Thoughts for a Greener Hanukkah

A dear friend of our family is a rabbi, and as I was gathering material last week for this entry, I emailed him for his perspective. Rabbi Andrew Goodman shared these thoughts about Hanukkah: "... from the most basic level, Hanukkah is an important celebration for two reasons... neither of which are gift giving. On one hand, the holiday commemorates a victory over oppression from the Greeks. It commemorates religious integrity and standing up for/fighting for what you believe in and knowing when to act in the face of imminent annihilation. On the other hand, there is the theological importance of the miracle of oil, which should only have lasted for one day lasting for 8. From both of these perspectives, I think that a strong argument can be made for greening your life. We are aware of limited resources and should never forget the importance of having these most basic needs, and thus need to guard them. Also, as the Jews fought the Greeks, we too need to fight (not literally) for our existential longevity. Without our earth, we will not be able to survive and so, this threat is akin to the Greeks... and we too must act."

So how can you make Hanukkah a bit greener?  Here are a few tips I've gathered:

• shop for vintage menorahs, dreidels, gifts at antique stores, thrift shops or eBay.  Shop online for sustainable dreidels and menorahs
• shop for locally grown and organic potatoes, cheeses & other ingredients
• candles-- beeswax candles  burn slowly and are odorless, smokeless and virtually dripless; or look for them locally 
• fair trade gelt sources:  Chocolate coins can be purchased online at Serrv and Global Exchange. They are also available at Whole Foods and Wegmans stores.
• Green menorah campaign 
• A Light Among the Nations 
• suggestions for 8 days of environmental action to commemorate Hanukkah
• Thinking Outside the Gift Box  -- green gift suggestions

Holiday Dinner gone Local!

Recently, Louise D. and I had a chat about the importance and benefits of buying food locally and she told me about all the fresh goodies found at Hamilton Farms.  She's followed up by writing this description of her T-day dinner:

I procured the majority of my Thanksgiving dinner at Hamilton Farms and nearly everything was marked Jersey Fresh. They had wonderful new potatoes which I mashed with their skins on and used some more of them in our traditional "Aunt Sally's potato rolls". The waxed turnip was delicious and the first time there wasn't a speck of turnip left over ( hint- I mash it with butter, milk, salt, pepper and the secret ingredient a sprinkling of sugar). The carrots were incredible ( they still had the
tops on) and I love to cook/mash them with parsnips, which I also got at the farm. For those I mash them with the milk, butter, salt, pepper and some freshly grated nutmeg. The apples were all Jersey Fresh and I bought 1/2 bushel- so we will be having lots of apple items in the near future. My apple pie was sweetened with fresh local honey that I also got at the farm. My trick there is, you sweeten the pie with the honey and then sprinkle about a table spoon of sugar on the top of the pie. I bought the pie pumpkins- cut them in half- took the seeds out which I roasted ( yum yum) put them upside down on a baking dish and baked for about an hour. I then ran the pumpkin through the food processor and just added the other ingredients as well and the filling was ready for the crust. There were fresh Jersey cranberries, onions, celery, butter, milk, eggs, etc. I was checking out ( no lines) and said "if only I could get my turkey here". The answer was "you can". Those need to be ordered in advance but there were still 2 left- so I took them both and of course they were Jersey Fresh as well. Hint on cooking turkeys- I cook them in a brown paper bag. They take about 1/2 hour less time to cook, don't require basting ( none of that energy lost opening and closing the oven door), come out moist and tender and clean up is a snap. I didn't even have to soak the roasting pan. There was very little fat and the juice made wonderful gravy.

Hamilton Farms is a wonderful resource that is right in our back yard- open daily including Sunday. The produce store will be open through December and then open again April 1st.

Thanks, Louise!

Christmas Trees

Is it December already?  Here are some thoughts about the different choices surrounding your tree:

• 85% of artificial trees begin in overseas factories, contain metals and plastics that sometimes include PVC or lead and ultimately end up in landfills which make them the least eco-friendly choice.  If you already own an artificial tree, keep using it or donate it to someone who will.
• Potted or ball and burlap trees could be a good choice if the tree is maintained under the proper conditions:  the tree should be adaptable to our climate, stored away from the wind and sun, not be allowed to freeze, remain indoors for only 7 to 10 days, kept moist but not flooded, and decorated with lights that don't give off any heat.  After the holiday, the tree can't go directly outdoors into freezing temperatures; remove it to a sheltered location for a few days to acclimate.  It is often wise to dig the hole where the tree will be replanted early and cover with mulch to keep the soil from freezing.  Remember a 6 foot tree with root ball could weigh as much as 250 pounds.
• The Arbor Day Foundation supports the use of traditional Christmas trees because the trees "are a renewable, sustainable resource, provide jobs in rural areas and support American families, provide the usual benefits of trees, including oxygen, CO2 uptake, erosion control, and wildlife habitat, help preserve open space and are biodegradable and recyclable." (taken from the November/December 2008 issue of Arbor Day.)

If you choose a traditional Christmas tree, consider supporting local growers for the freshest tree possible and remember to recycle that tree after the holiday!  For more Green Christmas tips, visit this page at the National Geographic site!  

Zero Water Filter with Almost Zero Waste

from the National Geographic Green Guide
by Mary Logan Barmeyer

We've heard again and again that it's time to kick the plastic water bottle habit and head back to the tap. Despite evidence that our tap water is highly regulated and just as safe as bottled, news about pharmaceuticals and chemicals in drinking water or pipes that may contain lead, or even just bad tasting tap, can make us wary of getting our water straight from the faucet. Although most water filters can't eliminate every contaminant, they can help reduce them. But are unrecyclable water filters any better for the environment than recyclable plastic bottles? Not if you can recycle them.

