Green Choices: Green Mowing

I retired the gasoline mower this week-- no more feeling guilty about lawn care.

I know that small engines pollute even worse than motor vehicles, and have been looking into alternatives.  I chose the Neuton mower, electric powered, with rechargeable battery.

• 270 million tons of pollutants per year are emitted by lawn/garden equipment.  After mowing with a gasoline mower, my clothes and body are saturated with hydrocarbon smell. That means I'm breathing toxins.  Neuton emits no fumes.
• 800 million gallons of gasoline per year are used mowing lawns in the U.S.  Neuton recharges with 10 cents worth of electricity.
• 17 million gallons of gasoline per year are spilled refueling lawn mowers in the U.S.  Neuton uses no gas or oil.
• Gasoline mowers are noisy.  Neuton produces one-fourth of the noise of a gas mower.

Green Choices Wednesday - Buying Bulk

Many stores offer some of their staple items from bulk containers.  This option often reduces packagaing waste greatly. 

Our local store recently stopped carrying one of my favorite cereals, Bob's Red Mill 5-Grain Rolled Cereal wih Flaxseed.  It's like oatmeal, but has a lot of extra whole grains, and I like it better.  It's a combination of rolled whole wheat, rye, oats, barley, triticale and flaxseed.   I like oatmeal, and eat it often, but kept Bob's Red Mill on hand for a change of taste.


If I find Bob's Red Mill at another local store, I'll still buy some occasionally.  However, after looking around, my wife found an acceptable substitute, Sunridge Farms Organic Four Grain Cereal, in the bulk cereals in one of our better local grocery stores. 

Some stores will let you bring your own reuseable container for bulk items.  Our store is set up to dispense into a plastic bag that they supply and then put on their scale; it prints a label with the name, codes and price.  I'm not a fan of plastic bag waste, so we'll just peel off the label and take the empty bag back to refill again.

Meatless Monday

Running Green supports Meatless Monday, an initiative associated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The goal of Meatless Monday is to help reduce meat consumption in order to improve public health and the health of the planet.

These delicious-looking recipes are published by the Meatless Monday initiative, and may be found at http://www.meatlessmonday.com/category/this-mondays-menu/

Monday Morsels (Source: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/):
The New Haven Independent reports that the town’s elementary and high schools now go MM… Dr. Mary Clifton makes an appeal to Traverse City to pass MM resolution… St. Louis’ Riverfront Times reports that “Meatless Mondays have become a boon to restaurants”… Sean S. Miller, education director at the Earth Day Network endorses MM… popular advice column Earth Talk discussing the history of the MM movement.

Green Choices Wednesday - Recycle your Shoes!

Recycle your shoes!

As an environmentalist, I try to minimize my unnecessary consumption of resources and minimize my contribution  to excess waste disposal.  As a runner, I'm concerned that my consumption of shoes is higher than the average person.  It's recommended that runners replace running shoes after 300 to 500 miles.  I've been sucessful in getting as much as 500 miles out of most of mine.  After that many miles, the shoes' shock-absorbing properties are compromised slightly from repeated compressions of the soles.  A runner risks injury by extending shoe use too far.  When I retire a pair of shoes from running, they are still normally in great general condition and have little sole wear.  500 miles sounds like a lot, but worn just for running, for example at 9.5 minutes per mile, they've only been worn about 80 hours.  That's like wearing them at work for two weeks, except that it is more extreme service! I do extend shoe use by wearing my running-retired best condition shoes additionally for casual use, and recently a friend reminded me about the Soles4soles organization.

Soles4soles (http://www.soles4souls.org/) is a non-profit organization that was formed after the asian tsunami several years ago.  They recycle "gently used" shoes by cleaning them and giving them to needy shoeless people around the world.  I've seen shoe collection bins at race events in the past, and recently explored their website.  I found that it's really easy to donate shoes at any time, benefitting both the Earth and people who need shoes.  Using the location finder at http://www.soles4souls.org/about/locations.html, I found that there are two locations within a mile and a half of my home where I can donate used shoes!

