Nature’s Green RemedyHelping Find Balance Between Man & Nature

Yes folks, it’s that time of year again and time for “Fun in the Sun”.

So as you continue living your green lifestyle and frolic in the Sun here are five skin protection tips to help keep those Summer outings as happy and care-free as possible.

During the next few months, much of our non-working lives centers around activities lead us outsides where the Sun’s warming and sometimes harmful rays shine upon us. Activities range from extended fishing expeditions (my favorite), boating, holding picnics, days at the beach and even tasks around the house like painting, yard work, gardening and so on …

Though the natural warmth often feels especially grand at the end of a long cold winter, they also place us at risk to a variety of skin problems including formation of leathery and wrinkly skin, unsightly skin spots, and in the worst case …. skin cancer.  Another related issue I sometimes encounter is vision issues due to excessive glare, particularly when on the water.

As you are planning your outdoor activities, consider the following tips to help keep your time frolicking in the Sun both fun (even if mowing) and safe:

1. Wear the appropriate clothing.  Although it may sound counter-intuitive, sometimes proper clothing includes long-sleeved shorts and pants;
2. Try and plan you day to avoid being out in the direct sun between the hours of 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.  This is the time of day when the sun is highest in the sky and it’s rays are most intense.  If out for a day of fishing or boating, use your boat’s Bimini top or invest in one (especially if this is a frequent Summer pastime for you);
3. Use sunblocks that are truly effective and have a low health risk associated with them such as Badger Sunblocks or the Alba Sun Care line available online at Drugstore.com;
4. Apply the sunblock to all exposed skin at an absolute minimum and don’t forget your ears, neck and even parts of your face.  If you don’t have much hair on the top of your head, apply the block and wear a hat for added protection;
5. Re-apply sunblock frequently and though you can use the instructions on the label as a guide, remember that your activities might have lead to contact with clothing thereby removing the block.

Always remember to check your skin after each outing making note of areas looking different than normal.  If you do find areas of abnormal appearance be sure and check with your doctor for safety sake.

So remember these five skin protection tips to help keep those Summer outings as happy and care-free as possible as you keep living your green lifestyle.

Most of us are at least partly concerned with the types of chemicals found in household products we use on a daily basis and the potential health impacts associated with different types of exposure.

One problem we often encounter when researching both the chemicals in household products as well as the health risks associated with chemical exposure is accessing meaningful and accurate information.

It maybe easy to find information on the “Net” via a search engine like Google but the information identified is often at best …  questionable.

Answering the Quality Information Need: NLM/NIH ToxNet

Two previous blog posts addressed some of the information sources that can be used to identify the health risks or chemicals in household products (Household Products Database and MSDS sheets).

One note of caution: remember to seek out the chemical exposure concentrations associated with a given health effect when researching information. It is usually a key factor related to the nature of the effect.

The video tutorial below provides a basic introduction to the National Library of Medicine (NIH) ToxNet database web portal and how to quickly access both the Household Products Database (basic health risks of household products) and Hazardous Substances Data Bank (health risks of chemicals in products):

You will notice several other databases and information sources such as the environmental health and toxicology resources pointed out as the video closes.

Bottom line: There is a wealth of health and toxicological data available from the numerous databases accessible from the ToxNet portal and the information will prove to be as or more reliable than most sources identified via a general web search.

During the process of researching green or eco friendly cleaning products I commonly ran into discussions about cleaners made from household items (vinegar, baking soda, etc.) and how they were safer than most commercial green cleaning products from companies like Seventh Generation, Shaklee (Get Clean line) or Better Life.

As I followed the discussion across several different blog comment threads, people would commonly refer to health hazard data compiled on material safety data sheets (MSDS) to identify health and toxicological information when presenting their arguments.

It seemed when proponents of the homemade cleaners made an argument against common commercial green cleaners, they would identify the major compound in the commercial cleaner and refer to data from the MSDS sheet for that pure compound.

I instantly saw a problem with their analysis since they were often comparing vinegar (a 5% (dilute) solution of acetic acid) against the data for the concentrated (100%) form of the compound of concern in the commercial green cleaning product.

As a result, I prepared the following video noting my concern for this type of analysis by showing some examples of MSDS health hazard data for three compounds used in green or eco friendly cleaning products.

Please watch the video making note of the compounds compared and data on each of the MSDS sheets then comment below!

I look forward to your thoughts and comments!

All through the 2008 Presidential Election, Barack Obama stressed the need for each of us to increase our community service as volunteers; a clear fit with a green living lifestyle.

By volunteering for environmental change, you not only get to assist in protecting your areas natural environment but you also have the opportunity to share new experiences, gain more skills, meet great people and expand your existing network.

Even more importantly, expressing your green living lifestyle through environmental volunteerism enables you and your fellow volunteers to make a real difference in your community.

