Lilac & Ivy

This quick, five-minute video is part of a speech Al Gore gave yesterday regarding how to release the United States from the grip of foreign countries for energy. It has an ambitious goal, but if we put all of our resources toward it I truly believe we can meet or exceed the challenge. I hope you’ll join me in trying to do your part!

So I finally bought my Baggus! Don’t ask why it took so long; especially since I blogged about them a long time ago. They had a great deal: six for $38. Originally, I thought six would be too many, especially since it’s just the two of us. But then I remembered many times we leave the store with so much food we can barely close the fridge door!
My color choices are navy, peacock, lavender, kelly green, fuchsia and sky. I feel so much better about going to the farmers market and grocery store!

I’m not huge on bottled water. The stuff that comes out of the tap here in Charlotte tastes just fine to me. But, if I did buy it, I’d start picking up Primo. It’s the first nationally available bottled water whose bottle is made from plants, not crude oil! A bottle that’s friendly to the environment. Imagine that! I can only hope all the other companies that bottle in plastic will follow suit. {via Design Mom}

I know the south is slow to change, but why, oh why, can’t the city of Charlotte get it together so we could recycle more than #1 and #2 plastics?

Yesterday I went to the farmers market and brought home some of the freshest and tastiest food I’ve had in some time. Among my favorites are herb goat cheese,

huge, leafy green spinach,

the sweetest strawberries I’ve had in months,

the tastiest strawberry champagne jam,

moist, fluffy bread for my cheese and jam,

and pickles with green peppers and onions that would put Claussen
to shame.

This weekend I’m hoping to pick up some granola, milk, flowers, more delicious bread and hopefully see some tomatoes, squash and peppers.

If I had a yard, I’d have a compost pile. Since I don’t, I’ll be using
one of these.

I’m really into this company and especially these toothbrushes. They’re made from recycled yogurt cups and designed by dentists. When it’s time to replace your toothbrush, you can send it back in it’s case with the postage-paid label. Then it will be re-processed into plastic lumber for picnic tables, boardwalks and decks!

These razors are also made out of recycled plastic and I’d say they’re as good as anything you can get from Gillette. Just like the toothbrush, they are coded for recycling so send them back in the postage-paid case. And just in case you can’t find these at your local green store, you can order them online and then they’ll work with various big name blade refills you can purchase at any store.

I’ve been thinking about joining a CSA {Community Supported Agriculture} program. If you aren’t familiar with this concept, it’s where farms offer produce subscriptions so that buyers receive a weekly or monthly basket of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, coffee, or any sort of different farm products. Most have several drop off points around the city on various days and times and typically run about $25-$30 a week. {Which I think is a great deal for all organic food!} The farm I’m considering has a drop off point at the farmers market that’s down the street from our condo. To find a CSA in your area click here and then select the CSA tab with the all CSA’s highlighted.

I just found out our apartment complex has a recycling center. It’s in the back where I rarely walk, but I’ve driven by it several times. I wish it was labeled or that I’d asked the office if there was a center. Boy, do I feel really stupid… but glad I don’t have to take it to Lindsey’s apartment drop off station!