greenlagirl's blog

Ditch the clutter: Stop junk mail

2009-07-04T02:22:09-05:00

Stopping junk mail's easy -- theoretically -- since all you need to do is say no. But because you have to say no to so many different companies -- and may want to preserve one or two coupon mailers you use -- de-cluttering your mail box can get difficult pretty fast. This perhaps explains why so many people still get -- and complain about -- the amount of junk mail they get.

But de-junk-mailing doesn't have to be so hard! Just follow these steps to declare junk mail independence this July 4 -- and to save a whole lot of paper ( read: trees) while you're at it. I'll start with the free services -- a bit more time consuming, but easier to customize for your individual needs -- then go on to the paid ones that do the hard work for you.

1. Bye bye credit card offers. These things have gotten a lot of people into financial holes lately -- so stop the debt catastrophes from ever tempting you by opting out of credit card offers. You can opt out for 5 years or forever -- though if you change your mind, all you have to do is stop by the site again to opt in.

2. Get off the Direct Marketing Association's list -- for $1 if you mail in the form (see right sidebar). There also appears to be an online option that requires registration, but I don't recommend this as it's oddly complicated. Note that this step won't stop the Val-Pak or ShopWise or any of the other local coupon packets -- just the totally random junk mail that seemed to come outta nowhere. A few months after sending in the form, you'll start to see a junk mail decrease.

3. Stop the catalogs. Sign up for the FREE Catalog Choice, which'll let you halt catalogs you don't want very easily AND monitor to make sure they actually are keeping you off their lists. You can also contact the catalog companies individually via their customer service lines -- but of course that'll take more time.

4. Ditch the local coupon lists -- Val-Pak, ShopWise, Pennysaver (call 800.422.4116), Local Community Values (call 626.472.5377), and Money Mailer. Annoyingly, you'll need to contact each of them separately -- but this could be good news for people who want to keep getting one of these but not the rest.

5. Junk the individual stuff. Still getting other types of junk mail? Call the customer service lines, then wait to get hold of an actual person who can take your name off the lists.

And now for the paid services! If you really want off the lists but the above seems way too time consuming for you, these companies can help -- for a small fee:

>> 41pounds.org. This company promises to reduce your junk mail by 80-95%! $41 covers you for five years, with $15 of that money going to a nonprofit of your choice. The fee covers you even if you move, as long as it's within four years of subscribing.

>> GreenDimes. This company promises a 90% reduction in your junk mail. $20 covers you for a year -- even if you move -- and will get 5 trees planted for you on your behalf.

Got all that done? Then pat yourself on your back because you've really shrunk your carbon footprint today. Junk mail’s un-eco effect’s the equivalent of more than nine million cars (PDF) or the emissions generated by heating nearly 13 million homes for the winter, according to a study by ForestEthics.

Don't see why you should have to do all this work to stop junk mail you never asked for in the first place? Then sign ForestEthics’ Do Not Mail Petition, which is pushing lawmakers to create a national Do Not Mail list, similar to the existing Do Not Call list. So far, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors want a Do Not Mail Registry and passed a resolution calling on California to create one -- but the resolution's non-binding and has no actual power to help people make the junk mail stop.

Unfortunately, this fight will probably go on for a while, as the United States Postal Service has launched a Mail Moves America campaign. USPS allies include some environmental groups, which themselves send unsolicited letters (usually asking for money) to mass mailing lists. So what can you do besides sign a petition and getting rid of your own junkmail? Make it a point never to respond to mailed requests for donations -- and let the organizations you donate to know that their unsolicited junk mail has you rethinking your generosity.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel likes a tidy mailbox. She blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Eco-foodie guide to BlogHer '09 in Chicago

2009-06-29T21:54:02-05:00

Though I'm writing this while stuck at an airport, I'm really looking forward to BlogHer '09 in Chicago -- especially since the city's made some very impressive green changes since BlogHer '07, when I was last in the city. The windy city has created a Chicago Climate Action Plan and is working hard to make it a reality.

This green vision's already very evident in the parks. 90% of Chicago’s parks are pesticide free, according to Grist. Plus, another new park's going up on old railway tracks -- though the project may take a while.

But for this post, I've decided to focus on the important stuff: Food. Spots green-minded BlogHers won't want to miss:

Coffee lovers: Swim Cafe. Go here for 100% fair trade coffee from Just Coffee, tasty food that supports organic agriculture, and a relaxed atmosphere. The indie coffee shop's been made famous by Young American Bodies -- Above's the panini I ate during the last BlogHer. Find it at 1357 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago.

Pizza lovers: Crust. This organic restaurant makes very tasty flatbread pizzas -- great with organic vodka cocktails organic pinot blanc or other yummy organic drinks. 95% of the ingredients used at this eatery are organic. Two years ago I had a "Shrooms" pizza with yummy fresh mushrooms, goat cheese, and seasoned spinach. 2056 W. Division St., Chicago.

Veg and vegan food lovers: The Chicago Diner.. This very chilled out and popular spot's proudly meat free -- and serves up some yummy organic cocktails and fair trade coffee too. Vegetarians, vegans, and raw foodies will all find something to love here. The vegan reuben's apparently the house specialty, but I can attest to the wilted spinach salad's yumminess too. 3411 N. Halsted., Chicago.

Fine diners: Green Zebra. This higher-end, well-known vegetarian restaurant isn't cheap -- but the food's delicious and the atmosphere chic. The staff's very accommodating of any and all odd eating requirements and quirks. 1460 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago.

Since I've already tried all those spots, I plan to try out these eateries this time around:

Butterfly Social Club. Organic cocktails, from Goji Kombucha Cider to Funky Budda’s Margarita. 726 W. Grand Ave.

Hopleaf Bar. Lotsa beer, organic wine, and organic meat options — plus a nice array of vegetarian dishes to choose from. 5148 N. Clark St.

Lula Cafe. Seasonal, organic, local produce at a cafe in Logan Square. 2537 N. Kedzie Blvd.

