America the Beautiful?

Generation Y against McMansions

2011-01-17T21:05:00.002-05:00

This article made me happy to read... finding out that my generation doesn't want massive hallways, wasted space and to be isolated from the rest of the world.

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/no-mcmansions-for-millennials.html

I'm proud. :)

Not to scare you...

2010-12-08T22:39:00.000-05:00

but this article will scare you.

http://health.yahoo.net/rodale/WH/is-your-health-on-the-line

Get rid of unwanted circulars!

2010-10-19T23:59:00.002-04:00

I have a P.O. box which I have to admit I don't check often. When I do, it is just crammed full of grocery store circulars that go directly into the recycle bin. I asked the mail carrier behind the counter how I could stop getting these stupid things and he gave me a phone number.

1-800-437-0479
It's very easy. Just follow the directions and it will connect you to someone who will take you off the Red Plum list.

Or, go here.
http://www.valassis.com/1024/Contact/consumersupport.aspx

More laziness.

2010-09-04T13:44:00.001-04:00

Just because it's biodegradable doesn't mean you should.

I have always been Pro-Bacteria...

2010-08-26T00:10:00.003-04:00

I'll just let Discover explain all the technicalities. :) Yay to bacteria! It's not going to be the only solution, but it sure does help!

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/08/24/oil-eating-bacteria-have-started-to-clean-the-deepwater-horizon-spill/

Help RAIR!

2010-08-08T10:57:00.004-04:00

One of our bloggers, Fern, is the Co-Founder of RAIR - Recycled Artists In Residency. RAIR is a group of dedicated individuals working to connect art and sustainability in Philadelphia. They provide artists with salvaged materials and comfortable workspace while increasing awareness about the waste stream.

For more information on RAIR, visit the website, find them on facebook, or watch this great video to see the kind of work that can be made with recycled materials.

Right now, we are asking you to go to the Pepsi Refresh website and vote for RAIR. If RAIR is ranked #1, they will be awarded $50,000 which would help them progress and expand RAIR to it's full potential. You can see on the Pepsi Refresh website how the money will help the organization. You can vote for the project every day during the month of August.

You can vote online through the Pepsi Refresh site or facebook: go to http://www.refresheverything.com/rairphilly and click "Vote for this Idea." It will bring you to a screen where you can sign-in through the Pepsi site or with facebook.

Or, you can vote by Text: Text 101584 to Pepsi (73774) (*standard messaging rates apply!)

Ads for Charity

2010-07-15T23:16:00.003-04:00

I've decided to put ads on this blog.

My goal is to generate enough money so that hopefully at the end of each month [or for now, lets be realistic, 6 months perhaps], there is enough money to donate. Once there's enough money we'll have a poll on the blog to decide which charity the money goes to.

Please comment and let me know what you think, any ideas, suggestions, or idea for the future on who to donate to.

Trashy

2010-07-08T14:36:00.006-04:00

I went to a 4th of July concert and saw lots of people and lots of waste! I was happy to see recycling bins in most places, but I thought this shot summed up the waste management at the event: good intentions, poor planning.

another positive oil spill link

2010-06-30T12:30:00.002-04:00

People are figuring it out!

Check out the DIY mapping of the oil spill on the coastline since mainstream media won't cover it or release the photos we really want to see: "How bad is it?"

http://grassrootsmapping.org/

Doing what we can...

Oil Spill timeline

2010-06-26T19:39:00.002-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/05/01/us/20100501-oil-spill-tracker.html?ref=us

hey folks, I don't have much time to write now but I thought I would share this link I found.

It shows the progression and spread of the oil spill in the Gulf.

A positive note is that Kevin Costner (yes the actor) actually has created a centrifuge-type of machine that takes the contaminated water and spins out the oil. I think I read it is 98% effective in removing oil from seawater. And BP has actually already bought 32 of these machines to use in the Gulf spill! THINGS CAN CHANGE!

This is a huge deal, as we all know. I am trying to focus on the possibility of a positive outcome from this disaster. Maybe the world/the US will finally, FINALLY seriously look at ending big oil's reign of terror on this planet.

Pray.

Hope.

but most importantly,

Love.

