Groovy Green Sisters

Finally - Recycling for Brita filters!

2011-02-19T09:51:00.003-05:00

This is the one you've all been waiting for! Brita filter recycling! Of course we've all wondered if it is possible, and now it is.

This came to my inbox via a Brita newsletter:

1: Dry your filter by skaing off any excess water and letting stand to dry at least 3 days.

2. Wrap the filter in a plastic grocery bag.

3. Find a drop off location on the Preserve website. A lot of Whole Foods are now participating in this program and have drop boxes.

If you are not near a drop off site, you can send your dry wrapped filter, packed in a box to : Preserve Gimmie 5 823 NYS Route 13, Cortland NY 13045

Yeehaw!

A Handmade Holiday

2009-12-02T17:14:00.002-05:00

Happy Holiday Season everyone!

One of the most eco-friendly and thoughtful gifts you can give is a handmade item. But it need not be made by your own hands. There are plenty of fine artisans out there, selling gorgeous and useful items.

This Friday, check out the Holiday Sale at Custom Art Framing in Norwood! You can eat cheese and drink wine while taking care of your holiday shopping - now that sounds like fun! Julie, the owner, has very discriminating taste and has loads of wonderful gifts for everyone. Don't miss nancy Rosetta's jewelry - I already own a few of her peices and they are favorites in my collection.

Check out more info at http://customartframingandgallery.blogspot.com/

See you there!

~Anne-Marie

Buy Nothing Day

2009-11-27T10:58:00.003-05:00

The day after Thanksgiving is referred to by some as "Buy Nothing Day". This of course is in reference to the famous 'Black Friday' shopping bonanza that typically occurs on the day after Thanksgiving, as people prepare for the holidays and make use of an extra day off.

This Buy Nothing Day we are remembering Jdimytai Damour, a security guard who was killed a year ago today by a stampede of shoppers trying to buy cheap flat screens at a Long Island Walmart at 5 in the morning.

Supposedly this year, Walmart changed their ways of handling crowds - keep store open 24 hours the night before and having people line up and get a number at the counter they want to purchase a sale item at. Whatever. Never shopping at Walmart again will be my way of telilng them what I think about their policies.

King Corn!

2009-11-22T21:06:00.002-05:00

We finally saw the movie KING CORN! Woooha!

After seeing Food, Inc. and Supersize Me, King Corn is a great film that takes you to the root of the problem. How, why and where corn is used in our food system- which is everywhere! Yup, it's making us fat!

This film is entertaining and informative - it traces the complete life cycle of corn, from seed to grain elevator to soda and your cheap hamburgers. College friends Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis decide to move from the East Coast to Iowa for one year - to find out what it takes to grow and acre of corn, and where it goes.

Besides the facts about corn it is very interesting to see the lives of farmers in Iowa, and how they have changed over the last few decades due to politics and how America has come to use high fructose corn syrup in everything. None of the corn grown is edible right off of the plant - it is bred to be high in starches, and must be processed into myriad forms in order to be consumed.

I also loved the graphs, charts and little stop motion animated segments illustrating facts about corn farming and how it has grown. The time and detail put into these handmade features perhaps says something about how much time these guys had to sit around waiting for their one acre of corn to grow.

Now.. the challenge... eat nothing with corn in it for a full month! I am tempted to try...although I feel my options will be quite limited!

Textile Recycling

2009-10-19T22:42:00.002-04:00

I don't want to throw old clothes out! But, if you can't / don't want to make rags out of them, what do you do?

The only thing I have found close to being able to recycle clothing and textiles is ALA Recycling. (www.alarecycling.com) But it isn't apparent on their website if you can drop off smal quantities of stuff to them - they may only operate in big markets....

Will find out more soon.... it's worth looking in to!

Movie Review: Garbage Warrior

2009-09-13T23:18:00.002-04:00

We just finished watching a very exciting documentary about Michael Reynolds - creator of the Earthship style of home. These homes are ingenious in how they are self sustaining living spaces, where water, food, heat, electricity and even sewage treatment are taken care of by the house.

The movie follows his 40 year journey into the world of experimental building, using recycled materials, earth and passive solar rays to create houses that are a living part of the landscape. We also see his battle with the government to legalize experimental building and also how he and his team helped to teach people in several different countries to build earthships as housing after the devastating tsunami and hurricane Rita.

It is a very inspirational story of how one person has not only made a difference, but taught others to do so as well.

Check out more about the Earthships at www.earthship.net

Green Glasses

2009-08-24T20:50:00.005-04:00

While Recycling is definitely a great thing, it's easy to forget the order of the three R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. They are in this specific order for a very good reason - the less you use, the less waste and energy it takes to create something. Reusing an item allows that energy to be more efficient. Recycling an item that has lost its usefulness ensures that it can be useful again.

So... onto our kitchen cabinet. Our glasses collection is a combination of novelty glasses (Bull and Bush Pub in Colorado, Freddie Flintstone from a fast food chain) , some regular glasses, and our reused glasses.

From left to right --

- Curious George makes pancakes on a jelly jar.

- POM pomegranate juice came in this modern, tall glass.

-Another type of jam, Queenie the Cow goes skiing and builds a snowman.

-A mini mason jar from Green Mountain Gringo Salsa (of Vermont). Mmmm... I will collect more of those!

So next time you break a glass or need more for guests coming over, have fun collecting your own personalized set of glasses. Drink up!

Pedal Power!

2009-07-23T22:21:00.003-04:00

Even before we took our honeymoon trip to Peru, my husband was reading the Peruvian times to get a sense of what things are going on there. he found a very interesting article the other day - bicycle powered streetlights in Lima! It really is a perfect idea, free stationary bikes for folks who don't like being inside a gym and the power stores in batteries to run the streetlights at night!

Pedal power: Lima parks to be illuminated with stationary bike-produced energy

Environment - Posted on July, 17 at 12:34 am

Lima’s district of San Borja has launched a “pedal-a-watt” program, which aims to power street and park lights with ecological and renewable energy produced by stationary bicycles capable of creating electricity from human effort.

“The idea is to start lighting up our parks with renewable energy, as well as taking advantage of the fact that San Borja has a sports and parks circuit,” the Manager of San Borja’s Environmental Office, Hernán García, told official state news agency Andina.

The specially adapted bicycles to be installed in San Borja’s parks will keep users aerobically fit, while creating power stored in a battery and then tapped after dark, to power street and park lights.

“We afford to lag behind,” added García. “They are already using this type of technology in European parks. Our aim is to teach people that renewable energy is beneficial.”

Go with the FLOW

2009-07-19T01:15:00.002-04:00

Another must see movie! If you drink, bathe, cook and wash with water (and I know you do) go out and rent "FLOW" - For Love Of Water.

One of the most important issues in the world today hardly gets any press - water rights, the privatization of water and the lack of clean drinking water for a large portion of the population. Without water, we have no life.

Living in New England, especially after the most rainy spring in decades, it is easy to take water for granted. Only for a short while in high summer do droughts occasionally occur, and towns limit lawn watering to every other day. Someone living in Arizona or California should naturally have a bit more respect for water - although the way they build golf courses out there, it is not always the case.

