Back from vacation

I just had one of the best vacation ever in the Pacific NW-a must for all nature lovers!
But, back to work now so I want to get right to it and tell you about a great FREE event happening next month in Berkeley. The Ecology center is having a talk and slide show Thursday the 8th of September discussing how cities can follow the many examples from around the world on how to create communities that do not rely on automobiles for getting around. Walkable, bikeable, and good public transportation are all keys. You will leave with solid, concrete ways that you can implement into your life as well as ways in which you can encourage your city to take the needed steps towards becoming more eco-friendly. Check out the following site for further information:
http://www.ecologycenter.org/calendar/event.php?title=From+Auto-Cities+to+EcoCities%3A+Examples+from+Around+the+Globe&eventID=36171

An organization you should know about

I have recently discovered a wonderful non-profit called Generation Green that works with local Contra Costa County officials to help to create green practice examples for the city and their local businesses. They hold workshops, informative movie nights, seminars and work with both QUEST and PG and E to help cities benchmark their progress and communicate this progress to other cities in their district. Is sounds a bit dry,I know,  but what they are doing is really remarkable....city by city, they are helping to eliminate greenhouse gasses emitted in the Bay Area.  check them out at www.cccclimateleaders.org

Confessions.....

ok, so these past few days have not been such a fine example of successful purging. To be sure, I have been purging, but also, have made a run to Target and fallen prey to a few trinkets I surely did not need! Combined with the VERY kind neighbor who gave Carter about 20 super cool new construction vehicles that his son no longer plays with....well, we are in the net positive on "stuff" for sure. So, I have to double my efforts next week and get really tough-a lot of things are on the chopping block! I hope those of you who are trying this out had more success then I did this week.

Exciting FREE three week class on how to decrease your ecological footprint, foster community in your neighborhood and promote political action to defend the environment

The Ecology center in Berkeley, CA is have a free three session seminar starting Tuesday August 16th and going through Tuesday August 30th. The seminar is from 7-9PM and will offer tips on improving your eco-footprint, getting involved in your local community and helping drive political will towards laws that protect and improve the environment. This sound AWESOME! I almost want to postpone my vacation to go to it.......but you could go!
Check it out at:
http://www.ecologycenter.org/calendar/event.php?eventID=36131

week two, tossing things while others consume through "extreme couponing"

I know many of you have heard of the recent craze to extreme coupon, saving hundreds of dollars each week on groceries, getting thousands of rolls of toilet paper for free etc.....I just have found that so funny to witness as I work to SHED my stuff. Don't get me wrong, I think being price savvy is great, we could all do it a bit more.  But what strikes me as odd, is the COMPULSION to purchase in order to save. Seems a bit odd, right? Stockpiling things that you got for cheap. It just seems like a new name is being given to our culture's need to consume. Anyway, I think I will just stick to getting rid of things for now and leave the coupon clipping to the new experts....

Another way to reduce what is on your home:

I went out to get the mail the other day, and.....nothing. At first I thought for some reason the mail did not come that day. But I saw that both my neighbors had mail, so what gives? Then it hit me-all that effort to call catalogs and other such sinners of blast mailings to get off of their lists-had paid off! I really only get the local coupon flyer, which I can not figure out how to get off of, and, well, bills. And sometimes a check from a client:) There are great sites like www.catalogchoice.com that have all the tools you need to get your name off of everyone's list. It does require a bit of effort on your part up front, and to be honest, you have to get back on it every now and then. But think of all that paper that did not have to get printed, sorted, mailed to your home, only to go straight into the recycle bin. And don't fool yourself; just because you recycled it, does not mean energy of all variety was not spent to produce and deliver that "junk" to your home! So, make a a little promise to yourself to finally get off of everyone's mailing list and one day you will run to the mailbox and rejoice at finding NOTHING!

tossing one a day.....thoughts

ok, so I am five days into getting rid of one thing a day and it has been more interesting than I thought. I think of myself as being really good at not keeping things that I don't use with some sort of regularity. But when it comes to things I spent a lot of money on or that seem REALLY useful, even though I haven't used them in years, I gotta tell you, I hesitated. BUT as soon as I talked myself into putting each of those items into the donate box, it was like I never owned it! The actual decision was hard, but the aftermath....a piece of cake! Crazy how our minds work. I'll keep ya posted on how it all goes, but I think I like this!