Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Good News

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

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

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

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

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

Have you ever participated in an activity with a friend or loved one and it opened your eyes to new possibilities? Maybe their enthusiasm "rubbed off" on you or you had so much fun that you embraced the activity and continued it in your own life? That was the idea behind last week's challenge. We grabbed a friend and did something "green" ... and hopefully, we passed along our passion for protecting the earth.

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

Several of your articles were picked up in this edition of McBride’s Organic Farm Daily. Was your post one of them?

James Paulson joined us and shares this, "I recently brought along my friend on our nature walk through the forest preserve. We normally ride bikes along the path, but I decided that it was about time already to walk slowly and enjoy the surroundings for a change!" Sounds wonderful, James!

Argentum Vulgaris wrote about his green passion in Change the World Wednesday – 6th Nov. Can you guess what it is? Need a hint? His "passion" loved the side of his neighbor's house. Click over to find out what it is!

Tweets for Good included CTWW and several of your posts. Click over to find out if your article was included.

This edition of Sunflowers & Edibles gave CTWW a nice mention. There are a bunch of other interesting articles and photos, including a brilliant shot, by our very own Lady JC, of a person dancing on the ceiling of a NYC subway train. Now that's entertainment!

Alicia accepted the challenge and said, "I love sharing green ideas and vegan recipes with other people, it is so much fun! Our son and daughter-in-law still eat meat and cheese so we really enjoy making Vegan meals when they come over. They always like the food and our daughter-in law almost always wants the recipes for what I made. She has even shared some of them on her Facebook page! Our four year old grandson loves everything we cook and tells his mom and dad when he is home that he wants "good food" like I make. I have shared how to make wool dryer balls with hundreds of people and love all of the e-mails telling me how it has made such a difference for them. I also share how you can make your own cleaners, laundry detergent, and furniture polish as well. I love how the excitement and passion of green living can be so contagious!" It's true, Alicia ... and your green living "bug" bites a lot of people!

CelloMom had this to say, "Okay, I have just sent Email to the PTA of CelloPlayer''s school, offering to give a talk on how to reduce our carbon footprint and how to talk to our children about climate change. Our school is actually quite far in the sustainability league, and the families already very "green", but as CTWW reminds us, there is always the next step to take." Wow, CelloMom ... you are a superstar! Way to go! I hope you'll write a post about your talk ... I'd love to know how it turns out!

In How To Green Your Husband [#CTWW], Katie shares some wonderful insights and talks about a recent conversation she had with her husband about green living. It's a wonderful post and shows that sometimes we simply have to ask. Nicely done, Katie!

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @HerbGir1972
- Teach Children the 3 #Green r's #Reduce, #Reuse, #Recycle for a better world - #Reusable is the #OnTrend #Green action, so many things are reusable from Clothing, to glass, even plastics. #KeepItOutTheLandfills
- #CTWW take your children on a #FallWalk with a camera for each child. It's beautiful to see the same adventure thru their eyes. #TakeTime
- #CTWW Lemon/Citrus Oil + White Vinegar + Water Great Cleaning solution for loads of spaces in your home. #GreenCleaning
- #CTWW Go No Poo your hair will thank you for it :) #NoPoo #NoShampoo #HealthyHair #Green #SaveMoney
- #CTWW Grow Chard it's amazing #Healthy #delicious #beautiful

From @VioletsBuds
- didn't get to blog this week about #CTWW but we're always picking up trash on our walks & recycling it http://t.co/IOTzUctUjG
- there's been less lately. plus we take any of the cans & bottles we find to the recycling center!

From @OfficialCWerner
- I am down to printing one piece of paper per file! This is almost unheard of in my industry. I am now 99.9% paperless!!

From @VivEgan41
- For #CTWW, I've tackled the problem of what to do if you come into a lot of apples. Pivotal stuff on #BINORACLE. bit.ly/HJQL1z

From @laalicia
- RT @EcoFashionTalk: Lovely article from @ecosalon - importance of upcycling - great examples... ReFashioned ecofashiontalk.com/2013/11/eco-sa…
- <3 RT @Earth911: 8 things you'd never know were made from used skateboard decks. @iRideiRecycle #upcycle ht.ly/qtROr

From @NicManuel
- how to grow a sustainable economy http://t.co/m53e2gNufn
- Time for the #sharingeconomy to become the sharing society for a more sustainable future http://t.co/LBEXpcoMvq
- #TIMEMagazine 10 Ideas That Will Change the World http://t.co/VJ3HG7dBD3


