tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603Sat, 05 Oct 2024 02:06:37 +0000going greenenvironmentalsustainableenvironmentfruitsgreen livingludacrisnew years resolutionsurban farmingvegetable gardeningLEEDLeed certifiedUSGBCabccarla hallcity slicker farmsclean eatingconsumerismcooking showscorner storedirty dozendocumentaryenvironmental booksenvironmental working groupfood desertfood gardeningfruit treesgardeninggreengreen booksgreen cleanergreen jobsgreen movementhealthy foodherbship-hopinner city communitiesjarsjelly jarmason jarsnatural remediesoaklandorganicorganic foodsplanet greenplant gardeningrebuild the greenrecyclereuserocket mass heaterstuffsustainable foodtexas homesteadsthe chewthe story of stufftommy leevan jonesvegetablesview roomvinegar orange peel cleanerBlacks Going Green - Green Living With African-Americanshttp://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)Blogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-2493949411792044883Fri, 04 May 2012 12:36:00 +00002012-07-18T03:54:59.001-05:00environmentalgreen cleanernatural remediesvinegar orange peel cleaner Green Cleaner! I noticed several Orange Peel Cleaner displays on Pinterest, and wanted to try it myself. I had pickle jars saved for future sprouting projects but decided to use them for my orange cleaner project. I collected various orange peels for my pickle jars. Added white distilled vinegar and capped my jars. Labeled the completion dates 10-14 days out. Strained and http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2012/04/vinegar-orange-peel-cleaner-natural.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-4395412721903464510Thu, 03 May 2012 09:59:00 +00002012-07-18T03:52:07.724-05:00environmentalgreen jobsrebuild the greenvan jones Van Jones speaks to Google Talks on his background, new book "Rebuild The Dream" and his experience working on advancing environmental issues, green jobs, and the grass roots movements. Jones reviews the historical events that led to the forefront exposure of environmental issues.  And no, it didn't start with the "Hope" campaign!   His speech differentiates the actions of http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2012/05/van-jones-speaks-to-google-talks-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-8569254944918944983Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:47:00 +00002012-07-18T03:47:16.808-05:00rocket mass heaterview room I'm enjoying my studies in Permaculture along with my newly found love for Pinterest.   While browsing information on Rock Mass Heaters and Stoves,  I wondered if  the functionality of the Rocket Mass can be merged with the serenity of a fancy sun room.  Rocket Mass heaters are cleaner and more energy efficient than wood burning stoves http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2012/01/room-with-view-and-rocket-mass-heater.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-5688396710068779600Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:59:00 +00002012-01-19T01:46:54.105-06:00going greennew years resolutionssustainable How well did I do in my quest to go green last year? I've added tactics I used last year, and plans for this year below. GREEN20112012 Household Items:Replaced some  insect repellants with safer essential oil mixes Began purchasing natural household brands:  Method natural air fresheners  Vinegar for mold removal Collected digital and old subscriptions to gardening, natural homehttp://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2012/01/going-green-2011-reflections.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-6740991968344675204Sun, 18 Dec 2011 15:15:00 +00002011-12-18T10:15:01.134-06:00fruit treesfruitsnew years resolutions Happy New Years Growing! I am proud to present the first fruit trees I will purchase this winter! These fruit trees with begin in large containers!  Pomegranate (Eversweet)Tangerines (Kishu Mandarin)Figs (LSU Gold) For the new year, I will start a garden that will contain fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, and medicinal plants.  I will also add indoor air cleaning plants http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/12/first-fruit-tree-resolutions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-5877423577460939847Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:21:00 +00002011-11-23T19:08:30.828-06:00consumerismenvironmentstuffsustainablethe story of stuffTHE STORY OF BROKE THE STORY OF STUFF I became familiar with The Story Of Stuff movies through my quest to find a solution to my cosmetic and beauty product woes.  I've added the new movie The Story of Broke with a quick overview from 2007 of consumption patterns and systems that affects our lifestyle, economics, and environment.  http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/11/sustainability-check-story-of-stuff.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-6528751614844650396Mon, 07 Nov 2011 08:56:00 +00002011-12-18T10:12:57.394-06:00corner storefood desertinner city communitiessustainable foodA Snapshot of a Food Desert In Inner City Houston I'm overjoyed about Michelle Obama's nationwide mission to end "food deserts" in urban communities.   Food deserts are communities that lack accessible low-cost nutritious foods.  