Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Grey Water

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
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we got creative and upcycled items which typically would be tossed out. As I went through the week, I realized several benefits to the challenge. The most obvious was that "stuff" was reused and kept out of the landfill. Not so obvious was the benefit of saving money. Often, reusing meant that I didn't have to go out and buy something else. A total win-win! I also liked the thought process ... thinking creatively instead of just automatically tossing things out.

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.

From our previous challenge on growing food, Lisa wrote Harvesting and planting more. I learned so much in that post. For example, did you know that there are many perennial varieties of vegetables? As one person put it ... plant it and forget it. That's my kind of gardening!

Ann stopped by and shared this: "I learn to quilt from my grandma. I remember she got my mum to go to the tailoring shops to get scraps, when she saw the pants scrap were black and grey, only then she bought some colour ends of fabric from the fabric shop. I am the only grand daughter who learn to sew a quilt because I helped her. Will show you my queen sized quilt another time. Lots of memories." She also shared an interesting gas-saving idea. You can see it HERE.

Clare accepted the challenge and said, "I re-use those plastic tubs (yoghurt, ice cream) and toilet roll centres / cores for planting seedlings or seeds. The plastic can be re-used many times, the cardboard degrades naturally into the soil. There are 4 rather unusual ways of re-using things here: http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/4-things-not-re-using.
And sometimes I build up a collection of odds-and-ends which I then use to barter with friends for something I can use (How to Barter for Fun and Profit) - it's so true that one's rubbish is another one's treasure. I'm really enjoying the tips in the other comments - wonderful ideas which I will also implement - thanks everyone!"

This edition of the Hottest Writers on the Web gave CTWW a nice mention. I also found an interesting article entitled "The World’s Tiniest Washing Machine Will Fit Into Your Pocket". Check it out!

Mary joined us. Here are her comments: "I think cardboard boxes and documents that you no longer need are very handy when it comes to organizing your desk. A small cardboard box can hold office supplies and be placed on the corner of a desk. Extra paper is invaluable if you notice that you are constantly ripping out blank pages from a notebook to write a reminder, for instance."

Alicia accepted the challenge and shared this: "What a fun challenge! A few months ago I started taking the jars that we get our pickles in and taking the Trader Joes label off cleaning them and then putting things like our flax meal, rice, coconut and chocolate chips in them. I made labels for each of them. The jars keep everything airtight and it has helped me be more organized. My husband has given up drinking coffee but I use to buy the large plastic containers of coffee for him. I use them to put the smaller type of toys that our grandsons play with in them. The top pops right on and keeps all of those toys together. I had some curtains that I was going to give to Goodwill but instead I made several reusable grocery bags from them.My husband had some wooden boxes out in the shop that he was wanting to get rid of. I brought them inside and made a cute planter box from one of them and used the others for organizing our cloth napkins and one for holding and keeping up with office papers. I am excited to hear what everyone else has come up with."

EcoGrrl joined us and said this: "While I prefer to recycle rather than keep too much stuff around, I do keep little glass jars (think mustard and similar sizes) for the garage to organize screws, nails, etc. I thought I was so innovative at one point for doing this then realized my grandpa had the same thing in his garage where the lids were actually nailed to an overhang to keep the counters clear. Some similar ideas are here: http://www.familyhandyman.com/workshop/storage/hardware-storage-diy-tips-and-hints/view-all. I also like to reuse glass jars for the bulk aisle - peanut butter, nuts and other snacks, etc., that I don't need to use my huge canisters for. (Side note - I try to not buy anything in plastic packaging and don't like to reuse it so what I do get all gets recycled - Portland has reopened recycling rigid plastics so all the lids and prescription bottles once again can go to Far West Fibers, yay!) PS -thanks for the shout out on our wedding !! :) " She also gave CTWW a nice mention in EcoGrrl-icious. That post contains some great upcycle ideas and links.

Argentum Vulgaris came up with some very creative uses for "stuff". My favorite is the brick which became a knife/utensil holder. Read Change the World Wednesday – 11th Jun for more excellent ideas.

I knew that Lois would offer us all kinds of fabulous reuse ideas ... and she did. In Change the World Wednesday: It’s time to Reuse she presents ways to reuse old coffee containers, sheets, and even tires. Check out her post and be inspired!

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @GreenQueenofMod
- Transform rusty, old tomato cages into artsy plant supports: http://t.co/c85tc6vQ43 Â #repurpose #DIY http://t.co/BNn5ysZMdx
- Don't toss that old sheet make a cotton nightgown! http://t.co/fHa9Vkad6V Â #repurpose #upcycle http://t.co/AxBuySiPcW
- REUSE old license plates. We made a screen for our wood shed! #repurpose #upcycle http://t.co/PTZAbIZaWa

From @cannyhighlander
- Thx for including~glad to say I regularly re-use/re-purpose items :))~

From @FreshGriller
- Reusing wine corks to make a cork board is a great way to reduce waste. What's your favorite thing to reuse? #CTWW

From @HerbGir1972
- Video: Reuse plastic bottles #CTWW http://t.co/YTioS0xebs

From @GiveTreeGifts
- Give Your Screen Another Go | 10 Uses for Window Screens  http://t.co/lw9vqudFZP #CTWW
- Edible Gardening in Small Spaces: Repurposed gutters make the perfect hanging vegetable patch: http://t.co/jyyKh0BDlG #CTWW
- How to Make Rag Rugs  Tutorial How to Make a Beautiful Braided Rug http://t.co/ZY4YtXURzy #CTWW
- Pallet Gardening 101: Creating a Pallet Garden http://t.co/vez5rcBau6 #CTWW

