An update on the experiment

So it's been what, almost 3 weeks?  Here's the scoop on my Natural Hair Care Experiment.

Washing with baking soda alone has been fine.  I still only wash every other day, with just a water rinse on the odd days.  The soda seems to get the hairspray out just fine, and my scalp hasn't been itchy or anything.

The rinses, however, are a different story.  I've tried a few different combinations to see what works best for my hair, and so far the plain apple cider vinegar gives me the best results.  I tried ACV and honey (for frizz) which wasn't bad... just beer (for body) which left a weird residue and seemed to make it tangle a lot worse... ACV and beer, which wasn't as bad as just beer but not the best... ACV and olive oil, which oh god no.  The day after that one was the oiliest, most disgusting hot mess of hair I've ever had.  I had hoped the tiny, bitty little drizzle of oil would help with some of the flyaways I was dealing with, but it weighed my hair down worse than regular conditioner does.  So in the end, I'm sticking with plain old ACV, with a little honey maybe once a week.  I might switch to plain vinegar, but I like the smell of ACV better.

My hair hasn't looked nearly as fried - it's soft an shiny and so much easier to style, even if it still doesn't hold a curl all day.  My color is holding up much better too, and once my hair is dry it doesn't smell like a salad or anything either.  :-) 

There was one day that I had some leftover baking soda in the cup, so I used it on my face - forget the oil cleanse method, holy cow did this make my face feel wonderful!  It's got just enough grit to exfoliate, and I'll probably only do it once or twice a week, but it worked fabulously.  I still have a whole bottle of Burt's Bees face wash to use up first though.

Natural Hair Care Experiment, Day 1

The fabulous Lani Diane Rich has been writing recently about her experiments with homemade and natural methods for a multitude of things, from lipbalms to dryer sheets.  And I, being the sporadic, lazy-ass, wanna-be blogger that I am, decided to finally start writing about my experiments as well.  I've been meaning to do this for over a year now anyway, so I might as well take inspiration when I can.

First, I'll start with the one that I embarked on today, known in some circles as the "No 'Poo" method.  Me being on the same level of humor as a 12-year-old boy, the words "No 'Poo" just make me think of avoiding the toilet for some unknown 12-year-old-boy reason, so I'm going with the more innocuous "Natural Hair Care" method instead.

The most common recipe that I've found goes something like this:
1 tbs baking soda with 1 c water, to rub into scalp
1 tbs apple cider vinegar with 1 c water, to rinse ends of hair
-- Add honey for frizz
-- Switch to lemon juice for grease
-- Add lavender oil to help with itchy scalp
-- Add olive oil to ends for dryness

Considering the number of "sparklies" (aka gray hairs) I've been noticing, I dyed my hair again this past Saturday.  Sadly some of the grays are already sparkling away in my bangs again, despite the fact that I haven't used shampoo in 6 days before even starting my experiment with the natural ingredients.  I usually only wash my hair every other day anyway, so this week I just gave it a good water rinse to try and get some of the product out of it without using shampoo.  I also figured this might give my scalp a chance to balance out so it might not get as oily throughout the whole transition process, which many people have commented can last up to a month.  I had one day this week which could have been considered a "hat day," but otherwise it wasn't so bad.

So today, here's what I did.

I grabbed a couple of leftover Red Solo Cups (I fill you up... LET'S HAVE A PARTY...) and put my baking soda and ACV in them to take to the shower.  I added a tiny squirt of honey to the ACV - my hair tends towards flyaways using regular conditioner so it made sense to try this right out of the gate.  I filled the cups about halfway with water and gave them a swish with my fingers, then just tipped my head back and poured the baking soda over my scalp.  I took a minute to scrub with my fingers a bit, but it didn't feel particularly gritty. Got some baking soda water in my eye which felt funny but didn't burn like if it was shampoo, so there's another bonus.  I rinsed my hair, then repeated the mixing process with the ACV/honey.  This time instead of pouring it over my scalp, I held my hair up from my neck and poured most of the mix just over the ends, then poured the last little bit over my whole head.  I kind of squished my hair a bit to work the mix through, then rinsed again with water.