Other non-dining green spots I hope to check out this time around include:

Pivot Boutique: Eco-fashion boutique at 1101 W. Fulton Market.

Working Bikes Co-Op. The kids here fix up donated bikes, donating some to countries where bikes’re scarce and selling others cheaply in its Chicago store. 1125 S. Western Ave.

Know of other green spots in the Windy City? Share your knowledge in the comments --
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel does also plan to do things other than eating at BlogHer '09. After all, she'll be blogging here -- and also at greenLAgirl.com.

Fair trade tours for coffee, chocolate, and olives

2009-06-27T02:22:09-05:00

If you start your day with organic, fair trade coffee, like to cook with organic olive oil, and treat yourself to gourmet fair trade organic chocolate on occasion -- then you're a lot like me. And you might want to sign up for one of these environmentally and socially conscious eco-educational vacations coming up to get a closer look at the coffee, chocolate, and olive oil you love:

Sip fair trade coffee in Chiapas, Mexico: February 22 – March 1, 2009

Higher Grounds Trading Company, a socially-conscious fair trade company in Michigan, wants to take you on a Harvest Tour. The trip promises an "adventure through the Mayan Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico," visiting "organic farmers, women's fair trade artisan cooperatives, Fair Trade coffee co-ops, traditional healers, biodiversity and economic rights activists, and autonomous indigenous communities and leaders."

The $750 price tag includes double occupancy lodging, all in-country transportation, and 2 meals a day -- in additions to guides, translations, and donations to each organization and community visited. Email Higher Grounds or call 231.922.9009 for more information and to sign up.

Taste fair trade chocolate in Belize: September 4 - 12, 2009

Sustainable Harvest International, a nonprofit that works to empower farming families in Central America, invites you on a Smaller World Sustainable Chocolate Tour -- described as "an unforgettable journey into the ecology, history and culture of chocolate." Get ready to get your hands dirty on this trip, because you'll be planting trees and building wood-conserving stoves! You'll also visit family farms, local Mayan ruin sites, and jungle water falls.

The $2,500 price tag includes double occupancy accomodations, all in-country travel, meals -- as well as tours, translation, staff support, and a $500 donation to the local program. Call Sustainable Harvest International at 207.669.8254 to reserve a spot. Can't take the trip in September? More choco tours are planned for January 3 - 10 and March 6-13 in 2010.

Enjoy olive oil in Palestine / Israel: October 30 - November 09, 2009

Global Exchange wants to take you on its first Fair Olive Harvest Reality Tour. You'll get to travel with Kirsten Moller, Global Exchange's executive director and co-founder, to learn "about the connections between peace, economic and environmental justice in Palestine and Israel." You'll also harvest olives with fair trade farmers, celebrate the harvest festival, and even enjoy a harvest meal in the olive orchard.

The trip costs $1,800, which includes double-occupancy accommodations, all in-country transportation, and 2 meals a day -- plus guides, translation, staff support, and honoraria to the speakers, organizations, and communities that participate in the tour. In addition, all tour participants will get a 1-year membership to Global Exchange. Reserve your spot online or call 800.497.1994x251.

Want to take a fair trade tour without leaving the U.S.? Here's how:

>> In Grist, Sarah van Schagen writes about one of the daily tours she took at Theo Chocolate, an organic, fair trade chocolate company in Seattle.

>> Stephanie at Metropolitan Mama big ups Camano Island Coffee Roasters, which sells organic, fair trade coffee -- and offers tours at its headquarters in Camano Island, Washington.

>> Marisa Avelar wrote a guest post on Design*Sponge about Savannah, Georgia -- with details on where to find a good cup of fair trade coffee in that town.

Photo by javaturtle, mattwitmer, jurvetson
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Eco-travel blogs for the green nomad

2009-06-22T11:39:12-05:00

Do you crisscross the world in search of adventure -- or just cut across the blogosphere in search of virtual vacations? Eco-travel blogs are popping up to help you on your peripatetic way. Three to check out:

Traveling the Green Way. Written by Sonya, Traveling the Green Way covers everything from newly-announced eco cruises to eco-travel gear to green car care kits to -- topics that don't seem to have much to do with travel.

The website posts a constant update of new travel deals that'll awaken your inner eco-travel bug. A word of caution though: I once pointed out misleading info on a post by leaving a comment -- and returned later to find that the post had simply been quietly removed.

TerraCurve. This responsible travel website posts the latest in eco-travel news, whether it's about carbon neutral cabins in Australia, green bike tours, or hotels with rooftop gardens.

According to the website, TerraCurve's "aims to allow for travelers to choose products, services and destinations around the world that are a better choice for the planet and its people at every step of their journey." The site was founded by Joe Ascanio, self-described as a "web developer, designer and marketing guy."

Sustainable Travel blog. Written by the peple at Sustainable Travel International, a nonprofit aimed at encouraging green travel, this blog takes a more industry-oriented bent, with many posts about travel and tourism-related surveys, studies, and awards. That said, you can still find some great information about eco-vacations, like spa deals at a green Carribbean resort.

Know of other great eco-travel blogs? Share them in the comments.

A Sweet eco-cruise for lesbians

2009-06-20T03:01:01-05:00

Alas, I'm not a lesbian -- but after discovering Sweet, a travel company that merges lesbian travel with eco-social awareness, I had to check the FAQ to see if I could still go on one of their green-minded trips! But alas, "What if you're straight?" was not on the FAQ -- which I took as a sign I should look more into other trips, most of which are pretty much only marketed at straight people, thus necessitating a company like Sweet....

