Sarah's Articles
A native of Maine, Sarah graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in Psychology and from Boston University with a Master's in Social Work. Before Sarah had children, she worked as a Social Worker in a public elementary school as well as for several non-profit organizations. Now Sarah wears several hats as a real estate broker with energy efficiency certification, freelance writer and full-time mom to two kids.
Green and Gluten-Free for Dogs
Despite growing up in a family of restaurant owners, Chris Roberts, originally from Bangor, with help from his partner Renee Johnson, began experimenting with delicious recipes not for humans, but rather for dogs. In 2007, Chris and Renee began selling their gluten-free, ginger-flavored dog biscuits on the artisan website esty.com. Baked out of the basement of the couple’s home, the ginger biscuits were an instant hit, bringing in requests from stores around the country. Because the recipes use milled buckwheat instead of grains, like wheat or corn, they are safe for dogs that have gluten allergies. After the creation of a second recipe and some commercial packaging, Barkwheats Biscuits was officially born in April of 2008. Now available in over 300 stores in the US and Canada in addition to online retailers, Barkwheats Biscuits has grown in leaps and bounds in less than two years.
Chris and Renee are not only dog-lovers, they are also committed to being as green a company as possible. Barkwheats Biscuits are unique in that they are they gluten-free and also because they are made with organic buckwheat berries that are grown by local farmers here in Maine. In fact, according to the company’s website, more than 95% of the ingredients used to make the biscuits are actually produced by neighboring farms. Not only does this practice support organic farming, but there is little to no transportation needed to bring the ingredients back to the bakery. “We purchase our ingredients directly from the farmers that grow them,” Chris says. “We feel it’s worth the extra effort to support small scale farming.” The only ingredient that Chris and Renee are unable to buy in Maine is ginger, purchasing it from a group of farmers in Belize who are members of a fair trade association. As a result, Barkwheats’ Ginger and Parsley Biscuits are the first dog treats to carry a “Fair Trade Certified” label. “Fair Trade Certified” products must adhere to certain standards for fair pricing and labor as well environmental practices. “(Our customers) want to see that their money is going for good rather than bad, and that they can have a connection to family farming here in Maine and in Belize,” Chris says. This is, in part, why he believes that their business will continue to grow, in spite of turbulent economic times.
In addition to the Barkwheats Biscuit’s ingredient sourcing, Chris and Renee employ other green practices in the daily operations of their business. They recycle whenever they can, use energy- efficient machinery in the production process and turn off electric devices when they are not using them. They throw all the food waste left over from baking process into a compost bin. Barkwheats Biscuits are also packaged in boxes made from recycled materials and in liner bags that are 100% compostable. Their labels are printed with vegetable- based inks, which are non-toxic and safer to the environment They use 100% recycled paper for their printing projects and are looking to create a paperless office in the new year. They also purchase wind credits from a company in Maine that offers businesses carbon offsets when they give financial support to “clean power” companies. As stated on their website, “These are all simple choices that go a long way to creating a sustainable environment.”
Barkwheats Biscuits now come in four flavors, all grain-free and gluten-free. Chris and Renee are still the only bakers and producers of the biscuits, making up 1000 boxes per week. Their products are carried by several local retailers, including Planet Dog in Portland. “We’ve grown our business well over 150% in 2009. Pretty exciting stuff,” Chris concludes.
For more information about Barkwheats Biscuits, visit www.barkwheats.com
For more information about clean energy credits, visit www.green-e.org
It’s Not Just About the MPG
I am beginning to learn this summer, as I look for a vehicle that is both family and eco-friendly, that it’s not just about the MPG. I wish it were, as that would make my decision a little easier. Although important, the overall fuel efficiency of any given vehicle is just one aspect of its green rating. For instance, the U.S. EPA has created a Green Vehicle Guide (www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/select.htm) that rates each car and truck on a number of criteria, including air pollution and greenhouse gas scores. Additionally, a vehicle can receive an EPA SmartWay or SmartWay Elite designation that can be earned by having both good air pollution and greenhouse gas scores (6 or better for SmartWay and 9 or better for SmartWay Elite). According the EPA website, SmartWay Elite Vehicles are said to be “superior environmental performers.”
