Green Jeans

I am, at heart, a blue jeans kinda girl. If it were up to me I would wear them every day.

But I hate paying a lot for my jeans, which means I don't often buy them. I mean, why pay fifty dollars for a pair of pants grown with poison, dyed with poison which is them dumped into drinking water, transported here from China (free Tibet!) which is horrible for both our economy and the environment, only to wear them twice before accidentally spilling bleach on them?

I mean, it just doesn't make sense.

Also, no one makes jeans that fit me. They are either too long or too big at the waist.

Here are some Jean Rules:

1 - Wear the jeans you own. When they get worn, wear them anyway. Torn? Wear them. If you can't stand the rip, turn them into shorts. Wear them until they are so unwearable you can't stand it. Then donate to goodwill or use the fabric for sewing projects.

2 - wash jeans in cold water and line dry. Saves the jeans, less energy, more cost effective.

3 - when you do buy jeans, check out second-hand shops - I've gotten some cute ones there, and since they cost five bucks I wasn't upset when they ripped and stained.

4 -OR go for the hefty price tag organic cotton or look for something called "Better Cotton." It's not organic but focuses on the farming of the material, and that is important.

I got my information from this article.

Thanks!

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.

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?

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.

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?

I Always Liked Him

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A Reason To Buy A Brita

I don't use a Brita. Or any sort of water filter to filter the water coming out of my tap.

We have one downstairs. We use well water, and that gets filtered, and that is enough for me.

But I know many, many people that buy bottled water. I never got this. Why pay money for water, when you can turn on your tap? But people assure me it tastes different.

I might simply post this link, and encourage people to buy a Brita. Or another brand of water filter that looks like a pitcher you keep in your fridge.

I have no idea how much of this article is accurate. But if it is, even partially, I am terrified.

Food For Thought

I always thought people purchased organic foods because they were better for you.

I know know that this isn't necessarily so.

But buying organic IS supposed to be better for the planet because it uses fewer pesticides and those are bad. Poison, actually.

So now when I shop I am trying to buy more organic items. But I'm having a few issues.

For, one, I get confused. Is it really better? And if I'm trying to be Earth friendly, shouldn't I also look for things like packaging and localy grown and produced items? And which is more important? Is an orgnanic potato from Maine better than a regular potato with no bag from Iowa? And how about carrots? I get so confused that when you add cost or sugar or the fact that my family might not actually eat the organic things I buy turning them into waste which is no good to anyone...

I hate food shopping.

The Right Choice

This past spring I found myself having a wine induced debate with my mother, sister and brother, which ended soon after I was labeled paranoid for being more concerned with a possible need to defend ourselves from a corrupt government than with the H1N1 pandemic. Although I do not wish to get the Swine Flu, I didn't understand how one would distinguish it from... well, the flu.

Days ago the news was filled with dire predictions from the CDC. According to these predictions, over a third of the US population will get H1N1. Half of these will need to be hospitalized. Over 90,000 people will die. Yes, this is extreme, and is it just coincidence that they are pushing these numbers and the vaccine just as we're talking Health Care Reform?

I may not have these numbers exactly right, but this is what I came away with. Also, this has a point. Stay with me.

Not too long ago, I looked up natural cleaners. I just thought I could do with a little less chemical. At first I used stuff around the house. One website recommended vinegar for floors. And it gets the floors clean enough, but the whole house then smells like a giant easter egg. So I got Green Works cleaners. From Clorox. And they are good. It's supposed to be good, right? The chemicals are bad. The perfumes are bad. The bleach is poisonous and toxic - and that makes sense, to me, right? If it's poison, what exactly am I cleaning?

Well, the answer is, obviously, H1N1. Because these cleaners clean, but they do not disinfect. Not the floors, not the counters, not the toilet. Which makes it all sound a little, well, dirty. And I know there is the thought that disinfecting actually kills off the weak germs and only the strong ones survive, creating a super strain. But regardless, to not disinfect at all may be simply inviting your children to get sick. To get H1N1 and go to the hospital and who knows what all.

So my question is this - do I have to make a choice? If I don't disinfect and scour and bleach, am I not doing a good job cleaning? And if I do, am I being irresponsible? Is there a middle ground?