You're Fired

I don't know about many of you but I am tired of hearing about the big banks in America, and the enormous payouts they give to some of their employees. If you were "top big to fail" then how come you needed a large sum for bailout money from the government a year ago?

You may not have heard of it yet but there is a

grassroots effort to Move your Money from the big banks to a smaller bank. The thought behind this movement is that smaller community banks did not and will not make the risky investments that brought us to the current financial crisis. As Arianna Huffington writes, "Consider it a withdrawl tax on the big banks for the negative service they provide by consistently ignoring the public interest."

I really like this idea, supporting small local banks. Sure I may have to walk a little farther to find an ATM who will not charge me a fee, but if that money isn't going to pay some enormous bonus/salary to an executive at a bank who doesn't care about the local community, then I am all for it!

To find a list of the small community banks in your area go to moveyourmoney.info/

For now I will put my best Donald Trump impression on, and go to my bank and say "You're Fired". I am still debating if I should add the hand gesture with it. Thoughts?

Related Posts: I want to spend money, Turning your cause into a community

Picture courtesy of :http://www.medicalpracticetrends.com/tag/software/

Volunteer Ideas, Vol 2

No. 2:
HEET:
Home Energy Efficiency Team

Want to show off your handy man/woman skills or learn some new ones? "HEET organizes free weatherization parties to teach volunteers hands-on how to lower their energy bills and carbon emissions. We consult with energy experts to pass on accurate information. We build community, create social marketing for energy efficiency and help facilitate exchanges of ideas."

The nuts and bolts: You get to help others AND help yourself. I was the caulking queen (immature jokes aside) at Cambridgeport School. I went home and fixed my own windows, felt warmer and saved myself some green while being green. What's not to love about that?

Location: A home, school, community meeting place, etc somewhere in the Boston area.
Commitment: Usually a half day; sign up as they come up.
Training: None necessary. Bring your skills and/or can do attitude.
Duties: Varies from painting to caulking to replacing windows to whatever you're willing to try!
Contact: heet.cambridge@gmail.com or visit heetma.com

Eat Better this Season!!!

"Imagine for a moment if we once again knew, strictly as a matter of course, these few unremarkable things: What it is we're eating. Where it came from. How it found its way to our table. And what, in a true accounting, it really cost," - Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma

Let's follow in the footsteps of our forefathers this season (minus the murderous killing spree) and get our food local. Come down to Suffolk Law School near the Boylston T stop this Tuesday to learn about local and sustainable eating in the Boston area.

We'll have FREE local snacks and a raffle for Apfel Eis Wine from Still River Winery in Central Mass.

Our distinguished speakers:

Alex Loud, Slow Food Boston
Matthew Kochka, ReVision Urban Farm
Jessica Banhazl, Green City Growers
Jamey Lionette, Lionette's Market

DETAILS:

RSVP To: boston (at) OYFP (dot) org by 4 p.m. Tuesday and get a free raffle ticket!!!
Date: Tuesday, November 17th
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Suffolk Law School Faculty Dining Room, 4th FL Suite 495 120 Tremont Street Boston, MA, 02108-4977 617.573.8000
Who: OYFP Boston, Suffolk University's Sustainability Committee
Cost: Free

When Moving....

I've written about it before, but I have to say when people move, they tend to forget that it creates a lot of garbage. There are steps you can take to reduce your garbage such as going through your stuff and deciding what is donatable.

Where to donate the stuff?

• Boomerangs in Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury. Benefits HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs.
• Household Goods Recycling in Acton
• Goodwill stores various locations throughout Boston

Sometimes you just have to take the time to advertise what you have on Craigslist or freecylcle and someone will come and pick it up from your house!

Not that I mind all the free furniture I receive when I walk my dog, but please take the time to save the items that can be reused!

Related Posts: Moving? Consider donating some of your items, Composting in an Apartment,Talking Trash

Picture Courtesy of: http://stuytownluxliving.com/2009/07/ex-residents-to-stuy-town-mgmt-f-you.html

Tips to Travel Green

Whether it be a staycation or an actual trip it's hard to be Green while traveling. For example I was fortunate enough to visit the Carribean a few weeks ago which has spectacular views and scenery.

