"The Green Lady"

So I went to a baby shower a couple weekends ago, and was happily surprised at a nickname someone called me. Being the eco-conscious person that I am, I gladly purchased a kit of "Babyganics" non-toxic cleaning products for the mom-to-be. After opening my gift, someone asked who it was from, "the green lady" my friend responded. Even I was left wondering who this "green lady" was, thinking it was the creator behind the product. A moment later she clarified, "Jen," and a smile appeared on my face. I'm "the green lady." How cool is that? Honestly, I have a long way to go to truely be honored with the title "the green lady" yet my friends have noticed the little differences I've made to be Earth friendly. It really goes to show you that no matter how small of an effort you make, others take notice, and hopefully are influenced to make changes too.
I felt that the non-toxic cleaning products were one of the most important gifts I could give the mom-to-be & baby. There are an alarming amount of pollutants inside our homes, often more so than in the air outside! Can you imagine that the air we breathe in our homes can be more toxic than outdoors? The first thing we can do to reduce indoor air pollution is to throw away all the toxic chemicals in the house - but be sure to dispose of them safely. Contact your local waste department for drop-off locations for hazardous waste(oven cleaner, acetone/polish remover, aerosol cans, batteries, insecticides, etc) For Tempe, check out this site: http://www.tempe.gov/hhw/we_accept.htm Replace your hazardous waste with non-toxic cleansers like "Babyganics" or make your own with basic ingredients like baking soda, lemon juice, white vinegar, even water!

Great Poem

Carpe, Carpe
by J.D. Smith
I'm sawing off the limb I'm on.
A cartoon in a three-D scene,
I'm on this branch until it's gone,

Like men who dam where salmon spawn
To keep a desert golf course green.
They're sawing off the limb they're on,

As I've shirked sleep, as if élan
Were made of rye and nicotine.
I'm on this branch until it's gone,

But poison weeds and feed the lawn
And hope my drinking water's clean,
Still sawing off the limb I'm on,

And sprinting in a marathon
Whose finish line is still unseen.
I'm on that branch until it's gone.

Why work when there are rings to pawn?
We'll live off fat, and then on lean.
I'm sawing off the limb I'm on.
I'm on this branch until it's gone.

Scrutinize labels!

I currently attend MCC, and have found that Environmental Biology to be very helpful in understanding human impact on the earth. I've learned more about plants, farming, pesticide use, pollution, etc. and it renews my motivations for living sustainably. I am encouraged to recycle, compost, use chemical-free products in my home and buy chemical-free food to put in my body. I know that buying something labeled "organic" may mean that some approved chemicals may still exist in the product. We have to really scrutinize the labeling on anything we buy. Marketing people know exactly what to put on a label in order to influence our buying habits. Don't fall for the fake-out false claims. Know what you are buying, educate yourself on what claims are legitimate. "Cage-free" doesn't mean chickens are running around pastures in the sun. In order for an egg carton to claim "cage-free" on the package, the chickens just have to have "access" to an open area. That could mean that 5 minutes a day, the chicken coop is opened....the chicken may not even go through the door. What you really need to look for is "PASTURED" chickens. That literally means the chickens are raised on grass fields, which is the most humane environment, and in turn creates the healthiest chickens. This means meat that is healthier for us, and eggs that are higher in omega3's and nutrients. You may have to shop local farmer's markets to find them - ASK the farmer directly (or whomever is there representing the farm).

Where to start?

The hardest thing is to do is find the motivation to make changes in your life. For me, living a more sustainable lifestyle did not happen overnight. I can honestly say it is an ongoing process, and that even after a year, I still have plenty more I can do. I started off small and luckily, the more I've learned about sustainable living, the more reasons I find to make changes. The book, In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan really opened my eyes to where our food comes from, how it is processed, and what constitues "real food." I decided to go vegetarian after reading it, also because I wanted to lose weight before my wedding (I did lose 10lbs). Vegetarianism only lasted until the wedding, unfortunately, and then I was an omnivore again, woo!

It's important not to get overwhelmed with all the things you "should" do. Start small and work your way up. Just one small change will make a difference, whether you realize it or not. For example, if you want to start by buying organic food, start in the produce section. Start with "The Dirty Dozen," which are the 12 foods that should be purchased organic whenever possible due to the high chemical residues (pesticides, fungicides) that remain on them. Peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes.

Check this site for great info: http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-206