We welcome posts from guest ‘green divas’ and this one is from Amy Evers in Austin, TX. She is adorable, honest and has a great sense of humor – she is a perfect geen diva!
 

Twenty plus years ago I moved to Austin Texas.  Almost immediately I gave up my New Jersey hair spray and bought myself a pair of Birkenstocks.  I worked at a small coffee shop and rode my bicycle to work.  I was a supporter of the hippie feel, and laid back lifestyle.

Then arrived my first child, and along with her a minivan and a multitude of equipment.  Still wore the Birkenstocks, but my lifestyle changed.

Forgive me Mother Earth for I have sinned.  I have over the years been guilty of using paper towels, paper plates, and store bought diapers.

The convenience has been too tempting for me to resist.

Now that I am at the age where all of my children are out of diapers and I am not yet in them, I have become a more aware of what is going on outside of my own little universe.

I remember a commercial back in the 1970’s that showed a Native American by the side of a littered highway, he looked on in disgust as the collective “we” have soiled his land.  A small tear falls from his eye.

That campaign was so successful that recently when my sixteen-year-old daughter was driving and the car in front of her threw a plastic bag out of their window she was appalled. She honked her horn, and when the offenders did not react, my daughter did.  She pulled over, got out of the car and picked up the trash herself.

So how come everything else about going green seems so difficult?

I want to help the earth be around for a few more millennia.  Barring the Aztecs are wrong, and no immediate asteroid is on its way for a visit.

I began doing some research.  With the help of a friend and my fiscally responsible brother we, as a family have made some changes.

I have replaced most light bulbs in the house.  We no longer buy paper towels.  And most recently we have become champions of unplugging.  Anything that holds a charge gets completely unplugged when not in use. 

I try to buy organic fruit, but always balk at the price.

My neighbors have compost, and I have looked into making one myself, but does that truly make a difference? 

I am fortunate that I live in a city where we have curbside recycling. Each house was given a very large bright blue bin with wheels (were they recycled themselves?).  This bin hold two weeks worth of paper, plastic, glass, cans, anything with the numbers one through eight on it inside the little triangle.  No sorting, no washing.  Throw it in, and voila!  Be a good citizen.

There are certain “green” things I absolutely will not do.  I will not now, or hopefully ever use an item called a Diva Cup for my monthly flow.  I am nowhere near that evolved.

It is a fact that my thumb is black.  I can’t grow anything.  I have tried.  I am not much of a cook to begin with, planting my own garden would be pointless.  I have no more idea what to do with rosemary than admire the smell.

I shop at thrift stores, out of necessity rather than consciousness.

When Al Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient Truth, came out I watched it waiting with anticipation to see what changes I can make at home.  I was saddened with each new scene of Big Al getting on his private jet.  At least I waste fuel in economy.

More disappointing was the only suggestions made were during the credits.

I am taking baby step, starting with Birkenstocks, and maybe someday ending with making my own soup stock.

So Meg calls me one day and says, “Jen I got this amazing crate of fresh fruit to try from The FruitGuys.”  “There’s so much here – more than my family can eat.  I’m going to drop off a  box for you.”

Well, I’ve never seen such a beautiful array of fresh fruit – kiwis, avocados, mangoes, blood oranges, tangerines,bananas, pears and apples.  Each piece was picture perfect, blemish free and aromatic!

Who are The FruitGuys?  The FruitGuys, a green and sustainability-focused company, delivers farm-fresh, organic and conventional fruit to offices and homes across the country. The FruitGuys works very closely with local farmers to help them succeed and employ green practices. During peak season 70-90% of the fruit mixes offered are locally grown within the regions they serve (East Coast, Midwest, West Coast) and go from the farm to home or office within 3-4 days.

Videos of select farmers The FruitGuys works with can be seen here.  Also, all fruit is packed in earth friendly crates, constructed with recycled cardboard and printed with soy based inks.

Here in the Northeast it’s a temperate climate.  It is recommended for optimal health to eat mainly cooked fruit in the colder months.  So, I decided to make a pear and apple crisp. It was a winter weekend and we all were craving something warm and sweet.  Topped it with some vanilla soy ice cream and boy was it yummy!  Here is the recipe:

Pear & Apple Crisp

6 – 8 cups pears and apples sliced (I leave the peel on – could be 6 or 7 pieces of fruit)
2-3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
dash of each allspice, nutmeg and ground cloves
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
5 TBSP melted butter
1/4 tsp sea salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Combine sliced fruit in 9-inch square pan. Sprinkle with sugar. Mix together remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Sprinkle over top of fruit and pat into place. Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes or until top is crisp and light brown and fruit is bubbling. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature.

A couple of good reasons to switch to an eco-friendly, green cleaning service. Conventional cleaning practices utilize . . .

• 8 billion pounds of chemicals that are hazardous to your health and to the environment
• 4.5 billion pounds of janitorial paper products, consuming tens of millions of trees
• 1 billion pounds of tools and equipment, filling 40,000 garbage trucks headed to landfills

Yikes! These statistics are found on the website of EcoMaids, a greener professional cleaning service company. EcoMaids offers residential and commercial cleaning services, but is committed to using healthier cleaning products and more eco-friendly practices in general.

