05 November 2007

Subversive Hollywood

I saw Dan In Real Life this weekend. It was sweet. I like Steve Carell and he's good at playing kind of a grown-up version of those Adam Sandler characters...loveable, goofy, not-too-self-aware...but smarter. The movie takes place in some NE coastal town, NJ or NY or possible MA. It's one of those everybody goes home to the parents house things. About 3/4 the way through the movie there is a scene in the laundry room, everybody comes in at the same time and several of the characters are carrying (only visible to those who know the label) 7th Generation laundry detergent. Of course, they were carrying these items in cloth bags. My wife and I smirked at each other b/c we did recognize the labels.

05 September 2007

Green Buddhist Thought of the Day

On a certain day, month and year one should observe the ceremony of tree-planting. Thus, one fulfils one’s responsibilities, serves one’s fellow-beings which not only brings happiness but benefits all.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama, October 1993

23 August 2007

Save Money, Save The World

It's been quiet around here. I'm not sure why, just haven't had a lot to say. Its been too hot to say anything. I've been too tired.

Enough of the blah blah woof woof. He's something I found recently and I am proud to say that I do most of it...
10 Ways to Go Green and Save Money
1. CFLs. Change all your light bulbs.
2. Energy-efficient appliances. Energy Star
3. Buy used if possible. There are several swapping websites
4. Make your own coffee.
5. Eat in more.
6. Ride a bike, walk, carpool.
7. Gas-saving driving. This and #6 are about the same as far as I am concerned but if you must drive get a hybrid of an high MPG car
8. Less waste. Packaging...Buy fresh produce and choose products that aren't packaged heavily. Recycle the packaging once you get something
9. Insulation. We really need to check this in our house but with temps like the have been this month we really need to work on fixing this, it will probably help our already super efficient HVAC.
10. Push mower. Yeah right! My yard is too big for this BUT you can find alternative groundcover. Find a nursery that specializes or features native plants (not lowes or home depot) and find a nice ground cover.

18 August 2007

Summer

I've been pretty quiet on the green front but let's talk about summer. Its hot, I mean really hot. In Nashville its also really dry. I can't remember the last good rain. What that means for me is a lot of time inside with air conditioning and a lot more watering of plants.

We have two air units. One heatpump for up and one furnace/forced air for down.

Step one for proper heating and air, as it was told to me when I was replacing the old system, was getting the correct size. If you get a system too small you will over tax and burn the system out. If you get one that is too big you will have a big ol mess of inefficiency and that is what we replaced. We had a 40 year old furnace and a 15 year old air compressor (that didn't match style or size, which apparently affects efficiency as well). I had one guy tell me the furnace should have been in a museum.

Next part is the need for programmable thermostats. If you get a new system they are pretty much a given but if you aren't upgrading go ahead and buy one. They are easy to install and they can be very easy to use. Most seem to have 7 day sets and the ability to change the temp 4 times a day (morn, away, home & bed). And of course you can override what's set. I have mine set cold to get up, really warm (b/t 77 & 80) as the away setting, pretty cool when we get home and a little cooler for bed.

Third is maintenance. Change the filters regularly, our return vent filters upstairs are chnged every 30-60 days. The one filter for the furnace should be changed every 6 months. One tip they game me about the 30 day filters was buy cheap then spray with oil (like Murphy's) that will help catch more airborne allergens while putting very little strain on your system. The "HEPA" or other convoluted filters put more strain on the system than necessary. I also need to get the guys to come out and look but I figure I will wait for the weather to break.

Plant watering. I haven't been good at the watering schedule. I know the best time to water is early morning but I haven't done it then. Mostly, I have done it late afternoon/early evening. I need a timer. I need to do better.

05 August 2007

Recycle

Part of being a good "green" citizen is living the "Reduce, Recycle, Reuse" mantra. In Nashville we are fortunate enough to have curbside recycling in most neighborhoods. They pickup paper, aluminum and plastic. I have faith that these items are actually being separated and recycled. I'm sure I could find out if I wanted to but I have faith. You'll notice they don't pick up glass. Well that's where "The Recycling Center" comes in. Just enter your zip code and you'll see all recycling centers in your area. I happen to have a full service recycling center within one mile of my house. Tara and I have been cleaning out the garage and the basement; in the garage we found some ancient household cleaners and volatile liquids and whatnot, my recycling center will take them from me.

Our recycling combined with our composting reduces our waste by something close to 90%. We have neighbors with 2 or 3 people in the house who put out 2 40gal trashcans each week and rarely put out the recycling container, which is picked up monthly. Tara and I put out 1 of the 40gal containers every other week and they rarely have more than 3 or 4 tall kitchen trash bags in them and we put out a full recycle container every month!

So, please rethink what you throw out and try to reduce, recycle and reuse more than you do now.


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02 August 2007

Meat

We are meat eaters. A lot of people think because you eat healthy you have to be vegitarians, that is far from the truth. What you do have to watch is where your meat comes from.

