Am I a slob?

OK, I admit that when it comes to cleaners and household products, I am completely out of the loop. I don’t buy them – literally. Partly because I am not such an avid house cleaner. My house is neat and tidy for the most part, but I don’t do the Saturday morning dusting and mopping that my mother always made us help her do. I try to wash out the sink after I use it, I clean the shower and toilet throughout the week by wiping them down or brushing them out. When I do dust, I just dampen a rag and wipe the dust off then wipe it dry.... why do I need a product? Am I missing something? I do buy 7th Generation Dish soap and laundry liquid. When I scrub the floor, I put some dish soap in the water. Is this a no-no? It seems to work and the floors don’t seem to mind. I am a minimalist at heart and it seems to be both a benefit to my health and my pocketbook. Again I feel like I live a life of goodness and beauty without all the dependence on these products. Does that make me a slob?
When I sold my house and moved to a furnished winter rental this past fall, it was interesting to find underneath all the sinks an array of cleaning products that scare me every time I open the door. I haven’t used them obviously and I am not clear why they should be used if ever. Since they aren’t mine, I don’t own the house, and I will leave in a few weeks, I can’t really take them to the transfer station. But how would you recycle these products? Are they considered hazardous waste? When I look at the labels I can’t help but think that they are. Does every household in America have this array of chemicals sitting under their sinks? Sometimes I think I have been living so far outside the mainstream that I am shocked when I realize how normal some very hazardous things are in American life. And still I wonder, am I a slob?
I love to sweep, don’t mind vacuuming, I wash my sheets, clear out the kitty litter box weekly and recycle it outside in the environment (I use cedar sawdust litter)and I do the dishes with dish soap. My toilet is clean, my shower doesn’t have mold, and the glass doors I squeegee down at the end of the shower. If the bathroom stinks after using it, I open the window. I do buy plastic garbage bags – but I don’t use many in a year. Maybe four or five. I recycle all my paper, plastic and glass – compost my food scraps, and don’t subscribe to magazines or newspapers. It is all pretty simple.
I know that when I lived in India and visited the villagers who did not have running water in their homes, had dirt floors, and cooked on wood fires in their kitchen areas, that their homes were spotless. They did not have all these products that we use to sterilize our environments. They actually were living with the elements. Somehow this feels like healthy ecosystem living to me.
Next blog I will take on the personal care products issues and I can tell you from this vantage point that I might still be asking the question, am I a slob?

Spring Cleaning

This week I reviewed our selection of household cleaners to look for ways we can improve.  Our vacuum does not use bags, and its filters can be cleaned but do not have to be replaced.  We have a selection of rags, which all enjoyed productive lives as towels and socks before finding their way to the rag bin.  We dust with a damp rag and wipe dry with another.  We do not use any furniture polish.  We also use vinegar and baking soda to clear drains among other things.  Occasionally, we rent a steam cleaner for the carpets, but we mix a small amount of Dr. Bronner’s Tea Tree or Peppermint Soap with hot water rather than the recommended chemical cleaners.

I had planned to make my own window cleaner until I discovered that my wife went on a buying frenzy sometime back when Seventh Generation Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner was on sale.  Since our windows get cleaned once or twice a year and we do not use much product on our surfaces, we now have a lifetime supply of cleaner.  While this product contains no phosphates, I used the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG’s) Skin Deep cosmetics safety database to assess the ingredients.  I discovered that two ingredients used as preservatives, methylisothiazolinone and benzisothiazolinone, rank as moderate risk on the database in a cosmetics application.  The European Union has noted environmental hazards associated with benzisothiazolinone as well.  Perhaps we can return the unopened bottles to the store...

We are currently using Ecos Magnolia & Lily Laundry Detergent, which boasts phosphate, formaldehyde, and petrochemical free.  However, the ingredients are more difficult to study because the label does not use the scientific names.  For example, many of the ingredients are “coconut oil based.”  I found derivatives of coconut oil ranging from 0-4 (or low to moderate risk) on EWG’s database.  Since I am uncomfortable with the quality of disclosure about our laundry detergent ingredients, I am interested in trying soapnuts.  Though they are not indigenous to my region, soapnuts are a dried fruit and compostable.  We use either vinegar or baking soda as a laundry softener; both work well.  However, my wife (who fancies herself a “Laundry Goddess”) doubles up on softener.  Therefore, we are also using Seventh Generation Compostable Natural Fabric Sheets in the dryer.  I was not able to find satisfactory information on the scary sounding “di-(palm carboxyethyl) hydroxy-ethel methyl ammonium methyl sulfates” in these dryer sheets.  Further, a palm-derived fatty acid is used, which I imagine is environmentally irresponsible in the same way that palm oil is.  Since we have plans to install a clothesline, we should be able to discontinue the use of these dryer sheets completely.


