The Earth Savers Blog

21 days to make a difference

22 Days to Make a Difference

As evenings grow cooler I realize that summer is almost over. It's always too quick. The end always comes with a bit of a shock. Just when I thought I might get to the beach one more time, or attend just one more summer festival.

I'd missed all the newport festivals so far this summer, but yesterday afternoon Brad and I took the kids to festival/feast of green corn and dance called Schemitzun.
Native Americans come from all over the US together for American dance, drumming, contests and sport. It was unbelievable. They dress in authentic tribal custom and dance and sing the songs and rhythm of their ancient people. Brad, myself and the kids sat spellbound when they performed. It was unreal. I could not help but think about my "sustainable" mindset lately as I witnessed still how "old fashioned" and primitive their lifestyles seemed, and yet they have such amazing relatedness to their traditions, their people, the earth and their culture. The way that they lived and many of them still live seemed exemplary in so many ways.

23 Days to Make a Difference

Let put some light on the subject. Next time you buy candles remember Bee's Wax or Soy.
Lasts longer, smells better, better for the environment.

24 Days to Make a Difference

We took the TV away again. I feel a sense of well-being I have not felt all summer. I’m not even sure why we hooked it back up again except I’m pretty sure it was after school ended for the summer and I was sure my head would pop off if they did not let me have a moment’s peace. I vaguely remember putting them in front of The Little Einstein’s and thinking I had died and gone to heaven when ten minutes of silence turned into an hour. The hours have added up this summer I’m sad to say, as did the poor behavior, lack of concentration, fighting and hitting, and inability to entertain themselves for very long. I blog about this not because I think TV is BAD and HORRIBLE and does not have value. I blog about it because it seems like a drug to me. It’s all or nothing. They get a fix of it, and suddenly they zone out into nowhere as if they just shot up. They seem to long for it almost twitching until the next time they get to watch their program.

My kids go to a Waldorf school, and Manon’s teachers actually asked us not to have TV in the home because their philosophy is that it stifles their creativity and impedes their ability to concentrate. ….yep. 

Growing up going to a Waldorf School myself, I was already very familiar and comfortable with this practice, and Brad was entirely supportive. If truth be told, it’s me who pulls it out and turns it on when I just can’t deal any more. Using it as a babysitter has its merits (sorry Miss Sue.)

I really don’t have a Judgment about it other than its one way Brad and I have decided to raise them (limited exposure to media) mostly because I got of taste of what life was like without it through my school experience and found my creativity in its absence.  We were not really allowed to watch it growing up (save for Little House on the Prairie) and instead my brother and I played for hours upon hours building elaborate play worlds in the basement and had hours to ourselves to really get into it. We would build block cities and caves by toppling over furniture and covering them with blankets. We’d play Harriet the Spy with notebooks and pencils and write down every move anyone made. We’d dress up and act out intense plays and build props, and serve concessions. I think one reason my memory of these times is so clear is because I really enjoyed the creative outlet and thought that went into it all.

When we came back from the beach house I told Brad to hide the TV and so up to the third floor attic room it went. They think it’s being “repaired” but it’s really being retired. They wandered aimlessly for a day but I got creative myself and opened trunks, closets, and drawers and started to organize the toys and found that they joyfully rediscovered things they have not played with in months. My favorite thing they did was put on an old costume that Brads mother made for him to wear for Halloween when he was five and they played Tiger for hours taking turns “training” each other to jump through a hula hoop. I’ve organized their toys and rearranged so that they have some access to reach what they want to do…but I’m going to try to resolve to say goodbye to the tube for the entire school year...imagine the electricity we’ll save? I’ll let you know how I do.

25 Days to Make a Difference

26 Days to Make a Difference

I'm taking "inventory" as Meg O'Neill from Treehugger.com so wisely suggested in her Earth Saver Interview.

I am in fact a creature of habit and my day goes something like this:

Wake up at 5am and go to the bathroom
Crawl Back into bed and fall back asleep and wait for the mighty mini's to come in and start harassing me to go downstairs
Beeline or the coffee machine to start the morning perk
Get the kids breakfast and turn on the cartoons ( bad mommy!)
Beeline to the computer to check my email
work on the computer for a hour
Get the kids dressed and drive them to Miss Cyndi's on the weekday ( summer) and school (winter)
Come back home and work until it's time to pick them up.

So as I look at my boring routine during the week (save the odd day where I have meetings or errands to run) I can't see any obvious ways to make a change...

My light bulbs are replaced
My coffee is organic
My cleaning supplies and laundry detergent are green
If we do the laundry and it's nice out we line dry
Our gardening supplies are green
We are conserving water when we wash dishes....blablabla...

So what can I do? Well, I could be researching other things to teach my kids or use an Eco lesson as a fun activity for all of us to do.

So one area I can take a few minutes to make a difference is in my childrens week and in their "green" education. I am going to research a project, activity or game that can teach them (us) something.

With access to the internet at my fingertips I am going to look into an eco-activity that I can do with them this week or a craft we can do using recycled materials.