Often, this is one of the first things people do when beginning a more ‘green’ lifestyle. Using biodegradable, environmentally friendly and non-toxic cleaners is a great way to reduce dangerous and unhealthy chemicals in our lives and in our environment. EcoMaids uses the Options for Life non-toxic cleaning product line and offers the products to their customers as well.

In addition to offering a full-line of standard cleaning services, EcoMaids also offers Truly-Green Wash & Fold Laundry service . . . It all appeals to me!

EcoMaids is a relatively new cleaning service franchise with operations in several States (see EcoMaids locations here). Those of us fortunate enough to live in northern New Jersey, have access to the first EcoMaids based in Essex County.

The owner is willing to travel outside Essex . . . I’m going to give them a try!

eat. blog. be merry!
gd meg

The Green Divas will have Lisa Fahay and Peter Troast back on the air tonight to talk about the value of monitoring our energy usage and how easy it now is to do.

We first met Peter and Lisa about a year ago just after they shared their family’s energy consumption through the Internet for a week (I think it was a week). They live with their kids (and their Jack Russell Terrier) in Maine, and run a wonderfully informative website – EnergyCircle.com – and business that offers detailed, EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND advice on creating home energy efficiency. They also provide the tools to do the job from the products to great vidoes on installation and energy efficiency how-to’s.

Green Dude Scott and of course, GD (silent) Jessie will be in the house and as always we’ll have some fun music so tune in and turn on a friend!

Thursday, January 28, 2010
7 – 8pm EST
HomeGrownRadioNJ.org

Here in the Northeast, it has been cold and dry for many weeks now.  This can create problems for the sinuses.     I find that the key is keeping them moist and free of dust and irritants.

My 2.5-year-old, Benjamin,  and I have both been suffering with sniffles and irritated noses for the past week or so.  Here’s what I do to make him more comfortable:

• Keep the humidifier running in his room overnight.
• Make a massage oil from sweet almond oil (1 oz.) with a drop or two of Thyme essential oil.  I rub this on his chest, back, a bit under his nose and a drop behind each ear morning and night.
• A daily bath with a drop of Thyme or Eucalyptus essential oil in it.
• Or, make the bathroom steamy by running the hot shower for a few minutes, then sit and play in the bathroom for 15 or 20 minutes.
• Try to avoid mucous-producing foods like dairy and wheat and sugar.
• Get 15-20 minutes of fresh outside air when it’s not below 20 degrees or too windy (which we’ve had a lot of this year).

Here’s what I do for myself:

• Clean sinuses with saline water at least twice daily using the Neti Pot. This can be a little awkward at first, but once mastered very effective.
• Use Xlear, xylitol nasal spray.
• Drink lemon tea – take half a lemon, squeeze juice into mug and drop whole piece of lemon in to the mug, cover with boiling water and let steep 5 minutes, add a teaspoon of good local, raw honey.
• Drink a blended herbal tea or infusion of Nettle, Rose Hips and Mullein.
• Keep a pot of water simmering on the stove (sometimes with a cinnamon stick and a few cloves) to moisten the air.
• Sleep propped up on pillow to avoid post-nasal-drip coughing.

Most health food stores will carry the Neti Pot, sweet almond oil and the essential oils mentioned above.  All can be found online of course.  My favorite resource for herbs and oils is Mountain Rose Herbs.

Happy New Year and happy breathing.  GD Jen

I drink two fluids – water and tea, which is mostly water. We all need water and safe, healthy, convenient water doesn’t come in a plastic bottle.

According to EndBottledWater.com, our landfills are overflowing with over 26 billion plastic bottles from water every year.  Aside from the negative effects of BPA that could come from ingesting water from plastic bottles, the manufacturing and disposal of these containers are stressful on our environment and natural resources.

I would love to have a great whole-house system, but we’re not there yet. I have a Brita filter container for the fridge and frequently refill my stainless steel containers, but recently, I’ve had the opportunity to review a few amazing personal water purification systems. See what I’ve discovered . . .

Restore Clear Water System
This counter-top, pitcher system uses a double filtration method.  Using a UV Clean Technology in addition to a more traditional charcoal filter, this clever pitcher removes bacteria, viruses and microbial cysts (ick) all while reducing heavy metals, chlorine (taste and odor), and some industrial and agricultural pollutants. For about $100, it is a reasonable investment that is easy to use (once you get used to the process).

Clean Water on the Road . . .

Wellness H2O
A personal, reusable water bottle AND filter system. This bottle is made of BPA-free plastic and has a 22 oz. capacity. The filter is good for one year or 150 gallons.  They are on a serious campaign to eliminate the need for water bottles and claim one bottles replaces 1100 plastic water bottles – that’s a lot of plastic and about $1000. Not bad for a $29 investment.

Ech20 by EcoUsable
Taking stainless steel water bottles to the next level, these bottles come with their own amazing filter! The BPA-free filter insert removes 99.9% of pollutants, including biological (ick again). The Ionic-Adsorption Micro-Filtration System allows you to refill with confidence almost anywhere. The filter is good for one year or 100 gallons. A great deal for $39.

