Greening Your Home Part 2: Decorating

Part two in a series about how to green your home (part one can be viewed here) is all about decorating and the little details. Home should be three things: an oasis, which makes you feel safe and healthy, a reflection of your personal style and it should smell wonderful.

The most important thing to remember when redecorating (or decorating for the first time) is that your style is more sustainable than whatever the current trend is. Focus on what you like and dislike and find furniture (see part one), textiles and decorative objects to fit your niche. Think about your style, do you prefer mid-century modern, girly antique, breezy beach cottage, or something else?

De-clutter Your Life

Alright, in my experience the best decorating strategy is to start by cutting out all the clutter in your life. This extremely freeing (when I get on a roll sorting into the trash, recyclable, give-away and sell piles I just feel like the queen of the world), but what's more is accumulating a bunch of junk you don't need is an unsustainable habit.

I know it's time to clean out when magazines are piling up on the floor, mail on the table, laundry goes undone, clean clothes remain on the floor... I think I'll stop listing things now since I am beginning to sound like a major slob.

MAGAZINES
Only keep subscriptions to those publications, which you read regularly and would miss if they did not arrive each month. Not only do they take up space but if you aren't reading the magazine it's a waste of paper. 

BILLS
Opt for e-bills to pay online. Saves paper and cuts the clutter.

JUNK MAIL
A year's worth of junk mail slays over one million trees, wastes 28 billion gallons of water and uses as much CO2 as 2.8 million cars. 41 Pounds is a service, which removes you from junk mailing lists for five years.

Things to keep around

STORAGE

Now that you've removed the clutter you need a place to store the stuff you DO want to keep. I made a couple of storage containers out of old shoe boxes. I don't know why but I can't stand to get rid of shoe boxes, they are so sturdy it just seems a waste. I was using them to store things hidden in my closet (because they aren't very attractive) but I found a pin on pinterest, which showed me the light. Here are my results:

I can post a tutorial on how to make these boxes (no sewing). Check out my poor sickly plant: that was a just because gift from boyfriend (aww). I just replanted it from the plastic container it came in into a big boy pot. It's not adjusting well.

Toss the things you don't need, hide the things you don't want to see, and as for the rest? Continue reading; there's no need to keep every surface in your home totally barren.

PLANTS
Plants are my favorite things in the world; I prefer to live in a jungle home with every surface (including the floor) supporting a pot with a plant of some kind. I think they are so pretty AND they can eliminate toxins from the air. Here is a list of beautiful plants and the toxins which they remove.

http://www.houseofplants.co.uk/Collections_freshair.htm

• Gerbera daisies (reduce formaldehyde levels)
• Chrysanthemums (reduce benzene and trichloroethylene levels)
• Orchids (reduce xylene and toluene levels)
• English ivy (reduces benzene levels)
• Bamboo (reduces formaldehyde levels)
• Butterfly palm (replaces your humidifier)
• Rubber plant (reduces formaldehyde levels, can be toxic to pets)
• Peace lily
• Heartleaf or elephant ear philodendron

Just a little plant pun for you: I would have given you flowers, but I never botany. *groan*

CANDLES
I love candles. They smell lovely and create ambient light. As long as you use candles made from soy or beeswax they are also eco-friendly.  Make sure to keep these around.

http://www.organic-fair-trade.com/Beehive-Glass-Beeswax-Candle.html

Soy wax burns cleaner, lasts longer, holds more fragrance, contain no toxic chemicals or carcinogens, and are all-natural (when no non-natural fragrance or color is added). Beeswax candles are naturally scented with honey and smell sensational. Look for sustainable brands because the bees need the wax to lay eggs in and store honey so we don't want to exploit their homes.

REFURBISH
Look at objects in a different light. For example, while shopping at ReSource Yard, a building materials re-purposing company here in Fort Collins, I found an old brick in a pile of other old bricks. Because this particular brick was the only one like it, it was practically useless on its own but check out how I decided to use it.

My wine selection is lacking, but before I had a place to store wine I couldn't buy as much. I've been looking for a unique wine storage unit for a while now. You never know what you'll find, if you look with a creative mind. (Haha rhyming, I give you permission to use that as your personal motto).

WHAT'S IMPORTANT
Say you have a collection of pig figurines. Find a way to display your collection where it's viewable, not in the corner gathering dust. Pig figurines may not be trending in the interior design world but if it's important to you it will make you feel that much more comfortable in your home. Your home should reflect your personal style.

 

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/vintage-pig-figurines-huge-lot-of-collectible-pig-figures

PICTURES and PAINTINGS

I love having pictures of my family and friends all over the house. I also have framed artwork from poster stores, Dustin Hawks (my brother-in-law), magazines (Yoga journal always includes a full page image of some scene in nature. I change these out every month), and even a few flea market purchases.

• Support a local artist to find new art and help your community.
• Look for art at flea markets, garage sales, antique stores and thrift stores.
• Recycle pages from books, magazines, newspapers and turn them into art.
• Frame photographs and hang them artistically, below is a beautifully designed gallery wall:

http://www.homelife.com.au/homes/galleries/decorating+with+craft+,17075?pos=4

FABRICS and TEXTILES
Unless they're organic, the cotton sheets on your bed were probably sprayed with 1.25 pounds of pesticides. Conventionally grown cotton uses 25% of the world's insecticides and 10% of all pesticides. These carcinogens seep into groundwater and contaminate the habitat for fish and other wildlife. Regular cotton sheets are also treated with formaldehyde and some of the colored dyes may contain heavy metals. Now you know why your mom told you to wash your sheets before sleeping in them.

