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

I subscribe to Simple Shoes email updates, and I recommend you do too.  Today I received an interesting food for thought - about fish.  According to the email, an article in the journal, Science, has researchers predicting that fish will be obsolete by 2048. 

If you are anything like Laurel & I, we LOVE our seafood.  If we had a choice we would eat seafood everyday, but apparently, the idea of that happening is being threatened by unsustainable fishing practices. 

The Blue Ocean Institute has listed a guide of what fish are the most abundant and recommended for eating by the Marine Stewardship Council. 

The guide lists that Alaskan Salmon, Walleye Pollack, Sablefish, and Western Rock Lobster are among those certified as the best environmental choice.  These species are abundant and their fishing methods have little impact on their habitat or the environment.

On the other hand, farmed Atlantic Salmon, Snappers, Atlantic Halibut, Grouper, and Chilean Sea Bass are listed as having a variety of problems.  These species are either overfished, have poor management, or their farming methods cause a serious environmental impact.

Visit the MSC website to find out which fisheries are certified with safe practices, where to buy, and what to cook.  They also list delicious recipes, check out this one for MSC certified Halibut by Frosta (mmm):

Halibut fillets with Japanese mountain pepper and mango on rhubarb chutney

Serves 4

Ingredients

So, next time you go to the fish market, or the seafood counter, or out to dinner, do your research.  It could be one of your last delicious meals that has fish if practices don’t improve-and QUICK!

This last weekend took me to Ft. Lauderdale beach in sunny Florida. As I walked along the sandy shore I was stuck by a strange mound in the sand surrounded by construction tape.  Upon further observation, I discovered this mound was in fact an onshore incubator for sea turtles.  I said to myself, “Self, You have got to look into this further once you return home & get the scoop on these turtles.”  So. I did.

From what I have found out, in large part to Turtle Time, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to loggerhead sea turtles, is that from May until August every year these amazing creatures come ashore to lay their eggs.  The mama will dig a nest in the sand, usually about 18-22 inches deep and lay her eggs for a period of roughly two months.  When the little babies are born they are only 2 inches big and will eventually grow to be 250-400 pounds! 

So that is the easy part:  Get it on, lay some eggs, return to the sea.

The hard part comes when the babies hatch.  Sometimes they get confused with hotel lights, street lamps, car headlights, and instead of wandering off to sea and their destiny, they wander into the road and under your car tire. 

I saw signs all over the beach in Ft. Lauderdale warning tourists of the dimmed lights on streets and buildings to give the hatchlings every chance they have at surviving, and I truly thought it to be a great effort amongst the community to come together to help this endangered species. 

Tips from Turtle Time, Inc. about things you can do to help the turtles while you are on the beach:

• Do NOT shine lights on a nesting turtle! 
• Please don’t litter.  Plastic bags, balloons, soda can holders, etc. can be fatal if eaten by a turtle - or any animal for that matter.
• Close drapes or blinds after dark if your lights are visible to the beach, while this helps the turtles, this can help you too!  Create a little mood for yourself and a loved one, who knew turtles could be so romantic.

Another great resource:  Guided Turtle Walks.  While on vacation take in a little culture.  Many museums, aquariums, and community centers provide guided walks on the beach in hopes of witnessing this miracle of the sea turtle.  Ususally taking place between the hours of 9 pm - 1 am, but remember, do not bring your flashlights, and do not disturb the turtle - how would you like your business disturbed?

A week into summer, I am all the wiser for what activities can be done that won’t contribute to the destruction of the world, but may actually enhance it.

I have listed some activities below that may give you some exercise and are sure to give you enjoyment.  Please, we are encouraging you to try these at home!

1.  Bike ride!  Whether you have a destination like your favorite neighborhood hang-out,  are just roaming to check out the architechtural beauty of your neighbors’ homes, or trekking down a trail, a bike ride is an excellent activity.  You are working-out, you don’t know it, and you aren’t putting polluntants in the air by taking an afternoon drive to see the scenery.

