Green Your Kitchen & Bathroom

Posted December 5, 2009 By Freddi Bear and has no comments yet.

When it comes to trying to live a greener lifestyle it is easiest to start at home. Many people believe that taking steps to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle will take up too much time, energy and money which is untrue. There are many changes that can be made with little to no effort and minimal expense. Here are some tips from the DIY Network that can give you a headstart on your new greener way of life.

BATHS
1. Fix a drip.
Drip, drop, drip, drop. That leak in the bathroom sink is not just annoying. It’s costing you loads of cash in water and energy bills and wasted gallons. Get it fixed ASAP, and if you can’t get the plumber scheduled right away, use this old trick: Tie a string on the faucet and allow the drops to dribble silently down into a cup or small bowl. Use the collected H2O to water your houseplants.

2. Get clean.
Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners in favor of natural cleansers (soap, water, vinegar, baking soda). You’ll do a favor for the environment and yourself.

3. Be water wise.
Low-flow toilets have come a long way. New models max out at 1.6 gallons of water per flush, but the very latest models can use even less.

4. Be water wise some more.
Tankless water heaters are a great energy saver. There’s no reason to keep a giant tank of heated water at your beck and call all day and night. Bonus tip: Go the extra mile when you turn on the shower by placing a bucket or other container under the showerhead. In the few moments it takes for the water to heat up, you can gather enough for the dog’s bowl and the houseplants. Don’t waste a drop!

5. Smell Sweet.
Cut down on harmful chemicals and gasses released into your home by using low- or no-VOC paints when giving the bath, or any other room, a fresh color.

KITCHENS
6. Be water smart.
A simple hardware store doo-dad called an aerator on your kitchen (or bath) faucet cuts down on water consumption, sacrificing very little if any water pressure. For less than $15, you can install one of these yourself and save up to 500 gallons per year.

7. Vent a little.
Proper ventilation in the cooktop hood of your kitchen keeps bills down and air quality up.

8. Think small.
The kitchen is the energy gobbler of the home. If you’re planning a remodel, building new, or just replacing an old appliance, remember that bigger isn’t always better. In addition to looking for energy-efficiency ratings on your new purchase, consider going for a smaller model that uses less energy to begin with. Bonus tip: New drawer-style dishwashers help cut back on water use for smaller loads.

9. Lighten Up.
Opening up a kitchen with skylights and windows that allow natural sunlight to stream in not only helps your mood stay perky, it is a natural, free way to light your space. No budget to add windows? At least let the light in by removing heavy, lightblocking window treatments.

10. Divide and Conquer.
Dedicate a little space for recycling bins or bags to make living green convenient for the whole family. You can purchase color-coded units with separate compartments and lids, or create your own recycling center with inexpensive bins from the home center or discount store.

11. Go, greens!
Try your hand at going green by growing herbs or salad greens in the kitchen. Bringing in a natural element adds some coziness to your home’s busiest room, and naturally cleans the air you breathe. (And of course, nothing beats adding your own fresh basil to that pasta at the dinner table.)

Reasons to Eat Organically

Posted December 4, 2009 By Freddi Bear and has no comments yet.

For the last ten years I have tried to eat organically as often as possible. There were times when the financial expense of eating only organic foods was too much. Now the problem is that my local supermarket doesn’t carry much in the way of organic produce and because I work full time I find myself limited when it comes to where I shop for food. Organic.com is a great resource that I turn to for information on reasons to eat organically as well as a tool for finding local farmers markets. Here are their top 10 reasons to eat organically:

1. Reduce The Toxic Load: Keep Chemicals Out of the Air, Water, Soil and our Bodies
Buying organic food promotes a less toxic environment for all living things. With only 0.5 percent of crop and pasture land in organic, according to USDA that leaves 99.5 percent of farm acres in the U.S. at risk of exposure to noxious agricultural chemicals.

Our bodies are the environment so supporting organic agriculture doesn’t just benefit your family, it helps all families live less toxically.

2. Reduce if Not Eliminate Off Farm Pollution
Industrial agriculture doesn’t singularly pollute farmland and farm workers; it also wreaks havoc on the environment downstream. Pesticide drift affects non-farm communities with odorless and invisible poisons. Synthetic fertilizer drifting downstream is the main culprit for dead zones in delicate ocean environments, such as the Gulf of Mexico, where its dead zone is now larger than 22,000 square kilometers, an area larger than New Jersey, according to Science magazine, August, 2002.

