Green Sexy

Seventh Generation Green Cleaning Products

When camping at Wellesley Island State Park earlier this month, I wanted to make sure that I used an environmentally-friendly dish washing liquid because I knew from previous camping trips that there are always tons of dishes to wash!  It always bothered me that we used to throw the soapy water into the woods, and I wasn't sure what kind of environmental impact I was making. 

That's why I picked up Seventh Generation's Natural Dish Liquid!   This dish liquid worked just as well as traditional dish liquid and it's also non-toxic & biodegradable, hypo-allergenic, free of phosphates, safe for septic & greywater systems, not tested on animals, and it's even kosher-certified!  Also, unlike traditional dish liquids, Seventh Generation discloses all of the ingredients that make up their products.  Another wonderful thing about their cleaning products in general is that none of them are petroleum-based, whereas many common household cleaning products such as dish liquid, cleaners, plastics, and even products that we put on and in our bodies such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are derived from petroleum!  According to the EPA, there are a host of health-issues related to petroleum, some of which include the weakening of lung function, possibly leading to pneumonia or asthma.     Also, according to a 1999 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology, "exposure to petroleum based solvents increased the risk of connective tissue diseases, a class of conditions that includes arthritis."

Seventh Generation gets their name from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states: "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations."  I couldn't agree more!   Seventh Generation is one Green-Sexy product!

 

 

Stratmore Paper: A Eco-Friendly Paper Company

My wife went to The Art Store to test out a new acrylic paint, and there were door prizes for the attendees at the end of the demonstration session.   It  was just so fitting that my wife won the Strathmore Windpower Sketch sketchbook!  Strathmore is the first and only U.S. paper manufacturer to use wind generated electricity to run their paper mills.  The paper in this sketchbook is also composed of 30% post-consumer fiber and is acid free. 

So, what are the environmental savings derived from Strathmore using wind power and recycled paper at their mills? 

• 13 Million lbs. toxic air emissions not generated (CO2, SO2, NOX)
• 8,581 barrels of crude oil or 1,960 tons of coal not used
• 14.5 million miles not driven
• 94,500 trees not  cut down
• 40 million gallons water/wastewater flow saved

Not bad, eh?  The Strathmore Windpower Series sketchbook is one Green-Sexy product!

Nicaraguan Earthship Featured on Green Real Estate Tour

Coldwell Banker Nicaragua Real Estate is offering a three-day Green Real Estate Tours sometime this year, with their Casa Llanta Earthship as one of its cornerstone examples of eco-friendly housing.  In addition to the Earthship there will be four other investment opportunities highlighted for you to drool over. 

Just to whet your appetite, check out this nifty video about the construction of the Casa Llanta Earthship:

Environmentally-Friendly Dishwasher Tabs from Ecover

My wife and I are trying to reduce our household cleaning product pollution, so now it smells like vinegar all the time in our bathroom!  Anyway, I know that dishwasher detergent is very caustic for the environment, so once our regular dishwasher tabs ran out, I promptly purchased Ecological Dishwasher Tablets from Ecover.  Ecover is an environmentally-conscious company founded in Belgium in 1980 that produces ecological cleaners.  Their products are marketed in over 20 countries and range from dishwashing products, to laundry products, to all-purpose cleaners, and even a heavy-duty hand cleaning product.  The great thing is, you know that when you use their products you are not adding harmful chemicals to the environment.

So, how did Ecover's dishwasher tabs perform?  Excellently, as a matter of fact.  I was quite impressed with how clean my dishes got (I do use the "Water Miser" setting on my dishwasher)---even dishes that I did not pre-rinse.  One more cool feature of the product is the fact that even the plastic wrapper that each individual tab comes in has a #5 recycling number on it!  Ah, if only all companies could be so committed. 

So, please consider giving all of Ecover's green-sexy products a try---you won't be disappointed!

Free Gift for Joining Sierra Club's Online Community!

Hey, who loves the environment?  Who likes free stuff? 

Well then, sign up for Sierra Club's Online Community today and not only will you receive the latest environmental news in your inbox, but you'll also be able to choose a free gift (which are pictured below).  I chose the "Smart Energy" window decal (I already have the hiking decal proudly displayed on my car window). 

I know what you're saying:  "I already get enough junk in my inbox---why would I want another?"  Well, first of all, Sierra Club mailings are not junk.  I cannot count the number of times I have found valuable information that I have used in my daily life and in my blog.  Sierra Club also gives you the opportunity to sign petitions on timely environmental issues, so that you can take action and get off the sidelines.  So I welcome these mailings because they help me be an informed member of the environmental community. 

Sign up today!

      

Bison Begets Better Beef!

I am a Grade-A omnivore---that's right veggies and beef.  Sometimes I actually feel guilty that I eat animals, and somehow the veggie to meat ratio never seems to fully negate that tinge of guilt.  I understand that the amount of grain that goes towards feeding cattle could be put to much better use.  For instance, according to David Pimentel, professor of ecology from Cornell University,"If all the grain currently fed to livestock in the United States were consumed directly by people, the number of people who could be fed would be nearly 800 million."  He also estimates that "if those grains were exported, it would boost the U.S. trade balance by $80 billion a year."  And with the way grain prices are skyrocketing these days, adopting a vegetarian diet would certainly seem to make sense.

Still, I eat meat...and I love it.  Sooo...how can one reconcile any misgivings about their current carnivorous diet?  In the March 2008 edition of Outside Magazine, I found out about two ranchers whose practices I can certainly live with! 

First of all, the Full Circle Bison Ranch is a family-owned and operated ranch that raises free-range, organic-grass-fed bison.  You can purchase steaks, roasts, ribs, sausages and other choice parts of the bison (nothing goes to waste here) for very reasonable prices. 

Then there's also the InterTribal Bison Cooperative, which is a nonprofit organization from South Dakota's Black Hills whose mission is to restore bison herds for participating Native-American tribes such as the Comanche, Cheyenne, River Sioux, Modoc, Gros Ventre and Assiniboine.  Meat prices are based on availability, and may not be readily available depending on where you live.  However, you can purchase Native-American artwork from the site  as one way to fund their cause.  You also have the option of donating money directly towards their efforts.

Any way you cut it, buying meat from these two organizations will leave a very good taste in your mouth!

I Did It!

I did it!  I mailed in my Sierra Club renewal form.  I had let my previous membership lapse, and had instead paid for my wife's membership as a gift.  Well, it feels good to be back. 

What exactly is Sierra Club?  Sierra Club is an environmental organization founded in 1892 by naturalist and conservationist John Muir.  With more than 1.3 million members, the Sierra Club has much influence in lobbying Congressional members and has been instrumental in protecting over 150 million acres of wilderness and wildlife habitat.

With an Regular Membership ($35), you'll receive the Sierra Magazine and a newsletter from your local chapter of the Sierra Club.  You will also receive the satisfaction of knowing that 83.8 cents of every dollar you give will go towards the implementation of conservation programs.  As individuals, we can only do so much to help save the Earth's natural wonders---as a member of a major environmental organization such as the Sierra Club, we can truly make an impact!

Do you belong to the Sierra Club or any other environmental organization?  Share your story with me!