An Eco Link For Just About Anyone....

• Food

  • Animal Welfare Approved
  • Brooklyn Grange Farm
  • Center for a Livable Future
  • Center for Animal Law Studies
  • Citizens Campaign for the Environment
  • Civil Eats
  • Community Food Security Coalition
  • Eating Liberally
  • Factory Farm Map
  • Farmers Legal Action Group
  • Food & Water Watch
  • Food Corps
  • Friends of Family Farmers
  • Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
  • Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food
  • La Vida Locavore
  • League of Conservation Voters
  • Local Food Hub
  • Meatless Monday
  • Permaculture Institute
  • Rodale Institute
  • Rooftop Farms
  • Slow Food USA
  • The Ethicurean
  • The Greenhorns
  • The Livable Future Blog
  • Union of Concerned Scientists

• Water

  • Alliance for Water Efficiency
  • Center for a Livable Future
  • Citizens Campaign for the Environment
  • Community Water Center
  • Eastern Environmental Law Center
  • Factory Farm Map
  • Food & Water Watch
  • League of Conservation Voters
  • Pacific Institute
  • Permaculture Institute
  • River Network
  • Riverkeeper
  • Union of Concerned Scientists
  • Water Footprint Calculator
  • Water Footprint Network
  • Waterkeeper Alliance
  • Webber Energy Group

• Energy

  • Alliance for Water Efficiency
  • Alliance to Save Energy
  • American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
  • Apollo Alliance
  • Citizens Campaign for the Environment
  • Eastern Environmental Law Center
  • Factory Farm Map
  • Greentech Media
  • League of Conservation Voters
  • Pace Energy and Climate Center
  • Renewable Energy Long Island
  • River Network
  • Solar One
  • Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
  • Sustainability Institute at Molloy College
  • Union of Concerned Scientists
  • Vote Solar
  • Webber Energy Group

Franken Foods Freak Me Out

Would you knowingly eat a potato that needs to be transported in hazardous waste containers since every cell contains pesticides? This isn’t food terrorism (at least not the kind we recognize as a crime); this is what passes as improvements to our food supply. Perhaps one day we will learn that we can’t improve on nature.

From Flavr Savr tomatoes to Roundup Ready Soybeans, genetically modified foods are being manufactured and unleashed on an unsuspecting public whether we are ready for them or not. The Grocery Manufacturers of America estimates that 75 percent of all processed foods in America contain a genetically modified ingredient.

Governments worldwide should have insisted on extensive safety testing of genetically modified ingredients before allowing them to be unleashed on an unsuspecting public. But according to an article entitled, “Health Risks of Genetically-Modified Foods” by Dr. Joseph Mercola, the U.S. FDA even states, “The FDA has not found it necessary to conduct comprehensive scientific reviews of foods derived from bioengineered plants … consistent with its 1992 policy.”

Genetically modified (GM) foods are big business in North America, particularly in the United States. They are also supported in Brazil and to a certain extent in Asia. Europe has been appropriately cautious in its approach to GM foods and to date has limited access to the European market, much to the frustration of U.S. business. There is a very real threat that this could change in the near future.

Read more

::W A T E R::

The need for fresh water ranks among the most urgent environmental challenges of this century. Only 1% of the world's water can be used for human consumption. Yet it disturbs me that we seem to be doing everything we can to use up or pollute what little we have -- half of the global population will be living in areas of "acute water shortage" by 2030.  That is not far off.  Nor will it be far away.

I am a quilter and bagmaker.  I use cotton every day.  Since the textile industry is one of the largest polluters in the world, I go out of my way to use organic fabrics, including cotton, which require none  of the pesticides chemically treated fibers. The World Bank estimates that almost 20% of global industrial water pollution comes from the treatment and dyeing of textiles.

Waiting for water.......

Cotton production accounts for 2.6% of annual global water usage.

Remember this:  A single T-shirt made from conventional cotton requires 2,700 liters of water, and a third of a pound of chemicals to produce.

The idea of being without water.....for a whole population is a circumstance that I cannot wrap my mind around.  I grew up in suburbia and took water for granted.  In fact, when I was young, I was sure it was free.   Now we live in the country and depend on a well for our water.  This is not a subtle change by any means.  I am always aware of where my water comes from.  The Earth.  My Earth and your Earth.  Of which we are the ultimate stewards.  Together.

::C O T T O N:: HOW THIRSTY IS YOUR TSHIRT

LE POTAGER from Benoit MILLOT on Vimeo.
With a grateful 'Bravo' I thank BenoitMillot for his touching video (s).  To enjoy more his work, please visit the link above.


Cotton is one of the most environmentally destructive agricultural crops. In pesticide use in the US alone, it is staggering – 125 million kilograms annually.