I can't say more than anything else but meat, the kind most of us eat, is enhanced, manipulated and man-handled. In addition to that the big American farms use an extraordinary amount of resources to raise consumable meat. Most of the grain grown in America is grown for animal feed.
The 7 billion livestock animals in the United States consume five times as much grain as is consumed directly by the entire American population
We've known the ratio of energy to pound of meat production was outrageously high for at least a decade. This energy required doesn't include the amount of water required and because of all of these factors my mother-in-law has started to avoid meat when she doesn't know whether it is grass-fed and/or free range.

Ideal Bite has some options. At the very least we need to talk to our butchers and fish mongers. Ask them where the meat comes from. Ask them if they have or can get free range and/or grass-fed meat.

I was listening to Barbara Kingsolver on Speaking of Faith and she talked about how all of these ideas of organic, locally produced, grass-fed, and what-not are considered elite eating now when just about 40 years ago they were the standard. We must get back to that. The food will be cheaper, taste better and help correct the damage done to our natural environs.

25 July 2007

Powell's Books tells us...

about the Green Press Initiative.

This is possibly the hardest part of being green for me. I can easily give up cars, eat local, wear and use green clothes and eco-friendly stuff but I do not want to give up books, magazines and CDs.

Here is something that might help people like me.

Powell's, there's hardly a better bookstore.
Harry Potter goes green.

19 July 2007

C3 Campaign - Eat Local and save the world!

Did you know that most food in supermarkets travels 1500 miles and generates 5 to 17 times more carbon emissions than food grown locally? Or that big box retailers only put $14 back into the local economy for every $100 spent in their stores, but locally owned businesses put back $45 of that same $100? How about that small farms use far less pesticides than large farms?
The Center for a New American Dream knows that every individual can have a significant impact on the environment, and our new Carbon Conscious Consumer (or C3) campaign makes that impact visual. Each month from July to December c3.newdream.org will highlight a new, simple way each individual can make an impact, plus show the difference each person makes both individually and along with the people they’ve influenced.
This month, reduce your carbon footprint by eating 1 pound of food locally. You’ll reduce carbon emissions, pesticides, even packaging, all while helping your local economy. Then, increase your impact by spreading the word. The participant who convinces the most people to take on the challenge will win a landscaping package that features local plants, herbs, and vegetables. Find out more at c3.newdream.org

08 July 2007

Food

I've talked some about food about how my wife & I are part of a CSA and most everything we buy after that comes from Wild Oats or the Turnip Truck. I've also mentioned eating "in season" and/or local foods. I considered healthier b/c you limit shipping time thus its fresher. It's healthier b/c you limit the need to add chemicals that will maintain or increase shelf life. Now there seem to be even more reasons:
A ten-year study comparing organic tomatoes with standard produce found that they had almost double the quantity of antioxidants called flavonoids which help to prevent high blood pressure and thus reduce the likelihood of heart disease and strokes.
Organic fruit and vegetables really are better for your heart

So, the next time you go to Kroger or some other grocery store look for organic & local labels on your produce.

22 June 2007

Nectaur of the Gods

I love beer. I don't drink it as much as I used to b/c I spend my money on other stuff and Tara says I snore (louder) when I drink. Is that too much info? Anyway, there are all sorts of cultural considerations with beer and ecological ones - it is made with grain which means you can grow organic ingredients. Of course, there is also the microbrew factor...local product, blah blah woof woof.

My suggestion is drink local. There is not a state in this union, I imagine, that doesn't have a local brew. Most cities do...

Good Anglican, Bad Anglican.

Over on Blog Blog Woof Woof, I've talked about the crappy part of my Episcopal Heritage but here we see the good side.
Richard Chartres, the 132nd Bishop of London, is one of the Church of England’s most outspoken members on climate change issues. We recently featured news of his personal attempts to cut his own carbon emissions, but how is his fast progressing? The Guardian recently visited him to see if his home life was as green as he is trying to make the entire church.

20 June 2007

To bottle or not to bottle

The great water debate.

I have never been a bottled water kind of person, except when it comes to sparkling...I love me some San Pellegrino (at least they use glass bottles). If I was on a road trip or out for awhile I would probably buy a bottle but only b/c of portability.

Tara is a filtered water kind of person but she learned somewhere along the lines to buy in bulk. She would buy a jug, fill it up at one of the health food places and refill her drinking bottles from that. When we remodeled the kitchen we decided to get a filter and drinking water spigot for the kitchen sink. We use it for cooking and drinking and the filter is changed once a year. Tara talks about a whole house system but I don't know why. I don't know why, I just don't think its justified.

Below are 2 articles that discuss bottled water.

