and

WHAT YOU’RE PLAYING FOR:

Grand Prize for Him and Her

2 myEARTH360.com water bottles
1 myEARTH360.com tote bag
1 set myEARTH360.com Skoy Cloths
2 GenGreenLife.com reusable bags
1 GenGreen necklace
1 GenGreenLife.com men’s t-shirt (large)
1 Rain Tee women’s t-shirt (includes a tree donated to kids saving the rainforest)
10% off coupon at myEARTH360.com
Sample of biodegradable tableware courtesy of myEARTH360.com
Discount on GenGreenLife.com Premium Business Listing and Business Certification

Second Prize

1 myEARTH360.com water bottle
1 myEARTH360.com tote bag
1 GenGreenLife.com reusable bag
1 Sample of Skoy Cloth and biodegradable tableware courtesy of myEARTH360.com
10% off coupon for myEARTH360.com
Discount on GenGreenLife.com Premium Business Listing and Business Certification

3rd, 4th and 5th Prizes:

1 myEARTH360.com water bottle
1 GenGreenLife.com reusable bag
1 Sample of Skoy Cloth and biodegradable tableware courtesy of myEARTH360
10% off coupon for myEARTH360.com
Discount on GenGreenLife.com Premium Business Listing and Business Certification

INSTRUCTIONS & RULES:

1. Read the question.
2. Find the answer where directed.
3. Put all of the answers, numbered, into an email and send it to info@gengreenlife.com.

Winners will be selected in the order in which entries are received. All winners will be notified via email by Friday, July 10, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. MST. All other participants who answer all questions correctly will receive a special offer from myEARTH360.com and GenGreenLife.com.

Rules:

1. You must be a confirmed member of GenGreenLife.com (business, non-profit or individual) in order to qualify. Not a member? Join here, it’s free! We will verify your membership status in our system so be sure to email us from the email address on your account.
2. You must answer all questions and answer them correctly to qualify.
3. You must submit all of your answers in a single email to info@gengreenlife.com.
4. Only one submission per person per email address will be accepted.
5. Your entry must be received between 12:00 p.m. MST on July 2, 2009 and 12:00 p.m. MST on July 3, 2009. Entries received outside of this time frame will not be accepted.
6. Present and past employees, partners and family members of GenGreen or myEARTH360.com are not eligible to participate for prizes.
7. By participating, you acknowledge that you have read and understand these rules and that failure to the follow these rules will result in disqualification.

Let’s Play!

Answers can be found at one or more of the following locations:

1. GenGreenLife.com in the Environment 101 section under Water Conservation.
2. Greenzine Volume 2, Issue 13 in conjunction with The GenGreen blog
3. myEARTH360 Facebook Page under “News.” Note: You do NOT need to be a member of Facebook to access this page
4. The iCountForMyEarth blog

Good luck and have fun! Here are the questions:

#1: How many liters of water does it take to make one 1-liter bottle of water?

#2: How many gallons of water do most toilets use for each flush?

#3: What chemical can leach into bottled water over time and what is it known for?

#4: How many pieces of plastic and trash are floating in the world’s oceans per square mile?

#5: Catching rain water supplements what type of water?

#6: What industry accounts for the main use of water worldwide and what is the percentage?

Have you found all of the answers? Now email them to info@gengreenlife.com to submit your entry! Thanks for playing along!

by Lynn Hasselberger

In Safe H2O Part 1, I reviewed the environmental and health issues related to bottled water and the fact that 25% (some sources say as high as 40%) or more of bottled water is tap water anyway—some treated, some not. For those concerned with their water quality, investing in a filtration system can be a very cost effective, environmentally-friendly option. But first, you need to test your water to determine what filtration system is best for you—or whether you even need one! And the good news: it’s possible to treat almost any water problem—funny tasting or smelly water—with proper equipment.

Keep in mind that the U.S. has one of—if not THE—safest drinking water systems in the world. Excellent marketing by beverage companies has led us to believe otherwise; hence the high bottled water consumption levels and the worry about whether our water is safe to drink straight from the tap.

Step One: Find Out What’s In Your Water

Many people jump right into a reverse osmosis or other filtration system without really knowing what’s in their water. That could be money down the drain (pun intended). Instead, find out what’s in your water first with a water test and you could save yourself some money and unnecessary work.

On city/public water? You’re in luck. Your water is likely as good, if not better, than bottled water. Why? By law, every municipality in the United States is required to not only test the water, but also do everything necessary to meet the national standards as defined in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Regulations.

If you have well water, like me, the EPA does not have the authority to regulate your well. But they do recommend that you test your water annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH level, and to always use a state certified laboratory that conducts drinking water tests.

