Can we talk? I’m an optimist, but between us, it wouldn’t take much to make me go into hiding some days. Just say the words “BP oil spill” or “record hurricane season forecast,” and I can feel the blood drain from my head. Talk about a problem that won’t go away.
What to do?
At Practically Green we’re about solutions—green actions that people can take easily, on their own budget and schedule, to make their lives greener and more healthy. Simple tasks, like switching to all-natural toothpaste or rinsing a Zip-loc bag. More complicated tasks, like getting an energy audit or upgrading windows.
It seems there’s not much I can do, personally, to plug that horrific oil spill, or to persuade the Senate to outlaw incandescent lightbulbs (or to regulate the AC in the frigid Post Offices of this country, grrr), but at least I can buy local and organic whenever possible, and I can open the window at home instead of automatically turning on the AC. Sigh.
Last night I had a dream that the CEO of BP called a press conference and announced a change. For once he looked strong and heroic, full of conviction:
“We’re doing everything we can to plug the spill. And we’ve had an epiphany. Today, we’re changing our company. From this day forward, BP is all about renewables and green power: wind, solar, geothermal, algae, LED, smart-grid, recycling, repurposing, and all of the brilliant solutions that deserve big funding and unprecedented muscle NOW. We’re taking measurable steps to dial down our traditional business. We vow to push our brethren oil companies to do the same, starting today. Exxon Mobil and Shell have already come on board. And we won’t rest until the world is free of dependence on fossil fuels and a new green economy has been established, globally.”
As I said, this was a dream.
Later today, I saw a powerful little piece of relevant persuasion that I don’t want you to miss. It’s by Umbra Fisk, the acerbic, stylish wit who writes Grist’s advice column. Please read the excerpt below. For Umbra’s full Q & A, please visit Grist.
And for hundreds (yes, hundreds; I know, because I’m editing them) of things you can do to be more eco-aware in your life, for your health and your family’s well-being, please visit us at www.PracticallyGreen.com. Answer a few easy questions and you’ll be on your way to a custom to-do list of positive actions you can take.
Umbra Fisk of Grist
Ask Umbra on Turning Oil-Spill Depression into Transformation
A lot of us are feeling depressed and disheartened by what is happening right now in the Gulf. It is terrible beyond words. It’s so bad I don’t even like using the word beyond anymore.
Being overwhelmed by a big crisis may cause us to think that our personal actions are meaningless. But this is where we’re wrong…. The “little things” we all do are not futile. In fact, little things add up fast. Especially if you do them, and then talk to your friends and family so that they start doing them too. That’s the magic of the multiplier effect…. Step it up a notch. Be infectious! Here’s how:
Talk to all of your friends, family, co-workers, Facebook pals, Twitter followers, that weird lady on the bus, etc. about consumption, not only of fossil fuels, but of what we eat, buy, turn on, wear, use, or throw out. Get them to ask themselves: “Is this thing I’m consuming necessary?”
If the answer is no, here are 11 simple steps they can all take. These actions don’t cost much, if anything, and they may make you and your circle happier and healthier while you’re helping the planet. Of course, there’s always more we can do. But the list is a good conversation piece and starting point. Pass it along. May it reach everyone, even the people who eat Styrofoam.
(There’s a lot more information online.)
Easy things anyone can do to fight oil spill anger/apathy (in random order):
1) Take one less airline flight per year
2) Keep your car tires properly inflated, engine tuned and take 100 excess lbs. out of your car
3) Leave your car at home one day a week (use mass transit, bike, or innovative ride-sharing programs like Weeels)
4) Carpool two days a week or telecommute one day a week
5) Go meatless on Monday’s and switch from red meat to poultry two days a week
6) Support your local Farmer’s Market or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
7) Use recycled paper products (office paper, toilet paper, paper towels)
8) Reduce the number of catalogues you receive by more than half
9) Turn off unused lights, use the hibernate mode on your computer, unplug things when you’re not using them
10) Wash your clothes in cold water 75 percent of the time and hang clothes out to dry in summer
11) Share more — including this list, and talk to people in your life — at work, weddings, in elevators or better yet on the stairs — about other simple ideas to add to the list.
Anyone who’s visited Napa Valley is likely to give you bossy suggestions of when to go and what to do there. This famously heavenly verdant squiggle of farmland north of San Francisco inspires loyalty. Napa is home to world-class wines, restaurants, yoga, farms, artists, and sublime ambiance. Green is not merely an option here: green is a way of life.
My personal Napa must-dos include 1) as many meals as possible at Ubuntu, where local organic veggies rule (click here for the “current crop” list), and where the wine list is over 70% sustainably produced — and which has a spanking-new Michelin Star (congratulations!); 2) yoga classes in-between delectables (there’s a sweet studio on the second floor of the restaurant); and, 3) a visit to the Oxbow School, where the chefs are aligned with the Slow Food movement and inspired by nearby guru Alice Waters. “No Bug Juice Served Here,” they like to say at Oxbow.
Does this look like typical school-lunch fare?
Practically Green’s friend Jeff Deasy wrote this report on Napa for his blog at AmericanFeast.com, and we’re reprinting an excerpt here with his permission.
Farm-to-table dining has been a growing trend for some time and there is no sign it will slow anytime soon. The movement to serve fresh, local, sustainably harvested food is offering truly distinctive dining experiences and helping raise awareness of the delicious alternative to heavily processed foods shipped from factories.
One meal at a good farm-to-table restaurant should convince anyone that foods are at their most flavorful and nutritious when served at their freshest. Eating seasonal foods produced without chemicals, whether grown at home or in a community garden, or purchased from a trusted local farmer, makes for better health and a cleaner environment.
The Bounty of California’s Napa Valley
The Napa Valley in California is one of America’s most rare and precious agricultural preserves. Home to the founders of America’s fine wine industry, its towns and villages also present a bounty of crops for an authentic farm-to-table dining experience regularly enjoyed by visitors and locals alike. The very word Napa stands for ‘Land of Plenty’, the original meaning given to the region by its first inhabitants, the Wappo Indians.
Many Napa Valley restaurant chefs cultivate their own orchards, vineyards and gardens teeming with rows of basil, eggplant, squash, pomegranates, figs, tomatoes and of course grapes. The freshness makes a huge taste difference, as is regularly noted by restaurant patrons and those culinary institutions dishing up annual accolades. Even those who do not have gardens of their own largely rely on the bounty of area farms and local farmers markets.
Click for the Napa Valley Destination Council’s recommendations for Agri-Eco Tourist destinations.
Here’s a list of Napa Valley restaurants with edible gardens of particular note:
• Ad Hoc
• Long Meadow Ranch, Winery & Farmstead
• Ubuntu.
For more information about America’s legendary wine, food, and wellness destination, go to: The Legendary Napa Valley
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
To follow American Feast’s Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter
Jeff Deasy Sprinkles his Famous Salsa
News Picks:
Got a hybrid? Zoom to the brand-new Hybrid Scorecard, which rates all hybrids on U.S. roads today on their environmental impact, technological value, and consumer affordability. From the Union of Concerned Scientists. Enter the UCS contest by July 4 to win a 2010 green auto!
