Paint Cans & Cannots

I just repainted my half bathroom in "spinach white". Having read a lot about the negative effects of household paint on the environment and humans, I went in search of some eco-friendly alternatives.

Though I had to rule out milk paint because it's not recommended for bathrooms and because of its high maintenance upkeep, I'm not sure that I'm especially happy with what I ended up using. Sherman William's Duration brand still gave off quite a few of the unfriendly paint fumes. I'll probably go with a different brand next time.

Here are some eco-friendly tips for handling paint:

• Buy what you need. Don't stock up on paint that you're not sure you'll use. Low-ball your estimate, as you can always go back for more.
  
• Clean sparingly. Wrap your rollers and brushes in plastic bags overnight rather than washing them out. When you're completely done with your project, scrap off as much excess paint as possible before washing out your utensils in the sink.
  
• In order to store leftover paint for later use: 1. Cover the opening of the paint can with plastic wrap before closing the lid. This will help create an additional seal when the can is closed. 2. Use a mallet to close a paint can for a better seal. (Hammers can dent and bend the rim of the paint can; mallets are gentler. Use a small towel over the lid to help absorb impact.) 3. Store paint away from extreme heat and cold to avoid unusable spoiled paint. Avoid fluctuating temperatures, especially storage near furnaces and direct sunlight. Store in a cool, dry area. 4. Write on the lid of each can for future identification: Date opened, Color, Brand, Room it is for
• Reuse leftover paint! If you have leftover, unwanted paint in good condition, consider donating the paint for reuse to a high school drama department or a Habitat for Humanity chapter.
• Dispose of your paint properly. If it can't be reused, don't just dump it down the drain or throw it out with the trash. Be sure to take it to an authorized location, such as a hazardous waste pickup.
  

Want more tips? Check out this article from Planet Green.

Butternut Squash Soup Redux

Last winter I posted a squash soup recipe, but I like this one even better!

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small purple onion, diced
3 small butternut squash, peeled, diced & seeded
1 to 2 cups water
1 bouillon cube
1 cup half & half
4 slices Morningstar Farms Veggie Bacon Strips

Saute onion with olive oil. Add butternut squash, water and bouillon cube to pot, boil and cook until soft. Puree in food processor. Stir in half & half and top with crumbled bacon strips. Yum!

Eating on the Go

I've been trying to eliminate a lot of the disposable items that come with eating out at restaurants like Chipotle and Panera Bread.

So now I keep a spoon/knife/fork and a collapsible cup in my purse for camping or for eating out on the go.

Light My Fire Spork



Flatterware Collapsible Cup




(Yes, the collapsible cup looks a little bit like a large condom when it's unfolded, but it has come in quite handy, I swear! And you can hide it behind your large french fry if you're feeling embarrassed.)

Goldilocks and the Three Lotions

There once was a girl with blond hair who had very dry skin. She bought a lotion to help, but it was so thick she could barely get it out of the bottle and its fragrance was quite potent.

Burt's Bees Milk & Honey Body Lotion, $10 for 8oz bottle

Then she bought another lotion, and though it smelled good and was quite affordable, it left her skin feeling dry and a bit sticky.

365 Everyday Value Body Lotion, approximately $10 for 32 oz

She was about to give up, but then she found a lotion that had no fragrance, was easy to pump out of the bottle and left her skin feeling soft and smooth.

Kiss My Face Olive/Aloe Fragrance Free Moisturizer, $11.95 for 16 oz

She lived happily ever after.

Number 1 or Number 2?

That is the question that the dual flush toilet asks.

Though I've read a lot about these, I finally got to see what its all about at our hotel in Paris, Hotel Marignan. (Their website cracks me up. Seriously, take a peak.)



Even though the instructions were in French, it was pretty easy to figure out. Big water drop means big flush. Little water drop means little flush. Yes, it's that easy!



The water-efficient toilet wasn't the only green fixture in Hotel Marignan, however. Their complimentary laundry services consisted of a front-loading washing machine that was never allowed to run half full. So, my socks and underwear got to mingle with what seemed like a whole lot of hotel towels. Don't worry, they got along very well!

And if you're taking notes for future visits, they also had recycling bins you could use that were stored next to the communal kitchen.

What's Greener Than a Leprechaun?

My next few posts will be inspired by a little intercontinental travel. Dublin was our first stop on the 2009 European tour and, come to find out, it's not just green because of the grass!



