It Was 40 Years Ago Today

Most of you were not alive 40 years ago. I wasn't but Mom was. She doesn't remember the first Earth Day because it wasn't really a big deal back then, at least not in Chicago. Her first memory of Earth Day was sometime in the 80s. Celebrations started happening, people starting becoming aware of the issues, and a buzz was starting about this one special spring day.

Earth Day grew in scope in the 90s but then really took off once we entered the new millenium. Parties were organized, groups formed, and people really started getting involved. Now, all the events surrounding this one special day have spilled over and turned into Earth Week. Ahh, a whole week to celebrate the wonder that is Mother Earth.

Mom's awareness of her surroundings began with her first sea turtle trip and were then heightened during her first trip to Costa Rica. It should come as no surprise to anyone that it was the presence of birds, like this boat billed heron she saw while motoring down the Tortuguero River, that raised her awareness and made her change the path she had been on. She's never looked back, never questioned her decision to give up her career and start anew.

Many biologists credit Aldo Leopold with their decision to study and teach biology. It's like a light bulb went on over their heads after reading A Sand County Almanac. So poetic yet so simple, this book is like pure prose that flows from the heart of Leopold. You feel like you are with him as he lives with the changing of the seasons, the seasons that make living in the midwest a joy for most, a struggle for some. He not only appreciated that with which he could see, but also that with which he imagined. There's truly something magical in this book that will move you and inspire you to want to get outside today and every day as you begin to understand and feel the beauty of your surroundings.

Mom can't help but think about Rachel Carson today and most days for that matter. The world would be a different place today had Carson not changed the path of destruction the U.S. was on with their use of the pesticide DDT. It was Carson that proved the evils of this chemical and documented its effects on the natural world in her book Silent Spring. Every time you see a bald eagle, please thank Carson for saving them because had DDT continued to be used, they would have long gone extinct.

Rachel Carson died before Mom was born and before Carson herself would realize the fruits of her labor. In death, she was celebrated as having saved the natural world as we know and it's for this that she is credited with starting the modern environmental movement.

It's no coincidence that Earth Day is celebrated in the spring because the renewal of Mother Earth in all her glory, begins anew each spring just like it has since the beginning of time. It was Carson who told us "It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the comtemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility." Oh to be humbled by what we often take for granted. Her words echo through our minds as we are reminded that things are changing, for good and bad, but that we need only step outside because "Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." Such comforting words from one of the wisest women of the 20th century.

The first chapter of Silent Spring is "A Fable for Tomorrow". Mom sometimes wonder if Carson's tomorrow is today or perhaps a few years down the road. The fable was set in a town in the heart of America, not unlike the town we live in today.

Then a strange blight crept over the area and everything began to change...

There was a strange stillness. The birds, for example - where had they gone? Many people spoke of them, troubled and disturbed. The feeding stations in the backyards were deserted. The few birds seen anywhere were moribund; they trembled violently and could not fly. It was a spring without voices. On the mornings that had once throbbed with the dawn chorus of robins, catbirds, doves, jays, wrens, and scores of other bird voices there was now no sound; only silence lay over the fields and woods and marsh.

This town does not actually exist, but it might easily have a thousand counterparts in America or elsewhere in the world. I know of no community that has experienced all the misfortunes I describe. Yet every one of these disasters has actually happened somewhere, and many real communities have already suffered a substantial number of them. A grim specter has crept upon us almost unnoticed, and this imagined tragedy may easily become a stark reality we all shall know.

Mom thinks of this every morning when she hears the birds as they wake up from their roost. These same birds, the ancestors of those Carson heard, are still here for now. But for how long? Carson dedicated Silent Spring to Albert Schweitzer who said "Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall. He will end by destroying the earth." Silent Spring was published in 1962, a few years before Schweitzer's death in 1965, but these words, a grim predictor of our future perhaps, remain a chilling reminder of a disaster we can avoid.

It is with Carson and Leopolds' legacies in mind that I ask you to go outside today, look around, listen carefully, smell the fresh air and remember that the times they are a changing. We have the power to make changes every single day. Every decision we make affects the planet. By recognizing what we have to live for, we can decide whether or not we value what we have and what we want to preserve. It's like Mom was taught long ago - you can't expect someone to want to save something if they don't love it. Make a connection with the natural world and express your joy as you live in it. Tread a little lighter each day and take time to appreciate what Mother Earth has to offer, for it's the only home we have.

Wednesday Wag Out! - Special Earth Week Edition

Mom received a tweet this morning about a cool watch that she knew she had to have. She's been in the market for new watch for a while now because her old school beach watch is on its last leg. She's sad to see the old watch go but excited about her new watch.

I know it's hard to believe that Mom hadn't heard about Sprout until this morning but it's true. She has me doing research all day long, every day but because I've never come across Sprout, she's been in the dark. Until today. So instead of spending the morning with me, she ran out to the store to get the scoop on Sprout.

According to the tweet, Sprout could be purchased at Nordstrom. Mom wasn't happy about this because the closest Nordstrom isn't really close. Instead of going to Nordstrom, Mom decided to check the Sprout website to see if they were sold somewhere closer to home. As it turns out, they are but I bet you'll never guess where. Give up? Sears!

It didn't take Mom long to find the Sprout display in the watch department. The entire cardboard display is made from 100% recycled paper. Very cool.

Check out these watches. Wow! So many choices for Mom and if you know her, you know how she can't make decisions. It takes her forever to pick anything out unless it jumps out at her. These watches were no different. These are the bigger faced watches, aka the men's watches. Mom's not into big watches, so she turned the display to find the women's watches.

Same colors, smaller faces. Maybe even too small. Mom picked 4 colors she liked and then tried them on. After she narrowed her selection down to 3, she decided that the watch face was way too small because she couldn't read the numbers. Eventually, she selected one of the men's watches and rushed home to show it to me.