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

@_topstories_	@a_kiasi	@adventuresof8
@allnaturalkatie	@altcon	@anitaadamsnc
@avlcomedy	@beatepdx	@biculturalmama
@biggreenpen	@blogadinserts	@bstoneblog
@cheryl_schwerd	@cleansediva	@collegegogreen
@conservationm	@counselorholley	@crazedkitchen
@crazedmom	@dehelen	@delaneyclare
@dusdifissette	@ecoexpert1	@ecopassport
@ecothrifty	@evelynmccpeters	@ginavalley
@givetreegifts	@gogreenbeans	@grailville
@groovygreenlivi	@guayaba	@herbgir1972
@hismerecry	@jadekerrion	@jaemacjustsayin
@jbjourneys	@julialittlebit	@kayelleallen
@kriswetherbee	@krmbalclothing	@laalicia
@ladyjcmuses	@mamapoolecooks	@margaretmarywhi
@marjoriemcatee	@mcbridesorganic	@mike_printeco
@momfindsout	@motherhoodlooms	@natashalarry
@nebulousmooch	@nestfullofnew	@nicmanuel
@officialcwerner	@ourfavadventure	@pinkladyapril
@plus2point4	@populatione	@rantravewrite
@rckweddings	@realityarts	@robbornstein
@rtrecipe	@rulesofgreen	@scatteredmusing
@shannongrissom	@smallbits	@soulfullab
@spafloating	@squishablebaby	@treesgroup
@turningclockbac	@useventphotos	@violetsbuds
@vivegan41	@wencdj	@whopaysthepiper
@whywelovegreen	@withinyourhands	@yfnjman
@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

Eleanor Roosevelt is quoted as saying, "You can never really live anyone else's life, not even your child's. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you've become yourself." As we travel our green journey and invite others to experience our passion, we often influence their decision to adopt an Eco-friendly lifestyle. It happens naturally, without effort, and may very well be the best way to elicit change.

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

This Week's Challenge:

CelloMom wrote a brilliant post entitled We Need Good News on Climate Change. In it, she talks about the power of sharing green efforts, success stories, and environmental solutions. It's the basis of this week's challenge:

This week find and share environmental good news. This can be successful efforts by other people ... government or corporate solutions ... school projects ... or even small efforts which you've witnessed. The idea, here, is to share the positive, to focus on successful actions which give us hope and let us know that our efforts can make a difference.

Want more? Here you go ...

Let's help create some good news. Sign this PETITION to abolish climate changing subsidies.

Are you ready to share the good news? I know that you are!

Until next time ...

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

Does it matter?

Recently, a reader asked "Are you optimistic about the future of the planet? About humankind's ability to fix the damage and take a greener path?" My initial thought was ... of course, every effort counts and we're making a difference. But then ... I began to really think about this and I wondered if that was the truth ... or if I just want it to be the truth.

In the fall I made a trip to Chicago ... it's a really nice city and has a lot going for it. Chicago has a wonderful mass transit system ... it's user friendly and convenient. Since parking is expensive and limited in the downtown area, walking is encouraged ... the sidewalks are wide and clean. Many establishments make use of revolving doors which have been proven to be energy efficient. On the other hand, the high rise buildings, across the street from where I stayed, left their lights and computers on all night. The Chicago River and Lake Michigan show signs of pollution ... as does the city in general. This isn't unique to Chicago but is a condition of most large cities.

In truth, the biggest threats to our environment are large companies and governments who won't make "green" changes.

But still ... there must be evidence that we're on the right path! So I went in search of it. Sadly, there isn't much. That may be because we are at the forefront of this effort and it simply takes time for things to change.

According to an article dated April 28, 2006 by the Environmental News Network, a report by the American Lung Association showed that there has been significant air quality improvement in the last decade. The report "found real improvement in air quality over much of the United States, due in part to reduced emissions from power plants." Researchers looked at the number of days deemed to have unhealthy air from 2002 to 2004, and compared it with the numbers from 1996 to 1998.

In an article dated January 23, 2008, a study was released that "indicated that water quality in the Egyptian segment of the River Nile improved considerably in the months of October and November 2007, giving rise to hopes that drinking water quality for many of Egypt’s 80 million people may improve. " This improvement came about by preventing industrial establishments from discharging their waste into the Nile.

So, there is hope. But what about our individual efforts ... do they matter? When we use environmentally friendly cleaning products in our homes and can breathe easier ... it matters. When we recognize a savings in the cost of water and energy or re-purpose an item instead of buying new ... it matters. And it matters, not only because of the immediate benefits we realize ... but because of the message we send. When we refuse to buy a product packaged in plastic we tell the manufacturers that it matters. When we vote for the candidate who seems to want cleaner fuel and sustainability, we tell the world that it matters. We have a voice and it can be heard through our actions. And let's face it ... as consumers, that voice is powerful.