This was our only stop where we stayed in a hostel, Avalon House, which definitely had its perks and its drawbacks. Though I try to lead a minimalistic life, I was not super excited about the lack of free towels or the short showers. However, this was the most eco-friendly accommodation I've encountered, especially considering the low cost.



Here are some of the ways that Avalon House is pitching in for the greater good:

• You can take the 16A bus line directly from the airport to the hostel's front door, making public transportation extremely convenient, and saving guests from the temptation to waste gas on a taxi. (For an funny tutorial on how to do just that, check out their YouTube video.)
• They're using solar-powered water heaters.
• They are at least partially powered by wind energy.
  
• They offer full recycling facilities (though they didn't have separate bins in the rooms for recyclables.)
• Their staff did things like use the tubs from the raspberry jam they serve with their continental breakfast as wash basins for the dining room. Score one for reuse!
  
• Water-saving efforts in the communal bathrooms included showers that require you to push a button every 30 seconds or so to keep the water flowing. Definitely an incentive to get in and get out as quickly as possible!
• They offer bicycle storage and bike rentals.
• They have a book swap. Leave a book, take a book!
• They offer a full-service kitchen where guests can cook their own meals. (We didn't take advantage of this perk, however, because Dublin has some amazing food. Check out the reviews of the Lemon Crepe & Coffee Co if you want proof.)

So, if you ever find yourself in Dublin, check out Avalon House. Or ask the hotel you're staying at to skip the fresh linens for a day. Keep Dublin green for a little while longer, heh?

P.S. Images courtesy of my amazing friend, Astrid!

Faux-Chicken Noodle Soup

For the week of rain and dreary days in Central Ohio....












olive oil
onion
green pepper
hot pepper
egg noodles
edamame
celery
radishes
fake beef boullion
bay leaf
oregano
salt
pepper

Saute the onion, green pepper and hot pepper in a pan for a few minutes while boiling the egg noodles. Drain the egg noodles and add all of the ingredients into to a big pot with enough water to make it soupy. Boil until radishes are soft. Turn off burner and let soup simmer, covered, until burner goes cold.

Eat and be comforted.

Zucchini-Stuffed Tomatoes

Another CSA-inspired recipe based on the fact that I needed to get rid of some tomatoes and zucchini, stat. This recipe is definitely zucchini-hater friendly, but definitely not tomato-hater friendly!



Jalapeno Pepper*
Onion*
Tomatoes*
Zucchini*
Basil*
Edamame*
Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper
Mozzarella Cheese
Croutons

Saute onion. Grate zucchini and squeeze out extra water. Slice tomatoes in half and scoop out innards. Mix tomato innards with basil, edamame, jalapeno pepper, Parmesan cheese & salt and pepper (to taste). Spoon into tomato shells. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with crumbled croutons. Eat. Enjoy.

*Ingredients received through CSA.

American Idle

Are you exhausted by car exhaust? Try not to let your car sit idle for more than 10 to 20 seconds, as it lowers emissions and gas efficiency. Though it may seem obvious, idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Even in winter, you should only let your car sit idle for about 30 seconds to warm it up.

So next time you're sitting in standstill traffic on the highway or waiting for your passenger to run into the store for munchies, simply turn off your engine.



The Westerville City Schools, the Ohio Department of Transportation and other public or government agencies have recently teamed with the Ohio Green Fleet initiative to implement anti-idling policies and emission reductions, saving precious taxpayer money.

I Vant to Suck Your Blood

Dracula might "mwahahaha" me for saying this, but the only thing that finally convinced me to try giving blood again was the "green factor." Giving of your own renewable resource is eco-friendly and just plain nice.



I did this on a whim when the Bloodmobile showed up at work, so my lack of drinking fluids and stocking up on protein and iron made me quite dizzy, and a little bit "off" for the rest of the day. Next time, I will be more prepared!

High Stakes

Vamps are all the rage right now, but even Edward Cullen would balk to know how much energy is drained from household electronics that suck vampire energy when not in use.



Once you get in the habit, it's easy to unplug your microwave, toaster, sewing machine, electric toothbrush, laptop & phone charger when your done with them. To make it easier, try plugging them into outlets that are easily reachable.

Spread the Word

Whether it's biking to work, buying a composter, installing a digital thermostat or volunteering for ComFest, I would never have done these things if others hadn't taken the time to enlighten me.

Help take the guesswork out of eco-friendly adventures and spread the green gospel. For every "you're crazy" look you get, you'll also find someone who is genuinely interested and happy to commiserate.

