Daily Loaf

Let us assume for one moment that water was a precious commodity, as rare as gold itself. How would we treat it? Would we bathe our infertile landscape with it? Expend perfectly clean water to dispose of our waste? Throw it away after scantly using it in the sink while doing dishes?

Now let us live in reality. Realize that already this resource is such a thing. For we live way above our means at almost 500 gallons a day for the average American. Most human beings on this planet use less than 100 gallons, and by 2025 water will be a scarce resource for nearly three-quarters of the population due to exponential growth of use and depleting glaciers.

In my previous post about South Central Asia, I spoke also about the resource war that could erupt over water. With recent fires in California as well as sandstorms in Australia, more than ever resilience in a water supply will be crucial for our success in the future. We must adapt to a goal of using less water and utilizing it more efficiently.
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I’m sure many of us have all tried in one form or fashion to become more eco-conscious and tread a little lighter on this planet. Most of you have heard about the concept of the carbon footprint (greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product) and probably practice recycling, conserving water and energy in your home, etc., to try to reduce your carbon footprint. But we can always do more.

Take, for instance, No Impact Man, Colin Beavan, and his No Impact Project where he and his family tried to live with no environmental impact for one year in New York City. Think: making no trash, only eating food grown within 250 miles, using no carbon producing transportation (cars, subway) and finally, and using no electricity in their home. Of course, they didn’t go cold turkey and omit all of these things from their lives all at once, they did so through phases – and so can you.

Huffington Post is hosting No Impact Week, starting Sunday, October 18, to “give people the opportunity to examine and reduce their ecological footprint by taking part in a short and intense period of conscious consumption supported by local and online communities”. They’ve even created a day-by-day guide to help you go greener gradually and learn practices that make less of an impact on the environment. Each day will focus on a different theme (i.e.: trash, energy, food, transportation) and give you tips on simple practices you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. This doesn’t mean you have to stop driving your car or turn off your electricity – it gives simple, achievable goals for each day.
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

St. Petersburg College’s new Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building is certified LEED® Gold- St. Petersburg College recently announced that for the second time in as many months, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded LEED Gold certification for one of its new campus buildings.

Best of the Bay of the Day: Best organic smoothie- Believe it or not, algae and bee pollen add up to a delicious drink called the Spirulina Power Buzz. Read this to find out where to get one.

Tips to improve gas mileage (and save some green)- Do you have a lead foot or drive an inefficient automobile?  Here are a few simple tips to improve gas mileage and save a bunch of green!

Living Sustainably in Tampa Bay: Darren Brinkley, owner of REAL Building- Brinkley is the owner of REAL Building and home that he built for his family in St. Petersburg is the first home in Florida to achieve the LEED for Homes Gold Rating.
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St. Petersburg College recently announced that for the second time in as many months, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded LEED Gold certification for one of its new campus buildings.

The Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building on the Clearwater campus received the certification. The other LEED Gold building is the Student Services building on the St Petersburg/Gibbs campus.

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a nationally accepted certifier of high performance and environmentally sensitive buildings. Gold is its second highest designation. Read the rest of this entry »

What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

The Earth Charter: How ethics can change the world (video) – The Earth charter was created by thousands of people representing hundreds of countries aiming at a universal ethical code of conduct for human beings. How do we treat each other? How do we treat the world? These questions were raised and answered.

City of Tampa Green Business Designation Program- As of this week, the City of Tampa became one of just a handful of cities nationwide to start a green business designation program.  Outside of the West Coast (California and Washington state), Tampa will join major metropolitan areas like Philadelphia and Knoxville in rewarding private businesses that have become or want to become more environmentally-friendly.

Why buying recycled, repurposed products is so important- Preserving the Earth’s natural resources is vital to the future of the planet and all of its inhabitants. Buying recycled and repurposed products is a great way to make a positive impact on the environment by cutting back on waste and the resources needed to make new items.
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In 1967, that smug businessman from the film “The Graduate” took Dustin Hoffman’s character aside and declared “I just want to say one word to you, just one word: ‘plastics.’”  Ever since that iconic moment, plastic has signified society’s wasteful tendencies and has come to represent our “throwaway culture”.

The prepackaged bottle of water is the epitome of waste.

