I don't know about you, but I'm not a huge fan of washing the dishes. This creates a problem, because I don't like having dirty dishes in the sink. A conundrum, one might say. I could have my kids do it, and they do, for the most part. (The little one has to learn a bit more patience so he can stop plunking the glass plates in the sink.) Or, I could just abandon plates entirely and have everyone eat directly off placemats (and, don't think that hasn't crossed my mind!).
Once I do rinse and load the dishes (which happens about 50 times a day), I don't love the "measure the detergent and/or rinse aid" part of the activity, because I typically overflow the little detergent opening and then have to wipe up excess powder, or the lid doesn't close and I have to fight with it, arggggghhhh. And, even though I have an Energy Star appliance, I always feel badly if it's not full full when I run it. But, if it's too full full, the dishes don't seem to get as dry as they should (especially those little tupperware-ish containers I use for the kids' lunches). I know you know what I'm talking about!
Dishwashing is one of those chores that just doesn't do it for me. Now, if we were talking about laundry... well, that's a whole other ballgame... I love that. But, I digress...
My girlfriend finally helped guide me to a kind of dish utopia when she recommended Ecover Dishwashing Tablets. No phosphates. No chemicals. These little individual tablets are fantastic. Just use one per load. It's the perfect eco-friendly detergent that really cleans the glasses and dishes. The Ecover Rinse-Aid also helps with spotty glassware and silverware.
I know what you're thinking-- "Modern Eco Mom... why are you creating more trash with the little tablet wrappers?" I answer by telling you that the wrappers are recylclable (ha!) and that the tablets help me not waste excess detergent (double ha!).
You can find Ecover at most major supermarkets, and I'd recommend buying 2 boxes at a time.
Happy dish cleaning.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
To wrap or not to wrap...
It's that time of the year again (where did 2007 go?) -- you know what I'm talking about. It's the time when we consume way too much food, buy way too many presents and create way too much trash. All in all, it's a crazy several weeks, and I'm already feeling stuffed.
To be honest, I'm struggling a bit this year with my holiday planning. I don't want to overspend, but I also don't want to disappoint. (I know, I know. The two are not mutually exclusive.) I want everyone to feel joy when they receive gifts from us. But, there is so much excess that occurs during this time of year. How can I be true to my sense of the holiday spirit and yet be environmentally and socially aware and not feel like a scrooge?
What's a modern eco mom to do?
Well, for starters, this mem is first going to work on her addiction to wrapping paper and greeting cards. (of course, that's "addiction" in it's most banal sense. I do not need an intervention... yet.) I mean, who doesn't love sending (or receiving) gifts wrapped in fabulously well-thought-out, designer-looking, handmade-looking paper with ribbons galore and a hilariously perfect card that it took a 1/2 hour to pick out taped on top? C'mon. You know it's cool when someone you know took that extra time to cover your amazing new gift with beautiful wrap and bow.
This year, I'm going wrap- and tissue paper-free. Wow. Just writing that took a lot of effort and created a bit of anxiety! I'm also going battery-free, plastic-free and will try my darndest to go drive-to-store-free for all purchases. Whew! I know these are lofty goals, but I have to start somewhere. Ooh. I almost forgot. I'm also going to try to go Hallmark card-free.
Going wrapping paper-free is going to be a lot easier than it seems, I think, and there are a few ways to do it. I can just skip any gift covering entirely (even foregoing newspaper comics, old shopping bags, etc.) or use recycled gift bags that will hopefully be re-gifted (so to speak).
Skipping the plastic, beeping toys shouldn't be too horrible. I know my kids will be a bit sad, but in the end, they will be happy we're all doing this. I'm not planning on surprising them with my new holiday strategy. They will be fully informed from the get-go.
In addition, we're starting a new tradition in our home. We decided that the kids are going to pick out an organization they would like to help, and we're going to donate somehow to that org - money, goods, food, whatever we all choose. Tonight, I asked my 6-year old what he loves, and besides the Padres and Chargers, he said food. So, we'll be donating money and canned goods to a local food pantry. My 3-year old loves dogs, so we're going to provide blankets, $ and other items to a local shelter. C'est magnifique. The true spirit of the holiday season. My kids may not fully understand why some people and animals need help, but by having the discussion at their young age, I hope that they will grow up to be responsible, giving and sharing adults.
The changes I make for the holiday season are going to have an impact throughout the year. Birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, you name it. This is a life change!!
Good luck and good happiness to all of you!
FYI - I'm going to tackle the dreadful Sally Foster wrapping paper school fundraisers at another date.
To be honest, I'm struggling a bit this year with my holiday planning. I don't want to overspend, but I also don't want to disappoint. (I know, I know. The two are not mutually exclusive.) I want everyone to feel joy when they receive gifts from us. But, there is so much excess that occurs during this time of year. How can I be true to my sense of the holiday spirit and yet be environmentally and socially aware and not feel like a scrooge?
What's a modern eco mom to do?
Well, for starters, this mem is first going to work on her addiction to wrapping paper and greeting cards. (of course, that's "addiction" in it's most banal sense. I do not need an intervention... yet.) I mean, who doesn't love sending (or receiving) gifts wrapped in fabulously well-thought-out, designer-looking, handmade-looking paper with ribbons galore and a hilariously perfect card that it took a 1/2 hour to pick out taped on top? C'mon. You know it's cool when someone you know took that extra time to cover your amazing new gift with beautiful wrap and bow.
This year, I'm going wrap- and tissue paper-free. Wow. Just writing that took a lot of effort and created a bit of anxiety! I'm also going battery-free, plastic-free and will try my darndest to go drive-to-store-free for all purchases. Whew! I know these are lofty goals, but I have to start somewhere. Ooh. I almost forgot. I'm also going to try to go Hallmark card-free.
Going wrapping paper-free is going to be a lot easier than it seems, I think, and there are a few ways to do it. I can just skip any gift covering entirely (even foregoing newspaper comics, old shopping bags, etc.) or use recycled gift bags that will hopefully be re-gifted (so to speak).
Skipping the plastic, beeping toys shouldn't be too horrible. I know my kids will be a bit sad, but in the end, they will be happy we're all doing this. I'm not planning on surprising them with my new holiday strategy. They will be fully informed from the get-go.
In addition, we're starting a new tradition in our home. We decided that the kids are going to pick out an organization they would like to help, and we're going to donate somehow to that org - money, goods, food, whatever we all choose. Tonight, I asked my 6-year old what he loves, and besides the Padres and Chargers, he said food. So, we'll be donating money and canned goods to a local food pantry. My 3-year old loves dogs, so we're going to provide blankets, $ and other items to a local shelter. C'est magnifique. The true spirit of the holiday season. My kids may not fully understand why some people and animals need help, but by having the discussion at their young age, I hope that they will grow up to be responsible, giving and sharing adults.
The changes I make for the holiday season are going to have an impact throughout the year. Birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, you name it. This is a life change!!
Good luck and good happiness to all of you!
FYI - I'm going to tackle the dreadful Sally Foster wrapping paper school fundraisers at another date.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Back in the saddle again...Fabkins!