In any case, I thought eco-thinking lesbian BlogHers may be interested in the Sweet Carribbean Cruise coming up in November! The year-old Sweet's first cruise kicks off with a pre-cruise, 3-day land package that lets cruise-takers get involved with Katrina relief through Bayou Rebirth, a program that matches volunteers to wetlands restoration projects in Southeast Louisiana. The cruise itself includes everything from wining and dining to a fitness boot camp to Sweet weddings to cross-cultural learning experiences. As Nicole Fancher at Travel Muse describes it:

Sweet’s first cruise ... offers volunteer projects like painting a mural in a children’s hospital wing, building a library at a primary school in Belize and picking up beach trash in Mexico. The community immersion is also a chance for lesbian travelers to engage with some cultures that are traditionally not as welcoming to gay and lesbian travelers, says [Sweet CEO Shannon] Wentworth, adding that it’s an important opportunity for breaking down stereotypes and cultural barriers.

Also coming up is a Salmon River Rafting adventure -- with a strict no trace and no motors (not even electric toothbrushes!) policy -- and a Kenyan Safari that includes helping out at a Chimpanzee sanctuary and making school supply donations to a local school.

The women behind Sweet stand strong behind their sweet combo of travel and philahthropy. Ivette López Sisniega at Out Front Blog has an interview with CEO Shannon Wentworth:

We’re offsetting all of our carbon emissions, doing volunteer projects in the ports we visit and matching our guests’ philanthropic contributions. So far, the lesbian community loves the idea of a fun-filled vacation with a purpose.

Dana Rudolph at Mombian profiled Jen Rainin, one of the founders of Sweet:

For Rainin, though, the volunteer and social aspects of the cruise are not distinct. The travel experiences she likes best are when she has the opportunity to work with people she might not have met otherwise. “You end up making really quick and easy friendships with people who care about the same things you do,” she says. Sweet will give guests that opportunity, in addition to “representing lesbians in a really positive light throughout the world” and making the physical space better wherever they go,” says Rainin.

The Caribbean cruise starts at $1,099 per person -- or as little as $36 a month for 12 months through Sweet's no-extra-fees installment plan. Can't afford the big trips? Sweet also participates in lots of do-gooder events in San Francisco, from the AIDS walk to Dykes on Bikes. Subscribe to the Sweet blog to find out where you can find them next.

Related link: The Guide to GLBT Travel, written by fellow BlogHer contributing editor Pam of Nerd's Eye View
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel voted no on Prop 8. She blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

An Eco-conundrum: Eating local in a drought

2009-06-15T03:01:01-05:00

Eat local's the usual eco-foodie mantra, but that advice takes on a bittersweet edge when your state's in a drought. Sure, we can conserve at home -- but 80% of California's water goes to agriculture.

And that water's running out -- fast -- because we've been using way more water that our ecosystems will allow. In fact, the Pacific coast's salmon fishery's collapsing because we've pumped too much water -- which is why water deliveries to both farmers and urbanites have to be cut by about 5% to 7% annually now, according to the L.A. Times.

Those cuts mean major problems for California's farmers -- and the farmers are very angry, NPR reports. While drought's really the cause of, you know, the drought, many California farmers in the Westlands apparently blame the drought-related water rationing on the government's decision to "save the fish" in lieu of people's livelihoods.

Of course, if we don't save the fish, the livelihoods of people who depend on the fish will be hurt. In fact, 2009's already the second year Cali's state's salmon fleet's been banned from fishing off the coast in an effort to revive the fish population.

To many an environmentalist, the problem's not so much today's water rationing, but the choice to irrigate Cali's water-poor land in the first place. And now that we're running out of water -- with global climate change predicted to shrink our water supplies even further -- many are starting to ask if we should really continue growing water-intensive crops. CBS 5 recently reported on these changing attitudes:

There are over 500,000 acres of rice fields in California, with some people saying that's just too much water. Most of the crop will head not to America, but overseas to satisfy Asia's mighty appetite.

Sure, selling rice and other produce means money for California -- several billion dollars to the state economy, by NPR's count. According to the Water Education Foundation, "One out of every six jobs in California is tied to agriculture in some way, and many counties rely on agriculture as their primary economic activity." And Cali, with the biggest ag economy in the nation, sure grows a whole lot of produce -- the vast majority of U.S.'s produce, as Tom Philpott points out in Grist. As NPR describes it, "with a long summer of uninterrupted sunlight ... where the soil is good, it's almost like agriculture on steroids."

However, Tom also points out that Cali's very water poor. When it comes down to it, California's engaging in a dangerous virtual water trade -- exporting to other states and countries the water we desperately need here. For example, California wheat growers produce "an average of 1.1 million tons of winter wheat and 250000 tons of Desert Durum wheat" -- 300,000 metric tons of which is exported annually, according to the California Wheat Commission -- and I believe most of this wheat goes to feeding livestock. A pound of wheat requires 500 liters -- or 132 gallons -- of water. Check out Designer Timm Kekeritz' virtual water illustrations (sample below) to find out how much water goes into producing conventional food items.

This kind of unsustainable trade tends to be associated with "third world" countries exporting to Europe and the U.S. For example, water activists have drawn attention to the fact that Kenya's flower industry's poisoning and depleting Lake Naivasha -- probably permanently -- simply to deliver fresh flowers to European countries unwilling to compromise their own water supplies and natural resources for the same purpose. But clearly, developing countries aren't the only ones trading short-term financial gains for long term ecological collapse. We've been happily doing that right here in California for decades.

How can we stop this unsustainable practice? I don't think the solution's no longer buying local -- though I am beginning to rethink my Cali rice purchases. Partial solutions include growing some of your own food -- using captured rainwater or graywater, of course -- and getting to better know your local farmers so you can support the ones with better water-conservation policies.

New solutions too are in the pipeline. The L.A. Times reports that in Camarillo, there's a new eco-friendly super-greenhouse:

Workers have dug a four-acre pond to store rainwater and runoff. This water, along with condensation, is collected, filtered and recirculated back to each of the 20-acre greenhouses. That has cut water use to less than one-fifth of that required in conventional field cultivation.

The facility generates its own renewable power. It hoards rainwater... The plants, which are fed individually through tubing that looks like intravenous hospital equipment, produce 20 times more fruit per acre than in conventional field production.

