Recycling Green Moms

What:  Fair Trade is a system of exchange that strives for better equity and international trading.  The basic guidelines for something to be considered fair trade include: fair wages for work, environmental sustainability, providing public accountability, respecting culture identity, and educating consumers.  Essentially, what it comes down to is offering great products to people that are ethically made and that are affordable and unique.  Some of the products that are offered as fair trade products include clothing and food, furniture and home décor, toys and jewelry as well as many other items.

The Fair Trade Federation[i], a part of the global fair trade movement, is an association that works with the North American organizations who are committed to fair trade practices.  They accomplish this by building sustainable and equitable partnerships for trading as well as working to end global poverty. 

Knowing what fair trade is about is the beginning.  So, that all sounds fine, but why take the extra time and effort to look for fair trade items?  How do you know when they are fair trade and are these things readily available?  Why shouldn’t I just keep on shopping at my local stores like Wal-Mart[ii] for all my goods? 

Why:  We need to look at the difference between conventional products and the fair trade products from beginning to end.  By looking at particular common products we can start to get a picture of the reasons why to shop fair trade. 

• Coffee:  America lives on coffee and is the world’s largest consumer of the wonder bean.  What few of us realize is that the coffee workers most often work in situation much like the clothing industry’s sweat shop[iii].  The farmer is often paid less for the coffee beans than the cost of production spiraling him into poverty and debt.  Fair trade coffee assures us that the coffee we enjoy in the morning was purchased under fair conditions and certification[iv] and at fair prices.  Think about how you enjoy your coffee, and then think about the process involved as well as the people involved that allows you to enjoy your coffee.  When we purchase fair trade coffee we are creating community development, health and education as well as practicing environmental responsibility.
• Clothing:  Like coffee fair trade clothing assures us that the clothing we are wearing did not come from a sweatshop.  The materials used have come from environmentally responsible sources, the clothing was made under good conditions and the workers were paid fair wages.  When you slip on that trendy outfit do you know how it was produced?  Perhaps someone much like your mother, your daughter or your little brother or sister stitched up your trendy jeans in a hot warehouse where they work long hard hours and are paid very little or nothing at all leaving them in poverty so you can strut in style.  It may sound harsh but the reality of it is harsh.
• Toys:  Fair trade toys can address several issues that are surrounding toys today.  You may not be able to find the trendy toys that are advertised endlessly on the television as a fair trade toy, mostly because they are produced very cheap in China and shipped here to be sold at engorged prices.  You will also not find lead contamination in fair trade toys.  What you will find is hand made beautiful dolls, toys and games that are made ethically and environmentally responsible at fair prices.  These toys promote imagination and education as well as offering unique play experiences.

There are so many products that are fair trade that with a little time and energy you can support the global movement to provide great products and enrich the lives of those who make and provide these products.  By working together we can help put and end to poverty and take a step in the green direction as well.

How:  The how’s of fair trade are becoming easier all the time.  Look for the fair trade certification symbol, you will find it in many grocery stores’ coffee isle.  Additionally, shopping at places like Ten Thousand Villages with locations all over the United States is an easy and fun way to buy fair trade products.  A few great online locations for fair trade products include: the Global Exchange online store  and Ten thousand villages at www.tenthousandvillages.com.  For a list of fair trade certified members go to www.transfairusa.org/content/WhereToBuy/. 

It is time that we band together globally in our views and our actions.  By supporting others in the world and working to end poverty in all parts of the world we are also helping ourselves.  Often we think we are an isolated entity but really we are all connected.  America imports most of what we buy and supporting ethical practices we offer healthy and responsible ways of life for all.

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More and more people these days are realizing the benefits of “going green.” Green living is a simple way in which every individual can do their part to help our society have less of an impact on the environment and help our society prosper in ways that will keep our habitat clean and tenable for generations to come.

The chemical products that most of us use every day are, in fact, not very good for our environment. Do you ever think about what happens to all these substances once they get dumped down the drain? They all get dumped somewhere and more often than not they have some sort of side effect on environment around them. The good news is that there are green alternatives to just about every chemical compound that you use every day. 

For shower and tile cleaning, try using Seventh Generation’s Shower Cleaner or Method Tub n’ Tile Cleaner. Both products are eco-friendly, not tested on animals, and bereft of any harsh chemicals produced in labs.

