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]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

If you find yourself with a load of plastic bags from newspaper delivery, you can try a few things:

• Reuse them for tasks like picking up doggie doo.

• Take them to the plastic bag recycling drop-offs at most grocery stores.

• Ask your newspaper to stop using plastic bags on clear days.

All of those suggestions have their issues. Plastic bags used for doggie doo still won’t break down in the landfill, and plastic bag recycling isn’t efficient. And what if you live somewhere that gets rain nearly every day?

Some potential alternatives to the plastic newspaper bag:

• Ask newspaper to employ a reusable cylinder similar to the type used at drive-through windows at banks. The cylinders would be collected each week and reused. I’m not sure if this has ever been tried as it just popped into my head. Do you see any problems with it?

• Encourage your newspaper to install holders with a lid to keep the rain out. These work like mailboxes, but have actual lids. I know that newspaper boxes exist, but I’ve never seen one with a lid to protect the paper from rain.

• See if your newspaper will implement a “I’ll risk it” policy. That means your account is flagged, and you’ll never receive a plastic bag around your paper. Another bright idea of mine. Do you think it would work?

• If all else fails, just read your paper online or at the library. Or buy it from a stand or machine.

Whatever you do, let your newspaper know that the daily plastic bag bugs you. Ask them to consider alternatives. This topic would also make an interesting letter to the editor of your paper!

Image via MorgueFile.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

How many grocery bags?:

I used to have a bunch of odd shaped bags. Now I have eight that are exactly the same size; 12″ wide x 12.25″ tall with a flat 6.5″ bottom gusset. Plus when I bought them, I got a free bag. Personally, I think I got one bag too many.

When Cedar and I go grocery shopping we GO grocery shopping. I hate wasting gas on multiple trips, don’t like shopping anyhow, and you buy less the less you go, so we go grocery shopping infrequently, but big time shop when we do go. On a major grocery trip, we usually fill a typical sized cart – then we only have to go back a few more times per month for fresh produce. On our shopping trips we grab food, toilet paper, and anything else we might need that month. And it turns out that seven of the bags I got will hold it all.

If you fill a cart with groceries, then seven to eight typical grocery sized reusable bags will likely work out for you. I also like having one extra bag to carry all the bags in. It’s much easier to hand the bagger one bag with all the bags in it.

How many produce sacks?:

When I bought my grocery sacks, I also bought four large and three small reusable Organic Cotton Mesh Produce Bag. I think I’ll be getting a few more. Here’s how we used them on our last grocery trip:

• Pears and apples – we filled two large bags.
• Carrots – filled one large bag.
• Very wet lettuce – filled one large bag.
• Small peaches – four fit in one small bag.
• Green beans – filled one small bag.
• Bulk pretzels – one small bag.

Oops, I’m out of bags. I threw peppers, nectarines, cucumbers, and squash all into the cart without a bag, which was fine, but then needed to put some various berries and bulk sunflower seeds into plastic produce bags. (I brought two old ones along – but still). I could use more produce sacks. I love them because they work for bulk food items and produce, but we buy a lot of those items. While I don’t care if peppers and cucumbers are in a bag at all, cherries rolling all over the cart is not ok.

Estimate high if you buy plenty of bulk and produce items. I may be buying about 10 more, because farmer’s market season is not even here yet, and then we’ll really be buying lots of produce. Also when I get in bread baking mode, we buy a lot of bulk seeds and grains.

The bottom line:

If you go on smaller more frequent grocery trips, you’ll need fewer bags overall. But in my experience about eight odd sized, or seven typical sized bags will bag a cart full of groceries. But, people differ. Tell me how many bags you use in one trip.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

[Image by my son, via Cedar's grocery store series]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Turns out that IKEA will be halting plastic bag use by October in their U.S. stores. Good news since plastic bags are one of the worst items ever in terms of recycling. People simply don’t recycle their plastic bags. Thus far IKEA has been selling their plastic bags and donating the proceeds to tree planting efforts. That’s nice, but getting rid of them altogether is so much better.

To find out who else is saying, “See ya” to plastic bags (it’s a big company), read the whole Green Biz article.

