Green Genius

So, I use plastic bags.

I try to remember my shopping bags, of course. I'm talking here about trash bags. The big plastic bags I put my food scraps and wrappers and all of the other stuff - a lot of it plastic - into so that it can leave my home.

How does this make sense? PLastic sticks around forever, right? Why am I using it?

Well, I've started buying Green Genius trash bags. They are supposed to be biodegradable, which is better. They may not be as strong, but we don't usually lug our bags that far, so I don't think it will be a problem. And it's worth it if they work. There are other brands of biodegradable trash bags and also food storage zip locs and such, out there. They are hard to find because Hefty and Glad take up most of the shelf space for some reason. Take a look and see what you can find.

Tapped - bottled water is bad

I just watched Tapped, a documentary about bottled water.

If you aren't sure just how evil bottled water is, take a look. My pulse is still racing.

It's A "Return!"

OK, so I've been away for a long, long time. I guess I got carried away with life.

But the environment continues to be a concern for me. I still get wound up about it, especially when I see people doing things I believe are harmful, but that they probably don't think twice about.

So... here I am. I will give it my best. I will use this as a kind of a catalog of actions, products, films, etc. If anyone wants to stick with me, I am always looking for feedback or encouragement or ideas... read a book? Did you catch me doing something harmful? Let me know.

For now, I'm working on two big things: No bottled water, no beef. OK, then less beef. But no more small bottles of soda at the grocery store. I'm really going to make an effort there.

Baking Soda, not Comet

I don't buy cleaners the way I used to. Which means that I don't clean the way I used to. This has become a Big Deal because I recently stopped the maid service, and now the only one cleaning the house is me.

I've been using more natural products, or those that contain fewer chemicals. I use a lot of Seventh Generation products, but I also use a lot of white vinegar, and a lot of baking soda.

Yesterday I realized that the kitchen sink needed scrubbing. We have this big, white sink, and it was stained with food and coffee and gray streaks left by pots and pans. In the past, I would generously sprinkle it with Comet and scrub.

You know Comet, right? It makes your feet turn green, it smells like gasoline? Ah, the sings of childhood stay with me forever. But seriously, Comet smells toxic. And it is, really. It's poison. If you eat it, you die.

Well, I sprinkled baking soda in the sink and scrubbed, and the stains washed away just as easily as with the green stuff. This is something I cook with, so it can't be as awful as the poison powder. And I can buy it by the huge boxfull.

By the way, vinegar works in the toilet, as long as you have a toilet brush. Sure, the disposable ones look more hygienic, and the commercials make them look so easy and convenient, but think of all the waste.

Another Chance Gone By

I went on a trip.

No matter where I go, travel messes me up. Water in plastic bottles, fast food... whatever. I can't help myself. I end up wasting more and making more waste.

What's more, I left my kids at home with people (my husband and his mother) who I know care very little for the environment, or at least have no faith in the measures I take to keep it safe. In fact, I seriously (no joke now) feel that they do their very best to do the opposite of everything I do, just to show me how little difference what I do makes. Paper plates, fast food all the time, meat at every meal, TV on all the time, even when no one is there. Keeping lights on all the time. Running the dryer when the sun in out, ignoring not only the compost bin but the recycle bin (how hard is that one? Seriously you have to think and try hard to be as negligent as I think they are sometimes...)

Anyway, I'm back.

And maybe I wasn't as great as I thought I would be, but at least I now know where my weaknesses are. Mainly in fast food and trash. And TV. But I have this to work on right? Next time I'll be better.

Green Hypocrite

I read this article on Yahoo the other day.

It really hit home for me because I am afraid of being a green hypocrite. I know I turn up my nose at bottled water and raise my eyebrows at SUVs. Education is key.

Don't Laugh At Me

I get a little defensive about my actions.

When I was in high school, my brother decided to get in shape. He started doing pull ups and push ups and lifting weights. He started paying attention to what he ate. Maybe we wouldn't have teased him and given him a hard time if he hadn't also started wearing spandex shorts.

But the truth is, we resist change in those people we know. If your friend suddenly looses a lot of weight, then you suddenly have lost your excuses. If your peers can do something, then you should be able to as well, correct? If they can run a mile, you are supposed to be able to run a mile. If they can run five, then so can you. If they can quit smoking, you can, too, and you suddenly have no one to blame but yourself. See what I mean? My brother getting into shape meant that we should be able to get into shape also. We should also be able to be that active and that strong and eat that well. But we didn't want to. So we resented it.

I swear, the more I try to conserve on trash, the more my mother in law uses paper plates. The more my husband buys junk food. The more he leaves the TV on and walks out of the room.

Or maybe I'm reading into things, seeing things that have always been there in a different light. That's very possible and more than likely.

But I can't stand being challenged. I can't stand being laughed at because I buy the carrots that are not in the plastic bag. I hate being told that what I am doing isn't making a difference. Because at least I'm doing something. I'm trying to do a lot of little somethings that might eventually add up. And it's not easy. It can be kinda hard, actually. I'm looking for encouragement, but instead I'm getting laughed at.

But I know what I'm doing is right. I know it with a certainty I rarely feel. The courage of one's convictions. What I don't understand is why other people don't see it the way I do.

Zoom Zoom

We drove all over the state on our weekend vacation. Bad bad bad. But we had fun fun fun.

When are they going to make better eco-friendly cars?

An Addiction

I have been finding it hard to watch less TV. I mean to, but the urge to multitask is sometimes more than I can take. I mean, I know people who keep the TV on all the time. ALL the time. So why shouldn't I play a little solitaire while I watch TV reruns?

I couldn't figure out what it was so hard. But I've decided it's because I'm addicted. I'm addicted to television. Not just to any shows - I don't do American Idol or reality shows. I think those are dumb, and the people who watch those are either idiots or enjoy the idiotic. Which is fine for them. I guess it doesn't really matter if it's CNN or Bones, if I think I can't fold laundry without the television on, I've got a little problem.

So, what do I do? Well, knowing is half the battle, right? Next, keep trying. Keep trying until I get it right. It's not heroin, right? It's television. And everything can be recorded and watched later.

Freeze My Accounts

I'm not buying anything anymore.

This month I've purchased so much more than I usually do, mostly because I really needed clothes. But besides the dwindling bank account, we now have more things in this house than I can handle.

So... no more buying things. No more little presents. No more dollar store things. No more extra things. Just what we need. No more pens or paper or crayons. No more boxes of markers like I got yesterday at the store - what was I thinking? NO MORE!

The idea is less about finance, and more about waste and using what you have.

This is going to be harder than it looks. I know, because I've said all this before.

Teach Your Children Well

I found myself thinking about my children the other day, and how I am proud that I am teaching them to care for their earth. I hope some of it takes. After all, my mother always told us smoking was terrible, but that didn't stop my sister from picking up the habit.

Seriously, this is a long term change that must be made, so instilling these values in our young people has to be made a top priority.

Lifestyle changes - challenge

I still haven't worked up the courage to do the No Impact week yet.

But I have been thinking a lot about lifestyle changes. That's what this blog is about, really, the lifestyle changes that have to be made in order to adapt to my ideals. Ultimately, I'd like to be living my ideals, and to not have to regret a single thing I do or use all day.

Not that I sit and stew about it, but still, I wince when I throw away tons of plastic or find myself driving around for no reason.

So I'm making more changes to my lifestyle. Or at least I'm giving this a try. I am cutting back on screen time.

I use my computer all day. I have found that I'm watching clips and TV shows while I'm doing laundry, washing dishes, etc. And I'm supposed to be watching my kids, too. It's too much. Additionally, I'm raising three young boys, and I;m trying to limit their TV time, too. I should be teaching by example.

So now, no TV. Fine. TV for them in the morning while I run on the treadmill. That's about 45 minutes. And they also have an hour at night while I make dinner. That's the same hour I'll have to check my email and catch up on blogs.

And as for everything else, no more TV on at night while I write, or take a shower, or read a book or whatever. If it's on, I'm watching it. If not, it's off. No multitasking. (Unless I'm just knitting to keep my hands out of the chips.)

I figure making my life less sedentary and less dependent on energy has got to be a good thing. And it's a change of note, so I'm noting it here. I'll keep the world posted.

Feeling Down

I give up. I give up. I can't do it today.

