Yet for the past 11 years, I get really, really cold at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network’s “Keep Winter Cold” Polar Bear Plunge to fight global climate change. I view it as mere seconds out of my life for the most important cause of our lifetime. It’s also really, really fun, inspiring and motivating.

I’ve learned a lot over the past eleven years, so here are my tips for surviving and thriving at the plunge.

Dress Warm

The night before the plunge, I pick out everything I plan to wear during the Pre-Plunge Rally and after the plunge (see What to Pack below). For my first layer, I wear my bathing suit because it makes stripping down in the changing tents go a heckuva lot faster. I follow that layer with a camisole top (okay, guys may not wear this) and thermal underwear. A turtleneck and a pullover, along with a fleece vest and my winter coat round out the remaining layers (I told you I hate being cold). On the bottom, I wear thermal underwear, jeans, and my ski pants, warm socks, and winter boots.

What to Pack

This is what I pack for the plunge and post-plunge:

• shoes for the water (I wear Keens, but old running shoes work well, too. DO NOT WEAR FLIP FLOPS. They will fly off as soon as you hit the water (I learned this the hard way my first year).
• a beach towel to wrap myself in before and after the plunge
• a bathrobe if I plan to chit chat and pose for photos by the water before and after the plunge
• a reusable Chico bag that I place my wet suit and water shoes in after the plunge –#ReusablesNotDisposables
• underwear (since my bathing suit is wet)
• a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and/or a travel mug for my hot beverage — #ReusablesNotDisposables
• a handkerchief or two for my runny noise #ReusablesNotDisposables

Dress Up

While wearing a costume to the plunge is not a requirement, it definitely makes the experience more fun! In 2014, I began dressing in climate-themed costumes to attract more attention to the cause and help spread the message across social media (attention grabbing images get hits!). Fellow plungers and supporters ask to take pictures of me or with me and I’ve met great people this way, too. Watch my Polar Bear Plunge playlist on YouTube to see the different get ups my friend and make-up artist Kim Reyes creates for me each year.

And don’t even think I’m going to share what I’m dressing as this year! I always keep it a surprise until you see me the morning of the plunge. 

Eating Plunge Morning

Since I get up around 6 a.m. on plunge day, I eat a few vegan pancakes and maybe some fake bacon to keep me sustained until I can enjoy the free food at the Plunge (details below). I also pop some vitamin C and zinc (which I try to start taking a day or two before the plunge), and drink echinacea tea to keep my immune system from getting cranky with me. 

Getting to the Plunge      

On a good day without traffic, I can drive to National Harbor in about 40 minutes from Takoma Park. But this is DC folks, so that means we should factor in an additional 10 to 15 minutes in case there is an accident or some other traffic mishap. Be sure to check Google maps NOW to see how long it will take you to drive to National Harbor on a Saturday morning with an arrival time of 10:00 a.m. Use McLoone’s Restaurant (141 National Harbor Boulevard, Oxon Hill, MD 20745) as your destination since the restaurant is next to the parking lot and is the location of the after-party (woo hoo!). And of course, check Google maps the morning of the plunge, too, to see if there is a traffic snafu. 

By the way, you definitely want to arrive at 10:00 a.m. for many reasons:

• If you are one of the first 50 vehicles to arrive, you’ll get free parking
• You’ll beat the registration lines
• You’ll have a chance to check out the free warm drinks and pastries 
• You’ll get to see other plungers and pose for photos. This is also a great time to begin posting photos on social media to help your fundraising efforts and to raise awareness about CCAN and climate change. Heck, you might even get more donations that morning!

An additional note on parking: If I’m able to park near the changing tents, I tend to leave my gear in the car and then grab it on the way to the changing tents. Otherwise, I keep it with me to save time during the transition from rally to plunge. 

Registration

Registration is divided alphabetically, so be sure to read the signs! If you didn’t sign your waiver, you’ll be asked to do that. You’ll also get a set of foot warmers and, depending on the amount of money you raised, you’ll also receive a voucher for a t-shirt and other great giveaways. Use this time to thank the CCAN staff and volunteers for all their hard work! 

Pre-Plunge Rally

Every year rousing speakers in warm clothes pump us up before we plunge our bodies into frigid water. They keep it brief (for the most part) because they know we’re cold and just want to get going with the plunge! It’s fun and motivating and not to be missed (or you might miss the actual plunge!).

