I'm Done With Electric Toothbrushes

My Sonicare toothbrush lasted me over 7 years. It's been a few months now since the battery won't charge, and it's been hiding under the bathroom sink ever since. This morning I decided it was time to figure out how to dispose of it. After much Googling, I found out that the battery must be "properly disposed of," and there was a mention or two that the rest of the toothbrush is recyclable.

Okay, I thought. This shouldn't be too difficult.

Little did I know that in the next 10 minutes I would be demolishing my toothbrush because a) it is so old the pieces probably started to meld together and b) the instructions were not clear. I can see how the manufacturers thought the 3-step process would be simple, but they also made the darn thing.

If you try this, a screwdriver will be your best friend.

So I've decided that a buzz-y brush is not worth the effort to "properly dispose of." I doubt that every person who uses an electric toothbrush takes the time to demolish dismantle and recycle it. Here are other reasons why I'm jumping off the buzz-y brush bandwagon.


     1. The replacement heads get to be expensive, especially if you get the official Sonicare ones.


     2. Aesthetically, the handle began to yellow (which is fine), but the replacement heads were pearly white. Not digging it. I also don't like having the charger cluttering my bathroom sink.

     3. It's a lot of waste. Consider the packaging for the initial toothbrush and the packaging for the replacement heads. Not to mention the actual product itself! I'd rather spend my time getting things done rather than trying to figure out what part of the packaging and toothbrush is recyclable.

Therefore, I am going back to the basics. Something that doesn't need electricity to function. Something that I can easily recycle. An eco-friendly, man-powered toothbrush! My friend uses Preserve, and I've also seen these guys.

I also think that it's possible to disinfect toothbrushes so that they last longer. I'll have to look into it. I don't know about you, but my toothbrush definitely doesn't wear out after 3-4 months of use.

Disclaimer: I have nothing against Philips. I just found the disposal of this particular product to be frustrating.

TL;DR: If you're looking for an eco-friendly toothbrush, try Preserve or Brush with Bamboo. I'm sure there are plenty more options (those are just the first couple I found on a quick search!).

Garden Shenanigans: How to Start

Ok friends,

Although it really doesn't seem like it, spring is coming. YAY!

As promised, I will share my first experience with gardening this year. Hopefully the adventure will be entertaining and informative. :)

Note: All information will be pertinent to ZONE 5. That is where I live. You can check your zone here. This will be important to choosing what to plant and when to plant it. :)

So here we go!

How do I get started?
Step 1: Determine the space you have. 
Estimated time: 10 minutes

Do you have a piece of land to work with? Do you have a patio, but no grass? Do you have a balcony? Do you have a windowsill? ANY of these can become a garden! Allocate a part of this space to become your garden. The amount of space will (obviously) determine what kind of plants you can plant. Don't be discouraged if you don't have much room! Look at this cute herb garden idea:

I recommend measuring the dimensions of your garden, whether it be in feet or in number of tin cans. :)

I have a slightly unusual situation, as the space allocated for the garden is near a black walnut tree. The tree roots emit toxins, so I will have raised beds (an extra layer of soil) to avoid plant homicide. We are all friends here!

P.S. I can't tell you how big my garden is ATM because it's covered in snow...

Step 2: Choose what you want to plant.
Estimated time: 20-30 minutes

There are two things to consider here: what you like to eat and whether you have the conditions to grow it. Here is a guide to how much space different plants need. Don't be afraid to try new things! Veggies that you grow yourself taste WAY better than the ones in the grocery store. Usually. But we will make sure we do it right! Yes? Good.


I will be growing the following lovelies:

• bean chinese red noodles
• tommy toe tomatoes
• German pink tomatoes
• Amish paste tomatoes
• cucumber muncher
• cucumber mexican sour gherkin
• arugula
• lettuce rocky top mix
• butterhead lettuce
• red romaine
• radishes
• beets
• peppers
• butternut squash
• summer squash fordhook zucchinis
• spinach
• snow peas
• Parisienne carrots

Don't they look delicious?

Step 3: Go get your seeds!
Estimated time: varies

Woohoo! You made it to the most fun part! You can find seeds online or in stores. I recommend Baker Creek Heirloom seeds and Burpee seeds. Even if you don't end up ordering online, it's super fun to see all the different veggies that you've never heard of. And some of them look ridiculous (and delicious).
You can also find seeds at Menards, Lowe's, Home Depot, and probably other places too.

Once you have your seeds, keep them in a dry, cool place (like the pantry). Next time I will share info on how to start your seeds!

Ladies, We Can Change the World

Not only because we're able to grow a human inside of us, but other reasons too. And it's quite easy, really.

