Category: Sustainability

Bars (not the drinking kind).

Please consider switching to natural ingredient bar soaps, shampoo, and conditioner.

Bar hand soap, dish soap, shampoo, and conditioner consumers, reduce plastic waste and fossil fuel consumption used during transportation. Weight for weight, and volume for volume, the bar products provide more washes, hence less fuel used during and for transportation.

For example, an 80 gm shampoo bar will last approximately 60 to 70 washes, depending on hair length. Whereas, if two teaspoons (10 ml) of liquid shampoo are used per wash, a 500 gm bottle produces only 50 washes. Less washes for more than 6 times the weight (assuming a density of 1). Plus, the bar shampoo container is smaller and made of more sustainable materials than the giant plastic bottle of liquid shampoo.

As the bar dish soap wears down, it becomes more difficult to use by the above method. To use every last bit, the soap can be cut into hand soap size pieces or grated. The grated soap can be added to the dish water or your brush can be dipped into it. Cool not to waste anything.

Remember to click on the FOLLOW button….Thank you 🙂

We can do this!

Those Who Plant Trees Under Whose Shade They Will Never Sit Understand Life

Plant a tree. What type of tree? Start with what grows locally and grows fast. Young trees absorb CO2 as they grow.

Trees cleans our air, absorb heat, prevents erosion, provides wildlife habitats, and rebalances our soil.

If planting a tree is not practical for you then contact your mayor’s office to plant some trees in parks, empty lots, or to line streets. If they say they don’t have the money then ask them to install solar panels over open parking lots to raise money to plant trees, with the added benefit of protecting your car and making clean energy.

What to say to the Climate Change Deniers

Some people argue for the status quo. They demand to stay on the same course. They think the threat of climate change is BS. They claim that the history of our planet has naturally cycled through temperatures of highs and lows. Coincidently, many of the same people have a financial interest in fossil fuels. Many are older and they are uncomfortable thinking about a future in which they will not be participants. Ego-driven, with no skin in the game people, cannot see beyond themselves. Many cannot be bothered to consider the world they are leaving their grandchildren. Many cannot fathom the shift they would have to make because their cognition cannot cope. Sadly, it takes being near the end of life to realize that the whole concept of ownership ultimately is meaningless. Some are living a life in crisis mode and any shift will push them into the abyss. At least that is the fear. For whatever reason, they cannot see that sustainable ideas are to make the world better. They continue to deny what is happening around us. Extreme climate patterns, droughts, wildfires, temperatures so hot airplanes can’t take off or tolerate violent turbulence as a result of wind pattern changes, and destruction of wildlife.

But look at the data- never did the rate of temperature rise increase as quickly as it is now and at the same time, the planet has nearly an unprecedented 8 billion mouths to feed.

We have or will soon cross a boundary of no return. Fortunately, as time passes, the number of deniers will dwindle.

Hopefully, this will give you some talking points when someone denies climate change.

What gives me hope are the brilliant and dedicated younger generations who are fighting for their future. A new wave has started.

How long can you hold your breath while counting your money?

There is no planet B.

A NEW WAVE HAS STARTED

REFERENCES:

Gen Z, Millennials Stand Out for Climate Change Activism, Social Media Engagement With Issue

https://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/641775

https://pngtree.com/freepng/toxic-gas-emission-environmental-pollution_6249556.html

https://phys.org/news/2019-08-jet-stream-aircraft-turbulence-climate.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40339730

Save the Bees.

A few years ago, my lavender bushes used to be swarming with bees. But now it is bee-less. This disappearance is a wake-up call to everyone. Without the bees, the world will not survive as we know it.

Bees have been declared The Most Important Living Being on Earth. They are now on the endangered species list! What have we done?

The disappearance of bees is real. Time to get active. Think Global. Act Local. Stop using pesticides and herbicides, especially neonicotinoids (neonics). Eat organic. Better for you, better for farmers, and better for the environment. Sure it might cost a little more. But when it comes to food, consider higher quality and lower quantity. The majority of the western world could eat less to abate the obesity epidemic.

Other factors, besides chemicals, that negatively affect pollinators are drought related to global warming, habitat destruction, lack of food, air pollution, and disease.

With all of these factors happening at once, our bees are overwhelmed. Like all living beings, the weaken bees become more sustainable to disease and death.

Here is how to help save our pollinators

1. Plant organic plants that attract bees.
2. Make your yard a pesticide/herbicide-free zone.
3. Buy organic.
4. Support sustainability initiatives.
5. Become an Activist in your local area. Call or write to your mayor’s office to suggest organic green spaces and allow residents to keep beehives.
6. Become a beekeeper. Keep your own hives. Bonus: free authentic honey.
7. Support Honeybee research at the University of California, Davis by adopting a honey bee (Projecthoneybees.com).
8. Live sustainability.
9. Reduce fossil fuel consumption.

