Tag: green living
There is a tree in my kitchen. Finally.
The holiday season is here, and I finally came up for air this past weekend. Instead of working, I turned my sights towards making my home a little more, well… homey. My kids are pretty much grown, but fortunately they still love the tradition of piling in the car to fetch the Christmas tree and getting the house decked out in red, green and gold for the holidays.
Pine Hill Christmas Tree Farm
It was drizzly and soupy-gray this weekend, Alabama’s version of snow. In the past we have, without fail, purchased our live Christmas tree from the local Boy Scout troop. The trees there are beautiful, expensive and support a good cause. On top of that, they are shipped in from a tree farm in North Carolina, so at least they don’t travel all the way across the country to get here. It is a good choice. Still, this year, in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, I decided to look for a tree farm and purchase my tree locally.
We had so much FUN!
In a section of town, where you would never expect to find a farm of ANY kind, we located Pine Hill Tree Farm. Sloping hills dotted with trees, a barn-like structure complete with complimentary hot chocolate, and a smelly, but clean shed for a couple of live reindeer made the trip to get this year’s tree an adventure. (No comment on the reindeer, that’s a whole separate post). We were the only customers, due to the heavy fog and rain… but there we were, traipsing around the hills to find just the right tree.
This family-owned farm has cut trees that have been shipped in from North Carolina, and as far away as Oregon. However, they also grow several varieties of Cedar trees such as Leland Cypress and Deodara Cypress. The well-known Frasier Fir doesn’t grow at elevations this low, so they ship those in pre-cut. We chose a beautiful Leland Cypress Cedar tree, which we have never had. At first I was hesitant, it seemed like something you get at the nursery to make a hedge between yourself and your neighbor. But, we love it! It is fragrant and the foliage is soft and not so prickly as a Frasier Fir tree. It has been lovingly shaped into the traditional teardrop expected of a Christmas tree, and it works perfectly in our space. The guys working the farm even cut the tree for us! What more could you ask for? Oh yes, did I mention it was very reasonably priced?
We have always been a live-tree family, even though I admit, I do have a small, silver tinsel tree in my front window. Straight from Target, it is retro and cute and I love it, but I will never purchase another artificial tree. Oh, let’s call them what they are, FAKE trees. I admit in the past, I’ve been tempted by the “ease” of owning a fake tree, but just couldn’t ever bring myself to go there. Something about decorating a plastic tree just didn’t seem, well… real.
Here are my reasons for loving a live tree:
• Live trees are grown on farms, not cut out of the forest. This is a fairly recent innovation; so many people still think trees are being ravished in the forest to supply the demand for Christmas trees. Instead, think of this: in the U.S. there are around a half billion trees growing on Christmas tree farms. On average, 2,000 Christmas trees are planted per acre.
• Growing Christmas trees provide a habitat for wildlife, plus an acre of Christmas trees provides for the daily oxygen requirements of 18 people.
• Live Christmas trees smell really good (unless you have allergies) and make your home feel festive and warm
• Artificial trees may be easy to set-up and may cost a little less in the long run. But, most artificial trees have a place in your home for an average of 6-8 years. At some point they ALL end up in the landfill, where they are not biodegradable and will last for eons!
• Artificial trees are mostly manufactured in China from recycled PVC plastic, and shipped to the U.S. Let me say that again, PVC plastic. (Think chemicals and petroleum based products)
Whatever your choice of tree this year, I do hope that you and your family have as much fun picking out your tree as we did picking out ours. I admit it’s easy for me to turn scrooge-ish this time of year, with all of the time constraints and pressures that are imposed on me. The choice to go out in the rain in search of a tree turned out to be great fun and went a long way toward reviving my own sense of wonder and holiday joy.
December 15, 2009
Tonight is Monday night.
To be precise, it is the Monday night after the big Thanksgiving holiday. Many of us know this day simply as Cyber Monday. I am particularly sensitive to Cyber Monday because my own business becomes a place of frenzied chaos on this day. Mayhem, defined as “a state of rowdy disorder” is indeed taking place in my little business. Black Friday and Cyber Monday marks the beginning of the crazy holiday season; the time of year when I work late every night, trying to make my whole year’s salary in 60 days, and kids and dogs are left to fend for themselves.
Yes, tonight is exactly one of those nights. Frozen pepperoni pizza for dinner is the ultimate in satisfaction and convenience. As I sit here with my pants feeling too tight, already regretting this food decision, it hits me…
Today is Meatless Monday!
