Seasonal Sunday: DIY Wire Leaf Bin Update

Back in January, I wrote about getting rid of our yard waste bin. You can read that post here.  In that post, I talked about a DIY wire leaf bin that you can use instead and reap the benefits of this compost.  Today's post is an update now that we have one for ourselves.

While doing some spring cleanup in the yard in April I decided to give the lawn a good raking.  We didn't have a leaf bin put together yet but I was getting quite a bit of grass and leaves that needed to go somewhere.  Luckily Handsome Husband was available to remedy this problem most terrible.  

We had the supplies on hand so he was able to whip it together pretty fast.  It took him 10 or 15 minutes total.  It is 4 feet in diameter and 4 feet tall.  I did all of the proper calculations and it holds a bunch of sh!t from the yard.  Bunch is the exact number by the way.  Wire, stakes and a big strong man is all that is needed to put this together.  I suppose in a pinch a regular man or a woman could execute this project but if you should have a big strong man around this clearly falls under the man's work category.  Don't email me or comment that I'm sexist, you and I both know this is man's work.

This wire leaf bin is so simple and inexpensive I wish I had known about it sooner.  Now you can put together one for yourself.  You're welcome.

Here is our glorious wire leaf bin.

*Mama Betty's Korn Kob Holders by Kanye

Thank Yeezus!  The Korn Kob Holders by Kanye are finally here!  Treat yourself to a pair of these handcrafted beauties and be the envy of your social circle.  Each pair of Korn Kob Holders by Kanye are handcrafted by a few select chosen artists and extreme care is taken to ensure that each pair is made to Kanye's level of perfection.  Each pair is constructed from a couple of authentic mystical magical unicorns that once roamed free in the Bubblegum Forest of Happy Dreamland.  Only the very best unicorns were selected for their spectacular rainbow horns.  Care was taken not to harm the animal while their beautiful horns were being surgically removed.  After the horns are removed, they are cut down to size and coated in a thick glossy lacquer mixed with equal parts diamond dust and tears from Yeezy himself.  The lacquer is then buffed to maximize shine and then gently rubbed against Kim's luxuriously plump posterior in a clockwise motion in accordance with Kanye's strict specifications.  Lastly, Kanye kisses each Korn Kob Holder before placing it in its diamond-encrusted keepsake box.  Kanye personally suggests using the Korn Kob Holders for your very best selection of corn on the cob topped with a mixture of 24-carat gold and butter flavored Crisco, skip the salt, Kanye recommends you to save that for the watermelon.  Due to the majestic nature of these handcrafter horns, supplies are limited.  Order your very own pair of Korn Kob Holders by Kanye while supplies last!!!

*Satirical Saturday brought to you by Betty

Dear Betty: Reader Heads Up 6/28/2019 Three Mile Island

Dear Betty,

Did you know that Three Mile Island is closing their nuclear power plant?

-Jeff

Dear Jeff,

Thank you for the heads up and thank you for reading!  I was not aware that Three Mile Island is closing.  I wrote a Slow Clap Presents about the Three Mile Island accident back in January.  You can read that post here.  I checked into the story and I posted a summary below.

Thank you,

Betty

Since the accident at Three Mile Island back in 1979, people have been pushing to eliminate nuclear power.  Three Mile Island is scheduled to shut down the remaining reactor by September of this year due to financial issues.  Three Mile Island has been losing money for a long time and now that subsidy legislation compensation won't be coming through for the plant, it is forced to shut down despite having licensure for another 15 years. 

Nuclear power supplies about 20 percent of the nation with energy.  The majority of our energy comes from natural gas and renewable energy which is cheaper than nuclear energy.  Once the plant closes there will be a cleanup period that could take years.

"Homer, your bravery and quick thinking have turned a potential Chernobyl into a mere Three Mile Island." -Mr. Burns

Zero Waste Printed Homes

A lot of work, materials, and waste go into building new homes.  What if a home could be printed instead of built and create nearly zero waste?

A construction technologies company called ICON has teamed up with Fuseproject and New Story to build a village of 50 homes in Latin America.  The homes will be built for impoverished families in need.    

Each home is printed in place with a giant printing machine that used concrete to produce each home.  This method of construction produces almost no waste and each home can be printed in about 24 hours.  Countertops in both the bathroom and kitchen as well as options for shelving and seating can be incorporated into the design of the home.  Each home has an outdoor kitchen and room for growing food and raising chickens.  

Each home is just under 600 square feet and offers a safe shelter for people who otherwise would not have a safe place to stay.  According to New Story, there are currently 1 billion people in need of shelter and they expect there this number to grow to 3 billion by the year 2050.  The cost of each of these printed homes is 6,000 dollars.

