Share & Voice: Little Green Blog

     http://petitelefant.com/how-to-can-your-own-salsa/

     I came across a really neat environmentally friendly blog that I want to share with you called the Little Green Blog.  It covers nearly every category you can think of, including food, your home, technology, health, and the mind.  The author, Mrs. Green, is very into eco awareness and likes to learn about the environement by trying new things and seeing what others do.  Please take a look at her blog and read about posts that interest you.  http://littlegreenblog.com

     When I was exploring her blog, I found myself spending the most time on her nutrition page.  One of my favorite things to learn about is how to eat healthy and environmentally friendly foods. Check out this post: http://littlegreenblog.com/family-and-food/nutrition/saving-the-world-with-hummous/

    This was my favorite post I looked at because it is all about making less footprints in the environment by getting creative in the kitchen and making things at home rather than buying them. What do you spend money on regulary that you could be making at home? Is it coffee, muffins, etc.? One thing Mrs. Green usually buys at the grocery store is hummus, but it comes in a plastic contatiner and is rather expensive. So she took on the challenge of making it at home and loved it.  Not only did it save her some money, but also the plastic container that it would have come in.  

   Taking small steps toward bettering the environment can have many rewards. I loved this post because it is very practical and fun for those who like to try their hand at something new in the kitchen.  My goal is to make homemade salsa instead of buying it.  At home my parents grow a few of the ingredients so that is already money saved. I encourage you to try this! Have fun and get creative! 

Advocacy Project: Healthy People/THOMAS

Healthy People 2020 Environmental Objective:

EH22:7 Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Definition: Increase the number of States, Territories, Tribes, and the District of Columbia that monitor diseases or conditions that can be caused by exposure to environmental hazards Baseline: 20 States monitored carbon monoxide poisoning in 2009

   
   Target: 56 States, Territories, and the District of Columbia 

S.847 Safe Chemicals Act of 2011

Title: A bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to ensure that risks from chemicals are adequately understood and managed, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] (introduced 4/14/2011)      Cosponsors (12) 

Latest Major Action: 4/14/2011 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Recommendation: Vote yes for S.847 Safe Chemicals Act of 2011

My Political Representative: Congressman Amy Klobuchar

Share and Voice: Climbing My First Mountain

     

     Yes. A mountain :) Have you ever heard of a fourteener before?  This is the term people from Colorado use to describe mountain peaks that exceed fourteen thousand feet in altitude.  There are fifty three fourteeners in Colorado and some people conquer each one before they die (and it is pretty much against the rules to repeat the same one, don't ask me why).  
     This summer, I had the pleasure of climbing three of these mountains, and will tell you about my experience on the first one.  Being from Minnesota, I thought a hike meant strolling along with some trail mix and water, stopping here and there to enjoy the sights.  How much different could climbing a mountain be? VERY.  I started getting the hint when my friend (who lives in Colorado and hikes  regularly) told me to start drinking a gallon or more of water three days in advance to prepare my body.  Altitude sickness is not something to mess with, and water is the trick to preventing/reducing it.  
     Hike day came, we got up at five in the morning and drove up to ten thousand feet and parked our car. The reason for starting out so early was to beat the heat and storms (you do not want to be stuck on a mountain in a storm).  I had four water bottles, three granola bars, and a bottle of sunscreen in my backpack.  We started out and holy wow, after ten steps I was panting.  Altitude gets you quick if you are from somewhere flat like Minnesota.  Whenever I couldn't breathe, I would stop and drink water and just take in the view.  
     Four hours later, we arrived at the peak of the mountain.  I cannot describe to you how incredible of a feeling this was.  The work and energy it took to get up was so worth it, in fact I forgot all about the pain once the view was before me.  Imagine hundreds of miles of mountains, rivers, valleys, and clouds surrounding you, it felt like I was in another world.  
     We did not stay at the summit too long because we could see a storm in the distance that was heading our way.  I ended up going back to Colorado a month later to climb a few more fourteeners and would recommend it to everyone.  One of the best parts about it is that you meet so many incredible people on the way up who are there to encourage you and who have the same goal in mind.  I could not have done it without other people saying 'keep going, I can see the summit'!

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

Political Representatives

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

President: 
Barack H. Obama is the 44th President of the United States.
Contact: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama


Minnesota Representatives
Congressman: 
Amy Klobuchar
Contact: 

302 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3244

Website: www.klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm


Al Franken
Contact: 

309 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5641 Website: www.franken.senate.gov/?p=contact Governor: Mark Dayton

Contact: http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/
Website: http://mn.gov/governor/


Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie
Contact: mark@markritchie2010.net
Website: http://www.sos.state.mn.us/


Hennepin County Board President: Commisioner Mike Opat, Chair, 1st District
Contact: 612-348-7881
Website: http://hennepin.us/portal/site/HennepinUS/menuitem.b1ab75471750e40fa01dfb47ccf06498/?vgnextoid=03aa46c410534210VgnVCM10000049114689RCRD


Robbinsdale Mayor: Michael A. Holtz
Contact: mholtz@diversifiedadjustment.com
Website: http://www.ci.robbinsdale.mn.us/city.shtml