As volunteers work on projects in the community, they help educate local residents about new ways to reduce waste, alternatives courses to reuse materials, how to enhance or develop recycling programs and about innovative composting techniques.  The possibilities seem nearly endless!

How to Start Volunteering for Environmental Change

Since active involvement is key, there are several factors you should think about when researching environmental volunteer opportunities including:

• Make a list of the activities you are good at and enjoying working on;
• Whether you want a regular, ongoing position or a one-time/short-term project;
• How you want to work.  Do you enjoy working alone, in groups with new people or with family/friends?
• What are the types of things you want to learn when you volunteer;
• Do feel you are ready to start in directly without any training?
• Are you willing to participate in a training program for a particular project; and
• Are there certain types of settings or people you prefer to work with?

Once you have defined the key factors defining your preferred working conditions (remember these are unpaid positions and require dedication through completion so you have to stay committed), what then?

Local Groups and Organizations Coordinating Environmental Volunteer Programs

• The municipal solid waste management program.  They typically coordinate the areas recycling facilities and household hazardous waste initiatives;
• Community volunteer coordinator (check municipal health/environmental dept.);
• Any Master Gardner or Master Composter program in your community;
• Groups like local Scout, FFA or 4-H chapters or county extension offices
• Local office of the USDA – Natural Resource Conservation Service;
• Environmental groups in local high school or colleges; or
• National environmental groups with offices in your region.

Most of these groups can be indentified either through local phone directories or a series of Web searches.  Other sources of information include advertisements in local newspapers, local radio/television stations or community bulletin boards.

Following is a live link list (click on name to access site) for several national environmental volunteer organizations:

• The WaterKeeper Alliance;
• Action Without Borders;
• Citizens’ Environmental Coalition;
• Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement;
• Keep America Beautiful;
• National Wildlife Federation;
• Student Conservation Association.

So learn how to extend your green living lifestyle through community service by volunteering for environmental change.

You and your community will be glad you did!

Today’s entry is the first in an ongoing series of green living hot news topics:

A recent study to quantify the increase of bisphenol-A or BPA in human urine excreted from people drinking water from hard plastic (polycarbonate)  bottles was recently completed by researchers at the Harvard Medical School.

The results of their study identified a 69% increase of BPA in the urine from test subjects drinking water from polycarbonate plastic bottles containing bisphenol-A (BPA).

There is an ongoing debate concerning the health effects of bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical additive to plastic bottles storing consumable liquids, in adults, though other studies have shown possible links to heart disease and liver toxicity.

Detailed information can be found on the original news post at Boston.com (The Boston Globe) by clicking the following link:

Harvard study backs bottle concern

This article is the third segment in the three-part “green living” and traveling series covering sightseeing, dining and your green living lifestyle on vacation.

Maintaining Your Green Living Lifestyle as You Sightsee and Dine

You’ve settled in and now you are ready to let the fun begin!

And how do you have fun when off traveling on vacation?

Head out to see the local sights …

Head down to the local beach or watering hole and catch the atmosphere ….

Dine in some of the areas best known establishments and partake in local fare …

So after you head out for a day of food and fun, here are a few more tips to help you keep up with your green living lifestyle:

• Whenever possible, minimize personal vehicle travel (walk, bike, use public transportation) when heading out for your day of fun in the Sun;
• Only take those brochures you actually need when stopping at an information booth and make an effort to recycle them when you are done.
• Always carry a trash bag with you and never LITTER .
• Buy recyclable products for your trip and recycle them when done with them!
• Always try and dine at “eat-in” restaurants and hotels since they use washable and reusable materials and cut down on waste disposal of plastic and paper goods.
• Only take the quantity of condiments, plastic-ware and napkins that you need when wasting from carry-out diners.
• Take reusable utensils, plates, cups, bowls, etc. on picnics and other outings to reduce the amount of waste generated. Always clean-up after your party before leaving the area.

And remember when traveling during the summer it’s to time to get away from the normal daily grind but doesn’t mean there has to be a reduction in your green lifestyle.

Using any combination of the seven tips above once out having fun in the Sun (or at night for that matter) will definitely allow you to keep living your green lifestyle.

This article is the second segment in the three-part “green living” and traveling series covering lodging and your green living lifestyle.

Maintaining Your Green Living Lifestyle at Your Destination Lodging

Once you have reached at your destination and checked into your lodging facilities, there are several more tips you can use to insure you are living as green as possible while away from home!  In today’s world, more and more lodging facilities have waste reduction and energy conservation programs.