My answer to the question is ... yes, I am optimistic about the future of the planet. I'm also confident about our individual efforts and their contribution to a better world. It may take awhile to see big results ... but they'll come. We just have to continue on the path!

On Monday, a guest author is going to share her thoughts on the subject ... I hope you'll stop by.

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

A Living Wall ...

I'm always on the lookout for unique, green ideas. Our bloggy friend Kelli, from Thoughts of a Sober White Woman, has a regular feature called Eco-Friendly Friday. At the beginning of the year she talked about her rather unusual plans for 2009 ... her own special twist on Living Walls. I was fascinated! Her idea is brilliant ... creative, lovely and ... green. She has very kindly agreed to share her plans with us. A big THANK YOU to Kelli for this article. OK ... here we go:


Before I start this entry I would like to say thanks to a reduce footprints for asking me to write an article for her blog.

Let me give everyone a little bit of back ground information on husband and I.

My name is Kelli and I am a true hippy at heart. I think I was born to the wrong parents and in the wrong decade. I recycle everything, hug everything, I am huge animal lover and I love coming up with new ways to reuse everything and I love never having to pay for anything. Ed Begley is my hero.

My husbands name is Rusty and he is your typical hard core veteran. I told him that when he is old he will be the crazy veteran that sit’s on the porch and shoots little children. He does not recycle, conserve, or care about the world in which we live.

As you can tell there is never a dull moment at our house.

One night I was watching one of my “hippy shows” or that is what Rusty calls them….anyway I saw an awesome idea. This couple had planted a living wall. They were building a new house and they wanted to plant Ivy on one wall. They had a skylight right above the wall and they even had a sprinkler for the wall! The couple said that the living wall actually cooled the house and it helped purify the air.

That got me to thinking. I am not building a home from the ground up, so I can’t do exactly what they did, but what could I do?

I told Rusty about the t.v. show, and that I wanted to create something like that for our home. In the summer time here in California the heat just beats down on this one side of the house. Rusty just said HMMM.

One of our friends came over and we telling him about the show I saw, and we came up with a way to grow a living wall. I wanted to plant roses and sunflowers and they would become my outside curtain. They would provide extra shade, and they would be nice to look at.

Rusty semi agreed to this. He said “I think Ed Bagley has it right. If we are going to grow something lets grow something we can eat.” What? My husband likes something that Ed is doing?

For two of the windows on the side of the house I am going to plant rose bushes. Not only will they get taller then the window’s, give us some shade, but they will also look nice.

On the back of the house we have four big windows. Rusty and his friend came up with the idea of growing green beans. We were given several different idea’s on to get the green beans to climb. So it looks like I know a husband and some helpers that will be building a trellis of some sort. Please say a prayer for me. That mean’s I will have a ton of marines building something in my back yard. All I want is a trellis, not a bunker.

For another window I am going to use corn as my curtain. I just can’t believe how expensive corn is!

I still have two windows left, and as of yet I have not decided what to grow in front of them. Rusty did say that he would like me to grow some squash this year. O.K. but that does not grow upwards!

All of this has also got me to thinking about people that live in small spaces or apartments. They can do the same thing. My girlfriend use to grow cherry tomatoes in a big pot, so I am going to assume that you could grow some corn or green beans the same way.

Lettuce and spinach can also be grown in containers, and that will keep coming back even after you cut it. Granted to won’t offer much shade, but it will make a nice salad.

What it really comes down to is thinking outside the box. What can you grow that will provide some shade or food for your family? Just think if we all grew some of our own food we would not only be getting the best quality food, but we would also be reducing our footprint.

Again, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to Kelli for sharing her creative ideas with us. As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

Comfort, Convenience and Disposable Items

It has gotten chilly in North Carolina. When I step outside, no matter what time of day or night, I hear heat pumps running. In the summer, it was air conditioning units ... running all the time. It occurred to me that we are a society which loves comfort, convenience and disposable items. Unfortunately, the quest for those things hurts the earth.

Let's consider ...

Comfort - did you know that one of the largest drains of energy in a home is the home heating/cooling system? When we set the thermostat for optimal comfort, we also use a lot of energy. In times past (some call them the good old days), people dressed warmer in the winter and opened windows in the summer. They didn't use central heating or air conditioning. We can take a lesson from the "good old days" and use less energy. "Progress" may offer us absolute comfort ... but it's also hurting the planet.

Convenience - no one would deny that convenience items (fast food, prepackaged meals, etc.) are bad for the environment. What about activities? Activities like driving to the mailbox instead of walking ... or tossing paper into the trash can instead of recycling. These activities may be convenient ... but they aren't kind to the earth.

Disposable Items - this one is easy. Basically, anything which is disposable is probably not environmentally friendly. Here are a few examples: plastic utensils, paper towels, disposable razors, pretreated disposable cleaning cloths.