But no matter how rainy or dry it is where you live, everyone should have a very healthy respect for water. Funny enough, the night I watched the movie our tap water turned brown due to the town flushing out the pipes. Instantly, we did not want to drink or bathe in the light brown water, and happened to have two bottles of water in the fridge we could drink in the meantime. But this is where the problem lies - for although your area may be rich in water, many companies are bottling water, common tap water, and selling it all over the world at very high prices. Folks in Minnesota noticed their streams, creeks and ground water levels decline when Nestle Waters moved in and started pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons a day. In essence, Nestle is taking water for free that should belong to the people, and selling it back to them at exorbitant prices.

But that is not even close to the worst case- multinational companies that privatize water systems are actually depriving people of water around the world, selling substandard water back to people who can't afford to pay for it. These people must then resort to using polluted water, and many of them die from water bourne bacteria. In Bolivia there were riots for many years against the water privitazation that was forced upon them by the world bank - just a few years ago the people won and were given back the right to control their own water.

In Peru, strikes against the privatization of water have been frequent - in fact, on our honeymoon my husband and I saw one in the square in Cusco. Many farmers and peasants, a lot of them looking quite nervous, marched in the Plaza de Armas. Police and soldiers lined the edges of the Plaza, keeping an eye on the march. The people put rocks in the road on the way to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu to stop tourists from getting to the site and draw attention to their cause. Thankfully (for us), the strike was only one day long and we were able to travel to Olantaytambo and start our Inka Trail adventure the next day. We did see the remnants of the rocks in the street however, and out bus driver really had to be careful and swerve around debris still in the road. Hopefully, the power of the people can stop the impending destruction that one of these water companies would cause.

Water is such an important part of every human being's life, and should be free and clean for all as nature intended. See FLOW and you will be reminded of what is most important in life - and makes up 70% of YOU!

Poo to the rescue

2009-07-18T18:24:00.004-04:00

Holy Moly! I have a question for you. What kind of car would smell worse than a gasoline or deisel engine car? A Urine powered car of course!

Ha ha, just kidding, it probably won't smell at all. Just because a car battery, or any other types of battery could be powered by pee doesn't mean it would smell does it?

Chekc out the lastest in eco-science- finally a ues for that annoying waste product we call Number One. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31805166/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/

Of course, then you ask, well if Number One is so special, how about Number Two? Eh?

Don't worry, in the same vein as pee power, soon instead of dropping the kids off at the pool, they will be working for the man, creating energy. http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20041002234802data_trunc_sys.shtml

"Oh, no! That is gross." you say? Well, if you've got a better idea about what to do with all of your waste, let me know! And yes, if you have and use a composting toilet, you already get 100 points.

Food Inc.

2009-07-14T23:40:00.004-04:00

We have a joke in our house. When I offer my husband some organic whole wheat bread or organic pop tarts, or he washes up with the soap made right here in Massachusetts by bicycle power, he often asks, "Why is everything in this house gay?"

Of course what he means by gay is hippie. Or eco friendly, whatever. My response is always the same: "Because you're gay." And the discussion ends with a lot of laughing.

But we just went to see an amazing movie - one that finally puts together all of the peices about the food industry and why it is a system that is collapsing in on itself. If you eat food, you should see this movie: Food, Inc. http://www.foodincmovie.com/ And I am going to guess that, yes, you eat food.

This isn't a movie that preaches about being a vegetarian or vegan, they don't even mention the fact that going veggie is a great eco friendly move. Properly raised meat has it's place ina healthy ecosystem, too. They simply present the facts - the extremely disturbing facts - about where our food comes from and how it gets to the table. Factory farmed meats are the most controversial and disgusting part of the picture, but of course the movie also touches on the evils of giant corporations patenting genetically modified seeds, and suing small farmers for keeping their own no modified seeds instead of buying from them.

But instead of never eating ever again, following the green rules will help to create healthier planet with healthier people - buying local, buying organic, and demanding better laws protecting our food sources. www.takepart.com/foodinc is a great place to start!

Super Solar

2009-06-23T21:41:00.003-04:00

Insterested in Solar power, but think it's too expensive? One Block Off the Grid is making solar accessable to everyone. You can sign up in your city, and they help facilitate the purchasing and installation of solar panels in bulk to cut down on costs. If you want to do more you can volunteer to be one of the coordinators in your area.

There is plenty of info at http://1bog.org/ They have plenty of tips on how to score tax rebates and other tips on insulating your house, etc... is there a tree in the way of your solar panel - a solar easement might be just what you need to help trim a few branches. Imagine having so much solar energy that the excess actually goes back into the grid for others to use!

now, if it would just stop raining here in New England....

Planting has begun!

2009-04-26T22:28:00.004-04:00

I know it's a bit late - but it's been COLD here! So finally, this 85 degree weekend, I got outside and planting.

So far, lettuce, swiss chard, bush beans, and snow peas should be sprouting within a week or so. Since I have been busy planning a wedding, and had no luck growing it myself last year, i bought some already sprouted cilantro, and some scallions which I hope will mulitply. Ok, I also got purple sage - not sure how to use it yet, but it is really pretty.

So we shall see how they fare on my back porch. I know lettuce likes the shade, but i am sure the others will enjoy a bit more sun. They have Osmocote vegetable slow release fertilizer pellets in with them to help them grow - I KNOW it's not officially "Organic" but, again, the time constraint - and it seems to be hard to find any organic slow release fertilizers. I also have Neptune's harvest liquid fertilizer as a supplement, and that is organic.

Woohoo! Pics to com as thes babies start to grow!

Groovy Green Tip

2009-03-22T21:02:00.006-04:00

Keep It Growing!

It's Springtime! Well, officially it is, but here in New England, winter is still holding on. Even so, now is the time to start planning your garden! "What?" you say? You don't have a yard? Who cares! You don't need a piece of earth to have a garden! There are plenty of fabulous gardens all growing in containers.

So even if you have just a little porch or even a sunny windowsill, you can still start growing! How about a windowsill herb garden so that you always have fresh herbs on hand (they are so expensive at the grocery store!)

Or what about starting some lettuce or chard, for fresh salads and greens? They are easy to grow, and you can harvest them leaf by leaf, leaving the rest of the plant to continue producing.

Whatever you decide - check out freedomseeds.org These are pure seeds - no traces of genetic engineering or toxic chemicals here. They also offer a wonderful variety of 75 different types of vegetables. These seeds are brought to the marketplace by the Path to Freedom Foundation - who sow and harvest thousands of pounds of food each year on a mere 1/10th of an acre.

So check them out and get your garden growing too!

Self Flushing Toilets - use where appropriate

2009-02-20T16:49:00.005-05:00

We are going skiing tomorrow! Yay!

Which brings up a good point about toilets. A ski resort is NOT the appropriate place for self flushing toilets. Especially in the ladies room. Consider this scenario:

You are in your ski gear and need to pee. After waiting in the long line of ladies, you finally enter your small private booth, facing the toilet.

