Turn ... Turn ... Turn ... A New Season

This is a big transitional time for me -- it's the last day of a job I loved, and in a few weeks I'm beginning a job I'm excited to begin loving as well. Of course, these times in life always inspire self-reflection, and so I've been considering the past, present and future. I'm lucky to work in a field where I get to make a difference for kids and make small in-roads to making our country better.

Of course, this much self-reflection leads one to consider all aspects of one's life, and so I've also been thinking about the big changes that have come about due to this blog. Eight months ago I began this project with the idea that I could make small, "light" green changes to reduce my environmental impact, and to write about it in this space. I began by trying to recycle more, bring my reusable bags to the store (I still have trouble with that), and try out some greener cleaning methods.

Those small steps began to snowball, however. What I've found, as I hinted in this post, is that one can't stay light green for very long. As I learned more about my impact on the earth, the changes in my life began to get bigger, and my green began to get darker. I've realized that anyone can do these things too - though I know many people who like to maintain a state of willful ignorance when it comes to what changes they can make. I think that by making one small, deliberate change after another, folks may find that after a few months their lives have changed from light to darker green as well.

Here's how mine has:

1) I've reduced my consumption, by celebrating "No-Buy Months" every third month (though I was sort of a failure in July.

2) I've renewed my commitment to recycling in my home. I now recycle more than I throw away.

3) I've cut back on using paper towels and napkins.

4) I've transitioned to using vinegar and baking soda for much of my cleaning.

5) I've radically changed the way I eat at home, cutting back on processed foods and buying products that contain only recognizable foods in the ingredients list.

6) I've discovered the joy of writing for friends and strangers, who give me great ideas in the comments section.

This is not to congratulate myself, but to look at where I've been and think about what might be next ... hmm ... what green adventures await?

Service Review: Great Wolf Lodge, Grapevine, TX

Due to a travel snafu (in the truest sense of that word), my colleagues and I recently ended up staying at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, TX. This resort contains an indoor waterpark and is relentlessly family-friendly, more like a theme park with beds than a hotel. In fact, the hallways in the residential areas were the scene for a hotel-wide scavenger hunt, in which kids pointed wands (for which they had to pay) at various animatronic wilderness creatures.

While I wasn't exactly thrilled to be there, I thought I'd make the best of it, even after I realized that my still-painful sprained hand would probably keep me off the waterslides. Therefore, I was pretty psyched to see that the Great Wolf was Green Seal certified - Silver, and had a green promotion called Project Green Wolf.

As far as I could tell, being a "green" hotel consisted of many of the same green features that are becoming standard in hotels these days: recycle bins were prevalent, compostable cups were provided for coffee, and signs suggested that you re-use towels. The to-go bags in the restaurant said "Please Reuse!" - but they still used styrofoam to-go containers. All-in-all, it seemed like fairly typical stuff, although their website says that they do re-circulate much of their water, and use high-efficiency light bulbs and appliances.

Some kid ran in front of the shot -- because some kid was always running in front of you at this place.

The longer I stayed there, however, I realized that no matter what sorts of conservation measures the resort takes, their very essence is anti-green (What's the opposite of green? On the color wheel it's red. Well, Great Wolf Lodge is red in its heart). Throughout the entire place, animatronic animals were singing and smiling at you. Fake trees provided indoor shade ...

... and their trunks bore flat-screen televisions advertising features of the resort. If anything says "Screw the woods," it's an indoor tree that grows televisions. I began to feel insulted that the designers of this place seemed to think they could fool you into thinking you were actually caring about the environment when you were doing everything possible to get away from the real thing.

To add to the careless re-creation of the American Northwest as a family attraction, an animatronic Indian princess told bedtime stories every evening, perpetuating kids' images of American natives as savages who talk to animals. As an educator who has spent a great deal of time trying to disabuse my students of their stereotypes of native culture, the idea of a bunch of (mostly white) kids sitting down in front of this display turned my stomach. And I like tasteless talking robots.

