iGo Green – Blog of my everyday effort going green

It is trendy to be green, and so how about greening your little cute cat?

Here are eight good reasons to green your cat‘s lifestyle by adopting organic cat foods, organic cat litter, and making your own cat toys from recyclable materials. I admit, it might be very expensive to green your cats all at once and all. So try some tips one at a time and make yourself and your little cat friends comfortable at the same time.

Making the switch to organic cat food is healthier for both your cat and the planet. Organic foods are produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, hormones or genetically modified organisms. Your cat will enjoy the benefits of eating natural foods without chemicals or artificial additives.

Instead of buying handfuls of cat toys made overseas, upcycle materials you already have around the home. Leftover yarn can be knitted into simple wooly squares. A toilet paper roll can be cut into a bunch of rings. A paper bag can be crunched up into a fun ball.

Use your imagination, experiment and have fun. Your cat will appreciate the new toys as well as the increased attention. You’ll also be diverting materials from the landfill and saving money by making your own toys. Just be sure that the materials you use are safe for your cat to play with, recycle the toys when they show sign of wear and always supervise your cat during playtime.

Many household cleaning products contain strong chemicals that can leave trace residues in your home if they are not thoroughly rinsed away. Given your cat’s propensity to spend large amounts of time on surfaces that you regularly clean (e.g. counters, sinks, floors), it makes sense to switch to earth-friendly household cleaners.

Do a simple web search for how to clean with vinegar and baking soda and you’ll discover that these two simple and natural ingredients can take care of the majority of your household cleaning requirements.

Shopping can be fun, but shopping for cat food and litter is usually a chore. Plan your shopping trips so that you can stock up a few months in advance.

Buy food and litter in the larger-sized containers. These usually use less packaging materials than buying the same amount in smaller containers and as an added bonus, you’ll often save money on a per volume basis.

Rather than cover your entire home with litter catching mats, cut down on tracking by switching to a pellet shaped eco-friendly cat litter. Pellet shaped litters are made from recycled paper, pine, and other fibrous-based renewable materials. The pellets tend to stick less to paws, resulting in much less litter leaving the box.

If you reduce the amount of cat litter you use by just one scoop a week, it would add up to approximately 10 lbs a year. That’s a small change with the potential to compound dramatically.

According to a 2007 survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association, over 35 million American households own at least one cat. If each household reduced their annual litter usage by just 10 lbs, approximately 175,000 tons of cat litter would be diverted from waste streams each year.

Once you experience the benefits of greening your cat, it seems selfish not to share them with your cat loving friends. Many people don’t green their cats simply because they lack information. If your friends see how easy it is for you to green your cat, your experience may inspire them to follow suit.

Plus, you’ll have another excuse to talk about your cat in public. And, since cats love being the center of attention, your kitty will enjoy being the poster kitten for your local eco-cat movement.

You no longer need to live in Berkeley, California or Portland, Oregon to find a huge selection of earth-friendly cat products. Some major brands now offer an eco-friendly line of cat food or litter. The green movement has also spawned a huge industry of smaller companies offering unique and sustainable cat products. You’ll find green products both online and at many pet stores.

Green drinks such as green tea, green fruit smoothies are antioxidant rich and vitamin rich. Green becomes my favorite color. Everywhere I go, I see green. Today we found something green in Meijer that we would like to give it a try and share with you.

It is Bolthouse Farms‘s Green Goodness fruit smoothie, in a 450ml plastic bottle, green, smooth, a bit sweet and sour. The Goodness per bottle has 1 1/2 apples, 1/4 pineapple, 1/2 mango, 1/2 banana, and 1/2 kiwi fruit. The other green ingredients include green tea, spinach, broccoli, barley grass, wheat grass, Echinacea, blue green algae, Jerusalem artichoke. Quite a lot of good stuff inside a bottle, a convenient replacement or supplement to fresh vegetables and fruits. However definitely not an everyday drink for now, as my stomach need some time to get used to that acidic feeling.

Bolthouse Farms is a 4th generation farm located in California’s fertile San Joaquin Valley. For more than 90 years Bolthouse Farms have been growing and harvesting premium and fresh produce. Bolthouse‘s green drinks, crafted from the finest fruits, vegetables and other 100% natural ingredients, are a nutritious and delicious expression of their continued commitment to responsible farming and natural health.

Welcome to The Green Club in Columbus, Ohio. GreenSpot was founded by Columbus mayor Michael B. Coleman, where people in our city go to learn about living and working greener, and commit to doing it – in their homes, businesses, and communities.

KingSource has been an official GreenSpot since January 24, 2011. Below is a complete list of the commitments we made in our GreenSpot application in making Columbus a healthier, cleaner, and more sustainable city.

