Halloween Non-Gluttony

I know this post is a bit late, but I wanted to get it out in cyberspace nonetheless. My brothers and I grew up in the woods on a dirt road with only a few neighbors. Rereading that it sounds like we were raised by wolves! No - we lived in a nice house with real, wonderful parents. But because of the scarcity of homes on our street we didn't really do the trick-or-treating thing there.

However, we lived less than two miles from our 5 closest cousins who lived in a much larger, more traditional neighborhood. This became our haunting grounds every October 31st. The moms would stay behind and hand out candy, while the dads walked (often more like ran) the eight of us around. We each got a glow stick to wear around our necks (seriously one of the highlights of the night - we only got a glow stick once a year). The houses weren't too close together or too far apart (most of the lots were approximately 1/2-1 acre). We hit as many houses as our little legs could carry us. There was always so much anticipation for the candy that would soon fill our bags. What kinds would we score? How many of each? Etc., etc. Then there was the organizing and trading when we got back to "base camp" (my uncle's house).

I don't know if I've gotten too old or cynical or jaded or what, but Halloween seems to have lost some of it's mystique. The picture above was taken two weeks ago. Crowded doesn't even begin to describe it. Because we now live on a busy, fairly major thoroughfare where no one trick-or-treats, we walked the mile to our old neighborhood to partake of the festivities. We literally know most of the people who live there, so we were also looking forward to catching up with a few of them. However, it quickly became apparent we wouldn't be staying very long. With every house we attempted to get our son up to the porch, I literally started feeling sick to my stomach. I just couldn't shake the thoughts of "What are we becoming as a society?"

Somehow, in recent years, our old historic neighborhood has become something of a "destination" - a holy grail, if you will - for candy seekers. I haven't been able to come up with a solid reason as to why. We've heard horror stories (no pun intended!) of people going through 2,000 pieces of candy, or a couple of hundred dollars worth of candy - in only 30 minutes. I would guess about 95% of the trick-or-treaters do not live (or have never lived) in the neighborhood - and it's a large one with 700 houses. I can appreciate perhaps wanting to take your kids to a safe neighborhood. I really can. But what kills me are the kids (and adults!) who aren't even dressed up at all, walking up to the homeowner and just sticking out their bag. What happened to common courtesy? Another frequent sight are the parents who drive their kids from house to house because they are literally too lazy to park the car and walk. Folks, these houses are not far apart - the lots are each 1/6 of an acre. Yes, the argument could be made that perhaps they have a disability or something. This could be true - but it's probably 1% of those driving. After one street, we walked home.

Like the juxtaposition of the candy with the healthy stuff?

Over the next 24 hours I saw posts on Facebook of people saying their kids collected 7, 8, and 9 pounds of candy. So I weighed our son's. After only eating about 4 or 5 pieces, his total collection came to just over one pound. And I couldn't be happier with that one pound. He got to engage in a fun, time-honored tradition dressed as a muscle man, he practiced his manners - always saying thank you for everything he was given, we had a nice family walk on a gorgeous night, we saw some old friends, and he got a bit of candy to boot. I guess I just wish more people would relish the whole act of Halloween instead of making it a race to see who can collect the most candy in the shortest amount of time - while throwing manners and common sense to the wind. Did anyone else experience something like this during Halloween, or am I just getting too old (and cynical) for my own good? -Carrie

Using Pot... A Bad Habit to Have

I have no clue how any of my readers may use this or relate it to their lives, but I feel I must say something publicly about this atrocity of my own doing.

The wheels of industry just don't stop for the color green... Above is a picture of the waste generated from a small landscape install I did just the other day. I say again, this is from a SMALL job. I have no idea how to curb this. My first thought is to call the nursery and try to get them to take back the containers, but this particular nursery grows some plants and imports others, so some pots may not be usable to them. Also, I don't do installs every day. In fact, I average about one per month. How do I get them back to them without burning more petroleum or having them sit in my yard, waiting for the next ride? For now, they will see the end of their lives in my recycling bin. RIP Pots. -Jason

How to Stop the Flow...or at Least Diminish the Byproducts

Warning: Guys, if you're not into bathroom talk (but seriously, what guy isn't?) then you may not want to read any further!

A woman's monthly menstrual cycle is a gift from God - allowing us to have children - while also being a "curse" a female must deal with for 40 or so years! This post will focus on the products to deal with said cycle: specifically tampons. Oh, to be free from these bondages of plastic, synthetic fibers, and waste! Growing up I really didn't think twice about how my choices in menstrual paraphernalia would or even could effect the local landfill. But now when those 5 or 6 days roll around every month, I find it to be in the forefront of my mind.