Changing Before the Plunge

After the rally, grab your gear, find a spot in the changing tent (there are male and female tents, and a smaller tent for those requiring more privacy), plop your bag, strip down to your suit, and put on your water shoes. Wrap a towel around you and head to the water! 

Getting in the Water

It’s always fun to have a plunge partner, but if your partner is using another tent, agree on a place to meet after you are dressed and ready to get in. The plunge site can become a mob scene and it is sometimes difficult to locate others.

Just before you plunge, drop your towel near the stone wall or ask a non-plunger to hold it and GO FOR IT!

My husband John shoots video of my plunge so I make sure he is right next to me before I head into the water to ensure he documents every moment! If you can, have someone shoot video of your plunge or, if you have a GoPro, bring that into the water, but hold on tight. You don’t want to accidentally drop it in the Potomac!

Run into the water as far as you can. Keep in mind, there’s no required amount of you that you have to get wet. Go up to your ankles, knees, waist, or further. It’s up to you! I usually go out to the water until my short legs are fully covered and then crouch down in the water to submerge up to my neck. I choose not to get my head wet, but other plungers dive right in. I don’t go too far out because my legs get numb and I want to be sure they are still functioning to get me back to shore!

Changing After the Plunge

On warmer plunge days (when the temperature is above 35) I find myself lingering after the plunge, but these also tend to be years I get sick! So I now make a point to strike a few quick poses and then change out of my wet gear right away.

Once inside the changing tent, I dry off, put all my wet gear in my Chico bag, and change into my clean underwear and warm clothes. Changing post plunge is sometimes worse than the actual plunge because my feet are so cold and it is hard to put on socks. If you haven’t already, this is the time to place the foot warmers in your shoes. Your feet will thaw out much more quickly.

Important! Before I leave the tent, I check the area around me to be sure I haven’t left anything behind.

Attending the After-Party

I love attending the after-party at McLoone’s Pier House! We take over the entire place and everybody is in a great mood, high fiving each other for a job well done.

While here, I get a drink and a meal at a discount. This year, McLoone’s is offering all plungers 20% off their check if they order food. 

Returning Home

When I return home, I take a hot shower, crawl into bed with our dog and two cats, and take a snooze for a few hours. Then, I spend the rest of the day binge watching the Hallmark channel (don’t judge me!). I no longer make plans for Saturday night because I’ve learned that since my body worked so hard to stay warm after being plunged into cold water, I need to let it rest in order to stay healthy.

Thanking My Donors … Again

If I’m really on top of things, within a day or two of the plunge, I thank my donors again by emailing them a big thank you (via the plunge site) and sharing my plunge video. I also let them know if I reached my dollar goal. For folks like my 90 year-old aunt who don’t have email, I give them a call and share the video later. A hand written thank you note also works. I post my plunge video on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and encourage others to make a pledge, because they still can!

Fundraising Tips

Speaking of pledges, I ask just about everybody I know to donate to my plunge. It doesn’t hurt to ask and the worst that can happen is they’ll say no or take no action. But plenty of others will donate and I am shocked every year at who does.

The first year, I sent an email to just about everybody in my address book, including a printer who made business cards for me (he donated!). Since then, I always start by asking the people who contributed in previous years if they will contribute again and most always do. I have also gained new donors by reaching out to certain groups such as my neighborhood list serve and my church’s Facebook group. One holiday season, I included in our holiday card a small strip of paper announcing my plunge along with the link to my page. Posting on Facebook has also helped and on Giving Tuesday, I gained brand new donors who I hope will turn into repeat donors.

After the first email, which I send in November, I send out reminder emails at the end of the year and then a few weeks before the plunge. I also post on Facebook around this time and include photos from my previous plunges. So be sure to get photographic proof that you went in the water! 

The donations I receive range from $10 to $300 per donor and every year I am shocked by their generosity. I am also surprised that people I don’t even know that well — from high school, church, my community – donate. And sometimes very, very generously! You never know how someone feels about climate change until you simply ask. 

Finally, whenever I receive an email notification that someone donated to my plunge, I send them a quick email thanking them for their support.

For more fundraising tips, check out CCAN’s Fundraising Guide.