Choices

2010-06-21T13:39:00.001-04:00

Let's face it - life is overwhelming. In the age of the internet and modern technology, we are being bombarded with more information than ever. A lot of it is contradictory, some of it is just bad, but there's good stuff out there too. This is certainly true for the quickly emerging world of sustainability. Should I choose bamboo floors because they're a rapidly renewable resource, or something else that's harvested and manufactured locally? How worried should I be about global warming? Which one of the fifteen new "green" cleaning products on the shelf is best? Believe it or not, there is no perfect answer to these questions or the countless others that fill our heads each day. More and more people want to live sustainably, but without a clear solution it's easy to understand why we tend to choose to do nothing rather than make positive changes. This is a big problem. In my opinion, the only way humans can get back to a healthy relationship with the planet (and themselves) is through behavior change. But before change can occur, we have to become more aware of the issues so we can make the best decisions for ourselves.

Taking on one more thing in your already busy schedule may seem intimidating, but don't let it be. It's only as hard as you make it seem. You can start by thinking about what's important to you and doing some research - any amount of self-education will help you make informed choices! Then, set a goal and move towards it. Don't feel like you have to do it all at once either. For example, waste reduction is really important to me. I'm an avid recycler and I've become accustomed to bringing my reusable bags to stores. Now I'm ready to do more. I've started buying some food items in bulk to reduce packaging waste, and I'm about to implement a composting system at home. It may take a little bit of time before these steps become routine, but I don't expect them to take away from my quality of life. In fact, it will improve it! Buying in bulk saves money, and composting will give me good soil for my garden. Seems like a win-win for me - but not until I make the change.

What choices will you make to bring you closer to your goals?

Prime Real Estate

2010-06-14T23:20:00.000-04:00

Farm To Table

2010-06-05T14:05:00.003-04:00

I am slightly obsessed with these tasty snacks I was recently introduced to.

Just now as I was gobbling up some, I noticed on the back of the packaging they have a website called Farm to Table.

I just checked it out and I thought I'd pass on the website to you. It has healthy recipes, tips on how to save energy and be green, and a farmers market locator. I love it!

Oil Spill Update.

2010-06-01T23:57:00.003-04:00

The spill is now taking up almost 26% of the Gulf of Mexico, and it is now estimated that 19,000 barrels [798,000 gallons] of oil is leaking every day.

Here is a link to CNN's blog with the most recent updates. Also, a video explaining why the oil is still leaking.

Greening the City

2010-05-24T22:53:00.004-04:00

Sustainability is a hot topic these days, and there's a good chance that your local government is jumping on the green bandwagon too. Some cities like Philadelphia, New York, Portland, Chicago, and Baltimore (just to name a few) even have an office dedicated to sustainability within city government. This is huge progress from just five years ago, but a lot of people still don't know about efforts happening in their cities. Take some time to find out what's going on in your neighborhood and see how you can help - even if it's just to spread the word. If you're in local to Philadelphia (like me!) you may want to consider attending the Greenworks: First Annual Progress Report event on Wednesday May 26:

Donate your hair and nylons

2010-05-19T20:05:00.003-04:00

The most recent oil spill may have happened several weeks ago, but it is still a current issue. The leak is releasing approximately 5,000 barrels of oil a day.

Salons around the country [and perhaps the world, but at least around America] are collecting hair to donate. Hair collects the oil from our head, so why not collect the oil in the ocean? Some salons are collecting nylons/stockings also. I have heard that the hair gets put into the nylons and then put into the ocean to sop up the oil.

For a more detailed and scientific description and information about helping to donate, check out this website.

http://www.matteroftrust.org/

For a YouTube video of how hair soaks up oil check out this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwQOD_Ir2vQ

Tonight our guest will be talking about...

2010-05-17T19:40:00.007-04:00

Hi folks,

I have the great honor of being your guest blogger this evening. I'd like to thank Valerie for opening this up and extending the invitation - I am flattered. I'd also like to thank Big Baby Jesus, just because.

Tonight (its actually daytime where I am, but saying "tonight" sounds classier) I would like to blabber on for a short while to cleanse my mind of some thoughts and hopefully seed some new ones in your own brain. Lets call this a thought exchange. I'd simply like to share with you a point of view that I have come into recently which has served me well in this world so far. And remember, its only an exchange if you offer some in return.

