The insanity of school

For Church History I we were assigned a ginormous annotated bibliography to help us further along our research. I was having some trouble finding recent enough scholarship on the Early Irish Church, when I found an essay that I really wanted. I checked the library and the book wasn't there, so I made an interlibrary loan request - like you do.

Here is the response I received:

This request has been cancelled by the interlibrary loan staff for the following reason:

Other. Please see note field below.

You have Pius Library's copy of this book checked out. The due date is 1-31-2008.

Many that are better than I

I've decided that I am not a good enviro-blogger. There are many others doing a much better job at saving the world. So I've decided to switch formats - there will still be blogging about how I'm saving the earth, but I'd like this to be more "personal"... And more fun.

So - welcome to Erin Saves the World - in her own special way.

The End.

Ramblings on 'my little failures'...

This summer I went to the local big box lawn and garden center to help me out in the garden. I needed some tools, some seeds, and some plants to pretty up the front yard (at the moment I won't get into how the plants weren't organically grown, and were probably grown by people in a foreign land that were paid squat to grow and tend my new azaleas). I was armed with my new knowledge about saving the earth - I had watched the SOS Concert for the Earth (I wanted to see the Police perform!) and let's face it - you know everything when you watch tv!

I really needed to get rid of some pesky weeds that would not go away no matter how many times I tried to pull their roots from the earth (or rather parking pad). But I did what I had to do. What would you have done in my place?

So, I bought - gasp - Roundup... I literally hid it in my cart and tried not to make eye contact with the cashier. Then to add insult to injury - the cashier place the gallon of Roundup - which had a handle, mind you, into a plastic bag!

This summer I also committed the following offenses:

I traveled over 6500 miles - mostly by car and one long plane ride

I cleaned out the fridge (using a baking soda paste - good)
but I had to throw away a few glass and recyclable plastic containers (bad)... I really couldn't handle trying to tame the black/blue/green/white stuff out of various and sundry containers. Besides - the stuff growing in there was probably toxic. Would you have wanted that in your drinking water?

I used the air conditioner unapologetically! (It's still on!)
I like to pretend that my allergies are the main reason - but let's face it - I LOVE air conditioning. The room should be at a nice comfortable 65 degrees for me to sleep. I think it is the 8th deadly sin: fridgid-ity? Coolness? I'll stop.

I watered the lawn
Really not the most responsible use of water - especially after visiting areas seriously affected by drought. Ed Begley Jr got rid of his lawn altogether - I do like him...

I'm sure I could tell you more about why I'm an Earth-Failure - but then who would you turn to for guidance and support... Besides, we are all bound to mess up once in a while, that's why I am extra-militant about the things that I can do. (I bought Seventh Generation toilet paper - sacrificing comfort for the greater good. Isn't that almost the Jesuit motto?)

Well - Good night - I may be going to go to bed now in my 65 degree bedroom but tomorrow - I... shall... ride my bike... once again!!!

(Triumphant exit music)

I rode my bike to school yesterday...

which also happened to be the hottest day of the week! (way to think ahead)

The whole trek is 4.2 miles (roundtrip) - and I - the coward that I am (or klutz) rode illegally on the sidewalks. Not that anyone was using them to walk on, in fact I'm lucky I didn't bite it a few times due to the sidewalk's lack of upkeep.

This is my new bike: a Schwinn cruiser - Jag - u - ar... oh yeah, the klassy-est of bikes - almost like the Jaguar of bicycles???

Not a classic Schwinn - but still cool none the less.

I hope to use it to run errands, do grocery shopping etc... I wish St Louis didn't have so many slight inclines. Maybe I should see a doctor!

My husband bought the Men's bike - now we match... awww...

And my students think that I'm nuts!

thanks to doodiepants for the heads up...

This guy has a fabulously wonderful blog (it helps that he is a writer - whateva' - yes, I'm hip, I'm down with the cool lingo) and is working on his new book about this crazy experiment he has been living - and dragging his family along with him! He takes a good look at consumption and the impact of one person in and on the world. I am hoping to keep this blog a little less philosophical - only because others can do that much more eloquently than I... Instead I hope to help people take those first baby steps into the greener lifestyle.

no impact man's blog

I wonder how much of this I could get away with here in my home? Hmm my husband without his computer?

As I sit here and watch him trying to reassemble a "vintage" mac laptop that he has ceremoniously taken apart and laid out piece by precious piece over the last couple of days I think: I'll probably try switching the toothpaste with baking soda before I take the computer away.

Alu - min -e - um

is how they say it in England...

Here are some new uses for it once it is done covering that pan of brownies...

(or perhaps clean new foil might be best)

Here is the uber-long link:
http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1154386,00.html?nid=8515070919-1663159

So - I'm totally stealing from other sites...

Here is a great article on School supplies from the GreenGuide - I subscribe to it in the 'ole email and it is in conjunction with National Geographic.

I'm not entirely sure about the cost comparison between some of these products and their non-earth friendly counterparts - heck, it is hard to beat 25 cent boxes of pencils and pens - even if they come from non-sustainable rainforest trees!

(PS - the links don't work - mostly because I don't feel like adding them - so type them in the old fashioned way if you don't mind!)

Green Guide 121 | July/August 2007 | Checkout Counter

Eco Checklist 2007: Green Gear for the Back-to-School Blues

by David Wortman

Filed under: Home and office supplies, Arts and crafts supplies, Schools, Recycled paper

This school year, eco-savvy kids and parents, aware of the almost four million acres of U.S. forest clearcut annually (not to mention the tons of discarded cell phones), return to store shelves seeking greener academic supplies and electronics. Yet some still find themselves at a loss. "I was recently at a major office supply chain to buy recycled or biodegradable pens and binders," says Ellyn Feerick, a middle school teacher in Danvers, Mass., "but forget about it—they don't exist." Never fear. With some sleuthing, you can find more resources than ever to suit the environmentally minded student.

Electronics

Time for a new PC? Pick energy-efficient products with take-back programs. The Zero Waste Program's Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT), which restricts heavy metals and other toxic substances, gives high marks to Lenovo Thinkcentre desktops (from $390; www.lenovo.com, 866-96-THINK) , as well as to Precision and Latitude laptops from Dell, with its comprehensive take-back policies (from $549; www.dell.com, 800-757-8434). Or order a custom-built Energy Star-certified PC from Cade PC (starting at $845; www.cadepc.com, 888-822-3372), which uses lead-free components, offsets its carbon emissions and will take back computers for recycling. And, for a $10 fee, old computer equipment can be recycled at Staples stores, even if bought elsewhere.

Keep cell phones, with their flame retardants and metals, out of landfills. Nokia and Sony Ericsson offer postage-paid return programs for used phones. Recycle your child's old phone with ReCellular (www.recellular.net, 800-441-1544).

When school shopping is done, add up this year's receipts with a TI36X solar calculator from Texas Instruments ($19.99; www.amazon.com).

Packing Lunch

School lunches can leave a mountain of waste, from disposable paper sacks and throwaway plastic packaging to over a half a pound of food waste per person every day.