As for cotton-polyester blend sheets, they don't tend to last as long (meaning you have to buy more often... so not green) and are derived from petroleum. So when you're looking for a new set of sheets, be sure to look for the following:

• Organic cotton (or linen, or pesticide-free bamboo)
• Free of harsh chemical dyes
• Not chlorine bleached

A few brands to check out:

• Anna Sova ($130 for a complete set)
• Coyuchi ($50 - flat and fitted sheets sold separately)
• Loop ($200 for a complete set)

and for those not rolling in dough, Target has a line of organic cotton sheets starting at $25 for a set.

http://www.target.com/p/target-home-325-thread-count-organic-cotton-collection/-/A-12173470

All the statistics above apply to curtains, towels and blankets. Look for organic cotton or wool blankets to snuggle up with this winter so you don't have to turn up the heat (double green win!)

Did I miss something? Leave your sustainable decorating tips below in the comments, and come back soon to learn about Earth-friendly cleaning in Part 3 of Greening Your Home.

Sustainable Holidays

There's just one week until my Thanksgiving week long break and I can't tell you how relieved I am to realize it's just around the corner. In some ways this break is bittersweet because it is the last Thanksgiving I will see in my Undergraduate as this is my final semester at university (for now). On top of that Christmas and other winter holidays are waiting to burst forth with sparkling twinkle lights, soft frosted sugar cookies, striped peppermint canes, peace, love and good will toward man.

Wintertime brings forth thoughts of joy within my spirit, but with these holiday parties, gifts and excessive food we also see a lot of waste, which is not very Earth-friendly. I would never suggest that anyone should cut out the important traditions, or stop giving gifts or never throw a party. What is life, let alone Christmas without these things? However, winter sends our consumerism into overdrive and I am here to give some tips on how to reduce (not remove) some of these excessive purchases.

Invitations and Cards

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. When we read we begin with ABC when we throw a party we begin with invitations. On this topic, I'm torn. It's always quite lovely to receive a beautiful invitation to a wedding, holiday party, or shower. On the other hand, the paper industry is the third largest producer of greenhouse gases in the U.S.

 http://sfgirlbybay.blogspot.com/2007_11_01_archive.html

• Evites (like those from Punchbowl.com) are virtual invitations, which may provide the answer. 
• Another idea is to use partly or 100% postconsumer recycled paper.
• Non-wood pulp paper:
• Cotton paper from Crane's, which uses leftover waste from the textile industry.
• Botanical Paperworks is a company which uses biodegradable materials to make cards with seeds in them. You plant the card and can enjoy a garden of beautiful wildflowers next spring.
• Kenaf and hemp papers are a good choice, because kenaf and hemp are sustainable and easy to grow without pesticides.
• Resource for recycled tree-free paper: Vickerey.
• Avoid cards which are embedded with metallic sparklies or are coated in plastic. They are tough, if not impossible to recycle.

Gift Wrap

Gift wrap is often not recyclable due to the large amount of ink used in printing, nor is gift wrap generally made from recycled materials. So considering the gift wrap is rarely appreciated before it is torn off the gift and wadded into a ball to be used later in gift wrap basketball (is that just my family?) it's a bad idea to use conventional wrapping paper. But good news everyone, there are alternatives:

• You can find gift wrap and bags made from recycled paper and tree-free materials on Lucky Vitamin.
• Wrap gifts unconventionally: Gifting your foodie friend kitchen utensils and a gift card to their favorite restaurant? wrap it in a pretty kitchen dish cloth. Wrap a gift inside a usable tote or purse; two gifts in one!
• Make a cute origami gift box (see my tutorial here) or gift bag (see tutorial on How About Orange) from magazines or newspaper. Recycling is the best! Plus, magazines have beautiful glossy pages.
• Save still pretty bows and ribbons from year to year (key words, still pretty; don't be saving ratty old bits of useless material.)

Origami gift box from magazine pages.

Gifts

When it comes to gifts, people generally default to things. Change your mindset. Unless you know exactly what someone wants or needs, a thing might not be the answer to your gift giving questions. What to give instead? Gift certificates are a great place to start, not generic, impersonal ones but ones that really show you know who they are and what they like. Have a friend who loves yoga? Get them a a punch pass to a local yoga studio. Remember that foodie friend I mentioned earlier? Restaurant gift card! More ideas:

• A donation to a charity in their name.
• Tickets to their favorite concert, sports team, the ballet, the opera, the movies... etc.
• Gift card to a salon or spa.
• Mom and dad would love a framed picture of you and your siblings.
• For your gal pals, a night out and an overnight stay in a luxury hotel.
• For a sporty friend, sessions with a personal trainer.
• For that recently married couple, a bottle of the wine served at their wedding or honeymoon.

See it's not so hard. Homemade gifts are also very appreciated. They show you put time and energy into their gift. Here are a few links to homemade gifts (pinterest is the best pinterest)

• 186 Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas on It's Written on the Wall
• 25 Handmade Gifts Under $25 on 36th Avenue 
• 101 Handmade Gifts for Men on Everything Etsy

That should keep you busy for a while.

http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/gifts/wrapping/creative-gift-wrapping-ideas-00000000014208/page11.html

Refreshments

No one can deny that food and booze can make or break a party. Food and booze also tend to be served in excess at parties, with good reason. No host or hostess wants to be caught without food to serve the seven who RSVPed "no" but decided to come anyway or the plus one your nephew forgot to mention he was bringing (*hint hint* this is also a commentary on party etiquette).

Thanksgiving: the holiday we give thanks for what we have (to waste)  

http://people.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/823264/

More than 25 percent of food produced for humans is thrown out (that comes out to about 50 million tons of food every year). This food ends up in landfills, which are major sources of human-produced methane, a greenhouse gas that is twenty-three times more prolific than CO2. The moral of the story is to:

• only serve the amount of food you'll need,
• store the leftovers for a meal tomorrow,
• use local and organic ingredients,
• recycle and compost waste, and
• use cloth napkins and reusable dishes and utensils.