I’ll see you on the 26th! Let’s do this!!

The post How I’ve Survived — and Thrived — at the CCAN “Keep Winter Cold” Polar Bear Plunge appeared first on Sister Eden.

We’re all becoming more aware of artificial colors, trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, and GMOs in our food, so how do we avoid these things and eat healthy Halloween treats?

Watch this video to learn more. 

The post Healthy Halloween Treats appeared first on Sister Eden.

Quick Links

IF YOU LIVE IN MARYLAND, enjoy community solar by taking advantage of a special offer for Sister Eden followers from Neighborhood Sun. 

What Is Community Solar?

Community solar allows customers who have shady roofs OR rent OR are otherwise unable to install solar on their residences or commercial buildings to buy or subscribe to a portion of a shared solar system within your community.

When you become a subscriber, your share of the electricity generated by the project is credited to your electricity bill, just as if the solar system were located at your home or business!

The solar project delivers all the power it produces into the grid, and the local utility redistributes this power among its customers.

Your household then receives a credit on your monthly utility bill for the amount of electricity your share of the system produces. It’s called virtual net metering.

Benefits of Community Solar

Community solar enables you to take advantage of affordable, locally produced, clean energy without having to own your home OR install equipment on your property.

It also helps to build stronger communities and fight climate change. And since the IPCC says we need to get our butts in gear and really get serious about fighting climate change, taking advantage of community solar is a no brainer.

Take Action Now

IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE MARYLAND, find out where community solar is available in your area. And if you live outside the United States, I recommend googling “community solar” along with your city to see what is available.

IF YOU LIVE IN MARYLAND, Neighborhood Sun, the company my husband John and I use for community solar, has a great deal for Sister Eden followers. 

• As a Sister Eden follower, if you sign up for community solar with Neighborhood Sun by Thanksgiving, you’ll get paid $50!
• You’ll also get 5% off your solar bill for the first year.
• BUT, if you refer 2 friends to Neighborhood Sun, all 3 of you will get to double your discount for the first year. Yep. You’ll get 10% off your solar bill for the first year.
• And if you tell 2 more friends, you’ll get 10% off your solar bill for the second year! 

To summarize, you get: 

• $50 just for signing up by Thanksgiving
• 5% off your solar bill for your first year
• 10% off your solar bill for your first year if you refer two friends
• 10% off your solar bill for your second year if you refer two more friends

Signing up only takes about 15 minutes of your time AND Neighborhood Sun pays you $50 for your time!

What’s not to love?

Sign up now!

The post Why You Don’t Need Solar Panels to Enjoy Solar Energy appeared first on Sister Eden.

A day of rest, or a sabbath, is common in many religions.

When I was a kid in the early 70s, we had to take a day of rest because there was nothing else to do! Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where I lived, had blue laws. They prohibited the sale of booze — and just about anything else — on Sundays. Grocery stores, and even Park City, our huge shopping mall with 4 anchor department stores and hundreds of smaller retailers, was closed. And being Lancaster, Amish and Mennonite-owned businesses and tourist attractions were also closed on Sundays. In fact, those businesses are still closed on Sundays. 

It was sometime during the late 70s when businesses decided that in order to be competitive, they needed to be open on Sundays. As a result, that sacred day of rest began to disappear.

Who knew such a simple decision would contribute to an overworked and overstressed population and lead us down the path to our “get ‘er done” mentality? Once it became okay to shop on Sundays, it became okay to do other stuff on Sundays, too.

Still need to do laundry? Catch up on Sunday!

Backlogged at the office? Sunday is your day to get ahead!  

Need to clean out the basement? Why not Sunday? 

When I was an event producer, a colleague shared the story of how she had been so overwhelmed with all the details of multiple events she was planning that she had to work Sundays to catch up. But on one particular Sunday, she woke up depressed and couldn’t function. She was burnt out. 

Smart woman that she is, she confided in a veteran planner. He urged her to take the day off, even though she couldn’t fathom doing such a thing. Take a day off? That would put her even further behind.

But she did it. She got outside. She went to the movies. She ate out. She watched TV and read some magazines.

She took a day of rest. 

The next day, she was full of energy and got that work done. She was more focused and even had new ideas.

All because she had a day of rest. 

Maybe the Amish and the Mennonites are on to something. 