My two cents:  What I think is so interesting about this idea is the simplicity of it.  It makes you question what you are fortunate enough to have and rethink need versus want.  

Want to read more about the printed village?  Click here.

3D printed homes concept.

WTF Wednesday: What's in Your Cans?

I drive my son Frank (not his real name) to school every morning and I've noticed a particular street where the garbage cans overfloweth.  It manages to pique my interest each week on garbage day that multiple households have their cans at the bottoms of the driveway and they are always crammed beyond the brim, so much so that the lids aren't even close to closing.  This isn't something that occurs once in a while, this happens each week without fail.  Keeping in mind that I tend not to notice things that are obvious, I've probably been driving past these robust cans for a very long time without noticing.

A few things to point out.  The cans in question are those of the standard 96-gallon size.  Garbage pickup is weekly in our area and recycling is collected every other week.  This involves multiple homes on the same street which is probably why I even noticed in the first place.  I will refer to this street as Garbage Lane going forward.  Garbage Lane has what I feel are average-sized homes for our area and I would speculate that we live in a middle-middle class area.  Although most everyone thinks they are the middle-middle class.  

We used to have the standard 96-gallon garbage can and even at the height of our trash mongering we were putting out 2, maybe 3 bags of garbage each week.  Remember that we are a family of 6.  Maybe after Christmas, we would have an overflowing garbage can but that's probably the extent of our former trash productivity.  

After noticing the consistent overflowing cans on Garbage Lane, I started wondering what the heck they have in there week after week.  I wondered if maybe the people on Garbage Lane don't recycle and this is a contributing factor in their robust cans but after making a point to notice on recycling day, their recycling cans are overflowing too.  I would never do this but I ran the scenario in my mind where I stop and ask them what they have in there or just looking in the cans.  Again, I would never do that because I'm not nuts pants Magoo but I wonder nonetheless.  

The mystery of Garbage Lane and its overflowing cans will go unsolved but will no doubt continue to mystify me each time I drive by and see them.  A few thoughts to close with:  What the heck is in those cans?  How can each household consistently produce so much darn garbage?  Are they aware that they are wasteful trash mongers?  What's in your cans???

Is this your garbage can?

Slow Clap Presents: Jakarta, a City Half Sunk

Real Story.  Real Stupid.

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia with a population of 10 million people.  Jakarta is the fastest sinking city in the world with almost half of its area already below sea level.  It is estimated that by the year 2050, 95 percent of North Jakarta will be submerged.  There have been ideas over the last few decades to relocate the capital city but that plan has yet to come to fruition.  This is reminiscent of the Simpson's episode 'Trash of the Titans' where Homer ruins the city with garbage and Springfield is relocated 5 miles down the road.  

The relocation of Springfield.

So why is Jakarta sinking?  A variety of reasons that are all manmade.  Jakarta is a coastal city and is therefore easily impacted by rising sea levels.  Many coastal cities are feeling the impact of rising sea levels and that comes from climate change.  Climate change causes the polar ice caps to melt and that created more water.  Thermal expansion is another effect of climate change which causes the existing water to expand due to increased temperature.

Another reason Jakarta is sinking is due to excessive water extraction.  The city has very little piped municipal water so 60 percent of residents, businesses, and commercial buildings must pump water from aquifers.  This groundwater extraction is poorly regulated and much of the population takes much more water than they are allowed.  Businesses and commercial buildings need a license to pump water but many do it without the proper licensing that regulates the amount of water that can be extracted.  When you pump water out of the aquifers that the land sits on the land settles and sinks.

How can Jakarta be saved?  There are a few ideas that are all fantastic.  They are already building the Great Garuda across Jakarta Bay, a sea wall that is designed to help keep sea water out.  They are also building 17 artificial islands that are supposed to help along with a lagoon that will lower water levels and will allow the city's rivers to drain.  There are ideas to use artificial recharge, an extremely expensive method of managing sinking ground that Tokyo used some 50 years ago.  The biggest and most fought solution is to stop taking water from the aquifers.  To stop taking water from the aquifers there would need to be another source of water, which Jakarta actually has.  The problem with all of Jakarta's water from rivers and natural sources is that they have polluted them so much that it would take 10 years to clean up the rivers enough to be usable for humans.  Finally, another solution to the sinking city is to relocate.

My two cents:  I'm not sure where to start.  Jakarta is a self-made problem that wouldn't even be a problem if the rivers weren't so polluted.  It really serves as a cautionary tale for where the rest of us are going to be if we keep polluting and warming the planet.  

