“ The idea is to find one thing to do in your life that doesn’t involve spending or voting, that may or may not virally rock the world but is real and particular (as well as symbolic) and that, come what may, will offer its own rewards. Maybe you decide to give up meat, an act that would reduce your carbon footprint by as much as a quarter. Or you could try this: determine to observe the Sabbath. For one day a week, abstain completely from economic activity: no shopping, no driving, no electronics. But the act I want to talk about is growing some — even just a little — of your own food. Rip out your lawn, if you have one, and if you don’t — if you live in a high-rise, or have a yard shrouded in shade — look into getting a plot in a community garden. Measured against the Problem We Face, planting a garden sounds pretty benign, I know, but in fact it’s one of the most powerful things an individual can do — to reduce your carbon footprint, sure, but more important, to reduce your sense of dependence and dividedness: to change the cheap-energy mind.

posted : Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

tags :

Seattle Green Festival

My Neighbor Paul attended the Green Fest last week as a representative for P-Patch. Here are some of his takeaways:

  1. Compact Florescent Bulbs contain mercury and cannot be put in the trash. Starting in May, Seattle Public Utilities will accept the burned out light bulbs at the Public Utilities office on 1st ave (the cross street is either Spokane or Holgate).
  2. 3R Technology, will recycle old t.v.s, computers, household batteries; all kinds of things
  3. I went to a couple of different ‘on demand’ hot water tank booths. They are very small, seem to last longer than traditional tanks (at least that’s what I was told), would work with our hydronic systems and are ‘tankless’
  • There are two types, gas powered and electric. The gas powered units have a larger per gallon per minute heating rate, but won’t work in all of our homes, because they require a special venting system. The system looks like a wall panel. More expensive than electric.
  • The electric powered systems are really small (about 20 lbs), doesn’t require a venting system, but has a smaller per gallon per minute heating rate. Less Expensive.

posted : Thursday, April 17th, 2008

tags : green_festival 98101

A handmade (in India) turtle made by Deepti Shankar’s Earthentree company.  Eco-friendly, inexpensive and durable goods like these will be at the Green Festival tomorrow.

A handmade (in India) turtle made by Deepti Shankar’s Earthentree company. Eco-friendly, inexpensive and durable goods like these will be at the Green Festival tomorrow.

posted : Friday, April 11th, 2008

tags : non_toxic_toys

posted : Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

tags :

posted : Saturday, April 5th, 2008

tags : reusable_grocery_bags seattle_20_cent_fee

These baggu bags are inexpensive ($8 each), durable and capacious.  One Baggu holds the contents of 2 to 3 plastic grocery bags (up to 25 lbs.).  The best part: they fold into a flat 5” x 5” pouch that easily slips into a purse or pocket.

These baggu bags are inexpensive ($8 each), durable and capacious. One Baggu holds the contents of 2 to 3 plastic grocery bags (up to 25 lbs.). The best part: they fold into a flat 5” x 5” pouch that easily slips into a purse or pocket.

posted : Saturday, April 5th, 2008

tags : reusable_grocery_bags

posted : Thursday, April 3rd, 2008

tags : reusable_grocery_bags seattle_20_cent_fee

posted : Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

tags :

Looking for a cute reusable grocery bag? Skn has some nice ones - made from 100% organic cotton for $24.95 each.

Looking for a cute reusable grocery bag? Skn has some nice ones - made from 100% organic cotton for $24.95 each.

posted : Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

tags : reusable_grocery_bags