Red, White, Black, Green…?
What does it really mean?
Well, even after I know what Black Friday means, I’m wondering about this shopping “celebration”. . .
I’m going to be radical and propose we make it a Green Friday instead. By that I’m definitely not proposing that you should spend all the green in your wallet.
Posted in eco holidays, Uncategorized
Portland Composts is a new program and I may be a little biased…okay I might be a lot biased but Portland, Oregon has always been known as a sustainable city. We Portlandians are ranked NUMBER ONE in the country for most bike friendly cities, only coming in behind Amsterdam in the entire world! Plus we have an army of workers who bike to work. We even have solar powered garbage compactors located around the city. But now Portland City Metro is not only encouraging composting, they are essentially demanding it…at least if you don’t want to have your garbage cans overflowing and spilling out into your yard.
Garbage pick ups will only be every other week from now on – instead of every week. So, people will need to cut down on their garbage production or increase their recycling and composting to keep their garbage from growing into an unmanageable amount. The city even provided these cute little composting pails (pictured above) for every household. I think it’s super city sustainable power!!! And, I’m really excited to see how the program works out.
I’ll keep you all posted on the progress of this new sustainable program.
How ’bout your city, is it encouraging composting?
Posted in Uncategorized
We all have some junk sitting around our homes, in the basement, the garage, or storage unit. But, if we just take a minute to think, we can come up with some creative ways to repurpose those things.
Let’s all take a little inspiration from Junk to Funk in Portland, Oregon. These sustainable artists use trashion edutainment to get people to pay attention to the wonderful things they can make by simply putting someone else’s junk to use.
Even Miss Oregon 2010 got into the act by wearing a swimsuit made out of discarded bike tire tubes. How cool is that?
And look at this cute outfit made out of ‘junk’. 
And here are a few more creative recraftings
So I have one question for you…
The Green Queen and her husband love to recycle, reuse and re…do. The Green King (TGK) – or would that be Prince by virtue of marriage…? Well whatever the title may be, he likes to grab old wood that’s been thrown away. If he sees sticks, and slabs of old wood at the side of the road, or in dumpsters and even discarded in landfills… that’s not garbage to him. He can’t leave it laying in waste, he grabs it and smiles like he’s just rubbed the side of an old lamp and found an old treasure…or a genie in a bottle. Then, with a schoolboy giggle he’ll load that wood in the back of his car and drive off into the sunset with visions of how he’s going to put that piece of lumber to use.
And old electrical wire spools are no different than beautiful pieces of unutilized wood to him.
He found this broken spool outside an electrical supply company and asked if they were throwing it away. They were. So he asked if he could have it. Just like in Beauty and the Beast, they said, “Be my guest.” 
He took the spool home and went to work repairing and repurposing that old drab oversized spool.
Now it’s a beautiful garden table and chairs. 
Think what you might be able to do with garbage you find laying on the side of the road, who knows, it might be a beautiful piece of garden furniture in your future.
The weather has started to turn, there’s a crisp edge to the air. Even the leaves are dropping from the trees. You can hear them crackle and crunch beneath school kids’ feet, as they head back to class.
It’s that time of year again.
Yes, Bike Commute Challenge.
You see, here in River City, we take sustainability seriously. Hundreds of people commute by bicycle every day to work and back. It’s an easy way to save money: no need to pay for parking, no money for car insurance, heck, no need for cars, gas or maintenance. And, that doesn’t say anything about how much less your carbon footprint will be. But, just think about it for a moment. You can reduce the emissions your car would be putting out into the air, simply by riding to work. This is one way you can do your part to save the planet . . . plus, you’ll be getting yourself in shape – all at the same time. So no need to pay for a gym membership either. Think of how much you’ll save: money, maybe time and the planet!
So don’t let your bike go to waste sitting on the sidelines.
Get out there and ride to work! And, if you aren’t lucky enough to live in River City, then check with your local community to find out whether they have a bike commute challenge and, if they don’t, why don’t you get one organized…I challenge you.
Even the Green Queen has been riding to work. Of course it’s an easy downhill ride and that helps. She hasn’t quite gotten up the guts to ride back home – all the way uphill, yet – this year. But, that’s coming. She’s lucky to be able to take her bike on the MAX (the citywide transit train) if she chooses.
But Portland has always been one innovative city. City planners have been creating a bike encouraging city. Just look at some of the unusual aspects of city planning going on here. 
Cars have to sit and wait behind the bikes. And, people can often get to work faster on bikes than in cars, locked up in gridlock. 
So, what more do you need to hear to get you pedaling yourself to work? It’s time to JUST DO IT!
Posted in green around the world, health, transportation, Uncategorized
Tagged Bike Commute Challenge, emissions, Just Do It!, MAX, River City
If you don’t have much money, feeding a big family takes talent, creativity and a lot of hard work. One of the ways you can save money is by using leftovers to make new meals. And if you run out of staples, you can always make your own.
For example, if you run out of maple syrup, you can make some homemade almond or vanilla syrup simply by using butter and brown sugar.
Homemade syrup:
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 Cup water
• 1 Cup brown sugar
• ½ cube butter
Heat to a boil, then take off the heat and cool for a couple minutes. Serve over pancakes or waffles
You can also use ½ Cup light corn syrup, if you are out of butter and flavor with 1 tablespoon of vanilla or almond flavoring.
Another easy to make staple is Sweet and Sour sauce.
INGREDIENTS:
¼ cup water
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup vinegar
Heat in a saucepan until mixture comes to a slight boil. Pull off heat and use as a sauce or glaze.
One more easy staple you can make with things you have sitting around the house is BBQ sauce.