Rating:  I give the sinking city of Jakarta 2 out of 5 possible slow claps.  Why 2 slow claps?  I just picked it really which I can do because I write the blog.  When you write, you choose.

The Citarum River, an alternate water source for Jakarta.

Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash

I have read quite a bit about living with less, zero waste, and plastic pollution but nothing was quite as informative as Garbology by Edward Humes.  This book isn't for anyone who is looking for an easy leisurely read.  This book is for people who are determined to understand how our world became this way and want to strive to do their part to elicit change.

This book is jam-packed with information and at times I found it fascinating and other times I struggled to stay awake reading it.  This book could and should be used as a textbook in schools because the information that it contains is quite valuable.

The book begins with a vivid description of a home that is inhabited by hoarders.  Every last area of the home is cram packed with garbage and no one is aware until part of the garbage mountain inside collapses and the owners are trapped inside.  The owners survive and it is revealed that they have tons of garbage in their home.  You question how anyone can live this way and how people can make so much garbage.  When the author points out that hoarders produce the same amount of garbage as every other American and the only difference is that they keep theirs instead of rolling it out the curb once a week, you stop for a moment and realize what that means.

The book moves you through the different waste management methods throughout the history of our country as well as different areas of the world.  From early primitive landfills to complicated cell sanitary landfills, from backyard Smokey Joe's to industrial incineration, from throwing trash in the ocean and streets to garbage munching hogs wandering the streets to designated piggeries, from food rotting in streets and gutters to backyard compost and municipal compost facilities.  The book talks about recycling and the lack thereof including the limitations in many aspects of recycling.

I found the science of garbology fascinating in this book.  There is a big portion dedicated to the work of William Rathje and his team of scientists that studies garbage.  They sorted garbage to learn about consumerism and what people throw away and when.  For example, nearly all of Halloween candy is eaten where Valentine's Day candy is largely thrown away.  They tracked garbage to see how efficiently it made it to the dump or to the recycling center and found that often times the things we get rid of make long unnecessary journeys before arriving at their final location.

This book will explain how people in first world countries have a 102-ton garbage legacy that they create in their lifetime.  It's hard to believe we create this much waste until you delve deep into the problem and you understand that this garbage is the result of our mindless consumerism.  You will understand how we came to be this way and why we all suffer from a buy and toss mentality.  When you read this and it is staring you in the face it envokes the desire for change.  After reading this book you will not only know how to break free of your 102-ton legacy but you will want to.

Seasonal Sunday: Charcoal or Gas?

Grilling season has arrived again and with it comes the debate of which grilling method is better.  Charcoal or natural gas?  This post is not about which grilling fuel is better when it comes to taste but rather which grilling method is better for the environment.  As far as taste goes, most people say charcoal is better but I have no opinion on the matter as I personally can't taste the difference.  

Let's take a look at the pros and cons for each method and I'll let you know who comes out ahead at the end of the post.

Traditional charcoal briquettes are made up of sawdust, cornstarch, and lighter fluid.  Different companies have variations to these ingredients but essentially they are the basic components.  When burned, charcoal emits 105 times more carbon monoxide than propane and it releases dangerous VOCs that are known to be carcinogenic.  The upside of using charcoal is that it is a renewable resource.

Lump charcoal, also known as chunk charcoal, has no additives so burning it is carbon neutral.  Lump charcoal is considered "natural" charcoal as it is made from burning wood in the absence of oxygen.  Lump charcoal is not as plentiful its briquette counterpart and is therefore usually more expensive.  I have to wonder about where the wood is coming from that is turned into lump charcoal.  At face value lump charcoal sounds better but I'm not so sure when you factor where the wood is sourced from.  

Natural gas or propane carries the lowest carbon footprint but since it comes from a non-renewable resource it has that drawback.  Other than coming from a non-renewable resource, I couldn't find any negative aspects of gas.  

Skip the meat?  I read some articles that talked more about the carbon emissions that come from what you grill as opposed to what you grill with.  Apparently the food you grill makes big difference.  For example, chicken, fish, and vegetables have a significantly lower CO2e (carbon monoxide equivalent) than hamburgers, steaks, and hotdogs.   

The winner:  I think gas is the way to go if you want to be kind to the environment but make sure to use it sparingly.  Since I like to have my burger and eat it too, I say go ahead and grill whatever you feel like.

*Mama June's Recipe for Roadkill

Summer is here and Mama June wants you to have her very own recipe for roadkill.  It's as easy to prepare as it delicious!  Good luck and good eats from my family to yours!

