by Annie Botticelli

Green Me Today Practical Ideas You Can Implement Immediately

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:53:01 -0700

Most people want a greener future. The feedback I have gotten from those who share this desire appreciate easy things they can implement today. If you are one of these people, this blog’s for you ;)
Today’s idea is something that I do every day that I offer as a way to get healthier and greener is to walk your errands.
I live in a smallish town so this is pretty easy to implement. Modification can be made for those who live in bigger places, such as carpooling, public transit, and biking. I also believe, for those that look for ways to do this they will see that more is in walking distance than they may think.
I put the baby in the stroller, get the dog on the leash, and pretty much every morning take to the town by foot to do things I could do by car. I go to the bank, the post office, grocery store. I load up my recycling in the bottom of the stroller and do that by foot, too. I visit friends and do business-related things, all on foot.
Stay tuned for more “Green Me Today” ideas to come...

-Annie Konovitch is a Social, Health, and Spiritual Activist living in Sedona, Arizona.

Copyright 2010 Annie Konovitch

Unplugging from the Plastic Empire-part two

Mon, 7 Jun 2010 11:03:01 -0700

Check out part one of this journey in my previous blog called “Pondering the Pervasiveness of Plastic” and part two in “Unplugging from the Plastic Empire”.
So to recap the origins of this project...
During a meltdown a couple of weeks ago that came from my realization of the pervasiveness of plastic I became overwhelmed because I realized it was everywhere. Plastic had so infiltrated my life that I didn’t even know where to start to try to unplug from the plastic empire. After spending much time on the topic I came up with this guideline for myself that will help me along this journey of unplugging:
I WILL RELEASE PLASTIC ITEMS THAT ARE NOT REALLY NECESSARY, REALLY HELPFUL, OR DOING ENOUGH OF A GOOD SERVICE TO COUNTERACT THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE FROM ITS CREATION.
Of the ones that are “Really Helpful” I will research and replace with safer and more environmentally sounder alternatives.
The first place I started was by making sure anything my son eats and drinks out of is made of safe materials. Here are some resources to find things such as bowls, cups, bottles, utensils, storage containers, etc:
www.LifeWithoutPlastic.com
Another idea for plastic-free storage is to save the glass jars from other products you buy and use as storage containers. Baby food jars are great for little baby snacks. The bigger baby food jars are good for toddler snacks. Mason jars are my personal favorite for everything. I have found great glass jars with lids at Goodwill stores or other second hand stores, and have found really cool shaped glass containers at antique stores.
If you are concerned protecting your family from pthalates and Bisphenol A (also known as BPA) but aren’t concerned about the environmental repurcussions of overuse of petroleum products such as plastics then there are many resources available now for plastic products that are free from pthalates and Bisphenol A. Here are a few:
http://thesoftlandingbaby.com/2009/01/16/bpa-and-pvc-free-food-storage-containers/
http://www.organicallyhatched.com/BPA_free_baby_food_storage_trays_s/115.htm
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Ababy-products%2Ck%3Aphthalate+and+bpa+free&keywords=phthalate+and+bpa+free&ie=UTF8&qid=1276103086
For more info as to why you may want to go pthalate and BPA free click here:
http://soapchix.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/phthalates-free-baby-products/
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/consumerbaby.htm
http://www.mindfully.org/Health/2002/Sexy-Baby-Phthalate-Poison.htm

I while ago I stopped buying disposable plastic bottles and instead bought bigger, more durable plastic bottles that I refilled with filtered water. This cut down tremendously on my daily plastic use, but most of my storage containers were still PLASTIC. So this week, any remaining plastic storage containers have been given away, recycled, or traded and I now have all glass jugs with metal lids. There is an organic apple juice in a gorgeous glass jug that I have seen at most health food stores. So if you drink apple juice you can buy it and keep the jug. I don’t drink much juice so I called a local vegetarian restaurant that I know uses the apple juice in some of their concoctions and asked if they could hold some jugs for me instead of sending them to recycling. Creativity goes a long way in this project! ;)
Ultimately the best thing for the planet is to USE LESS. Consumerism is at the root of many of the environmental ills. The rates of consumption are staggering but can be rectified easily with each of us evaluation and taking action on the issue on an individual and family level.
I always like to make lemonade from lemons that come into my life. I offer the idea of the drastic economic changes that have come into our experience as an incredible opportunity to get back to the basics. Decreasing budgets create impetus to create homes that have less things of better quality and social and eco-friendly awareness.
Another great resource:
http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2009/11/28/overwhelmed-start-here/

