Tuesday, December 30, 2008

The Climate is Changing in the Cabinet

We have a lot to be excited about and much work ahead in the upcoming year - a new president, a revitalized "green collar" economy, an effort to broker peace in countries in conflict, and a renewed commitment to tangible actions that will stop global warming.

One of the best pieces of news I've heard in a long time was the recent announcement from Barack Obama that he is moving forward with a plan and is appointing a team of environmental advisers to work toward reducing emissions of the greenhouse gasses contributing to global warming.

According to an article in the NY Times by John Broder, Obama spoke to a climate conference in mid-November saying, “Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all.” He added, “Delay is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable response.”

You can read the complete article here, as well as this article about Obama's picks for environmental and energy advisers. Their credentials, as well as their acceptance of scientific research (remember when scientists were used to promote facts, not undermine them?), are impressive.

Hooray! I think it might be time for me to drink some champagne, cry a few tears of joy (not necessarily in that order), and then get back to work.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Greetings...It's Still Paper

'Tis the season for holiday greetings, and while I enjoy receiving a a card or package in the mail as much as the next person, it seems that there must be a way to spread the holiday cheer without using so much stuff. Much of what we use gets thrown away, or in the best case scenario, recycled.

Now I'm certainly not springing into Scrooge mode here; like everyone else, I love the photo cards from friends of their adorable babies and tots.

But if you are sending a card this year, try to buy one with the highest percentage post-consumer recycled content. There are many companies making cool cards on recycled paper including Anne Taintor and Green Field Paper.

One of my fave's from Anne Taintor's collection.

For those of you going the e-route, which is usually free and uses no resources at all, I recommend a perusal of my new favorite e-card sight, someecards. The cards on this website cover most occasions, and they are actually funny, which is something that the vast majority of paper greeting cards often can't lay claim to.

For many more eco-friendly holiday tips check out my blogs over at Earth911:

A New Wrinkle in Holiday Gift Wrap

Green Holiday Parties Made Easy

Green Decor Galore

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Second-Hand Furniture Love

I keep seeing this commercial for a credit card that starts with the tagline, "We are a nation of consumers, and that's okay." It then goes on to describe how this particular credit card helps you to be a more responsible consumer. Really? Okay, well I'm not up for arguing the merits of credit card purchases, but I will say that living beyond our means is one of the main reasons the economy is in such tough shape. Americans and America have been spending money we just don't have.

Of course, I understand that sometimes there are necessities that must be purchased. I'm suggesting a way though, to strike a balance between acquisition and consumption, which results in big savings at the same time - thrift stores. We often hear about the trendiness of vintage, but it is also an environmentally sound and inexpensive way to shop. And I, for one, certainly need to shop in a thrifty way right now.

If you have been following this blog, you know that my husband and I recently relocated from New York to Seattle, leaving most of our possessions weighing over twenty pounds behind. Don't get me wrong, there was still plenty to carry - photos, books, cats, but most of the furniture did not make the journey. And while I pride myself on being a minimalist, certain items, a place to store one's books and clothing for example, are a necessary part of any functional apartment.

So it was off to Seattle's second-hand stores for me. I won't bore you with the details of where I went since most of you don't live here (ask me and I will dish), but I will tell you how I searched for the best thrift stores, what treasures I found, and how much they cost.

I realize that some may consider it tacky to discuss price, but I do so only to emphasize what excellent bargains can be found in the world of secondhand. And whether the recession has touched you yet or not, thrift stores get their name for a reason, and reuse is also the ultimate way to decrease unnecessary demand for limited resources.

A note on what we did have: my desk, our bed, a bureau, a dining room table, and a few small tables.

I began my quest by trolling the ubiquitous Craigslist to see what the going rate was for a couch, shelves, bureaus, and the like. Many of the couches for sale were a bit sketchy - note to those out there using Craigslist to hawk your used furniture wares - clean up the used pizza boxes before taking the glamour shot - really. Nonetheless, I persisted through some funky photos and found a used couch. It was comfortable, clean, had down cushions, and cost only $250. Those of you who have shopped for couches in the last decade, know that I got a great deal, despite the less than ideal color.

Fine, but is it comfy? Three in the"yes" column.

I checked out Yelp for the reviews on used thrift stores and found one near my neighborhood that had received good reviews. After a bit of perusing, I found a beautiful bureau with a vanity mirror for $150.

And if you look carefully there's a brightly lit apartment with a curious lady on the other side of the mirror...wait. That's me.

My husband and I made several trips to the local Goodwill to round off our furnishings and found a huge bookshelf for $7, a shoe rack for $10, an admittedly rickety but functional desk for $15, and a TV/DVD stand for $15.

Lastly, our friends who knew we were looking for shelving offered up some metal shelves that had been spending quality time in their backyard. With a little cleanup, the shelves were transformed into an industrial chic bookcase.

Our new apartment is now completely furnished for under $500, and we did not have to buy one piece of new furniture. Here are a few thrifty tips I picked up along the way:

  • Ask the locals. Chances are, your friends will already know the best places to get some secondhand deals. Also, your friends may have furniture that they would be happy to unload on their new neighbors.
  • Look on community sites like Yelp to get the lowdown on thrift stores near you.
  • Check out virtual yard sales on websites like Craigslist and Freecycle.
  • Be patient; impulse shopping isn't good for your wallet or the environment.
  • Make a deal! Many secondhand stores will be willing to negotiate a better price.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Yes We Did! So Now What?

With record youth voter turnout in the 2008 election, it is clear that in our demographic, the tide is turning swiftly towards action and a mutual interest in a better world. Now is a crucial time to keep pushing ahead with the causes about which you care most deeply.

While you may not be able to score any one-on-one time with the president-elect right now (something tells me he's a little busy), you can certainly send him a message through one of the many organizations working hard to get Obama's attention about causes running the gamut from global warming to gay rights.

In addition to signing and forwarding online petitions about causes that align with your personal beliefs, why not send the Obama-Biden transition team an email? I believed Obama in his acceptance speech on Tuesday night when he said he wanted to hear from us about what was most important, and I think we should do just that.

Here is the link for contacting the team.