This is the bottom of the watch box. Can you read what it says? It says "In an effort to reduce paper waste we offer our warranty and instructions on our website." Why can't more companies do this? Most consumers don't read this information and just toss it (hopefully) in their recycle bins. I know there are people who don't have computers but just imagine how many trees we could save if paper warranty and instructions were eliminated from packaging? I'm not suggesting this for all products but at least for products that are self explanatory and that don't require pages and pages of instructions, like this watch. What if companies listed a phone number that consumers could call to have warranty information mailed to them? There must be a better way and I applaud Sprout for taking this step to reduce waste and conserve resources. Hopefully other companies will follow suit.

The back of the watch box tells you all about the materials used to make it. It's definitely cutting edge greenness. The dial is made from bamboo, while the case and buckle are made from a corn resin that's biodegradeable. The strap is made from organic cotton and the battery is mercury free. It's hard to read the bottom of the box but it has instructions on how to turn the box into a grass garden (grass included). I wonder when we're going to do that.

Ah, the ingredient label. My favorite thing for Mom to read to me. This is so cool! There's even a feel good experience at the bottom of the label that equals 100%. The big watch is constructed from 86% sustainable materials while the small watch is constructed from 80%. The box itself is made from 100% recycled content with 80% of it being post-consumer. I couldn't find any information on the ink type, but I'm hoping it's soy based.

I mentioned the grass garden and here are the seeds. I'm a little upset with this packaging because it's plastic. You can read the instructions for yourself but I really want to know what I'm suppose to do with this plastic packaging when the grass expires. Any ideas? I'll be emailing Sprout for ideas too.

Yes, it's made in China. I know what you're thinking - carbon footprint. I said the same thing and got ignored. What gives? Question asked, no answer given. Still waiting. Are there any watches made in the good old U.S.A.?

So here's the cool watch. It's hard to see in the picture but it's green in color with a lighter green bezel. And the bamboo dial is really cool looking. I'm not sure how the organic cotton band is going to hold up with all the sweating Mom does but we'll soon find out.

Nicely labled on the back, don't you think? It looks like a kid's watch and kind of reminds Mom of a Swatch watch. Swatch was all the rage back in the 80s or so I've heard.

A close-up view shows that this eco-friendly timepiece is biodegradable. So it's made from sustainable materials and it will biodegrade. What more could you ask for?

But who is Sprout? They are made by E. Gluck Corporation, a watchmaker that's been in business for over 50 years. According to their website, their mission is to make the most eco-friendly watch they possibly can. It took two years of research and development to come up with Sprout and I think it was totally worth it. They do not claim to be the greenest company around but they are environmentally aware and seek ways to tread lighter on the earth. Of course they do all the things Puglet does in his Earth Day video but as a company they are making even bigger changes such as converting to recyclable and recycled materials for packaging, reducing the size of their packing cartons, and using more efficient transportation methods. They are proving that even a watch company can go green, not just by making a green watch but by changing their business practices.

Today isn't Mom's birthday yet she bought herself a gift. It's not my birthday either but I didn't get a gift. Since the watch is for Mom, maybe the grass garden is for me. I think that's the least Mom could give me given the time she spent away this morning. All in an attempt to get the greenest watch on the eve of Earth Day. She's just keeping it green.

Tasty Tuesday!

This is one of Mom's recent recipe finds. She has a thing for lentils and was looking for some new recipes a few months ago when she found this one. I don't know a lot about lentils since I don't eat them so I had to do a little research to find out what it is about them Mom loves so much.

Lentils are one of nature's greatest food. They are legumes and they grow in pods that contain either one or two lentil seeds. They are classified according to whether they are large or small in size plus their color. You can find lentils in so many colors, they are smaller than the tip of a pencil eraser, and they are sold whole or split into halves. Having originated in central Asia, they are one of the first foods to ever be cultivated. There are even lentil seeds that date back 8,000 years!

Mom had only cooked with brown lentils, which retain their shape after cooking until she found this recipe. The red lentils turn yellow and become soft and mushy after cooking. Though the flavor of each variety varies a little, the overall nutty taste comes through no matter which you cook.

Not only do lentils taste good but they're good for you. Here's what the World's Healthiest Foods website had to say about them:

Lentils are a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber. Not only do lentils help lower cholesterol, they are of special benefit in managing blood-sugar disorders since their high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal. But this is far from all lentils have to offer. Lentils also provide good to excellent amounts of six important minerals, two B-vitamins, and protein-all with virtually no fat. The calorie cost of all this nutrition? Just 230 calories for a whole cup of cooked lentils. This tiny nutritional giant fills you up--not out.

In addition to fiber, lentils have significant amounts of folate and magnesium, both of which help your cardiovascular system.

I know that you may be thinking - soup now that the weather's warming? Mom's answer to this is a big yes! She eats soups, stews, and chilis year round because they are just that good. This soup is best served hot, but it tastes good at room temperature too.

Egyptian Red Lentil Soup
via RecipeZaar.com
Serves 6 to 8

5 cups vegetable broth or water
1 cup dried red lentils
2 cups chopped onions
2 cups chopped potatoes
8 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper

Add the first 5 ingredients to a large pot; cover and bring to a boil.

Lower the heat and simmer 15-20 minutes or until the lentils and veggies are tender.

Take pot from stove burner and set aside.

In a small saucepan, add the oil; warm over low heat until the oil is hot but not smoking.

Add in the cumin, turmeric, and salt; cook and stir constantly for for 2-3 minutes or until the cumin has released its fragrance (be careful not to scorch the spices).

Set spice mixture aside for 1 minute to cool.

Stir spice mixture into the lentil mixture; add cilantro, stir to combine.