From tap water to back-yard playsets: Be safe at home. The Environmental Working Group has created a list of simple ways you and your family can reduce your exposure to potentially cancer-causing chemicals.
Need a green handyman? Peruse the info-rich Green Home Guide of the U.S. Green Building Council. This week: “Are solar windows best for reducing summer heat gain? I live in New Jersey.” “I’m re-doing my bathroom. What’s the greenest choice for showers, tiles?” “What size AC unit do I need for a 1,986 sq. foot house in Texas?”
Multimedia Pick:
Michael Pollan’s Food Rules: We have always liked Michael Pollan but we liked him even more after watching this video. Busy green moms need fast, easy ways to remember what (and what not) to eat!
New and Cool Pick:
Brabantia Wallfix: Who said line-drying laundry is an objectionable eyesore? Not with this sleek drying system. It even collapses against the wall when not in use!
Photo Credit: http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/cleaning/laundry-drying-racks-7-small-space-solutions-119748
We’re huge fans of Alexandra Zissu and fascinated to be having a conversation with her about conscious green living. Zissu lives in New York City with her family. She is a writer, editor, speaker, a self-described green-proofer and the author of The Conscious Kitchen (2010) and The Complete Organic Pregnancy (2006). She’s expecting “twins” in 2011: two books are due out – one with Jeffrey Hollender, who is the co-founder of Seventh Generation; and the other with her grass-fed and organic butcher. Her “Ask an Organic Mom” column is featured on TheDailyGreen.com.
I go around to talk about The Conscious Kitchen, and sometimes a total newbie will say, ‘I can’t do this, it’s too much.’ My advice is, take a few first steps.
To begin, learn a little bit. That’s what my book is for. It’s small, to fit in your purse, to take with you when you shop. Conscious means being aware.
Then, open your cabinets. What’s in there? Where’s it from? Peru? Argentina? What are the ingredients? Read labels! I find them fascinating. I love going into supermarkets to read labels. I can’t believe some of this stuff is actually food.
Next, look in your fridge to see what you have in there. After all, you brought that there! Would you prefer to have something else?
You know, it’s not so easy to switch out your couches and mattresses, but it is really pretty easy to change your food. Make a list of what you want to have in your kitchen. Find out where you can go to get it easily. Obviously we don’t want to make fifteen different shopping trips, we’re all busy. But chances are you have a good market near you. You can decide to change Today! I find food is very empowering. [For Zissu’s current thinking on choosing meat, see her recent post at www.dinneralovestory.com]
From there, as long as you’re in the kitchen, why not look under the kitchen sink?! I mean, really! You can drastically improve your exposure, to toxins, instantly, by using safe and healthy products for cleaning your house. Why not? The green products cost exactly the same, they work just as well! Seventh Generation is great, they even have a disinfectant now. There are many other brands to choose from – or you can make your own! Then your kids can help you clean! My four year-old daughter just loves to clean the glass table top.
On indoor air pollution:
It’s hard to be up in arms about something that’s invisible. The oil spill is so visual, and that’s one reason people are so angry about it. But there are things spilling and gushing out in our houses, too! I know that’s a terrifying thought. It’s a huge, huge problem. But again, nobody put those products there except you! It’s amazing — we are willing to spend our hard-earned dollars on these harmful products, we bring them into our homes, and then they pollute us — and our families. I think it’s a no-brainer: simply replace those products.
Other easy things to do – this one is free. I love things that are free. Take off your shoes! It’s the personal-hygiene equivalent of washing your hands. Simply remove your shoes when you come in the house. If you live in the country, you could be carrying in pesticides and dirt; if you live in the city, you could be bringing pesticides and dirt, and also things like car-exhaust residue. I just read that Brooklyn, New York, has the second-highest pesticide content outdoors of all American cities — second only to LA. It’s because of all the treatment to get rid of roaches and rats. So just do it, it’s free: Take off your shoes.
Visit Practically Green to switch to all-natural cleaning products, choose organic food, or learn more about the “dirty dozen.” You can even get points for taking off your shoes!
And do visit http://www.alexandrazissu.com/, friend Alexandra on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/alexandrazissu, and tweet with her @ alexandrazissu
Here at Practically Green, we take design pretty seriously–we like things that are stylish, practical, and sustainable. Needless to say, we get excited about new products that include all of those qualities! We just discovered two items worth talking about. The first is a lamp made out of plastic drink bottles, designed by Sarah Turner. Sarah’s ingenious design won her the grand prize for Inhabitat’s Spring Greening Contest. (Did I mention she is British? Could she get any cooler!?)…
How did you start your green journey? Were you raised to be eco-conscious?
I have always been into making things from waste materials. Growing up, nothing in my house was thrown away, cereal packets, tin cans, plastic bags… it was all kept for me to make my creations from! Then, when I was at university I wrote my dissertation on recycling in design and decided to make some products made from waste materials. This is when I first started to make lighting from wasted plastic drinks bottles. It’s something that is thrown away so much here in the UK and I’m sure in other countries too (only 5.5% of plastic bottles are recycled in the UK). So I wanted to make something beautiful from them.
How do you incorporate other green habits into your lifestyle?
I do the general things a lot of people do nowadays. I reuse/recycle my own rubbish. I am a bit of a hoarder so anything I think I can use again gets kept and put to one side. I use public transport or walk everywhere. I have been able to drive for years but haven’t justified the need for a car. I am lucky that the city I live in has a good public transport system…For my lamps, I collect the bottles from local cafes and households. Of course as word has spread amongst friends and family about my design projects I have many volunteers collecting their bottles and donating them to me.
How does she do it? The plastic bottles are cleaned and sandblasted, then cut and formed into beautiful shapes. For the Cola lamp (shown in the top picture), each strip of plastic is then attached to a recycled card base and secured using its own bottle top.
Itching to get your own handmade Sarah Turner lamp? Her lamps aren’t sold in the US yet, but they are available to purchase online at http://www.sarahturner.co.uk/. For international sales inquiries just email sales@sarahturner.co.uk.
The 2nd item we are going gaga over is this paper shredder turned coffee table we found on Design*Sponge. Pigeontail Design is behind this sleek and clever table rightfully called the Papervore.
Do you love these designs? Do you own a piece of sustainable furniture that you want others to know about? Share with us!
Photo Credit: http://www.sarahturner.co.uk/news.html http://www.sarahturner.co.uk/bluebell1.html http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/06/thanks-for-shredding-my-paper-coffee-table.html
Guinea pig, courtesy ASPCA
Are you a guinea pig?
Sometimes it feels that way. Sometimes it seems we have to be super vigilant about every single thing we put into our mouths or onto our skin – or onto our lawns, or into our water. Take atrazine, a widely used herbicide. “Low-level exposure to it can turn male frogs into functional females,” according to the Environmental Defense Fund. Sweet.
Frying pans, baby bottles, lightbulbs, stain-resistant sofas, painted windowsills, even tampons – dangerous chemicals lurk in just about every product you can think of.
To the rescue: EDF and a team of like-minded, influential partners have formed the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition, “a nationwide effort to pass smart federal policies that protect us from toxic chemicals.” The initiative targets a thirty-year-old law, “the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976, which does not adequately protect Americans from toxic chemicals.”
