Practically Green

This recycled newspaper dog costs way too much money

2009-11-06T20:55:42Z

This dog from Viva Terra is made with recycled newspaper. But for $100, you can make a real pup pretty happy.

As soon as Halloween was over, I saw the Christmas/holidays stuff appear instantly at stores around Chicago.

Our consumerist culture doesn't take a breather, does it?

Unfortunately, this buy buy buy mentality is just as bad amongst the eco-friendly crowd lately ...

It's funny, isn't it, how things go from being a great cause to something that's commercialized?

Now, consumers are encouraged to buy products with green labels and flowers instead of doing the actual eco-friendly thing, which is not buying some of this stuff at all.

Stores set higher prices on bamboo furniture and bedding, hemp accessories, coasters made of recycled tires. Companies push supposedly eco-friendly versions of their cleaners and containers using 10% less plastic.

Yes, fine, these are good steps--in theory. Unfortunately, it seems to me that there's more of a make-money mentality pushing the subject forward than education and the attempt to actually make a difference.

Does this annoy the hell out of anyone else? The hypocrisy of it all? The fact that the only thing companies seem to care about is money, and the fact that they spend millions of dollars trying to figure out how to convince us to buy this stuff?

Argh. This whole holiday spirit thing doesn't work on me when holiday spirit is defined by a lot of glittery things at Target.

I'm not beyond stuff, of course. I like to have new, pretty, fun things. And those eco-friendly products with pretty packaging pulls me in too. In fact, you'll see a gift guide with green gift suggestions coming from me very soon. But we have to have our limits.

We're convinced that we need all this stuff, when in reality, going green is all about the lack of stuff. Refinishing furniture from a yard sale, making your own cleaners, growing food on the porch--essentially, putting less stuff in the landfills and showing a general kindness to the Earth.

Despite the rampant nature of this consumerist culture, I'd still like to think there's room for change. I love it when I see kids at the farmers markets, compost bins outside schools and more and more people turning down bags at the store.

But I think, especially around the holidays, it helps to be reminded that it's not all about the stuff.

Perfect way to waste time at work: My favorite green sites

2009-11-03T23:00:00Z

Every journalist/blogger needs a good source for ideas. Thanks to this fancy thing called the Internet, I've got tons. Here are a few of my favorite go-to sites:

>> twitter.com: I wasn't so sure about Twitter at first, but now that I'm following all sorts of green pros, great causes, organic experts and in-the-know people, I'm led to all sorts of articles and sites I wouldn't have otherwise seen. Sure, it's mostly meant for social networking, but it's also a fantastic way to learn about things you're interested in.

>> grist.org: Politics, environment, food ... all the news your want in one place.

>> Organic in Chicago: A co-worker just recently passed this one on to me. And while they don't seem to update too frequently, it's a good source for local foods, recipes and organic restaurants. They also feature stories from a variety of sites about things that might interest the green/organic-minded reader.

>> The New York Times: I'm obsessed with every aspect of this site. The national paper does a fantastic job of hitting a huge number of topics--and do a great job of it. Some of my favorites include Bitten (food), Well (health and running), and Green Inc. (energy and the environment).

>> Apartment Therapy's Re-Nest: Not only is it pretty, it's functional. The site has lots of great articles (and great pictures) on how to green your home--as well as some practical information on other random green topics, like how to reuse bulk store fruit packaging.

>> Ecomii: This site isn't technically local, but a section on Chicago features a directory of where to find everything from green home goods and services to where to shop and eat, as well as the city's recycling rules.

>> Ideal Bite: Sign up for their daily newsletter and you won't even have to go looking for eco-friendly tips--they'll come straight to you. Plus, they have a Chicago edition.

Now that I've shared my favs, I want to hear yours too--I'm always looking to learn new things ... and to have another reason to procrastinate! So, where do you get your green fix? Other than right here, of course!

Picture worth a thousand words

2009-10-30T18:21:41Z

A friend of mine that's currently traveling through India recently posted this picture on his blog.

Strange place for a sign about plastic bags? Yes, probably. But I'm sitting here laughing because it amazes me that you'd find that sign in the middle of New Delhi, but it's something you rarely see in the U.S.--and especially Chicago.