In the kitchen, we use a loofah instead of Brillo pads.  We also use towels and cloths, but we do keep unbleached, recycled paper towels on hand for cleaning up things like dog or cat vomit.  We have recently switched to Kirkland Liquid Dish Soap (from Costco), because it claims to be environmentally-friendly and is so darn affordable.  I find some of the ingredients, such as “plant-based cleaning agents,” “natural citrus scent,” “100% biodegradable preservatives” too vague.  I would like to find a replacement for this product.  However, since it comes in a giant jug, we might be using it forever.  In the dishwasher, we use Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Detergent.  A few of the ingredients (citric acid, sodium silicate, and amylase) scored on the low end of moderate risk.  However, I did not find reliable information about the safety of polyaspartic acid, ppg-10-laureth-7, or sodium percarbonate.


Finally, in the bathroom, we use Biokleen Soy Cream Cleaner, which also contains a list of somewhat vague ingredients, like “environmentally-friendly polymer” and “surfactants from coconut and/or corn.”  All of the other ingredients were rated low risk on the cosmetics safety database.  Another item we use in the bathroom is Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes.  Whereas other cleaning products only leave behind recyclable containers, the wipes end up in the garbage, which is quite wasteful.  They are also redundant, since we have a glass and surface cleaner.  Lastly, the agent in the wipes is mostly unknown.  It is 0.05% Thymol and 99.95% other ingredients.  So, for a number of reasons, I plan to discontinue using these wipes.

A few years ago we bought some room sprays for our bathrooms at Pottery Barn: tupelo honey, ginger flower, and pomegranate.  At the time we thought these room sprays were delightful, but over time I have begun to perceive that they reek of chemicals.  There are no ingredients listed on the bottles, but there is a warning: “For room use only.  Do not spray directly on skin.  Keep out of reach of children.”  So this week I decided to make my own room spray.

First I emptied the remains of one of the bottles into kitty litter, which I discarded.  Then I washed the bottle with soap and hot water.  Then I mixed 1/2 oz. of rubbing alcohol, 3 oz. of distilled water, and about 20 drops of Aroma Véra Rosemary/Peppermint Oil into the empty bottle.  I shook it well and allowed it to sit for about an hour.  The mixture remained cloudy, but when smell-tested, we found the scent clean and fresh.  According to the inspiration recipe, the mix should keep for about one month.  This project feels like a great way to celebrate the first day of Spring.

Deodorant, Toothpaste, Hair Stuff, Makeup: My To Do List

When we were voting on projects, I was somewhat reluctant to engage in the “chemical-free” portion of this class, not because I was worried about the challenges I’d face, but more because I was worried it wouldn’t be enough of a challenge. I don’t use nearly as many chemicals as most people I know. I clean my home with baking soda, vinegar, castille soap, and Murphy’s Oil Soap. I am very cognizant of the volatile organic compounds that I bring into my home, as I do have a lot of pulmonary problems. As a Great Lakes resident, I’m aware of the risks of phosphates in our dish and laundry soaps to our watershed. I already feel pretty good about this part of my ecological citizenship. However…when I challenge myself and look around my apartment, I have found the following chemical-laden products that I need to eradicate from my lifestyle: deodorant, toothpaste, hair products and makeup.

The deodorant was an easy fix. My goal was to find something aluminum-free, without fake fragrances (some of the more harmful chemicals out there). I went to my local Whole Foods and found some “Soothing Calendula” Tom’s of Maine deodorant. So far, I like the smell…but I don’t yet know about the antiperspirant power. I don’t wear deodorant everyday anyway (don’t tell), so it might take me awhile to figure out whether or not this meets my needs. My Plan B deodorant is actually the crystal method – some of my friends swear by it. We’ll see!

The next issue is my toothpaste. As someone who does NOT have dental insurance, I’m afraid to abandon my standard regiment without a dentist’s advice. So, I’ve made an appointment at a new environmentally-friendly dentist (God, I love living in Chicago…), and that’s one of the first questions I plan to ask.

Finally, we’re moving on to the two issues with which I will have the greatest trouble coming to terms: hair and makeup. I feel the need to share a little background here. I spent the majority of my childhood and young adult years paying VERY little attention to my appearance. I was never conventionally pretty (and never thought I could be), but I was always very confident in myself in other regards (e.g., academics, sports), so it was never really an issue for me. I didn’t dwell on it, because I didn’t have to. I was never teased, always had plenty of friends...life was good. I pulled my unruly curls back into a ponytail EVERYDAY. I wore a hooded sweatshirt, jeans, and gym shoes EVERYDAY.

There came a point in college, however, when it was no longer appropriate to wear jeans and hoodies in every setting. I was presenting at professional conferences, applying for fellowships, traveling internationally, serving as a student representative on panels, etc. Social norms said that I had to dress up. I had to turn to guidance from my friends, and found that I COULD in fact look nice when the occasion called for it – and that I actually kind of liked it. And now, I am a creature of habit. I have learned how to do two things that I find transform my appearance (it’s LITERALLY a façade): I can scrunch some mousse into my hair, and I can apply eyeshadow, liner, and mascara. Since I started using these products (maybe 4 years ago?), I have never changed my routine. Same brand, same amount, same everything. And, working in downtown Chicago in a somewhat public role, I feel like I need/want to maintain this look (a conscious choice after some extensive internal dialogue on the topic of social pressures and beauty stigma – do I want to look “this way” for me or for someone else?). So…what do I do?

