How Does Your Garden Grow?

Mark and I spent most of this past holiday weekend working outside. We had several big landscaping projects on our agenda and—with such glorious weather—we managed to complete all but one on our list.

Yesterday afternoon, as we put away our gardening gear (the big shears, the little shears, the rake, the shovel with the long handle, the shovel with the short handle, and, well, you get the picture) I thought of my father-in-law, Bob, and his generosity and thoughtfulness.

You see, right after Mark and I moved into our house, Bob stopped by and dropped off the entire spectrum of tools.

Were they from a store? No. They were a tag sale find.

Six years later, the tools still work great. Each falls into the “they don’t make ‘em like that anymore” category. Of course, reusing them (instead of getting new ones from the store) makes them green. It’s a win-win.

Summer is traditional “tag sale season” and I encourage you to try to find some of what you need in your surrounding neighborhood tag sales. There are some real treasures out there.

My obsession at the moment are glass storage refrigerator containers—instead of using petroleum-based plastic wrap or potentially-leaching plastic containers, I like to do it the way Grandma did and store my left-overs in glass.

You can probably find your obsession(s) at a tag sale for a great price and of superior quality and craftsmanship. And if you know anyone moving into a new house, a good rake makes a great gift. Trust me.

Question of the blog: What’s your favorite tag sale find?

Oh Say Can You See What So Proudly We Hailed?

I’ve always been proud to be an American. Our national anthem makes me tear up every time I hear it.

During this decade, when we most needed an eco-minded President we got, instead, one who was the least eco-minded in history (and who sides with gas over green every chance he gets). And yet Americans as a whole are more environmentally friendly than we’ve been in generations.

So much for a President being our leader!

On this 4th of July, infused with red-white-and-blue pride along with mega-green passion, I encourage you to show your patriotism not with sparklers and barbecues, but with a commitment to buying green products that are made in the USA.

And there are many to choose from . . . and here are just a few of my favorites, from sea to shining sea:

California—Toys for Kids (even the packaging is green!): http://www.katescaringgifts.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=GREENTOYS

Illinois—Candles (made from soy): http://www.ebcandles.com/

Maine—Furniture (handcrafted of sustainably harvested American black cherry): http://www.greendesigns.com/

Massachusetts—Felt Wine Rack (made from naturally renewable and recyclable materials): http://www.etceteramedia.com/

Montana—Pet Toys (made from 85% Post Consumer Recycled Bottles): http://www.westpawdesign.com/products/282-salamander

New Hampshire—Cloth Bags (some made from 80% recycled cotton/20% recycled plastic bottles): http://www.ecovixen.com/

New Mexico—Cards (made from 100% recycled materials): http://treeoflife-studio.com/

Oregon—Eco-Wine® (organic and sulfite-free): https://www2.ibgcheckout.com/amity/catalog/index.jsp?cat_id=1012

Washington—Bedding (using wool from their local bio-region and getting 100% of their energy from green and renewable sources): http://www.holylamborganics.com/index.html

Wisconsin—Glassware (unconventional and creative products from reclaimed wine and beer bottles): http://www.greenglass.com/

Question of the blog: In what ways are you red, white, blue, and green?

When is a T-Shirt More Than a T-Shirt?

Back in March, my very first blog posting detailed my surprise at my inability to find a basic organic cotton v-neck t-shirt. In the months since, I’ve been scouring green boutiques and on-line retailers looking for one, with no success.

But I just finally found what I’ve been looking for at prAna (www.prana.com/002181-V-Neck-T.aspx). And, for $28, I can afford to get more than one. When the t-shirt image—and price—appeared on my laptop screen, I just blinked, unbelieving.

This might not seem like a big deal—it’s just a plain tee, right?—but I think it’s a very big deal. Not only is an organic cotton v-neck t-shirt a much-needed green staple for my wardrobe, but it’s a sign that green is going Mainstream.

Here’s a note to designers: People who care about the environment don’t always need our t-shirts to sport silly messages and cartoon-ish images supporting our cause (although I have my fair share of those). Sometimes we’re looking for classic basics like a pair of tailored black organic cotton pants or a white organic cotton button-down shirt with Princess seams.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to order several v-necks . . .

Question of the blog: Is there a green item on your Wish List that you can’t seem to find?

Got a Green Accent?

One of the most pleasurable parts of going green—that’s right, it’s not all hard work—is decorating my home with green accents.

Searching for organic, salvaged, sustainable, and/or fair trade items helps me to create a personalized eco-nest, instead of a generic space right out of Crate&Barrel or Target, with items typically made overseas in manners far from earth-friendly.

There’s a green department store about an hour away from me, Real Green Goods (http://www.realgreengoods.com/), and whenever I introduce someone to the store, the items that stand out the most—which is a feat, considering everything is on my Must-Have List—are their Ghana Bolgatanga Market Baskets (pictured here).

This is how the baskets are described on their site: These popular Market Baskets can hold just about anything. In northern Ghana, a seemingly endless supply of tall elephant grass grows in the wetlands. Weavers in Africa use the abundant elephant grass to weave these incredibly hardy, useful baskets. The weavers are compensated fairly for their beautiful works of art. To easily reshape your basket, quickly submerge in water (keep leather dry), reshape by hand and let dry. Variations in color and design are to be expected as each basket is uniquely handwoven. Approximately 14" wide and 9" deep.

I saw identical baskets recently at Whole Foods for $50. But they cost just $29 at Real Green Goods; and because the store is located in New Hampshire, you don’t have to pay sales tax when you buy your own (you can place your order by calling 877-744-9744).