Reflections: Week 1-7

     

http://philosophyofscienceportal.blogspot.com/2008/07/corrupt-administration-and.html

     Over the past seven weeks we have covered a lot of information relating to the enviroment.  My knowledge and outlook on how we treat our planet and our own bodies has completely changed.  We started the semester off by going outside and taking time to enjoy life by laying in the grass and feeling 'connected' to the earth.  We talked about how the universe is part of us and how our thoughts naturally line up with it in a way.  When we go outside, our bodies naturally soak up vitamin D and that is a way of telling us that the earth is ours to enjoy and embrace.
     Then we started learning about SMART goals and how we could invididualy have an impact on the environment in any way we choose.  I loved this challenge because having to blog about my progress was awesome accountability and I leanred a lot about saving electricity.  
     As a class, we have gotten to watch multiple documentaries regarding different issues that have majorly impacted our world.  The documentaries include: 'Future of Food', which was about genetically modified foods and how they are negativiely impacting America.  A seed that is genetically modified is fake in a way because it is not grown naturally and therefore doesn't contain all the nutrients it should. 'Fresh' was a powerful documentary we watched about farmers who are trying to re-invent our food system and bring back more healthy, sustainable alternatives.  'Green' was about how petrochemicals are polliting our air and causing health problems for those that live in concentrated areas. It made me aware of the importance of clean air and want to fight for those who don't get access to it.  Lastly, we watched 'Tapped' which was about the multi-billion dollar bottled water industry.  Drinking bottled water exposes people to many health risks and chemicals that the majority of consumers do not know about.  Producers of bottled water are getting by without any questions so this documentary is to raise awareness about the possible dangers of drinking bottled water. 
     My favorite part of this class has been having my eyes opened to issues that I had no idea about.  Knowing that my body might contain toxic chemicals due to the food I eat is important information, but  food labels don't usually include those facts so I had to find out through other sources.  When we are more aware of ways in which to impact our health and planet for the better, it is possible to take action. Whereas if I had'nt been exposed to these films, I would still be in the dark.  It is exciting that we can take what we are learning and tell others as well.  
  

Eye Opener: Junk on the Brain

http://stores.affordablehomeoutlet.com/-strse-Wall-Decor-cln-Signs/searchpath/106250749/start/46/total/91/Categories.bok

Part 1

Dictionary.com defines the following terms: 
Antique - of or belonging to the past; not modern.
Junk - any old or discarded material, as metal, paper, or rags.
Flea Market - a market, often outdoors, consisting of a number of individual stalls selling old or used articles, curios and antiques, cut-ratemerchandise, etc.
Thrift Shop - a retail store that sells secondhand goods at reduced prices.
Upcycling - Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value
Resale Shop - a retail establishment operated by a charitable organization for the purpose of fundraising.


Part 2 
The terms above are directly related to environmental health because they encourage people to use and re-use items.  When we as consumers make use of old things it influences manufacturing companies because they are less supported and make less of a profit.  And our environment is less cluttered when we use old items for the same or different purposes.  


1. Antique Boutique
357 Canal Park Drive, Duluth
(218) 529-7667
2. St Michael's Used A Bit
 16 N 1st Avenue West, Duluth 

(218) 722-2171

3. Studebaker Drivers Club Swap Meet Flea Market and Classic Car Show

Lake Superior College,  2101 Trinity Road, Duluthhttp://fleaportal.com/Flea_markets/Index/MINNESOTA/Duluth 4. Savers 1740 Mall Drive, Duluth

(218) 722-1894
www.savers.com 
5. http://www.greenpeople.org/Eco-Fashion-Upcycled-Clothing.html
I could not find any upscaling locations in Duluth other than local websites, so here is one that looked cool.
6. 

Goodwill

 700 Garfield Ave # 1, Duluth
 (218) 722-305
www.goodwillduluth.org 


One of my favorite past times is thrift shopping.  They have so much variety and I almost always find a cheap treasure.  I would say that 80% of my clothing has been found at thriftstores. My favorite thrift store in Duluth is the Savers by the mall because they have discounts for college students on Thursdays.  Now that I have been shopping at thrift stores for awhile, I get bored in normal department stores because everything looks the same and is so expensive.


Part 3
- Piano Bar
http://junkmarketstyle.com/item/36751/piano-bar
A man was moving and had this really cool piano that he could not take with him. So he made it into a bar in his basement that needed some remodling anyway, and it looks awesome.  It is the perfect height for a bar and really fits the personality of the room well. 
- Window Sear
http://junkmarketstyle.com/item/36749/window-seat
This was made from a headboard and footboard that someone bought at a scratch and dent sale.  I have always LOVED window seats and thought they felt so homey. So one of these days I might try this. It is so classy and yet vintage looking!
- Wall of Doors
http://junkmarketstyle.com/item/36757/wall-of-doors
This is so creative, a woman took a bunch of little wooden doors that she purchased at an auction and fit them all together to make a wall in her basement.  It looks so appealing to the eye and makes a really great wall.  I would never have thought of doing this but it is awesome!