3. Protect Future Generations
Before a mother first nurses her newborn, the toxic risk from pesticides has already begun. Studies show that infants are exposed to hundreds of harmful chemicals in utero. In fact, our nation is now reaping the results of four generations of exposure to agricultural and industrial chemicals, whose safety was deemed on adult tolerance levels, not on children’s. According to the National Academy of Science, “neurologic and behavioral effects may result from low-level exposure to pesticides.” Numerous studies show that pesticides can adversely affect the nervous system, increase the risk of cancer, and decrease fertility.

4. Build Healthy Soil
Mono-cropping and chemical fertilizer dependency has taken a toll with a loss of top soil estimated at a cost of $40 billion per year in the U.S., according to David Pimental of Cornell University. Add to this an equally disturbing loss of micro nutrients and minerals in fruits and vegetables. Feeding the soil with organic matter instead of ammonia and other synthetic fertilizers has proven to increase nutrients in produce, with higher levels of vitamins and minerals found in organic food, according to the 2005 study, “Elevating Antioxidant levels in food through organic farming and food processing,” Organic Center State of Science Review (1.05)

5. Taste Better and Truer Flavor
Scientists now know what we eaters have known all along: organic food often tastes better. It makes sense that strawberries taste yummier when raised in harmony with nature, but researchers at Washington State University just proved this as fact in lab taste trials where the organic berries were consistently judged as sweeter. Plus, new research verifies that some organic produce is often lower in nitrates and higher in antioxidants than conventional food. Let the organic feasting begin!

6. Assist Family Farmers of all Sizes
According to Organic Farming Research Foundation, as of 2006 there are approximately 10,000 certified organic producers in the U.S. compared to 2500 to 3,000 tracked in 1994. Measured against the two million farms estimated in the U.S. today, organic is still tiny. Family farms that are certified organic farms have a double economic benefit: they are profitable and they farm in harmony with their surrounding environment. Whether the farm is a 4-acre orchard or a 4,000-acre wheat farm, organic is a beneficial practice that is genuinely family-friendly.

7. Avoid Hasty and Poor Science in Your Food
Cloned food. GMOs and rBGH. Oh my! Interesting how swiftly these food technologies were rushed to market, when organic fought for 13 years to become federal law. Eleven years ago, genetically modified food was not part of our food supply; today an astounding 30 percent of our cropland is planted in GMOs. Organic is the only de facto seal of reassurance against these and other modern, lab-produced additions to our food supply, and the only food term with built in inspections and federal regulatory teeth.

8. Eating with a Sense of Place
Whether it is local fruit, imported coffee or artisan cheese, organic can demonstrate a reverence for the land and its people. No matter the zip code, organic has proven to use less energy (on average, about 30 percent less), is beneficial to soil, water and local habitat, and is safer for the people who harvest our food. Eat more seasonably by supporting your local farmers market while also supporting a global organic economy year round. It will make your taste buds happy.

9. Promote Biodiversity
Visit an organic farm and you’ll notice something: a buzz of animal, bird and insect activity. These organic oases are thriving, diverse habitats. Native plants, birds and hawks return usually after the first season of organic practices; beneficial insects allow for a greater balance, and indigenous animals find these farms a safe haven. As best said by Aldo Leopold, “A good farm must be one where the native flora and fauna have lost acreage without losing their existence.” An organic farm is the equivalent of reforestation. Industrial farms are the equivalent of clear cutting of native habitat with a focus on high farm yields.

10. Celebrate the Culture of Agriculture
Food is a ‘language’ spoken in every culture. Making this language organic allows for an important cultural revolution whereby diversity and biodiversity are embraced and chemical toxins and environmental harm are radically reduced, if not eliminated. The simple act of saving one heirloom seed from extinction, for example, is an act of biological and cultural conservation. Organic is not necessarily the most efficient farming system in the short run. It is slower, harder, more complex and more labor-intensive. But for the sake of culture everywhere, from permaculture to human culture, organic should be celebrated at every table.

Go Green by Working From Home

Posted December 2, 2009 By Freddi Bear and has no comments yet.

