August 2022
I suppose you knew that fish skins are being made into a kind of leather? (I didn't until recently.) Well, many folks are concerned about continuing to buy leather goods in our fragile world. The production of leather requires massive amounts of energy and harmful chemicals (you can read further if you search but here is an article I found: no go on leather A new company. Inversa, has gone further and has been harvesting an invasive species of fish, lionfish, that are contributing to the destruction of coral reef marine life, in the Atlantic anyway, and they are finding huge benefits of using this faux leather. It's amazing and versatile. Keep following this revelation! Go to thrift stores for leather if you must but let's support this and other innovative ways to make sustainability second nature tin our economy and personal choice. For further reading: lionfish needed!
June 2022
Did you know that we now have a new choice for shopping in our area? I like shopping whenever I can at Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco. I can buy a lot of things in bulk, re-using containers I already have, and appreciate the "eco-conscious" attempts at better packaging and healthy products. We are grateful for the organic produce too. They have a 10% senior discount (over age 60!) which kind of offsets the drive from my house which can sometimes only take 20 minutes. Not easy but worth the time. Now, evidently there is a new grocery in San Mateo that is all about reducing plastic use and promoting bulk options. Read the San Mateo Daily Journal article about it here
I am going to check it out! The cost of food is high right now and buying organic can seem "too steep" but aside from our personal and family health buying organic (especially for the "dirty dozen", defined by Environmental Working Group) there are important reasons that range from protecting farm workers to regeneration of our soil. Good to read about! Thanks for all you do in caring for the planet.
May 2022
The war in Ukraine and the recent reports from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) have sparked more conversations about how to get off fossil fuels more quickly as communities and individuals. One of the highest impact actions you can take is to swap out fossil fuel appliances for electric in your home. Many of our homes still have gas stoves but in addition to the climate impacts of gas there is increasing evidence of negative health impacts. A solution: induction stoves are becoming more widely available and cooks love them (they are super efficient and safe). If you rent your home or can’t afford a new appliance, there are inexpensive one or two burner induction cooktops that can be put right on top of your gas stove and help reduce your gas usage!
Click here for more information about electrifying your home.
(Thanks to Abby Huseth of Climate Smart Missoula for her help in preparing this information!)
April 2022
April is now not only synonymous with Easter but also Earth celebrations. It seems like articles about climate change and the hard-to-keep-track of news reports about our impact on the planet are bombarding us daily. Also, though, there are so many more resources for information about how we can make new choices and set a different course. I think I’ve shared something about this before but it is stunning: a video demonstration of the life cycle of a cotton t-shirt. But there is a movement to figure out how to use textiles long past their personal usefulness. Check out this hopeful company with innovative ideas!
March 2022
Do you know that it is estimated that about 37% of food waste happens in the home? The carbon footprint of U.S. food waste in general is greater than airline travel. Producing food that is not eaten is hugely consequential for our planet. And we know how sad this is, given the number of people in our country who struggle to have enough food. What can be done? Fortunately, there are helpful ideas from the somewhat obvious suggestions (but let's do it!) like organizing food in your refrigerator, making lists of menus based on what we already have on hand, and the like. Addressing food waste is #1 on a list of "Ten steps you can take to fight climate change" in the Washington Post. Super helpful. (The video above is a 45-minute presentation featuring Alice Waters, related to the article.) Check it out and share your ideas and other ones with friends and family!
January 2022
Do you know that you can use a bar of soap for a significant
way to help save the planet? Check out this link to an article
which points out a lot of benefits to switching to bar soap,
even for doing laundry and washing hair! Like so many
habits of living, making changes can seem daunting and
maybe insignificant given the dire state of the planet. But it is
empowering to be part of a solution. Check it out!
December 2021
Did you know which subject related to the future of our world and our well-being is one of the most difficult to talk about? Our diet. The daily choices we make to nourish ourselves. We are beginning, though, to address the impact American food production has had on our health as well as climate change. According to a Yale study last year:
Globally, changes to food production and consumption, including reducing food waste and shifting to a more plant-based diet, are critical to reducing global warming and other environmental impacts.
You can take a look at the full study here.
Perhaps we can engage more in discussion about big and small changes we can all make in our lives and seek to support organizations that further research and advocacy in this important step. Ideas welcome!
