Day 49 - Dangerous waters

These are the most polluted bodies of water in the U.S., and the states responsible for putting them on this list:

1. Mississippi River (TN, AR, LA, MO, IL, MN, WI, IA, KY, MS)

2. Pacific Ocean (OR, HI, CA)

3. Ohio River (IL, IN, OH, KY, WV, PA)

4. Tennessee River (KY, TN, AL)

5. Houston Ship Channel (TX)

6. Ward Cove (AK)

7. Savannah River (GA, SC)

8. Delaware River (DE, PA, NJ)

9.Thames River (CT)

10. Gray’s Harbor (WA)

According to freedrinkingwater.com, “human waste mingles with household chemicals, personal hygiene products, pharmaceuticals, and everything else that goes down the drains in American homes and businesses,” collecting finally in these waters. Pesticides, fertilizers, automotive chemicals, and trash run off from the streets also collect there, making the water hazardous to humans.

How can we change this? Check out the Natural Resources Defense Council website, NRDC.org, to find the top twelve ways to reduce water pollution.

Tip for Day 49 – Use natural fertilizers such as bone meal, peat or compost in your garden and on your lawn whenever possible.

Day 48 - Et tu, Sierra Club?

Just read about a deal that has the Sierra Club endorsing Clorox cleaning products.

Clorox, named one of a "dangerous dozen" chemical companies by the Public Interest Research Group in 2004, developed a line of “green” cleaning products, which the Sierra Club agreed to endorse in exchange for a share of the profits.

Several executive board members walked out after the decision was announced, saying the organization “sold their souls to the highest bidder.”

Does anyone else feel dirty?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25708115/from/ET/wid/18298287/?GT1=45002

Tip for Day 48 – Mix one part water and one part white vinegar in a spray bottle to clean and disinfect to clean bathroom fixtures, tub and toilets.

Day 47 - Green drive

MallDad and I will soon be looking to repave our driveway. Since asphalt is petroleum-based, I decided to explore “greener” options. I don’t know what the cost difference is, whether these greener options can survive the Northeast winters, or if any of them will be feasible for us, but it’s interesting to see how things are changing, even in the world of driveways and parking lots.

One type of green driveway is called GrassPave2, which a porous mat-type of system through which grass can grow. It allows you to drive and park without crushing the grass beneath, and the drive can absorb more rainwater instead of sending it, and the pollutants from the drive, into storm drains and sewers. Some of these pollutants are then consumed by bacteria in the soil.

Another advantage to this is that your driveway won’t be creating heat pockets when it gets warmed by the sun.

There’s also an option called “porous pavement,” which looks a lot like regular pavement, but sits on top of a reservoir of gravel and sand, which collects and filters dirty rainwater before it can make it’s way into groundwater or storm drains.

Of course, there’s always paving stones, crushed stone, or gravel. But these options would be hard-pressed to survive snow plowing up here in the north.

It’s great to have choices, though.

Tip for Day 47 – Don’t accept the status quo. Look for greener options whenever you make home improvements.

Day 46 - Super sites

We’ve gotten into the habit of picking up any trash that’s in our paths, from tiny scraps of paper to empty cans or bottles. It feels good to know that you’re doing something every day to make the world a little cleaner.

Kids love to get involved. Here are some great sites for kids:

http://www.earth2kids.org/handcrafted2.asp

http://www.ecokidsonline.com/pub/eco_info/topics/landuse/ecosites/index.cfm

http://www.epa.gov/kids/
http://pbskids.org/eekoworld/

http://kidsregen.org/main.php?section=naturalMoves&status=1


Tip for Day 46 – Take a weekly walk through your neighborhood to pick up trash.

Day 45 - Warm thoughts

In light of the fact that the U.S. once again failed to agree to measures to reduce carbon emissions at the recent G-8 Summit, I figured I should learn more about global warming and its consequences, since we're going to be facing them sooner rather than later. I found this great site:

http://stopglobalwarming.org/sgw_actionitems.asp

Hmm. Wonder if G.W.B. has ever surfed this site?

I also wrote to my Senator and State Representative about voting against any measures that would allow off-shore drilling (for which lifting the moratorium is seriously being considered by GWB and congress). I believe the sooner we realize we’re in crisis, the sooner we’ll step up our efforts to conserve energy and develop cleaner, more efficient technologies. Besides, I can’t imagine what offshore drilling would mean to some of my favorite beaches.

Tip for Day 45 – Turn off your car when waiting to pick up your kids at school. You’ll use less gas, and emit less carbon dioxide.

Day 44 - Party time

Summer means party-time, but piles of plastic forks and spoons, beverage bottles, and mountains of those red plastic cups can leave you with a terrible trash hangover.

There are ways to have a “greener” party.

First, send out e-invites instead of paper ones. You’ll not only save a tree, but you’ll save on stamps, too.

Decorate with flowers, sea shells, plants or other natural materials instead of balloons. Try using sheets for tablecloths instead of the disposable paper ones. Tie them at the corners with ribbon to dress them up.

And how about renting china and glasses, instead of throwing away all that plastic and paper?

If you’re having a lot of guests, consider getting a keg instead of bottles of beer. In many places, you can get a keg of root beer or birch beer, too, if you’re having a lot of soda drinkers.

If you’re having your event catered, or if you’re ordering prepared food from a market, ask if you can supply your own trays and bowls instead of using their disposable ones.

For more upscale entertaining, check out this article in Epicurious:

http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/entertaining/partiesevents/greenentertaining


Tip for Day 44 – Rent glassware and china for parties instead of using disposable stuff.

Day 43 - Home remedies

Has a day at the beach left you red and ready to reach for that big ol’ (fluorocarbon producing) can of Solarcaine?

Before you do, consider a natural, earth-friendly remedy.

According to MallMom’s research, daubing sunburn with aloe vera, milk, cold tea bags or apple cider vinegar may help.

There are many safe and effective home remedies that could have you cleaning the dangerous, an environmentally unfriendly, stuff out of your medicine cabinet for good.

Have a case of the hives? Try dabbing with Milk of Magnesia. Or take a bath in a tub of warm water with ½ a cup cornstarch and ½ a cup baking soda.

Head lice? Try washing your hair with vinegar for a couple of days to kill the eggs. Olive oil left on the hair for 8 hours will smother the little suckers. Just comb them out with a fine-tooth comb.

Got warts? Rub them with a potato slice every day for two weeks!

Do these home remedies really work? I don’t know, but I’m sure going to try them. They can’t hurt, and imagine how great it would be if they helped?

Try these sites if you’re game:

http://www.free-makeup-tips.com/home-remedies/home-remedy-warts.htm

http://kellyskitchenandhome.blogspot.com/2008/05/homemade-remedies.html
href="http://www.indianchild.com/home_remedies.htm">http://www.indianchild.com/home_remedies.htm

http://www.grannymed.com/

But remember, herbs and essential oils may have side-effects, and may affect some people differently than others, so do your research before concocting your own medicines.

Tip for Day 42 - Explore natural remedies to "green" your medicine cabinet.