Monthly Archives: August 2010
Greening Your Laundry
| August 31, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
I have had several people ask how the fact that I use cloth napkins, rags in place of paper towels and other reusable items effects my amount of laundry. It really doesn’t. Here is a picture of a weeks worth of reusable items that needed washed.
Even on it’s own it’s much less than a load but it just ends up in other loads I do anyway. So no added water or energy used.
There are also many ways to make your laundry greener. One of the easy ways is changing the products you use in the wash.
For laundry soap look for natural brands like ECOS
For a cheap and easy fabric softener reach for white vinegar. Most of the fabric softeners you will find in stores are full of nasty toxic chemicals. White vinegar will soften your clothes, remove smells and save you money.
For stains Biokleen Bac-Out
For more softening and less static in the dryer look for wool dryer balls. Most dryer balls have toxic PVC but these wool balls are plastic free and totally safe.
Other Green Laundry Tips
When replacing your washer look for an energy star machine that uses less water and less energy. Also look for an energy efficient dryer. Also newer dryers often have sensor that will turn off your dryer when your clothes are dry to prevent over drying your clothes, this is a must have feature!
If you don’t have outdoor allergies, line dry your clothes as much as you can.
Don’t put something your wore for an hour in the laundry, hang it to air out and re-wear it.
Use cold water for as many loads as you can.
Use the right amount of laundry soap. Most people use way to much.
Do you have any other green laundry tips?
Disclaimer: I earn a little bit if you buy any of the products in this blog from the Amazon links. However this is not why the products are listed and if you can buy them locally please do so.
Making Organic Food More Affordable
| August 29, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
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| Some rights reserved by Tracy O |
Yesterday I wrote about why it’s important to eat organic food, now we will talk about how to afford it. I asked my readers on Facebook and Twitter to give me the ways they save money so they can afford organic food and here is what some of you said.
“Eat at home more, and use the money you used to spend out buying more quality food.”- Sara from Mama Goes Green” Buy bulk grains, in season produce, eat less meat, and learn to cook.”- Sara Ann from Native Roots Market (where I buy a lot of my groceries)
@Organicbug suggested the Dirty Dozen. This is a great idea if you can’t afford to buy all your produce organically.
These are all great tips. Here are some of mine.
- Check out local CSA’s, farmer’s markets and Co-ops these can often save you money and you can also help local farmers.
- Grow your own garden. You don’t have to live on 20 acres to grow some of your own food, even if you can only grow a few pots worth you are still saving.
- Buy less packaged food. Packaged food almost always costs more than making the food yourself.
- Waste less. American’s waste a large amount of food, around 27 percent of the food available for consumption. Throwing away food is like throwing away money.
- Also to be able to afford a cost increase for your food look to other parts of your life to save. Things like making your own cleaners, ditching disposable products, lowering your water bill, and lowering your electric bill can help you to make up the difference in food cost.
Healthy Child Healthy World has also posted about organic food on a budget, be sure and check out their article. And also please leave your tips for making organic food more affordable.
Organic Food, Is It Worth It?
| August 28, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
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| Photo Credit: Secret Tenerife |
Time.com came out with an article titled “What’s So Great About Organic Food?” and I think it has annoyed some of us who eat organically. While it was a bit more pro organic food than other articles I have seen that just want to peg organic food eaters as elitist or stupid, it’s still telling us it’s not realistic. So is organic food worth it and a realistic goal?
An article on Technorati looks at the cost difference and makes some very good points.
“I know a married couple. Between them they own a humvee, an SUV, a luxury sedan, and a rather souped up Harley Davidson. They won’t buy organic eggs because they say it costs $3.00 a dozen. If they didn’t buy even just one of the 4 vehicles, say, the cheapest of the 4, how many cartons of organic eggs can they buy?” – Nicole Wong on Technorait
I have seen this a lot, people spending a lot of money on wants and then complaining about the cost of food. Have we lost track of what are wants and what are needs?
Another point in the Time article is about the nutrition.
“A 2009 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition led to a firestorm in the food world. It found no difference between organic and conventional produce with regard to all but three of the vitamins and other food components studied, and conventional produce actually squeaked past organic for one of those three.”- Time.com
I have seen mixed studies but at least for myself it’s not about what’s in the food as much as what’s not in the food. The vitamin levels maybe the same but the organic foods are lacking the toxic chemicals and GMO ingredients. That is what I believe to make them a healthier choice.