I was worried about detangling afterwards, but it wasn't too bad.  As long as I don't rub my head with the towel but just squeeze the water out, I think it'll be okay.  The smell of the ACV didn't bother me at all, but I do want to find out what an occasional beer/egg rinse might do for me too.  My hair felt "sticky" like velcro when blowdrying, not the usual slippery-overconditioned-smooth.  It also seemed to dry faster than normal.

So far, no noticeable negative effects - frizz is of the normal sort, but we'll see what it does over the course of the day.  Too bad there isn't anything to be done about my cow-licks.



Manifesto

In anticipation of a burst of writing, I re-designed the blog a bit.  It's tidier and easier to navigate I think.

Up at the top you'll see a new tab, "Manifesto of a Green Girl."  It's kind of a rough draft - I'll probably be adding to it & editing it throughout the life of this blog.  Feel free to comment on it, & let me know if it's missing anything important that you'd like to know my stance on.

I outlined a list of article topics that should see me through several months, and I've started researching my first few subjects.  I'm not sure how long it will take to write these first few, as they're going to take quite a bit of studying and some product testing on my part, but I'm hoping to have the first one up around the end of next week!  I'm excited and anxious - I feel like I'm back in school, putting this much effort into my writing.

In the meantime, if you're new here feel free to browse the archives - almost all of the past articles are ones that I wrote for my previous employer when I was their Sustainability Coordinator.  Comments are still open on all of them, and I welcome any questions or ideas you might have.

Back in the saddle

I have a bit of free time on my hands, so I decided to reinstate my 'green' blog.  New name, new place, but I've copied all my old posts from the last one over here.  Now, it's just a matter of having something to write about...

In the past, I've gotten my ideas from my collection of books and websites that I like to read - I'd find an interesting article or tidbit of information to share, or something to try and then give my personal take on it.  But unfortunately, all of my books are in storage right now.  I still have the web, but sitting in front of a computer when I have the opportunity to be outside, away from a desk... not so appealing.

So, what to write?

I have a few ideas brewing, but if anybody has some input, let me know in the comments.  Heck, even if you don't have any input, I'd love to hear from you in the comments anyway, just to know you're interested.

Book Review: Food Rules

Michael Pollan, bestselling author of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto and The Omnivore's Dilemma, has published what is called a "definitive compendium of food wisdom."  Food Rules is a short, easy-to-understand guide to eating real food and avoiding over-processed "food-like substances."

Pollan's mantra of "Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly plants." was established after the extensive research he did for his previous books.  He found that all the science and techno-babble about the nutritional value of food could be simplified down to its core: real food is what's important.  Not the additives, the preservatives, the artificial, the pre-packaged - real food.  This philosophy is reiterated again and again, with rules such as "Avoid food products that have ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce," and "It's not [real] food if it's called by the same name in every language (Big Mac, Pringles, Cheetos, etc.)"

The book not only discusses what to eat, but also how to eat.  Pollan discusses the problem with "Western" food culture in the introduction, and breaks down the way we eat as one of the key issues alongside what we eat.  Common sense wisdoms such as "Stop eating before you're full" and "Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it" encourage readers to pay attention to how they're eating to avoid overindulgence.

Pollan's previous works cover some of the same material, but go into much more detail regarding the science and statistics behind the reasons for avoiding processed foods.  Food Rules is, in essence, the simplified version.  Some of the 'rules' were written by Pollan, but in the introduction he discusses his process for this book, talking to not only nutritionists, doctors, and food scientists but also folklorists, anthropologists, mothers and grandmothers, looking for insight into what rules, ideas, wisdoms, and sayings about food are not only truthful, but have survived the tests of time and culture.  The result is a common sense, simple to follow guide for eating healthfully.

(If you'd like to borrow my copy of the book, feel free to ask!  It's also on sale on Amazon.com for $5 - less than half the cover price.)

Green Briefs - Alternative Fabric Softeners

Reduce your laundry costs by cutting out the liquid fabric softeners and dryer sheets.  Not only are these products harmful to the environment - adding chemicals to the watershed and non-biodegradable waste to the landfills - they can be easily replaced with other methods.