"Unfortunately, I see more pre-packaged lunches and other disposable items in the cafeteria than I would like," says Feerick. Cut down on wrappers and boost your children's health by loading them up with organic fruits, vegetables and healthier sandwiches.

Avoid hormone-disrupting bisphenol A from #7 plastic water bottles. Pick Klean Kanteen's 18-ounce bottle for lunchboxes ($13.50; www.greenfeet.com, 888-562-8873).

Choose PVC-free wrappings: certified organic or recycled cotton canvas lunch sacks from Ecobags ($6; www.ecobags.com, 800-720-2247); cellophane wrap made from the cellulose of well-managed cottonwood trees ($20.50/12 in. x 110 ft. roll) and biodegradable and compostable forks and spoons made from GMO-free potatoes ($4.25/50 forks or spoons; both from www.greenearthofficesupply.com, 800-327-8449).

Writing Paper and Notebooks

Academic paper use generates mountains of waste—28 pounds per year for each student, teacher and staff member in one New York City school alone. Choose processed chlorine free (PCF) paper, avoiding releases of dioxin and mercury in the bleaching process, and the highest percentages of recycled post-consumer waste (PCW) available.

Office Max 100 Percent PCW Multipurpose paper, PCF ($7.49/500 sheets; www.officemax.com, 800-283-7674)

Ampad 40 percent PCW one-, three- and five-subject notebooks ($5.29-$8.29; www.staples.com, 800-3STAPLES)

Smart Paper Torchglow PCF, 30 percent PCW recycled paper, available in a variety of colors ($5.67/500 sheets; www.greenlinepaper.com, 800-641-1117)

Pens, Pencils, Supplies

EcoWriter 90 percent PCW pencils ($0.25; www.greenlinepaper.com, 800-641-1117) or Forest Choice #2 cedar pencils, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council ($1.99/12; www.forestchoice.com)

Skilcraft recycled plastic medium point pens ($3.42/12; www.greenlinepaper.com, 800-641-1117); biodegradable corn-starch pens ($13.20/12; www.greenearthofficesupply.com, 800-327-8449)

Least toxic, washable and acid-free OIC glue sticks ($1.79; www.staples.com, 800-3STAPLES)

LePage cellulose-based transparent tape ($0.87/roll; www.greenearthofficesupply.com, 800-327-8449)

Folders, Binders and Books

Abundant Earth recycled notebook binders with reusable spine, up to 38 percent PCW content ($9.95/5-pack of 5 covers; www.abundantearth.com, 888-51-EARTH)

1- to 3-ring binders from Sustainable Group, with minimum of 40 percent PCW cardboard (from $47.60/case; www.treecycle.com, 406-626-0200); Oxford 30 percent PCW cardboard report covers ($22.99/box of 25; www.officedepot.com, 800-GO-DEPOT)

Bags, Backpacks and Footwear

Earthpak colorful SMOSHO bag, made from up to 98 percent recycled plastic bottles ($42.95; www.earthpak.com, 888-5-EARTHPAK)

Simple Shoes "feedbags" and backpacks include cotton, jute, wool and recycled plastic bottles ($70-$100; www.simpleshoes.com, 866-896-3708)

Hemp cinch school backpacks, available in regular or "mini" size from Eco Body Wear ($34.99; www.ecobodywear.com); Sierra Club 100 percent certified organic cotton Cinch Sak ($34; www.sierraclub.org, 800-797-6728)

Ecogoods organic cotton socks ($9.95; www.ecogoods.com, 831-429-5758); Splaff flip-flops,100 percent PCW rubber and hemp ($38-$42; www.thegreenloop.com, 866-898-5483)

Once you've bought your children's supplies, encourage the kids to start their own school recycling program. Organize "waste free" classroom or lunchroom days or educate peers to save energy by switching off lights. Inspire class projects and your child's interest in community with The Kids Guide to Service Projects by Barbara A. Lewis and Pamela Espeland (Free Spirit Publishing, 1995, $12.95).

For More Information

* EPEAT, www.epeat.net

* Greenpeace Green Electronics Report, www.greenpeace.org

* Conservatree's Paper Choices Guide, www.conservatree.org

Okay - now I'm ready to save the world again.

Sorry for the summer of silence! I've been a busy girl - I've traveled over 6500 miles - not in a hybrid car, I've thrown away many things that could have been recylcled - mostly out of laziness. (I was cleaning out my fridge, sometimes you just don't want to waste the water needed to clean out the 4 year old jar of green/blue/white fuzzy stuff.)

I'd like to tell you all a bit more about my summer and what I've experienced in trying to save the world - but I'll leave that until I'm bored in class one day!

Instead - here is a really great practical thing that you can do - but only if you live in the City of St Louis:

The City is conducting a survey on opinions about recycling which might impact services. Go to link below if you would like to provide your input.

https://data.grapevinesurveys.com/survey.asp?sid=2007834326311

It took me about 15 minutes to take the survey... Just enough time to get you ready to sit at your computer all week long.

Thanks for your patience this summer -

Sorry, but this is a little preachy!

Sorry - this post gets a bit religious. (Quelle horreur!)

I have often debated to go vegetarian - I've given up red meat, then back, I've only ate french fries and shakes (not the healthiest way to go) and I've enjoyed my share of steaks. I really don't like most fruits or vegetables. (For those of you about to blame my parents - I ate only fruit and veggies until I was about 4 yrs old and then one day came home to dinner and announced that I didn't want 'ucky vegetables'...)

I found this article by a Dominican sister that articulates the inner dialogue that I have been having... with... umm, er, well myself.

I will warn you, that parts of this article were a bit stressful for me to read.
My comments are interspersed throughout the article and are in green italics...






A Personal Journey
by Sharon Zayac, OP

For one of my classes in my Earth Literacy masters program I had to identify an environmental issue about which I have changed my position. I would like to share it with you. It is my choice to become a vegetarian.

My initial position on vegetarianism was like most Americans. I had heard of people who chose to eat no meat, but I never considered it as an option for myself. I liked meat, and I liked vegetables. I wish I liked veggies, it would make this transition much easier. If I didn’t have meat at a meal, I was quite satisfied. Me too, generally. If I had it, I was satisfied. But I never considered not ever having it.
I grew up eating meat. It was almost always a part of every meal, except
when my mother cooked Italian (her heritage). My mom is NOT Italian, and I also believe that I inherited her talent of 'heating up' diner and/or 'ordering out.' Then, there would be little or no meat in the main dish. I was fine either way. When I entered our midwestern religious community I did not join a religious community - whew! where meat and potatoes were the essential part of every main meal, I continued the pattern as well. A few years ago, all of that changed for me. What led me to vegetarianism? A growing knowledge. I can no longer willingly eat meat. Though I do not necessarily wish everyone to become vegetarians, I do wish that the American people would eat far less meat than they do. I wish Americans did a lot less of most everything (except being Awesome!) I choose not to eat meat because of health reasons. The antibiotics, insecticides, and hormones that are injected into animals to ensure “healthy” meat enter our own bodies when we consume them. Eating the disproportionate amount of meat we do in this country means our bodies are accumulating these substances in dangerous amounts. Why should we willing consume known toxins; why should we add fuel to the fire of emerging drug-resistant bacteria? Another health concern is the growing number of out- breaks of e coli. The conditions to which animals are subjected to before they are slaughtered and the inability of meat inspectors to adequately do their jobs, both contribute to these outbreaks. How frequently in the last few years have millions of pounds of beef been recalled? I take issue with the treatment of animals themselves, This I DID inherit from my mom, we couldn't catch lightening bugs - fireflies - because "how would we feel if someone caught us and put us in a jar?" Hard to argue with that! each of which has the desire for life and family in its own way as we do in ours. “Livestock” is a telling term. They are literally factory animals, removed from their mothers shortly after birth; raised in crowded, untenable conditions; fed un-healthy (for them) diets to fatten them up; often injured and subjected to extreme heat or cold during transportation; left in mountains of their own excrement; and die in terror as they are electrocuted or brained with steel rods.