Do you take a day of rest each week?  You don’t have to be religious to take it and it doesn’t have to be on a Sunday. Any day will do.

Just declare a day each week that is your day of rest and do nothing:

• no shopping
• no cooking
• no cleaning
• no laundry
• no work for your job
• no volunteer work
• heck, no driving if you can swing it

And while you’re at it, unplug, too:

• No social media
• No texting (only emergencies!)
• No internet
• Heck, how about no TV?

Instead, why don’t you:

• Take a long walk – even if it is raining or snowing
• Read a book or a magazine or the newspaper
• Have a quality conversation with your partner, kid, parent, friend or neighbor
• Nap
• Journal
• Just let the day unfold naturally without having any plans

Do this every week.

Schedule it. If you think you might forget, type or write it in your calendar. And then do it. 

Do nothing. 

Let me know how it goes.

The post Reclaiming a Day for Ourselves: A Day of Rest appeared first on Sister Eden.

My family and I had just left a campground near Camp David where we had spent a weekend car camping with 5 other families from our neighborhood.

John pulled our plug-in hybrid minivan, which was down to 0% battery, into the first gas station we saw and started filling up the tank (there was no available charging station). I didn’t need to pee and wasn’t hungry, so while I waited for the tank to fill, I was tempted to look at my phone because, that’s what we do. And by “we” I mean all of us. We look at our phones  waiting in line, waiting for the elevator, even waiting to cross the street!

It’s as if we’re afraid to do nothing.

But this time, I decided to not mindlessly check my email and social media accounts. I had been (mostly) unplugged all weekend and noticed that I felt calmer. I was “Zen Lori” and in no rush to go back to “Running a Million Miles a Minute Lori” and clutter up my clear brain with stimulation.

As I sat there, I asked myself, “If this were 20 years ago, what would I have done while waiting for the tank to fill?”

That would have been 1998. There’s Something About Mary was a big movie hit, Serena and Venus Williams said they could beat any man ranked 200 or higher in tennis, and Google was founded. It was pre-Facebook, pre-Twitter, pre-Smart phone, pre apps of any kind! Life was a bit simpler and not as many of us were moving a million miles a minute obsessed with getting things done and saving time so we could do even more.

Saving time. That is part of the downfall of our planet. Products marketed to save time and make our lives easier often wreak havoc on Earth. They create a lot of waste. But we need to strive to create zero waste. 
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After I thought about 1998, I started thinking back to my childhood. When my family went on trips, my mom packed a thermos of water for all 5 of us to drink from and she’d place a damp washcloth in a plastic baggie that we used to wash off dirty, sticky hands (okay, only half of that last solution was good). We didn’t spend money on bottled water since we got it virtually free from the tap and because bottled water didn’t exist! It also didn’t make sense to spend money on use-it-once-and-then-throw it away wet naps that now come packaged in big, plastic containers.

Then I started thinking about 100 years ago — 1918 — and what we did before we had disposable plates, cups, cutlery, and napkins. We used dishware. Wherever we were – indoors or outdoors. If it was a fancy outdoor affair, you’d use china. If you were navigating the wilderness, you’d use stainless steel. But you didn’t see anybody whip out a big old plastic Glad bag and start stuffing it with paper, plastic, and polystyrene disposable plates, cups, cutlery, and napkins and then throw it in their curbside trash.

And what did we do before plastic wrap? Mrs. Patmore and Daisy from Downton Abbey would have used cheese cloth or something resembling today’s Beeswrap.

While I appreciate many of the offerings of modern life, I can’t help but wish that some of these inventions could have been left un-invented.

As you go about your routine this week, take a moment and ask, “What would we have done 100 years ago?”

In the meantime, download my PDF 21 Items That Will Help You Take Care of the Planet and Create Less Waste. 

The post What Would We Have Done 100 Years Ago? appeared first on Sister Eden.

It’s Plastic Free July. Have you made your pledge to refuse single use plastic in July? 

How do you go plastic free when throwing a party? 

Whether you are throwing an elegant affair for 20 or a neighborhood block party for 200, you can still be Earth-friendly and have a plastic free 4th of July and every day of the year! Here are some key tips. 

Use Reusables, Not Disposables 

By reusables I mean stuff you aren’t going to throw away after a single use. Here are some options you can use instead of the single use stuff. 