That being said, it was also difficult to find any recycling bins for the basics (bottled water, paper, cans, etc.) and when I did find recyle bins they were ONLY for cans. I even took all the paper home from our trip (maps, info guides, etc.) home with me in my luggage to recycle it all when I came back to Beantown.

My sister informs me that I no longer have to pack my recyclables, but I can also be green when I travel as well. Here are some helpful sites to help you plan your trip!

• Eco-Friendly Vacations for you and your family
• Green Hotels
• Cruises
• Ski-Resorts

You can keep your hobbies, such as traveling, and still maintain your sustainable life-style! Have you heard of any other Eco-Friendly Traveling tips?

Related Posts: "Staycation" in Boston, Recycling while Traveling, Springtime, Gasoline and a Solution

Picture of my trip to St. Thomas

Go Blue!

When I attend the OYFP Speaker Series event two days ago, I was really struck by a point made during the lecture. Boston spent 15 Billion on the Big Dig project, making sure people who drive have a better trip into the city, but does little if anything for those who rely on public transportation.

Just imagine, Boston, what kind of public transportation we could have currently if even half of that amount of money was used to create a better public transportation for the City of Boston. We would have new train cars that won't break down or become disabled and delay your trip home every day. When you are waiting for the bus you would actually know how much longer it will be until the next bus arrives because of the electronic sign above you. The Green line would go underground and you would no longer have to stop at every intersection because of street traffic and could actually get you to work on time.

Sigh, okay back to reality. Instead, those of us who rely on public transportation to get to and from work, or even navigate Boston are facing a possible 20% increase in prices to ride the T. If the city really is trying to be more green or more blue as John, our speaker, likes to say (the earth is 70% made of water), than shouldn't our government make public transportation a priority?

If public transportation was more reliable, and made Boston more accessible, than we could take more cars off the road and reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide we release into the atmosphere, thus less pollution for the ocean! Win-win!

Do you think the state should spend money upgrading its public transportation system?

Related Posts: The Canary Project, Rubber Duckies and Global Warming, I am the Walrus

Picture Courtesy of: http://herokids.wordpress.com/

My guilty concience: Vegetables

I have guilt.

Oh the guilt!!!

It's not about leaving OYFP (yes, after three years I'm resigning, and like Sarah Palin, I'm not sure what my future volunteering plans are).

It's about all the vegetables in my fridge.

Oh the vegetables!

Daikon turnips, kale, radishes, cabbage (two kinds), three bunches of cilantro, two bunches of parsley, ten cucumbers, garlic scrape, regular garlic, onions, tomatoes, and more. It's CSA time, and I have plenty of veggies again. The harvest has been bountiful despite the overly rainy and cloudy season, and my fridge is bursting at its seams. How quickly I forgot the pressure of the veggies in the fridge --- "eat me! cook me! I'm organic and natural and going to go bad unless you do something!"

I have extra pressure this year because my brother -- my own flesh and blood -- has grown these vegetables.

Don't get me wrong - these veggies are out of this world delicious. I want to eat them. But there are some unusual veggies in the mix, and there's only so many stirfry dishes a girl can stand. Or cabbage soup (yuck). I've been on the search for a Few Good Recipes, and I think I've found them.

My easy seasonal recommendations, which even those of you who don't belong to CSAs can use:

• Parsley: Pepita Parsley Pesto
• Cabbage: Curried Coleslaw (sub out half the mayo for greek yogurt)
• Cabbage: Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancake)
• Kale: Roasted Kale Chips
• Kale: Summer Pasta n' Kale a la JLK
  
• Cilantro: Chickpea Cilantro Dip (add red onion or substitute navy beans for chickpeas)
  
• Zucchini: Throw 'em on the grill, or in the oven with the kale
  
• Daikon radishes: Just eat them raw
• You can't go wrong with a Summer Veggie Curry
• Or use a farm-fresh egg and some of your summer greens on this fun pizza
  

Let me know what you think! My guests have been more than happy with the results...

Related Posts: PSA for CSAs; Not Wasting Food; Patio Gardens; Find Local Food Locally
Photos courtesy of Red Fire Farm. You can buy their veggies bi-weekly at the South Station Farmer's Market.

