Gettin' hitched in a green stylee!

There you have it- girl is engaged. Don't worry, it's a conflict free diamond (FI made sure of that)- I know, diamonds have an intense carbon footprint, but I didn't buy it. In fact, I'm pretty happy to have it.

SOOoooo, in order to keep up with the up-n-up, Mark and I are having a green wedding. I've been scouring the internet for all kinds of suggestions and helpful hints, but let me tell ya'- they are super few and far between. Big frown face. :-(

In the spirit of green, leading others by example, I'm going to blog about my green wedding. I hope it helps other brides that want to walk down that same path to marital bliss. Feel free to comment and let me know of your hints, tips or questions.

1) The almighty dress dilemma.

I just happen to LOVE this one in particular, that I found from Threadhead Creations- the same place my friend Katie got her lovely gown.


HOWEVER ... though the gowns are amazing, so pretty, timeless, and made with the planet in mind ... it's a little pricey (for my wallet anyway- I hear of women who can afford more than $1000 on their dress and God bless them!).

So, I'm contemplating scouring consignment places (with help from Mum) and getting something altered. I'm still unsure. More on this issue at a later juncture.

2) Reception, reception.

We've set a date (pretty much)- August 28, 2010. Where will we have it? Close to home (lowers travel, therefore CO2) at a nonprofit that is dedicated to conservation and environmental education.

The McLane Audubon Center on Silk Farm Road in Concord.

They have a great new building with reception hall that's LEED Gold. Our money will help them perpetuate their mission and give us a really unique location for our nuptials. More on the decor and things of that nature at a future date.

3) Let them ... just ... eat!

Mizuna ("Food Evolved") will be covering us on the food side of things. The owner, Tom, is super mindful about eating seasonally and plans on taking our concerns in mind. The key to finding a green foodie is being in the right place at the right time. We know Mizuna from when Mark used to live in Greenland. We seek out great places to eat that have a mindful method- so we were lucky on this end. Want to find folks in the know? Hit up your local farmers market. That's also the best place to find a florist! (More on that later, too.)

So you can see I've been working really hard on making sure we're as green as possible when we throw one of the biggest parties of our lives. This will probably be the leading topic on the blog for a while, besides the new home we're buying this week!!! EEEeeekkk! Very excited to share our green home improvements with you as time goes on.

In other news (wait, there's more?!), I'm starting my path to my Masters in Organization and Environmental Sustainability from Antioch University in Keene, NH! I've got a busy year ahead of me, huh? Wish me luck. If I plan it all correctly, there will still be time to blog.

Talk to you soon.
Smooches!
Say

The Green Guide is almost out

Hey readers. Despite the drizzle, I'm pleased with the way this week is working out. Of course, I can say that because I was out yesterday, making it a short week at work for me (all good things).

I spent the weekend at Sebec Lake visiting Mark's grandparents with his brother and sister-in-law. What an incredible place- the amount of wildlife we see each time is astounding ... even with so many lake houses on the shores and motorboats in the water.

Mark and I were swimming off a paddle boat we maneuvered to deep water and when popping our heads out of the waves we noticed we were joined by a loon not more than a few feet from us. He gave a nice hollar, which I'm sure amounted to the same thing as, "Who the hell do you think you are? Get out of mah house!" and then he dove off. It was pretty thrilling to be so close and get a yell out of him. Really fantastic stuff.

So, after several weeks of writing in my spare time and taking countless photos and conducting multiple interviews, the Green Guide I participate in is on it's way to the presses. I get so anxious when my work goes to print. I think that's because I don't get to see the paper get put together. I'm one of the rogue freelancers that has to wait for gratification. No matter, in a few days it will be available for distribution- so I certainly hope everyone snags a copy. Don't worry, it's printed on recycled paper.

My pieces for this issue focused on the community gardens in Concord and one of my new favorite places on Earth: D Acres in Dorchester, NH. The text for both of these pieces wasn't used, but I guess the D Acres piece got turned into a photo spread, so that's pretty nice. More photo credits to add to my portfolio! The whole place was a veritable photo shoot. It was hard not to take a good picture- so with that said, I've set the bar of expectations pretty high! Ha!