INGREDIENTS:
½ Cup water
½ Cup ketchup
¼ Cup brown sugar
(optional: garlic, Tabasco sauce, salt, pepper)
Heat to a boil then let cool – use as a sauce.
These are all easy ways to make some simple staples to help stretch your grocery budget.
Posted in food, living green on a budget
GARDEN PARTY
Summer is the time for barbeques, backyard fun and family get-togethers. But, how can we do it all and stay sustainable at the same time?
Think outside the kitchen, or off the plate, and plastic.
• Use serving trays that come from the garden: light-weight ceramic tiles, left over pieces of wood from remodeling projects, or even cardboard cut down to size.
• Serve your food in its own containers: pineapple, watermelon, lemons, oranges, coconuts. Especially for desserts and salads, you can hollow out the fruit and then use the shell to serve your guests. There will be no dishes, no muss-no fuss, and nothing to clean up after everyone has left the party.
• Move the meal outside: it will make for a more casual meal. Plus, the change will make the party seem more special and memorable.
• You can wash out flowerpots and use them for cups, glasses, or even to hold silverware. And, if you aren’t comfortable using flowerpots, line them with aluminum foil, even the aluminum will be recyclable.
These are cupcakes baked right in the ceramic pots and topped off with buttercream roses – what better way to have a garden party than to make your own tasty bouquets? You can even use them to decorate your table.
• You can also use bamboo skewers for serving right off the grill. No need for silverware, if your guests can bite their dinner and carry it around on an earth-friendly serving utensil – like bamboo.
These are just a few ideas. I’m sure if you think about it, you can come up with more. And, if you do, please add them to the comments section and share with your cyber-garden friends.
Posted in Uncategorized
There have been debates about whether or not carbonation is healthy. Some people say that carbonation creates acidity in the body that breaks down bone density and that it ultimately contributes to osteoporosis in women. But the reviews are mixed. Others say, “It does no such thing.”
Another problem that some research talks about is that the CO2 raises Ph levels in the body, which prevents absorption of nutrients and destroys enzymes that aid in digestion.
But there are also possible benefits to CO2. It can kill bacteria which might make it a good option in beverages when you are in a foreign country where the water may not be safe.
Of course, most of the bubbles have already popped by the time the liquid reaches the stomach so most of its effects are gone by the time it settles inside you.
Another question that has been raised is whether or not CO2 has been linked to cellulite, there isn’t any research that the Green Queen has found to suggest the two are linked. So, it might simply be a silly rumor.
So, what does carbonation have to do with sustainability? It’s an interesting question the Green Queen has wondered about because in her family they try to eat whole foods that are processed as little as possible. But one thing they love is carbonated waters, so it’s nice to know that carbonated water doesn’t pose any serious health risks.
Still, even if carbonated water isn’t bad for you, it’s not the best option for the environment. Usually these beverages are sold in plastic and/or glass bottles, which means more waste in the world than if you simply drink the water directly out of the tap. And, a lot of people don’t just drink carbonated water, they drink soda pop and other carbonated drinks that add an entirely different level of complication to the question of health effects from those drinks. That’s one reason to keep the question simple: water and carbonation . . . ?
So, in the Green Queen’s opinion, the best motto is to use carbonation in moderation at least until we have more research. It might not make a big difference in your health but it will make a big difference to the environment.
Or a wheel that won’t cost you a fortune? The Green Queen thinks free is a very good price and she believes in trying to find new purposes for old worn out items. This is one example of thinking outside the . . . tire.
The Green Queen knows it’s not for everyone but if you can come up with ways to repurpose old items, share them in the comments section because we could all use some inspiration for keeping garbage out of the landfills.
This is one idea that the Green Queen just had to share with all you eco friendly folks out there. All you’d have to do is slash a tire, and this time you could take out a little aggression and it could be for good…
Then simply plant your flowers in the “pot”. What a cool way to reuse a little rubber…
Posted in 3 Rs, gardening, living green on a budget, Uncategorized
Tagged Repurpose, Slash Tires, Wheel of Fortune
Okay maybe it’s more like celebrate– but there are lots of things you can do today to help enjoy this special day. One way to start the day with a quick java jolt is to grab a mug and head down to Starbucks for a free cup of coffee. If you don’t believe me, check it out here. And, FREE is a very good “sale”-a-bration price.
There are also a Billion Acts of Green that you can be a part of. Check it out here to find local events you can join in. But, even if your city isn’t listed, you can still find ways to celebrate and make a difference in your community at the same time. You can donate some of your excess “stuff” to a local charity. You never know when your trash will be someone else’s treasure. You might even want to plan a garage sale–if not this weekend, then one in the next few weeks. This is a great way to go green – while making some at the same time.
Or, if you don’t want to do that much work, how about sitting in your chair and simply taking a quiz to find out your footprint on the earth.
Knowledge is Power and sometimes simply knowing is all it takes to help get you motivated to make a difference. Maybe start recycling, composting, or simply switching off the lights more often and turning the heat down a degree or two. We can all do something to make a difference and if we all do a little – it will do a lot. Remember by reducing, reusing and recycling we will all be giving our gifts back…to the Earth.
HAPPY EARTH DAY TO YOU!
To further celebrate this week before Earth Day, the Eco Women are giving away a 4-pack of wool dryer balls (homemade!), a Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Kitchen Basics Set (consumable) and two Envirosax shopping bags (designed to reduce your consumption). Each comment telling the Eco Women how you plan to celebrate Earth Day this year is an entry to win–we’ll announce the lucky winner next Monday!
Posted in Uncategorized
