2 week trash results

Results:
Trash: 95 items
Recycled: 15 items
Composted: 8 items
Worm binned: 12 items

These are the results from my two week study of my trash. For the most part I didn't adjust my habits...as you can clearly tell! I really thought I did better than this. But over 3/4 of my trash goes straight to the landfill.

If you looked at my list you would find I ate a lot of string cheese and granola bars those two weeks. So there's another benefit of this experiment right there! I can now see where I"m making trash and where I can eliminate some of it. For example: I've started buying bulk trail mix in lieu of granola bars. I just put it in a glass mason jar. In fact, I think a lot more of my food is going to be bought in bulk with reused plastic bags.

I wonder how this would look if I had measured mass. A lot of the trashed items were small, like string cheese wrappers and foils from chocolate eggs. Also, went I tossed out my junk mail for the day I counted it as one item recycled. And I listed things like: veggie bits and counted them as one as I through them into the worm bin.

It's not perfect, but it opened my eyes to some changes I can do. And that's what it's about.

Water Use

With the warm days a-comin' (yes, we do have droughty summers in Seattle!) I've taken our mop bucket and put it in the shower! Sounds totally unrelated to some, I'm sure. Rest assured we do not own a mop and the bucket's red so we'll see it before entering the shower.

For those of you not yet in the know, the bucket is there to catch that shower water that usually goes down the drain while you wait for it to warm up.

I think we must have a low flow shower head already. I was actually disappointed by the lack of water I saved in the bucket! I know I shouldn't be, and I know there are ways you can determine the level of flow in your shower head but whatever. Point is, my strawberries, roses, canna and mysterious seedling (pumpkin?) will hopefully not wilt this summer!

Nature is mean

Usually that comment comes out of me when I see cute babies or beautiful pregnant women. Today, however, it's because nature's karma kicked my ass.

I drove to work, again. I planned to ride my bike as I do every morning but once again took my car. After a ridiculously long and uninspiring workshop I walked back to my car and found a ticket. I would tell you what the ticket was for but the whole story makes me sound like a spoiled brat. And I may be spoiled but I like to think it's because I'm trying really had to do the right thing by choosing a career I'm passionate about even though it doesn't pay me enough to live on.

Point of the story: had I ridden my bike to work today, I would not have gotten the ticket or have a list of other car related chores to do tomorrow that rape my bank account.

Guess how I'm getting to work Monday morning?

Isn't it organic, don't you think?

Oh boy! Fred Meyer had Certified Oregon Tilth Eversweet strawberries 2 for $3! So I mixed up some worm castings into my pot that has been barren since my bulbs died back and popped 'em in! Hopefully, they will make a tasty covering until next spring when my bulbs push through again!

While harvesting castings from the bottom bucket (castings that originally came with the worms) I found some sprouts that I can only assume are pumpkins! I planted these in another container. I'm not expecting anything out of them but wouldn't it be great if they grew?

I heart plants.

I have an aversion

Confession 1: I have not ridden my bike to work once this month. The last time I did so I was sick, and by the time I got halfway up that hill I felt so sick I thought I was either going to vomit or pass out. And now I can't bring myself to try it again. It's like the time I got sick after eating nachos from 7-11.

Confession 2: I dread compiling my trash list. There have been a couple days I'd like to pretend didn't happen.

I feel like there are many similarities between trying to live green and trying to live during the Great Depression. There may be a comparative essay in the near future.

Nooo! anything but water!

Last night my very thoughtful friend brought me a cup of water in a plastic beer cup. She was just being polite but as I saw her walking up with two cups in her hand I thought to myself "Please don't be for me!" because I didn't want to add it to my garbage list.

Of course later than night, while my tummy was grumbling, I reached out for a piece of cake and as I withdrew my arms with cake in hand I saw the glaring waxy paper plate and plastic fork in front of me. Darnit!

Today, I was very good! I met with my parents for Thai food and remembered my tupperware! I got to set an example for my parents and keep an item off my list.

The cutest thing was my mom pointing out all the reused items she used to bring me my goodies in. I also told them about my garbage project expecting to be made fun of but Mom, at least, was very interested. We both agreed that when I'm a teacher this will be a great classroom exercise complete with pie charts.

In related news I broke my sink today trying to clean out the gunk without chemicals. I think I can fix it on my own though thanks to the internet.