In the future, I'll take shoes to these locations as I retire them, rather than wait to donate them at a race event.

Meatless Monday

Running Green supports Meatless Monday, an initiative associated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The goal of Meatless Monday is to help reduce meat consumption in order to improve public health and the health of the planet.


These delicious-looking recipes are published by the Meatless Monday initiative, and may be found at http://www.meatlessmonday.com/category/this-mondays-menu/

Monday Morsels (Source: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/):
Nancy Lee, Food writer for Maryland’s Frederick News Post asks readers to “looks at why food is more than just the meal in front of us” with her MM article… Students and staff at The University of Florida celebrates MM on campus… Civil Eats sits down with the original MM blogger Kim O’Donnel to discuss meat’s role in our food system… Craftzine creates an inspired MM recipe for Acorn Stuffed Squash with Harvest Quinoa Salad… NYC sustainable food finder Clean Plates praises the MM campaign.

Green Choices Wednesday - Cold Water Laundring

Another simple green choice-- wash clothes in cold water instead of hot water!

• Uses a fraction of the energy - 80 to 90% energy savings!  Saves $$$; saves the Earth!
• Gets most loads just as clean - you may still want to use warm for a few heavily soiled loads.
• Clothes washed in cold water last longer!  Less replacement cost for you, and less demand on resources if fewer replacements are needed.

Meatless Monday

Running Green supports Meatless Monday, an initiative associated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The goal of Meatless Monday is to help reduce meat consumption in order to improve public health and the health of the planet.


These delicious-looking recipes are published by the Meatless Monday initiative, and may be found at http://www.meatlessmonday.com/category/this-mondays-menu/

Monday Morsels (Source: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/):
San Francisco State University encourages all to visit one of the city’s MM restaurants for Sustainability Week… GreenWala offers their own MM Recipe Roundup with six dishes… Creative Loafing Atlanta writer Cliff Bostock would “love to see meatless Mondays” come to town… Community Voices of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers an easy, affordable MM meal… Favorite Diets blog suggests cutting back with MM.

Green Choices Wednesday

Today's Green Tip:

Cleaning your dryer's lint filter can slash its energy usage by as much as 30%!

~Source: sierraclub.org

Meatless Monday

Running Green supports Meatless Monday, an initiative associated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The goal of Meatless Monday is to help reduce meat consumption in order to improve public health and the health of the planet.

These delicious-looking recipes are published by the Meatless Monday initiative, and may be found at http://www.meatlessmonday.com/category/this-mondays-menu/

Monday Morsels (Source: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/):
BBC radio personality Anne Diamond asks her audience to make Mondays meatless… SecondAct magazine tells readers to go MM for their health, highlighting some celebrities who have already joined the movement… Phillyist offers their MM recipe for Kale, Sweet Potato and White Bean Chili… The Toronto Vegetarian Association reports that two leading mayoral candidates -Smitherman and Pantalone- have promised to bring MM to Toronto is elected.

Meatless Monday

Running Green supports Meatless Monday, an initiative associated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The goal of Meatless Monday is to help reduce meat consumption in order to improve public health and the health of the planet.


These delicious-looking recipes are published by the Meatless Monday initiative, and may be found at http://www.meatlessmonday.com/category/this-mondays-menu/

Monday Morsels (Source: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/):
The LA Times celebrates MM with a recipe for mushroom quesadillas… Washingtonian.com welcomes Chef Glenn Babcock to the MM movement as he introduces his fall lineup of meatless dishes for D.C. restaurant Nage… The Toronto Vegetarian Society is encouraging action through eating by asking mayoral candidates if they will pass a MM resolution if elected… The blog at Eating Well includes some MM inspiration this week, including links to dozens of plant-based entrees… One student at Irvine Valley College encourages her classmates to try MM with a recent op-ed in The Lariat.