Mama June's Roadkill Recipe

3 to 5 pounds fresh (or semi-fresh) skunk, muskrat, possum, or other roadkill

2 cups bacon drippings

1 cup mud (for an earthy flavor)

1/2 cup ketchup (Great Value brand is best)

2 sticks of margarine (Blue Bonnet or Country Crock-it's worth the splurge)

2 tablespoons cigarette ash (for a smokey flavor)

Mix the bacon drippings, mud, and ketchup together and lather it all over the meat.  Sprinkle the cigarette ash over the top of the animal and then add pats of margarine all over the animal and stick some on the inside if you are able.  Slow roast (off heat) on your gill for 60-90 minutes.  

Mama June 

Dear Betty: Reader Question 6/21/2019 Endocrine Disruptors

Dear Betty,

I was reading your post about plastic number six and you said that it is a known endocrine disruptor.  The thing is, I don't know what an endocrine disruptor is and I don't think most people do.  Can you explain what an endocrine disruptor is and why it matters?

Thanks,

M

Dear M,

Thank you so much for the question and for reading!  You are right, I've never explained what an endocrine disruptor is and why you should care.  I would be happy to explain what I'm talking about a little more clearly.  Below is a simplified explanation that I hope answers your question.

Thank you,

Betty

Your endocrine system is a messaging system of hormones within your body.  In humans, the major endocrine glands consist of the pineal gland, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries in women, and testis in men.  This system of hormone-producing glands allows the different organs of the body to work together and communicate in harmony.

This system controls your digestion, metabolism, respiration, tissue function, sensory perception, sleep, excretion, lactation, stress, growth and development, movement, reproduction, and mood.  Basically, everything.

When endocrine disruptors, ie chemicals invade the body, it interrupts this delicate harmony and that's when things go wrong.  This is when you end up with cancer, tumors, birth defects, infertility, learning disabilities, obesity, and diabetes.  It can cause feminization in males and masculinization in females.  Basically, endocrine disruptors can mess up any system in your body.  They are extremely harmful and I think we are just beginning to realize and understand the full effect of what these products are having on our health.  I think it is very important to avoid plastic and endocrine disruptors whenever possible.

DIY Glass Cleaner

I recently hired my daughter Harriet (not her real name) and her gentleman caller to wash all of my windows inside and out.  I paid them handsomely for their work and it still cost me less than half of what a professional company would have charged.  It was a win for all of us.  

Because we are trying to be green, I had them use homemade glass cleaner and shop cloths that we keep on hand for this type of work.  We ordered a pack of shop cloths many years ago that are 100 percent cotton that are handy for cleaning and dusting.  I looked into a few different recipes for the glass cleaner and came up with a combination of a few different ones to try out.  Some recipes say that you can add essential oils to cover up the vinegar smell but I didn't do that.  I don't have essential oils and I'm not going to buy them.  The smell of the mixture fades a few moments after use and it isn't so bad to begin with.   

I used water, vinegar, and rubbing alcohol and it really worked great.  The kids got the windows clean and didn't have any issues at all.  The homemade mixture seems to have worked better than regular Windex since they didn't get any streaks or smudges at all.  I think I really lucked out with this recipe working great as I've heard there are a lot out there that leave much to be desired.

If you shop at Target you are going to pay $3.29 for a 26-ounce bottle of Windex with the spray nozzle.  The 2-liter refill bottle is cheaper per ounce and will cost you $5.99.  The mixture I made cost a few cents to make and I feel that it works better than Windex.  The Windex refill bottles are a better option than buying a new spray bottle each time since they are larger and easier to recycle without the nozzle.  If you buy the Windex Vinegar, it is made from  100 percent ocean plastic.  I think the effort is nice but if you can avoid plastic, you should.  Since there is a need to reduce the number of recycled materials overall, it's best if you can make something yourself and use one of your refillable glass or aluminum spray bottles.  

Betty's DIY Glass Cleaner

1/2 cup water

1 cup vinegar

1/2 cup rubbing alcohol

All the Things Your DOG can Compost

It's June and your compost pile is probably getting hot and turning your organic waste into garden gold.  I've talked about compost in a number of posts before but today I want to point out things that your dog can compost.  That's right, your dog can contribute to the compost bin just like every other member of the family.

Before we talk about the things your dog can compost, it's important to point out what your dog can't compost.   There one thing that you should never compost and that is your dog's poop.  Never put dog poop into your compost whether you are going to use it in your garden or just on your lawn.  Fecal matter is rife with bacteria that won't be killed in your home compost pile or tumbler because it just doesn't get hot enough.  So there you have it, never try to compost dog poop.  You can use a Doggy Dooley for your dog poop and you can read more about that here.  You can actually compost poop from rabbits and any animal that is a herbivore and it is supposed to be an excellent addition to your compost.

