Dec
31
Linda | 
12 31st, 2010| 
Happy New Year Graphics provided by MUDTRAP.COM Thank you all for coming by and visiting Forced Green during this past year. May all of your hopes and dreams come to pass along with a prosperous 2011. Of course, as always, remember to make it green! …. as the green future unfolds.
Dec
31
2010 sucked donkey balls. I almost wasn't going to write this post but then I looked back and realized how many great things I accomplished this year. So regardless of how much I want to throat punch 2010 I think it is important to reflect on why I have this little corner of the interwebz and why you all stick around to read my ramblings. 2011 is so going to kick 2010's ass.
Accomplishments
I started reviewing green cleaners in the hopes of finding some that actually work and don't cost you your first born.
We changed our eating habits after watching Food Inc. We already had plans to make the changes but watching it really lit a fire under us. We planted our first ever veggie garden even though we did some things ass backwards in the end we yielded a great crop!
I was nominated for a BlogLuxe Award and a Bump Award. I didn't make it to the finals but was seriously stoked to be nominated. I also joined Twitter!
I have been breastfeeding for almost 17 months. I struggled with supply when I returned to work but got great advice from my friends twitter followers. I hate pumping at work but there are times where it makes me laugh my ass off and I am so glad that I am still able to nurse.
We did pretty good at keeping our celebrations this year eco-friendly. Including B's 1st birthday party, my birthday and Christmas. I was even featured on Party Like a Kid!
I completed the 60km Weekend to End Women's Cancers walk.
I went a seriously long time without printing anything.
Area's for Improvement
Bath and cosmetic products are going to be the death of me. I tried to work on it this year and while I had some success it is just so overwhelming and some products did not work at all. I need to refocus on this in 2011 for sure.
I attempted to get rid of some of our cleaners by using a steam mop for our floors. But I hate it. Hate hate hate hate hate it. So I need to figure out what to do because I like the concept just not the one we have.
We have had a home composter for awhile now and we are now part of the city compost program. I looked at our waste that can't be composted or recycled and need to figure out if it can be or if we can otherwise eliminate garbage all together.
Fun Posts
I did a little science experiment to see if the new Sun Chips bags would really biodegrade as promised. I was not disappointed. Although I have not done the final verdict on the one I buried in the garden....mental note to do that when the ground thaws.
I was invited to a local veal farm to learn about their process and their environmental initiatives. I went in thinking they wouldn't sway me from my typical environmentalist stance. I was wrong.
Some insane products made their way onto the market and I have no clue how. Like the EZ Cracker and Steri-Bottle.
Dec
31
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| LED writing Photo by photon bomb |
Venture Beat
CNBC
Kachan & Co
GigaOm's Katie Fehrenbacher and Jeff St. John
Rob Day/CleantechVC
and more from Rob
Lightspeed Venture Partners
Earth2tech’s Top 10 Cleantech IPOs Picks for 2011
and, finally, Wal van Lierop, CEO, Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital
See you in the New Year!
Dec
30
Now that Christmas is done I can stand back and survey how we did at reducing our impact on the environment. I think we did really good this year and I had so much fun finding gifts for everyone. Christmas day was a blast and I seriously can't believe how fast it went by. So here is how we did.....
Food
I have talked about our turkey. All of the vegetables I cooked were organic or local. Next year I wouldn't mind trying to make my own rolls and then instead of buying a dessert just serving homemade cookies and squares.
Presents
I would say that about 75% of the gifts we gave our were environmentally friendly. Examples include adopting a polar bear for a year from the zoo, the Green Toys Tea Set, crayon rolls where I tried to find Clementine soy crayons but alas there were none left in the city. An art smock made from recycled plastic bottles. a puzzle made from FSC certified paper and soy ink, a puzzle made from sustainable wood, and a pull along dinosaur made from FSC certified wood.One of the best gifts I got was a tea infuser that I can take to work and use to brew my own organic and fair trade loose leaf tea!
Wrapping Paper
I have FSC certified wrapping paper that I am still using up so I wrapped all the gifts in that. I couldn't figure out how to wrap my dad's gift so it went into a recycled gift bag. No bows or ribbons this year. My nieces made their own wrapping paper this year so B's gift was wrapped in something special this year!
At the end of the present opening we had less than a small grocery bag of paper to throw out. Not too bad at all!
Related Posts - Check them Out
Being a Green Mom
B's Birthday Bash
Go Green Gift Guide
Dec
29
Hopefully, you have found your way home, if your travel plans had you stuck back East. Here are some pleasant and relaxing sights of a Frozen Winter Wonderland!
