The Liquid of Life

The average American uses 100 gallons of water per day! No way, I say, and then I checked it out at a site called DCWASA for Kids. Yep, it's true. At the site I used the Daily Water Usage calculator. Three easy calculations on how much water I use in the shower, when flushing the toilet, and while brushing my teeth- that doesn't even include how much water I use for other things each day, like when I wash dishes, wash my hands, or fill up the pets' water bowls. If you don't have water-saving appliances, you are using 5 gallons for every minute of running water or every flush of the toilet. So, if you are in the shower for only 5 minutes, you have used 25 gallons of water! I am really bad about letting the water run a long time while I wash dishes. It would be more efficient if I used the dishwasher (uses 25 gallons) than if I left the water running while I wash dishes for 15 minutes (uses 75 gallons) Whoa. On the other hand, I am happy to say that a long time ago I stopped running the water while I brush my teeth- I make myself turn it off and walk away from the sink while I am brushing, so I am not tempted to let the water run the whole time, which is way fun- what is it about water- totally FUN. But it is not fun to learn how wasting water effects our environment in a negative way. For instance, some parts of the country are running out of clean, drinkable water. Fact: our bodies are 2/3 water, and we need 2 quarts of water a day to digest food, transport wastes, keep cells alive, make blood, and control body temperature. When we are all wasting water, we are using it up faster than it can be recycled; this hurts the environment, animals, plants, and people, which all need water. At the DCWASA site they call water the "liquid of life." Would you agree?
photo by krikit

Organic Cereals Rule, or Not

Sure, the ingredients are natural, and oftentimes proceeds from the purchase of these organic cereals go to causes that give back to the environment, but they HAVE to taste good, or we won't buy them! So, today we kid-taste-tested three organic cereals, comparing them to what we are used to eating at home, and commenting on them. Here is what we have to say.
Starting with Mother's all natural, low-fat Cocoa Bumpers- made with real natural cocoa and natural sweeteners, molasses and honey, this cereal is distributed by the Quaker Oats company (now do you feel at home? -can't get more down to earth than good ol' Quaker Oats.) Did you know honey comes from bees, flowers, and hives, or molasses is made from sugar cane, maple syrup, and apples? These are factoids on the back of the box (just gotta read the box while you munch!) Our testers say that Cocoa Bumpers is "really good- tastes almost exactly like Cocoa Puffs." "really crunchy, even in milk!" "doesn't taste like chocolate, the consistency is grainy," and "love it!" Other Bumpers cereals: peanut butter and graham.

Next up, Envirokidz organic Peanut Butter Panda Puffs- gluten free, no additives and preservatives, and low in sodium, this cereal is distributed by Nature's Path Foods. Did you know that 1% of sales are donated to wildlife, endangered species, habitat conservation, and environmental education for kids? This cereal has cool wildlife facts on the back of the box. Our testers say that Peanut Butter Panda Puffs " has a light taste, and tastes like peanut butter," "light, but still crunchy," "creamy like peanut butter," " it's cool that Envirokidz helps endangered animals. I want to go to their website!" Other Envirokidz cereals: Gorilla Munch, Koala Crisp, Amazon Frosted Flakes, Penguin Puffs, and Leapin Lemurs.

Last to bat, Barbara's Bakery Cinnamon Puffins- high fiber, low fat, no artificial colors and preservatives, and wheat free, this cereal is distributed by Barbara's For A Brighter Future. Brighter future for helping to restore and protect seabird habitats maybe, but not too bright in taste, say our testers, "tastes like bread," "cinnamon-y and pretty good," and "may I throw this away?"

Al-in-all our testers preferred all of these cereals with milk as opposed to munching them like a snack. They were impressed by the efforts all of the companies are making to protect the environment. They were surprised that you can find these cereals not only in whole foods markets, but in the regular grocery stores. They also became a little more educated about natural ingredients- safer for our bodies, safer for the environment, buying these products supports our farmers and habitat protection organizations. There are numerous other natural cereals out there, and taking some time to test different ones out and finding a few you really like is worth the effort. Here's to the environment, to your health, and to great natural taste.