After all, political action is about much more than casting your vote.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Tiny Game Hunting

On a recent visit to Santa Barbara to see two of my dearest friends, who are both generally very hip about all matters environmental, I was astonished to find out that one of them has a pretty serious case of Myrmecophobia, or fear of ants, that she usually combats with chemicals.

After an unfortunate mishap involving some not well-placed cupcakes, we had an invasion on the premises. You kind of had to be proud of the ants' ingenuity - I mean after only one night of sugary bait, they had infiltrated everywhere - through the door, up the walls, and even halfway up the staircase. Impressive...but unfortunately for them, unwelcome.

Not Sprinkles.

My friend Amy pulled out a can of the chemicals and started spraying. What she was spraying was labeled with cautions, which meant that the contents were toxic, and it wasn't just the ants breathing it in either; my nose and lungs confirmed that we were certainly getting a dose too. The ants were dying fast, but I couldn't help thinking that there must be a better way to discourage the ants from entering in the first place. I know, I know, other than leaving out cupcakes - thank you very much!

So we did a little research, and Amy came across the book Tiny Game Hunting, by Hilary Dole Klein and Adrian M. Wenner. The section on ants starts out with a few fun facts:

Some people believe that the cockroach will take over the world , but we bet on the lowly ant. Breeding colonies of ants, sometimes known as superorganisms, are resistant to both radiation and industrial pollution. Colonies of some species can even survive in flooded ground. In terms of sheer biomass, ants, along with termites are the dominant insect species on earth. They not only outnumber us; they outweigh us. When it comes to social organization and cooperation, they are in some ways more evolved than humans, acting for the survival of the colony rather than the individual. Various ant species plant crops, herd other insects for food, wage ferocious wars, take slaves, and live with elaborate caste structures. Interestingly, ant colonies are virtual female societies; males are bred only occasionally and only for protection.

Whoa. These little gals are even more impressive than I thought. As for the benefits offered by ants, Klein and Wenner go on to say:

Besides being utterly impossible, it would be foolish to attempt to eliminate all your ants, because in many ways ants are our friends and allies, and we need them. Ants actually help control pests that we haven't always been very successful controlling on our own. Both indoors and out, they eat the eggs and larvae of fleas, flies, spiders, bed bugs, and probably silverfish and clothes moths. They also go after cockroaches and conenose bugs. In addition, ants patrol the perimeters of our houses and keep termites, their mortal enemies, from establishing colonies in our homes. If we let them do their job that is.

So, how to let them do their job and keep them out of your house without chemicals?

According to the book and my own common sense, it can be deduced that ants have needs too. Often they are entering your home to stay dry or to get food or water. Insecticides are unnecessary when you eliminate what might be attracting the ants to your abode. Here are a few suggestions from the wee game hunters:

  • Don't leave out garbage, sweet or smelly foods, crumbs, or dirty dishes.
  • Wipe down counters and walls with natural deterrents like soapy water or vinegar
  • Follow the trail to the point of entry and put down barriers of food not on the ants menu like citrus rinds or oil, mint, cayenne pepper, or cinnamon
  • If they are getting in through a larger opening, use caulk to seal it off
  • For food and and water dishes that you have to leave out like pet food, place the dish in a bowl of soapy water, which will act as a deterrent
For more suggestions on how to rid your home of unwanted pests without the use of unwanted toxic chemicals, check out Tiny Game Hunting.

Remember, only you can prevent cupcake tragedies. Only you.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Talking About a Shredolution

Lauren Slater had no idea how much money and energy she could save by making a few lifestyle changes to reduce her carbon emissions. She already lived in a modest home in Vermont, rode her bike whenever she could, was frugal with heat and water use, and generated very little food waste.

But when her mountain biking friends came up with the idea to form a group with the goal of decreasing each person's carbon footprint 10 percent by 2010, Slater was eager to learn about more ways to save energy.

Using David Gershon's book, Low Carbon Diet, as their template, the Carbon Shredders set out to reduce their emissions. The idea behind the group is simple; in addition to following suggestions from the book about calculating and reducing personal greenhouse gas emissions, people from the group also share ideas and useful websites on the topic at monthly meetings.

Since joining the group, Slater and her husband have instituted many simple energy saving steps around the house that may give you some new ideas too. They include:

  • Figuring out their carbon footprint and setting goals for reduction
  • Installing compact fluorescent light bulbs, which has reduced their electric bill by about 8%
  • Becoming more conscientious about turning off unnecessary lights
  • Reducing laundry by using a "clirty" hook for clothes that have been worn but are not yet ready for the wash, which was an idea introduced to them by eleven year-old Matthew Crowell, the group's youngest member
  • Never using the dishwasher's heated drying cycle
  • Turning thermostats down by a few degrees
  • Using only cold water to wash laundry
  • Hanging laundry out to dry
  • Rethinking car trips by combining errands and carpooling as much as possible
  • Reducing overall use of plastic by using reusable water bottles, reusable bags, and buying products with less packaging
  • Buying more environmentally friendly products
  • Taking shorter showers
  • Working from home and video conferencing as much as possible
  • Planning to replace propane water heater with a solar one
  • Looking into installing solar panels on their south facing roof
  • Starting to compost
Forced Labor. The next wave of the carbon shredding movement?

Many of the changes have been incremental, and as the Slaters see how easy it is to reduce some of their consumption habits, they are encouraged to find even more ways to save energy. According to Slater, "The best thing about the program is that it has raised my awareness about how all the little actions really add up. There are things that anyone can do that don't affect your lifestyle at all."

This testimony is good news for the shredders since part of the mission of the group, as well as the theory behind the Low Carbon Diet, is that people will see firsthand how painless it is to significantly reduce one's carbon emissions and will happily spread the word to others.

The time is definitely right to save both money and non-renewable resources, and the Carbon Shredders continue to grow. Check out their website for tools and tips to help form a similar movement in your hometown.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Drop Hundreds of Pounds without Ever Leaving Home

With the economy in the toilet and climate change showing no sign of slowing down, there is real concern among environmentalists and policy makers that actions to slow down the advance of climate change (which will affect all of us in the long-term) will be set aside in lieu of immediate fiscal concerns (which are, of course, affecting us right now).