The Safer Chemicals Healthy Families Health Report details the serious illnesses and conditions now thought to be attributed to chemicals:
Much has changed since TSCA became law more than 30 years ago. Scientists have developed a more refined understanding of how some chemicals can cause and contribute to serious illness, including cancer, reproductive and developmental disorders, neurologic diseases, and asthma.
Chronic disease is on the rise
More than 30 years of environmental health studies have led to a growing consensus that chemicals are playing a role in the incidence and prevalence of many diseases and disorders in our country, including:
Leukemia, brain cancer, and other childhood cancers, which have increased by more than 20% since 1975.[2]
Breast cancer, which went up by 40% between 1973 and 1998.[3] While breast cancer rates have declined since 2003, a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is now one in eight, up from one in ten in 1973.[4]
Asthma, which approximately doubled in prevalence between 1980 and 1995 and has stayed at the elevated rate.[5][6]
Difficulty in conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy affected 40% more women in 2002 than in 1982. The incidence of reported difficulty has almost doubled in younger women, ages 18–25.[7][8][9]
The birth defect resulting in undescended testes, which has increased 200% between 1970 and 1993.[10]
Autism, the diagnosis of which has increased more than 10 times in the last 15 years.[11]
To find out more, please visit: http://notaguineapig.org/
And for dozens of ways to curb exposure to chemicals in your life, visit Practically Green. You’ll sleep a little better.
We discovered MaryLea Harris on her blog, PinkandGreenMama, and we wanted her to adopt us immediately. Her house must be such a fun place, with wonderful creations and projects all over! We asked her to share a bit about safe family art activities.
Recycled Paper Hearts Cards
Creating, playing, and exploring are essential components to my parenting philosophy. I am trying to raise my two daughters with hearts full of art. As we create and craft in our home art studio I try to think about the impact the art supplies we are using will have on the planet and my children’s’ bodies. I was a printmaker and (oil) painter in college and was exposed to some nasty chemicals. When I was a graduate art student I was breastfeeding my infant daughter and did not want to expose my body or hers to toxic substances; I made sure that all of my artwork was created using non-toxic art materials. It presented me with a challenge to find new ways to create, but in doing so I also achieved results and a level of work that was very satisfying.
What can you do as a parent who wants to create with your children but who wants to avoid dangerous and toxic art materials? Start with known brands that are green. Ask yourself if you could make your own or recycle and repurpose something for your project.
- In our home studio we use rags instead of paper towels (just as we do in our house)
- We use homemade play dough made with 1 cup of flour, ½ cup salt, 1 packet of powdered Kool-Aid (there is probably a greener alternative!) 1 cup of hot water, 3 tablespoons of oil. It smells great and my kids love it.
- Natural Wool is lovely to use in craft projects and for “felting” yourself with warm water and mild soap.
- Stockmar makes beeswax crayon blocks that are as lovely to hold and color with as they are to smell!
- Soy-based Crayon Rocks are another favorite of ours.
- Strathmore has a new line of artist papers made with 100% wind power
- Several kinds of watercolor paper, drawing paper, and sketch paper are now made with hemp.
- Artemis makes colored pencils with plant extracts for their pigments.
- Green Earth Office Supply makes pencils from recycled denim jeans and post-consumer paper.
- Acquerello Watercolor Paper is chlorine-free (as well as acid-free)
- We use Eco-Fi Felt for our felt projects, it is made from recycled post consumer plastic bottles.
- Eco Finger paints from Ecoartworks.com are great for little artists or you can look on the Internet for recipes to make your own homemade finger paint.
- Whenever my kids bring home foam craft stickers on a project from school or a friend’s birthday party, we recycle the foam stickers by turning them into stamps! I just stick them to scrap pieces of cardboard cut up from old cereal boxes, and then paint with washable paint or ink.
- White Elmer’s School Glue is another favorite in our house. It is pretty safe and approved by the public schools. Our local public school system is not allowed to use toxic art materials in their classrooms.
- Recycled paper – your child’s drawings and doodles will look just as nice on the back of a piece of paper saved from the recycling pile as it would on a blank sheet of paper. Teaching your children to work this way sets a lifelong habit to reduce-reuse-recycle, and that’s the name of the game.
- The recycling bin is a treasure chest of its own: Milk cartons, toilet paper tubes, bottle caps, plastic lids, egg cartons, tissue paper, gift wrap, aluminum foil, old sweaters and worn out clothing.
Sock bunny
- Mother Nature. A quick walk in your own backyard will reveal a bounty of natural and non-toxic art and craft materials: leaves, flowers, pine cones, acorns, sticks and fallen branches, sand, seashells, bird feathers, insect wings, etc.
Final thought: whenever you are looking at traditional art materials for your children you should look for an AP or CP seal and avoid products with warning labels. Also ask yourself (as you would with food), “Is this something my grandmother would recognize?” Happy (safe) Crafting!
Seashell mobile
MaryLea Harris is an artist and blogger. She was an Elementary Art Teacher in the public school system for 5 years before staying home with her two daughters. She married her college sweetheart, a builder and LEED Accredited Professional. As a family they recycle, Freecycle, grow organic veggies with rain barrel water, and compost. Her kids consider their worms in the kitchen vermicomposter to be part of the household pet menagerie.
Favorite Green Action Taken: Switching to cloth napkins and installing tubular skylights with my husband in our kitchen and upstairs hallway ceilings – the natural light is fantastic.
Least Favorite Green Action Taken: Line drying laundry – the towels can be a bit crunchy but I tell myself I’m “exfoliating.” [Over-priced spa treatment for free!]
Still Working On: Giving up all non-toxic art materials and products and figuring out a “green” litter box solution for our two aging indoor cats.
MaryLea Harris and her family
Find MaryLea here: http://www.pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com
News Picks:
40 Uses for Baking Soda: Baking soda is cheap and free of toxic chemicals, so put it to use in multiple ways! We’ve always used it in the fridge to neutralize odors: why not use it to make homemade mouthwash!
Best Baby Bike Seats: The first day of summer is Monday, June 21st! Get outside and pedal off with your little one close by you in these stylish and convenient seats….
4 Kid-safe Bug Repellents: Everyone hates getting bitten, but we don’t want to spray ourselves (or our kids!) with harmful chemicals. These options are natural & organic.
Multimedia Pick:
Planet Green’s The Fabulous Beekman Boys: Discovery’s Planet Green aired this hilarious show this week. It had us in tears, it is so funny! Who knew city boys and goats could mix?
The Fabulous Beekman Boys from mike goubeaux on Vimeo.
New and Cool Pick:
Eco-Friendly Candles: Melo candles are made of soy and fragranced with essential oils, and they are hand-poured into unique containers. Our favorite is the Field Grass scent in a vintage glass.
Photo Credit: http://www.etsy.com/listing/49065057/large-vintage-soy-candle-field-grass
If you have read about the eating trend Weekday Veg, then you may have said, “Sounds great, but how can I come up with enough vegetarian meals for a week that my family will actually want to eat?” Why not subtract the meat from a family-favorite recipe?
Here is a recipe that I came up with for one of my favorite dishes: tacos. Feel free to add your own flair!