I know it's been awhile... I've been down in the basement (as my fave sports radio host, Jim Rome, likes to say when he's on vacation) recharging my blogging mojo. Ha! In the time I was away, I hope you were able to bring some new, green ideas into your family life. Maybe you really recycled your newspapers or that amazon.com box? Maybe you stopped buying paper plates? Or, maybe you stopped driving around the mall parking lot for 20 minutes looking for a closer spot and settled in for a short, but healthy, walk from a spot a bit further away?
It doesn't matter. I believe you tried!!
For those of you new to this, I'm just a regular, busy mom who is trying to help out the planet and lead a healthier life. Now, don't get me wrong. I am no activist. I don't even play one on TV. I'm just trying to educate myself and my family about how we can be more responsible humans.
And, when I write about "being more green," I don't just mean in the sense of going "off the grid" and using wind solutions to power up my flat iron. I mean thinking about my family's health as well as that of the planet. Buying local and organic. Using safer glass products than Windex. That sort of thing.
And, for those of you wondering... I do drive an SUV. (I feel the need to come clean from the get go.) I'm not proud of it (even though I like my car), but I do shlep around a bunch of kids for carpool, and that keeps an extra emissions-spewing vehicle or 2 off the road). I buy things made out of state, and sometimes, gulp, out of the country. I bought 3 apples the other day from Washington State (organic and delicious, yes; responsible, no, but my 2-year old was eating the samples (skin included) like crazy and I couldn't say no).
But, here's the thing. Although there are zillions of trade-offs in life, I'm learning to make what I think are smarter choices - more often than not. Before I make a purchase, any purchase, I really, really DO think about where that product is made. (I fell off the wagon with those apples.) I almost never considered that before I started this blog. What, shoes made in Italy? Fabulous! Pears grown in Peru? How delicious! Not anymore. The environmental and economic impact is too important and must be thought through.
Oh my. I got WAY off track for a minute.
Back on topic - so, I'm thinking about pears now, which makes me think about chopping up some fresh fruit salad for the boys, which makes me think about my kids' sandwiches and the fact that I put them in the wrong (lead-free) lunch boxes today by accident, oy..are you still with me?-- and I thought I'd share with you some news about cloth napkins. Whew! Got there.
A special shout out goes to the fabulous moms at Fabkins.com. Their cloth napkins are the perfect addition to your kids' school lunch boxes (and your dinner table). The styles are adorable, and the napkins wash very well. (My boys fight over the sports-themed ones on a daily basis.) We've just started using them at home, and boy, it makes a HUGE difference in terms of trash. We're cleaner at mealtime, we're feeling better about it, and we don't miss the paper ones.
Don't freak out, though, that the napkins have to be shipped from the Bay Area. Think about the fact that you are going to eliminate so much waste! (Trade-offs are everywhere, man.)
Check out http://www.fabkins.com/.
Uh oh. Carpool time. Late!
It doesn't matter. I believe you tried!!
For those of you new to this, I'm just a regular, busy mom who is trying to help out the planet and lead a healthier life. Now, don't get me wrong. I am no activist. I don't even play one on TV. I'm just trying to educate myself and my family about how we can be more responsible humans.
And, when I write about "being more green," I don't just mean in the sense of going "off the grid" and using wind solutions to power up my flat iron. I mean thinking about my family's health as well as that of the planet. Buying local and organic. Using safer glass products than Windex. That sort of thing.
And, for those of you wondering... I do drive an SUV. (I feel the need to come clean from the get go.) I'm not proud of it (even though I like my car), but I do shlep around a bunch of kids for carpool, and that keeps an extra emissions-spewing vehicle or 2 off the road). I buy things made out of state, and sometimes, gulp, out of the country. I bought 3 apples the other day from Washington State (organic and delicious, yes; responsible, no, but my 2-year old was eating the samples (skin included) like crazy and I couldn't say no).
But, here's the thing. Although there are zillions of trade-offs in life, I'm learning to make what I think are smarter choices - more often than not. Before I make a purchase, any purchase, I really, really DO think about where that product is made. (I fell off the wagon with those apples.) I almost never considered that before I started this blog. What, shoes made in Italy? Fabulous! Pears grown in Peru? How delicious! Not anymore. The environmental and economic impact is too important and must be thought through.
Oh my. I got WAY off track for a minute.
Back on topic - so, I'm thinking about pears now, which makes me think about chopping up some fresh fruit salad for the boys, which makes me think about my kids' sandwiches and the fact that I put them in the wrong (lead-free) lunch boxes today by accident, oy..are you still with me?-- and I thought I'd share with you some news about cloth napkins. Whew! Got there.
A special shout out goes to the fabulous moms at Fabkins.com. Their cloth napkins are the perfect addition to your kids' school lunch boxes (and your dinner table). The styles are adorable, and the napkins wash very well. (My boys fight over the sports-themed ones on a daily basis.) We've just started using them at home, and boy, it makes a HUGE difference in terms of trash. We're cleaner at mealtime, we're feeling better about it, and we don't miss the paper ones.
Don't freak out, though, that the napkins have to be shipped from the Bay Area. Think about the fact that you are going to eliminate so much waste! (Trade-offs are everywhere, man.)
Check out http://www.fabkins.com/.
Uh oh. Carpool time. Late!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Keeping it clean - Challenge, Part I (glass)
What a month! Seems that all I have been doing is driving the kids all over town - from camp to swimming to the beach to camp again. I know all of this driving is not good for the environment, so I'm trying each day to park my car and walk in to get my kids so I don't idle for 15 minutes in the ridiculously long pick-up line. (Remember, idle = bad!)
I hope that you have spent some time incorporating green themes into your daily lives. As for me, I've been spending time evaluating "safe" cleaning products for my home. I've been testing out product lines such as Mrs. Meyer's, Ecover, Seventh Generation, Simple Green, 365 and a few others to see if they really get the job done. (I cannot comment as to whether or not they remove all bad bacteria from my tables, bathrooms and counters, but I can tell you if they a) smell good; b) leave smears and streaks and c) clean off debris and stuff from my dishes and clothing.)
My goal was to find cleaning products that are non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, dye-free, fume-free, cruelty-free, solvent-free, basically all the bad stuff FREE (like no VOCs, alcohol, etc.), but that do the job right. Actually, sometimes I like when there is a nice aromatherapeutic, fresh smell, like lavender, so the products I like may not be totally, totally free!
Before I share the results of my first Favorite Glass Cleaner test with you, I have to tell you that I do not have a lab in my house to scientifically test the products. Nor do I have the bankroll to purchase 25 different glass cleaners for the purpose of my experiments. However, I did test 5 products and used the same surface (my small, glass kitchen table) and the same white microfiber bar towels and paper towels.
The first products I tested were glass cleaners (you were thinking laundry detergent or dish soap, no?). Let me tell you why I decided to look at glass cleaners... Many years ago, I bought a cute little ironwrought table with a small round glass top and 3 cute little ironwrought chairs from the PierI warehouse for my first condo's kitchen. I figured that the table would last 5 years (I mean, who buys only 3 chairs for a table?!) and that we would buy a much bigger table when we had kids. Fast forward 14 years. The "little table that could" is still with us, but now we smush in a 4th chair! Even with placemats, my kids and husband leave sticky marks and food all over the glass top, and I need to clean it after every meal. Using Windex was starting to make my head spin, and not in a good way.
