DIY Sunday - Green Your Craft Closet

Note: DIY Sunday is a semi-regular feature about the craftiness that lies within us. If you want to read more about the relationship between craft and the environment -- and really, who doesn't? -- click here.

If you're new to Light Green, you might be thinking DIY Sunday? What is that?

That's because I haven't DIMed (Do-It-Myself-ed) in months, due in large part to the fact that I sprained my hand and the doctor told me explicitly that I was not allowed to knit. And since I haven't Done Anything Myself (DAM?) I haven't had anything to write about. If you're new, however, and you'd like to read more about DIY Sunday, just click the link in the sidebar.

Now that my hand is feeling about 80% of normal (if you haven't had a sprain, you're a lucky person. They take a LOOONG time to heal -- although constant blogging probably doesn't help the situation. The doctor didn't say anything about blogging, however!) I decided this weekend to cautiously pick up the knitting project that had been lying dormant for lo, these many weeks. A quick trip to the craft store for some needed needles showed that even commercial craft stores are getting green.

Crafting and DIY are, without a doubt, the cat's meow to the hipster community. The number of amazing projects floating throughout the interwebs is truly inspiring. However, a lot of traditional craft materials don't make Mama Earth too happy, although she is generally down with the whole idea of DIY. Adhesives, paints, acrylic yarns -- all of these things are produced from a chemical stew. I admit, I rarely thought about my craft materials until recently. I'm trying to be more thoughtful about the materials I choose.

Luckily, greening one's craft supplies is getting easier these days.

For example, even the big chain stores now offer organic cotton yarns:

This is Nature's Choice Organic Cotton, which I wrote about here, in the bins at craft-world behemoth Michael's. While I love the Local Yarn Shops (LYSes) I can't afford to buy yarn for big projects there. That's why it's great that some chain stores are offering more green art supplies. I love it when consumerism and conservation collide. (If you're interested in reading more about the dangers of conventional cotton production, click here)

Organic cotton is definitely, as the godmother of all crafters, Martha Stewart, would say, "a good thing." And as demand grows, those prices should go down, according to my high school econ teacher. While organic yarns are becoming easier and cheaper finds, organic cotton fabrics may be a bit more rare, especially if you live outside the big urban centers.

That's why upcycling is so great. You can take the old and make it new again.


These T-shirts are waiting to go into my box of materials that are going to get re-purposed. While these were conventionally-produced, at least they aren't going to be trashed. And if you don't want to destroy your own clothes for fabric, or simply don't have the right color T-shirt to turn into the lining for the handbag you've been making, consider thrift stores rather than fabric stores. Not only will you be re-using, but many thrift stores support charitable organizations.

Finally, there is a lot of guidance out there to support you in re-using, re-purposing, upcycling -- whatever you wish to call it. Check out the links in the sidebar. Traditional books are also going greener.

A friend gave me this book, Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made with Repurposed and Organic Materials, by Betz White, as a belated birthday gift. It was perfectly timed, because I want to learn more about sewing, and I've got some ideas bubbling in my head. The shelves at your local bookstore are rapidly filling with such tomes. Even greenier, check out the local library. And while many libraries may not have the most up-to-date books, they often take requests from users. If more people request green resources, more libraries will stock them.

So get out there, get some green materials, a project from a book or the interwebs (The Craftzine website is a wonderful place to look for projects to do ... or just to browse for way too long when you should be cleaning your house ...) and starting DIYing!

Ready for Work

As I have mentioned before, being greener takes a bit of organization. Since I started my new job this week, I decided that this was a great time to re-organize my routine.

For many years, I got ready for work the night before, so that all I had to do in the morning was jump up, throw on clothes, wash my face and brush my teeth, and I was gone. Lately, however, I'd let that routine slide in favor of watching too much TV in the evenings (really? Private Practice? I mean, I love TV, but c'mon Catfish. That's ridiculous).

So it was time to get back in the groove -- but a new, greener groove. Turns out it was a bit more work than I thought it would be.