Lauren’s Meatless Tacos
1 package frozen BOCA Ground Crumbles
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro (or basil if you don’t like cilantro)
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4-6 taco shells or warmed whole wheat tortillas
Garnish: 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup guacamole, 1 cup salsa, 1 cup cheddar cheese.
In a nonstick skillet on medium heat, add the oil, onions, and BOCA Crumbles. Cook two minutes and stir occasionally. Then add the garlic, salt, chili powder, and cumin. Stir to coat crumbles and cook for 8 minutes more or until heated through (160 degrees F). Turn off heat and stir in cilantro and cheese, just until the cheese melts. Transfer taco mix evenly onto tortillas and garnish with sour cream, guacamole, salsa or more cheddar cheese. Ole! Bon appetit!
During my search for other favorite dishes I got some help from our good friend, Matt Gregory, the founder of EatWithMe.com. For this blog post, Matt informed me of an awesome new book called Double Take by A.J. Rathbun and Jeremy Holt. The book features recipes that can be transformed into vegetarian or meat dishes–how convenient, economical, and efficient!
The following recipe has been excerpted from Double Take by A.J. Rathbun and Jeremy Holt, © 2010, and used by permission of The Harvard Common Press.
Lasagna
A layered pasta dish revered by many the world over (with good reason, as it’s easy to make, hearty as all get-out, and scrumptious), lasagna traces its history to Roman times—the name comes from the Latin word lasanum, which means “cooking pot.” If you have time, consider making the lasagna noodles, too, because homemade noodles are so tasty, and because the recipe is simple. Just remember the Italian phrase un uovo per etto, or “1 egg for every 100 grams” (about 3 1/2 ounces) of flour. Although the ingredients are straightforward, any Italian will tell you that mastery of pasta making takes a while, so practice often. But if you’re in a hurry and decide to go the pre-made noodle route, we won’t laugh at you—as long as you save us a corner piece, that is.
Serves 4 vegetarians and 4 meat-eaters
1 bunch kale, escarole, or Swiss chard
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound hot or sweet Italian sausage, loose or removed from casings
1 recipe fresh pasta, rolled into thin 3- to 4-inch-wide sheets; 1 pound store-bought fresh pasta sheets; or one 8-ounce box dried “no-boil” lasagna noodles
1 recipe tomato sauce or 2 cups store-bought marinara sauce
1 recipe Béchamel Sauce
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (4 ounces)
1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Remove the large fibrous ribs from the kale and coarsely chop.
3. Heat 2 skillets over medium-high heat, then add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to each pan and heat for 15 to 30 seconds. Add the sausage to one pan and the chopped kale to the other. Cook the sausage, breaking it up into small pieces, until no longer pink, and set aside. Cook the kale until nicely wilted, 5 to 8 minutes, and set aside. Drain or blot away some of the sausage fat if it seems excessive.
4. For the vegetarian lasagna, spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9-inch square casserole dish. Top with a layer of the pasta, another layer of tomato sauce, a layer of the béchamel, and some of the wilted kale. Continue layering the components in this way until the casserole is filled to about 3/4 inch from the top, using all of the kale for the vegetarian lasagna. (Each lasagna should have about 3 layers.) Add one final layer of béchamel, and sprinkle 1/2 cup of the Parmigiano-Reggiano over the top.
5. For the meaty lasagna, repeat the process in step 4 in a second 9-inch square casserole dish, subbing in layers of sausage for the kale.
6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the lasagnas are bubbly and the cheese is nicely browned. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
Note: Have no time or inclination to make fresh pasta but love its addictive taste and texture? Find a nice Italian restaurant in your neighborhood specializing in fresh pastas and see if they will sell you some. Since Italians tend to be superlative hosts and hospitable to a fault, especially when someone shows an interest in Italian food, there’s a good chance that some fresh pasta can be had with little effort on your part. Of course, it certainly helps if you also frequent the restaurant for an occasional meal.
Make It All Vegetarian: Omit the sausage, and use 2 bunches of kale.
Make It All Meat: Omit the kale, and use 2 pounds sausage.
Craving for more? We like the Double Take recipe for Po’ Boys Sandwiches. So divine! You can gain PG points by switching to a Weekday Veg diet, so why not try it out?
What recipes do you transform? Is there a family favorite meat dish recipe in which you can swap out the meat? Share with us! Our tummies are grumbling…
Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/myrrien/402735533/ & http://www.harvardcommonpress.com/double-take/
We’re fans of Alexandra Zissu at Practically Green and thrilled she’s letting us reprint the following post with her permission. Zissu lives in New York City with her family. She is a writer, editor, speaker, and self-described green-proofer. Zissu has published The Conscious Kitchen and The Complete Organic Pregnancy. She’s expecting “twins” in 2011: two books are due out – one with the co-founder of Seventh Generation, the other with her grass-fed and organic butcher. Her “Ask an Organic Mom” column is featured on TheDailyGreen.com, and you can check her Ten “Conscious Commandments” here.
In The Conscious Kitchen and in The Complete Organic Pregnancy I urge people about a zillion times to “ask questions” when shopping. Being a conscious consumer is a sure fire way to get conscious goods. But most people don’t entirely know how to put this into practice. Or what to do with the answers.
A woman I know who runs a local mother’s group near me in New York has been going through her own green transformation lately. It has been really fun for me to watch and hear about it as she goes greener every day. She has a great methodical approach and is both skeptical and outraged. She’s doing her own research. And she has made a lot of excellent changes that will affect her family and the earth. She has come a long way since I first met her. Her transformation is her own but I’m proud and honored to have influenced her in any way. She emails me from time to time with questions or just to let me know that she’s made big strides. I love these emails.
Last week she wrote me very disappointed. While shopping at her local Whole Foods, she asked what kind of plastic wrap they used in their cheese department. She wrote down their answer and researched it once home — an excellent thing to do with an answer!! — only to find out it is PVC containing the plasticizer DEHA. She wanted to know if I knew about this. PVC is a highly toxic material, from manufacture to disposal, and not something that should be around our food. I do mention in The Conscious Kitchen that some plastic wraps can be PVC while the majority of the ones on store shelves these days are plastic #4 (safer). I don’t use plastic wrap at home, but it can be hard to avoid taking it home from a store when shopping, especially with something like cheese.
The point of avoiding plastic at home is to minimize exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals. It’s also to avoid involvement with the environmental impact associated with its manufacture and disposal. Instead of throwing up her hands and giving up, this mom contacted the powers that be at her Whole Foods, made them aware of her dismay, circulated the information to other local moms, and even got a petition up online asking Whole Foods to stop using the PVC wrap. There is power in (pissed off parent) numbers and I suspect she will get the store to change what they’re doing. I hope so. And I hope anyone reading this will ask their supermarket what they use around their cheese, meat, and other plastic-wrapped items, and demand similar action if it, too, is PVC.
Now the question is how to get this stuff off all cheese everywhere. That’s harder and involves legislation. But concerned consumers can also influence their elected officials. I suspect we’ll get there sooner rather than later, especially with moms like this educating themselves and pushing us in that direction.
Thank you, Alexandra. Yes to being a conscious shopper! Follow Alexandra on Twitter @alexandrazissu and Fan her on Facebook!