Green Choices Wednesday - Recycle and Reuse

Wednesday-- not only is this the day of the week for my Green Choices feature, it is also the day for weekly garbage pickup in my neighborhood.  When I go for my Wednesday morning runs, I'm usually a little disappointed by sights along the roads.  Many garbage cans are overflowing to the point that the lid won't close.  I don't make a point of looking inside people's garbage cans, but most of the overflowing ones have lots of recyclable items that are clearly visible while just running down the road.  Items like aluminum cans and plastic bottles that are so easy to recycle.  I once read that there are enough aluminum cans in circulation that if every one was recycled, no cans would have to be made from bauxite ore (a heavily polluting process).  Imagine that-- a closed loop system, a continuous cycle of use, recycling and reuse, instead of a linear system of manufacturing, use and landfill.  Seems like systems could be designed to do that with most materials we use, and that, with encouragement, everyone would to participate and make it work.  Maybe I'm naive.

One week per month, there is a pickup where residents can set out larger items.  The city does a good job in some areas.  I know they put yard waste like grass clippings and tree or bush trimmings in a separate part of the trucks and compost it.  They also pick up waste oil left in containers by the curb and send it for recycling.  Most other large items go to the landfill.  The city doesn't do a good job of recyling other items, as there is no curbside collection of cans, bottles, paper, etc.

I regret seeing useable items left by the curb for pickup, like pieces of furniture and miscellaneous household items.  There are good organizations in the area such as Goodwill Industries and the Salvation Army.  They both accept household items that are usable.  They resell them in their stores, and everyone wins.  The organization gains resources to help run their programs.  Donators are able to get rid of unwanted items.  Shoppers in their stores get good, used items at a great price.  And the items get reused.

Every week, the magnitude of waste represented by the overflowing cans makes me sad.  And the magnitude of thoughtlessness involved in generating such waste.  After composting our kitchen and yard waste, collecting all metal, plastic, glass, paper and cardboard to take to local recycling centers, and just avoiding all possible disposable products, we often have just one small bag in the bottom of the huge garbage can that the city supplies.  And I'm not bragging, because it really just isn't that hard.

Think green and live green!  

Meatless Monday

Running Green supports Meatless Monday, an initiative associated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The goal of Meatless Monday is to help reduce meat consumption in order to improve public health and the health of the planet.


These delicious-looking recipes are published by the Meatless Monday initiative, and may be found at http://www.meatlessmonday.com/category/this-mondays-menu/

Monday Morsels (Source: http://www.meatlessmonday.com/):
The popular food blog Yum Sugar now has a MM group where readers can share recipes… Money management site MintLife encourages everyone to take the MM challenge, offering 7 recipes that cost $10 or less… Plant-based food producer Gardein credits MM for increased awareness about the health and environmental impacts of meat production and consumption… Salt Lake City paper Desert News suggests MM as a way to develop more mindful, sustainable eating habits.

Green Choices Wednesday

Wow-- It's October already.  The winter holiday season is quickly approaching, which will bring the annual frenzy of shopping and gift-giving.  Many environmental groups are advocating backing away from the buying frenzy for the holidays.  Treehugger.com has a "Slow Holiday" campaign, stressing "taking the time to enjoy the time, to savor the moment." with "gifts...selected for thoughtfulness, longevity, and quality over quantity..."  A variety of green gift ideas may be found at Treehugger: http://www.treehugger.com/giftguide/.

Other groups advocate not buying in to corporate marketers' encouragement to overconsume by participating in a "Buy Nothing Day" on "Black Friday."  Almost every year, there are reports of several shoppers being trampled to death in the rush to be the first one into a store in this competitive buying orgy.

Of course, we all want to remember our loved ones with nice gifts, but it's worth remembering that quality is more important than quantity.  And there are options other than wanton spending.  If you have a talent for crafts, for example, your eco-minded friends would probably greatly appreciate the thoughtfulness, effort, and personal touch put into a handmade gift.

Even a simple process such as gift-wrapping can make a difference.  Every year, tons of holiday waste are generated from discarded paper, bows, and ribbons. 

Here are a few possible gift-wrapping options:

• When you receive gifts in nice wrapping paper, consider unwrapping them carefully instead of ripping them open.  Paper, bows, and ribbons can be reused to wrap gifts you give. 
• If you give a gift in a gift bag, the recipient is more likely to reuse it than throw it away.
• Instead of a paper gift bag, you may consider hand-making a cloth gift bag.
• Reuse attractive household materials.  Many people use pages from the Sunday newspaper comics.  You can also use attractive pages from magazines or paper from a map.