Guys, before you run away from this post, know that this has a lot to do with you, too. If your girlfriend, sister, wife, or daughter mention using the following methods, try to learn about it too. Willingness to learn and to be comfortable with it will reflect your maturity about the subject.

Note: I've mentioned a brief summary about this in a previous post, but I believe it deserves more attention.

THE PROBLEM
Take a moment to count the number of disposable pads and tampons you use in one cycle. Or you can make an estimate by remembering how often you buy a box. With an estimate, multiply that by the number of times you menstruate in one year. Then multiply that by the difference between the age your mother hit menopause and your age right now.

Example: Let's say you have a very light period and you only use 10 pads/tampons per month. Let's say you have an average cycle of 28 days, so you menstruate approximately 13 times a year. I'm going to pretend that I'm 30 years young, and have about 20 years before I hit menopause.

10x13x20=2,600 pads/tampons in the next 20 years

This is a very, very conservative number. Now let's take a look at a girl who just began menstruating (age 13), has a regular period, a regular cycle, and her mother hit menopause at age 53.

20x13x40=10,400 pads/tampons in her lifetime

That's a lot of trash that goes into garbage dumps. Moreover, most disposable pads/tampons are bleached, and are actually not that sanitary. This article wonderfully explains some dangerous ingredients that these disposable products contain. So how do we change this?

THE SOLUTION
Reusable products, of course. :)

Now bear with me, this may seem weird, but I promise promise promise you, you can find one that you like.

1. Menstrual cups. These stay inside of you like a tampon, but they don't suck all the good stuff out. Instead, they collect fluid, and you empty it.

PROS:

not harmful (made of medical-grade silicone)

space-efficient (it's small, so you can store it anywhere)

you can wear it up to 12 hours

you can use it for years (I've had mine for 5 and it's still going strong)

virtually leak-free

CONS:

it takes a couple of months to learn how to use it

BRANDS (click for website):

DivaCup

Keeper/Moon Cup

La LunaCup

Lunette

MiaCup
MoonCup
SckoonCup

     FAQs

     Isn't it gross? Nope. It's actually not.

     Does it fit? This is the most common question I hear. I understand why you ask, because I used to ask the same thing before I mustered up the courage to just try it. Here's the down-low. Your body can push a baby out of it. So yes, it fits. Also, it really isn't that big. Approximately 2 inches long and 1.5 inches in diameter, depending on the brand. Rest assured that menstrual cups are flexible, soft, and sturdy.

     Does it leak? If you insert it correctly, no. You can walk, drive, hike, and ride a bike normally and notice it much less than a tampon.
     But... but... how do I do it?! It does take a bit of learning, but there's an online community that can answer personal questions for you. Don't let all the questions scare you. There are a lot of women who are eager to share their advice, and there are YouTube videos that explain further, such as this one (don't worry, a wine glass is used for the example). And there are instructions in the box. :)

2. Cloth pads. These are exactly what they sound like, except they are often made with really cute patterns and you'll actually like getting them out every month.

PROS:

non-invasive

easy cleaning (throw them in the wash at the end of your period)

last for as long as you take good care of them (>5 years)

thinner than disposables (yay for not feeling like you're wearing a diaper!)

soft, comfy fabrics (cotton, silk, fleece, hemp, flannel)
they really are super cute

CONS:

extra laundry

BRANDS (also use as resources):

GladRags
LunaPads
New Moon Pads
PIMPs

Sckoon

Cloth pads get so pretty I can stare at them for hours. But that's kinda weird so I won't. Also, try Etsy for tons more. You can even make your own :)

In sum, cups and cloth pads are eco-friendly, wallet-friendly, and body-friendly! There are so many to choose from, it's ridiculous. In the best way. *tear* Please excuse me while I go frolic because I just discovered so many new brands. For more information on reusable products visit this website.

TL;DR: All the cool kids are using menstrual cups and cloth pads. What are you waiting for?

Gardens Will Save the World

Have you ever had a garden? If yes, awesome! If no, I'm with you, friends. But over the past year, I have become utterly convinced that gardens will save the world. So this spring, I'm planting one. I'm going to go through the process step by step, with beginner instructions on how to do everything as it comes along.