My mom has crazy awesome henna skills.

I love India--the majority of my family lives there and I go back often to visit. It's not the eco-friendliest of places, especially in terms of garbage, though. It's true they, in my experience, eat fewer processed foods, walk more and don't waste trees on silly things like toilet paper. But trash in the streets and, well, everywhere, is a huge issue. And, in general, the environment is not really top of mind there. (I've gotten more than a few blank stares when I tell people there about my green blog.)

So, to see that a huge city like Delhi sees that plastic bags are a problem makes me very happy. Chicago, make mental note to follow in yet another city's example.

Last call for farmers markets ...

2009-10-27T12:25:41Z

Pumpkins offered by Genesis Growers at the Chicago Green City Market last year at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. (Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune)

Sad, but true: Most of Chicago's farmers markets are closing up shop (or have already done so) for the season.

... unless you know where to look.

Lucky for us, there still are a few opportunities to get your hands on local produce and products through Chicago's bitterly cold winter.

>> The Green City Market will again run year-round, though not as frequently through the winter months. From Nov. 7-Apr. 24, the market can be found indoors at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (for specific dates, check the market's Web site).

But you still have 2 more chances to make it to the outdoor market, including Saturday's Halloween Party. Instead of candy, the party will include a kids' tasting hosted by 6 local pastry chefs with seasonal treats. And, of course, a costume contest.

>> Chicago's Downtown Farmstand is a locally sourced market with everything from fruits and veggies to cheeses and bread. The food all comes from within 250 miles of Chicago. Plus, it's indoors and supports lots of great causes--and it's located in the Loop, where local groceries are hard to find in the dead of winter.

>> The Chicago Botanic Garden will host a winter market on the first Sundays in November, December and January.

Know of any other farmers markets that'll be around this winter? Let me know and I'll add it to the list!

Just say no to plastic bags

2009-10-23T21:18:38Z

Want a super-easy way to tout your eco-friendliness to the world? Stop using those plastic produce bags at the grocery store.

Personally, when I buy produce, I rarely put it in bags, opting instead to let my apples and zucchini hang out in the bottom of the cart. There are exceptions, of course: loose mushrooms, broccoli, loose salad, beans. But I hate those exceptions.

So, for those of you who like your veggies bagged or have little things that can't be thrown into the cart, perhaps invest in a few reusable produce bags. Or if you're really thrifty/crafty, you can even make your own.

If neither of those are options, just try saving the plastic bags from one trip and reusing them until they fall apart. I've been known to bring my Stanley's produce bags to Whole Foods or Jewel on occasion.

But just think about how much plastic you'll save over the course of a year. It makes a huge difference!

Chicago budget cuts hit recycling program

2009-10-22T22:36:52Z

Tribune file photo

Parts of the recycling program are among Mayor Daley's latest list of proposed budget cuts for the upcoming year, according to a story by the Sun-Times.

Before even reading the story, my reaction to the headline alone was one filled with lots of choice words for our supposedly green mayor.

In addition to the fact that there's no money in the proposed 2010 budget for continuing the roll-out of the blue-cart recycling program, some households would have recycling pickup every third week instead of every other week.

That means the already overflowing carts will be in fantastic condition by the time they get around to picking it up.

Granted, the proposal says "some of the 240,000 households," not all, but in Daley speak, that generally means most, in my opinion.

"We're just looking for creative ways to expand the program, but not commit more resources to it [by] just working more efficiently," Budget Director Eugene Munin said Wednesday.

Munin said Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Tom Byrne "suspects they don't need to be picking up [recycled] garbage every other week" in "some areas of the city.

Obviously they haven't been to Lakeview ...

I know I don't run a city, and it's got to be hard to find places to cut spending in order to make up for a $500 million shortfall. But come on now.Most other large, metropolitan cities manage to figure out a way to do it, and so do many smaller communities.

Then again, most of these large cities know how to run a public transportation system too ...

My frustration stems mostly from the hypocrisy of it all. Chicago is touted as a green frontrunner in some areas. Daley constantly touts his grand plans for being an eco-friendly. And our fearless leaders thought they could put together a low-carbon, "blue-green" Olympics in 2016. Ha! We can't even get a recycling program functioning.