Is bottled water safe?
The next time you feel thirsty, forgo the bottle and turn to the tap. You’ll not only lower your environmental impact but also save money—bottled water can cost up to 10,000 times more per gallon than tap water. And because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standards for tap water are more stringent than the Food and Drug Administration’s standards for bottled water, you’ll be drinking water that is just as safe as, or safer than, bottled.
There is also the environmental impact. Which is an extremely ugly part of our consumer, appearances-mean-more culture

07 June 2007

FTC wants to stop Whole Foods/Wild Oats deal

Nashville has limited options for organic food, the largest, most extensive selection is at Wild Oats of which there are two. Both are on the SW or West side of town closets to the richest of the rich in Nashville. The closest of the two for me is completely across town, about 12 miles, not convient and not terribly practical or eco-friendly. Fortunately my wife goes to church near there and can make a side trip on Sundays. My neighborhood is blessed with a wonderful, small independent store, Turnip Truck, about 3 miles from my home but they have no deli or fish monger or butcher. It could basically fit in the bread aisle of Wild Oats. A couple of years ago we all heard Whole Foods was coming to town and there was the faintest hope they would build east or north. Did they? Of course not. They built about 200 yards from Wild Oats, same side of the street and everything.
Greg Mays, chairman and CEO of Wild Oats, said in a statement that Wild Oats would cooperate with Whole Foods in fighting the FTC in court.
It means nothing to me if Whole Foods gets it's way. Neither chain is helping me by locating all on one side of town.

The article is here.

03 June 2007

Green Coffee to Go

This tip is close to my heart. I love my coffee. I never seem to get enough. If you work in an office ceramic mugs works great. If you work in a retail type establishment where you might have a locker I would suggest a travel mug with a top. The purest coffee making process is the coffee press. Try it.

28 May 2007

Papel Ecology

The more I read Buddhist Philosophy the more I recognize Christianity. With the right Pope the Catholic Church can stay closer to the these universal principals than anyone can imagine. It looks like the Church has the right Pope.

Whispers in the Loggia: On the Environment: A VP's "Inconvenient Truth" = The Vatican's "Inescapable Reality"
The fourth Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, the 54 year-old prelate's two direct predecessors were brought back to Rome and given red hats at the end of their UN days; before Migliore's 2002 arrival, the post was held for 15 years by then-Archbishop Renato Martino, now on double duty as cardinal-president of the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace and Migrants and Itinerant Peoples. In a recent speech in Columbus, the Observer cited the "inescapable reality" of the "degradation" of the cosmos and offered some tips on how to combat climate change:
It comes down to "working less, wanting less, spending less," thus reducing the impact each person has on the environment,

Archbishop Celestino Migliore told participants gathered in Columbus for the second in a series of regional Catholic conversations on climate change April 14. [In the interests of context, the full quote was "In the States this movement is often expressed in terms of so-called voluntary simplicity, that is, a way of life that tends to involve patterns of working less, wanting less and spending less. In other parts of the world, it focuses on a radical criticism and opposition to the current economic and market systems."

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16 May 2007

Indoor Air Quality

We struggle with our houseplants. Neither Tara nor I have terribly green thumbs, we just let the plant do what it does. Outdoors we've been far more successful with this technique than indoors but we keep trying. I've mentioned over on Blog Blog Woof Woof that we used Feng Shui as a guideline for interior color choices. Another common "cure" for household ills is the use of houseplants. In Feng Shui it relates to life generating chi and living opjects moving chi. And come on, who doesn't smile a little when you see healthy plants. Ecologically houseplants help purify the inside air as well as raise humidity levels which helps reduce dust and dirt. They can literally "cure" ills.

I inherited a spider plant from one of my previous jobs, it grew and grew at my office but when I took it home it stagnated. It's still alive but it has grown much over the past few years. Last year we bought a plant for almost every room in the house and struggle to keep them alive. We tried again and so far, so good; they all are healthy. There is one room where we have a larger plant or two and these are a constant struggle. We try to make sure they have light and water but they are always dropping leaves. If you have suggestions I would love to hear them.

15 May 2007

Principals

Working in a library gives me the opportunity to see all sorts of books I wouldn't necessarily know about. Just yesterday one came through that I have decided to check out in an effort to present you with solid, researched info on the topics at hand. The book is from 2001, it is called Green Living by Sarah Callard & Diane Mills.

In the introduction they present 5 principal changes we should all work to make in our lives in an effort to regain the balance of nature which we have most certainly upset. They are:

  • Decrease reliance on fossil fuels - say energy, choose plant-based materials, avoid petrochemicals
  • Reject all toxic pesticides - organic eating and gardening
  • Stop buying plastic - duh!
  • Recycle as much as possible - reuse, reject disposible stuff, & compost
  • Buy from sustainable sources - buy FSC wood products, bamboo, fair-trade

14 May 2007

Green & Black's Goodness

When I first started this blog I couldn't decide whether I wanted to call it Black & Green or Green & Black. I decided on Black & Green with the knowledge that some of the finest chocolates I have ever tasted come from Green & Black's I didn't want to take the chance of infringement. Of course, now that I am touting their glory maybe I can get some samples. Please?!?! Thanks to Marjorie for reminding me to mention them. And Marjorie I will share them with you if I get any.