Zero Technologies recently launched a recycling program for filters, the only program of its kind in the country. Ninety percent of the materials in its ZeroWater filters are recyclable--even the filter media are recycled for use in wastewater-treatment plants--and they can be shipped back to the company in their original packaging in exchange for a discount on replacements. (Zero is also one of the only companies to offer filter bottles made of glass, although the ABS plastic used in their other products has been tested to ensure no chemicals leach out).

ZeroWater's carbon and ion-exchange filter reduces dissolved solids in water down to zero parts per million, which you can test with a total dissolved solids (TDS) meter that comes with the filter. The filters are also NSF certified to remove lead, chlorine taste and odor, mercury, hydrogen sulfide, chromium, aluminum, zinc and iron.

ZeroWater filters are available online at www.zerowater.com. Half-gallon pitchers are $39.99, and larger 2.5 gallon bottles are $119.99 for glass or $99.99 for plastic.

Click for information on the Mountain Lakes drinking water supply and Mountain Lakes Consumer Confidence Report .

Prescription Drug Disposal

An Associated Press investigation shows vast array of pharmaceuticals -- including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones -- have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans including 24 major metropolitan areas -- from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit, Michigan, to Louisville, Kentucky.  So many prescription drugs -- and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen -- in so much of our drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health.

One solution for proper medicine disposal is offered by SMARXT DISPOSAL. TM This public awareness campaign is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the American Pharmacists Association, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.  They recommend that you follow your medication prescriber’s instructions and use all medications as instructed. If you do not use all of your prescribed or over-the-counter medication, you can take a few small steps to make a huge impact in safeguarding lives and protecting the environment by disposing of unused medicines properly:

• DO NOT FLUSH unused medications and DO NOT POUR them down a sink or drain .
  
• Be proactive and dispose of unused medication in household trash. When discarding unused medications, ensure you protect children and pets from potentially negative effects:
  
• Pour medication into a sealable plastic bag. If medication is a solid (pill, liquid capsule, etc.), crush it or add water to dissolve it.
  
• Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds (or any material that mixes with the medication and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat) to the plastic bag.
  
• Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash. 
  
• Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription label) from all medication containers before recycling them or throwing them away.
  
• Check for Approved State and Local Collection Programs. Another option is to check for approved state and local collection alternatives such as community based household hazardous waste collection programs. In certain states, you may be able to take your unused medications to your community pharmacy or other location for disposal.
  
• Consult your pharmacist with any questions.
  

New Jersey does not currently have an operational program to allow for donation of unused prescription drugs for redistribution to needy individuals.
If you want to donate unused medication, contact the The Starfish Project,  they will pay for all shipping costs of medications. If you would like to donate medical supplies, contact them and they can provide you with information on other organizations that collect medical supplies.

Making Fast Compost with Leaves

Bonnie found this article from Horticulture Magazine:  
Deciding to have an organic garden means doing two things: avoiding harmful chemicals and improving the soil. For many, banning chemicals comes as a no-brainer. Why would anyone choose to spread stuff that is hazardous to his or her personal environment? On the other hand, improving the soil, a huge part of organic growing, gets less attention than it deserves.

An important difference between “conventional” and “organic” growing is that conventional growing feeds the plant, while organic growing feeds the soil so it can feed the plant. Healthy soil provides everything a plant needs; the healthy plant shrugs off attacks by insects and diseases. A conventionally grown plant is a botanical junkie—it has to get that chemical fix or it will wither. Its immune system is weak, so without chemical protection, it dies.

Happily, soil improvement is cheap, easy, and guaranteed to be effective. Good soil is alive, literally. When school classes visit my garden or farm, I hold a double handful of compost out to the kids and tell them, “There are more living things in this than there are people in the world!” Their eyes pop open, but it is true. And the presence of beneficial microorganisms makes the difference between good healthy soil and the lifeless growing medium you find in some farm fields.

To bring soil back to life—or, rather, to bring life back to the soil—you just have to add vegetative matter. Compost is the classic method, but this is the best time of year to do it the easy way. Take all those leaves that fall from your trees, run over them with the lawn mower to chop them up a bit, and then spread them all over your garden, about six inches deep. Clear some space, a few inches wide, around the stems of trees and other perennials to keep mice from burrowing in. If you can get some straw or seaweed, spread those around too.

This is called sheet composting. By spring, most of what you laid down will have decomposed to make a lovely layer of worm-rich humus filled with beneficial organisms. Rake any still intact material aside as a basis for a new compost pile. Gently (you don't want to hurt those worms!) scratch the rotted material into the top three inches of the original soil, or plant right into it.

Do this every year, and your plants will thrive. No chemicals needed!

A Greener Cuppa Joe

Jeana drinks a lot of coffee! She always has a pot going in the kitchen but recently saw something on a website about energy usage and coffee makers. This website estimated that the average homeowner wasted $200 a year keeping coffee warm, this doesn’t include the cost of brewing the coffee. Her solution – use a Thermos to keep the coffee warm. Now she brews a pot of coffee, then transfers the liquid to the Thermos and unplugs the coffee pot. She has hot coffee all day and some extra money in her pocket!

She also started buying coffee from an organization called Grounds for Change. They sell organic, fair trade, shade grown coffees and are members of 1% for the Planet. The coffee she uses is grown by a women’s co-op. The only downer is that the coffee is shipped from Poulsbo Washington, which is adding to carbon emissions but she tries to offset this by buying a large quantity at a time (10-15 pounds).

I've been wrestling with this issue for several years. I first switched to a single-serve brewer but didn't like all the used pods it created. When that broke, I switched to a brewer that let me fill my own pod which was messy and that machine broke because the instructions stated that the machine had to be left on all day which I didn't do. I also became concerned about the water being in contact with plastic. This summer I switched to using a french press. This method brews excellent coffee and only requires the energy used to boil the water (on the stove or electric kettle). It can also be used to brew tea. According to Ideal Bite, about $400 million goes to electricity used for coffeemakers in the US. I've been getting my coffee from the SmartWorld shop in Denville.