Working from home can be a great alternative to a desk in a cubicle, but, as many people who try it will tell you, it isn’t as easy as slapping your laptop down on the dining room table. And, while wearing pajamas all day might sound nice, it doesn’t make the cut for many who work from home. Still, whether you embrace the romantic-sounding ideals of managing a home office or not, one thing remains true: It can be way greener than commuting to an office every day.

From cutting out the commute to scaling back on unnecessary paper or energy use, there are tons of ways that working from home can help make you just as happy, healthy, and successful as you might be working in an office, but it isn’t quite as simple as inserting recycled paper in your printer tray. You’ll want to take action to insure you create and maintain a healthy home working environment, and do things like schedule sufficient breaks, to help keep your mind and body moving throughout the day.

And, while it’s easy to concentrate on the environmental benefits of working from home, the mental and emotional ones are sometimes just as important, which is while it’s important to carefully consider a space in which you can comfortably, productively work (and not just an empty closet you don’t have anything else to do with). The benefits—environmental, emotional, or otherwise—can be myriad, so if you hate commuting, if you’re most productive outside a traditional 9-5 schedule, or if you just got laid off, then working from home might be the answer. And while some of the green changes you’d make by skipping the office are obvious—like cutting your carbon output by not commuting and saving on disposable lunch containers—there are dozens more choices, from desks to chairs to pencils, that you can turn into an opportunity to support eco-friendly products. Read on to learn how to go green while working from home.