If you are used to Hershey's, even their new found appreciation for dark chocolate, you have no concept of what a treat and shock you are in for the first time you try Green & Black's. Even knowing this I was flabbergasted when my adorable wife brought home some of their ice cream. You do not understand the glory of chocolate ice cream until you try some of this. Words do not suffice.

You must try Green & Black's!

From their website:
From those early days back in Portobello, London, it's unlikely Craig & Jo could have envisaged what a huge success Green & Black's would become. Today, we remain true to their original values of ethical trading & organic products and our aim continues to be the creation of chocolate products that gives a taste experience like no other. We believe every new creation has to be the best of its kind we've ever tasted & take time and care to bring out the intense flavor that has now become our trademark.

13 May 2007

Native Landscaping

Last summer Tara and I started a landscaping project. We tore down a decaying wood fence along the property line and decided to replace it with shrubbery. Like most novices we went to Home Depot and bought some shrubs we liked. I had done research and thought I was getting native Tennessee plants but I was WRONG. More to this later. Most didn't do very well, which we figured was because it was Summer when we planted. Winter came and we finally got around to planting our anniversary tree (we decided to give ourselves a tree for our 1st wedding anniversary). To do this we called a nursery Tara's Mom has used and loves, Growild.
Let me stop here and say I cannot recommend these guys highly enough. They made the whole process one of the most satisfying shopping experiences I have ever had. I went to them with a few trees in mind and they made alternate suggestions based on where the tree would be placed and which ones would fair better for us. Keep in mind that they handle native plants only.
We chose a variegated tulip poplar, a yellowwood and a purple robe. They were planted in winter so I was quite excited to see what they would look like in spring. Spring sprang and they looked great, the purple robe was especially spectacular and then we had the record lows and extended freeze around Easter. These three trees have recovered wonderfully, I swear the purple robe is 5 feet taller already. The shrubs are a different story. Originally we bought a few butterfly bushes, a few burning bushes and a few crape myrtles. The crapes have done the best out of the lot. In the meantime we got a card for an open house type thing at Growild. There were nature walks and hay rides and food and music and a big sale. We took one of our nieces and came back with 3 shrubs and some ground cover plants (I am actually attempting to landscape).

Now I'll go back to what I said in the first paragraph about buying what I thought were native plants. I had a couple of books on landscaping and gardening in Tennessee which is where I got the idea for the shrubs we bought last year. This year at Growild I find out that none of them are native species and what's worse, Butterfly Bush is a "Category 3" invasive (Kudzu is a Category 1). Burning Bush is invasive & Crapes are non-natives but are not invasive. I ended up with three Nine-barks to replace the Butterfly Bushes. My point in talking about this is that you have to be very careful where you get your info. My sources were legit but at the least misleading, at the most incomplete and/or inaccurate. Last week a ran an experiment, I took Growild's list of available plants to Lowe's to see which natives they carried and out of all the plants Lowe's had only about half a dozen were natives. If you want native landscaping you won't find much at the big box home improvement stores.

Why am I stressing the use of natives? Two main reasons:
1. they are easier to maintain, they belong here so you really don't have to work too much with them
2. we've already caused enough chaos and destruction in our environment why not promote the growth of something natural.
The other plants I bought are used in an attempt to beautify my air conditioner compressors; you know, the big ugly outdoor part of a HVAC system. I wanted something that wouldn't get in the way but something that would look nice. I got several eco-lacquer spider plants and three heucheras; 2 "Autumn Brides" & 1 Purple Leaf Hairy Alumroot or maybe its a purple palace, I forget. These spider plants are small but they apparently grow a lot and quickly. They are low growing so they won't really cover up anything but I won't have to cut grass and these are interesting little plants. We'll see how it all looks after they grow and then I will chance some other areas, I already have ideas.

That is the saga of a landscaping novice.

12 May 2007

Ten Things You Should Never Buy Again

Thanks to The Hip and Zen Pen for the Ten Things You Should Never Buy Again
1. Styrofoam cups
2. Paper towels
3. Bleached coffee filters
4. Overpackaged foods and other products
5. Teak and mahogany
6. Chemical pesticides and herbicides
7. Conventional household cleaners
8. Higher octane gas than you need
9. Toys made with PVC plastic
10. Plastic forks and spoons
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10 May 2007

Ideal Bite

I've just added a widget for the "Daily Bite" to the sidebar and I highly suggest checking them out regularly or signing up for the daily bite in your inbox. These guys do lots of research for the tip of the day. If they suggest something to buy they always give you multiple options. Great source.

Ideal Bite: a sassier side of green

09 May 2007

Mold sucks!

I have problems with mold in the shower. I try and try with natural cleaners but to no avail.