If you are interested in saving money and energy, there are many easy steps you can take today towards both ends. From changing your light bulbs to driving less, there are many suggestions for reducing personal carbon emissions over at the carbon calculator site Earthlab, which is a website I reviewed in a previous post.

Another good source of info is Low Carbon Diet, by David Gershon, which offers a plan and action items to follow to help you to eliminate 5000 pounds of carbon emissions in 30 days. A few intrepid Vermonters are also using this book as the basis for their group, the Carbon Shredders. The shredders have started what they have dubbed a “shredolution”, and their website encourages others to join the movement and start groups in their own communities.



Gershon’s book offers tangible steps and goals that readers can take to substantially reduce carbon emissions, as well as ways to spread the word in their communities about how everyone can do the same. The book also provides the estimated time that it will take to complete each task and any supplies you might need.

Read next week's blog for a profile on one of the shredders and the simple steps she has taken to become more carbon conscious.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Don't Lose Your Chance to Choose

Whether all you can talk about is Thursday night's debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden or how excited you are about Tina Fey's impression of the Katie Couric/Sarah Palin interview, be sure that on November 4th you are able to do more than just banter about your ideal election outcome.

October 4th is actually the last day to register to vote online in a few states, and deadlines in other states are fast approaching. Dates vary by state, so log onto the Rock the Vote Election Center to find your polling place and check registration deadlines (many states will let you register in person after the online date has passed). This is an especially helpful resource if, like me, you have a). just moved, or b). lost that handy postcard they send you once you are registered...(I'm sure it is on my desk somewhere).

Not sure if you are registered yet? Whether you are planning on voting for Obama or not, his campaign has created an excellent tool to check on the status and location of your registration. At Vote for Change you can:

  • Register
  • Confirm your registration
  • Find your polling place
  • Apply for an absentee ballot
Checked everything off the "ready to vote" list? Why not volunteer at a phone bank to get out the vote for your candidate? These are critical days, and there are many candidates in tight races that could use your help. Simply go to the websites of your favorite candidates, and click on the links to volunteer and/or donate.

We are almost a month away from what could very well be the most important election of our lifetime - make sure you voice is heard!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Sustainable LA - Is it an Oxymoron?

At first glance, Los Angeles does not seem like a bastion of environmental responsibility - manicured lawns, big cars (and way too many of them), a shortage of water, and over-consumption in the name of trendiness.

However, when you take a small chip out of the hip veneer, it appears that Angelinos are catching on to the fact that being green is not just a passing trend. This became readily apparent to me as soon as I landed. I went to pick up my rental car (economy of course), and the guy behind the counter "encouraged" me to get an upgrade - it is his job after all to up-sell, so I couldn't blame him for that. Our exchange went something like this:

Super friendly rental guy pointing to the photo display of all of their cars: "Wow, you realize you are in the smallest car we offer right?

Me: Yes.

Super determined rental guy: I could put you in something much bigger for not much more.

Me: Actually, I'm an environmentalist concerned with fuel economy - a.k.a. the rental car up-seller's worst nightmare.

Super resourceful rental guy: "I could put you in a Prius for $13 more a day."

Me: (Silence as I calculate gas savings - slowly - mental math is not my forte; my excuse is that I deal with words all day.

Super persistent rental guy: "For $11 more a day - I'll give you the Hotwire rate."

So I got the Prius, and while it is a little like driving a spaceship (keyless starter, streamlined, double-paned back window), considering the fact that I was destined to sit in traffic for the next 45 minutes and am driving to Santa Barbara this weekend, I was really grateful that I had upgraded. Here is my 2 cents on the Prius:

Whose house is that? Why am I shrugging? What does this car run on? The Prius brings magic and mystery wherever it goes.

Disclaimer: I am not a car person. I just want something reliable and fuel efficient to get me from point a to point b. Nothing (except the transmission) on my current Toyota Corolla is automatic, so I enjoyed the automatic windows and locks, and the digital dashboard display. What I especially liked, though, was the central display that tells you exactly how much fuel you are using. Coasting on the freeway or moving slowly through traffic kept the MPG quite high -60-99.9 (99.9 means you are using virtually all battery). As soon as you accelerate enough to require gas, though, you can see your fuel efficiency decrease. It is a good lesson for all of us about how to be more fuel efficient when driving - Prius or otherwise. The other features I appreciated were the many controls on the steering wheel - radio volume, temp control, mirrors, etc. - AND, as soon as you put the car in reverse, you can see exactly what is behind you on the dashboard screen. This is especially nice since I often ask myself, "what was that I just ran over?" While I know these are now common features on many cars, it is good to know that fuel efficiency can still come in the package of a very hi-tech vehicle.

Next stop on my LA sustainability tour was a wine bar and restaurant that my friend Alexis had been raving about. Lou in Hollywood serves a large selection of natural wine (wine grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizer) and food sourced from local farmers. Of course, duty called, and we responded dutifully by trying several of the organic and biodynamic vintages. Some of our favorites were Preston Vineyards Madame Preston Roussanne Viognier, the '06 Clos Roche Blanche Touraine Sauvignon Blanche, and the '05 Collioure "La Pinede" La Tour Vieille.

With a little help from our servers David and Betsy, we enjoyed wine paired perfectly with everything we ate. We dined happily on the burrata with stone fruit (peaches of course since they are in season!), prosciutto, and wild arugula; a farmers market green salad; the fish plate, which consisted of smoked baccala, albacore confit, smoked trout, and house-cured wild salmon gravlax; and a salad of farro, heirloom tomatoes, Dante sheep cheese, onion, and pistou. For dessert, we had a ginger stout cake with vanilla cream.

Yes, the salads actually look and taste this good.

Last night we headed to Silverlake Wine to try a flight of organic whites and then to organic, vegetarian Elf Cafe for dinner. Our favorite organic wines from the Spanish flight were Jose Pariente Varietal Verdejo '07 and the Abad dom Bueno Godello '07.

The pre-wine hangover giggles. Fun while they last.

