Winter's Gift

Winter's greatest gift in my book is the time for reflection. This week Mother Nature layered the cool breath of winter over much of the country and granted me that gift. For two days I did not leave my home. I stayed in my pajamas, changing only to go outside briefly and engage in the childlike joy of outdoor play with my boys.I read many books. I thought long and hard. I prayed over what to do in many areas of my life, including Green Gracious. In my prayer I asked for the clarity to be a blessing and be blessed. What I was given in answer is that there is still a place for those of us who want to make a difference, but perhaps that space is not best honored by link parties. Perhaps there are those of us who are ready to embrace and enjoy a simpler lifestyle, but are also ready for a deeper thought and conversation on what that means sometimes.If I am honest with myself, that is what my heart has been calling out for. A conversation and a community willing to explore a new frontier where simple living meets deep thought. Because living simply does not mean giving up the search for something greater, quite the opposite, I believe. Living simply, means you are willing to pare down life's chaos in order to hear the whisper of the divine; in nature, in the beauty of glass jars of preserves lining pantry walls, in each other.

I am leaning into this space for myself, but if you have been yearning for such a place, I hope you will join me in creating it here.

Going Philosophical On You

I have seen/heard a couple of things lately that have gotten me thinking. The first was about a study done a Michigan State University professor listing 17 steps every person (or family) can take to help make the environment a better place. (Blog post to come on this soon) I heard an interview with him in which he was explaining what a difference it could make in carbon emissions if everyone just did a couple of these things.

The second thing that caught my eye this week was an article in Natural Home Magazine (Yes, I got a subscription! Thanks mom!). The article featured, Annie Leonard, "Story of Stuff" creator, and her views on overconsumption and simplicity. In the article, she says, "Even if we could convince every single person to always choose the most environmentally responsible option-it isn't enough. We must get involved with organizations engaging for broader systematic change."

So these are two mixed messages right? On one hand, we can make such a difference if we take even simple steps and on the other, even all the steps done by everyone won't be enough. This is something I struggle with, because here at Green Gracious I give you really simple ways to make changes that will undoubtedly help the environment. The question is just, how much? When I read comments like Annie Leonard's, I'll admit, I wonder if it's even worth it to keep trying to get people to make even the littlest changes-to take any of the 17 steps.

And then I get a grip and remind myself of a few things:

1. The changes you can make to help the environment, also help you. Eliminating toxic products from our lives will save the Earth and us. Living more simply will save the Earth and your wallet. Eating less animals more veggies from more local sources will make you and the planet healthier.

2. It is these small changes in people that eventually add up to more drastic changes. A decade ago, almost no one knew the term climate change. Now there isn't a day that goes by that most people don't hear it. And people making changes in their homes will lead to them making changes in policy, systems, and expectations for society.

3. "Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed citizens to change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

In 2007, "The Story of Stuff" went viral and was seen by over 6.5 million people. Next year Annie Leonard releases her book based on the same concept. Despite her comments, she hasn't given up. And I won't either.

Mama, What Is A Landfill?

Did you ever watch the show "Kid's Say the Darndest Things?" You know the one with Bill Cosby as the host? This used to be my favorite show. My husband will tell you that while other college students were out drinking their weight in rum, I was in my dorm room tuning in and laughing my head off to this show. Because it's true, kids are hilarious and brilliant.

I was reminded of it this morning when, as I was emptying our garbage cans, Tucker asked:

"Mom, where does the garbage go?"

"To a landfill honey."

"What's a landfill?"

"It's a place where they dump all the garbage from everyone in the area."

"And then what do they do with it?"

"Ummm, nothing. It just sits there."

"For how long?"

"Forever pretty much."

"Yeah, but what do they do with it?"

"Sweetie, they don't do anything, it just sits there and then when there is enough they cover it up and grow grass on it."

"And can I roll down the grass?"

"No, not that grass. There is yucky stuff under it."

"Yucky stuff like vegetables?"

"No, worse then vegetables."

His wisdom amazes me once again. I am an eco-warrior every day and yet I seldom take the time to stop and think about how ridiculous the concept of a landfill is. Seriously-the trash just sits there. It doesn't DO anything. This idea is totally unfathomable to a four-year old! Maybe it should be to us grown-ups as well.

Getting Healthy Is Green

Since I started out the week on healthy home remedies, I decided to keep the health kick, well, kickin'.  Today I want to talk about why taking care of yourself is a green thing to do.  The truth is, taking care of yourself and taking care of our environment go hand in hand.  