AquaSafe Straw
This super straw removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria including pseudomonas, escherichia coli, staphylococcus, and fecal coliforms, plus parasitic contamination by cryptosporidium, and giardia – YIKES! It is designed for travel and is promoted for water safety in the event of disaster. Chemical-free, this slightly large straw seems worth owning at $44.95.

The Wellness Wand 
Not a straw, but a filter of sorts only slightly bigger than an average pen, this magic water wand removes chlorine and other harmful free radicals from tap water. A great device to keep in your pocket or purse for restaurant dining. It really does improve the nasty taste of some chlorinated water. A good stocking stuffer @ $30.

Remember, drink responsibly.

eat. blog. be merry!
gd meg

Over the past few years many new products have emerged touting antibacterial and antimicrobial  properties – liquid hand soaps, bar soaps, disposable wipes, laundry detergents, even floor cleaners!

In light of the recent concerns about H1N1 flu and other flus and viruses of the season, more and more people (including myself) have become almost fanatical about hand washing. This is not a bad thing, but  I am skeptical and concerned about commercial antibacterial soaps created with chemicals that have been proven to be harmful to our health.  Is killing the bacteria helping anybody?  The reality is that bacteria is necessary for proper health. I feed my body every day with probiotics – good bacteria to help my digestive system stay healthy. So, is eliminating bacteria necessary or even possible? And what are they doing to our water supply! The fact is that we could be even more susceptible to illness by using these soaps.

For myself and my family I choose to use hand soaps that contain ingredients with  natural antiseptic properties – like Tea Tree oil or Thyme.  My favorite at the moment is from Jason called Tea Tree Melaleuca. Others that I plan to try try this season include sanitizers from CleanWell, which utilizes the antiseptic properties of the herb Thyme and staSAFE Hand Sanitizer which uses a unique silver-zinc complex to coat the hands providing ongoing protection.  These are other examples of all-natural, biodegradable, non-alcohol and non-toxic (do not contain benzalkonium chloride or Triclosan) soaps that kill germs and do not harm you or the environment.  Check them out! — In peace and good health – Green Diva Jen

We had a chance to put together a Way Basics shelf recently. It really was as easy as they represented – at least it was for Woody the wonder dog and my two daughters Mary and Jessie.

I read about Way Basics and was intrigued. I needed some simple book shelves and figured I’d just go to a garage sale and find something, but it just hadn’t happened yet – didn’t realize how prized these things were! So, I was thrilled when they sent me a sample to play with.

Way Basics use their own zBoard, which is made from post-consumer recycled paper into extremely light yet strong boards. They’re ‘keep it simple’ philosophy includes basic designs and colors all sustainably sourced with low-impact materials. I was drawn to the whole ‘no tools’ message . . . and so was Wayne. You can buy pre-designed packages or get creative in a number of ways.

With a cradle-to-grave thoughtfulness, these versatile cubes are also recyclable, so when their time comes, they go back into the cycle of sustainable life. Of course, I’m no where near ready to put mine in the recycling bin!

For all I can tell, this company really lives and works the values they represent, being members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, they have taken many steps to ensure a low-impact office as well as sustainable manufacturing practices. And if that isn’t good enough, they also work to give back by offering contributions to folks who may have serious needs for furniture, such as natural disaster victims or women and children rebuilding their lives from domestic violence. Read more about this ‘way’ great company and their concepts.

Prices are very reasonable starting with the basic cube @ $20. But they have an awesome sale going on so visit waybasics.com to get your sustainable shelving now! I’m going to purchase more to go with my lonely little cube.

eat. blog. be merry!
gd meg

In sleep we are all equal - Spanish Proverb

On this week’s show we’ll be talking to Walter Bader, author of Toxic Bedrooms, Your Guide to a Safe Night’s Sleep. Mr. Bader is also the founder of OMI (Organic Mattresses Inc.). He takes chemical-free sleep very seriously, and if you read his book, you will too.

I’ve had the true pleasure of sleeping on one of OMI’s organic eco-wool wrapped, natural shredded rubber pillows for about a month now. It’s a little heavier than my other pillows to be sure, but it is extremely comfortable. The shredded rubber is made from the most eco-friendly natural rubber, which apparently is not always the case when the term ‘natural’ rubber is used.

I’ve learned almost more than I want to know about the hazards lurking in my bedroom from seemingly innocuous things like my nice, expensive mattress! Mr. Bader’s book is full of wonderful sleep-related quotes as well as resources on the types of toxins in everyday bedding and other elements of a bedroom that we normally don’t think too carefully about.

There are several studies carefully sited and interpreted, such as ‘Mattress Emissions Studies’ on page 58. Who knew our mattresses were emitting potentially harmful VOCs!?!?

Please join us tonight to learn about solutions for a healthier more natural sleeping environment.

Thursday, May 21, 2009
7 – 8pm EST
HomeGrownRadioNJ.org

You can join in by calling us at the studio during the show 908.362.6622, IMing us during the show (IM information is on HomeGrownRadioNJ’s homepage in top left corner) or leave us a comment here.