Plastic bottles are manufactured from non-renewable petroleum and natural gas.  Annually, Americans dispose of 29 billion water bottles, requiring 1.5-million barrels of crude oil (enough oil to keep 100,000 cars running for one year), resulting in the release of 2.5-million tons of carbon dioxide.  In addition, scientists have found that over time, plastic bottles can leach chemicals linked to birth defects, miscarriage and prostate cancer into the water. Read the rest of this entry »

Do you receive way too much junk mail? Here are some tips to lighten your junk mail load:

The issue:

-Every year, each of us receives almost 560 pieces of junk mail, accounting for 43% of all delivered mail!

-Every year, the US EPA estimates 44% of junk mail isn’t even opened, creating four tons of waste!

-Every year, junk mail uses as much energy as almost three million cars!

-Every year, junk mail consumes 100 million trees or approximately 550,000 tons of paper!
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

TRA’shion Fashion and Art Show 2009 (photos) – The fabulous trashionistas were out in force for ARTpool’s annual TRA’shion Show, and photographer Chip Weiner caught all the recycled green glamour.

Letting go of addictions: Using alternative methods to release addictions of any type- Kelly Rothwell gives us alternative methods such as energetic healing, visualizations and affirmations, that can be used to not only cope with such addictions but to understand the reason behind the addiction and let it go for good.

Living sustainably in Tampa Bay: Dave Starman’s biodiesel fueled car and green lifestyle – The first in a series of profiles, by Jack B., of individuals who are living sustainably in Tampa Bay. This profiles Tampa Bay resident Dave Starman.
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The Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Pete Times Forum employees and staff members participated in a “River Cleanup this morning - cleaning the shoreline and water’s edge of the Garrison Channel around the Cotanchobee Park.

Wearing shirts saying “Together We Will”, the group picked up trash and debris in the park and river areas.

It’s great to hear about individuals, groups and companies doing “the green thing” and setting an example for others to do the same. Whether its picking up trash, planting trees, or even donating money to green charitable causes, many people are jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon.
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Looking for something green-related to do this weekend? Look no further than our own Green Community Calendar.

“Break Out of Your Mold” Cheese Tasting at Greenwise Market- Fri., June 26. Different molds can create distinct flavors in cheeses. Don’t be afraid to try one- it may surprise you! Free. June 26, 4-7 pm; 2403 W. Azeele St., Tampa.

The World Cafe: Connecting People Through Conversations That Matter- Every Fri. 7:30 pm promptly; Starbucks at 4th St. N. & 89th Ave N., St. Pete (just south of Gandy Blvd.); RSVP to Pat at 727.421.2746 or goodpat@tampabay.rr.com
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this past week:

Stretching your diet and exercise comfort zone: moving through a plateau: contributor Kelly Rothwell lists a few ways to work through your diet and exercise plateaus.

Greenpeace comes to Tampa with bad news about Florida’s emissions: Joshua Michael Poll takes a look Greenpeace’s report that Florida is one of the biggest emissions producers in the world.
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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this past week:

Why does Florida Fish and Wildlife refuse to protect eagles and tortoises?: contributor and green activist Chris Hrabovsky asks why Florida wildlife is allowed to be sacrificed in order for big businesses to take over that land.

The roots of sprawl: Grant Rimbey explores the origins of sprawl in the United States, describes the difference between sprawl and sustainability, and hints at a future strategy for moving beyond sprawl.

Tampa City Council reclaimed water workshop: a post by John Dingfelder on Tampa City Council wanting to “turn the page” towards a new era of common sense water conservation.

An overview of Green Cities Florida in Orlando and hopes for a greener future: Joshua Michael Poll attended last week’s Green Cities Florida event in Orlando and discusses highlights from it, as well as his hopes for Tampa Bay’s green initiatives.

No acupuncture needles needed when it comes to Meridian Therapy: health and wellness contributor Kevin O’ Dunn looks at the use of toothpicks in place of needles in acupuncture and Meridian Therapy.

Help support the Tampa Theatre by shopping at Barnes and Noble this week: Michelle Schenck gives information on helping the Tampa Theatre by purchasing from Barnes and Noble book stores this week.

Steps to becoming greener: Starting a compost or worm bin: Tips and information from Joshua Michael Poll on creating healthier soil by making a compost or worm bin.

360 Vodka: drink in the name of Mother Earth: Jessica McCormick reviews the “eco-responsible” (and very tasty) 360 Vodka.

VP Biden boosts green jobs and training in Denver: Vice President Joe Biden creates 450,000 green jobs in Denver with $500 million from the economic stimulus bill, as reported by Michelle Schenck.

Lose your lawn and get Florida native plants instead; Free native plants tour Sat. (5/30): Joshua Michael Poll gives us more green tips- this time for our lawns and how to use native Florida plants in place of a time- and money-consuming traditional lawn.

