Monthly Archives: April 2011
Arbor Day and Palm Oil
| April 29, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Animal Welfare, Conservation |
When we think of deforestation we normally think of the paper industry, and while the paper industry is responsible for a lot of deforestation, there is another item that is being over looked in the fight to save our forests, palm oil.
Palm oil is often grown by cutting down and burning the forests to use the land to start palm oil plantations. It is found in around 50 percent of consumer goods. You will find it in soaps, food, and biofuels. Most of the palm oil comes from Indonesia and Malaysia. Palm oil is associated with human rights violations, greenhouse gas emissions, threatening already endangered animals such as orangutans and tigers, and of course deforestation.
It is currently very hard to avoid palm oil and it will only get worse at the rate we are going. We need to demand that companies use sustainable palm oil and stop harming people, animals and the plant for this product. Two Girl Scouts are doing just this, watch the inspiring video below to learn more.
To help these girls with their fight, check out the Rainforest Action Network.
Even though I try and avoid palm oil a quick look around my house will find some products containing palm oil, like the box of organic cookies my husband got or a few of the organic soaps in the house. Look around your house, did you find palm oil?
One company that is known to use un-sustainable palm oil is Yum! Brands, which include KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. Greenpeace is currently working to get them to stop using this palm oil and switch to a sustainable version. You can find form letters to send to Yum! Brands on Greenpeace.org. It will only take a minute to send a letter so why not send one for Arbor Day?
Photo credit: a_rabin
Green Gifts for Mother’s Day
| April 27, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Holidays, Green Living |
It’s almost time for Mother’s Day. With these gift ideas you can not only give your mom a much deserved gift but you can also honor Mother Earth by choosing a green gift. The video below shows some great reusable gift ideas from Reuseit.com mom’s.
Here are some other great green gifts that moms are sure to love.
If you are wanting to give your mom flowers why not chose a perennial plant that she can enjoy for years to come? Look for native plants that do well in your climate so less care will be needed. If you are looking for cut flowers check out Organic Bouquet. They have many greener flower options.
This Fair Trade basket comes with some great gifts for mom, including organic chamomile tea, chocolate, a tea infuser mug, bath salts, soap, a pumice stone, and a cd.
These super cute bags from Envirosax are great for throwing in your purse or car so you can be sure to always have a bag. They have several styles so you are sure to find some that fit your mom’s style.
One of my favorite green products are these beautiful glass straws from Glass Dharma. I use mine almost everyday and always have one in my purse.
You can find more great gift ideas at Reuseit.com and right now they are offering $1.99 flat rate shipping, so hurry and order. Offer ends on April 30th at midnight.
Are you getting a green gift for your mom this year?
*I was not paid for this post. I am however a Reuseit.com Ambassador, this is because I believe in their products. I also am an affiliate and earn a small percent if someone buys from Reuseit.com or Global Exchange Online Store from my links. However these views are my own and I truly believe in this site and the products.
Review + Giveaway: Do It Gorgeously *closed*
| April 26, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Giveaway, Review |
*Winner: Becky*
I was very excited when I got the offer to review Uliano’s latest book, Do It Gorgeously
To give you an idea of what you will find in the book here is one of the recipes. This one is perfect for spring and summer.
Insect Repellent Spray
Yield: approximately 2 oz.
Application: use morning and before you go out in the evening.
Storage: 2 oz. dark glass bottle with a spray closure, in a cool, dark cupboard.
Shelf life: 3 months
3 tablespoons lavender water (made by pouring half a cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoons of dried lavender flowers. Leave it to steep for half an hour.)
2 drops sandalwood essential oil
6 drops citronella essential oil
6 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Add essential oils to lavender water and pour into bottle.
Doesn’t get much easier than that! And you can skip the nasty pesticides that are in most insect repellents. This is just a sample of the great things you will find in this book. It great for all greenies and DYI-ers. And guys this isn’t just a book for girls, you will find things in there as well. Guys need bugs spray also, right?
Sophie Uliano has been kind enough to offer a copy of her book for one lucky reader. You are sure to love this book so be sure to enter!
And now for the rules-
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 the Gorgeously Green website and have a look around, come back and tell me something you found interesting. This is the mandatory entry.