The Canary Project

I work for a very green company in a very green workplace, so it was no surprise to me when the founders of the Canary Project paid us a visit to educate us about their work. The Project "produces visual media, events, and artwork that build public understanding of human-induced climate change and energize commitment to solutions." Edward Morris and his wife and photographer for the project, Susannah Sayler have travelled the world (I won't pretend I'm not a little bit jealous) photographing areas affected by climate change. The Canary Project successfully melds art and activism and is an interesting new way to inform and inspire. Check it out!

Living Green Festival

Want to create a more sustainable lifestyle like the town of Vauban, Germany? Okay so maybe talking to your city officials and banning cars might be a bit extreme at this point, but there is always something that you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. I keep hearing new ideas from other people and setting obtainable goals for myself, like reusable containers for my water instead of plastic bottles.

If you are unsure of what things you can do to create a more sustainable lifestyle then come on down to the Living Green Festival. There will be hands-on workshops, pictures with the Green Monster, A Green Vehicle Show and more! I also like that if you ride your bicycle there you will receive a free basic adjustment and tune up. Oh and if you bring a year of energy bills you can receive a free cost-saving breakdown and a chance to win an energy audit! Anyway you look at it there is something for everyone here.

Details:

Date: Saturday May 16th

Time: 10:00AM to 2:00PM

Location: Somerville High School, 81 Highland Ave.

Cost: Free!

Click here for more information.

Related Posts: Global Warning Cafe, What is hindering your ability to be green?, Was it Green? EarthFest 2008

Picture Courtesy of: http://www.scityvt.co.uk/assets/cycle.jpg

PSA for CSA

Ah yes, that beautiful springtime Boston weather--when it's 90 degrees and sunny one day, yet 50 degrees and rainy the next. But it is at least spring, when April showers bring May farmers' markets (or I think that's the saying).

That's right, farmers' markets are right around the corner! And as we keep hearing about the salmonella scares in our food supply--sometimes ones that exist for years before the public finally learns about them, it's become increasingly apparent that knowing exactly where our food comes from is imperative to our well being. Worse, recent reports suggest that the H1N1 ("swine") flu may have derived from U.S. factory pig farms in the late 1990s; which if you have read Michael Pollan's, Omnivore's Dilemma, you know those are not fun places to be (see Chapter 11: The Animals).

But thankfully, and increasingly, farmers' markets (as great as they are) are not the only means to finding local, fresh, and clean produce. Behold the concept of CSA (Community-supported Agriculture). Before the season begins (read: now), consumers sign up to receive a "share" of the produce that is grown. Often times this will mean a box of produce that you can pick up each week and bring home. As this season progresses, different items will comprise your share. For example, in my CSA, we're expecting lettuce and tomatoes in June among other things, and onions and potatoes in October.

I don't want to give a full defense for CSA here--it would take too long and become boring, but I do want to point out a couple highlights: 1) You know where your food is coming from; 2) Your food will be fresh and clean (albeit not of dirt); 3) You will support your local economy; 4) Quite possibly meet a few farmers; 5) Stop spending so much time (and money) in supermarkets. Of course, there's one small downside, but it seems minor to all the benefits in comparison.

So if you want to sign up, I suggest you move quickly as the growing season approaches. Stillman's Farm, Allendale Farm, and Silverbrook Farms are all options I've heard of several times--but just do a quick search and you'll be able to find many more.

And if you aren't quite sold on this whole local, sustainable thing, but want to learn more, BU is hosting quite a number of events and talks this Friday and Saturday. If you can't make that, I suggest at least picking up a copy of King Corn--it's well worth the hour and a half.

And lastly if all of this has been old news, let us know your favorite farmers' markets in the Boston area, and/or the CSA you belong to. And maybe more importantly, your strategy for dealing with that last bit of kale :)

Make Your Own Rain Barrel

My plus one and I really do try to be green, and one way we figured out to reduce the amount of water we consume is to create our own rain barrel. This rain barrel will allow us to collect all the rain water from one of our down spouts so we can water our indoor plants and my garden to be when it hasn't rained in awhile. So I thought would provide a how-to model (with Jamie's help) for those that are interested in having one.

Supplies Needed:

• Shower Drain
• Mesh Screen
• Large Barrel (Ours is 30 Gallon and was found on its way to the dumpster)
• 1-inch Threaded Hose Connector
• Half-Inch Vinyl Hose
• Brass Spigot
• Teflon Tape

All our supplies cost $35.00 at our local hardware store and of course our Barrel was free.