As for alcohol serve organic alcohol as often as possible. Why does it matter? Alcohol come from plants and it takes a lot of plants to make that much alcohol. This means a heck of a lot of pesticides; not good for you, or the planet. Organic alcohols:

• Square One Vodka
• Juniper Green Organic London Dry Gin served with Q Tonic
• Tarnantas Organic Cava Brut
• Bison Brewing Organic India Pale Ale

Decorations

In my family decorating the house for Christmas is a Christmas tradition I love (in fact one year a cried... I don't actually remember why but it had something to do with Christmas decorating and not doing it as a family... or something). I love changing the decor in my apartment (especially the door wreath) seasonally, but Christmas is when I really go all out with the decorations (this is probably true for most people).

Unfortunately some of the decorations on the market are not very Earth-friendly, namely twinkle lights. A string of 300 hundred of these lights can use 30 kilowatt-hours of energy (emitting 45 pounds of CO2) over the holiday season. And with those big fat lights, your looking at 450 kilowatt-hours (700 pounds of CO2). The solution? LED lights! Not only do they only use 3 kilowatt-hours during the holiday season, they don't get hot so your fire risk goes WAY down.

Old town Fort Collins in winter. I wonder if they use LED lights...

http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv8550.php

Use decorations you can reuse from year to year (i.e. a paper garland is a no-no, also not chic. That goes for confetti too, which is ridiculously hard if not impossible to clean up). Look for decorations at antique stores, thrift shops and garage sales instead of buying them new.

Other than that, the only thing I can suggest is forgetting the Christmas tree all together. But I would never suggest that because I LOVE Christmas trees. Seriously.

This room is unquestionably gorgeous!

http://freshome.com/2009/12/13/10-beautiful-christmas-tree-decorating-ideas/

However, consider an artificial Christmas tree. No luxurious spruce smell, but also no messy needles. Or if you could never go without a real Christmas tree, buy one with roots attached that you can replant when Christmas is over.

Clean-Up

Don't give up on being green just because you are over-whelmed with a mess after a party. Hopefully you've already reduced a lot (a major point of this post in case you missed that) and you are left with a relatively easy cleanup. Use green products like Seventh Generation and Simple Green (more on green cleaning products later). Replace your plastic trash bags with recycled trash bags or use biodegradable bags, such as BioBag. Avoid disposable dishes and utensils! Here's a few tips if you need more dishes to cover your guests:

• Check out vintage shops for unique (and cheap) dishes that send you good vibes, man.
• If you buy new, get organic or renewable fabrics, recycled glass, sustainable woods, and ceramics colored with nontoxic dyes.

The end... Good luck to you with your holiday season. Leave a comment to tell me how you plan to utilize these tips or share your own.

Greening Your Home Part 1: Big Purchases

In my opinion home should be two things: an oasis, which makes you feel safe and healthy and a reflection of your personal style. Okay, three things, it should also smell terrific. Whether your home is a sprawling house in the suburbs or a closet-sized apartment in the city home should make you release a sigh at the thought.

Greening your home doesn't require a decorator or another mortgage. In fact, if you went and replaced everything in your home to "greener" products, you would actually be the anti-green (red?). So let's break this down: we want to reflect our personal style, we want to feel safe and healthy and we want a nice smell. Over the next couple of weeks I will try to address each of these topics.

Today, let's talk about the big things for decorating in an Earth-friendly, sustainable way. Furniture, floors, walls and building will be the main focus.

Furniture

The most prominent feature in your home (besides the walls and ceiling and stuff) is probably your furniture. If you really need to replace your furniture you should, just keep in mind it take a lot of energy to manufacture new products and processing emits toxins and chemicals. Here are some alternatives to buying new.

ONE: VINTAGE
Antiquing is an action for a reason: not only can you find carefully made (things were just made better long ago), GORGEOUS furniture, it is completely ecofriendly because no energy is required to produce it (it's already been made, and used, and maybe used again). Check out local antique stores, flea markets, garage sales, and furniture consignment store (How to shop garage sales etc. coming soon!).

http://www.casasugar.com/Roundup-10-Antique-Desks-Modern-Feminine-Bedrooms-2892134

And if you think antiques are stuffy, or boring, check out the above image, which is totally chic.

TWO: REFURBISH

A little sprucing up can do wonders for furniture, sometimes making it look new and always returning unique results. As an added bonus, upgrading furniture uses 85 to 95 percent less energy than producing a new piece.

THREE: REPURPOSE

In Fort Collins and Boulder, CO there is a company called ReSource Yard. They operate by removing usable cabinets, doors, windows, hardware, lumber, etc. from buildings, which are being remodeled or torn down. They then sell these building materials. My dad made an entertainment center entirely from material bought at the location in Boulder. 

Look for something like this is your area or check before purchasing furniture whether it has been repurposed. Scrapile is a Brooklyn-based company, which uses piano wood scraps to make furniture and home accessories.

FOUR: ECOFRIENDLY PRODUCTION

More and more you can find new furniture in furniture stores made from sustainable materials. Check for Forest Stewardship Council certification on wood. Bamboo is a good choice because a forest of bamboo that has been clearcut can regenerate in as little as 3 years (compared to the average conventional wood forest, which can take 30-50 years, or even longer). Fabrics should be organic (for more about organic products check out future post on organic foods).

FIVE: GIVING

When you DO need to upgrade your furniture, be sure to donate (or give to a poor college student) the old furniture. If you liked it at some point, chances are someone else will like it too. Also, it can't hurt to get that karma boost from having such a kind-hearted nature. If you feel that your karma is maxed you can also try selling the furniture in a garage sale or on Craig's List.

Building

FLOORS

If you deside to replace whatever floors you have, please consider the following...

Carpet, though soft and confortable, are loaded with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene, formaldehyde and xylene, all of which are bad for your nervous system and the Earth. Carpet is also very difficult to clean, even if you steam it, therefore they accumulate soot, fungus, flea eggs, dust mite poop, arsenic, mercury and pesticides. Yum!

Instead, opt for either bamboo flooring (for the same reasons mentioned above) or reclaimed/refurbished wood (possibly from a piano factory). Lay out some areas rungs, which are easy to shake out. Look for those made from natural fiber with no nasty glues.

