Give new life to your old books.

This is the time of year when I clean house- old clothes go to One Voice, toys to the Salvation Army and books usually go to the Santa Monica Public Library.  I already have piles ready to go to all three places but this year my daughter, Samara, and I put a few of our favorite castoff books aside to try something new -BookCrossing.

BookCrossing.com encourages people to leave, or as they say “release,” books in public places for others to read and enjoy. In exchange, they get to track the books’ whereabouts, as well as other people’s responses to it, via the BookCrossing Web site.

For example: Samara wants to release Fancy Nancy. Its one of her favorite books but she received a double for her birthday, so she is eager to pass it on. We registered the book with the BookCrossing website ( a very quick process) and received a BookCrossing ID (BCID). We then downloaded a pre-printed label ( with this ID) and pasted it into the book. Fancy Nancy is now ready to be released. Samara and I are still deciding where to leave the book-Trader Joes, our favorite breakfast place and the park are all under consideration. Whoever eventually discovers it, will find a note on the label encouraging him/her to visit BookCrossing.com and to write a brief online journal reporting the book’s ID number and location, as well as any thoughts about the text itself. Ideally, this new owner will read, and release the book anew. Samara and I can log on to the site and track Fancy Nancy’s travels. It’s just too fun.

“A book is not only a friend, it makes friends for you. When you have possessed a book with mind and spirit, you are enriched. But when you pass it on you are enriched threefold.”
-Henry Miller

*Fancy Nancy Photo credit www.ibabuzz.com

Models of San Francisco Landmarks Surprise and Delight

We avoided shopping altogether on Black Friday, opting to spend the day after Thanksgiving in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.  At my mom’s suggestion, we visited the new exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers and were wowed by what we found:  a G-gauge miniature train circling the city’s monuments, all created from reclaimed, recycled or reused materials.  “Look, I see the Golden Gate Bridge!” exclaimed nine-year-old Alexander, “And there’s Mission Dolores,” added grandma.  We ooohhed and ahhhed at the forks on the Ferry Building, the old light switch plates on Ghirardelli Square and the computer parts which made up the TransAmerica Pyramid.  There was something quite magical in recognizing not only the city’s landmarks, but the common household items that so often end up discarded.  But here - amongst the exotic flora the Conservatory is known for - those materials were creating real beauty.  The builders of the models are the artists and designers at Figureplant and they are my latest eco-heroes.  They were clearly thinking about engagement when they added the Big Spin component:  My kids loved spinning the wheel for a version of “I Spy,” as they were sent off to look for - among other things - a pair of hair combs (which made for very effective doors on Mission Dolores.)

It is stating the obvious to say that we live in a disposable world, where objects that may make our lives momentarily more convenient end up in the rubbish heap.  The mini plastic tables in some pizza takeout boxes, designed to keep the pizza from touching the cardboard, are my current fixation - sure they can be recycled, but what else could they be?  I often wonder.  Getting creative with all that excess stuff makes my heart glad, especially in this season of reckless consumption.

In Los Angeles, we are lucky to have the ReDiscover Center whose purpose is to promote creativity in early childhood and elementary education while encouraging environmental responsibility. They recycle everyday discards donated by businesses, such as plastic, fabric, wire, wood, metal, glass, and more and give them new purpose as hands-on learning materials.  And we all can access the DIY sites on the web for some inspiration - I’m enjoying checking out the gift ideas on Instructables.com.

Back at the Conservatory, The Golden Gate Express will be on view until April 19, 2009 and is worth a visit.  Check it out and tell us what you think.

I am sitting at my kitchen table, wishing I had been able to resist that second helping of sweet potatoes but alas, I have no restraint on Thanksgiving . In fact, I am already thinking about the left overs I will eat tomorrow night. Speaking of restraint, most of the retail world is hoping that Americans will show little of it at the shops tomorrow. The day after Thanksgiving ( Black Friday) is historically the biggest shopping day of the year.  J.C. Penny is opening it’s doors at 4am tomorrow to give those eager beavers an obscenely early start. The sad state of our economy  will undoubtedly decrease the fervor with which shoppers normally attack the stores and in anticipation of this retailers are offering incentives and deep discounts on merchandise. [Read more →]

AusPens:  The Right Write Stuff

A couple of weeks ago, I found the perfect teacher gift at the San Francisco Green Festival:  A set of eco-friendly white board markers.  Not only are they non-toxic - which is better for all the big and little people in a classroom, but they can also be refilled multiple times.  According to the EcoSmart literature, one AusPen Starter Kits is the equivalent of 246 disposable markers.  And here’s the clincher:  they are made from 100% recycled material.  As a former teacher -  and recalling the fumes from pens that always seemed to be “dry” - I think that there is not a teacher in this country who wouldn’t appreciate this as a holiday gift.  At close to $70, they would be a great group present that would keep a lucky teacher in the pens for a few school years.  I’ve talked to the room parents in my sons’ classrooms and I’ll be ordering at least two sets.

Mark May with the AusPen Starter Kit

Finds like the AusPen is why I love going to the Green Festival - and over the next few weeks, Jessica and I will be sharing our favorite products and ideas from the 2008 event.  Sponsored by Co-op America (soon to be renamed Green America in 2009) and Global Exchange, this three day celebration of all things green and free trade packs a wallop of inspiration, innovation and fun.  I’ve been to the San Francisco event twice (they also GreenFest in Seattle, Denver, Chicago and Washington DC) and both times, I have come away feeling so hopeful about the possibilities of a green and sustainable future, one which is also committed to social justice.  And that gives me a lot to be thankful for.