Of course, it's not all drinking and eating with friends in LA . Today I had to find a quiet place to work. Being a Seattle-ite now, I needed my fix of fair-trade, organic coffee. When I lived here, finding a good cup of coffee was like trying to find public transit, which is to say somewhere between inconvenient and impossible. Winchell's Donuts and Starbucks were the most prevalent purveyors of a consistent cup of joe - times were tough.

No longer, though! In my friend's Echo Lake neighborhood alone, three new coffee shops have opened up in recent years. We chose Fix Coffee, which gets its fair trade organic coffee from Zoka Coffee Roasters, which hails from where else?...Seattle. I even had a nice table to myself.

Apparently, it's not loitering if you have a computer with you.

Fresh and seasonal - my favorite way to eat. Keep up the good work LA! - now if we can only get the city to improve the public transportation system, so that residents can start taking the bus!

Activist shout out to my LA peeps - get in touch with your local politicians (phone call, email, letter) and ask them to advocate for a better public transpo system - given the price of gas now, the current economic crisis, and the ever-present traffic issue, they will probably be receptive. Remember to remind them that you vote!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Green Jobs Now - Find an Event Near You!

What is going on with the economy? It seems that everyone can agree that things are really, really bad, but they are having a much harder time agreeing on a solution.

Okay, politicians, show us that you mean it when you say that you are ready for "change", "reform", or whatever platitudes you are using today, and start taking steps to solve the environmental and economic crises by creating green jobs now.

With the majority of the nation saying in polls that the greatest issue of concern in the upcoming election is the economy, there is no better time to send a message to politicians, businesses, and communities that our future depends on sustainable economic development.

This Saturday is the Green Jobs Now National Day of Action. Visit the Green Jobs Now website to sign up to host an event, to find an event near you, or to sign the petition, which is reprinted below:

"I urge our elected officials to invest in creating millions of green jobs and a Clean Energy Corps. We can't drill and burn our way out of the current crisis. We can invest and invent our way out. We can create new pathways out of poverty and curb global warming at the same time. We will do this by retooling our factories, rebuilding our communities, and repowering America with 100% clean and renewable electricity. It's time to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty."

It's time to stop panicking or complaining about the economy. It's election season, and the politicians are paying attention. Let's tell them that our energy crisis and economic bailout plan must amount to more than "drill, baby, drill"; rather, let's start with something that is sustainable for people and the environment...green jobs...now.








www.greenjobsnow.com/

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Yes, We Can!!

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I have set out on a quest to eat locally whenever possible. For the month of October, I have joined the Eat Local Challenge, which is encouraging people all over the country to enjoy local bounty this fall. (Yes, that was me with the six enormous avocados in my carry-on bag on my flight back from LA).

Right now in Seattle, I have found myself surrounded with an abundance of blackberries and tomatoes, so what better way to celebrate this abundance than to preserve it? Besides, canning dates back hundreds of years, so how hard could it be? Oh, what hubris! What naivete! Clearly, we needed a mentor. I made a call to an Italian friend of mine who "puts up" many bushels of tomatoes a year (we're talking hundreds of pounds, here). I mean, this woman is a force; people invite her over as their special consultant.

A quick and easy bounty

First, my friend Anne and I picked several quarts of blackberries at Discovery Park in less than an hour! One of the lessons we learned from our haul was that if you are willing to make the time (and in this case brave the spiders that like hanging with the berries as well), you can gather enough fruit for months in very little time and for free! We also picked tomatoes from our gardens and supplemented with a box of "seconds" from a local farmer.

Loaded down with ingredients and ambitious plans, and armed with advice from my canning guru, Anne's knowledge gained from a canning class at Culinary Communion, and a book called The Busy Person's Guide To Preserving Food, we headed over to Anne's house to embark on some adventures in canning.

Let's see: Danger of fatal explosions. Possible death by botulism. This project had it all!

Let's start with the good news - we learned a lot. Here are the most salient nuggets:
  1. Head into your adventure with a positive outlook: Like many skills, canning takes a little practice, or in our case, trial and lots of errors. Remember, in order to succeed, it is imperative to have can-do attitude.
  2. Be sure to have a canny canner as your guide: Because there are not a lot of absolutes to canning - you need to know how much space to leave, how much salt to add, the right moment to take the jam off the stove or it will burn and become brown sludge (yup, learned the hard way) - it is a good idea to can with someone who has done it before.
  3. Don't be too ambitious: For our first time, we clearly tried to do to much. What's too much? Let's see... making jam, freezing berries, canning sauce, and canning whole tomatoes...that would be too much. We started at 1:30pm and were not done until 3am. (Keep in mind that this included support staff, in the form of husbands, who came to help at around 10pm). I had to sleep it off the next day, and I hardly had anything to drink! I would say for first time preservers, two projects will ensure that your experience is much more canjoyable.
  4. Have all of your recipes ready and understand directions from start to finish: Since we were trying to use both a pressure canner and a boiling water bath to preserve our concoctions, we had a hard time transferring directions and figuring out timing. We also did not have exact recipes for everything; in short, "winging it" on your first time is not advisable!
Note on cooking berries: purple=good - brown=waste of three hours

Despite the burned jam, questionable space at the top of the jarred tomatoes (those little suckers shrink!), and the "in need of doctoring" tomato sauce and salsa, in the final analysis, we both agreed that we would do it again. Preserving food is an excellent way to eat diversified, local food year round. Up next, more tomato preservation (this time I'm trying roasting and then storing in oil in the fridge and freezing) and some potato and beet root cellaring...can't wait!

Woefully underprepared for a nuclear winter, but well stocked for a power outage or snowstorm; we gave ourselves a B-, overall.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

A Dozen Reasons To Love My New City

If you have been reading my blog in the past few weeks, you know that I recently relocated to Seattle. Since arriving here a little less than a month ago, I have been methodically keeping track of all of the reasons I love my new city (you know me, I love lists).

Many of the programs here in Seattle, which is known as the Emerald City because it is surrounded by such lush greenery (thanks rain), are examples of ways to live lightly on the land while still enjoying all of the benefits of city life. You will notice that many of my reasons center around food. What can I say? I like food - good, seasonal, local, real food - but of course, there are other reasons to love Seattle too...