I am made of FAIL. I try my best, I do, but I am so easily overwhelmed. Today I drove dozens of miles with my three boys to buy the baby a Big Boy Bed. Something that we didn't need right away, but that I knew we eventually would need. And also I am forced to cramp myself onto the mattress of his toddler bed every once and awhile, and let me tell you, it's not just small. It's springy and uncomfortable. It was supposed to last for 1 baby, and it's 2.5 years into it's third. And I say it's done.

But at the store the boys went bonkers. I was so focused on trying to get a bed that wasn't too expensive, or ugly, but that was also practical in the space we wanted to use, not to mention the fact that all three boys were climbing all over all beds and at one point JUMPING from ONE to the OTHER, that I completely missed the fact that some mattresses were made of eco-friendly material. By the time I noticed it, I had already paid and arranged for delivery, and I think all the sales people were very happy to see us leaving, so I didn't go back.

I meant to be good. But I wasn't.

Also, I've eaten out something like, 6 times in the past week, I have decided to use chemicals in my yard, and I have driven my car a ridiculous number of miles. I am tired of this being a fight. I just want to give up for awhile, put my name on the "Good Person" document and move on with my life, without worrying that my next cup of overpriced coffee is chemically grown by slave children and served in a plastic cup that will outlive the human race. WHY IS THIS SO HARD?

What to keep, what to not keep

I want to make less trash.

So I'm not throwing away as much stuff as I used to. If there's anything I think I might be able to use for something else, I keep it.

Now I have small piles of twist ties, rubber bands, stacks of papers, plastic bags.... Not to mention that I have a closet full of clothing too small for the boys or for myself. And baby items I'm sure we'll never need again. When does not throwing stuff away become a sign of hoarding?

Time vs. Effort

Today I cut back the bushes in front of my house.

When it comes to my yard, I'm never sure when less is more. I suppose mowing a little less of the backyard would be a good thing. But taking care of the plants and trees we've got, that might actually be a positive thing, right? I mean, I really don't see what is going to be hurt by getting rid of the poison ivy.

I've been putting off taking care of the back yard because I don't have the time. I have three boys. I have a family. I have a home falling apart on the inside, and I have to make dinner. Who has time to pull the weeds out of the bushes in the front?

The thing is, I felt the same way when I first decided to hang clothes out on a line. I felt the same way when I decided to use canvas shopping bags. "I'll never remember!" I thought. And when I started working out, and when I started making dinner for my family. Each new step I take that will make my life better, life better for my family, I resist at first. I will have to remember to do it. Then I will have to take the time to do it. Then I will have to make the effort to do it. Gosh, it's so much, I'm tired thinking about it and I'm not even talking about anything in particular.

Anyway, I've decided to start taking the time to work in my yard more. I am going to extend the life of everything I have out there. I'm going to plant new things were there are blank spaces. But I'm keeping it easy. I really want to keep it easy and not... perfect. I want things to look like they just happened.

Getting Greener

Everywhere I look, I notice little signs advertising green products. McDonald's. The Disney Store. The grocery store now carries recycled trash bags. Sometimes I smile and relax little, thinking that maybe, just maybe, things will be OK. Maybe it's not the end of the world, and that we can save ourselves.

But then... I do not trust companies. A company is run by a group of people who don't want to lose their jobs, who want to make money, and who think they can each deflect responsibility. I wouldn't put it past a company to advertise something as green when it is not. They are trying to make a buck. It's organic produce wrapped in plastic. Yes, the Disney Store might sell organic t-shirts. Before you get all warm and fuzzy about the company, remember that they still sell all of the plastic toys and stuffed animals which will never ever go away.

Impossible

I got the curriculum for the "No Impact" people the other day.

Actually, I might have gotten it awhile ago, but I used an alternative email to sign up, and then forgot to check it for awhile. But anyway...

I'm scared.

It's not the trash thing that scares me. I'm a little nervous about the food thing, because eating only local food... that leaves tomatoes and yogurt? Seriously, that's going to be tough.

But the part that really freaks me out is the transportation. "Most car trips are under 2 miles away!" the instructions declare. But I have to tell you, where I am, nothing is under 2 miles away. Nothing. Nothing is under 4 miles away. Can you imagine me trying to get the kids to walk 4 miles to school? We'd never get back. I can't even get my kids to walk around at the mall.

So it's a leap of faith. I need to really take stock of where we go, and what we need to get there. And if walking with the kids isn't an option right now, maybe it can be in the future, when they are a little older. I don't need to do everything right all at once. I can get a bike and just do a few trips once the kids start school.

Fuel

I recently saw a documentary called Fuel.

Have you seen this? Apparently it's not new, just new to me.

Watching things like this bother me. I start watching and the film starts parading out facts and I want to say "I know I know, but what do I DO about it?" The film definitely has an agenda, and critics can be harsh. But still, it has it's points. We are running out of oil. We use it for everything. The oil companies pay off our politicians. We go to war for it. And we turn away from all other options. We're killing ourselves, painting ourselves into a corner.

And what can we do? It's so easy to say "yes, but I hate thinking about it. I'm going to buy myself a bottle of water and then take a drive in my SUV to keep my mind off it for awhile."

If nothing else, it made me think about getting a diesel car next time around.

Farm Stand - Eggs

I went to the farm stand!

I've been planning to do this all summer, but somehow I kept putting it off. I mean, it's in our town, but I don't ever just drive by it. It's next to a park I sometimes take the kids to, but the park tends to amplify the temperature, and it's been hot. So we haven't gone.

But today I finally went. I didn't need corn (although I shall make more of an effort to buy it there going forward), but I got beans and a cucumber (a small one Andy asked for in a very sweet voice.) And since they had a sign that said they sold farm fresh eggs for $3 a dozen, I got some.

Eggs have been an issue for me. I would like to buy some reasonable priced, organic, free-range eggs. But our grocery store only sells one kind like this. Oh, there are tons of organic eggs, presumably born of chickens fed organic feed while trapped in itty bitty cages. And there are free range eggs, born of chickens running free and being fed chemicals and antibiotics enough to keep a horse healthy. My eggs cost $4.69 a dozen. Sheesh.

Anyway, I got these eggs, and I took them home and I cooked them up... and they look just like regular eggs. I have heard that farm fresh eggs are supposed to be Sooooo good, supposed to look different, taste different... but these weren't. Which leads me to believe that either accounts of farm fresh eggs have been exaggerated or that we were sold regular eggs and told they were farm fresh. Hmmm....

Art: Food For Thought

Here's a fun site to look at. And think about. Running The Numbers.

With my luck this guys been all over and I'm just finding out about him now, right?

No Trash - challenge

I saw an article on Yahoo about this couple who refused to produce any trash for a year. This is their blog.

Think about this for a moment. No trash. That means no throwing anything away. Everything must be recycled, composted, or reused in a creative way. You would have to grow your own food, preserve your own food, make your own gifts - I mean, everything comes wrapped in plastic.

I think this is cool. I wish I could do this. I wish I had the guts to. And I suppose I've already started taking smaller steps toward meeting this goal. I think if everyone gave this a try, the world would be a cleaner place, a better place.

But it does kind of get me started thinking about the folks in charge. Why is there still styrofoam? Why do people still use paper plates on a regular basis? Why is it that the simplest toy needs to come in three times its weight of plastic? Why now, when we know what we know, are people so stupid.

And yes, I'll say it, it's stupid. If it's a business decision, it's stupid. If it's a money issue, it's greed. If it's a time saving or labor saving issue, it's laziness. This is where my rage takes over, and my disgust at people refusing to take any personal responsibility comes out.

So here's the challenge - less trash. I'm not naive. I know I'll end up producing some trash. But I can really try to cut back.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!

Last year I planted tomato seeds, and we got three tomatoes from sixteen plants. None of them were ripe before the first frost.

This year I tried planting them a little earlier. And guess what? We have tomatoes! In fact, four or five of the plants have little green tomatoes on them. I am stupidly thrilled!

Actually, the little veggie patch was a success, unless you count the beans, which never sprouted. We have carrots! Little ones, but you know... And peas! Thanks to Nick's RE teachers. Only three plants, which have given us about five pods so far. But that's plenty to add to an Indian Chicken Tikka.