Dec
29
Joshua Brown, one of our StockTwits favorites aka @reformedbroker, was on CNBC last night and offered three investment fads for 2011, including social networking IPOs, muni defaults, and commodities like agriculture.
Of special interest to Green Skeptic readers, Josh suggests avoiding anything tied too closely to the Chinese infrastructure build-out and he doesn't think natural gas is quite ready, but suggests "keeping an eye on it" and "maybe even start to nibble," especially if oil goes over $100, which several sources are fully expecting in 2011.
Of special interest to Green Skeptic readers, Josh suggests avoiding anything tied too closely to the Chinese infrastructure build-out and he doesn't think natural gas is quite ready, but suggests "keeping an eye on it" and "maybe even start to nibble," especially if oil goes over $100, which several sources are fully expecting in 2011.
Dec
28
Native American Proverb – We Do Not Inherit The Earth From Our Ancestors, We Borrow It From Our Children. – This, We Finally Seem To Understand, Now Let’s Keep Up The Good Work. At a press conference on February 24, 2010, Bloom Energy’s founder and CEO announced an amazing new fuel cell. Utilizing a certain [...]
Dec
28
Most of us will only ever see a lion or a zebra or an elephant in a zoo. Today I saw them on the TV. I watched a news story about the Serengeti and how the government wants to build a highway through it to make money off of the battery industry. You see there are minerals in Lake Victoria that China wants to purchase for battery (hybrids and cellphones) production.
So what is the big deal? It is just a road right? Actually it will be a high speed highway (in red in picture) that will cut through migratory paths of the wildebeest and will also allow easy access for poachers. The trucks could also introduce non native species to the area. The government plans to go ahead with building the highway and has already started to put markers down. There is another option though. They could build a road that runs to the south (in green in picture) and does not cut through the Serengeti. But this option will take the trucks longer to get the minerals from Lake Victoria and the government fells that this could cost them profits.
At one point do we as a global community have the right to step in and question what the Tanzanian government about the decisions they are making? We have made similar decisions in our own countries. Canada allowed the Diavik diamond mine to be built in the migratory path of the caribou. But at least there was an environmental impact assessment completed and steps were taken to minimize the impact of the mines operations on the caribou. The Tanzanian government does not seem interested in looking into alternatives. What will it cost them? Tourism dollars and the beauty that defines the natural environment of their country. Problem is you can't really put a price on the latter.
What can you do?
Educate yourself - National Geographic, NBC, The Ecologist, Save the Serengeti
Join the Facebook page
Follow Save the Serengeti on Twitter
Related Posts - Check them Out
Dec
27
Business Insider had an interesting post yesterday: "Just in time for Christmas, On Wednesday, Dec. 22, U.S. gasoline prices hit an average $3 a gallon for the first time in more than two years, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report. Meanwhile, U.S. stocks and oil also climbed to the highest levels since 2008."
In the piece, Dian Chu speculates that "if the stars are aligned, that is, global economy [is] really picking up steam with two consecutive months of good U.S. jobs numbers, inflation concerns and QE could form a perfect storm for crude to hit $110 to $115 a barrel late March or April next year, after a few retracements, and if it breaks above $100. At that level, gasoline at the pump could hit $3.70-$3.80 a gallon range."
Read it here:
In the piece, Dian Chu speculates that "if the stars are aligned, that is, global economy [is] really picking up steam with two consecutive months of good U.S. jobs numbers, inflation concerns and QE could form a perfect storm for crude to hit $110 to $115 a barrel late March or April next year, after a few retracements, and if it breaks above $100. At that level, gasoline at the pump could hit $3.70-$3.80 a gallon range."
Read it here:
Dec
26
I ordered our turkey (10lbs) a week ago from a local butcher (Brady's Meats) and when I went to pick it up on Friday they only had 16-18lb turkeys left. Hello more delicious leftovers! We bought our turkey there because they are local, free range and antibiotic/drug free. Yesterday Joe and I manhandled that bird to get it into the oven and 4 hours later we dug into the best tasting turkey we have ever had. Obviously part of it has to do with the chef ::shines badge:: but I think a big part of it was the type of turkey we bought. It was only $3.99/lb, much less than what I thought it would cost. And we have decided it is well worth the next dollar or so over grocery store prices.
For the first time ever I have saved the carcass to make stock. It is on the stove as we speak and it smells delicious up in here. I am having to do it in batches because I don't have a pot big enough to fit it all in! I don't know why I have never done this before. I think I never thought I would use the stock or something. But since we started to buy only organic stock I have been noticing how much we go through. We shall see how much it actually makes and how much room I have in the freezer for it!