So at your next dinner party or family reunion, tell about the time you pulled twenty hairbands covered in cat fur out from under your fridge while cleaning the coils for energy efficiency. Don't assume that no one cares; you'd be surprised by who will stop to listen!

Squeaky Green

Bubbles & Squeak Recipe

Dribble of olive oil
3 tbsp water
1 large organic potato
1 link of Field Roast's Smoked Apple Sage Sausage
1 head organic cabbage
feta cheese (optional)
salt & pepper

Saute potato with olive oil and water until soft. (Be sure to keep the lid on the pan when sauteing to save energy.) Turn off burner. Add sausage and cabbage and cover until cabbage is slightly wilted. Top with cheese and salt and pepper. Devour.

Note: I found the sausage at Raisin Rack in the frozen foods section.

Up Close and Personal

Meet my new boyfriend, Tom. Tom's of Maine, that is. I've fallen in love with their natural conditioning shave cream, purchased at Whole Foods. It has succeeded in finally ending my on-again, off-again relationship with Skintimate for good.

Tom's mint shave cream comes in a toothpaste-like tube, and all you need is a small bead of shave cream to do the job. Though it doesn't produce quite as much lather as aerosol shave creams, it smells a lot better and is comparable in price. An added bonus is that my shower drain hasn't clogged once since I started using it!

Even though I haven't yet found an acceptable deodorant (the unscented smelled like fruit loops, but didn't last for more than a few hours), I think I'm going to try the toothpaste next.

Tom's has a wonderful mission, donating 10& of their profits to charitable organizations, and encouraging their employees to donate 5% of their paid time to charitable organizations. As an added bonus, none of their products contain artificial preservatives or colors.

Don't worry; Tom isn't monogamous, so why not give him a try?

Bee Green, Honey!

Though I've never picked up the small-town colloquialism of calling people "Hon", I have begun to appreciate the taste of honey. As the only food product that will never go bad, it is on my list of favorite ingredients to eat with a spoon when I'm too lazy to go grocery shopping.



So, when my sister, of Photo Kitchen Photography, asked if I'd like to assist with a photo shoot for a local beekeeper earlier this week, I jumped at the opportunity.



It seems that the honey industry, like most others, has not been able to resist the urge to use chemicals in the hopes of producing more while spending less.

But Isaac, from Honeyrun Farm, has a few tricks up his sleeve to keep the chemicals at bay. Honeyrun Farms produces chemical-free honey by regularly splitting hives, forcing the creation of new queen bees and keeping the hives free of mite infestation.



Interested in finding out more? Check out their blog . Or better yet, visit them at the North Market, where they sell their tasty wares on Saturdays.

(As an interesting side note, local honey is thought to help tame seasonal allergies, much like an vaccine helps to build up your immunity to viruses. Though there is only anecdotal evidence for this, it never hurts to add a little bit of honey sweetness to your oatmeal or cereal in the morning!)

No Butts About It...

Cigarette filters are litter, and I spent much of last week's Comfest battling the butt.

So, this is an easy tip: If you do smoke, simply snuff out the filter, make sure that you're not going to set a trash can on fire with it, and drop it off in the nearest receptacle.

If you know you'll be far from such amenities, carry a resealable plastic bag with you so that you can easily dispose of the waste once you're safely back at home. Your local wildlife will thank you.

Beg, Borrow (but Don't Steal) for Your Library

What's greener than a library? Not much!

Libraries provide the community with an easy, convenient and essential way of sharing resources, including books, movies, music, puzzles, computers and more! It's the ultimate option for reducing your consumption!

Check out what's available at your local library today. To find the library closest to you, simply enter your zip code at Find-a-Library.



Already a library convert? Show your support for Ohio public libraries now! A proposed 50% cut in funding could greatly reduce your library's ability to help you go green! Find out more at SaveOhioLibraries.com.

Do you have issues?

If you're like me, you might have a mental block against trashing old magazines. Okay, let's be fair, if you're like me, you don't actually subscribe to any magazines. But, here are some things you can do with last month's issue (besides collect dust.)



Crafts

• Make a collage. (I'll probably getting a lot of duh's for this one, but really, collage's are a great brainstorming tool for work or home life.)
• Use them to make envelopes.
• Cut the pages into strips and make jewelry pendants or beads, or even bowls out of them.
• Use the pages to wrap small gifts.

Giving Them Away

• Ask your local schools if they would like to use them for crafts. (Though if you're looking to get rid of your Playboys and Hustlers, this might not be your best option.)
• If they're the newest issue, sell them back to Half Priced Books.
  
