gotta say that anybody who uses an electric toothbrush has got more money than sense.

Showering with a friend, now that I agree with, practice it often. ;-)

Not only did I donate to goodwill stores, I used to shop there too. Some good stuff there, and cheap.

At the office we share scissors and staplers and stuff, the boss is too stingy...

AV
http://netherregionoftheearthii.blogspot.com/
http://tomusarcanum.blogspot.com/

December 16, 2008 7:15 AM

Terri Tiffany said...

You really wrote a good article here along with some pictures! Nice! I like the donating part--we do that with everything! Some good ideas again!

December 16, 2008 7:33 AM

Inge' said...

I reuse my old towels. When they are too thin to dry with, I use them to dry off my dogs. Once they are past this use, I cut them up and use as rags.

Old cotton socks are good for dusting with. They slip on your hands and last a long time.

I am constantly donating clothes. I donate baby items that I come across to my local Crisis Pregnancy Center and everything else to the Vietnam Vets.

December 16, 2008 8:23 AM

Ms. B1tch is tired tired tired...(and very hungry said...

Ms. B is calling out then: who will shower with Ms B! ha.ha. Tee.hee. -- maybe Ms B's roommate...huhmmm.

December 16, 2008 11:00 AM

kat magendie said...

Love these!

Oh, how about all this rain we so needed! My creek is singing and singing!


Wonder if we'll have a white christmas, though?

December 16, 2008 11:23 AM

Brian said...

Wow, this is an awesome article! Gotta give it a stumble & digg.

December 16, 2008 7:14 PM

Inge' said...

Sf,
Thanks for this article. My mom and I are currently discussing which soaps to use in regards to my grandmother. The previous posts you have made concerning soaps have been very informative and helpful to us making a sound decision.

Keep up the good work!

December 17, 2008 12:18 PM

Matt Clapp said...

Great site. I'm from Fort Collins in Colorado which is a very green community and I'll have to show this blog to my friends! Just an example of what the town's like, the brewery New Belgium(which I love to death) and they are all about being green. They've gotten a lot of national attention for it, it's awesome there and they're really making a difference. Here's a link to what they're doing to be green:
http://www.newbelgium.com/sustainability2.php

Keep up the great work and I'll definitely be checking back!

December 17, 2008 12:46 PM

Thomas said...

Even though I was at a healthy weight, earlier this year, I found out I had high cholesterol. The doctor said I needed to avoid transfats as much as possible and carefully read all food labels. Over several months, following his advice, I was able to get my numbers down. Thanks for reminding us that hydrogenated oils are bad news.

December 17, 2008 1:12 PM

Jane! said...

I'm very afraid to go home and look at my most very favorite anti-bac handsoap. The toothpaste thing - yikes!

December 17, 2008 1:42 PM

Brian said...

Trans Fat is a killer period. If you have heart disease of even cholesterol problems you really need to avoid this. If you are healthy and want to stay that way you need to avoid this fat.

Nice post.

December 17, 2008 1:45 PM

yolanda said...

thanks for this :-) have you ever considered teaching? you have a great way of explaining things.

yolanda

December 17, 2008 2:24 PM

sober white women said...

go stop by blog. I left you something today!
Thanks for the info. My husband had a heart attack a few years ago. Some from the food he ate and some from gulf war syndrom, but now I read everything.

Kelli

December 17, 2008 3:18 PM

Joanne said...

Great information here, and advice that bears repeating, to always read labels. Our health is definitely worth the few minutes it takes to do this.

December 17, 2008 5:34 PM

Marcy said...

Great list. We try to donate used items as much as possible, especially clothing. The school my husband attends has a place where you can donate used furniture for future students who come over here from overseas.

December 17, 2008 8:03 PM

Marcy said...

Reading labels is very important, I agree. We should get back to eating "real" food. I'll be teaching my kids how to cook and grow their food. I think this is something that every child should know.

December 17, 2008 8:06 PM

Melissa said...

just wanted to stop by to say thanks for commenting on my blog!:)

December 17, 2008 8:37 PM

Wellness KIDS said...

