Sunshinedaydream's Profile

Sure newspaper ink is made of soy, but how many people handle your newspaper before it reaches you?

I am all for elimiating paper towels, but would love some thoughts on creative reuses for paper towel holders. I have the absolute cutest red metal vingage paper towel holder mounted on the wall that I can't bear to take down!

Scootergirl, thanks for the kind words about Boise - I'm heading there in two weeks for a six month internship! Can you recommend any favorite places? Specifically food and entertainment, I'm afraid I won't be doing much shopping except at secondhand spots :)

Yes! More modern rustic, please!

Carinagardner: thank you for your honesty and effort. The holier-than-thou, 'can't believe you live the way you do!' attitude is limiting the success of all kinds of environmental efforts, not only those related to food. There was an excellent article in Orion magazine a few months ago about the division between liberal environmentalists and rural (read: redneck) populations. The lack of communication between the two groups isn't only due to ignorance on one side--but just as much to pretentiousness on the other. Plus, we unconsciously tend to flock to those who think like we do, so it's easy to forget that there are millions of people out there who think very, very differently from us.

Annebird: thinking about the amount of food thrown away at restaurants (where I worked for years) is admittedly so, so frustrating. But keep on keepin' on!!

Hanna: great point. even if we can't influence restaurant-goers countrywide, we can raise the awareness of those around us. I regularly bemoan all the poor decisions made out there, but I bet I have many family members who aren't even aware of this kind of stuff!

Re: Anmar's comment: Although there are many, many happy vegetarians out there (i was one of them for 8 years), I don't see the purpose in giving up something you love (i.e. bacon) just for the sake of being able to say you've givenup meat in general. If you're able to buy it locally and humanely, then I'm a firm believer of everything in moderation!

Excellent comments everyone, esp. ilovebutter! I researched this topic extensively for a college paper--and granted, that was several years ago--but if I remember correctly, commerically raised animals are fed antibiotics for two reasons: fattening up the animals more quickly (as ilovebutter said), and to prevent (not cure) the diseases that run rampant when animals are housed in cramped, often unsanitary conditions.

Also, when I wrote my paper, there was a small body of evidence suggesting that traces of such antibiotics remain in the meat and might be contributing our own growing resistance to antibiotics. Regardless of whether this last bit is true or not, the unnecessary and over-zealous (ab)use of antibiotics in both humans and animals is leading to resistant super-bacteria that have the potential to become very dangerous.

Ultimately, I think that both grain- and grass-fed beef have their drawbacks and that the only solution is to simply eat less of it.

There a great book called What the World Eats, which shows families from around the world sitting behind a week's worth of their groceries. In addition to regional recipes and essays by the likes of Michael Pollan interspersed throughout, the book breaks down the grain/meat/dairy/etc consumption/cost of each household alongside country statistics such as percentage of obese men/women, death and literacy rates, etc. Highly recommended and with beautiful photography.

Great comments, everyone, and great post. I'm so glad this topic is being brought up, because like so many others, it's been on my mind a lot lately.

While I certainly agree that the current economic situation is devastating for the families and individuals who have lost their jobs, I hope that the many people talking about 'fixing' the economy DO NOT mean returning to a culture of wastefulness (both financially, environmentally and socially). It took some drastic and unfortunate turns to get us here, but I'd like to think we're finally the verge of a new way of thinking and living. I truly hope that the current focus on reusing, repurposing, making things last, making do, etc is NOT merely a temporary response to fear but rather a sincere and a long-lasting change.

If the owner and her dog are comfortable climbing the stairs after a couple glasses of wine, then I think they look great... a railing just wouldn't look right to me. However, I'd be terrified to climb that ladder and get down a new book!

Besides the small size, homemade-ness and composting/drainage/garden system, what makes this place especially green? The walls don't look very energy-efficient to me, although maybe they are, if this was once a freezer...

I don't doubt that it is, but I'd like to hear more about how this house is green. I'm afraid that some people are beginning to equate 'green' with 'rustic,' and that's not always the case. For example, I rent a very rustic home in Vermont--which I love--but unfortunately, I think that the environmental pros of wood heat, local produce and salvaged furniture are offset by the remoteness (i.e. need to drive everywhere) and poorly insulated old walls and windows.

Also, I realize that no home is ever truly finished, but I would have preferred to see more 'afters' and fewer 'in-the-works' shots here.

I'm with CJL. I've been yearning to take my boyfriend's bed OFF it's wheels!! It ends up halfway across the room...