• Do a magazine swap with your friends by trading this year's ReadyMade for this year's Real Simple. Or last week's US Weekly for last week's People. Or why not share your subscriptions with a like-minded co-worker?
• Be the magazine fairy for your favorite waiting room, such as the doctor's office, dentist's office, hospital, DMV, laundromat, staff lounge, bus stop or airport.
• If you're really industrious, try selling them on eBay. Who knows, you may find a collector dying to find a copy of October 1978 issue of TIME magazine!

Last resort:

• You can always recycle your magazines.
• Shred them and use them like shipping peanuts.

And for the ones you know you're going to read and pitch...

• Try getting some of your favorite magazine subscriptions online, especially if you have a Kindle.
• Check them out from the library.
  

CSA Skillet Concoctions

I am the queen of "throw it in the skillet and call it a meal" cooking. Here are a few of my recent concoctions:

Vegetarian Taco Salad
Whole Food's 365 Everyday olive oil
green onions*
Swiss chard*
canned organic tomatoes
frozen corn
Morningstar Recipe Crumbles
Simply Organic taco seasoning
romaine lettuce*
cheddar cheese


Crestview Concoction
Whole Food's 365 Everyday olive oil
carrots
radishes*
purple cabbage
kale*
green onion*

lemon
garlic powder
ground red pepper
penne pasta
Parmesan cheese

Kohlrabi Concoction
Whole Food's 365 Everyday olive oil
green onions*
kohlrabi*
kohlrabi leaves*
Swiss chard*
lemon
pizza seasoning
organic canned tomatoes
garlic salt
mozzarella cheese

For each recipe, simply saute the "hardest" veggies first, such as the radishes and kohlrabi until tender. Then add the spices, canned/frozen veggies until warm. Lastly, add the leafy veggies until slightly wilted. Top with cheese. Usually takes about 10 minutes.

I've found that as long as I have a few spices that I really like, and a bit of cheese, any veggie can taste good! (Except for beets. Still can't stand them. Sorry, beets.)

Note: Ingredients marked with an asterisk denote produce that was in season within the last few weeks and available through my CSA with Sippel Family Farm.

Laying Low

Looking to hide out this summer? No need to cower in the shower. Here are some easy tips for lowering your energy and water consumption while washing off all of your summer sweat.

• Install a low-flow showerhead. These are usually easy to install. Simply wrap some plumber's tape around the pipe to prevent leaks, then screw the showerhead on over it. Find one that will let you adjust the water flow, and you can save water when shaving or lathering. (Unfortunately, the one that I bought a couple of years ago is no longer sold, but this one looks similar.)
• Turn down your water heater. You should see a dial near the bottom part of your water heater that will let you set it to a lower heating level. Here's why.
  
• Take a shower in the dark. This is one of my favorite things to do in the summer. When it's so hot I can't stand it, I turn out all of the lights. Usually there's enough daylight filtering in to see, and it makes the daily chore seem a little mysterious.

Not as interested in laying low? Save water by showering with a friend. Seriously, every little bit helps.

Strawberry-Banana Oatmeal

Here's what I had for breakfast today:

Eden organic oat flakes (from Raisin Rack)
Tap water
Strawberries (from Doran's at the Westerville Farmer's Market)
Organic banana chips (from Trader Joe's)
Silk soy milk (from Raisin Rack or Kroger)
Almond slivers (from Raisin Rack's bulk bins)
Honey from a local farmer (mine came from a friend of a co-worker)



Microwave the oatmeal with water. (Cooking on the stove uses more energy.) Sprinkle with all of the other ingredients to heart's content. Eat outside on deck in 74 degree weather. Lick the bowl. Compost the strawberry tops. Unplug the microwave to avoid vampires sucking up extra energy. Voila!

This meal took 3 minutes to prepare, 10 minutes to eat, and 1 minute to clean up. Though it wasn't grown in my backyard, each ingredient has at least a hint of eco-friendliness, whether it be less packaging, organically grown or locally grown. Green heaven.

Feeling Washed Out?

Try Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Complexion Soap.

I've been using this for about 2 months. Beside the fact that there's minimal packaging, it works well as a face wash. I got this bar at Raisin Rack.


If you're not sure about the smell of tomato plants in the morning, check out Burt's Bees other face soaps.

All Dried Up?

All dried up? Your clothes sure are. The important question is how.

Traditional clothes dryers use a lot of electricity. Next time you have to air out your dirty laundry, try hanging your clothes on a drying rack. For some really nice racks, check out this Treehugger article.



