Polished!

I've told you in a previous entry that I've stopped painting my nails because I didn't want to have to use cottonballs along with toxic/chemically nail polish and remover. But look that I found - non-toxic nail polish?

If I were to give in and start painting my nails again I may consider Acquarella nail polish. They claim to be different because they are made of non-toxic, water-based alternative ingredients. That's right - no formaldehyde, no phthalates and no petrochemical solvents. They even have a non-toxic nail polish remover. Word on the street is that this product doesn't have the same fumes as conventional polish. This product has got to be too good to be true, right? Hmmm mayhaps. Ingredients are still a bit vague but the company's site doesn't seem to preach that they are 100% synthetic-free.

I know I won't be painting my nails anytime soon but if I were to then this looks like a promising alternative.

Trash Report

No pictures but I did want to share my trash from today:

- a paper napkin from the restaurant I ate at (forgot to bring my own rag)
- chopsticks and its wrapper
- string cheese wrapper (cheese...my weakness snack at work)
- ice cream sandwich wrapper (my other current weakness. I buy them from the ice cream men or the local corner markets...I KNOW!)

My other waste consisted of veggie scraps which I tossed into my compost pile.

Not so bad but I can definitely cut out the snacking...for diet/health sake and to avoid wrapper waste.

Trash Round-Up Challenge

A great way to reduce your own personal trash is by keeping track of your trash, documenting it somehow, and looking at your list of sorts and deciding what/how you can reduce how much trash you throw out!

Many people on different green blogs do this - they document their weekly trash, share with readers, and it is a great way to just lay it out there. Actually seeing what you toss out really does help! And also take into account your food waste. The more we see how much food we toss out the more conscious we will be (hopefully) of only taking enough food so that you don't waste it.

If I am good about it, I will share my weekly trash with you every week or as much as I can.

And for more Wasted Food reading check out one of my favourite blogs "Wasted Food". Jonathan writes about wasted food in America and around the world! Definitely a great read.

Things You Should Avoid Buying

I found this list of "Things You Shouldn't Buy. EVER!"

Many of the things are no-brainers and I am already doing my best to avoid. Some things have accidentally slipped into my life here and there, and I 'repent' as much as I can when this happens. I'm trying to think of others things to add to it - there are lots but I am having a bit of a brain fart at the moment. One thing I will add in right now is SODA. Diminishing soda from your purchases is a great way to reduce your plastic and aluminum waste - and you get to lose weight from not having as much sugar in your diet!

Things on the list that may be a bit tough for me is hair conditioner. Still working on making my own shampoo and conditioner. I will keep you posted on that mission. Same with make-up.

And I bring you the list (slightly edited here and there)

Things that you shouldn't buy. Ever.

Styrofoam products - Styrofoam isn't biodegradable and will stay in that landfill forever! Opt for reusable, compostable, or recyclable products.

Paper Towels - A waste all over the map. It's money that you don't have to spend, and trees that don't have to be cut down. Buy reusable and washable hand and dish towels instead.

Incandescent light bulbs - They're inefficient and waste energy in the form of heat. Try buying compact fluorescent light bulbs, which might cost a little more upfront, but last longer and can end up saving you $30 to $36 over the life of each bulb.

Conventional Household Cleaners - These products can contain hazardous ingredients Instead, look for nontoxic, vegetable-based, biodegradable cleaners or make your own green cleaning products.

Plastic Utensils - They aren't biodegradable and not recyclable in most areas.
Instead try using compostable food service items. Or always have spare reusable utensils on you or at work to use instead.

Disposable Batteries - Batteries contain heavy metals that can leach into the environment. Instead invest in rechargeable batteries and an electric- or solar-powered battery charger.

Bleached Coffee Filters - Dioxins, chemicals formed during the chlorine bleaching process, contaminate groundwater and air and are linked to cancer in humans and animals. Look for unbleached paper filters or use reusable filters such as washable cloth filters.

Industrially Raised Beef - Industrial cattle operations are energy-intensive, rely on antibiotics and an unnatural corn diet, and generate polluted runoff and large quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas. Limit your intake of beef and choose meat from sustainably raised, grass-fed cows.

Hair Conditioner - Many hair conditioners contain ingredients like sodium benzoate, benzyl alcohol and tocopheryl acetate that can be toxic or potentially carcinogenic. Try using natural oils like olive, safflower or jojoba instead.

Chemical Pesticides and Herbicides - American households use 80 million pounds of pesticides each year. The EPA found at least one pesticide in almost every water and fish sample from streams and in more than one-half of shallow wells sampled in agricultural and urban areas. These chemicals pose threats to animals and people, especially children. Buy organic pest controllers such as diatomaceous earth.
Plant native plants and practice integrated pest management and plant flowers and herbs that act as natural pesticides.

Excessively Packaged Food and Other Products - Excess packaging wastes resources and costs you much more. Around 33% of trash in the average American household comes from packaging. Buy products with minimal or reusable packaging or buy in bulk and use your own containers when shopping.

Cling/Saran/ Plastic Wrap - Many people don't realize that cling wrap may be made with PVC. #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride) leaches toxins when heated or microwaved and it is an environmental problem throughout its lifecycle. Instead store things in reusable containers.

Beauty/Body Care with Phthalates and Parabens - Phthalates are a group of industrial chemicals linked to birth defects that are used in many cosmetic products, from nail polish to deodorant. Parabens are preservatives used in many cosmetics that have been linked to breast cancer though more research is needed. Phthalates are not listed on product labels and can only be detected in laboratory tests. To be safe, choose products from companies that have signed on to the Compact for Safe Cosmetics.

High Octane Gas than You Need - Only one car in ten manufactured since 1982 requires high-octane gasoline. High-octane gas releases more hazardous pollutants into the air, and may be bad for your car. Instead, buy the lowest-octane gas your car requires as listed in your owner's manual. You can also try making your next car purchase a hybrid. Or ditch the car and take public transportation, ride a bike, or walk.