Many of us have heard of the Gaia concept - the idea that the world and all of its inhabitants are one living being interconnected through many different channels. The more I ponder this the more it makes itself clear and true in my world. For example, did you know that in a healthy forest the mycelium (the "roots" of mushrooms) connect every single living plant to each other. They accomplish this by means of their massive, branching fungal network that can extend for miles around and grow up to an inch per day. Mycelium latch onto root hairs and enhance the abilities of trees and plants to soak up water and nutrients. Through these mycelial networks it is entirely possible for the trees and plants on one edge of a 500-acre forest to "know" when a tree is cut down on the other end of the forest. They can communicate through the mycelium.

In The Secret Life of Plants by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird, numerous experiments where conducted in the late '70's that scientifically verified plants have "feelings." What do I mean by that? One example was conducted using a polygraph - a lie detector, which measures simple changes in electrical energy. Plants were hooked up to the lie detector and their responses measured when different things were happening around them. The plants gave sharp responses on the polygraph when their leaves were cut or burnt - to be expected. But the researchers found that these same plants then gave similarly alarmed responses when the researchers simply thought about cutting or burning their leaves. And nearby unharmed plants would respond as well. In fact, a plant in another room would respond when a plant was being cut or burnt. Clearly there is more going on here than we were led to believe by the cultural and scholastic standards of previous generations.

Where am I going with all this!?!! Well, the idea, without dragging this out too long, is to demonstrate that there is a lot more going on beneath "the surface" of our everyday 5-senses experience. We all know this. How did you know your mom was going to call you on the phone just before the phone rings? How is it that major scientific theories are often "discovered" by multiple scientists across the globe at nearly simultaneous times in our history? Could we be connected by more than cell phones and Facebook? Could we be more sensitive than our eyes and ears let us believe?

The answer is yes. We are, and so are the trees, ferns, rocks (yes rocks even!), birds, deer, flies, and all living creatures. We are all part of this planet which is part of our solar system which right now contain things that we can't see.

Please remember that we are all one and that we all need help from time to time. Help! And when you are exhausted and your head hurts from all the thinking and worrying. Stop. Breathe. Let it go and say, "now I have done enough for today." And rest.

But you knew all of that already. Were you waiting to live like you know it? Sometimes I wait for signs that other people know this. We are all connected. Do you agree?

Thank you for reading. Thanks for participating in this hard world and doing the best you can.

- Marc

Enjoy:

http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world.html

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-21T23:55:00.000-04:00

Happy Earth Day everyone!

Earth Day turns 40! I hope you choose to celebrate in your own way that will positively affect the Earth.

Go to the Climate Rally on the 25th.

Go to the Sustainable Design Expo this weekend.

Do some Earth-Friendly crafts.

Plant a tree.

Walk instead of driving today.

Clean up litter on your street.

Hang your clothes on a clothes line to try instead of using the dryer.

Adopt a coral reef.

Teach your kids the importance of Earth Day.

Bring your own shopping bag when you go out.

Please feel free to share any ideas you have, or things you have done on Earth Day in the past.

Earth Hour

2010-03-27T10:23:00.003-04:00

Today is the global event Earth Hour. 8:30 pm in whatever time zone you are in, people are encouraged to turn out their lights for one hour. National landmarks around the world have their spotlights turned off and all goes dark for one quiet hour.

This event began just a few years ago by a handful of people who wanted to do something to make a difference.

Here is the official website, and below are links to photos and more articles.
http://www.myearthhour.org/

Yahoo article on today's Earth Hour
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/climatewarmingearthhour;_ylt=AsR.jDj5MpVzvZgfFiKiyGaaK8MA

Yahoo photos of Earth Hour
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Earth-Hour/ss/events/sc/032710earthhour

Vegas does Earth Hour
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/mar/28/live-blog-las-vegas-gets-ready-go-unplugged-earth-/

CD Cases

2010-03-22T21:57:00.005-04:00

I've been cleaning a bit because I am moving in a few weeks. As I'm going through years of... well... junk, I have been filling my paper recycling bin numerous times, and dropping off car loads of clothes to thrift stores.

I came across a few boxes and crates of cd jewel cases from my music obsession. I found on one website that they are un-recyclable [please correct me if I'm wrong] because of the plastic they are made of.

The internet is full of good ideas on how to recycle these cd cases, but my favorite is to give the empty cases to local bands so they can sell their music without spending money on new cd cases.

Other ideas I've seen.

Post on Freecycle and give to others that may need them.

Make a calendar - give your friends some too!

