Lessons learned while growing greener

Welcome to my 500th post. About two years ago, on September 26, 2007 to be exact, I began to figure out this blogging thing. At first I posted sporadically. I didn't use photos and the font was way too small. I've gotten a little better at blogging since then.

Here's my first post in it's entirety, complete with typo.

As I have been researching for my new green column in Primal Parenting Magazine, I am coming up with so much green infromation and it can't all go in the column. I'm starting this blog so that I can get more information out there.

It's going to have some tips, some statistics, some rants, some inspiration, some ideas, some insanity, and who knows what else. It will often be about green topics, but it's my blog, so sometimes my posts will be about whatever I feel like.

I’ve continued to learn so much over the past couple of years. To all of you have joined me along the way, made comments, encouraged me, and taught me things, I thank you.

Here are just a few lessons I’ve learned over the past two years while growing a little greener.

• God wants me to take care of the world that he created, and he wants me to encourage others to take care of it, too.
• Trading in our Jeep Grand Cherokee for a Prius was easy. Remembering to power down my computer every night is hard.
• I raised my boys for the first several years of their lives without much regard to how their actions affect the environment. It takes a long time to undo the things I've taught them.
• I spent the first 30-some years of my life without much regard to how my actions affect the environment. It might take me even longer than it will take my boys to undo the things I've been taught.
• Things don't change over night.
  
• It's better to live greener than to preach greener.
• It is possible for a soccer mom to feed her family without ever getting fast food (I don't count pizza as fast food).
• Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
• I'm a good cook - a really good cook.
• I still don't know if I'm fully convinced that humans are the cause of global warming/climate change, but I'm willing to ere on the side of caution. Cause even if I'm totally wrong, there's still a lot of other damage we do to the earth and to those who live on it that needs to be corrected.
• The very best pasta sauce I have ever tasted was the first one I made from just picked, organic ingredients from my own garden, even if it wasn't really the best pasta sauce I had ever tasted.
• Organic milk tastes so much better than non-organic. It's not just hype.
  
• It's a kick to watch the trash pile get smaller as the recycling pile get larger. It's even a bigger kick to watch the recycling pile get smaller as the trash pile stays smaller.
  
• Giving up Diet Coke is not easy.
• Hanging clothing on the line to dry makes me feel at peace.

Image: L'Enfent Terrible

Things are rough all over, Ponyboy

This is my 497th post. I'm still deciding what to do for the big 5-0-0, but for the few posts leading up to it, I'm going to look back at some of my previous posts. Please indulge my reminiscing.

I know we're supposed to believe that the economy is getting better. Perhaps it is on it's way up, and I just don't know how to read the signs. But most of the people I know, including my family, are looking for ways to spend less money and save money on the things they have to spend it on.

So I thought I'd go back and find some old posts that talk about saving money while being green. Here are a few that you might find helpful.

Staying green during the (possible) recession - Yep, this one was written a year and a half ago, when many of us were still in a bit of denial. It deals with stretching your grocery budget.

5 ways to be greener today that will save you money - 5 things you can to today, right now, with little effort.

Buying local at the peak of season saves money - Considering we're in the heart of summer and local foods are abundant everywhere, this is a very relevant post.

Going greener with your music can save you money - Tips on finding inexpensive or free legal music and downloads.

Host a swap and save money - "One man's trash is another man's treasure" and a swap can help you get rid of your unwanted items and get things you need or want without spending a dime.

10 easy ways to be more sustainable with your clothing - These tips will help you save money on new clothes while extending the life of the clothes you have

5 reasons to dig into your pantry - You've got food in your pantry that you've already paid for, why not use it?

Reduce, reuse, recycle: Packing and shipping items - If you're a careful saver, you should never have to pay for shipping products again.

Coupons for organic and natural foods are out there - Coupons for the organics and naturals aren't as plentiful as say coupons for Hot Pockets, but they are out there.

And please, before every female Gen-X'er who reads this post tells me that the photo doesn't match the quote, I know it doesn't. I couldn't find a photo of the right scene.

Planning vacation with a green focus

I've been slowly going through past pieces that I've written for other sites that aren't there anymore. Here's one a came across today that I wrote after we returned from a trip to Arizona last year.

____________________________

My least favorite part about going on vacation is preparing to go. We just got back from a fabulous week in Arizona where we attended our niece’s wedding. The days leading up to going were hectic, even more hectic than they’d been for past vacations. Why? Not only did I have to prepare to go away, I tried to do it in an environmentally efficient way.