I think I can! I think I can!

There's a new challenge via Crunchy Chicken. The month of July is now Local Food Month! This will be the month where we pay attention to what we buy and where it comes from. Thankfully summer is a time of variety and our local Farmers' Markets should be full of choices. I can't wait!

I have to add a second part to this challenge: doing so on a budget. And when I say budget I mean CHEAP! I am not in a position to spend four dollars on a head of broccoli. I'll share with you, of course, how both parts of the challenge go for me.

Trash Talk

Wow, I was just directed to this blog called Trash Talk. The challenge is to carry around your trash for I believe two weeks. All of it. To work, on the bus, to the park...everywhere. Talk about becoming aware of your impact!

I can't take that challenge. Especially since I should be biking to work. Instead I am going to keep a journal of the garbage I make each day. Oooh! Then I think I'll type it up into an excel spreadsheet and sort it by recyclable, compostable (or wormable) and trash.

I'll start today. First two items to go on my list will be hot cocoa packet and string cheese wrapper.

Conservation

One of our elephants passed away today. It was a hard day at work for all of us. It reminds me of what I'm trying to do with my living green and why I work at and in the field I do.

The zoo I work at is beautiful. The exhibits are naturalistic and every care is taken to ensure the animals' health. Most legitimate zoos, mine included, have turned from entertainment to education and conservation. The animals help people make connections and through interpretive practices (signs, docents, keeper talks, etc) learn how all things are connected--even how what they do here, affects animals far and wide.

I am thankful for the way this elephant touched people during her life. People who thought they were just coming to see a baby elephant gained a lot more.

Can I have a redo?

I don't feel like I had a very successful Low Impact Week. I had to drive all week because I went to Shelton and Aberdeen for work. Without my stuff I used the tv and computer as entertainment in the hotel. I poured batter out of a styrofoam cup this morning into the waffle iron . . . : (

But it isn't about doing good for one week. It's about adopting changes into your routine...and so if I"m a week behind everyone else in getting these things going, so be it.

I can't wait to ride my bike to work tomorrow.

May Tally

I really wanted to double my CO2 saved this month. But considering last month a big portion of my tally was due to taking the bus to and from the airport and this month I didn't need to go down there, I think I did quite well! I also made my 5 required rides for Bike to Work Month. Doesn't sound like much to you? Well....out of four weeks, I was on the road for two and sick for one. I'm really quite proud!

May:
CO2 Saved: 33.8
Miles Biked: 31.9

woot!

Low Impact Week Update

Alright, let's get warmed up! On your feet! Stretch that recycling arm to the left, to the right, to the front...now mark those pedaling legs, faster, faster! Now bend at the waist and stretch out those compost turning arms and warm up those hamstrings! Stand up, and roll your CFL changing wrists....now the other direction.

Ok, I think we've gotten ourselves warmed up. Low Impact Week is creeping upon us. In fact, it's tomorrow. So to follow suit, let me recap things that I've been doing and what I will be doing as of tomorrow.

Current:
* Recycled toilet paper
* Washing hair only twice a week (also good for my curl!)
* Not using paper towels
* Unplugging appliances
* Riding my bike (even up ridiculous hills!)
* Carrying reusable coffee mug
* Reusable grocery bags
* Turning in my receipts from Ballard Market to Sustainable Ballard for a 1% donation
* When my roommate's not home I don't flush! shhh!!! ; )
* CFLs
* Keeping lights off
* Unplug
* Reusing ziplocks
* Recyling of course
* Cold wash
* Low heat and almost dry setting on dryer
* Dry option is turned off on dishwasher
* Natural detergents (dishwasher and laundry)
* Make scrubbing soaps from baking soda, vinegar, castille soap combos

I'm sure there's more. That list looks so piddly. Here are a few things I'm going to try to add to the habits of the previous list:

* Turn off that dang tv!
* And the computer, for that matter!
* Ride to work every workday
* Shorter showers
* No more soda (EnviroWoman ruined my dillusions of being able to drink soda because I could recycle the containers)
* Line dry

That's just a start!

And don't forget No Drive Day June 1st to kick off Low Impact Week! You can do it!

What would you do?

