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transported in the cold
Okay: after my carbon footprint grew to the size of Godzilla’s, traveling all over the world, I left Istambul and Africa and came to the third snowiest town in the continental U.S. No car. I have had colleagues and strangers get absolutely enraged because I have no car. The first time, I had a borrowed bicycle and then I left for Africa just as the first few weeks of snow began. I returned, when the weather went bad, I used a loamer car for a while until it broke down. Now–ta-dah!–I have investing in a battery assisted bike. Lots of hills here, but this thing allows me the extra boost to get up them (I am no spring chicken). This year I will either bike or walk to work. Though I use electricity to recharge my batteries, I am told I can get a solar recharger. That and some mushrooms and worms in the basement… (I save an amazing amount of money not having a car, by the way.)
Excelsior!
This post was submitted by bronwyn mills.
greener pets
I have multiple dogs in the city and try to lessen the impact that they have on our environment. I buy poop-bags made of cornstarch that are biodegradable. I reuse their dogfood bags as garbage bags, and they work great because they do not leak. I use environmentally friendly shampoos on them. I re-stuff and re-squeak old toys, or buy balls made of recycled material (planetdog.com is a great resource). I use old pillows or packing peanuts to revitalize their beds. Any other tips on living greener with dogs would be much appreciated!
This post was submitted by janelle.
Greenville, SC Screening
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Give up laundry chemicals
I use only one laundry product, a hyper-clean soap powder called Charlie’s Soap. I imagine there are other good choices. It dissolves readily in the water (add clothes after for best results), and works very well, better than I expected.
The most important thing is that it has no fragrances or softeners or brighteners. Most fragrance chemicals and softeners are petrochemical oil based, and are pollutants; many of them are carcinogens (voc’s). They are particularly bad because they seem to teach people that the smell of clean is the same as the smell of the fragrance. This is NOT TRUE. The fragrances mask the dirt that does not wash out, and after a while clothes become rancid and smell like a cross between old stale perfume and a gym locker. Yuck!
I also virtually never use the dryer. All you need is a sunny yard or porch and some (hemp) clothesline. The sun is the best antibacterial as well as the most efficient whitener. And the fresh air combines with those to make clothes actually clean. With all those fragrance chemicals and softening oils gone, the human sweat and oils can really be washed out and rinsed away, and the real smell of clean returns.
By not using all those other products, a HUGE amount of waste could be eliminated, as well as taking a HUGE burden off the water supply.
This post was submitted by Will Beuscher.
Train rules!
I scrap the plane – and jump on the train! There are AT LEAST 10 reasons why it’s a no-brainer:
1 – The journey becomes a part of the holiday – rather than the hell you have to go through before getting there.
2 – Way less stressful than the airport / security checks / cramped space experience
3 – I meet locals on the way – they tell me about the land, the history, the way people live – livelier than any travel guide will ever make it
4 – I meet other travellers too, and everyone’s eager to share their tips
5 – Food is often better than in planes
6 – I can bring my own drinks 
7 – Tickets often offer much more flexibility than air fares
8 – You can either study the landscape (bit more varied than clouds-clouds- and more clouds) or get lost in your thoughts staring at the horizon…
9 – If I need to work, I’m sure to have more time to use my phone and laptop (more and more trains have wifi on board)
10 – And, er… oh yes, the journey will usually account for 10x less carbon emissions than by air
Basically – it’s just way more fun!
A great place to start is the great British website http://www.seat61.com/ — lots of train options & tips for train travel anywhere in the world!
This post was submitted by Laurent.
Share Farmer’s Market produce
I go to the local farmer’s market regularly. Then I take fresh fruit and vegetables to potlucks, office parties, and small group gatherings. When you serve friends something healthy, not a bag of chips or a box of store-bought cookies, or something really fattening, it always draws attention.
Then I can share with others where I got the food, how colorful and how much fun it is to shop at farmer’s markets, how healthy the food is, and what it does to leave no impact on the environment. It’s a real joy.
This post was submitted by Kathy Eckert.
natural mattress idea
When I needed to replace my traditional spring coil mattress last year, I started looking at more environmentally friendly options. I liked the idea of a natural “Talalay” latex mattress (it’s hypoallergenic and is not likely to cause allergies like latex gloves can because it’s a different manufacturing process) because they aren’t coated in flame-retardent (i.e., chemicals I would be breathing in/absorbing into my skin for 7-9 hours a day), durable, and entirely compostable when I’m done with it. However, I found that buying one was very expensive, even though it’s a fairly simple design. I found a mattress manufacturer in the area and bought the talalay core (they helped me choose the right firmness even, as there were options), then bought a dust mite cover and wool topper and assembled it myself for about $400 total. The mattress company offered to put a edging material on to prevent the edges from being damaged, but did suggest that I try to not sit on the edge too much anyway. I’ve had it a little over a year now and love it! I do find it’s a bit warmer than my old mattress, but I’ve never gotten sweaty or found it it in any way uncomfortable–I just use less covers. If you don’t have a mattress manufacturer around, I did find some through on-line stores as well.
This post was submitted by Sharlet.
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Slow Food USA
Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. We reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food. We inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat. For more slowfoodusa.org.