Clothesline update...as promised

We had a HUGE storm after Shinerman fixed the clothesline and one pole ended up a few feet away, but nothing broke and the line itself actually stayed connected. I'm just glad that there weren't any clothes on it! He fixed it again and it's been serving us well since then. We haven't used the dryer since May! So, I think we're doing very well for this year's Clothesline Challenge.

I left you hanging a bit on the Green Party Plans, though, didn't I? It was great, a little less green than I would prefer, but not too bad.

We did do paper napkins, with a pirate theme, of course. Unfortunately, we had a whole package left over - I hate that! I guess they'll be used at a later date though. For the plates I used Chinet. They are 100% recycled material, not post-consumer material, but better than the competition. And they can be composted at home - double nice! The tablecloths were these really cute striped indoor/outdoor fabric that I think will really get used - I bought them at Target.

The Man asked for chocolate cupcakes for his class party. I'll have to find the recipe to post - they were apparently the BEST CUPCAKES EVER. The frosting was for sure, I just used the recipe for cream cheese frosting in my Joy of Cooking book. I finally had to pour water in the food processor because I kept putting my fingers in there to taste the leftovers! Step away from the frosting, mmmmm... I used the same recipe for his party cake, just used a cake pan. I found some India Tree sprinkles and food coloring at Whole Foods. The colors weren't as bold; I couldn't get the water to look blue for the life of me, so lavender it was - I think I was the only who noticed. Even then, I love that they are all natural and will use them from now on.

No change in the favor bags, except I did get some organic lollipops from Yummy Earth to put in there. I used small paper tote bags (yeah to no plastic!!) and we put stickers on them.

So like I said a little less green than I would prefer, but not too bad...

Sooo, Earth Day?

I've been pretty stoked about Earth Day this year. What would we do, I wondered. Last year I took the day off and the littlest man and I went to the Arboretum. Maybe we could do something more giving this year, clean up litter maybe?

But, alas, work had to take over the day this year. Too much to do and too many other days taken off; plus, I had to go to the Dr about a weird rash on my back - boo. Adding to that, I really was beginning to feel very blah about the whole thing. Taking just one day to do something green? We're pretty Green all year-round.

A list of green stuff we do everyday of the year:

• No paper towels - ever.
• 100% recycled toilet paper; except once when we had people over, it was late at night and we were about to run out - bad combo
• We haven't bought plastic baggies in a year and a half
• Only using natural cleaners, mostly baking soda and vinegar
• Making our own homemade laundry detergent
• Making our own hand soap - verdict is still out on that one so no post, yet
• Buying almost all organic food
• Line dry clothes year round, we've used the dryer only a handful of times since we started a year ago
• Composting everything we can
• Recycling everything we can

This list isn't exhaustive and also isn't meant to be a 'nanana-booboo' either. Perhaps I'm trying to assuage my guilt over not doing anything today to celebrate.

So, what did you do for Earth Day? Or what do you do everyday that makes you feel better for not doing anything today?

Take our Planet Back

I've liked will.i.am for a while now - everytime I hear him speak it's about important things and he actually has something to say.

Here's a new song and video he's done - I really like it and hope you do, too!

PS I got the video code from Grist.org - a site I cannot recommend strong enough!

Electronic Recycling

A few weeks ago when the Green H went to the Denton landfill to recycle our glass, we noticed the HUGE container for the electronic recyclables was missing. In its place was a sign informing us that the City of Denton would soon be charging for taking in TVs and monitors, $15 to be exact. Shinerman said he was surprised it took so long, that it was overflowing the last time he was there. They started charging the 1st of January.

The apparent reasoning behind the move was the immanent change over to digital TV - February 19th, that is unless the Obama transition folks get it delayed. I understand the reasoning, but really if people won't/can't pay the 15 bucks, they'll just put it on the curb for trash pick-up. In my view that's not taking care of the problem, it's just shuffling it to another area. Plus, the city won't be able to make money from the (shrinking) commodities market off all those TVs that end up in the landfill. Granted it's not the kind of money they would have made last year, but it's better than nothing.

Don't despair fair Denton recyclers, they will still be accepting most electronics for free for city residents. 

OT - I love that esurance commercial with the peppy song "Lucky Today"  - it just played so thought I would mention it.