Teak and mahogany - Every year, 27 million acres of tropical rainforest (an area the size of Ohio) are destroyed. Rainforests cover 6% of Earth’s surface and are home to over half of the world’s wild plant, animal, and insect species. The Amazon rainforest produces 40 percent of the world’s oxygen.Look for Forest Stewardship Council certified wood. Try to reuse wood, and buy furniture and other products made from used or salvaged wood.

Farm Raised Salmon - Several studies, including one performed by researchers at Indiana University, have found that PCB's and other environmental toxins are present at higher levels in farm raised salmon than wild salmon. Pregnant women, women of child-bearing ages, and children should be very careful when choosing fish due to high levels of environmental toxins including mercury found in many fish.

Anything Made with PVC - Polyvinyl chloride, used in everything from shower curtains to residential siding to toys and upholstery, sometimes contains phthalates (to make the plastic softer) that act as endocrine disruptor's, which interfere with normal hormonal development. Buy products made with natural fabrics and sustainably harvested woods instead.

High VOC Paints and Finishes - Volatile organic compounds or VOCs can cause health problems from dizziness to lung and kidney damage and are infamous for polluting both indoor and outdoor air. VOCs are found in products including paints as well as finishes used for wood, such a stains or varnishes. There are now a wide array of low or no-VOC paints on the market. Look for paints certified by Green Seal, or look for natural paints made by green businesses.

Rayon - Developed and manufactured b y DuPont as the world's first synthetic fiber, it is made by from liquefied wood pulp. Unfortunately, turning wood into rayon is wasteful and dirty, because lots of water and chemicals are needed to extract usable fibers from trees. Only about a third of the pulp obtained from a tree will end up in finished rayon thread. The resulting fabrics usually require dry cleaning, which is an environmental concern as well as an added expense and inconvenience.

11 Ways to Reuse a Paperbag

- Reuse your bags at the market
- Line your planters/gardens with them. I hear they fend off them weeds!
- Use them as textbook covers (ohhhh flashbacks to my school gal day!)
- Wrap your gifts and packages in them! And if you are extra crafty, create your own nifty envelope for letters (eco-friendly mailing, folks!)
- Make hand puppets and create some elaborate scene with them then volunteer at a school or something, mayhaps, and act out your scene
- Transport cut flowers in them
- Brown-baggin' for lunch or use them as trick-or-treating bags on Halloween
- Line kitties litter box or tweety's birdcage
- Ripen your fruit in them. The closed bag traps ethylene, the natural gas released by the ripening fruit (while still allowing a little ventilation), which helps it ripen faster.
- Use as a placemat at dinner table and have kids draw or colour on them like in restaurants
- Create a paper bag suit (see above) or mark and attack! Attack!

Touring Alaska on Vegetable Oil

Stumbled upon this video on YouTube and thought I'd share it. These guys trek to Alaska on a bus powered by veggie oil. For those not familiar with the veggie-oil-running-your-vehicle-process here is a little insight on how it works:

For more info check out:

Veg Oil Conversion by Fossil Free Fuel
http://fossilfreefuel.com/


Here are the guys MySpace pages
http://www.myspace.com/MoseGiganticus
http://www.myspace.com/TheEmotron

Best Buy Free Electronics Recycling Program

Recycling electronics can be such a hassle sometimes. Trust me, I've got batteries and an old cell phone sitting in a bag on my dining table waiting to be taken to Staples or Kinko's. And bigger items like TV and computers can be somewhat of a pain to recycle...with all the searching for a local facility and such.

Well, Best Buy is now testing out their Free Electronics Recycling program! As of June 1st 117 stores in the Baltimore, San Francisco, and Minnesota markets are inviting customers to bring in no more than two (2) units per day, per household, for recycling at no charge. Customers can bring items such as televisions and monitors up to 32”, computers, phones, cameras, and other electronics devices and peripherals in for recycling.

The following items cannot be accepted through this program:

• Televisions or monitor screens greater than 32”
• Console televisions
• Air conditioners
• Microwaves
• Appliances (customers are invited instead to use Best Buy’s appliance haul-away and pick-up programs)

Best Buy will work with its stores, recycling partners, and manufacturers to evaluate the success of the test and determine options for scaling it across the U.S. I hope this works out and that it makes its way to Los Angeles!

Meanwhile, Best Buy continues to offer these electronics and appliance recycling options, available in every U.S. store:

• Recycling kiosks: at the front of every store, ink cartridges, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, CDs, DVDs, and PDA/smart phones can be dropped off for free recycling

• Appliance and television haul-away: Best Buy will remove an old or obsolete appliance or television free of charge from a consumers' home when a new product is purchased and delivered by Best Buy Home Delivery or Geek Squad Home Theater Installation Service.

• Appliance and television pick-up: For $100, Best Buy will arrange a home visit to remove up to two (2) appliance units and/or televisions for recycling, with $20 for each additional unit.

• Tech Trade-In: Visit www.bestbuytradein.com to trade in select gently used electronics for a Best Buy gift card.

dump the pump

Ahhhh yes! The 3rd Annual National Dump the Pump Day is coming up! June 19th, to be exact! This means free public transportation for all!

Save money and help the environment. Click here for more info on the free rides

stumped?

On my walk to my bus stop this morning, I notice that one of the apartment building gardens turned an old tree stump into a planter! A very great way to put an old stump to use again and you don't have to go out and buy a planter at the gardening stores.

Next time you come across a stump or have a stump of your own in your yard, hollow it out and start planting something wonderful! Definite garden show-stopper. People who walk by won't help but stop and admire your craftiness!

Other non-tree stump ideas? Why not beer kegs!