Hopefully these National Geographic suggestions will help: Fight Mold Without Chlorine

07 May 2007

Helping Myself to Help Others

I read a lot of Buddhist philiosophy and as I see it, the prime directive is that by living better you will affect change all around you. I struggle with this, one because it's hard but also because sometimes it doesn't seem to be enough. I just finished the essays in Someday We'll All Be Free by Kevin Powell. He lays out, in a very personal way, that things are fucked up. The realities he presents are a downer and they make my attempts to become a better person, to spread the light by being the light, trite, selfish, and even silly. As I have digested this I have to say, where else to you start? If you can't commit to change of and for your self then how the hell are you gonna help change anything else.

One of my favorite blogs has a list of 29 Happiness Hacks to Feel Better Now:
  • Hack One: Goals
  • Hack Two: Chores
  • Hack Three: Laugh
  • Hack Four: Aid
  • Hack Five: Socialize
  • Hack Six: Inspiration
  • Hack Seven: Exercise
  • Hack Eight: Posture
  • Hack Nine: Music
  • Hack Ten: Nature
  • Hack Eleven: Hug
I encourage you to go to Scott's blog and read through the other 18 hacks and well as all of the other incredible info. And recognize that when you engage yourself and encourage yourself to make your world better you will in essence be working to making the world of everyone around you better and at that point you are socially conscious.

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30 April 2007

One More Reason to Love National Geographic

National Geographic's Green Guide Ten Tips for Earth Day: Preserving Biodiversity.

Yes, Earth Day has passed but of course, in my world "everyday is Earth Day." So there. :-P

Seriously, these are good. I've already discussed a few and I actually do some of them but hadn't thought about talking about them here...for example, paperless bills.

Home Energy Usage

I got this tip in my inbox this morning:
Make HER do it instead. Call a Home Energy Rater - a specialist who finds out how efficient your place is and can estimate how much you'll save by making specific improvements.
If you want to see how energy efficient your home is I suggest following through with something like this. Ideal Bite suggests hiring a Home Energy Rater which will cost b/t $250 and $600. I am sure this is more comprehensive than the one my power company offers but NES offers a free audit...check your power company and see if they do too.

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27 April 2007

Food

Mmmmm, food. Sometimes there is nothing better than a good (fill in the blank). This is also an area you can have the most impact with the smallest amount of effort.

Think about the food we eat. It comes from somewhere, it takes energy to produce and it creates waste. It impacts how you feel, which impacts what you do and so on.

In my household we eat organic and local foods as much as possible. My wife is a major proponent of all things organic. When we met I ate some organic food, used some organic items but I didn't really go out of my way. She does most of the shopping so the percentage of organic in my life has increased greatly. Why do we eat organic (or use organic products)? It's all about reducing the amount of chemicals we use, ingest, or require because of the manufatured goods we buy. And what does that matter? Well, selfishly we want to live as long as possible. In addition to that we feel a responsibility to our community. We believe that everyone in the community must do a share to make the world a better place. Why does that matter? Because that's what being a part of a community is about. Sen. Hillary Clinton wrote a book...It Takes a Village. From what I know of the book it takes the concept from traditional societies, in particular African societies, that a group (community, society, neighborhood, family, take your pick) will work best only when everyone works together. In sports and in the military you hear things like "you are only as strong as your weakest link". This concept, this ideal is the most practical and most efficient way to survive.

Here are some of the things we do:

1. Eat organic and local as much as possible and hopefully organic and local are the same thing.
2. Eat what's in season (farmer's markets are great places to learn this info).
3. Support a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).
4. Avoid chains and fast food.
5. Compost fruit and veggie scraps.
6. Cook as often as possible, freeze and/or take the leftovers to work.
7. Eat more fruits & veggies, less meat.

25 April 2007

Easy Stuff - Socially Responsible Behavior

This concept mirrors the "buy black" movement that shows up every few years. Whenever you spend money check what the sources are. Buy items you conscious says are "drama free". Support items, manufacturers, and retailers who support treat their product, employees, customers, and environment with respect, fairness, and honesty.

If you don't know about a certain company just ask or go to the interweb, there are a few of sites to help:
1. Business Ethics Magazine Top 100 2006 (.pdf)
2. Co-Op America's Responsible Shopper
3. Care2's Shopping Page
Stop eating fast & chain food. If you must eat out go to an independently owned restaurant. Ask the server if they buy locally grown food. If they don't suggest that they might. My wife and I love Middle Eastern/Greek and there are a few places in Nashville (Istanbul, Chicago Gyro & House of Kabob) we frequent and they all have a mix of mass bought ingredients and not.

So as usual, there is no perfect answer we just have to do the best we can do.

23 April 2007

More Easy Stuff - Cleaning Products & Their Substitutes

I've started this blog with cheap & simple changes you can make. Changes that don't really seem like changes. There are behaviors you can modify, there are substitutes you can make and you don't have to spend much money. Here are some notes about clearing out the toxins from your cleaning stash.