In other news, it's official that I will be starting my Accounting 101 requirement this fall. That puts me one step closer to starting my Green MBA. Big thanks to Caily for the sweet mention on the Face Space. You're awesome, lady friend.

Alrighty, so much for all that business. Time to get on to other things. More posting soon!!! As for those photos I mentioned, I would totally post them, but I would hate to ruin the surprise in the paper. ;-)

You can see a pdf of all that jazz at Green Guide NH.

Love,
Say

No Impact? Wow.

And how.

Click this link above and watch the movie trailer for "No Impact Man." The fella' has a blog, too- check it out. He makes me feel as if I fail even harder than I already do. Ouch.

What I think is funny about this documentary, really this gentleman's life in general, is that his wife is the antithesis of what he's trying to accomplish. But still, she goes along. Because she loves him? Because she really doesn't have a choice? Does she even believe in his plight? I admire her fortitude in going along for the ride- I feel as if both their personalities have been fighting inside my head for years.

How do you break wasteful habits? How do you make yourself better when all your life you've been taught to not worry about such things? It's a hard line to draw in the sand when half of your brain wants to follow and the other half is just not all that into it. I'd like to think that my "save the world" side is winning, but not nearly fast enough.

With that, I'm working my way toward earning my Green MBA from Antioch University. Hooray! Organization and Environmental Sustainability. Put that on a resume. I'd like to see people turn down my skills then! Ha! It's a two year program, one weekend a month. I'll be spending a lot of time in the Keene area as a result, something I'm very pleased about. I'll have to reinvest in a road-bike ...

Step after step after step. I say this every time, but I need to be more proactive about blogging as well. This is my soap-box. This is the place I can go to write entries like this ... To condemn my short-falls and pat myself on the back when I finally make a good go of things.

I'm trying to save the world. If I intend on really following through, I better light a fire under my own ass.

Have a great weekend everyone. I'm on my way to Maine for a long weekend. Thank goodness for the great outdoors!

Love,
Say

Wish for fish?

I apologize for taking so long to post. This spring has been a hectic one, but good news is on the horizon. I'm sure of it. I'm working on some pieces for the new green guide that's coming out around the end of June. Be on the lookout for the Green Guide insert in the Concord Monitor, as well as it being available at various Concord locations- like Real Green Goods and the Audubon Center.

So, while at work I got this press release in the bulk mail box:


News from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: June 3, 2009

CONTACT: Tom Niejadlik, DES, Environmental Health Program 603-271-6865

Doug Grout, NH Fish and Game Department, Marine Division 603-868-1095



DES and NH Fish and Game Issue Advisory on

Striped Bass and Bluefish Consumption

New Hampshire is One of Seven East Coast States Issuing Limits



Concord - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, in coordination with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and six other east coast states, has issued a fish consumption advisory for large bluefish and striped bass caught in New Hampshire coastal and estuarine waters.



According to state health officials, large bluefish and striped bass (larger than 25 inches) contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at levels of potential concern to the general public. This concern is especially true for pregnant women and young children. PCBs can affect the endocrine system and brain development, and have been shown to cause cancer in animal studies.



State health officials advised that striped bass and large bluefish caught in New Hampshire coastal and estuarine waters should not be eaten by pregnant women, women of childbearing age, nursing mothers and children under the age of six. The remainder of the general population should eat no more than one meal of such fish per month.



“Fortunately there are many other marine and freshwater species that consumers can eat more frequently and that have health benefits,” stated DES Commissioner Tom Burack. In New Hampshire, commonly eaten fish that are low in PCBs and other contaminants include winter flounder, Atlantic cod, haddock, and fluke.



