Making Whoopie Pies in a bikini

APATHY IS NOT AN OPTION!

APATHY IS NOT AN OPTION!

I’ve had a few days to think over the Bill McKibben lecture last week. I wondered what I was going to say that hasn’t been said before, what was I going to take away from this experience that I didn’t already know. McKibben preached to the choir for about 2 hours on Friday night (it’s fair to assume James Inhofe wasn’t in the audience…[sidebar: why does “McKibben show up as being spelled incorrectly in Microsoft Word, but “Inhofe” does not?]) I mean I’m egotistical enough to think if everyone in America lived as I do, we wouldn’t have a problem with climate change. What else can I possibly do to make a difference? As someone who literally got hit over the head by global warming (and yes, I mean literally) I nodded appreciatively when McKibben talked about how Vermont, one of the greenest states (it’s right there in the name, people!) was devastated by rains and flooding from last year’s Hurricane Irene, and how there should be a whole lot more believers out there now. Is that what it’s going to take? A personalized hurricane for every James Inhofe out there? Frustrated at dire statistics and feeling like all I do is just to offset someone else’s emissions, I tried to dig deeper into this lecture and find the kernel that was going to move me from my own apathy into a new level of activism.

And then it dawned on me: McKibben, (who has been a hero of mine since seeing a Dateline interview with him in the 90s about Curitiba Brazil and his book Hope, Human and Wild—a catalyst that made me want to be a writer and an activist) is not by nature an outgoing person. He’s a writer, a college professor, he lives in a small town in Vermont, but by his passion for getting people to believe and act on climate change, he has become a powerful advocate and activist. And that’s what I need to do, what we all need to do. We need to set aside our apathy and move from our comfort zones. We need to stop saying it’s not going to get better—because it WILL NOT get better unless we do something about it and do it now. I see a glimmer of hope with the small but major activism victories of the last year: Occupy Wallstreeters braving winter, stopping SOPA, the President not caving to pressure to green light the Keystone XL pipeline. These are small victories, but they should be celebrated. They should be seen as momentum.

So McKibben’s next action with his grassroots organization 350.org, is to blow the whistle on Congress and the amount of money they receive from the petroleum industry. A good percentage of Americans do believe in climate change but feel powerless to do something about it because the people in charge of legislation are caught in a cycle of too much money. So January 24, 350.org is heading to Washington DC to call out the Senators and Representatives and how much each of them are receiving from Big Oil. And from here on out, I am going to make it my personal mission to get 500 people to join 350.org. And maybe those 500 won’t march in Washington the first week or call their Congressman but maybe they’ll sign an online petition and maybe they’ll think twice about driving somewhere they could easily walk to. And maybe they’ll look closer at their elected official and maybe, just maybe we can keep the momentum of change going. If you've made it to the end of this blog post and it led you to 350.org, let me know and I'll add you to my tally. Even better, pass it on and let's go viral. We're going to start slow, but I'm not going to rest until I hit 500 converts.

Why I Didn't Buy A New Car Yesterday

(also known as "Why I Paid $4000 for a New Battery Instead".)

I’ve had my hybrid for almost 8 years now, driven it almost 150,000 miles and most of that was long range cross country driving (at least 10-15 trips). But when the good ole check engine light went on accompanied by the IMA battery light, I knew I was in for the day every hybrid owner dreads from the day you are first handed your keys. For those of you who don’t know there are 2 batteries in a hybrid, 1 is the usual car battery that all cars have, (that turns the car on, powers your radio, and can be easily restarted by flagging down a neighbor with a pair of jumper cables). The IMA (or Integrated Motor Assist) battery is what helps make a hybrid a hybrid. It’s what transfers the energy caused by braking to recharge the battery and adds additional power from the electric motor to increase fuel efficiency. But when the IMA battery is set to crap out, that’s when the tree-huggin’, reusable bag totin’, organic market-shoppin’ hybrid owner threatens a fatwa on Honda Motor Corp.

I previously had one of my IMA batteries replaced, but a dealer thought I could still be eligible for the 10 year/150,000 warranty that California had extended. No dice. After some fine begging by Gail of Lundgren Honda of Auburn, MA, we were told even though the car was bought and operated in California for most of ownership, since it was now registered in Maine, warranty: null. I could however pay to have the car shipped back to California, have it re-registered there and then they’d honor it… but doing the math, it seemed this would just end up costing me just as much (and the ecological impact of that seemed ludicrous).

So out came the credit card (actually several, since I had to pay for the battery and shipping in full before it was ordered) and now we wait for it to arrive from somewhere far off magical land (most likely Japan).

