Green Patchwork

I recently posted about Canada’s oil fields and the major pollution being caused by it. But now I would like to write about something closer to home, right here in the U.S., and literally right in people’s backyards. In Brooklyn, NY., particularly Greenpoint and Williamsburg, there are neighborhoods of people living right next to major oil spills, buildings full of garbage, and nuclear chemicals. About fifty years ago there was a major oil spill larger than the Exxon/Valdez, but it was not taken care of and continues to be a problem today. If you have about 45 minutes to watch the whole series, Toxic Brooklyn on VBS.tv, you’ll be just as surprised as I was to find out how much our oil companies are getting away with.

To find the show, scroll through the ride side bar to find Toxic Brooklyn.

Check the number on the bottom of your plastic drinking bottle the next time you drink from it. Chances are you will see #7 on the bottom. If that is the case then read this article from National Geographic, simply titled Plastic Containers. Much of the plastic we use leaches toxins into our food and drink, but if you are aware of the types of plastics on the market you can steer clear of those horrible nasty chemicals. I gave my Nalgene bottles away when I found out they were possibly leaching chemicals into my water, and replaced them with food-grade stainless steel bottles. I never get that plastic taste in my water anymore either.

Check out this link for alternatives to plastic bottles, they carry many sizes and styles for your drinking water needs.

When I was 19 I decided to stop eating meat for ethical reasons. I couldn’t stand the thought of supporting animal cruelty and factory farming so I phased out meat, then cow milk, and eventually I ate a vegan diet. When I stopped eating these foods I had to learn about other foods to eat instead and how to cook in general. Read the rest of this entry »

Many years ago I made the switch to alternative menstrual products such as cotton cloth pads and a menstrual cup. I never have to buy plastic disposable pads and I don’t even think about nasty tampons. When I first made the connection that along with my monthly flow was a lot of unnecessary waste I decided I needed to change my monthly routine. Think of all the garbage women create every month and how much of an impact we can make just by changing how we control our flows. Read the rest of this entry »

This May you can participate in Global Exchange and Co-op America’s Green Festival in Chicago and  enjoy a party with a purpose!  Attend lectures, listen to music, eat organic food, and shop green vendors. Last year Paul Stamets of Fungi Perfecti gave a lecture at the Green Festival on how mushrooms can benefit humans and our environment.

Many communities around the nation have access to local organically grown produce without having to go to the grocery store or the farmer’s market. CSA, or community supported agriculture, is an innovative way to connect local farmers and local consumers through a direct growing and purchasing relationship. Here in Madison we have many CSA farms to choose from along with our wonderful farmer’s market around our state capital building.

Our friends Cate and Mat Eddy are the growers at Ridgeland Harvest in Viroqua, Wi. and will be a part of the CSA community this summer. I know of many more CSA farms, but please read Local Harvest’s CSA list for 2008 and learn more about CSA’s.

There are many reasons to buy organic food other than it tastes great. For those of you who may have been wondering what all the buzz surrounding organic food is all about then please read the Organic Trade Associations top 10 list.

There are many resources available to us about everything we might want to know or learn about. I was just reminded of another good resource to add to my blog, Grist Environmental News. The link brings you to an interesting article which brings up the issue of greenwashing.

Since I started blogging I have been looking at other blogs more carefully. As a future designer, the first thing I look at within the site is the design layout, graphics, and colors. I am seeing a lot of great designs and color palettes, but I am turned off by all of the advertising. I understand that bloggers can actually make some money if their site is popular, but most of the advertisers would not be my first picks. I don’t buy mainstream products and the companies that I do support don’t advertise much. We eat a lot Ezekiel bread and the only place I have seen any type of advertising for this bread is in the natural foods magazines or in the co-op newsletters. Same with my favorite chocolate, Green and Black’s Mint, I have never seen any mainstream advertising for their awesome chocolate.

Anyway, my reason for posting was to comment on blog advertising, but I diverged into a rant. I was also going to give my “thumbs up” to the Green Girls blog. I like their style and say “ditto” to a lot of their favorites.

Its not always easy to find environmentally friendly home remodeling supplies without having to do a big search online and then hope you will be able to find what you found online in the city that you live in. Home Depot and Menards do not have much as far as VOC free paints or products in general without PVC or other vinyls.  Most people don’t know the dangers of these chemicals and use them haphazardly. PVC is one of the most dangerous building materials, but its used very often. Well, I found another useful website, Re-Work, to help answer a lot of green home questions. It was created by the people who created the blog Apartment Therapy which is another useful website for home organizing.