My parents grew up in an era when America discovered the power of the chemical. They could buy something in a jar or bottle that was strong enough to deep clean without much effort, they could see the dirt disappear. I have come full circle. I have come to a place where I recognize that those things are harmful in the house both for the possibility of ingestion and the inhaling of fumes. We (my wife and I) have gone back to our grandparents or great-grandparents era to tap their ideal of using simple, accessible things to do a great cleaning job (or supporting companies who make these products). I doubt my grandparents knew this stuff was safer, it was probably the only thing available.

So, here you go:

Baking Soda is sodium bicarbonate. It has a number of useful properties. It can neutralize acid, scrub shiny materials without scratching, deodorize, and extinguish grease fires. It can be used as a deodorizer in the refrigerator, on smelly carpets, on upholstery and on vinyl. It can help deodorize drains. It can clean and polish aluminum, chrome, jewelry, plastic, porcelain, silver, stainless steel, and tin. It also softens fabrics and removes certain stains. Baking soda can soften hard water and makes a relaxing bath time soak; it can be used as an underarm deodorant and as a toothpaste, too.

Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, soluble in water. It can deodorize, inhibit the growth of mildew and mold, boost the cleaning power of soap or detergent, remove stains, and can be used with attractants such as sugar to kill cockroaches.

Cornstarch, derived from corn, can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs, and starch clothes.

Isopropyl Alcohol is an excellent disinfectant.

Lemon Juice, which contains citric acid, is a deodorant and can be used to clean glass and remove stains from aluminum, clothes, and porcelain. It is a mild lightener or bleach if used with sunlight.

Mineral Oil, derived from seeds, is an ingredient in several furniture polish and floor wax recipes.

Soap (NOT detergent) is made in several ways. Castle soap can beuse d as a shampoo or as a body soap. Olive-oil based soap is gentlest to the skin. An all-purpose liquid soap can be made by simple dissolving the old ends of bar soap (or grated slivers of bar soap) in warm water.

Steel Wool is an abrasive strong enough to remove rust and stubborn food residues and to scour barbeque grills.

TSP is trisodium phosphate, a mixture of soda ash and phosphoric acid. TSP is toxic if swallowed, but it can be used on many jobs, such as cleaning drains or removing old paint, that would normally require much more caustic and poisonous chemicals, and it does not create any fumes.

Vinegar is made from soured applied juice, grain, or wine. It contains about 5 percent acetic acid, which makes it a mild acid. Vinegar can dissolve mineral deposits, grease, remove traces of soap, remove mildew or wax buildup, polish some metals, and deodorize. Vinegar can clean brick or stone, and is an ingredient in some natural carpet cleaning recipes. Use vinegar to clean out the metallic taste in coffeepots and to shine windows without streaking. Vinegar is normally used in a solution with water, but it can be used straight.

Washing Soda or SAL Soda is a sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. It can cut stubborn grease on grills, broiler pans, and ovens. It can be used with soda instead of laundry detergent, and it softens hard water. These items are available from drug and chemical-supply stores.

And here are some tips on what to do with this stuf:

Freshen air by opening windows and doors for a short period; distribute partially filled dishes of vinegar around the kitchen to combat unpleasant cooking odors; boil cinnamon and cloves in a pan of water to scent the air; sprinkle 1/2 cup borax in the bottom of garbage pails or diaper pails to inhibit mold and bacteria growth that can cause odors; rub vinegar on hands before and after slicing onions to remove the smell; use bowls of potpourri to give inside air a pleasant scent.

All-purpose cleaner can be made from a vinegar-and-salt mixture or from 4 tablespoons baking soda dissolved in 1 quart warm water.

Disinfectant means anything that will reduce the number of harmful bacteria on a surface. Practically no surface treatment will completely eliminate bacteria. Try regular cleaning with soap and hot water. Or mix 1/2 cup borax into 1 gallon of hot water to disinfect and deodorize. Isopropyl alcohol is an excellent disinfectant, but use gloves and keep it away from children.

Drain cleaner. Try a plunger first, though not after using any commercial drain opener. To open clogs, pour 1/2 cup baking soda down drain, add 1/2 cup white vinegar, and cover the drain. The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into the soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. Again, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.

Floor cleaner and polish can be as simple as a few drops of vinegar in the cleaning water to remove soap traces. For vinyl or linoleum, add a capful of baby oil to the water to preserve and polish. For wood floors, apply a thin coat of 1:1 oil and vinegar and rub in well. For painted wooden floors, mix 1 teaspoon washing soda into 1 gallon hot water. For brick and stone tiles, use 1 cup white vinegar in 1 gallon water and rinse with clear water.

Metal cleaners and polishes are different for each metal -- just as in commercial cleaners. Clean aluminum with a solution of cream of tartar and water. Brass may be polished with a soft cloth dipped in lemon-and baking-soda solution, or vinegar- and-salt solution. Polish chrome with baby oil, vinegar, or aluminum foil shiny slide out. Clean tarnished copper by boiling the article in a pot of water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar, or try differing mixtures of salt, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, andcre am of tartar. Clean gold with toothpaste, pewter with a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour. Silver can be polished by boiling it in a pan lined with aluminum foil and filled with water to which a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt have been added. Stainless steel can be cleaned with undiluted white vinegar.