I needed chai tea. NEEDED it. My head was throbbing from lack of caffeine. And I was in the suburb I grew up in which has few, if any, independent coffee houses. At least none that I knew of that would take my debit card for I constantly lack cash. Please don't hate me. I had to go to what some call the Devil-Incarnate-bucks.

So there we were in the drive through. thump thump thump my head pulsed. The SUV in front of us was handed drink after drink after drink.... then they finally started to pull away but they only got as far as the trash can. Plastic bottle after bottle after bottle after bottle was handed up from the back seat to the thrower-outer. Thump went my head, thwack went the bottle...over and over again. One didn't make it into the bin. They let it roll away across the parking lot.

I should have gotten out and at least picked up the renegade bottle. I should have opened the bin and collected the plastic ones and taken them home for recycling.

I should have. And I didn't. And I feel so terribly guilty.

Plastic

EnviroWoman from Living Plastic Free in 2007 was discussing her reasons for boycotting all plastic and used this article as a reference: Our Oceans Are Turning to Plastic...Are We?

I really suggest reading it. It's quite an eye opener. There are facts in there that I had heard before but this really brought it home.

After you have read the part about phthalates and all the other gunk that is proving to mess with our genes and reproductive system...check out your products at the Skin Deep Report. They'll tell you how safe your beauty products are and you can look up safer ones.

It's scary, but I think it's time that we face that fear and make changes.

Oxygen Positive

oxygen_positive

Low Impact Week

June 1st- 7th

Crunchy Chicken is proposing a Low Impact Week June 1st-7th. I say we kick off the week right by not driving June 1st. Shoot, you guys are so awesome I know you could go without driving for the entire week!

Here's what I want you to do:

Don't drive on June 1st. Find other means of transportation, be it your feet, a bike, the bus, a pony, a large dog, whatever. Add up how many miles you didn't drive and post them here. Then we can calculate how many lbs. of CO2 we saved!

Spread it around! And the more people sent back to this blog to post, the more accurate our calculations can be!

xoxo

I'm NOT a wimp!

I took the bike in to get the derailleurs fixed and it turned out the entire shifter was broken. That's why I couldn't go up the hill!! I couldn't get into a low gear! It was like I was trying to start on a hill in second, it can be done but it ain't easy!

Image stolen from Blue Collar Mountain Biking and yes I know that's a crank shaft and not a derailleur.

Career Choice

I love my job at the zoo. I love teaching environmental education, the people I work with are fantastic and I feel like I'm doing something important. However, I also feel like I'm not doing enough, 30 hrs/week at less than grounds crew makes doesn't pay the bills, and I often feel my field/position is unstable.

Soooo.....I'm applying for a teaching program. I already have a master's in Env. Ed. so I'm just doing a post-bac program to get certified. The applications were due April 1st but I made a call, had a meeting and was invited to go to the interviews just based on our conversation. All I need to do is turn in the paperwork.

The program is evenings so I can still work during the day.

It is a relatively competitive program so I don't want to get everyone too excited. This means, Sister, Mom does not need to know yet. My work also does not need to know yet.

Ooh, but I'm excited!

Eco capitalism

I just found this awesome company called Terra Cycle. These two guys decided to take worm castings, make a compost tea out of them and sell it as a fertilizer. Ok, that's not terribly new..but leave it to a poor college student (or two) to figure out a cheap way to get the stuff on the shelves...

Their bottles are made from recycled soda bottles. No, literally they are soda bottles. No processing whatsoever. The sprayers are from other companies who had too much. The boxes are misprints. It's ingenious. I'm a little smitten.

My favorite line is from CBS news "..the story is a reminder about following your dreams. The pot of gold may require dealing with a ton of crap."

Watch the video, it's great!

May 15th?

Have you been getting forwards or myspace bulletins asking you not to buy gas on May 15th? Did you pass it on? I hope the answer is no. Or I hope you altered the message...

Not buying gas on one day is not going to hurt big oil. If you need gas that week, you'll buy it on May 14th or 16th anyway.

If you get this message and wish to pass it on change the message to promote something that might actually work. Don't drive on May 15th. Join in for Bike to Work Month. Something along those lines.

Also..if you got the one that said that gas prices dropped 30 cents after a gas out in 1997...weren't you a little suspicious? I KNOW I would've remembered that. I was a senior in high school and if gas reached 60-some cents a gallon I would've remembered.