I know not all ladies, especially those just beginning this journey towards a greener lifestyle, will welcome the opportunity to use a reusable pad or tampon. Sadly, some women are just too grossed out by this. Since I still have no experience with reusable pads or tampons (though I plan to in the very near future), I want to speak to those women who feel they absolutely can't give up single use tampons. I believe in the importance of baby steps, though, and by actually thinking about the kinds of tampons you use, you can make a big impact in the amount of waste you produce and send to the dump.

Pictured below are two commonly used brands of tampons. Both packages contain 18 tampons, but it is immediately clear which puts a far greater strain on our environment.


For simplicity, let's say you use 18 tampons per cycle (some use less, some more, but 18 per box is probably the most common size sold). Eighteen o.b. super tampons, wrappers, and box weigh a mere 2 ounces compared to the 18 Kotex super tampons, applicators, wrappers, and box that weigh in at 6 ounces. Multiply this difference (4 ounces) by an average of 12 cycles per year, and you have an extra 48 ounces (3 pounds) of waste going to the landfill with the Kotex than you would otherwise have if you forgo the applicator and went with a brand such as o.b.. Due to the reduced packaging (mainly because of the lack of applicator), you can fit six boxes of o.b. inside of just one box of Kotex. Are you catching my drift? The beauty is we were made with the most wonderful reusable applicator - and it's attached to our bodies so you can't lose it - our finger! Yes, the first time or two it may seem a bit weird, but it's completely natural and washes off in about two seconds. And you don't have to throw your finger in the trash!

Seeing as I still have a few boxes of o.b.s left over from my coupon queen days (read more about that in this post), I want to use these up before I look into purchasing (or making - explained in this post from Frugal Babe) a more sustainable reusable cloth pad or DivaCup reusable "tampon." So, ladies - have you already stopped purchasing single use menstrual products? If so, what works best for you? Thanks in advance for your input! In a few months when I delve deep into the world of reusable pads and tampons, I'll do another post on my findings. -Carrie

Ode to a Small House

I vacuumed the house last night. Woohoo! But that’s not the spectacular part. Are you ready for it? I vacuumed the entire house last night – the bedrooms, bathroom, hallway, living room, dining room, and kitchen - and never even had to unplug the machine! That is just how small our house is. And it’s one of the numerous reasons why I love it here. Many people can’t believe it when I tell them we live in a 1000 square foot house with three children and only two bedrooms. I probably wouldn’t have believed it myself just two short years ago. I know that compared to much of the world, we live like kings. However, in America, where the average home size has more than doubled since the 1950s while the number of people living in the house has decreased, I think we’re seen by some as oddballs. We initially moved here out of necessity, not choice. But we have now made a conscious decision to stay here, and while it may not be for everyone, we are confident this is where we need to be for our family.

So, in no official order, I give you just a few of the awesome things about living in a small house:

• See above. Cleaning, while still not my favorite thing in the world, is a relative snap – and not near as time consuming as it used to be.
  
• Less money spent on upkeep for the house. i.e. There is only one toilet to fix instead of three or four.
• Three words: Smallest...Mortgage…Ever!
• Lower utility bills – Electric was $40 in May & $71 in June – our previous house (2250 sq ft) had bills of $190 & $275, respectively.
• Our property taxes here are $4,000 less than our old house, and we’ve only moved one mile away.
• We always know where the kids are, and know they can hear us when we call them out of their bedroom. Now, getting them to respond is another issue, but at least they don’t have the “But I didn’t hear you!” excuse at their disposal.
• Smaller lot = less upkeep on the landscape.
• Less clutter. While I sometimes look around and don’t feel this way, we have drastically reduced the amount of “stuff” we own. Moving from 2250 square feet, to 1500 (for only a few months), down to 1000, we had no choice but to hold numerous garage sales to get rid of items we knew we wouldn’t have the room for. Not only did we make a bit of money, but we are free of the weight of all of those frivolous items. Now most things in our house have a definite purpose and are used on a mostly daily basis. It’s also easier to find what you’re looking for if you’re not having to search in the basement, the garage attic, the house attic, and under every bed and in every closet for a single item.

While we do plan on being here for a while, I’ve already set my sights on an even smaller abode, such as the 'B-53' - a 743 square foot vision of beauty from Tumbleweed Tiny House Company shown below.