3. Enter by May 3rd at 11:59 p.m.
Extra Entries (post separate comment for each):
1. Blog about the giveaway, post link.
2. Post on Twitter, post link.
3. Add me on Twitter @retrohousewife5, leave username in comment.
4. Follow me, let me know which way you are following. (Google, NetworkedBlog, E-mail, other)
5. Add my button to your site. (the button and code are on the right side of the page) Be sure to leave a link for where you put the button.
6. Subscribe to the Retro Housewife Goes Green newsletter. (On the right side of the page)
7. Like Retro Housewife Goes Green on Facebook.
8. Like Gorgeously Green on Facebook.
Remember post a separate comment for each of the above ways to enter! They will only count if they are separate.
*This giveaway is sponsored by publisher. The prizes comes from them. I was not paid for this post, I did receive a copy of the book to write the review. If you buy the book through one of my Amazon links I earn a small percent. None of this effects my views on the book.
My Crazy Earth Day
| April 23, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Earth Day |
Thursday local news was talking about a large risk for severe weather and even tornadoes. I didn’t think much of it though since they thought north of us would have the higher risk and we have a high risk for tornadoes most of spring. So I made plans with my friend to have her and her boyfriend come over and we were going to get some food and watch Disneynature Oceans.
Don’t forget to check out how you can get up to five free straws from Glass Dharma. It’s a really great deal!
Q&A with Disneynature
| April 22, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Animal Welfare, Conservation, Earth Day |
I got the chance to interview Keith Scholey, one of the directors of Disneynature’s African Cats. African Cats is the third Disneynature film. The film opens today, Earth Day.
RH: What is unique about this film from your perspective?
Keith Scholey: I think first and fore most you don’t often get to see the African cats on the big screen. When you actual see our movie you see the animals in such great detail, you see the behavior in such great detail, once more you get to hear it, with the surround sound of the cinema, you can really be submersed in the African savanna. So I think that’s one thing, but the second thing is, it’s very much a character driven drama you actual get to experience these cats in a similar way you would movie stars in a movie. But you get taken through a true life drama that’s really compelling, I think it has a number of elements that are quite unique.
 |
| Keith Scholey |
RH: What lessons will the film teach future generations?
Keith Scholey: The first most import thing is I think to value nature, you have to experience these animals in a way that really excites you. That you really get to understand how beautiful they are but also their way of life but more the challenges wild animals have to face to be able to succeed in the wilderness. And this film I think does this very very well. I think after than what happens after that is you say build up a sense of value for the animals. And value is the starting point of anything that follows in term of conservation.
RH: What kind of positive impact do you think films like this one can have on our planet?
Keith Scholey: I always view my job as the marketeers of the natural world. I think there is a huge danger right now as our society becomes more and more separated from the natural world, people become disconnected. And I think what our films do is they reconnect people with the wonders of the natural world. I think TV does that job quite well, but I think the thing about cinema is it can reach different audience. But also really, really give you the full wonder and impact of what the natural world has to offer.
RH: How has making natural and wildlife films impacted your life?
Keith Scholey: I was lucky, I was brought up in Kenya as a kid, I grew up with wildlife. I’ve always kind of loved it. It’s saddening to see what has happened over the past decades as it gets tougher and tougher for the natural world. And I have seen a lot of that change. I’ve had this very privileged life of being able to go out and see these animals and experience them. But what’s been really important in the film making world is being able to somehow communicate some of that to a broader audience. That’s been very rewarding
RH: What challenges did you face directing a film for such a broad audience?
Keith Scholey: I think the main kind of challenge is to create a compelling story with compelling characters. And I know these animals well, I know each of them has their own character, and they are all in my view super heros. But actually making sure that comes across in the movie was very very important. I think African Cats is a very emotional film and it was crucial that it was that. That people were sort of pulled in to those characters and really sort of experienced there lives.
RH: What was your favorite animal you filmed for the movie?
Keith Scholey: [Laughing] I love them all. But I guess I spent a lot of time personal time with Sita the cheetah and I watched those cubs grow up and actually seeing a cub grow up from a tiny half blind little sort of ball of fluff into a fully grown adult cheetah is an amazing experience.
A Little Activism for a Great Reward
| April 17, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Earth Day, Giveaway, Green Living |
Often we just think of the big things when look to make a difference. However, the small things do add up. One of those items are plastic straws. Americans throw away 138 billion straws and coffee stirrers each year! That’s a lot of plastic.