DES’ advisory stems from a multi-state report finalized in 2008, which documented the PCB content of striped bass and bluefish from Maine to Georgia. The report also shows that these fish are not particularly good sources of beneficial fish oils. Compared to other fish, striped bass and bluefish have lower amounts of omega-3 fatty acids relative to the amount of PCBs they contain. For a copy of the report see http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/eohp/fish/PCBSTBhome.htm



Similar advice is being issued by six other east coast states today including Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware. These states are all instructing pregnant women and young children to not eat striped bass and large bluefish, and are advising the general public to moderate consumption of these fish. These states will continue to monitor PCB levels in coastal marine species and will modify the consumption advisory as needed in the future.



For more information contact Tom Niejadlik at (603) 271-6865 or visit www.des.nh.gov and look on the A-Z list for Fish Consumption Guidelines.



# # #

For those new to this blog, I've mentioned polychlorinated biphenyls in previous post. This PR, however, begs that I readdress the issue. PCBS are, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry:

Polychlorinated biphenyls are mixtures of up to 209 individual chlorinated compounds (known as congeners). There are no known natural sources of PCBs. PCBs are either oily liquids or solids that are colorless to light yellow. Some PCBs can exist as a vapor in air. PCBs have no known smell or taste. Many commercial PCB mixtures are known in the U.S. by the trade name Aroclor.

PCBs have been used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical equipment because they don't burn easily and are good insulators. The manufacture of PCBs was stopped in the U.S. in 1977 because of evidence they build up in the environment and can cause harmful health effects. Products made before 1977 that may contain PCBs include old fluorescent lighting fixtures and electrical devices containing PCB capacitors, and old microscope and hydraulic oils.

Apparently, PCBs aren't made in the US anymore. So why are our fish (and bird populations, by the way) plagued by these chemicals.

We're a closed system, people. Whatever we manipulate/create/destroy sticks around. PCBs aren't going anywhere. I wish I knew what we could do to fix our problems with chemical contamination ... someday we may have answers. For now, just don't eat fish too often.

More soon.
Love,
Say

To paraphrase Colbert, "Nation, you're doing one helloffa job."

... I like that Colbert refers to his viewing audience as "Nation." Stellar. That guy cracks me up ... Clever clever.

Regardless, I wanted to post this link ... From, hahaha, The Nation.

So, our administration is doing a bang-up job trying to get the country moving forward in the right direction. In the past 100 days, a whole lot has been done, but there is still so much more to forge ahead with.

For example ... green infrastructure ... job creation ... environmental legislation ... yeah, you're catching my drift. The article is done well and it helps me segue into this next link, brought to my attention by my good friend, Mr. Casey Rollins (how'dya' like that plug, budday??).

Just look at that grid, people!

God, bless NPR, would ya'? This is an incredible example of how to visualize American consumption ... and it's interactive!! What's not to like?? This goes along with the whole concept of revamping our infrastructure ... Oh, how long we've waited for the days when sustainable practice isn't just practice any longer! Those days will come, kiddos, but in the mean time the only way to change private industry is by making noise with your wallet. Let them know how you feel by how you spend!!!

That's all for now, I'm off for a run before I work overtime tonight. Wish me luck .. this girl is having trouble getting back into shape!

God speed, ya'll. Give a tree a smooch.

Love,
Say

It's Friday ... time for a PHOTO BLOG!

So, I know it's been a while since I've been able to upload my own photos to this here bloggy-wog ... but I've come back with a vengeance!

That being said .... here are some photos of

1) planting Bok Choy in the early spring wetness.





... and 2) Some more photos of WILD NH DAY!






Mark and I will be farther north this weekend ... we're dog-sitting for a friend. We're lucky because they live on a small pond in the lakes region- my friend Katie tells me that their resident blue heron is sitting on eggs at the moment! Perhaps I can get just close enough to get some photos (but not so close that she knows I'm there). Thank goodness for zoom lenses! If anything, I'll get some beautiful spring shots during the fantastic weather we're supposed to have.

I hope all of you have a fantastic weekend!
Be good, be outside, be with nature, be wise, be happy.

Love,
Say

En Vogue

This photo has been cruising blogs across the interwebs for a while. It depicts the satellites and debris that orbit the Earth (the view is facing the North Pole).

