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.