Seattle is the original cool city - The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement was started in 2005 by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. Since then, over 800 mayors have signed the agreement that follows many of the actions set forth in the Kyoto Protocol, which seeks to reduce global warming pollution.

The Wine - As my quest to eat locally has increased in intensity, I have often felt a real sense of guilt when it comes to the wine I am drinking. In New York, my wine would come from as far afield as California, Spain, and Argentina. But now, I am surrounded by wine country, and there are several local wineries that are beginning to use organic and biodynamic growing techniques.

The Restaurants - A large portion of the restaurants here are committed to serving local, organic, and seasonal food whenever possible. So far, I have had the good fortune of dining at restaurants that adhere to some permutation of this philosophy, including The Stumbling Goat, Ray's Boathouse, and Wild Mountain Cafe. Some other standouts on this scene include Flying Fish, Tilth, Taste Restaurant at the Seattle Art Museum, and The Harvest Vine.


The bounty of the markets, though wild blackberries will be here soon!

The Farmers Markets - There is one almost every day and two of the markets are open year- round. My favorites are the Saturday morning University District market and the Sunday morning market in Ballard. At both places you can find everything from organic raw milk and artisan cheeses to several colorful varieties of green beans (5 as of this writing). And of course, both of these markets sell Estrella's artisan cheeses; a creamery whose cheese is so varied and delicious that my new proximity to it could almost be its own reason. But enough about food for now. Let's talk books....

The Seattle Library System is comprised of the central library, 26 branch libraries, and mobile services. Each one that I have visited thus far is efficient, clean, quiet, and offers superior access to books, periodicals, journals, and research documents, many of which I can request to have delivered to my local branch. Yes, I am a admittedly a nerd, but a good public library system is one of the backbones of a well-educated population. What's more, the downtown public library is such an architectural feat (the top floor is entirely glass, and there are additional energy-saving designs throughout the building), that it is one of the top tourist destinations in Seattle. Guess I am not the only nerd in town.


Sort of like a Winnebago and a Spaceship

Coffee shops that serve organic, fair trade coffee, beer, and wine. (Does this one count as a food reason too?) One recent evening, I was working in one of the myriad coffee shops that allow you to transition easily from day to night with a bevy of beverage options, when a group of musicians arrived to start setting up for the evening's performance. One of the recording guys even brought his daughter, who was so into the music (and my camera), that she offered her live dance performance as a bonus. The best part was that the music was so good I was able to keep working and enjoy the show (and my beer).


Play some Skynard, man!

The Greatest Goodwill Ever and many other worthwhile thrift stores. As any of you who have read my blogs about our move know, I am both a fan of consuming as little as possible, and throwing away even less. However, our move necessitated the creative gifting and selling of many of our possessions. What better way to restock the new home with necessities than at your local Goodwill? And the Goodwill near my new neighborhood in Ballard is especially fabulous. As my friend Alexis, who shops for a living for film/tv costumes, AND has the best style of just about anyone I know says, "It is the cleanest, most organized (by category and size) Goodwill I have ever seen!" And it's within walking distance of my new house - lucky me.

The Public Transportation System - While I have the luxury of working from home most days, and I live somewhere that is within walking distance of restaurants, the library, stores, and the post office, when I do need to go further afield, I can also take a $3 round-trip bus ride to anywhere in the city. The bus system is easy to negotiate, thanks to the King County online trip planner, and buses generally run on time. There are also local commuter and Amtrak trains that run out of a central location downtown. Last week, I was easily able to take a bus, train, and then another bus to see Radiohead in Auburn (a city about 35 miles away from Seattle). Total cost of the one-way journey - $5.25.

The Parks - Seattle has made a serious commitment to preserving open air spaces, and the in-city park system is extensive. So far, I have visited Discovery, Golden Gardens, and Carkeek. All three of these urban oases offer walks to the beach, hikes, and sunsets like this...


Like being in a fancy wine commercial, only better.

And of course, there are lots of benefits to all of this rain - they include:

Drying Clothes Outside - Having lived in a suburb of NYC for six years with nowhere to hang my clothes, I had no choice but to use the energy-guzzling dryer (although I did use a drying rack as much as possible, and you can too city dwellers). Now, in between rainstorms, of course, I can hang all of my clothes outside.


Note to self: Line dried towels hurt! A few minutes in the dryer goes a long way.

The Growing Season - It is year round, and almost everyone I have met so far here has their own garden. My friends Lesley and Joe's garden is particularly bountiful and impressive.

Exclamations of "Gad-zukes!!" abound. Look at that thing!

Rainbows that Make the News - On my third weekend in Seattle, I was out in the aforementioned friends' garden helping to plant the second crop of the summer season. It had been raining off and on all day (it's Seattle after all), and we were seizing the break in the weather to get the new seedlings planted. We looked up to see not just one rainbow, but two. Apparently we were not the only ones that noticed it either; there was also mention of it on the local evening newscast. Who wouldn't want to live in a city where awesome rainbows make the news?

My kingdom for a wide angle lens!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Step Into the Earth Lab

As a person who is always looking for ways to be more efficient, the idea of finding out my exact carbon footprint and ways to reduce it is very appealing. There are carbon footprint calculators galore on the Internet, and in an effort to find more ways to reduce my emissions, I have been perusing many of them recently. A tip from my friend Marah over at The Blue Ocean Institute led me to Earthlab.