This photo makes me want to gag. We clutter so much that even our orbit looks like a trash heap. I sigh in frustration at the sight of it. But then again, I use a cell phone that requires a few of those satellites to be there ...

Now, I'm sure you all know that today is Earth Day- the international celebration of caring for the planet, our mother ship. I was walking through a department store last night and was amazed to see a jewelry set that included the recycling symbol, a small planet and a leaf. All three were enamel set in what looked like gold. This was in a department store that prefers selling "diamond-esk" jewelry at a killer price- all of it probably imported from a third-world country whose recycling and emissions standards are not taken as seriously as poverty, the spread of disease in slums, or a lack of education in poor communities.

Was the department store in question intent on spreading the message of stewardship? Probably not.

I popped into a popular clothing store after that ... this particular retail outlet is known for up-to-date fashions at very, very low prices. Most of their clothing is made in Indonesia. There were environmental references on graphic tees, dresses, jewelry, handbags ...



Don't get me wrong, I've been rocking recycling logos since I was a pre-pubescent ... but lately this surge of retail propaganda doesn't feel right ... How often do these large companies recycle? How much waste do they create? Are they making an effort to be better companies??

I went HERE to find out.

That's Gap Inc.'s Climate Counts Score Card. Climate Counts is mentioned here a fair amount- and they're based in New Hampshire! Who knew?! Not many people, and that's the problem ... Funded in part by Stonyfield Farms, Climate Counts is based in Manchester and rates companies across the country to let consumers know just how environmentally minded these companies are.

Nike, believe it or not, is their highest ranked apparel company.

So, with an overall score of 42 (out of a possible 100), they're working on getting better, but ultimately with conglomerates like Gap Inc. the bottom line is always the bottom line. Money drives the engine.

Since I started reading Gary Hirshberg's new book, the one I mentioned in my last post, I've realized why the man is so well off. Having a leader like him in our midst makes our communities all the better.

So, in honor of Earth Day, as you pick up litter, clear beaches, finally put recycling bins in your office- whatever you may be doing- let's let this concept sink in ...

If we really want to change the consumption rate of our society, we have to speak with our wallets.

I've been victim to choosing cheap over sustainable. It's hard not to most of the time; it's a tough economy and everyone is strapped for cash. Hence Walmart's never ceasing popularity. I've bought the cheap t-shirt. I've stocked up on discount accessories. It is a daunting task to shell out more cash in favor of the greater good ... the whole effort is hard as hell.

Recently, on GreenGuideNH, I read a tid-bit that said (and I'm paraphrasing): It's too difficult to try and change every bad habit you have all at once ... so pick one at a time and stick to your new ideal until it becomes a habit itself.

Baby steps. Avoiding frustration and exhaustion is the way to go. My habit is starting at the grocery store. I garden extensively, preserve the left-over produce and compost the waste. I've gotten into the habit of baking my own bread, a money saver for sure and when you get down to it, homemade bread is just the balls! It's delicious, all warm and new ... When I can't grow it or make it myself, I make an effort to find it locally. When Hannaford or Shaws is your only option, just read your labels. Support organic where you can, bring reusable bags and when in doubt- ask for help. There are resources all around you to help you find the most local produce at the best price. You needn't sell off your first born to eat well, join a CSA ... visit your local farmers' market for bulk staples (honey, butter, meats, veggies, breads, herbs, etc.).

I've pontificated enough ... Really, I wish you the best of luck, dear reader. I wish all of us the best of luck. I'm praying for an economic rebound, for a day when green will no longer describe a fad ... it'll just be a color in the rainbow. I'm praying for the day when sustainability is the norm and functioning outside of those parameters is financial suicide.

These days are coming ... and I'm hoping all the fad fashion trends are just a sign of the changing mind set and not another effort to green-wash a business into higher profit margins.

Happy Earth Day, everyone. Thank you for reading. I'll be back with more soon.

Hug a tree for me.
Love,
Say