This dog from Viva Terra is made with recycled newspaper. But for $100, you can make a real pup pretty happy.
As soon as Halloween was over, I saw the Christmas/holidays stuff appear instantly at stores around Chicago.
Our consumerist culture doesn't take a breather, does it?
Unfortunately, this buy buy buy mentality is just as bad amongst the eco-friendly crowd lately ...
Every journalist/blogger needs a good source for ideas. Thanks to this fancy thing called the Internet, I've got tons. Here are a few of my favorite go-to sites:
A friend of mine that's currently traveling through India recently posted
this picture on his
blog.
Strange place for a sign about plastic bags? Yes, probably. But I'm sitting here laughing because it amazes me that you'd find that sign in the middle of New Delhi, but it's something you rarely see in the U.S.--and especially Chicago.
Pumpkins offered by Genesis Growers at the Chicago Green City Market last year at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. (Michael Tercha/Chicago Tribune)
Sad, but true: Most of
Chicago's farmers markets are closing up shop (or have already done so) for the season.
... unless you know where to look.
Lucky for us, there still are a few opportunities to get your hands on local produce and products through Chicago's bitterly cold winter.
Want a super-easy way to tout your eco-friendliness to the world? Stop using those plastic produce bags at the grocery store.
Tribune file photo
Parts of the recycling program are among Mayor Daley's latest list of proposed budget cuts for the upcoming year, according to a
story by the Sun-Times.
Before even reading the story, my reaction to the headline alone was one filled with lots of choice words for our supposedly green mayor.
Think warm thoughts ...
Ugh, I hate that our heat is on in October. We tried to avoid it as long as we could, but when the thermostat hit 59 last Sunday, we flipped the switch.
Unfortunately, like many of the apartments in Chicago, mine is kinda old with drafty windows and a very inefficient ventilation system. And no working ventilation in my room to speak of ... A 40-degree room in the dead of February is not ideal.
But considering the cost--and environmental impact--of forced heat, we've got to be more creative in how we keep warm. And parkas 24-7 are not an option.
Here are some eco-friendly and toasty ways to keep your digs warm this winter.
Hearing about Thursday's "Take Your Mug to Work Day," sponsored by
International Delight, reminded me to share one of the easiest ways to make a green change.
If you haven't guessed already, it's using a mug.
It's hard to get rid of perfectly good shoes ... even if they're not perfectly good anymore.
I know--I currently have about 4 pairs of old running shoes sitting at home that I never wear. That's not including the ones I keep around for camping or messy occasions.
Normally, I'd take them over to Goodwill or donate them elsewhere. The problem with these particular pieces of footwear is that the padding is worn through from running in 'em or they're pretty worn out in general.
Thanks to everyone who came out to the Shedd Aquarium Beach Sweep this past Saturday! It was a ton of fun--and a huge success!
We even had a great day for it--until the rain came in at the very end. Thank goodness for those RedEye ponchos!
Here are the numbers from the garbage that was picked up, along with some of the strange things we found ...