Other ideas abound. Tom suggests, for example, a wholesale-level tax on water-poor counties, with half the money going back to farmers to transition to less water-intensive systems, the other half to rebuild local production across nation. A scarier proposition is desalination -- a troubling "solution" I'll cover in the next post.

For now, I'm interested in hearing what your thoughts are on our nation's water issues. Have you changed your buying or eating habits because of them? Do you have a proposed solution to this issue you support? Can you point the rest of us to info and resources so we can educate ourselves further on this issue? Please share your watery knowledge -- and questions -- in the comments.

Related links on food and water conservation:

>> Jenn at Tiny Choices shows you how to make a DIY self-watering plant contraption.

>> Jen DeRose at Re-Nest shows you an easy way to collect rain water for your garden.

>> Tracy Stokes at EcoStreet shows you how one woman recycled old gutters into a vertical garden.

>> GOOD illustrates where America's largest cities get their water, and what the water footprint of your daily choices are.

Top photo of a rice field in Sutter County, Calif. by calwest; bottom image via traumkrieger.de
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Why I'm not taking the train to BlogHer '09 -- but wish I were

2009-06-13T03:01:01-05:00

When I was planning for the last Blogher conference in Chicago in 2007, I had a bunch of people ask why I wasn't taking the train (answer: It took too long). This year, thanks to a new study, no one's asked me the train question -- yet.

Train trips aren't necessarily greener than plane trips, found Mikhail Chester and Arpad Horvath in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Their study (PDF) looked not just at the carbon emissions of trips themselves, but also the emissions created by the infrastructure needed for the travel modes (i.e. train stations) and the types of fuel used.

After all, even electric trains have huge carbon footprints if that electricity's created by burning coal. And if nighttime buses are running nearly empty, the per-passenger carbon footprint of your post-bar bus ride home's gonna be pretty big -- even bigger than that of an SUV.

Of course, this kind of finding doesn't simply mean that flying's the greenest way to travel -- or that you should drive your SUV to the bar. Besides the drunk driving issue, off-peak hour buses, even if never packed, give people the ability rely on public transportation for all their transit needs -- thereby taking more cars off the road and more people on the bus during peak hours.

Instead, this Berkeley study points to a need for smart urban planning. As Catherine Brahic of NewScientist's Environment blog reports:

Any government considering expanding its rail network should take into account the emissions it will generate in doing so, Chester says. Setting up a public transportation system that only a small proportion of the population uses could generate more emissions than it cuts, he adds – especially if trains and buses are not well connected....

"New rail systems should serve as links to other transit modes, as is often the case in Europe and Japan," he says. "We should avoid building rail systems that are disconnected from major population areas and require car trips and parking to access."

Basically, traveling by rail can be much greener -- if lots of people can get to the stations WITHOUT DRIVING -- and if we power electric trains with renewable energy. From a practical standpoint, the trains'll need to be faster too! In fact, a new HNTB's America THINKS survey found that Americans would love to travel by high speed rail:

More than half of Americans (54 percent) would choose modern high-speed trains over automobile (33 percent) and air travel (13 percent) if fares and travel time were about the same.

And thanks to Obama's commiting $8 billion to high speed rail, Americans could get what they want. Of course, lots of people still already love taking train trips, even if our trains aren't moving at high speeds yet. Amtrak's new ad tries to show why train travel can be a lot more relaxing than fighting car traffic or navigating airport security (via Streetsblog LA):

Alas -- while I'd like to travel in relaxedly on a train, I'd need to give up 4 work days (2 each way) to rail it to Chicago. Thus, Southwest it is -- but I eagerly await those high speed trains. How will you be getting to Chicago this year?
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Photo by Professor Bop

Travel light to save money, time, energy, and the environment

2009-06-07T17:17:25-05:00

Packed for Blogher ‘09 yet? Okay, it’s a little early for that — but
not too early for pre-packing tips. Think ahead to pack light, and
you’ll save money, time, energy, the environment — and your back!

Mo’ luggage, mo’ problems — from feeling cranky about lugging the
stuff to paying through the nose to hire a taxi instead of just hopping
on the L in Chicago. Pack light, and you’ll waste no more time arguing
with airport people about maximums, waiting for the baggage carousel,
or trying to fit overstuffed carryons into spaces that are just too
small.

You’ll save money too — on extra gas to move the extra weight, on
flight luggage fees, on hotel porter fees, and on travel funds in
general, since lighter bags mean you’ll be better able to opt for
public transportation instead of being forced to hire a taxi. Shedding
the weight will obviously be better for the environment — less fuel
spent moving stuff around — but that’s just icing on the cake.

So pack light and travel easy — with these tips:

1. Keep a collection of small bottles and containers.
Whether or not you’re dealing with anti-liquid laws on planes, having
these small bottles around will let you just squeeze into them just the
amount of shampoo and lotion you need for the trip. Why lug big heavy
bottles of liquid around — especially when any of that stuff can squish
or spill and create problems?

Little bottles and travel-sized toiletries can be easily bought, but
you can just as easily save sample containers you get for free. That’ll
save money — and eliminate unnecessary packaging waste too.

2. Don’t carry packaging. Got a new outfit for
Blogher? A new camera you’re saving to use at the first Blogher event?
Take the stuff out of its packaging before putting it in your luggage.
If your stuff needs padding, use your clothes strategically to pad the
stuff. If you’re afraid your nice shoes will get squished, use socks —
that you plan to wear during the trip — to retain their shape.

3. Pick a color scheme. If you pick a neutral base
color — say, black — for your travel wardrobe, you’ll be able to wear a
new cute outfit everyday without carrying a separate outfit for
everyday. This tactic will especially help you take fewer shoes — which
have to be most women’s biggest luggage space hogs. Follow Mimi at La Mimi’s advice: “Only take neutral colored shoes, because they will go with any outfit, regardless of the colors.”