So what can your dog compost?  Good question!  If you cut your dog's hair or brush your dog you can go right ahead and add that hair and fur to your compost.  Just like human hair, dog hair and fur is very good for your compost and breaks down quite nicely.  If you trim your dog's nails that is another thing you can add to the compost.  Like human nails, dog nails are made of keratin and keratin is great for compost.  When we trim our dog's nails we call it a pedi-pedi, get it?  If you use tissues or cotton balls to clean out your dog's ear go ahead and toss them into that compost.  Do you have expired dog food or is your dog a picky eater who leaves food uneaten?  If you feed your dog dry food or kibbles as we call it, you guessed it, put those kibbles into the compost and the bacteria will thank you.

There you have it.  Your dog can be a productive member of the family with it comes to composting waste.  Don't let your dog feel left out, make sure to let him compost what he can.  You're welcome.

Slow Clap Presents: Lithium and the White Gold Rush

Real Story.  Real Stupid.

"What links the battery in your smartphone with a dead yak floating down a Tibetan river?"

-Wired

Lithium-ion batteries were developed in 1991.  They are superior quality batteries that offer the ability to use clean energy from wind turbines, solar panels, hydroelectric dams and other sources of clean energy.  Lithium-ion batteries help reduce greenhouse emissions and could be the answer to a carbon-free future but at what cost?

Where does lithium come from?  Lithium is a soft silvery-white metal that is found in hot salty brine deep beneath the surface of the earth.  The salt and lithium form under deserts and prehistoric lake beds like Panamint Valley, near Death Valley in the Mojave Desert.  Much of the lithium we currently use comes from South America, from Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.  

How is lithium processed?  The salty brine is pumped up to the surface where it is spread out in large drying ponds that separate the different elements.  This process in total takes between 18 months and 2 years.  After all of the evaporating and filtering, lithium carbonate is able to be extracted and made into a usable product.

What's wrong with lithium mining?  In South America, 65 percent of the drinking water is used in the lithium mining process.  This process requires 500,000 gallons of water to produce 1 ton of lithium.  The mining process can contaminate fresh water and can kill fish and other animals hundreds of miles away.  The mining is invasive and threatens the sensitive ecosystems of our planet.  This process exposes evaporated minerals to the air and it destroys the water table, pollutes the local wells as well as the earth.

Battery Mineral Resources, a company based in Australia, is seeking permission to drill 4 wells in Panamint Valley.  These 4 wells will cost 7 million dollars and could lead to a major mining operation in the future.  The Center for Biologic Diversity, The Sierra Club, and The Defenders of Wildlife claim that this will lead to a destruction of the beautiful panorama, disrupt the ecosystem and threaten wildlife like the desert tortoise, the Panamint alligator lizard, Nelson's bighorn sheep, as well as many other precious animals.

My two cents: I'm guilty of owning products with lithium-ion batteries as is everyone else.  I didn't know enough to consider where lithium batteries come from and how they are made.  The Wired article I read asked, "What links the battery in your smartphone with a dead yak floating down a Tibetan river?"  The answer, of course, is the lithium-ion battery.  

Rating:  I give the white gold rush for lithium 3 out of 5 possible slow claps.  While I realize that there is a need for lithium-ion batteries in our lives, I wonder how much is enough?  We already take so much for from the earth and it's never enough.  We are like the Once-ler in the story of the Lorax.  He didn't think about his actions until he cut down the last truffula tree.  With our addiction to bigger, better, faster, an more, I doubt we will stop ourselves until it's too late. 

A protest against lithium mining in China that kills the fish in the Lichu River.

We got a Plasma Lighter and You Should Too

I wrote a Slow Clap Presents a while back about how wasteful Bic lighters are.  I suggested using either a Zippo because it is refillable or a plasma lighter because it is electric and rechargeable.  We have bought aim and flame lighters in the past for when we have bonfires but because the two we have left are running out we decided to opt for a more sustainable option moving forward.  You can read Slow Clap Presents: Flick My Bic here.

The Handsome Husband and I looked at different plasma lighter options and decided to order one from Amazon that is made Explorer.  It was under 15 dollars and it appears to be well made.  We both really like that it doesn't require any type of fuel and it isn't a "disposable lighter."  This lighter is rechargeable and should last at least quite a few years until the battery can no longer be recharged.

The price we paid for our lighter is equivalent to two and a half aim and flames but the difference is huge.  The aim and flames that we used to use as well as all "disposable" lighters run out of fuel and go into the garbage.  That really makes no sense.  Reusable products give you the most value even if they cost a little bit more upfront.  

