tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725Fri, 25 Oct 2024 09:17:08 +0000environmental hazardSplendaaluminumglobal warminggoing greenlandfillplastic bottlespolycarbonatesiggwater bottles2008 became the year of the smaller footprint. This is an accounting of one woman's journey to greener living.http://greengwen.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Gwen)Blogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-994349927486739684Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:51:00 +00002009-01-24T09:03:02.623-08:00Farm Fresh to You (FFTY) is another move I made in 2008 to reduce the impact of my life on the planet. I'm glad, and I'd bet if you gave them a try that you'd be glad too. Here's the skinny. FFTY is a family-run organic farm in Capay Valley that is working with other small producers to deliver amazingly fresh, organic produce to your doorstep. You can have deliveries any where from once a http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2009/01/2008-was-greeener-year-for-girl-and-so.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-3326183557575674391Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:07:00 +00002008-08-03T15:39:28.665-07:00I've wanted to paint my bedroom for the entire 4.5 years I have lived in my house. For many reasons it hadn't come to be until yesterday, not the least of which was choosing paint. I'm glad I waited until I knew enough to ask for low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint.That "new paint" smell we have come to associate with a fresh interior? Not a good thing. Indoor air quality is as big anhttp://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/08/low-voc-paint-rocks-well-i-suppose-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-3992448410743662951Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:45:00 +00002008-08-03T15:37:23.145-07:00I know one cannot shop one's self out of a climate crisis, but I do have to admit that there are some purchases that turn out to be good investments for the lighter-impact tool-kit. Several months ago we were faced with needing to get a dog-proof composting solution. We were also looking for something that would be easier to use than the separate bucket we were currently using so we could see http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/05/simple-human-compost.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-4544302992678733388Fri, 16 May 2008 20:32:00 +00002008-05-16T13:43:13.132-07:00Yesterday was Bike to Work Day! For the first time I participated in the event with my favorite cyclist. While I did not enjoy the ride on Mission Street, overall the experience was incredible. By the time I arrived at UCSF, I was completely won over by the idea of cycling instead of driving. Since I've been trying to figure out how I could work in some regular commute riding. It's quite http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/05/biked-to-work.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-4300283789013640738Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:27:00 +00002008-04-26T20:50:34.958-07:00It is inevitable. As the popularity of something increases so does the risk that the unscrupulous will join the parade without integrity. What am I yakking about? Greenwashing.Looking around I have mixed feelings when I see Clorox touting their care for the earth and little, sweet frogs in particular. Yes, it definitely better than the alternative; standard clorox fills the earth with http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/04/sorry-orpah-but-its-called-green.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-1437466396411158021Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:22:00 +00002008-04-26T09:24:37.845-07:00Yes, reusable shopping bags are a great idea. They save the planet in numerous ways. Less plastic blowing about mucking up wild life and eventually circling around in the Pacific in the plastic soup I still can't truly, truly fathom. Less energy used in creating and hauling whatever non-reusable bag you would receive, etc...However, what about "REDUCE, reuse, recycle?" Yes, buy reusable bags,http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/04/sometimes-first-r-is-forgotten_14.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-5911686146448183189Sun, 13 Apr 2008 16:22:00 +00002008-04-13T10:53:44.452-07:00Spring is here and with it the tender red shoots of the roses stretching into the sun...not far behind are the aphids. ICK. Nasty, gooey munching machines, the aphids have been trying to take over my front yard for the past few weeks.I had been washing them off with a mixture of earth-friendly soap and water. Swishing the infected shoots in the soapy water every few days rewarded me with a http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/04/lady-bugs-to-rescue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-2922453257710996967Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:55:00 +00002008-04-09T19:01:38.442-07:00What does this sweetheart to our left have to do with my family? More than one might think. First, I received this picture from my maternal unit, so it originated with family. But more, I am referring to my little version of a nuclear family; this bear has become a bit of an environmental mascot for me and mine.I've discovered that much of my journey to greener living has been a confrontationhttp://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/04/its-family-affair.