I have mentioned before that using organic products without toxic chemicals and synthetic ingredients not only keeps those things out of the planet, but also out of your bodies. We have long heard that you are what you eat (more on that in a minute) but with your skin being one big sponge, you are also what you put on (and therefore in) your body.  We have to start facing the fact that some of our collective health issues may be arising from some of this stuff.

Which brings me to...you are what you eat.  This is why it is important to choose locally grown and organic options whenever possible.  I won't jump on the vegetarian/vegan soap box right now, but it's something to educate yourself on when you have time.  When you treat yourself well, you treat Mama E well.  Not only because you are consciously consuming that which is good, but because...

...you consume less medicine.  Less medicine = less chemicals.

...you spend less time in the hospital.  Most hospitals are some of the least green places possible and use tons of energy.

...you can stay active which means walking/biking more and driving less.

...working up a sweat helps to release toxins from your body

...carrying around less weight means less work for your car, plane, train, etc...

...if you are a parent you are raising a whole new generation of children of who appreciate the balance between the health of humans and the health of the rest of the planet.

We are all tied together.  Making yourself healthier, makes all of us healthier.  What are some ways you have found that being healthy helps you make less of an impact?

Tune in later this week for some tips on getting that health through home excercise.

Sustainability in a Slurpee Straw

I love Slurpees.  If you are unfamiliar with them, these are the joyful frozen slushy drink found in giant sizes (they offer small sizes, but why?) at 7-Eleven stores.  I know they are bad for me and the environment, but they are a vice I almost always indulge in when I visit the east side of Michigan (7-Elevens are few and far over here on the west side). 

Photo credit

This time I was greeted with not only the sweet frozen bliss of my slurpee, but also a small sign of sustainability in the world of convenience.  7-Eleven now offers aluminum straws to reuse with your slurpee purchases.   I am sure when they created these, they weren't necessarily thinking about the Earth aspect.  And most people purchasing them probably don't consider it either.  But that doesn't change the fact that every time the straw is purchased and reused, it saves another plastic straw from being made and disposed of.

My bright green aluminum slurpee straw now sits in my diaper bag waiting to be pulled out at the movie theater, gas station, and random restaurant stops.  It's my simple, 99 cent step towards slightly less plastic consumption.  

Do you have a reusable straw?  Have you thought about getting one?  Will you now?

Old is New Again

I know that I have reflected here on the glory of bringing back something from the past for use in the present.  This joy presented itself again in a surprise way this weekend when we visited a family friend.  Upon arriving at their house, Tucker promptly asked his default question, "Where are your toys?"  I tried explaining to Tucker that they may not have toys around (given that the youngest child is 23) to no avail.  Lucky for all of us that the oldest kid had kept all of his favorite toys, including the very first toy he ever picked out-a spiky two-headed dinosaur-and one of my brother's old toy's that was given to Tucker.

This abandoned Wolverine toy (which Tucker quickly named "Harry") was in perfect condition and instantly became a favorite.  A stamp on Harry tells us that he was made in 1991, making him 18 years old.  But this teenage toy brought as much joy to my son's face as if we had purchased it especially for him that day, maybe more because it was such a surprise.  

By keeping his toys, this man had kept trash out of the landfill, memories fresh in our minds, and brought renewed joy to yet another little boy.  Now I am not saying that you should keep every little thing.  I am a clutter buster and realize that it isn't practical to hang onto everything.  But perhaps stories like this will help us think twice before we buy the "latest and greatest" toy.  Will it hold up for 18 years?  Is it something we would want to give our children?  Could generations derive joy from it?  Maybe these few questions can help us decrease consumerism and waste while preserving memories and the Earth.

A better bandage

My poor little toes are screaming in pain.  I unintentionally tortured them by making a poor shoe choice for work the other night.  My tiny toes now sport matching blisters worn raw...appealing image, I know. 

I tell you all of this because as I broke out the bandages today to put those toes on the road to healing, I thought of all of you.  The bandages I placed on my tootsies today are Ecoguard Bandages.  These particular bandages are latex free, use no animal testing, and use something called Natural Action Wave to eliminate over 85% of conventional production waste. I found them at Whole Foods and I marvel at the fact that there are even bandages making the planet better.  A tiny reminder that you can help make a difference with every purchase.   

Has anyone tried a form of eco-bandage?  What is a super small eco-change or purchase you were able to make?

