Climate change: we're asking the wrong question

I've read stuff on why it's clear that the Earth's climate is definitely changing.

And I've read stuff on why it's clear the Earth's climate is definitely not changing.

And I've read stuff on why the Earth's climate may be changing, but it's a natural cycle not caused by human actions and nothing to worry about.

And you know what I think?

I think that we (as in, all of humanity) don't know as much as we think we know. We don't know why gravity works or what's in most of the ocean or why dogs wag their tails when they're happy. And I don't think we've got the climate all figured out, so I'm kind of a climate change agnostic.



Know what else I think?

I think we're asking the wrong question. Don't misunderstand: I'm glad that there are scientists and experts out there studying whether our planet is getting warmer or colder or staying the same and why.

But, regardless of their findings, when it comes to taking good care of this planet we live on, most of us could do better. We (as in, probably you reading this and definitely me) have room to improve in the way we manage our own resources - saving energy or driving less often or reducing the amount of stuff we throw out each week. And doesn't making things better globally almost always start with individual choices?

What if, instead of arguing about climate change, we focused on changing our own habits? What if we stopped wasting time debating minutiae and started finding ways to be less wasteful?

No matter how you answer the question Is climate change man-made? don't let that keep you from asking yourself: What changes am I making?

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Photos by me.

Playing with dough

It's almost too late for me to tell you this...today is National Play Doh Day!


For a moment, let's forget the impossibility of removing it from the carpet and focus on the good times. Because I don't think it's (ever) too late to celebrate the fun that is little fingers squishing colorful dough, rolling snakes, making "food" and inviting you to eat some, and then smashing it flat and starting over again.

It doesn't have to be the brand-name kind, either. You can make your own. (If you're brave, check out Julie Finn's Play Dough Eight Ways, the first of which is Sawdust Dough!) Or you can get an alternative like Miss Brittany's Organic Preschool Fun Dough.


The main thing is providing an outlet for children to exercise their imaginations, work on their motor skills, enjoy just being kids - and maybe you can play along too!


P.S. You can get 20% off the aforementioned Miss Brittany's with promo code NPD09. And, no, they aren't paying me to say that. They just sent me an email, and I thought I'd pass the info on, in case you were interested.

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Photos:
1) By Diane S Murphy
2) Courtesy Miss Brittany's Organic Preschool Fun Dough
3) By Yogi

Digital Switchover Casualties

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Photo by The Hubs. | More Wordless Wednesday.

Green washing

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Photos by me. | More Wordless Wednesday.

Our role on earth: guests, renters, stewards?

Writing about Earth Day reminded me of a blog post I read awhile back on Just Kat Stuff about Natural Responsibility. Kat was saying she thinks of us as guests here on earth. We should take what we need from the planet without trashing the place - be the best houseguests we can be. I thought it was a good metaphor.

Then the Hubs and I went out to lunch with some friends, somehow the subject came up, and I brought up what I read. They felt like the houseguest picture wasn't totally accurate, like it would leave us treading a little too lightly. No, we shouldn't trash the place. But didn't God give us the task of ruling over the earth? Aren't we free to use the planet's resources - in a responsible way? I could see what they were saying. But when I asked what metaphor they think would be more accurate, they didn't have an answer. (By the way, I'm not trying to put down Kat's post at all - just looking at different viewpoints.)

"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" So I don't know that we can get all "I OWN this place!" 'Cuz I don't think we do, really. Are we renters with a landlord who's cool if we paint or even do a little remodeling - just don't be destructive?


Then I started thinking about the word steward. Kind of a funny word. Other than people saying you should "be a good steward" of our stuff, natural resources, etc., we don't use that word a lot. In fact, I couldn't really link of another context we would use that word nowadays. When I was a kid, there were stewards and stewardesses on airplanes. (Not sure why they were called that.) But now they're all flight attendants. Which is simpler. As I searched my memory for modern uses of the word, what kept interrupting my thoughts was "the Steward of Gondor" from final movie in the The Lord of the Rings trilogy.


Do you need a recap? The kingdom of Gondor has a steward instead of a king. I didn't read the books (started the first one, didnt' make it through. Sorry.), so I don't really know why. But, I think that had gone on for generations - steward after steward while they wait for The Return of the King (hence the title of the movie). Anyway, the steward can make decisions, build cities, send troops to war, be a really sloppy eater without anyone saying anything, etc. But he's just in power until the king comes back, so he reeeally shouldn't abusing that power.