Would you like to switch from shower gel to bar soap? Buy organic juice this week? For answers, visit Practically Green. We’ve got dozens of smart, easy ways to make positive and healthy conscious decisions in your daily life.
I know we’re all busy, so here’s today’s blog in one sentence:
There’s a fabulous new way to recycle your old cell phone and mitigate carbon change at the same time.
Interested in the complete story?
One week ago I dropped my iPhone down the crack between the elevator and the lobby. Gone. I e-mailed family, friends, and business associates that I’d be going mobile-silent until I found a solution. My dear brother Charlie suggested that I dropped my phone intentionally so that I could get myself a new iPhone, the 4G that’s coming. Perhaps there is some truth to that. He has known me since I was two, after all.
But the new iPhone wasn’t available to preorder until today, June 15th, and rather than buy some temporary cell phone, I’ve managed to lump along without my usual handheld personal assistant. Others were beginning to notice, however. My daughter Louisa called on the home line yesterday: “Mom, I can’t believe I’m finally talking to you! Omigod! Listen to me: you have got to get a new phone. Any phone! What if your car breaks down and you need to call for help? What if you’re in an emergency?”
Today, June 15, I went to preorder the new iPhone first thing, 7:15 am: first at the Apple site (store “closed”), then by landline phone (“due to extremely high call volumes we are unable to answer your call at this time”). Undeterred, I went to the Apple store in person to preorder the thing. No luck. “We haven’t been able to get one all morning,” the sales rep told me, in a failed attempt to soothe. I decided to investigate the temporary phone options at the AT&T store down the block and, I am ashamed to say, I wound up with a $29.99 Nokia. Ashamed because, what happens to this cheezy phone after I’m done with it?
Luckily, our friend Heather Margolis has a solution: www.plantmyphone.com
I signed up to receive a free, pre-paid mailer, in which I will send the temporary phone, which PlantMyPhone assures me will be recycled properly. If you prefer, you can retrieve the mailer at selected locations, e.g. REI, Starbucks, and on certain university campuses. Easy: insert the unwanted phone, mail it, and PlantMyPhone “responsibly recycles your phone and sells the recycled materials to fund tree planting in the humid tropics,” where trees have the most environmental benefit:
Award-winning nonprofit organizations specializing in agroforestry projects—which restore depleted lands and boost the agricultural productivity and incomes of indigenous peoples in some of the poorest parts of the world—plant the actual trees… in12 tropical countries: Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Burundi, Senegal, Zambia, India, Philippines and Haiti. Species include Cocoa, Coffee, Banana, Orange, Cedar, Teak, Mahogany, Oak, Acacia, Eucalyptus, Laurel and Leucaena.
How many trees are we talking about? A Blackberry in “good condition” might plant 21 trees. An iPhone in “good condition” equals 79 trees. If I ever do find my old iPhone at in the basement of our office building, it will likely have a “broken screen”: 22 trees. Complete list is here.
Cell phones can contain hazardous chemicals such as cadmium, lead and mercury. Unless properly recycled, these chemicals could make their way from landfills into our soil and into the water we drink and air we breathe.
How PlantMyPhone Recycles Responsibly
PlantMyPhone recycles with partners that adhere to a no export, no landfill policy that ensures that hazardous materials are not exported to third world countries and that no materials end up in land fills.
Recycling partners include Sims Recycling, which was named one of the top 100 most sustainable corporations in the world at the 2009 World Economic Forum in Davos. Want more tips on recycling your phone — and all sorts of other items? Go to Practically Green and earn points as you dispose of them properly.
P.S. Just tried the Apple online store again, same deal:
Your request couldn’t be processed.
We’re sorry, but there was an error processing your request. Please try again later.
There’s always tomorrow. Meanwhile, why not leave your comments for me below, write to me at Sarah@practicallygreen.com, fan us on Facebook, or give us a tweet @practicallygrn.
We all know sunscreen is important to protect ourselves and those we love from excessive sun exposure. However, it is frustrating that there are so many health questions about the ingredients in some sunscreens, mixed information about spf counts, and even concerns about what applicator type to use–spray, wipes, roll-on, lotions, and on and on.
How does a mom who’s a skin-care guru decide about sunscreen?
Meet Tracy Orr O’Keefe, an active mom with 20 years’ experience in the beauty industry at brands like Cover Girl, Origins, and Clinique. (Note: Tracy looks about 30 in her pictures, so she must have started working in fifth grade–OR maybe she knows lots about sun protection).
Tracy and her son, Finn
Even Tracy’s not sure which is the best product overall. The safest option is to stay out of the sun during peak hours if possible — and wear a hat, long sleeves, and shades. But Tracy enjoys getting some sun, as most of us do. Now what? Here are her thoughts:
I love being outside – all year round: hiking, biking, even just walking around town. During summer, spending late afternoons on the beach and cruising in a convertible are among my favorite activities….
As a result, I take my sunscreen very seriously. All my friends know it. If I’m not encouraging them to hydrate, then I’m reminding them to apply – and reapply! However, now that I have kids, my husband and friends are getting burned more often … I’m so focused on the kids that I’m forgetting to help “protect” all others!!
When choosing sunscreen, my m.o. is to:
– choose a high SPF (30 or higher for optimum protection from skin-burning UVB rays). Even though experts say there is little incremental difference in sun blockage after SPF 50, I do use higher SPFs (up to 70/80) for my face and chest area … every little bit helps!
– read labels for “broad spectrum” coverage and ingredients that experts/dermatologists say provide the best UVA protection (UVA rays penetrate into the dermis and can cause premature aging, and much worse!). I look for natural, physical blockers such zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, paired with chemical blockers such as avobenzone and mexoryl. (Yes, the “very green” may want to avoid the chemical ingredients, but I prefer the look and feel of the “mixed” formulas and hate the blue-white sheen the purely natural blockers can leave behind.
– look for antioxidant ingredients (such as Vitamins C and E, white or green tea). These are a “bonus” if you can find them, as I have seen studies that show antioxidants can help calm inflammation from the sun and help boost the body’s defenses against oxidative damage.
– In the past, I preferred PABA-free sunscreens, but I think most are PABA-free these days.
I have found reading EWG’s website and sunscreen report to be useful in educating myself about the many inherent category issues, but I do not just take their ratings at face value. There are so many complexities when it comes to sunscreen science and studies. I’m always amazed how multiple, seemingly-valid scientific studies can contradict each other! Ugh. It’s hard to know what studies or claims to trust these days. And it is very frustrating that the FDA hasn’t addressed this sooner, at least for the sake of clearing up consumer confusion and driving some consistency in claims and labeling.
My advice to moms:
– stay out of the sun in the height of the day, and use beach umbrellas, etc., to create shade when on the beach.
– cover up (yourself and the kids) with hats and clothes with built-in sun protection. (My kids wear long sleeve “rash guard” shirts on the beach except when it is stifling hot.)
– when choosing sunscreen for the kids, be super-prudent and stick to the natural/physical blockers such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
– always apply A LOT of product as that helps ensure proper protection, and reapply often (every 2-3 hours), even if the sunscreen says it’s sweat/waterproof.