I have the privilege of being guided by a master gardener, my boyfriend. (Hey boyfriend!) Because you may not know anyone who is a gardening buff, I am here to relate my learning experience to you, in the simplest way. So stay tuned for posts that start with the word "garden" (and every other post). :)

WHY GARDENS WILL SAVE YOU & THE WORLD 

1. A garden will save your wallet. Less trips to the grocery store means less money spent on gas and less time in the car. Now if you must spend time in the car and you happen to abhor it, please see this post. Also, you can grow fresh, organic produce in your yard/balcony, and pay a fraction of what it would cost at the store. Anything you don't eat during the growing season, you can preserve and enjoy in colder months.
2. A garden will save your health in two ways :)
1. Food. I'm assuming that if you grow vegetables, you will at least try eating them, right? The overwhelming message from doctors is to eat more whole produce. Just Google it. Honestly, I don't think that your main source of food should be from a processing plant. Is it even food if it has so many unknown ingredients in it? You can also avoid ingesting pesticides and herbicides typically found in/on commercial produce.
2. Exercise. Maintaining a garden involves moving around. You'll be required to go outside and *gasp* even get some vitamin D while you're at it. Getting exercise by gardening has an advantage over going to the gym--you're getting fresh air rather than stale air. And no one is watching you. Except for GoogleEarth.
3. A garden will save your taste buds. Raise your hand if you know what kabocha is. You are missing out, my friend. It's a delicious squash, and while you may not like squash, there are so many varieties of all kinds of vegetables, you are bound to be astonished that these things even exist. Stores only carry a few varieties at most. You can grow a tomato that is so scrumptious, you can bite into it as a snack. You probably don't believe me. Please try.
4. A garden will save your social life. Make your garden a social project too. Get a couple of friends or family members on board. You can learn and share knowledge together. You can also split up the labor. Even better, recruit some kids. Your children, younger cousins, neighbors, etc. are the next generation. If we spread the awesomeness of gardening to them too, we'll be in even better shape for the future.
5. A garden will save the earth. This is the big one. So big I have to split it up! :)
1. Less garbage. This works in multiple ways. First, you can compost produce you eat now to make (yes, literally make) dirt for your garden. Then you can compost things from your garden (like it's feeding itself :)). Also, buying less food from the store will reduce the amount of garbage in your kitchen. Less plastic bags, less cans, less bottles, you get the point.
2. Smaller carbon footprint. By planting a garden, you are reducing your carbon footprint. I don't care if you believe in this or not, it is common sense that the less traveling your food does, the yummier it is going to be. So if you aren't doing it for the earth, do it for yourself.
3. Less pollution. I know I haven't discussed meat in this post at all, but this is relevant. By eating a more vegetable-based diet (and I'm not saying you have to go vegetarian or vegan or anything), you will be reducing the demand for CAFO animals. These are basically factory farms that are not sustainable and are creating a lot of trouble (including hyper-resistant disease and a lot of concentrated animal waste). With your saved money from having a garden, try buying Amish-raised meat, or find a local, sustainable farmer to buy meat from. Then you can see how things should be run. 
4. More variety. Every biologist knows that gene variety is important for resistance to negative events (weather, disease, etc.). By planting a wider variety of plants, you allow for greater variation among open pollinated crops. This actually increases food security. Also, if you were the earth and someone planted the same things in you all the time, you'd get pretty bored wouldn't you?
5. Appreciation. I truly believe that the key to taking care of the earth is to first appreciate it. My accounting teacher (of all people!) said something a few months ago that made my heart go thump-thump. wait. what? thumpthumpthumpthump. That probably doesn't make sense, but here's what he said, "We do not depreciate land. Why? Because it will always be there for you." It will always be there for us. We choose whether we return the favor.

If you are skeptical about starting a garden, I highly recommend Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. You can get it at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and probably your public library. It is also available as an audiobook.

If you are unable to garden, for any reason, then this website is a wonderful resource to find farmer's markets. You can also become a member of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and receive boxes of yummy vegetables as they come into season. If the link isn't working, the URL is http://www.localharvest.org/

TL;DR: Will you start a garden with me this year?

What is Eco-Friendliness?

Like many other terms that sprout from movements, "eco-friendliness" is in danger of becoming distorted. Fortunately, it has not reached the dismal point of "feminism," which actually means the advocacy for women to have equal social, political, and economic equality to men. Now, there are people who just associate "feminism" with something negative, like women who have penis envy, are bitter, and want to kill all the men. Somewhere along the way, radicals and stereotypes ruined everything without even meaning to. Same goes for how people who practice Islam are now all assumed to be terrorists. I don't know about you, but I sure wouldn't want to be defined by people who identify with my religion, but went all crazy (i.e. Westboro Baptist Church).