Some might think it’s crazy to shell out $4000 for a car that’s already 8 years old, but there is method to my madness. New car manufacturing is an unbelievable resource hog. And I have made a promise that my next car will get better gas mileage than the one I have now. When my 8 year old car still regularly gets 45-50 mpg, I think it’s safe to say, I’m not going to find a used car with that kind of mileage for around $4K. And the battery replacement fits into my ethos of “use it up, make it do, or do without”. Another teaching lesson here, is discovering a forum of fellow 2003 HCH owners, (http://www.amid.com/werd/hybrid-woe-ima-battery) which may or may not turn me into one of those “My Car is Better Than Your Car” aficionados. This community shows me that HCH owners are getting upwards of 200K miles and still going… my goal drive my little ‘brid till they take it out of my cold dead hands!

Water, Water, (redux)

I often get a lot of flak for not having a toilet tank at my house in Maine. Last year the water in it froze and it cracked the porcelain. The bowl remained intact, but the tank was unsalvageable. So thinking I was lucky that I had a toilet that was 2 pieces and it was a popular and prolific brand (American Standard), I figured finding a replacement for the tank wouldn’t be too difficult to do. But alas, despite web searches and even calling American Standard, they were unable to match up the model numbers on my toilet to anything in their system. So it’s been a year of me having to manually flush my toilet (for those of you squeamish out there: it’s called fill up a bucket, dump it into the bowl quickly, gravity does the rest. I think this is a skill that everyone should have in their back pocket, it will make losing power for those with electric water pumps slightly less obnoxious).

But it seems like the more crap (no pun intended) I get from friends and family, the less I want to actually have this issue fixed. It’s not a hassle for me personally, and well it is my house, right? But there are other reasons: it’s a silent protest against products created to have interchangeable parts, but when one of those parts is impossible to find, it defeats the purpose of having interchangeable parts.

And what I feel is most important, that filling that bucket of water every time is a conscious reminder of the fact that 3 BILLION people on this planet don’t have clean or safe drinking water. I pause and say a little thank you for what I have. I take a moment and remind myself to not take for granted the water that comes out of the tap….that I don’t have to walk 3 miles to get that gallon of water….that wars are not fought so I can drink it…that I don’t have to boil it to make it clean.

Kilowatt Killing

Always looking for a new way to save energy… but often feel like I have ‘picked all the low hanging fruit’. Enter the Kill-a-Watt meter, which I was able to check out for free from my local library. It’s a small device that you plug your appliances into that gives you a read out of how many watts of power they draw… on or off. That’s the key here, there are so many appliances that are energy “vampires”, sucking power even when they’re turned off. I’ve got a few power strips for my television and cable and my desk, so that I can hit the kill switch when I’m done for the day, but for items plugged directly into the wall socket, I wanted to find out exactly what was up.

Reading Lamp with a 60 watt incandescent bulb: 57 watts,
With a compact fluorescent bulb (comparable luminance to 40 watt bulb): 9 watts
With a LED bulb (comparable luminance to 40 watt bulb): 6 watts
Verdict: it’s easy to see that the CFL and the LED bulbs are HUGE power savers. This was my first foray into the LED bulb and they are expensive (I got a deal for a $12 bulb, but the 60 watt equivalent would have been $40), but the power savings is considerable. The enclosed CFL I originally bought was too noisy but will switch some lamps to the coil versions. I now know that 40 watt equivalent is just not bright enough for my needs. Lesson learned.

Christmas Lights: regular incandescent 38 watts, LED version 3 watts.
Verdict: another considerable savings. I plug these in for a good 6-8 hours a day (I like the way the light it makes my house look!) The LED version aren’t cheap compared to the old fashioned kind (for a strand of 100: $25 versus $3!!) but again the energy savings will add up.

Refrigerator: as it sits idle: 0 watts, when running 400 watts.
Verdict: Can’t do much about that, living in a colder climate, it kicks off less frequently. But my next fridge will definitely be a more compact version and a higher Energy Star rating.

Computer on: 30 watts
and Printer: on but idle or off: 3 watts, printing: 15 watts
Verdict: No brainer here, unplug them both when not using!

Television: off 6 watts, on 150 watts.
Verdict: Another easy way to save, just unplug that TV when it’s not in use!

Dehumidifier: a necessity living in a damp climate with a finished basement…off: 1 watt, running: 390 watts.
Verdict: I’m most likely just going to keep this one plugged in all the time, since the unit has a humidity sensor telling it when it needs to run.

