Green Thinking Blog

Last night I was flipping through my first issue of Plenty Magazine (I mentioned it in my 4th of July post), and I saw an ad for World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD). Naturally, I had to find out more details. According to their colorful website, WWMD “is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies.” WWMD is coordinated by the Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association.

On September 18th through October 18th, people all around the world take the initiative to test their local water bodies for quality factors such as temperature, acidity, clarity, and dissolved oxygen. One they get their results, the information is shared on the WWMD website.

So, how do you test the water? Well the easiest way is to buy one of the test kits offered for $13.00 (plus $7.20 U.S. shipping). You can order online or by phone with a credit card. The test kits can be used for a group of 5-10 people so you and your friends or family can split the cost.

What kind of water can you test? The test kits are designed for fresh water locations including bays, canals, creeks, ditches, drains, estuaries, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, oceans, rivers, springs, straights, streams, and wetlands. Wow, is anyone else amazed at all the different names of fresh water bodies?!

To get started, you can visit the Participate page on the website and follow the four easy steps:

1. Register your site.
2. Prepare your monitoring equipment.
3. Monitor your site.
4. Report your data.

If you’re like me, you’re wondering if using the test kit is hard. The WWMD site stresses that the test kit is easy for children and adults to use, so that’s a good sign. Visit the website and you’ll see smiling young faces that let us know that we can handle the job.

The data collected from 2005, 2006, and 2007 is also available for your review. Last year 46,000 people in 43 countries participated.

Lake Parón, Caraz, Peru

You might remember one of our first posts on Green Thinking Blog was about a wonderful eco t-shirt company called Tees for Change (see Tees for Change are Lovely). To make way for their new Fall 2008 line, they have put six of the women’s organic t-shirts on sale for $20 each and all jewelry on sale for 25% off.

Tees for Change shirts are made from organic cotton or bamboo and each t-shirt sale plants a tree. Fabulous! Act quickly if you want a shirt on-sale, because they’re sure to sell out fast.

Click here to get to the shirts on sale. Click here to get to the on-sale jewelry. The sale ends August 31, 2008.

I read an interesting article in the July 2008 issue of Publix Greenwise Market magazine. Apparently, one of the best ways to create a clean, non-toxic air environment in your home is to bring some plants inside. NASA has been using this trick since the 1980s when it completed some research on using plants to clean air in space capsules. It worked, and the research found that plants help metabolize chemicals by using them for food and energy.

A lead scientist on the NASA study, Bill Woverton, Ph.D., says bringing plants indoors is even more important today because “houses are more tightly sealed than in the past and contain a higher percentage of synthetic materials and products versus natural products.” The synthetic materials actually emit chemicals into our air indoors. Other recent studies confirmed plants can help reduce the level of pollens, dust, and allergens and keep humidity at a healthy range. Even more studies found that houseplants help reduce systolic blood pressure, increase productivity, decrease pain, and improve healing after illness or surgery. Simply amazing!

The GreenWise article said any kind of plant is fine to bring inside, just pick what fits you and your lifestyle. My tip is to figure out where you want to put the plants before you hit the store. This way you’ll know what to look for on the labels. Does the plant thrive in bright sunlight, partial sunlight, or low light? Here are a few suggestions from the article with a little help about how to take care of each:

• Ivy - Grows best in bright light, but avoid direct sun. Two-tone ivy likes more light than all-green ivy. Allow soil to dry before each watering.
• Calathea - Enjoys moderate light (put near a window facing east or north). Direct sunlight can burn up the leaves. Keep soil moist and mist the plant to provide a very humid environment.
• Fern - Likes low light and does well in a window facing north. Too much light will do damage. Mist the plant often. Allow soil to slightly dry before each watering.
• Croton - Keep in a warm place with good light, but not in direct sun. The light will help the leaves maintain their pretty range of colors. Allow soil to slightly dry before each watering.
• Anthurium - Likes bright light. Mist the plant often to provide high humidity. Allow soil to dry before each watering.
• Fittonia - Enjoys low light and windows facing north. Mist often to maintain high humidity.

Want more ideas? Head on over to Associated Content for their list of The Best Indoor Plants for Your Office or Home.