Plates and Bowls

China, Corelleware or even camping gear

Drinkware

Glassware, reusable water bottles, stainless steel mugs, and travel mugs

Beverage Dispensers 

Glass, ceramic, or stainless steel pitchers, glass beverage dispensers, and Igloo-style dispensers

Cutlery 

Use your own silverware or if you don’t have enough, buy some extra at a yard sale or thrift store. Camping utensils also work. 

Napkins 

Cloth napkins can range from something you buy in a store, an old t-shirt, or even bandanas bought at a thrift store

Table Coverings

Table linens are the easiest option, but if you don’t have any, you can purchase them at a yard sale or thrift store. Another great option is Kraft paper which you can buy online or at an office supply store. It enables you to write on the actual paper with a marker and indicate the name of each dish right in front of where you place the dish! If you are having a potluck, you can designate sections of the Kraft paper covered tables for appetizers, salads, entrees, and desserts. 

If You Must Use Disposables, Ensure They Are Compostable 

If you must use disposable plates, cups, and cutlery, use Earth-friendly options made from sugar-cane fiber, wheat grass, corn, and recycled paper. You can find these online, at Whole Foods, organic food stores and even Party City. 

IMPORTANT! Most compostables will NOT breakdown in your backyard compost bin. They will only breakdown in a commercial compost facility. So if you municipality has curbside compost collection, then you are good to go! But don’t put this stuff in your backyard compost pile. It won’t get hot enough to break down. Just place it in the landfill. It’s not ideal, but less bad than putting plastic in the landfill. 

Make Waste Disposal Easy for Guests

I’ve found that guests will place their waste in the closest container — regardless of whether it is marked Trash/Landfill or Recycling. So make it easy for your guests and put your containers next to each other. Depending on the size of your party, have one or more waste disposal areas.

If you can, have someone stand by the waste disposal area(s) to ensure guests dispose of items properly. It minimizes confusion, educates your guests, and the person or people working this area can get to meet all the guests! 

If curbside composting is offered in your area, include a large container for compost, another container for recycling, and ideally, a very small container for trash. To encourage less waste, only provide reusable or compostable products. That way you will have minimal landfill waste. 

Even if you have someone standing by your waste disposal area, it’s helpful to post easy-to-read signs that indicate what goes in each container. For example, the compost container will take all food scraps, napkins, plates, cutlery and cups (but of course ONLY if those items are compostable!), the recycling container will take cans and bottles (or whatever may be at your party) and the trash/landfill container will take anything that can’t be composted or recycled (which hopefully is not much at all). 

Serve Earth-Friendly Food

The best food for the planet and our health (not to mention the animals) is vegan/plant-based food. Not sure what to serve? Check out these recipes: 

Blueberry and Quinoa Salad

If you are short on time for your party, this is a really simple recipe from Sweet Life Wellness. I love to prepare it because it has 4 simple ingredients — arugula, blueberries, quinoa, and red onion along with a simple dressing made of lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Steph Curry Potato Salad

This is a spicy potato salad with curry and raisins that my husband created around the NBA playoffs a few years ago.

Jackfruit BBQ with Carolina Slaw 

This comes from my friends The Dirty Hippie & the Bohemian Girl and you just might fool some folks into thinking that it is pork barbeque! You can serve it on a bun, but not all buns are vegan, so try a hard bun or perhaps a corn tortilla.

The post Plastic Free 4th of July appeared first on Sister Eden.

Recently, my friend Lori reached out to me on Facebook about plastic water bottles.

Yea, this friend Lori spells her name just like me; however, this Lori is not to be confused with my other friend Lori who I’ve known since 7^thgrade. 

This Lori has a husband named Jon while I also have a husband named John. Eerie. 

This Lori is the Lori I worked with 31 years ago when I was at the U.S. Department of Labor (my first career job). After Lori left, we lost touch, but thanks to good old Facebook, we are back in communication!

Since we first met in the late 80s, Lori and I have become fanatical “greenies”. I’ve been at it a little longer, so she sometimes messages me with questions like the one below about affordable options for single use plastic water bottles when you are poolside. 