Any of these options will save you money, ease landfill usage, and save trees!

Green Choices Wednesday - Using Your Local Library

Just a simple choice to note today.

Yesterday, I went to our local library branch (only one mile from the house, close enough to run to!), and picked up a library card.  Most environmentally aware people realize that it's greener to read books from the library instead of buying them.  We read most books once, and then they adorn our bookshelves for eternity.  Library books are reused over and over.  There are a few books that are special to us, and we want to re-read them, periodically or even frequently.  Other books may have a smaller readership demand, and the library may not carry them.  Those are  good reasons to buy books.  So, when there's a book I want to read, I'll check the library first. 

I had intended to get a library card since I moved to a different city near the end of last year, but put it off.  This week I read a book review on Callah's "My Yoga Life" blog: my yoga life: The World We Have (a book review), and the book contains an "Earth Peace Treaty" at the end of the book. It's basically a list of possible Earth-friendly activities to which one may choose to commit.  I like lists like this, because I get ideas from them.  Sometimes they are new ideas, and sometimes serve more as reminders that I may want to adopt an activity I'd been considering.  One item on the list was "Use library instead of buying books, as much as possible."  In this case, the list helped to motivate me to overcome my tendency to procrastinate.

My next challenge: develop a plan to overcome procrastination.  Maybe I'll do that tomorrow...

Green Choices Wednesday

Eating Green

Simple processes such as making our daily dietary choices have a significant effect on our environment.  Every day, we have two major choices:  where our food is raised, and which foods we choose to eat.

Food Sources - Eating Local
There are a range of choices relating to the sources of our food.  The distance food travels has an impact on air quality.  Obviously, more greenhouse gases are generated transporting food raised farther away.  Buying locally raised food is preferable to buying food raised far away.  However, few areas have year-around growing seasons, or raise all of the products we wish to consume, so we have to make decisions and trade-offs.  For most of us, the decision comes down to eating foods raised as close to home as possible, and eating foods that are in season as much as possible.  And it's not a black and white choice between local and distant; there are a full range of options in between:

1. Home gardening - the ultimate local source:   This is my favorite.  Every year, I grow fresh vegetables in my garden.  It just doesn't get any more local than my own back yard!  There is virtually no transportation involved; maybe just shipping the seeds.  I use home-produced compost instead of chemical fertilizers.  This has several benefits.  This method doesn't support the environmental effects of production and transportation of chemical fertilzer.  There is no resulting chemical runoff into the local watershed when it rains.  Composting my kitchen and yard waste keeps the waste out of landfills, reduces transportation effects from taking waste to landfills, and provides high quality, fresh, organically grown vegetables. 

2. Locally Raised: Visiting local farms or local farmer's markets are great choices.  Transportation is minimal, and locally raised foods are fresher.

3. Regionally Raised:  Many foods that are not available locally may be available regionally.  Any reduction in distance transported benefits the environment.  Here's an example.  When I buy a bag of oranges or grapefruit, I can usually choose between Texas, Florida and California citrus.  Living in Texas, I look for the Texas fruit.  Reading the labels on bags of various fresh produce often tells us the source of the food.  Being informed allows us to make better choices.

4. Nationally vs Internationally Raised:  There are a lot of options.  Do I want to buy apples from the state of Washington, or from New Zealand?  Big difference in distance.


Food Choices - What do we Eat?
What we choose to eat has at least as big an impact as the source of our food.  Choosing organically raised food is more environmentally sound because it is raised without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.  Grass-fed beef is a better choice than grain-fed beef.  Less meat is better than more meat.  Studies indicate that as much as 18% of all greenhouse gases are a result of meat production.  Grass is the natural diet for cattle.  Cattle raised on factory farms are fed grain, mostly corn, the digestion of which results in more methane generation than a natural grass diet.  Many people are choosing to eat less meat for many reasons, including health, concern for the environment, and concern for animal treatment.  Just as with food sourcing, there are a range of dietary choices:

1. Meat Reduction:  Many people have chosen not to eat meat every day.  There is a popular Meatless Monday movement.  People have chosen not to eat meat one day per week.  If everyone did this, it would reduce enviromental impact by 1/7, or 14%.  Others have taken it a step further and go meatless several days per week.  My family did this for many years.