KingSource’s GreenSpot Pledge

Here’s how we will inform and engage

Mandatory Commitments
Within the next year:

• By January 15 of each year, we will record and submit the green initiatives we have begun or continued as a result of being part of GreenSpot.
• We will create and display an environmental policy or mission statement.
• We will measure our compliance with local, federal, health, safety, and environmental regulations.

Additional Commitments:
Within the next year:

• We will display our GreenSpot decal in a window or some other prominent place.
• We will keep employees informed about our green efforts by including updates in newsletters and bulletins.
• We will openly encourage employees to be responsible environmental stewards in their personal lives.
• We will post a list of the requirements for becoming a GreenSpot business where both customers and employees can see it.
• We will set aside time at each staff meeting to talk about our green efforts.
• We will track and post utility bills in a common employee space.

Here’s how we will reduce, reuse, and recycle

Mandatory Commitments
Within the next year:

• We will buy office and other supplies made with recycled materials.
• We will establish a business-wide recycling program that includes-at a minimum-glass, aluminum, plastic bottles, steel, and paper.
• We will perform a waste audit of our business.
• We will track our monthly waste.

Additional Commitments:
Within the next year:

• We will buy products in returnable, reusable, or recyclable containers.
• We will communicate electronically-instead of on paper-whenever possible.
• We will donate unwanted furniture, supplies, scrap materials, linens, phones, etc.
• We will expand our recycling program to include additional materials, such as plastic film, refrigerants, re-use of water, hangers, etc. Additional materials we will include in our recycling program are…
• We will provide employees and guests reusable dishware instead of disposable.
• We will purchase condiments (milk, sugar, cream, etc.) and supplies (soap, toiler paper, etc.) in bulk.
• We will recycle electronics that no longer work, or are no longer useful.
• We will reduce our paper use by:
  • Not making unnecessary copies, and double-siding the copies we do make.
  • Not using a separate cover sheet for faxes.
  • Reusing paper for scrap paper.
  • Removing our name from junk mail lists.
  • Keeping our customer mailing lists current, without duplications.
• We will replace chlorine-bleached white paper napkins and towels with one of the following alternatives:
  • Recycled content, non-chlorine-bleached paper towels
  • Reusable cloth towels and dispensers suitable for washrooms
  • Reusable cloth towels cleaned by a linen service
  • Energy-efficient air dryers
• We will reuse packaging (bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, polystyrene peanuts), or donate them to a local shipping company.
• We will make recycling bins convenient for employees, placing them at desks and in the kitchen.
• We will reuse our holiday decorations.
• We will use rechargeable batteries or solar power for calculators.

Here’s how we will conserve & protect water

Mandatory Commitments
Within the next year:

• If applicable, we will fully comply with the City’s Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan requirements.
• We will check for leaks by performing a water audit (if we have more than 100 employees) or by closely reviewing our water bills (if we have fewer than 100 employees).
• We will fully comply with the City’s Fats, Oils, and Grease Regulation.

Additional Commitments:
Within the next year:

• We will clean all outdoor areas-like parking lots, sidewalks, alleys, and patios-with a broom and/or damp mop instead of a hose. If hosing is required, we will collect the runoff and dispose of it as recommended by the City of Columbus
• We will install a water-efficient (1.6 to 2.2 gallons/minute) pre-rinse spray nozzle in our kitchen for washing dishes.
• We will keep receiving areas and dumpsters clear of litter by periodically sweeping the area, and ensuring each waste receptacle has a tight-fitting lid.
• We will replace toilets that use 3 or more gallons of water per flush with ones that use 1.6 gallons or less.
• We will run our dishwashers only when they are full, and post a sign to remind employees to abide by this commitment.

Landscaping

Our business is responsible for the landscaping. We will do three of the following:

• As new plants are needed, we will use native, drought-resistant plants.
• We will install a cistern or rain barrel to catch rainwater, and use it to water landscaped areas
• We will install a rain garden
• We will water only when needed.

Here’s how we will conserve energy

Mandatory Commitments
Within the next year:

• We will perform an energy audit, or use EnergyStar’s Portfolio to track our energy use.

Additional Commitments:
Within the next year:

• We will apply window film to reduce solar heat gain, or shade sun-exposed windows and walls during the warm season by using awnings, sunscreens, shade trees, or shrubbery.
• We will convert to energy-efficient light bulbs, such as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and/or upgrade existing fluorescent tube lighting with T-8 or T-5 lamps with electronic ballasts. We will begin with five light fixtures-or 10% of our lights (whichever is greater)-and commit to changing the rest in the next two years.
• We will implement a facility-wide policy of turning off equipment and lights when not in use.
• We will install programmable thermostats, setting them to 68 degrees in the winter (55 degrees at night, weekends or holidays) & 78 degrees in the summer.
• We will perform regular maintenance on our HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and refrigeration systems-or ask our landlord to do so.
• When replacing equipment and appliances, we will ensure they are EnergyStar rated and/or equipped with energy-saving features.