Electric Space Heater: Here’s the doozy: off: 0 watts, Running on low power: 860 watts, on high power: 1500+!
Verdict: easy to see here that electric isn’t the most efficient way to heat. I’m only using this one sporadically for little quick blasts of heating.

What are you fighting for?

Today's a quick reminder...If you're looking for a few reasons why the Occupy Wall Street protesters continue to fight, (and why they may seem to have too many agendas) take a look at this list:

The US vs the 14 European Union countries, the US is in the top third for: GDP, average home size, health care spending, defense spending, lowest taxes, car ownership.

But we’re the WORST (as in dead last) in all of the following categories: child poverty, poverty rate, infant mortality, obesity, murder rate, incarceration rate, traffic fatalities per capita, ecological footprint, water usage per capita, CO2 emissions, voting rate, paid family leave/sick leave, vacation days per year.

(From page 205 of David Wann's fantastic The New Normal: An Agenda for Responsible Living, 2010...and I'm not just saying that because he was one of the people who helped me out of the ravine when I was hit by the tree. :) )

Doc Review: Carbon Nation (2010)

I internalize my anguish over global warming more so than the average American…who am I kidding, if the average American was in anguish about global warming, we would have a lot more regulations in place… It’s hard to stay positive when there are just so many ecological failures lately. Frankly, some days all you want to do is curl up with a White Russian and watch episodes of “Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. So, It took me a full 3 weeks to finally watch the documentary Carbon Nation. I couldn’t psych myself up for yet another documentary that rehashes the same old doomsday prophesies and statistics that make you want to throw yourself off the non-solar-panel covered roof.

Fortunately, Carbon Nation paints a much more positive look at how we can combat the climate crisis. Yes, we’re still in dire straits, but even if you don’t believe in climate change, it presents solutions that just make good economical sense. (“So if you don’t give a damn about the environment, do it because you’re a greedy bastard and you just want cheap power.”—THE BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEER)

So if you’re still thinking there’s no hope and why bother, this documentary offers positive stories from dozens of positive voices who truly believe we can fix this problem. (My favorite of all the “characters” interviewed has to be Michael Dunham, the ex-rock n roll concert promoter who after a near death experience began a company that recycles old and inefficient refrigerators (JACO Environmental)…ironically, his father helped create the technology that helps keeps modern refrigerators cold! It also presents my 2 new favorite eco-enterprises: creating biodiesel from algae and using mycorrhizal fungi for carbon sequestration.

Reading List: In-N-Out Burger (A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules)

It’s no secret how much I love In-N-Out burgers… and after reading the In-N-Out Burger: (A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules
by Stacy Perman) I’m now head over heels. All super-fans have their quirks—I liked learning that like me, Julia Child used to keep a map of locations with her and that I’m not the only one who plans my travel according to how early I can get a Double Double (10:30A) and route myself around to hit up a location I haven’t been to yet.

The definition of corporate simplicity and amazing business model:
• “Do one thing and do it well”: A basic menu that includes no more than 10 choices (with a secret menu that makes variations limitless), choices that have changed minimally in their 60 years in business—a direct contrast to most fast food restaurants which trot out a new menu item several times a year (For a limited time only!) in hopes of bringing in more traffic.
• In-N-Out’s motto “Quality you can taste” should be followed with “Do what you love and have fun doing it”, as shown by the smiles and courteousness of their employees. Not once in 15 years have I noticed a bored or sullen employee.
• Their original expansions were done only when they had enough cash to buy new store locations. The In-N-Out dining experience remains special occasion because in 60 years, they’re only hitting 265 locations (in contrast, McDonalds now has over 32,000 locations.)
• Harry and Esther Snyder, the founders have always paid their employees a fair wage, often several dollars higher than the minimum wage.
• The company routinely makes the top of fast food customer satisfaction lists and was about the only chain that emerged from Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation unscathed.
• Their online customer service is a dream…I sent a ‘hey thanks for all you do and could you open a new location’ email on a Sunday morning, I had a personalized response within 10 minutes.

Only nine easy ways to fit in more fitness??

9 Easy Ways to Fit in More Fitness

Caught this aol article about 9 ways to 'fit in more fitness'...

but ... how about taking the stairs instead of elevator/escalator, parking at the first available spot (instead of driving around for 15 min trying to find the closest to the store), better yet just walking there instead and carrying your purchases home in a backpack), raking your leaves instead of using a leaf blower, shoveling instead of a snow blower, push mower instead of a gas-powered mower... All of which are much better for the environment too!