Oven cleaner. Sprinkle baking soda on moist surface and scrub with steel wool. Or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers Union.

Scouring powder can be made from baking soda or dry table salt. Or try Bon-Ami Cleaning Powder or Bon-Ami Polishing Cleaner.

Toilet bowl cleaner can be made from straight bleach (do NOT mix with any other substance except water), baking soda and vinegar, or borax and lemon juice.

Tub and tile cleaner can be as easy as rubbing in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinsing, or wiping with vinegar first and following with baking soda as a scouring powder.

Window and glass cleaner is easy with these tips: to avoid streaks, don't wash windows when the sun is shining. Use a vinegar-and-water solution, cornstarch-vinegar-and-water solution, or lemon-juice-and-water. Wipe with newspaper unless you are sensitive to the inks in newsprint.

Believe or not the government gave me these tips and they have more here

Technorati Tags: eco-friendly, money savings, household, cleaning, tips

Easy stuff

Easy stuff you can do to help the environment, your wallet, and your energy bill:

1. Turn off electrics and electronics when not in use...if you're not going immediately back to watch the TV or play on the computer then turn it off. Turn the lights off when you leave the room.

2. Only run dishwashers and washing machines when they are full.

3. Stop eating out, especially fast food. You will save a shitload of money by cooking your own and you cannot believe the amount of energy that is used to get your Big Mac & Fries on that tray. Besides cooking can be fun, especially when you have someone to do it with. It slows you down, which is good for your well-being and your digestion. You eat better quality and potentially less quantity when you cook it yourself.

4. Eat more fruits & veggies. It will save you money, it requires less energy to produce and it's healthier. Go to the library and pick up a copy of the New Moosewood Cookbook and you will see that you can do many wonderful, simple dishes without meat.

5. Take shorter showers and turn the water off while you brush your teeth. There's a possibility it might lead to a longer shower, if you're lucky you might have someone to shower with you might be able to save a lot of water.

Happy Earth Day

Looks like I'm 18min late but I hope everybody did something earth friendly to celebrate Earth Day. I didn't; I left the TV on when I wasn't in the room, I drove to Home Depot, I ate fast food.

So you see that I'm not perfect but I keep trying. Hopefully, I can make up for it tomorrow.

16 April 2007

Why Black? The Manifesto.

You hear people ask the question whenever they see something ethnically focused. Why is there a Miss Black America or the NAACP or a Black Student Union? Well, historically there were or black-focused and black-organized variations of white institutions and organizations b/c Blacks didn't have access, or Blacks didn't have enough political/social/economic power to be heard. To change that they created their own social organizations, their own political action groups, their own entertainment collectives. Even if the necessity & influence of these ethnicity specific entities is dwindling they continue to work on several different levels.

The way I see it is even as we are exposed more and more to each other we have become more stratified, more desperate and more isolated from each other. Middle class doesn't understand lower class who doesn't understand upper class. Urban doesn't understand rural and rural doesn't understand suburban or exurban. And hardly anybody understands nature or self-control.

So, why Black? Because an eco-friendly, socially conscious mentality is a part of our collective history and social order that has been removed, or we've forgotten, or even co-opted. (This argument is not exclusively Afrocentric but because of our intimate history with the soil of this country we are in a special situation). All agrarian societies understand and the newly transplanted Africans understood that the earth sustains everything. They were eco-friendly by necessity. They knew you had to take care of your environment b/c that was the only way to make sure it continued to provide. There was no wasting, you used everything...why else do southerns love chitterlings or pigs feet or turnip greens? They were the foods wasted by those who had means (slave owners, land owners, etc.). How many southerners or black people do you know who still eat and love chitterlings or pigs feet or turnip greens? These food products were and are part of our tradition! This is but a small example of the eco-friendly life our fore bearers lived. What about passing clothes down to younger siblings or neighbors, what about rotating crops in the field, what about growing your own food? These are all things my grandparents did and these are all things that people in the "green" world would now consider aspects of a "green" lifestyle.

Social responsibility should go without saying in the black community! We are all beneficiaries of a socially responsible movement called the Civil Rights Movement. The idea is to treat everyone and do everything with honesty and respect. Act is if you are responsible for everything you do and say.

I understand that these are simple concepts but difficult practices. That's ok because every little bit helps.

So. I am asking readers to pay attention to what they use, how much they use and where it comes from. I am asking readers to demand the highest quality as well as products produced under the best, most equal and most honest conditions. I am asking readers to join in working to a cleaner now and future. I am asking that we all try a little harder toward a better self, family, community, and world. I am asking for help. I don't know everything, what I know I will share and I hope readers will do the same.