Great article! We check labels on everything we buy and avoid trans-fats. As you pointed out, you can't just trust the nutrition facts that state "zero grams of trans fats" We have to be diligent about checking the ingredients for hydrogenated oils. There are actually several cities including New York, Boston and Philadelphia that have banned trans-fats in restaurants. California is the first State to ban trans-fats in restaurants. Their ban takes effect in 2010. I hope Hawaii follows suit soon. Thanks for putting this out there!

December 18, 2008 5:02 AM

IB said...

Once again an interesting and informative post. I feel smarter after every visit I make to your blog. Thanks!

IB

December 19, 2008 12:13 PM

sober white women said...

I have heard about this before but never really heard this much. Thanks for the information.
Last year for my daughters prom, I went outside and cut a rose bud, found some ribbon and boom. It saved me a ton of money and it left no footprint.
Kelli

December 19, 2008 1:13 PM

MaryC said...

Add to this information that the workers on these flower farms are paid pennies a day...outrageous!

Thanks for all your great information.

December 19, 2008 1:37 PM

Angie Ledbetter said...

Another reason to love the lovely little Christmas cacti!

December 19, 2008 2:21 PM

Thomas said...

I hate buying roses even for my beloved because you get them and then they die a few days later. I say let the roses stay where they can get sustenance and live out their days in peace away from those who would mean to make money off of them.

December 19, 2008 3:15 PM

Barry said...

We grow flowers in our own backyard, free from chemicals and when we want flowers to dress up our home, my wife will simply cut a few and put them in a vase with room temperature water.

I agree with Thomas about roses, but an occasional pruning can encourage more bulbs and cut bulbs can add a very attractive accent to a room or a dinner table.

December 19, 2008 7:41 PM

Stormy said...

Oh my... This really makes me worry about my mother. Se was a florist for many years. She is retired now and enjoying a life of a social butterfly. But to think of all those chemicals she came in contact with. And I spent much time in the shop as a child. It's a family owned place (my great grandpa, my grandma, now my uncle) and I wonder if my uncle has ever though of this. He's in a small rather poor town, so there is very very little interest there for organic, especially when it comes to optional items. Lucky for me, I have not been one to buy many flowers. I love them but rarely purchase. When my mom wants to make an arrangement for the holidays, she usually cuts some pine branches and uses them in an arrangement and anything else she can find that suits the holiday spirit [bushes with berries, pinecones, just stay away from vines with berries(poison ivy! Yikes!)] and then she uses recycled silk flowers if something else is needed.

Thanks for this info, keep up the great blogging!

December 19, 2008 9:45 PM

ANDY & MEL LOWE said...

excellent post ,i would much rather see flowers growing wild and stopped buying flowers many years ago

andy

December 20, 2008 3:24 AM

Kathryn Magendie said...

I love using wild flowers around the mountain - I do have to be careful as there are some ancient species that are going 'extinct" or whatever flowers do that I forgot the name.

(and isn't it the COOLEST thing - I have a publisher ..yeehaw! - I read your response and just laughed - grinned - then laughed - then danced, then .....YEEHAW!)

December 20, 2008 3:06 PM

Chevon said...

I appreciate you linking to First Global Xpress. We also have a blog so feel free to join the conversation about how to reduce your carbon footprint by leaving a comment over at ShipGreener.com

X's and O's to all this holiday,

Chevon

December 20, 2008 11:21 PM

John said...

While the attention is on trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils, which ARE bad, let's not forget saturated fats, which many forget to reduce or eliminate from their diets. So beware of those TRANS FAT FREE or PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED OIL FREE products that may be loaded with saturated fats.

Thanks for posting this to create the awareness on cardiovascular health.

December 22, 2008 2:44 PM

John said...

Are organic flowers more expensive than non-organic ones?

December 22, 2008 2:50 PM

John said...

The Chinese celebrate this day, known as the Dōngzhì Festival, by eating tāng yuán" small rounded balls of glutinous rice flour, normally dipped with coarse sugar for consumption :)

It is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians. It is a time for the family to get together.

December 22, 2008 3:03 PM

Jen D. said...

