Basically Green

cool it

2010-11-09T16:03:00.001-05:00

Friends, if you are interested, you might want to check out a new documentary, “Cool It.” Here’s my disclaimer: I HAVEN’T SEEN IT. Therefore, I can’t speak to the veracity of it. However, more opinions and more information are always good. Those helping to market this film have allowed me to share screening information here for anyone who is able to attend. (Scroll all the way to the end of my diatribe for the deets. These screenings are coming up fast!)

I am not a scientist and I don’t even play one on TV. However, I am passionate about environmental stewardship because, frankly, we have royally screwed up the incredible gift of nature that was entrusted to us. Seriously. I am not going to debate global warming or climate change or deep sea oil wells or whaling or factory farming (OK, maybe that), but whatever our politics, we have to be more conscientious and consider our children’s children’s children in every purchase we make. Since I happen to believe God created the universe, I think that means I am required to take care of it to the best of my ability. But you know, I’m weird that way.

However… one thing (at least) from the clips of this movie definitely resonates with me: People who are living day to day, hand to mouth, are not interested in hearing what you (or I) have to say about anything, be it the environment, disease prevention, education or faith. I have worked with people in those circumstances right here in the over-fed United States and I can tell you, our messages, our mission and our sermons fall on deaf ears when physical survival is at stake. How do we turn a deaf ear to their plight?

Think you are one of them? Maybe you are, but here’s an eye opener. Even when I stress about bills for college and braces, I am humbled by the embarrassment of riches I have at my disposal. Humbled, I tell you.

Anyhoo…

Here’s the official trailer, for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure, as the case may be):

If you have the time, please watch the TED speech as well. It’s quite thought provoking.

If you are interested in attending a screening of this movie, here’s how to do it:

1. Access the following link to review the available events in your areas: http://reeltruths.com/cool-it/events/

2. Click the "RESPOND / RSVP" link to confirm seats (for you & your guests)

green soda

2010-04-19T15:25:00.001-04:00

Not literally – My friend Heidi is giving away a SodaStream machine that allows you to make your own soda-type drinks with tap water. I would love to try it with juice. Not shipping colored, flavored water? Pretty green. Go check it out….

save the lumber, save the world (or something like that)

2010-04-12T11:08:00.001-04:00

heidi, time to clean

2010-03-31T17:09:00.001-04:00

Heidi said...

Ohhhhh, I would love to win this! I use vinegar and baking soda a lot, but haven't really tried any green products.

Random.org picked you! Please email me so I can get you hooked up with goods!! :)

seventh generation giveaway

2010-03-24T16:36:00.001-04:00

Because my over-40 brain loses cells by the second, I forgot to include vital info: All entries are due by noon EDT Wednesday, March 31. I will use a random number generator to choose a winner.

I love, love, love Seventh Generation. For quite a while now I have used SG’s Free and Clear dishwashing liquid as well as their natural all purpose cleaner. The products meet my personal requirements for eco-friendliness. However, the disinfecting products are new to me – and pure joy for an environmentalist germophobe mom of two kids and two dogs. :)

Seventh Generation sent me the pack pictured above, which includes Disinfecting Multi-Surface Cleaner, Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner and Disinfecting Wipes, in addition to other goodies.* I love having a natural disinfectant option and I am happy to let others know about this company. (FYI, locally, I buy SG products at Publix. Watch for coupons in Publix flyers and also online at SG’s site. Good deals on good stuff, people. Also, our Whole Foods has coupons online right now on these products – not sure if that’s a national offer.)

And as always, if a product good for the environment, but doesn’t work and/or causes my eczema to flare up like the Towering Inferno, I have to move along. These disinfecting products seem to work beautifully and my hands are not on fire. :) Coolness.

One of my favorite things about Seventh Generation is that I can look online and find every ingredient in every product – full disclosure, right there at you. I also learned online that the disinfectant part of these new cleaners comes from CleanWell. (They make hand sanitizer! Who knew?) Learn about CleanWell’s sustainability here.

So, here’s where you come in… I get to give away a gift pack just like the one pictured above. Interested? Leave a comment below and if you want (not required, because I am all about NOT jumping through hoops), give the rest of us a tip for living green with kids –- because kids = dirt. I find that the more I learn about the toxins and waste we bring into and take out of our homes, the more I need to learn. Make sense? Comment on. (I also added a handy dandy Feedburner subscription widget right up there on the right. I am on a mission now to update this blog more often.)

*The gift pack includes a copy of The Conscious Kitchen by Alexandra Zissu. I am going through my copy now and I will post a review ASAP.

Seventh Generation provided me with the gift pack pictured above, as well as product information and a gift pack to give away, all through MyBlogSpark. I am a longtime loyal customer and my opinions are my own. Gracias.

green guide families

2010-03-23T13:43:00.001-04:00

Here’s a bit of crunchy awesomeness for you: Green Guide Families, by Catherine Zandonella and published by National Geographic Books. I had the chance to include some tips from this book in an upcoming Earth Day story. It is an excellent resource for practical “greenness” in the home. I love that it doesn’t preach, but includes real tips that busy parents can incorporate in daily life. The book includes alternatives to household chemicals, tips for home renovations, choosing the best food, “greening” baby gear and more. There are also sections on the science behind the recommendations, as well as tips for making the greenest choices for every budget. All in all – a great resource.

drink up

2010-03-22T17:53:00.001-04:00

It’s World Water Day. What are you drinking?*

And what are they drinking?

