And back to the “unneeded” part (every year some phone book advocate shows up touting the greatness of their publication for small business advertising…yawn). Both The Real Yellow Pages and The Talking Phone Book have great online directories, so I think this year I’ll cut the cord and begin using them. Why use 3,800 pages of paper to do something the Internet can do faster, cheaper, and with less impact on the environment? To stop the phone book from being delivered to your home or business, you can simply opt out! Here’s how:

• The Real Yellow Pages: Fill out this form.
• Talking Phone Book: Email their distribution department.

If you want to take it up a notch, here are some great ideas from YellowPagesGoesGreen.org on how you can work with your local goverment to establish better practices for the distribution of phone books.

Compared to our two boys, Zoe has been much greener right out of the gate. She was dressed in organic clothing, swaddled in a bamboo blanket, placed in a 6-year-old car seat, and driven home in a Prius. We were ready with eco-friendly baby wipes and extra chlorine-free diapers just in case (the G Diapers don’t fit her yet!) – and the ride home was wonderful. Zoe fell asleep that night in an organic Moses basket full of bamboo bedding, all of which was washed with 7th Generation detergent. By just making a few simple decisions and changes, we’ve reduced Zoe’s impact right off the bat.

Speaking of kids and their environmental impact, have we just contributed to humanity’s overburdening of the planet by having our third child?

I’ve read many times that having more than two children contributes to the unsustainable growth of the human population. You need 2.1 children per couple to sustain the human race, not 3. Of course, you can’t plan for everything…people have kids, right?

So, we’ll just hope that having 3 low-impact kids is more sustainable than 2 high-impact kids, but it’s hard to say. Kids born in Western societies use many times more resources than those in underdeveloped countries, no matter how green their parents are.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the impact of kids and population on the planet. And don’t worry, you won’t offend us. When a photographer from Skirt came by to shoot Jen for an article, the second thing out of her mouth was, “Oh, you’re pregnant. It isn’t very green to have more than two kids, is it?”

Foam packing peanuts

There’s good news: If you receive foam peanuts this holiday season, you can drop them off for reuse at a shipping place instead of throwing them into your garbage!

That’s what I did…

When you receive a package stuffed with foam peanuts, save them in a box, bag, or basket near your other recycling. Once you have a big enough pile, or actually have something to ship, take them with you to the nearest packing place for reuse. Michael from Mail & More at Belle Hall Station told me that as long as the peanuts are clean, dry, and are not mixed with other trash, most packing places would love to have them back.

This is a great way to reduce the demand on new foam peanut production, all the while keeping polystyrene out of the landfill, air, or ecosystem. I have a relative that ships us boxes full of foam peanuts each Christmas, and it’s nice to be able to dispose of them in a green way. Of course, they’re always good for office pranks…

I’ve known for a few months that the pile was cooking properly, but I finally built an impromptu sieve from scrap materials. After sifting a couple healthy scoops, I had produced a uniform compost that looked pretty good. Ultimately, I plan to build a simple sifter like this guy, and get a big batch ready for are vegetable garden.

Fall is officially here, so this is the perfect time to start a compost pile of your own (lots of browns from falling leaves!) Happy composting, and for more notes — keep reading.

Random composting notes:

• You technically can put sticks in there, but don’t. It will make sifting your compost much easier.
• Turn your compost and look for worms and other bus. Bugs are good. We have lots of bugs.
• If you live near the marsh, watch out for the fiddler crabs. We have so many, and they can eat a whole basket of scraps in one night if I don’t cover it.
• Whole onions don’t really break down – chop ‘em up.
• Really try to find and save leaves during the summer when possible. Without them, you pile will get soggy with organics.
• Watch out for dry spells, as your pile needs moisture to stay healthy. Just remember to water it along with the rest of your gardens.

It still irks me that every residence and business gets not one, but ?TWO metro area phone books each year. In today’s digital age, do we really need this paper relic? Here are some ways you can reduce your dependency on these pulpy dinosaurs:

• Use the Yellow Pages online – I bet they update it more than once each year (unlike your phone book)
• You can discontinue delivery of your Talking Phone Book by emailing distribution@talkingphonebook.com.
• You can discontinue delivery of your Yellow Pages by visiting their online portal at yellowpagesgoesgreen.org.
• Work to develop local ordinances that encourage responsible printing and distribution of phone books. Here are some ideas.