2. Flexitarian Diet:  This is a term that I only became familiar with last year, as I researched vegetarianism.  A flexitarian eats a virtually vegetarian diet, with only occasional meat.  The percentage of meat consumption is so low that the environmental impact is very close to that of a total vegetarian diet.  "Occasional" is defined by the individual.  It may be weekly, monthly, or even less.

3. Vegetarian Diet:  A no-meat diet, typically allowing dairy products and eggs.  This is my current choice.  Not as strict as vegan.  Dairy and eggs give two good sources of protein in the absence of meat.  Over the years, I trended from reduced meat, to mostly flexitarian, and finally to vegetarian.  After giving more and more thought to my concerns for the environment, and also to concerns about animal treatment, last year, I could no longer reconcile my views with continued consumption of meat.

4. Vegan Diet:  No meat or animal products at all, including dairy or eggs.

So, we face a lot of choices about our diet.  The choices are not black-or-white, all-or-nothing.  One doesn't have to go to the extreme on every choice.  Just think about your choices, make informed choices, and be aware that there is an effect that results from every choice.  The cumulative effect of many people just helping a little is huge.

Think Green and Live Green!

Green Choices Wednesday

Updates on previous Green Choices posts:












On the second attempt, I think we perfected the process of making homemade peanut butter (August 4 post).  The first batch was delicious, but thickened after refrigeration, and was not easy to spread when cold.  We added a couple extra teaspoons of peanut oil to the second batch, and it stayed smooth and spreadable even when cold.  We also like it with a small amount of honey added.  So, we find we can make the equivalent of three jars of peanut butter for about the price of two jars,  the product tastes better, is made from 100% natural ingredients, and is stored in our own reusable container.  What's not to like?  Also, I'm sure we can bring our cost down even further by buying bulk peanuts.

My transition to Green shaving is complete.  On June 30, I posted on the intention to replace canned shaving foam with shaving brush and mug soap, and to replace disposable razors with a reusable razor, either a safety razor or a straight razor.  My July 21 post updated my shaving brush trial, but I had not found a razor yet.  There was no hurry on the transition, because I intended to use the disposable razors I had already purchased.  This week, a friend found me a vintage safety razor at a second-hand sale.  I cleaned and sterilized it and it looks like new!  I picked up some double-edge blades, and it shaves well!  from a Green perspective, I also like the idea of reusing an existing product, like this second-hand razor, for three reasons: it recycles an existing item, it doesn't create demand for the resources and energy required to manufacture a new product, and it cost me $3 instead of $30!

Green Choices Wednesday - Homemade Stuff!

Homemade Peanut Butter

Peanut Butter-- delicious, great nutrition,  and a great source of protein!

Since going vegetarian last year, peanut butter, one of my old favorites, has become one of my nutritional staples.  Wife and I have also been eliminating as many processed foods from our diet as possible.  Initially, we started buying all-natural peanut butter.  No chemicals or preservatives, no trans-fats or added sugars, typically just peanuts and salt.  Additionaly, we have been eliminating most disposable products and identifying/eliminating many sources of unnecessary containers.

So, this was a natural evolution.  We are now making our own peanut butter.  All we need are peanuts and a food processor.  A small amount of salt and/or added oil are optional.  We're using a little bit of peanut oil.  It helps make the peanuts process a little easier, and makes the peanut butter a little smoother.  For crunchy peanut butter, my favorite, just grind a few nuts separately, and stir them in at the end.  Add a little honey for a sweeter variation.

It's just as tasty as the commercial product, is cheaper, and we have total control of the ingredients!  Like commercial all-natural peanut butter, the oil separates a little in storage, so we stir it before use.