Augh! I feel like a failure. Just one week after committing to Meatless Monday, I completely forgot all about it. I won’t lie and say I never eat frozen pizza, but normally it’s a spinach and mushroom or a veggie. What made me veer off of my chosen path tonight and opt for the sausage-pepperoni-supreme? I can’t say. But, I can see what this means. I can see that I will have to plan well for these next few weeks leading up to Christmas if I want to uphold this commitment during the crazy “this is America on Christmas speed” time of year!
November 30, 2009
Thanksgiving has come and gone again. My goal was to make this year’s Thanksgiving just a little greener, but I was really struggling with how to do it. I’m not sure how you would rate our green Thanksgiving, on a scale of 1 to 10, but I must say there was improvement over previous years. Here’s what we did and didn’t do.
On the greener side:
1. Purchased an organic, free-range chicken rather than a conventional turkey. How did it go over? If anyone missed the turkey they didn’t express it, and I thought the chicken and dressing was really delicious. This is a “do-again” in my book! If you remember from my earlier post, this was my grandmother’s recipe.
2. Saved, and froze all of the chicken broth from boiling the chickens to use in a recipe some other day this winter.
3. Purchased fresh sweet potatoes for the casserole, rather than canned. Using fresh ingredients didn’t seem to make much difference in flavor. (With all the butter and sugar in the recipe, who would know the difference?) Most of the other ingredients in the recipe were also organic, including the butter and the brown cane sugar. Additionally, the sugar came from Florida, which is not too bad in miles travelled to get here.
Ours is a small little gathering. Here's the table before the carnage began.
4. Decorated the table with items we already had, plants pulled from the yard and drawn “hand turkeys” like the kids made when they were little. I’ve never really been much of a planner when it comes to entertaining, so I’m often caught performing last minute miracles. Miracle may be too strong of a word, it’s probably more like last minute surprises! I pulled a basket from the basement, a particular favorite made from earthy sticks and moss. I purchased two small mums (which I’ll now enjoy on into the season), set them in the basket and filled in with fresh cut Nandina berries, pine cones and pine fronds from my backyard. The place settings were Depression glass water glasses, and mismatched Fiesta-ware garnered from many trips to flea markets and antique malls over the years. The table was simple, but not too shabby.
5. The kids and I played the board games Cranium and Trivial Pursuit and laughed until we hurt! (I’m using the term “kids” loosely, these kids are pretty well grown). You may not consider this eco-friendly, but I believe a large part of becoming conscious of our world is accomplished by just slowing down, living a little simpler and enjoying each other. With full tummies, overstuffed like your favorite chair, this love and laughter was without a doubt the very best part of the day!
Maybe, not so green:
1. We kept the fire roaring. (Gas logs.) We really didn’t need it for warmth, but the ambiance was too nice to resist. The day here was crystal clear, but blustery and cold. We felt so snuggly and cozy that I put my guilt aside about using all of that unnecessary energy, and just went with it. When my gas bill arrives, I’m sure the consequences of that cozy day will be clear.
2. Paper napkins. Yep, I bought ‘em, I used ‘em and I loved ‘em. Burgundy-colored dinner napkins were so pretty on the table. I have to say, however, that the only reason I used paper was because I don’t own cloth napkins. Cloth napkins top my Christmas wish list.
Green or not, the Thanksgiving holiday worked out just fine this year. By next year, hopefully I’ll have added composting,among other things, to my green quotient. The important thing was our little family coming together and honoring this day of gratitude. I hope you and your family also shared and enjoyed a blessed Thanksgiving Day.
November 27, 2009
Mmmmm. Veggie Burger!
I did it. I signed the Meatless Monday pledge.
Being from the South, it’s not unusual for me to throw dried white beans in a pot with a little onion, garlic and onions, partner it with some cornbread, and call it dinner! Eating meatless is not something I’m a stranger to. But, like most southerners from my generation (remember, I’m a boomer), sometimes I just naturally start thinking “meat” when it’s time to figure out the dinner menu. Discovering “Meatless Monday” has made it easier for me to literally “forget” the meat. Now, if your household includes a bunch of burly guys, going meatless may be a little more challenging than it is for me and my daughters. But, consider this: a meatless dinner every now and then usually means less time bent over the stove on a weeknight, it’s good for the earth, good for your health and its almost always cheaper! Personally, I love anything that’s a little more budget-friendly right now.