DVD Drink Menu

On Friday night my girlfriends and I went to an art hop and local restaurant called The Union for Mom's Night Out.  The whole evening was a blast, but one of the highlights for me was definitely the restaurants unique drink menu.  The folks at The Union reuse DVD cases to display the drink menu.  Just imagine the money and resources they probably saved using their imaginations this way.  I don't know about anyone else, but drinks definitely look better to me displayed in this manner!

Do you have any cool stories about green-spotting at restaurants?  Any ingenious ideas the restaurant business should borrow?

Discount Distress

Today I was listening to NPR (a daily vice of mine) and I heard an interview with Ellen Ruppel Shell, author of the new book "Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture."  I was fascinated with what she had to say about what the quest for low prices is doing to our society.  

There wasn't a lot of talk in the interview on the environment, but she did mention that the discount culture plays a negative role there as well.  There was a caller who brought up second-hand stores, which the author highly praised for the quality of things made in the past, as opposed to crank-em-out disposable products today.

That crank-em-out culture is definitely taking a toll on our Earth and the only way to end it is to educate ourselves and our children.  This book seems like a first step in doing that and I look forward to reading it.

Has anyone else read it?  Anything similar?  Any thoughts on the discount culture?  It's effects on the environment?

Coming back!

I want to thank all of you for your kind words and honest opinions.  It is with this encouragement that I will continue to update Green Gracious as often as I can!

We just returned home from a weekend in Lake City, Michigan (the picture above is from a 365 acre Christmas Tree farm a family friend owns there) and are busy unpacking and getting back to business.  Stay tuned and I hope to have a new tip or two posted soon.

Thanks again!

Opinions needed

Ok, I need your opinions.  So if you read Green Gracious and have been waiting in the woodwork to comment, or not, now's the time!  

Family circumstances have changed since I began Green Gracious and publishing daily is difficult at best.  So here is my question, would you rather have:

a. Green Gracious published when possible

b. Green Gracious not published at all, there are plenty of other places to get green tips.

c. some other suggestion?

What do you think?

Mama Bite

There is a great daily green tip website called Ideal Bite.  I have followed Ideal Bite for a long time and I am happy to tell you that you can now register for Mama Bite for green tips on all things mama and children.  Better yet, you can register to win a free trip to Disney World, and learn what Disney is doing to go green.  

Read Greener

If you are like me and Summer conjures up images of lying on the beach with a book in your hands, you may be looking for ways to read greener this summer.  After all, millions of books are printed every year, often using virgin timber for their pages and covers.  Here are a few ways to help the planet while enjoying a great book.

The biggest deal on the green reading front is the Kindle.  This is the electronic machine on which you can download and read books.  And the Kindle DX is now available as well.

But you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to go green.  If you don't have the money, don't like the idea of creating more electronic waste, or, like me, can't quite get the satisfaction of reading a story without the smell and feel of a real life book, there are other options.  

• Check out your local library.  Chances are you can borrow books (and CDs and DVDs) for free.  Even our tiny library has a great selection.  I love that my kids know all the librarians by name and think the library is one of the most fun places to visit.  Our library also has an annual book sale of donated used books and on the last day I can get a bagful for $2, and the money goes towards this great cause.
  
• Buy used.  There are lots of places to find used books.  Try Craigslist, garage sales, eBay, or my favorite; half.com.  Chances are you can find exactly the book you want, in like-new condition, for less then half the price of new.
  
• Finally, if you have to buy new, look for books printed on recycled paper, preferably with a water or soy-based ink. 
  
• And once you are done with your book, pass it on.  You can sell it via one of the ways listed above or pass it onto a friend.

What are you favorite ways to read green?  What great books are you reading/planning to read this summer?

Does It Really Make It Easier?

Have you ever taken a minute to think about how many products are available that are supposed to make things easier?  Have you ever thought about how many of them actually do?  How many of us have bought something that is supposed to save us time, do the work for us, or be the miracle cure?  How often does it really work out that way?

This rant came about because this lovely tool I bought to help me slice apples for the boys broke a month after I bought it.  Not I have some non-recyclable trash, a cut on my thumb, and a new found appreciation for the old way of doing things.  Don't get me wrong, I am not stuck in the stone ages and I think that there are many innovations taking place right now that are good for the Earth.  I just think all of us need to take a good second look at things before we buy them and ask ourselves if it really is what it claims to be or if the tried and true way got that way for a reason.  What do you think?

Good Will

This morning I am off upholding a monthly habit that saves green in two ways.  I am at the Goodwill for their monthly 1/2 off sale.   This means that I get almost every clothing item for $2 or less, saving green in my wallet and the planet at the same time.  Plus it makes me feel a little better better that I only spent $2 on a shirt when the kids get a stain on it about 3.6 seconds after I put it on, or they grow out of something before they can even get a chance to wear it.