Many people are beginning to plan their summer vacations now. If you’re one of them, I’d like to encourage you to keep in mind how your travels will impact the environment when you go. I’m not one of those extremists who believe we should never travel more than 25 miles from our own homes. I do think, though, that there are many things we can do to reduce the impact that our travels have no matter how far we’re traveling.

Since this was my first time traveling keeping the environment in mind, I didn’t do all I could because frankly I didn’t think of all of them. So this list of suggestions contains both things I did and things I realized I should have done.

1. Pack lightly – Whether you’re traveling by air or by car, the weight of all you pack will cause more fuel to be consumed. As I was debating how many pairs of shoes I would NEED, my husband smiled slyly and said, “You know every pair of shoes you take wastes more fuel. That’s not very green, you know.” After shooting him a sneer, I realized he was right. Back went a few pairs of shoes into the closet. If you’ve got the ability to do laundry while you’re away, you don’t need an outfit for each day you’re gone.
2. If you’re flying, book a direct flight if possible. If you’re driving, plan a fairly direct route. The less meandering you go from point A to point B, the less fuel you’ll use (if you’re driving this will save you money, too.)
3. Pack snacks wisely. Car trips call for snacks on hand and we all know by now to bring our own snacks on the plane. That doesn’t mean you need to buy individually wrapped packages that generate a lot of trash. You can buy snacks in bulk and put them in reusable containers.
4. If you’re renting a car, rent the most fuel-efficient vehicle you can. Some rental companies now carry hybrid vehicles. We tried to do this on our trip, but when we got to the counter, they didn’t have the car we reserved. They gave us something they said was comparable, but their idea of comparable was something the same size.
5. When eating out, choose restaurants that have reusable dishes and utensils – not disposable ware. We went out for tacos one afternoon, and I was horrified by all of the Styrofoam we ended up throwing in the trash when we were done eating. Next time, I’ll check out eating establishments more thoroughly.
6. Support the local economy. Eat at an independently owned restaurant, not a chain. Buy one of kind souvenirs from local artists, not from souvenir shops that sell plastic key chains made in China. If you see a farmer’s market, by all means stop. Load up on some local produce, cheese and bread and go have a picnic all while supporting the small farmer.
7. Before you leave home turn everything down or off. Adjust the thermostat so energy is not used to cool or heat a house that is empty. Power down all electronics and unplug any appliance that is not a necessity. The few minutes it’s going to take you to reset your alarm clock or reprogram the stations on your under the counter kitchen radio is well worth the energy saved.
8. Clean out the refrigerator before you go. Give away food that will spoil to your neighbors so it doesn’t go to waste. Put anything that you can freeze in the freezer and you’ll have something to eat upon return.
   

Nothing that I’ve proposed here will alter your vacation very much. You’ll still go where your heart desires and enjoy yourself, but you just might have a little extra enjoyment knowing your travels aren’t leaving so much of a harmful trail behind you.

Do you sometimes wish you could...

• use poisonous chemicals to keep the furry four legged critters from eating all your green beans in your garden?
  
• eat off of paper products all the time so you didn't have to do the dishes?
  
• bleach your kids' horribly dingy socks?
  
• shop till you drop?
  
• let your kids eat Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch every morning (and hey, if it's there you might as well eat it too, right?)?
  
• let the air conditioning make it REALLY cold in your house in the summer?
  
• could take 1/2 hour long, hot showers every day?
  
• just use paper towels instead of washing all those rags?
  
• throw everything in the trash can?
  
• not spend half your time figuring out how to use up the leftovers so you don't waste food?
  
• leave your phone charger plugged in all day instead of bending over to unplug it?
  
• _____________________________ (insert your own wish here)?

No one ever said it was going to be easy.

Greening the end of school

It's the last week of school. I cannot wait for the boys to be done school so we can slow down our pace and have fun. We've all earned it.

As the kids come home with backpacks full of stuff, here are some ideas for greening the end of school.

• Go through everything that the kids bring home and see what can be saved for next year. Each year, we get a supply list and not all of those supplies are consumable. Some things you may be able to save for next year are scissors, calculators, rulers, highlighters or binders. When your kids bring these things home, put them aside to be used again next year so you don't have to buy them again.
• After you look through the tons of papers that come home, make sure the ones you aren't keeping end up in the recycle bin. Or, if the backs of the papers are still good, use them for scrap paper or in your computer printer.
• Take a good look at their lunch boxes, thermoses, drink containers, etc. Can you get another year out of them? Clean them up, perhaps sprinkle them with a bit of baking soda and set out in the sun for a bit, then put them away for next year.
• Inspect backpacks. They can be reused next year, too, if they are in good condition. 
• This would be a good time to go through your kids' books, too. Their reading levels have gone up over the year, and some purging might be in order. Give away to younger friends or relatives (or donate) books that your kids have moved beyond. Make sure there are enough books at their reading level to have on hand for the summer. Visit the library for appropriate books or see my post on greening your summer reading list for ideas on how to stock your home library with less of an environmental impact.
  