The bees can live without us, but we cannot live without the bees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=JilYBVrFiLA&feature=emb_logo

Since writing this, some of my bees have come back!

Toxicity of neonics:

• Widespread neonic contamination has gotten worse. According to the latest data from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), 93% of surface water samples in Los Angeles, [other], counties contain a neonic—up from 92% in 2019. In northern California, 67% of samples contained a neonic, a substantial increase from the 57% just a year earlier.
• Pregnant women may be especially at risk of exposure. A new study of 171 pregnant women tested, over 95% had neonics residues in their bodies. Neonics were most commonly found in Hispanic women, and neonics were detected more frequently—and at higher levels—over time. Widespread exposure among pregnant women is particularly bad news; neonics present significant risks to developing fetuses because they can interfere with the highly delicate development of the nervous system. Neonic exposure in the womb has been linked with birth defects of the heart and brain, as well as autism-like symptoms
• There is new evidence of effects of neonics on testosterone. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers have linked neonic exposure with a 20% decrease in testosterone, fueling concern about neonics’ reproductive and hormonal effects. Similar studies also suggest possible connections between neonic exposure and changes to fat metabolism and insulin regulation, as the list of possible human health harms continues to grow.
• https://www.nrdc.org/experts/lucas-rhoads/will-californias-bees-get-break-neonic-bill-gov

Capsule Wardrobe

Inspired by Laura de Jong, a capsule wardrobe expert. She writes:

“WHAT IS A CAPSULE WARDROBE?”

A capsule wardrobe is based on the idea of having a limited number of quality garments in your closet. Items that fit you well, are timeless, fit your personality and fit your lifestyle. Fewer items doesn’t mean that you always wear the same outfits. Did you know that you can create approximately 80 outfits with ‘only’ 30 to 37 items?” Excluding underwear and accessories.

The fashion industry creates tremendous waste. The EU plans to counter this by setting new rules to discourage disposable fast fashion by 2030. But we can start this now as informed consumers.

Buy quality items in classic styles to last you many years. It costs more but is an incentive not to gain any weight! When clothes get tight, time to cut back on calories and portions.

Another bonus of quality clothes will be that they will survive a second or even third owner. See Sustainabilty Tip #2.

Ideas to start your Capsule Wardrobe:

When purchasing products, if you cannot find them pre-owned, check if the materials used are recycled or biodegradable. Check if the manufacturer is eco-friendly or socially responsible.

There are companies that plant trees for every sale made or make a donation to charity or nonprofits. Find corporations that are socially responsible.

Shop at stores and do business with corporations that support your beliefs.

Some examples: Patagonia, Cariuma , Suavs, Tentree, Earth Breeze, Chnge, Bank of the West, Brabantia.

Vote with your wallet to support what you believe. Power in numbers. Numbers count. Your actions matter.

Power in numbers. Numbers count. Your actions matter.

Donate your clothes and paraphernalia that have served their purpose with you.

How do you decide which clothes to donate? Use this Marie Kondo method:

Take all your clothes and hang them on hangers with the hook facing out. After you wear them, hang them back with the hook facing in. Do this for a year.

After one year, look at the hangers still facing out. Consider donating the clothes on those hangers.

Remember one person’s garbage, is another person’s treasure.

We have taken so much from Mother Earth. She has always provided and nurtured us. She has sustained us. It is time we take care of her.

We have used her resources. Her abundance has always been there for us. We took it for granted. We wasted and destroyed. It has caught up with us.

For example, every piece of plastic that I have ever used is likely somewhere still on the Earth. The amount garbage that we have produced has reached a critical threshold. But with our ingenuity and innovation, we can solve this.

We need to get better at recycling, reusing, and buying products made from recycled and or compostable materials. For the most impact, let’s focus on the most common single use products found in the ocean.

The worse offenders are cigarette butts, bottle caps, straws, cups and plates, single use plastic bags, food wrappers, and beverage bottles.

Update 03/2021 The consumer plastic issue maybe duping us. The real problem with global warming is destruction of our oceans from fishing as discussed in documentary Seaspiracy, linked below. Lessons learned: fishing nets waste kill majority of the sea life and when investigating something, follow the money and eat a unprocessed plant-based diet.

Here is how we can easily reduce the use of these products:

• Cigarette butts – the best solution is DO NOT SMOKE. But if you must, consider rolling your own or purchase brands without filters. The filter don’t provide any benefit.