This will be the major experimental piece for me for the remainder of the semester. I need to find some hair products that will successfully tame my frizz and curls without a bunch of heavy metals, fragrances, and chemicals. I also need to find some simple makeup that will, similarly, have less environmental impact. I have taken the first step: upon some friends’ (and Whole Foods employees') advice, I’m going the shea butter route with my hair. I bought Everyday Shea shampoo and conditioner, which I love so far:

Hooray for pronounceable ingredients, Fair Trade ethics, and a great Vanilla Mint scent! I also bought Beautiful Curls Curl Defining Hair Gel, which is made of chamomile, yarrow, aloe vera, certified fair trade shea butter, panthenol, coconut oil, and apricot fruit extract. So far…I’m unimpressed. And so, the coming weeks will involve some more research, and a new product. After pay day, I’ll also head out to shop for some new makeup. Wish me luck, and get excited for the next phase of my green makeover! (If only I could find a green hair salon in Chicago as easily as I found a green dentist…)

The Shower Curtain Liner

I live in a cooperative with at least 10 other people (sometimes there may be guests). There are at least 5 of us who regularly use the bathroom and shower on the second floor where I live. When I moved into the coop in November of 2009 I brought and subsequently hung my own shower curtain and a new liner that I had bought and never used. Over the course of the next year and a half, I had washed it a few times. This should probably have been done more often, but finding times when the shower was not in use long enough to wash and at least partially hang dry it was often problematic. The last time I had attempted to launder it, I noticed that the pink soap scum layer had not completely disappeared or the black mold that was creeping along the lower edges. I knew it was time to replace the liner.

In the past, this had always been a relatively simple task for me. I would go to the store, buy another vinyl liner, hang it and the problem would be solved. Living in a house with a group of environmentally conscious individuals makes many seemingly simple tasks no longer simple. The third floor bathroom was having even more of an issue with their shower curtain liner and there had been a great deal of discussion as to what to do to remedy the situation. First, we try to always buy second-hand products whenever possible. This was not a time for a used purchase. Then there was the suggestion of making a liner out of an old sheet. Many people did not like the idea of having regular fabric inside the shower as a liner. Someone had read about people who had replaced their liner and then used the old one as a drop cloth or as a cover for an outdoor garden table.

So we had a consensus to replace the liners and reuse the old ones. The next issue was in what type of new liners to use. We had already nixed the idea of reusing a second-hand one or an old sheet. Vinyl shower curtains however, can have dangerous effects on the human body. The poisonous substances floating in the air can harm the body in various ways. According to The Center for Health, Environment and Justice, toxic substances contained in PVC shower curtains can pose a threat to the immune and reproductive systems and may even cause cancer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PVC products such as shower liners are burdened with 108 volatile organic compounds and poisonous chemicals including phthalates, mercury and dioxins. As the shower curtain hangs near the shower, the poisonous gases and compounds spread in the air and can stay for many days.

There are some very good environmentally friendly alternatives to vinyl shower curtains, but even these solutions have their own drawbacks. Linen and hemp are other possibilities but are very costly. PEVA (also called EVA) shower curtains, however, are a great and safe alternative to conventional vinyl shower curtains. There might be many benefits of PEVA, but just because it is chlorine-free doesn’t make it a perfect alternative. It is a petrochemical product and there are untested chemicals in it. However, it is the right step in an attempt to replace PVC and provide a green polymer alternative. So we did some research and found the “Ecopreme” shower curtain liners that are “chlorine free – environmental friendly, mold & mildew resistant,” as well has having rust proof metal grommets according to the package. They are 100% EVA. The problem is that they are made in China. Nothing is perfect including our decision to purchase the EVA liners, we just decided this would be our best non-toxic alternative.

The specifics on the toxicity of the PVC liners was retrieved from: http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/36516.aspx

Hospital food

This week I have done very little shopping as I have spent most my time at the hospital with my husband, as well as at the local body shop after my husbands BMW got broke into while parked at the hospital (causing more than $2,000 in damage), so I guess I did make a purchase by way of a window and trim, as well as a few other parts that were shipped to the local shop I used for repairs.

Even though I did not do much shopping this week, I did notice something that impressed me. Bronson Hospital rebuilt a new hospital next to the old one about 10 years ago. In the new hospital all patient rooms are privet, there is a large atrium with trees, ponds and many plants and a walkway that winds through it, as well as a three story view.

When Bronson re-built, they stated they were going for a more "holistic aproch" to heath care, something many of us thought they were taking a huge gamble on, since they were building an entire new hospital.