Lori

Hey there! I have a real issue to ask you about… for help. We have a pool. It is lovely. We have kids. We have kids who have friends over. Water bottles. I fucking hate them Lori! We have a fridge out back that I have always kept juice boxes for when the girls were younger… boxes… recyclable. I need a suggestion for all the water bottles we go through on a given day. Something I can put in the outside fridge that the kids can grab. HELP! I can’t look at the plastic or I will lose it more than I already have! xoxoxoxo

Me 

How about asking kids to bring their own reusable water bottles? Most are stainless steel, so they aren’t breakable and safe around a pool. And how about a glass water dispenser that you can fill up with filtered water and place in the fridge?

Lori

Glass outside, even in fridge is never good. Fridge is small but I will see what I can do. You know how when you go to a spa the have a big ass thing of water with cucumber in it? Maybe I can do that and set it on table with washable plastic glasses that I have. You made me think and I will research. Thanks!

Me

Stay away from the plastic! It leaches into your water! Those kids should ALL have reusable water bottles by now! They can fill them up with your dispenser! (nag, nag, nag!)

A Possible Solution 

Lori’s husband Jon came up with a good, affordable idea. 

Lori

I agree… Jon actually came up with a good idea. He said we can get the non-leachable bottles that are reusable and just fill them up and keep them in the outside fridge so company can grab a bottle and I can just wash it. I know camelback has the safe ones. Do you know of other brands that are less expensive that are safe? My kids think I’m nuts because I have changed so much with all of this stuff. I asked them to get on board with me regarding pool drinks and they asked why the change. I guess I never taught them well before and now they come home from college and there are all these labeled trash cans in my pantry for them to recyle. Where they live in Tallahassee, they don’t even have recycling at their apartment. I don’t get it. If you don’t teach kids their age, how sick is the planet going to be for their kids?

Me

I like Jon’s idea! Kleen Kanteen’s least expensive is $19.95. Hydroflask is also nice, but they are more expensive. Can’t these kids learn to bring their own water bottle and fill up at the tap? Isn’t that what you and I did? 

Lori

Morning… bought some reusable plastic bottles and have them filled and out in the fridge by pool. Lets see how it goes! I LOVE that there aren’t bottles around! This will make everyone think twice about all the stuff they waste from water to those unsightly bottles that make me insane! xoxoxoxo

Me

Way to go! Let me know how it works out!

The Results 

Lori

Okay so wanted to tell you that the reusable bottles in the fridge idea is brilliant! The kids love it! Well my kids don’t because they have to clean them up after their friends, but their friends think it is cool to use them. These are college kids so they ‘get it.’ Only thing I haven’t been able to do is offer people who have been doing work here bottles because they don’t get that you have to leave them here when you are cutting the grass, etc. I usually would just hand them a bottle and walk away and they take water bottles, but I haven’t figured that one out yet (other than saying just leave the bottle please). I found a plastic water bottle thrown on my lawn and knew it wasn’t from my yard. I am SO anti-plastic now! Mother’s Day was all washables and it went into one dishwasher load… NO TRASH. Lovely cloth napkins that look so nice. I am learning!

The New Look for Lori’s Outdoor Fridge 

The Product That Worked 

Lori ended up purchasing water bottles from the company Reduce Every Day that are specifically meant for storing in the refrigerator and fit Lori’s small outdoor fridge just perfectly. 

Update

One month after Lori instituted the change, she shared this with me. 

Once again, the reusable bottle idea is amazing! My recycling bin is down so much in summer due to this idea. My kids are bringing out bigger containers of water and consuming more water since they aren’t limited to the small bottles of water. They have these bottles that light up when they aren’t drinking enough by a certain time and it connects to something. Jon gave me one and I didn’t want to see that I am not doing right by myself so I gave it to my daughter and she loves it since she is training for competition.

Back to You

What challenges are you experiencing as you strive to live green? Share them with me in the comments below!

The post A Cure for the Poolside Plastic Water Bottle appeared first on Sister Eden.

“How can my sunscreen be unsafe?” you ask. “It’s meant to protect me from the sun!” Sadly, the U.S. government doesn’t regulate personal care products, so the prevalence of toxic ingredients in our personal care products is shockingly widespread.

So how do you know if your sunscreen is safe? I use two different apps to get two different opinions: Think Dirty® app and the Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Living App.