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:

@12tmimi	@a_kiasi	@acuriousgal1
@allnaturalkatie	@almosttruth	@andreaptak
@angleawojtczak	@anne_brennan	@aqua8co
@aureli651	@beatepdx	@becks543
@bigbadflower	@biggreenpen	@bstoneblog
@cannyhighlander	@compingcrazzy	@cookingnook
@counselorholley	@crazykids6	@deancmoore
@dehelen	@dieselelephants	@dmilly1234
@drylandgardens	@dshojinakamoto	@ecocountrytable
@ecoexpert1	@ecofriendlyfurn	@ecothrifty
@erbaviva	@estefaniacrespo	@etsyrecyclersgt
@factorydpromos	@flapi777	@floralplantgrow
@foodretro	@freshgriller	@gensgarden
@giftmeapp	@ginavalley	@gioassassin
@givetreegifts	@grailville	@grandantique
@green_vibes	@greenqueenofmod	@greensoil
@groovygreenlivi	@hashtracking	@healthyvoyager
@herbgir1972	@hismerecry	@hobbyberries
@imgreenareyou	@isf_fl	@jadekerrion
@janmoran	@jnaquins	@johannamhaack
@jumblets	@justanotherhat	@kaitlingarder
@kayelleallen	@kiser_krafts	@kriswetherbee
@krmbalclothing	@laalicia	@ladyjcmuses
@legsetobicoke	@leslieveg	@linxcoach
@lissarabinowitz	@lovecanal2020	@marbaird
@marikokoloco	@marjoriemcatee	@memoahmad14
@mimibarbour	@momfindsout	@momgamerwriter
@mostelegantlady	@nicmanuel	@nmannas
@nonhomogenized	@officialcwerner	@paige989
@pamela_o_plays	@pberk	@petsadoption738
@pisaticreations	@rckweddings	@realityarts
@repurposeideas	@revolutionyfarm	@roundtreeland
@rulesofgreen	@s_possibilities	@sensuouspromos
@sfcouncil	@shannongrissom	@skipwillits
@socialavenues	@soniatbrock	@spafloating
@sproasan	@star_shine22	@superbsolutions
@tammycurry	@terraccordpdx	@theodoranaso
@theworld4realz	@thispeg	@treesgroup
@twicecreations	@vanbordelon	@vegtoday
@violetsbuds	@wencdj	@whopaysthepiper
@whywelovegreen	@wikihow	@women4earth
@yuzuha8100

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

This Week's Challenge:

A standard size bathtub
(5 feet long x 30 inches wide)
will hold approximately
50 gallons of water

Our bloggy friend, Andrea (aka @GreenQueenofMod), suggested that we take on water conservation this week. Specifically, grey water (relatively clean water from sinks, baths, washing machines, etc.).

Did you know that if you leave tap water running, more than 2 gallons of water per minute goes down the drain?

Here's another interesting statistic ... on average, washing your hands uses between 1-5 gallons of water. Wow!

Doesn't this sound like a great opportunity to conserve?

Here's your challenge ...

This week, find creative ways to use grey water. For example, Agnes, a true "greenie" and CTWW participant, uses bath water to flush the toilet. Some people take shower water and use it to feed their plants. My grandmother (way ahead of her time) diverted rinse water from her washing machine to a tub. Then, the water was sucked back into the machine for the next load's wash cycle. The idea, this week, is to prevent as much water as possible from going down the drain.

Are you ready to put grey water to use? I know that you are!


Until next time ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - Widening The Circle

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

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

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

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

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

Last week we disconnected from the Internet. It was an interesting challenge. I spent 24 hours doing other things and enjoyed the time. I also realized just how much I depend on my computer and being online. While going paperless benefits the planet, being connected comes with it's own environmental cost ... a cost which rises daily as more households log in. For my part, I'll disconnect more often.

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.

Mystie not only participated this week, she challenged her readers to join the fun. In Eco-Friendly Friday 5/24 she talks about how she'll spend her time away from the Internet. I think her "down time" sounds great ... what do you think?

Before Lois knew what CTWW held in store for her, she accomplished the activity. Find out how she spent her time in this POST.

Alicia joined us. She says, " This one will be harder for us since we have a website business and have to be on the computer everyday.My husband uses his laptop in the shop and I use the computer at home.What I can do is start turning my computer off several hours earlier than I normally do. Wow this challenge sure lets you realize how much we depend on the internet!!"

EcoGrrl shares this: "I'll have to bow out of this week's challenge as I work for myself as a recruiter in the software startup field and blog every day, so eliminating internet use would not be realistic. The fun of being self employed is how your work/life distinctions blend into each other :). One rule I am trying to get better at sticking to is logging off 1 hour before bedtime which has been said to help aid in more restful sleep. That being said I'm doing this comment at midnight after a long workday, so it's a work in progress :)"

Ann had the opportunity to disconnect for three weeks. Wow! Here are her interesting comments: "This is not a real situation, I was totally without the internet for 3 weeks, but I was on holiday with family, so it doesn't really count. On the first week, I was craving for the computer. on the 2nd and 3rd, I didn't feel deprived." Ann posted our banner in ABC letter S: sportsman, Snakes and snake catcher which includes some incredible pictures of a snake.