Green office tip of the week: Reduce paper in your office: the latest green office tip from contributor Lisa Assetta.

McLibel and Wal-Suit trials: people who fought against these companies and made a difference: Chris Hrabovsky discusses the long McLibel suit in London and compares it to similar local issues and legal battles with Wal-Mart destroying wetlands and wildlife to build, showing what a few everyday people have done to stand up to these big companies.

Don’t forget to check out our Green Community Calendar for green events and workshops in the Bay Area!

Perhaps you, like me have wondered what a revolution might look like in today’s America. Would it be a blood bath, like something out of the movie Braveheart? Or perhaps a Guy Fawkes masked hero would present the path, like the film V for Vendetta?

Well, first we must talk about the epidemic. The impetus for drastic change, in Braveheart, was of course the cruel way Scotland’s citizens were treated by the King of England. And in V for Vendetta, a literal epidemic was created with a virus sprayed on the citizens, and the ensuing panic and mayhem allowed the government to take dictatorial control of the country. The epidemic I am referring to in our current situation is not the swine flu, however. It is the corporate greed and corruption that has allowed our rights to be stripped away, and our planetary environment to be brought to the brink of disaster. Read the rest of this entry »

Nowdays, everyone is jumping on the ‘Green’ bandwagon, including the sex toy industry. More and more adult stores are offering eco-friendly relationship enhancement products” to help Mother Earth and offer non-harmful product alternatives(and probably boost sales by following the trend).

VibratorShopping.com, a reputable online retailer of adult products, now features an entire green line, and claim to be “one of the industry’s pioneers in the ‘Go Green!’ initiative.” Not only are they selling ‘eco-friendly’ vibrating and non-vibrating toys, they also offer a glass collection, natural lubricants, and 100% phthalate free (a harmful type of plastic) products. “Phthalates are currently being investigated for causing cancer, harming the reproductive system as well as harming the planet.” (Associated Content) Read the rest of this entry »

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, may we also honor our Mother Earth – especially as so many of us are nurturing our backyard gardens and installing rain barrels.  Throughout history we see Mother Earth as a common metaphorical expression for the Earth and its biosphere as the giver and sustainer of life.

Mother Nature is a common representation of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing features of nature by embodying it in the form of the mother. Images of women representing Mother Earth, and Mother Nature, are timeless.

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It’s easier to “green your office” than you might think. Let’s start by taking small steps together! We can all do our part in our offices by applying this familiar mantra to our everyday worklife – you guessed it – that mantra is “reduce, reuse recycle”!

Did you know that those words are written in that order intentionally? Reduce is listed first. Why? Because it’s important to start at the source. Reducing consumption is the first step in preventing waste and pollution. Then fewer products are needed, produced, used and disposed of in the first place! So try to buy less. And try to buy only what you need versus what you want. Think necessity versus luxury, and you’re on you way to being an eco-conscious consumer! Easy, right? Read the rest of this entry »

“What has “Green” ever meant or been associated with for you?” Go ahead, try it. Don’t limit yourself to the media’s current interpretation. Put your green-tinted glasses on, go way back to your childhood and recall everything labeled green. I randomly went up to strangers and tried this question out as a non-threatening ice-breaker. It worked–sparking fun, interesting remembrances that gave us insights on each other’s life experiences.

Theses days anything that can support meaningful conversation, to find connection with another, is a great place to begin. No matter what our beliefs, we’re all roommates on Planet Earth. As we hurtle through space on this relatively small speck of mostly collaborating rocks, soil, water, air, and organisms–we might as well converse. Read the rest of this entry »

If Magnus Larsson, a student of the Architectural Association in London, has his way, he’ll combat the encroaching Sahara desert and provide green refugee housing simultaneously. The ambitious plan turns sand into sandstone by using microbes to eat the sand and output a solid surface that can be shaped into any structure needed.

While there is already a plan being carried out to plant more vegetation in the soil, Larsson’s proposal provides much more than just a simple green line. It will serve as more of a structure with the purpose of creating not only a habitat for the trees and vegetation, but for the humans who could live and take care of them. This seems to be a win-win scenario for many of the African nations involved, not only in preventing their nations from turning into Sahara sand, but also providing a more comprehensive solution than simply planting migratory trees.