Simple way to cut your paper usage by 75%

If you're like me and already use the backsides of pre-printed paper for draft printing, here's another simple way to get even more from a single sheet, if you're printing multiple page documents. PDF the document you want to print, then select 4 from the 'Images per page' drop down box (you can go up to 16 pages per sheet if your eyesight's that good!). Click on 'scale to fit' and 'fill entire paper' and voila, 4 pages for the price of one. A great and easy way to save paper.

Water water, everywhere, and not a drop to drink

So I’ve been holed up at the lake cabin for the last few weeks, and while it was raining for the first 10 days I was here, my plumbing has been hit or miss. After 2 visits from the plumber (and 1 by the well guy) I finally had something flowing out of all my taps…2 days later, it’s back to a trickle. The moral of the story here is, I need my water simplified here... Sure, I can count on 2 hands my water fixtures (kitchen sink, dishwasher, washing machine, bathroom sink, tub/shower, toilet, baseboard forced hot water heaters) but when something goes wrong, I have no idea how to fix it other than calling Jon the plumber over and handing over a check. My 7th grade industrial arts education did not adequately prepare me for this.

I’m proud that I was able to live for 2 weeks without running water (to answer the inevitable questions: bottled water for drinking/cooking, laundry at the Laundromat, shower at the gym, flush the toilet with buckets of lake water). But the best way to simplify is to be able to handle things yourself without having to call in the cavalry. It’s also a (very small scale) reminder that millions of people don’t have access to clean and safe drinking water and how important it is to keep water supplies clean and free of pollutants.

Reading List: More Good News (by David Suzuki & Holly Dressel)

I have to say, this book made me feel a little better about this world we live in... when I first began writing The Simplicity Connection 11 years ago, I was originally going to call it Who Gives a Damn because it was a period of time when it seemed no on cared about the environment or helping others. Now, a quick stroll through Twitter or popping the word “eco-conscious” into Google Search and you get a feeling that everyone and their brother has jumped on the eco-band wagon. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a very very long way to go, but I believe the country is poised to make so definitive changes to its environmental policy. Case in point, Suzuki’s book… (the revised and updated version his book Good News for a Change) they provide inspiring stories about how ordinary business people are changing the way they do business to become more sustainable and still be profitable. Amazing stories of a sustainable forestry company (Collins Pine), how micro-loans are changing entire economies of 3rd world countries $50 at a time (The Grameen Foundation) and an inner city food co-op that is not only keeping it’s constituents fed, but teaching them the benefits of organic farming and management of waste and energy usage (Growing Power). The future may be bleak if you only listen to the popular media outlets...instead when you learn to read deeper to find the hidden heroes, you find the hope.

DO 1 THING FOR THE PLANET, TODAY...(now 110 quick tips)

(See the original post here)