The plasma lighter works the same way lightning does.  The high voltage electrical current passes between two nodes that create an arc of highly charged plasma.  The plasma creates heat and is able to light whatever object you put in it.  The voltage in the lighter is much lower than in lightning, obviously and is safe for you to use.  

When your "disposable" lighter or aim and flame is getting ready to run out make sure you look into a plasma lighter.  They are cost friendly and a much better option for our planet.

Closed.

Open.

Where the charger plugs in.

Ready to burn sh!t.

Seasonal Sunday: It Came From Where???

Last week's Seasonal Sunday talked about the pros and cons of rubber tire mulch.  I promised that I would follow up this week with information about traditional landscaping materials and how and where they are sourced.  I think it's important to know where things come from so that you can understand the bigger picture.  As it turns out, the things you buy don't just come from the store.  You can read last week's post here.

Woodchips: When I say woodchips I am referring to both actual woodchips as well as wood mulch.  There are two kinds of woodchips.  One kind is a woodchip that is created as a byproduct.  The other kind is a woodchip is that is created because it is the product.  It may not seem like much of a difference but the difference is actually huge.  The byproduct woodchip comes from brush that has been chipped or from sustainable forest practices.  Although I should point out that "sustainable forest sourcing" is a debatable term.  The product woodchip comes from chipping trees from forests for the specific purpose of making a product that consumers will buy.   It does make a difference which woodchip you buy although I'm sure it is difficult to get a definitive answer even if you are forward-thinking enough to inquire before making a purchase.

Gravel:  Gravel can come from a variety of places.  Beaches, riverbeds, lake bottoms, or gravel pits are all sources for gravel.  Gravel can also be crushed stones.  I think important things to consider before buying gravel would be to ask where it came from.  Whether or not you can actually elicit a truthful answer is another story.  We shouldn't be taking gravel from beaches, riverbeds, and lake bottoms in my humble opinion.  I'm not sure if a gravel pit is earth-friendly or not so I can't speak to any pros and cons to that practice at this time.

River rock:  Smooth river rock comes from two sources.  One way to get river rock is to take it from where it exists in nature.  River rock is made smooth over time after being worn down from moving water.  This type of "natural" river rock can be sourced from beaches and stream beds.  Another way is from a tumbler.  Rocks that are extracted from sand and gravel deposits are tumbled into a smooth shape.  River rock, like gravel, in my opinion, should not be taken from beaches or stream beds.  I'm not sure how I feel about it coming from gravel or sand deposits.

Rough rock:  Rough 'natural rock" is mined from quarries by use of explosives and heavy machinery.  I think my feelings about this practice are probably obvious.  If you are just using it for landscaping, I think you should find something else instead.

Sand:  Sand can come from two places.  It may come from a sand and gravel pit or it can come from river beds.  Sand is usually not sourced from seashores or beaches because the salt interferes with concrete mixing and is poor for garden health.

So what is the right selection for landscaping?  I don't know.  It could be one of these options or it could be the rubber tire mulch that I talked about last week.  Whatever material you do end up purchasing, make sure you take the time to ask questions and find out where it really came from.  Remember that by spending money you are supporting whatever method was used to supply you with these materials.  Don't settle for something because it is the cheapest, choose based on what is best for our environment.

*The Good Citizen's Guide to Consumerism

Everyone wants to be a good citizen.  One aspect of being a good citizen is being a good consumer.  When all citizens are good consumers the economy is robust and plentiful.  When someone isn't a good consumer it is felt by the entire community and it is a threat to the very fabric of our good nation.  Today we will learn how to be a good consumer by following just 3 easy steps.

Step 1.  Shop.  Shopping is an American pastime and is an activity that can be enjoyed by all.  It is the foundation upon which our economy is built so it is every man's duty for the good of the nation.  Shopping is an excellent way to explore new and exciting ways to make one's life easier.  Shopping allows someone a chance to be abreast of new technologies and inventions that he can be proud to own.  Shopping is great for a girls day out, a date, or a day on the town for the whole family.

Step 2.  Buy.  Buying is the big finale for your shopping trip and no shopping trip should be complete without it.  Buying goods ensures that money changes hand and keeps the well-oiled economy machine humming along with gusto.  The act of purchasing builds confidence and makes people happy.  When you treat yourself to the latest and greatest technology you can feel good about all of the hard work and long hours spent at the office.  You can take pride in showing off the latest models and the newest toys to your fellow neighbors and friends.  Try surprising your wife with that new vacuum cleaner that she saw at the store, she'll probably squeal with excitement.  Buying for yourself and your family ensures happiness for everyone.