One last thing. If you find that things like backpacks and lunch boxes are still in good condition, but your children are no longer interested in the super heroes or tween stars on them, help them to make a better choice with their next purchases. If you're going to allow them to get new ones, donate the still good ones, and then help them to choose ones that won't go out of style so they can use them until they wear out, not until they're out of style.

Image: D Sharon Pruitt

Greening the summer reading list

Schools are ending for the summer (yay!), and children are coming home with summer reading lists. You may even have some books on your list that you'd like to read when you have some extra leisure time this summer. I've created a list for myself* so I make sure that I can in some pleasure reading - which for me is anything that is NOT related to the environment these days. 

How can you gather the books on your list while doing little harm to the environment? Go pre-owned. 

• The library - I've read that library usage is way up in this economy so if you are going to use the library to get required books, you may want to pre-order them if your library allows. My library allows me to go online and select a book. If it's available they pull it from the shelf, and it's waiting for me when I get there. If it's checked out, it tells me when it's expected to be returned, and how many other people are waiting for it first. 
  
• Library book sales - You can get books very inexpensively at library book sales, but you never know what you'll end up finding. If you're looking for specific books, it will be hit or miss. If you or your kids are just looking for something that catches your interest, this will be a great place to find it. You can go to booksalefinder.com to find library book sales in your area.
  
• Yard sales - Again, it's hit or miss, but you never know when the yard sale gods will smile down on you.
  
• Trade books you don't want anymore - Swaptree, Paperback Swap or Book Crossing are sites that allow you to trade books (and other media) and help to match you up with someone who has what you want and is looking for what you have.
  
• Buy used online - eBay; half.com; amazon; barnes and noble; alibris - these are all places where you can buy used books online. Be careful to make sure that the books are used; these places sell both.
  
• Put out a request - Send an e-mail to your friends and family or put out a request on Facebook to borrow a specific book. If your 10th grader needs to read The Count of Monte Cristo for summer reading, someone you know is bound to have a copy of it.
  

You can also green your summer reading by downloading a book and listening to it on your mp3 player; however, I still like to have an actual book in my hand.

Any other ideas on where you can get used books to fulfill your summer reading list?

* I know you're dying to know what's on my summer reading list.

In Late Winter We Ate Pears

Living in a Foreign Language: A Memoir of Food, Wine, and Love in Italy

My Jesus Year

A Thousand Splendid Suns

You aren't still using plastic bags, are you?

It's been a while since I've brought up reusable bags. But a couple of items caught my attention this week, and I thought the subject was worth bringing up again.

The first is that this past Monday was one year since China banned supermarkets, shops and other markets from supplying free plastic bags. In that year, 40 billion bags were kept from being used. The equivalent of 1.6 million tons of oil was saved, too. People in China are gradually getting used to bringing their own bags. Plastic bags haven't been totally done away with in China. People can buy them, and some stores are still giving them away despite the ban. China Daily reports that 

The State Administration of Industry and Commerce issued a regulation that any shopkeeper who provides free plastic bags to customers will receive a 10,000 yuan fine. However, only very few people receive fine in Beijing. 

Here in the US there are individual cities that have banned plastic bags. San Francisco banned them in stores over a year ago and since then 5 million plastic bags have been used each month in the city.

Yesterday, news came that Washington DC is on the verge of instituting not a ban, but a 5 cent tax on both plastic and paper bags. 

You know what, this annoys me. Not that I think people should be using plastic or paper bags willy nilly. It annoys me because the government has to place these bans and taxes on something that companies and the public could so easily take care of themselves.

Both Ikea and Whole Foods have gotten rid of plastic bags without any edict from the government. I know lots of people who now carry reusable bags not because other bags aren't available at the store but because they think it's the right thing to do. 

This is such an easy fix, why do we need the government to fix it for us. Why should city, state or national governments take time, money, and man power to create these laws, bans and taxes on bags and then have to enforce them. It's just lazy on our part. 

I admit, I don't always remember my bags. Once in a while, I will take a plastic bag and then reuse it and make sure it gets recycled. Most of the time, though, if I forget my reusable bags, I  put the food back in the cart and transfer it to my car without bags or carry the item I'm guying out in my hands. It occurred to me one day that I used to shop at the bulk store BJ's, and they never had bags. Everything just went back in the cart and was carried in the house piece by piece. Why shouldn't I be able to do this in a regular grocery store.