– even when not on the beach, use a daily moisturizer with UVA/UVB protection, but don’t use it at night, too … no need to load on unnecessary ingredients when there is no sun to be protected from.
At the beach
We think Tracy’s advice is smart and practical. At Practically Green we offer additional info on how to be safe in the sun. Here are some more good resources to help you find the right sunscreen for you and your family:
Conscious Consumer: 12 safe and effective sunscreens
American Academy of Dermatology
Have you found a good all-natural sunscreen? Let us know!
News Picks:
Best Green Cleaners and Paper Products: ConsumerReports.org gives shoppers some great advice on whether or not it is worth it to buy to green versions of products like shower cleaner and dishwasher detergent. Very useful for Spring cleaning!
16 Ways to Reuse Coffee Grounds: Next time you brew a cup o’ joe, think twice about throwing out those old grounds–you could compost them or exfoliate your skin with them!
Chlorine Alternatives for Healthy and Energy Efficient Pools: Some people have chemical sensitivities to chlorine treatments in pools, so here are a few healthy, green options to clean the pool without the harsh smell, itchy skin, and discolored bathing suits…
Multimedia Link:
Jamie Oliver at TED Talk: We always loved Jamie and his Food Revolution, but after watching this video, we love him even more!
New and Cool Pick:
Reusables for Men: Still don’t know what to get dad next weekend after reading about F. Rock Carryalls for men? The guys from ReusableBags.com have put together a list of their favorite Father’s Day gift ideas. The winner? ACME Workhorse bags, which is a great alternative to plastic shopping bags. They come in a little pouch too, so Dad won’t have to be worried about people thinking he is sporting a murse (man purse!).
Photo Credit: http://www.reusablebags.com/store/acme-bags-workhorse-style-1500-p-1.html
Today was my very first CSA pick up ever. I’ve been waiting all spring and was extremely excited to see what was in store for us on this rainy June day. My CSA is through Allandale Farm, which is–incredibly enough–inside the Boston city limits and been operating since 1762. The CSA pick up line was filled with young moms and kids–and I was not the only one in work clothes, heels sinking into the farm mud.
We are splitting a full share with two other families. Initially, I was worried that there wouldn’t be enough for everyone. As you can see from the photo below–no worries about that. We received an ENORMOUS head of Napa cabbage, 2 heads of red leaf lettuce, bags of spinach, mixed greens, watercress, scallions, kale, and something called a spring garlic. We also got a very nice note from the CSA manager letting us know everything was picked this morning, along with recipes for Napa cabbage and black bean sauce (we’re making it Saturday) and a spring garlic-lemon vinaigrette.
Tonight we cooked the spinach and –as advertised by the slow food movement–the taste of something picked at maturity and eaten the day it is picked is just so much better. I also know it was grown using organic methods so it’s pesticide-free. I’ve actually met the man who grew my food. This weekend, he’s taking all the kids of CSA members on a tour of the farm. One of my neighbors is using our kale to make soup for us to share next week. We’re planning a CSA group dinner for the week after that.
CSA stands for community supported agriculture and I always thought the community support had to do with the financial model. But it’s clearly more than that. A CSA share rebuilds relationships–with the farmer, the farm, the seasons and the food; with neighbors or friends who help you eat (or figure out what to do with) a giant napa cabbage; and if today is the norm, that line is quite a social scene. I knew a CSA would be affordable and delicious. I didn’t realize it would be this fun.
Learn more about joining a CSA including why it’s green and how to do it.
Are you in a CSA? What came in your box? Any recipes or photos to share?
So early last month we celebrated mothers, but now we are getting ready to celebrate dads. Not only is he just our wonderful dad, he was the eat-all-your-food-or-it-will-be-wasted guy during our childhood and the turn-off-the-lights-to-save-money guy in our teenage years; he was one of our main green influences! Father’s Day is Sunday, June 20th and everyone at PG just picked their favorite Father’s Day gift idea…
Introducing, F. Rock Carryalls for men by our favorite new sustainable designer, Nicolé Keane.
F. Rock is a Boston-based brand that designs mens’ accessories, more specifically, mens’ bags. And we don’t mean man-purses (murses?), we mean carryalls–something your hubby, dad, or married brother could carry, put their things in and not be ashamed. It all started with the designer, Nicolé Keane. I actually had the pleasure of meeting her in person (by the way, I thought I was standing in front of Audrey Hepburn!) and got to hear about F. Rock’s journey.
Nicolé originally began designing women’s handbags, but after designing with menswear fabric for a few of the bags, she found she fell in love with the concept of sustainable carryalls for men–so she made the switch. What makes these bags sustainable? Nicolé was very passionate in this area…
First, I define the “sustainability” aspect of my brand not just in terms of materials, but as a 360 degree concept that dovetails product AND production. You can’t consider one without the other. The bags fabrics are either re-claimed or recycled factory scrap fabrics (that which hits the floor while stitching or vintage suiting). The leathers are either scrap from production (think booting, dress shoes or utility belts), remnant (inconsistent weights, color or thickness) or rejects from factory production. Much of the leather I use was made for top brands in the bag business or motorcycle world. My lining is all remnant from a top upholstery company that I buy from a family owned company in Boston. My padding is recycled blanket material. All of the hardware is either purchased in New England from New England companies or made right in Rhode Island. All of the bags are made right here in Massachusetts. I work directly with a small team of stitchers who almost all have family history in the skilled craftsmanship of apparel and leather goods.
Wow. I had no idea such a stylish bag could be so green. But it got better: 2% from each purchase goes directly to eco and arts programs for urban youth. It is bag bliss! Nicolé was proud to say, “The goal from square one was to create a user-friendly, high-end/low-impact carryall that would look conventional in its quality, but have an amazing story behind it.” But I wondered if her bags would be a good match for a dad like mine, a guy who likes quality, good value, AND style…
The F. Rock man appreciates value and a product that is as useful as it is attractive. He’ll hang on to his favorite jeans or cords long after they’ve frayed because nothing else he’s seen comes close. He’ll spend a lot on a pair of shoes because he falls in love with the look and craftsmanship and will re-sole them for years to come.
Yup, that’s my dad all right. How green is Nicolé, though? Well, she puts me to shame, honestly. She grew up in a household in which everything was homemade (including a no-sugar rule!) and because of her eco-minded and natural upbringing it is second-nature to buy organic and locally-grown produce, make her own cleaning products and follow the weekday vegetarian eating regime. A few years ago she threw out the conventional stuff and has been cleaning her house with low-impact vinegar, lemon, water and baking soda ever since! Her beauty routine is all organic or homemade as well because she decided that if she didn’t know what an ingredient was or did, she wouldn’t use it. (I think this is a great rule)! She now swears by mixing olive oil, a douse of honey, and a teaspoon of organic wheat flour to create a daily face wash or body wash…she’s my idol!
So what will I be saving up for to get my dad in the near future? This 15″ Franklin model, perfect to put work papers in or protect a laptop. The bags can be purchased at bonobos.com (F. Rock will have a rolling 6 week offering of limited edition bags), FRockbags.com, bgreenlifestyle.com, capemac.com (where there will also soon be F. Rock iPad covers) and soon through shoebuy.com and greenandmore.com.