I'm loving this. This afternoon, before it started raining, I was out watering the plants (of course) and I actually found myself wishing I had planted a few other things. Blueberries. Blackberries. Mint. Onions - do onions grow here? Cucumbers, or maybe peppers? We don't even eat peppers. But the way things are going, I might consider planting zucchini.

Clothing

I need new clothes.

Part of going green, for me, is buying fewer things new. So I've been checking out Goodwill, the Salvation Army, any second hand shops I know. And sometimes I find small, inexpensive items. But never quite what I'm looking for.

I don't have the time to scour the racks. I can't even manage to buy clothing on sale. How am I supposed to do this? I can't go on the way I am. My pants are falling off and most of my shirts are stained. It's OK for around the house, but I feel like such a slob when I leave.

fewer square feet

I think our house is too big.

I grew up in a big house, one with lots of rooms and lots of space. I like the idea of having too much space. Room to grow and spread out.

But once a week I try to clean the house we live in. And I change my mind.

Besides the fact that we have too much stuff cluttering up the space, we have too many rooms. I am actually glad when I come to a room we haven't spent time in all week, and that's sad. That's wasted space.

Also, the bigger the space, the more there is to heat or cool. Each square foot is a square foot taken from nature.

But how small can you go before you start feeling cramped? Why do we feel the need to spread out so much?

Dinosaurs To The Rescue

We got this book at the library.

The boys love it.

Part of caring for the planet is teaching children to respect and care for our planet, because that way our knowledge and our actions can become sustainable themselves. I am proud, reading through this book, knowing that we already do most of the things suggested - recycling, saving water, reusing items instead of throwing them away.

Food Trash - challenge

This morning I accidentally placed an entire bowl of dry cereal in the sink.

I don't usually do this, as we have no disposal in the sink. I usually throw food out in the trash first. But the incident made me take a look at just how much food we were throwing away.

For everything thrown away, there is a bigger footprint. Each plastic bag that held a loaf of bread left behind waste from being made, packaged, and transported to the bread factory. So when you end up throwing away the actual bread... it's waste for waste's sake.

So my new challenge, for myself, is to throw away less food. Yes, we have a compost, but it would be better if the food were put to it's rightful purpose. So from now on... smaller servings. If I'm wondering if I should make one or two packages of chicken, I'll make one. One or two cups of rice? One. Better we eat it all and then fill up on crackers than keep throwing away good food.

Not only will this help the planet, but it should also have a good and healthy effect on both our waistlines and out pocketbooks. Go Me!

Why we recycle

Nature - it's all around me

I like to think I'm a supporter of nature. Nature is supposed to be beautiful and wonderful and awe inspiring. And one of the motivating factors in my choice to become more Earth Friendly is Nature. And my wish to reduce my impact on Nature.

In other words, to not make a big huge mess that the beings I share my planet with then must live with or die from.

But I have to be honest with you. All I have to do is glimpse a small furry tail in a non-zoo setting and the scream that comes out of me isn't preventable. I just shriek, like a girl. Like a screaming.... screamy thing. I don't even know I'm going to do it, I just do.

It's got to be some sort of reflex. I mean, a built in reflex to warn off and frighten all furry creatures - stay away! Stay away! Like skunks scenting and lizards losing their tails.

Fill 'er Up!

Ozone

I just read this little yahoo bit about the ozone.

When I was a kid, being responsible to the environment meant picking up your trash and not using hairspray with chlorofluorocarbons. Because the chlorofluorocarbons dug away at the hole on the ozone and made it BIGGER!

I hadn't really heard about the hole in the ozone for awhile. I guess people talk about other things these days, like preserving wildlife and air pollution and recycling vs. organic farming vs. energy use. Our oil based lifestyle can be pretty distracting.

But really, it's all part of the same thing. It is an intricate thing, this planet and the life that lives on it. And we depend on it. Some people argue that we are not the cause of certain changes, that global warming is a myth, that climate change is a natural occurrence, that we aren't sure. But I think we owe it to every living thing to change our ways, just in case. Even if it means we won't make as much money, or might have to give up a few minor conveniences.

Need Suggestions

I need a really good vegetarian cookbook or website. If you have any ideas, please let me know.

Power Grid

We have incorporated destroying our planet into our way of life. We do it in such a way that we don't have to look. Like hamburger on our plate, we give no thought to where it came from.

We all do it. We all get up in the morning, and take for granted the hot water rushing into our homes. We don't think about the chickens, when we cook our eggs in the morning, or the oil or gas or electricity we use to cook them.

Having these things to make our lives easier is not a necessity, but a privilege. We need to learn about them and the effects on the planet. We need to be responsible. With Power Comes Responsibility.

Produce Challenge

So I took a deep breath and registered at the No Impact Site, so that I might take part in one of their week-long experiments, and guess what? I got an out-of-office email from the person responsible, telling me she was on vacation. Hmmm. Oh, well. Maybe something will happen when she comes back?

In the meantime, I'm taking on a produce challenge. To date, I still buy the bulk of my fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. I try to buy organic, but I know I'd be better off supporting the local farmers around here. So...

I'm sure there are Farmer's Markets around here, but I don't know when or where they occur. I am going to look that up. There are a couple of farm stands, but my favorite one is closed until the end of August. (What is up with that?) The other one sells eggs, though. Farm fresh. Cool, huh?

This is going to up our food spending, I know. And I'm going to be frustrated because I will be at the mercy of whatever they happen to have.

Report Card

Someone who has always needed positive feedback, I sometimes wish I could get someone to step into my life and tell me how I'm doing. I crave confirmation that the steps I am taking are actually good ones, that the effort I am making is actually worth it.

Lifestyle changes are always met with skepticism and resistance. First of all, I have to convince myself that talking the step is necessary and possible. "I CAN use recycled toilet paper!" Then I have to muster up the energy to make the change, something that is actually hard to do, especially since the change will probably be uncomfortable and more expensive. All the while, this will be met with resistance from family members, who will complain about the new toilet paper - after all, THEY don't want to change. And other people will make fun and make comments. "Do you think it makes a difference?" "But this other stuff is so much softer!"

And even after I am used to the change, after it has been made and has become part of my new lifestyle, I am acutely aware that it is not The Norm. That most people use other kids of toilet paper. The softer, bleached, worse for the Earth kind. The kind advertised on TV that take up most of the supermarket aisle.

So, am I doing something good, or am I simply making choices that separate me from the rest of society?

It's hard to know. There are so many differing opinions about what is helpful and what is good, particularly when products are taken into account. Do chemicals in soaps matter? Why is all the organic produce wrapped in plastic?

I need a mentor. I need a report card.

Out Of Control

Another Stupid Apology

I have been neglecting this blog AGAIN!

I've spent some time reflecting on why I have trouble posting here on a regular basis. It's not that I don't have time or that I can't be relied on. I have another blog to which I post almost daily, so this really shouldn't be an issue.

The difference is content. Day after day I try to come up with something worthy that I have done, that I have thought up, which I might report to the world. But more often than not, all I can come up with is my sins. I have a mental list of "bad things" that I did - I took a trip in my car that wasn't necessary. I let the shower run to get warm while I flossed my teeth. I used comet in the downstairs toilet, bleach in my wash, and I mowed my lawn - a whopping 4 acres of fast growing grass.

Posting here came to a halt when I went on vacation with my family and ignored all my usual rules. We drove everywhere, I stopped recycling, and I bought and purchased non-organic goods. We ate out a lot.

But I'm going to get back on this horse. I'm picking myself up, brushing off my dusty bottom, and starting again. Even though I want to give up. I'm going to see this thing through. Wish me luck.

Trip To The Beach

Planning on visiting the beach this summer?

You should take a look at this.

Smokin'

Just another reason to quit, right?

Organic Moo

I have taken to buying organic milk.

Even when I'm buying a half gallon, it's more expensive. And my husband rolls his eyes and isn't entirely on board. My kids claim it tastes different.

But this milk is from local farms. While even the generic store brand claims they give their cows no artificial growth hormones, the organic milk also uses no antibiotics and no pesticides in the feed.

Not to mention that the organic milk comes in cartons as opposed to plastic containers.

So it's better, right? Or am I just buying into an illusion? I really don't know.

Born Toxic

When I was pregnant I remember reading the list of things I was not supposed to eat. Alcohol. Soft cheeses. Some fish because of mercury. Lunch meats because of nitrates. Between what I couldn't stomach and what I couldn't have I was left with a diet of white bread.