My question is - do you think we're something like that? OK, not like the guy in the movie, who was definitely a bad steward. Is our role as steward something like that? We're in charge, but we're not the true King, so let's rule in a way he would approve of. If we need to build something - a campfire or a city - let's take only what we need to do it. There's no reason to clear cut whole forests, especially creepy old ones where trees have minds of their own, right? Are you following me still?

How do you think of our relationship to the earth? Are we guests or renters or something else? I'm still mulling this one over, and I'd love to know what you think.

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Photos by me.

Save money, go green, do good

It's Earth Day, and I know that doesn't mean the same thing for everyone reading this. But, if you read on, you'll find links to tips for saving money, enjoying nature, helping others and sharing your opinion. In fact, I think there's something here for just about everyone. So, read on, explore, and let me know what you think!


Saving the planet some cash

• 40 Ways to Go Greener at Home (Besides Just Recycling) - SimpleMom starts out the post with "I’m not into politics, but I am into good stewardship." She goes on to list "small, easy, green choices" that will also cut down on your household expenses. (Link from @sortacrunchy - thanks for sharing!)
  
• Earth Day: Even more tips on going green to save some green - Consumer Reports offers money-saving tips for cars and electronics, as well as Earth Day freebies.
• International Dark Sky Week - Tonight (or sometime this week), take some time to turn off the lights, tv, and other plugged-in, power-bill-running-up glowing things and enjoy looking at the stars. (Also found through Twitter, this time via @ArizonaTourism.)

Organic clothing

• Earth Day sale alternative - Instead of marking things down in my shop for Earth Day, I'm donating to Heifer International's project for Biodiversity and Agroecology for Food Security in Peru. For each organic apparel item (t-shirts and onesies) you buy today, I'll donate $1 to this fund, which helps farmers learn to grow crops in ways that provide food for years to come. Have you had your eye on an organic tee? Making your purchase today will help make a difference in Peru!
  
• Still not sure about this organic apparel stuff? Sound off on my "Why wear organic clothing?" page under "What do you think about organic clothing?" Whether you're for, against, or on the fence, I'd love to hear it!
  

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Nature photos by me.

T-shirt: Gardening Organic Cotton Tee.

What's the deal with organic apparel?

I have to admit that way back when I first heard about organic clothing, I thought it was a bunch of hype. I mean, food is one thing. But, unless you're a goat, I doubt you'll be ingesting that cotton t-shirt.

When I heard the supplier for my t-shirt shop was going to be offering a wider array of organic apparel, I thought I'd better figure out what the deal was.

Here's the bottom line: Pesticides are icky. And do you know what gets a TON of pesticide dumped on it? Cotton. Cotton farmed using conventional (non-organic) methods uses more pesticide per square foot than any other crop. (Yikes!!)

Producing one t-shirt typically uses 1/3 lb. of agricultural chemicals. So purchasing an organic tee keeps 1/3 lb. of chemicals out of our air and water supply. Which is nice.

Honestly, I've kind of changed my mind on the subject. I'm going to make more of an effort to buy organic clothing when I can. I know that won't be true of everyone, so I'll continue to carry non-organic tees, etc. in my shop, but I'm excited to be able to offer more quality organic options - including women's tees.

You can see a full list of my new offerings and find out about the introductory discount I'm offering on my Bold Avenue blog.

Of socks and snot

I saw three fabulous tips on ParentHacks that were all related to winter weather, runny noses and socks.

If you have kids, check these out:

• Cut-off sock "leg warmers" keep sleeves snot-free
• Old tube socks protect exposed wrists from snow
• Oversize long-sleeved shirt as parental snot guard

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Photo (of more adorable baby feet!) by majorbonnet.

What to do with chewed up cups

Kids gnawing on their sippy cups again?

Don't toss them! (The sippy cups, I mean.) (But don't toss the kids either!)

I saw a great tip on Parent Hacks: Turn chewed-up sippy cups into kitchen dispenser bottles.

Simple, yet brilliant!

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Photo by me.

Arizona heat

They say that once you live in Arizona awhile, your blood gets thinner.