Goodwill is super Mama E friendly because it A. Saves items from the landfill and B. Keeps new items from needing to be produced.  So go see what your Goodwill (or other neighborhood second hand store) has to offer this weekend and fill me in on all the deals.

Have compost, will travel

I mentioned to y'all last week that I have started working at the golf course.  And the amount of waste that takes place there is absolutely astounding.  So I am trying to do my part to cut back.  One of the ways I have done that is to encourage my fellow staff members to recycle/compost via me.  So every night I take in this reused kitty litter container and we put everything recyclable/compostable in there.  Every morning after I work, I separate it at home and put everything in the correct place.

It takes a little extra work on my part, but it's totally worth it to know that every night I work, I save at least that much from going to the landfill and put it to good use.   Plus, my compost pile is growing and getting more diverse. 

Is this something you could implement somewhere?  Where you work?  Your kid's school?  Any other ideas?

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!  I am sleeping in, resting lots, enjoying my family, flowers and bird song.  I hope if you are a mother you are too.  If you aren't I hope you are helping a mother to do something similar.  Have a great one!

Celebrating with Mother (Nature)

Earlier this week I talked about ways to celebrate adult birthdays in a less waste, less consumerism kind of way.  I would like to expand on that idea today in thinking ahead to Mother's Day and encourage a conversation on how to celebrate one of the most (if not the most) important women in your life and celebrate and support Mother Nature at the same time.

Many of the ideas from the earlier blog apply here.  Sometimes it just takes rethinking how you celebrate and what you consider a gift.  We gave my mom tickets to a dinner theater event.  Something that she could go to, enjoy, celebrate, and not necessarily leave a consumers footprint with.  Here are some other ideas:

• Make her gift, or buy handmade.  We all know that some of the most precious gifts we have received have been those that have been made with care by our loved ones.  If you don't feel crafty or inspired enough to make it yourself, buy something made with care and support small artisans.  Check out Etsy for more info.
  
• Donate to a charity on her behalf.  Don't know what to get the mom who has everything?  How about the gift of helping others.
  
• In a little more literal interpretation of helping/giving, what about giving your mom a tree or plant to cherish for years to come.
  
• And similarly you could gift her with a bird feeder, bird house, bat house, or bee hive to help nature thrive.
  
• Do something of service for her.   Mow her yard, weed her garden, clean her house; any woman can tell you these are the greatest gifts.

What do you plan on doing for Mom?  What do you wish were being done for you?  

Happy Birthday Friends!

Aren't birthdays fun?!?  I love the idea of really celebrating a person you care about and when they came into the world.  Today I get to celebrate that with my friend, and fellow reader, Debbie.  And Debbie's birthday got me to thinking about more earth-friendly ways we can celebrate with those (adults) we care about.  Here are some of the things I try to do to make birthday celebrations a happy experience for the birthday person and the Earth!

• Do something instead of buying something!  On my friend's birthdays we often treat her to a movie she wants to see.  Remember that practicing an actual activity allows you to spend time together and saves on consumerism.  If you get a chance to do something outside together, even better!
  
• If you do exchange gifts, look for handmade or vintage items.  There is nothing better then getting a unique item, something that someone has cared for and created with their own hands, or something with a beautiful story behind it.
  
• When you wrap the gift, reuse old bags, boxes, and tissue paper.  I save all of mine from gifts I am given and reuse them for gifts for others.  
  
• Put out the good china.  It will make you feel special and save the paper products.

There are so many great green ways to celebrate!  What are some of your favorites? 

Happy Earth Day 2009!

Photo credit

In case you hadn't heard, it's Earth Day today!  You probably know this already as everyone is trying to catch in on the Earth Day glory and the going green fad.  Everywhere you look someone is advertising a way to go green.  Just remember that this Earth day, all Mama E really needs is us to cherish her more and consume less.  And that's something that we try to do here on Green Gracious every day.  So I am not going to make a big hooplah, but rather ask you to take a small challenge with me. 

The challenge is called Nine in 2009.  It involves finding nine new things you can do to help the planet in a low consumerism kind of way this year.  You can replace your toxic things with friendlier solutions, change your habits, or grow some new ones.  So whether you look through Green Gracious to find nine new things to do, or already have some you have done or are trying, will join us in trying for Nine in 2009?  

What have you already done?  What do you plan on doing?