Last week I read This Article about toxins, chemicals, entering the womb and effecting infants before they even take their first breath. It's part of a TV report by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Toxic America, which aired last week and which I didn't see. But the article really made an impression.

I'll be honest with you, I cried.

You know those nightmares where something terrible is happening, and you stand there, screaming, waving your arms, trying to get all the people around you to SEE, and the smile at you and just walk on by?

That's what I feel like, right now.

Check this out if you're interested in what contains Toxins.

Veggie Matic

Here's a Challenge: Eat less meat.

Specifically, less beef. Pay attention to how many times a week you eat beef. Replace ground beef with ground turkey or chicken. Try a few meatless meals, like a risotto or a pasta. A chili with beans.

It's the production of beef, the waste it produces, the horrible living conditions of the cows, the fuel burned in the transportation of the actual meat... not to mention the fact that beef is fed a diet heavy in antibiotics to counteract the bacteria..... just read Food Inc. I'm not going to go into it any deeper here. But I believe it's true. I think the industry is corrupt and the result unhealthy. And yet I still enjoy a good steak or a burger. (it took awhile after Food Inc. though)

But for the sake of the planet and the sake of my health, I've cut down on red meat. Twice a week is we're lucky. And one night a week is no meat at all. Every little bit counts.

Making It Personal

Here's a fun little link from one of my Facebook friends. I plotted it to see what it would look like if the spill took place in NY, but by all means, feel free to use whatever location you wish.

Veggie Fail

Last night I made tuna salad as a meatless dinner.

I knew what I was doing, I just ran out of options. I think I'm just tired of working so hard and struggling to prepare foods I'm not used to handling, jut to have my family not eat it. I mean, do you KNOW how much eggplant parm I had last week?

Of course, my kids hate tuna and my husband refuses to eat mayo, so I was the only one who ate the tuna. But at least it was easy to make.

Everyday Choices

When I was a kid, I remember watching a television ad for plastics.

I had heard people talking about how plastic was no good. How it was "around forever" even when it was broken and not being used anymore. But this ad mentioned helmets and medical devices... things that helped people.

These days there is a lot of talk about oil. We drill all over the place, we spill it all over the ocean. We want to blame someone, to point the finger, but the truth is oil is messy and dangerous and we use it for almost everything. We use it for gas. We use it for plastics in everything from toys to balloons to clothing. We use it for cosmetics.

I use these things, too. But I also believe that 1) we use too much and 2) we should find alternatives. If we don't, we're going to drown ourselves in it, and take a good deal of life down with us.

The Ultimate Challenge

Here's a REAL challenge.

A one week Carbon Cleanse. The No Impact Experiment.

To be perfectly up front, I haven't dome this yet. I'm terrified to. I don't think I can. And to get the rules, the day by day steps, I need to register for it. Somehow, that makes it more official. And, to be honest, I don't want to fail. That would be so embarrassing.

But I plan in working up the courage to. Soon. Maybe this summer.

What DO you do?

Spending Time

Each time I go to the grocery store, I end up staring at a wall of products in the whole foods section, and make a vow to do more research when I get home. I mean, how can I tell by looking which shampoo is best for the environment? And if I hate the scent it comes in, is a different bottle of the same brand just as safe? Or which breakfast cereal is least harmful? And healthy? And something that does not taste like the pellets for the wood stove?

There are some things I am pretty confident about (yogurt, bread) and others that set my head spinning. For example, there are Organic eggs, and Cage Free eggs, but it's almost impossible to locate the Organic Cage Free eggs - the one that is both.

The thing is, I rarely sit down with my computer and do my research. When I do, the terms seem so complicated and the ingredients so baffling, that I start to feel ill and need to walk away. I mean, I don't know what's in my shampoo. Do you?

Eggplant Parmesan

Wednesday's dinner is meatless. This is environmentally sound, as meat production and distribution creates pollution. I also believe it to be quite healthy, if it means we're eating more vegetables.

But finding meals I think the family will eat is tough.

I ran across this one in my stash of recipes to try. It was passed along to me because it is rumored to bring on labor in pregnant women. I was pregnant at the time. With my oldest son. Who will be six in three days. So you can see it's been sitting there for awhile.

Eggplant Parmigiana Alla Scalini's

It took awhile to make, honestly. I used all organic ingredients, except a few of the spices, which I already had, and the mozzarella. I'm not sure I cooked the eggplant enough. And then none of my kids would eat it. Or touch it. I didn't even tell them it was eggplant, but they glared at me and said they hated it before they even picked up a spoon. When my husband told them it was chicken, my four-year-old told me it was good, but he couldn't eat it because of the bones.

So... it's not vegan. It's vegetarian. And it's worth a try.

ABC's 123's and the 3 R's.

Last week I was surfing the web looking for "Summer Homework" ideas for my kids, and I just happened to notice that Scholastic has a "Green Living" section for parents on their website.

Green is in. It's very in. Everybody's doing it. But like all fads, it's subject to change. I'm afraid that at some point someone or some corporation will dangle something shiny on the other side, and we'll turn our heads, forgetting how we wanted Green only moments before.

I would like to instill in my children a need to care for this Earth and all living creatures on it. But I know that, even though they may see me use reusable grocery bags, they also see many who do not. While they may see me use green cleaning products, they also hear people say I'm a fool for doing so. While I might speak about buying less and making do with less stuff, they see the stuff they do not have. After all, do all adults live the way their parents would have liked them to? Not hardly.

Seeing this section on the scholastic website fed me a little bit of hope that maybe I can create a lasting impression.

Water Challenge

Today's challenge has two parts:

1 - buy a reusable water bottle.

2 - stop buying bottle water. Ever.

Seriously, I don't understand why people buy bottled water. Water bottles cause so much trash it's unbelievable. And it takes three times the water you're buying to make the actual bottle. Not to mention the oil and energy the bottle production takes.

If you're worried about safety, buy a filter. But at this point, I really don't think there's any excuse for it.

Here's a little more on this subject.

Car Miles - fail

I've given up on trying to reduce my car miles.

The truth is, I rarely go anywhere unless I have to. I will do almost anything to avoid having to leave the house. But sometimes you just have to. I have to take my son to school. Or pick him up. I need to go grocery shopping so we can eat. I suppose I could reduce our activities, but that just seems wrong.

So, while I won't drive around for the sake of driving, or leave my car on so I can listen to the radio while I wait for school to end, I'm not going to stress myself out wondering if I really needed to bring the kids to the pool or the library, or if we should have just stayed home.

So now I'm going to have to find some other ways to be green. Thoughts that come to mind are:

- going through my soaps / cosmetics
- finding new meatless dishes
- making a few home improvements, such are fixing the leaks around the windows and getting new insulation in certain areas. And fixing a few leaks. And checking the electric wiring in the house.

Changes

There are going to be some changes on this blog.

Again.

Or at least I'm attempting to make some changes to the format of this blog. Again.

This blog is an experiment, and I like to think of it as something alive and growing, something that can change and be what I need to to be, or what I would like it to be. But to date I find it difficult to keep posting every day. It's not like my other blog, which is about my life and my children, but about actual efforts and steps that I am making in a certain direction. When I don't post I feel guilty that I am not taking this journey or task seriously. When I do post I feel that I have nothing to say, and that my words are mostly meaningless drivel.

These new changes are made with an eye toward organization. Each day of the week is dedicated to a specific idea or area. This will make it easier for me to post. It will also make it easier for you, the reader, to read. I will include weekly challenges, like the one I did on Tuesday, small ones, for those of you who dare to accept them, and sometimes for me, because I won't have done all of them yet. I might also open a forum for vegetarian and vegan meal ideas, and those irritating links to other websites and articles and products will be easier to avoid. Or find.

I thank you for your patience, if there's anyone there still with me. My hope is that the new format will be more welcoming, less chaotc, and... you know... better.

Energy Challenge!

Energy Wise or Energy Water? Go here to see!

It turns out I produce less than the regional average of Co2 per year. And less than the national. According to the calculator. But the calculations are, of course, done with my input, and I'm not so sure I have certain things right, like the miles I put on my car or the fuel efficiency. Still, it's kind of cool.