The woods are messy, dark, mysterious. They can be dangerous, ferocious, tranquil, or generous. One moment they may be dappled with sunlight and the next they might be sucking you into a swamp or confusing you with a false trail through the trees. But the things they will never be? They will never be plastic. They will never be filled with smiling wolves and owls. They will never be indoors.

Unless we teach our kids that places like the Great Wolf Lodge are an acceptable alternative to the real thing. And then, indoors may be the only place we have left to run.

What the Little Plastic Bag Said to the Mama Plastic Bag

"When I grow up, I want to be upcycled into something both useful and attractive."

Mama said, "Don't get uppity. You're going to end up in the ocean like the rest of your family, and then you're going to choke a turtle to death."

But the Little Plastic Bag hoped and hoped with all his might. And one day ... he was turned into miraculous products like these ...

Sara sent me this picture of a bag crocheted from plastic bag "yarn", seen at the San Leandro Farmer's Market.

I love this idea! Handcrafted, upcycled, and sold at an alternative to the traditional marketplace. I have also seen rugs knitted from "yarn" that was made from old T-shirts.

But there are always larger market forces at work than the micro-versions at your local Farmer's Market, and one company that seems to be all over the place these days is Terracycle. They take waste and turn it into other stuff, like this pencil case made out of pretzel bags:

As fall approaches, and school supplies start popping up on the shelves of big box retailers, Terracycle's fun, upcycled binders, pens, pencils, and backpacks can be seen on the shelves next to High School Musical notebooks. To add to their charm, schools and individuals can make money collecting the waste that gets turned into their products.

And if you like your capitalism with a touch of old school revolution mixed in, check out their Eco-Capitalist Guidebook.

The Auntie Chronicles – Shower Gifts for the Little Pre-Consumer

Parenting Advice for People Who Aren't Parents

This is a picture of just one-half of one of the baby care aisles at Target:

For a soon-to-be parent, surveying this scene can be daunting. What does a baby really need? Will wipe warmers be necessary? Do you really need special baby laundry detergent? And why the hell, in this day and age, is everything still pink and blue (with a few yellow and green items thrown in as the gender-neutral options, although, as Jason Bateman's character mused in Juno: “Why does everyone think yellow is gender neutral? I never knew a guy with a yellow room.”)

When these soon-to-be-parents get their hands on America’s weapon-of-choice – the gift registration gun – no one is safe. Not knowing what exactly they will need, said parents are likely to pull the trigger and flash that red light across the bar codes of all sorts of items. Bottle washing brush? Check! Black-and-white optically-stimulating mobiles? Check! For the dazed friends and family, choosing a gift from such a registration list might seem nigh impossible. That’s why so many of us revert to buying cute outfits from the clearance rack, and why most babies have so many newborn outfits that they could wear a new one every day and still grow out of them before reaching the end of their wardrobes.

It's a perfect storm of consumerism and parental fear, resulting in a society that has determined good parents must control nearly every aspect of a child's environment (for more on that, read Michael Chabon's delightful meditation on childhood, cartography, and adventure). Manufacturers are only too happy to give us products that help us keep that illusion of control, and if you are an auntie, uncle or friend, you're probably even more confused than the soon-to-be-parents.

What if you want to give your friends a gift that will be truly useful? That won't cause more waste in the world? That will make life easier for the new parents? What do you get them?

I'll tell you.

Rags.

OK. You don't have to call them rags. Pre-parents (as many of my friends have pointed out) tend to find the term "rag" a bit uncouth. Washcloths, burp cloths, tiny towels, napkins -- whatever. But the fact is, the one thing that you that I can guarantee will be used - rags.

But ... you might be thinking ... it's such a piddly gift. A package of cotton washcloths costs around $3.99. What will people think of me if that's what I bring to the shower?