Related Posts - Check them Out
Dec
24
December 24th's Tip
Present wrapping: Christmas Eve! Many of us are still wrapping presents, or just starting present wrapping. Run out of wrapping paper? Don't buy more! Use something more ... [visit site to read more]
© Focus Organic for 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Dec
24
This is a special edition of the Friday LinkFest on Christmas Eve.
Here are links to a variety of cleantech predictions for 2011:
Venture Beat
CNBC
Kachan & Co
GigaOm's Katie Fehrenbacher and Jeff St. John
Rob Day/CleantechVC
Lightspeed Venture Partners
and, finally,
Earth2tech’s Top 10 Cleantech IPOs Picks for 2011
Have a great holiday if you celebrate it -- and enjoy your Chinese food, if you don't celebrate!
Dec
24
I think Christmas Eve is my favourite day during the holidays. It's the anticipating of the 25th being so close, the fact that it usually snows...those big fluffy flakes, and that we always do the same thing. We make a big dinner (always Italian food - a tradition my Dad started years ago), play video games and drink baileys.
I wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season. I tried very hard this year to be more eco-minded when it came to Christmas. I hope in some way that I have made a difference.
And on a funny note....this is how B has been decorating our tree.
Related Posts - Check them Out
Dec
24
It was my birthday this week and I got a fantastic present from my parents. A herb garden! Obviously I don't physically have it right now because it is a million degrees below zero and I haven't seen our lawn in 2 weeks. But this spring I will have a shiny new herb garden somewhere in the backyard!
Now to just figure out what herbs to grow.....
And as I read this I am totally laughing at how Joe and I always go back and forth saying H-erb and E-rb. I say H-erb, he says E-rb. And of course we both think we are right. Usually this conversation goes on for several minutes where we both try to use the word as many times as possible to in some way prove that we are more right than the other.
Related Posts - Check them Out
Garden Update
101 in 1001
What's the Deal with Veal?
Related Posts - Check them Out
Garden Update
101 in 1001
What's the Deal with Veal?
Dec
23
A few Christmases ago, I published this email from Santa, which arrived on the night before the night before Christmas. Readers had so much fun with it, it's become an annual tradition. Enjoy!
And have a Happy Holiday.
Scott, aka The Green Skeptic
_______________________
TO: Global Warming Skeptics
FROM: Santa Claus
DATE: A few nights before Xmas
SUBJECT: My Christmas List
_________________________
This is Santa, writing from the North Pole. Soon I'll be gathering all the toys for all the good little girls and boys and packing them in my sleigh to begin our journey, our night of nights.
The reindeer, however, are starting to complain about hoof-rot. Apparently, they've been standing around in too much slush. This has put me in a decidedly prickly mood this Christmas.
You know me; I'm not a single-issue guy. I believe that as long as you are good, and I mean good for goodness' sake, you deserve some slack on the other stuff. I'm an equal opportunity distributor. I know whether you've been bad or good or just plain evil. You also know I'm not one to discriminate against one group of people or another, believers or non-believers.
But this year is different. This year, I'm making a few changes to my list. I'm checking it twice and have decided that the naughty include any one of you out there who do not believe in global warming. All you climate change skeptics out there, you are on the naughty list this year.
Oh, you know who you are. And I've got one special gift for you: Nothing but COAL. You like the stuff so much -- and it's such a big part of what's leading to climate change -- you might as well have bags and bags of it and nothing more.
Make no mistake. Global warming is happening. You don't have to show me any scientific reports, although some nifty ones have shown up in my email box lately, sent to me from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
No, you don't have to convince me; I'm a believer. All I have to do is look out my window to my back yard, what's left of it! It's a soupy mess out there.
We usually have a good bit of ice up here at the North Pole -- and early. That's important, too; you see, every year the elves and I construct a temporary workshop up here where we make the toys and assemble the other goodies. The earlier the ice, the sooner we get started.
Although I have figured out a way to deliver the entire shipment of gifts on my list in one night, I still haven't perfected the manufacturing process. I can't speed it up. (Some of that I blame on the unions.) We need all the ice we can get up here for there is no solid ground.
But this year, the ice cover was the lowest it's been in almost 30 years. And at least one of those science groups studying this stuff tells me that, according to their models, by 2040, we'll have mostly open water up here. (They sent me this short animation clip, which sends chills up my spine: Arctic Ice Melt.)
Mrs. Claus has even started looking for Houseboats on Craig's List!