If the weather allows, line-drying your laundry outdoors gets rid of static and helps your clothes smell fresh naturally instead of using synthetic fragrances.

Try putting half a cup of white vinegar in the fabric softener tray of your washer instead of the pink stuff.  Vinegar is a natural fabric softener, and - despite what you might think - won't leave your clothes smelling like pickles!  (Just be sure you don't use bleach at the same time - the combination will produce toxic fumes.)

Fluff your laundry with re-usable dryer balls like the ones found here.  They increase the air flow around your clothes, helping them to dry faster as well.

If none of these solutions appeal to you and you still want to use dryer sheets or fabric softeners, look for biodegradable sheets or plant-based softeners like these and these from Mrs. Meyers.

Post-Holiday Clean Up

After the holidays, it's inevitable -

- overflowing trash bins.  According to the EPA, American households produce a staggering one million tons of trash during the holidays alone!

Wrapping paper, cardboard packaging, broken lights, dying trees... they all get piled at the curb, waiting to go to the landfill.  Some cities might mulch your tree, but in many cases it too just gets thrown away.  And we all know that there is no such thing as "away."

I think it's pretty obvious what you can do to decrease your holiday waste footprint - recycle.  The wrapping paper, cards, envelope, and cardboard boxes are easiest - they can go in with your regular paper recycling.  You can even save yourself some money next year by re-using the paper or making small gift boxes out of the holiday cards.

But what about those dead, broken strings of twinkle lights?  There are even ways to recycle those!  Here in Michigan, a company called Holiday LEDs will recycle your lights for you.  All you have to do is mail them in - and if you team up with friends, family, or neighbors, you can share that cost.  Better yet, Holiday LEDs will send you a 20%-off coupon for new, energy efficient LED light strings.  Other companies are available across the country - visit Earth911.com to find resources in your area.

As for your tree, if you have some property the best thing to do is put the tree out to naturally decompose.  Next year, spend a little extra for a live tree - one with an intact root ball - and plant it in your yard.  Dead or alive, your tree will also create habitat for songbirds, chipmunks and rabbits.

If self-mulching or natural decomposition isn't an option for you, check with your city waste department to find out what they will do with your tree.  In Toledo, if you are on the new automated pick-up system, you will have to call the city to have your tree picked up.  Also, Toledo's Department of Solid Waste sends all trees to the landfill - and while they will eventually decompose there, it's a much slower process than it is in nature, and just adds to the volume of trash.  However there are several places in Toledo that will take Christmas trees and treat it as compostable yard waste - check this list for details.

And in Monroe County, Michigan, you can drop your tree off at any of these locations, free of charge.

Don't let the holidays be any different from other times of the year - do your best to reduce your waste, and recycle what you can!

Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday.  I will post again after the New Year.

Fixing Your Coffee

Consider the humble cup of coffee - a morning staple for many, a quick pick-me-up, a symbol of a civilized and hard-working society, a bookstore must.  It's also the world's second most valuable legal commodity after oil, with environmental and social impacts to match.

Did you know coffee trees grow naturally in the shade?  Yet in 1970's the industrialization of coffee farming moved many operations into the sun - requiring that fields in South America be clear-cut to accommodate the larger farms.  While this new way of farming allowed for greater yields, it has since severely damaged the already fragile eco-system of the rain forests.  Not only deforestation, but pesticide pollution, habitat destruction, and soil and water degradation plague the areas where coffee farming has been moved from the natural shade of the forest to the man-made open fields.

In addition, the large sun-grown operations are edging out the smaller family farms that maintain their centuries-old traditions in the shade.  The rustic farms are run out of business by the large operations that charge a fraction of what the coffee is worth - driving down the price on the market until the small farms can't afford to operate.  The "sweatshops in the fields" take over with only profits in mind - the welfare of their own workers is not even important.