The need for fresh water ranks among the most urgent environmental challenges of this century.

The textile industry is one of the largest polluters in the world. The World Bank estimates that almost 20% of global industrial water pollution comes from the treatment and dyeing of textiles.

Cotton production accounts for 2.6% of annual global water usage. A single T-shirt made from conventional cotton requires 2700 liters of water, and a third of a pound of chemicals to produce.

Many believe that conventional cotton uses much less water than organic cotton, but in fact the opposite may be true. By beginning with healthy soil, organic cotton farmers need not supply intense irrigation for their crops—the plants themselves use water much more efficiently due to the inherent health of their surrounding environment.


Organic cotton has undoubtedly sounded like the overwhelming choice thus far, but nothing is perfect. India, Turkey, Peru, China and Africa currently grow more organic cotton than the United States does. What does this mean? It means that the next organic cotton T-shirt you buy was likely grown hundreds of thousands of miles away, shipped around the world to be processed, then shipped to a retailer and finally to you. That’s a big carbon footprint for one T-shirt!

All hope is not lost for organic-cotton fans who appreciate local production. States such as Texas, California and New Mexico are continually expanding their organic cotton production. Still, the United States is one of the world’s top conventional cotton producers, making it a vital force in the cotton market and one we should continually influence to embrace organic growth and production.


About GMO .... There’s a reason that the Department of Agriculture does not allow the use of GMO seeds for organic cotton—they aren’t as successful as they sound on paper. Monsanto, a manufacturer of GMO seeds and pesticides, claims that a study showed its Bt (Bacillus Thuringiensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium) cotton yields 30 percent more fiber than non-GMO seeds. A little digging quickly proved that Monsanto was a sponsor of this “scientific” study.

Minimalist

On the zenhabits site  Leo Babauta talke about paring down and trying to be a minimilast and shares tons of thought provoking ideas and new thinking.  I suggest you wander around over there http://mnmlist.com/ .... a lot of this mindset falls in line with our job as caretakers of our planet.

In France a small company called Teddyfish makes bags by hand following the handmade tradition much like we who sell on handmade marketplaces such as Esy.  Their philosophy of production is beautiful: “We believe in ‘petite-production’, which means the willingness to work on slower rhythm and scale. Through creating and hand-making by ourselves, we are aiming to flavor our products with the warmth of the craftsmen’s hands, instead of the gasoline from the machine.”

Imagine if our world of mass-production was turned into a world of petite-production. People would hand-make clothing bicycles furniture food.

We would produce less and consume less. Things would cost more but people would make more for their labor.

We would love our work more. Produce quality things that last. Love our lives more. Call it Anti-Walmartization.

What is mnmlist.com?
It’s a site by Leo Babauta of Zen Habits.
It’s about minimalism, and why it’s important today.
It’s about stuff, and how it has come to overwhelm us.
It’s about distractions and commitments and a neverending task list.
It’s about the culture of more, of bigger, of consumption.
It’s about how less is the answer.

The Bottlehood..the worst kept secret on Etsy

I have become a fan, addict and good customer of the folks at The Bottlehood....I want to let you in on the worst-kept secret on Etsy. Our cupboard is now home to wineglass tumblers and coke bottle juice glasses. Sturdy, pretty and interesting. Recycled glasses from wine, beer, soda and liquor bottles.  According to Bottlehood.com a glass bottle takes more than 4000 years to decompose in a landfill! I would much rather re-use if it can't be recycled. Glass will be with us for a while, so until there is an alterntive that isn't plastic...I am with the folks at Bottlehood::

On my table, a soda in a re-purposed wine bottle reflecting the winter sun!

Our juice glasses.....

BottleHood was founded by a couple of folks in San Diego who took their concerns for the environment and decided to “do” something about it. BottleHood is a collective team of neighborhood craftspeople (jeweler, weaver, graphic designer) who share an interest in today's environment.

BottleHood has taken a stand on keeping bottles which have no California Redemption Value (CRV) out of California’s landfills or sent overseas to be recycled.


It  is just really all about theneighborhood and helping extend the life of discarded glass.

Absolut Vodka bottle (now a vase)

All BottleHood glassware was created from wine, liquor, beer, soda and water bottles from local San Diego restaurants, bars and events.



No part of the bottle goes to waste....jewelry, beads, spoonrests,  etc.   etsy recycled glass jewelry and etsy BottleHood beads

The green bed....

I have been keepng and eye out for info on healthier, more eco-sensitive snoozing. This information came up when I was researching the eco-home featured in this month's Sunset Magazine.  