What else can you do to ensure your air at home is healthy?  Use less cleaning chemicals and bug sprays, keep it well ventilated, and check that your humidity is beweeen 30% and 50%.

Hmm…I wonder what kind of plants this house has inside? The outside is completely covered!

Attention eco-fashion lovers! I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite earth-friendly clothes, shoes, and accessories for you. The best eco-friendly finds are vintage or second-hand items that don’t require new resources to make. But, there always comes a time when you need something new. Maybe you’ll find a little green fashion inspiration here. I tried to choose classic pieces that weren’t ridiculously expensive.

Chica Rosa Bag - This adorable clutch would be great for a night out or as a handy makeup bag. The outside of the bag is made from 200 recycled aluminum can tabs and nylon thread. The inside has a nylon liner and a zipper to close it. Get it at Elsewares for $36.

Women’s Yuri Jacket - I think this basic black jacket is worth the $116 because you could find SO MANY occasions to wear it. It would be great paired over a button-down for work, or you could be saucy and wear it alone like the girl in the picture for a night out. Available in black or white, the jacket is made of 100% hemp muslin with a 100% silk lining.

Women’s Del Forte Denim Daphne Shorts - I love the dark denim and the cuffs on these long shorts. I also love how the girl in the picture is rockin’ some pointy toe pumps with them. They’re made of 99% organic cotton and are on sale for $68. That may be too pricey for a lot of people, but these were too cute for me not to mention!

Women’s ‘Cushee’ Flip Flops - These casual flip flops are made from hemp and recycled rubber. They come in sand, chocolate, or black colors. They look super comfy too! I really like the sand ones with the pink sole. $25 from Simple Shoes.

Women’s Organic Fine Jersey Short Sleeve T - I bet this baby-tee is super comfortable with its organic fine jersey material. The little green contrasting stitch on the shoulder is a cute touch too. $18 at American Apparel (a sweatshop-free company).

Women’s Loyale Temalpaid Pant - These yoga/dance/workout pants are low-rise and come with free shipping. Grey with purple or blue stripe at $55 from Pangaya. 92% Organic Cotton.

Men’s CAReen Shoes - These kicks are made from recycled tires and organic cotton. They come in muted colors including classic taupe, olive, espresso, and black. $65 from Simple Shoes.

Men’s Gap (PRODUCT) RED™ empowered T - I really like this basic off-white tee with the subtle block letters that spell “empowered.” The material is 100% cotton, and half of the proceeds go to the Global Fund to help fight AIDS. $24.50 at Gap.

Men’s Mossimo® Organic Shirt - Brown Suede - This classic button-down shirt is on clearance at Target for only $15.39 ($16.70 for XXL). Other available colors are blue stripe, green stripe, or taupe stripe.

Men’s Minimalist II Board Shorts - These solid color board shorts have a durable water repellent finish and are made from 100% recycled polyester through Patagonia’s Common Threads Recycling Program. Available for $55 in the following colors: meditation green, carbon, low tide, mars red, and blueblack. Patagonia gives 1% of profits back to the planet and is LEED-certified. Random note: Any guy who wears classic board shorts like these gets a thumbs up from me. I really dislike those cheesy hawaiian shorts.

Apollo Alliance sent me a worthwhile petition in my email yesterday. It’s no surprise that the oil companies are banking on record profits right now, and they are currently teaming up with their allies in Congress to propose more offshore oil drilling. Apollo has cooked up a new petition to tell Congress that we do NOT want them to drill on coastal protected areas. Instead, we want the money to go towards clean, renewable, and homegrown energy and more green jobs for Americans.

Here’s what Apollo Alliance had to say in their email:

“Every day, Americans pay more and more at the pump, while oil companies bring in record profits. Now, those same oil companies and their congressional allies are proposing more drilling - even though nearly every energy expert agrees this is one problem America can’t drill its way out of. The oil companies say they’re doing it to help lower the cost of gas. But scratch the surface, and you’ll find it’s the oil companies that truly benefit from new offshore drilling. Don’t let them continue to make money off of high gas prices while working Americans remain dependent on the energy of the past. Instead, tell Congress we need a real, comprehensive solution to America’s energy crisis. Let’s invest in clean, renewable energy and homegrown fuels, that will create millions of high-quality, green-collar jobs and reduce our dependence on oil. “

Are you fired up? I know I was. If so, you can sign the petition here.