1. Reposition sprinkler heads (and/or potted plants) to increase efficiency.
2. Choose refillable ink and toner cartridges
3. Think twice before deciding to replace an (still functional) cell phone.
4. Switch to rechargeable batteries for all your alkaline needs.
5. Learn to love spiders and bees, two of Mother Nature’s hardest working and most beneficial creatures.
6. Say no to traditional dry cleaning chemicals (perchloroethylene), use eco-friendly dry cleaners or hand wash instead.
7. Save the “paper shuffle”: Switch to online billing and paperless bills.
8. Remember variety is the spice of life, try local heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables.
9. Use up everything “to the last drop” before buying more.
10. Increase your fuel efficiency by removing unnecessary items and weight from your trunk.
11. Say ‘no’ to plastic today.
12. Eat vegetarian instead today.
13. Use a bucket to collect your shower water to flush the toilet.
14. Take the bus to work or errands today.
15. Switch to cloth napkins instead of paper.
16. Eat something organic today.
17. Donate old books gathering dust to a library, school or Good Will.
18. Say ‘no’ to chemicals today.
19. Donate to a local charity today.
20.
21. Rake instead of leaf-blowing or shovel instead of snow-blowing.
22. Plant a tree today.
23. Walk to do your errands today.
24. Choose sustainable fabrics instead today.
25. Call and opt out of catalogues you don’t want.
26. Call and have your address removed from database of junk mail circulars.
27. Take your name off the yellow pages delivery.
28. Switch your print settings to use less toner and ink.
29. Properly recycle old batteries.
30. Skip the clothes dryer and hang clothes outdoors in the sun or indoors on hangers on your door frames.
31. Pick up trash in your neighborhood.
32. Use the back side of scrap paper in your printer.
33. Skip the carwash for the month.
34. If you have to buy, buy for durability.
35. Plug your electronics into a power strip that you can shut off before you go to bed each night.
36. Read an environmentally themed book instead of watching a TV show.
37. Sweep instead of vacuuming.
38. Set your print settings to print 2 or 4 pages to a single page.
39. Reuse glass jars for food storage instead of buying plastic baggies or containers.
40. Visit Terracycle.com for ideas on recycling items you might not have considered.
41. Investigate investing in socially responsible investments.
42. Consider buying used instead of new.
43. Stick a few reusable shopping bags in your trunk or purse so you won’t forget them next time you need them.
44. Bring a set of silverware and flatware to the office to replace single use plastic versions.
45. Create rags from old t-shirts to use instead of paper towels.
46. Visit the Salvation Army instead of the mall.
47. Find the people who nurture your spirit and support your dreams.
48. Gift a gift of time or service instead of a material possession.
49. Take a hike outdoors instead of being cooped up at the gym for a few hours.
50. Find the beauty in your public surroundings.
51. Opt for the natural fiber rather than ones made with petrochemicals.
52. Skip a shower for the day; a day of dirty won’t offend too much.
53. Switch any remaining incandescent light bulbs to CFLs.
54. Borrow a tool from a friend or neighbor rather than purchasing a new one.
55. Print your documents double-sided.
56. Run a load of laundry without using soap. Chances are if you’re washing at the Laundromat, there is plenty of soap already in the machine from the previous wash.
57. Donate old working electronics to those who may need them.
58. Say ‘no’ to genetically modified ingredients.
59. Too cold? Add a layer of clothing before turning on the heat.
60. Too hot? Remove a layer of clothing before turning on the AC!
61. Leave the computer and cell phone off and go have a conversation, in person, with an old friend!
62. Keep your immune system healthy by taking acidophilus.
63. Reuse plastic silverware at least twice before throwing away.
64. Think twice about whether you actually need to print something out.
65. Take a stand for something you truly believe in.
66. Don’t allow yourself to buy something just to solve a problem.
67. Adopt a local area or stretch or road and take care of it.
68. Donate old eyeglasses to Lion’s Clubs.
69. Think of mindfulness with all your decisions today.
70. Carry ‘waiting to warm up’ buckets of shower water to water your plants.
71. Skip the soda for today and have water instead.
72. Ask yourself, ‘do I really need this’?
73. Read by candlelight tonight instead of watching TV.
74. Unplug the hairdryer for the day.
75. If you’re not composting on your own yet, give your organic waste (fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, egg shells) to someone who is.
76. Buy in bulk.
77. Fix leaky faucets and toilets sooner rather than later.
78. Skip the chips and have a piece of organic fruit instead.
79. Bring your reusable mug to work (or Starbucks!) for your coffee or tea.
80. Leave everything a little neater than you found it.
81. Choose the version of a product packaged in glass over the one packaged in plastic.
82. Do something for someone, “just because.”
83. Choose organically grown flowers.
84. Gather all your hazardous waste products for proper disposal.
85. Opt out of deodorant for a day, even a little sweating helps rid the body of toxins.
86. Freecycle things you don’t use or need any longer to give them a second chance to those who may need them.
87. Read up on an issue that is near and dear to your heart. Make a decision to actively do something about it today.
88. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
89. Look for a little stress relief today.
90. Say ‘no’ to greed today.
91. Offset your yearly travel at terrapass.com or myclimate.org.
92. Maximize the daylight. Open the shades on a sunny day and leave the lights off.
93. Support handmade artisans!
94. Take a closer look at the ingredients of what you’re eating today.
95. Listen with an open mind today.
96. Before buying something you don’t really need, take 24 hours and sleep on it.
97. Before you pop a pain reliever, try a glass of water, a quick walk or a bit of acupressure.
98. Buy refillable products such as razor blades and cleaners.
99. Patronize local businesses to keep money in your community.
100. Skip the make up, perfume or cologne today, give your senses a chance to recharge.
101. Think twice about buying new jewelry and instead consider heirloom pieces.
102. Resist the urge to procrastinate!
103. Introduce a few houseplants into your home to help freshen and clean the air.
104. Call your credit card company and ask to be removed from their marketing list.
105. Say ‘no’ to water in plastic bottles. Always carry your own refillable glass or aluminum bottle with you.
106. Try a holiday free of ‘store bought’ presents.
107. Choose fair trade chocolate.
108. Say ‘no’ to free samples, boredom purchases and souvenirs today.
109. Clean out your closets and donate old clothes, shoes and accessories.
110. Forgive and forget.