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-597212492038943688Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:21:00 +00002008-04-04T06:00:45.249-07:00Even though it has only been a short time that throwing batteries into the general waste stream has been illegal in San Francisco, for years I have been collecting used batteries in an old latte bowl and when it is full, I've hauled them to work where I could safely dispose of them. Well, no more I say!San Francisco is now instituting a curbside battery collection! Once again the Green City ishttp://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/04/exciting-new-curbside-battery-pick-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-1789700801493585696Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:32:00 +00002008-04-06T11:36:24.638-07:00I am currently away attending a professional meeting that I attend each year. For the first time since I joined the association and began to attend the annual meeting I am noticing the horrific impact such an activity has on the planet. I am finding it so distracting that I have been making notes on the things that could easily be done to improve the situation that seem to simply not have http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/04/feeling-like-outlier.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-3769466124968274206Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:06:00 +00002008-03-26T19:21:19.552-07:00Sometimes doing some good for the environment is especially sweet. Haagen Dazs is providing sweet incentive for you to help this cute little girl to the left. Being quite partial to vanilla I can see a pint of Vanilla Honey Bee in my future!Bee sure to check out the cute site! http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/03/like-you-needed-excuse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-7460997485438986229Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:28:00 +00002008-03-26T09:16:33.159-07:00Bush intervention led EPA to scale back ozone limits.I can't believe that I find it appalling any more. Haven't the limits of my disbelief been trampled and demolished time and time again already? How could more ass-clownery from the numero uno A-clown even get my notice these days?I remember years ago when I found a list of the environmental atrocities that W oversaw in Texas and how http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/03/300-days-left-will-we-make-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-2700714252813741128Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:08:00 +00002008-04-06T11:38:44.960-07:00Way to go San Francisco! I love the new program to encourage more of us to eliminate our dependency on plastic water bottles.Once again there is an elegant way to protect your health, stop the unnecessary use of fuel to haul around water, and save money doing it! Mother Nature is always quite clever.So I say forget about the temporary convenience of retail bottled water. Get a durable http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-reasons-to-toss-that-plastic-water.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-4925619541606844889Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:05:00 +00002008-04-06T11:41:50.829-07:00Remember when you might even be a little excited to check your mail? Maybe there would be a note or a card from someone, just maybe. Seems that never happens any more. All I feel going to check my mail is irritated that my next action will be to have to recycle or shred THEN recycle numerous "resident", "current occupant", or my fave, any of the 20 or so computer-generated versions of my http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/03/stop-junk-mail.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-8927051698642690709Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:54:00 +00002008-03-19T19:22:21.144-07:00environmental hazardglobal warmingSplendaNO! Really, how far can I take this?! I am a self-admitted Splenda® addict. As a dental hygienist, the fear of caries (tooth decay to the less geekified) has been drilled into me (sorry about the pun, unavoidable), and now my means of enjoying liquid sweetness while feeling smug about the safety of my tooth enamel has just been outed as an environmental hazard. ACK!Funny, there have been http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/03/say-it-isnt-so.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-2479761464608196543Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:06:00 +00002008-03-19T19:23:23.253-07:00aluminumlandfillplastic bottlespolycarbonatesiggwater bottlesPlastic bottles pile up as mountains of waste This MSNBC article is quite sobering. Enough to make you think that dehydration may not be so bad after all.However, recognizing that humans need water, including yours truly, I have embarked on a new method of maintaining my humidity while protecting Mother Earth from mountains of plastic water bottles. Enter Sigg! The cutest ever solution to thehttp://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/03/plastic-bottles-pile-up-as-mountains-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243591222466358725.post-340700269383160795Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:33:00 +00002008-03-19T19:24:18.961-07:00environmental hazardgoing greenWithout really meaning to I accidentally made a New Year's Resolution that seems to have stuck. Sad about the legions of "resolutions" that never see mid-January, I started out eschewing them entirely. Instead I threatened "reasonable changes for positive growth"(RCfPG). Perhaps that is the difference, for this year the pattern changed. It is mid-March and the RCfPG are not only still in http://greengwen.blogspot.com/2008/03/and-away-we-go.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Gwen)4