The fact we as Americans consume far more meat than our own bodies can
healthily assimilate also places a tremendous burden on the land. More than 80% of the
grain we grow is to feed animals waiting for slaughter. Can't we do ANYTHING small? The land that supports that grain is fertilized and herbicized with tons of chemicals that seep into the groundwater and run-off into the river and oceans, poisoning us and other plant and animal life. Billions of gallons of water are siphoned off rivers (often onto the naturally dry, desert lands in the West) to grow the grain and to wash, feed, and slaughter the animals. The amount of methane produced by our huge stockyards contributes to the greenhouse effect. Because we want cheap beef, raising cattle has become a cash crop for many cash-strapped Third World countries. They burn off thousands of acres of their rain forests, displace their own indigenous people, and end up importing food since land they once used to grow their own food now. Seriously - Quit eating Rain Forest Meat! McDonald's do you hear me? Other fast food chains - stop it. People - stop giving them your money!
As I learned these things, I could no longer in conscience continue eating meat. I chose first to eliminate beef from my diet. I struggled in the beginning, but after a while I found I no longer craved it. I decided it was time to give up pork, followed by chicken at an even later date. I knew that I was fooling myself. I made the decision to just do it, except for fish and seafood! After all, they’re not meat, right? The Church taught me that. It took several more months to cross that barrier. What is the difference between sea-based meat and land-based? None, really, and for all the same reasons! The world’s oceans are drastically over-fished and species on the brink of extinction. Many of the fish and seafood we eat do not even come from the ocean! No happily swimming salmon or shrimp waiting to jump onto my plate. They are also produced in factory fashion on aquaculture farms and fed meal that comes from ground-up animal products, bearing all those toxins and drugs. The salmon are even given pink dye in their food to have the nice color we like to see on our plates. There is no difference! I gave them up, too.
Why did I ever eat meat? A whole host of assumptions led me to believe it was the right thing to do: Eating meat is “normal.” Only “weird” people are vegetarians. Only "weird" people study theology, only "weird" people try to revitalize their urban neighborhoods, seriously, weird people have done the most good in the world! I am proud to count myself amongst them! Everyone I knew ate meat. Animal products are essential for protein and calcium. Vegetables don’t have enough of either to keep us healthy. Whole holiday traditions center around the turkey and ham. Memories of the table and all the aromas are part of the warm feelings I have about the day. In the beginning stages of my learning, I continued to eat meat. As I began to associate with others who had opted to refrain, I became self-conscious about my inability to join them. I was absorbing all the information they already knew, but I couldn’t totally let go. Yes, there were toxins in the meat. But, there are toxins in water, air, and other food we eat. Yes, my meat consumption adds to Third World debt, but so does just about every other choice I make in this very consumer-oriented culture. I could “yes, but” to every reason to give it up. Slowly, however, it all began to come together. I can’t really say in what sequence. As all things in our universe, everything is interrelated and flows in and out of each other. I was becoming more attentive to the issues that meat-eating raises. My growing awareness of creation spirituality and quantum theology was changing all my metaphors about God, my understanding of the universe and who I am within it. I was literally seeing the world differently, and I knew my actions would have to coincide with what I was coming to believe, or I would be in total contradiction of myself. Damn conscience! You have been ruining most of my fun for years!
All life on this planet is sacred. All life deserves respect and reverence. The animals we choose to consume have an interior life of their own, and we do violence to them in the manner in which we “handle” them for our consumption. And though ours is a universe where one eats another to survive, the kinds of choices about what I was eating were not based upon survival but habit and cultivated taste. I’ve always loved vegetables. Eating them is far less harmful to the soil and water and air than eating meat. The right thing for me to do, the ethical thing, would be to give up eating meat. It had become a moral issue. And although it is a moral issue, my decision is tempered by the context in which I find myself. I do not willingly eat meat. I graciously accept a small amount of it when it is offered in a setting in which I can’t refuse it. I will not dishonor my aunt who on her limited income fixes me my favorite childhood Italian dishes. Certainly the dynamics present in my on-going process of change include a growing awareness of the real issues: letting in all the data, even that which is painful for me to hear; seeing my change not as a denial of pleasurable tastes but an opportunity to experience a whole new world of tastes. Most significantly, it is allowing my assumptions to change and being gentle with myself in the ‘strenuous waiting” as I learn what the right actions are for me, now. My shift to vegetarianism is, in reality, a metaphor for all that has been happening in my life.
Whether or not you believe in the moral imperative or spiritual/religious dimensions of this argument, I think it is hard to argue that some many of these problems are interconnected! Poverty, the destruction of our environment, the lack of dignity of the human person, rampant war and consumerism... they are hard to isolate and solve without looking at all of these problems (and many more!) as a whole.

Sharon lives and ministers at Jubilee Farm, a 111-acre center for ecology and spirituality in Central Illinois. She offers programs, retreats, workshops on a variety of ecological topics.


Thanks to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate for creating the Oblate Ecological Initiative and their community garden... One of the charisms of the Oblates is Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation - I love those guys!

http://www.omiusajpic.org/oei.htm
http://www.lavistacsa.org/ - website for the community garden in Godfrey, Il

That's my boy! (or pontiff)

From - http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/06/news/vatican.php
Associated Press

ROME: Some of the Holy See buildings will start using solar energy, reflecting Pope Benedict XVI's worry about squandering the Earth's resources, said a Vatican engineer who came up with the idea.

The roof of the Paul VI auditorium will be redone next year, with its concrete panels replaced with photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity, the engineer, Pier Carlo Cuscianna, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

The 6,300-seat auditorium is used for the pontiff's general audiences on Wednesdays in winter and in bad weather during the rest of the year. Concerts in honor of pontiffs are also occasionally staged in the hall, which has a sweeping stage.

The cells will produce enough electricity to illuminate, heat or cool the hall, Cuscianna said.

The modernistic hall, at the southern end of Vatican City, was built in 1969.

The exterior of the audience hall...

and the interior. (I went there once, it was cool.)

Maybe St Louis will be the next Canada?!