Given the economic situation worldwide, I doubt Chicago is the only city facing cuts, fees and tough decisions. But that does mean it should stop running. For example, San Francisco recently launched its required composting and recycling program Wednesday, with up to $1000 in fines for those who refuse to participate.

Hey, that's one way to earn money while still providing city services.

What I want to know is, what are they going to cut next? Trash pickup? Road repair? Electricity to street lamps? Fine, perhaps more extreme than altering the recycling program, which I know is not at the top of most people's list of necessities. But, to me it's a big deal--and a sign of worse things to come.

Freezin' your butt off? 7 ways to keep warm at home

2009-10-19T11:09:06Z

Think warm thoughts ...

Ugh, I hate that our heat is on in October. We tried to avoid it as long as we could, but when the thermostat hit 59 last Sunday, we flipped the switch.

Unfortunately, like many of the apartments in Chicago, mine is kinda old with drafty windows and a very inefficient ventilation system. And no working ventilation in my room to speak of ... A 40-degree room in the dead of February is not ideal.

But considering the cost--and environmental impact--of forced heat, we've got to be more creative in how we keep warm. And parkas 24-7 are not an option.

Here are some eco-friendly and toasty ways to keep your digs warm this winter.

1. Plastic is your friend--at least when it comes to sealing off your windows. Unfortunately, replacing the windows and doors is not a feasible option for most of us. So this is the next best option. Window insulation comes in kits and is easy to put up. It does an amazing job at keeping that draft at bay, and it doesn't look too awful since it's translucent.

2. Change out your furnace's filter. If it's dirty, it's making the furnace run inefficiently and costing you more money.

3. Reverse your fans to run clockwise. I know it sounds counter-intuitive to have fans running during the winter, but reversing the direction helps move warm air down from the ceiling.

4. Drink and eat warm stuff. When it gets cold out, I've constantly got a mug of tea in front of me. It keeps me toasty and hydrated. Soups are good for warding off chills too. But don't stand in front of your open oven to stay warm, please.

5. Program your thermostat so it is lower while you're at work and at night. It doesn't do any good to heat your place when you're not there! We typically keep ours at 67 or 68 when we're home. At night it's at 62.

6. Get an electric blanket or small space heater. These use a lot less energy--and cost a lot less--than running your furnace higher. This especially works well when you've got a room like mine that varies in temperature than the rest of the place. Just make sure to turn off and unplug them when you wake up.

7. Get cozy. I would love to wear shorts and tanks all winter long in my living room. But this isn't Florida, is it? Put on a sweatshirt and turn the thermostat down a few degrees. Aim for somewhere between 63 and 68 when you're around--depending on how cold you get.

I know there are lots of other great ideas on being eco-friendly and warm--so let me hear 'em!

Coffee with a side of trash

2009-10-14T23:32:20Z

Hearing about Thursday's "Take Your Mug to Work Day," sponsored by International Delight, reminded me to share one of the easiest ways to make a green change.

If you haven't guessed already, it's using a mug.

Sounds easy, I know. But was something even I rarely remembered to do, since I'm not a big coffee-house visitor. Since Argo Tea opened up down the street, though, it's become a priority.

Imagine how many people you see going in and out of the many, many Starbucks or other coffee shops everyday. Now think about what percentage use disposable cups versus the reusable kind. It definitely doesn't weigh in favor of sustainability, does it?

According to IdealBite, if you buy one cup of coffee a day in a disposable container, you're creating 23 lbs of waste each year. That's a lot of garbage. Starbucks alone sends approximately 3 billion cups to the landfill each year. And, yes, you'll Starbucks touting their greener sleeves because they use 10% recycled content, but there's another 90% still there ...

Don't worry--I'm not suggesting you give up your morning latte. Just bring a travel mug--you'll get a lot fewer spills and that drink will stay warm for longer. Or if you have a few minutes to sit, the coffee joint you frequent might even have a house mug you can use.

Some coffee places even offer a discount for bringing your own container. I got 10 cents off my cup o' tea at Argo, and it'll definitely add up.