I just don't get it. Why is this switch so difficult for people? Why does it take governmental interference to get us to do the easy, sensible thing?

Live like it's the norm

Yesterday, being the crazy woman that I am, I had my son's 7th birthday party/bbq in the late afternoon after his final performance of a community musical that he was in. He did three performances over the weekend and they were all fabulous - the DVD of Friday night's performance will be on a continuous loop on my tv if you want to stop by and see :)

Anyway, at the bbq, I served burgers made with locally raised beef from grass fed, free range, happy cows that weren't treated with antibiotics or hormones. I didn't tell anyone what kind of beef they were eating. At least not until everyone started asking where I got the burgers because they were so good. 

Once the questions started coming, I was able to tell them that I had gotten it at the farmer's market and let them know how it was raised and that it was only about 75 cents more a pound than the ground beef you get at the grocery store. 

Why didn't I tell them beforehand? There's two reasons.

First of all, I don't want to be the obnoxious green person. Because of my job as an environmental writer, my friends already know we live green. The last thing I need to do is announce at the beginning of a party to my friends who live out their own various shades of green (or not) that "the burgers are from happy cows, the paper plates are made from recycled materials and are 100% compostable, and look - I'm using real silverware (well not real silver, but you understand) instead of plasticware." That's just obnoxious.

The second reason is this. If I believe that living green should be the norm, then I should live like it's the norm. When serving factory farm burgers was the norm in my home, I never announced "Hey, tonight's burgers are from cows that lived miserable lives and were pumped full of drugs that made them get large and uncomfortable and fed food that was unnatural for them." (not that I actually knew any of those things back then). 

I believe in "show not tell" when it comes to living out my greenness in my day to day life. Yes, I write about, and there is an awful lot of telling in my writing. But when you come to my house, unless you ask, the things that I do differently now than I did a few years ago are just done. They aren't announced. And if someone asks, I answer and then move on. 

The green changes that we make in our day to day lives can make a huge difference, but they don't have to be a huge deal. They just have to be the norm.

Image: ILoveButter

5 Ways to be Green at the Community Swimming Pool

Summer is coming! Summer is coming! You know how I know? The pool opens this weekend. The boys are so excited.

My family and I have a membership at our local pool. Admittedly, the pool in and of itself isn’t a green thing. It uses lots of water and chemicals to keep that water clean.

But when I look at what the pool offers my family – the socialization, the exercise, the something to do every day, the bonding my husband and I do with the boys when the pool is relatively empty and we get to throw them half way across and they come up laughing – I know it’s something I’m not going to give up any time soon.

But I can do things to lessen the environmental impact that our pool membership has in other ways. I started to do some of these things last summer, but this summer I’m committed to doing them as often as possible.

Here is what my family will be doing, and what you can be doing if you have a pool membership, too.

1. Walk or bike to and from the pool. Throw your pool gear in backpacks or get a basket for your bike and leave the car at home. If you’ve got a lot of stuff, you could throw it all in a wagon (which of course the kids will insist on riding home in).
2. Take your own food and beverages. Most pools have a snack bar or grill. The food comes on paper plates and the beverages come in throw away cups. And let’s face it – it’s not the healthiest food you’re getting from the snack bar, is it? If you plan ahead and take your own food and beverages along with durable plates, utensils and cups, you’ll save a lot of paper products and calories.
3. Only buy new bathing suits, goggles, and beach towels if necessary. Just because it’s a new pool season doesn’t mean you need all new gear to go with it. If last year’s stuff is still usable, use it. The boys each got one new suit this year and everything else is leftover from years' past.
4. Encourage recycling. Our pool has recycling containers, and I’ve been known to stop a kid who has been ready to throw a bottle in the trashcan and redirect him to the recycling can right next to it. If your pool recycles, make sure you encourage those around you to take advantage of it. If it does not, talk to management about starting a recycling program.
5. Keep the kids out of the showers when they aren’t actually showering. Last year my boys went missing during the “adult swim” time at our pool. Turns out they had been in the mens room standing under the hot shower to keep warm while they weren’t allowed in the pool. I came to find out that many of the kids at the pool do this.

This summer, as you’re heading out to the pool or any other water activity, think about how you can lessen the environmental impact while not giving up your fun in the sun.

Image: Gabyu

Me vs the Ants: I'm winning I tell you

For years, we had an exterminator come in to take care of our ant problem. He'd come in and spray poison (but not poison that was like, you know, harmful to my kids or anything....) around my home - particularly on my kitchen counters where I prepared food.