You can puree the soup, in batches, in a blender OR you can use an immersion blender and blend to desired texture (you can leave it a little chunky).

Add in lemon juice; stir to combine

Notes:

Mom uses almost 4 cups vegetable broth and the rest water. She is working on transitioning from store bought broth to homemade but isn't there yet. There are lots of broths you can buy in the store but remember most cans are lined with plastic. Broth also comes in aspectic containers and many curbside recycling programs accept them. It's always best to choose organic whenever possible, but homemade is really the best option.

Mom has not sourced organic red lentils yet. She's made this recipe a few time now and is currently looking for an organic brand, so please leave me a comment if there's a brand of organic lentils you buy. Buying lentils in bulk is preferred but buying a bigger bag over a smaller bag is always a step in the right direction.

We know from consulting the EWG's Shopper Guide to Pesticides that onions have the lowest pesticide load meaning it is okay to buy conventional. By okay I mean relatively free of pesticides but probably GMO. You have to decide which to buy based on the area of greatest concern to you. Mom buys conventional but is researching non-GMO. Those of you who have been following my blog for a long time know that I did a post on the EWG's guide a while ago. If you aren't familiar with the guide, please visit the site and download a quick reference guide. If have an iphone you can download the app.

Mom has used both white potatoes and red potatoes and the soup has turned out fine. Since she's a garlic freak she adds a little more than 8 cloves. Both of these are conventional, but the cilantro she uses is organic.

Lastly, the first time Mom made this she put in the 3 tablespoons of lemon juice but then decided it was too lemony and that she wouldn't put that much in again. The lemon juice is meant to enhance the other flavors but she felt it was overpowering. And she hasn't used salt and pepper because it really doesn't need it. Oh, and an immersion blender is the best kitchen appliance ever.

Making changes to the way you eat is always a work in progress. Taking baby steps is better than jumping in all at once because the way you eat is so much a part of who you are. Changing from conventional produce to organic is not easy but substituting some produce, like the ones from the EWG's dirty dozen for organic is a good place to start. No one is perfect when it comes to choosing which foods to buy, make, and eat. We can all learn from one another and in the end make better food choices for ourselves and for the planet.

Happy Earth Week!

I'm so happy that Earth Day has given rise to such a flurry of activity and buzz that what use to be a one day celebration has turned into a week long party. My hope is that soon it will be a year long awareness of the best thing we have going, our planet.

So many retailers have special Earth Week giveaways this year. From Home Depot, to Target, to Walgreens, it seems as though the retail world has gone green. This is a good thing, though most of it is marketing. My feeling is that as long as this raises awareness I'm all for it. The more people get on board with the eco-friendly way of living, the greater the chance we have of saving the planet. I'm not advocating running out and buying what you don't need, but what I am saying is that there's never been a better time to make small changes that will have huge positive impacts.

Walgreens has designated a section of each store the "Earth Zone". By featuring products such as Brita pitchers, Green Works cleaners, and Burt's Bees skincare products, they show consumers that they do have options when it comes to choosing everday items. Walgreens is also offering printer cartridge refills for $1 on Earth Day. Refilling cartridges keeps used cartridges out of landfills. In addition, they accept used cartridges and cell phones for recycling in their photo department.

Despite the plastic bag incident Mom had at Target a couple of months ago, she still believes they are committed to doing right by the planet. With an eight page pull-out Earth Week circular tucked into the weekly circular, there are so many ways to go green at Target.

Target started this Earth Week by giving away reusable bags. It's one thing to receive a reusable bag and another thing to reuse it. The easiest way to remember your bags when shopping is to leave them in you car where you can see them. At first, carrying bags into the store make not be easy but it quickly becomes habit. And don't just use them when grocery shopping. Make every shopping trip a reusable bag trip. One advantage to using reusable bags when shopping is that it keeps you from buying too much stuff. If Mom takes two bags in the grocery store, then she can only buy two bags worth of stuff. Seems silly but it works. Refuse plastic bags no matter what!

Back to the Target circular. Not only is Target giving away a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid but they also have lots of eco-friendly products on sale. That cool new Method laundry detergent, Seventh Generation laundry detergent and dish detergent are all products that make the green grade. From LED light bulbs to Energy Star rated LED HDTV's, there are so many opportunities to green your lifestyle at Target.

Mom tweeted last week about the new recycling kiosks Target has placed in its stores nationwide. You can now recycle your plastic bags, ink cartridges, cell phones, and MP3 players in one convenient location. But the coolest promotion that Target is running by far is called Recycle=Reward. Simply send them five Target plastic bags and they'll send you a coupon for $1 off any reusable bag valued over $1.49. They have partnered with TerraCycle on this promotion and what's so cool about it is that the circular has instructions on how to send the bags. You create an envelope from a page in the circular by folding and taping it. Stick the bags inside and mail it prepaid to Target. How cool is that?

Not a Target shopper? Then head on over to Walmart where they've teamed up with Terracycle to sell 60 of its products in stores nationwide. The coolest part is that the products will be sold next to the original items from which they were made. Take a stroll down the snack aisle and right next to the bag of compostable Sun Chips will be a tote bag made from Sun Chip bags. Mom is not a Walmart shopper but gives kudos to them for moving in the right direction. The sustainability policy they launched with their vendors last year is going to change the way so many manufacturers operate. Walmart has been critizied in the press for selling single use, cheap products made by sweat shops in developing countries, but I hope by setting this presedence with their vendors, businesses will start taking sustainability matters to heart and change the way they do business.

The theme at Home Depot this week is water conservation. YEAH! In the spirit of conserving water, Home Depot gave away free faucet aerators to its first 250 customers on Sunday. They will also be holding in-store water conservation clinics to educate consumers on how easy it is to conserve water. And of course, Home Depot has many eco-friendly products on shelves every day like CLF bulbs, composters, rain barrels, and 100% recycled plastic bags.