So remember, when you are deciding what to do with your old phone books, let your fingers do the walking straight to the reycling bin.

Whether or not you buy one from A Single Bag, please consider bringing your own reusable bag with you the next time you go shopping. This one small act can make a positive impact on the environment by reducing garbage production, plastic pollution, and dependence on oil. We have more information on the local reusable bag scene here, here, and here.

I began with gifts from the boys. We visited The Sea Turtle Rescue Hospital at the Aquarium. We have proudly adopted for Daddy. We can’t wait to visit our Loggerhead Turtle, and the elevators.

I asked Chad about organizations he would like to support through a membership gift. He suggested The Nature Conservancy. I look forward to the education their magazine will provide.

Finally, a new addition to his t-shirt collection, an organic cotton shirt. I enjoyed time browsing at my convenience with Ecomall and Conscious Consumer Home. There are many manufacturers who want to help us consume better, it just takes going off the beaten track sometimes.

Then, one night, as I was in our closet, I noticed piles and piles — wait, I mean — a plethora of clothing hung up and organized according to season. Does Chad actually need a new t-shirt? Absolutely not. I promise a chocolate cake with many candles, but no new shirt this year. Consuming wisely, consuming less.

Happy Birthday Chad, and wishes for many more!

But Jen you say, post-consumer recycled toilet paper is hard to find, expensive and just not as effective and soft. To the latter, I say, boo-hoo: humans have wiped with discarded sheep wool – recycled toilet paper is plenty soft.

I don’t want to spend much time shopping, and would like to purchase t.p. with weekly grocery store raid. Here are the stores I’ve visited, and their green options for toilet paper.

Bi-Lo
None offered as of yet. I was told they are currently looking into green alternatives.

Earth Fare
Sunrise 131 sq. ft. at $3.19, or 2¢ per sq. ft.; Seventh Generation 200 sq ft. at $3.99, or 2¢ per sq ft.;

Food Lion*
Scott Brand was all they had.
.

Harris Teeter
Seventh Generation, 200 sq. ft. at $3.79, or 2¢ per sq. ft.; Green Forest 99 sq. ft. at $1.79, or 2¢ per sq. ft.;

Piggly Wiggly
Seventh Generation 200 sq. ft. at $4.74, or 2¢ per sq. ft.;
.

Publix
GreenWise Publix green alternative 176 sq. ft. at $2.39, or 1¢ per sq. ft.;

Whole Foods Market
Seventh Generation 130 sq.ft. at $2.99, or 1¢ per sq | 200 sq. ft. at $4.49, or 2¢ per sq. ft.; | 365 Brand 200 sq. ft. at $2.99, or 1¢ per sq. ft.; Wild Oats 176 sq. ft. at $3. 49, or 1¢ per sq. ft.;

According to the cost per square foot, Greenwise from Publix and 365 from Whole Foods give you the most wipes for your buck.

I’ll admit, it looks so much cheaper and more convenient to buy from Kimberly-Clark. I’m sure it looked a lot easier to their stockholders to just cut down the Boreal Forest as well. I say stop. Don’t buy their products. I do not want to flush virgin trees treated with chlorine down the pipes, ten times a day.

*Interesting, first I telephoned, and was told, yes, they have recycled toilet paper. I had to verify. Upon visiting, their MVP toilet paper is 100% recycled paper, it is safe for septic tanks. This paper is not made from post-consumer paper. Upon further shelf inspection, I noticed a new Scott Brand offering. This new paper, from Kimberly-Clark, is made from 40% post-consumer recycled paper is a new beginning, and I was happy to note this. I did not include it’s price because the paper was as white as white can be. It can be blinding on this paper product aisle you know.

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. The dryer balls cost $20.00. A box of Mrs. Meyer’s Brand dryer sheets cost $8.00. Our dryer, unfortunately, is put through the cycle at least once a day. By day eighty, I will need another box of fabric sheets.

Of course, I am very glad not be throwing away one more piece of cloth a day. Please put both balls into dryer – it happened to be halfway through first cycle when I noticed!

Now a question for our readers: Has anyone found an inexpensive bamboo drying rack for clothing? Perhaps I could give our dryer an occasional break.