I mentioned that bit of local "wisdom" - and the fact that I'm not sure it's true - to an engineering student from India. She paused for a moment, and then replied, "I suppose, thermodynamically speaking, that would be correct." Um....okay.



Whatever happens thermodynamically, the fact is that pretty much anyone who's been through an Arizona summer no longer can tolerate the cold as much. You can move here from the frozen reaches of upper Michigan in May, and, by fall, you'll be reaching for your jacket if temperatures dip below 65 degrees.

Which explains (to those of you in cooler climes) why people in Phoenix have and use central heating. Our next door neighbor asked us how often we turned our heater on last year, and it was often enough I wasn't sure.



That got the Hubs and I thinking that maybe we could get by with using it less often. Last year the Hubs bought me a space heater. This year we started using it a whole lot more. In fact, we didn't even turn the main heater on until Thursday when a friend was coming over with her little girl.


We use the space heater in the room we're in. Or we put on an extra layer. In the morning I come downstairs all wrapped up in a blanket, and it's pretty cozy. During the day, we open the blinds and let the sunshine in.


We're saving energy, saving money, cuddling more, and everyone wins!

Obviously, this minimally-turning-on-the-heater thing may not be the best solution for everyone. But it was an adjustment we could make. Maybe there's something else that, if you just thought about it, you could adjust too.


P.S. I was going to do another post about recycling, but I decided to mix it up a bit. More recycling beyond the bin will be the subject of a future PSBN post.

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Photos by me. The one of the Hubs was taken last week right before he left for work.

Recycling beyond the bin!

So let's say you've been re-purposing what you can and tossing what you can into your recycling bin, but there's still more you'd like to see recycled or re-used in some way.


Here are some ideas:

• Donate to the community garage sale to help women in Burundi (Africa).
  
• Check with a zoo near you to see if anything you have fits their wishlist. (The Phoenix Zoo's list includes items you never would have thought of, i.e. sheets for orangutans to play in.)

• Dry cleaners will take hangers.
• Many grocery stores now have places to drop off plastic bags for recycling or will allow you to bring in and re-use old plastic bags (of course, replacing your them altogether with cloth bags is the best option).

• Animal shelters often accept "gently used" towels and blankets.
• Treasures 4 Teachers accepts all kinds of items (including school supplies, containers, etc.) and sells them to teachers very inexpensively for use in their classrooms. They have partners outside of Arizona as well.

• Real Simple has a guide to "How to Recycle Anything" with more great suggestions.
• I listed this on Earth Day, but I think it bears re-posting: Items you Never Thought to Recycle.

Come on back for next month's Project Support Beauty in Nature: the next step in recycling.

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Photos by me.

Paper with potential

After the Hubs built our new bookshelf, we were left with huge cardboard boxes (which went into the recycling bin) and correspondingly large sheets of paper that had been used in packing (which I held onto). That paper had potential.

It could go underneath messy craft projects.

Or it could be part of a project. At some point in elementary school, we had a friend trace our outline on big pieces of butcher paper. Then we each colored in our own faces, etc. to make it like a life-sized self portrait. I wondered if our nieces and nephews had done that.


When I watched my friend Sarah's daughter Elizabeth recently, I realized each piece of paper was the perfect size to cover my coffee table. I set out the crayons and let her go to town without worrying about stray crayon marks on the table.

Turns out she was mostly interested in taking the crayons in and out of the box. But that works too.

When life gives you plastic bags...

The Hubs and I have been working on reducing the number of plastic bags that come into our house.

• We started bringing our own cloth bags to the store.
• We've been reusing plastic containers rather than one-time-use plastic baggies.
• We keep an eye out for products that don't use plastic (especially that thin, non-recyclable stuff) in their packaging.
• We also have mesh bags that veggies came in that we take to the store to put more veggies in. (Someday I'll remember to use them!)

Since we haven't been able to eliminate plastic bags altogether (yet), we're trying to reuse those like we're re-purposing other plastic containers.

We use bread bags as trash bags for the car (and occasionally other random things).

When I was getting the food together before our camping trip last week, re-used a plastic vegetable bag to keep a container of honey from getting anything else in the food bag sticky.


Also last week, the Hubs used up a bag of potting soil, which we can't technically recycle. Before he threw it away, however, he used it as a garbage bag and went out to the parking lot and picked up trash. Smart, huh?!