I did not realize how much the hospital seems to be standing behind this philosophy until eating in the cafeteria this week, and I am so surprised at the difference.

There are signs all over the cafeteria that all beef served in the cafeteria is grass feed, free range, locally raised and that this provides better omega 3 and less cholesterol then other beef that is not similarly raised. They also had a smoothie stand, a huge salad bar, many vegetarian selections, I loved this cafeteria!

In fact, while I was sitting in the three story atrium next to the garden, eating my choice of vegetarian meals while my son and daughter chomped down on cheese burgers from beef I was not afraid they were eating, I was surprised more people didn't come to the cafeteria for the wide selection and variety, as well as healthy and local (when possible) for the salad bar, and always for the beef, not just because they were stuck in the hospital and had no other choice. This really made me wonder who was telling the cafeteria what to purchase and why. The same food is delivered to patient rooms, after they order from the menu of choices.

Especially when another local hospital has terrible food that is expensive and not healthy. This hospital recently (about a year ago), allowed a contractor to take over operations in the cafeteria in an attempt to give more "healthy meals." Yet the healthier meals are much more expensive than fried food. Maybe its job security as this is a heart hospital?

After thinking about it, I think it is in part the holistic approach, with smart dietitians who are leading the choices in the cafeteria. The entire hospital feels more alive, like a place of living rather than a place to die.

The other hospital has had huge budget cuts and lay offs in recent times that they attribute to the economy and the free health care they give to the community. I think they are losing patients to the better managed hospital that envisions health care as more than a way to boost profits.

The picture I attached is of my granddaughters last summer at the lake (one of my favorites that I hope to repeat every year). It has nothing to do with what I wrote, it is just a reminder that summer is almost here!

Greenhouse Family Fun

I was recently inspired by this greenhouse design posted on the Instructables website http://www.instructables.com/id/Greenhouse-From-Old-Windows/.

While I would love to build a greenhouse this size, the current constraints on my free time won’t allow it this season. But….. I did decide that a small greenhouse box would be a perfect way to sprout seeds on our porch prior to transplanting them as seedlings to our garden, and I wanted to build one. The idea was to build a wooden box with a window attached as a slanted lid to provide warmth to the seeds during early spring weather. In the spirit of our project, I wanted to use as many materials as I could that were already in my house. This effort was mostly successful and a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

First to find an old window. Our basement contains a few old windows that are beautiful and probably date from around 1900. Perfect, or so I thought. While the windows were in fairly good shape, they were clearly covered with lead paint. I considered scraping or sanding the paint off, but that would create lead dust, which represents a greater exposure to lead than the intact paint. So, the old windows were out. I then went to the local Habitat for Humanity Restore, where contractors and homeowners donate housewares that are then sold to the public to fund Habitat for Humanity projects. I felt pretty defeated as I walked into the windows section and saw a sign reading, “Windows: $50 a piece”, but then I spied the perfect window. The window has a simple wooden frame and a 30-inch by 27-inch sturdy piece of glass. Better still…… it was on the “free” shelf. Score!

A few years ago, my husband replaced a few of the pine floor boards in our house and had an extra 8-foot pine board in the basement. With this one board, we were able to contruct both the front and the base of the box. All we needed to purchase was a second pine board to complete the back and sides of the box and a few hinges.

We’re now looking forward to watching squash and bean seeds (saved from last year’s harvest) sprout in the greenhouse box during early spring and be transplanted to the garden in late spring. This was a really fun family project, and we were able to mostly use recycled materials (the window) or from around the house. We plan to use it throughout the upcoming growing season!

Old Pants

OK, so, first a quick veggie burger update. Lauren and I made another big batch of delicious burgers and found that it is important to keep the chopped up pieces really small or the oatmeal flour and egg will not hold them together so well. We froze half the mixture anyway and have been adding it to various food items to make them delicious. The other half we chopped up smaller and made patties out of. I have been so busy that I have misplaced two patties that I had intended to take to work the other day. Hopefully I will find them before they turn even greener than they started.

Somehow I have become a cook and a baker again. Although I am usually happy as long as there is a little bit of chocolate in the house, my girlfriend needs real food, so I have begun to bake cakes and brownie type things instead of purchasing them at the store. My favorite is this vegan apple ginger cake.

Since I started to cook and bake more often, my apartment has become an even bigger pit then before. So I am really excited to start the next portion of our blog, which I have determined will include an ecological queer eye for the messy student episode.

In other news, I switched my vacation destination from Isla Mujeres to Austin, Texas at the last moment. Not to be "greener" but to avoid places where tectonic movement might happen. Apparently the moon is getting really close to the earth, which has coincided with tectonic movement in the past, though scientists think this is just coincidental according to the interwebs. I had been thinking of changing my trip when I heard that there was going to be a "supermoon", as the phenomenon is termed. I was teetering on my decision, but the recent obvious tectonic movement clinched it, even though it was nowhere near Mexico. So I will be saving my mosquito nets and steri-pen fantasy for later (thanks for the tip, Kim!).