Even during the preparation phase you should be checking facilities meeting your requirements for these programs as well. If your selected facility doesn’t have a program, you could always suggest one

After you’ve checked in consider these seven green living lifestyle tips as you get settled in for your stay:

• Be an active participant in the hotel/motel or other facility’s recycling program.  If they do not have a program, ask where the closet recycling facility is and remember to suggest the facility start one;
• Remember to turn off all electrical devices (TVs, radios, lights, chargers!) and heating/cooling system (or at least adjust it to conserve energy) when leaving the unit for extended periods of time.
• Make appropriate use of curtains and blind systems to help keep the room cool during the heat of the day or warmer at night by drawing them closed.
• If you are staying in the same unit for a week or more, work with the facility to reduce the frequency of changing linens to once every few days rather than once per day.  We used this practice last summer when renting a cabin with housekeeping for several weeks while vacationing in New England.  The extra privacy was nice and the proprietor appreciated the cost savings!
• Recycle any unwanted periodical reading material (pamphlets, newspapers, magazines).
• Take opened containers of shampoo, soaps and other useable complimentary items with you when departing but remember to leave the un-opened items behind for the next guest.
• Use the electronic check-out system (usually available through the communications or media system) to reduce the need to generate excess paper.

A Real Green Hotel

And remember when traveling during the summer it’s to time to get away from the normal daily grind but doesn’t mean there has to be a reduction in your green lifestyle.  Using any combination of the seven tips above once you arrive at your lodging facility will definitely allow you to keep living your green lifestyle.

Summer is rapidly approaching and so is a new season of increased travels and long-awaited vacations.  At a time when most traveling vacationers are out for a little rest and relaxation, they also tend to be less environmentally conscious creating greater amounts of waste than they normally do.

Does traveling really mean you have to abandon your efforts to maintain your green lifestyle?  Absolutely not keep on living green!

This article is the first in a three-part “green living” and traveling series being added to the Nature’s Green Remedy blog-site in the near future.

Green Living Traveling Preparations

So before you hit the train, plane or automobile, consider these tips as you get ready to embark on your travels:

• When preparing for a road trip, inspect your vehicle to be sure you are really ready to “hit the road” in the most fuel efficient way possible:
  • Take the vehicle in for an oil change and lubrication;
  • Check tire condition, wheel alignment and tire inflation; and
  • Wash/wax the vehicle (clean vehicles drive better!
• If you subscribe to a home newspaper delivery service, be sure to notify the publisher/delivery person of your departure or donate it to a neighbor in your absence;
• Remember to bring your own camera (digital if possible) on the trip to avoid purchasing multiple disposable versions.  If using a traditional film camera, use film rolls with a greater number of exposures (24 or 36) rather than the smaller 12 exposure rolls to save on waste materials.
• When heading out on the road, prepare sandwiches, snacks and drinks in bulk to keep in a cooler therefore cutting down on wrapper and container waste.
• If traveling by train, plane, bus or boat use electronic tickets (e-tickets) which not only generate less waste but also are far easier to replace.
• As each year passes, more and more car rental agencies are including high efficiency or alternative fuel vehicles in their fleets.  Make an effort to rent these eco-friendly vehicles whenever possible.
• Always try and book lodging accommodations in close proximity to planned outings to minimize vehicle use when feasible.

Much traveling occurring during the summer is related to time away from the daily grind but doesn’t mean there has to be a reduction in your green lifestyle.  Using any combination of the tips above when preparing to travel will definitely allow you to keep your personal “green living” standards.

And when you stop to think about your green living traveling preparations, they only reflect minimal changes to most people’s normal routines when getting ready to travel!

With spring in full bloom and summer rapidly approaching, many of the “green living” folks amongst us venture down to the nearest water body to do a little fishing and in my case bass fishing.

Although I still consider myself a journeyman when it comes to green living and maintaining a green lifestyle, I have been using most of the following green fishing tips for decades.

Here are a few helpful green tips to make all of our fishing trips more enjoyable and help keep the aquatic environment closer to its natural state:

• Be conscious of your trash and pickup after yourself;
  • Cleanup all used packaging material, tangled fishing line, and spent tackle.  Recycle materials (fishing line, tackle, etc.) whenever possible.  Today, fishing line recycling stations are popping up all over the place.  Be sure to take advantage of them!
• When catching your own bait, only take what you need;
  • Native minnows (chubs, shiners, etc.), worms, leeches, crayfish are often harvested by fisherman before each trip.  In some areas, excess fishing pressure may be straining bait as well as fish populations.  Only take the amount of bait actually needed for a given trip.
• When buying bait, do not release non-native bait species into the environment;
  • Many dealers across the country sell bait species not native to their area. You should never release non-native species into local waters or you risk altering the ecosystem with a more dominant species.
• When packing up at the end of the day, check all equipment (boats, trailers, etc.) for aquatic plants or other species and remove to minimize spread of invasive species;
  • The spread of aquatic plant species such as hydrilla, Eurasian watermilfoil, or animal species like Asian carp or zebra mussels into US waters has been a growing problem for a few decades.  The organisms are often unintentionally spread by fisherman (especially boaters) when those species get trapped on equipment and are introduced to new waters on the next trip.  Check and clean all equipment before leaving the area.
• Use terminal tackle (sinkers, hooks) non-toxic and degradable materials;
  • Lead sinkers have been linked to poisoning issues in waterfowl and shorebirds.  Use non-toxic weights such as steel or tungsten to prevent future poisonings.
  • Though stainless steel hooks sound like a great investment they don’t rust in tackle boxes, the also don’t corrode when lodged in released fish as regular hooks do.  Avoid using stainless steel hooks to prevent long term damage to released fish.
• Respect the size and quantity limits established by governing fisheries agency and harvest fish you will actually use;
  • Size and quantity limits exist to maintain balance in each fishery.  Even though exceeding the limits is a violation of the law, it also upsets the balance of the system often hurting populations in the long run.
  • Only take (harvest) the fish you’ll actually use.  There is nothing more maddening (nor enraging to anti-fishing activists) then to see rotting fish at the waters edge.
    • I remember one time when a local fisherman caught a stringer of five bass all over five pounds then tied it to a tree on private land just to be a show-off.  The property used to be the only access point to that particular body of water for local residents. When the caretaker for this track of Audubon Society land reported the incident to the regional office, they gated the road into the property and prohibited all future access.  People can be so self-centered and stupid at times.
• Tread lightly on sensitive shoreline environments.
  • These are delicate environments that are easily damaged when people either walk, drag equipment or drive across them.  This is another example often touted by anti-fishing activists when making their case to ban fishing in certain areas.

Making the appropriate choices to integrate a green lifestyle into your life as a fisherman is more than just environmentally smart; it will help preserve this precious resource as well as our privilege to enjoy it.

Today many American households have home offices and a growing number of them are being used for various types of home business.  Whenever you make the move to operate a business from the home, you inherit all of the responsibilities and authorities accompanying that decision.

The bottom line: You are now the primary decision-maker (or at least play a significant part in that role) and therefore can create your own green home office workspace!

Since you have an active interest in enhancing you overall green lifestyle and operating a green home-based business, a few ideas when either first setting up your office or replacing supplies might help!

Working from home likely means you will be using more office supplies and need additional office equipment than you did before.  So think about the following tips when purchasing materials and make your home office workspace as green as possible:

Green Home Office Equipment:

• Be sure to buy energy-efficient equipment when purchasing major items such as printers, computers, copiers, etc. displaying the “Energy Star^® logo since these machines require less energy and will save you money (green in two ways!);
• Think about purchasing an all-in-one printer/fax/copier/scanner device since one machine requires less energy than four;
• Select a printer unit that accepts recharged toner cartridges plus make sure they are available for that unit;
• Use the double-sided printing feature available on most new printers and copiers;
• Use draft mode when printing in-house documents thereby using less energy and ink;
• Replace old film cameras with new digital cameras requiring less paper and chemical processing when archiving or sharing photographic images;
• Replace conventional batteries with rechargeable ones and always be sure to dispose of batteries in an appropriate manner.

Green Home Office Supplies:

• Use recycled paper made using a high quantity of consumer waste resulting in less trees being harvested, lower energy demands and reducing waste going into landfills;
• Reduce the quantity of paper used by:
  • Share electronic files rather than paper files;
  • Re-use back side of side-sided documents for scratch pads or drafts;
  • Use double-sided printing whenever possible (see above);
• Use email for both in-house and external communication whenever possible;
• Use digital media such as CDs, DVDs, external hard drives for archival of document files, imagery, video files, audio files, etc.;
• Use web sites and web pages to meet publishing needs (advertising brochures, newsletters, sales copy, etc.) rather than conventional printing, mailing thereby saving supplies, energy and shipping costs;
• Reuse file folders, file hangers and even envelopes when possible;
• Minimize both incoming and outgoing “snail mail” by:
  • Using voicemail, email and fax transmissions when possible;
  • Use e-billing add e-payment systems where available;
  • Cancel subscriptions to information sources available digitally or un-read newspapers, magazine, journals, etc.
• Recycle or reuse paper goods via municipal or other local programs (a local school pelletizes paper and mixes with wood waste for heating purposes); and
• Purchase refillable pens and pencils, chose recycled and non-toxic options when available and buy supplies in bulk whenever possible.

Another consideration to green your home office is to purchase recycled office furniture (there is a lot of it available in today’s marketplace) or refurbish your old furniture.  Any office furniture you no longer need can be donated to a local charity, shelters or churches as well.

So remember, now that you are the boss and main decision-maker, it’s up to you to make the right purchases and cultivate your own green home office workspace …