My Green Switch Was Flicked On

I was watching Live Earth, I said, Self, what can you do for the environment? So I created this blog. I do a fair bit but I'm running out of ideas. I'm hoping people post comments or suggestions. Let's all do a couple of things to make the EARTH better.



Things I've done to help the environment:

1 Replaced 21 light bulbs with CFL's.
2 Put a few lights on motion detectors.
3 Use a real coffee mug and silverware at my desk.
4 Only buy fair trade and/or organic coffee.
5 Only buy organic produce and meat.
6 On the 100 mile diet. (90% Compliant)
7. Use my own grocery bag.
8. Try to buy products with less packaging.
9. Switched to paperless banking/bill payment.
10 Don't use air conditioning.
11. Take public transit.
12. Unplug instant on stuff, except for VCR and alarm clock.
13. Buy only sustainable power from Bullfrog.
14. Switched to Ice Melter instead of salt.
15. Offset the rest of my emmisions with a carbon credit.

Green things I still need to do:

1 Get rid of my extra beer fridge. (I don't know about this because I brew my own and it need's to be refrigerated.)
2. Quit smoking. (OK, so I'm working on this now)
3. Buy a hybrid. (So, I couldn't buy a hybrid this time cause I had to get a work truck but, I'll limit my driving and will buy a hybrid for personal use at a later date)

Please Note: I am not a writer. Most of these articles are shared from other sources. Please use the links provided to get the whole article from the source site. Please support these sites too! We all have a role to play.

Where I'm At Now

I've decided that organic may not be the way to go. What's the sense of shipping an organic product 3,000 miles if I can find a locally produced item? OK, so it may not be organic but I guess it's a balance between chemicals to grow or chemicals to ship. I've actually found local chicken, beef, pork, lamb and goat, all naturally raised, antibiotic free and free range where applicable. I've managed to find local potatoes, yams, carrots, onions and garlic all winter. I also have a local hydroponic lettuce grower and besides lettuce he grows cucumber, bell peppers and tomatoes.

I've switched to Bullfrog Power. Bullfrog uses only environmentally sustaining power sources like wind as well as low-impact hydro-electric.

I've also discovered Guerrilla Gardening. Take over an abandoned patch and make it grow. Stay tuned.

Well this year, I've decided to post more about what I'm doing. I'll still have cool products once in a while, especially if I've tried or switched to them.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Step It Up Cincinnati


How does a day full of straight from the farmer organic food, solar oven cooking, and a band playing with solar-powered equipment held at a local outdoor market sound? See the story here, http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/step_it_up_cinc.php
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Sunday, October 28, 2007

South Africa to Get First Green Development


Say what you will about the posh name -- Upper East Side-- but kudos to South African developer Swish Property Group for spearheading what will be South Africa’s first green mixed-use development. Read the rest here, http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/south_african_d.php
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Monday, October 22, 2007

Climate Labels?


Carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes are likely to be the first foods to get a special climate-friendly label in Sweden, according to Swedish organic certifier KRAV and the quality control organization Svenskt Sigill. Read the rest here, http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/climate_carrots.php#ch02
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Thursday, October 18, 2007

Better trick or treating

Halloween in coming!

Here's a link for better trick or treating. Organic, fair trade, GMO free, are just a few of the treats. Trying to find them will probably be the trick.I haven't seen any retail yet. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/green_halloween_candy.php
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Wednesday, October 17, 2007

September 2007 was 5th Warmest on Record Globally


Temperatures in September 2007 were the eighth warmest on record, hot enough to break 1,000 daily high records across the United States...

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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The Bamboo Bike

If you're going to bike, look at this.

Serious bikers only.

http://www.calfeedesign.com/bamboo.htm
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Monday, October 15, 2007

Blog Action Day - Solar Backpack


Solar Backpack

Hey all, I mentioned a solar backpack a while ago, http://www.backup-power.ca/


Well, I have a birthday coming up and I needed a new backpack so Joyce picked one up a bit early for me. This thing is great. It can charge a cell phone, Ipod, camera or even a battery charger, while your on the go. I haven't had to plug my cell into the wall for a week now.
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Sunday, October 14, 2007

100 Mile Thanksgiving

Well, here in Canada, Thanksgiving is just a memory but it's over a month away for our American neighbours.I hope you can add a few local items to your celebrations. Transporting food is the single most contributing factor to global warming.Please visit http://www.100milediet.org/ for more info.



I did the 100-mile Thanksgiving. Everything I served was grown or raised locally. 11 items in my salad, all local. Green and yellow beans, carrots, orange cauliflower, potatoes and stuffing with sweet potato, onion and turkey sausage along with a local, organic turkey. Found out my bread is made with local grain, and milk and butter from a local, organic dairy. Exceptions are black pepper and coffee.
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Bart Simpson Drives A Prius!

Read the story about Matt Groening here, http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/features/article2108671.ece
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Nobel Peace Prize

Al Gore, along with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, wins the Nobel Peace Prize for their warnings about global warming.
Al Gore was my inspiration for starting this blog as well as my Facebook group.
Congrats Al!
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Another Interesting Solar Charger


Here's another great solar power supply.

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I've Started The 100 Mile Diet

Here is a sample market run. Not all of this is available during the winter

All Produce was Local & Organic, Lettuce - Romaine, Red Leaf & Green Leaf
Celery, Peppers - Green, Orange, Red & PURPLE, Radish, Green Onion, Cucumber
(That's my weekly salad stuff)

Spinach, Swiss Chard, Peas, Corn, White and Sweet Potatoes
Onions, Apples, Pears
Lots more available but I didn't buy.

Dairy, All Local & Organic (Naturally Raised or Free Range)Milk (In Glass Bottles), Cheese, Butter, Eggs, Yogurt, Cottage Cheese,
Sour Cream & others available but I didn't buy.

Bread and Rolls, Organic but not all grains local. I've been baking my own too, using local if possible.

And for the Meat Eaters, All Local & Naturally Raised
Chicken - Whole, Boneless & Skinless Cuts (Other Cuts Available)
Lamb Chops (Other Cuts Available)Pork Chops (Other Cuts Available)
Beef - Steak, Ground (Other Cuts Available)
There were other products such as Goat, Emu and others that I didn't buy.

Now, I know not everything is available to all but if you can replace half of your grocery list with local products you would be doing what you can as well as telling retailers you want local products.
I know I'll have a challenge in February. There won't be as much local produce available.
I've committed to starting a greenhouse garden in my basement and growing my salad.I'll let you know how that works out.
Barry

Update: June 2,2008

February produce was a challenge but I found lettuce, bell peppers, cucumber and tomatoes, all grown locally the hydroponic way. At least I had a small salad every day.

I don't have a basement greenhouse yet but I do have a backyard garden.

More later.

Update, August 18th 2008

Well the vegetable garden was a bust. I put in a 10' X 12' garden but I don't get enough sun in my yard. We have tomatoes and peppers in containers and they are doing much better. Looks like I need a new plan.

Update, September 12,2009

So gardening at my house is out. Too shady.
I switched to Bullfrog Power a year ago. My hydro comes from wind and non destructive hydro-electric.
I gave up driving to work a year ago as well.

With a friend of mine, we started Earth Hour By The Dozen.
It's Earth Hour but we have it on the 4th Saturday of every month.

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