Happy America Recycles Day!

This is obviously an industry funded 'holiday', but it's a good cause. So if you don't normally recycle your stuff, find a Texas event near you. There's one in Ft.Worth and Carrollton.

Plus, the national site has places where you can make recycling pledges and a "Conversionator" - a cute drag and drop game where you find out how much you save by recycling.

So, go forth and RECYCLE!

bags in cereal boxes

We eat a box of cereal almost every two weeks here at the Green H. I buy the organic stuff - brand and type depend on my mood. This week I bought Envirokidz Koala Crisps. No, they aren't really healthy, but they looked good and I was feeling generous towards the littlest man.

We recycle the boxes, but what to do with the bags? You can't recycle them, so I went on the web looking for some ideas. I stumbled on this site. It's out of commission and archived so I decided to list the uses here instead of just linking.

I've used them for a couple of these, including crushing crackers and freezing food.

What about you? Because I know you're not throwing them away, right? :)

Got mags?

Have some magazines hanging around that you haven't gotten around to recycling yet? Well, Denton is hosting a magazine exchange just in time for cleaning up prior to the ramp-up to the holiday season.

When: October 25th 9am-12pm
Where: Emily Fowler Public Library

Any leftovers will be recycled.

Oh, the mounds of trash

We just had the littlest man's birthday last weekend. We had a great time at one of those indoor bounce places. I made the cupcakes and went with very minimal decorations and took home the plastic to recycle. That was about as green as we could do this year. Next year I'll try to go further, but you know, baby steps.

We only bought the man one gift, a wood and metal pot and pan set. Thank god! Because he got tons from everyone else, which is nice, but now we have to figure out where to put it all, and I already cleaned out his toy bins before the party – not enough, though.

And I want to say – Little Tykes you need to cut it with the packaging overload!! He received a turtle carrier with a bunch of 'modeling dough' - very cute by the way, but definitely not recyclable. It quite literally had a third of my kitchen table covered in plastic (not recyclable) and cardboard – all this for stuff that cannot break! I should have taken a picture. Each of the little dough mounds was in its own plastic bag INSIDE its own little canister!! Totally unnecessary, and none of this (except the cardboard) was recyclable!! UGH!!!

Recycling in North Texas

According to the environmental group, Natural Resources Defense Council, in five years recycling could be easier on the budget than throwing things in the landfill. Of course, even right now recycling is cheaper in terms of the cost to our environment, so if you aren't already recycling get a move on!

And please don't use, "my city doesn't pick it up" as an excuse. I have a good friend who lives in an apartment and she was dedicated enough to buy her own bins and then takes them to one of the MANY drop-off points in Denton. They are listed below:

• Northlakes- Windsor Dr. @ Hinkle Dr.
  
• Shady Oaks- Dallas Dr. @ Shady Oaks
  
• Piggly Wiggly- 619 Sherman Dr.
  
• Cupboard Natural Foods- Congress @ N. Elm St.
  
• The Landfill- Mayhill @ Spencer Rd.
  

And I've seen many places that have paper recycling collection in the parking lot, especially schools.

What can I recycle you ask?

What can't you recycle? If you use your imagination you can reuse or recycle almost anything. If you have kids, they'll use almost anything for art projects. This is a great site to get ideas on how to recycle or reuse items. It's a UK site, but reuse ideas are reuse ideas. The latest is how to use that Aquanet that you no longer need now that you've moved into the 21st century.

In April, the Denton Record Chronicle published a comprehensive article listing tons of places to take those odd things not taken by the city collection. Also, go to Time to Recycle for information about your city's recycling program, they have almost fifty cities/counties listed, so you'll probably be able to find your North Texas city. If your city isn't on there, contact your city or the company that picks up your recycling for more information. That's what I did, emailed Waste Management and got a super-quick response for my request – a complete list of what they do and don't take.

Sam's Club is now giving free shipping to send in electronics. You may even get a free gift card if the item still has value. Although, if you think it might still be valuable, you might Freecycle the item – good karma.

Speaking of good karma, if you have anything that might be of value to someone else's house donate it to the Denton County ReStore! This is run by Habitat for Humanity and the proceeds go to build affordable homes in Denton County for families.