It’s that magical time of year again when 3,800 pages worth of unneeded phone books arrive, uninvited, on my front porch. Out with the old, in with the new…but with a twist: The old phone books are 100% recyclable.  You can just throw them right into your blue curbside bins, and Charleston County Recycling will do the rest. Tell your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors to keep these massive hunks of trees out of the landfill!

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.

Recycling only takes a little knowledge, a little time, and a little motivation. If you see a neighbor throwing away materials that can be recycled, don’t be afraid to help them out. They may be missing the recyclable materials list, confused about their recycling pickup day, or unaware how important this basic civic activity really is – tell them. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to a neighbor about this, leave a note or get creative: ask if you can have the boxes and then recycle them yourself. The point is, help them out – help us all out! Let’s keep scenes like this from happening on future trash days:

I also feel that while the drop sites give motivated recyclers an option, they are only part of the solution. I see scenes like the one above on every trash day, and sometimes the cardboard is actually broken down and stacked in a pile – they’re doing everything but driving it to the drop site! I know there is an issue with the trucks/equipment, but Charleston County needs to figure this out. If you feel like I do, and think cardboard recycling rates would soar if it was picked up curbside, then let the Charleston County Environmental Management team know — Call: 843.720.1111 Email: publicinfo@charlestoncounty.org Write: 13 Romney Street Charleston, SC 29403 —

Thank goodness for the wonderful stores and markets where I am able to conveniently purchase food for myself and my family. I am being sincere. Thank you Whole Foods, thank you Harris Teeter, thank you Mt. Pleasant Farmer’s Market, thank you CSA, the Norman’s really need you. Without you, we would starve, as my bleak garden, thus far, has yielded one lonely jalapeno.

How is your garden? Go on, brag! Please! Inspire me to spend the time in my backyard garden by sharing your garden’s story. My story is one, unfortunately this summer, of invasion and neglect. The deer continually eat the cucumbers and cherry tomatoes. That mystery fungus, or maybe it’s a mold, swallowed the bell peppers. Of course, the basil and rosemary are thriving, and one little lonely pepper. Certainly no recipe from the backyard garden will be gracing our dinner table soon.

>> Continue reading ‘The Lonely Jalapeno’

Not only has it been a while since we’ve updated the blog (sorry, you know, summer…3 kids…2 jobs…eek!), but we have quite a backlog in local businesses/organizations to add to the Local Guide. We’ve also done some housekeeping, moving the majority of the listings to the Local Guide page. With over 150 entries and new categories, we’re excited to see the local scene grow by leaps and bounds.

Here are the 14 new additions to the Local Guide – Give ‘em some love!

• Charleston Parks Conservancy – Nonprofit taking care of your parks.
  
• Charleston Park Angels – Charleston Parks Conservancy blog.
  
• Cool Green Fish – Really cool local organic clothes.
• Conservation Voters of SC – Get involved with local green advocacy
  
• Daniel Island Mortgage - Local provider of myEnergyLoan
• Solar Energy Solutions – High quality solar products
  
• Pleasant Details Waterless Division – Eco-friendly vehicle washing
  
• Green Echo – Green consulting and design
  
• The Energy Detective – Local product that can help you save energy.
  
• SC Clean Energy Solutions – Natural energy for clean living
  
• Lowcountry Green Cleaning Services – All natural commercial cleaning
  
• Executive Kitchens – Eco-friendly cabinetry by Executive Kitchens
• Urban Edge Studios – Sustainable community design
  
• Tricycles and Trees – Natural toys, natural living

If your organization or business should be on our guide, just let us know.

Did you participate in Carrotmob Charleston last April? If not, here’s your chance to get a feel for the project and what it was able to accomplish. Carrotmob was organized by Green Drinks Charleston and Carolina’s Eco-Unit, and helped raise $1600 to help the Queen Street Grocery green up their building. Carrotmob is a great way to support local business, the sustainability movement, and encourage community involvement (here’s our coverage). Enjoy this short film from The Cut Company:

The Sustainability Institute has been hosting Charleston Water Week to help encourage local residents to conserve this precious resource. And since we want to help the cause, we’re featuring different water-related nonprofits that serve our local community.

The Coastal Conservation League, who is celebrating their 20 year anniversary, is working hard every day to preserve our beautiful Lowcountry coast. They have a wide range of programs that are making a lasting impact on our community. The Coastal Conservation League is fighting bridges to small marsh islands, protecting freshwater wetlands, fighting port expansion, and watching out for our rivers just to name a few. With all of these active programs, plus a major effort to get local residents involved, their legacy can been seen throughout the Lowcountry.