Green Chocolate for Halloween!

If you're want a more "green" Halloween, try out chocolates that do not include processed sugars, hydrogenated fats, and chemicals, like pesticides. Look for sweets that are made with all natural or organic ingredients. Two companies specializing in natural-ingredient candies are NaturalCandyStore.com and Endangered Species Chocolates. I liked that both of these companies are custom-wrapping mini chocolates and other sweets for Halloween. Another plus, if you buy any of the Endangered Species Chocolates, 10% of the net profits are donated to support species, habitat and humanity.
image at http://www.chocolatebar.com/index.asp

Recycle Your Plastic Gift Cards

Now this is true re-gifting! What better a way to give back to the environment than by recycling your plastic gift card after using it? Did you know that 75 million pounds of polyvinyl chloride (PVC, a toxic substance) material from plastic cards enters America’s waste stream every year? Several companies, such as Target, REI, Borders, and Wal-Mart are helping to keep all that PVC out of landfills by providing bioplastic gift cards made with a corn-based material. The bioplastic material will biodegrade in a regular compost bin after 40 days. So, what if your gift card is not biodegradable? Keep your used card, instead of letting the company throw it out. Your family can save up your used cards (gift cards, driver's license cards, bank cards) and mail them to Earthworks, where they create huge PVC sheets to make new cards. That way, if you are not biodegrading, you are at least recyling! The next time we receive a gift card, let's re-gift it back to the environment. It's a little thing we can do, and the little things we do add up to make our world a better, safer place.
source article provided by ecologue

Companies or Individuals Mail Used Cards To:
Earthworks System, LLC * 33200 Bainbridge Road, Suite E * Solon, OH 44139

How Green Is Your School?

Wherever we turn, it seems we are seeing, hearing, or reading about going green. The Tennessean featured an article on the front page today about schools focusing more and more on being environment-friendly, or "green." Some schools are focusing more on recycling, some are constructing energy-saving buildings. A high school student from St. Cecilia Academy recommends schools go green by having more kids ride bikes, by recycling being a way of life, and by saving energy by having more outdoor classes. Not all schools can build huge new energy-efficient buildings, but even the small stuff matters, like our attitude and our effort to pick up trash, recycle, or turn off lights when we leave the classroom. And then, all that small stuff adds up and becomes a BIG change for the better. What kinds of things would you like to see our school do to be more green? Post your reply here. We can make a difference!
source: The Tennessean, August 19, 2008, staff writers Vivi Hoang and Colby Sledge

Save Gas- Ride a Bike

HEY MRS SCHULZ! I HAVE A NEW IDEA FOR THE BLOG. MY FAMILY AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT GAS PRISES AND WE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE IN THE LONG RUN, IT IS GOOD THAT THEY ARE GOING UP. IF THEY ARE HIGHER, MAYBE PEOPLE WOULD BUY FUEL EFFICIENT CARS AND WALK AND USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MORE OFTEN! IT DOESNT MATTER WHEN YOU GET THIS OR IF YOU RESPOND, I WAS JUST THROWING OUT AN IDEA! [posted by EW, 4th grade]
photo by tandemracer

Reviving the Florida Everglades

A reservoir is being built to help revive the ecosystem of the once famous River of Grass in the Florida Everglades. The reservoir will be contained within earth and concrete walls, similar to an aboveground swimming pool- bigger than the size of Manhattan! The wetlands used to cover over 6,250 square miles, but that has shrunk by half, due to the building of homes and farms and drainage canals. Animals are at risk. The Everglades has lost 90% of its wading birds. In addition, 68 other species are considered threatened or endangered. The reservoir will help protect animals and restore natural water flow to the wetlands, near sugar cane fields, where turtles grow the size of basketballs!
photo of purple gallinule: Savannah Grandfather;
source: Associated Press staff Brian Skoloff