Ecosia allows you to use the internet and save the rainforest in conjunction with the WWF, one search at a time. Now that is a great idea!
Apr
03
Posted by : | On : April 3, 2012
Come on everyone, what can we do to get rid of this menace!
Jan
31
Posted by : | On : January 31, 2012
In follow up from our previous post I found this wonderful initiative from the Plastic Pollution Coalition!
“Disposable plastics are the greatest source of plastic pollution. Plastic bags, straws, bottles, utensils, lids, cups and so many others offer a small convenience but remain forever. REFUSE disposable plastics! Follow the “4 Rs” of sustainable living: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” Click here to take the pledge to refuse single-use and disposable plastics!
Do it today and become part of the solution, I have : )
Jan
25
Posted by : | On : January 25, 2012
Gosh I can’t believe how Christmas came and went and now it is almost Feb! I am sorry I haven’t posted for a while, things have been very busy. Today I wanted to talk about your new year resolutions. Most of us have them, we see the new year as a way to start again, take stock of our goals and tackle our dreams with renewed vigour. Even if you don’t believe in resolutions, I am begging everyone of you to just have one, and that is to reduce all plastic that you can. Below is a sobering video which was filmed a few years ago now and seeing that we still have plastic in our lives, it can only be worse!
- Say no to shopping bags take your own
- If you have to buy water, go for a glass bottle
- Reduce all plastic drinks, they aren’t good for you anyway! The tops are the main issue and I am sure you can get a can of coke instead
Find out more about the Algalita Marine Research Foundation
I realise that almost every item that you purchase is packaged in plastic in some form, so eliminating plastic completely is almost an impossible task but you can REDUCE, and you can make a difference. Resolve to help save your seas for future generations!
Nov
25
Posted by : | On : November 25, 2011
For most of us the setting up and decorating of the Christmas Tree is the first real sign that Christmas has arrived. So what is the most environmentally friendly option?
Most real trees are farmed but this in itself doens’t make it better due to the use pesticides, water and fueled vehicles needed to maintain and grow the trees. They too need to be shipped often long distances and the majority of them end up in Landfills. Plus, you have to get a real tree every year, so all of that energy and water use multiplies over the years. (Real trees, do, however, absorb carbon dioxide and can be recycled into wood chips.)
Fake trees are typically produced in factories in Asia and usually contain oil-derived, pollution-causing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic! They have also been known to contain unsafe quantities of lead are transported thousands of miles over the ocean. However, you will probably have your tree for a long time, meaning only a one time purchase but when you do discard this tree it will definitely end up in a landfill as it is not biodegradable.
What does it all mean?
Well the answer lies with you! This includes where you live, your circumstance etc and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. If you are going to go with a real tree, try to choose something locally and organically grown, and make sure you compost or mulch it afterward. If you go fake, then see if you can get a second hand one, or if you must buy new try to find a local company that makes them and if you do decide you don’t want it anymore, then try to find a new home for it, rather than throwing it out.
Personally I don’t really like either option as there are too many factors left to chance. Options that I feel we need to be converting too are:
- Getting a living native tree to use, which you can replant either in your own garden or donate to a charity or public area. That way you will be adding to the planet’s lungs and fighting global warming, as well as providing a home for native wildlife.
- Decorating an existing outdoor tree, just remember no tinsel as it kills the birds!
- Make your own tree, materials are up to you but you can be creative, last year I saw a friend use cuttings from her rose bush which she had dried and put into a vase with caster sugar at the bottom (for the snow) and hung with paper decorations it looked marvelous! For some more interesting ideas on alternative Christmas trees visit here
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A Wooden Christmas Tree
Other alternatives I have seen include a Christmas Tree Quilt, which was generations old, it was hung on the wall fabulous! Artificial trees which are more environmentally friendly such as Iron Trees, Wooden Trees and Paper Trees (ones make from Recycled paper – and ones made from cardboard boxes) . The use of Bonsai Trees and other potted plants is good for those of you with limited space.
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Jane Schouten from All the Luck in the World.
Isn’t this an amazing Christmas Tree! It is made from useless but pretty objects that Jane collected over the years, and is a really unique idea for Christmas
So this year let’s do it a little differently, I challenge you to make a greener choice! My next post will be on Christmas decorations as we don’t want to negate all our efforts with store bought non-biodegradable decorations!
