It’s officially summer, and that means bees. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, bees are simply a necessity of nature. Think about a world without bees and then include all the fresh fruit and vegetables you love which would no longer exist. Take the next step and think about the animals that eat vegetation which are a part of our food stream. Scary right?

In the process of garnering pollen to feed their larva, bees cross-pollinate plants with the bits of pollen that fall off of them on their way back to their nests. We rely on honey bees for one-third of our food supply, so when honey bees are in danger, we’re all in danger.

Over the last three years, one in three bee hives have died. The main cause of the problem is known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a disease where bees are mysteriously deserting their hives and dying. Scientists have been baffled by the disease but believe that the cause may include viruses, mites, chemical exposure and poor nutrition.

Everyone needs to take notice of the bee’s plight and pitch in to help regain the bee population and ensure our food supply for centuries to come. Hagen Dazs, the ice cream company, is working to raise the buzz about this bee problem through education and a new ice cream flavor devoted to the bees. Each time you purchase a pint of the Vanilla Honey flavor found in your grocery store, you help fund bee research which hopefully will identify a true cause and solution for our tiny buzzing friends.

It may be the middle of summer, but you can still contribute to helping the bees by planning flowering plants which attract and feed bees. Consider what plants are native to your area. If you aren’t sure, contact your local botanical gardens or even your state department of conservation for a botanist or entomologist who can help. For more instructions on how to create check out the Xerces Society for more information.

If you are lucky enough to know where a bee hive resides around your home or local community, don’t smoke it out – protect it! In order to learn more about bees and help in conservation efforts, we are all being asked to speak up and fill out a survey about our local bee hives. If you know of a local bee hive, take a few minutes and help a bee out by filling out this survey.

Bees may have a bad rap, but attracting them doesn’t have to mean having swarms of bees in your yard. Just like we learned from the Bee Movie, bees tend to take stinging pretty seriously since they perish after stinging. So once you bring them to your yard, you can live harmoniously together by being conscious of them, but leaving them to their business and staying out of their way. They won’t bother you if you don’t bother them.

Ultimately, bees’ survival will depend upon us. With the ever increasing use of pesticides, genetically modified crops which kill bees, and continually reduced amounts of flowering plants for bees to visit, their livelihoods and lives are at risk. Consider the bees when you make your produce purchases and buy organic and pesticide free!

Welcome to 2009! We hope you had a great holiday and can’t wait to help you fulfill your New Year’s resolution to integrate more acts of green into your lives. 

Below is a pledge for you to sign which we are certain will help you up your green ante over the course of the year. While the list may be daunting at first, consider incorporating just a few new eco-friendly tasks each month. Over the course of the year, you will have made great strides towards reducing your carbon footprint and deepening your shade of green.

At home, I pledge to…

• turn off lights and appliances when not in use
• unplug chargers  and appliances that are not in use
• use computer sleep mode and turn off monitors when not in use
• open the dishwasher and air dry dishes instead of using the hot air dry cycle, run only full loads
• dry laundry on a clothesline
• wash clothes on cold cycle, wash only full loads
• turn down my hot water heater to 120F
• shorten showers by a few minutes to conserve hot water
• lower my thermostat by at least 1F during the winter season
• install a digital, programmable thermostat. Set it and forget it
• adjust thermostat when I leave the house (10F down in winter, 10F up in summer) (if you install the programmable thermostat and set it, you can check this one off too!)
• keep up with basic furnace maintenance- have it professionally tuned and cleaned, replace air filters regularly
• cook more efficiently- cover pots, use a pressure cooker when appropriate, keep burners clean, cook several dishes at a time in the oven, use microwave to heat food, for small meals – use a toaster convection oven instead of heating up your larger oven
• keep drapes or blinds closed at night in winter and during the day in the summer to reduce heating and cooling needs
• clean refrigerator coil every 4-6 months
• replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs
• when bulbs blow out, dispose of them properly or recycle if possible
• install light dimmers
• install faucet aerators in sinks to reduce hot water use
• install low-flow shower heads to conserve hot water
• install low-flow toilets to reduce water use
• insulate 4 ft of hot water pipes closest to hot water heater
• insulate all hot water pipes
• caulk and weatherstrip all my doors and windows
• have a professional seal my heating ducts to reduce loss of heated air
• replace old inefficient dishwasher (over 10 years old) with an Energy Star model
• replace old inefficient refrigerator (over 10 years old) with an Energy Star model
• replace old inefficient clothes washing machine (over 10 years old) with an Energy Star model
• improve my home’s insulation
• replace old furnace with efficient Energy Star model
• install a solar hot water heater
• eat one less beef meal per week
• eat organic food as much as your budget allows
• eat as local as possible; maybe eating “100 miler meals” – food that hasn’t traveled more than 100 miles
• compost food and yard wastes
• recycle paper, bottles, cans and other reusable materials
• buy recycled products whenever possible
• buy products that use as little packaging as possible
• take clothing and small appliances to charity thrift stores or other donation centers
• join a volunteer organization, or an environmental organization
• participate in government so I have a voice in sustainability issues and decisions
• register to vote so I can create help change in environmental policy decisions
• tell a friend