Top Green Work from Home Tips

Find a job
Ideally, you’ll be able to talk to your employer about formatting your current job into one you can do from home-even working from home just one or two days a week can make a big impact on the environment. But if your boss is one of the many who aren’t willing to let employees telecommute, then it might be time to look for a position that’s based out of your home, or become a freelancer or consultant in your field. Even better: Find a green job you can do without leaving your house, or start your own green business.
Choose a workspace
Before you can start greening your office, you need an office to green. And the kind of surroundings that make someone else productive might not work best for you—just look at the differences in TreeHugger writers’ home offices, which range from urban enclaves to living room sofas to moving trains. General wisdom is that setting aside a space dedicated only to work helps you stay focused and motivated; keeping it free of distractions—kids, non-work phone calls, and the UPS guy—lets you concentrate. If you can find a space that actually inspires you-because of the view, the architecture, or any other quality-even better. Of course, fresh air, big windows, and plenty of sunlight won’t hurt either; studies have shown that pulling the curtains and opening a window to catch the breeze makes workers more productive.
Find a desk
This is going to be the place where you spend most of your days from now on, so think carefully about what kind of desk you want, need, and have space for. Looking for tons of drawers? A big work surface? Or something modular that you can push out of the way when company comes? No matter what your preferences are, you can find environmentally-safe desks that fits the bill. Skip the particleboard (sorry, IKEA lovers: It’s full of VOCs) and opt instead for sustainable wood or recycled metal with non-toxic finishes. Another good plan is to check antique stores, thrift shops, estate sales, yard sales, or even your attic for used desks in good condition; you can even fashion a desk out of an old door supported by filing cabinets for more character.
Grab a seat
Spending the majority of your day staring at a computer sounds like it wouldn’t be physically demanding, but it does take a toll on your posture, muscles, and long-term productivity. Key in an office chair: find one that’s ergonomic, with good lumbar support, and adjustable to fit you. Herman Miller, Steelcase, Haworth, and Trey all offer models made in large part from recycled materials, and in colors and fabrics that are recycled and colored with non-toxic dye. For extra sustainability, look for chairs that are Greenguard or Cradle-to-Cradle certified (we’ll get more into this in the Getting Techie section). And don’t be afraid to splurge on a high quality chair. Once you’re sitting 40 hours a week on a cheap one, you’ll find the extra money is well worth it. Check out our guide to Buy Green: Office Chairs for more info on which chair might be right for you.
Power up
If you’re making the switch to working from home, a computer is a non-negotiable necessity. But the kind of computer? That can be up for some debate. If all you need is an internet connection, word processing, and some basic photo editing tools, then buying the fanciest processor around is a waste—you might be able to make do with what you have, or buy a smaller version, for basic use. (It’s not a bad idea to buy a larger monitor, though; it’s easier on your eyes and lets you see twice as much with the same power.) If you are buying a new laptop or desktop, look for one that’s EPEAT-certified, so it’s made with less hazardous waste than non-certified brands, or that meets Energy Star requirements. Better yet: buy used.
Get connected
Along with your computer, you’ll probably need a few other gadgets to stay in touch with bosses and coworkers-especially if you want to be available no matter where and when they need you; think cell phone, Blackberry or iPhone, scanner, printer, and fax machine, depending on what kind of work you do. Our How to Go Green: Gadgets guide offers plenty of tips for finding the best product with the least environmental impact—check it out for information on energy ratings, recycled and recyclable electronics, renewable chargers, and buyback programs.
Stock up on supplies
In a perfectly green world, your desk needs would be minimal—you’d make do with just a pen and paper for jotting quick notes, instead of an overflowing drawer of post-its, address books, notepads, pens, pencils, highlighters, thumb tacks, staples—need we go on? But if you’re the type who can’t pass a stationery aisle without shelling out for the fanciest fine-points and a clean, new notebook, you can still choose eco-friendly options: pencils made from sustainable wood or old denim, refillable white-board markers, recycled paper, and compostable packing materials, to name a few. Though if you’re anything like we are, you likely have plenty of pens, pencils, and old notebooks in your home already; try rummaging through those junk drawers before buying new.
Go paperless
Using recycled paper is great, but using no paper is even better. You’re likely already using online billing for your personal life; transfer that to your professional accounts with electronically-submitted invoices and direct deposit. Investing in a good scanner lets you shred documents (try reusing them as packaging materials) and navigate them as searchable PDFs. If you have the kind of job that’s impossible to do without any printing at all, try to cut back; these free downloadable software programs let you print just what you need from websites (without all the extra formatting), while Greenprint shows you the whole document before it prints, so you can select just the pieces you’re looking for and eliminate waste.
Sweat the small stuff
The green factors you don’t need to think about in a corporate office still add up when you’re working at home. We’re talking light bulbs, thermostat settings, air quality—it’s up to you to stay on top of these in your home office. Luckily, the solutions are pretty simple. Recycle any paper you use, install compact fluorescent bulbs, wear a sweater in the winter to keep from cranking the heat (or consider using a space heater to keep your office comfortable), and open the windows in the summer (or, if it’s uncomfortably hot, relocate for a few hours to your local library or coffee shop with wi-fi). Turning off your computer overnight saves energy and gives you a mental break from work, while adding a plant or an air filter can help you breathe easy.
Stay healthy
While it’s great for the planet that you’ve cut out your commute, spending all your time in the same building can drain your energy and cut into your social interaction. Make time every day to get outside, whether it’s to run errands, go for a walk, or hit the gym, and get a free conference program like Skype to chat face-to-face with your boss and coworkers. Take a few minutes to look away from your computer every hour, and plan your meals and snacks to cut back on mindless munching. And when you are lucky enough to step away from the computer for extended periods of time, turn off your lights and gadgets to cut back on wasted energy.

Source: Planet Green.com

10 Tips to a Greener Pregnancy

Posted December 1, 2009 By Freddi Bear and has no comments yet.

1. Trim consumption of animal fats
When you’re pregnant, it’s more important than ever to choose lean cuts of meat, trim away fat and opt for fat-free dairy products. Here’s why: Some toxins linked to prenatal nervous system and hormonal damage are stored in fatty tissue. These include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which pose risks of reduced intelligence to the developing fetus; brominated fire retardants; dioxins and other pollutants that persist in our air and water.

2. Put a stop to insecticides in your home and office
Organophosphates are a family of insecticides that attack the nervous system. In two New York City studies conducted last year, babies of women who had been most exposed to two organophosphates, chlorpyrifos (Dursban and Lorsban) and diazinon (Spectracide), had significantly lower birth weights. Fortunately, these insecticides were phased out of residential and school use by the EPA in 2001-03. However, other organophosphates are still in circulation, as are similar compounds called pyrethroids. Pesticides also release inhalable volatile organic compounds (see below).

What to do instead? Researchers at the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (CCCEH) recommend that pregnant women switch to sticky traps and other bait stations, “which are safer, last longer and are more effective,” while keeping surfaces clean of food residue, removing trash and treating cracks with boric acid, classified by the EPA as of low toxicity, then sealing with caulk. (Keep boric acid and baits out of the reach of children and pets.)

