In the last post we looked at which containers are available for milk storage. There aren’t too many great choices out there right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative. Especially if your family purchases milk in plastic jugs.

The best thing to do with plastic jugs?….

Leave them on the shelf – don’t buy them unless you’re dedicated to recycling them. They will never biodegrade. They’ll just sit in that old landfill forever.

That said, there are other options for plastic jug reuse.

Cutting the top off at an angle you can make a toilet brush holder.

Cutting the bottom off allows you to make a pretend megaphone for the kiddos, a scooper for legos, rocks, soil, dog doo, or anything else you fancy scooping up. Great kid shovel too.

Cutting off the bottom and saving it gives you a nice square seed starter (punch small holes for drainage), or you can use the bottoms as kid paint tray; because they’re semi-flat your little can mix colors in the tray easily.

You can fill it with water and place it in your toilet (older models only) for water savings.

Cut just a little of the top off (leave the handle) and use it for picking berries in the summer.

Wash em, and use them for mixing up other drinks. Good for camping too – take beverages or water along.

For the truly ambitious:

• Create a milk jug solar heating system.
• Build a bridge that can support 36,000 pounds- oh, yes you can.

What other good reuses do plastic milk jugs have at your house?

[image via stock.xchng]

How much thought are you giving to your milk purchases? You should be thinking about your milk, both for the sake of your health and the environment.

First of all, containers aside, milk is one of the foods that should be on your ONLY buy organic list. Organic milk (and all dairy products made with organic milk) won’t contain antibiotics, pesticides, or synthetic hormones, among other junk you don’t need in your body. Of course some folks think that organic milk doesn’t win out over conventional; that’s a choice you need to make on your own. However, no matter the milk you buy, the packaging does matter.

Glass or biodegradable packaging is best: Sadly, these are the least likely types of milk packaging you’ll see at stores. However, if your store sells milk in glass, it’s a good option (if you recycle). One UK company is making biodegradable milk cartons now (with cardboard and corn starch) and hopefully more companies will follow suit.

Plastic Jugs: Plastic milk jugs aren’t the best option, mainly because while they can be recycled, very few families are doing so religiously. Plastics overall, according to the EPA are seriously under recycled. Bad news considering that all you have to do is toss the jug into your bin.

Waxed paper milk cartons: Because of the mixed quality of these cartons it might seem like you can’t recycle them but you can. The catch is that you have to live in an area that has milk carton recycling. It’s not a universal practice. Check and see if you can recycle them in your community. If so, go for it, but if not, avoid buying them.

Shape matters: The shape of milk container you buy does matter. Shape can affect shipping costs, amount of gas used, and recycling rates. To learn about one remade milk jug, and the benefits (plus a few handling cons) read this New York Times piece; Solution, or Mess? A Milk Jug for a Green Earth.

The final deal: Mainly there is no perfect milk container (minus the cow) that’s universally used. If everyone made and purchased biodegradable containers it’d be one thing, but that’s not a reality. What the sustainable milk carton comes down to for most of us, is what you do with it once it’s empty; which of course means you need to recycle it.

To learn more about organic milk choices read the Dairy Scorecard.

[image via stock.xchng]

Earth Hour again….

So, last year we posted about Earth Hour here at Tree Hugging Family. Of course that’s when Peggy, who was, I believe, pro-Earth Hour was still blogging here. Now it’s just me – and I don’t participate. I’m not an Earth Hour fan.

However, instead of posting my issues with EH here, I’ve got a post all about it over at Blisstree Green Living. You can check it out – Are You On Board With Earth Hour?

IF you happen to be an Earth Hour fan, I’d read Peggy’s post from last year her also on board post this year, or just head over to the official Earth Hour website to sign up. Earth Hour is happening tomorrow, Saturday March 28th at 8:30 – 9:30 pm.

Green contests!!

Speaking of Peggy, Light Green Stairs is having a contest with green goodies. Sinupret for Kids Giveaway Package – Sinupret is a cool natural plant-based allergy remedy for the littles. If you’ve got kids and pollen, head over to the contest to score some free Sinupret. THEN stick around and check out this too fun for words video (not green – still wicked fun).

Don’t have kids or pollen? Well, hopefully you have feet! Click here to learn about how you can win some cool new Keds Green Labels. Neat-o.

Green news you need to know…

‘First Locavore’ Michele Obama to Oprah: Veggie Garden Coming to White House Lawn. Ah raise your hand if you remember the video about this very topic I posted here! I DO.

LunchBots: A Non Toxic, Healthier Alternative – no they aren’t little robots that pack the lunches for you, but they’re about that slick.

Learn all about the first and only USDA organic certified bar in the world. Very cool for thirsty folks.

Do you have any cool green news to share this week?