- Annie Konovitch is a Social, Health, and Spiritual Activist living in Sedona, Arizona.

Copyright 2010 Annie Konovitch

Unplugging from the Plastic Empire

Sun, 6 Jun 2010 21:57:11 -0700

Check out part one of this journey in my previous blog called “Pondering the Pervasiveness of Plastic”.
During a meltdown a couple of weeks ago that came from my realization of the pervasiveness of plastic I became overwhelmed because I realized it was everywhere. Plastic had so infiltrated my life that I didn’t even know where to start to try to unplug from the plastic empire. After spending much time on the topic I came up with this guideline for myself that will help me along this journey of unplugging:
I WILL RELEASE PLASTIC ITEMS THAT ARE NOT REALLY NECESSARY, REALLY HELPFUL, OR DOING ENOUGH OF A GOOD SERVICE TO COUNTERACT THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE FROM ITS CREATION.
The first things to go were to be things that my son had direct and regular contact with. Since his plates, cups, and spoons, etc. have been already “greened”, the next focus was his toys. The first round of toys to be evaluated were the ones in our cottage. See picture for what was released (brought to kids consignment or donated).
This process of evaluation helped me to make a list of things that he really likes that I can find safer, environmentally and socially sounder choices.
Here is the list:
• A watering can
• Kiddie-size Table and Chairs
• Blocks
• Pail and Shovel
One thing I have noticed through my parenting process is that kids will play with whatever is around. So when they are around plastic toys, they will play with them, and when they are around rocks and twigs, they will play with those, when they are around kitchen items (such as bowls and big spoons) that will be what keeps their attention. So my guess was that my son wouldn’t miss these things that we were releasing. I explained the whole process to him and will continue to talk to him about what I am doing and why. I know for sure that two-year-olds understand way more than most adults give them credit for. I can only hope that one day he will appreciate the fact that I boldly went against the grain to protect him as much as possible from hormone-disrupting chemicals on plastic and lead-based paints, and tried to make the world a safer and better place for him and future generations.
The topic of plastics, why I have so much of them, and why it has been hard for me to make too much progress in using and having less of them, is quite complex. I have figured out some reasons why those of us who have been aware of the dangers of plastic still have so much of it:
Why do we keep these things?
• They’re cute
• They’re inexpensive to buy
• They are fun to buy and then we feel we need to keep them because we paid money for them
• Guilt because someone else spent their money on them
• Fear that the person will know we released the items and they likely won’t understand why leading them to believe we are ungrateful and possibly off of our rockers
• Because they are colorful
• Because the kids like them
• Because we like them
• Because people who make them, even if it is under inhumane conditions, still have to eat and take care of their families
• The presence of plastics are so pervasive and are part of items we are not ready to do without so we feel like we have no idea where to start with this process
• I’m sure there are more reasons....
On my list of things to keep of my own are:
• My car
• My phone
• My computer

Another list I made is of things that I will hold onto until I can get ones of better constituents:
• Luggage
• Measuring cups
• Dog leash and harness
• Yoga ball
• Stroller

As I move along this process, I know the most important part of it is my discernment as I buy NEW things. The journey continues....stay tuned
- Annie Konovitch is a Social, Health, and Spiritual Activist living in Sedona, Arizona.