Add a magnet to the back and turn them into a fridge photo magnet.

Please add your own!

Lazy Snow Day

2010-03-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

You just walked from your car to the store, wandered the store for almost an hour pushing your cart around, and then pushed the cart to your car. But those last few steps to push the cart back to the cart corral are just too much.

Oh Canada!

2010-03-01T11:42:00.002-05:00

For those of you who watched the Winter Olympics may have noticed that the medals were a bit unique looking.

#5

2010-02-10T23:02:00.002-05:00

A number of cities and towns do not recycle #5 labeled plastics. This company has made it easier to recycle #5's, by setting up "Gimme 5" stations at select Whole Food stores. You can also mail them your plastics - toothbrush handles and yogurt lids - for free!

The company then turns your #5's into toothbrushes and other products!

Flush away!

2010-01-14T23:46:00.014-05:00

I thought I would pass along some very pertinent information I received in a monthly newsletter from a holistic nurse.

The holidays are officially over. For me it means putting away decorations and donating unused items to the local thrift store. As I go through my home I also make sure to check the medicine cabinet. Any medicine that has expired of any unused prescriptions will go.

The problem is we have been told in the past to flush medicine down the toilet. A study found 24 major metropolitan areas to have contaminated drinking water. This is affecting 41 million Americans.

So what types of drugs are we exposed to? The most common are antibiotics, anti-seizure medicine, mood stabilizers and sex hormones or birth control pills. Flushing is the only part of the problem. The ingested medicines are excreted through urine and feces. Sewage treatment facilities can not remove pharmaceutical waste. They are simply passed on to us and the rest of the environment$.

What can we do? Obviously we can't tell people to stop taking their medicine. Bottled water isn't necessarily the answer since 25% comes from the tap.

The EPA has advised everyone to stop flushing unused prescriptions and non-prescription medications.

Home filtering systems will decrease some of the medicine in your tap, but it has to be reverse osmosis or an activated charcoal system.

So what do we do with expired or unused medicine? Mix the medicine with coffee grounds or kitty litter and place in a seal-able bag or can. Check with your local pharmacy to see if they have a take-back program. Be informed, contact your local water authority and find out what they are doing about this situation.

Hopefully if we all stop flushing and pouring our medicine down the drain we can decrease the amount we are exposed to. Do your part.

Newsletter posted with permission. Visit this link to view her site.

Holiday Ideas: Christmas Dinner

2009-12-22T22:37:00.000-05:00

Whoever cooks up your holiday meal probably gets sick of being in the kitchen by the time dinner is served. When it comes time to cleaning, some people opt for paper plates so they can throw them away and get back to spending time with the family.

This year, try to get the entire family involved. Yes, this will create a stir of complaints from anyone 20 and below [heck, maybe from everyone!], but set a kitchen timer for 7 minutes and have a tag-team type system. Seven minutes isn't full torture, but it is enough time for each team to get a few things done!

Pesticides in your food-TAKE ACTION by Dec 31.

2009-12-17T22:53:00.003-05:00

By December 31st, Pesticide Action Network of North America is asking you to go to their website and speak out about Monsanto to the Department of Justice. If you Google Monsanto you'll notice there are more negative sites than positive... the word 'unethical' appearing several times.

Some of the sites get a little technical with their bio-chemistry lingo, but browse the sites before you send your email.

Thank you for this link, readers !

So Close...

2009-12-15T22:30:00.000-05:00

...yet so far away.

Inspiring Story

2009-12-14T20:26:00.000-05:00

I love to hear stories like this.

Happy Holidays!

Reusable water bottles

2009-11-29T15:50:00.001-05:00

I tend to be a big water drinker. I have to carry around a huge water bottle with me to last the day because I'm on the go at all times and I'm never sure if I'll be somewhere where I can get water. My recycle bin was filled with empty water bottles every week.

Finally I did a little research and checked out some of the reusable water bottles out there. I was a little nervous about all the BPA talk, but I found one brand, Kleen Kanteen, that is made of stainless steel and does not have a plastic inner liner.

Since I'm also a huge tea drinker, I looked into getting a thermos that was environmentally friendly also. I found this brand called Aladdin at Wegman's which is made from around 25% post consumer content.

Here are some links to some water bottle reviews I looked at:
Tree Hugger
Safe Water Bottle Review

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T06:24:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving fellow Americans!