WU to build center for $55 million
By Rachel Melcer
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
06/05/2007

THE GOAL: Cut 'greenhouse' gases, slow global warming.

PARTNERS: Include MU and Danforth Plant Science Center.


Washington University said Monday that it is spending more than $55 million on a biofuels and sustainable energy research center that could heat up the local economy while helping to cool the world.

It will be known as the International Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability, or I-CARES. Its creation marks one of the most significant financial contributions Washington University has made in a dozen years, said Mark Wrighton, who has been chancellor for that length of time.
"It's not unique for a university to be saying it's going to be working on energy, environment and sustainability," Wrighton said. "What we're striving to do is create the infrastructure in our region so that (it) becomes seen in America as one of the key regions of this research.

"It should be a place where people look for expertise, for human resources … and where we spawn the development of new (energy) technologies that will lead to improvements within existing companies and new companies," he said.

The goal is discovery of innovations that can reduce carbon dioxide emissions and slow or halt global warming. Scientists will seek ways of making the most from existing fuel sources, such as ethanol and coal, while developing new ones.

I-CARES will be a focal point for research collaboration among Washington University, the University of Missouri-Columbia, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur and a consortium of international academic institutions.

A committee of local business leaders will provide advice on how to make their scientific work relevant and easily transferable to industry. Members include executives from agribusinesses Monsanto Co., Solae Co. and Bunge North America; energy companies Ameren Corp., Peabody Energy Corp. and Arch Coal Inc.; manufacturer Emerson; and brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos.

Many of these partners came together a year ago, when Washington University led a bid for a $125 million federal biofuels research center. Two or three such sites will be selected this fall by the Department of Energy — but the local group didn't want to wait.

"We'd like to get real on-the-ground collaborations that start now, rather than waiting for the future to roll around. … It's time to pull this together and make a statement," said Roger Beachy, president of the Plant Science Center and chair of Gov. Matt Blunt's Advisory Council for Plant Biotechnology.

The Plant Science Center is creating the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels with $25 million donated by Jack and Susan Taylor. Its plant science work will dovetail with cross-disciplinary approaches taken by Washington University teams. The University of Missouri adds agricultural expertise and land where experimental crops for biofuels production can be grown.

I-CARES will include several elements:

•A $40 million building to house the center, key pieces of equipment as well as Washington University's department of energy, environmental and chemical engineering. It will be constructed on the northeast corner of the Danforth Campus; until it is complete, I-CARES will reside in that campus's Wilson Hall.

•An endowment of at least $12.5 million to fund professorships in science, engineering, architecture, social science or medicine that contribute to the I-CARES goal.

•At least $2.5 million over five years to develop collaborative research within the university and with its regional and international partners.

•Plus, $500,000, previously announced by Wrighton, to support collaborative projects with universities in Asia and the Middle East that belong to Washington University's McDonnell International Scholars Academy.

In addition, the university is hiring a "sustainability officer" and providing cash to improve its own energy efficiency and support green programs on campus.

"If we're declaring we're at the forefront of this knowledge and its application, I felt we should be a role model for the region. And if we can be more efficient in our use of energy, it's good for the environment, and it's good for our financial position," Wrighton said.

He first studied sustainable energy technology in the 1970s and, ever since, has held the issue dear.

"Energy in large amounts, affordable in price and with low environmental impact, is going to be vital to the future of the world," Wrighton said. "We owe this to young people so that they have prospects of a very bright future for themselves, for their children and their grandchildren. This is an area of vital importance, and I think it's important that we get on with it."

rmelcer@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8394

Oh Canada...

I love Canada...

I'll have more to say on that later - but I was just terribly impressed!

apologies...

School is out and I have given up on blogging - it is too pretty to be inside stuck at a desk...
I've also been super busy and will leave for Canada in about ten minutes - where I hope to be out of touch with civilization at least until Monday!

I have decided to try and make this road trip as green as possible! It is hard to be on the road - and far from your recycling box... Fast Food, gas stations, rest areas - all have their un-green (brown?) aspects. Not to mention the gas that we will use driving two mini-vans to Canada!

I'll let you know what our group figures out!

In the meanwhile I've found this site - www.thegreenguide.com
It is from National Geographic - and pretty helpful... I recommend the Product Report on Paper.

Ciao!

Microfiber cleaning cloths

I've seen microfiber cloths in the stores for a while. Method has a series, and I bought the wood dusting cloth from them first. It works well, but I can only use it on wood surfaces.

I began the search for microfiber cloths at Target. There were the value pack, the Real Simple brand cloths, Method and Rubbermaid. I didn't see the Rubbermaid cloths until last and picked them up, ultimatly because they were the cheapest and there were two in each package. (The value pack had a good price, but without knowing if I'd like them I didn't want a whole package of cloths that I didn't want).

So - I tried out the Green cloths - for general cleaning. I use them to dust our desks, clean the counters - nothing special, but better than scratchy (not to mention the whole... I'm trying to save the world and abusing paper doesn't jive...).

The real surprise was when I tried the glass cleaning Blue cloths! It said that you can use them with or without cleaners. It recommend using just water and the cloth. It is amazing! I recommend using both clothes - one wet, then one dry. I cleaned both full glass exterior doors, all the windows I could reach, the mirrors and the real test - our dining room table top. It removed all of the fingerprints, dried on cake icing and gosh knows what else! No chemicals, just a little water, and not even a lot of elbow grease.

I am going to try the bathroom cloths next...

All in all - I definatly recomment the Blue glass and window cloths, the green ones are ok, but don't do anything that an old cotton tshirt doesn't do (and then it has a second life) except maybe it is lint-less.

At Urban Target, two clothes were $5.99 - not bad, considering a bottle of windex is around $2/bottle and you have to continually by new ones.

Was there ever any doubt...

Your Brain is Green

Of all the brain types, yours has the most balance. You are able to see all sides to most problems and are a good problem solver. You need time to work out your thoughts, but you don't get stuck in bad thinking patterns. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, philosophy, and relationships (both personal and intellectual).

What Color Is Your Brain?

Thanks to my friend - Erin (one of many Erins) for the site...

Hwy 40 Construction got you down?

Traffic Decongestion Ideas

In the May/June 2007 issue of “Good” magazine, Josh Jackson provides evidence that Americans have “become slaves to our mechanical masters.” But his story doesn’t dwell on traffic jams, high gas prices and environmental ruin. Instead, he points overseas to five examples where city planners have liberated urban dwellers from their transportation bondage. “The solutions are already out there,” Jackson writes.

Let’s face it. Hybrids will only go so far—if we add one billion more cars to global roads in the coming decades. How about these solutions, folks?

Bus Rapid Transit – Subways are expensive and only make sense for high-density areas. Instead of building a new transportation network from scratch, planners in Curtiba, Brazil, created an efficient bus network with red-light-free lanes and speedy passenger pay stations. Bogota, Colombia replicated the idea and dramatically reduced the number of cars in the city. Enrique Penalosa, former mayor of Bogata, said, “If only children had as much public space as cars, most cities in the world would become marvelous.”

