Archive for May, 2010
« Previous EntriesThings I like while traveling
Monday, May 31st, 2010I was driving home from the mountains yesterday, and when we stopped for fuel and fortification I found something I like while traveling – and you know, after all of the problems (and Jenn too!)I’ve had with my reusable coffee mug while on the go, this was a real treat. I love it when the [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Bring a Friend to the Farmers Market!
Saturday, May 29th, 2010In the northeast US the farmers markets are just opening and the first leafy greens making their way to our tables. This weekend, do a little research, find an awesome farmers market near you, and then invite a friend! Not only will you be supporting local farmers and enjoying fresh and seasonal and local food, [...]
Eco-DIY Friday: TetraPak Wallets
Friday, May 28th, 2010Instead of puting those TetraPak containers into the recycling bin (if you’re lucky enough to live in an area where they’re accepted), how about making awesome wallets or coin purses out of them first? The material is strong and somewhat indestructable, and the designs encourage endless creative possibilities! [Image by Iderewk via Creative Commons]
Eco-Quotes Quiz!
Thursday, May 27th, 2010Hey, check out the Eco-Quotes Quiz I wrote for Beliefnet.com — let me know how you scored in the comments, below! [Image by erix! via Creative Commons]
Accentuate The Positive
Thursday, May 27th, 2010I want to be honest with ya’ll and tell you that, right now, as I sit down to write my Thursday post, I’m having a difficult time feeling positive about the state of the environment. Karina expressed similar sentiments a few weeks ago, but I’d been hopeful back then– right now, that’s getting harder for [...]
Tea Straws
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010I confessed recently that my killer eco-guilt-trip issue was the disposable coffee cups that they use at work – and not the kind you drink from, but K-Cups, those plastic/foil/coffee grounds disaster scenes which are so difficult to recycle and oh-so-convenient. And on Earth Day this year, I decided that I would quit using the [...]
Eco-Varnish?
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010Hey all! Have a quick question for you: I’m starting a small kitchen update today (detailed post coming soon!), and I’m keeping my simple pine-wood cabinets. I’m going to strip them and stain them white, kind of a whitewash thing. Then I need to seal them somehow– and I’m wondering if anyone has a recommendation [...]
Chocolate and Slavery, A Sad Combo
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010I was recently in an area of Manhattan I don’t usually frequent, and I was psyched when I walked past a fancy chocolate store, The Food Emporium Fine Chocolates. In I went! This particular store was kind of a showcase for all kinds of gorgeous chocolates from all over the world, artisan-mades and gourmets and [...]
Recycling while Traveling
Monday, May 24th, 2010When you travel a lot – even if it’s just within the USA – it really strikes you how difficult it can be to recycle on the go. I went on another one of my long trips around the southeast US recently, and once again I was kind of stymied when it came to disposing [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Email!
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010When you read something in a print publication which you think is relevant for someone you know, instead of clipping it out and sending it through the mail, see if you can find the article online and email to them instead! This saves envelopes and stamps, as well as all the transportation pollution associated with [...]
Bike to Work Day!
Friday, May 21st, 2010Hey Tiny Choosers! Today is Bike to Work day – and we’d like to know if you’re biking in! Check in here and let us know in the comments. If you missed it all May is Bike to Work Month – there are ideas for events, local resources, and safety tips at the League of [...]
Making Hummus
Thursday, May 20th, 2010Guess what I did today? Ok, so the title of the post kind of gives it away: I made hummus. And it was easy! And so cheap! And so much better than the stuff I usually buy, even though I love the brand I usually buy. I’m hooked, not only on hummus, but on *my* [...]
How can I teach a kid about Plastics?
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010I’ve mentioned before that my partner has a couple of kids – one of them is 11, and he has been bringing plastic bottles of water around quite a lot lately. I’ve bought him reusable bottles, and he sees *us* using them all the time, but other influential adults in his life keep flats of [...]
A Borrower And A Lender Be!
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010We’ve talked before about the value of lending and borrowing, instead of buying– especially for things which are only used occasionally. My dad recently told me that one of my uncles and a few of his neighbors are going in together on a snowblower, which makes such good sense! We only get a few major [...]
Travel Stoves
Monday, May 17th, 2010One of the Tiny Choices I’ve been actively making for a while now is *not* buying a Jet Boil – you know, the super fast, super cute, super compact travel stove that everyone loves. It’s affordable, but I don’t go hiking that much and also, I really shouldn’t buy new stuff unless I really need [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Refill!
Saturday, May 15th, 2010Whenever possible, bring your existing bottles and containers to shops which offer bulk versions of the goods you need. Whether it’s shampoo, honey, or olive oil, many local and/or natural-ish stores offer refills from giant tubs, saving you money and keeping perfectly reusable containers out of the waste stream. [Image by Nanda* via Creative Commons]
Eco-DIY Friday: Shipping Envelopes
Friday, May 14th, 2010Next time you need to send a package through the mail, instead of buying a new shipping envelope, consider making your own from a used paper bag. This has both the advantage of reusing existing materials while also creating an envelope which is custom-sized for your needs! Team Eco-Etsy shows us how.
When Milk Is More Than Milk
Thursday, May 13th, 2010This just seems so ridiculous, and like such a massive waste of time and resources, and yet it’s just not really all that surprising: From The Daily Green: It seems the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) sent a petition to the Food and Drug Administration asking them to crack down on the “misappropriation of dairy [...]
The personal activist
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010Last week I posted a real downer of a post – the gulf coast oil spill, of course, is still a source of misery in my outlook on environmental issues. After spilling my own guts all over Tiny Choices, though, I’ve had a little more distance to think about things and I’m feeling a little [...]
Enlightened Conservation
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010I just returned from a meditation retreat, and boy is it amazing the incredible places one can go while sitting very still for many hours each day. Actually, maybe that’s the ultimate in green travel– journeying to astonishing places while not moving an inch! I noticed some really neat conservation enhancements to the mediation center [...]
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