So I’m taking a class on weather and climate and we were required to watch the Inconvenient Truth presented by Al Gore. Now I’ve seen this movie quite a few times and believe it’s exclusivly geared towards those knowledgable about the global warming issue. What do you think? Have you seen it? I want to see what you have taken from the film!

That’s all for today!

Talk to you soon!

Go Green! Stay Informed

- Erica

Why not include ” Be more sustainable” to your list.

It is not that hard to be more observant of your impact on our planet. Simple little steps like making sure to turn off all your lights is already a step towards a sustainable lifestyle.

Try this:
- Unplug your charger after your have completed for phone charge.
- Turn off the sink while brushing your teeth.
- Shave off a couple minutes of your shower time.
- SAY NO TO PLASTIC…buy a reusable grocery bag(s)…or if you forgot go paper– not the best choice but the better choice.

Thats just a start! But a great one!

And i guarantee its a resolution that you can stick to!

Let me know what your new years resolutions are!

Stay Informed!

Erica

But here is a list of things that you don’t have to spend more and buy organic for.

The fruits and vegetables on this list were the least likely to have pesticides detected on the parts you eat, after typical washing, whether or not they’re certified organic. (Remember, though, that the farmworkers and the farm soil, will thank you for any organic purchases you can make.)
1. ONIONS- duh this is kinda a no brainer…you peel the exterior “skin” off. Buying Tip: Look for onions that are firm, have a distinctive “oniony” smell that’s not overpowering, and show no visible signs of damage or soft spots. Store in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator.

2. AVACADOS

3. SWEET CORN- Sweet corn may take a lot of fertilizer to grow, but you’re unlikely to end up with any pesticides on the kernels.

….are you getting the trend here…fruits and veggies that have exterior skin which acts as a barrier to protect the fruit from pesticide residue, which you remove before consuming –> usually means you dont need to spend the extra buck to buy organic.

4. PINEAPPLE

5. MANGO

6. ASPARAGUS- face fewer threats from pests such as insects or disease, so fewer pesticides need to be used.

7. SWEET PEAS

8. KIWI

9. CABBAGE- Cabbage doesn’t hold on to so many pesticides because a ton of spraying isn’t required to grow it. What it does hold onto is beta carotene: It’s a superfood!

10. EGGPLANT- Maybe it’s the thick skin, but eggplants are among the least likely to be contaminated by pesticides, according to the Environmental Working Group

11. PAPAYA

12. WATERMELON

13. BROCCOLI- Conventional broccoli doesn’t retain so many pesticides because the crop faces fewer pest threats, which means less spraying

14. TOMATOS- WHAT?!?!?! –> Tomatoes were on the 2008 Dirty Dozen list of foods with the most pesticide residue, but the latest update finds them cleaner than most. Why? The Environmental Working Group isn’t sure.

15. SWEET POTATOS- Not only are sweet potatoes unlikely to be contaminated with pesticides, they’re also a superfood, packed with Vitamin A and beta carotene.

Now next time your stopping by your local farmers market or grocery store bring along these two lists (the dirty dozen and the clean 15)…after some practice you’ll pick up on what foods you should buy organics and those that you dont necessarily have to.

Thanks for staying informed!

Go Green!

- Erica

“Not all of us can afford to go 100% organic every time we shop. The solution? Focus on those foods that come with the heaviest burden of pesticides, additives and hormones. According to the Environmental Working Group(EWG), consumers can reduce their pesticide exposure by 80% by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating only the cleanest. If consumers get their USDA-recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and veggies from the 15 most contaminated, they could consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. Those who eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally grown produce ingest less than 2 pesticides daily.”- The Daily Green

Here’s the list of the 12 (+ a few newbies) foods you should buy organic; for a healthier more sustainable lifestyle:

1. MEAT- meat production is the king of foods when it comes to environmental impact aside from its pesticide residue.  Animals raised with conventional modern methods often means using hormones to speed up growth, antibiotics to resist disease on crowded feed lots, and both pesticides and chemical fertilizers to grow the grain fed to the animals. (AND you ingest all of this! Gross) THE SOLUTION: Certified Organic Meat-  To meet USDA standards, this meat can come only from animals fed organic feed and given no hormones or antibiotics. Searching out cuts from grass-fed animals ensures that you’re eating meat from an animal that was fed a more natural diet, and looking for a local source of meats lets you question the farmer directly about the animal’s diet and the farmer’s method of raising it. It cuts down on the environmental cost of transportation, too.