Step 3.  Repeat.  Repeating is the final and most important step in being a good consumer.  Without repeat shopping and buying the well-oiled economy machine would come to a screeching halt.  When you've bought all that you want you should check for new items and consider replacing and upgrading things you have previously bought.  This way you will keep the economy strong and you can be the envy of the neighborhood with all of the latest gadgets.  When you replace something you already have with a newer version you want to be sure to toss out that old one and send it to the dump where it belongs.  Don't worry about the waste as it is a sign of prosperity.  A steady flow of garbage to the dump is a strong indication of a successful economy.  

Shop.  Buy.  Repeat.  It's just that easy.  Now you can be a good citizen and a good consumer.

A good consumer treats his family to the finer things.

*Satirical Saturday brought to you by Betty. 

Dear Betty: Dear Gardein, Your Bags Need Work 6/14/2019

Dear Gardein,

I really like your product but I feel that the thick plastic bags it comes in are counterproductive to your mission to help the earth. I would be more inclined to purchase frequently if you could package in a more sustainable way.

Thank you,

Betty Stebber

Hello Mrs. Betty,

Thank you for your contact.

Our top priority is that you enjoy our food, including your satisfaction with the packaging.  We often review our packaging to see where improvements can be made.  We are thankful you emailed us so we can get all the details to our team.

-Conagra Brands

My daughter Esmeralda (not her real name) became a vegetarian a few months ago and we have been on a sometimes painful journey to find meat substitutes that she will eat without throwing up. Yes, a veggie burger made her throw up once and that's why I called it a painful journey. I won't disclose what company made the barf-inducing burger but it wasn't Gardein and it wasn't actually bad but I digress.

Esmeralda discovered that she liked the meat alternative products made by Gardein. I tried the breaded tenders and the black bean burger and both are pretty good. My problem is that they are seriously over packaged in super thick resealable plastic bags that are about four times the size they need to be. Naturally, I wrote to Gardein to suggest a more earth-friendly package to go along with their earth-friendly slogan. Like most companies, they did not respond to my heartfelt thoughts.

Here is where it gets interesting, for me at least. This is their slogan:

By choosing Gardein, you’re making a choice that’s good for you and good for the planet—and you don’t have to sacrifice taste one bit! All Gardein foods make for healthier, meat-free meals, perfect for Meatless Mondays, Fishless Fridays, or any day of the week. You don’t even need to vegan or a vegetarian to make great dishes with Gardein. We promise your taste buds will thank you.

How can you have a slogan like that and package your product in the aforementioned atrocious way? When you say your company cares about the planet, I suggest you at least try to package in the eco-friendliest way possible. When you package the way they do, it tells me you don't give a flying f*ck about the planet and your slogan is merely consumer propaganda. [mic drop]

Wait, I guess I'm not done. [pick the mic back up] I didn't notice until I went to send the email that the site Gardein redirects to when you chose 'contact us' is that of Conagra. I'm the first to admit that I'm not good about knowing who owns what and which parent company oversees what smaller company. I did recall something about Conagra that smelled funny. Actually, it smelled delicious, the smell was meat. [insert comedic drum riff here]

Conagra owns SlimJim, Gardein, Duncan Hines, Healthy Choice, Earth Balance, Marie Callender's, Hunts, Reddi Wip, Vlasic, Birds Eye, Boom Chicka Pop, Duke's Smoked Meats, Orville Redenbacher's, Frontera, Udi's, and Pam. 

When you take a look at the larger picture, it really brings things into focus. The words you read on the Gardein bag is just that, words. Conagra doesn't care more about the planet than any other big corporation. They don't care about people giving up meat for Meatless Monday, they own Slim Jim and Duke's Smoked Meats for crying out loud. They, like most big corporations, care about making money, your money. [mic drop...again]

Do you have a question, comment, or suggestion?

I'd love to hear from you!

Email me at Mrs.Stebber@gmail.com or comment on the blog

DIY Dusting Spray Review

A while ago I talked about making your own cleaning products (read that post here) because it is better for the environment and healthier for you.  Yesterday I talked about the reusable glass spray bottles (read that post here) that I bought just for this purpose and today I want to talk about how the DIY dusting spray turned out. 

The dusting spray is the first attempt at making my own cleaning products and it turned out well.  It is actually so simple that I wish I had tried this sooner.  I mixed 1 cup water, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in the glass bottle and deployed one of my monkeys kids to test it out.  I should mention that you can add lemon essential oil to make it smell like regular dusting spray but I opted not to do that.  