3. Select foods to minimize pesticide residues
Chlorpyrifos and diazinon (see above), along with many related toxic pesticides, are still used widely on food crops. Prioritize your grocery list to allow for the purchase of the following organic fruits and vegetables that, when conventionally grown, tend to harbor the most pesticide residue: apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, spinach, strawberries and peppers.

4. Pass on high-mercury fish
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can harm a developing fetus. Say “no” to high-mercury fish such as fresh tuna, canned albacore, wild bass, swordfish and tilefish. (One meal of moderate-mercury fish, such as canned light tuna, can be eaten once a month.) Eat up: low-mercury “yes” fish such as sardines, wild salmon and farmed striped bass.

5. Let Old Paint Lie
Since lead has been banned from gasoline (in 1996) and paint (in 1978), most exposures now come from old lead-based paint. This heavy metal, which can also contaminate water and soil, can interfere with nearly every aspect of fetal development, causing brain and kidney damage, according to the CCHE. If your old house has lead paint in good condition, cover it with fresh paint rather than removing it, which releases lead dust into the air. To test paint for lead, see www.epa.gov/lead or call the EPA’s lead hot line at 800-426-4791.

6. Make sure your water is safe to drink
Your local utility must by law provide you with an annual “Right to Know” report listing the EPA-recognized pollutants that exist in your water at potentially unsafe levels. Trihalomethanes, for instance, can increase the risk of miscarriage. See Green Guide #101 for contaminants to avoid and best filters. If you suspect there’s lead in your pipes, allow the tap to run for 30 seconds to clear them before using water. Find lead-testing services at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/labs/index.html.

7. Avoid the VOCs that offgas from paints, glues, air fresheners
Toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can evaporate from many conventional building, decorating and other household products, including air freshener sprays. Exposure to air fresheners during pregnancy and within the first six months of life was associated with diarrhea and earache in infants and headaches and depression in mothers, according to a study published in the October 2003 Archives of Environmental Health.

If exposed to fumes at work, speak up: Thirty-two children exposed in utero to organic solvents had lower scores on language and other developmental tests, according to a study published in the October 2004 Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. In the workplace, their mothers had come into contact with such solvents as toluene, xylene, mineral spirits, isopropyl alcohol and trichloroethylene.

8. Steer clear of vehicular and smokestack emissions
Research conducted by Columbia University links “combustion-related” chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with shorter gestation periods for pregnant women, resulting in smaller babies. PAHs are in car or bus exhaust and emissions from residential heating and power generation. Before exercising outdoors, check the EPA’s Air Quality Index at epa.gov/airnow. Keep windows closed during peak traffic hours.

9. Stay away from phthalates in vinyl, personal-care and cleaning products
Chemicals called phthalates, known hormone-system disruptors that have caused birth defects in lab animals, are widely used as plasticizers in nail polishes and vinyl and as solvents in synthetic fragrances. Avoid soft vinyl products and cosmetics containing “Fragrance.”

10. Get rid of those crumbling foam cushions, already!
The latest chemicals found to be approaching possibly unsafe levels in American women’s breast milk, as well as umbilical-cord blood, are fire retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs. Furniture foam tends to release PBDEs into house dust when it breaks down.

Make Your Thanksgiving Green

Posted November 25, 2009 By Freddi Bear and has no comments yet.

Earth 911’s 8 Green Thanksgiving Tips

Earth911 has some wonderful ways to green your Thanksgiving this year as well. Something unique you’ll find there is how to execute efficient “crowd control” and not waste pounds and pounds of food. Check it out:

“At least 28 billion pounds of edible food is wasted each year – more than 100 pounds per person. One of the best ways to reduce your waste this Thanksgiving is to plan ahead for the meal and practicing portion control.

Use Less Stuff created a handy list of approximate per person food and drink portions:

Turkey- 1 pound
Stuffing- ¼ pound
Sweet potato casserole- ¼ pound
Green beans- ¼ pound
Cranberry relish- 3 tablespoons
Pumpkin pie- 1/8 of a 9 inch pie

After the meal, evaluate how many people were present and how much of each dish was consumed. By keeping track each year, you can make a more efficient, less wasteful Thanksgiving meal in the future.”