Now 743 square feet may sound tiny to some, but in reality it is a monster! Jay Shafer, at Tumbleweed, has house plans as small as 67 square feet available for purchase. Seriously! For more small house inspiration try www.tinyhousedesign.com or www.tinyhouseblog.com.

While I don’t see us moving to a house this small until the kids are in college, I look forward to trying to convince Jason that this is where we need to be in our retirement years! He’s still not quite on board, but I have some tricks up my sleeves! –Carrie

Water Misers and Naughty Nuns

As the sun beats down on us and our landscapes in these summer months, we should be mindful that we are the deacons of our limited water supply. As a licensed irrigator, landscape designer, and student of Landscape Architecture, I field questions on all fronts about how often one should water their lawn. This is a tricky question. I simply don’t know how fast your system puts out water. The only way to do this is to throw out catch cans and measure precipitation rates. Sadly, this almost never happens, so instead, I’ll attempt to give you rough estimates for your system. To best explain this, I’ll break it down into four different systems and two management techniques.

Older systems with brass nozzles put out faster than a hooker on Harry Hines. They’re fast and I mean torrential downpour fast. Our heavy clay soils shed water quickly, so apply 3 or 4 minutes at a time or it will start running down the street. At high temps, weekly, I would water St. Augustine 4 times and Bermuda 3 times.

Newer systems with plastic nozzles still put out, but more like a bride on her wedding night. I recommend 20 minutes a week for St. Augustine and around 15 for Bermuda, and then divide by the number of days you want to water, either 2 or 3.

Even better yet are the MP Rotator Nozzles which are very good for the environment. These put water out very slowly, so think 20 years of marriage. I would run these around 25 minutes twice a week for St. Augustine and 20 minutes twice a week for Bermuda. See image below.

Our last system uses drip lines to deliver water to plants. At .6 gallons per hour per emitter, think slightly naughty nun. At this point in technology, it’s hard to beat the drip. Unfortunately, the water needs of perennials vary, so my advice at this point is to torture your plants. Start at 10 minutes per day and work backwards until your plants show signs of stress then back up a notch... 9 minutes, then 8, then 7, “Whoa, I didn’t know my plant knew that kind of language… We’ll go back up to 8.”

All of this is good, but management is where water conservation starts. The little box on the wall is the biggest water bandit of the landscape.

Our first management technique is to make you the controller. Why? Because unfortunately, there are no residential controllers on the market that know there’s rain in Tarrant County heading your way and that delay watering. My best advice is to keep the controllers in the OFF position and use the AUTO for vacation. Allow Mother Nature to do the work for you and supplement those dry spells when needed.

For those who prefer the hands off approach, you can invest in an “Evapotranspiration (ET)” controller. These “Smart” controllers measure the atmospheric conditions and use historical information based on your zip code then adjust the programming for you. While not as good as a diligent water miser, these controllers are years ahead of the “dumb” controllers widely used today. For those living in the DFW area interested in paid landscape consultations or design, you can reach me at 214-704-1291. -Jason

The Coupon Made Me Do It!

About two years ago, as our business was dwindling during the economic downturn and Jason decided to go back to school, I began to give serious consideration to any and all ways of saving money. That was when I discovered couponing. And I mean COUPONING. By buying only those loss leaders I had coupons for, I could shop with the best of them, always saving at least 70-75% off retail. Shopping trips of 90-95% off were common. I made numerous visits per week to both CVS and Walgreens. I would head out first thing Sunday morning before church so I could be assured of getting the best deals. I’m not going to lie, there was a definite thrill in having a great shopping excursion. I took pictures of my hauls occasionally (even though I didn’t have a blog at the time) just because it was so amazing the stores would actually let me walk out paying only pennies for the bags and bags I brought home. Being able to feed our family of 5 on only $150-$200 per month really did help us out during the leaner times.

But for me, while couponing did save us money, it was not without an environmental (and overall personal well-being) cost. When I first started out, I acquired the coupon inserts by buying numerous Sunday newspapers. It always killed me to immediately turn around and have to recycle all of the papers, but I never found anyone who wanted them. Then I was “fortunate” to find a source in my area that delivered only the inserts to me every week. For the rock-bottom price of just $6 a week I got anywhere between 14-20 packs of inserts. It was awesome. But then there was the time involved in processing 20 inserts (actually usually 40-60 per week, depending on how many inserts per pack). I’ve read about people who say they only spend 30 minutes per week organizing their coupons, but I could never do it. It usually took me at least 2 hours, often more. Time spent away from things I would rather be doing. Then there was the time involved actually shopping – going from store to store (with a toddler no less!), driving many miles, all in the hopes of getting a good deal.