Take basics in neutral colors too. Black pants will go with a
variety of tops and scarves — and people will notice the tops and
scarves a lot more than the pants, if you’re afraid someone will make
fun of you for wearing the same thing twice. As Earth Wind & Power blog
points out, “As long as you aren’t out rolling around in the mud or
stinking up your clothes, most things can be worn more than once.”

4. Don’t pack stuff you’re not gonna use. This
seems pretty obvious, except there’s some stuff I always take on trips
then don’t use. That would be workout clothes! I’m not alone in this —
Apparently, Sara at Cash on the Barrelhead has the same issue.

To be fair, I usually work out once — the first day — but just don’t
use the other 3 outfits I’ve brought for the subsequent days! There are
two ways to solve this dilemma: Don’t pack workout clothes — or work
out more. I’m gonna go for the second option for BlogHer this year — so
when you see me in the halls, ask me if I’m using the stuff I packed!

Other common things that get packed then not used are work-related
stuff, long books you couldn’t get around to reading at home but
thought you’d somehow find the time to read during a really busy
conference, and again, shoes.

5. Pack the usable reusables. A collapsible
reusable bag, a cute reusable water bottle or coffee mug — These are
things that’ll come in handy — as well as reduce luggage and save you
money. No more buying plastic bottles at the airport when you can fill
up free at the water fountain!
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Last but not least — Keep in mind that fitting everything into one
bag is not quite the same thing as packing light. First of all, the bag
you choose needs to not be gargantuan. Second, you don’t want to pack
the thing so tight so its weight’s more than you can handle
comfortably. If you’ve fit everything into a bag that’ll fit into a
plane’s overhead compartment, AND it’s light enough that you can lift
it over your head to put it in said overhead compartment with relative
ease, you’re good to go to Blogher.

Got more light and eco packing tips? Share them in the comments!

Photo by Perfecto Insecto

Green & easy airport travel

2009-06-07T14:10:08-05:00

If you're flying to BlogHer '09, you've probably already bought your round trip ticket to Chicago -- and thus committed to spewing a lot of carbon by taking that flight. No I'm not judging -- I'm flying too, and later this month, I'll write about greening flights as much as possible. But this post's about greening pre-flight!

Besides eco-issues, getting to the airport in a car can be annoying for other reasons. Driving your own car and parking at the airport for a weekend can get costly -- and trying to arrange a friend drive you can be a hassle, especially if your flight takes off really early, really late, or during business hours. Luckily, airport travel's getting greener in many cities -- and most airports have multiple great eco-friendly options that're quite convenient too:

Public transportation: Bus or rail's usually the cheapest option for getting to the airport. If I take my local Big Blue Bus, I can get to the airport for just 75 cents! Compare that to about $40 via taxi.

The downside to this method's that many towns don't have robust public transportation systems -- especially early in the morning or late at night -- so in some places, going by public transportation can take significantly longer. In addition, if you're on a longer trip that requires more luggage, the travel process can be cumbersome -- especially if you have to make multiple transfers.

On the other hand, if you don't have much luggage and are close to a direct bus or rail line to the airport, travel by public transportation can actually be a lot less stressful than driving. Especially lucky are those close to rail lines; you'll avoid rush hour traffic jams entirely!

Shuttles: In L.A., we have a few different options. A Flyaway shuttle that costs $6 a trip ferries people from 3 different spots around town to the airport -- which is convenient if you live close to one of those 3 spots. A couple more expensive shuttles like Primetime will pick you up and drop you off at your residence -- but cost about $20 a trip.

Many cities have similar shuttle services. Usually, I'll take the Flyaway to get to the airport if I'm flying during normal daylight hours, but will opt for Primetime if I need to get to the airport rather early or late.

Eco-friendly taxis and cars: In cities like New York and San Francisco, hybrid taxis are becoming commonplace. L.A. too has a couple eco-friendly cab companies -- Taxi Taxi and Eurotaxi -- that use hybrid or biodiesel taxis.

In the San Francisco Bay and New England areas, you can hire PlanetTran, an eco-friendly transportation service to the airport. PlanetTran uses a mostly-Prius fleet -- equipped with wifi! Bianca of The Green Girls recently took a ride with PlanetTran:

However, eco-friendly taxis and cars aren't necessarily greener than, say, driving your own Prius to the airport. Group travel's generally the greener way to go.

So -- What are the eco-friendly ways to get to the airport in your 'hood? And how will you be getting to your local airport for BlogHer '09?

Photos by Siel
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Bicycling safety: How not to collide with cars or people

2009-05-30T08:42:42-05:00

Too scared to bike? It's true -- Bicycling infrastructure in most U.S. cities are rather inadequate, with roads made for cars and cyclists considered as an afterthought, if at all.

But do you know what, besides waiting for long-term infrastructure changes, can make roads safer for bicyclists? That would be more bicyclists! More cyclists means fewer accidents, reports Wired: "According to a study by researchers at the University of New South Wales, the number of collisions decreases as the number of bicycles in traffic increases. It sounds like a paradox, they say, but motorists are more likely to drive carefully and respectfully when there are more cyclists on the road.”

So get yourself and your friends on a bike! Bicycles are by far the most popular transportation vehicle in the world -- and while we should all be pushing for better local bike infrastructure in our 'hoods, you don't have to wait for your town to turn into a biketopia to take advantage of the convenience and fun -- plus the health, financial, and environmental benefits -- of biking.

To put your fears at ease, educate yourself on bike safety. Start with these 10 Tips on How to Not Get Hit by Cars at BicycleSafe.com. Even if you're a relatively experience bicyclist, the tips are really worth a read -- because I see bicyclists NOT following these simple tips all the time.

Perhaps the most counterintutive tip is that you should ride CLOSER to the lane of moving cars to your left than to the parked cars on your right. You're much more likely to get injured by getting doored by someone getting out of the car than by a car hitting you from behind.

The whole article a rather funny read -- if you share my sense of humor. Many of the statements are so obvious as to seem unnecessary -- i.e. "helmets might help ... but your #1 goal should be to avoid getting hit in the first place" -- but are in fact necessary because of the complete lack of bicycle safety education in most parts of the U.S.