And if you're interested in tips, there are Mini Energy Calculators, which tell you not only where you can save the earth in your home, but save money, too! Again, my problems come when I realize that I have no idea how to go about re-insulating my home, or how to fix those cracks I can see around my windows.

Finally, you can go on an Energy Diet! I think this is funny, because I've compared my journey to losing weight. It's really just small tips for each month, broken down in smaller bites to make then easier to swallow. I'm big on making changes this way, because gradual change is easier to take than sudden lifestyle upheavals.

Dish Washing Challenge

CHALLENGE: Dish Washing Liquid

I try to avoid washing dishes by hand as much as I can. But there are some things that can't be helped. Some dishes do not fit in the dishwasher. Others just shouldn't go in there. A few will not come clean or will break.

And for this, we need dish soap.

Soap is one of those funny things, green-wise. I've always thought of soap as being clean. After all, it's soap. It gets rid of dirt. But soap is actually made of chemicals and all sorts of things I can't spell or pronounce, and even if I could I have no idea what they actually are.

According to the label in my Seventh Generation Dish Liquid, "If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 25oz. petroleum-based dish liquid with one of our 25oz. plant-derived product, we could save 129,000 barrels of oil."

Now, I have no idea if this is true. I have no idea how much dish liquid out there is petroleum based. If I had more time and didn't have my kids shouting in my ear for snack right now, I might actually do some research. Or maybe I wouldn't. But that isn't going to change this challenge.

You probably have dish liquid in your house. If not, you should eat out less and stop washing your dishes with shampoo. CHECK THE LABEL. It should tell you if it is petroleum based. Now, try switching to a greener brand. I'm not talking about every soap you use, just your dish soap, here. We're starting small. Just dish soap. Try to find an eco-friendly alternative to the one you currently use.

It might not work as well, and that's OK. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. But my brand seems to work just fine. You can always try another kind. Change takes effort, but this can be done. Let me know how it works out.

Go Compost Yourself!

OK, OK, I know it's been awhile. And I promised I would get better at this particular blog and post more. Posting keeps me aware, keeps my goals top of mind, and lets me look back on occasion to see how I'm doing.

Well, life has gotten in the way. There are only so many directions one can be pulled in, and my attention got directed towards my son, his academics and T-ball, and a choir concert my choir is doing in (gulp!) five days.

But I can tell you this: not only is my vegetable garden mot growing anything, but my composter isn't working. I mean, nothing is happening in there. Except the pile of vegetable matter is growing. What can I do?

I Always Liked Him

Ah, if I were childless in the city.... I'd be like this guy.

Havoc Among Nature

I haven't been posting as often as I'm spending every moment I can outside pulling things up by their roots. Prickly weedy vines have overtaken all the lovely flowering bushes and are winding around tree branches, ready to pull them down, too. I've been out there with loppers and clippers and cloppers, cutting lives of trees short, depriving birds of nesting places, and removing bugs and worms from their natural habitats.

Nature fights back, though. My arms are scraped and scratched, I have puncture wounds from thorns as big as fencing foils, and my face hasn't bee this sunburned in years. YEARS! I suppose I've gotten out of the sunscreen habit.

Sun Chips

We bought sun chips.

I have to admit that, as of three years ago, I dismissed Sun Chips as an inferior chip. They were fake chips. Chips that kids got when their parents were health nuts. Those poor kids. Their parents wouldn't even spring for the Doritos.

But parenthood changes a girl. I resolved never to put chips or cheetos in a lunch box. Ever. But it's hard, very hard, when your kid comes home and tells you that the other kids are bringing oreos and sugared sports drinks and yogurts made with more chemicals than I use in my hair. So when someone asked for Sun Chips, I jumped at it. THIS, I could do.

And we don't get them very often, because chips are, after all, a sometimes thing. Not an every day, or even every week thing.

But we recently DID get Sun Chips again, and I was very happy to experience firsthand the new compostable chip bag they have started using. HOW GREAT IS THAT? Any other chip bag will hang around for decades, taking up space in landfills, etc. And I know, I know, it's just a little chip bag. But think about how many bags of chips you've eaten in your life. Now imagine everyone else in the world adding to that pile of your empty bags. And now imagine that more chip companies start using this new packaging that will turn into soil. There's a solution here.

So... I'm actually not sure how this composting chip bag works. But I'm waiting to see. It could really be great.

Once Upon A Time...

There were some videos...

The Story Of Stuff.

Dishwasher

Have I posted about my dishwasher before? I must have.

I read an article that said rinsing dishes off before putting them in the dishwasher wasted water. It claimed the dishwasher could take care of most food particles, and that the soap "needed something to work against."

Now, I love saving water. I shut off the water when I brush my teeth. I shut off the shower while I soap up. Seriously. Just so you know where I'm coming from.

You need to rinse the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

I have tried not rinsing them. Even if I run the dishwasher right away, the dishes are not clean. They are crusty and greasy.

Perhaps I should be worried about my dishwasher? Do others really and for true get all the food and grease off? Is it just the dishwasher I have now? And the one I had before that? And the ones my parents had? And every other dishwasher I have ever used in my life? IT'S ME, ISN'T IT?

I maintain that rinsing the dishes off quickly and scraping off the gross stuff is actually necessary, and saves water by not having to wash dishes twice when they come out still slimy. Especially if I'm using the quickest wash cycle.

And yes, for anyone who missed it, washing a full load in the dishwasher can be better than washing by hand. The article said that, too. And I like that information, so I'll keep it.

Compost Disaster #1

This morning I went out to add some stuff to the composter and found that the handy-dandy door at the bottom had been opened during the night, and dry grass and leaves were spread out all over the lawn. Well, the few feet of lawn in front of the composter. But still.

I'm disappointed because I'm afraid the composter I purchased is not going to hold up now. And also, it was my understanding that animals weren't really attracted to compost. But apparently my dog is.

I piled some big rocks in front of the little door, reasoning that it will be a while before I actually need to take any compost OUT.

Finally Composting

I started composting today.

I've been meaning to forever. My biggest problem was that I had no idea how to get started. If you look it up on the internet you get links to composters you can buy or build, and different methods involving bags or bins or worms.

I wanted something simple.

So I went to Home Depot. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I wasn't sure what to do, and I figured someone there could help me.

There were two kinds there. One had a crank. But I didn't like the idea of turning a crank as though I were starting an antique car. The other kind was basically a big, black box. Made of recycled materials. You put stuff in the top. The actual compost comes out the bottom. Cool.

The trouble is, when I put it in my cart, the sales guy said "Don't forget the starter." And he handed me a bag. Of compost starter. Which I had no clue what to do with.

See, composting should be easy. It SHOULD be just putting the stuff in the top and having the other stuff come out the bottom. But it isn't. There's balance of "browns" and "greens" and little organisms I can't see. While some people insist you have starter, others swear it's a waste of money. And the truth is, I really have no clue.

But I put together my compost bin. It started out simply enough. But these things always have their hard parts. For instance, the instructions did not use words, but drawings, which inevitably did not really correspond to the actual structure I was working with. Apparently in an effort to be more inclusive, today's manufacturers choose to use drawings and make us ALL look like morons. Particularly when you look at part F being inserted into part G with the word "click" written next to it, only when you try to insert part F into part G, it won't go in. There is no click, and instead you end up banging on it with a rock and then twisting it around in an effort to just jam it in there. Click sounds easy. It is a lie.

Anyway, I did manage to assemble the darn thing - a big, black box. And I even put in some started and some leaves, some dry grass, and some dirt. And then I topped it off with a few melon rinds and coffee grounds. And we'll have to see what happens. I'm giving it a week.

40 days and 40 nights: A Challenge

No, this isn't about the flood.

This is about the Earth. The planet you live on. The planet we share. The planet we are changing every day by small and large actions of irresponsible neglect or disregard.

I first heard about Earth day when I was in the seventh grade. I had never heard of it before, and the whole idea seemed very strange and "out there."

And now I'm an adult. And I know a lot more. And I am responsible for a lot more. And maybe because I have three small children, I have more of an eye on the future of this planet.

Earth Day is neat. I use the opportunity to try and teach my kids a little something about our effect on our environment. I usually make a trip to the grocery store so I can get a free grocery bag (they give them out on this one day each year.) And all over, a handful of responsible people do things they find good for the earth. They walk or bike to work. They turn off the lights and the TV. They take steps.