If you absolutely must buy carpet for whatever reason, Interface is a company that, while not completely guilt free, at least uses some recycled and renewable materials in production.

PAINT

Painting is a great way to drastically change the look of a space, but most paints contain high levels of VOCs, which is probably why you get that headache when you paint. The best thing you can do is look for low or no VOCs latex paints or milk-based paints. We don't want petroleum-based paints (don't even get me started on petroleum). Check out BioShield paint by Benjamin Moore or Old Fashioned Milk Paint. If you learn nothing else today, learn this: never dump unused paint down the drain! (Also, just covering my bases but please don't set it on fire... I know you were totally just about to do that.)

WALLPAPER
I know, wallpaper brings to mind scenes of interior design nightmares, but there are some very chic patterns available (it's making a comeback ya'll). Most wallpapers are made with vinyl, aka PVC. If you have room to learn two things today, I suggest you learn this too: vinyl is literally the worst. Look for the wallpaper that is vinyl free (since '93).

That's all I have today. Leave a comment below if there's something you'd really like to know more about.

Maggie's mind mumbles about voting

As the election approaches I cannot help but feel the need to write a post about voting. A lot of this post will be personal opinion, and while I can tell you I tend to base my opinions in fact and I try my darnedest to only deliver true information to readers I urge you to use a fact checker for any information you are skeptical about in this post. It's a good habit to develop whenever you see new information.

Getting (Reliable) Information

During election season we are bombarded with campaign ads. As with an advertisement for a car or brand of make-up, the propaganda shown in these ads is trying to sell you a candidate. The following may help you determine where the information you can trust will (and will not) come from.

Bad information:

• Unsolicited mail
• TV ads
• Unsolicited calls

Intermediate information:

• Government mailed information
• TV debates

Good information:

• Project Vote Smart's research
• Factcheck.org
• League of Women Voters material
• Information from organizations you respect
• Cross-checked research in local newspapers

Voting

Voting is one of the most important things you can do in your life. You are the only person who will fight for your beliefs, rights, opinions and thoughts (mumbles too). Whatever is important to you; stand up for it (even if you only fight – for your right – to PAAAAR-TY!) If you don’t hold your position, anyone who disagrees with you can come along and win by default.

It is now too late to register for the upcoming election (you must register at least 30 days prior). If you are registered great! Make sure you do your research and mail in your ballot or show up to the booth on election day. If you aren't, all is not lost, there are still some things you can do to help improve your community. 

Some Americans may fall into the mind trap that you only need to vote every four years. While the presidential elections are important, I believe that the elections that take place more locally are really MORE important. These elections determine how the schools in your district are run, whether to convert your favorite open space to a new homes development area, or where to build that new bike trail. These issues, seemingly small (especially compared to healthcare and tax reforms) are actually more likely to influence your life in a noticeable way.

Contacting Representatives

Government was established so that individual citizens would have their individual beliefs, values and concerns addressed, but they wouldn’t have to be active in the process; there would be someone out there who’s job it is to focus on these issues. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find someone to represent every individual's beliefs, values and concerns. Politicians have their own beliefs, values and concerns to deal with on top of those they are representing. Additionally, some politicians are not always truthful when they make promises to the citizens they represent. Therefore, it's up to you to keep them honest.

Stay Informed

Democracy depends on informed citizens. Be one by keeping up with the important issues that face America. When hit with an indescribable urge to watch Here comes Honey Boo Boo and The Jersey Shore, instead flip to one of these great news programs:

• The News Hour with Jim Lehrer (PBS, weekdays) - Unless Mitt Romney kills PBS (should he be elected) this show provides in depth analysis of current events.
• All Things Considered (National Public Radio, every afternoon) - A radio show, which gives a recap of the day's news and analysis of pressing issues.
• BBC News (PBS, weekday afternoons and late evenings) - For an international perspective that US media often brushes off in favor of celebrity gossip.
• Washington Week with Gwen Ifill (PBS, Fridays after the News Hour) - Brings together liberal and conservative political and media commentators in a round table to discuss current issues.
• Meet the Press with Time Russert (NBC, Sunday Mornings) - A long tradition of asking politicians the tough but fair questions.
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert (Comedy Central, weekdays) - While presented as "fake news" these comedy shows often present an incisive commentary on politics.

A List of the Top Issues America Faces Today

In my opinion the following subjects are the most pressing issues America is facing. Some of these topics create rifts in relationships due to disagreements and some bring people together. The important thing is to know where you stand as this country moves forward, so that you won't be left behind.

ONE: The Economy
We're in an awful mess when it comes to the economy. In my humble opinion the hole is so deep that no single person can fill it (I heard someone say once, that until we raise a generation that can live on what they earn, we will never be out of debt). Basically, the "debt" ceiling has been raised multiple times with no plan to repay what is owed.

TWO: Prisons
The US incarcerates a higher percentage of its citizens than any other country in the world. Few dollars are put into reintegration and rehabilitation, therefore prisons are used as a place to lock up societal problems in hopes that they sort themselves out. A safer, more humane and more effective system of crime prevention and treatment programs would benefit our society more than the current system. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
The Center on Juevenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ)

THREE: Reproductive Health
Reproductive health is essential to the economic, political and social empowerment of women around the globe. Access to family planning methods, sexual health information and abortion services are scarce, and/or unavailable to the majority of women. Women deserve the right to healthy, planned pregnancy and quality sexual and prenatal health. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL)

FOUR: Energy, the Environment and Climate Change
Human-caused climate change threatens our future, As the temperature of our atmosphere increases, changes in climate have a significant impact on agricultural yields, habitat integrity and vulnerable coastal populations. It is crucial that we work toward a healthier more sustainable society, through greener industry and energy use. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)

FIVE: Inequality
In spite of historical advances made in providing equal opportunities for all individuals, our society still faces challenges of overwhelming inequality.We need to demand a more inclusive society where  each and every person, regardless of race, religion or sex, has educational and occupational opportunities.