There are two ways that you can contribute to not only a better coffee industry, but even get a better cup of coffee.  Certified Organic brands are shade-grown, not sun-grown, and won't contain pesticide or herbicide residues.  But also looking for the Fair Trade label ensures that the coffee was purchased at a fair price from small family farms that take care of their employees.  Most of the time you will find these labels together.

And don't forget to use your own mug instead of paper or styrofoam!

Sources:  Wikipedia, Global Exchange,  Organic Trade Association

Eco-Heroes: Adolph Murie

Adolph Murie – 1899-1974

Throughout his life, Murie had a passion for wildlife.  He earned his doctoral degree in biology, and became an important voice in preserving wild nature in the National Parks.  He conducted a number of studies, including an influential report on the wolves in Alaska’s Denali National Park (then called Mt. McKinley National Park).     Murie’s observations of the wolves in their natural habitat led to a ban on wolf hunting in Denali, and also contributed to future wolf reintroduction efforts in Yellowstone National Park.

Murie lived in Alaska for much of his life, and his love of the wilderness pushed him to oppose the development of the park.  In the 1960’s his voice was heard, and a proposed 90-mile paved road was stopped after 13 miles.

The Murie Center in Grand Teton National Park continues the conservation work started by Murie and his brother, Olaus, and The Murie Science and Learning Center in Denali was opened in 2004.

Green Briefs: Natural Air Cleaners

Some plants are particularly effective at absorbing the chemicals and pollutants found inside our homes and offices.  Clean up your indoor air and brighten your work and living spaces by surrounding yourself with plants such as spider plants, ferns, rubber plants, ivy, or palms.

Carbon, Climate Change, what??

Some of you may have seen the news stories regarding the Climategate scandal - for those who haven't, here is a link to a good, unbiased article covering the basics:

Climate sceptics claim leaked emails are evidence of collusion among scientists

In reality, it doesn't matter whether you believe in climate change or not - if it is caused by humans or just a natural cycle of the planet, if it will end in catastrophe or if it will have no serious effects, if it was a government conspiracy or if the media blew it out of proportion.  In the end, every 'solution' to climate change, whether it be wind power, hybrid vehicles, bio-fuels, reducing the use of plastics, energy-efficient buildings... these are all good things, good practices, and good solutions for other problems besides climate change.  Reducing our impact on the planet is important, no matter what catchphrase you give it or what reason you assign.

At my company, our purchase of carbon offsets is focused on the investment in and support of renewable energy projects in the United States.  The company we purchase through, NativeEnergy, builds wind farms and bio-gas energy plants in the U.S. - one of their current projects is the wind farm in the town of Greensburg, Kansas, featured on Discovery Channel's Planet Green.  Their metrics for determining the amount we contribute to them is based on carbon (metric tons of CO2 produced via car and air travel), but in the end we are simply proud to support their efforts in renewable energy.

Sustainable Guide for the Holidays

Need gift ideas for the treehuggers on your list?  Want to pass on the spirit of sustainability?  Click on these links for green, fair trade, and charitable gift ideas!

• About.Com


• Treehugger


• The Daily Green


• Environmental Defense Fund


• Green America


• Gaiam


• Yahoo


• Global Exchange


• The Rainforest Alliance


• Etsy


• Whole Foods Market


• Planet Green


• The Body Shop


• Aveda


• Mother Earth News


• Charity Navigator


• The Ultimate Green Store


• Patagonia


• Care2


• The Rainforest Site


• The Animal Rescue Site


• Gifts With Humanity


• Ebay’s World of Good


• Ten Thousand Villages


• To Write Love On Her Arms


• American Cancer Society


• Changing the Present


• Product(RED)

What's all the fuss about...? Hybrid Vehicles

One of the questions I get asked a lot is, “So do you drive a Prius?”  My answer is no – but not because I don’t think hybrid cars are worthwhile.  There are a lot of pros and cons to hybrid vehicles, and it’s important to understand when and why hybrid technology is a good choice, and when and why it might not be.

How it works

A basic hybrid has two engines – a highly fuel efficient gas engine, and a large electric motor.  The gas engine is used to start the vehicle and operate it at highway speeds.  It also works to re-charge the battery of the electric motor, and takes over if the battery loses charge.  The electric motor operates the vehicle during typical city use – stop-and-go driving – and the braking system continuously recharges the battery.  Contrary to popular belief, hybrids do not need to be plugged in!