So, I started testing glass products and...drumroll please... the hands-down winner of the first ModernEcoMom Cleaning Product Challenge is: Seventh Generation's Free and Clear Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner. Yippee! Whooo whooo! You go, surface cleaner!!
This was no contest. Seventh Generation's Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner is the best. It rarely leaves a streak (if it does, it disappears in seconds), never leaves an odor, has absolutely NONE of the bad stuff mentioned above, and is sort of reasonably priced (about $4.69 or so). Please note that all "green" cleaning products are at least $.99 + higher than other more toxic ones.
My only problem is the packaging (yes, it is recyclable). The shape of the container looks like some of their other products (i.e. the shower cleaner), and I accidentally used the wrong one on my glass table. I noticed it right away, and now take the extra second to read the labels first before attacking my germy table.
You can find Seventh Generation products in many markets like Whole Foods and Henry's. Their web site, http://www.seventhgeneration.com/, has a store locator.
I will blog the results of more cleaning product challenges in the coming weeks. In the meantime, stay "glassy" my friends.
P.S. Check out Seventh Generation's fantastic book - "Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy Non-Toxic Cleaning" It's a great read.
P.P.S. For those Will Ferrell fans out their, my "stay glassy" comment comes right from Anchorman Ron Burgundy's newscast sign-off, "Stay classy, San Diego". Ha!
I hope that you have spent some time incorporating green themes into your daily lives. As for me, I've been spending time evaluating "safe" cleaning products for my home. I've been testing out product lines such as Mrs. Meyer's, Ecover, Seventh Generation, Simple Green, 365 and a few others to see if they really get the job done. (I cannot comment as to whether or not they remove all bad bacteria from my tables, bathrooms and counters, but I can tell you if they a) smell good; b) leave smears and streaks and c) clean off debris and stuff from my dishes and clothing.)
My goal was to find cleaning products that are non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, dye-free, fume-free, cruelty-free, solvent-free, basically all the bad stuff FREE (like no VOCs, alcohol, etc.), but that do the job right. Actually, sometimes I like when there is a nice aromatherapeutic, fresh smell, like lavender, so the products I like may not be totally, totally free!
Before I share the results of my first Favorite Glass Cleaner test with you, I have to tell you that I do not have a lab in my house to scientifically test the products. Nor do I have the bankroll to purchase 25 different glass cleaners for the purpose of my experiments. However, I did test 5 products and used the same surface (my small, glass kitchen table) and the same white microfiber bar towels and paper towels.
The first products I tested were glass cleaners (you were thinking laundry detergent or dish soap, no?). Let me tell you why I decided to look at glass cleaners... Many years ago, I bought a cute little ironwrought table with a small round glass top and 3 cute little ironwrought chairs from the PierI warehouse for my first condo's kitchen. I figured that the table would last 5 years (I mean, who buys only 3 chairs for a table?!) and that we would buy a much bigger table when we had kids. Fast forward 14 years. The "little table that could" is still with us, but now we smush in a 4th chair! Even with placemats, my kids and husband leave sticky marks and food all over the glass top, and I need to clean it after every meal. Using Windex was starting to make my head spin, and not in a good way.
So, I started testing glass products and...drumroll please... the hands-down winner of the first ModernEcoMom Cleaning Product Challenge is: Seventh Generation's Free and Clear Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner. Yippee! Whooo whooo! You go, surface cleaner!!
This was no contest. Seventh Generation's Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner is the best. It rarely leaves a streak (if it does, it disappears in seconds), never leaves an odor, has absolutely NONE of the bad stuff mentioned above, and is sort of reasonably priced (about $4.69 or so). Please note that all "green" cleaning products are at least $.99 + higher than other more toxic ones.
My only problem is the packaging (yes, it is recyclable). The shape of the container looks like some of their other products (i.e. the shower cleaner), and I accidentally used the wrong one on my glass table. I noticed it right away, and now take the extra second to read the labels first before attacking my germy table.
You can find Seventh Generation products in many markets like Whole Foods and Henry's. Their web site, http://www.seventhgeneration.com/, has a store locator.
I will blog the results of more cleaning product challenges in the coming weeks. In the meantime, stay "glassy" my friends.
P.S. Check out Seventh Generation's fantastic book - "Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy Non-Toxic Cleaning" It's a great read.
P.P.S. For those Will Ferrell fans out their, my "stay glassy" comment comes right from Anchorman Ron Burgundy's newscast sign-off, "Stay classy, San Diego". Ha!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Vacation time does NOT equal trash time
After a nice family vacation in the finest (okay, only) 50th state around, it's hard to get the family back to the normal grind. But, since it's the start of summer, it's really not that hard!
Vacations are great - you get to laze around, read more books and mags, and really play with the kids. What's not to like? But, vacations can also create laziness - the bad kind. While away from home, it's pretty darn easy to slip into "non green" mode. You know what I mean- you stay in a hotel so you don't care about excessive water or electricity usage. You run the A/C full blast even when you're not in your room. You let the kids use a billion napkins at the pool or you succumb to paper plates and plastic disposable cups and utensils if you're in a condo. You make a lot of trash, but hey, so what? It's not your problem, right?
So, this year on our vacation we really made an effort to follow the same living patterns that we do at home (but with the added bonus of a mai tai or two on the lanai some evenings!). Since we were staying in the same place as last year, I knew I could actually measure (well, not physically weigh the trash and recyclables!) whether or not we were sliding into the abyss.
After one week of high vacation living (and daily servings of shave ice!), we only took 1 can of trash to the curb. A miracle. Last year during the same period, we were so full of trash we had to sneak some into our neighbors cans. Victory! And, we didn't purchase a paper plate or plastic cup. Our water usage was minimal, and our A/C and fan usage was dramatically lower.
I was so proud of us, but the best part was that no one thought it was weird. It's just something that's become part of our lives. Even our snacks on the plane were packed in reusable storage containers (and just 2 baggies!).
So, take it from someone with experience. Just because you spend a summer vacation in someone else's house or a corporation's hotel, it doesn't mean that the planet will forgive you for being wasteful because you're "away from home". You've worked so hard to change the way you live - why wreck that by making a bigger mess?
Now, I'm not saying you have to spend your summer holiday in an eco pod somewhere in the Amazon. Enjoy your vacation - wherever you go. Just remember to show Mother Earth some love while you're lazing around.
Vacations are great - you get to laze around, read more books and mags, and really play with the kids. What's not to like? But, vacations can also create laziness - the bad kind. While away from home, it's pretty darn easy to slip into "non green" mode. You know what I mean- you stay in a hotel so you don't care about excessive water or electricity usage. You run the A/C full blast even when you're not in your room. You let the kids use a billion napkins at the pool or you succumb to paper plates and plastic disposable cups and utensils if you're in a condo. You make a lot of trash, but hey, so what? It's not your problem, right?
So, this year on our vacation we really made an effort to follow the same living patterns that we do at home (but with the added bonus of a mai tai or two on the lanai some evenings!). Since we were staying in the same place as last year, I knew I could actually measure (well, not physically weigh the trash and recyclables!) whether or not we were sliding into the abyss.