The other issue with couponing is that the majority of the coupons are for items that I no longer want. As we try to buy more fresh and local foods, the free boxes of excessively processed and packaged “dinner” helpers, fruit rollups, single use juice boxes, and cookie dough (to name a few) just aren’t doing it for me anymore. And while more natural and organic products are starting to come out with coupons, in general these are still few and far between. And those that do offer coupons are usually the much larger companies that have issues of their own.

So, a few days ago I said “Enough!” I cancelled future insert deliveries. And I processed all that had been piling up in my bedroom for the last 8 weeks. This picture shows the aftermath of that processing. TWENTY FIVE POUNDS of half-used inserts slated for the recycling bin. The fact that my actions have created this much needless waste almost makes me sick to my stomach. I will work through these last coupons (though at a far slower rate than I would have previously). Just last night I stopped by the store on my way home. I ended up buying a carton of ice cream, mainly just because I had a coupon. Driving home I started rationalizing to myself “Well, the coupon MADE me do it!” I’ll tell you what - buying the $4.59 jar of natural peanut butter (JUST peanuts!) without a coupon about killed my sensibilities (previously I would have never spent more than $0.75 for a more-processed jar of equivalent size). But upon leaving the store I felt much better about this purchase than its preservative-filled neighbor left sitting on the shelf. And the taste of the natural stuff blows the lesser version out of the water! I know it will take time to overcome the “allure” of the coupons, but I am confident that I am guiding my family down a healthier, more sustainable path. – Carrie

Dump the Habit, Not the Bag

Shredded cheese bags, bread bags, and bagel bags. Sugar bags, sandwich bags, and cereal bags. Toilet paper bags, the occasional paper towel bag... even the trash bags come in bags. Is seems to me that there's more attention in America to remove the bags under our eye's than there is to remove bags from the landfill. I feel like I’m drowning in bags!

I’ve developed a pet peeve as of late. It centers around a very simple thing that anyone can change if they just stopped for a second and actually thought about what they were doing before continuing on. In the last few years some U.S. cities (San Francisco being the first in 2007) have banned single use plastic bags at grocery checkout stands. It appears the state of California as a whole is about to pass a bill that will ban plastic bags in grocery stores and will institute a 5 cent fee on every paper bag used – hopefully greatly reducing the amount taken out of the store. Of course there are differing arguments about the pros and cons of a bill such as this, but in general I am all for it. I would love to see more states joining this bandwagon. Are you listening, Texas?

But there is something in the same realm that you don’t hear about as much – what about the plastic bags you put in the plastic grocery store bags??? I’m talking about the bags people put their produce in so it can be counted and/or weighed. I’ve developed a kind of rule for myself that if a cashier can pick up a single variety of fruit or veggie in two hands or less, it does not go into a bag. For example, a cashier can usually pick up 4-5 apples easily (2 or 3 in each hand) and place them on the scale at the same time without difficulty. Yes, it does take me 5 seconds longer to group like items on the conveyor belt; and yes, this does mean that I have loose fruit or vegetables at the bottom of my cart (the horror!), but that is a small price to pay for not having the privilege of bringing yet another plastic bag into my home.

I am not saying I never use a produce bag. I might put a wet head of lettuce in one (though in reality the outer leaves could be taken off and composted if you were worried that much about bacteria or the like). Delicate items like mushrooms or grapes, for example, probably need to be contained in some way. I also bag up things like oranges when they are on sale 20 for $1 (not an uncommon price around here!) – but I put them in 1 or 2 bags – not 5 or 6. You truly do not need produce bags for most items, especially those that grow with their own protective covering which will be discarded (composted!) anyway – and specifically when you are only buying one or two. I am routinely amazed at the number of people I see actually bagging a bunch of bananas. Even before we were on this sustainable journey it never even crossed my mind to do this. Perhaps it is a Texas thing? Rest assured, when those bagless bananas get to your house they will be just as sweet as they would have been in a bag for the 15 minute ride home.

So I say all that to say this: Be conscious of your consumption and try to lessen it. This should be true of many things in life. If you must use produce bags, try to reuse them when you can. They will last for numerous shopping trips. Pack them in your reusable bag on your way out the door. You could even purchase (or make) reusable, thin muslin bags for this purpose (a la No Impact Man). I just found a website called reusablebags.com that has every type of reusable bag your little heart has ever desired. Seriously take stock for the next week or month of how many bags you have saved from a landfill by implementing some of the ideas above. I will do the same and promise to get back to you one month from today. – Carrie