The picture above displays all of the things I've been getting ready each night:

• Lunchkit (that's Southern for lunchbox): I fill my lunchkit with foods that have been minimally-processed - apples, almonds, peapods and carrots for snacks; items to make a wrap for lunch (avocado, homemade hummus, turkey, spinach, and a tortilla - the tortilla and turkey are the items that are hardest to find in a "minimally-processed" version. I just try to find those that have the fewest weird ingredients).
• Smoothie Fix'ins: Chop up and freeze berries or banana, measure out 3/4 of a cup organic milk and a teaspoon of flax seeds. In the morning I put it all in the blender with a 1/2 c. of organic French vanilla yogurt and blend.
• Coffee: I've been stopping at Starbucks each morning for the last two years, and I really don't like Starbucks coffee without the paper cup (I guess I just like the addition of cardboard in my coffee ...) which is weird. In order to reduce my paper cup consumption, I'm trying to make my morning coffee each day. I get the machine ready the night before. I do occasionally have an afternoon Starbucks, but at least I've gotten rid of one paper cup per day.

I have to say, the first day I tried this routine (including ironing my clothes for the next day and showering), it took me about 45 minutes. I was pretty sure I couldn't maintain that. However, I've cut it down to about 30 minutes now, and that seems reasonable. However, it's only week 1. I'll keep you posted on how I do on keeping up the green routine.

You "Shant" Take Yourself too Seriously

Green fashion? Let's see what Julia Stiles has to say about it ...


Incidentally, my friends and I used to have a running argument about whether men's capris should be known as "shants" or "manpris." I think we now know what shants really are.

Product Review: Paper That's Better Than Paper

You know that amazing feeling you get when you find something that so perfectly does what it's meant to do, and you're just amazed and excited by the miracle of human ingenuity? That's how I feel about paper clips and binder clips. They are meant to hold paper together. And they do. They hold paper together. They do it better than anything else (Sorry, staples! Go find something else to do, glue!) Aside from that, they are as aesthetically pleasing as you could ever hope for.

Well. If you love such things, have I got a find for you:


Stone paper.

I'll pause for a moment, while you exclaim "What the hell --!"

I was first introduced to stone paper by a new co-worker, Emilie. I couldn't believe it. Paper made from stone ... it didn't seem a) possible, or; b) practical.

Nevertheless, I had to have some, and I found my notebook at Walgreen's for about 2.99. There are those greenies who are able to go paperless, and I admire them. But I love paper almost more than paper clips. Notebooks, printer paper, newspapers, magazines. I love them all. My thoughts seem to flow better when I write by hand in a notebook.

I've done a little research, and it seems that stone paper is actually more environmentally-friendly than regular paper. I can't say I have every single fact, but here's what I've read (and if it's on the interwebs, it must be true):

• Stone paper doesn't use trees - obviously - and is made from calcium carbonate (limestone) which is one of the most abundant substances on earth, and can be made from limestone that's a by-product from other processes. And yes, it does take energy to produce stone, but regular paper also contains stone. Limestone is used to make paper smooth (who knew?), so regular paper uses trees, stone, lots of water, bleach, and other fun chemicals, while stone paper is limestone and resin.
• Stone paper, theoretically, can be recycled over and over again, though I don't know that there's any place that recycles stone. Regular paper can't be recycled infinitely. After awhile, the good stuff breaks down and it's no longer usable.
• Stone paper is so awesome, it's like the Homecoming Queen vs. Band Geek. Eric the Vampire vs. Vampire Bill. Jon Stewart vs. Rush Limbaugh. Stone paper will be elected student body president, get a full-ride to Dartmouth, and get a job that pays six-figures right out of college. Why? First of all, stone paper does what it is meant to do. It takes ink or pencil like a champ. Its smooth, creamy surface is delightful to write on. Your pencil might have an orgasm, stone paper is so amazing.
• Stone paper does more than it is meant to do. It is really strong:

I was able to stretch this piece of stone paper. It only rips on a certain axis. See? Awesome.

I accidently put my shopping list through the wash, and rather than breaking down and creating little feathers all over my clothes, the stone paper was still readable, write-onable, and perfectly usable. It does rip, but in a nice clean line. And it's pretty.

Anyone else experienced the joy of stone paper? Know some eco-facts that I don't? Let me know.

Nature's Abundance

My sister, enjoying local (very - it came from the next door neighbors' garden) produce.

Don't let your mind wander. The only thing this zuke reminded us of is a telephone. Honest.

Recipe - Each Peach Crisp

My friend (and loyal Light Greenie) Darci brought over some beautiful peaches from Greenbluff the other day. Greenbluff, just north of Spokane, is the abundant orchard-land that produces some of the sweetest apples in the world. It's traditional for many Spokane families to go out to Greenbluff several times a year to pick apples, cherries, and pumpkins.