Be sure to check them out online, get involved, and make a donation!

The Sustainability Institute is sponsoring Charleston Water Week to increase awareness around the conservation of our most precious resource – H2O. We want to help the cause, so each day this week we are featuring a different water-related nonprofit serving our local community.

Charleston Waterkeeper was founded in September 2008 to preserve and protect the integrity of Charleston’s waterways by defending against pollution and contamination. Their focus is on our three major rivers and the tributaries that feed into them. By being an advocate for water, listening to local residents, and working with local officials, Charleston Waterkeeper is making a positive impact on our waterways that will last for generations. I really dig their abandoned boat program.

Please visit Charleston Waterkeeper online, Facebook, or on Twitter. If you want to get more involved, become a member by making a donation.

The great peeps over at The Sustainability Institute are sponsoring Charleston Water Week – a week-long celebration and educational series about water-related issues facing our community and planet. Water conservation and protection is becoming more and more important as potable water supplies diminish, so I think it’s great that the extra attention is being given to this important issue.

In conjunction with Charleston Waterkeeper and Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium, The Sustainability Institute is offering a bunch of water-related workshops this week. These workshops include Water Wise(r), Rainwater Catchment Systems, Green Roof Systems, Green Boat Maintenance, and more – good stuff!

In honor of Charleston Water Week, each day we’ll be featuring a different local nonprofit or business that is focused on water conservation and sustainability. After the jump, check out our list of local water orgs and businesses, as well as links to previous posts about water conservation.

>> Continue reading ‘It’s Charleston Water Week!’

Zoe and I had the absolute pleasure of volunteering a few hours of our time for Fields to Families. I was introduced to this non-profit through two of Chad’s coworkers, who are on the board, and I instantly wanted to help. After looking at my schedule and capabilities, I decided helping at a booth at the Mt Pleasant Farmer’s Market would fit.

Jacki Baer is the founder – I wouldn’t guess her age, but I would guess she has the energy of a woman in her thirties. Jacki is passionate and meticulous. Zoe and I loved getting to know her and her organization. To witness her informing inquiring patrons that Fields for Families delivered over 80,000 pounds of fresh produce to the needy was truly inspiring.

>> Continue reading ‘Meeting Jacki Baer from Fields to Families’

Buying locally is a big part of living sustainably – both for us AND our community. Lowcountry Local First is asking local residents to take the 10% Shift Pledge and start buying more from local businesses. The goal is for local businesses, organizations, and families to shift an additional 10% of their annual spending to local businesses. And based on the results of our polls, buying locally is already on everyone’s mind – now it’s time to commit!

Come down to the 10% Shift Launch Party on July 10th at the Navy Yard at Noisette to begin the shift. Great food will be on hand, info on how to buy locally, and the cost to get in is only 10 cents!

Today was the annual Dump the Pump event presented by CARTA. As I looked at our schedule, I knew I wouldn’t be able to participate. I do want to continue to try to utilize public transportation whenever we are able. I hope their event today was an huge success, and look forward to reading their report.

Last week, my children and I had a wonderful time riding the Dash around the Charleston Peninsula. I had studied the route map earlier in the morning and figured with three young ones in tow we’d be lucky to catch a ride. It wasn’t luck that helped us, it was the fact that it’s so easy to use!

We trekked through the South Carolina Aquarium and observed the penguins eating their breakfast. Afterwords, as we walked around the fountains, up drove the Dash. The driver was friendly and accommodating (of course, this is Charleston,) he answered my questions and assisted me with the stroller. We were the only passengers. The boys loved the ride to the Visitor’s Center, then we played at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry.

>> Continue reading ‘Dashing through Downtown’

The Sustainability Institute and the Charleston Trident Home Builders Association are hosting the Atlantic Green Conference on June 19th and 20th. The 2-day event features 18 workshops covering nearly every aspect of green building. Titles include: Green Roof Systems, Advanced Lighting Solutions, Greening Historic Structures, and Green Infrastructure & LEED. The event also features keynote presentations by Michael Chandler and Bill Reed, as well as a green residential tour.

This looks like a great event for the green-focused builder or home improver, so be sure to check it out. Tickets are reasonably priced and available online.

Wow, did we really leave that poll up for 4 months?

When the year is new, you never know what people are going to do. We asked you what your priorities were for 2009, and the results were interesting. At first, supporting the local economy had a strong lead, but in the end, 43% of respondents were going to start the year off rocking reusable bags. Another 28% were focused on consuming less and buying local – one of my personal goals for 2009.