Or how about your old globes, eggshells, or snare drum? The possibilities are endless!

10 ways to reuse an old sock

1. Use the sock as a cleaning rag. Works great if you wear it on your hand and use to dust the blinds!
   
2. Make a sock puppet for a kid
3. Fill them up with your homemade potpourri and use them as drawer potpourri packets. Fill it with lavender!
   
4. Use as a makeshift strainer
5. Fill it with rice or wheat and use as a heat pad
6. Use as a cell phone or digital camera case
7. Use as jewelry container
8. Fill it with catnip and give it to kitty
9. Fill it with stones and use as a doorstop
10. Use it to hold your grains or small produce at the market instead of using plastic bags

ashes, ashes, we all fall down

I am very proud to say that one of my friends/co-workers and part-time green naysayer (but I'm sure he's a big greenie at heart) just told me that he started a compost pile in his backyard! Yep, my buddy John dug up a hole in his yard and has started throwing compostable material into the pile. I am very proud!

This morning he asks if he can compost his BBQ ash. This question left me stumped and has been, hence my lack of BBQs lately.


Did a little research and it turns out that you can compost your barbecue ash (and wood ash).

Wood ashes act as a lime source, and if added to compost should be used only in small amounts (no more than 1 cup per bushel of compost). As with adding regular lime, excessive amounts of wood ashes result in loss of nitrogen from the pile. Charcoal is just a partially burned form of wood. So long as no other chemicals have been added (check labels on packaging to be sure) barbeque ash should be a safe compost addition.

So go ahead and compost your ashes, just as long as they are chemical-free.

[If you know otherwise, please let me know]

put a lid on it

Ohhhhh I wish I could find this one Cosby show special or PSA or something where Clair Huxtable talks about how we can boil water quicker along with conserving energy by putting a lid on your pots and kettles when boiling water! I could be making all this up and have selective memory from my childhood but regardless, put a lid on it! Having a lid on your pot keeps the heat and energy from escaping your pot so that more of it stays to heat up your agua quicker. Quicker heating time = less energy used!

shut down

Many of us forget to turn off our computers after we use them but, just like turning off the lights when we leave a room or unplugging appliances that aren't being used, you should make turning off the comp second-nature! It's a very simple task that helps conserve energy, helping Mother Earth, and you can save a few bucks down the line through your energy bills!

I've been really good about shutting off my laptop, or putting it on standby, along with unplugging it when I am done fiddling around on the internets. My work computer on the other hand? I admit I sometimes leave it on because I sometimes log on to my work comp from home to finish a few things now and then. I know, I know! Leave work at home! Which I should keep telling myself so that I can also turn the work computer off when I leave. And co-workers, if you're reading this, I know many of you are guilty of this, too!

So everyone, turn off your work computers when you leave and do the same with your home computers.

And, as an added bonus...

My good friend, Jason Kaminsky (along with his group @ Stanford University) have started a group/project called TOT for tots. TOT (a.k.a Turn Off Tool) is a program you can download to your PC that helps remind you to turn off your computer when you're done using it! They have specially created this tool for kids so that they can learn the value of turning off the computer early on!

Just visit www.turnofftool.com and download the program. Once installed, simply click the picture of the sleeping moon and the computer hibernates or shuts down. See? Easy peasy.

Get 'em while they're young, I say! But really, it's important to get kids excited, informed, and interested about green living at an early age, and now with many kids using computers early on this simple add-on should be a no-brainer!

cotton-less

I ran out of cotton balls a couple months ago but have been wary to purchase a new batch. I mainly use the stuff to apply toner to my face so I had to stop using that for a bit, too. Then I decided to just use a washcloth as a cottonball substitute. I mean, it's made of cotton, too, so why not? Plus, this means less trash when it comes to my toiletries and I can just wash and re-use the rags. So far it's been working well. I dab some toner on the cloth and dab it on my face. Refreshing indeed. Yes, I know I probably shouldn't be using the toner but I am going to finish what I have and find a substitute of sorts when it's time to cross that bridge.

I've also given up painting my nails due to my lack of cottonball action but I may just go full out and say no to polish all together. A few less chemicals for me to deal with, right?

clear the air!

We're constantly interacting with and exposed to plastics, paper foods, synthetic fibers and other household items that contact trace amounts of toxins. In large amounts these toxins can be lethal but in small doses might be causing some damage. But you can clear the air bit by bit while decorate your surroundings. Whether it be at home or at the office, all you need is a nice house/office plant. Plants are natural detoxifiers and can help scrub the air of potentially harmful poisons.

Here are some plants that can help mollify different toxins in the air:
- gasoline, adhesives, and lacquers (Marginata plants)
- clothing (spider plants)
- paints and detergents (peace lillies)
- plastics and household cleaners (chrysanthemums)
- dry cleaning and inks (gerber daisies!)
- water repellents (poinsettias)
- tobacco smoke (english ivy)
- foam insulation (azaleas)
- paper goods (corn plant)
- carpetting (golden pathos)
- oils and varnishes (warneckei)

World Vegetarian Week

It's World Vegetarian Week so eat your vegetables and tofu, kids! Not a vegetarian? Why not take the 7-Day Go Veg Challenge! Try it out, experiment with new vegetarian recipes, substitute your meat for tofu or other non-meat protein foods, and see if it's the right fit for you.

A few reasons why you should go veg:
- eating less meat is better for the environment. According to Bruce Friedrich, V.P. for campaigns at PETA, "A recent United Nations report entitled Livestock's Long Shadow concludes that eating meat is "one of the ... most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global." In just one example, eating meat causes almost 40 percent more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the cars, trucks, and planes in the world combined. The report concludes that the meat industry "should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity."