I hope you will enjoy learning about and implementing this stuff as I do.

Definitions

I am still setting up things and part of that is organizing and defining what my intentions and desires are. So let me define some of the basic concepts for this blog.

Black - people of African descent, which most Anthropologists will say that includes everybody on the planet. I have a BA in Anthropology so I will use this all inclusive definition BUT I will focus on issues more closely associated with the standard definition of African-American, we who have African slave ancestors.

Green - environmentally conscious and active. Being Green is the active part of caring for the environment & natural world.

Social Responsibility - making a commitment to the promotion of equality of humanity. You buy products that were made under humane conditions, you support businesses and organizations which show respect for their employees, customers and vendors and who also work to promote social and ecological responsibility, and you work to improve companies and organizations that don't work that way.

Eco-Friendly - you are respectful of and towards the natural world. You limit the amount of resources you use and pollution you generate. You promote this attitude to individuals and companies you encounter.

Socially Responsible Investing - see "social responsibility" and add money...you invest in companies who act responsibly and respectfully towards employees, customers, vendors, colleagues, competitors and nature

15 April 2007

Why?

I was a kid who grew up outside. I was a Boy Scout for almost 10 years. I went camping or hiking or canoeing or backpacking once a month during those years. I loved animals and trees and bugs and rain. I also had a love/hate relationship with snakes, which still continues to this day. My Dad hunted some, fished some, gardened some but no matter what he was doing he spent most of his free time outside. I read the encyclopedia (World Book 1973) when I was a kid and I thought one day I might be a veterinarian. I am earth-bound, my feng shui reading says so. I get excited at the first sight of forests or valleys or mountains. I have been known to cry at the sight of sunset on a lake (I don't get up early enough for sunrises). When I got a car I drove a lot and I looked around while I drove. I imagine I probably looked like a little old man lost in some unfamiliar neighborhood. I would stop to admire a hillside or a lookout or pull over and take pictures of a cow pasture. I fly more often now but I still take pictures from the window of the airplane. I was fortunate enough to go to a college with a 10'000 acre campus, most of which was, and is, undeveloped land. I was on the championship canoe team, I wandered the perimeter trails and the flower gardens, I studied outside, and I even I remember going for bike rides at sunrise (after an all-nighter) watching the deer appear from the fog. You see where I'm going with this? There is very little that makes me as happy, that makes me feel like I am a part of something, that there is a point to everything as the natural world.

I am completely geeking out on Planet Earth. You must watch (hopefully on High Def!)

During the 90s I lived in Baton Rouge, LA. One of the first jobs I had down there was as a canvasser at Citizen Action. I went door-to-door talking to people about the politics of our ecological situations. We offered to contact legislators and we solicited donations with an effort to lobby legislators on environmental issues. Overall it was a bust, I didn't last long but the time I spent studying these issues cemented my belief that there really is environmental classism/racism. Depending on where you live they can be one in the same but they are not necessarily the same thing; depending on where you live those who get the brunt can be white or black or brown. We went to more poor, predominantly white areas than poor, predominantly minority areas. Some of the people we canvassed - mostly working poor - lived in the most appalling and hazardous environments I could've imagined. I truly began to recognize that something was unfair and that there was a pattern. The people who worked in the shittiest jobs at the chemical/oil companies in LA lived closest and were polluted more severely and more frequently than everybody else. Poor people consistently lived closer to landfills, incinerators and treatment plants and surely you can recognize the possible hazards associated with that.

Now as an adult and a homeowner I am trying to make sure I leave as small footprint on the earth as I can. In doing so I have run into problems with lack of information, lack of interest within my minority and larger communities. I understand that I was ahead of the curve on these issues and was not able to do some things the way I would have liked and I have had to settle for a "lesser evil". In 2004-2005 I tried to remodel green but couldn't find contractors who understood what I was asking. I have now begun this blog in an attempt to rectify as much of this as I can. I want to do my part to make it easier for the next person to work and live in an environmentally friendly, socially responsible way. I want to promote these ideals to minority communities b/c we too are people of the earth. This land we call home, the United States of America is rich with blood and sweat of minority peoples. If anyone can claim this land it is we who are here b/c those before us died (by force or by choice) so that we could reap the benefits. I firmly believe that we can take small steps toward an eco-friendly, socially conscious life and that those small steps will make a great impact on our communities and our persons.

This is an ideal of being responsible for what we do today because we are looking forward to make everyone a beneficiary of the bounty we have, and I promise you, we all have a bounty we just might not recognize it.

I hope this didn't come off as preachy, it was not intended as such. Most of what we will do here is practical info, interesting news and information. This will be fun.

Welcome to Green & Black!

My goal with this site is to create a resource for an eco-friendly lifestyle and community. I will focus on issues and solutions for all sorts of issues but I will emphasize those that relate mostly to African-Americans, both urban & rural, low & high ends of the economic scale.

Comments are needed and welcomed. I want to know which are the issues of concern for you.