The holidays are here and its definitely more of a challenge to be eco-friendly during this time of year. In the US, we produce around 25% more waste during the holidays. Therefore, now is important than ever to be aware and educated in the ways in which we can eliminate unnecessary waste. Here are some tips to reduce your waste this Christmas and make your holidays a little greener...
1) Make your own gift wrap. By getting a little creative you can save money and "green up" your holidays by not buying any gift wrap this year. There are countless alternatives to store-bought gift wrap. Using old fabric scraps is a great way to get rid of old fabric while wrapping presents in a fun and unique way. You can even add velcro to fabric to make a great re-usable gift wrap. Old newspapers and magazines are another great, green option for wrapping paper. I love the idea of putting a gift inside a gift. If you are giving a smaller gift why not put it in a cool basket, flower pot, or jar. And make sure to save the gift wrap that comes on your presents. Perfect to use for next year's gifts, Christmas cards, and Christmas decorations.
2) Give green gifts. Try to buy gifts that are not over-packaged. Books are always great, re-useable options. Avoid plastic toys. Instead look for sustainable materials such as wooden toys, cotton or wool toys, or toys made from recycled materials. Make your own baked goods, jams, soaps, or sewing projects. Not only green but so personal and really appreciated. Give gift cards or certificates. Concert tickets, spa services, and restaurant gift cards are all great options that limit holiday waste.
3) Avoid gifts that require batteries or include reusable batteries. Alkaline batteries, when discarded, produce toxins that are both extremely harmful to our health and to the environment.
4) Bring your own re-usable shopping bags. Its such an easy change to make that can really make a difference. Many people are bringing their own bags when they grocery shop now, which is GREAT, but make sure you bring your own bags for ALL shopping trips, including Christmas shopping. Leave your bags in the trunk of your car so you have them ready for any impromptu shopping. My mom introduced me to a great re-usable bag that wraps up in itself and fits into your purse so you always have one with you. Worst case, if you don't have a bag on you, hold your purchase in your hand. We are so used to getting bags for every little purchase, but often times don't even need them. Once you become conscious of this habit it becomes second nature and you will never use a plastic bag again!
5) Recycle your Christmas tree and lights. Although a potted tree that can be replanted after Christmas is the best option, there are ways to be environmental about a traditional "cut down" tree. Cities now offer tree recycling programs that turn Christmas trees into mulch used in playgrounds, hiking trails, landscaping, and gardening. Old burned-out Christmas lights can now be recycled too. Christmas Light Source Recycling Program will recycle the materials and donate the proceeds to a literacy program. Also, avoid artificial snow on your Christmas tree and use baking soda instead. Much better for the environment and for you to inhale.
6) Recycle old gadgets. Cell phones can be donated or recycles. Bring old toasters, microwaves, tvs, alarm clocks to thrift stores or shelters. They may be old to you but still valuable to many others.
7) Get off mailing lists. I was getting a million magazines and catalogs after ordering things online for work and was calling each company one by one which was such a pain! Finally someone told me there was a way to do it all at once. The DMA (Direct Marketing Association) website enables you to eliminate all of the mailings through one site. Click here for the steps to stop all the wasteful and annoying mailings.
There are a million and one ways to reduce waste be more eco-friendly this holiday season- pick the ones that fit best in your life. Personal green gifts will often save money too... a win-win for everyone! Have a safe, happy, and green holiday!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Dangers of VOCs
Recently I purchased a really cool piece of furniture from a second hand and unfinished furniture store in the Santa Cruz area called Sweet's in the Nude. The piece I bought is an old amoire-ish thing with an old window pain as the amoire door. I bought it black but wanted to paint it a light sea-foam so I went into the paint store down the road to pick out some paint. A should be simple trip to the paint store turned into a much bigger process when I was given the option of picking my paint based on VOC levels.
Most people probably have no idea what a VOC is... and are probably pronouncing it "vock" like I embarrassingly did to the really cute worker that was helping me in the paint store. VOC (pronounced "V.O.C." just in case you run into your own cute worker at the paint store someday) stands for "Volatile Organic Compound". Technically, they are gases that certain solids or liquids emit. For example, VOCs are the chemicals that you smell when you paint a room or strip furniture. Although this term may not yet be in your vocabulary, VOCs are definitely already in your home. VOCs are found in common household cleaning products, most aerosol products, non-natural air fresheners, adhesives, dry-cleaned clothes, fabric softners, and moth balls just to name a few. VOC exposure can be very dangerous to our health and the health of our environment. Exposure to VOCs have been know cause immune system damage, brain damage, loss of coordination, liver, kidneys and central nervous system damage, asthma, and even cancer. The list goes on and on. As far as the environment goes, VOC are largely responsible for increasing ground level ozone pollution (aka smog). Really scary stuff for something that many of us were not even aware of!
Though VOCs are fairly impossible to avoid, there are things you can do to limit your exposure to VOCS. Going back to my paint store anecdote, paints are now offered in "low VOC" or no VOC" options. They make it so easy for you. I just selected the sea foam color I was looking for off of a regular Benjamin Moore color swatch and the paint store matched the exact color in a "no VOC" Benjamin Moore paint called "Natura". The paint was great...no smell, went on smoothly, easy to wash off my hands and clothes, and my amoire looked great in the end. It was a little more expensive, but an easy choice when compared to the option of breathing in dangerous chemicals for months, maybe years.