• Bottle caps – re-attach them to their original bottles and recycle them together. Avoid using plastic bottles. Bring the tops back to recycle centers.

• Drinking straws- Many options for reusable straws (a subject of a previous blog) or switch to 100% compostable straws made from materials like cornstarch, wheat, avocado seeds, paper, bamboo, etc.

• Cups and plates – use non plastic products that are 100% compostable made of same material as the straws above or better yet reusable dishes.

• Single use bags – Bring your own reusable bags including those in which you put produce. Ask your grocer to use compostable bags.

• Food wrappers – use beeswax food wraps, compostable wrappers, buy products in bulk.

• Beverage bottles – use metal, glass or reuse your plastic one. See the links below as to how some communities are making use of the ones we already have on the planet… So innovative!
• STOP eating seafood

• Seaspiracy Link https://www.netflix.com/watch/81014008?trackId=14170032&tctx=1%2C6%2C40df8c41-93a5-4587-9a5b-0c8779282f80-347818464%2C35b8a2c4-6a2f-41bb-9804-1bd8334710fb_235106165X6XX1617057674093%2C35b8a2c4-6a2f-41bb-9804-1bd8334710fb_ROOT%2C

We need to create a thriving market for products made from recycled or compostable materials. There are products like clothes, shoes, rugs, household products, feminine sanitary items, etc made from recycled or compostable materials. When ever we can, we should buy these types of products. This will make recycling financially sustainable.

We can all participate locally. Bring our own bags, useable containers, straws etc. The worse plastic offenders are starting to be banned at the municipal level. You can engage in local politics to ensure this happens in your community.

Some other Earth friendly solutions: Put solar panels in parking lots. It keeps cars cool while generating carbon free electricity.

Plant and also protect as many trees as you can.

Human over population is the core cause. More people more garbage.

To be Green is to be Cool.

Headline: Los Angeles County to ban Plastic Straws. About time. These images of plastic straws polluting our earth’s water ways and hurting wild life are disturbing.

Since I last wrote about using metal reusable straws, I discovered silicone and bamboo straws. Straws are useful if you have sensitive teeth, want to keep your teeth from staining, have orthodontic work or unable to drink from a cup bc of health reasons. I like the silicone ones the best due to their “flexibility” but bamboo straws are 100% natural and biodegradable. The hole in the bamboo straw is smaller than silicone, so not useful for thick smoothies. The metal straws can feel harsh against your teeth.

I needed the longer the 11 inch silicone straw for my 20 oz stainless steel thermo container.

After use, the silicone straw tucks nicely into my container for storage until I get home. Otherwise a wet straw is a messy thing to handle. Checklist when purchasing a container:

• dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
• wide mouth so you can add powders and or pour smoothie into it easily and also easier to cleaning
• an attached smaller lid so you won’t lose it.
• the part that touches your mouth is completely covered by a lid to avoid contamination and dirt getting on it
• if going to use in car, make sure not so wide that it will not fit into a cup holder
• avoid plastic. BPA and BPS (the BPA substitute) are both bad for you
• stainless steel and glass are the most neutral. The silicone covered glass more durable.
• Double thickness containers insulate better so drinks can be kept either hot or cold longer. Plus the neutral temperature of the exterior of the container makes it more comfortable to hold onto.

The silicone ones have the advantage of being folded into a small container like a pill bottle or extra orthodontic retainer container. This makes it much easier to carrier around with you.

To clean these straws: You can do by hand or put the silicone ones in the dishwasher. Since these silicone ones are larger, they do not fall threw the holes in the cutlery rack. I would not recommend putting the bamboo ones in dishwasher bc they might splinter and crack. The straws almost always come with a brush too.

Hand washing: Soak for minute or two in soapy water, make sure some of water gets into the center of straw. Wiggle it around a bit. Clean inside with brush. Rinse. Dry on a rack that drains.

Please leave me any comments or questions. I look forward to them!

For proper oral hygiene, you need to floss daily. Ever wonder what happens to the plastic dental floss like Glide? I can just imagine it gets into our Oceans, resulting in choking and or strangling of marine life.

Now there are other options. Biodegradable silk or bamboo floss. They are a little thicker than Glide so it your teeth are tight, it could takes some time to get use to it. But it works. With the extra thickness, it removes more food particles per swipe! Give it a try. You help the planet, the planet helps you. Karma.

I bought these on Amazon.

Note: If you have short roots, I would not recommend. If you must use a traditional plastic product, and the floss remains in good shape after use, you can rinse the floss and let it dry and re use it again and again. 🙂