Copyright 2010 Annie Konovitch

EnviroBuzz- Get Better Gas Mileage

Fri, 4 Jun 2010 12:36:25 -0700

Envirobuzz: Get better gas mileage
Since we aren’t all ready to live without cars yet, driving is still a part of most of our lives. So, although the first and best way to decrease your environmental imprint is to drive less, there are still things you can do to use less gas when driving.
Slow the use of the planets oil stores (and your wallets money stores) and decrease your footprint by following these easy vehicle maintenance tips:

• Change your air filter. In dusty areas it is a good idea to change the air filter every 5,000 miles (about every other oil change)
• Replace a worn out gas cap
• Add fuel cleaner to your tank every 3,000 miles
• Properly inflate your tires to your vehicles specifications (I did an experiment with this one, my hybrid tells me what my gas mileage is at any given time. The miles per gallon went up by three immediately after I returned my tires to their specified inflation.
• Convert your hybrid to gas/plug-in http://www.electrictoystore.com/ if you live in the Sedona/Verde Valley area call the Electric Toy Store in the Village of Oak Creek: 928-284-2624

Some additional recommendations from www.ecoerth.com
• Keep your engine tuned
• Remove excess weight from vehicle
• Use overdrive gear
• Use cruise control
• Remove unused roof racks
• Minimize idling
• Lower your speed
• Reduce aggressive driving

- Annie Konovitch is a Social, Health, and Spiritual Activist living in Sedona, Arizona

America’s Pursuit for Energy Independence

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 11:59:08 -0700

America’s Pursuit for Energy Independence
America’s pursuit for energy independence is ramping up as its necessity has become obvious, not only as a geopolitical maneuver but also as a measure imperative to the survival of our species.
As evidence of global warming is finally catching the attention of even the most skeptical among us, the race to straighten out previous environmental infringements and prevent future ones begins.
Energy independence is a goal, but also a process; It will be achieved not just through initiatives by the government and institutions, but by each person doing their part. Work must be done at every level to ensure the successful switch into an energy-independent America. Every little eco-decision individuals makes is part of the greater compounding movement: walking, biking, taking public transit, or carpooling to work; installing energy and resource-saving upgrades to homes, such as eco-light bulbs and cistern systems to catch and utilize rainfall, and solar and other alternative power options; buying hybrids and electric vehicles; switching to organic and local food sources. These are just a few of the ways that individuals are making a difference. Remember the power is in you, the individual, and in us, the people. Nothing will force a market to switch its direction like consumers uniting using the almighty dollar to dictate demand. How you use your money will create the markets of the future. By spending your money on green technologies for alternative energy sources you are taking money away from the system that has destroyed our environment and created other problems from our dependence on non-renewable energy from other countries.
At the city, state, and federal levels much more is being done to encourage individuals, institutions, and businesses to use alternative energy resources. Tax credits, grants, and new legislation are creating the framework for a greener America. It is our responsibility to stay educated on these programs, to utilize them, and to assist in their development and expansion.
Scientists are feverishly researching and developing the greener technology and working to get their findings and products out to the public. By staying informed and using the power of our choice we can assist in the new mainstream becoming a greenstream.
So what else can you do? The most important way to be green is with education and action. Read books, watch videos, research on the internet, as much as you can about new ways and old ways to create sustainability and let your home and your life be a model from which others can be informed and inspired to do the same. Contact your power company to see what green options for your service might be available. Switch your home fuels sources to alternative ones such as solar, wind, and geothermal power. Connect with groups of like-minded individuals- there is power in numbers. Plant trees and grow you’re your own organic garden- if you buy food at stores be aware of how far it traveled to get to you and make attempts at cutting the mileage for not just yourself but your purchases- and switch to organic and local foods. Volunteer with organizations such as the Clean Energy Research and Education Institute, whose main objectives are to: Ensure America’s energy independence and security, develop cutting-edge and cost-effective clean energy technology, improve technology currently available for environmentally-friendly sources of energy, strengthen and cultivate scientific research and education, protect and preserve our environment and our planet.
- Annie Konovitch is a Social, Health, and Spiritual Activist living in Sedona, Arizona.
Copyright 2010 Annie Konovitch