In one of my favorite books, In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan writes about how one of the joys of seasonal and local produce is deciding what to cook. So when I got the peaches I looked at them for awhile, as they sat there all rosy and juicy in the bowl. Although I love, love, love pie (and have an entire blog devoted to it; click here to visit) I'm not really a pastry chef, the way my friend Kelly is. So I settled on another scrumptious dessert: peach crisp.

Someday I'll have to write a post about how I develop recipes, but for today, I'll just say that several recipes came together along with a "secret" ingredient that goes well with all kinds of late summer/fall fruits and veg: garam masala. Garam masala is an Indian spice blend that has many different formulations, but often includes cardamom, cinnamon, clove, cumin, and black pepper. You can make your own, but it's readily available at most large supermarkets as well.

Each Peach Crisp*

Grease a 9" baking dish and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

With a small, very sharp knife, peel and slice

4-6 large ripe peaches

Place them in a bowl. Add:

1/4 c. light brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix the peaches and spices together. Pour them into the prepared baking dish.

In the microwave or on the stovetop, melt:

1/2 c. (1 stick) of unsalted butter

In a bowl, combine:

1/2 c. quick-cooking oats

1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. light brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. garam masala

Pour the melted butter into the oats/spice mixture. Mix together. It should have a chunky consistency. If there is too much liquid, add oats, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the right consistency.

Crumble the oats/spice mixture (it will be gloppy, rather than truly crumbly) over the peaches.

Place in the center of the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the peaches are bubbling and the topping is browned.

Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream.

Bon appetit!

This recipe is delicious with coffee. In fact, we even ate it for breakfast one day.

* named after one of the most memorable books of my childhood: Each Peach Pear Plum, by Janet and Allen Ahlberg.

Love the Ambiguity

On our way from Long Beach, WA, to Portland, OR, we spied the many, many clearcuts that dot Route 26. My sister and I pointed these out to my nephew. We both said we were not big fans of the practice.

Henry, ever the font of wisdom said, "Well, people need to do that so they can have jobs."

We explained selective logging - which is also controversial -- and he didn't quite seem satisfied.

"Well, so logging is good and bad," he said (or something close to that). "People need jobs but we also need trees."

I found it interesting that Henry, at 7, had reached the crux of the environmental controversy, and seemed OK to live in the ambiguity inherent in that controversy.

And why not?


As Americans, we're not usually thrilled to be swimming in Lake Ambiguity. We like to dichotomize - right/wrong; success/fail. As I was walking on the beach, this week, however, I began to think about how this dichotomizing hurts our movement. In fact, it hurts the other side too. And all movements/counter-movements.

When we are so invested in success/fail; win/lose we actually NEVER get to win. And neither does the other side. Take, for example, the emissions bills that have been weaving their way through Congress. So, maybe they don't go as far as we, on the greener side of the fence, would like. And maybe they go too far, as the people on the other side of the fence see it (on their side they have astro-turf rather than grass).

It doesn't make any sense to me, however, to be disappointed when such bills pass one or the other houses of Congress. Even if the bills don't include everything we hope for, these bills are beginning to pass. We endured years in which that wasn't even a possibility. Instead of being bummed out that we haven't passed the perfect bill, let's love the ambiguity.

When a baby is first learning to stand, we get excited when she grabs onto the coffee table and pulls herself to her feet. We celebrate. Clap our hands. Let out a little "yahoo". But we don't expect the baby will need to grab onto a coffee table for the rest of her life. We celebrate and then we help her stand on her own. We encourage her to walk. We look forward to the day when she will run.

Well, folks, in case you didn't get the metaphor - our movement is the baby. But instead of celebrating when she pulls herself up, we're grumbling because she's not running yet. But why don't we love the ambiguity? Celebrate our victories. Clap our hands. And know the entire time that we are still in a middle place, still haven't reached our goals.

In her seminal book on feminism, Fire with Fire, Naomi Wolf talked about how even feminists got fed up with a movement that appears humorless and dissatisfied with even small victories. Then it became a movement with which people didn't want to affiliate themselves. I fear that environmentalism, to many who haven't yet bought it, looks the same way. Humorless. Boring. Hard. Guilt-inducing. Celebrationless.

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm not humorless. I'm pretty sure that trying to be green is exciting and fun. There are lots of things we can do that are easy. And though I admit, sometimes I do feel guilty, I try to do the best I can with the resources available to me. I like to celebrate. I think we all should, for just a moment, celebrate the progress we've made as a movement. Then set our faces forward, and move on to the next step, enjoying every moment of the struggle and ambiguity.

