Doing my part for Earth Day 2009

Leading up to Earth Day I was struggling to do something different than last year (cleaning up a local park) and I was happy to find that The Planet Green network, with many other sponsors, created and hosted over fifty events during the weekend for people to volunteer for. As I looked through the list one posting caught my eye. A tree planting in the Pomonok Housing complex. Why you ask did this catch my eye? I grew up playing basketball in their playground for years. I know, how cool! So I figured that one was for me so I picked another. Back to the Sack project asked volunteers to create reusable bags that will be given out free to get people not to use plastic bags. They asked that you bring old clothing to make into bags.

I had so much fun at both events. I was part of a team that planted 6 of the 300 trees. Some of those trees right in front of my friends old apartments. And I made a couple of bags but pictured was my first and favorite. I had a lot of help from a new friend Lisa, she did the sewing, but it was my shirt and my design. As you can see in the pics it's big. It was my old Eddie Bauer shirt with a stain in the front and now it will help reduce the use of plastic bags. Check out the website Bags for the People they have an event every first Monday of the month.

This is the time that I normally ask you "so what are you gonna do?" Not this time, I just hope I motivated you enough to do something on your own. Happy Earth Day, there is only one world so take care of it.

Earth Day April 22nd

It's that time of year again, Earth Day is here. Last year I spent the day cleaning the local park with other volunteers and this year I wanted to do something a bit different. This weekend the Planet Green Network is organizing various volunteer jobs to honor Earth Day in different cities across the US. You can click on their link listed on the right under "Green Links" and check it out yourself. So this year I am volunteering to help "Green" a local playground that I use to play in and also making reusable bags and spreading the word about them. On the actual day itself I will be back at the park cleaning and planting. So what are you gonna do?

Spring Cleaning FreeMeets!

I am on the emailing list for Freecycle and this is their latest email. If you are in the New York City area and are doing some spring cleaning . . .


Spring Cleaning? Don't Throw It Away—-Bring it to the
Freecycle™ NYC FreeMeet!

Freecycle New York City celebrates spring and reaching 40,000+ members with TWO FreeMeets:

Saturday, April 18, 2009, 12pm-3pm
JJ Byrne Park (dead end on 4th Street b/t 5th Ave and the Old Stone House in the park)
Park Slope, Brooklyn

Saturday, May 9, 2009, 12pm-3pm
P.S. 217 Playground (1100 Newkirk Avenue at Coney Island Avenue)
Flatbush, Brooklyn

WHY: New Yorkers discard some 12,000 tons of waste each day, much of which is exported to landfills and incinerators in other states. Here's your chance to help reduce waste and keep our environment clean by finding new homes for your old stuff, and getting some things you can use in the process. Leftovers will be donated or
recycled to every extent possible.

WHAT TO BRING: Bring unwanted clothing, housewares and other reusable items* to share or simply bring a tote bag to fill. Bring friends and family too!

Got wire hangers? Bring 'em to the FreeMeet so we can hang clothes and
recycle the hangers afterwards.

MORE INFO: www.RecycleThisNYC. org/freemeet

*please bring portable items only and log on to www.Freecycle. org to give away furniture and other heavy stuff.


I have donated stuff to a FreeMeet before then spent some time looking around and ended up with a bag of books. Take a look, bring some items or come and take some. So now what are you gonna do?

Cardboard solar oven wins first prize

I know, I know, I'm sorry it has been awhile but I just don't want to post anything just to post. I really hope to post things that I find interesting and that I think can help motivate you, the reader, to make a change. This is a story that I loved.



This cardboard solar oven that can be made for around $6, can very well change the lives of many. Jon Bomer, the Kenya-based entrepreneur who invented the cooker, set out to transform the lives of villagers in developing world who use firewood to cook.

Here are just some of the ways this brilliant invention can make an impact:

Decreases carbon emissions created from burning firewood.
Slows down deforestation by curbing the need for firewood.
Removes indoor smoke pollution and the health problems associated with it.
Lowers the cost of energy since fuel from the sun is free.
Allows families to easily boil water so they can have access clean drinking water.
Eliminates the need for children to spend time looking for firewood so they can spend that time in school.

The best thing about this solar oven is that it can be easily be made by anyone and it doesn't cost that much. Kudos to Jon Bomer for making a difference in creating something that can make a difference. So now what are you going to do?