And then the next day, they wash their hands of it, and feel good about themselves. They pat themselves on the back for having done something, and go back to driving and keeping all appliances on.

My point is, if you can do something for one day, you can do it for two. If you can do it for two days, you can do it for a week. A month. A year. Yes, it might actually take effort. Yes, it might be inconvenient.

My challenge, to anyone who stumbles across it, is this: Pick one thing. One small, entirely doable thing that will help the planet. Do it for forty days. Don't drive for forty days. Keep your TV off for 40 days. Try not to use plastic bags for 40 days.Run your dishwasher only when full - just try it for a little over a month. It just might become a habit and you'll stick with it for the rest of your life. Or you might stumble back into your old ways. But 40 days is 40 times better than one.

Car Miles 4-19-10

Last week I put just under 170 miles on my car.

There doesn't seem much to do about this. I go where I need to go. On Monday of last week I was sick, so we didn't go anywhere. Monday is a heavy travel day for me. We even stayed home Tuesday.

But today alone we've already put 50 miles on the car, and the day is half done. I need to get serious about lumping trips together, even if it means hanging out somewhere with a book or taking a small walk.

One Word: Plastics

I just read an article about The Great Atlantic Plastic Patch.

A quote:

Since there is no realistic way of cleaning the oceans, advocates say the key is to keep more plastic out by raising awareness and, wherever possible, challenging a throwaway culture that uses non-biodegradable materials for disposable products.

"Our job now is to let people know that plastic ocean pollution is a global problem - it unfortunately is not confined to a single patch."

Here's food for thought for those of you who think it makes no difference if you use plastic disposable cups or plates. Or who buy items wrapped in layers of plastic. I'm out. It's time to start looking for items packaged differently. Think Sun Chips.

If You Want To Destroy My Sweater...

Putting on a sweater can help the earth.

I have turned down the heat almost ALL the way.

I know, compared to many places my home is already freezing. My parents wear their coats inside my house, even in November, before it's that cold. But it isn't really that cold. It's quite livable. Especially if you wear warm clothing.

Now that it's spring, the days are getting warmer and we're getting more sunlight. But it still gets cool in the house, especially in the morning. But instead of turning on the heat, I'm pulling on hoodies and sweat shirts. It takes a lot less energy and doesn't pollute the air.

Moo.

Being Green is very in. You don't even have to look carefully to see how companies are trying to get "green" associated with their image, if not with their actions. Cleaners are natural, packaging is compostable, energy is being spent more wisely. Hotels, airlines, even Disney, all making noise about helping the planet.

And I think that's good.

I read an article once about how we all think we are free thinkers. We all think we are making the decision to get in shape, learn French, help the planet, all on our own. But really we're more inclined to do what everyone else is doing. So if you know people that are in shape, you are more likely to be in shape. If your friends smoke, you are more likely to smoke. Likewise, if you know people who recycle, you are more likely to recycle.

Being green, helping the planet, is fashionable these days. In certain sets, at least. And I have no illusions about me coming up with these ideas and this urge to be green all on my own. But I really do think it's the right thing to do. And if the pressure to please gets large companies to do a little bit more, then so be it. I'll appreciate their efforts.

Idle Cars

I pick my son up from school in our car.

I don't have a choice, actually. The bus for kindergarten only goes one way. So I find myself lining up with fifty other cars at eleven oh something.

And I turn off my car.

There are disadvantages to this. For one thing, I can't listen to the radio. No music. And there is no heat. Or, in warmer weather, no air conditioner. And when the line starts moving again I need to restart my car, and then decide if I'm going to turn it off again while I wait the two minutes it takes to move forward or just idle.

Because leaving your car on without moving it forward needlessly spews dangerous toxins into the air and warms up our planet. I believe it does. Even if you don't think this is true, try leaving your car on idling in your garage with the door shut. You'll die. Because it's poison.

And it seems to me that you don't need fifty cars spewing poison into the air right outside OF A KINDERGARTEN. Just a thought, people.

But regardless, I've shown up to pick up my son ten, fifteen minutes early, and had the people in front of me sit with their engines on, drivers yapping on cell phones. WHY? I mean, the cost of gas alone is terrifying.

I read that it was better to turn off your car if you were going to be more than thirty seconds. So there you go. I'm going to keep on. And I'm going to try not to shoot the other mothers dirty looks. Because I want them to invite my son to their kids' birthday parties.

Meatless Meal

Last night was Meatless Wednesday.

We had a 15 bean soup, sun dried tomato and garlic risotto, and asparagus, with pumpernickel toast.

Steve ate the risotto and the soup. And Andy ate a bite of asparagus. And that's about it.

But I tried.

The Run

I run on a treadmill.

Have I mentioned this here? I might have. Because running on a treadmill bothers me. Not enough for me to stop. I mean, I love it, and I'm very glad that I have it because otherwise I would get NO running in at all.

But when the weather turns nice, I start wanting the fresh air. But I can't run outside. Because of the kids.

But when Andy starts school, I've decided I'm going running outdoors. As much as possible.

Love My Dishwasher

I have always assumed that washing dishes by hand took less energy than putting them in a dishwasher. To date, I have yet to stop using my dishwasher, but that's because I'm so used to it and also, I have other things I want to do in my life.

So the other day I read this bit from Dr. Science. It was in the 7th Generation newsletter. And it says that, if you're using an Energy Star dishwasher and it is full, you can actually save water and energy if you use it instead of washing by hand.

Cool, huh? I mean, it is if you already have a dishwasher.

What's Green?

Can it be called "Gardening" if I'm just pulling out plants?

I have a very not green yard. Which is to say, I have a huge lawn. I love the lawn. It's one of the reasons we bought this house. It's not the most lush thing. A lot of it's dry and there are bare patches. But just being a lawn supposedly is not good. I mean, it's not natural. It's man made. And it needs care - like watering (which we don't do) and mowing (which we do with a rider mower, and it takes over 2 hours.)

I guess I'm supposed to just let it grow in.

But I like having a space for my kids to run on. I like the view of the brook flooding over, and the deer and other creatures that wander through our yard.

Also, there is an awful plant that threatens to take over the world, starting with our home. It's this kind of horrible thorny brush. It grows up and winds itself around trees, pulling down branches. It snakes through the grass and reaches out and snags you as you walk by. The thorns are so sharp they punctured the tire in the rider mower.

So every year I go out and take down as many as I can. I pull out as many roots as I can. And today I started in earnest.

But am I being.... un-green?

Not that I'm planning on changing, mind you. I'm willing to push-mow my lawn eventually, but these thorny invaders Must Go.

Travel Slips

I went on a trip.

When you visit someone's home, you are kind of obligated to do what they do. I mean, my Aunt Betty does not recycle. So I am left with a choice. I can either not recycle also, and throw cans, bottles, and cereal boxes in the trash... or I can not throw them out. And create a pile that grows with my stay. And Betty can throw them in the trash when I leave. OR... I can find a place to recycle them.

Which is kind of what I did. I mean, there were certainly other things that I did not do. Like keep to an organic diet. Or turn off lights. And also, I got on four different planes. Five if you count the one that pulled away from the gate but never took off and they made us deplane and get on another plane at another gate...

I did the best I could under the incredibly stressful circumstances. Next time, I'll do a little bit better.

Rocky Soil

Some personal issues have come up, so I haven't been able to post as much as I would like to. This sort of thing does happen in life, and just as these crises or issues can keep a girl from posting, they can also keep "being green" from being top of mind.

Nevertheless, today we finally got some sun, and I worked in the yard. I scratched in the dirt and planted a few carrots. I figure this is green, right? I mean, planting your own vegetable garden reduces food miles to... well, how far is the vegetable patch from your door?

But... carrots? I mean, I live in New Hampshire. They don't call it The Granite State for nothing. The little vegetable patch in on an incline, and it is full of rocks. Last year I tried to clear it of rocks. Bad idea. Each rain washes down more soil. The rocks help keep it in place.

And as I was planting the carrots, I kept wondering how many would hit rocks in on the way down. They will have no place to grow.

So... we'll see. Maybe they will work anyway? And if not, it's just a lesson to stick to produce that grows Up.

How Long?