Here is a picture of my pride & joy:

This gift has made me very aware of safety features that bikes come with and their importance.  Please notice, a pedal-powered generator on the back wheel illuminates the front headlight, so I am not riding in the dark.  I have ample space in my basket and on my back rack to carry bags, freeing extra weight from my back.  A built in tire pump on the rack is there for emergency situations of a flat tire. It’s most unique feature, as you may have guessed, is the lowered bar that allows to me ride in a skirt/dress without as much risk of it getting entangled in my chain…  Enough about that :)  But, please wear reflective clothing and follow street signs accordingly: Safety first.

2.  Kayak/Canoe. Pick up trash as you go.  Orlando has an excellent non-profit organization called ECO-Action that sponsors weekly canoe clean-ups.  They have recently completed their 500th clean up! Whoo Hoo! This promotes a pride in your lakes and waterways, camaraderie, and of course - a great arm work-out!  Do some research to see if one of these organizations is in your area, or create your own and tell us about it.

3.  Visit your local botanical garden.  Laurel and I are lucky we have one in our backyard.  This is a great date spot *wink *wink, and the first Friday of the month, they feature a movie under the stars.  Again, an inexpensive afternoon or evening that supports the preservation of b-e-a-utiful flowers, plants, and insects, and could get anyone to appreciate what we have in this world.

4. Volunteer.  Whether it be at a nursing home, an animal shelter, your neighbor’s garden - wherever!  Just do it.  You are making someone, something, anything feel better, and trust - it will come back to you 10x over.  To make this tip associate with the summer:  Bring that person some lemonade to enjoy while you play checkers on the porch.  Take that puppy to a dog park to enjoy the beautiful day too and make new friends.  Plant a tomato plant for that neighbor to promote sustainable living.

5. Take a Pickinic aka Picnic lunch.  Not just any picnic.  First, you must visit your local organic grocer/farmers’ market/co-op for the freshest, mostest bestest choices of cuisine that support your community. Check out some recipes at ChefMD or Epicurious to be conscious of what you putting into your bod.  Done.  Second, you must pick the location.  While your backyard is a perfectly acceptable choice, try to get a little more creative.  Maybe placing that lunch in your bike basket and taking it to #2,  #3, or #4.

What better way to celebrate Dear Old Dad than let him know his kid will live in a healthier world for years to come? Well, there isn’t a better way!

Check out some gift ideas for Pops this Father’s day…It is June 15 in case you need reminding…

• Dads are always mowing the lawn, why not let him save some carbon footprints and get some exercise while he makes his lawn green green green! Cleanairgardening.com offers many options for manual lawn mowers.
• Swinging atop the lawn he just mowed on his new HAMMOCK! This hammock by Gaiam is made of recycled soda cans. Also check out a hemp version handmade by the Tekiah Hemp Co-Op.
• While we are at it, let Dad take out the trash to his new Compost Bin! The Green Machine is easy to spin & provides the perfect environment for decomposition.

Okay, maybe your Dad isn’t into chores when it comes to celebrating his fatherhood. Why not celebrate his favorite pasttime by giving him…

• A pen made from the wooden chairs in his favorite baseball stadium. Unique, provides a conversation in any business situation, and brings in a flood of memories allowing the wood to live forever in a different form.
• Or give him what he really needs after dealing with his kids all day…a drink! Try a sampler set of Organic Beer. Ranging from a pack of 4-10 beers depending on how much grief you have given him over the years.

If your area doesn’t have a local grocer, don’t fret.  A lot of mainstream grocery stores are offering organic products on their shelves.  Organic Earth Day supplied a flyer at my grocery store to provide coupons and steps for going organic.  Their website has some great ideas for recipes and highlights companies that create organic food items. 

Some grocery stores that are making the movement:

Publix recently took their Greenwise Market products and created a whole store!  Their first location is in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and they have four more locations planned. 

On a recent (and rare) trip to Wal-Mart, they are now selling organic products too! Like Laurel & I’s faves: Amy’s organic foods and Stonyfield Yogurt amongst others.