Well, at first they might think, Hey, that's a lame gift. I wonder if Suzy's been gambling again, and all she could afford was a bunch of rags, when we asked for a Diaper Genie. But when the kid actually arrives, and is leaking fluids from multiple orifices, the new parents will silently thank God that you got them five packages of towels rather than an embroidered onesie imported from Sweden.

In addition, today's ecologically-minded parents often use such cotton towels as a greener alternative to disposable wipes. Usually, even those who plan ahead don't register for as many as they end up needing. All in all, it's a gift that will be truly useful, help parents be a little greener, and make you look like a smart, prescient cookie.

About the Auntie Chronicles: I have 10 or so nieces and nephews. Only one of them is actually related to me. The rest just know me as Auntie Catfish. As a former live-in auntie and former elementary school teacher, I've acquired a lot of kid-centric knowledge. Some of my friends have said, you should write a book for people who have to deal with kids but don't know how (either new parents or the friends of new parents). I'm too lazy to write that book, but I do have some stuff to share for others who might be entering the years when all of their friends are having babies.

DIY Sunday - Do-It-Yourself Hummus

I love hummus. I take it for granted that everyone has tried hummus, but a few of my work friends were new to this food, so a brief word about what it is: hummus is a spread or dip made out of chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans), some sort of oil (usually tahini), garlic and lemon juice. It's often served with pita bread or veggies, and it's a simple and healthy snack.

I do not love eating phosphoric acid, however, which I recently learned is an ingredient in my favorite brand of hummus. Food-grade phosphoric acid is used to give foods a tangy taste, and is used as a cheap alternative to real lemon juice or to citric acid. I checked around, and some brands of hummus do use citric acid rather than phosphoric. That seemed better (citric acid is from citrus fruits, right?) until I learned that most industrial citric-acid is derived from mold grown on scrap molasses or other sugary substances. As we used to say in 1987, gag me with a spoon.

Therefore, I decided I would have to make my own hummus. After reading many recipes, I devised my own. Here's the perfected version:

You will need:

2 15 oz. cans of garbanzo beans (look for brands with only three ingredients: organic chickpeas, water, and sea salt). If you want your hummus a bit chunky, drain the water out of the cans. If you want it creamy, leave the water in.

1/3 cup tahini (or pureed sesame seeds - find it with the peanut butter or with Middle Eastern foods). If you can't find it, substitute olive oil.

Hmm... tahini ...

juice of one lemon

2-4 garlic cloves, pressed

salt

pepper

a generous shake of chili powder

a generous shake of cumin

Put all of the ingredients in the blender.

Blend everything, until the hummus is a pasty consistency. Put it in the fridge to chill for at least an hour before serving. It can last about a week in an airtight container - but it probably won't, because you'll eat it all up. Serve it as a dip, or spread it on sandwiches, wraps or salads.

Hummus. It doesn't look exciting, but it will wake up your mouth. Kids love it too. Just ask Gwyneth Paltrow. Apparently, one of her daughter Apple's first words was "hummy."

You can add other spices or goodies, such as chili flakes, roasted red pepper or eggplant, or chopped onion. Experiment and enjoy this healthy snack.

Greening My Closet

Recently, I received my weekly Gorgeously Green newsletter to find an article on how being green demands a certain level of forethought and organization. This resonated with me, as I've noticed that eating fewer processed foods, saving energy, and consuming less all involve planning. For example, those savvy Light Green readers who have followed me from the beginning (you know who you are!), may have noticed that July should have been another No-Buy Month for me. Unfortunately, my lack of planning has tripped me up.

At the beginning of this year, I resolved that every third month, I would not buy any non-consumables for thirty days. January and April were successful, and some friends even joined me in April. However, because I didn't even realize that July was here until the third (which, I think, speaks volumes about the degree to which I am wrapped up in So You Think You Can Dance, to the exclusion of, you know, actual reality) I was not able to prepare for No-Buy Month. I realized that I needed some additions to my professional wardrobe for an upcoming conference. What's a girl to do?