Here’s how we will streamline transportation

Mandatory Commitments
Within the next year:

• We will encourage all employees to participate in “Two by 2012″-a commitment to commute to work twice a month using an alternative form of transportation (not a single-occupancy vehicle).
• We will install a bike rack in our facility, or provide employees with another secure location to store bikes.

If applicable, we will make our fleet more efficient:

• We do not have a fleet of 10 or more vehicles, and transportation is not a major part of our business.

Additional Commitments:
Within the next year:

• We will encourage employees to walk or bike to meetings, lunch, etc.
• We will provide green driving tips on an employee bulletin board or in newsletters.
• We will provide bikes for employees to use during the day.
• We will provide employees with information about ridesharing and bus transportation on a bulletin board and/or in newsletters.
• We will encourage teleconferences and web-meetings

Blackberry, the common black berry, not the smart phone!

Behind the Chapman Habitat, along the bike path in the Summitview Park, there is a patch of wild blackberry (Rubus Species) bush. We knew its existence since last July when we started our routine of walking and biking. Still, it was a surprise when we encountered another biker yesterday, who parked his bike in the roadside and stopped for picking the berries. It was then we found out this year the bush has yielded the best ever ripen blackberries! We went back today to pick up more berries for our before-bed fruit snack.

Wild blackberries are like the ones you buy, but better, because they are naturally organic! Among the best-known berries in America, you can find them wherever you live. The toothed leaves are compound — divided into segments, called leaflets. Since the leaflets, like your fingers, originate from a point rather than a line, the leaves are called palmate-compound. Each leaf usually has 3-7 sharply-toothed leaflets. In the spring, sweet-smelling, white, 5-petaled, radially-symmetrical flowers about as wide as a quarter drape the bushes. The fruit, which ripens from mid-summer to early fall, goes from green to red to black.

Mulberry, also edible, resemble blackberries, but they grow on thornless trees, not thorny canes, in late spring and early summer. We picked those mulberries, too, though the kids lost interest pretty soon. The mulberry is not as sweet as blackberry, kind of mushy, attracts some small insects which is hard to get rid of.

Pick blackberries that come off the bush easily. These are the ripest and tastiest. Eat as is, add to cereal, drinks, pies, cakes, fruit sauces, or fruit salads. Try creating your own blackberry recipes.

Caution: Kids who race recklessly for the best berries often get scratched. Wear old clothes when you collect. The thorns may tear them, and the berries, which are good for dyeing, may stain clothing.

Poison ivy often grows near blackberries, and they looks somewhat similar, but poison ivy always has three leaflets, no teeth on the leaf margins, and no thorns.

THE SONG OF THE BLACKBERRY QUEEN
by Cicely Mary Barker

My berries cluster black and thick
For rich and poor alike to pick.
I’ll tear your dress, and cling, and tease,
And scratch your hand and arms and knees.

I’ll stain your fingers and your face,
And then I’ll laugh at your disgrace.
But when the bramble-jelly’s made,
You’ll find your trouble well repaid.

THE DEVIL AND THE BLACKBERRIES
English Legend

Organic food often comes at a premium price, thus hardly anyone can afford to buy all organic produces all the time. We have to limit organic purchases to the most important items for our family, such as milk, or buy the produce with least pesticide contamination more often.

Apples, cherries, peaches / nectarines, pears, strawberries and grapes are among the most likely fruits to be contaminated with pesticide residues, so buy organic as often as you can. Bell pepper, carrot, celery, kale, and lettuce are among the most likely vegetables to contain pesticides. Buy them less often or buy organic ones.

Kiwi, mango, papaya, pineapple, and watermelon are the fruits with lowest pesticide residues, so you can buy them more often with less concern. Same for the following vegetables such as asparagus, avocado, broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, onion, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potato, and tomato. GREAT! All except papaya and tomato are my favorites. I wish I would take this list with me to the grocery shopping as a reminder.

In between the above mentioned produce with medium pesticide residues are banana, cantaloupe, cranberries, grapefruit, honeydew melon, orange, plum, raspberries, and tangerine for fruits, and cauliflower, cucumber, green beans, pepper, potato, mushrooms, spinach, summer/winter squash for vegetables.