SIX: Medicare and Health Care
The parties are divided on how the social security and medicare systems can be made more financially sound. Reducing heath care costs remains one of the more divisive issues politically. The US is the only industrialized country in the world that does not have universal healthcare. Denial of treatment and fights with insurance companies are commonplace in America. Citizens should not have to make a choice between paying their healthcare or paying their rent. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP)

SEVEN: Gay and Lesbian Rights
I intended to include gay and lesbian rights under the inequality heading, however after some thought I determined that it deserves it's own section. After all, minorities are not denied the right to marry or share benefits with loved ones. As long as rights are denied to any individual, couple or parent our society is not really free. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF)

EIGHT: Education
This nation is capable of a fantastic education system, we already have many fabulous teachers and schools, unfortunately something is happening causing the nation to fall behind other nations when it comes to education. We need to take a stand and remember that knowledge is power. To educate yourself and take action on this issue, contact:
The U.S. Department of Education (USDoE)

Alright, so you have all of these resources available to you that will give you (for the most part) reliable information and you have a list of the most pressing issues facing our nation. There is no excuse to keep yourself in the dark. Enjoy your new found knowledge vectors.

Can the ocean keep up with the hunt?

I watched this video in my Wildlife Ecology and Conservation class (FW104) and answer a few questions about it. I found the information to be very important, especially to a fish lover like myself. I also wanted to pass it on because, as anyone who has been following this blog or knows me will have heard me say before, it is critical for everyone to understand where their food is coming from and how it is produced. So here is the video; it's about 20 minutes:

 In case you don't have the time to view this video here are the main ideas:

Commercial Fishing

• The ocean is what they call a biological desert. For it's size, diversity is actually very low.
• The fish population in the open ocean is being exhausted due to over-fishing through commercial fishing operations and pirate ships (ARR!).
• We aren't catching the same fish species for consumption as we have in past decades. As larger fish disappear, global fleets target smaller fish, lower on the food chain. This leads to further collapses in the ocean ecosystem.
• 20 million metric tons of fish are discarded as waste annually. Untargeted fish are called bycatch. This unintended harvest is equal to a catch 4 times that of the US fishing fleet. 

 http://jonbowermaster.com/blog/2009/06/kamchatska-v-kodiak-what-a-difference-225-years-make/

• Fishing gear that have had considerable impact on bycatch include bottom-trawling nets (nets are run along the bottom of the ocean, capturing everything they come across) and long-line fishing (thousand of lines with hooks are trailed behind ships, with no system to discriminate species). Both forms are meant to catch large amount of fish at once and are prone to catching endangered species like sharks and sea turtles, who die before they can be returned to the water.
• Hook fisherman leave the habitat intact by one fisherman, fishing with one pole and one hook. They catch one fish, keep it if it's what they want and throw it back if it's not. No damage is done to the ecosystem but it is not practical for the vast quantities of fish demanded by the public.
• In extreme cases, it is very hard for fish stocks to recover, especially if fishing continues at the same rate. The solutions are to either stop fishing all together or...

Aquaculture

• The USA is the leader in aquaculture, or the practice of farming fish. The main type of fish that are farmed are tuna and salmon.
• The problem with aquaculture, especially tuna and salmon, is that these are carnivorous fish. In order to farm these fish, we must feed them. This increases pressures on fishing, but instead of fishing for direct consumption we fish for smaller fish to feed the larger fish for indirect consumption.
• It takes 17 pounds of fish to produce one pound of tuna; three pounds to produce one pound of salmon.
• Tilapia, from the Nile River, is an omnivore and can be raised mostly on plant-based proteins.
• Catfish farming in the Mississippi delta, has experienced great successes. Feeding them has gone from 10-14% fish meal to 1-2% fish meal today. 
• Shellfish farming is also a good business. They stay quiet, they stay where you put them and they clean up the water. They also produce vast amounts of food in a small area; according to the video shellfish could be the answer to world hunger.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaculture_of_salmon

• There are a few risks to human health associated with aquaculture due to bioaccumulation: PCBs and dioxins are two examples.
• Natural salmon are less exposed to bioaccumulation problems because they consume mainly crustaceans whereas farm fish eat fish meal. In fact, natural salmon have pink flesh due to their diet of shrimp and crustaceans (much like flamingos), and farm salmon are dyed pink before they are sold at market. Gross!
• With farmed fish we are concerned about disease and infection so we use antibiotics in feed as a preventative measure; this could lead to resistant bacteria. 
• Disease and infection is more of a problem in farms than in the wild. They use this analogy to describe this: if you stood on a football field with someone who has a cold you probably won't catch it (the wild) but if you stood in an elevator with 11 people who all have colds you will probably also catch cold (fish farm).

 

http://blog.zintro.com/2011/05/20/there-is-a-lot-going-on-in-aquaculture/

• Large number of escaped farm salmon may impact the integrity of the wild population by messing with thousands of years of natural selection.
• Tropical areas have many mangrove wetland habitats (mangrove forests) that have been displaced by shrimp farming. This destroys habitat that the people and wildlife depend on (ex. crab production and medicinal plants). A particular example is salt water released from ponds contaminated fresh water aquifers.
• Deep water aquaculture is where net cages are submerged and anchored to the sea floor. Could be better for ecosystems than near or on land aquaculture depending on implementation.
• Improvements in vaccines have reduced antibiotic use. Improved nets and anchors have reduced escapes, land-based tanks protect wild populations from farm-waste and disease.

Want to do something?

Unfortunately, most people don't pay attention to where their food comes from. Do you think you'll pay more attention now that you have this information?

If yes, there are many resources available to you and I hope you'll check them out:

• Seafood watch is the top choice for discovering where your fish came from at restaurants or supermarkets. It is run by the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
• Marine stewardship council is now assisting in certification of sustainable fisheries. Their website is full of information.
• Ask Congress to set standard by signing this petition.
• S. 1980, Pirate Fishing Elimination Act. Track this bill. 