Feeling really ambitious? Buy your own coffee (fair trade is best) or tea and brew it at home. You'll save green and be green.

Oh and let's not forget about the communal coffee pot at work. Ditch the Styrofoam cups for a mug. And don't be afraid to let your personality show--mine has Tinkerbell all over it.

Recycle those worn out athletic shoes

2009-10-09T21:01:55Z

It's hard to get rid of perfectly good shoes ... even if they're not perfectly good anymore.

I know--I currently have about 4 pairs of old running shoes sitting at home that I never wear. That's not including the ones I keep around for camping or messy occasions.

Normally, I'd take them over to Goodwill or donate them elsewhere. The problem with these particular pieces of footwear is that the padding is worn through from running in 'em or they're pretty worn out in general.

So it's great that, just in time for the Chicago Marathon, Nike has expanded the locations in which you can drop off and donate shoes for their Reuse-A-Shoe program, which turns shoes into materials for sports and playground surfaces.

Through Oct. 16, you can find drop-off bins at 33 Chicago Bank of American banking centers, as well as at the marathon expo on Friday and Saturday, and even at the post-race party in Grant Park.

Find drop-off locations here, and here's where you can learn more about Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program.

And, if you're running the marathon--or any other race this weekend--good luck!!

Cigarettes, check. Used condom, check. Beach sweep a success!

2009-10-06T20:09:50Z

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Shedd Aquarium Beach Sweep this past Saturday! It was a ton of fun--and a huge success!

We even had a great day for it--until the rain came in at the very end. Thank goodness for those RedEye ponchos!

Here are the numbers from the garbage that was picked up, along with some of the strange things we found ...
>> 79 pounds of garbage were collected
>> 79 pounds of recyclables
>> 158 pounds total of trash were disposed of
>> 565 bottle caps were found
>> 3471 cigarette buts were recovered--but trust me when I say there were too many to pick up, despite the ban on smoking on beaches

The sweep was a great opportunity to see close up exactly how much trash ends up on our beaches. The sand was pretty packed down that day because of rain, but it wasn't hard to see how much junk ends up being left behind.

In addition to the stuff listed above, beach sweepers found plastic baggies, cans, bottles, what we suspected was a shotgun shell, a beach toy, a broken hockey stick, LOTS of glass shards, a used condom ... the list could go on and on.

I was pretty disgusted seeing what people leave on their beaches. Not only they hurting the water and birds, they also have to lay on this junk. Eww.

So, if you've never done a beach sweep, I highly encourage you give it a shot. It's an eye-opener.

For more information on the Shedd Aquarium's Great Lakes team and information on the next (and final) beach sweep of the season, check out their blog!

And those of you who've participated in beach sweeps, I'd love to hear about your experience!

Too cold for the beach? Nope!

2009-10-02T17:31:16Z

Just because Chicago's Olympic bid is over doesn't mean we should stop trying to keep the city shiny and clean. This is especially true for Chicago's beaches and lake.

Join the Shedd Aquarium and RedEye--along with me--at the Shedd Aquarium Beach Sweep this Saturday at North Avenue Beach. From 1-3 p.m., we'll be cleaning up the beach. In addition to making it look better, keeping garbage off the beach and out of the water protects our drinking water as well as the wildlife that depends on the lake.

And if you're one of the first 100 participants, a post-part at Corcoran's with some free food and drinks will be thrown in too!

What's not to like? Free food, free drinks and helping the environment!

See you there!

Green pick: Vapur water "anti-bottle"

2009-09-30T19:58:34Z

There are lots of different types of water bottles on the market these days, with many touting being BPA-free. But other than their appearance and type of cap, not much else sets them apart from one another.

Vapur, "the anti-bottle" as it calls itself, rolls up or flattens when it's empty, but stands too. The idea is that it's extremely portable and reusable, eliminating most of the bulk involved in carrying around a water bottle.

And, for that, it's great. In fact, I highly recommend it for travel because you can stuff it into a jacket or bag pocket. And it's perfect for camping trips when you don't want to lug around a heavy empty bottle long after you've finished it.