There's also a flurry of activity at the college this week to celebrate Earth Week. Even though Mom is not manning an Earth Day booth at the Environmental Club's expo this year, she will be attending several events this week starting today at bio professor Elizabeth Martin's presentation on her personal experience of joining a CSA last year. Mom is friends with Elizabeth and remembers her talking about the bounty of goodies she received each week last summer, so the presentation should prove to be both inspiring and educational.

Bio professor Kelly Cartwright is giving a presentation called "It's Easy Being Green" on Tuesday evening. Kelly and Mom are good friends and Kelly is a total greenie. Mom is attending the presentation to support Kelly and also to see the reaction of the crowd when Puglet's video is shown. How cool of Kelly to show the video! If you haven't seen the video yet, you are missing out. Puglet worked for weeks on it and it's the best green video of 2010. Awards and accolades are streaming in for Puglet and he's sure to win an Oscar for his effort. Feel free to post Puglet's video on your bloggie this Earth Day to spread the message that going green really is easy.

The rest of the weeks activity at the college include the very popular "Snakes Alive!" program which draws families from all over the county. The presentation on Wednesday is sure to be a hit once again as a bio professor and a director from a local discovery center present an array of snake species native to Lake County. Mom thinks the coolest part of the program is the natural history of the snakes in our area but all the kids think it's the fact that they get to touch the snakes. Mom is hoping her favorite snake, the indigo snake is there again this week. Thursday's presentation on preserving open spaces is on Mom's calendar as is Friday's amphibian conservation program which is presented by Mom's former from the forest preserve. The week wraps up with a volunteer workday at a local forest preserve where residents can get involved with habitat restoration.

The whole point of Earth Week is to make people aware of the growing need to tread a little lighter on Mother Earth. By providing opportunities for consumers to change their buying habits and giving residents a chance to attend programs on topics they be unfamiliar with, Earth Week has something for everone no matter where you live. We all have a chance to make some changes this week so please tell me the changes you are making. Big or small, every little bit helps. Don't ever feel like what you're doing isn't making a difference because it is. We're all in this together and together we can change the world.

I Cannot Say It

Goodbye does not cross my lips. I just can't do it. It's so final. And so wrong.

I'm just like Mom because she can't say it either. She always says "Be good" instead of goodbye and I think this is her way of letting the other person know that she will see them again one day.

Seeking comfort in each other in times like this is all we have. And so I seek comfort in all of you because my sexy friend Penny has died. Died is kind of final too but it's what has happened. To say somepug has passed or left us makes it sound like they are no longer around when in truth they are. I believe this to be true and find solace in knowing Penny is watching me from the bridge. If I know Penny, she wouldn't want all of us to be mourning her death but celebrating her sexy, beefy life by having some whipped cream.

Penny took me to places I've never been. From her daily trek to Starbucks to her hikes in the mountains around Las Vegas, Penny lived the life we all dream of but few of us achieve. She taught me to throw the rules out the window and live on a whim. Wild abandon was how Penny lived and I laughed at her blog each day as I read about her wild adventures. Starbucks will never be the same for me ever again. And I promise you I'll go through the Starbucks drive-thru and ask for a cup of whipped cream just like Penny always did before I die.

Even though I never met Penny nose to nose, I know I will meet her one day on the bridge. I won't have to look far when I get there because she'll be the one wearing the Sponge Bob hat eating whipped cream. Work it Penny!

Mom and I also want to send a big pug hug to Penny's mom Dana. Mom cannot imagine what Dana is going through right now because Mom is liable to eat Popeyes when I die. Just kidding, Mom! Dana, please know we are here for you and that we will never forget Penny.

Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley

This is our last goodbye
I hate to feel the love between us die.
But it's over
Just hear this and then I'll go:
You gave me more to live for,
More than you'll ever know.

Conscious Cleaning?

There's a lot of cleaning going on around the house this week. The guys are painting the exterior trim, power washing the fence, and cleaning up the flower beds. All this outside activity has me stuck in the house on a gorgeous spring day, so I thought I would help Mom clean the inside of the house. Who knew a pug could be so helpful?

Mom switched to eco-friendly cleaning products a few years ago and has never looked back. Over time she has researched various products and tried them out to see which ones were not only good for the planet but also good for the house. Like the clean house, meaning they were effective. I know that lots of people clean their houses with good old baking soda, vinegar, and water, but Mom is not there. Yet.

Mom and I also believe in supporting great eco business because the more we support them the more readily available their products are, the more people make the switch, and the more Mother Earth smiles upon us all. Eco friendly cleaning products have come a long way in the past few years and there's really no excuse for not using them.

Mom got this product free when she bought the Brita pitcher for Josie's family. This product is not something she would buy because it isn't really green. Items labeled green, eco, natural, and earth friendly aren't necessarily good for the environment. Companies can claim their products are green by using these terms but if they're not really green it's called greenwashing. Companies don't have to disclose the ingredients of their cleaning products because they are protected trade secrets. I don't know about you, but Mom won't buy products that don't list their ingredients unless it's something that doesn't warrant an ingredient list like an apple.

The Green Works wipes have an ingredient list but in lieu of researching the ingredients, Mom just scanned the barcode with her GoodGuide scanner. How do you think it scored?

4.3 overall score = N/A health, 3.7 environment, 4.8 society

Mom then checked the web version of the GoodGuide and received this score:

5.6 overall score = 8.0 health, 3.7 environment, 5.1 society

What? How come the scores aren't the same? It looks like the scores from the scanner reflect the company itself and not the product. This just doesn't make sense to me and I'm more confused now than I was before. But let's move on and take a closer look at the wipes.

The label claims the ingredients are 99% natural, but what about the other 1%? Think 1% doesn't mean anything, think again. Clorox lists the ingredients for these wipes but not for their conventional products. Hmmm. I wonder why.