Lauren and I will now be venturing to Austin, Texas where we can drink the water, enjoy the music, eat at our pick of vegan restaurants, kayak on Lake Travis, and lounge about in the sun. I feel relieved for so many reasons. Though I love to venture to other cultures for the learning experience (Berlin inspired me to get involved in city composting), I am much happier visiting the most progressive city in Texas this time.

Instead of the mosquito netting and steri-pen, I will bring my favorite blanket, upon which I Lauren and I will sit for our lounging experiences. A couple of New Year's ago, my friend and I decided to exchange homemade gifts. Her gift to me was a blanket made out of a bunch of our old pants. Mine was a song. I would like to think that the song stood the test of time, but really, the blanket made of pants wins.

Treading Greener

My final post for this half of our project is part reflection, part update on the additional lifestyle commitments I’ve added to my daily actions.  But first of all, I have to excitedly write about the new running shoes I bought!  Purchase justification comes in 3 . . . 2 . . .1 . . . These shoes are necessary as I’ve signed up for a triathlon, and a 24hour relay race across the state of Massachusetts; both events are set to occur at the end of May and early June.  These physical challenges are sponsored by the sedentary lifestyle I’ve adopted between school, work, the weather and a need to feel healthy again.  I need to start training as of yesterday.  My worn, stinky, and deteriorating sneakers must be upgraded to new ones that will last me through race season.  

Here are the sneakers I purchased:

These are Brooks‘ Green Silence.    Yes, they’re pricey, and I really hope they can get me through race season.  I will let you know how they hold up.  In case you don’t click on the link to check out the “eco-innovation” of the shoe, they are made of 75% post-consumer recycled products.  Biodegradable midsole, insole and collar foams, all dyes and colorants are non-toxic, and it’s constructed with half as many parts of other shoes, lessening the amount of water and petroleum it takes to make the shoe.  

Another exciting event in my life is I have gone paperless in my home - well with the exception of toilet paper.  Last week, I counted how many paper napkins, tissues or paper towels I use on a daily basis. I average between 10-15 pieces of paper products per day.  This is not only expensive, but wasteful.  This week I’ve armed myself with Trader Joe’s Super Amazing Kitchen Cloths .  These cloths are quite amazing, so easy to clean and reusable that I forgot about my past paper towel life.  I also keep one at work because my clumsiness does not stop at my front door.  Today I’m armed with a cloth napkin for my face, and one for my nose (hello allergy season, we meet again), which are just cut up dish towels.  These travel cloth napkins are great for work and in case I get a case of the hungries and need to eat at B.Good, which happens quite often.  Overall, this experiment wasn’t too difficult, although it is kind of gross keeping my used cloth face napkins around, but it does feel good to be wasting less.  

This spring/summer I am really looking forward to my produce CSA from Stillman Farms.  Oh, and it’s pretty inexpensive.  For $350 I get a weekly produce box for a growing season that lasts between 16-18 weeks.  I’m splitting this with a good friend, which helps with the initial investment and brings down the cost of produce to approximately $11 per week.  Unbeknownst to my friend, I specifically asked her because she is an amazing cook, and I envision lots of joint delicious meals!  

The consumer changes I’ve made has spurred a lot of dialogue with the many people I interact with daily.  Explaining to friends, family and coworkers why I’m doing the things that I’m doing has been quite significant.  These discussions reiterate what’s important to me, and sharing my new consuming choices has hopefully inspired people to take a second look at their habits.  

Yeah, I'm going there. "Down there."

Since we started this project, I have only made two non-food related purchases: my hiking boots and, upon arriving in Boston during the last torrential downpour, an umbrella made in Pittsburgh of 60% post-consumer materials. I’m pretty proud of the restraint I’ve shown, even keeping my baking needs/desires in check by passing on the purchase of a Bundt pan and instead improvising the ridiculous 7up pound cake you see below.

However, my consumer avoidance must now come to an end. It is now “that time of the month,” and my medicine cabinet is on the empty side. I’m faced with a major consumer choice right now. Am I really prepared to purchase MORE sanitary napkins and tampons? Yeah, I’m gonna go there. If you don’t want to read about my girly business, I’d suggest you move on to another post.

OK, for me, I use about 20 sanitary napkins per menstrual cycle. I think that’s about normal (based on an informal survey of my friends). So, if you assume that most women menstruate 12 times per year, that comes to a total of 240 each year. Using my mother as a yardstick, it is very likely that I will menstruate for at least 40 years (side note: SERIOUSLY?! I hate thinking about this.). So, 240 times 40 is...9600 sanitary napkins in my lifetime. UGH. At $0.25 each, that’s $2400. Why am I crunching these numbers? To show that the choices we make regarding how we manage our danged periods actually have a pretty significant environmental and economic impact. Not only is that a LOT of waste, but sanitary napkins include a wide array of forestry and plastic products. (Check out this cool video by the Discovery Channel to learn more about how pads are made.) Many health researchers also assert that typical menstrual management methods can pose health risks (e.g., chemical exposure, toxic shock syndrome, etc.). So…all of this has me wondering, WHY do we continue to use these products? Why are such wasteful, unhealthy, expensive products so mainstream?