After one week of high vacation living (and daily servings of shave ice!), we only took 1 can of trash to the curb. A miracle. Last year during the same period, we were so full of trash we had to sneak some into our neighbors cans. Victory! And, we didn't purchase a paper plate or plastic cup. Our water usage was minimal, and our A/C and fan usage was dramatically lower.
I was so proud of us, but the best part was that no one thought it was weird. It's just something that's become part of our lives. Even our snacks on the plane were packed in reusable storage containers (and just 2 baggies!).
So, take it from someone with experience. Just because you spend a summer vacation in someone else's house or a corporation's hotel, it doesn't mean that the planet will forgive you for being wasteful because you're "away from home". You've worked so hard to change the way you live - why wreck that by making a bigger mess?
Now, I'm not saying you have to spend your summer holiday in an eco pod somewhere in the Amazon. Enjoy your vacation - wherever you go. Just remember to show Mother Earth some love while you're lazing around.
Monday, June 4, 2007
In the office - a mountain of paper
Whether you are working in an office away or at home, you probably spend a lot of time printing. A lot of you are starting to notice, if you haven't already, that you are producing an incredible amount of paper- a lot of it wasted. Maybe you need to print 100-page legal documents or new recipes or airline e-tickets. Doesn't matter. A staggering amount of trees have been chopped down in order to support our nasty habit of printing, printing, printing.
One solution is to print double-sided or to flip over and re-use old printed materials, and while this certainly helps ("way to go" for those of you doing this because it gets really annoying sometimes trying to figure out which way to re-insert the used document to make the printer print on the clean side, especially if you are in a hurry), there are still many pages printed unnecessarily.
I may have found a solution!
Modern Eco Mom idea: Use GreenPrint software
GreenPrint software (www.printgreener.com) lets you easily view documents so you do not print any blank pages. The license (yes, you have to purchase this program - about $35 or 40 for an individual- they offer volume discounts for corporate usage) also includes a .pdf writer which may save you from printing anything at all! You can trial it free for 30 days. I am loving it!
I believe it is only offered for PCs, but I'm sure that issue will be resolved shortly.
Check it out and save some trees!
One solution is to print double-sided or to flip over and re-use old printed materials, and while this certainly helps ("way to go" for those of you doing this because it gets really annoying sometimes trying to figure out which way to re-insert the used document to make the printer print on the clean side, especially if you are in a hurry), there are still many pages printed unnecessarily.
I may have found a solution!
Modern Eco Mom idea: Use GreenPrint software
GreenPrint software (www.printgreener.com) lets you easily view documents so you do not print any blank pages. The license (yes, you have to purchase this program - about $35 or 40 for an individual- they offer volume discounts for corporate usage) also includes a .pdf writer which may save you from printing anything at all! You can trial it free for 30 days. I am loving it!
I believe it is only offered for PCs, but I'm sure that issue will be resolved shortly.
Check it out and save some trees!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Pour me another...
Before I begin discussing wine (not whine), I must first apologize for my constant bungling of the word "recycled." My right ring finger keeps wanting to add an extra "l" between the "y" and "c." Even when I proof the post, I don't always catch it. I think it's a sign!
Okay, now on to fun stuff... WINE. And, not just any wine- organic wine. What, you say? Has Napa gone mad? Why, I just love drinking in those pesticides with my pressed grapes?! Hah to you. Even winemaking has gone green. (Well, actually, organic winemaking is how wine is supposed to be made. People have been doing it for over 6,000 years.)
On European, Australian and New Zealand bottles (and even some American) , you might see the word "biodynamic" and not "organic," but don't worry. The concepts are similar.
Biodynamic wines are created using techniques developed by Austrian anthroposophist (say that three times fast) Rudolph Steiner. "They incorporate homeopathic treatments, as well as astronomical and astrological considerations, into the organic process." (source: www.organicwinejournal.com) I'm already intrigued.
Organic wines, as certified by government agencies, are created without the use of added sulfites. Some wineries take their organic winemaking one step further and choose to use alternative energy sources and remove chemical treatments from the process - they are referred to as "sustainable."
So...
ModernEcoMom idea: try organic wines
Why not try a delicious organic wine this weekend?
Here are a few suggestions:
Ponzi Vineyards - Pinot Gris, 2006, Willamette Valley, Oregon - $19.00
Ceago - Cabernet, 2006, Mendocino, California - $32.00 (Their Sauvignon Blanc, 2006, is $18.00.)
Or, you can review (and order from) a well-regarded importer, Organic Vintners. They can supply you with organic, vegan or biodynamic delights (go to http://www.organicvintners.com/ for more info). However, you're going to pay more, and risk complicating your new focus on cutting down CO2 emissions from purchasing wines that need to be shipped great distances.
In any event, I want you to raise a glass (of organic wine!) to yourself, you Modern Eco Mom you, for taking better care of this planet.
Sources:
www.organicwinejournal.com
www.organicvintners.com
Okay, now on to fun stuff... WINE. And, not just any wine- organic wine. What, you say? Has Napa gone mad? Why, I just love drinking in those pesticides with my pressed grapes?! Hah to you. Even winemaking has gone green. (Well, actually, organic winemaking is how wine is supposed to be made. People have been doing it for over 6,000 years.)
On European, Australian and New Zealand bottles (and even some American) , you might see the word "biodynamic" and not "organic," but don't worry. The concepts are similar.
Biodynamic wines are created using techniques developed by Austrian anthroposophist (say that three times fast) Rudolph Steiner. "They incorporate homeopathic treatments, as well as astronomical and astrological considerations, into the organic process." (source: www.organicwinejournal.com) I'm already intrigued.
Organic wines, as certified by government agencies, are created without the use of added sulfites. Some wineries take their organic winemaking one step further and choose to use alternative energy sources and remove chemical treatments from the process - they are referred to as "sustainable."
So...
ModernEcoMom idea: try organic wines
Why not try a delicious organic wine this weekend?
Here are a few suggestions:
Ponzi Vineyards - Pinot Gris, 2006, Willamette Valley, Oregon - $19.00
Ceago - Cabernet, 2006, Mendocino, California - $32.00 (Their Sauvignon Blanc, 2006, is $18.00.)
Or, you can review (and order from) a well-regarded importer, Organic Vintners. They can supply you with organic, vegan or biodynamic delights (go to http://www.organicvintners.com/ for more info). However, you're going to pay more, and risk complicating your new focus on cutting down CO2 emissions from purchasing wines that need to be shipped great distances.
In any event, I want you to raise a glass (of organic wine!) to yourself, you Modern Eco Mom you, for taking better care of this planet.
Sources:
www.organicwinejournal.com
www.organicvintners.com
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Organic, vegan, recycled clothing... oh my
When it comes to fashion, baby, I'm a huge fan. I love to read about new styles, fabrics, designers... you name it. And, like my gal pals, I covet, but then rail against, the so-called "hot" handbags (which, I still call pocketbooks because my mom called them that). Why are they so pricey? I mean, really. They are all starting to look the same - Marc, Mulberry, Chloe, St. Laurent... my head is a-spinnin'.