[image via stock.xchng]

Remember the Seattle Green Festival Ticket giveaway we have going on. Well, I’ve got some great news. Since we only had a total of 13 ticket requests, our ticket sponsor, Nature’s Path is going to give everyone who asked tickets. Yay. Good news.

What’s next…

If you responded to the post before 4pm today, that means you scored free tickets. So, look in your inbox for an email from me asap so that we can get you your tickets in time for the show. This means check your spam as well (sometimes email accounts are funky).

I will need to hear back from you asap because otherwise Nature’s Path won’t be able to mail tickets out in time. By tomorrow would be ultra swell folks.

Congrats to everyone, and big hugs to Nature’s Path for the tickets – I’m sure you’ll all have an excellent time at the Seattle Green Festival. It should be amazing!

[image via stock.xchng]

Now that warmer weather is coming it’s time to hustle the littles outside. I know I talk about this until I’m blue in the face, and all of you are sick to death of it, but seriously, kids who get outside = kids who love nature = kids who grow up into adults who WANT to preserve nature.

That said (again) below are some surefire ways to get the kids outside and keep them outside.

1. Get artistic: The best thing about outside art time is that your inside stays tidy! Set up easels or an art table with a tie on tablecloth (so they don’t blow away). Set out paper (place a rock on top for blow away days), wooden boxes with paints and crayons, and other artsy goodies. If you have no clue about how to get started with outdoor art projects read the following…

• Great Summer Projects, Crafts, & Nature Activities for Kids…
• Homemade Organic Paint Soap for Kids
• Homemade Non-Toxic Finger Paints
• Make Your Own Natural, Colorful Dyes

2. Pitch a tent: I never had a tent growing up (not my mom’s bag) but I REALLY wanted one. Kids and tents go together like peanut butter and jelly – but you know possibly less sticky. In any case kids can use an outdoor tent for a clubhouse, as a nice retreat for snacks and books (without the wind), for shadow puppets at night (grab a flashlight), or for the good ol’ all night camp out. See some eco friendly camping gear options.

3. Greet some critters: Set up a birdbath, build a birdhouse from recycled wood scraps and metal, dig a shallow pond for frogs, install an eco-friendly swimming hole and add some fish, plant a butterfly garden (or another eco-friendly kid style garden), and more. There are plenty of ways to encourage wildlife to come for a visit. Your kids will adore the critters, and the critters will adore the habitat.

BONUS: By the way, now is the perfect time to start researching summer camp for your child. This year why not go green with your choice? Read Green Summer Camps for ideas.

You tell me: What are you doing to get your kids outside this spring?

PS – this is almost the last day to enter to win FREE Tickets to the Seattle Green Festival!

[image via stock.xchng]

Hey folks. This week I let my pal pick the tree to hug, and he said, “breadfruit.” So… breadfruit it is.

Image via here.

The breadfruit tree is a fast growing tree that in some cases can grow to 85 ft tall. Oddly shaped, with thick spreading branches and bright green and glossy leaves. This is a flowering fruit tree (bet you couldn’t guess from the name) and the flowers develop into roundish or pear shaped fruits. The fruits look like they have a thick rind, but in fact the rind is pretty darn thin and is usually yellow-brown when ripe, although there’s also one lavender variety. This tree thrives in warmer, moist climates and doesn’t handle cold well.

Image via here.

The history of the breadfruit is actually one of the more interesting tree histories – with tales of the breadfruit dating back all the way to 12th Century A.D. Hawaiians (way back then) believed that breadfruit was brought from the Samoan island of Upalu to Oahu. Many more stories and history facts surround this tree though. Read more.

Breadfruit can be roasted and used as bread (which I personally have no experience with), dried, boiled, fried, baked, or ground into flour. And yup, some people eat it raw.

Have you seen a breadfruit tree – OR eaten breadfruit? Tell me what you think…

Hey there Tree Hugging Families – hope that your first day of spring is looking bright. Mine is gray and cloudy (ah, Oregon) – but I like the rainy weather, so it’s all good for me.

Being that it’s the first day of spring, I’ve gathered up some eco-friendly ideas and links for you to help you celebrate in style.

First a few Tree Hugging Family classics…

• Spring Nature Photos
• 60 Eco-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Spring
• Candied Flowers

And some news from other fine places…

• Green your spring cleaning from Co-op America.
• Pop-up flower card – use recycled materials.
• Eggshell plant pots.
• Organic spring gardening.

Other ideas…

• Get outside with a camera – have the kiddos explore and take spring pictures.
• Plan a camping trip – it’s still a little chilly, but if you go in the spring you’ll see different things then when you head out in the summer.
• Head out at night, have a green barbecue, and watch the stars.
• Start planning your eco-friendly Easter early this year.
• Of course anytime of year is a good time to plant a tree.