 

• I keep this seafood watch guide in my wallet (mine's from April 2007, a friend brought it to me when she visited California's Monterey Bay Aquarium). You can print out your own from the website. 
• Seafood watch also has and app for Apple and Android.

 

http://www.123rf.com/photo_13172672_healthy-food-hot-baked-salmon-piece-served-over-glass-plate-on-wood.html

Now I love salmon as much as the next person (maybe more depending on who's next) but I know I'm going to always check where my fish is coming from, what about you?

10 Myths About "Green" Living

You may not notice it in everyday life but current trends show a decrease in agricultural lands and wilderness as urban areas spread. Consumerism rules the hearts and minds of U.S. citizens and pollution and species decline are on the rise. Turning these trends around will take action on the individual level. We can't leave it up to the arguably corrupt political system in this country, which panders to exploitative special interests. We can't leave it up to the extremist organizations. If the individual learns their own behavior and realizes their own impact and how these contribute to destructive trends we can create opportunities.

 

Adopting better habits doesn't require wealth, unreasonable time commitments or a complete overhaul of your life. These are just a few of the misconceptions about "green" living that many Americans believe. Consider these and the following myths and their corresponding truths in order to take the first steps in your commitment to creating a better world.

1. "Green" living is a virtuous trait, not an obligation

While some people do make their commitment to green living a personality trait, we have to remember that it is the obligation of every individual to leave the planet in the same or better condition than how we found it. Since it is now commonly known that human activities are the biggest threat facing the global ecosystem, the only solution is for humans to clean up their mess. Do you expect the hummingbirds to do it? Maybe some rocks will help out.

2. It will be too disruptive and difficult to change my current lifestyle

There will probably be a period of adjustment as one makes the commitment to living more simply and reducing their impact, but difficult and disruptive are not necessarily the descriptive words I would choose to describe this period. Especially since it will probably have to be a gradual change, little things over the course of many weeks. This study gives some insight into how to develop new habits including a Japanese technique called Kaizen. Any activity repeated over a period of time can become a habit.

3. "Green" products are hard to find and expensive

In some cases, for example energy efficient appliances, this is true however in the long run these products save money in other areas, like your energy bill. On the other hand many earth-friendly products are actually less expensive than their conventional counterparts because they are often made using recycled or reclaimed materials, which require less processing and output less waste. Additionally the sustainable products industry is growing as more and more costumers prefer the earth-friendly alternative. Just remember that every purchase you make is a vote for more of that product, and producers listen.

4. Earth-friendly preferences and behaviors will make me look cheap and eccentric

To some, yes, but only those that do not understand the needs of our society and environment. Anyway acute intelligence and enlightenment have always been perceived as eccentric. However, there are ways to be thrifty and chic, something I will elaborate more fully on in a later post. Additionally Dr. Seuss says it best, "Those who matter don't mind and those who mind, don't matter." Remember that.

5. "Green" living requires a frugality that will deprive me and my family of comforts and conveniences I've earned

Reasonable comforts and conveniences needn't be sacrificed when making this commitment to a simpler life. The scale or quantity to which you've become accustomed to may need to be reduced but you may be surprised to learn that designer home furnishings, state-of-the-art appliances, a fancy schmancy car, fine cuisine and exotic vacations are available in earth-friendly forms. By taking a step away from the consumerism which drives many peoples lives you may just find a more satisfying, healthier, simpler and more balanced life.

6. The economy will suffer if I stop buying conventionally

Businesses and companies follow the consumer; if the consumer wants more eco-friendly products available at a lower price, the producer will supply it. I've said it before and I'll say it again, every purchase you make is a vote for what you want to buy.

7. I don't have time to support environmental causes

You can choose how much time, if any, you want to give to support any cause that is important to you. The internet has made it simple to sign a petition or receive timely information at your convenience.

8. It's hypocritical to advocate and practice environmentally friendly behaviors in some, but not all, areas of my life

Living the earth-friendly way is not the end of the road. It's an evolution of states. No one can do it all because there is no all to do. There's always something else you can learn, something else you can start practicing, something else you can sign a petition for. This is not meant to sound over-whelming, it's meant to sound exciting, there are so many options for how you can do your part in a way that fits your lifestyle.

9. I can't change anything if some people aren't doing anything at all

Your efforts, no matter how small, in reducing your footprint makes a difference in that the collective footprint has been reduced. You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Ghandi said that so it must be true.

10. There's only one right answer to climate change

This is beyond not true. Experts can't agree on any answer to the problem because there is not one right answer. In my opinion the best answer starts with the individual and that means Y-O-U.



Now that you know the truth about some of the pressing issues surrounding living sustainably are you ready to make a pledge to be "green"? Comment below if you are.

Heart Friendship Bracelet

When I was an adorable, little, red-headed girl, with fat cheeks, and freckles in numbers rivaling stars in the sky (okay I still look like that ;) ) I was a Girl Scout. I went to Girl Scout day camp and Girl Scout overnight camp and Girl Scout meetings (and I sold Girl Scout cookies!). While I learned many the great things they teach you in Girl Scouts, one thing I will probably never be able to forget is how to make friendship bracelets. That muscle memory stuff is great isn’t it, especially considering friendship bracelets are now sold in store (what?) for $15 (what?!).

So, since we all know just how much I love making things myself I will go through the mantra again:

1. you get to choose your own preference…
2. you spend less money… and
3. you form a deeper connection with the things you own because you crafted it with your own two hands.

This tutorial walks you through the steps of making a friendship bracelet with a heart pattern. Enjoy!

To start you need to cut your strings. Pick two colors. Hold your arms straight out perpendicular to your body, from fingertip to fingertip is how long your string should be. Cut four strands, two for each color. Fold the string in half take the fold and make a knot close to the end. This loop will be used to clasp the bracelet, so make it small but big enough that a knot can go through.