Any guesses on how Argentum Vulgaris did this week? Here's a hint ... he says "This one is terrible." Read Change the World Wednesday – 22nd May where he talks about politicians, coffee, a new coffee table, Eco-friendly light bulbs and ... oh yeah ... this week's challenge.

Charlie accepted and shares this: " Sounds like some of us, including my bunch, will have troubles with this one. We work or take online classes from home BUT we will still accept the challenge because it will give us an incentive to shut down a LOT sooner than we normally would. That's one of the problems of working from home. It's always there. Because my husband has to be on call 24/7 he definitely has to be connected to his hand-held but he can at least shut down computer. If I had it my way I'd much rather take on the warrior challenge but I think this family would then need to go on vacation. HONEY!!! ;)"

Clare shared this: "Well, most of my businesses are online, so I can't disconnect. However, this challenge has made me more conscious of my usage. I'm fairly good about only checking my mail occasionally (instead of continuously) (because it's a time-waster), and now I'm even more aware. Social media stuff is once per day max and it's nearly all business. I do do quite a bit of research on various topics, about 20% personal, and I'd be lost without Google - well, less informed anyway! My blogs are hosted on the cloud, as is my email, but all my other storage is local. I'm probably not as "connected" as many others, but I can definitely improve -as with everything!"

CelloMom made a valiant effort but, in her final analysis, says: "Epic fail. I live on the internet a lot. My recipes. My doctors' phone numbers. Planning a holiday. Skyping with my brother. And so on. Not to mention the blog. We usually have an internet-free day on Sundays, and so far have done well with that. But this Sunday of all Sundays, I was on a bit for a trivial thing, and noticed that one of my posts had been picked up by a facebook page - and that was the end of that, I got sucked in. Fail for the week. Plan to do better next Sunday: we do enjoy the internet-free house."

From last week's challenge on Plastic, we have these comments:

From Lady JC: "Thank you both so much for the tips! I will definitely try these out, especially bringing my own container to shop in bulk. CelloMom, hopefully there will be more markets like yours in my area soon. As of now my store offers grains, cereals, flours, produce and nuts in bulk. I'd like to see even more items so I'll make the suggestion. :) "

From Clare: "Warrior is difficult! Grasshopper easy. Although I don't buy convenience food, there's plenty of fresh food that comes in plastic. We don't have the bulk options that many of you in the US and Europe have. But, I've been enjoying this challenge, it's made me even more conscious than normal of my plastic use. I've written several articles in the past on plastic:
Why fossil fuel demand won't end
http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/fossilfuelskill
Tips on reducing plastic use on a day-to-day basis, as well as an interesting point about British supermarkets
http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/begreensaynotoplastic
and read about Death by Plastic
http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/notecofriendlydeathbyplastic
Oh, and as a PS if you're considering swapping from plastic bags to paper bags, consider this:
http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/plasticshoppingbagsorpa
And if you need a break from the worry of plastic, watch this fun short video
http://www.ecofriendlylink.com/blog/beingplasticitsdangerous
OK, I'm finished now! Thanks for another great challenge - this one will be ongoing! "

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation and shared the following:

From @givetreegifts
- For computer use, I guess I'm a level 2 (advanced Greenie) but not level 3 because I have an online business so I can't disconnect
- My computer & monitor are only on when in use. I turn off my monitor & use sleep mode regularly.
- Believe it or not, I have also done a cyber-free vacation. I believe it was 5 days without computer use.

From @anitaadamsnc
- It's a good challenge & one anyone can do :)...more to be said...

From @sewbeastly
- TY! I'm taking the Level 1 challenge,@smallftprints. Also, check out my #DIY over here tshirts into rug: ow.ly/lin84

From @lavishandlime
- #WastelessWednesay tip: Reuse 2L plastic pop bottles to make these handy ribbon dispensers pinterest.com/pin/1304637204â?¦

From @gwened02
- you may not see this if you are offline. I'm on hols this week I think it's the perfect time for my phone to be just a phone!
- small disclaimer: need to check emails once a day for business! X

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

@89linz	@a_kiasi	@allnaturalkatie
@anitaadamsnc	@anktangle	@beatepdx
@bestrawesome	@biggreenpen	@bstoneblog
@changes4charlie	@clean_bytes	@clubcontent
@counselorholley	@dusdifissette	@earthyurban
@eco_novice	@ecoexpert1	@ecopro_co
@events4bloggers	@frederickbrooke	@ginavalley
@givetreegifts	@greeneral	@groovygreenlivi
@gwened02	@imagebrite	@ithoughtiknewma
@jadekerrion	@jaemacjustsayin	@julialittlebit
@laalicia	@ladyjcmuses	@lavishandlime
@lorcadamon	@marjoriemcatee	@mcmillendc
@momgamerwriter	@mommacuisine	@nolafusion
@oneadayart	@pleatedpiper	@rckweddings
@realityarts	@rulesofgreen	@sewbeastly
@soulfullab	@spilldmilkshake	@squishablebaby
@startanewleaf	@tammycurry	@thefadderly
@theworld4realz	@tiffanywashko	@timsimms
@treesgroup	@turningclockbac	@twicecreations
@whopaysthepiper	@whywelovegreen	@zenfarmz

My Final Thoughts:

Everything has an environmental cost. While we try to choose the least harmful path, we must always remember that even the best choice can be improved upon. If we each make that commitment and effort, the earth will smile.