To Market, To Market ...

On our travels, we took in the Portland Saturday Market. In general, I am a big fan of markets -- people get to walk, look at handmade stuff, eat street food, and generally enjoy the day. The Portland Saturday Market, being in Portland, also contains more than its fair share of locally-grown foods, locally-brewed ales, and organic-crunchy-hippie stuff. And I am, as the folks at work described me once "a cute little hippie girl" (though where they came up with "little" I have no idea), so I'm down with the whole market concept -- note giant henna sign in the photo above.

Upcycling is big at the market right now. I mean - BIG. You can't even spit without hitting something made from something else. That's pretty awesome as far as I'm concerned, because we could probably go the next ten years without making anything new, and everyone would still have way more stuff than necessary.

Sara and I liked the artwork of Theo Ellsworth (Check out his website: Art Capacity). He was sketching away at his booth (at least, I assume it was him) and wasn't particularly chatty, but we both admired his prints and books, many of which had themes of nature and mythology -- two of my favorite things. We both took a card to perhaps buy some prints in the future.

The market is located at the Tom McCall Waterfront Park, and I can't believe how much both the park and the market have grown and changed in the last few years. With its "Keep Portland Weird" attitude (yes, I know, Austin, that was your line first) and enviro-hipster mindset, Portland is becoming the place to be for all those with lumberjack beards, retro bicycles, skinny jeans, and iPods filled with Swedish garage-punk-hip-hop that you haven't even imagined possible. Although I occasionally the city might reject me, like a heart from an incompatible donor, for not being hip enough, it's actually a lovely place with leafy vistas, cool old buildings, good food, and lots of interesting nooks and crannies.

I Heart Miyazaki, And You Should Too

My nephew Henry is by no means a genius or anything, but he does have pretty cool taste. He likes the White Stripes and Fleet Foxes, sci-fi, and playing outside. He is obsessed with Mountain Dew (don't tell him about the woman who survived 5 days on a raft with only 2 cans of Mountain Dew). And ever since he was little, he has loved, loved, loved director, animator, and all-around awesome guy Hayao Miyazaki.

When Henry was 2 and 3, we were all forced to watch Miyazaki's meditation on Alice in Wonderland, entitled My Neighbor Totoro, over and over and over again. When H. was 3 and 4, we probably watched Kiki's Delivery Service (featuring traditional anime-style voicework by Kirsten Dunst -- which means she YELLED ALL OF HER LINES IN A MONOTONE) 500 times if we watched it once. Today, we all got out of the heat to watch Miyazaki's newest movie to hit American shores, Ponyo. (Click here to see the trailer.)

What does all this have to do with the environment? Well, I'm glad you asked, because I love to preach the Gospel of Miyazaki to anyone who is unfamiliar. Throughout his career, Miyazaki's films have expressed a vision of nature as deep, dark, mysterious, and filled with magic. Humans, in Miyazaki's view, are often throwing nature out of balance through war, pollution, and greed, and it is his deeply ethical heroines and heroes who fight to bring that balance back.

Sounds like it might be preachy, but all of this is embedded within fast-paced, fantastical stories that are, most-of-all, insanely beautiful to look at. Ponyo is no exception, telling the story of a half-goldfish, half-girl who wants to be human, and who chafes at the restrictions of her father, who is busy trying to bring balance back to a sea polluted by human waste. Little Ponyo gets into trouble (like many real-life sea creatures) when she gets stuck inside a jar that pollutes the ocean and is freed by a human boy.

Sound familiar? Ponyo definitely parallells Andersen's The Little Mermaid, but unlike Disney's version, this little mergirl is no shrinking waterlily. Loud, a little obnoxious, and filled with her own magic, Ponyo fights for her desires. The environmental message is definitely there, but kept mostly on the d-l, as it's voiced by Ponyo's nutter of a dad, driven a little bit crazy by the way humans abuse the sea.

It is the beautiful images of the sea and all of its lifeforms that will probably make the biggest impact on the worldviews little environmentalists, providing a counterpoint to the mostly pointless and ugly cartoons that fill most kids' days (including my nephew's). I can only hope that parents will get tired of the 3-D assault we've been getting at the box office this summer, and turn to this truly lovely vision of the world. Maybe more American kids will get hooked on Miyazaki -- because if any films deserve to be watched 1000s of times, they're his.