*In the interest of balance, the bottled water industry refutes the video. (Whatever.)

aargh! bamboozled?

2010-01-11T12:54:00.001-05:00

This recent consumer alert from the FTC is distressing. To me, bamboo = sustainable = good. I guess this confirms that the greenest items are the ones already in existence. Vintage/thrifted clothing is the way to go, people.

Have You Been Bamboozled by Bamboo Fabrics?

Looking to be a more environmentally conscious shopper? You’ve probably heard about bamboo. Bamboo stands out for its ability to grow quickly with little or no need for pesticides, and it is used in a variety of products, from flooring to furniture. But when it comes to soft bamboo textiles, like shirts or sheets, there’s a catch: they’re actually rayon.

The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know that the soft “bamboo” fabrics on the market today are rayon. They are made using toxic chemicals in a process that releases pollutants into the air. Extracting bamboo fibers is expensive and time-consuming, and textiles made just from bamboo fiber don’t feel silky smooth.

There’s also no evidence that rayon made from bamboo retains the antimicrobial properties of the bamboo plant, as some sellers and manufacturers claim. Even when bamboo is the “plant source” used to create rayon, no traits of the original plant are left in the finished product.

Companies that claim a product is “bamboo” should have reliable evidence, like scientific tests and analyses, to show that it’s made of actual bamboo fiber.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Tapped

2009-11-10T12:15:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Heather at Shivaya Naturals for posting about this movie. I haven’t seen it yet, but the message in this trailer is one with which I wholeheartedly agree.

Here’s a challenge: If you buy bottled water, go get a nice, reusable water bottle. Next, take what you have been spending on bottled water (it adds up, people) and fill the glass of someone who needs it. Try Water of Life, an organization that brings fresh water and living water to those who thirst for both. These people are from my church – my neighbors, making a global impact.

“The problem is huge. The solution is one village at a time.”

Take a look:

this is the way we wash our clothes

2009-01-18T07:49:00.001-05:00

Homemade laundry soap? Don't laugh -- it's amazing stuff.

I have a variety of allergies and skin issues, too numerous to mention here. Suffice it to say that if it smells good, I can't be near it and if it it is washed in commercial laundry detergent, I can't wear it.

Pleasant by-products of making this at home: it costs about 85 percent less than the stuff from the store, it is gentle (and therefore doesn't eat away at clothes -- or skin) and I am not buying a bottled, diluted product that has been shipped from who knows where, with its environmental impact expanding by the mile. I am not an expert and I have no idea how much this reduces our laundry's carbon footprint. But it has to help.

The basic recipe is here. I use a vegetable-based, natural glycerin soap and I do not add essential oils, though I recommend doing so if you are not allergic.

Go forth and have clean clothes. Enjoy

we pause for this commercial message...

2008-12-04T12:42:00.001-05:00

This Liquid Logic water bottle (click the photo for a link) is 40 percent off today at Amazon. We have one of these and love it. It even survived an unfortunate encounter with the steel jaws of a car door -- scarred but still fully functional.

byob (of the water variety)

2008-10-03T12:08:00.001-04:00

Going green? Bring your own water bottle... (Ignore the goofy picture of me. I must get that updated.)

color my world

2008-08-19T11:59:00.001-04:00

I completely ripped off this recycled crayon project from this site. However, I found that 350 degrees was too much for our bunch of broken crayons. Maybe my oven is off kilter? In any event, 250 degrees for 10 minutes was plenty. We made ours in muffin tins and the kids decided they look a little like mutant Reese's peanut butter cups. As such, you should probably monitor little ones carefully.

We first discovered these homemade rainbow crayons during a homeschool class at our local art museum last spring. The kids used these on black paper and the effect was incredible.

Go scrounge under the car seats and you will probably find enough broken crayon pieces to make your own batch. Or maybe that's just us...

the reports of blogger's death have been greatly exaggerated

2008-08-02T07:47:00.001-04:00

Many blogger sites are currently inaccessible, and mine was included in that group until a few minutes ago. If you hit a friend's site and you get the "Internet explorer is unable to open" error, please email them and let them know that this is not related to the current "blogger sites as spam" issue (that's a different can of worms that the folks at blogger are working to fix). This is related to Sitemeter. Sitemeter html needs to be removed until the issue is fixed or the site will not load.

That's all I know about html. Really.

Edited to add: OK, I know less than nothing, so don't take my word for this, but I think it has to do with Internet Explorer interacting with Sitemeter. I don't know if Microsoft is fixing this or Sitemeter or both or neither. :) And I could be wrong.

a new venture

2008-07-18T10:27:00.001-04:00

My Ed Begley, Jr. ways are well known among my friends and family. Around our house, we are always looking for ways to reduce our negative impact on the environment, but we do have a budget. And because we have two children, my husband works full-time and I work part-time and homeschool, time is also a very limited resource.

My goal with this site is to share ideas on living deliberately -- choosing to resuse, thrift, create, recycle and reduce consumption -- and to do so with regard to the time and money involved in the process. I also consider the realties involved in this: we want a hybrid vehicle but 1. there are no hybrid vehicles available right now where we live, and 2. (ack) they are expensive. Before we replaced our upstairs heating/AC unit, we inquired about a geothermal system. We live in a neighborhood and that would require the system to be installed vertically (journey to the center of the earth-style), at a price that was prohibitively expensive. And as much as my husband wants solar panels and net metering, it is just becoming available in our state, beginning with the HGTV Green Home.

Join me in sharing ideas and greening our homes a bit at a time.