And, now that you got me started on this topic, what's with all the new (read: expensive) sustainable, organic, vegan, waste-reducing clothing? What does it all mean? I know that Bono's company, Edun, produces cool fashions, and that it is "nude" spelled backwards, but that's it.
Clearly, I had much research to conduct. And, for the sake of my readers, I may have to purchase some of my research! (It is part of the job, folks. It is these types of sacrifices that I am willing to make for the betterment of our planet!!)
So, credit card at the ready, I started pouring through web sites, magazines, etc. Turns out, there is still quite a bit of confusion in terms of clothing labels. The U.S. standards are a bit flaky, and international standards aren't that much better. There are organic, vegan, sustainable labels. Recycled, waste-reducing, fair-trade produced...Want a bamboo tee-shirt? You can have one. Want a pair of jeans with recycled coke bottle caps for snaps - got it! Production processes to more safely harvest the materials, design, manufacture, package and ship are changing by the day.
After a short while of clicking, I found a great source: Lotus Organics (www.lotusorganics.com). The founders, the Lackmans, have been in the well-being biz for over 35 years. I figured they were safe to teach me.
Their blog: http://organicclothing.blogs.com/ is filled with amazing definitions, eco-fashion information and even a "clothing, fashion and fiber glossary the likes which you will never see (http://organicclothing.blogs.com/my_weblog/2005/12/fashion_fabric_.html)
After all is said and done, there are a gazillion choices today in terms of eco-friendly fashion. Not all organic dresses are made from hemp and look like burlap sacks and cost the same as a year of Ivy-league college tuition.
It just makes sense to look at what we wear if we are trying to change the way we treat this beautiful planet of ours. Do we want to wear shoes made from malnourished and poorly treated cows? Do we want to wear tees made from cotton grown with planet-poisoning pesticides or without? Do we want to support a company that cares about the environment or one that just wants a bigger bottom line? (p.s. go to www.patagonia.com, one of the caring companies.)
We all have choices to make.
And, speaking of choices, let's get to a new MEM idea.
Modern Eco Mom idea: donate
Go through your closet and donate some clothes that are collecting dust! It's pretty easy. A good rule of thumb is if you haven't worn the item in a year, give it to someone who needs it! Go to http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/used-clothing.htm for info on donating women's clothing; www.careergear.org for info about donating men's clothes and http://www.kidsdonations.org/ for info on donating kids clothing.
Rock on.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Bagging it - grocery style
The other day, I wrote about "green" guilt and how it hits me every time I go to the supermarket. Well, another Modern Eco Mom, I'll call her "V," wrote to share her solution. It's smart, practical, and very inexpensive. Here it is:
Modern Eco Mom idea: buy reusable food bags and keep 'em in your car
When V goes to the market for her weekly grocery buy, she brings along 4 big re-usable food bags that she bought at that same market. She fills those bags with her market goods, pays, and brings the food home. After she unpacks everything at home, she puts the now-empty bags back in her car. Brilliant. She keeps them in her car!! They easily slide inside one another for space savings.
But, wait, there's more. Maybe you do a giant monthly shop at your supermarket. Those re-usable bags won't necesarily provide you with enough storage capacity. So, V suggests that you buy a handful (maybe 3, maybe 4)of those green recylcling-type bins with strap handles. Keep them in your car trunk for super organization. When you head to the store for the huge shop, just bring in the bins, store them under the shopping cart, and place your items inside. Again, a great idea.
You can buy the reusable bags and bins at Whole Foods and Trader Joes, just to name a few. Some of the bags sell for as little as $.99 each. (Go to www.wholefoods.com and www.traderjoes.com for more info.)
This is exactly what I'm talking about. Modern moms around the world sharing their "seem small but make a big difference" ideas to help protect the planet.
Definition: recycle
Most of us know what this means - to reprocess a material into a new product. Some of you may live in towns that have adopted recylcing programs. You try to sort the glass, paper and metals as best you can. Well, thanks to those of you who are doing so because I just read that the average person in the US produces over 1600 pounds of waste each year - almost one ton. If you really, really try hard and just recycle all of those same glass, paper and metals, you will save waste by up to 75%. Yes, that's SEVENTY-FIVE percent. Staggering, no? And, it really doesn't take too long to do so. You may need to get a separate bin in your kitchen or garage to store the to be recycled materials, but it really is worth it. You don't even have to buy a bin - just use a box from the grocery store or from the mail. Just make sure any aluminum cans or papers are dry before you store them in your recycling box.
Thank you for trying! You can do it!
Resources:
www.wholefoods.com
www.traderjoes.com
Modern Eco Mom idea: buy reusable food bags and keep 'em in your car
When V goes to the market for her weekly grocery buy, she brings along 4 big re-usable food bags that she bought at that same market. She fills those bags with her market goods, pays, and brings the food home. After she unpacks everything at home, she puts the now-empty bags back in her car. Brilliant. She keeps them in her car!! They easily slide inside one another for space savings.
But, wait, there's more. Maybe you do a giant monthly shop at your supermarket. Those re-usable bags won't necesarily provide you with enough storage capacity. So, V suggests that you buy a handful (maybe 3, maybe 4)of those green recylcling-type bins with strap handles. Keep them in your car trunk for super organization. When you head to the store for the huge shop, just bring in the bins, store them under the shopping cart, and place your items inside. Again, a great idea.
You can buy the reusable bags and bins at Whole Foods and Trader Joes, just to name a few. Some of the bags sell for as little as $.99 each. (Go to www.wholefoods.com and www.traderjoes.com for more info.)
This is exactly what I'm talking about. Modern moms around the world sharing their "seem small but make a big difference" ideas to help protect the planet.
Definition: recycle
Most of us know what this means - to reprocess a material into a new product. Some of you may live in towns that have adopted recylcing programs. You try to sort the glass, paper and metals as best you can. Well, thanks to those of you who are doing so because I just read that the average person in the US produces over 1600 pounds of waste each year - almost one ton. If you really, really try hard and just recycle all of those same glass, paper and metals, you will save waste by up to 75%. Yes, that's SEVENTY-FIVE percent. Staggering, no? And, it really doesn't take too long to do so. You may need to get a separate bin in your kitchen or garage to store the to be recycled materials, but it really is worth it. You don't even have to buy a bin - just use a box from the grocery store or from the mail. Just make sure any aluminum cans or papers are dry before you store them in your recycling box.
Thank you for trying! You can do it!
Resources:
www.wholefoods.com
www.traderjoes.com
Monday, May 21, 2007
Not for the idle...go mom go, stop mom stop
Well, I was down for the count yesterday. My old (clearly not modern) back went out as I reached down to pick up my 2-year old for a hug. Dropped to my knees as if Ali had KO'd me in the 12th round.
I tried to make the most of my "down time" (read: doing nothing but lying on the floor of my bedroom for the remainder of the day staring at the ceiling - which, by the way, needs to be painted) by trying to prioritize the next few blogs. I figured that we should talk about cars a bit, since they are one of the most detrimental sources of greenhouse gas emissions for individuals. And, as moms, a lot of us spend a lot of our days driving around and around and around.