Do you like F. Rock as much as I do?! Tell me what other gift ideas you are toying with to get for the dads in your life this Father’s Day, I need some ideas for my stepdad, too…
Do you own a dog or cat?
Do you also have kids? A job?
If yes, this comment may ring a bell:
“Last night my husband said to me, honey, the only thing that isn’t green about us any more is Sadie.” Sadie is a dog who, I’m told, was pampered for years, until the babies came along. She used to have her own monogrammed dog coat. Now she’s apparently lucky to be walked around the block. But Sadie’s owners are determined to pay better attention, and this time, they’re going green with their pet care. Sound good to you? Go to Practically Green and add ten points for switching to healthy pet toys!
bunny in recycled sweater
Jennie Lyon wrote “6 Simple Tips to Green Your Pet” for Cascadian Farm recently, and we’ll paraphrase here:
1- The Recycled Pet: Why buy a pet, when you can adopt one? If you can’t find your perfect match at your local shelter, choose a pet from one of more than 13,000 animal shelters across The United States at Petfinder.
2- Remember to Spay or Neuter: With over 70,000 puppies and kittens being born each day, having your pet spayed or neutered is the responsible thing to do. The ASPCA has a searchable Spay/Neuter database.
3-Choose Sustainable Pet Goodies: Consider goodies made from recycled or upcycled materials and organic, sustainable fabrics and fibers. There are many fantastic pet collars, harnesses and leashes available in sustainable materials that will look adorable on your pet. You can find recycled ID tags. There are even fantastic pet beds made using recycled plastic bottles or organic cotton. If you are crafty, you can make your own pet clothing and toys using scrap pieces of fabric or upcycling worn out pieces from your own wardrobe. {Note from PG: check out these great pet toys, thank you ecosalon.}
4- Dispose of Poop Properly: Pets create millions of tons of waste each year and most of that waste ends up in a landfill. The worst part, in most cases the waste is enclosed in a plastic bag first, making it virtually impossible for the waste to decompose. When you take your pup for a walk, remember to clean up the waste with biodegradable doggy bags and then dispose of it using a pet septic system.
5- Iron Pet Chef: If you want to know exactly what your pet is having for dinner, you can make your own pet food. However, if you don’t want to become a pet chef, you can choose natural and organic pet food and snacks. Organic pet foods are made using meat and poultry that has been raised in a sustainable and humane way and that is natural and free from added ingredients that may be harmful to your pet and the environment. {Note from PG: See Jane Brody’s column on Pet Food from The New York Times.)
6- Give Your Pet a Natural Bubble Bath: When caring for your pet, choosing pet care products that are free from harmful toxins is the best option. You wouldn’t put chemical laden shampoos and body products on your body, so clean your pet with good, green products that are good for him and the Earth.
Jennie is a green lifestyle writer and founder of Sweet Greens, a blog she began in January, 2009, as a birthday gift to herself. “I wanted a way to be creative everyday and share my simple green ideas with others.” We asked her a few questions.
Do you have any advice for people who are trying to go green in their daily lives but don’t know where to begin?
Yes, for people who are just starting to go green, I suggest starting small. You don’t have to go completely green overnight, it takes time. Start by recycling, being aware of your energy and water consumption and reducing it, ride your bike or walk rather than jumping in the car, switch to all-natural body care products and organic foods. Once, you start, you will find that being green is a state of mind and it will come naturally.
You’re in Colorado, right? Could you tell us a little bit about how you see ‘green’ taking shape in your community there?
I live in Fort Collins, Colorado and I do see ‘green’ taking shape here. My son’s school runs on wind credits (so does our home), we have a healthy CSA program and great food Co-op, there are some sustainably minding businesses (I would love to see more), we have a great recycling program and there is composting program available for small and big businesses. Our community is almost completely accessible by bicycle, so there are always a lot of people traveling that way.
In addition to her assignment as the green lifestyle writer for Cascadian Farm, Jennie writes for Inhabitots. She lives in a sustainably minded community with her “fantastic” husband and nine-year-old son. She tells us that when she is not writing about all things green, she enjoys thrift stores, family hikes, books, succulents, and a fantastic cup of tea. You can also find Jennie on Sweet Greens Facebook Fan Page or on Twitter @SweetGreens.
School is where you learn, right? So why is it that many school cafeterias still offer the opposite of healthy good food — salty chips, sugary white-flour cupcakes, deep fried tater tots?
Because kids are picky?
Because it costs less?
Because the food distributors have a stranglehold on the kitchen buyers?
Because the parents couldn’t care less what their kids eat?
Hold it right there. This is arguably the most conscientious generation of parents in history. And that’s why, along with the enormous muscle of leaders like Michelle Obama and Jamie Oliver, they’re beginning to have an influence on school food.
Lunch is one thing, though; snacks are another. They’re usually served by…. other parents. Today’s guest blogger explains how to take back the snack. Even a pre-schooler can do it.
“I cook a lot, and my kids are good healthy eaters, but as they go out into the world they’re exposed to more and more processed stuff,” Eileen Glanton Loftus explains. “The other day my seven-year-old played soccer for an hour, and afterwards there was a snack, of course: Doritos — at 9:30 in the morning! The Doritos come in these huge packs of twenty bags! I started thinking: it’s junk food, it’s using lots of plastic, it’s countless trips from the factory to the store, the whole thing. I’m not anti-junk food, but I think there can be fresh options too. This story about Nora was just a small moment in our lives, but I realized it was important.”
Thanks @Jason Gulledge for the banana image.
Taking Back the Snack
We suburban parents are quick to embrace the rituals of modern parenthood. We do yoga with our infants, we buy strollers fit to handle any terrain, and as soon as our kids are old enough, we sign them up for sports. We buy tiny cleats, perhaps a lawn chair for watching games from the sidelines. And we sign up to be “snack mom.”
If you don’t have small children, you may be surprised by how frequently they eat. This is not actually a problem – most pediatricians and nutritionists advocate three modest meals and two small snacks. It’s the quality that makes my head spin. At preschool and sports practice, kids routinely down potato chips, doughnuts and cookies, usually with a chaser of juice.
Do not, for a moment, think I’m a total purist. I ingested plenty of Pringles and Pepsi as a kid, and I truly believe that my parents’ willingness to supply a reasonable amount of junk food is the reason I don’t wildly crave it now.
But I think we parents can aim a lot higher. Why not try an orange after soccer practice, or grapes instead of Goldfish if you must provide a “snack that begins with a G.” Kids will complain for a while, but I think it’s never to early to introduce Michael Pollan’s maxim: “If you’re not hungry enough to eat an apple, then you are not hungry.”
The last day my 4-year-old daughter was responsible for her class snack, I asked her what she wanted to bring. She thought for a minute, then said, “How about bananas?” We hit two different stores, looking for the perfect state of ripeness, and she proudly took them to school to share with her classmates. Not every child ate one … but most did.
Two mothers stopped me in the hall that day to thank me. I was proud to tell them that it wasn’t my idea at all. It was a surprisingly radical move by my little daughter.