Women had alternate means of dealing with their periods for hundreds of years prior to the invention of the disposable pad in the 1880s – there are definitely other options out there. I have a few friends who use cloth, reusable menstrual pads, but I have a hard time imagining incorporating those into my lifestyle – I don’t think my roommates would appreciate “the bucket” in our bathroom, and I can’t figure out what I’d do at work. (If this is something that interests you/if you’re home more often than I am, check this out. Or this.) I also have several friends who use menstrual cups – they swear by them as the best option when doing field work, and since they are made of medical grade silicone, they have none of the same health risks as other menstrual products. This sounded like it could be a winner for me. And so, with my Urban Ecological Citizenship class in mind…I bought myself a Diva Cup today.

It’s too soon to tell whether or not I’m a permanent convert, but I have already managed the first few hurdles that had me concerned. First of all, I figured out how to put the darned thing in. And take it out. It also appears to be doing what it’s supposed to. I can’t feel it, so that’s good. And I have not yet “sprung a leak.” I’m glad to have a couple of days at home to figure this business out, but I really don’t think this is going to be a big deal. It might actually be MORE convenient than pads or tampons. We’ll have to wait and see.

That's enough on uber personal subjects for this post. But if you have further questions (and care to get specific in the comments), I'm happy to oblige as I hope to (even awkwardly) share this as a learning opportunity for all.

Living the Good LIfe by Coleen O'Connell

My life has not been a charmed life, the kind you have when you were born with a ‘silver spoon in your mouth’ - the saying in my hometown in Minnesota. But in every way, I have had a full and fabulous life up to this point. I had great experiences in high school and college that resulted in successfully launching me into a career in education; I got married and built a homestead from scratch with my husband– a log home made from hand that was a handcrafted marvel that got us a lot of media attention and accolades; then I found a grad school program I loved which transformed my career into one that has lasted for 25 years. I have traveled North America by car, plane, and by school bus, backpacking in the most remote of places, meeting some of the most fascinating common everyday people, and having profound experiences within the natural world. I have accompanied undergraduate students on semester long studies to Scotland, France, and India. I have a mentor who has worked with me to transform my thinking in ways that has given me deep connection with all life – past, present and future.
I have not made a lot of money in my career, but I have been thrifty, frugal, and willing to forgo popular fads in order to do the work I love and still survive financially. I have owned two homes, bought new cars, and traveled for fun to places that I have wanted to experience. I mostly do my shopping at Good Will, Farmers Markets, and hometown stores and I don’t get caught up in needing all the latest gadgets. (I do long for a Cuisinart). I don’t lack for friends – I have a rich and deep tapestry of humans that adorn my life in multiple ways. I buy good food – organic and local whenever possible; I have always driven fuel efficient cars not caring for what is cool or stylish. I am way too busy with the myriad of things that have meaning and value in my life. I don’t lack for a thing – nada, nothing. I can’t imagine needing anything I don’t already have (except of course, that Cuisinart).
So why am I telling you this? Because I want you to know that I am thriving even though I have never once stepped foot in a Walmart. That confession shocked one of my graduate students a few years back when I shared that one of my life goals was to never shop at Walmart. She looked at me horrified and blurted out “But how do you survive?” I stopped and thought about it because not only did I feel that I was surviving very well, I actually felt that I was thriving. Still do.
What is it about the American culture that has us needing oh so many things – not just every month, but every week, and sometimes every day. Why is shopping the past time of choice? And why is buying something for 10 cents less, or several dollars less the reason to drive 45 minutes to the nearest Walmart store to save that two dollars. I hate to shop. I hate to walk around being enticed by unnecessary objects. Now I realize this all would be different for me if I had children – somewhere the simple life goes out the window as children enter the scene... or at least that is what folks tell me and what I witness in my friends who have children. But I ask, does it really have to be this way? Why are we so gullible?
So Walmart is there to offer the best deal on just about anything one could desire –or it create desires where there weren’t any before. Being the political beast that I am, the 2006 documentary “The High Cost of Low Cost” affirmed my decision to boycott Walmart. What I had always known intuitively was now there for the world to watch. They don’t pay living wages, they get most of their stuff from China or other sweat shop pimp countries. They hurt locally owned businesses if not banish them all together. Walmart is one of the wealthiest corporations in the world and they don’t have to care about small towns or main street. They don’t have to care about workers. They care about their bottom line – profit. The movie is an incredible expose of the worst of American business. And most of us have succumbed to its lures. If you haven’t watched it, please find a copy and review it. If you think Walmart is going green, consider it a great case of green wash. If you depend on Walmart for your survival and happiness, I am here to attest that life can be full, rich, meaningful without ever stepping one foot inside one of their stores. I promise you – it’s true.
When our town went to battle a few years back over whether or not to allow a Walmart in our midst, the people giving pro Walmart testimony kept focusing on the fact that they wanted a place to buy underwear without having to drive 45 minutes. A few of us opposing folks decided that a great summer event in the local park would be an “underwear festival”. Imagine it if you can – booths and booths of underwear vendors selling their wares to save our town from the impact of Walmart. Though the festival has never gotten off the ground, I do think, since we defeated the Walmart proposal, that we do owe those folks a chance at some great underwear deals. Stay tuned. We could make history.