Both apps enable you to scan the barcode on your product so that you can check the product’s overall rating and individual rating on things such as:

Carcinogenicity 

A carcinogen is a substance or agent causing cancer, so carcinogenicity is the level or amount that substance contributes to cancer.

Developmental Toxicity

With respect to humans, developmental toxicity is the level of adverse effects on the development of our bodies resulting from exposure to toxic agents before conception (either parent), during prenatal development, or post-natally until puberty.

Reproductive Toxicity

A hazard associated with some chemical substances that they will interfere in some way with normal reproduction. It includes adverse effects on sexual function and fertility in adult males and females, as well as developmental toxicity in the offspring.

Allergenicity

An allergen is a substance or property, such as pollen, that causes an allergic reaction. Allergenicity is the level or amount a substance contributes to an allergy.

Immunotoxicity

Adverse effects on the functioning of the immune system that result from exposure to chemical substances.

Sources: Webster’s online, Wikipedia, Your Dictionary, Good Guide

Other Resources

There are tens of thousands of personal care products on the market, so everything you buy — or attempt to buy — may not be listed on these apps. If it is not listed, THINK DIRTY lets you submit information about the product. The app captures the UPC code and you enter in the name of the product and submit images of the front and back. It only takes a few seconds (or about a minute for me since I’m a little slow). The Healthy Living App encourages you to check back soon since they are always adding new products.

Makeup Artist Essentials has an extensive list of the types of ingredients included in beauty products, what the scary ones are, and the names of companies that don’t use the scary ingredients.

Another great resource is The Never List  from Beautycounter  which is made up of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals that they never use as ingredients in their products. This includes the over 1,400 chemicals banned or restricted in personal care products by the European Union, plus additional chemicals screened by Beautycounter and found to be of concern. Yes, the EU cares about our health, but not the United States!

If your product is not listed on one of the apps, check the ingredients against The Never List. Here is a shortened version to carry with you.

Final Thoughts

Before you buy any products, check out how safe they are with one — or both — of these apps or The Never List! Also, be sure to test the products you already have in your home.

The post How to Know If Your Sunscreen Is Safe appeared first on Sister Eden.

How to recycle automobile and bicycle tires; hairdryers, curling irons, and flat irons; computers, tablets, and e-readers; clothing; and prescription drugs.   

To my readers: Some of these references are for the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. For sites near you, check Earth911.com. 

Bicycle and Automobile Tires

For jurisdictions outside of the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia), check your local jurisdiction’s web site for recycling. There are often listed under departments such as Public Works or Environment. 

DMV Recycling Sites

Here is what is accepted around the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia:

District of Columbia

Drop tires at Fort Totten Transfer Station Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. More details here. 

Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Drop tires at a county landfill or recycling center. More details here. 

Howard County, Maryland

Recycle automobile and truck tires at the Alpha Ridge Residents’ Convenience Center. ARL does not accept tires on rims, tires over 4′ in diameter or over 15″ in width.

NOTE: Rims can be recycled in the scrap metal container. Limit of 4 tires per year. 

Montgomery County, Maryland

Residents of Montgomery County may drop tires and inner tubes at the Shady Grove Transfer Station. 

Prince George’s County, Maryland

Prince George’s County’s web site does not reference tires, but residents may drop up to 5 automobile or bicycle tires a year at the Brown Station Road Landfill, 11611 White House Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Tires are sent to Waste to Energy in Harford County. 

Arlington County, Virginia

Residents may place 2 bicycle and 4 automobile tires curbside. Remove the rims. 

Call 703.228.6570 for rim pick up or for any questions. 

Fairfax County, Virginia

Residents may place 2 bicycle tires curbside, but emove the rims.

Take automobile tires to either the I-66 Transfer Station at 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030 OR the I-95 Landfill at 9850 Furnace Road, Lorton.  

Loudon County, Virginia

Take bicycle and automobile tires to 21101 Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg, VA. There may be charges for automobile tires, but there are no charges for bicycle tires. 

Prince William County, Virginia 

Bicycle and automobile tires may be dropped off at the Prince William County Landfill, 14811 Dumfries Road, Manassas, VA. 

Alchemy Goods 

Send bicycle inner tubes to Alchemy Goods. They will upcycle them into consumer goods. While you must pay for shipping, they will trade that for a discount code for web purchases. 

