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.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

TakeOutWithOut Says No to Paper and Plastic

Americans toss out enough paper and plastic cups, forks and spoons every year to circle the equator an astonishing 300 times, and the folks at TakeOutWithOut are trying to do something about it! The group formed to convince restaurants to encourage and accommodate people who bring their own containers.

More here, http://liveearth.org/en/liveearthblog/takeoutwithout
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Colorado Wind Project Gets $2.5 Million In Stimulus Grants

DENVER — A community wind-power project on Colorado's northeastern plains will receive $2.5 million in federal stimulus funds.

Phillips County wants to build a community-owned 30-megawatt project with the ultimate goal of building a 650-megawatt wind farm within Sedgwick, Phillips and Logan counties.
 
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Disappearing Greater Mekong tigers underscore global threats

Tigers on the Brink: Facing up to the Challenge in the Greater Mekong, states that tiger populations in the Greater Mekong – an area that includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – have plummeted from an estimated 1,200 during the last Year of the Tiger in 1998 to about 350 today.

Read more here, http://www.panda.org/?187021
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The 15 most toxic places to live

Here's a little photo tour of the worlds most toxic places to live.
 
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Friday, January 22, 2010

Small School Eco-sanitation Complex

Wherever the Need (WTN) has become an expert in the construction,
maintenance and training in the use of ecosan toilets. Ecosans toilets
are sanitation systems that separate the liquids from the solids for
future use in agriculture. Having already built over 700 ecosan
toilets in India for individual families, schools, women-only and
complete communities, WTN is particularly keen to construct further
systems in primary schools.

Read here, http://liveearth.org/en/liveearthblog/small-school-eco-sanitation-complex-wherever-the-need

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Monsanto's GMO Corn Linked To Organ Failure, Study Reveals

In a study released by the International Journal of Biological
Sciences, analyzing the effects of genetically modified foods on
mammalian health, researchers found that agricultural giant Monsanto's
GM corn is linked to organ damage in rats.

According to the study, which was summarized by Adam Shake at Twilight
Earth, "Three varieties of Monsanto's GM corn - Mon 863,
insecticide-producing Mon 810, and Roundup® herbicide-absorbing NK 603
- were approved for consumption by US, European and several other
national food safety authorities."

Read here, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/monsantos-gmo-corn-linked_n_420365.html

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Global Warming Effects: 10 Startling Facts from 2009

New evidence has emerged that underscores the global climate threat and the need for an effective climate bill. These are just the 10 most startling global warming facts we learned in 2009.
 
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Glowing walls could kill off the light bulb

Light-emitting wallpaper may begin to replace light bulbs from 2012, according to a government body that supports low-carbon technology.

A chemical coating on the walls will illuminate all parts of the room with an even glow, which mimics sunlight and avoids the shadows and glare of conventional bulbs.
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Missing Megawatts

There has been a lot of attention paid to how Ontario's Green Energy Act will boost investment in renewable energy, and justifiably so because it is a landmark piece of legislation. But more significant, in terms of environmental benefit and savings to consumers' pocketbooks, has been the quiet recognition by the energy planners and government that energy efficiency works
 
This isn't just in the realm of rhetoric. Over the last five years, 8,000 megawatts disappeared from Ontario's projected energy needs, which means we're no longer planning to build multi-billion dollar plants.
 
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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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