- eating veg = cheaper eats! Buying a can of beans costs less than meat. And when you eat out, notice that the vegetarian meals are dollars cheaper than meat dishes

- it is better for your health! Steering away from steer (and other meats) can lead to less chances of heart disease.

- great if you are going on a diet! A vegetarian diet will help you get into your summer body

Opt for more grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables in your dishes, experiment with new vegetables that you've never tried before! Think of eating less meat as a gain, not a loss in your every eating.

Spice up your life!

Paging Dr. GreenThumb! Why not start growing your own herbs instead of buying them from the store? You'll have fresh basil, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and more right at your fingertips! And what a wonderful addition to your recipes! Start a small (and organic/pesticide-free) herb garden at home and in your yard. Once you get the hang of it, you can start utilizing your yard to grow more useful things like tomatoes and carrots. (more on home gardening later!)

Above are my neighbours herbs that he bought from Home Depot. I decided to grow my own and I'm still waiting for my seedlings to sprout! I feel like an anxious mother. But I can't wait to have my little herb garden by my windowsill to pick from! I'll keep you posted on their progress once I see them shooting up from the soil.

UPS Hybrid Fleet

Since talking about green package delivery I've found out that UPS has announced that they have ordered 200 hybrid vehicles (HEVs), which is the largest commercial order of these trucks by any company!

"Alternative fuel research and development is just one of the ways that UPS is mitigating climate change risks," said Bob Stoffel, UPS's corporate sustainability officer. "We also are focused on aggressive conservation programs and improving network efficiency to cut fuel use."

UPS's "green fleet" operates in the United States, Germany, France, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom and has traveled nearly 144 million miles since 2000. The fleet includes electric, hybrid electric, CNG, liquefied natural gas and propane-powered vehicles. The company also is continuing work with the Environmental Protection Agency on a hydraulic hybrid delivery vehicle.

"UPS has been utilizing alternative fuel vehicles for more than 70 years and is clearly the industry leader in hybrid electric and CNG vehicle purchases," said Robert Hall, director of UPS's ground fleet. "At UPS, it's very important to us to demonstrate our commitment with action, which is why we have the largest private 'green' fleet in the industry. And both CNG and HEV vehicles provide substantial reductions in carbon emissions, which supports our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment."

The 200 hybrid electric vehicles will be deployed in 2009 and join 50 HEV delivery trucks already in operation. The 200 trucks are expected to save 176,000 gallons of fuel annually and reduce CO2 emissions by 1,786 metric tons each year. That is the equivalent of removing almost 100 conventional UPS trucks from the road for a year.

Read the full Press Release here

Grounded!

When it comes to package shipments consider choosing ground shipping instead of air. Ground shipments burn less fuel which means less impact on Mama Earth. According to an article on Grist.org "aircraft transport boasts greater fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions per ton-mile than any other mode of transport. And their emissions' negative impacts are amplified due to the high altitude where they occur."


If you've gotta send that certain something to NYC by early morning next business day then opt for express air shipment. But if you have a say on how your package gets around then go for ground.

You can also be more conscious of where your items are coming from when doing some online shopping. Sites like Etsy.com have a Shop Local feature where you can purchase items from artisans in your 'hood.

Shopping on eBay? Try to choose sellers who are closer to you rather than farther and that way less pollution is emitted during transit. Or troll the local listings on Craigslist or get free stuff in your area from Freecycle.org

So make an effort to shop local when it comes to clothes and other miscellany items just as you would when shopping locally for food. And if you gotta get it from somewhere far then go with ground!

Local Harvest

Buying local and organic has many perks - you get foods that are fresher, tastier, and free of pesticides. You're also supporting local farmers, which also means less carbon emissions when it comes to getting the food to you. This website is pretty snazzy! Local Harvest helps you locate Farmer's Markets, local farms, grocery/foo co-ops, restaurants, and more - all near you. Just type in your zip code or state, click the places you want to look up, and voila! You get a list of places you should check out. And it isn't limited to fruits and veggies. When I entered my zip code I got info on a local garden where I can purchase fresh, organic flowers.

So check it out. You'll be amazed at what you'll discover in your 'hood!

http://www.localharvest.org

Happy Bike-To-Work Week!

May is National Bike Month and this week (May 12th to 16th) is National Bike to Work Week so saddle up and start peddlin', folks! Thankfully I bought my bike on time and have been riding to work as much as I can and I am loving every minute of it! I'm becoming an addict...5-6 miles each way...and I'm starting to brave traffic more and more. My co-worker has even started biking to work now, too! We should really start a bike gang now...him dressing in sharp riding knickers and shoes that click into his pedals; me with my matching bike helmet, stylish cape, and basket lined with flowers.

Reasons why you should bike to work this week (and everyday for that matter):

• It’s Healthy! Great exercise without setting foot in a gym! Think of all the calories you'll burn...and how much happier your heart will be.

• It’s Economical! With gas prices rising towards the $5 mark, think about the money you'll be saving.

• It’s Environmentally Friendly! Mounting your bicycle to work reduces your carbon emissions. Did you know that if you drove a Toyota Camry and lived 9 miles from work, you would reduce emissions pollutants by 908 lbs year by biking one day a week?

one lump or two?

I try to avoid the stirrers at coffee shops or my work kitchen at all costs so how to i get my sugar mix on? Ok, what I like to do at work when I want to drink tea is put the sugar into my cup and adding the water afterwards serves as an automatic mixer! Same with coffee...just add my sugar into my cup first then pour the coffee in! Instant mixing! Do the same with your cream.

And when you're heading into a Starbucks or Coffee bean? Add the sugar into your reusable cup before you hand it over to the barista (and alert them so that they don't rinse out your cup or dump it out). Saves you a wooden mixer stick use.

ice, ice baby

Before you toss out those leftover ice cubes from your glass, conserve water and put those cubes to good use. Rather than toss them in the sink put them into your planters. No water waste and you'll be a good plant parent! Do the same with the leftover water from your glasses. Just pour it all out into your potted plants or your garden.