I Scream, You Scream...

My greatest vice is ice cream - Haagen Dazs coffee, Ben & Jerry’s Americone Dream, and anything with mint and chocolate.  While hiking through Vermont with my spouse, we stopped at a farm just off of the Appalachian Trail that made and sold rich and creamy maple ice cream and cinnamon ice cream.  My mouth still waters every time I recall that experience.  Since I am not aware of any locally made ice cream, I decided to make my own this week.

Everyone in the family gets in on the action!

As background, last summer I read Michael Pollan’s Food Rules, which has been a source of inspiration for bringing my eating habits into better harmony with my values.  The act of making my own ice cream follows Pollan’s rule #39 “Eat all the junk food you want as long as you cook it yourself” (Pollan, 2009).  According to Pollan, preparing your own junk food causes you to eat much less of it.  I would add that I cannot get more local than my own kitchen, I effectively eliminated additives and preservatives, I enjoyed the activity with my wife, and I appreciated and savored the treat even more than usual.

We own, but had never used, the human-powered Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker.  (http://icecreamrevolution.com/)  Ours is a large red jewel-colored, hard plastic ball with an aluminum cup inside that makes one pint of ice cream.  To begin, one side is filled with ice and 1/2 cup of rock salt.  In the other side, ice cream ingredients are added.  We used half and half, sugar, vanilla, and crushed Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies.  (With three little girl scouts in our cul-de-sac, we could not refuse.)  After securing the lid, we rolled the ball back and forth across the floor for ten minutes.  While this was not aerobic exercise, we definitely felt ourselves working a little to move the seven pound ball.  After ten minutes, we stirred the ice cream, drained the water, added more ice, and added another 1/4 cup of rock salt.  Then we rolled the ball for another ten minutes.  When we finished the ice cream was solid around the edges and softer in the center, so we put the ball in the freezer to enjoy after dinner.  The verdict: Tasty!

Pollan is correct that when you make junk food yourself, you eat less of it.  Making the ice cream will be a fun but occasional activity in our house.  Nevertheless, the ingredients we used have a footprint.  While the ice came straight from our freezer, the rock salt package does not list the source.  Our vanilla and organic half and half both came from Wisconsin, the cookies were made in Kentucky, and we purchased the sugar at the bulk store in Charlotte (again, I am not sure of the original source).  But the footprint does not end there.  For example, what was the source of the cookie ingredients?  I’m guessing they did not come from Kentucky.  And how about the packaging waste?  In Charlotte, we can recycle the creamer carton and cap, the cookie box, the rock salt bag, and the vanilla bottle.  The bulk sugar bag will be reused.  We will throw away the plastic sleeves that the cookies came in and the vanilla extract bottle cap.  What is the impact of pouring rock salt water down the drain?  How can our ice cream be more sustainably made?  And, when items are not available in the area, how local is local?

Before

After

References

Pollan, M. (2009). Food rules: An eater’s manual. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

The art of buying less and how that is working out for me so far. . .

When venturing to Wholefoods, I usually purchase some organic bananas, almond milk, and the occasional bag of rice. The rest gets purchased at the farmers market. I am heartbroken that avocados don't have less of a footprint.

I have been bringing food with me to work much more often, pretty much every day.

What has helped me the most in my quest to buy less was my yearly Christmas gift from my grandmother: one glass jar of bulgur wheat and one glass jar of lentils.

My grandmother is Syrian and lived with us while I was in high school. She was very sweet to always make me a lentil dish when everyone else was having lamb.

Anyway, I was thinking that if I could just grow enough lentils and black or heirloom beans, I won't need to go to the store for protein during the summer, which is usually when I run out of grandmas lentils.

I did some research and found I could in fact get some lentils started 2 weeks prior to the frost date and that they would take about 80-110 days before harvest. The articles recommend about 4-8 plants per household member. Black beans can be planted around the same time and grow to about the same height. Their seed yield is a bit higher though. Perhaps I will scale back on the enormous amounts of green beans and peas I usually grow to make room for the lentils and black beans. I still am eating frozen green beans from last year.

It looks like it would be more fruitful for me to fill up the rest of my community garden plot with vegetables than with wheat plants for bulgur wheat. This would require a bit more space to be effective I think. There are local sources of organic wheat and bread so I feel ok with that.

This weekend it is time to make another big batch of veggie burgers. We shall see how that goes.