Enjoy your day of turkey and loved ones. Don't forget to give thanks for all that you have and are thankful for.

Feel free to comment on here for one thing you are thankful for!

Holiday Shopping Ideas #2

2009-11-24T23:32:00.003-05:00

Gift certificates support local businesses!

Some people tend to think of gift cards as an easy way out, but who doesn't love receiving them? A gift card is a good way to get that person into whatever business you want to share with them because you think they would love it - or you know they already shop there!

Guys... girls love pedicures. Go to a local salon and get a gift certificate for a pedicure.
Have anyone on your list who loves to try new things? Get them a gift certificate for a horse back riding lesson!
Do you have a coffee lover on your list? Get a gift certificate for a local coffee shop, and maybe also give them some gourmet coffee.
For the serious music lover, try a local music store. As a music lover myself, I could always use more cds or vinyl. (Yes, vinyl!)
If you have an athletic person on your 'to buy for' list, get them a gift certificate to go rock climbing or to take a yoga class.

Please feel free to share other good gift card ideas!

Alone in a field....

2009-11-22T11:29:00.000-05:00

...and obviously have been for a very long time. Look! They're even mowed around.

Note worthy magazine

2009-11-19T23:07:00.000-05:00

I don't usually have time to sit down and read through magazines, but there is one that does get me aching for a moment on the couch with a blanket and hot chocolate....

Ready Made magazine is a fantastic magazine aimed at getting people to use their brains and handyman skills rather than their wallets. It's filled with do it your self projects with labels for the skill level (ranging from monkey to craftsman) and amount of money (which is never much) you will have to spend to do this project. There are always reader contests to see who can come up with the best idea for a common item people usually throw in the trash.

It's a fantastic magazine I've found everywhere from Whole Foods to the library. And, when you're done with the magazine....

Broken Windshield to Shower Door

2009-11-17T23:39:00.000-05:00

Who knew a chipped windshield would ever turn out to be a good thing?

As Ron Sundholm's windshield was being replaced after a run-in with a rock, he began to wonder if his old windshield could be salvaged into something else. Six years later Ron created a laminating process which secures old windshield glass into a nearly unbreakable and completely safe panel. These panels can be used for shower doors, partitions, art, etc. Each panel is completely unique, and creates a fascinating piece of art.

Check out the website for Second Glass here.

Holiday Shopping Ideas #1

2009-11-15T06:33:00.001-05:00

It's that time again... where everyone starts stressing out about the approaching holidays. I thought I'd start a part of the blog that will appear once a week until the Christmas holiday is over.

Some of you are already finished all of your shopping, and maybe a few of you have gotten a few things marked off your list. Then... there are the rest of us. We are too busy to even think about the approaching holiday and annually wish that whoever planned out the holidays didn't smush a bunch of them in at the end of the year.

So if you fall into the second or third categories, these weekly blog posts will be for you!

One thing to think about as you're writing out your ideas for what to get people (or even for what to write on your own wish list) is where your gift is coming from. Are you buying something that has to be shipped across the country or even world? Is there an alternative that could be purchased closer to home?

Why not get something that starts off recycled? If you live near the Towsond, MD area, this is a fantastic store to visit. Everything at the Bluehouse has to meet one or more of several criteria. These criteria range from: the item has to be made by hand, the item has to be made locally, the item must be made of recycled products. Each product you click on shows you what criteria it meets.

If there are any stores like this near you, I would love to hear about them! Please email me with the store's name and website for future Holiday Shopping Idea posts!

Thank you Japan!

2009-11-12T23:11:00.005-05:00

A reader sent me this very inspiring link. It's only 3 minutes long but please enjoy it!

I love that the money made from recycling goes back into the community. Separating your recyclables into 34 different categories may sound extreme...and tedious, but having zero waste is worth it.

I'm not sure why the video is covering the side information for this blog...but bear with me. :)

Tailgating with Pizza, Oysters and Diet Soda

2009-11-10T23:53:00.003-05:00

Part of me wants to applaud someone for confining all the trash into these two grocery carts instead of letting the trash scatter over the parking lot.

The High Line

2009-11-08T06:27:00.004-05:00

Upon saying good bye while visiting a friend on his lunch break in NYC, he asked me which way I was headed. I explained and he told me I should take the High Line instead of the route I was about to take. I was a bit confused, but after some explanation I was practically running to check the High Line out.