P.S. If the idea of no more plastic bags has you frantic, no worries, check out these other, better options… 

Reusable Bags Video from Good Morning America

Fleurville Bags: PVC-free & Chic

Reusable Kid’s Shopping Bag from Envirosax

Reusable Bags

Reusable Bags for Him

Flip & Tumble: Earth-Friendly Bags

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Many of us are welcoming spring today, so I thought it would be nice to go over some nature loving, tree hugging, eco-friendly ideas that will carry the entire family through the better part of spring and into summer.

1. Quit looking at nature through your frosty windows. It’s warming up, so get out there and enjoy nature in real time, in real life, in full blown color.

2. Throw open your windows wide and let in the fresh air. Natural ventilation is actually a really effective green home goal to aim for. Proper cross ventilation naturally helps to remove any indoor pollution caused by molds, mites, varnishes, paints, cleaners, and more.

3. Have a spring reusable bag sewing party.

4. Use the spring lilacs to create something sweet.

5. Celebrate spring like other cultures do:

• In Egypt, you throw open your windows and breathe deep on the first day of spring. Later have a picnic.
• In Poland a large straw doll is dressed up in old clothes, and then thrown in the river – ok, maybe don’t do that one (not great for fish).
• The festival of colors, or Holi, is a Hindu spring festival, observed in North India and Nepal where children squirt colored water on each other to celebrate.
• What other spring traditions do cultures celebrate? Tell me what you know.

6. See the zoo babies.

7. Try left-over heat cooking for your spring recipes. This means turn the stove top or oven off when food is almost done. Pasta, veggies, rolls, and even meats in the oven will be ok (and fully cooked) if you turn off the heat a few minutes early. Just leave the oven door shut, the pot top on, etc. Imagine how many minutes of energy you will have saved by next spring.

8. Enjoy new blossoms and leaves sprouting to life on the trees.

9. Build a rain barrel to collect spring showers.

10. Rent lawn equipment that you know you will only use occasionally.

11. Alternatively, start a neighborhood co-op of lawn equipment. Purchase together and share major item.

12. Visit a waterfall – this is the best time of year for waterfalls, snow is melting, and the water comes crashing down.

13. Spring clean – just don’t spring clean with chemicals and other icky stuff. Make this year’s spring cleaning actually clean and healthy.

14. Learn which fruits and veggies are in season and eat bunches of them. Buying in season and locally grown is better for the earth, your wallet, and your health.

15. Choose a recycled plastic picnic table.

16. Fold a “springing” froggy out of recycled paper.

17. If your coffee shop of choice serves single serve sugars and creamers, choose a new favorite coffee shop or ask them to get large, bulk containers of cream and sugar.

18. Visit a wetland area – there are still enough wetland areas so that it’s safe to assume that there’s one near you, but there may not be for long. Without conservation we could lose some major wetland areas. I’d visit soon because it’s not clear yet that enough people care to save them. Ask your local visitors center where you can find a wetland area near you.

19. Get some cool spring worthy eco-toys. These new toys from Green Toys are created from curbside recycled milk containers. The actual shop should be open in the spring sometime, but until then you can contact the company directly with purchase inquiries. They have a great Sand Play Set or Organic Gardening Set.

20. Is it still too cold for flowers where you live? Make some colorful recycled tissue paper garlands to add spring to your house. (Use that used holiday tissue that I know you saved). Better yet, make a garland and give it to a neighbor, friend, elderly home, or children’s ward at a hospital.

21. Rejoice in spring flowers.

22. Help your kids to join Journey North.

23. Buy a reclaimed wood garden bench so you can sit outside and read.

24. This season, and each season have your car engine tuned up and serviced. Following a decent tune up schedule will reduce the amount of pollution your car emits by 20%. Better yet you’ll save on fuel – good for the earth and wallet.

25. Hunt for birds nests – don’t touch though, just look.

26. Build your own compost bin for recycling spring garden and kitchen scraps.

27. Visit a rural farm. Notice how a farm in spring differs from where you live. Unless of course you do live on a farm – then visit a city park and observe the same differences.