The EPA also notes that you test any time you replace or repair any part of your well system and consider more frequent testing if any of the following apply:

•    Someone in your household is pregnant or nursing
•    There are unexplained illnesses in the family
•    Your neighbors find a dangerous contaminant in their water
•    You notice a change in water taste, odor, color or clarity
•    There is a spill of chemicals or fuels into or near your well
•    Someone buried a dead body near your well (just kidding, although I’m sure this would be of concern)

Before you run out and get a test kit, identify potential problem sources.

I was concerned about pesticides and herbicides: our village sprays for mosquitoes during the summer; many people in the neighborhood fertilize their lawns and/or spray their weeds or pests… What else could be lurking in our water? Here are some other things to consider:

•    Is there livestock nearby?
•    Are pesticides being used on nearby agricultural crops?
•    Do you live near a golf course, where they are constantly treating the grounds?
•    Is your well “downstream” from your own or a neighbor’s septic system?
•    Is your well located near a road that’s frequently salted or sprayed with deicers during winter months?
•    Are your copper pipes disintegrating? It’s happening in our home.

Step Two: Purchase a Water Test Kit from a State Certified Laboratory

In previous years, we picked up vials at our county health department for a mere $15 and our water tested well within the EPA standards for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH level. But, considering my concerns, I opted for a more thorough test this year.

A local lab gave me a quote for $500 or more. Ouch. The more contaminants you want to test for, the more you pay. Then I found Sweetwater LLC, owned by Jim McMahon, a professional ecologist with over 30 years of experience. I called Jim and not only was he friendly and patient, he asked questions to determine which contaminants may be an issue in our area. I purchased my water testing kit directly through him at a much more reasonable price than the local lab.

Step Three: Send in Your Water Samples

When we opened the box, it was so simple. There was a vial for bacteria, another for Volatile Organic Compounds, a container for pesticides and herbicides and last, the metals and physical factors vial. There was also an ice pack that we had to put in the freezer for at least 8 hours, then we filled up each container with untreated, unsoftened water, put it all back into the Styrofoam holder (which they recycle for future customers) and packed and shipped it in the same box it arrived in.

Step Four: Interpret your results – Public or Well

If you’re on public water and request a copy of your municipal test results, you can try to figure them out yourself or call someone like Jim.

Our well water test results came back with a handy brochure explaining how to interpret the findings with suggested treatments. Being of creative mind, my eyes immediately glazed over, so I contacted Jim. He explained the results and provided recommendations for improving our water quality. For research purposes, I also contacted our county’s public health department and the actual laboratory where our water was tested. Everything Jim told me was spot on—and even more thorough.

I learned more about the elements in water than I ever dreamed possible and Jim was the first one who was able to explain the reason for our dissolving pipes: Low pH level. No plumber could ever explain to us why our copper pipes were just deteriorating—pliable like a toilet paper tube.

Step Five: Determine Treatment, If Needed

There are LOTS of options out there and many companies that stand behind their product as being the best and the healthiest, etc. I’m not sure which, if any of these companies encourage you to test your water first. Sadly enough, many just want to sell you their system.

Jim not only analyzes test results, he can customize a water treatment system to suit your needs. But he won’t build it without the test results.

I will write more about what Jim recommended for us and why another day, along with our discussion about the pluses and minuses of water softeners. Luckily, our water is perfectly safe to drink as is, although—like anything else—there’s always room for improvement. However, the low pH levels will continue to deteriorate our copper pipes. Part of his recommendation included a contraption that would treat the water so that certain minerals would naturally line our pipes and even fill in pinholes—potential leaks—over time. Who knew these things were possible?

To be continued… In the meantime, feel free to contact me for a copy of our results. And, if you call Jim toll free at 866-691-4214 and mention myEARTH360, he will give you a free consultation, which usually costs between $50-$100.

. . .

About the author: Lynn Hasselberger is the founder of myEARTH 360.com, a company that offers eco-friendly products and whose mission is to raise environmental awareness and help families transition to an earth-friendlier lifestyle. She is also the founder of the I Count For My Earth campaign and the author of the ICountForMyEarth blog

FACT #1: While more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, 97.5 percent of that total is salt water. From the remaining 2.5 percent that is freshwater, almost 70 percent is frozen in ice caps and
glaciers. (7)

FACT #2: Less than 1% of the world’s fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use. (2)

FACT #3: The United States uses about 346,000 million gallons of fresh water every day. (1)

FACT #4: The United States uses nearly 80 percent of its water for irrigation and thermoelectric power. (1)

FACT #5: Agriculture is the main user of water across the globe, accounting for over 70% of all use. (3)

FACT #6: On average, people in the United States use more than 105 gallons (400 liters)—in Europe use more than 52 gallons (200 liters)—of water per day. Flushing the toilet accounts for the largest amount of this water. (3)

FACT #7: 85% of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.