The wipes are biodegradable. That's a great thing because no waste means they won't take up space in a landfill but this is only if you compost them. And the plastic container is made from 25% post-consumer recycled plastic and is #2 plastic which is highly recyclable. I'm not sure about the cap, but I'm going to look into its recyclability.

The Sierra Club logo is displayed near the barcode with the following: "The makers of Green Works products are proud supporters of the Sierra Club's efforts to preserve and protect the planet." It's also noted that the logo is used with permission, but that this does not constitute a sponsorship or endorsement of any company or product. So Clorox supports The Sierra Club but not vice versa. Interesting. I don't really know what to make of that but I do know that this product has not been tested on animals. Yeah! I don't want anything tested on me and my friends.

I've concluded that I need to conduct further research on this product. Remember, Clorox is a large company that makes lots of products that aren't good for the environment. Simply stepping into the green arena doesn't make you green. While it is a step in the right direction, I hope their attempt with Green Works is about doing the right thing and not simply about making money, but I doubt it. You will need to decide for yourself if you want to use Green Works wipes but remember to take everything into consideration before you make your choice.

Mom bought this Terracycle cleaner a few months ago and has yet to use it. Many of you recognize the Terracycle name from their efforts in the recycling world. They buy trash from consumers and turn it into products. Trash like drink pouches, chip bags, candy bar wrappers all become useful products that can be purchased in stores across the country. It's a brilliant business model that's good for you and for the environment. The brains behind Terracycle, Tom Szaky, started the company almost a decade ago and it's grown into one of the greenest I've ever seen.

The all-purpose cleaner was not listed on the GoodGuide. This isn't necessarily a bad thing and could just mean that it hasn't been reviewed yet. Instead of writing it off with the thinking absence usually signifies guilt, I chose to take the high road and gave it the benefit of the doubt until I could read the ingredients.

The list of ingredients is a little vague, even for me: water, grease cutters and performance enhancers (linear alcohol ethoxylates), and essential oil cleaners, all derived from natural sources. Linear alcohol what? The same rule applies to household cleaners that applies to packaged foods: if you can't pronouce the ingredients, you shouldn't eat it or use it. I wish I could tell you that I researched linear alcohol ethoxylates or that Mom is a chemist that knew what it was as soon as she read it, but neither are true. But an eco friendly company like Terracycle wouldn't make a product that isn't good for the environment, right? Maybe. Since I haven't figured out the ingredients mess, let's take a look at the packaging.

Could you tell just by looking at the bottle that it was a soda bottle? A good old #1 plastic bottle from who knows where. What a great way to recycle all those plastic bottles! There are two endorsements on the label: one indicating the product is a Canadian environmental choice and the other indicating the product has zero footprint. Both sound totally cool but do they mean anything or is this another attempt at greenwashing? The Canadian eco logo is the strictest certification given by the Canadian government and the zero footprint label is Terracycle's own label indicating the product is made from a waste stream bottle. I'm not sure where the bottle top and sprayer originated or if they can be recycled so I have to do additional research. The jury (me) is still out on whether this product is really green but my paws are crossed that it is. I really like Terracycle and can't believe they would make a product that isn't good for the planet.

It's hard to tell from the picture but this product gets a lot of use. Mom uses this to clean the windows of pug snot residue. Not that there is any but she's a bit of a clean freak. The maker of this window cleaner, Earth Friendly Products or ECOS, is a tried and true brand in our house but let's see what the GoodGuide had to say.

Scanner scores: 7.9 overall = 8.0 health, 7.3 environment, 8.4 society

Web scores: 8.1 overall = 8.0 health, 7.2 environment, 9.0 society

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that the scanner and web scores were different. What gives? Why the discrepancy? I've made a mental note to email the GoodGuide people to get to the bottom of this because it's very confusing. The good news is that the cleaner scored a great overall score which makes me happy.

The list of ingredients is easy to read, even for me: purified water, vinegar, ethanol (derived from corn), and coconut based surfactant*. The asterick after the last ingredient indicates that it does not contain SLS. SLS is sodium lauryl sulfate and is a big no-no, but unfortunately it's found all around the house because it's commonly used in soaps, shampoos, detergents, and toothpaste. It's used in these products because it's cheap for the manufacturer to use but not cheap for your body to use in terms of your health. It gets absorbed by the body and is a known hormone disruptor - yuk! Mom avoids using anything containing SLS or its relatives like the plague.

This product is not tested on animals but there are many, many products on the market that are. The bottle is #1 plastic and will definitely be recycled when it is empty. As with the Terracycle top and sprayer, I'm not sure of its recyclability. ECOS is made locally in Winnetka, IL and that's another reason Mom loves it. Purchasing locally made products is not only earth friendly (no pun intended) but is great for the local economy too. And check out what it says on the back label:

Thank you for using our natural, non-toxic product. Each time you use our products, you are helping to maintain a healthier and sustainable home, lifestyle and environment. One by one, we can change the world and make it a better place. Let us know what you think, and tell your friends about us.

How cool is that? These guys are really commited to doing the right thing and it shows in their high society scores. I'm doing my part by telling you, my friends, about ECOS and I hope you'll give their products a try. Mom also uses their laundry detergent and loves it.

Conscious cleaning is easy to do when you know what to use. By reading ingredient labels, using online tools like GoodGuide, and researching companies, you can make smart, conscious decisions. You owe it to yourself and the planet to clean your house with a clean conscious.

I'm Trying Something New

My good friend Tweedles left a comment yesterday asking me to ask Mom if she would share some tasty vegetarian recipes. I asked Mom, who of course said yes and a light bulb went on over my head - Tasty Tuesday! I'm going to try this out for the next month of Tuesdays to see how it goes. Even if you're not a vegetarian Mom swears you'll still love the recipes. I'll have to take her word for it because I don't eat her food.