Assembly:

Top: Cut the Mesh Screen to fit the size of the drain. Hold it in place with the screws that hold the grate to the drain assembly. Cut a hole in the lid of a barrell to fit the diameter of the drain assembly. Attach the drain into the lid by tighting down the threaded collor of the drain assembly onto the lid. The rubber gasket should be positioned so that you have a water tight seal.

Overflow Tubing: Drill a one-inch hole into a side of the barrel towards the top. Thread the hose conector through the one-inch hole and attach overflow tubing to the hose connector.

Spigot: Drill a second one inch whole into the side of the barrel towards the bottom. Wrap the threading of the spigget with some teflon tape. Thread the spigot into the one-inch hole, turning until you have a tight fit.

Place the rain barrel under a down spout from your roof. The down spout can be cut to fit the barrel with a hack saw. Additionally we placed it on top of several cinder blocks so we could easily fit our watering can underneath the spigot.

Related Posts: What is hindering your ability to be Green, Get out of the House, Learn New Skills, Help Others and Your Resume Talking Trash

Picture Courtesy of: Jamie

Not Wasting Food - Spaghetti Salad to the Rescue!

It was a never-ending mantra at my house when I was growing up: "Finish what you have on your plate. Don't waste food!" If we were lucky, our Dad (who we called the garbage disposal) would eat our last few bites. As kids, we understood that we were lucky to have dinner on the table every night, and that every kid didn't have that.... but we didn't really get it. Even now, I don't really get it, because I've never been without food.

However, I can try to "get it" by not wasting the food that I'm fortunate enough to have. My friend Berkley made a New Year's Resolution to not waste food, and she has inspired me to try even harder not to let stuff get moldy (photo at left illustrating my failed attempts). Of course, this also fits in with the whole "recession" thing we've got going on. Not wasting food means not wasting money, and that's something we could all do a little better.

It's harder than you might think, especially if you live along and are trying to cook/eat for one person. Often times I have good intentions when I purchase food at the grocery store, but then have to work late, or a friend calls up, or I overestimate what one normal sized person actually consumes, or I get sick and can only eat chicken soup and bananas for a week or... you get the idea.

However, I have come up with a few tricks to prevent waste:

• "Just In Time" food purchases. Only buy food for the meals you are 100% you are going to prepare. This may mean more than 1 trip to the grocery store in a week, but it prevents waste. I'm still struggling to control what my boyfriend calls me "food buying urges." It just all looks so pretty on the shelf...
  
• The freezer is your friend. Label and freeze leftovers after cooking, and before they go bad. Trust me, after the third night of lasagna you're going to want to take a break. A month later, though, the lasagna from the freezer will make a great weeknight dinner!
• Re-use! Or do what I call "re-purposing." Leftover rice can easily become fried rice. Bread on its way to becoming stale can become croutons, bread pudding, or stuffing. Or my new favorite: If you made too much spaghetti and meatballs and not enough tomato sauce,and happen to have a head of romaine lettuce and italian dressing in the fridge, make Spaghetti Salad (photo at right)!
  
• Host a Leftover Night. My mom also used to have what she termed "leftover night," where dinner would be bits and pieces of the previous night's meals. You could invite a close friend or two over to bring their leftovers, and all enjoy the potpourri of foods. Of course, they would have to be the close type of friends who wouldn't mind eating leftovers.
• Share at work. There's nothing people like better than free food, especially if it's homemade. Share the wealth, people!
  

And for those foods that have gone victim to the mold monster, or all my extra vegetable cuttings, I have my handy (but grumble-y) indoor compostor, which turns organic trash into nutrient-rich dirt.

Hopefully with a little more creativity, and a lot more self control, I'll reduce my wasted foods. What are your tips for reducing food waste? And what's the most creative (but still tasty) leftover creation you've made?

Related Posts: Composting in an apartment; Shopping Thriftily; Find local food locally; CSAs Rock
Photos courtesy of me and my kitchen. :-)

Earth Hour in Boston - 2009

Boston seems consumed by the NCAA basketball tournament. However, maybe you should give your poor adrenaline-flooded heart a rest this Saturday from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM by turning off your TV, and all electricity. It's called Earth Hour, and it's a worldwide event where people turn it all off in recognition of [essentially] global warming and our impact as humans on the Earth.