Before we initially called the exterminator, I did try some natural methods of removing the ants - not for environmental reasons but because I didn't want to pay an exterminator. 

I tried putting grits in their path because I had read that the ants would take the grits back to the queen who would ingest it. It was suppose to expand in her stomach when it got wet, and she'd explode and the ant colony would die away. I don't know if the queen ever exploded - I was too impatient to see if they'd die away naturally.

I tried sprinkling paprika on the counters because I had read the ants wouldn't cross over paprika. I'd wake up in the morning to find ants lined up on one side of the paprika like it was a starting line for a race. But if the paprika wasn't there, the ants would take over the countertops again.

I tried other methods, too, but none of them worked in the two or three days I tried them so I called an exterminator. About a year ago, I stopped the exterminator. I couldn't live with the poisons in my house near my children or the knowledge that they were ending up in the soil and groundwater any longer. 

This year, when the ants arrived, I didn't even try the natural remedies. I cleaned. I found what they were going for (the honey in a corner cabinet), moved it to a remote location, cleanedthe cabinet really well with an earth friendly cleaner and then cleaned the top of my counters really well. That stopped the onslaught of ants.

I still get scout ants that are searching. Each morning I come down to find a dozen or so desperately searching for something. I get rid of them and clean again. At night I make sure that the counters have been wiped down before going to bed. Believe me, this is a chore for me. If you read my little bio to the right you'll see I'm a really bad housekeeper.

This morning, I found only two. I got rid of them and cleaned again.

Every time I see an ant in my kitchen it drives me crazy, but I'm learning to live with it. I keep telling myself that eventually, the ants will realize there is nothing for them here and they'll try somewhere else, and that I can live with it till then because the way I'm handling it is much better for my family and for the earth than my old way.

My husband keeps mentioning the exterminator but he hasn't picked up the phone himself to call so I'm taking that as an unspoken acceptance of my determination.

How do you deal with the ants in your home?

5 Ways to be green on an average Friday night

It's Friday. Yay! It's been a long week. If you've got a family like I do, most of the time Friday night means pizza, a family movie, maybe hanging out with the neighbors. Once in a while it means getting sitter and going out, but more often than not Friday nights are spent close to home. It's not bad. I like my family and my neighbors. So, on one of these average Friday nights, what some things you can do to make them greener?

1. Borrow a movie from a neighbor instead of hopping in the car to go rent one or buy one. Everyone I know has a DVD collection. Opening up DVD libraries to your friends saves gas and money.
2. Indulge in local or organic adult beverages. Friday night often includes a glass of wine or a bottle of beer (or two), chose local or organic drinks to make your indulging a little greener. Recycle empties!
   
3. If you're heading outside to spend time with neighbors, turn off the lights in your house and power down electronics you're not using.
4. Bring out a big jug of water or iced tea and cups for the kids instead of having them go through countless individual beverages.
5. I know part of the Friday night pizza ritual for most people is having the opportunity not to cook, but if you're up for it, make your own pizza from organic ingredients instead of having one delivered.

These are all little things, but the little things add up. Do you have any suggestions to add? Enjoy your Friday night!

Life is a highway

Adam Shake from Twilight Earth is back this month with another guest post. Read more about Adam at the end of the post.

When was the last time you had a song in your head that you just couldn’t get rid of? Well I’ve had one in my head all day. No, I take that back. That’s a lie. I’ve had “Life is a highway” in my head all week long.

Well, life's a road that you travel on
There's one day here and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind
-Life is a highway by Tom Cochran

Now I don’t believe in coincidence, so why has this song this song been worming it’s way through my subconscious all week, and what exactly does “Life is a highway, and I’m gonna ride it all night long” mean? I want nothing to do with highways, or cars, or oil or CO2 or….. I’m about as deep green as you can get and if you knew how I “really” felt about some things, I’d probably be banned from the internet. You’ll never find me lying on a beach, and my idea of a vacation is living on the side of a mountain above tree-line and eating wild blueberries for breakfast.

But I digress. I think I’ve got it figured out. I believe that I’ve been contemplating this Environmental journey that I’ve been on, wondering not where I’m at, but how I got here and where I’m going. Life is a highway, after all.

I was recently interviewed, and as I’m sure Robin can attest to, when an environmentalist or green writer is interviewed, there are two questions that are standard. How did you get involved in the green movement and do you have some green tips for us? It’s kind of a running joke between those of us who do this kind of thing. This wasn’t my first interview, but it really got me thinking? How DID I get here? Where am I going?