Not everything that falls into these three categories is bad for the environment. But they serve as indicators to help us live "greener". When considering a purchase or an activity, ask yourself these questions:

1. Does it make us comfortable?
2. Is it a convenience?
3. Is it disposable?

Answering yes to any of these doesn't mean that one shouldn't act ... more, it is a signal that perhaps we need to dig a little deeper and consider whether there is a better choice ... one which helps us reduce our footprint on the earth.

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

Art Supplies - Another View

In an earlier post (Eat your veggies), we talked about how eating meatless meals, even occasionally, reduces our footprint on the earth. The fact is that livestock pollute and if we reduce the demand for items containing animal products, we go a long way towards helping mother earth. Not ready to give up meat? Well, animal products show up in all kinds of things (cosmetics, soaps, etc.) so even if you're not ready to go "veggie", there are other ways to reduce the animal products one uses.

Today we have a special treat ... a guest author. A kind reader has submitted the following article for your consideration. In it we'll learn about some surprising items that contain animal products.

ART SUPPLIES: free of animal ingredients.

What’s in a Colour?
If you know where the pigment or dye comes from you have a great head start in knowing what you are working with and what you are participating in.

Some pigments are made from plants or minerals or are synthetic, but some are not. For instance, Ivory Black and Bone Black pigments are from charred animal bones. Lampblack, on the other hand, is pure carbon and not from animals at all. Here are some other colours that are not from animals: ochre, raw umber, burnt umber, burnt sienna, cadmium yellow, zinc oxide, gamboge, indigo, madder, cobalt blue, naphthol crimson and diozine. There are many others.

Great Books
The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques by Ralph Mayer (great section on pigments)
Colour by Victoria Finlay.
Painting with Acrylics by Jenny Rodwell

Tips

-Cochineal is a scarlet dye made from ground up female cochineal insects.

-Ox gall is gall, obtained from cows, and used as the wetting agent in most watercolour paints.
Holbein has some watercolours that do not contain ox gall. Remember to find out what pigments are in the paint before buying the paint.
canada@holbeincanada.com http://www.holbeinhk.com/#
Here are a few of their ox gall free watercolours: Cadmium Red Deep, Cobalt Blue, Cadmium Yellow Deep, Lamp Black, Opera, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Deep. There are many more.

-Rabbit-skin glue comes from (you got it) rabbits. And it is used for sizing oil-painting supports.

-Gelatin is made from boiling animal skins, tendons, ligaments, etc. The highest-grade gelatin, made from the skins, hoofs, and bones of calves, is used in gesso. Watercolour and most papers are sized with gelatin. Gelatin is also used in many foods and to make gelatin capsules for vitamins etc. Accent Vellum, construction papers and handmade papers usually don’t have gelatin. There are some papers starting to come out that are sized with starch. Ask at your art store.

-Sepia ink is made from the inky substance from the sacs of squid and cuttlefish. India Ink or Chinese Ink is made of carbon or lampblack pigment, and a shellac binder. Shellac is obtained from secretions of an insect. http://www.temuss.com/html/shellac.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shellac
Damar Varnish is from a plant source. See, The Artist’s Handbook by Ralph Mayer.

-Water Soluble Ink seldom contains animal ingredients. Water Resistant Inks usually do contain animal ingredients, but no harm in asking. Check with the manufacturer via the internet and click on “Contact Us”.

-Charcoal comes from vines and willow, but bone charcoal doesn’t. The word “bone” is a dead give away. Ask before you buy.

-Graphite: mineral. Conte Crayon: natural pigments (iron oxides, carbon black, titanium dioxide), clay (kaolin) and a binder (cellulose ether).

-Pencils: Derwent does not use any beeswax in any of their products. Their charcoal pencils are made from pure charcoal, clay and pigment. The wax used in the pencils is from a plant source, the binding material is from a mineral source. They have a list of individual colour pencils that are free of animal products. Just ask them. Their Coloursoft pencils, Graphitint pencils, Aquatone pencils, metallics pencils, graphitone and Derwent Pastel Blocks are all free from animal ingredients. http://www.pencils.co.uk/enquiries_form.aspx www.pencils.co.uk

-Krylon has fixative sprays that do not contain animal ingredients http://www.krylon.com

-Yupo Paper (100% polypropylene) suitable for all watercolour techniques. Good for drawing and fixative sticks to it.