For my transportation, I pledge to:

• take public transportation to work or school instead of driving at least 1 day a week
• carpool to work or school at least 1 day a week
• replace at least 5 miles of driving with biking or walking per week
• inflate car tires properly, use recommended motor oil and keep car well tuned
• buy a fuel efficient vehicle (30 mpg)

For my workplace, I pledge to:

• make double sided copies
• only print when I really need the hard copy
• use the blank side of old documents for scrap paper
• buy recycled copy/printer paper.
• turn off my computer at night

The Green Ribbon Pledge will compute your energy savings for energy saving specific points. Thanks to the Stonybrook Green Pledge.

What are suggestions you can add to creating a greener 2009?  Please tell us below in the comments!

Real Christmas trees benefit the environment by providing greenscape, absorbing carbon dioxide and giving off fresh oxygen. But, with more than 25 million real trees sold in America each holiday season, its important that we look at the end game of all where all these trees go once the glitter of Christmas wears off. It shouldn’t be news to you that simply throwing out your live Christmas tree is a clear environmental faux pas – but what should you do with it? The answer may depend on available programs near you, but most everyone should be able to find at least one eco-friendly option which suits their needs.

Every year, millions of Christmas trees are sent to landfills or dumped on public property in America.

Decorate for the Birds

Prepare for your tree for its environmentally-sound end by decorating with compostable decorations such as popcorn garlands. Using compostable décor on your tree means that you don’t have to undecorate the tree before putting it in your compost pile, sending it to your community’s compost facility, or (and I think this is the best idea!) putting the tree outside to be a feeder for the birds. That’s right, simply put your compostable, decorated tree in your backyard and enjoy your natural bird feeder.

Community Composting for Xmas Trees

There are more than 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs in the Unites States. Go to your community’s municipal webpage or contact your local trash pickup service to inquire about composting programs they offer. Still can’t find a local resource? Go to Earth911 and type “Christmas tree” and your location into their search to find local programs. Many services offer curbside pick up. Considering that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 24% of landfilled waste is yard clippings and compostable, doing your part to utilize your local programs can make a big dent in your personal contribution.

Still can’t find a local program in your area? Start your own Christmas tree recycling program and give the gift that lasts… less waste in our landfills.

For next year, use the buy local, buy organic rule for the purchase of your next real Christmas tree. Check out Local Harvest to find one of the more than 5,000 choose and cut Christmas Tree farms in the U.S.

And, if you are looking to the next step in low-impact living, consider purchasing a potted, living Christmas tree next year. Then, plant the tree in your yard after the holiday or consider donating it to a local arbor organization dedicated to greening your community. For those of you in the ever environmentally chic San Francisco, next year, rent a tree which will be picked up from you after the holidays and planted in the city.

Hope you had a happy holiday!

Image by Flickr user BowBrick used under a Creative Commons License.

Its getting late in the game for gift shopping, but if you own a company or work with clients, you may be wondering how you can say thank you in an eco-friendly way this holiday season. In my old office, we would receive so many baskets of candy and food that is was often overwhelming. So much so that, usually, the baskets would be dismantled and rationed out to staff slowly so as not to overload us all with sugar. We usually even saved some treats for January – when the sugar withdrawal really sets in.

The point is, corporate gift giving doesn’t have to be a basket of candy, fruit or other confections. There are companies who specialize in corporate gifts which are easy on the Earth and still promote your message and store. Looking for personalized pens, bags, cups, pads of recycled paper, and more?

If your company is looking for ways to encourage your clients to do more acts of green, check out the Greensender.com. These gifts are excellent starter kits which educate the receiver about their environmental impact. What a great way to get your message out there in a fun, not preachy approach.

While out of the ordinary, there are companies who offer vegan and organic body products which can be put into corporate gift baskets. These sorts of specialty baskets may be just what your specialty business need to say thank you for your business.

If you are still hung up on food items for corporate gifts, look for local specialties from local purveyors and those that sell organic goods (maybe even luxury!). For example, if your business is based in Vermont, consider local cheddar cheeses and maple syrup in a gift basket. Check out local craft fairs and collect locally made items which you can make into your own baskets. Send organic fruits or veggie baskets and seek out organic bakeries.

Still looking for the perfect gift? Consider donating a portion of the profit from your clients to a charity or nonprofit aligned with the goals or aspirations of your business. Not only is it a great tax write-off for your business, this gift reduces waste and unnecessary clutter in your clients offices while still being valued.