Seeing Ponyo just compounded the thoughts I've been having about our connection to the ocean. Just as I believe getting kids out into nature will help turn them on to environmentalism, so I believe that stories as deep and beautiful as Miyazaki's can help to unlock kids' ethical natures, their intellects, and their power. Wouldn't it be wonderful if schools took this into account - using such stories as part of a curriculum that helps children explore the ethics of their actions and impact on the world, and then using natural field experiences to help children find out whether they thrill to the oceans, the mountains, or some other eco-system entirely? What a world it would be ... right now, however, it's up to mamas, papas, aunties, uncles and others to begin this education. Too bad we have to wait until summer to teach these lessons, and probably will until standardized tests have a multiple-choice questions about saving the planet.

Just like Ponyo, we all started out in the ocean ...

Want more Miyazaki? Little eco-nauts will enjoy My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. Older kids (and adults) will want to see Spirited Away (about a little girl who must save her parents in a strange spirit world), Howl's Moving Castle (the love and bravery of a young woman helps to end a war that is destroying her people, plus there is a walking castle with chicken feet, plus the Wizard Howl is a dashing cad with the voice of Christian Bale, plus there's a scarecrow companion that is way better than the one in Wizard of Oz, plus, like many of Miyazaki's movies, Howl includes beautiful vistas of cities by the sea -- can you tell this movie is awesome?) and finally, the classic Princess Mononoke, which is probably Miyazaki's scariest and most adult, but has some of his most amazing animation.

Wordless Wednesday - I don't know how I feel about this

Oceans or Mountains?

Quick.

Don't think about it. Just answer.

Oceans? Or Mountains?

Did an answer pop into your head, sure as fish on Friday? Or are you thinking ... oceans or mountains what?

See, I have this theory that people are either oceans or mountains. It's not a personality theory, but a theory of which of these is sort of your "home." No mushy-gushy mythological mumbo-jumbo about primal natures or anything (unless I've had a couple of martinis). Not any big statement about male/female dichotomies. It's just that of these two - oceans or mountains -one will resonate with a person more than the other.

I've asked this question many times, and only one person has ever refused to answer, trying too hard to analyze just what I was asking. Everyone else has always come firmly down on one side or the other.

I'm mountains.

I should be oceans. I'm a Pisces for God's sake. Nevertheless, the thought of mountains just fills me with warm fuzzies. Nothing against oceans. I absolutely love water. I love fish. Seaweed. Amphibians. It's just that a burbling brook, tumbling waterfall, or crystalline lake floats my personal boat more than the seven seas ever can.

Nevertheless, I'm starting to "get" the ocean people a bit more. This week, I spent time at my dad's near the Washington Coast, and our days were filled with the things ocean people love - going barefoot in the sand, whipping each other with seaweed, finding shells and crab exoskeletons.

Of course, the great thing about the Pacific Northwest -- you don't have to choose. We've got both, meeting and melding. Hike up on the cliffs above Dead Man's Cove at Cape Disappointment to take in the breathtaking view of an ecosystem in its full glory:

I was excited to spend my trip with two little tykes, my nephew Henry, and my "nephew" Desmond. Because if we want our kids to grow up to be able to answer the question -- "Oceans or Mountains?" -- to really know which one thrills in their deepest hearts of hearts, we have to leave them oceans and mountains to experience. We have to get them out to roll in the waves and hike up the cliffs. If they don't have the chance to do these things, then why will they care if they vanish?

So.

Which one are you? Oceans or mountains?

Just a tease

I've been frolicking throughout the Northwest with my family and some of my best friends (bringing together disparate groups of people who might never have met otherwise is one of my favorite activities). Many photos and thoughts are to come.

For now, I leave you with this teaser, and something to think about:

Oceans or mountains?

Cute Cat Picture

Our family is on the road today, so I give you some cute cat pictures ... of a cat that is not my own. This is my sister's cat, Alex, who keeps me from missing Wily.

Doing what cats do best.Hey, why did you wake me up by snapping that thing in my face?

Okay. Obviously not a cat. But cute nonetheless. Beagle, Junie B. She just likes B. And that's all.

Ours to Save

Riverside State Park, near Spokane WA

Modern Kid

I'm here in Spokane visiting family, and while on a walk with my 7-year-old nephew, Henry, we passed a truck for Ladybug Organic Soil Care.

"That's cool," I said. "See, organic means they don't use chemicals that harm the soil."

Henry looked at me and rolled his eyes.

"I know, Auntie."

Yep, it's 2009. Welcome to Generation Green.

