Green Gal

Image by Simon Miller via Flickr Long time no posts, eh? Well I'm going to try and post more regularly--how's once a week sound for a starting challenge? I've got a bone to pick with a lady at my local Noah's New York bagels. She won't let me reuse a Noah's bag that once held other bagels. I know it isn't her fault that there are regulations to protect companies from getting sued for contaminated food, but she's the only one at that store who follows that rule. Every other employee lets me reuse my bags and they've come to accept it (at first they couldn't understand why I wouldn't just want a new one, but now they see the point). Of course I understand she wants to follow the regulations, but here's my issue: How is reusing a bag any different than bringing my own mug and filling it with coffee? I could just as easily contaminate my cup and then turn around and sue them (which is utterly ridiculous and should not be allowed) as do...

I promised to blog about the discussion I had with Bill Radulovich and others about the new internship program I am going to be involved in, so here it is: After school this afternoon, I rode my bike down the street to Starbucks. I was to meet with Bill Radulovich and Mark Jones (who is the web designer) at 3:15, and when I arrived a few minutes early, they were in line for their drinks. We sat at a large square table there and discussed what schools I'm interested in for next year and began to briefly enter the topic of the internship and the Climate Prosperity Citizens organization that Mr. Rad (what a great nickname!) is heading. My close friend (and fellow actor in the theater department at our school) Taylor arrived just as Mr. Rad was beginning to discuss they big why of the organization. People have been living with their "stuff" and in having this "stuff," they drain the environment of its resources and basically trash the land, he said. The idea behind ...

It's always encouraging to see mainstream evidence of environmental concern. Real Simple magazine 's Daily Finds email newsletter has lately been encouraging meatless meals. While they are also trying to support a healthier diet, there is of course the environmental sensitivity aspect . Here are some articles from their website: 3 Reasons to Cut Down on Meat 6 Meatless Meals (for Meat Lovers) 25 Vegetarian Main-Course Recipes Are You Scared of Tofu? And, of course, they have a countless number of meatless (and vegan!) recipes on their website . --- This Wednesday I'm meeting with Mr. Bill Radulovich to discuss a "Green Student" internship. I'll post more about it after Wednesday. I'm riding my bike there after school and I've invited the other students who are attending to ride along with me. I'll let you know if anyone joins me :) Have a great Labor Day! Green Gal

With school starting, I've been so busy lately that I have again neglected my blog. For this post, I just have some quick links and factoids that you may find interesting: -- Check out the WILD Foundation's World Wilderness Congress: Also known as WILD9 ( http://wild9.org/ ), [the WILD Foundation's World Wilderness Congress] is the longest running environmental forum and occurs once every four years. This year's conference will be held the week of November 6th in Merida, Mexico, and will feature speakers Jane Goodall, Stephan Harding, and Pav Dukhdev...it will address the first ever international agreement on Wilderness between U.S., Canadian and Mexican agencies. Sounds informational, inspiring and very much along the lines of what I write about here on Green Gal. For more information, please visit their website at http://wild9.org/ . -- Need another reason to reduce, reuse & conserve? Look no further: Pacific Ocean garbage patch worries researchers -- I'm in ...

Six and seven-year-olds up to their necks in creek water, exercising control over their vocal cords to keep the scene as naturally-serene as possible. Bug nets swooping through algae-filled creek water, searching for water bugs to find out how healthy the creek water really was. Munching on sandwiches and snacks under the oak trees, surrounded by the beauty of green foliage and yellow meadows. This is Ridge Runners camp. Eric Nicholas, City of Pleasanton naturalist, runs this summer camp with a philosophy that incorporates his adventurous childhood into a fun, engaging camp that teaches the value, beauty, and wonder of nature to children ages 6-11. As a child, Nicholas's parents would send him outside to play after school, a locked screen door keeping him out. He chose to explore the natural world around him. When he was older, he spent three years living in various wilderness settings. He'd learn how to survive in different environments from elders at Indian reservations and p...

Hey everyone, sorry for the absence. My sister is home from the hospital and doing great so I finally have a chance to update my blog! I spent some time at my aunt's house in the country. She helped me figure out some tasty, simple vegan recipes that I can make for dinner at home. I tried out new things, like making tortilla chips and seasoning tofu ground beef with taco sauce for making tacos (a major staple for me--I eat tacos all the time because they're so easy!). I also had breakfast burritos with tofu sausages and hash browns and ate frosting-less strawberry Pop Tarts. At this point, I'm relying on substitutes for meat for a lot of meals because it's a lot easier than making vegetables with rice or other grains for every meal. And it makes it more normal for me to eat with a group--like up at the cabin with the entire family. Here are some great vegan foods that I've tried and enjoy: - Morning Star Farms® Hickory BBQ Riblets (great for when your non-vegan fri...

First off, a quick update: my hair is still not super oily. I can feel the oil when I touch the top of my head, but no one can tell. The make-it-yourself deodorant works, as long as you don't go on a bike ride at top speed and sweat it off (however, I may not have applied enough that day because I used a blush brush...still have not found a suitable applicator. I tried a powder puff and that put too much. Cotton balls come apart and they aren't reusable.) Veganism is still going strong...but you'll see in a few moments why I've been challenged by my options and why it hasn't been at the forefront of my mind every time I eat something (although it's not like I've eaten meat or cheese...just things that may contain small amounts of dairy). Since Saturday, my family and I have been in and out of the hospital with my sister. She had a kidney transplant on Monday and is doing great! We plan on being here for a few weeks, staying nearby at a Ronald McDonald Hou...