FACT #8: Showers account for 22 percent of individual water use in North America. Reducing your shower time by 5 minutes will save more than 4,200 gallons of water each year.

FACT #9: 3.575 million people die each year from water-related disease. 84% of water-related deaths are in children ages 0 - 14. (2)

FACT #10: 98% of water-related deaths occur in the developing world. (2)

FACT #11: While basic needs vary, the minimum daily requirement for survival is about 5.28 gallons (20 liters) per person. Most of the 1.1 billion people categorized as lacking access to clean water use 1.3 gallons (5 liters) a day—one-tenth of the average daily amount used in rich countries to flush toilets. (3)

FACT #12: When a European person flushes a toilet or an American person showers, he or she is using more water than is available to hundreds of millions of individuals living in urban slums or areas of the developing world. (3)

FACT #13: A lack of water has driven up the use of wastewater for agricultural production in poor urban and rural communities. More than 10% of people worldwide consume foods irrigated by wastewater that can contain chemicals or disease-causing organisms. (2)

FACT #14: Water scarcity occurs even in areas where there is plenty of rainfall or freshwater. How water is conserved, used and distributed in communities, and the quality of the water available can determine if there is enough to meet the demands of households, farms, industry and the environment. (2)

FACT #15: Water scarcity affects one in three people on every continent of the globe. The situation is getting worse as needs for water rise along with population growth, urbanization and increases in household and industrial uses. (2)

FACT #16: Almost one fifth of the world’s population (about 1.2 billion people) live in areas where the water is physically scarce. One quarter of the global population also live in developing countries that face water shortages due to a lack of infrastructure to fetch water from rivers and aquifers. (2)

FACT #17: Nearly 97 percent of the world’s water is saltwater or otherwise undrinkable. Another 2 percent is held in ice caps and glaciers. That leaves just one percent for all of humanity’s needs – agricultural, residential, industrial, etc. – as freshwater. (5a)

FACT #18: At least 1 billion people must walk three hours or more to obtain drinking water. For example, in Mexico, 15 percent of the population must haul or carry water. Even closer to home, nearly 2 percent of U.S. homes still do not have running water. (5d)

FACT #19: In North America and other developed nations, persistent industrial and municipal pollution pose a significant threat to water supplies. According to the EPA, 218 million Americans live within ten miles of a polluted lake, stream, or coastal area, while forty percent of the country’s waters are unsafe for fishing, swimming, or supporting aquatic life. (8)

FACT #20: Each day, the sun evaporates 1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion) tons of water. (5a)

FACT #21: In a 100-year period, an average water molecule spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice, about two weeks in lakes and rivers, and less than a week in the atmosphere. (5a)

FACT #22: One inch of rain falling on one acre of land is equal to about 27,154 gallons of water. (5a)

FACT #23: The 250 million U.S. residents living today have access to about the same amount of water that all 4 million U.S. residents did 200 years ago. (5b)

FACT #24: If present consumption patterns continue, two out of every three people on Earth will live in water-stressed conditions by the year 2025. (5c)

FACT #25: As water shortages in the American Southwest increase in frequency and severity, the region faces a return to conditions from the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. (9)

FACT #26: Human induced changes in the Earth’s atmosphere could spawn a continuous drought in the Southwest and impact a drier climatology over the next 90 years. (9)

FACT #27: A contributing factor to current conditions in the Southwest includes agreements made among California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming in 1922 during an unusually wet period, allocating more water from the Colorado River than is currently available. (8)

FACT #28: If all plumbing fixtures in the United States were replaced with water-conserving fixtures, we could save 3.4 to 8.4 billion gallons of water a day. (6)

FACT #29: One leaky faucet drip per second can waste 2,000 gallons of water a year. (6)

FACT #30: Approximately 85 percent of U.S. residents receive their water from public water facilities. The remaining 15 percent supply their own water from private wells or other sources. (1)

FACT #31: Households turn on their faucets an average of 70 times daily. It is estimated that up to 50 percent of the water families use could be saved by implementing simple conservation methods. (5b)

FACT #32: More than half of all Americans drink bottled water; about a third of the public consumes it regularly. Many millions of people use bottled water as their chief or exclusive drinking water source. (4)

FACT #33: Bottled water sales have tripled in the past 10 years, to about $4 billion a year. (4)

FACT #34: People spend from 240 to over 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than they typically do for tap water. (4)

FACT #35: According to government and industry estimates, about one fourth of bottled water is bottled tap water (and by some accounts, as much as 40 percent is derived from tap water) — sometimes with additional treatment, sometimes not. (4)