Tape your strings down to a flat surface (or if your old school  safety pin then to your jeans), so that it is tightly secured. Order your strings the same as in the image above. Whichever color is on the outside will be the color of your hearts. Number the position of the strings from left to right 1-8.

Now, I would like to explain the knot… There is the going left knot and the going right knot.

*Tip: The illustrations below show on top both knots going forward and below that one knot going forward and one going backward. I noticed that two of my heart strings got more use than the other two. When you are knotting one pink around another, you can switch the dominant strings using the bottom illustration knot.

To go right take the string in the number one position, lay it over the second string take it back under the second string and pull it through the loop.

Going left is the same process as going right; only you wrap the eighth string around the seventh string in the opposite direction.

Each time you make a knot you will do this knot twice.

1. Like I said you will have your string laid out in the order shown.


2. Take string 1 and knot it twice around string 2 then string 3 and finally 4. Then, take string 8 and knot it around string 7, string 6 and finally string 5. Finally knot the middle strings together (going left or right, it doesn’t matter)


3. Follow the same steps as above for the next row with the second color.


4. Now take the second string and knot it going left around the first string and the seventh string going right around the eighth.


5. Fill in the space by taking the second string and knotting it (going right) around strings 3 and 4 and the seventh string (going left) around strings 6 and 5.


6. Now again take the second string and knot it going left around the first string and the seventh string going right around the eighth.


7. Fill in the space again by taking the second string and knotting it (going right) around strings 3 and 4 and the seventh string (going left) around strings 6 and 5.


8. Knot string 1 and 2-4 (going right) and string 8 around 7-5 (going left). This is step 1 again completing the heart.


9. Repeat step 2-8 until the bracelet is the length you like (I usually do about 52 rows).

Now that you know the basic you can do many patterns. Try one on the friendship bracelet website.

"Make new Friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other's gold. A circle's round, it has no end. That's how long I want to be your friend."

President Obama Addresses Colorado Students About 2012 Election

President Obama came to visit Colorado State University on August 28^th. He was here in 2008 and I just barely missed him. He was a senator running for president back then. I was a scared freshman, and the Oval was outside of the comfortable bubble I had created for myself (dorm room, classes, Lory Student Center, and Corbett dining hall).

This time around I was determined to see him. My President Obama adventures began around 10:30 am on August 27^th. That’s when I just happened to walk by a girl handing out tickets on my way to carry out a completely different mission (Print flyers for the first meeting for the CSU Range Club). She was just setting up so I didn’t even have to wait in line to get this shiny blue ticket.

Behind the scenes photos:

 

Obama's Helicopter via @EllyCollins

 

Security via @SarahJaneKyle

 

Secret Service via @SarahJaneKyle

Behind these curtains you can find metal detectors and a weaving maze on metal barricades to organize the line of people.

The next stages of this adventure to see President Obama’s speech did not quite go according to plan. First off, I should have realized that the people I passed at 10:00am (some people camped out all night) were clever, instead of scoffing at their time-wasting ways.

Secondly, I should have brought my ticket to school with me this morning instead of leaving it in my lunch box (yes, I am such a logical thinker). My poor boyfriend, Reid, was napping (he works nights now), and I woke him up to bring my ticket between classes.

Third, I should have brought sunscreen and a hat and a parasol and a sunshade and a fan and about 8 gallons of water! It was approximately 5,000 degrees and standing in line in direct sunlight in that kind of heat is probably what death feels like (if you died in the desert of heat stroke and dehydration), especially if your not even sure if it will all pay off.

Fourth, I should have left my backpack with Reid when he brought the ticket instead of lugging it with me to the back of the loooooooong line (My estimates say it was at least a mile long).

 

Map courtesy of Google Maps

• Blue box indicates location of speakers
• Red box indicates security
• Black line indicates direction of line (Where it ends on East dr. is not necessarily the end, this is just where I lost track of it.)
• Yellow star indicates where I got into the line
• Orange star indicates where I left it

*Please Note: Colors have no correlation to party.

After 30 minutes of waiting in line (I moved probably 20 feet in that time, at least I made it to some shade), I was told that IF I made it to the front they would probably send me to a separate line to check my bag before sending me BACK to the back of the line.

I had nowhere to take my backpack AND my phone was dead. The extremely nice woman in front of me in line told me she would save my place in line if I wanted to run home to drop it off. She gave me her phone number and told me to call when I returned in order to find her. She joked that she would be hard to find, about 10 feet away from our current position in the 45 minutes it would take for me to return.

 

There was a squirrel in this tree. I thought I got it in the picture but it must be a vampire. (squiracula)

So I left my place…

…chugged a bottle of the free H2Obama (witty)…

… snapped this photo of the Elvis selling Obama buttons. I also saw a man selling Baronco shirts (Barack + Broncos = Baronco?)… and rode my bike home.

I was so hot when I got home that I felt defeated and like I never wanted to return to that horrible line. I resigned my self to homework for the night.

My sister, Erica then told me that she had green priority tickets, which gave me a second wind (with priority tickets you don’t have to wait as long in line). I called my friend that was saving my spot in line to tell her that I wouldn’t be returning and thanked her for her kindness. We decided to meet up at Wild Boar Coffee, a coffee shop across the street from campus.

Images inside the Quad:

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

 

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

A few highlights from the speeches:

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

John Hickenlooper, Governor for Colorado, states, “Barack Obama has your back. Do we have his back?” He then goes on to say “President Obama has more emotional depth than anyone I have ever known, and we are lucky to have him as our president.”

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, asks, “ Who will be the champion for the middle class? Obama, or the other guy who stands for the top 2%.” He also informs us, “It’s Barack Obama that helped you get into higher education.”

CSU Sophomore Haley Damm-Hamblin introduces the president. Her speech represented her background as a young woman going to university and why this election is important to her.

 

Via @ColoradoStateU

Finally, Obama takes the stage, and he got me just a jazzed as he always does when I hear him speak. One of his major points throughout the speech was the importance of voting. He encourages us to vote saying, “Your vote will decide where we go from here,” and “You choose the path to get to the future.”

