Why Not Lime?

Sharing a Shel Poem2

I read other blogs to see what everyone else is up to, what their opinions are, and if there’s something important in this world that I don’t know about yet.

I’m still surprised to find people who think blogs are simply an online journal - a place to tell your personal story, or write about your emotions, etc. Blogs are very personal sometimes, but not as frequently as some people imagine. I find it helpful for sharing your personal knowledge or expertise about a particular subject, or creating a place for posting big ideas (eg. how to make the world a better place) or advice (eg. how to turn your shoe into a water fountain). (Don’t Google that.)

Sometimes I find a blog post that is particularly inspiring or thoughtful, and The Green Divas posted a poem that I read as a kid, but haven’t really understood before, or given much thought. It’s lovely, and I think it shares a peaceful vision of an earth-friendly, sustainable living world.

This poem can probably help all of us remember a quiet, peaceful place in our lives. It makes me think of my grandparents’ home in the country, surrounded by big fields, numerous flower gardens, orchard, and little nooks and crannies that were secret and mysterious, which all turned my childlike perception of reality into one long summer daydream.

There is a place where the sidewalk ends

And before the street begins

And there the grass grows soft and white,

And there the sun burns crimson bright.

And there the moon-bird rests from his flight

To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black

And the dark street winds and bends.

Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow

We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And watch where the chalk-white arrows go

To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we’ll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And we’ll go where the chalk-white arrows go

For the children, they mark, and the children, they know

The place where the sidewalk ends.

                                                                                                                          Shel Silverstein, 1974

Posted: Why Go Green, Green Inspiration

Making Green the Hip Scene1

Living the lime life is not an easy change.

Consider some of the most obvious edits that we can make to our daily lives:

 - Changing our light bulbs and turning off the lights

 - Carpooling to work

 - Starting a garden (and composting to fertilize it!)

 - Um, recycling?

 - Riding your bike for short distances instead of driving

 - Unplugging all unused electronics

 - Turning down the heat or air conditioning in your home

The only way to motivate all of us to make such simple changes, and possibly dozens of others, is to help people find a reason, their own personal reasons. People only do what they want to do, right?

This article in the New York Times Sunday Magazine by Michael Pollan suggests a few reasons for living a greener lifestyle, and he also addresses the most basic question: why bother?

Pollan suggests that perhaps it is a matter of personal virtue. Virtue, defined as moral excellence and rightousness, is certainly one motivator. As many people feel anger over watching someone litter (you can see the result immediately), there are others who would feel the same if their neighbors weren’t recycling.

Pollan also suggests that perhaps each individual could influence others to become more conscious of living a sustainable lifestyle, that it isn’t such a lonely effort after all. That perhaps it could become cool to NOT have things, instead of having everything. I think this as a viable possibility. This type of infectious cultural movement is seen in many places - otherwise how could we have such a difference in sustainable living habits in communities from, say, Portland, OR to Omaha, NE?

And, once we find our reasons - whether to feel better about our personal values, to join a hip cultural green trend, or to preserve the earth for our future generations - all it takes is that one bold but very difficult move to make a change, and just maybe join your local carpool or learn something about gardening. Once you start a garden, you never know what challenge you might feel like tackling next. Solar panel roof? You go.

Posted: Recycling, Why Go Green, Getting Started Green

Saving Gas3

Best Gas-Saving Tip Ever, from the Sierra Club:

Drive slower.

Obviously this isn’t breaking news, but they translated miles per hour into money spent in one of their last e-newsletters.

Some interesting facts:

- According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, dropping from 70 to 60 miles per hour improves fuel efficiency by an average of 17.2 percent.

- Dropping from 75 to 55 improves fuel efficiency by 30.6 percent.

- In a family sedan, every 10 mph that you drive over 60 is like paying 54 cents per gallon more for gas you bought at $3.25 a gallon. (That cost is even higher for larger vehicles, like SUVs or trucks.)

- On a 300 mile trip, driving 65 instead of 70 mph would only cost you an additional 20 minutes.

I don’t know about you guys, but I have a little bit of a lead foot. It’s not that I want to drive fast. It’s just that I’m usually late for things.

So maybe my ultimate gas saving tip is to “get organized” so that I am leaving my house with plenty of time to get where I’m going. So that, yes - I can drive slower.

Not only does driving slower allow you to save money and burn less carbon, it also lets you:

- Take it easy on your brakes.