FACT #36: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has strict water quality standards for tap water, but the EPA does not oversee bottled water. Bottled water sold across state lines is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (10)

FACT #37: The FDA’s rules completely exempt 60-70 percent of the bottled water sold in the United States from the agency’s bottled water standards, because FDA says its rules do not apply to water packaged and sold within the same state. Even when bottled waters are covered by FDA’s specific bottled water standards, those rules are weaker in many ways than EPA rules that apply to big city tap water. (4)

FACT #38: FDA regulations do not prevent bottling companies from drawing water next to industrial sites, underground storage tanks, or dumps. (10)

FACT #39: Coca Cola’s Dasani and Pepsi’s Aquafina are tap water coming from places like Queens, NY and Jacksonville, FL with some additional treatment. (10)

FACT #40: According to a four-year study of bottled water about one third of the bottled waters tested contained significant contamination (i.e., levels of chemical or bacterial contaminants exceeding those allowed under a state or industry standard or guideline) in at least one test. (4)

. . .

Resources:
(1) http://www.allaboutwater.org/water-facts.html
(2) World Health Organization as quoted on http://water.org
(3) 2006 United Nations Human Development Report (download). See also http://hdr.undp.org.
(4) http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/exesum.asp
(5) (a) United States Geological Survey, (b) National Drinking Water Alliance, (c) United Nations Environment, and (d) National Geographic Society, as quoted by Freshwater Society
(6) http://www.freshwater.org/water-facts.html
(7) The Second UN World Water Development Report: ‘Water, a Shared Responsibility.’ March 2006. As quoted from Sierra Club ‘Population and Water’ fact sheet.
(8) Sierra Club ‘Population and Water’ fact sheet (download).
(9) Southwest Forecast: Expect 90 Years of Drought. By Andrea Thompson, LiveScience Staff Writer, posted: 05 April 2007. As quoted from Sierra Club ‘Population and Water’ fact sheet.
(10) http://www.sierraclub.org/committees/cac/water/bottled_water

by Andrew Michler, LEED AP

It’s late spring, and this year there has been a lot of rain in my fair state of Colorado. Being in a high desert, with all this water coming at once, makes a lot of us want to save some of it for those hot, dry, sunny days. I am perhaps one of the lucky ones, as I installed a 1,500-gallon underground tank near my shop to catch the water that comes off its metal roof. Fifteen hundred gallons sounds like a lot of water, and it is. The tank is six feet high and seven feet in diameter. “A thousand flushes” has a new ring to it. All this water is used for flushing our 1.6-gallon toilet, which is a lot easier than pumping and treating water just to have it go right down the drain again. While I use rain for waste water now, a future garden and greenhouse is in the works. Even a 500 square foot roof is enough for two people.

Weather is unpredictable here and promises to be even more so in the coming years. A quick peek at the forecast of temperature changes shows that the Rocky Mountain region is headed for some hot, dry summers. It makes sense to do all we can with our homes to “future proof” them. Water catchment should be near the top of the list. And here are some reasons why:

1. The water is free
2. It keeps your landscape from being over-saturated and protects your foundation
3. It is clean and soft (low salts, high in nitrogen)
4. It can be used for multiple applications
5. It supplements our drinking water, which takes a lot of energy and infrastructure to get to your tap
6. You are using a local resource
7. 1 inch of rain per 1000 horizontal square feet of roof amounts to 620 gallons

Here are a few things to think about if you are considering catching your rain water. If your roof has asphalt shingles, the water should not be used for edible crops. Keep gutters clean and use a water filtering device before the tank. If you want to use the water for more than just the warm seasons, your system must be well designed for the cold. The collection tank needs to be covered to keep critters and mosquitoes at bay and large enough to handle storm surges and longer dry spells. You may need a pump, valves, and a power source to make the water go where you want it. Check your local laws. In Colorado, for instance, it is slowly being legalized (don’t get me started). The idea of “future proofing” a house is intriguing, so if you plan on building a new home, consider rain water catchment. Plumb a second line to your toilet, one for potable water and the other for rainwater. Roof your home with metal or tile so the water is kept clean. Be creative in your application of the water. Use it for your laundry– cold water is just as effective for rinsing as hot, and check out those cold-water detergents, they save a lot of energy. Maybe the house should have hose bibs for rain water to wash your car and water the landscape or even water livestock. With a bit of research, this can pay off for you, your neighborhood and protect the 21st century’s most valuable resource. View a short slide show on rain water catchment.

. . .

About the Author: Andrew Michler, LEED AP has lived “off-the-grid” in Colorado since 1995. He started Baosol Sustainable Building Consulting in 2007 to cultivate the low entropy revolution. He is also the co-founder of the BeLocal Northern Colorado Green Builder’s Guild.

by Park Howell

Dane Platt and William Carey discuss their unique golf ball recycling program while offering you a FREE sleeve of Earth Golf Balls for a test drive. See below.