-Raw Fabrics: unsized organic hemp, bamboo, linen or cotton. Stretch the fabric on stretcher bars and put on Golden’s Absorbent Ground (100% polymer is on the label but ask to see if there is anything else in it ). It’s like gesso, but is absorbent for watercolours, and the Pastel Ground is for pastels and drawing. Also, charcoal on unsized fabric with a fixative spray afterwards works well. http://www.goldenpaints.com/technicaldata/absorb.php

-Natural brushes are natural hair that is harvested from farm raised or trapped animals, in particular sable (marten), squirrel or mongoose. Less expensive natural brushes are made of horsehair or bristles from pig or ox snouts and ears. There are now high quality synthetic brushes that are just as good as natural brushes. Winsor & Newton is just one of many who make synthetic brushes.

-Oil Pastels are made by combining raw pigments with animal fat and wax. Soft Pastel are usually free of animal ingredients. Here is a site on ingredients and also, another on how to make home-made pastels:
http://www.nmsdistribution.com/Pastel.htm
http://painting.about.com/library/weekly/aamakepastela.htm

Going straight to the manufacturer or company is a great way to learn what is in art supplies. More and more new products are being made that are free from animal ingredients. The internet has put us in easy reach of manufactures and companies who want to hear from us. A simple, polite request has power. It’s now easier than ever to ask for products that are free of animal ingredients.

When it comes to art materials, leave the animals out of it.

Compassionate change. Ask for it

Falling Leaves

In Asheville, NC, the fall colors are peaking. It's beautiful.


Soon, the colors will fade and the leaves will fall ... all over the yard ... the patio .. and the driveway.


That brings me to today's quick tips:

• Leaves that fall in the yard and flower beds can be left to decompose and nourish the soil. They also act as mulch, protecting plants from winter temperatures.
  
  
• Forgo the air blower or hose for walkways and decks ... grab a broom and get busy. The only energy you'll burn is your own ... and how healthy is that!!
  
  
• Once leaves are gathered up from the driveway, walkway or patio, add them to your compost pile ... or start one if you haven't already done so. In the spring, you'll have rich soil for your garden.

Easy tips ... big environmental benefits.

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

Vegan Recipe - Veggies and Dumplings

On chilly winter nights, when I was a child, my Mother often made Chicken and Dumplings. It was warm and comforting ... and I loved those doughy little clouds floating around in rich gravy. When I became a vegetarian, I tried various recipes but ... nothing came close to Mom's version (the "real" thing) ... that is, until I found this recipe. It comes so close to the original that ... if I close my eyes ... I'm 10 again ... bobbing bits of doughy goodness into creamy gravy. I hope you and your family enjoy this.

Veggies and Dumplings
Servings: Approximately 4

Ingredients for Veggie Stew:

1-2 tablespoons oil
1 cup chopped fresh green beans
2 carrots, chopped into small chunks
1-2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 large potato, peeled and cut into chunks
1 cup frozen green peas
1 quart (4 cups) veggie broth
1/4 cup nutritional yeast

Ingredients for Dumplings:

1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 - 3/4 cup soy milk
2 tablespoons oil

Process:

In a heavy stockpot, heat oil. Add chopped vegetables and peas, cover and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce to medium.

Prepare Dumplings:

Mix four, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add soy milk and oil. Combine to form a batter which should be easy to work with, not too dry and not too moist and thick.

Once vegetables are tender, stir in the nutritional yeast. Then remove about a cup of vegetables and 1/2 cup of the broth and blend in a blender, then add back to the pot and stir. Bring heat up to a slow boil, then lower the heat.

Drop dough by large tablespoons into the pot. Cover and heat for 10 minutes. Continue heating uncovered for another 10 minutes. Sprinkle with pepper and serve.


Mmm ... warm, comforting ... and friendly to the earth. What could be better! As always ... I'd love to hear from you!

Dish Washing Dilemma

Dirty dishes are a fact of life ... well, my life. We eat at home a lot (it's healthier, cheaper and environmentally friendly) and we don't use disposable plates or utensils. That means ... dirty dishes.

I thought that washing dishes by hand was the most Eco-friendly method. However, I've come across quite a few articles which suggest that dishwashers are more environmentally efficient than hand washing. I wrote to the author of one such article and she kindly replied, telling me that even if a dishwasher is half full, it still uses less water and energy than hand washing.

How can this be so? It doesn't make sense to me. When I wash dishes, I use either warm or cold water and never let it run. I use a small amount of water to moisten the sponge ... soap up the dishes ... then rinse using a small stream of water. I've seen others use dish pans ... again using small amounts of water. Further, when I've actually, on a rare occasion, used my dishwasher, I've paid attention to what it's doing and it seems to fill up with water for a long time and then, it swishes and runs ... forever. How can this be the most efficient way to wash dishes?

So I started digging ... reading everything on the subject. Finally ... I figured it out. Here's how dish washing methods stack up, from worst to best:

The least environmentally efficient method is regular hand washing. Regular hand washing refers to letting the hot water run continuously while one scrapes, washes and rinses their dishes. This method uses approximately 27 gallons of water and 2.5 kWh of energy for a standard load of dishes.