From the 1930's to 1980 the High Line was used to separate freight trains from the street level. Since lengthy structure hasn't been used in ages, it was under the threat of demolition. Some folks decided that it would make the perfect above street level park, for people to get away from the bustle of their walk down the West Side. For the entire history (which is very fascinating) click here.

While I was strolling about in awe, I took some photos with my cell phone.

You can see some of the old tracks are still there...

These were ingenious lounge "chairs" that I wish moved a little farther than they did. Still very awesome though.

This dreadfully blurry image was to just show the contrast of park and city.

You can see more photos at the High Line website, along with sketches for future sections of the tracks.

The Fun Theory

2009-11-05T22:15:00.002-05:00

This is an amazing idea. Based in Sweden and backed by Volkswagen, the idea of this website is to see if people were rewarded for doing something they may not like doing, if they would do it more often and invite others to do the same. The website puts it as changing "people's behavior for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better."

As of now, the website has three social experiments for you to view. I'm not going to give away the experiments - I really want you reader, yes you, to go to the link and check it out. The videos aren't long and they're entertaining. Check back often to see if more videos are posted. You can also check the side of my page for a permanent link.

You can view entries submitted by visitors, and vote on their ideas. If you have your own, you can submit it and perhaps find your idea on the main page and 2500 Euros. (Check the rules before you get too excited about all those Euros!)

Welcome to America!

2009-11-03T22:13:00.006-05:00

I am very excited to be getting reader submissions! This photo was sent to me by a couple who went to Europe on their honeymoon, surrounded by the typical small European cars, and returned only to take the above photo. I wanted to title the photo "Not only do we need larger vehicles here in America, but we need to take up more parking spaces than needed", but they suggested "Welcome to America" which is fitting, and has a lot less rage attached to the name.

A few years ago I participated in a research group regarding cars. The moderator began by asking each of us what car we owned and why we purchased this car. One conversation between the moderator and another participant went like this [yes I do remember this word-for-word, but the car name is left out]:

Moderator: And what do you drive?
Participant: A [SUV].
Moderator: And why did you choose a [SUV]?
Participant: So I have more room.
Moderator: Oh, do you tend to transport a lot of things in your [SUV]?
Participant: No, I hate crap in my car. I try to keep my car clean.
Moderator: Then why do you do need all the space?
Participant: I put my gym bag in my car sometimes.
Moderator: O-kay...

So... to summarize, an SUV was purchased to hold a gym bag - occasionally.

When you go to purchase your next car, please take a few things into consideration if you haven't already:

What is the city MPG? Is it more than one digit or barely two?
If you are thinking of buying a truck, how often will you really use the truck bed? Would it be cheaper to buy a smaller car, then rent a truck for the seldom times you need the space of a truck bed?
Why are you choosing an SUV? If the only reason is because it looks cooler than a mini-van or any other four door vehicle, maybe you should reconsider.
How much money will it cost to fill your tank? If it's enough money that it will force you to drive less, then maybe you should get a more fuel efficient car. (Although driving less isn't a bad thing!)

Scary but revealing site.

2009-11-01T07:58:00.001-05:00

A friend sent me this site where you put in your zip code and get the 411 on air and water quality in your town, and also links for steps to reduce pollution.

If you poke around the site it lists what companies produce the most amount of pollution in the United States, compare pollution levels between towns, and seemingly more information than you can absorb with one visit. There is also a section which explains each air toxin, what causes it and it's effect on the body.

Check out Scorecard and see what it says about your neighborhood.

What's wrong with this picture?

2009-10-29T23:50:00.003-04:00

If you guessed "it says no parking on the no outlet street, so what is that space even used for?" you are correct! If you aren't going to allow parking on the "street", at least rip up the pavement and create a green space. Any other suggestions?

Don't throw out those magazines!

2009-10-27T23:10:00.000-04:00

Just because your neighborhood recycling program doesn't take glossy items [or maybe they do!], doesn't mean you should throw out your magazines.

If you've ever noticed the schools or churches near you have yellow and green dumpsters, they're not for trash, they are for recycling and anyone can use them! Check out Paper Retriever to see if there is a bin near you. They accept magazines along with newspapers and catalogs. Check this page to see what additional items the bins near you accept.

Your local library may take some magazines as long as they are in good quality. Call your library first before you haul off a years supply to Rolling Stone magazine.