Failed Eco-Experiment, and Next Steps

This green adventure I've been on has been, for the most part, one blessing after another. I feel like my life has gotten better, the world has gotten a little better, and I've made new friends (like Sara, from 2000dollarwedding) and kept in better touch with old ones. I've been excited and pleased by almost every green experiment I've tried.

Well, life can't all be rainbows and unicorns, now, can it?

The aftermath of my sprained hand has had more of an impact than I thought it would. I still have to be cautious about lifting heavy items. Recently I went to the grocery store to pick up some more kitty litter. If you have a cat, you know is one of the heaviest things you can put in your grocery cart.

The reason conventional cat litter is so heavy is that it is made from clay - or diatomaceous earth, for all of you who watch crime shows (Diatomaceous earth is often a clue that sloppy criminals track around, apparently, and is a super-common substance on our little blue ball). And clay is strip-mined. If you want to read more, click here to see what Green Little Cat has to say about it (Q: How psyched am I to find a green cat blog? A: Very psyched!).

As I stood there looking at the boxes of litter, knowing that I needed the 20 pound box and feeling grumpy about it, I began looking at the other litters. As I did so, I noticed that the more-environmentally friendly litters - recycled newspaper, wheat, and pine -were all about 10 pounds lighter, per box, than the clay. I thought, well, if I'm greening my life, maybe I should green my cat's too?

Unfortunately, I went about it all wrong. Green Little Cat has info on how to switch the right way, but since I made a petulant snap decision, I had no info. I chose the pine litter because I read that it worked the best, and headed home.

Wily has had few changes in his life -- same food, same litter almost every day for all 2 1/2 years of his life. So when I switched litters on him, he didn't know what to do. I kept putting him back in the litter box, the way you train a kitten to use the box, but he jumped out immediately. The pine litter smelled great to the human nose, and it had a soft, sawdusty texture. As promised, it was light as a feather.

I wasn't too worried when I left the house that evening for a going-away party for my friend Shelley, but when I came back ...

... well, if you're a cat, and you have some strange, soft fluffy stuff in your potty, what would be the next logical place to "use the facilities?" Since we don't have any plants in our house, mama's bed was the choice!

At 2 a.m., I found myself stripping the bed and soaking everything with Nature's Miracle. And feeling grouchy. I felt even grouchier the next day when, after sleeping on the couch and waking with a red-wine-induced headache, I had to venture out into the heat to buy more litter. I reverted back to our typical brand, which is clay-based, but at least does not have perfumes in it (there's nothing worse than a cat that smells like an air freshener when you cuddle him).

I'm not naughty, Mama. I'm just hiding in here because it's fun.

Now I know, you have to go slowly to make this change. I was pretty much resigned to continue to use conventional litters, but I'm going to try again, armed with the advice from Little Green Cat. May the rainbows and unicorns return!

Do Your Happy Dance ...

... because I'm doing mine!

This very blog -- yes, the one you are reading right this second! -- has been listed on the Best Green Blogs Directory. One reason that I'm thrilled is that I love the BGBD as a time-waster extraordinaire. It's fun to constantly check the blogs of like-minded folks, and they update the directory regularly enough that there is always something new to read.

In fact, that's how I found out Light Green had been listed. I was just scrolling through the new listings, when I saw a very familiar header!

I'm happy to be a part of a community that is trying to make a difference through geekery. Two of my favorite things, coming together ...

Apartment Cleaning Smackdown - Rounds 3 & 4

With a week off, I continued my cleaning odyssey, attempting to use as many green cleaning methods as possible, and being honest about how well I fared. Thursday and Friday were my last days at home before my real vacation started, so I had to get the house finished. Here's how it went (I've divided my story up into green, meaning the greenest cleaning methods I know; light green, meaning I used somewhat green, or commercially-prepared "green" products; and red, meaning I used conventional cleaners).

Round 3 - The BedroomHere's my side table. Dust bunnies gone. Dust owls? Hmm ...

The bedroom was really a replay of the living room, so I'm not going to say much about it. Dusting, sweeping, mopping. About a week ago I washed the curtains. And I had a whole rigamarole involving my bedding ... but you will be able to read about that tomorrow. So, without much further ado, let's move on to the bathroom, linen closet.

Round 4 - The Bathroom

This little table was hand-painted by yours truly many years ago, and has traveled hither and thither with me for years, even though it doesn't match anything in my house. Still, it's perfect bathroom storage for your recycled toilet paper (there's a little cubby underneath).