Thanks to my nephew, J, I am including this simple, yet smart, idea. It's a no-brainer. When you're in your car and the weather is nice, turn off the A/C and roll down your windows. Without getting into specifics, this idea really does save gas. But, there is a caveat - when you're doing 45 mph or more (in the appropriate speed zones), roll up your windows as the drag created by the wind forces your car to work harder and negates the gas savings.
ModernEcoMom idea: stop idling
You know how you're waiting in line at school (in your car) for drop-off or pick-up. Maybe you get there early. Maybe you get there on time. Doesn't matter. There is typically a huge line with all the moms, dads and caregivers just running their engines while going nowhere. This is a real waste of energy.
To quantify, let's look at the numbers. The average US citizen produces 19.6 tons of CO2 emission per year. If you reduce your daily idling by 10 minutes, you can save 550 pounds of CO2 per year!
Now, just think what would happen if you helped your child's school institute a no-idling policy (uh oh, the activist that I didn't think was in me is now rearing her head!). Do the math, and you will see savings of thousands upon thousands of pounds of CO2. Yippee.
But, you do it first. Next time you do carpool, find a parking spot and walk the kids into school. It is more eco-friendly to start and stop your engine in these circumstances.
But, just remember that it's safe (and the LAW) to idle at a red light and stop sign!
Definition: So, what's a hybrid vehicle
I tried to make the most of my "down time" (read: doing nothing but lying on the floor of my bedroom for the remainder of the day staring at the ceiling - which, by the way, needs to be painted) by trying to prioritize the next few blogs. I figured that we should talk about cars a bit, since they are one of the most detrimental sources of greenhouse gas emissions for individuals. And, as moms, a lot of us spend a lot of our days driving around and around and around.
ModernEcoMom idea: roll down the windows
Thanks to my nephew, J, I am including this simple, yet smart, idea. It's a no-brainer. When you're in your car and the weather is nice, turn off the A/C and roll down your windows. Without getting into specifics, this idea really does save gas. But, there is a caveat - when you're doing 45 mph or more (in the appropriate speed zones), roll up your windows as the drag created by the wind forces your car to work harder and negates the gas savings.
ModernEcoMom idea: stop idling
You know how you're waiting in line at school (in your car) for drop-off or pick-up. Maybe you get there early. Maybe you get there on time. Doesn't matter. There is typically a huge line with all the moms, dads and caregivers just running their engines while going nowhere. This is a real waste of energy.
To quantify, let's look at the numbers. The average US citizen produces 19.6 tons of CO2 emission per year. If you reduce your daily idling by 10 minutes, you can save 550 pounds of CO2 per year!
Now, just think what would happen if you helped your child's school institute a no-idling policy (uh oh, the activist that I didn't think was in me is now rearing her head!). Do the math, and you will see savings of thousands upon thousands of pounds of CO2. Yippee.
But, you do it first. Next time you do carpool, find a parking spot and walk the kids into school. It is more eco-friendly to start and stop your engine in these circumstances.
But, just remember that it's safe (and the LAW) to idle at a red light and stop sign!
Definition: So, what's a hybrid vehicle
I am fascinated by my girlfriend's Prius - the most popular of hybrids. It is cute (well, not convertible cute; rather funky cute) and super roomy. If it had 3 rows, it would be my next car.
I had no idea what makes a hybrid so special, so I started doing some research. Turns out, a hybrid vehicle is one that uses two or more different fuel or power sources. Most likely when you hear the word "hybrid," it is referring to a hybrid-electric vehicle, one that includes an electric motor (powered by batteries) and an internal combustion engine (requiring petroleum).
Some hybrids are classified as SULEVs (or, Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles) like Toyota's Prius. According to the manufacturer, the 2003 (and newer model Prius) produces 89% fewer smog-forming emissions that the average new car. And, the EPA estimates a combined city/highway fuel economy at 48 mpg. Even better, the third generation Prius (to be released in late 2008/09) may break the 70 mpg record!
Go to www.fueleconomy.gov for great information and side-by-side comparisons.
For the record, this is obviously one of those HUGELY expensive eco-friendly options, and I'm not about to sit here and tell you to switch to hybrids. However, it is absolutely worth your time to evaluate them when choosing a new car. (Plus, there are tax credits to be gained and even some special HOV lanes created for hybrid drivers.)
That's all for today. Hope this helps!
Resources cited:
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Green guilt trips - stop
I am really digging this new blog gig, although my 5-year old is desperate to get me off the computer so he can check out the NBA Playoff recaps on si.com. Blogging is quite empowering and liberating and, well, it's just plain awesome!
Every day, I think of more ways that I can help change how my family (and, maybe yours) can help protect the planet. And, it's not just about us recycling better or driving less or not drinking water bottled from afar... it's about changing our collective mindset. And that, my friends, is going to be the hardest thing to do for all of us - not just me and my boys.
I'll admit it - I've screwed up the environment. I truly have. And, I'm trying to own up to that fact and start fixing it. Some experts are yelling that it's too late, that we're a decade past the point of no return, but I think that scare tactic is full of bunk. I believe that view is going to make people care less and give up faster. I know in my heart that if us non-greenies start to make changes now, we can have a positive impact. (That's a subtle shout-out to all my fellow Mommys - you know who you are!)
But, as I said earlier, it's about first changing how we approach life and the little things we can control, and about how for moms especially, we have to stop feeling guilty about how we don't always make the right, green, decisions. And, I'm not talking about those big, expensive decisions, like about which car to buy - the behemoth, polluting SUV so you can drive 5 kids in carpool or the eco-friendly hybrid that will help save the world.
I'm talking about things like actually recycling your newspapers or water bottles on a daily basis, and not hiding them in the bottom of the regular waste can. I mean, why do we hide them, anyway? Is the waste collector going to call us out? Tell our moms? Get on a loudspeaker and cruise through the neighborhood denouncing us and our evil ways? Why are we afraid to be judged for that, and yet not so afraid to stop doing it?
At the supermarket, are you as confused as I am about whether to choose paper or plastic? They both create enormous CO2 output during production. Should I hand carry my food? Should I buy one of those recycled bags (and you'll need way more than 1) to help schlep my pricey organic items to the car - which oh, by the way, is a gas-guzzling SUV (I'm sorry)?
See what I mean? The guilt is everywhere. But, during my plane trip epiphany, I realized that I have to stop feeling so badly about all of it, and just start moving forward. I could either stay in this horrible limbo, or get off the proverbial pot and make a difference. I can't feel guilty anymore, and neither should you!
I keep thinking about the adage, "Rome wasn't built in a day." I know we don't have a whole lot of time to muck around in whether or not to be more responsible, but let's just try. Let's try together, today, this afternoon, tonight. Just try.
I'm asking you to become a ModernEcoMom like me - it's going to be a struggle, but us modern moms are unstoppable when we want to do something good, especially when we want to do it together. Our kids need and deserve a cleaner environment and a healthier future. And, we need it, too.
I've got a billion ideas, tons of information I want to share. I'm going to talk about topics related to greening your baby, your kids, your homes, your mode of life. In the process, I want to hear from you so that we can feel that sense of sisterhood, gain strength because we're not alone in this struggle, and know that on a daily basis, "we can do it because other MEMs have got our back."
