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