Those Pesky Bottle Caps

We all know that we should NOT keep bottle caps on plastic bottles when we recycle them, right?  Bonnie has forwarded this information from Wini Applegate,
Garden Club of NJ-Environmental/Conservation Chairman, National Garden Clubs, Inc- Environmental Schools Chairman:

"Good news in recycling!  Until now, plastic caps have been tossed in the garbage, on the ground or in the water. The Aveda Company launched a new program to recycle plastic caps. It is a win-win situation.  Plastic caps will be reused in making new caps and containers for their products. Applause for Aveda!

In the first week that I became involved with spreading the news, I was heartened by the positive reaction. I was also amazed to find out that so many were recycling plastic containers WITH THE CAPS ON, thinking that this was the proper thing to do. Actually there is no provision for the cap to be recycled and if it does not pop off during compression the bottle is tossed from the conveyer into the garbage and ultimately into the landfill.

Plastic caps have been one of the largest number of items collected at clean ups, according to statistics. Here is a very small item, that we can work together collecting that will make a difference. Please spread the word to your local municipality, library, county recycling department, schools, churches, businesses, clubs and organizations. I will be interested in your response and reaction."

Planning a Garage Sale? Have Items to Give Away?

then remember to visit our Free Market website & keep those items out of the landfill!  Sorry, Mountain Lakes residents only.  Just follow the link in the second box in the column on the right.  Questions? Email Susie Laker.

Green-o-Ween!

This is copied from Low Impact Living.
Make Your Halloween Less Scary

Posted by Lisa Borden

Some things are scary: ghosts, goblins, vampires and bats.  And some things are really scary: Genetically modified foods, toxic face paint, and insane piles of garbage.  
And then there is the combination of all of these into one massive event: Halloween.

Halloween produces more boos, eeks, screeches and ding dongs than I can now handle…so, in an attempt to make sure my kids don’t hate me, my neighbours, family and friends don’t ridicule me (although I have gotten used to this by now), I inspire each of you to have a less scary Halloween.

I am pleased to share a few of my own simple initiatives/suggestions for a smarter Halloween. I hope you’ll read, adopt as many as possible and pass them along.

1. Since Halloween involves community…support yours. Buy your organic pumpkin at a farmers market, or better yet, pick your own. Growing a pumpkin takes an awful lot of pesticide and pumpkins take up lots of space in landfills and release greenhouse gases as they decompose. Make full use of your entire pumpkin by roasting the seeds (yummy and very healthy), make a soup or pie, and compost the pumpkin when you’re done.
2. Walk, do not drive. Stick to your neighbourhood…talk to your neighbours and enjoy the crisp fall air. It’s a bonus to get some exercise into your busy day.
3. Use a costume you already have in your possession, or borrow one.
4. If you do not have costumes already, make your own costume (and NO face paints – check all makeup at the Environmental Working Group’s  Cosmetics Safety Database!) Remember dressing as a ballet dancer or hockey player? Easy. Plus, I really cannot understand choosing to put on an off-gassing, store-bought, made-in-china, phthalate laced, over packaged mask!  Some costume ideas that are bright, easy and comfortable: a Whiteboard (all white clothing with a pen on a string around your neck and people can sign…now that is interactive!), a Compact Florescent Lightbulb (again, all white clothing with skinny white balloons in twisty shapes on your head), a Ghost (with an organic cotton sheet of course), a Jelly Fish (dressed in pink while opening and closing an umbrella).
5. Instead of turning on every light in your house, use old cans (Eden Organic uses cans that are bpa-free for their non-acid foods by the way) and punch holes in them, fill them with organic soy or beeswax candles and see what you can create (all reusable year after year…just keep adding to your collection).
6. Treats are treats. Kids love treats. You love your kids. What to do??? Every store has those colourful boxes lined up on shelves ready for us to buy (think of the resources wasted right there!). I shudder to now think of the artificial colours and flavours, refined, over-processed ingredients and dyes (that I know will be banned someday), that I put into my body. Try these: Glee Gum or Yummy Earth Lollipops – natural + even nut-free! Or how about giving away pencils made from recyclable materials? (Stop rolling your eyes!)
7. Of course, use a reusable bag. (you can always use a pillowcase too). And, if you do not yet have one, get a RuMe bag already! They are gorgeous, and it’s a reusable bag that even a man will use, imagine that! There is a size for everyone in your family from mini to macro, they fold right up to tuck away into your purse, briefcase, glove compartment or drawer and you’ll use them throughout the year.
8. Walk around with a solar charged, crank powered or shake and shine flashlight. A fabulous range of products powered by alternative energy that every household should have anyways in case of emergency (think solar energy powering your blackberry and shortwave radio).
9. Beware of phantom power. It’s sucking the life out of your bank account and the environment. You thought your electronics were all off at home? They are not really off, they’re just on stand-by. Exorcism procedure: Unplug stuff! (or use a power bar and shut it down completely).
10. Reduce everything, reuse as much as possible and recycle the balance (which is, hopefully not much).

So, be scary, but don’t spook our cherished kids and precious planet. A Happy, healthy and safe Halloweening to you all.

An after/other thought:

We know it’s not “safe” to give out unwrapped treats + fresh foods, but how is an over-packaged, over-processed piece of candy any safer?

About the author: Lisa Borden is an eco-advocate and mother of three, whose business is a direct reflection of her commitment to better, more responsible living. Her full-service marketing firm, Borden Communications + Design Inc. is based in Toronto and takes great pride in being an ethical business providing exceptional ideas.