Junk in the Trunk?

Got junk in the trunk? If so, start clearing out the non-essentials stat! The more unnecessary cargo you're hauling, the more gas your car consumes. Not very fun on your wallet especially with the skyrocketing fuel prices lately. So what are you waiting for? Unload the junk and reduce fuel consumption (along with keeping your bank account happy). All the more reason to finally tackle the trunk clutter, right?

Basket Case

My friend and I want to start a new Sunday tradition -- Farmer's Market breakfasts! I was up early to take advantage of the carless streets in my neighbourhood (or minimal cars, rather) for a bike ride. Got a call from my friend so we decide to meet up for a little breakfast. Perfect timing because the Farmer's Market was all set up so we perused the tents to see what we wanted to eat. We eventually settled on organic strawberries. Rather than sleep in on Sundays like we usually do, we have now made a pact to wake up early and walk over to the Farmer's for Sunday morning eats! And on our next visit I will be returning my berry crates to the local farmer/vendors so that they can reuse them!


Shopping at your local Farmer's Market sometime soon? Make sure you bring back containers that you got from your last trip whether it be berry crates, egg cartons, or what have you. The vendors will appreciate it!

ACE + CFLs

Ace Hardware have struck up an agreement with the Department of Environment Services and has announced that they will be accepting our old CFL lightbulbs for recycling! They will even take in broken bulbs as long as you put them in a seal container or zip-lock bag. How convenient for us and for them! Their profits had slipped from last year so not only can a customer dropped off a burned out CFL but they can purchase their new bulb from ACE hardware, too, while they are there. Win-Win sitch?

Click here or the ACE logo to find an ACE hardware location near you

The Push and Pull

Did you know that one gas powered lawn mower emits as much exhaust as 40 idling cars in traffic (in an hour time span?) That is pretty shocking if you ask me! Go back to basics and opt for a push lawn-mower for your grass trimming needs. Modern reel mowers are:

- easier to push now
- light
- dust and exhaust-free
- quieter (goodbye mower noise-pollution that has woken me up many mornings)
- a great way to recycling your lawn trimmings into automatic mulch
- maintenance free
- better for your grass (I read somewhere that rotary mowers tear your grass while reel mowers cut the grass like scissors)

Here are some reel mower strategies:
1. Walk at a nice, comfy, and steady pace (Steady....steady now)
2. Overlap your rows b/c this will make it easier to maneuver through the grass
3. Don't let the grass grow too tall, don't want to overwhelm your new toy
4. Mow your lawn earlier or later in the day during warmer temperatures.
5. If you're a hot boy, mow shirtless...the ladies will love it! (meow)

Andrew Bird Bike Ride on CurrentTV

On my lunch break I decided to check out the happenings on Current.TV and found this bike ride interview with Andrew Bird, one of my favourite musicians. Along with talking about his music, he talks about different ways he has greened his tours and how he loves bike riding. It's really getting me even more pumped up about my future bike, all the things I'm going to see on my rides that I miss out on in a car. Makes me happy.

Travel Offsets

Starting to plan your summer trip but still want to factor in your greenness? Consider something more closer to home where you can easily and efficiently travel by car or have a train trip adventure!

I want to visit my sister...or have her come out to LA. The sistaXhood have been physically separated too long (and I'm sure our mother misses Z's face, too). Mother's Day? Memorial Day? As much as I love train trips, a train trip up north isn't worth it over a 3-day weekend. Boo. Same goes for a bus trip, if I ever decide to go that route. Driving is feasible but I hate having to deal with a car in SF. Plus, the reason I go up to SF is to enjoy their convenient public transport. Plane it is, as per usual, but it's definitely not the greenest option. But however you decide to travel, take the extra step in offsetting your carbon emissions via NativeEnergy

Along with scoping out airline ticket prices I've also been calculating how much carbon my trip would be emitting/contributing into the atmosphere.


Once on the site, click on "Travel Calculator" (the second box with that plane picture) and pick your travel method of choice. According to Native Energy my round-trip flight to SF would be about 696 miles total. My carbon emissions? 0.278 tons.
Cost to offset my carbon emissions? A mere $12. This will go towards funding renewable energy sources to counter your pollution like wind power, farm methane, or a combo of the two. Not too shabby a price to pay for carbon neutrality, if you ask me. I'd be paying double though, to offset on my mother's behalf if she were coming along.

It's really neat, convenient, and practical. You can even calculate your work commute, emissions your home energy, and general lifestyle! (Click the 'individual' tab).

Definitely use this for any of your travel plans and your everyday living! And if you're flying, some airlines have carbon emission offset programs of their own so check those out if they're available!

future cyclist in the house

I spent $40 to fill up my gas tank this weekend. $40! I have a Corolla and I shouldn't be paying this much for gas! Damn you high gas prices. This whole debacle makes my whole desire to get a bike to commute to work increase more and more!

Today was the first day driving to my new office. I did two things: scouted out my future bike route and scouted out the transit stops. I also looked our for fellow bikers who I can befriend in the future and cafes along the way. It's only about 5 miles so the biking won't be so bad. I just haven't ridden a bike in so long so it will take some getting used to again. And sadly, like many streets in LA, I did not see designated bike lanes.

The hunt for a used bike has been going on for a few weeks now to no avail. Maybe because I was scoping out new bikes a few weeks ago and the used bikes I've encountered so far have not come close to the new ones I've been lusting over.

First I was hesitant to just buy a new bike right off the bat. I am known for some compulsive purchases so I figured I would hold out and shop around for a bit. But I have found a bike shop in between my new office and home so I can easily get dropped off there and ride my bike home.
At the rate I'm paying for gas right now, the money that goes to my fill-ups can just go into my bike fund.