What is Apollo Alliance? It’s a coalition that promotes clean/renewable energy, green collar jobs, and independence from foreign oil. Check out the Apollo Alliance website, and sign up for their email list. You can read more about the Apollo mission and how the alliance got started on their About page.

I recently posted 10 inspirational nutrition quotes on my health food blog, so I figured that green thinking blog needs its own list too. Here are my top ten quotes on being green, loving Planet Earth, and doing something to save it. Got quotes of your own? Drop us a comment.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

“Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.” – Albert Einstein

“There are no passengers on spaceship Earth. We are all crew.” – Marshall McLuhan, 1964

“You must become the change you wish to see in the world” – Mahatma Ghandi

“If the future of all human civilization depended on me, what would I do? How would I be?” – Buckminster Fuller

“I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use our natural resources, but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.” – Theodore Roosevelt, 1900

“We are the most dangerous species of life on the planet, and every other species, even the Earth itself, has cause to fear our power to exterminate. But we are also the only species which, when it chooses to do so, will go to great effort to save what it might destroy.” – Wallace Stegner

“It is our task in our time and in our generation, to hand down undiminished to those who come after us, as was handed down to us by those who went before, the natural wealth and beauty which is ours.” – John F. Kennedy

“I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?” Robert Redford, 1985

“How many generations in human history have had the opportunity to rise to a challenge that is worthy of our best efforts…that has a challenge that can pull from us more than we knew we could do? I think we ought to approach this challenge with a sense of profound joy and gratitude that we are the generation, about which a thousand years from now philharmonic orchestras and poets and singers will celebrate by saying “they were the ones that found it within themselves to solve this crisis and lay the basis for a bright and optimistic human future.” Let’s do that.” – Al Gore, 2008

Today I got a glimpse of a huge, beautiful sparkler of a diamond on some lady’s hand when I was standing in the checkout line at Publix. After I shook off my mesmerized stare (I’m a sucker for anything shiny and sparkly), I made a mental note to write this blog for our Green Thinking readers.

Is it possible to “green” your engagement or wedding rings? Well, first we have to put aside the fact that rings are not a necessity to life and they do require resources, energy, and transportation. But it got me thinking that in 2008 there must be sustainable or eco-conscious ways to adorn your finger (or your partner’s). The truth is that rings are pretty and most girls really look forward to the moment when we’ll get one. Can I get an AMEN?!

As usual, I did a little research, and here’s what I came up with:

Brilliant Earth - I found out about this company from my friend Melanie in California who recently got engaged. Her guy surprised her with a non-traditional, but oh-so-classy platinum sapphire ring from Brilliant Earth. All the company’s jewelry is made using socially-responsible methods, the diamonds are certified conflict-free from Canada, and they donate 5% of profits to “communities who have suffered from unethical practices in the jewelry industry.”

GreenKarat - I read about GreenKarat jewelry over on TreeHugger. They have some ready-made selections (check out that simple, but gorgeous canary diamond), but the best feature is the custom jewelry page where you can tell them exactly what you want, and they’ll make it for you in 2-8 weeks time. GreenKarat makes ecologically and socially responsible jewelry, and the company is also a big supporter of recycled gold.

Another option is to buy a “recycled” ring from the classifieds or a vintage/antique store. It would take some searching, but you never know what you’ll find. You might come across something special in the classifieds if someone is getting divorced and wants to get rid of a ring (seriously)! As for vintage/antique jewelry, you may have a great store right in your city or you can browse online. A few good sites I found are: Sylvia’s Antiques, Fay Cullen, and Dover Jewelry (wowza they have some ROCKS). On these sites, you can find rings from $400 to $80,000! Another option: take a diamond that’s been in your family and have it re-set in the style and setting that you want.

Pictured: Platinum sapphire ring from Brilliant Earth.

