I was visiting a green forum yesterday when a member made the comment that recycled paper actually causes more pollution and does more environmental damage than newly made paper.  She also stated buying recycled paper was just a “feel good” activity.  These statements stopped me in my tracks, and I went looking then and there to see if she was correct.  I do make it a habit of buying recycled paper, but if it is harmful to the environment, I don’t want to continue just because it seems like the right thing.

Here’s what I found out.  On Treecycle, a paper recycling site, it is noted that all recycled paper is not equal.  The amount of post consumer waste used in making the paper is important, as is the bleaching process used to make the paper lighter. So when buying paper, I am now going to look for the word “Post-consumer wastepaper” and buy paper that is 50% or more PCW.  I am also going to look for paper with the initials PCF (processed chlorine free) or SCF (secondarily chlorine free). 

Using the right paper for the job is another change I will make.  Paper that is not pristine white will serve for most of my printing jobs.  I will also start buying envelopes, files, mailers, and other office supplies made of post consumer wastepaper.

Using alternate materials helps save paper and trees.  Using cloth shopping bags and cloth lunch bags saves trees, energy, and money in the long run.  You can take action to save paper in other ways.

In the end, remembering that recycling is a loop.  We take things to the recycler and then purchase the recycled products.  If we don’t purchase the products, we are not completing the loop.   

Oh and by the way, if you’re getting married, here’s a great alternative to the usual wedding invitation. 

As we approach the official start to the summer, I thought this would be a great opportunity to reference some wonderful resources that may just carry you through the dog days.
With both the temperatures and the UV index rising, we need to reach for the paraben-free, organic, non-petroleum, cruelty-free based skin protection. Some of my personal favorites include Lavera, with a 40 SPF and a full line of color changing children’s sun care. Dr. Hauschka also has products for the fragile skin of the younger set and the line is also biodynamic. With all we know about skin care, it  goes without saying that we should all be applying sun protection each day, and this definitely falls under the must splurge category.

There are also UV protective clothing options for the whole family from hats and sunglasses to full body surf style swim gear for the little ones.
Hydration is so vital during the hot summer months and my personal pick for a reusable bottle has got to be SIGG. If you needed yet another reason NOT to buy another bottle of water, I give you this article.

As silly as it may seem, flip flops may just be the shoo-in (yes. punny.) for the best thing about summer. With recycled tires on your tootsies from Splaff, or the ultra sustainable green toes line from Simple that even come in a biodegradable corn polymer bag, fun feet in the sun are just steps away. (yes. again with the puns.)

A close second belongs to the wonderful organic fruits and vegetables that are in full glory at all the local green markets. Corn, berries of every variety, peaches, tomatoes, watermelon. Watermelon with balsamic vinegar and fresh goat cheese is one of the very dishes that I crave all winter long. Chilled melon soups and gazpacho, are truly refreshing when the mercury is rising. (and polar ice caps are melting.)

So, whatever your plans entail for the summer, the beach, mountains, classic films under the stars or Live Earth- stay healthy in the heat & have fun in the sun while being good to yourself and our planet.

namaste.

These days I am very pressed for time and I struggle to come up with “fast food” for my family that is also healthy.  I resort to an antipasto format for our dinners, putting out plates of different veggies, cheeses, breads, and fruit.  Most of the time this works but there are days when I’d like to be able to grab somthing and go or just pull a mix out of the cupboard.

Mary Jane’s farm is one place that I order ‘easy’ food that I know is good for my family.  Mary Jane is an organic farmer and home keeper.  I love her recipes and her books.  Her food line even comes in different package sizes so you can take it backpacking or to work. 

I expecially like her Lentil Curry.  She also has some great one skillet dishes called “Bake Over“s and a forum where you can chat with other like minded people.

If you are a vegan or if you’d just like to have a Jello like dessert without all the harmful chemicals and animal products, try the “Chill-over” powder.  You can make you’re own gel creations in your favorite flavors.

A loaf of bread and a jug of wine might be adequate picnic fare for lovers, but a family like ours with teenagers usually finds itself lugging several coolers of food to an outing. 

Tomorrow looks like a great day for a picnic,   My daughter and I are both off work at the same time, so we are taking advantage of the day and going on an outing.  My daughter is a vegetarian, so we take lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, maybe cheese, bread, and drinks. 

Now comes the question, do I haul plates, glasses, etc. along with all that food?  Then I also have to face a load of dishes when I return from our day of relaxing.  Instead I’ve found a new alternative on my shelf, biodegradable dinner ware made from potatoes, corn, and limestone.  Apparently, I can throw this in my compost pile and it will biodegrade in about 60 days. 

After looking, I found a host of alternatives available online from recycyled plastic ware, to bamboo, to seeds,to palm sheaths, to other veggie combinations.  Now to decide which one I like best.  Have you seen things like these in your local stores?

Oh, and don’t forget, you can get your very own eco travel mug made from corn here at Imorganic.

There are times when I read things and then feel like my brain is about to explode from the stupidity it has just taken in.  Right now I feel like I need some duct tape to hold my head together and keep it from exploding.