I'll keep you posted.

27 Days to Make a Difference

Dear Planet Earth,

I got my period today.

There is nothing "GREEN" that I am willing to do to combat the "Red." Sorry,the options  are way too gross and the alternatives are way too limited.

BTW...this particular "curse of nature" is really worth a more in depth heart to heart and I think you and I need to have a chat.

Why the blood, the cramps, the aching breasts, the bloat, and the moody psycho behavior?       Why the sensitivity to loud noises, the lower back ache, and the unbearable urge to run my husband over with the car?  Why the small hole for the large baby to pass through, the sensitive female need for hugs and cuddling after sex, and the dreaded yeast infection if we hang around in a wet bathing suit for longer than a few minutes after swimming? What's up? What's this bullshit about Eve and the curse of Eden and the punishment of me and all my peeps for something some stupid bitch did to get Adam to stop being such a WUSS thousands of years ago? Everyone knows that an effective punishment is a simple "time out" in the "time out" chair, and I have a suspicion  that it was his fault anyways, not hers. 

OK- This is what I did today.... I searched HIGH and LOW and found some options that I will introduce my sisters to and for my male readers (if you are not squirming already) DEAL WITH IT.

Many Moons has a few alternatives that completely gross me out but look to be very Eco-friendly and to have an extremely loyal following of women all over the country.



* just one more comment though...instead of the hippy dippy prints, can we get some toile, camo, maybe some modern geometics? Is there a way to make period accessories  more stylish?....

So for my sisters who don't quite know what this is all about here's the scoop..don't freak out:

These are REUSABLE pads. You use it just like you would a regular Maxi Pad except you will get a package and (gulp) wash and reuse them. They are all cotton and have cotton liners so that you can get more use out of just one pad. The liners in some cases are disposable and biodegradeable and in other cases you would also rinse out the liner and then wash them together in a hot load of laundry (by themselves.)

The second and far more disgusting (in my opinion) option is the (gag) and I quote (because I can't bring myself to write...)

 

The Keeper Menstrual Cup...

is an amazing product that could change your life!  With The Keeper, you may never need bulky pads or tampons again. The Keeper is a natural gum rubber cup that is worn internally, holding (instead of absorbing) monthly flow. (Women with concerns about latex sensitivities should check out the DivaCup^TM).  The Keeper can hold up to one ounce of menstrual flow. (An average woman's entire monthly flow is about 2 to 4 ounces.)
The Keeper Menstrual Cup is simple to use. Just empty the cup as needed (usually
every 6 to 12 hours), rinse, and reinsert. (There is no need to boil or soak it.)

Available in two styles:

• Style
  A: for women that have given birth vaginally, even if several years ago
  ("A"fter birth)
  
• Style
  B: for women who have never given birth vaginally ("B"efore birth)

So, I plan on doing a bit more research on other alternatives, but these two options offer great incentive to go on the pill for life... don't you think?

.

28 Days to Make a Difference

Dear Planet Earth,

Who knew that trying to make a difference could hurt so much?  I'm willing to take one for the team here but the idea of wiping the most sensitive area of my body with sandpaper again makes me start to pace and tense and sweat. I'm suddenly like my three year old, avoiding the bathroom until the point of miserable.

I should also mention that since I brought the offending paper back from the grocery store with me yesterday almost everyone (except my son) has complained. A air of tension has settled between us adults, and my six year old just told me that she's going to go next door to live with our neighbors.

29 Days to Make a Difference

Dear Planet Earth,

Today I woke up wondering how I what I am going to do to make a difference.

One thing my husband Brad and I have been discussed is buying a rain barrel.
I thought it kind of random at first but did some research on them and I think it's a great way to cut down on the water we use for our gardens and outdoor water needs.

Once I decided to go for it I visited my local Craigslist and found a guy makes them out of old shipping containers who is selling them for $40.00 each and will deliver it today! Each comes with a spikit to attach a hose to and all I have to do is let it stand by the house and let the run off rain water fall into it (it has a grate on the top and is otherwise contained so that no bugs can get in)

It's only 9:03 AM and I'm free to be an overachiever in this category and do something else,  or think about what I'm going to do tomorrow.  I'll keep you posted with some pictures of the new/old addition to our home.

Monica

30 Days To Make a Difference

Dear Planet,

For thirty days I will take one action a day that will make my home and lifestyle greener and more sustainable.

Today I signed up for http://www.stopjunkmail.org/.

I've heard about it before but apparently felt that lazy and "busy" were good excuses to avoid taking 30 minutes to make a difference in the life of several trees which offer shade oxygen and habitat/home for so many species............... what a shame.

The Average US Household receives 1.5 tree's worth of junk mail each year. The multiples are staggering. Most of these poor trees are thrown directly into the trash without even a second glance.

So since I've had an address after college and then a home close to 19.5 trees have been cut down so that I could get it in my mailbox and throw it directly in the trash. Wow.

I'm so very sorry for my lack of action and attention before now.

Monica