Alchemy Goods
Attn: Tube Upcycling
2500 47th St. Ste 12
Boulder, CO 80301
303-258-1611 ext. 0

Curling Irons, Flat Irons, and Hair Dryers

Drop these at Best Buy. 

Computers

Best Buy will take desk tops, laptops, tablets, e-readers, and more, but there is a limit of 3 items per household per day.

If you have a Mac, take it to the MacRecycle Clinic in Silver Spring, Maryland. 

Clothing

Always aim to donate your clothes to Goodwill, Purple Heart, or your local thrift store. 

If you live in Washington, DC, check out Texiles. There is a $15 pick-up charge. 

Prescription Drugs

Unless medicines have specific instructions to flush them down the sink or toilet when they are no longer needed, you should not flush drugs! Save them for the bi-annual National Prescription Drug Takeback Day which is held in the United States every April and October by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

The next Takeback Day is Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Find a location near you. 

If you can’t make a takeback day, here is how to dispose of medicines at home. 

Montgomery County GreenFest

Saturday, May 5

11am – 4pm

Jesup Blair Local Park in Silver Spring (next to Montgomery College)

Free, family festival for County residents to learn together, and take action together for a healthier environment.

Activities include:

• kids tree climbing
• 100 exhibitors,
• electric car show
• free workshops on
• • beekeeping,
  • container gardening,
  • pickling
  • finding green jobs
  • how to live without plastic
• Visit montgomerycountygreenfest.org for details. 

The post Yes! You CAN Recycle That! | Difficult Things to Recycle appeared first on Sister Eden.

Help End Plastic Pollution

This year the Earth Day Network is dedicated to ending plastic pollution. Whether you are an individual, organization, or education, see what you can do to take action to end plastic pollution on Earth Day and beyond. 

Donate Your Mascara Wands to Help Wildlife

The Appalachian Wildlife Refuge uses mascara wands to to remove fly eggs and larva from the fur of wild animals. They work great because the bristles are close together. Just wash the wands in soapy water to remove residual mascara. Be sure to watch the video of all the cute creatures who benefit from the wands. 

Adopt a Spot and Pick Up Trash 

Whether you officially adopt a road or a spot in the community where you live, or simply decide to pick up trash whenever you see it, it’s all good! Streams and rivers tend to serve as a collection point for lots of trash, but popular roads are just as bad. Just be sure to wear protective gloves and if you are picking up on the street, wear an orange safety vest, too so vehicles can see you!  

Binge Watch the Sister Eden YouTube Channel 

I’ve got over 172 videos on my YouTube channel which average between 2 to 5 minutes long. I cover topics such as low waste living, recycling, and reusing to restaurant, movie, book and product reviews as well as some funny satirical videos. Check ’em out and be sure to subscribe so you never miss one! 

Try a Vegan Restaurant

Whether you are vegan, thinking about going vegan, or have no intention to go vegan, visit a vegan restaurant. Plant-based diets are the best for our planet, our health, and the welfare of animals. Not sure where to go? Check out Happy Cow to find a veg-friendly restaurant near you. 

Visit a Park

Whether you check out a local park or a national park, just get the heck out in nature. Take the ear buds out of your ears and listen to nature. Look around. Up and down. I find that the more I get out in nature, the more I appreciate it, and the more I want to protect it. 

Unplug from Everything

Set a day and unplug from everything — television, music, social media, even your phone. Notice how you feel. Write about it in a journal. 

Watch an Environmental Film 

Whether you head to a local environmental film festival or watch Netflix, expand your horizons and learn more out the planet. Some of my favorites are on my Pinterest board called Eco Film Fest. 

If you go to Netflix, choose Movies/Documentaries and from there, choose Social & Cultural Docs or Food & Travel TV or Documentaries or Science & Nature Docs. 

Purge Your Stuff

Purge a closet/drawyer/box and aim to recycle/reuse/repurpose/donate 98% of it or more. You’ll feel great for cleaning up a space. Then vow to keep the junk out of the landfill and choose to not bring one more thing into your home unless you take two things out.

Read My e-Book

My e-Book contains 31 daily tips for taking care of yourself and taking care of the planet, so you can continue to celebrate Earth Month for at least another month! 

The post 10 Things To Do For Earth Month appeared first on Sister Eden.