I'll keep you posted on my mission!

One Woman's Trash...

...is MY treasure!

A co-worker friend of mine is moving into a new place and has started packing up her stuff and cleaning out her closet. While sitting in her living room she drags in a bulging trash bag full of clothes she doesn't want. Rather than toss them out, she let us have first dibs on her cast-offs (the rest would go to charity) and boy did I find some goodies! I made out like a bandit and left with an armful of "new" clothes.


If you're clearing out your closet, call your friends over and let them have the pick of the litter! You'll save still-functional clothes from landfills and you'll be responsible for your friends updated wardrobe and fashion statement! More closet space for you and you're friends save some green!

Movin' On Up!

We're moving offices and I love that the coordinators of this move have done their best to make this as green of a move as possible! One aspect that takes up a major part of a move are boxing up our goods. Anyone who has moved to a new apartment/home knows all about getting your hands on cardboard boxes. We're moving an office so I faint at the thought of how many boxes we'd have had to get! Moving companies were researched and we were lucky enough to find one that utilises reusable crates for their packing and moving needs!We just pack 'em, snap 'em and go. We're also using used cardboard boxes that we have lying around.

If you happen to be moving anytime soon or in the future for that matter, do what I did and get yourself used cardboard boxes from your friends, any that aren't being used at your work, or look for free ones on Freecycle or Craigslist. Once you are done with them, pass them along to friends, strangers, put an ad on these sites offering up the boxes to anyone who will pass them on, too, and have them pass them on, until the boxes are worn to bits and the remains have to be recycled! Saving trees and energy from production resources, gotta love it.

If It's Yellow...

That's right, kiddies. If it's yellow, let it mellow! I live alone so it's easy for me to tinkle then "set it and forget it" for 2 or 3 rounds. Refraining from flushing saves gallons along the way and I drink alot of water so you can imagine how many times I'm flushing a day! I do flush at work, though, to spare my co-workers from the shock of coming into the bathroom and finding my pee in the bowl...and that's just weird. But I've got free reign at home so I'm all about the non-flush there.

(And yes, that is the Pink Floyd toilet seat I had made for our Pink Lloyd themed bathroom in our soon-to-be-former office. An hommage!)

Green In The Face

Even in my sickbed I still managed to practice my green ways as best I could. Normally one pictures a sickbed to be riddled with tissue paper. Thankfully I avoided that path and used a hanky instead! It's quite an old fashioned way to blow your nose but it helps you avoid the paper trail! I wasn't able to find handkerchief, per se, so I dug up an old t-shirt (not pictured) and a clean mini rag to alleviate my nasal congestion.

My mom was nice enough to come to the rescue bearing orange juice, medicine, and soup. She was quite upset when I told her I wanted to ride the fever out au naturale and plopped 2 bottles of flu medicine by my bedside. Luckily, she indirectly made a smarter choice and bought medicine out of bottles instead of pills I'd have to pop our of the plastic/foil combo. Although the plastic bottles aren't the "greenest" thing because they contain petroleum based plastic, they can be easily reused or recycled while the plastic/foil pill containers are an enviro mess! I had some of those pills leftover from when my sister was sick during her last visit and as much as I didn't want to have to use them due to the waste I would be creating I took then anyway. Why? Because they are still good and I didn't want to have to toss out the pills.

If you have push-out pills in your medicine cabinet don't throw them out! And definitely don't flush them! Doing either will lead to them seeping into the our water systems somehow. We don't want that happening now, do we? Save them for your next sickday. No use wasting good medicine for no good reason.

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day Everyone! Going out to celebrate? Why not stay out longer and be a mooch! That's right -- be an energy mooch! If you've got dinner plans or just meeting someone for coffee later tonight might as well mooch off the communal energy at your restaurant or cafe!

This means less energy usage at your own home and you're using someone else's lights. You may even convince the restaurant or cafe to serve by candlelight in honour of today. C'est tres romantique, non? And while you're out, why not take an after dinner walk. You'll enjoy more time with your dinner buddy, get some leisurely exercising worked into your day, and you're enjoying the lovely outdoors!

Another celebratory idea is having your own energy-free/waste-free dinner at home. Invite friends over! Serve a nice hearty salad with some cheese and crackers over beeswax candlelight, serve yourself a glass of organic wine, user reusable plates and utensils, and opt for conversation (or read if you're alone).

Enjoy Earth Day!

In Sickness...

Sorry, readers. I've been plagued with the flu all weekend hence the lack of entries. I am getting better, slowly but surely, and am actually able to walk around my apartment without fumbling on my weak knees! You should get a green tip by tomorrow. Find out how I was green in sickness, as I am in health.

Good 'Til The Last Drop

This morning I told my friend and Green Du Jour reader, Jason, that I was trying to figure out how to talk about having a greener period but didn't know quite how to start, what title to go with, how to talk about the sitch. He proceeded to get squeamish at the thought so Jason, you can avert your eyes now *smile*

For those who are still with me, let's get down and dirty and to the point! I read somewhere that over 6 million tampons and over 13 billion sanitary pads (along with their packaging) end up in U.S landfills or sewers each year! That's pretty insane and to think I contribute to that pile. But no fear, ladies, because we have alternatives.

A few years ago my best friend, Karen, told me she visited a commune in Northern California where there was no waste. I thought about how cool that was then paused. "Well, what about the women and their periods?" That's when I found out about the menstrual cups like the Diva Cup. This palm sized cup is made of hypo-allergenic/ silicone and costs around $30 or so. These babies have been around since the 1930's, are economic, reusable, and environmentally friendly.

There is also The Keeper, made from natural gum rubber that can last up to 10 years if car. They also offer a silicone version called The Moon Cup. I have yet to try the cups but many women swear by them so I may have to see.


