Arbor Day

While I was listening to a college radio station this morning, the host was chatting about the contrast between big business and the environmental movement. "The oil industry has money, but the environmental movement has the collective." He went on to assert that the collaborative nature of the environmental movement, sharing members and resources, allows for many leaders who vie for progress not power. The power of the environmental movement comes from everyday people making choices in their everyday actions-- and in this way, the collective can affect change. For example, my students recently implemented a water bottle recycling program at our high school, capturing 1.3 tons of plastic in March alone. Needless to say, the actions of individuals, positive or negative, have a combined result.
With Arbor Day upon us, it seems like an appropriate time to encourage the collective response of planting trees. Instead of a national day of consumption-- cards, flowers, candy, toys-- let's honor a day dedicated to improving our natural habitiat. The collective act of planting trees has great political power too. Wangari Maathai started the Green Belt movement in Kenya one tree at a time-- the end result was massive in terms of the environment and the empowerment it provided.
And why not plant trees? We need to counteract those lost annually to overdevelopment and to storms in order to provide a healthy environment to animals and people alike. Consider adding a tree to your yard this spring, or simply protecting the ones you have. Or instead of giving out a rubber bracelet for a fundraiser, or a tchotke as a wedding favor, consider sharing saplings. Those trees might just add up to a forest.

Earth Day-- Every Day

What I like about Earth Day is that it reminds us that our everyday actions can be a positive influence on the health of our environment. Every year I take stock on what I've been doing to reduce my carbon footprint, and every year, improvements can be made. Recently I've cut our household meat consumption to one day a week, improved our composting, and gone electronic on my household bills. Yet, paper still comes into the house, stray plastic bags creep into the closet, and I'm not sure how to get all the peanut butter out of the jar for recycling. It's a daily decision to strive for a smaller impact on the environment.

(Re)Recycling

Jericho High School had established a water bottle recycling program several years ago; however the program was discontinued in September. Unfortunately our recycling bins weren't distinct enough from our garbage cans, causing too many food scraps to make their way into the bins. Although more and more students are using reusable stainless bottles, many are still reliant on plastic water bottles. Here is a pic of discarded water bottles on stage after middle school graduation.

With 52,000 water bottles sold annually through our school cafeteria, not to mention the scores of bottles brought in via backpacks, the Senior Experience class made restarting the recycling program our number one priority. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of several clubs, the input of East Coast Recycling and the Eco Action Network, and the support of our district's administration, it looks as if we'll make our March 4th deadline, just in time for a pep rally kick-off event. The students are planning a multimedia campaign to educate our student population on both the need for and the method of proper recycling. While some students were shooting a video, others reused the backs of Bouler Architecture blueprints to make 'coming soon' signs. Their enthusiasm for getting this eco-friendly project off the ground was contagious. As I walked out of the room with Tim, a student who plans to become a chef, he looked out at the snow-filled courtyard and asked if he could turn part of it into an organic garden with a compost. Absolutely!

Recycling's Future

Much has been written about the plague of discarded water bottles, and how a great percentage of them make their way into landfills around the country and into our waterways. The need for recycling programs only grows, but with municipalities strapped for cash, their recycling programs may bear the brunt of budget constraints.
I've become a tad obsessed with the water bottle issue lately. In a quest to reinstate Jericho High School's water bottle recycling program, I visited a student intern at East Coast Recycling today and met with Eco Action Network founder Jessica Rigal. East Coast Recycling has taken on the Herculean task of collecting unwanted plastics and turning them into viable materials such as plastic pellets or even back into bottles. Their forward-thinking ideas serve two purposes-- keeping green jobs here on Long Island and keeping Long Island green.

Banning the Bottle, Or How I Learned to Love Stainless Steel Waterbottles

I admit-- a case of water is a convenience. Grab a bottle and go-- but is it really that much more convenient than a reusable stainless container? Hear me out.

• Plastic leeches into the water, which we then ingest.
• In the majority of cases, bottled water isn't more pure than your tap.
• There are great and inexpensive purifiers if needed.
• Plastic is made with petroleum, requiring billions of barrels of oil a year to produce.
• Only 30% of all bottles are recycled.
• The energy used to package, transport, dispose of, and recycle bottles is unconscionable.
• And nowadays you can find well-designed ones like my new Keith Haring bottle.

These are the reason why I am banning water bottles from my house and my classroom. Wish me luck.