The Good

The most obvious benefit to the hybrid system is fuel efficiency.  Hybrid gas engines range between 40 and 60 mpg when in use on the highway (for car models; SUVs will be lower), and the normally less-efficient city driving is managed by the electric motor.  When idling the motor simply shuts off, saving power.

When compared to a fully electric vehicle, hybrids also have an advantage in the fact that the driver will never be stranded without power.  When the battery runs low, the gas engine kicks in and begins recharging the electric motor.

Monetarily, the federal government offers a tax break to hybrid drivers, and the amount of money spent annually on fuel can usually be cut in half.  Many insurance companies also offer discounts to hybrid drivers.

The Bad

The key to deciding whether a hybrid is the right vehicle is your driving pattern.  If the majority of your road-time is on the highway, you’re not going to benefit as much from the hybrid technology as a city driver.  The biggest benefit of a hybrid is the electric motor, which you’ll recall is only used in stop-and-go driving.  You’ll still get great gas mileage on the highway, but it’s kind of missing the point of a hybrid vehicle.  Highway drivers would better benefit from a fuel-efficient gas vehicle.

The other catch is the price.  Hybrid cars often cost significantly more than gas vehicles, and even though advances in technology and high demand have brought the prices down, they can still cost up to $10,000 more than an inexpensive four-cylinder car.

The Myths

While the technology within a hybrid system is complex, the maintenance is no more difficult than that of a regular vehicle.  Many critics lament over the disposal of the battery, but proper care of the vehicle ensures that it won’t need replacing.  And some systems, such as the regenerative brakes, last longer than in regular vehicles.

Hybrid cars also have a bad rap for being “funny looking.”  This may just be a matter of taste, but many car manufacturers are hearing the buzz and converting their standard models into hybrids.  The Honda Civic, the Chevy Malibu, even the Lexus RX crossover now come with a hybrid system, yet they look exactly like their gas-powered counterparts.

These are just a few things to consider if you’re thinking about making the switch to hybrid.  For more information, check out www.hybridcars.com

 

Eco-Heroes: John Muir

John Muir (1838-1914): Born in Scotland but raised in the U.S., Muir was a naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club.  He petitioned Congress to enact the National Parks Bill to establish Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in California, which led to our current national parks system.  Filmmaker Ken Burns documented Muir’s story in his PBS special, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”

Green Briefs

Dry cleaners use large amounts of chemical solvents such as tetrachloroethylene, a de-greasing agent that’s a suspected carcinogen, can aggravate respiratory problems, and is harmful to the environment when disposed.  Try hand washing or spot-cleaning your “Dry-Clean Only” clothing, or look for a ‘green’ service.

Homemade Pumpkin Puree for Pies & Soups

Lots of fall recipes call for pumpkin puree, and while canned pumpkin is convenient, why not try making your own from scratch this year?

Begin with cutting a clean pumpkin in half and removing the seeds and pulp.

Baked: Brush the ‘meat’ surfaces with oil, then place facedown in a baking dish filled with 1-2 inches of water.  Bake at 350 for about 90 minutes.

Boiled:  Cut the pumpkin meat into cubes and boil in lighted salted water for about 25 minutes.

Steamed:  Cut the pumpkin meat into cubes and cook in a steamer or a colander placed over a pot of boiling water for about 50 minutes.

After cooking, let the pumpkin cool until it can be handled, and puree it in a food processor or mill.  Pumpkin meat contains a lot of water, so strain the puree before use or storage.   Line a sieve or mesh strainer with coffee filters or paper towels and place over a bowl.  Fill the sieve with pumpkin and let it drain for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally.  Pumpkin puree can be frozen in freezer-safe containers or ice-cube trays.

What's all the fuss about...? Tankless Water Heaters

There has been a lot of talk in the media about a huge variety of new, “green” technology – from “smart” electrical grids to solar panels, fuel made from algae to hydrogen-powered vehicles.  The ideas for creating a more sustainable infrastructure are countless, but do they really work?  Over the next few months, From the Green Seat will introduce you to some of these technologies, talk about the pros and cons, and try to help you unravel the mysteries around “green” technology.

This month, tankless water heaters will be our subject.  “Tankless?  How the heck do you get hot water without a tank?”  Through a computer chip, that’s how!  Tankless, or on-demand, water heaters work through a series of sensors and a small computer that sends a signal to the heat source (gas or electric) when the tap is turned on.  Water flowing through the heating element heats up within a few seconds, sending hot water quickly to the tap.

The biggest benefit of a tankless heater is energy savings.  With a regular hot water tank, energy is expended constantly to maintain the temperature of the water stored in the tank.  And a lot of that energy is lost through “standby loss” – heat that escapes through the walls of the tank as water sits unused.  The U.S. Department of Energy estimates savings of up to 30% on the cost of heating water for a small household using a tankless system – savings may be less for larger families.

Another way to use a tankless heater is at point-of-use.  In larger houses, you may be able to save even more by installing a tankless system on each floor, or in heavy-use rooms like the kitchen or master bath, to reduce the amount of water left in the pipes between the heater and the taps.

Additional savings can be found in the long life of tankless systems.  Regular heaters may last up to 10 years; tankless heaters can last at least 20.  They are easier to repair than regular hot water tanks as well.

One downside to a tankless system is demand.  If you have a large family or house, one system may not provide enough hot water for multiple use points – someone taking a shower might get a cold surprise if the kitchen sink is turned on!  Hoewever this is also sometimes an issue with regular water tanks as well, and can be mitigated by using more than one heater.

Another con is installation.  Replacing your tank system with a tankless heater is, unfortunately, not a do-it-yourself project.  It requires extensive knowledge in plumbing and electrical work, and is best handled by a professional.  They also can be expensive – prices range from $600-$1500 depending on output rates and size.

Consumer Reports has an evaluation tool available on their website to help you determine if a tankless system is advantageous, or if you would be better served by a high-efficiency tank.  Click here.

Nature's Bucket List, Part 2

• Rocky Mountain National Park – Topping out at over 12,000 feet, Colorado’s mountains will take your breath away.  With 416 square miles to explore, you’ll find alpine meadows, show-stopping peaks, and crystal-clear rivers and lakes.


• Zion National Park – The red cliffs of Utah are home to a variety of wildlife, including 271 different species of birds.  The park is a sanctuary for adventurers too, with hiking trails, mountain biking, and equestrian trails throughout.


• Grand Teton National Park – This 484-square mile swath of Wyoming’s Rocky Mountains includes nine peaks over 12,000 feet, glacial lakes, and sweeping grasslands.


• Cuyahoga Valley National Park – The Erie Canal and 60-foot-tall Brandywine Falls provide the backdrop for one of the youngest national parks (founded in 2000).  An unlikely sight is an old junkyard, which has been turned into a refuge for beavers.


• Acadia National Park – The first area of protected land that would become a national park, Maine’s vast forests, rocky Atlantic shoreline, and old carriage roads provide a beautiful backdrop for the state’s famous fall foliage.

Source: The Daily Green

Tailgating Made Green

At the next home game, try these ideas for a greener tailgate party:

1. Localize the Food. Rather than serving the typical foods (frozen burgers, bags of chips, etc.) look for local options. Search your local farmers markets and grocery stores for foods like organic or locally grown beef, chicken or pork for the grill, potatoes and eggs for homemade potato salad, or veggies for burger toppings.

2. Pick Better Disposables. Forget about the standard plastic cups and paper plates. There are so many better options out there today like compostable paper goods and bio-based cutlery.  Check out the “Bare” line of picnic goods from Solo, sold at Target.

3. Make Trash Talk Easy. Instead of making it easy for everyone to toss all of their paper plates, bottles and such in the trash, make it easy for them to compost, recycle, and then, as a last resort, trash.  Set up bins, buckets, or bags and clearly label them.  And be sure to drop it off at the recycling center on your way home.

Source: Treehugger