Now, let’s see how the EPA Green Vehicle Guide works with a side-by-side comparison of three vehicles I am thinking about purchasing:
Honda Odyssey 6 cyl with FWD (2010)…
Air Pollution Score = 7 out of 10, Fuel Economy 17/25, Greenhouse Gas Score = 5 out of 10. The Odyssey just misses the SmartWay designation by 1 point.
Suburu Outback Wagon CVT with AWD (2010)…
Air Pollution Score = 6 out of 10, Fuel Economy 22/29, Greenhouse Gas Score =7 out of 10, rated a SmartWay vehicle.
GMC Terrain 4 cyl with AWD (2010)….
Air Pollution Score = 7 out of 10, Fuel Economy 20/29, Greenhouse Gas Score = 6 out of 10, rated a SmartWay vehicle.
This system is a great way to make sense out of a lot of conflicting information regarding what makes a vehicle green. How does your vehicle fare?
Product Review: Ecosavr Solar Pool Cover
I am loving a little invention I found at the pool supply store that is designed to keep your pool warmer without a heater or solar cover. It is called ecosavr. This small rubber fish, that retails for about $7.00, reportedly contains a non-toxic liquid that is said to coat your pool’s surface, absorbing heat from the sun and reducing evaporation. According to the product’s website, an ecosavr fish can raise your in-ground or above-ground pool temperature by about 4-8 degrees per month, much like an expensive solar cover would do. The effects are said to last approximately one month. The website also states that the chemical that is released into the pool is harmless to people, pets and to the environment. For a demonstration of how it works, visit www.liquidpoolcovers.com/videos.html.
Does it work? Stay tuned…
To Walmart or not to Walmart?
That is the question.
Just a little history…I had boycotted Walmart for a good 2- 3 years, due to the corporation’s VERY poor rating on the socially conscious scale. Walmart has been accused of holding their suppliers over a barrel- by offering to pull their accounts unless these suppliers agreed to sell their products for unfairly low prices. Then, there was the issue of some clothing lines being produced in sweat shops (remember the Kathie Lee Gifford fiasco?) And then there were the hiring practices- again in the media, due to the company’s apparently bad choices.
In my area, boycotting Walmart was easy to do. My old store was run down, unpleasant and unattractive. But now, we have the Super Center. Ahhhh, the Super Center. My mom and I decided to pop in one day, just to check it out. Couldn’t hurt, right? And what a mistake that was. Lots of products and brands, organic and eco-friendly choices, oh my. Even my mom, who is very P.C., was enticed by the sheer number of Lean Cuisine entrees. The choice to shop there or not is further complicated by the current state of our economy, and my family, like most, is just trying to make ends meet until things turn around.
So my question is, is it bad to shop at Walmart, given their dismal report card as a company or is it every family for themselves? Is it better to shop organic and green at Walmart, because you can afford it, than not at all? I heard on a Walmart commercial last week that the average family can save about $3100 per year if they shop there exclusively. I’d say that’s a pretty compelling reason to shop there. Or not? What do you think?
Maine Mom launches Freecycling Community
In November of this year, Joanna Basinger launched a new website called ClosestCloset.com. Unlike most web-based start-ups, ClosestCloset.com was not created to market or sell any goods or services. In fact, Joanna isn’t selling anything….except maybe the ideas of community, sharing and conservation. Joanna created ClosestCloset.com, a swap and share website, to encourage people to donate or loan items they have sitting at home and to borrow or accept items from others doing the same. Joanna, a registered nurse by trade and a mother of five, dreamed up the idea of ClosestCloset just two months ago, after what she says was about “80 hours per week of coffee and Google.” It is Joanna’s hope that through this new social networking forum, people will come to lean on each other, build a sense of community and conserve resources at the same time. “There are services out there that ‘promote’ community, and I love them,” Joanna says, “but I wanted something deeper and more mutually satisfying. I wanted something that focused more on long-term trusting relationships within local communities.”