When I think of an “Eco-friendly” golf ball, I can’t help but picture those exploding joke golf balls made of chalk that you tee up for your unsuspecting buddy.

Then I met Dane Platt and William Carey of Dixon Golf.

And they introduced me to the Earth Golf Ball, the world’s first high-performance 100% eco-friendly golf ball.

These guys didn’t just stop at making a really green golf ball (more about the ball in a second), but they activated a recycling program that gets golfers involved beyond just playing a round.

“Golf, in its essence, should the greenest of all sports.  And yet our industry is still 10 years behind the times,” said William Carey.

Platt and Carey said that they want to incentivize golfers to recycle the standard golf balls that are made with heavy metals and do nothing for the environment. When you turn in any golf ball at a pro shop or store that carries the Earth golf ball, you receive a 50 cent discount on a new Earth ball. You get a $1 discount when you recycle a Dixon Earth ball. The program recycled more than 38,000 golf balls on Earth Day alone.

The Earth golf ball is organic to the core, and has replaced the heavy metals, like lead, tungsten and titanium, with a proprietary organic compound that is essentially like salt.

But is salt like chalk?

“The problem with completely biodegrable golf balls is that they do explode on the tee,” Dane pointed out. “So that doesn’t work so well for performance. What we have created is a high-performance ball that can be ground up and reused in all sorts of other new products, while we’re taking the heavy metals out of the environment.”

PGA Tour Partners sent a dozen balls to 125 golfers to test against the likes of Titleist, Nike and Callaway high-performance balls.  The Earth golf ball received a 92 percent approval rating. When asked what the Earth ball is like compared to the competition, Dane said the quality is between a Titleist Pro V1 and the NXT Tour. The company even has a long drive champ in it’s corner, with Sean “The Beast” Fister using their Eco-Distance ball in competition.

“You can’t make a crappy ball, call it eco-friendly and expect anyone to buy it if it’s not going to help their game,” William said.

Do You Want To Take A FREE Test Drive?

I asked these green golf innovators if they wanted to put their Earth golf ball to another test: Having you, my readers, test drive and comment on their ball? They have so much confidence in the performance of their new green ball, that they were generous enough to give me four dozen to try. If you would like a FREE sleeve of Earth golf balls, please send me your name and address through my contact form, and I’ll send you a sleeve (while supplies last).  All I ask in return is that you give your honest review of the ball in the comment section on this post. And please play the ball and review it within one week of getting the FREE sleeve. I’ll be taking the new Earth ball for a spin this weekend.

A tip of the golf cap to Dane and William for not just making an eco-friendly golf ball, but for taking their drive farther by activating a terrific golf ball recycling program.

. . .

Park Howell’s ad agency, Park & Co. focuses on people, products, companies and services that make the world around us better. On his blog, ParkHowell.com, he shares ways to help businesses insure their green marketing and messaging is more sustainable, more responsible, more memorable, more believable, and more doable.

With many cities, states and organizations advocating for sustainable forms of living, there has been a substantial amount of attention being devoted to green building. Environmental efficiency is on the rise due to the progression of green building methods. Not only will these methods produce a healthier lifestyle, it will help you reduce your carbon footprint and save on energy costs.

Asbestos

Many older homes built prior to 1980 may still harvest obsolete and corrosive building materials which can create health concerns. Asbestos is the name given for a group of fibrous minerals that were mined for their qualities as fire resistant, insulation and high durability. Homes that are newly purchased may require additional remodeling or repairs. This can pose several risks to homeowners because asbestos fibers can be ingested during the renovation process. However, it should be known that by leaving asbestos undisturbed, you can avoid exposure to asbestos.

Often appearing in roof shingles, popcorn ceilings, piping and insulation, asbestos became one of the most popular building applications of the 20th century. Asbestos made its name because of its resistance to fire and heat properties. Improper insulation was used in millions of homes and while it is safe when enclosed or in good condition, deteriorated asbestos can cause a slew of health problems, such as an aggressive form of asbestos lung cancer known as malignant mesothelioma.  Due to the fact many mesothelioma symptoms are similar to less serious ailments, mesothelioma diagnosis is one of the more difficult tasks physicians encounter.

GO GREEN

A catalyst for homes, industries, schools, universities and business, the incredible diversity of enterprises is driven by a common bound to move to a green lifestyle. Green building is the consequence of a design that will increase energy efficiency, water and have a direct impact on your health and the environment. Green construction will bring together many techniques which aim to reduce or eliminate the impacts in which physical structures have on the environment.