We’re pleased to see that 7%  of you were going to install something solar – hopefully that number will increase in 2010. I was actually surprised that only 1% were looking for an alternative energy vehicle – maybe our readers already own Priuses?

Please take our new Summer action poll on the right. The results for the First Green Project poll are after the jump.

>> Continue reading ‘Go Green Poll Results: First Project of 2009′

Jen and I like to use bikes as auto alternatives when we can, which is difficult out in the ‘burbs. With connector roads and 5-lane speedways, a simple trek to the grocery can be scary. Things aren’t getting easier.

When Whipple Road was given a make-over, we thought this important vein in Mount Pleasant would have state of the art design. Sharrows for cyclists, a wide pedestrian path, etc. I gotta say, we’re a bit disappointed. The lanes are just wide enough so that SUVs can whiz past cyclists straddling the asphalt/concrete line. The sidewalk is right next to speeding traffic. Badly engineered ramps and crossings fill with giant puddles when it rains.

>> Continue reading ‘Streets Are For Peeps, Not Just Cars’

I just wanted to wish all of you the happiest of Earth Days. We’ve been so inspired by you, this community, and the momentum our area is creating for sustainability. I truly believe that the work we’re all are doing is laying the foundation for a future we can be proud of.

Earth Day is also a birthday for us (we launched on Earth Day 2007), and these last two years have been a blast! We hope you keep reading the site, contributing to discussions, and helping us help you make Charleston a greener place.

Let’s keep going green Charleston!

Cheers to Green Drinks Charleston and Carolina’s Eco-Unit for bringing Carrotmob Charleston to the Queen Street Grocery last Saturday. Over 400 shoppers showed up and spent $4870 (breaking the old Saturday record of $1400). Not only does this show the power of focused community action, but Queen Street Grocery will be spending around $1600 on greening up their business. Very cool stuff!

Look for another mob coming to a lucky local restaurant or bar later this Summer. Until then, check out our photos after the jump and in our Flickr set. Also, don’t miss The Digitel’s article and photos, and these amazing photos by Jeni Rone.

>> Continue reading ‘Carrotmob Charleston Brings the Green’

Wow, Earth Day 2009 is fast approaching (April 22 – also our 2nd anniversary!), and with it comes many chances to celebrate with our green community. Here’s a quick set of links to help make your Earth Day plans:

• April 18 – Charleston County Earth Day Festival
• April 18 – Green Village Tour Run
• April 19 – Kiawah Island Resort Greenival
• April 22 – Keep Charleston Beautiful Earth Day Celebration
• April 22 – Sustainable Seafood Initiative Dinner
• April 22 – Sea Island Habitat Wetland Planting
• April 24 – Go Green Night at The Charleston Battery
• April 25 – Sewee Center Earth Day Celebration Nature Tour
• April 28 – Green Day at MUSC

Recycling Fail takes a look at ways people botch this basic green action. It’s funny…’cause it’s true.

Here’s a shot where it looks like someone had some semi-useful items (wood scraps and a used window?), so they left them for “someone else to pick-up.” I bet they got their wish. I like how the glass window is blocking the public bike path – surprise!

>> Continue reading ‘Recycling Fail :: Careful Littering’

If you’ve ever wanted to directly support the green initiatives of a local business, now’s your chance! This Saturday, April 11th, Carrotmob Charleston will be in action at Queen Street Grocery (map | street view).

We often talk about “voting with our dollars” when it comes to green purchasing, but it’s often difficult to see the impact of these small actions. Carrotmob solves that problem by organizing people who care about the environment, and using their collective buying power to negotiate with businesses who want to “green up”. Carrotmob Charleston has decided to focus its attention on Queen Street Grocery, who has pledged to reinvest 33% of their sales on April 11 towards improving their energy efficiency. That rocks!

>> Continue reading ‘Join the Carrotmob and Help a Local Business Become More Energy Efficient’

I just wanted to thank the SC Aquarium for featuring Jen and I in the latest edition of Tributaries, their quarterly member newsletter. Members on a Mission is a new program that recognizes SC Aquarium members who are doing work in our community that aligns with the Aquarium’s mission. We were certainly honored to be recognized, but also proud to published along with Waddle the Penguin – he’s a rock star!

Please support the SC Aquarium and the many programs it provides to our community. We are lucky to have them and their mission in our lives! (thanks Chloe!)