Sustainability

Work in Progress: My Incredibly Unruly Herb Garden

October 19, 2023

It’s time for a new series on the blog! I’m calling it Work in Progress, where I share things I’m learning in the messy middle, before I’ve figured out what the hell I’m actually doing.

So much of blogging has become shiny before-and-afters, and it’s so important to show all the in-betweens, when we try things and they don’t work. Or even if they do work, but we’re not sure if we’re doing it right at all.

That’s the idea behind Work in Progress—showing the human side to the before and after. And first up is my incredibly unruly herb garden.

My Go-To Sustainability Practices

February 26, 2019

My word of the year for 2019 is Sustainable, and while I think of it as broader than just the environment, that’s really where the idea started. Over the past year or so, I’ve been making an extended effort to be more conscious of the environment and the impact I’m making. We’ve only got one planet, and we’re not doing a very good job taking care of it!

As I’ve learned more about sustainability and making better choices, there are some go-to sustainability practices I’ve picked up along the way. Some are specific, and some are pretty broad and can be applied to many different facets of your life.

9 Ways to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly

February 8, 2018

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Throughout the years, Sean and I have been working really hard to make our home more eco-friendly. We know climate change is a huge deal, so we’re trying to make as little an environmental impact as we can every day.

And surprisingly, these changes aren’t very difficult to make. With just one small change at a time, it’s amazing how eco-friendly your home can become in hardly any time at all!

So, outside of recycling, what are some little things you can do around your house today to be more eco-friendly?

How to Have an Eco-Friendly Period

May 4, 2016

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Let’s face it: periods aren’t fun. But you know what’s worse than a week of pain and suffering? The impact it can have on the environment.

But don’t worry, it’s actually not very hard to have an eco-friendly period.

How Periods Affect Girls in Developing Countries

March 3, 2016

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If there’s one thing people don’t want to talk about, it’s periods. Trust me, I was among those who thought it was super taboo until not too long ago. But I’ve changed my mind and I’m pretty open about it now.

After all, half of the population experiences them at some point in their lives. So it’s something we need to talk about. In fact, some of my best girl friends and I (here’s looking at you, Angela) talk about them all the time.

And that’s super important, for many reasons. So this month, I’m going to be talking about how periods affect different things around the world.

Today’s topic? Periods affect girls in developing countries in a big way. Like, not just “okay, you need to start using pads and tampons and can get pregnant” kind of way. In a “you are probably going to drop out of school” way.

Seriously.

How To Use a Keurig Without Destroying the Environment

July 29, 2015

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It’s no secret that Keurig coffee brewers are all the rage right now. Heck, I’ve got two—one at home and one at work. They’re really convenient, because everyone can have their own flavor of coffee without having to waste a whole pot.

But here’s the thing—K-Cups are incredibly wasteful. They aren’t recyclable or biodegradable, so they have to go in the trash after each use, and they just sit in landfills. It’s estimated that all of the K-Cups tossed out in 2014 would circle the earth more than 12 times. Even the inventor of the Keurig regrets making them non-recyclable.

So, how does a tree hugger like me deal with this reality? Quite easily, actually. Here’s how to use a Keurig without destroying the environment.

E-Wasteland: Where do our electronics go at the end of their life?

October 1, 2014

What happens to our electronics when we get rid of them?

Last week, I discussed how I recycled the electronics that were inside my old iMac G3. I knew it was important because Ghana is home to the world’s largest e-waste landfill in Agbogbloshie. It wasn’t until I saw the documentary E-Wasteland that I understood why we must be responsible with our used electronics.

Recycle Electronics

September 24, 2014

Two weeks ago I shared a post about the DIY iMac cat bed Sean and I made for our kitten.

As we were taking the computer apart, I kept asking myself what the heck we were going to do with the innards of the computer. I knew throwing away electronics was bad for the environment, but I wasn’t sure what to do with them if we couldn’t simply toss them in the dumpster. How do I recycle electronics?

I ended up doing a web search for “How to throw away electronics” and was directed to the Telecommunications Industry Association E-Cycling Center website. I chose Michigan from the drop-down list at the bottom of the homepage, found the nonprofit closest to my apartment, and gave them a call.

Sustainability

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