DO 1 THING FOR THE PLANET, TODAY.

I love lists. I've been feeling a little depressed lately that I'm not making a difference in the world, even though I feel that I do more than the average person to help the planet. I know that the hardest part of making a difference is getting (and keeping) the motivation to make a change and that's where this year's motto comes in.

Just do ONE thing for the planet today.

Because if everyone could just do one thing from this list every day, a major shift would occur. I tried to make the list as contagious as possible, little steps that are easy and painless to accomplish, and hopefully the little success of little steps will be encouraging enough for people to seek out bigger changes. I also left off the big stuff like slapping solar panels up on your roof and giving up your car permanently because if you're at that step already, you don't need me telling you to recycle your aluminum cans. But on the contrary, I tried to keep this list as a reminder to everyone-from the person who's never heard an organic apple to the person who actually grows the organic apples-that everyone can make a difference, it just takes a spark.

(This is just the tip of the iceberg to start with, just 100 quick tips jotted down in a fit of caffeine today. There will be more. Oh, will there ever be more!)

1. Say 'no' to plastic today.
2. Eat vegetarian instead today.
3. Use a bucket to collect your shower water to flush the toilet.
4. Take the bus to work or errands today.
5. Switch to cloth napkins instead of paper.
6. Eat something organic today.
7. Donate old books gathering dust to a library, school or Good Will.
8. Say 'no' to chemicals today.
9. Donate to a local charity today.
10.
11. Rake instead of leaf-blowing or shovel instead of snow-blowing.
12. Plant a tree today.
13. Walk to do your errands today.
14. Choose sustainable fabrics instead today.
15. Call and opt out of catalogues you don't want.
16. Call and have your address removed from database of junk mail circulars.
17. Take your name off the yellow pages delivery.
18. Switch your print settings to use less toner and ink.
19. Properly recycle old batteries.
20. Skip the clothes dryer and hang clothes outdoors in the sun or indoors on hangers on your door frames.
21. Pick up trash in your neighborhood.
22. Use the back side of scrap paper in your printer.
23. Skip the carwash for the month.
24. If you have to buy, buy for durability.
25. Plug your electronics into a power strip that you can shut off before you go to bed each night.
26. Read an environmentally themed book instead of watching a TV show.
27. Sweep instead of vacuuming.
28. Set your print settings to print 2 or 4 pages to a single page.
29. Reuse glass jars for food storage instead of buying plastic baggies or containers.
30. Visit Terracycle.com for ideas on recycling items you might not have considered.
31. Investigate investing in socially responsible investments.
32. Consider buying used instead of new.
33. Stick a few reusable shopping bags in your trunk or purse so you won't forget them next time you need them.
34. Bring a set of silverware and flatware to the office to replace single use plastic versions.
35. Create rags from old t-shirts to use instead of paper towels.
36. Visit the Salvation Army instead of the mall.
37. Find the people who nurture your spirit and support your dreams.
38. Gift a gift of time or service instead of a material possession.
39. Take a hike outdoors instead of being cooped up at the gym for a few hours.
40. Find the beauty in your public surroundings.
41. Opt for the natural fiber rather than ones made with petrochemicals.
42. Skip a shower for the day; a day of dirty won't offend too much.
43. Switch any remaining incandescent light bulbs to CFLs.
44. Borrow a tool from a friend or neighbor rather than purchasing a new one.
45. Print your documents double-sided.
46. Run a load of laundry without using soap. Chances are if you're washing at the Laundromat, there is plenty of soap already in the machine from the previous wash.
47. Donate old working electronics to those who may need them.
48. Say 'no' to genetically modified ingredients.
49. Too cold? Add a layer of clothing before turning on the heat.
50. Too hot? Remove a layer of clothing before turning on the AC!
51. Leave the computer and cell phone off and go have a conversation, in person, with an old friend!
52. Keep your immune system healthy by taking acidophilus.
53. Reuse plastic silverware at least twice before throwing away.
54. Think twice about whether you actually need to print something out.
55. Take a stand for something you truly believe in.
56. Don't allow yourself to buy something just to solve a problem.
57. Adopt a local area or stretch or road and take care of it.
58. Donate old eyeglasses to Lion's Clubs.
59. Think of mindfulness with all your decisions today.
60. Carry 'waiting to warm up' buckets of shower water to water your plants.
61. Skip the soda for today and have water instead.
62. Ask yourself, 'do I really need this'?
63. Read by candlelight tonight instead of watching TV.
64. Unplug the hairdryer for the day.
65. If you're not composting on your own yet, give your organic waste (fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds, egg shells) to someone who is.
66. Buy in bulk.
67. Fix leaky faucets and toilets sooner rather than later.
68. Skip the chips and have a piece of organic fruit instead.
69. Bring your reusable mug to work (or Starbucks!) for your coffee or tea.
70. Leave everything a little neater than you found it.
71. Choose the version of a product packaged in glass over the one packaged in plastic.
72. Do something for someone, "just because."
73. Choose organically grown flowers.
74. Gather all your hazardous waste products for proper disposal.
75. Opt out of deodorant for a day, even a little sweating helps rid the body of toxins.
76. Freecycle things you don't use or need any longer to give them a second chance to those who may need them.
77. Read up on an issue that is near and dear to your heart. Make a decision to actively do something about it today.
78. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
79. Look for a little stress relief today.
80. Say 'no' to greed today.
81. Offset your yearly travel at terrapass.com or myclimate.org.
82. Maximize the daylight. Open the shades on a sunny day and leave the lights off.
83. Support handmade artisans!
84. Take a closer look at the ingredients of what you're eating today.
85. Listen with an open mind today.
86. Before buying something you don't really need, take 24 hours and sleep on it.
87. Before you pop a pain reliever, try a glass of water, a quick walk or a bit of acupressure.
88. Buy refillable products such as razor blades and cleaners.
89. Patronize local businesses to keep money in your community.
90. Skip the make up, perfume or cologne today, give your senses a chance to recharge.
91. Think twice about buying new jewelry and instead consider heirloom pieces.
92. Resist the urge to procrastinate!
93. Introduce a few houseplants into your home to help freshen and clean the air.
94. Call your credit card company and ask to be removed from their marketing list.
95. Say 'no' to water in plastic bottles. Always carry your own refillable glass or aluminum bottle with you.
96. Try a holiday free of 'store bought' presents.
97. Choose fair trade chocolate.
98. Say 'no' to free samples, boredom purchases and souvenirs today.
99. Clean out your closets and donate old clothes, shoes and accessories.
100. Forgive and forget.