Here's why Earthlab is worth a visit:

  1. Requires Very Little Patience - As they say on their website, it really does take only 3 minutes to calculate your carbon usage.
  2. Covers All the Bases - The calculator evaluates 6 basic facets of how we live - home, energy, commute, travel, work, lifestyle.
  3. Score Means Something - Once you are done (let's say during minute 4), you get a score from 150-900 (150 means you are a carbon-saving rock star), and you also are able to compare your score to other people in your city, state, and country.
  4. Tangible Ways to Reduce - No matter what your score, there are specific pledges you can take to reduce your carbon emissions further. For example, in the energy section, you can pledge to air dry your dishes, start composting, or turn off lights whenever you leave a room.
  5. You Can Track Your Progress (think of it as an alternative to Facebook when looking for a way to procrastinate at work) - You can visit your account at Earthlab regularly to report your progress, update your score, and make new pledges.
Earthlab offers tangible actions that you can start taking today. So stop reading this blog and go save some energy!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Wildlife Wimp...Meet the Glacier Grizzlies

One of the best ways to become a conservationist is to see firsthand why forests, oceans, and open spaces are worth preserving. One glance up at the mountains from Yosemite's valley, and you will understand why Ansel Adams devoted his life to photographing and protecting wild places. From atop a vista in Glacier National Park, you will understand why it is so important to protect not only the glaciers that give this breathtaking park in northwestern Montana its name, but also the grizzly bears that roam freely throughout, existing in quiet splendor at the top of this magnificent ecological paradise. I have enjoyed every moment spent in Yosemite, Glacier, and several other National Parks, and I am committed to doing whatever I can to protect and preserve them.

And by the way, I am a total wildlife wimp. While I grew up in rural Vermont surrounded by black bear, moose, skunks, squirrels, and even the occasional coyote, I still get nervous on every camping, hiking, and walking trip that holds even the slightest possibility of an encounter with any kind of mountain lion, bear, or Loch Ness monsters (Yes, I do know that I don't actually need to worry about that last one). However, I live in the Pacific Northwest, and I love to hike, so I find myself on a lot of these "I wish I didn't have such an active imagination, but otherwise this is incredible" excursions. Did I mention Sasquatch?

Glacier National Park was no exception as such an outing. From the moment we entered the park a few weeks ago, we heard stories about a grizzly and cub that were frequenting the Iceberg Lake trail. (Please note, these bears will hereafter be referred to as Momma Bear and Baby Bear because that makes this story seem much less scary).

We were very excited for our few days in Glacier, as neither my husband nor I had ever visited. We splurged on the night of our anniversary and stayed at the storied and highly recommended Many Glacier Lodge. The lodge is situated on the east side of the park, only a few miles north of the Going to the Sun Road, which is the main road that runs through the park. Many Glacier Lodge was built in 1915, and it is situated overlooking one of the many lakes scattered throughout the park.

On our first full day in the park, we took a leisurely hike around several glacial lakes. We were excited the next morning for something a little more rigorous, so we set out on The Iceberg Lake trail. There were signs at the head of the trail with warnings about increased grizzly activity. There are also signs and pamphlets all over the park about what to do to avoid a bad bear encounter - make noise so as not to surprise the bear, stay calm and quiet in case of an encounter so the bear does not perceive you as a threat or prey etc. And it probably goes without saying that these are not the signs you want to see if you are a wildlife wimp. The prevalence of bear mace at the gift shop and on people's belts did not help either.

Taking it all in
Yet the stunning natural beauty of Glacier was enough to make me overcome my fear, and so up the mountain we trudged. It was a perfect July morning, the fog from the night before had all but burned off, and as we wound our way up alpine meadows and past streams, we were treated to view after view of valleys, mountains, and lakes. At the 2.5 mile mark (the hike is about 10 miles round trip), we began to hear stories about Momma and Baby Bear up ahead on the trail. No one seemed particularly concerned, and we were on our way to the well-traveled Iceberg Lake; really, what were the chances of us actually running into the bears!?
Icebergs in July!
We pressed on and after giddily stumbling upon a late season snow field, we reached our destination. After an hour of lunch and amazement at where we were and what we were seeing, we started to head back down the trail. As we got to a bend about a quarter mile down, we heard many voices shouting, "Hey, Bear!" and clapping and whistling. Irritated, I looked at Steve and said, "With those people ahead making all of that noise, we are never going to see the bear." Yes, indeed, that was the wildlife wimp talking. Something about the sheer and surreal beauty of the scene must have been getting to my head.

We joined up with the noisy and slow moving troop and continued our tromp down the trail. We rounded a particularly breathtaking bend and stopped to take in the mountain swooping up to our left and then crossing the trail, where it was transformed into a gently rolling hill, which continued its progression all the way down into the valley. We were snapped out of our reverie by, well, a snap. Bears that size, they move fast, and suddenly we heard branches cracking less than twenty feet to our right.



What we observed*

What it looked like to me

Just like that, there she was, Momma Bear, and there he was, Baby Bear. As for Momma, I swear she was looking right at me. The more experienced hikers (they all had a few decades on Steve and me, and most had encountered a bear before), rapidly and quietly made their way down the trail. I couldn't move; I just stood there, transfixed by this close encounter with a fellow top-of-the-food-chainer. And instead of being terrified, I was completely calm - Momma, she really didn't have any interest in me. She lumbered away down the slope following her baby (he was really more of an adolescent) towards Iceberg Lake. We heard from others further up the trail that the grizzlies had gone to the lake and wrestled, frolicked, played. National Parks are some of the last bastions of safety for this threatened species, and these bears seemed to know it.

By the time we got to the bottom of the trail, it had been closed due to "increased grizzly activity."

We can all take a lesson from this closing - At Glacier, it's as simple as this - the bears are respected here. The ecosystem in the park and beyond depends on the survival of such magnificent creatures, and the park cherishes and protects the grizzly as an integral part of this system.

Sadly, the grizzlies are not the only thing that needs protection in Glacier National Park. If the current rate of warming continues, all of the glaciers in the park will be gone by 2070. For more information on protecting the parks, visit the National Parks Conservation Association, and of course, I also recommend visiting some national parks. I don't guarantee that you will see a grizzly, but I can promise you that you will see something magnificent and worth protecting.

*Grizzly Family photo by DanDee Shots

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Buses, Feet, and Fewer Automobiles

Thanks to the combination of my recent relocation and addiction to knowing where I am at all times (I blame my horrendous sense of direction for the latter - if I suggest turning left, turn right...seriously), I just discovered a helpful feature on Google Maps for anyone who does not consider driving to be the only mode of transportation. With gas around $4.00 a gallon that is a fast-growing club.