ClosestCloset.com works basically like this: members can join for a lifetime membership fee of $10.00. Members are then required to post 10 things that they are willing to loan to someone or services that they are willing to provide to someone free of charge. When this minimum is met, members are then free to post their own requests and to accept items and services from other members. There is also a member feedback system in place, much like ebay, the immensely popular buying and selling website. This way, those who abuse the ClosestCloset process and receive poor ratings may have their memberships revoked. The idea is that people will begin to create sharing networks in their own community, saving time and possibly energy as well. As Joanna explains it, “In order to truly make a commitment to protecting our planet, it’s going to mean putting a halt, or at least a major decrease in production. At ClosestCloset.com, we are contributing to that halt, or decrease, by opening up to the idea of ’sharing.’ The more we share, the less we need, and less is produced.” Joanna also believes that ClosestCloset is a greener alternative to traditional donation and recycling centers. Unlike a center, Joanna has no need for a storefront or warehouse and her only overhead is the maintenance of the website itself. “Even donation centers, that we know and love, utilize some of the same concepts,” she says, “but they also utilize space, transportation and utilities.”
ClosestCloset collects revenue from membership fees (membership is currently approaching 100 after just one month) and Joanna also plans to sell advertising space to other businesses that share her mission and goals. But there is a catch: advertisers must also become active members on the site, and must be willing to post and share the same requisite 10 items. Joanna hopes that someday in the near future, the website will earn enough revenue to be self-sustaining. For the time-being, however, ClosestCloset is her “big present to my community,” she says.
Joanna is looking for ways to conserve energy and resources on a personal level as well. She works out of her home and she says that if and when she brings on additional staff, they will work out of their own homes as well. A self-described “greeny-in-training,” Joanna says she is open to learning more about how to implement energy-saving measures in her home as well as in her business. She has recently joined a permaculture meet-up group and hopes to learn from that experience as well. But as Joanna points out, there is more to being green than simply using green products around the home. She asks, “What types of resources are being utilized every time something is made? Manufactured? Transported across the globe or country? Every time we share something with another person or family, we have saved all that went into its creation.”
For more information, visit www.closestcloset.com
Where do I recycle my….
Have you ever found yourself ready to toss an old household appliance or other random item into the trash but then found yourself wondering if doing so could be harmful to the environment? Well, I have….many times! But often this was because I just did not know where to bring these items so they could be recycled. For example, who knew it would be so hard to find a new home for a retired mini-fridge? Goodwill would not take it, as it is against their policy, and my town recycling center didn’t want it either. Finally, I found a recycling station that would take it off my hands…for a fee. While this did not make much sense to me at first, the woman on the other end of the phone explained to me that any remaining freon would have to be removed from the fridge and then the metal is crushed into scrap. What about some of the other stuff we all want to get rid of in an eco-responsible way? Here is a list of some of the more obscure items that we use up but do not want to throw away…
Batteries
Batteries should not be thrown into the trash because they contain chemicals that can leak out into the ground. There are usually one or more battery collection stations in every town. In my town, batteries can be disposed of at the local hardware store. There are also a number of major retailers that have battery collection boxes set up through the Call2Recycle program, a free battery collection service. Call2Recycle boxes can be found at most Best Buy, Home Depot and Radio Shack stores. There is even a location finder on the Call2Recycle website that allows one to search for a battery recycling station by zip code (www.call2recycle.com).
Cell Phones
Like batteries, cell phones also contain harmful chemicals that can be released into the environment when thrown in the trash. Fortunately, there are many programs available that collect used cell phones for charitable causes or for recycling. Cell Phones for Soldiers (www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com) is one such program. Also, there are bins set up at Whole Foods stores. Another option is to return your old phone to your service provider, as most have a recycling program of their own.