November 2021
Do you know? Plastics are huge source of our world pollution problem. Yes, you knew that! But it helps to take a look at this subject deeply and perhaps make small changes personally as well as support organizations working to address the problem.
National Geographic says: Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world"
That astounding bit of information can overwhelm us for sure. But then you read of such inspiring actions. Check out The Minderoo Foundation to see how we can put pressure on the main companies responsible for the manufacture and wanton disregard for our planet's future. Check out other great efforts as well, at the 1% For the Planet website.
Meanwhile, Millbrae is encouraging sheet plastic donations (even bubble wrap) that will be recycled! Read the article on NextDoor. This drive is being done by the Millbrae Leos youth group, and donations can be left at Millbrae City Hall.
We push forward! Keep up the good work everyone.
October 2021
I bet most of you know this, but you can collect your old eyeglasses and donate them! There are several places locally (Chapel of the Highlands Funeral Home in Millbrae) that have said they do collect and the Lions Club International has drop off locations, Also LensCrafters and Pearl Vision retailers reputedly accept old glasses. Call to confirm of course. This is just one important effort we can all make to help others and keep things out of landfill! More information: https://www.allaboutvision.com/resources/donate.htm
September 2021
Most of us dutifully put food scraps and yard trimmings in the Green Bin provided by Recology. What happens next? By a controlled, carefully monitored 12 week biological decomposition process, Recology produces compost from those food scraps and yard trimmings.
One silver lining of the Covid pandemic has been an increase in home gardening. Using compost improves the fertility and quality of soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, leading to healthier plants. Adding compost to the soil improves water infiltration and storage, important in this time of drought.
Using compost significantly decreases the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Most of the Recology compost is used on agricultural lands throughout the West Coast but it is also available FREE to San Mateo county residents at the Shoreway Environmental Center, 333 Shoreway Rd., San Carlos.
For details on picking up compost, go to the Rethinkhttps://rethinkwaste.org/shoreway-environmental-center/compost-giveaway/ Waste website. You will also find information on the best way to use compost for your garden and plants.
August 2021
The cartons we buy with our favorite foods (juice boxes, soups, almond milk, etc.) have long seemed to be a great way to stock our pantries, save space, and decrease waste. But so many of these cartons are not, alas, recyclable. There is a movement to address this problem but it’s perhaps better to choose a refrigerated carton when possible because it can go in the compost bin.
Does your recycling service now take cartons? If not, call them and encourage the change! Read up on food packaging dilemmas and make responsible decisions for our environment. Share information with friends! Here’s a great site to help us be more informed.
July 2021
We all are thankful for Goodwill and the various recipients of our discarded clothing. It does more than just help folks, since the last thing we want to do is throw our clothes in the garbage (landfill). According to one source, clothing in landfills are responsible for 10% of all carbon emissions on the planet.
Did you know that 95% of used textiles of all sorts can be recycled or repurposed? Even fabric scraps can be donated to Goodwill (but call first to make sure the individual site will take them). Another thing to consider is the actual production cost for new clothes, since it takes so many resources to produce, demanding human labor (watch The True Cost, a documentary available on You Tube and Amazon Prime for a sobering look at fashion industry and the implications of our love for cheap new clothes), and huge amounts of water and energy.
Let's join the movement toward a different relationship to clothing, buying less, choosing more sustainable sources, using thrift stores more and getting creative with reuse! (Check out Upworthy.com for a good article on this subject!)
June 2021
Have you been holding on to old VCR tapes and CDs that you no longer want? Of course, you can see if you can donate them to a used record store, but consider this: these are not recyclable and we definitely don't want to throw them away, to go into the landfill where they will never break down! Do you know about Green Citizen in Burlingame?
They primarily take discarded electronic media (like old phones and computers, TV’s and the like) but YES they take tapes and CDs. They will properly break these down and dispose of them as safely as possible. There is a charge but it is a small cost to do the right thing! The fee is only $1 per pound! If you would like help getting your media to them, please contact us!
Each month we draw attention to the PCUSA's and Bethany's concern about our environment and the climate changes we are experiencing in a new and specific way.
"Do You Know" focuses on recommendations and actions that we all can take that will make a difference, even in small ways, to care for our world.