Oval / Hexagon Rag Rugs

Striped Rag Rug

In America, rag rugs have always been the specialty of women living in the country or on the frontier. Rag rug methods were brought to the shores of North America with immigrants to the new world, and the hooked, 3-strand braided, loom woven and crocheted rugs are among the most popular ones. Rag rugs are mostly produced by recycling worn clothing or vintage sheeting, which is GREEN and fits well in the modern green movement. Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

I started crocheting a few years ago, making little things for my daughter and home decor. At the end of last year, this idea of rag rug crocheting hit me right there when we were completing new floors for the rest of the house. I have tons of old bed sheets, every one has its story to share with my kids. I keep buying new sheet sets and duvet covers. Still it is hard to give away those old memories. You can imagine how excited I was to put those vintage sheets to a new meaning in my green commitment.

I have done two rag rug projects up to date, one in stripes, one in oval shape (sort of), both used in the main bathroom. The third and ongoing project will be a mosaic 3×5 rag rug for my home office.

Kerman Persian Rug 8x10

Kerman Persian Rug 9x11-9

Now that we have new floors, it had been urgent for me to search green rugs to match the floor, because it was really cold in winter morning when I stepped down from my warm goose down bed.

At last not long after New Year 2010, I went to Polaris and shop at a local store Azia Oriental Rugs, which has been specializing in Persian, Chinese, Indian, and more oriental rugs for over 45 years. In particular, Sonia, the owner’s daughter and the Oriental Rug Specialist, had been quite helpful, patient, and knowledgeable. We ended up having two room size handmade Persian rugs from Azia, one is 9×11-9, and the other is 8×10.

Interesting enough, both rugs are of Kerman Persian Rugs. Persia used to be a huge empire, and had its unique culture and art. Nowadays, Iran is the name for the Persian country. Persian carpets are the finest in the world and the carpet dealers have developed a classification for Persian carpets based on design, type of fabric, and weaving technique. The categories are named for cities and areas associated with each design, and Kerman rug is one of the popular designs.

Why is the Persian rug green?

* made of natural fiber – wool and cotton
* hand-knotting or hand-weaving (handmade)
* dyed in natural plant-based dye
* last longer and appreciate over time

Eight Reasons To Choose
Green Flooring…

1… is recycled and reduces dependency on oil.
2… meets government regulations for recycling.
3… can last longer than conventional flooring.
4… creates pride in ownership and contributes to a better world.
5… is safe for you, your family and the environment..
6… is recyclable to prevent needlessly filling up our landfills.
7… can save you time and money and makes you look and feel good.
8… ensures a healthy environment for future generations.

We chose the laminate floors instead of hardwood or bamboo floors for most of our house, though the kids’ rooms retain the wall to wall carpet for the sake of warm feeling in winter. The laminate floor is much easier to clean, no odor-emitting problem which I had been worried for the kids’ rooms.

I have been lazy these days…

I like to pull weeds from our yards in the front and in the back, every morning after I am done with my daily walking. The weed used to be dandelions, however, this year it is the weedy green ash seedlings. Lots of green ash seedlings are clustering in the grass, the offspring left from a dead green ash we cut down last fall.

The lawn is now becoming greener with less weed, then I saw some three-leaflet POISON IVY creeping here and there. Sometimes my hand is getting to touch or has already touched one of those tiny leaflets! Oh, my bad dream of those itching days… is finally HERE!

How do I treat the poison ivy itches? Basically, I don’t want to take any prescribed medicine. I apply herbal essence oil or ointment to the itching spots. I washed with hot salty water. I pinch and punch, I jump and stump… (just kidding!) Time heals my itching problem eventually. Usually it takes ten days to two weeks. So I am still itching, and it is getting better.

Bad news: Nosaj has itching rash starting from his neck. Poor baby!

Planting trees is a wonderful way to help the environment since trees produce oxygen which everyone on earth breathes to stay alive. Planting trees also help stop the effects of global warming and save energy. It is the way to go green.

There are other more exciting reasons to plant trees. Twenty years ago, our class planted a tree of magnolia in celebration of our graduation. Memories of four-year college lives together slide slowly down the hill and past the place where other tress will dwell. Twenty years later and in less than two months, we are going to have our first class reunion. I am getting excited to see the tree of graduation again! What story is she going to tell us about her life on campus along the little pond?

Planting a tree is also a great way to commemorate the birth of your new son or daughter. If you have older children, don’t leave them out. Plant a tree in honor of their kindergarten graduation and later perhaps their wedding. Make it a family tradition of planting a tree for all memorable family occasions. It is never too late to start planting trees.

My daughter’s tree is a Japanese Maple from Dawes Arboretum on an Arbor Day, and my son’s tree is Gingko biloba from the court yard of the old Botany Building in the Buckeye Country. The trees are growing in our back yard year after year, just like my kids, healthy, strong, and elegant.