You'll find a variety of corner stores (liquor stores) that specializes in alcoholic beverages and junk food: such as  expired foods, http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/11/food-deserts-cornerstore-curse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-7391191660646051980Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:57:00 +00002011-10-10T21:46:42.347-05:00dirty dozenenvironmental working groupfruitsorganicorganic foodsvegetable gardeningvegetablesDirty Dozen of Fruit & Veggies Annually, the  Environment Working Group releases a list called the Dirty Dozen, which displays fruits and vegetables with high pesticide content.  This information gives you the option to purchase organic replacements or grow  fruit and "veggies"  at home.  2011 Dirty Dozen Fruits and http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/make-organic-food-choices-with-acronyms.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-8716818298870884580Fri, 07 Oct 2011 21:20:00 +00002011-10-13T17:39:58.201-05:00environmental booksgreen booksGreen Reading List For The Fall My green reading list is important because most of these books require application and action.  I will spend the rest of the year reading environmental books from various areas of the green movement, and follow-up with a future review or demonstration.  In addition, I will do further study on natural cosmetics; and gardening&http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/green-reading-list.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-6184833012002554619Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:34:00 +00002011-10-08T02:25:12.490-05:00going greengreen movementhip-hopludacrisurban farmingGREEN FOR ALL Green For All  just released another video that merges the hip-hop community and the green movement.  The mission for Green For All is to "build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty."   I speak frequently about the disconnection between the green movement and different economic classes.  I believe Green For All's http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/hip-hop-green-movement.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-4478326305231847839Wed, 05 Oct 2011 02:12:00 +00002011-10-13T15:12:05.862-05:00environmentaljarsjelly jarmason jarsrecyclereusesustainable Glass Jars: Eco-Friendly & Reusable The jelly jar has been a sustainable, reliable, keepsake in my life.  I still have childhood memories of nearly frost-bitten fingers from ice cold beverages served in reused jelly or preserve jars. Sadly, plastic became the be-all-store-all utility replacement for it. Recently, the tides have changed.  The jelly jar has risen again for http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/recycle-re-use-jelly-jar-versatility.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-3405716623563256261Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:08:00 +00002012-06-04T16:49:18.017-05:00food gardeninggardeninggoing greengreen livingherbsplant gardeningtexas homesteadsvegetable gardening Gardening Nostalgia I come from a long line of "country folk" who were cattlemen and black farmers. My grandparents gave us a healthy balance in the city with edible and ornamental gardening. I remember living in the heart of the city, having access to fig, persimmon, and kumquat trees. Occasionally, we'd see a cowboy once or twice a year from our neighbors who came from Texas http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-first-green-living-experience.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-5234903870206772203Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:58:00 +00002011-10-05T19:13:44.437-05:00going greengreen livingLEEDLeed certifiedUSGBCGreening BuildingAs a prospective green building professional, I'm overjoyed when I see the private sector, non-profits, local, state, and federal governments agree that the future of community and neighborhood development is in green building. Recently, I've seen a growth in green senior housing communities---some are partially funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment act.  I http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/09/green-housing-communities.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-6047822457679548909Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:28:00 +00002012-02-16T15:45:28.432-06:00abccarla hallclean eatingcooking showshealthy foodthe chew After clocking thousands of hours on the Food Channel, I had my doubts about another cooking show, especially on major network television .   I was also a bitter All My Children fan, who resisted change.  But, after watching The Chew, I was impressed by the possibilities it presented for overworked and financially stretched families in need of healthy, http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/09/chew-is-hit-meet-chocolate-mint-carla.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384381386470994603.post-8230331395338719244Mon, 26 Sep 2011 21:15:00 +00002011-10-01T23:11:26.154-05:00city slicker farmsdocumentaryenvironmentgoing greengreenludacrisoaklandplanet greentommy leeurban farmingOakland Urban FarmingThe more I research about African-Americans in the recent green movement, I find many resources on the city of Oakland.  As a Texan, I'm aware of southern migrants to Oakland and California, but I was not familiar with their experiences after leaving their rural roots for West Coast cities. I stumbled upon a short documentary on the City Farm News site&http://chocolatemintlife.blogspot.com/2011/09/urban-farming-in-west-oakland-ludacris.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Anonymous)0