The article goes on to use the same old claim that we couldn’t feed the whole world with organic farming.
“When animal protein, whether organic or not, becomes a supporting player in the diet, then fruits, veggies and grains take the lead. That’s generally a good thing, but here too there are complications. The back-to-the-land ideal of farming without the use of synthetic pesticides and other chemicals can take you only so far in a country with 309 million mouths to feed (not to mention a world with 6.8 billion). Say what you will about the environmental depredations of agribusiness, industrial farms coax up to twice as much food out of every acre of land as organic farms do. And even that full-tilt output may not be enough to keep up with a global population that’s galloping ahead to a projected 9 billion by 2050.” -Time.com
In a NYTimes article in 2008 they talk about the crazy amount of food Americans throw away.
“…Americans waste an astounding amount of food — an estimated 27 percent of the food available for consumption, according to a government study…”- NYTimes
So if we are wasting so much food can we really not food the world organically or would it just mean rethinking food? Maybe we would have to waste less.
To be fair the article does agree we need to cut use of pesticides and talks about problems with conventional food as well.
“Up to 10 million tons of chemical fertilizer per year are poured onto fields to cultivate corn alone, for example, which has increased yields 23% from 1990 to 2009 but has led to toxic runoffs that are poisoning the beleaguered Gulf of Mexico.”
“Farm-raised animals are also higher in conjugated lineoleic acids, fatty acids that, according to studies of lab animals, may help reduce the risk of various cancers. What’s more, animals not raised on feedlots have less chance of spreading E. coli bacteria through contact with other animals’ manure, though the industry insists it is making improvements, with better spacing of animals on the lots and better cleaning methods in slaughterhouses.” – Time.com
Sure it would be great if all food was grown better and in a safer way but it’s not right now and I don’t see it changing soon. We need to take control of our health and also send a message to those producing our food and tell them we want safe and healthy food. So what did you think of the Time.com article?
The Majestic Plastic Bag
| August 27, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
While this is a funny video it’s a sad truth. Go to Heal the Bay for more info.
Vote for Ethical Jewelry
| August 26, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
The Today Show want’s people to vote for the rings that will be used in the Today Show wedding. Brilliant Earth an ethical and eco-friendly jewelry company is one of the options.
Brilliant Earth uses only Canada, conflict-free diamonds, they use recycled metals and source conflict-free gems.
Let’s tell the Today Show we want them to use ethical and eco-friendly jewelry. Go vote for Brilliant Earth!
Ditch the Disposables
| August 26, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
*Disclaimer: Guys you may want to skip this post*
So you have ditched the paper towels, napkins, and even the single serving size foods, what now? Well have you thought about how much waste there is because of your period? Did you know that the average woman will use 15,000 pads or tampons in a lifetime? Lunapad can help, check out the video below.
If you are worried about the umm.. mess it’s really not bad at all. Just rinse them out and store in a wet bag and wash with your other laundry. They are so soft and easy to use, you are sure to fall in love with them. If you are a tampon user check out the Diva Cup also sold by Lunapad.
Spread the word about Lunapad’s new video and you could win one of 5 $25 gift certificate. Go to their site for more info.
The Broken Food System
| August 25, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
More than half a billion eggs have been recalled and now deli meat is being recalled. What seems to be the answer to this issue? More testing. If you ask me the whole system needs changed. Our current food system adds to the risk of food recalls. We raise animals in tight and dirty conditions so when one animal gets sick it spreads like a wildfire.
The green blogs are buzzing about the news of the recalls. Here are what some are saying.
Diane of Big Green Purse gives us info on how to stay safe.
“Buy eggs produced locally on small family farms. Small farms generally produce safer food because farmers have fewer animals to police. If an animal does get sick, chances are the farmer will find it and treat it before an entire flock becomes a threat. If the farms are certified organic, so much the better. You can find the nearest family farm here. If you’re interested, take a look at Smith Meadows Farm. I buy their eggs (see their chickens in the picture below) at my local farmers market on Sundays.”
Julia over at Easy Eco To Go talks about where her eggs come from.
“I started buying eggs from The Egg Man at the Chico market after stopping by his both and learning just how funky factory farmed eggs are. The chickens in factory farms are pumped full of antibiotics to keep them from getting sick because of the nasty conditions that they live in. All of the chemicals that are put into the chickens go right into the eggs.”
So do you know where your eggs come from? Did you end up with any recalled eggs?