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:

How about widening the CTWW reach this week? Here you go ...

This week challenge others to reduce water. You might write a post, asking your readers to take shorter showers or to wash full loads of laundry. Perhaps you ask your Facebook or Twitter followers to let their lawns go dry for a week. This will be your challenge ... you may make it as broad or specific as you wish and on any platform that suits you. The goal is to expand our circle and get more people reducing water use.

OR ...

If you'd rather not challenge others, then please find additional ways to conserve water in your household.

What do you think? Are you up for this one?

Our banner has been updated! If you have it on your blog, please update the code with the following. If you don't have it on your blog and want an easy way to keep up with our challenges, just copy the code and paste it into your site.

<br /> <a href="http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/change-world-wednesday-ctww.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="Change The World Wednesday on Reduce Footprints" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJS8XLt55nZPJjkT0QME1YmU2hvd_ASaJDg03fW0NoYBcclCzkgCSbU1czatVGm73bcO3ox4QNXH_JN-pTiGX0iJ3fLX4UMpDHjjmzI_1ftBLn84UNbotteiHJstShUzdjeQwh6xvdc2A/s220/CTWW1Graphic1.jpg"/></a><br />
As always ...

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

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)

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

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

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

Last week we walked with a purpose ... we put on our shoes and headed outside but, rather than just stroll about, we paid close attention to how we could make that walk work for the environment. I will admit that when I walk I tend to simply enjoy the fresh air and movement without noticing any unpleasantness like litter. This week, however, I looked down, noticing everything along the path. I'm happy to say that I didn't see much. The exercise encouraged me to be more aware of my surroundings. From now on, I'll walk with the earth in mind and try to find ways to help our planet.

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. Here's what they had to say:

For some of us, these challenges are a new idea and we enthusiastically join in. For others, it's so much a part of their life that they don't realize that they are actually meeting and exceeding the activity. In my opinion, that's the case with our friend, Argentum Vulgaris. Last week he began the challenge by saying that he is hampered by a walking stick ... and that seemed to restrict him from tackling this task. But then, in the course of his day, he found something which he diverted from the trash and took home. He walked with a purpose. Find out what he found and read an update to the previous week's challenge in this POST. Nicely done, AV!

Alicia accepted the challenge. She not only walks but she and her husband incorporate "green" into their already Eco-friendly business. Here's what she has to say, "As always such a wonderful challenge. We live out in the country and I love walking. It is so much fun to get exercise by walking outside. Fresh air great scenery and getting into better shape! We are blessed that most of the people that live in our area treat it with respect. You see very little garbage on the sides of the road. On my upcoming walk I am going to carry a bag with me and if I see any paper, cans or bottles I will pick them up. We are invited to do several shows each year and we always incorporate green Eco Friendly tips into each one. We love how excited people are to get stated on using these tips. We get a lot of e-mails telling us how something we suggested that they do really worked for them. We love getting that kind of feedback! Even though it is harder for us to incorporate some of the challenges where you walk to do your shopping because we live so far from town we definitely try to make our trips really count! I think I will check into seeing if one of our local parks could use some help with clean up." You inspire me, Alicia!

Lois isn't seeing much spring weather in her part of the world so getting outside wasn't really an option last week. But, she found another way to make a difference ... and I think it's great. Check it out HERE. Can't wait for updates on this one, Lois!

Mystie joined us. Here's what she shared, "For the first day of Spring I think this is a great challenge!! I love the "while youre walking pick up litter to recycle!" I may have to use this for my Eco-Friendly Fridays! I accept this challenge! :) " Thanks, Mystie!

Helping the environment doesn't necessarily mean just picking up trash ... it also means helping those who make the earth home. Cat put on her walking shoes and did something very special. Can you guess? Find out in this PHOTO. You have a good heart, Cat!

Our Twitter friends joined the conversation ... here's what they had to say:

From @pinkladyapril
- I walk to work every day & try to include trips to the shops & library in those walks. Will think about other walks too

From @commplacegr
- "Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win." - Jonathan Kozol

From @givetreegifts
- Dehydration - How to Dry Foods Instead of Canning or Freezing: http://www.pickyourown.org/dryingfoods.htm
- Bernardin Home Canning: Because You Can: http://www.bernardin.ca/pages/recipes/3.php
- Home Canning Guide: Learn How to Can Your Own Food: http://www.motherearthnews.com/canning.aspx#axzz2O2pPPBfP
- Canning Food: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf/Food_and_Recipes/Canning/index.html?gclid=CPfa8IylirYCFegWMgodjUgAsg
- How to Properly Freeze Foods: http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101/techniques/how-to-freeze-foods-00412000070351/
- How to Freeze Homemade Baby Food Puree: http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/FreezePage.htm

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

Due to technical difficulties, I don't have a CTWW Gang list this week. Hopefully, the issue will be resolved by next week. Thank you to all who have promoted the challenges via Twitter ... I appreciate all that you do to spread the word.