Next in line is the older dishwasher. My observation that it seems to fill with a lot of water and run forever is correct. This method uses up to 15 gallons of water and 2-3 kWh of energy.

The second best option is efficient hand-washing. That's the method I use, described above. It uses under 8 gallons of water and approximately 1 kWh of energy.

The best dish washing method is (may I hear a drum roll, please) ... a new, energy star washing machine. It uses 3-5 gallons of water and only 1 kWh of energy.

So, it turns out that everything I've read is correct ... they just forgot to tell me that it's only correct if one has an energy star machine.

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

Check this out ...

If you have a moment, click over to Tomus Arcanum and check out these two posts:

English Course Goes Green

It's all rubbish really

Both of these posts deal with the author's "green" efforts and show that living green doesn't have to be time consuming or costly. Thanks to Argentum Vulgaris for showing us how easy it can be.

Batteries and the Environment

Do you give much thought to batteries? No? Neither do I. My storage closet has the usual assortment of sizes and types ... none of which seem to be what I'm looking for when the TV remote goes dead or the flashlight doesn't work (I knew I should have checked it before going camping).

The other day, the battery in the toothbrush died (may it rest in peace). The storage closet didn't have the one we needed (of course) and a quick look through drawers in the bathroom and kitchen got us nowhere (although I found a 9 volt that I didn't know we had). So ... with teeth that needed brushing ... we headed out to a nearby store. We chose one of the rechargeable varieties that came with its own recharger. Feeling proud of our choice (rechargeable is better than a single use, right), we headed home.

Purchasing a battery ... such a simple task ... sent my brain into overtime, wondering whether rechargeable was indeed better than single use, wondering what old batteries of any type do to landfills and wondering if batteries can be recycled. It turns out that the subject of batteries is a complex one.

Here are some interesting facts:

• Americans purchase nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries per year (these are either single-use or rechargeable and are typically used for toys, phones, tools and laptops)
• Americans purchase nearly 100 million wet-cell batteries per year (used for cars, boats, etc.)
• All batteries need some sort of heavy metal to function properly

The best environmental choice would be no batteries at all. But let's face it, we are a society in love with our laptops, hand held tools, digital cameras and cell phones. We're on the go and want our gadgets to go with us ... without a cord. So ... if we're going to use batteries, which is the best: disposable or rechargeable?

In 1996 a law was passed in the U.S. regulating mercury levels in batteries. Since then, most companies have either eliminated or almost eliminated its use in single use batteries. This is a step in the right direction. However, since these batteries no longer contain expensive heavy metals, there is no incentive for companies to recycle them. Additionally, the public now has the perception that it's OK to toss them into the garbage. While they are less toxic than they used to be ... they still contain toxic substances which leach out into our landfills. And a lot of them are ending up in landfills.

Rechargeable batteries continue to make use of potentially toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, nickel and lead. Their long life, however, and the abundance of recycling centers means these metals can easily be diverted from the waste stream. A typical rechargeable battery, used long term for things like computers or digital cameras, can usually be recharged 500-800 times before it loses its ability to hold a charge. It would take hundreds of the disposable variety to equal that kind of lifespan. There are over 50,000 recycling centers nationwide for rechargeable batteries, many at large retail chains like Home Depot, Circuit City and Sears.

Rechargeable batteries, if recycled, are the environmental favorite. Disposable batteries are difficult to recycle and usually end up in landfills. Disposable batteries are considered hazardous household waste so ... be sure to check with your local waste management to find out how to best dispose of them.

Recycling rechargeable batteries is the key. To recycle them, check with the retail companies listed above or the following:

In the US & Canada:
http://www.rbrc.org/

In the US:
http://earth911.org/recycling/

By the way ... companies that recycle rechargeable batteries usually handle cell phone recycling as well (another item that I didn't realize could be recycled).

So ... I'll bet that you're looking at batteries in a whole new light now, aren't you?

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

A bargain ...

Recently I decided to wash the shower curtain. There were little spots of mildew forming and I'm pretty sure that mildew is evil stuff ... kind of like a science fiction creature that will eventually take over the planet if we don't stop it. So I carefully took down the curtain and tossed it into the washer. Later, when I went to transfer the wet laundry to the dryer, my shower curtain had disappeared. In it's place were these strange shreds of plastic. Who knew that the washer could destroy ... or rather ... eat a plastic shower curtain?

So ... a quick trip to my favorite dollar store and I had a new, lovely, inexpensive shower curtain ... a real bargain. Opening the package released that less than lovely plastic smell ... but still ... it looked beautiful, matching the decor perfectly.