The dusting spray worked very well and should last quite a while.  The oil does separate in the bottle so you will need to gently shake it up every once in a while when you are dusting.  So why should you make your own dusting spray?  For a few reasons really.  One is that not all areas accept aerosol cans for recycling and even if they are accepted it is imperative to reduce the amount of material that needs to be recycled overall.  If your area doesn't accept aerosol cans for recycling then it goes in the trash and that is a huge waste of space in the landfill and the resources required to make the can in the first place.  Another reason is that when you make your own product you know what's in there.  Dusting spray bought at the store contains chemicals that are bad for you and your family.  Don't believe me?  Read the ingredients and take a minute to look them up and you'll see that I'm right.  Another reason is that it saves you money.  A can of regular Pledge dusting spray will cost you $4.79 at Target and the mixture I made cost me a few cents and it is the same amount.  Saving over four bucks on dusting spray isn't going to turn you into a rich person but when you have embarked on this journey you realize the totality of money saved from each change has a splendor all its own.  Finally, because it's easy.  When you can make your own healthier dusting spray for pennies in a fraction of the time it would take to drive to the store, you are going to wonder, as I did, why you didn't try it sooner.

DIY Dusting Spray

1 cup water

1/4 cup vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

10-15 drops lemon essential oil if desired

Buy Glass Spray Bottles and Save on Cleaning

I talked a while back about homemade cleaning recipes that are easy and cheap.  You can read that post here.  Once you run out of a particular product you should give some thought to a more sustainable alternative.  Transitioning to a less wasteful lifestyle is best done this way, in small steps.  Remember that slow and steady wins the race.

I know there are some products that I will be running out of and I wanted to get some spray bottles to hold the cleaning products that I will be making at home.  I looked quite a bit online because I wanted to make the right purchase the first time.  I considered aluminum bottles as well as glass as either would have been an acceptable material.  I wanted reliable sprayers on a bottle that is just the right size for a reasonable amount of money.  Why did I choose glass over aluminum?  I think in the end it came down product reviews.  I read a lot of reviews that had issues with the sprayers and I avoided any of those products.  If I had found good sprayers on aluminum bottles first I would have bought those instead.  Naturally, I found what I was looking for on Amazon.

I spent $15.99 on four amber glass bottles by Homeries.  So far they seem to be a well-made quality product.  The size is perfect at 16 ounces each and they come with chalk stickers that you can use if you are so inclined.  If you want to buy the same bottles you can find them on Amazon here.

If you are nearing the end of some of your cleaning products make sure to take a look at some glass or aluminum reusable bottles.  Take the time to order online if you need to, just don't buy plastic.  Plastic sucks and you know this.

These are the bottles I recommend.

Slow Clap Presents: The Helium Shortage

Real Story. Real Stupid.

You've probably heard in the news that Party City is closing approximately one-quarter of their stores due in part to the helium shortage.  It's hard to believe stores are closing due to a lack of helium but I'm taking it at face value and today's post is about the helium shortage.  Why do you care where helium comes from?  You probably don't but it is interesting and it serves as a good example of the mindless consumerism that we all partake in.

What is helium?  Helium is a naturally occurring gas that forms deep underground.  It is the second most plentiful element in our universe.  This gas is created over millions of years from the decay of metals and other elements underground.  It comes from the radioactive decay of radioactive elements such as thorium and uranium and it trapped along with what we commonly refer to as natural gas.  Helium is a byproduct of natural gas.

Where does helium come from?  Helium is mined from underground gas pockets.  The largest quantities are found in the United States, Algeria, Russa, and Qatar.  Helium is kept in some reserves like the National Helium Reserve that stores over 1 billion cubic meters of the gas.

What is helium used for?  Balloons, of course, but also as a cooling agent in large medical machines and in welding applications.  It can be used in NASA rockets to keep the correct pressure.  It is used in the production of some computer screens and TV screens.  It was used in military airships and other blimps when those were popular.  Helium is non-flammable which is why it was used in airships, it is what was supposed to be used in the Hindenburg but they chose to save money and use hydrogen instead and we all know how well that worked out.

The United States uses half of the known helium supply for the world.  The helium we have was formed over millions of years and there is currently no economically efficient way to manufacture this gas which means what we have is what we have.

My two cents:  I'm guilty of buying balloons for the kids from time to time and I never gave any thought as to where the helium came from.  I've learned in the last year how bad balloons are for the environment and now I've learned where helium comes from.  It would make the most sense for the planet to ban balloons, even though not many people would agree with me.

Rating:  I give the helium shortage 1 out of 5 possible slow claps.  It is another great example of how we squander natural resources that take millions of years to form.  Good job us!

An excellent use of a natural element that took millions of years to form.