Let’s do some off-settin’!

‘Tis the season to think back on how much impact I’ve had on the planet this year.

It’s not a secret that I love to drive long distances (and conversely hate to fly, but sometimes it’s unavoidable for work) so I figured I’d add up all my miles on the road this year and head over to Terrapass and offset the carbon I’ve created.

Car Travel
2 round trip cross country trips (and a good 6 months of Los Angeles driving) in the ’03 Civic Hybrid totaling 20,216 miles, which equals 9,316 lbs of CO2.

Air Travel
7 plane trips totaling 12,049 miles of air travel equaling 4,148 lbs of CO2 emitted.
All told, 1,000 lb offsets at Terrapass are $5.95 each, so for under $84 I’ve offset my yearly travel with donations to renewable energy sources such as wind farms and livestock methane capturing. A very small price to pay for my contribution to global warming.

The wonder drug… (that’s not even a drug.)

I may be feeling a little cocky, but I have to declare, that I do believe I have found the magic elixir that will prevent you from getting the flu, getting the common cold, the magic pill that keeps you in fine fettle and out of the doctor’s office. What could it be and how could I make such a bold statement? It’s none other than acidophilus, bacteria’s goody two-shoes cousin. And after the last 2 months of driving 3,500 miles cross country, interspersed with several weeks of highly stressful 90-hour work weeks, capped off with a round trip plane flight, I have put acidophilus to the test and come out without a trace of the sniffles, fever or chills. If I can survive this test of germs, stress, (not to mention that many changes of water quality) with just one simple capsule, imagine how well it could work for those working a governmentally approved 40-hour work week and not crossing time zones every few days?

*Of course every body is different and we are all responsible for our own well-being. Its not to say that you no longer have to monitor your own health and ultimately I am in charge of keeping myself healthy and taking care of myself if I do get sick.

350.org's 10/10/10 Day of Climate Action... the wrap up

10/10/10 the 40º weather is putting a damper on the 45 mile bike ride I had planned. Now it's time to implement plan B!

10 for 10/10/10: Keeping it local today, with 10 simple climate actions you can do at home...

10/10/10 #1: Even though it's dipping down to the 40ºs today, no heat! Throw on a hat indoors and an extra fleece instead.

10/10/10 #2: In order to warm yourself up when it's 40º outside, 2 hours of vigorous raking keeps you from having to a) drive to the gym and b) allow the lawn to not get strangled by dead leaves over winter.