Not sure you want to jump right into the cup usage? Not to worry. You can always use Lunapads which are washable pads and are too cute! And look! Kitty! They also make padded panties. A money saver and stylish. I know you may be wondering about what to do about changing when you're not at home. Well, they come with a free nylon carrying purse for ladies on the go and I will leave it at that.

But ladies, if you are going to buy tampons or pads, make sure they are organic cotton , chlorine bleach-free, chem-free, and sans applicator. You can readily find these at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, or similar stores.

Eco-periods mean not cramping landfills, and extra money in your pocket. Ain't no shame in that!

Billy the Kid

So I was walking over to the vegan restaurant today @ lunch and noticed a GOAT in the backseat of a parked KIA. Naturally it made my day! Thank goodness I had my camera on me to capture this splendid feat of randomness. I was thinking about how I could incorporate Billy the Kid over here into my GreenDuJo then bingo! I remembered the Goat Finder! Rent or own your own goat as an alternative to lawnmowers, weed-whackers, and pesticide weed killers! Put them on your grass and they will go to town! They'll eat everything, even poison ivy. They are herbicide/pesticide-free and that way you are less likely to be exposed to cancer-linked carcinogens. Goats are also quieter than loud lawnmowers. And they are cute! It may be a bit extreme for city-folk like me but it's a thought, right?


More lawn tips to come. For now, enjoy the goat!

Be Green, Eat Better!

Along with being stricter with my shopping habits I'm excited to get back to being stricter with my diet! Think about it. Many processed foods and ready made meals come in so much packaging whether it be plastic, paper, Styrofoam, glass, etc. These foods are often wrought with preservatives, additives, salt/sodium, refined sugars, fats, and the list goes on. Plus, consider how much energy is going into processing these processed foods.

Cutting back on processed and packaged foods means less sodas and sugary juices, less boxed instant sodium-filled foods, less junk foods, less starches and bad carbs, and more fresh fruits and veggies, foods whose ingredients you can control by using sea salt, fresh herbs, grains, etc.

It's great because I am taking the time to prepare my own meals, experiment with recipes, and having fun making things from scratch. More time getting creative when I get home rather than wasting away in front of the TV (which means more time for it to remain unplugged!). And if I wanted to cut down my energy use even more, I make raw meals like salads and enjoy fruit as a dessert! Then I can sit at my dining table with my deelish dinner and catch up on my reading of the latest GOOD magazine I got in the mail!

So start small and think about your next grocery list. What can you cut back on? What fresh foods can you throw into the mix? How can you get creative with radishes? (I just bought a bunch and have no idea how to prepare them yet).

Less packaging! Less processed foods! Less weight! (Healthy, of course)


[Photo from healthline.com]

Eating Out: B.Y.O.C

Eating out is fun but when you've had your fill and there's still a good amount of food left on your plate, the take-out packaging will be hard to swallow and stomach. Usually restaurants use Styrofoam packaging or something else that isn't great for landfills for your doggy-bag so why not try getting into the habit of bringing your own container with you? I try to be good and bring one along when I know I am going out to a restaurant. Or I try to keep a secret stash in my car if I dine out last minute. Your waiter may be taken aback but will hopefully appreciate the gesture. Plus, other patrons may see what you're doing and bring their own container the next time they dine out. Teach by example, I say!

(photo from tupperware.com)

adventures in grocery shopping

Grocery shopping is quite an ordeal for me. Not only do I like to thoroughly scope out every aisle for things I need but once I start making my way towards the store with my reusable bags in tow, I start to calculate how must more I can reduce my packaging consumption that trip. As you know, I've given up the produce bags because I find them ridiculous (although, I know the checkers find ME ridiculous). But I've been trying to up the ante by considering what type of packaging my potential food choice uses, if it is really necessary for me to have (find a non-packaged alternative), and if I do need packaging, is it readily recyclable/reusable?

I don't buy cookies or chips or candy so I'm good in that department. But what about my oh-so-convenient Lean Cuisines and its store-brand copy-cats? It's been really hard for me to let those go because they are so cheap and easy! But I am proud to say that I said 'nay' to them, just cold turkey, because since I've been monitoring my trash (even at work), I find myself tossing that black tray. So no more Lean Cuisines. My alternative for this week? Veggie sandwiches. I'm clear in the packaging front with veggies because I grab from the bulk bins and reach for unpackaged veggies in the produce section. But I faltered a bit in the bread department. Plastic!

It was annoying and moment like this I yearn for boulangeries so I can get my fresh baked bread from Mme. and slip it into my canvas bag. Sigh, indeed. But I figured I can just buy the packaged bread and reuse the bag for my next visit when I want to buy snowpeas! Yes, every trip I stare at the snowpeas, wanting to buy them to add into my delicious meals but knowing it would be a 'mess' at the checker because I forget to bring a smaller reusable plastic bag. So note to self: redeem myself by reusing that bread bag.

Faltered in the dairy department, too. Needed cream cheese to spread in my sandwiches and veggie cheese slices. I can easily reuse the cream cheese container as Tupperware. It's a "#5" plastic so a tough one to recycle. (Yes, don't get me started on the plastic types. You can definitely find me flipping over plastic containers to check for their number and hope for #1 or #2 plastics since they are readily accepted in curbside recycling programs). The plastic film on my veggie cheese slices, though, are a lost cause and will be noted in my personal trash monitoring.

Other purchases:

• cans of soup (I can recycle the cans)
• tofu (in #2 plastic -- readily recyclable)
  
• fake chicken nuggets and fake ground beef for my tacos (#7 plastic -- cringe -- but recyclable paper packaging)
• flour tortillas (I know, I know. Will have to visit a local tortilleria with my own packaging)
• pasta sauce (reusable & recyclable jar)

Did not do too bad for myself but definitely room for improvement.

