Green Paige

We recycle, drive a Prius and use canvas bags when we do our shopping but to be honest, I was not sure where my family would stand on a world-wide “green” scale.   Thanks to the National Geographic Society’s Greendex, now we know.   

The National Geographic/GlobeScan “Consumer Greendex,” is a scientifically derived, sustainable consumption index of actual consumer behavior and material lifestyles across 14 countries.  National Geographic created the Greendex because they wanted to give people a better idea of how consumers in different countries are taking action to preserve our planet.

Visit the National Geographic site and click on the Greendex Calculator.  Answer the series of questions they ask and calculate your score.  You might be surprised.

When I took the Greendex survey, I scored 50 which put me in league with Spain who is ranked 10th out of 14 countries. Their positive transportation habits balanced by their less-sustainable high consumption of fish/seafood and meat landed them in the second to lowest spot on the scale. 

The sad news:  Consumers in the United States rank 14th out of 14 countries on the Greendex, scoring last on three out of four of its component measures: transportation, housing and consumption of goods - and near the bottom on food.  For more information on the US Consumers’ Greendex  and to calculate your own green score, visit the National Geographic Society’s  Greendex. 

Along with spring flowers and rain showers come the ants.  At least at my house, the ant armies already have us surrounded.  If you are fighting the same war, here are a few tips and concoctions to help you rid yourself of ants in a natural and healthy way.

• Boric Acid - Boric acid (Borax) is a low-toxicity mineral with natural insecticidal properties.  When 2 cups of boric acid are mixed with 1 cup of flour and sprinkled around the foundation of the house, it can repel ants.  It does not pose the same health risks associated with synthetic pesticides but it still should be handled with care.  It should be kept out of the reach of children and pets and you should always wear gloves when handling it. 

• Mint  - My mother’s solution is to plant mint plants all around the house.  Not only does it seem to deter the ants but your house will always smell minty fresh.

• Mint Squares - Mix 4 ounces of mint jelly with 2 tbl sp. of powdered boric acid.  Create small squares of masking tape.  Dab the mint mixture onto the tape squares.  Stick the squares onto floors behind cabinets and appliances where ants have been found.  Keep away from children and pets.  Make sure you wear gloves when handling the boric acid.

• Ant Perfume - Ants don’t like:  bone meal, cinnamon, cream of tartar, red chili pepper, salt, dried mint, dried bay leaves, dried sage, cucumber peelings, perfume, paprika or powdered charcoal.  If you take any one of these items and place it where the ants are entering the house, the ants will be repelled.  DO NOT mix these items together.  It might deter the ants but it will also create a stinky perfume that will drive your family and friends away as well. 

•  Sugar Syrup - Mix together 1 tbl sp. of sugar, 1 tbl sp. of Borax and 2 tbl sp. of water to make a thick syrup.  Soak cotton balls in the mixture.  Place the balls on jar lids in the middle of the ant infestation.  Keep away from children and pets.  Wear gloves when handling the Borax.  This method might take a while for the ants to be driven away.

• Sour Solutions - Mix equal parts of vinegar and water together.  Wash your counters tops with the mixture to discourage ant traffic.  Squeeze lemon juice in holes or cracks where ants are entering your house.  Place the lemon peels around the ant hill entrance.

If you have some natural solutions to ant control, please leave a comment.  I would love to hear from you.

For the past eight years, my favorite spring-time recipe has been a spicy version of cream of asparagus soup.  Everyone in our family, including my daughter, loves this soup.  Not only is it fast and easy to make but delicious to eat.  

Moroccan Asparagus Soup

Ingredients:

2 lbs. or 2 bunches of fresh, young asparagus - trim off the tough bottom parts  

5 cups of chicken stock or chicken broth

2 large baking potatoes - peeled and cubed

1/2 c. of diced, sweet white onion - you can substitute scallions

1 c. sour cream - you can substitute soy sour cream

1 tbl sp. lemon juice

1 tsp. Moroccan curry powder (sweet)

1/8 tsp. celery seasoning 

1 tsp. white pepper

1. Combine asparagus, broth, potatoes and onions together in a large soup pot.  Bring to a boil over medium heat.  Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook until potatoes are tender.  If you are using a crockpot, cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or until potatoes are tender then raise heat to high.
2. Blend the solids from the soup in a food processor or blender until smooth.  Return the puree to the soup pot or crockpot.  Stir in the sour cream, lemon juice and seasonings and heat over a medium heat for another 30 minutes.  Heat over a high heat if  you are using a crockpot.
3. Serve with Moroccan flat bread.