How I got here isn’t as important though as how you got here. How did you get to the point in your life where you find yourself reading Robins blog, right now? You could just as easily be reading any other type of thing.

What drives us down the highway of life is not ourselves; it’s the people and things around us. After all, if we didn’t have anywhere to go, we’d never get in the car.

Some people realize that we all live in one big house that we call earth, and that by taking care of it, protecting it, we care for and protect the people we love. Turning down the heat at night, buying locally grown organic food, recycling and breathing fresh air tells our spouses and children “I love you.” The people we love have brought you here.

Some people realize that we have an intrinsic relationship with the natural world. This is a relationship that we have know for thousands of years and have only within the last couple of hundred, forgotten about. The world around you, outside your home, car and office has brought you here.

Some people realize that though the onus of responsibility for the environmental catastrophe we face can be laid at the feet of “Society,” there is something in them, which takes some of that responsibility upon themselves. Your integrity has brought you here.

Some people have people in their lives who respect them for caring for the ones they love and humanity in general. These people ask you questions. They respect your answers. They look to you as an example. They could be your friends, your co-workers or your own children. The people who count on you and look up to you brought you here.

Some people disagree with you. Some people think that you are being silly, or worse yet that you are crazy. Some people may even call you pretentious. Some of those people are vested in a consumer and energy consuming lifestyle that does not allow them to change without giving up certain things, and those things have a higher priority to them than working toward a sustainable future so that their own children will be able to live some semblance of a normal life. The people who hurt our home have brought you here.

Some people think that we have to solve a problem before we can fix a problem. We live in a world of instant access to any type of information. Want to know how to build a house? It’s on the internet. Want to know how to talk to your teenager? It’s on the internet? Do you want to know what day your wedding anniversary will fall on in 12 years or what your body fat index is or how long you have left to live based on your lifestyle? It’s on the internet. Want to know how to solve Global Warming? Uhhh, hmmm, I can’t seem to find that. What, you saying I’m the cause? Well umm, there’s no such thing! Skeptics and deniers have brought you here.

Only you know what brought you here. The question is, where do you go from here?

In Don Henley's “Boys of Summer” he says, “Out on the road today, I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac. A little voice inside my head said you can’t look back, you can never look back.”

It’s kind of like that, isn’t it? Is there any looking back now that we are here? Can we ever go back to our care free consumer lifestyles? Would we want to? The farmers market I go to is a great place. Garden raised vegetables, picked right off the vine in my own yard taste so good. Plants grow so much better when the soil comes from my own little composting bin. Putting my toilet paper rolls in my recycle bin is like thumbing my nose at the paper companies. But nothing beats being an advocate for a greener world, being an activist and being a writer, except maybe the fact that I’m going to the woods this weekend, and even if it’s wet and cold, I’ll feel more alive than I would sitting in my office a couple blocks from the White House.

There are different shades of Green just like there are different roads. Your shade is different than mine and that’s great. You don’t have to stand in front of a coal plant gate with 2,000 other people and risk arrest, but I’ve done it. Maybe you are a Vegan. I am not. Sometimes our roads intersect, like they have just now. When that happens, there is nothing sweeter.

Today is the first day of Spring. It’s a new season, a season of growth and renewal. The highway of life has brought you to this day, to this moment. This article is the Deadhead sticker on the Cadillac. Please don’t look back. Please never look back.

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Adam Shake is the founder of Twilight Earth, a blog that brings news and excellent commentary on what is going on with the environment worldwide that we need to care about. Whether he's educating about the environmental impact of things like coal or simply sharing his breathtaking photos of nature, I always learn something at his site. Visit Twilight Earth and look around (and check out my guest post on his site today).

On his blog he says "I’m about sharing with you what I know, what I’m learning, and what I’m ignorant about in reference to this huge subject that we call the environment." That's what we appreciate around here.

National Geographic's true green home

I was sent a copy to review of true green home: 100 inspirational ideas for creating a green environment at home by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin. It's a beautifully photographed book of quick ideas that those who are new to going green can implement in their home.

What I liked most about the book is that it was set up one idea at a time - making it easy to pick and choose which ideas you might like to implement. In a very un-overwhelming way, the book allows its readers to flip through and grab onto ideas that are doable for them.

I also like that the authors didn't just write about the how-to's; they wrote about the why's, too. For example. idea #69 is "the paperless home." They explain ways to go paperless: saving documents electronically, banking online, etc, but they also give statistics. 