A good, “green” way to control odors around the house is to use EcoDiscoveries’ AirZyme Air and Fabric Deodorizer.  This spray is made only with key, natural enzymes that break down odor molecules, instead of simply covering them up with various chemical smells.

When it comes to cleaning the toilet, Seventh Generation once again has a great green alternative available. Their toilet bowl cleaner smells great, does the job, and is only made with plant-derived substances.

When it comes to recycling, make sure that you take part in your municipality’s recycling program. Also, make sure that your family actively recycles everything that it possibly can. Though everybody knows that aluminum cans may be recycled, cardboard, glass, plastic bottles and paper can also all be recycled as well. Once you fully embrace recycling, expect to reduce the amount of trash you produce by 50%.

The best way to make sure that your family is doing all that it can, especially in larger families, is to have one or two people in the home be in charge of recycling. This person or persons is on charge of making sure that everyone recycles. They should be familiar with what can and cannot be recycled and be willing to keep an eye on the trash to make sure that nothing is going to waste. This can be a fun and exciting job for kids with an eye for detail.

You also want to make certain that you don’t simply throw out your yard clippings with your general trash. Yard clippings produce gasses that can cause major problems for landfills and should therefore be deposited in a special yard waste can if your municipality provides one. If that is not an option, your yard clippings (as well as appropriate fruit and vegetable kitchen waste) can be used to make excellent compost if you have a flower or vegetable garden. Simply place them in a compost pile ina corner of your yard or buy a composter that can easily contain it all in one place. You can then draw from your compost whenever you need mulch or soil for planting.

These are some great ways and great healthy products for you to try when you begin your green journey. You will feel great about even one little change you make in your home for you and your family.

                When it’s a cold  winter night, the thought of bringing your empty soup can out to the recycling bin can seem like the last thing you want to do…after all, the garbage is so much closer, and it’s inside! This is a great reason why you need to set up a easy system in the house. Move the trash can outside instead. Many of us can be pretty lazy when it comes to recycling; even with the green movement in full force, people are still inclined to put things in the trash instead of heading over to the recycling bin, or center in their town. The truth is that recycling is extremely important for many reasons, and with a little effort it can be easier then you think!

                If you think you’re just too lazy to head over to your recycling center with your old cans, and bottles, consider reusing whatever you can. If you’re a bottled water drinker, try to refill those bottles with filtered tap water that you can keep in the fridge; re-use jam or peanut butter jars as toddler toys, or pencil holders. You’ll be surprised at how many things you can re-use! Buying previously recycled goods is another easy way to “recycle..” You can get paper products that are made with recycled goods by Seventh Generation. By reusing, and purchasing materials made with reused goods, you are doing your part in conserving the earths natural resources.

                You can create an easy “at home” recycling center using different colored containers for plastics, glass, metals, and paper materials. Have your kids label and decorate their bins, and use a “reward” system to encourage them to recycle. Having a “scrap” material box is another way for kids to get excited for recycling; scraps of paper, natural materials, and cardboard can be used to make art projects, and for other creative endeavors. School lunches can be recycled too! Websites like lunch in a box, show parents great ways to use Bento Boxes to make easy, healthy lunches that don’t use paper bags, or plastic to make. Nix the juice boxes for plastic containers, switch to cloth napkins, and you’re good to go!

                Making something “brand new” sucks up a ton of energy; there’s new materials that need to be created to make the finished project, machines are buzzing, things are getting measured and thrown out..just thinking about how much wasted energy is going into making one tiny plastic toy can be horrific! Creating goods out of recycled materials is one way to conserve energy, and by heading to your blue recycling bin after having that can of soup, or finishing that bottle of juice, you are doing your part in energy preservation.  Besides conserving energy, you are working to preserve our forests, rain forests, oceans, and other wildlife homes. When you recycle, the need for brand new goods is lowered, and we are able to cut back on chopping down trees, and heading into the wild for natural resources. If you can think of no other reason to recycle, think of the animals!

                By recycling, you are cutting down on landfill space. Our garbage piles up; each year over fifty BILLION tons of garbage pile up in landfills…if we all did our part in re-using, and recycling goods we could cut that back substantially. Solid waste also effects our ozone layer…the more we throw out, the crappier our air quality, and the amount of  carbons that are released into the air. Some of the best materials to recycle are: paper, electric goods, cans, and bottles. These are all common household items, and you can simply set up a smell free recycling center in your own home, to do your part.