Here’s the part where you get to turn up your nose: for dinner this Monday night we had a veggie burger and a fresh salad. I first became aquainted with veggie burgers several years back when I was trying to drop some pounds with Weight Watchers. The rest of the family would be chowing down on grilled burgers, and I would stoically munch my veggie burgers. Veggie burgers are not bad, folks! Paired with a fresh salad, or some roasted potatoes they go a long way toward satisfying my occasional thirst for fast food burgers.
Regardless of whether you decide to brave the world of veggie meat substitutes, Meatless Monday is still a practice worth cultivating. Going meatless just one day a week has all kinds of benefits to you and the earth. Consider this for starters:
• Going meatless just one day a week may keep your body healthier, lower your weight, and possibly lower your cholesterol to reduce your risk of heart disease
• Reduce your carbon footprint. According to World Watch magazine, “recent analysis by Goodland and Anhang finds that livestock and their byproducts actually account for at least 32.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year, or 51 percent of annual worldwide GHG emissions.” Hmm. That’s a mouthful.
Meatless Monday is a non-profit initiative in association with the John Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Health. Their goal is to reduce meat consumption by 15% for healthier population and a healthier earth. Check out the Meatless Monday website for more information on the impact that going meatless may have, meatless recipes and related articles.
P. S. – The veggie burger made for a really QUICK meal, something I’m often in need of on a week-night. Next week perhaps I’ll be more creative with Meatless Monday. Stay tuned. Also, I had this idea brewing…. maybe a Meatless Monday supper group once a month? What do you think?
November 23, 2009
I wore my bamboo shirt to work today. The cooler fall weather is setting in, and this long sleeved garment is light weight, soft and just warm enough for the transition between summer and winter. And it’s soft. Reallllly soft! But is it eco-friendly?
Being eco-friendly was not one of the criteria I was shopping for last fall when I bought this shirt. It was soft, comfortable, fairly fashionable, and not terribly expensive. Bingo! An instant winner in the shopping lotto! And, I admit, the fact that it was made from bamboo did intrigue me. I liked that it was potentially earth friendly, but I wondered about what type of processing was required to change it from a simple stalk into the soft, supple material I had in mine hands.
Bamboo has enjoyed a reputation as an extremely eco-friendly fabric. Better, some have said, than organic cotton.
Here’s some good stuff to know about bamboo:
• It is a rapidly renewable resource; its good for the soil it grows in, and doesn’t require powerful chemicals and insecticides to grow.
• It’s not smelly! Bamboo has an inherently anti-bacterial agent in it called “kun”. That means its odor-resistant and won’t irritate your skin.
• It’s natural wicking ability keeps you dry; as well as cooler in summer, and warmer in winter.
• Did I mention its super soft!
• Bamboo clothing is wrinkle resistant and easy to care for.
• Bamboo plants clean the air. Bamboo produces more oxygen than trees due to the dense nature of the forests.
But, lately bamboo’s sterling reputation has become tarnished around the edges. This past August, the FTC issued a consumer alert concerning bamboo fabrics. It’s pretty easy, it seems, for companies to greenwash where bamboo is concerned and many companies are not holding back.
Here’ a few reasons to give bamboo fabric a second thought:
• Due to the most commonly used treatments used to process bamboo into fabric, the final product is not actually considered bamboo anymore. Surprise… it’s RAYON!
• Even when bamboo is the “plant source” used to create the rayon, the processing is so harsh that no traits of the original plant are left in the final product. In other words, it is not biodegradable and it is questionable as to whether it is still holds any of its original anti-bacterial properties. The Council of Fashion Designers of America even suggested that fashion designers should avoid bamboo, if their intention is to produce a greener garment.
• Much of the harsh chemical processing of bamboo fiber takes place in countries outside of the US, where pollution control is not nearly as stringent. Workers are exposed to harsh chemicals and toxic waste is much more apt to run into streams and rivers.
So, what are we to think of bamboo? Honestly, I don’t know.
Basically, bamboo plants are good for the planet. Currently, bamboo fabric is not. Unfortunately, bamboo is easily greenwashed and many people and companies have bought into the myth of eco-friendly bamboo. I have seen some beautiful hand-made items being constructed from bamboo by artists who are not aware of the toll the processing takes on the planet. I think the jury is still out on whether or not bamboo can be a sustainable choice for the future. It’s a good idea if you’re buying bamboo clothing to have faith in the company you are purchasing from. New processes are being developed and some companies use more labor intensive processes to produce a kinder product. Hint: let price be your guide.