Meatless Monday

We've already talked about the importance of eating locally.  After a season of enjoying the flavorful difference in locally grown & organic produce, I feel the choice to be a no-brainer:  I get superior taste and freshness, the local farming industry gets a boost and my household carbon footprint is lessened.  In fact, I've been feeling a bit smug until I had a chat with my friend who has been a vegetarian since Oprah had her run-in with the cattle industry.  She pointed out that, not only was some beef raised under questionable conditions, but that it was a major contributor to greenhouse gasses.  Recently, Carnegie Mellon researchers said: "We suggest that dietary shift can be a more effective means of lowering an average household's food-related climate footprint than 'buying local.' Shifting less than one day per week's worth of calories from red meat and dairy products to chicken, fish, eggs, or a vegetable-based diet achieves more GHG reduction than buying all locally sourced food."

I've been hearing about Meatless Mondays but was surprised to learn that it was the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that came up with idea to support their "Food will Win the War" campaign in 1917!  Back then, they needed the food to feed our soldiers overseas.  These days, we wage war on our dependence on foreign oil AND global warming.  In her 1971 book, Diet for a Small Planet, Frances Moore Lappé states that "it is possible to implement an end to the gross waste of literally millions of tons of high-grade protein" and "to enjoy nutritionally sound protein from the richer and far more abundant sources that the earth provides."  Eating meatless one day a week also has significant health benefits.  All that is well and good, but at the end of a busy day, it has to be a dish that is quick to get on the table and the family has to like it! I'm going to commit to Meatless Mondays and to posting good recipes when I come across them.  Here's one I tried last week which I found in the Sept. '08 issue of bon appétit (p.64).

Quinoa with Black Beans and Cilantro
4 TO 6 SERVINGS
PREP: 25 MINUTES TOTAL: 40 MINUTES
Recipe by the Bon Appétit Test Kitchen
September 2008
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups chopped white onions
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup quinoa,* rinsed, drained
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup water
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed, drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
Crumbled Cotija cheese or feta cheese (optional)
PREPARATION
Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and red pepper; sauté until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in next 4 ingredients. Add water; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until quinoa is almost tender, about 14 minutes. Add beans and 1/4 cup cilantro; cook uncovered until heated through and liquid is fully absorbed, about 3 minutes. Transfer to bowl; sprinkle with 1/4 cup cilantro and cheese, if desired.
*A grain with a delicate flavor and a texture similar to that of couscous; available at natural foods stores.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
One serving contains the following:
Analysis is based on using 1 ounce crumbled Cotija cheese per serving.
Calories (kcal) 391.35
% Calories from Fat 30.3
Fat (g) 13.16
Saturated Fat (g) 5.07
Cholesterol (mg) 25.23
Carbohydrates (g) 53.04
Dietary Fiber (g) 10.24
Total Sugars (g) 5.56
Net Carbs (g) 42.79
Protein (g) 16.20

Two notes:  1) I didn't have black beans so I substituted a can of Amy's medium chili (made with tofu) and it was wonderful, 2) this dish is a good way to sneak in more vegetables (zucchini, carrots) than is called for.

Plastics are Forever

We could all do with a little less plastic in our lives. All plastics are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource, and produced under extremely energy-intensive conditions. The matter is further complicated by the fact that nothing in nature, not even sunlight and oxygen, can break apart the bonds that hold plastic together, so they linger on our planet indefinitely. Rather than biodegrading, plastic photodegrades into dust, winding up in soil and in the air. In bodies of water, the plastic particles become a kind of toxic sponge, absorbing other harmful chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the pesticide DDT. Those particles then get eaten by fish, which wind up back on our dinner plates.

RECYCLING PLASTIC:
Despite the problems with plastic, virtually all types can be recycled and used a few times before losing integrity (when the material has become too weak to recycle any more). However, confusing municipal recycling laws and limited access to recyclers who accept all types of plastic have kept recycling rates low and the amount of plastic waste in landfills high--and getting higher. In 2006, a mere 6.9 percent of plastic garbage we generated was recycled.
On a positive note, more stores are beginning to accept plastic bags for recycling, and other companies are offering to take back used plastic products. For instance, Styrofoam packing peanuts can be taken to any UPS store for reuse, and Stonyfield Farm accepts all its #5 PP yogurt cups and tubs back, reselling them to Preserve, a company that manufactures toothbrushes and reusable plastic dishes from the discarded cups.


WE CAN ALL DO OUR PART TO REDUCE PLASTIC USE:
Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping:

-Do not buy/use single-use water bottles! Purchase reusable and widely available #2 plastic or stainless-steel bottles.

-Avoid single-use, non-recyclable disposable packaging, such as Styrofoam meat trays, and clam-shell containers. Instead buy items in bulk and portion them out into reusable containers.

-Buy food in glass or metal containers (both 100% recyclable) whenever possible.

-Take your plastic grocery bags to a local Wal-Mart or Whole Foods to be recycled or check to see if your local market recycles them.  Better yet, bring your own shopping bags with you wherever you go!

-Bring your own containers to restaurants, if you think you might have leftovers and don’t take plastic cutlery or condiment packets unless you really need them.

-Avoid plastic cooking tools; use stainless steel or wooden utensils instead.

-Buy household items, like detergent and cleaning supplies, in concentrated forms so that you get more product per package.

-Avoid all items wrapped in excessive packaging.

-Whenever possible look for products and packaging made from recycled materials. The higher the percentage of recycled content, the better.

-Pack school lunches in reusable containers and bags.

-Encourage your favorite coffee shops to provide reusable containers and enjoy your cup of coffee sitting down!

-Always recycle the plastics that you do use either at the recycling center, Swap-Shop or with ML FreeMarket. Example: toys, furniture, garden supplies.

By consistently following just a few of these suggestions you will make a difference!

Green Remodeling

Did you know there now are guidelines for green remodeling?  Clicking the box above will take you to the website for the U.S. Green Building Council which will help you understand things like LEED-certification and hydronic heating systems.  Their 2008 Residential Guidelines can be found here.  More and more new homes are being built with energy conservation and health in mind.  A green remodeling project will not only reduce your energy consumption (and, eventually save you money), it can also make your home more competitive should you decide to put it on the market.  You win, the U.S. wins, and the world wins!