My Final Thoughts:

I'll leave you with this quote ... "I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in." ~John Muir, 1913, in L.M. Wolfe, ed., John Muir, John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir, 1938

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

This Week's Challenge:

A LONG while ago, Argentum Vulgaris sent me an article entitled Do you know the water footprint of your cafe meal? It's an interesting article which talks about the water we use "behind the scenes" ... the water it takes to grow our food, produce our stuff, etc. We've done challenges to reduce our direct water use ... let's dig a bit deeper, shall we? Here you go ...

This week, consider your water footprint, particularly your indirect water use. Begin my using the calculators at the bottom of this PAGE (I found the extended calculator to be the best). If you need to convert measurements of food, here's a TOOL. Once you've calculated your water footprint, take a look at the results and see if there's an area which could be reduced. For example, if your primary water use is associated to cereals/grains, opt for varieties which require less water to produce (barley uses less water than rice). Reduce the amount of sugar you use (it takes 1,500 liters of water to produce 1 kilo of white sugar). Opt for fruits & veggies rather than meat (a kilo of beef requires 15,500 liters of water to create) ... or opt for pork or chicken (4,800 and 3,900 liters respectively). Drink tea instead of coffee, saving 110 liters of water per cup. Drive less (gasoline takes a lot of water). Buy less stuff (everything requires water to produce and transport). While reducing our direct water consumption is absolutely encouraged, this challenge is all about looking at the indirect water we use.

What do you think ... are you up for this one? I know that you are!

Join me in our mantra ...

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

Beautiful Landscaping - The Eco-Friendly Way

The other day, while walking along the river, I came to an area where Daffodils were blooming. They were beautiful! On the ground around them, Dandelions were also blooming. The affect was stunning ... masses of bright yellow Daffodils above a carpet of bright yellow Dandelions.















A little later on my walk, I came upon lovely blue, purple and white flowers ... growing wild. The plants were healthy and thriving.

Returning to our apartment complex, landscapers were out in force ... spraying chemicals on the lawn, riding gas powered mowers, cutting down trees and creating the perfectly manicured lawn. I thought ... what's wrong with this picture? We destroy beautiful plants (weeds) which grow without any care or maintenance and replace them with inefficient landscapes which require watering, fertilizing and a lot of care. Seems backwards, doesn't it?

Beautiful lawns and exotic plants are lovely but they aren't environmentally efficient. Here are a few reasons why:

• Lawns are only able to absorb about 1/10 rainfall ... the rest is runoff.
• The shallow root systems of grass are not able to stabilize the soil resulting in erosion.
• Pesticide use, to keep those lawns green and perfect, kills beneficial insects and birds.
• Some exotic, non-native plants invade an area, killing native vegetation (think Kudzo and Japanese Barberry).
• Lawns and exotic plants require up to 60% more water than native plants and typically don't survive droughts.

So, does that mean we can't have lovely, efficient yards? Not at all! Here are a few ideas:



Choose native plants for your landscaping. They are hardier than exotic plants and will require less water, fertilizer and care.

Consider deciduous trees. They not only offer shade and beauty to a yard, they can also offer shade to your home. That, in turn, will cut down on cooling costs in the summer. In the fall, when they loose their leaves, the barren branches will offer variety and interest to the yard as well as allow sunlight to heat your home.

Rather than planting a lawn, consider installing a woodland or use wild flowers to create a lovely meadow effect.







With a little thought and planning, our yards can be beautiful and "Green".

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

17 Quick Tips and Interesting Facts About Water ...

I've been thinking about water and thought I'd just share some of the things I've come across recently. Here you go:

1. One percent (1%) of the earth’s water is suitable for drinking.
   
   
2. Approximately one billion people do not have access to clean drinking water.
   
   
3. Nothing beats a nice, cold glass of water. Instead of letting the tap run until the cold water comes through ... keep a container in the refrigerator. You'll save approximately 2 gallons (per glass).
   
   
4. There are approximately one million miles of pipeline and aqueducts in the United States and Canada ... enough to circle the earth 40 times.
   
   
5. Headaches are often caused by dehydration so try drinking a glass of water, before taking an aspirin, for relief.
   
   
6. When taking a shower, put the plug in the tub ... it's a great way to see how much water you are using. By the way ... shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save up to 150 gallons per month.
   
   
7. Turn off the water while you wash your hair and soap up.
   
   
8. Water regulates the earth’s temperature. Here's a surprise ... it's a natural insulator.
   
   
9. All known forms of life depend on water.
   
   
10. Rather than defrost food under running water, plan ahead and defrost in the refrigerator (you'll get the added benefit of the frozen food keeping the temperature low in the refrigerator).
    
    
11. Choose native shrubs and plants for your yard ... they typically require less watering.
    
    
12. A person can live over a month without food but only about a week without water.
    
    
13. One person uses over 100 gallons of water a day.
    
    
14. It takes approximately 62,600 gallons of water to produce one ton of steel.
    
    
15. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
    
    
16. When you have ice left in your glass, give it to a plant rather than toss it down the drain.
    
    
17. 3.575 million people die each year from water-related diseases (from World Health Organization).

How do you conserve water?

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

Vegan Recipe - Cabbage Medley

One of the easiest ways to reduce one's carbon footprint is to eat meatless meals. Why? Well, the fact is that plant based foods take far fewer natural resources to produce than foods derived from animals. For example, water ... it is estimated that to produce a single pound of beef it takes 1,800 - 2,500 gallons of water. A single pound of tofu (made from soy beans) takes approximately 220 gallons of water. That's quite a difference.