Naked Streets – Hans Monderman, a Dutch planner, came up with a counter-intuitive and revolutionary transportation planning idea: remove traffic lights and street signs. The concept of naked streets requires drivers to proceed as cautiously as pedestrians. The city of Drachten, home to 45,000 people, removed more than 80 percent of its traffic lights and more than half its road signs. One resident said, “You drive more slowly and carefully, but somehow you seem to get around town quicker.”

Bicycle Panning – In the 1970s, when planners in Copenhagen wanted to reduce the number of cars and increase bicycle use in the city, they made one small but critical decision: they placed bicycle lanes between parked cars and the sidewalk, rather than squeezing bikes between rushing traffic and parked cars. That simple adjustment made the bike lanes much safer. Today, Copenhagen is perhaps the most bicycle-friendly city in the world.

In the first year of London's scheme to charge drivers for clogging up congested areas of the city, the number of private cars entering downtown dropped by 34 percent.

Congestion Pricing – In 2003, London mayor Ken Livingston introduced congestion pricing—essentially a tax paid by drivers who clog up the city’s most congested areas, such as finance districts, government office areas, and major tourist destinations. The fee of roughly $16 per day is paid ahead of time at retail centers or the internet. No toll booths. In the first year of the scheme, the number of private cars entering downtown dropped by 34 percent, with steep increases in bus usage and the number of bicycle riders.

Intermodal Systems – In Amsterdam and Hong Kong, it has become much easier to transfer from one mode of transportation to another. For example, Amsterdam planners made their bicycle lanes into feeder systems for rail stations and provided extensive bicycle parking. In Hong Kong, high-speed rail systems link up with international air terminals and with downtown subway stations. Linking existing transportation systems with new ones increases the efficiency of transit overall.

This article is from HybridCars.com - copyright 2007. On this website you can compare hybrid cars and look at fuel efficiency, consumer pics, a buying guide, incentives and the technology present... I do work about 35 miles away from my home in St Louis... I wish that public transportation were better here - It would take me FOUR HOURS round trip from my house to my work by mass transit what I could drive in an hour. Not exactly an incentive to not drive my car. As my co-worker put it, "Why don't you just take a job in Cape Girardeau!" I wonder how I can get the mayor to enact some of these things, hmmm. One blog at a time, Erin, one blog at a time!

PS - After the week of rain we've had here (and for those of us in this area in 1993, the river is a little too high for comfort!) I am finally able to hang my clothes out to dry! I'm about to wash my sheets and comfortor and hang them outside...

In case you are too lazy...

to head to conservation international's site, here are some great tips for saving the world while at work...

	1. Turn off the lights. Remember to hit the switch on your way out for that well-deserved lunch break. The energy savings from 10 million employees turning off unneeded lights for 30 minutes a day is enough to illuminate 50 million square feet of office space.
	2. Get off mailing lists. The last thing you need is another office supply catalog or credit card offer on your desk. Before tossing out junk mail, call the company’s toll-free service number and ask that your name be removed from the mailing list. Have online retailers e-mail you instead. Almost half of all catalogs are never opened, yet nearly 62 million trees are destroyed and 28 billion gallons of water are used to produce them every year.
	3. Put your monitor to sleep. Whether it shows off your vacation photos or a cool 3D animation, a computer screen saver is not at all designed for energy efficiency. It’s intended to save your screen from “burn in,” not to save energy. Because monitors are responsible for more than one-third of a computer’s energy consumption – even with screen savers – the best way to conserve energy is to set the monitor to sleep or power off when you’re away for an extended period. If you’re gone for 5-10 minutes, enjoy one of CI’s screen savers. Any longer than that, put the monitor to sleep.
	4. Use the stairs. Your brain gets exercise all day, why not exercise your body? Get your heart pumping by taking the stairs instead of the elevator. It’s good for your health, and it saves electricity.
	5. Make your printer’s toner last. Being cheap is a first date no-no, but it’s okay to be frugal at the office. When printing rough drafts or documents for internal purposes, change the printer’s settings to economy mode and avoid color if possible. Econo-mode uses up to 50 percent less toner and prints twice as many pages as other higher quality settings. Duplex printing also uses half the amount of paper.
	6. Provide incentives for commuters. Free food and a year-end bonus are nice perks, but to really make workers happy, help ease their daily commute. The government rewards businesses that encourage their staff to carpool, bicycle, or walk to work under the Commuter Choice Program. Telecommuting and flexible work hours can also save employers by reducing absences and job retention costs.
	7. Recycle and reuse paper. Americans toss out about 35 million tons of paper each year. Buck the trend and start recycling – not only standard white printer paper, but all of the magazines, manila folders, and colored post-it notes that decorate your space. If it tears, it can be recycled. Recycled paper manufacturing generates 74 percent less air pollution, and saves trees, water, and energy. To salvage papers that are printed on one side only, flip them over and use for incoming faxes.
	8. Purchase 100 percent post-consumer waste, chlorine-free paper. Take note when buying paper – the higher the percentage of post-consumer waste, the larger the amount of recycled material is contained in the paper stock. This means that 100 percent post-consumer waste paper is made entirely from recycled products. Also, chlorine used for bleaching is one of the biggest polluters in the paper-making process. Choose non-chlorinated paper, which has the same quality as the bleached variety.
	9. Recycle and reuse office supplies. Do as Mom says and clean your plate, literally. Washing and reusing the plastic dishes and cutlery you get with take-away food is an easy way to cut down on waste at work. Better yet, pack your lunch in reusable containers and pocket your hard-earned dollars! Skip the paper (or worse, Styrofoam) cups and refill your travel mug at the nearby coffee shop instead. It may even get you a discount. Besides aluminum cans and glass bottles, there are many other supplies stashed in and around your desk that are recyclable, such as batteries, printer cartridges, DVDs, CDs, and more.
	10. Curb phantom electricity. Many appliances still consume energy even when turned off. Items left plugged into the wall, such as a cell phone charger or laptop adapter, can leak more than 20 watts of power. In the United States alone, “phantom electricity” emits roughly 12 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere. Avoid this by plugging office equipment into a power strip and turning it off at night and on weekends.

I'm a 58!

Discover your Eco-Footprint with Conservation International's quiz.

The site is pretty cool - send ecards, calculate your carbon output, find "everyday actions" for you to save the world, too. They have a few corporate sponsors to help you put your money where your mouth is... Starbucks and ebay are two of the sponsors who donate a % of profit to Conservation International.

Enjoy -

I'm baaack...

The semester is over!
And there was great rejoicing...

I still have to go to class this week, but no more papers are due!

I recently finished a paper for my Catholic Social Teaching class titled "The Integrity of Creation: Catholic Social Teaching's Best Kept Secret" It was a great paper to write, a little painful, but it made me realize the lack of understanding of so many, of how poverty, lack of human dignity and the destruction of our environment are so connected! The Church seems to "understand" this, yet it often doesn't explicitly say so... harumph!