Anyway, this makes me wonder where the term "green" is going. (Haha, get it? Green is going, like "going green"?) While being "green," or "eco-friendly," is by definition a positive concept, I'm afraid it will be warped by the advertising world (greenwashing). But since the environmental movement does not only fall upon the producers of "green" products, I like to focus on the things that I can do on a daily basis to produce less waste. See what I wrote about eco-friendly products here.

Por ejemplo, some guidelines:

• Lights out. You can say, "Oh, but I'm just getting a snack." Unless you are some kind of mutant that doesn't get distracted by everything on the way to the kitchen, you're probably not going to be back in that room for another 10 minutes. Let's be honest here. I even get distracted when I want to get a snack and I'm Skyping someone. There are just too many things to encounter! The dogs are cute, so I have to stop to pet them, we don't have any fruit at the moment, so I have to find something else, someone is watching TV and it turns out to be my favorite movie, etc, etc. Ten minutes later, I'm like, "Crap! What'stherface is waiting for me on Skype!" That leads me to...
• Unplugging. Electronics can suck up a lot more energy than you realize. Yes, I love the internet, but I realize it's better to put my computer to sleep, put down my phone, and go for a long walk with my dogs, and (unfortunately) clean my room. 

Goodnight sweet laptop, I will read you a story.

• Take quick, cool showers. OK, so you've heard of not wasting water before, but cool showers? WHY?! Just to convince you that I understand your indignance, let me tell you that when I was a wee little girl, I loved to take hour-long, hot showers. This desire was probably due to the fact that I get cold very easily, and I really don't like being cold. When I heard about taking cold showers, I thought, "No way in a million years!" Ah, how fickle the brain is. Other than not spending energy heating your water to a steamy 90 degrees, cold water is better for your health. Don't believe me? The easiest example is how athletes take ice baths. I also have a friend who is an esthetician, and when I told her I washed my face with hot water, she nearly had a heart attack. If it's not good for the skin on your face, why would it be good for the skin on the rest of your body? So I've been trying to make it a habit to turn down the heat, and I do like cool water more than hot water. Who knew? I still can't handle cold, unless it's right after a workout.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle. This is the big one that no one wants to hear about anymore. I won't go into detail, but I am often struck by how brilliant this plan is. I feel like an idiot, thinking how brilliant it is, because it's so simple! But it's so brilliant! Parallel to "I came, I saw, I conquered." (Get it? Parallelism? Any grammar nerds out there?)
• Are you getting enough sleep? If you need one more reason to get dreamy, use the environmental one! Think about it: humans only produce waste when they're awake. Unless you sleep-walk. Then I have no solution for you.
• Adjust your thermostat. Keep your home on the warmer side in the summer, and on the colder side in the winter. Why I support this: I don't want to have to change 50 times in one day. Summer scenario: I sit outside in my shorts and a t-shirt and when I come inside, I feel like I have contracted hypothermia. Winter scenario: I come inside in my coat, scarf, hat, gloves, and five more thick layers, and suddenly I feel like I'm in a sauna. I realize there has to be some kind of adjustment, but I really rather not break out my long pants and sweatshirts in the summer, just because I'm inside. Rawr.

You're probably thinking, "As if I haven't heard all of this before." Well then act on it! Don't just sit there and read me ramble about these things. If you like the earth in all its splendor and richness (if you don't, go away), then take care of it! I don't like the phrase "do your part!" Ugh, it makes me feel like I'm in elementary school and I have to clean up someone else's mess. I much rather motivate myself by knowing why I want to be green.

I'm still learning how to Photoshop. Don't make fun of me.

For me, the biggest part of being eco-friendly is paying attention to what I'm doing. When I realize I am doing something wasteful or unnecessary, I know it's time to stop or change something. Like that mantra we had to repeat in elementary school. "Stop. :) Think. :) Make a good choice. :D" Do teachers realize how much of an impact they have on us? Do they know we will have this sing-songy motto stuck in our heads for the rest of our lives?


TL;DR: I hope you at least enjoyed my green face. It took me forever to make it.

Nurture: Reusable Products

Take a moment to think of what you consider "repulsive." Is it something natural, such as bodily fluids, or is it something artificial, such as cosmetic products?

For those of you who find natural things repulsive, I would like to ask you to reconsider. For those of you who find artificial things repulsive, hooray for being my new best friend. This post is about some reusable options for products that are accepted in our society as disposable. The term disposable is yucky! Don't look for it! It makes no sense to use something once, then throw it away! (OK, there are some cases, but here are a few things you might want to look in to.)