I decided that although I was going to have to make a couple of purchases, I should not go about it willy-nilly, but attempt to be a better planner and truly evaluate what I actually needed and what I did not. To do that, I had to get a sense of what I owned that was appropriate for five days of professional dress. That would involve ... CLEANING MY CLOSET (cue opening strains of Thriller).

This has become the Holy Grail of Household Chores around here, because my clever cat, Wily, has discovered that it is fun to pull things off the shelves in the closet. I shove the clothes back onto the shelves without folding them, resolving to clean it up on the weekend. This has been going on since January. You can probably visualize the mess that's been created, but if not, here's a look-see:

Wily surveys the destruction he hath wrought.

Throughout the process of cleaning my closet, I came up with a few organizational tips that you might be able to use if you want to green your closet, garage, etc., all going back to the three R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).

1) Reduce. Or ... Lay your embarrassing level of consumption out on the table (or bedroom floor as the case may be):

In contrast to many Americans, I think I have a low-level of consumption. My apartment and car are both small, and what I can buy is limited by the amount of room I have (or don't) to stash stuff. Nevertheless, I find that twice a year I'm a little sickened by how much I've accumulated. The key is to really get a good look at the stuff, and evaluate what can go on to another, happier life. I happened to throw my stuff all over the bedroom, then asked myself the following questions:

2) Reuse: Can your stuff help someone else?

When I evaluated my things, I found there were lots of things I didn't need, but that others could use. That big pile in the middle of the floor? That all went to Goodwill. I choose to give to Goodwill, because I like the focus of their work, but there are many charities that also need your donations. You can find one that suits your sensibilities.

3) Repurpose and Reuse: Can you use your stuff in a new way?

These T-shirts were too grungy to go to Goodwill, so I was going to throw them away. But then I realized that they could make lovely cleaning rags, thus reducing my dependence on paper towels.

4) Re (or Up)-Cycle: Can your stuff be transformed?

Due to my long-running fascination with boho chic, which has once again become de mode, I had a lot of clothes made out of cool vintagey fabrics, with beautiful screen prints, or that were too sentimental to give up. I did not want them cluttering my closet however. These, I boxed up for upcycling. They can become the linings of knitted handbags, embellishments on clothes, or the raw material for handmade greeting cards.

Here's the finished closet:

I was happy to discover that, after all of that, I needed to buy only a cardigan and a blouse to create the five days of professional outfits that I needed. And I'm much happier every time I look in the closet.

Just a note: This week we passed 1000 hits! Huzzah! Thanks for reading, and keep coming back for more.

Coming up: As promised before I sprained my hand, recipes for homemade hummus, and an Auntie Chronicles. Also, a few thoughts on greenwashing.

Picture Pages ... Picture Pages 3

Due to the fact that my hand is still splinted for most of the day, making typing a nuisance, this week will feature a series of nearly wordless (or less wordy) posts:

Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

I saw these in Target. They are made with "renewable plant resources" and so, the Bare By Solo website claims, they include "less petrochemicals" (and yes, the professional copy did say "less")They are probably better for Mama Earth than your run-of-the-mill plastic plates, but I can't help but sense a lackluster commitment in that statement. I'm suspecting that those plant resources are industrially-farmed corn ... and when you think about it, is that Light Green, or sort of a puke green?

Picture Pages ... Picture Pages 2

Due to the fact that my hand is still splinted for most of the day, making typing a nuisance, this week will feature a series of nearly wordless (or less wordy) posts:

Green Beats:

My iTrip iPod FM Transmitter and Car Charger allows me to both listen to my grooves and charge my iPod while driving. It finds an available FM frequency, then transmits your music from the iPod and through your car radio. Why, you might ask, is this green? Because I am no longer burning CDs to play in the car!

I have had few problems with sound clarity and it's easy to use. Also, if you are someone who actually shuts down the computer and unplugs it to save energy (rather than leaving it in a constant state of hibernation, which draws power) then powering back up just to charge your iPod is annoying. The iTrip solves two problems in one fell swoop. I recommend it!