So - I have found a cool site or two that I found while procrastinating! If you are intersted in CST and what the Church teaches try these sites, they are great starting places!

www.osjspm.org - St Paul Archdiocese Office of Social Justice

www.usccb.org - Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops - search the site for CST and then find Integrity of Creation under the topics... Good stuff there, too.


OK - that is as political or religious as it is gonna get here! If you wish to discuss CST further, contact me and we can talk!

Happy Earth Day!

This is NOT me...

In honor of Earth Day and the return of the pretty weather, I am getting my clothesline out of the basement! Time to dry my clothes using solar AND wind power. Wow.

Line drying isn't my prefered method of drying my clothes for a few reasons:
1. I'm lazy. which leads to point number
2. The clothes are usually really wrinkled when they get dried outside, leading to point number
3. I'm lazy.

Does anyone have any tips for line drying your clothes?


(Thanks to www.stacksandstacks.com for the image - I wonder how her mom jeans hold up getting dried outside...)

Thanks for asking...

I love that when I to to Jimmy John's (among other places) they ASK ME if I would like my receipt. Why do I need that receipt? I'll ask if I need one, ok?

Mitch Hedberg (one of the funniest people ever!) summed it up perfectly:

I bought a doughnut, and they gave me a receipt.
There is no need for that, man.
I'll just give you the money, you give me the doughnut. End of transaction.
We do not need to bring ink and paper into this.
I cannot imagine a situation in which I would have to prove that I bought a doughnut.
Some skeptical friend: "Hey man! Don't even act like I didn't buy that doughnut! I got the documentation right here...damn...I forgot it at home... it's in the filing cabinet...under D...for doughnut."

I think I'm going Kosher...

While this program is clearly a rip-off of Theology on Tap (which is a really cool, but copyrighted, program started by the Archdiocese of Chicago Young Adult Ministry and recently purchased by Renew, International) it is on a topic near and dear to my heart.

If I just liked vegetables better I would go vegetarian in a heartbeat! I think I'm still on my path there, but it won't be overnight!

Did you know that if everyone limited their consumption of red meat to once or twice a week, it would make a huge impact on the enviroment. Cattle producers use lots of grain and corn for feed and think of all that methane that the cows give off...

But they are pretty cute...

THEOLOGY AT BOTTLEWORKS
Wednesday, April 18
at Bottleworks

This large and lively discussion combines cold beer and hot conversation on important subjects of our times. This month's topic is "Food, Friends or Fodder for Science? Animal Treatment and Ethics." We'll discuss the various ways our society views and uses animals. Animals are viewed as pets and pests, as food and entertainment. Are there ethics and even rights in dealing with animals? Are they over-protected or undervalued? Should people always have priority? Grab a brew, give your view and lend an ear to others. Free and open to anyone. For more information, e-mail midrash@journeyon.net. 7:00 p.m.

I'm also not sure who this group is - what religion or denomination they represent - so go at your own risk!

Is the Earth Bi-polar (oh, that is awful!)

Obviously when one jumps from pole to pole problems arise.

For example: You should ALWAYS eat your vegetables.
Well, yes, except for when you have already eaten too much, or say they are deep fried in trans-fatty oils or wrapped in Bacon.

But you get in trouble when you say - OK so I won't EVER eat vegetables again. They aren't organic, they pay immigrants insulting wages to pick and process them, vegetables are gross...


The same is true when it comes to recycling.

I've heard arguments on why you are morally obligated to recycle (I am Catholic...) and why it is responsible to recycle.

I've also found arguments on why you shouldn't recycle - work with me - environmental strain/side effects of the recycling process, increased curb side pick up... etc

I think the idea here is to meet somewhere in the middle (gasp, quelle horreur! Is there a middle left anywhere?!!!)
Recycling is a good option - but is it the best option? Probably our best choice is to make purchases based on less packaging, reusing containers instead of throwing them straight into the bin, and keeping yourself informed on what happens AFTER the bin leaves your curb.

This is an interesting article from 2003. I do not support nor do I reject the theories here - I'm just putting them out there for you to inform yourself.

Way to Go Wash U! (Although I still like SLU better)

Thanks to friend, JT for sending this my way - I am certainly relying on the kindness of friends and strangers as my semester comes to a close... Either I will be posting every five minutes (due to procrastination) or not much at all until the first week of May - stay tuned!

Happy Almost Earth Day!!!



Thurtene Carnival continues green theme

By Neil Schoenherr

More than 120,000 people from the St. Louis area are expected to attend the annual Thurtene Carnival from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. April 21-22 on the North Brookings parking lot.

This year's theme is "Wish. Dream. Live. Play." Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation is sponsoring the carnival.

Already the oldest and largest student-run carnival in the nation, this year, Thurtene aims to reach further into the St. Louis community while expanding on last year's pledge to remain environmentally friendly.

A new addition to the carnival is the "Kids to the Carnival" initiative, sponsored by Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. The Thurtene Junior Honorary is subsidizing ride tickets and will provide buses to local schools and charities to give more St. Louis children the opportunity to experience the carnival. When are the city schools going to start using hydrogen buses like they have in National Parks?

This year's carnival will feature a continuation of last year's Green Thurtene project.

"We are trying to make the carnival even more environmentally friendly," said Sydney Schneider, public relations co-chair of Thurtene. "We will also offer education to members of the community regarding environmental issues and sustainability."

Toward that end, B-5 generators, which run on 5 percent biodiesel, will help power the carnival. Student members of Engineers Without Borders will be at the carnival building a prototype of a sustainable house they plan to construct in Guatemala. Additionally, there will be a recycling center for wood, paintbrushes and food-service waste, as well as an education center run by various green groups on campus. I wonder if they will recycle 6's - I've been looking for someone to take mine and my poor friend Press is carrying a bunch of them in her trunk!

Another exciting addition is the performance of a children's play by The Black Repertory Theater Co. at 12:30 and 4 p.m. both days of the carnival. All shows are free and open to the public.

Net proceeds from the carnival will benefit the George Washington Carver House, a community center that offers innovative youth-development programs, including a radio station and entrepreneur program.

"With many of these new additions to the carnival, we hope to highlight Thurtene's commitment to community," Schneider said. "Since its beginning, the Thurtene Carnival has been the ultimate community event, bringing together the students and faculty of Washington University with people from all over the St. Louis community."

More than 50 student organizations will take over the North Brookings parking lot for the event, presented by members of Thurtene Junior Honorary, 13 juniors who bear responsibility for the continuation of the tradition.

The carnival features myriad rides and food, six facades showing a variety of student-produced plays and a rock-climbing wall.

The first carnival was held May 9, 1907. It evolved from a circus to a vaudeville show in its early years. Rides appeared in 1914, when a freshman-powered merry-go-round was featured. Sounds like a eco-friendly ride to me! We should think about powering more things with Freshmen! (It would probably solve America's obesity problem, too. But I can only solve one problem per blog!)

In 1935, after a few years off and some festivals in other forms, a revival of the carnival by the Thurtene Junior Honorary saw the inception of what now is recognized as Thurtene Carnival.

Admission is free, though tickets must be purchased for rides and some plays.