So, dear boys and girls, you better not pout or cry or whine or deny climate change any longer. And I'm telling you why: because climate change is coming to town. Time's a wasting. We need to do something about this now, before it's too late. Or before I have to move all of my operations to the South Pole!
Here's wishing a carbon-neutral Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
S. Claus, North Pole
And have a Happy Holiday.
Scott, aka The Green Skeptic
_______________________
TO: Global Warming Skeptics
FROM: Santa Claus
DATE: A few nights before Xmas
SUBJECT: My Christmas List
_________________________
This is Santa, writing from the North Pole. Soon I'll be gathering all the toys for all the good little girls and boys and packing them in my sleigh to begin our journey, our night of nights.
The reindeer, however, are starting to complain about hoof-rot. Apparently, they've been standing around in too much slush. This has put me in a decidedly prickly mood this Christmas.
You know me; I'm not a single-issue guy. I believe that as long as you are good, and I mean good for goodness' sake, you deserve some slack on the other stuff. I'm an equal opportunity distributor. I know whether you've been bad or good or just plain evil. You also know I'm not one to discriminate against one group of people or another, believers or non-believers.
But this year is different. This year, I'm making a few changes to my list. I'm checking it twice and have decided that the naughty include any one of you out there who do not believe in global warming. All you climate change skeptics out there, you are on the naughty list this year.
Oh, you know who you are. And I've got one special gift for you: Nothing but COAL. You like the stuff so much -- and it's such a big part of what's leading to climate change -- you might as well have bags and bags of it and nothing more.
Make no mistake. Global warming is happening. You don't have to show me any scientific reports, although some nifty ones have shown up in my email box lately, sent to me from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
No, you don't have to convince me; I'm a believer. All I have to do is look out my window to my back yard, what's left of it! It's a soupy mess out there.
We usually have a good bit of ice up here at the North Pole -- and early. That's important, too; you see, every year the elves and I construct a temporary workshop up here where we make the toys and assemble the other goodies. The earlier the ice, the sooner we get started.
Although I have figured out a way to deliver the entire shipment of gifts on my list in one night, I still haven't perfected the manufacturing process. I can't speed it up. (Some of that I blame on the unions.) We need all the ice we can get up here for there is no solid ground.
But this year, the ice cover was the lowest it's been in almost 30 years. And at least one of those science groups studying this stuff tells me that, according to their models, by 2040, we'll have mostly open water up here. (They sent me this short animation clip, which sends chills up my spine: Arctic Ice Melt.)
Mrs. Claus has even started looking for Houseboats on Craig's List!
So, dear boys and girls, you better not pout or cry or whine or deny climate change any longer. And I'm telling you why: because climate change is coming to town. Time's a wasting. We need to do something about this now, before it's too late. Or before I have to move all of my operations to the South Pole!
Here's wishing a carbon-neutral Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
S. Claus, North Pole
Dec
22
Family, is what Christmas is all about. To those that serve our country, Thank-You for your sacrifices, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Merry Christmas to Everyone, and safe holiday travel to all.
Dec
21
Many people today are looking for ways to save money in their budgets due to a job loss or debt that is out of control. None of you are alone - my wife and I are doing the same, as this site is not earning what it once did, and I am struggling to put in the extra hours at work.
That brought me to the bigger question. How can we stay green and save money? The concept of the three R's is how; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
<img ... [visit site to read more]
© Focus Organic for 2010. | Permalink | No comment
Dec
21
This morning I spoke with Stuart Varney and Company about the Cape Wind project.
Cape Wind is proposing America's first offshore wind farm on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound. Miles from the nearest shore, 130 wind turbines will harness the wind to produce up to 420 megawatts of clean, renewable energy.
The developer has sealed a deal with the utility National Grid for half its power, but is still seeking a buyer for the other half.
Here is the video:
Watch the latest video at &amp;amp;lt;a href="http://video.foxbusiness.com"&amp;amp;gt;video.foxbusiness.com&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;
If the player doesn't work in your browser, here is a link to the video:
GS on FOX Biz
Cape Wind is proposing America's first offshore wind farm on Horseshoe Shoal in Nantucket Sound. Miles from the nearest shore, 130 wind turbines will harness the wind to produce up to 420 megawatts of clean, renewable energy.
The developer has sealed a deal with the utility National Grid for half its power, but is still seeking a buyer for the other half.
Here is the video:
Watch the latest video at &amp;amp;lt;a href="http://video.foxbusiness.com"&amp;amp;gt;video.foxbusiness.com&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;
If the player doesn't work in your browser, here is a link to the video:
GS on FOX Biz