Take Action

In the spirit of recycling and saving the earth, Matter of Trust is a not-for-profit organization started in 1998 whose mission is to connect ideas to sustainable systems. To help with the Gulf clean-up, they are collecting hair, fur, waste wool and left over nylons to use as booms in the Gulf to soak up the oil along the coastline. Check out their site for details on how to send natural fiber materials to them.

A BIG thank you to Salon Eden in Bay Shore who has already signed on to give me their bags of hair to send off to Matter of Trust.

PS: Olivia has a Facebook fan page: Save the Gulf: Olivia's Bird Illustrations, with her bird illustrations. She's up to 15 right now. Thank you to all who have donated. Spread the word!

Reducing Carbon Footprint

Despite the fear of sounding sanctimonious and/or preaching to the choir, I decided to make a list of ways I’m trying to reduce my carbon footprint with my daily habits. I post it hoping you have tips to add or see a new one to try.

Reuse all plastic bags that come along, at least one more time.

Forget disposable containers; reuse takeout ones.

Bring own tote bag to stores.

Use the back of paper for scrap and printing. Buy recycled paper.

Set up electronic billing.

Compost coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, vegetable, and fruit remainders.

Recycle computer equipment—Staples has a program.

Shop Craigslist and thrift shops.

Hang laundry out to air dry.

Make a catch-all soup for left over vegetables.

Cut meat consumption.

Buy local, free range and/or organic.

Use reusable stainless containers for coffee and water.

One pot meals save energy in cooking and water in cleaning

Steam vegetables while boiling water for pasta.

Use less water to boil pasta.

Reuse bathwater and reduce shower time.

Don’t run water while washing face, dishes, or brushing teeth.

White vinegar, baking soda, Epsom salt are our friends for cleaning and gardening.

Use the public library.

Pass books, magazines, clothes, toys, shoes along to others.

Turn off cell phones and computers at night. Unplug chargers when not needed.

Put electronics on power strip for easy to shut off.

CFL bulbs in most fixtures.

Use fridge to store batteries for longer life.

Dispose of batteries properly or use rechargeable.

Use eco-friendly paint, cleansers, and laundry detergent.

Have water source and bird houses for migrating birds.

Plant indigenous and drought-resistant plants. And what’s a lawn anyway?

Make less laundry by reusing towels and clothes.

Forget paper towels, paper plates, plastic cups and plastic utensils.

Scrape plates to avoid rinsing before putting it in the dishwasher.

Consider purchase beforehand—how often will I use it, how long will it last?

What I haven’t mastered yet is carpooling—maybe next year.

Ahhh

I'm so excited I had to add another entry for today. In my mad dash to declutter my life, I was finally able to clean out the bottom of three closets by recycling old computer equipment. For ten dollars an item, Staples will take everything off your hands, even removing and destroying hard drives to protect your privacy. My feng shui feels lighter already.

One Man's Treasure

One way to reduce consumption is to reuse other people's castaways. Of course, it takes a bit of time and an imaginative eye to see through all the rubble in order to find the one item that might work in your life. What I like about the flea markets on 9W in Ravena was the lack of editing. You want a box of eight-track tapes? How about a slightly cracked set of dishes? Hey, they were just going to the landfill anyway; they might as well sit on the shelf at the flea market with the possibility of finding a home. I am pleased to report that the mismatched set of crystal cordial glasses (50 cents each) made their way home, as did the canoe pillow, a bag of Matchbox cars and an old Easter basket.

Portrait of a Lady

Our painted lady butterflies hatched this morning. In this picture, the last one is emerging from his cocoon head first. What a way to introduce spring! The shiitakes are being watered, the birdhouses are being painted, I just took the compost out, and peony bulbs are going in the ground this weekend. Whew.
And did you hear about the blog r3project.blogspot.com? The New York Times featured this blog about trying to live an environmentally responsible lifestyle on the cheap. In light of that, my other spring cleaning goals include finding a way to recycle my old computer equipment and to dispose of the archaic toxins cluttering the basement. I hear earth911.org is the place to go. I'll let you know how it works, right after I cancel all my catalogue deliveries... ok not all of them. Somebody's gotta save the economy.
SAVE THE DATE: March 29th: Earth Hour-- turn off your lights from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oh c'mon, it'll be so romantic playing Candyland by candlelight.