Great ideas! I am using Whole Foods reusable shopping bags as gift bags this year--they have a smaller size that is perfect for most of the gifts I am giving, and are just 79 cents each (compared to regular holiday gift bags, which can cost 2-3 times as much!) Plus, my family will each get a little extra gift that they can use again and again.

December 22, 2008 4:16 PM

sober white women said...

I sure hope my days are getting longer! I hate winter. LOL
It has been cold here for southern California, and we have used our more this year then in the past year's, but it is not set that high. We just add extra blankets to our beds.
Also, everyone need's to remember that even while it is cold outside, we need to let some fresh air in the house. Germ's breed in stagnent ( did I spell that right) air.
Thanks for all the good tips!
Kelli

December 22, 2008 4:39 PM

Angie Ledbetter said...

Great time for fireplaces too.

December 22, 2008 6:03 PM

Brian said...

Letting the sun shine in is simple, but great advice along with all the other tips. Great stuff as always.

Brian
http://www.eazycheezy.net/

December 22, 2008 7:11 PM

SweetPeaSurry said...

Excellent ... a kindred spirit. I loved your winter heating tips, and employ most of them myself. :)

December 22, 2008 9:18 PM

Barry said...

I just brought a new blanket for the livingroom. We now have blankets for every chair and sofa in the room.

December 22, 2008 10:30 PM

Thomas said...

I get cold easily, so like to take a bath or two in the evening. They keep me nice and warm for a couple hours afterward.

December 22, 2008 10:30 PM

Darrel said...

This doesn't even look like a blog....it looks like a regular website. I read in another blog that if you had enough knowledge/information you could do this. Well, I guess they were right!
I'm new to this and would appreciate any advice you would want to give
darrel
www.hopefordepression.blogspot.com

December 23, 2008 6:37 PM

Joanne said...

Making your home delightful ... Tis the season! Stopping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy!

December 24, 2008 9:43 AM

foodbankbarbie said...

Funny.. right now the temp. on my 1 of 2 space heaters says 55 degrees.(Which sounds really cold untill you walk outside and realize just how warm it is) Wearing extra clothes, leaving the shades open, etc. is a way of life around here!! I've lived like this for 10 years, and yet you STILL gave me more ideas. We might just be warm for Christmas yet!! Yee-haw!! Thanks again!! Merry Christmas!!

December 24, 2008 9:45 AM

astrogalaxy said...

Here's wishing you Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Cheers!

December 24, 2008 10:51 AM

luthien said...

hey sf :)))
thank you for the wishes :)))

i would also like to wish you a blessed christmas and a smashing new year :) may 2009 bring you and your loved ones lots of joy, abundance and fulfillment :)))

December 24, 2008 3:33 PM

sober white women said...

I love it! My mom is visiting and she is not an eco person and it is driving me up a wall.
However to my husbands credit all of my gifts have just been put in a recycled box taped shut and he just wrote my name on the box.
I love him for that because my husband is not a eco as I am! LOL
Kelli

December 24, 2008 3:45 PM

ANDY & MEL LOWE said...

and a merry highland xmas to you and yours

andy & mel

December 24, 2008 4:05 PM

Everyday Housewife said...

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2009.
Looking out for more 'green' blogs from you in the coming year.

December 24, 2008 7:05 PM

Angie Ledbetter said...

...and a very green New Year!

December 24, 2008 11:39 PM

John said...

Merry Christmas Small Footprints :)

Keep up the great posts and enjoy the holidays!

December 25, 2008 12:36 AM

luthien said...

hey sf :)
i have passed on the christmas spirit award to you :) you can see it in my blog :))

December 25, 2008 3:41 AM

astrogalaxy said...

Oh wow, I enjoy this video and some images are flashing over and over in my mind. Thanks!
Merry Green Christmas!

December 25, 2008 9:59 AM

Argentum Vulgaris said...

sf, it's Boxing day, means squat here in Brazil... Back to work.

It means that I survived yet another Xmas... LOL

AV
http://netherregionoftheearthii.blogspot.com/
http://tomusarcanum.blogspot.com/
http://thingsthatfizz.blogspot.com/

December 26, 2008 6:37 AM