Your can get an environmentally friendly car and an environmentally friendly washing machine. But can you get an environmentally friendly night’s sleep? According to Sunset the answer is yes.
As we become more concerned with the state of the planet ― and more aware of how personal and planetary health are linked ― the marketplace is responding with linens, mattresses, bed frames, and more that are beautiful, comfortable, and green.  Here are some ways to keep your snooze healthy:

1. Open windows to increase ventilation. Inside air can be more polluted than outside air, thanks to dry-cleaning solvents, aerosol sprays, cleaning products, and off-gassing from furnishings, carpets, and paints.

2. Bring in houseplants. They’re nature’s little air purifiers. Move in a couple from your living room.

3. Go barefoot. Keep grime out by checking shoes at the door.

A few eco terms defined:

Kapok: Fluffy, fibrous material harvested from the seedpod of a tropical tree; often used as non-synthetic pillow fill.

Natural latex: Thick foam made from the sap of the rubber tree; often used in mattresses and pillows. Don’t confuse it with synthetic latex, which is derived from petroleum.

Puregrow wool: A trademarked brand of wool from California and Oregon ranchers who adhere to strict environmental and quality standards. Often incorporated into mattresses because it’s naturally flame-retardant.

More green bedding info and sources in the Home by Sunset blog

Polyester fiber made from 100% post-consumer recycled pastic bottles.

In today’s world, more and more people are concerned about the environment. With so many disposable products on the market, it's no wonder eco-friendly products have become such a hot topic. From manufacturers to consumers, there are several ways to help preserve the environment. Foss Manufacturing has changed the way in which it produces its polyester fiber and fabrics by making textiles from recycled materials. Consumers are faced with many choices when it comes to which products to buy. The hope is that consumers think responsibly and buy products made from recycled materials, like Eco-fi (formerly known as Ecospun).

what is Eco-fi? Check it out here.

Eco-fi is a high-quality polyester fiber made from 100% certified recycled plastic PET bottles. It can go into any textile product such as clothing, blankets, carpets, wall coverings, auto interiors, home furnishings, and craft felt. Eco-fi can also be blended with other fibers, such as cotton or wool, for enhanced qualities.

AN EASY GUIDE: 10 bottles = 1 pound of fiber

Watch the video clip from the History Channel (click here)

Eco Etsy..Flickr Group

A peek into the Official Eco Etsy Flickr Goup has revealed some lovely goods from our members ranging from baskets to bags, and spices to scarves.  Here is but a sampling of what our members have been sharing.  Stop by the Flickr pool to have a look at more lovely images from our talented crew.  (pssst....that's my pea pod wristlet bottom row, center :))

How Green Is Your Orange Juice

Karen Lee, or EcoKaren published this on her blog
and has kindly made the information available to all of us.
"This might not be news to some of you but it was an eye opener for me. At least the numbers anyway. I mean, I knew my orange juice didn’t just appear in the grocery stores like magic and that it needed to be grown and transported but I didn’t think about the details of how it creates such a huge carbon footprint.

So here is the low down on orange juice.

Did you know…..?

To produce a 64 oz carton of Tropicana orange juice emits 3.75 lb of greenhouse gases?

* 60% Agriculture and Manufacturing ( 58% Fertilizer production and application, 30% Natural Gas, 8% Electricity, and 2% Transportation)
* 22% Distribution
* 15% Packaging
* 3% Use and Disposal

According to TIME and NY Times, PepsiCo who owns Tropicana enlisted Columbia University’s Earth Institute and the environmental auditing firm, Carbon Trust to help assess the carbon footprint of each gallon of Tropicana orange juice.

The study found that the biggest contributor to the carbon footprint isn’t the gas guzzling trucks that deliver these delicious refreshing drinks all over United States but the agricultural and manufacturing practices – fertilizer production and application being the biggest.

Ha! Should have known that.

So what do you do?

Drink organic orange juice! Since there won’t be any fertilizers or pesticides used in growing organic oranges, the carbon footprint would be so much less!

In all fairness though, PepsiCo is trying to be greener since this report. Pepsi is working with Yara International and Outlook Resources, PepsiCo will test low-carbon fertilizers at one of its producer farms in Bradenton, Fla. If successful, the greener fertilizers could lower the carbon footprint of PepsiCo’s citrus growers by as much as 50% and reduce the total carbon footprint of Tropicana orange juice by up to 20%. (TIME)
But until then, I’ll be buying organic orange juice…Or squeeze my own OJ at home. They taste better anyway.
Now…only if I can find organic oranges."

Bamboo....did you know?

I have talked about bamboo before, but I am putting out a little more information.


Ok...here we go...... DID YOU KNOW?