Today's recipe is one that Mom has been making forever. It's a staple in our house and can almost always be found in the refrigerator and freezer. It's super easy to make and it freezes really well.

Three-Bean Chili

The Vegetarian Slow Cooker

Serves 4 to 6

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large sweet yellow onion, chopped

1/2 small green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1 tablespoon chili powder, or more to taste

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 1/2 cups water

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic, cover, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and chili powder, and cook about 30 seconds longer.

Transfer the mixture to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add the tomatoes, beans, and water, season with salt and pepper, cover, and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Notes:

You can substitute 1 1/2 cups slow-cooked beans for the canned beans. Buying dried beans in bulk is the best option, but even buying a large multi-serving bag is better than buying single-serve. The plastic bags the beans come in are recyclable in most communities so check with your recycler before throwing the bags in the garbage.

Organic beans are the best option, but conventional will work if organic is not an option for you. One reason to choose organic beans besides the fact that they are organic is because they are more likely to come in BPA-free cans. Yes, BPA is used to line cans because it lengthens the shelf life of products. It may lengthen the shelf life but it could potentially shorten yours. Eden Foods does not use BPA in their canned beans. There may be other brands out that don't use BPA in their canned beans, so if you find another brand please leave me a comment.

It's much harder to find organic tomatoes in cans that aren't lined with BPA. Tomatoes are very acidic thus companies claim the cans must be lined with epoxy containing BPA. My advice is to limit your exposure as much as possible so choose wisely.

Slow cookers are an eco-friendly cooking method. They use less energy than using the stove, oven, or microwave. Plus they're easy to use - just put everything in, turn it on and let it do it's magic. While your food is cooking you can take the pug for a walk or put the pug in the bed and take a nap. I personally vote for nap.

Mom is a garlic freak so she triples the garlic in the recipe. She's also a ground black pepper lover so she doesn't measure it. She just puts the grinder over the cooker and grinds until it looks peppery enough for her.

One last thing. We use to have an old school blue flowered Crock Pot but then it died. Dad went out and bought a big huge All-Clad slow cooker that's bigger than what this recipe calls for and it works fine.

Please let me know if you make the chili and the products you used to make it. If you make it but doctored it up a little, let me know that too. Mom is always looking for ways to kick her cooking up a notch. I've never tasted the chili but that's not for lack of trying. Maybe an almost empty bowl to lick is in my future. Miracles do happen.

A Must Read!

Mom reads to me a lot and sometimes I listen but most of the time I don't. It's not that I'm not interested in what she's reading, it's just that all that listening really cuts into my nap time. And nothing comes between me and my naps except maybe Popeyes. When Mom picked up this book from the library last week, I didn't expect to be so caught off guard with how good it was despite the fact that it's about food. But the book is about so much more than food.

Do you guys remember The Conscious Kitchen mini challenge I did a few weeks ago? I had lots of fun doing it and I learned lots too. That challenge and this book are from the same author. The challenge was just a brief intro into the world of what it means to have a conscious kitchen and even if you didn't take the challenge, this book is a must read. A must buy even because there's so much great info in it that's like a reference book. I like to think of this book as a beginner's guide to eating consciously. Some of you are beginners, some experts, and some on the fence. No matter where you fit into the range of conscious eating, you'll learn a lot from this book.

The introduction of the book has the conscious commandments and while I won't list them here, I will tell you that part of one of them is to use reusable bags when shopping. You see, you can't have a conscious kitchen with plastic bags lying on the countertops. It just doesn't work that way because there's nothing good about them. They are just plain bad. Period. Oh, and another commandment speaks to saying no to bottled water. Again, bottled water in the kitchen is a no-no unless you live in a community, in a developing country that lacks access to clean drinking water. No exceptions!

Mom is telling me to calm it down a bit so back to the book. There's a list of essential terms you need to know and while this may sound a little dumbed down for some, a refresher course is never a bad thing. Just when you think you know it all, new terms or new definitions pop up. Life is dynamic and you have to roll with the changes.

Chapter one is all about what kind of food to buy while chapter two is about where to shop. I know many of you will immediately think the author is going to recommend only buying organic and you would be right. She explains in detail, in laymen's terms why organic (in most cases) is the best option. She even provides a sliding scale from best to worst when detailing each food group. Again, a great reference to have on hand when faced with the overwhelming amount of food decisions you must make each day.

The part of the book Mom loves the most are the reference features. I'm referring to the many websites the author provides to enable you to gain additional information on the given subjects she discusses. These websites are littered throughout the book and there are many that Mom wasn't even aware of. There are even some books, reports, and movie recommendations for those wishing to further their conscious kitchen education.

The part of the book I love the most are the author's own eating and purchasing habits. She goes into details about what, where, when, why, and how she buys her food. There's a lot to be said with being the so called expert and putting yourself on the line but she does a great job explaining her reasons for doing what she does. And she does this without an elitist attitude. She's just a regular person who is trying to do right by herself, her family, and the planet. Is it asking too much for everyone to think and act this way?

But it seems that even with a great book like this one, Mom has issues with certain parts. Like with the seafood section. And even a little with the meat section. The author is not a vegetarian but she does her best to eat local, organic and sustainable meat. I see nothing wrong with that but Mom feels that if you were to do right by the planet, you wouldn't eat meat. I do right by the planet and I eat meat but Mom doesn't hold that against me because I'm a dog. Whew!

Mom is only halfway through the book and can hardly put it down. She still has to read about drinks (you can bet bottled water will not be the only thing discussed), packaged foods, pots and pans, appliances, cleanup, and my personal favorite waste. Yes, having a conscious kitchen means dealing with waste (organic and inorganic) in the best way possible for maintaining a healthy planet. There are so many elements to having a conscious kitchen that most people never think of and that's another reason this book is so great. It gets you thinking, way outside your comfort zone. It also gets you questioning your food purchases and even yourself. And I don't think those are bad things.