2. MILK- Pesticides and other man-made chemicals have been found in human breast milk, so it should come as no surprise that they have been found in dairy products, too. While any residues detected have been rare, and of low concentration, milk is of special concern because it is a staple of a child’s diets. Organic dairies cannot feed their cows with grains grown with pesticides, nor can they use antibiotics or growth hormones like rGBH or rbST. The overall impact of the herd is lessened when you choose organic milk. (AND it lasts longer!)

3. COFFEE- Many of the beans you buy are grown in countries that don’t regulate use of chemicals and pesticides. Look for the USDA Organic label to ensure you’re not buying beans that have been grown or processed with the use of potentially harmful chemicals. Go a step or two further, and look for the Fair Trade Certifiedlabel to ensure that your purchase supports farmers who are paid fairly and treated well. And look for shade-grown varieties for the trifecta: Then you know the coffee is being grown under the canopy of the rainforest, leaving those ancient trees intact, along with the wildlife — particularly songbirds — that call them home. (Look you can kill 3 birds with stone!)

4. PEACHES- Multiple pesticides are regularly applied to these delicately skinned fruits in conventional orchards. Usually fruits that have skin which you eat are the most harmful since the pesticide is applied directly to the fruit and you ingest the peel.

5. APPLES- Like peaches, apples are typically grown with the use of poisons to kill a variety of pests, from fungi to insects. Scrubbing and peeling doesn’t eliminate chemical residue completely, so it’s best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients.

6. SWEET BELL PEPPERS- Peppers have thin skins that don’t offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They’re often heavily sprayed with insecticides.

7. CELERY- Celery has no protective skin, which makes it almost impossible to wash off the chemicals that are used on conventional crops

8. NECTARINES- There were 26 different types of pesticides found on tested nectarines. WOW

9. STRAWBERRIES- If you buy strawberries out of season, they’re most likely imported from countries that use less-stringent regulations for pesticide use

10. CHERRIES- Even locally grown cherries are not safe. In fact, cherries grown in the U.S. were found to have three times more pesticide residue then imported cherries.

11. KALE- Traditionally kale is known as a hardier vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and disease, but it was found to have high amounts of pesticide residue when tested this year.

12. LEAFY GREENS- Leafy greens are frequently contaminated with what are considered the most potent pesticides used on food.

RECENTLY ADDED:

13. GRAPES- Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape’s thin skin.

14. CARROTS- Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape’s thin skin.

15. PEARS- As insects become more resilient to the pesticides used on pears, more and more chemicals are used. The safest bet is to go organic.

** ALTERNATIVE TO ORGANIC SHOPPING FOR VEGGIES/FRUIT/MEAT…BUY LOCALLY. If you can’t afford “organic” go to the local farmers market. This way you can ask the grower/farmer directly if they use any chemicals. Most likely they cannot afford it or simply don’t believe in unnatural food production. This way its cheaper and you are stimulating yoru local economy. So dont get down if you cannot afford organic their are always SIMPLY EASY ALTERNATIVES TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE

REMEMBER: READ YOUR LABELS

Thanks for staying informed!

Go Green!

- Erica

Artist Chris Jordan shows us an arresting view of what Western culture looks like. His supersized images picture some almost unimaginable statistics — like the astonishing number of paper cups we use every single day. (www.ted.com)

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/chris_jordan_pictures_some_shocking_stats.html

Tell me what you think!! Is this persuasive? Why or why not?

Stay Informed! Go Green!