For the clothes you want to be extra soft, try these dryer balls. They eliminate the need for fabric softeners or dryer sheets.

Eco Chic Craftacular was greentastic!

Upcycle. Biodiesel. E-Waste. Greenwashing. Greenovate. Craftacular.

Eco-friendly word hybridization is getting out of hand! Despite that, the craft hybridization phenomenon is all the rage.

At the Eco Chic Craftacular this weekend, crafters brought all types of "hybrids" to sell. Ragged pairs of pants, silk ties, belts and old sheets were upcycled into nifty bags. Old teapots were turned into terrariums and broken watches turned into necklaces.

Here are a few of my "hybrids."

Wine corks made into trivets, secondhand onesies turned into whimsical baby gifts, cat toys made with fabric scraps and organic cat nip, gift tags made from old greeting cards, and desk organizers made from obsolete floppy disks.

What other crafty hybrids have you seen lately?

Bike Like

As one of my eco-friendly resolutions for 2009, I bought a bike last weekend. This is my first bike in 20 years, but after a minute of OhMyGodImGoingToCrash panic, I am loving it.



Though there are some bikes on the market that are made from sustainable materials, they are way out of a librarian's price range. So I opted for a used bike.

I ended up at Once Ridden Bikes on Indianola. They fix up all of their bikes before selling them and they offer maintenance to walk-ins, which is good for a newbie like me. They were busy when I went in, but friendly. I was allowed to take the bikes out for test runs and they showed me how to take the front wheel off so that I could fit the bike in my car.

Here are some other places to search:

• Third Hand Bike Co-Op
  
• Play It Again Sports
• Craigslist
• local garage sales

This may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

The Paper Monster

It's the epic battle between Treehuggers and Paper Monsters.

Join the Treehuggers' cause by eliminating paper waste.

• Take 5 minutes to sign up for CatalogChoice.org. This will get your name off of most print mailing lists, including product catalogs. I did this about 3 years ago and never looked back!
  
• Opt out of credit card offers using OptOutPrescreen.com. No more temptation to get 0% financing and no more chances for your mailbox thieves to steal your identity. Note: You do have to enter your social security number for this, but it's ok. Check out this article from the FTC for more information. (Again, I did this about 3 years ago and am soooo happy that Capital One no longer greets me when I get home!)
  
• Remove your name from direct mailing campaigns.
  

Help the Treehuggers win the war. Your mailbox will thank you.

Plastic is Fantastic?

In a matter of a week, the same plastic cup crossed my path twice.

According to the manufacturers, NatureWorks, this cup is made from:

"Biopolymer that offers more disposal options and is more environmentally friendly to manufacture than traditional petroleum-based plastics. Derived from 100% annually renewable resources such as plants, our product, Ingeo™ natural plastic, made from NatureWorks’ biopolymer, is the world’s first polymer showing a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions."

Though I still think that most restaurants, such as Serendipity, could move away from plastic cups when customers are dining in, this seemed like a viable option for Ohio History Day, an event that was catered on the Columbus State campus.

Anyone know where to order these, or how pricey they are compared to the red and blue cups that overpopulate college campuses?

Don't Litter?

When you have three cats, you can't help but litter! The problem with traditional cat litter, however, is that it is strip mined and not biodegradable.

Here are a few alternative brands that are made from environmentally friendly products or bi-products:

• Swheat Scoop, made from naturally processed, secondary (non-food grade) wheat
• Feline Pine, made from pine shavings reclaimed from lumber production
• World's Best Cat Litter, made from whole-kernel corn

These cat litters are significantly more expensive than regular clay brands, but they have more than just environmental benefits:

• They are not nearly as heavy as clay cat litter, which makes the task of going to the pet store in the middle of a snow storm a little more appealing.
• They are dust-free, which means cleaner air and no layer of gray dust on all of your furniture.
  
• They last longer (sometimes one to two weeks longer than clay litters), which means you don't have to clean out the litter box as often!
• They are healthier for your cats.
• Some can be flushed down the toilet, which means fewer trips to the garage or dumpster.
  

Now, to be fair, I haven't completely eliminated clay litters from my house, because I have one very picky cat who is quite vocal about which cat litters she will use. So I set out a litter box with clay litter in the space that she prefers, and use the alternative litters in areas where the other two cats feel most comfortable.

Note: When switching cat litters, be sure to mix the old litter with the new litter for a few weeks, until your cat gets used to the way the new litter smells and feels.