Mom doesn't really buy books but she's really thinking about buying this one. If she doesn't buy it for herself, I think I'm going to surprise her with it for Mother's Day. What better way to say I love you than with a great book?

One Company's Trash

Mom read me an article last week about how P&G is turning garbage into goods and my first thought was why can't all companies do this? I'm not a big fan of P&G because truth be told, most of their products aren't that great for good ole Mother Earth. But I have to hand it to them for moving in the right direction at least when it comes to waste.

P&G is a $79 billion dollar company with 82 product brands in the US alone, so most people have several P&G products in their house. Some of their more well known brands are Tide, Charmin, Bounty, Downy, Pampers, Pantene, Crest, and Gillette. The reason most of their products are not environmentally friendly is because they don't source sustainable materials, and their laundry and healthcare products contain toxic chemicals. But this post isn't about what they're doing wrong. It's about what they're doing right.

The process of manufacturing products involves waste. It's that plain and simple, or as some would say, just the cost of doing business. But it's what companies do with that waste that separates the bad guys from the good. P&G created GARP (Global Asset Recovery Purchases) two years ago with one employee and has since grown to 25 people.

GARP turns garbage into goods via 20 industrial partners around the world who are involved in the program, many of whom specialize in alternative use recycling. Many of the waste or garbage materials in the past (or in other industries) would end up in landfills. Thanks to GARP, turning garbage into goods has kept tons of waste out of landfills thus enabling P&G to reduce its disposable waste by 30% since 2007. Just think of all the waste that a company like P&G creates through the manufacture of its products. The idea behind GARP is that if they can't find a use for a material one of their partners can. So selling or donating materials to their partners is a win-win for everyone because it not only keeps waste out of landfills, but it also reduces the need to use raw materials. GARP is so much more than recycling, don't you think?

P&G converts 96% of their raw materials into finished products but the rest is left for waste. That's where GARP comes in by finding partners who can utilize the waste that P&G cannot. But what type of waste am I talking about? I think you'll be surprised when you find out. And even more surprised when you read what their partners use that waste for.

In China, facial cream components are converted into products used for leather care. Seven distribution centers worked together to come up for a use for the facial cream waste. P&G China now keeps 97% of all scrap materials out of landfills due to GARP.

In Budapest, GARP teams use scrap feminine pads to fuel kilns at a local cement factory. This not only reduces the factory's energy consumption but also P&G's disposable waste. The team found that when the pads are shredded, they burn really well. The two Budapest factories now have shredders on site and they sell the scraps to a local cement maker.

Here in the U.S, ingredients used in toothpaste have found a second life as an additive in wheel polish and jewelry cleaners. Who knew? Mom did! She has been cleaning her jewelry with toothpaste for years. P&G shares the toothpaste with a U.S. company that blends it to make high-performance polish. By reusing this material, P&G is not incinerating the unused material and the partner is not using raw materials.

Another U.S. factory that produces Metamucil has found that a byproduct used in the manufacturing process that is typically considered waste can be recycled for soil retention in landscaping projects. This byproduct, when mixed with water and sprayed on developing landscapes, helps with soil retention thereby giving grass a chance to take root and grow.

Can you believe the garbage that is turned into goods? I'm so impressed with how P&G is addressing waste that I'm going to research how other companies deal with the same issue. I realize a program like GARP takes time and money to develop but it's the commitment to doing the right thing that makes all the difference. I'm hoping I find more companies handling waste in a similar fashion to P&G. If not, my question still remains - why can't all companies do this?

Recycling Cell Phones

Did you know that this week is National Cell Phone Recycling Week? It sure is and not a moment too soon because there are so many unused phones that need to be recycled instead of being thrown in a landfill. I'm sure your parents have a cell phone or two they don't use anymore and what better to time to recycle them than this week?

So the official name of this campaign sponsored by the U.S EPA is "Plug-In To e-Recycling National Cell Phone Week" but you guys get the point. Through April 11, the campaign brings cell phone manufacturers and service providers together to educate consumers to recycle used cell phones, batteries, chargers, etc. All these items can be recycled but most aren't. Experts estimate that only 1% of the 4 billion wireless users worldwide recycle their old cell phones. In the U.S. only 1 in 10 cell phones are recycled.


All of this leads me to wonder where all these cell phones are that haven't been recycled. Are they in junk drawers or in landfills? Putting all that e-waste into landfills leads to the materials in the phones- copper, plastic, & heavy metals - leaching into the soil and water - yuk! All those reusable materials are going to waste. The EPA says that for every 1 million cell phones recycled, we can recover 75 pounds of gold, 772 pounds of silver, 33 pounds of palladium, and 35,274 pounds of copper. Another problem with cell phones in landfills is that the batteries can explode if exposed to high temperatures or direct sunlight. E-waste doesn't belong in landfills any more than plastic does.

So how can you recycle your used cell phones? There are so many ways that there's really no excuse not to. The EPA is partnering with AT&T, Best Buy, LG Electronics, RecycleBank, Samsung Mobile, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless to recycle all the cell phones you,your family and friends have laying around the house.

AT&T has three simple ways to donate and recycle phones. Even if you're not an AT&T customer, you can still drop off used cell phones and accessories at any of their stores across the U.S. If you can't make it to an AT&T store, just go to www.att.com/recycle and download a free shipping label and mail your phone in for recycling. If you don't have a printer or if you're like Mom and are out of ink, you can request a postage-paid mailing envelope be mailed to you. I told you there's no excuse!