We are so lucky to have all of the options of green products available to us. I urge you to make the little switches that will really lower your exposure to VOCs. Using "No VOC" or "Low VOC" paint when painting the interior of your house or furniture is a big one. Your house is where you spend the majority of your time and where you are exposed to the majority of VOCs. Also, use green cleaning products. My favorite store bought cleaners include Mrs. Meyers and seventh generation. These are available at most natural grocers and are making the move to many conventional grocery stores, especially Mrs. Meyers. Not only are they safe for you and your family but they smell great and are much safer for the environment. If you are hesitant to spend the extra money (though it really isn't that much more of an expense- I promise!) make your own natural cleaner. People have been using lemon, vinegar, and baking soda for centuries! It's stuff you already have lying around the house, it works great, is cost effective, and 100% safe.
The ways are limitless in which you can lessen your VOC exposure such as finding a "green" dry cleaner in your area, buying organic bedding/clothing, and using natural air fresheners. The most important thing is to be proactive and educated. There are countless websites and resources dedicated to this topic. When it comes to your health, it is always worth the little extra effort.
Most people probably have no idea what a VOC is... and are probably pronouncing it "vock" like I embarrassingly did to the really cute worker that was helping me in the paint store. VOC (pronounced "V.O.C." just in case you run into your own cute worker at the paint store someday) stands for "Volatile Organic Compound". Technically, they are gases that certain solids or liquids emit. For example, VOCs are the chemicals that you smell when you paint a room or strip furniture. Although this term may not yet be in your vocabulary, VOCs are definitely already in your home. VOCs are found in common household cleaning products, most aerosol products, non-natural air fresheners, adhesives, dry-cleaned clothes, fabric softners, and moth balls just to name a few. VOC exposure can be very dangerous to our health and the health of our environment. Exposure to VOCs have been know cause immune system damage, brain damage, loss of coordination, liver, kidneys and central nervous system damage, asthma, and even cancer. The list goes on and on. As far as the environment goes, VOC are largely responsible for increasing ground level ozone pollution (aka smog). Really scary stuff for something that many of us were not even aware of!
Though VOCs are fairly impossible to avoid, there are things you can do to limit your exposure to VOCS. Going back to my paint store anecdote, paints are now offered in "low VOC" or no VOC" options. They make it so easy for you. I just selected the sea foam color I was looking for off of a regular Benjamin Moore color swatch and the paint store matched the exact color in a "no VOC" Benjamin Moore paint called "Natura". The paint was great...no smell, went on smoothly, easy to wash off my hands and clothes, and my amoire looked great in the end. It was a little more expensive, but an easy choice when compared to the option of breathing in dangerous chemicals for months, maybe years.
We are so lucky to have all of the options of green products available to us. I urge you to make the little switches that will really lower your exposure to VOCs. Using "No VOC" or "Low VOC" paint when painting the interior of your house or furniture is a big one. Your house is where you spend the majority of your time and where you are exposed to the majority of VOCs. Also, use green cleaning products. My favorite store bought cleaners include Mrs. Meyers and seventh generation. These are available at most natural grocers and are making the move to many conventional grocery stores, especially Mrs. Meyers. Not only are they safe for you and your family but they smell great and are much safer for the environment. If you are hesitant to spend the extra money (though it really isn't that much more of an expense- I promise!) make your own natural cleaner. People have been using lemon, vinegar, and baking soda for centuries! It's stuff you already have lying around the house, it works great, is cost effective, and 100% safe.
The ways are limitless in which you can lessen your VOC exposure such as finding a "green" dry cleaner in your area, buying organic bedding/clothing, and using natural air fresheners. The most important thing is to be proactive and educated. There are countless websites and resources dedicated to this topic. When it comes to your health, it is always worth the little extra effort.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
simply, naturally, homegrown...
Welcome to simply, naturally, homegrown! This is my first time doing this so bear with me. After researching countless blogs for everything from how to recycle Christmas trees to how to make natural lip gloss I decided to put all of my findings in one place. My goal with this blog is to pass along all of the great things I come across from my favorite vegetarian recipes to great homemade gifts and everything in between. Kind of a collaboration of all things that interest me. Anyone who knows me knows that my interests are ever changing, to say the least, so the content of this blog may also be that way! My general believe is that people want to be as green, as creative, as healthy, and as natural as possible; they just don't always have the tools to do so. I hope to pass along to you information and ideas that lead to a healthier, simpler, and more blissful existence. Sometimes it feels as though you can never be environmentally-friendly enough, kind enough, eating healthy enough. It can be a bit overwhelming, but it truly is about picking and choosing what works for you. So you are a big carnivore and are NEVER going to put down that hamburger. No big deal, but maybe you try to be a vegetarian once a week. Maybe you are trying to be environmentally friendly but are finding it hard during the holidays. Why not opt for creative wrapping ideas like fabric, newspaper, or old magazine pages to eliminate the need to buy more wrapping paper? Like I said, its about picking what works for you and not feeling pressured to completely change every aspect of your life at once. Once you start making little changes here and there it will become exceedingly easier to spot things in your life that can be improved upon. Its an ever evolving process. But with a little effort and a creativity we can all simplify our lives and do our part. So here it goes... thanks for reading!
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