I have a teeny-tiny bathroom that has a lot of issues. The tile is buckling. The floor is painted wood and has cracks in it. The room is unventilated, and so tends to get mildewy. And since Hurricane Ike, when I vacated the premises for a couple of weeks due to lack of power in the 90+ degree September heat, I've had hard water stains in the sink that have been impossible to remove.

Nevertheless, it is a happy place, just perfect for my girly routines. The tile is cute aqua, yellow and pink. The linen closet is within arms reach of the sink, so I can get everything I need. The light is great in the mornings. All in all, I can overlook all of those issues.

See the cute tile? And the cute owl soap dish? Have I mentioned that I like owls?

But it had been awhile since I'd given it a good scrub from floor to ceiling. Here's how it went:

Green:

• I've been treating the mildew stains in the shower with undiluted vinegar (Seriously, I think vinegar can do anything). Each day I spray it on the grout where it is getting mildewed. This does seem to be working, albeit slowly. Because the cat loves to jump in the shower (as long as it's dry!) I'm leery of using more heavy-duty chemicals to get rid of the mildew, even though I know that mildew and mold are also bad for you.
• I dusted with my handy-dandy homemade rags!

Light Green:

• I used Seventh Generation Tub & Tile Cleaner to clean the tub, sink, and outside of the toilet. And yes, I've given Seventh Generation a hard time, from time to time, for putting greener products out there that don't work too well (paper towels, laundry detergent), which I think might deter some consumers from using greener cleaning products (Envision Betty Draper, ca. 2009, saying, "you know what, screw Bounty. I'm going to try this 'green' paper towel," then getting it home, finding it doesn't work, and swearing off "green" for the rest of eternity, believing it to be simply a communist ploy to get everyone in America to have a dirty house and begin the slide into becoming dirty hippies. It could happen). All this, however, is to say that the Tub & Tile Cleaner really works. It uses the ubiquitous "plant-based cleaners," and without more research, I can't tell you more even from the material-safety data sheets (and people are never going to go green if they have to do a lot of research before they buy something. They just aren't). The Tub & Tile Cleaner has a pleasant "emerald cypress and fir" scent, which I love because it isn't checmically, and also sounds like walking in a forest. Thumbs up.
• I used Clorox Green Works to clean the toilet. I know that many in the green community are pretty skeptical about the Clorox Green Works family of products, and some of my loyal readers (Thanks Mom and Melanie!) have disputed the effectiveness of the glass cleaner in particular. Treehugger.com has a very thoughtful article about these products. Click here to read it. I feel better about them knowing that the Sierra Club - of which I am now a member, yay! - has endorsed these products in an effort to make greener cleaning more available to more Americans.

Red:

• Here's where things got tricky. While organizing the linen closet, home to all of the health and beauty products I use rarely/never, I came across a conundrum I didn't know the answer to, and being computer-free for a week, couldn't research easily. There were a few bottles I threw away because, frankly, with my weak, post-sprain hand, I couldn't open them to clean them out and recycle. A few others contained medicine. I was going to just chuck the pills and recycle the bottles, but then my brain went into overdrive, thinking about the possums who eat the garbage in Houston, and how they might die from a mouthful of expired Zoloft. So I just threw the whole bottle away. They'll probably end up in some landfill, and the pills will stay in there until Wall-E comes along and decides to see what they are, and becomes a robot drug addict. However, it's what I did. Flog me now.

So, what are the results of the Apartment Cleaning Smackdown?

Greenest Clean: The kitchen! Cleaned almost entirely with vinegar, baking soda, and reusable towels, the kitchen is now Mother Earth's favorite place to come, hang out, and make martinis with organic herbs.

Reddest Clean: The bathroom! Read above to see why.

I enjoyed my super-clean apartment for one day, and then it was off on my vacation, where I will be hitting Spokane WA, Portland OR, and Long Beach WA. As I venture throughout my homeland, the Pacific Northwest, I'll certainly be taking pictures, looking for green happiness, and enjoying time with family and friends. You'll get to read all about it.

Apartment Cleaning Smackdown - Round 2

Round 2 - The Living Room

So, after I spent a day going through piled-up mail and leftover papers from my office, I had piles of shreds to go to the recycling center (I really like shredding ... I have a little thing for destruction, what can I say?)

All that mail was piled up here, on the desk. Much cleaner now! I think I could actually do work here... I don't think I will, but I could.

I was ready, then, to begin cleaning the living room. Here's a rundown of the green/light green/red cleaning methods I used:

Green:

• I dusted using my homemade rags.
• I swept the floors using green energy (my own elbow grease)

Light Green:

Not dusty anymore! Thanks, old T-shirts.