CSA update and Planet Green

Here's a picture of yesterday's share from the CSA that a few of us belong to (here's a link to an entry about our first visit).  Included goodies are:  summer squash, carrots, lettuce, celery, swiss chard, corn, cucumbers, green beans, peaches, asian pears, sweet and hot peppers, new potatoes, baby beets, onions, tomatoes, basil and edamame.  Most weeks there are pick-your-own opportunities as well (including flowers), and there are cut herbs available.  Having had my own veggie patch in the past, I've always appreciated that fresh produce has so much more flavor than store-bought, so that was no surprise.  I am amazed at the variety of vegetables that have been available and my friends and I have had more than a few how-do-you-prepare-this phone calls when a new-to-us veggie has appeared in the week's harvest.  I do find myself planning my meals around what's available and that has helped me to expand my culinary skills (which my husband really appreciates!)

After supper last night (which included one of those wonderful tomatoes!), I took a break from my marathon Olympics viewing to catch up on a couple of episodes of my favorite shows that I DVRd from Planet Green.  The first show I'd like to recommend is Focus Earth with Bob Woodruff (produced by ABC news) which is a weekly news show that digs deeper into environmental topics.  The other show I'm really enjoying is Supper Club where a "green" chef cooks for celebrities and authors who discuss environmental issues (both pros and cons) over their meal.  Here are two interesting but random items from the show I viewed last night:  

• Author Tom Kostigan offered a tip he'd just learned.  If you are at the grocery fish counter and you can't remember which fish is a healthier and/or sustainable choice, you can text "30644 fish X", with the X being the name of the fish you are wondering about, and you'll get a text right back with the pertinent information.
  
• Author Sophie Uliano (Gorgeously Green) while debating whether the individual can truly make a difference or only governments can solve global warming stated, "You vote with your dollar."  This just struck me to be very true.

Give your clothes a vacation

....from the dryer!  Summer is the perfect time to reduce your carbon footprint by using solar power to dry your clothes.  According to the State of California, the use of a clothesline can save 1,000 mw/day of electricity and they are encouraging residents to use clotheslines to help prevent brownouts there.  They estimated that by hanging out just 1/4 of your laundry, you'll save $30 per year.  The EPW Blog states, " There were more than 88 million dryers in the US in 2005. 'If all Americans line-dried for just half a year, it would save 3.3% of the country’s total residential output of carbon dioxide, experts say.' 3.3%! That’s huge if you think about how much CO2 all the households in the US emit. As for the impact on the wallet, the average clothes dryer costs about $160/yr to run. "

Other benefits of hanging out:  clothes smell great, less shrinkage, the sun kills germs, and clothes last longer (all that lint is worn-away fabric).  I like it because I'm more aware of the outdoors--I have to be aware of the pollen count and plan for rain, although I do have lines strung in my basement for winter use.

I use an umbrella style clothesline which doesn't sag the way a line stretched from tree to tree does.   Generally, I hang clothes upside down to prevent clothespin marks on my shoulders and things I don't want to fade get turned inside-out.  I fold right off the line to smooth out any wrinkles but dressier clothes might need 2 to 3 minutes in the dryer on the "wrinkle release" setting.  More tips can be found on the GardenWeb which has forums on all sorts of interesting topics! 

Eco-friendly wallpaper removal

Okay, I know this is not on the top of everyone's to-do list but you might be able to guide your painter toward this natural solution to removing wallpaper.  My kitchen reno is now complete and as I emptied out the room we were using as our temporary kitchen, I decided it was the perfect time to remove the previous owner's 80's wallpaper.  Never being patient enough to get on somebody's schedule, I decided to tackle this myself.  Most of the paper was vinyl and peeled right off but there was a wall that had a different paper beneath which required the use of a steamer to remove.  No scoring the wall, no spraying with DIF, just hold the steam plate in place for about 30 seconds, lightly scrape, and move to the next section.  That wall took about 45 minutes.  Next I had to tackle the residual glue stuck to all the walls.  I had read that vinegar and water was all that's needed and, indeed, with a light action with a metal scrubbie, a rinse with a wet sponge and a final swipe with a dryish towel and I'm ready to spackle!  I have to say that this method is far easier than any other method I've used.  I just wish I'd stop thinking about pickles!!!

Rain Gardens

Often, when we think about environmental issues, our focus is on our carbon footprint, the oil crisis or toxic products we are using in our homes. However, if you think back to last summer's water crisis in Georgia, you'll realize that water conservation is equally important.  

     Rain gardens can be an effective way to divert clean rainwater back into the ground water system instead of being wash over driveways, streets and sewers collecting contaminants from pets, lawn chemicals and road pollutants. Lynn sent me the following note and pictures. "I thought you might like to see the rain garden the Rockaway Valley Garden Club built last week.  The water runs off the road into this area and all the plants are natives . It is located next to the grammar school on Valley Road in Boonton Twp. (take Powerville Road to Valley Road)."

Green Dumpsters Anyone?

We are nearing the end of our kitchen renovation and trying to be as environmentally friendly as possible.  I was able to sell much of my old kitchen components on Craig's List, but we were amazed that our contractor still managed to fill an entire dumpster with debris despite my hovering and pulling out what recyclables I could.  Mary stopped by for a visit and told me about green dumpsters.  What is a green dumpster, you say? Well, a traditional dumpster goes directly to the landfill, while about 75-85% of the contents of the green dumpster gets recycled. The green dumpsters also cost less.
Two weeks ago, she visited Cardella Waste, in North Bergen, a facility that recycles building waste. The trucks dump their loads, and the waste is separated into metals, plastic, concrete, wood, glass and sheetrock. They service large and small projects and have over 60 years experience in waste removal. They can contribute to LEED certification as well.
So, spread the word to your friends and mention the League of Women Voters if you contact Cardella’s. With the benefits of recycling and lower cost, who wouldn’t want a “green” dumpster?