The best part of the AT&T recycling program is that they use funds from recycled cell phone to buy prepaid phone cards for active duty military members through the Cell Phones for Soldiers program. AT&T collects the phones and then sends them to ReCellular, the world's largest cell phone recycler. ReCellular in turn pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone and the funds are used to buy the phone cards. How cool is that? The Cell Phones for Soldiers program was started by two teenagers and has already distributed more than 75,000 prepaid phone cards to soldiers overseas.

Sprint is the only major U.S. wireless carrier to offer in-store financial incentives to consumers for recycling their eligible devices regardless of make, manufacturer or carrier. Their buyback program offers an instant account credit to current and new customers who turn in up to three eligible devices per active line of service each year. To participate in this program without going to a retail store, log on to www.sprint.com/recycle.

Sprint's Project Connect program accepts all wireless phones, batteries, and accessories regardless of carrier or condition. This program is available to everyone and free postage-paid envelopes are available at any Sprint-owned retail store. You can also print free postage-paid mailing labels at www.sprint.com/recycle. All the proceeds collected help keep kids safer online through Sprint's 4NetSafetySM program. Charitable partners include the National Center for Missign & Exploited Children, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the NEA Health Information Network.

ReCellular also works with other charities beside Cell Phones for Soldiers. Check out their recycling partners here.

CollectiveGood is similar to ReCellular and offers donations to several organizations in exchange for your cell phone.

ECO-CELL is yet another company that accepts used cell phones. They partner exclusively with conservation organizations and some of the workable phones are donated to hospitals in the Louisville Metro area so patients can make emergency calls.

You can always get some money for your old cell phone by selling it yourself or sending it to YouRenew. Enter your cell phone model details on their website and get a quote instantly. If your cell phone is a little old and out of date, a quote will be emailed to you. Even if your cell phone isn't worth anything, you can still send you phone to YouRenew and they will recycle it. YouRenew will even pay the postage.

Mom is only on her second cell phone ever so she only has one to recycle. I've lost count how many cell phones Dad has had. He also has piles of chargers and other phone accessories, so he needs to get with the recycling program. I hope you get with the program too because there's no excuse not to.

Rain Date

I was so excited to go to the Easter egg hunt yesterday that I forgot to be excited. I love riding in the car and am usually, as Mom puts it a spaz, but I was so excited I was calm. Weird huh? The egg hunt was a rainy disaster but Josie was there and that's all that mattered.

Mom wouldn't put my window down in the car because it was raining. I thought maybe the rain would let up by the time we arrived at the egg hunt, but in the back of my mind I think I knew that the rain was going to dampen the day's activities so I chilled out in the car until we arrived.

Despite the downpour, there were lots of dogs ready to hunt for eggs. Shortly after we arrived, Josie and her mom drove up. All of us were standing in the rain and then huddled in an empty storefront before we made our way to the egg hunt area. By the time we got there, the hunt was over. Over? No treats, no eggs, no nothing. I was only a tiny bit disappointed that I didn't get anything but then Josie's mom suggested we go back to her house and I was on cloud nine.

I think this picture says it all. Josie is one hot chick and a great hostess as well. Anakin and Izzy didn't go to the egg hunt so when we got to their house they were crazy excited to see me. And I was a little freaked out by their welcome. I kept telling them to chill out but they didn't listen to me. They were finally summoned to the dining room where the gate was closed behind them. A little time out never hurt any pug.

Josie and I were both happy to be alone at last. We talked about our bloggies and about what we have been up to lately. We also talked about taking a road trip but I can't tell you where we are going. Somethings are secret.

Our alone time didn't last for long and soon Anakin and Izzy reappeared. Izzy had to be contained via her leash and all her craziness freaked me out. I tried to hide between Mom and Dad because I was scared. I remember what happened last time I visited and I didn't want it to happen again. I really think Izzy needs some medication so she can chill out.

Josie's birthday is tomorrow, so I brought her a little gift. Can you guys see what it is? It's a little pig. Josie totally loved it and of course Izzy and Anakin were jealous. Mom says I should have brought gifts for them too but I her reminded her that the gift was for Josie's birthday. She reminded me that I didn't get Izzy a birthday gift, but I turned a deaf ear to all her babbling and went back to talking with Josie.

Josie loved the little pig so much she decided to take a nap on it. Doesn't she look cute resting her head on it? A little pig pillow! She's so sweet!

Crazy Izzy totally loves me. She just can't get enough of me but I told her to keep her distance. I let her come close to me for only a second because she's just too crazy for me. I sure hope The Bean likes all that craziness.

Anakin is such a cool dude. He hung out with Dad for quite some time and Dad said that Anakin reminds him of me when I was younger. I can see the resemblance. We are both good looking dudes.

Izzy finally calmed down and decided to chill out with Anakin. They are really best buds. Eventually Izzy jumped up on the sofa by her dad and took a nap while Anakin snoozed on the floor. Ahhh. Quiet time.

The rain finally stopped and the sun came out. Yeah! I didn't want to overstay my welcome and I was getting really sleepy, so I told Mom and Dad that I wanted to go home. Josie didn't want me to go but I told her that I would see her again soon. It was at that time that I asked her to come over to my house on Friday. Guess what? She said yes! Dad is going to cook for us and I'm going to show Josie all around my house. It's going to be a blast!

I think Josie wanted to go home with me but of course she couldn't. Did I mention that Josie gave me some Easter gifts? She bought me a box of Peeps and a box of Goldfish crackers. Yummy! Mom is going to let me have a Peep later today and I'm sure I'm going to love it. My friend Puglet says they're delicious and that they stick to your snout. Mom is saving the crackers for some unknown reason. I'm going to try to get some out of her tomorrow so wish me luck.

I hope everypug has a happy Easter. We are celebrating Easter by having my favorite food - Popeyes!

Look What Mom Did!

Click here to see what Mom did to my bloggy!

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