Research has shown that by switching to electronic bills, statements and payments, the average household can save 6.6 pounds of paper, avoid the use of 4.5 gallons of gasoline, and prevent the production of 171 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

It's information that is concrete and more likely to leave an impression on a reader than a simple "you'll save trees."

There is also a list of websites in the back of the book that give more information on a lot of the green ideas they give in the book, and a helpful glossary of terms.

If you are well entrenched in being green, this book probably won't have much in it that you don't already know, but if you're new to trying to create a greener home, this book has some practical starting points. It would also be a helpful gift book.

Great green ideas for children's birthday parties

Here's another great post that comes to us via Lynn and Corey at Celebrate Green. I particularly like the part about taking the focus off gifts - both for the birthday kid and the party guests. I've often contemplating starting a website called stopthegoodybagmadness.com! 

Here's what Lynn and Corey have to say.

Celebrating an eco-friendly birthday can be loads of fun and cost next to nothing. All it takes is a little thought and planning.

Once you and your child (assuming she's old enough), have chosen a theme, look at each aspect of the event: decor, food, activities and gifts, and ask yourself the following questions. (We're talking about children's birthdays here, but the same principles apply no matter the age of the honoree.)

1. Can I reuse or re-purpose items I already own for decor? Avoid purchasing paper goods like tablecloths, even napkins. If you're crafty, take a plain white sheet and color in animals, pirates, tea cups or whatever matches your theme, or visit a thrift store and see if they have some fabric that could be used. The most practical solution for napkins is washcloths. If you don't have enough, you can pick up a dozen for less than $10 in many discount stores. These can be used as every day napkins until they totally deteriorate at which time they transform nicely into dust rags.

For table decorations, check your house, especially your child's room, assuming it's her party. Among her toys, we bet you can find enough items related to the party theme to create a unique tablescape. If she's old enough, she can set it up on her own.

There's no need for conventional balloons which, unless disposed of properly, can be a threat to wildlife and also post a choking hazard to children. Instead, make a few pinatas with recycled paper and fill them with some healthy treats or treasures.

2. What can we eat that everyone will enjoy but that's healthier than the usual birthday fare? Avoid planning a full meal. Much of the food goes to waste as kids are notoriously picky or just too excited to eat. Instead, lay a table with a choice of healthier snacks (depending on children's ages), like raisins, peanut butter (be sure to ask parents beforehand whether their children are free of allergies), fruit, 100% fruit leathers, or organic "bars." Instead of juice or soda, put out pitchers of cold filtered water, homemade lemonade, or if it's a winter birthday, how about making real organic hot chocolate?

When it comes to the cake, save money and create something healthier by making one yourself. It's not that difficult or time consuming. If you have a small group, donning chef hats and making the cake can be a fun part of the celebration.

Another option for do-it-yourself fun is cookie baking and decorating. Individually decorated cookies make great no-waste party favors.

Be sure to set out a container for composting leftovers.

3. Do we really have to haul the gang to an amusement park, restaurant or skating rink to enjoy a memorable party? The answer is absolutely not! Think about what your kids love doing daily. For instance, one four-year-old we know lives and breathes hide 'n seek. Why shouldn't her party involve several variations on the game? Not only can all the partygoers play, but how about hide 'n seek with some gifts, both for the birthday girl and the guests? Or why not hide and seek for objects instead of people?

If your child loves animals, call your local 4H club and see if a teenager will bring a rabbit or other animal for the children to learn about and pet.

We're betting that no matter what your child enjoys, he'll love integrating activities based on his passion into the party.

Neither of ideas the above costs a penny. And remember that when you focus on the child instead of the event, magic can happen.

4. How do we take the focus off gifts? At the same time parents may decry our nation's emphasis on overconsumption, they equate a great birthday (or Christmas or Halloween for that matter), with giving and receiving lots of stuff. But more people are beginning to believe that children's birthday parties, especially the gift giving parts, have gotten out of control. Parents and children alike, are starting to look at the whole gift giving idea in a new light. Some parents are asking for gently used or homemade (by the guest, not the parent)items. Others are opting out of asking other children to bring gifts to parties, while keeping family gift giving intact. Many have started donating to charities in the child's name, or a combination of these ideas. For a terrific list of alternatives, visit www.BirthdaysWithoutPressure.org.

The birthday child isn't the only one who is showered with gifts, though. At many events, tiny guests return home laden with so many items, you'd think it was their birthday! Downsizing prizes and party favors is not difficult. Every game does not have to have a winner who is rewarded with a trinket. How about making a craft project the centerpiece of the party, with the children taking home what they make? Even better,donate the projects to a children's hospital.