What green activities do you have planned for the spring?

Don’t forget to enter to win FREE tickets to the Seattle Green Festival!

[image via free pixels]

Thanks to Nature’s Path I’ve got some Seattle Green Festival tickets available for Tree Hugging Family readers! It should be an amazing event – here’s the scoop…

WHAT’S UP:

The Seattle Green Festival

WHEN & WHERE:

March 28 & 29, 2009 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center at the Pacific Northwest (how to get there).

WHY THIS EVENT ROCKS:

The Seattle Green Festival is a joint project of Global Exchange and Green America.  Seattle was recently named one of the top 10 green cities in the U.S. by the always cool Green Guide; you can’t beat a green event in an already green city.

Basics: The Green Festival is the nations’ premier sustainability event. The 2009 line-up has enough green to keep you busy all weekend long, including authors, leaders and educators, workshops, films and activities for kids, organic beer and wine, vegetarian cuisine, live music and a green marketplace of more than 350 eco-friendly venues and businesses.

Great speakers: This event will be hosting a great collection of green-minded speakers. Keynote speakers include Laura Flanders, John Perkins, Paul Stamets, Amy Goodman, and Dune Lankard.

There’s going to be some amazing speaking events/workshop events happening in the 2009 exhibit hall throughout the weekend such as…

• Green Fixes for the Economic Mess
• What Does Green Art Look Like?
• Our African Journey: Growing a Global Green Heart
• Gardening for Wildlife
• Electric Vehicles 101
• The Slow Life Movement: Living Happier with a Lighter Footprint

And lots more!

GREEN TO THE CORE:

Not only is this event all about green education and fun, but event planners have worked hard to keep the festival green to the core. Last year the 2008 Seattle Green Festival diverted 97% of all refuse from the landfill (which will happen again this year). Bike transport and BYO water bottles, among other green actions, are also encouraged.

GREAT GREEN DEAL:

Sure I’ve got some freebie tickets (see below), but even if you pay, this event is way worth it. For the basic admission fee ($15) you get…

• All speakers, pavilions, exhibits for one or both days
• Free 1-year membership to Green America when you sign up at booth or mail in coupon (new members only)
• 10% discount at Green Festival Store and Global Exchange booth
• Two months of The Nation
• 1 year (10 issue) subscription to Ode

Students with ID, seniors over 62, bike riders with a ticket from the Green Festival Bike valet, bus riders with a transfer ticket or bus pass, and Union Members get $5 off admission. Kids under 18, Green America and Global Exchange members, and event volunteers get in totally FREE! This event is a super deal.

HOW YOU CAN GO TO THIS EVENT FOR FREE! Read more

The New York Times recently ran an interesting piece; Trashing the Fridge. The article (not surprisingly) focuses on individuals who have decided to save energy by dumping their fridge. Folks in the piece note that “The refrigerator is unnecessary, as long as one is careful about shopping choices and food storage.”

One of the families covered in this article get around fridge use by keeping a small freezer in the basement along with a cooler upstairs. They keep the cooler cold with “Two-liter soda bottles full of frozen water, which are rotated to the freezer when they melt.” This family’s fridge is sitting empty and unplugged in their kitchen.

There are some pros to this practice. For example, my favorite anti-fridge quote in the articles is…

“Refrigerator lust is one of the things driving huge energy-use increases in the developing world,” wrote the blogger “Greenpa” on his “Little Blog in the Big Woods” two years ago. “A great deal of what’s in your fridge absolutely does NOT need to be there.”

I agree. Having a fridge can likely lead to over consumption and a general lack of consideration toward purchases. People buy a ton of junk that’s unnecessary, although you don’t need to dump your fridge to be smarter, greener consumer. The fridge also uses about a sixth of all energy in a typical household, making it by far the largest energy hog appliance in most homes.

On the flip side:

Read more

There’s been a debate recently about whether green jobs save the economy? and now a new study has been released that further questions this issue. The study, a collaboration of academics and researchers from four U.S. universities, looked at report data from some major organizations, including…

• The American Solar Energy Society (ASES)
• The Center for American Progress
• The U.S. Conference of Mayors
• The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)

THE MYTHS OF GREEN JOBS:

According to the findings of this new study, the following are the 7 myths of green jobs.

1. “Everyone understands what a “green job” is.
2. Creating green jobs will boost productive employment.
3. Green jobs forecasts are reliable.
4. Green jobs promote employment growth.
5. The world economy can be remade by reducing trade and relying on local production and reduced consumption without dramatically decreasing our standard of living.
6. Government mandates are a substitute for free markets.
7. Wishing for technological progress is sufficient.”

WHAT I THINK: Read more