Individuals can choose to participate simply by making the choice to turn it all off. You still can have fun without electricity - My cousins and I used to regularly play "hide and seek in the dark," which was oh so thrilling (and bruise-inducing - who put that stepstool there?). You could also pull out some cards, board games, or light a few candles and get cozy with a special friend. ;-)

Cities can also elect to participate. This year, Boston has signed up, joining the list of over 1,000 cities in 80 countries. Us New Englanders are officially part of this! The Hancock tower will be dimming its lights, as will the Zakem bridge, Prudential Center, and other local landmarks.

Some restaurants are also celebrating with beeswax candles setting the mood - The Achilles Project in the up and coming Fort Point district (aka the area between South Station and the Boston Convention Center) is leading the way with a special menu between 8:30 and 9:30 PM.

Last year Chicago turned it off, and prevented the same amount of CO2 from being created that 104 acres of trees would have consumed. One hour CAN make a big difference.

So. I'll see you in the dark!

Related Posts: Earth Hour in Boston 2008; What is preventing you from being green?; Shopping Thriftily (and greenly)
The photo is of me! I'm in front of my candle-heavy birthday cake.

What is hindering your ability to be Green

I am sure I have mentioned by now that I watch a lot of TV. In any case my latest obsession is watching the green channel. Most of the shows that I watch show you ways you can become more green. The irony isn't lost on me either that I would actually be more green if I didn't watch all the TV I did and read a book instead.

So although I try to be as green as possible sometimes there are instances on these shows that I a end up saying. "I can't do that". For Example one episode featured a home that was being made of straw! I can just imagine going to the City officials asking for a permit, stating I would like to redo my house into straw. I can guarantee I would be denied!

Another episode on a different show said I shouldn't buy clothes that have cotton (not organic) or polyester in it. Sure no problem! Wait a second, it costs what? In this economy who can afford these clothes? Not me. I might as well buy as well buy couture for those prices.

Furthermore, I was at my friend house for the first time and they were giving us a tour of their home. Seems logical, right? Then when we got to the bathroom and they said they have a policy just like in Meet the Fockers, to only flush when they go #2. While I appreciate the water it's saving, it's REALLY gross to see someone else's urine! I would worry about the cleanliness of the whole thing. Perhaps the answer is to get a dual flush toilet, but what if you rent and that is not an option? Then you are left with the choice to flush or not to flush.

My examples may not be something most people can do but that's the point. Where some of us see limitations others see opportunities. I like to think of myself as an opportunist but sometimes even I have my limits. Do you have anything that is hindering your ability to be green, or is it just me?

Related Posts: Composting in an Apartment, The Gift that Keeps on Giving... Solar Power

Picture courtesy of: http://bumperstickers.cafepress.com/item/anti-green-hilarious-bumper-stickers/288141806

The Gift that Keeps on Giving... Solar Power

Recently for my birthday, my honey gave me this device shown here. It is a Hybrid Charger that uses solar power technology to power up your electronic devices(phone, mp3 player, laptop, etc.).

It's really simple to operate, you put a pen or pencil in the center of the device, face it to a window(south facing is best) and it will charge away. So while I was at work, I was storing energy from the sun to use on my electronic devices which I powered up when I was home at night. Talk about multi-tasking!

This is a really cool gift idea because it helps me reduce my use of energy in the house. This of course will save me money and reduce my carbon footprint on the world.

The other reason it is really cool gift idea is because it is an investment for green technology. Instead of receiving some new clothes (not needed, but I do have material desires after all) that would have been used for a couple of years until it was out of fashion and then donated to Goodwill. I received a gift that is a commitment to the future of our world. Hopefully these hybrid chargers will lead to new different green technology which will help us reduce our carbon footprints.

It is certainly going to help me become more green, which is something we all need to consider.

Have you received any cool new gadgets that support green technology?

Related Posts: Composting in an Apartment, The Greenest Generation, Public Transit in Seattle: Solar power!, Adding to the Grid

Shopping Thriftily

I feel as though I'm constantly being bombarded with messages about how I "need" new jeans, or I simply "have to get" that new stylish top. Well, gosh darn it, I'm tired of spending money! And I'm trying to increase my minuscule nest egg, just in case my secure job becomes not so secure. Not to mention I'm trying to consume less overall in order to be more environmentally friendly.