If you're shaking your head at this point, thinking that there is no way you could switch to a vegetarian diet ... well ... good news ... switch to just one plant-based meal a week to have a positive impact on the earth. Consider this ... “If 10,000 people replaced a beef meal with a vegetarian option just once a week for a year, we’d save enough water to fill roughly 605 Olympic-sized swimming pools” … Body + Soul Magazine, 2008. Isn't that amazing?

Still need a little encouragement? Well, each month ... right here on Reduce Footprints ... we'll post a vegan recipe ... something to tease your taste buds and delight your tummies. Ready to give it a try?

This month's recipe comes from jperceval at Delphi Forums. It was adapted from a recipe found in the original PETA cookbook The Compassionate Cook. I found it to be easy and delicious ... true comfort food on a cold winter's evening. I hope you enjoy it!


CABBAGE MEDLEY

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 Medium onion, thinly sliced
1/2 Head green cabbage, thinly sliced or grated
2 Veggie "sausage patties" *
1/2-3/4 Cup vegetable stock *
Cooked whole wheat pasta (amount varies based on your preference)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder *
grated Parmesan cheese, to taste *

* denotes changes and/or additions to the original PETA recipe.

Process:

In a large frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat and saute the onion until translucent and starting to become tender. Add the cabbage and veggie sausage and saute until cabbage gets a little caramel color. Break up sausage as it cooks. Add the stock, lower heat, cover, and simmer until cabbage softens to your liking. Add the cooked pasta and stir until heated through. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Serve in a bowl with grated Parmesan on top.


Doesn't that sound great? It's easy, delicious and ... earth-friendly. What could be better!

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

Splish Splash I Was Taking A Bath ... (a recycled article)

These days, soaking in a full tub of water is a thing of the past. With most of us living in an area which is suffering from drought, water has become a precious, and expensive, commodity. Recently, the management in our apartment complex notified us that we will soon be paying for the water we use. A friend of mine wrote that her water comes from a well ... and it's been going dry. So water is a hot topic, with everyone looking for ways to reduce usage. Here are a few ideas:

Install aerators with flow restrictors on all your faucets. Make sure that any leaky faucets and/or toilets are fixed.

In the kitchen: run the dishwasher only when there is a full load. In my house, I would run out of dishes before I had a full load so we hand wash them. I’m careful to use minimal water … just enough to wet my sponge and scrub everything down and then, just enough water (at a slow drizzle) to rinse them. We don’t use the garbage disposal … it uses a ton of water. A better option is to compost, if you can, reuse, recycle and then … toss it out.

In the laundry room: do laundry only when there is a full load. Forget about doing small loads. Even if you can adjust the water level … try not to do it. It may not waste a lot of water but it does waste energy. So fill that tub up!

In the bathroom: turn off the water when brushing your teeth and turn it on for rinsing only. Better yet, use a glass of water … it works when we’re camping. When showering, turn the water off between soaping up and rinsing off. I put the plug in the tub before my shower … the accumulated water helps in soaping and scrubbing. I’ve also recently heard that putting a bucket in the shower captures some of the water and then can be used for watering plants. This next one works but … I’ll warn you … it’s a delicate subject and some might find it “gross”. If the only thing in the toilet is urine, don’t flush it every time. Enough said!

Outside: Use a hose with a nozzle to water plants and the lawn … it uses far less than a sprinkler and it’s good for you (reduces stress, gives you a little exercise and you'll commute with nature). If you have an automatic sprinkler system, set it to run at night or early morning and only for a few minutes. Instead of using a hose to wash off your deck, patio or driveway, use a broom … you’ll get some exercise while you save the planet. Try one of the new waterless car wash soaps. If you need to wash it with water, park your car on the lawn so the runoff helps the grass (use eco-friendly soap, of course). If those ideas don’t work and you absolutely have to wash your car with water on the driveway, make sure the hose has a nozzle and turn off the water between washing and rinsing.

Houseplants: use a moisture sensor and only water plants when they really need it.

And here’s one that, if I had a house, I would use: there are inexpensive systems out there that capture rain water. They are basically a garbage can which hooks into your home’s gutter system. It rains, the water runs into the can instead of the ground, and you have water for watering gardens, washing cars, etc. Brilliant, don’t you think? For a "how to" site, click here.

I believe that conserving water is, to a great extent, simply paying attention and thinking before letting the water run down the drain. For more great ideas on conserving water, here are a couple of good web sites:

50 easy ways to save water

25 ways to save water at home

As always, I would love to hear your ideas for reducing, reusing and recycling. Just click on the comments link, located at the bottom of each post, and let me know what you think and how you conserve. Maybe you'll see your ideas in an upcoming post.

I want to ... but (Part do ... I mean deux)

Yesterday we talked about green living road blocks ... those things that seem to prevent us from living a greener life. If you didn't get a chance to read that post, you can do so HERE. A few people wrote in with their "I want to ... buts", so today we're going to try to come up with solutions. Here we go:

ROAD BLOCK:

Mary said, "I do all these things except the short shower, and that is my own fault, since I ADORE long showers."

SOLUTION:

Sober White Woman said, "I love my tub! I have a huge garden tub and I love to soak in it. So on those days I try to cut back on using water else where. Just take baby steps and they WILL help trust me!"