More on Battling Bugs

Last week's entry on emergency bug sprays was a response to my own bug crisis.  Although I mentioned that overcrowding was stressing my usually garden-hardy Black-Eyed Susans, what we really need to talk about is that the best way to control pests is to maintain an organic garden with plenty of native plants.  By using organic methods such as composting, using natural fertilizers and minerals, protecting beneficial insects by eliminating the use of broadly-applied pesticides, reducing pavement, corralling rain run-off, changing cultural attitudes toward lawns or just planting better adapted varieties of garden plants CAN break the cycle of chemical dependence that we've all become accustomed to. I was surprised to learn that bare soil in full sunlight is 25-35 degrees warmer than nearby soil under mulch or plant cover.  Can large expanses of manicured lawn be that much cooler?

     Bonnie sent me a link to this National Geographic Green Guide which suggests that "plant-based pest control comes from the beneficial bugs and insect-eating animals the plants attract. These pest-eaters include some birds (bluebirds, chickadees and hummingbirds are a few), bats, lizards, ladybugs, praying mantises, dragonflies, spiders, green lacewings, hoverflies, parasitic wasps and predatory mites. They will flock to a healthy, balanced ecosystem to fight the bug battle for you. Choose a varied mix of plants, with edibles alongside flowering plants like clovers, marigolds, and members of the mustard, sunflower, celery and carrot family, whose nectar helps feed beneficial bugs and birds. Keep these plants healthy year-round if you can, so beneficial insects have supplementary food and dependable shelter as they control bugs throughout the year."  The NJ Audubon Society lists a dozen "must-haves" for a backyard habitat and Organic Gardening has suggestions for a wildlife garden (however, we should definitely skip the "treat" section with our local bear problem!)

BUGS!!

     Things had been going so well in the garden.  I've been focusing my attention on the big picture--thinking about the hardscaping and landscaping that would give me the bones I need to start moving the overgrown clumps of perennials left by the previous owner.  All that overcrowding really stresses the plants and, this week, I've had some major infestations of aphids and (I think) flea beetles.  Naturally, I'm looking for organic pest control methods to wage war on these nasties.  The aphids are easy to get rid of with a strong blast of water.  My preferred method, however, is soaking the area with a spray of soapy water.  I always mix it on the fly so I don't have exact measurements.  You can see the dead aphids on the picture above--no live green aphids were to be found two days later.

     The flea beetles are trickier to get rid of since they love the crowded conditions and undisturbed soil.  If you look closely, you can see the telltale tiny holes they leave.  The good news is that they are most harmful on tender young transplants and my established clumps of Black-eyed Susans should survive.  Organic Gardening gives a very thorough explanation of their lifecycle and ways to limit their damage.  I've also found a few blister beetles which are black and yellow, much like the cucumber beetle and they make bigger holes.  This month's Organic Gardening Magazine gives a recipe for an all-purpose spray which, they say, works on a multitude of pests, including slugs and Japanese beetles:  

Chop 1 garlic bulb and 1 small onion in a blender.  Add 1 teaspoon powdered cayenne pepper and 1 quart water.  Steep for 1 hour, then strain through cheesecloth.  Add 1 Tablespoon liquid dish soap so the spray sticks to the plant leaves.  Mix well.  Spray the mixture on both sides of the leaves.  Store remaining spray in a labeled jar in the fridge. Note:  certain plants are very sensitive to soaps and can develop leaf burn.  Always test on a leaf or two the day before spraying the whole plant.

Easy Composting

I have been composting since I moved to Mountain Lakes. I have to admit that my original motive was more about saving those expensive green garbage bags than saving the earth. I can’t say I had the support of my family in this endeavor; they thought I was a little nuts. I chose to ignore them and my investment in a compost tumbler has paid off in what can only be described as beautiful dirt!
     I was intimidated at first because I read that you have to use a certain ratio of “brown” material to “green” material. Some to the information gets so detailed that it seems daunting. I just wanted to get rid of some of my garbage for free so I decided not to think too hard about carbon/nitrogen ratios and just started tossing my kitchen scraps and leaves in and gave the tumbler a turn every so often. Well, as the saying goes (sort of) “Compost Happens!” Sometimes it was a little wet and smelly, so I added brown leaves which tend to be plentiful in my yard regardless of the season.
     There are many ways to compost. Some people just have piles or areas separated with chicken wire; others build their own bins. It seemed easiest to go with something pre-made and there are many styles of compost bins and tumblers on the market. While these do require an initial cash outlay, you will still end up ahead in the long run when you add your home made dirt to your garden. Compost will improve the texture of your soil and will increase its ability to retain water. The organic matter in the compost provides food for microorganisms which keeps the soil in healthy balanced condition, reducing or eliminating the need for extra fertilizers.
     Kitchen scraps are ideal for composting. They are high in nitrogen which helps heat up the compost and speed up the process. It is helpful to keep a container in your kitchen to throw in egg shells, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels…really anything that does not have bones, fat or oil (i.e., no meat). Empty the container into your compost as it fills up, Now that summer’s here I toss in melon rinds and they disappear! Large pieces will take longer to compost than small ones so if you want your garbage to disappear more quickly cut it into smaller pieces. You can also compost dryer lint, pet hair, newspapers and cardboard egg cartons.
     Oxygen is needed to move the breakdown process along. If you’re using a tumbler, give it a spin a few times a week. Piles and bins need to be mixed regularly.  Compost needs to be moist; however, if it is too wet, it will smell bad!! If you find that your compost is wet and smelly, add more “brown materials” which include dry leaves, straw or wood chips. If the compost seems too dry, add the green materials which are the kitchen scraps and grass clippings.
     That’s all you have to do! If you prefer to understand the science behind it and get your brown to green ratios just right, there are many websites that will provide all the information you’re looking for and more. Here is a Compost Guide and another website with great information.
     Remember, composting not only saves your green garbage bags, it also saves the earth by reducing the amount of garbage going to the landfills. Use your garbage for the good of your garden! It’s a win-win situation.

