Category: Everything Else

I learned the following interesting facts via this article courtesy of The Nature Conservancy:

A recent Harris poll found that 53% of those surveyed said they have taken steps to “green their life”- although what that meant varied wildly.

34% of those who had not, claimed it was because they “did not know what to do”.

29% said it was because they didn’t think changing their lifestyle would have any significant impact on the environment.

What one thing can you do this weekend to make a difference? Educate someone.

• Talk about the things you do to tread lightly.
• Let them know how it makes you feel.
• Mention how it saves you money, simplifies your life.
• Recall the first steps you made, and the steps they led to.
• Voice your concerns, articulate your hopes.

Everyone has an impact, for better or for worse. This weekend, maximize your impact on the ideals of others. Be an inspiration.

There are still people waiting to be told what to do. Let’s help them out.

Today was the older kids’ first official day of vacation. What did we do? We lazed around, cooked a bunch, and went to the library to sign up for the summer reading program. Yes, we are bookish uber-nerds, but we are bookish uber-nerds as a family, and so that is OK.

We have lots of plans for this summer: a couple of camping trips, some time at the beach, some local gardens and museums, maybe NYC or DC to visit with friends, making friends with local farmers, hiking some state parks. In addition: keeping up the victory garden, learning to cook local meals that are not salad, and making good on our pledge to become backyard naturalists.

Maverick is captain of this endeavor, and to that end he took out a number of field guides from the library to supplement the ones we already own. On Saturdays he will post about whatever backyard flora and fauna he has identified and the results of any “experiments” he conducts.

Sundays Jacob will be posting “Postcards from Al”. This is something we started and abruptly halted because we lost Al. (By “we” I mean “most emphatically not me.”) Jake recently went to the Franklin Institute on a field trip and took ten dollars of his saved allowance for the gift shop. What did he buy? Well, obviously an Albert Einstein action figure; only narrowly beating out Ben Franklin. What does one do with an Albert Einstein action figure, I wondered. Clearly, one takes him on wild outdoor adventures and photographs the ensuing craziness for internet postcards.

The idea is, with the kids posting, that I will be able to step back from the weekends and take time to work on posts that are a bit clearer, better written, and (perhaps) more level-headed.

And also, that this blog will be more of the family project that I originally intended it to be.

And, OK, admittedly, a way for me to ensure the kids are happily engaged in reading, research, nature, and writing.

But truly they are amazing people and I hope you enjoy getting to know them a bit better.

To keep them motivated, please comment freely on their posts! They will be thrilled to learn that someone is listening.

Well, our microwave oven died.

It was shooting off sparks and everything, but I was not allowed to run and get the camera. I assure you that it was awesome. And of course incredibly frightening, as there were sound effects involved.

(Times like these always evoke Bob Saget’s voice in my memory, reminding me as I watch America’s Funniest Home Videos that injury is not funny: “If Grandma’s wheelchair is about to roll into the Grand Canyon, PUT THE CAMERA DOWN and go help Grandma…” Shockingly, I was unable to find an instance of this on YouTube. I thought you could find anything on YouTube!)

So now we are sans microwave. My kitchen feels a lot lighter. But, we NEED a microwave. It’s non-negotiable. My whole cooking schedule revolves around batch making a week’s worth of food in two cooking binges (Sunday and Wednesday) and reheating as necessary. I do this partly to conserve energy, partly to keep the house cool, and mostly because it makes my life soooo much easier.

I am a trifle upset by having to end my mental buy-nothing campaign, not to mention the fact that a new microwave is so not in our budget. But, moving on. Time to find an appropriate replacement microwave.

First Google search: “Energy Star and microwave”. Learned that Energy Star does not rate microwaves. Not helpful.

Second Google search: “Green microwaves”. Returned a variety of microwave ovens to match your colorful kitchen decor.

Third Google search: “consumer reports and microwaves”. Requires a paid subscription. Sigh.

Fourth Google search: “green shopping”. The idea being, greenie websites would direct me to good microwave choices. Found and tagged “Green Resource Online: Top 25 Shopping Sites”. I can see this coming in handy later, but still nothing on microwaves.

Now getting irritated- I really don’t like shopping- I start casting about, checking “green” websites for suggestions.

• Ideal Bite suggested this microwave but it is no longer available, and I’m not really certain what criteria they used to choose it anyway.
• My favorite green shopping website is The Green Office because they offset their delivery emissions and they offer free shipping on most orders over $49. They list three microwaves, but the cheapest one runs $135.12. What? $135.12? I think my last microwave cost $40…but then, it only lasted three years.
• I check Diane’s Big Green Purse but no hits for a search on microwaves.

Back to Google. A search for “energy-efficient microwave” reveals that 3 people on 43 Things want to buy an energy efficient microwave, but they don’t list any specifics. Ha! Soon they will be where I am. I do learn that microwave cooking can be up to 80% more efficient than using my oven. Thanks for the tip, that’s why I’m looking for an energy efficient microwave.

I am very very frustrated! I understand that a microwave, in and of itself, is not an ecologically sound purchase, nor is it a “green is sexy” type of purchase. But for me it is a necessary purchase, and I am rationalizing that the energy savings makes it a smart purchase, but I also want it to be a mindful purchase. I don’t want to just drive to Target and buy whatever is on sale.

I don’t need bells and whistles, I don’t need a popcorn button, I don’t need a defrost function. I need it to warm up my husband’s sausage and pepper sandwich at 11:00 p.m. so I don’t have to do it myself on the stovetop.

Ideally I am looking for something that meets as many of the following guidelines as possible. In order of importance:

1. Microwave should be energy-efficient: powerful enough that it doesn’t take longer than necessary to reheat meals, not so powerful that it is overkill.
2. Microwave should not have to replaced (and landfilled) in as little as three years. I want something that is going to last a while.
3. Microwave should be made from recycled or otherwise environmentally friendly materials? Is this possible?
4. Microwave should be made by environmentally and ethically responsible company? How is this information to be found out?
5. Microwave should not cost amount of money that causes me to fan myself with hand and swoon into nearest chair.
6. Microwave should not have vampiric energy-sucking powers. But, I can run it to a strip with a switch if necessary.
7. Microwave should involve minimal packaging.
8. Microwave should have relatively small physical footprint as I have grown used to its absense on my countertop.

Are there other factors I should be considering? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Companies they like? Microwaves they like? Thoughts? Concerns? Advice?