The Department of Energy concluded that cooling and heating counts for up to 50-70 percent of all energy used in the average home in the U.S. In today’s state, this philosophy can also save natural resources.
Implementing green methods of building can have positive environmental, health and economic benefits. These include: 1) Conservation of natural resources, 2) enhance air quality and protect ecosystems, 3) energy sustainability, 4) increase property value, 5) improve quality of life, 6) improvement of pulmonary and cardiac health and 7) Reduction of waste.

There are many eco-friendly materials that replace the need for asbestos and can reduce energy costs annually. Rather than expensive and mal-treated wood, interior walls can be made from steel and concrete, avoiding many of the problems associated with asbestos and other insulation methods.

Green alternatives to asbestos include the use of cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose. Cotton fiber is quickly becoming a favorite for home builders and renovators. Made from recycled batted material, it is also treated to be fireproof. These green options have the same beneficial qualities as asbestos, minus the health deteriorating and toxic components.

Recently, congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Included in this act were extensions to the tax incentives placed for energy efficiency in 2005, as well as new credits for homeowners who remodel or build using eco-sustainable methods. Some of the measures that are eligible for tax credits include added insulation to walls, ceilings, or other part of the building envelope that meets the 2009 IECC specifications, sealing cracks in the building shell and ducts to reduce heat loss. Storm doors paired with U-factored rated wood doors are also eligible.

. . .

This article is published courtesy of the Mesothelioma Center. Their website, Asbestos.com, is committed to providing the latest, up-to-date information in hopes of spreading awareness about the dangers of asbestos cancer. Their website offers a one-stop resource on all asbestos issues ranging from occupational exposure to mesothelioma treatment options.

by Dottie Simmons

I find myself a rather lazy cook. I want to have my herbs and spices pre-blended so I don’t have to formulate them for every meal. Over time I have learned of or invented herb and spice blends for everything from steak to tofu, Mexican to Chinese. For us the process begins in the garden. Here are three blends of herbs we grow, dry and combine to brighten our meals:

MEAT TREAT:

1. Rosemary - An easy to grow perennial in the ground or a pot. It is impervious to bugs or deer.
2. Sweet Basil - A hot weather annual that is easy to grow. Pick repeatedly to keep from flowering and it will grow back.
3. Thyme - The regular sort, variegated or plain, perennial with tiny leaves. Harvest before it flowers.
4. Bay Leaves - Mediterranean Bay (the kind you get in stores) is milder. If you use the west coast native Bay Laurel, use it sparingly. We have a Mediterranean Bay tree in a large pot!
5. Garlic - We buy garlic granules by the pound. It is slightly coarser than garlic powder, and is definitely NOT garlic salt. I store it in a glass jar with an airtight lid.

FISH FEST:

1. Lemon Thyme - A wonderfully fragrant perennial, easy to grow and harvest as for Thyme (above).
2. Lemon Basil - Another wonderful basil, it loves hot weather and is an annual that you can harvest repeatedly. Just remember to cut it above two new leaf shoots.
3. I have never found Lemon Basil or Lemon Thyme in a store, so plan ahead and grow your own if you want to try this blend.
4. Dillweed - Use the feathery leaves, not the seeds. Plant this annual once and it will re-seed and grow forever.
5. Oregano - A hardy perennial. Greek is milder, Mexican stronger, use accordingly. We prefer Greek.
6. Sweet Marjoram - A very fragrant annual that is a relative to Oregano.  Use with eggs, veggies and meats.
7. Celery leaves - I actually grow a specific type of celery that mainly produces leaves. When I have tried to grow nice stalks of celery I always got wimpy stems with lots of leaves anyway - it just does not like our climate. I also save the leaves from celery (organic) I buy at the market and dry them in a colander after trimming them from the stalk.
8. Garlic - (See above)
9. Onion Powder - This we buy as well.

ITALIAN SEASONING:

1. Oregano, Sweet Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Garlic… See above for all of these.
2. Fennel Seed - We buy this, toast it lightly in a small, heavy cast iron pan and then crush it slightly with a mortar and pestle.

PREPARING THE HERBS:

All the herbs listed here are harvested early in the morning after the dew has dried off of them, and hung in bunches by their stems in a well ventilated place out of direct sunlight. I like to use a rubber band to hold the bunch together, and a twisty-tie or string tied on to hang them. The rubber band conveniently stays tight as the herbs dry and the soft stems of basil and others shrink in diameter. Woody stemmed plants such as rosemary and thyme have no problem. As to the bay, I just prune off a very small branch full of leaves and dry it and that lasts us a year or two!