If you have been to a Green Festival, please tells us your faves and highlights.  We look forward to sharing ours.

The BioTour bus crisscrosses the country on an Eco mission

BioTour is no ordinary road trip. It’s a group of individuals crisscrossing the country in a vegetable-oil-powered school bus, with the aim of enlivening the Sustainability Movement while exploring the depths of America—the people, land, and cultures. BioTour visits colleges, high schools and community events across the nation addressing the vital issues of climate change, environmental degradation, and peak oil while presenting pathways toward sustainability in renewable energy and active democracy. It delivers presentations/discussions, gives bus demonstrations, and provides entertainment events, using its solar powered sound system to power bands, and DJ’s at rallies, festivals and outreach events. In addition, it brings people together with art, music and celebration in order to attract new interest and energy to the sustainability movement. Finally, BioTour facilitates the vital connection between individuals and local organizations and connects local organizations with the larger movement. How groovy is this?

Wanna get involved? Ride the bus and get in on the action as an honorary crew member. Honorary crew members can ride the bus for up to one week and participate in anything that is going on at the time- presentations, excursions, dancing or any other spontaneous adventures that arise. Be prepared to travel light and bring plenty of snacks to share with the rest of the crew. You’ll be sleeping in the bus or under the stars and grabbing showers wherever you can. It’s communal living at it’s best.

The idea for BioTour was born in 2006 when it’s co-creators, drove from Massachusetts to Nevada for the Burning Man Festival. They were so inspired by the positive reaction they received as they crossed the country, that they decided to create a nonprofit and BioTour hit the road in spring of 2007.

BioTour is primarily funded by honorariums from colleges, universities and highschools. But if you are an individual or a corporation that would like to donate to their efforts , they would be very happy to accept your tax deductable gift. Or if you would like to donate to them in kind, check out their wishlist or look at their schedule and offer them a hot shower or a meal, if they are in your area.

O’Bon pencils and paper make homework fun

My daughter, Samara requested that I write a post about her “beautiful” Eco friendly pencils from O’Bon. They are made from recycled newspaper using a patented “rolled on” method. They are non-toxic, splinter free and especially sturdy- the newspaper casing protects the graphite better than a wood casing, so the graphite almost never breaks. Best of all, when you sharpen them, they produce a swirl of colorful newspaper that can be thrown into your compost. They come in gorgeous colors and patterns- Samara is especially fond of her rainbow pencils. She says they “inspire her to draw” and “make homework more fun.” Can’t complain about that!.

O’Bon’s ambition is to reduce deforestation on the planet and that aim is reflected in the materials they use to make their products. In addition to their pencils they also have a great line of notebooks made from bagasse (sugarcane pulp and fiber). Sugarcane is an amazing alternative as it grows like a weed year round, with little wear and tear on the soil and it doesn’t need heavy fertilizers or much water to grow. The fiber and pulp which is often thrown away can be recycled to make paper, cutlery, plates and boxes, minimizing the demand for plastic. Best of all, these products can be made with little energy and no chlorine or other toxic chemicals.

Community Supported Agriculture

The universe - or someone in it - answered my prayers late this summer.  For years, friends and trusted publications had been extolling the virtues of Community Supported Agriculture - aka CSAs - and every now and again, I’d check out the Local Harvest website to see if any had come to the LA market. It was one of those occasional exercises in frustration as the farms that served my area were most often “booked,” and had no more shares to sell. So I took to asking the sellers at my local farmers markets if they provided that service.  For years, the answer was “Nope,” “Not at this time,” or “A what?”

[Read more →]

Fighting allergies without shots

Tissue?

My Daughter, Samara, has acute environmental allergies- dust mites, grasses, weeds, molds, pollens,dogs and cats, to name a few. Before we discovered this, we thought she suffered from chronic colds. The poor girl blew her nose constantly, even in her sleep and she had permanent dark circles under her eyes.

Living in Southern California makes keeping these allergies at bay particularly challenging. Her allergist recommends shots- once a week for nine months- to help her system build up a tolerance. The shots are a diluted cocktail of all the things she is allergic to. Some people have had great success with this but we know kids who don’t seem to have benefited from it all. Samara has panic attacks when she gets shots. She literally has to be held down by me and two nurses when they are administered. I can’t imagine putting her (or me) through that on a weekly basis. So, what to do?

[Read more →]

Don’t throw that old T-shirt away- it may be a cocktail dress just waiting to happen.

My daughter, Samara and I are addicted to Project Runway. We have the first three seasons on DVD, the fourth season is on it’s way from Amazon ( it will appear under the tree this Christmas) and the fifth season is safely recorded in our Tivo. Samara can quote Tim Gunn verbatim and can do imitations of most of the contestants. When I say we are addicted, I am not kidding. [Read more →]

In this series of posts I work my way through “Squeaky Green- The Method Guide to Cleaning Your Home” one chapter at a time.

In my original post I said I was going to skip the Pet chapter, as I only have a fish. But after reading it, I feel that pet owners should be aware of some of the important information this chapter covers.

CHAPTER 7

- Buy PVC free dog toys

Animals, like children chew their toys. Keep Phthalates out of your pets system by avoiding PVC. Rope toys or deflated tennis balls are good alternatives. [Read more →]