So here's a question: how long are things supposed to last? I may start posting surveys asking folks for their opinions on different items - like sofas, vacuum cleaners, and computers. I guess I find myself needing to replace things more often than I would like. I know, I'm cheap and lazy, but still... I don't want to be wasteful.

Car Miles and travel

There were almost 600 miles on my car this week.

See, this week we not only drove my husband down to meet up with a ride to New York, we actually drove down to join him the next day. And then drove back.

I don't always know what to do when it comes to travel. Whenever possible, I suppose, one should not travel. That's what would be best for the environment. But not traveling does not always work. We are greedy people who take distance for granted. We can work in places fifty miles from our homes. We expect to take vacations each year, many times hundreds and hundreds of miles away. And if we have family in different states or countries, they tend to get upset or disappointed if we don't see them during the holidays.

So what do we do? How do you make a choice on how to travel when you can't or aren't willing to give it up?

I make most of my decisions based on cost. We drive to New York instead of taking the train. It would cost almost $350 for our family to get to NY. And that's one way. And doesn't include the hassle of getting to and from train stations. Much less than parking for three or four nights. But taking the train is, I think, the more environmentally friendly choice.

Next week I go to Tennessee. It's much further than New York. It takes much less time to fly. This trip is a grown-up visit, so I go alone. So I'm flying. But the last two times I've taken the kids, I have driven. Yes, it's a long trip. Yes, it's two days in the car listening to kid music and stopping for small bathroom brakes and eating too much Burger King. Because the flights are about $400 each. And when you add four of those up, it costs a LOT more than gas and a motel room. Not to mention the fact that every single time I fly to Nashville I end up with a nightmare situation of flight delays and cancellations and end up with security personnel patting down my five month old while I hold him at arm's length I'm not even kidding this was two years ago and I'm still so mad UGH.

Anyway... I'm not sure which is better pollution wise - the drive to Tennessee or the flight. I mean, if everyone drove everywhere, it would have to be worse than some mass distance flying, right?

Is there a place to go to look this sort of stuff up? I'd like to get an answer, but I also don't want to be told I'm bad for visiting my relatives.

Spring Thing

I'm getting into a groove. Each day, as I move through the mundane tasks, I think - just for a moment - about what I'm doing that I wasn't doing a year ago, and what next steps I need to take.

I'm not talking about huge things here. I'm talking about putting my wet sheets on our deck to dry instead of our dryer, unplugging the coffee maker when we're done, baby steps.

With the warmer weather I have started drying my wet laundry out on the porch. I also started working in the yard. It's too early to plant anything here, because of the frost, but I can pull out the biggest weeds and I have started some tomatoes indoors.

And as I sit here, typing, I remind myself to use the computer less and to watch less TV at night.

Meatless Monday

I can't remember posting about this before. I might have.

Once a week, I make a point of cooking a meatless dinner for the family. The meat purchased at the grocery store is usually jam packed with antibiotics, mostly to counteract the e-coli and bacteria it's covered in due to the circumstances of the packing, processing, and even the living circumstances of the animals prior to slaughter. That, and the animals waste left by the farms and the fuel burned just getting the meat to the store from the slaughter house... I'm just saying that cutting back one night a week seems like the tiniest baby step we could make.

Honestly, if I lived by myself, I probably would have tried to cut meat out entirely after watching Food Inc.

But alas, I have a family of picky eaters to feed. So far they haven't flipped over anything I've made them. Actually, I've had many requests to "never make this again." High praise is when my husband says "This would go great with a steak!"

And yet I am holding fast. Sooner or later they'll get used to it, and they won't even notice when once a week becomes two or three days.... right?

Car Miles

190 miles on my car this week.

Last week was 375. I drove down to MA. to visit a friend. I drove Steve to the airport and picked him up. And I ended up making an extra trip to the church on Sunday.

But this week... this week I drove only when I HAD to. I made one extra trip to Target, but I had to go without kids, so there was no way around it. Other than that, it was just the normal everyday stuff. Most of which is in this town. And still this brings us close to 200 miles.

I guess I have a new goal. Under 200 miles in a week. How WILL I do it?

Making The Call

I have never been a politically minded person.

I believe things. I have strong views on certain things. And I try to vote accordingly. I sometimes give to charities that I feel uphold my beliefs. And yet I have never called a representative. I have never picked up the phone or protested a bill or even stood in support of one.

I think this is relevant. Because over the past few weeks, I've been asked to pick up my phone and call my representative to let him / her know where I stand on issues such as greener energy. And I have not. Which is hypocritical. Especially since I think that the actions of individuals can only take us so far. There are too many of us that opt for the easy way out. Too many of us cheat on our diets. Too many of us that use plastic bottles that we know will clutter our oceans, too many of us that go for convenience over the greater good. It's human nature. Without guidelines, this is what we do.

Especially when there are businesses out there willing to cut our throats to make a buck.

But I still haven't called. Nor do I have any immediate plans to.

I think I'm afraid to get involved. I fear being labeled a radical, or having my name added to some list of citizens to be audited and barred from travel. Or simply afraid that, if I call, I'll get ninety seven phone calls from people asking me to donate to the Firefighters of New England.

I think what I'm trying to do is to come to a place where I DO get involved and stand up for what it is I believe in.

Sponges

I found some sponges at the grocery store, from Scotch-Brite. They are supposedly made of recycled paper. I haven't tried them yet.

There are also a few other greener items - replacements for your SOS pads, your cloths, your softer sponges.

I have to admit, I hesitated. I prefer sponges with bright colored flowers, to cheer me up when I have to wash the dishes. The dull brown color of these green products actually look like the ineffective brown paper you dry your hands with in public restrooms. But I will sacrifice my pretty sponges for ugly sponges if it means helping out, even just a tiny tiny bit.

Evaluation

I've been thinking about the way I've been writing this blog. SO often I can't think of anything to say. I want to use this blog to heal measure my progress, but I find it difficult to type "I recycled my cereal boxes today, turned down the heat in the living room, and used my organic shampoo!" I mean, the first time I do each of these things, it's an event. The next ten times, not so much.

But I think there are a few things I CAN measure. I'm trying to cut down the miles we put on the car. I can post a bit more about those. And there are issues I meet every day that I might touch on - it might make for a few more touchy-feely posts.

The point is, writing here keeps this issue top-of-mind for me. And that, to me, is very important. So there.

A Nose By Any Other Name

A short while ago, I stopped buying a lot of products with fragrances.
Organic or plant based cleaners usually use baking soda, or scents like lemongrass or thyme. Shampoos and lotions use peppermint, citrus, honey, or rosemary. I've been using these for a few months now, and Ive found some that I like. And I've gotten really used to them.

But now, when I walk down the laundry aisle in the grocery store, I am overwhelmed. It stinks! It really makes me think about how many chemicals are in these products. I mean, the scents are nice and flowery, but I wonder why they are so strong. It's nice to have a little scent on something, but I really don't think we need as much as what's in there.

For one day, take note of all the products you use that are scented. It's probably more than you think.

Things I'm Doing

I'm busy - SO busy. Just with life in general. But here are a few of the things that I am doing:

Measuring how many miles we drive in a week. Last week it was 375. Ouch.

Thinking about compost. I plan on buying a compost bin this summer.

I need to make another trip to Good Will. I need another pair of jeans.

I need a few good meatless meals that I can make the family.

I have also been pondering the steps I'm taking, and I'm wondering if positive steps are even possible without government stepping in and setting some standards.

Dressing The Part

I bought a dress.

I hate shopping. I hate almost every part of it. I hate the part where I have to go to a store, I hate the part where I have to select an item that I usually try on and it doesn't look good and I have to put it back. I hate the part where I know I'm buying something made out of toxic substances by small blind children paid pennies a day.

But I bought this dress online. It's organic cotton, fair trade. I got it from Acacia, but the brand is Global Girlfriend. I just visited the site, and it's OK. There are a few fun shirts and skirts. The dress itself is fine - I can see myself wearing it, when the weather warms up just a little.

Part of what I'm aiming to do is to buy less. To buy only what I need, when I need it. To avoid excess. And what I do buy should be organic, eco-friendly, and fair trade or healthy, whichever applies. It really does take some getting used to.

Beep Beep

I've been trying to drive my car less.

This is challenging because we live in the boonies and we can't walk anywhere. In addition, I travel with at least one child at all times. But I don't usually drive anywhere unless I absolutely have to, and I try to lump my trips together.