Some time later, while browsing the Internet, an article on the toxic affects of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) shower curtains jumped out at me. Yep ... you read that right ... PVC shower curtains are toxic ... in a big way.

According to the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, PVC showers curtains are hazardous (you can read their report here: http://www.chej.org/showercurtainreport/ )

Here's a little of what they say about it:

• PVC shower curtains can release as many as 108 volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
into the air. VOCs are chemicals that easily turn into gases and contaminate our air.

• Some of these chemicals cause developmental damage as well as damage to the liver
and central nervous, respiratory, and reproductive systems. Some can cause cancer in
animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.

• The Environmental Protection Agency’s classifies 7 of the chemicals released as
hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

• Some chemicals were found in the air 28 days after a PVC shower curtain was
unwrapped and hung.

• The level of Total VOCs measured was over 16 times greater than the recommended
guidelines for indoor air quality established by the U.S. Green Building Council and
Washington State Indoor Air Quality Program, violating these guidelines for no less than
seven days.

• PVC shower curtains contain high levels of phthalates. Some phthalates have been
linked to reproductive problems including shorter pregnancy duration and premature
breast development in girls, sperm damage and impaired reproductive development in
males.

• PVC shower curtains contain organotins, which can affect the central nervous system,
skin, liver, immune system and reproductive system.

• PVC shower curtains can contain one or more of these metals: lead, cadmium, mercury
and/or chromium.

While hanging that shower curtain, the smell gave me a headache. I dismissed it, thinking that perhaps it was allergies or my tendency to get migraines. Now I wonder ... perhaps it was toxic compounds attacking my system.

A shower curtain seems like such an innocent thing. So do plastic bags, utensils and containers. It is, however, another example of how small things can hurt us ... and the environment. It is important to pay attention, read labels and learn about the products that we deal with on a daily basis. Not doing so can have severe consequences.

I'll be heading to the store to buy a new shower curtain ... something made of cloth. It'll probably be a little more expensive than the plastic version ... but then again ... in terms of our health and that of the earth ... it'll be the true bargain.

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

Become an activist

In September we went to the fair. It's a lovely little fair ... full of community, family and "old timey" values. It's also full of Styrofoam food containers, garbage bins but no recycle bins (that we saw) and very few vegetarian/vegan food options. Call me crazy but ... it seems to me that a festival which celebrates agriculture, farming and "back to basics" lifestyles ... should be green.

My first impulse was to accept things as they are ... going green isn't always financially agreeable to organizations and as for the veggie food ... well, one doesn't go to a fair expecting to eat anything healthy. But then again ... maybe no one has asked the fair organizers to go green, letting them know that it's important and that people are watching ... and maybe people don't expect veggie food because it isn't offered.

The more I thought about it ... the more I needed to take action. So ... I searched the Internet for the names and email addresses of the organizers. Then I wrote very polite letters to them, thanking them for all they do and telling them what I enjoyed about the fair. Next, I suggested some easy changes ... putting out recycle bins .. encouraging their food vendors to discontinue the use of Styrofoam ... encouraging more vegetarian/vegan food options.

And guess what ... they wrote back. They told me of the green efforts they make behind the scenes. They said that they had a few recycle bins out but would put out more of them in prominent places. They said they would be happy to include more veggie food vendors and asked me for suggestions of restaurants which may be willing to attend (which I gave to them). They didn't address the Styrofoam issue but ... the seed has been planted.

Here's the point ... if we respectfully voice our concerns, maybe things will change. At the very least, it will let businesses and organizations know that it's important to the population ... to their customers. It will plant the seeds of change.

I'm hoping that next year, when we attend the fair, we'll see a lot of "green" going on. And if we do, I'll write more letters ... thanking them for their efforts.

So I challenge you ... write a letter ... make a call ... let your voice be heard. Congratulate those who are making efforts and make suggestions to those who can do better. Become an activist and make the world a better place.

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

To your health ...

It used to be that we could take a cool drink from a stream or river ... now they tell us that the water is contaminated.

We used to be able to eat the produce from a grocery store without worry ... now they tell us to know where it came from and wash it thoroughly before eating. Sometimes they tell us not to eat it at all.

When I was a child, I used to hunt for mushrooms with my Grandfather ... now they tell us to not only be aware of poisonous varieties but to know what the soil, in which edible mushrooms grow in, was previously used for. If it was used, for example, as an apple orchard which employed pesticides and chemicals (a common practice in apple orchards), the mushrooms are ... and will be ... highly toxic long after any evidence of the orchard remains.

I recently read an article which said that people exposed to chemical toxins have a significantly higher risk of breast cancer. And how does one get exposed to these chemical toxins? Through beauty products, household cleaners, pesticides on our food and in our water, and pollution in the air we breathe. It was once believed that a small amount of these toxins wouldn't hurt people. Now they know that small amounts of toxins join together to create big problems in the human body.