After that, if you still feel shaky, consider taking a bicycle safety class. The League of American Cyclists keeps a calendar of upcoming bike safety classes around the U.S. Check there to see if a class is happening near you -- or look for your local bicycle advocacy organization to find out about local safety classes. Many of these classes will give you hands-on, on-the-streets bike safety training so you can practice your safe biking ways before hitting the streets on your own.

If you're in New York, you're lucky -- Sue Freeman of the New York Outdoors Blog reports that the New York Bicycling Coalition's just launched Bike Walk 2010, a 3-year state-wide program to help keep pedestrians and cyclists safe -- as well as prevent them from running into each other.

For current bicycle safety and advocacy news across the U.S., you can also stop by the Bicycle Advocacy and Safety Blog, written by Freemason Cyclists in Iowa, or the Bike Commute Tips Blog by Paul Dorn in Sacramento, Calif. Both blogs pull the latest news from around the country to discuss trends, policies, issues, challenges, and victories that have to do with biking safely and happily.

And lastly, back to helmets: I strongly suggest wearing one; I do all the time. But if only the law will determine whether or not you'll put a geeky-looking-but-safe headgear on, find out what the helmet laws are in your state.

Photo by M J M
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel took a bicycling safety class -- but slept through the on-the-road training portion the next day. She blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Discover One-Mile-Radius Living

2009-05-25T13:30:53-05:00

If you've ever considered driving less -- or even getting rid of your car altogether -- you've probably experienced de-car-ing anxiety: The fear that you'll no longer have the freedom to do the stuff you think you love to do. What if I want to ditch my health kick and make a midnight run to Target for a cheap gallon ice cream? How will I get to Wal-Mart on a whim to buy that bargain plastic doohickey that'll break in a month? Why should I give up the ability to make impulse buys that blow my recession budget and fill me with regret later?

Alright, alright -- There are more legitimate reasons for getting in the car too (though I must point out that many de-car'd people report huge money savings, not just from car, gas, insurance, and maintenance payments but also from an unexpected but natural decrease in regrettable impulse buys). But the car could also be keeping you stuck, holding you back from discovering great alternatives -- like the local candy and ice cream store or nearby Goodwill (excellent place to find plastic doohickeys for prices cheaper than Wal-Mart's!) -- in walking distance of you!

That, basically, is the reason website developer Kathryn Benedicto decided to pursue One-Mile Radius Living -- finding walkable spots in her 'hood to get the same things she was driving long distances to get. Kathryn says she got her idea after realizing that her driving habits kept her thinking like a car commuter even when she wasn't commuting!

When I was a regular commuter, the stores I knew about were mostly along my commute path, and I’d often stop by on the way home from work. But on weekends, I’d mindlessly get in my car and drive to those same stores, because they were the only ones I knew. I’d remain blissfully ignorant of similar stores that were within walking distance but that I’d never driven by. I suspect many commuters fall into the same trap.

No one likes fighting traffic -- So why relegate yourself to a 7-day commute when 5 days create enough suffering on their own? Kathryn decided to figure out what she could get locally -- then started walking there instead.

This simple One-Mile-Radius Living trick can "help cut your expenses, keep you physically fit, reduce global warming, and help build community, all at the same time." Just map out a 1-mile radius using WalkScore or Google Maps (which has a special tab for walking directions), check out what amenities exist in that area, then start walking to those places!

Of course, the One-Mile-Radius lifestyle will be easier for those living in more dense urban areas. Still, the idea isn't about limiting yourself only to the stuff within a mile radius; it's about getting stuff within that radius if you can. Aldra Robinson of Consciously Frugal notes that we often miss the great stuff that's right in our backyards:

I lived in my current location for three years before I realized that there was a small wetlands area within walking distance. Of course, I spent that entire three years bitching about how I didn't have enough green space in my uber urban environment. Perhaps if I had been less of a lazy tool and a little more pro-active in getting to know my neighborhood, I wouldn't have had such complaints.

Aldra's since discovered much to love in Long Beach, Calif.:

Despite fierce gentrification efforts that have shoved big box and chain stores down our throats, there are still dozens of locally owned shops and artists surrounding my abode. Had I not bothered to get off my duff and out of my car, I never would have discovered the gem that is my city.

The lesson here: Even if you don't think your 'hood's all that walkable, take a good long look at what's around you first BEFORE complaining there's nothing and giving up. Abhishek Mukherjee of Shek's Footprint says his neighborhood scored just 20 out of 100 on WalkScore -- meaning that his town's not very walker-friendly -- yet he's been inspired by the One-Mile-Radius Living idea and has managed to go car-free for 5 months! His advice is not to stress about stuff you can't do, but to discover what you can -- and to extend the eco-travel range with a bicycle:

Most people usually live close to a park, a grocery store, a restaurant, a bakery or a coffee shop. Starting small opens up a huge plethora of places and businesses one can commute on a bicycle.

Jesse at Philly Eco City was luckier, finding 9+ restaurants, 4 gyms, and even a hardware-home center within a mile radius. Jesse shares a handy Google hack to help you with your own One-Mile-Radius Living:

Google maps is great if you are looking for one single type of store in your neighborhood – say: all the Pharmacies. You would Google: “Pharmacy near ..256 Elm Street….”

Ready to try One-Mile-Radius Living yourself? First find out your own Walkscore -- all you have to do is plug in your zip code -- and share in the comments what cute spots you've discovered near you -- and plan to start frequenting!

Top photo by chego101; bottom screenshot via Walkscore
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel found a favorite cupcake shop and a great dentist in walking distance. She also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Mariel's Kitchen: A Simple green cookbook for the new eco-foodie

2009-05-23T11:47:40-05:00

"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants" is The Omnivore Dilemma author Michael Pollan's simple, haiku-esque advice for healthy, sustainable eating. But even doing just a little research into sustainable food can bombard you with all sorts of complicated advice -- and conundrums (Local or organic? Frozen or fresh?) -- that could tempt newbie eco-foodies throw up their hands and gorge on Twinkies....