But this week I finally remembered to track my miles. The week isn't even over yet, and already we're at 100 miles. This concerned me, because I hardly ever leave town. The only places I go are schools, gym, the library, and church. But the miles really add up.

Maybe I should try skipping a choir rehearsal every once and awhile, or driving right from school to the gym even though it means a rather long wait? What is a mom to do?

Cleaner

As I was wiping down the table tonight, I remembered how my old cleaner used to take the nail polish right off my fingernails. What did I used to thing it would be OK to eat of a surface wiped down with fingernail polish remover?

Earth Hour

Here's something you can do: turn off the lights.

No, not when you leave the room. I'm encouraging anyone who finds this post to shut off the lights for one hour on March 27th, 2010, at 8:30 PM. It's Earth Hour.

The idea is to get as many people as possible to shut off the lights, and to get people thinking about energy use and climate change. Please consider joining and / or spreading the word. I'll send out a reminder. I promise.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a romantic dinner or rendez-vous. Get some friends together and tell spooky campy ghost stories. Or just look out the window and see if things look any different. (This will work if you live in a city. Where I live things will most likely look the same - wicked dark.)

Discouraged

There is nothing more frustrating, when you are on a diet or trying to loose weight, to work at it and work at it, to jump on the treadmill and eat nothing but grapefruit for days, only to hop on he scale and find out that you are gained three pounds.

OK, to technically, this shouldn't happen. If you actually move around more and eat less, then you should loose weight. It's the chocolate bars you let yourself wolf down at night after deriving yourself all day that make the scale needle swing the wrong way.

I feel like my footprint is getting bigger. I mean, I feel like this "green diet" or this attempt to change my lifestyle is not doing a thing. I use more expensive products, my house is colder and darker, and I run around plugging and unplugging appliances, but my oil and electric bills are the same. I might try to keep my errands grouped together, but at least once a week I'll find myself driving to a store five miles away for a container of ricotta cheese. And my attempt to eat less meat by instituting a vegetarian meal night has resulted in 1 vegetarian meal getting thrown out after a night of having faces made at it, and an increase of meat consumption on other nights.

So, what is a girl to do? How do I make my next steps when I am dragging four unwilling participants behind me?

I am also angry at people who scorn my efforts - and although no one has done so to my face, there are plenty of people who let it be known that they think climate change is a bunk, or that it has nothing to do with us or anything we're doing. I'm trying hard, so these comments make me feel stupid and discouraged.

I think I just need to regroup, reevaluate what I'm doing, what I'm trying to do, and make sure any new steps I'm taking are in the right direction.

Green On A Budget

So far, being Green is expensive.

For me. There are probably other people who have been able to make it cheaper right off the bat. After all, being green is about using less of things, saving energy. In the long run, it should cost less. But this hasn't been the case for me, yet.

Sure, in the summer I don't use the dryer if it's not raining. And I've made a huge effort to keep the heat low. But none of the things I'm not using makes a huge dent in our electric bill. To be honest, I'm not sure how they calculate that bill. Like the phone bill, it seems to consist entirely of random numbers, and I'm not sure how "delivery fees" and "service fees" and "usage fees" are different.

We've given up a lot of beef, but organic vegetables and eggs and dairy are expensive. The cleaning products are more expensive than the toxic poison ones I used to use, and the soaps and shampoos and toothpastes cost more as well. When I get my grocery bill, it all adds up.

It isn't fair, really. I'm after something simple. I want milk with no antibiotics, but that will cost a dollar more. I want eggs laid by chickens allowed to keep their beaks, and those cost more. Tomatoes cost more with no pesticides and soaps with no formaldehyde also cost more.

I still feel good about what I'm doing. At the end of the trip, when I'm putting away my groceries, I'm not fretting about the bill as much as I am confident that I am buying the right things. But there must be a way to stay on a budget without starving my family.

My grocery store offers a few generic organic products, so I figured I would start there. Also, some websites offer coupons. If anyone else has any ideas, please let me know. I'm willing to listen.

Climate Counts

The role that a company takes in climate change is as big as the company itself. After all, companies produce a product or provide a service, and as long as they are making a profit, they usually don't care too much about the effect they are having on other people, or on the earth.

And it's hard to know what to do about it. How do you know which companies are the "baddies?" When it's time to buy a toaster, or a printer, or grab a cup of coffee, or take a weekend vacation, you don't usually sit there thinking "what effect will this choice have on the planet?"

I found a website that can help! Climatecounts.org scores companies on the steps they take and are taking on being responsible and sustainable. Airlines, hotels, media, food products, clothing... You can browse buy brand, you can look up items by industry, and you can get breakdowns (more or less) of the scores. It's not The Answer, but it's something to look at and be aware of. Companies with high scores can be invested in and supported, and companies with low scores can be avoided and peppered with emails - by the way, the website allows you to send an email directly to any of the companies listed letting them know you care about the environment.

This site is a non-profit, supported by Stonyfield Farms (who just happened to get a high score of 81?). I am not certain of the exact criteria used, or how accurate the results are. These types of things have to be difficult to rate cross industry, and I'm sure that they are as varied as the number of companies. But I think this site is worth looking at, and can give a good idea of where each company stands.

Seventh Generation

I saw a commercial for Seventh Generation products on TV the other day. In case you are unaware, Seventh Generation makes cleaning products - dish soap, laundry detergent, all purpose cleaner - as well as paper products - paper towels, diapers, baby wipes - that are considered safe for the environment. And for the past few months, I have been using these products.

Well, not all of them. I am horribly still using LUVS because I can't get over the cost of the more organic diapers and doubt the effectiveness... and I'm not getting into that right now.

I do have to say that, when the commercial came on, I got excited. Maybe because I hadn't heard of the brand until I dug around and discovered it in my search for safer cleaning products. I felt as though I were ahead of the game. Part of an elite club. The people trying to make things right.

I think part of what got me is the emphasis on not being so afraid of germs. I mean, you want to wash your hands before eating and after cleaning the litter box, but there is no need to use disinfectant on every surface of your home five times a day. Right? We're so into antibiacterial everything these days, and seeing an add that stressed being clean AND kind to the earth... it made me feel justified, and happy.

I know, it's an add. And it worked on me, the pre-existing customer. But if you haven't tried these products, or similar ones, please go ahead.

Global Warming Survival Handbook

For Christmas my sister gave me The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook by David De Rothschild.

This is a really cute book. It wasn't particularly informative, in that it didn't really tell me anything that I didn't already know. But it made me feel as though I were taking steps in the right direction. It offers suggestions such as "Put On A Sweater," as an alternative to turning up your heat, and using reusable grocery bags instead of paper or plastic. These are both things I am doing. And even the things I am not doing, such as composting or using solar power, I either plan on doing in the not-too-distant future, or as soon as... well, as soon as I can, or as soon as makes sense.

What this book DID do was to remind me what I was trying to do and to offer a little more motivation. It offered a little more information, a little humor, and a little motivation to make a few extra baby steps. If you're looking for a basic 'green' book to hand over to someone, this might be it.

Toothbrush

Every item you buy leaves a footprint - the material to make it, to package it, and to ship it. And it gets worse once you throw it away. Think about all that you throw away in a week. In a year, how much of it is still going to be hanging around?

Now think about your toothbrush. We all need a toothbrush, right? Unless you have no teeth. I used to buy these Oral-B things, the ones the dentist gives out. And two weeks into using it, the bristles would be bushy and I'd have to get a new one. Then I'd throw it out.

Then I found my Preserve toothbrush. You can buy them online, apparently, but I found my at my grocery store, in the "Whole Foods" department. It's made from recycled materials - in this case, yogurt cups. And three months later, the bristles are still nice.

The Preserve site is worth checking out. Not only do they have a whole line of bath and kitchen products, they also offer recycling for #5 plastics. Cool!

Always On My Mind.

I haven't forgotten this blog. Every day, performing my now mundane and now often automatic chores and tasks, I think of this blog and how I should record the things I'm doing. And I know I have been so much less than faithful about keeping up.

I do plan on posting more regularly to this site, if only to get things down so that I can look back and see how far I've come. I plan on posting about products that I am using that are safe for the environment, and books and articles that help me along the way. Not to mention the times when I find being green most challenging.