Another objective I set was to try and study more at home more often. Today it was impossible (I blame my cute kitties and the smell of spring in the air), so I eventually went to the local organic coffee seller and planted myself on a bench. This battle will take more time to win.

A total fail depending on how you look at it is the vacation I will be taking in a week. Lauren and I will be flying to Isla Mujeres in Mexico. We struggled so much with affordability that we forgot about all of the bottled water we would be drinking. On the other hand, we will be in Mexico in the sun, which will give us both a needed rest and allow us the energy to fight more public health problems when we get back.

Lastly, Greg Gerrit is probably the epitome of a buy nothing guy. He has one pair of hiking boots that will last him practically forever and he walks all over the city of Providence with them. He does not have a car and is a champion of local environmental causes. Currently he is organizing an event for March 22 from 1PM-4PM at RISD on the subject of city-wide composting in Providence. Gregs blog is: http://prosperityforri.org/?page_id=106. He is awesome.

Buying Locally Grown in a Humid Continental Climate

Ah, food.  This happens to be my favorite subject.  Approaching this part of the project, I thought it would be a breeze to only eat locally grown and produced food.  I’m only responsible for feeding myself, which allows for greater control and research into the food I’m consuming, and I live in a city with a breadth of residents on the relocalized*  bandwagon that are geared towards empowering restaurants, grocery stores, and winter farmer markets to source locally.  I figured some challenges I may run into include the increased expense of purchasing from a widely perceived boho**, yet yuppie-ish** grocery store that sells a lot of produce and other products from regional farms.  Also, the actual process of cooking itself.  This I will have to learn, and it will take time.  My experience so far has seen the fruition (pun not intended, but it’s staying) of a few assumptions, but also some other things have emerged . . .

One thing I’m psyched about is that I live near that perceived pricey grocery store that turned out to not deflate my wallet.  A few snips into the coupon leaflet proved to be beneficial as well as their clear signage reflecting the origin of each produce item they sell.  The countless free recipe cards next to vegetables that I had not known how to cook were an extra bonus.  Luckily, I acquired a crockpot over the Christmas season that has removed a lot thinking and time out of the food planning equation.   

What I was not prepared for was the surge in root vegetables in my refrigerator's crisper, and how it is entirely possible to get bored with eating parsnips and beets week after week.  Granted, I’ve never met a vegetable I didn’t enjoy sinking my teeth into, but I’m tiring of butternut squash, and how many times can I roast beets before my mouth is permanently stained?  It then dawned on me that I have to face the fact that I live in Massachusetts and what grows here can be limited during certain seasons.  Apparently, I am quite detached to what can be grown in my regional climate during the winter months.  Regional climate includes the bitterly cold, harsh, awful, soul draining and "snowmageddon" winters of New England.  

At this point my crockpot is bored with what is being thrown into it, so I’m learning new cooking techniques to jazz up parsnips.  The cooking and planning time challenge may have temporarily left the table, but it’s back, and most likely will be as new produce pops up with a new growing season upon us.  

Eating locally is connecting me deeper into the bioregional context of what grows and when during the year.  I’m sure that spring, summer and fall will have a new meaning as I taste my way through those months.  It makes sense to eat what’s in season, and closer to where you live simply because it’s fresher and therefore tastes better.  Steve Hancock from NorthStar Farm in Westport, MA echoes this sentiment in a statement he made to RadioBoston during Somerville Winter Farmers’ Market:

“When you can start growing plants that like cold weather, it intensifies the natural sugars  -– the flavors are totally different,”  Hancock said. “Even the textures are different. You get the benefit of having a really sweet carrot or a much sweeter Brussels sprout than if  it were grown in hot weather.” (Mauzy, 2011,March, 3)

I am longing for the days of ripe strawberries, zucchini, and summer squash.  This harsh winter is certainly intensifying my impatience for spring and summer, but in the meantime, anyone have any good recipes for these vegetables pictured below?

*Relocalized = building the resilient, healthy, just, diverse, sustainable, people-powered communities of our future (http://www.relocalizemassachusetts.org/)

**Boho = (derived from Bohemian) somebody who leads an alternative lifestyle, they are not hippies because they can have an extremely wide range of different tastes in music, fashion, art, literature etc they are usually very creative people. they are above all optimists, even if they can be very cynical too(it does make sense...sort of).  http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bohemian

***Yuppie = Informal for (y)oung (U)rban (P)rofessional, or Yup. turned into yuppie in the 1980's. A term used to describe someone who is young, possibly just out of college, and who has a high-paying job and an affluent lifestyle. Can now be used to describe any rich person who is not modest about their financial status. Yuppiedom (yuppie-dum)is a term used to describe an involvement in being a yuppie  (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yuppie)

Mauzy, D. (Writer). (2011,March, 3). Farm to fork: somerville market provides fresh food all winter long [Radio series episode]. In (Executive producer), Radio Boston. Boston, MA: NPR.