Many years ago as a professional ballet dancer, I carried my ballet shoes in a string bag. My pointe shoes needed air after those long rehearsals. I remember shopping with a fellow dancer and watching her dump out her shoes in the car and then refill her mesh bag with apples and oranges.
My current string […]

When it comes to going green, our family’s mantra has always been “Do What We Can, When We Can.” To that end, a couple weeks ago the stars aligned and guided a 2008 Toyata Prius into our lives. We couldn’t be happier.
Over the last few years, I’ve spoken with many Prius owners about the car, […]

It’s official. After living in Mt. Pleasant for almost eleven years, I had yet to use a form of public transportation. No longer - I introduced myself to CARTA via bus route 40. I am officially becoming a bus rider.
I consulted the website for CARTA, and was dismayed by the lack of working […]

Whole Foods Markets across the U.S. will be celebrating Earth Day by eliminating plastic bags. Once the store on Houston Northcutt Boulevard uses all of its supply, there will no longer be a choice of paper or plastic. Hooray! What a great way for this company to set an example.
Disposable plastic bags are […]

CleanGreen Charleston - It’s just fun to say, isn’t it? We just got word of a new eco-friendly residential cleaning service called CleanGreen Charleston. (thanks Maegan!) It looks like the Seventh Generation and Green Seal-approved products are the norm, and they’ll even take out your recycling. Good stuff!
I love seeing entrepreneurs developing all these […]

One of our many goals around the house this year is to reduce the amount of electricity we use. We actually notice a difference in our bill when we’re vigilant about turning off the entertainment center’s power strip, but we’re sure there’s hidden power hogs elsewhere in the house.
That’s where our newly acquired Kill A […]

On Tuesday, April 8th, The Mount Pleasant Farmers Market will reopen for their season. From 3 p.m. until dusk vendors will be selling their local goods in the field in front of Moultrie Middle School, off Coleman Boulevard. Local growers and farmers will be selling seasonal fruits and vegetables. Right now, we should […]

I just got an email from A Single Bag, a company trying to save the planet one reusable bag at a time. The North Charleston business is making these bags from fully recyclable (not here) polypropylene, which means they are durable and waterproof. And while I can’t vouch for the bags personally (send us some!), […]

Boone Hall Farms U-Pick Strawberries is open! The Norman family is thrilled. The ride on the “bumpy” cart is a must, and I love to point out the labeled fruit and vegetable patches we pass. Then, arriving at the strawberry fields, we venture armed with pails (bring water bottle as well, it […]

Have you noticed? I certainly have. Shoppers using their reusable bags. When I first gave up plastic bags, I felt like I was on a lone crusade here in Mt. Pleasant. No longer. These days I watch baggers fill all sorts of reusable bags. Whether a bag from The Little Green […]

We’ve started planting some new flowers in our gardens, so I’ve noticed a buildup of empty plastic plant containers in the garage. Because these containers are typically make from non-recyclable plastics (#4, #5, or #6), most folks just toss them into the trash. But this year we can help you make a change!
Last June, I […]

Back in January, we asked a simple question: What was your top green resolution for 2008?
As the early votes came in, the energy-related choices were slightly ahead. But as time went on, the choice became clear — Charleston, you want to buy local food and products!
Out of 130 respondents, 20% of you resolved to purchase […]

I can always count on Water Lines, the Mount Pleasant Water Works newsletter, to bring us a couple of water-related green tips each month. Spring is here, so we’ll be paying extra attention to our water usage as it begins to heat up. This month’s issue has a couple ideas on the subject:

Recycle […]

You probably already know that drinking bottled water is one of the least green things you can do. I’ve blogged about this before, and I haven’t had even a sip of bottled water since June 2007.
At any rate, one of the big stories this week is how pharmaceutical drugs are showing up in our nation’s […]

Guess what? Chad is turning 40 this week! OK, he’s not, if he wants his age known, he’ll tell. Chad’s birthday is an opportunity to consume wisely.
I began with gifts from the boys. We visited The Sea Turtle Rescue Hospital at the Aquarium. We have proudly adopted for Daddy. We […]

The history of toilet paper is long. From leaves to rolls, our fannies have never been more pampered. Flush, flush , flush, down goes that pristine paper. Pristine, you say? I say considering its origins, that Kimberly -Clark t.p. belongs in our jewelry boxes. The only way to stop flushing […]

While SC creeps along with net-metering, I thought I’d take a look at a solar technology that has positive economics today: solar hot water. Hot water heaters consume a large share of our household juice each year, so cutting the cord can have a real impact.
I contacted Solar Hot Water Works (part of Elemental Design […]

*** EDIT *** I’m an idiot, these aren’t green at all (unless you dig toxic breast milk).  Live and learn.
During a delightful visit to DwellSmart, I purchased my first box of dryer balls. This purchase makes sense both economically and environmentally. I won’t have to purchase another box for two years. […]

Our children are inheriting a planet that is warming. Educating our children about climate change can be daunting, as it can be an overwhelming topic. I do not want to frighten my boys, nor leave them with a sense of hopelessness. It requires careful consideration, but I believe the earlier they know […]

I wanted to inform you all that Graham and I are still Gdiaper strong. We switched about a month ago, and I have no intention of ever relying on disposable diapers again. Gdiapers are easy to put together, put on, and put away in the toilet. The underpants and liners show […]