Picture Pages ... Picture Pages

Due to the fact that my hand is still splinted for most of the day, making typing a nuisance, this week will feature a series of nearly wordless posts:

What does this DIY art say about man's relationship to nature? Discuss.

Treasures Transformed from Trash

Today I went to the doctor and received a new splint, which allows me to move my fingers a bit more than the old one did. Now I can type ... sorta. I don't know when I'll get to be completely free, but at least I can blog. I've been anxious to get back to business, because I wanted to share news of my friend Emilie's new Etsy store: Handmade Hila: Refashion At Its Best

Emilie named her store after her gorgeous little girl Hila. All of the items at Handmade Hila are upcycled - which is the practice of transforming used materials into new items -- art, fashion, toys, etc. I wasn't familiar with upcycling until recently, but green crafters are taking to the practice in droves.

Emilie takes clothes, fabric scraps, and other bric-a-brac and turns them into beautiful clothing and housewares. Here's an example:

(Photo courtesy of Handmade Hila)

This is the Jaime Strappy Sundress, a toddler dress which was once a ladies' blouse. The bird embellishment is tres chic.

And I was super-psyched (and honored) to see these:

(Photo courtesy of Handmade Hila)

These are Catlin Coasters -- named after ... guess who!

Not only are the items at Handmade Hila beautiful and reasonably-priced, but Emilie describes them in a wonderful way. Her store is worth visiting not only to get the goods, but to read her refreshing prose stylings. It's great when green, craft, and commerce come together.

Another high school friend who has been on the upcycling bandwagon for awhile now is Heather, whose store is called Evesapples. Heather upcycles vintage fabrics that she finds while being a citizen of the world, and creates fashionable handbags that any stylish lady would want to have over her arm. Check it out:

(Photo courtesy of Evesapples)

It's amazing the creativity of these lasses, but best of all, they're producing goods that are hand-crafted and good for the planet. And while these two are my friends, the interwebs are blooming with green options when you get the urge to spend a little green.

sustaining ... injury

i'm dropping a note to all 10 of the loyal light greenies to say that posting may be a little thin over the next week or two, due to the fact that my hand looks like this -





typing is a bit difficult. also, my cooking, crafting, green-cleaning self will be a quite subdued. luckily, friends provided me with supper, so i don't have to revert to eating uber-processed foods, such as takeout or frozen dinners.


the doctor said that my hand is not broken, thankfully, so i will be able to swim and shower. yaay!

and as the health care debate rages, i am thankful to have insurance, and to live in a city with unrivaled health options, and believe all americans should have access to equal care. this 4th of july, i hope we remember that our flesh and bones are miraculous, and that everyone has the right to have that miracle cared for.

Snack Renovation

I love snacks! In fact, my entire diet is fairly snack-like, as I am a big fan of eating small meals/snacks every 2 hours or so. In my quest to eat fewer processed foods, however, my daily snacks needed to be renovated. It was time to say good-bye to 100-calorie packs and microwave popcorn, and try to say hello to nature's bounty. Here's what my lunch kit contained on a random day this week to satisfy my snacky cravings:

• An organic nectarine. Yum! The nectarines have been amazingly delicious this summer.
• A bag of snap peas - and yes, those plastic baggies have been washed and re-used. Unfortunately, the grocery store didn't have any organics.
• A bag of organic strawberries.
• Some Yoplait yogurt. While this is definitely a processed food, I perused the ingredients list. Those processed foods I do choose to eat (and of course, I eat many of them) I'm examining more carefully, and trying to reduce the numbers of things I eat that contain ingredients that are a) unprounounceable, b) unrecognizable, and c) unfoodlike. My Yoplait fit the bill. Also, I like Yoplait because I can recycle the packaging, whereas their competitor's packaging can't be recycled in Houston.

These snacks were delicious and my renovated diet has had a secondary benefit: I've lost 3.5 pounds without any effort at all!

Of course, my favorite healthy, unprocessed snack is this: