Forks for Potatoes or Potatoes for Forks

Plasticware makes life wonderful--it makes cleaning up after Friday night's big shabang that much easier, it makes packing lunches run smoothly and it makes breaking utensils a-okay. So is there a green alternative?

After attending a party of one of my greenest friends, I quickly learned the answer is most definitely! Although the party was "BYOC" (Bring Your Own Cup)...my green friend did provide the opportunity to use disposable products.... which were 100% biodegradable and compostable.

The forks were made of potato.









The plates were made of sugarcane.






And if you forgot to bring your cup (<-- this girl here), there were cups made of corn.












I was a bit nervous that the products would have a "special" added flavor or a weird surprise aftertaste...but not one bit.

The products all came from www.greenpartyproducts.com, which is, unfortunately, based out of Cali. So if anyone knows of any places around the country that sell similar items, holler back.

Not-So-Green-Celebrities... How does your favorite A-lister rank?

Just because they're gorgeous, make tons of money, or say they're pro-environment, doesn't mean some of Hollywood's A-listers are all that and a bag of "green" potato chips...

Want to know who topped the anti-environment list? Check out this recent blog on ecorazzi.

My personal favorite evil-doers?

Bill Gates and The Beckhams.

(That's right, Posh, you're on the wrong side of the list for once. I'd tell you to cheer up and smile, but that may be physically impossible for you...)

What did old Billy Boy do that's soooo not green?

Check it out:

It is estimated that his environmental impact is 10,000 times greater than the average person.

How is that even possible? Turn off your computers, Bill... Maybe stop flying to the grocery in your private jet?

And David, you old soccer stud you, do you REALLY need 15 cars? I don't think so. And don't you think flying in excess of 250,000 miles per year is a wee bit overboard? You're not that popular...

Who else made the list?

Madonna
John Travolta
Al Gore (Yes, even Mr. Global Warming himself really isn't that good. Inconvenient, isn't it?)
Liz Hurley
Tiger Woods
Celine Dion

Might be time to pick a new Hollywood eco-warrior...

A Toast to Going Green

Now, I am not a woman of very many vices but I must say that Diet Coke is my ultimate vice. I crave the bubbles, the caffeine, the tingles, the crispness, the color, the 'tzzzzzahhhh' as the can pops open. Sometimes I'll even rise from a deep sleep and sleep walk just to taste its delightfulness (my mouth is totally watering right now).

Now I know, I know, there is nothing green about Diet Coke--except maybe the fact that the can is recyclable. Hence why I am trying to ween myself off of the addiction.

Goal: Find a good and green drink--preferably green in eco-terms, not color

Constraints:

• Must be low in calories
• Must be high in flavor
• Must be organic
  
• Must have cute wrapper [that's recyclable of course]

All recommendations will be accepted. But I must warn you--I have really [really] high expectations.

Dating Advice from the Organic Love Guru

That's right, it's time to spice things up with a little bit of love...

Organic style!

Everyone knows that the way to a man's heart is through his stomache - that's where his five senses are located (hunger, thirst, tv remote, team jersey and lack-of-laundry-skills).

Today's post will focus on the first sense - and for most men, the most important - HUNGER.

(*BIG FOOT NOTE - THE FOLLOWING RECIPES USE ONLY ORGANIC INGREDIENTS. END BIG FOOT NOTE.)

Let's start with a first course - NO SKIMPY GREENS FOR YOUR GUY.

Try this recipe:

Rissoto with Artichoke Hearts, Bacon and Red Bell Pepper

http://www.melissas.com/recipes/index.cfm?Cat_ID=47&Sub_Cat_ID=104&Cat_Name=Seasonal&Sub_Cat_Name=Valentine

Think your man will be scared of the artichoke? Just don't mention it's in there and focus on the bacon. Men love bacon. Haven't you seen the Taco Bell commercial?

Course deux - BRING ON THE MEAT!

Try this recipe:

Stuffed Flank Steak

http://www.melissas.com/recipes/index.cfm?Cat_ID=47&Sub_Cat_ID=104&Cat_Name=Seasonal&Sub_Cat_Name=Valentine

Steaks, like pheremones, create an instant animal magnetism for men. Great science.

Course de resistance - DESSERT SEALS THE DEAL.

Try this recipe:

Tuxedo Strawberries

http://www.melissas.com/recipes/index.cfm?Cat_ID=47&Sub_Cat_ID=104&Cat_Name=Seasonal&Sub_Cat_Name=Valentine

Ok, so these are only semi-manly. But who doesn't like strawberries and chocolate?

So, thanks to your girl Gingerly (and Melissas.com), you can turn even the most HULKing of men into Matt Damons. (I'm not really sure the connection I have going between those two, just go with me ...)

The Greenfication of Edumacation

This day and age you can green everything--cars, food, boyfriends...

and even schools.

As a lover of children and a huge supporter of public education let it be known that this week the House of Representives will be voting on a bill that if passed could provide ~$7 billion in grants to aid schools in going greeeeeeen. Hey Gingerly, how about we propose a bill to get funding for our little going green lifestyle (after the students get their money of course). The bill is titled "The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act (H.R. 3021)."

My favorite part of this measure is the attention it gives to the low-income schools. I was out filming something just a couple weeks ago at a Detroit Public School and I was absolutely appalled by the conditions of the school. Dripping sinks, broken windows, metal detectors...and people wonder why the drop-out rate is so high. These are buildings that the youth of America is spending forty-some hours a week in. I wouldn't love attending school either.

A campaign titled the Generation of Respect for Education and the Environment Now (GREEN) has been started to give fuel to the fire. According to them, green schools will "reduce sick days, significantly improve the health of students with asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and improve student morale and confidence. "

Green Bill passes = More green jobs = Energy Saved = Healthy students = Happy Future.

So if you're feeling politically savvy today...Earth Day Network has made it really easy to send a letter to your representitives telling them to sign the bill. Though any person with a solid heart wouldn't think twice about adding their hancock to it.

She likes sushi and hot tubbin' anytime...

I like to think of myself as a fairly laid back gal - "uncomplicated" and "low maintenance" if you will. Definitely a tom boy, but a frequent dabbler in all things girly - dressing up and going out with the girls, chick flicks, etc.

Basically, I'm like your Princess Fiona from Shrek...

But, I digress.

This weekend, I had the chance to do things the "green" way with two of my favorite HVAC-R boys from Ferris State University (my alma mater), DER and Brrrrrruce.

DER, Brrrrrruce and I love fishing - so that's what we did. (In horrible wind, currents, and all - such die hards). Lo and behold, we caught ourselves three lovely, tasty, delightful walleye. Later that evening, we had a royal bonfire and camped out in a ever-so-slightly-mildew-scented-tent.

How do these ramblings relate to being green?

Why, let's take a look:

Fishing, when kept within the allotments recommended by the DNR, helps control species populations to a manageable level and provides a healthy, organic food source for many people. Fishing from a non-motorized boat or a boat with a small motor saves gas money. Cooking fish that you caught yourself saves a trip to the store to purchase beef shipped from who knows where. (See previous post by Gawky regarding squirrel meat replacing the almighty cow... By the way, DER has promised to provide Gawky and I a squirrel for taste testing the next time he goes hunting, or remembers to grab one from his freezer - squirrel pops!)

Camping the old-fashioned style (A.K.A. a tent) is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. You don't have to run off electricity, or hook up to running water, and its super fun. Who needs a radio for background music when you've got soothing crickets, the occasional over-head goose, a random wake-up rooster or softly-snoring HVAC-R friends?

So grab a few friends, sleeping bags and a tent and head somewhere completely random! I guarantee you'll have lots of fun.

Oh, and throw in a couple bags of marshmallows and play a game of "chubby bunny." You'll want a video camera...

Dolla Dolla Billz Y'all

So lately I've been driving a lot on the expressway because I am dating a boy who lives miles and miles away (43.67 to be exact). At any rate, I was driving on the highway a couple weeks ago passing people left and rate--speeding, but not really. And I am thinking to myself...wow everyone drives so fricking slow these days. I begin muttering little snide remarks here and there and getting heated about it...Weeks pass and I start to realize that I am filling up my gas tank 2-3 times a week. With gas prices soaring a lot faster than the bills in my bank account (plus our campaign to GO GREEN) I start thinking more and more about ways I can conserve my usage of gas. It suddenly dawns on me...perhaps the speed you go effects the rate at which you consume gas. And Bam...all those people I am muttering idiotic remarks about are really the ones with the inner genius (whether they realize it or not). So then I start researching it and by researching I mean asking my boyfriend--the car whiz--he confirms my theory. So to put it into better words I looked it up on a "legit" site (fueleconomy.gov)...sure enough....

The deal: The general rule is that your gas mileage takes a plunge at speeds above 60 mph. Every 5 mph over 60 mph is adding a whopping $0.20/gallon....which adds up. So what's the reasoning behind this?

I am no physicist but it has to do with wind drag putting resistance on the car--the wind basically weighs the car down.So you can either save gas/money/environment or you can save time? Priorities. Priorities.

People may be thinking, 'why the hell is this girl going so slow on the highway?'...the way that I used to feel about my fellow vehicle owning gurus....but I'll just chuckle to myself as I save $$$ dolla dolla billz in gas this month and sleep easier knowing that I have contributed to a greenly cause.