Now, in addition to getting driving directions on Google Maps, you can also get bus or pedestrian directions. Huzzah! You could easily do this anyway with the Seattle Public Bus System (or any metropolitan transit system website), but Google Maps is one stop shopping for finding my way on any type of transit in my new hometown. Another bonus of finding directions online is that I can send these directions to my phone and avoid printing anything. Less paper, less gas, Google maps...OK, not great - I promise not to try to get a job writing slogans anytime soon!

Our First Hike at Discovery Park in Seattle - On Feet!

The scenery obscured by the glare and my husband's huge melon.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Get Going Already! - My Green Move - Finale

We have made the move, and in retrospect those last few days before liftoff were a little tough. Actually, between saying goodbye to all of our loved friends and family and packing everything into a Tetris expert level space, we knew it was pretty rough going as it was happening!

Two days without sleep does strange things to a man

In addition to those goodbyes, were the numerous trips up and down the gauntlet of the three flights of stairs that stand between the ground floor and our old abode. However, our quest to move as little as possible extended into the wee hours of the morning, and I am happy to report that at final count, we only threw away three bags of garbage and one mangled and heavily used pressboard bureau from Ikea. Yes, their stuff is cheap, but after 3 moves and seven years of use there was just no more life left in this piece of disposable furniture.

All in all though, our casualties were low, and we moved all of our possessions in that 6x8x9 area of rented space on the moving truck (that's 432 cubic feet for anyone keeping track), and trust me, in order to make it work, we were forced to go vertical! But on a sweltering morning in the middle of July, we bid a fond farewell to our hilltop home, and headed West. Once we had creatively, reused, recycled, gifted, sold, and re-homed all of our unneeded possessions, we focused on an environmental move in terms of transportation and moving supplies.

Much of the trip looked like this...

...Except when it looked like this!

Here's how we made sure the final chapter of our move was as environmentally friendly as the first two:

Pack it in recycled boxes - Yes, we still had plenty of stuff left, and once we had filled all of our suitcases, various duffels from college sports, and anything else that resembled a box - bureau, laundry hamper, magazine baskets - the bottom line was that we still needed boxes - quite a few of them! Before heading over to your local packing store to BUY new boxes, ask around. We knew a couple of people, who had moved in recent months, and between them and the just used moving boxes we found at our school's dumpster, we found ourselves with a plethora of boxes!

While I'm not necessarily advocating dumpster diving, it certainly feels much better knowing that you have removed something from the disposal life cycle rather than adding to it.

Don't let the boxes die with you! - Once you get to your destination, don't forget to pass those boxes along for further reuse. Uhaul locations all have a free box exchange program where used boxes can be dropped off or picked up for reuse. Also try to reuse or give away packing peanuts and bubble tape as well. Many UPS locations and pack and ship stores will accept packing peanuts for reuse.

Pack it tightly - Use all possible space. Think of it as a jigsaw puzzle of belongings. Fewer boxes=less space on a moving truck.

Last-minute giveaway bonanza - You can bet that everyone who entered our apartment in that final week before the move was exuberantly showered with an array of last minute detritus: One of my friends was very excited about my collection of 2008 Sunday NY Times - (they will supply her rabbit with bedding for months to come), and several jars of pickles went to my in-laws (my father-in-law shares my pickle addiction), and despite our commitment to drink as much as possible in the weeks leading to our departure, our leftover liquor cabinet was a boon to thirsty friends.

Leave a housewarming gift - And no, I don't mean your old toilet brush, but if you are making a long trek, consider leaving behind some nice items (wine, olive oil) that won't travel well and are heavy, as well as some cleaning supplies, which are always useful when moving.

Let Your Boxes Ride the Rail - Although we didn't go this route, another environmentally and economically sound way to move belongings around the country is on Amtrack. Keep in mind that there are restrictions on box sizes and weights, but a couple of my friends have used this service for several moves and all highly recommend it.

Travel Light - However you choose to make your way cross country or across your city, be sure you are driving a fuel efficient vehicle. Ours looked so tiny that a friend at our first stop in Chicago asked why we didn't spend the extra hundred dollars for a more spacious car; she thought it was a rental!

It wasn't - we drove my Toyota Corolla across and kept track of the mileage, which varied depending on weather conditions, road (highway vs. secondary), and speed, but we averaged about 32-34 mpg with a pretty loaded car.

Toonces the Driving Cat says:
"Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your gas mileage:"

  • Travel as lightly as possible - less weight = better fuel efficiency
  • Remove any unnecessary racks, bikes, or anything else that might cause drag
  • Be sure your tires are properly inflated
  • Get a tune up before you go - a properly tuned engine will run much more efficiently
  • Air condition sparingly - enough to keep you from overheating, but not to chill the car (no sweaters or scarves in mid-July!)
For more fuel efficiency tips, check out Popular Mechanic's recent article, "10 Quick Fuel Efficiency Tips to Beat the Gas Crunch".

Friday, July 11, 2008

A Movement in a Few Parts - The Final Countdown

For those of you following our move (and more importantly our quest to avoid the landfill by creatively disposing of belongings we don't want to cart 3,000 miles...again), we are days away from the arrival of the moving truck.

It should be noted that due to both environmental and budgetary concerns, we have also tried to consume as little space as possible on a carbon emitting moving truck. After some research, I found a company that rents smaller spaces on large trailers, and so we were able to rent the smallest size - 6 x 8 x 9 - further emphasizing the need for "net reduction".

So we've had our moving sale, we've made a few trips to Goodwill, and we've swapped our books, but what about the X-Box player that doesn't work, or the CDs that have long ago been burned into our Itunes library? We don't have room for them in our precious square of truck space, and we still don't want to hit that dumpster.

There are two resources that I have been using constantly to find lists to aid me in my quest. The first is Earth 911's recycling locator. (In the interest of full disclosure, I am a contributor to Earth 911). The locator allows you to find places to recycle anything from fluorescent bulbs(don't throw these in the garbage - they contain a tiny bit of mercury and can be recycled at all Ikea stores among other places) to old phone books just by entering in your zip code. It is one of the most comprehensive databases out there.