The USDA is apparently considering allowing 38 ingredients to be added to their list of acceptable additives to organic foods.  These ingredients were reported to be not even close to organic.

Being the sceptic I am, I went to the source and began looking at the documents from the USDA on the “Petitioned Substances Database” which list substances that companies have asked to be allowed in foods with the USDA organic label.  Since the article I read mentioned hops, I went there to read the petition.  This is when I needed the duct tape.  Please listen to this logic from page 6 of this document.  The company asked the USDA to list hops as an acceptable non-organic ingredient in organic food (beer).  Here’s their reasoning: hops is difficult to grow; is susceptible to insects, fungus, and mildew; and is grown organically mostly in New Zealand making it difficult to guarantee organic hops will be available therefore forcing them to use conventionally grown (ie. sprayed with pesticide) hops.  Therefore, the USDA must list hops as an acceptable non-organic additive so they can continue to produce organic beer.  OK, did you catch that?  They think they are producing organic beer just because they label it that way.  The fact that they are adding something that is not organic (sprayed with pesticide) doesn’t register with them.  DUH, if it’s not organic you can’t just say it is organic! 

Please someone, hand me the duct tape…….

Pulling off a vacation with three teenagers is hard these days.  Their schedules are so busy that finding time together is rare, but we managed to have three days this week and we jumped at the chance.  This trip reminded me why the organic message is so important. 

We camped in a place called Cherry Springs, the darkest place in PA.  My husband, a star enthusiast, brought his telescope and we set it up for star viewing.  We were the only people in this rustic camp ground (no showers).  As such, we were privileged to see a wildlife show in person.  We saw two bears walking up the road, many deer, a cedar waxwing, redtailed hawks,  and a woodpecker that sounded like a squeaky toy.  At night we heard barred owls calling to each other and killdeer.  Coyotes surrounded us, howling and calling in a mad chorus, stopping abruptly as they started.  We walked along streams that were so clear you could see insects walking on the stream bed underwater.

To preserve these beautiful wild places, here is the message we need to be getting out:  Products that are grown without pesticides and herbicides do much less harm to the environment.  Products that are organic and locally grown are even better.  Shopping wisely can reduce the impact we have on wild areas.  In addition, it’s important to educate people about how their lifestyles could bring an end to wild places.

If you’re able to this summer, get out and enjoy a wild place.  Leave no trace and come back to spread the message “Go Organic”.     

It was a beautiful day in Brooklyn yesterday, so I decided to take the bus to have brunch at a wonderful little restaurant called iCi. With a seasonal menu of organic and local foods and a partnership with Added Value (a program that nurtures city kids by teaching organic farming skills and raising monies by selling the fruits of their labor at a greenmarket in red hook)– it was the perfect opportunity to experience the the warmth of the sun, the quaint garden atmosphere and eat well under the big oak.
I was just mere sips into my glass of rose, when I looked over to see all of the gorgeous fruit bearing and flowering trees in the yard next door. Japanese maples, cherry trees, all in spring time glory. Then, I realized the low hum of a chainsaw. The trees, I thought to myself, were being cut back. Then, with a crash that almost threw me from my seat- I realized this was clearly NOT the case. The cherry tree- the star of nature’s show- was being hacked completely down.

Yes, I am a treehugger. Yes, this was not the brunchtime entertainment I had anticipated. Yes, I was disturbed on so many levels. But the thing that struck me most was that we are so quick to remove a fruit bearing tree, when in so many other countries, a cherry tree would be allowed to at least reach it’s harvest time so that it would nurture, feed and possibly provide vital income for the owner. I was speaking with Marion Emanuelle, the owner of iCi, at the time and wondered aloud- I just hope at least the tree is given new life as mulch.

This week I witnessed the cycle of life for two people close to me. For one, a son was born. The other, a father passed. For both occasions, I had trees planted in honor and memoriam. I just didn’t know that I would be replacing a cherry tree that literally hit so close to home.

namaste.

Boy, there are times when I feel like I’ve encountered a huge setback.  This week was one of those times.  I have been extremely busy this last week conducting environmental education programs for school children.  These involve visits to the local state park and to their classrooms where I teach them about the incredible creatures around them.  My sessions include ways they can protect and care for animals and our environment.  And, I feel pretty good when I see their heartfelt desire to be responsible stewards.

Image the unspeakable outrage I felt when driving home from one of my programs only to see a “weed control” service truck along the road with a worker spraying weed killer with a large hose onto trees, bushes, and plants.  There was no discrimination here.  The hose was like a small fireman’s hose with enough spray pouring out to put out a fire.  This was also being done at the top of a slope which ended in a small stream.  I almost drove off the road because I couldn’t believe I was seeing this.

Later, I went back to be sure it was weed killer he had been spraying.  Sure enough, every tree, shrub, and plant was an ugly dead orange. While I have read that this is an effective and ‘safe” way to maintain the vegetation under power lines, I couldn’t believe that this method of application was being done responsibly.  I guess I also have trouble believing that these chemicals are totally harmless to humans and animals.  Needless to say I was and am discouraged.  Are we so sure what we are doing is right that we are willing to bet our health on it?