However, I still like consuming. I do. It's fun to get new stuff, or at least 'new to me stuff.' Some of my favorite places to pick up trendy deals are:

Urban Renewals, Allston, MA
Think Goodwill, yet not, because it's not actually Goodwill. But it could be one. They have a ton of clothes here. You're not likely to find any of that cool vintage stuff you always hope thrift stores have, but I did get a fantastic dress there that served as the basis for my mermaid costume. They do have a fairly good selection of home goods. I picked up some great baskets that I use for storage. The other great thing about this place is that it's open until 8 PM on Thursdays, and open Saturdays and Sundays.

Nearly New Thrift Shop, Brighton, MA
This place is actually in a church (see their sign on the right) and helps them raise money for churchy things, like giving groceries to people who can't afford them. They're only open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 2 PM, but it's a wonderful Saturday morning expedition. This place seems to get a lot of stuff from older people. Some nice woman's donated sewing supplies jump started my button collection. I have also gotten quite a few random plates here, which I enjoy.

People here are nice, clients are mostly older folk also in the building to get groceries. The other day I tried to pay more than what she wanted to charge me ($2, I offered her $5 since I only had a $20 bill), but she insisted on giving me full change. I wanted to be like, "LADY! It's for CHARITY! And I have a TON of buttons and lace here!" But I didn't make a fuss.

This weekend I'm planning on dropping off some stuff to help replenish their stocks, and help raise money for their food pantry.

Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA
When my library fines overwhelm me and I'm feeling extravagent, I visit the basement of the Brookline Booksmith where they sell used books. Last time I was there, I picked up a huge oversized version of Curious George. Hollah!!! I also managed to buy a book I had already read. Dang. At least it was just $7 down the tube, not $20.

Craig's List Free Stuff
It's what it says. Free. Sometimes it's shit, sometimes it's not; sometimes it needs repair; and sometimes it's just chock full of nada. The "for sale" listings sometimes have good stuff, but often it's overpriced.

Freecycle
It's free, it's stuff, it's all in the spirit of reusing.

ShopGoodwill.com
The only Goodwill store I know of that has its own online shopping interface!! What fun! Any items you purchase will come from far-away Santa Ana, CA.

The Curb, At A Location Near You
Yes, I have been known to pick up stuff off the curb. One man's trash, another man's treasure! Keep your eyes peeled on trash day. The redeemable can/bottle gatherers will likely leave the furniture for someone a little more ambitious. I have a great little chair I painted red that I picked up off the curb in good ole Somerville.

Of course on snowy days like today, you could always snag someone's annoying "parking spot saver."

Where's your favorite place to get deals?

Related Posts: Composting in an apartment; Moving? Donate your items; Spring Cleaning Part Deux
Photo courtesy of romaryka.

Composting in an Apartment

You probably think I'm crazy - talking about gardening and composting in the middle of winter. For Christmas this year, I received an indoor composter from my boyfriend, made by NatureMill. So now instead of putting my vegetable cuttings and leftover pasta into the trash, I can put it in this composter where it will turn into usable dirt within 2 weeks or so!

You may think that your trash that can break down into dirt, breaks down once it's in the landfill. Think about this for a minute - what do you put your trash in? A plastic bag. Can plastic bags break down? Not really, not for a long time. Especially considering the fact that your trash bag is piled underneath thousands of other trash bags, away from the sun and air that help the trash break down. So all your trash that could be made into rich dirt isn't.

The composter is about the size of an old school computer tower, and is made out of black styrofoam. (Side note: Styrofoam actually is not that bad for the earth because it is much lighter to transport than paper products.) Compostable items are placed in this metal tray, and it is stirred every few hours. The entire thing is kept at an elevated temperature to rush along the breakdown process. I have to add sawdust and baking soda. I think the baking soda prevents odors.

So far I have one container of dirt. It's so rich (or so the pamplet says) that you can't actually pot a plant in it - Once the compost has "cured" long enough, I'm just supposed to sprinkle it on top of the soil so the nutrients drain down into the roots.

This sort of luxury (composting inside) doesn't come cheap. The thing costs between $199 and $399, depending on your model. And, mine is currently "jammed" even though there is no visible blockage. I've tried everything, aside from a phone call to the manufacturer.