If your family is anything like mine, no matter how frugal or sustainable you try to be over the winter months, when it comes time to do your spring cleaning you always end up with more stuff than you really need. This spring,our family has resolved to clean out our closets and storage bins and G.O. G.R.E.E.N. which is my acronym for Gather, Organize, Give Away, Recycle, Exchange, Employ and Network.

• Gather and Organize-

1. Break down the sorting process into manageable stages. Organizing your stuff is a process that takes time. When you begin to sort through your stuff, you realize that you are actually sorting through your life.

2. Start in one section of your home and set a time limit for yourself.  For example, give yourself one hour to gather and sort items from your bedroom closet.

3. Use four cardboard boxes labeled “give away”, “recycle”, “exchange” and “keep.”

4. Before you begin, ask yourself the following questions:

                                           A. Have I used this item within a year? 

                                           B. Is this an item that can be borrowed from my family or friends? 

                                           C. Does this item make me happy?

Don’t hang on to something if you don’t have a purpose for it.  The energy you invest in decluttering will repay you over and over again by allowing you to nurture your soul with meaningful things like time spent with family and friends rather than things purchased from a store.

• Give Away-

Once the sorting process is completed, look for new homes for your stuff beginning with your “give away” box.  Several options are available for giving away or donating your possessions including Freecycle which is an exchange system that allows members to post items, via the Internet, that they would like to give away.  Thrift stores and charitable organizations are also great options.  

• Recycle and Repurpose-

Once your “give away” box is empty, move on to the container marked “recycle.” Visit your city’s recycling page for listings of places to recycle, donate and resell your items.

If you would like to try your hand at repurposing your items, start thinking about your stuff in a different way.  Don’t pick up an object and think this is a vase and that’s all it’s good for.  Instead, pick up an object and rethink it’s purpose.  A vase could also be used for storing paintbrushes. When you need an item, shop inside your home before you hit the stores.  Be thoughtful about the purchases you make and cautious about disposal methods. You have already paid the ecological manufacturing price for the items you own so  go ahead and reuse them.

• Exchange or Sell-

1. If you aren’t sure what to do with the items in the box labeled “exchange,” try using the age old system of bartering. Bartering allows you to trade an item that you no longer use for an item or service you need.  For example, you can exchange a piece of hand-crafted pottery for child care.  Before you enter into an exchange, get an agreement in writing that agrees upon the value of items or services received and don’t forget to report taxable income for that value. Bartering groups vary from specialty listservs to general Internet bartering services that advertise free exchange.

2. If you decide to sell your items, think about listing them on the Internet with eBay or Craig’s List .  You can also have a garage sale, list your items in the local newspaper want ads or put your items on consignment at a resale shop.

• Employ-

I recommend sorting through your last box, labeled “keep,” a second time. When you decide to keep an item, make sure that it is something you employ regularly or has aesthetic value. Your stuff takes on value only when it is used. Unused stuff is clutter. The more you use an item, the more value it has.  Some things may not seem to have utilitarian value but do add beauty to your life therefore they are nurturing your senses and your soul.

• Network-

1. Once you are organized, become a conscious consumer. Avoid purchasing single purpose items that you use infrequently.

2. Look to your friends and family to borrow an item when you need it.

3. Set up a sharing network.  For example, you might have an electric lawn mower that you could lend your brother every summer in exchange for his tree trimmer or a snow blower that you could share with your neighbors while you utilize their extension ladder.  The possibilities are endless once you G.O. G.R.E.E.N. 

This post is an excerpt from my article “Resolve To G.O. G.R.E.E.N.” which appeared in Rocky Mountain Parent Magazine.

Balloons on a stick, those pre-inflated foil balloons found in floral departments, may not sound elegant, but they make a great centerpiece for a child’s birthday party.  Plus, unlike streamers, confetti, and helium balloons that are thrown out at the end of a bash, balloons on a stick are decorations that will keep for years. We know, because we bought our first balloon on a stick nine years ago and it is still fully inflated. Since then, we have added one or two balloons  to the collection whenever someone has a birthday, and except for the sticks that were used as lightsabers, all of our balloons look as pretty as the day we brought them home from the corner grocery store. 

To make an inexpensive centerpiece (a  9-inch balloon on a stick costs approximately $1.99), you’ll need:

1. A simple vase - such as a milk jug or a Mason jar. 

2. Marbles, candy, or shredded wrapping paper to jazz up your vase.  We filled  our vase with clear gems from the craft store.

3. Curly, brightly-colored ribbon to tie around the outside.

4. Five or six balloons to make a centerpiece that your children will look forward to arranging–and rearranging–each year on their special day.