On the other hand, in economic times like these, the best, eco-friendly gift you might give to your clients is a coupon for a slight discount on services provided. Discounts like these might be less expensive than gift baskets, can be neatly tucked into a holiday thank you card and are most certain to be appreciated.

Image by Flickr user Maya the Bee used under a Creative Commons License.

Chanukah began last night and for those with a mind towards green living, this is THE holiday of the year to make your celebration as low impact as possible. Why? Well, the basis for Chanukah is, in part, the miracle of a single days worth of oil lasting eight days. Clearly the lesson is conservation, right? It may be a stretch but more and more Jews nationwide are buying into these ideas.

First, start with purchasing beeswax or soy candles instead of conventional paraffin candles made from petroleum. Not only are paraffin candles made from nonrenewable sources, many claim that they produce more soot and smoke than their more eco-friendly brethren made from plant derived oils and natural beeswax. There are even kits you can use to make your own. 

Use an electric menorah? Consider trading your conventional bulbs for CFL tapers. Also, put your menorah on a timer so that it is not on all night and turns on at dusk to save even more energy. 

We all have read about greening your gift list, but here are a few ideas specific to Chanukah. Consider giving donations to charities or nonprofits you support in honor of your recipient. For a truly unique gift, choose a gift which can help the less fortunate become self sustainable and gain training. Bake yummy treats for gifts and wrap them in either recycled containers or glass ones. Recipients get some home baking and a reusable container they can pack their own goodies in later. 

Wrapping presents? Wrap them in recycled paper including the Sunday comics or pick up copies of a newspaper printed in another language (I’m a huge fan of the papers free at Chinese markets, but many Jewish book stores offer Israeli newspapers). It’s the novelty which makes it fun, after all.

If you are a member of a synagogue (or even a church for that matter!) consider using Chanukah as an opportunity to start greening your facility and rededicate it as an EnergyStar building. Take the first steps by changing out those conventional bulbs with CFLs and institute a recycling program.

Lastly, you can’t have a true Chanukah without some latkes. Make yours healthier and more sustainable by making them with local organic potatoes and onions and cage-free, organic, eggs. If you can find them, use organic matzo meal too. Need a recipe? 

3 organic baking potatoes
3 organic, cage-free eggs (local is best!)
1 medium to large organic onion
1 cup (at least) matzo meal
Salt and pepper to taste 

Peel and chop potatoes and onions, add in blender with eggs. Puree. Pour into a bowl, add salt, pepper and matzo meal. Mix. Consistency should be mushy. Let it sit so matzo meal can absorb the liquid a bit. Heat oil in a pan, fry (1/4 cup batter per latke) until brown, flipping halfway through. Place on plate with paper towel to absorb extra oil. Enjoy with applesauce, sour cream, jelly or other topping.

Happy Chanukah!

Image by Flickr user Mfajardo used under a Creative Commons License.

“Green” Wines Bring an Eco-Flair to Thanksgiving Dinner

There is no shortage of information about eco-friendly wines on the internet, but how may of you are taking this information with you when you visit your local package store?

Vineyards are bringing green innovation to their businesses in all sorts of ways. Some are rebuilding and improving their facilities to meet LEED certification. Using geothermal heating and cooling and recycled materials, Stratus Winery, Niagara, Ontario Canada became the first LEED Certified winery in North America. While the vineyard uses innovative, gravity-driven methods to process grapes and wine, they are not certified organic. 

Certified organic vineyards are using traditional methods of farming which improve the land’s soil while eliminating or limiting the use of synthetic pesticides. The details of organic versus conventional practices are significant. Organic wineries focus upon increasing biodiversity as a means to better the soil and therefore allow the growth of other kinds of vines in vineyards. These wineries also pay attention to the methods of production of the wines just as much as the growth of the grapes.

Still, other wineries are going green by choosing their power sources wisely. Since July 2007, the Staglin Family Winery has used 100% solar power. Other wineries are going 100% wind power. Either way, they are running entirely off the grid.

Looking for ways to implement a green angle to your wine consumption? Drink local! Whether the winery is organic, LEED certified, or operating off the grid, buying local will significantly decrease the number of miles your bottle traveled and therefore reduce its overall carbon footprint.

Conventional, Organic, Free-Range, To-fur-Key – What to Choose?

For carnivores who aim to be responsible, the meat aisle can be an obstacle course. What brands can you trust? Does “free-range” mean the birds really got to walk around and stretch their wings or just that they had a larger pen with a small patch of grass? What does it mean to be organic? Its time to get to the bottom of this coop.

“Free-range” is supposed to mean “that the bird was allowed access to the outside for a significant portion of his/her life. However, some free-range birds may be housed in open-air barns with limited exits to the outside that are left open for only a short period each day. In other free range situations the birds may spend a large proportion of their day outdoors and are brought in only at night or bad weather.” (WSPA) Free range labeling on poultry is regulated by the USDA but the same claims on red meats and eggs are not regulated. Ask your local farmer about the practices they use.