My Company is a Closet Green Freak

Of all the days to leave my camera at home! I really wished I had my digi cam on me because I had 2 green-related moments (and maybe more) that brought a smile to my face.

Ok, so my company is moving to a new office and it's been refreshing to hear people pipe up in staff meetings asking how green our new office build-out is, demanding we have legit recycling, and the like. If time permitted I wish I convinced the overseers of the project to contact a green contractor of sorts to make sure everything from paint to carpeting to equipment to lighting was going to be eco-friendly. I have not gotten any official reports on how green things are going to be but during our little field trip over to the new space to check out the progress I noticed little stickers on some newly installed wood panels. Little FSC stickers were everywhere! FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council, a non-profit organization dealing with responsible forest management. You can read more about it on their site (linked here). That is one way we are being official about our green-ness. Now to shake them down to give me the details about our paint, for starters...


Next smile-worthy moment? My boss' shoes. As we all filed out into the parking I looked down and noticed that the CEO was not sporting his usual patent-business-casual-esque-shoes but was sporting some Keen Footwear. Keen shoes are amazing sustainable shoes with sustainable packaging and are just overall amazing! If I noticed correctly, my boss was wearing the Ventura shoe which are 100% Vegan. His wife worked with Live Earth and picked him up a pair from the event. He rocked them well!



Very excited for the new office and since we are starting fresh in a new space I've got some plans to wean my office off waste. More on my master plan later...

Bye Bye Bunny Ears

Yeah, I sport the bunny ears! But alas, come 2009 I will have to part from my babies because the powers that be are phasing out analog TV's and digital is taking over the scene! You can find out more about the switcharoo and converter boxes here

Thinking about moving on completely and getting yourself a fancy schmancy flat screen / digital TV? Be sure not to leave your old TV out in the cold or down in the dumps (literally!). Billions of pounds of e-waste like computers, televisions, VCRs and walkmen (you remember those, right?), cell phones, and printers are sent out to pasture. This creates a significant burden on landfills because the toxins leach into the soil and our groundwater. E-waste recycling also harvests resources like the glass, copper, plastic, and aluminum. I happened to catch a news segment last night about how facilities make beaucoup profit from harvesting the copper from old TVs AND that they even harvest gold in the materials! I think I heard them correctly and if so then that is pretty insane! The really mean it when they say "one man's trash in another man's treasure" don't they?

Properly dispose your electronics through e-waste programs and facilities in your cities. You can Google "e-waste recycling" and find sites like this that can help you track down a facility near you or you can investigate further by visiting Earth911.org for tips on how to recycle your specific electronic device. The page I link to gives a list of different companies like Apple, Dell, Samsung, etc. and their very own sponsored recycling programs. Pretty snazzy.

Wal-Mart's "Earth Month" Campaign

Ahhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh! I got the Promo Xtra email (a marketing newsletter) this morning in my work inbox, scrolled through the headlines to see what would catch my eye and saw the headline: Wal-Mart Goes Green with Earth Month Campaign


I had heard a bit about this but finally had time to digest it so I clicked on the accompanying article and started to have many mixed emotions about it. Main emotion? Aggravation.


Here's the jist: Wal-Mart has this month-long campaign this April (Earth Month) as part of its push to show their shoppers that dear ol' Wal -Mart cares about the environment and that shopping green can be affordable, too! As we all know, we normally have to pay slightly more for eco-products so Wal-Mart is doing a good thing, right?


The article goes on to say that they will be showcasing more than 50 green products in their stores (otherwise known as a cross-promotion of sorts for corporations) ranging from Ultra Tide's cold water detergent, Coca-Cola with their branded t-shirts made out of recycled plastic bottles, and will be offering Fair Trade organic products in order to offer income to small scale farmers. They will also be giving away 1 million custom made reusable bags on April 19th -- Earth Day eve -- which, by the by, I believe they should go a step further and ban plastic bags altogether!!

Wal-Mart's Earth Month Campaign. Sounds noble of them, right? But this all just doesn't rub me the right way!



I proceeded to IM my sister (who happens to work for a fair trade supporting non-profit org) and we both vented about this and agree that we are both on the fence about this whole thing.

Pros? Yes, Wal-Mart (a store we loathe with every fiber of our body) is making lower-income people not feel left out of the eco-loop by having them be able to purchase eco-friendly products at a low price. But it's still Wal-Mart! And this is all just some ploy to gloss over their evils!

Let's start off with the Tide coldwater detergent. Correct me if I am wrong but I have a hunch that is is NOT biodegradable so although it may help conserve energy it is still wrought full of harmful chemicals. (Just did a quick little dig on the product and people seem to have the same sentiments about its non-eco friendly ingredients).

How about the Coca-Cola t-shirts made with recycled plastic bottles? Nifty idea but...how about Coca-Cola's tie to human rights violations in Colombia? Abuse and murder, anyone?

Great, Wal-Mart wants to carry fair trade organic items in their stores to provide decent wages/income to small scale farmers but how about them not treating their own employees well enough?

So yeah, I dunno. I mean, I don't even like Wal-Mart anyway but should I just turn the other way and applaud them for their efforts even though I know it's all this sham? Plagues my mind...

Thoughts on this greenwashing?

Just Press No!

Rising gas prices making you cringe at the pump? I can't even watch the numbers tick away when I'm filling up anymore!

Next time you're at the pump just press NO when the machine asks if you want your receipt. You're going to crumple it up anyway once you get back into your car or forget about it when it's crammed in your wallet.

But if you encounter the inevitable receipt from restaurants or grocery stores be sure to reuse it as scrap paper and/or recycle it the first chance you get (after you shred the evidence, of course). Some merchants may use soy ink on their receipts. If so, you can toss that baby into the compost bin! And if you can, refuse the receipt altogether just like you refuse plastic bags at the store!