Your local retirement home might love some reading material! Doctor's offices and salons sometimes get free magazine subscriptions sent to them because the publishers know they have people in the waiting room looking for things to read, and hey, free advertising! Other places are sometimes overlooked and have old, outdated reading material. Call your dentist before your appointment, they may gladly accept a few issues in their waiting room - just make sure to cut your name out of the cover first.

Trashed

2009-10-25T07:21:00.001-04:00

Philadelphia
by Rudyard Kipling

"Brother Square-Toes"--Rewards and Fairies.
If you're off to Philadelphia in the morning,
You mustn't take my stories for a guide.
There's little left, indeed, of the city you will read of,
And all the folk I write about have died.
Now few will understand if you mention Talleyrand,
Or remember what his cunning and his skill did;
And the cabmen at the wharf do not know Count Zinzendorf,
Nor the Church in Philadelphia he builded.

It is gone, gone, gone with lost Atlantis,
(Never say I didn't give you warning).
In Seventeen Ninety-three 'twas there for all to see,
But it's not in Philadelphia this morning.

If you're off to Philadelphia in the morning,
You mustn't go by anything I've said.
Bob Bicknell's Southern Stages have been laid aside for ages,
But the Limited will take you there instead.
Toby Hirte can't be seen at One Hundred and Eighteen
North Second Street--no matter when you call;
And I fear you'll search in vain for the wash-house down the lane
Where Pharaoh played the fiddle at the ball.

It is gone, gone, gone with Thebes the Golden,
(Never say I didn't give you warning).
In Seventeen Ninety-four 'twas a famous dancing floor--
But it's not in Philadelphia this morning.

If you're off to Philadelphia in the morning,
You must telegraph for rooms at some Hotel.
You needn't try your luck at Epply's or "The Buck,"
Though the Father of his Country liked them well.
It is not the slightest use to inquire for Adam Goos,
Or to ask where Pastor Meder has removed--so
You must treat as out of date the story I relate
Of the Church in Philadelphia he loved so.

He is gone, gone, gone with Martin Luther
(Never say I didn't give you warning)
In Seventeen Ninety-five he was, ( rest his soul! ) alive.
But he's not in Philadelphia this morning.

If you're off to Philadelphia this morning,
And wish to prove the truth of what I say,
I pledge my word you'll find the pleasant land behind
Unaltered since Red Jacket rode that way.
Still the pine-woods scent the noon; still the catbird sings his tune;
Still autumn sets the maple-forest blazing;
Still the grape-vine through the dusk flings her soul-compelling musk;
Still the fire-flies in the corn make night amazing!
They are there, there, there with Earth immortal
( Citizens, I give you friendly warning ). .
The thins that truly last when men and times have passed,
They are all in Pennsylvania this morning!

Food Recycling Law

2009-10-22T23:23:00.000-04:00

San Francisco has implemented a food recycling law and encourages everyone to throw their food trash into a compost bin, rather than in the trash. This significantly cuts down the amount of trash sent to landfills, and stench on trash day.

Seattle began this in the beginning of 2009, but only requires residents to follow, not businesses or restaurants.

Hopefully this law catches on and spreads across the country.

Read the entire article here.

Thumbs Up!

2009-10-20T23:43:00.000-04:00

I came across this community garden a few weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised that something like this existed. I searched the internet and found this website for community gardens across America. Every garden varies in depth - some gardens are acres upon acres, some gardens consist only of flowers and other non-edible vegetation, some exist only to preserve green space.

Look up a garden near you!

Freecycle

2009-10-18T09:49:00.000-04:00

I am a major supporter of thrift stores. I love the treasure hunt they become, and I love the prices. I've picked up some really old cameras, old school Nintendo games, records [more so when I was a DJ], furniture and items for costume parties.

Whenever I go clothes shopping, I come home and make a thrift store pile to exchange say, 3 old things for the 3 new things I just bought. Of course it always ends up that I donate more than just an equal amount to my new purchases...or if I don't have a significant amount of stuff to donate I wait or ask friends if they want to add anything to my donation pile.

Anyway, back to the treasure hunt aspect of it all. There is a website out there that is the online version of thrift stores! It's called Freecycle and it's like trash picking on the internet. They want to give items a few more lives before they end up in the dumpster just because the owner doesn't want them anymore. So next time you come up empty handed after a thrift store visit or dumpster diving, go to Freecycle!