There is an easy solution. If you have read my blog very long or know me in person, you know that one of my favorite green products are glass straws from Glass Dharma. These straws can eliminate your need for straws and stirrers. Glass Dharma even has great carrying cases so you can easy take them with you. Unfortunately even if you have your own straw it’s hard to avoid them. Many restaurants put straws in your drink without asking you so you have to remember to ask for no straw. Even when you do ask for no straw you still may end up with one.
Glass Dharma is trying to help stop this problem by encouraging all of us to write letters to our favorite restaurants and ask them to stop giving out straws. While we would love for them to offer glass straws, it would also be a great step if restaurants would use non-plastic biodegradable paper straws or at least always ask before giving a straw.
While often activism’s only reward is a job well done but not this time! Glass Dharma is “willing to put free glass straws where your lips are”, they will give you a free straw for each letter you send, up to five straws (each letter to different restaurants of course). This offer is good through April 30th, 2011. If that wasn’t enough you will also be entered into a drawing and one lucky winner will get a $100.00 gift certificate for Glass Dharma. Entries must be received before the end of the day on April 30th, 2011. The drawing will be held on May 4th, 2011.
As always there are some rules:
- Write a letter (must be snail mail, emails don’t count. Glass Dharma feels this will have more of an impact) to a restaurant, it’s best if it’s one you frequent and have seen them give out unwrapped straws automatically. (You can find a great sample of a letter below, Beth Terry wrote this letter, be sure to personalize it)
- Post your letter in a comment on this blog. Include the address of the restaurant in case others wish to write to the same restaurant, we can save each other a little time. (Please delete your personal contact information)
- Send your letter via email to Glass Dharma at earthday@glassdharma.com and be sure to include the contact information for the restaurant as well as your personal contact information. They will need your contact information to send you your free straw(s). The contact information Glass Dharma needs is your name, mailing address and email address.
- Also there are several bloggers participating in this initiative but you can only win five straws total.
- We would love to see letters from all countries but participants from the USA and Canada are the only ones that will be eligible for the free straws. Feel free to post your letters even if you can’t get a straw (no need to email them to Glass Dharma though).
Sample Letter
Your Name
Address
Address
Email
April 15, 2011
Restaurant Name
Address
Addres
Email
Dear ________:
As a long-time customer, I not only appreciate your food but also the fact that it is served on beautiful, durable dishes, with real flatware and glasses. I know that when I eat at your place, I’ll have a waste-free meal — except for one thing: the disposable plastic straws. I don’t need or want one. But unless I ask the server ahead of time not to bring me one, they stick a straw in my drink automatically, generating plastic waste that will last for thousands of years.
In honor of Earth Day, I am writing to ask you to change your plastic straw policy.
1) First, please train your servers to ask customers if they want a straw instead of automatically giving them one. Some people don’t like straws and will appreciate being asked. All others will get a chance to stop and think about whether they actually need this disposable plastic item in the first place. It’s like grocery stores training their employees to ask whether customers want a bag.
2) Second, I would love it if you’d switch to paper straws for those customers who request one. Yes, they are still disposable, but at least they are compostable and will not last in the environment, potentially harming wildlife. One company that offers paper straws is Aardvark (http://www.aardvarkstraws.com).
3) And third, please consider participating in an upgrade program, offering customers the opportunity to pay extra for their meal and receive a reusable straw to carry with them. I have been carrying a glass straw from a company called Glass Dharma for the past few years so that I don’t have to waste plastic. On their web site, they describe the Menu Upgrade program for restaurants (http://glassdharma.blogspot.com/2010/11/whats-on-menu.html), which I think is a great idea.
Please respond and let me know which steps you are willing to take. I do appreciate your restaurant and good food.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Disclaimer: This initiative is hosted by Glass Dharma. I’m not being paid to be apart of it. Glass Dharma is however one of my advertisers. This does not effect my view of them or their products.
Plastic Straw Photo credit: nist6ss
Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution is Back!
| April 12, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Real Food |
Tonight on ABC at 8/7c (less than 20 minutes from now) Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution is going to Los Angeles. Here is a quick preview.
Will you be watching? I will be on Twitter while watching, if you are watching join me to discuss the show.
Why I’m Not Using GoDaddy Hosting
| April 10, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Animal Welfare |
You have probably heard by now about the video of the CEO of Go Daddy, Bob Parsons, killing an elephant. This happened right when I was looking at buying web hosting for this blog and my other website. I have had domain names with GoDaddy for awhile now and had been pretty happy with them. However, I will now not be renewing them through GoDaddy.