Composting is the most natural way to get rid of vegetable matter and create a dark, earthy, crumbly substance that is great for houseplants and gardens.  Compost is full of nutrients that are great for living plants; a perfect and natural way to recycle your organic refuse including fruit and vegetable peels, egg shells and even grass clippings and leaves.  Whether you are using a large compost bin in the yard to create large amounts of compost for your garden, or using a small countertop compost bin for houseplants, composting is easy.  With just three simple steps you too can begin composting and make something wonderful out of your kitchen waste.

Step 1:  Choose the size of compost you are wanting, larger back yard compost or small countertop compost.  The bin can be any container that allows air to flow and contains the matter.  Compost bins are available through many online sources as well as lawn and garden outlets.  A compost bin can be created using items around the home as well such as plastic tubs, barrels, wire fencing and wood and large cookie jars.  Yes, I said a large cookie jar!  Simply place your vegetation in the cookie jar in the correct portions and remember to stir your compost every couple of days.  Conventional countertop compost bins can also be purchased at local stores or at MasterGardening.com. This is a wonderful store that offers great products to get you started. Plus when your order is over $100.00 they offer free shipping! A charcoal filter (used for many air filters) can be cut and placed in the lid to help absorb odors and most store bought countertop compost bins come with these filters.  Stirring often, not putting in dairy or fatty items and keeping the proper moisture balance will also help reduce odor.  Although it is fine to have a countertop compost crock or bin located in your kitchen it is advisable to locate large compost bins and piles outside.  If it is necessary to locate a larger bin inside then I would put it in the basement or other area that is farther away from the living space or use vermicelli worms[i] to compost.  Larger bins that can not be aerated often can tend to smell.

Step 2: With the bin and the location ready you can start adding material to create your compost.  Alternate your compost with one part green to three parts brown material.  Examples of green material are grass clippings, kitchen vegetable matter, banana peels and even coffee grounds.  Brown material includes dry fall leaves, twigs and dry soil.  Remember to keep the proper balance.

Step 3: One of the most vital aspects of proper composting is the moisture level.  Too moist and the compost takes on an adverse smell and improper balance.  The compost should have the moisture composition of a wrung out sponge; about 60 – 65 percent ratio.  With the proper balance of green (high in water content) and brown (low in water content) matter the moisture level should be naturally balanced without ever having to add water.

Once you follow the three simple steps to beginning composting you will be assured that you have healthy compost at the ready for adding to your household plants, herb garden or vegetable gardens by following these helpful hints.

• If outside and exposed keep your compost in a semi-shaded area to help keep the moisture balance correct.  If your compost seems too dry sprinkle with water and more long term put an indent in the top so that water can collect.
• Turn your compost at least once a week to allow oxygen to get into the mix creating the optimum atmosphere for the essential bacteria.  A small indoor compost bin should be turned about every other day.  This can be done with a pitch fork, aerating tool or if using a closed bin you can spin the bin.  This will help to mix the compost to combine the green and brown with the compost that has already gone to ‘soil’ and allow oxygen into the center of the compost.
• To speed up the composting process make sure the particle size remains small.  If you would like to really speed up the process you can add lime or manure to the compost; never add both though because they counteract each other.

Now that you have the basics of your home compost[ii] with the three simple steps and a few essential tips you may find you experience problems; most of which have simple solutions that can correct the problems.  For instance, if you find your compost has an offensive odor you may want to add more dry material such as pine needles, straw, dry leaves and wood chips and aerate it well; chances are your compost is too wet or you are not getting enough oxygen to the center of the pile.  Additionally, if the compost pile does not seem to be heating up (an essential part of the composting process) you may want to add nitrogen rich material such as manure or grass clippings.  You may also want to poke holes in the pile and sprinkle with water to allow the center to get moist; chances are your compost is too dry.  Play with your compost until you find the right mix and conditions to suit your purpose and enjoy the fact that you are creating a useful product from your former refuse helping the earth and your garden or house plants.

For a list of what you can and cannot compost check out www.plantea.com/compost-materials.htm. You may be surprised by the huge number of household items that can be added to your compost including paper napkins and unpaid bills!

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