The week preceding the carnival, dubbed "Lot Week," receives recognition from the State of Missouri through an official declaration from the governor as "Thurtene Carnival Week." During this week, students work around the clock raising facades and practicing plays.

As always at the conclusion of the carnival, the Thurtene Junior Honorary will present awards for best production, the Buckley Award for best construction of a facade, best food and best game booth.

Also to be awarded are the prestigious Chancellor's Charity Cup for the highest donation to charity and the coveted Burmeister Cup for best overall participation in the carnival.

I'd ikea it if you'd come to our city...

Join IKEA in reducing waste and "Bag the Plastic Bag"!

IKEA is asking our customers to join us in reducing plastic bags usage by 50% - from 70 million to 35 million in the first year. Beginning March 15th we will charge 5 cents for every "throw-away" plastic bag. All proceeds* from the first year of this program will be donated to American Forests, the nation's oldest non-profit conservation organization, to plant trees and offset CO2 emissions. WHY? The amount of plastic shopping bags that we all use once and toss is overwhelming. - The average family of 4 accumulates 1460 plastic shopping bags a year - 100 billion are given away each year in the US - Plus it can take up to 1000 years for a plastic bag to break down in the environment. REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE! IKEA has a great alternative to "throw-away" plastic bags- the IKEA Blue Bag. We've reduced the price on this large, reusable and durable bag to 59 cents. One of these bags can replace hundreds of "throw-away" plastic bags and has lots of great uses! * A maximum contribution of $1,750,000 within 12 months I do love IKEA! PS - I just found Mesh bags at a semi-local Goodwill store for 73 cents a piece. Washable and sturdy! Now I have to remember to put them in my car/purse for shopping. Perhaps not as cool as an "ikea brand bag" but I think shipping 59 cent bags across the ocean to save the earth is a bit irresponsible...

Earth day is right around the corner

and everything I pick up is a constant reminder.

At first I thought "Hey, people are getting this!" then I realized that it was a clever marketing ploy. "What should we put in the magazine this month?" "Oh just throw in some Earth Day stuff, next month we'll do that spread on what type of diaper Brangelina thinks is best."
"Oh and did we get that shipment of virgin paper to print with horribly toxic ink on?"

I know - I'm speaking hyperbolically - but I really get peeved that the easier it becomes to be "green" the more packaging, wasteful products, etc companies come up with to waste our money on!

OK - I'll step off my soapbox - I'm really not here to complain...
I'm here to make you feel guilty about your choices!


Here are my Earth Day resolutions - things that I have decided to do to help save the world:

Switch to hankies
During allergy season I use many, many, many tissues! I do try to buy the ones made of recycled paper, but that is not always possible.

Get the clothesline out
It is almost warm enough to get our clothesline back out. The only thing I still haven't figured out is how to keep my clothes from drying all wrinkly - any suggestions for easy outdoor drying????

Stop getting lids and straws at restaurants.
Each time I hit Bread Co. I've decided that I definitely do NOT need a lid nor do I need the stupid plastic straw wrapped in plastic. Also at "fancy" restaurants (those where they bring your drinks in real glass, glasses) I am going to stop asking for straws, too.

For ladies only - I'm warning you, men, if you are sensitive, you will not want to read this one:
I'm going to start buying stuff from diaperware.com- check out "mooncare"... I think this is a bit too sensitive/personal to share with you on the blog - so don't expect any reviews!

Finally - after we pay our outrageous tax bill! (I know, no politics) I am investing in some good canvas (organically produced, of course) bags for grocery shopping. Now I wish I had a good corner market where I could walk and shop daily... argh - stupid Regal Foods, stupid gas station people who won't sell to the organic cool market! Just wait, I'll save the neighborhood after I save the world. I can only do one project at a time!


whoo hoo - look out world! I'm comin' to save ya'! I know these don't seem like HUGE changes, but I think that is the point. You can't change your life style in one day/month/year it is going to take many little steps...

Feel free to post your thoughts on drying clothes outside - or on little things you can do that could make a big impact...


(Thanks to www.parks.ashland.or.us/earthday/ for the cool logo - their earth day celebration sounds pretty neat - carbon neutral, zero waste... wow!)

Home Eco store - hmm?

My really great friend Meghan told me about this really great store called Home Eco, down in the cool new "SoHa" - South Hampton, for those of you who have never heard of SoHa.

I hope to head to the store soon and then post a review for you - you know selection, price, "cool-ness" - I'm a good judge of that kinda stuff.

Here is what they have to say for themselves:

Home Eco is St. Louis’s first environmentally friendly home products store serving eco-conscious consumers with the latest selection of organic cotton and hemp apparel, bedding, rugs, home furnishings, gifts, housewares, books, art from recycled materials, locally produced artisanal soaps, candles, stationary from recycled paper and more in addition to recycling bins, composting supplies, rain barrels, solar ovens and other renewable energy products.


Whaaaat? Organic? Locally produced? Recycled? Is this too good to be true? (I hope I can afford to shop here) Solar Ovens? (What the heck is a solar oven? I have much to learn about saving the world, it appears!)


Here is the pertinent info:

Home Eco is at 4611 Macklind Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63109

314-351-2000 fax 314-351-2003

info@home-eco.com

Hours

Wed., Fri. & Sat. 9-5

Tues. & Thu. 11-7

Closed Sun. & Mon.

They also have an email list, if you like that sorta thing... it's pretty cool.

Interesting response from Eggland's Best

• My dear friend, Mrs.AB wrote to Egglands Best:

Hello, My name is Mrs.AB and I love your eggs. I just wish they came in packaging I could recycle. Please tell me how you can help, or why you continue to use styrofoam. Thank You,


Eggland's Best response:


Eggland's Best Packaging Recycling
Polystyrene Foam Packaging



Eggland’s Best shares your concern about the environment. We pay
careful consideration to our packaging choices, and only after in-depth
study did we decide to package our Eggland’s Best eggs in polystyrene
foam packaging. We made this decision not only for its superior
protection and merchandising of our eggs, but also for the overall
environmental impact of polystyrene vs pulp paper cartons.

Below are some facts about the recyclability of the Eggland’s Best
egg carton, and some facts we came to know about polystyrene
packaging vs. paper packaging:

• The Eggland’s Best polystyrene carton is recyclable.

• Recycled polystyrene can be used in foam packaging peanuts,
CD jewel boxes, office supplies, video cassette casings, packaging,
and many other uses.

• As more products are packaged in polystyrene foam, more and more
communities are accepting this packaging in their recycling programs.

• If your community does not collect foam egg cartons, you may send
clean Eggland’s Best cartons to our carton manufacturer at: Dolco
Packaging, PO Box 1005, 2110 Patterson Street, Decatur, IN 46733-5005.



Facts you might find Interesting regarding
plastic foam packaging vs. paper packaging

• It takes three times more material in waste paper to make a
pulp carton for a dozen eggs than polystyrene foam.

• Furthermore, the manufacture of plastic packaging requires
less energy to make and results in less pollution than
paperboard counterparts.

