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 -