-Erica

1.  Does your dad love music?…Get him an iTunes online first certificate ($10-$50)

“ Dad can pick his own tracks (or take playlist suggestions, ahem), and you can take all the waste from wrapping, packaging, and plastic CD cases outta the mix. Give it. “

2. Take him to the river.

“Has Pa worn out his VHS cassette of A River Runs Through It? Fish for some gift-giving compliments from your fave angler with Bottle Cap Lures ($40/6), lures made from soda and beer bottle caps – that really work. Keeps the caps out of landfills, new materials out of production, and Dad out on the water reeling ‘em in. Give it.“

3. Charge it w/ a SOLIO HYBRID CHARGER…..THIS MY FAVORITE!!

“Give your gadget-gizmo daddio a slim little Solio Hybrid Charger($80-$170, depending on battery capacity) to recharge his cell phone, MP3 player, digital camera, and all the other electronic stuff he manages to cram into his pockets – all with stored-up power from the sun (free power – woo-hoo!) or the socket. Give it.“

4. Eco Friendly ORGANIC grooming kit

“Does your pop like to keep it clean (aside from the language he used when you dented the car)? Pamper him with an Every Man gift basket ($45) from Lula Organics. Includes skin-soothing, paraben-free Every Man Jack shave gel, body wash, and face wash; soap from Pangea Organics; a recycled, reusable razor; and a wooden body brush. Give it.“

5. Eco Golf Balls?…no way!!…YES WAY

“Maybe Dad won’t be beating Tiger Woods anytime soon (or ever), but he likes to hit the links. Get your golfer dad some Eco Golf Balls ($10/12) – water-soluble golf balls that dissolve in water after 96 hours, so he won’t be leaving plastic evidence of his birdies and bogies for millennia. Give it. “

6. New Daddy?

“Free him from pastel-flowered diaper bag hell with the Diaper Dude Messenger II ($100). Designed by a dad, these manlier messenger bags are made from recycled water bottles (instead of sending them to landfills) and come with lots of pockets, a changing pad, and a quick-release shoulder strap. Plus, a portion of proceeds goes to Global Green USA. Give it. ” That’s Double goodness

7. Writing’s on the wall(et).

Take the necktie to another level with a Recycled Necktie & Suit Wallet ($30) from Uncommon Goods. With a pocket for cash and two side pockets for cards, the billfolds are handmade from used silk ties and suits – saving fabric from the dump and keeping new materials out of production. Give it.

8. To a T.

“Know a young hipster dad that dons jeans and T-shirts more than suits and ties? Give him a fashionable, eco edge with a Perv Teaseorganic cotton tee ($40), with scribbly drawings and snarky sayings like “My guru went to the fifth dimension and all I got was this lousy T-shirt” (goes really well with an ironic mustache). Nonorganic cotton uses more pesticides than any other crop – it takes 1/3 pound of chems to make one shirt. Give it. ”

9. Ham(mock) it up.

“Wanna give Dad some R&R but can’t quite afford that Hawaiian vacation? Give him a getaway in his own backyard with Gaiam’s Ultimate Hammock ($190), made of recycled soda bottles. Waterproof and UV-resistant, this long-lasting lounger is as comfy as its cotton and nylon counterparts, minus the new material. Give it. ”

10. Let’s all go to the movies.

“For the film buff father who’s always spouting quotes from his favorite flicks: Opt for email-able movie ticket gift certificates in the form of Fandango Bucks. Just pick your amount ($10-$100) and the design – perhaps the Give Green one? – and send away, skipping out on any transport emissions or packaging waste. Give it. ”

Also…there are TONS of father’s day cards made from recycled paper…just check the back , you’d be surprised on how many are eco-friendly!!

Happy Father’s Day!

Stay Informed! Go Green!

- Erica

Charcoal or Gas??….

“Gas. Burning charcoal gives off more nasty particulates and chemicals. And if you’re carnivorous, you’re doubly culpable: cooking beef can be worse for air quality than the charcoal itself. Burnt cow gives off that particulate matter we’ve talked about so often — the stuff that causes respiratory problems, and may have some carcinogenic properties as well. Choose gas if you can, and minimize smoke and heat if you can’t”- Umbra

Check out http://www.grist.org/article/greenguide-grilling for more earth sensitive—and yummy BBQ Facts

For more on buying organic produce and eco-friendly bug repellent for those outdoor cookouts visit: http://www.grist.org/article/2009-05-22-happy-green-memorial-day/

Happy Memorial Day!