As for me… I think I’ll keep wearing my really soft bamboo shirt and just refrain from buying another one for awhile. Greener… One small step at a time.
November 3, 2009
At Bluff Park Art show this weekend there were several artists with beautiful ink pen creations. Pens made out of everything from wood to denim. I picked several pens up. I caressed them. I oohed and ahhed. And I set each one back in its holder. Turning to my friend, I said, “You know those are so beautiful, but I couldn’t buy one because I would never be able to hang on to it.”
What???
A couple of days later, I’m really regretting not buying one of those little works of art for myself. I realized that the comment I made at the show is a prime example of the kind of boxed-in thinking that keeps me from treating the earth as well as I should. I’m really not so scatterbrained that I automatically lose everything, but plastic pens mean nothing to me. I have become accustomed to the “buy, lose, toss and buy” method of keeping up with ink pens. The thought irks me that I would very definitely misplace something just because I can get another one. Cheaply. One more pen in the landfill. When I cleaned out my studio space, I found at least enough working plastic ink pens to completely fill a shoebox. Don’t get me started about the ones that didn’t work anymore. How embarrassing.
Now, I don’t know how many pens are in the landfills right now. But, if you are a mom you can pretty well figure it out. Think about the beginning of school each year. Last year my daughter was required to buy 2 boxes of Bic pens (one blue and one red). Each box had, oh, I don’t know 20 pens in it? OK. 40 pens for my daughter. She has 400 kids in her grade, so 40 pens for each of them, too. That would be 16,000 Bic pens. She’s in high school, so there are 4 grades, so that’s 64,000 pens at the start of the school year. For ONE school. So, you see where I’m going with this. And do you think, that 4 weeks after school started, we could find even One of those plastic pens? Well, of course not, because who would care anything about keeping up with a plastic pen? Did we buy more? You bet.
Tonight I imagine that if I owned a pen that had been lovingly made from beautiful wood, and felt good in my hand, and cost more than 69 cents… I would probably become quite attached to that pen. I would know where it was all of the time. And, I would love to take it out and use it each and every time. I would covet it, and never, ever lose it. With this thought in mind, I went to my studio in search of an old cartridge pen that I had many years ago. I remember how I loved using it, I always loved the way the ink flowed so smoothly. (And I have a mental vision of middle aged men from my fathers generation walking around with ink stains on their shirt pockets from leaking pens. This tickles my fancy). Can you believe that I actually found the pen? Unfortunately it doesn’t appear to be in good working order. The nib is crusty and dry, so I am now on the hunt for a new pen. I came across a post from BirminghamMom.com, another local blogger who also attended the art show. She has a nice photo of one of the exhibitor’s pens and she cites another great reason for buying handmade… these pens can actually be keepsakes. Pens can be made out of all sorts of potentially sentimental items. Check out her post here.
And of course, nothing is perfect. Many of these pens have plastic cartridges that you have to replace. You can buy pens that you can refill out of a bottle, but I’m not ready to go there just yet. So, I’ll let you know what I find. I’m really anticipating finding just the right pen, it will be like a fun treasure hunt. And, maybe, my family and co-workers will forgive me if I become a little obsessive over my new possession. Maybe they will be inspired to get their own. And… there’ll be one less pen in the landfill. Small things matter.
October 8, 2009
Be coffee cup savvy and help the earth.
Do you stop by the local coffee shop so often, that the employees know you by name? If so, you might think about toting your own coffee cup with you each day.
According to the green website Ideal Brite, we generate 23 pounds of waste per year if we buy one cup of coffee in a disposable cup each day. Starbucks alone is estimated to use 1.5 billion paper cups annually. Whoa…
Keep a travel mug, and help keep some of the waste out of the landfills. Grab your favorite coffee mug and tote it to the coffee shop with you. Don’t worry, you won’t hurt anyone’s feelings. You may even save money! Some shops reward you with a discount if you’re savvy enough to bring your own cup. Starbucks does this. They offer a 10 cent discount when you bring your own cup. I’m thinking it’s the least they could do… it’s probably cheaper for them than switching to recycled cups.
So, search out a fashionable, hip travel mug and fill it up!
photo: jdixon
September 22, 2009
Nippy doesn’t quite describe the temp down here in the south right now, but there IS a hint of autumn in our mornings. Aside from raking and cooking soup, autumn is a time for me to take stock of my wardrobe. Can I actually salvage any clothes from last year? Am I too fat…or too skinny, to get into those blue jeans? I took a preliminary peek in my closet. and here’s what I saw.