And we can store it in our own reuseable containers instead of adding more plastic jars to our recyling.  Recyling plastic is great, and we will continue to recycle everything we can.  But a practice even better than recyling is to avoid generation of recylables where possible.  This avoids the consumption of resources that the container is made from, and saves the resources consumed in the container production process.

Green choices-- they are everywhere, if we just look for them!  Many of them are so simple!

Think Green and Live Green!

Green Choices Wednesday

Green Shaving

I've been looking for additional opportunities to eliminate "disposable" products from my lifestyle.  The latest thing that's been bothering me is the use of disposable razors.  A disposable razor is just a blade on a plastic handle.  Use it and throw it away.  The problem is that there is no such place as "away."  Everything goes somewhere.  Disposable products convert the Earth's precious resources into trash, one piece at a time. 

I have half of a package of disposable razors left.  I've decided to buy no more of them.  Here are the options I'm considering:

• A system with reusable handle and disposable blade head, such as Gillette Mach 3 or Fusion, or Schick Quattro.  Greatly reduced waste, but still throwing away the blade head.  A better option than I'm using now.
• A classic safety razor.  The head opens, allowing replacement of the blade only.  I could dispose of the used blades with the rest of my metal recycling.  No waste, and fairly inexpensive.  The classic safety razor is making a comeback, and is considered to be a closer shave than possible with a disposable.
• An "old fashioned" straight razor.  At one time, the main method of shaving.  Used by few in recent years, also currently making a comeback.  No waste, but requires a little more investment, $100+ for entry-level models, plus a strop.   Still considered to be the ultimate close shave.  Not to mention the cool factor!

I also understand that traditional wet-shaving glycerin-based shaving soap, as applied with a brush, gives a superior shave compared to shaving foam in a can.  From a green perspective, a shaving mug and brush is reuseable, compared to a can that is used and thrown away.  I plan to look into this also, and discontinue using canned foam.

I'll post again when I have chosen and purchased a new system, along with a review of the system's performance. 

Think Green and Live Green!

Green Choices Wednesday

Readers of previous Green Choices posts know how much I dislike styrofoam, and also how much I despise unnecessary use of disposable products.




I was proud of my wife last week!  We went to a restaurant for our anniversary.  She doesn't have the appetite that I do, and hardly ever finishes a restaurant dinner.  She takes the leftovers home for a nice lunch.  Restaurants always use foam containers.  She isn't a fan of disposable waste either, but we always seem to forget to bring a reusable container.  Last week, as usual, she ate about half of her meal.  And then, she pulled a reusable container out of her purse, and put the leftovers in it.

The waiter had probably never seen a diner bring his or her own container, and said he'd have been happy to package it for her.  I just said, "Thanks, but we'd rather not use the foam.  It's a tree-hugger thing."

A small gesture, but it made me feel good.  A simple choice, and such an easy way to make a small difference!  And maybe it will cause the waiter or other diners give thought to easy choices that can make a difference.

Think Green and Live Green!

Green Choices Wednesday

It's time to get my Wednesday "Green Choices" feature going again, after a month of neglecting the blog.

This was just a simple and easy workplace effort, a result of being bothered by seeing recyclables thrown away every day at my workplace.  I set up containers in the luchroom for plastic and aluminum collection, and printed  a simple sign for each with interesting recycling facts.

Unfortunately, my city does not have curbside recycling pickup.  However, I collect my household recyclables (paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, and other metal) and take them to local recyling facilities every couple of weeks or so.  I just add the workplace items to my household recyclables whenever I make a trip to a collection center.

I felt this simple exercise was worthwhile because it kept 252 aluminum cans and 226 plastic bottles out of the landfill in 2010, and reclaimed these resources that would have been wasted.  A greater benefit occurred because it started a dialog, raising employees' awareness of Earth-friendly activities.  Some told me that they never thought a lot about recyling before this, but have since started recyling in their homes.

There are opportunities everywhere to make a little bit of a difference, if we just look for them.  This is just one small example.   And making just a little difference here and there in small ways adds up to a noticeable impact.

Think Green!