Nov
15
Posted by : | On : November 15, 2011
Do you have a garage or closet full of stuff? Ever going to use it again? Or worse, are you saving it for inorganic rubbish day? Why not give it away?
Recently I came across an amazing website that connects people who need stuff with people who need to get rid of stuff! ie it keeps stuff circulating and out of landfills. The site Freecycle.org.
At Freecycle.org there are over 8 million users, divided into groups so that you interact with people in your area. People post either a “wanted” ad or a “offer” and then details of the item.
You can find almost anything from TV’s to laptops, kids books and the people want all sorts, one lady in my area group asks for all your old newspapers!
What a fabulous concept, rather than throwing out your unwanted stuff you can check to see if anyone else needs it!
It is estimated that a staggering 24,000 items ( amounting to 700 tones of stuff kept out of landfills) are passed through Freecycle every day
What’s mine is yours Rachel Botsman & Roo Rogers
Why not declutter? Go register on Freecycle and pass it on, rather than throw it out! I have, and it feels great to have room in the garage and to have given my stuff away to someone who can use it, and more importantly kept it out of the rubbish!
Nov
03
Posted by : | On : November 3, 2011
I love dogs, I grew up with them. Our first dog was a German Shepard and naturally when I got my own house I wanted to get one but unfortunately we don’t have the room… so I got a pomeranian cross papillion male and called him Yoda. We go out walking twice a day in order for him to do his business. However I always felt guilty about having to pick up the dog pooh and put it into plastic bags, felt like I was cancelling out all the good with this one bad! Leaving it to disintergrate on it’s own is not an option and I would be the first to admit that standing in dog pooh has got to be one of the all time worst things to ruin your day. Also dog pooh carries E. coli, salmonella, and giardia, among others, so when you just leave the poop there to rot, the rain can wash it into rivers, streams, and oceans, so I started using the biodegradable doggie bags but wondered if there where other options.
Some alternatives
Recently I came across a lady Sharon Slack, head gardener of City Farmer at Vancouver’s Compost Demonstration Garden who has been composting dog pooh for years! http://www.cityfarmer.org/petwaste.html All the steps are there to help you create an area for composting your dogs waste. Pet composter
I must admit I haven’t tried it out yet but watch this space!
Sep
07
Posted by : | On : September 7, 2011
I have been searching for ways in which to reduce my own “carbon footprint” but also ways I can make a difference without it costing me too much and without too much effort, because let’s face it not many of us have the time or energy spend left at the end of the day.
Today’s tip is about reduction, reducing the amount of waste or unrecyclable waste on a day to day basis. By this I mean, simplify your life. Do you have sporting goods or other equipment that you are just storing in your garage? Eventually what happens to these items? They either end up in the bin or going out in the inorganic rubbish collection. Unclutter your life and trade / sell / give these items to people or places that will use them, eg your old ski equipment might get a second life at the ski school hire. Take your old clothes down to your local op shop or to the red cross. Reduce the “Stuff” you don’t need!
Reduce purchases, do you really need a new pair of Jeans or are you only tempted because they are 25% off? What is a real trap at the moment is all these daily deal sites that have popped up, the deals are so good we just feel we must have them without evening considering whether we really need it. If the item is for a temporary use only can an you borrow the item from a friend? If it is a book, join the library or share. Try sharing Books, magazines, movies, games, and newspapers between friends and neighbors. Impulse buying usually adds to the clutter I spoke about earlier!
Reduce the use of disposable products, wherever possible, replace disposable products with reusable ones (i.e. razor, food storage, batteries, ink cartridges (buy refill ink), coffee filters, furnace or air conditioner filters, etc.)
Buy in Bulk – reduce the packaging by buying in bulk and transfer to your reusable packaging.
Use your own shopping bags, do I really need to tell you about this? Read here for the dangers of plastic bags and what countries around world are doing about it
For coffee lovers… get a mug! Take your mug with you for your takeout coffee, I guarantee you it will taste way better and you will be reducing unnecessary waste!
Now seriously none of these are hard to do! So what is your excuse? Start now and make a difference : )
Sep
05
Posted by : | On : September 5, 2011
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view…
This is a very interesting watch and a good reason to start looking at your comsumption, by choosing to by eco products or sustainable products you are helping the planet much more than you realise