A top quality, handmade, fair trade African Market Basket at a price that’s also fair? Now you know what I mean about the pleasures of green accents.

Question of the blog: Do you have a favorite earth-friendly accessory in your home?

Got Green Travel Plans?

It’s not always possible to take a truly eco-vacation, but you can turn any trip into a green trip by taking environmentally friendly steps along the way.

For instance, you can use eco luggage.

I’ve been a traveler my entire life—my first memory is from a family trip when I was just two years old—and I’ve been a travel writer since 2001, so I know the importance of a good piece of luggage. I actually just wrote an article on the advantages of wheel-less luggage for a national magazine.

Did you know the average piece of wheeled luggage costs more than its wheel-less counterpart and weighs up to 75 percent more and has less room (since some of its valuable space is devoted to the wheels and all their accoutrements)? And, think about it, other than wheeling along a long hotel hallway or airport terminal, you spend a lot of time carrying wheeled bags—lifting them into the truck, hoisting them into the overhead bin, etc.

In this economy, you want to get more for every dollar . . . and, with many airlines charging you for checked luggage, you want to get more from your carry-on . . . and, with the vital importance of being green, you want that carry-on to be eco-friendly.

And here’s a suggestion for you: Stella McCartney’s Large Bowling Bag for LeSportsac (www.lesportsac.com/stella/).

Okay, the price tag hurts a little ($395) but it’s a chic designer bag, it’s the perfect size for a carry-on (and great for travel with a zip-around bottom pocket for shoes), and it’s green—the bag is made of 100 percent eco polyester. There are a few colors, but I just love orange.

Bon (vert) voyage!

Question of the blog: What’s your favorite green travel tip?

Who Is Protecting Us From Our Protection?

In the current issue of Vegetarian Times, the magazine gives a “Stick” (its version of a slap on the wrist) to the Food and Drug Administration for “failing to issue sunscreen-safety standards for more than three decades.” According to the article, “research by the Environmental Working Group [indicates] 84 percent of 910 name-brand sunscreen products either offer inadequate sun protection or contain ingredients with significant safety concerns.”

Let me pick up where Vegetarian Times left off and share this thought: The good news is we’re now informed and we have green alternatives.

Debby, my green guru from Real Green Goods (http://www.realgreengoods.com/) highly recommends Badger SPF 30 For Face & Body (http://www.badgerbalm.com/). As it happens, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) listed its five best (and worst) sunscreens . . . and, wouldn’t you know, Badger SPF 30 is at the top of their “Best” list.

Trust me, if it's good enough for EWG and Debby, it's good enough for us! Just for kicks, here are all the sunscreens on both of EWG's lists:

Best:
1. Badger SPF 30
2. Peter Thomas Roth Titanium Dioxide Sunblock SPF 30
3. Sun Spray Sun Screen Neutral SPF 40
4. UV Natural Baby SPF30+ Broad Spectrum Sunscreen
5. Vanicream Sunscreen Sport (formerly Sunscreen SPF 35) SPF 35

Worst:
1. L'Oréal Dermo-Expertise Line Eraser, Pure Retinol, Daily Treatment with SPF 15
2. B. Kamins Chemist Bio-Maple day cream SPF 15
3. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Face Lotion with SPF 15
4. B. Kamins Chemist Day Cream SPF 15
5.Caren et Cie Face Treatment (French Vanilla) SPF 15

For more information, visit http://www.ewg.org/ . . . and then buy some sunscreen-you-can-trust, get outside, and enjoy your (safe and protected) time in the summer sun.

Question of the blog: Where are you in the spectrum in terms of transitioning from conventional to natural body care products?

How Can Anyone Sleep Through THIS Alarm?

Yesterday, on my way to see my Dad in the hospital (he’s fine!) I had to do something I haven’t done in a very long time: Stop for gas.

Seriously, I can’t remember the last time my Prius was running on empty.

I pulled up to a pump and saw that the car—or, more likely, the SUV—that had been there before me spent $75 on gas. $75! I was almost on empty and it cost me just shy of $30 to fill it up. [By the way, it was 150 miles round trip, to the hospital and back, and my fuel gage barely moved.]

As I was pumping the gas, I heard a loud rumble and sensed the presence of something very large behind me. Yes, it was an SUV, waddling its way towards the pump next to mine. In what can only be called one of the stupidest things I have ever seen for perhaps a dozen reasons, the equally large woman driving the SUV waddled from the cab to the pump, without bothering to turn off the ignition.

How dense can you be?

I was soon to find out. A little while later, as I waited for eight hours in the hospital with my Mom (again, my Dad is doing fine now) I told her it’s so hard to be awake when so many people are asleep. Then, at lunchtime, we walked to the cafeteria—I had packed our salads, dressing, forks, and hemp napkins—and I was shocked to see everyone walking around with Styrofoam.

Isn’t a hospital about preserving life? There will be nothing left to preserve if our earth sickens and dies.

I asked the same question of the hospital when my Dad, back in his room recovering, was given his meal options. White bread. Mayo-rich chicken salad. The (disgusting and unhealthy) list went on and on. Sadly, my Dad wanted nothing more than a protein bar—which, of course, they didn’t have.

Okay, this is the end of my Week of Green Complaints. Next week, I’ll share some of my favorite new Green finds. Until then, have a great weekend!

Question of the blog: How do we get people who are asleep to wake up?