You remove your gloves and jacket, and turn towards the door to hang it up and lock the door.

The toilet senses your movements and flushes.

You turn back to the toilet, use some t.p. to make your "nest" on the seat, and hope the blowing heaters don't send the paper flying.

You turn back towards the door, unbuckle your snowpants and slide them down, unbutton your pants and slide those down, realize your snowpants just knocked the paper nest off the seat, shuffle back around to make another nest, then carefully turn around again to avoid knocking the paper off again.

The toilet flushes again.

Finally, you sit, do your business as efficiently as possible, holding the back of your snowpants away from the toilet bowl, because eew, you don't want them to touch it.

You stand up, wipe up and pull up all the layers.

No flush.

Put on your hat and gloves, coat, turn back toward the toilet and wave your hands around.

No flush.

Finally, because you know someone is coming in right behind you, you press the manual button and flush your little gift into the sea.

Three flushes, all because a dumb computer can't determine when there is a load in the potty of not. Maybe that's what the sensors should be for, instead of just someone coming and going and turning around!

Any other suggestions of appropriate of inappropriate self flushing toilet applications? I'd love to hear!

Love Your Planet

2009-02-14T16:21:00.004-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I see Valentine's Day as a day to celebrate love - not only mushy romantic love - but a love for all things, and especially, yourself. Don't have a "Valentine"? Treat yourself to a little pampering - a spa or getting your nails done, whatver makes you feel good! Use Valentine's Day as a reminder to love your family, friends, pets, and planet today and every day!

Tonight I am getting ready to go out to dinner with my Valentine, and decided to wash my hair beforehand. Being without a hairdryer (because I literally never use one) but now kind of wanting to dry my hair faster, I turned up the heat and used the forced hot air heating grate in the living room - and it did the trick! Eco-friendly? Um.... I'll let you decide.

Groovy Green Tip

2009-02-02T21:24:00.007-05:00

Clean and Green Recycling

Ahh, Canadians. I love Canadians. Ooh La La - Mounties! Gotta love those uniforms and their crazy detective skills.

This video hails from Canada, and has a good point about the cleanliness of the materials you are recycling. I got my Honey Bear out of the cupboard today, only to find that all the honey is crystalized at the bottom. So, I'm going to try and clean it out before I recycle the little guy.

I know sometimes, you really don't want to deal with the mess that is inside the container.. now green and fuzzy. And we get that. But just don't try and recycle it, it should go in the garbage. But if you can stomach it, clean it out and keep your conscience clean.

IzzitGreen

2009-01-30T23:24:00.004-05:00

This summer a new review network launched in Boston. Something like Yelp, but with a focus on...you guessed it... Green. IzzitGreen.com features the cutest new mascot in a long time! A funny Green yeti with a little red bird.

Check us out and become our friend- Groovy Green Sisters is on IzzitGreen - ready to review all of our favorite places and ask the question.

Economic Boo Hooing Overshadows Global Warming Concerns

2009-01-23T12:14:00.003-05:00

That's kind of the gist of this article in yesterday's New York Times, which talks about a recent poll that rated voter concerns on various issues. A sociologist in the article is quoted as saying that Obama will need to create a link between conservation/renewable energy and jobs/sustainable growth in order to "legitimate" climate change and gain support for his initiatives. I think he can pull it off!

Thank You Mr. President...

2009-01-22T14:57:00.002-05:00

... for remembering the planet in your inauguration speech:

"With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to ... roll back the specter of a warming planet."

Wine on the High Seas

2009-01-15T14:24:00.008-05:00

In the years since college I've slowly converted from beer drinker extraordinaire to wine aficionado. It started about the time I saw the movie Sideways, and progressed with some wine-loving neighbors who were continually inviting my husband and I out to our local wine bar. I now greatly prefer wine over beer. That's why I was so excited to see a news clip about a French shipping company that's transporting wine from France to Ireland and Britian via sailboat. What a novel idea... no carbon emissions, plus it's no big deal that it takes a little bit longer to transport because wine gets better with age. Genius!

Each bottle of wine that makes the trip is labeled: "Carried by sailing ship, a better deal for the planet."

After dropping off the wine, the ship makes the return trip to France with loads of crushed glass to be recycled into wine bottles. Can someone get me some eco-friendly soy cheese to go with my wind-powered green wine?

Groovy Green Tip

2009-01-14T11:07:00.004-05:00

Party Green

Everyone loves a good party - but unfortunately we tend to not be so good to the environment when getting down. So many disposables thrown out, and forget all the beer cans and wine bottles!

Seventh Generation's latest newsletter has guide to green entertaining on how to green your next party - to make it fun for your guests, and easy on the environment. Tell us your story of how you threw a green party!

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/news/seventh-generation-guide-sustainable-entertaining

diaperlab

2009-01-08T22:09:00.003-05:00

Driving down Highland Ave. in Somerville tonight, a small storefront caught my attention. A sign stating "diaperlab" was up.. Hmm... so I checked them out online. http://diaperlab.com

What a great idea! A place where you can go to learn about the variety of cloth diaper choices out there, get help choosing the right one, purchase them right there, and even get a demonstration of how easy they are to use! An all in one diaper mecca!

I also like the personal touch that the owners put into the website - they are the ones who will help you out at the store. Support your local businesses!

As of now, I do not have a little one that necessitates diapers, but I do remember that out Mom always used them, and I feel it is the greener way to go, so I like to keep my eyes open for myself, and for friends who have children.

If I get a chance to visit, I'll let you know how it goes. But would that be weird? "Hi, I don't have a baby, but I like your store. What's the largest size diaper you have...I'm planning a long trip."

Groovy Green Tip

2009-01-07T22:17:00.004-05:00

Buy in Bulk

Let me preface this with something. If cowboys and the people that moved out west in the early days of our country did something, I want to try it. The folks in this situation often only got to go 'shopping' a few times a year, so they had to buy enough to get them through a few months. I want to start buying more in bulk, and keeping a stocked pantry of basics that can be made into a variety of meals. Why is buying in bulk green? Less material and energy is used to package it than it would if it were divided into many little boxes. And if it's in bulk, it's probably a staple,minimally processed and pretty good for you.

But my first goal is to obtain something the pioneers did not have. Cheese powder. Yes, to make macaroni and cheese. Face it, you are tired and don't want to make dinner, Mac n Cheese is so easy it's almost silly, so you go for that. But at $2.50 or $275 a pop for a cup of pasta and a 1/4 cup of cheese powder, it's getting a little out of control. You know you can get cheaper pasta, but what about the rest?

Enter Frontier Naturals. They've got it - and it's organic! They have several brand names - Simply Organic, Frontier Naturals, and Auracacia http://www.frontiercoop.com/ - and they sell all sorts of goodies in bulk, dried herbs, spice mixes and soup powders. You can find them at some major supermarkets, although I have only seen the smaller items so far, not the bulk bags. Take a look on their website, it's fun!

I will post a review of the mac n cheese powder when it arrives. : )

Thank You Novotel!

2009-01-01T13:04:00.005-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I was up in Toronto celebrating the holidays with my husband's family with a trip to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. (The show was fantastic, by the way!) Anyways, we stayed overnight in Toronto in a hotel called Novotel, and I was surprised to see a cute little recycling bin in the hotel room for us to use! I had never seen a recycling bin in a hotel room before, and was happy to be able to recycle my water bottle and various brochures/papers I had picked up along the way. Is this just a Canadian thing? Has anyone seen these in the U.S.?

Novotel cares! Merci beaucoup!

New Year's Resolutions

2008-12-31T08:52:00.001-05:00

Yeah. So. One of my New Year's Resolutions is definitely going to be to post more to this blog! Another one (I always make many... then I am more likely to keep at least some) that has a "green" tint is to walk/bike as much as possible as opposed to using my car.

What are your green resolutions?

Happy New Year! 2008 was great (minus that whole tanking economy thing)... now on to 2009! :o)

2008-12-24T16:52:00.000-05:00

From the Groovy Green Sisters

What Would Jesus Buy?

2008-12-14T22:21:00.003-05:00

"You don't need to buy a gift to give a gift."

Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping have got to be some of my favorite activists. Not only are they totally entertaining, they have a wonderful message for the holidays and everyday. Reverend Billy, while not an actual reverend, uses the format of a religious service to get his point across - put family, God and love back into the holidays.

From their Statement of Belief:"Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir believe that Consumerism is overwhelming our lives....So we are singing and preaching for local economies and real - not mediated through products - experience."

The theatrical release of "What Would Jesus Buy?" in the fall of 2007, produced by Morgan Spulock of "Supersize Me" fame, follows the Rev and his Choir on a tour of the country. It also features portraits of a wide range of people - from mega consumers maxing out credit cards, to the just barely not homeless - and how the holidays affect their minds, spirits and wallets.

Funny and scary at the same time, scenes of shoppers trampling one another to buy the latest video game system, spitting in the faces of employees who are the bearers of 'bad' news, and maxing out several credit cards, is enough to make you want to never enter a mall again.
Reverend Billy, being the only champion of victims of out of control shopping, has recently held several services in honor of Jdimytai Damour, a young man who was trampled to death by shoppers entering a store on black friday.

But the message of hope, of turning Christmas back into a holiday of love and family and being thankful for what you have is at the heart of the sermon. For some, this is a hard thing to do. We are accustomed to showing our love by giving wonderful material gifts to one another. And it is exciting to open a gift on Christmas, and especially fun to watch children open them! And it is fun thinking up a gift that you know your loved one will be very excited to receive.

At our house, even more than gifts, the point of the holidays are to get together with family and friends, to catch up with dear ones we may not have seen in a long time, and share homemade food, made from the heart. This ideal, to me, is my favorite part of the holidays. I feel so lucky to have a family to share it with!

Happy Holidays!

Update: 12/17/08 WWJB? Is now available On-Demand! "The Christmas Revolution is coming to cable! Families all over the world have watched WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY? on DVD and discovered how they can BUY LESS and GIVE MORE this Christmas, now you can also see it on over 100 "On-Demand" cable providers including: Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox, Charter, Cablevision, Verizon, AT&T, RCN, Insight, Mediacom, and Bresnan!" We also saw that it was available to rent through our Library system, so check it out!

Recycling Market Hit by Recession

2008-12-08T20:05:00.003-05:00

It is a little dissapointing to learn that the recent economic downturn has affected the price of recyclable material. This recent article http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081208/ap_on_bi_ge/recycling_bust shows how recyclers are stockpiling the materials coming in, trying to wait for the market to rise again so that the collection of these materials will pay for themselves in time and money.

But this fact "Most recyclables are shipped to Asian countries that use the material to make products that are shipped backed to the United States to be sold." really worries me! Alot of that seems to be iron and steel - isn't metal what we collected during World War II, to support out cause? Maybe if we could bring more recycling back to America, create more jobs here for people, and manufacture our own quality products which will then require much less shipipng.

Does that make sense?

Green Lobster, Anyone?

2008-12-05T15:48:00.004-05:00

As a Mainer (not a native, but still) I was tickled to read on Mainetoday.com that my state's lobster industry is seeking to become certified as "sustainable." This will ensure that lobstering in Maine will have a minimal impact on the environment, and that lobsters are not over-fished. The certification process, which has just begun, could take a year or more to finish. It's nice to see the lobster industry jumping on the "green" bandwagon and wanting to provide environmentally conscious consumers with a more environmentally sound product. Kudos!

Water Filters

2008-12-03T08:30:00.004-05:00

Going back to the first-ever groovygreensisters post (about water)... I used to be a huge water snob. Water is the only thing I drink (seriously - no milk, juice, coffee... just water!). For years, I hated the taste of the tap water in my area, so I bought gallons of bottled water.

Even though I recycled every gallon jug, I did start to feel bad about my impact a year or so ago, so my husband and I started buying those Brita water filters that go right on the tap. That has been working out great, except now I am starting to feel guilty about throwing out this huge plastic filter thingie every three months or so. They are not recyclable, as far as I know. At least with the gallon water jugs, I could recycle those... but my Brita filters will be in a landfill forever. Does anyone know of any tap water filters that are recyclable, or at least have less of an impact on the planet?

An Interesting Encounter

2008-12-02T10:44:00.003-05:00

I was shopping in a craft store for a few more crafty items for this Christmas, and I remembered to bring my own bag!

So as I approached the counter, I set it out and told the girl that I would like to use that. To my surprise, she asked me, "Why do you use those instead of plastic?" So, I amswered I thought it was better for the environment. Again, I was surprised that she launched into something about "Well, if people throw those into a landfill, then they are just as bad." OK. What? it's a REuseable bag.

So THEN, she mentions she heard that some banks may get rid of paper receipts. Stupidly I answered, "Yes, to save trees." So then she starts on about how banks are always trying to take people's money and she wants written proof of her transactions and that they should never ever do that. Whoa.

Well, I had two choices. Make some snide comment about how the planet is screwed and her bank ablance is not as important as saving the boreal forests, or just be silent and walk away. I chose option 2. It was obvious that nothing I could say would change her mind, so I took it as a lesson in how different people think about the whole 'green' movement and went on my way.

For me, the "Green" movement is a no brainer. Although, I will admit, it can be difficult and takes time to change your own attitudes about something. It takes persistance and patience. But someone who has trouble paying the bills each month is really thinking of day to day survival, not how they can improve the planet. Perhaps some even think it is obnoxious and want to be 'anti-green' on purpose. It is funny, however, that going green alot of times equates with saving money on energy, etc... and so is actually a great thing for folks who don't have alot!

Any thoughts?

Groovy Green Tip

2008-11-30T17:32:00.004-05:00

As much as I do not like using the microwave, I will admit it does come in handy. Defrosting a frozen block of meat, for instance. And I hear that microwaves are often a more conservative way of cooking, as it uses as 20% of the energy used by a conventional oven.

Which brings me to the frozen Amy's Burrito I tried the other day. Instructions on the back called for either 3-4 minutes in the microwave, or 50-55 minutes in a conventional oven.

WHAT!? 55 minutes? That's a whole lot of natural gas being wasted on one tiny frozen burrito. Jeez, if it comes to that, just open a can of beans and make your own burrito, it's cheaper!

But, I was at work, and microwave was my only option anyway. I just thought it was interesting that in this case, microwave was totally the way to go. Where does a toaster oven fall into all this - it uses about half the energy of a conventional oven, although, obviously not great for deep frozen foods. We used to try and cook frozen mini pies on our toaster oven at work - 2 hours later - still frozen in the middle! D'oh!

Black Friday

2008-11-28T22:44:00.002-05:00

What is it going to take for people to realize how shopping is destroying us? Will it be the huge debt that many Americans have? Will it be seeing someone spit in the face of a retailer who tells them they do not have the video game console their child wants? Will someone have to die?

Someone did. In a most heinous scene at a Long Island WalMart, a poor soul's life was extinguished by a frenzied crowd rushing into to buy cheap televisions and video games. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081128/ap_on_re_us/wal_mart_death

Is this the spirit of the holidays? Is this how civilized people act? What will people in countries that have no access to clean water and basic comforts think about something as outrageous as a death caused by a rush for flat screen televisions?

This was truly a Black Friday. Let us pray it does not happen again.

Goonies 'r Green Enough!

2008-11-25T15:19:00.003-05:00

Between Anne-Marie and I, we have watched the movie the Goonies close to 100 times. (Yes, you read that right!) Mouth was my favorite Goonie at first, but then I got a major crush on Mikey and he became my ultra-favorite. *Swoon.* Anyways, I still consider the Goonies one of the best movies of all time, and I can still recite several scenes by heart.

So, I'm always eager to hear what the "Goonies" are up to these days. Brand (Josh Brolin) has had some pretty big roles in "No Country for Old Men" and "W". Mikey (Sean Astin) has found great success with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Chunk has fallen off the face of the earth (seriously, has Chunk done anything since that movie?).

And my original Goonie fave Mouth (Corey Feldman)? Well, if my memory serves me, he had a couple of big hit movies after the Goonies, then got addicted to drugs, then made a comeback on reality TV. Also... he became a singer! And he sings about the environment! Corey's band "Truth Movement" has a new single out called "Green is the Color." Check it out on his website. His album was printed using biodegradable materials like soy ink and a plastic disc tray made out of corn. Please join me in doing a truffle shuffle for Corey... between your vegetarianism and environmental activism, you are truly a (B-list) celebrity tree hugger!

Groovy Green Tip

2008-11-23T21:58:00.004-05:00

New American Dream

One of my favorite websites is http://www.newamericandream.org/ - they are a wealth of inspiration and information on everything from greening your home and work and environmental issues in politics to being a conscious consumer.

They even have a wonderful "Alternative Gift Registry" where YOU can choose what you'd like - whether it be an item or a helping hand. They have tips for planning a 'green' event as well.

Check them out - you'll be happy you did!

Truth or DARE

2008-11-19T20:33:00.003-05:00

This is a challenge for my sister - but also for our readers out there - let us know your answer or result of the dare!

We throw a lot of paper down the toilet don't we? Some might say this is the most important paper in their lives, but should we really waste that much paper, just to clean up our mess? NO!

Carolyn must do one of the following either answer the question or take the DARE:

TRUTH: Where is the weirdest, non-toilet place you have ever pooped?

DARE: Use only one square of toilet paper for each bathroom visit for a week.

This video might help you.

Groovy Green Tip

2008-11-17T16:35:00.004-05:00

Non-PVC shower curtains make for a healthier bathroom!

I read in a recent issue of Vegetarian Times that a plastic shower curtain liner releases over 100 chemicals into the air when opened. I then found out that a consumer advocacy group did a test of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) curtains purchased at several big name stores and found unacceptable levels of toxins in a whole bunch of brands. These chemicals are released into the air over time, and can cause all sorts of health problems. That's bathroom pollution that really stinks!

I had already been feeling guilty about using (and trashing) a plastic shower curtain liner a couple of times each year. Once I read that, I decided that enough was enough and purchased a linen shower curtain for my bathroom. This was a couple of months ago, and I'm still waiting for my "old" plastic shower curtain liner to wear out/get moldy and unbearable before I replace it with the new linen model. My new linen liner is washable and looks like it will do a decent job. Hooray!

My Reusable Bag Experiment

2008-11-16T17:43:00.006-05:00

I've been trying to use nothing but reusable bags for the past couple of weeks, even in non-grocery store places (like for take-out food and at the pharmacy). I feel like I'm doing OK, except for the following:

(1) I still forget my reusable bags a lot when I go into non-grocery store shops. I then refuse a bag from the cashier at the store, which is fine in some instances (like if I've just purchased a single big cookie, or am picking up a gallon of milk), and not so good in other instances (like when I refused a bag on Halloween and left Rite Aid trying to juggle several large packages of candy and other incidentals out to my car while searching for in my purse for my car keys!).

(2) I get take out food more often then I should, and when I go to pick it up it's usually bagged up already. Should I tell the restaurant over the phone that I'll bring my own bag?

(3) Some of the clerks in my local shops are SO QUICK to grab a bag and put all of my merchandise in there. Before I can say "wait-I've got my own bag!" they've already opened up a plastic bag and quickly arranged everything inside. Then if I take my stuff out of the opened bag and give it back to them, they give me a look that implies that they're now just going to throw that crumpled bag out anyways. Hmm.

Groovy Green Tip

2008-11-16T12:37:00.003-05:00

Walk!

During World War II, people were encouraged to do many things in order to save resources to be applied towards the war effort. In a way, our new challenge is similar, but instead of using resources towards another end, we want to not use them at all!

This is one of my favorite posters I've seen from this era (I love horses, what can I say). "Shank's Pony" was the term used for just using your own two feet. I like the fact that it is a very sweet image, and that the pony is leading itself by the laces is encouraging. Nothing to do with war, just a friendly suggestion. Sometimes I feel like this approach works better than a shocking image.

Groovy Green Tip

2008-11-15T15:39:00.004-05:00

Buy handmade!

It is always a challenge to find the right gift for someone you love. Does Target or Walmart really hold something that special? I suggest trying http://www.etsy.com/ - a fabulous array of unique handmade gifts awaits you there. Artisns from around the globe can sell their wares, and buyers get great deals on some really unique peices.

Some of my favorites:
http://www.nancyrosetta.etsy.com/
http://www.kelmurphy.etsy.com/

Have fun exploring the site!

Groovy Green Tip

2008-11-13T23:06:00.004-05:00

Turn Off the Car...

I learned an interesting tip today. If you are going to be stopped in your car for more than thirty seconds, turn off the iginition. Thirty seconds of idling wastes more gas than 30 seconds of driving, because the engine is not operating at it's peak temperature, fuel is being burned much less efficiently.

And, duh, it produces zero emissions if the car is not on! Thirty seconds for one car on one day may not seem like alot, but think about that times the millions of vehicles sitting waiting at schools, churches, etc... idling everyday.

Every little bit helps!!!!!

Carpet Reclamation

2008-11-12T14:04:00.011-05:00

Carpet is one of those things that seems like it would be very hard to recycle... mainly because it's made out of so many different materials (the hard/rubbery backing, the different fibers that make up the surface). Most people (in the past, me included!) seem to prefer chucking their stained old carpets in the dumpster to figuring out a way to recycle them. Carpetrecovery.org estimates that 5 BILLION pounds of carpet was sent to landfills in 2003.

But... there is hope! There are companies out there that do reclaim and recycle carpets... though finding one in your area may take a little bit of work. Luckily, a group called Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) has put together a list of carpet reclamation centers in the U.S. - check it out here.

Groovy Green Tip

2008-11-11T13:36:00.004-05:00

Save Energy - Insulate Your Water Heater!

Today is the Veteran's Day holiday, which means I don't have to go to work! I've used my free time constructively and wrapped some insulation around my water heater to help it retain heat and save energy. Check it out:

Snug as a bug in a rug!

Catalog Choice

2008-11-10T20:39:00.008-05:00

It's that season - where all the catalogs in the world somehow end up at your doorstep, enticing you to buy buy buy. I will admit, looking at catalogs can be fun, there is something nice about relaxing with them in your hands and looking at the lovely set ups of living rooms, or different types of saddles, or even replica jewelry from Lord of the Rings. But today we received a plastic novelties catalog - complete with Farting Santa and a "Skull Band" (yes, they are miniature skeletons playing guitar and drums.) I do not want to see this waste of paper at my house again!

Enter Catalog Choice. http://www.catalogchoice.org/ When you sign up for a free account, you can enter the names of the catalogs you do not want to receive, and they will contact that company to tell them you want to be taken off their list. You can even check back on your catalogs to see if the request has been processed or not. If you can't find your catalog online, there is usually a number you can call on the catalog itself and ask to be removed from the mailing list.

On the other hand, at Catalog Choice you can also sign up for or renew catalogs that you really want, so in a way it works well for retailers - they are not paying to send out a catalog to someone who is not interested in buying from them.

Oh, wait, hang on a minute - the novelties have my attention. A pole dancer alarm clock and a pacifier that makes a baby look like he has gigantic buck teeth! I may want to hang on to this. Yes, yes, the Daily Butt Crack Calendar and the World's Largest Bra - this one is a keeper!

The Hanky Dilemma

2008-11-10T14:50:00.011-05:00

I have a cold. I was in denial about it last Thursday (calling my runny nose "allergies" and hoping I could trick my body into thinking it was just that), but on Friday my head started to feel like it was in a bubble, and by Saturday I was popping Tylenol Severe Cold meds and drinking Emergen-C by the liter.

Thankfully, things are starting to look up today and I'm feeling a little bit better. However, I think I've gone through at least a full box of tissues in the past seventy-two hours. As someone who is trying to "green" herself, that's bad news. Plus, I don't recycle tissues; they are definitely a "trash" item. There must be a better way...?

Enter the handkerchief. This seems like a no-brainer: just like reusable shopping bags, if you remember to bring it with you when you have a stuffy nose, you should be in good shape. The problem is, you then have to carry around a snotty rag with cold germs all over it in your purse all day long. That thought grosses me out. Plus, at the rate my nose is dripping, I could see myself going through several (like, five to ten) hankies in a day... and I don't have that much room in my purse. So am I justified in using disposable tissues over a hanky? How about if I buy tissues made from recycled material... is that just a little bit better? I'm not sure... I feel guilty about it, but I just don't know if I'm dedicated enough at this point to make the jump to the hanky. What are your thoughts?

Monitor Your Energy Impact

2008-11-09T17:58:00.002-05:00

Our society is a consumer society. Everyone wants us to spend spend spend! But have you ever noticed that the electirc and gas comapnies are constantly encouraging people to SAVE SAVE SAVE! Don't use too much of our product! Just this fact alone i think is reason enough to beleive in Global Warming - if it wasn't happening, energy companies would be pushing their products like the toy companies do at Chrsitmas.

I LOVE the energy hogs! They are so funny!

http://www.nationalgridfloe.com/ National Grid has a neat interactive website for kids, and adults(...I will not be left out!) to help you track how many pounds of Co2 you release each year, and suggest ways to cut this down.

The graphics of the polar bear are beautiful, but seem to slow down the program a bit.

Have fun and let us know how much CO2 you save!

Energy Hogs

2008-11-09T12:26:00.003-05:00

I saw a cute ad on tv this morning about saving energy - check it out here.

The http://www.energyhog.org/ site has a section for kids and one for adults, with info and tips about saving energy. And those pigs are so cute and muppet-like!

Diaper Dilemma

2008-11-07T14:56:00.004-05:00

When I think of disposable diapers going into a landfill, sitting and rotting for thousands of years, it literally makes me sick! Ug!!!

I have always said I will use cloth diapers, even though I do not have children yet. Our Mom did - although that was back in the day when you had to use real pins and there was a diaper service that picked up used ones and cleaned them.

While the technology of the cloth diaper has changed, it seems like diaper cleaning services are much harder to find. Still, I am in it to win it.

I just found another option however, the G Diaper. http://www.gdiapers.com/ They are interesting...green... and flushable. I know, I know, the word flushable makes you cringe. Sure, put the diaper in the sewer instead of a landfill, right! But, look a little closer. You can compost ones that have only been tinkled on, and their explanation of how the flush works seems pretty OK. We flush tampons, too don't we? So the sewer facilities know how to handle certain solids that come their way.

Plus, cloth and g diapers are much gentler on the baby's skin, since they do not contain plastic - which contains chemicals that are bad for us!

Price wise, they are right about the same per insert as a disposable diaper, so basically you just have to invest in the covers, which are about $16 a piece - not that big of a deal in the long run, especially when you consider the lighter impact on the environment!

You Go, Jackson Browne.

2008-11-06T11:17:00.006-05:00

Eco-friendly celebrities warm my heart. While owning a huge gas guzzling Hummer and having a newly constructed 5,000+ square foot palatial mansion in Beverly Hills may have once been the norm, it seems that tree hugging celebrities who are trying to conserve resources and go green are on the rise. And when you have millions of dollars to spend, investing in all of the newest green technologies is as quick 'n easy as writing a (large) check! Plus, they can cash in on the tax credits they get for purchasing their new Prius's, which they can keep right next to their 2009 Hummers in the garage. (Do I sound cynical? Naaah...)

Anyways - for better or worse, I'd like to give a shout out to celebrities who are trying to do something to help the environment. On that note, I'd have to say that musician Jackson Browne is arguably one of the greenest celebs out there. Jackson's house is 100% off the grid. His home is powered by solar and wind energy. For heat, he has a wood burning stove. For water, a well. And for eggs, he has chickens. (Great idea! I want chickens too - but that's another post.) I wonder if he also has a composting toilet?

JB's house was recently featured on that "Living With Ed" show on the Planet Green channel, which is all about TV star Ed Begley, Jr. and his eco-friendly lifestyle. Did anyone out there see that episode? I've never actually seen the show, but it sounds very neat. I'll have to look into whether or not we get Planet Green... does that come with regular cable? Hmmm...

A Reverence for the Tub

2008-11-05T23:26:00.005-05:00

Well now, Maine may have a lot of recycling for small items, but what about larger appliances and such? Yankee Yards collect large items, but are they functional?

Down here around Boston and Providence, old bathtubs take on a much more spiritual meaning.

How Trashy Are YOU?

2008-11-05T16:32:00.004-05:00

I live in Maine, a very rural state with lots of trees, mountains, lakes, beaches... you name it. Unfortunately, not all state residents make an effort to recycle and keep the state green and pristine. I am relatively happy with my community's recycling efforts - my only beef is that my town won't pick up recycling bins from apartment/condo complexes. Since I live in one of these complexes, I have to take matters in my own hands and lug all of my recyclables to the local transfer station myself. (Thankfully, my community recently switched to single-sort recycling bins, so that when I lug all of my paper, plastic, cardboard, and metal to the transfer station I don't need to take the time to sort it, I can just dump it all in the giant recycling bin!) I've noticed that not all of my neighbors are willing to bring their recyclables to the transfer station... as evidenced by lots of cardboard boxes, cans, and paper left out for our garbage service to pick up on trash day. Ugh. This lack of effort shows: Mainers currently only recycle 36% of our municipal solid waste.

Anyways... I recently found out about www.mainerecycles.com, a website launched by the state to promote recycling! It's a cute site with information for everyone on how and where to recycle in Maine. Also, there's a fun How Trashy Are You? quiz that you can take to gage your recycling prowess. I got a 24!

Are extra large families sustainable?

2008-11-04T10:44:00.003-05:00

I am admittedly addicted to all sorts of reality TV. It started in the ‘90s with MTV’s The Real World and has extended to game shows of all sorts (looking at you, Amazing Race), celeb-reality shows (Tori & Dean Inn Love, anyone?) and more recently those shows on Discovery Health that chronicle the lives of XXL families (specifically Kids by the Dozen and 17 Kids and Counting).

The show 17 Kids and Counting follows the Duggar family, with nineteen+ members (two parents, 17 kids, and a baby on the way). Watching the show initially made me wonder in a big way about the environmental impact this ginormous family is having. The family estimates that they’ve used over 90,000 (NINETY THOUSAND!) diapers to date. They do 200 loads of laundry a month. At first glance it appears that this fam would have a carbon footprint the size of a football field.

But after I’d watched the show for a while, I wondered if I wasn’t rushing to judgment. The family are dedicated shoppers at thrift stores like Goodwill, and buy all of their clothes used. They make their own laundry soap, and a little goes a looong way. All of the kids are homeschooled, which means they aren’t expending tons of gas on getting to school by bus each day.

What do you think… can super-sized families be sustainable? If you’re part of a large family, what steps (if any) has your family taken towards going green?

Green the Vote!

2008-11-03T19:40:00.004-05:00

Don't forget to vote tomorrow! I found a nice summary article showing where the candidates stand on environmental issues - check it out here.

By the way... if you do vote, Starbucks will give you a free cup of coffee, Krispy Kreme will give you a free election day donut, and Ben & Jerry's will give you a free ice cream cone. I'm not sure how that relates to going green, but isn't democracy great? :o)

Coffee, Tea or Me?

2008-11-02T22:45:00.002-05:00

Every little thing you do here and there that reduces waste adds up. Consider taking on one challenge at a time, trying it out for a week then adding a new one.

Even just over the past year, I have started using less paper. One of my favorites has been buying loose tea, and using a metal tea ball to brew it.

Instead of plastic plates for parties, look into Chinet paper plates - yes, you are using paper, but they are compostable in your home compost bin and are made from recycled material.

Fabric napkins are fun too - I made some using cheap cotton prints with horses and cowboys on them. We don't worry about getting them messy or stained because they've got a pattern all over.

This one is for the ladies. I will just say one thing here - that I will never use tampons or pads again.

Using copy paper that's only been printed on one side as scrap paper is useful too!

One area that I am considering using paper for is coffee brewing. The up side is that you can compost the filters. Currently, my sweetie drinks instant coffee. While this uses no paper, who can say where that coffee comes from? Ew. I think we will switch to a Fair Trade Certified brand (it's got to taste better, too!) and brew with a nice Chemex.

That's it for now...! Anyone want to offer a few more ideas that you enjoy?

Chilly Idea #1

2008-10-31T22:07:00.003-04:00

So the other day I am food shopping for an overnight trip and thinking "Gee, i still don't have any of those ice packs to put in my cooler." Regular ice in a re-sealable sandwich bag is way too messy (tried it). I didn't end up finding a plastic ice pack on my shopping trip, which is good cuz I kind of would have felt guilty about buying something like that.

Enter Chilly Idea #1 - reusing plastic water bottles as ice packs. This gets another one of Carolyn's "Duh!'s" Why this did not occur to me sooner... Don't fill them up the entire way (since the ice will expand) but, just freeze and go!

Yes, bottled water is evil, but let's face it, sometimes necessary if there is not another alternative. turning the bottle into a useful item...bonus! This will come in very handy on next summer's camping trips! Yeehaw!

Local Business Review - Cambridge Naturals

2008-10-31T21:34:00.005-04:00

I believe that being eco-friendly also means being conscious about where you shop. Shopping at local businesses, instead of huge name brand stores, supports your neighborhood and keeps the local economy thriving.

Cambridge Naturals, located right in Porter Square, Cambridge, MA is one of my favorite stores. I love the fact that I can walk in and instantly have access to pretty much any type of vitamin or beauty product, and know that it is safe and natural. The decor is warm and welcoming, and I am always delighted to find interesting new products. The other day a seminar on ayurveda was being held in one area of the store.

Cute organic cotton baby onesies, decorated with applique vegetables and made by a Cambridge mom caught my eye as I am going to a baby shower next weekend.

A new hemp wallet, made by Ecolution, to replace my worn out hemp wallet I got in New Mexico years ago, was ready and waiting there for me.

Selenium was also on my shopping list, and I was happy to find a good brand for a little less money than I paid at "Whole Paycheck". Mmm....an entire display of organic honeys and agave nectars tempted me, plus a selection of natural foods, even a refrigerated section. Organic candy always gives me an excuse to still OD on stuff I know I don't really need, but am completely addicted to...seriously. It's a problem. But at least it's organic!

Next spring, I want to try out their selection of Earth brand shoes and sandals - they have a negative heel that is supposed to be better for your leg while walking. It is nice to have a place to try out things like that - instead of guessing on the internet and hoping they fit when they arrive!

So if you are in the area, stop in and check them out. Combined the with Porter Square Books next door, you might just be there for a while! If you are not in the boston area, you can still access their selection at www.cambridgenaturals.com

Enjoy!!!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T09:58:00.003-04:00

Halloween is a great time to reuse and recycle old clothing and fabrics into a homemade costume! This year, I've combined a bunch of old stuff from the basement (including my bright blue heels from prom, which haven't been worn in 10 years!), along with some purchases from Goodwill (costume jewelry and a trendy purse) to put together a sweet costume this year. I'm going as... Tori Spelling! Seriously! :o) What are you going to be this year?

Reuseable Bags

2008-10-30T23:48:00.003-04:00

I totally agree sistah! It is hard to remember them at first, but determination (and feeling guilty when you forget them) in time will make you think more often about bringing them. And if you do remember to bring one to a non-supermarket store, you get weird looks sometimes! Yes, as if that's SO way out there that it deserves a weird look. I have done way weirder things and not gotten such weird looks from people.

When I was in Ireland a few years ago, the supermarket charged 17 cent euro for any plastic bag you might use - now THAT is incentive to remember to bring your own bags! They also put out extra boxes that products came in for customers to use for their groceries for free. And they call shopping carts trolleys. Isn't that cute? Ireland was awesome by the way.

I have almost gotten in fights with people at stores when I tell them I don't want a bag for the one small item I just bought. They look at me weird. One guy at Home Cheapo put my item in a bag anyway and was like "Oh Well, here you go." Really buddy, you want to take this outside? 'Cuz I really don't need another plastic bag stuffed under my kitchen sink, and I have been wanting to kick someone's butt all day. Just try me.

I used to get mad at the store when baggers would not even ask "Paper or plastic?" Their training was pretty much just to use as many plastic bags as possible. But I feel even in just the last year, that has changed dramatically. We use the ones we do get as garbage bags. I have been thinking about saving the thin plastic produce bags, and bringing them back to the store to reuse as well.

Next up - sewing my own reuseable gift bags for Christmas! Or... wrapping gifts in a reuseable shopping bag - functional and fun!

Groovy Green Tip

2008-10-30T10:23:00.001-04:00

Reusable Shopping Bags – Duh!

Okay, this is an obvious one. Reusable shopping bags are easy to come across and save tons and tons of paper and plastic. (Check out a counter showing how many plastic bags have been consumed this year here – it’s in the BILLIONS!) It seems like every store I go into these days – from the supermarkets and big box stores to my local pharmacy and the ritzy wine ‘n cheese shop I was exploring the other day – is now selling customized reusable bags.

As part of my efforts to green myself, I hopped on to the reusable bag bandwagon a few years ago (thanks in part to the groovy green reusable shopping bags that my sister Anne-Marie made for me!). It was hard at first to remember to bring the bags with me when shopping. I’d go to the grocery store, load up, trek my loaded reusable bags into the house, and then forget to bring them back to my car for the next time. It took a while, but eventually I started remembering to immediately bring the bags back out to my car after a shopping trip. It helps that I’ve accumulated 10 or so reusable bags over the years; on any given day there are usually a few empties laying on the backseat of my car. This makes it a lot easier to remember to bring them with me to the supermarket.

You know what’s weird though? I almost always bring reusable bags in with me to the grocery store, but I often forget to bring them when I go to a pharmacy, convenience store, takeout restaurant, etc. I’ve noticed that other people don’t bring their reusable bags with them to non-supermarket stores as well.

Sooo… I’m going to try to buck that trend, break my old habits, and use ONLY my reusable shopping bags going forward. I have a couple of cute folding ones that will fit nicely in my purse. I’ll report back on how many plastic/paper bags I save in my first week. Stay tuned…

I want a Scooter!

2008-10-29T08:50:00.001-04:00

I have been dreaming about getting a scooter for years. I can just see myself tooting along the side streets in my town, with the wind in my face. I’d like a blue or a green model. And of course, I’d have to have a matching helmet. Did you know that a traditional scooter can get over 70mpg? And Piaggio’s new hybrid scooter can get over 140 mpg?? *Swoon* Who said it’s not easy being green??

Image courtesy of Vespa

Groovy Green Tip

2008-10-28T17:28:00.003-04:00

Cloth napkins… not just for fancy holidays!

Growing up, whenever I’d go to a holiday dinner or fancy celebration, there were always cloth napkins involved. These signified a formal event and I always thought they made the dinner table look especially jazzy and sophisticated. As I got older, I realized that using cloth napkins is a groovy way to help out mother earth, and as a bonus they do make the table look nice. My husband and I each have a napkin that we keep at our spot on the table, and we each use our napkin a couple of times (until it gets dirty), then wash and use again. It saves a LOT of paper napkins. And it saves us money… even better!

Where Can I Recycle This?

2008-10-28T09:46:00.001-04:00

Is it just me, or can it be difficult to figure out where to recycle some things? For example… I have a hairdryer that is on its last legs. I know I can bring it to my local transfer station, pay a fee, and have them take it off my hands. But is there a charity or small business that might be able to make good use of my old hairdryer parts? Does anyone know?

This blog feature is going to be dedicated to finding out where you can recycle all of those old random things that have been sitting in your closet/basement/under your bed for the last year.

I just recently discovered that you can recycle your old backpacks through the American Birding Society. This is exciting news to me, as I have old backpacks dating back to elementary school sitting in a pile in my basement. Check it out: http://www.americanbirding.org/bex/items.html . The catch? They must still be in good working order, and you have to pay to mail them in yourself. The reward? Donations are tax deductible (your backpack donation will be acknowledged with a letter). The bigger reward? Your old backpack won’t be sitting in a landfill for a thousand years, cluttering up the earth for your great great grandkids. Oh yeah, and if you have any unused field guides to neotropical birds laying around the house, you can donate those too.

Water, water, everywhere

2008-10-27T22:48:00.008-04:00

Welcome to Groovy Green Sisters! I recently took the pledge to "Break the Bottled Water Habit" at one of my favorite sites http://www.newdream.org/.

It is quite an eye opener to see how wasteful (and expensive!) it is to buy bottled water. And while it can be a great alternative to buying a soda when you are thirsty, with a little planning ahead, it is also just as easy to bring your own water from home!

We like to filter our water with a Brita, then fill up a gallon jug or two and keep it in the car on long trips. There tons of nice water bottles to choose from - I have the traditional plastic Nalgene, but if you are still worried about chemicals from the plastic leaching into the water, a stainless steel bottle like SIGG www.mysigg.com/ should do the trick.

At work we have a water filtration system instead of water bottles - it looks just like the bottom half of a water cooler, with the hot and cold spigots, but there are no heavy bottles to change. http://www.atlaswatersystems.com/

I was sad to learn that our 'local' water, Poland Spring "What it means to be from Maine," is now owned by Nestle Waters North America - actually a European company. They also bought up a bunch of other local water bottling plants. So... you buy water from Maine and a corporation in Europe is profiting from it - that's just strange.

I have been wanting to check out this new movie FLOW - in theaters now... hopefully I can catch it before it goes out! http://flowthefilm.com/ It chronicles that availability of fresh water on our planet and looks fascinating!

How have you changed your water habits?

Welcome!

2008-10-22T12:00:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Groovy Green Sisters! Check back often for updated content!