1. Handkerchiefs

I have to be honest on this one. I don't use handkerchiefs. But starting today I am! Turns out someone's got the sniffles, and given it's the first time I'm sick since my passionate outbreak to change the way I live, I have to get me some handkerchiefs. Not only are they super pretty (!) (or manly, you could get those too), but it will be much nicer to wipe my nose with something soft. And my nose will be so happy that I am not throwing away dozens of facial tissues that it will even agree not to be red!

Click here on a quick guide on how to make your own. :)

2. Shopping Bags

If you kept every bag you were given when you went to a store, how many would you have right now? We've got loads of them, and they are great to re-use when packing for a trip, but we really don't need any more. I keep one reusable bag in my car at all times, so I never forget it at home. And when I forget it in my car (whoops), I feel so bad that I carry my groceries in my arms. My suggestion is to have a few available: designated bags for groceries, clothes, and miscellaneous.

Also, you don't even have to buy reusable bags. When I studied abroad, I used my backpack as my grocery bag. ;)

3. Menstrual Products, for my ladies

Time to get personal. I used to hate my time of the month. Until I got a hold of two things that transformed my life. Without any pushing, some women close to me have also changed their ways and they love it.

I'll let you do the research yourself, but if you're confused, just call me or something. :)

Cloth pads:
PIMPs 
Glad Rags
Lunapads

AND THEY'RE SO FREAKING CUTE. Again, you can make your own, get them from Etsy, AND you can even donate them to girls who are unable to attend school because of their period. (I found this website in two minutes--there are plenty of organizations that are working to get women the products they need.)

Menstrual cups:
DivaCup
Lunette
Mooncup
Miacup

I know it seems weird. Trust me, I know. But it really isn't.  :) There are plenty of blogs about these things that explain everything.

P.S. This saves A LOT of waste, and A LOT of money. And here's a good way to remember that "a lot" is two words.

4. Make-up Wipes

How many cotton balls do you go through a day? Surprise! You have options.

5. Diapers

I'm pretty sure my internet audience does not consist of many parents with babies. Perhaps this website will help you feel like you have an option other than disposable when the time comes. Just read the first page!

6. Towels

Again, I'm way guilty here. In my opinion, my family uses too many paper towels. They're convenient. But my patience with disposable-product-convenience has run out. Time to use regular towels, and keep the paper towel usage to a minimum! Anyone with me?

7. Snack Bags/Anything to Not Use One-Use Plastic Bags

I've recently become passionate about sewing (more on this later), and when I got my hands on laminated cotton fabric, the first thing I made was a snack bag.

If I can make this, anyone can.

There are video tutorials on YouTube, and instructions online on how to make these if you don't want to buy them. You can use old t-shirts you never wear, and then have a yummy snack of figs or something at work. Yay!

I also made a slip-in holder for my toothbrush, instead of using a plastic baggie. (I don't have a travel shell/case/thingamajigger.) The point is to be creative! And colorful. Colors are good. :D



And on that note, I leave you to your earth-loving ways.

TL;DR: If there is something you throw out regularly, there's probably something you can replace it with that is also a lot cuter.

Nurture: An Introduction

I'm becoming an eco-enthusiast. And for those of you who are tired of hearing about how humans are ruining the planet, and how horrible of a species we are, blah blah blah, hear me out.

What is waste?

When I try to wrap my head around "waste," I just go brain dead. (I'm speaking of materialistic waste, not bodily waste here. Oh my gosh, did she just talk about poop?) It doesn't make sense to me. Nature recycles itself. Plants grow, animals eat them, animals eat those animals, things die, more things eat those dead things, and more plants grow. It's a never-ending cycle. It is a balance.

So why do land fills even exist?

I'm not saying that humans can live without producing some kind of waste--that's not likely in our society. But I feel like something went horribly wrong sometime. Somehow we decided that certain things are no longer useful, and instead of taking responsibility for that stuff, we just threw it in a big pile and tried not to think about it.

I picture this behaviour as something children would do. Imagine 5 year-olds, not a care in a world, playing house and disposing a giant pile of broken toys, once-used paper towels. The pile just keeps getting bigger the longer they play, but they can't take out the trash because a) they're 5 year-olds, and b) there are no trash cans in little mini playhouses. (If I really must be obvious here, the playhouse is an analogy for the earth.)

And while I don't know much about the statistics of waste, or the technicalities of where it goes and what happens to it, I know that I want the nurture the earth as much as I can. Because it nurtures all of us.

I think the beginning of some kind of positive change is simply being aware of your actions. What are you throwing away? Why are you throwing it away? How many bags of trash do you create in a week?

I have way too much to say about this, but now I must sleep. Sleeeeeeep. Isn't it a wonderful thing? :)


TL;DR: Assignment for your life: pay attention to what you're putting in the trash can.