Archive for October, 2011
Accidental insulation report
Monday, October 31st, 2011Y’all may remember how we had new insulation put in last year. We also has our front door replaced with a nice version that seals all the way around AND has a storm door on it. And today I’m here to say BOY HOWDY but we are happy we did that. We had an early [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Share!
Saturday, October 29th, 2011Sometimes we have more than we need (such as the gigantic pot of veggie chili on my stovetop), and other times we need more than we have (not uncommon in these strange economic times). By sharing we create our own mini barter economy, which is also good for the environment: extra food finds a good [...]
Happy Eco-News Fridays!
Friday, October 28th, 2011Karina’s local utility is testing out plug-in hybrid pick-up trucks! NYC MTA has implemented a leave no trace “carry in carry out” policy in the subways, piloting the program by removing trash cans from a couple of subway stations! An oil tanker sunk in WW2 was investigated at the bottom of the ocean and it [...]
The Miracle of Sunflower Seeds
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011I spent some time today in a garden and was awed and humbled: After 39 years on this planet, I finally learned where sunflower seeds come from. Now, some of you are picking yourselves up off the floor after a severe fit of laughter, while others may be thinking, “well, wait a minute… where do [...]
Rochester UFO Sightings!
Monday, October 24th, 2011A friend of mine sent a truly awesome link to a local Rochester campaign designed to get people onto public transportation – the Rochester Vanishing campaign boldly points out that “ON AN AVERAGE DAY IN ROCHESTER, OVER 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS VANISH. I mean, check out this awesome graphic (courtesy Rochester Vanishing): THAT is compelling. Really [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Make an EcoFriendly Costume!
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011Halloween is next week! We talk a lot about halloween, because it’s a holiday where it is very easy to go out of control. So this year, try and make an eco-friendly costume! Start by raiding your closet for a costume – or for a base layer (or background) of your costume. If you build [...]
Happy Eco-News Fridays!
Friday, October 21st, 2011President of Iceland: Our Clean Energy Economy Helped Us Survive a Financial Crisis Students Explain Why They Care About the Environment (Video) Use peer pressure to make your friends go green The Hidden Eco-Benefits of Working from Home 12 healthy homemade candy recipes Revenge of the Electric Car (Movie Review) How to start a carpool [...]
My trip to Rheinbeck Sheep and Wool
Monday, October 17th, 2011This weekend I had a really lovely trip over to the Rheinbeck Sheep and Wool Festival – you might remember how I wrote about it, and how I’m no good at shopping! I feel like we managed this trip in a way that was both eco-sensitive and also enjoyable. My friend Lorelei joined me – [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Fiddle with your Recipe!
Saturday, October 15th, 2011It’s tough when you’ve got a recipe you’d like to make, and you’ve only got most of the ingredients. Or, you’ve got a bunch of ingredients and only half are called for in your perfect dream dinner plans. So what do you do? Clearly, it’s time to fiddle with the recipe. Take a chance and [...]
Happy Eco-News Fridays!
Friday, October 14th, 2011Disadvantaged teens build 160 MPG hybrid car Living off the grid: SUPER FUN X Challenge Oil Spill Cleanup Winners Beat Industry Standard Tech By 400% Activists Break Up a UK-Canada Tar Sands Meeting with an “Oil Orgy” (Video) Architect recycles a 747 jet into a house Detroit everyman uses DIY moxie to turn his town [...]
Soda Bottles Into Lightbulbs
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011We’re all about tiny choices here at Tiny Choices… and to me, this is a perfect example of an elegant solution to a global issue: using empty plastic soda bottles filled with water and a little chlorine to funnel light into the dark homes of people living without electricity. These bottle lights shine up to [...]
Being “GOOD” at shopping
Monday, October 10th, 2011What with all of the “try not to buy so much stuff, it’s way greener” messages we’ve shared here at TinyChoices, I myself am finding that I have to try really hard! to not buy a lot of stuff myself. You know, I wouldn’t want to be hypocrite or anything…But as much as it is [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Skip Processed Food
Saturday, October 8th, 2011When possible, choose to skip buying/eating processed foods, in favor of actual real food. When the munchies hit, try fruits, veggies, or home-baked treats. At mealtime, leave the frozen pre-packed burrito in the freezer and make one from your own prepared ingredients. Sure, this tip requires a little more planning, but seeing as how it [...]
Fall (Spring?) Resolutions!
Friday, October 7th, 2011The seasons have officially changed in the northeast USA – there was a frost warning last night at Karina’s house! So with the seasons changing, it’s time to shake everything up and choose some new stuff to concentrate on. Do you have anything you’ve been putting off tackling in the world of eco-choosing? Any secret [...]
Bus Vs. Taxi
Wednesday, October 5th, 2011Today was my lucky day– I got to spend a few luxurious hours floating in a hot spring, watching birds flit overhead, and swimming down a long tunnel into the darkness of a hot cave– and I appreciated every minute of it! On my way out there, though, I had a Tiny Choice to make: [...]
Why do we live where we do? Part II
Monday, October 3rd, 2011I wrote last week about some thinking I’ve done about why we live where we do – and my theory that it’s due to one of three things: Family Job Lifestyle. I currently live where I do because of family, but the other two ring true for other times in my adult life. And after [...]
Easy Peasy Tip: Rent It!
Saturday, October 1st, 2011Instead of purchasing new items– especially ones you’ll only use once or occasionally– see if you can rent them! From designer purses to fancy dresses, power tools to movies, fuel-efficient cars to furniture: if it’s for a special event and not everyday life, you’ll save money and have a lighter footprint by renting it! [Image [...]