Bamboo is better for you:

• Fabric made from bamboo is incredibly soft That's just the way it is, naturally. Wearing a bamboo T-shirt for example, is like wearing cashmere, but for next to the skin. 

• Bamboo fabric is smooth and luxuriously comfortableAt a microscopic level, bamboo fibre has a round surface.  Because of this, it’s very smooth and sits perfectly next to the skin.  Petrol based synthetic fibres can sometimes irritate the skin and they also start to smell really quickly

• ‘Bamboo Dry’ – absorbs and evaporates sweat in a split second.  It doesn’t stick to the skin.  Its extraordinary natural breathability keeps you comfortable and dry for longer.

• ‘Bamboo Thermo-control’ – bamboo fabric is highly breathable in hot weather and also keeps you significantly warmer in the cold.  Keeping you more comfortable in all temperatures -  ‘Air conditioned clothing’

• Bamboo clothing is anti static, so it sits very well next to your skin, not clinging to it.  It's also UV protective (it cuts out 98% of harmful UV rays) and anti fungal, so it's just better, whether it's on you in the Alps or stuffed at the bottom of your bag for days on end.

And it gets better.....better for the environment:

• Bamboo is 100% naturally grown, without assistance from man. Bamboo is 100% sustainable

• Bamboo thrives naturally without using any pesticides or fertilizers

• Bamboo fibre is 100% biodegradable

• As the fastest growing plant in the world, bamboo grows to its maximum height in about 3 months and reaches maturity in 3-4 years.  It spreads rapidly across large areas.  Because of this, bamboo is known to improve soil quality in degraded and eroded areas of land.

• As a grass, bamboo is cut, not uprooted, also helping soil stability.  Bamboo also can grow on hill slopes where nothing else is viable.

• The yield (i.e. the amount of product) you get from an acre of bamboo is 10 times greater than the yeld you get from cotton.  In an age where land use is under enormous pressure this is huge.That an acre of bamboo supplies about 10 times more fibre than an acre of cotton?  Without using any pesticides at all.  Or fertilizers.

• The water requirement for bamboo is minute, mainly just from what falls.  As opposed to cotton, whose water requirement per shirt's-worth is huge.

• If clothing made from bamboo becomes popular, it means more bamboo plantations, which means more photosynthesis and less greenhouse gas.  “The greatest challenge facing mankind” would get just a little easier.

In contrast.....

• Synthetic performance fabrics are made from petrochemicals, a non-renewable fossil fuel. They go to make clothes which get smelly really quickly. 

Clothing made from bamboo is nature's answer to our needs for everyday fabric, in an environmentally sustainable form.  It's just our luck that it's so much better as well!

My family wears bamboo clothing,  we use bamboo sheets and towels, I use bamboo batting and fabric in my quilts and bags that I make for Etsy.  If you visit my shop, you will  see that I also use organic cotton, hemp and linen.

Soy Fibre 101....

I have a t shirt that is so soft and wrinkle free I was amazed when I looked inside and found it was made of soy!  I googled it and look what I learned: 
Soy protein fibre (SPF) is the only plant protein fibre. It is made from the soybean cake. The residue after extraction of the protein is used as stockfeed. SPF has the physical properties of synthetic fibres. Fabrics from SPF have the following features:

• Lustre. Soybean protein fibre has the lustre of silk with excellent drape.
• Comfort. The fibre is soft, smooth and lightweight.
• Absorbency. Soybean protein fibre has the same moisture absorption as cotton and better moisture transmission than cotton.
• Easy dying. The original colour of soybean protein fibre takes dye well and is colour fast.
• Strength. Soybean protein fibre has higher breaking strength than wool, cotton, and silk, but less than polyester fibre.
• Shrinkage. Soybean protein fibre will not shrink when washed in boiling water.
• Easy care. The fabric is anti-crease, easy wash and fast drying.
• Antibacterial.; Soybean protein fibre has antibacterial properties that resist colibacillus, staphylococcus aureus and candica albicans. Fabrics made from soy protein fibre and linen or other fibres are ideal for functional underwear and summer wear.

Because soybean protein fibre is sine, soft and smooth as well as absorbent it is ideal for products that are worn close to the skin such as underwear, sleepwear, sportswear and children's and infant's clothes, bed sheets, towels and blankets.

When soybean protein fibre blends well with other fibres giving more features. When mixed with cashmere it provides a smooth quality as well as increasing the easy care properties. As a wool / soy protein fibre it reduces shrinkage and increases ease of care. As a silk blend it improves the properties of silk and prevents the fabric from sticking to the skin when wet.

Now tell me, would you want anything else next to your baby soft skin? Not me...I am off to find more wonderful things to wear from this natural miracle fabric.