Eileen and her children
If you’re ready to take back the snack, or if you already have, please go to Practically Green and tick off actions such as
Buy organic or all natural chips for this week’s groceries (5 points)
or
Replace soda with fizzy all natural juices or sodas regularly (10 points!)
We discovered Eileen’s delightful post on Eat With Me, a food blog founded by another Practically Green guest blogger, Matt Gregory. Eileen is a former reporter for the Associated Press and has written Good Housekeeping and Forbes among other publications. A mother of three young children, she is on a constant quest to feed her family delicious, healthy food that is not shaped like a nugget. She lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia. This blog was originally posted at http://www.eatwithme.com/2010/06/03/take-back-the-snack/
New Picks:
Milk from Grass-fed Cows Is Better for Your Heart: A report from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that there are higher levels of unsaturated fats (which are good for your heart) in the milk from pasture-grazing dairy cows than in the milk from grain-fed cows. Wow, more humane for the cows and the people!
12 Healthy BBQ Tips: The Daily Green helps kick-off summer BBQ-ing season with in-depth and relevant tips on how to cook healthier and happier on the grill. We can’t wait for our next cookout!
5 Toxins Found in Most Facial Moisturizers: Before you buy a new face cream, it might be worth it to read the ingredients label. Remember, your skin is your largest organ–treat it well!
Multimedia Link:
Tips from Toxic America: This week, CNN aired a series featuring Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who reported on the many different ways toxins are being exposed to Americans. Here are some great tips from the show that can help you reduce the amount of toxins in your home.
New and Cool Pick:
Envirocycle’s New Mini Composter: We just found Envirocycle’s newly designed compact composter and wish it was on our porches! Perfect for urban composting, this cute composter holds 17 gallons and costs a little less than the bigger alternatives.
What’s your first reaction to the words: prefab house?
Cheezy?
Ugly?
Sheri Koones’s latest book, Prefabulous and Sustainable: Building and Customizing an Affordable, Energy-Efficient Home, provides a new vocabulary for prefab construction: beautiful, green, and available in a range of price points.
Completed shingle-style modular house (see assembly below)
“I wish I had more knowledge about building sustainably when I was building my own house,” Sheri says. “Since then I’ve learned a great deal both doing research for my books and attending the Boston Architectural College. I’ve found so many ways to cut down on energy and create a healthy home environment.
“I now try to incorporate sustainability into my life — by driving a hybrid car, growing vegetables, limiting energy use by closing rooms that aren’t being used, and recycling as much as possible. When my preteen son outgrew his cute little ‘cowboy’ designed bedroom, he was also becoming concerned with environmental issues. He requested that when we redo his room, it be healthy and kind to the environment. Because he has asthma, we decided to rip out the carpeting, which can trap dust, and replace it with bamboo flooring, a rapidly renewable resource. We repainted his badly stained walls with no-VOC [volatile organic compound] paints, reused as much of the furniture as possible and replaced all incandescent light bulbs with CFLs [compact fluorescents].”
A house module is hoisted into place in the dead of winter
“For years I’d heard about global warming without a clear understanding of its significance. It appeared to be such a huge problem that nothing one person could do would ever possibly matter. Now, however, it’s clear to me. Whether it’s driving less, making do with what we have, repairing something rather than replacing it, or even changing out old light bulbs — the impact of our decisions and actions grows.
“Nothing in our lives costs more than our houses. So when we build, we build, we need to ask: what kind of roofing, siding, flooring, paint, construction method, foundation, insulation, windows and doors, cabinets, systems, and fixtures should we use?” Koones argues that prefab construction saves time, reduces waste, and eliminates unnecessary transportation costs. Modular construction can be built under ideal conditions “protected from the elements, sparing of material, conscious of efficiency and waste.” And, these homes are “healthier homes,” Koones says, “without the VOCs, mold, and countless other biological and chemical pollutants.”
“The common misconception is that green is too expensive and only for the wealthy,” Koones writes in her book. “This argument is beginning to lose traction. While a home built with the latest green techniques and technologies may cost somewhat more upfront, the added cost is negligible compared to the investment.” She adds, “many green construction options cost very little, or sometimes nothing. A properly oriented house with properly placed windows will make maximum use of the sun’s energy,” for example.
Inside the modular prefab house
Check out the Practically Green if you’re interested in switching to high-efficiency bulbs or using low-VOC paint. You’ll find many other actions you can take to go green at your house – from changing your toothpaste to using the AC a bit less.
Sheri Koones lives in Connecticut with her family. Visit her website: www.sherikoones.com for more info on Prefabulous & Sustainable and her other books. Follow Sheri on http://Twitter.com/sherikoones
Over a billion people on this planet have unhealthy drinking water, according to the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, and most of them are not in the United States. We rarely give running water a second thought. But a couple of days without it can change your perspective: all of a sudden drinking water is a luxury, and one you can’t live without.
Practically Green offers several relatively painless suggestions for saving your water – no-brainer stuff like turning it off when you don’t really need it on, or installing low-flow showerheads (which honestly don’t feel any different from the ones that use two or three times as many gallons of water per minute).
Our friend Ashley Adams English discovered her appreciation for H2o last winter when her power went out for five days, and along with it her potable water. This prompted her to write a lively tutorial on water conservation, preservation, and stewardship. For instance, here’s a water-saving tip we hadn’t thought of: “Consider taking a foot bath or having a mug of herbal tea for evening relaxation instead of taking a shower.” We liked the whole post so much, we’ll recycle part of it here.
Ashley Adams English
“I like to think that my relationship with water has been a pretty conscientious one ever since I became an adult. I’m mindful of running the dishwasher only when full, try my best to take quick showers, and water my garden judiciously. The relationship took a serious turn this past December, however. Following the first heavy snow, on December 19th, that dumped 17″ in one day, we lost power. As the forecast had only been for anywhere between 3-10″, we were left completely unprepared for the five days without electricity that would ensue.
“I live a mile down a dirt road, tucked into a forested cove that abuts a large parcel of undeveloped land. Rurally-situated folks like myself aren’t usually first on the list to have their power restored, as the general assumption, I suppose, is that we have the supplies, robust constitution, and wood stoves necessary to make do until power can be restored. While that is true (at least, it is in our home), what I hadn’t really considered, living remotely for the first time, was that without power, we wouldn’t have water. We have a well, and the well needs electricity to pump water up from the ground and into the house. And so it was that I came to learn the art of melting and gently warming snow. I used the melted snow to wash dishes, for bathing, and to provide my animals with water. The water’s scarcity augmented its importance. It is a resource that we absolutely cannot live without and one which we so often overlook. When you turn on the tap and no water comes out, everything changes.”
Read more on Ashley’s blog, “Small Measure” — and on DesignSpongeonline.com, where you’ll see her recommendations for “Acid Test,” a stunning film produced by the Natural Resources Defense Council; and Annie Leonard’s “The Story of Bottled Water.” Ashley also suggests two books to help you plant a drought-tolerant garden: Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture, by Toby Hemenway: “for the gardener who wants to work with Mother Nature instead of against her” (Amazon); and Landscaping With Fruit: Strawberry ground covers, blueberry hedges, grape arbors, and 39 other luscious fruits to make your yard an edible paradise, by Lee Reich.
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