SHOES.
Old ones. New ones. Tight ones. Loose ones. Out of fashion ones.
Shoes are littered and piled up deep in the abyss of my closet, lurking there in the dark. How can I possibly bring in more shoes without finding a way to responsibly dispose of the surplus I’ve already collected. Not that I’m Imelda Marcos, but of all the shoes in my closet I probably only wear 3 pair. I am ankle deep in shoe-guilt.
Do you have this problem, too? Well, these shameful feelings are really unnecessary. There are things we can do to assauge the guilt. For instance…
DONATE.
It’s easy to donate shoes to the obvious, local charities. Heck, they’ll even come and get them. But, who’s going to call them to come pick up 6 pairs of shoes? I’d feel like I needed to give them gas money, and some cookies, too! So, that means I have to wait until I have at least ONE bag of clothes to donate, to make it worth their effort. This is one reason those shoes are still in the closet.
There are some places, however, where you could take just one or two pairs of worn out foot fashion. Nike Reuse-a-shoe accepts all brands of used and abused athletic shoes, which they then recycle and turn into tennis courts, playground surfaces and even new shoes! Just make sure they’re fairly mud-free and don’t have any metal in them. (No dressy shoes or cleats). There’s a local drop off site near me, and probably near you, too.
Don’t think we need more tennis courts? There’s also Soles4Shoes. This non-profit organization began during the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina and encourages you to donate “gently worn” footwear to people in need instead of throwing them in the trash. According to their site, Americans discarded more than 300 million pairs of shoes last year. Shoes contain toxic glue that seep into our water supply and atmosphere. Yuck! Visit their site and find a drop off near you. They ‘ll take your old shoes and refurbish and spit and shine them, until they are ready for a new pair of feet.
RESELL THEM.
If you love them so big, and think they’re so fab, (even though they haven’t been worn in 3 years), why not resell them? Possible choices are CraigsList, eBay or taking them to a local consignment shop. Or, if you don’t care about getting money for them, put them on Freecycle. Freecycle is a site where you can list something to give away, simply to keep it out of the landfill. It’s the “one man’s trash” concept. Hopefully someone else will find your old shoes to be just the treasure they were looking for!
SWAP WITH A FRIEND.
Sometimes I just get tired of stuff, don’t you? If you have a friend or relative that wears the same size, just trade out! My sister and I passed one pair of Frye boots back and forth a zillion times over a period of about 20 years! (Yes, I think we still have them, but I’m not sure whose closet they’re in).
GET SHOE CRAFTY AND REPURPOSE
Handy with a paintbrush? Take a cue from these hand-painted shoes from CLP Studio. Dress up those old sneakers or clogs by wearing art on your feet! I’ve also seen people use boots and shoes for planters by drilling holes in the soles and spraying with a water-repellent varnish. If you really have a shoe fetish, I suppose there’s always the bookends idea… hmmm.
September 9, 2009
I am constantly questioning if “this” or “that” is truly green. If I don’t use paper towels will I expend more energy-water-electricity when I wash those stupid dishes that I’m using more of now? Or I am I just being lazy? This month, All Things Considered on National Public Radio is running a great series on just this very delimma. They tackle some great subjects. My favorite so far is the great debate over the plastic grocery bags. It’s amazing how many different types of bags there are. Even the “bring your own bag” issue, which is seemingly black and white, is rife with gray areas, complicated statistics and even social ramifications that affect poverty. Who knew there were so many things to consider about the reusable bags in your local grocery store. Are they recycled? partially recycled? More recycled, but shipped further? Made in China? Although I feel really good when I take my own bag, apparently I am not really doing that much good for the earth. But remember my mantra… the small things really do matter. So, here is how their expert thinks we should ultimately decide what type of reusable bag to bring to the store,
“My first answer to that would be, ‘What draws your eye?’” Hoover says. “Buy the bag that you most personally are going to reuse, because that’s the most important thing.”
So if some gritty hemp weave appeals to you, or if it’s a little bling, or the $1,000 dollar Hermes silk shopping bag that turns you on, “by all means, buy that bag,” Hoover says.
Ha! I love this! Check out the whole article at NPR.org. In the meantime, I’m going on a search to find something fashionable to replace those zillions of Publix bags that are nesting in the trunk of my car! I’ll let you know what I find.
August 12, 2009
Oh!EcoMe Link