Green Gathering

Mountain Lakes Day will be a little greener this year thanks to the ML Cadette Girl Scout Troop 1855! The twelve eighth-grade girls are working this spring to increase environmental awareness in town. The troop has been investigating environmental issues and ways to communicate their message to the residents of Mountain Lakes. “We’ve got to start with kids because they are the ones who need to learn to take care of the environment now,” one Girl Scout said. The idea of a green fair was voted in as the best avenue for making the education fun. The “green” kid activities will include decorating clay pots and planting bee-friendly seeds, recycling games and activities, and decorating reusable shopping bags. A 100 percent organic dark “green” T-shirt that the Girl Scouts designed will be on sale for $10, promoting the troop’s mission: “Saving the Earth, One LAKER at a time.” The Girl Scouts are also inviting various environmental groups and eco-friendly product vendors to participate.  See you there!

Tick Tubes--Tackle Lyme Disease the Green Way

I've been trying, between rain drops, to get some gardening done and I've already found a few ticks this season.  Louise has discovered an environmentally friendly way to handle deer tick problems in her yard which she has been using for two summers.  Research indicates that the only known transmissable form of Lyme disease is carried by the white-footed mouse (a.k.a. field mouse). It is not carried by deer. The deer carry the adult tick, with or without Lyme disease, to different areas of habitat. Hence they spread the tick, but not the disease. The adult tick has to find another host to infect in order to spread the disease. Ticktubes target the white-footed mouse by providing nesting material (cotton balls) that is sprayed with damminix (a de-licer, tick killer).  Since the white-footed mouse is part of the lifecycle of deer ticks, you will see a genuine decrease in deer ticks, as a result of ticktube application. Heavy rains may wash the damminx out of the cotton, therefore be clever in where you place the tubes (under bushes near the home or around the perimeter) and replace the tubes if they get hit hard by rain.
 

Gardening with Native Plants

     Why Plant Natives? Natives add beauty to the landscape and preserve our natural heritage. They provide food and habitat for native wildlife; decrease the amount of water needed for landscape maintenance; protect water quality by controlling soil erosion and moderating floods and droughts; reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers in the landscape AND save the homeowner money because native plantings cost less to maintain than turf.
     The Northern Chapter of The Native Plant Society of New Jersey invites gardeners, nature lovers and native plant enthusiasts to a meeting and free program on Tuesday, May 27th. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum’s Haggerty Education Center at 53 Hanover Avenue, Whippany, New Jersey.  The program is entitled "Gardening with Native Plants." The program speaker will be Hubert Ling, Ph.D. Dr. Ling is an expert horticulturist, photographer and member of The Native Plant Society of New Jersey. Preview the beautiful photos by Ling on the Society’s web site; they are sure to whet your appetite for learning how to garden with New Jersey’s native plants.
     The Native Plant Society of New Jersey encourages appreciation of native flora and the preservation of native plants for future generations. For more information visit the Native Plant Society of NJ website.
     Click for directions to Frelinghuysen Arboretum, or call (973) 326-7603

Organic Lawn Care, Part 2

Weed control seems to be the biggest reason that people use chemicals in their yards and herbicides certainly are needed to combat poison ivy or certain invasives like Japanese Knot Weed.  I've never had a patio made from pavers before, and when all sorts of weeds came up between the cracks this spring, I decided to try a very simple organic solution to kill them. . . vinegar!  The first article I read about it suggested a solution of 1 cup vinegar to 16 oz of water which is what I used in the above dandelion experiment.  The pictures show the dandelion prior to spraying and then 2 days later.  I had planned on taking another pic in two more days but the weed was basically gone!  I also tried using the solution on some dandelions in the lawn but it did brown the grass.  The dandelion grew back and I have resprayed, this time using 100% vinegar.  Each time you attack a weed it will regrow weaker and eventually die.  The really nice thing about the vinegar is that I don't have to wear protective clothes so I tend to do it more often.  I've also read that you can use boiling water.  Oh, the vinegar does not seem to affect garlic mustard, the bane of my existence right now.

Combatting weeds in the lawn requires a long-term strategy:   a top dressing of compost starts microbial action in the soil, mowing your grass at the highest possible setting shades the soil which helps keep it moist and discourages weed seed germination, letting your grass clippings remain on the lawn actually serves as fertilizer because those microbes break them down and produce nitrogen, spreading corn gluten meal also inhibits weed germination and is another source of nitrogen,   and watering infrequently but deeply promotes deep root growth and a thicker lawn.  More in depth information provided by the ML Environmental Commission can be found here.  I've been using organic methods at my previous homes for over 15 years.  My experience is that your yard won't have an overnight transformation--it'll take about three years until your lawn can fight weeds and insects on its own, but your family, pets and our environment will be healthier for your effort.

Home Energy Audit Companies

In a previous entry, I wrote about my very positive experience of having an home energy audit for my home, as part of the Green Community Project. Nicole has provided a list of all the companies the various Mountain Lakes families used for this "experiment". We feel comfortable recommending any of them!