How about this ... rather than take long showers every day, make them a special treat. Bargain with yourself ... for example ... tell yourself that if you take short showers for a week, you're allowed one indulgent shower. Another thing that will make showers (of any length) greener is to turn down the temperature of the water ... you'll save a lot of energy.

ROAD BLOCK:

I want to begin living greener ... but don't know where to start.

SOLUTION:

Brian said, "I would suggest doing little things first like changing light bulbs to the more energy efficient bulbs. Locate your nearest recycling location and plan your trips to town so that you drive past it on a regular basis. This will remind you to recycle and it will change from out of your way to "we can stop on the way to town."

ROAD BLOCK:

I want to live green ... but need a good reason.

SOLUTION:

Ilhami Uyar said, "We have to take care to environment, we must prevent our old world, if we shouldn't prevent some damages, what will leave our children. We haven't another different world to live, so we have to guard our world."

ROAD BLOCK:

Nina E J said, "... how about cutting down meat? doesn't that pollute the earth a lot?!"

Kathryn Magendie said, "I want to always eat vegetarian, but it's more difficult than it seems at times- when you visit people, it's hard to say "I can't eat your food..." so I just eat it (so far I've avoided eating the stuff I NEVER want to eat: pork, veal, lamb...). Unless the host asks ahead of time if anyone doesn't eat meat, meat is usually served, and unless it is a "serve yourself" buffet kind of dinner, then the meat is placed on the plate! I consider myself a "flexitarian' - since I do sometimes eat meat...."

SOLUTION:

Meatless meals are good for the earth (if you'd like to read a previous post on the subject, click HERE). Since any effort is good, perhaps incorporate a few meatless meals into the week's menu. Even the most devout carnivore probably wouldn't object to a delicious spaghetti made with marinara sauce or a hearty bowl of vegetarian chili with corn bread.

If you're goal is to become vegetarian/vegan full time, there are basically two ways to get there ... one is to just do it and the other is to gradually reduce the meat in your diet until it's gone. My choice was to just do it ... after watching a program on the health issues attributed to animal products, I decided to go vegan ... for a month. I need an "out" so I told myself that if, after a month, I really wanted some meat ... I could do it. But ... after a month I was hooked on vegetarian food. I felt better and enjoyed the food. Some people find it easier to slowly ease into a vegetarian life style. That works, too. There are marvelous resources on the Internet for ways to go veggie. I suggest checking them out and experimenting a little to see what works best for you.

As for dining out with friends ... when I became vegan, I told everyone ... my friends and family. They have all been wonderful and have taken on the challenge of cooking "veg" for us when we visit. When our hosts don't know that we're vegan, we call ahead to tell them and offer to bring some food ... helps them and helps us. We've even attended wedding receptions where the couple kindly arranged, ahead of time, for our meals to be vegan ... and everyone at our table was jealous. I believe the key is letting people know. Most of the time, they want to accommodate vegetarians. The one thing that, I believe, is a big mistake is not saying anything ... it's awkward once you're there ... you either have to compromise your diet and eat foods you'd rather not eat or say "no thanks" to the meat items and risk hurting the chef's feelings. Full disclosure, ahead of time, is always best.

ROAD BLOCK:

Cesia said, "My biggest issue is remembering the grocery bags."

SOLUTION:

s engelmohr said, "I, like you had trouble with the re-usable bags for awhile. Seems like we have about 6-8 for each vehicle now and if some get left in the house there are still some left in the car. Funny thing I leave them there on occasion too and walk out with a cart full of loose groceries. "

Annie said, "I'm going to get those reusable shopping bags this week!"


ROAD BLOCK:

Frisky Librarian said, "I need to frequent farmers markets, but as I don't have a car, it's an "I want to...but" scenario."

SOLUTION:

One solution might be to organize a farmer's market "car pool" with others (hopefully with someone who has a car). This could be a fun outing with friends and perhaps, after the shopping trip, everyone could contribute to a fabulous, farm fresh meal. If no one has a car, perhaps the bus will work. This could be a weekly trip or even bi-weekly.

Does your area have Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)? Some CSAs will actually deliver shares to members who can't drive to the pick up location.

Another idea ... check on community gardens in your area. They are cropping up all over the place and are great ways to get some fresh fruits and veggies. Some gardens offer small plots of land so that you can grow your own ... others sell to the surrounding community and still others, like one in my area, offer free fruits and veggies to anyone who cares to pick their own (they only ask that you only pick enough for your immediate use).

Here's a great, brand new, resource. It's called Veggie Trader (http://www.veggietrader.com/index.php) and it's a brilliant concept. Basically, it's a site where people can buy/trade/sell their extra produce. A quick search by zip code will tell you what's available in your area. It's a new site, and it's early in the season, so there aren't many entries yet ... but as more people hear about it, it'll grow and should become a wonderful resource for those who want local, fresh produce.

Want one more idea? How about exchanging a little of your time, volunteering on an organic farm, in exchange for food, etc.? There is a very cool website called World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (http://www.wwoof.org/index.asp) which acts as a meeting place for those who own organic farms and those who would like to volunteer in exchange for food, accommodation, etc.

ROAD BLOCK:

Ron said, "I live in an apartment building, which has no composting facility. I was thinking of starting one up in the area beside the parking lot, but sadly, I haven't had the time, nor any idea on how I can get others to participate--except for the few that I actually talk to while going up and down the elevator every day. Any thoughts?"