When dry, strip the leaves from the stems and store as whole leaves in airtight containers (we use glass jars) in a cool, dark cupboard. When you make a blend or use the herbs directly in cooking, that is the time to crush or chop them. Once broken, they will lose their aromatic and flavor qualities faster.
By the way, you can save the stems and bundle them, tie with cotton or jute string, and throw on hot coals when grilling for herbed smoked meats.

ASSEMBLING THE BLENDS:

This is the inventive part. I never measure anything unless I have to, and cannot begin to give you exact measurements for any of these, but I do have some “rules of thumb.” In all of the blends, you use equal amounts of the large leafy herbs (basil, oregano, dill, celery).

Grind these coarsely with an herb grinder (there are many styles, I like the Mouli Parsmint best) or chop with a knife. Thyme and rosemary should be around 2/3 the amount of one of the others after grinding. You can run the rosemary through the grinder as well.

To 1/2 cup blended herbs add 1 large bay leaf, ground, and/OR 1 Tablespoon garlic granules OR 1 Tablespoon onion powder, or 2 teaspoons fennel seed, as called for. If you use bay laurel, use less.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl, then store in an airtight container until used.

USING THEM:

Sprinkle Meat Treat over chicken, turkey, etc. before cooking. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons to oil and vinegar with 1/2 teaspoon salt for a nice herb vinaigrette.

Sprinkle Fish Fest over any kind of seafood before cooking. Also sprinkle with a bit of lemon pepper or a squirt of lemon juice.

Italian seasoning can be added to tomato sauce for pasta, lasagna or any tomato dish.

YUM! I’m hungry just thinking about it all. Now off to transplant my basil plants (sweet, lemon, purple (for salad dressing), mammoth (mild - good in salads), and Thai). I think ahead, as I work in the garden, to the harvest and culinary delights ahead.

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About the author: Dottie Simmons is a natural soap maker in the mountains of Northern California where her family is dedicated to learning to live with minimal impact on the land. From her blog you can read musings on living a healthy, sustainable and off-grid life, and from her family’s self-sufficient homestead, come the natural and nontoxic soaps and body care products that are Simmons Natural Bodycare.

by Beth Doane

Since organic apparel and food products are still new to so many consumers, I wanted to spell out some easy answers as to why it’s practical, ethical and increasingly easier to consume organic products.

According to the Organic Trade Association, “Organic refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. It includes a system of production, processing, distribution and sales that assures consumers that the products maintain the organic integrity that begins on the farm.”

I always recommend buying certified organic since it more safely ensures that a strict code of standards and guidelines have been followed. For example, when we purchase the cotton for Rain Tees from our Peruvian organic cotton farmers, the rolls of cotton come with specific paperwork that certifies it was grown and harvested organically. Before the tees can enter the U.S.A. and be declared organic this paperwork must also be presented to U.S. customs.

Here is a short list on why buying organic is the way to go.

No Crazy Chemicals

Organic farms don’t use chemicals, artificial fertilizers or harsh pesticides, so they are filled with only the crops themselves and natural wildlife! This also ensures that those nasty chemicals don’t make contact with your skin if the crops are woven into clothing, as millions are every day. Growing crops in a natural environment also keeps the land healthy and sustainable and ensures naturally fertile soil and waterways that stay free from pollution.

No Evil Pesticides

The conventional textile industry is sadly one of the most polluting industries in the world, which is why more and more consumers and apparel producers are demanding organic fabrics. More than a quarter of the world’s insecticides are used for growing conventional cotton. These insecticides kill countless animals, plants and insects, and pollute our soil and waters. Pesticides also contain known carcinogens (agents that have been proven to cause cancer), which is bad news for farmers and the rest of us.

Not only are pesticides toxic, they are also pricey to use. Furthermore, money from our taxes pays to remove these harmful chemicals from our water supplies so that they don’t leak as much into our drinking water. The EPA has had to step in on more than one occasion where pesticide run-off has killed hundreds of thousands of fish in our waterways. If pesticides are killing our fish, why are we ok with them being all over our foods and cotton crops?

No GMOs

A GMO (genetically modified organism) is a man-made organism created in a laboratory. Think “frog genes inserted into seeds that will grow corn.” Literally. Organic farming does not allow genetically modified crops because they create absolute environmental havoc. And no one really knows the long term affects of GMOs.

You’re Supporting Ethical Farming

Organic farmers are following their morals and ethics and not necessarily their pocketbooks. It takes a lot of time and money to be organic and most farmers can’t afford the expense, which makes organic farming less common. Organic farms are inspected by international bodies and have to follow extremely strict guidelines. Organic crops may also yield smaller harvests because, without pesticides, sometimes the crops are consumed by wildlife. So, the right thing is not always the easiest, but as more farmers grow organic and more consumers buy organic, it will be so much easier to find organic products at lower cost.