A new friendly, and non-preachy cookbook by Mariel Hemingway could help. The actress-author's latest book, Mariel's Kitchen: Simple Ingredients for a Delicious and Satisfying Life, lays out the simple basics for tasty, sustainable food -- plus the tips and recipes to make the yummy food yourself.

Divided by the seasons, Mariel's Kitchen's very much about eating local, in-season farmers' market produce. Each season gets a few recipes each for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snacks. Plus, the pages are peppered with eco-friendly advice, including a "The Green Kitchen Challenge" you can adopt for yourself. Here's Mariel's take on meat, which I strongly agree with:

Spending more on meat, dairy, and fish from better sources and eating it far less often, as humans historically have done, is more sustainable all around.

In general, Mariel's recipes aren't weird health food recipes -- They're recipes for real food with real ingredients. That said, in the cookbook's intro, Mariel reveals that she used to have depressing and "obsessive thoughts about eating" -- an admission that colored the book a bit for me. I felt at times that Mariel's advice seems a bit too restrictive -- with a few odd quirks.

Sure, we can all agree that processed food, artificial preservatives and chemicals are unnecessary, and that too much caffeine and sugar can be unhealthy But Mariel's super vigilant about cutting out caffeine and sugar altogether -- her sweetener of choice is Xylosweet -- and advises "no wheat, and minimal grains in general."

On top of that, Mariel says she's queasy even about organic dairy products and is cutting back on those too. Oddly, Mariel has a fondness for whey protein isolate -- which I consider a processed "diet food" I'd never buy, and a strange recommendation in general considering Mariel's issues with dairy -- and uses it in many of her recipes.

Of course, whether or not you find this advice restrictive or quirky is largely dependent on your current diet. And in general, Mariel's foodie advice is still relatively flexible -- rice flour can be substituted with wheat, soy milk substituted with cow milk -- and Mariel advises you to adapt them to suit your needs.

Many of the quick and easy salad dressings sound delicious -- and can be whipped up easily at the fraction of the cost of buying them in the store. Mariel even has a vegan healthy ranch dressing made with tofu -- and sugar-free ketchup for those who want to avoid the high fructose corn syrup in Heinz's stuff.

If you're in L.A., you can see Mariel Hemingway in person -- plus nibble on organic yummies from M Cafe -- at her book launch party, happening Tues., May 26 from 7 pm - 9 pm at Intuition, 10581 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Buy her book there are 20% of the money will go to the Green Youth Movement. RSVP to greenyouthmovement@gmail.com.

Get naked, or get angry -- for a better commute

2009-05-18T13:11:58-05:00

If you celebrated Bike to Work Week last week, maybe you've already met Beth Terry's challenge to go car-free for a week! If you didn't, here's the upside: World Naked Bike Ride is just around the corner!

Yep, people are getting naked to exhibit their love of bicycles come June 13, 2009. Events are happening all over the country -- Check to see if your city's bicyclists dare to bare.

Why ride naked? Here's the reason, according to the World Naked Bike Ride website:

We face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our dignity and exposing the unique dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians as well as the negative consequences we all face due to dependence on oil, and other forms of non-renewable energy.

Sign up for the attention-getting bike ride "if you’re into exhibitionism for the sake of a cause (although full nudity is not required)," says M.J. Prest at Ethical Style -- who doesn't disclose in her post whether or not she plans to strip for the cause.... I have been spared the need to make a decision because there's no plans for an event in Los Angeles -- at least not yet --

A somewhat less exhibitionist way of greening your commute comes by way of My Commute Sucks, a new project of Transportation for America that wants to let people vent about their horrid commutes -- then to organize to fix the transportation bill (via autopia).

At first glance, My Commute Sucks seems kind of vague -- which made me a little fearful that the site was simply pushing for more roads and freeways -- a "solution" that's never worked in the fast because new roads and freeways fill up as quickly as we build them. The site encourages people to send a note to their senators and representative, but the message -- "My commute sucks and it's not getting any better. Stop pouring billions into a broken system. Transportation shouldn't be an expensive, dirty burden. Fix it, clean it, make it work!" -- doesn't even suggest a solution.

However, if you delve into the Learn More section of the site, it's clear that My Commute Sucks supports better, cleaner solutions. Here are the site's more specific complaints:

Our congested roads have lanes added to them - yet promptly fill up again. More and more people are riding the train and bus, yet service is being cut. Biking has never been more popular, but it seems our streets have never been more difficult or dangerous to use.

Those complaints point to a need for more funding going to mass transit and bicycle infrastructure -- goals environmentalists can agree with. My Commute Sucks wants us to get involved to "ensure we're investing in the best projects - those that can build communities, make neighborhoods safer, and move people in the cleanest and most efficient ways."

Ready for a new clean and pleasant commute? Sign up for a bike ride (naked or not), join My Commute Sucks, and for inspiration, read up on all the great de-car-ing advice doled out by green-thinking bloggers everywhere during Bike to Work Week. A couple of note:

>> Tracy Stokes of Ecostreet celebrated Bike to Work Week in South Africa -- despite the fact that the week's really a U.S. event! "Even though I am almost 13,000 kilometres from where the Bike to Work action has been happening this week, I couldn’t help but get caught up in the thrill of hitting the road on my bicycle, wind in my hair, mud spatter on my face," she writes. In her roundup post she has cool bike videos, links to blog posts that discuss the whys and how-tos of biking to work, and highlights of cool bike accessories.

>> For those who like to stay at the forefront of green bike innovations: Alternative Consumer highlights MOOF Bicycle -- a single speed street cruiser with solar head and tail lights!

Image via worldnakedbikeride.org
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel bikes with her clothes on and blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

Radical uncluttering: Getting rid of stuff in search of new adventures

2009-05-16T11:43:46-05:00

Seek adventure and freedom? Willing to give up everything you own to bring those things in your life? No? Well then you can at least experience those things vicariously via intrepid people who are de-stuff-ing their lives so they can travel light and free in pursuit of new adventures.