So, email me at jen@modernecomom.com with your ideas, thoughts, comments, whatever. I will listen and share.
Okay, I've got to check out the box scores.
Every day, I think of more ways that I can help change how my family (and, maybe yours) can help protect the planet. And, it's not just about us recycling better or driving less or not drinking water bottled from afar... it's about changing our collective mindset. And that, my friends, is going to be the hardest thing to do for all of us - not just me and my boys.
I'll admit it - I've screwed up the environment. I truly have. And, I'm trying to own up to that fact and start fixing it. Some experts are yelling that it's too late, that we're a decade past the point of no return, but I think that scare tactic is full of bunk. I believe that view is going to make people care less and give up faster. I know in my heart that if us non-greenies start to make changes now, we can have a positive impact. (That's a subtle shout-out to all my fellow Mommys - you know who you are!)
But, as I said earlier, it's about first changing how we approach life and the little things we can control, and about how for moms especially, we have to stop feeling guilty about how we don't always make the right, green, decisions. And, I'm not talking about those big, expensive decisions, like about which car to buy - the behemoth, polluting SUV so you can drive 5 kids in carpool or the eco-friendly hybrid that will help save the world.
I'm talking about things like actually recycling your newspapers or water bottles on a daily basis, and not hiding them in the bottom of the regular waste can. I mean, why do we hide them, anyway? Is the waste collector going to call us out? Tell our moms? Get on a loudspeaker and cruise through the neighborhood denouncing us and our evil ways? Why are we afraid to be judged for that, and yet not so afraid to stop doing it?
At the supermarket, are you as confused as I am about whether to choose paper or plastic? They both create enormous CO2 output during production. Should I hand carry my food? Should I buy one of those recycled bags (and you'll need way more than 1) to help schlep my pricey organic items to the car - which oh, by the way, is a gas-guzzling SUV (I'm sorry)?
See what I mean? The guilt is everywhere. But, during my plane trip epiphany, I realized that I have to stop feeling so badly about all of it, and just start moving forward. I could either stay in this horrible limbo, or get off the proverbial pot and make a difference. I can't feel guilty anymore, and neither should you!
I keep thinking about the adage, "Rome wasn't built in a day." I know we don't have a whole lot of time to muck around in whether or not to be more responsible, but let's just try. Let's try together, today, this afternoon, tonight. Just try.
I'm asking you to become a ModernEcoMom like me - it's going to be a struggle, but us modern moms are unstoppable when we want to do something good, especially when we want to do it together. Our kids need and deserve a cleaner environment and a healthier future. And, we need it, too.
I've got a billion ideas, tons of information I want to share. I'm going to talk about topics related to greening your baby, your kids, your homes, your mode of life. In the process, I want to hear from you so that we can feel that sense of sisterhood, gain strength because we're not alone in this struggle, and know that on a daily basis, "we can do it because other MEMs have got our back."
So, email me at jen@modernecomom.com with your ideas, thoughts, comments, whatever. I will listen and share.
Okay, I've got to check out the box scores.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Getting started - no more junk mail
Okay, here's how I see this going ... in each blog, I'm going to suggest a "green" idea or 2 about how you, a modern Mom, can readily do your part to help protect the planet. Aside from doing extensive research, and talking to the experts, I'm also my own guinea pig - doing all of these things first- so it will be less scary and more informative for you.
I'm also going to define some terms so a) they seem less horrifying, and b) you sound more intelligent when you tell your friends about what you are doing and why (...like, when you're at a cocktail party and some blowhard with a Hummer starts telling you that Al Gore is full of cr*p, you can enlighten him with your modernecomom truths.) And, btw, you have to share what you're now doing with your friends - after all, we're in this together!
I promise to be as descriptive as possible and include associated costs, additional resources, etc.
Here goes:
ModernEcoMom (MEM) green idea #1: Stop your junk mail.
Did you know that the production of junk mail destroys over 100 million trees and wastes 28 billion gallons of water annually? No, well it does. I had no idea, and now I'm even more mad about the garbage I get in my mailbox every day. I even get junk mail from credit card companies that already have me as a customer. That is beyond, beyond wasteful.
There will be more junk mail for this MEM as I just signed up for the Sapling program at www.greendimes.com. For $.10 per day, or $36.00 per year, they will do the legwork to get me off the direct mail/catalog train. And, what's even better, they will plant one tree EVERY month of my subscription. (Appropriate trees get planted in North, Central or South America, India, Senegal or Haiti.)
Greendimes.com works in the U.S. and Canada -- the U.K. is next!
In 2-3 months, I will start noticing a significant change (upwards of a 75% reduction) in the amount of junk mail I receive.
Term #1 defined: carbon footprint
I hear and read about this concept frequently--it is bandied about tv and magazines by plenty of folks who may not be entirely sure what it means. To end the confusion, I went to www.carbonfootprint.com for help.
While "offsetting personal carbon footprints" may seem like something for only the Hollywood and modeling jet-set to do (sidebar: Lancome is offsetting model Elettra Rossellini Wiedemans' air travel-induced footprint), it actually isn't. We can all do simple things to reduce our own created emissions of green house gases.
"A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide." (source carbonfootprint.com)
On a personal level, about 15% of our carbon footprint comes from our individual use of gas, oil and coal. Almost 12% comes from our use of electricty.
The CO2 we product is staggering, but fear not - we can do something about it now. In short, we can sign up for renewable energy, limit our car and air travel, buy local foods and clothing and ditch the bottled water. (More later on all of these tips.)
So, please moms, start today!! We can do it!
I'm also going to define some terms so a) they seem less horrifying, and b) you sound more intelligent when you tell your friends about what you are doing and why (...like, when you're at a cocktail party and some blowhard with a Hummer starts telling you that Al Gore is full of cr*p, you can enlighten him with your modernecomom truths.) And, btw, you have to share what you're now doing with your friends - after all, we're in this together!
I promise to be as descriptive as possible and include associated costs, additional resources, etc.
Here goes:
ModernEcoMom (MEM) green idea #1: Stop your junk mail.
Did you know that the production of junk mail destroys over 100 million trees and wastes 28 billion gallons of water annually? No, well it does. I had no idea, and now I'm even more mad about the garbage I get in my mailbox every day. I even get junk mail from credit card companies that already have me as a customer. That is beyond, beyond wasteful.
There will be more junk mail for this MEM as I just signed up for the Sapling program at www.greendimes.com. For $.10 per day, or $36.00 per year, they will do the legwork to get me off the direct mail/catalog train. And, what's even better, they will plant one tree EVERY month of my subscription. (Appropriate trees get planted in North, Central or South America, India, Senegal or Haiti.)
Greendimes.com works in the U.S. and Canada -- the U.K. is next!
In 2-3 months, I will start noticing a significant change (upwards of a 75% reduction) in the amount of junk mail I receive.
Term #1 defined: carbon footprint
I hear and read about this concept frequently--it is bandied about tv and magazines by plenty of folks who may not be entirely sure what it means. To end the confusion, I went to www.carbonfootprint.com for help.
While "offsetting personal carbon footprints" may seem like something for only the Hollywood and modeling jet-set to do (sidebar: Lancome is offsetting model Elettra Rossellini Wiedemans' air travel-induced footprint), it actually isn't. We can all do simple things to reduce our own created emissions of green house gases.