It Feels So Good!

The number one thing we hear about our organic collections is “It feels so good!”  Organic cotton can actually feel softer than regular cotton products and, after all of the careful steps and diligence it takes to produce organic cotton, it just feels better in our hearts too, I think.

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About the author: Beth Doane is a fashion designer and consultant focusing on eco-conscious product development and marketing. She founded and designed the internationally acclaimed Rain Tee collection and Andira International.

When you select a real estate agent, what qualities do you usually look for? Certainly most people look for experience, market knowledge and a high level of service to the client. Most people expect their agent to help them through their purchase or sale with knowledge and expertise regardless of the twists and turns that may happen.

So then, if you are concerned about the environment and care about how the home you live in impacts the environment, why wouldn’t you look for a sustainability-minded real estate agent who brings a higher than average level of eco-sensibility and eco-expertise? If you haven’t met one yet, these agent are out there. And they can help you make a better decision on your next home purchase, or assist with selling in a way that highlights any sustainable improvements you may have made.

My company, the Green Team Real Estate (www.GreenTeamRE.com), is passionate about sustainability. Our agents have undergone a training and certification program to earn the EcoBroker® designation. EcoBrokers® receive training in energy and water conservation and green building technologies and materials, as well as environmental issues that can effect health and home comfort. And we’ve taken additional coursework in green building, action-oriented sustainable living and conservation strategies, including becoming educated and certified as Home Eco-Consultants, through an organization called Green Irene®.

We obviously aren’t the authorities in the nitty gritty of complicated technologies like solar photovoltaic or wouldn’t suggest we have the expertise to recommend the best type and level of insulation for a home someone was planning to buy. However, we have the tools to find answers and the relationships to recommend specialists.

We like to say we work with “all shades of green”, from those folks who are just becoming aware of how their housing choices can affect our environment, to those deep green people, who want the most resource efficient home possible, even if it means a total retrofit or finding a local green builder to create it. We feel that regardless of where a buyer or seller is on the green spectrum, we can help make a difference by providing education and resources to make better choices.

No matter what real estate market you live in, you can access our articles, case studies and videos. Just visit www.Blog.GreenTeamRE.com or www.greenteamre.com/pages/why-green/green-home-tips.php

By: Lara Williams
The Green Team Real Estate

Summer has arrived and it is time to get outside and play.

There are many great activities available to us in Fort Collins, but today let’s focus on biking. If you are new to the area, or just looking to find more ways to expand your biking experience, I want to share with you some unique ways we help cater to our biking community here.

An outstanding operation in town is the Fort Collins Bike Co-Op, 222 LaPorte Ave. Our bike co-op is a fantastic way during these tough times to help others while helping yourself at the same time. The way it works is this, no bikes or parts are sold through the co-op. Instead, people can earn bikes through volunteerism and donations.

The shop is an open facility where members can share the tools and even be taught ways to repair their bikes. If a bike can’t be repaired, the co-op will disassemble them and keep the parts for re-use and recycling. This program has been able to keep not only keep old bikes out of landfills but has given people who need bikes the ability to earn one by working for it. Go to www.FCBikeCoop.org for more info.

One of the recipients of some recycled bike parts from the co-op is the Fort Collins Bike Library, which can be found in Old Town Square. In April of 2008, the library opened to raving reviews. The bike library is a free service for residents, students and visitors to Fort Collins. Library members can borrow a bike for as short as one hour to as long as five days.

They have a variety of styles and sizes, and even tag-a-longs for children in tow. The bike library also offers a variety of self-guided tours ranging from brewery tours and historic tours to an environmental learning tour along the scenic Cache La Poudre River Bike Trail. Tour brochures are available at the checkout location.

The library also depends on volunteers to keep it running and is always looking for people wanting to help. Since its opening last spring, this hard-working group of people has handed out 1,843 free bike rides. Go to www.FCBikeLibrary.org to register and for more information.

Both of these organizations wouldn’t be possible without the support of Bike Fort Collins, our local 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making Fort Collins a better place to ride a bicycle. They help run and promote events and races, are advocates for bike safety and help support and start programs like these to make the biking experience in Fort Collins a great one. Visit www.BikeFortCollins.org.

At the Bike Fort Collins Web site, you will be able to learn about all kinds of fun events that are planned this summer that focus on biking. My personal favorite is the New Belgium Bike-in-Cinema, which starts Aug. 13 and will run for six weeks at sundown at New Belgium Brewing Co., 500 Linden St.

Check www.newbelgium.com/bike-cinema for this summer’s lineup.

These are a few of the great things going on in Fort Collins cycling.  Do you have a story or some events to share happening in your area?  Please email us at content@gengreenlife.com to share your events and stories.