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| My mom’s chickens. |
Thankfully my eggs come from my mom’s very happy and healthy chickens. If you want to learn more about our broken food system I highly recommend you watch Food, Inc.
*Disclaimers: I earn a small percent if you buy Food Inc or King Corn from the links posted. If you can find them locally, rent them or can watch them on Netflix please do but if not they can be found on Amazon.
TerraCycle Garbage Moguls
| August 19, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Earth Day 2009 TerraCycle premiered Garbage Moguls on National Geographic Channel and now it’s back! On August 21st it’s back! Catch three all-new episodes back-to-back at 8:00, 9:00, and 10:00 p.m. EST (check your local listings).
You will get an inside look at TerraCycle’s team facing new challenges as they find ways to keep more items out of the landfill.
During the show you can interact with TerraCycle members including Tom Szaky at the TerraCycle’s “Online Premiere Party”. Use the hash tag #GarbageMogul on Twitter to join the conversation.
Also join in the fun at Facebook. TerraCycle will be hosting a a live trivia game on their facebook page. During the premiere there will be questions that will have you looking for the answers in each new episode. There will be 2 questions per episode (one at the beginning and one in the middle) and you will have 30 minutes to answer each question, before we ask the next one. One person, with the right answer for each question, will be chosen at random out of all the correct answers.
Summary
When: Saturday, August 21st; 7pm for the re-airing of the pilot episode, 8-11pm for the new episodes
Where: The National Geographic Channel (check your local listings for exact channel and show times)
Extra: Join TerraCycle on Twitter (#GarbageMoguls) and Facebook (Facebook.com/TerraCycle) for the online premiere party, starting at 8pm EST
Back To School Twitter Party Recap
| August 18, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Sunday night I hosted a back to school green Twitter party. Litter Free Lunch was our wonderful sponsor. We had over 50 people at the party and I tweeted so much that after the party I got put in “Twitter Jail” for about an hour.
Here are some highlights:
We talked about chemicals in schools:
@retrohousewife5 Let’s ask our schools what they are using and ask that they use safer cleaners to keep our kids and the staff safe! #ecoback2school
@gwellness @retrohousewife5 In Illinois we have state laws that require green cleaners-however there r still pestisides/herbisides etc #ecoback2school
Food/Lunch waste:
@3Boys_OldLady Besides wasted food what about the plastic cutlery used at most schools #ecoback2school
@easyecotogo: kids who bring lunch to school have to bring home whatever’s left so parents know how much to send #ecoback2school
@Litterfreelunch I ‘ve seen whole subsidized lunchbags, uneaten, tossed in the trash! Could feed the homeless! #ecoback2school
@shannoncarino @Litterfreelunch @retrohousewife5 Food waste is part of why we started bento lunches in K. Better portions & more green. #ecoback2school
Greening School Supplies
@bmom76 @retrohousewife5 I loved decorating my homemade brown paper bag book covers! #ecoback2school
@justicecw I buy almost all of my son’s books at resale. I find it easy to get quality children’s books secondhand. #ecoback2school
@gwellness @lsas1 Seems many items are boasting green & eco-friendly this year…we found Notebooks, Folders, Pencils, Paper #ecoback2school
Lots of great prizes were also given away. It was lots of fun and there will be more! If you have an idea for a topic you want to see us have a party for let me know.
Back To School: Kids Konserve Giveaway *Closed*
| August 15, 2010 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Kids Konserve was started by two women that saw a need for more reusable lunch products. They have created some great waste-free lunch kits as well as other reusable products.
I own a set of their nesting stainless steel containers, they are great sizes and I use them a lot. I love how little space they take up since they fit into each other. Also my friend reviewed one of their kits for the website, she still loves it!
Kids Konserve is offering a Snak Pak for one lucky reader. The Snak Pak includes a cotton drawstring bag, cotton napkin, round leak-proof 304 food grade stainless steel container and food kozy.
1. Post your e-mail!!!!! Every time people forget, you can’t win if you don’t leave an e-mail address. (if you have a blogger account that has your e-mail that works as well, or if you fill it out in the info, just somewhere please!)
2. Go to Kids Konserve and tell me what other product you like on the site.
3. Enter by August 22nd at 11:59 p.m.
It’s open to anyone in the continental US.
*This giveaway is sponsored by Kids Konserve. The prize comes from them. I was not paid for this post, however I have received a product for a review. These are my honest views on the products.