Meet Laura Crawford and Russ Roca of The Path Less Pedaled -- a jewelry maker and photographer who are freeing themselves of the stuff that weighs them down -- to travel by bike!

Paring down their lives to just what will fit on two bicycles, Laura and Russ are embarking on an extended bike tour throughout the US and beyond – with the goal of connecting with and collecting the stories of people who followed a calling to live their lives in unique ways.

The Path Less Pedaled's the two's blog, documenting both their journey and those of other "lives less ordinary – independent artisans and makers, small business proprietors, community activists and more." In fact, if you consider your life less ordinary, contact the bicycling duo, who are actively seeking stories. You could become part of The Path Less Pedaled's journey and story!

Currently, Laura and Russ are still at their Long Beach apartment, slowly getting rid of their stuff by giving it away to charity, selling it on Craigslist, and seeking stuff-takers on their blog. Anyone want a very cute Eeyore, who's been Laura's friend for a decade?

This "get rid of all your stuff and follow your own adventure" dealio isn't just a bizarro idea dreamed up by crazy Californians. Meet Megan Deal, a graphic designer in Detroit and the brains behind Pay no less than $.01, a site described as "one part stoop sale and one part personal experiment" (via Mickipedia). Like Laura and Russ, Megan's getting rid of almost all of her stuff -- everything except what'll fit into 1 bag (it's unclear how big this single bag is).

Why? Megan's moving to Greensboro, Alabama come June 1 to work with a community-oriented design lab located on the campus of Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization, which "supports sustainable housing development and positive change for over 400 families a year in impoverished Hale County." Writes Megan: "In preparation for total immersion into the Greensboro community, I am selling everything that I own.... By ridding myself of these possessions, I aim to both lighten my travel load and remove the obtrusive clutter from my everyday life."

Visit Pay no less than $.01 to browse what Megan's selling -- and for the chance to own some of it. The items range from the eco-useful -- like a stainless steel thermos -- to somewhat less utilitarian stuff like "three incredibly small and useless glasses" or a single fat knitting needle. You can then make a donation of your choosing for the object of your desire -- those outside Detroit will need to negotiate shipping fees -- with the money going to Megan's travel and living expenses.

Laura, Russ, and Megan aren't the first to use the web for their radical stuff-cleanse. Back in 2001, one John Freyer launched Allmylifeforsale.com, which catalogued his sell-off of almost everything he owned on eBay -- down to the domain name Allmylifeforsale.com itself, snapped up by the University of Iowa, Museum of Art. John not only sold his stuff but tracked them, asking for follow-up stories from buyers and even going on a road trip to visit some of them -- before publishing a book about his work.

You may not be as radical as these three -- but you may still be interested in getting more enjoyment out of life by getting rid of "stuff" that weighs you down -- a move that also has nice environmental benefits. Some links to help you on your de-stuff-ing adventures:

>> Unclutterer. Erin Doland's the editor in chief of this blog, which is "about streamlining your space and your possessions so that you can be more efficient at work and enjoy a more relaxing and serene environment at home."

>> 29 Gifts. Created by Cami Walker, 29 Gifts lets you sign up to simply give one thing away each day for 29 days. I've taken this challenge -- twice!

>> Tiny Choices. Karina Tipton and Jenn Sturiale have lots of tiny tips for streamlining your life both for your sanity and for the environment. The girls encourage you to pack light and pack smart while traveling, just like Laura, Russ, and Megan!

Top two photos via pathlesspedaled.com; screenshot via goodbyewafflemaker.com
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel will be giving away a couple bags on Freecycle today. She also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.

An Electric idea: Better Place's mean green car grid

2009-05-11T17:47:52-05:00

Want a free electric car you can charge up for less than the cost of gas? That's what could happen if Better Place, an electric vehicles services provider, gets its way to redefine the way we buy, maintain, and fuel our cars. Here's Better Place's idea, as WIRED magazine describes it:

Drivers could plug in anywhere, anytime, and would subscribe to a specific plan—unlimited miles, a maximum number of miles each month, or pay as you go—all for less than the equivalent cost for gas. They'd buy their car from the operator, who would offer steep discounts, perhaps even give the cars away. The profit would come from selling electricity—the minutes.

Drivers would either plug in to a charging spot if they're gonna be parked for a while -- or quickly swap out an empty battery for a full one if they're in a rush. The exact details of what the plans would look like are still up in the air, but Better Place is quickly striking deals all over the world in its quest to replace gas guzzlers with clean electric vehicles, and gas stations with an electric battery-replacement and charging grid. Already, Better Place has cut deals to roll out in California and Hawaii, as well as Israel, Denmark, Australia, and Canada.

That electric optimism got Better Place's Israeli founder and CEO Shai Agassi named one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people of 2009. While the company's headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Israel was the first country to partner with Better Place -- and now has the first plugged in parking lot at Cinema City mall in Pi-Glilot.

Last week, I got to visit that station to see how it all worked -- and to take a ride in an all-electric Renault! The charge stations basically look like short posts, which you can park in front of and plug in using a simple cord. The electric Renault's a smooth ride with a lot of power -- The car, according to WIRED, is set to be on the Israeli market by 2011 and will be able to "go from 0 to 60 in a respectable 7.5 seconds."

The Renault likely won't be Better Place's only option; the company's in talks with a number of car companies. TIME reports that Agassi's goal's that no more gas-powered cars will be sold in Israel come 2015. When do you think we'll see the end of gas-powered cars in the U.S.?

Related links:
>> Shai Agassi keeps his own not-so-regularly updated blog, The Long Tailpipe.

>> Jane Clayson interviews Shai Agassi on NPR's On Point.

>> Katie Fehrenbacher at Earth2Tech explains why some in the industry are skeptical about Better Place's battery swap technology.
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BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs at greenLAgirl.com.