Pollywogs!

Kelley and I recently signed up PCSI to have recycling picked up once a week.  $5 a month….$2.50 for residential in Clinton County…can you imagine people NOT recycling?   Effortless…they pick up paper (junk mail, catalogs), unsorted glass, plastic, the whole nine yards (ok, not cardboard for some reason).

We also started trying Sun & Earth products.  Their hand dishwashing soap isn't quite as strong as Dawn Ultra but much stronger than Joy (I hate Joy…).  Their laundry detergent and fabric softener made our sheets smell wonderfully and lightly like oranges.

http://www.freecycle.org/ – if you want to get rid of that old desk, its not really worth much but you don't want the hassle of selling it or hauling it to the dump, just post it here and maybe someone else needing what you don't will reduce our impact.

Things you shouldn't buy, due to their disproportionate impact on the environment:

• Styrofoam cups
• Paper towels (if you must, you should buy recycled unbleached)
• Bleached coffee filters
• Over-packaged foods and other products
• Teak and mahogany
• Chemical pesticides and herbicides
• Conventional household cleaners
• Higher octane gas than you need
• Toys made with PVC plastic
• Plastic forks and spoons
• Farm raised salmon
• Rayon
• Beauty/Body Care with Phthalates and Parabens
• Cling Wrap
• High VOC Paints and Finishes

Kelley found that list here, along with positive things you can do : http://www.coopamerica.org/

• Make your office 'Climate Cool' through Co-op America’s partnership with NativeEnergy
• Switch your office paper use to 100% recycled  (Greenline Paper Co. out of York, PA would be a good choice)
• Introduce Fair Trade Certified™ and organic coffee and tea into your workplace.
• Invest in reuseable plates, cups, and utensils
• Make sure your office recycles paper, aluminum, glass, and plastic
• Switch office light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs
• Start an office compost program
• Encourage use of green transportation to and from work
• Buy green giftsGet a Co-op America membership for your office

I bet you didn't know you could buy 'plastic' cutlery and cups that would biodegrade when composted?  http://www.worldcentric.org/store/bioplastics.htm

Some light reading from 'just some lady' :   http://www.worstedwitch.com/?page_id=3