• It is a commonly held misperception that paper products,
like pulp egg cartons, degrade readily. This is a true statement
when considering composting programs or when these types
of products end up as litter. The fact is that modern landfills are
covered daily and compacted over time, which means all materials,
including paper products, remain unchanged for many, many
years. In fact, because degradation of materials creates potentially
harmful liquid and gaseous by-products that could contaminate
groundwater and air, today’s landfills are designed to minimize
contact with air and water required for degradation.

• In an article printed in US News and World Report, August 26, 1996,
Stephen Budiansky refers to a comprehensive environmental study
that “found that a plastic cup takes half as much energy to make and
results in 35% fewer pounds of toxic chemicals released into the
environment than a paper cup does. Partly that’s because a plastic
cup uses a lot less plastic than a paper cup uses paper; plastic
products typically weigh one sixth as much as paper products that do
the same job. But it’s also because pulp and paperboard mills, though
much cleaner than in the past, still generate substantial toxic emissions.”

• Also, in the past 20 years, plastic packaging has become 50% more
efficient. In the 1970s an ounce of plastic could hold just 23 ounces of
product, today an ounce of plastic holds 34 ounces of product due to
improvements in strength.


Alice Taylor
Consumer Services Specialist
Eggland’s Best, Inc.
860 First Avenue, Suite 842
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Phone: 610-265-6500
Toll Free: 800-922-3447
Fax: 610-265-8380
ataylor@eggland.com
www.eggland.com


Doodiepants responds:

I'm sure they had to take into account packaging that protects them from breaking, and I'm sure it would take a lot of paper to pad them adequately. And of course that paper is virgin wood harvested from the depths of the rainforest (or some other mostly non-renewable old wood). And of course it doesn't biodegrade easily when it's piled 16 tons deep in a landfill. BUT petroleum-based items suck in general. Non-renewable resource, habitat destruction, yadda yadda yadda. You know all this. But good for them for finding and creatively using statistics...


I wonder if Eggland's best will recycle ALL of the #6's that I can't seem to recycle anywhere else...

Any companies that are listening:

PLEASE STOP OVER PACKAGING

PLEASE STOP USING #6's WHEN YOU DO "HAVE" TO OVER PACKAGE

With sincere thanks...

My really cool picture...

On my first trip to visit Orin's (my then boyfriend, now husband) hometown - Tyler, MinnesOta - I discovered my love for windpower. More specifically for the really cool windmills that dot the MinnesOta farm land.

Lake Benton, MinnesOta is Tyler's neighboring town and the Wind Power Capital of the Midwest! It is also home to beautiful Lake Benton - and was where Orin's dad, Doc, lived and taught school.

Little known fact - Orin's grandparents were farmers and then owned a pool hall in Lake Benton.

omop how I love you...

I am learning to love method cleaning products... not only are they earth friendly, but they are fun to use, look cool, and make the house smell great!

The newest invention: the omop.
I have a new ally in the fight against dog hair.

We have all hardwood floors, so "swiffer-type" clothes help me keep up with the dust and dog hair - but they are icky. They are petrolium based and then you have to throw them away. The omop comes with corn based clothes that collect dust, dog hair etc AND they are compostable! How's that for cool. (I sound like their website)

I purchased the starter kit - $24.99 at Target (cheaper than the method website) it includes:
3 compostable sweeping clothes
The sweeper with cool curved handle
One microfiber cloth
wood for good cleaner (I bought the wood for good set...)



The omop itself is well designed. I love the curved handle, it allows for easy access under the furniture and around, umm, stuff. The handle also helps me put nice even pressure on the floors so I use less cleaning solution and can get the dried up icky stuff, like mud.

For my hardwood there is the Wood for good solution. It smells incredible! I love to clean our floors. It is way better than oil soaps and smells better than vinegar.

For the other floors they make lemon ginger all floor cleaner. I'm not the biggest fan of ginger, but I still like the cleaner. Both bottles are also designed to spray evenly and not to puddle.
Both cleaners are also biodegradable and non-toxic. (Did you know that some cleaners use pesticides? Gross.)




The piece de resistance - the microfiber floor pads. One for the wood floor and one for other types of floors. The microfiber is great, easy to clean and attaches with easy. I've used other types of mops that the pads do not come on and off without some struggle and I usually end up with icky-diaper-pad-that-has-been-on-the-bathroom-floor on my hands.


I love my omop. It has been the best investment for my house in a long time. I have now made the switch to all "green" cleaning products for our home. Laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, cleaners, dusting clothes (the omop compostable ones OR the method microfiber clothes). I'm weaning my household away from paper towels, too.


Please email me with suggestions for future product reviews, if either you have used them or would like someone to try it out!

Want to stop global warming?

The following post was taken from enviroment.about.com It was written by Larry West - and this site seems to be a good site to get your self aquainted with what is happening to the enviroment. These are pretty easy, simple ways to get your home more earth-friendly, while not changing your entire life!


Burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, oil and gasoline raises the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and carbon dioxide is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

You can help to reduce the demand for fossil fuels, which in turn reduces global warming, by using energy more wisely. Here are 10 simple actions you can take to help reduce global warming.

1) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. If there isn’t a recycling program at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

2) Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning

Adding insulation to your walls and attic, and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and windows can lower your heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home.

Turn down the heat while you’re sleeping at night or away during the day, and keep temperatures moderate at all times. Setting your thermostat just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

3) Change a Light Bulb

Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat.

If every U.S. family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.

4) Drive Less and Drive Smart

Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Explore your community’s mass transit system, and check out options for carpooling to work or school.

When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

5) Buy Energy-Efficient Products

When it’s time to buy a new car, choose one that offers good gas mileage. Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs.

Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other packaging that can't be recycled. If you reduce your household garbage by 10 percent, you can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

6) Use Less Hot Water

Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water and about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households. Use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry.

7) Use the "Off" Switch

Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television, video player, stereo and computer when you're not using them.

It’s also a good idea to turn off the water when you’re not using it. While brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog or washing your car, turn off the water until you actually need it for rinsing. You’ll reduce your water bill and help to conserve a vital resource.

8) Plant a Tree

If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.

9) Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company

Many utility companies provide home energy audits to help consumers identify areas in their homes that may not be energy efficient. In addition, many utility companies offer rebate programs to help pay for the cost of energy-efficient upgrades.

10) Encourage Others to Conserve

Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment.

These 10 steps will take you a long way toward reducing your energy use and your monthly budget. And less energy use means less dependence on the fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming.

Tired of junk mail?

From Real Simple Magazine (one of my favorites!);

1. Call the Credit Reporting Industry Pre-Screening Opt-Out hotline
1.888.567.8688
They will remove your contact info from the preapproved lists for the four major credit
bureaus. This hotline has been recommended by the Federal Trade Comission's website and
been cited by Consumer Reports.

2. Register by mail with the Direct Marketing Association's Mail Preference Service
Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 15012

or online - www.dmaconsumers.org

You should see a decline in direct mail marketing within three months.

3. Finally, when possible withhold your contact info and always request that your information not be sold ot other companies. Contact your bank and credit card companies and make sure that your name is removed from any shared mailing lists.