Birthday parties should be fun for everyone and there is no reason to create waste and shower anyone with carloads of stuff. Instead, aim to create a memorable event that focuses on simple pleasures.

For more simply green children's birthday ideas, check out this post.

Confessions of a harried eco-mom

Sorry there was no post on Friday. I was on my way up to Boston for a wine expo. And I have a confession to make. No, it has nothing to do with how much wine I drank at the expo. It has to do with the days leading up to going away - trying to get everything set up so my husband and boys could get through the weekend without me.

In my perfect eco-world, I would have spent time preparing organic, healthy meals for them so all they needed to do was pop them out of the freezer and all would be ready. But, I had many deadlines last week so that didn't happen. Here's what did happen.

I had to leave at 5:45pm on Thursday to drive to my friend's house to spend the night. We were catching an early flight to Boston on Friday. When I woke up Thursday morning, I had not packed, I still had laundry to do, there was no easy food for the guys to make while I was away, and I had some writing I had to do.

I went to the store, and here is where the confession begins. I bought hot dogs, chips, chicken nuggets, frozen meatballs and various other processed, unhealthy foods. And I forgot my reusable bags. So all of that garbage went into plastic bags! I rolled my cart out of the grocery store feeling like a huge fraud, opened the back of my car and found a stack of reusable bags. 

Then came the audible swearing just as the mom with her two-year old-daughter  was appearing from in between my mini van and the one next to me. There is no doubt, she and her impressionable daughter had heard me. I got the "righteous mommy" look from this woman that I've given many a person as they let fly words that I don't want my children to hear. I gave her the "I'm so sorry" eye crinkle and shoulder shrug, but she wasn't having any of that.

Get home, finish my work, pick the boys up from school, take them to various friends' houses, come home, pack, pick the boys up from various friends' houses in the mini van even though they were only blocks away, greet my mom at the door as she comes to stay with the boys while I take off because my husband wasn't home yet, fly out the door, get about 20 minutes down the interstate when I remember, "I forgot the wine expo tickets!" Drive to the next exit, turn around drive home, grab the tickets, kiss everyone again, and start back down the interstate - now having driven a good 40 wasted minutes.

Forgive me.

You know, I'm not really into kicking myself over my eco-sins.  And  a year ago, I probably wouldn't even have thought twice about my preparations to go away. I know I can't be perfect all the time. What this reinforced in me, though, is that a lot times I make choices that are bad for the environment simply because I'm crunched for time and I'm a fairly disorganized person. I am the stereotype of a writer. My office is in shambles, there are coffee mugs all over my desk, and if you could see the disorganized thoughts that bounce around in my head all day, you'd run for cover.

Can I change? Probably. Will it be easy? No way. But I'm going to try to become just a little more organized. The bad food, the plastic bags, the 40 minutes of extra driving, just don't sit too well with me. I'm not going to dwell on it and feel bad. I'm going to try to use it to remind myself to maybe write a few things down (I know, I'm a writer, writing lists shouldn't be that hard), and start planning a little earlier for big things.

A Little Greener Every Day's Random End of the Year Favorite Things

This is the first full year that I've had this blog. I started it in the fall of 2007. Yesterday I hit my 350th post. I work hard to consistently post Monday through Friday, and if I know I won't be posting, I try to let you know. 

I don't know how consistent I will be next week, however, with Christmas and New Year's coming. The kids will be out of school for two week starting next Wednesday and then there will be all that celebrating to do. So I thought I'd do an end of the year favorite's list today. This doesn't mean I won't post between now and the end of the year, but I don't know how often I'll get to.

A Little Greener Every Day's 10 Random Favorite Green Things of 2008

Favorite Green Book I Read

Serve God, Save the Planet by Matthew J. Sleeth

Favorite Green Restaurant I Ate At

Founding Farmers in Washington D.C. 

(runner up Le Pain Quotidien in NYC)

Favorite Green Podcast 

More Hip Than Hippie

Favorite Green Product I Was Sent For Free To Review

Chicobag

(runner up -VeeV)

Favorite Green Meal I Cooked

Yummy Honey Chicken Kabobs using  local ingredients

Favorite Green Website That Helps You Go Green In a Very Practical Way

Catalog Choice

Favorite (Not) Green Thing I Whined The Most About

Giving Up Diet Coke

Favorite Green Thing My Six Year Old and I Made From Our Garden This Summer

Pesto

Favorite Green Thing About This Crummy Economy

People drove less

Favorite Green(ish) Pre-packaged Food

Mother Nature's Peanut Butter Bumpers (almost as good as Cap'n Crunch)