Just about everyone is annoyed with junk mail. We don’t want to see it in our email boxes, but its even worse in our physical, snail mail boxes. How many days a week do you get junk mail? If you’re like me, you get it every day and there’s at least two pieces that you have to shred or throw away. So what can we do about all the wasted paper resources and piles of trash that junk mail causes?

First, go sign the petition to stop junk mail at DoNotMail.org. You can remain anonymous or you can include your info and rant about why the junk mail really makes you angry.

Second, take some action to “opt out” of the junk mail you receive. Visit the Direct Marketing Association’s Mail Preference Service page and follow the three steps to register. The service costs $1.00 and its estimated that it can reduce your junk mail by 75%. PrivacyRights.org also has an informative page about reducing your junk mail from specific types of business or services. They usually advise you to contact companies directly and ask to be removed from their contact list.

Third, designate a box in your home or a corner of your desk where you can stack junk mail. As long as it doesn’t have any of your personal information, toss the mail in that pile and drop it off for recycling once a month. Of course, if it does include your personal information, shred it and throw it away.

Have some ideas or advice of your own? Share with us!

Happy Thursday everyone! I’m feeling very festive today, and I’m looking forward to a great 4th of July weekend. To feed my appetite for fun, I found some great green products to share with you. Maybe you’ve been looking for a gift for a friend, or maybe you just need a little something for you. Either way, I hope you enjoy my eco-friendly finds.

I Am Not A Cup - Say goodbye to disposable cups at work. This porcelain coffee or tea cup has built-in insulation and a silicone lid that keeps your drinks warm.

Egglings - These ceramic egg look-a-likes actually sprout plants when you crack them open and water them (check out the 10 pictures on the site). Choose from basil, petunia, mint, chrysanthemum, spicy red pepper, wild strawberry, or prickly cactus. After three months, the plants can be replanted in soil.

Euro Cloths - The happy medium between a sponge and a paper towel. These dishwasher-safe cloths come in a three pack for $4.00. I’m definitely getting some of these so I can finally knock my paper towel habit.

SunNight BOGO Solar Task Light - This flashlight is powered by rechargeable batteries and sunlight. Take it out in the sun (even with clouds) for 8 hours and its ready to go! I’m sure Kate would love to sport this one on her next camping trip.

PLENTY Magazine - Grist.org recently named Plenty the best green lifestyle magazine. It’s winning over readers with recycled paper, bold design, and a mix of reading material including political matters, green lifestyle, tip sheets, and beautiful images. I’ll be subscribing to this one fa ’sho.

Also, check out this article to find out what chemists are doing to make fireworks more eco-friendly!

I originally posted this information on my health food and nutrition blog: Laurel On Health Food.

Women’s Health Magazine says grass-fed beef is where it’s at. Did you know that the majority of U.S. bovines feed on a mix of grains (mostly corn) instead of grass? Forcing cattle to eat a diet full of grains allows ranchers to fatten them up quicker and get the meat to our stores faster and cheaper. But, the quality of life for the bovines suffers as does the quality of our meat. Compared with a serving of grain-fed beef, healthier grass-fed beef has 1/3 less fat, almost twice the amount of omega-3s, twice the amount of conjugated linoleic acid (CLAs), and fewer cases of E. coli. (Ref: Women’s Health Magazine, July/August, p. 86-93)

Women’s Health says to look for black and white labels on your meat that say “GRASS-FED AND USDA PROCESS VERIFIED.” Also reach for labels that say “organic,” “antibiotic-free,” and “hormone-free.” The healthiest cuts of beef are: top sirloin, 95% lean ground beef, top round roast, sirloin tip steak side, bottom round roast, and eye round roast.

Grass-fed beef is also significantly better for the environment. Growing corn for feed produces a ton of greenhouse gases and also adds more chemical fertilizers to the soil. Every year, the U.S. grows 1.5 billion bushels of corn strictly for cow feed. Yikes! It takes 50% less fossil fuel energy to produce grass-fed beef as it does grain-fed.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, grass-fed beef is considerably more expensive. But, consider that the American Institute for Cancer Research recommends that you eat less than 18 ounces per week. Save that steak dinner for special occasions or when you’re really having a craving. When you do, go ahead and splurge on the top-quality grass-fed kind. It tastes better too!