This is dire!

But is it hopeless? I don't think so.

While reading articles in Delphi Forums (Living Green and Natural), I chatted with a woman who has improved the quality of her own, as well as her family's, health through adopting a green lifestyle. Here, in her words, is her story:

"I have two kids with autoimmune problems and find that "green and natural" means that they can live active lives. Both of them were diagnosed with asthma very early. Dd was diagnosed with a classic case of fibromyalgia at the age of 10. We treated with traditional doctors until she was 16 and the answers just weren't there and she was getting worse. Meanwhile, my son's asthma was getting worse and he was having emotional meltdowns at the slightest provocation.

At 16 we started down the path of alternative medicine, starting with a holistic D.O. who diagnosed both of them with severe food allergies. Dd's biggest was corn and Ds' was soy. The got some better, but were still on tons of meds. Dd for sleep, and Ds was taking 5 things for his asthma with still a very low peak flow.

At 18, after researching, I took a shot with an applied kinesiologist in town. Dr. B. did a complete AK work up, including testing for allergies. We started taking her regularly for AK treatments, following the diet plans, supplements and environmental changes that were given. A few months later, we added my son to the protocols. Both have steadily gotten better, but it has been the hardest for dd. For her, we added Neuro-Emotional Technique and Emotional Freedom Technique. Slowly, but surely, this year, after over 3 years, she has gotten a lot better. Ds is on occasional albuterol for rare flares. Both stay on the diet because they both feel so much better.

1 1/2 years ago, dh went out of curiosity and it changed his life. Suffering from depression for years, it has given him a quality of life that I could have only dreamed of. Shortly after that, I had a severe gall bladder attack and was scheduled for surgery. Our AK doctor told me that she would do a work up on me for free if I would delay the surgery. Long story short, I dropped almost 70 pounds and still have my gall bladder. My Hashimoto's thyroiditis is no more! I feel much better than I have in a very long time.

Not an easy solution, AK, but one that all of us can live with. Even my skeptical husband tows the line on the green living! Never thot I'd see that!

You can check out AK at www.icak.com and www.appliedkinesiology.com/. As my husband says, looks like voodoo, works like magic!"

At this point, I wanted to know more and asked what specific "green living" things she incorporated into her life.

"Most of my family is allergic to many chemicals and especially artificial fragrances, so they are gone, along with many "normal" products--most cosmetics, cleaning products, bath and body products, laundry products--you get the idea! As I studied what to replace the "normal" products with, I learned that those kinds of products are generally not good for the environment. We now use a lot of vinegar, baking soda and the like for cleaning here. I even got allergic to 7th Generation cleaners and had to stop. My make up is from www.signatureminerals.com and very clean. I use Avalon shampoos and conditioners. I use Trader Joe's hand soap. All without harsh chemicals and fragrances. It's harder and more expensive, but so worth it. We all feel better.

Foodwise, we just don't eat processed products because of the allergies and when I learned about how "nutritious" the processed stuff was, I didn't want it anymore. We buy most of our stuff organic in bulk and use it. We use reusable grocery bags most of the time. My husband noted that our recycle pile is a lot bigger and the outgoing trash is a lot smaller!

So, for us, doing what we had to started us down a path of cleaner living. We don't use chemicals on the lawn (I'm sure the neighbors are complaining at our natural turf! lol) or pesticides other than boric acid when we get infested. It happens a lot less than one might think!

It has been a very long, hard road! Worth it, tho when you consider where my kids would have been if we'd stayed where we were!

Now that I think about it--living green makes good sense and is contagious to all areas of life. Once you see that one thing is "out of whack" and causing your health to go, it spreads to other areas that are also "out of whack" and everything gets better. It seems to be the way God really designed us to live and that the consequences of not living clean are becoming more apparent in the peoples of the world."

So ... every time we reduce our use of chemicals, recycle, buy organic or "go green" ... we not only help the earth ... we help ourselves.

Here's to your health!

The words of Jane Goodall

I recently read an interview with Jane Goodall. The entire interview is in the July/August, 2008, issue of Body & Soul Magazine. Here's an excerpt:



Q - What can we all do to give back and make a positive change in the world?



A - It starts very simply. Just take a little time to learn more about the consequences of the small choices you make each day. Think about what you wear. Where did it come from? Could you walk or bicycle or take public transport instead of driving? Stop wasting water and don't take it for granted. Don't leave the lights on. Consider what you eat. Where did your food come from? Does it cause huge suffering to animals? Was it the result of child labor? Did it travel far to get to you? Start caring - and start thinking.