Ink Cartridges
Empty ink cartridges can actually be refilled at many computer stores, for a fraction of what a new cartridge would cost. If you are looking for a project, you can even purchase an ink refilling kit and do-it-yourself at home. Staples also has a program where you can receive credits for dropping off used ink cartridges at their retail stores. These credits can then be applied toward your future purchases. According to the Staples website, this program has allowed them to recycle 22 million cartridges in 2008 alone.
Fabric/Clothes
When my daughter ripped the knee out on a pair of her black leggings, I placed the garment in my recycling bin and placed it out on the curb, thinking that surely, cotton cloth could be recycled, right? At the end of the day when I was pulling my bin back into the garage, I saw that the leggings were still inside. Thinking that they must have been overlooked, I placed them in the bin again the following week. When I pulled my car out onto the street later that day, however, I realized that my recycling person (if that is the correct term) had sent me a clearer message this time – the leggings were now strewn upon my lawn. Frustrated, I started doing a little research.
This recycling dilemma turned out to be a lot trickier than the others. Apparently many cities and towns have developed their own textile recycling programs, but my community has not. Textile banks, as they are called in the United Kingdom, are quite popular abroad and are often designed to provide recycled cloth to underdeveloped nations. While certainly not as convenient as curbside recycling, many town recycling and transfer stations will accept fabric scraps.
Light Bulbs
Used light bulbs (regular or CFL) can be packed into a cardboard box so they will not shatter and dropped off at your nearest Home Depot store. You can also visit www.earth911.com and type in whatever it is you want to recycle, in this case “CFL lightbulbs,” along with your zip code, for a list of appropriate recycling centers. Easy peasy. I wonder what would happen if I typed in “black leggings?”
<em><span style=”font-size: xx-small;”>Photo by <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/iampeas/4516175267/”>iampeas</a>.</span></em></div>
Sustainable Snacking?
I have always been a fan of Frito-Lay brand Sun Chips, as I think they are a healthier (and tastier) alternative to potato chips. The last several times that I have purchased Sun Chips at the grocery store, I noticed that the packaging had a little green “e” icon on it. After Googling the little green “e”, I was able to find out that the Green-e logo is actually a carbon offset program created by the Center for Resource Solutions (www.resource-solutions.org). Intrigued, I went to the Sun Chips website to learn more about the company’s commitment to green energy. According to www.sunchips.com, they have one factory that relies on solar power as its main source of electricity. The Modesto, California plant is currently the only Sun Chips factory (out of eight total) that utilizes solar power, but as their website claims, “it’s a small step in the right direction.”
On my most recent grocery shopping trip, I realized that there has been another change to the Sun Chips bag. Now the package advertises that the bags themselves are fully compostable and claim that they will successfully break down in about 14 weeks. Another example of “green washing” intended to draw in socially conscious shoppers? Maybe. But it seems that other companies are now following suit.
Boulder Canyon Natural Foods, which produces All Natural Kettle Cooked Potato Chips, has also introduced a compostable snack bag, unveiled during Earth Day week. Snyder’s of Hanover, not to be outdone by the other companies, has also made plans to market their organic line of pretzels in compostable packaging. According to www.sustainablelifemedia.com, Snyder’s compostable bags will be derived from plant-based materials and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 52% during the production process.
Is the switch to more ecologically responsible packaging due to a consumer demand for greener products or, is this simply a clever marketing tactic that allows these companies to add substance to their green statements? Mother Earth News asked a similar question in the article, “Mother Earth News Finds Compostable Packaging Claims Half-Baked.” After testing several brands of trash bags that were marketed as being compostable, Mother Earth News came to the conclusion that most of the bags did not break down as promised. While the magazine tested trash bags and not snack bags, it makes one wonder how the new compostable snack packaging would fare.
So, what is the bottom line here? If you do not mind the surprisingly loud crinkling of these bags, which makes secret snacking nearly impossible, then I would recommend giving one of these brands a try. If the new compostable packaging lives up to even part of its claims, then there is a clear savings in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and in the amount of waste left behind when you have finished the products. When faced with the choice between a snack packaged in a compostable bag versus one that is made from a petroleum-based material, I know which one I will end up in my shopping basket.