10/10/10 #3: Prep the outdoor worm bin for winter use indoors!

10/10/10 #4: make the outdoor compost pile for yard waste:

10/10/10 #5: Help keep your favorite waterbody clean. (thought my lake was pretty clean, 1 quick trip out to 2 coves: 6 aluminum cans, a coffee tin, a styrofoam bowl, 2 plastic bags, 1 plastic water bottle and a broken Timex GPS(!?)

10/10/10 #6: wash in cold—90% of energy in the washing machine goes to heating the water, and pressing the cold/cold button saves as much energy as "driving about 9 miles in a car or the production, transportation and storage of a six pack of beer." (Treehugger.com)




10/10/10 #7: Turn off that dryer! (a bit of a cheat for me, since I haven't used a dryer since 1998, but it's so easy to do, even without a clothesline.)




10/10/10 #8: Put the car in park! Rather than drive 45 miles (round trip) today for some socialized activism, I decided to stay home and focus my attentions on local changes.




10/10/10 #9: Clean up your 'hood! 20 minutes on the side of a busy roadway and I filled 4 bags of trash and recycling.

10/10/10 #10: and when all is said and done, just keep it simple and relax... it takes considerably less energy to just enjoy what nature gives us rather than to run around trying to keep up with life.

God, I love the dump.

I mean I realize that’s not a phrase you hear everyday (or even once a decade) especially because most people these days don’t even come within miles of the dump any more. And to be honest, my ‘dump’ isn’t even a true dump, but a delightfully titled ‘Transfer Station’ where town residents bring all sorts of unwanted items to transfer onto the next station… whether it be the actual dump, the recycling facility or someone else’s living quarters. The great part about having to package up and carry your waste to a separate location is how conscious it makes you of how much you make. When you drop another bag in the bin and then drag that bin out to the curb once a week, you don’t think twice about how much is in the bin, much less where the contents go once the bin is returned to you empty. Having to put that bag in your trunk and then drive it down the street, well, that’s another story. When I see that my bag is joining the hundreds of other bags of my neighbors, I have an instant reminder of how dirty trash can be—take a deep whiff, that smell only gets worse the more people add to the pile. Right next to the compactor is a little area where people drop off usable items that they no longer want (sort of an in-person Freecycle corner). Head to the recycling area and you’re responsible for sorting your cans, paper and plastic… but turn the corner and that’s where the real fun begins. Piles of scrap wood, appliances, toilets, furniture (all categorized but free for the taking if it’s something you want) And on Sundays, I’ve seen people just hanging out sitting in the furniture section, shooting the breeze…when’s the last time you got social about your garbage? I think the only way we’re going to be able to solve our trash crisis (and thus the environmental crisis) is to make everyone more conscious AND responsible for the waste they create.

'1,000-Mile Summer' Wrap Up

So the ‘1,000-Mile Summer’ officially ends tomorrow (fitting that summer officially ends tomorrow...) But how'd we do? Since June 1st, the total miles ridden on my bike topped out today at 730.6 miles, considerably less than my goal of 1,000, (though I did manage a respectable push on the last day adding an additional 20.7 miles). But even more respectable, the total number of miles DRIVEN during that same time frame: 1,421 miles—(considering 6 day weeks x 11 weeks at 28 miles round trip to work is 1,848 miles right there, plus whatever galavanting I would have done on the other 39 days).  And if you include the mass transit miles into my bike mileage total, it surpasses the 1,000-mile mark easily.

But what did I learn from this experiment? First of all, it can be done--you can have a job with crazy hours and travel to and from IN LOS ANGELES by bike and mass transit. I learned its not so scary to ride at night (most areas I rode through were almost as bright as daylight, I always wore my blinky light and often even at 10p or later there were other cyclists on the road. I learned that LA has a vast mass transit system that may be flawed in many ways, but is still often faster than auto travel many days. (and seriously Transit Authority, no one except me is paying to take the subway. You should look into that.) I finally learned out how to get myself a pay-as-you-go bus/rail pass, even if it meant traveling 35 miles to the closest location, only to find out that Culver City government offices were on a work furlough that day. (Thanks to my Culver City-resident pal Dina for loading up my card and then mailing it back to me.)  I learned that on days when I rode to work, I was calmer and more positive. I felt stronger top to toe (my shoulders felt way less tense) and I ate like a horse to keep up with all the calories I was consuming. I learned that I’m way more apt to ride to work when there’s a challenge involved, and this was a challenge not even backed up by peer pressure or wagering. Imagine how far I could go with a little financial incentive behind me!