That’s a great tip right there!

Save money at Farmer’s Markets

Planet Green, as always, has one of the most conclusive guides to greening your Thanksgiving.

They recommend shopping for your non-perishables and staple items at your local Farmer’s Market about a week in advance:

“Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to hit up your local farmers’ market for organic, locally-sourced produce. Since these traditional recipes typically rely on food that’s in season, you can pretty much find everything you need in the way of root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams) as well as specialty items like honey or even beeswax candles to adorn your table.”

Go on, mozy on down to your farmer’s market. You’re going to find the quality much better and prices MUCH lower than your grocery store.

You may even consider sourcing everything in your Thanksgiving meal within 100 miles of your home.

Seventh Generation the Greener Choice

Posted November 21, 2009 By Freddi Bear and has no comments yet.

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One of the country’s first self-declared “socially responsible” companies, Seventh Generation is a business that operates according to a new and different set of principles and values that in many ways are a marked departure from those long considered “traditional.” Its business practice is focused on offering people avenues to express their idealism, passion, and commitment to causes larger than themselves at every point along its supply chain—from suppliers and partners to shareholders, customers and its own staff.

The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment and making the world a safer place for this and the next seven generations.

Educating This and Future Generations

Seventh Generation is committed to helping consumers make informed choices.

Seventh Generation provides information in several formats: on packaging, on this Web site, in 7Gen News (look in the upper right corner on any Seventh Generation web page to sign up) and in booklets and presentations by Chief Inspired Protagonist Jeffrey Hollender, company co-founder and Executive Chairperson as well as other members of our community.

A complete line of non-toxic household products

Seventh Generation brand-name products include: non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled paper towels, bathroom and facial tissues, and napkins; non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaning, dish and laundry products; plastic trash bags made from recycled plastic; chlorine-free baby diapers, training pants, and baby wipes; and chlorine-free feminine care products, including organic cotton tampons.

Our donations program

They dedicate 10% of our profits to non-profit community, environmental, health, and responsible business organizations working for positive change.

Recycled High End Design

Posted November 19, 2009 By Freddi Bear and has no comments yet.

epOxyGreen, a cutting edge design company based in Los Angeles, CA, has managed to incorporate great art and the ability to use greener materials in consideration of the planet. They are amazingly creative and their use of salvaged and recycled materials is impressive. According to their website,

“One of the main stereotypes about green is its cost. But we know that there are many options in every category of build at every price level.

We have designed our offering of materials in easily approachable price levels.

Customers can find their desired look at any price point, mixing and matching levels to achieve a perfect cost effective result.

Green is now affordable, innovative, elegant and easy.”

Tips for a Greener Thanksgiving

Posted November 15, 2009 By Freddi Bear and has 1 comment.

Hosting any holiday dinner can be a very difficult task so the last thing anyone wants is to make this job harder. Here are 10 ways to improve your Thanksgiving holiday from, Planet Green, in a more earth friendly way without adding any additional work. Perhaps the simplest way to have a greener Thanksgiving dinner is to substitute your regular produce with organic fruits and vegetables from your local farmers market -easy enough, right. Follow these 10 easy tips and you will be your way to a green holiday and be helping the planet.