When he says that in the next few weeks his opponent will share his agenda, the crowd boos, to which he says, “Don’t boo. Vote. That’s the best response. Vote, and get some of your friends to vote.” He mentions an online voter registry, GottaVote.com, which he emphasizes the spelling and apologizes to English professors ;) . He then says, “Young people came out in record numbers four years ago." and "Understand your power. If you're going to get cynical, wait till you're older." (hahahaha)

A great moment was when Obama listed all the things WE accomplished in the last four years and a guy yells, “You helped!” to which Obama replies, “I helped a little bit” Hahaha Classic.

He puts the power in our hands, “If we win Colorado, we will win this election. If we win Fort Collins, we will win Colorado.” and “America is counting on you and I’m counting on you.”  Pressure’s on! President Obama is counting on ME!

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

Another key point in President Obama’s speech was the power of education. He tells us that Mitt Romeny calls us the lost generation but we are not because Obama believes in us: “I believe in you. I believe in the American people. I've seen the passion of this generation.”

He goes on to say that he and First Lady, Michelle paid off their student loans about 8 years ago. He says, “We know what its like.” He emphasizes his commitment to higher education saying that we shouldn’t be making it harder for students to pay off loans than it already is. My question for you: Should we keep college affordable or borrow money from our parents (as Romney suggests)?

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

A third point emphasized in his speech was ObamaCare, Obama explains that “We passed this law because I care.” ObamaCare has provided 7,000,000 young people with healthcare, given woman access to health care such as birth control, mammograms and pap smears, and has made medicine more accessible to the elderly. "Some of us can't afford the healthcare we need sometimes, no matter how well we plan."

A particularly funny moment in my opinion was the reference to the “Romney-Doesn’t-Care plan,” the health care system we will be left with should Romney be elected.

Via Nick Lyon of the Rocky Mountain Collegian

President Obama also discusses the economy and jobs. Obama says that tax cuts should not be given to those who have already succeeded (if success is measured monetarily) saying, “Tax cuts should be given to the middle-class, small business and students not to those who have already made it.” He wants to "build the economy from the inside out.” “It’s about the middle class and students." (Hey that’s me!)

Obama tells us that his opponent believes, “Renewable sources of energy are imaginary,” Obama asks, “Do we want to be forever dependent on foreign oil or do we want to pursue renewable, clean energy sources?” and that “Renewable energy is the future.”

Obama explains, "Here's the bottom line, Colorado. If the other side has their way ... it wont create jobs." and "I want to make sure taxes are not raised a single dime on first $250k of income."

 

Via @Coloradoan_TH

A few other great points from Obama include, “Help every American have a chance to better themselves.” “We don’t need to refight the battles of the past, we are moving forward, we don't go backward!” Obama is not going to leave any Americans out in the cold, that’s what we’re fighting for.

He questions why people who love each other can’t get married. His response, “The history of our country is not about how many people we can exclude.” and "Ignoring inequality doesn't make it go away."

Obama on veterans: "We're going to have to serve them just as well as they've served us."

He includes some inspirational ideas such as: “You gotta get on board. Its time for change!” (which was responded to by the crowd with a resounding, “Yes we can!”) One of his themes was that he hasn’t finished what’s he’s started, “We've got more work to do!” (To which the crowd began chanting, “Four more years!”). And he tells us, "We are greater together than we are on our own."


He exited to a little Bruce Springsteen, “We take care of our own."

 

Via @MattySchnitz

(My dumb ole video of the motorcade from Wild Boar Coffee after the speech. Sorry I didn't follow the limo. I was looking at it but my hands didn't cooperate.)

“Will this be an America where no matter where no matter what you look like, no matter where you come from, no matter who you love, no matter what your last name is, you can pursue happiness?"

As a young person, I feel that Obama understands me. As a student, I believe that Obama appreciate me. As a Natural Resources student specifically, I recognize that Obama values me. As a woman, I know that Obama supports me. I am grateful that I can look back on today as a piece of history that I participated in, and I hope one day this piece of history will be considered the day everything changed.

*UPDATE: Today is a new day and the Rocky Mountain Collegian (CSU's student newspaper) has some interesting articles and things to say about Obama's visit, that I would like to address.

This article compares Obama's 2012 campaign with FDR's campaign in which he has re-elected for four terms due to the creation of the New Deal. These government programs forced Americans to rely on the government for their basic needs. I disagree with this comparison. While Obama did mention that he wants to finish the work he's started, the programs he has introduced are not forced on every American, they give chances to every American. The choice to take these opportunities is left up to the individual.

An article by Caleb Hendrich with the title, "Don't Boo Get Out and Vote," discusses why Obama is focused on getting more votes. Apparently, historically the greater the turn-out of voters the more likely the Democratic party has been to have a victory in both the executive and legislative branches. An interesting point.

While the editorial rejoices in the 13,000 people showing up to support the democratic process, their view is that the fate of the nation does not ride on one day in history or the results of the election in November. They want to encourage people to monitor the government in order to ensure that what is promised also is put into effect.

At the time of Obama's speech there was a smallish (comparatively) gathering of Mitt Romney supporters who met at the corner of University and Meridian Avenues. A report in the collegian quotes one of their number in response to the idea of repealing ObamaCare, " The idea that the government can force you to buy something scares me." My response to you sir: "Where do you think roads and highways, public schools, wildlife protection, national monuments, public transportation, public libraries, open space protection, wetland protection, etc. etc. come from? Your tax dollars, that's where. You've been forced to "buy" things your whole life. Even if you don't use these things every day or they will not benefit you directly, you have to pay for them. ObamaCare simply creates an opportunity for some people in the same way all the other public service we know and love do.

Did you catch President Obama’s speech? What do you like, or dislike, about Obama’s campaign? Romney’s? Are you registered to vote? (Register here)