Stay Informed! Go Green!

-Erica

Here are some great websites to find eco-friendly gifts:

http://www.1happycorner.com/mothers-day-eco-friendly-beauty-gifts/

http://www.findgift.com/Categories/Eco-Friendly/

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/mothers-day-gifts-460421

Here’s some gift ideas from Grist!

Green-cleaning gift certificate
Let Mom save her elbow grease for lifting that organic mimosa you made her, and let the pros freshen her abode with non-toxic cleaning supplies. Maid Brigade recently went green, and Zen Home Cleaningin New York City boasts “hotel-style luxury services.” Or put yo’ back into it and DIY.

Organic desserts
Theo Chocolate offers a wine-pairing kit, with five chocolate bars picked for their compatibility with red wine (not included) and instructions for orchestrating a “tasting party.” Liz Lovely has Mom-inspired collections of organic, fair trade, vegan cookies and chocolaty bakery treats, and their commitment to recycled packaging is simply sweet. Dagoba and Green and Black’s organic chocolate are Grist staff faves, too.

Reusable tote bag
Who’s not a plastic bag hag? Your mom! Before she hits up the farmers market, arm her with a cute pink tote or slightly crunchier woven hemp bag, both supporting artisans in Bangladesh; or check out the ChicoBag that one Grist staffer’s mom can’t stop raving about. Ecobags also has a variety of woven, string, and canvas bags made from organic cotton.

Organic or local flowers
Skip pesticide-soaked conventionally grown flowers in favor of some from Organic Bouquet or those certified as sustainably grown by VeriFlora. Plucking some from your neighbor’s yard is always an option, too. Not that we would endorse such a thing.

Donation to a women-friendly cause
The Women’s Environment & Development Organization points out that women are especially vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Do Mom proud by giving to organizations with an eye on the situations of women worldwide. Support female survivors of war, women-led organizations across the globe, and human rights for women and families. Or go local and find a women’s organization in your state here — you can also give some time if your pockets are thin.

If you have any other ideas, feel free to comment!

Happy Green Shopping!

- Erica

It’s important to practice efficiency and conservation with our water.

TOILETS: Did you know that the toilet is the biggest water user in your house? Bet you didn’t know that the standard toilet uses 7 GALLONS for every flush!!!! So if you are remodeling, or in need for a new toilet, here are some efficient alternatives:

**Low -Flow toilet: surpass even minimum federal standards– 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). You can find these marked by the EPA’s WaterSense label.

**Dual-flush toilets. These are very popular in Europe, but now being introduced to the American Market. With these, one method of flushing creates the standard 1.6 gpf, while another reserved for liquid waste, allows half the amount .8gpf to flow through. Pressure assisted toilets use water pressure to compensate for the smaller amount of water going through.

Don’t want to spend tons of money? WaterSense toilets fall in the the low-to-middle price range

There is also no water toilets..dry…yuck. But if you are adventures , give it a try.

SHOWER: did you know that every minute the shower uses 2.5 gallons of water?

    – Many new shower heads on the market use only 1.6 gallons per minute.Low flow shower heads not only cut your water use by an impressive 20,000 gallons per year, but also save you 10-16% of the cost of heating that water.

GOING GRAY!!! –> another way to spare the planet’s water is to consider installing a gray water system for your home’s outdoor irrigation needs

  Def: Gray water: reuse the water from your clothes washer, bathtub, showers and silks –50-80 % of total waste water from your household for other purposes. There are simple and complex systems, depending on how engineered savvy you wanna be.

  You can reroute your laundry water to the water your backyard!!!–it would filter all the chemicals from soap and shampoos of course.

Visit: www.greywater.com to see more on the process of grey water irrigation.

Thanks for staying informed! Go Green

- Erica

I had an internview this morning for an Environmental Advocacy Group, ” Food & Water Watch”.

This non-profit organization strives to take action on food, water and fish safety and quality throughout the U.S.

There website is full of neat and insightful information about food and water, so check them out at http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/

Stay Informed! Go Green!

- Erica