Top Green Thanksgiving Day Tips

Know your guests
For most families, tradition sets the precedent for who shares the Thanksgiving meal and a simple phone call can easily confirm the details. But a hand-lettered invitation (on recycled paper, of course), or even a clever Evite can set the tone for a truly special event. Whatever your mode of communication, make sure you determine any special food needs your guests might have. Are they vegan? Vegetarian? Pescetarian? Do they have food allergies? Simple questions now can save you a world of last-minute headaches. Timeline: Two weeks out.
Plan your meal
A simple rule of thumb for a traditional Thanksgiving meal is to include a main course, four sides and dessert. Some families add a soup at the start and a salad at the end (or vice-versa). Traditionally the main course is a turkey, but it can translate to a poached or grilled whole salmon for a pescetarian meal, or tofurky or vegetarian casserole for vegans and vegetarians — check in with Emeril to get some ideas and recipes for the big meal. Luckily, the spread is so broad that you can easily include something for everyone. Write down your selections, then make a shopping list, separating it into items that you can shop for in advance, and those you need to buy the day before. If you want a heritage and/or organic turkey, make sure you get your order in before they sell out. Timeline: Two weeks out.
Shop for your staples and non-perishable items
Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to hit up your local farmers’ market for organic, locally-sourced produce. Since these traditional recipes typically rely on food that’s in season, you can pretty much find everything you need in the way of root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams) as well as specialty items like honey or even beeswax candles to adorn your table. Timeline: One week out.
Clean house
Maybe you’re doing it, maybe you have help. Either way, using non-toxic cleaners can make your house sparkle without chemicals. Run out of sink or tub scrub? Mix up some baking soda and water (here’s a recipe we like). Wondering how to get your windows squeaky clean? Try vinegar and newspaper. These household staples really work-and you won’t run the risk of inciting a synthetic-fragrance induced allergy attack in your guests. Timeline: The day before.
Decorate lightly
This is the fun part. Think outside the box when it comes to decorating your home. Eschew the traditional wreath in favor of one made from living, organically grown succulents and cacti. Recycle old wrapping paper or the funny pages and cut them into snowflakes to put in the window or hang from thread over your table. Make your table arrangements from organic flowers, or collect bouquets from your yard or neighborhood (adding herbs like rosemary and lavender make for gorgeous, fragrant bouquets). Got kids (or kids coming to the party)? Enlist them to set your table and place your candles. Timeline: The day before.
Shop for Perishables and Pick Up Your Turkey
Veggies, breads (unless you bake your own), and other perishables should be picked up from your local farmers’ market; depending on what day(s) of the week it’s open, you may have to fudge the timeline just a bit, and for most things, that’s okay. Root vegetables, squash, most fruits and other seasonal meal items will survive just fine for a few extra days. If you’re planning a mixed green salad or other highly perishable dish, you might have to bite the bullet and go to your local co-op or organic grocer. Timeline: One to four days before.
Pre-fab as much prep as you can
If you’re making stuffing, pre-mix it. If you’re mashing potatoes, skin and quarter them (if you leave them in a tub of cool water, they’ll be fine overnight). The turkey can be brined or prepped with olive oil, salt and pepper and left in the refrigerator until the next morning. Pies can be baked and set on a shelf. The more you get done today, the less you’ll have to worry about on the big day. Timeline: The day before.
Cook like you’ve never cooked before
But don’t just go into it blindly: You’re orchestrating a symphony of tastes! Sit down with a pencil and paper and plot out your finish times so that you know when your dishes need to go into the over in order to come out at relatively the same time. But don’t stress the timing too much: Thanksgiving is more about the experience of sharing a meal together, and less about that meal being piping hot. Make sure you build in a little time to relax before your guests arrive. Light your candles. Sample the organic wine. Pat yourself on the back. Timeline: On the big day.
Give thanks
Many families say a traditional prayer led by the head of the table before eating. Some go around the table, with each member saying what he or she is giving thanks for this year. Whatever happens at your table, make sure you’re conscious of the religious considerations of your guests. Timeline: On the big day.
Dispose of the leftovers
Scrape the plates and suds up-but wait! Is that a leek you’re tossing in the trash? Even if you don’t compost, you can separate the green scraps from the rest and toss them in your leaf bin. And you’re recycling your plastic bottles and aluminum cans, right? Timeline: On the big day (and maybe one day after).

Staying Warm While Staying Green

Posted November 10, 2009 By Freddi Bear and has no comments yet.

With cooler temperatures come rising energy costs both from heating and lighting the house during the shorter winter days. Staying warm always takes energy. Heating systems, hot water heaters, and stoves suck up kilowatt hours and oil or gas faster as it gets colder, leading both to a hit on the family wallet and an increase in production at power plants and a depletion of fossil fuels. Everyone wants to stay warm, but a green- minded person wants to do so while keeping the impact on the environment to a minimum. Fortunately, there are both active and passive steps to green ways of keeping a home warm during the winter months.

To begin, green heating does not require the addition of elaborate, expensive technologies like wind and solar heating or energy systems. While these technologies can provide substantial benefits in reducing heating and energy costs, they are a major investment, frequently costing more than twenty thousand dollars to install. They are worth considering, but there are other ways to keep a home warm without dipping quite so deeply into the bank account.