Parsons claims he was helping the people of Zimbabwe by killing the elephant. And while it is true the elephants destroy crops there are non-lethal ways to deal with them. He also tries to claim that it helps feed people. Again this is true but it costs a lot of money to kill elephants, enough money to feed far more people than the elephant will. Parsons has even said he plans to do this again, this was already his second time.
If you are using GoDaddy or were looking to get a domain name or web hosting this is a good time to make the switch to a green host and maybe one with a CEO that isn’t off killing elephants. I am using GreenGeeks and really like it so far. Customer service is great and it’s very easy to add WordPress.org to sites hosted on GreenGeeks.
GreenGeeks is green because they purchase wind energy credits for all the energy they use. They replace three times the amount of energy their servers uses with wind credits. In away sites on GreenGeeks are 300% wind powered. Sure credits aren’t as good as being off-the-grid but it still supports alternative energy.
GreenGeeks also has worked on their servers to make them more energy efficient and run cooler. They also recycle in the offices and only print legal and essential documents. They use lighting control systems to be sure no lights are left on when not in use. They also encourages telecommuting for their employees and for the ones that do work in the offices they take turns bringing home cooked meals to reduce the amount of waste from food out.
So be sure to check out GreenGeeks if you are looking for domain name or host. They are currently offering a $30 off coupon for everyone that switches to them from GoDaddy. Just use the code GoDaddy.
Disclaimer: I am an affilate for GreenGeeks and earn a percent of your fee if you order from a link on my site. I was not paid to write this and these are my honest views.
Homemade Coffee Drinks
| April 10, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Real Food, Recipe |
I thought for years I didn’t like coffee. I had tasted coffee several times and even tried very sweet coffee from Starbucks. It all just tasted burnt and bitter to me. It wasn’t until last year when I tried a local coffee –PrimaCafe – in a french press
Lately I have been playing around with our coffee and making fancy drinks at home. With it being a very warm spring so far cold coffee drinks are becoming a favorite around here. The biggest hit was a caramel blended iced coffee.
Another cold coffee drink I have been enjoying is an iced mocha. This is very simple.. I don’t really have a recipe as such. Just brew strong coffee, I like to make more than one cup’s worth and store it in the fridge. You should only make what you will drink in 1-2 days. While it’s hot add sugar to taste and 1-2 teaspoons or so of cocoa powder per cup of coffee. Mix well and let cool. Once cooled pour about half coffee and half milk over ice. You can play with this to fit your tastes.
If you are going to make coffee at home I highly recommend a good french press. A french press doesn’t burn you coffee like a drip coffee maker sometimes does. Also the only energy comes from boiling the water. My favorite french press comes from Bodum
Starbucks, Hypocritical? Part 2
| April 9, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Waste |
Several months ago I wrote about going to Starbucks and trying to use my reusable mug. Even though I had a mug the barista still made my hot drink in a plastic cup, which he then threw away. Well I decided to try again at a different Starbucks because I really wanted a cold drink and since I had my mug I thought it could be waste free.
I was wrong. Thankfully I was watching as they started to make my drink. The barista reached for a plastic cup and I stopped her and said “I brought a mug, are you still going to use a plastic cup?” She said “yes, I have to use it to measure.” I told her I didn’t want it if she was going to use plastic. She looked at my puzzled and handed me my mug. I asked why they were now doing that since I was getting a Frappuccino, which they make in a blender anyway. She said they switched the recipe and have to use the cup to measure the dairy.
This leads one to ask how Starbucks can still promote the fact that they give a discount for bring your own mug and you can request your drink be made in a mug if staying in store. On their website they say-
“Reducing the environmental impact of our cups depends on the success of two interrelated efforts: developing recyclable cup solutions and dramatically increasing our customers’ use of reusable cups. A lot of our customers are also working to reduce their own environmental impact even as we are. To help them help us, we offer a 10-cent discount in the U.S. and Canada to encourage customers to use their own reusable mugs or tumblers for their beverages. Customers staying in a store can also request that their beverages be served in a ceramic mug. Every paper cup saved helps keep our forests intact. (Learn more about deforestation from our friends at Conservation International.)”- Starbucks.com
I do not plan to be back unless this problem is fixed. Do you think Starbucks is wrong for marketing that you can bring your own mug and safe a cup when they still use a disposable cup for your drink?