For those of you on the other side of the country, Safeway’s website has a whole organic section to browse before you order online or go to the store.

And, do not forget to continuously check Laurel on Health Food  for the most recent information on what organic foods can do for you.  This is an excellent resource to encourage healthy things to go into your body, things you never knew could happen if you just ate the right things.   

Green things come in so many shapes and sizes, especially when you aren’t expecting them.

I was asked to travel a distance of 20 minutes to assist a friend in picking up a part for his car. This is not a normal task, but he is a nice friend, so I rode along for good music and conversation. Little did I know he was on a mission that turned out to be one of eco-friendliness.

What he purchased at his local auto parts store was The World’s Best Air Filter. Literally. This air filter by K&N will not only improve gas mileage on his already efficient Subaru, but it comes with a million mile warranty, can be washed and reused, and will never have to be replaced for the lifetime of the car.

Here is what you can contribrute to the Earth and save for a small price in changing your air filter:

• Improved gas mileage - saves dollars & emissions. Cars work better when there is more air flow to the engine, a clogged air filter will restrict this flow.
• Waste - both in dollars & land fills. According to the very informative box this air filter comes in, over 100 million disposable air filters are thrown out every year.
• Paper - unlike traditional air filters made of layers of paper, the World’s Best Air Filter is made of cotton gauze which is easy to wash.
• Time - this air filter is very easy to install (we did it right in the parking lot with no tools!), and it only has to be cleaned every 50,000 miles, so no need to rush your laundry.

I was browsing an issue of Slap Magazine at my boyfriend’s house the other day. What do you normally look at in magazines? Pictures. So there it was, a full page advertisement featuring green shoes. Not green in color mind you, but eco-friendly kicks.

So I took my search to the world wide web. You can find shoes made of all kinds of earth-conscious materials: bamboo, hemp, recycled car tires and bike tires (which probably make you walk faster), and vegan- and vegetarian-conscious shoes that remove all animal products, by-products, and animal testing for the devout. One of the most interesting and beneficial sites I came across was SimpleShoes.com. Simple is educating their consumer and allowing you to shop right there—two of my faves combined!

This company is not only concerned with the why of their earthly cause, but the how. Dedication to using earth-friendly materials (organic cotton, water based glue, hemp, recycled rubbers, and so many more!) in production makes their shoes 100% sustainable. By using the entire recycled tire, they are saving it from going to a landfill. That same recycled tire is then saved from sending poisonous gases into our air because, if it were in a landfill, it would be burned to make more room in that landfill. Hello?! Save a step and make some shoes!

Planet Shoes features Simple shoes along with other companies that are in touch with the greeness of the feet (Earth, Acorn, and Patagonia to name a few).

Check out each link, and when you shop, think of lil’ ol’ me. You could be green from head-to-toe so easily!

H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, says that “medications that are flushed down the toilet or thrown straight into the garbage can and do find their way into our nation’s waterways every day. Those drugs are present in water that supports many species of fish and other wildlife.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) teamed up to raise public awareness about this very real problem.

So what can we do with unused medications? APhA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say to follow these three easy steps:

1. Do NOT flush your unused medications. The FDA has determined that some medications should be flushed because they have high potential for abuse, but for the most part, avoid flushing them. Read the label on your medications and ask your pharmacist for advice.

2. When you need to toss unused medications, protect your family and pets from potential harm. Follow these guidelines:

• Dissolve medications in water (crush first if they are solid) and add cat litter, sawdust, or coffee grounds (any material that will absorb the medication and be unattractive to children or pets). Place the mixture in a sealed, biodegradable plastic bag before you throw it away.
• Remove and destroy all personal information from the medication container before throwing away. Look into approved state/local collection programs or hazardous waste facilities. Some states allow you to return unused medications to your local pharmacy.

3. Talk to your pharmacist. Pharmacists are medication experts and they can advise you on the best way to dispose of unused medications.

Taking these three steps helps protect your family, prevents illegal distribution of unused medications, and reduces the risk of negative impact on the environment and wildlife.