Optimize Your Current System

A much easier first step toward green heating is not the addition of a new system, but making the current system more efficient. Many homes, particularly older homes, are not insulated very effectively and require more energy to keep heated than a properly insulated house. Windows and doors are the first culprit any homeowner or tenant should consider for evaluation, as heat frequently escapes from the gaps around these fixtures. A simple test to see which portals are the worst offenders is to burn incense and leave it near each window for five minutes, checking which windows draw the most smoke out from the room. These are draft areas, and can be secured against heat leakage rather easily.

The first method is to add caulking layers to the gaps between windows, doors, and frames. Caulk will reduce the airflow through the edges, retaining a significant amount of heat for very little effort. For the family on a strict budget, this is one of the cheapest and easiest solutions. Caulk can of course be messy and takes a bit of practice to use properly. If you are considering this solution, it’s best to consult someone who knows construction, or the friendly personnel at the local home improvement store.

Another step is to add storm windows to the exterior of single-pane windows, and close them off during the winter. This puts an added layer of air between the interior and exterior of the house, which will limit heat and airflow outside the house. Even though this doesn’t even begin to approach the time and money required to install an alternative power and heating system like solar, it can improve the energy efficiency of single-pane windows by as much as fifty percent. A variation on this method is to install new, gas-filled double-paned windows. This is even more energy efficient than just adding caulk or storm windows, but is more expensive, so it isn’t a step to take without some initial research.

These are fairly passive methods for improving a home’s energy efficiency. They require a one-time installation or caulking effort, and function for years without further input. However, they do not of course provide energy in and of themselves, they simply improve the way a home retains what heat it has.

Don a Green Sweater

Actual heat production is a bit trickier, and always requires a degree of investment. Most homes have natural gas or electric heating systems, both of which raise concerns about energy consumption for home users. One technique is to consider just what degree of heating is needed. In a home with fairly mild winters, does a central heating system need to be on? If, for example, a homeowner only uses his living room on a particular day, why should he waste energy to heat up the other rooms when he could just put on a small space heater in the room he’s in?

Another option many green families are considering is a wood-pellet burning stove. Generally made of recycled or waste wood product, wood pellets tend to burn ‘clean,’ which means they generate a significant amount of heat with comparatively little smoke. As they produce fewer carbon emissions than coal-fired power plants or traditional fireplaces, they are a viable option for families looking for the old wood-stove or fireplace feel of heating up a room while maintaining a low impact on the environment.

The trick to staying warm and green is putting a bit of thought into the process. Not every method need require massive financial sacrifice. For families interested in saving some of their hard earned money, a new set of storm windows and a nice comfortable sweater are genuine, valid steps on the path to a greener life.

by Mark And Janet Davis

The Science Barge in NYC

Posted November 9, 2009 By Freddi Bear and has no comments yet.

The Science Barge is a prototype, sustainable urban farm and environmental education center. It is the only fully functioning demonstration of renewable energy supporting sustainable food production in New York City. The Science Barge grows tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce with zero net carbon emissions, zero chemical pesticides, and zero runoff.

From May to October 2007, the Science Barge hosted over 3,000 schoolchildren from all five New York boroughs as well as surrounding counties as part of our environmental education program. In addition, over 6,000 adult visitors visited the facility along with press from around the world.

The Science Barge Education Program focuses on sustainable food production and renewable energy resources. Following an introductory discussion on food systems and the concept of urban farming, students are led through an inquiry-based tour of the Science Barge, focusing on three main topics – food, water, and power. Topics on the tour include renewable energy, Hudson River ecology, reverse osmosis purification systems, pollination, integrative pest management, plant life cycles, hydroponics, greenhouse climate controls, aquaponics, vermiculture composting, oyster gardening, and constructed wetlands.

Following the tour, students engage in scientific inquiry projects ranging from designing horticulture experiments, to water quality testing, to constructing solar-powered appliances. Projects are catered to students’ age and developmental level, and factor in state-mandated science standards for each grade.

The Science Barge staffs seasonal interns who work in the outdoor classroom and in the greenhouse, facilitating hands-on, sustainability centered education programs. Interns lead activities for students and give tours for the general public. The internship training program includes an in-depth orientation to the greenhouse and its accompanying systems as well as strategies to convey this information to students and the general public.

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