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Smoking is a habit I don’t agree with, but one I’m willing to tolerate. I silently suck up second hand smoke for the sake of politeness, and place fondness of the company over my own good health. Litter in general, is something I abhor, but cigarette butts are the worst form of it. I always make my friend or companion pick up their butt if they flick it on the ground.

When my boyfriend and I started dating, we went for a long, romantic walk on the beach at night. As we walked, he held my hand in one of his, and the cigarette butt I wouldn’t let him flick on the beach in the other. It may be a little strict, but it’s for a very good reason. If someone else wants to ruin their own health, that’s fine, but I won’t let them ruin the Earth. But it’s just a cigarette butt, you say. Au contraire, say I.Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter, worldwide. In a recent Canadian shore clean up, 323,706 were collected, according to Canada’s National Post. There are a couple of reasons why this is.

Most people don’t realize that they’re littering, and if they are, they aren’t realizing that this is harmful litter. Some people throw an apple core out the car window, and say, “It’s okay, its biodegradable” and hope that an apple tree grows in its place. It’s the same with cigarettes. Cigarettes filters are not biodegradable. They are made of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic, which can take decades to biodegrade. So that ugly butt you drop in the park will stay in that park until some Girl Scout troop does a nature clean up.

But the aesthetics are the most minor concern in the matter. Oftentimes the non-biodegradable filter, full of chemicals left over from the cigarette, manages to make its way into a body of water, or the stomach of some small animal. According to whyquit.com, “The nicotine trapped inside 200 used filters is sufficient to kill an adult human – 50 to 60 milligrams.” What would those same 200 filters do to fish and birds if instead of being put into a proper trash receptacle; they were washed into a lake, or eaten off the beach, mistaken for food scraps?

So the next time you or someone you’re with goes to flick their cigarette butt to the ground, think twice and find a trash can. It’s a small move that could have a big effect.

“Ugh, my cuticles are dry!” my Canadian pipefitter boyfriend said over the phone, 3,000 miles away. “I think I need to moisturize.” He has the most rugged job out of anyone I know, and yet he moisturizes daily. Aveeno, he swears by it.

“Now that you’re moisturizing, it makes me want to moisturize,” I said, not wanting to be out girled by someone who pounds steel together in the Canadian cold all day, as I reached for my Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Lotion. “Mine’s all natural.” Read the rest of this entry »

We already know recycling helps reduce waste and prevents good materials from ending up in a landfill. It’s what we don’t know that can make recycling frustrating, inefficient, and more costly. Let’s make it easier and make recycling more viable in the process.

To all the recyclers out there, I applaud your efforts. You already take an extra bit of time to separate your paper, plastic, metal, and glass refuse from the rest of the trash so it can be reclaimed and reused as something else. But beyond the water bottles and soda cans, remembering what else gets recycled and in what condition your recycling facility expects it can get a little overwhelming. Plastics can be especially dubious due to the wide variety of plastic types. Even if you get that sorted out, you might be left wondering what to do with the unmarked bottle caps. Cardboard is a paper product, right? Can it go in the recycling bin?

Here’s how you can make it easier for yourself (and anyone else you’d encourage to recycle). The internet is a wonderful tool for finding the specifics of your local recycling services, everything from costs, pick-up times, and most importantly, what goes in the bin!  Residents of Tampa should already have curbside recycling at their residence.  Luckily, the recycling business has gotten a lot better at handling all the materials since I first started recycling, so there’s no need to sort by material any more. You can just toss all your recyclables into your blue bin and place it on the curb where the recycling truck driver will be able to see it. And, thanks to someone thoughtful at the Department of Solid Waste, they’ve gone ahead and created a PDF you can print out and hang near your recycling container inside. For most items you can look at the print-out and know what goes in and what doesn’t. For any lingering questions, there’s a page of FAQs with the details.

Some quick recycling tips for Tampa residents to remember: Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know the coral reefs are being suffocated by tourists’ sunscreen? Going to the tanning bed sets up a controlled environment so you can regulate your light absorption and then have a base tan that will help you avoid sunburn and use less sunscreen, therefore preserving the coral reefs and other oceanic life affected by multitudes of tourist sunscreen!

Raydiance Tanning and Spa (and Wellness Gardens and Tea house) offers a multitude of services to keep your lifestyle “green”, healthy and inexpensive. In light of our new proposals for a universal health care system as well as the one already in place it has become all too obvious we need new ways to stay healthy that integrate into our everyday life, because the health care is way too expensive and only used in dire need. There is now a resource to end this cycle of frustration, and it located so conveniently there is no excuse to make a step to integrating preventive health care into your world.

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