28. Go ahead, green your entire Easter celebration.

29. Or at least make your own recycled magazine Easter baskets.

30. If you go on a green picnic this spring make sure six packs with plastic rings aren’t on the menu. One, the plastic rings when not cut can kill birds, fish, and other wildlife. Two, plastic won’t degrade until well after your great grandchildren are celebrating their springs. And three, there’s no need to have them. Many canned drink products now come in boxes instead of with rings. If you’re buying canned drinks, get those instead.

31. Get some eco-friendly rain gear for the whole family so you can go splash in spring puddles.

32. Get your spring garden seeds organized using recycled milk cartons.

33. Rent a greener car on your spring break vacation.

34. Don’t defrost the Easter Ham in the microwave. Microwave defrosting wastes more energy than planning ahead and defrosting in the fridge.

35. Go searching for the end of a rainbow.

36. You still have time for a spring garden clean up.

37. This year combine your spring cleaning with some green audits: Try green auditing your trash, bathroom, or your pantry.

38. Get in the habit of nighttime watering now. Watering your lawn and garden is much more efficient at night than in the daytime. In the cool of evening plants lose almost 50% less water than in the heat. That adds up to a ton of water saved each year. Of course you can double your water saving efforts by using your saved rainwater.

39. On each of your spring outings pick up one piece of trash. If everyone did this that would be over 300 million fewer pieces of litter on our streets, in our parks, and so on, daily.

40. Relax… think about simplifying your life and time.

41. As summer gets closer consider organizing a summer toy lending program with other families – this cuts down on consumption, teaches kids about sharing, and uses fewer resources and energy. Get ideas for your lending program here.

42. Now that it’s warming up, turn your heating down by 5 more degrees. Each 5 degree decrease saves up to 11% energy consumption a year.

43. If you go camping, leave nothing behind in nature. Pack up all your belongings and carry them out of the forest with you.

44. Get up close and personal with some fresh grass – ponder a single blade. Think about all the good reasons why you shouldn’t add chemical poisonous fertilizer to your grass this year

45. Get that recycling under control.

46. Learn to love slow mail – the quicker you send your mail or ask for packages to be delivered to you, the worse it is for the planet. Transportation is hugely connected to pollution and global warming. The more transport we require the worse it is. Quit with the two day mail services. You don’t need stuff right away, and if you know you will, plan accordingly.

47. Try out one of 10 great organic gardening projects for kids this spring.

48. See how many toads you can count at the local river or lake. Can you find tadpoles too?

49. If you take out an off-road vehicle this spring, stick to where you should be. Running over habitats is not cool – you could destroy an animal’s home, kill rare plants, and harm tree roots. Stick to wide trails that are deemed ok for off-road travel.

50. Get away from it all. Imagine what life would be like away from all the hustle and bustle most of the time.

51. Blow bubbles! Make some homemade bubble mix out of a tablespoon of glycerin, a cup of natural liquid soap, and a gallon of water (give or take). Make your own bubble wands out of recycled items like…

• Butter or yogurt tub tops with holes punched in them.
• Green plastic strawberry containers.
• Bent wire hangers.
• That fly swatter you never use.
• Pipe cleaners bent into fun shapes.

52. Hang out with a family of ducks.

53. Dare your family to take at least 5 small steps for the environment by summer.

54. Go on a wildflower hike.

55. Clean out your closets – give good clothing away to the thrift store, make cleaning rags out of the worst, and save the cherished pieces for a memory quilt.

56. Make sure your family participates in eco-friendly boating (if you boat).

57. Slap a fresh coat of paint on the house – non-toxic, VOC-free paint of course.

58. When spring cleaning, don’t forget the car. However, use a bucket of water and an old rag to scrub away dirt, not the power spray on the hose. Every minute you run the hose you’re wasting 10 (or more) gallons of water. There are people in other countries who can’t even find one decent glass of water to drink, and animals and fish who have lost whole water habitats due to water waste. There’s no excuse for excessive water waste.

59. Go bicycling as a family – double your efforts by actually having an errand destination; the grocery store, library, the park for lunch. Every time you don’t take your car, you’re doing the earth some good.