SOLUTION:

I would contact the apartment management to see if they are willing to participate in composting. If they are, perhaps a flier could be handed out to all residents informing them of the bin and giving them some pointers on how to use it. Composting bins do require a "stir" once in awhile and, as mentioned in my article, a layer of dirt on top keeps the odor down ... so someone would need to step up and manage the bin. I, personally, haven't found apartment managers to be overly receptive to green ideas but ... I'm a firm believer that we should keep asking. That being said, if they aren't willing, I'd try composting on a small scale. There are commercial bins which work nicely on patios or, as I do, one can use any available container.

ROAD BLOCK

I want to recycle ... but don't know how to get started.

SOLUTION

SweetPeaSurry said, "When I lived in NYC we had recycling bins for the 'house' apartments that we lived it, they were shared. So in the kitchen we used one of those three drawer plastic towers that you can pick up at any store, Target or Kmart or Walmart. It worked great ... and as it filled up ... we'd just toss stuff into the recycle 'house' bins. Worked great! "


Thanks to everyone who shared their "I want to ... buts" as well as to those who offered solutions and encouragement. See ... I told you this was a great group!

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

I want to ... but

Last July, when Reduce Footprints was born, I felt I was doing a pretty good job at living a green life, but felt there were more things I could be doing. So ... I started blogging, hoping that I would find many new and unusual ideas for walking a little gentler on the earth. And ... I did ... lots of them. The only problem was that some of the tips and ideas seemed inconvenient and I found myself saying, "I want to, but ...".

Lately, I've heard others saying the same thing. Perhaps we're just making excuses ... but maybe (and I choose to believe that this is the more probable reason), we just haven't figured out the solutions. So ... today's post is all about the road blocks on the path to living green and how we can remove them. Here are a few of mine and how we've solved the problem:


I want to buy organic ... but it's too expensive.

"Organic" is good for the earth and good for us. But, one trip down the grocery isle will tell you that these products aren't cheap ... and with the economic times as they are, stretching a dollar is important. Some organic items have become competitive, priced similar to their non-organic counterparts ... but the majority are still rather costly. To solve this dilemma, I decided to prioritize my purchases. The Environmental Working Group has put together a handy little list of the fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide load (items to definitely buy organic) and the lowest pesticide load (items which are OK if non-organic). The list can be found here: http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php.


I want to recycle ... but don't have the room.

We try to reuse as many things as possible. Still ... there are times that a can, paper, etc. has served it's purpose and is ready to be recycled. Living in an apartment, I don't have the luxury of a lot of space or an outside area for recycle containers. The neighborhood doesn't have curbside recycling or even large bins for residents. So ... I headed to the local grocery store and picked up a few cardboard boxes. After rearranging our laundry room a bit, we stacked them up and started tossing our recyclables into the appropriate box. They aren't huge boxes and fill up fast, which means frequent trips to the center. It's near our favorite whole foods store, however, so we don't make special trips ... we just grab a box every time we shop. Since I can't accommodate too many boxes, we aren't able to pre-sort everything and do a fair amount of sorting at the center. The entire process isn't perfect ... but it works.


I want to use a reusable shopping bag ... but can't remember to take it into the store.

We all know how bad plastic bags are for the environment. Reusable bags are so much kinder to the earth. I have four of them, which is enough for anything I'm liable to purchase on any given shopping trip. My first challenge was to remember to put them in the car. I hung them on the coat rack ... and looked past them. I put them on top of my shoes and actually picked them up and moved them so that I could finish getting dressed. Finally, I set them under my car keys ... and that worked. By the time I grab for the keys, I'm ready to go so ... grabbing the bags and returning them to the car (where they live) is no problem. But then, once in the car, I'd forget to take them into the store. Ugh! I'd get into the checkout lane and remember that I didn't have my bag. Then ... I had an "aha" moment ... I simply told the cashier that I wasn't going to use a bag ... that I'd take everything, in the basket, to my car and put it in my reusable bags out there. This has actually become so convenient that I do it on a regular basis now. When one brings a reusable bag into the store, they are typically required to load it themselves ... which seems to slow up the line. So, having the cashier simply leave everything in the basket is quick and efficient. One warning ... when uttering "no bags", you might get a "deer in the headlights" look from the bag "boy" and render him inactive for awhile ... but never fear ... he'll get used to it.


I want to take shorter showers ... but lose track of time.

This one is easy ... a simple kitchen timer, which I keep in the bathroom, reminds me to hurry it up. Awareness is everything!


I want to compost ... but I'm afraid of the smell.

Composting is a fabulous activity. Rather than dumping fruits and veggies into a landfill where, because of a lack of oxygen, it takes years and years to decompose, one can create their own compost bin where tossed items will decompose rapidly. Once nature has taken it's course, the rich dirt can be used in the garden. It's a great idea ... but compost systems take up a lot of room and ... I thought they would smell. I quickly learned that compost bins don't have to be big ... we use an old planter for our bin. And, by keeping a layer of dirt on top, there is minimal smell.


Now it's your turn ... when it comes to green living, what are your "I want to ... but" problems. Share them here and we'll try to come up with solutions. If you're saying to yourself ... "I want to share, but I'm afraid I'll look foolish" ... don't worry. We are all trying to do the same thing ... live greener.

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