"A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide." (source carbonfootprint.com)
On a personal level, about 15% of our carbon footprint comes from our individual use of gas, oil and coal. Almost 12% comes from our use of electricty.
The CO2 we product is staggering, but fear not - we can do something about it now. In short, we can sign up for renewable energy, limit our car and air travel, buy local foods and clothing and ditch the bottled water. (More later on all of these tips.)
So, please moms, start today!! We can do it!
Online Resources mentioned in this post:
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
What happened?
Last week, I flew from San Diego to Boston with my 5-year old son. It was just the 2 of us - we left the little guy at home with Daddy and Grandma. Because of this, I was able to bring some reading materials on the plane- a luxury for us traveling moms.
Perusing through the airport newstand, Life Savers and Rolos already in hand, I picked out 3 magazines without hesitation - Vogue, Vanity Fair and domino. The reason? Aside from the obvious, each focused on "green" or "sustainable" themes.
Once we settled in for the long (and I mean long) flight, I pulled out our snacks and fun stuff. First came the healthy stash, filled with whole wheat sandwiches, carrots and apples. Next came the "treat" bag - cookies and more cookies - yum. While laying out the spread (on my lap, because the seat-back tray was broken, of course), I was suddenly overwhelmed by all the plastic packaging I had used to wrap our food. What a load of saran wrap and ziplock baggies I had packed! Why did I do that? Did we really need 2 layers of disposable storage bags for the sandwiches?
Something in me just snapped - "no more," I said. "No more." Right then and there, I decided that it was time to make big changes. (To be truly honest, though, while that was the moment I finally broke down, I had been thinking and worrying about environmental issues and my own laissez-faire attitude for a long while. I obviously needed a good kick in the pants.)
So, like I said, that was the proverbial 'last straw'. I was finally free to openly admit that I had a problem. A weight was lifted. Like many, I was in complete denial that my own life habits were contributing to the destruction of our global environment. I think I always thought to myself, hey self, you're not a paper plant or oil refinery spewing forth greenhouse gases every millisecond, right? So, what's the big deal if you use a lot of paper plates, napkins, etc. or drive a big SUV? You're just one nice little family. How could you do any harm?
As I sat there riding out some turbulence, I thought about why I couldn't watch "An Inconvenient Truth" when it was in the theatres. It wasn't because I didn't believe in global warming or because I was scared of Al Gore or the Earth's impending doom. I realized then and there that the reason I couldn't watch the movie was because I didn't want to face the fact that I had done damage to the environment. I was culpable. I am culpable. The guilt was enormous.
It was time to do something about it, so I set up my son's portable movie player - Fox & the Hound II was on tap- found my notepad and pen and starting writing...and writing...and scribbling...and writing. I couldn't stop. I wrote lists of ways I could change my household, books I needed to read, research I needed to start googling, people I needed to contact, terms I needed to define. Pages of ideas poured out of me. I was literally shaking with excitement.
I knew I couldn't become an activist like Laurie David (who, by the way, is a passionate and intelligent force of nature!) at this point in my life. But, I realized that I could change my family and maybe inspire other people to change, too, in a different way. Like me, I think that other moms want to become more eco-friendly, but they are just too overwhelmed by 1) the oft scary changes we need to make; 2) the reasons behind the changes; and 3) the potential (large) expense of making changes. I began to believe that if we take a "one step at a time/baby steps" approach, we can start small now and then gradually (yet quickly-- those ice caps are melting every second) make even bigger changes.
So, somewhere 35,000 feet over Minnesota, modernecomom (www.modernecomom.com will be up soon) was born. I was going to help my family and others get "green" by helping to make sense of it all. I don't want to feel guilty anymore or be scared by people screaming at me to change because the world is falling apart. I know I should have started implementing these changes years ago, but gosh darnit, I'm finally starting!
So, moms, let's go. Let's start trying to heal our planet together. After all, they don't call it MOTHER Earth for nothing.
Perusing through the airport newstand, Life Savers and Rolos already in hand, I picked out 3 magazines without hesitation - Vogue, Vanity Fair and domino. The reason? Aside from the obvious, each focused on "green" or "sustainable" themes.
Once we settled in for the long (and I mean long) flight, I pulled out our snacks and fun stuff. First came the healthy stash, filled with whole wheat sandwiches, carrots and apples. Next came the "treat" bag - cookies and more cookies - yum. While laying out the spread (on my lap, because the seat-back tray was broken, of course), I was suddenly overwhelmed by all the plastic packaging I had used to wrap our food. What a load of saran wrap and ziplock baggies I had packed! Why did I do that? Did we really need 2 layers of disposable storage bags for the sandwiches?
Something in me just snapped - "no more," I said. "No more." Right then and there, I decided that it was time to make big changes. (To be truly honest, though, while that was the moment I finally broke down, I had been thinking and worrying about environmental issues and my own laissez-faire attitude for a long while. I obviously needed a good kick in the pants.)
So, like I said, that was the proverbial 'last straw'. I was finally free to openly admit that I had a problem. A weight was lifted. Like many, I was in complete denial that my own life habits were contributing to the destruction of our global environment. I think I always thought to myself, hey self, you're not a paper plant or oil refinery spewing forth greenhouse gases every millisecond, right? So, what's the big deal if you use a lot of paper plates, napkins, etc. or drive a big SUV? You're just one nice little family. How could you do any harm?
As I sat there riding out some turbulence, I thought about why I couldn't watch "An Inconvenient Truth" when it was in the theatres. It wasn't because I didn't believe in global warming or because I was scared of Al Gore or the Earth's impending doom. I realized then and there that the reason I couldn't watch the movie was because I didn't want to face the fact that I had done damage to the environment. I was culpable. I am culpable. The guilt was enormous.
It was time to do something about it, so I set up my son's portable movie player - Fox & the Hound II was on tap- found my notepad and pen and starting writing...and writing...and scribbling...and writing. I couldn't stop. I wrote lists of ways I could change my household, books I needed to read, research I needed to start googling, people I needed to contact, terms I needed to define. Pages of ideas poured out of me. I was literally shaking with excitement.
I knew I couldn't become an activist like Laurie David (who, by the way, is a passionate and intelligent force of nature!) at this point in my life. But, I realized that I could change my family and maybe inspire other people to change, too, in a different way. Like me, I think that other moms want to become more eco-friendly, but they are just too overwhelmed by 1) the oft scary changes we need to make; 2) the reasons behind the changes; and 3) the potential (large) expense of making changes. I began to believe that if we take a "one step at a time/baby steps" approach, we can start small now and then gradually (yet quickly-- those ice caps are melting every second) make even bigger changes.
So, somewhere 35,000 feet over Minnesota, modernecomom (www.modernecomom.com will be up soon) was born. I was going to help my family and others get "green" by helping to make sense of it all. I don't want to feel guilty anymore or be scared by people screaming at me to change because the world is falling apart. I know I should have started implementing these changes years ago, but gosh darnit, I'm finally starting!
So, moms, let's go. Let's start trying to heal our planet together. After all, they don't call it MOTHER Earth for nothing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