Please recycle your cardboard

2009-10-15T23:05:00.000-04:00

Why recycle cardboard? Why not just throw it in the trash...

Doesn't a little part of you die inside when you throw something recyclable into the trash? Or is that just me?

The worst seems to be when people go on vacation - because it seems like people take a vacation from recycling also. They forget to have their papers stopped at home, so their newspapers gather on their driveways and get soggy. They buy paper plates for their mountain or beach homes and just throw away their dishes, because hey, who wants to do dishes while on vacation! I could go on and on but you see my point. I hope.

Recycle your bottle caps!

2009-10-14T03:01:00.000-04:00

Aveda is an environmentally-aware company that produces a professional line of cosmetics including makeup, skin care and hair color. Their products are plant-based and can be found at Aveda salons and spas or retail stores. Check out some of these links for detailed information regarding their product line.

Aveda has realized that the caps on your plastic containers are not recycled, and end up in landfills or in streams, etc., where they sometimes are mistaken as food by animals. They are accepting these caps at select stores and salons.

"Join the Recycle Caps with Aveda campaign and feel great knowing that your plastic caps will be repurposed into new packaging and kept from entering our waterways and harming wildlife."

To find a location near you, click here.

Beautiful Creekside View

2009-10-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

Beauty and sadness always go together.
Nature thought beauty too rich to go forth
Upon the earth without a meet alloy.

George MacDonald

Guerrilla Gardening

2009-10-08T03:07:00.000-04:00

Guerrilla gardening is one of the most beautiful organizations I have ever heard of. A friend sent me a link to their site a long while back, and I was amazed and touched by their concept and concern.

These wonderful people come across a bare traffic island, a poorly landscaped park or a neglected planter, and take over! You can see before and after photos showing a cruddy little section of public property transformed into a wonderful little oasis. The first time I looked at their site it seemed they did their gardening at night and in secret. Now it looks like they aren't as sneaky about it and you can see photos of happy people planting during the day.

Checking out their site now, I am excited to see that it has expanded and that more troops have joined from around the world! If you go to the community section, you can search for established communities that you can join. If you don't see your own city listed [or a near by city], start one!

If anything, please check out their website and maybe even help by donating plants, gardening tools or money to buy plants and gardening tools.

Parking lot wasteland

2009-10-05T19:55:00.000-04:00

Parking Lot Wasteland.

This parking lot, as many parking lots for American shopping centers, are built with more than enough parking spaces. If you notice, about half of any given parking lot is empty. Someone told me once that they plan out retail parking spots based on how many spaces they think they'll need for Christmas. I'm not sure how true this is but it seems silly to create all that run-off and spend all that extra money on paving just for one month of the year.

I remember back in my high school environmental science class learning about alternatives to the typical pavement options. My teacher talked about something similar to this, where one company used something comparable to cinder blocks on their side and planted grass in the voids. Instead of having a huge barren wasteland that had high maintenance costs and put off lots of heat in the summer, and run-off after storms, they had a lush grass that was stable enough to park your car on. The only maintenance was the occasional mowing.

Much to our disappointment, he concluded that the company had to revert back to blacktop because too many women were complaining about their high heels getting stuck in the grass.

Oil Photography Exhibit

2009-10-03T15:49:00.000-04:00

Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky has the idea! Right now at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington DC, you can see an amazing exhibit aimed at opening awareness towards oil consumption with a political and artistic spin. The photos aren't just oil spill after oil spill and sad little seals covered in oil. He makes it even more interesting and enough to make you ditch your vehicle for a set of sneakers.

You can read more about the photographer here, and his exhibit here.

More Coming Soon!

2009-10-01T11:09:00.000-04:00

This site was started to open your eyes. Don't forget to stop occasionally and look at your surroundings that you and your peers are creating. How many bags of trash does your household create each week? (Especially around holidays!) How full is your recycle bin each week? You may be eligible for recycling incentives (you get rewarded for recycling!) but you have to check in your area to see if a program is offered.

I want this site to inspire one reader to start a recycling program within their office, another reader to be religious about bringing their own reusable bags to the grocery store, another reader not to use so much wrapping paper for Christmas or birthdays, another reader to buy local produce or for a reader to stop throwing trash out the windows when they drive.

I hope it works and I hope you pass on the news.