60. Plant a tree – it’s almost always a good time to plant a tree, but spring is really nice because a new tree’s roots won’t be shocked by the cold anytime soon.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Restaurants in several cities like San Francisco are required to use recyclable, biodegradable or compostable containers instead of Styrofoam, but not my city.

Yet, take-out is sometimes a good thing, like when Michael and I were both sick with colds on Friday night. Neither of us wanted to cook. And nothing we had at home sounded good anyway.

So, take-out it was. And when I opened the bag, I thought, “Now, there’s a blog post!”

Out came three sets of plastic forks and knives with paper napkins, all wrapped up in plastic. Well, unless the cat has started eating with a fork, that third set was a bit crazy.

If you are eating at home, isn’t it so much nicer to use real silverware? Also, cloth napkins are much better with messy food. They don’t crumple into nothing.

Here’s the tip:

The next time you order take-out, tell the person over the phone or at the window that you do not want plastic forks or wooden chopsticks, etc. (Well, that’s assuming you have some real chopsticks at home.)

Since some places like to staple up your bag with a receipt, it really is key to request that you don’t receive any unwanted items when you order. If you keep take-out menus at home, try adding a note about this.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

Learn how at one of the better new green blogs to appear last year – Keetsa. Can you imagine a recycled plastic bag wedding!

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

how long will it take to decompose…

Cotton rags
1-5 months

Paper
2-5 months

Rope
3-14 months

Orange peels
6 months

Wool socks
1 to 5 years

Cigarette butts
1 to 12 years

Plastic coated paper milk cartons
5 years

Leather shoes
25 to 40 years

Nylon fabric
30 to 40 years

Tin cans
50 to 100 years

Aluminum cans
80 to 100 years

Plastic 6-pack holder rings
450 years

Glass bottles
1 million years

Plastic bottles
Forever

If you aren’t already recycling (composting counts!) all you can, you need to, or your great grandkids 10 times over are going to find your trash from yesterday. Here’s some help: How to Recycle Practically Anything.

Get the kids involved:
Trash 4 Kids has a great online recycling game for the littles in the house!

Bonus info you’ll love:
To learn more about how scientists date the decomposition process read Will My Plastic Bag Still Be Here in 2507. It’s a great article.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

However, while it makes sense to use real silverware at a smaller, or even mid-sized event like a family reunion picnic it’s tough to imagine using real silverware say at an art fair or other mass attendance event. But there another option besides plastic.

This Jaya high-heat potato starch silverware is made from potato starch and is 100% biodegradable and compostable. It takes about 45-60 days to decompose at a commercial compost facility and is rugged; withstanding heat up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s a good deal too if you want disposable for an event. It’ll cost you just over $50 for 10 packs of 100 per carton which can be a little more costly than plastic but not too bad when you consider the positive aspects this has for the earth. They’re created by Eco-Products who makes an array of wonderful disposable yet biodegradable items.

If you used these for a big event it would be easy to set up bins for people to toss them in. (With BIG signs).

You can pick some up from the Office Supply Superstore or at Eco-Products.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

If you aren’t already using refillable dispensers it’s time to start. You can buy refillable containers everywhere. You can buy hand soap in bulk bottles or try something much better which is to buy on large refillable bottle and refill it with soap from the co-op or other natural food shop in your area. Most natural shops have an area with turbo sized bulk natural soaps. You simply pump soap into your bottle and buy. They charge by the ounce or pound.

If you want to buy new plastic dispensers make sure you get bottles you can recycle and really think about the energy it takes to make the dispensers. Is it worth it? Another option would be bar soap but for my family that gets crazy messy.

Remember each small step you do adds up and this is a really simple one to try.

It’s the Blogtoberfest icon! Which means a super keen (and secret) prize is hidden behind this special blog post. If you want to win the great prize that I’m hiding simply leave a comment. Simple. Not a bad way to win a prize. Within a week the winner of the hidden prize will be announced here at Tree Hugging Family so check back often.

Also of note; did you know you have lots of chances to win great Blogtoberfest prizes? Today, October 12th, your chances (and prizes) are hiding at the following blogs:, Inside Fatherhood, Marriage Actually, and Play Library. Visit them all and leave a comment — you may win even more!

Post from: Tree Hugging Family