Still, I have hope for my little composter. Soon I'll have fertile soil enough to help start a city garden, all without owning any land! Now that's a technological advance.

Related Posts: Composting in the City; Green tips for the New Year; Make Love, Not Grass; Bee-ware: Where have all the bees gone?; Patio Gardens and City Growing
Photo of landfill courtesy of D'Arcy Norman. Photo of the composter courtesy of NatureMill.

Yes, We Can - Make it a day on

On Sunday, January 18th, in the spirit of the King Day of Service, the Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), in partnership with Green Decade Cambridge and with funding from the Massachusetts Service Alliance, will hold a Weatherization Barnraising at The Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House and the Cambridgeport School.

Traditionally, a “barnraising” was when a community would come together to help a family build a barn. Using this concept HEET is brining volunteers together to weatherize The Margaret Fuller Neigborhood House and The Cambridgeport School.

HEET has organized expert builders and contractors to lead the weatherization activities. Weatherization is the practice of protecting a building and its interior from the elements, predominantly from sunlight, precipitation, wind, and of modifying a building to reduce energy consumption and optimize energy efficiency.

Dr. King’s Day of service aims to make the Martin Luther King holiday a day ON, where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to “improve lives, bridge social barriers, and move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” that Dr. King envisioned.” For more information about the King Day of Service please visit http://mlkday.gov.

The Home Energy Efficiency Team is raising funds in order to make weatherization barnraisings available to households that cannot afford the cost of weatherization materials. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to support some of our neighbors who are most in need.

Check back for hammer in hand interviews and pictures posted live from yours truly.

Picture from http://www.mlkday.gov.

Talking Trash

It's truly an adventure walking to work every morning. I leave my apartment in the North End and walk through Government Center, across Boston Common and finally up Boylston to the Pru. Usually by this point sweating profusely (because Dylan Dryer is sometimes a little off) or trying to get the feeling back in my numbed face, fingers and toes. The walk usually takes about 35-38 minutes which leaves plenty of room for me to peruse the sidewalks for unusual sightings and people while rocking out to my ipod. Most people think I'm keeping to myself, but really I'm looking for my next opportunity to exploit whatever might strike me as obnoxious, funny, or simply out of the ordinary.

Last week, and really since I first moved to the North End over a year ago, I thought about how many random, stray objects I've walked past on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday trash days. I came across this television which has been keeping this tree company for about a week now. I'm not sure what guidelines the garbage men follow but I guess this guy didn't make the cut. I've seen things like bed frames, cat scratching posts, fish tanks and more so was surprised to see this pretty average looking tv abandoned for so long.

I wonder what will happen to it...maybe someone will pick it up and see if it works, maybe someone will use it as decor in a shop or restaurant, maybe the garbage men will feel bad it has been sitting there for so long and just take it, or maybe I'll still be walking by it in the spring.

Hope it survives another night in the cold.

What to do with all those Holiday Cards

Now that the holiday season is winding down and you have started to take down any holiday decorations, you may be left with the inevitable pile of holiday cards. Holiday cards are always fun to receive and I am EXTREMELY thankful for everyone I get. That being said, there are more things to do with your holiday cards than simply put them in the recycle bin when the season is over. Here are a few ideas on what you could do with yours.

1. Put them in a scrapbook. I used to do this when I was a child and saved all my holiday/birthday/valentine cards in a scrapbook. I used to hate it when my mom made me do it, but when I was home over the holidays I found a couple of theses old scrapbooks and it brought back many fond memories. Over time I had forgot some of the little details of who I was friends with, the funny cards that were sent my way, etc. It was really enjoyable to look over these old cards again!
   
2. If the front part of the card is not written on you can cut it out from the back part (make sure to recyle the back part) and reuse it as a postcard the following year or a unique gift tag for one of your presents.
   
3. Cut your cards into decorative tree ornaments.
   
4. Bring your cards into a local daycare center to be used as arts and crafts projects.

These are a few of the ideas I know of, do you have any great ideas on what to with the holdiay cards you receive?

Related Posts: Alternative holiday gift ideas, Green Tips for the New Year
Picture Courtesy of: http://papercrave.com/index.php?tag=paper-christmas-ornament