• Zero - nada - none. I was not light green in the living room. I was either super green or totally ungreen.

Red:

• I used the random floor cleaner and a disposable mop for the floors, but I did use the disposable mop head for much longer than standard.

Speaking of green vs. red cleaning - I've been thinking a bit about green guilt lately. Of course, I read a bunch of green blogs to get ideas for things to try in my own home/life. I occasionally run across statements such as, "I would never ... (insert non-green lifestyle choice here)."

I sometimes wish I was as committed as these folks, but I think that we, as a movement, should be careful that our "I would never -" statements don't alienate people who are still as light green as new leaves in spring. They'll get to be a darker green as the days pass - if they, like leaves, receive lots of sunlight and love. However, if they feel like they can't be good enough to be "green" then the leaves might shrivel up and die (like the extended metaphor?).

The fact is, there's no official definition of what it means to be green. I try to be as green as I can, with the time and money I have available. I use a disposable mop head. I have air conditioning (I live in Texas!). I sometimes go through the Starbucks drive-thru. And sometimes I feel guilty about these things, and sometimes I don't. But I'm doing the best I can, and I hope that we can support all of the little changes people make.

Green Heart, Black Thumb

I know that the best food for the environment is the food you grow yourself. But I don't do that.

I do not like to garden.

I do not like the sun.

I do not like the dirt.

My single, un-cactusy potted plant, named Sigmund, has been revived from the brink of death multiple times.

Yet, life finds a way. Yesterday as I walked past the vegetable garden that previous tenants abandoned in the back patio, a hint of red caught my eye. When I went to investigate, I found it was a tiny, perfect red pepper. I picked it, and this morning chopped it up to become part of an omelette with organic spinach and hormone/antibiotic-free cheese. Delicious!

Note: Apartment Cleaning Smackdown will return ... I simply realized that before I cleaned the living room, some major organizing needed to take place. Ah, life transitions! So much ... fun?

Apartment Cleaning Smackdown - Round 1

Round 1 = The KitchenLook! The galley is shiny-clean!

As I mentioned the other day, I am transitioning to a new job soon, and am blessed to have a few weeks to chillax before that job starts. Of course, being the person I am, which is the sort of person who likes to give herself projects and goals, I set a big goal for my first week of "freedom."

Each day this week, I plan to clean one room of my small apartment - but not just clean. Deep clean. Organize, do the floors, take everything off the shelves and scrub them. I figured one room per day would give me the opportunity to do other things each day (of course, I have goals for that "free time" as well).

Each day, I'll be blogging about how I wrestled dirt and germs to the ground, using cleaning methods of a variety of shades of green. I'll be labeling them Green, meaning I used the least environmentally-harmful methods I know; Light Green, meaning I was used methods that were somewhat green; and Red. Red means traditional cleaning. I hope you'll be able to try out some of these methods as well, and if you have any suggestions for my Red cleaning options, let me know.

Green:

• I cleaned the cupboards, shelves, stove, fridge doors, and pretty much everything else with undiluted vinegar, spraying it just as I would a store-bought cleaner and wiping with a wet sponge.
  
• I used a combination of vinegar and baking soda to clean the sink. First I filled the sink with about an inch of vinegar to cut the mineralization, then rinsed it and scrubbed using the baking soda as a mild abrasive.
• I used homemade rags (cut up T-shirts from my closet-cleaning adventure) to dust and dry.
• I recycled a bunch of containers and cans, and found some reusable stuff for Goodwill.
  

Light Green:

• I washed the dishes with Mrs. Meyer's dish soap, which uses plant-based cleaners.
• I used about 5 paper towels. They were a recycled brand - Small Steps. They work well, I've found, as compared to some others I've tried (see below).
  

Red

• I washed the rags, rug, and towels with Tide Essentials with Baking Soda. I don't think it's really any different than Tide, because it has the same material-safety data sheet. It doesn't, however, have the uber-chemically fragrance of regular detergent. When I have tried more environmentally-responsible detergents, such as Seventh Generation, they have not worked AT ALL. I actually had to wash my clothes again after using Seventh Generation, because they were still stinky. What's the point of buying "green" products if they don't do what they're supposed to? (Seventh Generation is on my bad list for this particular reason, after their paper towels also failed me.)
  
• I used some floor cleaner that I had under the sink to mop.

Tomorrow: The living room!