Home Energy Diagnostics
"Residential Energy Audits"
51 Baldwin Street
Bloomfield , NJ 07003
(973) 680-1244 (phone)
TomTesta@comcast.net

Northeast Air Sealing
For a Comfortable and Energy Efficient Homes
P.O. Box 2774
Oak Ridge , NJ 07438
(973) 697-1528 (phone)
jeffb@northeastairsealing.com

GeoGenix
Home Audit Energy Experts
79 East River Road
Rumson , NJ 07760
(732) 895-9550 (phone)
(732) 676-7900 (fax)
thomas@geogenix.com

Green Living Solutions
"Save Energy, $ave Money, Save the Planet"
7 Fox Run Drive
Englewood , NJ 07631
(201) 390-4280 (phone)
contactus@greenlivingsolutionsnj.com

Organic Lawn Care

     This is our first spring here in Mountain Lakes and I'm just starting to learn the quirks of my new yard. I'm told by my neighbors that the previous owner was meticulous about caring for his lawn. I expected to see healthy grass and soil; instead I have thinning grass with shallow roots and dirt devoid of life. This tells me my lawn has been drenched with chemicals for decades. Feeding your lawn chemical fertilizers is like giving your toddler only sweets for every meal--you get a lot of action right away, but there is no nourishment and, ultimately, improper health. For your lawn an improper "diet" just leads to the need for more chemicals and never improves the soil.
     Healthy soil is the basis for organic gardening. When the soil is alive with beneficial microbes and bugs it will feed and protect the plants you want to grow. All we have to do is feed the microbes and they do the rest of the job and these beneficial bacterial and fungi are found in finished compost. For a neglected yard such as mine, it will require approximately 1 cubic yard of finished compost per 1,000 square feet, raked into the lawn no more than 1/4" deep. Unfortunately, this will require burly helpers and an initial expense. The good news is that once those microbes are in place, it's really easy to keep them fed and working their magic in the soil. THAT will be a topic for another day; in the meantime, here is a list of FAQs for those who want to learn more now.

Cow Pots!

If you’re like me, you’ve been chomping at the bit to get some plants into the ground. I know we have to wait until Mother’s Day to reliably put things out, but I always start plants from seed in the early spring. Usually, by Mid March I have to start working on my garden. I have always bought peat pots to start my seeds. They are very convenient, natural, and bio-degradable. Imagine my shock when I heard that they are not the most environmentally friendly option. According to a source I found online, approximately 60% of the world's wetlands are peat. Peatlands cover a total of around 3% of global land mass. About 7% of this total has been exploited for agriculture and forestry, with significant environmental repercussions. I wanted to continue my practice of planting early, but didn’t want to contribute to the demise of peat bogs. I found another option while searching on Organic Gardening, my favorite website for all things gardening. Environmentally-friendly CowPots are dairy fiber pot. CowPots are a 100% American-made product, made from a wholesome, renewable resource – can you guess what that resource is? These pots can be planted directly into soil and they will fully decompose with no throw-away. Cowpots actually attract beneficial earthworms! CowPots grow sturdier, healthier plants and encourage root development while adding soil-conditioning natural nutrients to your garden. They are odor-free and non-toxic. Green benefits of CowPots: reduces non-recyclable plastics, reduces municipal waste, promotes recycling of agricultural waste to horticultural benefit, doesn’t exploit sensitive peatlands. Go to mastergardening.com to buy.

Celebrate Earth Day!

Macy's, J.C. Penney, and other retailers and manufacturers are turning Earth Day into a marketing event.  Let's remember today, that we can't shop this problem away.

Take a minute to become part of the bigger picture: 

Take an evening to learn about the future:

Green Community Project Movie Night

"The Future is Food"

Tuesday, April 29 at 7:30 pm

MLHS Media Center

Take this season to live a green life:

Check out these simple changes from Low Impact Living to reduce your carbon footprint.

Sunscreen Confusion

I've always been active outdoors but have used sunscreen faithfully for at least 10 years now.  I was shocked to find a suspicious spot on my nose last summer and even more shocked that it turned out to be a basal cell carcinoma.  I had it removed & I'm okay, but it got me to wondering about how to better protect myself.  The EPA SunWise page for has recommendations and an UV index forecast for our area.  Since I do these things already, I decided to take a closer look at sunscreen itself.  The Skin Cancer Foundation offers a list of recommended products that meet their criteria for effective UV sun protection products.  Still, since many sunscreens, both chemical-based and organic, contain ingredients that may be harmful, I decided to delve a bit deeper.  The Environmental Working Group offers a sunscreen database which rates sunscreen safety and effectiveness.  It's all quite confusing.  If you see me about town this summer wearing sunglasses, a hat, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, you'll know why!

Emerald Lawns = Emerald Lakes

     Recently, I attended a Lake Community Meeting where a presentation was made to talk about why our lake was covered with green filamentous algae last summer. I learned so much at this lovely cocktail party. Nutrients such as nitrogen (leaves and branches), and phosphorous (in the soil) were found in our lake at rate limiting concentrations last summer. Also, we had much rain and good sunlight to give algae the growth opportunity in needs to thrive. We learned the source of nutrients that cause algae growth are run-off from the yards (fertilizer), run-off from the Canal , the big lake and the hill area. Also, organic vegetative matter (leaves and twigs) and Canada Geese excrement contribute to algae growth.
     We learned that our town government does much to try to keep our lakes clean. We also talked about what we could do as individuals to make a difference.

Actions Individuals Can Take to Discourage Algae in Our Lakes

- Minimize Fertilizer (compromise on the quality of your lawn)
- Limit Fertilizer to only Once in the Spring
- Discuss with Your Landscaper the Town Ban on Phosphate Fertilizers
- Let Your Landscaper Know that You Can Go without an Emerald Green Lawn
- Attend Lake Management Meetings (2nd Tuesday of the Month)
- Advocate for our Lakes (educate residents about the phosphate fertilizer problem)
- Let Borough Manager Know if Canada Geese are a Problem on Your Property
- Plant a Riparian Buffer ( the bigger the buffer the better)
- Avoid excessive lawn sprinkling
- Allow lawn to go dormant during hottest part of summer (this is a natural part of the lawn life cycle, it will green up again when it cools off)
     We know that many property owners love their lawns and gardens. Yet one of the lovely features in our town are the lakes where everyone can go on hot summer day. If everyone were willing to compromise a bit on lawn quality we would not have to add so many chemicals to our lakes.  For some information on organic (non-phosphate) fertilizers, tips on discussing lakeside lawn management with your landscaper and other healthy lawn ideas, click here.