But other than that, I don't see myself using it everyday. It doesn't hold very much water--about 16 ounces. After a big gulp, half the bottle was empty. And it's a little awkward to sip out of--the bottle kinda flops around when I'm drinking.

It wins the award for most unique water bottle though ... And I can't really dislike something that encourages reusing bottles.

Vapur bottles are available at their Web site for $8.95 each, and come in several different colors.

T-shirt takeover: 10 ways to reuse your old shirts

2009-09-28T14:00:00Z

I have countless cotton T-shirts at home. Some are in my dresser, others are in under-the-bed storage containers, and there are probably another dozen at my parents' house.

But, being the pack rat I am, I can't get rid of them for various sentimental reasons. The T-shirt we signed at the end of 5th grade; a gym uniform; marching band shirts corresponding to our show theme (don't laugh--marching band was awesome); race shirts; several variations on U. of I. shirts ... the list goes on.

So, instead of donating the ones you like, but never wear, here are 10 ways to repurpose your T-shirts:

1. T-shirt bag: This one is one of my favorites. Not only are you reusing something, you're getting something useful out of the deal too. It's pretty simple, and it could make a great gift or gift bag. Plus, you get to pick your pattern!

2. Pillows: I'd totally take one of these on a road trip or plane, though I'd opt for the square pillow rather than the T-shirt-shaped one. And instead of buying stuffing, you can use the leftover shirt scraps and even entire shirts.

3. Rags: This option is perfect if it's an ex's shirt or one that's too old to look good in bag or pillow form. No read directions for this one: Just tear or cut the shirt into pieces, or use it whole.

4. Pet toys: If you're dog is less destructive than mine, these toys might work for you.

5. Underwear: If you're a sewing whiz, here's a site with directions and a pattern for making your own undies from a shirt. Or, for less effort but more money, Solojones will do it for you.

6. Wall art/decor: Some T-shirts are so cute they could be artwork. So make it happen! Frame your art in a shadowbox, or use it as fabric on chairs or other furniture.

7. Quilts: Another option for you crafty ones. Quilts would make great gifts, and particularly soft shirts could end up as baby blankets

8. Scarf: It's starting to cool down again in Chicago, but one of these should help you stay warm.

9. Rag rug: Crocheting is a need-to-know for at least this tutorial on making a rug, but it might be worth learning for such an awesome, useful final product.

10. Napkins: Be super-duper eco-friendly by turning decent quality shirts into cloth napkins. Just cut into rectangles and sew!

Now that you've filled your house with T-shirt items, you might still have a few left. And you can't keep 'em all forever. So pick out a few and donate them so someone else can wear or reuse them!

And if you have any ideas for reusing those old shirts, bring 'em on!

Huge party tomorrow--food, music and us!

2009-09-24T03:55:10Z

Heard about the Great @redeyechicago Outdoor Tweetup? It's a huge social media party in Pioneer Court, next door to the Tribune--today, starting at 11:30.

In addition to food, drinks and free T-shirts, some of your favorite RedEye/ChicagoNow personalities will be there--including me toward the end!

Check out RedEye's blog for more information.

See you there!

Locavore Challenge: Week 2

2009-09-22T22:01:33Z

What a Moon & Stars watermelon looks like

Alright, I'm busted. I haven't been doing a very good job at all with the Locavore Challenge.

I don't know if vacation threw me off my game or if I just got busy/lazy ... probably a combination of both.

The majority of my produce has been local--fresh from the parents' garden or mine. And I hit up the Wicker Park farmers market this weekend instead of Green City for some corn, apples (it's that time!), peppers and a watermelon from Seedling, which turned out to be kind of disappointing in flavor.

I think my downfall was not going to the farmers market last Wednesday, which meant my post-vacation fridge was limited to a whole lotta nothing ... leading to a few dinners from Subway and Chipotle, which to me, are never very satisfying.

In short, I wasn't the ideal Locavore over the last 2 weeks. But, unlike last year, I didn't supplement with products simply manufactured or based near Chicago. There was definitely more cooking involved, and technically I started the challenge early ... Perhaps next year I'll do better ... or worse. Either way, it'll involve lots of delicious local food!