Eco Challenge

Wow - where did the summer go?  We have been busy enjoying the sun and keeping Lucky Dog ticking along.  We obviously haven't been attending to the blog so thank-you to everyone who still checks in from time to time. 

Over the summer I have stepped up the efforts around here to become a little more earth friendly.  You've seen post about the quest for the perfect poo bag and the Norwex way of cleaning.  We also extend this to Lucky Dog Biscuits by using recycled cardboard and biodegradable soy inks for the packaging and by incorporating many Canadian grown products such as Saskatoon berries, flax and oats.  But still, there is always more to do.  So I made up some Eco goals for 2008 and posted them on the fridge for everyone to see (and to hold me accountable).

These goals are added to some things that I've already incorporated at home such as hanging laundry to dry (my neighbours think I'm nuts) and composting.  Composting, by the way, is huge.  Approximately 50% of landfill is made up of compostable organic matter - food, paper, leaves, etc.  That's sad because when organic matter composts in landfill it creates methane due to lack of oxygen.  And methane is the worst greenhouse gas around.  If you want to learn more about composting go here.  As you can see on my list, my number one pet peeve at the moment is plastic - plastic water bottles, plastic bags, plastic toys, blech... In my summer web surfing, I came across a stunning article about a plastic soup brewing in the Pacific Ocean called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Patch is a collection of plastic accumulating in the ocean estimated to be twice the size of Texas.  Some articles estimate that it is even bigger.  I was STUNNED.  I love the ocean.  And I've seen plastic water bottles wedged in coral 50 ft below the surface when SCUBA diving.  But twice the size of Texas - yoiks!  I realize some things have to be stored in plastic because it is liquid.  And truthfully, products shipped in plastic weigh less therefore use less fossil fuels.  I try to limit my plastic to #1 and #2 plastics which are easy to recycle and be reused into something new.  For instance, the carpet in my newly renoed bedroom is made from recycled pop bottles. How cool is that? 

On a lighter note, we also increased our garden size to grow some veggies at home.

Cucumber plants, in case anyone hasn't experienced this, need a LOT of room and produce a ton of cucumbers.  I have my own little Greek salad in this garden - tomatoes, cucumbers and basil.  Also featured are marigolds to keep the bugs away and some pathetic beets that I won't be trying next year.

So what about you?  Do you have any Eco Goals that you would like to share?  Any tips or horror stories to shock the world into action?  Please share. 

I'm off to deliver some biscuits and to visit a recently rescued cocker spaniel from this story at the beginning of the summer.  She is happily hanging out at It's Raining Cats and Dogs in Winnipeg.  I'll share pictures of this sweetie and tell her story next week.  Happy Friday.

Comments

[TEAM TROUT]

Check out Our ECO Challenge blog!!

http://www.watershedtrout.blogspot.com/

[Sarah]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Sarah

http://adoptpet.info

[Magnus]

You can try a very interesting experiment:- Just upload a photo of your family, friend, partner or colleague, (or perhaps, if you're feeling really naughty, even an enemy) then wait until it's edited. Then show him/her the result ... See that reaction!! Believe me, this'll be one GREAT surprise!!

Magnus
funny photos

[Magnus]

You can try a very interesting experiment:- Just upload a photo of your family, friend, partner or colleague, (or perhaps, if you're feeling really naughty, even an enemy) then wait until it's edited. Then show him/her the result ... See that reaction!! Believe me, this'll be one GREAT surprise!!

Magnus
http://www.moronface.com