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Project Support Beauty in Nature (PSBN) is all about greener living and cleaner communities - one project at a time.

Photos (except the PSBN badge) by me.

Kids at the (state) park

One thing I'd like to add to my post about our trip to Cottonwood/Sedona/Jerome is that a lot of state parks have activities geared towards kids.


At Red Rock State Park, we saw kids scurrying around, working on some kind of scavenger hunt. The visitor center also had this little, child-sized desk set up with coloring pages and crayons.

Most Arizona state parks have Junior Ranger activities. This page links to each park's "for kids" page, which have downloadable activity sheets with facts specific to each park. (I'm guessing other states have similar programs, but I'm not going to list links for the other 49.)


For more info on state parks and other great places to visit around Arizona, I definitely recommend the book Arizona Family Field Trips. We've found it helpful - even without kiddos.

If you're in another state, you can do a Google search to find state parks near you or start here.

New purpose

Project Support Beauty in Nature is all about greener living and cleaner communities - one project at a time.

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One thing we've been trying to do lately is re-purpose plastic containers whether they're recyclable or not before discarding them. For example...

• The tube that Airborne comes in is the perfect size for quarters - used to need them for laundry, still need them for water, occasionally bus fare or the stamp machine.
• We dump bags of sugar into a large plastic ice cream container with a lid. It's easier to scoop it out for baking and keeps the bugs away.
  
• Those Glad containers that lunch meat sometimes comes in are great for lunch-sized portions of leftovers, salads or yogurt. (I buy a big thing of plain yogurt and add fruit or whatever to it myself.)
  
• Which reminds me. Yogurt containers are not my favorite thing for leftovers, since they're not transparent, so I either label the top or use them for other things. Recently, I used one to mix vinegar and water for cleaning. I didn't have time to finish the job, so I just stuck the lid on it and put it under the sink. That works, right?
• A clear pesto container now keeps clothespins.

Using containers I brought home from the grocery store anyway keeps me from buying new things to serve those purposes (less cost, less waste) and keeps the containers out of the landfill for a little while longer.

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Photos by me.

CareMail for Hair Mail

This week I crossed a very weird item off my to do list: mail hair.

Check.


As instructed, I had put it in a ponytail before having it cut and put it in a resealable plastic bag, but I needed a padded envelope to mail it in. (Not sure why padded, but that's beside the point.)


I found this CareMail envelope at Office Max. It's stuffed with old newspapers, so the recipient can throw in with papers to be recycled. Smart, huh?!

Cake you don't eat

I've seen diaper cakes before. You know, where they stack/arrange a bunch of diapers and other baby stuff to look like a cake. Usually they look something like this...


Well, this company is offering cakes made with gDiapers. I haven't seen that before. They come with basic gDiaper stuff, and you can get them with baby bath stuff from Burt's Bees. (They spelled it wrong, though. Bad sign?)


I still haven't met anyone who uses gDiapers. But it wouldn't surprise me if they were have-my-cake-and-eat-it-too kinda people. Not that that's all bad. I'm just sayin'...when you expect your child's diapers to be both eco-friendly and able to be tossed into the garbage....well...

Myself? I think I'm an eat-my-cake-and-wonder-why-my-jeans-don't-fit kind of person.

Takes all kinds, right?

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Photos: 1) by ciboulette. CCL. 2) by rshannonsmith. CCL.

Using my voice

Another ridiculously easy PSBN project brought to you by me...

I've been noticing lately how many things could come in recyclable containers - but don't. Then the other day the Hubs and I enjoyed some sweet, cold Starbucks badness. We noticed that our cups were recyclable (yay!) but there was nothing but trash cans around (boo!)


We ended up taking them with us and throwing them in our recycling bin. If we hadn't been headed straight home, though, we probably wouldn't have bothered.

I also took something else home with me: a business-reply-mail comment card.


I let them know that recyclable containers are good, but an actual on-site recycling bin would be even better. And I drew them a picture. (Well, they had this little cafe scene on there already, and I couldn't help myself.)


Now I'm thinking that wasn't so bad, maybe I'll speak up more often. Maybe I'll start saying something about all those non-recyclable containers.

Each of us only has one voice, but put all those voices together and you get...loud.