The second resource that I often use is a blog by Coop America titled "21 Things You Didn't Know You Could Recycle" with links to recycling agencies for everything from CD jewel cases to appliances.

Here are a few tough-to-recycle items we recycled using the suggestions from the list (and a little creative thinking too!):

Beanie Babies - No idea where these came from. I know they are not mine, and my husband is also pleading ignorance. No matter, we plan to sell them on Ebay. Craig's List is also a good (and free!) place to post items for sale.

Broken X-Box, Stereo, and Speakers - Used Earth 911's recycling locator to find a place to recycle these. Some electronics stores like Best Buy have recycling "events", which are days when all broken eletronica will be accepted for recycling.

Technotrash - In our case, this included CD jewel cases, various chargers, music and VHS tapes, and an old cell phone (cell phones are incredibly easy to recycle as well as useful for someone else - Collective Good refurbishes cell phones and sells it for use in a developing country: 770/856-9021. Call to Protect gives cell phones to victims of domestic violence. For a fee of $30, Greendisk will send you a box that you can fill with up to 70 pounds of technotrash - totally worth it.

Televisions - We were able to sell both of our sets, but with the switch to digital slated for later this year, there will be a lot of people interested in upgrading their sets. Televisions can contain up to eight pounds of lead, and some municipalities have already banned them from the landfill. Start with Earth 911's recycling locator again, and look for a subsequent blog with complete details on what to do with your old television!

Old Athletic Sneakers - When you are a size 12 (yes, dainty me), these add up quickly when you are talking about cubic feet in the landfill! Luckily, Nike will take back all old athletic sneakers and will recycle them into Nike grind, used to make playground and other sports surfaces.

CDs - We found a CD store that bought used CDs and sold them - I guess this confirms that my husband has good taste in music. Those that were rejected were listed and swapped at Swapacd.com. You can do the same with DVDs at Swapadvd.com.

Books - Paperback Swap! For more on their services, check out the previous blog.

Lightly Used Litter Boxes and Cat Toys - These went to our local no-kill animal shelter - we cleaned them of course! Animal shelters are in constant need of supplies.

Batteries - Single Use and Rechargeable - We ordered a recycling kit from Battery Solutions.

If you still find that you have items to dispose of after perusing my blog, Earth 911, and Coop America, then post your goodies at freecycle.org or bring them to a local Goodwill.

Off to load (..tightly!) those 432 cubic feet with all of our worldly possessions.

Friday, July 4, 2008

A Movement in Several Parts - A Reading Intermission

Happy 4th! With our move now less than two weeks away, I have decided to tackle the bookshelves.

While we are trying to lighten our cross-country load as much as possible, I refuse to part with the majority of my books. I admit it; as a writer and avid reader, I am also a book hoarder. Perhaps there are support groups for people like me?

I did a little searching on the good old world wide web of information, and while I did not find a support group, I did find the next best thing - a place to swap the books I am willing to part with - And yes, there are a few, like From Myst to Riven (which has something to do with two video games, and which seems to be a treasure for someone since it has already been requested). By the way, that book totally belonged to my husband, which, while earning me points for taste, earns me no points for reducing my book pile.

From Nerd to Super Geek

Still, once I make the tough choices (do I really need three copies of Pride and Prejudice?) the process of swapping these books couldn't be easier. Here's how it works:
  • Join Paperback Swap and post the books that you would like to swap. Books on CD and hardcovers can be swapped too -I guess Paperback, Hardcover and Book on CD Swap is a bit of a mouthful.
  • You will be notified by email when other members have requested your books.
  • Print mailing labels from the link provided and send your books off using the media mail rate (it's the cheapest). You pay for postage on your end and another member pays postage when they mail a book to you.
  • As soon as your book is received by the requester, you receive one credit towards a book of your choice on the website.
  • Check out the millions of books listed (2,308,700) at the time of this writing, and request that they be sent to you. In our case, of course, we will wait to request any books until we reach Seattle!
  • If you don't see a book you want, add it to your "wish list," and you will be notified as soon as another member posts the book to swap.
  • For the price of postage (generally between $1.50-$3.00), you have millions of new books to choose from - of course, you can see why the book hoarder likes this service!

Friday, June 27, 2008

Our Green Relocation - Overture

Who can resist the allure of the parrot poster? It had him at hello.

Countdown! For those of your following this series, we are now officially less than 3 weeks away from our move from NY to Seattle. We have made it our mission to make this move as environmentally friendly as possible. Our first goal has been to reduce as many of our belongings as possible, and while the move is a good impetus for passing on unneeded possessions, the idea of responsible net reduction is one that almost anyone can embrace.

In addition to the usual avenues for reuse - Goodwill, local charities, etc., we have also made it a point to recycle even those hard to deal with items. With the clock ticking towards our departure date, it has become progressively more tempting to dispense with our outmoded possessions at the landfill, but we have been resisting the urge...

Before you deem your unwanted possessions "junk" see if they are treasures for anyone else. Here are a few tips for a successful sale:

  • Plan a date when you know people will be around (in our case, this meant the last day of school meetings since we live on a campus)
  • Advertise! Send out an email to your friends, those in your community, and/or consider placing an advertisement in a local paper.
  • Put up signs. Even if the yard sale has been well-advertised, a little nudge from a sign on the day of the sale, may be just what people need to check it out. And, of course, signs will catch the attention of those passing by.
  • Display everything in an attractive and neat manner. You are less likely to buy items in a store when everything is in a heap - the same goes for a yard sale.
  • Be prepared to haggle...but not too much. Of course, there are always those looking for a deal - hold your ground with prices only if something has significant value. Otherwise, the point of a sale like this is to rid yourself of excess possessions, so let them go!

Our moving sale was hugely successful - obviously it doesn't hurt to have a feline sales(person?)!
Slacking again? Back to work!

We sold about 2/3 of our "inventory" and all of our big ticket furniture items.

Net reduction strikes again, and with three weeks to go before the move, we continue to avoid relegating anything to the landfill.

To see if our quest to avoid the dumpster is successful, stay tuned for the next installment...

In the meantime, isn't it a beautiful weekend for a yard sale?