- Avoid some accidents and/or traffic tickets. (Ahem, yes, I’m speaking from experience!)

- Have a less stressful day.

- Listen to more of your Eat, Pray, Love audio book.

- Have an excuse for being late for work. “Boss, I was trying to save the ozone layer.”

So - Save money. Save the environment. Be lime. Drive lime.

Does anyone else out there have some gas saving tips, or reasons to drive slower? Please share in the comment section below! Thanks!

Posted: Travel Green

Collars No Longer Restricted to Blue and White1

My sales pitch for the world: Buy Green! Buy Organic! Buy Lime Things! 

You’ve probably already heard about the exciting news: collars are now also allowed to be categorized as green.

Last Sunday’s World Herald had a cover story called: Green Around the Collar, which explored the idea that jobs related to sustainability practices will become more and more popular with the increasing consumer demand for green products. (Why not lime ones? I don’t know either.)

The article also suggests that there are green collar jobs available that aren’t being filled because of the lack of training within the current job applicant pool. It goes on to recommend the Sustainability Business Program at Aquinas College. I don’t know about the program, but I don’t think it’s a bad idea that those who are interested in “green collar” jobs look for some job-specific training to get an edge on their competition. It’s a revitalized and growing consumer demand that will need to be met.

I also found this research article that lists 22 specific sectors in which to find the new green collar jobs. According to the article, many of the new green collar jobs will be available even to those with entry-level abilities, and also to those who are looking for apprenticeship opportunities.

I’m sure many of the green collar employers will not find anyone with the specific abilities required, so apprenticeships are the only option that these companies have. It’s an amazing opportunity to look into.

Treehugger.com has a seemingly popular environmental job board for openings all across the country.

Forbes.com also has an article that suggests several other universities which offer joint graduate degrees in business and environmental science, which include: Stanford, the University of Michigan, and the University of North Carolina… in case you were wondering.

Dually helpful to our economy and our environment, I’m definitely excited about these new job opportunities. We have to remember that they are primarily consumer-driven, though, so we need to carefully choose the companies that we support. And, although it’s initally hard on our bank accounts, especially with the awesome gas prices, we have to remember that supporting our organic/ green companies will be the only way to see the return within our economy, and for our environment.

Save the organic limes. Buy green.

Posted: Local Support, Organic Shopping, Green Politics, Green Jobs

Nebraska Food Cooperative3

I can’t believe I haven’t written about this yet.

Brian O’Malley, the chef/instructor from Metro, informed me about the Nebraska Food Cooperative. Here is their mission:

“To foster a local food community and promote a culture of stewardship by cultivating farmer-shopper relationships, promoting the enjoyment of healthful food, increasing food security through diversity, and enhancing overall rural sustainability.”

If you are a person who believes in supporting locally grown, organic food, then this is exactly where you should be shopping!

In order to participate in the Co-op, there is a membership fee. You can buy a share of the Co-op for $100 if you live in Nebraska and become a voting member (help to decide what’s going on, since you are a part-owner), and then pay a $20 membership fee, which is waived the first year. Or, you can pay a fee of $40 per year to be a non-member shopper.

You can shop for the most unique and most tasteful groceries online, and then have them delivered to your area at least once a month. For example, Jane’s Benson Health Market is where I would need to pick up my food order on delivery day. Their website provides delivery pickup times and locations that are nearest to you.

There are a lot of smart benefits to consider. You’re buying from people in your community, which supports your local economy. Because you’re purchasing goods from a short distance, you’re also supporting food which requires less transportation cost. And, bonus - your food is so much healthier when you eat local!

The Co-op website includes a downloadable list of foods that you can order, which include in-season fruits and veggies, frozen pies, jams and jellies, local livestock, homemade crafts, handmade soaps, Thanksgiving turkeys, and so much more! And, the more we can support the Co-op, the more products will be able to be provided.

I also found this cool tidbit - they’re coming out with a cookbook. The cookbook, entitled Twelve Dishes from Here, will benefit The Nebraska Food Cooperative. Copper Core Consulting, a faculty/student consortium at Metro’s Institute for the Culinary Arts, is helping to create the book. The release date will be in early fall 2008, and they are asking for input regarding price, content, and design. So, if you have time, please visit www.mccneb.edu/culinary to provide your opinion.

Please check out the Co-op’s website and let me know if you are involved or if you’re thinking about doing so! Thanks!

Posted: Local Support, Organic Shopping, Green Groups, Green Health, Getting Started Green