A term I have never seen on poultry before, but look forward to seeing it on products in the future is “pasture-raised.” “Pastured raised indicates that the meat or eggs came from birds who were provided genuine access to both the outdoors and natural vegetation. Many pasture operations use mobile shelters with perimeter fencing that are located in a pastured area and moved periodically to protect the plant growth and provide the birds with a continuous source of seeds.” (WSPA) Pasture raised labels are not regulated by the government so you need to do your own homework to see what they mean for each farmer.

USDA organic certified products are regulated by the USDA and must meet specific requirements of organic farming. Still, it’s important to know that organically grown products are not entirely free of pesticides or other chemical residues. Organic farming (cattle or produce) is a method aimed at reducing the amount of pesticides and water used, and increasing soil quality.

For a variety of reasons from cost to the requirements of gaining certification, some farmers and producers who use organic farming methods are not certified. The resulting products often carry labels such as “organic but not certified” “pesticide-free,” or “natural.” The definitions and practices used to produce the products under these labels are up to the farmers

All in all, picking the right turkey (or no turkey at all) is a personal decision. If you are just taking the first step in turning your Thanksgiving green, take it slow and learn about the food labels you are likely to see. For those of you ready to take your green a shade darker, find a local turkey farmer who meets your standards. You will not only get a bird who lived a quality life, but also support your community’s farmers.

Ready to go a shade of green darker?

Industrial or factory poultry farming is detrimental, not only to the environment but also to the local community. With more people moving from red meat to poultry, record numbers of birds are being raised and modified specifically to satiate American’s palettes. Turkeys are being bred to have larger breasts and be heavier but their skeletons have not kept pace with these modifications. As a result, these turkeys often have trouble standing up and there are many birds who end up trampled and killed. Sadly, this treatment isn’t the worst of it.

Still, the treatment of animals isn’t the only detrimental thing about factory poultry farming. The environmental impact, is highly detrimental too. The vast majority of grain grown in the U.S. is consumed by farm animals raised for food. In order to make room for the immense amount of land needed to feed the animals we eat, forests, wetlands, and other fragile ecosystems have been transformed into farmland, eliminating wildlife habitats. Unfortunately this isn’t even the worst of it. Livestock farms produce a gigantic amount of waste, much of which ends up in our nation’s waterways. 

The moral of this Thanksgiving story is that its up to you to do your homework and weigh the costs and benefits you care most deeply about. Maybe this is your year to purchase your first Tofurkey.

Image by Flickr user Patti Haskins used under a Creative Commons License.

This year’s Thanksgiving holiday is likely to be one to be remembered for my fiance and I. Not only will it be our first Thanksgiving in our new home, but we are hosting my future in-laws for a family dinner. Both my fiancé and I are self-proclaimed professional environmentalists, so it seems only fitting that for this holiday we make the extra effort to find new ways to green our celebration. Since I’ve been spending some time thinking about how to turn a yellow and orange holiday green, I thought I would share a few tips over the next few days as you prepare for your family’s holiday.

Shop Strategically

Before you leave the house to gather all of the groceries and other necessary items you will need to host your Thanksgiving dinner, take a moment to plan your trip. Deciding what you need and where you plan to get those items will help you map out the most efficient route to take and reduce the number of stops you make – all aiding in reducing the amount of gas you use. One method I have found to reduce the amount of miles I drive is to use my GPS which helps me order stops in the most efficient way and, of course, ensures I don’t waste gas on a wrong turn or by sitting in traffic.

Better yet, go dark green on this step by taking public transportation and walking for errands that are less than two miles away. Every little bit counts so do the best you can.

Buy Local and Learn When Organics Are Worth the Expense

Buying products produced locally not only supports your community’s local economy (something all of our communities could use) but it also helps reduce your carbon footprint. Locally made products are not shipped thousands of miles to get to you – a major reduction in the amount of fossil fuels used. Further, locally grown produce from your farmers market just tastes so much better than that out of season fruit in the grocery store. Search for your closest farmers market or other local harvest. Not all organic foods are equal in their bang (benefit) for the buck (cost). For produce, the Environmental Working Group is there to help. They have created a pocket shoppers guide to help you decide based on which fruits and vegetables are found to be most highly contaminated with pesticides. To be fair, it’s also important to think more broadly about the use of pesticides by taking into account the workers who are exposed to the chemicals in the fields. This is a time of year for us to be thankful for all of the people who help us bring safe, healthy food to our tables, the least we can do is work to protect their health and safety too.

Conventional, Organic, Free-Range, To-fur-Key – What to Choose? Stay Tuned for the next post.

Image by Flickr user Lordog used under a Creative Commons License.